NEWS, SPORTS, COMMENTARY, POLITICS for Gloucester City and the Surrounding Areas of South Jersey and Philadelphia

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November 2016

Easton-area woman embezzles $208K from N.J. restaurant group

JERSEY CITY -- A 48-year-old Lehigh Valley woman has been charged with embezzling nearly $210,000 from a New Jersey restaurant company located in the former Jersey City police headquarters building Downtown. Tracy M. Gonzalez, of Easton, is charged with embezzling $208,670 from the TelCo Restaurant Group between Oct. 1, 2015 and July 15, 2016. She is… Read more →


CNB November 2012 Archives: USPS ends year with historic loss, Total Amount $15.9 Billion

Friday, November 16, 2012 Federal Daily News By FederalDaily Staff November 15, 2012 The United States Postal Service reports that in fiscal 2012, while revenue from its package services business grew and productivity reached record levels, a requirement to prefund retiree health benefits resulted in the agency reaching its statutory debt ceiling for the first time ever. The agency reported that in fiscal 2012, ending Sept. 30, it lost a record $15.9 billion, including $11.1 billion related to retiree health benefits prefunding payments -- which it was forced to default on -- and expenses related to the long-term portion of... Read more →


GTPD Community Bulletin: Cyper Monday Shopping Tips

The Gloucester Township Police Department released the following tips on safe ways to shop online. Shop using a secure connection Data can be at risk during transit if an attacker controls the network or uses packet-sniffing software. Protocols such as HTTPS, or secure Web browsing, encrypt communications, but in some advanced attacks even those could fall to a "man-in-the-middle" attack. Nonetheless, always look for the HTTPS "lock" symbol in your browser address window when performing an online purchase. Use trusted vendors. Any website can be attacked by hackers, but limiting your shopping to established and trusted vendors limits your exposure.... Read more →


JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE | CNBNewsnet

Related: ARTIST Dave Wolfe Vol. 3 No. 23 (November 27, 2016) Editor's Note: Each Sunday morning we will post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe, age 15. Dave has been drawing since he was 5 years old, he knew he wanted to be a cartoonist at the age of 8. He’s been distributing his comics in school since 3rd grade. (click image to enlarge) Related articles Original Tintin Explorers on the Moon drawing sells at auction for £1.3million [Eugene Volokh] O masterful cartoonist, we are in awe of your soothsaying powers Malaysia airport just got really emo... Read more →


Obituary | Dorothy A. Cunningham of Blackwood

Dorothy (Dottie) Cunningham, born September 30th, 1937 peacefully departed on November 26th, 2016 at 79 years old surrounded by her loving family. Devoted sister to her identical twin, Margaret M. Levins, her husband Charles W., Jeanne Reilly, Mary Bowes, William Cunningham, his wife Jutta. Preceded in death by her brothers Joseph and Jim Cunningham. Dear sister-in-law to the late Jack Bowes and Frank Reilly. Loving aunt of Kenneth C. Levins, his wife Johnna, Karen Berry, her husband Sam, and Kristina Biehl, her husband Joseph. Dottie was a loving great-aunt to Domenica Estes (Russ), Amy Farina (Tim), Kristina Himmelreich (Todd), Aaron... Read more →


Buyers Beware!

NEW YORK — Just in time for Cyber Monday and the rest of the holiday shopping season, two federal law enforcement agencies offered a joint media event Tuesday in New York to highlight counterfeit goods and consumer awareness. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted a presentation about goods with fake trademarks and how consumers can protect themselves. “We know there are consumers who knowingly purchase knock-offs,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “To them I say, counterfeiting is not a victimless crime.... Read more →


Holiday Events in the Wildwoods

English: The "Doo Wop Experience" a museum of sorts, former Doo Wop style restaurant from Wildwood Crest, NJ reconstructed in front of the Wildwoods Convention Center, in Wildwood, NJ. Has exhibits and tourist info for all the Doo Wop style motels in the area on the New Jersey historic District. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Escape the hustle and bustle of the season and head to the Wildwoods for the holidays. With shopping, hotel deals and holiday events, the Wildwoods are the perfect destination to make your season even brighter. Enjoy the Friday, December 11 annual holiday parade from the window seat... Read more →


Charles W. Van Camp, Volunteer Fireman & Special Police Officer, Camden County Employee

Charles Winfield VanCamp, age 78, passed away on November 24, 2016, of Runnemede, New Jersey. He was born March 21, 1938 and grew up in Yale, Michigan. His parents were Mildred and Raymond VanCamp. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the USS Tarawa. While stationed in Warwick, Rhode Island and training in Philadelphia, PA, he met and married Arleene Marie Lanigan on April 19, 1958. Devoted father of David Raymond, Steven Dale (Toni Gorgo), Cynthia Louise (Scott Beerbower), Catherine Ann (Kevin Koehler), Charlene Marie (Edward Smedley), William George (Lindsey Taub) and the late Charles Francis.... Read more →


Obituary | Esther "Toni" A. Kamman of Bellmawr\

Esther “Toni” A. Kamman (nee Jarozynski), on November 17, 2016, of Bellmawr. Beloved wife for 51 years of Richard. Devoted mother of Sandra and Kathy Kamman. Dear sister of Donna Quinlan (Dan). Also survived by aunts, uncle, nieces and nephews. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. Services under the direction of the Gardner Funeral Home, Runnemede Related articles Vince Patrone of Bellmaw, Korean War Army Vet, Teamster, Annunciation BVM Church Member Anthony J. Yates, of Bellmawr, U.S. Army Veteran, Crescent Park VFW Member Obituary | Chris A. Barry of Bellmawr Obituary | Gustavo J. Mancinelli of Bellmawr Theresa M. Mastrangelo of... Read more →


22-Year-Old Burlington Township Man Shot to Death Last Night in Burlington City

MOUNT HOLLY N.J. (November 26, 2016) - Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Burlington City Police Chief Alan R. Snow announced today that a man was fatally shot early yesterday evening in the 100 block of East Federal Street in Burlington City. Howard G. Young, Jr., 22, whose address of record is Burlington Township, was outside yesterday at approximately 4:45 p.m. when he was shot by an unidentified male. The victim was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where he was pronounced dead last night. No arrests have been made. The weapon has not been recovered.... Read more →


October 2012 Cheers and Jeers

published Wednesday, November 14, 2012 |UPDATE 2PM NOVEMBER 14 BY William E. Cleary Sr. CHEER-Thank God that our little area of South Jersey was not damaged as bad by Hurricane Sandy as other sections of the East coast were. Residents in some of those communities are still suffering so please keep them in your prayers. JEER-Three Gloucester City employees flew to Orlando, Florida on Friday, October 26 to attend a conference on housing held at the Royal Marriott hosted by NeighborworksAmerica. The City joined NeighborworksAmerica three months ago without a word to the public. CNBNews contacted the Mayor on October... Read more →


MAPLE SHADE POLICE ARRESTS DIVERSION BURGLAR IN CONNECTION

WITH INVESTIGATION OF FOUR DIFFERENT VICTIMS IN MAPLE SHADE MAPLE SHADE N.J. (November 25, 2016)--Chief Gary C. Gubbei announced today that the Maple Shade Police Department has made an arrest in the case of the four diversion burglaries that occurred between 8/28/16 and 9/6/16 of this year. Chief Gubbei previously released information about the investigation of these four diversion burglaries in a news release dated September 9, 2016. On Friday November 4, 2016 the Maple Shade Police Department arrested John J. MacMinn, 50, of Gloucester Township and charged him with four counts of Burglary and three counts of Theft in... Read more →


Guest Opinion: For the State of New Jersey, Hate is in the Numbers

According to a recent report from USA Today, hate crimes in New Jersey have fallen each year since 2011. That might seem somewhat encouraging, at least on the local level, considering that the FBI reported a seven percent increase in hate crimes nationally between 2014 and 2015. But look past the surface and you’ll find the… Read more →


YOUR MONEY: ’Tis the Season for Holiday Scams

November 25, 2016 Shoppers looking for a good deal this holiday season should also be aware of increasingly aggressive and creative scams designed by criminals to steal money and personal information. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Florida again ranked second in the number of alleged scam victims reported in 2015, with 20,306 consumers claiming a total loss of over $94.5 million. This year, the FBI Jacksonville Division wants local shoppers to be extra vigilant of the following schemes and red flags. Online Shopping Scams: If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.... Read more →


$63 MILLION CONTRACT AWARDED TO BOLSTER BEACHES AND DUNES ON ABSECON ISLAND

Absecon Island viewed from Ocean City, New Jersey (Photo credit: Wikipedia) PROJECT TO ENHANCE COASTAL PROTECTION FOR LONGPORT, MARGATE, VENTNOR AND ATLANTIC CITY TRENTON - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $63.3 million contract to build engineered beaches and dunes in Margate and Longport and to replenish beaches in Atlantic City and Ventnor, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. The Absecon Island Coastal Storm Damage Reduction project is a joint effort of the Army Corps' Philadelphia District and the DEP. "This project is vital to the protection of homes, businesses, lives and infrastructure in... Read more →


Philadelphia locks up kids for truancy, fighting and then goes after parents for child support

Last summer, Kameelah Davis-Spears was just one year out of homelessness. She found a house for herself and her four children in West Philadelphia using a Section 8 voucher. And, between food stamps and her job, for which she earns $10.20 an hour, she was finally making it from one paycheck to the next. Then, she… Read more →


Safe Online Surfing Cyber Education Program Reaches Milestone

Is Your School Participating? From cyber bullies to online predators, the threats to our children in this digitally driven age are real. That’s why the FBI runs an online program designed to help prepare America’s young people to safely navigate the world of cyberspace, now and in the future. It’s called the FBI Safe Online Surfing (FBI-SOS) Internet Challenge, and it teaches students in grades three through eight all about cyber safety and digital citizenship using a series of fun, interactive lessons. To enhance learning, the program includes timed exams and a monthly national competition for registered schools. And the... Read more →


Family Displaced by Fire in Gloucester Township

Gloucester Township November 25, 2016--Today, at approximately 0916 hours, Gloucester Twp. Police Communications received a 911 call from a resident on Dunlin Way, advising his house was on fire. Gloucester Twp. Police units arrived shortly after the call to find heavy smoke coming from the structure. The dwelling was occupied at the time the fire was discovered and all of the occupants evacuated safely prior to police arrival. Firefighters from the Lambs Terrace, Erial, Blackwood, Chews Landing, Pine Hill and Winslow Fire Departments responded and quickly extinguished the blaze. Gloucester Twp. Emergency Medical Services and the Gloucester Twp. Police Office... Read more →


Mother and Son Shot in Monroe Township; Shooter Commits Suicide

MONROE TOWNSHIP (November 25, 2016)(CNBNewsnet)--In an early Friday (11/25) incident at a Poplar Lane residence in Monroe Township NJ, Melissa Cakmak (DOB 11/1/75) and her nine-year-old son sustained gunshot wounds and the man believed to have fired a handgun at them was found deceased by Gloucester County SWAT officers from what is believed to be a self-inflicted bullet wound. Both Cakmak and her son were taken to Cooper Medical Center in Camden for treatment and are expected to survive. She was wounded in the torso and he had a graze wound to the hand. Based on information gathered by officers... Read more →


Nine Families Displaced by Fire in Voorhees Twp

VOORHEES TWP. NJ 11/23/16: at 11:46 pm, Voorhees Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Van Buren Road for an apartment building fire. Arriving Officers arrived and assisted with evacuating numerous residents from all three floors of the residential complex. As police secured a perimeter, the fire was suppressed by the Voorhees Fire District along with mutual aid from surrounding jurisdictions. As a result, numerous surrounding apartments received smoke and water damage. Initial reports indicate that a total of (9) families have been displaced until Township Engineers can determine the structural integrity of the building and utilities restored. The... Read more →


FACE OF DEFENSE: USCG, Red Cross Place Recruits With Local Families For Thanksgiving

CAPE MAY, N.J. – The Coast Guard and American Red Cross placed more than 400 Coast Guard recruits with dozens of South Jersey families for Thanksgiving as part of Operation Fireside, Thursday. Operation Fireside has placed recruits with host families during the holiday season since 1981. It allows recruits to celebrate the holiday with a local family while they are separated from their loved ones during the rigorous, 8-week-basic-training program. “Training during the holidays is tough on a recruit,” said Capt. Owen Gibbons, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “Most of these young men and women are away from... Read more →


For Women  in State Legislatures and Statewide Offices, Not Much Change

New Brunswick, NJ--With a number of races still too close to call, the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) anticipates almost no growth for women in state legislatures or statewide office. "It's disappointing that women have failed to build their numbers significantly in legislatures and statewide executive office," said CAWP director Debbie Walsh. "This is a trend that began in the 1990s and, sadly, continues today." Read the complete CAWP release with numbers and party breakdown here. A state-by-state list of legislative results is available here. _____________________________________________________________________ About CAWP: The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit... Read more →


Winslow Police Investigating Deadly Crash

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP N.J. November 24, 2016--Winslow Police are investigating a head-on motor vehicle crash that happened Thursday morning, November 24, on Williamstown Road in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township. The collision took the lives of two people. Police said two more have been hospitalized. According to police, Joel Hutton, 23, of Berlin, and Janiyah Conquest, 19, of Sicklerville, were killed in an accident along Williamstown Road. Jillian Farrell, 19, of Williamstown, and another passenger involved in the crash were both hospitalized, police say. Authorities say, Hutton, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu westbound along Williamstown Road toward the... Read more →


Ryan B. Cutler, age 33 of Gloucester City; GHS Alumnus Class of 2002; UPS Employee

On November 23, 2016. Age 33. Of Gloucester City. Loving son of Karenanne Cutler (nee Houlihan) and the late David F. Cutler Jr. Beloved brother of Kathryn Quandt (Will), David F. Cutler III (Christine), Jason Cutler and Kelsey Cutler. Cherished uncle of Bailey Morgan, Aaliyah Kershaw, David F. Cutler IV, Ethan Quandt, Benjamin Quandt, Hannah Quandt and Kierstin Boccaleri. Also survived by many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Ryan was a graduate of Gloucester High School class of 2002. He worked many years at UPS in Lawnside. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Monday evening, Nov. 28th,... Read more →


Letters to the editor:

Gloucester, A City Where Good things are Happening…but only for a chosen few

I have lived in this city since my marriage. I raised two wonderful children, enriched my life with so many wonderful new friends and activities with the schools and church and I thought this would be my home for the rest of my life. I was blindsided with some very bad times and changes when my husband left this family in 2010. He ran for reelection that November with no regard for how the rumors and comments would affect his family and he won. It seemed more important to be on council than to protect his children who ended up... Read more →


CNB Hunting/Fishing N.J. : State Record Fish Program

New Jersey is the most densely populated state. It is also the second wealthiest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) State Record Winter Flounder Speared - 11/22/16 State Record Gray Triggerfish Caught - 11/15/16 Despite its small size and high population density, New Jersey offers a wide range of fishing opportunities, including the chance to catch "trophy-size" fish. Such fish are recognized in the Skillful Angler Recognition (Awards) Program and the State Record Fish Program. The objective of the Record Fish Program is to increase the awareness of fishing opportunities for species that are regularly sought after and routinely found in the freshwaters... Read more →


Twelve Men Charged In ‘ATM Skimming’ Conspiracy Targeting Multiple New Jersey Banks

NEWARK, N.J. – Twelve men were charged as part of a scheme that used secret card-reading devices and pinhole cameras installed on PNC and Bank of America ATMs to steal at least $428,581, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey and Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Criminal Division announced today. Bogdan Viorel Rusu, 36, of Howard Beach, New York; Marcel Peckham, a/k/a “Marcel Enescu Cismas,” 43, of Little Neck, New York; Catalin Mihai Dragomir, 32, of Glendale, New York; Eduard Vasilica Ticu, 28, of Glendale; Stefan Dumitru, 28, of Astoria, New York; 39,... Read more →


The Search for Robert "Bobby" Dornbach Continues

Related: Mother Misses Son;Offers Big Reward GLOUCESTER CITY N.J. --The Gloucester City Police Department released the following statement regarding missing person Robert "Bobby" Dornbach, a local resident who went missing 11 years ago. "On November 27, 2005, Robert "Bobby" Dornbach left his home at 217 Cumberland Street in Gloucester City, New Jersey and has not been seen since. He was reported missing on November 28, 2005. If anyone has any information concerning this ongoing investigation, please contact city detectives at (856) 456-7797. Any information provided will be held in strict confidence. Robert "Bobby" Dornbach Date of Birth: 9/15/1988 Last Known... Read more →


Saint Mary Roman Catholic School, in Schwenksville Celebrates 55th Anniversary Today

SCHWENKSVILLE PA--Saint Mary Roman Catholic School, in Schwenksville (Montgomery County) will celebrate its 55th anniversary as a school community with an all class reunion and gala. The school first opened its doors in 1961. Friday, November 25, 2016 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mass) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Gala Dinner – Parish Hall) Saint Mary Roman Catholic School 40 Spring Mount Rd Schwenksville, PA 19473 Reverend Louis P. Bellopede, current Pastor of Saint Mary, will be the main celebrant of a Homecoming Mass to kick-off the reunion and gala, which will also include tours of the school led by... Read more →


CNB NOVEMBER 2012 ARCHIVES: Meandering w/ Mark Matthews: K-Mart Fire; NEW TENANT?

published November 17, 2012 UPDATE Monday, November 19, 7:30PM (CNBNewsnet Staff)BROOKLAWN NJ-We have been able to confirm that a Planet Fitness franchise is coming to the Brooklawn Shopping Center and will be housed in the old K-Mart store that has been emptied for the past two years. According to two reliable sources, renovation work has started on both the inside and outside of the building. However there is no mention on the company’s website about a new franchise opening in Brooklawn anytime soon. As such we reached out to the company’s Vice-President of Marketing, Mark Christie Monday afternoon for more... Read more →


CONSUMER ALERT: National Steak and Poultry Recalls Food Service Ready-To-Eat Chicken

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2016 – National Steak and Poultry, an Owasso, Okla., establishment, is recalling approximately 17,439 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products due to adulteration because of possible undercooking, resulting in the potential survival of bacterial pathogens in the products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The ready-to-eat chicken products were produced Oct. 4, 2016. The products were packaged on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)] 5 lb. bags packed 2 bags per case; product labeled “Distributed by National Steak and Poultry,... Read more →


Philadelphia PD: Can You ID Suspect ? Wanted for Skimming Device in the 18th District

On 10-11-16 at 12:04pm, Major Crimes received reports of access device fraud. A skimming device was discovered on an ATM at 3600 Sansom Street. This device was fitted over the ATM card slot and allowed unknown person(s) to intercept Debit/Credit card account information and PIN numbers. Surveillance video was reviewed and the investigation revealed the below pictured W/F placed the device on 10-8-16. Anyone with information on this suspect’s identity is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 215-686-3396/3397, or call 911. via blog.phillypolice.com Related articles Super Bowl Sunday slaying in N.J. a murder mystery 3 years later FBI:... Read more →


Police Officer Collin Rose, Wayne State University Police Department, Michigan

Police Officer Collin Rose, age 29 succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while questioning a suspicious person near the university's downtown campus. Officer Rose was in an area that had experienced numerous thefts from vehicles the previous day. He informed dispatchers that he was making contact with a suspicious person in front of 3650 Lincoln Street. During the encounter, Officer Rose attempted to detain the man but the subject suddenly pulled out a gun and shot him in the head. The subject fled the scene but was arrested later in the night. Officer Rose had served with... Read more →


Rams Have Their Way With Lions; Score 34-14

by Gus Ostrum GLOUCESTER CITY NJ November 24, 2016--Gloucester Catholic's Rams had their way in the annual Thanksgiving day clash against Gloucester High, breezing past the Lions by a 34-14 score in a West Jersey League Football contest. Running back Colin Corrado paved the way with three touchdown runs while Neil McGee also had a pair of TDs, including a 36-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown before halftime. Corrado finished the day with 269 rushing yards on 36 attempts. McGee had a pair of fumble recoveries. The Rams, who now lead the all-time series by 21-20-2 count, built a 27-14... Read more →


Good Friday Axed by Indiana Mayor

Bill Donohue | The Catholic League Bill Donohue comments on Good Friday being censored by the mayor of Bloomington, Indiana: Bloomington, Indiana Mayor John Hamilton stuck his middle finger in the face of all Christians by taking his axe to Good Friday. And he did so in the name of tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. He also nixed Columbus Day. The name Good Friday offends the censorial mayor, and that is why he renamed it "Spring Holiday"; Columbus Day offends him as well, which is why it will forever be known as "Fall Holiday." He did not say why Martin Luther... Read more →


KEEPING THE FAMILY HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Robbinsville, NJ, November 23, 2016 - Family holiday customs include trimming trees, lighting candles, and making traditional foods and sweets we know and love. But, it is also a time of overindulgence. Today, with about one in three American kids and teens overweight or obese, it is more important than ever to make smart, heart healthy choices for the entire family. “Seasonal fruits and vegetables can add color to your table and can make your traditional meals more nutritious,” said Dr. Marcus Williams, “half your plate should comprise of fruits and vegetables, while the other two quarters should be made... Read more →


CNB Business: “Home for the Pawlidayz” Free Pet Adoptions This Weekend

Sayreville,New Jersey (PR MediaRelease) November 23, 2016 Zappos.com, the online retailer known for its exceptional customer service, today announced it will work for a second year with Best Friends Animal Society to sponsor pet adoptions this holiday season. Beginning on Black Friday and continuing through Cyber Monday, visitors to Sammy’s Hope in Sayreville, New Jersey will have the opportunity to adopt a dog or cat through the Zappos.com “Pawlidayz” initiative FREE OF CHARGE. Zappos has pledged to donate a total of $1.25 million to Best Friends Animal Society for these adoptions at more than 115 shelters and human organizations across... Read more →


Public Input Wanted on Strategies to Protect Back Bay Areas from Storms

PUBLIC MEETING TO TAKE PLACE AT STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ON DECEMBER 1 TRENTON- The Department of Environmental Protection is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to host a meeting next week to gather input on a comprehensive study that will evaluate ways to better protect back bays and other tidal coastal areas from storms and flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers and DEP are launching the three-year Back Bays Flood Risk Management feasibility study to assess a wide range of structural and non-structural approaches to mitigate the impacts of storm surge and flooding from estuaries and other coastal water... Read more →


DA: Philadelphia cop shot his son in the back over 'disrespect'

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia police officer has been charged with attempted murder for shooting his 19-year-old son in September because he felt the teen had disrespected him, District Attorney Seth Williams said Tuesday. On Sept. 5 — Labor Day — Officer Dorion Young, 46, was at his home in Northeast Philadelphia with his two sons and… Read more →


CNB Archives November 2012: Give Thanks For Stupidity Of Mankind

Published Thursday, November 22, 2012 CNBNews Op-Ed: Photo showing some of the aspects of a traditional US Thanksgiving day dinner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) related FREINDLY FIRE BY CHRISTOPHER FREIND It makes for the best Thanksgiving conversation Thanksgiving. That hallowed holiday where we gather to give thanks for health and happiness. Which lasts for five minutes. Because let’s be real. After that, we gossip, complain and marvel at the extraordinary stupidity all around us. Here are just a few examples in the “What are they thinking?” category? General Petraeus’ “Cloak and Shag Her” debacle: The now-former CIA Director had been engaged... Read more →


Letters to the Editor: Rail Park Is Under Construction

Phase I of the Rail Park is under construction! After many years of planning, community engagement and with strong advocacy by the Friends of the Rail Park, Philadelphia's Center City District broke ground on October 31 on the first phase of the Rail Park, transforming a portion of the derelict elevated Reading Railroad Viaduct into a signature green open space, just north of downtown where public parks and community gathering spaces are greatly needed. Inspired by the success of the High Line in New York City, we look forward to completing a uniquely Philadelphia, first phase of the Rail Park... Read more →


Guest Opinion: "Bad Santa 2" is a Cultural Marker

November 23, 2016 Bill Donohue comments on "Bad Santa 2": It's a hard call which is worse: "Bad Santa 2" or its juvenile fans. By any measure, the movie, and its reception in many quarters, is proof positive that American culture is witnessing a race to the bottom. When the first "Bad Santa" was released in 2003, I described Santa as a "chain-smoking, drunken, foul-mouthed, suicidal, sexual predator. He is shown soiling himself in Santa's chair, vomiting in alleys, having sex with a woman bartender in a car, and performing anal sex on a huge woman in a dressing room."... Read more →


CONSUMER ALERT: Hale and Hearty Soups, LLC Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Chili Soup

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2016 – Hale and Hearty Soups, LLC, a Brooklyn, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 455 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken chili soup product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The ready-to-eat chicken chili soup product was produced and packaged on Nov. 9, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Label (PDF Only)] 6.9-lb. bags containing “CHICKEN CHILI SOUP” with an “Expires:12/09” date. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-34800” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to... Read more →


Obama’s DOJ Fines Police Department $10K for Refusing to Hire Noncitizens

Blake Neff | The Daily Signal Denver County’s sheriff office has been slapped with a fine by the Department of Justice because it refused to hire noncitizens as deputies. From the beginning of 2015 through last March, the Denver Sheriff Department went on a major hiring binge, adding more than 200 new deputies. But those jobs ended up only going to citizens, because the department made citizenship a stated requirement on the job application. The department admitted as much in a new settlement with the U.S. government, which requires it to pay a $10,000 fine. The department will also have... Read more →


Carmike Cinemas Presents Tony Award®-Winning “She Loves Me” in Select Locations December 1

WESTFIELD, New Jersey – Carmike Cinemas’ Alternative Programming Division is partnering with Fathom Events, the leading distributor of event cinema, and theatre streaming service, BroadwayHD, to bring the charming story of “She Loves Me” to the big screen. Fans will be delighted to see select live and captured-live theatre performances during this one night event only on Thursday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. local time. In addition to the performance, the cinema event will include exclusive interviews with the cast (Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski) and creative teams. In the musical, Tony Award-winner Benanti and Tony Award-nominee Levi... Read more →


Officer Down: Kenneth Joseph Starrs, South Texas Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, Texas

Assistant Commander Ken Starrs was killed when his department vehicle was struck by a Union Pacific freight train at a crossing on County Road 2140, near Highway 77, in Kleberg County. Assistant Commander Starrs was en route to the task force office when the collision occurred at the unprotected crossing. Assistant Commander Starrs had served with the South Texas Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force for over five years. He had previously served with the Corpus Christi Police Department for 27 years and the Port of Corpus Christi Police Department for six years. He is survived by his wife, daughter,... Read more →


Commentary:

THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING AND ADVENT

by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput The 2016 election has come and gone, but the issues facing us as a nation remain just as real and intractable as they were a month ago. Elections focus our attention. They fire up our emotions. But the real work of applying our Catholic faith to building a culture of life happens between our trips to the voting booth. This week Catholics have an opportunity to wash away the grime and heavy feelings of a bitterly difficult campaign season. Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday with deep religious roots. And this weekend, the First... Read more →