Bellmawr Residents Upset With Stray Cats

By Lois Staas
News Correspondent

Bill and Sandy Vance of Oak Avenue requested Bellmawr Mayor and council to discuss an ordi-nance requiring licensing of cats in the borough.

During the public portion of the meeting Bellmawr residents enlisted assistance with controlling stray c
cats that spray and use flower beds and bushes as litter boxes.

The Vances described the \”horrendous odor and health issues surrounding this feline cesspool.\” Mr. Vance collects a two gallon bucket filled with cat feces every week.

\”We have been working with Animal Control. We agree with and practice no harm to animals.

\”We have a twelve year old house cat, who gets her regular shots and is spayed and stays indoors,\” Mrs. Vance said.

Our concern is for their grandchildren, who enjoy playing in the yard. Be-tween January 3 and February 12 the Vances have humanly contained seven cats.

Mayor Frank L. Filipek responded, \”I promise we will look into it. I will call the health department tomorrow. We are also looking into an ordinance that will limit the number of dogs per house. More than three dogs will require classification as a kennel. John Warburton is check-ing into this with the state.

The first regular meeting of 2007 began with positive reports from Council

Councilman John P. Bollinger said, \”The police, fire and emergency de-partments are fine.\”

Councilman Peter A. DiGiambattista reminded everyone, \”It’s budget time. We are working on getting figures together. Mayor and council will meet to work on getting out a budget that will be good for the citizens of Bell-mawr.\”

Discussing the weather of the past week, Councilman James D’Angelo said about $600 was spent to salt the roads.

Liaison to the Beautification Committee, Council-man Stephen M. Sauter believed the meeting was very productive and was looking forward to future meetings.

Councilman Louis P. DiAngelo announced a $48,290 Community Block Grant for various projects including paving.

Councilwoman Regina F. Pointkowski relayed, \”The Courts are doing a fine job, very efficient.\”

Mayor Filipek noted on Thursday, February 1, he and Councilman DiANgelo along with Bellmawr Little League and Bellmawr Baseball were planning to meet at the Boro Hall at 6:30 p.m. to see if the two organizations could work out their differences and get together. The mayor stressed that mayor and council have no jurisdiction over the associations.

In regular business, a first reading and introduction of an ordinance was intro-duced. This related to making Anderson Avenue one way at specific times – school hours – toward the Black Horse Pik

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST!

THE DYING TRUTH!

Commentary By Hank F. Miller Jr.
(note Hank is a former Gloucester City resident who now lives in Japan)

In our marriage my Japanese wife have met and solved   oodles of problems
of cultural issues, but one fairly thorney matter still remains.How to
face that ultimate marital crises:death.

My wife insists she wants to die in Japan and be cremated just like a
typical Japanese.As for me,I am leaning heavily towards not dying at
all and instead moving to Mali.She tells me this is impractical and
that I have to face facts.

But the fact of the matter is I have never been to Maui,and as for
death,there is no fact that I would rather face less.
Underlying our discussion is our unspoken agreement that-after living
most of our working life in Japan-we will eventually retire in
America.A compromise based as much on our bleak bank accounts as our
sense of fairness. Yet…\”I don\’t want to be stuffed in a box and
burried in a frozen hole in the ground.

\”How awful!\”

What\’s worse,I tell her, is the mustache people scribble on your lips
just before they close the coffin.There you are, six feet under with a
penned-on mustache, and you can\’t even scratch it. She asks me if I
like the idea of being burried.
I answer that it depends on whether or not I have cable TV.
\” And,\”I clear my throat,\”I hear the ground doesn\’t freeze in Maui.\”

Something in my tone makes her think I\’m not serious.As for her,she has
long since designed her own funeral service, including hymm
selections.If she didn\’t have about 40 years odd years left to kill,
she might even select her final garments,half-believing me when I say
I\’m thinking of dressing her as a Disney character,thats if I\’m still
around.
As for planning my own death,I argue I first have to start planning my
life or whats left of it.

\”But you never know when your time will come!\”I counter that death will
always be there. Life,however,flits away faster than bubbles in the
breeze.I prefer to catch it while I can.
A distinct unpleasantness of growing older is the increasing number of
funerals ones called to attend.Aging relatives and friends,older
colleagues and aquaintances-the list goes on it never gets shorter.

Rarely are these funny affairs.Though I do reserve some chuckles for
two foreign chums who attnded the wrong service by mistake.They lined
up at the temple,thinking they were paying homage to their neighbor\’s
mother,only to float to the front of the mourners and find the deceased
to be an old man. They bowed politely,then floated out to the
receptionist and took back their funeral money,you see here in Japan
each person attending a funeral give money gifts prepaired in special
envelopes.Yet,even then no one slapped their knees with glee.

Personally I find funerals depressing.I don\’t even want to attend my
own, let alone someone elses.I must admit I find Japanese services more
distressing than the Western version,especially for family members.
The body… the blanket of incense…the crematorium… placing the
bones in the urn. Much too grisly for a softie like me.My wife claims
my view is culturally biased.
That if I had grown up here I would find the concept of burial just as
morbid.Backing her are two boys and a daughter raised in Japan,who
prefer fire to earth.

So like most international couples,who compromise so much to tie their
fortunes together-or maybe like all committed couples anywhere-we\’ve
decided we\’ll have to go together.
Not that we\’re ready to summon Dr. Kevorkian. Or buy his or her coffins
(um..she says,urns).
We just plan to make the most of our remaining time,relying on our
faith that ties of the heart will always abide.
Besides,we\’ve yet to see Maui.Who wants to go before them ?

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City ,Japan

JERGENSEN, IVAR S.
On February 3, 2007. Age 63. Of Gloucester City. Surrounded by his loving family.
Beloved and caring husband of 40 years to Lynne (nee Sherrer). Loving and devoted father of Lisa Udicious and her husband Terry of Cherry Hill, Scott Jergensen of Deptford and Mark Jergensen at home. Beloved and cherished grandfather of Kristin, Sean and Ryan. Dear Brother of Judy Jergensen of Lansdale, PA, Laura Strauss of Pine Hill, John Boyle of Gloucester City and Claire Stacy of Voorhees. Loving Son-In-Law of Frances Sherrer (nee Rafferty) and the late Francis.
Ivar was a lifelong and deeply devoted parishioner of Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church in Gloucester City where he served as a lector and Eucharistic Minister.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Wednesday Evening from 6 to 8 pm and Thursday morning from 10 am to 11:30 am at Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:30 am in the church. Interment New Saint Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. There will be no viewing at the funeral home.
Family requests that memorial donations be made in Ivar\’s memory to the Dominican Sisters of Hope: 820 Hudson Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please write in the memo of the check Ivar S. Jergensen.
Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website
www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Ivar S. Jergensen.

UMMARINO (WADDINGTON)
Gertrude T.

On February 5, 2007. Age 100. (nee McCully). Of Gloucester City. Loving wife of the late Paul Ummarino and the late Albert Waddington, Sr. Surrounded and cared for by her devoted children: Nanette Levins (late Joseph) of Gloucester City, Theresa Kuzmunich (late Joseph) of Deptford, Albert Waddington (late June Adele) of Sewell, Edward Waddington and his wife Sandi of Haddon Township and Joseph Waddington of New York City. Beloved and adored grandmother of 18, great-grandmother of 39, great-great grandmother of 28 and great-great-great-grandmother of 5. Survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Gertrude was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City and a lifelong parishioner of Saint Mary’s R.C. Church and was currently the eldest parishioner of the parish. She was a longtime member of the Catholic Daughter of the Americas: Court Giese # 439 in Gloucester City. Gertrude was a proud member of the Gloucester City Senior Citizens Association. She was devoted to her family and this was the love of her life. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Saturday morning from 9 am to 10:30 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monnmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Cremation is private and Inurnment private at New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. There will be no evening viewing. Family requests that memorial donations be made in Gertrude’s memory to Saint Vincent DePaul Society: c/o Saint Mary’s R.C. Church at the above address. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Gertrude T. Ummarino.

In response to your questions about a office building for Holt Cargo Systems being built at the parking lot on King Street.

Paula:

Good questions. First of all the building to be built on the parking
lot you speak about is only a possible location to relocate Holt who
currently has a lease for the next 90+/- years with the city at the
coast guard base building. They agreed to be relocated at a similar building in the city if we need to have the Coast Guard property back. If this location is to be used for the relocation there would be even
more parking added to this area. This is only in a conceptual stage
right now and not in any way a current project.

If we are to develop the Coast Guard base into a future development then a lot will have to happen prior to this building being built. We are currently beginning an archeological process that has to happen according to a deed restriction if we are to move forward at Freedom Pier.

We also have a grant in the process to erect a river walk that would connect the Coast Guard Base pier to Gloucester Towne and the park. Our engineers are working on pricing out this design and bid work.

Remember that we as new council are investigating what was done prior
to us being elected and picking up the ball and running with it where
we see fit. We want progress but only if it is right. We will keep
the city up to date with any changes.

Please have faith in us to do the right thing. We have only been in office for 30 days now and believe me; we have been working many hours to become informed on various projects that need to be worked on throughout the city as well as the day to day activities.

This Mayor and Council will make you proud of this city and continue to move forward positively into the future.

Thank you Paula for your interest in the city and your neighborhood.

Councilman Nick Marchese

Note: If you have a question you like to ask Gloucester City Mayor William James or the members of City Council send it to ClearysNotebook, e-mail address [email protected]

TIRRO, JR.
Salvatore Lawrence
Suddenly, On January 31, 2007. Age 41. Of Gloucester City. Surrounded and cared for by his devoted wife Leonila (nee Manansala). Beloved father of Jonathan Tirro Salamanca of Woodlynne and Jason Tirro of Gloucester City. Loving Son of Lucille R. Brown of Marlton and the late Salvatore L. Tirro, Sr. Dear Brother of Linda Osler of Gloucester City and 11 caring brothers and sisters.
Salvatore was born in Camden and was a longtime resident of Gloucester City.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Wednesday morning from 9 am to 10:30 am at McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth Street, (At Brown Street) Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am at Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church, 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Cremation will be private at the request of the family. There will be no evening viewing. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website _www.mccannhealey.com_ under online obituaries of Salvatore Lawrence Tirro, Jr.

HANCOCK, ELLA MAE
Of Gloucester City, NJ for over 60 years, died on Feb. 1, 2007 at the age of 82.
Beloved wife of the late Ralph A. Hancock. Loving mother of: Dennis G. Hancock of Gloucester City, and Michael P. Hancock (daughter-in-law Sue) of Erial, NJ. Dear sister of John H. Venable, Sr. of York, PA. Proud grandmother of; Eric (Stephanie), Kenneth, Kellie, and Gallagher (Declan). She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Born in Woodbury, NJ, Ella was raised in Almonesson, NJ, and was a 1943 Graduate of Woodbury High School. She later moved to Brooklawn, and in 1946 moved to Gloucester City. She was very athletic in high school, and later enjoyed gardening, cooking, caring for her family, and baking her famous butter cookies. She was a talented seamstress, and a huge SF Giants fan.
Viewing will be Tuesday, 9:30 -10:30 AM at EARLE FUNERAL HOME, 122 W. Church St., Blackwood, NJ 08012, where a service will follow at 10:30. Interment will take place at Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory would be appreciated to Almonesson United Methodist Church, 1680 Almonesson Rd., Deptford, NJ 08096, or to a charity of the donor\’s choice. Condolences may be viewed/posted at www.earlefuneralhome.com

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Response to Mayor James, CUT US SOME SLACK.

Bill, no one expects you three new members to explain what went on in the back room of the Democrat Club.

Don\’t try to put a pretty face on an ugly picture. Notify those council members that voted to approve these two highly questioned purchases that they will be given an opportunity to explain each project and explain the rationale that supports their vote at the next Council Meeting. That way every person in town can see on TV 19 what we all want to know.

It also allows us to know who the leaders and who the followers are. Instruct Paul Kain to put it on the agenda so we don\’t have another mishap like the job announcements fiasco. In case he can\’t figure it out, it lists under old business.

R.Dubb

 

When is the last time you can say that an offseason with the Oakland A\’s wasn\’t interesting? I can\’t remember. This offseason has been no different with the team first firing Ken Macha, announcing plans to move to Fremont, a very thorough search for a new manager leading to the hiring of Bob Geren, the loss of Frank Thomas to a team that plays on an artificial surface, the signing of Mike Piazza and the loss of Barry Zito. It\’s been a wild one for the team that was one of baseball\’s final four teams standing in 2006.

So you know that Billy Beane would just have a lot of interesting things to say about all that has gone down since the 2006 season came to a rapid close at the hands of the Detroit Tigers.

I sat down with Beane last week in his office in Oakland for one of our chats and what follows is the first part of our discussion.

Blez: What was your reaction to last season and the ultimate result?

Billy Beane: We were all pleased especially if you look at it in hindsight, particularly with what we went through with the injuries. It was an unbelievable year when you look at the sheer number of injuries and the fact that we accomplished what we did. I think one of the reasons we were able to overcome it was because the year before (2005) the injuries, and the Angels had a lot to with it, prevented us from winning the division. I think last year we had a tougher injury year but because of the depth of club we were able to overcome it. We got beat by Detroit who was a buzzsaw in that ALCS, but we were the same thing with Minnesota. So in hindsight we were very pleased with what happened.

The interview with Beane (a three part series) concluded on Jan. 31. You will be able to access all three interviews with a simple click