Author: William Cleary Sr.

Life long Gloucester City resident, born in 1944. Graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School Class of 1963. Attended Camden County College. Army National Guard 1964 to 1970. Activated in 1967 during the Newark Riots. Worked full-time at the Gloucester City Post Office from 1967 to 1978. Worked part-time at the Gloucester City News from 1965 to 1977. In 1978 I was named editor of the Gloucester City News and Camden County Record. Purchased the City News in 1985. In 2005 the paper was sold. In 2006 I established Cleary's Notebook. At the age of 81 I remain editor of Cleary's Notebook News writing commentary and reporting the news for South Jersey and Philadelphia regions.

CNBNEWS: July Cheers and Jeers

By William E. Cleary Sr

CHEER–Audubon Family Park Improvements

Camden County awarded Audubon Family Park a $25,000 grant for upgrades and maintenance, supporting safer and more accessible recreation for local families.

JEER—Rip and Boomer Dead…WHY?

UPDATE: A Salem County Sheriff’s Office sergeant is facing charges after prosecutors allege he left two K-9 partners in a hot vehicle for seven hours, resulting in their deaths. …

The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of the deaths of Rip and Boomer, who died together while on duty on Friday. The dogs were brought to an emergency veterinary hospital in Delaware, where they were pronounced dead, Miller told NJ.com. The circumstances of their deaths were not disclosed.

CHEER-Groundbreaking of the Camden County LINK Trail

Audubon is part of the newly launched 34‑mile LINK Trail, a major regional project that will give residents a safe, scenic route for walking, biking, and running. Construction on the Audubon–Haddon Heights segment began in March and is expected to finish by year’s end.

JEER-Gloucester City’s Public Buildings in Disrepair

We have $50,000 plus to purchase a new truck for the Gloucester City UEZ director. Yet, the Police Administration Building, the Municipal Building, and the Water Department storage tanks are all in need of painting. At the water works, one of the glass windows is broken, plus a broken-down trailer bed has been lying beside the property for a decade or more. The mayor and council are well aware of these maintenance issues.

CHEER-Audubon Civic REACH Community Leadership

The nonprofit umbrella group continues to energize civic life, celebrating the grand opening of the Audubon Historical Society Museum and organizing community events that strengthen local pride. CHEER- So happy that those driving E-bikes and E-scooters will have to be licensed and wear a safety helmet. Plus they need to have insurance.

JEER-What can be done about 637 Division Street?

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Another Marijuana Store Arrives in Gloucester City

This will be the second cannabis dispensary to open in Gloucester City. The first, BluLight, operates out of the former O’Donnell’s Bar and Restaurant at 401 North Broadway.

Residents living near the former Pat’s Select Pizza say they’ve complained for months about the tall weeds surrounding the property, calling it an eyesore. Behind the building sits a pile of trash. One neighbor told CNBNews, “Hopefully, now the property will be maintained.”

In 2020, New Jersey voters approved a statewide referendum legalizing adult‑use cannabis. Of the state’s 564 municipalities, 211 allow some form of licensed cannabis business, and more than 160 specifically permit recreational retail sales. Local zoning rules vary widely, meaning not all “opt‑in” towns allow every type of cannabis license, according to reporting by The Patch.

BluLight Dispensary

New Jersey’s legal marijuana industry now includes more than 300 dispensaries statewide, but because many towns banned retail sales, these businesses are clustered in municipalities that embraced the new market.

Gloucester Township: A Case Study in Cannabis Revenue

Gloucester Township, which has five dispensaries, has publicly touted the financial benefits. Under state law, 2% of each cannabis sale goes directly to local taxes.

Township Council President Orlando Mercado reported that cannabis retailers generated $38,960.60 in local sales‑tax revenue in 2024. That figure jumped to $232,753 in 2025, he said during a council meeting. Gloucester Township began permitting licensed recreational dispensaries in 2021, one year after the statewide referendum. The first shops opened in the summer of 2023.

The following cannabis retailers are currently operating (from oldest to newest:

MPX NJ: opened summer 2023 at 581 Berlin-Cross Keys Rd., Sicklerville
HoneyGrove: opened summer 2023 at 1337 Blackwood-Clementon Rd., Clementon
Flower & Flame: opened March 2024 at 601 College Dr., Blackwood
Blackwood Wellness: opened last September at 816 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood
Quality Cannabliss: opened last month at 1610 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood

A sixth dispensary, Unity Rd., was approved by local officials two years ago, but it hasn’t been built. It will be located at 2751 Sicklerville Rd.

CNBNews Archives: Our Guardian Angels Were With Us Today

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNEWS)(July 7, 2026)—Sweetie and I were walking in the field across from the Cold Springs today. It was around 8 AM. She was off lead and was healing on my left side. A vehicle came out of nowhere and brushed the side of my right leg. When Sweetie saw the car, she ran towards Cold Springs Drive. Buses and cars were everywhere. Fortunately, she came when I called her. I hooked her to her lead and approached the woman, who was still on her smartphone texting away. She was unaware of what was happening around her. I knocked gently on her window. When I explained to her what had happened, she apologized several times.

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CNBNews Archives: July 2021 Sean Gorman Named Gloucester City Public School Supt.

Gloucester City Public Schools

1300 Market Street Gloucester City, NJ 08030 (856) 456-7000

Sean Gorman, Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,

(GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ)(CNBNews) (July 1st, 2021)–Today is my first official day as Superintendent of Gloucester City School District. I couldn’t be more honored and excited. I entered Gloucester City Schools as a kindergarten student in 1985 and graduated from Gloucester High School in 1998. I was thrilled to return to GHS for my professional career in 2002 and have served as a Special Education teacher, guidance counselor, athletic coach, Director of Guidance, and Principal. I’ve proudly resided in Gloucester my entire life and have three children of my own and nieces and nephews enrolled at all three of our district schools. I have the unique and invaluable perspective of asking myself each day: am I the school leader that I would want for my own children and family? This lens has guided me well in all of my professional roles and is shared by so many of the outstanding, dedicated professionals that I consider myself very lucky to work alongside for nearly 20 years. This deeply entrenched commitment of all staff, students, families, and community members to each other will remain a driving force throughout our school district.

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CNBNews Archives: Mayor James 2015 State of City Address; What Would “Hawker” Think?

Republished July 5, 2026

(Cleary’s Notebook News)(July 4, 2026)–Gloucester City Mayor William James released his annual ”State of the City Address” on January 9, 2015. James, who ran unopposed in November 2014, begun his third term in office in 2015. He was first elected mayor in 2007. The mayor of Gloucester City serves a term of four years, while a council member’s term is for three years. Mr. James died suddenly on January 21, 2019. He was 62 years old.

RELATED: William James obituary

As a former Deputy Police Chief, one has to wonder what James would think if he were alive today about the present police chief, Brian Morrell, also performing the duties of the City Administrator. Both the police chief’s position and the city administrator’s position were full-time jobs during the 12 years he was mayor. In fact, for decades, those positions were always held by one person.

Not long after Police Chief Morrell was appointed part-time City Administrator, the City Board of Education appointed School Superintendent Sean Gorman to perform the duties of high school principal.

Are taxpayers saving any money by having one person do two jobs?

When a city allows one person to hold two positions — like Police Chief Brian Morrell also serving as Acting City Administrator, or School Superintendent Sean Gorman doubling as high school principal— the theoretical argument is that taxpayers save money by avoiding a second full-time salary and benefits package.

However, the real savings depend on:

💰 Whether stipends or bonuses are paid for the additional duties. If either receives extra compensation, the savings shrink or vanish.
🕒 Workload and efficiency. Two demanding jobs can dilute oversight, leading to slower responses or costly mistakes that offset any payroll savings.
📊 Budget transparency. The city or school district should publish salary breakdowns and administrative cost comparisons to prove the savings are genuine.

In many New Jersey municipalities, dual appointments are justified as “temporary” measures but often become long-term arrangements — which raises questions about whether taxpayers are truly getting value or just less accountability.

Mayor James 2015 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IS BELOW.

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AI Tool Will Help Improve Cancer Treatment

BYLINE: CHRISTEN BROWNLEE

At a glance:

A new AI model called COMPASS uses tumor gene expression data to predict which patients will respond to cancer immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Analyzing past data from 16 clinical cohorts, COMPASS predicted ICI response 8.5 percent more accurately than the best existing approach.
If validated in clinical trials, the tool could lead to better precision medicine and cancer drug development.

Newswise — Cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can be miracle drugs for cancer patients, curing some and turning deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition in others. But these drugs work for only a subset of patients, with few indications why — a knowledge gap that has detrimental effects on patient prognosis, clinical trial recruitment, and research that could lead to new therapies.

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How Cryptocurrencies are Revolutionizing the Online Gambling Industry

The advent of cryptocurrency has sparked a modern-day digital gold rush, as investors and industries race to leverage the power of coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. While crypto volatility grabs headlines, a quiet revolution is happening in online gambling. Cryptocurrencies enable fast, private betting unrestricted by regulation or banking bottlenecks.

This perfect storm of anonymity and independence is accelerating the $66.7 billion global online gambling industry’s shift from fiat money. Let’s explore the undercurrent sweeping bookmakers, casinos, lottery, poker, and bingo brands to crypto.

Trustless Transactions Build Trust

Cryptocurrency solves two central issues for the online gambling sector – privacy and speed. For instance, RetroBet players have traditionally relied on banks or payment processors like Visa and PayPal to move money. These financial middlemen demand identity verification, track transactions, and can block payments they deem suspicious.

For passionate online gamblers seeking anonymity, this is unacceptable overreach. Cryptocurrencies operate on public blockchains secured by advanced cryptography, not third parties. Gambling sites leveraging crypto allow fast deposits and withdrawals without collecting sensitive user data. Their decentralized design also makes government oversight extremely difficult.

Most recreational bettors prefer privacy and convenience over brand recognition. A 2021 study showed that 58% of online gamblers use crypto to conceal their activity, while 68% cited faster payouts as the main benefit. As more players experience the perks firsthand, adoption is soaring.

Key Crypto Gambling Statistics

– 130 million people play online casino games or bet sports using cryptocurrency as of Q1 2022
– The crypto gambling industry will reach $260 billion by 2027
– 58% of online gamblers use crypto to hide gambling activity from banks or family members
– 68% say faster withdrawals and deposits are the main appeal
– 81% of online gambling sites now accept at least one cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and Offshore Sites

In crypto’s early days, Bitcoin was essentially the only game in town. The first regulated gambling site to accept BTC was SatoshiDice in 2012. But Bitcoin’s fixed supply and independence from banks appealed most to unlicensed offshore sites operating in legal grey areas.

Through the mid-2010s, crypto gambling remained an exotic concept. But pioneers like FortuneJack, BitStarz, mBit, and Betcoin.ag built reputations for quick cash outs without onerous “know your customer” requirements. This attracted American players to overseas sites as an end-run around restrictive US gaming laws.

Bitcoin’s semi-anonymous nature (all transactions are public, but wallet owners remain unknown) enabled true global access. Whether seeking big jackpots or sports odds unavailable locally, players used Bitcoin to place otherwise impossible bets anonymously. Crypto gambling sites saw usage and revenues grow steadily through word-of-mouth.

The offshore sector now generates $16 billion in cryptocurrency wagers annually from 30 million players. While still a fraction of fiat totals, it’s growing over 20% per year despite little mainstream promotion. However, Bitcoin’s high fees and slow settlement saw players yearn for better crypto options.

Altcoin Adoption – Lower Fees and Higher Speed

Since 2017, rising transaction costs and congestion have strained Bitcoin’s capacity. With average fees approaching $20, gambling sites adopted lower-cost cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. This altcoin boom gave players more choice between privacy, speed, or brand familiarity.

The most widely-used alternatives today are Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), and stablecoins like Tether (USDT). Transaction fees are just pennies, while confirmation times range from seconds for XRP/TRX to minutes for BCH/LTC/ETH. Sites typically recommend using TRX or XRP to move funds cost-effectively.

According to CryptoGamblingNews, altcoin support is now mandatory for any credible site:

“Every online crypto casino worth its salt needs to have at least Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Tether as options nowadays. Supporting other coins like Cardano, Solana or Polkadot is also becoming more common.”

This flexibility lets gamblers choose their deposit/withdrawal coin based on fees, volatility, wealth growth, or other factors. Lesser-known cryptos also enable betting emerging niches like gaming, sports collectibles, prediction markets, and more via features unavailable using fiat.

Regulation

While most government entities still grapple to define cryptocurrency, much less legislate it appropriately, the EU is pushing forward. In 2021, the bloc advanced a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets like utility and security tokens.

More locally, Malta pioneered accepting digital assets back in 2018. The small Mediterranean nation has since attracted significant operations from top global gaming brands like Betsson, Kindred, and GiG. Rival jurisdictions like Isle of Man, Curacao, Gibraltar, and the UK also regulate crypto gambling to varying degrees.

The biggest sign of crypto’s online gambling legitimacy came recently from Sweden. In 2021, state-run operator Svenska Spel integrated cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals across its sportsbook and lottery platforms. Players can now fund accounts in BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, and more.

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO Jonas Nygren explained the landmark decision:

“When consumers show increasing interest in other payment solutions than those traditionally offered, we as a company must adapt. It is then natural for us to also open up the opportunity to deposit with cryptocurrencies.”

Look for other European nations and Canada to follow suit in regulating cryptocurrency gaming transactions, either directly or through digital asset legislation. This will spur the next phase of mainstream crypto adoption.

In Summary

Rising from obscure origins on Bitcoin-friendly offshore sites, cryptocurrencies now stand poised to disrupt online gambling. The core appeals of privacy and speed that first attracted players still hold true. But increased altcoin support, regulation, and adoption by traditional brands are set to unlock mass market potential.

As more people realize the benefits of trustless, instant transactions for betting and gaming, expect crypto to challenge fiat currency’s dominance. Much like the gold rushes of centuries past, the early pioneers gave way to big business. But this time everyone with an Internet connection can stake their claim.

FIFA World Cup 2026™ round-of-16 match this Saturday, at Philadelphia Stadium

The official bus carrying the France soccer team sped by Connie and me early Friday, July 3, 2026 as we drove north on Route 295. Insignias of the France team logo, along with FIFA World Cup 2026 was wrapped on both sides of the vehicle. photo credit Connie Cleary CNBNews photographer

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PHILADELPHIA PA (July 3, 2026)(CNBNews)--To mark the United States’ Independence Day and the nation’s 250^th anniversary, FIFA will celebrate the holiday with special pre-game programming at both the FIFA World Cup 2026™ round-of-16 match this Saturday, at Philadelphia Stadium.

The celebration in Philadelphia will honor the city’s history and continued legacy as the United States’ birthplace.

Philadelphia Stadium pre-match highlights will include the following:

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Summer Concerts at Proprietor Park, “Big Trip Duo July 14” at 7 PM

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Gabby Lisella Retires After 26 Years at Rowan

Gabby Lisella, who has dedicated 26 years to Rowan Athletics as a coach and administrator, announced her retirement from the University, effective July 1.

As Rowan’s associate athletic director for the past seven years, Lisella was involved with facilities, operations and game management, and served as the sport supervisor for several programs. She oversaw numerous facilities projects, including construction of the new Student-Athlete Weight Room in Esby Gym that is scheduled to open in the fall.