Category: SOUTH JERSEY

(Video) NEWS 24 SPECIAL REPORT : THE HISTORY OF STEPHEN SWEENEY & GEORGE NORCROSS

In the video below NEWS 24 Special Report looks into the friendship between Stephen Sweeney and George Norcross that began when the two were youngsters.

Stephen M. Sweeney

(born June 11, 1959) is an American executive and

Democratic Party

politician who currently serves as the

President of the New Jersey Senate

. He has served in the

New Jersey Senate

since 2002, where he represents the

3rd Legislative District

. He has been the President of the New

Jersey Senate since January 12, 2010. A Union

Ironworker

by trade, Sweeney is frequently described as a political power broker in New Jersey politics.

George E. Norcross, III

(born March 16, 1956) is an American businessman and a

Democratic Party

organiser and power broker in

New Jersey

.

Norcross is executive chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, an insurance brokerage firm. He is chairman of the board of trustees for Cooper University Health Care System and

Cooper University Hospital

both in

Camden, New Jersey

, and has served as a trustee since 1990. He led the effort to create the

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

and to partner with

MD Anderson Cancer Center

to create the MD Anderson Cooper Cancer Center, which opened in 2013.

[1]

Norcross has been a prominent political leader in New Jersey for more than 30 years, since before he became chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee in 1989, a position he held until 1993. For many years, he has been named one of the most powerful non-elected political figures in New Jersey by the website

PolitickerNJ.com

.

[2]

[3]

From 2014 through 2019,

[4]

he was named one of New Jersey\’s most powerful people by NJBiz.com.

[5]

He is regarded as New Jersey\’s most powerful unelected leader.

[6]

Norcross is a member of the

Democratic National Committee

. He also belongs to

Mar-a-Lago

, the club owned by United States President

Donald Trump

.

[7]

source Wikipedia

******

SENATE, No. 2173 with Senate Floor Amendments(Proposed by Senator WEINBERG)

ADOPTED: JANUARY 9, 2020

The Senate floor amendments authorize an exemption from mandatory immunization requirements for a child or student who has a sibling who experienced a vaccine injury. To qualify for the exemption, the child or student will be required to submit to the Department of Health documentation of a final determination of vaccine injury issued through the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services or a final judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that includes a finding of vaccine injury. Documentation of the department’s approval of a sibling vaccine injury exemption will be submitted to the school or child care center by the child or student, or by the child or student’s parent or guardian, if the child or student is a minor.The amendments allow nonpublic child care centers, preschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education to adopt a policy authorizing the admission of children and students who are not in full compliance with mandatory immunization requirements and who do not meet the requirements for a medical or sibling vaccine injury exemption, provided that the facility requires each child or student enrolled in the child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education, or the child’s or student’s parent or guardian if the child or student is a minor, to sign an acknowledgement form, at the time of enrollment, that sets forth the facility’s policy with regard to admitting children or students who are not in full compliance with mandatory immunization requirements and indicates the immunization rates for the facility for the prior academic year. The child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education will additionally be required to prominently post its policy concerning the admission of children or students who are not fully immunized and the facility’s immunization rates for the prior academic year at each entrance to the facility. The Commissioner of Health will be required to adopt rules and regulations concerning the format of acknowledgement forms used by nonpublic schools for this purpose.A child or student who is not in compliance with mandatory immunization requirements who seeks to attend the child care center, preschool program, school, or institution of higher education will be required to provide the facility with written notice of which specific immunization requirements the child or student is not in compliance with and sign a form that states that the child or student, or the child or student’s parent or guardian, as applicable, understands the risks and benefits of vaccination and acknowledges that the child or student may be excluded from attendance in the event of the occurrence of a communicable disease or condition or threat of a communicable disease or condition.The committee amendments restore language in the New Jersey Immunization Information System law that was deleted by prior amendment concerning who may access the system, and instead delete a provision of current law providing that an agency, organization, or other entity authorized to access information in the NJIIS may not use any report made by a healthcare provider in any punitive manner against the provider.

source

TRACK BILL

NAACP, Operating Engineers & Laborers Ask Lawmakers Postpone Vote on Liberty State Park Act

Jersey City

— The Enhance Liberty State Park Coalition today announced that the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and Laborers International Union of North America have all called for the Legislature to postpone voting on the “Liberty State Park Protection Act”

until the bill is amended in a manner that protects 99% of Liberty State Park forever, secures private investment to remediate contaminated portions of Caven Point and Liberty State Park and ensures millions of dollars in economic and charitable impact do not leave the state.

Letters from the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and Laborers International Union of North America calling on the Legislature to

postpone the vote

until the bill can be amended are attached. A copy of the Operators and Laborers’ letters was sent to every member of the State Senate and Assembly.

The Enhance Liberty State Park Coalition supports protecting forever 99% of Liberty State Park and making private investments to make the Park even more attractive for local residents.  The remaining 1% of the park – currently a contaminated, difficult to reach area – can undergo an environmental clean-up and remain green space through light recreational use of three golf holes that will incorporate habitat and wildlife protections.  The Coalition seeks to amend the legislation to provide the opportunity for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to consider a reuse and investment plan to improve the entirety of Liberty State Park.

Elizabeth Martelli, of St. Mary\’s Home, Cherry Hill

On January 9, 2020, \”Betty\” (nee Hanselman) of St. Mary\’s Home in Cherry Hill

passed away at age 92. She was the beloved wife of the late, Casper J. Sr. She is lovingly survived by her 4 children, Casper J. Jr. (Alison), Joe, Nancy Godfrey (Glenn) and Mary Ellen (Ken); her 4 grandsons, Robert (Aaron), Ronald, Louis (Heidi) and Kyle (Olivia); her brother, Robert (Peggy) along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Charles and her sisters, Clara and Rhoda.

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, January 14th 2020 from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the St. Mary\’s Catholic Church (426 Monmouth St, Gloucester City, NJ) followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM at the same location. Interment at the Calvary Cemetery (2398 W Rte 70, Merchantville, NJ).

In lieu of flowers

, donations may be made in her name to Msgr. Lucitt Needy Children Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 87, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Funeral services under the direction of the

McCann-Healey Funeral Home,

851 Monmouth Street,Gloucester City, NJ

Gloucester Township PD: January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ (January 12, 2020)–January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and January 11th is designated as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The Gloucester Township Police want to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking. The many scandals and the #MeToo movement have started to bring crimes like sexual harassment

and sexual assault into the light but many people still have the mindset that it will not happen to me or not in my community. Sadly it exists in many communities around the country and even in our own backyard. Knowing what it is and acknowledging that it does exist is the first step into putting a stop to it.

What is human trafficking?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is “modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling, which involves illegal transportation of a person across a border.

Victims of human trafficking are of all genders, ages, races, countries, socioeconomic statuses, and so on. While human trafficking can happen to anyone, people who are already in vulnerable situations – such as people experiencing homelessness – may be more likely to be targeted.

For more resources on Human trafficking and the different types check out

https://www.nsvrc.org/blogs/january-human-trafficking-awareness-month

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Bernadette “Bernie” Mary Monahan of Runnemede

Bernadette “Bernie” Mary Monahan (nee Haug), passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, January 11, 2020. Longtime resident of Runnemede. Age 86.

Beloved wife for 64 years of the late Harold. Devoted mother of Dave (Lisa) and Robbie (Denise). Loving grandmother of David, Tyler and Gabrielle Monahan. She was the youngest of five siblings: Betty Coyle, Lori Scott, the late Catherine Coyle and Christian Haug. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Monahan was employed as a Licensing Agent by the New Jersey Racing Commission for 24 plus years. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed gardening and baking.

There will be a visitation from 11:30am to 12:30pm on Thursday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 1pm at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa’s RC Church, 13 E. Evesham Road Runnemede. Interment private at the request of the family, Locustwood Cemetery, Cherry Hill.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bernadette’s memory to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675.

13 Defendants Indicted in Connection with Monmouth County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Two Defendants Charged with Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

TRENTON, N.J. – Thirteen defendants have been indicted for their roles as members, associates, and suppliers of a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Monmouth County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Damion Helmes, Dawn Stephens, Shantay Walker, Keith Logan, Shamar Dudley, Tonya Underwood, Elizabeth Conover, Curtis Jenkins, Ralph Lee, and Eric Yarbrough were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. Additionally, Helmes, Stephens, Walker, Logan, Dudley, Underwood, Conover, Jenkins, Lee, Yarbrough, Derrick Hayes, Dequan Copeland, and Cassius Williams were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. Helmes was also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between April 2019 and August 2019, the defendants and others engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in municipalities throughout Monmouth County – including Cliffwood, Keansburg, Matawan, Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch, Neptune, and Asbury Park, as well as Brick Township in Ocean County – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine. Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement officers learned that defendant Helmes obtained regular supplies of cocaine from defendants Hayes and Copeland. Helmes then re-distributed that cocaine, portions of which he converted into crack cocaine, for profit, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users throughout Monmouth County. During the wiretap portion of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.

The defendants were originally charged by complaint on Aug. 22, 2019. Dudley was previously charged by indictment.

The count of conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a ten-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a five-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $5 million. The count charging Helmes with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count charging Helmes with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and must be served consecutive to the sentence imposed on the drug trafficking crime. The felon in possession counts against Helmes and Hayes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Each firearms count also carries a maximum fine equal to the greatest of $250,000, twice the gross amount of pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victim of the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal Organization Task Force (including representatives from the Bradley Beach, Brick, Howell, Toms River, Union Beach and Marlboro police departments, and the Monmouth County Sheriff\’s Office) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; the Red Bank Police Department, under the direction of Chief Darren McConnell; the Keansburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Pigott; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Craig Weber; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni; the Highlands Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Burton; the Holmdel Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Mioduszewski; and the Long Branch Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jason Roebuck, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

GUEST OPINION: NJBIA Backs Fiscal Reform Bills, Urges Action on Path to Progress

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association today testified in favor of four fiscal reform bills designed to lower the cost of local governments as part of a wide-ranging plan to fix New Jersey\’s government finances.

Between them, the Senate and Assembly appropriations committees will consider legislation involving curriculum at K-8 school districts, sharing services between local governments, and examining state and local taxes and economic development policies. Individually, the bills are narrow in scope, but they are part of a broad, impactful plan to revamp New Jersey\’s finances called The Path to Progress, which NJBIA supports.

NJBIA Vice President for Government Affairs Chris Emigholz made that point while testifying in favor of these bills earlier today.

\”It is urgent for our state and for our taxpayers that the Legislature act on all five parts of the Path to Progress report: Pension and Benefit Reform; Leveraging Assets to Stabilize the Pension System; Education Reform at the Administrative Level; County and Municipal Government Reform and Shared Services; and State and Local Government Tax Structure,\” Emigholz said. \”Reforms in all five of these areas are needed to improve the fiscal health of our State, and our taxpayers deserve no less.

\”What makes the Path to Progress legislation so important is it recognizes a fundamental truth: New Jersey\’s finances will always be in disarray until we change how we raise and especially how we spend money,\” Emigholz said. \”It\’s not just a matter of fiscal discipline; New Jersey\’s financial problems are deeply systemic.\”

Two measures are scheduled for separate votes in both the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  They are:

·         S-3756 (Ruiz, D-29; Sarlo, D-36)/A-6115 (Jasey, D-27), which would require K-8 school districts to coordinate their school calendars and curriculum with the high schools they send their graduates to. Emigholz called it \”a long overdue, commonsense measure\” that could save money by eliminating duplication.

·         S-3770 (Sarlo, D-36; Oroho, R-24)/A-6118 (Greenwald, D-6), which would establish the \”New Jersey Economic and Fiscal Policy Review Commission\” to provide ongoing review of state and local tax structure and economic conditions.

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee also is scheduled a vote on legislation to require counties to appoint a shared-services coordinator. That bill is S-3764 (Andrzejczak, D-1; Bucco, R-25).

\”New Jersey has been quietly encouraging them for decades, but this bill puts staff and money behind that encouragement to make them actually happen,\” Emigholz said.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider A-6116/S-3763 (DeAngelo, D-14); Addiego, D-8; Bateman, D-16; Sarlo, D-36), \”a simple but clever bill to change the name of \’joint meetings\’ to \’regional service agencies\’\” under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act, Emigholz said. \”It would better capture their real meaning and hopefully encourage their use.\”

\”We are excited to hopefully see these Path to Progress bills pass this committee today, and NJBIA and our taxpayers urgently need more Path to Progress legislation to become law as soon as possible to make New Jersey more affordable for our residents and businesses,\” Emigholz said.

NJ Camp Fairs connect great kids with great camps

…FREE admission! –

Weekends starting January 18 – February 22, 2020

Throughout,New Jersey (PR MediaRelease)

For 2020, NJ Camp Fairs, along with the American Camp Association, will have an exciting lineup of 7 summer camp fairs for NJ families throughout Northern and Central New Jersey communities. This is a great time to seek out summer camps and programs for your child, whether it is a sleep away camp, traditional day camp, or specialty camp such as sports, adventure, travel, community service, academic, art, robotics, gymnastics, precollege, performing arts, foreign language, nature, and more. Will it be a full summer away in the woods, a month traveling, a 4- or a 2- week camp, a broad one or a specialized one focusing on learning a new skill?  Many ACA accredited camps will be present.

Different camps will be at each fair.  Meet face to face with a diverse set of high quality camps from various locations all under one roof. Kids ages PreK through High School go to camp!  Older kids can seek summer jobs too. Don’t surf the internet; bring your kids and explore.

Sat, Jan 18 – Bergen County @ Bergen Town Center, Paramus, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Jan 19 – Mercer County @ Quaker Bridge Mall, Lawrenceville, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Jan 25 – Essex County @ Livingston Mall, Livingston, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Jan 26 – Union County @ The Grand Summit Hotel, Summit, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Feb 8 – Bergen County @ The Village of Ridgewood, Ridgewood, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sun, Feb 9 – Essex County @ Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, 12-3pm, FREE!

Sat, Feb 22 – Middlesex County @ Menlo Park Mall, Edison, 12-3pm, FREE!

RSVP at www.njcampfairs.com and receive a free gift and free admission at the fair.

About

Contact

For over 36 years, the NJ Camp Fairs and the ACA has been connecting kids to great camps. Please RSVP @ www.njcampfairs.com to let us know you’re coming and you’ll receive a free gift at the fair.  For more information, please go to www.njcampfairs.com and check out the camp directory. Email info@njcampfairs.com for questions.

21-Year-Old Merchantville Man Murdered in Camden City

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki reported a homicide that occurred in Camden City on January 11, 2020.

The Camden County Police Department responded to the 500 block of Pfeifer Street for a ShotSpotter activation and reports of a possible shooting, at approximately

12:54 a.m. Officers located the victim, Michael Edwards, 21, Merchantville, lying unresponsive on the ground on the 400 block of Pfeifer Street. He was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

Michael Edwards was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 2:10 a.m.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. As such, no further information is being released at this time. No arrests have been made yet.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Brad Redrow at

(856) 225-8643

or Camden County Police Detective Edward Gonzalez at

(856) 757-7042

.

Information may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

Released Saturday, January 11, 2020.

Rutgers-Camden women win third straight game, 63-57

CAMDEN, N.J

(

Jan.

11

, 2020

) –

The

Rutgers University-Camden women’s

basketball team opened its game here Saturday with a seven-point run and went on to post a

63-57

victory over Rutgers University-Newark in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest.

The win was the third straight for the Scarlet Raptors, all coming in a six-day span during the week. They raised their record to 8-5 overall and 2-5 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Newark fell to 1-12 overall and 0-7 in the NJAC with its 11th straight loss.

Newark now leads the all-time series, 39-31.

Freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

scored the first five points of the game for the Scarlet Raptors and senior guard

Fatimah Williams

added the next field goal as Rutgers-Camden took a 7-0 lead. The Raptors led, 15-6, after on

e quarter and 30-18 at halftime, with Pitts notching all nine of her points during

the first 20 minutes and sophomore forward

Breanna Ettrick

scoring all seven of her points for the game.

The second-half production was carried by Williams, who notched 19 points to finish with a game-high 25, while junior guard

Shane Holmes

scored seven of her 10 points after the break. Holmes also finished with a game-high five assists, while sophomore forward

Tamara Johnson

added four assists.

Holmes added a career-high seven rebounds to lead the Scarlet Raptors, while Johnson, Williams and Pitts notched six apiece.

Rutgers-Newark received a big game from sophomore guard/forward Dorian Capurso, who notched a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Sophomore guard Syncere Lambert added nine points and senior center Comfort Akinbo added eight. Freshman forward Ebony Odom Barnes grabbed eight rebounds, helping the Scarlet Raiders hold a 42-38 edge off the boards.

Rutgers-Camden shot 21-for-56 from the floor (37.5 percent) and 18-for-29 (62.1) from the foul line. Rutgers-Newark was 19-for-50 (38.0) from the floor and 13-for-28 (46.4) from the line.

Newark made 21 turnovers and Camden had 15.

The Scarlet Raptors have another three-game week next week, beginning with a non-conference 7 p.m. game

Monday

at the University of Valley Forge.