(Gloucester City News 6/4)I went to the Cedar Grove Cemetery and Union Cemetery for the Memorial Day Ceremony. It started at nine, and was very nice, the Firemen, Cub Scouts and Scouts Leaders, VFW, Bag Pipes, two young girls played tops, really good.

Sorry to say there were no families there.

Thanks to all who worked so hard putting this together.

C. Garton, Bellmawr

Gloucester Catholic High School (GCHS) conferred diplomas on 182 graduates during commencement ceremonies May 28.

Nicolette Davis of Gibbstown and Julianna Kopakowski of Glassboro are the co-valedictorians for the GCHS Class of 2009.

Graduation festivities for students and their families began with the Senior Awards Brunch at Auletto’s in Deptford.

 – NJ.com.

By Linda Boker-Angelo

NEWS Correspondent

(Gloucester City News 6/4)After a lengthy discussion, the Gloucester City Planning Board approved plans for a parking lot at the Auld Dubliner restaurant on Burlington Street.

Attorney Charles Wigginton presented the application, which called for the empty lot next to the eatery to be converted to a finished 41-space parking lot. Engineer Jerry Richter, of Lippincott and Jacobs, said the lot would be graded and stones would be put down as a foundation.

Plans for the restaurant were originally approved in July of 2007. Following considerable work on the building, Auld Dubliner opened in October 2008, and has had a very strong response from the public.

Courier-Post.

But Howey is not hopeful that his pleas for the line to bypass Gloucester City will be heeded. DRPA announced last month that the new light-rail line — similar to the RiverLINE that links Camden with Trenton — will zip through Gloucester City, Woodbury Heights, Woodbury, Wenonah, Pitman and Glassboro. The most he can hope for, he said, is a promise of a barrier between his house and the tracks —

By Sara Martino

NEWS Correspondent

(Gloucester City News 6/4)No one from the audience commented during the public hearing on the 2009 municipal budget during last week’s Gloucester City Council meeting, waiting instead for the open forum.

If the state does not allocate discretionary aid to the City, the local budget amounting to more than $18.5 million would bring a 24.5 cent increase in local property taxes. The local property tax bill for the average assessed $80,000 home could rise by $175 per year.

By William E. Cleary Sr.

Jimmy Day was a long time fixture in Gloucester City for many years. A product of the \”Rock and Roll\” era of the 50’s and 60’s he was a handsome lad who had curly black hair and a warm smile. He was educated in the local public school system, loved to play sports, enjoy shooting pool, playing cards and having a few beers with his friends. He was also one of the original members of the now-defunct Gloucester City A.C. Hawks and in the beginning, could be found at their Burlington Street clubhouse on most weekends hanging out with the guys.

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

The pressure builds. Feel it? I sure do. An annual tension that visits late each June and–for a day at least–smothers me with stress.

In these modern days, married couples, international or not, are presumed to share family duties. This household dynamic of man-woman, mother-father, husband-wife always teeters in a ticklish balance. But the key word is \”balance.\”

Yet, Fathers Day (in my experience) pales before it\’s Mother\’s Day rival like a Tinker toy before the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Saint Mary School News:

By Sara Martino

NEWS Correspondent

\”It seems that the state government intends to force mergers of municipalities or to force shared services,\” said Mayor John Soubasis as the Brooklawn budget was discussed during the May Council meeting.

\”We are doing what we are supposed to do, trying to keep expenses down while still providing services to our residents and still it seems that we will be punished for doing what we are supposed to do,\” Soubasis said.

He explained the Borough’s situation during a visit to the NJ State Division of Local Services accompanied by the borough auditor, Kirk Applegate.

Mayor Soubasis and other borough officials have gone to the state meetings for the last eight to 10 years, and have said they came away frustrated, he said.