Media release, April 6, 2008

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey softball team picked up a pair of New Jersey Athletic Conference wins on Sunday sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Richard Stockton College. The Lions edged the Ospreys 2-1 in the opening game and won the second, 7-0.

TCNJ is now 14-10 on the season and squared its NJAC record at 2-2. Richard Stockton saw its modest four-game winning streak come to an end falling to 17-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Game 1: TCNJ 2, Richard Stockton 1
The first game started as a pitcher’s dual as Richard Stockton’s Kaitlyn Corica (Iselin, NJ/JFK) and TCNJ’s Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) each kept the opposition’s bats quiet in the first two innings.

The Ospreys opened the scoring in the top of the third as junior Jamie Heller (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) singled and later scored on a passed ball.

That lead was short lived as sophomore Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) drilled a two-run homer run to left center scoring freshman Colleen Cawley (Riverton, NJ/Holy Cross). Those runs put TCNJ in front, 2-1.

Minervini tossed a complete game for the Lions to earn the win as she gave up one run on six hits with nine strikeouts.

Corica suffered the loss for the Ospreys despite giving up only two runs on a pair of hits.

At the plate for the Ospreys, Danielle Accardi (East Brunswick, NJ/Mount St. Mary) and Natalie Berrios (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) each finished with two hits.

Game 2: TCNJ 7, Richard Stockton 0
TCNJ jumped out to an early lead in the second game as sophomore Rachel Greeby (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) drove in run in the first with a single.

The Lions added two more runs in the second as junior Kelly Armstrong (Jackson, NJ/Memorial) raced home on a throwing error and Steph Cintron (Northvale, NJ/Old Tappan) scored on a ground out by Cawley.

TCNJ made it a 4-0 game in the fourth as Camille Heller (Maple Shade, NJ/Maple Shade) doubled, was pinch ran for by Cintron, who eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Kathy Sikora (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).

Cawley added another run for TCNJ in the sixth as she singled in a run with a base hit to left field.

In the seventh, freshman Amy Ullrich (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) hit her first collegiate home run with a two-run shot to left field.

Freshman Alex Sietsma (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) started for the Lions and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings before leaving the game after being hit by a line drive. Minervini closed out the game picking up her second win of the afternoon.

Accardi took the loss for Richard Stockton dropping her record to 7-2.

Greeby had a bid game at the plate for the Lions with four hits, while Cawley had three.

Berrios and Barb Kutch (Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) each had two hits for the Ospreys.

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Bills Point of View:

When I received an email from one of the readers of my blog about Gloucester High School participating in Q102 Radio promotion called Pimp Your Prom I was hesitant to post the announcement. The word \”Pimp\” I thought was offensive and I couldn\’t understand why a radio station would choose such a word for a contest. According to Roget\’ Super Thesaurus, the word means whoremonger, agent, flesh peddler, madam, hustler.

I checked the list of schools participating in the contest such as Paul XI, Cardinal Dougherty High School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Eastern Regional, Williamstown High School, Holy Spirit High School, Glassboro High School, Gateway Regional etc. I thought it must be okay or there wouldn\’t be so many schools involved. And I noticed Williamstown High School actually held a Pep Rally on campus to further advance the school\’s ranking on the nomination list.

The radio station\’s promo for the Pimp Your Prom contest states, Sony Pictures and Q102 want to take Over Your Prom! The nominations are in! Vote for your high school now! The school we select will have Q102\’s Jessie Jordan and Rocco hosting your prom along with DJ Richie Rich. We\’ll bring tons of giveaways, concert tickets, artist meet and greets and more! And we will even get some of you live on the radio! We\’ll also hook up one person from the winning school with formal wear and limo transportation to and from the prom!

 

So against my better judgment on Friday with all good intentions I wrote a blurb about the contest and posted it on ClearysNoteBook. I was still uncomfortable with the use of the word Pimp. But maybe I was overreacting.

 

Throughout the weekend I received several comments on the post. It seems the terminology was also upsetting to others. For example: 

Michael Kazmar (GHS Class of 81) wrote, \”Wow! How things have changed at old\’ GHS. When I was there (1980-81 proms) the students on the prom committee, along with our advisers (Mr. Tomarchio, Fran Thomas, for example) took care of selecting the entertainment, the centerpieces and the venue. We then sold tickets and got our tuxedos and gowns with saved-up earnings from our part-time jobs. We decorated the room and then got in our own cars or those borrowed from our parents (a limousine, are you kidding?) Our own hard work and passion for a good time for all was the result! We didn\’t need a radio station to \”pimp\” our prom.
It is really, really sad that the word \”pimp\” or \”pimping\” is glorified and used so loosely and associated with a student activity at my old school. \”

 

Another remark received on the topic was from Scott MacAdams.

\”I have to agree with Mr. Kazmar. My first response was disgust and I must admit I hesitated to respond because I thought it may not be the politically correct thing to do. I, too, went to public school but I am sure not proud to be associated with that crap. Yeah, it\’s the society we live in but I don\’t have to like it. No wonder the American graduation rate is horrible. There are some wonderful people I know as teachers, but for the most part the system has failed. America took the Word of God out of the public schools in 1963. Think there is any correlation to the decay in society. I am proud of Mr. Kazmar and his response, I\’m just not happy with myself on this one having had a second of hesitation in saying what I truly believe.\”

And then Sunday evening this comment without a name,

\”Does anyone recall that just a few years ago the Q-102 DJs came through Gloucester City making fun of us? I will not forget and that is why I think this is a shame. I also have to agree with this \”pimping\” word becoming fashionable. It is leading to many negative behaviors. Please reconsider this.\”

 

I had forgotten about the incident involving Q-102 DJ\’s who said, and I am paraphrasing, \”all Gloucester girls are toothless, fat and ugly\”. Or words to that effect.That was the last straw, so to speak. I had forgotten about that episode.

I have decide not to give the contest anymore publicity on ClearysNoteBook and I have removed the announcement from the site.

I haven\’t spoken with the school administration so I don\’t know if they approved the contest or not. Although one would presumed they did since the administration would have to allow the radio station access to school property.

 

Unpopular as it may be among students to withdraw the school from the contest, I believe it would behoove our school board and administrators to reexamine the school\’s participation in the \”Pimp Your Prom\” contest.

 

If for no other reason the word \”Pimp\” is demeaning to all women. A word that should not be associated with Gloucester City High School or the community of Gloucester City.

By Sgt. Jasmine Chopra, USA Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, April 4, 2008 – He was a husband, father, soldier and leader, but today Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, the 3rd Infantry Division\’s 51st Medal of Honor recipient was remembered here simply as a hero. Task Force Marne soldiers who organized a remembrance ceremony for U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, April 4, 2008, stand in the courtyard where Smith gave his life in defense of others five years ago. For his selfless service, Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2005. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jasmine Chopra (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. U.S troops held a remembrance ceremony the courtyard where five years ago to the day, Smith gave his life in defense of others. On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a short-term enemy prisoner of war holding area near the Baghdad International Airport when his unit was attacked by enemy soldiers. Outnumbered, with wounded soldiers and damaged vehicles, Smith told his men to get back, as he manned a .50-caliber machine gun from the exposed turret of an armored personnel carrier damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. He fired at the enemy and unleashed some 300 rounds allowing his other soldiers to reorganize and mount an attack. Smith and his men defeated the enemy. During the attack Smith fell mortally wounded. A disciplined, no-nonsense platoon sergeant with the division\’s Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Smith received the nation\’s highest award for bravery in 2005. \”He was a soldier who took care of soldiers … he lost his life doing it,\” said Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, who commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team at the time of Smith\’s death. Now the deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Grimsley recommended Smith for the Medal of Honor. He was one of several leaders who knew Smith and took time out from operations today in order to attend the ceremony. In 2003, Capt. Christopher Doerr, of the 3rd Infantry Division\’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, was a 23-year-old brand-new second lieutenant. \”I\’ll always treasure the fact I got to serve with and know Sgt. 1st Class Smith,\” Doerr said. He admired Smith\’s expertise, precision and dedication to mission accomplishment. \”He was an expert engineer, the best in the battalion,\” Doerr said. \”The way he motivated his soldiers, they didn\’t necessarily like him, he wasn\’t their friend, but he made them train to standard. \”It all makes sense now, why he pushed us, why we did the things we did. Now we are here because of that,\” Doerr said. Smith had been in combat when he was a young private first class in Desert Storm. In Kuwait, just days before invading Iraq, Doerr asked Smith to tell him what war was going to be like. \”He said, \’war is hell,\’ and he showed me that first hand,\” Doerr said. \”He laid it all on the line and that was not a fluke … he was concerned for the safety of his men and others and he put that above his own personal safety, and I think you\’ve got to say he\’s a hero for that.\” More than 200 people attended the remembrance ceremony, including Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, who in 2003 was the deputy commander for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division. Large-scale pictures showed Sgt. 1st Class Smith in desert camouflage uniform days before the battle. Diagrams, mounted on an armored personnel carrier like the one Smith used, detailed his heroic action. Visible from the courtyard was the bullet-riddled tower that the enemy had fought for but failed to seize. A bugler played Taps and, after the ceremony, soldiers walked the site and reflected on the sacrifice he had made for our country. (U.S. Army Sgt. Sgt. Jasmine Chopra is assigned to the Multinational Division – Center Public Affairs Office.)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Rutgers baseball team, 7-5, in the series opener Friday evening in front of 1,062 fans at Frank Eck Stadium.

Down, 4-2, in the fourth, the Scarlet Knights (8-16, 2-5 BIG EAST) chipped away at the Irish’s (14-9, 5-2 BIG EAST) lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, thanks to an RBI single from Dan Betteridge (Sewell, N.J.) and an RBI double from Vic Cegles (Phoenix, Ariz.) to tie it up.

ND’s A.J. Pollock put the Irish back on top with a two-out, solo home run to left field in the seventh.

The Scarlet Knights battled right back, however, against Notre Dame closer Kyle Weiland. SophomoreBrett Garlick (Livingston, N.J.) hit a one-out single to the hole on the left side and stole second to move into scoring position. A groundout to second off the bat of Cegles moved Garlick over to third and the Scarlet Knights tied it up when Garlick came around to score on a Donny Callahan (Sparta, N.J.) bloop single to center field.

Reliever Matt Patterson (Passaic, N.J.)ran into a jam in the eighth with runners on first and second and handed the ball over to closer Jason Downey (Ballston Lake, N.J.). Downey’s first batter, Billy Boockford hit a hard grounder through the hole on the left side just out of the reach of the diving Betteridge at shortstop to score Jeremy Barnes from second base for what proved to be the game-winning run.

Wieland (1-0) then retired the Scarlet Knights in order in the ninth to earn the victory with one run allowed on two hits and a pair of strikeouts in two innings of relief work for the Irish. Patterson (2-1) was tagged with the loss with three runs let up on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief. Junior Matt Giannini (Millington, N.J.) didn’t factor in the decision, despite six solid innings of work on the mound for the Scarlet Knights.

Rutgers scored its first two runs with in the third and fourth thanks to RBI singles from Betteridge and Garlick.

RU left a total of 10 runners on base in the contest, stranding Betteridge at third in the fifth inning.

The Scarlet Knights registered 13 hits on the day, including seven combined hits from the bottom third of its order, consisting of Luis Feliz (New Brunswick, N.J.), Garlick and Cegles. Betteridge and Garlick each had three hits to lead the way.

Rutgers and Notre Dame will continue its series tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. game at Frank Eck Stadium. Sophomore righty Kyle Bradley (Howell, N.J.) will be on the mound for the Scarlet Knights against senior lefty Wade Korpi for the Irish.

www.courierpostonline.com

Gloucester County Freeholder-Director Stephen M. Sweeney said he hopes church leaders will present some sort of plan to local government officials about the future uses of the five church properties that will close and potentially be sold.

\”The disturbing thing is Gloucester County is the first or second fastest growing county in the state and the diocese is decreasing services here,\” Sweeney said. \”We\’ve been fighting them for years to get a Catholic high school here. Closing churches is not sending the right message.\”

In Deptford, two churches — St. John Vianney and Most Holy Redeemer — are scheduled to merge with out-of-town parishes.

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HUEBER, THOMAS G. SR.
Age 45, suddenly on April 1, of Blackwood, Gloucester Twp.
Dearly beloved husband of Wendy (nee Donahue) and loving father of Thomas Jr., son of the late Joseph and Jetty (nee Smith), nine brothers and sisters Joseph, Michael, Marie, Emory, Patrick, Daniel, Geraldine, Raphael, Theresa, Jane Christensen and the late Edward, 19 nieces and nephews and 24 great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by in-laws Charles and Dorothy McCloskey, Peter and the late Irene Polakow, and the late Gerald Donahue.
Tom was a member of HOA Division 39 of Philadelphia and the Teamsters Local 107.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am, Saturday, April 5, at St. Agnes RC Church, 701 Little Gloucester Rd., Gloucester Twp. The viewing will be after 8:00am on Saturday morning at THE FUNERAL MANOR, 1585 Hider Lane, Gloucester Twp. The family request donations be given in Tom\’s name to Thomas G. Hueber, Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Commerce Bank, 601 College Drive, Blackwood, NJ 08012. Services are under the direction of Addison G. Bradley 856-228-6900

 

The winner of the Gloucester City Police Department vs. the Gloucester City Fire Department Wing Eating Challenge was the Police.

The final count Guns consumed 480 wings compared to The Hoses who ate 477 wings.

Media Release, April 4 By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service EN ROUTE TO MUSCAT, Oman, April 4, 2008 – The United States may send more troops to Afghanistan in 2009, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confirmed today. President Bush said during the NATO summit conference that ended today that he expects the United States would make a significant additional contribution to the Afghanistan mission next year, Gates said. But Gates backed off any specific commitment, saying the United States first wants to see how much support comes from other allies and how security efforts progress in 2008. \”I don\’t want to make significant long-term commitments of additional U.S. forces before giving the allies the opportunity to see what they\’re going to do,\” Gates said. The French announced a battalion\’s worth of troops — about 700 — would take on part of the mission. Gates also said other nations made commitments for troops and special teams. A U.S. official at the summit said about a dozen or so countries have made commitments, but it would be a few weeks before final numbers could be tallied. Gates said the 3,500 U.S. Marines deploying to Afghanistan this month through November will be able handle the 2008 fighting season, and that there is no reason to push sending more U.S. troops. \”Given explicit recognition by the alliance that this is a long-term project, I think waiting a while before committing additional forces of any consequence from the United States makes sense in a number of different areas,\” Gates said. Also, because the mission there is an alliance undertaking, one of the considerations is how large a role the United States should play, as opposed to other allies being involved up front as well, he said. The secretary did not say how many troops would be sent, but it likely will not be the 3,500 additional combat troops commanders on the ground have requested. He also did not say where the troops would be deployed, saying that decision likely would be made by the new International Security Assistance Force commander scheduled to be selected this summer. Gates said progress in 2007 showed the Taliban they cannot win a conventional fight against NATO troops. The Taliban also now control no territory in the country, leading them to resort to terrorist tactics. Successes in the country in 2008 will determine how many, if any, and what types of troops would be deployed, Gates said. Still, because of the importance of the mission there, Gates said, the United States is prepared to commit \”substantial\” troops. But he added that no specific plans to send additional troops are in the works. Even with the war in Iraq extending troop deployments there and dwindling \”dwell time\” at home for troops between deployments, there is strong political and public support for sending additional troops to Afghanistan, Gates said. The secretary said a \”big piece\” of any decision on troop levels in Afghanistan depends on whether deployments to Iraq can be shortened. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, is slated to report to Bush and Congress next week on progress and the way ahead in Iraq.

Biographies: Robert M. Gates

http://www.postbulletin.com

Hunting is about spending time with my dad. My dad has taught me almost everything I know about hunting, and whether we\’re hunting coon or turkeys I think we both enjoy every minute of it. I am also involved in athletics but since my dad didn\’t play sports in high school he doesn\’t really connect to me in that way. That is why hunting is so important to my family. We both love deer and turkey hunting and we\’ve had great success at both. I hope in the future hunting can be something I can pass on to my children. I hope to get my kids involved in nature so they don\’t fall into the trap of always sitting around on the couch and being active outdoors.

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LOUNGO, ANNA
(nee Grello). On April 1, 2008 of Audubon Park, NJ, age 90.
Beloved wife of the late Anthony Loungo, devoted mother of Ida Watkins of Audubon Park, NJ, Joseph W. Loungo, Sr. (Peg) of Glassboro, NJ and Joanne Hardymon of Audubon Park, NJ. Dear sister of Vito Grello, loving grandmother \’Gram\’ of eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Friday, April 4, 2008 from 9:30am – 10:45am at Holy Maternity Church, 431 W. Nicholson Rd, Audubon, NJ.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 in the church. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ.