Bill\’s Point of View:

I am going to jump into the \”Fire\” that is burning between the Gloucester City Mayor and Council and the Gloucester City Career Firefighters. I have a couple of questions to ask and I want to make a couple of points. Hopefully a resolution will be found soon, as I feel if this topic is allowed to fester, it will divide the community.

All parties should be able to debate their differences without over reacting. The fact that a fireman had to be removed from this month\’s council meeting because of his histrionic show of temper did not help matters. Mayor and council represent you and me. When someone disrespects their office he or she is disrespecting the residents of this community.

One of the most sensitive topics is the tragedy that occurred in 2002 when three firemen (one paid and two volunteers) along with three children lost their lives in that terrible fire. Mention it and everyone starts walking on eggshells.

I also remember how heart breaking it was when volunteer Fireman Dick Wright Sr. and volunteer Fireman Dan Revelli, lost their lives. Dick died fighting the Smitty\’s Bar fire while Dan lost his life fighting the Dennery Dairies fire. I knew both men personally. Yet in my years of reporting about Gloucester City I never recall their names mentioned as a reason for increasing manpower in our fire department. Nor do I recall their names being used to gain public\’s support during union negotiations with the City.

In a nutshell the upcoming union contract for the Fire Department has nothing to do with 2002. But it does have something to do with fiscal responsibility. And the residents of Gloucester City elected the individuals on council to represent our best interest. Let\’s face it. Our community is poor. We have labels to prove it; Urban Enterprize Zone and ABBOTT District. It doesn\’t get any worst then that.

It is obvious as you ride through the City there are fewer homes and fewer residents to help pay for the services we have become so use to. Looking at the City\’s demographics you\’ll find there are 4604 housing units with a population of 11,484 living in a radius of 2.83 square miles.

That is important to remember.

As you look around to more affluent communities you\’ll find they are operating their Fire Departments with fewer paid men utilizing volunteers to fill in the gaps. For example in a recent Courier Post article the Chief of the Florence Fire Department said his community of 12,000 residents relies on six career firefighters (Gloucester City has 34) and 35 volunteers (Gloucester City has 25). Florence, a community in Burlington County, has 4391 housing units spread out over 10 square miles.

In the same article Chief Stephen Hubbs, of the West Deptford Fire Department said his community has 20 career firefighters (Gloucester City has 34) and 110 volunteers (Gloucester City has 25). Hubbs cited statistics from the National Volunteer Firefighters Council that say 70 percent of firefighters nationally are volunteers. In West Deptford there are 19,368 people living within a radius of 17.76 square miles. There are 8,000 housing units.

Something that should be made public ASAP is why the Fire Department spent $50,000 in one month for overtime. The Fire Department was allocated $240,000 for overtime this year. The City said as of August the Fire Department went over that amount by approximately $30,000. Are some firemen amusing sick leave? Or do we have firemen who are injured? And if that is so, how come the public was never told?

Why has the paid fire department refused to utilize the volunteers who are more than willing and capable of doing the same job to help cut back on overtime? Most communities use volunteers to fill in the gaps. Example is Winslow. The township gets fulltime coverage from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and volunteers are on hand in fire stations from 6 p.m. to midnight. After midnight, volunteers respond from home to the station and the fire scene. The population of Winslow, which is 58 square miles, is about 34,000 people.

Mayor and Council stated the budget for the City\’s Fire Department is $4 million. The union for the Fire Fighters claims in 2006, the fire department budget was 15.71 percent of the total Gloucester City budget and it cost the residents $2.49 million for all the fire department services. Who are we to believe? Both sides should release the figures they are using to justify their numbers so the public could see for themselves.

Whatever the number turns out to be it is apparent that the budget could be reduced if our volunteers were put to use. Other communities do it why can\’t we?

The two sides need to sit down and discuss the problem considering all alternatives. Gentlemen, leave your emotions on the other side of the door. The future of Gloucester City is at stake.

Hopefully the public, along with the rank and file of firemen, will do the same when submitting comments to this site and or to the Gloucester City News.

I personally like to thank each and every fireman, paid and volunteer, for risking their lives protecting me, my family and my community. As far as I am concern, you are \”SIMPLY the BEST\”.

What is your opinion?

Author Bill Cleary

Sources used:

United States 2000 Census

Courier Post October 11 edition

Related Categories: More Commentary All things Fire

Lydia P. FANELLE died on October 14, 2007 at the age of 83. (nee Palusci) Of Haddonfield. Loving wife of 64 years to the late Peter J. Fanelle. Cherished and Surrounded at the time of her death by her loving family: Thomas J. Fanelle and his wife Doris of Haddon Heights, Lisa F. Sarubbi and her husband Vincent of Haddon Heights and Celeste Canuso and her husband John of Haddonfield. Beloved grandmother of Jillian Goettner and her husband Dan, Gigi and Thomas Fanelle, Vincent, Peter and Sofia Sarubbi and Isabella, John, and James Canuso. Dear Sister of Viola Blum Pruss of Barrington.

Survived by many nieces, nephews and in-laws. Lydia was born, and raised in South Camden. She was a longtime resident of Haddon Heights where she was a parishioner of Saint Rose of Lima R.C. Church. In 1979, she and her late husband, Peter moved to Haddonfield where she lived presently. She was a past member of UNICO of Pennsauken and a past member of the Haddon Fortnightly.

Most importantly, Lydia will long be remembered for fostering family closeness through the love she displayed on her table. Whether it be Sunday dinners, summers at the family shore house, tea with grandchildren or lunch with siblings and friends. The door to her home and heart was open to all. Her family is her proudest and most enduring legacy.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Thursday morning, October 18 from 8:45 am to 11 am at Saint Rose of Lima R.C. Church: 4^th Avenue at Kings Highway, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am in the church. Entombment with her late husband, Peter in Calvary Mausoleum, Cherry Hill. There will be no evening viewing and no viewing at the funeral home.

Family requests that memorial donations be made in Lydia\’s memory to the Canuso Foundation: 30 Washington Avenue, Suite B4, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 or to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception: 642 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102. Please write in the memo of the check Lydia P. Fanelle.

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Lydia P. Fanelle. Funeral Arrangements and Inquires may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Phone: 856-456-1142

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GLOUCESTER CITY

Justin Breaker is loving life.

He is the quarterback of the unbeaten Glassboro High School football team.

He threw for almost 300 yards and for three touchdown passes Saturday in a 34-7 win over Gloucester in a Tri-County Classic Division game. He is back after two years away playing football with his hometown friends.

\”It is like a homecoming for him,\” said Donald Davis, a dominating 6-4, 230-pound two-way tackle for Glassboro. \”He knows how to win. He knows of past expectations.\”

Photo: QB Justin Breaker, #4 throws a pass as Gloucester High\’s Brett Darrow #5 leaps up to block it. Kyle Stewart #9 is being blocked from tackling Breaker. see photo gallery

Breaker, who transferred back to Glassboro after his sophomore and junior seasons at Schalick, also knows how to enjoy his life.

\”This is the best feeling in the world. I wouldn\’t change any of this,\” Breaker said about being the quarterback on an undefeated team, surrounded by long-time buddies. \”It is the best feeling to be young and to be happy and to be confident in what you do.\”

Really, isn\’t it wonderful to hear a young man to appreciate what he has? It is especially comforting to listen to Breaker on the day after Shykem Lawrence died of injuries suffered from breaking his neck last year in a football scrimmage.

The sadness of the death of the Woodrow Wilson player has added perspective to wins and losses, touchdowns and tackles, rushing yards and passing stats.

\”Everything is not guaranteed,\” a somber Breaker said about Lawrence. \”That is something unexpected. He was a good kid who got caught in a bad spot.

\”I give thanks to him personally for being so strong. I\’m so sorry for him.\”

Breaker has done a masterful job of leading the Bulldogs to a 5-0 record and a No. 5 ranking in the Courier-Post Small Schools Top 10. But how he treats the game off the field really is worth admiring.

\”You got to love your life,\” he said. \”You only have one life to live.\”

The Bulldogs are loving having Breaker back. Perhaps no one more than wide receiver Rick Tunstall, who caught nine passes for 209 yards and two TDs against the Lions (3-2).

\”If we didn\’t have a quarterback, I don\’t think we could make it happen this year,\” Tunstall said. \”He has a lot of poise.\”

Breaker completed 17 of 25 passes for 298 yards and TDs of 14, 48 and 91 yards against Gloucester.

\”Justin played an excellent game today, it is the best he has thrown the ball all year,\” Glassboro coach Herb Neillo said about the 6-1, 185-pound Breaker.

Breaker came into the game 23-for-42 passing for 323 yards with seven touchdowns in helping the Bulldogs put up an average of 47.2 points a game in the first four games. The passing game was opened up against the Lions.

Neillo feels the transition has been so smooth as a first-year starter here because the rest of the team pretty much all knew — and not surprisingly, liked — Breaker.

\”They went to school together, he played on the freshman team,\” Neillo said. \”They all hung out together.\”

Breaker, whose younger brother Tim, a junior, also transferred back to Glassboro, played on the Glassboro championship unlimited team as an eighth grader. Their reunion has not only been rewarding, but productive.

\”I grew up with those guys,\” Breaker said.

Breaker connected with one of those guys to open up the game. The Bulldogs had just a one touchdown lead when Breaker lobbed a high pass that Timothy Whitaker ran under for a 48-yard touchdown with just 52 seconds left in the half. Tunstall kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead.

Last year, Breaker threw 20 touchdown passes for Schalick.

\”They took me in as quick as anyone,\” Breaker said. \”It was a great experience being at Schalick. It helped me get to where I want to go.\”

Breaker is now making the Bulldogs\’ offense go. He does have plenty of help, however, as Tunstall, Chris Baxter, Stephen Davis and Ralph Carr all have scored four touchdowns or more this season.

With all the offensive firepower, the Bulldogs are looking forward to the Group 1 playoffs.

Last year, Glassboro advanced to the sectional finals where it lost to old nemesis Paulsboro 20-0 after beating Penns Grove in the semifinals and Lindenwold in the first round.

Breaker, though, will enjoy every game before the postseason.

\”He brings a good vibe, he brings a good atmosphere, he brings leadership,\” Davis said. \”He brings everything.\”

He brings a refreshing love of life on this weekend when South Jersey mourns the loss of Shykem Lawrence.

by Claire Heininger (source http://www.nj.com)

Sunday October 14, 2007, 5:36 PM

Funeral services and a campus memorial have been scheduled for David Rebovich, the well-known New Jersey political pundit and Rider University professor who died of a heart attack while giving a class lecture on Friday.

Photo: David Rebovich

Visiting for Rebovich, 58, of Hamilton, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Costello-Greiner Funeral Home, 44 Green St., Woodbridge. Parastas services will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral services will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with a funeral Liturgy to follow at Saint Nicholas Byzantine Church in Perth Amboy, the city where Rebovich grew up. Interment will be in the church cemetery in Perth Amboy.

At Rider, where Rebovich had taught since 1979, a memorial service will be held on the school\’s Lawrenceville campus at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. The university will announce the exact location Monday. The school also is making counselors available to students.

An obituary for Rebovich appeared in today\’s Star-Ledger.