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Mount Ephraim Post Office To Be Rebuilt

PHOTO BY BILL BATES

 
POST OFFICE COMING SOON – A sign was recently placed at the former Mount Ephraim Post Office site at the corner of West Kings Highway and Lincoln Avenue announcing the return of the Post Office that is scheduled to commence in 2 to 4 weeks.


BY BILL BATES
NEWS Correspondent
The sign reads \”MOUNT EPHRAIM POST OFFICE COMING SOON\”. This is a sign that many residents and town officials have been waiting for since that dreary day in December of 2005. The former Mount Ephraim Post Office had to be torn down after several inches of ice had built up on the roof and caused a substantial collapse in the early morning hours.
Mount Ephraim Mayor Michael Reader wanted to thank the entire community for a job well done and their continued patience during this entire process. \”This is a great day for the residents of Mount Ephraim \” he stated as he delivered the news of the return of our own post office once again. \”The entire community deserves a big pat-on-the-back, without them and the borough staff working with the officials from the United States Postal Service, this wouldn\’t have been able to happen\”. \”This really is just tremendous news\” he further added just a few days after he received a phone call from Dave White, the USPS Buildings & Grounds Manager delivering the good news.
It was not an easy process, many things were done along the way such as petition drives, a town wide meeting between the Mount Ephraim residents and the officials from the USPS, and surveys were sent out to each and every town resident to hear their opinions and concerns regarding the post office. All of things these contributed to the success of this exciting news.
Many meetings and phone calls took place between the Mayor and Commissioners and the United State Postal Service. They continuously were making contact to check on the status of the project and to find out answers each and every month. \”We were not going to give up on something that we and many other residents felt was a vital asset to this community\” he added. \”This was very important to us because many residents who are elderly or who do not drive relied on this service each and every day\”. \”Their service was interrupted and we made this project one of our top priorities to do everything within our power to restore this service for them\” he further explained.
This exciting news comes at a time when most of Kings Highway is getting a facelift from the Black Horse Pike all the way down to Market Street . The new traffic light at the intersection of Kings Highway and Market Street was recently installed and became functional, the Streetscape Project is rolling along smoothly as several of the victorian light fixtures have already been installed and have been connected, after all of the lights are installed, then they will begin on the brick pavers for the walk-ways on both sides of Kings Highway, the Jim Sylvester & John West Memorial Firefighter Monument which will be located at Kings Highway and Station Avenue on the corner of the Mary Bray Elementary School is scheduled to begin in a few weeks, the former Haddonfield Lumber Yard site is soon to be the new location to 42 two-story homes in the price range of $200,000 and up, the Walgreen\’s Project is currently being constructed at the corner of Kings Highway and the Black Horse Pike, and soon to be the new Mount Ephraim Post Office right smack dab in the middle of it all. There could not be any better news at a time like now when so many positive things are happening in Mount Ephraim.
Two people that need to be acknowledged and recognized are Congressman Rob Andrews for his assistance and lengthy time spent working with the Borough of Mount Ephraim and the United States Postal Service. The second is Assemblymen Joe Roberts for all of his contributions as well. \”Fell free to send them a message of thanks, they certainly deserve one\” Commissioner Suzanne Gaglianone added. \”It is amazing what Assemblyman Roberts and Congressman Andrews and their staff are able to do\”. \”They definitely were looking at nothing but the best interest of the residents of Mount Ephraim \” she further added.
Mayor Reader explained that this new Post Office Retail Center will be some type of modular walk-in facility. Several modular buildings will be connected to include a counter area, P.O. Boxes and room for the employees to handle packages and receive mail. The distribution of mail will still be received from the Distribution Annex in Camden on Mount Ephraim Avenue , just as it has been since December of 2005.
\”The postal service is behind on a few other projects due to the flooding that recently occurred in the South Jersey area, which is causing our start date to be pushed back\” Mayor Reader explained. \”Construction of this modular facility is expected to commence in two to four weeks I was told\”.
\”This really is very exciting news for the entire town of Mount Ephraim \” Mayor Reader announced again. \”To have our own post office back closes a small gap that was left open right in the middle of Mount Ephraim , right in the middle of Kings Highway , and right in the middle of a soon to be beautiful thoroughfare\”. \”I think this is the best news that I have received since I have been in office\” he concluded with much enthusiasm

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Obit Anna Marie Keyko

On May 7, 2007. (nee Radford) Of Gloucester City. Formerly of Cherry Hill and Mount Ephraim. Loving wife of 62 years to the late Edward \”Campbell Soup Ed\” Keyko. Surrounded, cared for and loved by her daughter Rosley Keyko of Cherry Hill.

Devoted sister of Catherine Radford of Pennsauken and the late John, William, Frank, Joseph, Jerry, Robert and Rose Cassella. Beloved sister-in-law of Sophie Alloway of Cape May. Survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Anna Marie was a resident of Mount Ephraim from 1970 to 1993 and then moved to Cherry Hill until 2004. She was currently a resident of the Francis J. Gorman Carpenter\’s Square in Gloucester City and was very involved with the Seniors Group. She was a member of PETA. Anna Marie was a parishioner of Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church in Gloucester City. For over forty years, she was a journey woman at local binderies in the area.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her viewing on Monday morning from 8 am to 11 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (At Brown Street) Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:30 am at Saint Mary\’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. There will be no Sunday Evening viewing.

Family requests that memorial donations be made in Anna Marie\’s memory in lieu of flowers to The Scleroderma Foundation: Delaware Valley Chapter: 385 Kings Highway North, Cherry Professional Building, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Please write in the memo of the check Anna Marie Keyko. Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of Anna Marie Keyko.

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New Traffic Light in Mt. Ephraim

PHOTO BY BILL BATES

 
NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT WORKING – Above – A highway crew paints the pedestrian and safety lines at the busy intersection before the lights become operational. On Wednesday, April 18 the new traffic light at the intersection of West Kings Highway and Baird Avenue was switched to become a working light. The intersection is equipped with timer crosswalks which allows the pedestrians to view how many seconds are left before the light changes directions. Mount Ephraim Police Chief Edward Dobleman said that he is glad to see the lights operational. He also added that this will allow for a safer intersection for the school children in the mornings, afternoons and during non-school hours as well. The new light will allow traffic to move at a controlled intersection verses having the traffic back up onto Market Street during rush hours. This new light has become a reality thanks to the ceaseless efforts of Former Freeholder Thomas Gurick, Mount Ephraim Mayor Michael Reader, and Commissioners Suzanne Gaglianone and Tony Chambers.

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Mount Ephraim\’s Rescue 45 in Service

PHOTO and Caption BY BILL BATES


NEW RESCUE TRUCK – The Mount Ephraim Boro Commissioners recently presented the keys to the fire department placing the new Rescue 45 in service. From left, Mount Ephraim Fire Chief Mario Scullan, Mayor Michael Reader, Commissioner Tony Chambers, and Commissioner Suzanne Gaglianone.

The MEFD would like to thank the borough officials as well as the borough\’s office staff for all their assistance in the planning process as well as getting the new truck legal for the road. The MEFD would also like to recognize and thank the members who spent tireless hours planning and preparing the truck to be placed in service, Firefighter Larry Buckingham, Captain Al Cooney, Captain Mark Campanell, Battalion Chief Jeff Vilardo, Deputy Chief Brian Gilmore, and Chief Mario Scullan.

The vehicle is equipped to transport 8 firefighters including the driver and officer. This apparatus is equipped to handle both fire and vehicle extrication operations making it very versatile for the community. It replaces an 18 year old rescue apparatus that had limited capabilities. The vehicle is compromised of a complete set of vehicle extrication equipment, a 500 gallon water tank for fire suppression, a cascade system (fill bottle station), and numerous special rescue equipment.

more Mt. Ephraim Fire Dept. stories on CNB

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Obit Anna Marie Keyko, of Gloucester City

KEYKO, ANNA MARIE
On May 7, 2007 (nee Radford) of Gloucester City. Due Notice of the funeral will be given by McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Mon-mouth St., Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

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Obit John Spade, of Gloucester City

SPADE, JOHN R., SR.
on May 5, 2007 of Gloucester City. Age 77.
Beloved husband of Dorothy A. (nee Jordan) for over fifty-one years. Father of John R. Spade, Jr. of Deptford, James A. Spade, Sr. (Donna) of Deptford and Jill S. Spade of Jacksonville, Fl. Brother of Walter J. Spade, Jr. (Roseanne) of Bellmawr and the late Lillie M. Lightcap. Grandfather of James A. Spade, Jr. and Jeffrey J. Spade. Cousin of Shirley Spade Interlante of Glendora. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and faithful doxie companions Madchen and Wolfgang.
Mr. Spade was a Air Force veteran serving two tours during the Korean Conflict in the Military Air Transport Service Division (MATS). He was a member of the VFW Post 9563 in Bellmawr Park and the American Legion Post 72 in Brooklawn. He was a retired Reading Railroad employee where he worked as a conductor/brakeman.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a viewing Thursday 7pm to 9pm and Friday 9am to 10 am at BOUCHER FUNERAL HOME, 1757 Delsea Dr., Deptford. Funeral service Friday 10am at the funeral home. Interment Eglington Cemetery, Clarksboro.
For directions, guest book and to view John\’s Video Tribute visit
www.boucherfuneral
home.com

 

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Mt. Ephraim Police, Fire & Rescue Respond to Accident

PHOTO BY BILL BATES

 
MOUNT EPHRAIM – Shortly before lunch time on Wednesday, March 21, the Mount Ephraim Police Department and the MEPRI EMS, BLS (Basic Life Support) 4 duty-crew were summonsed to respond to 710 North Black Horse Pike for a fall victim.

Crews arrived to find a patient who fell approximately 15 feet to the ground after he lost his balance when he was standing on a 2 foot by 10 foot board at the top assembling the scaffolding. The MEPRI EMS duty-crew felt the half assembled scaffolding was un-stable and contacted the Camden County

The Mount Ephraim Fire Department, Station 45 arrived and raised a ladder to an adjacent light post and secured the section of scaffolding that was un-stable by tying it off to the existing unit and adjacent light post. Virtua Paramedics, ALS (Advanced Life Support) 45 out of Pennsauken was dispatched shortly after the fire department due to the patient complaining of difficulty breathing.

Both units transported the patient to a local hospital without further injury. Barrington EMS also assisted at the scene. Communications Center (alarm room) to dispatch the fire department to assist at the scene.

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Feral Cats Running Wild in Riverview Heights Section of the City

By Bill Cleary

 

John P. Schmidt a new member of the Gloucester City Board of Health has been busy since he was appointed to the body by Mayor William James.

When several people complained about a large number of feral cats running at large in the Riverview Heights section of the City, Schmidt visited the area to get a firsthand look at the problem. Afterwards he visited the City\’s Animal Controller (Almost Home Animal Shelter) to talk with them about what could be done with this problem.

Photo: A few of the eight feral cats running loose in the Riverview Heights section of the city. One resident said, \”Some people are feeding the cats. Others have allowed the cats to live in their run down garages and old sheds. And the cats keep having liters. The problem gets bigger every day.\”

The Shelter is located in Pennsauken. The City pays the company $7,646 a year to pick up strays. Besides Gloucester City the Shelter services Pennsauken, Audubon, Audubon Park and Collingswood.

Following his visit Schmidt compiled a report. He states, \”I noticed the cages for the dogs were small. There are 36 cages sitting on a cement floor. The other reason that I went out there was to see if they could do anything about feral cats. Under state law if they bring in a feral cat the shelter has to hold the cats for seven days before releasing them. The shelter has no place to put these cats, and they do not have the funds to neuter the feral cats.

\”I think that there must be someway a shelter should be required to have outside space for dogs to run. The shelter is underfunded. Either the county or the municipalities have to give more money to make sure the shelter is up to code.

\”The person in charge of the shelter, (Nancy) said she met last year with City Clerk Paul J. Kain, who told her that Gloucester City will not give the shelter any more money.

Schmidt suggested that the City get together with other municipalities to better fund the Shelter, or possibly use the Camden County Animal Shelter instead. \”If the previous is implemented then maybe something could be done about the feral cat problems.\”

Prior to Schmidt visiting the Shelter a reporter from the NEWS had spoken with a woman at the Shelter named Donna. She was asked what to do about all the feral cats running about in the Riverview Heights section of the City. He was told to tell it to City Hall. \”The City has to put into place a system where the cats would be caught, neuter, and then released back into the area
designated as a feral cat colony. She explained feral cats are wild, cannot be picked up, will bite in some cases. She emphasized their contract with the City does not include capturing feral cats.

The reporter contacted City Clerk Kathy Jentsch via e-mail and she wrote back, \”Feral cats have been a big problem in Gloucester City for a long time. The information they provided you is correct. The name of the company we have the contract with for animal control is Community Animal Care but the name of the shelter is Almost Home. They have told the City in the past that something needs to be done on our end. However, as you stated who is going to agree to do this. (meaning what neighborhood would volunteer to house a feral cat colony).

Feral cats previously were able to be caught by our animal control but since the shelters are currently all full there is nothing they can do. There is no one that is willing to take feral cats for us. Sorry this is not what you wanted to hear but everything she provided is true.\”

Schmidt plans to ask the Board to approve a resolution limiting the number of animals a citizen could own to five. He said,\”the resolution includes a grandfathered clause. The law, if approved, would not take people\’s pets just limiting them over time. Say you have seven, when one of the animals’ passes away you would not be able to replace it with another one. \”

Schmidt is also planning to introduce another resolution that would prevent animal owners from keeping their pet tethered for more than 24 hours.

Besides Schmidt, the other Board members are: Eleanor Kain, president, Michael Hainsworth, vice president, Anna Marie Smith, secretary, James Johnson, Roseanne Michael , Effie Hagan. Alternates Bruce Marks and Joseph Hartzel. Hagan recently resigned.

The Board of Health meets Monday, May 14 at the Municipal Building, 512 Monmouth Street, at 7 PM. The public is invited.

 

 

 

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Little League Season Begins in Mt. Ephraim

PHOTO BY BILL BATES

 
BATTER UP – Mount Ephraim Little League Open Day was held on Saturday, April 14, 2007. Andrew Fehr – No. 13 from Westwood Tile & Stone bats as Joey Bocchicchio – No. 11 from Dunhour Agency, Inc. throws the first pitch of the first game of the 2007 Season.
 
An Opening Day Parade started the day off. The parade started with the MEFD\’s fire truck leading the parade from Station Avenue along side of the Mary Bray School where it proceeded up to Fourth Avenue over to Fifth Avenue and across the Black Horse Pike where it ended at the Felix & Betty Bocchicchio Memorial Little League Field Complex. A short opening day ceremony ensued where Mayor Michael Reader was present to throw the first pitch. Mount Ephraim Police Officer Danielle Dunay was present with the departments new D.A.R.E. vehicle to display for the kids.
 
For more information please visit www.leaguelineup.com/mell.

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NEW DARE CAR

 

PHOTO PROVIDED BY M.E.P.D.

NEW D.A.R.E. CAR – The Mount Ephraim Police Department visited the Mary Bray School on a recent Friday afternoon as the children were let out of school to display the new D.A.R.E. vehicle to the youngsters and their parents. MEPD Officer Danielle Dunay, left, and Police Chief Edward Dobleman,center, gave students D.A.R.E. stickers as they visited their new vehicle.

SEE STORY

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