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 Updated: 07/27/2010

 

A wilted field of Butternut Squash (right) shows the difference a year makes in rainfall collections. Last year at this time, the fields were under water (left).

Photo by Karen E. Viereck


3rd Annual Tomato & Heritage Festival, July 17

WOOLWICH TWP. -- Although Woolwich Township has become known for its residential growth spurt, the lands upon which the new developments sit were once known as the richest agricultural lands in South Jersey, and were recognized for producing the best of the famous “Jersey Tomato.”

And while much of Woolwich Township still maintains the beauty of open meadows, forests and farmland, it is important to celebrate the township’s agricultural history and to remember and preserve the history of the township itself.

In that spirit of celebration, Woolwich Township will host its 3rd Annual Woolwich Township Tomato and Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 17 on the grounds of the Municipal Building, 120 Village Green Drive.

Beginning at noon and lasting until 5 p.m., the festival will celebrate the common tomato, which might not seem so common when you consider that it can be eaten fresh or cooked, frozen, canned, preserved, pickled or dried. You can also bake, broil, fry, sauté, grill or stuff them. The tomato is included in many recipes, casserole dishes, sauces and soups.

What other food can do so much? How many times in the dead of winter does your mouth water at the very thought of a fresh Jersey Tomato?

Well, July is Jersey Tomato time in Woolwich, and what better time to come out and support the local farmers selling their fresh produce at the Farmer’s Open-Air Market, where you can choose from fruits and vegetables picked fresh that morning from Woolwich fields.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the down-home music of Blue Frances and George J. Tanger, the One-Man Band.

Enter the Wine Garden, where you will be greeted with samplings of the finest wines grown in local vineyards and produced by the area’s best wineries. Purchase as many varieties as your taste buds will allow.

The Mid-Atlantic Arabian Horse Association will be representing the equine aspect of Woolwich farms with stalls of Woolwich Township Arabian horses to view, and Apollo Farm will have educational demonstrations to teach about the care and handling of horses.

Take a step back in time as the 1st Battalion of New Jersey presents a reenactment of war and camp life in the eighteenth-century way, and stroll through the display of restored tractors and farm equipment brought by the South Jersey Antique Tractor Association.

Children will be entertained by pony and hay wagon rides, games and craft tables. Speaking of children, enter your little ones between the ages of 3 and 5 in the Little Mr. and Miss Tomato Contest. Entry forms and contest rules are available on the township’s Web site www.woolwichtwp.org.

Do you make the best salsa in Woolwich Township? Find out by entering the Salsa Contest, or cast your vote for your favorite and help decide whose should win. Gardeners can also enter their best home-grown tomato and let our local farmers decide if yours is “The Best” township tomato. Details and entry forms are on the Web site.

There will be plenty of great food, fun, activities, history, and of course, Jersey Tomatoes. So mark your calendars for a day to socialize and celebrate the history of Woolwich Township.


Council Opposes Merged
 Services With County

by Michael Williams

 LOGAN TWP. -- Mayor Frank Minor and Council passed a resolution to oppose a New Jersey Senate Bill that would create a countywide consolidation of certain municipal responsibilities.

Under S458, assessment and collection of property taxes, public health services, and animal control services would transfer over to the county’s responsibility and out of the hands of local municipalities.

“Three out of four of these I’m good with personally,” said Deputy Mayor Lyman Barnes, addressing the Council at June 15 public meeting. “But the tax collection fees, I do have a lot of problem with. From a control standpoint for cash flow, it’s imperative that we get the money and distribute the money to county, rather than having to beg for money back to run our municipal businesses.”

He also added that seniors and other members of the community who physically pay their taxes at the municipal building would be unfairly inconvenienced.

Minor agreed with opposing the bill, adding that the municipal government is fully capable of handling its own taxes.

“We’ve demonstrated over the years the ability and the wherewithal to manage our own money without having someone in Trenton doing it for us,” said Minor.

In other business the council approved a resolution to designate the Old Bridgeport School, also known as the Historical Society Building, as the future site of a senior center. The site has been undergoing construction to its exterior and will soon be ready to begin interior renovations.

Through the county’s Community Development Block Grant program, the site has already been outfitted with new windows and doors, a handicapped-accessible ramp, and renovations to its roof.

This resolution allows the site to continue participation in the CDBG program, and will continue to be completed as funds are made available.


S/W School Budget Appeal
Could Mean Potential Tax Increase

by Michael Williams

SWEDESBORO -- The Swedesboro-Woolwich School District has appealed the recommendation from both the Swedesboro and Woolwich Township to decrease their budget by a little over $755,000 in an effort to get more money put back into the school budgets.

The school district’s appeal has been brought to the attention of the County Superintendent for review. After review, the appeal would then be submitted to Trenton with the county’s recommendation.

Citing an unofficial tip, Swedesboro Mayor Tom Fromm said the County Superintendent may be recommending that roughly an additional $355,000 be added back into the school budget, cutting the overall budget decrease down to around $400,000.

The original figure was based on the teachers and administration taking a pay freeze. However, though the district’s administration took a pay freeze, its teachers did not. According to Fromm’s, the Superintendent felt it was necessary to add this money back into the budget, so not to place too much of a financial burden on the schools’ other programs.

Though exact figures are still undetermined and unofficial, Swedesboro and Woolwich taxpayers could expect an increase to their local school tax if the cuts to the budget are reduced.

“We had actually started at a much higher number, “said Fromm, who was displeased with the appeal.

“We tried to have mercy on [the schools],” said Councilmember Russell Zappala. “We didn’t want to decimate the entire system, but at the same time we felt we needed to act.”

The budgets are now out of the Council’s hands and will be acted on at a county and state level.

In other business, Council approved a request by the St. Paul U.A.M.E Church to block off a portion of Richardson Ave and Second Street for a block party in mid to late August. The resolution and exact date of the event will be pending while details regarding traffic, police presence, and insurance are worked through.

Finally, Fromm announced that renovations to the borough’s water tower should be starting sometime in July and are expected to finish in October.

The Swedesboro Library’s construction is also said to be on track, with construction expected to begin in the coming weeks.


No Public Comment From Woolwich Residents On 2010 Budget

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH TWP. -- A public hearing for the 2010 Woolwich municipal budget that calls for no local purpose tax increase was held on June 21.

No residents commented during the public session. However, the committee was not able to officially pass the budget because they are waiting for the state to review it.

On a rotating schedule of every three years, each municipality is required to send its budget to the state for review and this is the year in which Woolwich is required to do so. Once the state review is completed, the township can officially pass the 2010 budget.

Despite more than $100,000 of state funding lost, the township avoided a tax increase by cutting $200,000 from the capital improvement fund, implementing a wage freeze for all township employees excluding the police department, and using $200,000 less surplus than was used in 2009.

In addition, the police department shared services agreement with Swedesboro will bring in $477,000, resulting in a net revenue of $250,000.

In other business, New Jersey American Water presented a $1,000 charitable donation to the People for People Foundation at this meeting. Mayor Joe Chila had won a raffle at last month’s New Jersey Conference of Mayors in Atlantic City, sponsored by New Jersey American Water, that awarded $1,000 to three mayors. This money was to be given to the charity of the mayor’s choice.

Chila chose People for People to receive the donation. People for People is a Gloucester County based grassroots organization that provides assistance to people who are normally self-sufficient but find themselves unable to make ends meet and don’t qualify for traditional government assistance programs.

Bernadette Blackstock, Executive Director of People for People, accepted the $1,000 check, presented by New Jersey American Water Vice President Jason Gonzalez. Gonzalez stated that this was “a way for us to give back to organizations that are relevant and meaningful to the communities that the elected officials serve. We are very pleased that Mayor Chila chose a deserving organization like People for People to receive this donation.”


 

East Greenwich Twp.
Logan Township
South Harrison Twp.

Swedesboro
Woolwich Twp.


Friends School

Logan Twp. Support the K9 Unit Golf Fundraiser

Straight Edge Concrete

 Swedesboro True Value

Woolwich Twp. Tomato & Heritage Festival

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Updated: 07/27/2010  -  Web Site © 2006-2010 New Town Press
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