source http://scarletknights.com

The Cardinals will play either South Florida or West Virginia in Monday\’s semifinals.

Rutgers, which won the only other meeting of the season between the two schools, 70-57, had been considered a candidate for top seed in the NCAA tournament.

POSTGAME NOTES

With The Loss…

— Rutgers falls to 18-12 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament, including a 14-4 mark in neutral-site contests.

— The Scarlet Knights move to 8-5 in quarterfinal games.

— This is the first time RU hasn\’t reached at least thesemifinals since the 2003 season.

Matee Ajavon…

— Tied for the team lead in scoring with 13 points, nine in the first half. This is the ninth time Ajavon has led or tied for the team lead in scoring this season.

— Led the team for the 18^th time this season with a game-high eight assists.

Kia Vaughn…

— Scored eight of her 12 points in the second half.

— Led the team for the 20^th time this season with seven rebounds.

Epiphanny Prince…

— Scored 10 of her team-high tying 13 points in the second half. Prince has led or tied for the team lead in scoring on 14 different occasions.

— Tied her season-high with three three-point field goals.

Lead Changes

— There were 27 lead changes in the game, the most all season for Rutgers. The previous high came against Stanford in the season opener, when there were 15 lead changes and 11 ties.

On the Boards…

— Rutgers was out-rebounded 34-23 in the game. This marks only the ninth time this season that the Scarlet Knights have been beaten on the boards, falling to 5-4 in those contests. RU trailed 13-6 on the offensive glass.

— The Scarlet Knights only pulled down 13 rebounds in the first half, tying their second lowest in any half this season. Against West Virginia on Jan. 29, RU recorded 12 rebounds in the first half.

D-Fence…

— Rutgers has held its opponents to under 59 points in 23 games this season and 61 or fewer in 27 contests.

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GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University softball team has changed

its game against Gwynedd-Mercy College. Rowan will host Gwynedd-

Mercy on Wednesday, March 12 at 3 p.m.instead of

Tuesday, March 25.

March 10, 2008
By Lyle Fulton

Clermont, FL… The College of New Jersey softball team pushed its winning streak to modest three games as the Lions scored wins over Ripon College and Westfield State College on Monday. TCNJ posted a 2-0 win over Ripon in its first game and then rallied for a 3-2 against Westfield State College.

TCNJ is now 3-3 on the season and return to action on Wednesday facing Ripon College in a doubleheader.

TCNJ 2, Ripon College 0
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Minervini (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) picked up her first win of the season tossing a complete-game shutout limiting Ripon to four hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts.

The Lions opened the scoring in the top of the second as sophomore Danielle Hagel (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Oakcrest) doubled and came around to score on a base hit by classmate Rachel Greeby (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury).

TCNJ’s other run came in the fourth as Greeby reached on an error and later scored on a single by freshman Kathy Sikora (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) making it a 2-0 game.

Sikora and Lauren Musacchia (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) each finished with a pair of hits for the Lions.

TCNJ 3, Westfield State College 2
The Lions got off to a slow start as Westfield State plated two runs in the top of the first, but the Lions quickly cut the margin in half in the latter half of the inning as sophomore Ellen Seavers (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) scored on an error.

TCNJ then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Sikora brought home Greeby with a base hit and then came around to score what turned out to be the winning run on a double by Seavers.

Freshman Jamie Moir (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) earned her first collegiate win in relief as she went 4-2/3 innings without allowing a run and five strikeouts. Minervini closed out the win with two scoreless innings to pick up the save.

-30-

By Sara Martino

May the \”Luck of the Irish\” come to every lad and lassie that visits the Lucky Star Gallery.

Michael and Amanda (Mandy) Little can pose you in an Irish setting and may even be able to make you look like a traditional leprechaun if you choose, as Mandy has a knack of making you look special and classy with her unique gift of putting you in the right setting. With her twelve years of experience, she will do your make-up and hair styling upon request in preparation for your photos.

\”After posing for their photos with special make-up and costumes, many of the women said they have gained confidence in themselves,\” said Mandy, which is surely a reason why the gallery has many repeat customers.

Customers may pose in retro outfits; including stockings from the 1950\’s complete with seams (remember them ladies?). If you prefer cheesecake, or pin-up style complete with black fish net stockings (remember them men?), no problem… Customers who are pursuing a modeling career use the talents of Mandy who can create bombshell pinups for their portfolios.

\”It is rewarding to see the expressions of the new mothers who sit for their pictures of themselves and their newborns in our \”Alice in Wonderland\” setting,\” said Mandy. \”Family photos can be a lot of fun.\”

Male customers are certainly welcome either with their special lady or by themselves to be photographed in vintage costumes or in regular clothing. Even Michael himself has posed and is quite taken with his partner\’s work.

Michael, a former Army paratrooper and Mandy, a blooming artist, met in an art gallery and have a son who is also an artist. Mandy is a self-taught artist and has always loved painting and the arts. On the walls of the Lucky Star Gallery, Mandy has exhibited colorful and unusual paintings of herself. In addition to her artiste talents, she is a classic songstress and a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.

One of the primary objects of the gallery owners is to attract local and regional artists and to encourage budding artists. \”This summer we will host an exhibit of gifted children\’s art, hoping to make them more aware of the exciting career in painting,\” Mandy said.

Mike and Mandy said they thank their lucky stars to have found their spot here at 531 Monmouth Street in Gloucester City. \”We were lucky to have the means to start our business and lucky to be of help to our customers and neighbors\”, they said. \”We hope our venture will attract many more arts and entertainment businesses and customers for the City.\”

Related: Buy Local/UEZ

By Lyle Fulton

Madison, NJ…After having their opener pushed back a few days, The College of New Jersey women’s lacrosse team finally got to take the field and they made their 2008 debut a successful one as the Lions handled host FDU-Florham by the score of 20-4.

The Lions (1-0) took charge from the opening draw as they scored the game’s first 10 goals and eventually led 11-2 at the half.

The Devils (0-1) netted the first two goals to start the second half, but TCNJ closed things out scoring the final nine goals.

Senior Toni-Anne Cavallo (Cedar Grove, NJ/West Essex) led a very balanced attack for the Lions with five goals, while senior Karen Doane (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) recorded three goals and pair of assists. Junior Rachel Gordon (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) and sophomore Angela Wilmer (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) each scored three times and freshman Alison Jaeger (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) made a successful debut for the Lions with two goals and two assists. Junior Katie Reuther (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) also scored twice for TCNJ.

In goal for the Lions, senior Caitlin Gregory (Winslow, NJ/Eastern) got the start and finished with 12 saves, while freshman Mary Waller (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) as saw time in net, but did not face a shot.

The Lions, ranked fourth in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III poll, return to action on Sunday, March 16 at St, Mary’s College (MD) in a 1 p.m. start.

On March 9, 2008. (nee Hyland) Age 90. Of Glassboro. Formerly of Gloucester City. Devoted mother of Jim (late Gertrude) Pusey and the late Larry (Stella) Pusey. Beloved grandmother of Debbie (Greg) Moore, Tina Williams, Larry (Terri), Michael, John (Kris) and Sharon (Bill) Allison. Beloved great-grandmother of Matthew, Nick, Mitch, Jennifer, Jessica, Thomas, Patrick, Nicole, Christopher and Haley.

Granny loved to travel and spent one month in Ocean City each Summer. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Thursday Evening from 6 to 8 pm at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. Father Michael Goyette of Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church will preside over the services beginning at 8 pm in the funeral home. Cremation is private at the request of the family.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations in Granny\’s memory to Lighthouse Hospice: 1040 N. Kings Highway, Suite 100, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 or Senior Care of Washington Twp.: 100 Kingsway East, Suite C, Sewell, NJ 08080. Please write Elizabeth C. Pusey in the memo of the check. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Elizabeth C. Pusey.

Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Phone: 856-456-1142

Gloucester City Councilman Nick Marchese, (PHOTO) chairman of the finance committee, made the following prepared statement at the February 28^th council meeting on the state of this year\’s budget preparation.

 

\”I want to address this year\’s budget. The Finance Committee has been meeting to complete the review of the departmental budget requests.

We need the support of our citizens and our City employees to understand the financial difficulties the City and the State are having.

 

As we meet with each of the seven unions that represent our employees we want to make sure that the people who work through those unions know exactly what is going on with the negotiations of their contracts.

 

Some representatives are stating that they will not accept any less benefits then they are receiving now.

 

The City\’s current concerns are Longevity and Sick Time buy back. We have made no secret about that. These are things that are not happening in many other places in the state that are happening here now.

 

The City can no longer keep up with the high cost of health costs, increases in pensions, and the many capital improvements the City needs.

 

The taxpayers need the employees to work with us through the tough times and you will be rewarded when things are better. With the cost of living raises that all employees will get will more than cover the loss of the other previous benefits.

 

I personally agree with Gov. Corzine in that spending or misspending must be cut to stop the continued tax increases that we burden our citizens with.

 

We are reaching out to all of the City\’s employees to meet and discuss any question you might have as well as to discuss your future options, pay concerns, and the reality of what is going on state wide.

 

We want to be fair to our employees. We don\’t want layoffs or you paying extra for your health Insurance. We value your efforts to the City and need your support to help us bring Gloucester back.

 

Things have been good for a long time. They are not now!

 

We promise that when things are better we will not forget who stepped up and helped.

 

Are there any questions?\”

By Sgt. 1st Class Eric Hendrix, USA Special to American Forces Press Service FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan, March 10, 2008 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Loetz recently received a Bronze Star Medal for Valor for saving the life of an Afghan truck driver in 2007.   Army Sgt 1st Class Michael Loetz, of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, is awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Valor for rescuing an Afghan truck driver during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Hendrix, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The story behind the rescue is both harrowing and heartwarming. The Distribution Platoon of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, had just taken over combat logistics patrol operations and were taking a load of ammunition to troops in the Korengal Valley on May 30, 2007. \”I took over a platoon with a lot of brand-new privates with no experience,\” said Loetz, a 37-year-old native of Charleston, S.C. \”The roads hadn\’t been improved at all. We were almost tearing the doors off the trucks because it was cliff on one side, rocks on the other.\” Distro platoon\’s mission is to take vital supplies to locations where supply helicopters can\’t get to. It will often use the services of area Afghan drivers and their rugged vehicles nicknamed \”jingle trucks.\” Loetz\’s platoon delivers ammunition, mail and everything in between to warfighters in these hard-to-reach locations. It\’s a dangerous drive into the Korengal Valley. \”We got hit going up the road. It was just small-arms fire, but the jingle truck in front of me got hit,\” Loetz said. A firefight ensued, and the Afghan driver of the truck in front of Loetz got out and crawled underneath the truck for safety. \”We talked the driver out from under the vehicle (after suppressing enemy fire), got him back in the truck and continued on,\” Loetz said. At the top of the hill where the load of ammunition was to be dropped, Loetz talked with the Afghan driver and told him that as long as he stayed with the platoon on the way back down, he would make sure that the driver got to the bottom in one piece. Then the worst happened. \”We got hit by an (improvised explosive device) on the way back down,\” Loetz said. \”At least three (rocket-propelled grenades) hit the side of the cliff below my truck, and at least two hit the rock wall above it.\” The jingle truck in front of him took some small-arms fire, tearing up its front end. \”At that point, we were separated from our lead element, and we couldn\’t drive around the jingle truck on that narrow road,\” Loetz said. Loetz\’s gunner was laying suppressive fire with a .50 caliber machine gun. \”I said, \’the hell with it,\’ and I got out of the truck and went and grabbed the jingle truck driver,\” Loetz explained. \”He was hiding under the rear axle of his truck trying to avoid getting hit again.\” Despite the hail of gunfire, Loetz put his own life in jeopardy, snatched the Afghan driver and threw him in the backseat of the Humvee. \”He had no way to protect himself and no way to defend himself. I had already promised him that we would take care of him,\” Loetz said. \”You just don\’t go back on a word like that. I knew that if I didn\’t get him, he would stay right there and die.\” The next step was to get the platoon back together and move down the hill. \”I was thinking that I needed to move the jingle truck just enough to get my vehicle around it,\” Loetz said. \”There was just no room. So, I pushed it off the cliff.\” Trying to push the truck off the cliff with a Humvee was not feasible because of the possibility of damaging their ride out of the valley. Loetz pushed the truck so that it would roll off the side of the cliff. The jingle truck tumbled more than 100 feet to the valley bottom. Army Lt. Col. William Ostlund, commander of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, talked about seeing the event unfold from the battalion operations center on Camp Blessing. \”I remember very well, watching the video feed and watching as the truck rolled over the cliff, thinking that it was one of our trucks and it took the breath out of me,\” Ostlund said. On the road, Loetz was getting his convoy back together. \”We were still taking small-arms fire, and I got back in my vehicle and we were assessing the situation. By that time, Company A had moved into an over-watch position and locked on the opposite side of the valley,\” Loetz said. The coordinated suppressing-fire effort gave the distribution platoon the chance to get out of the kill zone and down the hill to safety. Ostlund recounted getting the good news that Loetz\’s convoy had gotten out of the valley safely. \”We got word that not only did we not lose any soldiers from (Company F), but we didn\’t lose an (Afghan) either. The local population is our center of gravity. We need to maintain the love and affections of the population and protect them. And if we put them at risk and don\’t do everything to protect them, we\’re really not doing what we\’re supposed to be doing here,\” Ostlund said. The lanky platoon sergeant from whom those brand-new privates had learned a valuable lesson said only: \”It\’s what you train for.\” (Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Hendrix is assigned to 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

Related Sites: Combined Joint Task Force 82 NATO International Security Assistance Force

 Dennis and Tammy Galligan were seeking a new venture when they noticed that the property at 200 S. Broadway was for sale. Not really knowing what a gold mind they were landing, they purchased Bert\’s Shamrock (which it was then called) and renamed the bar Jack\’s Bar & Grill in memory of Tammy\’s father, Jack Walters, a long time Gloucester City resident.

Upon opening they began slowly making much needed renovations and were visited by a gentleman who claimed to be a local historian, friendly with one of the original band players of Bill Haley & the Comets. The Galligans were of course a bit skeptical and blindly dismissed this person and went about their business. Shortly thereafter, upon applying for a UEZ matching façade grant they were dumbfounded by the reality that they were indeed sitting on the best kept historical secret in the City…as their property was the place Bill Haley & his Saddleman got their start and began what we now know as Rock n Roll.

It was back in the early 1950\’s, in an 18 month stint at the Twin Bar, now owned by the Galligans, Bill Haley & the Saddlemen enthusiastically combined country and western, rhythm and blues and various other musical styles to form a successfully blended sound, which resulted in what Haley described as \”the birthplace of rock \’n\’ roll — a place where he could experiment with the crowd,\” according to co-authors John von Hoelle and John W. Haley (son of Bill Haley), in Sound and Glory, which is a biography of Bill Haley.

Aware of the building\’s rich history, the Galligan\’s vigorously worked hand in hand with the City to rehabilitate their façade, change their name to Jack\’s Twin Bar all to enhance their image — with the full intention of keeping Bill Haley\’s legend alive.

Last June, they partnered with the Gloucester City UEZ and together they hosted the 1^st Annual Rock n Roll Revival, which featured Bill Haley\’s Original Comets and other rockabilly bands in an all out tribute to Bill Haley and Gloucester City\’s claim to fame as the birthplace of rock n roll. A plaque commemorating Bill Haley\’s contribution to the cultural history of the region naming Jack\’s Twin Bar as the birthplace of Rock N Roll, now sits on the front of the building, provided by the Camden County Board of Freeholders.

This years Rock N Roll Revival event will be held on June 20 and June 21, along Broadway, which will again focus on Gloucester City rock n roll history. Jack\’s Twin Bar is also currently working with the City to erect a mural on the outside wall of their establishment, which will depict Bill Haley\’s earlier days in relation to his debut in Gloucester City.

The bar/restaurant have various specials and bands, which play on a regular basis and are open daily from 11:30-2 am, and Sundays from 1 to 10 pm. Lunch specials and Happy Hour from 3 to 6 pm is available every day.

Related: Buy Local/UEZ

The town of Mount Ephraim will be introducing its website by the end of March. Currently, we are in the midst of compiling information that we feel will be beneficial to the residents and also visitors of Mt. Ephraim. With the support of Mayor Joe Wolk and Commissioners Bruce Greenwald and Andy Gilmore, a town resident and fire fighter, Jeff Vilardo has been designing the website.

The website will include such information as contact information, frequently asked questions, links to other town websites, voter information and much more. Looking into the future, plans for the website are to expand and grow the site into one comprehensive site where residents can find the information they may want.

If you are a business owner or organization in Mt. Ephraim we need you to contact us with your current information. We need to have your business or organization name, owner or officer information, mailing address, telephone number, email address and website information if appropriate. Our goal is to have our businesses and organizations thrive due to the impact of our website. Residents can\’t support you if they don\’t know how or what businesses and organizations the town of Mt. Ephraim has to offer.

The website address is www.mountephraim-nj.com. You will want to check it often as there will be important borough information and a calendar of important dates for the town. Please contact Bernice Alibrando with any questions, comments or business/organization information. You may reach her at [email protected] or 856-933-3928.