The grant money will be used by the towns for improvements to parks, roads, and recreation centers.

WOODBURY -- Six towns in Gloucester County are getting federal funding to make improvements to parks and local roads.

"The grant funds will be used to help the municipalities tackle challenges their communities are facing without putting a burden on the taxpayers," said Freeholder Director Robert Damminger. 

Clayton -- $49,680 for Parks and Recreational facility projects at three different parks including the Little League fields, DJ Bentz Memorial Soccer Complex, and Autumn Pasquale Park. 

Deptford Township -- $50,000 to reconstruct Highland Avenue between Quail Place and Tanyard Road.  

Franklin Township -- $25,000 to rehabilitate the Newfield Terrace Community Center. The project will include installing new doors, windows and gutters along with a handicap-accessible entrance.

Glassboro -- $31,547 for the reconstruction of West High Street which will include ADA approved curbs and the replacement of drainage gates. Glassboro also received $45,155 for the reconstruction of N. Cummings Ave and Desiderio Road from Cedar Ave to Dubois Road. 

Monroe Township --$50,000 for installation of ADA approved curbs and sidewalks at intersections along Clinton and Poplar Streets.

Washington Township -- $115,187 for a proposal to reconstruct Cricket Lane and add ADA compliant curbs.

West Deptford Township -- $50,000 for the reconstruction of 5th and 6th Avenues from Union Street to Mullica Hill Road. 

These grants are provided by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"This federally funded program helps our municipalities improve their infrastructure and facility projects that may not have been fiscally feasible," said Freeholder Heather Simmons, liaison to the Department of Economic Development.

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

The park is open throughout July and August

WOODBURY- Looking for something fun, and free, to do? Look no further than Lot 323, a creative space where people can come play, relax and enjoy live music all summer long.

Lot 323 is a converted space that was once an empty lot and is now an urban garden and park that sits just behind Broad Street at West Centre and Russell streets.

The park was made possible by the FAF Coalition with help from countless businesses, organizations, local officials and dozens of volunteers.

"This pop-up park is for all of us," said Tara Rea, president of FAF. "We all own this park, we all get to use it. We get to come here and have fun together."

Rea said the semi-permanent park is open to the public for the next eight weeks every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with live music on Friday nights.

The creative space, where everything is repurposed and recycled, has something for everyone. Activities include an oversized checker board painted on the ground, complete with oversized game pieces; bean bag tosses, two bowling lanes, an obstacle course made from recycled tires and a towering column that serves as a giant chalkboard.

Lawn chairs are scattered throughout the lot for those who just want to relax outdoors. There's even a reading space if you're looking to get lost in a book.

"As you get a chance to walk around, there's gonna be lots of opportunity to listen to music, to try some great food, to have fun with one another and to connect in new ways," said Gloucester County freeholder Heather Simmons.

Simmons added that parks like Lot 323 take time, effort and creativity, but the benefit is clear as it brought out many people from the community on a 94-degree day.

Woodbury City Councilwoman Jessica Floyd said that the city's partnership with the FAF is growing stronger as they continue to create space that gives community residents something to do.

"The FAF Coalition really is taking that creative space to heart," she said. "And it's getting a lot of attention."

Floyd believes families and people of all ages will take full advantage of the lot, whether it be day or night.

"It's a destination for families," she said. "It's the actual definition for creative space making."

CJ Fairfield may be reached at cfairfield@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @fairfielc4. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Award recognizes nurses who go 'above and beyond' every day

VOORHEES -- Five Kennedy Health nurses were recently honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, as part of the National DAISY Foundation's program to recognize nurses who go "above and beyond" every day. 

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Kennedy Health's DAISY Award winners for the First Quarter of 2016 are:

Peberle Dango, BSN, RN, of Cherry Hill: Per Diem Nursing, Kennedy University Hospital Cherry Hill

Kathy Flannery, BSN, RN, of Moorestown: Administrator, Kennedy Home Health Care

Christine Levin, BSN, RN, CMSRN, of Williamstown: Medical-Surgical Unit, Kennedy University Hospital Washington Township

May Lloren, BSN, RN, CEN, of Voorhees: Emergency Department, Kennedy University Hospital Stratford

Dorothy Shockley, LPN, of Vineland: Kennedy Health Care Center Washington Township. 

Nurses are nominated for DAISY Awards by current and past patients (or their family members), physicians, nurses, or other Kennedy personnel for demonstrating excellence through clinical expertise, extraordinary compassionate care, and a high-level of professionalism. Nominations are reviewed by Kennedy's Clinical Recognition Committee, which selects the quarterly recipients. 

The nonprofit DAISY Foundation was established in memory of then-33-year-old J. Patrick Barnes, who died in late 1999 from complications of an auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patients' families. 

Kennedy Health DAISY Award winners receive a special certificate of commendation, which reads: "In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people." 

For more information about the DAISY Award, visit www.DAISYfoundation.org        

The late Roscoe Brown showed that skin color was irrelevant in the skies above Germany in World War II.

By Bob Manieri

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke volumes when he said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

The 50th anniversary of  "The March on Washington" and Dr. King's "I  Have a Dream" speech have passed, and we are all left to wonder: Will we ever get there?

Well, we may not know it, but some of us have already been "there."

The world just lost one of a great group of men, who were, to paraphrase Dr. King, "not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." I refer to the death at age 94 on July 2 of Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr.: college professor, Army Air Force veteran of World War II, Tuskegee Airman and American. 

Brown and several others truly were judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin, by several thousand of the men they met.

The meeting place was four to five miles high over Nazi Germany. The fellows that Brown met were bomber crews attacking Germany in broad daylight -- and the men in these other Army Air Force units were most certainly all white. 

When Brown and his comrades met them, these men in these bomber crews could only judge him and the other Tuskeege Airmen of the "Red Tail" pilots by the kind of men they were. You see, Brown's crew was assigned as fighter escorts for heavy bombers of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Army Air Force.  

The 332nd didn't know it then, but they were judging the African-Americans in the red-tailed P-51 Mustangs by the content of their character only. 

In the bitter cold temperatures in the spots where they met, you can't tell what color the man flying the P-51 is. As a bomber crewman, you only know that it's 50 degrees below zero, and that German fighters are decimating the formation of B-17s and B-24s of which your aircraft is part. Most of all, you know that the men in the P-51s are there to protect you. 

And, as many of the bomber crews were to observe, the men in the P-51s were so fierce, so dedicated, so professional that their conduct and valor would one day bring forth the legend "...they're that 'colored' outfit that never lost a bomber to enemy action."

So you see, a small part of  Dr. King's dream has come true.

Bob Manieri writes from Mantua Township.

The committee plans a spring 2017 induction ceremony

 

The Glassboro Board of Education calls on citizens to participate in the Glassboro High School Distinguished Alumni Committee, recommend candidates for induction into the GHS Hall of Distinguished Alumni, and/or become advertising sponsors. Nomination forms are available on the Glassboro School District website www.glassboroschools.us. The committee plans a spring 2017 induction ceremony.

Committee members work together to solicit, review, and select nominations for induction into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Members also plan, organize, solicit advertising sponsorship, and hold the induction ceremony. Sponsorships are available to businesses, civic organizations, or individuals. 

The committee will consider the following criteria when evaluating nominations. Potential inductees should:

• Be Glassboro High School graduates,
• Possess a high character consistent with the proud traditions of Glassboro High School
• Demonstrate leadership in their personal and professional lives
• Have distinguished themselves through scholarship, military service, or a professional career
• Contribute/have contributed to their local community through service

If you are interested in serving on the Glassboro Hall of Distinguished Alumni Committee, nominating a candidate, or becoming a sponsor, contact Marilyn Leon at mleon@glassboroschools.us, 856-652-2700, Ext. 2101 or Jody Rettig, jrettig@glassboroschools.us or 856-652-2682. Nominations and supporting documentation should be addressed to Marilyn Leon at Glassboro Intermediate School, 202 N. Delsea Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028 or Jody Rettig, Glassboro Public Schools, Beach Administration Building, 560 Joseph Bowe Blvd., Glassboro, NJ 08028.

This item submitted by Jody Rettig, Glassboro School District.

Fourth marking period, 2015-2016 school year

Delsea Regional Middle School announces that the following students have earned Superintendent's List and Principal's List status and Perfect Attendance for the

fourth marking period.

SUPERINTENDENT'S LIST:  

Grade 7: Michael Carr, Amanda Castillo, Paige Cervini, Avery Clark, Ashley Ensman, Leah Fulton, Salvatore Giuliano, Christopher Iuliucci, Madison Jacobs, Nicholas King, Matthew McCaffrey, Maya McIntire, Megan Mullin, Stephanie Panikowski, Candice Rauchfuss, Morgan Rossi, Mia Szostek, Austin Trovillo, Francheska Vera, Gracianne Wagner, and Celina Williams.

Grade 8: Tyler Burger, Aleena Clark, Thomas Dalfonso, Charles  Dalisay, Kevin Hickman, Ryleigh Huntsinger, Jaliyah Kutu-Akoi, Joshua Lewbart, Grayson Link, Michael Mellor, Elizabeth Nicell, Sarah Nicell, Justin Reber, Brianna Russo, Skyla Vitullo, and John Yonkauske.

Principal's List:  

Grade 7: Madison Armstrong, Madison Ayers, Olivia Barr, Christopher Benz, Emilia Bianco, Delaney Bowman, Kylie Butterworth, Jonathan Cerino, Janina Costello, Noah Croce, Christopher DeMaio, Michael Deveney, Benjamin Eggink, Elena Fischer, Lucas Franco, Lexi Frank, Kelly Freeman, Anna Gaglianone, Maryela Gallardo, Zoe Gaudio, Luca Gebhard, Sebastian Georgescu, Mikaela Gieswein, Peyton Gilmore, Madelyn Gungor, Alley Harris, Olivia Hawk, Ciara Hayden, Joseph Hepler, Ceirra Hoeger, Leo Johnson, Matthew Kratzer, Elijah Lawson, Nina Marchese, Alyssa Masciocchi, Tristan McCleery, Emma McKeever, Jaden McSeed, Karlee Morschauser, Gabrielle Nappa, Carly Nicholson, Hailey Parker, Sean Phillips, Emily Reis, Thomas Sargent, Emily Scavelli, Steven Schofield, Katie Sellu, Juliana Sharrow, Katelyn Smith, Lucas Snyder, Emma Sweiderk, Chloe Widmer, Zachary Woshnak, and Emily Wright.

Grade 8: Coulter Afflerbach, Kiara Barrientos, Brendan Baughman, Nathaniel Bialecki, Tressa Biener, Nicolette Biscardi, Kaleygh Boeckle, Jack Boeckle, Gaven Cannon, Taylor Carino, Joanna Caruso, Gianna Cava, Leah Clemenson, Erin Collins, Elle Crawford, Vincent D'Ottavio, Shane Delowery, Justin Dougherty, Stephanie Eastlack, Julia Enman, Tara Exley, Taylor Frye, Drew Gant, Travis Griffith, Emily Harden, Victoria Hassett, Justin Helmer, Amaris Hernandez, Angelina Hewitt, Jillian Hiles, Haley Hoffman, Anthony Jiannotti, Demetrius Johnson, Eleanor Keenan, Daniel Kennedy, Rebecca Kobik, Richard Kurczeski, Dane Lacerte, Cole Lachowicz, Branden Langley, Aaron Latimer, Dasia Liberati, Joseph Lipshultz, Chloe Macauley, Michael Markert, Shauna Marsh, Joshua Marshall, Ashlyn Mason, Madison Maxwell, Julian Mazzarelli, Colin McCoy, Savanah Miller, Abram Miller, Alexander Murcavage, Amber Murphy, Morgan Murray, Christina Myers, Matthew Owens, Amanda Panikowski, Rishi Patel, Skyler Patterson, Amanda Pescatore, Michael Pincosy, Kelsey Pio, Victoria Pioppi, Adrianna Rappleye, Logan Rode, Kimberlee Stockdill, Kati Tanguay, Vincenzo Taormina, Allie Tenenberg, Dominic Terregino, Riley Trexler, Argia Unfreed, Jobe Weaver, Jacob Worley, and Jillian Zimmer. 

Perfect Attendance:

Grade 7: Madison Armstrong, Octavia Baker, Mya Barr, Kylie Butterworth, Felicia Fonseca, Robert Forrest, Sebastian Georgescu, Robert Haines, Vienna Mastroddi, Isiah Oquendo, Angelo Teti, John Thurston, Dominique Valerio, and Arielle Weeast.

Grade 8: Charles  Dalisay, Justin Dougherty, Richard Kurczeski, Branden Langley, Patrick McNamara, Nico Morales, Rishi Patel, Trevor Rogers, Zarah Snyder, Kimberlee Stockdill, Dominic Terregino, and Aaron Wilkins.

This item submitted by Delsea Regional Middle School.

The School of Cosmetology raised money by provided salon services for the public

DEPTFORD TWP. - Gloucester County Institute of Technology's Style-A-Thon raised $3,473 for City of Hope. Students and staff of the School of Cosmetology hosted their 10th annual event on March 19 which provided salon services to the public.  Before the event occurred they held small fundraisers and collected donations. The total amount raised was $3,473 and the check was presented to Lizabeth Macoretta, acting director of City of Hope Northeast Region.

City of Hope is a world leader in the research and treatment of cancer, diabetes and other serious diseases. It delivers scientific miracles that make lives whole again Compassion is the heart of its approach and the driving force behind all discoveries.

Founded in 1913, City of Hope is one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute.

Each innovative treatment we create gives people the chance to live longer, better and more fully. To learn more go to, www.cityofhope.com.

This item submitted by Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

ost of the inlets and back bays were very productive with flounder

 

The weather was kind to us two holiday weekends in a row and flounder fishing especially along the coast couldn't have been better.  Most of the inlets and back bays were very productive with flounder and some nice size ones up to 8 pounds.  They also made surf fishing very interesting.

A variety of fish also made it interesting two weekends in a row with quite a few weakfish up to 8 pounds being caught along with many kingfish, croakers and some blues.

Some stripers were caught in the surf down to Cape May Point.  Some drum were in the surf, but most of the drum fishing is over as they are leaving Delaware Bay.  I don't know the reasons for sure, but every time lately the fishing at the shore is very good. 

The fishing in the bay is slow.  I can't figure this out, but that is what has happened two weeks in a row.

With flounder leading the way with weakfish, kingfish, croaker, striper and blues showing up at the shore, Delaware Bays has been taking a back seat in every category.

I attempted to get in touch with a few marinas and boat captains but didn't have much luck.

Ken at Husted's Landing had the only decent report.  He had three different boats come in with decent catches of flounder and a couple of weakfish.

Bob at the Anchor Marina had a few boats go out but didn't have much luck to report.  Perch and crabs are still thick in the creek.

Couldn't get any news from the Fortescue area except I was told the Fortescue Fleet is concentrating mostly on flounder and some weakfish and kingfish.

Haase's Marina at Matt's Landing had Bob Brown and his dad Martin come in with four flounder but that was it. 

Didn't hear any news from the "No Sweat".

Haven't heard any news lately from the Bass Fishing Clubs except that Joey Franzwa of Millville recently won a contest in Salisbury, Maryland with the big one, a 7 pounder and also total weight of 12 pounds.

Maybe this will be the year someone breaks the state record of 10 - 14 held by taxidermist Bob Eisele of Leesburg caught in Menantico Pond in 1980.

Jim Bolton is the outdoors columnist for the South Jersey Times. He can be reached at 856-313-9347 or 22 Arbutus Ave., Millville, NJ 08332.

The grant will support the 2017 Big Read program

MULLICA HILL -- Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger and Freeholder Lyman Barnes announced that the Gloucester County Library System (GCLS) has received a

 

$14, 000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to host the Big Read Event in Gloucester County.

Damminger, said "This grant provides us with the opportunity to promote the Big Read program, which broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. We are proud that Gloucester County Library System has been chosen to receive this prestigious national grant."

Freeholder Lyman Barnes noted that "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the focus of the Big Read Event hosted by GCLS and all activities and events will take place in April 2017.   

Barnes, who serves as liaison to the Gloucester County Library System, said "The Gloucester County Library System is one of 77 nonprofit organizations nationwide, and one of only four in New Jersey to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read Event. This is really exciting and the NEA Big Read program illustrates how literacy and reading can bring together people in the community. We are delighted Gloucester County has been afforded the benefit to share this distinguished event with our residents."

The NEA Big Read events will kick off at the Mullica Hill Library on April 1, 2017 with a 1920s themed party. "Participants will be encouraged to attend in their roaring '20s attire and attendees will be able to transport themselves into scenes and enjoy refreshments," said Barnes. Scenes will be made using the MakerStudio@GLCS green screen.

Partnering with Gloucester County cultural and educational institutions, the month's activities will include book discussions, exhibits, and a cabaret-style performance. The Gatsby-themed activities will conclude on April 29, 2017 with a book discussion by Maureen Corrigan, book critic for NPR's Fresh Air, critic-in-residence/lecturer at Georgetown University, and author of "So We Read On: How The  Great Gatsby Came To Be and Why It Endures."

A full schedule of NEA Big Read Activities will be available in early 2017. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

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

The fire broke out around 3 p.m.

GLASSBORO -- Firefighters are on the scene of a three alarm fire that broke out around 3 p.m. this afternoon. 

Glassboro Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of an abandoned house on East High Street. The property, that sits back off the road, erupted into flames but was under control by 4 p.m. Just after 4:40, most of the fire was knocked down, leaving heavy smoke on the scene. 

Responding companies included Glassboro, Williamstown, Pitman, Harrison Township, Whitman Square out of Washington Township, Mantua, Deptford, Ewan, Westville, and Mullica Hill fire companies.

Assistance was also brought in from the Rowan University EMS, Camden County Office of Emergency Management, and the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office and K-9 unit.

One firefighter was reported injured, but officials have not provided details.

New Jersey Transit buses were provided as shelter for responders on the scene who had to deal with sweltering summer temperatures and high humidity.

Glassboro Fire Chief Steve Smith was unavailable for comment as of 5 p.m.

However the Glassboro Police Department posted notice of the fire, alerting residents that the roadway will be closed for an unknown period of time but that residents of Park Crest Village apartments will be allowed to the complex.

Glassboro Police are also encouraging residents to plan alternate routes to avoid the area for the time being. 

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

Time to see how well you recall our biggest stories.

Time to see how well you recall this week's biggest local news stories. All the questions in the quiz below are based on top NJ.com news stories from the past week. Once you're done, share your score in comments. If you need a little last-minute study time, here are the stories used to create this week's quiz.

• Newark loses a record it probably never wanted anyway
• Road projects near you that will shut down
• Casino workers to strike for July 4 weekend
• Fastest shrinking towns of New Jersey
• The bloody 4th of July that led to N.J.'s fireworks ban
• Another rare animal found in South Jersey lake
• Suspended cop found not guilty on drug charges wants her job back

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

The incident occurred Thursday evening in Gloucester County.

UPDATE: Drowning teen pulled from quarry dies

FRANKLIN TWP. -- Rescue personnel saved a teen who almost drowned while swimming Thursday evening.

Franklin Police responded to Uni-Tech Well Drilling on Grays Ferry Road shortly before 6:30 for a report of a drowning.

A 16-year-old Franklinville boy was swimming with three friends in a "sand wash" behind Unitech when his friends said he suffered "some type of panic attack prior to going underwater," police said in a press release.

Franklinville Fire and Rescue responded and located the victim.

They performed CPR at the scene before taking the boy to Kennedy Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition.

Divers go underwater to show dangers of quarry swimming

He was later transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for further treatment.

Franklin Township Ambulance, Malaga Fire Department Search and Rescue Team, Inspira Life Support 2 and 100, and Newfield Police responded to assist.

Swimming in abandoned mining pits -- often called blue holes -- is a popular and often dangerous summertime activity.

Williamstown teen Darius Boyer drowned last July while swimming with friends in a Monroe Township blue hole.

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

Competing helicopters can provide airlift services just as well as state-subsidized SouthSTAR. But state health officials must manage what could be a free-for-all.

For decades, South Jersey listeners to emergency radio bands heard a dispatcher announce that "SouthSTAR," a medical evacuation helicopter, was on the way to a crash scene.

The comforting words meant that a critically injured person would be airlifted to the nearest trauma center or other specialized hospital as quickly as humanly possible.

But, after 28 years and 25,000 flights, SouthSTAR flies no more. SouthSTAR owner Virtua Health grounded it July 1, and did not reapply for state funding, claiming that competition had made the service unsustainable.

The decision means the end of state-subsidized MedEvac service in South Jersey. Since the New Jersey State Police provided its pilots, SouthSTAR's demise also removes an "official" stamp from local airlift services.

Any of a half-dozen medical choppers that are privately owned or run by other hospitals is likely to get most victims to needed care just as quickly. The best-known one is PennSTAR, which is associated with the University of Pennsylvania  system. Another service, AirTwo, is part of Cooper University Hospital, which houses the Level 1 trauma center that is the destination for many flights. Like SouthSTAR, there are qualified paramedics aboard these choppers.

It's also difficult to oppose a recent state law dictating that the closest chopper -- it wasn't always SouthSTAR  -- should respond to an incident. Virtua gives this change as another reason it mothballed its own service.

So, why does its grounding matter? For a couple of reasons that state health policy makers need to keep an eye on.

First, there's the charges. A $22 million annual subsidy allowed SouthSTAR (as well as NorthSTAR in northern New Jersey) to avoid any billing for flights. A $3 surcharge on state motor vehicle registration has provided money for both copters, but no service has applied for the grant to replace SouthSTAR.

Apparently, MedEvac billing will now be the same as for many of New Jersey's ground-based EMS units: They'll take whatever money they can get from a patient's health insurance. EMS services (the non-profit ones, anyway) usually vow not to bill patients directly. But that's not always the case. Third-party billing companies hired by the ambulance corps have been known to dun old ladies aggressively for thousands of dollars. Nationally, MedEvac services have billed patients up to $40,000.

With SouthSTAR gone, the state Department of Health must ensure that private billing doesn't get out of hand. The department should also answer why South Jersey residents must keep paying the $3 surcharge if subsidized service is no longer available to them.

There's an additional geography question. We expect any "scene" in Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel or Washington Township will see a non-SouthSTAR helicopter promptly. Can the same be said for interior Cape May County? 

PennSTAR officials, for example, say they are "working closely" with other services to maintain SouthSTAR's former coverage. That doesn't sound like a firm commitment. State officials need to get one.

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

I broke my own record. I was going for no broken bones in 78 years. That's not happening anymore.

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

I turn 78 years old in a few weeks. That's hardly ancient, I know. But a misstep at home the other day cost me a shot at tying an all-time record for least broken bones by an individual in a lifetime - none.

I fall quite a bit these days, a consequence of Parkinson's disease. My neurologist at Jefferson informs me that "You have Parkinson's, you're going to fall," and he's right on target. I have a motorized scooter, two push carts, and three canes, and I still fall routinely - in the driveway, on the deck, anywhere in the house, in the bathroom, at church, at restaurants. I lose my balance easily, and, whoops, down I go.

My worst fall happened two Fridays ago when I was attempting to negotiate the seven steps in our bi-level, and missed the last six. Later, I blamed it on the dog, who naps at the top of the stairs, but it really wasn't Blue's fault. I mean, it's hard to miss a 145-pound dog.

Anyway, I don't remember much about my daredevil act. I tripped at the top and went airborne, landing in the TV room beside dog No. 2, Romeo, who seemed perturbed that I interrupted his sleep and didn't lift a paw to help.

It was the closest I've ever come to being knocked out. I lay prone on the floor for perhaps three minutes, then groggily crawled to a chair which provided some leverage that allowed me to get to my feet.

I looked at my left hand and figured I had a problem, but didn't confirm such until seeing a doctor almost a week later for X-rays. Fractured left hand! Cast or splint necessary.

If I'm lucky, perhaps I spend only six weeks in a cast. But my erstwhile clean record of no broken bones in a lifetime is shot.

The closest I came before this was the hole I  stepped in on the 17th at Pine Valley during a round of golf with A.J. DiMarino. I badly sprained my left ankle, but did not break it. I got a free ride off the course in a golf cart and that night wound up in the ER at Underwood-Memorial Hospital (Inspira) on crutches.

And before that, the closest call came in 1958 when I played basketball for Hagerstown Junior College. On this night at Catonsville JC, I had a rare hot hand, amassing an unheard of 13 points by halftime. So the Catonsville coach assigned a hit-man to contain me. He did an effective job. I had a breakaway layup which ended unceremoniously when he drove my head into the unpadded wall, knocking me out but preventing the bucket and my 15th point.

When I awoke from my KO, players and fans from both teams were participating in a wild melee at center court.

The cops came and removed everybody from the gym, jailing several Catonsville followers.

I was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, was checked out and released.

We were awarded a 1-0 forfeit victory.

I don't remember if my 13 points counted or not.

Just my luck if they didn't.

A 16-year-old boy died from drowning after going under water at a sand quarry in Franklin Township.

FRANKLIN TWP. -- The teenager who was pulled from the water at a sand quarry in Gloucester County Thursday night died early Friday morning, Franklin Township Police announced.

A 16-year-old boy was swimming with three friends in a "sand wash" behind Uni-Tech Well Drilling on Grays Ferry Road when he went under and didn't resurface, according to police. His friends reported that he might have had some sort of panic attack before going underwater.

A Fire and Rescue team located him and performed CPR before taking him to Kennedy Hospital. He was then transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for further treatment, but was pronounced dead there around 2:30 a.m.

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

An attorney for Marvin G. Dilks Jr. has filed a petition in Superior Court challenging the outcome of the June 7 primary.

MONROE TWP. -- The battle to determine which Democrat will represent the party for a Monroe Council seat in the November election isn't over.

An attorney for incumbent Marvin G. Dilks Jr. filed a petition in Superior Court this week challenging the outcome of the race, which ended in a tie vote one month ago.

Dilks and challenger Richard Coe received 478 votes each in the battle for the lone open Ward 1 seat.

"Councilman Dilks has decided to challenge the election as a direct result of improprieties and evidence that an open and fair election did not occur," said attorney Brett Pugach in a statement.

"For example, our investigation has revealed that voters who were eligible to vote had their votes rejected without reason by the Board of Elections. In addition, there is evidence that individuals who live outside the county, outside of Monroe Township or outside of Ward 1 voted in this election, although they should not have."

Following the tie vote, the local Democratic organization's executive committee selected Coe, who previously served on council, as their choice to represent the party.

Dilks then sought a recount, which ended in the same result.

MORE: See all of the Gloucester County primary results

Chris Milam, chairman of the Democratic Party/Executive Committee in Monroe, said the process to select Coe as the party's candidate was legitimate.

"Everything was done legally and through due process," Milam said. "The tie was broken in a legal manner."

The executive committee vote in favor of Coe was overwhelming, Milam said. A separate vote was held for just Ward 1 executive committee members, and that result was 8-0 in favor of Coe, he added.

"The people have spoken," Milam said. "They want to move forward and move in a different direction."

While he said he can understand a candidate feeling that a tie vote isn't acceptable, he argued that continuing to challenge that outcome hurts taxpayers and the Democratic Party.

"I don't want to see the Democratic Party drug through the mud and the taxpayers foot the bill," Milam remarked. "I pay taxes in Monroe Township and I don't want to see my tax dollars spent on a special election when the party has already spoken. This election is over."

If a judge were to overturn the outcome and call for a special election, that would prove costly to taxpayers, Milam said.

A Superior Court judge will have 15 to 30 days to set a trial date to hear the legal challenge to the June 7 primary outcome, said Pugach, of the firm Genova Burns LLC.

At trial, Pugach will present evidence for why the primary outcome should be tossed out. 

The attorney said that it's not unusual for candidates to pursue these cases in court when elections end in a tie.

"It is the councilman's strong belief that the citizens of Monroe Township should not be disenfranchised, and that the will of the township's citizens should not be tainted by improper votes," he said. "The law requires that evidence of this type of systematic failure be resolved by a neutral and objective Superior Court judge to ensure the sanctity of the election process."

Stephanie Salvatore, Gloucester County superintendent of elections, expressed confidence in how her office handled the primary.

"I am confident we did not disenfranchise any voters, but the beautiful part of our American structure is that the people are allowed to question the system," Salvatore said. "My office will cooperate in any way the courts feel appropriate to bring closure to this matter and move forward with the General Election."

The eventual winner of the Democratic contest will face Republican William Blong in November.

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

The contract covers 1,300 registered nurses at Inspira facilities in Vineland, Woodbury, Bridgeton and Elmer.

Registered nurses at four Inspira Health Network facilities in South Jersey have approved a new three-year contract.

Registered nurses have approved a new contract with Inspira. (File Photo)  

The nurses, represented by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, voted Thursday to OK the deal. The new contract goes into effect immediately.

"This agreement addresses our top priority as nurses to ensure we have safe staffing so we can provide the best care for our patients and our South Jersey community," said Dana Barrett, RN, HPAE Local 5131 president.

"We feel that the agreements reached are fair, consistent and competitive," said Erich Florentine, chief people officer for Inspira Health Network. "The agreements will allow us to continue to recruit and retain top talent in the years to come."

The new contract covers 1,300 registered nurses at four Inspira hospitals in Vineland, Elmer Bridgeton and Woodbury. The nurses in Vineland, Elmer and Bridgeton are represented by HPAE Local 5131 and those in Woodbury are represented by HPAE Local 5621.

According to the union, the new contract includes agreements on:

* Staff levels: Maintaining staffing "grids" which will provide a framework for establishing safe nurse to patient ratios, to improve patient safety and patient care.

Inspira donates life-saving Narcan to local police

* Job protection: Agreement to maintain employment levels for Inspira Woodbury nurses as Inspira builds a new hospital in Harrison Township in Gloucester County.

* Wage increases: 2.25 percent across-the-board wage increases each year of the three-year contract, additional step increases that average about 1 percent per year to retain qualified staff, and increase in on-call pay.

The nurses OK'd the new contract after four months of negotiations, three contract extensions and the involvement of a federal mediator, officials said.

"For the first time, all 1,300 nurses spoke as a united voice to protect quality patient care and the jobs of dedicated nurses who have worked at Woodbury for decades," said Rich Wear, RN and HPAE Local 5621 president at Inspira's Woodbury hospital. "This contract shows that when nurses are united, we can win improvements for ourselves, our patients, and our communities in South Jersey."

All raises and economic gains included in the contract are retroactive to June 1, according to the union.

"We value the dedication and commitment our nurses provide to our patients and our community," Florentine said. " We look forward to continuing to work together with all of our staff to fulfill our mission of providing the highest quality care for all of our patients."

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

The students earned the coveted to perform during closing ceremonies

DEPTFORD TWP. - The Gloucester County Institute of Technology's students earned the coveted spot to perform at the national showcase for the International Thespian Festival during the closing ceremonies.

Students Dylan Glick, Olivia Hardy, Alana Kopelove, Brian Lynn, Maggie O'Connor and Cailyn Wolf performed together in the group musical theater number "Welcome to the Renaissance" from the Broadway hit "Something Rotten" and received a perfect score.

The International Thespian Festival was held in Lincoln, Nebraska from June 20-26. In total, GCIT's Thespian Troupe 5480 had 14 students travel and compete at the festival. 

Every summer, thousands of high school Thespians bring their love of all things theater to the International Thespian Festival, a celebration of student achievement in the performing arts. Organized by the Educational Theater Association and hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, the festival is a one-of-a-kind, week-long immersion experience in singing, dancing, acting, designing, directing, creating, writing, and memory-making. The festival also features workshops presented by theater professionals, individual and group performances, programs for technical theater students, and opportunities to audition for college admission and scholarships.

GCIT is also proud to announce that three 2016 graduates will be pursuing their education for musical theater or stage management. These students and their respective schools are Mason Gross, Brian College; Cailyn Wolf, Farleigh Dickenson University; and Olivia Hardy, Michigan State -- which is one of the top musical theater programs in the country.

To learn more about the International Thespian Festival, go to www.schooltheatre.org/thespianfestival2016/home.

This item submitted by Dyanna Dessicino, Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

A judge denied a bail reduction for the man accused of murdering John Gardener on Father's Day.

Darnell SamuelsSalem County Jail  

WOODBURY -- A reduction in bail was denied for the Pennsville man accused of murdering a Paulsboro man on Father's Day.

Darnell Samuels, 33, is charged with murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a firearm in the June 19 shooting death of John Gardner, 24.

Gardner suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest outside of his Pine Street home that night, and was brought to Inspira medical Center in Woodbury where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Samuels, who has a previous record that includes six felony convictions, asked Judge Kevin T. Smith today to reduce his $1 million bail in the case. His attorney argued that he was a long time Gloucester County resident and that he had surrendered to police when he learned he was wanted in the homicide, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Judge Smith, however, denied his motion, saying the bail was "clearly appropriate" for the charges, the prosecutor's office said.

Nominations are being accepted South Jersey's Spirit of Community Awards

Nominations are being accepted for the Volunteer Center of South Jersey's sixth annual Spirit of Community Awards, Executive Director Michele Epifani announced. 

"Volunteers take on many different tasks, but their goal is the same: a passionate desire to make South Jersey a better place to live," Epifani said. "Their tireless work is worthy of celebration and recognition." 

Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 9. Honorees will be recognized on Oct. 27  from 6 to 9 p.m. at the The Mansion on Main in Voorhees. The October gathering is South Jersey's premiere civic event and brings together government officials, nonprofit organizations, corporations and service-minded leaders to honor the contributions made daily by friends, neighbors, and family members.

Non-profit and business organizations are encouraged to nominate their special volunteers to be honored at New Jersey's largest volunteer recognition event of its kind. The community is also invited to nominate both individuals and organizations, that, they feel deserve these prestigious awards, recognized from both a national and a regional level. "It's important to say thank you to volunteers, they are true backbone of many agencies, including our own," says, Cody Miller, VCSJ Board President.

Nominations are being sought in the following categories:

Community Awards -- These awards can be nominated by individuals and any organization type (nonprofit and business). Volunteer hours/service must be verified by those organizations, where the nominee served.

South Jersey Humanitarian of the Year - This prestigious award is designed to honor a South Jersey leader who has consistently gone above and beyond to make his/her community a better place through their commitment to volunteerism and selfless acts of service.

Bob Shyrock Community Service Award -- This award is bestowed to a local non-profit organization that has shown unwavering commitment to volunteerism and the community.

Distinguished Youth Service Award -- This award recognizes community leaders between the ages of 14 and 23 who have made a great impact in the community. The final recipient of this award is specially selected by the Volunteer Center's nomination committee. No minimum hour requirement.

Corporate Excellence Award - This award honors a socially responsible company with an exemplary commitment to service in their community.

President's Volunteer Service Award -- These awards -- offered at the bronze, silver, gold and lifetime level -- recognize the valuable contributions of volunteers nationwide who are answering the president's call to serve others. Recipients receive a signed letter from the president, a service pin, and letters of commendation from local legislative offices.

Nonprofit Awards -- These awards can be nominated by a nonprofit organization only.

Volunteer Manager of the Year Award -- This honor recognizes achievement in the creation, implementation and leadership of an effective volunteer program to meet social need.

Volunteer of the Year Award -- This award provides a public platform for local nonprofits to recognize a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution in their agency.

Corporate Awards -- These awards can be nominated by a business organization only.

H.E.R.O.E.S Award -- Honoring Excellence, Rewarding Outstanding Employee Service - This new award offers local corporations and small businesses a platform to celebrate a "star employee" who has dedicated time, talent and resources to making a difference in the local community and whose unwavering commitment has served as an example and inspiration to the entire organization.

For more information, nominations forms can be found at VCSJ's site www.sjvolunteers.org/spirit or call 856-415-9084.

This item submitted by the Volunteer Center of South Jersey.