Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 10

.23 COURIER-POST, Monday, December 19, 1994 i f. a ju. 1 ren taken on shopping spree 50 child I holidav 1 i'f i tf "I with his grandmother, was planning to spend his entire allowance on her. "Everything I got is for my grandmother," David said as he held up a box with a doll inside. "She collects dolls, so she'll like this." Medina found everything on his list except for one item the store didn't have a nutcracker.

About $1,000 worth of merchandise was purchased from the By TONYA FOX Courier-Post Staff CAMDEN Tiny tots had their eyes all aglow Sunday as 50 city children were let loose in McCrory's department store on Mount Ephraim Avenue to shop to their hearts' content. McCrory's, in conjunction with the Camden City Chamber of Commerce, held its sixth annual Christmas Shopping Spree for children of the Urban Promise Ministries. The youth ministry, which provides social and educational programs for underprivileged children, treats a number of its most needy youth to the shopping spree each year. Each child was provided $20 from the Chamber of Commerce, a small shopping basket, and freedom of the entire store to select gifts for family members. McCrory's also gave the chil dren an extra 10 percent discount.

Quantity seemed to be the big thing on the little shoppers' lists, as many of them filled their baskets with earrings, socks, perfume, small ceramic figurines, and of course, candy. Dave Garrison, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the program is a nice way to teach the kids the value of money and giving. "The kids often attend functions that are geared toward them, but not their families," Garrison said. "This gives them the opportunity to give back to their loved ones." Allure Searles, 5, knew exactly what she was going to get for every member of her family. Perfume for Mom, slippers for Dad, a shirt for her brother and drinking glasses for "G-Mom," her godmother.

David Medina, 11, who lives By Scott Anderson, lor the Courier-Post (second from left) helps Shannon Foy (from left), Shaleta Brown, at McCrory's department store in Camden on Sunday. took last-minute loans Six injured in auto accident uJ 'tVf 'c5 ffsrk I if "i iiiiiniii 111 't" A C. store on Sunday during the hour and a half event. Said store manager Gary Paul: "This makes them learn a lot about values," Paul said. "It's really worth it." In addition, McCrory's gave each child a box of candy canes.

After the spree, the children were treated to a Christmas party at a hall on Federal Street. They received lunch, a visit from Santa, and spent time wrapping their gifts. of community compensated for housing the; luncheon program, it did become eligible for grant money as result of being one of 10 nutrition sites for the elderly in Camden County. The grant money wai used for extensive renovations that the borough otherwise would not have been able to afford, said. Mayor John Morrissey.

Last year, the center collected about $19,000 in rentals, enough to cover its expenses, added the mayor. "We feel very fortunate to have this site," said Joanne Cline, coordinator for the Salvation Army, which manages the nutrition program. Merchantville has been a nutrition site for 19 yearsi "For years we did it in the school, then the Presbyterian Church, but we were always sandwiched between other people's schedules. Here we have a regular space where seniors sta into the afternoon for a variety of programs, speakers, health screenings and just friendly so. cializing.

We've even had two" marriages. It's a very active and caring group." Christmas treat: Amanda Dixon and Shante Phillips select gifts Campaigns By HENRY STERN Associated Press WASHINGTON New Jersey's most competitive House race featured last-minute loans from both candidates in the final days of the campaign to win the 8th Congressional District. Wrapup reports filed with the Federal Election Commission also show that the winning Republican candidates for the state's two open seats swamped their underfunded Democratic opponents when it came to spending on ads, mailings and staff. Several incumbents among the other 10 races faced so little challenge that they could either hoard their money for challenges two years down the road, or share the wealth with colleagues embroiled in tougher contests this Jrear. Republican Bill Martini unseated first-term Democrat Herb Klein in northern New Jersey's 8th District even though he raised and spent less money in the 2Va weeks before the Nov.

8 election. 1 The reports run through the fcnd of November, but the postelection activity comprises little pf the total. Martini raised $95,225 and spent $252,214 down the homestretch, compared to $115,825 raised and $374,968 spent over (he same period by Klein. For the Four indicted in diner fire Associated Press I FLEMINGTON Four Pennsylvania men have been indicted op charges they were involved in money being paid to burn down the landmark Circle Diner here in March. James G.

Katsaros 60, Frederick Bonds, 42, and John R. Post, 45, all of Easton, and Post's brother, Robert of Stockertown, were indicted Friday on charges of arson for hire and conspiracy to commit same. The men also are charged with aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit aggravated arson. I Prosecutors charge Katsaros had a financial interest in the (liner, and paid Robert Post to arrange a fire at the financially floundering eatery. Authorities say Robert Post hired his brother and Bonds to set fire to the diner.

The four men are to be arraigned on the charges Jan. 6. John Post and Bonds were being held in the Hunterdon County Jail, authorities said. Katsaros and Robert Post are free on bail. 1.9::.

$7.78 left in bank Frank LoBiondo won southern New Jersey's 2nd District, spending $180,770 down the stretch and $687,322 for the year. Still, he has $214,404 saved for his next run. Democrat Louis Magazzu finished with $7.78 in the bank, $5,000 owed his committee and his committee owing $14,909. He spent $35,202 in the last weeks and $158,457 for the year. In northern New Jersey's 11th District, Rodney Fre-linghuysen has $187,558 remaining after spending $94,976 at the end and $219,369 since entering the race in late August.

Democrat Frank Herbert had $6,824 left after spending $14,741 at the end and just $42,501 for the year. Frelinghuysen and LoBiondo have plenty of company among Democratic and Republican incumbents alike when it comes to a jump on raising money the next time around. Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-En-glewood, leads the House delegation with $1.26 million in the bank. Rep.

Jim Saxton, R-Mount Holly, tops the state's Republicans with $537,803 in cash available, and Rep. Dick Zimmer, R-Flemington, is close behind with $520,926. ft By Brian Porco, Courier-Post John Morrissey and borough the borough's community center. and Andrew, 6, more frequently. She's also helping them cope.

"I was honest with them. I didn't want to lie to them. My father had colon cancer, and I wasn't told a lot." When her children asked whether she'd die, she said: "Mommy is fighting as hard as she can. "It's hard. When I get my chemo, I try not to let them see that it affects me.

I have to take the attitude that I can beat this, and I will." She's upset when other women seem resigned they'll die as a result of breast cancer. She believes their doctors don't pro By Keith Mason, for the Courier-Post Crash scene: Six people were injured Sunday in a three-car accident at Route 130 and Lenola Road in Cinnaminson. The injured were taken to area hospitals, but their conditions were not available Sunday night. Police were investigating the accident. RefugeCenter called heart entire year, Martini -raised $794,249 and spent $815,834.

Klein raised $374,968 and spent $931,811. The incumbent took out a $100,000 personally guaranteed loan Oct. 28, and ended his campaign with his committee owing $629,000, which includes $529,000 in personal loans during his 1992 run. Klein's committee has $13,573 left. Martini, an attorney like Klein, loaned his campaign $22,000 in the final weeks for a total of $27,000 borrowed during the year.

Martini's committee has $9,812 available and debts of $34,881. Late money from state "We were a few weeks out and we knew we were in a competitive race," Martini said. "He was putting out some pieces of literature we had to respond to." Martini also benefited from $5,700 in late money from state and federal lawmakers' campaign committees, including that of Speaker-to-be Newt Gingrich of Georgia. Martini's two fellow GOP freshmen from New Jersey similarly benefited from their associates-to-be in Washington as they rolled up huge advantages over their opponents. They also managed to tuck away large kitties for races in 1996.

Historic: Merchantville Mayor historian Edith Silberstein chat at Evans' problem is that the cancer is in her hips where the white blood cells are produced. And she's relieved the cancer is in her bones instead of her vital organs. "If breast cancer has to spread, the bones are the easiest to treat. It's my best chance for survival. I definitely want to do it." In the meantime, she's negotiating with her insurance company to pay for the procedure locally instead of in Baltimore.

If she has the operation at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, she'd be able to see her husband, Raymond III, and their children, Raymond IV, 8, Em i II IP KXvtljX i SOUTH JEE1SEV looking to rent. I let caterers and florists in. I get contracts signed, help with decorations. We try to make every event special." The basement of the building is a daily luncheon site for about 100 senior citizens in the Camden County Nutrition Program. About 45 percent of the regulars are Merchantville residents.

Though the borough is not 1 lY -J. A 1 f. in .11 I 'lii nil iilir-nni ifrti Continued from Page 1B Frustrated by their failure, the members of the private golf club sold the building and five acres of land to the borough for a community center in 1954 and built a new club house in Cherry Hill, where it obtained a liquor license. Today, Merchantville Country Club is located entirely in Cherry Hill. Golfing communities in Pine Valley and Tavistock were created out of similar battles over booze.

Gradually, Merchantville built ballfields, tennis and basketball courts on the land, turning the spot into the popular outdoor recreational area it is today. Mary O'Toole lives rent-free in an apartment in the Community Center with her husband and son. She is the custodian, watchdog and coordinator of the center's multiple activities. "This is like home to me and the regulars are my friends," said O'Toole, 61, who has looked after the place for nearly seven years. "I've lived through two renovations.

I answer the phone. I show the place to people who are vide necessary support. Sometimes, said Evans, doctors or nurses unintentionally plant negative ideas in a patient's mind when trying to prepare them for treatment side effects. Evans allowed that to happen just once. She became "deathly ill" after her first chemotherapy treatment because she expected to.

Now, she works through the nausea by eating a little food every hour. "I talked myself out of it. Why waste a day sitting around feeling miserable. It's a devastating thing, but you don't have to give up." Breast cancer Atco woman wants age guidelines for mammograms changed Mammograms recommended Most cancer researchers recommend women in their 40s have regular mammograms. They say annual tests are better for early detection of breast cancer.

The American Medical Association recommends women start with a baseline mammogram at 35 and have routine mammograms in their 40s. Tumors grow faster In younger, premenopausal women than in women whose hormones are no longer active, a study released in November by the Radiological Society of North America states. That Is why early detection is so critical, says Stephen Feig, one of the study's authors and a radiology professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital In Philadelphia. For more Information, call: American Cancer Society, Burlington County Chapter, 273-0600. American Cancer Society, New Jersey, 908-297-8000.

Garden State Cancer Center, 201-643-9090. New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research, 633-6552. Continued from Page 1B But first, she has to wait until her white blood cell count increases and the chemotherapy eradicates a certain amount of Cancer cells. Then she can undergo a bone marrow transplant from her own marrow. In the $150,000 procedure, marrow is removed from the hip bones, frozen and treated with radiation to remove the cancer cells.

Then, for two or three days, Evans would receive continuous chemotherapy through an intravenous tube. Afterward, the treated marrow would be dripped through the tube..