Experience the best fireworks in South Jersey! Gates open early at the Winslow Township High School complex for an evening of patriotic family fun.
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.
And I don’t regret a single story.
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.
Read more: From Pen to Paper: Gcity Reporter Shares Memories of 58-Year CareerIn 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
CHAPTER TWO:
THE MAN WHO INSPIRED ME
CHAPTER THREE:
MY SUMMER LOVE BECOMES MY WIFE
CHAPTER FOUR:
THE BATTLE OF NEWARK
CHAPTER FIVE:
11 YEARS OF JUGGLING TWO WORLDS
CHAPTER SIX:
OUR POWELL STREET HOME
CHAPTER SEVEN:
CHRISTMAS IN GLOUCESTER CITY
CHAPTER EIGHT:
ENTERTAINMENT BACK IN THE DAY
CHAPTER NINE:
TAVERNS, POLITICS, 3 PM MANHATTAN GANG
CHAPTER TEN:
OUR BEST FRIENDS
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
MY ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
CHAPTER 12:
CRIMINALS AND FUNNY CHARACTERS
CHAPTER 13:
SPORTS LEGENDS OF GCHS AND GHS
CHAPTER 14:
A HODGEPODGE of ARTICLES
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
photo Gloucester Catholic Facebook
Gloucester Catholic doesn’t rebuild — it reloads.
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.
—
Continue reading “Rams’ Four-Peat:Inside Gloucester Catholic’s Baseball Dynasty”William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
BROOKLAWN, NJ (CNBNews) (June 13, 2026) — Groundbreaking ceremonies for the multi‑million‑dollar enhancement project at Alice Costello School were held Friday, June 12, on the school grounds at 301 Haakon Avenue. Dr. Samuel A. Rosetti, Superintendent of Schools, served as host for the event.
Dignitaries in attendance included State Assemblyman William F. Moen Jr., Camden County Commissioner Jonathan L. Young Sr., Mayor Jerry “Skip” Grandstrom, School Board President Michele Cecilio, and Architect Bob Garrison.
Two seventh‑grade students, Geoffrey Gettings and JJ Meehan, also participated in the program. Gettings led the Pledge of Allegiance, while Meehan delivered the student address. His comments are below.
The facilities improvement and modernization project is being funded through a strategic partnership utilizing the Camden County Improvement Authority’s Borough‑Guaranteed Lease Revenue Bonds (Series 2025).
“This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our students, families, and community,” Dr. Rosetti said. “The facility upgrades will allow our school to continue serving as a place of learning, growth, and opportunity for generations to come.”
The Brooklawn Borough School District has officially launched a $6,290,000 modernization initiative scheduled throughout 2026 at Alice Costello School. Supported through the CCIA financing program, the project reflects the district’s commitment to providing a safer, more sustainable, and high‑performance learning environment.
Critical infrastructure upgrades will address essential components of the school’s physical plant, including advanced building automation systems (BAS), comprehensive electrical improvements, and modern architectural design‑build enhancements. District officials say these improvements will deliver immediate benefits in environmental quality, operational efficiency, and updated safety protocol
Good afternoon, everyone! I’d like to welcome our school board members, teachers, parents, neighbors, and fellow classmates.
My name is J.J. Meehan, and I am a 7th grader here at Alice Costello School. It is an absolute honor to stand here today as we break ground on a massive upgrade for our school.
When you’re in 7th grade, you spend a lot of time thinking about the future—high school, sports, and what you want to be when you grow up. But today, our town is investing $6.3 million directly into our future right here in these classrooms.
We aren’t just getting a few cosmetic fixes. This project is bringing top-tier technology to ACES. We’re talking about smart building automation systems that control the climate, flat LED lighting that helps our planet save energy, and high-tech air purifiers in our classrooms to keep us all healthy and focused.
As students, our school is like a second home. When our community invests in making it safer, cleaner, and more modern, it tells us that our education matters. It inspires us to work harder.
Even though I’ll be graduating soon, I am so proud that this project will leave a lasting legacy for the younger grades and the future students of Brooklawn.
Thank you to the Brooklawn Board of Education, the Camden County Improvement Authority, Dr. Rosetti, ACES staff, and everyone in our community who made this historic day possible. Now let’s dig in!
Video courtesy of SKI NEWS, AUSTRALIA.
BELFAST, IRELAND (Cleary’s Notebook News)–The demonstrations against immigrants in Belfast was spurred by a brutal attack Monday on a 40-year-old Belfast man. The suspect is a 30-year-old Sudanese man who had claimed asylum in the United Kingdom. He has been charged with attempted murder, threatening to kill, and carrying a knife. The man entered Northern Ireland after applying for asylum. In 2023, he was granted a five-year visa to remain in the U.K. reported CBSNews.
A video of the attack published on X shows the Sudanese man straddling the victim, holding a large knife. Men from the neighborhood can be seen running to the scene with clubs in their hands and then beating the suspect. That film shared on social media sparked two nights of unrest on the streets of Belfast. Groups of masked rioters have been seen setting fire to homes, a bus and trash cans, and throwing rocks at police and blocking roads.
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in a knife attack that sparked the protests, condemned the violence.
Tuesday night, 200 extra police officers were on the streets after residents were forced to flee homes that were set on fire. Wednesday night, saw masked youths breaking up parts of pavements and walls of private homes to make bricks to throw at police.
Northern Ireland’s infrastructure minister described the destruction as “racism, intimidation and thuggery”, according to Amelia Neath, a reporter for the Independent.
Tonight, Thursday, some public transport services in Belfast will be suspended for the third evening in a row, causing passengers in Northern Ireland to face travel disruption, wrote Neath.
Throughout today, traffic returned to normal in Belfast. But, last night, the demonstrators forced Antrim Road in Glengormley to be closed after bricks and bottles were thrown at police. In return, the officers responded with water cannons.
RELATED:
WOODBURY, NJ – Elijah Evans, 19 of Pine Hill, and Serenity Hall, 19, of Camden, have been indicted on charges of inciting a riot after a party they allegedly hosted led to multiple violent events and calls for service.
According to documents filed in this case:
On June 29, 2025, the Glassboro Police Department responded to multiple calls on Rowan Boulevard for various reasons including an armed robbery, a shooting, a stolen motor vehicle, noise complaints, fights, burglary, and disturbances.
An investigation found a pop-up “Summer Block Party” had been advertised via social media with the date and time listed as June 29, 2025, at 10 p.m. The bottom of the poster indicated “F*** THE COPS TURN UP!!’
The social media account that had shared the flyer, which reached approximately 1,000 people, was found to belong to Serenity Hall, while an account belonging to Evans was found to have disseminated the flyer. Communication between the two and a juvenile were also found, showing the group organized the event.
Both were charged with and subsequently indicted on one charge of fourth degree inciting a riot. The maximum term of incarceration for this charge is 18 months in state prison.
The State is represented by Assistant Prosecutor Lauré Walker.
Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns thanked the Glassboro Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The charges contained in the complaint/indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
June 2, 2026
An attendee paints on the water during Paddlefest 2024.
The annual Paddlefest at Janes Island State Park takes place June 6-7, offering an opportunity to explore the salt marshes and water trails of Maryland’s southernmost park.
Janes Island State Park boasts more than 30 miles of water trails, weaving in and out of the 2,900 acres of salt marsh which compose the island. This park offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy both the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay.
Paddlefest includes nine scheduled paddles, as well as events for non-paddlers – pontoon boat tours, kids crafts, an afternoon concert and s’mores in the evening. There is something for everyone at this family-friendly event, and paddles are open to kids, as long as they have an adult with them. A full schedule of Paddlefest events is available on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Admission is free. Food and concession items will be available for sale. Participants should bring their own kayak or paddleboard, or rent one from the park store on a first-come, first-served basis.
Advance registration for Paddlefest is encouraged. Camping is also available at Janes Island State Park. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made at parkreservations.maryland.gov by calling 1-888-432-2267.
Paddles
Paddlefest 2024.
The Janes Island Challenge Paddle starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. This 13-mile circumnavigation of Janes Island will test your endurance and skill, with sections spanning the choppy open waters of Tangier Sound. Upon finishing, paddlers will earn a challenge coin.
Late Saturday morning, paddlers can choose from a birding-focused paddle, the Wetland Wings Birding Paddle, a fishing-focused paddle, the Reel Therapy Fishing Paddle, or a seining-focused paddle, the Seining the Sound Paddle. Each offers insight into the special environment at Janes Island.
Plein air painting will take place on the water between 1:30-3:30 p.m. during the Still Life on Water Art Paddle.
The day ends with a concert and your choice of a sunset paddle, or s’mores by the fire. Sunset Serenity Paddle covers three miles, round-trip, to Flatcap Beach and back.
Non-paddlers
Janes Island Paddlefest has options for everyone – including those who don’t paddle. The whole family can come and have fun.
Non-paddlers can enjoy an hour-long pontoon boat tour of the island, offered throughout the day. Kids can enjoy crafts, hands-on learning and fun games in the Nature Center between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. A yoga session will be held on land Saturday morning at 8:15 a.m.
Valerie Lankford and Medium Wave Joy will fill the beach with acoustic rock and pop music from 3-5 p.m. Saturday. S’mores will be served by the fire outside the Nature Center at 7 p.m. to wrap up the day.
Sunday
A group practices yoga on paddleboards during the 2024 Paddlefest.
Sunday caps the festival with three additional paddles in the morning – please note, pontoon tours and kids crafts are not planned for Sunday.
At 7 a.m. the Focus on Feather Birding Paddle launches, followed by the Floating Zen SUP/Paddleboard Yoga event at 8 a.m. Participants can practice balance while striking yoga poses on a paddleboard – just be prepared to fall in the water.
The last paddle of the event is the Cast and Kayak Paddle, which launches at 10 a.m. A park ranger will take paddlers to the hottest fishing spots around Janes Island. Rods are provided or participants can bring their own.
Tips for the visit
Prepare for insects. Biting flies, ticks, mosquitos, and other pests can be found on the island. The best way to handle the pests is to accept their presence – they only ruin your day if you let them.
– Wear bug spray, or use citronella candles if you are staying in one place.
– Nets are also an effective way to block bugs – either a netted tent for the stationary or a netted head covering if you are on-the-go.
– Wear light colors – this will make you less perceptible to the mosquitoes, and help you notice a tick if it climbs on your clothes.
Can’t make it?
Paddle at these Maryland parks. Rentals available:
CAPE MAY COUNTY NJ-(June 3, 2026)(CNBNews)–The Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office is alerting residents to the serious fire risk posed by propane-powered weed-burning torches when used near residential structures. Over the past few weeks, multiple fires in Cape May County have been traced directly to this equipment, resulting in significant structural damage to homes.
Your home and safety are too important to risk. If you choose to use a propane torch, please exercise extreme caution and keep the flame well away from any structure.
If You Use a Propane Torch:
• Maintain a safe distance from all structures, including homes, sheds, decks, fences, and overhanging vegetation. Keep the flame at least 10 feet away from any building or flammable material.
• Never use the torch on windy days when flames can be carried toward nearby structures.
• Have a garden hose or fire extinguisher on hand and ready to use.
• Consider safer alternatives like manual weeding, mulching, or approved herbicides.