Front Page News

Swedesboro To Host Inaugural Outdoor Living & Garden Show

SWEDESBORO – The Borough of Swedesboro will host its inaugural Outdoor Living & Garden Show on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Swedesboro Auction House located along Locke Avenue.

Admission is free for this rain or shine event.

“This event is part of our ongoing efforts to promote the revitalization of historic Swedesboro,” said Swedesboro Economic Development Chair Diane Hale. “By bringing together dozens of vendors, we can meet the needs of the community which continues to grow at a record pace.”

The Swedesboro Outdoor Living & Garden Show will bring together the latest products and services available for gardening and enjoying the great outdoors. Vendors include greenhouses, hardscapers, landscapers, ponds, stamped concrete, fire pits, tool rental, lawn furniture, gazebos, and so much more.

Cost to vendors is $100 for a 10x20 booth space and $150 for an end space.

Another highlight of the Swedesboro Outdoor Living & Garden Show will be a local farmers market including a cooking display for asparagus, a popular crop among area farmers.

“An event such as the Outdoor Living & Garden Show is exciting because it will not only help our new neighbors in the area be more award of local businesses, but it will help to educate them about the rich history of farming in the Swedesboro area,” added Swedesboro Mayor Tom Fromm.

The Swedesboro Outdoor Living & Garden is made possible through the generous support of the South Jersey Tourism Corporation and Gloucester County Department of Economic Development.

To learn more about the inaugural Swedesboro Outdoor Living & Garden Show call 1-888-315-8009.

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SWEDESBORO

Board of Health Reminder

Swedesboro Residents,
The Board of Health would like to remind everyone that dog and cat owners must license their pets each year.

According to the Borough of Swedesboro’s ordinance Chapter 62, all dogs and cats must be licensed every year in accordance with New Jersey statues. The licensing may be obtained at Borough Hall for a fee of $7 and a registration fee of $1 per year.

The ordinance also further indicates that there will be violations if any dog or cat owners allows the animal to run at large, permits the animal on a public street without adequate leashing and/or fails to clean up after their animal.

There is a limit of a total of three dogs, cats or combination of animals per household. Ordinance chapter 62-6 outlines the Borough’s noise ordinance for barking.

Additional information regarding this ordinance can be obtained at Borough Hall.

Swedesboro Board of Health

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A Letter To The Editor

To the Editor:

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our entire community for the tremendous support and assistance they provided to our Swedesboro residents following the recent tragic fire at the historic Hannold House on Kings Highway. The outpouring of support from individuals and organizations in Swedesboro, Woolwich, Logan, East Greenwich and beyond has been truly amazing and reinforces the fact that we live in the greatest “community” in New Jersey, bar none.

I’d also like to repeat my thanks to the heroes in the Woolwich Fire Department and Swedesboro Police Department who saved lives on the night of the fire. The fact that there were no injuries as a result of a fire in a historic building such as the Hannold House that had no fire breaks or other modern fire prevention construction design is a testament to the skill and courage of the women and men in our Police and Fire Departments. Thank you all on behalf of the Borough.

As for the future of the Hannold House property, many of you have been asking questions and offering suggestions about what should (or should not) replace the building. There is no question that the character of our Business District has been changed forever because before the fire, any plans for development in the area revolved around the Hannold House.

We are now left with a hole in the downtown that was never anticipated and we need to be certain that we do the right thing for the long-term future of the Borough. In light of this, I have proposed that the Borough play a lead role in the redevelopment of the properties located between Botto’s and the Swedes Inn to insure that the needs of the town are met and the residents of Swedesboro all have a say in what our downtown looks like.

Our approved Redevelopment Plan includes this area and gives us tremendous flexibility and increased control over what type of development will take place.

There is nothing even close to being decided, but our ultimate goal is to provide much needed off street parking for people supporting our downtown businesses, have major input on the type of commercial and residential development that takes place and to finally secure a permanent home for the Swedesboro-Woolwich Historical Society in the heart of our town.

If the pieces fall into place as I think they will, the Borough will purchase several properties through fair market practices (there will be No Eminent Domain), sub-divide the properties to meet the needs of the town and then package the properties that have frontage on Kings Highway and sell them to the developer who has the best design plan and highest bid price. The Borough will recoup our investment immediately and there will be no impact on our taxes.

This model has worked in other towns such as Glassboro and Collingswood, and there is a track record and documented evidence that this is a plan that works for towns that take the initiative and “go for it”. I am hoping that we get the support to do just that.

I’ve had numerous discussions about this idea with residents, business owners and community leaders and I have heard almost unanimous positive feedback. All Borough Council members present at the April 16 meeting unanimously approved a motion to continue to explore options available to us, and over 25 citizens in attendance voiced their support for the concept.

I will be forming a special committee to review all plans and ideas involving the future of this area. The committee will include representatives from the various businesses and organizations affected, along with residents who want to get involved. This group will be asked to provide recommendations to Borough Council and the Planning/Zoning Board regarding the future use of the area.

I plan to hold a meeting at the Walter Hill or Clifford School to provide anyone who is interested the opportunity to share their ideas and discuss the future of our great town. The intent is to make sure that decisions that affect the downtown area are made by the residents of Swedesboro working together to reach a consensus on what is best for the Borough.

This process is going to be as open and transparent as it possibly can and it will be an excellent opportunity to come together as a town to achieve a common goal. I will let you know when the date for the meeting is finalized.

Feel free to call me at 467-3482 or email me at twfromm@yahoo.com with any questions or comments.
Thomas Fromm, Mayor of Swedesboro

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East Greenwich

East Greenwich Narrowly Approves Budget Cap Increase

By Beth S. Biermann

EAST GREENWICH – The East Greenwich Township Committee adopted an ordinance to increase the 2007 proposed budget cap from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent at their April 10 meeting, by a narrow three to two vote.

Committeemen Frank Aiello and Fred Grant voted against the increase while Committeewoman Michelle Haenggi, Deputy Mayor Pete Miskofsky and Mayor John DeGeorge voiced affirmative votes.

According to DeGeorge, the budget will result in taxpayers seeing no increase in their tax rate.

A state law requires that specified budget line items designated as capped items increase no more than 2.5 percent over the previous budget year. In order to increase the capped items by up to 3.5 percent, municipalities are required to pass an ordinance by majority committee vote.

Any increase of more than 3.5 percent must be brought to a vote for residents.

The only capped items in the 2007 proposed budget are salaries and insurance. DeGeorge claimed that by voting for a 3.5 percent increase the committee would enable township employees to receive a raise.

The committee introduced the proposed budget at their March 27 meeting and was scheduled to hold a second reading and public hearing on the budget on April 24.

In other news, the committee accepted a letter of resignation from John J. Caruso, Deputy Tax Assessor, effective April 30. The committee also voted to advertise the position as soon as possible.

Former Tax Assessor Nick Monahan retired on April 1 and was replaced by Sandy Elliott. Elliott is the tax assessor for Mantua Township and as a result of an interlocal service agreement between East Greenwich and Mantua, will work in East Greenwich on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The deputy tax assessor has traditionally held evening hours on Wednesdays in order to provide services for those resident who cannot conduct their business during the day. The committee will look for a new hire to continue this evening service.

The committee also passed a resolution honoring Adam C. Stuhltrager, a Mount Royal resident, who was scheduled to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout by Boy Scout Troop 7059. The resolution congratulated and commended Stuhltrager for “having fulfilled the highest standards of Scout spirit, personal fitness, first aid, family life, citizenship, leadership and honor”.

Finally, Haenggi, liaison to the Parks & Recreation Committee, commended the committee for their efforts in organizing East Greenwich Day, scheduled for Saturday May 12. Staring with a parade from the Jeffrey Clark School to the Shady Lane Grounds at 9 a.m. and continuing with rides, games, food, a rock climb, dunk tank and more from noon to 5 p.m., the day will end with fireworks at dusk at the baseball complex.

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Woolwich

Rev. David Bailey at Old Stone Church, May 20

WOOLWICH TWP. – Old Stone Church, built in 1793, will hold its annual anniversary service on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m.

Highlighting the service will be the return of Rev. David Bailey on horseback portraying a circuit rider of colonial days. Rev. Bailey, a dynamic speaker, first played the role of circuit rider at Old Stone in 1976 and again at Old Stone’s 200^th anniversary celebration in 1993.

Rev. Bailey is the founder of Ranch Hope in Alloway, a facility for boys in need of help and Victory House in Williamstown, a facility for girls in need of help.

Old Stone Church is located in a rural wooded setting, two miles west of Swedesboro just off Route 322 at the intersection of Stone Meeting House and Oak Grove Roads.

The church, known as the Mother of Methodism in Gloucester County holds fond memories for many of our local families whose ancestors worshiped and shared many spiritual and social gatherings at the church and on its grounds. It is one of our little know local historic treasures that exists today as it did over 200 years ago.

The 214-year-old brownstone church was re-opened in 1993 just in time for its 200 year anniversary celebration. The church closed for eight years due to unsafe conditions and was re-opened following a four-year restoration by a small group of devoted volunteers.

Bethesda United Methodist Church in Swedesboro serves as caretaker for its “mother church”.

The congregational singing and special music will be accompanied by the 125-year-old Scottish reed organ that works by foot pedal pump pressure supplied by the organist. This antique Trayser harmonium is registered with the International Reed Organ Society.

The public is welcome and invited to share this occasion in a setting where you will experience a step back in time and place to see how your ancestors worshiped over 200 years ago.

Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the ceremony.

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Kingsway Grad and VA Tech Student

by Jean Redstone

BLACKSBURG, VA. -- The first thought Matthew Borrie had when he left his accounting classroom at 9:55 the morning of April 16 and saw the unusual number of students “hanging around with their cell phones out,” was to wonder what he had missed. He left Williams Hall, “and there were all these kids and they said something had happened,” Borrie said in a phone interview last month.

The son of Craig and Leeanna Borrie of Woolwich Township, Borrie, 21, is a junior at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., and soon learned from a text message the university sent to students that there had been a shooting on campus.

The second thought he had was that he was safe and he should tell his parents and friends. But being safe, as events at the university proved, does not mean out of danger. Williams Hall is only minutes away from Norris Hall, where Seung-Hui Cho, the student who had shot two people early in the morning, continued his rampage a couple of hours later, just before Borrie’s class let out. In the worst mass murder in the country’s history, the gunman killed 32 students and faculty before taking his own life.

Borrie did not know a massacre was in progress when he left Williams Hall, but he followed instructions to students to go to their residences and stay inside. There he called home. As did every other student, it seemed.

“Everybody was calling home and their friends,” he said. “My cell network closed down from the traffic. People had to keep trying over and over to get a call out.”

Craig Borrie, owner of Borrie’s Outdoor Power Equipment business in Gibbstown, said his son phoned home “while the second (shooting rampage) was going on. He didn’t know for sure what was going on but there were cops … all over the campus, he said. He could see them all over. He called his mother first, then he called me. You can imagine how it felt to know he was OK.”

Matthew Borrie, who is majoring in business and finance, lives at Wesley Foundation housing. The Foundation is a campus ministry of the United Methodist Church and Borrie is co-chair of the Spiritual committee, running Bible Study and “various other activities” at the Foundation.

Besides calling home to report his safety, Borrie “called everybody I knew (from school). It took an hour and a half to do a head count but it felt like it had to be done. I’m kind of someone who is expected to keep in touch,” Borrie said, calling himself an extrovert. Worried for the safety and needs of other students, Borrie felt he could help by contacting them, passing on word of their safety as needed and so quickly getting the word out to those who might be concerned.

In fact, when most of the students on campus left to find comfort at their various homes, Borrie stayed at the Foundation, available to do whatever was needed. “I just felt better to stay here and that it would be helping (other students) to be here. I have some students who came to talk to me or I took them to the counseling center.

“We (at Wesley Foundation) have cancelled most of our activities – we usually have something going on every night like Bible study, dinners, singing groups. And we’re just open and yeh, people are coming in to be here. It’s sort of a safe haven,” Borrie said.

The events of the third week in April “will be something I’ll always remember,” Borrie, a graduate of Kingsway High School, said. “But it won’t hold me back. You can’t live your life afraid of the one in a million chance tragedy.”

He had a bit of advice, from his perspective, about how to proceed now. He said he hadn’t concluded yet why the gunman wreaked such horror at the school. “I know people want to hate him. They’re angry. But I don’t think hating anyone helps.

“Don’t hold your feelings in. Talk about what happened to your friends,” Borrie said he would advise if anyone asked. “Go about your life and wait for normalcy to return.”

As the fourth week in April began, classes reopened at Virginia Tech and returning students joined in memorials and remembrances of their fallen staff and peers. They were vowing to go about their business, defying the fright and the fear of a week before.

Whether normalcy returns is still an open question.

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Recycle Bank To Roll Out Program
For Woolwich Residents In June

by Beth S. Biermann

WOOLWICH – Administrator Jack Lipsett reported to the Woolwich Township Committee during their April 16 regular meeting that RecycleBank, a Philadelphia incentive-based recycling company, will begin its program for Woolwich residents during the week of June 11.

During the week of June 4, Woolwich residents will receive delivery of a recycling container containing an imbedded barcode which records the weight of the recyclables in each pick-up. RecycleBank will outfit the trucks of Casworth Waste Services, the trash hauler serving Woolwich, with the equipment necessary to weigh and record the recycling materials collected.

Residents who participate will receive “RecycleBank Dollars” based on the weight of recyclables collected from their container. These coupons will be redeemable at participating retailers, including Acme, ShopRite, Staples.

Credits will be capped at 35 “RecycleBank Dollars” per month to prevent fraudulent behavior, such as placing non-recyclable materials in the cans to increase the weight. All recyclables, including paper, plastic, glass, tin, aluminum and metal, will be placed together in one container.

Also at the April 16 meeting, Thorofare resident Jesse Thorn was sworn in as a 5^th Class Patrolman for the Woolwich Township Police Department. Thorn was previously employed as a police officer in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County. Mayor Joe Chila performed the swearing in ceremony as Thorn’s mother held the Bible and pinned on his badge.

In other business, the committee passed an ordinance creating a new position of Municipal Housing Liaison. The liaison would be responsible for oversight and administration of the township’s affordable housing program. The municipal employee will be appointed by the committee and could be either part-time or full-time.

The committee also passed a resolution issuing a peddler’s license to Kevin D. Wilkes for a mobile business known as WISP. This license will allow Wilkes to sell water ice and soft pretzels within the township of Woolwich. This is an annual license with a fee of $200 and has been approved after an investigation of the applicant by the Woolwich Police Department.

Finally, Committeman Ted Otten announced that advanced discounted game and ride tickets will be available for Locke Avenue Fun Day, scheduled for June 9. Residents can buy 30 tickets for $15.00 or 14 tickets for $9.00, available at the Woolwich Township municipal building or any Parks and Recreation event.

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7.6 Cent Tax Increase Proposed In Woolwich Budget

by Beth Biermann

WOOLWICH -- The Woolwich Township Committee introduced the proposed 2007 municipal budget at their April 2 work session meeting, with a 7.6 cent increase.

In the proposed budget calculations, appropriations total $5.855 million, an increase of $165,000 over the 2006 appropriations. This 2.8 percent increase is a substantially less significant increase than last year. The 2006 budget rose 7 percent with a $400,000 increase over 2005.

The local purpose tax will increase 7.6 cents per $100 of assessed home value, from 46.1 cents in 2006 to 53.7 cents in 2007. This translates to a local tax of $981 for a homeowner with an average assessed home value of $182,700. This will result in a tax hike of $150 over the 2006 local tax of $831.

One of the most significant costs to the township, according to Administrator Jack Lipsett, is a four percent increase in salaries and a continued increase in the price of health insurance for municipal employees.

Interested residents can get more information by attending the public hearing on the 2007 proposed budget, scheduled for Monday, May 21 at 7pm at the Woolwich Township municipal building.

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OLD STONE CHURCH STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, JUNE 3

WOOLWICH TWP. – Are you ready for some strawberries?

If not, get ready. Put aside Sunday afternoon, June 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. for the19th annual Strawberry Festival being held at Old Stone Church located at the intersection of Oak Grove and Stone Meeting House Roads in Woolwich Township, just two miles off Route 322.

The Old Stone Preservation Committee sponsor the strawberry festival to raise funds to preserve and maintain the treasured historic church and to attract those new to the area to visit Old Stone Church and its ancient cemetery so they can understand and appreciate who and where those who lived and farmed here worshiped and socialized well over 200 years ago.

This old church was built in 1793 by the local farmers who needed a place to worship nearby. Using local brown field stone and timber from trees nearby, they constructed this plain and modest building and the benches that are original. It remains very much the same today as it did 214 years ago, lighted only by candles and oil lamps and heated only by the warmth of the worshippers.

Here in this quaint rural setting under the trees, family and friends can gather and leisurely enjoy a tasty summer delight. You will be served a heaping bowl with home-made old fashioned shortcake covered with plenty of ice cream and strawberries piled on top and then toped with whipped cream and a giant strawberry.

Who can resist this gourmet delight? So put Sunday, June 3 on your calendar and bring the family out to Old Stone Church.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under 10. Please call the following persons for tickets: Marvin Dare 467-2797, Mary Ann Homan 467-1994, or Russell Shiveler 467-3310.

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