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.

September 2026 Cheers & Jeers

BROOKLAWN

CHEERS: To Brooklawn officials and volunteers for expanding waterfront and community events, including the borough’s Fourth of July celebration and charitable pickleball tournament that raised funds for a local resident’s recovery. [findglocal.com]

JEERS: To continued debates over public-use fees and regulations for borough baseball fields, an issue that required council review and postponement rather than immediate resolution. [citizenportal.ai], [brooklawn-nj.com]

BELLMAWR

CHEERS: To Bellmawr’s long-awaited Timber Creek Waterfront Park project, which aims to transform a former landfill into public recreational space featuring walking trails and river access. [42freeway.com], [citizenportal.ai]

JEERS: To the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Interchange 1-4 Capacity Enhancement Project. Residents and officials continue raising concerns about delays, stormwater impacts, noise, and lack of clear communication. [gathergov.com]

CAMDEN

CHEERS: To city and county officials for continuing to secure federal and state funding aimed at housing improvements, homelessness assistance, community development, and economic opportunity programs. [camdennj.gov], [camdencounty.com]

JEERS: To the continuing violence that still claims lives in Camden despite progress made over the years. Recent homicide and shooting investigations serve as reminders that public safety remains a major challenge. [tapinto.net]

GLOUCESTER CITY

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American Water & the City of Camden 9/11 tribute to honor victims with 2,977-flag memorial

Tomorrow morning, American Water and the City of Camden will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a waterfront tribute honoring the 2,977 lives lost and the first responders who answered the call.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. at American Water’s headquarters and RCA Pier Park, the remembrance will bring together Camden officials, first responders, American Water leaders and community volunteers for a wreath dedication, moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., bell ringing and siren salute. The program will conclude with the installation of 2,977 American flags along the Camden waterfront.

The completed memorial will be visible from the Camden Waterfront Promenade, Delaware River, Philadelphia waterfront and Ben Franklin Bridge, and will remain in place for approximately one week.

CNBNews Photo of the Day; Just Unbelieveable!

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

CNBNews photo

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (Sept. 9, 2026)–For nearly a year, letter carriers assigned to the Riverview Heights section of Gloucester City have continued to stuff mail into the mailbox at 31 Barnard Avenue until it is literally overflowing. The photograph above documents a situation that should have been addressed long ago.

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Will a $500,000 New Home Redefine Gloucester City R.E.?

16 Stites Avenue, Gloucester City NJ, Asking price $500,000

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNews)(Sept.8, 2026)-For decades, Gloucester City, has held a well-earned reputation as one of South Jersey’s most dependable havens for affordable housing. With the city’s average home value firmly rooted around $243,300, working-class families and commuters have long looked here for financial relief from escalating regional markets. However, a stunning new architectural arrival is forcing locals and real estate observers to double-check their calculators.

Located at 16 Stites Ave., a newly built contemporary single-family home has entered the market with an eye-popping asking price: $500,000.

To many longtime residents, a half-million-dollar price tag in Gloucester City sounds not just extreme, but entirely disconnected from local reality. It is a figure more commonly associated with affluent pockets of Camden County or the expanding suburbs further east—not a town traditionally known for its compact lots and industrial roots. But as the property sits on the market, it raises a fascinating economic question: Is this listing a case of runaway seller optimism, or is it a sign of an impending shift in the local market?

The Anatomy of a Half-Million-Dollar Listing

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Cleary’s Notebook News #17 Among NJ’s Top Blogs

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (September 7, 2026)-Cleary’s Notebook News has done it again. For the second consecutive year, the site has earned a spot on Feedspot’s list of the 70 Best New Jersey Blogs — and this year it, landed at No. 17.

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CNB Photo of the Day: Was it a Coyote We Seen in Deptford ?

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

CNBNews photo…

Looking at the photo of the animal I took as well as the video that is shown below I wasn’t sure that the animal I saw was a coyote.

What do you think? Is it a coyote or is it a dog? If you have a photo you like to share with our readers submit it to wecleary@gmail.com ?

New Jersey Fish and Game photo of a eastern coyote…

*****

On Friday, August 28 we were in Deptford Township at the NJ Motor Vehicle Inspection station. We left there at 1 PM and headed to the nearby Walmart Super Center. A mile away we spotted what we thought at first was a dog standing in the underbrush about 10 yards from the busy highway. Curious, we turned around and stopped on the other side of the street and began filming. All those years I hunted it became a habit of mind to glance at the fields and the woodline that I passed in my travels.

Every few seconds this animal lifted its head up and took a gander around the field it was standing in. With its black and tan coat it blended perfectly into the vegetation.

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Early A.M Standoff in Gloucester City, Suspect Arrested

GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. — A 39-year-old Gloucester City man is behind bars after police say he doused a Ridgeway Street home and two people inside it with lighter fluid early Thursday, then barricaded himself inside the residence and triggered a roughly two-hour standoff with law enforcement.

Eugene Jackson, of Gloucester City, was taken into custody without incident at about 2:36 a.m., according to the Gloucester City Police Department.

Officers responded to a home in the 600 block of Ridgeway Street around 1 a.m. following reports of a man pouring lighter fluid over the residence and its occupants. By the time police arrived, the two victims had managed to escape the house unharmed, authorities said. Jackson, however, remained inside and refused to come out, police said.

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Dolores Cleary Raube Succumbs, Retired GHS Teacher’s Aide

UPDATED/CORRECTIONS MADE

Dolores R. Raube, 88 years old

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (September 2, 2026)(CNBNews)--Dolores R. Raube (nee Cleary) passed away on August 31, 2026 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. A few month ago, her nurse told the family that she was in the seventh stage of this dreadful ailment and suggested to the family that she should be placed on Hospice care. Her sons Michael and Joe Raube were taking care of her at her Brown Street home during her illness.

She graduated from Gloucester Catholic with the Class of ’56. After graduation Dolores was hired as a secretary by Quigleys Lumber, at 811 Market Street. Much later she worked for the Gloucester City News, a weekly newspaper owned by her parents, George and Mazie Cleary.

Following her mariage to Joe, the couple moved to Ventnor. They lived in a apartment attached to a corner food store that was owned by Joe’s parents. They stayed there for several years as Joe learned the butcher’s trade. Several years later the couple returned to Gloucester City and purchased a home on East Brown Street a few properties from the house where Dolores grew up. Once established into their new home the couple acquired Paul’s Market (Paul Martz) at 900 Market Street.

After she had children Dolores continued working part-time managing the Gloucester City News subscription list. Each Wednesday she delivered the weekly paper to 45 area stores. After their three sons had grown and left her hous Dolores was hired as a teacher’s aide by the Gloucester City Board of Education. After 20 years of employment she retired.

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Jaden Thompson, 19, Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder

September 1, 2026

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on August 31, 2026, Jaden Thompson, 19, of Freehold, pled guilty before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to Attempted Murder, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Eluding, all in connection with events that occurred in Jackson Township on November 27, 2025, and in Edison Township (Middlesex County) on November 28, 2026. At the time of his sentencing on October 23, 2026, the State will be seeking a term of 10 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Attempted Murder charge, which will be subject to the terms of No Early Release Act (NERA). Additionally, the State will be seeking a term of five years NJSP as to the Endangering charge and five years NJSP as to the Eluding charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

On November 27, 2025, Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to the Paragon Apartments on Larsen Road for a report of an individual who had been stabbed. Responding Officers found a female with a stab wound to the abdomen. Officers also found a 19-month-old infant lying in the area where the stabbing occurred; the infant was uninjured. The female was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she was treated and ultimately released. A subsequent investigation revealed that Thompson was the individual responsible for stabbing the victim. Further investigation revealed that Thompson had fled the area in a black Hyundai Sonata; on November 27, 2025, Thompson was charged accordingly and his name was entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

On November 28, 2025, Officers from the Edison Township Police Department identified the motor vehicle being utilized by Thompson. As Officers attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop on Thompson’s vehicle, Thompson recklessly sped away and ultimately crashed the vehicle. Thompson then attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody in the near vicinity. On November 29, 2025, Thompson was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he has been detained since that date.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Jackson Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Edison Township Police Department, Borough of Carteret Police Department, and United States Marshal’s Service, for their combined efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Thompson’s guilty pleas

PHOTO OF THE DAY:Could It Be Brother George Recarnated?

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

Gloucester City, NJ (August 30, 2026)(CNBnews)-Our photo of the day is a butterfly. The butterfly that we saw is on the left. The image on the right was taken from the poster below, “Butterflys of New Jersey

Early Sunday morning around 7 AM I walked Sweetie to our backyard. As we were coming up our steps, I saw a funny shape that looked like it was alive. But it was hard to distinguish what it was. Walking slowly up the steps, I could see it was a butterfly as it spread its wings. The delicate movements of its wings caught my eye, creating a mesmerizing dance in the morning light. While I was filming it, Sweetie came running up the steps, filled with excitement, and the butterfly took off, landing gracefully on the side of our house. It stayed there for a minute, seemingly unbothered, allowing me to appreciate its beauty before it flew away into the vast sky. Doesn’t it look like it has two heads?

This encounter brought back a profound memory of my brother, George. He said on his deathbed in 2014 that he would be back one day as a butterfly. His words resonated with me, as they combined both humor and a sense of hope. He also mentioned that he buried his gold coin collection somewhere behind his old house on Broadway, a little secret he held close. Up until his last breath, he maintained his playful spirit, joking around as he drifted in and out of a deep sleep. I often reflect on those moments and hope I can do the same when my turn comes up, facing the end with laughter and grace.

Intrigued by the butterfly I had seen, I decided to conduct a Google search to try and find out what kind it was. A couple of images caught my attention, showcasing some of the same blue coloring that is shown in the butterfly we saw, which also had some orange coloring. But, they were not a perfect match. The reason for that could be that this butterfly wasn’t fully grown. The variety in butterfly species is astounding, and it felt like a small puzzle I wanted to solve. If anyone knows what type it is, please comment below; I’m eager to learn more about the beautiful creatures that share our world.

The closest that I found was the The spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is a common black butterfly native to North America, famous for its unique caterpillar stages and mimicry defense mechanisms. [1, 2]

Appearance and Identification

Adults: Black or dark charcoal wings with a wingspan of 3 to 4 inches. The hind wings feature prominent pale blue or green patches and orange spots. Females often show a brighter blue wash on their upper wings.

Do you have a photo or video you would like to share with our readers? Forward it and a caption to wecleary@gmail.com.