CNBNews Tips/Snippets: Growing Up Gloucester; White Supremacist a Fireman; Graffiti Problem in City

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER-

-Back in the day, everyone knew everyone in Gloucester City. In those days it wouldn\’t be unusual if you even knew some members of the outlaw Pagan\’s MC, who had one of the first chapters in the state located in Gloucester City. The head of that chapter was a childhood friend of my wife Connie. He went through the local school system and graduated with her and other members of the GHS Class of \’62.

New Jersey Crime Investigators Say Pagan\’s MC Expanding Into State

After we got married we lived in one of the row homes in the 700 block of Powell Street. This one particular day in 1967, Connie was sitting outside on the front step

with two of our kids who were no more than babies at the time. A roar of motorcycles come riding up Powell Street heading east towards Broadway. There were 20 or more guys dressed in dungaree jackets with Pagan etc written on the back.

It was a scary sight.

At the head of the pack was this guy with shades on with a goat tee and a fu man mustache wearing a Viking helmet with two horns. He had pythons for biceps and his arms were decorated with tats from his shoulders down to his wrists. He and some of the

others drive pass Connie when the guy in the front, apparently the leader, suddenly raises his hand signaling everyone to stop.

Fond Memories of Growing Up in Gloucester City/South Jersey Area and The Geator

The leader turns his big Harley around and drives up on the sidewalk stopping in front of Connie and the kids. The guy with the Viking helmet jumps off the cycle gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She didn’t realize who it was until he removed his helmet; it was her childhood friend and classmate.

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER–The Cleary Family celebrating Christmas in the 1950s

In the meantime, traffic is backed up on the street in both directions as the members remained on their cycles. None of the neighbors came outside. Instead, you could see them peeking out their blinds no doubt wondering what was happening. After five minutes or so the leader of the pack jumps on his Harley and drives to the front of the line signaling everyone to follow him. You could hear their Harleys roar all the way to Broadway and beyond.

Related: Gloucester City History

Finding a parking spot on Powell Street in front of your house was a daily challenge but after that day we never had a problem. The spot was always open for our car. I always wondered if that day we had the leader of the local Pagans visit our family had anything to do with it.

GROWING UP GLOUCESTER–from left to right, Billy Hampton, Marie Connoley, Trudy Bodenschatz, Tom Ferry and Ed Ferry. Location 8th and Division Streets. Check out the shorts the two Ferry boys are wearing? Sixty plus years ago if you were a kid your underwear could also be worn for your summer shorts. And nobody cared. Of course, if your Dad or Grandpop tried to get away with running outside in their underwear, there was a good chance they would go to jail.

WHITE SUPREMACIST WAS A FIREMAN-

–

Brooklawn resident Richard Tobin who was arrested last week for allegedly conspiring with a hate group against the rights of minorities and Jewish people, was a member of the local

volunteer fire department, according to several news outlets including

NJ.com

Brooklawn Fire Chief John McKinney told the media that Tobin had been a fireman for less than a year.

Federal authorities said Tobin expressed a desire to attack African-Americans. He is accused of telling people to vandalize Midwest synagogues.

Tobin was originally part of the fire company’s “Fire Service Explorers” program, a Boy Scouts of America program that introduces adolescents to a firefighting career, the chief said. A March 2018 Brooklawn fire company Facebook post congratulated Tobin on completing the Camden County College Fire Academy Junior Firefighter course. The chief said that he never had any issues with the 18-year-old.

Tobin told investigators that he was thinking about going to a North Jersey mall and attack African Americans with a machete. He blamed his hatred on all the turmoil in the United States.

McKinney said there was never an issue with Tobin. The chief declined further comment. On Monday, Tobin was still listed on the borough’s website as a member of the exploring program, but his name was removed by Tuesday.

Brooklawn Police Chief Shamus Ellis echoed those remarks, \”Prior to this investigation, I don\’t believe we have had any negative encounters with Tobin.\”

Alleged White Supremacist from Brooklawn Charged with Wanting to Kill Blacks, Jews, and Gays

According to the criminal complaint, Tobin allegedly directed members of a “white racially motivated violent extremist group\” to vandalize minority-owned properties through online platforms and encrypted messaging applications. The complaint did not identify the group but described it as a far-right group that has “proclaimed war against minority communities within the United States and abroad.\”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported

that Tobin was acting as a member of The Base, a neo-Nazi group that “trains members in violence at ‘hate camps,’”

according to The Daily Beast

Tobin allegedly directed the group’s \”Great Lakes Cell” from his Brooklawn home, ordering an “Operation

Kristallnacht,” a reference to Nov. 9 to 10, 1938

, when Nazis in Germany burned down synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes and businesses and killed about 100 Jewish people.

GRAFFITI PROBLEM IN CITY

–A Gloucester City community activist, who wants to remain anonymous, submitted several photos of unsightly graffiti on Nicholson Road under the 676 overpass. The individual believes by bringing attention to the graffiti someone in the highway department or some other department will remove it.

If you have a Tip or story idea send it to CNBNews1@gmail.com. Your name will not be published if you request to remain anonymous.

Graffiti in Gloucester City

Rutgers-Camden Women Tie Mark by Raising Record to 4-0

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Nov. 23, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team built a 13-point second-half lead, saw Arcadia University whittle its deficit to one point and hung on to defeat the Knights, 59-55, here Saturday afternoon in the Scarlet Raptors’ home opener.

The win lifts Rutgers-Camden to 4-0, tying the best start in program history, which now has been accomplished four times – during the 1981-82, 1991-92 and 2016-17 seasons before this year. The Raptors will try to set a new program standard Tuesday when they open their New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule with a 6 p.m. game at Rowan University.

The loss snapped Arcadia’s three-game winning streak, dropping the Knights to 3-3 this season.

In a tight first half, the Scarlet Raptors inched ahead to establish a 34-27 halftime lead, led by 17 points from senior guard

Fatimah Williams.

Sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson

collected nine first-half points.

The Scarlet Raptors appeared to pull away in the third quarter, opening up their biggest lead of the game, 50-37, on a three-pointer by Johnson with 17 seconds left in the period. Arcadia cut that margin to 50-38 on a foul shot by sophomore guard Julia Makowski by the end of the quarter.

Led by senior guard Taylor Dunn, the Knights started heating up in the final quarter as they charged back into the game. Dunn scored Arcadia’s first eight points of the quarter and assisted on a field goal by sophomore guard Sidney Barrer as they sliced the gape to 56-50 with 4:07 remaining. A pair of foul shots by Makowski and a three-point play by sophomore forward Holly Daveski made it a 56-55 game with 1:02 left.

Arcadia had a chance to take the lead, but committed a turnover with 11 seconds remaining and Raptor junior guard

Shane Holmes

drained a clutch three-pointer, making it a 58-55 game with seven seconds remaining. Moments later, Dunn missed a potential game-tying three-point attempt and Raptor freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

grabbed the rebound and was fouled. She provided the final margin on a foul shot with three seconds remaining.

Williams finished with a game-high 20 points for Rutgers-Camden, while adding a game-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. The 10 rebounds tied a career high, accomplished three previous times.

Johnson tied her career scoring high with 16 points, set against Penn State-Lehigh Valley on Nov. 15, and Holmes finished with 13 points and team-high totals of five assists and four steals.

Arcadia received 19 points, four steals and a game-high six assists from Dunn. Makowski added 11 points.

Rutgers-Camden shot 20-for-55 (36.4 percent) from the floor, including 7-for-18 (38.9) from three-point range. Johnson had four treys, while Holmes added three. The Raptors also were 12-for-17 (70.6) from the foul line, led by Williams, who shot 8-for-11 from the charity stripe.

Arcadia shot 17-for-49 (34.7) from the floor, including 5-for-16 (31.3) from three-point range. The Knights were 16-for-19 (84.2) from the foul line.

Arcadia held a 38-31 advantage off the boards, but also made four more turnovers than Rutgers-Camden (18-14).

Pennsylvania Senate Votes to Ban Abortions in Down Syndrome Cases

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG, PA–The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday voted, 27-22, to advance legislation that would ban abortions in cases where a fetus has been diagnosed with Down syndrome in spite of a promised veto from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Caused by the presence of an extra chromosome, Down syndrome causes intellectual disabilities and delayed physical development. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 6,000 babies are born with some type of the condition each year.

“It just seems to me that the genesis of the bill is just about a fundamental right to be born,” said state Sen. Judy Ward, R-Hollidaysburg, when the legislation, House Bill 321, was considered Monday by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. “And that’s what I see as just a fundamental right.”

Pennsylvania state Sen. Judy Ward speaks Sept. 11, 2019, during a hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Image courtesy of the Pennsylvania Senate

While Republicans wholeheartedly supported the measure, Democrats, such as state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading, opposed the bill as an attempt to restrict women’s rights.

“I don’t think legislators, government period, has a role to play in the relationship between a mother and a doctor and her family or whoever else she wishes to consult with,” Schwank told state Rep. Kate Klunk, R-Hanover, the bill’s sponsor, during Monday’s hearing. “I just find this really troubling.”

Klunk added that her bill does grant exceptions for pregnancies created through acts of rape or incest and for instances when the pregnancy puts a mother’s health at risk.

The bill faces opposition from reproductive rights groups, such as Planned Parenthood. Another group, the Women’s Law Project, said in a tweet that the bill targets families dealing with complicated pregnancies and deprives people of their constitutional rights.

“The bill’s supporters pretend it is designed to protect people with disabilities, but in reality it merely seeks to force doctors to police patients’ reasons for exercising their constitutional right to abortion if such a decision is considered in the wake of a prenatal diagnosis,” the Women’s Law Project said Monday in a statement on its website. “It is simply more political interference into the exam room.”

Anti-abortion advocates hailed the bill, saying women are often urged to terminate such pregnancies.

“[The legislation] sends a compassionate message to Pennsylvania communities that no human being should be targeted for death by abortion because of a disability,” Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said in a statement.

Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott reiterated the governor\’s veto promise shortly after the vote Wednesday evening, noting that Wolf \”has said repeatedly, he will veto any bill, including House Bill 321, that seeks to limit health care choices for women and politicize difficult moments for vulnerable families.\”

posted here with permission

The Center Square

Active-Shooter Drills in Schools May Do More Harm Than Good, Says Rutgers–Camden Nursing Scholar

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (Nov. 22, 2019)–– Active-shooter drills in schools expose students to frighteningly realistic scenarios with masked intruders and loud gunfire sounds. They also may be doing more harm than good, says a Rutgers University–Camden nursing scholar who urges school and law enforcement officials alike to include school nurses in their plans to prepare for violent situations.

Robin Cogan

, a lecturer in the

Rutgers School of Nursing‒Camden

and lead author of an article published in Current Trauma Reports, says school nurses are ideally positioned to work with other medical professionals, law enforcement, and government officials who are committed to public health approaches to prevent mass shootings.

In the article, titled “School Nurses Share Their Voices, Trauma, and Solutions by Sounding the Alarm on Gun Violence,” Cogan and her co-authors say school nurses know of the acute need for evidence-supported, school-based mental health services. Based on those metrics, active-shooter drills may not be achieving their desired outcomes.

Since World War I, schools have been holding safety drills, fire drills, and natural disaster drills, but Cogan says today’s active-shooter drills can expose students and staff to frighteningly realistic scenarios.

Cogan says there is no evidence to show that the drills are effective in preparing students, teachers, and administrators to deal with gun violence in schools.

“While the incidence of school shootings is rare, now more than 95 percent of schools across the country have active-shooter drills,” says Cogan, who also works as a school nurse in Camden. “We do not prepare our students for fire drills by making them walk through smoke and debris-filled hallways.”

Cogan worries about the impact that the drills have on the psychological development of young children, and the effect the drills have on school nurses.

In the article, the authors share concerns from school nurses who have participated in active-shooter drills. One nurse reports that her heart sank the day she was in her office when she heard the sounds of gunshots from the school’s loudspeaker. She did not know if it was an unannounced lockdown drill or if there was an active shooter in the building. Instinctively, she locked her office door, closed the blinds, and hid in a corner. After she found out it was just a drill and the gunfire sounds were from an app used by the person running the drill, she did not understand the need to endure the fear and concern for herself and everyone in the building.

“Our brains cannot always differentiate when an incident is real or just a drill,” says Cogan, who adds that there is no evidence that even some of the most recognized programs – including Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate (ALICE), which uses a run, hide, fight options framework – are effective in preventing injuries.

Among the problems Cogan sees with the programs are that they are not evidence-based and do not consider the students’ ages and developmental stages, if they have special health care needs, or if they have learning challenges.

“These are reactive measures and are not taking into consideration the need for preventative programs to create a culture of kindness, acceptance, and safety in schools,” says Cogan. “Money is being spent on hardening schools instead of softening them.”

Cogan and her co-authors suggest a better approach to preventing violence: a multistrategy, multidisciplinary approach that takes into consideration student and faculty development, and mental and emotional health. They authors say investing in a nurse workforce in the school “would transform fear into courage and anticipation into action by implementing student-focused strategies rooted in prevention.”

The Rutgers–Camden educator says that an emergency preparedness program such as Stop the Bleed, a national awareness program launched by the White House in 2015, may be effective in saving lives. The program encourages bystanders to be trained to help stop bleeding victims in an emergency before medical professionals arrive.

The Sandy Hook Promise organization offers programs that encourage relationship building, which Cogan says could help to prevent violence. She says initiatives that focus on safe gun storage to keep guns out of the hands of students and offering gun locks to families on Back to School Night activities could also be effective.

Cogan’s own family experience motivates her to work to prevent gun violence. In 1949, her father was 12 years old when he hid in a closet in his family’s Camden home while a deranged neighbor went on a shooting rampage, killing Cogan’s grandmother, grandfather, and great-grandmother, and 10 other people in the city. Nearly 70 years later, Cogan’s 17-year-old niece hid in a Parkland, Fla., high school closet with her teacher and other students in 2018, when a gunman opened fire at the school. Fourteen students and three teachers died, and 17 students were injured.

“My decision to use my position as a school nurse to fight against gun violence came from a promise I made to my sister and niece in the aftermath of the Parkland shootings,” says Cogan. “Prevention of firearm violence belongs in the health care arena and requires funding for research as any public health issue has been afforded.”

The article, “School Nurses Share Their Voices, Trauma, and Solutions by Sounding the Alarm on Gun Violence,” is co-authored by

Donna Nickitas

, dean of the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, Donna Mazyck of the National Association of School Nurses, and Sunny Hallowell of Villanova University

Philly packs a whole lot of punch into the final full weekend of November.

PHILADELPHIA PA (Nov. 22, 2019)–Three days of

Philadelphia Marathon

festivities kick off on Friday with a free health expo (that’s open to the public!) before spectators cheer on racers at the 8K, fun run (Saturday) and storied 26.2-mile race (Sunday).

The rest of the weekend is full of chances to warm up at charming winter and holiday attractions, including

LumiNature

, which debuts on Friday at the Philadelphia Zoo with 600,000 lights, a light show and an impressive tree made entirely from flamingo lawn ornaments.

Also debuting for the season on Friday:

Wild Lights

at Elmwood Park Zoo and

A Longwood Christmas

at Longwood Gardens.

Starting Saturday, visitors can head to the

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Center

and

A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place

. Plus,

Christmas Village in Philadelphia

hosts a preview on Saturday and Sunday for shoppers to scope out this year’s

LOVE

Park vendors before the official opening on Thanksgiving Day.

Book the perks-packed

Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package

for an easy start to the long weekend. Valued at up to $214, the package is a great base itinerary featuring free hotel parking, free tickets to select museums, a $25 Garces restaurant card and passes for the PHLASH Downtown Loop for traveling around the city.

Follow Uwishunu on

Twitter

and

Instagram

for updates throughout the weekend.

Read on for our guide to this weekend in Philadelphia.

All Weekend

TOP PICK

SPORTS

CITYWIDE

Philadelphia Marathon

A free health expo (Friday) kicks off a weekend that welcomes more than 30,000 racers to an 8K (Saturday) and 26.2-mile citywide course (Sunday)…

TOP PICK

EVENTS

WEST PHILADELPHIA

LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo

Hundreds of elaborate displays and more than 600,000 lights greet nighttime visitors at this interactive, illuminated wonderland that celebrates nature and the seasons…

TOP PICK

HOTEL DEAL

CITYWIDE

Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package

Your weekend getaway starts here, with up to $214 in free perks — free museum tickets, free hotel parking and more — that create the perfect base itinerary…

CENTER CITY

Winter at Dilworth Park

Take a spin on the ice rink in the shadow of City Hall, cozy up in the cabin or stroll through the enchanted Wintergarden at this open-daily seasonal attraction…

FAIRMOUNT PARK

UniverSoul Circus in Fairmount Park

Traditional circus arts get an urban pop-culture twist in this popular performance, which pops up in Philly through early December…

OLD CITY

Photo Pop Philly:

Winter Wonderland

at The Bourse Food Hall

Art meets pop culture at the Instagram-worthy Photo Pop installation, which returns for the holiday season with magical new interactive scenery…

Salaries for Pennsylvania and New Jersey Governors are among the Highest in the Country

The Center Square

Nov 19, 2019

The governor of Pennsylvania now draws a yearly salary of $194,850, the fourth-highest salary among the governors of the 50 states, according to recently reported financial

Gloucester City News blog files

data and media reports.

Based on the most recent numbers, the average U.S. governor’s salary stands at $144,046.

Either state constitutions or statutes determine the governors’ salaries, according to

Ballotpeda.com

. But salaries are only one part of the compensation provided to states’ chief executives since other benefits can include an official residence, insurance and travel subsidies.

In some states, salaries rise automatically every year based on the rate of inflation or a previously determined percentage. In other states, however, legislatures must approve pay hikes before they can take effect.

—

Governor Salaries Among the 50 States, 2018-19

State

2018 Salary

2018 Rank

California *

$210,000

New York

$200,000

Massachusetts

$195,970

Pennsylvania

$194,850

Tennessee

$194,112

Washington

$183,072

Vermont

$178,274

Illinois

$177,412

Georgia

$175,000

New Jersey

$175,000

Virginia

$175,000

Delaware

$171,000

Maryland

$170,000

Nevada

$163,474

Michigan

$159,300

Hawaii

$158,700

Texas

$153,750

Ohio

$153,650

Wisconsin

$152,756

Connecticut

$150,000

Utah

$150,000

West Virginia

$150,000

Kentucky

$148,781

Arkansas

$148,134

Oklahoma

$147,000

Rhode Island

$145,755

Alaska

$145,000

North Carolina

$144,349

Idaho

$138,302

New Hampshire

$134,581

Missouri

$133,821

Florida

$130,273

Iowa

$130,000

Louisiana

$130,000

North Dakota

$129,096

Minnesota

$127,629

Mississippi

$122,160

Indiana

$121,331

Alabama

$120,395

Montana

$118,397

South Dakota

$113,961

New Mexico

$110,000

South Carolina

$106,078

Nebraska

$105,000

Wyoming

$105,000

Kansas

$99,636

Oregon

$98,600

Arizona

$95,000

Colorado

$92,700

Maine

$70,000

U.S. average

$144,046

—

* as of December 2019

Source:

Ballotpedia.org

; media reports

published here with permission of

The Center Square

$90 Million Powerball Jackpot; Next Drawing Saturday

Thousands of New Jersey Players Win Prizes

TRENTON (Nov. 21, 2019) – The Powerball jackpot has rolled to $90 million! Although no one won the jackpot in the Nov. 20, drawing, 17,725 New Jersey players took home an estimated $92,092 in prizes ranging from $4 to $200, according to Lottery Acting Executive Director James Carey.

The winning numbers for the Wednesday, Nov. 20, drawing were: 07, 15, 39, 40 and 57. The Red Power Ball number was 12. The Multiplier number was 02. The Powerball jackpot rolls to $90,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Saturday Nov. 23, at 10:59 pm.

Maryland Fishing Report Nov. 20: Winter Temps Forcing Fish/Blue Crabs to Deeper Waters

November 20, 2019

By Keith Lockwood

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Photo courtesy of Eric Packard

The chill of late November is beginning to lay its hand upon the Maryland landscape. Freshwater species such as trout, walleye, and chain pickerel seem to love the cold. Our blue crabs are seeking the perfect mix of deep water sand and mud to take a winter’s nap.

White perch and resident striped bass are moving into the deep waters of the Chesapeake to snooze out the cold winter months. The late fall offers plenty of good fishing as fish feed heavily to build up winter stores, so don’t miss it.

Forecast Summary: Nov. 20 – Nov. 26:

As we approach Turkey Day, Bay temperatures continue to drop. The cool weather has reduced the water temperature of upper Bay main stream and rivers to the upper 40s, and surface waters from Annapolis south to the Virginia state line down to near 50 degrees. This cooling will continue through the next week. Warmest waters continue to be found in the bottom quarter of the water column. Anglers should focus on

prime habitat areas

for larger concentrations of baitfish and hungry gamefish as they migrate to their winter holding areas. As always, make sure to focus on moving water periods for best results.

Expect normal flows from most of Maryland’s rivers and streams this week.There will be above average tidal currents Saturday through next Tuesday as a result of the upcoming new moon November 26.

Bay surface salinities are largely back to normal conditions.

There will be reduced water clarity from the bottom of the Susquehanna Flats down to Tolchester as a result of the recent spill gates being opened at Conowingo Dam.

To see the latest water clarity conditions, check

Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps.

For the

full weekly fishing conditions summary

and more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out

Click Before You Cast

. You can now get regular updates on Maryland’s waters and the creatures that call them home sent to your inbox with our new Eyes on the Bay newsletter.

Upper Chesapeake Bay

Photo courtesy of Herb Floyd

There continues to be some early morning striped bass action at the Conowingo Dam pool and the lower Susquehanna River this week, but the action is slowing down as water temperatures drop. Yellow perch are moving into the lower part of the Susquehanna and Northeast rivers and can provide some fun fishing for those using minnows or small jigs on bottom rigs or small beetle spin type lures in shallower waters.

Farther down the Bay, water temperatures are still high enough that the resident striped bass are feeding on small menhaden that are coming out of the tidal rivers. This exodus of baitfish will be coming to an end soon as colder water in the tidal rivers drive them down the Bay.

Those fishing in the upper Bay whether jigging or trolling are constantly watching for diving seagulls, mostly along channel edges. Light-tackle jigging is always a favored fall activity. The mouth of the Patapsco and Hart Miller Island are great places to look for striped bass suspended over channel edges or under birds. White, pearl or chartreuse 6-inch plastics on half-ounce jig heads are a popular way to imitate young of the year menhaden. The mouth of the Chester River and shipping channel edges are also holding striped bass.

Trolling is a very effective way to fish for striped bass along channel edges and anywhere bird action can be spotted. Using heavy inline weights in front of umbrella rigs is perhaps the best way to troll for these fish, which are holding close to the bottom. Swimshads and bucktails dressed with sassy shads in chartreuse or white are popular trailers.

White perch are providing good fishing over shell bottom in deeper areas at the mouths of tidal rivers and out in the Bay. The Bay Bridge rock piles and piers are always a great place to fish for larger white perch this time of the year. Most are using bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm or dropper rigs with small plastic or metal jigs. Channel catfish are also being found in the lower sections of the tidal rivers and fishing on the bottom with cut bait or other favored baits is the way to catch them.

Middle Bay

Herb Floyd invited his friend Chuck from Pennsylvania to fish the Choptank River; they hold up a pair of nice striped bass. Photo courtesy of Herb Floyd

Watching diving seagulls has been the primary focus of most anglers on the Bay. That may start to become a scarcer scenario as the bulk of the young of the year menhaden successfully complete their migration out of Maryland waters. Some of this year’s juvenile hickory shad and river herring will soon be exiting several tidal rivers thanks to the efforts of the

department’s shad restoration program

Right now, birds mark the way to fishing fun with mostly 3-year old striped bass with some larger 4- and 5-year fish showing up at times. Generally speaking, the 2-year-old striped bass have stopped feeding due to cold water temperatures and are hunkering down in deeper waters to sit out the winter months. Light-tackle jigging is good this week in the lower sections of the tidal rivers and along the shipping channel edges out in the Bay. Soft plastic 6-inch jigs in white, pearl or chartreuse are a popular choice as are metal jigs in half-ounce to three quarter ounce size.

Trolling is an excellent option — and it can be especially nice inside a boat cabin protected from the elements. The most popular way to troll this week is deploying umbrella rigs behind heavy inline weights to get them down to the depths where striped bass are holding. The most common trailers being used are Storm type swimshads or bucktails dressed with sassy shads. The shipping channel edges and channels leading out of the major tidal rivers — along with areas near active birds or slicks — are good places to look for suspended fish.

As water temperatures drop, white perch have now moved out into the deeper areas at the mouths of the tidal rivers and in the Bay. Oyster shell bottom is often a preferred habitat for them and a good depth finder will reveal their presence. Bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworms or dropper rigs with small jigs is the best way to catch them.

Lower Bay

Photo courtesy of Greg Jenkins

Striped bass can be found scattered along the shipping channel edges and channel edges in the lower Patuxent and Potomac rivers and Tangier Sound. On most days it is easy to spot bird action as baitfish continue to move out of the tidal rivers and travel down the bay. The most common bait being seen are 4-inch to 5-inch juvenile menhaden.

Light tackle jigging is one of the most fun and productive ways to fish for striped bass in the fall and this year is no exception. Using half-ounce to 3/4-ounce jigs skirted with six inch soft plastic bodies in white, pearl, or chartreuse is the ticket to this fun. Metal jigs with single hooks are also a good choice, and braided line is a real asset in regard to sensitivity and line drag.

Trolling is a great option along channel edges and wherever bird action is spotted. Trolling with umbrella rigs and heavy inline weights is the most popular trolling option to get down deep to where the striped bass are holding.

White perch can be found deep — often 30 feet or deeper — in the lower parts of the major tidal rivers over good hard bottom with some amount of current flowing through the area. It’s best to use bottom rigs baited with pieces of bloodworm or dropper rigs holding small jigs or a metal jig with a dropper fly-rigged above. Anglers are reminded that rigs may not have more than two hooks per rig.

Speckled trout can still be found along the eastern and western sides of the Bay in deeper holes, but it’s hard to get them to bite due to cold water temperatures. This is a great time of the year to target blue catfish in the tidal Potomac River, the Sharptown area of the Nanticoke River, and the Patuxent River. Fresh cut bait or items such as clam snouts work well, and channel edges are a good place to look for them.

Freshwater Fishing

Photo by Brian Morgan

The fall turnover of surface and bottom waters at Deep Creek Lake has occurred and stabilized. There are wonderful fishing opportunities for several coldwater species. Walleyes can be caught from shore by casting jerkbaits and crankbaits along steep rocky shores in the evening hours. Smallmouth bass can be found near rocky points and deep sunken structure. Crayfish are making an exodus from shallow water for deeper cover to spend the winter. Crankbaits and jigs that resemble crayfish are a perfect choice to target both smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Photo courtesy of John Mullican

Yellow perch fishing is very good for those using minnows under a slip bobber along steep shoreline edges. Crappie are holding near deep structure and bridge piers and can be caught with small minnows or jigs under a slip bobber. Chain pickerel are holding near shorelines, near fallen treetops and sunken wood. Northern pike are holding in the open waters of coves.

Trout fishermen visiting the catch-and-release and delayed harvest trout management waters are enjoying some peaceful fishing in this beautiful setting of late fall. Nymphs, streamers, and other various flies can offer productive fishing for trout.

Fishing for smallmouth bass and walleyes in the upper Potomac River is good this week. The largest smallmouth bass tend to be the most active, and of course, walleye love cold water. Tubes, jigs, and small crankbaits are good choices. This time of the year is also a great time to do a float trip down the section from Cumberland to Paw-Paw and enjoy good fishing and beautiful scenery.

Largemouth bass are steadily moving to deeper waters seeking warmer water temperatures. They can be found in transition areas near drop-offs or over the edge in deeper water along channel edges or structure. Casting spinnerbaits along transition zones and shallow waters can be a good bet, especially during sunny late afternoon hours when the sun’s rays warm the waters. Working small crankbaits and jigs that resemble crayfish, which are moving across open bottom headed for deeper winter haunts is a good option. Blade lures can also be a good choice when fishing the deepest waters.

Chain pickerel are holding near shoreline sunken wood or fallen treetops, waiting to ambush baitfish or anything else that swims by. The largest chain pickerel can often be found holding near deep structure. Crappie are also holding near deep structure in ponds reservoirs and tidal rivers. They can be caught with minnows or small jigs under a slip bobber.

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

The southbound migration of striped bass is underway and has advanced as far as New Jersey. There are reports of a 67-pound fish being caught off the Jersey coast this past weekend. The bottom line is that they are on their way and surf fishermen and those that will be trolling along the nearshore shoals are anxiously awaiting their arrival. Those that have to give it a try are soaking cut menhaden baits in the surf.

The last of the flounder are moving through the inlet, headed to their offshore wintering sites. The focus at the Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area has been jigging for striped bass and fishing for tautog. Most of the striped bass fail to meet the 28-inch minimum but are plenty of fun. There is also some striped bass action at the Route 90 Bridge. Tautog are being caught on sand fleas and pieces of green crab along the jetty rocks, bridge piers, and bulkheads.

The sea bass action at the wreck and reef sites seems to have taken a few knocks from last weekend’s winds and tend to be moving to deeper areas. Catches have been good but limit catches are not as common as they were. Triggerfish along with a few bluefish and flounder are also mixing in with catches. Some are starting to target tautog and are doing well.

Deep dropping for swordfish and tilefish tend to round out the offshore fishing scene at the canyons. Now and then, longfin albacore and bigeye tuna are being caught.

“Fishing is a condition of the mind wherein you cannot possibly have a bad time.”

— Zane Grey

Maryland Fishing Report

is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood,

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

fisheries biologist.

Click Before You Cast is written by Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham.

This report is now available on your Amazon Echo device — just ask Alexa to “open Maryland Fishing Report.”

FBI Investigating Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf over Pipeline Permits

By Dave Lemery |

The Center Square

The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is under investigation by federal authorities over the process that led to the issuing of permits for the Mariner East pipeline project, The Associated Press is reporting.

Gloucester City News blog files

According to the AP

, citing three sources with knowledge of the FBI’s investigation, the corruption probe is looking into whether Wolf, a second-term Democrat, or anyone in his administration used political pressure to override the concerns of the state’s environmental agency and get the permits issued.

The FBI is also looking into whether Wolf or anyone in his administration received anything in return for getting the pipeline approved, the AP reported.

The pipeline in question transports natural gas in liquid across the state. Some environmentalists and a number of Democratic lawmakers, including state Sen. Andy Dinniman, have argued that the companies behind the pipeline have done shoddy work, polluting waterways and damaging home values in the areas where the pipelines travel through, and that the permits should not have been issued.

Wolf has thus far opted not to comment on the news of the investigation.

“From the very beginning and many times along the way, we have raised serious questions about the permitting process of the Mariner East pipeline project,” Dinniman said in a statement in response to word of the FBI probe. “I hope that this development sheds a bright light on those questions and more.”

While national Democrats, including U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren,

have come out strongly against hydraulic fracturing

, or “fracking,” in their presidential campaigns, Wolf has instead banked on the practice as a source of revenue for the state. Given Pennsylvania’s status as one of the top natural-gas producing states, Wolf has repeatedly proposed the introduction of a severance tax on natural gas production.

After years of budget negotiations with the Republican-controlled Legislature failed to produce an agreement on a severance tax – which would sit on top of the existing impact fee that produces

hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue

for the state each year – Wolf

this year proposed

a package of infrastructure projects under the “Restore Pennsylvania” umbrella. The projects would be funded by issuing $4.5 billion in bonds and then paying off those bonds with the proceeds of a severance tax.

published here with permission

The Center Square

NJBIA Hires Christopher Emigholz as VP of Government Affairs

Christopher Emigholz, a state budget expert with nearly 20 years of legislative experience, will join the New Jersey Business & Industry Association as vice president of Government Affairs in Taxation and Economic Development, NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka said Thursday.

Emigholz, who is currently the associate executive director/budget director for the Senate Republican Office, will lead NJBIA\’s advocacy efforts on economic development and taxation issues affecting the business community, effective Dec. 9, Siekerka said.

\”Christopher\’s career has been focused on improving New Jersey\’s business climate and making our state more affordable,\” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka.

\”His legislative experience, including the past eight years he has spent working on tax, budget and economic development policy in the Senate, will make him a tremendous resource to the businesses whose interests NJBIA fights for every day,\” she said.

Emigholz joins a distinguished and respected NJBIA Government Affairs team that includes Chief of Government Affairs Chrissy Buteas, Vice Presidents of Government Affairs Frank Robinson, Michael Wallace and Ray Cantor, and Director of Economic Policy Research Nicole Sandelier.

Prior to joining the Senate staff in 2012, Emigholz served as director of the state Department of Education\’s Office of Legislative Affairs (2010-2012) and as NJBIA\’s associate vice president of Education & Workforce Development Policy (2005-2010).

\”I have worked to support the needs of New Jersey\’s business community in every job I have had for nearly two decades in Trenton,\” Emigholz said. \”I am very excited about this opportunity to return to NJBIA and to serve its mission of advocating for the best interests of New Jersey business.\”

A resident of Robbinsville Township, where he is currently a member of the Board of Education, Emigholz has also held positions on the boards of numerous other municipal and community organizations. He has been a board member of a Trenton charter school, served on the Hightstown Planning/Zoning Board, and was on the Robbinsville Economic Development Advisory Committee.

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Emigholz earned his masters\’ degree in Public Policy from Rutgers