Cleary’s Notebook publishes a wide variety of articles, primarily focusing on news, sports, commentary, and politics for Gloucester City and the surrounding areas of South Jersey and Philadelphia. Based on recent posts, here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Local news and community events
Updates on local projects and infrastructure, such as road improvements and park renovations.
Announcements and coverage of community events like Gloucester Day and various concerts.
Reports on local sports news and high school events, particularly Gloucester Catholic High School and Gloucester High sports.
Obituaries and tributes to community members.
“Cheers and Jeers” columns, which highlight positive and negative aspects of the community.
Pet-related stories, such as introducing new family dogs.
Public safety and crime reports
News about local police investigations, arrests, and crime advisories.
Reports on incidents like shootings and other crimes in Gloucester City and the surrounding areas.
Discussions on crime statistics and police department policies.
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.
The photo shows my brother George and his first wife, Barb with the twins. I hadn’t seen Barb in decades, and when I learned that she and her daughter, Barb (when she was younger, she was called Bobbie, were in a nursing home, Connie and I decided to visit them. We took Peyton, our trained therapy dog, with us. She was an immediate star with the patients in the home. Young Barb was 53 and had ALS. In the photo, she is the baby on the right. When we arrived, we found them both sitting in the day room. Young Barb looked at me and asked her mom, “Do you know who this is, Mom?” After a few minutes of contemplating, Barb looked at me and said, “Billy!” She had Alzheimer’s disease. Like you, I am very familiar with that illness; my mom had it, and now my sister, Dolores, is affected by it too.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNEWS)–Today, at St. Mary’s Church, I looked at all of you. I was struck by the powerful lyrics of a Darius Rucker song that capture our family’s essence. I’ve included a verse from that song along with the link below—make time to listen. (photo courtesy of St. Mary’s Facebook)
It won’t be like this for long
One day soon, that girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
So, he’s tryin to hold on
Cause it won’t be like this for long
It won’t be like this for long.
, Preform by Darius Rucker
Reflecting on this song brought vivid memories of each of your births—Kelly Ann, Connie Lynn, and Billy. Your bright blonde hair and radiant smiles were undeniable gifts from heaven. Yes, you tested our patience at times, but the joy you brought into our lives far outweighed any challenges. Your mother and I felt young and vibrant, and I wouldn’t trade those days for anything. Watching you grow into a strong woman and a remarkable man fills me with pride, especially as you now bless us with wonderful grandchildren who are continuing this legacy of love.
Sitting in church this past Sunday, I reminisced about my time as a young altar boy, serving alongside the priest while my father sat in his customary spot, lost in prayer. Those moments reminded me of my life journey, from childhood to the present, and how swiftly the years have flown by.
You deserve to know about the simplicity of your mom’s and my upbringing. Life back then was straightforward, and we often took our good fortune for granted. I am genuinely concerned about the challenges you face today. Growing up in today’s world is undoubtedly difficult, and I want you all to understand that you have my unwavering support.
I often think of my parents and the time I would have loved to spend with them. Watching them age was painful, as they became almost childlike in their needs. Many nights, I cried in silence, wishing for their peace. I miss my brother and the invaluable conversations we shared.
Now, I fully grasp my father’s tears while listening to music in his final days. He was likely reflecting on his own life, as I do now.
I stand firm in saying that I have been blessed with a wonderful life, and a significant part of that comes from each of you. My only regret is not expressing my love for you more often—I know your mother would feel the same way.
You each make me proud in your own unique way, and I want you to know that we could not ask for a better family.
Lacey, the black Labrador, and Erica, the yellow Labrador. Friends from the first day they met at the Seeing Eye Campus.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ—We have been very fortunate to own many excellent Labrador retrievers for over 60 years of marriage. Three of our eight Labdores were therapy dogs. Today, Peyton holds down that title. Before her, the two pictured, Lacey and Erica, performed those duties. Seeing the faces of senior citizens and hospital patients brighten when we walk into their room with our dog is very rewarding.
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:
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:
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:
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:
DON’T MESS WITH MOTHER NATURE – The contractor for the New Jersey Department of Transportation is taking an innovative approach to address the flooding issue at Brooklawn’s east and west traffic circles by constructing retaining walls. However, as indicated by the arrows in the photo, it seems that water is still making its way onto New Broadway. I suggest considering a six or eight-foot-high retaining wall, which could also provide opportunities for advertising space—just a joke, of course! In all the times we’ve seen various contractors attempt to stop the flooding, this is the first instance where we have witnessed the erection of retaining walls.
(PhillyHistory)(December 2006)–Local meteorologists forecast an exceptionally snowy winter for Philadelphia in 2006-07. As this prediction looms in the minds of the city’s residents, the thought of snow is likely the last thing they want to contemplate. This sentiment probably echoed through the streets of Philadelphia in 1914, especially with the promise of spring just around the corner.
Yet, on the evening of March 2, 1914, and stretching into the early hours of March 3, the snow became the sole focus of conversation among locals. A powerful storm rolled in from the Atlantic Coast, bringing with it a blanket of white that transformed the city. The storm wreaked havoc in New York and Camden and blanketed Philadelphia in heavy, wet snow, creating a picturesque but challenging winter scene. As the snow continued to fall, it became clear that both the beauty and difficulties of winter had once again taken center stage in the lives of Philadelphians.
North Broadway and Essex Street, Gloucester City, NJ
(December 13, 2006)
The above photo shows the fire, while the bottom photo reveals the damage.
GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. (December 13, 2006) -A Gloucester City seafood restaurant and bar stands in ruins this morning after a devastating fire swept through it overnight, leaving two individuals hospitalized. The inferno ignited at the Pirates Den shortly after 12:30 a.m., engulfing the structure located on the bustling 300 block of North Broadway. This establishment, owned by Brian Cohan, was previously known as Ferry’s Seafood Restaurant.
Firefighters bravely battled the intense flames during a challenging three-alarm response. The inferno caused substantial damage to the restaurant and resulted in one firefighter requiring hospitalization for injuries sustained while combating the fire. Additionally, a patron trapped inside the building was rushed to the hospital due to smoke inhalation. Despite the valiant efforts of emergency crews, who worked tirelessly for over two hours to bring the fire under control, the cause of the blaze remains a mystery. The scene is one of heartbreak for the community that fondly remembers the restaurant’s warm atmosphere and delicious seafood dishes.
GLOUCESTER CITY ,NJ (November 2023)(CNBNews)—William E. Cleary Sr., editor of CNBNews appeared in Gloucester City Municipal Court on Tuesday, November 2023 to answer two trespassing charges for walking around the Cold Springs Elementary School, located at Cold Springs Drive and Market Street, and one theft charge. Cleary took a children’s bench that he thought was trash as it was lying on the asphalt behind the school with other trash next to a trash dumpster. When he learned it wasn’t trash, he contacted the police, returned the bench to the school, and placed it in the same trash pile from which he got it.
At the November 21 hearing he was given two choices: plead guilty or take the matter to trial. He was told by his attorney Justin Moore, whose law office is in Collingswood, he should be prepared to pay heavy fines if he plead guilty. The penalty varies based on the value of the goods. The value of the bench was set at $500. The penalty for a third-degree felony is 3 to 5 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000.
Research for another article led to the current Master Plan for Gloucester City. The Master Plan contains much information which is probably new to most, if not all residents who don’t work for the city. Over the next couple of weeks you will get to know the facts about Gloucester City.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are roughly 4,300 households in our city, of which 3,000 are apartments. Keep that in mind when you read the following.
House Heating Fuel:
Natural Gas 2,948
Bottled Gas 109
Electricity 255
Fuel Oil/Kerosene 818
Coal -0-
Wood 15
Solar -0-
Other -0-
No Fuel Used -0-
Selected Characteristics:
Lacking Complete Plumbing Facilities 16*
Lacking Complete Kitchen Facilities 3*
No Telephone Service 92**
* If someone knows that people don’t have plumbing and/or kitchen facilities, why has the Board of Health not been called?
** As difficult as it is to believe that 92 people in Gloucester City have no telephone service there are homeless and very-low income/senior residents. One way of counting families with no phone service is to count the students in school whose parents provide no home phone number. That doesn’t mean that there is no phone in the household, just that the parents don’t want to hear from the school.
Do you know how old your house is? Obviously, the houses between the railroad and the river are much older than most of the other homes. The web page datauniverse.com shows the year each house was built, though it is accurate for the older homes. The date is “around” or “about.”
The following are the number of houses built in each decade, according to the Gloucester City Master Plan.
