Membership, based on grade point average, is by invitation

Salem Community College's (SCC) chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society held its 26th annual induction ceremony this spring. Including those listed below, the SCC Alpha Pi Omega chapter has inducted 1,291 students since 1991. 

The chapter granted honorary memberships to Francis and Michele Yangello in recognition of their longtime support. They are the parents of four SCC Phi Theta Kappa members over an 11-year period - Tina, Frank, Aaron and Dana. In addition, President Michael R. Gorman was granted honorary membership for his proactive support of the chapter. 

The following inductees are listed by hometown:

Alloway: Skyler Amburg, Kathren Jones
Bridgeton: Tanner Joyner, Daniel Morse
Carneys Point: Taylor Gerhard, Karina Gonzalez, Lucas Greiner, Saidalys Hernandez, Edward Morrison, Alexis Polillo, Jessica Schmid, Joshua Sponaugle, Yazmin Garcia Torres
Cherry Hill: Matthew Buchberg
Chetek, Wisconsin: Kelly Damroth
Clayton: Tyherrah Rogers
Elmer: Michele Morris, Adam Seykot, Victoria Shriver, Alex Stevenson
Gibbstown: Aleyna Rutter
Lenoir City, Tennessee: Charles Valentine
Mannington: Shane Scott
Middletown, Delaware: Oluwadamilare Shoneye
Monroeville: Aaron Fuller
Mullica Hill: Maxwell Crisman
Newark, Delaware: Bytasha McNair, Marie Paul
Pedricktown: Jamie Frank, Justin Schaller
Penns Grove: Uziel Cortez, Karina Gonzalez, Crista Nauta
Pennsville: Diana Clark, Samantha Everingham, Lori Gioia-Grether, Katelyn Good, Jenna Griscom, Sean Johnston, Lauren Kates, Devin Kearney, Victoria Mathias, Nicholas Moore, Diane Mulford, Christina Orange, Nicholas Parkinson, Bethany Roberts, Michael Robinson, Allison Ruesswick, Christina Taylor, Jenna Wyshinski
Philadelphia: Deborah Stevenson
Pitman: Sarah Guinto
Pittsgrove: Shelby Edmeads
Salem: Alyssa Chomo, Emily Dean, Matthew Finlaw, Jessica Pate, Desirae Pullin, Debora Saavedra, Taylor Waters, Whitney Wilkins
Sewell: Matthew Shisler
Swedesboro: Kevin Smith, Zachary Weeks
Williamstown: Somer Knisely
Woodstown: Andrew Black, Kylie Bryceland, Jessica Demarest, Bonita Howard, Taylor Sickler

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Its purpose is to recognize and promote academic achievement among students, to provide opportunities for leadership training for college students, to encourage personal growth and to foster fellowship among its members. Membership, based on grade point average, is by invitation.

This item submitted by intern Jaclyn Samuels, Salem Community College.

It's been 19 months since Willow Grove Road was closed at Willow Grove Lake. The repairs are done and the road is back open.

PITTSGROVE TWP. --  Nearly five years after first being damaged by floodwaters, Willow Grove Road at Willow Grove Lake has been restored and reopened to traffic.

In a brief ceremony Wednesday morning at the lake's main dam, Salem County officials cut a ribbon to mark the end of what has been a long, joint effort with neighboring Cumberland County to compete the work.

"It's such a wonderful thing to have the state, the county, the township, the City of Vineland come together to make this whole again," said Pittsgrove Township Mayor Dr. Fiore Copare.

Willow Grove Road is a major link between Pittsgrove Township and Vineland. With the road closed, motorists faced a considerable detour.

He said the residents of the area are "ecstatic" to see the work competed and Willow Grove Road reopened.

"Many use this as an access to get to Malaga and north and it's been very difficult for people," Copare said.

Willow Grove Lake is on the border of Salem and Cumberland counties.

The reconstruction and reopening of the road has been a long journey.

In August 2011 floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Irene severely damaged the roadway. Emergency repairs were made and the roadway reopened.

But the repairs were only seen as temporary and more work needed to be done which led to a 19-month closure that began in October 2014.

Irene causes major damage at Willow Grove Lake

For Salem County Freeholder Ben Laury, chairman of the county's Public Works Committee, it's a relief to see the job finally complete.

"It's ended 19 months of frustration," he said Wednesday at the lake. Laury and Copare were joined by Salem County Freeholder Director Julie Acton and Pittsgrove Township Committeewoman Linda DuBois

The work included major reconstruction of the larger bridge and dam and total replacement of the smaller bridge and dam. At the larger dam, a fish ladder was added.

To help reinforce the new roadway, steel sheet piling has been driven into the ground 20 feet so if there ever would be a catastrophic flood, the water would not undermine the roadway but flow over it.

The total restoration cost $5 million with $3.2 million coming from Salem and $1.8 million from Cumberland, according Laury.

Both counties received 80 percent of that funding from FEMA, leaving local taxpayers responsible for the remaining 20 percent.

Willow Grove Lake is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Both counties are seeking reimbursement from that organization for the 20 percent they laid out for the work.

The freshly paved road, reinforced banks and two new spillways are a stark contrast to the old crossing at the lake. On Wednesday workmen were installing the last of the protective wire at the smaller dam on the Cumberland County side of the lake.

The project faced delays and court battles along the way.

One of the last of those delays that held up the reopening of the road came late this spring as the final piece of the project, the relocation of utility poles, was held up by a utility strike and storm cleanup elsewhere.

Cumberland County Engineer John Knoop said officials there, too, are "relieved" that the Willow Grove project is complete.

He said it's important that the new infrastructure is in place to deal with future storms.

Since Cumberland County is downstream from Willow Grove Lake, any breach of the dams there could cause a "domino effect" of floodwaters rushing south.

"Having the upper reaches better secured makes all of our residents safer," Knoop said.

The lake is used for fishing and boating. Willow Grove Lake is at the headwaters of the Maurice River.

"It's just a wonderful thing to see what our tax dollars do provide for us," Copare said of the completed project.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

GSCSNJ float will commemorate Girl Scouts 'Building a Better World'

CHERRY HILL -- Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) announces that the first Girl Scout-themed float --and the first by Girl Scouts of the USA -- will be joining the 90th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 24.

On the float, giant 3-D puzzle pieces of a globe, representing "building a better world." This theme, prevalent throughout the float, reflects what Girl Scouts, past and present, have done and continue to do as they take action to address issues in their local communities and around the globe. In addition, the contemporary float design nods to the organization's century of traditions, but highlights what today's Girl Scouts embrace -- discovering new things, participating in outdoor adventures, exploring science, technology, engineering, and math, creating positive change in the world, and taking the lead.

On Thanksgiving Day, an audience of over 50 million will see a float that unmistakably conveys "Girl Scouts," including two dozen Girl Scout badges representing everything from STEM and the outdoors to financial literacy and entrepreneurship, as well as a Gold Award symbol that celebrates this year's centennial of Girl Scouts' highest award. The Girl Scout-themed float, highlighting girls as an important resource capable of making great change to benefit our nation and beyond, showcases the organization's focus on empowering girls to take the lead and explore fun, new things.

The 90th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, Nov. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon, in all time zones. For more information on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, visit macys.com/parade.

If you're interested in learning more about Girl Scouts -- joining, volunteering, or donating -- visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

This item submitted by the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey,

The accident took place on Buck Road in Upper Pittsgrove Township around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. -- Two people were injured when a mail delivery vehicle and a car collided, authorities said.

A mail delivery vehicle and car collided on Tuesday. (File Photo) 

The accident took place around 4 p.m. Tuesday on Buck Road.

State police said a U.S. Postal Service mail delivery vehicle driven by Jared R. Elliott, 33, of Vineland, was involved in a crash with a blue Buick driven by Emil L. Brandt, 77, of Turnersville.

Elliott was taken to Cooper Medical Center, Camden. Brandt was taken to Inspira Medical Center Elmer.

Further details of how the collision occurred were not available.

Fatal crash in Mannington probed

U.S. Postal Service Spokesman Ray Daiutolo Sr. said Elliott was delivering from the Elmer Post Office.

He said Elliott was at the end of his route when the accident took place. A small amount of mail was retrieved from the vehicle by local postal officials, according to Daiutolo. No mail was lost, he said.

Elliott was reported to have been evaluated at Cooper and then released. There was no word on Brandt's condition.

Several local fire and rescue companies responded to the scene.

A look at noteworthy dates that have shaped the state.

On the first Thursday of each month we will post "This month in N.J. History."

Courtesy of theguardian.com 

This gallery will supplement our Glimpse of History feature as well as our regular vintage photo galleries, offering a snapshot of significant events in Garden State history.

We will highlight N.J. politics, music, literature, sports, crime, entertainment and disasters - both natural and manmade. We will share N.J.-timestamped events, from earth-shaking to simply amusing.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

If there are dates you don't see on our timeline but believe should be remembered, let us know in the comments section.

And, be sure to enable captions for the gallery so you can read all the information associated with each day in New Jersey history.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Authorities arrested a Delaware woman who allegedly shoplifted from a deli.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A Delaware woman was charged with shoplifting from a Salem County deli, stealing just $4 in merchandise, police said.

Pennsville Police responded at 6:57 p.m. Friday to the Broadway Deli, located off North Broadway, for reports of a shoplifter.

Michelle R. Cummings, 50, of New Castle, allegedly concealed $4 in merchandise and tried to leave the store without paying.

Cummings was charged with shoplifting and was processed and released pending court.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Here's a roundup of recent home sales in Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties.

South Jersey Times 

BRIDGETON

-- 20 Taylor St., Roscoe Charles Kishpaugh by administrator to Miller Zach LLC for $22,500.

-- 111 Wayne Road, Sunbridge Associates LP to Glen Park Apartments LP for $4,170,000.

-- 111 Wayne Road, Sunbridge Associates LP to Glen Park Apartments LP for $30,000.

-- 46 Rosenhayn Ave., Ralph H. Leard by executor to KMT Properties Bridgeton LLC for $275,000.

-- 316 W. Lincoln St., Dr. Fiore Copare, executor, to John N. Pace Sr. for $70,000.

-- 411 Irving Ave., Laura Lee Sooy by attorney to Noe Angel for $45,000.

CARNEYS POINT TWP.

-- 251 Broadway, Calim J. and Leah Johnson to Jessica and Steven Streeter for $122,900.

CLAYTON

-- 116 and 122 N. Delsea Dr., Rocco T. and Barbara A. Longona to Cafe 122, Inc. for $600,000.

-- 147 W. Linden Ave., Southern Specialty Properties LLC to Thomas Rosa for $42,250.

DEPTFORD TWP.

-- 1816 Almonesson Road, Michael P. and Donna E. Stevens to Blanche DiPaul and Robert P. Hunsberger and Robert D. Hunsberger for $110,000.

-- 1405 Edgewood Ave., Richard J. and Karen L. Keywan to Jason T. Welsh and Amanda L. Panarello for $160,000.

EAST GREENWICH TWP.

-- 398 Kings Highway, Marc Lee Lamson, executor to Michael A. and Kelsey A. May and Steven C. Miller for $452,000.

-- 830 Middleborough Way, Paul and Barbara Stadelberger to Chad S. and Crystal M. Beyer for $430,000.

FRANKLIN TWP.

-- 954 Reed Ave., Big Time Construction LLC to Phillip A. Krumins and Stephanie J. Pokorny for $210,000.

GLASSBORO

-- 1 Scott Lane, Shirley E. Weathers to Pilgrim Industries LLC for $120,000.

HARRISON TWP.

-- 318 Stonehouse Lane, Patrick and Colleen Delany to Stacie L. Halscheid for $181,000.

HOPEWELL TWP.

-- 500 Bowentown Road, Bonnie J. Boss to Likanchuk A & A Enterprises for $450,000.

MANNINGTON TWP.

-- 7 Swedes Bridge Road, Kenneth W. and Susan A. Long to Conrad M. and Ann M. Hunnicutt for $62,985.

MAURICE RIVER TWP.

-- 111 Middle St., Beth E. Allen to Dorcas M. Robinson for $19,000.

Washington Twp. home sells for $352K

MILLVILLE

-- 110 Bluebird Lane, Rare Hospitality International Inc. to G & J Seltzer LLC for $3,150,000.

-- 101 W. Harrison Ave., Melvin S. Brody to Kathleen Chance for $325,000.

-- 124 River Dr., Milo W. Hannah IV to Zenchuk Enterprises LLC for $5,000.

-- 5 W. Forest Glen Dr., William B. Smith to Diane L. Knoop for $125,000.

-- 349 Peach Dr., Fannie Mae by attorney to Kevin Ravine for $141,000.

-- 2657 Cedar St., Edward Zadroga to Arthur Ackerson for $255,000.

-- 915 Hemlock Road, Matthew Johnson to Richard B. Hymer for $7,500.

-- 11 Cecile Dr., James P. Pessolano to John F. Earnest III for $255,000.

-- 82 Homestead Dr., Fannie Mae by attorney to Joshua K. Williams Sr. for $163,100.

NEWFIELD

-- 300 Madison Ave., Thomas A. and Lucy Clark to Michelle Misghali and Justin Simmons for $135,000.

OLDMANS TWP.

-- 5 Isabelle St., Thomas Fagely and Chelsea Armstrong to Phillip J. and Danielle C. Fahey for $290,000.

PENNS GROVE

-- 19 Delaware Dr., Margaret A. Wylie to David M. and Gail M. Mangiocco for $95,000.

PENNSVILLE TWP.

-- 14 French St., Angela Carol and Kenneth Anthony King to Loren E. Saul for $199,900.

-- 106 Lincoln Dr., Christopher A. and Lisa M. Hagan to Thomas F. and Margaret A. Ruane Jr. for $105,000.

-- 34 Maple Ave., Michael Walter and Jolene Petrowski to Toby K. Woods for $175,000.

-- 11 Harding Ave., Fannie Mae to David N. and Mary T. Reinherz for $22,500.

-- 290 N. Broadway, Katherine M. Harris to Stacy and Bonnie Davis for $44,000.

-- 70 Oberlin Road, Ethel M. Wood to Justin Spinelli and Stephanie Fisher for $136,900.

PILESGROVE TWP.

-- Featherbed Lane, James Andrew Regn and Michael S. Warner to David L. Schaeffer for $732,000.

PITMAN

-- 428 Elm Ave., Ryan and Dana Ragone to Lyle S. and Jacqueline A. Hamilton for $240,000.

PITTSGROVE TWP.

-- 567 Alvine Road, Verde Shelton to Matthew T. and Amber Myers for $87,000.

-- 27 Brotman Ave., JP Morgan Chase Bank to RRCH #4 LLC for $40,980.

SALEM

-- 118 to 120 Hubbell Ave., John A. Loughren to Michael P. Vecsey for $31,000.

STOW CREEK TWP.

-- 203 Causeway Road, Sharon Franklin Williams, executor, to Garry Homan for $90,000.

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP.

-- 1812 4^th Ave., Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp by attorney to Brian Baker for $25,000.

VINELAND

-- E. Chestnut Ave., Barbara Piccioni Daley to Cresci J. Farms Realty LLC for $2,000.

-- 636 Cypress Dr., Wells Fargo to Joel Soto for $174,900.

-- 1001 E. Landis Ave., Christ the Good Shepherd Parish to Melvin Perez-Ramos for $100,000.

-- 192 Redcrest St., Mark J. Borowski to Lyn Marie F. McNasby for $175,000.

-- 506 Grandview Ave., Carlos L. Gonzalez to Evelyn V. Harker for $129,000.

-- 682 Pleasant Dr., JMK Properties LLC to Dmitriy Drozd for $155,000.

-- 318 Landis Ave., Larrys II Development LLC to Middleton R. Properties LLC for $154,230.

 316 Landis Ave., Larrys II Development LLC to Middleton R. Properties LLC for $143,537.

WASHINGTON TWP.

-- 1 Winesap Court, Ernesto and Josephine Kwan to Salvatore J. and Cassie J. Borda for $243,400.

-- 6 Buffalo Run, Michael P. and Elayne A. Clancy to Katelyn and Shawn Clancy for $240,000.

-- 8 Daytona Ave., Francesco J. and Denise M. Messina to Francesco J. Messina Jr. for $240,000.

-- 6 Mariner Dr., Cynthia Fritzinger, executrix, to William F. and Maria A. Madgey for $235,900.

-- 81 Massey Dr., Francis X. and Joanne A. Santelli to Christopher J. Genay for $218,000.

-- 1707 Hawthorne Court, Stephanie and James Donaldson to Ralph Rosa for $115,000.

WOODBURY

-- 513-519 Lafayette Ave., Rocco Ficara to James and Jennifer Lavender for $375,000.

WOODSTOWN

-- 50 West Ave., Residential Mortgage Loan Trust to Derrell W. and Jennifer Pustizzi for $17,900.

WOOLWICH TWP.

-- 50 Center Square Road, Harry R. and Charlotte A. Zappala to Woolwich Realty LLC for $423,000.

-- 420 Lexington Mews, JPO Lexington LLC to Ottaviano and Jeanine M. Procenzano for $241,403.

South Jersey Times may be reached at sjnews@njadvancemedia.com. Follow us on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

SouthSTAR, one of 2 publicly-funded medical helicopters, is calling it quits after 28 years. Here's why.

A boy is thrown from an ATV in a wooded area of the Pine Barrens. A man loses control of his motorcycle on a rural road. A mother is ejected from her car in a multi-vehicle pile up on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Amid the flashing lights of police cars and first responders, the whir of a helicopter's blades can be heard overhead, preparing to land and rush the patients to a nearby trauma center in an effort to save their lives.

Over the past 10 years, the number of air medical helicopters serving New Jersey has increased, but as of last week there will be one less medevac -- the longest-running and largest in size -- responding to calls.

After nearly three decades of service, SouthSTAR -- one of the two publicly-funded air medical helicopters serving New Jersey -- ceased its operations as of July 1. Officials with the New Jersey State Police and Virtua Health, who jointly operate the program, point to the crowded skies, full of privately-owned air medical operations, as the reason they're grounding their own flights.

The influx of private choppers in New Jersey -- and nationwide -- has left questions about what the future of air medical services will look like in New Jersey and just how much it will cost.

28 years and 25,000 missions

Since 1988, the state has helped provide air medical services for trauma situations through a publicly-funded program overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. The New Jersey State Police maintain and provide the pilots for the two helicopters -- known as NorthSTAR and SouthSTAR, or JEMSTAR combined -- and hospitals staff the aircraft with nurses and paramedics.

Every three years, the hospitals -- Virtua in the south and the University Hospital in Newark in the north -- have to submit a bid to the state to be eligible for the grant money that supports the program. A $3 surcharge on motor vehicle registration feeds the dedicated fund for air medical services. 

But this year, after 28 years of service and more than 25,000 missions, Virtua opted not to reapply, saying the growing competition has drastically decreased their number of flights and patients

"After careful analysis and review, Virtua determined that the significant decline in SouthSTAR's flight volume makes the program no longer sustainable," Virtua said in a statement.

No other hospitals have put in a bid, according to health department spokeswoman Dawn Thomas

"The department is still determining how to proceed from here," she added.

Private choppers change the game

The state police emblem on the side of SouthSTAR was easily recognized as the helicopter took off from Hammonton airport, landed in fields or on state highways and escorted patients to Cooper Hospital's trauma unit in Camden, and other surrounding hospitals.

But over the past decade, more medevacs with different names can be seen on emergency calls -- PennStar, Air Two, Medevac 5. Aside from SouthSTAR, there are six air medical helicopters servicing south Jersey. 

In 2006, the state started licensing private medical helicopters to initially be used for inter-hospital transfers. Overtime, these private helicopters started assisting the state helicopters at accidents and emergency situations. Later, state law was changed to dictate that whichever helicopter was closest -- not just SouthSTAR --should respond to the scene.

"Due to the increasing number of air medical providers serving South Jersey, over the past 10 years, SouthSTAR flights have fallen from an average of 75 per month in 2006 to an average of just 20 per month in 2015, and 14 per month during the first quarter of 2016," Virtua said in a statement.

Virtua has been at odds with the private helicopters and hospitals that support them for the past few years. In 2011, the hospital filed a complaint against the state health department, claiming the licensing of a new helicopter at Cooper University Hospital, called Air Two, would have a negative effect on medical services in South Jersey.

Adding another helicopter into the system - with the volume of flights remaining stable from year to year - means that our nurses and paramedics will have fewer opportunities to maintain their skills," Scott Kasper, Virtua's Corporate Director of Emergency Services, said at the time.

Cooper University did not return requests for comment. PennSTAR, another competitor that flies into New Jersey from across the Delaware River, said last week it was aware of SouthSTAR's end and is "working closely with other air medical operators in the area to ensure continued service" in south Jersey.

What it's going to cost you

While the quality of care is a concern, finances are a big factor in the emergency medical services field. 

In the past 10 years, the funds generated for the program have more than doubled. According to a state report from 2007, $9 million was generated for JEMSTAR that year. In 2015, $22 million was collected for the program, according to the state's treasurer's office. Years ago an in-flight ride on SouthSTAR would cost a patient $1,300, but due to the increase in funds, SouthSTAR costs nothing out of pocket to anyone using the service. 

But a flight in a private medical helicopter could be tens of thousands of dollars. Patients throughout the country have reported being billed upwards of $40,000 for what can be a 15-minute life-saving flight that insurance companies are refusing to cover, according to an ABC News report in May. 

To reduce costs, an industry-trade group, The Association of Air Medical Services, is asking federal lawmakers to help increase Medicare payments to the helicopter companies, according to a New York Times report.

In New Jersey, its unclear how the millions of dollars dedicated to air medical services will be spent. State officials in the health department did not respond to requests about how much money remains in the fund now that SouthSTAR won't be receiving any. 

Private companies aren't eligible for the funding, according Vince Robbins, president and CEO of MONOC, which provides air medical services in Monmouth and Ocean counties with the company MedTrans. 

Robbins said the state should reconsider the publicly-funded program and redirect the funding to the private companies. 

"The public should know that private MedEvac providers are so prolific in NJ that the historical state MedEvac program is now obsolete and the funds previously used to sustain that program, should be redirected to offset the cost to patients who must use private services," Robbins said. "Why does the state continue to insist on supporting an obsolete program that has essentially already been replaced by the private sector?"

Staff writer Jessica Beym contributed to this report.

CJ Fairfield may be reached at cfairfield@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @fairfielc4. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The column that still hasn't recovered from the Fourth of July

The column that still hasn't recovered from the Fourth of July

--

Good morning!

--

Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

Are you a member of Bridgeton High School's Class of 1946?

Are you interested in catching up with your classmates?

The Class of 1946's 70th reunion is scheduled on Sept. 24 at the Green Olice on Shiloh Pike.

For more information, call Bill Bowen at 856-447-4913.

--

Millville's Thursday Night Concerts start on July 7 with the Cumberland County Community College Jazz Band and Wind Smyphony.

On July 14, This That and the Others is playing.

On July 21, Polka Pete will be taking the stage.

On July 28, the Bud Cavallo Duo will be entertaining the crowd.

Concerts start at 7 p.m. at Corson Park on East Main Street.

If you want a chair you are going to have to bring your own.

--

"Rev. Dr. Robin Weinstein, President of the M25 Initiative, today announced that the organization is welcoming four new members to the Board of Trustees. The M25 Initiative is the lead facilitator and funding agent for the Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition and the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative.

"The new trustees are: Hon. Paul Ritter, Charlotte Gould, JoEllyn Jones, and David Moore.

"The Honorable Paul Ritter, JD, is the President and CEO of the Cumberland Insurance Group. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Delaware Law School of Widener University. He is active in the community serving as Deputy Mayor and a member of the Land Use Board in Hopewell Township. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Inspira Hospital and the Cumberland County Historical Society.

"Mrs. Charlotte Gould has been a resident of Bridgeton for 37 years. As an educator she has taught at Bridgeton Christian School, Immaculate Conception Regional School, Vineland Public Charter School and Millville Public Charter Schools. She has also taught English classes at an orphanage in Haiti. Currently, she is the Dean of Students at Bridgeton Public Charter School, where she was the Founding Board President. She has been actively engaged in music, drama, and leadership positions at Bridgeton Assembly of God, worked with the Late Rev. C. Vaughn at Music Art and Drama Camp in Malaga and the music program at John Wesley United Methodist Church. She has served on the Deacon Board of Bridgeton Assembly of God as a Deaconess and Board President. She is a graduate of Glassboro State College/Rowan University and Global University.

"Mr. David Moore, RN MSN BC, a long time Cumberland County resident, was born in Millville, graduated from Millville High School, and received his Registered Nursing degree from Cumberland County College. He has been working at Inspira Health Center Bridgeton for nearly thirty years and currently serves as Inspira Health Network's Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services. He received his Master's degree in Nursing and Healthcare Administration from the University of Delaware in 2007 and has since distinguished himself by responding to the behavioral health needs of our region. In recent years he guided the renovation of Bridgeton's state-of-the-art inpatient behavioral health adult and child units, while leading the expansion of Inspira's inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services across our region."

- M25 Initiative

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where you have to know the rules before you can break them.

Following an investigation, Pennsville Police arrest two on charges of burglary, theft.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- Two Salem County residents were arrested in connection to an air conditioning unit theft during a house burglary, police said.

Ezra C. Evans III, 31, of Pennsville, and Alana E. Liable, 31, of Carneys Point, were charged with burglary and theft following a police investigation June 28, according to authorities.

Pennsville Police investigated the burglary of a residence on Michigan Road after the resident called and reported seeing two suspects taking an A/C unit apart.

Both Evans and Liable reportedly fled the scene and were located in a wooded area shortly after, authorities said

Evans was processed and held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of bail for violation of probation.

Liable was processed and released pending court. 

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Representatives from the manufacturer of the new engine in the MV Delaware are on site at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal making repairs.

NORTH CAPE MAY -- At the height of the summer tourist season, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is operating with just two vessels after a third one in the fleet was taken out of service for repairs to one of its new engines.

Officials said crank shaft repairs are needed one of the two main engines on the MV Delaware and the vessel would be out of service "for the next several days."

With the temporary loss of the Delaware, the ferry service will operate on a modified weekday and weekend schedule, officials said.

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry's MV Delaware is seen arriving at the North Cape May terminal in this file photo. The vessel, which received two new engines in a recent $5 million overhaul, has been taken out of service for repairs to one of those engines. (Delaware River and Bay Authority) 

The Delaware was just put back into service at the end of May with great fanfare after its 40-year-old engines were replaced with modern, efficient models in a $5 million overhaul.

"We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and are working as fast as we can to get her back on-line," said Heath Gehrke, director of ferry operations.

Operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the ferry service transports vehicles and foot passengers 17 miles across the Delaware Bay between North Cape May and Lewes, Delaware.

The Delaware had completed approximately 173 Delaware Bay crossings after its rehabilitation when Chief Engineer Nesmond King noticed vibration in one of the engines and alerted the port engineer, officials said.

The early detection of a problem prevented further damage, officials said.

The engines are still under warranty and representatives from the engine's manufacturer are on site at the Cape May terminal making repairs.

With the Delaware sidelined for the time being, the ferry must rely on its two remaining vessels, the MV Cape Henlopen and MV Delaware.

This is the height of the tourist season at the New Jersey and Delaware beaches and the busiest time of the year for the ferry which operates year-round.

This time of year, about 1,300 vehicles and 4,500 passengers use the ferry on a daily basis, officials said.

Cape May-Lewes Ferry gaining in popularity

Officials are urging those who want to use the ferry to make reservations.

"Our customer service representatives are going above and beyond to try and ensure that our customers can get where they want to go, when they want to go," Gehrke said, "Our customers know that their safety and satisfaction is paramount.  We always recommend making reservations in the summertime, but it is even more important now."

Officials say the tighter crossing schedule should not impact those foot passengers who use the ferry, but when it comes to vehicles, some boats may be full.

Making reservation is free and guarantees a spot on the vessel crossing at the time the customer wants.

Six departures on weekdays and eight on the weekend are being affected by the temporary loss of the Delaware.

It was just over a month ago that the ferry welcomed the MV Delaware back into service with what was billed as a homecoming celebration at the North Cape May terminal.

At the event on May 31, officials touted how the new engines will not only save fuel, but dramatically cut down on the emissions from the vessel.

The installation of the MV Delaware's two new 8-cylinder, 2,000 horsepower engines was a five-month, complicated task that was performed at Caddell's Drydock and Repair Co. in Staten Island, New York, officials said.

The Electro-Motive Division engines themselves cost $1.8 million and drydocking fand installation cost an additional $3.5 million.

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry fleet once included five vessels, but one was sold off for scrap and the other has been mothballed, leaving just three operating ferries.

The ferry began service on the bay in 1964. The New Jersey terminal is only a couple of miles from the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway.

In addition to the ferry, the Delaware River and Bay Authority also operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge and several regional airports in New Jersey and Delaware.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The basics for a wonderful garden — sun, water, food

By Lorraine Kiefer

Once the  midsummer solstice, the eve of St. John the Baptist (the longest period of daylight all year) and the 4th of July comes it is summer. These next couple of weeks people can stay outdoors until almost 9 p.m. working in the garden, walking, biking or playing ball.  

I love to go in garden after dinner. Our Swiss chard is going strong, but our lettuce is finished. The beets are youthful but good. I have picked a couple of large bowls of pole string beans and have been nibbling cherry tomatoes from pots in the nursery. Got our first ripe tomato, a variety called Fourth of July. This plant has, luscious fruits, Fourth of July is one of the earliest producing varieties you can grow. Although early, you can continue to harvest your plant until late summer or early fall. To keep any tomatoes going give them at least one inch of water per week and direct sun each day.

This is a glorious time of the year. Fragrant swamp magnolia, roses, lavender and so many other plants are all in full bloom now.  

You can still plant seeds and plants in your garden. I just planted zinnia, marigold  and cosmos seeds as well as more tomato plants for late season harvest. Feed all, stake tomatoes and the summer weather will ensure good production. Some people trim off side shoots of tomatoes and stake them, while others allow them to "vine" or sprawl on the ground. We like to stake or cage them for easier picking and cleaner fruit. This year my husband Ted also made little trellis that look like bamboo tee pees for the cucumbers. This made it a lot easier to pick them last night. The wonderful pole beans are also a pleasure to pick.

Read seed packets now to see the number of days until harvest. Many bush beans will sprout quickly and begin to produce a good late crop. Farmers have this knack down pat and plan and plant so they harvest up to and often beyond frost.

Tomatoes need adequate water and food. Some gardeners use food especially for tomatoes, but a good top dressing of compost and some old fashion granular 10-10-10 also works.Lorraine Kiefer 

The seeds planted now need to be kept moist so that the tiny seed roots and new seed leaves do not wilt. This is very important as the warm summer temperatures and strong sunlight makes sprouting quicker but can also dry out the soil much quicker than in spring. Many seeds planted now, such as the Swiss chard, beets and kohlrabi will continue on well into cooler weather.  

Remember that tomatoes need adequate water and food. Some gardeners use food especially for tomatoes, but a good top dressing of compost and some old fashion granular 10-10-10 works for us. I also supplement with 14-14-14 time release to keep the food going late into summer. If rust or fungus appears on the leaves a sprinkle of sulfur or copper or spray with neem oil  are safe natural means to control disease on tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and squash. A farmer friend told me that tomatoes need calcium and ample water to do well.  

Beach plums, raspberries, blackberries are all on the plants, but not ripe yet. I picked some currents and popped them in  the freezer for jelly making in cool weather. 

Remember June and  July are good months for perennials. Choose a few nice perennials each month so that you have a kaleidoscope of color for years to come.  Now foxglove, astilbe and Spigelia are blooming in semi shaded places. All kinds of bright coreopsis, daisies and lilies are blooming in sun, not to mention the awesome lavender. Cacti and yucca are blooming in dry spots and monarda is bright red in semi shade or sun. Humming birds are finding this as well as red salvia, petunia, nicotiana, verbena and many other tubular red blooms. 

Do you have a shade tree in your yard? It is so nice to have a few chairs or picnic table in shade. If you don't have any shade or would like more, plant a tree now. Planting now will require a commitment of a deep watering at least twice a week.  

I suggest having a hose near just for this purpose. Turn it on and allow it to run slowly for an hour or two to throughly soak the root ball and surrounding area a couple times a week. Your tree will root in and grow well.

So get out in the garden and be part of the timeless tradition of summer time and the garden is growing.

Join me in both my Hummingbird and Butterfly class on July 10 and Garden Flower arranging class on July 20.

Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.

Muffler Men is the official term for fiberglass giants seen on roadsides throughout America. The statues can be found throughout New Jersey.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation aids in land preservation in Salem County.

ALLOWAYS TWP. -- A Salem County farmer saw 70 acres of land preserved thanks to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, officials said.

Joe Doak, of Alloway, preserved his farm on June 3 by selling the development rights to the conservation foundation after he bought the 70 acres on the farm adjacent to his that went up for sale several years ago.

Doak currently owns 300 contiguous acres of farmland and now his property is permanently restricted to agricultural use, according to New Jersey Conservation Foundation officials.

Federal and state farmland preservation programs assist farmers by purchasing development rights on land -- farmers get money to pay off debts, make improvements or expand operations.

"It's a big relief for me. It made the difference between being able to keep the farm and having to sell it," Doak said.

Pilesgrove looks at land preservation

His 70 acres were preserved using funds from the State Agriculture Development Committee and New Jersey Conservation Foundation grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The farm is located off Woodstown-Alloway Road and harvests hay and corn, and is located within the Swede's Run Forest 

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private, non-profit that preserves land and natural resources throughout New Jersey.

The conservation has protected 125,000 acres of open space between the Highlands and Pine Barrens to the Delaware Bayshore. 

Voting will take place at Septemberfest on Sept. 10

The Miss Salem County Scholarship Organization will be holding the annual photo contest for Pennsville and Deepwater residents newborn to 10 years of age. Voting will take place at Septemberfest Festivities in Riverview Park on Sept. 10. All photos entered will be on display for residents to vote on.

Voting will be conducted as change votes; one dime is 10 votes, a quarter is 25 votes, a dollar is 100 votes and so on (no pennies required). The winner will be the photo of the child with the most votes. The winner will be notified  on Sept. 11 and will receive a $50 gift certificate for Toys R Us and have his/her photo featured on nj.com/south.

One portrait-style photo only (no landscape photos accepted) (size 8-by-10 inches), black and white or color. Proof of residence (copy of parent driver's license and child's age (copy of birth certificate) is required. A $5 processing fee must be submitted with photo. Cash or money order only. Entries must be mailed or delivered by Sept. 9, to Miss Salem County Scholarship Organization, 50 S. Pennsville-Auburn Road, Carneys Point, NJ 08069. For more info contact, humphreys64@comcast.net or call 856-299-5372.

This item submitted by Maureen C. Humphreys.

The late Roscoe Brown showed that skin color was irrelevant in the skies above Germany in World War II.

By Bob Manieri

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke volumes when he said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

The 50th anniversary of  "The March on Washington" and Dr. King's "I  Have a Dream" speech have passed, and we are all left to wonder: Will we ever get there?

Well, we may not know it, but some of us have already been "there."

The world just lost one of a great group of men, who were, to paraphrase Dr. King, "not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." I refer to the death at age 94 on July 2 of Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr.: college professor, Army Air Force veteran of World War II, Tuskegee Airman and American. 

Brown and several others truly were judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin, by several thousand of the men they met.

The meeting place was four to five miles high over Nazi Germany. The fellows that Brown met were bomber crews attacking Germany in broad daylight -- and the men in these other Army Air Force units were most certainly all white. 

When Brown and his comrades met them, these men in these bomber crews could only judge him and the other Tuskeege Airmen of the "Red Tail" pilots by the kind of men they were. You see, Brown's crew was assigned as fighter escorts for heavy bombers of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Army Air Force.  

The 332nd didn't know it then, but they were judging the African-Americans in the red-tailed P-51 Mustangs by the content of their character only. 

In the bitter cold temperatures in the spots where they met, you can't tell what color the man flying the P-51 is. As a bomber crewman, you only know that it's 50 degrees below zero, and that German fighters are decimating the formation of B-17s and B-24s of which your aircraft is part. Most of all, you know that the men in the P-51s are there to protect you. 

And, as many of the bomber crews were to observe, the men in the P-51s were so fierce, so dedicated, so professional that their conduct and valor would one day bring forth the legend "...they're that 'colored' outfit that never lost a bomber to enemy action."

So you see, a small part of  Dr. King's dream has come true.

Bob Manieri writes from Mantua Township.

Jeremy Pickett, 31, of Salem was arrested earlier this year following a month-long investigation into drug activity.

SALEM -- A man who authorities say they found with two loaded handguns along with cocaine, heroin and a pound of pot has been indicted, according to court records.

Jeremy Pickett, 31, of Salem has been indicted on numerous charges following his arrest on Feb. 19 on drug and weapons charges. (Salem County Correctional Facility)  

Jeremy Pickett, 31, of Salem was arrested and charged after a month-long investigation earlier this year of drug activity on Sinnickson Street in Salem, a high-crime area.

Pickett was picked up while driving in Salem. He was found with one loaded gun in his vehicle and a search warrant uncovered another gun, drugs and drug paraphernalia at his home, authorities said at the time of his arrest on Feb. 19.

A Salem County grand jury recently indicted Pickett on a fourth-degree charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance on or within 1,000 feet of a school zone, two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon, third-degree defacing a firearm, second-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted person and second-degree weapons possession during a controlled dangerous substances offenses.

Alleged drug store robber indicted

According to the indictment, the weapons that allegedly belonged to Pickett included a Hipoint 40 caliber handgun and a Hipoint 9 mm handgun. Both were loaded.

Police said drugs allegedly found in Pickett's home were packaged for distribution.

Pickett was jailed on $100,000 bail at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington Township.

On Feb. 25, according to jail records, he posted bail and was released.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

ost of the inlets and back bays were very productive with flounder

 

The weather was kind to us two holiday weekends in a row and flounder fishing especially along the coast couldn't have been better.  Most of the inlets and back bays were very productive with flounder and some nice size ones up to 8 pounds.  They also made surf fishing very interesting.

A variety of fish also made it interesting two weekends in a row with quite a few weakfish up to 8 pounds being caught along with many kingfish, croakers and some blues.

Some stripers were caught in the surf down to Cape May Point.  Some drum were in the surf, but most of the drum fishing is over as they are leaving Delaware Bay.  I don't know the reasons for sure, but every time lately the fishing at the shore is very good. 

The fishing in the bay is slow.  I can't figure this out, but that is what has happened two weeks in a row.

With flounder leading the way with weakfish, kingfish, croaker, striper and blues showing up at the shore, Delaware Bays has been taking a back seat in every category.

I attempted to get in touch with a few marinas and boat captains but didn't have much luck.

Ken at Husted's Landing had the only decent report.  He had three different boats come in with decent catches of flounder and a couple of weakfish.

Bob at the Anchor Marina had a few boats go out but didn't have much luck to report.  Perch and crabs are still thick in the creek.

Couldn't get any news from the Fortescue area except I was told the Fortescue Fleet is concentrating mostly on flounder and some weakfish and kingfish.

Haase's Marina at Matt's Landing had Bob Brown and his dad Martin come in with four flounder but that was it. 

Didn't hear any news from the "No Sweat".

Haven't heard any news lately from the Bass Fishing Clubs except that Joey Franzwa of Millville recently won a contest in Salisbury, Maryland with the big one, a 7 pounder and also total weight of 12 pounds.

Maybe this will be the year someone breaks the state record of 10 - 14 held by taxidermist Bob Eisele of Leesburg caught in Menantico Pond in 1980.

Jim Bolton is the outdoors columnist for the South Jersey Times. He can be reached at 856-313-9347 or 22 Arbutus Ave., Millville, NJ 08332.

The accident took place on Taylor Road near Three Bridge Road Thursday morning.

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. -- Three people were taken to an area hospital after a motor vehicle crash Thursday morning, state police said.

Three people were hurt in an Upper Pittsgrove crash Thursday. (File Photo) 

The accident took place around 10:15 a.m. on Taylor Road near Three Bridge Road.

It involved a Chevrolet Trailblazer and a Kia, according to state police.

The one occupant of the Kia and two people in the Trailblazer were all taken to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden.

Mail truck, vehicle collide leaving 2 hurt

Said the injuries of the three did not appear to be life-threatening.

Names of those involved in the crash or more details about the accident were not immediately available.

Numerous fire and rescue personnel responded to the scene.

Time to see how well you recall our biggest stories.

Time to see how well you recall this week's biggest local news stories. All the questions in the quiz below are based on top NJ.com news stories from the past week. Once you're done, share your score in comments. If you need a little last-minute study time, here are the stories used to create this week's quiz.

• Newark loses a record it probably never wanted anyway
• Road projects near you that will shut down
• Casino workers to strike for July 4 weekend
• Fastest shrinking towns of New Jersey
• The bloody 4th of July that led to N.J.'s fireworks ban
• Another rare animal found in South Jersey lake
• Suspended cop found not guilty on drug charges wants her job back

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvnacemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook.