March 2009 Cheer and Jeer Column
Monday, March 30, 2009
A BIG CHEER to GHS girls’
basketball Coach Sean Gorman for guiding
this year’s team to a 27-3 record. With
him at the helm the team won the school’s first South Jersey title in girls
basketball and reached the Group I state championship. Included in the kudos are the members of the team.
CHEER-To
the outstanding group who dedicated their Saturday to repair a roof for our own
nuns here in Gloucester city that needed repair and a lack of funds to do it
with. Thanks to volunteers who in spite of their own economics still try to
help others to keep the fabric of our community together.
CHEER-To Saint Mary Grammar School, Gloucester City, on their 150th
Anniversary. Fond memories of my eight years at St. Mary’s come to mind.
Although it was years ago I have never forgotten my teachers. Such as Sister
Agnes de Lourdes, Sister Ann, Sister Nicolas Marie, Sister Grace de Chantal, Sister
Louis Bertram. Let us pray that the St.
Mary tradition continues for many more years to come.
JEER-To those school districts who allow their students to dress in pajama
bottoms, baggy shorts and pants. Besides a sloppy looking appearance baggy pants could be interpreted as gang dress.
Dressing as a gang member intimidates other students and spreads fear. I would ask school boards to
consider adopting a school uniform for both boys and girls to wear. The intent
of the uniform is to keep students safe and focused on academics.
JEER-To
the Diocese of Camden for purchasing an 11-acre residence for $800,000 in
Pittsgrove NJ to house five nuns. The new home is located on several acres comes
complete with a horse stable, wet bar, a five-car garage and a fountain. In these hard economic times the money could
have been better spent in so many other places that are in real need of
financial help.
JEER- To Mayor and Police Department who
have made and broken promises to residents of North King Street to establish a
Residential Parking Permit system to keep Holt employees from parking in front
of homes near the terminal. Not only do these workers take up limited on-street
parking, they leave trash on the road and sidewalks, disturb the peace with loud
noise and profanity. There IS a designated parking area for Holt
employees, but if no one stops them why should they walk the extra 1/2 block?
JEER-To all the big rigs who idle their
motors ALL NIGHT LONG in front of the Holt terminal entrance. Despite the
proliferation of "NO IDLE ZONE" signage, if no one is going to
enforce the law, why should the truckers obey? Last week,
an idling trucker was observed
urinating in the "NO IDLING ZONE", a mere 35 yards from a
residence. According to Pastor Doster a call to Central Dispatch was made
but no police ever showed up. “It's puzzlement that Quality of Life is
not a concern for certain parts of our city,” he said.
JEER-The national outrage over the scandalous bonuses paid to
executives at AIG is fully justified, but the response in Congress doesn't make
sense. Using the tax code as a weapon to exact revenge on a select few, no
matter how badly they've behaved, is a horrible idea. Slapping heavy taxes on
the bonuses and on the company that issued them may satisfy enraged taxpayers
who see incompetent executives being rewarded for failure, but it sets a bad
precedent.
JEER-Once again we have a NJ State Legislator being indicted. This time
it was Assemblyman and
former Perth Amboy mayor Joseph Vas on charges he conspired with city employees
to steal approximately $5,000 in funds of the City of Perth Amboy to pay for
personal purchases and expenses.
JEER-Spending $3 million to build a new firehouse in Mount Ephraim is
against Governor Corzine’s directive that small municipalities should
consolidate. According to newspaper reports the community of Bellmawr is also
planning to build a new station at Browning and Bell, less than a ½ mile away
from the site of the new Mt. Ephraim firehouse. Consolidation of services,
school districts is the way to go for a more prosperous New Jersey.
JEER-To the parent of a player who recently
punched a Gloucester City Little League Coach injuring him. And to all parents
who become so emotional over a youth sporting event that they become violent and
an embarrassment to their children who are just playing a GAME! Incidentally
the coach suffered an injury to his shoulder. The parent was charged with aggravated
assault. What is wrong with our society today? This seems to be an everyday
occurrence. Parents of kids playing sports should just step aside an allow
their youngsters to enjoy themselves.
Contributing to this month’s column was: Joe Murphy Jr., Len Lacovara, Pastor Jim Doster, Joseph Mc Crea.
Send your Cheer or Jeer for April's column to [email protected]