Courier-Post staff

CHERRY HILL

Jim Fifis, who rose from a dishwasher\’s job to oversee one of South Jersey\’s best-known restaurants, has died.

Mr. Fifis, 68, was a partner with his three sons at Ponzio\’s in Cherry Hill. He died of natural causes Wednesday.

Born in Andros, Greece, Mr. Fifis came to the United States in 1966. He started out washing dishes at Ponzio\’s in Brooklawn, a restaurant run by family members.

He became a partner in the Brooklawn diner in 1971, then sold his interest to become a partner at Ponzio\’s in Cherry Hill in 1992.

His three sons joined him as partners at the Route 70 restaurant in 2000.

The Cherry Hill resident represented a generation of \”Greek pioneers\” who came to America to provide a better life for their families, said his son, Christopher Fifis of Lumberton.

\”He came here determined to work . . . so his family could get the opportunities he never had,\” said his son, noting Mr. Fifis regularly pitched in with restaurant chores. \”No job was beneath him.\”

\”He died a rich man,\” the son added. \”He died with his family around him, with a lot of love and dignity.\”

Mr. Fifis also is survived by his wife, Violetta, sons John of Cherry Hill and Nick of Medford, and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and after 11 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church, 615 Mercer St., Cherry Hill.

Services will be held at the church at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill.

Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Evesham 08053-9841.

Source http://www.courierpostonline.com 

  

 

Gloucester City has a new postcard which was designed by local artist Earl Nazar. The cost to produce and print the postcard was funded by the Gloucester City Urban Enterprise Zone.

Using the theme \” Gloucester City Old and New\”, Nazar drawings depict the original City Municipal Building, fishermen hauling in nets full with shad, Billy \”The Duke of Gloucester\” Thompson\’s Mansion with the Immigration Station attached to it.

Also depicted is one of the City benches that were painted in 1976 to celebrate the Nation\’s Bi-Centennial, the Walt Whitman Bridge, and the modern day Gloucester City Library.

Residents can obtain two free postcards at the Municipal Building, at 512 Monmouth Street.

Bill,

I was driving past the Gloucester City Harbor yesterday with my son and I noticed this very large anchor next to the entrance. My son was all excited about this because he is so fascinated with ships. We come to the harbor every Sunday to walk and watch the ships go past. As we get closer to the anchor my eyes notice two swastikas on each side of the anchor. These swastikas were not graffiti; they were of the original design and are welded on.

I was in such a total shock I almost drove right past the stop sign. I had to turn around and take a double look. Please Please Please tell me my eyes have deceived me and tell me the new political powers have not made this awful decision to plant this anchor here for good.

I am thrilled to see all the new changes being made in Gloucester City and I am really impressed with the progress so far to date but this choice seems to be a bad one.

Now Bill, the swastika has had many meaning, many of which used to have a positive influence but that was until Germany and the Nazi Party used that symbol as their own to murder millions upon millions of people. Since this time the symbol of the swastika has been seen as a symbol of hatred, racism and death. I am sure that other will be dissatisfied with the choice made by Mayor James to place this anchor at our harbor.

The harbor is a family place that is suppose to bring joy and comfort. The harbor is a frequent place for older individuals who might have served in our military during the time of the swastika and by seeing these symbols thoughts of those days may come back to haunt them. Not to mention the 7 million plus people who have died by thoughts of these symbols is a good enough for any not have down by the harbor.

Nothing good can ever come from the swastika anymore and I really hope that Mayor James makes the right decision to change the situation at hand.

My suggestion would be to have a local welder come by and change those symbols to some sort of block or something that would mask the view of the swastika. Or get rid of it all together.

Until then I am afraid to say that my son will miss out on all the ships down by this harbor because I cannot subject him to such hatred, racism and death. We will seek other harbors outside the city that bring more comfort and heartfelt welcome to those who wish to enjoy

 

Signed Disappointed

 

Note from Bill: Dear Disappointed I talked to Mayor Bill James about your concerns and he gave me the following statement, \”The anchor came from a German freighter captured off of the Atlantic Coast by the Coast Guard during World War II. The Coast Guard displayed the anchor at their base in Gloucester City for over 40 years. When it was first placed at the King Street property there was a Jewish Synagogue a block away. Because of it historic value the City decided it would be wrong to remove the symbols. In the near future a plaque will be placed at the foot of the anchor explaining the history of the anchor. Please tell your son that the swastika is a reminder of the evil that America defeated so that you and he and all of us could have the opportunity to enjoy a walk along the harbor.\”

Thursday, August 23, 2007

City Hall, 313 MONMOUTH STREET

 

Agenda

 

 

1. Call Meeting to Order:

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance

 

3. Roll Call:

 

4. Open Public Meetings Act Notice: This meeting is being held in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, otherwise known as the \”Sunshine Law.\” It has been legally noticed in accordance with the law and copies have been given to those requesting the same.

 

5. Information Session – EPA Brownfields Clean-up Workplan – Vanguard Vinyl

 

6. Resolutions:

R204 Accepting a Grant from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety

R205 Accepting a Grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security

R206 Endorsing a Contract Amendment to the Gloucester City Urban Enterprise zone FY2008 Administration Budget

R207 Authorizing a Place to Place Transfer of Plenary Retail Consumption License #0414-33-029-007 Heretofore Issued to Vitale\’s Italian Eatery II, Inc.

 

7. Ordinances:

For second reading and public hearing this evening:

O20 Amending Ordinances O06-2007, O10-2004 Regulating the Salaries of the Employees of the City of Gloucester City, County of Camden, State of New Jersey.

 

8. Old Business/New Business:

a) Bills paid from July 20 to August 15, 2007 $538,340.67

 

Bills approved on August 23, 2007 $375,684.74

__________________

Total amount being approved $914,025.41

 

9. Open Forum:

The Governing Body has approved the following rules governing the procedures of the Open (General) Public Forum: Any citizen or taxpayer wishing to address the Governing Body may do so after approaching the rail, stating his or her name and address and being recognized by the chair. Said citizen or taxpayer will then be permitted to address the Governing Body for five minutes. After all persons wishing to address the Governing Body have had the opportunity, persons may approach the rail for a second and final five-minute interval during this session.

 

10. Adjournment:

Gloucester City has moved the German ship anchor that had been located at the old Coast Guard Base on King Street for years. It is now positioned near the entrance of the City Marina at the intersection of King Street and Jersey Avenue.

The anchor was taken from a German freighter captured by the Coast Guard off of the Atlantic Coast during World War II. For 40 years or more the anchor sat at the entrance of the City Coast Guard Base. When the base was abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1986 they left the anchor. For the next 21 years the anchor remained on the property rusting away behind some high shrubs.

Thinking it would make a nice addition to the City Marina the mayor and council asked the members of Union Local 711 Painters and Allied Trades AFL-CIO if they would donate their time to scrape the rust off the anchor and paint it.

Photo: Two union apprentices, Krystal Carpenter and David Gregorio began the work on the project earlier this month.

The job was completed last week and the anchor was moved to its new location on Wednesday (August 22) by the Public Works Department.

No sooner was the anchor put in place someone wrote a complaint to the \”Notebook\” about the swastikas that are visible on the anchor.

The individual in part wrote, \”My suggestion would be to have a local welder come by and change those symbols to some sort of block or something that would mask the view of the swastika. Or get rid of it all together.

Until then I am afraid to say that my son will miss out on all the ships down by this harbor because I cannot subject him to such hatred, racism and death. We will seek other harbors outside the city that bring more comfort and heartfelt welcome to those who wish to enjoy.\” He signed the letter, Disappointed.

read the entire letter

 Gloucester City Mayor Bill James when asked about the negative remarks said, \”Because of it historic value the City decided it would be wrong to remove the symbols. In the near future a plaque will be placed at the foot of the anchor explaining the history of the anchor. Please tell your son that the swastika is a reminder of the evil that America defeated so that you and he and all of us could have the opportunity to enjoy a walk along the harbor.\”

 

 

 

CAPTIONS BY BILL BATES (PHOTOS BY JANET GREENWALD)

 

FUN NIGHT OUT – The Camden County Free Concert Series held an evening out at the Haddon Lake Park at the Mount Ephraim Little League Field Complex on Wednesday, August 15.

 

Many residents turned out for the event as the weather was as perfect as a summer night could get. (Above) The Ann Oswald Country Band entertains the crowd.

The Mount Ephraim Celebrations Committee was on hand to distribute soft pretzels that were provided and to give out bottled water that was donated by the American Water Company.

 

The M. E. Little League concession stand was open and the Cabana Water Ice Company was also on hand for the event.

 

Photo on the left, A few of the members from the Mount Ephraim Celebrations Committee pose for a quick picture as they were distributing pretzels, bottled water, and accepting donations for the committee

 

A special thank you goes out to all of the members from the Celebrations Committee and all of the Mount Ephraim Borough workers that made this event a successful one.

 

Mount Ephraim Celebrations Committee members…………………….

(from left) Janet Greenwald, Lil Eggers, and Karen Herman strike a pose as they enjoy the Camden County Concert Series on the perfect summer night.

 

 

 

 

Here is a view of some of the locals that turned out for the event.

 

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PHOTOS BY KEN MAC

Bike Patrol Police Officer Bob Lee stops traffic as the big anchor is hauled down King Street…..watch out for the car behind you!

Spags is ready to do his part……\”This is my backhoe and you can\’t have it.\”

Someone said the guy in the checker shirt is Jack the Rat……he was overheard saying …….DO you have a permit? see more on Anchor