By Bill Bates 

NEWS Correspondent 

 

Residents in Mount Ephraim no longer have to wait for a mutual aid ambulance if they call 911 during the daytime hours. Monday, September 4th marked the first day of the first full week of having daytime Emergency Medical Services personnel provided by Virtua Health. Mount Ephraim\’s EMS has signed a contract with Virtua that gives them staffing from Monday thru Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. including all applicable holidays. The Virtua Health employees are all NJ State certified Emergency Medical Technicians that go through continuous training throughout the year. These EMT\’s will be staffing Mount Ephraim\’s ambulances and will be stationed at the MEPRI Ambulance garage to the rear of the MEPRI building on Kings Highway.  

 

PHOTO BY BILL BATES 

 

DUTY CREW RESPONDS – Virtua Health EMT Laurie Bernstein (left) and EMT Walt Woodward (right) respond to a Cardiac Emergency call that came in as I visited the crew at the MEPRI Ambulance building on Friday afternoon. This was one of eight calls that the duty crew had during their 12 hour day shift in Mount Ephraim.

The Mount Ephraim Police Reserves Incorporated Emergency Medical Services, also known as the MEPRI EMS, has been serving the borough of Mount Ephraim and its neighboring communities since 1945. They have seen many changes over the years and by far this is one of the best decisions the organization has ever made. 

 

\”This is an exciting change that the officers of our organization have worked very hard to bring for the residents of the Borough of Mount Ephraim\” said MEPRI EMS Chief Joe Lutz. \”I want to personally thank each and every member for their effort that they have put forth since we have become licensed\” he also added. Members have done everything from replaced light bulbs to mounting fire extinguishers in both rigs, which is one of the many requirements by the state. The members did an awesome job in making the trucks look great for the recent inspection.  

 

Both of MEPRI Ambulances recently met the requirements for the state to issue a state license to the organization. One of the main requirements is that the ambulance must have a minimal of two EMT\’s on board in order to respond to any emergency call. This license also allows the organization to \”soft bill\” the patients\’ insurance company for services rendered. If the patients insurance company only pays a percentage of that bill and not the entire amount, the patient nor the insurance company are responsible for that outstanding balance. In essence, MEPRI EMS only receives the amount that the insurance company is willing to pay. If a patient does not have insurance, the patient is not responsible for the expenses incurred. The money that is paid to Mount Ephraim EMS from the insurance companies will be more than enough to pay for the services that are provided by Virtua Health. This means that there will be no tax burden on any resident to have these services in place. 

 

The last time Mount Ephraim had daytime EMS coverage was almost 15 years ago when at that time only one adult had to work to support the household. Many members were homemakers and those who worked the second shift. As time passed, more and more families were starting to rely on that second spouse for additional income to cover the basic costs of living. \”At one time we had approximately 12 to 15 members that were available to turn the wheels during the daytime hours. We never even had any trouble getting a second ambulance during those hours as well\” said retired member Marietta Corson who ran with the MEPRI ambulance for over __ years. \”Frank & I lived right up the street and we always had a good response time to the ambulance garage because we were so close.\” \”As more of our members returned to work during the daytime hours, it was harder and harder, year after year, to get the ambulance to respond.\” \”Eventually we had to turn about 75 percent of the daytime calls over to mutual aid to handle\” she also explained. 

 

An average call, from the time the pager goes off to the time you return to the ambulance building, can be anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the nature of the call. It is not easy to find many people who are willing to give up that time, not to mention all of the state mandated training that is required to keep your Emergency Medical Certification up-to-date from year to year. Thankfully, this expense is provided to each member by the NJ State Volunteer Training Fund. This allows members to complete the required training for free. 

 

\”We have been very fortunate, Mount Ephraim has a great group of young adults that are able to volunteer their time\” said EMS Captain Dan Walker who is a career EMT in a neighboring town that works a rotating schedule like most other professionals in his field. Several of the current volunteer members are from neighboring towns, but when they are on call, they are required to be in town and at the ambulance building. Mount Ephraim\’s current volunteers provide coverage to its town and surrounding communities when called upon from the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a .m. on Monday thru Friday. Members have an option from covering a 6 hour shift or if they wish they may cover the entire 12 hours. 

 

Mt. Ephraim still continuous its rotation \”Duty Weekend\” with Haddon Heights and Audubon Borough. One town covers an entire weekend from 6 a .m. on Saturday morning thru 6 a .m. on Monday morning. Each squad covers a weekend which responds to calls in all three towns and has the next two weekends off, until their rotation comes up again. The average number of calls on a \”Duty Weekend\” averages from about 13 to 18. These three ambulance organizations have been sharing this coverage for almost two years now and have had much success and praise from its members, local officials, and residents as well.  

 

\”We have been waiting for this day to come and it has finally here\” Said MEPRI President Frank Corson. Frank has been serving with the Mount Ephraim Police Reserves Incorporated organization for more than 25 years and has been president of the organization for the past __ years. The members of MEPRI EMS are looking forward to the many changes as the organization continues to blossom to new levels. 

HIRST MADELINE B. \”MADGE\”

On May 12, 2007, (nee Longo) Life long resident of Gloucester City, age 80 yrs. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles A. Hirst. She was the loving mother of Charles Hirst and his wife Judy, and Conrad Hirst and his wife Donna.. She is also survived by her dear grandchildren, Anthony Hirst, Tara Coyle, Nicole Daisey, Lourine Hirst, and Brad Hirst and Conrard Hirst. and 7 great grandchildren.

Madge was the former cook/ caretaker at both St. Mary\’s Church Rectory in Gloucester City and St. Joan of Arc Church Rectory in Fairview, Camden. Madge was also a member of several St. Mary\’s Church Prayer Groups and a former member of the St. Mary\’s Church Choir.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00am at St. Mary\’s Church 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City,NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00am. Interment to be held at the convenience of the family. There is no evening viewing. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Alex\’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, 333 Lancaster Avenue #414, Wynnewood, PA 19096 or donations may be made online at www. Alexslemonade.org.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, 700 Powell St., Gloucester City, NJ.

Joe DiGiacomo, (photo, left) and Arthur \”Ott\” Pacifico were bewitched five decades ago by the Boyle sisters from Gloucester City, Eppie and Cissie.

The married couples became an inseparable foursome.

Through years of raising families in the same duplex, vacationing in Avalon Manor when they still had to cart in water, and sharing a household best described as unusual, the two brothers-in-law were also fast friends.

Their friendship grew closer when their wives died and their children and neighbors started referring to them as the \”odd couple of Gloucester City.\”

Both died within the last five months at 87.

\”They headed strong Italian families, with good values, and lots of love,\” says Patrick Healey, whose funeral home welcomed what seemed like the entire town for the funerals of both men.

\”You never saw one without the other, and you never saw either without a smile.\”

Pacifico died in November, several months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. DiGiacomo died April 14.

\”I think he missed my uncle so much that he died of loneliness,\” says one of DiGiacomo\’s five children, Gloucester City resident Jo-Ann Allison.

Both men were ushers at St. Mary\’s Church and attended senior citizen meetings. They drove neighbors to doctor appointments and the supermarket, and were part of a group of about 20 oldtimers who met to play cards.

\”They lived together longer than they were married to their wives,\” Allison says.

story continues

LEYENDECKER
Helen E.
(nee Kluczynski) of Deptford, NJ died on May 10, 2007 at the age of 85 yrs. Beloved wife of Gilbert.
Loving mother of: Glenn A. Leyendecker (Josette) of Greenwood, DE, and Shirley H. Kalla of Clayton, NJ. Proud grandmother of Alexander Levi Leyendecker, her pride and joy. Helen is also survived by: 2 step-sisters Irene Stipcevich of Westmont, NJ, and Eleanore Podolak of Cherry Hill, NJ; numerous nieces and nephews, including her niece Jacquelyn Whitney of Berlin, NJ. She is predeceased by her brother Alfred Kluczynski, and her sister Ceceilie E. Miller.
Helen was a member of Stetser-LaMartine American Legion Unit 281 Auxiliary. She was an employee of RCA of Camden, from 1947-1960, and of Macy\’s Deptford from 1975-1985. She enjoyed going to the movies, spending time with her family and friends, and doing her cryptograms.
Viewing will be Monday eve. 7:00- 9:00 PM, and Tuesday 9:00-9:30 AM at EARLE FUNERAL HOME, 122 W. Church St., Blackwood, NJ 08012. Her Funeral Mass will follow Tuesday, 10:00 AM at St. John Vianney R. C. Church, Deptford, NJ. Interment will take place at Gloucester Co. Veteran\’s Cem. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated to St. John Vianney R.C. Church Building Fund, or to Stetser Lamartine American Legion Unit 281 Auxiliary. Condolences may be viewed/posted at www.earlefuneralhome.com

KANTRUSS
(Kentrus)
Albert (Algirdas)
On May 9, 2007, recently of Deptford, NJ and formerly of Stratford and Ocean City, age 87 years. Beloved husband of 58 years of Elizabeth (nee Gable) Kantruss. Beloved father of Margaret (Jeffrey) Gross, Kathleen(Michael) Nerz both of Wenonah, NJ, and MacKenzie (Michele Hennessey) Kantruss of Mt. Airy, MD. Loving grandfather of Jake and Katie Kantruss, Alex and Andrew Gross, and Julia Nerz. Pre-deceased by his brother Keistutis Kantruss of Cornwells Heights, PA. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, he was born and raised in Philadelphia. He was a graduate of Central High School, class of 1936, where his yearbook described him as \’admired for his sense of humor\’. He worked for the State of Pennsylvania as a clerk before being drafted into the Army during WWII, where he served in the 513th Parachute Infantry and was stationed in Naples-Foggio, Rome-Arno, South France, Algiers and the Rhineland. After being discharged, he returned to Philadelphia where he attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with honors. It was there that he met the love of his life and future wife when they attended journalism classes together. He was a Pullman conductor briefly before he worked as a safety engineer for Liberty Mutual Insurance in Bala Cynwyd and Haddonfield. He later became a safety consultant for Johnson and Higgins in Philadelphia. He was a lifelong sports fan, with a particular fondness for football and baseball and he had a stint as a little League Coach. An aficionado of movies and music (especially Sinatra, Big Band, and classical), he amassed extensive collections of both and knew a wealth of information about them. In his retirement, he enjoyed his grandchildren, all of the family\’s dogs and cats, reading his daily newspaper and mysteries, watching TV, spending time at the shore, and playing poker and craps.
Cremation was private. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service Tuesday 2pm at
ORA L. WOOSTER
FUNERAL HOME
51 Park Blvd.
Clementon, NJ 08021
At the conclusion of religious services a visitation with the family will be held until 4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Holy Redeemer Hospice, 150 N. 9th Ave. Box 250, Runne-mede, NJ 08078 or the Cat rescue of Maryland, Inc., 6400 Baltimore National Pike, Box 305, Baltimore, MD 21228-3915.

 

 Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

(Hank is a former resident of Gloucester City who now lives in Japan)

 

 Family Life Full Of Give And Take!

 

After 27 years of wedlock, my Japanese wife and I usually see things eyeball-to-eyeball, especially when it comes to staring at each other. Yet there is one case where we match up like sushi and whipped cream.

 

Nope, this conflict has nothing to do with daily life, diet, raising the kids or even hopping about in each other\’s underwear–which we both agree we would never ever do.

 

The difference comes not in how we have adjusted to life in her country; it\’s in how we look at life in mine. Specifically how we approach our periodic visits to my hometown Gloucester City.

 

For my wife these are moments of keen anxiety. The problem is not one of people, as she is very fond of my family and they are equally fond of her. Instead, what gives my wife the jeebies is deciding what to buy for everybody! What gifts to bring them from the land of the rising yen!

 

Meanwhile, I view our trips the way sumo wrestlers view all–you–can eat buffets.

My consideration being not what to give, but what to get! And how then to carry all that loot home. For my wife, gift–giving went easier back when we were newlyweds.

 

In those days any present from Japan was considered rare and enchanting.

 

My family was thrilled to receive Japanese dolls, fans and screens, as well as all sorts of clothes, toys and ceramics.

As the years passed….Now my sisters and brother has enough Japanese dolls to launch an invasion. My sister Rosemarie has so much stuff that she has probably ran out of room for everything in her china cabinet and curio cabinet. She has drawers full of stuff we\’ve sent over the years.

 

Now my wife rips her hair.\”What do I buy them this time?!!\” I always offer a one word answer, the consummate souvenir: T-shirts.the, bodies in my family tend to spread larger than Japanese bodies.T-shirts, even the widest ones, usually survive but a single wash I suppose I really don\’t know. People wear them once and that\’s it. My next suggestion is Japanese food stuff: Rice crackers, plum-flavored gum, dried squid and so on.

 

I know my family will only pick at these goodies before dashing off to spit them into the toilet. Leaving the rest for me. It is a no–lose situation.

 

But doesn\’t that satisfy my wife. No she hunts persistently for the perfect presents and, soon finding something even remotely popular, she sticks with it.

In most of the omiyage=Present madness, I let my wife fret and fuss on her own. Upon arrival, I turn my attention toward my own concern, which is buying everything I can. My first stop is to the local supermarket (heaven on earth)where I load an entire cart with American goodies so junky it is bad even to look at then, Let alone put them in your body after all these years watching what I eat and all that exercise.\”You\’re not going to eat all that junk food are you?\” My wife shrieks. \”Wanna bet?\” I grin. Who counts calories in heaven?

 

Then clothing! Shoes that fit! Suits priced less than real estate! Belts that go all the way around! Books! CD\’s! Software! Video\’s of films that will not be released in Japan for months! All at prices I can afford too. I can afford so much; in fact, I always have to purchase an additional suitcase to lug all that stuff back to Japan.

 

My wife eventually turns to shopping too, though most U.S. sizes tend to fit her perfectly. Then as the day nears for our return, a new worry crops up and overwhelms her. \”What do I get for the people back in Japan!?\”I take a minute to thing, and then here we go again! This, to, used to be simple. We would buy chocolaty American sweets that (unless I discovered where she hid them) my wife would pass out to everyone for months and months. Now such yummies are sold in Japanese convenience such as 7/11. The novelty has vanished. My wife\’s search goes on. Her efforts have included:

Bric-a-brac: Cute oddities not sold on this side of the Pacific. Unfortunately, too many are stamped, MADE IN JAPAN.\”

 

Sheets and towels; Economical and high quality. Yet, hard to give…\”Here\’s a gift from America, DR.Kohshi! It\’s a sheet!\” Posters: Unfortunately, these don\’t pack well, and who wants Mariah Carey with a crease through her head?\”Though she already has one there anyway!

Native American art: Beautiful did you know sand paintings can leak? Leaving…. what else? You guessed it T- shirts!

Sure, the same shirts are sold in Japan, but there is one essential difference: The ones we buy are cheaper. And a yen saved is a yen earned especially after a buying binge in the States. We need to save money for our next trip to heaven.

 

Warm Regards From Japan, Hank & Keiko The Miller Family

 

Photos by Bruce Darrow

The crowds get bigger each week to watch the little ones run around the bases. Mom and Dad, Mom Mom and Pop Pop, Aunts and Uncles, all there to watch little \”Johnny\” or \”Suzie\” play ball.

Enjoy the photos, make copies or e-mail to family and friends.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTO ALBUM

GRUFF, JR.
George J.\’Gruffy\’

Of Westville, NJ on May 9, 2007. Aged 75 years.
George was a native of NJ, born in Woodbury, who served his country in the United States Air Force as a Flight Engineer on both B-29 bombers and KC-97 air refueling tankers during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in California he met and married his wife of 53 years, the late Jennie (nee Yanez) Gruff. After military service, together they relocated to Westville, NJ to raise their family.
George was a Vice President of Mechanical Contracting Company and a member of the Local 19, Sheet Metal Workers Union. After he retired he established Gruffy Consulting, performing freelance design for mechanical contracting companies.
He was very involved with the Westville community. He belonged to the Lions Club, Town Council, and the Westville Fire Department, where he was a \’life time\’ member, holding a variety of positions from Treasurer to President, as well as the Fire Chief for four years. He was very passionate about politics and loved to debate.
George played as hard as he worked. His leisure passions included reading, especially History, fishing followed by making experimental seafood dishes in Jennie\’s kitchen and golf outings with his best friends. He loved the Jersey Shore and spending time with his \’Rat Pack\’- lifelong friends that date back as far as high school. Jennie and George traveled extensively throughout the United States after his retirement.
George was very proud of all of his children\’s accomplishments and he loved to watch his grandchildren grow up, develop and participate in athletic events. He defined his worth by his ability to provide for his family and was never shy about supporting causes or individuals he cared about.
Beloved husband of the late Jennie (nee Yanez). Devoted father of Pamela J. Hartman (Robert), Wenonah, NJ; Cynthia J. Gruff Valeski (Victor), Mullica Hill, NJ ; George W. Gruff., Sr. (Bernadette), Gloucester, NJ; Scott Gruff, Woodbury Heights, NJ; & his \’adopted\’ daughter LuAnn Conner. Dear brother of Charles Gruff. Loving grandfather of George W. Gruff, Jr., Emily Gruff, Aaron Hartman & 3 step-grandchildren Theodore Hartman, Chris Valeski & Megan Valeski.
Viewing Monday 6:30 PM-9 PM and Tuesday 9:30 AM -10:45 AM in the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, 34 Hunter St., Woodbury, NJ 08096. Funeral Service Tuesday 11 AM in the funeral home. Interment Eglington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Delaware Valley Stroke Council, 1528 Walnut St., Suite 903, Philadelphia, PA 19102 or Heartland Hospice, 800 Jessup Rd., Suite 808, Thorofare, NJ 08086.
Tributes may be shared
at www.mcgfuneral.com

BY BILL BATES

NEWS Coorespondent

 

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 at 2:01 am, while Engine 451 was already operating at a building fire in neighboring Gloucester City, Station 45 was dispatched for an additional assignment, a vehicle fire at the corner of Black Horse Pike and Valley Road.

 

Department Chief Mario Scullan, 401, arrived and assumed Command 450. He advised the alarm room that he had a vehicle on fire that was parked adjacent to the Hair Cuttery building. Engine 452 responded with 6 structural firefighters and was advised by Command 450 that the vehicle was well-involved and that the fire advanced to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Engine 452 arrived and went into operation with an inch and three-quarter hand line. The vehicle fire was extinguished and crews then popped open the front hood and the rear trunk to check for any additional fire with negative results.

 

Engine 452 and Command 450 stayed on location with local police and awaited arrival of the County Fire Marshal. The fire is being thoroughly investigated by the CFM\’s Office to determine the cause. The station cleared the scene at 3:27 am and was back in service. The County Fire Marshal cleared the scene and headed to police headquarters where he cleared at 5:07 am.