VHS grad Darren Ford shines at spring training

Darren Ford

Darren Ford, a 2004 graduate of Vineland High School now playing baseball in the San Francisco Giants Minor League system, is having a tremendous spring training in Arizona, according to VHS teacher and coach Mike Schneider.

Ford was a triple-letter winner at VHS - baseball, football and winter track - and was a member of two state championship relay teams. Ford was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Competing against major leaguer players in spring training, Ford currently has the second-highest batting average on the club (8 for 14 - .571), and leads the club in runs scored (8) and stolen bases (4).

Ford is listed on the club's major league roster, but that group will face 15 to 20 cuts by opening day, Schneider said.

"Darren will probably start the year at Double or Triple A with the possibility of getting called up later in the summer if he continues to play well," Schneider said.

Last year, playing for the Single-A San Jose Giants, Ford batted .300 with 9 home runs, 50 RBI and 35 stolen bases.

After he was drafted by the Brewers, Ford played on several of the club's minor league teams before he was traded to the Giants on July 20, 2008. He finished the season with San Jose, where he hit a combined .227 with two home runs, 34 RBI and 62 stolen bases.

Ford's statistics are available on the Giants' main Web site.

You can also see an interview with Ford on the MLB Network here.

State address affects local schools

By DEBORAH M. MARKO
The Daily Journal staff writer

School districts braced for the ripple effects of Gov. Chris Christie's state budget proposal with its $1 billion cuts to education.

Some were obvious.

The NJ Stars program that offers two years of free community college tuition to the highest high school academic achievers may not accept a freshman class in September. This means the 75 local qualifying students may have to make other plans or not attend college, said Maud Goodnight, executive director of enrollment academics and student support at Cumberland County College.

Others are vague.

Public school districts were told to expect state aid cuts of no more than 5 percent of their total budget. That could mean Millville will need to cut $4.3 million and Vineland has to slash about $8.3 million from their 2010-11 spending plans.

Read more

Three VHS teams head to Odyssey of the Mind finals

All three teams from Vineland High School qualified to compete in the NJ State Finals in the Odyssey of the Mind competition this year.

The students recently showcased their creative talents at the OM Lighthouse Regional competition at Ewing High School.

The state finals will be held April 17 at Somerset High School, according to OM advisor Sheryl Rasmussen.

"Our students worked very hard to come up with solutions in three mind-bending problems posed by Odyssey of the Mind," she said.

Read more

ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Sara Leonelli

Sara Leonelli

Today's Athlete of the Day is Sara Leonelli, who The Daily Journal sports desk deems "Most Improved."

The Vineland High School senior swims distance at the school.

Leonelli became an integral part of the Vineland lineup this season, swimming the area's fastest time in the 200 freestyle (2:02.67) and second fastest in the 500 free (5:39.69).

She also dropped more than a second off her previous best 100 free (56.66), which led her to stake claim on the Fighting Clan's 400 free state relay, which placed 16th at the Meet of Champions.

Eight positions cut from V’land school district

Vineland Public Schools' Board of Education voted this week to eliminate eight Vineland High School administrative assistant positions from the district's organization chart, The Daily Journal staff writer Deborah M. Marko wrote.

Seven administrative assistants will lose their current position effective June 30. They are: Michael L. Adams, Edward Benish, Madeline Galan, Erika Kirschner, Tammy Monahan, Jeffrey Perez and Eric Reissek.

Carol Rothman is also affected because she was to be appointed to an administrative assistant position that has now been eliminated, said Superintendent Maryann Banks. She will remain in her current VHS teaching position. Their salaries range from $60,592 to $89,650.

Administrative assistants have divided their time between classroom instruction and overseeing the administrative responsibilities of a specific VHS small learning community of about 400 students each.

The seven administrative assistants will remain district employees but in other capacities, board president Frank Giordano confirmed. They will be given the opportunity to move to other positions under N.J. tenure laws.

Read more below or here.

Read more

Petway Players present Bunny and Me

Petway Players Drama Club is inviting the community to attend Bunny and Me! from 6 to 8 p.m. March 19.

The event will include a spaghetti and meatball dinner, an Easter egg hunt and an opportunity to take a photo with the Easter Bunny.

Guests should bring a camera and an Easter basket.

Tickets are $5. Proceeds benefit Petway Players’ first musical, “Aladdin Jr.,” which will be presented on April 29.

The event will take place at Petway Elementary School, 1115 S. Lincoln Ave. For more information, call (856) 362-8855.

Easter Bunny headed to town

WHAT: Easter Bunny’s Arrival Celebration

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Center Court, Cumberland Mall, Delsea Drive, Vineland.

DETAILS: The celebration will feature stories, crafts and surprises as the Easter Bunny is welcomed to his seasonal home! Following the arrival celebration, children are invited visit and have photos taken with the Easter Bunny from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, through April 3.

ADMISSION: Free.

FOR MORE INFO: (856) 825-9507 or www.cumberlandmallnj.com

Most important meal of day helps VHS baseball

The Vineland High School Baseball Team is holding a breakfast fundraiser on March 28 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the North Italy Club, 414 Virano Lane.

In addition to raising funds for the team, the event is also an opportunity for those in attendance to meet the players and coaches.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12.

For tickets or additional information, please contact Karen Malatesta at Petway Elementary School (856) 362-8855or a VHS Baseball Coach - John Malatesta - JMalatesta@vineland.org; Kyle Jones - KJones@vineland.org; or Travis Amstutz- TAmstutz@vineland.org.

Gold medalists to teach Millville wrestlers

Doug Blubaugh and Shelby Wilson, fifth and sixth from left, with the 1960 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. AP photo

 

Millville youth wrestlers are getting a chance to learn grappling from two of the nation's all-time greats.

Olympic gold medalists Doug Blubaugh and Shelby Wilson will be the headliners for a three-day wrestling camp in Holly City later this month.

Blubaugh, 76, and Wilson, 73, won their respective weight classes (160.5 and 147.5) in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and have been actively coaching the sport ever since.

"I try to teach (the kids) what they need to know," said Blubaugh, who was also a NCAA national champion in 1957 at Oklahoma State. "I can't teach them everything, it would be too much, but I teach them what they need to know."

-- By DAVE ZANGARO, Special for the Daily Journal

Reading time for teddy bears

Library media coordinator Judy Davis reads to CCS students. Submitted photo.

Judy Davis, library media coordinator for Cumberland Christian School, is on a mission to put good books into the hands of children of all ages, according to CCS teacher Elaine Hannan.

Davis welcomed all kindergartners to an evening of reading in pajamas and slippers and with their favorite teddy bear.

“Teddy Bear Night,” another annual event at the school, begins in the library and sends students and parents on a “bear hunt” through the school’s hallways transformed into rain forests (complete with spraying water bottles that mist over passers-by), mud puddles, and snowstorms.

The night ends with bears everywhere in crafts, a movie and snacks, Hannan said.

Starting its second week, the Book Fair features books with clear moral themes and a Biblical world view, she said.

Families may visit Cumberland’s library at any time through Friday or anyone may purchase books here. Cumberland benefits if buyers select the school code of 40262.

STAR STUDENT: Gina Cristina Schwegel

Gina Cristina Schwegel

Gina Cristina Schwegel is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

She is a 6-year-old kindergartner at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

She lives in Vineland with her parents, Asher and Franca.

“Gina strives very hard to achieve her goals,” according to a Student of the Day nomination submitted by her school. “She acts and sings and has even auditioned for Disney. She hopes to be a star one day.”

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

Prom dresses, suits needed for Cinderella Sale

Tina's Fund For Domestic Violence Awareness, a non-profit organization, is accepting donations of prom-related items like gowns, shoes, pocketbooks, men's suits, and jewelry.

The donations will be used for the fifth Annual Cinderella Sale.

Proceeds from this event will go towards the Tina Labriola Scholarship Fund which was established to assist graduating high school students who wish to pursue a career in nursing.

Donations will be accepted at:

- P. Austin Insurance Agency, Inc., 1789 S. Burlington Avenue, Bridgeton; Monday through Friday from 8:30a.m. until 5 p.m. (closed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.)

- Tina Lynns, 602 N. 5th Street, Millville, Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you should have any questions, you may contact us at (609) 721-3078 or visit our Web site at www.tinasfund.net for more information.

Students put hearts into Haiti collection

From left, Eduardo Lopez, Rebecca Sheridan, Abigail Bertonazzi, Erica McCracken, Taylor Wells, Sanjay Menghani, and Jenna Gavigan. Submitted photo.

Vineland High School South, with help from the Key Club, recently collected more than $400 for  the Spanish-American Relief Fund in an effort the students dubbed, "Hearts for Haiti," said Denise Gavigan, club advisor.

Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students, according to the organization's Web site. It's a student-led organization that teaches leadership through serving others. Members of the Kiwanis International family, Key Club members build themselves as they build their schools and communities.

Birthday’s a bash for Buck the Buckle-Up Dog

Buck The Buckle Up Dog makes a new friend in Ella Rivera, 4, of Millville during Buck's sixth birthday party at the Cumberland Mall in Vineland on Saturday. Staff photo/Cody Glenn

Cumberland Christian hosts 13 exchange students

The Korean exchange students at Cumberland Christian School pose with their host families. Submitted photo.

Thirteen Korean students enrolled with Cumberland Christian School for a four-week mini-semester as part of an exchange program.

Each Korean student chose a random American name to make it easier on their American friends, said Elaine Hannan, the school's acting elementary principal.

In two years, Cumberland Christian has opened its doors to 40 Korean students who wanted to experience an American education, she said. This year, the visiting students ranged from the fourth- to ninth-grades.

Read more