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.
CHEERS: To more good news for Glassboro. The well-known and much-loved eatery Tony Luke's is setting up shop on Rowan Boulevard, officials announced this week. This news comes as a new health center is opening in the same boulevard building. Developments like the Tony Luke's announcement serve as further confirmation that the borough is in the midst of a renaissance, largely fueled by Rowan University's ongoing growth. Look for more big announcements, both from the university and the borough as additional programs help reshape this community.
JEERS: To the Bridgeton School District for waiting so long to move its annual school elections from April to November. But apparently making the right choice was not something everyone on the board favored. The move was only approved by a 4 to 3 margin. The district says last year it spent $21,240.67 to hold its elections in April. (What's especially disappointing is that only 8.55 percent of Bridgeton's registered voters turned out to cast a ballot in the April 2015 contest.) That's money squandered in one of the poorest school districts in the state. We wonder what took Bridgeton so long to finally see the light?
CHEERS: To two important fundraising efforts that involve honoring our veterans. The honor guard at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery is seeking donations to help cover costs associated with laying our soldiers to rest. The honor guard members are volunteers and funding for their uniforms and related expenses are often hard to come by, so they rely on donations. You can help ensure this important service keeps going strong by mailing a donation. Checks may be made payable to Veterans Advisory Council, Gloucester County Veterans Affairs Office, P.O. Box 337, Woodbury, NJ 08096. Mark the check "Cemetery Honor Guard" and send it to the attention of Robert Jonas. Also important is the annual Wreaths of Remembrance ceremony held at the cemetery. A wreath will be placed on each veteran's grave Dec. 5 and organizers are seeking volunteers to assist with the program and donors to help purchase the 2,300 wreaths. Donors may contribute online with a credit card or PayPal or by mailing checks payable to People for People, with "Wreaths" on the memo line, to P.O. Box 256, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. To register yourself or your group to volunteer on Dec. 5, call 856-579-7561 and ask to speak to Janis.
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CHEERS to Jesus. Well not actually Jesus, but Philly's version. Michael Grant, who has been going by Philly Jesus for the past two years, wants to raise $70 million to launch a "global ministry" that will bring the word of God to all corners of the earth. Grant, 28, is a recovered drug addict who found his way out thanks to religion. He's an ever-present fixture of downtown Philadelphia and just wants to tell people about what faith did for him and can do for you. Is he going to raise $70 million from a Gofundme page? Unless divine intervention takes over, then of course not. But really, what so wrong about his message of hope? Let "Philly Jesus" do his thing. If Grant has faith that enough people are going to help him build a stadium for practicing religion, we say go for it.
CHEERS: To a special group of veterans. When Salem County awarded its Military Service Medals to 54 individuals, living and deceased, on Monday night among the group of special vets were three who took part in a unique chapter of American history. Those Salem County men, Stewart Andrew Cross, Edward W. Hassler and James W. Sparks, all U.S. Navy veterans, took part in the U.S. military's Operation Ivy, the secret tests of the hydrogen bomb.
JEERS to another million dollars. IPAK Inc., which is located in West Deptford, applied for tax credits through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's (NJEDA) Grow New Jersey Assistance Program. In exchange for moving to Camden or starting a new operation there -- it's not clear, they didn't return out phone call -- the manufacturing company will forego $17 million in taxes. So far, more than $1 billion has been offered to companies, many of which already in South Jersey, so that they'll come to Camden. Sure, there are stipulations like maintaining a certain number of employees but when does the NJEDA decide the cost of lost taxes isn't worth the benefit of a larger business footprint in Camden? As one NJ.com reader put it, "robbing Peter to pay Paul."
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to Cheers and Jeers, South Jersey Times, 309 S. Broad St., Woodbury, NJ 08096, or email us at letters@southjerseymedia.com.