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.
Area School District Edition – January 1 to March 13, 2026
For more than 20 years, CNBNews has highlighted the people, institutions, and decisions that shape our local communities. Each week we recognize those who deserve applause — and call out those who fall short — in our continuing effort to keep residents informed and engaged. We welcome your input. If you like to submit a suggestion for our next School Districts Edition, or our regular Cheers and Jeers column, forward it to Editor William E. Cleary Sr., wecleary@gloucestercitynews.net
Surrounded by his loving family, Stephen B. “Pop” Heister, Sr., of Gloucester City, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at the age of 75.
Steve will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 54 years, Lois D. Heister (née Devine) and children Stephen B. Heister, Jr. and his wife, Pam, and Jeanette Shoemaker and her husband Garrett. He was the cherished and proud grandfather of Braydon and Kayla Heister, and Rhya and Grayson Shoemaker, who brought him endless joy.
He was the beloved son of the late Benjamin and Gloria Heister and the dear brother of the late Benjamin E. Heister, Jr. (surviving Hortensia “Honey”). He is also survived by many loving members of the Heister and Devine families.
It’s the first full day of the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, as mushers and their sled dog teams ascend into the Alaska Range after departing Willow in the race restart on Sunday afternoon.
As of Monday afternoon, top competitors had reached the checkpoint of Rainy Pass, led by defending champion Jessie Holmes who arrived there shortly after noon. He was followed over the next few hours by several top teams, including Matt Hall, who finished second last year, Paige Drobny, who finished third in 2025, and Travis Beals of Seward.
The stretch of trail teams are currently navigating is among the most technically challenging of the entire route. There are several ice bridges that cross open creeks, plus a 200-foot downhill section into the notorious Dalzell Gorge. No teams had scratched from the race as of Monday. This year’s field has no shortage of tough competition. There are four previous winners, including Holmes, and a host of perennial contenders who have regularly finished in the top 10. [54th Iditarod officially begins, with stiff competition at the top] “Everybody who’s been in the top 10 before, been in the top five, everybody has a shot at winning. Everyone shows up here very hungry to do well,” 2019 winner Pete Kaiser of Bethel said ahead of the race. Mille Porsild of Denmark, Wade Marrs of Willow, Drobny and Hall, among others, are angling for strong finishes this year.
Defending Iditarod champion Jessie Holmes drives his dog during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN) This year’s smaller field of 37 mushers reflects a trend of declining participation in the race over the last several years. Costs to run the Iditarod— both as a musher and from an organizational standpoint — have ballooned, making the race more challenging than ever. Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach said costs have doubled in the past three years. The organization continues to pursue new income sources (with this year’s inaugural Expedition Class being an example) and is working to stay solvent while making the race viable for a new generation of mushers. But it’s not easy. For mushers, training, transportation, gear, drop bags and more add up quickly, putting the total cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. Some, like veteran musher Gabe Dunham, have ongoing concerns about how long they can sustain a race career.
On the organization side, the situation is much the same. Line items like fuel, insurance, aviation costs and the hundreds of bales of straw for dogs to rest on at trail checkpoints have gone up in price, according to Urbach. The Iditarod’s new Expedition Class program, which allows mushers to run the race noncompetitively and under a different set of rules, is one of the organization’s efforts to seek new streams of revenue. As the first musher in this category, billionaire businessman Kjell Inge Røkke contributed more than $300,000 to this year’s race. That helped lower the entry costs for mushers and also increased the race purse.
BROOKLAWN N.J. April 1, 2016 (Cleary’s Notebook News)--Gloucester Catholic Head Coach Adam Tussey (photo labove) notched his 1st win as the new coach by beating Kingsway High School 7 – 1 in the Rams home opener. Tussey who took over for Mike Rucci who departed for Rowan University was left a team needing to fill seven spots. The 2015 team loaded with future college players took not only seven fielding positions but Tussey needed to replace four pitchers.
The United States Senate has passed a bill submitted by Sen. Marco Rubio (R, FL) to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. Sen. Rubio made some valid points in his bill. During the standard time when evening comes at 5:00 p.m. crime rate is higher, people become depressed due to Seasonal Affective Disorder and for an unknown reason, people have more heart attacks. There is also the hope, optimistically, that with more daylight kids will spend more time outside getting exercise.
Former Gloucester Mayor Gorman Fighting A Legal Battle With The City That Elected Him; Battle is Over City Police Department Records
William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
(FIRST published December 2006)—
Reporter’s Note: Since 2004, former Gloucester City Mayor Robert Gorman has been embroiled in a court battle with the City of Gloucester and its Police Department over information he believes should be released under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). During my research, I discovered a recent decision on these proceedings dated December 14, 2006. A link to that decision appears at the bottom of this article. I must warn you—it is quite lengthy.
According to the legal document, while Mr. Gorman was still Mayor of Gloucester City, unflattering material about him was posted on NJ.com. The document states that Mr. Gorman believed some of these posts were made by Gloucester City Police Officers, possibly while on duty at police headquarters. Apparently, during his time as Mayor, Mr. Gorman asked the Police Department to investigate these allegations. The document also states that “Mr. Gorman believed that the Gloucester City Police Department was trying to harm and/or harass him and now wants to review the results and status of the various internal investigations he requested while he was still mayor of Gloucester City.”
Earlier Saturday morning, February 28, 2026the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began. The Pentagon confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed as a result of the bombing, along with 40 other high-ranking Iranian officials. Memories of the United States War with Iraq, come to mind. Since the 1980s, U.S. military involvement in the Middle East has focused on maintaining regional stability, securing oil reserves, and combating terrorism, shifting from direct interventions—like the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War—to, more recently, proxy warfare, drone strikes, and countering Iranian-backed forces. (Wilson Center +3)
Get “shamrocked” at The Tipsy Leprechaun, Resorts all-new pop-up bar taking over Bar One! From festive drink specials and live entertainment to over-the-top décor, this limited-time bar brings the luck of the Irish straight to the Boardwalk. Grab a drink, catch the vibe, and celebrate St. Paddy’s Day the Resorts way. Open March 6-31.
Signature drink specials at The Tipsy Leprechaun
Mint Chocolate Martini $14 Steel Blu Vanilla Vodka, Crème de Cacao White, Green Crème de Menthe, Half & Half, chocolate syrup & whipped cream garnish
Tipsy Leprechaun $14 Jameson, Melon liqueur, Pineapple Juice
Pot of Gold $14 Malibu Rum, Apple Pucker, Pineapple Juice, Sprite
WASHINGTON DC (Cleary’s Notebook News)(February 27, 2026)–Last month, Cabinet members of the Trump Administration posted an inspirational tribute to their friend on YouTube. Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025. According to a Wikipedia article, Kirk was an American right-wing political activist. He was assassinated at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was scheduled to speak at an outdoor campus debate organized by Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization he co-founded and led. Kirk, age 31, was a close supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump and a highly influential figure in the MAGA movement.
Johnny Gaudreau’s daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr. pose with Team USA after Olympic gold.Credit : Gregory Shamus/Getty
(Milan, Italy)(February 22, 2026)(Cleary’s NoteBook News)-The U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team paid a heartfelt tribute to the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau on Sunday after securing the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. In an emotional moment on the ice, players brought Gaudreau’s children—his daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr.—into the team’s post‑game celebration.
Gaudreau, who had been on track to make the 2026 Olympic roster, died in August 2024. His wife, Meredith, and his parents, Jane and Guy, attended the championship game and watched as the team honored his legacy.
Following Team USA’s dramatic victory over rival Canada, players carried Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey onto the ice. Forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Zach Werenski then brought Noa, 3, and Johnny Jr., 2, into the center of the celebration as the team posed for photos with their gold medals.
Larkin stood beside Johnny Jr.—who celebrated his second birthday on Sunday—while holding Gaudreau’s jersey aloft. Werenski held a smiling Noa as the crowd cheered.
Meredith Gaudreau accompanied the children to the game, joined by Gaudreau’s parents. Guy Gaudreau was visibly emotional after Jack Hughes scored the overtime game‑winner that clinched the gold for Team USA. The tribute served as a powerful reminder of Gaudreau’s impact on American hockey and the bond he shared with many of the players who took the ice in Milan.
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