Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 13

Monday, May 9, 2005 www.courierpostonline.com 3B They said it P'We're very excited. It's like we just found the Holy Grail." Rae Whalen, vice president of the Gloucester City Historical Society, about the discovery of a headstone that belonged to a private in Company of the New Jersey 25th Infantry HP 1 n-Loun CqurierPost Visit coiviefpostofxomaleHes to find cool South Jersey photos. cpmetrocouricrpostonline.com Metro Editor Donna Jenkins (856) 486-2408 ty Grants fed school's donations Campaigns given no public funds, UMDNJ says Wal-Mart pickets use Mother's Day theme CHERRY HILL About 30 union members set up informational pickets over the weekend outside the newly opened Wal-Mart store on Route 38 urging shoppers not to buy Mother's Day gifts at the store. Donna Atzert, spokeswoman for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 56, said the pickets were set up between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Saturday and were part of a national effort to raise public awareness of Associated Press from the Rippel Foundation was earmarked for construction of a healthcare center in Newark, and the New York-based Ford Foundation said its $100,000 grant was for training material for preschool teachers. "We give grants for very specific purposes," Thea See UMDNJ, Page 5B university president andor his designees" and didn't involve public funds but instead came from donations from the Somerset County-based Fannie E. Rippel Foundation and the Ford Foundation. But the two foundations said the grants were not intended for political purposes. The $1.01 miUion grant show politicians have received $2,500 from Ramapo College, Kean University and Thomas Edison State College.

Rutgers University has barred institutional donations to politicians since the early 1970s. Private universities are than $150,000 to state politicians over the last 10 years, according to a published report. That is considerably higher than other state schools have donated during the same period. State election records generally barred from donating to political campaigns because they are tax-exempt organizations. Officials at UMDNJ which has campuses in Stratford and Camden said the grants were "to ensure the visibility of the NEWARK The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey used private money it received from two foundations to donate more Wal toay first sfep inn Civil War journey Owner researches stone unearthed in yard a Mmummmmmmm III HIMI an BTW iii-rrm iiuiimiimmiiihiw.

1 jr i tV yl, i Piii, Vy'i'li I i iw lliao-- i ri 1 'I i -i The veteran's name, formed as an arch, was partially cut off. George Pipito believes It Is Daniel Robinson. By LAWRENCE HAJNA Courier-Post Staff GLOUCESTER CITY George Pipito Jr. wanted to remove a sinking walkway behind the little rental house he owns on Jersey Avenue. So he began prying up the stones with a big iron bar.

What he discovered surprised him, to say the least On the underside of a flat, possibly marble, stone were engraved letters, like those found on a headstone. He quickly determined that it was the headstone of a Civil War veteran who died on Feb. 23, 1904. "I knew it was something significant," he said. Although Pipito never had much interest in the past before this, he inetant-iy became a history sleuth.

The headstone clearly stated that it belonged to a private in Company of the New Jersey 25th Infantry. The volunteer regiment was mustered into service in Beverly in September 1862. It comprised men from Atlantic, Cape May and Passaic counties, according to Remember You are Jerseymen, a history of New Jersey's Civil War troops by Joseph G. Bilby and William C.Goble. But the man's name, formed as a delicate arch at the top of the 4-foot-high headstone, was partially cut off.

At first, Pipito thought the name was Daniel Johnson. t1- a the Union Army retreated. The 25th spent most of the rest of its service near Newport News, participating in skirmishes, building roads, and constructing Fort New Jersey near Norfolk. It was mustered out of service in June 1863, right before Gettysburg. The local historical society plans to research records at local cemeteries to determine where Robinson may have been buried.

The area may have been too wet for anyone to have been buried in the yard, said Mary Lou Adams, the society's president But the society plans to contact state officials to determine if further excavation should be done. It's also possible that someone pilfered the stone from a cemetery, she said. If so, Adams hopes to return it "It's imperative to find its rightful spot," she said. Reach Lawrence Hajna at (856) 486-2466 or lhajnacourierpost online.com But an Internet ancestry search soon turned up a Daniel Robinson, a carpenter who was living in Weymouth, Atlantic County, during the 1880 census. He was 43 at the time.

That would put this man's age at 67 in 1904, the same as on the headstone. Pipito is certain this is the same man. But why was the headstone in the back yard? Do his remains rest there? The Gloucester City Historical Society is now digging into these questions. "We're very excited. It's like we just found the Holy Grail," said Rae Whalen, the society's vice president The 25th Regiment, nine-month volunteers led by CoL Andrew Derrom of Passaic County, initially was assigned to the defense of Washingtoa D.C.

In December 1862, it was one of the last units to withdraw from the battlefield at Fredericksburg, Va. It helped dismantle pontoon bridges over the Rappahannock River as A the firm's record of discrimination against womea More than 1.5 million former and current employees are suing the company for pay and promotion disparity, Atzert said. Local Wal-Mart officials referred inquiries to the company's headquarters in Bentonville, which did not return a message seeking comment. Banks, church join for home-buyers fair CLEMENTON-Afree home-buyers fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday at Solid Rock Worship Center, 165 S. White Horse Pike. Prospective home-buyers can attend workshops related to credit issues, down payment assistance and the basics of buying a home. There will be entertainment, prizes, giveaways and kids' activities. The session is sponsored by Wachovia Bank, New Jersey Citizens Action and Solid Rock Worship Center.

For more information, call (856) 309-9002. Multicultural listings sought for calendar Do you know of an upcoming multicultural event? We'd like to include it in a multicultural calendar that runs the first day of each month in the Features section. We'd like to hear about any event that promotes diversity. E-mail your listings to or fax them to (856)663-2831. For more information, call Special Sections Editor Laurie Stuart at (856) 486-2942.

Cameo College sets summer registration Camden County College is offering registration for its summer semester. Nearly 500 courses will be offered. Tuition is $70 per credit for county residents and $74 per credit for nonresidents. Registration will be held at all three CCC locations from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays until May 23. After May 23, Friday registration ends at 2 p.m. For more information, call (888) 228-2466 or go to www.camdencc.edu.

Sunshine SKRun slated in Medford MEDFORD The Medford Sunshine 5K Run will be held Sunday at Freedom Park. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. T-shirts will be given to the first 100 registrants, and winners of each age group will receive medals and prizes. Last year's event raised more than $3,000 for the Sunshine Foundation, a nonprofit group that grants wishes to terminally and chronically ill children.

For more information, go to www.sunshinefounda- tion.org. Courier-Post staff Photos by AL SCHELLCourier-Post George Piplto Jr. wonders why a headstone was buried in the back yard of a Gloucester City home. He believes he has tracked down the name and unit of the Civil War soldier associated with the headstone. Passenger lolled, driver injured in Route 55 crash SUV swerved, overturned in Millville, troopers say to the median, went back across both northbound lanes and then rode onto the shoulder, state police said.

The SUV then overturned several times and landed in the highway, police said. ning, police said. The crash happened around 1:15 a.m. on Route 55 at milepost 28.7, just south of the Vineland border. The northbound Mitsubishi Montero in which the men were riding swerved in- Port Norris statioa He died at the scene, police said.

The driver Robert Miller, 23, of Mantua was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was listed in critical but stable condition Sunday eve times. The passenger Daniel Harper, 26, of Mantua was thrown from the vehicle, according to state police at the was seriously injured Sunday when the sport-utility vehicle in which they were riding went out of control on Route 55 and flipped several Courier-Post staff MILLVILLE A Gloucester County man was killed and another I Logan Township Municipal Building Courier-Post file Cherry Hill Municipal Building Courier-Post file TOWN SQUARE News to stay informed and help you act E-mail cpmetrocoiirierpostonline.com, fax (856) 663-2831, or call (856) 486-2401 with updates. ii nil ii i 'iiij-" WEST DEPTFORD Board of Education. 7 p.m. Middle school.

WEST DEPTFORD Emergency Services Coordinating Council. 7:30 p.m. Municipal building. Tuesday held 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

today at Bancroft School on Hopkins Lane. (800) GIVELIFE. PITMAN A blood drive will be held 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Campbell's Express, 134 Laurel Drive. (800) 220-0077, exl 232.

SWEDESBORO A blood drive will be held 2 to 7:30 p.m. today at Woolwich Fire Company, 1517 Kings Highway. (800) GIVELIFE. Road work EVESHAM The reconstruction of Evesboro-Medford Road, also known as County Route 6 1 8, is under way. The road is open but there may be delays Looking tor more events? Check out the calendar in today's Senior Scoop, Tuesday's Static section, a full-page planner in Thursday's Communities section and the calendar in l-riday's Scene entertainment section.

FRANKLIN Registration for the Delsea Knights cheerieading squad will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the community center on Coles Mill Road. (856) 457-0416.

HARRISON Harrison Township Day will start at 10 a.m. Sunday at Ella Harris Park. Fireworks at dusk. (856) 223-8777 PEMBERTON TWP. Buttonwood Hospital of Burlington County will hold an open house from 3 to 6 p.m.

Thursday. 600 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road. (609) 726-7000. WOODBURY Main Street Woodbury's annual public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 17 at the Woodbury Country Club, 467 Cooper St.

(856) 845-8655. You can help EVESHAM A blood drive will be held 2:30 to 8 p.m. today at the Family Life Cenier at Maniun oniitid fviutiiuuial Church on Plymouth Drive. (800) GIV-ELIFE. HADDONFIELD A blood drive will be EAST GREENWICH Committee.

7 p.m. Municipal building. HARRISON Economic Development Council. 7:30 p.m. Municipal building.

LOGAN Board of Education. 7 p.m. Elementary school. Municipal services MANTUA Committee members and volunteers will assist senior citizens and disabled residents in filing Fair Share Rebate fcmis from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday at the municipal building, 401 Mam St (856) 468-1500, ext. 110 or 113. WINSLOW The township has set its spring leaf collection schedule: Ward 3 today; Ward 4 May 1 6. Events BURLINGTON COUNTY The county's Tour Your Town bus tour will be held baturoay. I ne event Degms at a.m.

at the Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery at Smithville Park, Eastampton. (609) 265-5068. Public meetings Today BURLINGTON COUNTY BURLINGTON TWP. Recreation Commission. 8 p.m.

Municipal complex. DELRAN Board of Education. 7:30 p.m. Administration building. MOORESTOWN Council.

7:30 p.m. Town Hall. CAMDEN COUNTY STERLING HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Board ot Education. 8 p.m. Sterling High School.

STRATFORD Park Commission. 9 p.m. 31 5 Union Ave. WATERFORD Environmental Commission. 7:30 m.

Municipal building. GLOUCESTER COUNTY DEPTFORD Council. 6 p.m. Municipal building. EAST GREENWICH Board of Education.

7:15 D.m. John Berkley Building. HARRISON Committee. 6:30 p.m. Municipal building.

LOGAN Zoning Board. 7 p.m. Municipal building. BURLINGTON COUNTY BURLINGTON TWP. Council.

7 p.m. Municipal builoing. CINNAMINSON Board of Education. 7:30 p.m. Middle school.

CAMDEN COUNTY Board of Elections. 10 a.m. Board offices, Pennsauken. CAMDEN COUNTY Library System Commission. 7 p.m.

Haddon Township. GLOUCESTER TWP. Board of EducationCouncil. 7 p.m. Municipal building.

HADDONFIELD Commissioners. 8 p.m. Borough Hall. RUNNEMEDE Public library trustees. 7 p.m Library.

STRATFORD Council. 8 p.m. 31 5 Union Ave. WINSLOW Fire Commissioners, District 1.8pm. Elm Fire Company.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY 1.