Division St. Homeowner Faces $1000’s in Fines; Court Case Scheduled for January

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

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Mr. Pierce purchased the property in 2021 for $175,000. In May 2022, residents began complaining to the City Housing Office about the property’s appearance. The Google Maps photos were taken in March 2023. Cleary’s Notebook News photo was taken on November 26, 2025. GOOGLE MAPS

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (DECEMBER 4,2025)(CNBNEWS)–Cleary’s Notebook News submitted an OPRA request to Vanessa Little, the Custodian of Records for Gloucester City, on November 26. The request sought all citations filed against Roger Pierce, the occupant of 637 Division Street, for violating the City’s Housing Code. In response, we received 43 pages starting from May 4, 2022.

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OPINION: Shocking Video of Division Street Yard; Gloucester City’s $1000 Trash Can Fine

Trash Can Law to Be Enforced, BUT Division St. Resident Junk Yard Ok

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GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (November 29, 2025)(CNBNews)–On Tuesday, November 26, we spoke with a resident of Gloucester City living on the 600 block of Division Street regarding the condition of his yard. In our opinion, it resembles a junkyard. He informed us that once he finishes remodeling the interior of his home, he will relocate the items he is currently storing in his side yard back inside. When we asked to see what he had been remodeling inside his house, he refused. He said he would file a lawsuit against CNBNews if any article or photo were published about him. This individual is a disabled Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. One person familiar with the situation suggested that his status as a disabled veteran is the reason he has been allowed to ignore the city’s housing regulations.

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THE GRINCH DESTROYS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AT GLOUCESTER TOWNE; WHY?

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (November 23, 2025) CNBNews Editor’s Note--Today, we received a complaint from a resident of Gloucester Towne who was upset about the destruction of Christmas decorations that the local community had put up. According to this individual, employees from the Public Works Department arrived at the site on November 21 and dismantled the holiday display. The resident claimed that the employees informed her that the order to remove the decorations came from Brian Morrell, the Chief of Police and City Administrator, as well as Mayor Dayl Baile. The resident expressed confusion over why such an order was given and noted that there had been no prior communication with the property managers or the residents regarding the removal of the decorations. “The people living here used their Social Security checks to pay for these ornaments and trimmings,” she stated. Additionally, she mentioned that the mayor and city council members were contacted on Friday, November 21, but as of today, Sunday, they had yet to receive a response.

Cleary’s Notebook News has submitted an OPRA request to the City’s Custodian of Records in order to seek transparency regarding the puzzling removal of festive decorations at Gloucester Towne. The resident we spoke with is a concerned resident who contacted us to share that for the past three years, residents have been allowed to adorn the area with holiday displays. The pressing question for city officials is: why are residents now prohibited from setting up their cherished Christmas decorations? What led to this unexpected change, and why were residents not notified of the new rules?

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Cleary’s July 2025 Cheers and Jeers

**CHEER**-Congratulations to Brooklawn Police Chief Shamus Ellis, who has announced his retirement. Ellis began his career as a Class 11 officer in 1998. He thanked the governing body, past and present, for their help. “Together, we hired additional officers, introduced new programs such as the Resiliency Officer and Employee Assistance Program, improved our community outreach efforts, and secured state-of-the-art equipment to better serve our residents.” And, thanked residents and business owners for their support.

**CHEER**—At the Gloucester City Council caucus meeting on June 16, 2025, the mayor and council convened in a closed executive session to address a troubling bond default by Think Pavers Hardscaping LLC (Think Pavers). This contractor, entrusted with the crucial Hudson Street Sewer Rehabilitation Re-Bid project valued at $565,500, has fallen woefully short of the expectations outlined in their contract, leading to a default on the performance bond. Just a week later, during the council meeting on June 23, the council took decisive action, authorizing the city solicitor to file a claim for the defaulted maintenance bond. Think Pavers has completed other contractors such as installing fresh asphalt on Johnson Blvd. Jogging Park and executed various projects throughout the city.

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New Basketball Court for Three Corner Park ; A Look Back at the Playground’s History

William E. Cleary Sr. | Clearys News Journal

Slam Dunk Upgrades at Burlington & Middlesex Streets

The basketball court at Burlington and Middlesex just got another round of improvements! The blacktop has been resurfaced and painted, and new netting has been added above the fencing to keep the game going strong. The whole 3 Corner Park area is really coming together—it’s looking better than ever and adds a nice boost to the neighborhood. As activity continues to grow west of Broadway, these upgrades help set the stage for even more good things to come.

ANGELS PLAYGROUND–In January 2007, the playground located at Three Corner Park in Gloucester City was refurbished and renamed Angels Playground in honor of the three Slack children who tragically perished in a fire on July 4, 2002, at the intersection of Broadway and Mercer Street. Regrettably, the area has experienced acts of vandalism, including the destruction of the Angels’ Welcome sign and the defacement of playground equipment with graffiti. The reasons for the failure to replace the sign remain unclear.

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Cafe Crema Opens In Gloucester City

The new eatery moved into the former Tarlans Cleaners at 100 South Broadway. It is encouraging to see new businesses moving into the City. It opened on June 16, 2025, and offers breakfast and lunch with a “grab and go” style bakery. The cafe is known for its coffee, including specialty lattes like the banana bread latte, and offers a selection of fresh, homemade baked goods. While there isn’t indoor seating, there are tables outside for customers to enjoy.

THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE VISITS GLOUCESTER CITY

This past September, I was walking our new dog, Sweetie, in the old industrial area of the city, and we had the incredible fortune of spotting four American bald eagles perched majestically in two trees. As we got closer to their location, two of the mature eagles flew over our heads. At the same time, the other two took off in the opposite direction. We were in awe at their beauty. It felt like such a special gift from nature, filling our hearts with awe and wonder as we soaked in the beauty of these incredible creatures. Sweetie, our two-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever whom we recently adopted, seemed to share in our excitement.

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Holt Terminal Changing Skyline

The shipping container business located in Gloucester City has demolished the warehouses at its marina at the foot of Monmouth Street and is beginning to tear down some of the old buildings near the entrance to the facility at King and Essex Streets. The additional vacant land will likely allow Holt to store more shipping containers.

According to an AI search, several proposed bills in the New Jersey legislature would authorize municipalities to impose taxes on the storage of empty shipping containers within their boundaries. Here’s a breakdown of what these proposed bills entail:
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A MAN TO BE REMEMBERED

TO: William E. Cleary, Sr.

Dear Bill,

I was sad to read that you are saying goodbye to something that has become an essential part of Gloucester City. Reading your articles, opinions, and other important news over the years, it is evident that you encompass everything good about your profession as a journalist. Your knowledge, honesty, and dedication through the years kept us in tune with and educated about what was going on in the city. Your comments about what you investigated and questioned may not have been approved by some politicians, but how they handled the situation made you that much more of a “champion” of our First Amendment rights.

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