William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNews)(May 25, 2026)–The owner of the BluLight marijuana dispensary, North Broadway and Warren Street, had a mural drawn on the Warren Street side of the building. Included is a sketch of the Walt Whitman Bridge. A portion of the bridge, which spans the Delaware River, connecting New Jersey to Philadelphia, PA, and beyond, can be seen on the horizon at a distance. The number 1868, which is the year the City of Gloucester was incorporated, is also inscribed. The mural was created by Lord Henry, a talented artist whose work you can check out at drol.com.co or on Instagram at @lordhenry_05. According to the artist, the piece is inspired by South Jersey and the local community, including elements like the Walt Whitman Bridge to represent the connection between Gloucester City, Philadelphia, and the people who pass through the area every day. Our goal was to create something visually impactful that would help brighten up the neighborhood and add a creative landmark to the area.
According to an AI search, the BluLight Dispensary, at 401 North Broadway, is a minority-owned, social equity business. The primary operators and entrepreneurs responsible for the company’s ownership and management are Mihir Patel and Rahul Patel. They also have a cannabis store in Woodbury Heights.
For their website, click this link BluLight Cannabis.
MEMORIES OF GLOUCESTER CITY BACK IN THE DAY–-For so many years, that building was the home of O’Donnell’s Family Restaurant. Known for its fare prices, ice cream cake dessert and the best Manhattans. If only those walls could talk. What stories they could tell. Especially from the barroom. In my wildest dream, I never imagined that a marijuana dispensary would one day occupy the popular restaurant and bar.
One day, when I was walking out of the PNC Bank on Monmouth and Atlantic Streets, I bumped into Pat O’Donnell. His family owned O’Donnell’s Restaurant for decades. I had heard a rumor that the James administration had asked him to build the long-awaited riverfront restaurant on the former Coast Guard Base Pier.
He said that they did.
Pat told me he was interested in pursuing the idea. By this time, the O’Donnell’s Restaurant had either closed or had been sold to someone. Pat was seriously interested in taking on the challenge. But when the mayor and council started telling him what kind of tablecloths and window curtains he had to use, he decided against going forward with the idea.
One of many bartenders who worked at O’Donnell’s Bar and Grill was John McKenna, pictured in this photo with well-known humorist Will Rogers. He is sitting on the far left, and Rodgers is on the right. The 1923 photo was taken in Hollywood, California, according to John Joseph, who published it on his Facebook page. When he was younger, he traveled to Hollywood, California, as he wanted to be in the movies. However, John got homesick, and he returned to Gloucester City. Later in life, he tended bar at O’Donnell’s and lived in the apartment above it. He had a reputation for making the best Manhattans in the local area. He retired in the early 80s.
While searching for information about O’Donnell’s, I discovered an article about the restaurant published on NJ.com in 2017. The headline read: Gloucester City’s O’Donnell’s Pub & Grill gains new name, chefs and menu.
Below are a few paragraphs from that 2017 article.
Likissa Hunde, an Ethiopian-born educator and economist who emigrated to the United States in 2009, purchased the Gloucester City corner bar from Irene Delimaris in July of 2015, and is in the midst of freshening up the nearly century-old institution by evolving the name to O’Donnell’s Restaurant & Bar, and bringing in New York-based Chef Darryl Harmon to conceive a cutting-edge new menu while tapping former Twenty Manning Grill sous chef Issaka Fofana to run the kitchen. He was also named “Chef of the Year” by the American Culinary Federation by the South Jersey chapter of the Professional Chef’s Association in 2009.
Many of the menu items include boxing references, paying homage to boxing legend “KO” Joe O’Donnell, the one-time lightweight Champion of the World, who originally opened his pub in 1923 while as a Gloucester City resident. With Chef Fofana manning the kitchen, the menu at O’Donnell’s will surely experience a major upgrade. Fofana, who was born in Mali, West Africa, and raised in France, was the sous chef at Twenty Manning Grill from 2006 to 2008, and again for the past two years, working under revered Chef Kiong Banh. He was also the sous chef at the Water Works Restaurant under Chef Harmon from 2008 to 2013, and spent time in the kitchens at Audrey Claire, The Rittenhouse Hotel and the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel.
“Bringing in Chefs Harmon and Fofana has already been a game changer for me,” said Hunde. “Their professionalism and knowledge of how to design a menu, source premium ingredients and prepare delectable cuisine is incredibly impressive, and I’m certain they are going to put O’Donnell’s on the map for delicious food in South Jersey.”The restaurant will also be adding locally-brewed craft beers and distilled spirits, as well as a “bar bites” menu. Many of the menu items include boxing references, paying homage to boxing legend “KO” Joe O’Donnell, the one-time lightweight Champion of the World, who originally opened his pub in 1923 while as a Gloucester City resident.
Although Creepy, Snakes Help the Environment
Dear Cleary Notebook Readers,
Recently, my Mullica Hill neighbor discovered a black snake curled up on top of their porch column. Encounters like this can startle anyone, but it’s worth remembering that most snakes in New Jersey are harmless—and helpful. They keep the mouse, mole, and even some bird populations in check.
A Copperhead Close Call in West Virginia
Years ago, my father and I were visiting my brother Rich in West Virginia. Dad picked up what looked like an innocent pile of rags in the garage—until he felt movement. He dropped the bundle instantly. Hidden inside was a copperhead. Dad didn’t hesitate. With a flat shovel, he removed the snake’s head. Rich had two young sons at the time, and a bite from that copperhead could have been fatal. Dad kept a photo of that snake—head separated from body—in his wallet for years as a reminder of how quickly danger can appear.
Gary Devine, Mullica Hill, NJ, former resident of Gloucester City
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EDITOR’S NOTE–A few years ago, Peyton and I were walking home from the Cold Springs School campus. As we turned onto East Thompson Avenue, traffic was stopped in both directions. Lying in the middle of the road was a large black snake. Using my walking staff, I gently lifted the snake, which instinctively wrapped itself around the pole. I carried it to the nearby field and released it. A resident told me the snake had fallen from one of the tall trees lining the sidewalk. Nature has a way of surprising us.
19 Different Snake Species Alive in New Jersey—
—According to https://birdwatchinghq.com/snakes-in-New-Jersey/ their are 19 snakes species in New Jersey. Only two are deadly: #1. The Eastern Copperhead #2, The Timber Rattlesnake
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- The Eastern Copperhead
- Agkistrodon contortrix
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults reach lengths between 20 and 37 inches.
- Stout body, broad head, and elliptical pupils.
- Coloration varies from pale tan to pinkish-tan with darker, splotchy, hourglass-shaped bands, which are darker at the edges.
Look for these VENOMOUS snakes in northern New Jersey in deciduous forests and mixed woodlands, often near rocky outcroppings. You’re more likely to see them active during the day in the spring and fall when the weather is cooler. During the middle of summer, Eastern Copperheads are often nocturnal.
#2. Timber Rattlesnake
- Crotalus horridus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults typically range from 30 to 60 inches in length.
- Coloration is variable and generally ranges from yellowish-brown to gray to almost black. Look for dark brown or black crossbands on their back.
- Heavy-bodied with characteristic rattle on the tail.
The Timber Rattlesnake, also known as the Canebrake Rattlesnake, is found in a wide variety of habitats in New Jersey. Look for these venomous snakes in lowland thickets, high areas around rivers and flood plains, agricultural areas, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests.
To see the list of snakes in NJ click here https://birdwatchinghq.com/snakes-in-New-Jersey/
New Signs on the West Side of Gloucester City
–Recently, a set of seven traffic signs (top photo)was erected on King Street across from the Holt Marine Terminal. Travelers are pointed towards Interstate 295, Interstate 676, Route 42, the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges.
Go south on King Street to Cumberland Street you will find a single post holding eight signs(bottom photo). On one side of the structure, signs are pointing towards Gloucester Catholic, Restaurants, Gloucester Middle School, and Youth Athletic Complex. On the other side there are three signs pointing north and one pointing south. Listed on those pointing north are the Historical Society, Holt Logistics, Police Dept./Courthouse. At the very bottom is a sign directing travelers to the Proprietor’s Park.