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.
Continue reading “MY BROTHER GEORGE & Barbara Gianvito Cleary”Category: CNB NEWS OPINION
MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE MADE US PROUD
Dear Family,
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.
With all our Love,
Dad, Grandfather, Mom, Grandmom
Our Best Friends Happen to be Our 9 Labrador Retrievers
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.
Continue reading “Our Best Friends Happen to be Our 9 Labrador Retrievers”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:
Continue reading “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:
Continue reading “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:
Continue reading “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:
Continue reading “Holt Terminal Changing Skyline”
Was the Retainer Wall Built to Stop Flooding
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.
From The CNBNews Archives, Year 2006
When winter was really winter
DECEMBER 1914
(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.
Read more: From The CNBNews Archives, Year 2006PIRATES DEN DESTROYED BY FIRE
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.
READ MORE, CLICK LINK
Cleary’s Court Case Keeps Being Canceled
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.
Continue reading “Cleary’s Court Case Keeps Being Canceled”The Story Behind The Story: What We Know About Gloucester City
Dorothy Philbin l CNBNews
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.
Built Prior to 1939 2,031
Between 1940 – 1949 459
Between 1950 – 1959 727
Between 1960 – 1969 207
Between 1970 – 1979 38
Between 1980 – 1989 303
Between 1990 – 1999 44
Between 2000 – 2010 76
2010 or later 0
Total Number of houses 2,498
source Gloucester City Master Plan
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Where Has All The Money Gone?
Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (JUNE 19, 2023)(CNBNews)–It seems that everyone, every company, city and state is filing for bankruptcy. Just this week there have been bankruptcy sales at Bye, Bye Baby, Harmon Cosmetics, Bed Bath and Beyond, and David’s Bridal. They are just the companies in the Deptford Mall area.
Let’s move onto cities. Just the top 10 are New York City, Chicago, Honolulu, Portland, New Orleans, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Miami. It shouldn’t be any surprise that most of these cities are in trouble, they have either defunded their police departments or are being over-run by illegal immigrants.
Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Where Has All The Money Gone?”CITIES AND TOWNS SEEKING POT BUSINESSES
William E. Cleary Sr. | CLEARY’S NOTEBOOK NEWS
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (CNBNews)(June 2023)-In 2021 the state of New Jersey legalized the use and sale of marijuana. Since that time, according to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, there are 24 dispensaries that sell recreational cannabis in the state, along with 13 shops that sell only medical marijuana.
That legalization has also seen a rush by local governments throughout the state bending over backwards to attract “Doobie Stores’ to open in their communities. For example, the City of Gloucester City passed legislation in January to amend it Land Development law in order to accommodate the marijuana industry. As such the development of the Southport area, which consist of over 100 acres of vacant land along the Delaware River will now be used to cultivate, manufacture, and distribute, marijuana. The new ordinance allows cannabis businesses to operate with Class 1, 2,3,4,5, and 6 licenses (Cultivation, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Distribution, Retail, and Delivery.
For 37 years, the City promoted an idea to develop that once-industrial site into upscale housing, a waterfront marina, and a retail district. The city spent thousands of dollars on architects, engineers, and development plans for that purpose. In 2005, the site was named “THE GLOUCESTER VISTA.” Shortly after, a new Democrat mayor, William James, and the city council were elected, announcing that the area was so toxic it would take over a decade to remove the chemicals.
Hanging over the city’s deal with any marijuana business is a $10.5 million lawsuit filed against Gloucester City in 2021 by Rocco D’Antonio, CEO of Organic Waste, Marlton. In 2010, he was given the go-ahead to build a $30 million compost recycling plant near the old GAF pier. Despite getting initial approval from the City, unforeseeable circumstances led to the agreement falling apart. The case is currently in the deposition phase, and D’Antonio has expressed his readiness to take it to trial in October.
On Wednesday, June 21, the Gloucester City Planning/Zoning Board will meet to decide on a number of different requests, one of which is allowing marijuana to be sold from the former O’Donnells’ Family restaurant/bar at 401 North Broadway.
For those who are new to Gloucester City, the O’Donnells opened their doors in 1923 and sold it in 2009. The popular eatery was known for its Manhattans, clam chowder, seafood, its rye bread baked at Mosteig’s Bakery, and its ice cream cake roll. The small bar, which was usually crowded, was “tucked” away on the side of the building near Warren Street. Many of those customers would travel near and far just to drink an O’Donnell Manhattan cocktail, which was made with secret ingredients.
Since that time, the business has changed hands numerous times. The building and the surrounding parking lot has been empty for two years.
Officials in neighboring Brooklawn are also excited about marijuana dispensaries coming to their town, which has been called unofficially “God’s Little Acre.” In December 2022, INDIGO received approval to open a dispensary at 302 Crescent Blvd. Although the owners of that business said their operation would open in early 2023, the property remains empty.
In February 2023 another dispensary, named High Life, was supposed to be opening soon in the Brooklawn Shopping Center, also located on Crescent Blvd.
Just last month, residents near the abandoned Webers Drive-In, 310 Crescent Blvd., were given notice that Albert Shapiro
, the owner of the property, was requesting a letter of interpretation for the limits of the wetland and transition area on the site from the state of NJ. According to the blog South Jersey Observer, Borough Clerk Ryan Giles said the owner wants to use the five-acre property for a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility.
Recently, Dorothy Philbin, a CNBNews columnist and investigative reporter, penned a column that sums up the sudden rush by local governments to seek marijuana businesses to open in their town.
When it comes to the growing, processing, and sale of marijuana, some towns are saying, “Over here, we want it.” Other towns are saying, “not in my backyard.” Unfortunately, there are some towns where the residents don’t want the pot in their town, but the city/borough leaders do. Pot is taxed, providing more money for our leaders to spend. Woodbury Heights is one of those towns.
The residents of Woodbury Heights were fighting tooth and nail to keep pot out of their community but their leaders were bound and determined to have it. The designated area was the former Nova Bank building on Route 45, just behind the Hollywood Diner. Renovations were just beginning. Unfortunately, overnight between Monday, June 5th, and Tuesday, June 6th, the building was completely destroyed by fire. (June 8, 2023 CNBNews)