Fish move closer to the shore with the cooler water temperatures

Hooray! Columbus Day not only marks the reopening of "Jim's Lunch" in Millville but with the cooler weather the fall fishing on stripers will begin. But with the cooler weather and water temperatures all fish should start their fall feeding habits.

 

Some have started already at the shore. A few keeper stripers have been caught along the coast. Quite a few blues are showing up along with some nice size tautog and kingfish and a few weakfish and croaker are taking the bait which is mostly bunker or mullet.

I'm surprised that the storm over the weekend didn't affect the fishing situation more than it did.

Bluefish and weakfish were biting pretty well up and down the coast and hopefully the striper run will start soon along the coast and in Delaware Bay.

From what I just read, the weather is supposed to be nice for the next week.

I'm not sure about the situation in Delaware Bay. Some pretty good, some just fair.

But one thing I know for sure is that the perch fishing has been excellent in all of the creeks, streams and rivers.

Ken at Husted's Landing had the "Perch King" Don McCarthy and friends cleaning perch at dinner time because he ended up with a total of 85 perch in the cooler.

Bruce and Kim Hildreth of Millville ended up with 25 perch.

And Mike Bosco and Rob Dean of Cedarville put 32 perch in the fish bag.

Bob at the Anchor Marina at Matt's Landing said most of his customers that went out the past few days found some fish, especially weakfish and kingfish. But that was it.

If you are a perch fisherman, now is your time.

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.

A look at how New Jersey alums played this spring and summer, both in the minors and in MLB.

An update on which teams are most likely to win it all this December.

Forecasters say some outdoor plants could be damaged by the chilly temperatures Saturday morning in parts of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

If you live in any of these counties in New Jersey, you might want to cover or move some of your fragile outdoor plants Friday night: Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Morris, Ocean and western sections of Passaic County.

A frost advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday. The National Weather Service says temperatures will likely drop into the low to mid-30s early Saturday morning, putting some outdoor plants at risk of being damaged.

This updated map shows all the areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania that are under a frost advisory for Saturday morning, Oct. 15. (NewJerseyWeather.com)

The frost advisory is also effective from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. for Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, along with upper Bucks County, the western section of Chester County and the western section of Montgomery County.

"A frost advisory means that widespread frost is expected," the weather service advisory reads. "Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered." 

Some good news: The chilly morning air will be followed by a nice warmup, with sunny skies and temperatures rising into the mid-60s on Saturday afternoon.

After falling back into the low 40s Saturday night, temperatures will reach the low 70s under mostly sunny skies on Sunday. 

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has added Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset counties to the frost advisory area.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

What's going to happen on the gridiron this weekend? The football staff at NJ.com offers up its bold predictions.

An armed robbery was reported at an eatery near campus Friday morning.

UPDATE: Police seek armed robber who held up Subway

VINELAND -- An armed robbery at a Subway shop prompted a lockdown at nearby Cumberland County College as police searched for the suspect Friday morning.

The lockdown began at 9:18 a.m. and ended at 10:05 a.m., according to Philip Cecola, director of security at the college. The neighboring Cumberland County Technical Education Center was also placed on lockdown during the same time period, he added.

The robbery occurred at a Subway restaurant close to campus.

Alerts were sent out via text to about 3,000 students and staff, whether they were on campus or not. 

As for the robber, college officials don't know if he actually entered the campus, Cecola said, but the lockdown was taken as a safety precaution.

"We never saw anybody," he said.

After police searched the area, they notified the school that they didn't believe the robber was still in the vicinity, Cecola said.

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

The lockdown was instituted after a robbery at a nearby Subway.

VINELAND -- Cumberland County College was briefly on lockdown Friday morning while police sought an armed robbery suspect, according to news reports.

6abc reported that the lockdown was a precaution because the suspect had fled after robbing a Subway near the campus.

Officials told the station that there is no indication the suspect was ever on campus.

It's not clear whether police have apprehended the suspect.

The Daily Journal reported that the school initially posted a warning on its website for people on campus to stay put and silence their phones, and for others to stay away from campus.

A later alert told students that the lockdown was over.

Lockdown lifted at Cumberland County College @VinelandPD continue to investigate @SUBWAY robbery @Scancumberlandc pic.twitter.com/f7U9C4DYzs

-- Deborah Marko (@dmarko_dj) October 14, 2016

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Glenn Insurance holds in-house fundraiser

Each month, Glenn Insurance Company of Vineland and Egg Harbor Township, holds an in-house fundraiser called Jeans Day. On that day, employees can wear jeans for a small donation to the charity being honored that day.

In September, Tim Glenn and the staff from Glenn Insurance presented a check for $250 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties to help make a positive impact on children and empower them to succeed.

Glenn Insurance's mission is to participate in the local community through these employee programs to raise funds and awareness for charities throughout the region.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, call 856-692-0916 or online at www.southjerseybigs.org.

This item submitted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties.

The crime prompted a lockdown at Cumberland County College.

VINELAND -- Authorities are hoping someone can identify a man who robbed a Subway restaurant at gunpoint Friday morning.

The robbery prompted a lockdown at nearby Cumberland County College as police searched for the suspect, who remains at large.

A man entered the Subway at 3470 S. Delsea Drive around 8:45 a.m. and confronted the lone employee in the business.

Security camera footage shows the man remove a handgun from his hooded sweatshirt, police said.

He then demanded that the employee open the cash register. At that point, police say he grabbed an unknown amount of cash and fled on foot.

The gunman is described as black, 5 feet 10 inches tall, medium build, wearing a knit beanie hat with a pom-pom on top, a light gray hooded sweatshirt, black jogging pants and white sneakers with black accents.

Police said they plan to release stills from the security camera footage.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact police by calling 856-691-4111 ext. 4190, the detective bureau at 856-691-4111, ext. 4180 or Vineland Crime Stoppers at 856-691-0345. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to Crime Tips, 847411.

The college remained on lockdown for about an hour. Official say the suspect was never spotted on campus.

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

Everything you need to follow Friday night football in New Jersey.

KEY LINKS
• Schedule/scoreboard: Full | By conference
• Week 6 Mega-coverage football guide
• Results & links: Thurs.
• Our picks: All games | Top 20
• Picks by conference
• Current NJ.com Top 20 | Next 10
• Group and conference rankings
• Statewide stats leaders
• Best PHOTOS of Week 6

• BREAKING: Donovan Catholic player airlifted to trauma center

FEATURED GAMES:

No. 7 St. Peter's Prep 48, No. 1 Bergen Catholic 42
• Prep survives late score to knock off No. 1
• St. Peter's sack machine goes to work, with PHOTOS
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

No. 16 St. John Vianney 28, No. 10 Rumson-Fair Haven 3
• Vianney avalanche sweeps away No. 10
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

River Dell 42, Ridgefield Park 7
• Dell wraps up division title
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Sparta 42, Roxbury 0
• Ultimate playmakers spark Sparta
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Old Bridge 24, No. 13 Piscataway 20
• 3 TDs for Sodano as OB stuns No. 13
•  Video: Pick-6 gets P'way on the board
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Carteret 29, Woodbridge 14
• Carteret capitalizes on big plays
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Camden Catholic 28, Shawnee 7
• CC victorious in battle of unbeatens
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

No. 9 Timber Creek 56, Camden 7
• Game recap
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Vineland 61, Clearview 29
• Clan says 5-0 start is no fluke
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

West Windsor South 42, Princeton 18
• 335 rushing yards for Coop pushes Pirates
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Delaware Valley 21, Voorhees 7
• Lessig scores 3 TDs and sparks D for DelVal
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Newton 54, Chatham 21
• Game recap
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Union City 56, Memorial (WNY) 0
• Game recap
•  Photo gallery
• Box score

Millville 28, Hammonton 26
• Bolts hold on, stops late 2-point conversion
• Box score

Delsea 26, Kingsway 7
• Crusaders back on track
• Box score

West Deptford 41, Woodstown 7
• WD follows O line to win over Wolverines
• Box score

West Windsor North 48, Lawrence 38
• Full staff report
•  Video interview: Myles Mitchell-White, Lawrence
• Box score

Peddie 54, Lawrenceville 30
• Falcons fly despite losing two starters
• Box score

Burlington Township 43, Ewing 0
• Burl Town improves to 5-1 with win
• Box score

WEEK 6 FEATURES
• Mid-season awards: N.J. football's best at halfway point
• Which teams have the toughest schedules the rest of the way?
• Meet the most famous athletes from each of N.J.’s 21 counties
• Who has the best student section? Voting for semifinals coming soon
• Who won helmet stickers from Week 5 action?
• 2 players added to Player of the Year watch 
• VOTE for the top offensive playmaker in each football conference 

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD

Braulio Perez may be reached at bperez@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BraulioEPerez.

Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance Media MULLICA HILL -- Nobody can call the perfect start for the Vineland football team a fluke anymore. The Fighting Clan scored on nine of their 10 possessions in a...

Matt Cosentino | For NJ Advance Media MULLICA HILL -- Nobody can call the perfect start for the Vineland football team a fluke anymore. The Fighting Clan scored on nine of their 10 possessions in a...

Anthony Coleman | For NJ Advance Media HAMMONTON – Dennis Thomas still had faith in his defense despite the fact it was catching some bad breaks. The Millville High football head coach saw the oppo...

Anthony Coleman | For NJ Advance Media HAMMONTON – Dennis Thomas still had faith in his defense despite the fact it was catching some bad breaks. The Millville High football head coach saw the oppo...

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

CHEERS: To the thin blue line. "It's a chance for the community to say something about how we value the police department." We couldn't agree more with that statement by one North Jersey mayor regarding the literal thin, blue-colored lines appearing in the middle of roadway lines across this state. "It represents the solidarity displayed within the profession when a law enforcement officer makes the ultimate sacrifice... It is the thin blue line in the midst of tragedy that rushes in as others rush out." We couldn't agree more with that summarization of the symbolization by one South Jersey police chief. If a community wants to express its appreciation of the men and women who protect it, we wholeheartedly say go for it. If it offends you that much, tell the dispatcher on the other end of your next 911 call to send someone other than your local police department to the scene.

JEERS: To Gov. Chris Christie's tax axe. Subaru of America and the Campbell Soup Co. are crying foul over Christie doing away with a four-decade-old reciprocal income tax agreement between his New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In short, the move that becomes effective next year means you're going to pay taxes where you work, not where you live. That means Pennsylvania residents will be subjected to New Jersey's sliding income tax scale based on personal income. For New Jersey residents working in the the Keystone State, you'll be paying a flat rate of about 3 percent. Subaru said it may have reconsidered building its new headquarters in Camden if it knew this was coming down the pike. That's all well and good, but we can't exactly reconsider buying groceries after taking just a little bit less home in our paychecks.

CHEERS: To the Mantua Police Department for its handling of the discovery of an old explosive device in a wooded area on the grounds of Gloucester County Christian School last week. The device was a remnant of the days when the site was a military facility. Police kept the public informed via social media, alerting nearby residents of plans to perform a controlled detonation of the device by bomb disposal experts. When contacted by the media, police provided a thorough account and sought to assure the public that this wasn't a terrorist act. Given the state of the world these days, it's important to get this information out as quickly as possible. Kudos to local police, as well as county bomb disposal teams that came in to handle the situation.

JEERS: To the creeps targeting local residents. We've seen several reports in recent months of people scamming their way into area homes in order to steal. They claim they are with the "water company" or some other utility and distract homeowners while their cronies peruse the house for valuables. The most recent case was reported Sunday in East Greenwich Township. Check out the photos the homeowner provided from their security system. If you recognize these thieves, call the cops. In a similar scheme, thieves claim they are with a tree-cutting service and need to see where the victim's property line is located. Once they have distracted the homeowner, others enter the house and go to work. Such a case was reported in Franklin Township last month and state police have reported similar crimes recently. If you don't trust that person knocking on your front door, call the police. If you have security camera images of such characters, share those with police. Let's get these crooks off the street before they burglarize another home and possibly harm someone.

CHEERS: To the return of a Millville tradition. On Tuesday, Jim's Lunch on East Main Street reopened for the 2016-2017 season. The restaurant has been a mainstay in Millville's downtown for more than 90 years. Still family owned, it continues to turn out many homestyle dishes that have become favorites among its clientele. Many classic eateries have closed their doors or changed hands in our region, but Jim's Lunch is a constant. And that's a good think in today's fast-changing world.

JEERS: To the toll of drugs. Authorities sadly reported that two men died last weekend in Salem County of what are believed to have been heroin overdoes in Salem City and Pennsville. Then, on Tuesday night a man was found dead in Woodstown. Police there say it appears that death, too, was drug related, but it was not clear whether heroin had been involved. Close to 10 people have lost their lives this year in Salem County because of heroin overdoses, according to authorities. While Narcan has helped saved the lives of many heroin overdose victims, it's clear that drugs are still taking a heavy toll. If you are addicted, seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed of. If you know someone who is battling addiction, do all you can to get them help. Drugs have taken too large a toll already.

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

This the 20th refueling outage for Hope Creek. What the public will notice is the absence of the plume of steam from the plant's cooling tower.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- The Hope Creek nuclear reactor has been shut down for a scheduled refueling outage, a utility official said. 

The reactor was taken offline at 2 p.m. Friday, according to Joe Delmar, spokesman for the plant's operator, PSEG Nuclear.

This is the 20^th refueling outage at the plant located at PSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

"The outage includes thousands of maintenance, inspection, and testing activities that will result in improved equipment reliability and system health. This work will help ensure that Hope Creek continues to provide safe, clean reliable power for New Jersey and the region for many years to come," Delmar said.

More than 12,500 work activities will be performed by PSEG employees as well as 1,000 outside contractors, Delmar said. 

Work will include replacement of one third or 764 of the reactor's fuel assemblies, maintenance on equipment like the turbine turning gear and hydraulic control units and replacement of equipment including a condensate pump and motor and batteries, according to Delmar.

Hope Creek first came online in 1986 and is licensed to operate through 2046 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The plant's last refueling outage was completed in the spring of 2015.

Feds OK permit for new N.J. reactor

Hope Creek is one of three nuclear reactors operated by PSEG Nuclear at Artificial Island.

The other two units -- Salem 1 and Salem 2 -- remain operating at full power, Delmar said.

The public will notice the absence of the plume of steam that comes from Hope Creek's cooling tower when the plant is in operation. The plume can be seen from around South Jersey and neighboring states.

Delmar did not give an estimate of when the plant is expected to return to service.

Nuclear plant refueling outages generally last about a month. 

The three plants operated by PSEG Nuclear in Salem County comprise the second-largest commercial nuclear generating complex in the United States in power output. Only the Palo Verde complex in Arizona produces more electricity through nuclear power.

A rise from modesty has given the baseball cap a somewhat inflated opinion of itself. It follows that its price must now match its pre-eminence.

By James Terminiello

You may not remember this and it may come as a shock. There was once a time when the plain, unassuming baseball cap was worn only by 10-year-old boys in Little League and major-league baseball players in the heat of competition.  

Not so today. That formerly barely noticeable sun-blocker has swept the field of almost all other headwear and stands proud, smug and unchallenged as the single topper of choice for boys, men of all ages, and quite a few women, for all occasions.  

Presidential candidates bound about in baseball caps to demonstrate that they are down with folks. Celebrities wear them at globally televised events -- usually with a product of some type or movie title embossed somewhere. 

I have seen middle-aged executives in mortgage-payment priced suites, car-payment priced shoes and briefcases hand-crafted by members of a small clan of Italians living on an obscure mountaintop who choose to crown it all with ... yes, a baseball cap. Chairman Mao at the height of his power could not command such near-universal conformity with a dress code.

This rise from modesty has given the baseball cap a somewhat inflated opinion of itself. It follows that its price must now match its pre-eminence. Place an NFL brand or name of a currently faddish item on the facade of the cap and you can charge enough, as the TV commercials say, to feed an orphaned refugee child for six months. It does not seem to matter that these caps are almost all manufactured in the Third World by semi-slave laborers in dank rooms illuminated by 25-watt bulbs.     

Must we put up with this tyranny of the baseball cap? Do we not have the chutzpah to stand tall and demand something different? Need I point out the flaws?

Baseball caps do not keep out the rain. Your back and sides get drenched. The Akubra, an Australian wide-brimmed bush hat, takes care of that problem and fairly drips in cool. 

Cold ears? Don't ask your baseball cap for any help. A Ushanka from Russia has fold-down ear flaps. 

Looking for the avant garde? Turning your baseball cap sideways or backwards went out with the '90s. You might still see a suburban teen in an overpowered SUV still doing this while cranking up the volume, but that just reeks of stereotype. The beret is the ticket. The French always knew this. Or, choose a Gatsby, if you are an All-American. 

Stuck on the style of a baseball cap for reasons I cannot fathom? Try a variation: the cricket cap. Nobody even knows how the game of cricket is played. You'll project an air of mystery.

Sorry, baseball cap wearers, nothing beats the fedora. The great Humphrey Bogart knew this and only wore a baseball cap once to play a rather slim-witted riverboat captain. (OK, OK, he won an Academy Award for that role!)  Nevertheless, cock a fedora over one eye and you are firing on all cylinders. 

More important than a mere choice of headwear, the baseball cap has brought us all down to the lowest common denominator. Men seem to fear stepping out in anything that does not say "I'm one of the boys." Balaclavas, boaters, chullos, homburgs, Panamas, and porkpies were worn by the boys as well. No harm will come to you, and you might even turn a few heads.  

Baseball caps have lost their own respect. You've seen the ones with attachments to beer cans, replicas of female anatomy, artificial excrement on top, and generic witticisms such as "I'm with stupid" with a finger pointing down. You won't find such things with a Balmoral bonnet or deerstalker cap. 

You may have have seen old black-and-white street photos of men in top hats, boaters, derbies and, during the 1940s, the classic fedora. Whatever the period, one hat style would dominate with a remarkable degree of exclusivity. It seems that we have a pack mentality when it comes to what is on our heads.     

Well, the time has come to break the mold. The baseball cap has held the field for far too long. Now, where's that coonskin cap I picked up on vacation? 

James Terminiello writes from Glassboro.

The Carters are the first husband-and-wife team to capture the coveted award

John and Mary Carter, life-long Woodbury residents, are the first husband-and-wife team to capture the coveted Founder's Cup Award for community service as presented by the Greater Woodbury Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the South Jersey Times.

Bob Shryock | For NJ.com 

The Carters will be honored Nov. 15 at Auletto Caterers in Almonesson. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 after Nov. 11. Tickets can be purchased on the Chamber website.at: www.greaterwoodburychamber.com. Time is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Married 38 years and parents of four Woodbury High School graduates, the Carters have been exemplary volunteers in their community.

Mary is a long-time volunteer with Main Street Woodbury, serving as a board member, officer, and president. In 2013 she volunteered as interim executive director at a critical stage, and successfully headed the organization until the position was filled. The board called on her again the following year to assume the executive director's spot on a full-time basis. She served two years, working tirelessly with the city and other civic groups to support the Main Street district and draw visitors to the downtown area. She still works as a Main St. volunteer.

Mary also is active in numerous children's activities, including PTA, Brownies, and band parents.

John Carter started the Road Runners Club of Woodbury (RRCW), local chapter of Road Runners Club of America, in 2008, and is one of the driving forces behind the Woodbury Relays, one of the leading scholastic relay events on the East Coast. RRCW's mission is to celebrate the city's proud running history and create opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy running in Woodbury. Carter is executive director of the RRCW.

He was a member of the Woodbury Public Schools' first strategic planning committee and is a member of the Inspira Woodbury community advisory panel.

John also is Chief Operating Officer of the Wyanoke Group, based in Thorofare, and which includes Slack Inc. The company employs 250.

He was  active with the Woodbury Soccer Club as a coach and player representative for almost 20 years.

In 1998, Wenonah resident Joe Schultes was the first Founder's Cup honoree for his efforts in developing a World War II memorial on Evergreen Avenue in Woodbury.

Other awardees:

• 1999 -- Beth McManamy
• 2000 -- Greater Woodbury Jaycees
• 2001 -- Don Sanderson
• 2002 -- Steven Jackmuff
• 2003 -- Susan Schramm
• 2004 -- Bob Shryock
• 2005 -- Shirley Bierbrunner
• 2006 -- People for People Foundation
• 2007 -- Scott Kintzing
• 2008 -- Sue Giorgio
• 2009 -- Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity
• 2010 -- Richard Bellamente
• 2011 -- Greater Woodbury Food Bank
• 2012 -- Frank Gargano
• 2013 -- The Eastlack family
• 2014 -- Eileen K. Cardile
• 2015 -- James Auletto

Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Fernandez will be hosting a seminar on Oct. 19 to discuss breast reconstruction.

Dr. John G. Fernandez, MD of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Philadelphia
 

By Dubravka Kolumbic-Cortese

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In addition to dealing with the emotional and physical stresses of fighting the disease, many of those women will face the additional hurdle of breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.

Jen Sandri, 44, was one of them.

She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in January 2013 and soon after had a bilateral mastectomy.

"I didn't have much time to think about what was going on," she recalled. "I had to make decisions so quickly."

Although she pushed for reconstructive surgery as soon as possible, it was Dr. John G. Fernandez, MD of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Philadelphia, who advised her to wait until after her radiation treatment was complete because of its effect on her skin.

"He wasn't telling me what I wanted to hear," Sandri said. "He was just giving me his professional opinion."

Fernandez -- a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon -- is a specialist in DIEP flap reconstruction, which leaves the abdominal muscles intact and often results in less pain, a faster recovery time, the retention of core abdominal strength and a lower risk of hernias and bulges.

Almost four years after undergoing the procedure, Sandri is thrilled with her reconstruction and has nothing but praise for Fernandez' honest and thorough counseling. 

"That's the most important aspect to have," Sandri said. "If you don't have a doctor to tell you what could possibly happen, it could be a failure. Know what your odds are, what your results are and what potential problems could arise."

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fernandez will be hosting a seminar at CTCA on Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day on Oct. 19 to discuss breast reconstruction and the importance of empowering women with the knowledge they need to have before deciding what treatment plan is right for them. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, last year over 100,000 women had some type of breast reconstruction, a 35 percent increase since 2000.

"But, the caveat for that is, seven out of 10 women in the United States that go on to have mastectomies either never spoke to a plastic surgeon or didn't have enough information and didn't know all their options," Fernandez said.

This lack of information can lead women to make treatment decisions that may not be right for them in the long run.

"One out of five women who have undergone mastectomies never get reconstructed, which is a very high number," Fernandez said. He points out that although reconstruction may not be the best decision for every mastectomy patient, "The discussion should be about making sure that patients know their options. The trend may be that we're increasing procedures, but that's not the goal by any means. The goal is just to make sure that all those women are given the opportunity and make the choice of what type of reconstruction, whether to have it immediately, delayed or never."

Mantua's Robert Zimmerman defends his township's show of support for its police officers.

To the Editor:

This is in response to the Rev. Eric Hafner's recent letter, "Blue lines matter; they're unsafe on N.J. roads," about roadway lines being painted to support police in some communities, including Mantua Township.

To correct any misconceptions, first and foremost, the "blue line" painted in Mantua Township is in Chestnut Branch Park, not on a public roadway. We decided to do this to avoid any confusion to motorists or create a distraction on a public roadway, as Hafner's letter suggests could occur.

Secondly, Mantua's blue line has nothing to do with "protests over so many citizens, mostly black, being killed by police officers," as Hafner writes. This has absolutely nothing to do with "blue lives matter" vs. "black lives matter." In Mantua Township, we strongly believe that ALL lives matter.  

Our blue line painted between two yellow lines simply represents our support for our local police as protectors of our community. The added blue center line represents law enforcement. One yellow line represents the public, while the other yellow line represents the criminals. The idea is that law enforcement -- the blue line -- stands between law-abiding residents and violence or victimization by criminals.

To clarify any questions over the line-painting cost, in Mantua, the labor was donated by a private contractor, as were the paint and all other materials. 

We have a great police department in Mantua and Mayor Pete Scirrotto, myself and the township committee want to support these men and women. This was just one small gesture that demonstrates our appreciation for these people who serve with honesty, dignity and respect for all citizens.

We strongly believe this to be indicative of our police department and, therefore, support them wholeheartedly.

Robert T. Zimmerman

Deputy Mayor

Mantua Township

N.J. congressman dumped Trump too late

To the Editor:

Like so many other Republican incumbents seeking re-election, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2) is backing away from support for the party's presidential candidate, Donald Trump. It seems that this spirit was triggered by the "hot microphone" tape revealing Trump's "locker-room banter" degrading women.

While it is laudable for LoBiondo to distance himself from Trump, I am troubled as to why this didn't happen sooner. After all, there has been a consistent pattern of disrespect from Trump toward former POWs, war heroes, women, the disabled and minorities -- all of whom are part of the congressman's constituency. 

A possible reason for this is the fact that Trump (a former Atlantic City casino owner) and his executives have donated thousands of dollars to LoBiondo's campaign war chest over two decades.

I think now, more than ever, it is time for new blood and a new attitude in the House of Representatives from New Jersey's Second District. I am impressed by LoBiondo's Democrat challenger, David Cole, and his experience, his ideas, his enthusiasm and his vision for our nation.

Here's a question for LoBiondo: Do you intend to refund Trump's past contributions as you distance yourself from his candidacy?

Jim Atkins 

Sewell

Evangelicals have voting dilemma

To the Editor:

Evangelicals are in a dilemma. Do we ignore Donald Trump's moral ineptitude and "locker room talk" to focus on the greater issues of the economy, foreign policy and appointing strict constitutionalists to Supreme Court? Or, do we simply choose not to vote?

Many people believed that when Bill Clinton was president, his morals and character didn't matter. I wasn't one of them, but now we have the problem of choosing a president from among two candidates with character issues.

William McGurn, in an Oct. 11 Wall Street Journal column, wrote "Donald Trump is the new Bill Clinton." The writer suggests that Trump is the consequence of the culture that both Bill and Hillary Clinton created.  

However, Mr. Clinton's inexcusable behavior in the Oval Office involved disgracing the highest office in the land. Hillary was his enabler. His failure to resign despite an impeachment vote speaks loudly of our leaders' unwillingness to uphold the sacred trust of the presidency.

Likewise, the failure to indict Mrs. Clinton over her email scandals when she was secretary of state shows the lawlessness of the current administration.

The erosion of godly biblical values has resulted in the loss of absolute truth, allowing many to be their own gods. The issues we face as a country are the result.

John Adams once said, "Our constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."

In this election, thinking about long-term policy results is very important for each of us. 

 Barbara Essington

 Carneys Point Township

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

Two Gloucester County school districts have shaved by two-thirds the amounts they're asking for construction projects. It's a positive step.

A couple of recent developments in Gloucester County give us hope that a dose of realism has struck the folks who ask citizens to vote "yes" or "no" on school facility building programs, which obviously come at a cost of higher property taxes.

Let's start with the Kingsway Regional district. On Nov. 8, voters will be asked to OK $3.9 million in improvements. While most of the items do not fall into the category of absolute necessity -- there's an eight-lane rubberized running track, and relocated football stadium bleachers -- the district has curbed its appetite markedly since it went out with a $12 million bond referendum this spring.

Even in a district dominated by young families with school-age children, Kingsway's two-question, $12 million bond issue went down to stunning defeat on March 8. The main question lost 2,632 to 905.

Voters will decide next month whether it's worthwhile to spend $3.9 million, as opposed to $12 million, for improvements (storage buildings, garage bays, etc.) that include no added classroom space.

Nonetheless, credit is due whenever a school district can shave two thirds off the cost of a bond issue. Here's another good thing: The vote will be held on Election Day, when most voters are already poised to go the polls to elect a president.

As far as we're concerned, the fall general election is the only time each year when school districts should be allowed to beg for bond dollars. New Jersey needs to do away with permitting school referenda to be held on several dates each year. These special elections in March, September, etc,. are expensive and bring little participation. 

Next, let's go to Deptford Township, where, again on March 8, voters clobbered  the district's $97 million building plan. It included $68 million, mostly for classroom expansions, as well as a $29 million second question that would have air conditioned all district schools.

The Deptford district tried again on Sept. 27 -- a scant six months after the spring defeat. Its bond issue was put on the same crash diet as Kingsway's, falling to $34.4 million. The entire air conditioning element was removed, perhaps unwisely. All local school districts eventually will have to face the facts that both ends of the school year are getting warmer, and that more kids are entering school with allergies and asthma.

The Sept. 27 result? It was another "no," although the margin of defeat was considerably smaller than on March 8.

For Kingsway, no one can say if the second time on Nov. 8 will be the charm. But unless school officials right-size their construction plans, voters will think they're being hoodwinked into approving grandiose projects that appear unjustified.

Cutting back to the minimum the capital spending that goes before voters, as Deptford and Kingsway both have done, represents some progress. Of course, it would be better if school districts were to right-size their bond issues the first time around, not after one or two defeats at the polls. Baby steps; baby steps.

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

NJSIAA/NEW BALANCE STATE SINGLES TOURNAMENT COMPLETE RESULTS:THIRD ROUND:Stephanie Schrage, Millburn, def. Caleigh Masterman, Shawnee, 6-0, 6-0. Elizabeth Yu, J.P. Stevens def. Brenda Peng, Watchun...

NJSIAA/NEW BALANCE STATE SINGLES TOURNAMENT COMPLETE RESULTS:THIRD ROUND:Stephanie Schrage, Millburn, def. Caleigh Masterman, Shawnee, 6-0, 6-0. Elizabeth Yu, J.P. Stevens def. Brenda Peng, Watchun...