Shame on us if we treat a veteran this way. It seems to me that he signed in blood and put his life up as collateral but that doesn't matter now

MAYOR ALBERT KELLY 

By Albert B. Kelly

Talk to enough people and you're bound to hear many opinions, especially when it comes to undocumented individuals and deportation. On one side, you can line up a whole bunch of folks who will be all about rounding up immigrants and depositing them back in their country of origin. This "drive-the-heathen-from-the- temple" approach is even part of a campaign plank for presidential candidates this cycle. 

On the other side, you can find people who support a general across the board amnesty, minus criminals and felons. In the middle, you can find a not insignificant number of people who support some type of middle ground in between deportation and amnesty -- something that doesn't separate children from parents or destroy families and whole communities.

Regardless of how you come down on the issue, with our May 7 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event at City Hall Annex still fresh in our minds, what do you do with a man who gave six years of his life serving the United States, a place he believed was his country, in the 82^nd Airborne Division, when he doesn't have the right paperwork?

Apparently you pack him up and ship him out; at least that's what they did to Hector Barajas according to a CNN story. Think about it, Hector Barajas was brought to the United States as a 7-year-old child by his parents. This is where he was raised, this was the place that shaped and molded him, this was the only home he really ever knew or loved and, upon joining the army as a teenager, the place he was willing to die for.

All of that didn't matter. Even risking his life serving the people of the United States in the 82^nd Airborne Division didn't matter because when it came down to it, he was an "illegal immigrant" without the right papers and so after all was said and done, they rounded him up and dropped him across the border in Tijuana.

But here's the thing. They had no problem accepting him into the military; somehow it was okay to let the 18-year-old Hector Barajas join up, take his oath, and risk life and limb defending our country and his fellow soldiers but now he's not even worthy to stay because he doesn't have the right documents?

It sounds like hypocrisy to me and even more than that, it sounds like exploitation. Shame on us if we treat a veteran this way. It seems to me that he signed in blood and put his life up as collateral but that doesn't matter now because he's out of uniform so he just gets to go back to "being illegal."

It's akin to the black soldiers who risked life and limb protecting the United States in WW II. They could get their butts shot-up in Europe or somewhere in the Pacific alright, but once it was over they weren't good enough to enjoy the fruits of citizenship. It was the back of the bus for them.

So it is with Hector Barajas. He was good enough to serve, he was good enough to die for this country if necessary, but now he's not good enough to stay. Apparently he's not the only one. There's a "Deported Veteran's Support House" in Tijuana according to the CNN story, where the veterans we've booted out of the country can find some support with their fellows.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but as a veteran who served this country with everything that this service in the armed forces implies, he earned his citizenship in way that few ever have. And should some bureaucrat point out that Hector Barajas was at fault because he failed to file form XYZ with the office of whatevertheheck, it still won't change the fact that the guy put up his life as collateral.

Goodness knows there's a lot of hypocrisy in government and at one point or another, we're all guilty of a little hypocrisy. But for me, this falls into one of those "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness" categories. 

Assuming there's nothing else, like a criminal conviction or some other serious mark against, Hector Barajas and the other veterans just like him should be allowed to come back home and live among us in peace.  

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Contact him by phone at 856-455-3230 Ext. 200.

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

The Williamstown couple owned a Voorhees dry cleaning business where they employed immigrants who lacked authorization to be in the country.

CAMDEN -- A Williamstown man has admitted that he conspired with his wife to evade nearly $100,000 in payroll taxes on wages paid to unauthorized immigrants working at the couple's dry cleaning business.

Phillip Hui, 37, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of "conspiracy to obstruct and impede the IRS relating to the failure to collect, account for and pay payroll taxes and one count of harboring illegal aliens," according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Hui and his wife, Kathy Lei, 35, owned New Eastern Cleaners in Voorhees Township.

At various times in 2012 and 2013, the couple hired foreign nationals -- generally from Mexico and Guatemala -- who did not have legal status in the United States, authorities said. While they worked at the business, the immigrants lived in a South Main Street, Williamstown, house owned by Lei and two others.

Court upholds armed robbery conviction, 18-year sentence

The employees were required to work six days a week, about 10 hours a day, and were paid between $400 and $500 a week. Their rent was part of their employment compensation, authorities said.

Hui also admitted that he would transport the employees between work and the Williamstown house or arrange for someone else to handle transportation.

Hui admitted that when Lei filed federal tax returns in 2012 and 2013, she only reported wages paid to legal employees of New Eastern Cleaners. She failed to report wages paid to at least 13 unauthorized immigrants in 2012 and at least 14 in 2013.

Lei pleaded guilty to the same charges on May 2.

They face a maximum of 15 years in prison and potential fines. Hui and Lei are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11.

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

USAIGC competition returns to Wildwood during Memorial Day weekend for the Regional Gymnastic Championships.

WILDWOOD -- More than 600 gymnasts from across the state competed in the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs (USAIGC) New Jersey Gymnastics State Championships at the Wildwood Convention Center. Gymnasts at the Bronze level showed their skills on the uneven bars, balance beam, vault and floor Saturday.

Nearly 40 teams entered athletes into the weekend-long competition. Silver-level gymnasts contended for medals today. Those at the Bronze Diamond level competed Friday night.

Athletes in the Copper, Gold, Platinum and Premier levels compete next weekend at the Sparta Athletic Club in Sparta Township.

PHOTOS: 2015 USAIGC NJ Gymnastics State Championships

USAIGC competition returns to Wildwood during Memorial Day weekend for the Regional Gymnastic Championships.

Results from both the state and regional contests will be listed on USAIGC New Jersey's website.

For more information, visit www.usaigcnj.com or www.wildwoodsnj.com.

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

The Coast Guard Festival, now in its second year, celebrates the relationship between Cape May County and the Coast Guard.

CAPE MAY -- Cape May County is known for its wonderful people, extreme patriotism and beautiful beaches, according to Capt. Todd Prestidge, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (TRACEN).

He also wants everyone to know that the county is a Coast Guard community.

The Coast Guard Festival, now in its second year, celebrates this relationship between Cape May County and the Coast Guard. 

Grey skies and a misty rain didn't dampen the spirits of the thousands of visitors Saturday afternoon, as they enjoyed the many festival activities.

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Attendees toured the TRACEN base, stepped foot on Coast Guard vessels and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, and watched a K-9 demonstration by the Maritime Safety and Security Team New York. 

Children's activities, interactive displays, vendor tables, live music, and cultural and historical exhibits were also available throughout the day. 

One of the highlights of the festival was a search and rescue demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City over Cape May Harbor.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Third marking period, 2015-16 school year

Clayton 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 for Quarter 3:

12th Grade: Emily Fagan, Abigale Keeney, William Kellum, Zoe Lee, Fernando Marinero,    Kelli Moore, Sarah Roche, Lauren Rogers, Ciara Steinberg.

11th Grade: Esmeralda Perez.

10th Grade: Jessica Conti, Michelle Ly, Casey O'Brien, Rachel Sylvester.

9th Grade: Jeanne Barnett, Joseph Barron, Roble Jimale, Dymond Taylor.

 Honor Roll for Quarter 3:

12th Grade: Samantha Blake, Brandon Cruz, Jaclyn Dantinne, Cuyler Gallaher, Kasey Green, LuisDiego Millan, Anthony Pasquale, Mickayla Perez, Christopher Perrone, Kenneth Phillips, Elijah Rehm, Samantha Reimer, Brianna Riggio, Alyssa Rygalski, Hayley Schmidt, Ashley Slimback, Blaise Smith, Justin Steinberg, Angelina Talotta, Tyler Westenberger.

11th Grade: Tatyana Bell, Catherine Copeland, Aquasia Graham, Stephen Jiang, Taylor Morrison, Devinna Smith.

10th Grade:  Jason Alberti, Taylor Bagby, Gabrielle Connell, Dawn Foglein, Elizabeth Fooks, Ryan Genz, Breanna Kean, Madison Keeney, Casey Moore, Zoe Moss, Anthony Riggio, Kayla Roberts, Courtney Schaeffer, Alexandria Sciulli, Courtney Strockbine, Leah Sylveser.

9th Grade: Nicholas Arons, Cassidy Ashe, Benjamin Ballier, Rebecca Ballier, John Benkert, Rahzirah Blocker, Dillon Cook, Eric Dickens, Trevor Gallaher, Kaitlyn Kratz, Brittany Lewis, Hajee Moore, Brian Muller, Natalie Pasquale, Emily Pilitowski, Justin Pitera, Tayvon Praul, Solomon Robinson, Savana Rodriguez, Vivica Saunders, Nathan Schultz, Megan Sharp, Sadik Sivri, Johnathan Slimback, Hilton Smith, Hannah Sylvester, Kali Tice, Sara Weinert, Dallas Weldon.

This item submitted by Clayton School District.

Feeding America released its annual report on food insecurity in every county in the country.

ESSEX COUNTY -- It takes less than an hour to drive from some of the most affluent areas of Hunterdon County to the poorest neighborhoods of Newark. The short car trip will paint a startling picture of the highs and lows of hunger in New Jersey.

According to the recently released 2016 Feeding America "Map the Meal Gap" report, the highest concentration of "food insecurity" in the state is in Essex County. The study identifies the number of food insecure residents in every county across the country, as compared to the population of the county, to determine a "food insecurity rate."

At 18.6 percent of the population, Essex has the highest rate of any county in New Jersey. Hunterdon reported the lowest rate in the state, 6.4 percent. Overall, more than 1 million residents in New Jersey, or about 11.8 percent of the state's population, are "food insecure," the term the USDA uses to indicate people who lack access to enough food to live healthy lives.

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"It's here, and it's prevalent - that's the takeaway," said Diane Riley, the Director of Advocacy for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

And, though food insecurity rates tend to be higher in areas of concentrated poverty, she said it exists in "every community...even in the most affluent areas."

Particularly troubling, Riley said, was the rate of child food insecurity reported in New Jersey, 16.8 percent. Though the numbers have dipped slightly from last year's survey, she said they should still serve as a "call to action" for elected officials and residents throughout the state.

The report also uses Current Population Survey and Nielsen data to estimate the average cost of a meal in each county, and maps out the percentages of food insecure residents who do not qualify for meal assistance programs, like SNAP.

Average meal costs ranged from $2.80 in Cumberland County to $3.75 in Hunterdon County. In New Jersey, about 36 percent of food insecure people do not qualify for federal food assistance based on their incomes, the report found.

Nationwide, food insecurity rates ranged from a low of four to a high of 38 percent, in Loudoun County, Va. and Jefferson County, Miss., respectively. Every county in the country was found to have residents who struggle to pay for food. Overall, about 48 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, the report found.

"This new research documents the pervasiveness of hunger in every community in our nation," CEO of Feeding America Diana Aviv said in a release about the report.

"While the economy has improved and unemployment rates have declined, many people are still struggling to access adequate amounts of nutritious food for their families."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation went to more than 40 sites to deliver 2,200 gift bags to women in South Jersey.

WASHINGTON TWP. -- To commemorate Mother's Day, The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation/Mothers Matter delivered 104 custom gift bags to female residents of the Kennedy Health Care Center's Long Term Care Facility.

The May 6 event was part of a week-long Mother's Day celebration, during which the organization made more than 41 visits to distribute 2,200 gift bags filled with shampoo, lotion, nail polish and other women's personal beauty items.

The morning of the event started with trips to other locations, including a women's shelter, two day cares and a hospital, before arriving at Kennedy. Fifteen volunteers from Mothers Matter, of all ages, handed out gifts and spent time visiting with the women to celebrate their roles as mothers and grandmothers.

"To reflect a mother's love, we bring a little sunshine to mothers of all ages," said Susan Rose, founder of the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation/Mothers Matter. "[The bags] look like a store bought personal gift, made for them."

Mothers Matter has been visiting the women at Kennedy since 2006, but for Rita Lipiecki, 88, it was the first time she participated in the event.

"I think today was a beautiful day, there's a lot of things I can use," Lipiecki said of her gift bag.

The organization began in 2000, when Rose started the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation in honor of her daughter Lauren, who was killed in a car accident in 1999. Rose's motivation for the organization stemmed from her experience in local politics, where she noticed women "falling through the cracks." Her goal was to help women with needs in areas unmet by government agencies, specifically low-income mothers who lack the time to take care of themselves.

"Instinctively, I knew the type of charity we wanted to build," Rose said. "We wanted it to be warm, family, one on one. We wanted to be able to help one mom at a time."

In 2001, the organization took its first steps by making 265 gift baskets filled with Mother's Day items and taking them to shelters and day care centers in Camden and Collingswood. By 2002, the project started to grow. Letters were sent to local schools requesting that the students hold collection drives; school participation is still a major part of how Mothers Matters obtains the products they use in their gift baskets. They also have a partnership with Dollar Tree stores, which donate items, and when specific items that are not readily available are needed, the organization purchases them.

With 2010 came the decision to expand the program from outside of Mother's Day, to throughout the whole year, and introduced the now copyrighted name Mothers Matter. The organization now has headquarters in Washington Township and has 15 established volunteers. Together, they collect, package and distribute all of the gifts to mothers representing a range of demographics. Some are the mothers of hospitalized children and some are in the hospitals themselves. Others are older or in financial trouble.

Gabriella Raspanti, 14, is one of the youngest volunteers at Mothers Matter. She first got involved with the organization in 2014 when she attended a 5k they hold every year. Initially, she needed to complete service hours for school, and thought helping out would be a good way to achieve them. Now, she works up to eight hours just on Saturdays and usually finds time to contribute several days a week, although her service hours have long since been completed.

"I've always liked helping people, it's nice to give back," Raspanti said. "The women are all so nice, they accepted us so quick. Giving back to people is awesome. Rewarding moms, some might take it for granted. But it's really rewarding."

By the end of the year, the organizations plans to have made and delivered 35,000 gift bags.

"This year I think was the best year ever," Rose said. "This is one of the smoothest years we've had, we were able to accommodate everyone who was on our list. It's been flawless."

Woodbury City Public Schools' preschool and kindergarten registration for the 2016-2017 school year will be held at Evergreen Avenue School, 160 N. Evergreen Ave. on May 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; on May 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and on May 26 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary. Please see www.woodburysch.com for...

Woodbury City Public Schools' preschool and kindergarten registration for the 2016-2017 school year will be held at Evergreen Avenue School, 160 N. Evergreen Ave. on May 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; on May 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and on May 26 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary.

Please see www.woodburysch.com for further details.

When registering, please have the following documentation ready:

• Verification of residency -- this may include a deed, tax bill, or current lease
• Utility bill
• Picture ID for the parent
• Birth certificate for the student
• Immunizations records that include a physical for the student

Woodbury City Public Schools' Preschool Open House will take place on Friday, May 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Evergreen Avenue School, 160 N. Evergreen Ave.

Please see www.woodburysch.com for more details.

This item submitted by Woodbury School District.

We found the best looks from all 13 senior proms in New Jersey.

U.S. House candidate Alex Law writes that a blanket ban on purchases by those on the "no-fly" list is not effective gun control.

To the Editor:

In reference to the recent letter, "Go with Norcross on 'no-fly' gun ban," from Francis Spence, a supporter of U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., in the June 7 primary election:

The letter touted Norcross' support for federal legislation to prevent anybody on the FBI's No Fly List from purchasing guns. To me, "no-fly, no-buy," describes the belief that Americans on this list should be denied their constitutionally protected right to the Second Amendment. 

As Norcross' opponent for the Democrats' First Dist. nomination, I strongly disagree with him.

I firmly believe that we need more robust gun control to prevent the tragedies that have become all too frequent in our country. To me, serious gun reform  includes closing loopholes, instituting a national system of strict background checks and increased mental health treatment funding. 

Strong gun policy should have grounding in a realistic expectation of results. To honestly say we will have better gun control by stripping rights from Americans on an untraced, unexplained list is, in my estimation, absolutely foolish.

What makes us who we are as Americans is the system of government we have that guarantees more freedoms than any people in the world have ever experienced. At the core of our system is due process; that the government cannot take away your explicit constitutional rights unless you commit a crime. 

'No-fly, no-buy," while catchy, makes a mockery of our way of life. Democrats might disagree with the Second Amendment. But if we support Norcross' stance, who says that the next time an untraceable, unexplained list is made, it won't take away a right that we believe to be non-negotiable -- like the First Amendment?  This is the kind of slippery slope Norcross failed to consider with his support of "no fly, no buy."

Ending gun violence is very important, but so is protecting civil liberties. Although I agree to the ends, I object to the means.

Alex Law

Candidate for U.S. Congress

First District

N.J. prison cost cutting a 'joke'

To the Editor:

This is in response to the Times' editorial, "Ancora (Psychiatric Hospital site) not the place for violent offenders," on May 6:

This editorial regarding last week's escape of Arthur Buckel, who was captured Monday, had a few small mistakes. (Buckel) was not a "patient," but was assigned to a satellite unit of Bayside State Prison at Ancora known as "full-min" (minimum security). Inmates housed there provide labor to perform jobs at the hospital. 

However, the greater danger for the citizens of New Jersey is cost cutting done by the current state Department of Corrections administration. As a retired corrections officer with 25 years of experience, I was disheartened to see the changes made in my last five years on the job by Commissioner Gary Lanigan.  

While Lanigan's DOE web page biography cites his experience in corrections, it is mainly in the field of finance that he has worked. He increased the number of inmates in full-minimum units, as well as sending them to privately run halfway houses. To call some of these facilities "houses" is a joke, since one of them in Trenton can house more than 600 inmates.

These moves cost less than to keep these inmates in regular prisons. While I believe there are ways to reduce the cost of running prisons, putting violent criminals in reduced-security camps is not the way to do so.

Robert J. Osle

Forked River

Where was Black Lives Matter?

To the Editor:

I read the recent South Jersey Times article " 'Peace in the streets' rally planned after Camden's 'horrific' month," concerning an April 30 rally that was to take place in response to a violent month of April in the city.

The article stated that more than 40 organizations, as well as city officials, planned to attend. But there was no mention of Black Lives Matter activists planning to take part.

Shouldn't these activists have led such a rally? Or, do they show up only when the police are doing their job to try to keep things under control?

Harry Walker

Pitman

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

Kelly Green Brewery opens in Pitman.

PITMAN -- The dry spell ends as Pitman's first brewery opens. 

On Saturday afternoon, Kelly Green Brewery opened on Broadway. 

The brewery, which is complete with a tasting room, eight taps, and craft beers options of something for everyone, is the first to open in the historically dry-town of Pitman. 

Due to a new state law that allows limited breweries to make beer and sell it by the glass in a tasting room, Kelly Green will opens its doors, although liquor licenses in Pitman are still banned. 

Owners Justin and Jeanette Fleming opened the brewery in their life-long hometown as a way to be create a "breath a of fresh air for Pitman."  

The ribbon cutting was held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 with community members, township officials, and brew lovers present to mark the occasion. The brewery stayed open until 10 p.m. following the ceremonial first keg tap, inviting the community to come out for tastings, raffles, and plenty of specials to keep the good times flowing. 

For more information visit the Kelly Green Facebook page. 

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

The Cooper Medical School of Rowan University hosted the inaugural commencement ceremony sending 43 students into the next steps of their careers.

CAMDEN - Four years ago, the charter class of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University started their journey at their white coat ceremony

Less than two months ago, they received their placements for residency on "match day."

Today, they make history as the first class of the med school (CMSRU) to graduate.

"It's surreal, I can't believe it's here already," said Jennifer Bleznak, member of the graduating class. "It hasn't quite hit me yet."  

Bleznak and her 42 classmates make up the first class to go through Cooper Medical School. The class, largely comprised of tri-state area residents, walked at their commencement ceremony on Monday.

Speakers at the ceremony included Dean Paul Katz, Rowan University President Ali Houshmand, and Governor Chris Christie. Congressman Donald Norcross was slotted to speak at the ceremony as well, but was unable to attend due to the death of his mother on Saturday.

In his remarks, Christie gave students praise for what they've done for Camden and the state of New Jersey as a whole.

"CMSRU put together a world class faculty, attracted top notch students, trained and educate them in city of Camden, and have them go forth as ambassadors for the school, community, and ambassadors of the quality of education here," said Christie. "It's probably hard for you all to grasp how important that is... But you 43 students are the first tangible evidence of Camden's future."

"This is a big deal for us," said Katz. "We shaped these students but they also shaped us."

Through a mutual dedication to learning and service, the members of the charter class and CMSRU worked together to help turn the school what it is today.

"We had a vision for this class before we even had them enrolled, but these students took that vision and reshaped it into something better," said Katz. "

"A lot of people asked us during our interviews for residencies, why would you pick the first year school," said Bleznak. "If you had other choices would you have picked it?"

"I feel I matched the mission of the school and the school matched my mission, so, yes, I would have," she added.

"It was worth taking a chance on being the first class," said Martin Weaver. "They listened to us when we had feedback, they worked with us and let us work with them to make this program work."

For the past four years, the students learned the general knowledge they needed to continue on into fields of their choice. Their educators went above and beyond to make sure their educations were well rounded, emphasizing service and community into their regular lessons.

"When the dream of starting the medical school here came to light many years ago, a big part of it was giving back to the city of Camden and helping the city to grow and develop," said Katz. "In order to do that we had our students work with Camden residents in their clinic program."

"Working with the community was everything," said Gabriela Chaviano. "We got to see the community and understand them. You learn why they are the way they are and see how much of an impact the community has on the individuals."

"When I first got into the student clinic, I couldn't even take a blood pressure," said Bleznak. "But these people weren't sure how to let themselves be cared for. It was a symbiotic relationship."

All 43 students were matched to residencies. Of them, 11 will remain in New Jersey, and 24 will be in New York City, Philadelphia, and Wilmington. The remainder of the students will be as far as Miami.

"When we selected the first 43 students, we looked for more than just the smarts," said Kantz. "We looked for more than activities, more than just grades, more than just kids that could learn. We looked for 43 students who could give back, who could be a part of our mission and take that mission with them from here on out, no matter how far they go to continue their educations and careers. This is bigger than 43 students," he added. "This is 43 students, plus every patient they'll touch, plus the friends and families of those patients."

"We're so proud of what we've built here," Katz added. "I look forward to the future of CMSRU and the futures of these students." 

7th graders get lesson on the true meaning behind Cinco de Mayo

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Chestnut Ridge Middle School seventh-graders on Team America's Heroes received a lesson on the true meaning behind Cinco de Mayo during a cross-curricular celebration on May 5.

During Senora Jennie Nilson's Spanish class, her students culminated a weeklong project by creating maracas out of small water bottles and using them to play along to the song "La Cucaracha."

The project involved Nilson, reading teacher Maryann Kwietkowski and art teacher Mike Murro. The students spent time reading stories about the holiday and discussing its importance during Kwietkowski's class. In Nilson's class, they learned songs popular on the holiday in Spanish. Then, on Friday, Murro gave them step-by-step instructions on creating the maracas, up to and including using spray paint properly.

The seventh-graders use their maracas to play the beat while singing along to "La Cucaracha."COURTESY PHOTO
 

As Nilson explained, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, as is the common misconception, but a celebration of a battle fought and won against a much larger and better-equipped French army in the town of Puebla, Mexico, in 1861.

France did not actually withdraw until six years later. The holiday is more widely celebrated in the United States than in Mexico, where it is officially acknowledged only in Puebla. Mexico's independence from Spain had been declared more than 50 years prior, on Sept. 16, 1810, which is the date recognized today as Mexico's Independence Day.

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

Two pieces of railway steel that was damaged in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York will be transported to Swedesboro Wednesday.

SWEDESBORO -- An artifact from the wreckage left behind after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 will be brought to Swedesboro this week for the borough to house the piece of history.

Borough Council President Sam Casella, Councilwoman Alice O'Blennis and a group of borough employees will travel to New York Wednesday morning to pick up two pieces of subway rail from the lower level of the World Trade Center complex.

They will transport the steel to borough hall, with an escort from local police, where a ceremony will be held memorializing Swedesboro's respect for the items. Residents are invited to attend the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin between 1:30 and 2 p.m.

"This artifact will represent the courage and compassion that the American people had shown in September 11, 2001," Casella said in a written release Monday. "This will also honor all of those first responders, the military and the volunteers that have and continue to defend our country in the name of freedom."

Once the pieces are in the borough, they will be stored at its public works department until a permanent display is created for them. 

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

Byron Jenkins is accused of beating his wife so severely that she was in a coma for two weeks and suffered massive brain damage.

Byron Jenkins Salem County Correction  

WOODBURY -- A Gloucester County man has been indicted on attempted murder charges for allegedly beating his wife into a coma last year.

Byron Jenkins, 46 of Glassboro, is charged with first degree attempted murder and second degree aggravated assault in the case, which prosecutors called an "incredibly violent" attack.

He was arrested in June 2015 after a domestic dispute at the family's Park Crest Village apartment. His wife had suffered serious brain damage and had a fractured skill, jaw and eye socket, according to previous reports.

During a bail hearing in June, Jenkins claimed that his wife had lunged at him with a knife and struck her head on a bedpost, but prosecutors said that claim was false and that she had been beaten with both fists and a lamp. One of her children was found on a bed covered in his mother's blood, they added.

His wife was in a coma for more than two weeks before being moved from Cooper Medical Center to a rehabilitation center. Her current condition has not been released.

Jenkins has previous convictions for robbery and aggravated assault, but no previous criminal history with his wife.

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

Ground was broken Monday for a new, 15,000-square-foot veterans health clinic on West Landis Avenue in Vineland.

VINELAND -- Officials promised a new era of quality health care for area veterans Monday as they broke ground for a 15,000-square-foot clinic in the heart of Vineland.

The ceremony took place just three days after New Jersey's federal representatives announced they had lost confidence in the leadership at the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center to oversee three South Jersey clinics and that the Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (VISN 4) staff would take over.

"This means much better care with leadership that understands the needs of our veterans in a way they did not before," said U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2^nd Dist. "It's all about having care closer to home."

The congressman, a longtime champion of veterans' causes including improved health care access, said that change in oversight will mean "leadership that understands they need to ... say 'yes' instead of 'no' all the time."

The new 15,000-square-foot clinic is at 79 W. Landis Avenue in Vineland, the corner where West Landis intersects with South West Avenue. It will contain more than 30 rooms.

The project is rehabbing and adding on to an existing building that was on the site. Work is already well under way. Monday's ceremonial groundbreaking was held across West Landis Avenue from the work site.

The VA is paying a one-time tenant improvement cost of $1 million and then will lease the building.

The Vineland clinic is one of three in South Jersey operated by the VA. The other two are in Northfield and Cape May.

The new clinic will replace the older one at 1051 W. Sherman Avenue, also in Vineland. Along with primary care, behavioral health, social work, telehealth, and specialty services already provided at the old site, the new clinic will have improved waiting areas, more exam rooms, and additional space for group clinics, support groups, and expanded telehealth services, according to VA officials.

The Sherman Avenue site, which officials said has become overcrowded, will close once the West Landis clinic opens, likely near the end of this year.

"I am excited about the possibilities," said Diana Pitman, Cumberland County Director of Veterans Affairs, who attended Monday's event. "I think the existing clinic has been very good to our community, but I think this with this (new) location, the expansion of services and our ability to really get the word out to our veterans, this is really going to have a huge impact, not only on Cumberland County, but South Jersey."

"In recent years there has been an increase in demand for VA care both nationally and in southern New Jersey. This has created a gap in the space required to support modern day health care," said Dr. Michael D. Adelman, network director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network 4.

"Today we take a big step in closing that gap," he said.

"The VA is committed to provide quality health care for veterans of every era," Adelman said. He said the new clinic is part of the VA's renewed commitment "to care for those who have served us so well."

The project is bringing "new life to what was an empty building and new life to downtown Vineland," said architect Ron Portadin.

Portadin added the project has allowed him and others involved to "in a very small way, serve those who have so selfishly served our country."

Vets need medical care choice

The new building will have about 30 rooms.

LoBiondo praised U.S. Senators Cry Booker and Robert Menendez, both D-N.J., for their "very strong support" in backing new leadership to oversee South Jersey's three clinics.

He also acknowledged the continued work on behalf of veterans by Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak, D-1st Dist., who was at Monday's ceremony, along with his colleague state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-1^st Dist.

Lawmakers, especially LoBiondo, have become increasingly frustrated with the VA in recent years when it comes to accessible health care for South Jersey veterans.

LoBiondo emphasized that the VA knows its is expected to make sure when this new clinic opens, everything is in place.

"You can have a state-of-the-art clinic, but if you don't have the right staffing, it's not going to provide for the veterans," LoBiondo of the change in leadership at the VA. "We made it clear that we expect this clinic to open fully staff and working the way it should on the day it opens."

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Third marking period for the 2015-16 school year

EAST GREENWICH --  Andrea Evans, Principal of the Samuel Mickle School, East Greenwich Township, is pleased to announce that the following students have achieved academic recognition for the third marking period of the 2015-16 school year.

3rd Grade Superintendent's List: Evalise Abreu, Lucas Allen, Sofia Amoroso, Rowen Arena, Molly Baldino, Dominic Borelli, Keegan Borkowski, Haley Brown, Ksena Brudnicki-Maher, Anthony Christopher, Kate Clune, Nicholas DeStefano, Ava DiBonaventura, Owen Ellison, Trevor Farrell, Natalie Ficarra, Allison Gill, Victoria Graff, Riece Haegele, Avery Hallman, Ava Harkins, Devin Harris, Jack Heino, Grace Hunter, Roshni Jacob, Jake Kershner, Avary Kidd, Abagail Klimek, Makenzie Kunsaitis, Anna LaPalomento, Julia Marino, Madison Marshall, Keegan McGravey, William McKenna, Amelia Meyer, Filip Mirkovic, Kyle Monasterial, Sadie Montague, Allyson Moore, Megan Mularz, Jack Murphy, Julia Neal, Nathan Owens, Ava Patel, Lyle Petersen, Raeghan Pierce, Joanie Powers, Kathryn Pyne, Aidan Quach, Alayna Riepen, Meghan Rigney, Georgia Riso, Addison Ruffenach, Jeffrey Schwantes, Jake Simpson, Devin Soffy, Cameron Stephenson, Jacob Sturek, Sydney Sviben, Griffin Tomlin, Ariana Velez, Thalia Velez, Kaitlin Weil.

3rd Grade Principal's List:  Jacob Alestra, Landon Aureli, Kahla Badessa, Noelle Blum, Jessica Bretz, Jacob Brown, Anthony Bruno, Lauren Bulskis, Gabrielle Cato, Gabriella Celli, Vivek Chauhan, Troy Cifone, John Colangelo, Joseph Connell, Dennis Crilly, Juliana D'Angelis, Catherine Davison, Nicholas DeSant, Christopher Ferguson, Macie Ferla, Bria Fish, Jake Frye, Sebastian Furfaro, Colin Garvey, Gerardo Giannini, Emma Gunning, Jon Hausley, Brenna Hercker, Danielle Higbee, Ella Hillman, Logan Hines, Andrew Homola, Jonathan Horner, Bailey Hostetter, Noel Jiampetti, Annaliese Kipers, Molly Kirk, Jayson Kitchin, Cole Kruszewski, Tyler Kulik, Carly Kuminka, Jesse Kunkle, Logan Lenkowski, Emily Leshik, Natalie Lurwick, Jake Mangifesta, Justin Mano, Conner Marcelo, Jamie Marconi, Kyle Miller-Glaviano, Saania Mirza, Reagan Mooney, Charles Neal, Leonardo Nunes-Gonzalez, Stanley Ojeda, Brian Orio, Landyn Persicano, Capri Petersen, Jeremy Pires, Joshua Pomasin, Chase Priest, Jacob Reed, Ava Reeves, Isabella Regan, Robert Rittershausen, Aaliyah Schultz, Aubrey Schultz, Isabella Scythes, Hannah Seraydarian, Brady Shelton, Madison Sorochen, Abigail Stapell, Mallory Swietanski, John Tanzola, Jacqueline Tarum, Samantha Tedrow, Caitlin Trotter, Carina Velez, Tyler Wilkinson, Joshua Witherspoon, Taylor Womack.

4th Grade Superintendent's List: Isabella Allen, Aryan Bhagat, Taegan Borbidge, Vincent Bottiglieri, Ashley Brown, Chelsea Calhoun, John Collins, Molly Curtis, Cooper Daniels, Kielee DeJesus, Kayla Donaruma, Haley Dukich, Cassidy Dunk, Kylie Emick, Peter Frey, Alyson Gross, Madeline Hicks, Reese Holcomb, Bella Hughes, Cariel Jalosjos, Kasey Johnson, Cameron Jones, Sydney Jones, Andrew Kissinger, Kyle Kupsey, Erin Lail, Marisa Landi, Rylie MacFarland, Keira Milburn, Kacie Miller, Gabriela Mirenda, Erin Moore, Anjuli Nair, Thomas Ninan, Carolina Nunes-Gonzalez, Dominic Palladino, Ava Paoletti, John Pool, Thomas Popoff, Madelyn Priest, Jordyn Riggs, DeMarcus Rogers, Morgan Rothwein, Kaden Salerno, Sabrina Schonewise, Quinn Schorn, Logan Senkier, Henry Stammerjohann, Braiden Tedesco, Olivia Thomasson, Rachael Trippel, Joseph Vaccarella, Rhea Vangala, Adreayna Vitale, Ava Volpe, King Witherspoon, Mary Wordelmann.

4th Grade Principal's List: Gabriel Archer, Chase Atkinson, Mason Bailey, Torre Battaglia, Kyle Beckett, Morrison Brathwaite, Ava Bucco, Mia Bucs, Thomas Bui, Aiden Carpenito, Jeffrey Celli, Natalie Chew, Luke Clodfelter, Kathryn Cloman, Ryan Clune, Samuel Cuthbert, Elise Daliessio, Harrison David, Nicolas DeCinque, Jala Drayton, Stephen Farrell, Julianna Ferrell, Teagan Franchetti, Logan Franz-Copeland, Paige Freas, Samantha Freas, Ava Friel, Emma Frucci, Matlock Gemberling, Kayla Gibbone, Liam Glenn, Arianna Golden-Brown, Dakota Goraj, Sophia Hawthorn, Brentin Heil, Joshua Herner, Mikayla Houchin, David John, Sydni Johnson, Adam Keating, Toby King, Ryan Lacorte, Frank LaRubbio, Natalie Leone, Benjamin Lundgren, Joshua Maksymowicz, Ariella Manzella, Dylan Marano, Ryan McCabe, Vincent McDermott, Sabrina McGroarty, Donovan McMath Madison McNally, Morgan Meloy, Cameron Menard, Mia Messick, Lorenzo Miglino, Mark Miller-Furtak, Sophia Murphy, Ka'Nya Nelson, Brendan O'Leary, Alana Oman, Colin Pape, Alex Passehl, John Petaccio, Paige Quirk, Jada Reese, Juan Rojas, Madison Rothwein, Margaret Shableski, Alexander Sims, Jordan Starks, Ava Storms, Brooke Vogel, Charles West, Bailey Workman, Kevin Xia, Vivian Yekenchik, Delaney Young, Ashley Zimmer, Daman Zone.

5th Grade Superintendent's List: Pedro Aisa, Daniel Allen, Samuel Aregood, Joseph Bagherpour, Adam Bretz, Victoria Cato, Andrea Chhour, Mary Collins, Morgan Collins, Haley DeNick, Olivia DiNovi, Julia Dionglay, Shelby Dyer, Brea Heil, Ian Horner, William Hughes, Macy Kennedy, Parker Laborde, Trent Layton, Olivia Lehman, Olivia Lewin, Madeleine Malesich, Jacob Mason, Daniel McCarty, Audrey McKenna, Rhea Olmedo, Joshua Player, Robert Powers, Brandon Ratkowiak, Jack Schorn, Erica Sprigman, Ella Stephenson, Michaela Taylor, Madalyn Tortella, Breanna Volpe, Cali Volpe, Dajuan Wagner, Luke Wordelmann, Jason Zheng.

5th Grade Principal's List: Samantha Allen, Antonio Anello, Nicholas Barnett, Owen Bentley, Amelia Bernstein, Alyssa Bickford, Jack Bispels, Nathan Blum, Cameron Briggs, Nicholas Brown, Toni Brunetti, Liam Burbage, Fox Camann, Gavin Casella, Kyle Casella, Karina Chakov, Jordyn Clarkson, Jayson Colina, Jason Costanzo, Mia DeAngelis, Sarah Decker, Abigail DiLorenzo, Alyssa Donahue, Curt Ernst, Samantha Faramelli, Olivia Ferrara, Kaelyn Gallagher, Grace Garrity, Noah Gentile, Nicholas Gober, Hailey Graff, Marissa Grant, Ryan Guidotti, Emma Hartman, Jessica Held, Sophia Hibbs, Leena Hines, Nicole Hoffman, Giovanni Ixcoy-Monroy, Storm Jackson, Joseph Kelly, Ronald Kosek, Lexa Lau, Vincent Laurelli, Charles Leonard, Zachary Lorch, Evan Mangifesta, Ryan Marcelo, Ian Mason, Timothy McCann, Kaitlyn McDermott, William Michal, Brady Miller, Chase Miller, Ashley Monteiro, Cole Murphy, Jacob Myers, Camryn O'Leary, Patrick Orazi, Thomas Orazi, Allison Patel, Brianna Patella, Adriel Rebancos, Jacob Retkovis, Olivia Richetti, Payton Riggs, Sophia Riso, Ashton Robbins, Sophia Robles, Brendan Rowan, Danaja Sanders, Patrick Santiago, Isabella Smith, Emma Stevens, Evan Stuart, Matthew Taylor, Nathan Taylor, Alexis Trippel, Xavier Turner, Kaitlyn Vannelli, Zachary Webb, Sydney Werner, Matthew Wolosin, Miranda Zeno.

6th Grade Superintendent's List: Sean Anderson, Jack Aregood, Megan Baldino, Carston Brudnicki-Maher, Madison Burlingame, Bayleigh Calhoun, Kelsey Clodfelter, Savanna Crowding, Jonathan David, Emily Driver, Michael Fitzgerald, Samuel Foth, Miranda Gomes, Victoria Griffiths, Daniel Jasinski, Nolan Jess, Riley Kunsaitis, Annalise Maciejewski, Joshua Mathew, Amelia McGravey, Mason Mitchell, Amanda Moore, Ethan Natkin, Anthony Negro, Timothy Ninan, Samantha O'Connor, Oluwaforehanmi Odufalu, Ava Passehl, Arya Patel, Abigail Popoff, Chloe Porter, McKenzie Racobaldo, Hannah Rowe, Macy Seraydarian, Conor Smith, Jessica Stebbins, Savannah Toulson, Andy Xia, Ethan Zheng.

6th Grade Principal's List: Hailey Ambrose, Hunter Anicic, Leah Aureli, Emily Brabazon, Thomas Brabazon, Madelyn Brook, Laylaa Brown, Gianna Bruno, Ian Bucs, Saige Budd, Chaney Caraccio, Olen Carpenito, Jayneel Chauhan, Kaylin Cho, Colton Christenson, Marc Cifone, Erika Diamond, Madelyn Dunk, Olivia Ettorre, Ave Falabella, Olivia Falocco, Madison Ferry, James Francesco, Ethan Glenn, Ryan Hallman, Kevin Heyer, Caitlyn Hickey, Brendan Kane, Evan Kidd, Nolan LaRocca, Allison MacFarland, Alexander Manes, Alannah Marcelo, Kayla Martin, Daniel McCoy, Gianna McGahan, Skyler Nguyen, Kelly Orio, Aaron Pape, Delaney Patella, Aidan Pham, Chloe Pigliacelli, Paige Pigliacelli, Sofia Probst, Christian Rapattoni, Ryan Richards, Sydney Sexton, David Shableski, Samantha Shelton, Matthew Simon, Caila Tagye, Nicholas Tanzola, Richard Thwaites, William Tunstall, Viviana Velez, Brendan Weil, Samantha Wells, William Woodburn, Cole Workman, Michael Yates.

This item submitted by the Samuel Mickle School.

The Star Students for March and April received lunch with the principal

GLASSBORO -- Glassboro Principal Richard Taibi recently announced Dorothy L. Bullock School's Star Students for March and April. Star Students attended a pizza lunch with the principal in their honor and received certificates of honor.

March Star Students selected by regular classroom teachers included:

Gianna Armenia, Jaylen Baker, Ava Brody, Jordan Brown, Andrew Buday, Parish Council, Diego Elias, Asher Fithian, Thaisha Gonsalez-Soriano, Anna Gredzinski, Aiden Harris, Gabrielle Lamontagne, Ryan Lynch, Alexander Mann, Sophia Mills, Daniel Myers, Azariah Pizarro, Connor Ritter, Conner Schofield, Cole Sederland, Michael Soriano, Sienna Spiess, Madalena Torres, Christina Volz-Price, Sonia Ward and Armani Williams.

March Star Students selected by special area classroom teachers included:

• Artists of the Month - Jamison Bozarth, Aaniya Drummond and Clinton Suggs. Athletes of the Month - Jayelle Gant, Aaron Tattersdill and Ceayna Wharton.
• Musicians of the Month - Xavier Hendricks, Sanyh Holland and Christopher Jackles.
• Techies of the Month - Leah Darnall, Kimberly Torres and Michael Turner.
• World Travelers of the Month - Brandon Dominguez, Leyver Ortiz-Ramirez and Hailey Molis.

April Star Students selected by regular classroom teachers included:

Davon Barr, Lyric Breaker, Kareem Bunch, Jayden Carr-Ojeda, Chase Cline, Beatriz Cruz Perez, Madison Duppel, Savanna Fahrer, Brett Fetty, Kimaine Gaines, Niyah Green, Sunsarai Moore, Riley Olsen, Ella Pancoast, Shaliyah Percival, Jelani Poles, Alexa Romano, Evelyn Rosas-Martinez, Jacob Ross, Gabriel Sinor, Curtis Stokes Jr., Layla Tate, Jessica Tongue, Sonia Ward, Zechariah Wimbish and Nazai Wright.

April Star Students selected by special area classroom teachers included:

• Artists of the Month - Peyton Gray, Sean Tyrell and Brendan Wahner.
• Athletes of the Month - Jaret Codallos-Mendez, Sophia Massimino and Jeff Velazquez-Lopez.
• Musicians of the Month - Gabriel Daniel, Eric Reid and Logan Stetser.
• Techies of the Month - Grace Hoffman, Laisha Lopez and Nasir Thomas.
• World Travelers of the Month - Brayan Avila-Flores, Shaun Pratt and Derek Scruggs.

This item submitted by Glassboro School District.

Ginny Murphy, Bob Abbott and Candice Zachowski among honorees at dinner

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -Washington Township school board members Ginny Murphy, Bob Abbott and Candice Zachowski were among the honorees at the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Awards Dinner hosted on May 3 at Villari's Restaurant in Sicklerville. The event recognized those members who successfully have met the educational requirements for one or all of the certifications offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The four levels of certification include Certified New Board Member, Certified Board Member, Master Board Member and Certified Board Leader. The certification process is designed to give school board members a firm foundation in the governance skills needed to carry out their elected responsibilities.

Washington Township Board President Murphy and Vice President Bob Abbott were recognized as certified board members, master board members and certified board leaders. Zachowski earned certified and master board certifications.  

Washington Township congratulates its school board members on their outstanding accomplishments, and thanks them for their dedication to the advancement of the Washington Township Public Schools.

This item submitted by Washington Township School District.

A two-lane freeway with a 65 mph limit in congested areas could be one a cause of a spike in highway deaths' Look into it.

Call it "Fatal Mystery on Route 55."

Before camera crews from TV's "48 Hours" or "Dateline" go streaming down the Turnpike, an unsolved homicide is not riding along one of South Jersey's vital highways. 

The issue on Route 55 is a spike in motor vehicle deaths during the first four months of 2016. There have been seven on the 40-mile freeway as of Friday, in seven different mishaps. Seven deaths occurred on Route 55 as in all of 2015.

The road had six fatalities each during both all of 2014 and 2013, and no fatal crashes in 2012. That makes for a head-scratching trend that officials should want to reverse. This year's crashes took place under a variety of weather conditions and apparent causes. Some were rear-end collisions. In others, a single car left the roadway and went into the woods.

New Jersey State Police spokesman Capt. Stephen Jones says that troopers will step up patrols based on trends. It could help. It would be better, however, if the state Department of Transportation and state police could find an underlying cause for the higher death counts.

Jones mentioned excessive speed, so one wonders about having a 65-mph limit on a road with only two lanes in each direction. Route 55 is 65 mph along nearly its entire length, except its northern terminus with busy Route 42 in Deptford Township. Route 55 also lacks a center lane for virtually its entire distance.

Anecdotal observation reveals more than a few occasions where drivers who wish to pass are unable to do so, with slower vehicles traveling in both lanes. "Slower" here is a relative term. These cars may already be going 65 or 70 mph, but are being tailgated by motorists trying to go 75 or 80. Frustration, and who knows what else, ensues.

The state should study shifting the limit to 55 mph further into Gloucester County, which has more than twice the daily traffic of the road's Cumberland County sections.m If traffic counts have exploded since the road was finished in 1989, that can't be ignored. 

Adding a third lane in congested areas could be prohibitively expensive. Would this be beneficial regardless of cost? Some good data should be available from the Atlantic City Expressway, which has been upgraded to three lanes at choke points in recent years.

As New Jersey limited-access highways go, Route 55 is straight and flat, with basically decent pavement conditions. It doesn't have the conflicting signs that stun unfamiliar motorists heading onto Routes 76/42/295 from the Walt Whitman Bridge. 

There may be no quick Route 55 fix, engineering-wise. Meanwhile, the shore season is coming, with higher numbers of drivers to the road's southern end in Maurice River Township. For the short term, increased trooper coverage is the best line of defense against preventable accidents. Drivers should also be warned that Route 55 is a dangerous place to speed, to tailgate, to drive while impaired, or to text. 

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