Get Ready For Swedesboro
Woolwich Day 2009, Sept. 26

SWEDESBORO -- The annual Swedesboro Woolwich Day community event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 rain or shine.

The popular Car Show is returning this year with 12 categories to earn trophies. The show will begin at Pat’s Service Station and run past the Woolwich Fire House to East Avenue.

Visit www.swedesborowoolwichday.com for more information on the show classes and to register cars. For questions regarding the car show you may contact Jim Schultz at swcarshow@gmail.com.

While taking in the Car Show you can also check out the Fire Prevention displays at the Woolwich Fire Company.

The day will begin with the Third Annual 5K Dragon Run, l Mile Fun Walk at 8 a.m. Online applications may be found on www.naterocksheaven.org.

Both the Car Show and the Dragon Run benefits the Nathaniel Boerlin Scholarship Fund.  The Kingsway Marching Band kicks off the Run and then will perform at 10 a.m. for the Opening Ceremony at the main stage.

ROAD CLOSINGS: Several roads will be closed for the duration of the race and detours will be in place and posted on swedesborowoolwichday.com.  The Run route begins at Swedesboro Borough Hall to the Woolwich Township Road Department substation (old Township 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.

As in the past, 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 fun from Governor Stratton School on Center Square Road and Walter Hill School lot off Bridgeport Avenue.

Parking may also be provided at the Swedesboro Auction off Locke Avenue. There will be no parking on most of Second Street for the day in order for traffic and buses to get around the town, as well as no parking on Railroad Avenue from Kings Highway to Second Street.

Reserved handicap parking will be limited at Bank of America lot on Railroad Avenue. Various lots in Swedesboro will be reserved for vendors and volunteers with parking tags. In order to enjoy the day, shuttles will be the best way to come into town.

With the funds from our sponsors, the committee is able to provide entertainment for everyone. Young children enjoy the Kids Zone which is a Circus Show on one stage featuring the Candy Man, Sparkle the Clown, Magic and Comedy and Characters that perform throughout the day, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Other features for children are face painting, two Moon Bounces, Joust Pit and two balloon artists. 

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. Pony rides will be offered by Vaulting Visions 4H Club behind the Swedesboro Library.

There will also be some demonstration crafts – beaded jewelry, mosaic art, pottery, quilting, and artists that plan to demonstrate their talents. While watching the demonstrations you can enjoy the variety of local vendors located in the food court, as well as the local eating establishments providing their specialties in front of their establishments.

County Opens Glen Echo Avenue Bridge in Swedesboro

SWEDESBORO – Gloucester County Freeholders and local officials opened the Glen Echo Avenue Bridge in Swedesboro. The bridge was completely replaced by the County utilizing $1.3 million in state aid and Transportation Trust Funds.

The Glen Echo Avenue Bridge spans the Narraticon Run and was constructed in 1925.  The bridge was structurally deficient and did not meet current codes for sidewalks and shoulder widths.

“I know it is a relief for Swedesboro to have this bridge replaced and open. The county is constantly working on upgrading our roads and bridges for the safety of our drivers and this bridge is an important part of the infrastructure of Swedesboro and the County,” said Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney.

Freeholder Deputy Director Bob Damminger said that the replacement of the existing deteriorated bridge carrying Glen Echo Avenue (CR 538) over Narraticon Run provides a 30 foot roadway width with two travel lanes and two shoulders. An 8 foot sidewalk with parapet on the south side and a barrier on the north side was constructed.

“This is now a beautiful, sound structure,” said Damminger. “The county keeps an aggressive schedule on our bridge replacement program.  In addition to this bridge, we are working on three other bridge replacement projects right now,” said Damminger, liaison to the Department of Public Works. 

The County began construction on the Glen Echo Avenue bridge in February, 2009.  The total cost was $1.96 million on Mount Construction was the contractor.

Fromm Accuses Council Person Of Spreading Lies About Parking Survey

by Sam Fran Scavuzzo

SWEDESBORO - Announcing he “had something to get off his chest,” Democratic Mayor Thomas Fromm accused a council member, later identified as Republican Joanna Gahrs, of spreading false rumors to business owners about property seizures.

 “It fires me up to hear calls from prominent business owners about this. The lies have to stop. Put the town in front of politics,” Fromm said at the borough’s August 17 Council meeting.

In his speech, he said a member of Schoener’s Service Station contacted him about the town seizing the auto repair shop’s property. An unnamed employee told Fromm a council member approached him about Swedesboro installing a parking lot on the shop’s site, located prominently on Kings Highway in the town’s central business district.

Fromm denied the rumor.

When addressing the council, Fromm refrained from singling out Gahrs but later said the councilwoman had contacted the auto shop. Gahrs declined to comment at the meeting until she had a chance to talk to Fromm privately.

Later in the week Fromm said that she called him and stated that she had talked to the property owner but according to Fromm, Gahrs said she didn’t tell them the town was taking their property.

At the meeting, Fromm cited a parking report conducted by an independent firm hired by the council. The consulting group offered proposals to improve parking downtown. Although the report does mention acquiring certain properties, Schoener’s was not one of them.

“The group is hired to throw out ideas – one’s the council can act or not act upon later,” he said. “We don’t let consultants make decisions. We make them.”

Fromm told the council to stop misleading the public.

“I’m tired of receiving calls where I have to continually say, ‘No, we’re not taking your land,’” he said. “I won’t take it anymore. It has to stop.”

Predominately on Kings Highway, Swedesboro’s business district has grown during Fromm’s two-term tenure. At the meeting, the borough introduced an additional amendment to expedite zoning procedures for prospective business owners.

In July, as per concerns from several businesses, Gahrs asked Fromm who would review and implement the survey’s suggestions. According to the July 6 council minutes, Fromm said it would be reviewed by the Economic Development Committee, but council would make all final decisions.

Going on his sixth year as the borough’s mayor, Fromm said rumors pop up as elections approach.

“There’s just a philosophy that if you scare people, [development] will stop,” he said. “It’s just not right. I’m sick of this strategy of misinformation.”

Democratic Council President David Flaherty and Republican Councilman Salvatore “Sam” Casella are up for reelection in November.

Before his 2007 reelection, Fromm accused former Councilwoman Darlene Gage – his Republican mayoral challenger – of utilizing borough police to spread rumors about him. Gage denied the claim, as did her nephew, former Police Chief William Dupper.

Gage lost her mayoral bid and did not run for her council seat the next year. Dupper retired following the recent consolidation of the Swedesboro and Woolwich police departments.

Although the six-member council is mostly Democratic, Fromm still thinks a culture of misinformation exists.

“People don’t deserve to be scared to death,” he said. “You’re hurting the town if you think [the lies are] going to stop Swedesboro from expanding.”

Fromm also said he hears misinformed concerns about destroying the town’s historic property.

Gahrs Responds To Accusations

by Karen E. Viereck,
Editor/Publisher

SWEDESBORO – After reading Council person Jo Anna Gahrs in regards to comments made about her from Swedesboro Mayor Thomas Fromm, Gahrs stated, “I have not spread misinformation around Swedesboro as Mayor Fromm is stating.”

“A parking survey of Swedesboro was released to the Swedesboro Council members and permission was granted by Mayor Fromm that this survey could be shared with the public. At no time did I say that "they" would TAKE anyone's property who was listed on the survey.”

Gahrs added, “In answer to my question at a recent council meeting, should anyone have questions about the survey or who was in charge of any action that may be taken regarding the survey, I was told they were to refer to Mayor Fromm or Mrs. Hale.”

Gahrs said she was very disappointed that Mayor Fromm did not have the decency to discuss these accusations with her prior to making his statement the council meeting.

Woolwich to Install Handicap Parking
At Locke Avenue Park

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – The Township Committee awarded a contract in the amount of $8,015 to GWB Enterprises to install additional handicapped parking stalls at Locke Avenue Park.

At their Aug. 17 regular meeting, the Committee voted to use part of a $26,600 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to make Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to the Locke Avenue Park parking lot. Funds from this same grant will be used to complete additional projects at the park, including installation of a handicapped access water fountain.

The Committee also passed a resolution authorizing the execution of an interlocal services agreement with the Borough of Swedesboro for the purchase of radio equipment for the Woolwich Fire Department. Seven mobile radio units, seven antennas and ten pagers will be purchased for an amount not to exceed $13,000. The cost will be split, with 50 percent split between Woolwich and Swedesboro.

Deputy Mayor James Lavender announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) approved two signs for Route 295 reading “Woolwich Township, Next 3 Exits”. According to Anthony Zappasodi, Director of Community Development, one will be located at mile marker 12 heading south and the other at mile marker six heading north. He estimates that they will be up within 30 days.

Finally, DiBella announced that the annual Patriot Day Celebration, organized by residents of Four Seasons, will be held at the new municipal building this year on Friday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. It has previously been held in the Four Seasons community.

Representatives of the Woolwich Township Police Department, Fire Department and Gloucester County EMS will be in attendance for the ceremony. Township resident Tony Gioia will be donating a Never Forget Flag that will be flown at the municipal building every Sept. 11.

Committee Regulates Number, Time & Advertising Of Yard Sales in Township

by Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – The Township Committee passed an ordinance regulating the operation and advertising of yard sales after a public hearing on Aug. 11.

According to the text of the ordinance, yard sales are defined as any sale advertised as a garage sale, lawn sale, yard sale, attic sale, rummage sale, flea market sale, etc. All sales are to be conducted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Any resident wishing to hold a yard sale must apply for a permit, for no fee, seven days before the first day of the sale and display the permit at the site of the sale. The ordinance sets a limit of two permits per calendar year and states that each sale is not to exceed three days in length.

Charitable, religious and civic organizations may be allowed more than two permits per year with the approval of the Township Committee.

Advertising for yard sales is also regulated by the ordinance. Signs cannot be larger than 24 inches by 24 inches and must contain the name, address and telephone number of the person holding the sale and the permit number. Any newspaper advertisements must contain the same information.

The ordinance is enforced by the East Greenwich Police Department and anyone convicted of violating a provision may be fined up to $500.00.

A Mt. Royal resident asked why the committee was considering the ordinance and why it sets limits on the number of yards sales allowed per year. Township Solicitor Timothy Chell responded that the time restriction and quantity limit is intended to protect neighbors from the inconvenience of cars pulling in and out very early in the morning and for more than just a few weekends.

Mayor Fred Grant added that the ordinance is in response to complaints received about residents having yard sales two or three weekends per month, which is not appropriate activity for a residential area and verges on being a business use.

The same resident also expressed concern about the requirement to advertise the name, address and phone number, stating that it would add to the cost of placing such an advertisement in the newspaper. It was also a concern for her in terms of identity theft. The committee did not address this concern before passing the ordinance.

In other business, the committee awarded a contract for the construction of the township’s new one million gallon water tower to CB&I, the low bidder, for $2.2 million. The project will be financed through a bond ordinance.

The township had applied for financing through the New Jersey Infrastructure Trust, which would have saved approximately $800,000 in finance charges for what was then estimated to be a $3 million project. However, Grant explained that in light of the slow economy, current construction costs are comparatively low and waiting to hear about the Trust financing would result in an estimated 15 to 20 percent increased cost of construction, which would negate the interest savings.

Grant also explained that by acting now, the water tower would be in operation in July 2010. If the township waited for Infrastructure Trust funding, the water tower would not be completed until the winter of 2011, but due to not being able to paint it in the winter, it would not be in operation until spring of 2011.

Committeeman James Watson added that the committee wanted to “expedite the process to get this done in a timely fashion for public safety reasons as well as water pressure reasons by the time summer hits again next year.”

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