Patricia “Patti” Kropp passed away on Friday, June 19, 2026 in the loving and devoted care of her husband, Rick and cherished family leaving behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and service to her community.
Born and raised in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Patti was the cherished daughter of Virginia Yuhas (nee Wrigley) and the late Charles Leo Gillespie III. She grew up surrounded by family, faith, and community spirit. Patti was an alumna of St. Mary’s School, Class of 1988, and Gloucester Catholic High School, Class of 1992—schools that helped shape the compassionate and determined woman she became. Patti was a dedicated member of St. Mary’s Parish and devoted to the Catholic Faith.
After high school, Patti began her lifelong career in the Health Information Management Profession. For more than 30 years, she worked as a dedicated and respected medical coder. Patti was long-tenured in her last position with Encompass Health.
Most recently, Patti was engaged in civic activities. She was elected to the Gloucester City Republican Committee and the Camden County Republican Committee in 2024. In both the 2024 and 2025 municipal elections, she ran for Gloucester City Council. Though she did not win seats, she helped ignite renewed energy and interest in local politics.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNews)(June 4, 2026)–The Gloucester High School softball team continued its tradition of competitiveness in 2026, delivering a season marked by strong pitching, timely hitting, and the kind of team chemistry that has long defined the Lady Lions program.
Senior pitcher Mackenzie “Mac” Turner was the heart and soul of the team. A four‑year varsity starter, Turner finished her career with one of her strongest seasons yet, posting a sub‑3.00 ERA and striking out more than 120 batters. Her leadership in the circle kept Gloucester in nearly every game, and her presence will be missed next spring.
Offensively, the Lions were powered by junior catcher Riley Thompson, who led the team in batting average, RBIs, and extra‑base hits. Thompson’s ability to control the running game behind the plate made her one of the most valuable two‑way players in the conference.
Sophomore infielder Emma Russo emerged as one of the team’s breakout stars, hitting over .350 and playing stellar defense at second base. Freshman outfielder Kayla Jennings also made an immediate impact with her speed and fearless approach at the plate.
The highlight of the season came in a dramatic walk‑off win against a top‑ranked opponent, when Thompson ripped a double into the left‑center gap to score Russo from first. It was the kind of moment that showed the Lions’ resilience and competitive spirit.
With Thompson, Russo, Jennings, and several key underclassmen returning, Gloucester High softball enters 2027 with momentum — and the expectation that they’ll be right back in the hunt for a conference title.
According to Max Sports, Gloucester High couldn’t carry there season success into the playoff game against the Barnegat Bengals. They fell just short of the Bengals , 2-1. The Lions’ defeat on June 4 signaled the end of their 13-game winning streak.
Their overall record for the season was 21-3; 10-0 in Colonial-Liberty
Gloucester City, NJ(August 30, 2021)(CNBNews)— The November 2 election in Gloucester City will have three different groups offering candidates for the positions on the council that are open. When Mayor Dan Spencer resigned suddenly in April, he still had a year and a half left on his four-year term. His resignation set up the following chain of events. Democrat Councilman at large Pat Keating stepped down from his position and was appointed to the mayor’s seat until this November’s election. The fact that there were two unexpected openings on the council seems to have got two former mayors with different philosophies thinking about getting back in the arena.
Those two mayors are Bob Bevan, who was elected in the 80s to two terms as an independent, and Charles (Chuck) Billingham, who was elected in the mid-90s as a democrat.
Former Gloucester City Mayor Robert Bevan’s candidate for Pat Keating’s council-at-large seat is Sarah O’Brien; she is very involved in a youth program called Community Rocks, which teaches art and music to kids, according to Bevan. Continue reading “CNBNews Archives: Gloucester City’s Nov. 2 Council Race”→
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!
Peyton and Me Meandering Through Gcity and Beyond…
By William E. Cleary Sr.
Covering The South Jersey, Philly Region and Surrounding Communities
February 27, 2023
THE DONKEY PATH —
DOES ANYONE KNOW? Why has it taken over six months to repave Barnard Avenue in Gloucester City? It can’t be weather related since this winter has been mild. There have been weeks when no construction work was done on the street. According to Barnard
Regarding the Barnard Street repairs, Brian Morrell, the acting City Administrator/Police Chief, promised the residents living on that DONKEY PATH that the work would start at the beginning of January 2022. However, the long-overdue work didn’t begin until September 2023, nine months later. Residents have been putting up with the dirt and dust from the construction crews all this time. On Monday, January 30, another infrastructure crew dug up the street again.
That street, along with others in the Riverview Heights area, has been neglected by the past and present Democratic mayor and council for decades. The incumbents have no competition, so they have no need to live up to their promises. Which explains why the streets in this area and across the City have been patched so many times. Gigantic holes in these streets with water pouring out of them are a common occurrence.
The Gloucester City Planning/Zoning Board meeting for June 17, 2026 has been cancelled due to lack of business. The next meeting will be held on July 15, 2026, as scheduled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
CLARK TOWNSHIP NJ (June 3, 2026)(CNBNews)–Two suspects are being sought for allegedly shoplifting items from an Ace Hardware store, 26 Westfield Avenue, in Clark Township on May 28. Supposedly, the suspects fled toward Rahway in a black Jeep SUV minutes before a Clark Township Police Officer arrived at the scene.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (CNBNews)(May 31, 2026)–On Sunday, May 31, two teams of the Gloucester Little League played a game to show their support for Xavier Taylor. The 12-year-old Xavier, who plays baseball in Maple Shade, was hit by an errant ball in the back of his neck. He collapsed and fell to the ground. He was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where he remains in intensive care on a ventilator.
Members of the local Little League organization said they wanted to show their support for Xavier. Before the start of the game, a moment of silence was observed for him by the players and fans. The players wore jerseys with Xavier’s name printed on the back of them.
