Public Information Officer

After presiding over various PTAs in Cherry Hill, Laurie Rilander Zellnik sees her new job as the school district's public information officer as a natural progression. "I've always been very grateful for this district," she said in a recent interview. "With my background, it seemed like an ideal opportunity. " Her background includes working for a New York ad agency and writing scripts for TV's Sesame Street. She graduated with honors from Cornell University in 1954 with a double major in English and drama.

Mike McBride, an assistant coach at Woodrow Wilson, was named the school's head football coach yesterday. McBride's appointment came at a special meeting of the Camden City Board of Education that ended early yesterday morning, said Bart Leff, the public information officer for the Camden City School District. A 1986 graduate of Woodrow Wilson, McBride had been a Wilson assistant for the last eight years. Last fall, he coached the defensive backs. "It's an honor to be able to be the head coach at my alma mater," McBride said last night.

The Chester County Commission voted yesterday to restructure the top county administrative position by promoting two employees to share the duties held by J. Larry Boling, who has resigned as director of finance and administration effective Sept. 12. Chairman Robert J. Thompson cited the increased size and complexity of the county government since Boling's job was created as the primary reason for dividing the duties among two people. A third employee was promoted to fill the position of one of the two assuming Boling's duties.

Martin Booker's status as the Camden boys' track and field coach is in jeopardy, according to Camden's public information officer, Bart Leff. "All I know for sure is that there are issues with Mr. Booker, and his status as a coach has to be addressed with the [Camden school] board," Leff said. He would not discuss the nature of Booker's issues. Booker and Camden superintendent Leonard Fitts could not be reached for comment. Leff said a decision concerning the status of the coach could be made within a week.

The Lower Merion Township commissioner who on Wednesday challenged the township's method of renewing a contract for its manager, alleging that process lacked "transparency," said today the vote has been postponed. In an e-mail to constituents, Jenny Brown credited "public pressure" with forestalling the new contract vote for manager Doug Cleland. Brown claimed in her e-mail that Cleland's contract was due for a vote Wednesday night during the board of commissioners meeting, before the board had time to become familiar with the terms.

Two visitors sunning on the beach Tuesday were injured when they were run over by a pickup belonging to the beach patrol, authorities said. The two, Sean Mazer, 25, of Bensalem, Pa., and Mary Lee, 21, of Feasterville, Pa., were on the Missouri Avenue beach when they were run over by the truck, belonging to the Atlantic City Beach Patrol. It was on a mission to remove oars, oxygen tanks and other lifeguard equipment as a precaution against the high winds of Hurrricane Emily. The driver, Beach Patrol Capt.

A Camden school library assistant was found shot to death in her bed yesterday morning, and authorities were searching for a man who accompanied her home several hours before the grim discovery was made. The woman, Tonja Carroll, 27, who lived in the 700 block of Primas Court in Camden, was discovered about 10 a.m., said acting Camden County Prosecutor Joseph F. Audino. An autopsy revealed Carroll died from gunshot wounds of the head. Sources said Carroll was shot twice in the face, possibly with a 9mm handgun.

The Community Action Agency of Delaware County Inc. is offering an after- school employment program next month for economically disadvantaged high school students. Students will be placed in jobs for a maximum of 20 hours a week for eight weeks. They will have the opportunity to retain full- or part-time employment upon completing the program. Edward T. Coleman, executive director of the Community Action Agency, has said the agency will subsidize 15 hours of employment. Employers will provide a minimum five-hour contribution.

When Sheriff John Green wants to hold a news conference or respond to the media, he turns to Patricia West, his $40,000-a-year public information officer. Or he may turn to Janet Pina, his chief of staff, who earns $45,000. And then there's Reach Communications Specialists Inc., a public relations firm started in 1986 by two former Philadelphia Tribune employees - James Cassell and James Davis. As part of a three-year contract with Green's office, Reach provides up to 20 hours of "consultant and professional public relations and advertising services" per month, according to the contract.

Duane M. Long, 68, of Springfield, Delaware County, retired executive director of the Chestnut Street Business Association, died Tuesday at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby. In 1979, Mr. Long became executive director of the association, which represents more than 250 Chestnut Street businesses from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill. He retired last spring. Mr. Long, a native of Pittsburgh, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 with a bachelor's degree.

The Lower Merion Township commissioner who on Wednesday challenged the township's method of renewing a contract for its manager, alleging that process lacked "transparency," said today the vote has been postponed. In an e-mail to constituents, Jenny Brown credited "public pressure" with forestalling the new contract vote for manager Doug Cleland. Brown claimed in her e-mail that Cleland's contract was due for a vote Wednesday night during the board of commissioners meeting, before the board had time to become familiar with the terms.

Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies, one of the three players acquired in the Cliff Lee trade this past off-season, was arrested early Friday for cocaine possession stemming from a June incident in Clearwater, Fla. Gillies, 21, was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriff's Officers at 1:48 a.m. Friday, according to a spokeswoman. The possession charge is a felony. Gillies was released from jail at 10:52 a.m. on a $2,000 cash bond. No initial court appearance has been scheduled. He was apprehended by police at the La Quinta Inn on Route 19 in Clearwater, less than a mile from the Phillies' spring-training complex.

Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies, one of the three players acquired in the Cliff Lee trade this past off-season, was arrested for cocaine possession in Clearwater, Fla., early Friday morning. Gillies, 21, was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriff's Officers at 1:48 a.m. Friday morning, according to a spokeswoman. The possession charge is a felony. Gillies was released from jail at 10:52 a.m. on a $2,000 cash bond. He was found by police at the La Quinta Inn on Route 19 in Clearwater, less than a mile from the Phillies' spring training complex.

Martin Booker's status as the Camden boys' track and field coach is in jeopardy, according to Camden's public information officer, Bart Leff. "All I know for sure is that there are issues with Mr. Booker, and his status as a coach has to be addressed with the [Camden school] board," Leff said. He would not discuss the nature of Booker's issues. Booker and Camden superintendent Leonard Fitts could not be reached for comment. Leff said a decision concerning the status of the coach could be made within a week.

Miles Warner will not be making his customary rounds to deliver Christmas cookies, a routine that people who worked with the 81-year-old attorney will miss. He and his wife, Mary, 82, each died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to the autopsy report released yesterday by the Delaware County Medical Examiner's Office. Police said the bodies were discovered about 8:20 a.m. Tuesday at the couple's residence in Chadds Ford, an affluent area near the Brandywine Battlefield Park in Delaware County.

School and city officials moved swiftly to reassure concerned parents three days after a kindergartner died unexpectedly, most likely of a meningococcal disease. Damir J. Adams, a 5-year-old at Dr. John H. Winslow Elementary School, became feverish and complained of pains in his arms and legs Friday. When his condition worsened, his father rushed him to the Newcomb Medical Center, where he died that night. The cause of death was most likely meningococcemia, an infection of the blood associated with the organism that causes bacterial meningitis, Eliot Gross, medical examiner for Cumberland and Cape May Counties, said yesterday.

Mike McBride, an assistant coach at Woodrow Wilson, was named the school's head football coach yesterday. McBride's appointment came at a special meeting of the Camden City Board of Education that ended early yesterday morning, said Bart Leff, the public information officer for the Camden City School District. A 1986 graduate of Woodrow Wilson, McBride had been a Wilson assistant for the last eight years. Last fall, he coached the defensive backs. "It's an honor to be able to be the head coach at my alma mater," McBride said last night.

Frank R. Costello, 75, who served as mayor of Beverly City for 24 years, died Thursday at his Beverly City home after a long battle with colon cancer. A Beverly City resident for the last 28 years, Mr. Costello was born and raised in Burlington City. Mr. Costello was mayor from 1972 to 1996. But a little more than one year after his retirement, in February, he was appointed to an unexpired term on the City Council. "He served the best part of his life in community service.

Benjamin F. Gottfried is back from the dead. "I'm alive and well; at least the last time I shaved I was," the 57-year-old Marlton man said yesterday. And it took only a few phone calls to convince the government of that. On Feb. 29, a letter arrived at Gottfried's home, addressed to "representatives" of his estate, informing them that the Veterans Administration was "sorry to learn" of his death and "wishes to express our deep sympathy. " It also said his disability checks for Vietnam combat injuries would be cut off. Just as he cleared things up with the VA, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service on March 18 wrote to the "next of kin of B.F. Gottfried" that they had received "unofficial notice" of his passing but needed proof.

A Camden school library assistant was found shot to death in her bed yesterday morning, and authorities were searching for a man who accompanied her home several hours before the grim discovery was made. The woman, Tonja Carroll, 27, who lived in the 700 block of Primas Court in Camden, was discovered about 10 a.m., said acting Camden County Prosecutor Joseph F. Audino. An autopsy revealed Carroll died from gunshot wounds of the head. Sources said Carroll was shot twice in the face, possibly with a 9mm handgun.