Girls in Scout Troop 51023 have Big Hearts

VINELAND, NJ–They may be small in size, but the four girls in Girl Scout Troop 51023 proved that their hearts are big. At Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden’s office in Vineland, these young helpers fastidiously filled backpacks with collected donated items to be given to the homeless in Cumberland County as part of the annual Point-in-Time Count.

Each year, Catholic Charities staff joins other agencies to participate in the statewide count, which takes place during the last 10 days of January and identifies people who are residing in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, safe havens and living on the streets or other locations. This year, as Catholic Charities’ case managers and volunteers collect critical data about homeless populations in order to better their services, they will also be able to distribute backpacks filled with donations and packed with love.

\’I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper\’

Steven B. Brooks

FEB 2020

Topsham, Maine–

There have been times when those participating in Corey E. Garver American Legion Post 202’s Winter Classic in Topsham, Maine, have slid on ice trying to run to first base, broken through a crusty layer of snow running down a fly ball, or even disappeared into a fluffy, four-foot pile of the white stuff attempting to dive for a ball in foul territory.

Not ideal conditions for softball, but that doesn’t matter at all to those who have been taking part in the annual fundraiser – some for all six years of its existence. From sub-zero temperatures to snow drifts lining the field adjacent to Post 202, the conditions don’t matter as much as the event’s cause: raising money to help end the veteran homelessness issue in Maine.

The motto for the event, which took place on Feb. 22 this year, is concise and to the point: “We play in the cold so that veterans don’t have to live in the cold.”

“That’s all this is about,” Post 202 Commander Nancy Laffin-Gillespie said. “Yes, we’re having fun. It’s a unique thing playing in the snow. But the reality is people live in the cold. Everybody here knows the reason why they’re here is to keep people out from the cold.”

The idea for the Winter Classic came from former Post 202 Commander Nik Hamlin, who helped save a nearly defunct Post 202 in 2013 and now is a member of American Legion Post 158 in Lisbon to be closer to home. But Hamlin doesn’t like to take credit for a vision that has grown bigger every year.

“I can’t take credit for this event because it’s a community event,” Hamlin said. “I can’t do this without everybody. When it comes to tackling any kind of issues that affect society, it’s going to take the community to do it.”

Laffin-Gillespie said the post is in the right community to make something like the Winter Classic a success. “We are very lucky here in the state of Maine. Our veteran community is amazing,” she said. “We all come out together and try to help in any way we can for any veteran problems.”

Each year the money raised has gone to a local or state program that includes among its mission eradicating veteran homelessness. This year’s funds went to Maine Veterans In Need, a non-profit that consist of members of the Maine American Legion, the Bureau of Maine Veteran Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other service organizations.

Teams were asked to donate $200, but many upped that donation. Additional funds raised and donated, along with a raffle and 50-50 drawing, brought this year’s total raised to more than $4,500 – triple what the event raised in 2019.

While Hamlin was pleasantly surprised by the donation total, “I feel if I wasn’t able to (donate that amount) this whole thing would feel hollow,” he said. “To be able to do that … I can see the fruits of my labor. I can see where the money goes. I can see those affected by it. I owe it to the people that come here to donate it to a place that’s a good place to accomplish the mission.”

Post 202 has thrived in part because while embracing traditional American Legion programs, it also takes a unique approach to carrying out its other missions – such as the Winter Classic.

“What we found with this is you can do it in a fun way,” said Department of Maine Commander Matthew Jabaut, a member of Post 202. “Too many times our events are maybe a little too solemn or a little too formal. If you can do a lot of cool, good, serious work in a fun way, it’s able to reach people, and then people really want to get active and engaged and be part of that. And then there’s that good feeling when you leave … and you’re not just having fun to have fun. You’re also doing it for a good cause.”

Laffin-Gillespie transferred to Post 202 around two years ago because of what the post has been able to accomplish over the past six-plus years. “I really like this post has a good grasp on the mission of The American Legion,” she said. \”It has a good grasp on veteran issues that need raised (and) that people need to be educated on. And we make progress in trying to help these problems.”

One of those problems is veteran homelessness, which has dropped considerably in part due to the efforts of Maine Veterans In Need, but still remains an issue in a state with a long, brutal winter season. “Veterans, especially when they’re transitioning, can fall into a lot of holes. I, myself, was a couch surfer for a while when I got out,” Laffin-Gillespie said. “Having a place that’s your home – your own home – means a lot. That’s why it’s important to me that I can help any veteran that I can. If this helps them to get a hotel room for five days just to get them off the street … that’s great.”

Those who participate in the Winter Classic share the same sentiment. Russ Taylor, a longtime member of the Sons of The American Legion and the current SAL Squadron 86 commander, has been a part of four of the six years of the Winter Classic, playing on a team consisting of American Legion Family members from Post 86 in Gray, Maine. Every year Post 86 has fielded a team for the event.

“We’ve never done very well, but we have fun and it’s for a good cause,” Taylor said. “We can go play in the snow for one day (and) a homeless veteran doesn’t have to live in the cold – that’s why we do it.\”

Team Grateful, which plays out of Lovell, Maine, has won the past two Winter Classics. But while the squad celebrated after its most recent championship, that’s not what motivated the squad to drive 90 minutes each way to play at Post 202.

Rich Massey, a member of Team Grateful, has participated in five Winter Classics with his team. “I think the biggest reason I do this is I didn’t serve,” he said. “This is how I try to pay it back: doing stuff like this and contributing any way I can. We love this, and we’ll be back every year.”

The double-elimination tournament started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at around 5:30 that evening. Music played throughout the day, while those attending could get assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mobile Vet Center, which was set up outside the post.

Also in Post 202’s parking lot was a trailer converted over to

temporary homeless veteran housing

by Charles E. Sherman Jr. Post 36 Legionnaires Ed Harmon and Arthur Richardson. The Winter Classic gave participants and spectators a chance to check out the trailer, which is intended to be a prototype for a larger future fleet of similar trailers.

Harmon said it’s important to work together to end veteran homelessness. “It’s going to take a team to solve this issue,” he said. “It won’t just be one individual.”

But the Winter Classic started with one person: Hamlin. And it’s a cause that gets him emotional at times. Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, he shared with the participants the story of Navy veteran Russell Wilson, who died this winter in his sleeping bag near railroad tracks in Brunswick.

“We’re here to stop that. We’re here to make that (stuff) never happens again,” Hamlin said, his voice breaking a bit. “Help me make sure that never happens again. It takes a community to save a community.

\”I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper.”

SOURCE THE AMERICAN LEGION

STATEMENT OF JOSH ROESCH, CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR AMY KENNEDY, ON MENENDEZ ENDORSEMENT

“It’s ironic that on the day Amy Kennedy lays out her aggressive policy to end corruption in New Jersey’s elections, George Norcross flexes his political muscle to bring in an endorsement for Brigid Harrison. Brigid’s name may be on the ballot, but we all know who’s pulling the strings.

“Make no mistake, rigging endorsements is the Norcross way. He is doing everything in his power to make sure the voters don’t get to choose their own candidate, just like he did for his last favorite candidate, Jeff Van Drew– and look how that turned out for Democrats.

“Brigid Harrison, Jeff Van Drew, George Norcross, and this entire rigged process are a great illustration of why we need to finally end machine politics in New Jersey.”

###

If You Want to Succeed on Instagram, Listen Up

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 1, 2020)–Here\’s the problem when it comes to social media marketing. A lot of people are under the impression that they have to just post the right content and everything will be fine.

Well, on an absolute level, this is 100% correct. There is nothing to debate. There is nothing to discuss. This is absolutely spot on.

But there are a lot of details to explore. There are a lot of gaps there.

What content? When do you post these materials? Who do you address this to? How do you position this content? I can go on and on. The list is actually quite long.

While we can talk about basic truisms, like you have to buy Instagram likes or social proof so you can get an organic critical mass going, you have to read between the lines. You have to dig deeper. This requires an overall day to day strategy. Simply buying social proof from places like

buzzvoice.com

isn’t going to be enough.

Now, please understand that this is very different from an overall holistic strategy. I\’m not talking about that. I\’m not talking about your big picture strategy or 30,000 bird\’s eye view perspective.

There\’s a place for that. It\’s absolutely important, but we\’re talking about day to day practical tasks that you need to do every single day for your Instagram marketing account to be successful.

So, what are these daily activities that you need to take care of? Well, first of all, you need to make sure that you use the right hashtags.

Now, how do you know which hashtags to use? Well, it\’s very simple. You mix and match.

You experiment with different hashtags that you lifted from other places. You can reverse engineer your competitors\’ hashtags. Wherever they come from, make sure you experiment and see which hashtags are actually delivering solid value.

How do you know? Well, you can call people to action. You can run little contests. Whatever the case may be, get your followers themselves to supply the hashtags through some sort of feedback so you can see if you are on the right path.

The second thing that you need to do is call people to action in terms of your content. Ask them, \”Is this the kind of content that you want?\” If not, please suggest the right content.

Offer them some sort of incentive. Here\’s the secret: it doesn\’t have to be money.

You have to understand that on the internet, especially on social media, symbolic or purely non-monetary incentives work as well, if not better, than monetary incentives.

You don\’t have to spend one red cent. Just get people to believe that they are getting value. Oftentimes, the perception of value is more important than the actual value. When your fans believe they are getting value, they spread the word about you. This is one of the cheapest and most sustainable ways to

grow your Instagram following

The third thing that you need to do is to constantly pay attention to your competition. This is the great thing about Instagram. Everything is transparent.

So, if you see that your competitors are up to something and they\’re experimenting with different types of postings as well as different types of media and hashtags and descriptions, sit up and pay attention. See if you can copy some of that and improve what you\’re doing.

By sticking to these three daily, highly practical tasks, you will be able to take your account to the next level in terms of reach and effectiveness.

Spend a Night inside Lucy The Elephant

AN ELEPHANT-SIZED HOME ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE NOW LISTED ON AIRBNB

Guests will be transported back in time with a stay inside Lucy the Elephant, one of the last standing pieces of roadside Americana

Margate, New Jersey (February 27, 2020) — Pack your trunk (err, bags)! Three lucky Airbnb guests and their friends will have the chance to stay inside

Lucy the Elephant

, one of the first and only National Historic Landmarks now on Airbnb. A tribute to the golden age of roadside Americana, Lucy was built in 1881 and is older than the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

image courtesy of Wikipedia

Starting on March 5, longtime Lucy fans — or anyone who has had the Jersey Shore on their travel bucket list — can book a stay inside Lucy’s storied walls, which will take place on March 17, 18 or 19. Each of the three one-night overnight stays is priced at $138, to honor the number of years Lucy has served as a New Jersey Shore icon.

Standing a regal six stories high, Lucy calls Margate, New Jersey, home — a tight-knit community that has proven its resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and that couldn’t be prouder of its unofficial ‘mascot.’ Lucy hosted her first stay in 1902 and over the years, she’s been a tavern and even hosted former United States President Woodrow Wilson.

During the Airbnb stay — which is modeled after what Lucy’s interior would have looked like when she was briefly a summer vacation home in the early 20th century — guests will take a journey through her fascinating history. They will also have the chance to experience the best of what the Jersey Shore has to offer, from delicious meals by top local chefs to scenic ocean views. And Lucy’s human counterpart,

Richard Helfant

, Executive Director of the

Save Lucy Committee

— the organization that restored and preserved Lucy for the past 50 years — will be on hand to share his memories of the majestic structure and offer local tips.

“I’ve been by Lucy’s side for 50 years, and she’s been a part of so many unique moments — together we’ve hosted weddings and now we are hosting on Airbnb — I can’t wait to show guests what Lucy is all about,” says Helfant.

To celebrate this historic stay, Airbnb will make a donation to the Save Lucy Committee, supporting efforts to keep Lucy the Elephant standing “Jersey strong” so new generations can visit for years to come.

If you want to stay inside a piece of history that continues to invigorate the Jersey Shore, you can request to book* this experience. Reservations open March 5 at 12:00 p.m. EST on

airbnb.com/lucy

Maureen D. Auletto, of Audubon Park

Maureen D. Auletto (nee McCormack), on February 28, of Audubon Park, formerly of Gloucester Township. Age 68.

Proceeded in death by Bernard and Gloria (nee Oelenschlager) McCormack. Devoted mother of Danielle Hennessy (John), Renee Auletto (Frank Olsen), and Nicole Auletto. Loving mom mom of Desiree

(Andy), Brittanee, Johnny, Danny, Georgia, and Jaidyn. Great granny of Giani, Lorenzo, Angelo, Drew Keith. Former wife of Daniel Auletto for 38 years. Devoted sister of Bernie McCormack (Micki). Loving aunt of BJ (Nicole), Colleen (Jeff), Sean, and many other nieces and nephews. Lifelong and best friend of Anna Damerau.

There will be a viewing 9am to 11am Tuesday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE, 126 S. Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ 08078 (856-939-2095).

Entombment New St. Mary’s Mausoleum, Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maureen’s memory to the Animal Orphanage 419 Cooper Road Voorhees, NJ 08043.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 35 (March 1, 2020)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. (click image to enlarge)

LINE OF MARCHSAINT MARY’S/GLOUCESTER CITY FIFTH ANNUAL SAINT PATRICK’S PARADE SUNDAY, MARCH 1

by CNBNews Staff

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 29, 2020)—-The annual St. Mary\’s Parish/Gloucester City St. Patrick\’s Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 1 PM sharp rain or shine. The parade will take the same route as last year, forming and staging at the Martin’s Lake area, at Johnson Blvd. and Baynes Ave. marching on Johnson Blvd. to Monmouth Street, up Monmouth Street to King, and dispersing at the former Coast Guard Base parking lot, King and Cumberland Streets.

It will begin at Johnson Blvd and Baynes Avenue, north to Monmouth and Johnson Blvd., move west on Monmouth Street to King Street and south on King Street to Proprietors Park.

The following bands and marching units will be in the line of march:

South Philadelphia, Quaker City, Fralinger, Woodland, Avalon, Aqua, Uptown, Duffy, Durning, and the Gloucester City String Band.

The Camden County Emerald Society, Second Street Irish Society, Trenton AOH, ACFD Sand Pipers, and Brian Boru Pipes and Drums Bands.

The Misty Dewers and The Broken Shillelaghs Irish Bands.

The Two Street Stompers Comic Brigade. The Jordan-Hunt and the Emerald Isle Irish Dance Schools.

The parade\’s Grand Marshall is Ed Beckett, principal of Gloucester Catholic High School and the Celebrity Parade Marshall is Bob Kelly from Fox 29 News. Honor guest is the Deputy Consul General from Ireland Sean O’Hay

Gloucester City’s own radio disc jockey Kathy Townsend Suckiel from the B101.1 radio station will be present with the B101 mascot,

Buzzbee!

Gloucester City PD Issues Road Closures/Parking Restrictions for Parade

Below is the parade line-up set for 12 noon at the staging area

Camden County Emerald Society (Gloucestercitynews.net file photo)

LINE-UP IS AT 12:00 NOON IN THE STAGING AREA

POSITIONS #A-#G LINE UP IS ON JOHNSON BLVD. BETWEEN FRANCIS ST. & BAYNES AVE.

POSITION “A”-VFW & AMERICAN LEGION COLOR GUARD & ROTC COLOR GUARD FROM GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL WITH USMC MARINES BRETT & DALTON KENNEY

POSITION “B” CELEBRITY PARADE MARSHAL BOB KELLY AND QUAKER CITY STRING BAND WITH MSGR. HODGE, DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL FROM IRELAND, MAYOR DAN SPENCER

POSITION “C”-2020 GRAND MARSHAL ED BECKETT AND GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

POSITION “D”-KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS WITH ST. PATRICK’S STATUE

POSITION “E”-DURNING STRING BAND

POSITION “F” CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY FREEHOLDERS, STATE LEGISLATORS, OTHER DIGNITARIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, CAMDEN COUNTY MASCOTS

POSITION “G” THE MISTY DEWERS

POSITIONS #1-#5-Francis Street and East Brown Street

SOUTH JERSEY MOBILE BILLBOARD TRUCK

ANYZEK FUELS ANTIQUE TRUCKS/CARS-JIM PARENT, 1939 GREEN BUICK

GARDEN STATE CORVETTE CLUB ON FRANCIS STREET

GLOUCESTER CITY OLDTIMERS STRING BAND

ANTIQUE CARS/TRUCKS-JIM PARENT IN HIS 1939 GREEN BUICK

-DONNELLY-GATTO FUNERAL HOME ROLLS ROYCE HEARSE & STAFF

POSITIONS #6–#21-HIGHLAND BLVD DOWN TO GREENWOOD AVENUE

PUBLIC WORKS TRAILER WITH LADIES AOH, CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA’S, AND LITTLE MISS/MR. GLOUCESTER CITY

TRENTON AOH BAGPIPE BAND

GLOUCESTER CITY FIRE DEPT COLOR GUARD & MARCHERS

GLOUCESTER CITY FIRE DEPT. APPARATUS

DUFFY STRING BAND

GLOUCESTER CITY IRISH SOCIETY

GLOUCESTER CITY HIGH SCHOOL COLOR GUARD, MARCHING BAND, & SCHOOL CLUBS

UPTOWN STRING BAND

GLOUCESTER CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL & COLD SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

IRISH SETTAR CLUB OF SOUTH JERSEY

CAMDEN COUNTY EMERALD SOCIETY

CAIRDEAS IRISH BIRGADE (JOHN SCILLIG-SCHILEEN’S TAVERN-WESTVILLE, NJ)

MARK’S ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCK???? AND/OR FOUR LEAF RESTORATION COMPANY

AQUA STRING BAND

AOH GLOUCESTER COUNTY DIVISION I-COMMODORE JOHN BARRY-LARRY PRELLE, DIRECTOR

BRIAN BORU PIPES AND DRUMS BAND-KEVIN FLATLEY DRUM MAJOR

POSITIONS #22-#38 KLEMM AVENUE TO SYLVAN AVENUE

AVALON STRING BAND

GLOUCESTER CITY YOUTH SOCCER

JORDAN HUNT SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE

GLOUCESTER CITY LITTLE LEAGUE

SECOND STREET IRISH SOCIETY PIPES & DRUMS

MINI HORSE’S PONY CLUB-LONG ACRES FARM-MARY LEDGER

WOODLAND STRING BAND

CUB SCOUTS TROOP OF GLOUCESTER CITY???/ QUINN FAMILY WITH IRISH WOLFHOUND SEAMUS

FRALINGER STRING BAND

COMMUNITY ROCKS CORP.-ERIN OSLER/SARA O’BRIEN

ATLANTIC CITY FIREFIGHTERS SAND PIPERS

EPIPHANY CHURCH OF GLOUCESTER CITY-PASTOR JOE MARLIN

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA STRING BAND

HIGHLAND TAVERN FLOAT WITH BIG DADDY

EMERALD ISLE ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE

TWO STREET STOMPERS COMIC BRIGADE CHAMPIONS

TAVERN ON THE EDGE PRESENTS “THE BROKEN SHILELLEGHS”

Gov. Phil Murphy hugging Brooklawn Mayor Teri Branella at the 2018 parade

Healthcare Expert Edward Eichhorn Lectures on the Ills of Medicare-for-all

at Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business

Hoboken, NJ, February 28, 2020 –

Echoing the sentiments of Democratic candidates Biden, Bloomberg, Klobuchar and Buttigieg from their debate podiums in South Carolina earlier this week, healthcare expert and author, Edward Eichhorn, spoke of the ills of Medicare-for-all as a guest lecturer yesterday at the School of Business on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology in

Hoboken, NJ.

Said Eichhorn: “It is time for us to embrace a practical universal healthcare plan for America that maintains choice and reduces cost. The Eichhorn & Hutchinson plan does that. Medicare-for-all does not.”

The Healing American Healthcare Coalition endorses what it refers to as a well-conceived universal healthcare plan co-authored by Mr. Eichhorn and Dr. Michael Hutchinson. According to the Coalition, if the United States were to adopt this approach, employers would be required to provide healthcare plans, but could choose between being self-insured, buying private insurance, or selecting a competitive public option.

By fostering competition in the private insurance market with a cost-effective public option, the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan is expected to reduce employer healthcare costs by as much as 30%.

The Coalition believes that implementing the Eichhorn-Hutchinson universal healthcare plan would not lead to an increase in government funding, and it is likely that federal and state costs for Medicaid would actually decline. In total, it’s estimated that the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan could save up to

one trillion dollars

per year.

Key Outcomes Under the Eichhorn-Hutchinson Plan

All employers provide health insurance

Public option funded by tax on employers who choose this option for their employees

Substantially

lower

than current health care costs incurred by employers

Public option will create price competition

Preserves a role for private insurers

Healthcare costs can be reduced to 12 percent of GDP over ten years (from the current 19%)

Medical billing will be simplified

Medical-related bankruptcies in the U.S. will decrease by 50 percent

Drug prices will be negotiated on a national level

Life expectancy in the U.S. will improve

Insurance premiums will decrease by as much as 30 percent

Up to one trillion dollars in cost reduction annually

For more information about the Eichhorn-Hutchinson plan visit

HealingAmericanHealthcare.org

About Healing American Healthcare Coalition

The Healing American Healthcare Coalition is an independent organization dedicated to providing its members with timely and insightful information and reports concerning universal healthcare proposals and programs. The Coalition is not a political action committee, nor is it affiliated with any political party. The Coalition’s mission is to be a trusted objective source regarding the current discussions on potential healthcare initiatives that could have an impact on the health and well-being of Americans today and in the future.

Red Bank’s 11th Annual Wedding Walk Returns

Free wedding planning event features top professionals, venues and latest trends to help you plan all of your nuptial needs

RED BANK, NJ – The Red Bank Wedding Walk is back again and will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to engaged couples with and without a set wedding date. Kicking off a new decade, the Red Bank Wedding Walk will provide brides and grooms the opportunity to interact with more than 40 local wedding businesses and professionals providing the latest trends, styles and ideas to make their special day an unforgettable event!

Attendees are asked to register in advance by visiting

www.RedBankWeddingWalk.com

, where they can also browse the participating businesses and map out an itinerary in advance to make the most of the day!

Brides and grooms will begin the event at 10 a.m. by checking in at the Oyster Point Hotel, a beautiful waterfront venue located at 146 Bodman Place. At check-in, guests will be given a map, passport and tote while enjoying a complimentary continental breakfast. Passports should be stamped at each participating business in order to be entered to win door prizes and incredible grand prizes! Eligible passports must have at least 14 locations stamped by each business during the Wedding Walk.

From there, each entourage will set off on a self-guided tour to explore potential rehearsal dinner locations, award-winning wedding venues, photography and videography professionals, entertainment and transportation experts, hair and makeup salons, and, of course, dress boutiques offering options for the bride and bridal party – and much, much more! Around 3 p.m., attendees should begin to make their way back to the Molly Pitcher Inn’s breathtaking promenade for an exciting reception featuring music, savory treats, libations, prizes and a champagne toast.

During the closing reception, winners of the fabulous grand prizes, as well as a wide array of fun door prizes, will be drawn. Prizes include an all-inclusive honeymoon trip courtesy of Liberty Travel, a romantic getaway package at the Molly Pitcher/Oyster Point, a DJ entertainment package from Hurricane Productions, and many more wonderful offerings from Red Bank businesses.