Fri, 11/07/2008 - 12:11am

Having grown up near Whitesboro, I want to tell everyone of what a wonderful community of hard working, caring, and thoughtful people I have had the privilege of either going to school with you, playing sports with or against you, or just hanging out at or near the Rec Center after a night at someone's 'old school' house party. We shared so many good times and I want to thank you all for those awesome memories. Many of you taught me so much and took me down the many different paths of diversity, life, and love. Because of all of those things, I'm tremendously happy to see the Citizens for Whiteboro still going strong after 20 yrs now, and hope to see it do even more for the community in the next 20 years. I'm overjoyed to see the support from Stedman, Oprah, Bernie, and the many other individuals whom keep the organization and community support group afloat and hope to make contact with some of my old friends in the near future to help with this cause. I am a better man, father, and husband because of the people I was able to meet and know from 'The Boro". Please keep the website going with new info and pictures as best you can as it is nice to see all the people I just spoke about enjoying themselves as they celebrate the people and community of Whitesboro.

Thinking of you all,
Mike "Mike D" Donovan

Sat, 10/11/2008 - 8:40pm

~Gathering God’s Gifts~

~*~
Peace, faith, hope, love and friendships,
this, a reverent gathering, of God’s gifts.
A gifted brethren cherished as He arrives;
O’ His lovesome blessings in utter disguise.
~*~
Bouquets of heartfelt, emotive-spun prizes,
embraces the languid soul in tandem strides.
Burgeoning pastorals wane ‘pon sung jubilee,
as, all the while, we doth pray on bended knee.
~*~
Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers; family, friends,
stranger, others: let us all pray for His transcend.
O’ beautiful souls surrounding His lithesome feet,
‘pon our Sheppard greeting us; His pastoral sheep.
~*~
Walk in His ecclesial garden, ‘pon pastures green;
gathering in the sweetest scents of His own supreme.
Parlay in His footprints, within a circle of kinships;
as we waltz in this medley gathering all of God’s gifts.
~*~
Be blessed~

Copyright ©2008 Barbara V. Fidler

Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:29pm

My only queston is, where did Oprah stay while she was visiting Whitesboro? Do you think it was King street or Main Street....... nope try a mansion in Stone Harbor. Yeah, she really cares guess again take your money and go home

Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:34am

Since it was posted, I have been reading the comments on this article. I have contributed a couple times myself adding a link to my website, Everyone is Included, on both occasions.

Folks, I track the visitors to my site and here are a couple of facts:

To this point, there have been over 3,000 visits to this piece. Out of all these, only four individuals have visited Everyone is Included..and only one spent a couple of minutes there.

And so it went when I contributed to the Spout Off Forum...very, very, very few visitors from there.

I believe that it is reasonable to assume that the majority of those who visit the online version of the Herald are locals. If this is so, then, as I have said and written many times, overall, in my view and experience, there is no culure or ethos of inclusion in our area.

This is very sad, for I absolutely believe that, because of this, collectively, we will never, ever prosper in our county. As we are now...so shall will be.

For your info...below are the cities from which visitors of Everyone is Included have come during the last couple of weeks:

Atlanta Georgia United States
Louisville Kentucky United States
Chicago Illinois United States
Auckland Auckland New Zealand
Amsterdam Noord-holland Netherlands
Burnaby British Columbia Canada
College Park Maryland United States
Russellville Arkansas United States
Marlton New Jersey United States
Jackson Mississippi United States
Calgary Alberta Canada
Melbourne Victoria Australia
Melville New York United States
Raleigh North Carolina United States
Baldwin New York United States
Friendswood Texas United States
Surprise Arizona United States
London England United Kingdom
Stone Harbor New Jersey United States
Chennai Tamil Nadu India
Viseu Viseu Portugal
Edmonton Alberta Canada
Loveland Colorado United States
Des Moines Iowa United States
New City New York United States
Manchester England United Kingdom
Garfield New Jersey United States
Forest Hills New York United States
Minneapolis Minnesota United States
Adelaide South Australia Australia
Petaling Jaya Selangor Malaysia
Earth City Missouri United States
Miami Florida United States
Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional Dominican Republic
Victoria Texas United States
Cumbernauld Scotland United Kingdom
Liverpool New South Wales Australia
Glenmont New York United States
Vancouver Washington United States
Indianapolis Indiana United States
Leeds England United Kingdom
Potomac Maryland United States
Wayne New Jersey United States
Clermont Florida United States
Pretoria Gauteng South Africa
East Orange New Jersey United States
Middletown Connecticut United States
Avalon New Jersey United States
Tempe Arizona United States
Kansas City Missouri United States
Herndon Virginia United States
Green Bay Wisconsin United States
Medicine Park Oklahoma United States
Berwick Pennsylvania United States
San Jose California United States
Dallas Texas United States
Beverly Massachusetts United States
Kingston Ontario Canada
Seattle Washington United States
Irvington New Jersey United States
Merrick New York United States
Cincinnati Ohio United States
Trenton New Jersey United States
Plainfield New Jersey United States
Appleton Wisconsin United States
Lexington Massachusetts United States
Charleston South Carolina United States
Birmingham England United Kingdom
Nashville Tennessee United States
Lincoln Nebraska United States
Wheeling Illinois United States
New York New York United States
Phoenix Arizona United States
Simcoe Ontario Canada
Everett Washington United States
Richmond Virginia United States
Duluth Minnesota United States
Grosse Pointe Michigan United States
Milwaukee Wisconsin United States
Lakewood California United States
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Canada
Houston Texas United States
Germantown Maryland United States
Westminster Colorado United States
Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Huntsville Alabama United States
Toronto Ontario Canada

Thu, 09/04/2008 - 7:34am

Rasism has always been present ON BOTH SIDES and it will always be here. I am also personally tired of black people harping over the "slavery" thing...get over it! It was how many years ago, are you a slave now?? If you look further back in history whites were the first slaves, do you hear us whining? It's just an excuse at this point for them to get everything they want handed to them instead of working for it like the rest of us.

Newsflash, welfare is not a job!!!!

Shame on those women that harrassed the "white" woman on Whitesboro... isn't that rasism??? If tha would have been a black woman with 4 white women we ALL would have heard about it!!! Get over it black people, slavery is over you can relax!

p.s. Ophrah is a phony!

Wed, 09/03/2008 - 2:29pm

Is is a surprise Oprah doesnt like white people? Black people do not like white people and visa versa....just is what it is....im not saying it isnt sad...it is....oh well...life is too short to worry about what Oprah does in Whitesboro....

Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:36am

Great job to all concerned citizens of Whitesboro committee members. All your hard work year round goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Please ignore all the mean comments from sad people who would prefer to remain in the closet w/ their racist opinions. They have to live with themselves.
Pat Lewis

Wed, 09/03/2008 - 11:24am

Quote:
"She said the community should ensure children get the education African American people have fought for many year. Winfrey said too many children are “falling through the cracks because we let them.”
End Quote.

Does that not specifically state "African American" ??
Pretty sure Oprah and every else knows Whitesboro is 99% African American, hence why she even stated that its for the "African American people" to get the education they haven't received. If it wasn't provoked by race, why not donate the money to the entire Township of Middle, such as the high school, so that EVERY student in Middle Township has a fair chance, not just black people. Do you think that black people are the only one's who have it tough? Just because I'm white, doesn't mean I have a ton of money to put my kids through school either. I find it humoring that if this were to happen from lets say, for example- Dr. Phil, and he came and donated $250,000 to lets say Avalon(picking a predominately white city for example) and said it was for white children to receive the education they deserve, black people would flip out and cry racism and inequality. Yet when Oprah comes to Whitesboro and donates money, and we as white's say its racist, we get fought for voicing our opinions.
I'm standing by what I stated earlier, and that is that this is blatantly Racist.

For reasons such as these, I honestly feel I will always be racist, maybe its my upbringing, maybe its where I grew up, but now, as I look at situations such as these and every thing in history, and to me, it seems like African Americans almost make white people racist against them. I'm not racist towards African Amercians as a whole, I have a few African American friends who even understand how I feel. To me, having an African American understand my racism towards other African Americans means that its not just me.
Lets stop inequalities such as this, and stop the outcry that things aren't fair for you guys, and maybe racism towards you will stop, but it will take time.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 9:13pm

Don't worry with in 10 years hispanics well be the majority population in the United States, So then white people can apply for oprahs scholarships and givaways

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 5:36pm

To the last two whom voiced their opinions and or comments you are right it is about our children being giving the opportunity to excell. Our children deserve to be given the resources in succeeding and if people don't understand that then it is what it is. We appreciate anyone who is willing to help our children whether big or small. Our energy has to be directed towards each one doing their part in helping a child in reaching his/her highest potential.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 4:19pm

"The scholarship is not race restricted nor has it ever been...All residents of Whitesboro are permitted to apply for the scholarship! All residents, white, black, hispanic, asian..."

From my point of view...Excellent.

Ed RosenBerg
www.everyoneisincluded.us

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 3:31pm

I thought that the "20th" Whitesboro Reunion was Great! Oprah, I thank you for being the keynote speaker, I even recorded some of your speech on my cell phone. I also thank you for your donations for the Scholarships. I believe this will give our children an incentive to continue their educaiton and go on off to college. Don't let these negative blogs discourage you Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, they will only make us stronger! You know that there are HATERS out there, so, just let them hate. Be strong Whitesboro and keep running the race, do not look back..move on!

See 'ya next year and the years to come.....

P,S. (For those of you who missed "Rhymns for Ruby" at the Performing Arts Center in Middle Twp., it was AWESOME!!!) I hope that DVD's are going to be sold. Let me know...

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 12:57pm

As I sit and read the comments posted, I am saddened by the extremely negative commnets that have been left about this subject. I think that it is wonderfull that Oprah would donate money for a scholarship fund for the children of Whitesboro. It also makes me wonder about the caliber of people that are leaving these comments. Is it the person that sits next to me in class or teaches my children, or the lady behind me in line at Wawa. It is amazing to me that people can say so much when they are hiding behind a keyboard. I take great pride in the fact that children are being helped whether they are black or white. Oprah was right when she said that we have let our children fall through the cracks! This is the bigger issue. People are so quick to pass judgement on the black community, but what I can say is that African Americans and Latinos are doing now what Caucasians have done since the beginning of time... Take care of your own and now it seems to be a problem! Also, as far as Oprah campaigning for Obama that is her choice as an American and if I do recall I can remember Clinton, Gore, Kerry and both Bush's being on her show at one point in time.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 11:57am

Thank god Oprah doesn't have to answer to anyone about how and where she spends her money.....To all who have so much to say, why are you so afraid to leave your name after your comments?...and who cares what you think....

I watched the crowd after Oprah left and was not surprised by the lack of outside community support in supporting our vendors..once Oprah left, you also left....but that's okay because the community celebrated anyway....and you know what we don't have to dignify you with an answer , you don't care about our community anyway, so what is the point.......and you can say what you want about Whitesboro, whether good, bad or indifferent, because guess what Whitesboro is here to stay....

People you have the right to donate your money to whomever you want to...that is your right...

Denise Bethune

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 10:45am

Ignorance must be bliss! The scholarship is not race restricted nor has it ever been...All residents of Whitesboro are permitted to apply for the scholarship! All residents, white, black, hispanic, asian...it just so happens that the money was given to a community that is predominantly african american, but the scholarship will be used to further the education of all qualified students who live in whitesboro. If the scholarship is restricted it's because of residency not race....Oh and to the person who commented about Black people and welfare...white women are the biggest benefactors of welfare and affirmative action. People don't generalize...we all have different ideas, we don't have a collective consciousness about race, Oprah, fairness, work ethics, gov't assistance...etc. We are here to help each other, drown ingnorance in the Atlantic will you!

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 10:25am

So don't let it be about racism, about who is black or who is white. Don't let it be about who gets a scholarship and who doesn't. Don't let it be about what happened 300 years ago. Let it be about the hope we have that all of our children will be educated and successful and productive citizens of this community. Let it be about celebrating the opportunities we come across to better ourselves in this community as oppose to relishing in ignorant private thoughts of what it means to be black or white or hispanic or asian or rich or people. We have to stop living in generalizations and stereotypes of what it means to live in Whitesboro or CMCH or Stone Harbor or Wildwood or Cape May because in actuality we are all on this little peninsula together, sharing space, air, money and whatever else. Oprah gave that money, to support the African American community because she chose to for whatever her personal reasons are, and she is within her rights. No one has to agree with her, but instead of complaining about a person who doesn't live in this community, why not pull togeher as a community and address the issues that we have as a community. I implore this community to redirect and refocus our energies on what we can do for one another oppose to what Oprah has done or did...many people are grateful what she has done to ensure opportunities from our communities children, whether black or what or other. Besides, is not the success of one child the success of another, the success of a community?

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 9:33am

According to the UN, Racial Discrimination is defined as follows:
According to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,

The term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, religion,descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

She specifically state the money was to be used for african american people-NOT the people of Whitesboro(which may or may not include any white people). "She said the community should ensure children get the education African American people have fought for many year.

Her "donating" money to the "Concerned citizens of Whitesboro" is a scape-goat from racial discrimination, even though every white person on here knows exactly what she did.
I find it very aggravating that if white people were to do the same thing it would be racist, and there would be a huge fight from the black americans. But it seems like its OK if they do anything racist because what happened to them 300 years ago. They get a black history month, do we get a white history month?
Im sick and tired of them crying inequality this and discrimination by race that, yet they do the same thing and think its right. End the real inequality, and discrimination, lets show them the reason a lot of them are in poverty is no one's fault but their own. End Welfare abuse, vote for McCain so my taxes wont be abused to support people who are flat out LAZY. Get a job, you'll be able to afford college with out Oprah's help. I did.

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 5:31am

I cant believe how many rascist comments are on here. I do not agree with what She did but Im not rascist in any way at all. I think everyone should just grow up. This is Cape May County and things like this happen all the time.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 11:51pm

black people can work too all they do is complain and yell racism at everything .. they feel the white community owes them something because of some black guy 300 years ago get over it get up and stop livin on my tax money ..welfare isnt a job vote 4 mccain so people stop rasing families off of welfare i dunt wann have 2 pay more taxes!!!

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 8:12pm

I'm getting a little tired of hearing about how great Whitesboro is. On Saturday my friend dropped me off at the mlk center and went to park her car. She came back 10 minutes later all upset. She had parked by mistake, in the lot of the Bethel Commandment church. As she was walking to the center, a car with 4 black woman pulled up and started yelling at her. They told her she couldn't park in that lot and to move the car white girl. My friend headed back and found the 4 woman, plus one more, surrounding her car. She explained she had been told to park at the church, but they kept yelling at her. She managed to move the car but was visibly shaken by what happened. This was less then one block from where Oprah would honor the town of Whitesboto probably for its humanity, and where Obama stickers could be prominently seen. I wonder what either one of them would have said if they knew what was going on a short distance away. And I wonder what would have happened if my friend had said I'll be glad to move my car black girl.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 7:52pm

Last I heard, this was America and you can spend your money pretty much how you choose. I say thank you to Oprah for providing some hope for any kids that have a challenge paying for their education. That was a beautiful gift.

On the other hand having seen how the Mayor treats Melvin at Committee Meetings, I wonder about the value of his "gift" to Stedman. Wonder how Stedman would feel seeing the real way his fellow citizens are treated.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 7:23pm

Its Oprah's money and she can certainly do with it what she wants, however I don't think sheshould have donated money to just black kids. I don't beleive this helps equality and I believe the group is called Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, not the Concerned Black Citizens of Whitesboro.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 5:18pm

What's PATHETIC is some of these comments. Guess what! Not all citizens of Whitesboro are Black. If you could stop your hate for a moment, you would probably see that. As for scholarships, how many local scholarships are given to minorities? Take a closer look and find the majority of familys in Whitesboro are educated, working class homeowners and not the poor black people that you wish to believe. And how is it that you can label Ophra a racist hypocrit and follow with a hypocritical racist statement such as that. Get over it! Times have changed....

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 5:06pm

Someone said that she ordered an atlantic city EMS person that was african american to stage in Whitesboro, and also orderer a MTPD african american officer there also. Why does this have to be racist.?

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 6:58am

There are so many scholarships available to African-Americans now that I personally don’t think they need another one. Doing a search on the internet thousands of pages were returned with just scholarships for blacks. Doing a search for white scholarships brought back racism, what’s wrong with this picture. The majority of the black scholarships are provided through white people or white owned companies. So how are white people the ones holding back the minorities if anything we want to see them succeed, we want everyone to succeed. But when some people just want a hand out and don’t want to work, living off the backs of other people white and black. Well that’s where the racism starts.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 6:40am

I believe in education for all american citizens, if they want it. This is a wonderful opportunity for a small town. We need more private donations, regardless of race, since our gov't does not have a plan to ensure we are training our citizens for theirs and our countries future needs. Currently, parents who can, mortgage their own future to educate our children. Or, the military trains people for its needs, then provides the former able bodied soldier educational benefits for a limited time. When we fail to recognize a gift as a gift and be thankful rather than judgemental or racial we all lose. It would be great if Oprah and Stedman challenged their friends to establish a scholarship fund for all county residents regardless of race or age. Compared to the rest of the state we are long overdue for educational opportunities in our backyard. ACCC is a great start but we need four years.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 8:10pm

Remember if a prominent white person came to anywhere around here and gave a scholarship to just white kids they would be considered racists. I guess racism applies to everyone but Black people. Equal rights is what we teach lets try to live by example.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 4:30pm

I cannot believe the hate filled racist remarks to this story. Oprah did a wonderful thing. You should thank her, not question her,

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 9:35am

riding through towns of rich white people? Seeing how they live. How racist is this??? I want to donate money to a scholarship for rich white children, only...as Offrah did yesterday. I want to drive my children through Whitesboro to show how the poor black kids live, that way they will be inspired to continue to have self pride, work hard at what their goals are and live their lives to the best of their abilities. Oh but all these kids, white and black sit next to each other in school, learn from the same teachers, get the same education. What is happening....Oh I have the answer.....FAMILY LIFE, MORALS AND VALUES....

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 9:20am

I applaud Ms. Winfrey's generous gift and sincerely hope that the trustees of this donation will embrace a spirit of inclusion as they move forward.

Ed RosenBerg
www.everyoneisincluded.us

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 5:37am

What scholarship did she donate it to?

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 8:55pm

Whoopee!!!!!!!!

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 8:15pm

This would be a much better story if the reporter had checked his facts and spell checked. First, the first check is for $220,000. And Winfrey supported Barack Obama, not Barrack...

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 7:56pm

wow a whole $250.000 from the millionare...could she spare it.. no wait.. thanks for the "spare change" Oprah and thanks for coming Stedman to pretend you still give a crap about the ever growing and changing Whitesboro...NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 fakes on the last days of summer vacation!

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 7:41pm

If Mayor Nate would do what the town needed he would put in sewers, lighting and a stronger police presence, but mayor Nate is too busy with his pay masters from Albrecht and Heun to help anyone but Mayor Nate. Maybe next year when he is not running he will get to these problems, but he hasn't done it in the last 10 years,why start now, Whitesboro votes for him every year and gets nothing.

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 7:37pm

Unfortunately, the scholarship is race restricted. So much for diversity!

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 7:14pm

I thought she finally come out of the closet, so what's up with saying she was in Whitesboro for her long time love, Stedman Grahm? Reading the article further, it appears all she was there for, was a pep rally for Obama!!! I any case, I hope she delivers on her promise. The worst thing to hear is promises made, promises broken.

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 6:40pm

She is such a racist and hypocrit. She has made millions if not billions off the backs of mainly white women. She has been in the media for over 25 years but has never endorsed a candidate. Yet, a black man comes along and she throws support and millions. What, there was no qualified white men in 25 years? She is such a phony like Dr. Phil and everyone should boycott them. She doesn't need the money and you certainly don't need Oprah or Phil to say you need help!!! They exploit people to make millions and they fall for it. PATHETIC!!!