Sentinel of Gloucester County Newspaper

Sentinel of Gloucester County Newspaper Weekly Community News serving all areas of Gloucester County

11/04/2025
10/28/2025

Clayton High School Earns Purple Star School Designation for Supporting Military-Connected Students

Clayton, NJ - The New Jersey Department of Education has awarded Clayton High School the distinguished Purple Star School designation, recognizing the school’s outstanding commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.
The Purple Star School program honors schools that demonstrate a strong dedication to students from military families, ensuring that their academic, social, and emotional needs are met as they transition between schools and communities. Based on statewide data from spring 2025, New Jersey is home to more than 10,000 military-connected students, each deserving a supportive and stable educational environment.
“Being named a Purple Star School is a true honor,” said Principal Matthew Slater. “This recognition reflects our school’s ongoing efforts to ensure that every student - especially those in military families – feels connected, supported, and valued within the Clayton community.”
To earn the Purple Star designation, Clayton High School met a comprehensive set of criteria developed by the New Jersey Purple Star Working Group. These include appointing a dedicated staff liaison for military-connected students, providing staff training, offering peer-to-peer and counseling support, and maintaining accessible resources for families navigating school transitions.
Superintendent Nikolaos Koutsogiannis praised the achievement, noting, “This recognition represents the heart of what we value in Clayton-relationships, belonging, and service. Our staff and students work every day to create a school culture where every learner is seen and supported. We are especially proud to honor the sacrifices and resilience of military families through this distinction.”
The designation is valid from October 2025 through June 30, 2028, after which the school may apply for renewal.

UPDATE ON SNAP PROGRAM
10/24/2025

UPDATE ON SNAP PROGRAM

SNAP: New Jersey was notified by the federal government that if the shutdown continues, November 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may not be available on time. It is unclear if SNAP benefits loaded on participants’ Families First EBT card prior to October 31, 2025 will be able to be used after November 1, 2025. NJ Human Services has alerted community food banks & pantries as well as more than 5,000 stores, grocers, and farmers markets that accept SNAP that the USDA has directed NJ to hold monthly benefits for November. For more information https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/

WIC: NJ WIC remains open at this time. Participants should keep their WIC appointments and continue using their eWIC card at any WIC store. For more information https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/

Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) benefits should be available on time. For more information https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/

EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITISFirst Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis for New Jersey in 2025(TRENTON) – The first confir...
10/24/2025

EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS
First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis for New Jersey in 2025
(TRENTON) – The first confirmed case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in 2025 was detected in a 3-year -old gelding in Burlington County. With symptoms including, front and rear ataxia, muscle fasciculation, disorientation, and inability to rise , the horse was euthanized on October 17, 2025. The horse was unvaccinated and had an unknown vaccination history against the disease.EEE causes inflammation of the brain tissue and has a significantly higher risk of death in horses than West Nile Virus (WNV) infection. WNV is a viral disease that affects a horse’s neurological system. The diseases are transmitted by a mosquito bite. The virus cycles between birds and mosquitoes, with horses and humans being incidental hosts. EEE infections in horses are not a significant risk factor for human infection because horses (like humans) are "dead-end" hosts for the virus, meaning they will not transmit the disease .
New Jersey has a reported mosquito population this season that is near the 5-year average; however, there was an
increase in EEE positive mosquito pools starting in mid- September. The first EEE -positive mosquito pool was
detected in Atlantic County this year (https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/arboviral-stats/ ). EEE- positive mosquito pools have also been found in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Morris counties. Livestock owners
are strongly encouraged to vaccinate against WNV, EEE, and other mosquito-borne diseases. Effective equine vaccines for EEE and WNV are available commercially. Horse owners should contact their veterinarians if their horses are not up to date on their vaccinations against both EEE and WNV.
“We continue to encourage horse owners to be vigilant in vaccinating their animals against these diseases spread
by mosquitoes,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said. “Vaccinated animals are much less likely to contract deadly diseases such as EEE and West Nile Virus.”
The EEE diagnosis was confirmed with testing at the NJDA’s Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. For more information about EEE in horses, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture website at: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/livestockhealth/diseaseworksheets.shtml
EEE and West Nile virus, like other viral diseases affecting a horse’s neurological system, must be reported to
the State Veterinarian at 609 -671- 6400 within 48 hours of diagnosis. The New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic
Laboratory is available to assist with EEE and WNV testing and can be reached at 609- 406 -6999 or via email –
[email protected]. Learn more about the NJ Animal Health Diagnostic lab at www.jerseyvetlab.nj.gov.

New Jersey Agriculture Animal Disease Worksheets

WENONAH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION held their annual walk & history festival last weekend - event photo's at the website below...
10/21/2025

WENONAH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION held their annual walk & history festival last weekend - event photo's at the website below.

JerseyPix Photography. Located outside of Philadelphia in southern New Jersey. Taking pictures of everything: Road races, triathlons, 5k, 10k, half marathons, landscape, nature, engagement, family, travel, portraits, and event.

10/17/2025

TRAFFIC ADVISORY -
Route 42 northbound Exit 1B to I-295 northbound closed tonight for guiderail repair in Bellmawr, Camden County

Right lane also to be closed on Route 42 northbound

(Trenton) – Route 42 northbound Exit 1B to I-295 northbound is scheduled to be closed and detoured tonight for guiderail repair, as the Direct Connection project advances in Bellmawr, Camden County.
Beginning at 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, October 17 until 5 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, October 18, the right lane on Route 42 northbound is scheduled to be closed after Exit 14B/Benigo Boulevard, and the Route 42 northbound Exit 1B to I-295 northbound is scheduled to be closed and detoured. The following detour will be in place:
Route 42 northbound Exit 1B ramp to I-295 northbound Detour:

· Motorists traveling on Route 42 northbound wishing to take Exit 1B to I-295 northbound will be directed to continue on Route 42 northbound to I-76 westbound

Take I-76 westbound to Exit 2/I-676 northbound
Take I-676 northbound to Exit 1/Collings Avenue
Turn right onto Collings Avenue
Turn left onto I-676 southbound, which becomes I-76 eastbound
Take I-76 eastbound to Exit 1B/I-295 northbound


The work is part of the Direct Connection project that will provide a seamless route for I-295 motorists traveling through the interchange of I-295, I-76, and Route 42. To sign up for I-295 Direct Connect project updates go to 295DirectConnect.com or text CONNECT to 1-844-844-3681.



Portable variable message signs are being used to provide advance notification of traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

COMMUNITY WIDE PEP RALLY TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF PITMAN HIGHSCHOOL.Pitman Public School Board and Pitman Alumni Associ...
10/15/2025

COMMUNITY WIDE PEP RALLY TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF PITMAN HIGHSCHOOL.
Pitman Public School Board and Pitman Alumni Association to Host First-Ever Community-Wide Pep Rally Celebrating 100 Years of PHS
Pitman, NJ — October 24, 2025 — The Pitman Public School Board, in proud collaboration with the Pitman Alumni Association, is excited to announce the first-ever community-wide Pep
Rally , celebrating a momentous milestone — 100 years of Pitman High School . This historic event invites students, staff, alumni, and community members to join in the celebration of PHS’s rich legacy and vibrant future. The pep rally will bring together generations of Panthers for a day filled with school spirit, community pride, and interactive fun.
Local community organizations will be present, offering activities for all ages. In a special feature of the event, Jeanette Shainline and Jason Blackmore will be representing Creative Pitman, and
will lead a canvas painting activity prior to the official ceremony — a unique opportunity for community members to express their creativity and contribute to the celebratory atmosphere.
In addition, members of the Pitman Alumni Association will be on hand with extra PAWs slips , giving alumni another chance to contribute to the PHS time capsule if they haven't already.
Join us as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future of Pitman High School!
Event Details:
● What: Community-Wide Pep Rally Celebrating 100 Years of PHS
● When: October 24, 2025 Beginning at 5pm
● Where: PES Front Lawn and Summit Field
● Who’s Invited: All Students, Staff, Alumni, and Community Members
● Special Activities: Community Organization Booths, Canvas Painting with Creative Pitman, Time Capsule PAWs Slip Collection

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The Sentinel of Gloucester County

The newspaper was originally called the Franklinville Sentinel and was started in 1942 by Mildred & Bill Caccese of Franklinville. Cindy & Norman Merckx of Malaga (Franklin Township) purchased the newspaper in July 2008 from Jim & Carol Kinkade who owned the newspaper for 30 years.

Cindy Merckx Publications LLC t/a The Sentinel of Gloucester County was formed in 2008. Cindy worked several years as a writer for Kinkade covering school board, planning & zoning board and town council meetings, as well as photographing events. One day Kinkade stated that he was thinking of downsizing as he owned two newspapers. Kinkade had confidence in Cindy’s experience and work ethics. He asked Cindy if she would like to purchase the newspaper from him. Cindy & Norm discussed his proposal and went to their local bank where they were able to get a loan to purchase the newspaper.

Cindy had years of experience working with people in the community as well as the newspaper business. She worked as a secretary and substitute teachers aide for several years. She was also a certified religious education teacher for St. Mary’s Church in Malaga and was the director of youth programs. One of Cindy’s first jobs after she graduated from high school was working for the Woodbury Times in circulation where she sold newspaper subscriptions part time. Years later, while raising four children in addition to caring for her widowed mother who was ill, Cindy worked for six years as an early morning rural route newspaper delivery driver for the Courier Post to help make ends meet and meet the daytime demands of a caregiver for her family. She continued working as a writer for the Sentinel for several years, and also worked part time in the office each day selling advertising where she interacted with many local business owners.

Cindy decided to change the name to The Sentinel of Gloucester County to expand the papers news coverage throughout Gloucester County. The logo of the Sentinel and the quote “Guarding Your Right to Know” was redesigned for the color banner.