Front Page News

Bethesda Presents 16th Annual Living Nativity, Dec. 21

SWEDESBORO – Bethesda United Methodist Church, located in the heart of Swedesboro, will present its 16^th annual “Living Nativity” on Sunday evening, Dec. 21.

The presentation will be held on the front lawn of the church, featuring the manger scene with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus visited by shepherds with their lambs. They will be followed by the appearance of angels and the arrival of the Wise Men of the East with their gifts.

There will be a number of live animals and maybe, if the children use their imagination, a camel or two will be seen in the background.

Special Christmas music will accompany the narrative of the classic story of Jesus birth. Small children will be provided with shepherd’s headdress as they share in the program.

Please plan to dress warmly to keep yourself and the children comfortable since the program will be held outside.

There will be two presentations of the story, each lasting about 20 minutes, with the first staring at 6 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m.

Following the 6:30 presentation the public is invited to enjoy a Christmas carol sing-a-long and share some refreshments.

It’s a night where you and your children can be part of the annual celebration of the Christmas story. And maybe some of your friends and neighbors would enjoy the experience. Invite them to come and join you.

Bethesda Church is located at the intersection of Kings Highway and Railroad Avenue in downtown Swedesboro.

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Water Tower Public Hearing Draws No Comments

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – No comments were made by residents during a public hearing on a proposed water storage tank at the East Greenwich regular meeting on Nov. 11.

The public hearing was the last step in an application for public financing for the construction of a one million gallon water tower at the intersection of Wolfert Station and Rattling Run roads. As part of the application process, the township was required to hold a public hearing and submit any comments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The township is applying for financing through the New Jersey State Infrastructure Trust, which, if approved, will be in the form of a loan administered by the DEP at reduced interest rates. The project will cost approximately $3 million and is intended to alleviate water shortage issues in the township.

Low water pressure is also being addressed with the relocation of a well from one side of the township to the water tower site. The new well will provide water supply to the water tower.

The first step in the well relocation is the drilling of a test well. Bids were received by the township for the test well project and A.C. Schultes came in with the lower of two bids at $242,225.

The township doesn’t yet have final approval from the DEP for the well to be drilled, but according to Mayor Fred Grant, the township wants to have the bid in place so that the contract can be awarded and work can begin as soon as approval is granted. The township has 60 days to award the bid, after which the project has to go out to bid again.

According to Township Engineer Kenneth Ressler, the test well will be drilled as a final production model, making it available to be converted to the final production well once testing is completed.

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Woolwich Makes Preparations for Winter Weather

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – In anticipation of the upcoming winter months, the Woolwich Committee authorized the hiring of seven per diem employees on an as needed basis to perform snow removal for the 2008-2009 season at their Nov. 17 regular meeting.

According to Township Administrator Jane DiBella, this is the same number of per diem employees authorized each year. The township public works department requires an excess of people to pull from, as most on the list are not available during the day because of full-time employment elsewhere.

The hourly wage for the per diem snow removal will be $25, funds which are available in the current municipal budget and will also be made available in the 2009 budget.

According to DiBella, Public Works Manager Anthony Bertino expressed a major concern that the township will not be able to handle a very large snow storm with the current crew, even with the additional per diem employees. He requested that the township have an emergency back up plan in place for supplemental snow removal in the form of a private plow and operator.

Mayor Joe Chila said “we can put it out there”, in the form of an advertisement, but there is no obligation for the township to use the services if they are not needed.

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