Cheers and Jeers

Every Saturday on its editorial page, the Gloucester County Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

- CHEERS: To the right day for a blood drive. A vampire (actually, Les Vail of the Rotary Club of Glassboro, who was dressed like one) came to a Halloween blood drive sponsored by the Rotary Club at a local VFW hall. He must have thought it was a buffet, since 60 donors, 20 more than the goal, had turned up by mid-afternoon last Saturday.

- CHEERS: To a talent show with a purpose. Tonight's the night for "Gloucester County's Got Talent," which showcases the vocal prowess (and other audience-pleasing ability) of local citizens to raise funds for the People for People Foundation. The show starts at 7 at the Toscano Performing Arts Center at Clearview Regional High School in Harrison Township. Tickets, at $15 each or four for $40, are available at the door or at pfpfoundation/eventbrite.com.

- JEERS: To food stamp fraud. With more people having to depend on government assistance during rough times, it's infuriating to see this help from taxpayers being ripped off. The owner of the Westville convenience store and two employees just pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding the program of $280,000 between July 2007 and March 2009. "Legit" recipients, who shared in the illegal conversions of benefits to cash, disgust us, too.

- CHEERS: One last time, for almost repeating. The Phillies' six-game ride to return as World Series champs didn't work out, and it's Yankees' fans who had the parade on Friday. But the solid performance of pitcher Cliff Lee and Chase Utley's five home runs, tying a 1977 Reggie Jackson World Series record, make us optimistic about 2010. If Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels find the Series groove that was missing this year, we'll be back celebrating on Broad Street.

JEERS: To the element of surprise. SEPTA workers' transit walkout, which began 3 a.m. Tuesday, spared Phillies fans who were able to get home from the final World Series game in Philadelphia, but unfairly stranded a.m. rush-hour passengers who hadn't heard about the walkout. They include South Jeresyans who take classes at Philadelphia's colleges and work in health care and high-tech jobs in University City. We're not knocking the right to strike, just the disregard that the unannounced walkout showed for the riding public.

If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to Cheers and Jeers, Gloucester County Times, 309 S. Broad St., Woodbury, NJ 08096.