Gloucester Catholic Yearbooks Added to Historical Society Archive

By William E. Cleary Sr.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 25, 2026)(CNBNews)–Doing research we found a treasurer trove of Gloucester Catholic yearbooks posted on the Gloucester City Historical Society’s website. The first known yearbook begins with 1936. The Historical Society has every yearbook except 1937, 1938 & 1943. The Gloucester City Library may have those which the Historical Society does not have.

(photo property of George F. Cleary Jr., 1959 GCHS graduate)

The very first person in the front row is my brother George F. Cleary Jr., next to him is Vernon “Buddy” Myers. The photo is of members of the typing class that graduated in 1959, which was copied from George’s personal yearbook. Our mother, Mazie, insisted that George and I learn how to type. Those lessons paid off throughout my life, as it was a necessary skill for a reporter. George became a Morse code expert in the Army. He was stationed in Frankfort, Germany, during the time the Berlin Wall was being built by the Communists in East Germany. He and the pilot of a small airplane would fly over the Wall; George’s job was to decipher the Morse code messages being transmitted between the enemy. He would type those conversations and submit the information to his superior officer.

The Historical Society released the following remarks about the use of the data: “Below are links to yearbooks that have been digitized to date. The copyright status of these books is unknown. Access is provided for personal use only. These yearbooks may contain personal messages. Should you find anything that may be too personal or hurtful, please let us know, and we will attempt to edit out or omit those pages.

Click Here for Gloucester Catholic Year Books Online

Gloucester Catholic Years Books Flipbook

PDF versions of the Gloucester Catholic Yearbooks can be found below.

https://drive.google.com/embeddedfolderview?id=1B68uIO3FEq-klo9MLbHeRY0DpdzCBLG6#grid

The Gloucester City Historical Society is located at 34 N. King Street, Gloucester City NJ 08030

A Fond Farewell to Carr’s Hardware

William E. Cleary Sr. | Founder/Editor of Cleary’s Notebook News

Gloucester City News photo, August 29, 1974

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 24, 2026)--All good things come to an end, eventually — or so the saying goes. Gloucester City felt the weight of that truth this month when Jean Carr, owner of Carr’s Hardware, announced she was retiring and closing the family business on March 12. With that decision, a remarkable 58‑year chapter in the city’s history quietly came to a close.

The Carr family’s hardware legacy began in 1968, when the family patriarch, Franklin Carr Sr., opened the original store at 520 Monmouth Street in the heart of the Business District. At the time, Garwood’s Hardware stood directly across the street, and several other shops throughout town sold tools, lumber, and supplies. When the business moved to its new location, Frank Jr., owned the business. And, his brothers, Bill and Richard, worked there.

Among them were: Continue reading →

Cleary’s Notebook News March 2006: Cheers & Jeers

JEER — To the landlord who treated East Thompson Avenue like a dumping ground

A landlord on East Thompson Avenue left an unsightly pile of trash at the curb six days before the scheduled pickup — a heap that sat there blowing around the neighborhood like a slow‑motion insult. Just a few steps away on South Burdsall Avenue, another pile of recyclables was dumped directly in the street instead of being placed in a proper recycling bin.

Gloucester City’s trash ordinances couldn’t be clearer: household waste and recyclables must be placed at the curb no earlier than 7 PM the night before pickup, and only in secure, watertight containers. The rules also spell out weight limits, container‑cover requirements, and fines that can reach $2,000 for repeat offenders. These aren’t suggestions — they’re laws meant to keep neighborhoods clean, safe, and livable.

WHY IT MATTERS

Community pride begins at home. When someone leaves trash out for nearly a week, it doesn’t just create an eyesore — it chips away at the dignity of the block. It tells your neighbors their street isn’t worth respecting. It invites rodents, scatters debris, and sends the message that Gloucester City is a place where standards don’t matter.

And here’s the real frustration: the City already has ordinances on the books to prevent exactly this kind of behavior. If those laws aren’t going to be enforced, then what’s the point of having them? Residents who follow the rules shouldn’t have to live with the consequences of those who don’t.

Cleary’s Notebook News photos

CHEER-To the Gloucester City Lions Club and the Gloucester Little League organization for replacing the torn American Flag and the POW Flag at the LL field and at the Johnson Blvd Jogging Park. Kudos also to Bruce Parry for his help.

WHY IT MATTERS Continue reading “Cleary’s Notebook News March 2006: Cheers & Jeers” →

BREAKING NEWS: Berkeley Twp Triple Homicide

March 10, 2026

Police: Three Adults Dead, Three Children Found Unharmed on Fairwood Drive

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ (March 10, 2026)(CNBNews) — Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that at approximately 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, Berkeley Township police officers responded to a residence on Fairwood Drive after receiving reports of shots fired.

Upon arrival, officers observed a male entering the home and heard additional gunfire coming from inside. The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team made entry a short time later. Inside the residence, officers located Allan Russell, 61, and Michelle Russell, 60, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Three minor children were also found inside the home unharmed.

Continue reading →

FROM OUR MORGUE: Gloucester Catholic Baseball Wins 1st Game

Bruce Darrow | Cleary’s Notebook Sports

First published April 2016

BROOKLAWN N.J. April 1, 2016 (Cleary’s Notebook News)--Gloucester Catholic Head Coach Adam Tussey (photo labove) notched his 1st win as the new coach by beating Kingsway High School 7 – 1 in the Rams home opener. Tussey who took over for Mike Rucci who departed for Rowan University was left a team needing to fill seven spots. The 2015 team loaded with future college players took not only seven fielding positions but Tussey needed to replace four pitchers.

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FROM OUR DIGITAL MORGUE:

The Story Behind The Story: Daylight Savings Time Forever

First published Friday, March 18, 2022

by Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

The United States Senate has passed a bill submitted by Sen. Marco Rubio (R, FL) to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. Sen. Rubio made some valid points in his bill. During the standard time when evening comes at 5:00 p.m. crime rate is higher, people become depressed due to Seasonal Affective Disorder and for an unknown reason, people have more heart attacks. There is also the hope, optimistically, that with more daylight kids will spend more time outside getting exercise.

Continue reading →

Medford Village Bakery Grand Opening

Camden Diocese Reaches $180 Million Settlement with Abuse Survivors, More Than Doubling Previous Agreement

Thursday, February 19, 2026

The Diocese of Camden has agreed to pay $180 million to more than 300 survivors of clerical sexual abuse, marking one of the largest such settlements in New Jersey history and representing a significant expansion of compensation for victims who have waited years for justice. The agreement, announced Tuesday in a letter from Bishop Joseph A. Williams to diocesan clergy and faithful, more than doubles the $87.5 million settlement the diocese reached in 2022. The victim support fund will be financed through contributions from the diocese, its parishes, and insurance carriers following a protracted legal dispute. The settlement represents a breakthrough after years of contentious negotiations between the diocese, claimants’ attorneys, and insurance companies that had resisted earlier payment demands. The agreement must still receive approval from the bankruptcy court, as the Camden diocese has operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2020.

A Long-Awaited Milestone

In his letter dated February 17, Bishop Williams acknowledged the profound significance of the moment for those who suffered abuse at the hands of clergy members. The bishop offered a direct apology to victims, calling their suffering the result of “grave sin and a devastating betrayal of the trust you placed in the Church that you loved.”

Years of Legal Battles

According to a statement from Lowenstein Sandler, the law firm representing plaintiffs in the case, the new agreement supplements rather than replaces the earlier settlement, bringing total compensation to victims to more than a quarter-billion dollars.

For the more than 300 survivors involved in this case, the settlement offers financial recognition of their suffering, though many advocates note that no amount of money can truly compensate for the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong consequences.

Context and Implications

The agreement also reflects the ongoing financial and moral reckoning facing the Catholic Church as it continues to confront the legacy of clergy sexual abuse scandals that have spanned decades.

For more information, visit: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2026/02/diocese-of-camden-nj-reaches-180-million-abuse-settlement

Following a Stabbing, West Deptford Man Charged with Attempted Murder

Woodbury, NJ 9FEBRUARY 13, 20260– Randall D. Bilger, 61, of West Deptford, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder and third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon following a stabbing that left one adult injured, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced.

According to documents filed in this case:

West Deptford responded Friday morning after a witness called 911 to report Bilger was bleeding and holding a knife. The witness had gone to the residence to check on the victim, an adult female. They told officers that after finding the front door locked, they went to the back door, where Bilger answered, holding a knife and covered in blood, and said “It’s not a good time.”

When police arrived, Bilger came to the front door but ignored orders to exit the house.

Officer then entered the home, arrested Bilger, and found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The victim reported that Bilger had stabbed them in the shoulder hours earlier and again in the abdomen shortly before the witness knocked on the door. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The maximum terms of incarceration are 20 years for the attempted murder charge and 5 years for the weapons charge.

Prosecutor Johns also thanked the West Deptford Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit for their assistance in the investigation.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

MSC Cargo Ship Departs Philadelphia Port Amid Icy River Conditions

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNEWS

PHILADELPHIA, PA (February 14, 2026) — An MSC cargo ship departed the Port of Philadelphia on Saturday morning as three tugboats worked in unison to turn the massive vessel around in the ice‑covered Delaware River. Two tugs pulled from the bow while a third pushed from the stern, slowly rotating the ship through sheets of broken ice created by the recent cold snap.

The dramatic maneuver underscored both the scale of modern container vessels and the skill required to navigate them through winter river conditions.

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MSC’s Growing Presence in Philadelphia

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has steadily expanded its relationship with the Port of Philadelphia in recent years. Its maiden call at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal occurred on April 27, 2022, when the MSC Michaela, a 6,730‑TEU container ship, arrived as part of MSC’s Indus 2 service.

The Indus 2 route provides Philadelphia shippers with direct connections to India, Italy, Spain, and Portugal — a significant advantage for regional importers and exporters seeking faster, more efficient access to global markets.

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Local Ties: Holt Family Participation

Members of the Holt Family, operators of the Holt Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, were onboard during the 2022 inaugural visit of the MSC Michaela. Their involvement reflects the long-standing partnership between Holt Logistics, PhilaPort, and international carriers seeking dependable East Coast gateways.

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Port leadership emphasized the importance of MSC

“Shippers want more efficient options and this new India/Med service fits perfectly into our wheelhouse,” said Jeff Theobald, Executive Director and CEO of PhilaPort.

Sean Mahoney, PhilaPort’s Director of Marketing, noted that securing the Indus 2 service was years in the making. “We have been working on attracting a service like Indus 2 for a while. Our terminal operator, Holt Logistics, has really done a great job with the customer base and made this service a reality.”

Officials say Philadelphia continues to play a major role in helping international supply chains adapt to global logistics challenges, offering shippers alternative routes and reliable port performance.

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Photo caption: On the Bridge of M/V MSC Michaela Voy#: 211A – Pictured (L to R) CBP Inspt Damiani, Sean Mahoney – PhilaPort, James Walsh – PhilaPort, Tom Holt – Holt Logistics, MSC – Capt. Carlo Fortuna, Christian Holt – Holt Logistics, Phillip Holt – Holt Logistics, CBP Inspt Mason

For more information on this service, contact: marketing@philaport.com