Cheers and Jeers for the month of August
Monday, August 25, 2008
CHEER- Dorothy Stanaitis, of Gloucester City was recently named Rutgers-Camden's
First Trustee Emerita for Life. For years she was the “Story Lady” for the
Gloucester City Library until her retirement in 1994. Since retiring, Stanaitis
has juggled her two passions -- story-telling career and Rutgers -- with
consummate skill.
KUDOS TO Gloucester City Library Director Elizabeth
Egan who recently received the NJ Library Association President's Award for
2008. The honor is given for outstanding public service to the library
community.
Theresa Cowgill submitted
a CHEER for the Gloucester City Library staff. She writes, “I can honestly say
they are some of the most helpful and friendly people that I have ever come
across. I know it is their job, but they always make sure you are taken care
of. Whether looking for something or requesting info, they always get
back to you when they say they will. Your request is never too much and
they never make you feel like it is a bother. I believe they are funded
with local and state taxes, not sure, but if they are, I think it is some of
the best tax money we are spending”.
CHEER- Jack Heath
writes, “I would nominate Rob Curtis mayor of Woodbury for a round of applause.
Rob is a graduate of GCHS class of ‘77 and has done a lot to improve Woodbury
in the time he has been in office. Everything from new businesses, to improving
the appearance of the town to a farmers market etc. He has been proactive in
office to make it happen”.
JEER-To the Gloucester
City’s Parking Enforcement Officer for ticketing a person who had stopped their
car to help an elderly individual into a waiting vehicle. According to Sister
Christine, of St. Mary’s Parish, the Good Samaritan drove off and several days
later received the motor vehicle ticket in the mail.
JEER-The Delaware
River Port Authority has raised the tolls on all area bridges by a $1 effective
Sept. 14 along with increasing PATCO train fares by 10 percent. The DPRA could
care less about the little guy. They answer to no one. Their fiscal
mismanagement includes a payroll of $50.7 million. That works out to an average annual pay of about $61,000 for each of the
agency's 887 employees.
Barb Birney writes, “I have two for
you; CHEERS to a new business the
Pretzel Factory for opening up in Gloucester City recently. And JEERS to the city of Gloucester for
allowing a bunch of drunken bums to live on a front porch on North Broadway
in plain view. This makes the City look so good!!!”
YOU MAKE THE CALL! The
Gloucester City School District Performance Audit complied by state
investigators questioned the district for spending $14,900 to hire “geese
chasers”. Geese as you know are dirty birds. And I’m sure those who play ball
on the athletic fields would tell you it was money well spent. On the other
hand, spending nearly $15,000 to chase birds seems extravagant. I’ll leave the
call up to you, does the School Board/administrators deserve a Cheer or Jeer. By the way the geese have found their way
back to the fields. (See Audit Page 28 http://www.state.nj.us/education/finance/kw/GloucesterCity.pdf
)
If you
have a Cheer or Jeer to submit for
the September column submit it to [email protected]. The
column appears regularly the last week of each month.
~Bill Cleary www.clearysnotebook.com
PS: Gloucester City/We are happy to report that the Port-A-Potty at Rt. 130 and Market Street has been removed. Thank you to whoever was responsible for getting rid of this eyesore.