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December 19, 2011 Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on how crazy the "War on Christmas" has become: North Korea is putting South Korea on notice, warning of "unexpected consequences" if Seoul displays Christmas lights near the border. In China last week, government officials and the police smashed the sound equipment of Christians who were about to celebrate Christmas in a village outside Beijing. Our atheists share the same mindset, if not the same means. In a South Carolina cancer center, a 67-year-old volunteer Santa was evicted because of the "different cultures and beliefs of the patients we care for"; it later reversed its decision. In an elementary school in Stockton, California, poinsettias were banned but somehow snowmen were permitted; they justified their censorship by saying there was a Sikh temple in the city (note: there is no evidence that Sikhs suffer apoplexy when they see poinsettias, but there is... Read more →

Since last Thursday, December 15, through this upcoming Wednesday, December 21, Santa Claus has been touring the streets of Cherry Hill, escorted by the Cherry Hill Firefighters and Fire Officers. Normally the sound of sirens and horns accompanied by flashing lights means the firefighters are rushing towards some emergency in town. However, in the evening and afternoon hours these noises have served the purpose of alerting all the boys and girls of Cherry Hill, and some adults of course, that Santa Claus is coming to town. Santa w/ the members of Squad 13 "A" On one special note, soon to be retiring Battalion Chief, William Stallfort, stopped into the quarter's of Squad 13 on his day off to help with the escorting of Santa Claus. Occasionally while the firefighters are escorting Santa, emergencies occur requiring the firefighters and Santa to quickly rush off to protect the community; and yes even... Read more →

It wasn't the disastrous Fast and Furious gunrunning operation that armed the Mexican drug cartel and led to the death of a border patrol agent that has led conservatives to call for Eric Holder's resignation. Nope. Nor was it the fact that Holder's office inexplicably refuses to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and his decision to sue Arizona over its sensible law to check the legality of people living in the state. In reality, Eric Holder is under undue scrutiny because he's a black man. And his boss, Barack Obama, also takes the heat because, he too, is a black man. So says the Attorney General anyway... read more about how the nation's top cop and president continue to play racial politics in a post-racial Administration. —Jason Mattera Related articles TUESDAYS WITH JASON MATTERA-Toll Taker Makes $90,000 (gloucestercitynews.net) Tuesdays with Jason Mattera/Obama Administration Attempts to Silence... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia The Division of Fish and Wildlife is advising hunters who purchased 2011 Shotgun or 2011 Muzzleloader deer permits on or after December 14, 2011 to review their permits and if necessary, follow the instructions provided in the following information. Due to automated licensing system changes necessary to begin issuing 2012 hunting and fishing licenses, 2011 Shotgun and 2011 Muzzleloader deer permits purchased on or after December 14, 2011 at license agent locations with Verifone machines were printed and will continue to be printed with only one transportation tag for all zones, including zones where two antlerless deer at a time may be taken (Zones 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 36, 41, 42, 48, 49, 50 and 51). Permits issued by agents with internet based systems were not affected and will continue to be issued with the appropriate number of transportation... Read more →

County to Realize $863,500 Savings from Refinancing Bond (Woodbury, NJ) – Gloucester County recently completed the pricing on refunding a 2004 General Obligation bond that will yield $862,529.17 in total savings to the taxpayers announced Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger today. The county originally planned to refinance the bond back in early September, but at that time the market would not have yielded adequate results. Damminger said that once the market came back, the county’s professionals moved quickly and completed the deal within 7 days (5 work days) and achieved an interest rate of 2.46% resulting in the savings. “The bonds sold very quickly, showing once again Gloucester County’s strong reputation in the financial community,” stated Damminger. “There continues to be a lot of confidence from the market that we are moving in the right direction,” he said. Director Damminger said that Gloucester County has continually received high marks from... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia GLOUCESTER CITY NJ-A red tail hawk was flying around the Riverview Heights neighborhood on Sunday, December 18, 2011. The video shows the hawk sitting on a roof top of a Stinson Avenue house. It had picked up a dead squirrel that was hit by a car on Thompson Avenue. The video was submitted to CNBnews by Rocco DePoder.The image on the right was provided by Wikipedia. Related articles CNBNEWS VIDEO: Rams/Lions City Series Game (gloucestercitynews.net) SEPTEMBER 2011 CHEERS AND JEERS-cnbnews.net (gloucestercitynews.net) Cnbnews- November Cheers and Jeers (gloucestercitynews.net) TURKEYS LOVE GLOUCESTER CITY; WHAT A SURPRISE-cnbnews.net (gloucestercitynews.net) Video (s): $25 Million Spent on EPA Cleanup of Johnson Blvd. Sports Complex, Gloucester City (gloucestercitynews.net) Suspicious Fires, Top Weekly Comment, Bye Jersey, Lock Your Cars, Only in NJ, $5 Million! (gloucestercitynews.net) Gloucester City Council Lends Support To Passenger Rail Line (gloucestercitynews.net) Tips and Snippets: 8-point Buck Visits Lane Avenue Playground (gloucestercitynews.net) Read more →

Washington, DC—Earlier this week Congressman Andrews joined Congressman LoBiondo, county officials, and local business leaders to announce that 1,700 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent jobs are coming to South Jersey as a result of an $18.5 million federal grant from the Department of Transportation. The grant will be used to repair and upgrade the Delair Bridge that links the rail network between Pennsauken and Philadelphia. Congressman Andrews voted to fund the competitive grant program this past April, and also advocated to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, to bring some of those jobs and federal dollars home to South Jersey. The project is estimated to begin construction in the summer of 2012. The Delair Bridge is a vital connection to major transportation networks, but it is in dire need of an upgrade to meet the growing traffic demands and the needs of our local freight industry. The improvements will provide... Read more →

December 5th the Bellmawr Fire Department responded to the Hyde Park Apartments for a reported Apartment fire. The fire was extinguished by a quick thinking maintenance worker. On arrival crews discovered an elderly male that had been smoking while using oxygen. The male sustained serious burns to his airway and was transported to Cooper Trauma Center,then flown to a burn center in PA. This is the 3rd serious incident all with in the last year. As the baby boomer generation ages, the prevalence of patients using portable medical oxygen to treat pulmonary diseases is on the rise. While this treatment helps patients live richer lives with increased independence, it’s critical that those who use home oxygen understand the associated risks. Normally, the air we breathe every day contains around 20 percent oxygen. The air delivered to patients using this therapy contains nearly 100 percent, making it extremely flammable. Individuals using... Read more →

Volume XVI No. 50: December 16, 2011 Everyone should have gotten the message by now that we are in deep budget trouble and the trimming season is upon us. But when it comes to defense spending, members of Congress are using the year-end passage of our spending bills to play budgetary whack-a-mole. As if August's debt-ceiling deliberations and last month's Super Committee failure weren't exciting enough, this week we had hijinks surrounding the Fiscal Year 2012 defense policy and spending bills ---the latter mixed into a mega-spending bill with eight other spending bills. All with the backstop of only hours left before the federal government was scheduled to shut down for lack of funding. (And we had the added excitement of the tax package). The toplines of those bills had moved up and down due to these budget-shifting events. The original total for the National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense... Read more →

By Brian Donohue/The Star-Ledger Ledger Live for December 16th, 2011 - Ledger Live with Brian Donohue. A holiday sign that stretches across a town's main street and reads "Keep Christ in Christmas" is causing controversy in the South Jersey borough of Pitman in Gloucester County. While one side cites a breach in constitutional rights, the other cites a bias in Christian religion - erupting an unnecessary war in a time where peace on earth is the main point. Read more →

CNBNEWS TIPS AND SNIPPETS by Bill Cleary Gloucester City Fire Chief Brian Hagan said the Saturday afternoon, December 17 fire at the abandoned GAF power plant on Water Streets was started by an arsonist. Hagan said the building has been vacant for more than 20 years. “The investigation is ongoing, but there’s no power in the building so it was probably set,” Hagan said. This is the second fire in the past week that officials are investigating. Sunday night, December 11 a fire broke out in one of the self-storage units at Market and Filmore Streets. Several units were damaged. Fire officials labeled the blaze as suspicious. THE TOP CNBNEWS WEEKLY COMMENT-Gloucester City resident Mike Stanton‘s observation about the poor condition of the Fort Nassau playground deserves highlighting. Commenting on the CNBNews article, Fort Nassau Should Be Demolished; It Has Too Many Safety Issues, he wrote, “From the big and... Read more →

compiled by CNBNEWS.NET The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is notifying purchasers of muzzleloader deer permits for zones covered by Regulation Sets 2, 3, 3A, 4, 6 and 8 that the season continues on Monday, January 2, 2012. A typographical error for Reg. Sets 4, 6 and 8 erroneously lists January 3. Hunters are reminded that 2011-2012 Muzzleloader Season permits purchased in 2011 remain valid for the remainder of the season in 2012 but a 2012 hunting license is required to hunt any special permit deer season that extends into the new year. The 2012 hunting and fishing licenses will be available beginning 10am on Thursday, December 15. The 2011-12 Hunting Digest should be consulted for season dates, bag limits and regulations pertaining to specific deer management zones. The Digest can be viewed at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/dighnt.htm on the division's website; the 2011-2012 Game Code is available for review at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2011/gamecode2011-12.pdf... Read more →

Monday, December 12, 2011 Task Force 32 was dispatched to 58 W Browning Road around 10:30pm for a reported dwelling fire. Battalion 303 (Domeracki) arrived and reported a 2 1/2 story wood frame dwelling with heavy fire showing from the second floor and requested the all hands box. Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire and was able to bring it under control at the 20 minute mark. One occupant was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation and minor burns. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were NO working smoke detectors in the house at the time of the incident. The Bellmawr Fire Department provides FREE smoke detectors and batteries to residents that request them. Contact the Borough hall at 856-933-1313 for more information. Rich Moulder via www.bellmawrfire.com Read more →

Trenton, NJ – Advancing the Christie Administration’s commitment to set the Atlantic City region on a new course toward economic growth and job creation, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno announced the award of a $2.6 million Customized Training grant that will help local workers qualify for more than 5,000 jobs being created by Revel Entertainment’s new Atlantic City resort that will open this spring. “This training grant will allow local residents to obtain the full-time positions being created at the Revel resort, a company that already has generated more than 2,600 construction jobs and which brings a new promise of prosperity to this area,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. Image via Wikipedia The 47-story Revel Atlantic City resort is under construction on a 20-acre parcel just north of the Showboat Hotel and Casino. The boardwalk resort anticipates hiring more than 5,000 workers in preparation for a grand opening this spring. The Customized... Read more →

Appropriation Provisions Threaten Worker Safety, Campaign Finance, Financial Reform Rules WASHINGTON, D.C. –The deal reached Thursday on an omnibus appropriations package to keep the federal government funded for another year undermines important public health and safety regulations, Public Citizen said today. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the deal today and the Senate is expected to vote on it over the weekend. The package includes provisions that undermine worker safety, weaken the stability of the U.S. financial system and may weaken disclosure of election spending by government contractors. One budget rider would delay indefinitely the Mine Safety and Health Administration from issuing a regulation to protect miners from black lung disease. “Black lung disease kills 25 times more miners each year than explosions or other mining incidents,” said Justin Feldman, Public Citizen’s worker health and safety advocate. “A new rule to protect mine workers from black lung and silicosis has... Read more →

The most robust of the Enterprise Reporting projects, in terms of volume of news stories, involved ongoing updates on the Philadelphia School District’s efforts to turn around some of the city’s lowest-performing schools. Nine schools were assigned to three different turnaround models in 2011, following 14 schools that launched the initiative in 2010. The Notebook, a respected school-news site, partnered with public broadcaster WHYY’s Newsworks. org, which matched the $5,000 Enterprise Award with another $5,000. That helped The Notebook hire freelancer Benjamin Herold to continue the reporting he began during the first year of the so-called Renaissance Schools initiative. Another $8,000 in funding from WHYY’s Newsworks.org also supported work by another reporter, Bill Hangley, whose reporting The Note- book supervised. "We were able to create a 4/5-time position for Herold that is shared by both news organizations with Herold based at The Notebook." - Paul Socolar, co-founder of The Notebook... Read more →

Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 2:30 PM Knights of Columbus 55 S. John F. Kennedy Way Willingboro, NJ 08046 Please come out to welcome home Staff Sergeant Richard Jose from his deployment in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Jose is returning from his 2nd tour in Iraq. His first tour was in 2005-2006. SSG Jose is married to wife Juliet and they have 7 children. Daughter Danielle is Active Duty Army, stationed at Ft. Dix where SSG Jose is stationed. SSG Jose has been in the Army 18 years. SSG Jose is also a professional boxer. Friends, Family, Wish Upon A Hero, The Warriors Watch, A Hero’s Welcome, The Yellow Ribbon Club, The New Jersey State Police, The Willingboro Police Department, The Willingboro Fire Department, Willingboro Township and others will be on hand to make some noise and welcome home this Hero in Rock Star style. Hope to see you there. **... Read more →

The holidays are here and criminals are watching to see if you are clumsy or aware. Mount Ephraim Police said that a little common sense will go a long way in keeping you safe while shopping, as well as making your home unattractive to criminals while you are away visiting friends and relatives. First thing: Make sure all outside doors and windows to your residence, shed and garage are locked. Make it appear that someone is at home. Place lights on timers or have a neighbor or friend turn your lights on and off while you are gone. Don’t leave the porch light on for several days. Have mail and newspaper deliveries stopped, or ask a neighbor or friend to collect them for you. Have someone bring out and take in your garbage can on the appropriate day. Have the television or a radio play while you are away. Use... Read more →

He is still the favorite to win. He is the incumbent President of the United States. He flies on a big blue airplane that gives him free media exposure whenever he lands. He gets to bring along politicians with whom he can curry favor. It is hard to pick off an incumbent President. But there are warning signs on the horizon for Mr. Obama. It is not just a sagging economy that may actually be on the way down, not up. Battleground state voters are leaving the Democratic Party. According to National Journal, "Over 825,000 registered Democrats in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have departed the party rolls since President Obama's election in 2008." USA Today reports that Republicans have become resurgent in key swing states too. "Since the heady days of 2008, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Swing States Poll finds the number... Read more →

by Marnie Bevan Lengle (cnbnews.net) STONE HARBOR NJ-This year's Scott Bevan Striped Bass Bonanza took place on Saturday, November 19th. It was a beautiful weekend for fishing and 78- anglers signed on. More than 30- fish were weighed in at Smuggler's Cove in Stone Harbor, NJ. Long-time friendly fishing competitors, Rick Olson and Tim Stevens, squared off with their boats' biggest catches to take home the bragging rights. Olson's entry reigned supreme, weighing in at 32 lbs. Scott had many-a-fishing trip with each of these guys, as well as with many of the other anglers. Image via Wikipedia Winners were: George Hobbs on Rick Olson's boat, "Jenny-O" with a 32 lb, 44 1/2" striper; Tim Stevens on Ted Savidge's boat "Tides of March" with a 31 lb, 44" striper, Mark Moore on Todd Spence's boat "Slick Willy" with a 29 lb, 42" striper. Patrice Allison Chambers brought home the women's... Read more →

The Diocese of Camden entered its 75th year on Sunday, Dec. 9 with a docesan Mass — 75 years to the day the six-county diocese was established by Pope Pius XI. The theme of the anniversary year is “Full of Grace,” taken from the Hail Mary prayer. At his installation as the first bishop of the Diocese of Camden, on May 4, 1938, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Bartholomew J. Eustace said, “I command that as long as this Church of Camden exists it will show by its devotion and love … its undying fealty to the Mother of God.” The anniversary logo, created by Tom O’Shea, graphic designer for the Catholic Star Herald, includes the diocesan coat of arms, the number 75, and the crescent moon, present as well in the coat of arms, and signifying the Immaculate Conception, the “full of grace” Mary captured by... Read more →

by Lois Beckett ProPublica, Dec. 13, 2011, As we’ve been documenting in our ongoing series, political parties and other powerful players use the once-a-decade redistricting process to advance their own goals — often at the expense of voters. A recently released trove of email messages from Ohio offers a rare inside glimpse into how it works. Any Questions? ProPublica is experimenting with a new podcast. We plan to feature our readers' questions and voices. If you've got questions about redistricting, we'd love to answer them. You can record your questions right from your computer. The messages, sent from June to September, show collaboration between the national GOP and state Republicans to redraw Ohio’s maps and thus cement control of both the statehouse and a majority of congressional districts. In one email, a Republican consultant working on redistricting for the state suggested that the new political maps could save the GOP... Read more →

The American Legion - December 15, 2011 For first-time Legion Baseball registration users, an important component of online registration is the generation of a login and password. This gives coaches access to an area where they can pay insurance fees, upload team photos, fill out team rosters and much more. More importantly, coaches can only begin holding tryouts once they receive notification that their insurance has been processed. Furthermore, because of improvements recently made to the Legion Baseball website, coaches now have the ability to automatically renew team information from the previous season. For questions or concerns regarding 2012 baseball registration, please email [email protected]. And for details on playing, coaching or volunteering with Legion Baseball, go to www.legion.org/baseball/participate. via www.legion.org Read more →

Trenton, NJ – As part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to assist service organizations during this “Season of Service,” Governor Chris Christie today announced the Food Bank of South Jersey will receive $2 million in funding to secure continued access to food and nutritious meals for those in need in South Jersey. The funds, approved by the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) today, were previously committed to be used for the purchase of food products for the communities served by the Food Bank of South Jersey. Over their 25-year span, the Food Bank of South Jersey has provided more than 100 million pounds of food, or 76 million meals, to thousands of families, seniors, individuals, and children in need. “At a time when food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens are experiencing an overwhelming increase in demand, it was imperative to secure this $2 million in funding for the Food... Read more →

On December 15, 2011. Age 61. Of Merchantville. Loving Son of the late Junius Radcliffe and Daisy (nee Biddle). Cherished Brother of Joshua Radcliffe and Helen Radcliffe. Relatives, friends and caregivers are invited to his viewing on Tuesday from 2 pm to 2:30 pm at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Baptist Service 2:30 PM in the funeral home. Interment private. Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Junius Radcliffe. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030 Ph:856-456-1142 Read more →

(cnbnews.net)Was the Fort Nassau Playground, Johnson Blvd. jogging track, Gloucester City built in 1999 with this type of wood? No one seems to be able to answer that question. Until someone in authority comes forward with a response the public should heed the warning below from the Vermont State Department of Health. This agency is just one of many that have issued consumer alerts about CCA pressure treated wood. Most pressure-treated wood used in outdoor construction in the United States contains chromated copper arsenate (CCA) (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision, 2002). CCA protects wood from deterioration, prolonging the life of structures such as decks and children’s play equipment. Recent studies have shown that arsenic from the CCA leaches from treated wood. Arsenic is a natural element present in soil, drinking water, food, air, and some herbicides and insecticides. Exposure to elevated levels of arsenic can be poisonous. Soil beneath CCAtreated... Read more →

Washington, D.C. – Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) urged the House Republican leadership to schedule a floor vote for the “Clean Up Government Act of 2011” (H.R. 2572). The bipartisan bill restores important tools to federal prosecutors fighting public corruption and was approved unanimously by the often rancorous House Judiciary Committee earlier this month. Click here to read CREW’s letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). “This should be a no-brainer. With Congress’ approval ratings at all-time lows, members should be eager to prove they have no interest in protecting legislators who violate the law,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “Republicans and Democrats alike ought to agree that corrupt public officials must be held accountable.” The “Clean Up Government Act” responds to last year’s Supreme Court decision in Skilling v. United States, which eliminated an entire category of deceptive, fraudulent and... Read more →

to keep police, first responders and others safe on NJ roadways ...Highway message signs help raise awareness of Move Over law (Bridgewater) – State and local officials gathered here today to draw attention to New Jersey’s Move Over law that requires motorists to move over if safe to do so when they approach an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Officials met in Bridgewater (Somerset County) to highlight the 2009 law and to educate the motoring public about how a simple act of courtesy can help save lives. In addition to participating in a press conference at Bridgewater Town Hall, the New Jersey Department of Transportation helped spread awareness by posting “Slow Down-Move Over-It’s the Law” and “Respect & Protect 1st Responders” messages on its Dynamic Message System displays along highways statewide. Image via Wikipedia “I strongly urge motorists to observe the law and give police, EMS... Read more →

December 14, 2011 Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Lowe's decision to withdraw its sponsorship of the TLC show, "All American Muslim": I have not been shy in my criticism of Muslim extremists who hate Israel and equally loathe the United States. Nor have I been reluctant to condemn Islamism: Sharia law is totalitarian. Furthermore, I am not opposed to boycotting sponsors of TV shows that bash Catholicism (I have led such initiatives). But count me out when it comes to the Florida Family Association's protest of the TLC show, "All American Muslim." Lowe's made a mistake when it bowed to the protest and pulled its ads from the show. "All American Muslim" is a show about five Muslim families from Dearborn, Michigan. Does it put a positive spin on them? One would hope so. After all, what kind of appetite would it be feeding if it did the... Read more →

Ewing, NJ … The American Football Coaches’ Association announced Shawn Brown, a senior defensive back for The College of New Jersey, was named an AFCA First Team All-American. Brown, a co-captain and native of Long Branch, NJ, becomes the fifth player (and first defensive player) in the 87-year history of the Lions’ football program to be selected by the AFCA for this honor. TCNJ head football coach Eric Hamilton (1974), John Aromando (1983), Chris Shaw (1991), and Jim Haines (1997) were the only other players to receive the sport’s highest recognition. “Honestly I was in shock,” said Brown, who received the news from coach Hamilton in a post-season meeting with all of his teammates and coaches present. “The first person I called was my mom. She is my biggest fan and has been by my side my entire life.” Brown capped an outstanding career for the Lions by leading the... Read more →

At 0901 hrs. on December 10th (A Platoon) Ladder 24, BLS 92 and ALS were dispatched to Sherwood Avenue for a motor vehicle accident. Ladder 24 and CHPD arrived to find a SUV crashed in to the side of an occupied private dwelling. One passenger of the vehicle was treated for minor bumps and bruises by BLS 92. The vehicle narrowly missed the electric and gas utility services to the house. Inspection of the building was turned over to Cherry Hill construction office and the accident is being investigated by CHPD. Units operating on scene: EMS 13, Ladder 24, BLS 92 & CHPD. Read more →

(cnbnews.net)Tuesday night the Gloucester City Board of Education extended the upcoming Christmas break to include Monday January 2, 2012. Monday January 2, 2013 is the legal holiday since January 1st falls on Sunday. The students and staff will return on Tuesday January 3. After a briefing by the New Jersey School Boards representative on the current Superintendant search for a replacement for current Superintendant Paul Spaventa who’s contract expires on June 30, 2013 the local board entered into the regularly scheduled meeting. The Board heard current and upcoming events from young representatives from all the Districts schools. Each student presented the strengths of each school as well as many of the projects in their respective school. The students were followed by a formal meeting chaired by President Louisa Llewellyn with 9 of the 10 members in attendance, the Board by a 9 -0 vote approved all committee, Superintendant and Board... Read more →

Guess what children? In just 17 days Santa Claus will be stopping here in South Jersey to bring all the good boys and girls the gifts they requested for Christmas.The Gloucester City News Santa Claus Relay Station has been swamped, as have Reindeer Relay stations all over the world. Still there are a lot of well-behaved children from Gloucester City, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Mount Ephraim, West Collingswood Heights and Westville who have not yet sent in their Letters to Santa with the three things they want most this year. Image via Wikipedia So let’s go kids – the elves are waiting for your letters. Santa Claus loves to bring all the children the special gifts they want, and he wants to make sure there are plenty of toys to go around. Tinker Elf told a NEWS reporter that the new, advanced toy-making technology allows the elves to make a whole bunch... Read more →

MAYOR NUTTER CONGRATULATES HOLMESBURG TIGERS FOR WINNING AYF CHAMPIONSHIP Philadelphia, December 12 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter has released the following statement congratulating the Holmesburg Boys Club Tigers for winning the American Youth Football (AYF) Championship in the National Division One Midget Bracket as well as the Fox Rok Ravens for competing. Additionally, the Enon Eagles and Northwest Raiders traveled to Florida to compete in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. “Congratulations to the Tigers who represented Philadelphia in the AYF Championship and won,” said Mayor Nutter. “All of our teams honorably represented Philadelphia on a national stage. These young men are role models for Philadelphians and exemplify discipline, tenacity and good sportsmanship. Their experiences in Florida will remain with them for a lifetime.” On Sunday, December 4, the Big East Holmesburg Boy’s Club Tigers, who are ages 14 and under, defeated the Atlantic Liberty Lions (VA) 33-0, and on Tuesday,... Read more →

By Chris Concannon Gloucester City News The 2010-11 Annual Report for the Bellmawr Board of Education (BOE) was presented at the November meeting by Superintendent Annette Castiglione. In lieu of her own report she presented the comprehensive plan, which details goals already met, as well as those which are still in their working phases. The 14-page report, available on the District website www.bellmawrschools.org, offers updates on several areas of instructional and administrative elements, such as Math Coaches and Leads Units (Literacy is Essential to Adolescent Development and Success), professional development and data-driven instruction. In closing comments, Ms. Castiglione thanked Ms. Joyce Kassekert, for her work in putting the report together. It was also stated that Kassekert is heading up the newly-formed school newspaper, the Bell Oaks Bugle, which will feature student-generated articles, events and photos from the middle school. Curriculum Supervisor Dottie Specht then presented her report, which echoed information... Read more →

If you are reading this, chances are good you have traded the luxury of newspapers for medical texts, 24-hour shifts, and chronicling every nanosecond of your day. So let's recap what's going on in the world. The U.S. government is borrowing roughly 40 cents of every dollar it spends, creating a budget deficit of $1.3 trillion 1. Uncle Sam has been at this for some time; he is now $10 trillion in the hole. That equals roughly two-thirds of everything the United States produces in a year 2. If we extend current federal tax and spending policies into the future, the size of the federal debt becomes cataclysmic. Think "Greece." Few recognize the extent of the danger, because Congress has cleverly cooked the books to make future debt levels appear merely horrifying. Let's pick one of Congress's accounting frauds at random: the "sustainable growth rate" (SGR) formula. via finance.townhall.com Read more →

press release On 12-10-2011, at approximately 1430 hours, the Gloucester Township Police Department received numerous 911 calls reporting a building fire in the 600 building of Millbridge Apartments. Arriving units reported heavy smoke coming from the 2nd floor apartment. All residents of the building were evacuated prior to police and fire department arrival. Three residents were treated for smoke inhalation and two fire fighters were treated for minor burns sustained while battling the fire. The injured victims and one fire fighter were transported to a local hospital and treated and released. The second fire fighter was treated on scene. The following agencies responded to the incident Chews Landing, Blackwood, Glendora, Runnemede, and Pine Hill Fire Departments along with Gloucester Township E.M.S. and the American Red Cross. The Fire is currently under investigation by the Camden County Fire Marshall’s Office and Chews Landing Fire Marshalls Office. The three families that were... Read more →

On December 12, 2011. Age 93. (nee Tice) Lifelong resident of Gloucester City. Predeceased by the love of her life, Pvt. Albert C. Hobbs Jr., by Earl F. Whitaker, a warm, gentle and loving husband, and by her third husband Charles DeMaris. Survived by her loving son Albert C. Hobbs 3rd and his wife Patricia Hobbs, her grandchildren Albert Hobbs and Dr. Jennifer Szabo (Doug) and her great grandchildren Benjamin and Lily Szabo. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Thursday morning from 10 to 11 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Mass of Resurrection and Burial Office will be celebrated at 11:30 AM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church: 18 White Horse Pike (at Green St.), Haddon Heights. Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Viola’s name, in... Read more →

“I’m blessed. I have a great job, and in this economy it’s great that I can cover everything with my eight hours a day and over.” In this Obama economy we should feel blessed to be employed, so we salute the individual who made the comments above, in recognizing her own good fortune. But that’s before you know about what this person does for a living. The people she should really be thanking are you and me, the taxpayers, for allowing her to pull in nearly $100,000 a year for… collecting tolls at the booths of New York-New Jersey crossings. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Princesella Smith, who raked in $89,599 while operating the toll lanes at the George Washington Bridge in 2011. Click here to read more about the outrageous public employee salaries that we the taxpayers are shelling out. —Jason Mattera Related articles Tuesdays with Jason Mattera/Obama Administration Attempts... Read more →

D’Orazio Foods, Inc., a Bellmawr, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 161,000 pounds of frozen stuffed pasta products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The following products are subject to recall include: • 25-ounce poly bags of “ALBERTSONS’ SAUSAGE RAVIOLI” • 25-ounce poly bags of “JEWEL SAUSAGE RAVIOLI” • 25-ounce poly bags of “ALBERTSONS’ BEEF RAVIOLI” • 25-ounce poly bags of “JEWEL BEEF RAVIOLI” • 25-ounce poly bags of “OUR FAMILY BEEF RAVIOLI” The products listed above bear the establishment number “Est. 20146” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product label and a “Best If Used By” date ranging from “12/01/11” to “12/01/12” ink-jetted on the back of each bag. The frozen products, which were produced between December 1, 2010 and December 1, 2011, have a shelf-life of one year. The products were... Read more →

By Leigh Anne Hubbs Gloucester City News Mount Ephraim Commissioner Andrew Gilmore said that on November 30 some 23 firefighters responded to a house fire on James Street, which has been subsequently boarded up. Although the house was vacant, it was a hoarding situation which created additional challenges in containing the fire, Gilmore said during the December Board of Commissioners meeting. One firefighter sustained a non-serious injury. Several James Street residents voiced concern that the property may now become a drug house, given that they have seen unsavory characters in and around the property in the past. Also, they said the property is now an attractive nuisance to children who may be curious and want to explore the property. Fire Department Chief Brian Gilmore told the residents that the building inspector deemed the structure “unsafe.” No one, including the owner may enter the premises. Police Chief Edward Dobelman instructed the... Read more →

Uploaded by audubontalks on Dec 12, 2011 Former Audubon Borough Clerk Nancy Doman has been reinstated as a result of a legal ruling. She began work 12/12/11 Read more →

The South Jersey Port Corporation will rename its Beckett Street Marine Terminal in Camden, New Jersey, the “Joseph A. Balzano Marine Terminal,” in honor of its legendary executive director who died in October with more than 60 years of service with the port. The terminal is located at 2nd and Beckett Streets. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 14 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. EST. Invited dignateries include Congressman Robert E. Andrews, State Senator Donald Norcross, Camden Mayor Dana Redd, South Jersey Port Corporation Chairman Richard Alaimo and Acting Executive Director Kevin Castagnola and Monsignor Michael Doyle. The son of an Italian immigrant stevedore, Joe Balzano started his career at the South Jersey Port in 1951 working his way from forklift operator on the docks to rising through the ranks to become the tireless executive director in 1988 who built a major international port complex along the... Read more →

Weekly Stats Report: 5 Dec - 11 Dec 2011 Project: Cnbnews.net URL: http://cnbnews.net Returning Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person is returning to your website for another visit an hour or more later First Time Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person has no cookie then this is considered their first time at your website. Unique Visitor - Based purely on a cookie, this is the total of the returning visits and first time visits - all your visitors. Page Load - The number of times your page has been visited. Summary Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Total Avg Pageloads 4,016 3,661 3,614 3,620 6,311 4,876 3,580 29,678 4,240 Unique Visits 1,668 1,627 1,524 1,632 3,010 2,326 1,764 13,551 1,936 First Time Visits 1,333 1,313 1,210 1,344 2,709 2,075 1,525 11,509 1,644 Returning Visits 335 314 314 288 301 251 239... Read more →

Monday, December 12, 2011 A small dog is lucky to be alive after falling from an overpass into a creek. It happened Sunday around 3:30 p.m. in Westville, New Jersey. NJDOT was contacted after the animal was spotted running around an overpass on Route 295 southbound. Facing the oncoming traffic, authorities say the frightened dog jumped off the overpass and landed in Big Timber Creek, 20 feet below. NJDOT notified The Westville Fire Department. Westville called the Bellmawr Fire Company for assistance. Bellmawr’s marine unit soon arrived on the scene and located the dog on a muddy spot in the middle of the creek where it was able to stand. The rescue crew then managed to get the dog to come into their boat. While the dog did not have a tag, Bellmawr Fire Chief Jim Burleigh says the dog was wearing a sweater, indicating that it had an owner.... Read more →

On December 7, 2011. Age 43. Of Burlington. Loving father of Lashae Rouse. Cherished son of Rodney and Shelia Owens. Dear brother of Neken Pringle. All are invited to attend his viewing on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 from 10 to 11 AM at the Solid Rock Worship Center: 99 Burnt Mill Road, Cherry Hill. Funeral Service will begin at 11 AM. Interment will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Burlington. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through McCann-Healey Funeral Home: 851 Monmouth St. Gloucester City. Ph:856-456-1142. www.mccannhealey.com Read more →

Ruling the Budget Volume XVI No. 49: December 9, 2011 At some point in the midst of a messy situation, you end up thinking: How did I get here? The deficit and debt hole Washington finds itself in had many causes, but one of the enablers was the broken budget process. If lawmakers can refrain from trying to score political points, there may be an opening to reform the system so it's harder to break, bend, and evade the rules en route to budget-busting excess. In a positive step, last week House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan teamed up with the committee's ranking Democrat, Chris Van Hollen, to introducea quasi-line item veto for the President. While not a solution to our budgetary woes, this "enhanced rescission authority" would fast-track the President's ability to submit specific cuts to Congress by requiring up or down votes on the proposals.. The joint legislation... Read more →

By John McCormick GLOUCESTER CITY NJ-A recent article written by Bomber Bennett titled “Down the Store” brought back so many memories about my parent's store on Morris Street. Bomber didn't mention our store in the text of his story, but it is shown on the map that was published with the article as #5. Gert’s has quite a history. The store was located next to our house at 215 Morris Street which is on the northeast corner of Morris and Willow Streets. The store was opened in the summer of 1948. I do not recall much about the opening since I was only 3 years old; however, my Mother, my Sister MaryAnn, and my Aunt Ruth Greene (my mother’s sister) do remember the early days. The store was a prefab from Sears that came in sections and was shipped from Camden to Gloucester City by railroad. My uncles Herb Greene... Read more →

Credit: Lori Neely/PGC Photo. Caption: Dauphin County WCO Mike Doherty holds the antlers of an illegally taken buck from Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, that green-scored it in the top 25 of Pennsylvania's All-Time Big Game Records HARRISBURG – A Lancaster County resident was cited for poaching a record-book class buck, according to charges filed by Pennsylvania Game Commission in the court of District Justice William Wenner, in Harrisburg, on Dec. 7. Wildlife Conservation Officers Mike Doherty of Dauphin County, and John Veylupek, of Lancaster County, filed the charges against Scott M. Garner, 33, of Bainbridge, Lancaster County, who was charged for exceeding the bag limit for antlered deer in a license year by killing a second buck. Under long-standing bag limits, Pennsylvania hunters are limited to one antlered deer per license year. On Dec. 1, Garner killed a 14-point buck in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, during the two-week firearms deer... Read more →

Saturday, December 10, 2011 GLOUCESTER CITY NJ-We've been spoiled by the above-average temperatures this week and I still held out hope that it would be closer to 50 degrees when we set out for "A Gloucester City Christmas." It was not to be. My outside thermometer read 36 degrees at 5:15 pm, so we had to pull out the hoodies, gloves and hats to layer up. Gloucester City did a great job of creating a Christmas celebration right in the center of town. There were lots of fun things to do. T.D. Bank was by far the most generous. They gave away T.D. Bank fleece throws, elf hats, stickers and key chains. They also set up a hot chocolate and cookie buffet. (Yum!) read via anneforline.blogspot.com written by Anne Forline Read more →