Bill\’s Point of View:Not just a local problem but a national one

BY BILL CLEARY

At least once a week I receive a Tip or comment about the homeless people sleeping on the porch in broad daylight at a property on North Broadway in Gloucester City. The house is empty, and is up for Sheriff Sale. Posted on the front wall of the building is a sign that reads ‘No Trespassing’.

Just today I received this photo from one of our readers.

My first article on this subject was written in July after hearing from someone about it. The remarks I receive have basically been the same……

But the most prominent was this one; JEERS to the city of Gloucester for allowing a bunch of drunken bums to live on a front porch on North Broadway in plain view. This makes the City look so good!!!\”

Last month I spoke with Police Lt. George Berglund about it. He said the depart

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ment is working on a solution along with the Housing Office. The Mayor is aware of the situation also.

He explained the house is up for sheriff sale. \”The owner of the house has given these people permission to be on the property. As such until the Sheriff Sale is held they have every right to be on the grounds. As for the owner, the Housing Office has cited him for a number of violations. He has been issued citations and is scheduled for a court appearance\”.

\”I will be glad to talk to anyone who needs further explanation\”.

You can reach Berglund at 456-0408.

The past couple of days I have had the ocassion to visit Philadelphia. As I await for the red light to change at the South 8th and Chinatown off ramp you can see a number of homeless people wrapped in sleeping bags. On the other side of the street are several other individuals passing a brown paper bag containing a bottle back and forth. It is 12 noon.

I agree our community needs to do something about these circumstances. We expect to see homeless people and drunks roaming the streets in big cities not in our community. And I know from talking with our City officials and police they are just has frustrated as you and I.

One last thought, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty , on any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless. The same study shows 66 percent of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness.

I don’t feel any comfort in knowing we are not alone. But it is evident that this is not just a local problem but a national one.

~By Bill Cleary

Related: Tips and Snippets

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Raymond K. Ballard, of South Plainfield, formerly of Brooklawn, GHS Alumni, retired Air Force Sgt.

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South Plainfield – Raymond K. Ballard, 73, died peacefully Saturday, September 20^th in the Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

He was born at Cooper Hospital to his loving parents Viola and Eugene Ballard. Ray grew up in Brooklawn, New Jersey and graduated from Gloucester City High School.

He served in the United States Air Force Security Service as a staff sergeant from 1955 to 1966 as an Airborne Electronic Technician. His service took him to Mississippi, Oklahoma, California, Germany and Florida before being honorably discharged.

Following his military career he settled in South Plainfield and was employed by Mohawk Data Sciences and later worked as a government container inspector for SGS.

Surviving are his wife Barbara, two daughters, Deborah Gemenden and her husband Randy of South Plainfield and Kimberly Ballard of South Plainfield; two grandchildren Jaclyn LaMotta and her husband Michael of Hillsborough and Randy Gemenden of South Plainfield; two great grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Alexa LaMotta.

Family and friends may attend the visitation from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home For Funerals 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, New Jersey.

(www.mccriskinfuneralhome.com)

Private funeral services will be held along with burial and military honors in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s name may be made to Angel’s Gate Hospice for Animals, 510 Archie Elliot Road, Delhi, NY. 13753, ( www.angelsgate.org ).

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Mrs. Leona B. McCall, formerly of Gloucester City, age 98

McCALL

Leona B.

(nee Young), 98 years, died of natural causes on September 19, 2008 at Woodbury Mews Assisted Living, Woodbury, NJ. She was the devoted wife of the late William A. Beloved mother of Bill (Joanne), Mary, Gerald and Sister Marjorie, IHM. Dear Grandmother of Susan (Niko) Ekimoglou (owners of O\’Donnell\’s), Sharon (Patrick) McMullen, John (Karina) Sikking. Loving Great-Grandmother of Jack, Maria, Anastasia and Michael Ekimoglou and Mary Kate and Brendan McMullen. Beloved Sister-In-Law of Catherine Connaghan and esteemed aunt of 11 nieces and nephews.

Leona was born in Mount Carmel, PA on April 11, 1910. She and her husband raised their family in Bridgeton, NJ where she combined homemaking with active lay participation at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and school. Prior to moving to Woodbury Mews, Leona lived with granddaughter, Susan and her family in Gloucester City for six years.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church: 64 Cooper Street, Woodbury on Friday, September 26 at 12 Noon. Visitation begins at 11 am in the church. Interment will be at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bridgeton. 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 Leona B. McCall.

Requiescat in Pace

Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through:

McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ. Phone: 856-456-1142

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