Give Them an Inch They Want a Yard

Bill’s Point of View:

Gloucester City:Have you ever notice with some people if you give them an inch they want a yard. Take for example the few hostile tenants at Chatham Square Apartments, Gloucester City.

Just last week there was a photo of one these individuals leaning out his apartment window with a sign vilifying a City Councilman on the front page of the Courier Post . He along with some other tenants complain the City, who purchased the 100 apartments four months ago, are taking too long to make needed repairs to their living quarters.

I never heard a peep out of the tenants at Chatham Square prior to the City purchasing the property. Yet it is common knowledge the previous owner was cited by the municipal court several times over the course of 10 years for housing code violations.

Although there has been no figures released by the City it is possible the repairs to the apartments will cost taxpayers (you and I) $100,000 or more. Then there is the cost for the maintenance man and the managing firm hired to oversee the property. Add those numbers to the $4.1 million that has already been spent to purchase the property; and you have to wonder if the City fathers made the right decision to buy this broken down compound.

In several cases some tenants have now decided to protest further by withholding rent until the conditions are fixed.

That is just wonderful.

Thanks Chatham tenants for being such great neighbors. It is obvious you could care less about the taxpayers/residents of Gloucester City who have footed your free ride and given you a roof over your head.

What thanks do we get from you, none! You continue to make a mockery of our community and city leaders with you unproven allegations and lies. That $4 million should have been used to lower our taxes instead of being spent on unappreciative people like yourselves.

But wait, says City Solicitor John Kearney.

After doing an audit the Solicitor alleges that many of these same individuals have been living in the apartments for free. Thirty-two of the tenants have been asked to produce some sort of payment record. And to show proof that they paid a security deposit. Kearney said so far none have come forward. A court hearing on the matter is scheduled in October.

To the malcontents of Chatham Square: If the living conditions are as bad as you say they are then here is a suggestion. MOVE! The solution to your problem is that simple.

You won’t hurt my feelings!

And I guarantee you I could find a good number of residents in my community of Gloucester City who would agree with me.

Bye! Bye! Adios! So Long! Hate to see go! Just Leave!

Author: Bill Cleary

Related: Guardian Angels Arrive at Chatham Square

Related Chatham Apartments

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Gloucester City: Guardian Angels Step In To Help Tenants At Troubled Complex

Link: MyFox Philadelphia

The Guardian Angels try to give tenants of a troubled apartment complex peace of mind.

Dozens of volunteers from both Philadelphia and New York City patrolled the complex in Gloucester City Sunday night.

Residents at the Chatham Apartments say, over the last decade, conditions at their complex have spiraled downward. \” We have people talking to our face, promising but not delivering,\” said Anthony Parisi.

Related: Give Them An Inch They Want A Yard

Related Chatham Apartments

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Gloucester City: WHAT THIS FIELD HAS HEARD

$\"Gloucester$ Image via Wikipedia

By CNB Sports

I am feeling my age, I have brown spots all over me but I still remember Coaches Billy Flynn, George Thorpe, Bob Mc Quillen, Carlos Paisley, Steve Shimkus and now Leon Harris. I have seen and heard many things from parents and the players who have crossed the fields of Gloucester City. But, I have remained silent through the years and it is time that parents start to listen.

Everyone has heard about being a fly on the wall. Oh, what you would have heard. If only these walls could talk? Can\’t imagine what secrets they have! Well, after many years of lying around patiently I have decided to let everyone in on a little secret. This field has heard it all!

Gloucester City does not have a large number of home grown professional athletes. That is correct! Very few if any, have made the Big Show in the MLB, NFL or NBA. Yes, that is a fact. Do the research yourself. But, still Gloucester parents refuse to face reality. Your son may be a terrific athlete locally and you should be proud of that. But, on a larger level your son is in the majority of athletes whose career was limited to local competition.

CLICK LINK BELOW TO CONTINUE…………….

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Bill Labbree Jr. Named to the Bd of Directors of the Burlington Camden County Assn. of Realtors

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Bill Labbree, Jr. Continues the Tradition of Service and Dedication to the Community and the Real Estate Industry Set by Bill Labbree, Sr.

Cherry Hill, NJ – The Board of Directors of the Burlington Camden County Association of Realtors (BCCAR) has voted to appoint Bill Labbree, Jr., a Broker associate with Labbree Realty in Gloucester City, to fulfill the term of a vacated seat on the BCCAR Board of Directors through 2008. Labbree, Jr. is also on the slate of new directors that will be seated in January of 2009 to serve for the following term. Currently Labbree, Jr. is serving on the Budget and Legislative Committees of the BCCAR Board. He is also in his 2^nd year of serving as Chairman of the BCCAR Grievance Committee.

click the link below to continue reading……………

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When East Meets West:Happy to report our Sons Max & Lucas finished their tours of duty in Iraq

Hi Bill, Hank Here!

Both of my sons were born and raised here in Kitakyushu City, Japan. But attended high school in the States. Lucas attended Gateway High School in Woodbury, New Jersey, while my son Max attended Beaverton High School in Beaverton, Oregon.

This is a picture of my son, Lucas just before he left Iraq for his new assignment.

In the picture is the Iraqi policeman who Lucas was working with On convoy security and a bunch of children.

Lucas K. Miller Pfc. was stationed at Al Asad, Iraq for a year and a half, he was involved in convoy security with the U.S.Army 25th Transportation Company as a machine gunner, driver, and translator of English & Japanese…Lucas , presently is at the Schofield Barracks ,Honolulu ,Hawaii.

His brother Max K. Miller Cpl. U.S.Marine Corps was also at Al Asad, Iraq for a year and was also involved in convoy security, and is also a radio operator, And English, Japanese Translator.

Presently Max is back at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr. (Editor\’s Note: Hank is a former resident of Gloucester City)

Related: When East Meets West

Below is a picture of Maxie while on convoy security patrol at Al Asad , Iraq just before he left there.

Max is the third from the right in the front row standing.These guys are now back at their base at Camp Schwab in Okinawa ,Japan

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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.

$\"The$ Image via Wikipedia

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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Rams missing a Core player

Link: – NJ.com.

GLOUCESTER CITY – As entertaining as the Gloucester Catholic High School football team\’s season-opening victory last Saturday was, it wasn\’t exactly pretty.

The Rams and visiting Clearview combined for 834 yards of offense in the 45-41 slugfest, 402 by the Pioneers. Tight end Chad Gravinese caught six passes for 142 yards and two TDs.

For one Catholic defender in particular, the game was especially painful to watch.

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