Asbury Park Press

BY KEITH SARGEANT
STAFF WRITER

One by one, the scouts behind the backstop at Rutgers\’ Bainton Field point their radar guns at Steve Healing as the right-hander delivers a pitch.

The ace of the Rutgers University baseball team\’s pitching staff, Healing, a Brick Township High School graduate, is having a good spring, compiling a 5-3 mark and a college baseball-solid 4.07 ERA midway through his senior campaign.

Most impressive to the scouts, however, is his command of the plate. Though Healing\’s fastball only tops out at 85, he has precise control, deftly weaving his \”hard stuff\” with a solid curveball and knee-buckling changeup.

With command like this, Healing would figure to be an intriguing prospect regardless of his subpar velocity. His pitching coach and head coach at Rutgers both expect Healing will get a look or two come June, when Major League Baseball holds its amateur draft.

Yet, Healing won\’t be holding his breath for his phone to ring.

\”I would like to hope,\” Healing says, when asked about his chances of playing professionally, \”but, realistically, I doubt it since I had two Tommy John surgeries before I was legally able to start drinking.\”

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RODIO, MARGARET F. \’PEG\’
On April 18, 2007 Age 49, of Mt. Ephraim, NJ. Beloved wife of Jerome A. Rodio. Loving daughter of Margaret Formont of Mt. Ephraim. Also survived by children, Gene and Rochelle Rodio of Philadelphia, Patrick and Daniella Rodio of Collingswood. Loving grandmother of Nicolai, Tim, Jarod, Sam, and her loving pets Philly, Jersey, and Woody.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to her Service Friday 10AM at the
MAHAFFEY-MILANO
FUNERAL HOME
11E. Kings HWY
Mt. Ephraim, NJ
856-931-1628
Interment Calvary Cemtery, Cherry Hill, NJ. Family requests, in lieu of flowers , donations may be sent to Samaritan Hospice 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053 in Peg\’s memory.

Dear Mr. Cleary,

I am a lifelong resident of Gloucester City. As a concerned citizen and someone who is involved in our city I would like to ask you a question. I have heard many people talking around town about Paul Kain. Since January I have not seen him at any meetings, nor have I seen him in the municipal building.

Paul Kain is probably the second most powerful person in the city behind the mayor.

Where has he been? Who currently is city administrator or do we not have one anymore? What is going on? Is he still being employed by the city? His job is too important to have it vacant.

Gloucester City is at a very pivotal point. There are many grants which the city has and no one to review them. If you could, would you please try and find out what is going on.

It\’s a disservice to the thousands of residents of Gloucester City that they are being abandoned, and left uninformed about what is going on with our city Clerk/Administrator. In advance thank you.

A Concerned Citizen

Bills Point of View:

Dear Concerned Citizen, I have asked some of the same questions and have been told Mr. Kain is out indefinitely due to illness. His job is being performed by the assistant clerk Kathy Jentsch.

Mr. Kain has been absent since a few days prior to St. Patrick’s Day. For the past 32 days the City has continued to operate. In fact the new members of Council with little experience were able to prepare the 2007 Budget without the help of an Administrator.

And the same individuals were able to put together the complicated form to apply for Extraordinary Aid from the state. Again the paper work was done without the help of a City Administrator. Incidentally the salary for the position is around $100,000 which includes all the perks.

I am left with the question of whether or not the position is needed?

The town Oceanport is presently addressing the same question. Along with whether or not the job can be done part-time.

I like to hear your opinion.

Asbury Park Press

OCEANPORT — City Council members — divided even over the necessity of a borough administrator — Monday interviewed consulting firms that would be empowered to tell officials if the municipality even needs such a manager.

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KYW RADIO REPORTS -An industrial chemical that led to a nationwide recall of more than 100 brands of cat and dog foods has been found to contaminate a second pet food ingredient, expanding the recall further.

The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

Previously, the chemical was found to contaminate another ingredient, wheat gluten, used by at least six other pet food and treat manufacturers (see related stories).

Natural Balance said it was recalling all its Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, its Venison and Brown Rice dog treats, and its Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.

The Pacoima, Calif., company said recent laboratory tests showed the products contain melamine. It believes the source of the contaminant was rice protein concentrate, which the company recently added to the dry venison formulas.

Carol L. Neal, (photo) of the West Collingswood Heights section of Haddon Township passed away on April 17, 2007 at the age of 63. She was a former resident of Gloucester City and Philadelphia, PA.

Born in Philadelphia Mrs. Neal worked as a Customer Service Representative for the ACME Markets in Newtown Square for the last 16 years.

Carol was a very devoted secretary of the Women\’s Candy Bowling League at Westbrook Bowling Alley, in Brooklawn during the 1970\’s and 1980\’s.

Mrs. Neal is the mother of Gloucester City Police Lt. George Berglund, Jr. (Eileen) of this City. She is the beloved daughter of the late Walter J. Petroski and Dorothy (nee Viereck). Loving wife of 21 years to George E. Neal. Devoted mother of Walter \”Butch\” Berglund (April) of Deptford and John Berglund (Victoria) of Deptford. Loving Step-mother of Marquita Neal of Philadelphia, PA.

Beloved grandmother of Kelsey Berglund, Tyler Berglund, Brett Berglund and Brook Berglund. Dear Sister of Dorothy Peterson, Genevieve Benckert, Virginia Devine, Walter Petroski and John Petroski. Devoted Aunt of 15.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Friday from 7 PM to 9 PM and Saturday from 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM at the McCann-Healey Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:30 AM at Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Interment New Saint Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Family requests memorial donations be made in Carol\’s memory to the Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Room C-223, Philadelphia, PA 19111. Please write in the memo of the check, Carol L. Neal.

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Carol L. Neal.

 

The President of Mexico has announced

Mexico

will not participate in the next Summer Olympics.

He said, \”Anyone who can run, jump, or swim has already left the country.\”

Gloucester City mayor William James released the following information to further explain the City\’s purchase of the Fire hall to be used as a senior Citizens Community Room.

It reads as follows:

\”This money was a grant from the state Department of Community Affairs; the grant is scheduled to expire in November of this year. The fire hall is owned by the Gloucester Heights Fire Company. Original stipulations of the grant called for the construction of senior citizen community center but now due to time constraints and the soft costs related to land acquisition, engineering and architectural work a new avenue was sought out.

With the input of the Senior Citizen organization and their executive board, the Gloucester Heights Fire Hall was chosen as a sight. The money will be used to purchase the building excluding the Fire Bays which will still house the trucks and the fire company for response. The fire department hopes to build above the bays for their offices and related uses. The entire hall area inclusive of kitchen and bar area will be available to the senior citizens.

 Construction costs estimated a $75,000 will be supplied through the purchase agreement to place a pull out barrier across the hall giving the Seniors their own private area and security as they rightfully deserve and need. There will be a kitchen and serving section of this described area along with other amenities and furniture available for everyday usage. In the event they need extra room for their meetings and events they can open the barrier and have full access to the hall.

The area outside the barrier will be available for rentals and the monies from these rentals will supply the Seniors with an escrow for hall management and cleaning as the seniors don\’t want or need the added responsibility.

Just so everyone knows where the money goes after it is given to the fire company, it is used for their portion of the building with construction and the daily running of their organization. The fire department is hopefully always going to exist at that location as it is a necessity. In the event the department disbands for whatever reason the money is then given directly to non-profit organizations throughout the community the same as was done with the disbanding of Highland Park Fire Hall.

It\’s a shame that some people don\’t have enough confidence in our integrity or the integrity of Councilman Bill Hagan and the Gloucester Heights Fire Association to not take our efforts as honest and sincere.

I feel as though this great opportunity for the Senior Citizens of our community and the hopeful acquisition of the property is a positive and forward movement for our community. I also feel as though every step we have taken in this regard has been totally transparent and only with the interests of and the backing of the Senior Citizen Community.

This information has been supplied to the community in several venues and a full report will be coming on the progress in the near future.\”

 
 

THOMPSON, EVELYN
On April 12, 2007, (nee Wesper) of Gloucester City, NJ, age 86. She was the beloved wife of the late Edward H. Thompson, Sr. and loving mother of Edward H. Thompson, Jr. (Peggy) of Scituate, MA and Carol Sue Thompson Levins (Joe) of Gloucester City. She is also survived by her dear brother John R. Wesper of NM.
Mrs. Thompson loved to do crossword puzzles, cryptograms and to read her Bible everyday. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, former member of the Eastern Star, past president of the Gloucester Hts. PTA and had been a volunteer for Helping Hands and Underwood Memorial Hospital.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet Friday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 741 Division St. in Gloucester City. Evelyn\’s Memorial Service will be held at 7:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, her family has requested memorial donation be made to Trinity Methodist Church, P.O. Box 308, Gloucester City, NJ 08030.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City,NJ.

CUNNINGHAM, FRANCES A.
On April 14, 2007 in the care of her loving family and friends, (nee Hatcher), of Berlin, formerly of Gloucester City NJ. Age 82 yrs.
Beloved wife of Eugene J. Cunningham. Loving mother of Linda Ott (Edgar) of Berlin, and Robert Cunningham (Tess) of Phila. Devoted grandmother of Matt, Theresa and Crystal and great grandmother of Madison, Kevin, Kaitlyn and Nicholas. Dear sister of Jesse Hatcher and Virginia Nichols and also survived by her dear friends Peggy and Bill Phillips.
Mrs. Cunningham was an active and long time member of the Highland Park Church of God, where she taught Sunday School for many years and was a WCOG. Relatives and friends are invited to meet Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Highland Park Church of God, Market St. & Baynes Ave. Gloucester City. Funeral services will be held 8:00pm. Interment in Parklawn Cemetery, Rockville MD will be held Wednesday 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial donations be made in Mrs. Cunningham\’s name to the Highland Park Church of God at the above address.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the ETHERINGTON-CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City.

MADDEN, MARK F., SR.
On 04/14/07, of Gloucester City. Age 68. View Friday 10:30-11:30 am at Gardner FH, Runnemede. Service 11:30am. Int. NJ Vet. Cem., Arneytown.