Author: William Cleary Sr.

Life long Gloucester City resident, born in 1944. Graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School Class of 1963. Attended Camden County College. Army National Guard 1964 to 1970. Activated in 1967 during the Newark Riots. Worked full-time at the Gloucester City Post Office from 1967 to 1978. Worked part-time at the Gloucester City News from 1965 to 1977. In 1978 I was named editor of the Gloucester City News and Camden County Record. Purchased the City News in 1985. In 2005 the paper was sold. In 2006 I established Cleary's Notebook. At the age of 81 I remain editor of Cleary's Notebook News writing commentary and reporting the news for South Jersey and Philadelphia regions.

PEYTON AND ME at FREEDOM PIER

(SEPTEMBER 2021)Construction completed in 1914. Ships used to dock at Freedom Pier carrying immigrants to the port of Philadelphia. The large building to the east was used a processing center by the Department of Immigration. In 1945 the site was converted into a US Coast Guard Station and the pier was used to dock the buoy tenders “Red Oak” and Lilac and several 40′ patrol boats. In 1988 the Coast Guard moved into a new facility in Philadelphia.

Gloucester City’s Freedom Pier will be 10 years old this coming September. The exact date of the unveiling of the pier was September 17, 2011. Approximately 100 people attended the dedication including State Senator Donald Norcross, Assemblymen Gilbert Whip Wilson, and Angel Fuentes, Sheriff and former City Mayor CHALIE Billingham, Freeholder and former City Councilman Tom Gurick, Councilmen Nick Marchese, Jay Brophy and Dan Spencer, City Historian Dave Munn, School Board President Louisa Lwellyn and St. Mary’s Church Deacon Frank Crosson.

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The Story Behind The Story: Daylight Savings Time Forever

by Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

The United States Senate has passed a bill submitted by Sen. Marco Rubio (R, FL) to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. Sen. Rubio made some valid points in his bill. During the standard time when evening comes at 5:00 p.m. crime rate is higher, people become depressed due to Seasonal Affective Disorder and for an unknown reason, people have more heart attacks. There is also the hope, optimistically, that with more daylight kids will spend more time outside getting exercise.

image courtesy of The Farmers Almanac

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THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:Response to School District of Philadelphia CEO Candidates

BY DOROTHY PHILBIN | CNBNews Contributor

When I taught at West Philadelphia High School a student named S.M. was the valedictorian the first year I was there. I’m happy for everyone who works hard enough to place first in a class of more than 300 students. He should have been very proud.

At that time the CEO (Superintendent) of the district was Paul Vallas who, in my opinion, was doing a wonderful job. His first priority was to buy all new textbooks for every student. Other, similar priorities quickly followed. Sadly, for S.M. it was too little, too late. Even though he was valedictorian he had to take a remedial math course over the summer to enter college in September. The school hadn’t prepared him to take an entry-level college math course.

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THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Is Teach for America an Unfair Program?

BY DOROTHY PHILBIN | CNBNews Contributor

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 16, 2022)–Cleary’s Notebook (CNBNews) this week printed an article about the Teach for America program and they, as with many employers, can’t fill openings. In their case they have hundreds into thousands of openings. I had experience with Teach for America when I taught in the School District of Philadelphia. I felt it was a very unfair program.

OUR BEST FRIEND ERICA IS WAITING FOR US AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Erica Cleary, a beautiful yellow Labrador Retriever who resided in Gloucester City, NJ, most of her life, died Thursday night, May 14, 2015, from complications of old age. She was 13. In human years, she would be 91.

Erica began her life as a Seeing Eye puppy in Moorstown, NJ. She was in training when she broke her toe at the doggy playground. She spent 14 months with her toe in a cast. When the time came for her to take the final test, she was unable to pass it and was placed up for adoption at the age of two.

Connie and I had tried for over two years to adopt a retired Seeing Eye dog. Tired of waiting, we had gotten a black lab named Lacey during that time. The day we got the call that Erica was available we were so excited. During the 90-minute ride to Morristown, we were very anxious, not knowing what to expect. When we arrived in the town we were surprised to see how many people were walking the streets with seeing eye dogs. We learned later that those dogs were in training. The Academy, located in a wooded area, consists of a number of single-story buildings. It is nestled away a mile or so from the Mooristown.

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Kathleen (nee Woodworth) Sisco, GCHS Alum, Class of 1963

Kathleen M. Sisco (nee Woodworth) ….On July 12, 2007 went Home to Heaven one day after her 62 Birthday of Gloucester City. Formerly of Bellmawr. Loving daughter of the late Sarah \”Sadie\” Woodworth (nee Wall). Beloved mother of Jill R. Ruggieri and husband John of Bellmawr and Ted F. Sisco and his wife Loretta of Westville. Cherished mom-mom of Jack and Jason Ruggieri. Dear Sister of Stan Woodworth and his wife Beverly of Moorestown.

Kathleen was a longtime resident of Gloucester City and was a 1963 Graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School. She lived many years in Bellmawr and worked as a claims processor at CIGNA Insurance in Voorhees until 1993. Kathleen was very devoted to her family and had many wonderful friendships throughout her entire life.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Monday Evening from 7 to 9 pm and Tuesday morning from 9 am to 10 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 am Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Interment with her mother, Sarah in Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill.

Family requests memorial donations in Kathleen\’s memory to Saint Mary\’s Catholic School: Tuition Fund: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Kathleen M. Sisco.