WOODSTOWN — A railroad crossing rehabilitation project on Bailey Street scheduled to begin Monday will cause part of the roadway be closed and traffic detoured, officials say. Bailey Street is scheduled to be closed to traffic in both directions at the JP Rail/Southern Railroad of New Jersey grade crossing. Through traffic won't be allowed on the section of Bailey Street...

WOODSTOWN -- A railroad crossing rehabilitation project on Bailey Street scheduled to begin Monday will cause part of the roadway be closed and traffic detoured, officials say.

Bailey Street is scheduled to be closed to traffic in both directions at the JP Rail/Southern Railroad of New Jersey grade crossing.

Through traffic won't be allowed on the section of Bailey Street between Woodstown-Alloway Road and South Main Street.

The closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Thursday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Traffic that would normally use that section of Bailey Street will be directed to use Lotus Avenue and South Main Street.

The traffic detour will be coordinated with the local police, the NJDOT says. If work is completed earlier, the roadway will be reopened accordingly.

In order to provide a safer and smoother railroad crossing on Bailey Street, the existing crossing will be replaced with a new concrete crossing and new asphalt approaches.

This project is included within NJDOT's railroad grade-crossing safety program which repairs, upgrades, or removes approximately 30 crossings each year, statewide.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information. Travelers can also NJDOT news follow on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com Web: nj.com/ben Cellphone: 856-237-6645 U.S. Army: RA13815980 The column that asks, which is more vital to a school system, teachers connecting to students or administrators? — Good evening! — Don't you love the way Perry Mason always gets the guilty party to confess all in preliminary trial hearings? And all in less than an hour. — "Coach Bob...

 

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that asks, which is more vital to a school system, teachers connecting to students or administrators?

--

Good evening!

--

Don't you love the way Perry Mason always gets the guilty party to confess all in preliminary trial hearings?

And all in less than an hour.

--

If every student who Bob Hogan has helped along the way would contribute $1 to this cause, they could build a whole new house.
 

"Coach Bob Hogan has been a part of Millville athletics for many years, contributing in so many ways to the growth and success of the student athletes.

"He recently suffered a medical setback, but, thankfully, is now able to head home.  

"There are, however, alterations that need to be made to his home to make it more accessible for him.

"Please help to make this transition easier for him and his family by contributing, and giving back to someone who has given so much to others.''

Go to https://www.gofundme.com/vpa4jbbg.

-- Friends of Hoag

--

The site was created on Nov. 13 seeking $6,000, and $1,480 was collected in the first eight hours.

--

"Those of you who wish to may also send a check payable to the Millville Thunderbolt Club and earmark it Coach Hogan.

"Mail to:

Millville Thunderbolt Club

P.O. Box 1513

Millville, 08332.

"All monies will go directly to Coach with no service charge.''

-- Tony Surace

--

"As you all know, our friend Coach Bob Hogan suffered a stroke a few months ago.

"Since then, his recovery has been remarkable.

"The family is preparing for his Dec. 8 discharge and return home. They'll need modifications on their home which will facilitate his further recovery. The site https://www.gofundme.com/vpa4jbbg will give you an opportunity to help.

"Thank you!''

-- Ron Vinick

--

Nine more houses up for demolition in Millville.

It's called taking out the trash. 

--

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

-- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

--

Here's how you can avoid holiday scams.

Check the charity: Before donating to a charity, make sure it is registered with the Secretary of State and ask how much of the money goes to the charitable fundraiser and how much goes to the charitable purpose.

Skip the rack: Only purchase gift cards from reputable sources. Better yet, get them directly from the store they're from -- and preferably directly from the store cashier -- and ask them to scan the card to ensure it has the correct balance.

Surf safely: Do not use public Wi-Fi to check sensitive financial information, or to make purchases using your credit card.

Sign off: Require a signature on all package deliveries. You can also write specific instructions for the delivery company on where to leave your package, and don't forget you can always have your package delivered to you at work.

Use credit: Use a credit card instead of your debit card when making holiday purchases.

Don't stress: Pay special attention to your health and well-being during the hectic holiday season. Research shows that people experiencing an illness, loneliness or financial difficulties are less able to spot and avoid scams.

-- AARP

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where don't you love it when a bank ATM swallows the debit card on a Saturday night and the only thing you can do is put a permanent hold on the account, says the one voice that seems to be connected to all financial institutions at the time?

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com Web: nj.com/ben Cellphone: 856-237-6645 U.S. Army: RA13815980 The column that says 12 veterans — one of them with no legs — walked into a Perkins Pancake House in Newark, Delaware, on Veterans Day and ordered the free item on the menu, but the menus had to be passed out again when somebody else yelled, "Here's $120 for the...

 

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that says 12 veterans -- one of them with no legs -- walked into a Perkins Pancake House in Newark, Delaware, on Veterans Day and ordered the free item on the menu, but the menus had to be passed out again when somebody else yelled, "Here's $120 for the meals of your choice, and $25 for the waitress.''

--

Good morning!

--

"Just finished a fun evening at the annual Cumberland County Historical Society's Business/Dinner meeting at Greenwich Presbyterian Church.

"Our guest was Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), one of our nation's founding fathers and a signer of the Declaration of Independence!''

-- Peggy Gentile Van Meter

--

Bet that wasn't easy to pull off.

--

"Very disappointed this morning.

"Got some Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets for a snack. None of the frosting stuck to the wrapper.

"What the heck is up with that?''

-- Al Solanik

--

Miss Cumberland County Samantha Mason.J\ 

Project Thanksgiving is Saturday, Nov. 21.

These talented and lovely young women are scheduled to make guest appearances during the day. Stop by and say hi to these charming young ladies.

Miss Gloucester County Emily Williamson and Miss Gloucester County Outstanding Teen Shellby Watts:
11-11:30: Amish Farmers Market in Mullica Hill
12-12:30: guest speaker on Cruisin' 92.1 WVLT with Jack Hummel
1-1:30: Sewell ShopRite

Miss South Jersey Julia Magill: 
11-11:30: Mullica Hill ShopRite 12-12:30: guest speaker on Cruisin' 92.1 WVLT with Jack Hummel
1-1:30: Bridgeton ShopRite

Miss Cumberland County Samantha Mason:
10:30-11: Sun Valley Pools in Vineland with DJ Steve Tatz, doing live call-in to Cruisin' 92.1 WVLT
11:30-12: Bridgeton ShopRite
12:30-1: Sun Valley Pools in Vineland with DJ Steve Tatz, doing live call-in to Cruisin' 92.1 WVLT

Miss Atlantic Shores Outstanding Teen Amanda Peacock and Little Princess Alyssa Peacock:
11-11:30: Sewell ShopRite
12-12:30: Mullica Hill ShopRite
12:30-1: Amish Farmers Market in Mullica Hill

--

Can you imagine an hour like this after looking at Mike Abbott forever?

But, how come Steve Tatz gets Miss Cumberland County?

--

Call to Prayer After Terror Attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Baghdad on Nov. 13.

God of mercy, whose presence sustains us in every circumstance, in the midst of unfolding violence and the aftermath of terror and loss, we seek the grounding power of your love and compassion.

In these days of fearful danger and division, we need to believe somehow that your kingdom of peace in which all nations and tribes and languages dwell together in peace is still a possibility.

Give us hope and courage that we may not yield our humanity to fear, even in these endless days of dwelling in the valley of the shadow of death.

We pray for neighbors in Paris, in Beirut, in Baghdad, who, in the midst of the grace of ordinary life -- while at work, or at play, have been violently assaulted, their lives cut off without mercy.

We are hostages of fear, caught in an escalating cycle of violence whose end can not be seen.

We open our hearts in anger, sorrow and hope: That those who have been spared as well as those whose lives are changed forever may find solace, sustenance, and strength in the days of recovery and reflection that come.

We give thanks for strangers who comfort the wounded and who welcome stranded strangers, for first responders who run toward the sound of gunfire and into the smoke and fire of bombing sites.

Once again, Holy One, we cry, how long, O Lord?

We seek forgiveness for the ways in which we have tolerated enmity and endured cultures of violence with weary resignation.

We grieve the continued erosion of the fabric of our common life, the reality of fear that warps the common good. We pray in grief, remembering the lives that have been lost and maimed, in body or spirit.

We ask for sustaining courage for those who are suffering; wisdom and diligence among global and national agencies and individuals assessing threat and directing relief efforts; and for our anger and sorrow to unite in service to the establishment of a reign of peace, where the lion and the lamb may dwell together, and terror will not hold sway over our common life.

In these days of shock and sorrow, open our eyes, our hearts, and our hands to the movements of your Spirit, who flows in us like the river whose streams makes glad the city of God, and the hearts of all who dwell in it, and in You.

In the name of Christ, our healer and our Light, we pray,  Amen.

--Rev. Dr. Laurie Ann Kraus,

Coordinator

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where we didn't start the fire. It's been burnin' since the world's been turnin'.

A recent report told us something we already knew: that 8 to 18-year-olds, "Generation Z," are totally plugged in and fully wired for sound.

Albert Kelly 

By Mayor Albert Kelly

A couple of weeks ago a report, "Media Use by Tweens and Teens", from the group Common Sense Media hit the streets. The report is a fairly detailed survey of American kids between the ages of 8 and 18 on their media habits, preferences, and the overall role media plays in their lives.

It is hefty at upwards of 90 pages and assuming you care about such things, it is certainly worth checking out. In one sense, the report told us something we already knew: that 8 to 18-year-olds, "Generation Z," are totally plugged in and fully wired for sound.

On the other hand, if parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, educators, and policy makers never really stopped to think about exactly what this means for kids then perhaps like me, you might be surprised or even concerned about some of the results in the survey.

One finding is that tweens (8 to 12-year-olds) are spending about six hours out of their waking day locked onto a screen of some sort and for teens (13 to 18) that number is nine hours. This screen time does not include using media for homework or school assignments.

One of the findings from the survey has the majority of tweens and teens being plugged into some type of media while studying and doing homework. Of these, 50 percent said they used social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, snapchat, etc.), 51 percent said they watched TV while doing homework, 60 percent were texting, and 76 percent listen to music. I wonder what part all of this played in our recent PARCC scores.

My older sister seemed a pro at watching TV, with the radio on, holding conversations while doing homework. Like her, the majority of these kids believe that social media, TV, texting, and listening to music while studying had absolutely no effect on their work. I know we try to "multi-task", but we can't really focus and concentrate on two tasks at once. Something is going to suffer and it's usually school work.

Interestingly, 53 percent of tweens have their own tablets while 24 percent have their own smart phone. We're talking about 8 to 12-year-olds which makes me wonder if parents actually know how their children study or what they're viewing. For teens, 37 percent have their own tablets and 67 percent have their own smartphones. 

MORE: Nighttime texting linked to bad grades, N.J. study finds

As for accountability, 53 percent of teens and 72 percent of tweens say a parent has talked with them about the amount of time they spend on media, while 66 percent of teens and 84 percent of tweens say a parent has spoken with them about the content of the media their engaged with. But 25 percent to 30 percent of teens say their parents don't have a clue as to what's going on.

For what it's worth, kids from lower income homes (especially black and Hispanic kids) spend two hours and 25 minutes more a day parked in front of some type of screen media than kids from upper income homes (primarily white kids). Does this play any role in terms of academic success?

There are several other findings in the survey, but the overall theme is that media of all types saturates our kids' lives for good or for ill. That's not going to change and my take away from the survey is twofold.

First, while this was a national survey, these scenarios get played out right here in our own community, in our own neighborhoods with our children on a daily basis. And while any given day spent plugged in to some form of media for six or nine hours won't make or break a kid, when you stack them all together, it forms an academic career, so it matters what happens day to day.

Which brings me to my second thing: parents need to know how much media kids are consuming and when. There's a need to make sure that kids learn how to give their full attention to a task, in his case school work, because there's simply no way that they can learn and retain information if it's competing with music, social media, or TV.

Finally, it's about proportionality. Like so much in this life, too much of something, even a good thing, can be harmful, have unintended consequences, and we have a responsibility to teach children how to find the right balance in their own lives. It is part of learning how to exercise restraint and practice moderation -- lessons that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. 

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Contact him by phone at 856-455-3230 Ext. 200.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times atletters@southjerseymedia.com

Eagles cheerleaders perform during game against Dolphins.

PHILADELPHIA -- After nearly a month away from Lincoln Financial Field the 2015 Eagles Cheerleading squad performed during the Eagles game against the Miami Dolphins. 

The Eagles jumped out to a 16-3 first quarter lead but couldn't stop the Dolphins from escaping Philadelphia with a 20-19 victory. 

MORE: Eagles' good, bad and ugly from loss to Miami

The next time the squad takes the field will be on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. as the Eagles host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Look for photo galleries of the squad and the game action throughout the season on nj.com.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Even those who love the Garden State have to admit it has its flaws. Watch video

Let me start by saying I love New Jersey, and no one has written about or seen more of this state than I have.

That being said, this ain't exactly paradise, and the last thing New Jersey needs is the glamour treatment -- making everything about this state sound postcard-perfect. We have an image problem, sure; let's not make it worse by painting the Garden State in some fake golden glow.

Which brings us to the 10 most overrated things about this state. Call it a Jersey reality check. I'll undoubtedly catch major grief for daring to question these Garden State icons, institutions and shibboleths (always wanted to use that word in a sentence), but like every real Jerseyan, I have a thick skin.

10. The Jersey Devil. The biggest fraud in alleged-monster history, and that's including Sasquatch. There are so many versions of the Jersey Devil's origin it might as well be a comedy skit. Every so often, usually shortly after a bar somewhere closes, someone will call in a Jersey Devil sighting; a fisherman on LBI saw the Devil "serenading'' a mermaid. My big question: If this were a real-live  devil, shouldn't it have the power to zip around the state, say to the Short Hills Mall or the Somerset County 4-H fair? No self-respecting devil would hide out in the woods all its life.

9. Malls. Who shops at them, besides half the world? Yes, the Cherry Hill Mall was the first enclosed mall on the East Coast when it opened in 1961. Yes, we have more malls per square mile than any other state. Doesn't mean I have to love them, or even visit them. My most recent mall trip: a search for the state's best mall food. Five years ago, I visited all 28 of our major malls in 2 1/2 days. What did I learn? Pretty much nothing, but it was fun, despite the security guard at one mall questioning what I was doing taking notes.

8. Full-service gas stations. New Jersey is one of just two states where you can't pump your own gas. It all started in 1949, when the state legislature passed the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act amidst concerns over consumers pumping their own gas. Never mind that every other state except us and Oregon passed similar laws and have since overturned them. Proponents of full-service say it'll raise pump prices. By what, a nickel? I'll be happy to pay it! Stop this archaic annoying practice -- let me pump my own gas!

Too many of these, along with discount stores and massage parlors, on the AC boardwalk (Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
 

7. The Atlantic City boardwalk. The World's Most Famous Boardwalk is the world's most depressing boardwalk, populated with t-shirt shops, dollar stores, psychics, massage parlors, and souvenir stands selling iguanas (hermit crabs are apparently passe). Facades have been renovated in recent years, but it's not nearly enough. The phone charging stations and tram cars are nice touches, though. If I want a true boardwalk experience, I'll head to Wildwood or Ocean City; AC makes the Seaside boardwalk look like Rodeo Drive.

6. Mobsters. Are they even around anymore? If New Jersey was proud of one thing back in the 50s and 60s, it was its mobster element; they had swagger, they broke fingers, and had their own in everything (Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the Genovese crime family). Today, I think even Idaho has more mobsters. When the most famous recent mobster in your history is a fictional character (Tony Soprano, of course), you have a serious mobster image problem.

5. Jersey Shore summers. I love the Shore -- it's where I live. I love summer -- my favorite season. But Jersey Shore summers? Let's see: epic traffic jams on the Parkway, crowded beaches and boardwalks, block-long waits at restaurants, and don't forget all those quarters you're pumping into meters. Sounds like great fun. Best time to visit: mid-to-late September, when the Parkway's bearable, the weather's ideal and you don't need no stinkin' beach badge.

Best thing about Hoboken: The views of Manhattan (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

4. Hoboken - It's from the Indian word meaning "overpriced everything and rampant pretentiousness.'' The state's most parking-challenged town does boast a boatload of bars and restaurants (one bar was a semi-finalist in our N.J.'s best bars competition, and a burger joint was a finalist in our N.J.'s best burger showdown). Great access to the big city, but so does Jersey City, which has a more diverse dining scene. And don't get me started on the lemmings lined up outside Carlo's Bake Shop. Hobokenites were outraged none of their pizzerias landed in my NJ Pizza Power Rankings. My explanation -- none of them were good enough to  be in the top 25! Best thing about the Hoboken food scene: the food trucks on Pier 13. Best thing about Hoboken: the views of Manhattan.

@petegenovese Hoboken. It's all the pain in the ass of New York, but with twice the concentration of drunks and without the museums, etc.

-- Christopher Dwyer (@dwyercd) November 4, 2015

3. The Jersey tomato. Look, I love tomatoes, and Jersey farmers. But you can't tell me Jersey tomatoes are vastly superior to tomatoes grown in other states. New Jersey, one cooking site proclaims, "is blessed with the best tomatoes in the world'' -- and gives zero reason why. It's been repeated so many times over the years it's become an urban -- or, more accurately, rural -- legend. What, we have magic soil and perfect climate no other state possesses? Folks in Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia -- all of which produce more tomatoes than Jersey -- say their tomatoes are the best, too. Several years ago, gardenweb.com asked which state grows the best tomatoes. The overwhelming favorite: California. Let's get over this Jersey tomato fixation.

I'm not the only one:

@petegenovese the tomatoes...doesn't compare to Italian San Marzano

-- Steak Knives (@Josh1938) November 4, 2015

The most overrated sandwich in the history of sandwich-dom (Alex Remnick I The Star-Ledger)
 

2. Taylor ham/pork roll. Yeah, it's pretty much the state sandwich, but is any food item more overrated? Pork roll is bland and boring and one-tenth as tasty as bacon; give me a big fat bacon and egg sandwich any day. And North Jersey, do me a favor; stop calling all pork roll Taylor ham. If it's not made by Taylor Provisions, it's not Taylor ham. Not all the pork roll you get in North Jersey is made by Taylor; there's a good chance you're actually eating Case pork roll. Repeat after me: All Taylor ham is pork roll; not all pork roll is Taylor ham.

1. The Garden State slogan. New Jersey is not overrated, but our slogan sure is. It's not known who came up with this most maddening of monikers (some credit Abraham Browning back in 1876), but the slogan has been on our license plates since 1954. Despite our farms and open space and Pine Barrens -- which are not gardens anyway - no other state lives up less to its nickname (the view from the turnpike around Exit 13A, anyone?). And I checked various lists of the top 10 or 25 public gardens in the U.S. New Jersey was not on any of them. 

If you have a better nickname for New Jersey, or any comment about my list, let me know below. I'm sure I'm going to get some heat! 

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook and Instagram.

Dr. Paul George Bussey agreed to a consent agreement with the state Board of Medical Examiners to temporarily pull his license.

WOODSTOWN --  A local doctor has agreed to temporary suspension of his license over allegations that he had sexual relations with a longtime female patient who he was treating for mental issues, the state Attorney Generals Office has announced.

A Woodstown doctor has agreed to have his license temporarily suspended. (File Photo) 

Dr. Paul George Bussey, who operated Family Practice of Salem County on Mill Street, entered into a consent agreement with the state Board of Medical Examiners on Nov. 4 which will remain in effect until the board considers further action in his case.

"A doctor-patient relationship is considered sacrosanct and should not be breached in any way," said Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman in a statement issued Monday. "A doctor who engages in sexual misconduct with a patient, especially one he's medically treating for mental issues, is among the most egregious violations of that relationship I can think of." 

Spokesmen for two Salem County hospitals with which Bussey was affiliated -- Memorial Hospital of Salem County and Inspira Medical Center Elmer -- say they have cut ties with him.

On Sept. 29, a complaint was filed before the Board of Medical Examiners seeking the temporary suspension of Bussey's license, alleging he engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a longtime female patient he was treating for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, addiction, and other ailments.

The complaint alleges that Bussey engaged in a two-month sexual relationship with a 30-year-old patient between January and March of 2015. Bussey had been treating the patient since she was 21 years old, according to the Attorney Generals Office. As part of that treatment, he was prescribing narcotic and psychotropic medications to her.

ALSO: Woodstown's Bailey Street to be closed for railroad repairs

Their sexual relationship allegedly began in January 2015, when the married doctor hired the unidentified patient to help with the medical billing in his office.

Their relationship included gifts of money and jewelry, dining in restaurants, and sex in his office, according to the complaint.  The pair also allegedly exchanged sexually explicit text messages on a cell phone he had purchased for her.

"Patients who come to health care professionals when they are ill and vulnerable bring with them expectations that their welfare will be placed above all else," said Steve Lee, acting director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs. "If these allegations are true, Dr. Bussey put his own sexual desires ahead of his patient's well-being and used his position of trust to victimize her in a way no patient deserves."

According to the complaint, Bussey requested sexually explicit photos of the patient, but she responded that she couldn't because her mother, with whom she lived, was awake. Bussey allegedly suggested the patient give her mother an extra dose of anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medication to help her fall asleep.  The patient's mother was previously prescribed those medications by Bussey.

A woman's voice on a telephone answering machine recording at Bussey's office phone Monday morning said the practice was closed and "please bear with us while we figure this out."

The message to continue to call back to get instructions on how to pick up medical records.

Bussey's license will remain suspended until the Board of Medical Examiners holds a plenary hearing to consider further disciplinary action against him, according to the Attorney Generals Office. A date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

This investigation was conducted by the Enforcement Bureau of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jim Kuty writes that all the killings demand drastic action.

To the Editor:

The issue about firearm fatalities in the United States is not only mass murders, but everyday killings in the streets, in businesses and in our homes.

We Americans are out of control.

The only solution to the carnage is to ban handguns, eliminate the manufacture of bullets for for them, and reduce rifles and shotguns to a single shot. One shot is all that is necessary to take game. If families still feel the need for protection, a one-shot, sawed-off shotgun with #4 buckshot would be much more effective than a handgun.

Our forefathers wrote the Second Amendment so people could defend themselves and their country from invasion. Never in their wildest dreams did they foresee society using guns, mostly handguns, to kill one another. 

RELATED: Residential firearms business booming in N.J.

Movies and TV have contributed mightily to the belief that shooting and killing is the accepted way of life. This publicity for killing from filmmakers must be banished.  

Many excuses are given for why we cannot eliminate handguns, but other countries have done it. Why can't we? 

One claim is that if handguns were illegal, only "bad guys" would get them. That wouldn't be the case if we made it very difficult for anyone to obtain a handgun, and punish severely violators who get caught. 

Saving one life would be worth it. How many lives do you think limiting firearms to one shot would save?

I realize that this approach takes away our rights and many businesses will suffer financially, but is the solution to arm more people?  I don't think so. More weapons mean more killings.

One might think that I am anti-gun. No, I am anti-killing. I was raised hunting with guns since I was a child. I still hunt and own guns, but I realize the purpose of some guns has changed to instruments of human destruction. The only way to reduce this tragedy is to eliminate handguns and guns that shoot multiple shots.

Jim Kuty

Pilesgrove Township

No gas tax hike until N.J. cuts runaway road cost

To the Editor:

According to a recent poll, New Jersey residents do not want a gasoline tax increase in the near future to help pay for transportation projects. Overall taxes in New Jersey are already among the highest in the region. 

Old people are moving out of the state because they cannot afford to live here. New Jersey is one of a few states that assesses both an estate tax and and an inheritance tax on what is left when they die.

The big issue with a higher gasoline gas tax is the high cost of building roads in New Jersey, we have the highest cost, $2 million to build one mile of road, according to a Reason Foundation study. Many legislators think it would be a crime to raise the tax when it costs so much in New Jersey for highways.

MORE: Opinion: Report claiming N.J. roads $2 million per mile flawed

I personally oppose such an increase unless a legislative committee reviews why lawyers, engineers, prevailing-wage rules and other regulation make this so expensive., In Massachusetts, it's $750,000 a mile. 

Until New Jersey's costs are brought down, I say "no" -- along with most New Jersey residents -- to raising the tax. Additionally, gasoline tax revenue needs to be in a fund dedicated for our highways and bridges, and not raided for other uses by our state government. 

Luis M. Perez

Glassboro

Bridgeton BOE election switch delayed too long

To the Editor:

I found Don Woods' recent article about the Bridgeton Board of Education's decision to move its annual school election to November from April, starting in 2016, both pleasing and puzzling.

My confusion comes from the fact that when the school board decided not to make such a change when state law first permitted it in 2012, I proposed as the Bridgeton City Council president to effect the change by council resolution.

The basis for my proposal, which was not approved, was purely economical. In 2012, the board of elections clerk cited savings of between $37,000 and $43,000 if the school election were run concurrently with the November general election. This is an avoidable cost that has been borne entirely by the Bridgeton school district and passed onto city taxpayers.

Even though I held a special council meeting on Feb. 24, 2012, to discuss the resolution, the school board dismissed my argument as meaningless -- as did the majority of my city council colleagues. They remained adamant in their decision to to spend taxpayers' money unnecessarily. 

Yet, now, in 2015, the school board has approved the change it felt had no merit in 2012. Certainly the cost to the taxpayers was of little concern to the board, since it had the opportunity to save at least an estimated $111,000 over the past three years.  So what really changed? 

I suspect there is somewhat more behind this change of heart. Perhaps the South Jersey Times can discover what it is, since I believe the taxpayers should know why extra money was spent so pointlessly.

Mike Zapolski Sr.

Councilman

City of Bridgeton

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

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com Web: nj.com/ben Cellphone: 856-237-6645 U.S. Army: RA13815980 The column that says Pete McAleer has experienced another going away party because, after eight years, he is leaving the Office of the State Comptroller in state government, so that makes the Bridgeton News, Press of Atlantic City and now the Office of the State Comptroller. — Good afternoon! — One...

 

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that says Pete McAleer has experienced another going away party because, after eight years, he is leaving the Office of the State Comptroller in state government, so that makes the Bridgeton News, Press of Atlantic City and now the Office of the State Comptroller.

--

Good afternoon!

--

One solution:

Nearly 50 percent of the homeless people living in the areas we served by I-PLUS are veterans of the armed forces.

I-PLUS (Independent Positive Living Under Supervision) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency that works to stem the issue of homelessness by ensuring that money intended for the homeless is disbursed properly.  

It arranges a bank account and works with landlords and other providers are paid for rent and utilities directly, with no intervention from the benefactor.

I-PLUS aims to keep the homeless housed instead of in shelters due to poor money management.

I-PLUS assists each client in getting a bank account established, and arranges for the monthly checks to be deposited into this account.

By working with local landlords, I-PLUS arranges for housing, and then pays rent, utilities, and other fixed costs directly to the providers. Clients receive a weekly allowance checks for food, clothing, and other expenses. This check must be picked up at the I-PLUS office.

In order for a client to receive their check, they may be required to attend an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting, a NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meeting, receive one-on-one counseling, and/or receive other support.

--

We would guess that, for most, the alcohol call is too strong for the homeless to want to overcome.

--

"Why aren't parents hitting me up to get their children in a basketball league?

"C'mon, it won't cost you anything. I've got the hook-up.

"Message me, please. I want your child to have a positive experience in Bridgeton. Maplewood Garden, let's get it.''

-- Gloria Cortez

--

But, Gloria, who'a going to take them to the games and practice?

Do you really want to expose your son to Willie Sanchez, who is a Bridgeton treasure when it comes to basketball?

--

Higbee's Heroes will be performing their Christmas program on Dec. 6, at 6 p.m., at the Church of the Nazarene on East Main Street in Millville.

The show is free and open to the general public.

Come out and get into the Christmas spirit with Higbee's Heroes.

-- Ron Vinick

--

"If I were a man of prayer, my prayer today would go something like this: 

"Lord, give us leaders like Lincoln to guide us through these dark times. Help us not to lose our humanity as we battle those who engage in barbaric, inhuman acts.

"Protect our warriors. Let them not fight filled with hate, but with your power to make the world a safer, more harmonious, more peaceful place. Amen.''

-- David Price

--

"Just want to thank everyone who came out to the Annual Oldies Scholarship Luncheon hosted by Diamonds in the Rough Collaboration!

"Also to those who made a donation. We had a great time! It's always a party when we get together for the sake of our children.

"To God be the glory for all that He has done! If you missed it, our Annual February Ball is coming up on Feb. 20.

"See you then and, again, I say thank you.''

-- Yuenge Groce,

Salem diamond

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Bridgeton High Bulldogs going after Shawnee in Group IV playoffs this weekend after big win over Central.

Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church has been a part of the Salem community for 215 years.

SALEM -- Sunday was a time for celebration at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Salem.

The historic church marked its 215^th anniversary as the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the State of New Jersey.

Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, presiding prelate of the First Episcopal District, preached at a special service Sunday afternoon.

The theme for the anniversary service was "Celebrating Our Amazing Past and Anticipating Our Glorious Future," using Psalm 126:3-6 as the Scripture text.

Rev. Marena Poole, Mt. Pisgah's pastor, also took a lead role in the anniversary service.

Mt. Pisgah has played an important role in the Salem City community for years, providing outreach to both the young and senior citizens.

ALSO: New condominiums seen as way to revitalize Salem

Brought to Salem in 1800, the Mt. Pisgah congregation was the only New Jersey congregation represented at the founding conference of the A.M.E. church in Philadelphia in 1816.

The church, located at 15 Yorke St. in Salem, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After Sunday's event, a dinner was held at the church as part of the anniversary celebration.

South Jersey Times may be reached at news@southjerseymedia.com. Follow us on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Ten scholar/athletes from the Class of 2016 at St. Augustine Preparatory School will signed their National Letters of Intent on Nov. 11.  Lacrosse: Baseball: Wrestling: Basketball:  St. Augustine Prep is a college preparatory school that operates under the auspices of the Order of St. Augustine and the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. The Prep has educated young men from grades...

Ten scholar/athletes from the Class of 2016 at St. Augustine Preparatory School will signed their National Letters of Intent on Nov. 11. 

Lacrosse:

• Jared Chiachetti -- University of Maryland
• Charlie Kitchen -- University of Delaware
• Billy McMenamin -- Fairfield University
• Brad Meister -- Monmouth University
• Harrison Schadt -- Cabrini College

Baseball:

• Mike Vasturia -- Maryland
• Bill Chilari -- Duke
• Chris Troost  -- UNC-Ashville

Wrestling:

• Nick Clark -- Campbell
• Reid White -- Campbell

Basketball:

• Sa'eed Nelson-American

 St. Augustine Prep is a college preparatory school that operates under the auspices of the Order of St. Augustine and the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. The Prep has educated young men from grades nine through 12 since 1959. It is accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New Jersey State Educational Association, the Diocese of Camden, and the Augustinian Educational Association. The enrollment is currently approximately 700 boys. Entrance is very competitive and the student body is comprised of young men from seven counties in the Southern New Jersey area.

 

Diane emails that she never understood her mother's accomplishments until she was much older.

Their story appeared in the Gloucester County Times in 1993. Donna Rachuba, matriarch of a Woodbury Heights family with six daughters, had just graduated from Glassboro State College, graduating summa cum laude, and was headed to law school.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

One problem with writing a newspaper column is failure to follow up in, oh, 22 years. I'm one of the guilty ones. But in this case, the youngest of the six, Diane Rachuba, provides her own background.

Diane reminds me that we met only once previously - when I interviewed the Rachuba family at their Woodbury Heights home for a column about her mom.

"I was six years old when it was published," Diane says. "I also had chicken pox and was pretty annoyed that I had to go outside to have my picture taken."

Diane emails that she never understood her mother's accomplishments until she was much older. Giving birth to her six daughters, then garnering undergraduate honors and earning her JD from Rutgers-Camden Law School was a pretty impressive trifecta.

MORE:  Rachuba remembering Dr. Mike Freeman, a kindhearted dentist

"She passed the bar on her first try," Diane says. "Mom made it seem way too easy. We never saw how hard she was working or how little she slept. During her first year of law school she sped through one of her finals, taking a much lower grade, so she wouldn't miss my first grade Mother's Day pageant.

"You took the time to create a picture of how hard my mom worked. Both of my parents tried hard to instill that in all six of us. All six graduated from college. Two of my sisters are lawyers, like mom, two are dentists, one has her masters in biology, and I am writing this during my lunch break at the academic publishing company where I work in New York.

"The article gave my mom the recognition many parents won't ever receive. Four of my sisters have children of their own, juggling their parental and professional responsibilities without break.

"They all respond with the same baffled, 'How did she do it?' face' when they think about what my mom accomplished."

Donna now works for the federal government, dividing her time between an office in Arlington, Va. and working in the field.

And, says Diane, "she is still one of the most selfless people I know, taking time to make sure that each of knows how much she loves us.

"She took off a week of work to hang out with two of my nephews in Maine so my sister could relax for a few days. Recently a friend of mine was hospitalized in New York, and mom came up to give her a 'mom hug.'

"I told mom I sometimes wonder what kind of person she would've been if she didn't have us and had gone straight to college. She told me she wouldn't have changed anything."

 

Salem County Rewind offers a unique look back at local history through photographs and news items from 100 years ago.

In this feature, which appears each week, we present a vintage photo of Salem County (along with a large number of other vintage Salem County photos in our accompanying gallery), and Salem County history tidbits.

SALEM COUNTY PICTURE FROM THE PAST

This vintage photo from Salem County shows the inside of Jones's Fairlawn Market which was located on North Main Street in downtown Woodstown. The photo is marked as being taken Aug. 21, 1953. Look closely and you'll see many vintage food packages and advertisements. Note the young woman in the foreground taking a package of Richman's Ice Cream from the special ice cream freezer.  Behind her appears to be a mother and her daughter in one of the grocery aisles. In the rear of the store was the meat department. This photo, taken from the front of the store, shows the old-time cash registers where the price of every item was punched in by hand. (File Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1915, these news items were included in the Salem Standard and Jerseyman. They appear throughout the week today in print in the Times in our Salem County History feature.

*

County officials are expecting the arrival of more oyster shells to be used to improve county roads before winter sets in.

--

It's still in question whether Harry Dolbow of Penns Grove will reopen is caviar canning factory this season.

--

The contract to furnish the Salem County Almshouse with 100 long tons of coal has been given again this year to H.D. Turner of Pennsgrove for $6.10 a ton.

ALSO: Salem's historic Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church celebrates 215 years

Cattle owners of this county have been somewhat disturbed this past week because the rumors of another outbreak of anthrax, possibly in the Mannington area.

 --

Several gun carriages were received at Fort Mott in Pennsville last week for use in light artillery drills.

--

By a recent order from the Department of Defense, the soldiers stationed at Fort Mott will no longer drill the big guns, but have instead will have infantry and siege drills.

--

Sanford B. Wentzell, who purchased of Miss Ida K. Lawrence the store property at the corner of Fifth and Griffith streets in Salem, has been seeing quite a number of new customers.

--

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cherry Hill Mall has every right to put a $35 tab on visiting with Santa at a glitzy, interactive display. But we're glad to see the mall has found its holiday spirit and has waived the fee.

Portrayals of Santa Claus in department stores and malls can be polar (North Polar?) opposites, as evidenced by popular Christmas stories and movies.

There's the gentle and authoritative Santa of "Miracle on 34th Street." There's the bored, slightly gruff Santa of "A Christmas Story" who tells Ralphie he'll shoot his eye out. At the other end of the scale, are the boorish Kris Kringles of "Bad Santa" and David Sedaris' "Santaland Diaries" essays. 

Jolly or jaundiced, they have one thing in common: They never asked Mom or Dad for $35 so the kids could have a peek at him. It was a free "perk" of shopping at one mall or another to sit on Santa's lap.

Some parents have taken to social media to decry that seeing Santa was anything but free at the Cherry Hill Mall.

Until the mall management relented late Monday under a crush of bad publicity, it cost $35 to $50 just to set foot in Santa's "Adventure to Santa" display, which sounds more like a theme park element than a traditional "workshop." The 15-20-minute stay includes a simulated sleigh ride, a chance for tykes to design a gingerbread house on an iPad and, finally, the up-close-and-personal with the guy in the red suit.

The $35 and $50 packages included photos or videos, respectively, of the experience. 

The kicker, though, was that there was no "free" option, unlike at other malls. It's been decades since most shopping centers first outsourced their Santa duties to photo-taking companies that sell pictures of your child's visit -- and bar you from taking any photos on your own.

OK, the Santa fee was capitalism. The idea of a mall is to make money. Many shoppers at an "A" mall like Cherry Hill can afford to gift wrap a Walt Disney World-style attraction around kids' Santa time. 

However, we'd like to think there was some belated "Bah, Humbug!" compassion for the two-job single parent who promised the kids a Santa visit before rushing off to Cherry Hill Mall without reading the fine print. Imagine needing to tell a child that Santa is sleeping, when the real reason for a canceled visit is that seeing him cost more than the child's Christmas gifts. 

Even at $35, the Adventure to Santa display is a good option for many families. Just know that there are other choices. Here's a special plug for the downtown business groups and local merchants who always allowed Santa to be seen free of charge, even by those with a camera or a smartphone handy to capture the moment. The hours of his workshop may be more limited than at the big malls, but the none of the joy is missing.

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

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com Web: nj.com/ben Cellphone: 856-237-6645 U.S. Army: RA13815980 The column that says we could get more people to go to church if NFL football wagering replaced the collection plate, because, after all, what do you call Bingo? — Good evening! — Bingo turned St. Teresa of Avila in Bridgeton from a cornfield into a church. — There are two...

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that says we could get more people to go to church if NFL football wagering replaced the collection plate, because, after all, what do you call Bingo?

—

Good evening!

—

Bingo turned St. Teresa of Avila in Bridgeton from a cornfield into a church.

—

There are two ways for entertainment producer Bob Rose to lose weight.

1. "Call me crazy but I decided to re-try Weight Watchers, First time about 1.5-2 years ago, I dropped 30 pounds. Looks like I have gained 1-2 pounds back, and now have a new goal to drop another 20 pounds.''

2. Bring back the Bridgeton Folk Festival.

—

Why is it when medical advice is offered on a website — like five foods that will kill you this week — you have to click 10 more times and maybe still not get to the advice?

—

"What an amazing community we have here in Millville.

"In a couple short hours, we managed to fill the parking lot of Celebrating Our Vets.

"We managed to run Derick Glenn's cell phone dead with calls and offers of help.

"As I left the parking lot, more cars were coming in. Everyone is offering, love, support and prayers!

"Thank you, everyone, for all the inboxes of ideas and support for this family. I am emailing Derick the info so he will have a list of other places he can refer this family to. You guys are the best!''

— Taking Back Millville

—

"I am desperate and need your help more now than ever!

"Veteran family from Port Norris is in desperate need of help!

"Gas turned off, no food or money, two children, wife has terminal cancer and is struggling to get to medical appointments because they cannot afford gas for their truck,

"Veteran has severe PTSD, anxiety, hearing loss, and more, but is working 40-plus hours a week to try and support his family.

"They are coming to my office tonight for dinner and to get hot showers at 6 p.m.

"I am praying for a miracle.

"Please, God, let there be a financial blessing tonight for this family that is going through so much!

"Please let this wife and mother have the dignity of receiving heat and hot water while she fights her life battling cancer!

"Lord, please lift up the spirits of this family while they struggle just to make it to the next day without basic things we all take for granted! I ask you Lord to touch everyone's heart that reads this!

"In Jesus name, I pray!''

— Derick Glenn,

founder

Celebrating Our Veterans

—

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where you know — you just know — his prayers will be answered.

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com Web: nj.com/ben Cellphone: 856-237-6645 U.S. Army: RA13815980 The column that says Derick I. Glenn, once known as Derick "D'' Clown, will be the catalyst to eradicate, eliminate, make history homeless veterans in Cumberland County. — Good morning! — Greater Bridgeton Family Success Center, 155 Spruce St., Bridgeton, offers a free Community Brunch at 11 a.m. on Nov. 17. Guest...

 

jhummel@njadvancemedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that says Derick I. Glenn, once known as Derick "D'' Clown, will be the catalyst to eradicate, eliminate, make history homeless veterans in Cumberland County.

--

Good morning!

--

Greater Bridgeton Family Success Center, 155 Spruce St., Bridgeton, offers a
free Community Brunch at 11 a.m. on Nov. 17.

Guest Speaker: Center For Family Services

A staffing agency will be conducting on the spot interviews for open positions. Be sure to bring 2 forms of ID and updated resume.

--

Pray for France, but don't stop helping your own neighborhood and as far as you can reach.

There is need everywhere, mostly where people stand around and do nothing but say this is the greatest country in the world.

--

Stephen Harris, Jason Patterson III (anyone that is interested in the winter's weather), on Dec 17, Cumberland County Coordinators meeting will be held at the Mauricetown Fire Hall.

Chris Sowers of 6ABC will be presenting a program on winter weather.

Chris Sowers's presentation is open to everyone. Refreshments from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

RSVP is required for this event to Melinda (melindawe@co.cumberland.nj.us) or Joe (josephse@co.cumberland.nj.us).

-- Mary Messeck

--

Mary helps to keep us safe.

--

AUGIE 

"Anthony Napoli was making a delivery in Buena in the 860 block of Harding Road off Route 40 Mile Marker 36, when his dog, unknowingly to Anthony, jumped out of his truck window and headed into the woods.

"Anthony is from New York, over 200 miles away, and will not return home 'til his dog Augie is found.

"At the time of this posting, Augie had been missing 15 hours and help is needed to get them reunited.

"Augie is a male brindle Plott Hound, 3 years old, no collar or tags.

"If you are in the area and can help search, call Anthony on 845-249-7262 to coordinate the search let Anthony know you saw the post from the Lost Dog Search & Rescue Group and are willing to help.

"According to Anthony, Augie is a service dog.''

-- Cumberland County Lost Pets NJ

--

Soroptimist International of Cumberland County's Lunch With Santa will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5, at West Park United Methodist Church, Shiloh Pike, in Hopewell Township.

Lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There will be a children's shopping room, face painting, reindeer games, holiday bake sale, elves workshop, cobweb corner and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa.

Self-addressed stamped envelope with a check made out to SICC. Mail to SICC, Inc. PO Box 50, Shiloh, NJ 08353

Requests should be made by Nov. 20 postmark so the tickets can be mailed in time.

Tickets are $3.

--

Has Mrs. Santa ever had a first name? 

--

Eagles lose.

Giants lose.

And, still, it's not the worst division in the NFL.

Everybody in the NFC East will go 8-8.

--

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.

"Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.''

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

--

On Nov. 18, Millville Senior High School staff versus vs. Millville Police basketball game at Millville Senior High School at 7 p.m.

Proceeds will be donated to the Millville PAL organization.

Admission is only $2. 

See if the Police can take home their first victory this year, or if it will be another win for the staff.

--

Import ringers.

--

You can sign ip for the halftime foul shooting contest.

--

"The ability to understand what someone is feeling" -- that's the textbook definition of empathy.

But when put into practice, empathy means a whole lot more. It means the ability to grasp the many sides of today's complex problems and the capacity to collaborate with others to solve them.

It means being as good at listening to the ideas of others as articulating your own.

It means being able to lead a team one day, and participate as a team member the next.

"In today's rapidly changing world, empathy is critical to our success -- at home, at school, and in the workplace. 

-- Changemakers

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where connecting with children is a special talent that should be promoted at every turn.

A 41-year-old Pennsville man was arrested after walking into an auto dealership, swiping keys, and driving right off the lot with a stolen car, police said.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- A 41-year-old Pennsville man was arrested after walking into an auto dealership, swiping keys, and driving right off the lot with a stolen car, police said.

Joseph Cameron, 41, of Pennsville
 

Joseph Cameron allegedly walked into the Deepwater Auto Sales office at 12:24 p.m. Friday and took keys for a white, 2006 Dodge Caravan.

After stealing the keys, according to authorities, Cameron drove the vehicle right out of the lot.

Police later located Cameron and charged him with taking a motor vehicle for means of convenience, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and theft. 

Cameron was processed and held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington in default of $15,000 bail.

The vehicle was damaged but recovered in Carneys Point Township, according to police.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

 

Lunch with a Cop was implemented into the district to help young students become more comfortable with local police officers, ask them questions, and meet new friendly faces.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- Second-grader Connor Wariwanchick admired the police badge pinned on his new friend's uniform Monday morning at Central Park Elementary School.

Connor, 7, and his fellow classmates welcomed Pennsville Patrolman Zack Inman to their lunch period as they learned about police duties, and shared their own school news in return as part of a new program in the district's elementary schools.

Lunch with a Cop was implemented into the district to help young students become more comfortable with local police officers, ask them questions, and meet new friendly faces.

"They're good guys -- they arrest bad people," Connor said, adding that he wants to be a cop when he grows up.

Throughout the school year, officers from the Pennsville Police Department will make their way to eight of the lunch periods in the three elementary schools -- Penn Beach, Central Park and Valley Park schools. 

Whether kids talked about school, birthday gifts, family, or cop duty, the lunch was filled with enthusiastic discussion.

"I feel it's important for the young kids in the community to recognize that officers are human beings with things that are happening in the world," Police Chief Allen J. Cummings said.

"Young kids watch the news and with the media, they can see all the bad things that happen. We want to spend time with them, socializing and letting them ask questions," Cummings continued.

Many schools throughout the state have invested in school resource officers who work within the schools, daily, to not only patrol the buildings, but really get to know the students and enhance the feeling of safety.

While Pennsville School District doesn't have school resource officers, the local police department has their own method for patrolling the district.

Security at the high and middle schools is enforced with sporadic check-ins by officers on a daily basis, in addition to routine morning and after school patrols, according to Cummings.

"It's very important to give schools as much security as possible," the chief said, adding that by going into the younger grade levels, students can become more comfortable and less scared of police officers.

"You want kids to be able to come up to a police man if they need, and not be afraid," Cummings continued.

Eight-year-old Angeline Hall was very impressed with Patrolman Inman's badge and other police gadgets.

"They help people out. I like the handcuffs so bad people don't get away," Angeline said.

This new program provides an informal way for students to get the local law enforcement officers and create opportunities to establish a bond which is important for the entire community, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mike Brodzik.

"We want our kids to feel comfortable around these officers and look up to them as a resource. The board of education appreciates this initiative from Chief Cummings and the time that our officers are spending with kids," Brodzik said.

These officers rotate and spend one lunch period during their on-duty shift with a school.

Heightening safety and building relationships with law enforcement has been ongoing throughout South Jersey.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Department instituted a Lunch With a Cop program as well two years ago, which has since been a success, according to Sheriff Robert Austino.

"Kids are very receptive and this gives them a chance to see us in a different light," Austino said.

Each year the Daughters of the American Revolution raise funds for wreaths to be placed on graves at Finn's Point.

PENNSVILLE TWP. --  For eight years, Helen Petrin has had a special mission.

It's been to be sure that come Christmas, every grave at Finn's Point National Cemetery is decorated with a wreath.

At first, this project, which she leads as chaplain of Salem County 's Oak Tree Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, set a goal of raising funds to provide 500 wreaths.

Now that number has grown to 700 wreaths.

The problem the DAR faces this year is that so far I's only raised enough money to purchase 300 wreaths -- 400 short of this year's goal.

"I don't want to fail," Petrin said. "How could you choose which graves to cover with a wreath and which not?"

With a Nov. 25 deadline to raise the needed funds, Petrin is asking the public to contribute to the effort.

A donation of $15 will buy one wreath. A donation of $30 will buy three.

On Dec. 12, at noon, a public ceremony will be held at Finn's Point to decorate the graves and honor the soldiers buried there.

It's all part of the Wreaths Across America effort to decorate the graves of soldiers at cemeteries far and wide for the holiday.

Petrin recalls eight years ago when New Jersey DAR officials asked each county chapter to join in the Wreaths Across America effort.

Finn's Point was chosen as the site -- because the rules then dictated that it be either a national or state cemetery -- where the local DAR would raise funds to but the wreaths to decorate the graves.

Each year the Finn's Point ceremony has grown. More veterans' groups, re-enactors Scouts and local school groups are taking part.

The presence of the general public has grown, too.

"It's so gratifying to accomplish that mission on that day and be able to say we'll be able to do it that next year," Petrin said.

ALSO: Salem County Rewind: Woodstown groceries; almshouse coal

The Wreaths Across America project was begun in New England several years ago and has now grown.

The idea of decorating the graves of veterans at Christmas

Along with the wreath-laying at Finn's Point on Dec. 12 there will be more than 800 simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies around the U.S. and even in other parts of the world where veterans lie buried, according to Petrin.

There are an estimated 700 individual gravesites at Finn's Point which is located along the Delaware River near Fort Mott in Pennsville Township. There is also a mass grave which contains the remains of an estimated 2,400 Confederate soldiers who were buried there during the Civil War.

Those soldiers died while being held prisoner on Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the nearby Delaware River. There bodies were brought to the mainland and buried at Finn's Point.

Among those buried at Finn's Point are soldiers from several wars -- many of them local Salem County residents. There are also German prisoners of war who died while in captivity in the U.S.

Finn's Point is one of only two National Cemeteries in New Jersey -- the other is in Beverly.

On Dec. 12 the public is invited to take part in the wreath-laying ceremony. Parking will be available at the Fort Mott State Park parking lot and there will be shuttle busses to take participants from Fort Mott to the Finn's Point cemetery.

Afterward there will be refreshments.

The deadline for submissions to aid the wreaths project is Nov. 25.

Donations -- $30 for three wreaths and $15 for one wreath -- should be sent to Helen Fite Petrin, Esq., Chaplain, Daughters of the American Revolution, 51 Market St., Salem, NJ 08079. For more information on the project, call Petrin at 856-935-4950 or 856-935-2675.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Roy Lehman writes that most of the 2016 presidential field is too willing to get America involved in ill-conceived military action.

To the Editor:

I recently attended a lecture in the Widener Speakers Series at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia given by former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. He was very loquacious and quite charismatic, and his lecture was very interesting.

Leon Panetta, former member of Congress, secretary of defense, White House chief of staff and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.File photo 

One takeaway from the lecture was that he is not a big fan of President Barack Obama. Panetta's entire speech was about American leadership which, it occurred to me while listening to him, is nothing more than code for American intervention in other nations.

We're about to elect a new president. We have every opportunity to restart this brand of "American leadership," from Hillary Clinton on the left, a liberal interventionist; to Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz on the right, with their neoconservative and interventionist advisers. Then throw gadfly Donald Trump into the mix.

We are currently suffering through the results of the failed "American leadership" of George W. Bush, the mendacious purveyor of malfeasance and opener of the 21st-century equivalent of Pandora's Box. 

When such "leadership" consists of demands for regime change, because the ideal of democracy seems better than an authoritarian dictator who can keep a lid on things, we're in deep trouble. Look no further than the failed Iraq experiment and the tragedy of Paris for validation.

Real American leadership today would consist of Obama being truthful with the American people by telling them the problems in the Middle East don't emanate from the Persian Shia of Iran, but from the Sunni Arabs of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. 

Releasing the 28 redacted pages from the 9/11 Commission Report that deal with the nexus of Saudi Arabia to the 9/11 tragedy would also be real American leadership. We need some real American leadership right now, Mr. President, and not the type being demanded by the right wing.

Roy Lehman

Woolwich Township

To the Editor:

Concerning the recent article "(Monroe Township) Council president banned from schools after alleged threat":

(The township school board took the action against Frank Caligiuri following repeated requests by the councilman for information about why a teacher had been laid off last year. An e-mail from Caliguiri supplied to the Times by the school district reportedly stated, "I will get to the bottom of this, and I honestly don't care how many dead bodies I leave in my path.")

Let's not let the facts get in the way of the hype. The fact is if the school district has nothing to hide, why not simply provide the teacher's test scores and prove why they laid off a teacher with two masters degrees? The board also refused to reconsider rehiring that teacher for other open positions.

I've never aspired to be a politician or a "yes" man, but rather a genuine advocate for people. I demonstrate the courage to stand alone. 

These school district people -- Superintendent Chuck Earling and board solicitor John Armano -- have gone to great lengths to get into the newspaper my e-mail and their ban in order to disgrace me.  

Unlike Earling and Armano, I have nothing to hide, no story to give the paper, just test scores I'd like to see -- period. All the other stuff is superfluous baloney to redirect the attention of the public away from the simple fact that they don't want me to see the scores for some reason. 

For those who care to connect the dots: Know that the same law firm that represents the school district happens to represent the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority, where I've directed the council to respond to the public outcry concerning recent rate increases and alleged overcharges. When the public knows the rest of the story, the headline has an entirely different meaning.

Frank J. Caligiuri

President

Monroe Township Council 

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