ClearysNoteBook

Local SPORTS (GHS)

Lions Beat The Woodies, Final Score 19-7

Gloucester City High School Football team won their first game of the season today, Saturday, September 30 beating Woodstown High School by a score of 19-7. On the opening kickoff Scott Loughlin, #20 caught the ball on the 15 yard line and almost went all the way before being stopped at mid-field.Gloucester High's record now is one and two, having lost their first two games.

The Lions play at home next Saturday, October 5 against Pitman. Kickoff is 10:30 am. (see this weeks Lions photo album, top of left hand column).

Photos by Bruce Darrow.

Cities in Transistion

Gloucester City Among 30 Cities Studied

By NJ Housing Development Network

By William E. Cleary

A study titled Cities in Transition: New Jersey’s Urban Paradox was released in September by the Housing and Community Development Network.  This report offers an analysis of current social, economic and market conditions and trends in 30 distressed urban communities.

According to the report the purpose of the project was to explore critical issues affecting New Jersey’s cities, in order to frame and present promising directions and revitalization strategies to state and local policy makers, community based organizations and other agencies.

Among the communities studied from the immediate area were the City of Gloucester City, the City of Camden City, and Collingswood.

Some of the key findings  are:

*Between 1999 and 2003, the 30 cities performed better with respect to job growth than the rest of the state.

*New Jersey’s fastest growing community is its Latino community.

However, in Camden, the majority of residents are African American, Gloucester City and Collingswood, the majority is non-Latino white.

*Although crime rates declined between 1999 and 2004 in the cities, they remain significantly higher than in the state as a whole.

The violent crime rate in Camden City is 23 per 1000 residents.  Gloucester City is one of the lowest, 3 crimes per 1000.  However, according to the  report between 1999 and 2004 Gloucester City was one of the communities to show the greatest increase in violent crime.

*The highest and lowest poverty communities:

Camden- 36% of the households live in poverty compared to Gloucester City only 10% of the household live in poverty.

*Real estate prices have increased putting the average house in many distressed cities out of reach of low income, and most moderate-income buyers.

In Camden City the average price rate between 2000 and 2004 increased by 10 % compared to Gloucester City, which showed a –4%, decrease in the house prices for those same four years.  It should be noted the period studied was between 2000 and 2004. Since then prices of homes in Gloucester City have increased significantly.

Home ownership rates are generally low in the 30 communities, with only Gloucester City having a homeownership rate greater than the state average. Which is interesting stat since a common complaint heard in Gloucester is that there are too many rental properties.

*Communities with highest and lowest share of subsidized affordable homes.

Atlantic City has the highest in the state, 29%.  Those in the lowest quintile are Collingswood with 1% and Gloucester City 5%.

*A third of all adults over 25 in these cities lacked a high school diploma or equivalency degree in 2000.

Camden, nearly half of adults lacked a high school diploma.  While in neighboring Gloucester City 86% of the residents have completed their high school education.

To download and or view the complete 30 page  report go to http://www.hcdnnj.org/

The Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey is a statewide association of more than 250 affordable housing and community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of housing and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of New Jersey.

Obits (Gieseke)

Bernice Gieseke, life long member of Episcopal Church

Bernice M. Gieseke, (nee Pollitt) of Gloucester City passed away on September 28, 2006, at the age of 99. 

Mrs. Gieseke was a world traveler, visiting Europe several times, once having the opportunity to visit the Crown Prince of Lichtenstein.  She was able to engage in several unusual activities after the age of 85.  In Florida, her son-in -law took her for a ride in his motorcycle; in California, she flew in a hot air balloon and enjoyed hang gliding over the pacific coastline.  On a trip to Alaska, she flew in a helicopter to the top of a glacier and participated in an exciting white water rafting experience.

Mrs. Gieseke was a life long member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Gloucester City where she had been a Sunday School Teacher and member of the Choir and Altar Guild.  She was very active in the Camden Chapter #35 OES for over 80 years and contributed countless volunteer hours for the Red Cross.  She was well known as a maker of numerous braided rugs, completing two additional ones last spring, in her 100th year.  She made many new friends in recent years at Collingswood Manor where she continued enjoying craftwork. 

She was the wife of the late R. Kennett Gieseke, mother of Barbara Portelli of Jacksonville, FL and Rodger K. Gieseke of San Diego, CA.  She will be missed by her children, daughter in law, Judy, grandchildren Pamela Yubas, Brian K. Gullett, Alan K. Gieseke, Donna E. Gieseke, great grandchildren Katie Yubas, Sarah Gieseke, Nikolas Gullett, niece, Lora Carr, her husband Wes, and many other nieces and nephews. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Resurrection and Burial Office on Tuesday, 10 am, at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 110 Sussex St., and Gloucester City.  Interment will follow at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.  There is no visitation prior to Mrs. Gieseke’ s Funeral Service.  Her family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Bernice and Kennett Gieseke Memorial Fund at the address listed above.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Etherington Creran Funeral Home, 700 Powell Street, Gloucester City.

Local

Scores from September 29

TRI COUNTY CLASSIC

(FOOTBALL)

Gloucester Catholic

Friday Night

Rams 21, Cumberland 7

Field Hockey

Rams 1, Highland 4

TRI COUNTY

Gloucester High

Girls Soccer

Lions 1, Clayton 4

Boys Soccer

Lions 0, Clayton 6

Field Hockey

Lions 0, Glassboro 2

Glou. Fireman elected to fire commission

Gloucester City Fireman Elected To Mantua Fire Commission

George Houston,  a paid Gloucester City fireman, who lives in Mantua received 185 votes for fire commissioner in last  Saturday election. Officials involved with the first fire district election in Mantua said that the new board of fire commissioners will soon pick its officers and then try to reach consensus on who gets the longest terms. Houston is a former resident of Gloucester City.

Others elected to the Mantua fire commission include: Joseph Schmidt Jr. and Nicholas Vacarino, both of Barnsboro Fire Company, were the highest vote-getters, receiving 211 votes and 202 votes, respectively.  Joseph Hauss , a career firefighter in Deptford, 177 votes; and Kevin Howarth of the Sewell Fire Company, 143 votes.

Pet Tips

Dog owners warned over sugar-free items

Fri Sep 29, 6:56 PM ET

Keep those sugarless treats out of Fido's reach. Veterinarians warned on Friday that a commonly used sweetener might cause liver failure in dogs, and perhaps even kill them.

Their report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association appears to strengthen the suspected link between the sugar substitute xylitol, thought to make dogs sick, and possible liver failure.

Xylitol, a naturally occurring product, is found in many sugar-free chewing gums, candies, baked goods and toothpastes.

Researchers Sharon Gwaltney-Brant and Eric Dunayer with staff at a poison unit of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Urbana, Illinois, gathered information on eight dogs treated between 2003 and 2005 after eating products containing xylitol.

Each dog became ill, and five died or had to be put down because of liver failure, possibly from ingesting xylitol.

One dog who had to be euthanized had eaten four large, chocolate-frosted muffins containing about 1 pound (0.45 kg) of xylitol.

"People don't think sugar-free gum can kill their dog. I didn't before I got into this. But this is something people should be aware of," Gwaltney-Brant, who co-authored the study with Dunayer, said in a statement.

Gwaltney-Brant said for dogs, ingesting even a small amount of xylitol can trigger significant insulin release, which drops their blood sugar and can be fatal.

"A 22-pound (10-kg) dog who consumes one gram (0.03 ounces) of xylitol should be treated," she said, adding that further studies were needed to definitely establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

city salary law hearing

Thursday, October 5

Public Hearing On City Salary Law

By Bill Cleary

Gloucester City City Council passed a salary ordinance on first reading at their July 17 council meeting and publicized the ordinance in the September 28 issue of the Gloucester City News.  The second reading and public hearing for the ordinance is schedule for Thursday October 5 council meeting.

Some of the salaries in the ordinance worth mentioning include:

Police Chief ….         $88, 523   to        $91,975

Deputy Police Chief    85,023               88,339

Municipal Clerk/

Adminstrator              85,000                87,975

Municipal Clerk…      56,925                66,240

Financial officer…      56,925               66,240

Coordinator UEZ…    47,093               56,925

Public Works Supt.     62,100              73,838

Mayor Assistant….     38,813               40,687

Fire Chief…….          77,625                87,975

Const. Official           50,229                61,622

Asst Municipal Clerk   41,400                55,890

Asst. Public Works

Director…………      66,429                  71,367

According to the ordinance in addition to their salaries, all full time employees will also receive longevity payments.  Such rates shall be as follows 2 % after five years, 2 ½ after 10 years, 3% after 15 years, 4 % after 20 years, and 6% after 25 years.

All full time employees shall also receive a two percent payment.  This will be calculated on their pension base salary of the next preceding years as a vacation bonus in June of each year.

Local News

Cyclist hit by truck

Friday, September 29, 2006

By Jim Six

jimsix@sjnewsco.com

DEPTFORD TWP. -- An assistant scoutmaster who was on his way to meet his wife at the Most Holy Redeemer Church carnival was killed by an alleged drunk driver, authorities said Thursday.

Kenneth Kehler, 44, of Moore Avenue, who was riding a 1985 Honda motorcycle, was stopped on the Delsea Drive at 6:59 p.m. Wednesday waiting to turn left into Most Holy Redeemer when he was hit by a 1989 Ford pickup truck, police said.

Kehler was thrown from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene, said police.

The driver of the truck, Kenneth Radlinger, 68, was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to take a breath test, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to keep right and death by auto, police said.

Radlinger , formerly of Brooklawn, was committed to the Gloucester County Jail in

SPORTS

Tri County (Girls Soccer) Sept. 27

Regina Bucher and Lauren Ross handled the offensive chores and Marcie Hutchinson posted a shutout as host Gloucester High defeated crosstown rival Gloucester Catholic, 2-0.

Boys Soccer

Overbrook 4 Gloucester High 2

Field Hockey

Gloucester High 2 Gloucester Catholic 0

Local

Westville Youngster Hit By A Car

A nine year old Westville boy was hit by a car while riding  a scooter, Wednesday afternoon, September 27. Police said he was taken to an area hospital for treatment of a fracture to his right leg.

Police said the boy had been riding on the sidewalk but came off the curb and was struck by an oncoming car.

The accident remains under investigation.