Roy Lehman writes that GOP nominee Seth Grossman is making provocative statements to link himself to the "cult" of Donald Trump.

Being a provocateur while also being successful in politics is a recent phenomenon that also recalls the saying, "The fish rots from the head."

You have rot in the White House that has permeated down to the Second District congressional race in New Jersey. The Republican Party has become the cult of Donald Trump. Look at some statements by GOP nominee Seth Grossman and ask yourself how far are we going to let this nation sink into this nonsense of divisive politics.

Speaking to WHYY Radio about the Democrats' opposition to Trump's immigration crackdown, Grossman said: "The Democrats want more Democrat voters dependent on government, dependent on the Democratic Party. They're undocumented Democrats. It's all about political power." 

Does Grossman (who also called diversity "a bunch of crap") realize just how divisive he is? 

At one time, we were led by politicians who tried to unite us around sound policies that would benefit the country like Franklin Roosevelt Roosevelt did with Social Security and Lyndon Johnson did with Medicare. They campaigned on those ideas. Now we live in a dystopian country run by a fourth-rate entertainer who exists for self aggrandizement and is intent on dividing us.

It seems like Grossman wants to be a foot soldier for our wannabe-despot president. This American president recently said of North Korean strongman leader Kim Jong Un, "He speaks and his people sit up and pay attention. I want my people to do the same." (Trump later claimed he had been joking.)

Really? 

This descent into the abyss of Trumpism needs to be stopped. Seth Grossman would be an enabler, and is not the answer. 

Roy Lehman, Woolwich Township

Times quotes Republicans only to bash them

Could the South Jersey Times be any more transparent with its bias against the Republican Party? Whenever they mention a GOP candidate, it always seems to be negative. 

Right now, it's Seth Grossman, the fall nominee for New Jersey's Second District congressional seat. By reporting and commenting on Grossman's recent statements calling "diversity" ridiculous, the Times is attempting to disparage him.

Grossman is saying only that the word "diversity" has taken a whole new meaning in today's political environment. In Democrats' eyes, diversity is simply a new synonym for "affirmative action." Since many Americans say they oppose affirmative action, the Democrats have simply found a new code word for it.  

Grossman is just making the public aware of this. The mainstream media and the left are jumping all over this as if it's a bad thing. Then again, when have Democrats ever wanted businesses to hire based on skill? Since Democrats are starting to lose votes from well-educated African Americans, the party is targeting new immigrants as future voters.

As Grossman states, we should hire, reward and promote people "based on their talent, their character, their work, their achievements, not because they happen to be a member of certain group who can check off a certain diversity box or get double credit for checking off two or three diversity boxes to get promoted."

In most newspapers, the opinion section represents both sides of an issue. The only opinions in the Times representing the political right and Republicans are short letters from readers. Wake up, South Jersey Times. Democrats aren't the only ones who read your paper. But if you continue to be one-sided, they may be your only subscribers.

Michael Mangers, Mullica Hill

Editor's note: In November, GOP nominee Grossman faces Democrat Jeff Van Drew, a state senator, for the House seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo.

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

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

The WTSSSPA succeeded to fill seats on a school bus with items to be donated towards the mother's cupboard food bank.

The Washington Township Schools Support Services Personnel Association (also known as the WTSSSPA), held its second 'Stuff the Bus' campaign of the 2017-18 school year at Washington Township High School on June 6.

The WTSSSPA succeeded to fill seats on a school bus with items to be donated towards the mother's cupboard food bank.

Items such as canned goods, cleaning supplies, baby products, snacks, paper/plastic products, toiletries, peanut butter, jelly, mac & cheese, gift cards, along with cash donations were accepted throughout the day.

A lot of hands are involved with the campaign which is hosted twice every school year. From teaching assistants, to bus drivers, support staff, maintenance, food service, and etc., many hands are on deck to help the cause. Joanne Fernandez, a paraprofessional (teaching assistant) of the district and one of the heads of the campaign, says that the superintendent [Joseph N. Bollendorf] is "very supportive" of the cause. And she can't thank everyone involved enough foe their roles involved.

So how did the process of the campaign come to fruition?

"The idea became started about eight years ago with a food service person and we wanted something different than just giving or writing a check." Said Fernandez. "So, we stuffed a school bus and then we needed a source and that's where Mother's Cupboard came through. This campaign, which is held twice a year during the school year, has really become very fun for us!"

The bus full of items then gets transported to the food bank, which is located behind the municipal center. When asked who is responsible for getting these items out of the bus and into the facility, Patty Culen, a paraprofessional and a volunteer proudly says, "You're looking at them!"

When providing some details on the transportation process, Fernandez says the building has a garage door in where they pull up with the bus and unload the bus with carts for the items to go in. Afterwards the items get sorted out accordingly.

As an incentive given out to those who donate goods toward the campaign, the union pride provides items such as chapstick, sun tan lotion, eyeglasses, and waterproof cellphone bags with the WTSSSPA logo on it.

Contributions towards the campaign come in many forms from many people in the community. Culen describes her experience in organizing donations through her school at the Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center.

"I'm at the Grenloch School with the smaller kids. My principal put it [stuff the bus] out there and then I put signs around the building so if the parents were coming in at all times, we had a location with boxes." Said Culen. "And then every night, I'd take them out and then we brought it here. So, there's a lot of different parents who brings items that the kids can't carry to school with them because that's our kindergarden and preschoolers. However, everyone gets to help, you know!"

As far as what items are needed from time to time, the campaign fluctuates and changes according to the needs of the community. Sometimes clothing is needed. Other times it would be toys. Towards the fall, backpacks stuffed with school items would be the way to go. Most of the time, the campaign targets items to benefit the food bank.

At the end of the day, whether the campaign helps those mainly in the local community or redirecting the donations towards other causes for other communities in need (such as those recovering in Puerto Rico this past year), Fernandez says it's a great look to show the kids, it's not just adults who give back.

The 'Stuff the Bus' campaign commits twice a school year usually towards the fall and spring seasons. As for the Mother's Cupboard, it is located in the Washington Township Family and Community Services on 523 Egg Harbor Road, Turnersville, NJ. The Cupboard is opened every Thursday from 9am to 12pm.

The Clayton resident was arrested within an hour officials learning of the post.

A former student was arrested for allegedly posting a social media threat about a shooting at his old school, police said.

Amante Brice, 19, of Clayton, posted a photo of Clayton High School on Instagram, along with the caption "revenge is a (expletive) the next S.S." The post included a few gun emojis.

S.S. denotes school shooting, police said. The caption included several gun emojis.

District officials learned of the post Friday morning, contacted police and placed the school on a "lock in place" for 10 minutes. A lock in place is a heightened level of security in which visitors are not allowed into the school and students are kept out of hallways, while teaching and all other school operations continue as normal.

That status remained in place for only 10 minutes, police said.

Within an hour, Brice was located in Vineland and arrested. He was charged with terroristic threats, causing a false public alarm and disorderly conduct. 

Brice was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility, police said.

His Facebook profile indicates he previously attended the school.

In a message to parents, Clayton Superintendent Nikolaos C. Koutsogiannis described "a few tense minutes" in the combined high school and middle school complex on Friday, but praised students for reacting calmly and following all directions.

"Unfortunately, these are the times that we live in and, as a consequence, we have to take all threats seriously," he wrote.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.

A Marshalls employee told the dispatcher one of the shoplifting suspects had a warrant for manslaughter. There's no indication that any of the three involved had such a warrant. Watch video

A Marshalls employee who confronted suspected shoplifters trying to flee the Deptford Township store June 9 told a dispatcher that one of them was wanted on a warrant for manslaughter.

The incident ended with a township police officer shooting into a moving car, killing the driver as she allegedly tried to run him down with her vehicle.

The phone call is part of a redacted set of audio files released by Gloucester County on Monday afternoon in response to an Open Public Records Act requests.

The phone call answers the lingering question of how police learned one of the suspects was possibly a killer, but it doesn't explain where the store employee got this information. 

No records have been revealed to show that any of the three were wanted on a warrant for manslaughter or homicide. The trio were known to Marshalls' personnel from previous thefts, according to prosecutors.

When reached for comment Monday about the Marshalls' employee telling the dispatcher about the warrant, a spokes's call to dispatchWe continue to cooperate with law enforcement, but beyond that, as this is an active police matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Two men and a woman allegedly tried to steal more than $3,400 in merchandise by concealing it in a suitcase and leaving the store.

The loss prevention employee called 911 to ask for police help and to provide descriptions of suspects trying to steal items. During that call, he claims one is wanted, but doesn't elaborate.

"One has a warrant for manslaughter," he tells the dispatcher. "I'm gonna need help stopping them."

The dispatcher tells him she has two officers on the way.

"How do you know they're wanted for homicide," the dispatcher asks him, but she doesn't get an answer.

The dispatcher tries to learn more as the employee apparently begins chasing the suspects. Although the Marshalls' loss protection worker doesn't say which of the three has a warrant, the dispatcher assumes it's the man.

"He's advising me the male is wanted for homicide, but he's not cooperating with me," the dispatcher tells responding officers.

"Where are they? I have two cops in the parking lot," the dispatcher asks the Marshalls worker.

Shouting can be heard as the employee apparently struggles with the shoplifters.

"I see them. I'm pulling up," an officer tells the dispatcher.

From there, the recording seems to pick up audio of an officer giving orders.

"She just struck my arm with the vehicle," an officer yells.

Seconds later, someone yells, "Shots fired, shots fired."

One of the officers, Sgt. Kevin A. Clements, fired three rounds and two struck Lashanda Anderson, 36, of Philadelphia, as police say she drove toward the officer. 

Also in the vehicle was Chanel Barnes, 38, of Philadelphia, who was charged with shoplifting. The third member of the group, Raoul Gadson, 43, was arrested days later in Philadelphia on charges of assault and robbery.

After the shooting, a police officer says they believe the one who is wanted was the woman sitting in the passenger seat in the SUV.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the officer's fatal shooting.

Clements, 41, is a 19-year police veteran. He remains on administrative duty while the investigation continues, as does a captain who also responded to the scene and was struck by the open door of the SUV as Anderson tried to flee.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.

Arthur Barclay, a south Jersey Democrat, is also a former high school basketball star from Camden.

Arthur Barclay, a south Jersey Democrat, resigned from the state Assembly on Monday, a little more than two weeks after he was arrested on a charge of simple assault related to domestic violence.

The 36-year-old Camden County lawmaker -- a former high school basketball star -- stepped down "effectively immediately" for "health reasons," according to Camden County Democratic Party Chairman James Beach, who is also a state senator.

Arthur Barclay 

Messages left with Barclay's legislative offices were not immediately returned Monday. 

But Barclay confirmed the arrest to political news website New Jersey Globe, which was the first to report the incident Monday.

"It happened," he told the website.  "I don't want to talk about it.  It is what it is.  It happened.  I just want to move forward."

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said he was "appalled to learn" of Barclay's actions.

"It is my understanding that he is doing the right thing and will resign from the General Assembly immediately," Coughlin added in a statement. 

Barclay was arrested in Camden a little after 7 p.m. on June 7 for "simple assault domestic violence," according to an arrest report obtained by NJ Advance Media and other news outlets. 

He is scheduled to appear in Camden municipal court on June 28. 

Further details were unavailable late Monday night. A Camden County spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Barclay has been a member of the Assembly since January 2016, representing south Jersey's 5th legislative district, which includes parts of Camden and Gloucester counties -- including the city of Camden.

He was vice chair of the Assembly's law and public safety committee and a member of its judiciary committee.

A Camden native, Barclay was a basketball standout at Camden High School in the late 1990s.  The 6-foot-8 forward, who graduated in 2000, scored 1,259 points in his career.

Barclay later played three seasons for the University of Memphis basketball team under famed coach John Calipari.

He was inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. 

It is now up to Democratic committee members in Barclay's district to pick a replacement for his seat. Whoever is chosen will serve until a special election in November for the final year on Barclay's two-year term.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Noah Cohen and Chris Sheldon contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Renee Bumb is a federal judge who has presided over thousands of cases. She lives in Wenonah

Renee Bumb, a federal judge who has presided over thousands of cases, including patent disputes that sometimes had hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact, will be honored as Wenonah's Hometown Legend during the town's Fourth of July festivities.  

The Wenonah Hometown Legend award recognizes a current or former resident who "inspires legends, instills pride, and serves as a role model for the people of Wenonah," said Carl Hausman, who chairs the Hometown Legend selection committee. 

Judge Bumb, who was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2006 and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, is a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and serves in Camden.

"I love the law and feel that every decision results in an important difference in people's lives," she says.  "The job has an enormous amount of responsibility but also a great sense of purpose and fulfillment."

Judge Bumb never set out to be a lawyer, she says.  Her early years were spent on her family's farm in Ohio.   But when she joined a student exchange program to Peru, she developed an interest in foreign services.  As part of her studies, she became fluent in Russian and Spanish, and eventually earned a master's degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago.

During an internship at the United Nations she took a job as a paralegal to pay the bills and, she says, discovered what she says was her true calling.  She graduated from Rutgers School of Law with honors in 1987 and after serving a clerkship to a federal judge, went into private practice.  In 1991, she was appointed as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, where, among other duties, she prosecuted high-profile corruption cases.

But in 2006, she received a call that changed her life.

"I checked my office voicemail and there was a call from the White House asking if I would be interested in a federal judgeship,"  Judge Bumb recalls. "I sent my resume, was asked to come to Washington for a series of interviews, and before I knew it I was sitting in my office in Camden watching my confirmation vote on CNN."

Judge Bumb works as a volunteer feeding the homeless population in Camden and Atlantic City and helps with a volunteer group that aids families with children who have Down Syndrome.  She also works with an organization founded by her  daughters Katrina and Elizabeth  that solicits donations of used dancewear for disadvantaged children.

She is also an active member of the Order of Secular Franciscans, Christ the King Fraternity.

Judge Bumb has lived in Wenonah since 1999.  She and her  husband,  Kevin Smith, a Superior Court judge, have three children, Elizabeth, 19,  Katrina, 17,  and Liam 13.   

For Ilexia Navarro, visual art goes well beyond vision

For Ilexia Navarro, visual art goes well beyond vision. The Chestnut Ridge Middle School seventh-grader can only see bright colors, but that hasn't stopped her from enjoying - and excelling - in Mr. Jeff Hull's art class.

On May 23^rd, CRMS hosted its annual Art and Music Festival, where the student body came together to exhibit their artwork and play music. Each year, a select few pieces of art are picked to run for a spot in the school's "Permanent Collection" - work that is considered to have creatively gone over and above the project's requirements and are displayed for years to come. This year, the winning piece was a contour line painting of an Henri Matisse drawing - crafted by Ilexia Navarro.

"I knew it was a special piece of art, but I didn't know it was that special," Hull said, noting that contest ballots are submitted by office staff and teachers from the entire school. "I was so, so excited that it won. It was amazing."

The contour line project had to be adjusted for Navarro. While her classmates traced drawings to start their project, Navarro needed some help. That help, led by Hull, threaded wire into a smooth foam board along the lines of the picture.

"I really can't trace like everyone else, so the wire let me feel what the lines were like on the picture," Navarro said. "I like tactile things. I'm able to feel them. I thought it was really cool that I could do that art even though I can't see."

Feeling the lines, Navarro said she was able to get a vivid image in her head of what the piece looked like. After that, she was able to excitedly paint the shapes between the linework. And she did it well enough to be selected for the Permanent Collection.

Hull said he had seen the project done similarly before, but never taught it that way until he had Ilexia in his class. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to break away from the normal pattern of instruction for a student he admires.

"One of the things about Ilexia that is so great, and why I'm so glad this won, is because it would be so easy for her to say, 'Put me in another class, and not visual art,'" Hull said. 

"She was so excited to come to class every day, and she did some magnificent work with clay and on other projects where she got to use her hands. Her winning attitude is the real masterpiece, and her beautiful artwork expresses a 'never give up' attitude that continues to amaze me daily."

A South Jersey Social Security office has a two-year backlog for disability benefit hearings, the nation's third longest. Reducing the wait must be a priority.

Between the poles of allowing fraudulent Social Security disability applications to proceed unfettered, and holding up benefits from the deserving during an excruciatingly long process, there must be a "sweet spot" for regional Social Security Administration offices.

Whatever is going on, the South Jersey office is not hitting that sweet spot.

Average waits for a decision there are, stunningly, the third longest among the nation's 168 offices. Only those in Chicago and San Juan had longer average waits. Reasons why San Juan would be such an outlier are abundant. Puerto Rico has been ravaged first by economic forces, then by hurricanes. 

But South Jersey? Our region has not been a hotbed of fraud. It's not subject to ongoing climate disasters, thank Mother Nature.

The average for a disability application hearing in South Jersey is two years. The national average -- 596 days -- is nothing to be proud of, either. In New Jersey, besides Cherry Hill's two-year backlog, Jersey City's (22 months) was the nation's 12th worst, and Newark's (21 months) was the 23rd longest.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., says he's on the case. He's written to the acting Social Security commissioner to ask "what's up?" National waiting time for these cases has doubled since 2012. 

Applicant Pete Palella of East Greenwich Township thinks he knows the problem: There are not enough judges, or they're distributed in a way that makes South Jersey lose out. 

Like many of those seeking disability benefits, this isn't Palella's first run at it. The 49-year-old civil engineer says he hasn't been able to work since he suffered severe neck and back injuries in December 2015. He was turned down for benefits twice before he asked for a formal appeal with an administrative law judge in April 2017. After he contacted Booker's office for help, his appeal was scheduled, but won't take place for a few more months.

So why isn't this being treated by Congress or the public as a scandal like the unconscionable appointment delays for veterans seeking medical care at the Department of Veterans Affairs? Well, Americans have a special place in their hearts for vets. And, there's that little twinge of concern within most of us that injured, working-age non-veterans who ask for government benefit checks might really be trying to pull one over on Uncle Sam.

It happens, of course. We love watching videos of "injured" middle-aged guys who say they can't work, working the dance floor or shooting hoops in the driveway.

The Supplemental Security Income/disability process, which can result in multiple denials until someone finally the hires "right" lawyer, creates even more suspicion. For years, SSI payments were derisively known in some down-and-out areas as "crazy checks," obtained -- not always honestly -- by citing psychological disorders.

Large-scale commercial fraud, like the $550 million conviction of a Kentucky country lawyer and a plea from his administrative law-judge accomplice, requires monitoring of waves of unusually easy benefit approvals from the same jurisdiction. But how hard is it to separate these odd patterns from individual cases with no apparent irregularities?

As Sen. Booker notes, keeping legitimate benefit seekers in limbo for two, three or four years can result in mortgage foreclosures and critically delayed health care, particularly in an expensive state like New Jersey. 

Booker, the rest of Congress and the Social Security Administration must do better. The system needs more judges, or more balanced placements of the ones already on board.

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

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

NJ.com highlights the best players in N.J. from the 2018 season.

PigDog Beach Bar, in Wildwood, is dog friendly.

State Commission of Investigation says resale shops run by criminals have become "de facto cash machines for addicts."

Poorly regulated pawn shops, scrap yards and cash-for-gold stores have exchanged millions for pilfered manhole covers, stolen goods and public utility property brought in by drug addicts, a new report from a state watchdog found.

The State Commission of Investigation says this underground economy, run by "convicted felons and elements of organized crime," preys on those in the grip of New Jersey's opioid epidemic.

The report, released Tuesday, found employees at such businesses in some cases directed regular customers to steal "in-demand items" they could resell at a profit.

The commission, an independent watchdog created by the state Legislature to investigate public corruption and organized crime, recommended new laws and state oversight to crack down on the illegal trade.

"The enormous cost of the illicit bargain between thieves and unscrupulous owners are borne by all New Jersey residents: the ratepayers who see higher bills for cell service and electricity; the consumers who pay more for goods at retail stores; the taxpayers ultimately responsible for replacing infrastructure that has vanished in the night," the report states.

The sale of ill-gotten goods and building materials for quick cash is nothing new, but commission investigators found the practice was booming apace with the addiction crisis, turning these businesses into "de facto cash machines for addicts."

In Gloucester County, more than a third of those who died from drug overdoses in 2016 appeared in a database of transactions at resale shops -- in some cases dozens of times. Four in 10 victims from Ocean County treated with the overdose-reversing medication Narcan appeared in the system, the report found. 

Shop employees and customers testified to the commission that some businesses routinely flouted what little oversight currently exists, including requirements that operators check IDs and report suspicious activity to police.

Pawn shop and scrap yard operators accused of wrongdoing in the report responded in writing to the commission, arguing they ran reputable businesses and were being maligned by disgruntled former employees and customers trying to cover up for their own crimes.

The report included recommendations for reforms, including putting the State Police in charge of licensing scrap yards and secondhand stores and requiring criminal background checks for owners and employees. It also advised creating a more robust database of sales accessible by law enforcement and monthly caps on cash payments to sellers. 

The findings were sent to the state Attorney General's Office and the state Legislature for review. 

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The center on Oak Street uses state-of-the-art technology

Inspira Health Network has opened a brand new Radiation Oncology center at 54 Oak Street in Woodbury. The center features an advanced linear accelerator, which makes it safer to treat complex tumors by more precisely identifying the location of a tumor using 3D mapping technology. Additionally, it is one of the first in the country that gives patients an outside view from inside the treatment room.

"Inspira has been providing high quality radiation oncology services to patients in South Jersey for more than 35 years, and we are pleased to be able to expand our program to a brand new facility," said Patrick Nolan, chief operating officer of Inspira Woodbury. "We know how important it is for people in our community who are actively seeking cancer treatment to have advanced care right here in their own backyard. This new facility will provide them with state-of-the-art care that is close to home and in a unique and healing environment."

The "heart" of this one-of-a-kind 6,000 square-foot radiation therapy center is the Varian VitalBeam Linear Accelerator. Using state-of-the-art technology, it allows physicians to better determine the location of a tumor using 3D mapping technology. In addition to this enhanced accuracy, the VitalBeam can also deliver treatments more quickly and with greater safety. It features double and triple safety mechanisms to ensure patient safety and provide clinicians with added confidence when delivering challenging treatments.

The new center also features technology, design features and landscaping that provide a more comforting, healing environment. The SmartVue Natural Light Solution eliminates the visual confines of the typical linear accelerator treatment room by providing a view of the outdoors from inside the treatment room. The SmartVue window allows natural light directly into the room, while giving the patient a relaxing view of an outside garden, before and after the treatment process. This will provide a more pleasant experience, especially for patients who are uncomfortable in a closed-in environment.

Radiation therapy uses X-rays, gamma rays, and charged particles to fight cancer. Like surgery, radiation therapy can be used in multiple ways to treat a variety of cancers. It can also be used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.

Claudia Vandersice writes that there is no justification for a "zero tolerance" policy that separates family members,

I am morally outraged about the "zero tolerance" policy recently instituted by the Trump administration in Washington regarding immigrants trying to enter this country. I hope you are outraged as well.  

It is unbelievable to me as an American that we, as a nation, could adopt a strategy that separates and warehouses innocent children away from their parents who are suspected of entering the United States illegally or awaiting a decision on asylum.

There is no justification that could possibly make this an acceptable practice. Yet, at least 2,000 children have been taken away from their parents in the last six weeks. It is wrong and needs to stop immediately. 

The trauma that is being inflicted deliberately on these children -- and their parents -- must not be overlooked, underestimated or tolerated. This is not how a civil democratic society behaves. Please stand up against this horrible injustice.  

To cite Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."   

Claudia Vanderslice, Pitman

In ruling, high court baked the cake right

A recent 7-2 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission) upheld baker Jack Phillips' right to freely exercise his freedom of speech and of religion under the First Amendment when he refused to design a custom cake for a same-sex wedding.

Although Phillips gladly serves all customers (by selling them off-the-shelf goods), he politely declines designing any custom items that conflict with his religious beliefs, including those for same-sex weddings, divorces, Halloween, and anything with lewd or anti-American messages. His conviction is event- and message-based.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a court majority opinion that the civil rights panel exhibited "clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs of Jack Phillips." Apparently, the commission told Phillips that "religious beliefs cannot legitimately be carried into the public sphere or commercial domain."

Thomas Jefferson used the term "separation of church and state" in a letter to the Danbury Baptists, reassuring them that the government would not infringe on their religious freedom. The First Amendment was intended to prevent this from happening. The Founding Fathers were men of faith, both in their public and private lives. They understood the meaning of Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

Kristen Waggoner, an Alliance Defending Freedom attorney who represented Phillips before the high court, commented, "Tolerance and respect for good faith differences of opinion are essential in a society like ours ..." Unfortunately, some people cannot tolerate others' viewpoints, using name-calling and coertion in an effort to silence and punish those with whom they disagree.

On its website, the alliance posted this about Phillips' case: "If the government is empowered to invade our first liberties of religious freedom and freedom of speech, no other liberty is safe."

Barbara Essington, Carneys Point Township 

N. Korea's Kim 'loves his people' -- to death

"He loves his people."

So says President Donald Trump when referring to the dictator of North Korea. I would imagine the thousands of people that Kim Jung Un has imprisoned and enslaved would disagree, if they had the opportunity.

I imagine the family of Otto Warmbier, the U.S. citizen who died shortly after returning from a North Korean prison, would disagree. Their son's crime that resulted in him going to prison was the removal of a poster from a wall. Warmbier was released to the United States blind and with severe brain injury.

Kim "loves his people" so much that he denies them basic necessities such as consistent electricity, as verified by nighttime satellite photos of North Korea. 

A few handshakes, some smiles and state dinners do not change the character of someone like Kim. His people suffer and will continue to suffer until he is removed from office.  

Paul S. Bunkin, Turnersville  

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

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

There are other training sessions scheduled for this summer.

On Wednesday, June 13 The Gloucester County Addictions Task Force hosted their first NARCAN Training session in Pitman at the McCowan Public Library. These training sessions are part of the county's continued effort to save lives while battling the opioid epidemic within the community.

Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said, "By offering these free NARCAN training sessions we are making it easier for anyone to be able to stop an overdose and save a life and give anyone the ability to keep our residents safe when first responders may not be able to intervene fast enough."

The Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders along with the Gloucester County Addictions Task Force would like to announce that due to the success of their first two training sessions, they will be hosting free NARCAN information and training sessions during select dates through November.

Freeholder Jim Jefferson, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services said, "Defeating an epidemic takes time and a lot of hard work. One of the most important first steps we can take is teaching our residents that anyone can help save someone from an overdose. Sessions will teach attendees what they need to know about NARCAN and how to use it. Free kits will also be available to those who attend the sessions."

NARCAN Training sessions will continue to be available through Nov. on the following dates from 6 to 8 p.m.:

July 11 at the Gibbstown Public Library

Aug. 8 at the Logan Township Library

Sept. 12 at the Glassboro Public Library

Oct. 10 at the Gloucester County Library in Mullica Hill

Nov. 14 at the Glassboro Public Library

Pre-Registration is required and registration limited to 20 participants per session. To register contact Joanna Dugan at (856) 263-8193 or uta.narcan@verizon.net

The suspect, an undocumented immigrant charged in a fatal crash, is sought for skipping a court appearance.

Antelmo Velasques (Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office)
 

Antelmo Velasques was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal auto accident in April.

Now he's accused of skipping out again -- this time on a pre-indictment conference related to that crash.

Authorities are hoping someone has seen him.

Velasques, 43, lives in Bridgeton and was at the wheel of a Dodge van on April 13 when the vehicle crashed on Route 55 in Elk Township, police said.

He was driving southbound with eight passengers that evening when the vehicle veered off the right side of the highway and overturned, striking several trees, police said.

Several occupants were thrown from the vehicle and Rosenberg Escobar-Gonzalez, 49, of Bridgeton, was killed.

Velasques, who is from Guatemala, allegedly ran from the crash scene.

Following his arrest, he told police he had been deported from the U.S. before.

Passengers, witnesses and Velasques himself confirmed that he was driving at the time of the wreck. He had not been issued a driver's license by New Jersey "or any other state," according to the criminal complaint.

He was charged with causing a death while driving unlicensed and knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Velasques is described as 5-feet, 2-inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office at 856-384-5646 or email fugitive@co.gloucester.nj.us.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.

Morgan Hagerty resides in Vineland

Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) Class of 2018 Valedictorian, Morgan Hagerty, was awarded the Scholar Athlete Scholarship from the NJ Baseball/Softball Umpires Association.  Each year, the NJBUA invites outstanding scholar athletes from 30 different schools to apply for the scholarship. 

"We received essays from some great students, but Morgan's stood out," said Tony Eller, NJBUA Softball Coordinator.  "We were impressed with her accomplishments both on and off the field, so much so, that she was selected via a unanimous vote."  

Morgan, who resides in Vineland, NJ, will attend Widener University this fall where she plans to pursue a degree in Early Education. 

"This award is a perfect way to end my athletic career at OLMA," said Morgan.  "It's the education and support that I received at OLMA that has made it possible for me to be recognized with awards like this one.  I am so grateful for that." 

Earlier this year, Morgan was the recipient of the Cape Atlantic League's first Unsung Hero Award in her role as co-captain of the OLMA Volleyball Team.  Morgan also received the 2018 NJ Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Scholar Athlete Award representing OLMA.  

OLMA is South Jersey's premier Catholic high school for young women. Through a challenging academic curriculum, diverse extra-curricular program, hands-on leadership experience, and the spirit of sisterhood, OLMA students thrive and are forever bonded in faith and friendship.  To find out more, visit www.olmanj.org or call 856-697-2008.   

Gloucester County is celebrating National Take Your Dog To Work Day.

The dog days of summer will literally be taking place on June 22, 2018 in Gloucester County, when the county celebrates National Take Your Dog To Work Day.

Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said, "This is a celebration of the companionship between canine and human, and we hope to bring awareness and to inspire others to adoption from the Gloucester County Animal Shelter."

Freeholder Dan Christy, Liaison to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter, said, "This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Take Your Dog to Work and we wanted to make it fun and meaningful. We are reaching out to our business community to join us in celebrating this day, and we are asking anyone who wishes to bring their dog to work to make a ten dollar donation to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter. 

Christy said that the Gloucester County Animal Shelter (GCAS) uses donation funds for anything from shelter pets that need emergency medical attention, items on the wish list and donation funds even helped build the county's Spay and Neuter Clinic.

Employees who bring their dog to work on June 22 will have to ensure that their dog is office ready and that none of their co-workers have allergies or other objections to this special canine time.

All of the animals ready for adoption at GCAS are spayed/neutered and they are up to date on age appropriate vaccinations, heartworm tested, wormed and microchipped.

If you are interested in learning more about our pets, please contact our Adoption Office by dialing (856) 881-2828 x 1. Our Adoption Office is open Monday and Friday from Noon to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from noon until 7 p.m. The office is open every Saturday to view the animals from noon to 4 p.m. (there are no adoptions on weekends).

The top high school baseball players in New Jersey this season.

As prom season winds down, NJ.com compiled a collection of some of the best dressed prom attendees from 2018.

As prom season winds down, NJ.com compiled a collection of some of the best dressed prom attendees from 2018.

BUY THESE PHOTOS

Are you one of the people pictured at this prom? Want to buy the photo and keep it forever? Look for the blue link "buy photo" below the photographer's credit to purchase the picture. You'll have the ability to order prints in a variety of sizes, or products like magnets, keychains, coffee mugs and more.

Be sure to check out the complete prom coverage at nj.com/prom.

Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Ed on Twitter at @EdMurrayphoto. Find NJ.COM on Facebook.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, you can make a positive difference in the lives of the people you meet, the principal said.

Under a warm June sun, approximately 561 students graduated from Washington Township High School on Tuesday night. In comparison to the first graduating class from 1966 which had 125 students walk, the jump has nearly quintupled since.

"Wherever you go and whatever you do, you can make a positive difference in the lives of the people you meet and in so doing, make the world a better place," said Ann Moore, the executive principal of Washington Township High School in front of graduates and spectators. Her speech was one of the notable highlights from the high school's graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 19th, 2018.

The commencement ceremony started out with the traditional procession process where all of the graduates got to witness family and friends show pride and support in what is their finest moment to date. The presentation of colors, pledge of allegiance, and the star-spangled banner followed. As well as the high school singers coming together for a performance in front of all to see.

One of the more unique presentations showcased, was the senior class executive board coming together and reciting a poem which described their senior year and the feelings attached to it. In order, Marcella Dellomo, Nadia Foderaro, Natalie Foderaro, Alyssa Fooks, Madison Gillen, Brian Lau, Michelle Le, Kyle Lucca, Will McFarland, Joe Ricchezza, Rosemaria Rojs, Olivia Schaffer, and Emily Smith, each came together and recited parts of the overall poem.

Dellomo started out the piece with, "Our summer dance or just beginning to fade away, dancing with our closest friends was how we spent that Friday, beginning of the end was finally here. The senior kickoff dance was the perfect way for us to begin the final year."

The valedictorian and salutatorian of the class, Stephen Cozzone and Allison Davis respectively, also left some uplifting remarks towards their fellow classmates.

Cozzone says, "We quickly found a home at WTHS and conquered the perceived obstacles to success. Four years from now, we will look back on tonight and realize that our apprehensions were only small hindrances in our journey. We have been equipped with the skills and resources necessary to team success. All of that we must do is accept. No, we must welcome the fact that our future will contain many unknowns."

Davis in her speech follows up with, "Even though today it's about you, the class of 2018 and all of your accomplishments, I encourage you to take a second and think about who your everyday superhero is. Consider the people in your life who gave up a part of themselves to make sure that you made it here to that."

And who would students consider as heroes and as vital parts of their high school experience? For some students like Josh Aaron, he thanked various educators such for helping him break out his shell, always checking up on him, and teaching him a few dance moves. Including how to do backflips.

Overall for students, the feelings on graduating rings in similar fashion. Aaron describes it as a "big feeling," and that "thinking about our high school lives and how we grew up for four years and then to come out graduating and leaving everyone behind. It's a big step."

For students like Jaelyn Davis and Raquel Morotta, the feeling is "surreal." However, Davis adds, she's glad to move on to bigger things.

Speaking of bigger things, the plans after high school vary for hundreds. Students like Moratta plan to attend Rowan College and then move forward to cosmetology school. Her partner in crime Davis, plans to attend Montclair State university to earn a degree in communications.

For the Cozzone and Davis respectively, attending Stanford University and the University of Delaware respectively is in the cards.

And for Aaron, taking a year off before heading to Pennco Tech where he'll decide to continue his studies in either engineering, construction or automotive.

No matter which path each student takes, Principal Moore says that those have a solid foundation to build future endeavors on. And that those should also never stop searching for ways to learn and grow.

Moore adds, "Be a student of life and continue to grow and evolve intellectually, socially, and emotionally."

And with that, the WTHS class of 2018's swan song came to a close.