by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 When my wife Keiko and I visited my home town of Gloucester City N.J. There were many people asked us many questions and the one popular one seemed to be about the Japanese educational system. So I\’ll now try to do my best to explain a portion of it.

What is education? If education is learning to conform to group standards and learning to recite as many facts as possible to pass the next exam, then Japan has a good educational system. The excellent performance of Japanese students in the classroom cannot be denied.

A few years ago it was reported that Japan had 99% literacy rate while 25% of American students did not graduate from high school. According to a test conducted by the Stockholm-based International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement for Japanese 10-year-olds, along with their Korean and Finnish counterparts, scored around 15.4 out of 24 possible correct answers to science questions.

American students have one advantage that many foreign students do not. It is the freedom of being uninhibited. We Americans have the most open school system in the entire world. It encourages pupils to express their individuality and beliefs.

We Americans believe from childhood that we have the right and obligation of free expression which includes challenging their teachers.

Japan does not have the ethnic diversity of America. Japanese classes are nearly always made up of Japanese students whose forefathers were all Japanese. Critics say the nationally uniform materials dampen creativity and smother the Japanese individual and personal growth.

What factors contribute to effective debating on the international level? On the one hand, it has been noted that American students are among the first to voice their views.

The Americans excel in analyzing opinions and giving their personal evaluations.

On the other hand, the Japanese students possess an abundance of information which is necessary to base arguments on.

With a mixing of such qualities as having the readiness to speak up,factual awareness, and the power to reason, The Japanese and American educational systems be envied world wide.

My wife and I had a great and memorable stay at my brother Joe Miller\’s home in Gloucester City over the Christmas and the New Year Holidays.

We got to see many old friends an family and got to part-take in eating many wonderful dinners.

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City,Japan

 

Hank, Keiko Miller & Family

 

New Effort Designed to Deter Motorists from Running Red Lights

FREEHOLD — Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer, joined by officers from the Freehold Township, Manalapan and Marlboro Police Departments, today unveiled a new law enforcement and public awareness initiative designed to deter motorists from running red lights.

\”Red-light running, like speeding, tailgating and not stopping or slowing at stop-controlled intersections, is an aggressive driving behavior that is truly a national safety problem,\” Fischer said. \”Every year, more than 200,000 crashes, resulting in nearly 1,000 fatalities and 180,000 injuries, occur across the country as a result of drivers who ran through a red light. The injury rate for red-light crashes is nearly 47 percent higher then for other crash types.\”

Under the new program, the police departments will set up weekly surveillance sites at undisclosed intersections on major roadways in their municipalities. Officers will be located in every direction at each intersection and, for a set period of time, issue summonses to motorists who ignore red lights.

New Jersey law requires motorists to stop for a yellow light, unless it is too dangerous to stop safely. A motorist convicted of running a red light is assessed two points on his/her drivers\’ license and an $85 fine.

\”This is an excellent opportunity for law enforcement to educate motorists regarding the consequences of not stopping for red lights,\” Freehold Township Police Chief Ernest Schriefer stated. \”Our agency reported over 2,400 motor vehicle crashes last year with over 12 percent occurring at intersections. This multi-jurisdictional program will promote stopping safely for red lights. Motorists that fail to stop for a red light will be stopped by our police officers and issued violations.\”

According to Fischer, while a red-light runner can be any age, typically drivers involved in such crashes are under 30 years of age, have a record of moving violations, are driving alone, without a valid license, and are rushing to work or school in the morning weekday hours. Often red-light crashes involve alcohol, as well, she noted.

A cooperative partnership between the law enforcement agencies, the Freehold Raceway Mall and CBS Outdoor Mall Division, the new effort also includes signage located at five locations throughout the mall alerting shoppers to the crackdown. Four signs are located at major exit points inside the mall, while one sign has been placed directly outside the mall=s main entrance. The signs, which state \”Stop for the Red, or Stop for Us\” and feature uniformed police officers from all three municipalities, were also designed to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving as motorists leave the mall enroute to busy area roadways.

In addition, a brochure explaining the initiative, including the potential physical and monetary consequences that can result from running a red light, was mailed to the parents of all Freehold Regional School District high school students, by the Freehold Township Police Department.

Fischer noted that it is critical to include teen drivers in efforts such as this, to ensure that they not only learn the importance of traffic safety laws, but the dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences associated with violating them.

\”Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers,\” Fischer said. \”Parents who received this brochure are encouraged to use it to talk with their teens about how they can stay safe behind the wheel.\”

Each of the three participating police departments received a $17,000 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety to implement the initiative, which will run through 2008.

# # #

source www.presstelegram.com

The rock cod were off limits for January and February and the guys weren\’t excited about the only fishing available, which was basically sculpin and sand dabs. Sure, bass were also available if you had live squid, which didn\’t appear very often. So everybody looked forward to the giant, red devil squid working their way into the Los Angeles waters. They finally showed up and were so thick they chased the rockfish out of the area. Also, all the pelagics, yellowtail, barracuda and calicos went somewhere else to escape these scavenging critters.
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GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men’s basketball team overcame a 20 point deficit to defeat The College of New Jersey, 68-62 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday.

TCNJ had a 36-21 halftime lead. The Lions extended their advantage to 20 points (45-25) following a three point play by forward Mark Aziz (sr. Hackettstown, NJ/West Morris) at 15:40. TCNJ guard Corey Gilmore’s (sr. S. Plainfield, NJ/S. Plainfield) free throw at 11:23 made the score 52-36. Rowan went on a 16-4 run over the next 9:02 to go ahead 62-56 with 2:21 remaining. Guard Michael Farrow (fr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) paced the Profs with 12 points, while guard Kevin Darby (jr. Atco, NJ/Hammonton) followed with six and forward Dwayne Reevey (sr. Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) added four. Farrow’s three-pointer at 4:45 gave Rowan a 57-56 lead. Guard Jeff Warner (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) nailed a three-pointer with 1:13 to bring the Lions within two points (64-62). Darby and forward Matt Byrnes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) each made two free throws with 19 and nine seconds remaining respectively to seal the victory.

Rowan improves to 12-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while TCNJ has a 5-11 record and a 1-4 NJAC mark. The Profs were led by Byrnes and Darby with 20 points apiece. Farrow contributed with 16 points off the bench. Reevey chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds. For the Lions, guard Jay Frank (so. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed five boards. Aziz and Gilmore added nine points apiece, while Warner had eight.

In the first half, the game was tied three times before TCNJ took control. Reevey’s foul shot at 10:09 tied the score at 17. The Lions scored the next seven points to lead 24-17 at 5:47. Frank had five points, while Gilmore had two. Byrnes made two free throws at 4:29 to cut the deficit to five points (24-19). TCNJ closed out the half by outscoring the Profs 12-2. Frank recorded seven of the 12 points. He led all scorers with 22 points at the break. Byrnes had 14 points for Rowan.

01/23/08
To Furrever Friends Rescue & Volunteers\’ dedicated volunteers, supporters and the community,

It is with a torn heart that I am writing to inform you that Furrever Friends Rescue & Volunteers is shutting down ALL our rescue efforts until further notice. We have often briefly closed when, like many rescues, we are filled to capacity. This is not the case now though.

Furrever Friends Rescue is closing at this time due to the fact we have been fighting the aggressive efforts of Brooklawn Township to shut down one of our foster homes in their town. The town has refused to work with our volunteer foster, Ms. Smith, and instead has fined her under their \”pet limit ordinance\”.

We have stayed open up until now while we tried to reason with Brooklawn about the importance of animal rescuing and the crucial part foster homes play in it. However even after attempts to work with the town and with a pending trial in Superior Court, Brooklawn has continued their harassing tactics.

This letter is to express our frustration, notify you of our current intentions and hope that you will support us in this trying time. Currently we are paying our lawyer to put in a \”stay\” in an effort to make sure that the township of Brooklawn cannot send daily fines to Ms. Smith until our trial in March. Obviously, our money is going to these court efforts. Though it hurts us to be directing our donated funds (yes, it\’s 100% donations) into the legal system instead of the animals themselves, it is necessary. The fact is, our foster, Ms. Smith, should certainly not be harassed by Brooklawn with fines when rescue work is such an asset and our foster home there is too crucial to the animals they help for Furrever Friends to simply wave a white flag by moving out all her foster pets, the only reason Ms. Smith is over the limit to begin with. With this effort, we are trying to protect ALL foster homes and animal caretakers that may be in a similar situation.

For the full story, see our website at
FFRV.PETFINDER.ORG or WWW.TRAPPEDCATS.COM

Sincerely,
Jen Wesh

\”I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs … [They] are an obligation out on us, a responsibility we have no right to neglect, nor to violate by cruelty.\” -James Herriot  

January 23, 2008

Mr. Cleary:

 

As a long time Gloucester City resident, born and raised here, I was dismayed to see the largest utility poles I have ever seen placed on Broadway and Market Streets during the past week. I would appreciate it if you would check into this situation since I have heard that PSE&G put up the new poles to provide additional electrical capacity to Cooper Hospital in Camden and to supply additional power to other towns.

 

To add insult to injury, I believe Cooper plans to place all cables and electrical service under ground because it is new construction. Gloucester City may be an older community but we should not be made to look like an industrial area and we certainly do not exist as the right of way for Camden\’s improvements. If this is true, why has Gloucester City been made to look like an industrial area?

 

Surely the utility would not have employed this strategy in Cherry Hill, Collingswood or Haddonfield! If PSE&G plans to sell additional electrical capacity to other communities through the poles in our City, then let those cities get the 70 ft. poles lining their main streets.

 

Lastly, if the lines are carrying a higher load, does this pose a health hazard, especially to our children in schools nearby off Market Street and Broadway?

 

Mr. Cleary, I would appreciate it if you would research this situation and make the public aware of what is going on through your blog on Cleary\’s Notebook and/or editorials in the Gloucester City News, as well as lobbying appropriate county and state representatives to stop this situation.

 

As you are also a lifetime resident of this city, I am sure that you do not want to see the city decline. Since the roads that the poles are being placed on are County roads, has the County sold us down the river? I despise the politicians using Gloucester City as a dumping ground for everything that no other city would accept.

 

Signed a Disgusted Gloucester City Resident

RITTER, OLGA K.
(Nee Komesaruk), on January 19, 2008, of Brooklawn. Age 85.
Beloved wife of the late Roy Ritter. Devoted mother of Bruce M.Ritter and his wife Mary. Loving grandmom of Stefanie and LaurenRitter. Dear sister of William Komesaruk and his wife Mae and late Michael Komesaruk.Also survived by her nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing from 9:30 to 11am Friday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Service 11am at the funeral home.
Interment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Olga\’s memory to Lighthouse Hospice, 1040 Kings Hwy. North, Suite 100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to Condolences@Gardner FuneralHome.c

PERGOLA, KATHLEEN

On January 23, 2008, Kate (nee Grady), age 44, passed away at her home after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. A resident of Haddon Township, Kate grew up in Audubon and was a 1981 graduate of Audubon High School.
Kate is lovingly survived by her husband, Scott; her 3 sons, Matthew, Zachary and Wade; her parents, Charles and Diane Grady; her 4 siblings, Michael Grady (Wife, Patty), Kelly Hill (Husband, Rich), Jennifer Furlong (Husband, Joe) and Bill Grady (Wife, Billie Jo); her mother-in-law, Carol Pergola (Late Husband, Barry); her two sister-in-laws, Lisa Navroth (Husband, Jim) and Stephanie Pini (Husband, Michael); 23 nieces and nephews as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Friday evening from 6:30 – 8:30 PM and again Saturday morning after 9:30 AM at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church, 901 Hopkins Road, Haddon Township, NJ 08033. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday morning 11:00 AM at St. Vincent Pallotti Church. Interment following the mass will be at Mt. Holly Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations benefitting breast cancer survivors may be made to the Pink Tie Foundation Inc., PO Box 130, Audubon, NJ 08106.

CHIUMENTO, HENRY J.
On January 20, 2008 formerly of Audubon, NJ, age 89 years, beloved husband of the late Rose C. (nee Cianci). Dear father of Robert (Deborah), loving grandfather of Nicholas Andre, Elizabeth Rose andMargaret Anne. Dear brother of Carmen, John, Edith, Joe and the late Ann and Carl.
Mr. Chiumento was a veteran of WWII and retired employee of CBS Records in Pitman, NJ.
Relatives and friends of the family will gather for his viewing and funeral mass on Monday, January 28, 2008, 10:00 am at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 4th Ave. and Kings Highway in Haddon Heights, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ. Arrangements by BOCCO FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorial contributions to the Rose Chiumento Scholarship Fund c/o Audubon High School, 350 Edgewood Ave., Audubon, NJ 08106.

GELLURA, SUSIE R.
(nee Ruggiero) On January 23, 2008, age 88, of Mt. Ephraim, NJ.
Beloved wife of the late Carl V. Gellura. Devoted
mother of Carolyn (Joseph) Grande of Turnersville, Arlene (Buck) Tuthill of Hilltop, Barbara S. Gellura of Gibbsboro, Donna Delgreco of Coraopolis, PA and (the late Robert). Loving grandmother of Joseph, Jason, Daniel, Michael, Gina and Julie. Great grandmother of Michael. Special adopted mother to LuAnn & Katie Watson. Loving aunt of Angie Albanese and Rita Litzner and many other nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Gellura was a member of the Sons of Italy Lodge Mt. Ephraim, the Altar & Rosary Society, also Mt. Carmel Society, Camden. A member of the J & R Young at Heart Club, Runnemede and the 65+ Club.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing Saturday from 8am-9:45am at Sacred Heart Church Kings Hwy, Mt. Ephraim, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday 10am at the Church. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ. Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Care One Resident Activity Fund where she resided 870 East Rt 70 Marlton, NJ 08053 in Susie\’s memory.
Arrangements by MAHAFFEY-MILANO FUNERAL HOME Mt. Ephraim,