Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
JEERS: To the poor voter turnout on election day. It wasn't a presidential election year, but there were many important contests on the ballots in our tri-county area. The turnout numbers were very dismal. Here's a look: Cumberland County, 22.34 percent; Gloucester County, 23.98 percent and Salem County, 30.81 percent. We can do much better. For those who didn't vote, next time you complain about local government look in the mirror. You are to blame.
CHEERS: To an important shot in the arm for downtown Salem's revitalization. Last week the Nelson House Washington Hall condominium project officially opened. There have already been sales of the 30 units and there is a lot of interest we are told. The two 150-year-old landmark buildings in the heart of downtown Salem that make up the complex were near collapse. They have been carefully rebuilt retaining their historic facades. New downtown residents should bring new life into the city.
CHEERS: To the outstanding support shown for a Harrison Township child who suffered serious burns on Halloween when his costume caught on fire during a party. Jared Callan is hospitalized with serious injuries that will require several surgeries and a long recovery. It took no time at all for neighbors to rally and launch a GoFundMe campaign to help cover costs associated with Jared's recovery. As a neighbor describes it, the Callan family has always been there for others. Now other community members are returning the favor by helping a local family in their time of need. You can help, too, by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/6783uqh8.
JEERS: To the twisted souls seeking to turn a fun tradition into a nightmare. We speak of those responsible for recent reports of Halloween candy containing sharp objects. If we are to believe the claims, a few lunatics chose to distribute candy containing foreign objects to trick-or-treaters. In at least one of these cases, police determined that a Gloucester Township man lied about finding needles in candy. Authorities concluded that he had done it himself. Three other reports, out of West Deptford, Woodbury Heights and Chester, Pennsylvania, are being taken seriously by police as legitimate incidents of tampering. Either way, the result is sickening. Who would endanger a child in this way? As for the phonies, what kind of person would make up such a twisted claim?
CHEERS to saying what we're all thinking. It's been more than three weeks since 3-year-old Brendan Creato was found dead in Haddon Township. Three weeks and all we know is that the toddler wasn't sexually assaulted and there were no signs of forced entry at the home of D.J. Creato, who was the boy's father. Bill Brennan, a Philadelphia-based attorney hired by D.J. Creato's parents, said Wednesday that his clients are frustrated with the lack of information coming from authorities. We get it; the Camden County Prosecutor's Office can't comment on every turn of the screw in this tragic and, frankly, baffling case. But what about the resident of Haddon Township who have no idea if reports of a man pushing a covered baby carriage that morning toward the scene of the discovery are unfounded or not. It's time to lay your cards on the table, prosecutor's office.
CHEERS: To a powerful message delivered by Gov. Chris Christie regarding drug addiction and the need to treat it as an illness. That message is nothing new from Christie. He has been a champion of treatment over punishment for addicts for several years. What changed is that a recent video in which he really lays the issue on the line is gaining significant attention online. He compared the issue to the fight against cancer and used the example of his late mother. She was a lifelong smoker who developed lung cancer. Society didn't tell her she "got what she deserved" for her smoking habit, Christie says in the video. Instead, she was treated for her illness. He argues the same should happen for addicts. No matter what comes of his presidential campaign, we hope his strong words on this topic leave a real impact. Too many are suffering without the treatment they desperately need.
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com