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Ted Howarth was among some 3,000 leaders of The American Legion attending the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization’s 91st National Convention in Louisville, KY, August 27.

Mr. Howarth is a member of Post 72 in Brooklawn, and is active in programs that benefit veterans, their families and the children in the area.

Highlights of the three-day gathering included addresses by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen; the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, General David Petraeus; and the Secretary of the Depart-ment of Homeland Sec-urity, Janet Napolitano.

The new case — which the justices will probably hear in January and rule on by July — centers on a Chicago handgun ban similar to a Washington law the Supreme Court struck down in June 2008 as a violation of the Second Amendment. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the court for the first time declared an individual right to firearms for self-defense and rejected a prevailing lower court view that the Second Amendment applied only to state \”militia,\” such as National Guard units.

Yet the 5-4 decision left open a key question that could have more practical consequences for gun owners and states: Does the Second Amendment apply to the states and localities as it does to the federal enclave of Washington?

via www.usatoday.com

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

EMERALD ISLE, N.C., Sept. 30, 2009 – For the past five years, Vivianne Wersel has been fighting to improve benefits for the widows and families of fallen servicemembers.

Vivianne Wersel, government relations committee chair for the Gold Star Wives of America, testifies before the House Veterans Affairs Committee\’s subcommittee on disability compensation and memorial affairs, Washington, D.C. Sept. 24, 2009. Wersel is the widow of Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard Wersel, who died of heart complications a week after returning from Iraq in February 2005. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden

As the government relations committee chair for the Gold Star Wives of America, Wersel has helped shed light on issues regarding financial compensation, continuing benefits for remarried military widows and overall support for survivors.
\”Surviving military spouses look to us as their link to benefit information and their voice in Congress,\” Wersel said in recent congressional testimony. \”We are the vanguards of survivor benefits, educating the public as well as elected officials on issues relating to military survivors.\” 

By Leigh Anne Hubbs
NEWS Correspondent

Mount Ephraim School Board Member Carl Ingram announced plans to hold an open forum where the public will be encouraged to voice their ideas on how the district can cut costs.

During last week’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Ingram said a date has yet to be set for this public forum, which will not be a regular Board meeting.

In other business, Board members wanted to make it clear that any information that has been circulating regarding H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccines is purely hearsay, and when informed by the state the information will be passed on to the district.

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

Respect for the Aged Day has just passed on September 21st, the international affairs ministry made public its information about the population in Japan. As of September 15,Japan\’s population stood at 127,56 million, down 120,000 from a year before.

People aged 65 or older numbered 28.98 million (12.39 million men and 16.59 million women),accounting for 22.7 % of the total population and up 800,000 or 0.6 percentage point, from a year before.

It\’s been an exceptional year for trout fishing in New Jersey, but the best is yet to come.
Beginning Oct. 6, more than 21,000 super-sized trout will be stocked in streams and lakes from Sussex County to Atlantic County. Those big fish, ideal water conditions, great weather and spectacular scenery combine to make autumn what many anglers agree is New Jersey\’s premier trout fishing season. 

For the fourth consecutive year, New Jersey will release statewide brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout that each measure 14 inches to 24 inches and weigh one and a half pounds to eight pounds. Any of these fabulous fish could very well be an angler\’s once-in-a-lifetime catch. 

The buck with the biggest antlers ever recorded on a white-tailed deer recently died of an

infection.

Sudden Impact, who lived at Wilderness Whitetails Ranch in Wisconsin, had horns that scored 492, and he was only 3 years old when he died in late August.

The lethal infection began in the buck’s massive antlers. The rack was removed to keep the infection from spreading, but veterinary care came too late.

Sudden Impact showed no signs of illness before caretakers discovered the infection, according to a press release.

\”Although Sudden Impact was watched very closely, because he didn’t show any signs of being sick, by the time his infection was noticed and the veterinarians got to him it was too late,\” the press release said.

via www.lsonews.com

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Image by NVinacco via Flickr

On Friday, September 11, the Post conducted the Annual \”Patriot’s Day\” Service at the Brooklawn United Methodist Church honoring the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, airline flight takeover and the Military service personnel who have died in the battle against terrorism while other members continue to fight.

This service would not have been possible without the assistance of the following people. Thank you to Pastor Daniel Amey, who is always a great host and participant in our Service. I would also like to thank the following people who also participated; Fr. Frederick Link of St. Maurice Catholic Church, State Commander Bob Phillips, State President Debbie Tomasetti, County Commander Chuck Reilly, Chief Sam Cilurso and several members of the Fire Department, Chief Fran McKinney and members of the Police Department, Councilwoman Theresa Branella, David Chorzelewski, who sang \”God Bless the USA\”, Unit President Cheryl Dolson and the VFW Post 3620 Color Guard.

Thank you all for your participation in the Patriot Day Service and stating that \”We will remember\”

Commander Ted Howarth,

Brooklawn Memorial American Legion Post #72

By Linda Boker-Angelo

NEWS Correspondent

The Gloucester City Planning Board last week upheld Zoning Officer Joseph Stecklair’s earlier decision to disallow a Market Street resident from operating a dog obedience school out of her home unless she first applies for the appropriate use variance.

Stecklair said the property is in an area zoned as residential.

Although some non-foot traffic businesses, such as mail order or Internet companies, can feasibly operate out of a private home, the nature of this particular business, which would entail obedience class attendees visiting the home for extended periods of time, would require sufficient parking facilities.

Stecklair had directed the applicant to seek a decision from the Board on the matter, but she first opted to appeal Steckler’s decision.

In a split vote, Board members passed a motion requiring the applicant to apply for a use variance if she intends to go through with her business plans.

The Board did approve an application submitted by the owners of O’Donnell’s restaurant on Broadway to erect a small deck for use as a smoking area.

No food or drinks will be served on the deck, but patrons will have a designated place to smoke.

Board members also approved a bulk variance allowing property owners to build a new home on the 300 block of Cumberland Street to replace the house that burnt down.

Two requests were also granted for improvements and repairs to be completed in the City’s Historical District. The properties were located in the 300 block and the 400 block of Monmouth Street.

The Board also did a courtesy review of plans to subdivide a portion of the property which will become the Freedom Pier.

Developers intend to divide the property so that a walkway can be constructed on the pier. The Board voted to recommend that Mayor and Council approve the subdivision.

The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in City Hall, 313 Monmouth St.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

As we reported in May, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) have introduced S. 941, the \”Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009\” in the U.S. Senate. Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa) and Zack Space (D-Ohio) have introduced a companion bill—H.R. 2296—in the U.S. House. The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. These bipartisan bills are a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations.