Gloucester City News Year in Review Part 1
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
By Albert Countryman Jr.
As for the first decade of the new millennium, wars and the economy were the big stories.
The April of 2000 the dot.com bubble burst, and in the fall of 2008 the entire global economy nearly collapsed.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed Americans, and since then our soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As for 2009, government officials declared the Great Recession over. Try telling that to the 10 percent of the people currently unemployed. Small businesses are struggling to survive, and families have cut their spending.
Still, 2010 brings a clean slate, and a fresh start. Here’s hoping the economy rebounds and our soldiers come home soon.
Here is the Gloucester City News’ 2009 Year In Review, Part One:
JANUARY
1 – The two vacant buildings in the 1300 unit block Market Street, next to the Gloucester City Wawa, were demolished to expand Wawa’s parking lot.
Superintendent Annette Castiglione said the Bellmawr Board of Education will hire EIRC for a feasibility study to explore the possibility of consolidating school districts.
Councilwoman Theresa Branella presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Paul and Karen Heyne for their volunteering efforts in beautifying Brooklawn.
A handful of Bellmawr residents filed into December’s Borough Council Meeting to hear who won the 19th Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest.
8 – Jack Lipsett, the new administrator for Gloucester City, was hired December 29, 2008, and began work January 5.
The last official recognition of the year came to the Westville Mud Dogs U12 Soccer Team.
15 – Gloucester City Coun-cil held its 140th annual reorganization meeting, and announced appointments for various positions. During it, Gloucester City Mayor William James delivered the “State of the City” address.
Gloucester City firefighters attacked flames coming from the first floor of an occupied home at 313 Jersey Ave., with wind driven flames spreading to the home next door.
Oaths of office for Westville Borough Council members were given to James Pennington and Charles Murtaugh by Senator Stephen Sweeney during the re-org meeting.
The Gloucester City Board of Education called on citizens to work together toward improving education as it recognized the contributions of colleagues throughout the state during School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey.
After years of public debate about the best way to expand the PATCO Hi-Speedline deeper into South Jersey, the state Office of Smart Growth has recommended the route between Camden City and Glassboro because it would ease highway congestion and serve a number of Camden and Gloucester County communities.
22 – Governor Jon S. Corzine proposed cutting $83.9 million in state education aid, as part of a larger, $812 million spending cut initiative.
Bellmawr Schools Superintendent Annette Castiglione unveiled Board of Education plans for 2009.
Members of the Westville Environmental Commission presented a comprehensive report for 2008 to Borough Council.
Members of the Gloucester City Board of Education were pleased last week to hear comments by students representing each of the district’s schools.
The Mount Ephraim Board of Education announced it would host an Internet Safety program.
29 – The Brooklawn and Audubon school boards agreed to a joint feasibility study to look at the possibility of sending Brooklawn students to Audubon High School.
Gloucester City Council remembered John Stiefel and lauded Marge Gorman.
A throng of residents and their children filled the Bell Oaks Media Centre to capacity to see one of their educators receive a service award at the Bellmawr BOE meeting.
Gloucester City settled the condemnation case with Amspec Chemical Corporation concerning the value of the 22-acre parcel between the Delaware River and Water Street.
Members of the Gloucester City Planning Board voted to re-elect Daniel Spencer Jr. to serve as Board Chairman, and Frank Wunsch was chosen to remain as Vice Chair.
Bellmawr Mayor Frank Filipek Sr. praised the town’s recycling program.
FEBRUARY
5 – The Lady Rams nipped the Lady Lions in a great basketball game.
A blood drive for Evan Goldglantz was held in Gloucester Heights.
The Board of Freeholders praised and rewarded Bellmawr for their recycling efforts during a Town Meeting.
The Brooklawn Borough Council approved an ordinance establishing rules pertaining to the keeping of cats and use of the County Animal Patrol.
The Gloucester City Library offered free, instant homework help to students from grades 4–12.
12 – One of the career highlights of Gloucester City Police Corporal Craig Reinhart was his dedication as the DARE officer to local schools.
Mount Ephraim Police said vandals struck Sacred Heart Church and the concession stand at the Little League Complex.
Bellmawr Fire and Rescue had its annual Appreciation Dinner where Councilman and Public Safety Director John Bollinger swore in new officers.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation scheduled two fundraising events in Camden County to raise money to fight childhood cancer.
19 – Gloucester City School Board President Louisa Llewellyn told the NEWS she was thrilled by the improving scores posted by Gloucester City High 11th graders in 2007-08.
The Gloucester City Police reported two incidents of strangers trying to prey on young people.
The Mount Ephraim Board of Education approved the pre-school plan and pre-school day care.
Westville Council considered sending voters to a different polling place, and redistricting.
26 – It was a wild scene during the early morning of February 19, as a man sped away in his car from police, crashed it, and fled on foot – leaving a screaming woman in the vehicle. The Gloucester City Police arrested the man 90 minutes later at a nearby residence.
The Mr. GHS Contest was held in the “new” High School auditorium.
The DRPA voted to approve $11 million in economic development grants to fund key transit-related projects aimed at enhancing the region and boosting bridge and rail traffic.
The Cat In the Hat visited eight classes at Cold Springs School.
MARCH
5 – Family and friends of Mr. James Pierce were in attendance at the Gloucester City Council meeting, and gave him a standing ovation after he was presented with a prestigious award for saving the life of a fellow employee.
Several residents attended the Bellmawr Board of Education meeting about the pre-school program.
Sergeant Brady was very pleased with Westville’s Town Watch meetings.
St. Mary School celebrated its first annual Communion Breakfast, some 150 years after the school was first opened.
12 – Gloucester City’s economy was expected to get a big lift from a construction project that had been in the works for the past two years.
The Gloucester City High Girls Basketball team won the South Jersey Group 1 Championship with a 50-41 victory over Salem.
Some 300 to 400 people jammed the entire downstairs at Bellmawr Fire and Rescue #1 during the Kathleen Monroe Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser.
The Gloucester City Police were dispatched to 307 Cumberland St. for a report of a fire in the back yard.
The Phillie Phanatic, mas-cot of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, paid a visit to a group of avid, young readers at Bellmawr Park School through his “Phanatic About Reading” program.
19 – Connor Kain of St. Mary School and Cameron Labbree of Alice Costello School were named finalists in the New Jersey Geographic Bee.
A handful of residents took part in a Budget Advisory Committee implemented by Bellmawr Superintendent Annette Castiglione.
Marge Thomas of the Gloucester City Education Association asked the Board of Education to set up a meeting concerning the “sick bank” program.
There was a larger than average turnout for the Mount Ephraim Board of Education meeting on the eve of Governor Corzine’s budget address.
26 – A previous delay in the improvements along the Brooklawn waterfront was attributed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state officials concerned about possible artifacts from on old fort and endangered plant life.
Gloucester City began construction and replacement of its water treatment plant, the sole source of drinking water to its residents and businesses.
Gabriel Slater, a member of the Class of 2006 at St. Mary School in Gloucester City, achieved Honors for the first semester at Merion Mercy Academy for attaining a GPA of 3.5.
During the Gloucester City Planning Board heard a presentation by planner Shirley Bishop regarding the City’s compliance status with the NJ Council on Affordable Housing guidelines.
The Mount Ephraim Celebration Committee invited residents to “Bee A Part Of The Buzz.”
APRIL
2 – There will be a decision by the end of April whether light rail or hi-speed trains will be coming through Gloucester City, and possibly ending at Rowan University in Glassboro.
An extraordinary amount of community spirit was evident at the City Council meeting as police, firefighters, residents, and Girl Scouts were in attendance as Mayor James recognized the service of Police Corporal Craig M. Reinhart, upon his retirement.
Gloucester City began a Farmer’s Market on Sundays along the river from May 10 to November 22.
Bellmawr Mayor Frank Filipek Sr. and Councilman Peter DiGiambattista, discussed the new municipal budget during the Borough Council meeting.
9 – Following a brief presentation by Superintendent Paul Spaventa, the Gloucester City Board of Education approved a $45.2 million budget for 2009-10.
The Brooklawn Board of Education held a public hearing and then approved the district’s 2009-10 budget of $5,575,274.
The Mount Ephraim Board of Commissioners appointed Anthony Jiles and Steve Palma as Special Police Officers.
The proposed Bellmawr school budget would raise taxes $44 on the average home.
16 – Honoring his 30 years of volunteer service to the Gloucester City Little League and more than 25 years as a volunteer umpire, Little League International selected Tony Eller of Brooklawn to umpire in the 2009 Little League World Series.
Superintendent Paul Spaventa recognized several Gloucester High School achievers during the Board of Education meeting.
Evan Matthew Gold-glantz of Gloucester City passed away Sunday, April 12, from burns he received in a tragic accident.
The Mt. Ephraim Board of Education proposed a tax increase of 33 cents per $100 of assessed value.
23 – As St. Mary School in Gloucester City celebrated its 150th anniversary, the Camden Diocese still had plans to move Gloucester Catholic High School – originally owned by the parish and named St. Mary High School.
Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk and Gloucester City Police Chief William Crothers reported a police shooting that led to the death of a 28-year-old Gloucester City man in a trailer park.
Members of the Environmental Commission proposed the establishment of a community bird and butterfly garden in Thomas West Park in Westville.
The Gloucester City Planning Board denied an application for a minor site plan waiver submitted by Tom Michaels, owner of Yankee Pest Control.
The Gloucester City Environmental Utilities Department, Remington & Vernick Engineers and L.C. Construction started construction on the City’s new water works.
30 – Congratulations St. Mary School, 150 years young. The first classes were held during 1858-59 school year.
A tip was received about the conditions of some of the Gloucester City Welcome Signs that greet visitors to the City.
Sacred Heart Church, Mt. Ephraim, celebrated its 70th anniversary.
MAY
7 – Some Catholics joined together to fight the Diocese of Camden’s plans to close or merge parishes.
For the first time in awhile, Brooklawn water rates increased.
Friends and family were at the Mt. Ephraim Board of Education meeting as sworn in were re-elected member Dominick Cipolone and newly elected members Michael Gaglianone and Nicholas Salamone Jr.
Connie Kucharski received a proclamation from Bellmawr for the National Day of Prayer during the Borough Council Meeting.
The NJ Department of Health and Senior Services developed an I1N1 Influenza website with current information for local citizens, schools, businesses, and governments.
14 – “St. Mary School will stay in Gloucester City as St. Mary School,” Principal Gail Corey told the crowd of more than 100 people at a special meeting.
Mayor Russell Welsh announced that Westville was chosen as the “Best Town Spirit” in South Jersey by a daily newspaper.
Both new and retuning Bellmawr Board of Education members were sworn in during the recent annual reorganization meeting.
22 – Following the swearing in of incumbents Louisa Llewellyn, Ray Coxe and Edward Hubbs at the reorganization meeting, members of the Gloucester City Board of Education re-elected Llewellyn to serve as Board president, while Coxe was chosen to continue as vice-president.
The Mt. Ephraim Board of Education voted to keep Mary Bray School child care in house.
Memorial Day services were set to pay tribute to the heroic deeds of the fallen soldiers of Gloucester City at the Cedar Grove Cemetery.
29 – The DRP Authority presented its recommendations at the Woodbury Train Station recently for the extension of southern New Jersey light rail from Camden to Glassboro.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Patrick Cummings, 22, of Mt. Ephraim, arrived home for two weeks leave.
Once again, the 6th grade students of the Parkview School conducted a May meeting of Borough Council during the annual Youth in Government week.
JUNE
4 – Pitcher Taylor Chain gave up just two hits as the Gloucester City High School softball team shutout Pitman, 10-1, to win the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 Championship.
Gloucester Catholic High School conferred diplomas on 182 graduates during commencement ceremonies May 28.
After a lengthy discussion, the Gloucester City Planning Board approved plans for a parking lot at the Auld Dubliner restaurant on Burlington Street.
“It seems that the state government intends to force mergers of municipalities or to force shared services,” said Mayor John Soubasis as the Brooklawn budget was discussed during the Council meeting.
The Mt. Ephraim Board of Commissioners meeting was packed to discuss the proposed school and municipal tax increases.
11 – The Gloucester City Lady Lions softball team defeated Saddle Brook, 3-0, for the NJSIAA Group 1 State Championship.
A possible vote June 16 on a referendum to adopt a Council- Manager form of government for Gloucester City was proposed.
Bellmawr School Superintendent Annette Castiglione opened the Board of Education meeting by lauding a project-based learning initiative at Bell Oaks.
Two Bellmawr Firefighters were honored May 27 at the 32nd Annual Camden County Memorial Service and Valor Awards.
School Board President Louisa Llewellyn presented diplomas to graduates of the Gloucester City High School Class of 2009 at Commencement exercises.
18 – During the recent Mt. Ephraim Board of Education meeting, many students were reorganized for their artistic and academic abilities, as well as for their generosity.
Gloucester City Mayor and Council were looking for citizens interested in participating as a member of an advisory committee that is being set up, to review, investigate and make recommendations related to the proposed DRPA Light Rail Train.
Eighth grade students from area schools overtook the Bellmawr Borough Council Meeting.
During the annual Memorial Service, Bellmawr Firefighter Phil Kormann and Bellmawr Chief Jim Burleigh received the Valor Award for helping to rescue an elderly resident during a fatal house fire.
25 – Gloucester City Board of Education member Raymond Coxe resigned. He had served as vice-president in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
The Board also approved the retirement of George Henry, principal of the Highland Park Program for Success and the Adult School. Henry had joined the district in July 2000.
Hundreds of parents and family members filled Bell Oaks School for the annual eighth grade commencement June 16.
Superintendent Annette Castiglione certified that the entire graduating class of 129 had met all the criteria to be conferred their diplomas and move on to high school.
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