I've never been a tuxedo kind of guys. Here's why.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

I watched the White House Correspondents' Association dinner-roast on CNN last Saturday night, Barack Obama's farewell half-hour appearance as a stand-up comedian, and my mind drifted to the one year I attended the fete, tuxless, it turned out, when Jimmy Carter was in office.

I was managing editor of a rival South Jersey Times newspaper at the time and the paper had tickets to the event even though we had no reporter working the White House beat on a regular basis. I volunteered to go, rented a tuxedo, hopped aboard an Amtrak, checked in at the Hilton, ordered some snacks via room service, and lay down for a nap before the 5:30 p.m. pre-dinner festivities. Good thing the paper was paying the freight.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But since I was involved, turned out it was anything but simple. Not with a tuxedo involved.

I got an afternoon wake-up call at 4:30, figuring an hour was plenty of dress-up preparation time.

It occurred to me that I'd rented the tux without trying it on first. Not too smart, eh? I managed to squeeze into my pants, uncomfortably, and figured out how to work the suspenders. Hey, 2-for-2 is a pretty good batting average, isn't it?

But my tux shirt proved to be somewhat of a problem. I could not button the top button no matter how hard I tried. In a fitful panic, I sucked in my tummy and momentarily was successful, until exhaling and dislodging the popped button across the room.

I checked the shirt size  for the first time, 15 1/2.  At the time, I took a 17 1/2. A snug fit, to say the least.

What to do?

First I called the hotel's tux rental shop and laughingly, sort of, explained my dilemma.

"Sorry, sir," the woman said. "It's almost 5. We close at 4. Funny, we've had two other panic calls like yours.

"The closest we are to another tux rental shop is five blocks east. You could try there. Have a nice day."

I donned my civilian clothes in record time and hot-footed it five blocks to the rental store.

A man was locking the door. It was a quarter past 5.  I explained my predicament again. He sounded sympathetic.

"If we can do this in five minutes, you're OK," he said reassuringly.

But that news was much too good to be true. I tried on a half-dozen tux shirts. None of them fit.

I hurried back to the Hilton, thinking of ways I could attend the  dinner and other activities in everyday clothing.

Either I was deliberately assigned to table Z or no one cared how I dressed, because no one said a word to me about my less-than-formal garb all night, not even at the cocktail party.

Even Jimmy Carter didn't notice.

I've always hated tuxedos.

Through the fellowship Stephen Dower will work and study in Germany for one year

Stephen Dower, of Glassboro, has been selected to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a year-long, federally-funded fellowship for study and work in Germany. Dower has studied at Temple University and was selected as one of 75 participants (from more than 700 applicants) for this unique fellowship program. Since 1984, over 2,000 Americans have been awarded this opportunity to gain cultural, academic, and practical work experience in Germany, and Dower will be participating in the 33rd year of the CBYX program (2016-2017).

Dower is a 2012 graduate of Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a 2014 graduate of Gloucester County College and a recent graduate of Temple University.

While in Germany, Dower will attend a two-month intensive German language course, study at a German university or professional school for four months, and complete a five-month internship with a German company in his career field (Financial Planning/Asset Management). Participants are placed throughout Germany, and have the opportunity to learn about everyday German life from a variety of perspectives.

Conceived by members of the United States Congress and the German Parliament [Bundestag], the CBYX program is financially supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act, and by the Bundestag. Participants come from a wide variety of career fields, and from all over the United States.

Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 18-24, and have clear career goals and experience in their professional fields. Young professionals in STEM, business, agricultural, and vocational fields are especially encouraged to apply, though candidates in all career fields are eligible. German language ability is not required, but is strongly recommended.  Interested applicants should visit www.CBYX.info for more information.

CBYX is a reciprocal scholarship program. While American participants like Dower and his fellow participants spend the year living in Germany, 75 young German professionals will also be spending the year experiencing life in the United States.  German participants study at U.S. colleges in the fall and work at local businesses in the spring, all while living with an American host throughout the year. CBYX for Young Professionals is currently looking for interested host families, host companies, and host colleges who would like to take part in this exciting cultural exchange. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the program or hosting a German participant should visit https://cbyx.info/host.

This item submitted by Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.

The school with the most votes will have its prom pics featured on NJ.com's homepage.

NJ.com will be at more than a dozen proms all over New Jersey this week. Only one prom can be Prom of the Week and have its photos featured on NJ.com's homepage. Time for you to decide which school that will be.

Add njdotcom 

Cast your vote in the poll below, and make sure to share this link so your school will get the most votes. Voting closes Thursday at 1 p.m., and the school with the most votes wins. We'll reveal the winner Thursday afternoon on Snapchat. We'll also name last week's prom best dressed winner.

Go to NJ.com's prom page for more prom photos. Tweet and Instagram your prom pics with #njprom.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow John on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook.

Elizabeth Miller writes that partisan liberalism is a problem, but Donald Trump is not the cure.

To the Editor:

I have a confession to make. I am not a lifetime Republican. I am not all that socially conservative. I am "pro-choice," I believe gays should be able to live freely as Americans, and I am an atheist.  

I am, however, a staunch supporter of our founding doctrines and an entrenched supporter of the Second Amendment and states' rights. 

I changed my party affiliation recently to be able to vote Republican in New Jersey's June 7 primary. I am determined to do so because I revile Hillary Clinton and recoil at socialist Bernie Sanders. Also, President Barack Obama has "cured" me of partisan liberalism. 

The Democrats abandoned me when they demanded I embrace criminals over law enforcement. Clinton and Obama have even told me that racism is in my DNA and yours, regardless of how we live our lives. Obama cinched this in refusing to acknowledge the dangers of ISIS and Muslim immigration, despite glaring examples from all over Europe. The ill-conceived Iran nuclear "deal" was the icing on the cake.

However, Donald Trump is the antithesis of all I have ever known politically -- on both sides of the fence. Trump damages the Republicans in ways no party deserves.  

Conservatives are not the enemy, as Clinton believes. There is no "vast right-wing conspiracy, as she has claimed for decades. There are, in both the Democrat and Republican parties, Americans who simply love our republic and differ ideologically on how best to serve its needs. 

This brings me back to June 7. I am encouraging Republicans who see Donald Trump as a disaster to still go to the polls. He is the presumptive nominee, not THE nominee. 

GOP convention delegates have yet to cast a single vote. We must register our displeasure and our repugnance for the candidacy of a man who will not only destroy the vitality of the Republican party, but all that defines us as American citizens.

Elizabeth J. Miller

Salem

Bad taste from Trump 'taco' cartoon

To the Editor:

I just saw the political cartoon about Donald Trump (by Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) on the Times' May 10 print-version editorial page.

(Donald Trump/Twitter)  

I am Caucasian, but I was quite surprised at the use of a watermelon to depict the African-American community. (Luckovich showed Trump eating a watermelon to satirize the candidate's own Cinco de Mayo photograph of him eating a taco bowl).

Black folks have tried for more than 50 years to overcome such unfair and questionable stereotypes. I realize that the cartoon was meant to make a statement about Trump, but it likely was more insulting to African-Americans than it was to him. 

It was simply in poor taste and quite insensitive to people's feelings.

 Mike Hearn 

Mantua Township

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

Authorities initially thought she had walked for help after hitting a tree.

DEPTFORD TWP. -- A Glassboro woman who died in an accident on Route 55 Friday morning was not killed by a hit-and-run driver as authorities previously believed, state police announced today.

Police now say Anabel Aponte, 32, was killed when her car ran off the highway near milepost 59.7 southbound in Deptford Township, struck several trees in the center median. She was ejected from her vehicle and her body landed in the left lane, explained Sgt. First Class Greg Williams.

The medical examiner determined that Aponte, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was already dead when she was struck by a passing motorist, Williams said.

That motorist heard that a hit-and-run driver was being sought in the case and contacted police. "He reported to the Bellmawr station where he was interviewed," Williams said.

7 people have died on this 40-mile N.J. highway this year

The driver will not be charged, he said.

Officials initially theorized that Aponte exited her vehicle after hitting a tree and walked back to the roadway to seek help. A photo of her crumpled Kia shows the windshield is intact, with the car showing no obvious sign of an ejection. Police also noted that the driver's seatbelt was latched and that Aponte apparently sat in front of it while she was driving.

Police do not know why she ran off the road.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday.

Aponte was born in Puerto Rico and lived in Glassboro for the last 16 years, according to her obituary. She was employed at Rowan University in the housekeeping staff for academic buildings, the university confirmed. She worked for Rowan since 2008.

Aponte is survived by a daughter.

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

Aaron T. Fletcher is facing multiple charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a young boy for a period of nearly two years.

Aaron T. FletcherSalem CountyJail 

SWEDESBORO -- A borough man who is accused of sexually assaulting two young boys, sometimes violently, for a period of two years is now facing a litany of charges stemming from the alleged abuse.

Aaron T. Fletcher, 27, was arrested in Swedesboro on May 4 and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a child, sexual assault with force or coercion causing serious injury and impairing or debauching the morals of a child.

According to the complaints against him, Fletcher repeatedly assaulted the victims, one of whom is now 11 years old, both orally and anally, including using foreign objects such as a broomstick, between November of 2013 and May of 2015.

The charges also detail that he did so "for the purpose of sexually arousing or sexually gratifying himself or to humiliate or degrade" the victims.

Fletcher has previously been charged with aggravated arson and attempted murder in 2014 for allegedly setting a Woolwich Township house on fire while seven people were inside. He pleaded guilty to a lower charge of criminal mischief in that case and was sentenced in May 2015 to 132 days in jail, according to court records. He also has previous records for possession of a weapon in Salem County and possession of cocaine, as well as fraudulent use of credit cards.

Fletcher is currently housed in Salem County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

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

Police in the borough are searching for Ryan Williams, who they say is responsible for shooting a Paulsboro man in the chest.

PAULSBORO -- Police have identified and charged a man they say is responsible for shooting a borough resident in the chest last month.

Ryan WilliamsSubmitted photo 

Ryan Williams, 37, is charged with attempted murder for the shooting of Antion Hodges, who drove himself to a Heritage store in the borough and told someone he had been shot before collapsing to the ground. The shooting is believed to have taken place near Sixth Street and Billings Avenue, about two blocks from the store.

Police are searching for Williams, who is believed to be hiding out in Camden or Philadelphia, according to Paulsboro Police Chief Vernon Marino. He is described as a black male, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 190 pounds. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on Williams' whereabouts is asked to call the Paulsboro Police Department at 856-423-1101.

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

Conference will feature Frank DeAngelis, former principal of Columbine High School

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Washington Township High School will serve as host to the 10th Annual School Safety and Security Conference presented by the Southern New Jersey Prosecutor Offices on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center. The free event is open to the public. Students and parents, as well as school and law enforcement personnel, are encouraged to attend.

Frank DeAngelis, the former principal of Columbine High School, will share accounts of that infamous school shooting and provide insight into managing the after-crisis with students, staff, community and media. Thomas Veivia, a former SWAT team leader who responded to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, will serve as the keynote speaker. 

Conference participants are encouraged to register via email at schoolsecurity@co.gloucester.nj.us. Please include your name, organization (if applicable) and number of people attending. Educators in attendance will receive a certificate for four hours of professional development.

This item submitted by the Washington Township School District.

The track meet featured area Special Olympics and Unified Teams

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Some 250 Special Olympians, Unified athletes and volunteers from Camden, Salem and Gloucester counties spent their Mother's Day on May 8, at Washington Township High School competing in a track meet and sharing friendship and fellowship.

The event was organized at the school level by WTHS assistant principal Angela Costello.

Marine Corps volunteers presented the colors and remained on site for the entire competition and awards ceremony.

Special Olympians raced to the finish line at the Mother's Day Track Meet.COURTESY PHOTO 

WTHS chorus students performed the National Anthem, and Washington Township Mayor Barbara Wallace welcomed the participants and opened the competition. Lunch was provided by volunteers from the WTHS Changing Our World (COW) project.

"There was great competition and camaraderie," Costello said.  "It was a truly fantastic afternoon."

This item submitted by the Washington Township School District.

A fun day for the whole family, including the dog, at Silvestro Lake Park

South Jersey Rescue will host the third annual Family and Friends fundraiser -- a family-friendly event for the whole family -- including Fido on Sunday, June 5 from noon to 5 p.m.

This year's event will take place at Silvestro (Greenwich) Lake Park, Tomlin Station Road in Gibbstown (exit 15 off Route 295). Adult admission and children over 10 years old is $10 each. Children under age 10 admitted free.

All dogs must be current on vaccines and rabies shots. All dogs must be leashed at all times (except while swimming) and clean-up after your dog is required.

The event will feature free food catered by Diverse Catering and Event Design and Zallie's Shop Rite of Lawnside, a photo booth, swimming, fishing, games, face painting, raffle baskets, 50/50 chances, vendors and music by DJ Brett Fereday. 

New this year is microchipping for your dog.

All proceeds benefit South Jersey Rescue.

South Jersey Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding safe, loving forever homes for our furry friends in need. South Jersey Rescue supports all animals in need, regardless of age or medical needs. Over the last year, South Jersey Rescue has stepped up to intake several pets that have been surrendered by their owners due to age, medical needs and housing situations.

The overwhelming need to assist these pets has been a significant financial burden  -- making the need to raise funds urgent. South Jersey Rescue is made of a core group of volunteers that work from their own homes as well as foster homes so every dollar goes directly to the animals the group services. Funds raised are used to pay veterinarian bills, transportation costs to get dogs from high kill shelters to our rescue, spay and neuter costs, medication and food.

South Jersey Rescue is looking for vendor participation. Space available. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase your business. To find out more about becoming a vendor, contact Susan Schwarzman at admin@southjerseyrescue.com.

This item submitted by South Jersey Rescue.

These children delight audiences with traditional African songs and dances

WOODBURY -- The Ugandan Kids Choir, a group of 10 talented Ugandan children, has announced will be performing at Kemble Memorial United Methodist Church on Sunday, May 15 at the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services. All 10 children have been given hope through Childcare Worldwide's Sponsorship Program and now they are here to spread that hope to audiences all across the United States.

The choir has performed nationwide at churches, schools, at Disneyland, on King 5 Television's "New Day Northwest," and at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.

These children delight audiences with traditional African songs and dances. Megan DiRienzo, curator of education at the San Angelo Museum of Fine arts says, "All of you have amazing talents, beautiful voices and some serious dance skills! A performance like yours was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We fully support you on your mission to end child poverty!"

The Ugandan Kids Choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide, which has been dedicated to empowering children in the developing world since 1981. Through child sponsorship, Childcare Worldwide brings hope to children in need by providing them with an education that will set them up for future employment and break the cycle of poverty in their lives.

By coming to this event, you will enjoy traditional African song and dance, as well as help children in need all around the world. So don't miss this unique and authentic performance by the children of the Ugandan Kids Choir.

Annalise Kipp and Benjamin Weidner recipients of Hoffman DiMuzio scholarships

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

Annalise Kipp

Each year on Christmas Eve, Annalise spends the day in the city of Camden with her church group handing out gifts and food to needy families. Going door to door, Annalise loves to see the unbridled joyfulness displayed by the children. She understands those children are our future and this has propelled her to seek other ways to make a difference.

Annalise volunteers for the Kids Alley One Accord organization.  This group helps children in Camden by providing after school tutoring and Saturday morning programs that brings kids of all ages together. Before Halloween, Annalise helps to give out costumes to children. She has also volunteered at Cathedral Kitchen giving out food to the less fortunate. Closer to home, she volunteers at the tennis clinic helping younger children pick up the game of tennis. 

Benjamin Weidner

A Boy Scout since 2010, much of Benjamin's contributions can be seen throughout the West Deptford area. Benjamin participated in the Red Bank Battlefield Garden Project, Rivergate Park Revitalization Project, Holy Nativity Church Revitalization Project, and the Veteran Memorial Revitalization Project among many others. All of these projects helped to cleanup parks, fix playground equipment as well as helping children in need.

Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, Benjamin's project was the Living Well with Diabetes Conference Program. As a Key Club member, each week he goes out to a retirement home playing games such as bingo with the elderly. Benjamin also assists with the Alzheimer's patients. Lastly, through his involvement with the National Honor Society, Benjamin participates in Operation Blessing that gives out gifts and food to the needy during the holiday season. 

Congratulations are extended to West Deptford High School students Annalise Kipp and Benjamin Weidner as well as to their proud family and friends. Their community service to others exemplifies the true meaning of a Gift of the Heart!

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

This item submitted by Hoffman DiMuzio Law Offices.

South Jersey has thousands of acres of nursery stock being grown here

By Lorraine Kiefer

I was so happy to see the sun shine after so many days of rain. Of course spring rains help seeds germinate and keep newly planted items from wilting, but we do need the sunshine too. I walked about our property yesterday (after three days of work making Mother's Day flowers) with son Joe who showed me where dead plants had been removed and where he was beginning to plant new items.

I was happy to be out in the sunshine and to see the grouping of native bayberry he planted as a Mother's Day gift for me. I have long wanted to have these plants close by so I could pick the fragrant berries and leaves. A large evergreen went over in one of the spring wind storms. Husband Ted cut it up and removed it revealing a now sunny and sandy spot which is perfect for the native bayberries. I love to add native plants when ever there is the opportunity.

I think our Southern New Jersey is the garden spot of the Garden State. We have the unique pine barrens, and coastal areas such as Cape May point. 

There are still vast stretches of field crops throughout our tri-county area.  Starting where the Delaware Bay meets the Delaware River there are thousands of acres of nursery stock being grown. 

We have wonderful farms here in Salem, Gloucester, Atlantic and Cumberland counties. I am always happy when I see the sign for farmland preservation. Don't you just love to see these fields of tomatoes, asparagus, blueberries, peaches and many other specialties? Some of the largest farms producing shallots, fennel, dandelion, and all kinds of other unique vegetable crops are found in Cumberland and Atlantic county.  

Growing up in the rural region in which I still live, I have had the Jersey sand in my shoes all of my life. Even blind folded the fragrance of my favorite swamp magnolia or the sassafras growing in a sandy woods or the scrumptious aroma of sweet fern in Indian summer would whisper to me, Southern New Jersey!  

 You can add plants to your garden this spring to be part of this Garden State hortus. Add a bayberry in a dry sunny spot, a swamp magnolia and clethra in damp spot or just plant one and water it once a week. Both are fragrant and reminiscent of woodlands.

Plant some native berries like blueberries, elderberry, aronia, or even cranberries for you and the birds.

How about a Jersey tomato? Just the other day I pondered the trays of tomatoes to pick out a dozen or so different ones. I always like to plant a few of the Fourth of July tomato, it is the first to ripen. Last two years we picked one the last week in June. Of course the sunshine and warm temps are needed. I always pick out a few of the ones with beef in the name for large slicing tomatoes laster in the season. I plant one or two of the old standard Ramapo and Rutgers, a few other heirloom and at least one or two cherry tomatoes to grow in a pot on the patio.  We continue to plant tomatoes up until mid-July to have fresh ones to harvest late in the season. 

Be sure to plant a variety of tomatoes in the spring -- from Beefsteak to cherry tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes come in many shapes, sizes and colors.Lorraine Kiefer 

Getting ready for tomato season:

Prepare the soil with good compost mixed in the holes where the tomatoes will be planted. Avoid fresh manure or high nitrogen products, as this will produce a jungle of leaves but little or no fruit. Plant small plants deep enough to hold them securely.  Long lanky stems can be buried and roots will come out of them. Sometimes I almost bury half of a lanky seedling.   

Hoe or cultivate shallowly to keep down weeds without damaging roots in and around plants. Mulching is recommended once the soil warms. We used cardboard last year and although Ted didn't like the way it looked, it worked well. Some people use weed barrier in small gardens, but there are organic materials that are suitable for mulching. Your objective is to always keep the soil moist and weed free. Then you will avoid big problems such as Blossom End Rot. You may also use grass clippings to keep the soil moist and weed free. If these are green a tad bit of extra fertilizer works best when the mulch is new. We usually use compost and a time release fertilizer to feed our plants.

Water the plants thoroughly and regularly during prolonged dry periods. Plants confined in containers may need daily watering when it is hot and dry. Remember that good compost and good soil produce the best plants naturally. Tomatoes need food. Some folks have sandy or poor soil and also need to feed with granular 10-10-10 fertilizers or 14-14-14 time-release fertilizers. You can water in new plants with a mild liquid feeding. Sprinkle the fertilizer mix approximately one foot from the base of the tomato plant. Make sure you circle the entire plant. Be sure to soak the area. Make two more applications of 10-10 -10, 3 and six weeks later if you don't use the time release, which is good for four months. If the weather is dry following these applications, water the plants thoroughly. Do not get fertilizer on the leaves. Many gardeners train their tomato plants to stakes, trellises or cages with great success.

 I often spray my plant with a natural fungicide such as natural neem oil to avoid disease on the foliage. If your tomatoes have brown dry sunken decay has developed on the blossom end this is an indication of low level of calcium in the fruit itself. Some folks add calcium or even Epsom salts (be sure to research this for amounts before using)

Review checklist for success with tomatoes:

1. Plant tomatoes in full sun. 
2. Add compost or humus with your soil. 
3. Make sure the soil drains well and is not muddy clay.
4. Add any of the following below the hole dug for the plant: fish heads, the tops from a pack of matches, coffee grounds, eggshells, Epsom salts (these are all old wives tale given to me by some of our readers, let us know your secret ingredient). 
5. Bury the plant at least 50 percent of the plant's height. (This will ensure a deep, strong root system)
6. Each plant should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. 
7. Stake plants with a sturdy 6-foot high stake or cage anchored well. If plants get too tall, you can prune tomato plants.  

So whether you plant one or 100 tomatoes this year, enjoy the adventure of growing summer's most popular product, a Jersey tomato!

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

A string of burglaries in Washington Township has prompted police to remind residents to lock their homes.

WASHINGTON TWP. -- The Washington Township Police Department is investigating a series of burglaries in the northern sections of the township near Hurffville-Cross Keys Road, just north of Greentree Road. 

According to police, an unidentified male has been entering homes while homeowners are sleeping and has taken small personal items. In each burglary, doors were unlocked and homeowners were unaware that the suspect was inside the home. 

Police have also reported that the same area of the township has also been the scene of a suspect entering backyard sheds and taking personal property.

To avoid being the victim of a burglary, the Washington Township police would like residents to remember the following safety safety tips:

Be sure to lock the doors of your homes and cars before going to sleep.

Report suspicious behavior, persons, and vehicles to the police.

Support your friend and neighbors by alerting them to unlocked doors, gates, and unsecured property.

Use exterior lighting around your home and property to reduce the number of areas a criminal can hide.

To report any information on the burglaries contact the Washington Township Police at 856-256-1212.

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

Roy Lehman writes that 2016 is no time to go with status-quo, insider candidates.

To the Editor:

By now, the rise of Donald Trump should have sent a message to both political parties that their voters have seen enough of crony politics and crony politicians. 

The most disliked candidate ever to represent the Democrats in a presidential race, Hillary Clinton, is the likely dartboard for Trump, and the polls are moving his way in the swing states. 

Will the voters of New Jersey ride the sinking Titanic of the Clinton campaign to the bottom of the ocean and failure in November? Or, will they instead send a message to the party establishment and the so-called "super-delegates" that status-quo candidate Clinton is unacceptable, and that the Democrats need their own candidate of change? 

Bernie Sanders outpolls Clinton against Trump just about everywhere. Sanders has earned your vote in New Jersey's June 7 primary.

Let me be the first to tell the Democratic establishment that the outsider wins this year. You can mark that down in New Jersey's First Congressional District, as well. 

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross is the ultimate insider and crony capitalist. As we transition to renewable energy, he is a Keystone Pipeline supporter whose campaign donors include big oil and gas corporations. He votes with Republicans frequently and is a close ally of Republican Gov. Chris Christie -- who backs Trump.

Alex Law, who is challenging Norcross for the Democrats' nomination, has none of the taint of the establishment and looks to be the future of American politics. Law is a young man who promises to move away from crony capitalism and the good old boy network that Americans have seen enough of. 

Law is out working hard for your vote, and he is earning your trust. You can trust him to represent his constituents, not the machine insiders. Let's start the change in American politics right here in New Jersey's 1st District by voting for Alex Law.

Roy Lehman

Woolwich Township

To the Editor:

So, paid sick time has become a political issue, with lawmakers in Trenton circulating legislation mandating private-sector employers to provide one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.

I have mixed feelings about this bill. Many employers already provide paid sick time for their employees, and do so generously, while others -- mainly small businesses -- do not, because they obviously can not afford to. Legislation like that proposed would likely break these businesses and force them to close.

I understand that human beings get sick from time to time. But there are a lot of other people out there with poor work ethics who simply don't show up for work because they choose not to.They would use paid sick time to milk their employers out of as much money and benefits as they can without really qualifying. And, that's not fair.

If this bill is going to pass, the only fair thing to do would be to add a provision to require employees using the sick time to provide documentation from a medical provider before returning to work. It would make it more honest,  instead of another example of the "feel-good" legislation Trenton has been enacting over the years.

George I. Anderson

Millville

To the Editor:

The Donald Trump editorial cartoon in the the Times' May 10 print edition is an outrage and is not in keeping with the family values we allow to enter our home.

(The cartoon, by Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, showed  Trump eating a watermelon to satirize the candidate's own Cinco de Mayo photograph of him eating a taco bowl).

Pandering to your readership with images that point to blatant discrimination is not the way we want our children to learn about the value and importance of diversity.

This cartoon reminds us of people who and are unable to express themselves without using curse words. You can make a strong case for or against any candidate without having to teach hackneyed old stereotypes that should be long-forgotten in the Times' newsroom. If the Times can't express opinion in images that suit the living rooms of 10- and 15-year-old readers, it's time for the parents in the room to vote with their checkbooks.

As an outraged Democratic voter, this cartoon was totally out of place in a family newspaper. We're closely watching.

Steve Gregory

Pitman

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

It took 750 hours for Jim O'Neal to finish the sculpture of mixed martial artist Conor McGregor.

STOW CREEK TWP. -- Jim O'Neal started off with a 2,000-pound piece of maple wood but, after 750 hours of delicate, painstaking work, he ended up with a life-like sculpture of mixed martial artist Conor McGregor.

"I enjoy doing it," O'Neal said. "It's challenging. Wood is not an easy medium to use for sculpture. You pretty much only get one chance."

McGregor currently stands in O'Neal's living room, weighing 230 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall -- but closer to 7 feet tall with the base. According to his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) profile, the real McGregor is 170 pounds, 5 feet 9 inches tall tall and not made out of maple.

O'Neal, 57, does not have any formal training with wood sculpting and has had to learn his technique as he goes for the past eight years. He started sculpting after moving to Stow Creek Township.

"It was always something I wanted to try and when I moved in here I started cutting down trees in the yard and there was a piece that something could be made out of it," O'Neal said.

'Forever Marilyn' sculpture comes down

His first sculpture was a gargoyle and he's been sculpting part-time when he's not working his day job ever since. O'Neal started sculpting McGregor on Oct. 14, 2015. Mixed martial arts is the only sport he watches and McGregor was the most popular fighter when he started the project. The Irish mixed martial artists is the current featherweight champion.

O'Neal studied hundreds of photos of McGregor while planning the sculpture. Ultimately, the pose he chose was of McGregor flexing at a weigh-in before a fight. This pose allowed O'Neal to focus on recreating the fighter's physique.

James O'Neal with Conor Mcgregor statue.

A photo posted by James O'Neal (@jim104gmc) on May 7, 2016 at 1:27am PDT

"The wood is maple and it was a strange coincidence that two weeks before I started the piece a friend from work asked if I would be interested in a large maple tree his father was cutting down in his yard," O'Neal said. "Turned out to be exactly what I needed for this piece -- better than the piece I was originally going to use, which I soon realized would not have worked anyway."

O'Neal finished McGregor's sculpture in mid-April and the fighter now stands in the carver's living room. He plans on taking it up to Massachusetts around Memorial Day for an art show. He's received good feedback on the sculpture and McGregor even liked a photo of the sculpture on Instagram.

"Just the idea of taking a tree and transforming it into a piece of art is what I enjoy most about it.," O'Neal said.

Washington Township police have seized 700 bags of heroin and arrested two individuals after a search warrant execution.

WASHINGTON TWP. --Police in the township arrested two people and seized a large amount of heroin and a handgun last week during a search warrant execution on Hurffville-Cross Keys Road.

Richard B. Carapucci, 29, and Janirah S. Bacon, 19, were each charged with possession and distribution of heroin, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of drug paraphernalia. Carapucci was also charged with possession of a handgun by a felon.

Approximately 700 bags of heroin and a 9 mm Ruger handgun were found in the apartment, which the two were residing in, according to Washington Township police.

Bail for Carapucci was set at $100,000 full cash, while $50,000 full cash bail was set for Bacon. Both have since posted bail and have been released pending court action.

The two were previously arrested together in February during a Franklin Township traffic stop. At that time they were allegedly found with 62 folds of heroin and large amount of cash, according to previous reports.

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

SPARC is helping to educate the Pitman School District on substance abuse prevention.

PITMAN -- Concerned residents are working with the Pitman School District to shed light on substance abuse and addiction by providing educational services to students.

SPARC, Substance Abuse Prevention and Resistance Community, is an educational program meant to engage the community and youth to prevent substance abuse. Through education and support, SPARC encourages children to make the choices necessary to build a drug-free community. 

SPARC was started by Lisa McConnell, a licensed drug and alcohol counsellor and mother of a Pitman student. 

"My oldest daughter was going into Pitman Middle School over a year ago and I called to ask the school about drug and substance abuse prevention programs and they didn't have anything at all," said McConnell. 

After DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) was removed from New Jersey schools and replaced with LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs), Pitman schools did not start the new program, leaving almost no education on alcohol and drug abuse prevention.  

"What the schools had before SPARC is REBEL 2," said Kandice Hanrahan, teacher at Pitman Middle School. "But REBEL 2 is devoted to anti-smoking, so there was a lot to be covered still, especially considering that Pitman has seen its share of young people battling with drug and alcohol abuse." 

McConnell reached out to the Kids Caring Foundation, a group of students and community youths with a common goal of contributing to the well-being of the community, to try and get a substance abuse educational program started and gained unanimous support.

SPARC started providing education and resources for drug and alcohol abuse through school and after-school programs presented by Hanrahan. 

"We use the after-school program to discuss different drugs, alcohol and how abuse happens," said Hanrahan. 

"These kids are younger, but they aren't babies," she added. "On that same note, they aren't high schoolers either, so we had to find a good balance of appropriate conversation. They're at the age where they can see people taking drugs and understand that addiction can come of that."

In the program's first year, McConnell and the SPARC committee, made up of eight community members, hosted a 5k fundraiser to raise awareness and raise the funds to get substance abuse prevention and educational programs to the schools. 

"We raised $10,000 at the first 5k and gave it to the Pitman Middle School as a stipend to have a teacher there start an after-school program," said McConnell. 

McConnell has used the momentum from the fundraiser to reach out to the police department to have them hold other programs for the kids at the schools.

"It'd be great to have the police come and have a program but the ultimate goal with the money we raise is to have part-time Substance Abuse Counsellor added to the staff," she said. "There's just generally such a lack of education on drugs here, and the kids and middle schoolers are so impressionable. You want these kids to have knowledge on substance abuse and prevention before heading off to high school." 

Until enough money is raised to be able to afford a counsellor, SPARC will continue hosting fundraisers and events to promote awareness and to have speakers and after-school activities for the kids to learn more. 

"This is so important, drugs are everywhere," said Hanrahan. "Kids need to know that they are dangerous and the community needs to know that there are resources out there."

"To prevent any kind of substance abuse would be a miracle on its own," said McConnell. "That's all we want to do, we just want to educate these kids to keep them safe." 

Following the success of the first 5k, SPARC will be hosting another on Saturday, May 21. This year, a 1-mile walk and a fun run has been added to promote even more community participation. The race will start at 8 a.m. at Pitman High School located at 225 Linden Ave.

The register for the walk or run, visit runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Pitman/SPARC5K.

For more information about SPARC or the Kids Caring Foundation visit kidscaring.org/sparc.

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

NJ students remind adults to not purchase alcohol for minors in a creative campaign.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- Students of Pennsville Memorial High School got creative and took a stand against underage drinking.

In collaboration with The Southwest Council Inc., students of the Salem County high school participated in a Sticker Shock event at Fornaro's Liquor Store in Pennsville Township.

Students and members of the Salem-Cumberland Regional Action Toward Community Health (SCRATCH) Coalition gathered at the local liquor store and placed brightly colored stickers on cases of beer with the message "Keep it Legal."

The goal is to remind adults that it is illegal to purchase alcohol for anyone underage, nor allow minors to drink at all.

Students stand against underage drinking

Students also presented Fornaro's employee Brandon Durand and Patrolman Jimmy Endres Jr. with certificates of appreciation in supporting the event.

The Southwest Council focuses on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention, education, and recovery support services in Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland counties.

For more information on the coalition or Sticker Shock events, contact Regional Coalition Coordinator Donald Noblett at 856-794-1011 ext. 316, or email donald@southwestcouncil.org.

Inspira has partnered with Woodbury and the Gloucester County Improvement Authority to study redevelopment plans for the hospital property.

WOODBURY -- The city will partner with Inspira Health Network and Gloucester County Improvement Authority to create a redevelopment plan for Inspira's Woodbury hospital campus.

Under a memorandum of understanding between the entities, the study will look at the best uses for the property as Inspira makes plans to move its in-patient hospital services to a new facility it wants to build in Harrison Township.

Inspira recently reached an agreement to purchase 100 acres owned by Rowan University in Harrison Township to construct a 172-bed, $310 million facility adjacent to Route 55.

The health network says it also plans to spend $7 million on improvements to its Woodbury campus. It envisions keeping about 500 employees at the Woodbury site, which currently employs about 1,600.

As part of the redevelopment study, Inspira will spend $100,000 for independent reviews of site uses, including hiring marketing professionals and conducting market research.

While medical-oriented uses seem likely, officials say the study could reveal a variety of uses for the 14.6 acres of real estate at Red Bank Avenue and Broad Street.

The partnership will run from June 1 through May 31, 2017. GCIA will serve as project manager for the study.

Once the Harrison hospital opens, the Woodbury facility will maintain a satellite emergency department, observation beds, some outpatient services, including imaging, as well as office personnel handling billing and other office duties, Inspira officials previously said.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney praised the study agreement as a good sign for the city and surrounding communities.

Inspira releases video rendering of proposed hospital

"Inspira, the City of Woodbury and the GCIA are doing what private industry and local government should do, work together to achieve the best use of the hospital's campus to spur growth," he said in a statement. "Everyone will benefit from this redevelopment effort."

Concern over the Woodbury hospital's future came to light in 2015.

A city councilman stated last spring that hospital officials told city leaders remaining in Woodbury was "detrimental" to the hospital making money.

Local officials and business leaders expressed concern for the impact caused by the loss of the hospital and plans began to establish the area of North Broad Street around the hospital as a redevelopment zone.

That designation clears the way for development grants, tax credits and other financial incentives for business growth.

The city planning board will vote May 18 on officially adding the Inspira campus to the Broad Street redevelopment zone. From there, city council will have to vote to approve it before the measure heads off to the state for the final OK.

City Administrator Mike Theokas noted that the Inspira redevelopment study will coincide with a feasibility study on the impact of bringing light rail service into Woodbury. The city received a $75,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to study the light rail issue.

"Inspira's willingness to invest with us in a feasibility study to determine the highest and best use of their campus, along with the City's DVRPC transportation feasibility grant focusing on the impact the light rail, will give us a clear path forward on how the city will grow into a true regional economic force," Theokas said.

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