July 2007
Plans for a new pub-style family restaurant on Burlington Street are underway. Shawn Nachurski and David McDonough, owners of Bridges Real Estate, L.L.C., appeared before the Gloucester City Planning Board last week with plans to transform the former go-go bar known as Billy\’s Place into an Irish pub-style family restaurant. Nachurski outlined plans to renovate and expand the building at 157 Burlington Street, which was built in the 1800s.
Teens are Skinny Dipping in Brooklawn In the past few weeks, I have that been aware that people, during the early morning hours, were using my backyard pool. Oh, and by the way moms and dads, the girls were naked.
In memory of some of Gloucester City\’s local heroes, the Mayor\’s Advisory Committee will study the feasibility of renaming some streets currently named for New Jersey counties. Thus, Gloucester City veterans who died fighting for freedom in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq will forever be remembered in the City. The article mentioned that the Mayor\’s Advisory Committee was conducting a feasibility study. \”Nothing will be done until the study is completed.\”
On July 30th on Federal Street in Pennsauken the Extreme Makeover team and local builder, J. S. Hovnanian & Sons, Inc. along with hundreds of trade contractors built a home in less than 100 hours. This home was completed with the utmost speed and quality to help a family from Camden, the Marerro\’s. The family moved in Monday and is doing well. Gloucester City Councilman Nicholas Marchese is a Site Development Manager with J.S. Hovnanian and was a part of the building of this home.
At Thursday night\’s Gloucester City Little League meeting Tom Gurick presented a $25,000 grant to representatives of the organization to be used to enhance the facilities at the field on Johnson Blvd. Tom, a former Camden County Freeholder and Gloucester City Councilman, was instrumental in obtaining the monies for the League through the Camden County Board Of Chosen Freeholders.
Rock and Roll Celebration-Saturday, July 14th ,was a festive celebration at the intersection of Broadway and Market Street, as more than 1,000 people acknowledged Gloucester City as the \”birthplace of rock and roll.\” And, they partied and listened to some great music. \”This is a great day for Gloucester City,\” said Dennis and Tammy Galligan, owners of Jack\’s Twin Bar, who spearheaded the celebration.
Legendary Track and Field Coach Jack Pyrah of Gloucester City passed away on July 19, 2007 at the age of 88. Pyrah\’s association with Villanova lasted until his death though his formal retirement occurred in 1991. He helped lead Villanova to 4 NCAA Championships and 8 IC4A Championships. During his tenure there, the track and field team developed many world-class athletes including 17 Olympians. Pyrah\’s accolades include his recent admission into the U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the placement of his name on the Wall of Fame at Villanova University, and the naming of the Jack Pyrah Invitational Indoor Meet at the University.
\”Welcome to Gloucester City\” signs are being placed at all the entrances to Gloucester City. The first sign went up today (July 18) at the Rt. 42 and Market Street off ramp. In all seven signs will be erected by the contractor hired to do the job, Astro Outdoor Advertising of Glassboro. The cost for each is $1,759 for a total of $12,313.
The Gloucester City Board of Education at Tuesday meeting, voted to offer Paul Spaventa the position of Superintendent over Gloucester High School Principal Jack Don. The vote was made after two Board of Education members (Bruce Darrow and Bruce Marks) were notified they would not be entitled to vote as they had relatives working in the school district. Dr. Stansky will leave January 1, 2008; her salary approximately $175,000.
Bill\’s Point of View-Recently I asked Mayor Bill James, who took control of Gloucester City\’s government in January, what has been happening in his first six months in office? He read off a long rundown of projects that he along with council members Jay Brophy, Bill Hagan, Nick Marchese, Elsie Loebell, Jean Kaye, and Rocky Kormann have been working on over that period of time. The list contains some 58 items in all. I might not always agree with those who have been in charge of our City; but I continue to admire the members who serve on council, the school board, and other bodies for stepping up to the plate and trying.
A multi-alarm fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at the Sunoco refinery in West Deptford. The huge storage tank was filled with xylene, a chemical used to make gasoline. Nearby residents were warned to stay inside while huge clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky.
For the first time in its 55 year history, Mount Ephraim has won a District 14 Little League championship. Wade Geis had 11 strikeouts and Mike McHugh came in to get the save as the senior all star team beat Gloucester City, 7 to 4, at a game played under the lights at the Johnson Boulevard Fields on Thursday, July 12.
Nick DePietropolo fired a five-inning no-hitter and had five strikeouts as Gloucester reached the championship round of the District 14 Senior Little League Baseball Tournament with a 10-0 victory over Blackwood. Gloucester will host unbeaten Mt. Ephraim at 7 p.m. Thursday. A Mt. Ephraim win clinches the district championship. A Gloucester win forces a deciding game Friday at Gloucester. Matt Gorman sparked the Gloucester offense with three hits while DePietropolo, Sean Curran and Jake Kaighn each had two.
Gloucester City\’s Junior Little League (13 & 14 year old) won the District 14 Championship tonight defeating Audubon 13 – 7. Dan Vivieros and Joe Collins each provided home runs and Gloucester\’s Paul Walters was the winning pitcher.
BINGHAMTON– Maybe the STOP-DWI World Youth Classic should be renamed the Camden County Invitational. The county, located in South New Jersey, enjoyed a fine week in the 26th annual American Legion baseball tournament, culminating in Sunday\’s title showdown in which Gibbsboro defeated Brooklawn, 8-4, at Conlon Field to win its first STOP-DWI World Youth Classic title.
Mother of the Three Slack Girls Who Died in the July 4th Fire Says Thank-You. Some of the donations sent to the family of the three girls lost in the 2002 fire were used to build Angels Playground and the Fallen Firemen\’s Monument in Gloucester City.
August 2007
Parking violations against Gloucester City Employee are dismissed. The case was heard in Brooklawn before Judge Jeffrey Karl instead of Gloucester City because of a possible conflict of interest. On Wednesday, August 29, Brooklawn Court Administrator, Karen Ryan said the Judge dismissed all eight tickets. The reason for dismissal; there are three employees from the City\’s Housing/Building Code Office who drive the vehicle that was ticketed, and the Judge did not know who parked the vehicle in the No Parking zone on those eight occasions.
Mount Ephraim Police Chief Edward C. Dobleman announced that the department is implementing a new program to the borough. The program is called \”Street Smart Is Street Safe\” and will help protect our school children, school crossing guards, and the citizens of our community. Residents and business owners will be able to contact the police to help with this quest.
Mount Ephraim Man Charged with Attempted Murder-Acting Camden County Prosecutor James P. Lynch and Mount Ephraim Police Chief Edward C. Dobleman report that Borough resident David J. Hiller, a 66 year old man, is in Mount Ephraim Police Department custody and is being charged with one count of Attempted Murder which is a crime of the first degree, two counts of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose and one count of Aggravated Assault.
Mayor\’s Advisory Committee Releases report on Feral Cat problems- These areas are the areas that we as a community need to focus on to decrease the feral cat problem that faces the city of Gloucester City. Crescent Home Trailer Park, Harley Avenue, 900 block of Cherry Street, Jersey Avenue, behind Vincent\’s Mansion House, King Street along Holt Cargo, and Morris Court Apartments.
The old Sports Corner Bar, at 4th and Jersey Avenue Gloucester City is being demolished to make way for a restaurant. The bar has been closed for nearly 20 years and soon the building will be non-existent. JK Venture Enterprises, LLC, the current property owners, have been working diligently to demolish and clean up the site in order to get it ready for their newest endeavor. A family style restaurant.
Gloucester City-August 30th at 1835 hours the Gloucester City Police Department executed a search warrant at 935 Jersey Avenue. Once inside police recovered nine (9) suspected marijuana plants, which were being grown in the rear yard of the residence. Also recovered were additional quantities of marijuana and prescription medication from inside of the residence, as well as, numerous forms of drug paraphernalia. U.S. currency in the amount of $3,500 was also seized.
Life on Broadway by Albert Countryman-Commerce Bank may soon open up a branch at Broadway and Cumberland Street in Gloucester City – site of the former Dooley\’s tavern. During the recent caucus meeting, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the sale. This is great news for Broadway, and Gloucester City. Although there is much more work to be done, the new bank will fill a major hole in the City\’s retail corridor.
Gloucester City has moved the German ship anchor that had been located at the old Coast Guard Base on King Street for years. It is now positioned near the entrance of the City Marina at the intersection of King Street and Jersey Avenue.
Mount Holly Superintendent Paul Spaventa was hired by the Gloucester City school district, a low-income, Abbott school system, as the new superintendent. He will start as assistant superintendent of the 2,200-student district in November and begin as superintendent in January.
September 2007
Mt. Ephraim-MEMORIAL RECEIVES BIG CHECK – The Jim Sylvester & John West Sr. Memorial Monument Fund received a check for $11,000 from the Mount Ephraim Rotary Club and the Mount Ephraim Fire Department from this year\’s Golf Outing Fundraiser.
Audubon Applebee\’s donates to Sylvester and West Memorial Monument. Over $500 donated.
Robert Dornbach, has been missing now for 21 months. On November 27, 2005, he had left his home around 7 p.m. Robert asked his sister-in-law Rachael to order pizza and he would be back in 20 minutes. Joanne Humerick his mother states, \”I am offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to my son\’s return.\”I will never stop looking for him. I\’ll never be at peace. If you could only feel the emptiness in my heart, then you\’ll know how desperate I am to find him. \”If anyone has any information about my son Bobby, please call the Gloucester City Police at 856-456-0900.\”
Parties who failed to Monitor Sites Face DEP Fines– Named in the list are 39 properties in Burlington County; 47 in Camden County (included are The Pop Corn Factory and The Rug Factory sites in Gloucester City) and 22 properties in Gloucester County.
GHS Retires No.19… Lions Win Game With 19 Seconds on the Clock —Gloucester High School retired the football jersey #19 worn by Marc Ryan when he played football at the school. Marine Corporal Ryan, whose life was cut short by an improvised explosive device almost three years ago, will have his number 19 football jersey retired this Saturday during the Gloucester-Penns Grove football game. Speaking of Gloucester High Philadelphia television NBC Channel 10 was featured school of the week.
CAMDEN-Three men and a three-year-old child were shot in a running gun battle on North 25th Street here Friday.
Gloucester City. According to the small print in the Legal Notice that appeared in Tuesday\’s Courier Post, Comcast is proposing to open a new office to be located at the Audubon Crossings Shopping Center, Black Horse Pike and Nicholson Road, Audubon.
Gloucester City\’s Shamrock Festival a huge success. September 15th was a beautiful day to celebrate the Irish with great friends, great music and great refreshments.
A reliable source informed The Notebook Sunday night that Robert Kephart, the individual who stole approximately $7500 from the annual Gloucester City Softball Marathon has pleaded guilty to all charges. According to the source, Kephart, age 35, of South Third Street agreed to make full restitution.
The September monthly meeting of the Mount Ephraim Board of Commissioners began with a proclamation declaring September 3, 2007 as John H. Covely Day in Mount Ephraim. Mr. Covely was born in Mount Ephraim on September 3, 1922, is a lifelong resident, graduated from Mount Ephraim Elementary School, graduated from Audubon High School, Served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps (European Theatre) where he earned the rank of Sergeant; Helped found the M.E.P.R.I. First Aid Squad and served as their first Captain of the organization.
OCTOBER 2007
BROOKLAWN-An Alice Costello school student was removed from the school after he told another student he made up a list of names of classmates he wanted to harm. Included on the list was the name of a teacher. The incident occurred on Thursday, October 25.
BROOKLAWN-\”We will have police officers on patrol in unmarked cars and on bicycles in the parks and near the gazebos,\” Mayor John Soubasis said at last week\’s Borough Council meeting. \”I feel sorry for the parents when we catch those responsible for graffiti in those areas,\” he said. \”We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,\” Soubasis emphasized.
Bill’s Point of View …..What is happening? News outlets are reporting that a Rowan University sophomore, Donald Farrell, 19, died this morning of injuries he suffered during a brief, brutal beating by four unidentified men. Police said when they found the victim he was so badly beaten he was laying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to the hospital but died several hours later.
GLOUCESTER CITY–The Gloucester Catholic High School Alumni Association has awarded more than 35 scholarships to members of the Class of 2011.These students and their families will be honored at the Annual GCHS Alumni Communion Breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 4.
Gloucester High-Our Cardiac Kids Win Again-It may appear as though you have been here before but after all this is our 2007 Lion\’s football team, our \”Cardiac Kids\”…Once again the game came down to the final 30 seconds. Why should we expect anything less from our gang before walking off with a rain soaked 13 – 6 win against an underrated Salem football team.
Former Gloucester City volunteer fireman Robert Kephart, 35, was sentenced to five years probation by a superior court judge in Camden last week. The judge ordered he make full-restitution of $7,128 within five years. Kephart pled guilty to stealing the money from the Gloucester City Fire Department\’s Softball Marathon fundraising account.
The Gloucester City Police Detective Bureau is investigating an attempted abduction which occurred on Friday, October 19 at 7:33 p.m. The incident happened at the intersection of Burlington and Hudson Streets. According to a spokesperson for the police department, the suspect grabbed the victim by the hair and attempted to force her to come with him. The victim struggled and the suspect fled on foot northbound on Burlington Street.
Mt. Ephraim-Large Turnout for This Year\’s Heroes to Hero 5K Run/Walk– On Saturday, October 13 many residents from Gloucester City joined residents over in Mount Ephraim along with neighboring communities along with runners and walkers from neighboring states and countries that joined firefighters, family, and friends to participate in the Heroes to Hero 5K Run/Walk from Mount Ephraim Fire Department to Gloucester City Fire Headquarters.
FMBA Union Protest During Heroes to Hero Memorial Run– Members of Gloucester City Firefighter\’s and Superior Fire Officers Association F.M.B.A.\’s Local No. 51/251, stood near the intersection of Johnson Blvd and Hudson Street back by the Little League outfield on Saturday morning wearing T-shirts that read \”Fire Fighters Lives Priceless NOT in Gloucester City, Everything Has a Price Tag.\”
Warning! Cutbacks are Possible in St. Mary\’s Parish/Headcount on Sunday-\”Sad to say, the present situation here in St. Mary\’s is not impressive,\” Father Curran, pastor
Paid Firefighters and Their Supporters Berate Gloucester City Mayor & Council –But, it was not until the public was invited to comment that the main reason for the firefighters\’ attendance came forth. At issue was Council\’s concern about the \”spiraling\” cost of overtime with-in the City Fire Department, which reached a year-long high of more than $50,000 in the month of August alone, Councilman Nick Marchese said. In contrast, the firefighters and family members pointed out the inherent dangers of having a \”manpower shortage\” in fighting fires safely. Steve Skipton, who has lived in Gloucester City all his life, asked Mayor James for a clarification of \”how many firefighters would be on duty\” if his house were on fire.
Gloucester City police are looking for three gunmen in a home invasion on Division Street that occurred earlier today, Monday. The incident was reported about 1 a.m., police said.No injuries were reported. The suspects escaped on foot and police said the investigation is continuing.
Today, Monday, Gloucester City Police reported a man was stabbed Sunday afternoon around 5:15 PM in the 100 unit block of South Burlington Street.A spokesperson for the Police Department said the incident was a domestic dispute and as such the department is limited in what can be released.
Camden City NJ–The black granite slab, etched with the boxer\’s picture and statistics, was unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday, when several proclamations were read, including one that declared October 6 Jersey Joe Walcott Day.
