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We have really been in a drought crunch this summer.
I was not aware how critical it was until someone pointed out.....
It's so dry in North Carolina that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling,
the Methodists are giving out wet-wipes,
the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks,
and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water……
Have a "chuckle" to share send it to BillGCN@verizon.net
A Look Back at History, the year 1922
A Look Back at History, the Year 1912
WASHINGTON TWP.―The Washington Township High School baseball staff and their 2007 state championship team were honored for their remarkable season by the Camden Riversharks during the seventh inning of a recent game.
Gaetano's
entered the 2007 Tournament slotted as an 8 to 1 favorite. The early
odds were based on rumors that both Pat Burrell and Chase Utley would
be team members of Gaetano's. Team President Alan Baker stated
that Chase had never played wiffleball and Pat would struggle to adjust
to the 110 MPH fastballs and because of this 
Baker
removed both professional players from his roster and added two cooks
and then hired pitcher Ed Horner. This forced the oddsmakers in Vegas
to move Gaetano's up to the middle of the pack to 3 to 1.
A battle is being waged by the Healy – Mc Cann's Funeral Home team making this tourney even more interesting. In the past this team died early but when Rudy Decker and several team members departed from the Etherington's Team and joined the Healy – Mc Cann's team it placed a lot of pressure on Healy's and anything short of a final four finish would be disappointing.
Back this year after a 10 year layoff is Bernie's Tire. Manager Bernie Beri an aging over the hill softball player has brought along Greg Coxe to offer an infusion of young blood but did not bring a dominate pitcher forcing Vegas to make them an early 7 to 1 favorite.
Continued turmoil has hampered the Jeep Mac Adams team in the past and this year is no exception. Rumor has it that first year manager Colin Mac Adams has released previous manager and brother Shane Mac Adams from the team citing Shane lack of sportsmanship.
But two teams who will again continue to be nice guys "but nice guys finish last" are the Massengale Team from Delaware and Lipkins Drugs. Chris Massengale is 0 for 10 years and Lipkin's Tom Lindsay has benefitted from generous team pairings in the past. Let's just say it "THEY STINK".
The Mudhen's (Harrum, Reagle and Marshall) are good workers and will expect a good pairing, C.W.Clarke (Kevin Fahy, Nick Alloway)can't seem to finish out any tournament unless it is the bottom bracket and Memorial A.A. (John Herman, Al Boulden) better known as the "BAD BOYS" are now past their prime and will again prove nothing, but will bring a good looking following. And we can't forget last year's runner-up with Joe Scully at the helm. His team has dedicated this season to a departed player and will have a sponsor. (yet to be named)
Pat Gartland and Joe Driscoll continue to talk a good game but sometime this RJP team must try and compete. Dan Mc Carthy is retired and the young kids are just that - young kids. We already used STINK can't think of another word, use your own here________.
In less than a week Ben's Barber, Back to Front, Spingler Floor Covering, Erin's Secret Garden, Liberty Alarm, Smith Realty and Darrow- American will have to make adjustment to their roster in order to compete. The John Lindeborn's, Bruce Darrow's and George Spingler's and George Jr must finally produce or they will lose their sponsorship. Good thing these teams are friends of Bruce Darrow or this group of wantabees would be doing the grilling. Don't expect more then 2 or 3 total combined wins from all of these teams.
With all of the new
adjustments made in this field of 32 teams and with the horrendous play
of many teams only two teams stand tall and that is 5 time champion Brooklawn Citgo and Zizzamia Electric. The "Z"
team because Mike is finally retired and because the Cipolone boys are
fun to watch and if Blaise can continue to dominate and brothers Tadd
and Brad 
continue their offensive onslaught it could be a number 6 for Brooklawn Citgo.
Maybe the oddsmaker's are over reacting to the rumor mills but one thing the oddsmaker's are never wrong about is the fun these players and family will receive.
All of this begins Saturday, September 1 at 10:00 with the Championship Game scheduled for 9:00 pm. The Ken Mac Adams block party begins at 3:00 PM
RINK, HELEN S.
(nee
Clampffer) On August 24, 2007, age 86, of Collingswood, formerly of
Cherry Hill and wife of the late Ernest C. Sur-vived by 1 son, Ernest
E. (Marion), of Barrington, 1 daughter, Joyce (Harry) Gutelius, of
Delran, 4 grandsons, John D. & Michael A. Rink and Scott E. &
Kevin A. Gutelius, 7 great grandchildren, Nolan A., Connor J., Jacob
M., Olivia M., & Lauren S. Rink, Bailey C. & Taylor E. Gutelius
and 1 brother Walter Clampffer of Audubon.
Mrs. Rinks' family will
receive friends on Tuesday, Sept. 4th, after 10 AM, at Our Savior
Lutheran Church, Wood Lane & Wayne Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033,
where her Service will follow at 11 AM. Interment, Hillside Cem.,
Roslyn, PA. Memorial donations may be made in Mrs. Rink's name to the
church at the above address or to the Coll-ingswood Manor Fellowship
Fund, 460 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108. Arrangements
byKAIN-MURPHY FUN-ERAL SERVICES of Haddonfield, NJ.
REICHNER, CHARLES D.
On
August 27, 2007 of Audubon, NJ formerly of Philadelphia. Age 83 years.
Beloved husband of the late Lillian (Timber) Reichner (nee Zayas).
Loving father of Paul D. Reichner (Terilynn), Erick O. Timber (Maureen)
and Lillian T. Mierkowski (George). Dear grandfather of Michael,
Heather, Megan, Sara, Alexander and Luke.
Mr. Reichner was a Navy
Veteran of WWII and also served in the Coast Guard and Merchant
Marines. He was a former District Manager of Maintenance for PECO who
retired in 1989 after 35 years service and was an Avid Philadelphia
Sports Fan.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet on Saturday
morning from 11:00AM to 12:00 noon at the Ascension Lutheran Church,
4th and Highland Avenues, Haddon Heights, NJ. Memorial Services will be
held 12:00 noon at the Church. Interment will be private and held at
the convenience of the family. There will be no viewing. In lieu of
flowers the Family has requested memorial donations in Mr. Reichner's
name be made to Ascension Lutheran Church, at the above address.
Arrangements entrusted to the CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, Oaklyn, NJ.
HASSELL, ERNEST L. 'ERNIE'
Of Westville, NJ, passed away suddenly on August 27, 2007; Aged 58 years.
Ernie
was a self educated man and quite the philosopher. He had the looks of
a tough guy but was really just a big teddy bear. He loved fast cars,
fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. Ernie had a way of
telling you like it was. Ernie was a very loving family man and will be
missed dearly by his loving family and dear friends. Born in
Philadelphia, Ernie was a resident of Oak Valley for 10 years prior to
moving to Westville 15 years ago. Ernie was a highway engineer for over
20 years for the New Jersey State Department of Transportation. He was
also very involved in many civic organizations such as Cyrene
Commandery, No. 7, Glassboro Lodge No. 85, Mantua Lodge No. 95, Joshua
Chapter #51, Valley of South NJ Scottish Rite Temple, Royal & Most
Select Masters, Excelsior Consistory Scottish Rite Temple and Van Hook
No. 8.
Beloved Husband of 8 years to Linda R. (nee Blake); devoted
father of Heather A. Hassell, Bill (Tricia) Coward, Andrew Coward and
the late Scott; loving grandfather of Taylor and Michael; Dear Uncle
and guardian of Emily Edwards. Also survived by many loving nieces and
nephews
Viewing on Friday, 5-7 PM at the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME,
34 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ where the Funeral Service will follow at
7 PM.
Interment will take place privately.
In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made to the Scott C. Hassell Scholarship Fund, c/o
Commerce Bank, 490 Mantua Pike Woodbury, NJ 08096.
BROWN, ROBERT W.
On
August 29, 2007, age 71, of Mt. Ephraim, NJ. Loving companion of Sarah
Pooley, of Mt. Ephraim. Dear Father of Gregg Brown, of Newark and Cheri
Lehman of Mt. Holly. He is also survived by 3 granddaughters, Julie,
Michelle, and Kelly Lehman and 5 nieces.
Robert was a Veteran of the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict and he enjoyed fishing and playing bingo.
Relatives
and friends are invited to meet Saturday morning from 10 to 11 AM at
the ETHERINGTON CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, 700 Powell St., Gloucester City
where his Memorial Service will follow at 11AM. Interment will be
private at the request of his family. In lieu of flowers the family has
requested memorial donations in Mr. Brown's name be made to the Trinity
Union American Methodist Episcopal Church, 226 Warren St., Newark, NJ
07103.
Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.
In the last edition of this column, I have tried sew together a few of the major changes I have seen in Japan since first arriving here 30 years ago. Yet, some things never change so the task I have set for myself is rather difficult. The Japan of yesteryear and the Japan if today may resemble each other so much on the surface, but if you take out your shovel and pick, and dig, it doesn't take long to hit the very same bedrock. And much of that stone is of gem quality.
To sing but a few lines on Japanese generosity and hospitality, or Japanese sufficiency and precision or Japanese eagerness and energy seems woefully inadequate.
In similar fashion, to but briefly note the heady mix of past and present does no justice to the intoxication high of Japanese culture, as potent now as it was 30 years ago.
To fail to address Japan's beauty in all of its many forms-- from Mt.Fuji to kimonos to manicured gardens and more--is to miss one of the more endearing parts of life here.
I admit that few societies, I imagine, are as neurotic as Japan's the nation is so starved for attention that any step onto the international stage gets zoom--focused to the extent that all perspective is lost.
Whether the focus be an astronaut or space shuttle or a ballplayer in an interview, Japan reacts like a parent at a
Grade school pageant. This nation has eyes only for its own, with every success magnified and every perceived failure met with a wince.
Even the core event such as the IAAF World Athletic Championships, I have been watching on TV from Osaka.
I've noticed that other participants get regulated to background noise, and thus are hardly noticed at all no matter their notoriety in world athletics. After watching the cameras are constantly focused on the Japanese athletes, one might think that they are all alone in the event.
One might trace the Japanese craving for recognition but at the same time it is remarkably introspective and provincial...one might trace this nature to Japan's period of isolation from it's beginning, yet many of its people use the buzz word of internationalism. It's alive everywhere in Japan.
Perhaps an open door policy does exist--on the surface.
But the bedrock sediments are tightly packed and I feel the door to Japan's heart is still fairly closed to the world,
Maybe it's because Japan is an island country and still remains a bit over protective.
Japan likes rules and I find, that too, has not changed over the years. Just like greetings, many rules are to uphold harmony and lend emotional distance. Individualism maybe on the rise, but all the rules holds it in place. There is a formal rigidity to life that left a strong taste in my mouth when I first arrived here, a taste that is still alive now.
An acquired taste, however, as I have learned to appreciate Japanese formality and protocol.
Throw in some slices of group harmony, a spoonful of consensus decision--making, and a pinch of obsession with form, and I sometimes feel Japan has changed hardly at all.
With the larger certainly being this:
In 30 years Japan has changed me so much than time has changed Japan.
For the better? Sigh.... At least I can hope so for now.
Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan
Photo Hank Miller, is formerly from Gloucester City NJ
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