Author: acountryman

“When you’re down and out,

When you’re on the street,

When evening falls so hard,

I will comfort you.”

 “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon & Garfunkel

Rough living on the streets is a constant struggle for people – many of whom have been forgotten by family, friends and society.

But like a lighthouse signaling a safer path for ships, there is a beacon of hope at 555 Atlantic Ave. St. Joseph’s House of Camden (JHOC) is a homeless shelter guided by the principles that everyone can change their situation in life and every guest has dignity and deserves respect.

In an effort to improve services and hear success stories from guests who’ve found a safer path, the shelter has transitioned to a 24/7 operation. Executive Director Colandra Coleman said in an interview on May 20 that JHOC had previously been open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“Before, from 2 to 8 p.m., people left to brave the elements and return to dysfunctional behavior,” explained Coleman, who earned her bachelor’s in sociology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “These are the people where stability is critical. We can now offer that stability by creating round-the-clock services.

“I would walk to the reflection pond and was shocked by the number of homeless and veterans encamped there,” she added. “I needed to do something.”

Coleman was the director of Ready, Willing and Able in Philadelphia – a transitional housing agency – for five years before joining JHOC two years ago. The new hours are a lifeline for 80 to as many as 100 guests during Code Blue freezing temperatures and they fulfill a long-standing goal to provide continuous, reliable support to individuals experiencing homelessness, not just a place to sleep, but ongoing access to shelter services and hope.

JHOC has addiction and financial literacy programs, AA and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and social services that enable guests to get help from government organizations such as the VA.

“We are non-secular,” Coleman emphasized. “We take folks that others won’t, the most vulnerable active in their addiction. Sometimes they come in high. Our guests need stability, and by staying open 24/7, we can be there for them every hour of every day,.”

JHOC addresses problems like addiction before placing guests in housing or employment. Three staff members are from Maryville Addiction Services and a doctor from that facility comes to JHOC once a week, according to Coleman.

To accommodate the round-the-clock operations, she and JHOC leadership implemented several changes to the schedule, staffing and human-resource protocols, including hiring eight full- and part-time employees, moving from a two-shift, day-and-night structure to a three-shift structure, and introducing new meal times better suited to a 24/7 operation.

“Our staff shows up every day,” Coleman stated, addig that employees and guests have mutual dignity and respect for each other. “Without them, we don’t operate. It’s because of the staff that we have so many success stories, which keeps the staff motivated.”

Future plans include a mobile outreach program that can get directly to people on the streets or in encampments.

The origin of St. Joseph’s House dates back to 2010, when the late Msgr. Robert McDermott was pastor of St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral Church in downtown Camden. Known affectionately as “Father Bob,” he had to step over people sleeping on the porch of his office. He set up a small café in the rectory to feed them, and it evolved into a larger café at a Stevens Street building.

With the help of TD Bank, the JBJ Soul and Connelly foundations, the Camden mayor and council and the Camden County Commissioners, JHOC bought a building at 555 Atlantic Ave. in August of 2013 and undertook a five-month renovation. It reopened in January of 2014.

To help, donations can be mailed to Joseph’s House of Camden, P.O. Box 555, Camden, or online at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E356988&id=10.

For two months, South Jersey residents have been overwhelmed by television and social media advertisements – as well as flyers – from the 11 candidates who hope to be New Jersey’s next governor.

They can expect more. Six Democrats and five Republicans will battle it out for their respective nominations in the primary election on Tuesday, June 10. The winners will run in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The Democrats are Sean Spiller, Steve Sweeney, Mikie Sherrill, Steven Fulop, Ras J. Baraka and Josh Gottheimer. The Republicans are Jack Ciattarelli, Justin Barbera, Bill Spadea, Mario M. Kranjac and Jon Bramnick.

Democratic candidates

Sean Spiller has been president of the New Jersey Education Association since 2021. Before that, he was a teacher who served as both mayor of Montclair and a member of its council.

Steve Sweeney is a former ironworker who was state senate president and represented the 3rd District for 20 years. Sweeney was also a member of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners.

Navy veteran Mikie Sherril has been a member of Congress representing New Jersey since 2019. She was also a private practice lawyer who also worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Steven Fulop, a Marine, has been the mayor of Jersey City since 2013. Before that, he was a member Jersey City council and worked in finance.

Ras J. Baraka has been the mayor of Newark since 2014, before which he was a member of its council. He was both a high-school teacher and a principal.

Josh Gottheimer has been a member of Congress representing the state since 2016. He worked for Microsoft as a strategist and was a speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton.

Republican candidates

Jack Ciattarelli lost the gubernatorial primary in 2017 and the general election to Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, and was a member of the state assembly from 2011 to 2018. He was the assistant minority whip for five of those years.

Justin Barbera grew up in Marlton and graduated from Holy Cross High School in Delran. He has worked as a real estate developer and general contractor, and supports charities such as Habitat for Humanity.

Bill Spadea, a Marine, has been the host of radio’s “Bill Spadea Show” and “Chasing News.” He ran for a Congressional seat in in 2004 and for state assembly in 2012.

Mario M. Cranjak was mayor of Englewood Cliffs for two terms, and is an attorney and venture capitalist in life sciences.

Jon Bramnick is a state senator who has represented District 21 since 2022, and has been a member of and minority leader in the assembly for 19 years.

State assembly candidates

In the 5th District representing towns in Camden and Gloucester counties, the candidates running unopposed in the June 10 primary election are vying for two seats in the state assembly. They are Democrats William F. Moen Jr. and William W. Spearman and Republicans Constance Lee Ditzel and Nilsa Gonzalez, who are also unopposed.

In the 7th District representing towns in Burlington County, candidates running in the June 10 primary election are vying for two seats in the state assembly. There are three Democratic candidates, incumbent Carol Murphy and incumbent Balvir Singh, who are running on the party line, and Eric Holliday, who is running for Democrats for Change. Republican candidates, Dione Johnson and Doug Dillon, are running unopposed.

Camden County commissioners

Running unopposed for two seats are Democrats Edward T. McDonnell and Colleen Bianco Bezich. Jennifer Fleisher is running unopposed for one unexpired seat. Republicans Christian A. Navarro and Robert Stone are running unopposed for two full terms, and Shane Bernat is running unopposed for the unexpired seat.

Camden County surrogate

Democrat Michelle Gentek-Mayer is running unopposed, as is Republican Adam Nieves.

Gloucester County commissioners

Democrats Frank DiMarco and Denice DiCarlo are running unopposed for two seats. Republicans Jonathan Sammons and Bryon Driscoll are also unopposed.

Burlington County commissioners

Democrat Allison Eckel is running unopposed for a full term, and Randy Brolo is running unopposed for an unexpired term. Republican Joe Abegg is running unopposed for the full term, and Nick Pawlyzyn is running unopposed for the unexpired term.

Burlington County sheriff

Democrat James Kostoplis is running unopposed, as is Republican Erik Johnston.

For young artists the first opportunity to exhibit their creations, and even offer them for sale, is exhilarating.

“I was so amazed by the turnout at the opening reception,” said Nicole Torres, whose work “In the Stillness of the Night,” was part of Camden County College’s 56th annual student art exhibition. The free event is open to the public until Friday in the Marlin Art Gallery.

“I used black construction paper and white chalk to sketch out the line work,” explained Torres, who will graduate with an associate’s degree in graphic design later this month and plans to attend Rutgers University-Camden in the fall. “The very intentional clarity is for the viewer to move their eyes.”

Her digital piece – “Mumford & Sons – Road to Red Rocks” – was also on display.

Celeste Miner was thrilled to be part of the juried art show with two of her photographs and her acrylic on canvas, “Hope in Darkness.” They were among works from more than 50 current Camden County College students in a variety of media, including photography, sculpture, paintings, drawings, ceramics, graphic arts, animation and film.

“I am leaning more to photography in the future,” Miner noted. “I am the first person in my family to go to college, and being part of this exhibition is a wonderful experience.”

“We are extremely excited to see what these hardworking students have crafted for this exhibit,” said county Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell, liaison to the college. “The student art exhibit allows our students to get creative, through various mediums of art, and connect with their peers while displaying their work.

“Camden County College is committed to supporting our students in their artistic ventures and the yearly student art exhibition is a great way to do that.”

Located in Lincoln Hall at the college’s Blackwood campus, adjacent to the Dennis Flyer Memorial Theater, the Marlin Art Gallery displayed the works of the artists.

“It’s fundamentally an important opportunity for art majors to have their works displayed in a professional gallery,” said Dr. Sarah Iepson, dean of liberal arts for the college, who purchased “In the Stillness of the Night,” which Torres created with chalk on construction paper.

“This showcase is a juried exhibition,” observed Gregory Brellochs, chairperson of Visual and Performing Arts, who encourages the students to attend a “high-caliber art school” after graduation, including Philadelphia’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture, the Moore School of Art and Design and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

“It’s a great motivational factor for the students to be able to get recognized for all hard work they have done.”

Student pieces from the college’s art collection are displayed in buildings throughout campus. All of the works in this year’s exhibition were winners by being selected to be part of the show. Each student was eligible to submit three entries, and two judges decided which works were the best in 13 different categories.

The winners of this year’s student art exhibition were: Corinne Cargen, “Fallen Angels,” Acrylic & India ink; Annie Fredrickson, “Castles Made of Sand,” Acrylic on Canvas; Jack Ambrose, “The Spot,” Animation; Taylor Eagan, “The Beetle Bowl,” Ceramic, Glaze & Wire; Paige Myers, “26+6=1,” Graphite; and Maia Kormer, “Hopeless Dream,” Film; Dung Ngo, “Hello,” Digital Print; Wilma Nilsson, “Untitled,” Acrylic on Canvas; Mishelle Hernandez, “In Motion,” Photography; Rekha Chandra, “She,” Ceramic; Wilma Nilsson, “Morning Routine,” Watercolor; Helen Driggs, “Slab Built Vase,” Stoneware, Oxide Stain, & Glaze; and Madison Mitchell, “Match Point,” Alcohol, Marker and Acrylic on Bristol Board.

Playing golf is a stress relief for thousands of Camden County duffers – a chance to get away from fast-paced lives by getting outside for a few hours on a beautiful day.

However, the peace and quiet can be shattered with a drive that goes into the woods or the water, an approach shot that ends buried in a sand trap, or a five-foot putt that does not drop in the hole.

In order to avoid those mishaps this year, golfers showed up to hone their skills at the re-opening of the Camden County Driving Range on April 12.

“More than 500 people showed up during the weekend,” County Commissioner Jeffrey Nash said. “We are thrilled to welcome the community back to the Camden County Driving Range, one of the most well used and loved amenities throughout our county park system.”

The driving range, closed since last October for a $600,000 renovation project, now has a completely replaced second level concrete deck, lighting upgrades and new fencing.

“The upstairs concrete was compromised and needed to be fixed,” said staff member John DeFeo, adding that the short game area for chipping and putting was renovated last summer.

“Everything looks a lot better,” staff member Anthony Battaglia noted. “The guests are happy. We’re getting lots of compliments.”

“This is my fourth day on the job,” said manager Maureen Higgins on April 15. “The place looks great.”

“These upgrades have greatly improved the conditions at the driving range, making for a more enjoyable experience for all users,” said Nash, adding that 67,000 golfers came to the range last year to hit a few buckets of golf balls into the water or sharpen their short game.

Located at the intersection of Route 130 and Park Drive along the Cooper River, motorists waiting at the light can watch the golfers drive from the second level, some of them aiming at a small island in the middle of the water.

“We have senior golf classes,” noted Nash, adding that the popular driving range also hosts 50 to 60 people in recovery from addiction every Wednesday from June to September in the First Tee program.

The renovations were funded through a capital investment by the board of commissioners, explained Nash, who was first elected to the board 33 years ago and has seen the transformation of Cooper River Park into a venue for national and international regattas and has recreational facilities for families and sports teams.

“I would not have imagined it back then,” Nash acknowledged.

The Cooper River is a tributary from the Delaware River, and the county is creating a water trail for kayakers and canoers from the driving range, past Gateway Park to Pine Point Park, and on to Petty’s Island.

“We are installing a boat ramp behind the Pub,” said Nash, adding that the public has been very supportive of the efforts over the years to improve and enhance Cooper River Park. “It (the water trail) will be the most spectacular water kayaking trail in the Northeast.

“It’s a team effort.”