The Woman's Club hopes to add second scholarship this year from funds raised

Each year the Woman's Club awards a Penns Grove-Carneys Point High School senior a $1,000 scholarship towards her college education. This year the Woman's Club is hoping to earn enough money to offer a $500 scholarship to another graduating senior for her college education.

One of the the Woman's Club of Penns Grove-Carneys Point's main fundraisers is the Scholarship Fair. This year's third annual Scholarship Fair will be held on March 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 254 Shell Road in Carneys Point.

The event will include yard sale items, vendors (Tupperware, Avon, Scentsy, and 31 Gifts) and crafters (homespun gifts, jewelry in candles, custom bracelets, crocheted items, tissue box covers and sea glass jewelry).

Lorraine Kiefer will give a native plant presentation at the Flower Show on March 10

By Lorraine Kiefer

I clicked on the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society website theflowershow.com about to check details on the upcoming flowers show and the following caught my eye. "The 2016 Flower Show theme "Explore America" will take visitors through acres of displays inspired by iconic parks like Acadia and Cape Cod, Valley Forge and Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Yosemite and many other parks and historic sites and created by the nation's premier floral and garden designers.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the National Park Service are natural partners, sharing a common mission to protect and care for natural resources and preserve green spaces. Through "Explore America," PHS and the Park Service are engaging those who know and love the parks, and inviting a new generation to discover the special places that belong to us all." What an awesome and timely theme! 

As far back as I can remember March has always meant a visit to the flower show. It brings back waves of memories of the many years I went to the show as a child, then a teen, young adult and as a parent with my own children. My parents always took my sister Janice and I to the show to celebrate our March birthdays .  

The flower show is still a tradition that marks our March calendar each year. For more than 30 years it has been an honor for me to be part of the lectures, demonstrations and now the Gardener's Studio at the show. I will be  doing a native plant presentation at the Gardener's studio  at 11 a.m. on March 10. Our son Joe will again have a booth in the Marketplace. One of the plants he will sell is the John Muir coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens. He propagated these small plants from the hardy Redwood at Swarthmore arboretum.

Lorraine Kiefer's son, Joe Kiefer, will again have a booth in the Marketplace at the 2016 Flower Show. One of the plants he will sell is the John Muir coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens. He propagated these small plants from the hardy Redwood at Swarthmore arboretum.Kiefer 

In my talk I will show slides of many native plants and tell which will easily grow in gardens and also those that will not. I will show a favorite that you cannot grow, the beautiful, yet elusive wild orchid is that blooms each spring in the New Jersey Pine Barrens as well as local woods. This rare and somewhat endangered plant blooms in spring but often goes unnoticed. Once plentiful in the Delaware Valley, it is disappearing from southern New Jersey because so many acres of acid woodlands are being used to build houses and lush lawns are replacing the native flora. Lady slipper (Cypripedium acaule) orchid is also called Pink moccasin flower because of shape of the pink bloom, which resembles a moccasin. It grows in the acid, sandy soils of the local woods and the Pine Barrens. 

Each spring the lady slipper begins to stir under a layer of pine needles or oak leaves. Its flower formed last fall, but it stays wrapped tightly between two leaves of the dormant plant. When the spring sun makes it way through the branches of the not-yet leafed out oaks or the pine needles it warms the earth, coaxing the orchid into growth. It is protected and should not be dug from the woods, as it needs a very specific spot in which to grow.

It was plentiful in untouched woods in Franklin Township where we live, but it is losing its terrain to development. Ideally homeowners could leave little areas of native plants in their yards untouched. This would not only preserve these treasures, it would make for low maintenance area that would require very little water and no fertilizer. Since the seeds need mycorrhyzae fungus to aid in germination, they only germinate in the acid humus soil of the forest. 

I like to think that the emphasis on our National parks and native plants will encourage people to be more aware of these plants that often are only found in national parks. Hopefully parents and kids will sometimes pull the plugs of TV and computers and get outside and back to nature.  

The show will feature acres of beautiful exhibits as well as some special features such as the Railway Garden, Powered by Amtrak with Bachmann Trains. This is a special attraction of large-scale model trains that will chug their way through miniaturized American landscapes, including iconic sites such as Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, and Independence National Historical Park, as well as other famous landmarks. The Railway Garden is designed and built by the South Eastern Pennsylvania Garden Railway Society. An additional ticket is required for this experience. 

Butterflies Live! At this special event more than 1,000 domestic and exotic species of butterflies will be included in this engaging attraction. "Butterflies Live!" is an interactive and educational exhibit created by California's SkyRiver Butterflies exclusively for the Flower Show, and inspired by the indigenous environments of the national parks. This year's habitat will feature native plants that attract butterflies and encourage pollination. 

Pollinator gardens with milkweed provide Monarchs a place to lay eggs, and nectar flowers like coneflowers and gomphrena supply nourishment to the pollinators. The life cycle of the butterfly, as well as the importance of protecting their fragile habitat will be illustrated as part of "Butterflies Live!" An additional ticket is required for this experience. 

There are many other beautiful flower show exhibits, all types of interesting plants and many unique one of a kind exhibits. The complete history of the show is on the website. Founded in 1827, PHS was America's first horticultural society and they began the  nation's first flower show in 1829. It has grown ever since and now the Flower Show expanded in size and scope retaining its position as the largest indoor Flower Show in the world. On the new, mobile-friendly Flower Show website, theflowershow.com.

On the website you can find: 

Advance ticket information, directions and parking reservations, information on accessibility, a map of the show floor, descriptions of the exhibits, details on special family attractions (including the new Railway Garden, schedules of presentations in the Find Your Park Pavilion, Designer's Studio and Gardener's Studio).

The flower show runs from March 5 to March 13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch streets in  Philadelphia. To avoid crowds the best viewing hours are weekdays after 3 p.m. For additional information, visit the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society website at www.theflowershow.com/showinfo/index.html. Or call, 215-988-8800.

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

Award recognizes nurses who go 'above and beyond'

 

VOORHEES -- Six Kennedy Health nurses were recently honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, as part of the national DAISY Foundation's program to recognize nurses who go "above and beyond" every day. 

Kennedy Health's DAISY Award winners for the fourth quarter of 2015 are:

• Linda Fleming, RN, CMSRN, of West Berlin: Kennedy University Hospital - Stratford
• Janis Hullihen, LPN, of Pittsgrove: Kennedy Health Care Center
• Catherine Mikle, RN, of Medford Lakes: Kennedy University Hospital - Cherry Hill
• Marjorie Rothman, RN, of Pine Hill: Kennedy Home Health Care Department
• Rachel Sharpe, BSN, RN, CMSRN, of Magnolia: Kennedy University Hospital - Washington Township
• Elizabeth Sparaco, RN, of Hammonton: Kennedy Health Alliance - Ambulatory Services Department

 Nurses are nominated for DAISY Awards by current and past patients (or their family members), physicians, nurses, or other Kennedy personnel for demonstrating excellence through clinical expertise, extraordinary compassionate care, and a high-level of professionalism. Winners are selected by the Clinical Recognition Committee, which reviews all received nominations.

David Levin writes that single-sex dorm buildings should return to colleges.

To the Editor:

Lady Gaga's moving performance at the Academy Awards of "Til It Happens to You," her Oscar-nominated song, was meant to bring awareness to the problem of sexual assaults. 

The song is from "The Hunting Ground," a CNN documentary about the recent wave of sexual assaults on American college campuses.

When I went to college, the campus dormitories were segregated by sex. Male students resided in their own dorms and female students were housed in separate ones.

In today's world, most colleges and universities residence halls have both male and female students living in the same residents halls. There could be two male students together in one room and two female students next door to them. This situation could be a spark plug for unwanted sexual encounters.

Perhaps colleges and universities need to revert back to single-sex dorms to make sexual assaults less likely to occur.

David M. Levin 

Vineland 

Police arrested a man in South Jersey found with marijuana and a gun, police say.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A 28-year-old Bridgeton man was found with a loaded handgun during a motor vehicle stop in Salem County, authorities said.

Darryl M. Massengill
 

Darryl Massengil was arrested Tuesday afternoon after Pennsville Police stopped him at 4 p.m. on North Broadway for driving with a suspended license, according to authorities.

Massengil was found with a handgun with hollow point bullets and marijuana after police searched his vehicle. 

After processing, Massengil was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility, in Mannington, in default of $50,000 bail.

Further court action is pending.

A final decision is due on PSEG Nuclear's Early Site Permit application which could allow the utility to build a new nuclear plant.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- It's now up to a federal review board to recommend whether a key permit be issued that could allow the construction of a new nuclear reactor in Salem County.

A hearing has been set for March 24 before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on PSEG Nuclear's application for an early site permit.

This is the final step in a long review process which began back in 2010 when the utility first filed its application. If the board -- an independent body within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- backs the utility's request, it would then be up to the members of the NRC to give the final OK.

NRC Spokesman Neil Sheehan says PSEG has requested a permit that would be good for 20 years.

It's just the first of many federal, state and local regulatory hurdles that need to be cleared before construction could begin.

Even if the permit is issued, the utility isn't ready to put shovels in the ground.

"This regulatory process has conducted a thorough review of our application," said Joe Delmar, spokesman for PSEG Nuclear. "Though it is not a commitment to build, the early site permit provides us with a 20-year window to pursue a construction and operating license."

Estimates are that construction of a new reactor could cost billions of dollars.

PSEG Nuclear currently operates three reactors -- Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek -- at its Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

Salem County officials have backed the idea of a new plant because of the thousands of construction jobs it would create and the millions of dollars it would pump into the local economy.

New chief of reactors

"The community and elected officials have been so supportive throughout this process," Delmar said. "We all recognize that a construction project for a new plant would create thousands of jobs and have a significant economic impact for South Jersey and the local community." 

PSEG Nuclear is already the largest employer in Salem County.

The site that PSEG Nuclear has picked for a possible new plant is along the Delaware River at the Island, north of the current Hope Creek reactor site.

Construction would include an additional access road from the mainland to the Island, officials said earlier in outlining their plans.

The hearing later this month marks a nearly six-year review process. Public forums have been held and comments gathered.

While several environmental groups have spoke up opposing any new plant, none requested formal hearings on the permit application, officials said.

The environmental and safety impacts of a new plant have already been reviewed by federal officials and no issues have been found.

After the Atomic Safety licensing Board concludes its review and makes a decision on the application, that will be passed on to the full NRC board. The time between the board's action and when the NRC will act in the past has varied between two and five months.

While there will be no public testimony allowed at the hearing, written statements can be submitted via email to hearing.docket@nrc.gov before March 24.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. at NRC Headquarters, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland.

Besides the three nuclear reactors in Salem County, there is a fourth in New Jersey, Oyster Creek in Lacy Township.

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

Students create original music and lyrics with a substance abuse prevention message

SALEM COUNTY -- Two Salem County musicians and students from Penns Grove High School have been named finalists in the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey's (PDFNJ), "New Jersey Shout Down Drugs" competition.

The initiative challenges high school students to create original music with lyrics that contain powerful peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention messages. Xavier Blake's original song, "Lost and Found" was selected as the Salem County finalist from numerous entries from across the state.

Blake of Penns Grove is one of 30 students who were selected as a finalist in the statewide "New Jersey Shout Down Drugs" music competition. 

Wildcard finalist, Brandon Jefferson of Carneys Point also a student at Penns Grove High School will perform "Angel" at the Prevention Concert. Courtesy Photo 

Wildcard finalist, Brandon Jefferson of Carneys Point, also a student at Penns Grove High School, will also perform "Angel" at the Prevention Concert.

The finalists, selected through an online vote and judging panel, represent 14 New Jersey counties and will compete for $10,000 in music contracts.

The public can vote for Xavier Blake and Brandon Jefferson's song on www.shoutdowndrugs.com. The site features profiles of this year's finalists and allows the public to cast votes for their favorite songs. These results will be factored into the finalists' scores on the night of the concert.

These two Salem County teens will perform their original songs at the 12th Annual New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music concert presented by the New Jersey Broadcaster's Association, on May 25, at the Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick. Tickets are free of charge, but must be reserved at www.ShoutDownDrugs.com or 973-467-2100 Ext. 19.   

Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $70 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership's New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey's history.

In the 41 years the tourney has been played, it has generated well over $100,000 for families which have experienced a significant loss or tragedy.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

One of the most unique and most successful golf tournaments in Gloucester County history, the appropriately-named "Copper Open," which attracted golfers from distant locales like Brazil and the West Coast, appears to have run its course. That's unless a group picks up the ball and runs with it, possibly at its original home, Pitman Golf Course.

The 42nd annual Copper Open, named for the policemen and others in the emergency services community who helped swell the field, would have been played in Myrtle Beach, S.C. next week. But with the size of the field diminished to an all-time low of 24 last year, a major drop-off from an impressive high of 307 players, Wilbert "Bill" Sowney, retired Washington Township policemen, has resigned his presidency and reports "there is no scheduled tournament this year."

Hopefully, that means there's still hope for a revamped tournament in the future. Perhaps where it all began?

In the 41 years the tourney has been played, it has generated well over $100,000 for families which have experienced a significant loss or tragedy.

Sowney and former Gloucester County Sheriff Chuck Gill both report that if the tournament is resurrected it likely would come back to its original Pitman GC home.

George Small, GC sheriff, and Eddie Erickson, GC undersheriff, both deceased, started a thrice-weekly event after work at Pitman in 1974.

A classic anecdote from Pitman Golf Course

Although no one seems certain, Gill says the tournament and its format were expanded in the early 1980s and the golf-happy resort town of Myrtle Beach and its nearly 100 courses was pegged as the venue. Seven and 4-day packages were made available for tournament players in an individual play format with the field flighted (including one for seniors) and  an awards ceremony capping festivities. There were also packages for non-golfers at the Beach Colony.

The Copper gained notoriety, its field spreading coast-to-coast and to South America and Louisiana, but the bulk of the players, about 80 percent, hailed from Gloucester County.

Bob Holdstein, who won the Gloucester County Amateur in 1987 and consistency placed in the Copper, was among the consistent winners in the South Carolina extravaganza. Other included  the late Wadsworth "Chip" Cresse and his close friend Dave Rowson.

Besides Sowney and Gill, familiar names associated with the mega-event included Ron Bates, Glen Hammell, Anthony Gezzi, Chuck Hausman, Chris Cona and Ed Pietzrak, whose name adorns a memorial trophy.

Gill was one of the event's biggest boosters and most avid participants. Of the 41 events, he figures he missed only two or three.

The Copper maintains its not-for-profit status.

Now it just needs a new home. Or an old one.

Fashions from the '70s: tube tops and overalls, tank tops and cutoffs, sizzler skirts and ponchos, flannel shirts and cords.

When I was a little kid, men wore hats.

I made it look GOOD.Courtesy of Sacred Heart High School 

It's my understanding that President Kennedy, who rarely -- if ever -- wore a hat, was instrumental in getting men to doff their chapeaus permanently. I can't forgive him for that because I've always thought hats were classy. And, they serve a far more useful purpose than, say, neckties ever have.

Keeping up with fashion was never "a thing" for me. I grew up among neighbors and friends who weren't terribly wealthy, so what we wore was never an all-out competition. And, fortunately when I was a kid, "must have" sneakers didn't cost $250 a pair; a pair of Chucks did just fine.

That doesn't mean, however, that I don't recall the trends of my youth.

In no particular order, I remember a mixture of male and female trends that seemed to come and go almost as fast as the one-hit wonders on the radio. There were tube tops and overalls, tank tops and cutoffs, sizzler skirts and ponchos, flannel shirts and cords (you know, corduroys), platform shoes and earth shoes, flares and ridiculously wide bell bottoms, horizontal and vertical stripes.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Instyle.com says that '70s fashions are making a comeback. Floral dresses (a la Ali McGraw in "Love Story") and flared pants (a la any of Charlie's Angels), peasant blouses and lace-up sandals seem to be showing up again on runways. Hopefully, men's clothing won't take a turn back to that era; take a look at this collection of fashion ads for men's clothing from the '70s and I think you'll agree

That being said, every era had its own style, tasteful and functional or otherwise. Here's a gallery of what folks wore New Jersey through the years. Can't get enough? Here's a link to last year's gallery.

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

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

South Jersey Times 

BRIDGETON

-- 119 Rosenhayn Ave., William G. McCall, executor, to Jacinto Calel for $135,000.

-- 123 Rosenhayn Ave., Joseph V. Porch to Jennifer Carbone for $130,000.

CLAYTON

-- 615 E. Academy St., Gary E. McClain to William Holmes for $157,500.

COMMERCIAL TWP.

-- 7117 Charles Place, Jennifer D. Huffey to Latoya Bell for $101,000.

DEPTFORD TWP.

-- 123 Hannold Blvd., Harry Quitmeyer and Elizabeth T. Quitmeyer Revocable Living Trust Agreement to Dale E. and Eileen M. Matthews for $120,000.

-- 1210 to 1212 Delsea Dr., Steven and Susan Kaschuk to Seitz Property Management LLC for $85,000.

ELMER

-- 15 and 17 S. Main St., Doris B. Michel, executrix, to Elmer Five and Ten LLC for $10,000.

ELSINBORO TWP.

-- 1 Abbotts Farm Road, John J. Bombaro, executor, to Charif Shoukri for $18,600.

FAIRFIELD TWP.

-- 4 Lakeview Dr., Aaron P. Kelley to David J. Newkirk for $125,000.

GLASSBORO

-- 223 University Blvd., Daniel S. Esgro to Ivy Housing LLC for $152,500.

-- 39 to 41 N. Delsea Dr., Duke Development of NJ LLC to Jamil-Anwar, LLC for $25,000.

GREENWICH TWP. (GLOUCESTER COUNTY)

-- 629 Allen Ave., Natural Real Estate Solutions LLC to Bryan J. Grogan for $138,000.

-- 106 Watkins Ave., Francis J. and Josephine Harrold Jr., to Jason A. and Genesis J. Shipman for $196,000.

HARRISON TWP.

-- 222 Marvin Lane, Ugochukwu C. and Ucheoma Ogwudu to Seth and Erica Williams for $384,900.

-- 110 Salvatore Dr., Alfred J. Calvello Jr. and Karen M. Calvello to Steven Moraca and Annmarie Moraca for $380,000.

HOPEWELL TWP.

-- 272 Beebe Run Road, Dennis B. Price to Blaine L. Price for $160,000.

-- 620 Barretts Run Road, Harry Gandy IV to Jesse D. Akers for $171,500.

MANTUA TWP.

-- 389 Lansing Dr., Carl David Dobbins Jr., executor, to Edward W. Haig V for $155,000.

MILLVILLE

-- 1304 Joann Dr., Susan A. Reeves to Jason Naranjo for $131,900.

-- 310 Ginger Ave., Judith K. Rush to Richard L. Kott for $195,950.

-- 918 Hill Lane, James A. Ecklund to Frank Scythes for $135,000.

-- 1827 W. Main St., Housing and Urban Development to Pey Real Estate for $19,900.

-- 56 Queen Road, Betty Beal by attorney to Amanda E. Boehm for $124,000.

-- 504 W. Buckshutem Road, Michael Panichelli to Coby-Ann C. Hulitt for $125,000.

-- 324 E. Main St., Goldrose Properties LLC to Freedom Properties & Holding LLC for $102,500.

MONROE TWP.

-- 837 Birch Terr., Bryan Durr and Tracey L. Wykoff-Durr to Arlington Russell and Kelly Sebastiani for $165,000.

-- 313 Balsam Road, 313 Balsam Road LLC to Zachary and Kell Grigioni for $220,000.

PENNS GROVE

-- 175 State St., David J. and Grace E. Gabel to Joseph J. Lurwick for $150,000.

PENNSVILLE TWP.

-- Fort Mott Road, Michael J. and Bridgett E. O'Brien to Richard and Colleen M. Balot for $50,000.

-- 193 S. Broadway, Wayne McCormick and Jean McCormick trustees, to 25 Antonio Lane LLC for $420,000.

-- 17 W. Pittsfield St., Bayview Loan Servicing LLC to David and Mary Reinherz for $45,050.

-- 371 E. Pittsfield St., Matthew C. and Sondra K. Hiles to James P. Felmey Jr. for $155,500.

PITMAN

-- 26 McClelland Ave., Estate of Deborah M. Romano by Anthony P. Romano to Harold J. McCormick and Katie L. McFarland for $205,000.

-- 49 Elm Ave., Diane K. McAvinue to Yin Xue for $100,000.

PITTSGROVE TWP.

-- 70 Dealtown Road, Louis and Gayle Cunningham and Samuel Parker Sr. to Pittsgrove Board of Fire Commissioners for $110,000.

SALEM

-- 150 to 152 Seventh St., HCG Property Holdings LLC to Elizon Daluz and Ali Tariq for $17,500.

SWEDESBORO

-- 61 Glen Echo Ave., Steven R. and Anne-Marie Moraca to Carmen Corbin for $196,500.

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP.

-- 627 Old Deerfield Pike, Mai Hallingby by attorney to 627 Old Deerfield Pike LLC for $43,000.

-- 8 Silver Brook Dr., John J. Pastore to James Mauro IV for $242,000.

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP.

-- 14 Fitchorn Road, Elizabeth Reitz to Joseph Dickerson and Jeffrey Reitz for $37,437.15.

VINELAND

-- 434 Carpy Ave., Josphine A. Groome to Kristina L. Hannah for $138,000.

-- 2392 Allegheny Ave., Landmark Development No. 4 LLC to Vitaliy Gordeyev for $200,388.

-- 2400 Dante Ave., Shore Management Co. of Delaware Valley Inc. to Robert Rivera Sr. for $170,000.

-- 22 Arcadia Place, Ronald Farabella to Priscilla A. Cruz for $145,000.

-- 18 Broad Lane, Nationstar Mortgage LLC to Laura Kousmine for $64,500.

-- 2316 Washington Ave., Eva Anna Sparacio, executor, to Ramon A. Andujar Jr. for $179,000.

-- 2585 London Lane, Sherwood Forest Homes LLC to Jason T. Burgess for $239,600.

-- 360 Cedarwood Dr., Michael J. Wallace to Miguel Ramirez Vasquez for $221,000.

-- 1709 Linden Blvd., Judith Gallo by guardian to Michael P. Giardino for $238,000.

-- 270 E. Grant Ave., Josephine Stanker to Thomas Russo for $105,000.

-- 432 W. Almond St., Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. by attorney to Ru Mei Wang for $60,000.

-- 1585 W. Forest Grove, BDGS Inc. to Allied Specialty Foods LLC for $2,950,000.

-- 3718 Nathan Lane, Tara Lyn Todd to Heraldine D. Villanueva for $244,000.

-- 1309 S. Harding Road, Taniment Construction LLC to Wil Custodio for $156,000.

-- 750 S. 8^th St., Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp by attorney to Delroy F. Donaldson for $35,000.

-- 664 Brentwood Dr., Helen Martino to Nicole J. Curio for $200,000.

-- 12 Ewan Terr., John J. McQueeney to Janitta Rivera for $188,000.

WASHINGTON TWP.

-- 3 Neville Court, NJHR 5, LLC to James Coscia for $115,000.

WESTVILLE

-- 368, 346, 336 Broadway, J&K Partnership to Deborah Kelsch for $490,000.

WOODBURY

-- 153 to 155 High St., David M. and Jenny Stumpo to Grand Slam Properties - Woodbury LLC for $199,000.

WOODBURY HEIGHTS

-- 604 Fairview Ave., Brian Myers, administrator, to Jeffrey A. and Rachel Medsker for $155,000.

-- 612 Park Ave., Patricia M. Marano to Sharon D. Abele for $200,000.

WOODSTOWN

-- 13 E. Grant St., The Bank of New York Melon to Kevin Shipman for $92,500.

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

Students and staff at the Oldmans Township School marked the 19th year of Read Across America on Wednesday.

OLDMANS TWP. -- The students and staff at Oldmans Township School Wednesday celebrated Read Across America Day.

 It's the 19^th year for the program created by the National Education Association. It's an annual celebration of reading which culminates on March 2, the day which would have been the 112th birthday of prolific children's book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, known and loved worldwide as Dr. Seuss.

The Oldmans Township Teachers Association sponsored the event with the theme "Relax and Read with the Cat." The teachers read stories and hosted activities that complemented a new collection of books added to the school's library, The Robert Strain Collection.

Pre-kindergarten through second grade students began their day with an opening assembly that included a slideshow of Dr. Seuss facts. After the assembly, the students traveled to different classrooms for a variety of ocean and beach activities.

Some of the stories and activities included: Seashells by the Seashore and then the students collectively wrote an ad-lib (silly story) about a day at the beach, "A Whale of a Tale" and decorated a paper plate fish, "Coral Reefs" and discussed plants and animals that support the ecosystem of coral reefs, and "Clam I Am," "All about the Beach" and played Ocean Bingo.

Gloucester Co. 'Read' event

The students in grades 3 to 5 also students traveled to different classrooms for a variety of ocean and beach activities. Some of the stories and activities included: "Beaches" and played charades, "Coral Reef" and the students designed their own coral reef with construction paper and chalk, and "Whales" and wrote a poem about whales on a whale template.

Miss Salem County and Miss Outstanding Teen read "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss to the students. Miss Salem County and Miss Outstanding Teen discussed the importance of reading and took time to answer questions.

The day ended at the school with guest readers visiting all of the homeroom classes. Those readers included retired teachers, administrators, parents, community workers and PTA members. Each student received a free book to keep from the Oldmans Township Education Association.

To cap off the day, the students celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with the grand finale of cupcakes and juice provided by the PTA.

Daniel Loeffler writes that the district should restructure the plans to make it less of an all-encompassing wish list.

To the Editor:

There has been very little press coverage about the Deptford Township school district's bond issue proposal to be voted on Tuesday by the public. 

While a lot has been written about the $12 million referendum proposed by the Kingsway district elsewhere in Gloucester County, I recall seeing only one article describing the massive, nearly $100 million Deptford borrowing proposal. 

This bond issue is a wish list of virtually every spending item that the school board could envision. It includes money for every district school, and spending for needed maintenance as well as a host of new construction. It is so all-encompassing that it is impossible for the average Deptford citizen to separate real needs from wants and wishes. 

Inclusion in the referendum of items for every school in the district seeks to get sympathetic votes of all parents with children in the system. The bond proposal is deliberately structured to maximize the participation of residents with children, while ignoring the property tax costs to all township residents. 

If both referendum questions are approved, bond repayment will cost the average homeowner almost $300 a year. This doesn't include the added costs of maintaining added facilities or staffing new classrooms. 

This bond proposal needs to be defeated so a new proposal can be structured that focuses on the real priorities of the school system -- not a dream list of spending.   

Daniel Loeffler

Deptford Township

Read Across America day promotes reading for children of all ages

CARNEYS POINT -- Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro joined kindergarten students at Lafayette-Pershing Elementary School in Carneys Point on March 2 for Read Across America Day.

Read Across America is an annual National Education Association awareness program promoting a celebration of reading for children across the country. The day also commemorates the birthday of children's book author Dr. Seuss.

In towns across America, teachers, parents and community leaders hold Read Across America activities to bring the excitement of reading to children of all ages.

Assemblyman Taliaferro thanked Lafayette-Pershing Elementary School for the opportunity to be with them on Read Across America Day.

Assemblyman Taliaferro told the students, "As you grow and mature as students and citizens, apply the messages of Dr. Seuss and authors like him to your goals and choices. Be kind and treat others with respect, and you will receive that same goodness in return." 

Tim Krajewski writes that Christie is acting like a Trump lackey while ignoring New Jersey.

To the Editor:

How desperate is Gov. Chris Christie to throw his support to Donald Trump? 

The Republican candidates seem to not realize that they are running for president of the United States and not for junior class president. What's next? Calling each other "boogerface" and "doodyhead"? 

Christie is now like the kid who befriends the Big Man on Campus because he's been promised the hall monitor job. If Trump wins the presidential election, what does Christie get? An appointment as attorney general? 

How about if he stays here in New Jersey and does the job he was elected to do, instead of traveling the country as Trump's lackey -- and wasting more of state taxpayers' money doing so? 

Christie claims he wants to finish his elected job. If that job is running the state into the ground and making a bigger mess for his successor, he's doing it fantastically.

Tim Krajewski

Williamstown 

State Police enforced a motor vehicle stop in Salem County, leading to an arrest.

QUINTON TWP. -- A Cumberland County found with more than 120 grams of marijuana is being charged with possession with intent to distribute, New Jersey State Police say.

Robert Bessix, of Millville

Robert Bessix, 34, of Millville, was driving a blue 2009 Chevy Malibu when he was stopped Wednesday on state Route 49 by authorities for speeding.

State troopers noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, which led to the discovery of 123 grams of marijuana and more than $2,000 in cash.

Bessix was transported to the Woodstown barracks where he was charged with over 50 grams of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.

Bessix was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington, in default of $2,500 bail.

At least one egg, maybe more were crushed when the nest in Salem County was destroyed.

State and federal authorities are investigating the destruction of an active bald eagle nest in Salem County that left at least one egg destroyed.

Officials believe the tree which contained the nest may have been cut down around Feb. 9, according to Larry Hajna, spokesman of the state Department of Environmental protection.

The DEP's Fish and Wildlife division has been joined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in probing the incident.

The tree was located on a private property in the "Elmer-Daretown area," but state officials declined to provide an exact location. According to information on the DEP website, a map shows an active eagle nest near Daretown.

When the nest came down, at least one, maybe more bald eagle eggs were crushed, Hajna said investigators believe.

Hajna said the eagle parents were not injured when the nest was destroyed. He said when a nest falls early in the season, as in this case, the bald eagles will typically build another nest, mate and more eggs will be laid by the female.

Rebounding bald eagle

The bald eagle is listed as endangered in New Jersey during the nesting season which runs late winter into late spring and as threatened during the remainder of the year.

According to Hajna, the federal government has removed the bald eagle from its threatened and endangered species list, but still affords it special protection under the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Officials say penalties for intentionally destroying an eagle nest can be stiff -- federal law calls for a fine up to $5,000 and a year in prison. The state also can issue fines and require money be provided to rebuild a destroyed nest.

At one time the bald eagle was driven nearly to extinction. Bald eagles now thrive in New Jersey, especially in the Delaware Bay region.

About 40 percent of all the bald eagle nests in New Jersey are located in Salem and Cumberland counties, according to the state.

In 2015, a state survey found there to be about 191 bald eagle nests in the state with about 150 of them classified as "active" because they held eggs.

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

Concert will feature the historic church's Jardine and Moeller pipe organs

PITTSGROVE -- Music Around the County presents Michael Stairs and Gordon Turk in "Dueling Pipe Organs" on Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. in the historic Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church at 312 Daretown Road.

The concert will feature the church's two pipe organs, a 1855 Jardine and 1955 Moeller.

There is no charge for admission and a light reception will follow.

This event is sponsored by Music Around the County/Salem County Arts Alliance/Salem County Cultural & Heritage Commission and Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For further information, call the church office at 856-358-1104 or visit www.pittsgrovepc.org.

Everyone is welcome.

The show has been billed as hilarious and touching with catchy songs

Salem High School will present the musical comedy, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," written by Rachel Sheinkin, with music and lyrics by William Finn.

The show centers on a fictional, middle school, spelling bee in Putman Valley, where an eclectic group of students arrive at the 25th annual spelling bee, eager to win for very different reasons.

The show has been billed as hilarious and touching with catchy songs. Each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition.

The play will cause audiences to fall in love, with both the show itself and its "perspicacious," "jocular" and "effervescent" spellers.

The Salem High School production, under the direction of Anne Hudock, Christine Pierangeli and Renee Murray, will showcase the many talents of its inspired and artistic student body. 

Performances March 11-12 at 7 each evening in Salem High School auditorium, 219 Walnut St. in Salem. Tickets are $7 for adults; and $5 for students and senior citizens.

New Jersey State Police traced pawned property to a Massachusetts man.

MANNINGTON TWP. -- New Jersey State Police tracked down a man in Massachusetts who was wanted for burglary in Salem County.

Sean Williams, 44, of Marlborough, who was already listed as a wanted person out of the Salem County Prosecutor's Office, was located Feb. 12 after police were informed of stolen property purchased at a pawn shop.

Police were able to trace a stolen bow, which was sold at Vineland Cash Traders in April 2015. Police did not provide further information on the burglary.

Cops bust N.J. man with 123 grams of pot

Devin Walker, 21, of Salem, pawned the property, according to authorities, and was charged with receiving stolen property and fencing.

After additional investigation, Williams was located in Massachusetts and extradited back to New Jersey Feb. 15 where he was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington.

Williams was charged with burglary.

Students and senior center enjoy visit from titleholders

In celebration of Dr. Seuss's Birthday, Miss Salem County, Brenda Zeck, and Miss Salem County's Outstanding Teen, Sarah Muhs, along with the Woman's Club of Penns Grove-Carneys Point were guest readers at Carleton School in Penns Grove.

Traveling on to Oldman's School in Pedricktown, the titleholders held an assembly in the gymnasium for third through fifth grade, reading to the entire body and holding a question and answer session. Then on to the school's pod where the titleholders met with kindergarten through second grade doing the same program.

On to Salem, the young ladies meet with the clients who attend the Senior Care of Salem. Zeck and Muhs joined in with a few of the seniors favorite hymns followed by a group picture.

and to Lafayette-Pershing School many individual pictures with both girls.

Finally traveling back to Carneys Point to Lafayette-Pershing School where the titleholders met up with the Woman's Club again to read with a class. Former Miss Salem County's Outstanding Teen, Paige Pendleton also joined the group to read to her own classroom. 

More than 100 books were donated to the school, 69 of the books were purchased by the Woman's Club. Each child was presented with a Dr. Seuss pencil. Each guest read a Dr. Seuss book to a classroom.

The titleholders handed an autographed picture and handmade Dr. Seuss taffies to each student followed by group a picture.