The series of events began with a social media post asking for the public's help.

EVESHAM TWP. -- A trio from Gloucester County sought on shoplifting charges were identified by an officer from a Camden County police department and caught soon after allegedly shoplifting again.

The series events began Wednesday when Evesham police posted photos of the trio who allegedly stole thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise from a local Target store.

"Within minutes," police said, an officer from Brooklawn contacted Evesham authorities and was able to identify all three of the men as a result of past arrests.

Arrest warrants were prepared for the men, then Target's loss prevention team called Evesham police to let them know the trio were back at the same store and "and in the act of shoplifting additional Dyson vacuums."

Evesham police responded to the scene, arrested two of the men there and the third as he attempted to flee with stolen merchandise. In an earlier release, Evesham police said their suspects were responsible for incidents occurring at the Target along Route 73, in Marlton, throughout the week of April 22.

Heroin, handgun found during car stop

The suspects were identified as Harry Park, Garrett Massa Jr. and Eric Visitation -- all of Westville.

Park, 32, was charged with three counts of third-degree shoplifting and a disorderly persons offense for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to the Burlington County Jail in default of $10,000 bail.

Massa, 35, was charged with three counts of third-degree shoplifting and a disorderly persons offense for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to the Burlington County Jail in default of $10,000 bail.

Visitation, 30, was charged with three counts of third-degree shoplifting and a disorderly persons offense for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to the Burlington County Jail in default of $10,000 bail.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The owner had left the car unlocked with the keys inside.

HARRISON TWP. -- A car reported stolen from a driveway last Friday has been recovered in Camden, township police reported.

A resident in the 300 block of Bailey Lane told police that they initially believed the Mercedes Benz, which was left unlocked with the key inside, was picked up for service last Friday.

When the resident contacted the service facility, however, they learned that this was not the case.

The car appeared to be in good condition when it was found in Camden on Tuesday, police said.

The thief was apparently checking random car doors in the Bailey Lane area, authorities said. Another vehicle in the same driveway was also entered but nothing was taken.

Police have no suspects. Sgt. Kyle Stuart is investigating the case.

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

Peonies come in a wide range of colors and are easy to plant and take care of

By Lorraine Kiefer

For many years I have had a tree peony in my garden. It is in the front of my house in a garden that we made when we took up all the grass. We sort of forget all about it except when it is bloom. It gets dappled sun off and on throughout the day. But when it is in bloom people always see it and ask me "what is that?" The blooms are a lot larger than the regular garden peony and really attract attention.

Unlike our bush peonies, the tree has a woody stem and looks like a very small tree (although mine is only a couple of feet high, they can become 5- to 6-feet in good conditions). Once mature they bloom heavily. They do best in a well-drained mostly sunny location. I have been told that hot full sun will make the flowers fade more rapidly, so I guess the dappled sun my plant is in is good for it, but I think it would be larger with more sun. Too much shade will result in weak and very slow growth and probably fewer blooms.

Peonies have large, showy blossoms and come in a wide range of colors.Lorraine Kiefer 

If they like the site these tree peony plants will get wide and often almost as tall as the home owner. Mine usually flower from late April to early May but the flowering season does vary from year to year. Some  blooms can be 10 inches or more across. I feed my plant a good, generous dose of osmocote time release  fertilizer each spring. This usually lasts about four months so it serves the plant well.

The  best soil for them is rich and loose, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0, which is a neutral to slightly alkaline soil. To remedy our sandy acidic soil we add compost when we have it and lime once a year. I let the leaves fall and stay in these front perennial gardens so there is always a very deep cover of leaves protecting my plant all winter. My plant is not very big, but I think this is because our soil is poor and sandy and it may get a bit too much shade the the summer.

The tree peonies that are planted in large pots in the nursery are much more bulky and have larger flowers. I think the good potting soil, regular food and water and brighter light is the reason. 

If you have a good spot to enjoy one of these magnificent plants you should add one to you garden. It will give you years of dramatic  color when in bloom! 

Peonies have large, showy blossoms, come in a wide range of colors, are easy to plant and take care of, and come back year after year.Lorraine Kiefer 

I also really like regular bush peonies and find that they are fast becoming one of the most popular flowers for bridal bouquets. Since they do not have a real long blooming season it is sometimes difficult to buy them as a cut flowers. I call my floral wholesaler for cut flowers if a bride wants them and sometimes they come from as far away as Alaska, Chili or Holland. 

But you can grow your own peony plants for great spring bloom. These old fashion flowers have been gardeners favorites for hundreds of years.

If you want to plant some pick them out now so you can see the colors of the blooms. Always prepare the soil well by turning it and breaking up clumps and adding lots of compost. Choose a spot in full or almost full sun. They need good space so prepare the hole at least 18 inches deep and wide and put good compost or well rotted manure at the bottom of the hole. Fireplace or wood stove ashes are a good top dressing for these and many other plants. 

Some folks complain that the stunning blooms have a short season, but  the peony has handsome glossy green leaves lasts all summer. Some even have fall color.

Remove dead blooms so the plant will not use up food reserves. In the fall cut the stems back before loosely covering the plants with leaves or evergreen branches. Remove the cover in the spring. Peony plants need winter to set buds and do not grow in places with no winter.

Another question I have been asked is why are there sometimes ants on peony. Well, these are not harmful, but rather are beneficial. They are eating nectar in exchange for attacking bud-eating pests. Do not spray the ants as they're helping your peonies to bloom.

Although you should leave a few feet all around the peony plant, they really look nice planted with other old fashion perennials such as iris, poppies, phlox, and dasies. Most everyone's grandmom had a peony in her garden. 

If you email me photos (lorraine@tripleoaks.com) or call and bring photos in I can help you plan a perennial garden. Visit www.tripleoaks.com to sign up for a newsletter or an herb course that begins May 4. 

Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.

Around 40 people turned out to remember the lives of 3 late students.

GLASSBORO--A hushed tone, teary eyes and candlelight fell over the dozens of students, alumni, and family members gathered on Wednesday night in Glassboro to remember late students.

The event, dubbed by the university as Rowan Remembers, sought to honor the memories of Zachary Lang, Gillian Lehrer and Robert Garvey. Organized by the university's student government association (SGA) Rowan Remembers featured a candlelight vigil and speakers on behalf of the late students.

Gillian Lehrer, an 18-year-old, was killed last June as a passenger in a single-car crash. Details about Lang and Garvey's death were not made public. 

Tears began to stream as Ivette Lehrer, of Morganville, spoke to the crowds about her late daughter. Visibly upset, Ivette Lehrer remembered her daughter's zest for life and her love for Rowan.

"(Gillian) wanted a school that was united and felt like a home," said Lehrer while holding back tears. "We looked at other universities and colleges and when we came here she said it feels like family." 

SGA president Anthony Wohlrab spoke to open and close the ceremony. Wohlrab's speech echoed messages of the importance of community and being there for one another in a time of need.

"This event means so much to me because I know what it's like to have lost a person,", said Wohlrab  "I think tonight was beautiful, I was extremely honored to have brought everyone together to celebrate the lives of all the students who passed away and invite their families back and show support for everyone."  

Pat Campbell may be reached at sjnews@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The event will be held May 11 at Columbia Bank in Deptford Township

DEPTFORD TWP. -- On Wednesday, May 11, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) will hold the Business Before Hours Breakfast Networking event hosted by Columbia Bank at their location at 1460 Clements Bridge Road in Deptford.

Every month, the GCCC offers the business community an opportunity to network with over 800 local and regional business professionals through their Business Card Exchange events. These networking events are free for members and include complimentary refreshments. Members are encouraged to bring a guest and non-members are welcome to attend up to two chamber networking events at a cost of $20.

The GCCC Business Card Exchanges focuses on helping business professionals make meaningful connections to promote their business or advance their mission.

For more information and directions, visit the events page on the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce website at www.gc-chamber.com. 

The mission of the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce is to be a leader and unified voice in creating a positive economic and civic climate in Gloucester County, resulting in growth and prosperity for business. For more information, contact Melina Zamalloa at 856-881-6560.

This item submitted by Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce.

Third marking period for the 2015-16 school year

Woodbury Junior-Senior High School announces the names of students on the Principal's List and Honor Roll for the third marking period of 2015-16.

Principal's List

6th Grade -- Jaylyn Abbott, Jayce Allamby, Alexandra Campo, Grace Campo, Sofia Capitillo-Villasmil, Benjamin Cotton, Nathaniel Cotton, Trinity Eobbi, Nolan Floyd, Gracie Johnson, Shai Lowndes, Maggie McCumber, Colleen Meagher, Serenity Nissley, Anselmo Nocito, Jaylee Pinto, Martina Rosell, Isaiah Shafer, Nakita Shyne, Dayshao Smith, Jordan Smith, Breon Suiter.

7th Grade -- Kaia Butcher, Matthew Campo, Autumn Chambers, Christopher Costroff, Olivia Dixon, Seth Elliott, Isabella Falcone, Hailey Hartwyk, Caleah Lally, Matthew Ross, Brady Shute, Charlize Stone, JoyLynn Torelli, Skyler Zawojski.

8th Grade -- Sarah Becker, Georgia Bevelheimer, Stephan Boyle, Kaitlin Butler, Megan Carnall-Tetlow, Stephanie Colindres, Carrie Eobbi, Andy Figueroa Polanco, Angela Graff, Joseph Guy, Ariana Khalid, Isaac Knipel, Hailey Lindeborn, Allison Martin, Madeleine Maule, Aidan Potter, Emily Potter, Kayla Rozanski, Hunter Sprouls, Yelena Talley, Dante Turiccki, Margaret Ulmer, Peyton Ward, Rahyell Young.

9th Grade -- Emily Brummett, Nora Campo, Thomas Campo, Zachary Campo, Catherine Doran, Gerald Gutierrez Marquez, Becca Kennedy, Diamond Lincoln, Hayley Lomas, Lillian Maimone, Caitlin McGeehan, Nicole Rogers, Sarah Schollenberger, Thomas Stanek, Kahlani Williams.

10th Grade -- Nicholas Arrison, Malik Austin, Teresa Biernacki,, Josalyn Burt, Alysa Echevarria, Peter Evangelisti, Prudence Lomas, Samuel Oni.

11th Grade -- Ashley Campbell, Jamie Esters, Anjelai Hayes, Anna Schollenberger.

12th Grade -- Jacynda Ahrens, Emily Atkinson, Laura Knecht, Latrisha Robinson.

Honor Roll

6th Grade -- Ah'Jahnae Barker, On'yae Barker, Kaitlyn Boyle, Gryphon Buerkli, India Byes, Katrina Caltabiano, Savanah Duckworth, Aliza Ecker, Oscar Estrada, Sy'asia Everett, Savannah Giangrasso, Jayda Green-Dumas, Evan Hope, Nicole Hunter, Elijah Hyatt, Amaya Linkhorne, Yesenia Marquez, Ejaz Nawaz, Kyla Page, Ashley Polanco, Abigail Pyle, Xavier Reyes, Dahquan Richardson, Alaina Santiago, Linda Sayles, Chaele Swanson, Shiline Varpilah, Travis Wahl, Diamond Washington, Samantha Whaley, Ta'Shawn Wheeler

7th Grade -- Dakota Anderson-Furman, Ethan Bown, Carlee Brown, Omar Brown, Christopher Bruner, Thomas Carroll, TeVon Ceaser, Jarrett Dromgoole, Leila Echevarria, Jaslene Gutierrez, Taliyah Helton, Lydia Jones, Justin Khan, Alexa LaCroix, Spencer Lomas, Ja'Meriah Martin, Colin McKenna, Isabella McKevitt, Danielle Messado-Moten, Merrick Nowak, Amelia Olsson, Cory Pagel, Jordan Pendleton-Talbert, Trevor Pisarcik, Darwing Rodriguez, Nzingha Rothmiller, Veronica Schmidt, Kayla Sotiropoulos, Parker Storms, Sean Tiedeken, Ariyanna Wesley.

8th Grade -- Domir Bergholz, Justin Cohen, John Compton, Joleigh Corrigan, Ajuida Council, Kiara Franklin, Sarah Freidel, Adrian Garlic, Damir Kee, Lea Malone, Keeli McCarthy, Ian McKenna, Emily Myers, Trevor Pantoja, Isaiah Payton, Jason Polanco-Navas, Damian Rawls, Abigail Sweeny, Kayla Tiedeken, J'Asia Wiggins.

9th Grade -- Jazzlyn Abbatelli, Cierra Berger, Thomas Carter, Jalinette Casablanca-Perez, Tiana Collins, Briana Lucha, GeNya McLendon, Katy Moreno-Membreno, Melany Ramirez-Lopez, Janyia Robinson, Dar'Rique Smith, Timothy Wade, Rachel White, AAni'yah Wilmer.

10th Grade -- Jason Alicea, Michael-Patrick Giron, Jasmine Hunter, Morgan Kersey, Catherine Navas-Folgar, Mackenzie Stebich, Randy Villeda Morales.  

11th Grade --  Naseemah Alfareh, Michael Baum, Cameron Berger, Joycelynn Colvin, Jake Lloyd, Lucienne Nowak, Daniel O'Leary, Kelly Powell, Tyrese Pratt, Rebecca Rossett, Abigail Ward, Darryl Williams.

12th Grade --  Maria Berggren, Stephenie Bryant, Gregory Carey, Geena DiRugeris, Kayla Dowling, Conor Finnegan, Edward Hemmings, Nicolas Hunter, Mason Jones, Sara Juliano, Kendal Lacovara, Kayla MacDonald, Christopher Road, Joseph Sabatini, Julie Slusser, Zakery Sprouls, Mariani Torres, Bibiana Weber, Eli Zarzecki.

This item submitted by Woodbury Junior-Senior High School.

Services for John F. Howard will be held Saturday.

WENONAH -- Services will be held Saturday for a borough councilman who died Monday.

John F. Howard, 66, served on council for nine years, as well as working as a teacher at Gateway Regional High School. Howard also coached wrestling.

John Howard with some of his caricatures of teachers and students.

"I'm going to miss John," said Mayor John Dominy. "We are all volunteers and people do it for the love of the community. John was no exception." 

Dominy described Howard as a multi-dimensional individual who touched many lives in his career as a teacher, his service to the borough and as a good neighbor.

He was also an artist and a cartoonist who loved cinema, books and was passionate about live music, according to his obituary.

Howard was raised in Havertown, Pennsylvania, and began teaching at Gateway in the 1970s. He retired in 2013 after 39 years as a teacher at the school.

The caricaturist/cartoonist drew pictures of colleagues and students. He compiled a collection of 600 caricatures of teachers, administrators and staff, and a second book of about 400 drawings of former Gateway students, according to an interview he conducted in 2013 with South Jersey Times columnist Bob Shryock.

Having joined council in 2007, Howard, a Democrat, was the longest serving of the current elected leaders, Dominy said. He was re-elected to his latest term in November 2015.

"We are all friends in addition to being colleagues," Dominy said of council. "We are thankful for everything he did. His presence is going to be missed."

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Smith Funeral Home, 47 Main St., Mantua, and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Incarnation, 240 Main St., Mantua. A funeral Mass will follow at 10:30. Burial will be private.

Contributions in Howard's memory may be made to Musicians on Call, 39 W. 32nd St., Suite 1103, New York, N.Y. 10001-3842 or by going to www.musiciansoncall.org.

Howard is survived by his wife and his two children.

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

Division winners announces for Glassboro School's District Science Fair

GLASSBORO - Glassboro School District announced the winners of its 2015-16 Science Fair on April 21.

Division 1 (Grades Kindergarten - 1)

An interest in playing with circuits and reading about electricity led first-grader Jason Lund to experiment with energy sources that did not use fossil fuels. Lund captured 1st place in Division 1 with his project, Fruit Power, which produced power using fruit and potatoes and analyzed the charges produced by using multiple fruits connected by wire.

Other Division 1 winners included:

• 2nd place - Christopher Johnson, Absorbing the Rainbow
• 3rd place - Karla Jardine, How Does a Cut Stop Bleeding?
• Honorable Mention - Ellie Whitaker, Can Plants Find Light?

Division II (Grades 2 - 3)

The team of third-graders Danny Adams, Ryan Madgey, and Colin Riley and kindergartener Dylan Adams won 1st place in Division II with their project, Great Egg-Spectations. The experiment tested which "packaging" kept an egg from cracking when it was dropped. They found that various light weight, cushiony packing materials worked better than heavy or non-cushiony materials.

Other Division II winners included:

• 2nd place - Megan Tamburello, Lights, Colors, Plants
• 3rd place - Adam Fitzgerald, Mercury Rising
• Honorable Mention - Andrew Taylor, Plants vs. Pets: How to Defend Your Home Naturally

Division III (Grades 4 - 6)

Sixth-grader Anna Holland separated the colored dye in candy for her 1st place, Division III project, Color Chromatography with Candy.

Other Division III winners included:

• 2nd place - Julissa Diaz and Bella Profico, Strawberries: Hot or Not?
• 3dr place - Elijah Whitaker, Does It Matter How Long You Wash Your Hands?
• Honorable Mention - Sophia Lund and Alyssa Riley, Think Fast.

Division IV (Grades 7 - 8)

Division IV winner, seventh-grader Mayooran Mohanakanthan experimented with regrowing food from kitchen scraps of his project, What Plants Regrow from Kitchen Scraps? He was particularly successful at regrowing romaine lettuce.

Other Division IV winners included:

• 2^nd place - Alyiscia Henry and Ruby Kelly Keifer, Rube Goldberg Machine - Buttons and Bells
• 3rd place - Quadir Roland and Brandon Stahl, How Much Iron Can We Extract from Food?
• Honorable Mention - Mason Fiedler and Matthew Pajak, The Effects of Videogames on the Body.

Division V (Grades 9 - 12)

Erin Finley, a 10th grader, captured 1st place in Division with her "crime-scene" analysis, A Bloody Mess. Finley soaked sponges in a fake blood solution and placed them on a paper background. She then analyzed whether the splatter caused by the impact of objects (a hammer, an axe, etc.) on the sponge could identify the site of impact.

Other Division V winners included:

• 2nd place - Busra Gocmez, Joey Heaton, Alizsa Johnson and Savannah Markert, Water to Fuel to Water
• 3rd place - JaZahn Hicks, Optical Illusions
• Honorable Mention - Jessica Burke, Brianna Fiorentino and Treron McBride, How Fast Can You Talk with Accuracy?

Science fair sponsors: Pete Calvo, Glassboro Board of Education president; Glassboro School District superintendent Mark Silverstein; Liscio's and Zallie's ShopRite.

Judges: George A. Armstrong, Dottie Clay, Joseph Herrschaft, Janet Holdcraft, Leo McCabe, Mayor of Glassboro, Barbara Moore, Barbara Morella, Alan Norton, Walter Quint and Harry Walker. 

Science Fair Committee:

Denise Barr, co-facilitator and Glassboro Intermediate School teacher; James Moore, co-facilitator and Glassboro High School teacher; Shannon Batten, Glassboro Intermediate School teacher; Kara Belmonte Thomas E. Bowe School teacher; Stephanie Bernstiel, Dorothy L. Bullock School teacher; Jennifer DiLorenzo, Thomas E. Bowe School teacher; Steve Hempel, Glassboro School District literacy coach; Lacy Lupi, Thomas E. Bowe School teacher; Patricia Kately, J. Harvey Rodgers School teacher; Lisa Montana, Glassboro Intermediate School teacher; Susan Powers, Glassboro High School teacher; Dennis Scheuer, Glassboro High School teacher;  Reiner Schmidt, Glassboro High School teacher; Danielle Sochor, Glassboro School District chief academic officer.

This item submitted by the Glassboro School District.

Washington Twp. School District held a special ceremony to honor the teachers

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -  Members of the Washington Township Board of Education joined colleagues, administrators, students, parents and community members in rousing and repeated applause during a recognition ceremony in honor of the district's 2015-16 Teachers of the Year and  Educational Services Professionals of the Year. The 12 teachers and two educational services professionals were lauded for their tireless efforts, their innovation and professionalism and their countless contributions that have placed them among the elite in the district. 

The honorees included:

Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center

Christine Drewes, Preschool Disabled Teacher                          

Bells Elementary

Georgeann Figueroa, ESL Teacher

Birches Elementary

Janine Ryan, Grade 5 Teacher

Hurffville Elementary

Karen Baker, Grade 5 Special Education Teacher

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Grace Ahn, Grade 5 Teacher

Wedgwood Elementary

Donna McGough, Grade 5 Teacher

Whitman Elementary

Diane Fox, Grade 2 Teacher

Bunker Hill Middle School

Kiki Pecheux, French Teacher

Chestnut Ridge Middle School

Suzanne Balliet, Grade 8 Special Education Teacher

Orchard Valley Middle School

Margaret Lavoie-Davis, Art Teacher

Washington Township High School

Richard Ambacher, Technology Education Teacher

Deirdre Lee, Special Education Teacher

Elementary Educational Services Professional of Year

Mickey Shaw, Bells Elementary Guidance Counselor

Secondary Educational Services Professional of Year

Elizabeth Campbell, Chestnut Ridge Middle School Media Specialist

This item submitted by Jan Giel, Washington Township School District.

Paul Halley writes that having a father in the home is preferable to providing universal pre-kindergarten programs.

To the Editor:

Some readers and New Jersey lawmakers have suggested the best way to increase children's academic achievement and reduce crime is to get them into pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten programs.

What studies really show is that "at-risk children" -- neglected ones -- do somewhat better and are less likely to commit crime later in life if enrolled in these programs than if they were left neglected. But is "institutionalizing" young children in early-education programs the best strategy?

You will be hard-pressed to find an orphanage nowadays. We have discovered that children do best when raised by a daddy and mommy - especially their biological dad and mom. Dozens of carefully designed long-term studies by sociologists concur. No amount of certificates can substitute for a daddy and mommy.

The National Fatherhood Initiative (a private non-profit group at fatherhood.org) cites these statistics about children in father-absent homes: They were almost four times more likely to live in poverty than those in two-parent homes; less likely to get mostly "A"s in school; more likely to suffer from physical or emotional abuse; have infant mortality rates 1.8 times higher than if the mother is married; have higher rates of incarceration and teen pregnancy.

What about post-kindergarten education? Is putting your child in a secular government school the best strategy for success? Homeschooling advocacy groups cite studies showing that homeschooled children perform at academic levels above their peers in traditional schools.

So what should our legislators consider? As state and community leaders, they can foster ways that men and women can learn to be effective fathers and mothers. Working with churches and synagogues, we can more effectively identify and help at-risk families. And, we need to make sure that all children, including poor children, have the opportunity to be educated to love and trust God, and to serve their fellow man. 

Paul Halley
Bridgeton

Oppose cuts in Wash. Twp. school support staff

To the Editor:

As Washington Township public school students and their parents may or may not know, some of the teachers that you look up to and depend on may not be there next year, due to proposed changes in the schedule at the middle schools. 

Also, the school district's support staff, especially one-to one aides, received a big blow this past week. These people who work closely with students and teachers all day long received a letter from the district telling them they might not have jobs next year.  

These local community assets, who include bus drivers, cafeteria staff, maintenance/grounds crew as well as instructional aides, have been working without a contract for two years. The district potentially looks to privatize some of these positions. Such a move could take tax dollars out of the community, as outside contractors save dollars that may be used instead to create more six-figure-salary administrative positions.  

Washington Township parents and students need to understand that without these dedicated public employees and members of our community, the schools could become shells of the great ones that they have been. 

Marc Bozzelli 

Sewell

Editor's note: The writer is a member of the Washington Township schools' support staff. 

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

Afternoon of entertainment watching other seniors showcase their talents

DEPTFORD TWP. -- Every year in May in celebration of "Older Americans Month, the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsor the Golden Follies Entertainment Show for county residents aged 60 and older.

Director Robert M. Damminger said, "We actively seek to present programs and events that allow our older residents to maintain their independence and promote a healthy and active lifestyle."

Freeholder Jim Jefferson, liaison to the Division of Senior Services, said, "The Golden Follies Entertainment Show is just one event that the Division of Senior Services presents that allows our older residents to get out into the community and enjoy an afternoon of fun entertainment watching other seniors showcase their talents."

The Golden Follies Entertainment Show will take place on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Auletto Caterers in Deptford. A buffet lunch will be served at noon (only) and the show will begin at 1 p.m. Music for dancing will be provided by "Joy Ride".

Tickets are available at the Division of Senior Services, 115 Budd Blvd., West Deptford and the County's 6 Nutrition Sites. Tickets are $2 each for this event and the event is open to residents of Gloucester County age 60 and over.

For more information, call the Division of Senior Services at 856-384-6900.

Gloucester County Nutrition Site Locations:

Mantua Township Community Center, 111 Mercer Ave. IN Mantua, 856-468 - 4773, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Glassboro Senior Center, 152 S. Delsea Drive, Glassboro, 856-881-6610, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thorofare Fire Hall, Firehouse Road, Thorofare, 856-853 - 6496, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pfeiffer Community Center, 301 Blue Bell Street, Williamstown, 856-728 -1140, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Franklin Community Center, 1584 Coles Mill Road, Franklinville, 856-694-1413, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Second Baptist Church, 1534 Pine St., Paulsboro, 856-423-3387, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This item submitted by the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

All of the schools in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, were put on lockdown Friday morning for reports of gunshots.

FRANKLIN TWP. -- All of the township's schools were put on lockdown for approximately an hour Friday morning as police investigated reports of gunfire near the Caroline Reutter Elementary School.

Just before 11 a.m. police received reports that gun shots were heard near the Reutter school, which houses students in fifth and sixth grades, according to Franklin Township police.

The school immediately was put in lockdown and the other township schools filed suit as officers searched the area. No evidence of gun shots was located and the lockdown was lifted about an hour later.

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

Team Hammer's Chris Ulrich takes media members on the rides of their lives. Watch video

MILLVILLE -- "Remember to breathe."

Those were the last words of advice I received before hopping on the back of a Superbike and raced at unimaginable speeds around the Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park Thursday afternoon. Members of the media were invited to take in a few laps around the track to better comprehend the nuances of sport racing.

Team Hammer's Chris Ulrich, who has been racing professionally for 18 years and just recently hung up his helmet from competition, was my driver. I'd be on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike a modified with a second seat, foot pegs and a grab handle for passengers.

But before taking to the track -- where hundreds of motorcycle racers will ride this weekend in a two-day competition -- I had to gear up with a back pad to help protect my spine, race suit, gloves, boots and helmet. The race suit, made of leather and fully padded, was a lot heavier than I expected, about 10 pounds.

It was when I received the final run-down of do's -- trust in Ulrich's ability, relax and enjoy the ride -- and don'ts -- do not take your hands off the grab handle or remove your feet from the foot pegs while moving -- that I started to get really nervous. Up until then, I had only fleeting thoughts about whether I could actually pull this off.

"It's only a few minutes," I kept repeating to myself.

Out in pit lane, I stepped up and got onto the Superbike. After readjusting my feet on the foot pegs, and grabbing tightly onto the handle, the all-clear sign was given to take off.

And that's what it felt like at first: A quick acceleration and we were on the track, heading around a curve and up a hill. Each turn brought brought a surprise: On some, Ulrich decelerated to take the turn safely, while handling others by speeding up. I was never sure which was about to happen, but I took each curve in stride, allowing my body to move with the bike.

As we approached the last few turns on the first lap, Ulrich accelerated so we could reach about 140 mph in the straightaway. At those speeds, I could feel my body lifting off the seat slightly and gripped my hands even more tightly onto the grab bar.

The second lap was a bit more intense, taking each turn at a faster pace than before.

"The first lap is to get you comfortable," said Ulrich before the ride. "The second is to really give you a feel for the sport."

After this experience, I have a whole new respect for those who compete in Superbike racing. It takes a lot of strength to power through the all the turns. And as another racer said, it takes a lot of mental stamina as well; you have to be able to remember when to brake and where to speed up, as each track is different.

When asked by another member of the media if I would do it again, I hesitated before answering no, probably not. But after having time to digest the experience, I have changed my mind. Was it terrifying? Yes. But was it exhilarating? Absolutely.

The MotoAmerica Superbike Championship of New Jersey takes place Friday through Sunday at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville.

The championship event features two full days of racing for the Superbike, Superstock 1000, Supersport, and Bazzaz Superstock 600 classes. Racing will take place on the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway, a track that features 12 corners and a half-mile straightaway.

Friday's fan activities include escorted hot pit access during two practice sessions for Full Throttle ticket holders and a track walk for Cycle Corral ticket holders.

Suzuki demo rides are available throughout the three-day event, and "40 Years of Superbike Racing" motorcycles will be on display as well.

Monster truck rides will be available to fans on Saturday and Sunday.

The MotoAmerica Superbike Championship of New Jersey returns to Millville in September.

 

Lori M. Nichols may be reached at lnichols@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @photoglori. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Debbie Schanz, whose teenage daughter was killed at the hands of her boyfriend in 1991, will speak at the county's annual event.

WOODBURY -- The mother of a girl who died as a result of domestic violence will speak at the county's annual Victim's Remembrance Ceremony Wednesday.

The ceremony, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Justice Complex's garden, will commemorate victims of violence. One of those victims, AmyLynn Schanz, was just a 15 when she was strangled and killed by her boyfriend in 1991.

A year later that boyfriend James Gibbone, who was 25 at the time, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the case, according to a Philly.com report. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. 

AmyLynn's mother, Debbie Schanz, will be the keynote speaker at Wednesday's event, which remembers victims of violence from throughout Gloucester County over the past decades. She will discuss victim's rights  and the progress she has seen in that area since her daughter's death. Washington Township singer Michael Jones will also perform.

This is the event's fifth year and takes place in the garden outside of the justice complex, which is lined with stones marked with the names of those lost to violence.

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

Gloucester County provides small business loans for local business owners.

WOODBURY -- After helping 30 local businesses in the last two years, officials have re-seeded a county small business loan fund with an additional quarter million dollars.

Officials announce the closing of the first loan from the Gloucester County Revolving Loan Fund to HMF Investment Advisors in this 2014 photo. The $35,000 loan was used to move the investment firm to a larger space and partner with Rowan University to provide internship opportunities close to campus. (Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com)
 

The Gloucester County Small Business Revolving Loan Fund received an infusion of $50,000 from the county and $200,000 from the Cooperative Business Assistance Corp., officials announced.

CBAC, a New Jersey-based non-profit lender, and the county have partnered on the fund since 2014, when it began with a $100,000 investment from the county.

Loans range from $1,000 to $35,000 and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Small businesses make up about 90 percent of the county's business community, Freeholder Heather Simmons noted.

"Their economic impact in our county is enormous," she said in a press release statement. "They have also been hit hard with respect to being able to receive traditional loans from the banking industry. We have seen this revolving loan fund help our small businesses receive funding for acquiring space, inventory, equipment, marketing and working capital purposes. It is what they need to survive in this business climate."

Starting a business? Here's how to avoid failure

More applicants are already seeking support from the loan program.

"There are applications in for loans right now," Simmons said. "For every dollar the county invests in this revolving loan fund, we see that come back tenfold in our county."

Pretty much any kind of for-profit small business is eligible for the program, Simmons said.

Businesses that have participated in the program include:

• Blue Plate restaurant in Mullica Hill
• Daily Diva Jewelry, an online jewelry business
• HMF Advisors, a financial advising business in Glassboro
• Lillian James Salon in Turnersville
• Predicate Academy, an online youth technology training program in Swedesboro
• Lil Art House/Paint Party Studio in Pitman
• Signature Automotive, LLC in Sewell

To obtain a loan fund application, contact the county economic development office at 856-384-6930 or go online to learn more.

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

Rowan students received a ransomware email prompting the university to send out an alert.

GLASSBORO - Rowan University students were notified early Friday that a ransomware email message had targeted the university systems.

According to the email notification sent to students, there were an increased number of ransomware email messages sent to addresses on the university's network.

The emails are disguised as messages from internal senders, specifically copiers and other internal document scanning stations. Attached to the emails is a ZIP file containing a malicious payload created to encrypt files on computers, h: drives, and other shared folders, that students are prompted to click.

"The way these types of ransomwares work is they send hundreds of emails to email accounts of an organization which prompt the users to open this attachment," said Joe Cardona, Rowan University spokesman. "Once enough have been opened, the senders take control of the network and send a message to the organization telling them that they've taken control and want a certain amount of money, a ransom, to release the network." 

According to Cardona, these attacks are common and happen frequently with large organizations. 

4 promising 'hacks' from Rowan University's first hackathon

"There's really no way to track them, but they are very common," he said. "But we've never had an attack go so far that ransom was demanded [from Rowan University]."

The university encouraged students to refrain from opening any attachments from unknown senders until the threat is isolated and under control.

Any students who have already opened such files should contact the university's support desk by emailing support@rowan.edu.

"While we don't think anything will come from this because we handle them quickly, we hope this serves to remind the students to not be so quick to click on things," said Cardona. 

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

Also listed are the Billingsport Early Childhood Center March Students of the Month

PAULSBORO -- Listed below are Honor Roll Students for the third marking period at Billingsport School. Also listed are the Students of the Month for Billinsport Early Childhood Center.

 

HONOR ROLL

1st Grade High Honors - Bryce Biernacki, Taylor Gaines,  Michael Krawchuk, Alexdaniel Mendez, Grace Powell, Dasoni Scott, Zyion Artis,  Anaya Brown, Eithland Clark, Trisha DeWalt, Leyliana Johns, Adam Souini, Keimora Wall, Drake Williams, Price Jade Tebelin, Eric Love, Andre Robinson, Anylah Hodges, Chase Breedlove, Stelle DiCroce, Ryan Ejjalili, Graysen Lane, Samya Kendrick, Sarielle Bonilla, Nyla Bradley, Robert Davis, Parris Graves, Alexis King, Nasier Mitchell,  Walter Paige, Jayda Roundtree, Yaameen Smith, Elias Torres, Kiamora Williams, Chase Zott.

2nd Grade High Honors  - Xavier Johnson, Ezeily Rucci, Kayla Smith, Jaylynn Dorman, Evan Haase, Brielle Johns, Antonio Serrano, Omran Wahiba.

1st Grade First Honors - Nevaeh Eli, Taleah Elliott, Brianna Filiaggi, Jeffrey Taylor, Josias Torres, Tiffany Johnson, Khalif Kent,  Chloe Lopez, Dale Thomas, Adamaris Roman, Nya Carter, Courtney Harrison, Katelyn Taylor, Shai Wallace, Leighya Lever, Donaven Fonville-Huntley, Douglas Gordon, Ta'myrah Woods, Analyse McRae, Ty'Azia Bagby, Kaleb Austin, Savannah Padilla.

2nd Grade First Honors - Brandon Hampton-Beverly, Joshua Willis, Alaina Suppa Hurst, Armani Taylor, Lamiah Coleman, Luis DeJesus, Sarah Picone, Brian Tortella, Jayson Williams, Mekhi Foster, Ky'aire Harvey, Caliana Hill, Sanai Rone, Lyairrah Sanders, Makayla Wise.

1st Grade Second Honors - Javon Brittingham, Aaron Benson, Siennah Hill,  Kendale Costanzo, Justin Batts, Amber Norris, Deamya Bagby, Aarlynn Dixon.

2nd Grade Second Honors - Sawyer Cabanas, Keaghan Salisbury, Skye Mitchell, Yeseria Torres, Rufus Wallace, Deano Lucas, Evangelene Boulton, Gregory Hamilton, Malakhai McKenzie, Massyiah Hubbard.

-- -- --

The following students have been selected as students of the month for March for Billingsport Early Childhood Center

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

Kindergarten - Sarah Hoke, Sophia Beckham, Sonia Miller, Patrick Zold, Janiyah Jefferson,  Devon Williams,  Reem Akkad, Geno McKie.

1st Grade - Micheal Harrington,  Adam Souini, Anaya Brown,  Tamyrah Woods,  Aarlynn Dixon, Jae'la Estrada, Katelyn Taylor.

2nd Grade - Jasmine McDaniels, Yeseria Torres,  Jullien Benjamin,  Kirsten Goldman, Josiah Martinez.

This item submitted by the Paulsboro School District.

Kenneth D. Edwards, 55, is accused of sexually assaulting a child in a backyard garage.

Kenneth D. EdwardsSalem County Jail  

WOODBURY -- A Westville man was indicted Friday on sexual assault charges stemming from a case in which he allegedly improperly touched a child in his garage.

Kenneth D. Edwards, 55, is charged with second degree sexual assault of a child older than 13 and third degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arrested in November and accused of "intentionally touching an intimate part of the victim's body," in June of 2015, according to the complaint.

He remains in jail in default of $100,000 bail.

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

These students are among the best and brightest in their classes

Eighty-one students from Gloucester County have been selected by their schools to be recognized as the Academic All-Stars for the 2015-2016 school year. 

These students are among the top of their classes. The public school students will be honored at the Gloucester County Academy Excellence Awards banquet on May 2.

Whether it is their class standing or their membership in the National Vocational-Technical School Honor Society, the students are being commended for their achievement. 

Their photos appear in the May 3 edition of the South Jersey Times. 

The South Jersey man is also accused of video recording when a child's "intimate parts were exposed."

FRANKLIN TWP. -- The owner of a skating rink has been indicted on sexual assault, child endangerment and invasion of privacy charges, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Jon J. Carlo, 47, of Franklin Township, was indicted on sexual assault, child endangerment and invasion of privacy charges, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. (Salem County Correctional Facility) 

Jon J. Carlo, 47, Franklinville, was arrested last August following investigation of a complaint that a minor was shown pornography on a laptop at Franklin Skating Center on Delsea Drive.

Investigators searched Carlo's business and home before charging him with multiple offenses dating back to 2014.

He was indicted this week on charges of second-degree sexual assault of a victim less than 13 years old, third-degree displaying obscene material to a minor, third-degree invasion of privacy, and first- and second-degree charges of endangering the welfare of a child.

The alleged sexual assault occurred in November 2014, according to the prosecutor's office.

The invasion of privacy allegedly occurred that same month when Carlo made a video recording when a child's "intimate parts were exposed without (the child's) consent and under circumstances in which a reasonable person would not expect to be observed," according to the complaint filed in 2015.

Carlo was jailed on $200,000 bail following his arrest.

N.J. man indicted in alleged sexual assault of child

A court-approved sex offense restraining order was issued in 2015, prohibiting Carlo from unsupervised contact with any minors.

The website for the skating center says it is now under new ownership.

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