A Fond Farewell to Carr’s Hardware

William E. Cleary Sr. | Founder/Editor of Cleary’s Notebook News

Gloucester City News photo, August 29, 1974

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 24, 2026)--All good things come to an end, eventually — or so the saying goes. Gloucester City felt the weight of that truth this month when Jean Carr, owner of Carr’s Hardware, announced she was retiring and closing the family business on March 12. With that decision, a remarkable 58‑year chapter in the city’s history quietly came to a close.

The Carr family’s hardware legacy began in 1968, when the family patriarch, Franklin Carr Sr., opened the original store at 520 Monmouth Street in the heart of the Business District. At the time, Garwood’s Hardware stood directly across the street, and several other shops throughout town sold tools, lumber, and supplies. When the business moved to its new location, Frank Jr., owned the business. And, his brothers, Bill and Richard, worked there.

Among them were: Continue reading →

Home Opener: Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park

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Provided by Visit Philadelphia

March 26, 28 & 29 2026

Oh yeah, the boys of summer are back in town. The Philadelphia Phillies finally return to Citizens Bank Park this week to tip off the 2026 home season with a series against the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.

On opening day, fans can celebrate the Phils’ second consecutive National League East championship alongside the team as they receive their 2025 division championship rings and raise the new pennant out in Ashburn Alley. Bonus: All fans in attendance receive a replica of the pennant as well.

Can’t make it to the Bank for the opener? Ring in the new season with watch parties at Evil Genius Beer Company, Stateside Live! and Dock Street Brewery, or game day food and drink specials at spots like Sports & Social and Libertee Grounds (Thursday).

Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA

“For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.visitphilly.com.”

Manayunk, PA – The largest food event in Philadelphia – and one of the largest food truck festivals in America – is back and bigger than ever! StrEAT Food Festival returns to Manayunk on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Over 70 food trucks and 20 gourmet food vendors of the region’s top food trucks and food vendors will line historic Main Street for the day, serving up menus that range from savory BBQ and global street food to decadent desserts and sweet treats. The lineup reads like a who’s who of the regional food truck scene, including favorites such as Bake’n Bacon, Deke’s BBQ,Humpty’s Dumplings, Hangry Joe’s Food Truck, The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, Wokworks, G’Day Gourmet, Cousins Maine Lobster, and many more. In addition to the food trucks, the festival will also feature gourmet food vendors, unique shopping options and live music throughout the day. New for 2026, the festival will feature an all-new, expanded family area, creating even more space for guests to relax, explore, and enjoy the day. The extended footprint also allows for additional food trucks and vendors, making this year’s festival the largest StrEAT yet. Main Street Manayunk will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow all visitors a chance to explore the historic neighborhood. This rain or shine event is the perfect spring escape for visitors of all ages. There is no admission charge, and all food and drink is pay-as-you-go. For event info and updates, visit manayunk.com/events/ and follow @manayunkdotcom.

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Paulsboro Walking Tour Explores NJ History

For a small town, Paulsboro boasts an impressive collection of historic buildings ranging from an Art Deco theater to a historic lighthouse. A simple stroll down Broad Street covers a vast timeline of New Jersey’s history.
Last year, three of the town’s leading preservationists completed a walking tour for those who want to know the story behind these landmarks.
“One of the reasons we did the tour is to celebrate the history of a unique town that represents the history of New Jersey,” said Walter Quint, one of the authors along with Jeff Duvilla and Margie Loomis. “We kept uncovering fascinating information.”
Quint has never lived in Paulsboro, but because he served as the borough’s superintendent for more than a decade, he became the town’s adopted son. During his career, he has served as president of the local lighthouse society and vice chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. When the time came to draft the walking tour, there was no one better to take on the project.Read Full Story

MISSING JUVENILE-AIDEN BAKER

The Camden County Police Department is looking for a missing 12-year-old from Centerville.

Aiden Baker has been reported missing from his home on the 1800 block of South 10th Street. He is described as a black male, 5’5”, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing black clothes and a black hat. He is known to frequent Centerville and Fairview, including Yorkship Square.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the CCPD tip line at (856) 757-7042.

Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a ground beef product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal. A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.

The ground beef item was produced on Feb 26, 2026. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

16oz (1 lb.) PLASTIC, VACUUM-PACKED, packages containing “WHITE OAK PASTURES, RADICALLY TRADITIONAL FARMING, GRASSFED GROUND BEEF”.

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Talk With Officers on GTPD Recruitment & Civil Service Exam

Are you interested in becoming a Gloucester Township Police Officer and have questions about applying and taking the NJ Civil Service Commission 2026 Law Enforcement Exam? Talk live with our GTPD Community Relations Officers on TODAY, March 24th between 12 PM and 7 PM at 856-228-4011!

If you’re not available to call during those times, or your call goes to voicemail due to them taking another call, you can always email your questions to CommunityRelations@GTPolice.com or https://gtpolice.com/ask-your-agency at any time!

For all information on our recruitment process, please visit the CAREERS section of our website here!: https://gtpolice.com/recruiting

Watch our video on “How To Become A Gloucester Township Police Officer” here! https://youtu.be/sQtuBcQZilQ?si=x8EfhIRyQ9AUqPvG

Botany of Nations Blooms at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Botany of Nations, the Academy of Natural Sciences’ newest exhibition, allows visitors to retrace the legendary journey of Lewis and Clark while learning about the contributions of the Indigenous people who helped them along the way. The collection of plant specimens and other artifacts aims to inspire conversation and reframe history through Indigenous perspectives.

What’s next: The exhibit opens on March 28, and runs through Feb. 14, 2027. Registration for the opening reception on March 27 is available here.

New Commercial Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries Webpage

NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of a new consolidated commercial Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries webpage. The new webpage includes information related to commercial fishery status (open/closed), base and adjusted quotas, landings, minimum sizes, retention limits, and permits.

For more information please refer to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species website.

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104th Annual Candlelight Dinner

Honoring & Celebrating America’s 250th!

On Wednesday, April 8th at 6 PM join us at the Tavistock Country Club, Haddonfield, NJ for the 104th Annual Candlelight Dinner! The Historical Society of Haddonfield’s annual Candlelight Dinner returns as part of the America 250 celebration. The evening will feature historian Will Krakower, who will present a talk on the events surrounding the Battle of Princeton and the important role New Jersey played during the American Revolution. To learn more, Click Here.