Gloucester City News Headlines for May 6 Issue

Gloucester City School Board Installs Members $\"Gloucester%20City%20News\"$

Gloucester City Fire Alarm Bell Christened In 1891

Mount Ephraim Superintendent Joseph Rafferty Turns Down Raise; Will Contribute To Health Care

Bellmawr Board Of Education Swears In William Murray and Eric Hoban

Gloucester City Steering Committee Favors Walk-Up Light Rail Station

$\"Enhanced$

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Cheers and Jeers for April 2010

By Bill Cleary

$\"April%202010%20001\"$ CHEER– Fred and Diane Barsuglia obtained 212 N. Broadway in a bank auction last year. After months of renovations the single family property was put up for sale for a purchase price of $164,900 and it sold almost immediately. Gloucester City Chief Housing Inspector & Zoning Official Joseph Stecklair along with Code Enforcement Official Kyle Wagner (standing in front of the property) said the couple deserves a Big Thumbs Up for their hard work. Stecklair added, \”They turned what was one of the biggest eyesores on Broadway into a gem. They were very cooperative and a pleasure to work with\”.

CHEER-Dave Stallwood a Gloucester City businessman thought a referendum was a $\"6a00d8341bf7d953ef011571114c5a970c-800wi\"$ way for the public to weigh in on the $4 million full time fire department and wrote a COMMENTARY on the topic that was posted on CNB and appeared in the GCN. Although he has been indirectly threatened by some disgruntled city employees for suggesting such a proposal Stallwood has not backed down. Excising his right to Freedom of Speech is guaranteed in the United States and he deserves our support whether you agree or disagree with him.

CHEER-To the fire department members that showed up at Brother of the Wolf for a cook out on April 22nd to honor them for their service to the community. A JEER to the police department who said they would come and then didn\’t show up. ~Dawn Watson

CHEER-The Haddon Heights Borough Council was able to reduce municipal taxes by .4 percent or about $30 less for a home assessed at the borough average of $295,000. The budget totals $7.39 million.

JEER-Approximately 15 years ago Broadway in Gloucester City NJ was resurfaced $\"Garage$ from Linden Street south to Koehler Street. For some reason the stretch of highway between Koehler Street south to Stinsman Avenue wasn’t done. Driving on this part of Broadway is like riding in a roller coaster. So many bumps and ruts. Residents who live in this area said when a truck hits one of those bumps their houses shake. The Camden County Freeholder Board (Broadway is a county road) should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this condition to exist so long. This highway condition wouldn’t be allowed in Haddonfield, why is Gloucester City treated differently.

KUDOS to Gloucester City Police Sgt. Bill Wiltsey for his quick response to the six- year- old he found wandering about the City in the early morning hours one night last month.

JEER-Another month and another complaint received about Waste Management leaving empty trash cans and recycling buckets in the street. Waste Management is the company hired by the City of Gloucester City to pick up trash and recyclables. A resident writes, \”I have a pet peeve. Why do the trash men put the empty containers in the street? This bugs me to have to chase my cans all over the place otherwise they do a great job.\”

CHEER-Despite losing over $324,000 in state aid, Haddon Township Commissioners’ 2010 budget slightly lowers municipal taxes by $1 for the average home assessed at $120,000. Overall spending will be reduced by nearly $296,000 to $13.1 million.

JEER- to Gloucester City and other communities for not fixing the many pot holes that are plain to see and easily found on the majority of streets in this area. The streets are horrible to drive on.

CHEER-For the first time in nearly 20 years municipal taxes in Gloucester City will not increase thanks to the hard work of Mayor James and City Council. The 2010 budget totals $16,984,500. Mayor James said recently that state aid for the City was cut by $1.3 million.

JEER- In 2006-2007 the replenishment sand project for Surf City beaches totaled $6 million. Because of the harsh winter this year 800,000 cubic yards of sand was washed away. The leaders of the community want more federal funds to replenish the beach. Surf City beach fees are $25 season, $13 weekly, $6 daily. That money should be used to replace the sand, not our tax dollars. Incidentally New Jersey is the only state that has beach fees.

JEER-To bicyclist riding and talking on cell phones, to moms pushing a baby coach talking on a cell phone and to pedestrians not paying attention to traffic because they are busy talking on a cell phone. Add to the list people texting messages while driving a vehicle.

CHEER-The Gloucester City Rotary Club celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year. An event will be held May 15^th at Freedom Pier, King and Cumberland Streets. For more information contact Mark Ford, Rotary President, 456-8811.

JEER- The Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation is also a big donor to Planned Parenthood. Many people who donate time and money to this organization are not aware that they are unwittingly killing babies. You can find the info by digging into their own site in the FAQ. They try to play it down and kind of skirt around just how much is donated. ~John M. Waszewski Barrington

CHEER– Mayor Frank Filipek, the Bellmawr Council and Municipal Clerk Charles Sauter deserve Kudos for their work in overcoming obstacles in converting a long time dump on Creek Road into a proposed waterfront recreational facility. Recreational space is a quality of life issue and something in very short supply in South Jersey. This is a great project. When it’s complete (at least 3 years away) we should have one of the biggest recreational areas in South Jersey with miles of trails and waterfront access to the Big Timber Creek. The developer also plans retail space (they promised no strip malls) and a solar farm to gather solar power.

JEER-To the parents of young children that allow them to walk the streets on Friday and Saturday nights. Their loudness (at 2 and 3 A.M.) plus the repeated use of the \”F word\” is very disturbing. C\’mon, folks. Make them come in by 11 and let us sleep!

CHEER-For a second year in a row Westville was chosen as having the \”Best Town Spirit\” in South Jersey, based on the readership of the Courier-Post. A big round of applause to Mayor Russell Welsh and council for their effort to keep the municipal tax rate from going up this year.

Contributors this month in no certain order, Dawn Watson, Jack Heath, Mildred Stubbs, William John, John M. Waszewski, Dave Townsend, Charlie Toomey, Bob Clark. Thank you for your help. If you have a Cheer or Jeer send to [email protected] or snail mail, c/o Gloucester City News, Box 151, Gloucester City 08030.

RELATED BILLS POINT OF VIEW

Bills Tips and Snippets

$\"St$

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

U.S. Flags Salute Wounded Warrior Athletes

By Samantha L. Quigley
USO

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2010 – The American flags raised over five military installations don’t look any different from the one raised over the U.S. Capitol on any given day, but there is one distinct difference.

These flags will bear the well-wishes of servicemembers stationed around the world for injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and veterans competing in the inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., in May.

With the help of the Defense Media Activity and the USO, five American flags found their way to Afghanistan, Germany, Hawaii, Iraq and South Korea, where they were raised over military points of interest. One flew above the USS Arizona in Hawaii, and another over Korea’s demilitarized zone. A third was raised above Germany’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Flags flew over Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Joint Base Balad, Iraq, as well.

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Howard E. Wilkinson, Jr., Love Playing Music, American Legion Member, Retired from Texaco

WILKINSON—Howard E., Jr. of West Deptford on April 30, 2010. Aged 72 years. $\"Obit_photo.php\"$

A man of many interests, Howard expressed himself through music, writing and his quick wit.

Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, he moved to South Jersey over 47 years ago, settled and made a home in West Deptford. Passionate with music, his family inspired Howard to play the trumpet and later the Baritone Horn.

Memberships with the Pitman Hobo Band, Bonsall Blues and The Golden Eagle Community Band, at different times throughout his life, provided fun, camaraderie and a creative outlet for Howard. He would never hesitate picking up his pen to share his point of view to the editors of local papers, where he\’d be published often. Howard proudly served in the US Army and enjoyed membership in the American Legion Post #133, Woodbury. Prior to retirement many will remember his employment with The Bank, where he worked as a courier between branches. Prior to that, he enjoyed providing for his family by working at Texaco for over 27 years. Traveling to car shows showing off his \’56 T-Bird Convertible or 58 Retractable Ford Fairlane was one of his past times, as well as touring the country in his travel trailer.

He is the beloved husband of Miriam E. (nee Riggins ); devoted father of Stephen R. (Anna May Keich) and Raymond A.; loving grandfather of Stephen R. Wilkinson, Jr.; dear friends of Jean & Tom Lynch and Marianne & Anthony Fasy and special cousin to Winifred Jones.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing 11 AM and Funeral Service 1 PM Thursday in the McGuinness Funeral Home, 34 Hunter St., Woodbury. Interment with military honors, Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown. Tributes and memories may be shared by clicking the \”share a memory\” link.

via obit.mcgfuneral.com

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Praise for the Brooklawn Athletic Association and the Brooklawn Little League

$\"CNB$ Spring is here and that means baseball season is in full swing. As Brooklawn begins their season we were asked to join the Opening Day services on Saturday, April 10. As with a lot of families we were all running in different directions.

Pat was unable to attend due to work, Patrick was at high school baseball practice, Sarah still off at college and I, on this particular Saturday, did not have to work, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend.

After the parade, Tom Hussey began announcing the festivities and he requested my presence on the field. He began speaking of the dedication Pat and I had over the years to Brooklawn Little League and to the kids who went through the program. To my complete surprise, Tommy continues to announce a season dedication to Pat and me.

I threw out the first pitch (which was really bad) and Tom read from a dedication plaque. I was speech-less…maybe I was in shock, and all I said was thank you. This means so much more than just a thank you!

We are so humbled by this gesture of appreciation and it means the world to us that

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

LODD:Pennsylvania Fire Fighter Dies During Training

Firehouse.com May 2, 2010

$\"\"$

$\"Line$

A firefighter in Somerset County died yesterday after being rushed to the hospital from a $\"Lodd_badge\"$ training exercise, according to The Daily American.

Firefighter John Palomino, a volunteer with the Scalp Level and Paint Volunteer Fire Company in Windber, was taken to Miners Medical Center in Hastings where he was pronounced dead.

Betty F. Jaynes the first Executive Director for the WBCA to be Honored

Pat Summitt, Robin Roberts, Sylvia Hatchell,Vince Dooley, Teresa Edwards and Others to Speak at Georgia Fundraising Event

Porterdale, GA- On May 15, at 7 PM, Friends of Porterdale will hold a fundraising dinner and \”Roast\” in honor of Betty F. Jaynes, the first Executive Director for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Events will be held at the Turner Lake Sports Complex in Covington, Georgia.

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

American Legion News: The Mojave Cross Can Stay

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that a Latin cross honoring World War I veterans in southwestern California does not need to be removed or concealed from public view. The American Legion has long supported efforts to preserve the 1934-erected monument at its current location on Sunrise Rock. The American Civil Liberties Union has led efforts to remove it, contending it violates separation between church and state.

\”To remove the Mojave Cross, or to conceal it inside a plywood box as it has been for several months, is a violation of free expression in itself,\” American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill said. \”The court ruled correctly in this case. If it had gone the other way, a number of other veterans memorials and monuments around the country would be faced with similar restrictions. It’s a slippery slope, and the Supreme Court acknowledged that. Removal of a religious symbol from a veterans memorial could conceivably be followed by removal of religious symbols from all government-owned or public spaces even, perhaps, veterans cemeteries.

read via burnpit.legion.org

$\"Enhanced$

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.

Two Pennsylvania Companies Receive Mega Million Dollar Contracts from DOD

April 29, 2010

Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc., Monroeville, Pa., is being awarded a $37,344,671 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-07-C-2100 for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pa. (90 percent), and Schenectady, N.Y. (10 percent). Contract funds in the amount of $923,558 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No completion date or additional information is provided on Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Fisher Scientific Co., LLC, Pittsburgh, Pa. is being awarded a maximum $9,120,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery contract for the selection of a distributor for the laboratory integrated delivery system program. Other locations of performance are in Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Kentucky, Delaware, Colorado, Texas, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, New York, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia, Maryland and North Carolina. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited via the Internet Bid Board System with eight responses. This contract has a base period and four one-year option periods. The date of performance completion is May 3, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2DE-09-D-7340).

via www.defense.gov