Join West Deptford Patch staff tonight, Nov. 6, for a live chat on election night. 

Are you on the edge of your seat over the township committee race? Are you more concerned about the presidency? And how about the quiet school board race?

We'll discuss all of this and more starting at 7 p.m. tonight. To participate, enter a comment in the chat window above (not the comments section below). Tell us what you saw at the polls today, what you hope the outcomes will be tonight and what you think the results will mean for West Deptford.

See you at 7 p.m.! 

Follow all of West Deptford Patch's election coverage at our special topic page.

Fans of West Deptford High School athletics will have plenty of options today when it comes to Eagles’ playoff teams. The boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and field hockey teams will all be in action, today at 2 p.m.

The field hockey team will face a stiff test when the No. 2 Eagles host No.3 Camden Catholic in the Group 2 semifinals. The Irish (13-4), who have a rich history in the sport, reached this game by defeating Haddonfield, 5-0. They have won five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming against powerhouse Eastern. The winner will advance to the South Jersey final, where No. 1 Collingswood will likely be waiting.

The boys’ soccer team returns to the pitch looking to repeat its effort from Saturday’s thrilling 1-0 win over Haddonfield. The No. 8 Eagles travel to take on No. 5 Deptford. Both teams have been led by a stifling defense. The Spartans defeated Collingswood 2-0 in the first round and Buena, 3-0, in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, West Deptford has recorded six-straight shutouts, so something will have to give.

The winner will advance to the South Jersey finals.

On the girls’ side, No. 4 West Deptford will take on No. 5 Middle Township (13-4-2). The Eagles cruised to a 7-0 win over Atlantic Tech in the first round. Sam Budd and Paige Paratore each had two goals, while Anna Kipp needed just two saves for the shutout.

With a victory, the Eagles would be on to the Group 2 semifinals, where a rematch with top-seeded Haddonfield could take place.

NJSIAA UPDATE: With some areas around New Jersey still without power and some schools not back in session, the governing body pushed back the playoff deadlines for the second time in a week. Many of these deadlines will not immediately affect the local teams, but could if a West Deptford team advances to the state level. For soccer, Round 1 play-by dates are now Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 for the quarterfinals. State finals are scheduled for Dec. 1 (boys) and Dec. 2 (girls).

For field hockey, all first round games must be played by Saturday, while the Tournament of Champions has been canceled. That means that the field hockey season will end with the state finals for each group.

The postponement of the games will leave multi-sport athletes playing for schools that advance to the state finals in a tricky spot as it will overlap a portion of the winter season for several sports.

After long months—years, really—of campaigning and electioneering, today’s the day: Election Day.

We have all of the information you need to get to the polls and cast your ballot today.

Polling Information

Polls are open: 6 a.m.-8 p.m., statewide

Where do I vote?: Here are West Deptford’s polling locations, including a link to look up your polling place by address.

Can I vote?: Not sure you registered to vote in time? Check here.

Mail-in ballots: The clerk must receive mail-in ballots before polls close at 8 p.m. You can drop off your ballot at 550 Grove Rd., West Deptford, NJ 08066.**

What if I have a problem voting?: First, talk to a poll worker. If it’s not resolved or your problem is with the poll worker, call the Gloucester County Board of Elections at 856-384-4500. Do not leave a polling location before your issue is resolved. For more information, see the state’s voter information frequently asked questions. Still need help? Contact the nonpartisan election helpline for problems or to report issues: 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Candidates

West Deptford voters will pick candidates from township committee up to the president, and, for the first time in November, school board members. Click the PDF, above right, for a sample ballot. Here’s who is running:

Township Committee (pick one)

Denice DiCarlo (Democratic) and Jeff Hansen (Republican)

West Deptford School Board (pick three)

Peter Guzzetti, Tom Lee and David Kline

President/Vice President

Barak Obama/Joe Biden (Democratic) and Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan (Republican)

Third-party candidates are: Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala (Green Party), Gary Johnson/James Gray (Libertarian Party), Peta Lindsay/Yari Osorio (Socialism and Liberation), Ross “Rocky” Anderson/Luis Rodriguez (NJ Justice Party), James Harris/Maura DeLuca (Socialist Workers Party), Merlin Miller/Harry Bertram (America Third Position), Virgil Goode/Jim Clymer (Constitution Party) and Jeff Boss/Bob Pasternak (NSA Did 911)

U.S. Senate

Joe Kyrillos (Republican) and Robert Menendez (Democratic)

Third-party candidates are: Ken Wolski (Green Party), Kenneth Kaplan (Libertarian Party), Gwen Diakos (Jersey Strong Independents), J. David Dranikoff (Totally Independent Candidate), Inder “Andy” Soni (America First), Robert “Turk” Turkavage (Responsibility Fairness Integrity), Daryl Mikell Brooks (Reform Nation), Eugene Martin LaVergne, and Gregory Pason (Socialist Party USA)

House of Representatives

Greg Horton (Republican), Robert Andrews (Democratic), John William Reitter (Green Party) and Margaret Chapman (Reform Party)

Gloucester County Sheriff

Philip Dieser III (Republican) and Carmel Morina (Democratic)

Gloucester County Clerk

Jeffrey Morris (Republican) and James Hogan (Democratic)

Gloucester County Surrogate

Richard Hickey III (Republican) and Helene Reed (Democratic)

Gloucester County Freeholder (pick two)

Margie Love (Republican), Tom Thistle (Republican), Robert Damminger (Democratic) and Joe Chila (Democratic)

Public Questions

Voters will be asked to vote on two public questions: a higher education referendum bond and whether judges should contribute more to their pensions. Get more information at NJ Voters to Decide Two Public Questions Tuesday.

Results and More

West Deptford Patch will bring you results as soon as we have them, especially for the in-town races. Join us for a live West Deptford election night chat, starting at 7 p.m., where you can discuss politics, candidates, and winners and losers with your neighbors and West Deptford Patch staff.

Want an email alert as soon as we know the winners? Make sure you're signed up for West Deptford Patch's free breaking news alerts.

For all of West Deptford Patch’s Election 2012 coverage, visit our special topic page.

** Correction: A previous version of this article listed the incorrect address to drop off mail-in ballots. The Grove Road address is the corrected version.

Blustery conditions and temperatures in the low 40s were not enough to stop West Deptford voters from fulfilling their civic duty Tuesday morning.

Patch was on the scene as voters filed into West Deptford Middle School to cast their ballots for a number of races, from township committee and school board to the presidency. The parking lot at the middle school—home to voting districts 14, 17, 18 and 19—was full this morning and voters had to wait in line to cast their ballots.

While sampling just a small portion of the many voters who walked out of the middle school, it was plain to see that many different issues—both locally and nationally—affected voters in very different ways.

Ralph Baganto, who did not wish to reveal his votes, said he split his picks between Democratic and Republican candidates. Baganto says issues such as Medicare, foreign policy and job outsourcing affected his vote for presidency. 

Baganto’s one critique of this year’s presidential election was the lack of media coverage on third-party candidates. 

Sean Mooney told Patch he voted down the line Republican from the presidency to township committee.

“We’re voting for a guy with much more experience,” Mooney said of former Gov. Mitt Romney.

Mooney said Romney is better suited to handle America’s current economic problems, since he has already ran a state. He added he thinks America is heading in the wrong direction and is in need of a change.

Other voters said they threw their support behind President Barack Obama.

“I believe in what he stands for,” said Evangline Banks.

Banks said Obama inherited the debt crisis from former President George W. Bush, and is afraid that Romney will bring the country back into the Bush era. She was also critical of Romney’s stance on social issues, including abortion rights, and his lack of a plan to help impoverished Americans.

“There are people out here suffering today—we got to take care of those suffering,” Banks said. 

Township committee race looms large

Yet, with the race for presidency in the forefront, West Deptford residents are also voting for a very crucial seat on the township committee.  

Mooney's Republican ticket also included voting for township committee candidate Jeff Hansen. The state attorney general's investigation into the water and sewer department influenced his vote. An audit on reported problems focused on a time when the township committee had a Democratic majority.

George Munyan told Patch he also voted for Hansen to promote a Republican majority on the township committee. Munyan said far too much time is wasted on arguments within the committee as opposed to movement—something that happens from the local to national level, he added. 

“Perhaps, if they’re all the same party, there will be less fighting,” Munyan said.

Others took the same approach, but for the Democratic ticket. Nalini Unni said her beliefs align very closely to that of the Democratic Party. Voting for President Obama, they also voted for Democratic incumbent Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo.

But not everyone who came to the polls today pushed a button for township committee. Banks said she abstained from voting for local officials because she wasn’t informed enough on their platforms.

What did you see at the polls today? Long lines? No lines? Tell us in the comments. And don’t forget to join West Deptford Patch for a live chat tonight, starting at 7 p.m.

As if New Jersey needed another weather event so close to Hurricane Sandy, a nor’easter is barreling toward the Garden State.

West Deptford, however, should escape any major effects from the storm, according to the latest data from the National Weather Service. But get ready for a possible wintry mix. The National Weather service issued an advisory for our area from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7.

Rain, sleet and snow are predicted to start falling Wednesday afternoon, with it turning to all snow by 1 a.m. Thursday. Add in sustained winds of 18-23 mph and gusty winds of nearly 50 mph, and Wednesday could turn into a slippery mess. The high temperature on Wednesday is expected to hit 40 degrees, with 1-2 inches of accumulation of snow and sleet. (Editor's note: accumulation updated Wednesday afternoon based on new forecasts from the National Weather Service.)

On Thursday, the best chance of precipitation—likely just rain—is before 1 p.m. It will warm up to 47 degrees and winds will die down to 17 mph, the National Weather Service predicts. By Friday, it will be sunny and in the 50s.

Even with the promise of gross weather, our area will fare better than coastal New Jersey, which will likely get socked with the nor’easter while still reeling from Sandy. Brick Township even ordered a mandatory evacuation of certain areas ahead of the storm.

Coastal communities can expect some moderate flooding, especially on flood-prone streets, the National Weather Service said. Flooding could get worse if the water don’t recede between tides.

There is also some concern for inland waterways, particularly tributaries of the Delaware River, which could flood during the storm. Any debris floating in the waterways from Sandy could exacerbate problems.

Bad weather won’t be a concern for West Deptford schools, at least. Schools are closed this week for teacher in-service days.

As the ballots pour in from Sandy-ravaged New Jersey, Robert Menendez has emerged victorious in reclaiming his U.S. Senate seat against Republican challenger Joe Kyrillos.

With just over half of polling districts reporting, state Republicans have conceded victory to Menendez. The U.S. senator leads 58 percent to 40 percent as of 10:30 p.m., according to CBS News.

"Senator Joe Kyrillos ran a great campaign against very tough circumstances and despite the loss, his family, campaign team, and supporters should be very proud of their efforts," New Jersey Republican Chairman Sam Raia said in a statement late Tuesday night. "Joe represents the very best of New Jersey and has fought for his constituents faithfully from the day he took office and I have no doubt he will continue to do so for many years to come." 

Early polls had projected Menendez a big winner on Tuesday and the Hudson County liberal delivered.

The race had been called by multiple outlets before 20 percent of districts had even reported.

Appointed to the senate by former Gov. Jon Corzine in 2006, Menendez had little trouble out-muscling Kyrillos financially in his second successful bid for senatorial office.

Campaign finance records show the U.S. Senator picked up $16 million from donors and aggressively dropped large sums on 30-second TV spots, more than tripling Gov. Chris Christie confidant's war chest.

A staunch supporter of Obamacare who protested the war in Iraq, Menendez has pledged to "fight for the middle class" by closing corporate loopholes and removing the tax breaks for the wealthy, a stark contrast to Kyrillos' vision.

First elected in 1992 to the state legislature but lacking name recognition throughout New Jersey, Kyrillos campaigned on dropping the corporate tax rate to incentivize job creation and spur growth.

"We're going to have to raise revenue, and I want to do it through growth," Kyrillos said at a debate against the senator this fall.

Kyrillos, considered by most a moderate GOP, was one of the few Republicans not to have signed the anti-tax-hike pledge, which he told The Record's editorial board was to "maintain independence."

Menendez was not immediately available for comment.

This article was last updated at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Update: This article was updated at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 7 with quotes from Gov. Chris Christie.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were re-elected Tuesday night, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Rep. Paul Ryan.

NBC News called the presidential election for Obama around 11:15 EST. The president sent a message on Twitter at 10:14 saying simply,"This happened because of you. Thank you."

"The task of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you," Obama told supporters in his acceptance speech shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. "It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression. The spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope.

"We are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people."

The president, who visited the Garden State last week in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, pointed to government leaders on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey and New York who have come together to assist those in need.

"I've seen it on the shores of New Jersey and New York where leaders of every party and every level of government have swept aside their differences to help a community rebuild from a wreckage of a terrible storm," Obama said.

The Obama campaign won the most expensive presidential race ever, with both parties raising about $2.6 billion. The race was filled with negative campaigning on both sides, from President Obama attacking Romney’s business experience with Bain Capital to Romney lambasting Obama’s handling of the economy.

The race tightened during the final months of the campaign, with gaffes and surges from both candidates. After a weak performance after the Republican Convention, Romney surged following Obama’s listless performance after the first presidential debate. Nevertheless, the president cemented a lead in battleground states heading into Tuesday’s election.

Obama won New Jersey and its 14 electoral votes.

Obama’s performance in the Garden State wasn't surprising, considering New Jersey has voted for the Democratic candidate in recent presidential elections.

Newark Democratic Mayor Cory Booker offered his support of the president on Twitter soon after the race was called.

"Congratulations PRESIDENT Barack Obama - again!," Booker wrote.

In a brief concession speech delivered before 1 a.m., Romney urged the country's political leaders to come together in a spirit of bipartisanship.

"This is a time of great challenges for America and I pray the president will be successful in guiding our nation," Romney said. "The nation is at a critical point. At times like these we can't risk partisan bickering."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who campaigned across the country for Romney, said he was disappointed by the election results. He dismissed criticism leveled by some Republicans that he had "embraced" Obama during the president's visit to the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

"I was the first governor in America to endorese Mitt Romeny. I've
worked harder than any other surrogate other than Paul Ryan," Christie said during a press conference Wednesday. "I'm extraordinarily disappointed. I put a lot of time and effort into the Mitt Romney campaign."

Barack Obama won New Jersey’s 14 electoral votes on Tuesday, defeating Republican Mitt Romney.

In the 2008 presidential election, the state voted for the Democratic candidate, and since the 1990s has voted for the overall winner of the presidential race 3 out of 5 times.

Romney and Obama did not campaign aggressively in New Jersey. The state has typically been a Democratic stronghold in recent presidential elections.

• AP: Obama wins New Jersey, Romney wins Arkansa
• WSJ: Obama wins New Jersey

Although they were nowhere near each other on the issues during the campaign, Denice DiCarlo and Jeff Hansen came in neck and neck in the township committee race Tuesday.

DiCarlo, a Democrat, defeated GOP challenger Hansen by just 99 votes (5,117 to 5,018), according to unofficial election results.

She won a full, three-year term on the committee, where she's served since December 2011 while filling an unexpired term. 

Although Republicans retain a 3-2 margin on the committee, the close loss Tuesday clearly stung them. 

“Ninety-nine votes is a number that is going to stick in our head for a long time,” said Denny Forte, chairman of the West Deptford Republican Committee. 

Hansen awaited the returns along with his supporters at Westwood Country Club on Tuesday night. 

As the results began to pour in, Hansen took the early lead, but the numbers were close. At one point Hansen lead only by 16 votes. At the time, Forte predicted the race would be very close to the very end. 

“We ran the right campaign, we ran the right guy,” Forte said. 

Forte declined to comment Tuesday night on whether Republicans would seek a recount because the election was so close, saying only that party officials planned to regroup and weigh their options Wednesday morning. 

Gloucester County spokeswoman Debra Sellitto said late Tuesday that all absentee ballots were counted, except a handful that came in late in the afternoon. Provisional ballots were not counted Tuesday, she said. In addition, in the wake of the powerful nor'easter Sandy, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno issued a directive Tuesday afternoon instructing county clerks to accept applications for mail-in ballots by fax or email through 5 p.m. Tuesday. Clerks will process those applications throughout the week, and ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Friday. However, it's unlikely there are enough uncounted votes to change the outcome of the West Deptford race. 

Addressing his supporters after the race was decided, Hansen urged them to support Mayor Raymond Chintall and Committeeman Samuel Cianfarini, both Republicans. 

“Don‘t give up, that‘s all I've got to say, don’t give up,” said Hansen.

He concluded his speech by saying that GOP must move forward and look to next year.

“We do not need to hang ours heads in shame. We’ve done a lot of work.”

Across town at Verga Fire Hall, DiCarlo was surround by her family and supporters, including fellow Democratic Committeewoman Donna Szymborski. 

The atmosphere inside the hall was tense early in the evening, but turned to jubilation when it was clear DiCarlo had narrowly hung on to her seat.  

"I just want to say that this was not just my win. It was our win," DiCarlo said in her victory speech. "This is our town and we need to get it back."

Afterward, she said she was glad the campaign was over, so she could get back to focusing on township issues. 

"It got really ugly," she said of the race. "Politics is politics, but I really do want to serve. I think I did a lot for the township this year and I just want to continue to do all I can do. It is about governing for me, so I'm just glad I get to serve another three years."

In the West Deptford school board race, Peter M. Guzzetti, Tom Lee and David A. Kline ran unopposed. 

At the county level, incumbent Democrats Robert M. Damminger and Giuseppe "Joe" Chila easily retained their freeholder seats, defeating GOP challengers Margie Love and Tom Thistle.

Sheriff Carmel Morina, County Clerk James M. Hogan and Surrogate Helene M. Reed, all Democrats, also retained their posts. 

To read all of West Deptford Patch's election coverage, click on our special topic page. 

The West Deptford High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams rose to the occasion Tuesday afternoon, each winning a South Jersey group 2 playoff game to advance. The boys team will now head to the sectional championship game, while the girls' team advanced to the semifinals.

Unfortunately, the field hockey team could not make it a perfect three-for-three, as the Eagles dropped their Group 2 semifinal against Camden Catholic.

The girls’ soccer team was led by Megan Sullivan, who scored two goals while assisting on the third goal. Paige Paratore also found the back of the net and Anna Kipp made five saves to preserve the shutout.

The Eagles now have a chance to earn their way to the South Jersey finals on their home field after the Group 2 playoff picture was turned on its head on Monday when No. 8 Cinnaminson stunned No. 1 Haddonfield.

The West Deptford boys’ soccer team finally gave up a goal but it did not prevent them from marching on to the South Jersey semifinals with a 3-1 win over No. 4 Deptford.

The Spartans turned the tables on the Eagles in the early going, scoring the game’s first goal, 1:45 into the contest. West Deptford had made a habit of scoring quick goals – including scoring less than two minutes in against Haddonfield – so the turn of events initially stunned the squad.

“They jumped out to an early lead, which kind of shocked out guys because that’s something we had been doing,” Jakubowski said. “I think it showed our guys that we are playing to get to a South Jersey final so have to show up and start playing well. From there we kind of took over.”

Devine evened the game with his first goal of the season and Mingrino added both of his goals in the second half.

As a No. 9 seed, not to many people outside of West Deptford saw this type of run in the Eagles, but Jakubowski said he had no doubts his team was capable of a deep playoff run.

“I’m sure a lot of people out there didn‘t really think (we could get to the final) seeing West Deptford as a No. 9 seed having to travel all the way to lower Cape May and then knowing who we would get in Haddonfield if we won. I guess to them we shocked the world. For us, our guys understand that if we keep doing the things we know we can do then we can continue to have success.

The Eagles will now play the waiting game as the other half of the bracket is still at quarterfinal games. The South Jersey final will likely not be played until Monday, Nov. 19, although there is a chance it could be played Friday, Nov. 16, according to Jakubowski. In either event, the Eagles will have a lot of time to prepare for the biggest game of their season.

The No. 2 Eagles field hockey team went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Camden Catholic, but could not find the back of the cage in a 1-0 loss. Both teams defended well with only nine total shots on goal coming from the two teams—three by West Deptford.

Camden Catholic got the only goal it would need three minutes, 17 seconds into the contest when Tara Vittese sent a rocket into the Eagles’ cage.

One of West Deptford’s best chances came in the final minute when Sydney Ponto fired a shot on target off a corner, but Camden Catholic goalie Isabella Dolente made the save and the defense cleared the ball away before any ensuing offensive attack could be made.   

Camden Catholic advanced to the South Jersey finals where the Irish will meet the winner of No. 1 Collingswood and No. 4 Woodstown.

West Deptford finished its season 14-3.

You'll have to suffer through holiday shopping at the Deptford Mall without Red Robin. 

The casual, gourmet-burger chain's location on the mall’s upper level, near Boscov’s, and next to the Gloucester County store, is set to open in early 2013. 

Red Robin initially announced in July the restaurant would open this fall. 

But, the opening date has been pushed back as construction continues on the 210-seat eatery. 

Red Robin's arrival in the area is good news for South Jersey fans of the chain’s “bottomless fries” and of its more than 15 styles of burgers. The restaurant chain’s only other current South Jersey location is on the Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing, near the Hamilton Mall—about 35 miles from Deptford.

The chain's arrival also is good news for Deptford Mall shoppers, who will now have another dining option. The only other restaurant chain with a liquor license at the mall is Ruby Tuesday.

Red Robin, which is headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO, has more than 460 locations across the United States and Canada. About one-third of them are franchises. The Deptford location will be company owned. 

Each Red Robin typically employs about 150 people, said company spokeswoman Jamie Winter. Anyone interested in a job at the Deptford Mall location can apply online through the company's website. 

It came down to the final week of the regular season for West Deptford's freshmen and junior football teams, but both were able to clinch their respective division titles on Saturday as they defeated Gloucester Township. All four West Deptford teams came away victorious on the day.

The freshmen team put together a great offensive display as they won their game 38-18. The Eagles compiled more than 400 yards of total offense, more than 300 of which came on the ground. Jamar Wallace ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns, while Lawrence Howard had 155 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Saleem Washington ran for more than 100 yards as well and Chris Andujar added a sixth touchdown for West Deptford.

The freshmen Eagles' offensive outburst gave the defense plenty of breathing room. Jabril Barksdale was the team's leading tackler with six on the afternoon. Saleem Washington, Alex Swietanski, Dominic Walton and Jordyn Roane combined for 15 tackles.

The freshmen team needed help to clinch their division title and they got it. Gibbstown, who entered the game tied with the Eagles for first in the National Division, lost to Kingsway 33-0, allowing West Deptford to finish in first place.

The junior team also wrapped up their division title, winning easily against Gloucester Township, 34-7. The win gave them the one-game edge over Pennsville for the National Division.

The sophomore Eagles had already clinched the National Division two weeks ago. They won their eighth game of the season on Saturday, blowing out Gloucester Township, 36-6.

The senior team was also able to close out their season on a high note, earning their second win of the year, 26-6, over Gloucester Township. Daniel Fisher scored three touchdowns, including one on an interception return. Colon Corrado scored the fourth on a 30-yard touchdown run.

The freshmen, sophomore and junior teams will be heading to the postseason as one of the top teams in their respective brackets. Playoff schedules are expected to be released later this week.

A Galloway man found guilty of murdering his three-month old baby by throwing her into the Raritan River in 2010 was sentenced to life in prison, Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced on Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Shamsiddin Abdur-Raheem, 24, was also sentenced to 30 years in prison, to be served consecutively, for kidnapping, Chiesa said. As a result, Abdur-Raheem must serve 89 years without the possibility of parole.

He was found guilty of throwing his baby, Zara, off a Garden State Parkway bridge into the river on Sept. 7, following a two-week trial in New Brunswick. Abdur-Raheem was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. He was also found guilty of two counts of simple assault, after attacking the baby's grandmother.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the child endangerment count, which will run concurrently with the murder and kidnapping sentences, and one year in prison for the two assaults, according to Chiesa. Each assault carries with it a six-month sentence, which must be served consecutive to the previous sentence, Chiesa said, meaning the full sentence is for life plus 31 years, with 89 years parole ineligibility.

According to the No Early Release Act (NERA), a life sentenced is one defined as 75 years, for purposes of calculating the term of parole ineligibility, Chiesa said. According to Chiesa, Abdur-Raheem must serve 63 3/4 years, or 85 percent of his sentence, without the possibility of parole. He must serve an additional 25 1/2 years without parole for the kidnapping, resulting in a total of 89 1/2 years without parole, Chiesa said.

On February 16, 2010, Abdur-Raheem broke into Zara's grandmother's apartment, where the baby was staying with her mother and grandmother, according to evidence presented during the trial. The mother, Vanetta Benjamin, had custody of Zara and had obtained a restraining order against Abdur-Raheem.

He struck the 60-year-old grandmother, Leno Benjamin, over the head, then hit her with his van while he was kidnapping the baby, according to the evidence presented at trial.

He was driving back to Atlantic City when he stopped on the Garden State Parkway and threw Zara 140 feet into the river, according to the evidence. Zara's body was found on the bank of the river two months later.

At trial, Abdur-Raheem claimed Zara was dead before he threw her in the river.

After throwing Zara into the river, Abdur-Raheem confessed to his imam and his parents. He was arrested at his parents' home in Winslow Township the night he committed the crime, Chiesa said.

Following his arrest, Abdur-Raheem gave several accounts to the police, admitting what he had done, Chiesa said.

“This defendant murdered a baby, stealing her away from those who loved her most, ending her innocent life in a horrifying act of violence,” Chiesa said.  “Justice demanded that he receive this sentence, which will keep him in prison for the remainder of his life.”

“This prison sentence closes the book on a very tragic case of domestic violence,” Director of the Division of Criminal Justice Stephen J. Taylor said.  “The guilty verdict secured by our trial attorney was the result of a strong investigation led by the State Police Major Crime Unit and the Division of Criminal Justice, with critical assistance from local and county agencies. I commend all involved.”

As far as the local Republican party is concerned, the township committee race isn't over. 

While not formally calling for a recount, party officials hinted they're considering the possibility. 

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, township GOP chairman Denny Forte said: "The election is still too close call and due to the provisional ballots which are yet to be counted, the WDGOP and its candidate Jeff Hansen are refraining from making any statement until every vote is counted. We are weighing all available options."

Democratic township Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo defeated Hansen by just 99 votes on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results. 

Gloucester County spokeswoman Debra Sellitto said late Tuesday that all absentee ballots were counted, except a handful that came in late in the afternoon. Provisional ballots were not counted Tuesday, she said. In addition, in the wake of the powerful nor'easter Sandy, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno issued a directive Tuesday afternoon instructing county clerks to accept applications for mail-in ballots by fax or email through 5 p.m. Tuesday. Clerks will process those applications throughout the week, and ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Friday. 

Gloucester County residents have an opportunity to remove points from their driving record with a defensive driving course that will be held next week.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office announced the six-hour course will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14 and Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Gloucester County College Instructional Center. The course takes place in two separate sessions on those nights—students must attend both sessions. Residents who complete the course will have penalty points removed from their driving record and get a 5 percent discount on their auto insurance.

The course, which was held three times last year, uses lessons that are developed by the National Safety Council. It includes lessons on driving in poor weather conditions, as well driving with trucks, bikes, pedestrians and aggressive drivers. The class will be taught by Det. Nick Schock and costs $10.

Residents who are interested in the class can call Phyllis Covici at the Prosecutor's Office at 856-384-5534 or email at pcovici@co.gloucester.nj.us. Only 25 spots exist for the class, so space is limited.

West Deptford residents who own Honda Civics should be on the lookout after a string of thefts involving the vehicle model.

On Nov. 1, two Honda Civics were stolen from residences and two others were broken into on the same day. The common denominator across all four cases was the theft of stereo equipment and other electronics from the vehicles. All four vehicles involved were locked at the time they were broken into.

West Deptford Police were able to recover both stolen vehicles. The first, a 1997 Civic, was stolen from a Kingswick Apartments parking lot and later recovered that evening in Camden. There was nothing stolen from the vehicle.

The second vehicle, a 1998 Civic, was taken from outside a home on Budd Boulevard. It was later found that night in Deptford, with all of the stereo equipment taken out of the car.

Two other cases, which involved the theft of a stereo system from a 1996 Honda Civic and a stolen GPS cord from a 1995 Honda Civic, are believe to be connected with the two car thefts. Both cars were parked on Woodhollow Drive.

All four cases remain under investigation. Anyone with any tips related to this or any other case can contact West Deptford Police at 856-853-4599.

As Tuesday's night's election results trickled into Democratic headquarters at the Verga Fire Company, the mood of incumbent committeewoman Denice DiCarlo were ever-changing. There was first relief, then a little bit of worrying, some cautious optimism and as, she received news that she had defeated Republican challenger Jeff Hansen, joy.

But the final emotion that seemed to take over DiCarlo was a fiery sense of determination that she was going to be more involved in 2013 and make her voice heard louder.

That was her message before family, friends and fellow Democrats during her victory speech, as she exclaimed that West Deptford is “our town and we need to take it back.”

The Democratic voice has been stifled somewhat since the Republicans were able to gain a majority on the township committee last year. DiCarlo and fellow Democrat Donna Szymborski are hoping that they will have more of a say on the committee next year.

“I'm a huge asset to the committee,” said DiCarlo. “I just hope this year that they utilize me.”

Szymborski was especially happy with DiCarlo's win. A loss by DiCarlo would have left Szymborski as the only Democrat left on the township committee and she could have been powerless being outnumbered 4-1.

“I'm just so thrilled,” said Szymborski when asked about how she felt after DiCarlo's election. “Denice is such a great person to work with, her and I have worked very well together.”

There's a chance that tensions may still run high between Republicans and Democrats on the township committee after a campaign season that was highlighted by the GOP accusing DiCarlo of not having a CPA license and an election that was decided by a mere 99 votes.

DiCarlo said that she is determined to put the accusations of the past few months behind her and move on. 

"I'm not the type of person who holds grudges, you can ask any of my family members or my friends,” said DiCarlo. “I'm really glad that the campaigning is over, because from Labor Day on, it was a distraction. We need to get back to governing.”

While she didn't specifically say that she wanted to be the finance chair on township committee next year, DiCarlo did admit she wants to be a lot more involved in the finances of West Deptford. DiCarlo was in charge of Public Works in 2012.

“I think there's a lot of financial things that I can bring to the town,” she said. “My background is in finance, so that's the thing I think we need the most.”

The most important thing for DiCarlo and Szymborski, though, is to make a positive impact on the township in 2013. With two seats up for election next year, the hope in the party is that a good 2013 will lead to a Democratic majority in the committee again following next year's election.

With the passing of the presidential election, Nov. 11 is soon approaching and with it, Americans honor Veterans Day. Falling on a Sunday this year, Veterans Day will be observed Monday, Nov. 12, and in coordination, Gloucester County College (GCC) will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony. 

The event will feature veterans sharing their stories and experiences from their military service. Veterans from past wars, such as WWII, the Korean War, the Gulf War and Vietnam will be present, as well as those from more recent wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.   

Starting at 10 a.m., the ceremony will be open to the public and held in the Eugene McCaffery College Center at GCC on Tanyard Road in Sewell. 

The ceremony will be hosted by Gloucester County in conjunction with the GCC Student Veterans organization. Those scheduled to speak include stae Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Gloucester County Freeholder Robert Damminger and Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila. 

In addition, GCC President Fredrick Keating will accept the G.I. Jobs Magazine 2013 Military Friendly School Award. This will be the fourth consecutive year GCC has been honored by G.I. Jobs Magazine.

The West Deptford Eagles football team might want shine their helmets a little brighter tonight—Friday’s game against Haddonfield will be televised.

Comcast is airing the Eagles vs. Bulldawgs Colonial Conference showdown. The schools have built up quite the rivalry in recent years, with West Deptford teams in several sports often having to vanquish the Bulldawgs to advance in the playoffs.

On paper, West Deptford enters the matchup as the top dog (’dawg?). The Eagles come into Friday’s game with a perfect 7-0 record, while Haddonfield is 5-2 on the season. West Deptford sits atop the power points too, with 128, while Haddonfield is in eighth with 73.

Gridiron New Jersey picked West Deptford for the win.

Coverage on the Comcast Network (TCN) channel starts at 7 p.m. Verizon customers can tune in to channel 99, while Comcast customers can watch on channel 8.