Camden County awarded Audubon Family Park a $25,000 grant for upgrades and maintenance, supporting safer and more accessible recreation for local families.
The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of the deaths of Rip and Boomer, who died together while on duty on Friday. The dogs were brought to an emergency veterinary hospital in Delaware, where they were pronounced dead, Miller told NJ.com. The circumstances of their deaths were not disclosed.
CHEER-Groundbreaking of the Camden County LINK Trail
Audubon is part of the newly launched 34‑mile LINK Trail, a major regional project that will give residents a safe, scenic route for walking, biking, and running. Construction on the Audubon–Haddon Heights segment began in March and is expected to finish by year’s end.
JEER-Gloucester City’s Public Buildings in Disrepair
We have $50,000 plus to purchase a new truck for the Gloucester City UEZ director. Yet, the Police Administration Building, the Municipal Building, and the Water Department storage tanks are all in need of painting. At the water works, one of the glass windows is broken, plus a broken-down trailer bed has been lying beside the property for a decade or more. The mayor and council are well aware of these maintenance issues.
CHEER-Audubon Civic REACH Community Leadership
The nonprofit umbrella group continues to energize civic life, celebrating the grand opening of the Audubon Historical Society Museum and organizing community events that strengthen local pride. CHEER- So happy that those driving E-bikes and E-scooters will have to be licensed and wear a safety helmet. Plus they need to have insurance.
1300 Market Street Gloucester City, NJ 08030 (856) 456-7000
Sean Gorman, Superintendent of Schools
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
(GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ)(CNBNews) (July 1st, 2021)–Today is my first official day as Superintendent of Gloucester City School District. I couldn’t be more honored and excited. I entered Gloucester City Schools as a kindergarten student in 1985 and graduated from Gloucester High School in 1998. I was thrilled to return to GHS for my professional career in 2002 and have served as a Special Education teacher, guidance counselor, athletic coach, Director of Guidance, and Principal. I’ve proudly resided in Gloucester my entire life and have three children of my own and nieces and nephews enrolled at all three of our district schools. I have the unique and invaluable perspective of asking myself each day: am I the school leader that I would want for my own children and family? This lens has guided me well in all of my professional roles and is shared by so many of the outstanding, dedicated professionals that I consider myself very lucky to work alongside for nearly 20 years. This deeply entrenched commitment of all staff, students, families, and community members to each other will remain a driving force throughout our school district.
(Cleary’s Notebook News)(July 4, 2026)–Gloucester City Mayor William James released his annual ”State of the City Address” on January 9, 2015. James, who ran unopposed in November 2014, begun his third term in office in 2015. He was first elected mayor in 2007. The mayor of Gloucester City serves a term of four years, while a council member’s term is for three years. Mr. James died suddenly on January 21, 2019. He was 62 years old.
As a former Deputy Police Chief, one has to wonder what James would think if he were alive today about the present police chief, Brian Morrell, also performing the duties of the City Administrator. Both the police chief’s position and the city administrator’s position were full-time jobs during the 12 years he was mayor. In fact, for decades, those positions were always held by one person.
Not long after Police Chief Morrell was appointed part-time City Administrator, the City Board of Education appointed School Superintendent Sean Gorman to perform the duties of high school principal.
Are taxpayers saving any money by having one person do two jobs?
When a city allows one person to hold two positions — like Police Chief Brian Morrell also serving as Acting City Administrator, or School Superintendent Sean Gorman doubling as high school principal— the theoretical argument is that taxpayers save money by avoiding a second full-time salary and benefits package.
However, the real savings depend on:
💰 Whether stipends or bonuses are paid for the additional duties. If either receives extra compensation, the savings shrink or vanish.
🕒 Workload and efficiency. Two demanding jobs can dilute oversight, leading to slower responses or costly mistakes that offset any payroll savings.
📊 Budget transparency. The city or school district should publish salary breakdowns and administrative cost comparisons to prove the savings are genuine.
In many New Jersey municipalities, dual appointments are justified as “temporary” measures but often become long-term arrangements — which raises questions about whether taxpayers are truly getting value or just less accountability.
Mayor James 2015 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IS BELOW.
The official bus carrying the France soccer team sped by Connie and me early Friday, July 3, 2026 as we drove north on Route 295. Insignias of the France team logo, along with FIFA World Cup 2026 was wrapped on both sides of the vehicle. photo credit Connie Cleary CNBNews photographer
*****
PHILADELPHIA PA (July 3, 2026)(CNBNews)--To mark the United States’ Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary, FIFA will celebrate the holiday with special pre-game programming at both the FIFA World Cup 2026™ round-of-16 match this Saturday, at Philadelphia Stadium.
The celebration in Philadelphia will honor the city’s history and continued legacy as the United States’ birthplace.
Philadelphia Stadium pre-match highlights will include the following:
According to Fox 29, a park ranger saw the suspect, pictured above, and a woman arguing at Sixth and Market. That incident led to a home on Chu Avenue. Federal officials are now searching a property connected to the suspect, 44-year-old Eugene Horsch, after authorities say a variety of chemicals were found in the basement of that home.
TRENTON(CNBNews)(June 24, 2026) — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that two men were arrested for various crimes including terroristic threats, extortion, usury, and conspiracy.
John Alite, 63, of Englishtown, New Jersey, was arrested on June 19, 2026, and charged with multiple counts of theft by extortion (second degree), corporate misconduct (second degree), usury (second degree), and terroristic threats. It is alleged that Alite made loans in excess of the maximum rate permitted by law and subsequently obtained the property and monies of victims by threatening to commit violent acts. He is also alleged to have misused his corporation, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., to promote his criminal scheme. Alite is a councilman in Englishtown.
JOHN ALITE/FACEBOOK
Stephen Locrotondo, 67, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, was also arrested today and charged with usury and conspiracy, for allegedly agreeing to receive interest on loans in excess of the maximum rate permitted by law in coordination with Alite.
“These arrests are the result of rigorous investigative work and the strong cooperation between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police, who work tirelessly every day in the pursuit of justice,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all businesses conduct themselves fairly and lawfully. The conduct alleged in this case was anything but, and we will work to hold those who cheat and steal accountable.”
“Our commitment to holding offenders accountable and delivering justice for victims does not end with an arrest,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “We remain steadfast in our mission to secure justice for every victim to ensure their voices are heard.”
“The charges in this case, which include theft by extortion, terroristic threats, usury, conspiracy, and corporate misconduct, represent serious allegations involving the use of intimidation, coercion, and unlawful financial practices for personal gain. These offenses strike at the fundamental principles of fairness, accountability, and public trust,” said Jeanne Hengemuhle, Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
“Today’s arrests reflect the diligent work of detectives committed to uncovering complex criminal activity and pursuing justice on behalf of those impacted. Individuals who seek to enrich themselves through intimidation, exploitation, or abuse of power should expect to be held accountable for their actions.”
Deputy Attorney General Heather Hausleben of the Division of Criminal Justice is prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Alite was previously known as a member of the Gambino crime family and John Gotti Jr.’s best friend, according to a report from NJ.com.
He was appointed to the Borough Council in the spring of 2025 after four members suddenly resigned, NJ.com reported.
In an email sent to Patch, Englishtown Mayor Daniel Francisco said that, based on the currently available information, the recent allegations against Alite are not related to the operations within the borough.
“Every American is entitled to due process, including John,” Francisco said. “I will not rush to judgment before the facts are known, and he is entitled to a presumption of innocence while the judicial process unfolds.”
“There are often opportunists ready to pounce on calamity; I implore those following along to remain human — there are always innocent bystanders on all sides, like family, impacted by the urge for commotion,” he continued.
“Based on currently available information, these allegations are not related to the operations within our borough, and indeed will be resolved outside of it.”
In the meantime, Francisco said the borough remains focused on “serving our residents, advancing downtown development, and delivering two great community events this summer.”
When asked if Alite currently retains his position on the Borough Council, Francisco said the decision to continue in his position mainly rests on Alite.
“John is an elected official chosen by the voters last year. The decision to continue in the position rests solely on him,” he said. “The borough and the council have no legal authority over his seat.”
As I look back on this life I’ve lived, I have no regrets, no what-ifs
By William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews Editor
PREFACE
I’m eighty-one years old, and I’ve been a journalist for fifty-eight years.
I never went to college. Everything I know about this profession, I learned from my father, George F. Cleary Sr., who bought the Gloucester City News in 1950 and ran it until I took over as editor in 1978. What he didn’t teach me, I learned through trial and error—and believe me, there was plenty of both.
People ask me why I’m writing this book now. The truth is, I’ve been writing it my whole life. For decades, I documented my community’s stories in weekly newspapers, and more recently, on my blog, CNBNews. This book weaves together my autobiography with articles I’ve published over the years—stories about corruption, courage, tragedy, and everyday lives in a small South Jersey city most folks have never heard of.
When you’re a small-town journalist, you make enemies. People threaten you. They call you names. They try to shut you down. But if you spend your life worrying about what might happen, or second-guessing the stories you published, you’ll never write anything worth reading.
I’ve been sued, threatened, even arrested once for “trespassing” while investigating a story. I’ve worked undercover with the New Jersey State Police. I’ve interviewed members of the Ku Klux Klan and the Pagans motorcycle club. I’ve exposed corruption and covered tragedies that broke my heart. I stood in the middle of a battle between the Teamster union and the Longshoremen’s union, with sheriff officers on horseback and K-9 units keeping them apart.
My perspective differs from big-city reporters at the Philadelphia Inquirer or the New York Times. I wasn’t covering presidents and wars—well, except for that one time I met Jimmy Carter, and another time I rode an elevator with Donald Trump.
Mostly, I covered city council meetings, house fires, local corruption, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
In a small town, the newspaper isn’t just a business—it’s the community’s memory, its conscience, and sometimes its only voice.
If you’re looking for polish, you won’t find it here. But if you want the truth, told by someone who learned journalism in the streets rather than a classroom, then keep reading.
This book is that voice, looking back across more than half a century. It’s messy and honest, just like the life I’ve lived.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
INTRODUCTION
On a sweltering July afternoon in 1989, a well-dressed stranger walked into my newspaper office and said he’d been told that if anyone wanted to do business in Gloucester City, they had to go through me first.
That conversation launched a three-month undercover investigation with the New Jersey State Police involving alleged mob connections, a corrupt development scheme, and a shocking revelation: I wasn’t helping them catch a crooked politician. I was the target.
Welcome to small-town journalism in America.
I’m Bill Cleary. I was born in 1944 and raised in Gloucester City, New Jersey—a working-class town of row houses and corner taverns across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. The kind of place where everyone knows your business, where the fire whistle brings people running to their windows, and where telling the truth can make you powerful enemies.
My father was the editor and publisher of the Gloucester City News. From the time I was eight years old, I rode with him to fires, watched him chase stories, and learned what it meant to be a reporter. He taught me that journalism wasn’t about being popular—it was about telling the truth, even when people didn’t want to hear it. Especially then.
In 1978, I became editor of the paper. In 1985, my wife Connie and I bought it outright. We raised three children—Kelly Ann, Connie Lynn, and Billy Jr.—who gave us seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. We married at St. Mary’s Church on April 18, 1964, when I was barely twenty and she was the most beautiful woman in the city. Sixty years later, she still is.
Before journalism became my full-time calling, I worked eleven years at the Gloucester City Post Office with the impressive title of “Temporary, Part-time Clerk-Carrier.” Try getting a bank loan with that on your application. We lived in several apartments before buying our first home at 710 Powell Street, then moved to Riverview Heights in 1972, where we’ve been ever since.
But this book isn’t just my story. It’s the story of a town, a time, and what happens when ordinary people stand up to power. It’s about corruption and courage, about family and loyalty, about what we’ve lost and what we’re still fighting to keep.
This is my story, told in my own words, with articles from my six-decade career woven throughout. It’s not always pretty, and it doesn’t always have a happy ending.
But it’s the truth. And that’s the only thing I’ve ever known how to write.
My father taught me to run toward the fire, not away from it.
No regrets, No what ifs.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE:
THE ENIGMATIC VISITOR
The Mysterious Visitor (July 1989)
State Police Investigation Begins
Meetings with Smith and Jones
The FBI Warning: “You’re the Target!”
CHAPTER TWO:
THE MAN WHO INSPIRED ME
My Father’s Legacy
The Fire Whistle: Running Toward Fires
A Life Forged in Tragedy
The Crusader and Urban Renewal Battle
The Long Goodbye (1990-1993)
CHAPTER THREE:
MY SUMMER LOVE BECOMES MY WIFE
Meeting Connie and Falling in Love
Asking Permission to Marry
Joining the National Guard (1963)
Meeting Connie: Attracted to an Older Woman
The Front Porch Conversation
Early Married Life and Starting a Family
Working at the Post Office
CHAPTER FOUR:
THE BATTLE OF NEWARK
Joining the National Guard
Deployment to Newark During the Riots
Into the Inferno: Civil Unrest and Violence
The Convoy Ambush and Aftermath
Early Military Experience
The Newark Riots
Return Home
CHAPTER FIVE:
11 YEARS OF JUGGLING TWO WORLDS
Working Two Jobs: Post Office and Newspaper
Learning from Dad (1967-1978)
1978: Becoming Full-Time Editor
1984: Buying the Paper and Taking a Stand
CHAPTER SIX:
OUR POWELL STREET HOME
Our First Real Home
Neighborhood Memories
Community Connections
Life on Powell Street
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHRISTMAS IN GLOUCESTER CITY
Family Traditions
The Coffee Pot Christmas
Childhood Christmas Magic: Trains and Cookies
Ice Skating and Flexible Flyers
Teenage Years: Dances and Parties
CHAPTER EIGHT:
ENTERTAINMENT BACK IN THE DAY
Local Hangouts: Luncheonettes and Gathering Spots
The Pool, Ballroom, and Wildwoods
Live Music Scene and Nightclubs
Jerry Blavat: The Geator with the Heater
CHAPTER NINE:
TAVERNS, POLITICS, 3 PM MANHATTAN GANG
TAVERNS
The 3 PM Manhattan Gang
Gloucester City’s 50 Taverns
The Pub Crawl Tradition
CHAPTER TEN:
OUR BEST FRIENDS
Trooper, Sheba, Lacey, Erica, Peyton, Sweetie
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
MY ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Hunting Experiences
Wildlife Encounters
Travel Stories
Nature and Reflection
CHAPTER 12:
CRIMINALS AND FUNNY CHARACTERS
Local Legends
Mob Stories
Unexpected Encounters
True Crime Narratives
CHAPTER 13:
SPORTS LEGENDS OF GCHS AND GHS
CHAPTER 14:
1960’s Gloucester High Gridiron Coach Bill Manlove Enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame
Gloucester City Memorial Athletic Association “Mustangs” Celebrate 60th Anniversary
Former Rams Basketball Coach John McCarthy Inducted into Camden County Sports Hall of Fame
1971 Gloucester Catholic HS Football Team Honored
Saint Mary’s Junior Guild
Turkey Day Football: Lions vs Rams Thanksgiving Classic
The Renewal of Friendship (1993)
1957: Rams Over Lions City Title Game
Joe Murphy: Alumnus, Athlete, Coach, Teacher and Friend
Memorial Garden Dedicated in Honor of Pearl Kowalski
A HODGEPODGE of ARTICLES
CNBNews Ranked No. 11 Out of 80 Honorees
Fond Memories of Gloucester City by Hank Miller
Shaffer’s Creamy Waffles
The Homing Pigeon Shuffle
Gloucester City Redevelopment
Believe It or Not…Another Miracle by St. Anthony
The Last GCPD Crime Report Published 2020
A Man to Be Remembered
What We Had
Look Who’s Photo Appeared on a Cheerios Box
New York Post Publishes Article About Cleary’s Notebook
And in 2026, the Rams did what only the great programs ever dream of: they captured their fourth straight state championship, cementing a dynasty that now stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the greatest runs in New Jersey high school sports history.
With this latest title, Gloucester Catholic extends its state‑record total to 23 championships, a number so large it reads like a misprint. But anyone who has followed the program knows better. This is a machine built on discipline, development, and a culture that refuses to accept anything less than excellence.
At the center of it all is a man who has become synonymous with South Jersey baseball greatness.
