Re: Bill\’s Cheers and Jeers Column

Airing the monthly Council Meetings should only be the first step in
this process. The Caucus and the Worksession meetings (public portion)
should also be taped, as well as the Planning Board and Historic
Meetings. If we are going to be informed than why not fully?

Most of the real work is decided in Worksession and Caucus Meetings.
During the Worksession meetings, the department heads are present as
well as the engineer. Council also gives an overview of the Committee
happenings. Both are public meetings and the public has a few minutes
in the opening of the meeting to ask questions or address the council.
It does have a time limit on it. The GCN attended a few of these
meetings and then stopped.

As far as Dooley\’s goes, I think the whole thing of buying it and the
price to be paid/paid was announced by Mr. Maley at the October or
November Monthly Council Meeting in response to a question from the
public. No secrets there…..

As far as the UEZ Board decision on the Gloucester Plumbing Project,
the new mayor and council members were present at that meeting. The
did ask questions but did not have any negative comments about the
deal. They were there when it was voted on. Although they couldn\’t
vote, they were heard and didn\’t object.

The benefits from the Coast Guard base property redevelopment will be
great! Have you seen what has been proposed. It won\’t just be for the
people that live there. The waterfront area will be open for all to
use and I believe it will be great for our City.

I also don\’t agree that the new development will be \”too expensive\”.
Gloucester City loses many of its youth because they can afford these
prices and want things that the old houses won\’t give them. They want
new developments, etc. Instead they move away and start in other
neighborhoods in other cities. Why not here? Why not give them what
they want?

I understand that one of the best ways for us to keep St. Mary\’s and
Gloucester Catholic in town is to have a good redevelopment plan. We
have good plans from good developers. That is in our favor.

The City last year online went online with a great website and a
quarterly newsletter with the intent to get information out to
residents. The Celebrations Committee has made a great effort this
year to expand the events for bigger and better events.

Maybe the Council under Mr. Kilcourse didn\’t communicate well to the
public, but they have plans that are in motion that hopefully will come
to fruition and improve this City. After all, isn\’t that what we
should all be here to do?

Theresa Ritchie

Editor\’s Note: Dianne Nolan is one of the inductees in this year\’s South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame. The affair will be held Feb. 12, 2007. A graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School, Dianne is the daughter of Andy and Bert Nolan, formerly of Gloucester City who now reside in Connecticut. She has coached the Fairfield University Girls Basketball team for 28 years.

Last year she won her 500th game. Following the win the university\’s newspaper The Mirror, interviewed her.

For Nolan, a long basketball journey led to history

Joe Serzan

Reprinted From The Mirror February 2006

Not even Bruce Springsteen could have come up with a story this special.

Fairfield women\’s basketball Head Coach Dianne Nolan accomplished something Sunday that was 27 years in the making: she became just the 28th coach in NCAA history to win her 500th game.

\”It was very special. It was especially great to have it happen in New Jersey since I am a Jersey girl,\” said Nolan. \”I love Bruce. We affectionately call New Jersey \’God\’s country\’ in circles around the team.\”

Nolan, a native of Gloucester City in southern New Jersey, is the first coach at Fairfield in any sport to achieve 500 wins. She was surrounded at center-court following the game by her parents, her husband, her sons and her team.

\”I have been real blessed that they have been able to share every part of my career,\” Nolan said. \”They are all a part of it. I have a great support system. That\’s how it all works having a family and this kind of job.\”

Growing up in \”God\’s country,\” Nolan was surrounded by basketball from the beginning. Her mother was the girls\’ basketball coach for 36 years at Gloucester Catholic High School. Her brother was a standout high school player who went on to play at Temple University in nearby Philadelphia.

\”I grew up with the game,\” Nolan said. \”My mother raised us and was able to be successful at the same time. She always treated her team like a family and that is what I try to do.\”

Today, Nolan juggles her work with her family. She has raised three sons while leading the Stags to 18 winning seasons, four NCAA tournament appearances, and one WNIT appearance. For her accomplishments, Nolan was recently inducted into the Connecticut Women\’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

\”My husband and sons have been unbelievable,\” said Nolan. \”They have been very flexible and patient with the time and that has made all of the difference.\”

\”It is always challenging, but you go with the flow. On thing I am most proud of is that no matter what, through pregnancies, you name it, I have never missed a game. I try to stay at a high energy level at all times.\”

That high energy level was one of the things that catapulted Nolan off the end of the bench as an athletic trainer at St. Francis of Brooklyn (now St. Francis of New York) and into the seat of head coach of the women\’s basketball team in 1974. Nolan enjoyed a 61-57 overall record and made three postseason appearances during her time as the head of the Terriers.

\”As the athletic trainer, I always had to sit at the end of the bench,\” said Nolan. \”But that wasn\’t for me, I knew then that I wanted to be at the front, teaching the game I love.\”

It wasn\’t until 1979 that Fairfield called, and Nolan jumped at the chance to coach at a place that she observed from afar while at the helm of St. Francis.

\”We would always play Fairfield,\” said Nolan. \”And I told myself, wow, there\’s a place that I could really see myself at. The rest is history.\”

And what a history it has been. In her time at Fairfield, Nolan has established a very successful program that has graduated all of its players.

\”She\’s been a mentor to me,\” said Candice Lindsay \’07. \”She has taught us a lot of things that have helped make us better athletes and students.\”

Clare Faurote \’06 agreed, \”We are very proud to play for her. She gave us a great opportunity to come to Fairfield and play at a good school.\”

Nolan has gained recognition not only from the people immediately surrounding her but also from the observing public.

\”One of the moments that I am most proud of is when we made the NCAA tournament (in 2001) as an at large,\” said Nolan. \”It was real testament to how far we have come as a program when people notice your success and give you recognition for it. We gained a lot of notoriety for that and I was very proud.\”

That year\’s team finished 25-6, and while this year\’s squad does not have a gaudy record thus far, they are gearing up for a title run. With the win over Rider, Fairfield improved to 9-10 overall and 6-4 in MAAC play.

VOLPE, DOMENIC
On January 19, 2007 of Ocean City, formerly of Bellmawr. Age 93.
Beloved husband of the late Jennie (nee DiGiacomo). Devoted father of Della Sargent (the late Frank), John and his wife Helena Volpe and Lucille and her husband Edward Riding. Dear grandfather of 8 and great grandfather of 12.
After November 11, 2006 Domenic started his new life in Ocean City with his son. He was and avid bingo player and loved to go to the casinos. He also enjoyed dancing. His favorite pastime was spending time with his great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing Tuesday morning 9:45 to 10:45am in the Annunciation BVM Church, 601 W. Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031. Funeral Mass 11am Tuesday. Entombment New St. Mary\’s Mausoleum, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Domenic\’s memory to the Annunciation BVM Church, 601 W. Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031.
Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to
Condolences@
GardnerFuneralHome.com

SULLIVAN
Daniel J. Jr.

On January 22, 2007. Age 81. Of North Port, Florida. Formerly of Clayton. Loving husband of 60 years to Peggy A. (nee Shields). Devoted father of Margaret A. Sorbello of Sewell and Daniel J. Sullivan, III of Clayton. Beloved grandfather of 6 and great-grandfather of 4.

Daniel proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Cremation and Memorial Mass are private at the request of the family.

Family requests that memorial donations be made in Daniel’s memory to San Pedro’s R.C. Church Building Fund: 14380 Tamiami Trail, North Port, Florida, 34287 or to the charity of your choice. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.

Funeral Arrangements under the direction of the McCann-Healey Funeral Home, Gloucester City NJ

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST AND THEN SOME

Commentary By Hank F. Miller Jr.

(Hank is a former resident of Gloucester City who now lives in Japan where he operates an English language school.)

Me talk eigo (English) some day ,I hope.

Back in the good old days,say up until 15 or 20 years ago, English
conversation was mainly studied here at THE MILLER ENGLISH SCHOOL,by
college students, international travelers, researchers and employees
about to be transfered overseas.
These days,however,the keenest English language learners are middle
aged salerymen (white collar worker).
This may come as a suprise to many, as salerymen have long been assumed
to be among the most nationalistic and insular type of Japanese
around,not to mention the most linguistically challenged.
But for these salerymen,learning to speak English is no hobby:
It\’s a matter of survival in the workplace, according to Shukan Asahi.

For one,it\’s a workplace that,as Japan\’s economy opens up to more
overseas investment, has increasingly become populated by foreign
managers.In addition,downsizing by Japan\’s recession-hit employers
means many workers are finding themselves in desperate need of
practical skills that will enhance their value to their companies.
The automotive industry is a clear illustration of the high-profile
presence of foreign bosses in Japan.

Of the nation\’s \”Big Five\”companies.Three are now presided over by
non-Japanese. The president of Nissan Motor co.as of just a few years
ago is Franco-Brazilian Carlos Ghoshn;
Mazda Motor Co.has Americam Mark Fields and Mitsubishi Motors Corp is
headed by Rolf Eckrodt, a German.

In addition, some foreign investers have huge ventures in mind for
Japan.U.S.megaretailer Wal-Mart,for one has bought strategic steak in
supermarket chain Seibu Ltd.,with aim of expanding throughout the
country.

In short,Japanese office workers are increasingly having to use English
at the work site on a regular basis.
One of the most popular providers of English-language education
materials is NHK Book,an affiliate of the national broadcaster that
airs related educational programs on TV and radio.
The overwhelming majority of people buying these textbooks are
salerymn,\”says an NHK-Book representative.\”Right now,English is
necessay for these people to get ahead in their companies.

For many,their study and toil are in preparation for the Test of
English for international Communication, better known as
Toeic.

At large Japanese companies,Toeic scores are increasingly being linked
directly to employees\’ prospects of seeking promotions.So this is where
we THE MILLER ENGLISH SCHOOL comes in.

We were contacted several years ago by various companies to teach
employees at their company offices in the evenings under a teaching
contract.

We became extremely busy and are still teaching most of the companies
employees but here at out school.
\”If you don\’t get at least 600 points on t6he test score,you won\’t
qualify to become a section chief,\”a representative of IBM Japan
LTD.Informed me some time ago.
The maximum score is 990, which has been achieved three times and they
are known in the media as\”the TOEIC masters.\”
As friend in business has pointed out that many hurried salerymen in
these tough economic times don\’t have much free time to spend
studying.The solution,he says,is to use the time spent riding on trains
to and from their offices.
\” Commuting time fixed and consistent,so it can be set aside,\” he
says.\”It\’s important to prepare an environment that makes studying
easy.\”

But at the moment we are overwhelmed with students not only fron
companies,but school children from K to 12 and college,not to mention
housewives,storekeepers,local
hospital workers,Offrice staff,doctors,nurses etc.

We\’ve been downsizing here at the MILLER ENGLISH SCHOOL as well d0 to
much of our time spent working and we have been putting students on
waiting list to begin their lessons.

At one point just a few years ago we were working anywhere form 8 to 15
hours a day except on sunday.And believe me it was no easy task and at
my age of 70,I believe it\’s downsizing time for us here at THE MILLER
ENGLISH SCHOOL JAPAN too.

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City, Japan

LAWRENCE, BAYARD J. \’LARRY\’
On January 20, 2007 of Audubon, NJ age 86yrs. Father of the late Wayne Lawrence.
Survived by his beloved wife Mary E. (nee Scharpf); cousin Gail McFadden and her daughter Heather (Tom) Cunningham of Cinnaminson; brother-in-law William Scharpf and his wife Eileen of Marlton; also several nieces and nephews: William, Karen, Mary Jo, Patricia, Pamela and John.
Larry retired from the Phila. Naval Ship Yard after 38yrs as a welder. A veteran of WWII, he served in the US Navy. Larry was an usher at Holy Maternity Church and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was an active member and President of the Audubon Young at Heart.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing Wednesday morning from 9-10:45AM at Holy Maternity Church, 431 W. Nicholson Rd., Audubon followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
Memorial Contributions in Larry\’s name may be donated to Holy Maternity Church.
Arrangements by Henry Funeral Home, Audubon.

Dianne Nolan To Be Inducted Into South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame

Stags mentor is also a member of the Connecticut Women’s Basketball HOF

Fairfield, Conn. – Fairfield University head women’s basketball coach Dianne Nolan will be inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame on February 12, 2007, it was announced today by the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions of the Albert Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey. Dianne, right with one of her players, Meka Werts.

\”I am humbled and honored to receive this honor,\” said Nolan. \” I am truly touched. It is a credit to the wonderful coaches and players that I have had the joy of working with over the years.\”

Nolan is in her 28^th season at the helm of the Stags women’s basketball program, and her 33^rd year as a head coach, spending her first five years at St. Francis (NY). She is one of 29 coaches in Division I history to record 500 wins during their careers, posting a 510-410 career record. She has picked up 449 wins while at the helm of the Stags, prior to the Stags game Friday at Iona College.

In her tenure at Fairfield, she has led the Stags to five postseason berths. The Stags have four NCAA Tournament berths, including an at-large bid in 2001, and a berth in the 2000 WNIT. Under her direction the Stags have won three MAAC Regular Season crowns and three MAAC Tournament titles.

She has been honored with numerous Coach of the Year awards during her career. She is a five-time MAAC Coach of the Year, most recently earning the 2000 distinction. The Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association has twice honored her, in 2006 with the Distinguished Service Award and as their Coach of the Year in 2001. She was also recognized as the 1984 New England Coach of the Year.

Nolan, a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School and Rowan University, joins her mother, Bert Nolan, in the Hall of Fame.

Fire Departments Are Using Federal Money To Make Firefighters Healthier

FireFightingNews

January 17, 2007

New Jersey –  Firefighters combat one of nature\’s basic elements, but their hearts – not fires – are to blame for many of their deaths on the job. So some fire departments are using federal money to expand programs aimed at getting firefighters healthier. In the northern New Jersey town of Cranford, Fire Chief Leonard Dolan III has ordered his career firefighters to get medical tests and health advice. He\’s using the federal money to pay for it.

\”Sudden heart attack is a major cause of death in our business. And to be physically fit so you can go from a resting state to a great deal of physical activity means you need to be in shape,\” Dolan said.

Last year, 115 firefighters across the country died on the job – 55 from heart attacks, according to a U.S. Fire Administration report.

Part of the problem is attributed to the nature of the job: Firefighters spend a lot of down time in firehouses, and their adrenaline skyrockets when the alarms sound and they race off to an emergency. 

GLOUCESTER HIGH 1987 FOOTBALL TEAM got together recently to honor Coach Leon Harris. The \’87 team was the first squad Harris coached. Their record that year was 5-3-1.
Those who attended the reunion included : Dallas McKinney,Mike Barney, Bob Stafford, Steve Tourtual, Gus Hodson, Sean McKinney, Kurt Dillon, John Erving, Tim Tedesko, Coach Gig’s, Bud Wrigley, Bob Thomas, Pat Burns, Kevin Thomson, Dave Thomas. Hugh West, Coach Harris photos by Bob Stafford

Check out the photo album from the reunion in left column.