Competing helicopters can provide airlift services just as well as state-subsidized SouthSTAR. But state health officials must manage what could be a free-for-all.

For decades, South Jersey listeners to emergency radio bands heard a dispatcher announce that "SouthSTAR," a medical evacuation helicopter, was on the way to a crash scene.

The comforting words meant that a critically injured person would be airlifted to the nearest trauma center or other specialized hospital as quickly as humanly possible.

But, after 28 years and 25,000 flights, SouthSTAR flies no more. SouthSTAR owner Virtua Health grounded it July 1, and did not reapply for state funding, claiming that competition had made the service unsustainable.

The decision means the end of state-subsidized MedEvac service in South Jersey. Since the New Jersey State Police provided its pilots, SouthSTAR's demise also removes an "official" stamp from local airlift services.

Any of a half-dozen medical choppers that are privately owned or run by other hospitals is likely to get most victims to needed care just as quickly. The best-known one is PennSTAR, which is associated with the University of Pennsylvania  system. Another service, AirTwo, is part of Cooper University Hospital, which houses the Level 1 trauma center that is the destination for many flights. Like SouthSTAR, there are qualified paramedics aboard these choppers.

It's also difficult to oppose a recent state law dictating that the closest chopper -- it wasn't always SouthSTAR  -- should respond to an incident. Virtua gives this change as another reason it mothballed its own service.

So, why does its grounding matter? For a couple of reasons that state health policy makers need to keep an eye on.

First, there's the charges. A $22 million annual subsidy allowed SouthSTAR (as well as NorthSTAR in northern New Jersey) to avoid any billing for flights. A $3 surcharge on state motor vehicle registration has provided money for both copters, but no service has applied for the grant to replace SouthSTAR.

Apparently, MedEvac billing will now be the same as for many of New Jersey's ground-based EMS units: They'll take whatever money they can get from a patient's health insurance. EMS services (the non-profit ones, anyway) usually vow not to bill patients directly. But that's not always the case. Third-party billing companies hired by the ambulance corps have been known to dun old ladies aggressively for thousands of dollars. Nationally, MedEvac services have billed patients up to $40,000.

With SouthSTAR gone, the state Department of Health must ensure that private billing doesn't get out of hand. The department should also answer why South Jersey residents must keep paying the $3 surcharge if subsidized service is no longer available to them.

There's an additional geography question. We expect any "scene" in Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel or Washington Township will see a non-SouthSTAR helicopter promptly. Can the same be said for interior Cape May County? 

PennSTAR officials, for example, say they are "working closely" with other services to maintain SouthSTAR's former coverage. That doesn't sound like a firm commitment. State officials need to get one.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

I broke my own record. I was going for no broken bones in 78 years. That's not happening anymore.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

I turn 78 years old in a few weeks. That's hardly ancient, I know. But a misstep at home the other day cost me a shot at tying an all-time record for least broken bones by an individual in a lifetime - none.

I fall quite a bit these days, a consequence of Parkinson's disease. My neurologist at Jefferson informs me that "You have Parkinson's, you're going to fall," and he's right on target. I have a motorized scooter, two push carts, and three canes, and I still fall routinely - in the driveway, on the deck, anywhere in the house, in the bathroom, at church, at restaurants. I lose my balance easily, and, whoops, down I go.

My worst fall happened two Fridays ago when I was attempting to negotiate the seven steps in our bi-level, and missed the last six. Later, I blamed it on the dog, who naps at the top of the stairs, but it really wasn't Blue's fault. I mean, it's hard to miss a 145-pound dog.

Anyway, I don't remember much about my daredevil act. I tripped at the top and went airborne, landing in the TV room beside dog No. 2, Romeo, who seemed perturbed that I interrupted his sleep and didn't lift a paw to help.

It was the closest I've ever come to being knocked out. I lay prone on the floor for perhaps three minutes, then groggily crawled to a chair which provided some leverage that allowed me to get to my feet.

I looked at my left hand and figured I had a problem, but didn't confirm such until seeing a doctor almost a week later for X-rays. Fractured left hand! Cast or splint necessary.

If I'm lucky, perhaps I spend only six weeks in a cast. But my erstwhile clean record of no broken bones in a lifetime is shot.

The closest I came before this was the hole I  stepped in on the 17th at Pine Valley during a round of golf with A.J. DiMarino. I badly sprained my left ankle, but did not break it. I got a free ride off the course in a golf cart and that night wound up in the ER at Underwood-Memorial Hospital (Inspira) on crutches.

And before that, the closest call came in 1958 when I played basketball for Hagerstown Junior College. On this night at Catonsville JC, I had a rare hot hand, amassing an unheard of 13 points by halftime. So the Catonsville coach assigned a hit-man to contain me. He did an effective job. I had a breakaway layup which ended unceremoniously when he drove my head into the unpadded wall, knocking me out but preventing the bucket and my 15th point.

When I awoke from my KO, players and fans from both teams were participating in a wild melee at center court.

The cops came and removed everybody from the gym, jailing several Catonsville followers.

I was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, was checked out and released.

We were awarded a 1-0 forfeit victory.

I don't remember if my 13 points counted or not.

Just my luck if they didn't.

4th marking period for the 2015-2016 school year

Pennsville Memorial High School announces the names of students on the Honor

Roll for the fourth marking period for the 2015-16 school year.

9th Grade/All A's -- Kelsie Battersby, Rachel Bubeck, Hannah Cooksey, Dylan Dolbow-Abhau, April Hartman, Luke Iles, Brent Irwin, Shubreet Kaur,  Mandi Powell, MacKenzie Rieger, Jacob Schmid, Alyssa Sebell, and Arianna Smith.

10th Grade/All A's -- Haley Boden, Nicole Cunningham, Ryan Gray, Clorissa Kutney, Morgan Lane, Tressi Marigliano, Lauren Marini, Ashley Mistichelli, Carli Poeta, Noah Raine, Sawyer Runyon, Mason Russykevizc, Russell Scarpa, Elizabeth Slusher, Marissa Staring, and Autumn Tripet.

11th Grade/All A's -- Logan Beals, Giovanni Bianco, Haley Kircher, Kody Leptien, Sarah Muhs, Kendall Napuda, Lauren Riek, Hayley Romansky, Emily Rosenberger, Joshua Schmid, and Kaitlyn Taylor.

12th Grade/All A's -- Jordan Beals, Justin Beatty, Payton Beyl, Hayley Brown, Taylor Brown, Abagail Buoncuore, Devon Campbell, Courtney Catlin, Kendall Collins, Jarred Cornette, Rebecca Cruice, Alexis DePew, Laura Esham, Meaghan Friant, Michael Hartman, Johnna Heller, Ashley Henderson, Destiny Hinton, Julianna Kamenakis, Devin Kearney, Alec Labb, Andie Labb, Sierra Liable, Neil McCarthy, Emily McFarland, Megan Morrison, Rachel Ondricek, Mikayla Owen, Alyssa Palverento, Kelsey Pendleton, Larissa Pierson, Brianna Pratz, Cody Prichard, Cameron Quan, Katelyn Rapp, Allison Ruesswick, Alexis Slusher, Brandon Smith, Justin Smith , Christina Taylor, Alyssa VonAhnen, Joshua White, Meghan Wiggins, Frank Wyshinski, Jenna Wyshinski, and Macala Youngblood.

9th A's and B's -- James Abhau, Robyn Banger, Christopher Clair, Ryan Esham, Kaitlyn Fordham, Laynee Friebel, Savanna Gonzalez, Cora Goss, Kallie Green, Luke Headman, David Houseal, Trent Johnson, Skyler Kern, Brady Locke, Alexandra Perciavalle, Lindsay Pope, Megan Renner, Renee Ridgway, Alex Servis, Michael Slusher, Shelby Szymborski, Joseph Tewes, Dmitri Torpey, Corrine Welch, Danielle Werts, and Cody Wright.

10th A's and B's -- Stacey Alfonso, Nicholas Bard, Emily Biondo, Gina Bradford, Nicole Cardoso, Courtney Cottrell, Ryan Cruice, Jeremy Dark, Cheyenne Delaney, Collette DeVault, Samantha Elliott, Kaylee Gandy, Hannah Haley, Anastasia Henderson, Alayna Inman, Breelyn Kauffman, Sarah Kennedy, McKenna Lockwood, Jarret McCollum, Dyash'a McLeod, Scott Pruitte, Brandi Rowan, Justin Roy, Zoey Simmons, Jenna Smith, Jillian Smith, Emily Sobelman, Bailey Stahlman, Kara Thomas, Haley Wallace, and Cody Wurst.

11th A's and B's -- Jacob Acton, Jessica Allen, Mariam Ata, Stephen Battersby, Zachary Battle, Kevin Bobb, Savannah- Mae Brainard, Corey Brown, John Bubeck, Kelsey Craner, Giovanni Dominic, Brooke Dorsey, Brittany Doughty, Samantha Doughty, Colin Durham, Rhyan Elwell, Gabrielle Gioia, Kaylynne Goldsborugh, Noah Gratz, Peter Halter, Bethany Hannum, Doughlas Hawk, Logan Johnston, Serena Kirca, Kayde Kisielewski, Bailey Lovell, Cambria Luschen, Jeremy McCoy, Kyle Nonnenmocher, Kaitlin Passaro, Nathan Poole, Zachary Pope, Drew Roberts, Kyla Rollo, Robert Saulin, Gurvir Singh, and Gabrielle Wolff. 

12th A's and B's -- Marina Ahmed, Myla Ahmed, Madison Chambers, Kevin Connelly, Julia Cunningham, Austin Dooley, SydneyDyson, Simranjit Kaur, S. Tatiana Lang, Veronica Linski, Joseph McNatt, Nicholas Mesogianes, Alexis Mignone, Arieanna Minguez, Cole Norris, Paige Pendleton, Adam Quann, Paul Rastelli, Aimee Ridgway, Sabrina Ruiz, Sabrina Sams, Megan Schaffer, Veronica Simonelli Allison Smith, Chandler Spinelli, Spencer Walker, and Brittany Wheatley.

This item submitted by Pennsville Memorial High School.

Parvin is also looking for volunteers for October's Terror in the Timbers

PITTSGROVE --  The Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee Inc. has two special events coming up. The first, Christmas in July and the second, the annual Terror in

 

the Timbers.

The second annual Christmas in July event is on July 23 beginning at noon at the beach complex at Parvin State Park Lake. A fun afternoon of inflatable rides and fun activities to enjoy with family and friends. 

The lake and picnic areas will be open and be sure to visit the Parvin concession stand as well as the kayak and canoe rentals. Hayrides and other exciting activities will also be featured. Be sure to visit historic displays of the evolution of Parvin State Park located along the beach complex breezeway.

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The 2016 Terror in the Timbers Halloween event is seeking volunteers for Fridays and Saturdays in October, including Oct. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 and Sunday Oct. 30, from 7:30 to 9:30 nightly. Anyone interested in volunteering or fulfilling "community service" hours should email, parvinvolunteers@gmail.com.

It's important to sign up now as mandatory orientation meetings for all Halloween volunteers will be held at the Danna property on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 at noon each day. Anyone interested in helping to build the props for the event are asked to attend the workday on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.

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Parvin's series of events leads up to the celebration of 85 years of Parvin State Park serving the community and surrounding areas. For information about the cabins and campsites, contact the park office directly by calling 856-358-8616. For more information, about Christmas in July or Terror in the Timbers, visit Facebook or email, parvinvolunteers@gmail.com.

These items submitted by Parvin State Park Appreciation Committee.

The contract covers 1,300 registered nurses at Inspira facilities in Vineland, Woodbury, Bridgeton and Elmer.

Registered nurses at four Inspira Health Network facilities in South Jersey have approved a new three-year contract.

Registered nurses have approved a new contract with Inspira. (File Photo)  

The nurses, represented by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, voted Thursday to OK the deal. The new contract goes into effect immediately.

"This agreement addresses our top priority as nurses to ensure we have safe staffing so we can provide the best care for our patients and our South Jersey community," said Dana Barrett, RN, HPAE Local 5131 president.

"We feel that the agreements reached are fair, consistent and competitive," said Erich Florentine, chief people officer for Inspira Health Network. "The agreements will allow us to continue to recruit and retain top talent in the years to come."

The new contract covers 1,300 registered nurses at four Inspira hospitals in Vineland, Elmer Bridgeton and Woodbury. The nurses in Vineland, Elmer and Bridgeton are represented by HPAE Local 5131 and those in Woodbury are represented by HPAE Local 5621.

According to the union, the new contract includes agreements on:

* Staff levels: Maintaining staffing "grids" which will provide a framework for establishing safe nurse to patient ratios, to improve patient safety and patient care.

Inspira donates life-saving Narcan to local police

* Job protection: Agreement to maintain employment levels for Inspira Woodbury nurses as Inspira builds a new hospital in Harrison Township in Gloucester County.

* Wage increases: 2.25 percent across-the-board wage increases each year of the three-year contract, additional step increases that average about 1 percent per year to retain qualified staff, and increase in on-call pay.

The nurses OK'd the new contract after four months of negotiations, three contract extensions and the involvement of a federal mediator, officials said.

"For the first time, all 1,300 nurses spoke as a united voice to protect quality patient care and the jobs of dedicated nurses who have worked at Woodbury for decades," said Rich Wear, RN and HPAE Local 5621 president at Inspira's Woodbury hospital. "This contract shows that when nurses are united, we can win improvements for ourselves, our patients, and our communities in South Jersey."

All raises and economic gains included in the contract are retroactive to June 1, according to the union.

"We value the dedication and commitment our nurses provide to our patients and our community," Florentine said. " We look forward to continuing to work together with all of our staff to fulfill our mission of providing the highest quality care for all of our patients."

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

The Cape May County Airport is one of serval regional airports operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

A federal grant of nearly $3.5 million will be used for rehabilitation and expansion work at the Cape May County Airport.

A grant will aid improvements at the Cape May County Airport. (File Photo) 

The airport, located in the Erma section of the county, is operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

The $3,467,000 discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, was announced by U.S. Rep Frank A. LoBiondo who chairs the House Aviation Subcommittee.

The money will be used to rehabilitate a runway and extend a taxiway at the airport

"Over the past decade we have made substantial improvements to South Jersey's community airports which have helped create opportunities for more businesses, more jobs and more economic growth in our region. An example is the presence of the unmanned aerial systems industry which is directly tied to the airport facilities and the further potential it holds," said LoBiondo.

"Federal funding for infrastructure improvements is the foundation for the growth and prosperity of a general aviation airport," said Scott A. Green, executive director of the DRBA. "These investments will also boost our ability to pursue economic development opportunities with our county partners."

Cape May-Lewes Ferry sees ridership increase

Along with the Cape May County Airport, the DRBA operates several other regional airports including the New Castle County Airport and the Millville Airport.

The authority also operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

"The Cape May County airport is very important to our region in terms of economic opportunities and future growth. It is not only used for general aviation but for UAS operations and testing. We are really excited by the announcement of these federal funds and appreciate the Congressman's continued efforts on our behalf," said Cape May County Freeholder Will Morey.

 "Today's funding for the Cape May County airport will further enhance safety operations, ensuring businesses relying on our transportation network are able to move their goods and services efficiently and effectively," LoBiondo said in a news release announcing the airport grant. "I will continue to work closely with local officials and the FAA to bring additional federal resources to Cape May County and our region."

Show about a unique duckling that finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery

Oakwood Summer Theatre (OST) will present "Honk! Jr." at Salem Community College. Sean Morris and other child actors will show off their talents July 13-15 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the Sol and Jean Davidow Performing Arts Theatre in Davidow Hall, 460 Hollywood Ave. in Carneys Point.

Oakwood Summer Theatre has become a summertime tradition with a multitude of Salem County records and accomplishments. OST was the first community theater in Salem County. It has performed for over 91,000 patrons since 1980.

"One of OST's goals is to provide an opportunity for children to go on the stage, to learn and to experience live theater. We've done that pretty successfully with our children's shows here," said Tom Mason, OST managing director.

Similar to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling," "Honk! Jr." is a show about a unique duckling that finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery.

The main character, Ugly, is played by Sean Morris, 11, a homeschooled student who has acted in many plays prior to "Honk! Jr." 

Honk! Jr. is a heart-warming celebration of being different that is sure to delight audiences of all ages with its sparkling wit and message of tolerance.

"The music is beautiful, but I think the story outweighs that. It's a story about love, acceptance, and forgiveness, and all that, so it's just a really beautiful story," said Heather Black, who is directing Honk! Jr.

Individual tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at ost.ticketleap.com/ or at the door. Contact Mason at 856-935-2562 for special rates for large groups interested in attending a morning show.

Oakwood Summer Theatre's program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Salem County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

This item submitted by Jaclyn Samuels, Oakwood Summer Theatre.

New Jersey State Police turned to Facebook to help identify the suspects.

Using Facebook, New Jersey State Police were able to identify and arrest two Millville men who allegedly stole from numerous residences in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Justin Daughtry, 24, and Kenneth Fuqua, 30, were charged with burglary, theft, criminal attempt and receiving stolen property. They are both being held in the Cumberland County Jail.

On June 2, surveillance camera footage captured two men attempting to break into a house in the Brotmanville section of Pittsgrove Township, Salem County. The two burglars fled before gaining entry into the house.

New Jersey State Police shared information about the burglary attempt and the video from the incident on its official Facebook page on July 1 in hopes of identifying the two men.

Authorities were able to identify the two men as Daughtry and Fuqua. The two men allegedly performed burglaries in the Maurice River Township area of Cumberland County and Franklinville area of Gloucester County.

Fuqua was arrested at his residence and held in the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail for the Maurice River Township area burglaries and $50,000 bail for the other burglaries. Daughtry was already being held at Cumberland County Jail for unrelated charges and was given a bail of $50,000 for the additional burglary charges.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The water-use permit granted by the state DEP allows the Salem 1 and 2 reactors to draw cooling water from the Delaware River.

TRENTON -- One of the state's leading environmental groups is calling for a new hearing on the state's decision to grant a water-use permit which allows the continued operation of two nuclear reactors.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network filed a legal challenge with the Department of Environmental Protection Friday.

A five-year permit granted by the DEP June 30 lets PSEG Nuclear to continue to draw billions of gallons of water from the Delaware River to cool its Salem 1 and Salem 2 reactors in Salem County.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and other environmental groups had opposed the permit sought by PSEG Nuclear for the reactors at its Artificial Island generating site in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

Officially known as the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, without it Salem 1 and 2 might have been forced to shut down.

"We are disappointed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's failure to recognize the ongoing hazards of permitting the continued use of outdated technology at Salem when there are other proven eco-friendly technologies available," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

When operating at full power, Salem 1 and 2 draw in about 3 billion gallons of water a day from the Delaware River, circulate it through the plants' open-cycle cooling systems and return it to the river.

The amount of marine life killed through this process is unacceptable, environmental groups say.

 "As protectors of the river and the ecosystem it contributes to, we see it as our responsibility to challenge this action in order to prevent the indiscriminate killing of the fish, eggs and larvae that are vital to a healthy economy," Van Rossum said Friday in a release announcing her organization's action. "We will not allow NJDEP to abdicate its responsibility to protect our river, our fish, and our communities."

Permit granted for a new reactor

A DEP spokesman said the agency had no comment.

Joe Delmar, of PSEG Nuclear, also said the company had no comment on the Riverkeeper Network's action.

He reiterated, however, what the company said when the five-year permit was granted -- "Over the years we have made significant upgrades to our systems to limit our environmental impact. This permit will allow the continued operation of both Salem units which play a key role today and also in the future in meeting New Jersey and America's clean air goals."

Friday's filing was submitted to the DEP's Office of Legal Affairs in Trenton.

Van Rossum said the goal is to get the DEP to require a closed-cycle cooling system or require PSEG Nuclear to use updated technology that would rival a closed-cycle system to protect fish and water quality.

Environmentalists claim that billions of fish are killed each year either through being caught on screens at plant water intakes or by being sucked through the plants' cooling system.

PSEG Nuclear has said in the past that improvements in its water intake systems have cut down on the impact on marine life.

In its filing with the DEP Friday the Riverkeeper Network said granting of the water-use permit represents "continued a pattern of haphazard regulation that has endangered the Delaware River's indigenous community of aquatic life."

Last summer the DEP held hearings on the permit in Salem City. Many spoke out in favor of the state granting the permit, but others, citing environmental concerns, spoke in opposition.

Salem 1 and 2 are two of the three nuclear reactors operate by PSEG Nuclear at its Salem County generating complex. The other reactor there, Hope Creek, uses a closed-cycle cooling system which uses a cooling tower that requires dramatically less water to be drawn from the Delaware River.

The three plants are the second-largest commercial nuclear generating complex in the United States.

The federal government earlier this year granted PSEG Nuclear an, the first of many approvals the company would need to build a new nuclear reactor at Artificial Island.

The company has made no decision whether it will build.

BeachGlow Music Festival 2016 features features pop, alternative, and electronic music on the Wildwood beach.

WILDWOOD -- A heat index of 90 degrees didn't stop the thousands of fans from dancing, jumping and singing at the BeachGlow Music Festival 2016 Friday evening. 

The charity music festival, now in its fourth year, features pop, alternative, and electronic music and continues Saturday at 3 p.m. 

All proceeds from the two-night festival on the beach go to Little Kids Rock, a music education nonprofit, which then donates the money to music programs in the Philadelphia school system.

Cawz, a DJ duo from Point Pleasant, kicked off the night followed by Dane, Jay Cosmic, Elephante and the headliner Robert DeLong. 

The lineup for Saturday features Audien, Slander, Nico & Vinz, Gazzo, Fareoh, Two Friends, Synchonice and the Little Kids Rock Band. 

Tickets are still available for Saturday and can be purchased at the door or at BeachGlow.org. 

Ticket holders must be 18 or older to attend the concert.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision. Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

CHEERS: To the latest cool science news from Rowan University, where researchers are developing joint replacements created on 3D printers. Today's joint replacements -- be they knees, hips or shoulders -- are made from metal. This new technology would do more than replace metal with plastic. Researchers say these plastic joints would include built-in antibiotics to fight off infections. Post-op infections are a huge problem in the joint replacement process, so this could mark a major step forward for something an aging population will need more of in the future. Thanks for keeping us healthy into our golden years, Rowan.

JEERS: To stealing from family. A Gloucester County grand jury indicted a Mullica Hill man last week on charges that he stole $75,000 from his grandmother, allegedly to buy drugs. Addiction makes people do crazy things, and in this case Victor F. Anderson, 28, is accused of scamming his grandmother by convincing her that she was out of money and needed to cash in certificates of deposit to pay her household bills and property taxes. We are always warned to be on the lookout for strangers trying to rip off the elderly, but sometimes we need to look closer to home. Kudos to Mantua Police and the county prosecutor's Elder Protection Unit for cracking the case.

CHEERS to knowing your rights. Much has been said about the tiff Collingwood educators got into with the borough's police department and Camden County Prosecutor's Office. While the parties appear to have come to an agreement on how to report future incidents and when authorities should get involved, another group is throwing its hat into the ring. Decarcerate the Garden State said earlier this week that if police are going to be present in school, students must be taught how to interact with them and not incriminate fellow classmates. Our stance here is in no way anti-police, but volunteering information to authorities that has nothing to do with an ongoing investigation could be a costly mistake for students and their guardians.

JEERS to wanton gunplay. Nobody has died -- yet. Burlington City has seen three shootings in as many weeks and authorities there are ramping up efforts to find whoever is slinging hot lead. The victim of Wednesday's non-fatal shooting was someone who happened to be in the wrong place -- asleep in their front room -- and the wrong time -- 4:10 a.m. Yes, that's sarcasm on our part. No, we aren't taking this lightly. Nearby Willingboro has also seen an increase in shootings, with four separate incidents being reported since June 1. When the suspected motive is rival gangs and teenagers are getting shot at playgrounds, it's time to double down.

CHEERS: To a day (or night) at the fair. On Tuesday, the 2016 Cumberland County Fair opened to the public for a five-day run. Once again, the event at the county fairgrounds outside of Millville is expected to draw thousands of visitors. There is plenty to do and see for all ages from animal exhibits, to music, food, entertainment and rides. The fair tops caps off its run with a real crowd-pleaser, the annual Demolition Derby on Saturday night. Don't miss your chance to visit the fair with the entire family.

JEERS: A betrayal of trust. You would think an employee at a local bank would have your best interests at heart. In all cases they do but authorities allege that wasn't the case when Connie M. Girtain of Pennsville allegedly stole $50,000 from two of her customers who thought their money was being safely deposited. When her superiors detected something was wrong they, much to their credit, took immediate action. Girtain, who was arrested back in March was indicted by a Salem County grand jury last week.

If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Sculptor/Scientific Glass Technologist Dennis Briening was the recipient

Salem Community College (SCC) has honored Dennis Briening as its 2016 Distinguished Alumnus.

Dennis BrieningLisa Yeich/Lifetime Memories by  

Briening graduated from SCC with an associate degree in scientific glass technology in 1977.  He also graduated magna cum laude from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, with a bachelor's degree in sculpture in 1991. 

He served as a glass technologist at the Hercules Research Center in Wilmington, Delaware, for 26 years, where he participated in the research and development of glass projects before retiring in 2007.

Briening has taught throughout the nation including at UrbanGlass, Penland School of Crafts and Pilchuck Glass School. At SCC, he taught as an adjunct instructor for nearly 30 years, managed the college's original Glass Center and coordinated the noncredit glass program.

In 2007, Briening was named SCC's Instructional Chair for Scientific Glass Technology (SGT) following a national search. Briening has been a catalyst behind the program's growth with more than 90 students enrolled. He has helped train scores of SGT alumni who are gainfully employed throughout the United States and abroad.

As a member of the American Scientific Glassblowers Society, he chaired the education and internship committee, and was section director for seven years. 

Briening has been an indispensable member of the SCC International Flameworking Conference (IFC) committee since the IFC's inception in 2001. In 2006, he was honored at the IFC for his extraordinary contributions to the regional glass art community and the College's glass programs.

For 13 years, the Pennsville resident has created a beautiful crystal rose in partnership with his wife, Leslie. The unique artwork is presented annually to the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the Salem County Chamber of Commerce.

Briening also earned the SCC Employee of the Year Award and is a two-time recipient of the SCC Arlene Kelley Service to Students Award. 

The Distinguished Alumni program is sponsored by the Salem Community College Foundation in partnership with the SCC Alumni Association.

This item submitted by Salem Community College.

Carneys Point Police responded to reports of a theft Friday afternoon.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- Authorities in Salem County are investigating a theft that occurred Friday afternoon from a residence in Carneys Point. 

Carneys Point Police responded at 1:25 p.m. to Lafayette Road for reports of a theft.

According to authorities, someone stole a Murray Lawnmower and gas can, valued at $105 from the resident's yard. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carneys Point Police Department at 856-299-1212.

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

Salem County rewind offers a look back at our county's rich history through photographs and news items from a century ago.

In this feature, which appears each week, we share a vintage photo from Salem County (along with a large number of other historic local photos in an earlier gallery) and Salem County history tidbits taken from newspapers from a century ago.

SALEM COUNTY PICTURE FROM THE PAST

This vintage photo of Salem County shows the Penns Grove waterfront from a century ago. The bustling borough at the time was also a summer resort with city dwellers from Philadelphia and other urban areas coming to Penns Grove "shore." This picture postcard view shows the riverfront with many pleasure boats north of the pier at the foot of West Main Street. Towns to the south like Pennsville and Elsinboro, also has many summer "cottagers" who had riverfront homes that they used during the summer months to escape the sweltering heat in the age before air conditioning. (Times File Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1916, these news items were included in the Salem Sunbeam.

*

Thieves entered the hen house of S.C. Boone in Penns Grove Wednesday night and took several hens and one rooster.

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Jonathan Smith has a groundhog which was shot on his farm in Mannington last week. It is being mounted by a local taxidermist. Groundhogs are very rare in South Jersey.

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The pie cherry crop in the county last month well exceeded the demand for the fruit and many quarts were left on the trees to perish.

Celebrating the Fourth in grand style

The convict camp which as been stationed near the Deep Run Bridge in Alloway Township since last November moved to Daretown on Tuesday. During the move one of the convicts got away.

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Casper Hitchner, the progressive milk dealer, is having an up-to-date sanitary plant installed at his place of business on East Broadway in Salem. Pasteurization equipment is also being installed.

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Considering the class of people who read the Sunbeam, there is no better advertising medium in the world.

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Farmers report that they have quite a crop of raspberries and black berries now ripe and the difficulty securing help to pick them is making it impossible to get them to market.

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

Cheryl Leonard weighs in about the loss of a boat launch in Elsinboro Township.

To the Editor:

I read Robert Lanard's excellent letter, "Wrong to shut down Salem Co. boat ramp," and would like to echo my neighbor's sentiments.

I moved to Elsinboro Township 10 years ago and the biggest attraction for me was the Salem River and easy access to it from my home. It has been very convenient to simply pull my boat out of the garage, cross the road, launch it, and have a wonderful day of boating. 

Now (because the ramp has been shut down in the wake of a court ruling on another neighbor's nuisance claim) this ability has been taken away.

It's not all about launching boats. People stop here to admire the river, bird watch or enjoy a sunset. I participate in the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project and use this location for my observations. 

Now, ugly barriers and "no trespassing" signs adorn the ramp property. This is unsightly and, in my opinion, lowers the value of the homes here. Maybe the judge needs to come here and see what is being denied to the residents and other users.

It is incredible one that single individual who prevailed in court gets to be the voice of the community. Our local officials have been very supportive, but no one who lives here or uses the ramp was solicited for an opinion to support the ramp as a valuable asset for our township. 

As a neighbor with the same exposure as the complainant, I have had no issues with the ramp or its users. My opinion is that he is the problem, not the ramp and its users.

Having this ramp closed on the July 4 weekend was a hardship for many, as they had to find another launching spot, and there was essentially no notice that this would happen. Some folks who came to launch their boats gave up and went home. That is indeed sad. Not a happy Independence Day.

Cheryl A. Leonard

Elsinboro Township 

Pick your shots when defying authority

To the Editor:

Regarding the article "Group: Teach children their rights in wake of police call" in the June 7 Times:

A group calling itself Decarcerate the Garden State wants "personal rights awareness" added to required curricula in our schools as a result of incidents in Collingswood schools involving repeated 911 calls to police. 

These people have been watching too much "South Park." 

When I was in the 5th grade, Jimmy Mitchell and I had to report to Miss Haupt, our principal, for playing marbles for keeps. You could play for fun, but not for keeps. 

Haupt was a square, stern woman who wore floor-length dresses, never smiled,and  could twist ears and whack knuckles with the best of them. She had voice control that would have been the envy of any Nazi SS officer. 

"Come in. You will be seated" she said, without looking up from what she was writing. When she was finished, she folded her hands, looked at Jimmy and asked, "Why are you here?" 

Jimmy started explaining that we weren't really playing for keeps when the principal said, "Not another word!" 

She then looked at me and asked, "Why are you here?"

We were playing marbles for keeps," I said. 

"Playing marbles for keeps leads straight to jail!," she said.

I started to cry. I thought we were going to jail. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had said I had the right to remain silent and wanted to call my lawyer. It wouldn't have been pretty.

Harry Walker

Pitman

Sweeny school aid plan fairest of them all

To the Editor:

Once again we are witnessing just how different the Democrats and Republicans really are. 

On one hand, you have Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has proposed a school state aid plan that devastates low-income districts and their students (because it calls for districts, whether wealthy, middl-class or poor, to receive the exactly the same amount of per-student funding.)

On the other hand, you have Democrat state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who has offered a plan to fix current inequities (by funding the existing 2008 formula at 100 percent of intended levels.)  His plan is fair to every student in every district.

Unlike Christie, Sweeney actually spends his time in New Jersey and recognizes the challenges facing our poor and middle-class residents. 

The divide between rich and poor is getting wider, and to impose that divide upon children's education is disgraceful. 

Children should not lose the opportunity to reach their full potential because they weren't born wealthy. Sweeney's plan levels the playing field and provides fairness for everyone.

Harry W. Elton Jr.

Woodbury Heights 

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Bob Witanek of "Decarcerate the Garden State" writes that a Times' editorial misstated its position on what to tell youngsters about their rights in dealing with police officers.

By Bob Witanek

I appreciate the continued interest of the South Jersey Times and nj.com in the letter in which my organization urged state Commissioner of Education David Hespe to add "Personal Rights Awareness" to the curriculum in New Jersey schools. I also appreciate the link to the letter, press release and related commentary from our blog where I published my letter to Hespe.  

However, the July 10 editorial "Don't poison cops for N.J, third graders" is a distortion of our position. Here is part of the text of my letter to Hespe:

"... given the role that the public schools you preside over are referring student matters to the police, it behooves this same statewide school system to equip the students with knowledge of their rights when they are forced into encounters with police -- in this case -- by the public schools.

"Students need to be advised of their right to ask for their parents and an attorney and their right to remain silent. Also, districts need to send letters to parents explaining what their varying police policies are and that parents have an interest in informing and educating their children as to what their rights are."

Nothing about telling students to "clam up" during interactions with police. No contradiction to what the editors culled from the American Civil Liberties Union's advice about police stops.

The editors have made a straw-man argument here -- putting words in my mouth that were not in my letter.

The editorial actually ends up agreeing with me that the students should not be interviewed by police without their parents, as may have happened in some recent Collingswood cases.

My letter to Hespe did not spell out exactly WHAT a the Personal Rights Awareness curriculum would consist of. It only called for the creation of same. Defense attorneys and civil liberties experts, as well as professional educators, would devise the course work. It could include scenarios and classroom discussion about various hypothetical situations.There would be room to explore the nuances of "the right to remain silent" versus collective safety in an emergency situation, for example. 

The Times could have made the same point without implying that we are saying anything that we, in fact, are not at all saying. The editorial could have made recommendations about what should be in such a course. Actually, the editorial did end up on that note. But the way it couched it comes across as in opposition to our position, falsely implying that we are saying that students should never talk to cops.

This was a poorly written editorial that probably harms the effort to increase youth rights awareness that, these days, could be the only thing standing between them living a happy life and ending up incarcerated for a substantial part of that life.

In a tweet, Ari Rosmarin of ACLU-NJ has called the editorial "misguided" and has stated that he agrees with Decarcerate the Garden State that it is never too early to know one's rights when dealing with police.

Instead of falsely representing advocates looking out for families and the rights of youth, perhaps the Times should press Commissioner Hespe to answer the demand to add rights awareness to the curriculum. There has been no reporting of his view, to my knowledge.  

Those interested in organizing one of our workshops for youth and families can call or text Decarcerate the Garden State at 908-881-5275.

Bob Witanek is co-founder of the group Decarcerate the Garden State. He writes from Belle Mead, Somerset County.

The Salem 2 reactor originally went offline June 28 at PSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. --  The Salem 2 nuclear reactor was back in service briefly Monday before a protection system in its generator indicated there might be a problem and shut down the plant again.

The plant had begun sending out electricity to the regional power grid at 6:35 a.m., according to Joe Delmar, spokesman for the plant's operator, PSEG Nuclear.

The plant automatically shut down again at 1:50 p.m. Monday.

The cause of this shutdown was under investigation, Delmar said.

The Salem 2 reactor automatically tripped off-line on June 28 after its generator shut down because of an alarm indicating some sort of problem.

After extensive troubleshooting, it was determined that rainwater had leaked through gaskets on the electrical system for the generator. The area where the problem was found is located on the plant site between the generator and the main transformer.

Operators installed an enhanced monitoring system to detect any future problems before they cause the plant to shut down.

Operators initially brought the plant back on July 4 for about eight hours, but when there was an indication there still might be a problem in the generator, the plant was shut down and new inspections conducted, according to Delmar.

Water-use permit for nuclear plants challenged

Outside nuclear industry experts were also brought in to to help.

With the new inspections complete, no issues were found and the reactor was restarted Monday.

What caused the latest shutdown was not clear.

The generator is on the non-nuclear side of the plant.

Salem 2 is one of three reactors operated by PSEG Nuclear at its Artificial Island generating station in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County.

Salem Unit 1 remains out of service as operators continue repairs on bolts in the reactor core.

The third unit at the Island, Hope Creek, remains operating at full power.

The three plants comprise the second-largest commercial nuclear generating complex in the U.S.

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

The incident took place at the Friendship Motor Inn in Carneys Point.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- When a guest checked out of a motel room in the township they left a tip for the cleaning staff.

A tip left at a Carneys Point motel was fake, police say. (File Photo) 

The only problem was the cash was counterfeit, police say.

Officers from the Carneys Point Police Department were called to the Friendship Inn on South Pennsville-Auburn Road around 5:14 p.m. July 4 for a fraud complaint.

Police were told that a $10 bill left in a room by a guest as a tip was counterfeit.

Authorities said the guest who had rented the room had checked out and was no longer in the area.

The fake bill was turned over to police.

No other details on the incident were available.

The victim of the shooting had pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2009, after prosecutors said he and two fellow Bloods gang members gunned down a rival Crips member in Irvington.

NEWARK -- Authorities say they are looking into whether Sunday's fatal shooting in Newark was gang-related.

The victim of the shooting, Alexander Owens, 29, of Roselle, had been released from state prison in May 2015, after serving 5 1/2 years on a manslaughter conviction, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Owens had pleaded guilty to the charge in 2009, after Essex prosecutors alleged that he and two fellow members of the Bloods street gang shot and killed a rival Crips gang member, Anthony Stover, 19, in Irvington, in March 2008. 

Chief Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said his officer was investigating whether Owens' fatal shooting was gang-related.

"We are looking into several possibilities," Fennelly said. "We have not ruled out anything."

Owens suffered multiple gunshot wounds at the intersection of Bergen Street and 14th Avenue, on Sunday just before 4;30 p.m., and was pronounced dead at University Hospital a few minutes later.

The scene of the shooting was less than two miles northeast of where Stover was shot in broad daylight eight years earlier, as he and another man got into a car near the corner of Clinton and Bruen avenues in Irvington.

A law enforcement source told NJ Advance Media that Owens' car was stolen from the scene, with a 2-year-old boy inside the car who was later found unharmed.

Fennelly declined to confirm that a vehicle or a child had been involved in the incident Sunday, though he say the victims car was "recovered." 

"While we cannot confirm that the Newark victim was carjacked prior to the shooting incident, I can confirm that a vehicle belonging the decedent was recovered earlier today in Newark," Fennelly said in an email
 
No arrests had been made in the Newark case as of Monday afternoon.

An eerily similar and equally fatal incident occurred Saturday in Penns Grove, where authorities say a Pennsville man, Jakaye Ingram, was shot and killed by an assailant who then fled in Ingram's car with his 1-year-old son in the back seat.

Ingram's son was unharmed, and authorities say the shooter, Hakeem Williams, who uses Penns Grove and Philadelphia addresses, turned himself in on Sunday, and is now being held on $1 million bail.

Fennelly said the public should rest assured that there is not a gang of murderous carjackers operating from Salem County up to Essex.

"There is no known connection between the incident in Penns Grove and the fatal shooting in Newark," he said.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A pioneer in the studio-glass movement, Stankard interprets native flowers in small scale glass sculptures

Paul Stankard, a Mantua resident with an international platform for his peerless glass objects, has added a new bouquet to his vast awards collection.

Respected worldwide for his  work, Stankard was honored recently with the Muskingum University President's Medal. Stankard, who holds an honorary Muskingum Doctor of Fine Arts degree, was honored "in recognition of exemplary actions on behalf of others, and distinguishing himself through his career as an inspirational bridge  between past triumphs and future dreams."

"We are extraordinarily proud to honor Paul with the medal," said Anne C. Steele, Muskingum president and an attendee of the ceremony in Stankard's studio along with his past co-workers. "Paul is known worldwide for his exquisitely botanical works.. Today, his works reside in the permanent collections of more than 70 prominent museums throughout the world."

"I am truly humbled by this honor," Stankard said. "I attribute much of my career growth to the knowledge I have gained from scholars in the academic world.

"In recognition of this award, I have created a special orb, 'Celebration in Glass: VIsiting Walt Whitman's Garden on May 25,'.honoring Walt Whitman, a poet who has inspired my work throughout the years."

A pioneer in the studio-glass movement, Stankard interprets native flowers in small scale glass sculptures. His work explores and interprets color, texture and delicacy while celebrating the plant kingdom.

Stankard is artist-in-residence and lecturer at Salem Community College, where he inspires students to search for their creative spirits.

Stankard was selected to create the official United States gift to the People's Republic of China when diplomatic relations were established in 1979.

He also was recognized recently as "Master of the Medium" by the James Renwick Alliance at the Smithsonian Institute and was awarded the Glass Art Society's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stankard delivered the commencement address at Muskingum in 2007 and received rave reviews and a standing ovation.

Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.