Category: MARYLAND

Tips & Snippets: Trash Blockade, Flood, Sign Sez, Brooklawn Celebrates, No Power Again

Written By Cleary’s Notebook News Staff

CNBNEWS PHOTO

TRASH BLOCKS SIDEWALK—Why would those responsible for blocking the sidewalk with trash think that this was acceptable? A week ago, on Monday, Sweetie and I were walking on South Broadway towards Brooklawn. We tried to get past the blockade of trash in the photo, but it was impossible. We were left with no other choice but to risk our lives and walk onto nearby Broadway. Fortunately, traffic was light. One has to wonder about the people who piled the trash on the sidewalk that way. Surely they had to see that they were blocking the pathway for pedestrians. Unfortunately, as we travel through our City we have come upon more incidents of people who have no consideration for their neighbors. Their grass needs to be cut, their trash cans are placed in their front yard, and derelict cars with no license plates or registration stickers are parked on their property.

Photo courtesy of Gloucester City Historical Society.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ–Following a heavy summer rainstorm, youngsters played in the contaminated water that overflowed from the sewers, flooding Market Street and nearby Broadway. Residents in that neighborhood told Cleary’s Notebook News that they saw feces floating on top of the water. The exact date of the photo is not known.

RAW SEWERAGE BACKS UP INTO HOMES IN CAMDEN AND GLOUCESTER CITIES-The Courier Post reported recently that it would cost over $400 million to fix the flooding in Camden City and Gloucester City. In the meantime, raw sewage will continue to back up into homes and flows down city streets. The untreated wastewater spills into watersheds and seeps into popular recreation spots like Cooper River, which is regularly used by rowing teams but is too dirty to swim in. In Gloucester City the raw sewerage can be seen flowing into the Delaware River even on sunny days.

A heavy rainstorm on July 6, 2026, dumped almost four inches of rain in an hour and caused Camden County’s sewer system to back up, causing floods and over 150 calls for emergency help, officials said.

Videos posted online showed flood waters breaching storefronts and basements.

Camden County says it now has a plan to fix the longstanding issue, but it’s going to take more than a decade to complete and a huge sum of money to pull off. The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA), a government agency located in South Camden, is responsible for wastewater treatment and regional sewage management. Since the 1970s, Camden County residents have paid that agency millions of dollars to fix the sewerage problem and flooding. When it was first proposed, the CCMUA was going to build its wastewater treatment plant in Gloucester City, where the Holt Marine Terminal is today. READ MORE

Continue reading “Tips & Snippets: Trash Blockade, Flood, Sign Sez, Brooklawn Celebrates, No Power Again” →

Maryland Dedicates Wetipquin Creek State Park

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offered local officials and special guests a preview of Wetipquin Creek State Park on Tuesday, as the state celebrated the acquisition of the 445-acre property that will become Wicomico County’s first state park.

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Nextdoor’s Indefinite Ban on CNBNews Raises Serious Questions About Fairness and Transparency

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews Editor

UPDATED:

Last week, Cleary’s Notebook News (CNBNews) received notice from Nextdoor Neighbor, the neighborhood‑based social media platform, that our account had been banned. The stated reason: three short snippets of press releases we posted allegedly violated their guidelines.

We immediately appealed. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Nextdoor issued its final decision:

“Appeal not approved: Account indefinitely suspended.”

No explanation. No citation of a specific rule. No opportunity for correction. Just a permanent ban.

Local Reviewers With the Power to Silence You

Nextdoor relies on local “Reviewers” — ordinary users granted extraordinary authority — to censor posts, remove publishers, and suspend accounts. Because Nextdoor is a privately owned company, it has the legal right to remove anyone it chooses. But the way this ban was handled raises legitimate concerns about bias, personal grudges, and selective enforcement.

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Gloucester Firefighter Shines in HYROX Contest

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News

See VIDEO

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (June 20, 2026)–Gloucester City Firefighter Jack Driscoll participated in a HYROX contest held recently in Stockholm, Sweden. Jack is a Gloucester City native who graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School. He placed second in the World Wide contest in the Overall and Age Group.

Afterwards, Driscoll said, “I went all in on the sport this year and had some big goals written down before the season started. I wanted to win a pro race and won five. I wanted to make it to the start line of an Elite 15 race and made it to two, one in solo and one in doubles. I wanted to podium at Worlds, and pulled a hard-fought 2nd out of the best of the best.

“Thank you to my family and friends for all the support this year, especially my girlfriend Erika Tvedten I couldn’t do it without you all. And thank you to all the people who have cheered me on at races and online all year! Time to build better for next year.”

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Good Samaritans Rescue Crash Victim

William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook

PHILADELPHIA PA (July13, 2026)--On Friday, July 11, 2026, a man traveling on Kelly Drive suddenly veered off the road and crashed into the Schuylkill River. The river runs parallel to Kelly Drive.

According to NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle, the man experienced a medical emergency and plunged his red car into the Schuylkill River along the 2200 block of Kelly Drive. Bystanders, including a former national rower and a college coach, jumped into the water to rescue the trapped man before the vehicle fully submerged. [1, 2]

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Former Supt. Receives 6 Figure Deal from Manchester Twp. School

William E. Cleary Sr. |CNBNews

MANCHESTER, NJ (July 13, 2026)(CNBNews)— Former Manchester Township Schools Superintendent John Berenato has received a six‑figure settlement in connection with his lawsuit over his 2023 firing.

He was awarded $265,000 by the district’s insurance carrier under a settlement approved at the June 16, 2026, Manchester Township Board of Education meeting, according to open‑government advocate John Paff of Transparency NJ.

Berenato was fired on Nov. 7, 2023 at a special board meeting, with the dismissal taking effect immediately. The board claimed he failed to disclose a 2010 drunk‑driving conviction and license suspension on his employment application.

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CNBNEWS: July Cheers and Jeers

By William E. Cleary Sr

CHEER–Audubon Family Park Improvements

Camden County awarded Audubon Family Park a $25,000 grant for upgrades and maintenance, supporting safer and more accessible recreation for local families. 

JEER—Rip and Boomer Dead…WHY?

UPDATE: A Salem County Sheriff’s Office sergeant is facing charges after prosecutors allege he left two K-9 partners in a hot vehicle for seven hours, resulting in their deaths. …

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.

Read More: Investigation underway for K9 deaths in Salem County | https://nj1015.com/salem-county-k9s-deaths/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

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. 

JEER-What can be done about 637 Division Street?

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AI Tool Will Help Improve Cancer Treatment

 

BYLINE: CHRISTEN BROWNLEE

At a glance:

  • A new AI model called COMPASS uses tumor gene expression data to predict which patients will respond to cancer immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Analyzing past data from 16 clinical cohorts, COMPASS predicted ICI response 8.5 percent more accurately than the best existing approach.
  • If validated in clinical trials, the tool could lead to better precision medicine and cancer drug development.

Newswise — Cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can be miracle drugs for cancer patients, curing some and turning deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition in others. But these drugs work for only a subset of patients, with few indications why — a knowledge gap that has detrimental effects on patient prognosis, clinical trial recruitment, and research that could lead to new therapies.

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Maryland Fishing Report – July 1

July 4 is a license-free fishing day throughout Maryland, so if you have a friend or relative who doesn’t currently fish, take them out with you.

Large red drum are providing catch-and-release fishing for anglers near the mouth of the Potomac River.

White perch can be found in the tidal rivers and creeks, sometimes mixed in with spot and croaker.

All the tidal rivers have populations of blue and channel catfish, and the larger female blue catfish are showing signs of being finished with spawning; they are now on the prowl to build up body stores. .

Check out the full report.

How Cryptocurrencies are Revolutionizing the Online Gambling Industry

The advent of cryptocurrency has sparked a modern-day digital gold rush, as investors and industries race to leverage the power of coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. While crypto volatility grabs headlines, a quiet revolution is happening in online gambling. Cryptocurrencies enable fast, private betting unrestricted by regulation or banking bottlenecks.

This perfect storm of anonymity and independence is accelerating the $66.7 billion global online gambling industry’s shift from fiat money. Let’s explore the undercurrent sweeping bookmakers, casinos, lottery, poker, and bingo brands to crypto.

Trustless Transactions Build Trust

Cryptocurrency solves two central issues for the online gambling sector – privacy and speed. For instance, RetroBet players have traditionally relied on banks or payment processors like Visa and PayPal to move money. These financial middlemen demand identity verification, track transactions, and can block payments they deem suspicious.

For passionate online gamblers seeking anonymity, this is unacceptable overreach. Cryptocurrencies operate on public blockchains secured by advanced cryptography, not third parties. Gambling sites leveraging crypto allow fast deposits and withdrawals without collecting sensitive user data. Their decentralized design also makes government oversight extremely difficult.

Most recreational bettors prefer privacy and convenience over brand recognition. A 2021 study showed that 58% of online gamblers use crypto to conceal their activity, while 68% cited faster payouts as the main benefit. As more players experience the perks firsthand, adoption is soaring.

Key Crypto Gambling Statistics

  • – 130 million people play online casino games or bet sports using cryptocurrency as of Q1 2022
  • – The crypto gambling industry will reach $260 billion by 2027
  • – 58% of online gamblers use crypto to hide gambling activity from banks or family members
  • – 68% say faster withdrawals and deposits are the main appeal
  • – 81% of online gambling sites now accept at least one cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and Offshore Sites

In crypto’s early days, Bitcoin was essentially the only game in town. The first regulated gambling site to accept BTC was SatoshiDice in 2012. But Bitcoin’s fixed supply and independence from banks appealed most to unlicensed offshore sites operating in legal grey areas.

Through the mid-2010s, crypto gambling remained an exotic concept. But pioneers like FortuneJack, BitStarz, mBit, and Betcoin.ag built reputations for quick cash outs without onerous “know your customer” requirements. This attracted American players to overseas sites as an end-run around restrictive US gaming laws.

Bitcoin’s semi-anonymous nature (all transactions are public, but wallet owners remain unknown) enabled true global access. Whether seeking big jackpots or sports odds unavailable locally, players used Bitcoin to place otherwise impossible bets anonymously. Crypto gambling sites saw usage and revenues grow steadily through word-of-mouth.

The offshore sector now generates $16 billion in cryptocurrency wagers annually from 30 million players. While still a fraction of fiat totals, it’s growing over 20% per year despite little mainstream promotion. However, Bitcoin’s high fees and slow settlement saw players yearn for better crypto options.

Altcoin Adoption – Lower Fees and Higher Speed

Since 2017, rising transaction costs and congestion have strained Bitcoin’s capacity. With average fees approaching $20, gambling sites adopted lower-cost cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. This altcoin boom gave players more choice between privacy, speed, or brand familiarity.

The most widely-used alternatives today are Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), and stablecoins like Tether (USDT). Transaction fees are just pennies, while confirmation times range from seconds for XRP/TRX to minutes for BCH/LTC/ETH. Sites typically recommend using TRX or XRP to move funds cost-effectively.

According to CryptoGamblingNews, altcoin support is now mandatory for any credible site:

“Every online crypto casino worth its salt needs to have at least Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Tether as options nowadays. Supporting other coins like Cardano, Solana or Polkadot is also becoming more common.”

This flexibility lets gamblers choose their deposit/withdrawal coin based on fees, volatility, wealth growth, or other factors. Lesser-known cryptos also enable betting emerging niches like gaming, sports collectibles, prediction markets, and more via features unavailable using fiat.

Regulation

While most government entities still grapple to define cryptocurrency, much less legislate it appropriately, the EU is pushing forward. In 2021, the bloc advanced a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets like utility and security tokens.

More locally, Malta pioneered accepting digital assets back in 2018. The small Mediterranean nation has since attracted significant operations from top global gaming brands like Betsson, Kindred, and GiG. Rival jurisdictions like Isle of Man, Curacao, Gibraltar, and the UK also regulate crypto gambling to varying degrees.

The biggest sign of crypto’s online gambling legitimacy came recently from Sweden. In 2021, state-run operator Svenska Spel integrated cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals across its sportsbook and lottery platforms. Players can now fund accounts in BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, and more.

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO Jonas Nygren explained the landmark decision:

“When consumers show increasing interest in other payment solutions than those traditionally offered, we as a company must adapt. It is then natural for us to also open up the opportunity to deposit with cryptocurrencies.”

Look for other European nations and Canada to follow suit in regulating cryptocurrency gaming transactions, either directly or through digital asset legislation. This will spur the next phase of mainstream crypto adoption.

In Summary

Rising from obscure origins on Bitcoin-friendly offshore sites, cryptocurrencies now stand poised to disrupt online gambling. The core appeals of privacy and speed that first attracted players still hold true. But increased altcoin support, regulation, and adoption by traditional brands are set to unlock mass market potential.

As more people realize the benefits of trustless, instant transactions for betting and gaming, expect crypto to challenge fiat currency’s dominance. Much like the gold rushes of centuries past, the early pioneers gave way to big business. But this time everyone with an Internet connection can stake their claim.