CNBNews

CHEER-The Gloucester Catholic Alumni Association honored Police Officer John Driscoll with the Thomas Stewart III Award at a ceremony on October 31. The annual award is presented to the Gloucester Catholic graduate that demonstrates selfless commitment and extraordinary service to the greater community.

Driscoll has been a baseball and soccer coach and an assistant basketball coach, he and his wife Kate have delivered Meals on Wheels for seven years. He and his wife also held a fund raiser for autism for 4 years. The money went to the Doug Flutie organization to be used for needy families. For the past 10 years he has delivered food every Thanksgiving to the poor for St. Mary Parish. A Gloucester City Police Officer for 10 years he was also the DARE program instructor for four years.

What a great example for others to follow. Thank you and congratulations John.

JEER-The 8th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy was observed last month. Eight years have passed, billions of dollars have been spent and still there has been nothing built on the site were the Trade Towers once stood. Yet the Empire State Building was constructed in just 400 days. Each day that passes gives more strength to the cause of the radical muslins.

CHEER-For years civic activist John Paff has fought municipal governments across the state of New Jersey that abuse the Open Public Meetings Act. CentralNewJersey.com writes, “John Paff is a rebel with a cause and a litigator without a license. The cause is open government and Paff knows the ins-and-outs of laws on open records and open public meetings far better than most attorneys. He has filed a dozen lawsuits under the Open Public Records Act, another dozen under the Open Public Meetings Act and more than 50 complaints with the Government Records Council, the agency assigned to settle disputes over records.”

It is comforting to know that the residents of this state have such an advocate in their corner. Thanks John for all that you do.

JEER-To parents attending their children’s soccer games and smoking on the sidelines.  Especially the mother who was recently practicing with her son before the game started, running up and down the field with a lit cigarette in her hand.

CHEER-To the Gloucester City School Board and the Mt. Ephraim School Board for sponsoring recent meetings in their communities to encourage communications between their districts and the residents.

JEER-However, one parent is upset with the Gloucester City School District for not communicating with the public about the effects of the H1N1 flu on the students. She writes, “I would like to know why the district hasn’t sent parents any information on this topic. The superintendent said it was due to the HIPPA law. I would rather be told about the swine flu then head lice. I do know the flu is in the schools because my child was diagnosed with the illness recently. Instead of all the secrecy it would be better if we were informed so that parents can take the proper measures to protect their children and their families.”

KUDOS to Mt. Ephraim School Superintendent Joe Rafferty and Brooklawn Superintendent, Dr. John Kellmayer for keeping the parents/public informed about the effects of the H1N1 flu is having on their student population. Both superintendents recently released statements to the public on the topic.

JEER-To the Gloucester City Housing/Code Inspectors for wasting their time in harassing homeowners for minor or insignificant infractions, when there are PLENTY of significant, prominent eyesores that need their attention and effort.  Being concerned about a few weeds/barely long grass in back yards is ludicrous in light of the areas of the city that are desperately in need of aggressive enforcement.  If you want to make the most difference to improve the looks/hygiene of the City, take on the dilapidated housing, abandoned buildings, broken sidewalks, boarded up houses and trash strewn lots. ~signed a disgruntled resident

If you have a CHEER OR JEER for the November column sent it to [email protected] or by snail mail c/o of Gloucester City News PO Box 151, Gloucester City 08030.