Recycling Tips for Gloucester County Resident

(Swedesboro, NJ)—Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger, Liaison to the Gloucester County Improvement Authority, wants to remind residents of the importance of recycling.

In 1987, the Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requires all residents, schools, businesses and government agencies in the state of New Jersey to separate and recycle certain materials from the regular trash in order to reduce the amount of garbage that requires disposal. These items include newspaper, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, bi-metal cans and plastic bottles, jars and jugs.

“Over the last several years, we noticed residents not taking the proper time to sort their recyclables. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to our landfills, conserves our natural resources and reduces pollution,” stated Freeholder Director Damminger.

The “Dirty Dozen” is Gloucester County’s list of items that should never be in your recycling container. These items include:

1. Plastic bags

2. Materials in plastic bags

3. Shredded paper

4. Scrap Metal

5. Hazardous waste

6. Diapers or bio-hazardous waste

7. Non-recyclable plastics

8. Cups

9. Plastic caps or lids

10. Liquids in recyclable containers

11. Ceramics or non-recyclable glass

12. Frozen food containers

“The main phrase our county’s recycling program stresses is, ‘When in doubt, throw it out,’” added Freeholder Director Damminger. “One dirty recyclable could contaminate the contents of an entire recycling truck so it’s important to take the time to sort and check with your town for recycling guidelines and tips.”

The Gloucester County Improvement Authority offers residents resources and information on what items can be recycled and what items need to be disposed of separately. For additional information or questions call (856) 478-6045 or visit

www.gcianj.com

###

Northern State Prison Correctional Officer Sentenced for Smuggling Fentanyl/Marijuana to Inmate

TRENTON –Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a former senior correctional police officer at Northern State Prison in Newark, N.J., was sentenced to prison today for smuggling fentanyl and marijuana to an inmate in the prison in exchange for money.

Roberto Reyes-Jackson, 31, of Irvington, N.J., was sentenced to four years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Verna G. Leath in Essex County. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 10, 2019 to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. He forfeited his job as a result of his guilty plea and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.

Deputy Attorney General Samantha McCluskey prosecuted the case and handled the sentencing for the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). Reyes-Jackson was indicted in 2017 in an investigation by OPIA and the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division.

The state’s investigation revealed that between September and December 2016, Reyes-Jackson smuggled multiple single-dose wax folds of a powder compound laced with fentanyl to inmate Aaron Copeland. He also smuggled a small amount of marijuana to Copeland. The smuggling came to light in December 2016, when prison staff discovered a bag of marijuana in Copeland’s cell and two wax folds of fentanyl. A full search of the cell revealed additional marijuana and fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Reyes-Jackson accepted hundreds of dollars in bribes from Copeland’s girlfriend, Tyeesha Powell, to smuggle drugs into the prison. Copeland, in turn, distributed the drugs to other inmates, who paid him by having friends or relatives outside the prison wire money to Powell.

“By agreeing to smuggle fentanyl to an inmate in Northern State Prison, Reyes-Jackson put lives at risk,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Fentanyl is so potent that minute amounts can result in overdose and death. This prison sentence holds Reyes-Jackson accountable for betraying his duty and callously disregarding the safety and welfare of his fellow officers as well as inmates in the prison.”

“When a correction officer conspires with an inmate to break the law, it poses a grave threat to safety and security in the prison, particularly when a dangerous drug like fentanyl is involved,” said Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “We will continue to work closely with the Department of Corrections to ensure that any officer who corruptly compromises safety in a correctional facility is aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

“We have an uncompromising commitment to ensuring safety in our facilities and a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who violates that safety,” said New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, Esq. “The overwhelming majority of the New Jersey Department of Corrections staff operate with integrity. Those who do not must be held accountable for their actions.”

Copeland, 31, of Newark, pleaded guilty previously to a charge of distribution of fentanyl and faces a recommended sentence of three years in prison, including one year of parole ineligibility, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Powell, 34, of Pleasantville, N.J., pleaded guilty previously to distribution of fentanyl and faces a recommended sentence of probation. They are awaiting sentencing.

Former Deputy Attorney General Peter Baker presented the case to the state grand jury. Attorney General Grewal commended all of the investigators, detectives and attorneys who conducted the investigation for the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division. Senior Investigator Patrick Sesulka and Deputy Chief Investigator Edward Soltys conducted the investigation for the Department of Corrections.

Visit Philadelphia & Megabus Offer $2.29 Fare to Philly on Leap Day

Visitors Can See The Flower Show, Celebrate Black History Month & More on February 29 & March 1, 2020

Saturday, February 29, 2020 is Leap Day, and to celebrate the once-every-four-years occasion, VISIT PHILADELPHIA

has partnered with Megabus to

offer $2.29 fares from New York and Washington, DC to Philadelphia. A limited number of $2.29 fares will also be available for departures from Philadelphia on Sunday, March 1, 2020. The deal is bookable

here

Those who take advantage of the offer can partake in the expected (Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks, Rocky steps) and the unexpected (public art, breweries galore, tax-free clothing shopping) fun in Philadelphia. They can:

Celebrate the last day of

Black History Month

at the African American Museum in Philadelphia at Belmont Mansion, Johnson House Historic Site, Mother Bethel A.M.E. and National Marian Anderson Museum, to name a few.

Enjoy the first day of

PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

See

Hello Dolly!

at the Academy of Music.

Experience the Selma and suffrage exhibits at the

Brandywine Museum of Art

Spend the night in Philadelphia by booking the perks-packed

Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package

More trip ideas for Leap Day and every day are available at

visitphilly.com

and

uwishunu.com

VISIT PHILADELPHIA

is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog,

visitphilly.com

and

uwishunu.com

, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

CNB BUSINESS NEWS

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA (VIDEO)…Thank a Veteran Today for their Service

SOURCE:

The American Legion Burn Pit

First, from Yahoo News:

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting of World War Two take place on a small Japanese island 1,200 km (745 miles) south of Tokyo.

Iwo Jima was the first native Japanese soil to be invaded during the Allied advance. Located halfway between Tokyo and Guam, it was regarded as a strategic outpost. Close to 7,000 U.S. Marines and nearly all of the 21,000 Japanese defenders of the island died during the 36-day battle.

The Japanese troops held the heavily fortified island for more than a month, supported by a network of bunkers and tunnels and hidden artillery positions.

From Feb. 19, 1945, over 500 warships and 1,000 warplanes from the U.S. navy and army pounded Iwo Jima so heavily that the shelling and bombing changed the shape of the island\’s highest point, Mount Suribachi, located at its southern tip.

The Washington Post has a story on Woody Williams

, who as you know is one of my favorite people:

The Japanese soldiers came out of their concrete “pill box” with bayonets fixed, determined to get the Marine who had been killing them all afternoon with a flamethrower.

Their target was Hershel Williams. He was 5-foot-6, the youngest of the 11 children of a dairy farmer from Quiet Dell, W.Va. He had a nice smile, and a girl back home named Ruby whom he planned to marry when the war was over.

He was 21, and known as “Woody.”

But 75 years ago this month, on a Godforsaken volcanic island in the Pacific called Iwo Jima, he was a terrifying destroyer of the Japanese, incinerating men in their hideouts with jets of blazing diesel fuel and high octane gasoline.

They had to stop him.

Not to ruin the ending, but yeah, they didn\’t stop him.

CONTINUE TO READ

Coming This Sunday, March 1, Saint Mary\’s Parish/Gloucester City Irish Parade

Monsignor Bill Hodge performing the Mummers Strut in front of St. Mary\’s Church, 426 Monmouth Street.

(2018 photo by Gus Danks)

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ –Monsignor William Hodge, Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Gloucester City, along with Charlie Kain, President of the New Jersey Irish Society, and Mayor Dan Spencer remind residents that the Fifth Annual St. Mary Parish St. Patrick’s Parade will be held this coming Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 PM sharp.

THERE IS NO RAIN/SNOW DATE.

Registration is now open for all organizations, clubs, Irish groups, dancers, churches, businesses, and all who would like to march and participate in this festive parade and day of events. We welcome all towns and groups from all over the Delaware Valley to participate, so spread the word! Registration forms are available at the St. Mary Rectory office from 9-3 pm, Monday to Friday or by calling 856.456.0052. The registration fee is $25.

The parade will take the same route as last year, forming and staging at the Martin’s Lake area, marching on Johnson Blvd. to Monmouth Street, up Monmouth Street to King, and dispersing at the former Coast Guard Base parking lot.

The parade includes the award-winning Champions of the 2020 Mummers Parade the South Philadelphia String Band along with their First Prize Champion Captain Denny Palandro. Also the Quaker City, Fralinger, Woodland, Avalon, Duffy, Durning String Bands, along with the Gloucester City String Band. Pipes and Drum Bands include the Camden County Emerald Society, the Second Street Emerald Society, and the Atlantic City Sandpipers Band. The Broken Shillelaghs, The Misty Dewers, Irish Dance Groups, and don’t forget the Two Street Stompers and many, many more…………

Fox29 TV News Celebrity Grand Marshall Bob Kelly will be here to march in the parade and do some MC duties and participate in some Irish shenanigans! Look for a JAMO with Bob Kelly.

Ed Beckett, a longtime educator, and Principal at Gloucester Catholic High School is this year’s Grand Marshall of our parade. Congratulations Ed and well deserved. We look forward to a big showing from the Gloucester Catholic Family and Alumni marching with Mr. Beckett in the parade.

Gloucester City’s own radio disc jockey Kathy Townsend Suckiel from the B101.1 radio station will be here along with the B101 mascot; Buzzbee!

The parade is the brainchild of Monsignor Bill Hodge (photo above) with Grand Marshal Bishop Dennis Sullivan at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2016. The Monsignor and Bishop are looking forward to seeing everyone again this year along the parade route. (image courtesy of South Jersey Observer)

For further information please contact Dan Spencer at 856.456.0052

The Perfect Combo –

Gloucester City Irish Parade 2018 Photo Album

published Gloucestercitynews.net

NJBIA Speaks Out on the Proposed Permanent Corporate Business Tax Rate Increase

NJBIA President and CEO Michele N. Siekerka issued the following statement opposing today\’s proposal for a permanent increase on New Jersey\’s corporate business tax rate as a dedicated funding source for New Jersey Transit.

\”NJBIA supports the concept of responsibly dedicating funds to infrastructure and the priority of making improvements at NJ TRANSIT. But we do not need more revenue raisers to do it.

\”While we understand the need to prioritize improvements at NJ TRANSIT, today\’s call for a permanent increase on New Jersey\’s corporate business tax is very discouraging and it will greatly impact our largest employers who have already provided historic revenue to the state over the past year. Its permanence will also serve as yet another deterrent for any corporation looking to relocate here.

\”More disappointingly, our policymakers continue to only target solutions to our challenges through more taxation and spending, rather than the comprehensive reforms we have been calling for. In fact, we would not need to consider tax increases today if our policymakers acted on the Path to Progress structural reforms.

\”That we continue to seek to bring more tax burden to our businesses and residents during a time of dramatic revenue over-performance, and not act on proposed reforms to fix what is fiscally and structurally broken in New Jersey, is confounding. These reforms need to get done. We cannot tax ourselves out of these challenges.\”

CNB BUSINESS NEWS

South Jersey Regional 2020 Scholastic Art Award Recipients

290 Young Artists from South Jersey Recognized by Appel Farm Arts & Music Campus for 588 Original Works.

Elmer, New Jersey – Appel Farm Arts & Music Campus has announced the regional award recipients of the 2020 Scholastic Art Awards. Presented by the nonprofit organization the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the

97th Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the country\’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12. More than 111,000 teens submitted their best art and writing in more than 100 regions across the country. Out of 612 creative teens from Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties in the South Jersey Region, 290 received regional honors, including Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Visions & Voices nominations:

In celebration of this year’s regional recipients, Appel Farm is hosting The 2020 South Jersey Scholastic Art Award Ceremony at Appel

Farm Arts & Music Campus in Elmer, NJ on on Friday, March 6, from 7:00-8:30 PM.

Since the program’s founding in 1923, the Awards have fostered the creativity and talent of millions of students and include a distinguished list of alumni including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the Awards when they were teens.

For Gold Key works of art and writing in the Awards’ 29 categories, including architecture, painting, flash fiction, poetry, printmaking, video game design, and more, the opportunities for recognition will continue when the works are adjudicated again on a national level by a panel of leading creative professionals. National Gold Medalists will be announced in March 2020 and will be honored during a special awards ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 4, 2020. All National Medalists are eligible for a wealth of additional opportunities, such as inclusion in the Art.Write.Now.Tour traveling exhibition, and in the The Best Teen Art and The Best Teen Writing anthologies. National Medalist poets are considered for the National Student Poets Program, the nation’s highest honor for young poets presenting original work.

“Appel Farm is thrilled to partner with schools to shine a light on their creative teens, offering this unique opportunity to share their talent on a national level. We view the arts as basic to education and our Arts in Schools programs are making this vision a reality.” – Kristina Hill, Arts Integration and STEAM Education Director, Appel Farm Arts & Music Campus

National Sponsors: The Alliance is grateful for its generous sponsors, who provide funds to support and produce the Scholastic Awards at the national level: Scholastic Inc., The Maurice R. Robinson Fund, New York Life Foundation, Command Companies, The New York Times, Blick Art Materials & Utrecht Art Supplies, The Herb Block Foundation, Golden Artist Colors, Bloomberg Philanthropies, National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and for the National Student Poets Program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Poetry Foundation, and The Wunderkinder Foundation. The Alliance also expresses its gratitude to numerous other individuals, foundations, and corporations for their support. For more information about the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit the Scholastic News Room:

http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/artandwriting

Appel Farm Arts & Music Campus: Since 1960, Appel Farm Arts and Music Campus has provided transformative arts and learning experiences, and has emerged as the arts education leader in South Jersey. Arts education programs on our campus at Appel Farm, in the schools, and in the community are raising the bar of arts education for children and families in our community. Appel Farm provides people of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds with a supportive, cooperative environment in which to explore the fine and performing arts.

NJBIA 2020 Business Climate Analysis Shows NJ Remains Worst in Region

on Eve of FY2021 Budget Proposal

On the eve of Gov. Phil Murphy\’s budget address that is expected to call for more unnecessary tax increases, NJBIA released its updated 2020 Business Climate Analysis showing New Jersey has the least competitive business climate, with the highest

corporate tax, state sales tax, income tax and property taxes in the region.

NJBIA analyzed six individual business cost drivers in seven states and determined New Jersey ranks at the bottom overall behind Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

The graphic can be found

here

\”Once again, New Jersey is dead last on overall regional competitiveness and affordability,\” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. \”The only way for New Jersey to turn this situation around is with comprehensive reforms that are long-term and sustainable, not more tax increases and short-term fixes that only get the state through the next one-year budget cycle or two-year election cycle.

\”It\’s our hope that Tuesday\’s budget address starts addressing some of these issues.\”

NJBIA\’s annual Regional Business Climate Analysis, prepared by Director of Economic Policy Research Nicole Sandelier, observes six factors that affect business competitiveness — minimum wage, top income tax rate, top corporate tax rate, state sales tax rate, top unemployment tax rate and property taxes as a percentage of income — to see how New Jersey stacks up against six states in the region.

Each state\’s rates are compared and scored from 1 (least competitive) to 7 (most competitive).

New Jersey\’s overall business climate score (16) was the weakest for the third straight year. Once again, Delaware (31), Maryland (30), and Pennsylvania (28) were ranked first, second and third. New York\’s overall score (23) improved 1 point from 2019 to secure fourth place, while Connecticut (22) dropped 1 point this year to finish fifth behind New York. Massachusetts (20) ranked sixth both years.

Compared to the six other states, New Jersey had the highest top income tax rate (10.75%), top corporate tax (10.5%), state sales tax (6.625%) and property taxes paid as a percentage of income (5.05%). This is on top of New Jersey\’s onerous regulatory climate and challenges in supporting an innovation ecosystem seen in some other regional states.

Last week, Senate President Steve Sweeney announced a proposal to not sunset a corporate business tax hike that was to end in 2022. The current top corporate tax rate is the second highest in the nation.

\”Misguided proposals that expand New Jersey\’s income tax, raise the state sales tax, maintain our our corporate business tax as a national outlier, and ignore the issues that drive high property tax rates would only worsen our business climate,\” Siekerka said. \”New Jersey needs a more competitive economy, not just for the businesses operating here and their executives, but for the middle-income employees who depend on these businesses for their livelihood.\”

Siekerka noted some special interest groups are already lobbying for a budget that increases and reinstates several different taxes in order to fund $3.1 billion in additional state spending in the FY 2021 year that begins on July 1 — even though state tax revenues are currently running well ahead of projections and 6% above the same seven-month period in the previous fiscal year.

\”New Jersey\’s challenges won\’t be solved with more taxes and more spending,\” Siekerka said. \”What\’s needed are structural budget reforms that address New Jersey\’s long-term debt and the state\’s unsustainable spending on platinum-level public employee healthcare plans and pensions. Pension and benefit reform will allow New Jersey to spend more on important public policy priorities such as education and transportation.\”

According to NJBIA\’s analysis of audited state revenues, expenses and debt found in New Jersey Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, state revenues increased 23% from 2007-2017, while state expenses have increased 45% and state debt increased 382% during the same period.

CNB BUSINESS NEWS

CNB Business News: Ongoing Commitment to Service Earns Agents 2019 Quality Service Pinnacle Award

Madison, NJ (Grassroots Newswire) February 24, 2020 — Century 21 Real Estate LLC recently recognized the following sales affiliates with the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award. The annual award is based on results from the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Survey (QSS) which is e-mailed to consumers immediately after the purchase or sale of a home. To earn the

CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, an agent must receive completed customer surveys for at least 50 percent of their transactions surveyed from January 1 – December 31, with an average survey score of at least 95 percent or better for 2 consecutive years.

* Jitka McCabe, of CENTURY 21 Alliance, of Mantua, New Jersey, will receive a customized glass trophy, in addition to being recognized at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference. For more information, Charles Meyer can be reached at (609) 654-8797 or

chuckmeyer@century21.com

* Andrea Schoelkopf, of CENTURY 21 Rauh & Johns, of Sewell, New Jersey, will receive a customized glass trophy, in addition to being recognized at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference. For more information, Joseph Rauh can be reached at 856-582-0366 or

jrauhc21@aol.com

\”The Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award is an integral part of our brands commitment to excellence and recognizes their dedication to making each and every client interaction a positive one,\” said Mike Miedler, chief executive officer of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. \”They provide their clients with knowledge and advice related to their real estate transaction and offers them confidence during what may be the most significant purchase of a lifetime.

About Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Century 21 Real Estate LLC is comprised of approximately 11,500 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 84 countries and territories worldwide with more than 131,000 independent sales professionals. Century 21 Real Estate has numerous websites to help answer specific consumer needs. They are

century21.com

century21Global.com

commercial.century21.com

century21.com/finehomes

, and

century21espanol.com

©2020 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. CENTURY 21®, the CENTURY 21 Logo and C21® are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated.

CNB BUSINESS NEWS

Camden County Environmental Center Make & Take: Propagation 101

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm

Cost: $20 per person

Information:

Join us and learn to make more plants from the ones you already have or just purchased! This session will explain basic propagation methods. Each participant will have hands-on experience in taking cuttings from a selection of plants and you will be taking your newly propagated plants home.

Place: Camden County Environmental Center 1301 Park Blvd., Cherry Hill NJ 08022

Tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite: Search event name within the Eventbrite site to locate this Make & Take event. Or via

mastergardenerscamdencounty.org/events

. Registration is required. Additional information, if needed, please contact Becki Szkotak at 856-216-7130 prompt 4.