Also, learn about Washington Township native Jackie Callahan and her time serving in the U.S. Navy
Washington Township community members and officials gathered this week at the first annual Addiction Awareness and Remembrance Vigil to break the stigma of addicts and their battle with the opioid epidemic. Local high school baseball players also represented Washington Township in the Phillies Baseball Carpenter Cup Classic, while resident Jackie Callahan told her story of serving in Bahrain for the U.S. Navy. Check out some of the top stories from the past week in the Weekly Roundup.
Stories of addiction, perseverance shared at first annual Addiction Awareness Vigil
With the purpose of breaking the stigma of addiction, raising awareness and remembering those lost from drug abuse, Baird and many others shared their stories at the first annual Addiction Awareness and Remembrance Vigil last week. Many speakers from Washington Township, Gloucester County and the surrounding areas spoke heartfelt stories of addiction, loss and perseverance. All pledged to stand together with their communities to fight the epidemic, raise awareness and change the stigma on those who are experiencing addiction, or loss.
Local high schools represented in Phillies Baseball Carpenter Cup Classic
High school baseball all-stars are getting ready to compete for the title of Carpenter Cup Champion. More than 400 players from the tri-state area will showcase their skills in front of major league scouts and college coaches during the 32nd annual Phillies Carpenter Cup Classic powered by ENGIE. Washington Township High School is represented by senior Alex Gattinelli and sophomore Luke Kaschak competing on the Olympic Colonial team.
Township native explores the Middle East as U.S. Navy surface warfare officer
From Washington Township to the Middle East, Lt. Junior Grade Jackie Callahan has immersed herself in the Arab culture as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. For the past 10 months, Callahan has been stationed at the Manama, Bahrain, Navy Base, forward deployed to the Arabian Gulf in the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Callahan said her task force with the Naval Forces Central Command handles the operations of approximately 25 war ships within approximately 2.5 million square miles of water.
Arson retrial leaves former resident convicted
Cheryl Satoris, 57, a former resident of a Washington Township condominium building heavily damaged in a 2011 fire, was convicted in a retrial this week of third-degree arson by a jury that determined she caused the fire that left her and seven other residents of the Windsor Court units homeless. Satoris was convicted of the same third-degree arson offense in August 2013, sentenced to five years on probation, ordered to pay $48,000 in restitution and required to have a psychiatric evaluation. A liquid accelerant poured on the floor of the Satoris unit was the likely cause of fire damage, an arson investigator testified.
