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Joel Vazquez Mr. Millville. Page A-5
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WEATHERINSIDE TODAYINDEX
Vol. 264, No. 138
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‘The biggest heart of anybody’
TYLER HOUSE
“I went into the Walmart today and was looking for you everywhere still hoping this was all a bad dream. Didn’t make it out without some tears, but I still just want to say to myself you are safe and will be well taken care of forever.”
— Stephanie Rescinito,Tyler’s former teacher,
on the “Rest in Peace Tyler Allen House” Facebook page
Tyler House 1993-2012
Splash pad in Vets Park makes wavesBreaks covenant, says Veterans Council ‘Corner of park eyesore, underutilized’
Staff Photos by Cindy Hepner
Warren Robinson addresses meeting of veterans.
Veterans discuss proposed splash pad in Veterans Park. Mayor Albert Kelly shows where he’d like spash pad to go.
By Jim Cook [email protected]
VINELAND — The spring-like weather felt outside Saturday made for a pleasant welcome home reception for a Vineland member of the N.J. National Guard.
Art Axelson, 39, had no idea his family, friends and local and statewide dignitaries were awaiting him on his front step while he was driving home from Philadelphia International Airport last weekend.
“I’m speechless,” he said as he walked out of his car. “I had no idea this was going to happen.”
Eagerly, the group assembled on his front lawn await-ed his return home from Afghanistan.
When the car pulled in, Axelson was met with applause, tears of joy, handshakes and a sea of hugs.
Axelson served in the Army National Guard with the 119th Military Police for about two years in Afghanistan before returning to Texas recently.
Saturday, he flew from Texas to Philadelphia, where
he was picked up and driven to the surprise party out-side his home.
Axelson had previously served in the U.S. Navy duringthe early 1990s.
His father was very proud of the son’s return.“We couldn’t be more happy to see him here,” said Carl
Elwood. “This is very special for everyone to be there andhave the elected officials here.”
Elected officials who joined the party included Mayor
Guardsman welcomed home from the war
(See GUARDSMAN, Page A-2)
By Lauren T. [email protected]
FAIRFIELD TWP. — The tragic death of 18-year-old Tyler House in a Lummis Mill Road car accident on Jan. 3 has left his family, friends and community mourn-ing the loss of a young man so many are remembering as a light in their lives.
“Everybody that ever met him fell in love with him. He’s touched so many peo-ple,” said David House, Tyler’s father. “He had the biggest heart of anybody. I wish everybody could have a son like him, just the best ever.”
David House said “Ty” was the kind of guy who would try to make the most of each day, never letting grass grow under his feet. He recently had decided to sell his video games in order to have more time to explore the world around him.
“He was very popular and liked to be the center of attention, the life of the party,” said Tyler’s mother and stepfather, Jen-
nifer and Tory Battiata. “He was always making jokes and being funny.”
As a student at Cumberland Regional High School before graduating this past year, Tyler enjoyed learning about history, even thinking about eventually becoming a history teacher, his father said.
He was still undecided about his future career, considering going back to school to study criminal justice as well as enlisting in the military. In the meanwhile, Tyler was employed at the Walmart in Upper Deerfield, where many in the community grew accustomed to sharing a smile or laugh with him.
“I went into the Walmart today and was looking for you everywhere still hoping this was all a bad dream. Didn’t make it out without some tears, but I still just want to say to myself you are safe and will be well taken care of forever,” wrote Tyler’s former teacher, Stephanie Res-cinito, on the “Rest in Peace Tyler Allen
(See TYLER, Page A-5)
By Jack [email protected]
BRIDGETON — The City of Bridgeton has plans for a splash park in the city park.
The problem is where the city plans to put the splash park.
In Veterans Memorial Park.
“We’re not going to let it happen,” said Warren Robinson, World War II veteran who called for a meeting veteran leaders Friday.
Every branch of the Bridgeton Veterans Coun-cil answered the call and every war was represent-ed, even World War I in the person of Joan Boden, whose father was a dough-boy.
Boden brought along a copy of the ordinance
(See VETS, Page A-9)
By Greg [email protected]
BRIDGETON — On a bitter-cold January after-noon, Mayor Albert Kelly stands upon the edge of the city park’s iced over “baby pool” — an attrac-tion he remembers from childhood.
Standing in spirit right there with him are the deceased veterans of his city and the monuments that memorialize them.
“I want to make sure our veterans are not ignored and that their concerns are considered,” he says, later adding “I’m fully cog-nizant of our veterans.”
Bridgeton wants to build a three-piece “splash pad” zero-depth water amuse-ment. The family and child-oriented pad shoots and sprays water from dif-
(See SPLASH, Page A-9)