Woodbury

Authorities say an uncle stabbed his 20-year-old nephew to death during an argument in the Deptford Township apartment they shared with the victim's mother. Chad Gatewood, whose age was not yet available, was charged today with murder, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. The victim, Elijah P. Gatewood-Gabriel, 20, died early this morning from the attack around midnight at Inverness Apartments on Route 47. Gatewood-Gabriel's mother attempted to intervene during the argument, authorities say and was cut on the hand.

Frank Filipek and Chris Fasulo, best friends since their high school days 30 years ago, had long dreamed of owning a restaurant. Fasulo worked in several of his family's eateries as a boy, and there was no bigger fan of Fasulo's mother-in-law's Italian cooking than Filipek. Their careers led them elsewhere - Fasulo was a contractor, Filipek does economic development work for the government - until they heard about Woodbury's efforts to revive its downtown. Now the Bellmawr residents are planning the opening next month of Marlene Mangia Bene - named after Fasulo's late mother-in-law - on Broad Street.

Same teams, same time, different location. Paulsboro High will host Saturday's key Colonial Conference Patriot Division football game against Woodbury, which had been slated to be the home team, at 10:30 a.m. The site was switched because Woodbury's home stands have been deemed unsafe by the school's insurance company, according to Woodbury athletic director Grant Shivers. "We'd have to put all the fans on one side, and it's a big rivalry and a big crowd is expected," he said yesterday.

One of South Jersey's richest rivalries took another twist Saturday. In the unfamiliar role of underdog, Paulsboro rose up with a sensational defensive performance and scored a 10-0 victory over recent nemesis Woodbury in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 1 tournament. "In our heads, the whole mind-set was 'Can we beat Woodbury? Can we beat them?' " Paulsboro senior running back Aaron Tilden said. That uncertainty was something new for Paulsboro, one of the most accomplished programs in South Jersey.

The Woodbury school system will continue its policy of starting each school day with a moment of silence, despite a decision last week by the state legislature to abandon its fight to defend a state law requiring that public schools set aside a daily moment of "quiet contemplation or introspection. " "Our situation has not changed," said Claudio Arrington, Woodbury's schools superintendent. "Unlike the state law, our (moment of silence) policy was never religious in its intent.

After nearly three years of playing football games on the road, Woodbury is finally going home. The Thundering Herd, whose stadium and field have been undergoing renovations, will host Haddonfield (3-3) today at 1:30 p.m. The stadium received a temporary certificate of occupancy yesterday, permitting the homecoming game to be played, Woodbury athletic director Grant Shivers said. "A lot of people put in a lot of hard work to get it done," Shivers said. Despite playing all road games, including two at Rowan University in Glassboro, Woodbury is 4-1. "All day long, the kids have been stopping in and asking if we were playing at home," Shivers said.

Maybe it was the first play. Or maybe it was the first five series. But on a day when Woodbury officially dedicated its refurbished stadium, it was the visitors who made themselves at home. Paulsboro scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, building a 32-0 lead at halftime en route to a 38-13 victory over Woodbury yesterday in a Colonial Conference Patriot Division game. "They came in here today wanting it more than we did," Woodbury coach Zach Valentine said.

Zack Valentine, a former NFL player who once played with the Eagles, has been named Woodbury's football coach, athletic director Grant Shivers announced last night. Valentine, 44, replaced Jim Boyd, who resigned last month after compiling an 84-38-1 record and winning three South Jersey Group 1 titles during his 12 years as the Thundering Herd's head coach. "It should be a smooth transition," Shivers said. "[Valentine] knows what the program is all about. " Valentine has been Woodbury's defensive coordinator the last five years, during which time the Herd allowed nine points per game.

Woodbury junior fullback Todd Jones, who had lost his starting job the previous week, bounced back in style yesterday to lead the visiting Thundering Herd to a 32-0 blanking of Colonial Conference football rival Haddon Township. Jones scored on touchdown runs of 5, 4, and 1 yards in helping the Herd extend South Jersey's longest unbeaten streak to 25 games. He finished with 48 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries. Woodbury (2-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference) has won 30 straight regular-season games in the Colonial Conference, dating to 1987.

For Woodbury High's future football opponents, here's a sobering thought: The Thundering Herd is undefeated despite getting less-than-glittering offensive production from highly recruited Jimmer Bundy, the 246-pound fullback/tractor. Bundy gained a modest 55 yards on 11 carries yesterday. He also contributed to Woodbury's four turnovers by losing two fumbles. But it didn't matter. Woodbury, No. 5 in The Inquirer's South Jersey ratings, scored a 7-6 Colonial Conference win over visiting Haddonfield before 1,500 spectators.

Authorities say an uncle stabbed his 20-year-old nephew to death during an argument in the Deptford Township apartment they shared with the victim's mother. Chad Gatewood, whose age was not yet available, was charged today with murder, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. The victim, Elijah P. Gatewood-Gabriel, 20, died early this morning from the attack around midnight at Inverness Apartments on Route 47. Gatewood-Gabriel's mother attempted to intervene during the argument, authorities say and was cut on the hand.

Projected New Football Groups Projected makeup of football groups, based on enrollment figures for this school year. South Jersey Group 5 Absegami, Atlantic City, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Eastern, Egg Harbor Twp., Lenape, Millville, Rancocas Valley, Southern, Toms River East, Toms River North, Vineland, Washington Twp., Williamstown. South Jersey Group 4 Cherry Hill West, Clearview, Cumberland, Hammonton, Kingsway, Lacey, Mainland, Moorestown, Oakcrest, Seneca, Shawnee, Timber Creek, Toms River South, Triton, Winslow Twp. South Jersey Group 3 Bridgeton, Burlington Twp., Camden, Central, Delsea, Deptford, Highland, Lower Cape May, Manchester Twp., Ocean City, Pemberton, Pinelands, Point Pleasant Boro, Sterling, Woodrow Wilson.

Woodbury Junior-Senior High School has been named the recipient of a national award for improving its academic environment and helping students achieve equitable access to higher education, The school was one of three high schools to win Gaston Caperton Inspiration Awards, which carry $25,000 prizes, the College Board announced Tuesday. The other winners were Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida and Johnny G. Economedes High School in Edinburg, Texas. Six schools were awarded honorable mentions worth $1,000 each.

At just about the exact moment that Anthony Averett went airborne for a long jump of 24 feet, 1/4 inch, the packed house at Franklin Field erupted. An American runner raced right by the Woodbury junior, about to cross the finish line first in the USA vs. the World 4x100 relay of the 118th Penn Relays. Many athletes say there are two ways to deal with the tens of thousands of screaming fans, and the general controlled chaos that has long been a staple of the Relays: Block it out, or feed off it. Saturday, Averett, in his first Penn Relays, was in the latter category as he performed in Franklin Field's infield simultaneously with some of the track events' tensest moments.

Anthony Averett tells his tale in tattoos. He has just two of them, for now, but each is a special statement - a reflection of his life, his personality, and his priorities. He got his first one on his left arm a little more than a year ago. It's a drawing of a rose with his mom's name, "Carmen," and what he says is an apt description of himself - "Momma's Boy. " Averett, a Woodbury High School junior, has committed to attend the University of Alabama on a football scholarship.

Woodbury's Matt Atkinson rapped a one-out single to right field in the seventh inning, breaking up a no-hit bid by Overbrook's Zack Cooper, but Cooper finished the host Rams' 8-0, one-hit win Wednesday. Cooper struck out seven and walked three in the Colonial Conference matchup to boost his record to 3-0. Josh McCouch drove in three runs with a single and a double. Also in the Colonial, Audubon's Andrew Schorr pitched a five-inning no-hitter with a dozen strikeouts, stopping visiting Collingswood, 12-0.

Woodbury junior Anthony Averett has committed to attend Alabama on a football scholarship. Averett and his family visited Alabama over the weekend and watched the annual spring game, Woodbury coach Zach Valentine said Sunday night. "They've been after him since two days after the national championship game," Valentine said of Alabama, which won the national championship with a 21-0 victory over LSU in the BCS title game Jan. 9. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Averett projects as a cornerback in college, Valentine said.

Woodbury junior Anthony Averett has committed to attend Alabama on a football scholarship. Averett and his family visited Alabama over the weekend and watched the annual spring game, Woodbury coach Zach Valentine said Sunday night. "They've been after him since two days after the national championship game," Valentine said of Alabama, which won the national championship with a 21-0 victory over LSU in the BCS title game Jan. 9. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Averett projects as a cornerback in college, Valentine said.

Track and field folks pay special attention to time. So it's only fitting that the 40th Woodbury Relays should be celebrated exactly 39 years after the debut of South Jersey's premier track and field carnival. "April 21, 1973," longtime director Jim Mohan said of the date of the first Woodbury Relays. The 40th relays also will be held April 21. To commemorate the long and rich history of the event, meet organizers will hold a reunion of all former Woodbury High School track and field coaches and athletes.

Track and field folks pay special attention to time. So it's only fitting that the 40th Woodbury Relays should be celebrated exactly 39 years after the debut of South Jersey's premier track and field carnival. "April 21, 1973," long-time director Jim Mohan said of the date of the first Woodbury Relays. The 40th relays also will be held on April 21. To commemorate the long and rich history of the event, meet organizers will hold a reunion of all former Woodbury High School track and field coaches and athletes.