Paul Spaventa, short in stature, faced an awesome dilemma.

He had to search his soul and answer the following question: Do I dance with the devil or serve the people?

Spaventa, the superintendent of Mount Holly schools, chose the latter, knowing there would be hell to pay.

He persevered and within the span of two short years proved his worth by:

1. Mandating that all who serve the taxpayers of Mount Holly adopt the necessary mindset to ensure educational growth.

2. Establishing a bond — not superficial link — between home, school and community.

3. Functioning as a superintendent with a vision and driven purpose.

Spaventa\’s resolve created discord among leaders of the Mount Holly Educational Association and some community representatives who traditionally ruled supreme. Mean-spirited tactics ate away at his soul.

The Gloucester City Board of Education realized he was a godsend and provided him with an offer he couldn\’t refuse.

He agonized over the opportunity to serve the people without dancing with the devil.

Unfortunately, Spaventa will be leaving Mount Holly in mid-November. Journey onward those that put the children first — we\’ll miss you.

Paul Bracy

Mount Holly

When the Camden County park was built in 1929, it was dedicated to the six soldiers killed in World War I.

They planted cherry blossom trees, and a small stone marker with each soldiers name on it.

On Memorial Day, the veterans marched to the park and placed a floral float in the Delaware River.

The Park Commission deeded the ground back to the City in 1979 for $1. Because of the significance of a few men of the West Jersey Proprietors meeting under a Buttonwood tree for 299 years, City Council changed the name to \”Proprietor\’s Park.\” How many people knew what the Proprietors were for?

It is up to Gloucester City Council to decide to make the change, not the Historical Society.

Why doesn\’t Council stand up and dedicate the park to all of our veterans, and return it to what it was?

John A. Berry, Gloucester City

Bill\’s Point of View …………………category Bills Point of View

The old Sports Corner Bar, at 4^th and Jersey Avenue, Gloucester City is being demolished to make way for a restaurant. The bar has been closed for nearly 20 years and soon the building will be non-existent. JK Venture Enterprises, LLC, the current property owners, have been working diligently to demolish and clean up the site in order to get it ready for their newest endeavor. A family style restaurant.

JK Venture is a UEZ business trading as Tavern on the Edge.

Recently approved at the June Gloucester City Planning/Zoning Board meeting, JK Venture Enterprises, LLC t/a Tavern on the Edge plans to erect a two-story restaurant/bar with outdoor dining to be completed by winter 2008.  

Just the mention of the name brings back some fond memories about the guys who use to hang out at the Sports Corner as it was known back in the 50\’s, 60\’s and 70\’s. Remember when Jackie Schules owned it? Closing time would come at 2 AM the doors would be locked and anyone still inside would stay around and have a couple beers. Sometimes we watch the sun come up.

On Saturday night before heading out to \”crash\” a wedding reception you meet there to kill sometime. Thinking back to that period I can see some of the familiar faces. After all the laughter how can you forget hanging out at \”The Corner\” with guys like Nipper Nazar, Frank McCully, Ron Raube, Jim Quinn, Sam Long, Sprinkle and Walt Ashe, Jack the Rat, Joe Murphy, John Azzari, Gary Belfiglio, Warren Theckston, Rocky Icavone, Bozo Sharp, Bill Rettig, Budgie O\’Hara, Jack Persichette, Chris Gallagher, Koz, Mongo, Buddy Myers, JukeBox Joe DiGiacomo, Jim Hubbard. 

Also, Harry Ferry, Joe Stiles, Aldie DiGiacomo, Marty Sherry, Bill Ozark Underwood, brother Geo, Bill and Gary Gross, Dempsey, Ron Henefer, Billy McFredericks, Bob Bevan, John Newcome, Choo Choo Murphy, Albie Brandt, John Hindsley, Bill Tourtual, Jan Ferry, Joe Brandt, Joe Battersby, Earl Kaighn, Butch Shaeffer, Corkie McNutt, Reds and Skippy Grandizio, OneEye Sharp are just some of the names that come to mind when thinking about this once popular watering hole.

Well the building may be gone but the memories can never be erased. Gloucester City continues to make progress. I for one can\’t wait for the new restaurant to open, the plans for it look great. It certainly will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood. To view the site plan of the restaurant, click here.  

Three freshman and two transfers highlight late signees

Aug. 21, 2007

PHILADELPHIA – Temple baseball head coach Rob Valli is pleased to announce the addition of five student-athletes for the 2008 season. The quintet is comprised of three incoming freshman and a pair of transfers, including a high school All-American. 1B Ben Flanary, LHP Mike Mongiardini, RHP Steve Nikorak, INF Mark Ortega and C Zach Pettis will make their debut in the Cherry and White in 2008.

\”We\’re very proud of our entire recruiting class,\” Valli said. \”A lack of depth was our Achilles heel in 2007 and now we\’ve added depth at every position.\”

Flanary (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) was a second team all-New Jersey Group IV pick by the Newark Star-Ledger after leading South Jersey with 11 home runs. He batted .319 and set a school record with 49 RBI to earn first team All-South Jersey honors from the Camden Courier-Post and second team All-South Jersey from the Philadelphia Inquirer. A 6-6 first baseman, Flanary led the Chiefs to a 24-5 record and the Olympic Conference American Division title. He was also 4-2 with a 1.34 ERA on the mound.

\”Ben is a potent offensive player who has the potential to be a productive hitter in the middle of our lineup in the years to come,\” Valli said.

Mongiardini (Toms River, NJ / Toms River East / Yale), whose brother Matt will be a junior pitcher at Temple next season, missed his senior year at Yale due to Tommy John surgery. In 2006, the southpaw went 1-3 with a 3.82 ERA in eight starts for the Bulldogs. Mongiardini fanned 32 batters in 37.1 innings and held opponents to a .254 batting average, tops among Yale starters. A two-time all-state pick at Toms River East HS, he will enroll in Temple\’s graduate school.

\”Mike is just what our pitching staff needs,\” Valli said. \”He is an experienced starter who does all the things a pitcher needs to do in order to win games.\”

Nikorak (Stroudsburg, PA / Stroudsburg) was a two-time Player of the Year by the Pocono Record. This past season, the right-hander went 5-3 with a 3.47 ERA and batted .406 with 30 RBI to help Stroudsburg HS to the Mountain Valley Conference championship. A two-time Carpenter Cup selection, Nikorak was a three-year starter in football and a two-year starter in basketball.

\”Steve is an outstanding athlete who will benefit from being a baseball player year round,\” Valli said.

Ortega (Palm Beach Gardens, FL / Palm Beach Gardens / Boston College) arrives in Owl Country after two seasons at Boston College. An AFLAC High School All-American at Palm Beach Gardens High School (Florida), Ortega was also a member of the US Under-16 National Team as an infielder. He appeared in seven games for Boston College this season and batted .300 (3-for-10).

\”Mark\’s resume is as good as it gets,\” Valli said. \”He has all the tools to be a special player and we expect him to make an impact.\”

Pettis (Camp Hill, PA / Cedar Cliff) rounds out the newcomers. A third-team all-area selection at catcher by the Harrisburg Patriot News, Pettis batted .415 for Cedar Cliff High School. He also lettered in football and wrestling.

\”Zach is a good catch and throw guy who will add depth to the catching position,\” Valli said.

The quintet joins five players who committed during the fall signing period: LHP Jordan Cannon (Reading, PA / Exeter Twp.), SS Rafael Cordero (Colonia, NJ / JFK-Iselin), OF Byron McKoy (Charlotte, NC / Independence), RHP Ben White (Coatesville, PA / Coatesville) and INF Steve Young (Spring City, PA / Spring-Ford).

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: