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

South Jersey Times 

ALLOWAY TWP.

-- 12 School Lane, Christina Battiato to Alyssa P. Cocking and Eli L. Heil for $179,000.

BRIDGETON

-- 123 W. Broad St., U.S. Treasurer Department to Ramon Hernandez for $62,200.

-- 102 to 104 N. Laurel St., Ellen Schujas to 90 Cohansey Street LLC for $39,000.

-- 59 South Ave., Garden State Real Estate Holdings LLC to Alysha Faulknor for $16,000.

CARNEYS POINT TWP.

-- 126 Bay St., Emily R. Dennis by attorney to JMC Property Management LLC for $18,000.

-- 44 Granite Lane, Point One Investments LLC to David Evinger for $299,900.

COMMERCIAL TWP.

-- 428 Poplar Road, Mary Frances Andreolli to Joseph H. Castor IV for $20,000.

DEERFIELD TWP.

-- 350 Morton Ave., Natale J. Bisconte by attorney to Anthony M. Sparacio III for $260,000.

DEPTFORD TWP.

-- 117 Burgundy Court, Fannie Mae to Lynne Simmons for $128,000.

-- 450 Dogwood Dr., CalAtlantic Group Inc. to Angela Yeh and Robert Worrell for $195,953.

-- 119 Sansom Lane, Nina M. Varughese to Meagan Barnes for $190,000.

FAIRFIELD TWP.

-- 188 Clarks Pond Road, Adan Garcia to Rigoberto Perez Cruz for $100,000.

-- 206 Clarks Pond Road, Darrin J. Krug to Morvay Construction LLC for $45,000.

GLASSBORO

-- 13 Cornell Road, Terri Mariotti to Bryan Levens for $159,000.

-- South Lehigh Road, Empire TF4 Jersey Holdings LLC to Borough of Glassboro for $89,000.

-- 147 S. Academy St, Empire TF4 Jersey Holdings LLC to Borough of Glassboro for $20,000.

GREENWICH TWP. (CUMBERLAND COUNTY)

-- 983 Ye Greate St., Laurie B. Larue to Robert Hayes for $156,000.

HARRISON TWP.

-- 407 Gardenia Dr., Beazer Homes Corp to Melanie J. Narbut and Christopher M. Kay for $476,960.

LOGAN TWP.

-- 3 Shady Brook Lane, Stephanie M. McCaffrey to Laura Wilson for $179,000.

-- Oak Grove Road, Joseph A. and Victoria Musumeci to David and Marcia Viereck for $75,000.

LAWRENCE TWP.

-- 825 Hogbin Road, Stephen E. Eaton to Justin P. Fallucca for $194,000.

MANNINGTON TWP.

-- 239 Mannington-Yorktown Road, Charles W. and Evelyn M. Porter Jr. to Robert L. and Christina A. Madden for $8,000.

MAURICE RIVER TWP.

-- 5296 Route 49, Emroe Headley to Justine A. Andrews for $255,000.

MILLVILLE

-- 105 S. Pearl St., Veterans Affairs to Poplar Property Management LLC for $32,100.

-- 24 Dorset Ave., Raymond Thomas Burkey Jr. to Danyelle L. Sloboda for $137,900.

-- 1430 Lloyd Terr., Bank of New York Mellon Trust by attorney to Eugenia Caprioni for $72,000.

-- 8 Dumont Dr., Sherwood Forest Homes LLC to Paul Lee for $189,500.

-- 41 Ettie Dr., Michael V. Ferreri to Dennis Flores for $232,900.

-- 908 Irene St., Jack P. Davis to RPJ Properties LLC for $30,000.

-- 434 Garrison Road, LHRE LLC to Rent-to-U LLC for $50,000.

-- 39 Sunset Lake Road, Amanda G. Sutton to Blake Maloney II for $60,000.

MONROE TWP.

-- 441 Whitehall Road, Lynn A. Scowcroft, executrix, to Jaclyn L. Scowcroft for $150,000.

-- L9 Sunnyhill Ave., Jeffery Rosenblum, executor, to Edward L. and Laurie Weist III for $5,500.

-- 915 Van Gogh Court, Carrie Greenberg to Deborah Kelsch for $150,000.

-- 856 to 858 S. Main St., Mohr Properties LLC to Attilio J. and Diane Gentile Jr. for $195,000.

OLDMANS TWP.

-- 28 Pedricktown-Woodstown Road, Housing and Urban Development to Shemini Real Estate Inc. for $38,100.

-- 353 Route 130, Valerie and Patrick Quinn to David and Jennifer Bergman for $180,000.

PENNSVILLE TWP.

-- 115 S. Broadway, John D. Jordan, executor, to QST Properties LLC for $175,000.

-- 13 Miramar Dr., Amanda M. Zamerowski Shuttleworth and Brad Shuttleworth to John K. and Brooke A. Cusick for $157,000.

-- 95 Salem Dr., Edward A. and Kelly M. Bowman to Barbara J. Davis for $150,000.

PILESGROVE TWP.

-- 53 Williams Road, David C. and Jill S. Chapman to Conner and Rachael Nichols for $255,000.

PITTSGROVE TWP.

-- 456 Alvine Road, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company to William J. and Allison M. Szoke Jr. for $87,300.

QUINTON TWP.

-- 297 Jericho Road, William C. Wood Jr. to Jason DeJesus for $169,900.

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP.

-- 149 Laurel Heights, Arthur J. Marchand, administrator to Manuel Lucero for $150,000.

-- 65 Cornwell Dr., AB Realty LLC to CKES LLC for $1,520,000.

-- 48 Silver Brook Dr., Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp by attorney to Jacqueline Cain for $135,000.

-- 11 Holly Lane, Richard W. Bennett to Donald Hughes for $144,900.

VINELAND

-- 1872 E. Wheat Road, Phyllis Sterbakov, executor, to Kilsy Perez Santos for $40,000.

-- 11 W. Almond St., Angel Mercado to Elmer F. Jacobo Berrios for $144,400.

-- 1162 N. East Ave., Kathleen Donnelly to Bullseye Holdings LLC for $86,500.

-- 64 W. Summit St., Joseph D. Drawdy to Luis Quiles for $180,000.

-- 508 N. 4^th St., Rich Homes LLC to Barshay L. Graves for $121,000.

-- 2588 Venezia Ave., Louann Davidson to Lauren Pope for $158,000.

-- 1428 Cherokee Lane, PMT NPL Financing 2015-1 by attorney to Yung Y. Chan for $235,000.

-- 1648 Junior Dr., Betty-Jo Polise executor, to Charles Flood for $137,000.

-- 505 E. Oslo Ct., Lawrence Eisenberg to Carmelo Nieves for $110,000.

-- 1141 Ramblewood Dr., Bank of New York Mellon by attorney to Annette Pacheco for $139,000.

WASHINGTON TWP.

-- 3 Clark Circle, Thomas and Christine Brooks to Whitney L. Huston and Todd Barta for $305,000.

-- 29 Arcturus Dr., Alfred Schick and Cynthia McNee to Derek S. Smith for $182,500.

-- 27 Silver Birch Road, Barbara A. Coleman to Christopher M. Coleman for $160,000.

-- 8 George Taylor Building, Lauren and Brett Harder to Gloria Curry for $75,000.

WEST DEPTFORD TWP.

-- 12 Avocet Lane, Silver Lining Investment Group Inc. to Richard and Nancy Lowe for $199,900.

WOODBURY

-- 38 Hopkins St., John and Jennifer Wilson to Troy Ivey Sr. for $29,900.

WOODSTOWN

-- 323 N. Main St., David J. and Elissa Weaver to Christina L. Battiato for $140,000.

-- 12 Melissa Lane, Fannie Mae to Russell and Dawn Clark for $275,000.

WOOLWICH TWP.

-- 1001 Russel Mill Road, DeLuca Lot Investors LP to 1001 Russel Mill LLC for $350,000.

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

The column that says Millville doesn't look a day over 149 years old.

The column that says Millville doesn't look a day over 149 years old.

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Good morning!

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Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

"The City of Millville was charted Feb. 26, 1866, and on Feb. 26, 2016, the city will celebrate 150 years. Our kick-off event will be Feb. 26, 2016, 6 p.m. at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts located at 22 N. High St., Millville, NJ 08332. We will have a gallery set-up, a small presentation and light refreshments.

"If anyone would like to submit a picture or item for the gallery please contact the Recreation Department.

"A committee has been formed to plan events throughout the year. So if you would like to join in please attend our next committee meeting on Thursday, March 10, 2016, 6 p.m. at City Hall, fourth floor Commission Chambers, located at 12 S. High St.

"For further information contact Millville Recreation at 856-825-7000, ext. 7394."

- Samantha Cruz

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Greenwich Presbyterian Church is hosting a presentation by Dr. Larry Niles titled "Saving the Delaware Bayshore for the Benefit of Rural Communities" on Friday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The church is located at 630 Ye Greate Street.

--

"Dr. Larry Niles' presentation will focus on the ongoing battle to save the horseshoe crab and the Artic-nesting shorebirds that depend on them to complete their long-distance flights to their breeding areas. This battle reflects the challenges facing all wildlife on the Delaware Bay and provides a practical framework to restore the bay to its past glory. Dr. Niles, a biologist, is presently pursuing independent research and management projects on shorebird ecology and conservation and habitat conservation through planning and restoration. He and his, Amanda Dey, were a part of the PBS Nature documentary "Crash: A Tale of Two Species."

- Greenwich Presbyterian Church

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Millville Army Air Field Museum has a trip scheduled to Dover Air Force Base on March 19.

Admission is free to the museum but seats on the bus cost $40. There are no lunch facilities on site but the bus will stop at Cracker Barrel in Pennsville on the way back.

The bus is leaving Millville Municipal Airport at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to return at 6:30 p.m.

Reserve seats by calling 856-327-2347.

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The Inspira Play Zone is opening up at the Cumberland Mall on Saturday. A grand opening celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It will be located in the Boscov's Court and the theme of the play zone is produce -- including a berry archway, an apple slice climber and a healthy snack slide.

The play zone is enclosed and carpeted.

Activities during the grand opening include Zumba line dancing, kid-oriented activities, food sampling and giveaways.

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Each one of these columns ends with a "My Kind of Town" tagline and I decided to start taking submissions. If you think you have a good tagline to put at the end of the column, send it to ben@njadvancemedia.com.

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MY KIND OF TOWN: Where Kathleen Procopio leaves a large vacuum for all she's done for Millville.

The Salem County native made history as a doctor, abolitionist and first African-American lawyer admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court.

SALEM -- The Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Vicinage of New Jersey Superior Court will celebrate Black History Month with an event honoring the life of Salem County-born John S. Rock.

John S. Rock was the first African-American to be allowed to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Times File Photo) 

Rock was a Renaissance man in a time of slavery whose groundbreaking admittance to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1865 signaled a dramatic departure from the Dred Scott decision that had denied citizenship rights to African-Americans less than a decade earlier.

The free public program, organized by the vicinage's Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns, will be held on Monday, Feb. 29, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Salem County's Old Courthouse, 104 Market St., Salem.

The event will begin with a discussion of Rock's life and times led by two men who spent years researching his story: Christopher Brooks, an associate professor of constitutional and legal history at Stroudsburg University, and J. Harlan Buzby of Pennsville, who wrote "John S. Rock: Teacher, Healer, Counselor," a biography for high school students.

Following the presentation, a panel of African-American leaders from the legal community will discuss Rock's legacy as well as the personal challenges they encountered along their own career paths.

The panel members are retired New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John E. Wallace Jr., Superior Court Judge Christine Allen-Jackson, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, Bridgeton Joint Municipal Court Prosecutor Demetrica Todd-Ruiz, and attorney Chad B. Davis of the Vineland firm Rosner & Tucker PC.

"We are very proud of this program," said Assignment Judge Georgia M. Curio, who will serve as panel moderator. "John Rock is an important and underappreciated figure in not only African-American history but the history of the American legal system. His story is a fascinating one."

Each year the Salem County Historical Society holds a John Rock Lecture which features a prominent African-American community member as speaker.

Born to free parents in 1825 in Elsinboro Township, Salem County, Rock pursued a formal education at a time when it was illegal in most states for blacks to read. By the time he turned 27, Rock had already worked as a teacher, dentist and physician.

He was one of the first black men in the United States to receive a medical degree. Rock later moved to Boston, where he treated sick fugitive slaves and emerged as one of the leading black abolitionists in New England as well as a prolific orator credited with coining the phrase "black is beautiful."

When declining health led him to give up his dental and medical practices, Rock began writing U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts for support in pursuing admission to practice law before the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A vocal opponent of slavery, Sumner had once been severely beaten with a cane inside the U.S. Senate chamber by a fellow congressman who took offense to a speech he gave denouncing the political power of slave owners.

At the time Rock made his request, the chief justice of the Supreme Court was Roger Taney, who wrote in Dred Scott vs. Sanford that blacks, whether free or slave, could not be considered citizens because they were "so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." Sumner waited until two months after Taney's death to appeal to the Supreme Court on Rock's behalf.

On Feb. 1, 1865, Rock and Sumner appeared together before the new chief justice, anti-slavery champion Salmon P. Chase. Just three days earlier, the U.S. House of Representatives had passed the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery. With four of the justices who had joined the majority in Dred Scott looking on, Chase admitted Rock to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court, making him the first black man to receive a license to argue cases before the high court. A New York Tribune headline declared that Rock's admission had "buried" the Dred Scott decision.

Soon after, Rock was received by the U.S. House of Representatives, another first for a black person in the United States. On his way home from the ceremony, Rock was arrested for traveling without a pass to show he was a free man.

Rock died of tuberculosis a year later, at the age of 41, without ever trying a case. Though well known in his time, his story is largely unknown today.

"I think part of the reason for that is because he died so young," said Brooks, the Stroudsburg professor. "Another reason is that, unlike so many others, his legacy is not tied directly to the emotional issue of slavery. For John Rock, it was about something even greater. It was about working within the rules and using the constitution as a tool to pursue justice."

Rock's admission to the bar, Brooks said, is "a point in time that should be marked on a calendar, but isn't. It was an important symbol of the changes that were to come."

Space for the Feb. 29 event is limited. Advance registration is recommended. Contact Stephanie Weber at 856-575-5244.

Vote for your favorite high school or musical. The school with the most votes wins! Voting ends March 4.

Salem County students are gearing up to perform in musicals such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Sound of Music" this spring season.

NJ Advance Media wants to know which Salem County musical you would like us to photograph.

Simply pick your favorite school or musical in the poll, and we will shoot and post pictures from the winning performance on NJ.com.

Vote below and keep scrolling to see details about all the performances. Voting ends at noon on March 4. 

Arthur P. Schalick High School will present "Disney's The Little Mermaid" on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m., and March 6 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and children in advance, or $14 for adults and $12 for students, seniors, and children at the door. Advance tickets are available at apshs.booktix.com.

Penns Grove High School is presenting "Godspell" on March 10 at 7 p.m., and March 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7.

Pennsville Memorial High School will present "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" from March 17 to 19 at 6:30 p.m., and on March 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults or $10 in advance, and $10 for students and seniors or $8 in advance. Advance tickets are available by emailing the show's director at cwaddington@psdnet.org.

Salem High School will present "The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" on March 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

Woodstown High School is presenting "The Sound of Music" on Feb. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m., March 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. , and March 5 at 2 p.m. There is a special matinee on Feb. 25 which is free for senior citizens. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Salem County Rewind offers a look back at Salem County's rich history through photographs and news tidbits from a century 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

Winter scenes like this along the Delaware River haven't been too common in recent years. This Picture From The Past from Salem County shows the river along the Penns Grove shoreline during the winter of 1980-1981. The ice floes were piled up by the incoming and outgoing tides. In the distance you can see the hills of northern Delaware across the river. (Times File Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1916, these news items were included in the Salem Sunbeam. They appear throughout the week in print today in the South Jersey Times in our Salem County History feature.

*

A winter pastry sale is being planned at the Salem Y.M.C.A. Saturday to purchase new equipment for the facility.

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Rural mail carriers are finding their jobs that much harder with the poor conditions of some of the winter-ravaged local roads.

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The West Jersey Seashore Line Railroad station in Woodstown was recently broken into and robbed again. The safe was cracked open just as has been the case in past robberies.

Wilbur Dickinson's men in Lower Alloways Creek say the trapping season so far has been fairly productive. Muskrat are the main catch.

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Ice on the Delaware River has played havoc with some of the boats brining the Carneys Point powder works employees across the river from Wilmington.

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A large number of cans of tomatoes from last season's pack have been shipped from the Fogg & Hires Canhouse in Quinton to market.

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

NJ Advance Media wants to know which South Jersey high school musicals you want us to photograph. Vote here.

Spring is just around the corner and that means talented high school students from throughout South Jersey are preparing to take the stage to perform in their school's musical.

From classics like "Bye Bye Birdie," to new productions such as "Legally Blonde," nearly 70 musicals will come to life on South Jersey high school stages from now until late May.

With so many to choose from, NJ Advance Media wants to know which musical you would like us to photograph.

Select a county below, check out what shows each school will be performing, then vote for your favorite school or musical in the poll and we will shoot and post pictures from each county's winning performance on NJ.com. Voting ends March 4 at noon.

Atlantic County

Burlington County

Camden County

Cape May County

Cumberland County

Gloucester County

Salem County

Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

This fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs

PITTSGROVE -- Arthur P. Schalick High School will present Disney's "The Little Mermaid," based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories by the same name. It is a love story for the ages with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," and "Part of Your World."

Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above and bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

The production, under the direction of Theater Instructor Arthur J. Mendini, will showcase the talents of Salem Vocational Theater Academy and Arthur P. Schalick High School students.

"The Little Mermaid," will be presented on March 4-5 at 7 each evening; with a matinee on March 6 at 3 p.m. in the Schalick High School auditorium. Advance ticket sales are available at apshs.booktix.com.  Online tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students, seniors and children. Cash sales at the door are $14 for general admission and $12 for students, seniors and children. Schalick High School is at 718 Centerton Road.

Sodexo Food Services presents $500 check to Schalick Student Council

PITTSGROVE -- Arthur P. Schalick High School placed in the Healthy High School National Challenge for the third year in a row. 

The Healthy High School National Challenge is an exciting event designed to reinforce the importance of making healthy food choices. The goal is to further the nutrition education of high school students through a national challenge that plays off of students' competitive spirit, by encouraging them to make healthy food choices in order to earn points for their school.

Sodexo-managed high school programs around the country try to out-perform each other by earning points for served, reimbursable meals and healthy a la carte snacks and beverages.

The more meals, healthy snacks and beverages, the more points each school earns.

Arthur P. Schalick High School Student Council was recently presented with a $500 check from Sodexo Food Service.  

A meeting will be held by the state Board of Public Utilities in South Jersey over Verizon landline issues.

South Jersey residents upset with their landline service with Verizon will be able to air their grievances with the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) soon during an upcoming meeting.

A state senator wants the Board of Public Utilities to hold a hearing on Verizon service in South Jersey. (File Photo)Bill Gallo Jr. | For NJ.com 

The meeting comes from months of petitioning by 16 South Jersey communities upset with Verizon and the company's use of antiquated copper landlines.

"After board staff's careful review and consideration of a petition filed by 16 southern New Jersey municipalities and the County of Cumberland, Verizon's response to the petition and the petitioner's recent reply to the company's response, board staff will schedule a public hearing to be held in that region for the purpose of hearing directly from residents and the businesses community about Verizon's landline phone service quality," said Richard S. Mroz, president of the BPU.

The meeting was at the behest of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1) and Mroz spoke with the senator Wednesday before the announcement.

Residents from Atlantic, Salem, Cape May and Gloucester counties all signed a petition due to their displeasure with Verizon and the fact that the telecommunications company has failed to maintain its copper lines in the more rural communities. The residents would like to see the landlines replaced with fiber optics or at least have the copper lines properly maintained.

"This is not the middle of Wyoming or Kansas," Van Drew said. "We should be able to access technology to be able to compete."

Van Drew pushed for a meeting in his district so it would be easier for residents to voice their concerns to the BPU.

Cumberland County has taken the lead on collecting the petitions and dealing with Verizon and the BPU when it comes to upgrading the landlines in South Jersey.

"We're gratified that the board is going to move forward and we appreciate the support we have been given by Sen. Van Drew's office," said Ted Baker, solicitor for Cumberland County.

According to Verizon spokesman Ray McConville, the company is aware of the meeting and plans to attend to hear customer complaints.

The meeting date and location is not scheduled yet but, according to Van Drew, will most likely be in April or May.

If the justice did one thing, it was to remind us that the Constitution should not be bent to our wishes.

By Philip J. Donohue

In the days since Justice Antonin Scalia's death, two columns in the Times -- E.J. Dionne's syndicated one and Milton Hinton Jr.'s local one --have attempted to destroy Scalia's legacy through poorly researched and misread reviews of his decisions.

Dione takes Scalia to task over his decision in the Shelby County (Ala.) v. Holder ruling in 2013, which struck down part of the federal Voting Rights Act. The law in question only applied to certain, mainly southern, states and parts of a few others. So, some states had to fulfill certain compliance obligations while other states were not burdened with this law. 

Was this a federal law that is required to treat all states equally? That is one of the questions that Shelby County asked. The courts answered that Congress has to make laws that apply equally to all states. So, the provisions were declared unconstitutional. 

Citizens United, which stemmed from a campaign financing case, is probably the most hated decision of Scalia's court tenure according to liberals, who want money taken out of politics. But Citizens United is a question of free speech and the First Amendment. Here's the kicker, especially in the political realm: Who would have thought that liberals would want to limit political speech? The court decided that free speech, especially political speech, wins out against Federal Election Commission regulations.

Hinton's column inaccurately portrayed a Scalia comment during a college admission case, "There are those who contend that it does not benefit African Americans to get into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having them go to a less advanced school, a slower-track school where they do well."

When Scalia spoke, he began with "There are some who think ...,"  which means what follows does not necessarily reflect what that speaker thinks. Scalia was reviewing various briefs that had accompanied the case before him. One brief he cited called into question the benefits of affirmative action.

Scalia was simply questioning the lawyers who were presenting their arguments. He was not expressing his own opinion, yet  the late justice is being vilified for this.  

Hinton took out of context another Scalia statement that was widely disseminated on the Internet. It involved a 1993 case about a convicted murderer who killed two policemen. The killer claimed innocence and stated that his dead brother had done it. This alone was presented as "new evidence" in a request for a new trial. 

Scalia rejected this argument, stating "Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached." 

For this decision, Hinton calls Scalia "elitist" and "callous," with no regard for the "innocence of human life." Also, the quote is more than 20 years old. One might have thought that the outrage would have surfaced long before Scalia's death if Hinton and the Internet trolls were accurate in their interpretation.

Hinton also complains that the justice "refused to accept the Constitution as a living document." This is true. But it is also the point. The Constitution is not a living document. There is no such thing. A document is a piece of paper with words written on it.

No document lives, not even the Constitution. The problem with this notion is that those who believe the document "lives" also believe that they can substitute or add words to the Constitution to suit their whims.

When Scalia arrived on the court, the importance of the Constitution entered a new dimension. He not only focused on the text, he made oral argument before the court a two-way street -- asking questions, posing alternative scenarios and presenting hypotheticals. The courts became an important third branch of government.

If the justice did one thing, it was to remind us that the Constitution should not be bent to our wishes. Like a sweater that is stretched to cover the knees, it can become a rag to be discarded. The Constitution will end up being a curiosity of history if we stretch it too far. 

Justice Scalia joined the court at a seminal time in our nation's history. Textbooks were being written calling the Constitution a "living document." Justices were making decisions based on the "penumbra of emanations" flowing from the Constitution. This silliness had to be stopped, and Scalia did that. He also worked to focus a new generation of lawyers on what was written and not what was wished. 

Those who wish the government would do more and do it faster discount the importance and genius of the Constitution. Those who recognize freedom as the sine quo non of America hold the Constitution as sacred, and thank Justice Antonin Scalia for his work.

Requiescat in Pace.

Philip J. Donohue is a James Madison Foundation Fellow and faculty member at Salem Community College, and a retired high school history teacher. He writes from Alloway Township. 

Group wins Audience Favorite Award at Youth Barbershop Festival

The Wildcat Harmonizers performed in the Youth Barbershop Festival of the Midwinter Barbershop Convention in Reno, Nevada on Jan. 29.  This festival was for barbershop ensembles of students age 25 and below.

The Wildcat Harmonizers are eight boys from Quinton Township School -- third through eighth grade. They sing four-part barbershop harmony arrangements and include choreography in their performances. The Wildcat Harmonizers were the youngest and smallest group at the festival.

They won the Audience Favorite Award, and as a result they got to perform again for the big Saturday night show on Jan. 30. Due to their audience appeal, they were also invited to sing for the Presidential Reception after the Saturday night show.

The Wildcat Harmonizers made their mark in the Barbershop Harmony Society with their performances in Reno. Now that the convention is over they are currently working on a new performance package for the Quinton School Spring Concert, which will take place on May 18 at 7 p.m.

The Wildcat Harmonizers are hoping that this show will be even more exciting than the one in Reno.

Check out this youtube link to one of the group's performances at the convention.

Letters were sent out to more than 200 patients alerting them to get tested.

SOMERS POINT -- A South Jersey hospital is warning more than 200 patients that they may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis as a result of alleged drug tampering by a former employee.

Shore Medical Center sent out letters last week to inform 213 patients who received intravenous morphine or hydromorphine medicines between June 1, 2013, and Sept. 17, 2014, that they could have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B or C.

The letters follow an investigation of alleged drug tampering by an employee at the hospital.

"We have been working with public health authorities to determine if patients could have been exposed to blood borne pathogens at Shore through contact with this employee's blood," according to a statement issued by Shore Medical.

Frederick P. McLeish, 53, of Egg Harbor, who worked as a registered pharmacist at Shore Medical, was arrested in January after a year-long probe, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities alleged that between July and September 2014, McLeish removed morphine from vials intended for use in preparation of intravenous solutions for patients and replaced the drug with saline solution.

He was charged with drug tampering, theft by unlawful taking and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and jailed on $20,000 bail on Jan. 21.

Patients are being tested to determine if any were infected.

"We are providing free testing and support through every step and are partnering with local health department agencies during this testing period in order to be extremely cautious," Shore Medical said in its statement.

The hospital has also set up a dedicated call center for patients and family members who may have additional questions. 

McLeish faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The Press of Atlantic City spoke with a patient who received the letter and has since tested negative for the three diseases. She expressed dismay that it took this long for patients to be notified.

"We are talking a year and a half that people could have been exposed and getting sick from this," Arlene Polmonari told the Press.

Hospital officials have not indicated how many patients have been tested or if any tested positive.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Students selected for their academic and sports accomplishments

PENNSVILLE -- Kendal Hampton and Matt Widmaier are the Pennsville Eagle's Parent Athletic Association Scholar-Athletes for the month of January.

Kendal Hampton is a four-year varsity letter winner in basketball and a two-year letter winner in soccer. She was selected as the MVP at the Pennsville basketball Christmas tournament in December 2015. Kendal also played varsity softball for two years. Kendal leads by example and is a great teammate. She has been involved in the Executive Committee (class secretary), Chinese Club, orchestra, and Interact Club. The past several years, Kendal has volunteered at the Queen of Apostles Church serving breakfast to the senior citizens. She has also volunteered at the Snack Shack and Powder Puff Football games. Kendal has plans to attend Alvernia University in the fall, studying Allied Health and Nursing. She is the daughter of Gary and Sydna Hampton of Pennsville.

Matt Widmaier has been involved in Pennsville sports from freshman through senior years. He is the quarterback and team captain for Pennsville Memorial's state champion Eagle football team. Matt has played on the football team since he was a freshman. Matt also played four years on the baseball team. Now, in his senior year, Matt has joined the wrestling team at the 138-pound position. Matt does very well in school and has been accepted to a number of colleges and universities. His most likely choice of schools will be East Carolina University where he will study business management. Matt is the son of Kelly Hannigan of Pennsville and Albert Widmaier of Deptford.

Cara McCollum died Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, one week after her Ford Mustang convertible slid off an icy South Jersey road.

Former Miss N.J. Cara McCollum was an activist for literacy, an up-and-coming broadcast journalist and, according to those who knew her, a caring individual. She was also an organ donor, and was public about being one.

McCollum, 24, died Monday morning, one week after her Ford Mustang convertible slid off an icy Salem County road and struck several trees.

A Facebook post from her family announced her death and the fact that before she died she had made the decision to donate her organs. 

The NJ Sharing Network, which facilitates organ donation throughout the state, was with her family this week as McCollum's organs were harvested to help others, and they hope her decision helps persuade others to do so as well. 

Throughout the country there are currently 120,000 people waiting for an organ on the national list, with 5,000 of those living in New Jersey, said Elisse Glennon, vice president and chief administrative officer for NJ Sharing Network.

While the organization and its representatives cannot speak directly about McCollum's case, a donor can save the lives of up to eight people with organ donation and help up to 50 people with tissue donations.

"Most people think of solid organs, but we are trying to educate more and more regarding tissue donation," Glennon said. "Some people think of it as not as life saving as a heart transplant, but it really does save lives. If you speak to any tissue recipient, they will say it saved their life."

Educating the public about organ and tissue donation is paramount to getting more people involved and registered as donors, according to the NJ Sharing Network. In New Jersey, high school students are taught in school about the process and the benefits of donation, but public figures being donors further helps to spread the word, Glennon said.

McCollum's very public support of organ and tissue donation during her life and her family announcing that her organs were being donated will hopefully help to raise awareness about the possibilities donation offers for many individuals.

"Organ donation is the ultimate gift of charity," Glennon said. "She (Cara) in her life was very charitable. In her life she was a role model. Even in her passing she was that...Ultimately I am certain because of her more people will become organ donors."

You can register as an organ donor at the department of motor vehicles while renewing or applying for a driver's license or on the NJ Sharing Network website.

 Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The junior 195-pounder is the No. 1 seed in his weight class

The junior 195-pounder is the No. 1 seed in his weight class

You probably think you'll get a perfect score this week. Not a chance.

How well do you remember the biggest New Jersey stories of the week? Take the NJ.com news quiz and find out. the seven questions below are all based on stories you've seen on NJ.com in the past week. Once you're done. share your score in comments.

There's a fresh NJ.com news quiz every Thursday evening.

The state found much more than a dirty dozen unscrupulous contractors in just three months, and many others will soon crawl out from under their rocks.

When the state this week issued a list of 40 home improvement contractors that had allegedly cheated customers in the last quarter of 2015, three things stood out:

-- Chasing scofflaw contractors is a lucrative way to fill state coffers. The Division of Consumer Affairs noted that it had collected $481,477 in penalties and restitution from enforcement actions during the period. 

-- South Jersey is over-represented on the "bad guy" list. Nearly half the firms -- 17 of the 40 -- have addresses in Burlington County or south.

-- More of these sharks are circling the water, especially after two recent winter storms.

Despite stepped-up patrols by the state, it's up to property owners eager to fix ripped roofs, replace broken windows or repair flood damage to take measures to protect themselves before hiring anyone. 

The DCA cheater list ranges from the unlicensed to those who can't seem to finish any one job. It would be charitable to say they all suffer from advanced ADHD. Any property owner looking for a contractor should know the drill by now: Get multiple estimates, don't give a large deposit before any work is done, check out the vendors on various websites.

But, if such advice were always followed, the home-improvement scam "investigative report" wouldn't be an ongoing staple of local TV news. And, the state wouldn't keep putting out lists of dozens of outlaw firms.

It's good news that exactly one month after the Jan. 22 blizzard struck, the federal Small Business Administration began offering low-interest loans to help businesses, renters and homeowners make repairs. Properties that qualify are in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

While Gov. Chris Christie garnered criticism for keeping his focus on his now-busted presidential campaign after the storm, the governor did come through, belatedly, by requesting the federal disaster declaration on Feb. 11. For residential loans, claims must be filed by April 22. More information can be found on the SBA website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The loan money is also of great interest to contractors, both the responsible ones and those who lurk around looking for prey. This week's sustained rain and high-wind event created still more property owners needing restorative services, though they're not eligible for the SBA loans.

Whether it's a repair that dates back to Hurricane Sandy, a more recent weather disaster, or just a desire to add that nice deck before spring, honest home-improvement firms are awaiting your call. So, too, are the fly-by-nighters. 

From your county's consumer affairs office, to the Better Business Bureau, to  yelp.com, there are multiple resources to check business people. "Take the Money and Run" is the title of Woody Allen's first movie and of a Steve Miller Band song. Don't let it become the sad slogan for your next home improvement project as well. 

During my long tenure in the news business, I had one "feeler" to run for public office but unhesitatingly declined.

If the presidential election was today rather than eight months from now, I have a clue who would get my vote. But just a clue. I've been see-sawing on my pick throughout the zany debates that sometimes resemble an old WWF free-for-all, and have pretty much made up my mind who won't get it. That includes just about everybody, narrowing what to this point has been a wide-open field.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

I'm a registered Democrat who tries voting with my head. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination and I stick to party lines, I'm leaning her way. She seems to be the most savvy candidate remaining in either camp. Sure, she carries baggage. Who doesn't? I don't see many presidential hopefuls who are baggage-free on either side of the political fence. I love Bernie Sanders, but somehow can't envision him going head-to-head with a coterie of tough-talking world leaders.

Fortunately, there is no rule that says I have to vote for Donald Trump, at this writing the likely GOP nominee - perhaps in a runaway. At one point I considered him a viable candidate because I found his candor refreshing, some of his ideas reasonable, and his quirky campaign attack on everybody that moves at times curiously humorous.

I no longer consider Trump amusing. His personality barrages on fellow Republicans, Democrat foes, women, the handicapped, even the Pope, have been, at best, consistently outrageous, aggravating me at times. Only Santa Claus has escaped a thorough Trump-ing, and Santa could be next.

My Dad, a newsman of all things, ran for office once, and regretted his decision the rest of his life.

A registered Republican who was editor of his hometown paper, Dad asked by the GOP committee to run for mayor. Dad mulled over his options and was a reluctant "yes," with full knowledge of the dangers, shocking family members and close friends who figured he knew better.

Mom was totally opposed, reminding Dad that a newspaper editor had no business serving in public office.

"Even if your intentions are admirable, every time a story appears that is pro-Republican you're going to hear about it," Mom told him over dinner one night. "Readers will have a field day second-guessing you, not to mention the paper. You'll divide the town."

Dad was a popular guy. He was a positive, savvy journalist who knew how to balance the scales. But as savvy as he was, he soon discovered Mom was correct in her judgment. The Democrats screamed when a story appeared that they felt put them in a bad light. And all stories quoting GOP candidates were deemed biased even if they clearly weren't. it was, after all, a Republican town.

So, as it turned out, Dad the newsman and would-be politician lost the election handily. To make matters worse, a significant number of readers canceled their subscriptions because they felt Dad used the newspaper in an ill-advised manner to promote his candidacy - even though it wasn't true, a biased reaction, from this view, for sure. In fact, many close friends and confidants solidly in Dad's corner lobbied on his behalf. If anything, they said, he over-compensated to make certain the paper appeared fair.

During my long tenure in the news business, I had one "feeler" to run for public office but unhesitatingly declined.

It seems I'd capitalized on Dad's tactical error. It was one of the few times in my life I could honestly say that.

There was another reason. I simply wasn't smart enough to serve.

But smart enough to not vote for Trump? We'll see.

Based on my sorry track record of picking winners, this one could go badly awry.

The IB program is consider to be the most rigorous program a student can attempt

Two recent Salem High School graduates were honored at the January meeting of the Salem City Board of Education. Adam Dodds and Tanner Humphreys, 2015 graduates of Salem High School, are the first two students of Salem High School to also receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Not only did Humphreys and Dodds master the six International Baccalaureate subject areas, but they also successfully completed their Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge requirement, the Creativity Action Service component, and multiple internal and external assessments governed by advanced international standards.

The International Baccalaureate Program is considered to be the most rigorous high school program a student can attempt. Salem High School is only one of 13 schools in the State of New Jersey that has been approved as an International Baccalaureate World School. It is the only high school in South Jersey to hold that honor.

Adam Dodds and Tanner Humphreys received International Baccalaureate Diplomas and stoles at the Salem City Board of Education meeting. Humphreys (left) is accompanied by his mother and father, Christina and Mark Humphreys. Dodds, is accompanied by his father, Adam Dodds Sr.COURTESY PHOTO 

During the Board of Education ceremony, Humphreys and Dodds were presented with individually framed International Baccalaureate diplomas and were given stoles that represent Salem High School's International Baccalaureate Program.

Each student spoke about his experience in the IB program and his current college experience. Dodds is a freshman at Rowan University in the Honors Engineering Program. Humphreys attends St. Joseph's University as a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship majoring in accounting.

An IB reception was given immediately following the ceremony which gave friends, family, and Salem High School faculty the opportunity to congratulate and celebrate the achievements of Humphreys and Dodds.

To learn more about Salem High School's International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and see more pictures of Humphreys and Dodds, visit us at Salemnj.org.

Episcia are related to the African violet and need similar conditions

By Lorraine Kiefer

Many folks love to grow African violets and are very successful with them all year long. Violets are so beautiful when blooming and often easy to grow in good morning or late afternoon light.

A great addition to the window garden is a violet relative that has bright colored leaves and blooms and likes the same conditions with a tad more light is the episcia. These are related to the African violet as both are gesneriads and need similar conditions.  Episcias are often called red violets or "flame" or "trailing" violets. The  foliage can be shiny green, bronze and silver and the tubular flowers are found in white, yellow, lavender, pink, orange or red. I love the red best and always have one or two in my house.

Episcia is a genus of 10 species belonging the the Gesneriaceae plant family. 

Episcia are related to the African violet as both are gesneriads and need similar conditions. Lorraine Kiefer 

Established plants display flowers throughout the entire year as long as they get good light and are kept warm and in good humidity. Food is also important, so  fertilize episcias twice a month with any good soluble liquid fertilizer like Plant Nutrient. Fertilize only on well moistened soil so you do not burn the roots. I have also successfully used osmocote time release for blooming, 14-14-14 twice a year too. I do cut back on all feeding in November and December as it is so dark.

You can grow episcias in a soil the same as the one for African violets. I use pro mix or one of the other potting soils, but not violet mix as that is too heavy.

Episcias thrive in an east, southeast or partially shaded south window. If you want them for foliage effect only, you can grow them near a north window. But  they bloom best with some sunlight and warmth.

The foliage of the episcia can be shiny green, bronze and silver.Lorraine Kiefer 

If you are growing plants indoors under artificial light like fluorescents they respond to  this non-changing light intensity. They will produce really lush foliage and many colorful blooms if the pot is about 14 inches from the light tube that is on for 12 to 14 hours each day. The average household temperature between 72 to 75 degrees during the day with the usual five to 10 degree drop at night, seems to suit them. If your house is like mine it is sometimes cooler than this -- try to keep them in a warm spot in winter. They often look cold and shriveled if it is too cold in winter or if air conditioning is on in summer. Grow near a source of warmth in winter. I put mine out on a shaded porch in summer and they do well until the nights get cold. Episcias need more water than African violets and like fairly humid conditions. Episcias and all of your house plants will benefit when set on trays of pebbles with water under the pebbles.

When plants look straggly, trim off the runners and repot the old plant. I often start new plants  by putting leaves or small runners in baggies with moist soil in them. Although some root the leaves in water, in winter I find better luck with putting a few leaves in a baggie with a few inches of sterile pro mix very wet potting soil in it. This is hung over a small nail in a window that does not get hot sun. soon the leaves root and can be put in small pots in an East window.

I have always loved these awesome plants with colorful leaves and bright red blooms.  Although the plant needs to somewhat dry out between waterings, they require a humid environment and love a good soaking

I have always loved to grow blooming houseplants and as a child had a window sill full of violets and a few episcia. I remember always wanting to stop in the hardware store in Sea Isle City 50 years ago to buy the episcia they sometimes had under their grow light. I looked forward to that all year. Now I both root them and get them from a grower in North Carolina.

I have and episcia and African violets on a table in a window across from the kitchen table. Because in their native environment they grow in a semi-shaded spot, they flourish in a window that has good morning light. This, coupled with moisture, adequate watering and feeding, and moderate temperatures will insure many pretty blooms throughout the year. These face east and get gentle sunbeams from early morning until after lunchtime.

Violets thrive here along with episcia and a maidenhair fern. The secret is frequent watering. Whenever there is a little water left in a glass on the table I dump it in one of the plants. You'd think that this would be too much, but what with the sun and the little stony cement containers that hold the water as it drains through it seems to be just right. The plants often dry out in between waterings, but never wilt. In winter they need more when the fireplace insert sends out dry heat. Soon I will add a primrose and hyacinth to complete a spring window garden.

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