Camden County\’s ‘Hearts and Hands’ Homeless Outreach Initiative

(Camden City, NJ) – The Camden County Freeholder Board has launched a new initiative aimed at addressing persistent homelessness. Recognizing the incredible generosity of the community, Hearts and Hands for the Homeless is aimed at

funneling charitable giving to effective organizations and volunteer opportunities while discouraging panhandling and other forms of solicitation.

Years of destigmatization has helped to generate compassion for those suffering from homelessness and has stimulated a renewed interest in helping the homeless population. The Freeholder Board is encouraging that giving to be done in ways that address the issue on a broader scale than for just one person.

“Sometimes what an individual does as an effort to help does little to solve the underlying problem of homelessness. In fact, public feedings and giving to panhandlers often serves as a vehicle that enable the homeless to remain in crisis rather than seek the help that they need,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “While we want to recognize the incredible generosity and compassion that motivates giving, we also want to encourage our homeless population to connect with professional agencies to get more, long-term help so as to permanently end homelessness.”

Advocates for homelessness prevention have found that when panhandlers can count on spontaneous giving by members of the public, they become less likely to seek professional services and more likely to remain homeless. For this reason, individual acts of generosity on the street often fuel a cycle of homelessness and hunger.

Hearts and Hands for the Homeless is designed to redirect charitable interests aimed at helping the homeless toward opportunities to volunteer or give strategically, and to shift perceptions regarding which forms of outreach are most impactful. By reorienting individuals away from direct intervention and instead to supporting shelters, food kitchens, and other professional services, we can do more to effectively address homelessness than by relying on individual acts of kindness.

“Many people want to help and are doing what they believe is within their reach in order to help individuals in need,” Rodriguez said. “The truth is that the five dollars you were going to give to someone on the street would go much further and help more people if it was given to a charitable organization or agency dedicated to serving the homeless.”

Volunteer and donation opportunities for local agencies who are serving the homeless in Camden County can be found at

www.camdencounty.com/heartsandhands

. A current list of organizations looking for community support includes the Sanctuary Foundation for Veterans in Lawnside; Building Bridges Family Success Center, Center for Family Services in Clementon; and Joseph’s House in Camden City.

Individuals who are in need of services are also encouraged to visit the site or call 2-1-1.

This is not the first initiative launched by the Board to address these challenges. Work Now, a thoughtful and researched approach to discouraging panhandlers and addressing challenges with the chronically homeless launched last year and offers a day’s wage and social services for anyone willing to work.

Individuals who successfully move on to phase two of the program, called Bridge to Work, are provided permanent part-time employment through Camden County College. Graduating to the next level puts participants on firmer ground to find permanent housing and move on to a private employer.

Joseph Brodie, 40, of Millville Sentenced For Threatening To Murder A Congressman & His Staff

CAMDEN CITY N.J. – A New Jersey resident was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for threatening to murder former U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and members of the congressman’s staff, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Joseph Brodie, 40, of Millville, New Jersey, was previously convicted in Camden federal court on two counts of making threats to officials, officers and employees of the United States – specifically, for a telephone threat to murder LoBiondo’s chief of staff and an email threat to murder LoBiondo, his chief of staff, his veterans affairs liaison, and all of the other staff of the Mays Landing office. During the sentencing hearing yesterday, the Court determined that over the course of the prosecution, Brodie had obstructed justice and that there also was evidence to show he had intended to carry out his threats.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:

In the spring of 2017, Brodie reached out to LoBiondo seeking assistance with the medical care and treatment that Brodie was receiving from the Veterans Administration. Over the course of the next few months, Brodie spoke and corresponded with the congressman’s Veterans Affairs Liaison and a caseworker, both of whom assisted him with appointments and meetings regarding his medical care. On Sept. 19, 2017, Brodie contacted the congressman’s office and spoke to the chief of staff on the phone. Brodie wanted the chief of staff to arrange a meeting with the congressman, but the chief of staff refused. During this phone call, Brodie became angry and ultimately threatened the life of the chief of staff – calling him “a dead man.”

Approximately an hour and a half later, Brodie sent an email to the congressman’s veterans’ affairs liaison as well as the caseworker, threatening their lives as well as the lives of the congressman and his staff in the Mays Landing Office. In this email, Brodie stated that he wanted to meet the congressman “face to face” and he pointed out “how easy” it was to find the congressman’s Mays Landing Office. Brodie also attached a terrain map of the area, with the area around the congressman’s office enlarged for detail and a red pinpoint location marker on the office. Writing about the map, Brodie stated, “[i]t even shows the environment and surrounding terrain, parking lots, wooded areas, etc., (like the kind a highly trained Combat Infantryman would use)…”

On the same day as the threats, Brodie sent text messages to his fiancée stating: “I threaten the life of a Congressman’s Chief of Staff. I’m pretty sure the Secret Service are going to investigate.” He also wrote that he was “prepared” for any law enforcement officers who might respond to his home. He wrote, “I’ll give them a chance to leave. If not, it’ll be First Blood Part II Type Shit (if you never saw that Rambo movie).” Brodie also wrote, “I won’t surrender. It’s not in me.” The same day, Brodie spoke to his fiancée on the phone and told her that he was going to travel to an address in New Jersey, that he had GPS coordinates in his car, that he was going to kill LoBiondo’s chief of staff, and that there was going to be a “blood bath.”

One week later, in a statement recorded by the FBI, Brodie confessed to having made the phone threat to the chief of staff on Sept. 19, 2017, and to having sent the email threat on Sept. 19, 2017.

The evidence showed that at the time Brodie made these threats, Brodie owned several firearms and a large amount of ammunition at his home.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; special agents of the U.S. Capitol Police, under the direction of Chief Steven Sund; officers from the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, with the investigation leading to yesterday’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Jason Richardson, of the Camden office.

Defense counsel: Gina Amoriello, Esquire, Westmont, NJ and Philadelphia, PA

Pick-6 Rolls to $5 Million for Dec. 26 Drawing

TRENTON (Dec. 24, 2019) – The Pick-6 drawing on December 23 produced seven winners of $3,790 for matching five out of six white balls drawn. One of those tickets was purchased with XTRA, multiplying the prize to $7,580. The $5 million drawing will be held Thursday, December 26, 2019.

The winning numbers for the Monday, December 23, drawing were: 04, 11, 13, 25, 42 and 49. The XTRA Multiplier was: 02. By adding XTRA for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 530,737 tickets purchased for the drawing and of those sold, thousands were prizewinners! For correctly matching four numbers, 437 ticketholders won $53 each and 107 others won $106 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three numbers 8,573 ticketholders won $3.00 each and 1,279 others won $6 each with the addition of XTRA. Lastly 9,587 ticketholders each won $2.00 for correctly matching two numbers with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.

Attention Family Caregivers

BLACKWOOD, NJ–This program has been highly beneficial for many family caregivers. Caregivers will learn about stress and its effects, practice stress management techniques, and develop problem solving skills. Some of the strategies include the following: breathing, imagery, humor, massage, meditation and yoga.

Space is limited to reserve a spot contact Rose Candy at: 856-858-3220 or Rose.candy@camdencounty.com

This program will be held every Tuesday from January 7th until March 3rd.

Camden County Senior Services

512 Lakeland Road, Blackwood, NJ, 08012, United States

Tuesday, Jan 7th, 2020 @ 5:00 pm

–

6:30 pm

Attorney General, DEP Commissioner Announce the Filing of Two New NRD Lawsuits

The State Filed Eight NRD Lawsuits in 2019, Twice the Number Filed in 2018

Handy & Harman Complaint

Sherwin-Williams Complaint

NRD Sites Poster

NRD Fact Sheet

TRENTON –

Continuing to hold New Jersey’s polluters accountable, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe today announced the filing of two new Natural Resource Damage (NRD) lawsuits, one against The Sherwin Williams Company and the other against Handy & Harman Electronic Materials Corp.

The complaint against Sherwin Williams arises out of the company’s operations at sites in Gibbsboro, Voorhees Township and Lindenwold in Camden County. The State alleges that Sherwin Williams manufactured oil-based paints, lacquers and varnishes, and in the process discharged industrial wastes into the ground, into nearby Hilliards Creek and into other surrounding creeks and lakes.

The complaint against Handy & Harman arises out of its operations of an etching and surfacing facility in Montvale, Bergen County in the 1980s. During Handy & Harman’s ownership, the complaint alleges, hazardous substances – including the chemical TCE (trichloroethylene) – were discharged on the property, resulting in the contamination of groundwater and the closure of nearby drinking water wells.

Today’s NRD lawsuits mark another step in Attorney General Grewal and Commissioner McCabe’s efforts to revitalize New Jersey’s environmental enforcement program. After eight years in which the State did not file any new NRD actions, the State has now filed 12 NRD actions in two years. In 2019 alone, the State filed eight such actions, including the two filed today.

“As Attorney General, I have been committed to holding polluters accountable for the legacy of contamination they left in our state,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Too many companies have treated the public’s natural resources like private dumping grounds, despite the health risks to our residents and the harms to our environment. That is why we’ve spent the past two years making polluters pay for the damage they caused, efforts that continue with today’s lawsuits. I am proud of the twelve natural resource damage actions that we filed in just two years, and I know that we are only getting started.”

“Today’s two lawsuits continue DEP’s unwavering commitment to go beyond the cleanup of contaminated sites to requiring the restoration or compensation for the damage to our precious natural resources,” said DEP Commissioner McCabe. “Enforcing our state’s laws against past abuses helps put us on track toward a cleaner, healthier future for all New Jerseyans.”

Sherwin Williams

The Sherwin Williams Company for decades operated a paint manufacturing plant and conducted related operations at multiple sites across Gibbsboro, Voorhees Township and Lindenwold. From the mid-1800s until the 1970s, Sherwin Williams and its predecessors manufactured a variety of paint products, including dry colorants, lacquers, varnishes, resins and both oil-based and water-based paints. As part of its operations, the company used and stored thousands of gallons of hazardous materials such as lead oxide, zinc oxide, lead chromate, and sulfuric acid.

According to today’s lawsuit, Sherwin Williams for many years discharged a “substantial amount of hazardous substances and industrial chemicals” into the ground and surface water. According to the complaint, the contaminants discharged include lead, arsenic and other heavy metals, as well as a variety of potentially harmful chemical compounds and waste paints. At one point in the plant’s history, the complaint notes, locals in and around Gibbsboro, Voorhees and Lindenwold rechristened Hilliards Creek as “Rainbow Creek,” because the water would take on different colors “depending on the color of the paint that Sherwin Williams was manufacturing and/or disposing of on a given day.”

The complaint alleges that Sherwin Williams spent decades knowingly contaminating the environment, and consistently “ignored orders” from DEP to address the pollution it had created. The complaint also asserts that the company “repeatedly issued misleading or inaccurate statements … to downplay its responsibility for the contamination.”

Given the company’s noncompliance with DEP orders, the complaint continues, DEP was forced to refer the sites over to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which placed two of the sites on the National Priorities List as Superfund sites decades ago. The EPA, working with DEP, is overseeing that remediation. DEP is now seeking damages for that prior pollution. The State’s seven-count complaint alleges violations of New Jersey’s Spill Act, Water Pollution Control Act, and Solid Waste Management Act, as well as common law claims involving public nuisance, trespass and negligence. As part of this filing, the State is seeking punitive damages.

Handy & Harman

From 1970 until 1986, Handy & Harman Electronic Materials Corp. and its predecessor conducted metal etching and surfacing operations at a three-acre property located at 20 Craig Road in Montvale, Bergen County. Operations included the cleaning of electrical components through a degreasing process that relied on the solvent TCE.

According to the complaint, TCE was stored in a pair of 500-gallon, above-ground storage tanks located behind the facility, with waste TCE stored in drums located throughout the property.

According to the lawsuit, “numerous” discharges of TCE occurred both inside and outside the plant during its operating years. As a result of the contamination, several drinking water wells operated by the Borough of Park Ridge were impacted, which led to these drinking wells’ closure decades ago.

In December 1986, Handy & Harman entered into an Administrative Consent Order with DEP requiring that the company investigate and remediate environmental contamination at the site. Since then, investigation and remediation activities have taken place both on the property and at impacted drinking water wells surrounding the property.

Through today’s action, DEP seeks to recover damages for the prior injuries to natural resources, as well as for the cleanup and removal costs that have been incurred by the State in the past and that are likely to be incurred going forward.

The six-count complaint alleges violations of the Spill Act, Water Pollution Control Act, and Solid Waste Management Act, and common law claims involving public nuisance, trespass and negligence. (The complaint names other defendants as well, including Steel Partners Holdings, which acquired all outstanding shares of Handy & Harman.)

Environmental Enforcement Program

Under the leadership of Attorney General Grewal and Commissioner McCabe, the State has significantly strengthened its environmental enforcement program. In particular:

The State filed 12 NRD lawsuits in the past two years, including its first such actions in a decade, and including eight in 2019 alone. The cases involved:

Exxon-Mobil, for pollution at its Lail facility in Gloucester County

The manufacturers and distributors of a toxic family of chemicals known as “PFAS” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances); and

E.I. DuPont de Nemours, including for pollution in Pompton Lakes and at its Chambers Works site.

Filed fourteen environmental justice lawsuits, encompassing a range of urban and rural communities across New Jersey, in December 2018 and November 2019.

Filed other enforcement actions against polluters, including those responsible for:

A solid waste dump in Vernon Township, Sussex County (Feb. 2019);

A solid waste dump in Plumsted Township, Ocean County (Aug. 2019); and

Odor pollution in the Ironbound section of Newark (Sept. 2019).

Filed lawsuits against the federal government to:

Successfully prevent offshore drilling off the New Jersey coast;

Prevent the Trump Administration from rolling back critical federal rules that address climate change, clean air, and clean water; and

Ensure that the federal government takes steps required by law to reduce the ozone pollution entering New Jersey.

PATCO Unveils Brand New Elevator at Haddonfield Station

Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks next step in progression of expansive elevator project

Pictured left to right are DRPA CEO and PATCO President John Hanson, PATCO General Manager John Rink, Haddonfield Mayor Neal Rochford and Borough of Haddonfield Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich.

Commuters in Haddonfield received an early holiday gift Thursday morning as PATCO held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the station’s elevator.

The event was at the Haddonfield Station on December 19, 2019.

“Today is an exciting time to be here, cut the ribbon and put this elevator in service for our riders here in Haddonfield,” said PATCO General Manager John Rink.

Rink was joined by DRPA CEO and PATCO President John Hanson, Haddonfield Mayor Neal Rochford, Borough of Haddonfield Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich, as well DRPA Senior Engineer Elisabeth L. Klawunn.

“I consider this an awesome day in Haddonfield’s history. This Speedline has been such a vital part of our economic wellbeing,” said Mayor Rochford. “I know earlier this year PATCO celebrated their 50th anniversary and it’s nice to see so much work still continuing to make this such an awesome transportation system.”

Hanson stressed the importance of leaving the PATCO train line in better shape than it was received for the future employees of DRPA and PATCO.

“Sometimes people like to rest on their laurels after 50 years, but this is only getting better and better and it is an economic driver within the South Jersey community,” said Mayor Rochford.

Mayor Rochford is excited for the residents of Haddonfield to take advantage of the new elevator.

“We also have a very robust shopping district, so I’m hoping people will come over to Haddonfield to shop and bring all those packages. Before they had to go down the steps or elevator, now they can just get onto this very nice elevator and it will be very convenient for them,” said Mayor Rochford.

Hanson added his appreciation for all those involved in making the Haddonfield elevator a reality.

“I’m very proud of the PATCO team. I’m very proud of the DRPA team in doing this work,” said Hanson.

Last year, construction began on a

$31 million project

to install elevators in all currently unequipped PATCO train stations. The Ashland, Haddonfield, Westmont and Collingswood Stations will each receive one elevator, while the City Hall and 12/13th & Locust Stations will have two elevators installed. The Ashland elevator is scheduled to open next, followed by Westmont.

Upon completion in 2022, all 13 PATCO stations will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities and those using wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles.

Obituary: Eleanor Jablonski of Audubon

Eleanor Jablonski (nee Bartoszek), went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2019, of Audubon. Age 89.

Beloved wife of the late Henry B. Jablonski. Devoted mother of Henry Robert Jablonski (Patricia) and Jane Jablonski. Loving grandmother of Gregory, Christopher and Kimberly and great grandmother of Brayden. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45am Saturday morning at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, St. Vincent Palliotti RC Church, 901 Hopkins Rd., Haddon Twp., NJ 08033.

Funeral Mass 11am in church.

Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mrs. Jablonski’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Sentencing of Millville Suspect Announced for Drug Induced Death Case

December 23, 2019

Cape May Court House, New Jersey – Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced the sentencing of Christopher R. Small, a 41 year old male from Millville, NJ, who was sentenced on Friday December 20, 2019, to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison by the

Honorable Judge Gibson, JSC.

This sentence was related to a October 3, 2018, drug induced death investigation of the victim, Kevin MacFarlane, a 54 year old male from Avalon, NJ, initiated by Troopers and Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Woodbine Barracks.

Defendant Christopher Small was sentenced to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison with no early release for the drug-induced death of the victim and a consecutive 5 year term for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

Prosecutor Sutherland stated that his office as well as all law enforcement agencies throughout Cape May County will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who engage in the distribution of CDS, especially those individuals who distribute CDS which results in the death of another. Sentencing for Christopher Verity, a co-defendant in this drug induced death investigation, is scheduled for January 16, 2020.

Prosecutor Sutherland would like to recognize the investigative efforts of the officers and detectives involved in this investigation along with Assistant Prosecutor Edward Shim who prosecuted this case.

Prosecutor Sutherland continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report information regarding any criminal activity within community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at

cmcsheriff.net

and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.

NJDOT Releases 511NJConnect System

NJDOT announces proactive

Alert system uses geo-fencing technology to provide information to motorists

(Trenton)

– New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti today announced the launch of 511NJConnect, a new alert system that allows transportation agencies the ability to proactively provide information directly to motorists who are stuck in long-term highway closures.

At the conclusion of the last winter, Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti directed New Jersey’s transportation agencies to find a way to use technology to keep motorists better informed in the event of an extended highway closure.

“We all understand the frustration and stress that can be caused by being stuck in traffic for an extended period of time,” Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “While we hope we never have to use it, 511NJConnect is an innovative way to use technology to provide motorists information and status updates during a long-term road closure. Just knowing that there is someone out there monitoring the situation can be extremely reassuring.”

In the event of a sustained stoppage of traffic, the 511NJConnect system, using geo-fencing technology, will identify motorists in the proximity of the incident and send an alert to their hand-held devices. Motorists within the target area will be given the option to register for automatic text messaging or phone updates throughout the event generated by transportation agency staff monitoring the situation. Once the incident is resolved, motorists who registered for the alerts will be automatically unsubscribed from the system and all personal data will be removed.

The system will allow direct communication and updates about the incident to those motorists who are impacted.

511NJConnect is not a substitute for calling 9-1-1

if a motorist has an actual emergency in their vehicle.

Developed in coordination with the New Jersey State Police, the 511NJConnect system will be used for long-term traffic incidents in which motorists become immobilized for an extended period of time on New Jersey’s Interstate highways, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, or the Atlantic City Expressway.

NJDOT remains committed to providing safe roadways to New Jersey motorists and in anticipation of the winter season, the Department is implementing this proactive approach to assist and inform motorists in the event of an unforeseen extended closure of a highway.

Motorists should keep a basic emergency kit in their vehicles that includes non-perishable food and water, a cell phone charger, weather-related items such as a blanket, shovel, ice scraper, or rain gear, and any specialized supplies such as baby or pet care items. Visit

ReadyNJ.gov

for more information about emergency kits and preparedness.

About the 511NJ Suite of Services

— The

511NJ.org website

, phone system, Personalized Travel Service, and

New Jersey Traffic

features provide valuable real-time traffic and traveler information about incidents, crashes, congestion, construction, special events, and travel times. The Department updates this information 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Authorities Charge Delran Man with Possession of Child Pornography

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Delran Township Police Chief Alfonso A. Parente Jr. announced that a 63-year-old Delran Township man has been charged with possessing child

pornography.

Robert Tokarczyk, (photo)of the first block of Fox Chase Drive, was charged December 12 with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree).

The investigation began earlier this year after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Tokarczyk’s online activities from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The investigation revealed that Tokarczyk was utilizing a search engine to locate and download child pornography. Multiple electronic devices were seized during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. An examination of the devices by detectives from the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit revealed approximately 600 images of child pornography and child erotica.

Tokarczyk surrendered himself at the Prosecutor’s Office in Mount Holly. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment. Tokarczyk will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Remy.

The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office and the Delran Township Police Department. The lead investigator is BCPO Detective Jennifer Appelmann.

The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit is a member of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.