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Plan to spend the day in Swedesboro
Sept. 27 for Swedesboro Woolwich Day.

SWEDESBORO -- Features for Sept. 27’s Swedesboro Woolwich Day include two new areas.

For younger children, there will be an interactive craft area which will include a paper making booth from processing pulp and water to making a craft on the same paper.

For sports enthusiasts, there will be a 40 ft. lacross shooting gallery provided by Valken Sports which will be near the popular joust pit returning in 2008.

Kids of all ages will be enjoy the KIDS ZONE which is a Circus Show begining at 10 a.m. featuring Candy Man and Sparkle the Clown; characters: Elmo, Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob Square Pants; Magic and Comedy of Brian Richards; a 10 foot tall stilt performer; and the Juggling Jester of Justice who also juggles fire.

Back by popular demand, around noon, will be Disco Dude. Two moon bounces, a face painter, and two balloon artists will round out the kids zone.

The day will begin with the Dragon 5K Run at 8 a.m., benefitting the Nathaniel Boerlin Scholarship Fund. You don't need to be a runner to participate. In addition to the 5k Run you may participate in the worthy cause by completing the 1 Mile Walk.

Online applications may be found on www.naterocksheaven.org. Several roads will be closed for the duration of the race and detours will be in place and posted on www.swedesborowoolwichday.com .

The Run route begins at Swedesboro Borough Hall to Woolwich Twp. Hall, up Center Square Road to CVS and down Auburn Ave. to Woolwich Fire Station. While some folks may be inconvenienced by the detours, many people will be enjoying the start of the day with this benefit.

In order to get everyone into Swedesboro with very limited parking, runners will be shuttled into town beginning at 6:30 a.m. from Kingsway High School. Later, shuttles will also run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with parking and shuttle stops at Governor Stratton School on Center Square Road, the Spirit Chrysler lot next to Post office on Kings Highway, and the Swedesboro Auction lot off Locke Avenue.

At Swedesboro Auction you can park and ride, or you may choose to park and walk. There will be no parking on most of Second Street for the day in order for the buses to get around the town. Reserved Handicap Parking will be limited at Bank of America lot on Railroad Avenue and various lots in Swedesboro will be reserved for vendors and volunteers with parking tags.

Kingsway High School Band will lead the opening parade at 10 a.m. to the main stage at Kings Highway and Franklin Street for the Opening Ceremony. To commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the Woolwich Fire Department, the band will be followed by department members and will continue to the Fire House Bell for a dedication.

Antique fire trucks will be on display and the fire department is planning several displays and demonstrations throughout the day for fire prevention.

There is a full music and local entertainment schedule planned for the main stage to enjoy while strolling up and down Kings Highway to shop from local businesses, crafters, and vendors. The Swedesboro-Woolwich Historical Society and a group of Civil War re-enactors will be present at the Rulon House for a taste of history.

Food will be plentiful and there will be a tremendous variety of local vendors located in the Food Court, as well as the local eating establishments providing their specialties in front of their establishments.

You'll also find an organic farm booth, pretzels, popcorn, water ice, funnel cakes, ice cream, and more. As you can see variety is on the menu.

Visit www.swedesborowoolwichday.com for more details, schedules, and sponsors. Without our sponsors, we would not have attained the votes that earned the title " Best Hometown Event 2007" in Gloucester County.

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Swedesboro Residents Argue Tax Increase

By Philip Dunn

SWEDESBORO TWP. – At the Aug. 18 Borough Council meeting Swedesboro Mayor and Council fielded questions by disgruntled Swedesboro residents who received their tax bills over the weekend.

Three residents of Maybrook Ave came to the meeting to address the tax issue.

Ben F. Campanella, a 23-year resident of Swedesboro, said he had an increase of $1,500 on his tax bill.

“I have a house that is assessed at $164,000 and I’m paying $10,000 in taxes. There is construction going on all around us with houses assessed at $250,000 to $400,000 all paying the same amount of taxes I’m paying. This is the tax burden on the average resident. Our houses are worthless,” said Campanella.

Campanella went on to challenge the council as to where the money came from to update Kings Highway and to redo the firehouse roof. Mayor Tom Fromm explained that work done on the town did not come from the taxes. The road work came from grants and a loan was taken out to repair the roof as they split the cost with Woolwich Township.

Ray Demeo, another long time resident, said he had an increase of $700. With feelings of disappointment and sadness, Demeo expressed his concerns to the council.

“My wife and I are really thinking about moving. I thought this was our third and final house. I really love it here but I feel like we are getting chased out,” said Demeo.

With no children in the school district, Demeo felt that he had no responsibility to fund the school through taxes.

Fromm argued, “I’ll make the argument with anyone that we all benefit from having those schools. It’s the way our system has always been to share the cost to educate our children.”

The final Maybrook resident questioned the council on why Logan and East Greenwich Township’s taxes are so low. The council explained that both of the municipalities have huge business district.
”Their municipality tax is next to nothing because of Logan’s Pureland district and the industrial park that East Greenwich has near I-295. Businesses pay more taxes and don’t bring kids into the school district,” said Fromm.

Reassessment was also brought up at the meeting. Councilmen Sam Casella acknowledged that Swedesboro was past due for an assessment, but nothing is in the works by the borough at this time for a reassessment.

Fromm defended the borough’s budget, but wanted everyone to realize this is affecting him just like everyone else.

“We are trying. This tax bill when it first came out was supposed to be a 46 cent increase just locally, that’s a real number. That would have been double the local tax increase,” said Fromm. The rate ultimately came down to 26 cents per $100 increase.

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Water Restrictions and Recycling
Issues Discussed in East Greenwich

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – Residents of the Brynwood Manor development expressed concern about the new water restrictions at the Aug. 12 township committee meeting. They stated that they are utilizing a private well for irrigation purposes and were aware of at least one other resident in their development being fined for violating the water conservation ordinance despite also having a private well.

In effect since July, the new year-round water restrictions dictate lawn sprinklers may only be operated between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., eliminating previously allowed morning hours.

Even numbered houses may only water on even days and odd numbered houses on odd days. According to the township Water Conservation Ordinance, these restrictions apply to all residents regardless of whether they get water from a water company, from the township, or from a private well.

The residents in attendance believed that the township should be utilizing available records that indicate which homes have wells registered with the county to avoid imposing fines on those who are not using public water. They also emphasized that having to fight these fines in court was “a nuisance”.

Solicitor Timothy Chell responded that the police cannot determine the source of water from just observing a home. He added that it would put undue burden on them to have to check every time they see a violation of the water restrictions.

In other business, Committeeman Pete Miskofsky reported that the Environmental Commission was requesting an update on plans to purchase recycling containers for the new Thompson Family Park. Mayor Fred Grant responded with a proposal to buy four large capacity containers for a total of $7,200. Grant stated that both the Parks and Recreation representatives and Public Works Manager Joe Schweigart have seen the containers and believe they would work well.

The funds for this purchase would come from Clean Communities grant money. There are also plans get reimbursed through the sale of advertising space on each container. At the suggestion of Miskofsky, the committee voted to purchase two containers now and see how successful the sale of advertising space is, with the option to purchase two more in the future.

With more recycling news, Committeeman John DeGeorge reported that the recycling rate has increased significantly in the township. At the beginning of the year, 31 percent of the township’s waste was going into recyclables, compared to 41percent currently. The goal, recommended by the state, is 50 percent.

DeGeorge also pointed out that despite the increased recycling rate, the total volume of trash has also increased, up to an average of 215 pounds of trash per house per month. DeGeorge commended the residents for their efforts to recycle and encouraged even more participation in order to decrease the amount of regular trash entering the waste stream to see more savings on tipping fees.

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Woolwich Introduces $665,000 Bond
Ordinance to Acquire Open Space

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – The Woolwich Township committee introduced an ordinance on Aug. 18 authorizing the issuance $665,000 of bonds or notes to cover the purchase of 91.25 acres of open space on High Hill Road across from High Hill Estates.

According to the text of the ordinance, the township has determined that “sufficient public need and purpose exists for the acquisition of land.”

The Gloucester County Open Space Trust Fund will cover 75 percent of the purchase price. The township’s 25 percent obligation amounts to $700,000.

The down payment required is $35,000 which will come from the Capital Improvement Fund. The remaining $665,000 will be funded by the issuance of bonds or notes, assuming that the ordinance passes.

A second reading and public hearing for the bond ordinance will be held on Sept. 15 when the committee will consider its adoption.

A resident voiced concern during the public session as to whether this was a prudent time to accrue more debt in light of the poor economy and the recent tax increase. Mayor Joe Chila responded to this concern by pointing out that the committee believes securing this amount of land for open space will prevent at least 60 more homes from being built, with the potential for 180 additional children entering the school system, all of which would add more tax burden to current residents.

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