Homeowners escaped a fire that tore through their house early Tuesday morning.

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Residents of a South Jersey home safely escaped after a fire ripped through their house early Tuesday morning, 6abc reports.

Fire officials and emergency personnel responded to the area of Quasar Court for the blaze that broke out at roughly 2:30 a.m., according to reports.

American Red Cross is assisting the homeowners and no injuries were reported.

The fire remains under investigation. 

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Rep. Norcross introduced the idea of naming the Deptford Post Office in Corma's honor late last year. On Monday afternoon, Norcross took it to the House of Representatives to make it a reality.

DEPTFORD TWP. - The effort to rename the post office in Deptford for a U.S. Army soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 won approval Monday from the House of Representatives. 

The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.), would change the name to the "First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building."

Corma, of Wenonah, was killed in action by an improvised explosive device on April 29, 2010. He was waving 18 other soldiers away from an IED when he was killed in an explosion.

"Many of those soldiers who survived that day would come home after service to their country and start a family and pursue the American dream. That's something that was denied to Sal. But, his selfless actions ensured others will get that opportunity - his fellow service members from April 29, 2010, as well as the rest of us here in the United States," Norcross said in a statement.

"Sal Corma is, undeniably, an American hero."

Soldiers push for Corma to receive Medal of Honor

Norcross presented the post office renaming on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday before it was approved.

"I take this opportunity to introduce to you a name that likely no one in the chamber has likely ever known, but it's a name and a legacy that you should know and you need to know and it is my honor to be the one to share it with you," Norcross said.

Corma, who went to Deptford High School, had a street named after him in the township and his portrait adorns the Wall of Heroes at the Gloucester County courthouse.

Corma is also memorialized in a garden at St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, Atlantic County. Corma graduated from St. Augustine Prep in 2004 before attending West Point.

Norcross said renaming the Deptford post office for Corma would be preserve his legacy and remind the community of his bravery.

"Every person that crosses that threshold in Deptford will see the name and if they don't know it, I hope they take a moment to read about his life and legacy," Norcross said.  

The measure now goes to the Senate for a vote.

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The event was dedicated to Pfc. George Benjamin Jr.

WOODBURY -- The annual Woodbury Relays, held Saturday at Woodbury Junior-Senior High School, paid tribute to a famous city resident.

The event was dedicated to Pfc. George Benjamin Jr., Woodbury's only recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Benjamin was killed in action in the Philippines during World War II.

He was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military honor for bravery in battle. Woodbury Mayor Bill Volk announced Saturday that Benjamin's family will donate the Medal of Honor to the city.

Benjamin was a member of the U.S. Army's 306th Infantry and members of the 306th traveled from their base in Fort Stewart, Georgia, to participate in Saturday's dedication.

Veterans honored with military service medals

Lt. Col. Greg Cannata shared the account of how Benjamin led a charge against a well-defended Japanese stronghold on the island of Leyte. His actions saved many lives and allowed an entire battalion to advance on Japanese forces, according to the account.

Woodbury's Memorial Day observances will include the presentation of the Medal of Honor to the city.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Carl Suit, who has been missing for the past two weeks, has been found alive, according to police.

Carl Suit, reported missing since March 31, is alive, Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante said Monday afternoon. (Photo: Lower Township Police) 

LOWER TWP. -- The Cape May County man who has been missing for more than two weeks has been found safe, according to the Lower Township Police Department.

Carl Suit, 35, was last seen by his wife on March 31 near his home in the Villas section of Lower Township. In the past two weeks, he had been spotted in at least two states and his car, a 2013 Kia Soul, was found in a Hoboken parking garage Saturday.

Lower Township's police department announced Tuesday morning that Suit has been located "safe and well" and advised the public that no further assistance is needed.

Police declined to provide further details about where Suit was found or the circumstances under which he went missing.

A large social media community banded together in an attempt to find Suit in the weeks since his disappearance. Facebook groups and Twitter posts reported possible sightings. Search parties were organized in New Jersey parks, parking lots and public spaces.

The hastags #AreYouCarl and #FindingCarl were used to coordinate the searches, with people from across the country reporting sightings, including at least one in Colorado. 

Suit's car was found less than a mile from the Hoboken Transportation hub, which includes a PATH and NJ Transit rail station, as well as a bus stop and a New York ferry terminal. Hoboken police said Sunday that they checked the car before handing it over to Suit's wife and that they believed Suit was alive.

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand.Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The group received a behind-the-scenes look at Radio City Music Hall

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - The Washington Township High School Drama Club, along with advisor Abby Molotsky, went to New York City recently for a daylong drama experience.

The group started with a full tour of Radio City Music Hall. There, they were able to stand on the stage, go underneath the stage, walk the backstage passageways, and meet one of the Rockettes.

Club members then had lunch in Times Square before heading back inside to see the Broadway musical School of Rock, which is based off of the movie of the same name.

They finished the day with dinner at Schnipper's Quality Kitchen before boarding the tour bus back home.

This item submitted by Matthew Pesyna, Washington Township School District.

Bridgeton's school board chief had maintenance crews work on her own home, and all the state wants is a "Corrective Action Plan"?

Taxpayers across New Jersey should be concerned about how authorities have bounced around an official finding that Bridgeton's Board of Education president used school district labor and equipment to do projects at her own home. 

Doesn't this fall into the category of "theft of services"? Shouldn't Angelia Edwards be charged criminally?

Not necessarily, if Edwards paid the workers and used them outside of school hours. But, wouldn't it be some kind of ethical lapse, since Edwards and the whole board oversee these workers?

The findings state that interviews by the state Division of Criminal Justice's Corruption Bureau "corroborate the fact that on numerous occasions, several board employees, by performing maintenance work at Ms. Edward's residence, engaged in work outside the scope of their duties, during the course of business hours, and with district-owned machinery and/or equipment ... ."

That seems pretty cut-and-dried to us, except for this: A letter advising the Bridgeton district of the findings came not from Criminal Justice, but from the state Department of Education's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance.

Criminal Justice conducted an investigation between January and May 2015,  turning its evidence over to the Department of Education, which can impose only civil remedies. The DOE apparently referred the information to the School Ethics Commission, which took no action, then tossed the data to the DOE fiscal accountability unit. Based on their March 21 letter, the hungry tigers at this office directed the school board -- the board that Edwards now chairs -- to "complete a Corrective Action Plan to address these findings."

That's it? We hope not.

If the evidence against her is really flimsy, sending such an accusatory letter to the school board is a disservice to Edwards. If the evidence is as solid as it sounds, authorities have done a disservice to employees who told the truth -- probably at some personal risk -- in requiring no remedy stronger than an essay on how the school board can prevent future misuse of public resources. Maybe the board can have the staff write it on the blackboard 100 times.

Edwards, reached after our initial article was published, states that the Attorney General's Office found no wrongdoing, despite what it has "corroborated." 

If she indeed used the personnel and equipment on district time, and hasn't at least made restitution, every New Jersey taxpayer is being played for a sucker. Bridgeton's impoverished district collects $79 million in state aid for its $107 million annual budget. What's the name of that DOE office? Isn't the word "accountability" in there?  

Maybe things are moving ahead under the radar. All we can say is, if Edwards is still a member in good standing -- let alone the president -- of the Bridgeton Board of Education when it next meets on May 3, citizens should demand a probe into the people who probed this incident.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Residents of a South Jersey home, safely evacuated home following house fire early Tuesday morning, temporarily displacing them.

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Residents of a South Jersey home safely evacuated when their house caught fire early Tuesday. 

The Washington Township Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire on Quasar Court, off of Aldeberan Drive, around 2:30 a.m. Firefighters found a fire on the first floor.

The fire was reportedly under control within 30 minutes with no injuries reported to civilians or firefighters. 

The Red Cross was contacted and responded for assistance in temporarily housing for the residents.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Washington Township Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit. 

At the time of the fire, there were no working smoke detectors in the residence and the Washington Township Fire Department urges residents to be sure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functional. 

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The man was apprehended in Camden County.

WOODBURY -- Authorities have nabbed one of the Gloucester County sheriff's most wanted fugitives.

Isaiah Loatman, 21, of Camden, was arrested Monday in Sicklerville. (Gloucester County Sheriff's Office)
 

Isaiah Loatman, 21, of Camden, was arrested Monday at a home in Sicklerville on a violation of probation warrant, with his original charge being possession of a weapon.

Loatman was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility.

The Gloucester County Sheriff's Office has apprehended 125 fugitives from the most wanted list since launching the online program in 2010.

If you know the whereabouts of a fugitive, call Lt. Jen Ridinger at 856-384-4625.

"Our Fugitive Unit is out on the streets everyday looking for fugitives," Sheriff Carmel Morina said in a statement. "Our unit has a group of well-trained detectives and our office works hard to get criminals off of the streets to keep the residents of our county safe."

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The southbound span will be down to one lane for the next several days, officials say.

Traffic on the southbound span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge has been restricted to one lane as construction workers perform what has been described as "urgent" work on support cables.

The "suspender ropes" being fixed connect the huge suspension cables with the bridge roadway.

Jim Salmon, a spokesman for the the Delaware River and Bay Authority which operates the bridge said traffic was funneled into one lane beginning Tuesday and was expected to continue that way for the next several days.

"We pride ourselves on customer service," Salmon said. "We don't want to inconvenience them, but this is something that has to be done."

Salmon said work has been ongoing on the suspender ropes, but inspections found three in close proximity to one another -- near the Delaware tower -- were deemed "priorities" on the replacement list.

In a release from the DRBA, the work was described as "urgent."

Salmon said the bridge remains safe.

There are have been no weight restrictions placed on vehicles, he said.

Salmon said the closing of the three left lanes was so that weight on the bridge was shifted away from the area where the work was underway.

Once the initial project is complete, two left lanes of the bridge will remain closed for about two weeks so more work can continue.

Major road work near the bridge

The four-lane span, which connects Pennsville and New Castle County, Delaware is a key link along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Traffic on the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 all merge together near the bridge to cross over the Delaware River to points south.

Motorists who want to use the Delaware-bound span can check DRBA traffic cameras to see if there are any major backups.

Motorists may follow the Bridge on Twitter @demembridge for the latest in traffic information.

The New Jersey-bound span of the bridge has not been impacted by the work.

Some 35 million motorists use the two spans of the Delaware Memorial Bridge each year.

One alternative for southbound travelers would be to use the Commodore Barry Bridge to connect with Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania.

WASHINGTON TWP. — Gloucester County Christian School in Washington Township announces the names of student on the Honor Roll and Principal's List for the third marking period. Principal's List: 1st Grade – Autumn Anuskiewicz, Samuel Bishop, John Clemento, Luke Covelli, Christian Crescenzo, Pierce Delaney, Nathan Hall, Michael Pierantozzi, Braden Sareyka, Gregory Sawyer, Gabriella Thyne, Chad Wanamaker. 2nd Grade – Rachel Cain, Joslyn Clemento,...

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Gloucester County Christian School in Washington Township announces the names of student on the Honor Roll and Principal's List for the third marking period.

 

Principal's List:

1st Grade - Autumn Anuskiewicz, Samuel Bishop, John Clemento, Luke Covelli, Christian Crescenzo, Pierce Delaney, Nathan Hall, Michael Pierantozzi, Braden Sareyka, Gregory Sawyer, Gabriella Thyne, Chad Wanamaker.

2nd Grade - Rachel Cain, Joslyn Clemento, Chirayu Daniel, John Hartman, Madison Klepacki, Jonah Lloyd, Hannah Stanley, Marissa Strickland.

3rd Grade - Daniel Blushtein, Jordan Burger, Rebecca Cain, Rachael Clendenen, Owen Delaney, Madison Elvin, Michael Fanslau, Anna Field, Sidnee Forbes, Jackie George, Chase Gittens, Colby James, Ava Juliano, Kaylee Schade, Brianna Stimpson, Olivia Teyssier, Patricia Turner, Nathan Valentine, John Luke Whiting, Denzel Wiggins.

4th Grade - Grace Bishop, Isabella Bodden, Hailey Covelli, Alyssa Lauer.

5th Grade - Aaron Blushtein, Isaiah Elvin, David Pulipati, Daniel Saar, Courtney Stimpson.

6th Grade - Megan Elliott, Hannah Hartman, Rhiana Jackson, Stephanie Sam, Sam McIntyre.

7th Grade - Jacob Bishop, Rachel Jager, Benjamin James, Paul Saar, Eric Strouse, Noel Szymanski, Kenneth Thompson.

8th Grade - Marlena Campana, Rhyan Centeno, Heather Hanna, Grace Harris, Marissa Hartman, Noah Jager, Erin Kennedy, Eddie Lee, Samantha Sam, Grant Sareyka.

9th Grade - Sarah Cassaday, Sierra Highley, Jacob James, Shona Smith.

10th Grade - Lauren Cassaday, Marlana Centeno, Faith Duggan, Joanna Flynn, Abigail Harris, Drew Monteleone-Haught, Abigail Moore, Caitlin Muller, Riley Rudd, Hannah Sareyka, Samantha Socha.

11th Grade - Megan Dersch, Evan Haines, David Hanna, Samantha Mitchell, Tolu Odunuga, Marilyn Paredes.

12th Grade - Brooke Braddock, Michaela Fallstick, Mackenzie Gossard, Addy Hurff, Jessica Mecke, Amanda Miller, Colin Sareyka, Gabrielle Schell, Bryan Stimpson, Rebekah Wetzel.

Honor Roll:

1st Grade - Hunter Burger, Joshua Collier, Cale Cooper, Andrew Field, Aydin Hood, Vianna Ott, Nicholas Quintana, Jackson Siefert.

2nd Grade - Nathan Barto, Rebekah Blushtein, Alaina Field, Gabriella Hadik, Michaiah Homan, Julie Russo, Peyton Small, Andrew Socha.

3rd Grade - Jackson Hughes, Allison Siefert.

4th Grade - Sarah Briggs, Cooper Dolan, Reese Ellul, Joshua Janicki, Kyle Sickler, Grace Stanley.

5th Grade - Isabella Cacchioli, Jadyn Cunningham, Aliyah Daughenbaugh, Kayla Feliciano, Garren Graves, Mark Hewitt, Aliyah Holmes, Elijah Homan, Isabella Ipri, Parker Lloyd, Logan Muller, Colin Schade, Jessie Spindler, Jayna Tistan.

6th Grade - Emily Bernstein, Matthew Blushtein, Tucker Clark, Olivia Doran, Faith Ellul, Curtis Elvin, Tatiana Ipri, Rachael Mecouch, Luke Mitchell, Enrique Rodriguez, Kerrie Russo, Evan Sareyka, Lucia Scarpinato, Yvonne Turner.

7th Grade - Makayla Griffin, Ben Grosso, Ethan Harris, Brett Mariner, Zoe Milliken, Matthew Mock, Laura Penn, Lillianna Whiting.

8th Grade - Jordyn Court, Noah Henry, Madelyn Mecouch, Robert Turner, Jenna Valentine.

9th Grade - Kyle Hartman, Faith Hurff.

10th Grade - Aubrey Domico, Jonathan Gerges, Madison Gossard, Aaron Haines, Caitlynn Lam, Brady Mariner, Lauren Murray, Ryan Petzitillo.

11th Grade - Faith Cassaday, Carissa Court, Kaitlyn Davis, Abigail Fowler, Zach Gilliam, Ian Hanrahan, Marissa Kennedy, Shaina Laslow, Hudson Spaulding, Sean Williams.

12th Grade - Rachel Cubbler, Brian Cummings, Rich Duggan, Sean Fennell, Steve Fowler, Carolyn Greene, Hannah Homan, Hailey Jager, Joshua Jager, Asia Johnson, Austin Kearney, Brooke Mariner, Daniel Milliken, Abby Schieber, Cameron Shapiro.

Paulsboro police have arrested three individuals in three separate business robberies in the past week.

PAULSBORO -- After a week of increased crime, borough police have made arrests or filed charges in three recent robberies, but continue to urge residents to be vigilant.

While theft of personal property is down about 70 percent from this time last year, there has still been a recent spike of crime, according to Police Chief Vernon Marino.

In the past week, three people were robbed in separate incidents at the Wells Fargo Bank, the Rite Aid store and the Wawa.

The Wells Fargo bank branch on Broad Street was robbed Wednesday, April 13, when a man entered the bank, wrote a note demanding money and handed the note to the teller. He was wearing a red Paulsboro wrestling sweatshirt over a plaid button-down shirt and jeans.

After still photos from the bank's security cameras were released, multiple calls came into the police department identifying the subject as Edward Di Vietro, a 32-year-old borough resident, Marino said. Di Vietro was arrested Tuesday at his home and charged with the robbery.

At around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a man jumped a cashier at the Rite Aid store on Broad Street as she was bringing her cash drawer to a back room. The robber fled on foot and despite a foot chase, officers lost him in the woods behind the apartments on Baird Avenue.

Through video surveillance, police identified him as a 17-year-old suspect who had been arrested last year for a similar robbery at the same store. He has been charged with theft, robbery and theft by force.

Scott Geiger, 26, has been charged with robbing a Paulsboro Wawa store on Sunday, April 17, 2016. 

A third robbery took place in the early Sunday when a man walked into the Wawa on Berkley Road and wrote a note demanding money on a doughnut box.

The cashier was not able to open the cash register, but gave the robber eight cartons of cigarettes. Ptl. Daniel Romero had crossed paths with the man as he left the store a few minutes before the robbery and recognized his description. He was able to find the suspect in a matter of minutes walking down the street near the store.

Scott Geiger, 26, a Woodbury resident who is currently staying at a Billings Avenue address, was charged with robbery, theft with threats, theft of removable property and possession of a hypodermic needle. He was placed in Salem County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

"Unfortunately in the last three weeks we've had an increase in some major crime," Marino said. "At times we have an increase and other times it can be quiet."

While businesses are often the targets of thefts and robberies, personal property is also a major target.

The department reminds everyone to lock their car doors at all times and to secure their home as best as possible. If any resident would like an officer to check their property and offer tips for better security measures they are asked to call Lt. Gary Kille at 856-423-1101 and a police officer can be scheduled to walk through with you.

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand.Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Jessica Thurman and Brian Foley each get a $1,000 scholarship from Hoffman DiMuzio

The law firm of Hoffman DiMuzio has allocated close to a half a million dollars to its "Gift of the Heart" Community Service Scholarship Foundation. Forty-one graduating seniors from Gloucester and Salem county high schools have been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship for embodying the service ideals of the program. This week, the 2016 "Gift of the Heart" Hoffman DiMuzio Community Service Foundation recipients are from Pitman High School -- Jessica Thurman and Brian Foley.

Jessica Thurman  

Jessica is a special individual. She was very close to her grandfather when he passed away from cancer when she was in the seventh grade. He had such an impact on Jessica; she started volunteering for the Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She has helped set up various fundraisers for her team and volunteered at the events. Helping cancer survivors and their families gives Jessica the satisfaction she is keeping her grandfather's legacy alive.

Jessica has also been involved in charitable activities through school. She is a four-year member of the Key Club currently serving as secretary. She has also been a teacher's aide for two years. For the past four years, Jessica has participated in Community Clean-up, volunteered at the Easter Egg Hunt with the National Arts Honor Society and has also volunteered with the Susan Komen Walk for the Cure. 

Brian Foley

Brian is a member of the Ronald McDonald Teen Advisory Council. This group of dedicated students helps reduce the stress of families who have critically ill as well as injured children. Brian led the school-sponsored fundraiser selling candy grams at lunchtime. He also participated in the Spare Some Love bowling fundraiser by obtaining a sponsor and selling tickets for the event. The Teen Advisory Council was able to raise over $30,000 for various projects at the Ronald McDonald House.

Brian has also volunteered at his local church and food bank. Brian is a member of his church's youth council assisting them with various activities including decorating the church during Christmas season. During the summer, he assists with the Vacation Bible School working with the students. Brian enjoys his volunteer activities as it allows him to meet new people while helping those less fortunate and making their lives a little bit easier.

Congratulations are extended to Pitman High School students Jessica Thurman and Brian Foley as well as to their proud family and friends. Their community service to others exemplifies the true meaning of a Gift of the Heart!

Next week's featured recipients will be from Washington Township High School.

This item submitted by Hoffman DiMuzio Law Offices.

The reward for information regarding the death of Sylvester "Buttons" Combs has been raised to $5,000.

Sylvester "Buttons" Combs was found murdered in Swedesboro on Wednesday April 9, 2016. (Provided photo) 

SWEDESBORO -- With funding approved by borough council, the reward for information regarding the death of Sylvester "Buttons" Combs has been increased to $5,000.

Combs, 61, a homeless man who was known throughout Swedesboro, was found dead in an abandoned commercial trailer on April 6. He suffered multiple head injuries and his death has been ruled a homicide.

An investigation by the Woolwich Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office is ongoing. The prosecutor's office previously offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible and the borough's additional $2,500 will be added to that reward.

Combs was known to frequent the trailer in which he was found and many Swedesboro residents often tried to get him food, clothing and shelter. He was found dead after police began searching for him when residents reported not seeing him in a few days.

The first homicide in decades in the tiny borough, Combs' death has brought the community together as they raised money to cover the cost of his funeral and held a candlelight vigil in his memory Friday.

Anyone with information about Combs, or had seen him between April 2 and April 6, is asked to contact Det. Greg Malesich of the GCPO at 856-384-5626 or Det. Chris Beckett of the Woolwich PD at 856-467-1667 ext. 1224.

Information can also be emailed anonymously to the Prosecutor's Office at tips@gloucester.nj.us.

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand.Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

It's the first time in at least eight years the township administration has not proposed raising municipal taxes.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- After at least eight straight years of seeing their tax bills go up, Washington Township residents may get a break on the municipal portion of their 2016 property taxes.

Democratic Mayor Barbara Wallace -- who faces reelection and a primary challenge this year -- introduced a budget last week that includes across-the-board spending cuts and a decrease in the town's tax levy. The average homeowner's exact tax rate won't be available until June.

Business Administrator Bob Smith said the administration was able to hold the line on taxes by making about $110,000 in small cuts in the operations and expenses part of the budget while drawing additional funds from the township's surplus.

The $38.1 million budget includes using $2.3 million in surplus to balance the books, leaving another $2.3 million in the bank. The amount is a bump up from the $1.5 million the administration drew on from the surplus in last year's budget, but Smith said at least half a million of the increase is due to emergency expenses incurred last year when the June macroburst storm caused widespread tree fall and extensive property damage throughout the township.

"We felt it was appropriate since [the surplus] had been built that high, that part of it could be given back to the taxpayers in the form of tax relief," said Smith. "We're doing that with only spending an additional $300,000 over last year, if you consider the fact we had that $500,000 emergency appropriation we're paying for this year."

The surplus still remains in better health than it was when Wallace took office and its depleted levels, which dropped below $1 million, spurred a slight downgrade in the township's bond rating.

The proposed budget also includes a down payment on a bond that will fund the mayor's ongoing capital road program, a long-term plan started in 2012 that's focused on upgrading the township's streets and improving its infrastructure. Smith said the continued funding is possible since the township has continued to pay off its older bonds. Payments on its remaining debts dropped by more than $300,000 this year.

The administration's good news comes as the township's political scene prepares for a contested Democratic primary race that pits Wallace against challenger Joann Gattinelli for the mayor's office. Shawn Carvalho-Dawson and Tom Sparacio are vying against incumbent Democrat Scott Newman and newcomer Tom Cusano for two council seats.  

Despite turmoil, mayor seeks reelection

While Wallace has served as mayor since she won an unexpired, one-year term in 2011 and a full, four-year term in 2012, she's split with the township's Democratic party in recent years -- a division that's spurred multiple lawsuits and in-party fighting -- and won't be bracketed, or placed on the same line, with the county's regular Democratic candidates on the ballot in June.

When contacted last week, Council President Sean Longfellow, who is aligned with the township's regular Democratic party, said he wanted to dig into the budget's figures and supporting documents before offering any suggestions or opinions.

"We'll do our legwork and make sure the numbers are crunched right, and ultimately we'll get a budget passed," said Longfellow.

He said the council plans on having discussions with department heads in coming weeks and will hold a public hearing prior to a final adoption of the budget, a process that usually wraps up in late May or early June.

Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The nun claims that she has no recollection of driving to New Jersey.

WASHINGTON TWP. -- The trial of a Philadelphia nun charged facing DUI and related charges will draw to a close today in municipal court.

Kimberly Miller, 41, was arrested in the Gloucester County township during the early morning hours of Nov 7. She in court claimed last week that she had taken Ambien with a glass of wine before bed, and that she had no memory of driving to New Jersey and crashing into a Meineke auto repair shop on the Black Horse Pike.

Miller told Judge Martin Whitcraft that she remembered going to sleep at her home in a North Philadelphia convent. The next thing she knew, she said, she had been arrested.

"I woke up, and I was in my habit and handcuffs," said Miller. The teacher at Little Flower Catholic High School in Philadelphia has been on administrative leave since her arrest.

Miller has a history of sleepwalking and also suffers from a dissociative disorder. A medical expert who testified last Wednesday said Ambien has been known to exacerbate sleepwalking and even make people drive or cook in their sleep.

Whitcraft will deliver his verdict at about 8:30 a.m.

"It's bizarre until you consider the facts," said Jeff Lindy, Miller's defense attorney. "It's a unique situation. That's what we're asking the judge to consider."

Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Last month we had the worm moon. This month we'll see the pink moon, also known as the egg moon.

As long as the skies are clear this week, New Jersey sky watchers will get a glimpse of the so-called pink moon Thursday night into Friday morning. But even if you are able to see it, the moon won't have a pinkish tint.

That's just one of the nicknames for the April full moon, symbolizing the start of spring and pink-colored flowers that are blooming and spreading this time of year, such as the wild ground phlox, or moss pink, according to FullMoonPhases.com.

The April full moon will be rising this week. Will it look as spectacular as this orange harvest moon over a Hillsborough farm? (Star-Ledger File Photo) 

This moon has some other nicknames as well.

In other cultures, people refer to the April full moon as the egg moon, the fish moon and the sprouting grass moon, the website says. The fish nickname was reportedly coined by coastal American Indian tribes that noticed shad would swim upstream to spawn around the time of the April full moon.

Regardless of what anyone calls it, one thing is certain: "The moon will not look any different than any other full moon," said Kevin Conod, manager of the Dreyfuss Planetarium at the Newark Museum.

The full moon will be glowing in the sky over the New Jersey and the rest of the East Coast region on Friday, April 22, at 1:25 a.m.

Unfortunately for astronomy buffs, the annual Lyrid meteor shower happens to peak on the morning of April 22, according to EarthSky.org. So the meteor shower will be dimmed by the light of the full moon.

Sky watchers will have an opportunity to see what else is out in space Friday night, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., when Rowan University hosts a night sky event in conjunction with the Philadelphia Science Festival. Keith Johnson, director of the Edelman Planetarium at Rowan, said he is keeping his fingers crossed that the weather cooperates.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Many aspects of employer-provided insurance have changed dramatically over the past several years.

By Dr. Anthony J. Cerone Jr.

I recently read an article about a survey stating that 25 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 did not understand seven basic health insurance terms: premium, co-payment, deductible, provider network, co-insurance, covered services and maximum out-of-pocket expenses.

Dr. Anthony J. Cerone Jr.

Many aspects of employer-provided insurance have changed dramatically over the past several years. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea this month to go over these terms with you.

1: Premium: This is the total amount of money you or your employer pays the insurance company typically each month or year in exchange for health insurance coverage. For the average family, annual premiums have edged beyond $16,800. Furthermore, health insurance companies around the country are seeking rate increases of 20-40 percent or more to accommodate new customers under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Unbelievable!

2: Co-Payment: This is a specific charge that your insurance may require you to pay for an office visit or a prescription, after which they will pay the rest. Typically, it is a flat fee of $15-$20.

3: Deductible: This is a specific dollar amount that some insurance company expects you to pay each year upfront before they begin to make payment for claims. A typical deductible would be $500. Plans with no deductible generally have higher premiums.

4: Provider Network: This refers to the group of physicians who are contracted with your health insurance network to provide your care. The physicians agree to established protocols and charges for specific services while gaining large numbers of patients in return. As a member of a health plan, you are obligated to receive care from a network provider under most circumstances. Out-of-network coverage is usually approved if the service is not available within the network.

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5: Co-Insurance: After meeting your co-payment, this is the amount that you must pay for services after the insurance company has paid their portion. Typically the insurance company may pay 80 percent of the allowable charge and you will be billed for 20 percent of the allowable charge.

6: Covered Services: These are typically treatments, visits and medications that the insurance company will make payment on. Typically, these services are consistent with current standard of medical care. Some services not covered may be considered investigational or experimental. Other non-covered services may include things such as treatment for infertility, treatment for addiction, cosmetic surgery, private duty nursing, and alternative/complementary medicine.

7: Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expense: This is an annual limit on all costs for which patients are responsible for under the insurance plan. The amount may typically be $2,000 for an individual plan or $4,000 for a family plan. This applies only to covered services. This includes deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance but not the premium. Beyond this expense, the insurance company will pay all expenses for the remainder of the year.

So there is a basic explanation of these common health insurance terms. While many of you are very familiar with this lingo, I hope this has been helpful to some. Have a pleasant spring!

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Dr. Anthony Cerone is a semiretired urologist and a Clayton resident. His articles appear monthly and deal with health care issues. You can reach Dr. Cerone at amcerone@verizon.net with any question or topic you would like him to cover.

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South Jersey Times may be reached at sjnews@njadvancemedia.com. Follow us on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The massive commercial/residential project has been in the works for several years.

HARRISON TWP. -- Construction on the first portion of the long-awaited Richwood Town Center project could begin by the end of the year.

Costco will anchor the first phase, dubbed the Southside Commercial Redevelopment Area, Harrison Township Mayor Lou Manzo said.

That section is bounded by Route 322, Aura Road and Route 55 and will include several retail stores and restaurant spots. While none of the other occupants for those sites have been named, the list of desired occupants includes several well-known brands.

"We'd love to see a Chick-Fil-A," Manzo said. Other businesses on the "like" list include Panera, Starbucks and a sporting goods store, such as Dick's or Modell's.

In all, the first phase includes 350,000-400,000 square feet of retail space.

The entire Richwood redevelopment project consists of more than 380 acres on both sides of Route 322 between Barnsboro Road and Route 55. In addition to stores and restaurants, the plan includes about 1,600 housing units.

Developer Madison Marquette is working on infrastructure plans for sewer and road work for phase one and could seek final site plan approval for the project by the summer, Manzo said.

The project will tie into the county utilities authority's sewer system, meaning a long-talked about sewage treatment plant for Richwood won't be needed, Manzo said. Also taking advantage of sewer service will be the new Inspira hospital planned on the other side of the Route 55 interchange, as well as future developments on Rowan University's West Campus.

If approvals are granted, ground breaking for phase one could take place by the end of the year, with store openings possible by late 2017, Manzo said.

Phase two, the actual town center portion of the project, would include retail and residential space, with this portion anchored by a movie theater/entertainment facility with a liquor license.

The township has long envisioned a Frank Theaters venue as the hub for the town center, though no deal has been finalized at this stage, Manzo said. The facility would include a restaurant, bowling alley and other attractions for kids. Frank owns and operates 25 theaters and 256 screens in the Northeast and South, including one in Mercer County.

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Madison Marquette owns four liquor licenses for the project. They were the winning bidder for the licenses in 2013, paying $2 million. Franks would use one. Developers haven't revealed who will receive the others

Across 322 from phase one sits the Northside Commercial Redevelopment Area,

Wal-Mart was once eyed to anchor this section, but that idea has since been abandoned and Manzo couldn't be happier.

When the idea of a Wal-Mart coming to town was first raised, the reaction from residents was overwhelmingly negative, he said. "Residents didn't want a Wal-Mart," he said. In the time period between 2011 and 2013, however, they were the only major retailer building anything, Manzo added.

Manzo said his dream is to bring a Wegmans-type gourmet food market to the site. Wegmans was approached.

"They've told us 'no' because they have a very specific model," Manzo said. While the incomes of local residents meet their needs, current population density doesn't, he said.

With the planned Richwood development, though, that density is coming, Manzo said. "What they told us is, talk to us in 5 or 8 years when the density is there."

Progress on Richwood has been slow.

"Even when I took office in January of '08, it was already under way," Manzo said. "And then the economy fell off the cliff ... so for the last almost eight years we've been kind of keeping it on life-support"

All the while, Harrison leaders have been watching progress down Route 322 in Woolwich Township, which is also trying to develop a retail corridor. 

Interested businesses will go for the project that is actually moving forward, Manzo said.

"It was always kind of a race," he said. "We knew that we had to get something up out of the ground."

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Officials hope to re-open once air quality results permit.

FRANKLIN TWP. -- Officials hope the township library will soon re-open after a mulch fire outside of the building resulted in interior smoke damage.

It's not known if it was a carelessly tossed cigarette or some other cause that started the fire April 4, but smoldering mulch up against the building sent smoke into the library's ventilation system, said library director Deborah Riether.

Servpro has replaced ceiling tiles and insulation, cleaned carpeting and upholstery and were wiping down walls on Friday, Riether said.

"It's amazing how such a small fire can do such a large amount of damage," she said.

The library's books seem to have survived unscathed, with no smoky odors detected on the collection.

Show your support for N.J. libraries

The goal now is ensuring air quality is acceptable to permit patrons to return, Riehter said. Library staff are waiting for results of air quality tests before they can resume normal operations.

"I know our residents want to get back in and we want to get back open," she said.

The library, located on Coles Mill Road, sees about 5,000 visitors and checks out 6,000-7,000 items each month. Thanks to its summer reading program, the library sees 10,000 patrons in July.

The cost of the cleanup is being handled through the township's insurance, Riether noted. The township owns the building.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Glenn Baker writes that a "welcome home" event is worthwhile and overdue.

To the Editor:

Concerning Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly's column, "N.J. Vietnam vets aren't to be forgotten," on April 18:

A "Welcome Home" celebration scheduled for 2 p.m. May 7 at City Hall is a very noble and worthy gesture by Kelly and the City of Bridgeton.  

The Vietnam War was a divisive war fought by a divided nation. As President Jimmy Carter said in 1979 when proclaiming May 29-June 3 as Vietnam Veterans Week - and, I'm paraphrasing -- we should remember honestly and, hopefully with some humility, those brave men and women who accepted their citizens' responsibility at a time when it was more popular not to do so.

Growing up in the hard scrabble of South Jersey and as a 1963 Bridgeton High School graduate, going to Canada or Australia was not an option for me.

So, after almost 50 years, it is good to hear "Welcome Home from Vietnam."

Glenn L. Baker 

Magnolia

Note: The writer served in the 1st Air Cavalry Division and was wounded twice during his Vietnam service. 

Salem freeholder bid may not need do-over

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Charlotte Coleman's recent letter, "In Salem County, again pick the real winner," which concerns my 2016 freeholder candidacy and supports my likely fall opponent, Mellisa DeCastro:

Yes, I did amend my petition to note that I am running for a two-year unexpired term.m Anyone who files a petition has three days to amend it under state law. I did not know when submitting my petition that I had to specify "unexpired term." Nor was I informed of this at filing time by the clerk; it was the newspaper that reached out to me. 

Concerning the 2015 freeholder election (in which a judge declared a seat vacant because of a tie between Democrat Hassler and Republican DeCastro), a state appellate court will hear my new motions in late May.  I am asking the court to open all provisional ballots that are remaining. I believe the voters should decide the election, not appointed bureaucrats. 

At this time, the contested 2015 seat is vacant. If all the ballots are counted, there will be a clear winner and voters will have spoken. There will be no need for am unexpired-term race in November. We should all want the people to feel that their votes count. We also need to assure the young people of Salem County that they are being listened to, and that the system works and is not corrupt.

I received my education in Salem County through the community college level. I've worked in and raised my daughter in the county, and have been giving back to the county all my life. I look forward to serving the people if I am fortunate enough to win the election.

Charles Hassler

Salem

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