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nj.com/cumberland SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 75¢

Cpl. Derek A. Kerns laid to rest

CPL. DEREK A. KERNS

Staff photo by Britney Lillya

U.S. Marines lift the flag from the casket of U.S. Marine Cpl. Derek A. Kerns during his final salute at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery on Friday. (View more online photos: http://photos.nj.com/salem-photos/ and video: http://videos.nj.com/south-jersey/)

Solar project begins at CRHSSolar project begins at CRHSReward grows in graffiti cases

Free transportation available to Fugitive Safe Surrender

Sacred Heart officially remains open

Staff Photo by Cindy Hepner

Crews from Roy Brooks Auction were removing items from Weber’s Candy Store located on Laurel Street in Bridgeton Wednesday. Pictured is an old Weber’s Candy Store sign that used to hang in front of the store. More on Page A-5.

Remembering an icon

Staff Photo by Cindy Hepner

The first phase of the future solar project at Cumberland Regional High School has begun. A security fence surrounds the perimeter of the fac-ulty parking lot as crews were beginning to drill through the blacktop.

By Michael Williamsnj.com/south

PILESGROVE TWP. — Friends and family will remember U.S. Marine Cpl. Derek A. Kerns for the way he made everyone smile, his infectious personality, and the way he lived his life to serve others, mourners said at his funeral here Friday.

Cpl. Kerns, 21, and a Woodstown native, was killed April 11 in a train-ing mission off the coast of Morocco when his Osprey helicopter crashed.

He was given his final honors here Friday, though his memory will live on through the many who knew and loved him.

A beautiful funeral service for Cpl. Kerns was held here at Sharptown Church, as family and friends took turns sharing memories of a man they described as a loving father, devoted husband, and proud Marine.

“Service came naturally to Derek, even before he became a Marine. That’s just who he was,” said family friend Trish Hatton-Jamison said at the funeral service. “He lived his life

loyal to the people he cared aboutmost.”

One of Cpl. Kerns’ good friendsadded, “Derek was the kind of guy who always had your back... He was always proud to be a Marine, and he

(See CPL. KERNS, Page A-5)

From staff reportsnj.com/south

BRIDGETON — When Bridgeton Public Works Director Dean Dellaquila saw graffiti plastered all over the dugout walls and concession stand facade in City Park on Wednesday morning — just eight days after vandals sprayed graf-fiti in the park over the Easter holiday weekend — Dellaquila said he “got as angry as he’s been in a long time.”

He decided to match a $100 reward Mayor Albert Kelly had offered for infor-mation leading to charges being brought against those responsible for the graffiti, bringing the total reward for information up to $200 from the city repre-sentatives’ own pockets.

“What happened Tues-day night is the second incident in less than two weeks. I take this person-

ally because this park belongs to the citizens of Bridgeton, not just because the park is part of where I work; it’s because the park is a place where our chil-dren play, where we as a community come to relax and unwind,” Dellaquila said.

Dellaquila said he has to believe that “somebody knows something” and he hopes that person will “step forward and do the right thing,” especially given the incentive of reward money.

The latest incident with graffiti in the park was reported to have been slightly more contained than the graffiti sprayed over the Easter weekend in terms of amount, but was just as offensive and vulgar. Dellaquila quickly dispatched personnel from the Department of Public Works to put fresh paint

(See REWARD, Page A-3)

By Lauren T. Taniguchinj.com/south

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. — On-site preparation for construc-tion of the long-awaited solar panel project at Cumberland Regional High School (CRHS) has begun, and district officials hope to have the system finally up and running by the end of summer.

The project will be completed in two phases by Sewell-based firm Ray Angelini Inc.

“Excavation, pouring concrete piers and and construction of the metal frame for the solar panels is the first phase,” said district Busi-ness Administrator Andrew McIl-vaine.

“Once they’re done doing prepa-ratory work, the electrical people will come in and install the solar panels, wiring and the connection equipment that will then transfer the direct current from the panels and change it into alternating cur-rents so it can be used in the build-ing or put back into the electrical grid,” McIlvaine explained.

The solar panel canopy will be constructed at the faculty park-

ing lot, located on the east side of the CRHS main building on Silver Lake Road.

Teachers have been asked to park their vehicles in a section of the student parking lot, behind the building, until the project has been completed.

Some construction work will be done during the school day, but the

contracted firm will make accom-modations at the request of the dis-trict to make sure schoolwork is not disrupted, such as making no noise whatsoever during specified testing days, McIlvaine said.

Ray Angelini Inc. representa-tives have signed two contracts to

(See SOLAR, Page A-3)

From staff reportsnj.com/south

BRIDGETON — Free trans-portation options from Bridgeton and Vineland to Atlantic City will be available today and next week for Cumberland County residents who wish to take advantage of the Fugitive Safe Surrender-New Jersey Southern Region initia-tive.

Fugitive Safe Surrender allows individuals wanted on New Jersey warrants for nonviolent crimes or disorderly person offenses, including family matters and child support, to turn themselves in and receive favorable consider-ation from the court.

“I thank the Attorney Gener-al’s Office for giving Cumberland County residents who have war-rants in the State of New Jersey

the opportunity to take advan-tage of this very important pro-gram to clear their warrants and move forward not having to look over their shoulder,” said Cum-berland County Prosecutor Jen-nifer Webb-McRae.

“Making the choice to attend is a first step to removing barriers to driving eligibility and employ-ment for people,” she added.

(See FUGITIVES, Page A-3)

By Jim Cook Jr.nj.com/south

VINELAND — Sacred Heart High School will remain open.

Officially, this time.The Save Sacred Heart High School Foundation

announced Friday afternoon that they have met their fundraising goal of $300,000 before May 1 through donations from alumni, parents and local businesses.

The first time they announced they would remain open, was only weeks after the Diocese of Camden, specifically Bishop Joseph Galante, said the school

would close.They cited low enrollment and lack of funds as

their main reason for closing the school.The closure was announced in late January and

would be carried out through the end of the aca-demic year (in June). But the diocese reversed their decision after an advisory committee developed a five-year sustainability plan.

When they first announced the school would remain open, it came with an ambitious fundrais-ing goal and a tight deadline

But Friday, the school announced it had met the

(See SACRED HEART, Page A-7)