Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday on its editorial page, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
CHEERS: To bringing history alive. At the Millville Airport last weekend, the Millville Army Airfield Museum hosted its 15th annual Veterans Appreciation Day. The event was a chance to share the unique history of the airfield and its importance to America's success in World War II. At the event were World War II vets who actually trained on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolts at the airport before heading off to fight overseas. Attending the event were visitors both young and old to learn more about the airport dedicated 75 years ago and the brave veterans who defended their nation.
JEERS: To an Election Day controversy that could have been avoided. Washington Township schools were originally supposed to be open on Election Day 2016. That's how it was left after the school schedule was finalized a year ago, according to the district. The superintendent decided to close schools Tuesday, however, after receiving an avalanche of letters from more than 300 district teachers saying they would be out that day "exercising their statutory right to observe this public holiday," according to a memo the district sent out to parents and staff explaining the situation. Those hundreds of letters arrived on the Wednesday before the election, meaning the district and parents had to scramble to change plans. Whatever bad blood exists between teachers and the district, it should never be taken out on parents who have to shift schedules to accommodate an unplanned day off. We hope both sides can sort out their disagreements and avoid a similar episode next year.
JEERS: To a cruel sport. This week a Bridgeton man, David Silcott, was found guilty of dog fighting and drug charges. He's facing up to 20 years in state prison on all the convictions. Authorities say that when police searched his home back in December 2013 several dogs that had physical injuries consistent with dog fighting found. We can't understand what joy one could get seeing dogs baited and fighting -- sometimes to the death. Such barbaric acts deserve punishment. Let's hope Silcott gets it.
CHEERS: To the students and staff of Friends School Mullica Hill for making Election Day fun. They did this by holding an Ice Cream Election in which students learned about all aspects of the election process while voting for their favorite ice cream flavors. Kids registered to vote, made campaign posters and gave stump speeches in support of their faves and even made their decisions in a voting booth. In the end, Mint Chocolate Chip was declared the winner. Given the nastiness seen in this year's race for president, this neat local event offered a pleasant change of pace while also teaching kids a valuable lesson about democracy.
JEERS: To fast-tracking. It's one thing to invest money in building a rehabilitation clinic that will undoubtedly serve the struggling residents of whatever community said clinic finds a home in. It's another thing when the clinic is emailing community leaders, saying a "mountain-sized pile of statistics" already exist that prove the immediate need for such a facility. That's the tactic Florida-based Advanced Rehabilitation Systems (ARS) took to as it wrangled with Cherry Hill in finding suitable property. In emails obtained via an Open Public Records Act request, ARS officials write that young adults will die because of a lack of services and that the company has done plenty of legwork that should speed up the process. It's one thing to spend money on a building that will help people recovery from crippling addictions. It's another to bully town leaders into speeding up the process -- and that's what the wording within now-public emails looks like to us.
CHEERS: To trusting the process. It seems like the cure for Camden has been in the works for decades. If we revive the waterfront, bring in more businesses, improve the schools and reduce crime, we can't lose. It's certainly taken a while to address all those aspects, but after hearing Mayor Dana Redd recently address South Jersey business leaders about all the goings-on in city, we begrudgingly believe her. We took a ride around downtown Camden on Saturday morning just to get an idea of the atmosphere. Adventure Aquarium was packed. If the $800 million waterfront revitalization project can capitalize on that, we think it's as good a place to start as anywhere else. As the mantra of one of Camden's newest business residents goes, we're trusting the process. No matter how long it takes.
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com