William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News

Jim Nicholson, a Gloucester City resident, was asked by Marilyn Johnson, author of *THE DEAD BEAT, to describe himself. Nicholson replied, \”I don’t do much self-analysis. I’m not a complicated guy. There are not many moving parts here. I’m a pretty simple man.\”

If people only knew the real Jim Nicholson.

A graduate of Gloucester City High School, Class of 1960, Nicholson has lived three lives over a span of 66 years. \”Modest, quiet, and low-keyed you would never know from looking at him that this man has ice water running through his veins,\” said his good friend Bill Tourtual.

Tourtual said Nicholson has been responsible for taking down bad guys for over 35 years and yet rarely if ever talks about his adventures with his friends or family.

Besides raising a family, serving in the Marines and then joining the Army reserves, he has worked a full-time job as an investigative reporter and journalist until his retirement in 2001. And in each life he has excelled without much fanfare.

Tourtual said earlier this summer the 66-year-old, Lt. Colonel James Nicholson (Ret), was asked by the Army to come back to active duty to serve his country one more time.

Nicholson, whose specialty is counterintelligence, accepted the offer and shipped out to the theater of war in the Middle –East last month.

This is nothing new for Col. Jim Nicholson. 

Over the course of his Army career he was assigned to a number of covert operations in his 20 plus years in the military. In the 1980’s he spent time running the surveillance on Noriega and preparing for the invasion of Panama. Other counterintelligence adventures included trips to such hot spots of the world as South America, Tajikistan and on the Mexican border.

\”This Simple Man\” also had a remarkable career as an investigative reporter for newspapers in the Philadelphia area. Some of his featured work included stories on murder, the Philly Mob, the riots, and outlaw motorcycle gangs to mention a few. Five of his series led three different Philly-area papers to recommend him for Pulitzers. He also was a radio announcer for a time.

Sean Patrick Griffin, author of *Black Brothers Inc, writes …..Investigative reporter Jim Nicholson was the first journalist to lift the lid on the ‘Black Mafia’. The gang operated a multi-million illegal drug business in North Philadelphia and up and down the east coast. His cover stories for the Philadelphia Magazine and Today revealed a vicious, insidious syndicate that was unknown to the wider population.

He went right to the top, and called Mayor Frank Rizzo. Back in 1970, Nicholson had spent hours at then-Police Commissioner Rizzo’s home and interviewed Rizzo while he watched himself on a national television special called Super Chief. The two hit it off, so much so that Rizzo offered Nicholson a position as public relations officer with the department. Nicholson politely declined, despite the substantial increase in pay the job would have provided. Rizzo was apparently not offended by the rejections, because when Nicholson called him requesting assistance on the proposed Black Mafia project in 1973, Rizzo called Police Commissioner Joseph F. O’Neill and told him to provide Nicholson access to the pertinent information.

In 1982 Jim was tired of investigative reporting and jumped at the chance to take over the obit page for the Philadelphia Daily News. In May 2008, seven years after he retired, Jim won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Professional Obituary Writers.

*The Dead Beat-Author Marilyn Johnson …In that position Nicholson received national attention when ASNE, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, gave him a Distinguished Writing Award for his richly detailed, colorful obituaries of ordinary Philadelphians. The Daily News let him work an eight-or nine month year on the obits desk, and the rest of the time he threw himself into counterintelligence adventures.

After he retired from the Philadelphia Daily News in 2001 he moved to Washington DC to continue his work in counter-intelligence. At the same time he was taking care of his wife Betty who had Alzheimer. When his wife’s sickness required full-time care they moved back to Gloucester City to be closer to his immediate family and devote more time to her. He became Betty’s primary caregiver working 24/7 at home to make her comfortable. In his spare time he continued to do some part-time consultant work via computer in counterintelligence for a friend whose business was located in the Washington DC/Virginia area.

Asked about his devotion to Betty he told author Johnson, \”I was separated for eight years from this woman, not a good marriage, doesn’t matter whose fault it was, and then she got ill, and I came back to take care of her,\” Jim said. \”I wasn’t doing anything else. I’m not as good as the people I’ve written about in the obits.\”

When the Army called and stressed that his help was needed for this special mission Jim made arrangements to have another family member take care of Betty for the time he will be away.

Most people in their 60’s are looking forward to retirement. Col. Nicholson, who describes himself as just \”A Simple Man\” has no reservations about placing himself in Harm’s Way one more time for his country.

‘Patriotism’, Thomas Paine observed, is not best measured in times of national comfort and quiet. It is in times of crisis, when the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots have retreated to the safety of official talking points and unquestioning loyalty that those who truly understand the meaning and merit of the American experiment come to its defense.

Thomas Paine no doubt had men like Jim Nicholson in mind when he spoke those words so many years ago. Tonight offer up an extra prayer for Jim and for all soldiers who go beyond the call of duty to protect our country in these terrible and dangerous times.

*THE DEAD BEAT, Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries. The so-called egalitarian obituary was pioneered, Ms. Johnson argues, by a reporter named Jim Nicholson, who worked at The Philadelphia Daily News. During the early 1980’s, Mr. Nicholson started writing obits in which \”people whose lives had been considered dull as linoleum to the general public were offered up as heroes of their neighborhood and characters of consequence.\” Author Marilynn Johnson, HarperCollins Publishers

* BLACK BROTHERS Inc., a true story about The Black Mafia one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in modern US history. From its roots in Philadelphia’s ghettos in the 1960’s, it grew from a rabble of street toughs to a disciplined, ruthless organization based on fear and intimidation. Known in its \”legitimate\” guise as Black Brothers, Inc., it held regular, minute meetings, appointed investigators, treasurers and enforcers, and controlled drug dealing, loan sharking, numbers rackets, armed robbery and extortion. Author Sean Patrick Griffin, Milo Books Publishers

This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.Posted on September 8, 2008 by adminPosted in LEGACY IMPORT

Many people think great healthcare is all about fancy equipment and shiny floors. Those things help, but they do not greet you with a smile or notice when something feels “off.” The real magic comes from the people. Nurses, doctors, techs, and support staff keep everything moving. Without enough of them, even the nicest hospital can feel like a very expensive waiting room. Good staffing keeps the whole system steady. Without it, patient care gets wobbly fast.

Read more: Why Effective Healthcare Staffing Is the Backbone of Quality Patient Care

The Right Staff at the Right Time Makes Everything Better

Healthcare does not follow a schedule. Patients show up whenever they need help, not when the schedule looks convenient. A quiet morning can turn into a busy afternoon with no warning at all. This is why staffing matters so much. When enough staff are working, patients get seen quickly. Teams work smoothly. The mood stays calm. When staffing is short, things slow down, stress rises, and everyone wonders why the day suddenly feels like a medical version of a traffic jam. Having the right number of professionals on each shift, with help from a healthcare staffing agency, keeps care safe and steady.

Rested Staff Give Better Care (No Surprise There)

Clinicians are not superheroes, even if they often act like they are. They need rest, good schedules, and time to breathe. When they work too much, burnout shows up fast. Burnout leads to mistakes, frustration, and a lot of tired eyes behind those masks. Effective staffing helps prevent this. It spreads the workload and gives people time to recover. A rested nurse can catch small changes in a patient that a tired one might miss. A well-supported doctor can think more clearly and calmly. When staff feel good, patients feel it, too.

Consistency Helps Patients Feel Safe and Seen

Most patients feel nervous when they are sick or in pain. Seeing familiar faces makes it easier. Good staffing creates that kind of consistency. When teams stay stable, patients build trust. They open up more. They follow instructions better. Staff also benefit because they learn each patient’s normal patterns. That makes it easier to spot problems early. Consistency reduces confusion and builds confidence—for both the patient and the care team. And let’s be honest, nothing is more comforting during a hospital stay than a nurse who already knows how you like your pillows.

Flexibility Saves the Day When Things Get Wild

Healthcare is full of surprises that can cause a staffing shortage. Flu season arrives early. A storm sends extra patients to the ER. A few staff members call out sick on the same day. Things happen. Flexible staffing solutions help facilities stay ready. Travel nurses, per diem workers, and locum tenens providers can fill gaps quickly. Staffing partners can send help before problems grow. This flexibility keeps patient care strong even when the day decides to be unpredictable. It is like having a Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D all ready to go.

A facility can buy the latest gadgets, remodel its hallways, and upgrade every computer. But none of that matters without the right people in place. Effective staffing takes all those tools and turns them into actual care. It reduces burnout, improves morale, boosts patient safety, and supports better outcomes. It lets clinicians do the job they trained for without feeling overwhelmed. Quality patient care starts with people—supported, rested, skilled people. When staffing is strong, everything else becomes easier. Patients feel cared for. Teams work better. And the entire healthcare system runs with much less chaos and far more confidence.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT…

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews Editor

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (Cleary’s Notebook News)(January 10,2023)–In early January, I underwent a medical procedure at Cooper University Hospital in Camden City. I was administered sedation, and the next thing I remember, I was waking up in the recovery room. Once the sedation wore off, I was released.

Continue reading “DEAR SAINT ANTHONY, SOMETHING IS LOST AND CAN’T BE FOUND” →

Sudden hair loss feels very different from slow, gradual thinning. It arrives quickly, often without warning. One week your hair looks normal, and the next you are seeing patches, shedding, or changes you cannot ignore. It can feel frightening because you have no time to adjust or prepare for it.

People lose hair suddenly for many reasons. Stress, illness, hormonal changes, infections, or medical treatments can all trigger rapid shedding. For some, the hair grows back once the cause is treated. For others, the loss leaves permanent thinning or patchy areas that do not fully recover on their own.

This is where hair transplants can make a real difference. They offer a way to restore the areas that have not returned to normal. At Total Hair Restoration, many patients arrive after sudden loss feeling overwhelmed and unsure. Once they understand what a transplant can do, they often feel more hopeful and more grounded.

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What sudden hair loss looks like

Sudden hair loss usually appears in one of three ways.

Diffuse shedding
This means hair falls out across the whole scalp. It feels dramatic because the volume changes quickly.

Patchy loss
This is when clearly defined bald patches appear. It is often linked to conditions like alopecia areata.

Loss from medical treatment
Certain medications, including chemotherapy, can cause fast shedding.

Each type has a different cause, but they all create the same emotional impact. You feel out of control. You feel exposed. You feel frustrated because you do not know what will happen next.

A consultation helps identify which type you are dealing with and whether the follicles are still active.

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When hair grows back and when it does not

Sudden hair loss can be temporary or permanent.

Temporary loss
If the follicles are still alive, the hair may return within a few months. This is common with stress related loss or loss from illness.

Permanent loss
If the follicles have been damaged or attacked by the immune system, the lost hair may not grow back.

People often wait, hoping things will improve on their own. Sometimes they do. But if the hair has not returned after several months, a transplant often becomes the next option to restore the appearance of fullness.

A specialist can examine your scalp and give you a clearer understanding of what is likely to grow back and what will not.

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How a transplant helps after sudden loss

A hair transplant replaces the follicles that have stopped producing hair. It does not stimulate the old ones. Instead, it moves healthy follicles from the donor area at the back or sides of your head into the spots where sudden loss occurred.

This gives you real, permanent hair in the areas affected.

For people who have lived with a sudden bald patch for months or years, the change can be life changing. It allows them to stop worrying about coverage, styling tricks, or constantly checking how their hair looks.

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Why FUE works well in these cases

FUE is the most common method used after sudden loss. It removes individual follicles and places them into the patchy or thinned areas. Because it uses small grafts, the result looks natural and blends with the surrounding hair.

FUE is ideal for patchy loss because the surgeon can target specific areas with precision. It also works well for restoring density after diffuse thinning, once the underlying cause has stabilised.

At Total Hair Restoration, each treatment is planned around the pattern of loss, ensuring the result looks even and balanced.

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When to consider a transplant

A transplant is not always the first step after sudden loss. Timing matters.

You should consider a transplant if:

• The hair has not grown back after several months
  
• The cause has been identified and treated
  
• The patchy areas have remained unchanged
  
• The thinning has left visible gaps
  
• The appearance affects your confidence or daily life
  

If the loss is still progressing or the cause is still active, the clinic may recommend waiting before moving ahead.

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The emotional impact of sudden loss

Sudden hair loss creates a different emotional experience compared to slow thinning. It can feel like something has been taken from you without warning.

People often describe feeling shocked and anxious. They may avoid mirrors or change how they style their hair. Some become more withdrawn socially because they feel self conscious.

A hair transplant cannot change the past, but it can give you back a sense of normality. It restores not only the hair but also the feeling that something stable has returned to your life.

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What to expect during the procedure

The process is the same as any FUE transplant. Local anaesthetic keeps you comfortable. Healthy follicles are taken one by one and placed carefully into the affected areas.

The surgeon designs the placement so it blends naturally with the surrounding hair. Even patchy loss can be restored in a way that looks seamless once the hair grows.

After the procedure, there is mild redness and some small scabs, but most people return to normal routines within a few days.

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Recovery and growth timeline

Recovery is simple. Within the first few weeks, the transplanted hairs shed. This is normal. The follicles then enter a resting phase before producing new growth.

New hair usually appears around three or four months. The growth continues slowly until the full result shows around twelve months. Because the new follicles come from healthy areas, the hair they produce is strong and long lasting.

If sudden loss also affected the surrounding hair, PRP can help support those follicles and improve the overall result during recovery.

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Combining treatments for stronger results

Many people use PRP therapy alongside a transplant to strengthen the scalp and support healing. PRP encourages blood flow, improves follicle activity, and helps transplanted grafts settle.

For sudden loss caused by stress or medical issues, PRP also helps stabilise the scalp environment and reduce ongoing shedding.

Your specialist will recommend whether a combined approach suits your situation.

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Restoring confidence and normality

When hair disappears suddenly, it can disrupt your sense of self. A transplant helps restore that balance. It allows you to stop thinking about the loss every day. It helps you recognise yourself again in the mirror.

Patients often describe the result as more than a cosmetic improvement. It gives them relief and a renewed sense of confidence. It brings back stability after an unpredictable experience.

If sudden hair loss has affected your life and you want to explore what is possible, a consultation at Total Hair Restoration is a good first step.

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Continue reading “The Best Sora 2 and Veo 3 Platform — Why SotaVideo Is Your Go-To Choice” →

Originally published on Wednesday, November 22, 2023

 William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ–Tuesday, November 21, 2023, I appeared in Gloucester City Municipal Court to answer two trespassing charges for walking around the Cold Springs Elementary School and one theft charge. I took a children’s bench that I thought was trash. When I learned it wasn’t trash, I contacted the police, returned the bench to the school, and placed it back in the same trash pile from which I had gotten it. 

At the November 21 hearing, I was given two choices: plead guilty or take the matter to trial. The penalty varies based on the value of the goods. The bench’s value was set at $500. The penalty for a third-degree felony is 3 to 5 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000.

Since October 10, a video of my son and me, who was also charged, has appeared on the Gloucester City Police Department’s Facebook page. The video came from a Cold Springs School security camera. A neighbor alerted me about the video about an hour after the police published it on October 10. Even though I notified the police that I mistakenly took the bench and apologized for wasting their time, they continued to leave the video on their page. 

People ask me who is responsible for this travesty of justice. I wish I knew. I am a 79-year-old man with very few years left to live. If they are patient, Old Man Time will catch up with me sooner rather than later. Of course, there is always the chance I will outlive this person(s). Wouldn’t that be ironic? 

For 57 years, I have been providing the residents of Gloucester City and the surrounding areas with the latest news. For those who believe that being the editor of a small newspaper is boring, they have no idea how exciting my career has been. I have assisted the NJ State Police with a three-month undercover investigation into a New Jersey contractor, interviewed members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Skinheads, and found myself in the middle of a confrontation between the Longshoremen and Teamsters unions, both vying for the Holt Marine Terminal contract.

I cannot forget the local politicians who were often dissatisfied with my reporting. Many of them threatened me with lawsuits for various reasons. When I started covering the Gloucester City council meetings, I obtained permission to tape-record the sessions. I vividly remember Councilman Jack Brophy claiming he was misquoted in one of my articles. When I played the tape for him, and he heard his own words, he laughed and said, “I forgot you were taping the meetings.”

I have fond memories of sitting in the press box at Veterans Stadium in 1980, watching the Phillies win the World Series. Sitting on either side of me were sports announcers Harry Kalas (TV/Radio) and Richie Ashburn (TV) with color commentators like Andy Musser, plus national TV announcers on NBC such as Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, and analyst Tom Seaver for the final games. After the games, the press were invited to the private upstairs lounge for food and drinks with the players in attendance. You can imagine the thrill of being in the same room with Steve Carlton, Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Tim McGraw, and other players. I have ridden on an elevator with a young Donald Trump, just me and him, at the opening of the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. I’ve been at a press conference just a few feet from President Jimmy Carter, and taken a ride in a blimp around Billy Penn’s hat. The list is endless.

In 2013, I had every intention of retiring at the end of that year; I had been working for over four decades. But in February 2014, my son-in-law was attacked by a man swinging a hammer outside a Deli in Philadelphia. He nearly died.  We were away when it happened. When I learned that the mainstream media were not covering the story, I forgot all about retirement. The public needed to know about this terrible attack, and if the mainstream media were ignoring what happened, then I would tell the story.

Now, looking back, I am glad I kept working.

Not once was my chosen career laborious during my five-plus decades as a journalist. There are not many people in this world who can honestly say that. I have also made a difference in this world, and I don’t say that lightly.  Author Mark Twain said it best, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

What those in power are trying to do to me now just makes me more determined to continue reporting on their mismanagement of Gloucester City and their tax-and-spend policies. As for the rumor that we were shutting CNBNews down because of this court case, not so.  This isn’t the first time that those who run this City, Camden County, and the state of New Jersey have tried to stop us from printing the truth.  And it won’t be the last. Besides, we are having too much fun. 

Sincerely, Bill

William E. Cleary Sr.

CNBNews editor and publisher

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Comments

Bob Bevan said…

This looks like selective law enforcement to me!If so, this is the real crime that has been committed, not only against Bill Cleary but against all of us!One of the worst enemies against a free democracy is to use our laws against people that have a different opinion then our own.Beware of this unequal enforcement of the law by the government against our freedom of speech.

Reply

Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Reader said…

Bob, I could not agree more. Schools all over the world throw away outdated and broken items. If this bench wasn’t put out for trash, why was it in the trash pile to begin with? The schools should either label what is trash or put up no-scavenging signs, and the city should not prosecute an honorable man with an impeccable reputation for a simple misunderstanding. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Reply

Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 02:49 PM

Johnny G. said…

Reader, you don’t need to be a Wizard to figure this out. The only reason Cleary and his kid are being prosecuted is that the losers running this city can’t stand the truth. I think Hillary would even call them deplorable.

Reply

Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 04:35 PM

Thomas G Heim said…

I have known Bill Cleary since my high school days at GCHS. He is and has been the best local news reporter I have ever known. The current charges against him are an embarrassment. I am confident the court will see through this and enter the appropriate judgment.

After all, that’s why we have courts of law, which are also courts of equity. You have been and always will be a credit to your community. I trust in the Court System. I trust in you.

Reply

Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 09:10 PM

Raymond DeVoe said…

Sorry to see that you’re getting railroaded Bill. It’s just not right, but seems to be the way of our country right now. Multiple levels of justice and selective prosecution.

Reply

Monday, November 27, 2023 at 06:13 AM

Diane W. said…

Mr Cleary, you have been, and will always be, a true journalist. You take the job seriously. Printing ” the truth and only the truth”. I didn’t know walking on school grounds was trespassing. Every quarter, when I look at my tax bill, I see a considerable amount goes to the school. So how can someone trespass on their own property? The taxpayers of this city own the schools. And any “trash” they choose to throw out is ours. You and your son are in my prayers. I hope the courts see this for the travesty that it is.

Reply

Monday, November 27, 2023 at 07:31 AM

johnboydunkirk@aol.com said…

I have known Bill Cleary for over 60 years, you could not find a more honest man. This is clearly some retaliation for his honorable reporting I believe Mr Cleary is one of the most honest men in Gloucester if they can do this to him they can do this to us

Reply

Monday, November 27, 2023 at 07:39 AM

Reader said…

You should go back into your archives, post the articles about city workers who committed crimes, and repost them, along with what was done about it. To me, that should be the president set for this. Our city council should be reminded about those things .

Reply

Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 09:11 AM

Susan DiSanto said…

This is appalling! Since when is walking on public school grounds trespassing? I grew up across the street from my elementary school, & all of us played on the playground year round & after hours. The people build the schools with their taxes, & they are by their very name public buildings! Anything that is not trash, should not be outside after closing. To arrest an elderly, well-respected man for an honest mistake is a travesty of justice. Shame on you!

Reply

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 04:35 AM

Gary Devine said…

My opinion…This is pure retaliation against Mr. Cleary by Cold Springs School for exposing how wasteful they are for throwing away an easy-to-repair bench. It also shows how the school is wasting taxpayer dollars. I believe these charges against Bill Cleary and his son are retaliation by those in power. The taxpayer pays for school grounds. The property belongs to the public.

I have known the Cleary family for 55 years. Bill’s father, George Cleary, was a nice guy with a smile on his face and a perfect gentleman. RIP. Those same traits were inherited by his son, Bill, and by George’s grandson.

I would like to know who was responsible for filing the charges against the Clearys. And why! What is the real reason a long time resident and reporter was charged with these rediculous charges?

The police were notified, and the bench was returned to the school. The matter was solved. So why do they have to appear in court? I’ll give you my best guess: someone or some people want to punish Bill Sr. for writing articles about things that they don’t want the public to know about.

I’m a former resident of Gloucester City. I now live in Mullica Hill. I am so happy that I do, as I couldn’t live in any city where those in charge punish a person for speaking the truth.

Reply

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 02:48 PM