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Rain,
Rain, Go Away!!!
AREA FARM FIELDS like
this one on Stone Meeting House Road are under water after weeks of
thunderstorms, heavy downpours and even hail. Large puddles covering
portions of fields are common sights. The moisture combined with cloudy
days and cooler than normal temperatures is threatening fruit and
vegetable crops.
— Photo by Karen E. Viereck |
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Police
Transition “Excellent” Council Says
By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
SWEDESBORO -- The shared
police services transition in Swedesboro and Woolwich is “going excellent,”
officials said. At the June 15 borough meeting, Republican Councilman Sam
Casella discussed the progress of the historic June 1 merger between the
neighboring communities’ police forces.
“It’s awesome that more
officers are available,” Casella said. “We can answers more calls in a more
timely manner now. Also, we can provide better follow-up and more
investigation.”
In his police committee
report, Casella detailed the initial activity of the joint squad. From June 1
to June 12 Swedesboro/Woolwich police received 181 calls and made 97 traffic
stops. In the stops, 27 tickets were issued with the rest receiving warnings.
Casella said the warnings were to educate people as to the change.
So far, Casella has seen a
“positive response.” A detailed report will be given by Police Chief Russel H.
Marino at the borough’s July 6 meeting.
Casella said the move was
positive in that many former officers were hired by Woolwich. According to the
township’s Web site, Mayor Joe Chila swore in
former Swedesboro Patrolmen Chris Beckett and Christian Gregory June 1.
Additionally, former borough officer Steve Spithaler was hired by Woolwich as
a part-time officer.
A
proclamation is in the works for all former Swedesboro officers, council said.
The move has
a projected savings of nearly $4 million, according to The New Town Press.
Over the next five years, Swedesboro will pay Woolwich $537,000 on average a
year.
Swedesboro
will be paying Woolwich $212,000, the prorated amount for the remainder of
2009. For the duration of the five year contract, it is projected that
Swedesboro will pay $477,000 in 2010, $505,620 in 2011, $535,957 in 2012,
$568,114 in 2013 and $602,201 in 2014.
As for the former police
facilities, Casella confirmed the upstairs office in Borough Hall is empty.
Marino informed him that everything was properly destroyed or moved. Mayor Tom
Fromm invited Council members to check the office for desired supplies.
A possible tour of the new
police facilities is planned for the future.
Also at the meeting, Fromm
said that the town moved toward foreclosure on several abandoned properties.
“There was a lack of will to foreclose on properties just sitting there. We’ve
been trying to figure it out since I got here,” he said. “We’re finally
getting it done.”
Currently, the borough
pays the school tax on the properties, some sitting vacant since 1989. The
foreclosed houses are not a product of the current economic climate.
As the RecycleBank
contract nears its end, the borough faces the question of trash disposal. The
town has options: Fromm discussed possibly entering into nearby Logan
Township’s in-house system, another shared services project, or simply
renewing the current contract. Swedesboro’s partnership with RecycleBank began
in March 2008.
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Accolades
Aplenty at Logan Meeting
By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
LOGAN TWP.—Whether it was
the superintendent soaking up retirement praise, the police department
attaining a grant, volunteers receiving recognition, or the mayor basking in
compliments the June 16 Logan Township Council meeting teemed with accolades.
After 19 years as
superintendent of schools, John Herbst announced his retirement last year. At
the meeting, the Council presented Herbst with a plaque in recognition of his
service.
“I can’t say enough of
the time, effort and good will he has given to our children,” Mayor Frank
Minor said. “If you look at all the kids from Logan that go to Kingsway, you
can’t say enough – not only what the parents have done – but with what John
has done.”
Councilwoman Doris Hall
highlighted Herbst’s works with “special” kids including her grandson during
his troubled years.
“Thank you for the
plaque,” Herbst said. “But the words mean so much more to me.”
Herbst presided over his
last eighth-grade graduation ceremony June 15. His replacement, Patricia L.
Haney, begins July 1.
Haney worked as the
director of curriculum and instruction for the Harrison Township School
District for 10 years, according to Logan Township Elementary School.
In another ceremony at the
meeting, two longtime volunteers were recognized by council. Plaques were
awarded to Katie Smedley and Christopher Oswald for their years of community
service.
“Although we may not be
seeing you as much now that you’re graduating high school, the two of you are
a great example for kids your age,” Councilwoman Bernadine Jackson said. Both
Smedley and Oswald attended Logan Township Elementary and graduated from
Kingsway in June.
The police department was
awarded a 2009 Cannondale Police Mountain Bike valued at $500 through a grant.
Given by the Neumann Foundation, Schmidt said it was in conjunction with the
bike company’s anniversary.
“I called and spoke about
our bike usage,” he said. “We use bicycles for community policing, special
services, and for residential and business patrols – like at the strip malls
in Beckett.” Logan was one of 100 successful municipalities awarded bikes out
of more than 200 applications.
Also, the police are
dusting off a chestnut from the mid-1990s: cop cards. Sponsored by local
companies, police trading cards will be produced and distributed to children
to encourage positive interaction with police officers. The first person to
collect all the cards will be awarded a yet-to-be-announced prize.
Although it hasn’t been
awarded any grants yet, the Logan Fire Department recently completed one and
is in the process of applying for another grant.
The department
awaits word on the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant. If awarded, the
company would receive funds to upgrade existing and buy new breathing
apparatus and to purchase a diesel exhaust removal system for one of the
township’s three firehouses, according to Deputy Chief Rob Taylor.
The
grant-in-process, the Station Construction Grant, would allow construction and
upgrades to the fire station stemming from $210 million allocated in the
federal stimulus package.
And in a more
personal interaction, resident
Ernestine Diggs thanked
the mayor for his help on a problem she had with the water company. Diggs, who
has lived at the corner of Paulsboro and Hendrickson Mill Roads for more than
15 years, noticed drilling on the lot within 50 feet of her private well.
After talking to Minor,
she learned the water company was working on an underground water pump without
the town’s permission, she said. The company stopped and it will go before the
Planning Board next month.
Diggs said Minor, “handled
the situation well. Our mayor was instrumental in his response. He’s great.”
In addition, she
complimented Deputy Municipal Clerk Natalie Lowe for her professionalism.
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Rainfall’s
Effects Felt
Throughout Agricultural Business
By Karen E. Viereck,
Editor/Publisher
WOOLWICH TWP. – It’s rained,
and rained, and rained. Besides ruining your outdoor plans, it is causing
widespread problems in the agriculture in the area.
According to Gloucester
County Agricultural Agent Jerry Frecon, wet and waterlogged fields are causing
root suffocation, disease and fruit rot, mildew, and molds. They are also
causing cherries to crack, rough fruit finishes, split pits on peaches, and
water laden fruit.
Although you might think this
will make the fruits juicier, the lack of sunshine and warm temperatures are
producing flat taste because the plants need sunlight to produce the sugar in
the fruits.
Strawberry production started
early and ended early this year, said Frecon. Those on plastic field rows made
out better. However, the later berries are grown on the ground, not on
plastic, so it was harder to keep them dry and free of disease.
Any crop near harvest right
now is in jeopardy of root suffocation and rot. These crops include cherries,
blueberries, very early peaches, filed lowers, nursery stock, cucumbers, and
squash, said Frecon.
Wet and muddy fields also
makes it harder to get farm equipment into the fields as well as farm workers
to pick and tend to the crops.
And the effects don’t end
there. The rainy weather is keeping customers away from farm markets. And
U-pick farms aren’t able to get people into their fields.
Frecon said that although
rainfall amounts vary widely throughout the area because of spotty
thunderstorms and downpours, and in even some cases hail, the biggest problem
is the long periods of cloud and high humidity when drying cannot take place.
But Frecon is still positive
about the situation. “Our farmers survive wet weather because they have new
and better technology every day.” Frecon credits better varieties of crops
that resist disease and have better flavor and handling characteristics under
wet conditions, improved environmentally friendly pesticides, and the use of
plastic under or over the plants.
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Committee
Passes Budget with
$79.19 Local Purpose Tax Increase
by Beth S. Biermann
WOOLWICH – The Woolwich
Township budget passed on June 15 by a vote of three to one, with Comitteeman Sam
Maccarone, Jr. voting no and Committeemen Paul Lott, Ted Otten and Mayor Joe
Chila voting yes. Deputy Mayor James Lavender was not in attendance.
Woolwich received a prorated $212,000 from
Swedesboro for the police coverage the township is now providing for the
borough. Before the vote, Maccarone proposed using $100,000 of this payment to
lower the tax increase by one cent. The proposed budget called for a 65.5 cent
tax rate per $10 of assessed home value.
Both Chila and Township Administrator Jane
DiBella explained that in addition to paying the salaries of additional police
officers, there are numerous “one-time” expenses related to the police
coverage of Swedesboro. These include uniforms, raingear, boots and other
supplies that will only need to be purchased once.
Chila added that next year the township will
have more savings related to the payment received from Swedesboro for police
coverage, but there are more expenses this year to get the program up and
running and the township needed to have the entire $212,000 payment available.
A resident asked whether the new municipal
building was fully occupied, and if not, wondered if the township would
consider renting out some of the space. According to Chila, all parts of the
building are being used, but not to the fullest capacity.
Lott added that the building was designed for
a township of 35,000 residents, according to a 25 year projection in the
master plan. He referred to the construction of the building as “once and
done”, with no anticipated need to build any additions. He also pointed out
that local groups such as the seniors and sports organizations are now able to
meet in the building.
In other business, the committee introduced an
ordinance that would appropriate $294,000 for reconstruction of
Russell Mill Road. Capital funds
will be appropriated and then reimbursed with grant money when the job is
complete.
According to Mayor Chila, the full sum will be
funded by grant money and township engineer Stan Bitgood confirmed that the
township has two grants so far and will be applying for more to cover the
total cost of the project. There will be a second reading and public hearing
for the ordinance at the next regular committee meeting on July 20.
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Everwine Promoted to Deputy
Chief
by Beth S. Biermann
EAST GREENWICH – The township
committee passed a resolution on June 9 that promoted Lieutenant Christopher
Everwine to Deputy Chief of Police.
Everwine has been an East
Greenwich police officer since May 1994 and was promoted to Sergeant in 2001
and Lieutenant in 2006.
The committee also officially
recognized Deuce, a 19-month old Dutch shepherd from Slovakia, as an official
member of the East Greenwich Police Department. Deuce and his handler,
Patrolman Philip Owens, completed patrol training and will attend narcotics
school in the fall.
This is the second K-9 unit
in the township. Mayor Fred Grant stated, “The addition of that K-9 unit (is)
giving the officers what they need to protect our residents.”
In other business, a bond
ordinance was passed authorizing $300,000 for reconstruction of Borrelli
Boulevard. According to Grant, $200,000 will be covered by a state Department
of Transportation grant, while the remaining $100,000 will be used to pave the
rear entrance of the Thompson Family Park.
The entrance and parking lot
will both be paved, with speed bumps installed to slow cars down. There is
currently a stone driveway and lot, but vehicles are still driving too fast on
it.
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Kingsway Hires New Principal
By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
WOOLWICH—The Kingsway Regional Board of
Education approved the hiring of a new high school principal at its June 22
meeting. Paul Bracciante, currently Williamstown High School’s vice principal,
will succeed Tom Coleman as Kingway’s principal, the board said.
“He has a good balance,” Superintendent Avé
Altersitz said. “He has an excellent management style and is a good structural
leader.”
Bracciante, 51, has worked for Monroe Township
Public Schools as vice principal since 2003. Before that, he taught industrial
arts at Washington Township High School for 22 years.
“Kingsway has been, and I will do everything I
can to keep it, a top notch school. I’m lucky to be walking into a school with
a great reputation,” he said during an interview on June 23. “And thanks to
Tom Coleman, who has left a solid program. They’ve raised the bar, and I’d
like to continue it.”
The school board unanimously approved his
hiring. According to Altersitz, about 24 applications for the position were
reviewed. From that, eight candidates were interviewed by a nine-person
advisory board comprised of Altersitz, KEA President Cathy Fichera, Board
Secretary Andrew Eubanks, school board members, and district employees.
Before he can begin at Kingsway, Bracciante
must gain release from his Williamstown contract. After putting in his letter
of resignation, Bracciante awaits a decision from the Monroe district at its
June 30 board of education meeting.
“They have a legal right to hold me to my
contract and work for 60 days,” he said. “But usually it is a professional
courtesy to release [the person]. I hope there’s no reason to think that they
won’t.”
Altersitz says she hopes he can begin by
August.
A South Harrison resident, Bracciante received
a masters of science in educational leadership and administration from
Philadelphia Biblical University in 2002. He has two sons who graduated from
Pitman High School this year. One will be attending Rowan University, and the
other has enlisted in the Navy. They are both Eagle Scouts.
Coleman left Kingsway following the recent
school year to become superintendent in the Woodstown-Pilesgrove School
District. He was Kingsway’s principal for 15 years.
His last commencement ceremony, June 17, was
held indoors due to rain – a dilemma for many parents.
“This ceremony was lost forever for me and my
family,” parent Susan Costill of East Greenwich said. “It was a disgrace.”
Costill said she arrived at the school after
5:30 p.m., but was turned away from the South Gym, where the ceremony took
place even though she had tickets. She was told it was full and had to watch
the ceremony from the North Gym on a screen, without air conditioning.
Each of the 350 graduates was given three
tickets in case of rain. However, some ticketholders could not get in the
gym.
She discussed her problem at the meeting.
“I agree it was awful,” Altersitz said,
explaining that many people would go outside and give already-used tickets to
other family members, packing the gym to capacity.
“You’d hear 10 people cheer and knew that
wasn’t right,” said East Greenwich Board Member Lorraine Grasso.
The board apologized to Costill and offered
hopes that future ceremonies would avoid the dilemma.
“I understand the problems they had with the
overcrowding,” she said. “I just don’t want this to happen with my other three
kids.”
Also at the meeting, Altersitz recommended
hiring Derlys Gutierrez as the board’s solicitor for a one-year contract. In
an interview with the board, the Newark-based attorney discussed her
worthiness as a candidate.
“[My firm’s] goal would be to represent you
for the many, many tiny issues that come along over the years,” Gutierrez
said. “We try to keep you out of court.”
Gutierrez’s firm – Adams, Stern, Gutierrez and
Lattiboudere – specializes in representing school boards. Locally, it also
represents Runnemede.
Although travel was an issue for board
members, the firm does not include the drive in expenses – unlike other firms,
Eubanks said. With this point, East Greenwich Board Member John Lewis and Vice
President Katherine DiGiovacchino dropped their concerns about her hire.
South Harrison Board Member Deborah Cunningham
said Gutierrez interviewed at South Harrison in the past. Although the school
board decided to retain its current legal council, she spoke highly of
Gutierrez’s firm.
“When we interviewed her, I thought Kingsway
would be better, because it’s a larger district,” she said. “It looks like she
found us.”
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