Crier Column 7/3: Happy Independence Day! Fireworks at SC Fairgrounds; Tammy Gunther and team save and rehab wildlife

WEDNESDAY, JULY 03, 2024

The Woodstown High School Wolverine Marching Band performs at the annual July 4th Parade on Main Street in Woodstown. This photo courtesy Steve Barry from 2018.

Hear ye, hear ye! O yez, o yez!

Happy Independence Day, fellow Americans!! One of my favorite holidays of the year — a day marked with celebrating freedoms across the United States.

But, is July 4th actually our Independence Day? Well, it is now, but during the inception of our nation, the date was debatable. 

Today, we celebrate our Independence on July 4th because that's when the Second Continental Congress approved the wording of the Declaration of Independence.

But that's not the date America officially declared its independence from Great Britain. That was July 2, 1776 when Congress adopted the Lee Resolution — the formal assertion resolving that the Thirteen Colonies (then referred to as the United Colonies) were "free and independent States" and separate from the British Empire.

Fascinating stuff! In fact, the founding fathers were so convinced that July 2, 1776 would be remembered as our Independence Day, John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Was anybody else taught that July 4 was when the Congress signed the Declaration of Independence? Also wrong! The Declaration of Independence wasn't signed until August 2, 1776, beginning first and foremost with President John Hancock.

Yes, you read that right. There was a President before George Washington — in fact, there were 14 of them. The role of the "President of the United States of Congress Assembled," however, differed greatly from the current President of the United States. The President, at that time, was a neutral party who oversaw the Continental Congress and intentionally had little power except for limited ceremonial duties. It was somewhat akin to today's President of the Senate — a duty of the Vice President. 

Nevertheless, a President is a President, so in some ways, it can be argued that these 14 men were the first Presidents under the First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress, and Articles of Confederation:

1. Peyton Randolph (Virginia)
2. Henry Middleton (South Carolina)
3. Peyton Randolph (Virginia)
4. John Hancock (Massachusetts)
5. Henry Laurens (South Carolina)
6. John Jay (New York)
7. Samuel Huntington (Connecticut)
8. Thomas McKean (Delaware)
9. John Hanson (Maryland)
10. Elias Boudinot (New Jersey)
11. Thomas Mifflin (Pennsylvania)
12. Richard Henry Lee (Virginia)
13. John Hancock (Massachusetts)
14. Nathaniel Gorham (Massachusetts)
15. Arthur St. Clair (Pennsylvania)
16. Cyrus Griffin (Virginia)

*Peyton Randolph and John Hancock served two non-consecutive terms)

There's your history lesson for the day. Knowing these kinds of details have always given me a deeper appreciation for the holiday and the history of our nation. Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

JULY 4TH EVENTS

FIRECRACKER RUN: Woodstown's annual Firecracker 5K (approx. 3 miles) will begin at 8 a.m. at the Salem County Fairgrounds. Entry is $10.

PARADE: The annual Woodstown-Pilesgrove July 4 Parade will be begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street in Woodstown by the Memorial Lake, travel through the center of town, curve to Marlton, and end at the Marlton Recreation Field. See you there!

FESTIVAL: The 4th of July Festival will be held at the SALEM COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (not the Marlton Park) this year. Fairgrounds open at 4 p.m. Fee is $10 per car for parking. There will be food trucks, bouncy houses, carnival rides, games, concessions, local brewery and winery, vendors and a D.J. 

FIREWORKS: The annual Fireworks display, usually held at Marlton Park, will be held at the Salem County Fairgrounds instead, this year, during the Festival. The Fireworks will begin at dusk.

COMMUNITY

A goose saved by Tammy Gunther and rehabilitated by South Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitation is released back to its home at Memorial Lake after sustaining injuries due to undisposed fishing lines.

GEESE SAVED!: Tammy Gunther is an example we should all follow.

She recently worked with the South Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitation organization to save geese at Woodstown Memorial Lake from the trappings and twines leftover from fisher tackleboxes. Last week, Mrs. Gunther successfully released a goose tangled in fishing lines back into its natural habitat. 

She is also working with the group to have monofilament (fishing line) receptacles placed around the lake where fishers can dispose of their used lines, hooks, sinkers, etc.. That said, it should be noted there are plenty of trash receptacles fishers could use in the interim — fishers take note!

Read below here update on the efforts to protect the wildlife at Memorial Lake:

The goose we brought to South Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitation fully healed and was released back to her flock over the weekend!! It was so heart-warming to watch her use both feet to walk and swim back to her family!! 

While this gooses story has had a happy ending, this unfortunately isn’t the case for all of the flock. As we were leaving the lake after the release we found one of them deceased on the far end of the lake. Looked as though it had been hit by a car. Nobody should be driving down that little road so fast that they can’t stop for a very large goose!! One of the geese has fishing line wrapped around both of its legs, one has line around one leg that trails behind gathering leaves etc, and one has a broken wing and is struggling horribly. We are currently talking to see how we can get this last goose help.

I walk around the lake almost every day with my dogs. And almost everyday I pick up fishing line…lots of it!! I’ve even picked up hooks and line with sinkers on it. Please, if you fish at the lake (or anywhere) don’t leave fishing line behind! There is wildlife that lives there, it’s their home, and it has a terrible impact on them. There are several trash cans around the lake or take it home and throw it away!

There is a group of us trying to figure out how to get fishing line (monofilament) receptacles placed around the lake and possibly wildlife crossing signs installed. I have contact information for NJ Clean Communities about the fishing line  receptacles and will be reaching out to them for information/guidance. But if anyone has any advice on how we can get this done, please share! 

One person in our group has reached out to an animal rescue farm in hopes that they will take the flock.

No luck yet! If anyone has any advice on who we can contact to get these geese relocated to a safer more appropriate environment please let me know. We don’t mind making the calls! We are also happy to aide in capturing and transporting them. In the meantime, if everyone would clean up their fishing line and slow down it would make the lake a safer and more enjoyable place for everyone, geese and humans alike!

Thank you, Tammy!!!! The Gunther Family never misses, whether saving the wildlife (Tammy), educating thousands of students in music and performance (Kahlil), or entertaining the community (Sam in Les Mis and Brigadoon ... and the many Gunthers before him) we're thankful and grateful and Woodstown is a better place because of them. Side note: Best of luck to Sam at Kean U!

CROCHET CLASSES: The Squirrel's Nest is hosting at Beginner Crochet Workshop. This is a four-week course that runs July 13, 20, 27, and August 3. Classes are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be instructed by Anna Klinman. The cost is $100/person. Reservations are required. Payment must be made to reserve a spot. Students can pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon.Payments are not refundable or transferable if the class remains as scheduled.

TEA PARTY: The Squirrel's Nest will host a Fairy Garden Tea Party on July 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $25/person or $40 for two guests. Crafts will be made! Reservations are required. Payment must be made to reserve a spot. Students can pay in store or Venmo @Jennifer-Carll-Simon.Payments are not refundable or transferable if the class remains as scheduled.

FARMER'S MARKET: There will be a Farmer's Market held on October 19, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organizers are seeking vendors with vegetables/fruits, pumpkins/plants, cornstalks/flowers, breads, honey, crafters, and quilters. Contact Linda Fritz at LAFritz@Yahoo.com.

ENTERTAINMENT

THEATRE: Oakwood Summer Theatre continues its 2024 season with "Madagascar Jr." at Salem Community College's Davidow Hall. Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m., and Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m..  Tickets are $10 and available for purchase from a cast member or at the door. Cash only.

More about "Madagascar Jr." ...

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

GOVERNMENT

Woodstown Borough Council and Pilesgrove Twp Committee meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

WEATHER

WEDNESDAY: Sunny and Thunderstorms in the evening. High of 85F, low of 60F.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. High of 91F, low of 67F.

FRIDAY: Clouds. High of 90F, low of 72F.

SATURDAY: Rain 40% chance. High of 89F. Low of 74F.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. High of 89F. Low of 72F.

Forecast: Clouds all next week with rain on Wednesday and Thursday. Temps in the upper 80s, low 90s.

♦

Woodstown Crier: Where the news in our nation every day seems like more doom and gloom — look to Woodstown for the good in us all.

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Want to share your Woodstown-Pilesgrove news in the Crier Column? Email Jim Cook at WoodstownCrier@gmail.com