HELP WANTED: SEASONAL LABORER-1 POSITION TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW – PUBLIC WORKS

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, seeking a Seasonal Laborer in the Public Works Department. Under supervision must perform duties including but not limited to property maintenance, grass cutting and cleanup. Must be a resident of Winslow Township. Must possess a valid driver’s license in the State of New Jersey.

Gloucestercitynews.net graphic files

Employment contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check. Salary: $15.00 per hour, no benefits available. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be a 90-day working test period. Winslow Township is an equal opportunity employer. Send application to Personnel Office, Township of Winslow, 125 South Route 73, Braddock, NJ 08037-9422, or email

personnel@winslowtownship.com

. Applications can be downloaded at

www.winslowtownship.com

under forms and documents/employment application.

Deadline for submitting applications will be March 13, 2020.

Address/Location

Township of Winslow

125 South Route 73

Hammonton, NJ 08037

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-567-0700

Camden County Progressive Groups Picket Norcross Rally held at CC College

Blackwood, NJ February 29, 2020–A coalition of progressive groups picketed the Norcross Rally luncheon today, calling for state leaders to demand changes to New Jersey’s electoral structures, ethics reforms and real progressive change. The luncheon, which is a fundraiser for Congressional incumbent Rep Donald Norcross, brought together unelected power broker George Norcross, his brother the Congressman Donald Norcross, Governor Phil Murphy and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It cost $2800 per person to attend the event on the Camden County Community College campus.

“For the price of one lunch with the Norcross Brothers here at Camden County Community College, you could almost attend an entire year of full time study. Are you kidding me?” Said

Susan Druckenbrod, of South Jersey Women for Progressive Change

“Representative Norcross is attempting to steal the progressive label, but is anything but progressive on a number of key issues. He is bad on the environment- he takes money from Covanta, one of the worst examples of environmental injustice in our country today. He aligns himself with anti-environmental organizations criticized by Greenpeace and other progressive groups. Norcross has a record of not supporting public education in favor of school privatization, and he is also the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars in defense contractors.” Noted

Kate Delany, President of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats.

“Unlike Bernie Sanders whose small dollar donors make up over 50% of his campaign funds, a tiny 1.75% of Norcross’ donors are small dollar; he is a favorite of corporate interests. Norcross is in Congress in a deep blue district, because his brother is the most powerful man in NJ, not because he is some kind of progressive hero. Why would Nancy Pelosi come here of all places, for a fundraiser? What about the swing districts?”

“Donald Norcross pretends to be the candidate for the common man, but these high dollar donations are out of reach for most people. Instead of small donors supporting him, Rep Norcross is influenced by big money donors, and that is out of step with this progressive district.” Said

Gary Samuels, Camden City resident and community organizer.

“Donald and George Norcross are two sides of the same coin. It’s a good cop/ bad cop routine. George pulls the strings and Donald executes the plan. The Economic Opportunity Act, which awarded over a billion dollars to Norcross connected companies is the clearest example of this.” Said

Crystal Evans, a resident and community organizer in Gloucester Township. “

We are frustrated that otherwise good Democratic leadership is hobnobbing with someone who is likely under FBI criminal investigation and his brother who has followed his marching orders. The national conversation is highlighting how we need change in political leadership- and that starts here in the Democratic Party, the party we are part of, the party we believe in, and the party we love and would love to improve.”

“Speaker Pelosi has successfully called out Donald Trump for the same behavior— from speaking poorly about immigrants, to using public government for personal and private gain. Why won’t she do the same for the Norcross family? George has spoken about immigrants in a racist way; he leverages his political power to gain public contracts. Pelosi has stood up to Trump’s undermining of national elections, and here in NJ, George Norcross is an unelected power broker who uses his muscle to put the thumb on the scale of our elections in the form of the Line and other mechanisms.” Said

Chris Emrich, Elections Director of South Jersey Progressive Democrats.

*HELP WANTED: WINSLOW TOWNSHIP LABORER 1 POSITION PUBLIC WORKS

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, seeks one full time Laborer’s in the Public Works Department. Under supervision must perform varied types of manual and unskilled laboring work, handle property maintenance, grass cutting and cleanup. Must be a resident of Winslow Township. Must possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey. Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is preferred or must be obtained within 1 year of date of hire.

Gloucestercitynews.net graphic files

Employment contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check. Salary: $18.35 per hour, 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Benefits available with position. There will be a 90-day working test period. Winslow Township is an equal opportunity employer. Send application to Personnel Office, Township of Winslow, 125 South Route 73, Braddock, NJ 08037-9422, or email

personnel@winslowtownship.com

. Applications can be downloaded at

www.winslowtownship.com

under forms and documents/employment application.

Deadline for submitting applications will be March 13, 2020.

Address/Location

Township of Winslow

125 South Route 73

Hammonton, NJ 08037

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-567-0700

Davida Jacobe-Hart

Administration

djacobehart@winslowtownship.com

609-567-0700

First Grantees of New $1 Million Camden City Community Grant Program Announced

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (March 1, 2020)–Early last month, George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of Cooper University Health Care, announced that 29 Camden City based non-profit community organizations received grant awards from the first ever Camden City Community Grant Program.

Each organization was awarded a $5,000 grant to fund a significant community building activity and support vital programs and services.

Congratulations to these extraordinary Camden organizations:

Boys & Girls Club of Camden County

Boys of Sustainable Strength

Camden Day Nursery

Camden FireWorks

Cathedral Kitchen

Center for Aquatic Sciences

Center for Environmental Transformation

Cooper-Grant Neighborhood Association

Home Port Alliance for USS New Jersey

Hope Community Outreach Services, Inc.

Hopeworks Camden

I Dare to Care

Joseph’s House

Camden Dream Center Technology Training School

Lanning Square West Residents Association

Mighty Writers

Morgan Village Circle CDC

National Stop the Violence Alliance

Nazarene Community Development Foundation

Puerto Rican Unity for Progress

Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society

South Camden Theatre Company

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Heart of Camden

The Hispanic Family Center of Southern NJ

The Salvation Army – Camden Kroc Center

VietLead

Volunteers of America

Your Education Consultants & Services

Click here

to read more about the 29 programs and projects supported by the Camden City Community Grant Program.

Girls in Scout Troop 51023 have Big Hearts

VINELAND, NJ–They may be small in size, but the four girls in Girl Scout Troop 51023 proved that their hearts are big. At Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden’s office in Vineland, these young helpers fastidiously filled backpacks with collected donated items to be given to the homeless in Cumberland County as part of the annual Point-in-Time Count.

Each year, Catholic Charities staff joins other agencies to participate in the statewide count, which takes place during the last 10 days of January and identifies people who are residing in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, safe havens and living on the streets or other locations. This year, as Catholic Charities’ case managers and volunteers collect critical data about homeless populations in order to better their services, they will also be able to distribute backpacks filled with donations and packed with love.

\’I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper\’

Steven B. Brooks

FEB 2020

Topsham, Maine–

There have been times when those participating in Corey E. Garver American Legion Post 202’s Winter Classic in Topsham, Maine, have slid on ice trying to run to first base, broken through a crusty layer of snow running down a fly ball, or even disappeared into a fluffy, four-foot pile of the white stuff attempting to dive for a ball in foul territory.

Not ideal conditions for softball, but that doesn’t matter at all to those who have been taking part in the annual fundraiser – some for all six years of its existence. From sub-zero temperatures to snow drifts lining the field adjacent to Post 202, the conditions don’t matter as much as the event’s cause: raising money to help end the veteran homelessness issue in Maine.

The motto for the event, which took place on Feb. 22 this year, is concise and to the point: “We play in the cold so that veterans don’t have to live in the cold.”

“That’s all this is about,” Post 202 Commander Nancy Laffin-Gillespie said. “Yes, we’re having fun. It’s a unique thing playing in the snow. But the reality is people live in the cold. Everybody here knows the reason why they’re here is to keep people out from the cold.”

The idea for the Winter Classic came from former Post 202 Commander Nik Hamlin, who helped save a nearly defunct Post 202 in 2013 and now is a member of American Legion Post 158 in Lisbon to be closer to home. But Hamlin doesn’t like to take credit for a vision that has grown bigger every year.

“I can’t take credit for this event because it’s a community event,” Hamlin said. “I can’t do this without everybody. When it comes to tackling any kind of issues that affect society, it’s going to take the community to do it.”

Laffin-Gillespie said the post is in the right community to make something like the Winter Classic a success. “We are very lucky here in the state of Maine. Our veteran community is amazing,” she said. “We all come out together and try to help in any way we can for any veteran problems.”

Each year the money raised has gone to a local or state program that includes among its mission eradicating veteran homelessness. This year’s funds went to Maine Veterans In Need, a non-profit that consist of members of the Maine American Legion, the Bureau of Maine Veteran Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other service organizations.

Teams were asked to donate $200, but many upped that donation. Additional funds raised and donated, along with a raffle and 50-50 drawing, brought this year’s total raised to more than $4,500 – triple what the event raised in 2019.

While Hamlin was pleasantly surprised by the donation total, “I feel if I wasn’t able to (donate that amount) this whole thing would feel hollow,” he said. “To be able to do that … I can see the fruits of my labor. I can see where the money goes. I can see those affected by it. I owe it to the people that come here to donate it to a place that’s a good place to accomplish the mission.”

Post 202 has thrived in part because while embracing traditional American Legion programs, it also takes a unique approach to carrying out its other missions – such as the Winter Classic.

“What we found with this is you can do it in a fun way,” said Department of Maine Commander Matthew Jabaut, a member of Post 202. “Too many times our events are maybe a little too solemn or a little too formal. If you can do a lot of cool, good, serious work in a fun way, it’s able to reach people, and then people really want to get active and engaged and be part of that. And then there’s that good feeling when you leave … and you’re not just having fun to have fun. You’re also doing it for a good cause.”

Laffin-Gillespie transferred to Post 202 around two years ago because of what the post has been able to accomplish over the past six-plus years. “I really like this post has a good grasp on the mission of The American Legion,” she said. \”It has a good grasp on veteran issues that need raised (and) that people need to be educated on. And we make progress in trying to help these problems.”

One of those problems is veteran homelessness, which has dropped considerably in part due to the efforts of Maine Veterans In Need, but still remains an issue in a state with a long, brutal winter season. “Veterans, especially when they’re transitioning, can fall into a lot of holes. I, myself, was a couch surfer for a while when I got out,” Laffin-Gillespie said. “Having a place that’s your home – your own home – means a lot. That’s why it’s important to me that I can help any veteran that I can. If this helps them to get a hotel room for five days just to get them off the street … that’s great.”

Those who participate in the Winter Classic share the same sentiment. Russ Taylor, a longtime member of the Sons of The American Legion and the current SAL Squadron 86 commander, has been a part of four of the six years of the Winter Classic, playing on a team consisting of American Legion Family members from Post 86 in Gray, Maine. Every year Post 86 has fielded a team for the event.

“We’ve never done very well, but we have fun and it’s for a good cause,” Taylor said. “We can go play in the snow for one day (and) a homeless veteran doesn’t have to live in the cold – that’s why we do it.\”

Team Grateful, which plays out of Lovell, Maine, has won the past two Winter Classics. But while the squad celebrated after its most recent championship, that’s not what motivated the squad to drive 90 minutes each way to play at Post 202.

Rich Massey, a member of Team Grateful, has participated in five Winter Classics with his team. “I think the biggest reason I do this is I didn’t serve,” he said. “This is how I try to pay it back: doing stuff like this and contributing any way I can. We love this, and we’ll be back every year.”

The double-elimination tournament started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at around 5:30 that evening. Music played throughout the day, while those attending could get assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mobile Vet Center, which was set up outside the post.

Also in Post 202’s parking lot was a trailer converted over to

temporary homeless veteran housing

by Charles E. Sherman Jr. Post 36 Legionnaires Ed Harmon and Arthur Richardson. The Winter Classic gave participants and spectators a chance to check out the trailer, which is intended to be a prototype for a larger future fleet of similar trailers.

Harmon said it’s important to work together to end veteran homelessness. “It’s going to take a team to solve this issue,” he said. “It won’t just be one individual.”

But the Winter Classic started with one person: Hamlin. And it’s a cause that gets him emotional at times. Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, he shared with the participants the story of Navy veteran Russell Wilson, who died this winter in his sleeping bag near railroad tracks in Brunswick.

“We’re here to stop that. We’re here to make that (stuff) never happens again,” Hamlin said, his voice breaking a bit. “Help me make sure that never happens again. It takes a community to save a community.

\”I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper.”

SOURCE THE AMERICAN LEGION

STATEMENT OF JOSH ROESCH, CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR AMY KENNEDY, ON MENENDEZ ENDORSEMENT

“It’s ironic that on the day Amy Kennedy lays out her aggressive policy to end corruption in New Jersey’s elections, George Norcross flexes his political muscle to bring in an endorsement for Brigid Harrison. Brigid’s name may be on the ballot, but we all know who’s pulling the strings.

“Make no mistake, rigging endorsements is the Norcross way. He is doing everything in his power to make sure the voters don’t get to choose their own candidate, just like he did for his last favorite candidate, Jeff Van Drew– and look how that turned out for Democrats.

“Brigid Harrison, Jeff Van Drew, George Norcross, and this entire rigged process are a great illustration of why we need to finally end machine politics in New Jersey.”

###

Real Estate Ponzi Scheme

Rhode Island Woman’s Fraud Preyed on Friends and Neighbors

Monique Brady\’s house in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Prosecutors said fraud proceeds paid for the home\’s $9,400 per month mortgage, with a total of $342,243 in mortgage payments made during the scheme.

A Rhode Island woman who preyed on the trust of friends, family, and neighbors in a dubious investment scheme—one that gilded her reputation and lifestyle while fleecing her victims of $4.8 million—was sentenced this month to eight years in prison. She was also ordered to pay back her victims.

Monique Brady pleaded guilty last July in federal court to running a fraud scheme prosecutors have described as “reprehensible,” “insidious,” and “depraved.” Brady, 45, of East Greenwich, claimed her property preservation company, MNB, had contracts to rehabilitate New England properties. She said she needed investments of $20,000 to $80,000 to pay subcontractors to perform the work. In return, investors were promised a 50-percent yield once the rehabilitation work was complete.

In the end, investigators determined it was all a $10 million charade. There were no large-scale property rehabs and only a few legitimate low-dollar contracts—almost all the money was used to prop up Brady’s Ponzi scheme and support a lavish lifestyle on the backs of friends who thought they knew her.

“She had lifelong friends who were just totally and completely betrayed by her,” said Pepper Daigler, a special agent in the FBI’s Boston Field Office who worked with Internal Revenue Service special agents on the case.

Brady’s victims—among them, multi-millionaires, firefighters, young, and elderly—represented a cross-section of the tony community 30 minutes south of Providence. Most had a very close connection to Brady. Investigators identified 23 individuals who lost their investments in the scheme, which encouraged investors to roll over purported gains to increase their stakes and potential windfalls. Some lost everything in the scam, which went on for at least four years before Brady was arrested on April 25, 2019, as she prepared to flee the country.

“She had life-long friends who were just totally and completely betrayed by her.”

Pepper Daigler, special agent, FBI Boston

“The burden of this loss is nearly impossible to put into words,” said one victim, identified as J.L., a week before Brady’s February 11 sentencing. “The stress my family has endured is beyond measure. Even my children’s futures are altered forever.”

The scam came to light after the IRS criminal investigators discovered inconsistencies between Brady’s spending and her business. That led to closer forensic analysis and then a deeper dive into financial records that showed repeated deposits of large checks, including some for $50,000 or $60,000. The high-dollar figures are not that unusual in real estate, where flipping houses and extensive remodels can reach into six figures. But the sham fell apart quickly when federal agents began interviewing Brady’s “investors.”

“That’s essentially where the wheels came off for her,” said Special Agent Mark Homsi of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. “We were presenting them with records from these vendors where she did little or no actual work and they are providing us with these promissory notes for $50,000 or $60,000 investments. That was really the turning point—the interviews with these people.”

A 67-year-old victim with a quadriplegic husband and elderly parents with Alzheimer’s and dementia said in a statement to the court that she lost both her life savings and her parents’ savings to Brady’s ploy.

“I cannot articulate the guilt that haunts me for having made such an irresponsible decision that was grounded in emotion instead of common sense,” L.R. said in a victim impact statement. “Monique was fully aware of who I was as a caregiver, and she exploited that knowledge for her own selfish and criminal gain.”

In all, the self-styled preservation expert solicited investments for projects on 171 properties; no work was ever performed on 98 of those. Prosecutors said Brady’s conduct was as bad as they have ever seen in a Rhode Island fraud case. Brady even continued her scheming while incarcerated and awaiting sentencing, according to a February 6 sentencing memorandum. Her misconduct included making more than 200 unauthorized phone calls from prison using other inmates’ personal identification numbers.

Investigators said Brady’s case is a cautionary tale for anyone considering a get-rich-quick scheme. Her victims thought she was their friend and that she was doing them a favor—letting them in on something too good to pass up. But in this case, it was all too good to be true.

IRS Agent Homsi said Brady’s affluent friends were just as taken in as those who could least afford it: “Oftentimes, these are people who are very successful in the business world. And they would say, ‘If it wasn’t Monique, I would have done much more due diligence.’ But they just had that implicit trust in her.”

Meanwhile, the investments were paying for Brady’s extravagances, including a $9,400 monthly mortgage; trips to the tropics, Europe, multiple Super Bowls; a luxury shoe collection; and elective plastic surgery that she paid for in cash.

It wasn’t until the scheme fell apart that its breadth became apparent. Evidently, Brady encouraged secrecy among her investors—another common ploy of scam artists and Ponzi schemes. She eschewed talking business in social settings, said FBI Special Agent Daigler. Potential investors might have seen that as a sign of class, while others might see a potential red flag.

“I guess if somebody tells you to keep a secret, always be weary of why you have to keep it a secret,” Daigler said.

“Oftentimes, these are people who are very successful in the business world. But they just had that implicit trust in her.”

Mark Homsi, special agent, IRS Criminal Investigation

Resources

Rhode Island Businesswoman Sentenced in $10M Ponzi Scheme That Defrauded 23 Individuals

Green Party Senate Candidate Hoffman: Another Democratic Party Dinner for the 1%

February 29, 2020, 6:53 pm | in

Madelyn

Hoffman, NJ Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 released the following prepared statement prior to Saturday\’s fundraiser for Congressman Donald Norcross.

What does it mean when Senator Cory Booker, Senator Robert Menendez, Governor Phil Murphy and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi all gather in Camden to support Representative Donald Norcross for a $2,800 a plate meal?

It means that big money controls this election cycle once again. What does it matter if there is a “D” or “R” next to your name when all that matters to these politicians is how many $2,800 plates and big donors attend to donate big money? This leaves little room for the voices of those not so wealthy; people dealing with issues of healthcare, making a living wage, addressing environmental concerns, and ending non-stop military spending.

Join the Green Party of New Jersey and Hoffman For Senate in a protest at Camden County College, 200 College Drive, Blackwood, New Jersey from 12pm to 2pm on Saturday, February 29th. Help raise awareness with the 99% on these issues and many more not being addressed by either mainstream party.

“The politicians who represent us are completely out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent,” said

Madelyn

Hoffman, NJ Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020, challenging Senator Cory Booker. “My campaign accepts no corporate money or PAC money. Instead I can fight for what the majority of people need — as I have all my adult life. It’s time for us to elect representatives who are dedicated to addressing the needs of the 99%.”

Kim Meudt, Co-Chair of Green Party NJ and life-long resident of Camden County said, “The Norcross Machine wants $2,800 per plate but what’s being served up to the residents of Camden?”

Craig Cayetano, Co-Chair of Green Party NJ said “We are inviting all our allies to come out, even those still associated with the Democratic Party, to stand up and say that this shouldn’t be the new normal. We denounce these dinners which leave the majority of the NJ electorate on the outside of policy-making and just pandered to as the election season ramps up.”

The Hoffman for Senate 2020 campaign will be at the protest and in a symbolic protest offer food and a drink for attendees at $2.80 to show that the interests of big money and the interests of the vast majority of people in this country are not the same! Instead, we need to:

Stop supporting endless wars.

Move the money into our communities and into public education, tuition-free college and student debt forgiveness.

Move the money into Improved and Expanded Medicare for All.

Support a real Green New Deal that confronts the bloated military budget and creates sustainable jobs for all.

Increase grassroots democracy and stop allowing those with the big money to control the party interests.

Enact Rank Choice Voting to allow more voices a fair chance at being elected and abolish the corrupted “Line” currently used in New Jersey.

If you cannot attend, please consider sharing, volunteering and donating! Check out the Hoffman For Senate website, Facebook page, on Twitter and Instagram all year as we will be a progressive voice on the ballot on November 3rd!

https://www.hoffmanforsenate.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HoffmanforSenate2020/

https://twitter.com/hoffman4US2020

https://www.instagram.com/hoffmanforsenate2020/

Rev. Howard E. Muhlbaier, Retired Catholic Priest; Teacher and Alumnus of Gloucester Catholic HS

Rev. Howard E. Muhlbaier

Cherry Hill – Rev. Howard Edward Muhlbaier, retired Catholic Priest of the Camden Diocese passed away on February 22, 2020 at St. Mary\’s Villa in Cherry Hill, with devoted friends and caregivers by his side, at age 81. Rev. Muhlbaier was born on June 16, 1938 to Sebastian Muhlbaier and Dorothy Kennedy Muhlbaier. He was raised in Swedesboro, NJ and was a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School class of 1956. He continued his studies at Saint Charles College, Loyola College and Saint Mary Seminary having received his Master\’s in Theology. Father Muhlbaier was ordained May 22, 1965 in Camden, NJ by Archbishop Damiano.

First assigned as parochial vicar at Incarnation in Mantua, Rev. Muhlbaier went on to serve the parishes of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Pitman, Saint Andrew the Apostle in Gibbsboro, St. Maurice Church in Brooklawn and Saints Peter and Paul in Turnersville. From 1992 through 2000, Rev. Muhlbaier was the pastor of Assumption Parish in Atco. He then served as a chaplain at the former Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township until 2008. His final assignment was senior priest at St. Andrew the Apostle. From 1965 through the 1980\’s, Rev. Muhlbaier served on the faculty of Gloucester Catholic High School, Paul VI High School and St. Joseph\’s High School in Hammonton.

In addition to his parents, Father Muhlbaier is predeceased by his brothers, Sebastian, Charles, Vernon, Norman, Esq. and James. He is survived by his brother, John \”Jack\” Muhlbaier of MD; sister-in-laws, Patricia Muhlbaier and Anna Muhlbaier, as well as dear friends, Ritamarie and George Simmons and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Viewing will take place at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St Joseph\’s Church, 130 Broad St., Swedesboro. Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan will celebrate his Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM. Burial will follow at St. Joseph\’s Cemetery, Swedesboro.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Gloucester Catholic High School Alumni Fund, 333 Ridgeway St., Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please memo, Rev. Howard E. Muhlbaier.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Rev. Howard E. Muhlbaier. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142