Theodore S. Wypych of Bellmawr age 76

Theodore S. Wypych, on December 10, 2019, from Bellmawr; formerly of Camden. Age 76.

Beloved husband of the late Joanne (nee Olesiewicz). Devoted father of Marie-Ellen (Greg), Lisa (Paul), Suzanne (Michael), Deborah (Michael), and Nancy (Richard). Loving Dziadzi of Alexandria (Nick), Corinne (Julio), Kelsey, Samantha (Alex), Theodore John, and Camryn and great grandfather “Big D” of Gavin. Brother of the late Nicholas. Also survived by nieces, nephews, and many friends and acquaintances.

Theodore was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was co-owner of Specialty Wire Works in Camden and retired from Rapid Forms. His friends knew him as “Teddy Crocker” for his love of baking. Theodore loved his family fishing trips, scratch offs, and enjoyed his happy hour at Benedict’s Place. He loved to talk on the phone and particularly enjoyed weekly conversations with Paul.

There will be a viewing from 11am to 1pm Friday at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, BELLMAWR.

Funeral service 1pm at the funeral home.

Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Theodore’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area in New York City; Public Comment Extended

NEW YORK

(December 10, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed plan that evaluates impacts of the current and expected future volume of combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges to the Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area in New York City to

January 27, 2020

. EPA added Newtown Creek to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country’s highest priority hazardous waste sites in September 2010, and investigations of the entire site are ongoing.

The Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area is comprised of the waters and sediments of Newtown Creek in Brooklyn and Queens. Outside of the Superfund process, the City of New York is under order by the State of New York to implement a CSO Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) for Newtown Creek. The LTCP, which was approved by the state in June 2018, includes a number of components to reduce future CSO discharges to the creek, including construction of a storage tunnel.  The LTCP is ultimately anticipated to reduce the volume of CSO discharges to Newtown Creek by approximately 61%, and to achieve waterbody-specific water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. EPA evaluated the LTCP in the context of the Superfund site to determine if the volume reductions anticipated under the LTCP are sufficient to meet the needs of the future cleanup of the Superfund site. EPA has determined that the water pollution volume controls prescribed by the LTCP that the city and state will implement, in accordance with requirements of the Clean Water Act, are sufficient to meet the needs of an eventual Superfund cleanup for the Study Area of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site. The EPA anticipates requiring monitoring of the four largest CSOs to confirm the assumptions made in this proposed plan.

The EPA is conducting in-depth investigations of the extent of the contamination at the entire Newtown Creek Superfund Site in order to determine how best to clean it up over the long-term. This proposed plan is for one aspect of the site.

The EPA will determine in the future whether additional control actions, either in the creek or at CSO points-of-discharge, are needed to address the cleanup of the full site. These additional control actions could include the placement of sediment traps and/or oil sorbent pads at the end of CSO discharge pipes and in-creek maintenance dredging to address potential accumulation of contaminated solids near the CSO discharges.

During the public comment period, EPA’s two public meetings in New York City are being held to inform the public of EPA’s proposed plan for reducing the volume of CSO discharges to the creek, and to receive public comments on the proposed plan and other options that were considered. The first public meeting was held on December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th Street in Queens and the second meeting will be held on December 11 at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 110, 124 Monitor Street in Brooklyn.

Written comments on the proposed plan, postmarked no later than close of business January 27, 2020, may be emailed to

schmidt.mark@epa.gov

or mailed to Mark Schmidt, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

To view the EPA’s proposed plan for the site, please visit

www.epa.gov/superfund/newtown-creek

Using Elaborate Fraud Scheme Gang Stole Over $3 Million from Various Banks

Only in New Jersey!!!

Three defendants pleaded guilty to third-degree charges and were sentenced to probation. Five defendants were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program and had their charges dismissed ~

CNBNews editor

TRENTON

–Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a fourth leader was sentenced to state prison today in connection with an elaborate fraud scheme in which the participants used fictitious identities to obtain credit cards and open bank accounts that they used to steal approximately $3 million from various banks. A total of 14 defendants were charged in the joint state and federal investigation.

Aqeel Sheikh, 58, of Newark, N.J.

, was sentenced today to seven years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Candido Rodriguez Jr. in Union County. He pleaded guilty previously to charges of conspiracy and money laundering. Another ringleader was sentenced last month.

Naim Tahir, 51, of Clark, N.J.,

was sentenced on Nov. 15 to seven years in prison by Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch. He also pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

Two additional leaders of the scheme were sentenced to prison earlier this year by Judge Rodriguez as a result of the investigation.

Shaikh Dawood, 61, of Cranford, N.J.

, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by deception and was sentenced to eight years in prison on March 8, 2019.

Mohammad Zaman, 46, of Staten Island, N.Y.

, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by deception and was sentenced to five years in prison on Feb. 1, 2019. A fifth defendant,

Hassan Shahbaz, 46, of Jersey City, N.J.

, pleaded guilty to first-degree charges of conspiracy and money laundering. He faced a recommended sentence of eight years in prison, with three years of parole ineligibility, but he was deported prior to sentencing.

Deputy Attorney General Thomas Huynh and former Deputy Attorney General Brian Faulk took the guilty pleas, and DAG Huynh handled the sentencing hearings for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Cyber Crimes Bureau. The defendants were charged in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness, U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and New Jersey Department of the Treasury’s Office of Criminal Investigation. Those agencies were assisted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Department, Clark Police Department, Secaucus Police Department, and Jersey City Police Department.

“This type of credit card fraud involving stolen and false identities imposes huge costs on the financial services industry and ultimately on consumers,” said Attorney General Grewal. “We are committed to working with the industry and our state and federal partners to investigate and aggressively prosecute these crimes.”

“This was a complex case involving hundreds of fraudulent credit cards and millions of dollars in transactions,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “I commend the attorneys and detectives in our Financial & Cyber Crimes Bureau and all of the agencies that partnered with us to skillfully investigate this criminal ring and secure prison sentences for its leaders.”

“This complex sort of scheme of credit card fraud harms both commerce and consumers and nationwide results in billions of dollars in financial losses yearly,” said Brian Michael, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Newark. “In this case, all of the underhanded maneuvering of the defendants was no match for the cooperative efforts of law enforcement that exposed the scheme and delivered justice.”

“This investigation is an excellent example of a partnership between state and federal law enforcement agencies, working together to bring down a sophisticated bank fraud network,” said USPIS Inspector In Charge James V. Buthorn. “I fully commend the hard work put forth by all of the agencies involved, which resulted in bringing this group of fraudsters to justice. Postal Inspectors will continue to tirelessly investigate these types of financial crimes that utilize the U.S. Postal Service to facilitate illicit activities.”

“This elaborate scheme harmed not only the financial services industry, but also the integrity of the Social Security number as an identifier,” said John Grasso, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division. “I want to thank the Attorney General’s Office and our Federal and State law enforcement partners for pursuing this investigation and dismantling the scheme. We will continue to work with other agencies to prevent the misuse of Social Security numbers for personal gain.”

“A criminal enterprise of this scale and sophistication speaks to the modern challenges of protecting consumers and financial institutions from fraud,” said N.J. State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “Treasury is proud to have contributed to this successful effort and we stand ready to continue working with our state and federal partners to ensure that perpetrators of similar financial schemes are brought to justice.”

Three other defendants – Rilvan Junaid, Mohammad Shakeel and Mohammad Khan – pleaded guilty to third-degree charges and were sentenced to probation. Five defendants – Aqeel Ahmed, Shama Musir, Faisal Mushtq, Shakeela Ahmed, and Huda Ahmed – were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program and had their charges dismissed. One defendant, Muhammad Bhatti, 68,

remains a fugitive.

The defendants created “synthetic” identities by pairing stolen Social Security numbers with fictitious names and birth dates, using them to open numerous checking and credit card accounts. They opened the accounts online to avoid face-to-face interaction with the financial institutions. Tahir was primarily responsible for creating the synthetic identities and applying for the bank accounts and credit cards, using personal identifying information supplied by Zaman.

Bad checks were deposited into the bank accounts so they could be used to make payments on the credit cards, which temporarily inflated the lines of credit on the cards. In addition, funds were withdrawn from the bank accounts via ATM and U.S. Postal Money Order Purchases before the bad checks were discovered. The defendants ultimately “busted out” the credit cards by running up the unpaid balances until they reached or exceeded the credit limits.

The scheme included a group of “merchants,” led by Shahbaz and Sheikh, who in many cases ran shell businesses set up solely to participate in the fraud. Under the direction of Dawood and other defendants, the merchants swiped the fraudulent credit cards using point of sale terminals and received reimbursement from credit card processing companies via wire transfer, while never actually providing any merchandise or services. The defendants split the proceeds. The bank accounts of the shell companies also were used to launder the proceeds of the scheme, with checks being written from one company to another as if they were conducting business.

Shahbaz, Sheikh, and Dawood set up USA United Trading, a business owned by Shahbaz that was opened for the sole purpose of defrauding financial institutions. USA United Trading held itself out as a carpet retailer, with a store front in Jersey City. USA United Trading conducted approximately $1.2 million in fraudulent credit card transactions.

The investigation began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received a referral from Wells Fargo Bank about a bad check case the bank was investigating. USPIS enlisted agents of the Social Security Administration and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, who in turn enlisted the state agencies.

Former Deputy Attorney General Anthony Torntore presented the case the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Cyber Crimes Bureau. The lead investigators were Special Agent Bradley E. Greenberg of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; Postal Inspector Brian Macdonald; former Lt. Harry Maronpot, former Detective Katelyn Prata, and former Detective James Gallo of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; Special Agent Kristie Morgan of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; and former Special Agent Matthew Henderson of the New Jersey Department of the Treasury’s Office of Criminal Investigation.

Defense Attorneys:

For Sheikh: Gregory S. Mullens, Esq., Calcagni Kanefsky LLP, Newark, N.J.

For Tahir: Luis O. Diaz, Esq., New York, N.Y.

4 Tips on How to Use Social Media to Improve Your Small Business

Did you know that77.6% of small businesses use social media to promote their businesses?

Facebook is the most popular platform for small businesses to use, followed by LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, their own blog, Pinterest, and Instagram.

So if you’re a small business who is looking to improve your business with social media, then you need to discover our top tips on how you can use social media to boost your business.

Be Discoverable

One of the most important things to do to improve your social media efforts is to make sure your business is discoverable. Whether your business is on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, you need to make sure you are using the right keywords so people can find your business.

Place your keywords in category tags, description boxes, and photos, to ensure your business has maximum coverage. But remember not to keyword stuff, ensure that your phrasing is natural.

Use Statistics and Analyse Your Results

Understanding Facebook statistics

can greatly impact the success of your social media efforts. For example, if you know who your audience is, where you can find them online, and what time or days they use Facebook then you should be able to target your key audience using carefully thought out campaigns. This works with other platforms too, so make sure you research who is most prominent on each channel and what time they use it most.

You can also use your own Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn statistics to figure out what type of content creates the most engagement and what your audience wants to see. Once you’ve worked out what works best make sure you create more content like it.

Create Relevant Content

So many businesses and brands make the mistake of creating content that their audience doesn’t care about. When it comes to social media you need to make sure that you create relevant content for your audience. For example, create useful how-to blogs about your products, create exciting videos about your business, and post images that your followers want to see.

The best way to find out what is relevant is by testing the waters and seeing what your audience responds and interacts with most. If you get the most engagement from posting photos and videos, then focus your content in this format.

Don’t Promote Yourself Too Much

Businesses that always post about their products or services often lose followers and don’t gain much engagement, that’s because your audience doesn’t always want to be sold your business, they also want fun content. The social media rule of thumb is to post 80% of your content so that it can inform, educate, or entertain your audience. The other 20% of your content can be directly promoting your business.

 

Msgr. Thomas J. McIntyre, Supt. of Diocese Schools, former GCHS Principal, Rams Alum

GLASSBORO, NJ (Dec. 12, 2019)–The Rev. Thomas J. McIntyre,  age 77, of Glassboro, NJ, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Dec. 6, 2019.

Rev. Thomas J. McIntyre

Born in Camden, NJ to the late James P. and Catherine (Goldthorp) McIntyre, he is the beloved brother of Jeanette Reilly of Glassboro and the late Rev. Msgr. James P. McIntyre. Devoted uncle of Janice (Tony) Lanteigne, Richard (Jodi) Winters, Christopher (Tara) Reilly, Kevin Reilly, Maureen (Mike) Collazo, Donna (Brendan) Shaw. Uncle to 14 great-nieces and nephews.

Raised in Westville, Msgr. McIntyre graduated from Gloucester Catholic HS, Mount St. Mary\’s College in Emmitsburg, MD and Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Ordained at St. Peter\’s Basilica, in Rome, Italy on December 17, 1966, he later received his Master\’s Degree in Secondary Education Administration from Villanova University. Msgr. was a faithful leader in the Camden Diocese for many years having served as Vocation Coordinator at St. Joseph HS in Hammonton beginning in 1970 and later Administrative Assistant at Sacred Heart HS, Vineland in 1975.

In 1976 he became Principal of Gloucester Catholic HS and in 1982 was named Superintendent of Schools after briefly serving as Assoc. Superintendent earlier that year. In 1991 he became Vicar for Pastoral Services for the Diocese and in 1999 was made Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Schools. He also served on the Continuing Education & Spiritual Formation of Priests, Priests Council, Priest Personnel Board, Inter-parochial Board, College of Consulters and Presbyteral Council.

Msgr. McIntyre also served as Executive Editor of the Catholic Star Herald in the 1980\’s and was well known for his \”Teachable Moments\” column where his many inspirational writings will forever be cherished. He touched the lives of many during his pastoral ministry where he served as Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Blackwood 1992-2000, St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill 2000-2004 and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May from 2004 to 2010 at which time he retired after suffering a head injury after a fall on the ice. He continued to demonstrate immense courage after his accident and devoted himself to the prayerful support of others while in the care of his sister in her home. Msgr. McIntyre was an amazing and humble man. His love for Christ, his family, his parishioners, and friends was always evident in his words and actions. He was an avid Eagles and Phillies Fan. Visitation Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 from 9-10:45 am, Incarnation RC Church, 240 Main St., Mantua. Mass of Christian Burial, 11 am, Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D., Bishop of Camden, principal Celebrant.

Burial beside his beloved parents and brother in New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be offered to the Msgr. Thomas J. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship Fund for Gloucester Catholic HS, c/o Jeanette Reilly, 14 Ealey Ct., Glassboro, NJ 08028. (Spilker Funeral Home, Cape May) Info and condolences:

spilkerfuneralhome.com

(Video) Fire at Roadway Inn, Gloucester City

image courtesy of WPVi Philadelphia

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (Dec. 12, 2019)–A fire Tuesday night, Dec. 10 at the Roadway Inn,  Rt. 130 and Market Street, was quickly extinguished, according to

https://6abc.com/

Fire crews arrived at the motel around 11:45 p.m. and found heavy smoke coming from one room.  The motel is part of the Royal Farms complex. Firefighters contained the fire to that one room. The cause of the fire is not known. There were no injuries reported.

Related:

Gloucester City News

Fire

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

CNBNews Point of View

BREAKING NEWS

Miss America 2020 Competition Preliminary Hosts and Judges Announced

Preliminary and Final Night Competition

to be Streamed Live for the First Time.

Uncasville, CT  (December 10, 2019)

For the first time in Miss America history, the

2020 Miss America Competition

Preliminaries

will be live-streamed from the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 15, and Monday, December 16.

The live stream will be produced by JC Productions and is sponsored by Dakota State University.

In addition, the

2020 Miss America Competition

broadcast will simultaneously be streamed on

NBC.com

on Thursday, December 19, at 8:00 PM ET.

Viewers can now watch, on multiple platforms, the new exciting, interactive, and dramatic selection process

of one young woman who will earn a job with a six-figure salary and the crown of Miss America

.

The Miss America Organization is also pleased to announce the preliminary hosts and judges for the two nights of preliminary competition.

The preliminary competition hosts are:

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Dorothy Benham

Miss America 1977

Monday, December 16, 2019

Susan Powell

Miss America 1981

This year, our judging panel looks different than in years past, reflecting the importance of an exciting format that allows the judges to spend more time getting to know the 51 candidates. Each woman will engage with the preliminary panel of judges in a private interview before the on-stage elements of competition, painting a more in-depth picture of who she is and what she plans to do in this iconic role.

Our world-renowned and distinguished panel of preliminary competition judges are:

Anthony Barfield

Paying tribute to Nia Franklin, Miss America 2019’s social impact initiative that focuses on music composition and advancing the arts in education, the Miss America Organization welcomes Anthony Barfield.

Anthony is the founder of Velocity Music, a music production company based in New York City.

Having worked with artists including Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Young M.A, Anthony is a leader in hip-hop and R&B.

Anthony has scored music for film, television, and video games for companies such as EA Sport and Genentech, and recently signed a record deal with Polo Grounds Music,

a subsidiary of Sony’s RCA Records.

Anthony holds degrees from The Juilliard School and The Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his B.M. and then M.M. in trombone performance.  He has performed at the Kennedy Center and at Carnegie Hall, where his composition \”Here We Rest\” was premiered at the New York Wind Band Festival.

He currently lives in New York City with his wife, Alaina, and Pug, Gouda.

Holly Pelham Davis

Recognizing the importance of physical, emotional, and mental well-being, the Miss America Organization welcomes Holly Pellham Davis as our second judge for Miss America 2020 preliminaries.

Holly’s career as a model and actress spans over three decades and naturally led to her founding Clean Fresh Living, where she serves as CEO.

Promoting organic living, Holly and her company are focused on sharing knowledge and building awareness of the importance of healthy living.

Having taken this message to television audiences, Holly has also served as a spokesperson for the

Made in America

and

Made in the USA

campaigns, serves on the board of Constituting America, and has helped raise millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes.

Holly resides with her husband and two children in Dallas, Texas.

Stephanie S. Streett

Focusing on the importance of the new Miss America advancing her social impact initiative to a broad range of audiences, the Miss America Organization is proud to welcome Stephanie Streett.

Stephanie is the executive director of the Clinton Foundation, overseeing the strategy and management of the Clinton Presidential Center, which provides extensive educational and cultural opportunities for visitors of all ages.

She served in the Clinton White House for eight years, first as Deputy Assistant to the President, and then as Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling.

Prior to her White House assignments, she worked on Capitol Hill as a staff member for the United States Senate Committee on the Budget.

Stephanie oversees for the Clinton Foundation the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a unique collaboration between the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon Baines Johnson.

This first of its kind leadership development program produces bold and principled leaders committed to solving the world’s greatest challenges.

She and her husband, Don Erbach, are the proud parents of three teenage daughters and live in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Live Streaming

###

The Miss America Organization, a 501(c)4 works to empower young women through education and service. Miss America candidates contribute tens of thousands of community service hours annually and have raised over $19 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships since 2007. The Miss America Foundation, a 501(c) (3), provides academic, community service, and other scholarships to young women.

Philadelphia CBP Agriculture K9 Detects Prohibited Cheese Wrapped in Animal Skins

Release Date:

December 11, 2019

PHILADELPHIA

– A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture detector dog led to the seizure of nearly 16 pounds of unpasteurized cheese wrapped in unknown animal skins at Philadelphia International Airport November 16.

K9 Potter, part of CBP\’s

Beagle Brigade, sniffed

out cheese-filled animal

skins from Turkey.

While inspecting travelers from a flight that arrived from Turkey, CBP agriculture K9 Potter alerted to a couple’s baggage. During a secondary examination, CBP agriculture specialists discovered five tanned animal skins balled up and stitched closed. Inside they discovered 7.1 kilograms, or 15 pounds, 10 ounces, of soft cheese. The skins and cheese were prohibited without veterinary certification due to the skins being a potential carrier of animal diseases. The skins and cheese were destroyed.

CBP agriculture specialists observe increases in prohibited agriculture products during the holidays when foreign nations bring traditional meals and products to celebrate with family in the United States.

The couple, who CBP released, were destined to an address in Burlington County, N.J.

\”Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists protect our nation from a variety of potential agriculture threats every day, including from these unfinished animal skins that may carry an economy-damaging animal disease,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP agriculture specialists continue to exercise extraordinary vigilance in their fight to protect our nation’s agriculture and economic prosperity from invasive pests and animal diseases.”

CBP agriculture specialists

perform a critical border security role in safeguarding America’s agricultural and natural resources from harmful pests and plant diseases. They have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection.

Cheese-filled animal skins from Turkey.

CBP agriculture specialists work diligently to inspect imported air and sea cargo and arriving international travelers every day to intercept pests and potential plant and animal diseases at our nation’s international ports of entry.

During a typical day last year, CBP agriculture specialists across the nation seized 4,552 prohibited plant, meat, animal byproduct, and soil, and intercepted 319 insect pests at U.S. ports of entry. See what else CBP achieved on a

typical day during 2018

,

CBP encourages foreign visitors to ‘

know before you go

’ by viewing general guidelines on a variety of

prohibited or restricted products

, or by visiting CBP’s Travel site at

www.CBP.gov

.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation\’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Mt. Laurel Man Receives Prison Term for Causing Son’s Death While Driving Impaired

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 27-year-old Mount Laurel man was sentenced today to seven years in New Jersey state prison for driving impaired earlier this year and causing a crash in Willingboro that killed his 4-year-old son and injured the boy’s twin

brother.

Ossie Thomas must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He pled guilty in June to one count of Vehicular Homicide (Second Degree), one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree), and one count of Driving While Intoxicated (Municipal Summons). He was sentenced in Superior Court before the Hon. Christopher J. Garrenger, J.S.C., and was ordered to report to the Burlington County Jail on January 3.

The investigation began after Willingboro Township Police Department patrol officers were called to the area of Rancocas Road and Primrose Lane just before 2 p.m. on January 8, 2019 for a report of a motor vehicle crash. The investigation revealed that Thomas was traveling east on Rancocas Road at a high rate of speed and attempted to turn onto Primrose Lane. He lost control of the vehicle and veered into a wooded area near the intersection.

One of the twins was pronounced dead an hour later at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro. The other child was taken to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden and treated for a traumatic brain injury.

The results of toxicology tests performed on blood drawn from Thomas after the crash revealed he had marijuana in his system and a blood alcohol content of .125 percent. Thomas did not dispute the results of the report.

“Yet again, we are confronted with a scenario where a child’s life was lost due to a parent’s decision to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “I urge everyone to think ahead about transportation when planning to have adult beverages. Choose a designated driver, call a cab, or use a ride-sharing or ride-hailing service. It’s as easy as sending a text.”

Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Dennis, supervisor of the BCPO Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit. The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Willingboro Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Melvin Rogers and Willingboro Police Detectives Gil Quinones and Monica Podraza.

Holiday Events in Camden County

12/13/19

Collingswood’s First Holly Jolly Trolley

December 13, 2019

Corner of Haddon Avenue and Woodlawn, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Collingswood’s first Holly Jolly Trolley lights tour! See the magnificently decorated business districts and homes registered for the residential decorating contest each Friday in December. Guests can take a free, festive trolley tour and enjoy block after block of homes trimmed in holiday cheer! The trolley will board in Collingswood’s downtown, giving guests an opportunity to plan a night to enjoy the trolley then shop and dine in the Borough’s “winter wonderland” which includes caroling, free visits with Santa and free parking!

12/14/19

Santa Brunch

Saturday, December 14th, 10 AM

Gloucester Twp.

Gloucester Township Recreation Center

On Saturday, December 14th, visit Santa and enjoy bagels, donuts, fun & games at the Gloucester Township Recreation Center. This event is FREE! Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need.

https://www.facebook.com/events/538430613393995/

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, December 14th, 9:00 AM

Magnolia

Donald E. Wilson Community Center, 425 W. Brooke Ave, Magnolia

On Saturday, December 14th, all Magnolia children and families are invited to our Breakfast with Santa. Starting at 9:00 AM, there will be food, crafts and other activities for all. This year’s theme is “Candy Land”. All children up to and including 8th grade will receive a gift. Seating is limited and tickets will need to be purchased in advance at the Borough Hall. There will also be a drop-off for expired or unused prescriptions all day. The event will be held at the Donald E. Wilson Community Center (425 W. Brooke Ave.).

www.magnolia-nj.org

Holiday Resident Luncheon

Saturday, December 14th, 2:00 PM

Magnolia

Donald E. Wilson Community Center, 425 W. Brooke Ave, Magnolia

Also on Saturday, December 14th, the borough will hold its Holiday Resident Luncheon at 2:00 PM. There will be a drop-off for expired or unused prescriptions all day. This year’s entertainment will feature various performing arts groups from Sterling High School. There will be free gifts for those who attend. Any Magnolia resident who is at least 55 years “young” is welcome to attend consider this FREE event. Seating is limited and reservations need to be made in advance at the Borough Hall. The event will be held at the Donald E. Wilson Community Center (425 W. Brooke Ave.).

www.magnolia-nj.org

Merchantville Breakfast with Santa

Saturday December 14th, beginning at 10:00 AM

Merchantville

Merchantville Senior Center, 212 Somerset Ave, Merchantville

Christmas Parade of Lights

Saturday December 14th, 7 PM

Mount Ephraim

12/15/19

Make It, Take It, Fry It, Try It – Chanukah Event

Sunday December 15th, 2-3:30 PM

Katz JCC

Katz JCC, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

At this inter-generational Chanukah family fun day with Chef Jerzy Gonzalez! Design a unique family latke recipe and recipe card, prep and take home to fry! Children will enjoy decorating aprons and an oil-themed STEM activity!

https://katzjcc.org/event/make-it-take-it-fry-it-try-it-chanukah-event/

Holiday Parade of Lights

Sunday, December 15th at 6:00 PM

Magnolia

The parade will begin at Camden and Davis Ave. It will proceed down Camden Ave., make a left on Maryland Ave., a right on Warwick Rd., right on Evesham Ave., and right on Albertson Ave., and end at the Donald E. Wilson Community Center (425 W. Brooke Ave.). Another event which has become an annual tradition in Magnolia is our Holiday Parade of Lights . This year’s parade will begin at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 15th. The Recreation Committee would like to encourage all fire departments, ambulance squads, residents, civic organizations, and local businesses to participate. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories. The parade will begin at Camden and Davis Ave. It will proceed down Camden Ave., make a left on Maryland Ave., a right on Warwick Rd., right on Evesham Ave., and right on Albertson Ave., and end at the Donald E. Wilson Community Center (425 W. Brooke Ave.). Please go to the Borough of Magnolia website (

www.magnolia-nj.org

) or call the Borough Hall (856-783-1520) for more information.

12/17/19

Teddy’s Toys For Camden Kids

December 17th

Camden City

Adventure Aquarium, Camden

Enlightened Chanukah Cooking Class

Tuesday, December 17th, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Katz JCC

Katz JCC, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Enjoy the spirit and tradition of Chanukah with lighter and healthier ingredients! Potato latke cups with assorted fillings, Chickpea tacos with spicy sour cream, Nutty quinoa salad with tangy orange dressing, Banana bread donuts with chocolate, halvah and cinnamon glazes, Chocolate gelt for adults, Apple cider hot toddy. Space is limited

Instructors: Ruth Cohen and Vicky Fox, Authors of Tahini and Turmeric. COST: $40/JCC Member • $50/Guest

12/19/19

STEM LAB: Make an Electric Circuit Menorah

Thursday, December 19th, 1-3PM

Katz JCC

Katz JCC, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Join instructor: Michelle Carrera Foster, STEM Coordinator, Katz JCC. Impress your children and grandchildren by bringing home a circuit menorah that you make, all while learning about electricity!

COST: JCC Member: $10 / Guest: $15

REGISTER ONLINE

https://katzjcc.org/event/stem-lab-make-an-electric-circuit-menorah/

12/20/19

Collingswood’s First Holly Jolly Trolley

December 20, 2019

Corner of Haddon Avenue and Woodlawn, Collingswood, NJ 08108

Collingswood’s first Holly Jolly Trolley lights tour! See the magnificently decorated business districts and homes registered for the residential decorating contest each Friday in December. Guests can take a free, festive trolley tour and enjoy block after block of homes trimmed in holiday cheer! The trolley will board in Collingswood’s downtown, giving guests an opportunity to plan a night to enjoy the trolley then shop and dine in the Borough’s “winter wonderland” which includes caroling, free visits with Santa and free parking!

12/25/19

Character Breakfast

Wednesday, December 25th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Katz JCC

Katz JCC, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

Enjoy a morning full of food and fun for the whole family at our annual character breakfast! Characters include Curious George, Elmo and a princess! Also enjoy special Chanukah crafts and games! EMAIL US TO REGISTER – erichman@jfedsnj.org

https://katzjcc.org/event/character-breakfast/

12/26/19

Community Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration

Thursday, December 26th, 6:00 PM

Collingswood

Lumberyard Garden found at the corner of Collings and N. Atlantic Ave Collingswood’s annual community Menorah lighting on Thursday, December 26 at 6 pm. The lighting takes place at the Lumberyard garden found at the corner of Collings and N. Atlantic Ave. Connect with the community and enjoy an evening of fun for the whole family with music, latkes, donuts, dreidels and choco-gelt! Sponsored by Chabad of Camden and Burlington counties For more information please visit

www.thechabadcenter.org

12/30/19

Kwanzaa Celebration

December 30th

Camden City (location TBD)

Throughout the Season

Merchantville Santa House

Friday and Saturday Evenings

Merchantville

Park and Centre Street, Merchantville

Santa will be at his house for a photo