Rams Alumni in the News: Gloucester City Resident Deployed with NCCC

DENVER – On Monday, November 3, Wendy Angus-Anderson of Gloucester City, N.J., deployed to begin work on her first service project of the year with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program.

Founded in 1994, AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential national service program created to assist with disaster relief, improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, and address unmet human needs. This year marks its 15^th anniversary.

Angus-Anderson (photo) arrived at NCCC’s Southwest Region Campus in Denver and began training on Monday, October 6, for 10 months of full-time service with AmeriCorps NCCC. This training emphasized teamwork, leadership development, communication, service learning, and certification by the American Red Cross.

As a Corps Member, Angus-Anderson will be responsible for completing a series of six- to eight-week-long service projects as part of a 10- to 12-person team. Her first service project will end on December 19, at which time her team will break for the winter holidays and begin a new project in a new location on January 5.

Twenty-four teams composed of 257 Corps Members and Team Leaders will begin service projects this week. Fifteen of the teams will support the Federal Emergency Management Agency with continuing Hurricane Ike recovery projects in Texas. Four of the teams will travel to ongoing Hurricane Katrina recovery projects in New Orleans. The five remaining teams will stay in Colorado: one will work with Boulder Open Space, one with the American Red Cross, and three will begin training as wildland firefighters with forest service personnel.

There are three other NCCC campuses located in Perry Point, Md., Vinton, Iowa, and Sacramento, Calif., each of which is a hub for its respective area of the country, though teams will travel to other regions for disaster relief projects.

Before joining the NCCC, Angus-Anderson attended Gloucester Catholic High School and Franklin and Marshall College, which she graduated from in May 2008 with a degree in Anthropology. Angus-Anderson said, \”I want to help others and it\’s best to start in my own country. Studying abroad for a semester in Ethiopia in 2007 fueled my ambition to join a service program.\” Blake and Deborah Angus-Anderson are Wendy’s parents.

AmeriCorps NCCC Members, all 18-24 years old, must complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $4,725 to help pay for college. Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, team building skills, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, they can indeed a difference. AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website at www.americorps.gov/nccc.

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NJSIAA Boys Soccer Tournament: 7th seed St. Joe\’s Upset No. 2 Glou. Catholic

Link: MyCentralJersey.com.

The seventh-seeded St. Joseph High School boys soccer team upset No. 2 Gloucester Catholic, 4-0, in the first round of the NJSIAA South A Tournament on Wednesday. Advertisement

Greg DeMaio scored the Falcons\’ first three goals of the game. His first score came from the far post as he headed in a cross from Gabe Aquino in the 9th minute. He needed no help on his second goal, winding a shot into the top right corner. He capped his scoring off when he drove a shot into the bottom right corner off a John Marques pass in the 64th minute.

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1993: Renewal of Friendship (introduction)

Note: A series of articles about the history of the Gloucester Catholic vs. Gloucester High football games was published in a booklet released in 1993 entitled \”The Renewal of Friendship\”. This great history of the series was put together my members of the Gloucester High Alumni Association.

Unfortunately I don’t have the entire book. But over the next couple of weeks leading up to this year’s game on Thanksgiving Day I will post the articles and photo pages that are in my possession.

~ Bill Cleary

GLOUCESTER\’S GAME

BY G.J. FERGUSON

It has been nearly three decades since the last City-Series game was played in 1965. At times, it seems like it was only yesterday. But, sadly it wasn\’t. With the final whistle, on that sunny autumn day, the City-Series passed into memory. Memories that have endured over the years. They have lived in the hearts and minds of those who remember the series and attached a special meaning to it.

It is with those in mind, that the idea for this program began. It started out as a history of the series, but a true history would require a book of several hundreds pages. What we have instead is more like a memoir of the City-Series. I hope that as you read the game stories and look at the old pictures, it will bring back the memories. Not just of the games themselves, but of old friends, old teammates, and a different time.

In the old industrial city on the Delaware, the year 1948 marked the beginning of the annual football games between Gloucester High and Gloucester Catholic. It was a time when semi-pro and town teams were still popular and attracting good-sized crowds. However, the largest and most loyal following was reserved for high school football. Across the country, in rural towns, in cities large and small, people filled the bleachers by the thousands to cheer their local school teams.

In some areas of the country, the games drew crowds of 25,000 to 30,000 or more. Closer to home, the Collingswood, and Camden High game used to attract 15,000 to 20,000 spectators. The City-Series games never approached numbers like these, but the crowds of 4,000 or more were common. For a small city of 15,000 people, it was a tremendous show of support.

If measured in length, it was not a long series. In South Jersey, many of the football series began in the 1920\’s or before. Vineland and Millville began their rivalry in the 1890\’s. In comparison, the City-Series was only played from 1948 to 1965. Nevertheless, for those eighteen years the people of Gloucester had a game that somehow, seemed to touch the very soul of their proud, old city.

In a small town like Gloucester, everybody seems to know everybody else. This familiarity made the games much more personal. Playing against a school located miles away; the opposing players were only numbers. In the City-Series games, that \”number\” had a name, and you better not forger it! If not brother against brother, surely there were cousins facing each other. Childhood friend’s kids from around the corner and down the street battling each other for 48 minutes. It was a neighborhood rivalry in the truest sense of the word:

Like the town it was played in, the games themselves were rough and tumble affairs. It was a hard-nosed and smash-mouth football. This was literally true before the facemask came into use. They were emotional games, played in a charged atmosphere before large, fanatical crowds.

Given all this, the remarkable thing is, the emotions never really got out of hand. Not on the field, nor in the stands. For the most part, the games were cleanly played. The hard hits came before the whistle, not after. This is not to say the games were perfect, they weren\’t. Nevertheless, the minor disputes that did occur were soon forgotten.

The very nature of the series made this possible. All of the ingredients that made this a fiercely contested game worked in reverse as soon ass it ended. It was high school football the way it was meant to be.

The first five years of the series belonged to Gloucester High. The Raiders (or \”Paiseleymen\”, as they were also called at the time) won the initial game in 1948 by a close score of 18-12. Matters only became worse for the Irish/Ramblers over the next four years! From 1949 to 1952, the Raiders completely dominated the series, winning by 21-2, 56-7, 19-6, and 25-7.

In 1953, Gloucester Catholic, tired of being a doormat for their city rival, recorded there first win of the series, winning by a score of 12-7. The Ramblers must have found the victory to their linking, as they set out on a winning streak of their own. The next four years found the Maroon and Gold on top by 20-13, 52-7, 26-0, and 12-7.

With the series tied at five games apiece, the Raiders pulled ahead by winning the 1958 game 18-7. However, there were to be no more long winning streaks in the series. The following year, the Rams triumphed over the newly named Lions by 19-0. 1960 was more of the same as a powerful Catholic Eleven rolled over the Lions 34-0 to take their first lead in the series.

To be continued

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Warrior Care: Giving Wounded What They Need, Deserve

Link: DefenseLink News Article

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2008 – Navy Adm. Mike Mullen didn’t like the way wounded Vietnam veterans were treated when he first entered the service in 1968, and he is working to ensure that America’s wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan get the care and help they need and deserve.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a Pentagon Channel podcast interview yesterday that as one of the leaders of the U.S. military, he is passionate \”about seeing to the needs of those who are wounded – who have sacrificed so much, whose lives have been changed so dramatically.\”

Mullen said he also wants to help the families of the fallen. He wants \”to make sure we are doing everything we can in the positions of leadership to make sure people understand what those families have sacrificed, and that we reach out to them and in every way possible and meet their needs for the rest of their lives,\” he said.

The chairman spoke about meeting a homeless Operation Enduring Freedom veteran at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Los Angeles recently. \”He said to me ‘I gave 100 percent. I’d really like 100 percent in return,’\” Mullen said.

Medical care for wounded servicemembers has improved tremendously, Mullen said. Those who reach a field hospital within the first hour after being wounded – the so-called \”Golden Hour\” – have a 92 percent chance of survival. Medical professionals undoubtedly are saving the lives of many who would have died in previous wars, the chairman said.

\”More than anything else, it’s remarkable medical personnel who have adapted and moved to the leading edge of medical care,\” he said. \”I can’t say enough for them.\”

The whole process is one of speed, with those wounded in the combat theater quickly transferred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then further transported to wherever they need to go in the United States. But while much has been done, Mullen said, much more remains to be done, and this is especially true for long-term treatment and care, as the servicemembers and their families still want to live life and contribute to America.

\”What we find out in my interaction with them and my wife’s interaction with them is their dreams haven’t changed,\” Mullen said.

The servicemembers still want to \”own a piece of the rock,\” the chairman said. They still want to go to school, own a home, have good jobs and leave their children better off than they are. Realizing those dreams may be changed by the injuries, but the dreams remain, he said.

The question then becomes how the nation – through the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs and communities throughout the country – \”reach out to meet the needs of these people who have given so much,\” he said.

Many programs are available, Mullen said, but he added he is not convinced they are doing what they should. He said he wants to study the programs to ensure they are producing for the servicemembers – giving them the needed mix to realize their dreams.

The chairman also said the department has a long way to go in the handling of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.

\”Leaders have to step forward to set the example,\” he said. \”A big part of that is the challenge of the stigma of asking for mental help.\”

From his perspective, the admiral said, asking for mental-health help is the same as asking for help for a physical problem, and it is a readiness issue. \”Being on your game mentally\” is as important as being physically ready to accomplish the mission, he said.

\”We’ve taken some steps with respect to removing the stigma, but we’ve got a long way to go,\” the chairman acknowledged.

Connecting wounded servicemembers to communities also is extremely important, Mullen said.

\”There is a sea of goodwill out there in our communities that will reach out and support those who are wounded and their families, and the families of the fallen,\” he said. \”Where we are struggling a bit is connecting those resources in communities throughout the land to those who need it. We’ve got to work on it structurally and organizationally to connect that sea of goodwill to those who have these needs.\”

The needs of the wounded vary by family and individual. They also vary by point in the healing or rehabilitation process, the chairman said. \”It can be very difficult to figure out what is needed, [and] when. But I know there are communities that are doing this and want to do this.\”

All Americans need to ensure these veterans and families receive what they need, and have to ensure this support is sustained over time, the nation’s top military officer said.

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James F. Piliro, age 63, of Gloucester City, Catholic Memorial Services Saturday

PILIRO

James F.

On November 5, 2008. Age 63. Of Gloucester City. Loving husband of the late Joyce C. (nee Dockery). Beloved father of Antoinette \”Nette\” Piliro and husband Mark Smith and John Tetreault and wife Tina. Survived by 12 brothers and sisters, 2 step-brothers, 3 brother-in-laws, 2 sister-in-laws and 8 grandchildren.

James was born in Camden and was a resident of Gloucester City. He worked as a Fiberglass Manufacturer for John Manville Company.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his visitation on Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Catholic Memorial Service 1 pm in the funeral home.

Cremation was private at the request of the family. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Ph: 856-456-1142

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of James F. Piliro.

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Brooklawn May Change Landlord Rental Application

By Sara Martino

NEWS Correspondent

\”We may look at a different type of landlord rental application,\” said Mayor John Soubasis during last week\’s Brooklawn Borough Council meeting.

In order to make all landlords be in compliance with the borough\’s regulations, changes in the rental registration applications will be made.

\”I was looking at the application from Westville that must be filed and approved before granting a certificate of occupancy. It is a very thorough application that gathers important information,\” he said.

Borough officials said there are more than 200 rental units in town, and the current generic application fee is $200 per building.

Mayor Soubasis also said the Collingswood Fire Department personnel perform check lists in rental properties in Collingswood.

\”The fire members check for water leaks, look for extension cords that may be overloaded and check cords and plugs behind furniture in addition to other safety items,\” Soubasis said.

No action on the application updating was taken at the meeting.

The matter will be further discussed by committee members and zoning and construction officers.

Council approved ordinances on first reading that would increase the amount of license fees for cats and dogs housed in the residences. All dog licenses will cost $17 for dogs, except seeing eye dogs, hearing assistance dogs and service dogs.

If the dogs are not spade, there is an additional $3. fee. Cat license will cost $15. A final reading on the ordinances will be held at the November 17 meeting.

Auto Repair Operator, Mark Wileczek, who works out of the Citgo automobile station on Rt. 130 in Brooklawn, was told that he must comply with recommendations demanded by the Building Inspector and the Code Enforcement officer before he would receive a Certificate of Occupancy.

The operator said he was trying to comply, and mentioned that there are several other locations in town that seem to be in violation also.

Soubasis told the operator that his situation was being discussed at the Council meeting, and that he was given additional time to come into compliance.

Councilman Gerald \”Skip\” Granstrom mentioned that Carl Thomas, the Borough\’s Fire Marshall, was in the hospital.