The three-day festival at the Salem County Fairgrounds is sponsored by the Brandywine Friends of Hold Time Music.

PILESGROVE TWP. -- The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival kicked has kicked off its 45^th year.

Being held at the Salem County Fairgrounds, the event opened Friday and is scheduled to continue through Sunday. 

The event, which continues to gain in popularity each year, features the best in Bluegrass and mountain music. A large number of top musicians are to perform for the spectators who are coming from up and down the East Coast.

Much of what's heard at the festival will be "true folk music," said Carl Goldstein, board chairman of the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music, the organization which produces the festival each year. 

The scheduled headliner this year is Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder scheduled to appear Saturday night.

Festival a 'reunion' of Bluegrass lovers

This Labor Day Weekend gathering is the largest of several concerts in the region presented by the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music.

Music begins on stage each day at noon and continues until 11 p.m. Saturday and until 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are available at the gate. 

The fairgrounds are located on U.S. Route 40 just west of Cowtown in Pilesgrove Township. 

For more information, visit www.delawarevalleybluegrass.org

A Salem County woman is suing her former boss for sexual harassment, report says.

CAMDEN - A Salem County woman claims in a sexual harassment lawsuit that her former boss made inappropriate comments and requested her to dress and look a certain way at work, the Courier Post reports.

According to the online report, Pennsville woman Amber Nolte is suing her former boss from the Riverwinds Restaurant, located in West Deptford.

Nolte alleges in the lawsuit filed in Camden Superior Court that comments came from co-owner Fotios Farmakis, according to the report.

Nolte, who left the restaurant job in June, also claims that Farmakis would hug her and kiss her neck. 

She is seeking damages for unlawful retaliation and unspecified damages for violations of Law Against Discrimination, according to the report.

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

Chick Garrison writes that the increase would have been inflationary, affecting lower-wage workers and senior citizens the most.

To the Editor:

Regarding the recent article "(Gov. Chris) Christie vetoes $15 minimum wage pushed by Democrats" in New Jersey:

Here we go again! 

Proponents still want to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. It would still be the MINIMUM wage! The prices of goods would have to be raised to pay workers that much.

At $15, some workers could have less buying power than they do now, because they would be paying more in taxes. With rising prices, they would still be hurting.

The only way to win in our economy is to work to get an income higher than the minimum wage.

I praise for Christie for vetoing the recent New Jersey bill. He  is not my favorite person, but he got this one right. 

As I see it, the ones who higher minimum wages really hurt are senior citizens who have worked and saved so they can enjoy their golden years. Are they going to get a big Social Security benefit increase to offset any big cost-of-living increase related to the minimum wage boost?

How is state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a major proponent of the $15 minimum, going to take care of that?

Chuck Garrison 

Elmer 

Trump's deportation idea sounds familiar

To the Editor:

Donald Trump's call for a deportation task force to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from our country is not a new concept.

In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler had his own deportation task force whose task it was to remove persons it classified as non Aryans, including Jews, as well as communists, gay people, mentally ill persons and Gypsies. Millions were rounded up and,  as we know, sent to extermination camps.  

Trump does not want to kill the estimated 11 million immigrants who are here illegally; he simply wants them sent back to their countries of origin.  

Since many of these 11 million have called the United States their home for many years --  in some cases, for decades -- Trump cannot claim to want to send them "home." America is their home.  

Paul S. Bunkin

Turnersville  

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

The final regular Sunday Mass was held at Queen of the Apostles Church in Pennsville on Aug. 28.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- After decades of parishioners coming together for Mass, the sanctuary at Queen of the Apostles Church was silent Sunday.

As part of the Diocese of Camden's parish merger process, no more regular Masses will be held at the Catholic church on South Broadway which opened its doors in 1955, according to diocese spokesman Michael Walsh.

The final Sunday service on Aug. 28 saw the church full, "standing room only," one parishioner said. And although the announcement had been made about two months earlier about the decision to close the church to regular use, the final Mass brought tears to the eyes many.

"It took us by surprise how emotional it was, a lot more emotional than we had expected," said Julie Acton of Pennsville, who grew up in the Queen of the Apostles parish.

The final Sunday Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Charles Colozzi.

Acton has been a lifetime member of the church. She said for her and her family Queen of the Apostles holds many memories.

And while there were tears, there were also joyful moment at the final Mass the congregation sang together, she said.

The diocese's parish merger process was finalized in 2010 resulting in the creation of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. At that time, St. James in Penns Grove, St. Mary in Salem and Corpus Christi in Carneys Point were merged to form St. Gabriel.

As part of that plan, the parish determined that Queen of the Apostles Church would eventually close, Walsh said. 

While there won't be any regularly scheduled Masses at the Pennsville church, "it will be used as a worship site for funerals, weddings and other special Masses and services," said Walsh. He noted there are no plans in place to sell the church site which includes the church, church hall and rectory on the corner of South Broadway and Cordrey Avenue.

St. James Church and school on Beach Avenue in Penns Grove have been permanently closed and there's an agreement in place for the site to be purchased by "another faith community," Walsh said.

St. Mary Church on Oak Street in Salem remains in use with one Mass on Sundays and for special Masses and services as requested. The church is an historic site and will remain with St. Gabriel the Archangel parish, Walsh said.

Walsh noted that it is up to the individual parishes to decide whether to sell churches no longer in regular use.

The merger of parishes and closings of worship sites is not happening just in South Jersey, but throughout the country in the Catholic Church.

Elsewhere in Salem County, St. Ann's Church in Elmer was permanently closed. Parishioners there are now part of the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit. St. Joseph's Church in Woodstown is also part of Holy Spirit, but Masses are still said at St. Joseph's.

With the Queen of the Apostles closed, its longtime parishioners were faced with the choice of where to go. According to one member it appears most will go to St. Gabriel's Corpus Christi site and some others to St. Mary's. Still others plan to go to Delaware, one parishioner said.

Acton who is a church lector, says she will be attending Mass at St. Gabriel's Corpus Christi site.

Following the Aug. 28 Mass at Queen of the Apostles, there was a reception where the parishioners gathered in the church hall.

The South Jersey Times Football Game of the Week poll is back by popular demand for a third season.

The South Jersey Times Football Game of the Week poll is back by popular demand for a third season.

Sellers, of Warwick, Maryland, was the only cowboy to complete the required eight-second ride in the bull riding event.

PILESGROVE TWP. -- Scott Sellers was the top money-winning cowboy at Cowtown Rodeo Saturday night.

Sellers, of Warwick, Maryland, was the only contestant to make the required eight-second ride in the bull riding event.

He took home a total of $1,128 for his performance.

Here are the standings from Saturday night's performance. The results include the contestant's name, score or time, and winnings:

Bareback Bronc Riding: First, Andy Carter, 68 score, $485.04; J.R. Mills, 65, $323.36.

Saddle Bronc Riding: First, Clovis Crane, 71 score, $399.19; (Tie for second and third) Will Stites, 67, $261.01; Mike Johnson, 67, $261.01. (Each cowboy's winnings include $30.71 in ground money.)

Bull Riding: First, Scott Sellers, 77 score, $1,128. (Sellers' winnings include $676.80 in ground money.) 

Steer Wrestling: First, Chad Stoltzfus, 6.4 seconds time, $421.12; Bryan Tamm, 6.9, $315.84; Tyler Miller, 7.2, $210.56; Chris Soto, 18.4, $105.28.

Rodeo has become a tradition in South Jersey

Team Roping: First, Shawn Tennant and Justin Yost, 6.7 seconds time, $714.40 each; Brian Frattaroli, 7.6, $535.80 each; Jose Mota and Chris Soto, 10.9, $357.20 each; Mary Ann Brown and Kenny Brown, 13.5, $178.60.

Tie Down Roping: First, Colby Clement, 12.6 seconds time, $421.12; Tim Naylor, 12.9, $315.84; J.R. Myers, 13.0, $210.56; Anthony L. Wenger, 17.0, $105.28.

Barrel Racing: First, Jodi Mathews, 17.60, $475.64; Jaime Fowler, 17.64, $413.60; Sheralee Fiore, 17.86, $351.56; Amanda Lloyd, 17.94, $289.52; Liz Terhune, 17.95, $227.48; Loren Altman, 18.03, $165.44; Jessica Green, 18.05, $103.40; Joyce Stoltzfus, 18.41, $41.36.

The rodeo continues every Saturday, rain or shine, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cowtown Rodeo arena, on U.S. Route 40 through Sept. 24.

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

A South Jersey man's 2013 shooting rampage in a crowded airport terminal is just one incident that begs the question.

To where would Donald Trump deport Paul Anthony Ciancia?

Ciancia is the 23-year-old former Pennsville resident who offered a guilty plea Thursday to killing a Transportation Security Officer at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 1, 2013. He wounded three others with his semi-automatic rifle, and was himself shot by authorities.

The Associated Press reports that because he will switch his court plea to "guilty," Ciancia will avoid the death penalty and spend life in prison.

His attack on LAX and its federal security personnel sent frightened passengers scurrying through a terminal. It's precisely the kind of event that reminds us of  foreign terrorists responsible for carnage at airports and train stations worldwide. But it was committed by an all-American young man, a graduate of prestigious, private Salesianum High School in Delaware. Former neighbors and local police agreed that Ciancia comes from a "good family." 

So, here's the conundrum posed by Trump's immigration speech Wednesday night: If Ciancia had entered the United States illegally, or had affirmed loyalty to radical Islam, the GOP presidential candidate would likely have cited the 23-year-old as someone who should never have been on our soil. Yet, American citizens, even those with a warped view of America, have a right to be here.

The motives for Ciancia's rampage aren't verified. But he carried a note stating that he "wanted to kill TSA," signed "Pissed-off Patriot." In other comments cited in press reports, he called TSA screenings "Nazi checkpoints" and described his actions as '"water(ing) the tree of liberty."

We should all feel compassion for the relatives of slain Americans who shared the stage with Trump on Wednesday to speak about how immigrants who were here illegally did the horrific crimes. Clearly, the immigration system, the criminal justice system, or both, failed the victims and their families.

But it's beyond comprehension how the widow and two children of Gerardo Hernandez -- the TSA agent killed by Ciancia -- feel any less pain because he was murdered by a domestic "liberty seeker," not an ISIS terrorist or Mexican national.

Right-wingers once went into an uproar when former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said armed-to-the-teeth homegrown radicals posed a bigger U.S. security threat than al Qaida forces from the Middle East. She may have exaggerated the scale, but cases like Ciancia's prove that she wasn't totally wrong.

Let's patrol our borders better and stop losing track of visa holders. Understand, though, that no one would have dared require that Timothy McVeigh take a loyalty oath to U.S. government, pre-Oklahoma City, in order to stay here. No one had a right to question Paul Ciancia, pre-LAX, about how much he loved federal law-enforcement screeners. It's clearly unconstitutional.

We should indeed try to send immigrants convicted of serious crimes back to their original countries. The full scope of Trump's immigration plan, however, makes a false assumption that we'd be markedly safer as a nation. You can't deport away crime when most of the people who commit it have no place else to go.

Follow NJ.com Opinion on Twitter@NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Homeless pets from northern and central New Jersey that are awaiting adoption.

These are just a small sampling of the thousands of homeless animals currently being cared for by shelters and rescues in New Jersey.

Many lost their homes due to an owner's illness or having to relocate where pets were not allowed. Others have never known a real home, rescued as stray puppies and kittens or born in shelters.

In almost every case, however, they share one thing in common: the desire to become a loving pet for someone willing to adopt them.

Click on the caption button to see information on these adoptable animals and the organizations and groups caring for them. More pets in need of adoption can be seen by clicking this link and this link.

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

Kayla Eberle, 10, was riding her bike last month when, in a freak accident, the bike brake handle handle became impaled in her leg.

PILESGROVE TWP. -- When kids return to school from their summer vacation they're always asked what they did during their time off.

It's doubtful that any of her classmates will be able to recount a more dramatic experience than Kayla Eberle.

The 10-year-old from Gloucester City had her quiet visit to a Salem County campground almost turn into a tragedy when in a freak accident her leg became impaled on the brake handle on the bicycle she was riding.

On Sunday Kayla's mother, Amber Hoffman, said Kayla was "completely" recovered from the accident. She will start school going into the fifth grade on Tuesday.

It's been a month now since the incident, but Hoffman says the memories are fresh and so is her admiration for all those who came to the aid of her daughter.

"They're all amazing, they all came through and they comforted her the whole time," Hoffman said. 

Kayla and her mom, dad, John Eberle, and sister, Vera Eberle, were spending part of their summer vacation together at the Four Season Campground in Pilesgrove Township when on the evening of Aug. 3 Kayla was out riding her bike.

"I turned and there was a bump. I fell and I tried to get up and the bike pushed me back down," Kayla recounted. "I looked down and the bike (brake handle) was in my thigh."

American Legion Ambulance Association of Woodstown volunteer EMT Kaci Dwyer remembers the call vividly.

At first the ambulance was dispatched for a 10-year-old who fell off her bike. Then the call was upgraded to a child with part of the bike impaled in her leg.

Those first on the scene found Kayla near a tree.

"She had grabbed my hand ... I told her 'You can squeeze it as hard as you want.' Her mom was on the other side supporting her,"Dwyer said.

More rescue personnel, along with members of the Reliance Fire Co. arrived on the scene. So did New Jersey State Police Troopers James Snyder and Trooper Matt Stahlnecker from the Woodstown Station who joined others in comforting Kayla.

The dilemma was how to free Kayla from the bike to get her to a hospital.

"When we got there we found there was no way to disassemble (the bike) so we'd have to cut it," said Reliance Fire Chief Jeff Bowling Jr.

An attempt use a hand device could have caused the impaled metal bike brake handle to do more harm to Kayla's leg, those there said, especially since it was close to an artery.

Firefighters got out a hydraulic tool normally used cut brake or gas pedals that have trapped automobile accident victims.

Reliance firefighter Rob Scardino carefully positioned the tool, made the cut within a half inch of Kayla's leg and freed her from the rest of the bike, Bowling said.

 "This tool came in handy for this one," Bowling said. "We would never have been able to make the cut (with a hand tool)."

"She was awesome," Bowling said of how Kayla dealt with the ordeal. "But when the tools came out she was worried about her bike."

It was then, Dwyer recalled, that Kayla asked: "So you guys are going to buy me a new bike now you are wrecking mine?"

That comment actually brought laughter from first responders, helping to break some of the tension.

"We'll see, sweetheart," Dwyer recalls telling Kayla.

Kayla was taken to the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children outside of Wilmington Delaware. There, surgeons carefully removed the part of the bike brake handle.

Amazingly, her mother said, Kayla was back at the campground in about five hours after the accident. Her wound was bandaged, but didn't require stitches.

A couple of days slater Reliance and American Legion personnel were back at the campground -- but not for a rescue.

Dwyer had gone shopping for a bike to replace the one Kala lost. When the manager at the Pennsville Walmart heard Kayla's story, the store donated a new bike.

It arrived at the campground on board the Reliance truck.

Kayla was also presented with a get well card signed by the ambulance personnel, firefighters and state troopers who were on the scene as well as the Salem County 911 dispatchers who handled the emergency call.

"Every emergency is very different and many incidents require first responders as a team to play a wide variety of roles. It always feels good to be part of a positive outcome for a child," said state police Spokesman Capt. Stephen Jones.

"We very seldom get the opportunity to follow up and spend time with prior patients and their families," Bowling said. "It is a great experience to be able to find out how they are doing and how their story ended. Days like this are a great reminder of why we entered the emergency services and continue to serve our communities everyday."

"I would like to thank Woodstown Ambulance, Reliance Fire Co., Inspira Paramedics, New Jersey State Police Woodstown Barracks and the Salem County 911 center for another example of outstanding teamwork."

Hoffman on Sunday again praised all of the fire, rescue and police personnel involved for all that they did for her daughter -- and her.

"Going through such a scary time, to have that support round you is a real relief," she said.

As for Kayla, she had one word for her heroes -- "amazing."

The Salem County freeholder board had met during the summer months at 4 p.m.

SALEM -- Salem County freeholders will return to a night meeting schedule this week.

The time for this week's board session on Wednesday will be 7 p.m. The board meets the first and third Wednesday of each month.

During the summer months, the freeholders had met at 4 p.m.

This week the board will continue its tradition of periodically going on the road and will meet at the Pittsgrove Township Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Rd., Pittsgrove Township.

No privatization plans in county budget

Prior to Wednesday's regular 7 p.m. meeting, the seven board members will hold a workshop session beginning at 6 p.m. That session, where county business is discussed but no formal action is taken, is also open to the public.

Officials say moving the gatherings from their base at the Old Courthouse in downtown Salem gives residents in other parts of the county greater access to the meetings.

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

Students learned from SCC artist-in-residence Paul Stankard

The second annual Art and Glass Week enabled 11 boys in grades 9-12 at Ranch Hope to learn first-hand about careers working with glass. 

Sponsored by the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation, the program was held at Salem Community College's Samuel H. Jones Glass Education Center, Aug. 15-19, in partnership with the SCC Foundation and Ranch Hope. 

"The week was an amazing experience for our youth," said Kim Bracciante, principal of Ranch Hope's Strang School. "This was an opportunity to work with their hands, challenge their creativity and try something that they might not otherwise been able to experience.

"Students learned that there is more to an education than just textbooks and it opened their eyes to possible careers that they may not have realized existed," Bracciante continued.

The students received encouraging words from Robert Minkoff on the final day:  "Education is the most important thing in the world to have to make something of yourself."

Students were taught by SCC artist-in-residence Paul Stankard, SCC Scientific Glass Instructional Chair Dennis Briening and Glass Center Coordinator Doug Ohm.

 "I have been active in glass for an adult life time and feel blessed that I can share my experience with young people at Salem Community College's Glass Center," said Stankard, an internationally recognized glass artist. "The Ranch Hope students touch my heart because they come from a disadvantaged home life. It is important that they understand how noble it is to master a craft with their hands that will allow them to reach their full potential in life."

The week culminated with the students producing several cast-glass sculptures. First, students designed a composition to fit within a 3-by-3-inch framework, utilizing the artwork previously made in the flame shop. They placed their flame-worked objects onto the background color of their choice and used a heating torch to warm the glass to prepare it for the casting process. 

The final project concluded with instructors and SCC students gathering glass at 2,250 degrees from the furnace and pouring it into the molds, encasing the flame-worked composition in clear glass. In an instant, all of the creations were "frozen" in the cast glass and the objects were transferred to a cooling oven to slowly bring them to room temperature.

Ranch Hope students then concluded their week of firsts by creating a large, cast-glass tile with their flameworked objects that will become a commemorative plaque at the Ranch Hope campus.

Since 1964, Ranch Hope has provided residential behavioral healthcare services to adolescent boys at its Alloway Campus in rural Salem County. The Alloway campus provides 57 boys between the ages of 13-17, treatment and care in a family environment. For more information about Ranch Hope, visit www.ranchhope.org.

This item submitted by William Clark, Salem Community College.

A Salem man was found with cocaine after a hit-and-run crash, police said.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- A 21-year-old Salem man was charged with drug possession following a hit-and-run motor vehicle crash, police said.

Carneys Point Police responded at 9:34 p.m. last Tuesday to Healthcare Commons for reports of a hit-and-run.

The vehicle allegedly fled the scene and police matched a description of the vehicle to one driving down Harding Highway.

Cornell Sutton was behind the wheel and found to have multiple warrants for his arrest out of Penns Grove Municipal Court, police said.

Sutton was also found in possession of cocaine and marijuana, according to authorities.

He was charged with possession off cocaine, possession of marijuana under 50 grams, failure to deliver CDS to nearest law enforcement officer and issued several traffic summonses.

After processing, Sutton was released pending court action.

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

Don Bosco fell in its opener and dropped in the rankings. See who replaced them in the rankings and how far they fell.

Dominick Ruggiero Jr. writes that there are more appropriate ways than snubbing "The Star Spangled Banner" to seek justice against racism.

To the Editor:

Concerning San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his refusal, as a protest, to stand during the national anthem at football games:

It is painful to see Kaepernick disrespect the American flag and what it stands for. As a veteran, I was willing to die for my country, as were many others.

Is America perfect? Lord knows, it is not. Is it truly a democracy? Well, it used to be before the power-hungry politicians changed it. 

Absolutely, you have a right to protest. But do you have a right to disown your country and those who have sacrificed so much for your protest rights? No. In many other countries, you would be disciplined. 

Do discrimination and racism still exist? Yes, but can I claim "racism" because I am Caucasian and Kaepernick is offended by my doing the same thing he is doing? 

Grow up, Kaepernik. We are human and all have our faults.

Maybe Kaepernick should work in minority communities with all leaders to foster more equality. If you read the preamble to our Constitution, it states the same principles we seek today: justice, domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves for posterity. 

You can protest the lousy politicians and a screwed-up political system that has forgotten these values, but respect the flag and that symbolizea what we expect from our country.

We should follow the "Three Musketeers' " slogan, "All for one, one for all ... ."   It is time to treat people the way we want to be treated. Kaepernik can better protest by becoming politically active and becoming an influence on the politicians to do the right thing,  

Dominick A. Ruggiero Jr.

Sewell 

Cheer stand against eminent domain in A.C.

To the Editor:

Regarding the recent article "Piano tuner's fight to save A.C. home isn't over yet" on nj.com:

Even if the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in Atlantic City had a project in mind for this spot, the CRDA shouldn't be allowed to "take" Charlie Birnbaum's house, which has been in his family since 1969.

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court's famous Kelo v. City of New London (Ct.) ruling, which let this city take a woman's home through eminent domain for a private redevelopment project, developers think it's their right to have a town condemn anyone's property to build fancy condos, strip malls or parking lots for casinos any time they want.

I think most Americans agree that eminent domain is for building highways, and possibly schools and hospitals, when all other avenues to obtain property have been exhausted. While many of us scratch our heads and wonder why a school needs to be built on, say, Maple Street  -- where there aren't any homes --  rather than Oak Street, where six families live, we can kind of swallow the reasoning. It's a school. Or a hospital.  

But, using eminent domain for high rises or parking lots so a town can make more money collecting taxes and line the pockets of private developers? It should not be OK to take someone's home for that.

In Long Branch a few years ago, the government tried to condemn small-but-well-maintained beachfront homes to build a "playground" for rich people. This is being done more and more. 

In the Atlantic City case, the CRDA should be ashamed of itself. I hope someone starts a petition to get all of the board members thrown out -- because this is not American, and it's not fair.

Debi Kelly Van Cleave

Woodstown 

Another vote to reopen Elsinboro boat ramp

To the Editor:

I am a hard-working man who enjoys fishing and hunting with my family when I get some spare time, or a few hours of recreation with the guys.

I am very disappointed about the closing of Sinnickson Landing boat ramp in Elsinboro Township. 

(A Superior Court judge ruled in June that the ramp's owner, PSEG Nuclear, had to add more security if it continued to grant public access to the site. PSEG chose instead to close the ramp as of July 1.)

I do as much striped bass fishing as I can in the spring and fall. The best spot to fish for stripers the last few years has been around the nuclear plant. Every time I am there, I clean up after myself and pick up whatever trash I see that someone else might have left there.

I find it amazing that a court ruling stemming from formal noise and trash complaints filed by one neighboring property owner would ruin it for everyone. Quite frankly, this was one of the most convenient and cleanest boat ramps around. 

If this letter reaches the right person, please consider re-opening the boat ramp. This would make me, along with quite a few of my friends who are boaters, very happy.

Matt D'Amico

Pittsgrove Township

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

Salem County Rewind offers a look back at Salem County's unique history through photographs and news items from a century ago.

In this feature,which appears each week, we present 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 Salem County Picture From The Past shows one of the Wilson Line ferries at the wharf at Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville. This photo was taken by John Collins of Pennsville around 1958, according to the Pennsville Township Historical Society which is sharing the picture with our readers. The Wilson Line ferries carried summer visitors to Riverview Beach Park for decades from cities to the north. This photo will be on the picture postcard offered by the historical society at its booth at the annual Septemberfest celebration on Sept. 10 in Riverview Beach Park. The Septemberfest Parade begins at 11 a.m. followed by activities throughout the day in the park. Fireworks are scheduled to cap off the day. (Pennsville Township Historical Society)

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.

* 

A state motor vehicle inspector will be in Salem City on Sept. 14 to administer examinations for drivers' licenses.  The inspector will be at I.O. Acton's office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

--

Pumpkins have shown up at at least one Salem City grocery market.

--

With summer over, starting next week, the Salem Post Office will return to its normal schedule. It will close again at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 during the week and 9 p.m. on Saturday nights, postal officials say.

--

The milk train between Salem County and Atlantic City is still running, but the needs of the resort hotels will be less now that the summer visitor season is waning.

Memories of Riverview Beach

More housing in the Penns Grove area for the powder works employees appears to be needed. Already all of the rooms available in town and in the surrounding area are said to be taken.

--

The Woodstown Lodge, Order of the Moose is planning an entertainment program at the Woodstown Opera House later this month. Again, Philadelphia acts are being solicited for the program.

--

The woods deer population seems to have continued to increase in the woods between Salem and Bridgeton. That is news that gunners will be happy to hear for their upcoming season.

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

Take a look at where the top runners in N.J. are ranked

The first day of the 2016-2017 school year ahas arrived. Students throughout South Jersey will be heading back to class after their summer vacations.

MANNINGTON TWP. -- A new school year has begun.

It was a beautiful morning weather-wise as the students arrived for their first day back from summer vacation at the Mannington Township School on Tuesday.

Many arrived by bus, others had their parents drop them off at the school on Route 45.

Lots of parents gave their children hugs as they sent them off to class.  Others snapped photos as the eager youngsters greeted classmates and teachers.

How did opening day go?

"Fantastic," said Mannington Chief School Administrator Kristin Williams. "There's nothing better than seeing all the smiles on the first day."

Mannington serves approximately 165 students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.

"We're looking forward to a great year," Williams said.

Students at Mannington will have early dismissal through the end of this week and begin full days on Sept. 12.

Other elementary and high schools are scheduled to open in Salem County this week.

The Salem County man pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to LAX shooting, report says.

LOS ANGELES -- The gunman from Salem County who shot airport screening officers in 2012 pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Paul Ciancia
 

Paul Ciancia, 26, originally of Pennsville, shot and killed one officer and wounded two other people at the Los Angeles Airport three years ago in November.

Ciancia agreed to plead guilty last week to all 11 charges in the shooting and with the plea, he will not get the death sentence.

Paul Ciancia charged with murder

Ciancia, who shot killed Gerardo Hernandez with a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle, faces mandatory life in prison.

Ciancia pleaded guilty to the the 11 charges, including murder of a federal officer, attempted murder of a federal officer, violence at an international airport, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence causing death and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The 26-year-old grew up in Salem County on East Pittsfield Street and still has family in the area.

Ciancia left New Jersey and was living out West for about 18 months before the shooting.

Reminds lenders and potential borrowers of Small Business Administration option

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini announced that additional funding will be made available to assist more than 1,900 approved applicants who are awaiting farm operating loans. The funds, which were reprogrammed by FSA with the approval of Congress, will leverage up to $185 million in additional lending for direct and guaranteed farm operation loans and will allow the agency to address up to 30 percent of its projected shortfall of funds until the next federal fiscal year resumes on Oct. 1. 

"Some of our farming and ranching customers are experiencing challenges due to market conditions and have been on a wait list for up to 60 days, so this will help those applicants whose paperwork has been pending the longest period of time to obtain credit or restructure loans as needed," said Dolcini. "While the backlog in loan applications will grow between now and the end of the fiscal year, it is important for borrowers to continue to apply since we will process loans on a first-come-first-served basis based on the application date, once funding is replenished in fiscal year 2017."

FSA loan funds have been in higher demand than in past years. As a result, funding for FSA's farm operating loans has been unable to meet the demand for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. In fiscal year 2016, FSA has guaranteed loans to more than 6,400 customers for farm ownership and operating purposes.

USDA also reminded lenders and potential borrowers of the loan guarantee programs available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that can be used for similar purposes as FSA guaranteed loans. Some lenders work with both FSA and SBA on loan guarantees and can switch between the programs. This ability to switch between programs means the SBA programs can provide a financing alternative for agricultural producers when their lender is unable to close an FSA guaranteed loan, such as when funds have expended for the fiscal year. 

"SBA fully supports our small business owners in the agriculture industry. For this fiscal year, as of July, more than $629 million in SBA loans have been provided to this community. We encourage agricultural small business owners and their lenders to look at all SBA has to offer," said SBA Associate Administrator for Capital Access Ann Marie Mehlum.

"Although SBA has different rates, terms, fees, limits and percentages than FSA loans, they can provide an alternative for banks and other lenders that are working to provide farmers and ranchers with guaranteed loans," said Dolcini. The following chart provides more details:

USDA 

Lenders may still submit guaranteed loan applications to FSA at any time for review and approval subject to the availability of funding. Approved requests will be funded on a first-come-first-served basis when additional funds become available.

More information about SBA loan programs can be found at www.sba.gov/loans. To learn more about USDA farm loans, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/farmloansor contact a local USDA office. To find the nearest USDA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

This item submitted by Al DiBella, Salem/Gloucester Farm Service Agency.

A massive realignment, conference expansion, new playoff requirements and more are all among the battery of big changes on the gridiron this season.