Category: SOUTH JERSEY

DOWN THE SHORE: Shore Medical Center Joins the Penn Cancer Network

From left, Lori Gustave, of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Dr. James M. Pond, medical director of the Cancer Program and Cancer Committee chairman at Shore Cancer Center, Joy Sutter, of Penn Medicine, and Joseph Johnston, of Shore Cancer Center, celebrate the new agreement. (Photo courtesy Shore Medical Center)

SOMERS POINT NJ–Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and Penn Medicine announced Tuesday that the Shore Cancer Center is now a member of the Penn Cancer Network.

The agreement brings expanded access to the highest quality cancer care for patients across southeast New Jersey, according to a press release.

The Penn Cancer Network is a select group of community hospitals throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware collaborating with Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center to provide excellence in cancer care throughout the region.

Penn’s Cancer Network hospitals are recognized for their excellence in patient care and a commitment to improving the health and well-being of their community.

“This is an historic announcement for Shore and our community. On behalf of our Board of Trustees, physicians, clinical and support staff, I want to let those patients who are battling cancer in our community know that we are doing everything we can to help you,” Ron Johnson, president and CEO of Shore Medical Center, said in the release. “We joined the Penn Center Network so our patients continue to receive the best possible care close to home, right here in Somers Point.”

David Hughes, Shore’s chief development officer and chief financial officer, said, “My family has a long history with the Shore Cancer Center. My father in-law Dr. George Mckeon, was an ED doctor at Shore Medical Center and World War II veteran who was wounded storming the beaches of Normandy. He settled in Somers Point with his wife who he met while attending medical school in Ireland.”

Hughes continued, “The Cancer Center now sits on the site of our family’s former home site and medical practice. I believe in the team at Shore Cancer Center, and we are so proud to have such great partners in Penn Medicine. The partnership with Penn Medicine will help us further our reach into the community, and garner additional support that will have a direct impact on cancer patient care.”

Joseph Johnston, director of Oncology Services at Shore Cancer Center, said the Penn Cancer Network offers a host of benefits that amount to a tremendous clinical advantage.

“Our partnership with Penn includes clinical research, community and patient education, disease-specific program development, patient access, professional education for nurses and physicians, and quality and safety,” Johnston said.

Robert Vonderheide, director of the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, said, “Providing the highest quality cancer care and expanding access for patients across the region – and beyond – is a chief priority of the Penn Cancer Network.”

Retiring Paterson Firefighters, Police Officers Receiving $1.2 million Leave Time Payouts Under Tax Deferred Plan

PATERSON, NJ (December 28, 2019)–Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh (photo) and council members have agreed to set up what’s called a 401(a) plan, tax-differed retirement saving accounts, for retiring public safety employees. According to The Paterson Times members of the City Council approved

a measure this past Monday allowing Sayegh’s administration to set up the plan at the request of the police and fire unions.

Under the proposal, the city will deposit the accumulated leave time payouts for police and fire employees into the tax-differed retirement savings accounts. Before the new year, the city is paying $1.2 million to 19 firefighters and police officers. The sum is a partial severance payout for the employees.

Municipal official disclosed the city has to pay approximately $5 million in accumulated leave time payouts to firefighters and police officers. The lot includes approximately 30 employees, said officials.

Read More

See New Year\’s Eve Fireworks on the Battleship

CAMDEN CITY, NJ–The Battleship will open her decks for guests to watch the 6 pm or Midnight SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront.

We’ll have music, food concessions and bar service. We will open her decks two hours before each show – 4:00 pm for the 6:00 pm fireworks show and 10:00 pm for the midnight show.

Come aboard for just a $10 donation per person.

Become a member today ($40) and receive 5 free tickets to the fireworks show! Call (856) 966-1652 Extension 127 for details.

All proceeds go to the on-going restoration of the Battleship, a non-profit museum and memorial.

Fire the 5-inch gun at the conclusion of the 6:00 pm and Midnight Fireworks! We’ll offer chances for guests to pull the trigger and fire this historic gun on New Year’s Eve!

6 PM Show Tickets

Midnight Show Tickets

Also available by calling 866-877-6262 ext. 108, or at the Battleship’s Ticket Office, open every day from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, except Christmas Day, and prior to both the 6:00 pm and Midnight shows on New Year’s Eve.

Unless there are dangerous weather conditions, the fireworks will go forward, even if it’s raining. The Battleship will have the Officers’ Wardroom and the Exhibit interior spaces on the main deck open for guests prior to the start of the fireworks.

There are no chairs and lawn chairs are not permitted to be brought aboard the Battleship. No alcohol is permitted to be brought aboard the Battleship.

Both SugarHouse New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront shows are free to Battleship Members.

Location:

62 Battleship Place Camden, NJ 08103

Francis A. \”Frank\” Zappa, World War II Navy Veteran; Iron Worker; Liberty Clowns Member

The greatest measure of a man is not measured in the crucible of imperfections, but rather, in the metamorphoses of what he becomes. Francis A. \”Frank\” Zappa was a man of strength and conviction. He was stern, argumentative and preferred to just do it himself. But, when Frank was needed, he was wise, dependable and unconditionally offered himself to the matter at hand. Mr. Zappa was a renaissance man who was accomplished in the kitchen, the garden, the dance floor and had been a part of the

Philadelphia Mummers Parade as a comic in the Liberty Clowns.

He was born in the cradle of Liberty, South Philadelphia. \”Mum-Town USA\”. During these formative years he had contributed to the manpower of our great nation serving as a coxswain in the United States Navy. Frank defended the ideals of our American freedoms during World War II in the American and Pacific Theaters aboard the troop ships; SS Robin Wentley, SS Cape Canso, SS Dashing Wave and the cargo ship SS R. Mansfield. The world in which we live equally distributes talent. But, it doesn\’t equally distribute opportunity. Opportunities are often disguised as hard work. Frank had driven a taxi through the city, owned and operated his own Barber Shops in Yeadon, Pa., Riverside and Delran. He made a career as an ironworker at G.H. Steel Co in Broomall, Pa.

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Frank pressed lady luck in the casinos at the craps table, enjoyed fishing, hunting and telling stories of the \”big one\” that got away. Some memories never leave your bones. Like the salt in the sea; they become part of you – and you carry them. We\’ll meet again. Don\’t know where, don\’t know when. But we know we\’ll meet again.

Mr. Zappa was the widower of his late wife of 64 years, Mary (Sassano), and was the father of Sandra and her husband, Peter Genzano, Barbara Adams, and Stephen and his wife, Mary Jane Zappa. He was the proud grandfather of seven and great grandfather of seven. Frank was the brother of the late Dominic Zappa and Rose Thomas, and is also survived and will be sadly missed by his many nieces and nephews. Mr. Zappa\’s family would like to extend a sincere thank you and sentiment of gratitude to Dr. Kathleen Heintz, everyone at MD Anderson and the Cooper Heart Institute for all of their care and concern.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at the Creran Celebration Etherington & Creran Funeral Homes, 400 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, N.J. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Cinnaminson. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery & Mausoleum, Bellmawr, N.J.

The Sixth Most Charitable State is Pennsylvania

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

Pennsylvanians are more likely to help their neighbors, stick with a volunteer activity and partake in fundraising compared to most other areas of the country, according to a recent

study.

Researchers with personal finance website WalletHub recently combed through various data for the study, “

2019’s Most Charitable States

.” Pennsylvania ranked sixth of the 50 states.

Charitable giving, naturally, is a front-and-center topic amid the holidays. WalletHub asked a number of academics and experts to weigh in on this topic in a broad sense.

Femida Handy, professor and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s social welfare program, offered her insight and views on a number of topics, including the percentage of income households should donate to charity.

“All households, with incomes above the median income, should donate, and they should donate anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of their incomes,” Handy said.

According to WalletHub, study data was analyzed into two overarching categories – the first being volunteering and service, the other under the overarching umbrella of charitable giving. Pennsylvania ranked No. 12 in the first category, and No. 11 in the second one.

However, more granular analyses within both categories were weighted differently, which pushed Pennsylvania into its single-digit position within WalletHub’s analysis.

A look at states’ numbers of volunteer hours per capita carried 12.5 points, for instance, while a metric on the number of charities per capita carried 2.78 points. All told, Pennsylvania notched 65.88 points in both categories.

WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann said multiple sources were considered for the analysis, with data gleaned from such organizations as the Corporation for National and Community Service, Charity Navigator, Gallup and U.S. Census Bureau.

Pennsylvania landed in the top 10 in five metrics. The state tied for No. 1 in the metric of state regulations deemed friendly to charities.

According to the report, 43.61 percent of Pennsylvanians engage in fundraising or sell items to raise money for a specific cause. The statistic landed the state in No. 4 for the individual metric.

Pennsylvania also landed in the top 20 percent of all states in the nation using Google to search for charities (No. 6 ranking). Data also revealed 58.9 percent of the state’s population reported doing favors for neighbors, resulting in a No. 8 ranking in the metric.

Additionally, the state was singled out for having a higher than average volunteer retention rate. Data suggested 69 percent of Pennsylvanians stick with a charity after pledging to volunteer time and money to the cause.

On the other end of the spectrum, Pennsylvania fell into the bottom 10 of all states in one specific metric: share of income donated. According to WalletHub, Pennsylvanians on average donate 1.12 percent of their income – a statistic that landed the state at No. 40.

Neighboring states had across-the-board overall ranks in the analysis. Maryland ranked No. 3, Ohio was No. 5, New York was No. 19, New Jersey was No 29 and West Virginia was No. 42.

The most charitable state, according to WalletHub, is Minnesota, while the least charitable is Arizona.

published here with permission of The Center Square

Illegal Immigrants Can Get Drivers Licenses in NJ

TRENTON, NJ–A new law signed by NJ Gov. Phil Murphy will allow drivers licenses to be issued to illegal immigrants. According to a New Jersey101.5 report, supporters of the measure claim roads will be safer as a result. However, opponents argue the state is just rewarding the lawbreakers.

The legislation creates two classes of license. One is compliant with federal REAL ID standards, and will be the only sort of license that can be used to fly on a plane or enter a federal facility starting in October of 2020. Applicants for those licenses will have to prove they have a legal right to live in the U.S. and New Jersey.

The other is a standard license — similar to the ones most NJ residents have now — and will be available to all Garden State residents, regardless of immigration status.

Sue Fulton, the Motor Vehicle Commission\’s chief administrator, told the state Senate Transportation Committee on Dec. 12 many immigrants are already driving without a license because they can’t get one.

\”In my view, our roads are safer when our drivers are trained, tested, licensed and insured,\” she said.

An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report found over a two-year period, nearly 20% of fatal crashes involved unlicensed or invalidly licensed drivers.

Fulton also argued an unlicensed driver is more likely to flee the scene of a crash, complicating police efforts.

Read More:

FAQ: New Jersey driver\’s licenses for immigrants here illegally

Blenheim Suspect Arrested after Fleeing Police

BLENHEIM, NJ– Saturday, 12/28/2019 at approximately 10:45 pm, a Gloucester Township Police Officer patrolling the Blenheim section of the Township, initiated a motor vehicle stop on a 2018 Honda Accord for a motor vehicle violation. The driver failed to stop and continued driving onto the Old Black Horse Pike and eventually onto Boxwood Drive.

The driver, identified as Karron Martin, pulled into a driveway and fled into a residence which was later determined to be his own. As officers attempted to take him into custody, he resisted arrest and fled out the back of the residence and onto the Valleybrook golf course.

Assisting officers and a Gloucester Township Police K9 team established a perimeter and later located and took  Martin into custody as he attempted to return back to his residence. One officer received a minor injury during the arrest. Martin was found to have an active warrant for his arrest as well as driving with a suspended driver’s license.

Karron Martin was charged on a criminal summons with Eluding (3rd degree), Resisting Arrest (3rd degree) and Obstruction (4th degree) as well as numerous motor vehicle violations. Martin was processed and released pending court in accordance with bail reform.

Jasmin Wallace was charged with Obstruction, a disorderly person’s offense, for interfering with Martins arrest at the residence. She was released at the scene with a pending court date.

Accused: Karron M. Martin – 36 Years Old – 1400 Block of Boxwood Drive, Blackwood, NJ 08012

Accused: Jasmin S. Wallace – 31 Years Old – 1400 Block of Boxwood Drive, Blackwood, NJ 08012

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Linda J. Bauman (nee Southward) of Bellmawr; Employed by Botte Insurance

Linda J. Bauman (nee Southward), on December 29, 2019, of Bellmawr. Age 66. Beloved wife of Bob, Devoted mother of Danielle Borbon (Froilan) and Renee. Loving grandmother of Nicholas and Gavin. Dear sister of Brian and Kevin. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in law and her best friend Terri Sherlock.

Linda loved to bowl and crochet. She worked for Botte Insurance Company. Linda loved helping people and spending time with her family and grandkids.

There will be a visitation from 8:15am to 9:45am on Friday at St. Joachim Parish, Annunciation BVM Church, 601 Browning Road Bellmawr. Funeral Mass at 10am at the Church. Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made in Linda’s memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center. 2 Cooper Plaza, Camden NJ 08103.

Dawn DiGiacomo Loved Life; Died Too Soon

by William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNewsnet

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (December 29, 2019)–—Funeral services for Dawn DiGiacomo will be held this afternoon starting 4 PM to 6 PM at McCann-Healey Funeral Home 851 Monmouth

Dawn DiGiacomo

Street., Gloucester City.

Dawn was a lifelong resident of Gloucester educated in the local Catholic School system, She graduated from Gloucester Catholic in 1987.

Her husband Vince DiGiacomo said he and Dawn were together for 32 years.

He said that Dawn wasn\’t sick for very long. \”She was having trouble walking, her knee kept giving out. It got so bad she couldn\’t walk. She was admitted

to Cooper Hospital and underwent a battery of tests. At the end of two weeks the doctors said she either had Stage 4 lung cancer or it was a parasite that was causing her problems. We looked at each other and said if we have a choice we will take the parasite. But, as you know it didn\’t work out that way\”

Vince said she was released from the hospital and for the next month as an outpatient she underwent two weeks of chemo and another two weeks of radiation.

\”After the treatments she was at home when she got a terrible pain in her ribs.

We thought she pulled a muscle and went back to the hospital.

Why doctors were examining her she told me not to stress out, go get a coffee. When I came back later she was in a different room and hooked up to all these machines. She had a breathing tube inserted in her trachea. We never had a verbal conversation again after that day. That was the last time I talked with her. \”

At one point she died but doctors were able to revive her after 8 minutes. \”She was never the same after that,\” Vince said.

\”The cancer

spread into her back and into her brain. The doctors said she had 50 lesions on her brain.\”

Dawn loved spending time down the shore. She was into crafts and would gather seashells from the beach her husband said. \”She would make wreaths out of the shells and give them to friends as a gift. She also liked crabbing and fishing. One of the places she like was Champagne Island which was near the North Wildwood Marina. We would head out there in our pontoon boat and spend the day. She loved to garden. She always had to have some kind of water feature like a pond around the garden. Dawn died too soon, she loved life,\” he said.

Besides her husband Dawn is survived by her children Derick and Ashley Fowler, Amber DiGiacomo, Vincent DiGiacomo, Jr. and Dominick DiGiacomo. Cherished grandmother of Brianna, C.J., Maximus and Derick, Jr. Cherished daughter of Earl T. Fowler, Sr. and the late Louise A. Fowler. Beloved sister of Michelle and Thomas Quinn, Stephanie and John Bryszewski, Kimberly and Michael Morrell and Earl Jr. and Kelliann Fowler. Beloved daughter in law of Amelia Fountain and sister in law of Aldy and Tina DiGiacomo, Georgeanne and John Fagan and Nicole and Doug Rathbone. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins and her beloved dog, Opie.

Tomorrow, Monday, December 30

th

a viewing will be held from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM in the church. Entombment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hurffville.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Animal Welfare Assoc., 509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Please memo, Dawn M. DiGiacomo.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mcannhealey.com

under the obituary of Dawn Marie DiGiacomo. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:  McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City, NJ.  Ph: 856-456-1142.

Related:

Dawn DiGiacomo, 51, of Gloucester City; GCHS Alumnus

Helen B. Johnston of Collingswood; Teacher at Collingswood and Cherry Hill Schools; GHS Alum

Helen B. Johnston

COLLINGSWOOD NJ –Helen B. Johnston (nee Hughes) Born August 1, 1920, passed into the loving arms of the Lord at age 99 on December 24, 2019 at her home in Collingswood, NJ.  Born in Philadelphia, PA, Helen grew up in Gloucester City, NJ and was the class Salutatorian as she graduated from Gloucester City High School in 1938.

Following graduation, Helen was a bookkeeper for several companies including Photo Developing Co. in Camden, NJ and Amburgo Co. and Ridgewood Paper Co., both of Philadelphia.  During World War II, she volunteered as a Nurse\’s Aide at Cooper Hospital, Camden and Fort Dix Army Hospital.

After graduation from Glassboro State College in 1958, Helen taught 2nd grade in Collingswood for 10 years and Cherry Hill for 15 years.  During this time she taught every student in her class with love and dedication and was the recipient of the \”Miss Peach\” award presented by the Courier Post newspaper in 1958.  To further her professional skills during this time, she continued her education with courses at the University of Pennsylvania.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where she was active with the Altar Guild and several other church ministries.  She was a life member of the NJEA and NEA teacher organizations.  She enjoyed traveling in this country and overseas, reading, doing arts and crafts, bird watching and classical music.

Helen was predeceased by her parents Charles C. and Helen M. (Turnier) Hughes, her brothers Charles, Robert and Wesley Hughes and her husband, William J. Johnston, Jr.  She is survived by their daughters Barbara L. Nichols of Hamilton and East Windsor, NJ, Donna L. Johnston, Esq. of Seattle, WA and Wendy Lu Brown of Lancaster, PA, her beloved grandchildren Jamie Leigh and Scott Jay Nichols, as well as sisters-in-law Agnes Lake and Dot Johnston.  In addition, many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews will miss her.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Saturday, January 4, 2020, 11 AM to 1 PM at the FOSTER-WARNE FUNERAL HOME, 820 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ.  Memorial Service will follow at 1 PM.  Inurnment will take place in the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Memorial Garden, Haddon & Fern Ave., Collingswood, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate memorial donations be sent in her name to the American Diabetes Association, 150 Monument Rd. #100, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 (

www.diabetes.org

) or Grace-St. Paul Episcopal Church 3715 East State St. Extension, Mercerville, NJ 08619.