It’s amazing how much pleasure I get from nostalgia.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I am a forward-thinking man. Leaving the newspaper for which I wrote for 30 years was a bit more forward than I would have imagined, but I countered that potential set back by launching a website that features not only my weekly ramblings but news and feature stories with a distinct Gloucester County flavor.

Still, while I look ahead, it’s also fun to look back.

NATIONAL PARK — A 35-year-old woman has been reported missing from her home on Lakehurst Avenue in National Park.

Jennifer Purcell was seen, on a security video, leaving her home at about 1 p.m. Saturday, police said. Purcell’s mother reported her missing at 10:14 a.m. Sunday. 

World War II veterans at the Gloucester County Veterans' Picnic HARRISON TWP. — There seems to be a big age gap in the former GIs who attended the annual Veterans’ Picnic here Saturday.

There are the World War II vets — a number growing smaller, sadly, every year — then the Korean War vets, then the Vietnam War vets.

Then, there’s a noticeable  lack of warriors from the Persian Gulf, versions 1 or 2.


WOODBURY — One of Gloucester County’s longest-running parades is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 4, in Woodbury. 

The 65th Annual Greater Woodbury Fall Festival Parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

The parade is only part of the party in Woodbury Saturday.

MONROE TWP.  - A Williamstown man was killed when his car veered out of control and spun off the Black Horse Pike Friday afternoon.

Raymond J. Taylor was driving his 2006 Kia Optima east on Route 322, South Black Horse Pike, in the left lane at about 3:18 p.m. when he made a sudden lane change, moving into the right lane, police said.

WEST DEPTFORD TWP.
— On Sept. 12, Breann S. Burgess, 19, of West Deptford, was arrested on Spiegle Avenue in the Verga section for possession of drug paraphernalia.  She was issued summonses and released pending court.
— On Sept. 13, Alexa L. Wilson, 25, of West Deptford, was arrested on Route 45 in the GreenFields section for outstanding warrants, possession of marijuana and failure to surrender a controlled dangerous substance to a law enforcement officer.  She was issued summonses and released pending court.

WOODBURY — A Mullica Hill man charged with a series of holdups at banks and convenience stores will stay in jail in default of $500,000 full-cash bail.

Jason D’Angelo, 36, was charged with robbing four banks and four stores, authorities said, between December 2013 and August 2014.

MONROE TWP. — A Williamstown man died after his speeding car spun out of control on Janvier Road Sunday.

Isaiah S. Burnett, 27, was driving his 1993 Honda Civic north on Janvier Road approaching Jones Kane Road at about 10:55 p.m. when he drove over what police called an imperfection in the road. This caused Burnett to swerve to the right, the Honda’s right-side tires leaving the paved highway for about 81 feet before he could pull back onto the road, police said.

The imperfection was described as a seam at which two sections of asphalt come together, said police.

The driver was also traveling above the posted speed limit of 35 mph, police said.

WOODBURY — A Gloucester County grand jury the week of Sept. 22 indicted the following people:

— William M. Wright, 36, of Thorofare, on charges of receiving stolen property and aggravated assault on a police officer in Mantua Township on April 18.

— David R. Bozarth, 32, of Deptford, on charges of sexual assault of a minor and criminal sexual contact in Deptford on April 17.