Author: importer

NORWESCAP AND THE TOWN OF PHILLIPSBURG PARTNER TO REVITALIZE THE SOUTH MAIN STREET DISTRICT

$125,000 Awarded by New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to Fund Revitalization

Phillipsburg, New Jersey, February 26, 2020

– The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJ DCA) has approved a plan, jointly developed by the Town of Phillipsburg and Norwescap, to make improvements in the South Main Street District.   The plan included input from hundreds of local residents, business leaders, elected officials and community-based organizations.

Through its ‘Neighborhood Preservation Program, the NJ DCA will provide the Town of Phillipsburg with $125,000 in funding to focus on branding the district, coordinating and expanding events, and attracting complementary businesses through micro-grant opportunities.  In addition, strategies will be deployed to improve the look, feel and function of public spaces and foster a vibrant business district by connecting the “downtown” area with nearby parks and trails for biking and walking and by linking tourist attractions (such as the popular Delaware River Railroad Excursions) with local retail shops and eateries.  The funding is renewable for up to four years.

The plan, authored by Norwescap and its partners at New Jersey Community Capital, has been cited as an example for other municipalities to follow.  Jef Buehler, NJ DCA NPP Administrator said of the NPP Plan, “Your South Main Implementation Plan both fully meets and exceeds our requirements and is being used as a ‘best practice’ model for other NPP communities working with us in New Jersey. All who have seen and reviewed the South Main Implementation Plan, both at DCA and in other communities, have been very impressed”.

Norwescap and the Town of Phillipsburg have entered into a shared services agreement to implement the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) program.  For both entities, this District is a priority and its designation as a Neighborhood Preservation area is anticipated to leverage more than 1 million in public and private funds for projects for the next four years. Norwescap has two additional initiatives in the South Main Street District – the Parnassus Neighborhood Plan created as part of NJ DCA’s Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program, and the Community Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) program.  These two programs and, Norwescap’s long history as a trusted social service provider, will ensure that additional resources and programs will enhance these efforts in the South Main Street District.

“We are honored to be given the opportunity to work with the Town of Phillipsburg on this project,” said Norwescap’s CEO, Mark Valli.  “Together we can leverage our collective assets and resources to build a vibrant and thriving District.  There are over 120,000 visitors to the Phillipsburg area and the goal of this program is to spark efforts to attract food and retail options or events that build on visitors’ experience while in Phillipsburg.  Building a strong commercial District will improve the quality of life for local residents.”

Residents and visitors will soon begin to see improvements along the South Main District from Market Street to McKeen Street and an increase of events at Walters and Shappell Parks.

One way to become involved in this transformation is to join Norwescap and the Town of Phillipsburg Police Department for the 2nd Annual Community Day of Action planned for Saturday, April 18th.  “The Phillipsburg Day of Action is a positive way for anyone to get involved in improving their community,” said NPP Coordinator Mary Jo Harris.  “Last year we had students, retirees, elected officials, police officers, and a host of residents pitching in to beautify our community, this year will be bigger and better.”

If you would like more information on the NPP program or the 2nd Annual Community Day of Action please contact Mary Jo Harris at

harrism@norwescap.org

or call Mary Jo at 908-454-7000, Ext. 1136.

About Norwescap

Norwescap provides vital services to over 30,000 individuals and families in need in Northwest New Jersey. Our programs include strategies that address the critical areas of education, health and wellness, employment, housing, volunteerism, and financial capacity building. Since our inception, we have been dedicated to achieving the mission of creating opportunities to transform lives through innovative programs and partnerships. For more information, please visit

www.norwescap.org

State of New Jersey Diverts Tax Dollars Allocated to 911 System Improvements

By Emily S. Moore |

The Center Square

A decade ago, a fee was placed on every New Jersey resident’s phone bill to be allocated to improving the state’s out-of-date 911 system.

However, only 10 to 15 percent of those funds is used to upgrade the three state-operated 911 centers, John G. Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, said in an interview with The Center Square.

“The 197 or so the county and municipal 911 centers have not received any funding from the state during this time and have been forced to rely on the use of local property taxpayer dollars to fund 911 system upgrades,” he said.

The funds, instead, have been diverted for general operating expenses at the Department of Law and Public Safety. The diversions prohibit New Jersey from applying for millions of dollars in grants from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to upgrade 911 systems.

Donnadio said the solution to improving New Jersey’s 911 system is a technology called Next Generation 911 (NexGen 911).

“All 911 centers (public safety answering points) across the country must enhance their systems with NextGen 911 technology, which is an upgrade from analog to digital or Internet Protocol (IP) technologies,” he said.

The current system dates to the 1980s and can give incorrect location data and have trouble locating cell phone callers.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that NextGen 911 could save more than 10,000 lives annually if implemented nationwide.

In New Jersey, the 90-cent tax on phone bills was implemented in 2004 by the state Legislature to upgrade the 911 system, bringing in an average of $124 million a year.

In January, state officials held a news conference in Trenton to ask for diversions of funds that should be used for 911 system improvements to stop.

“That money has ended up in the black hole of the state budget,” Sen. Michael Testa, R-Vineland, said

in an interview

with

NJ.com

. “It’s long past time for the state to do the right thing.”

published by Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

*The Camden County Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

Did you know that any school, library, civic organization, gardening club within Camden

County can request a speaker. The Camden County Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau will be glad to come out this winter or spring to give a talk.

The list of available talks and the request form is on our website,

https://mastergardenerscamdencounty.org/speakers-bureau/

New Jersey American Water to Start Annual Spring Cleaning

Water main flushing begins this month and continues through the fall

New Jersey American Water’s Travis Serles flushing a hydrant in the company’s Delran service area. (Photo Credit: New Jersey American Water)

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – FEB. 26, 2020 –

Beginning March 2 and into the summer months

,

New Jersey American Water

will perform the annual cleaning of its water distribution system to ensure customers continue to receive high-quality, reliable water service. Flushing the system helps to clean out any buildup of mineral deposits and sediment inside the pipes. The company also flushes its hydrants to make sure they are operational and to check fire flows in the system.

Flushing involves simultaneously opening fire hydrants in a specific area to create increased water flows. The service areas and dates when flushing begins are posted at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under

Alerts

.

While water mains are being cleaned, customers may notice short periods of low water pressure or discolored water. If customers experience temporary water discoloration, New Jersey American Water recommends running the cold water until it is clear. The following steps are also encouraged:

Draw water for cooking prior to the flushing period.

Store a large bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking.

Check for discolored water before using the washing machine or dishwasher.

If water pressure or water volume seems low after flushing has been completed, check faucet screens for trapped particles.

In addition to

viewing the schedule

on the company’s website, customers also have the option to be updated on the local flushing schedule via phone call, text or email by enrolling in New Jersey American Water’s CodeRED customer notification system at

www.amwater.com/myaccount

.

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit

www.newjerseyamwater.com

and follow New Jersey American Water on

Twitter

and

Facebook

.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit

amwater.com

Altman sells out Cory Booker Says James Beach & Barbara Holcomb

Last week, instead of standing with New Jersey\’s progressive champion Cory Booker, paid political protester and lifelong Republican Sue Altman decided to stand with his opponent.

Cory has been a persistent advocate for South Jersey and true progressive in the Senate on issues such as civil rights, social justice, and environmental protection. When Donald Trump abused his power as President, Cory stood up to Senate Republicans and fought for a fair impeachment trial. We are proud to support Cory Booker for another term in the Senate and disappointed that Altman once again put her personal political calculations ahead of reelecting one of the most progressive leaders in New Jersey. Although we find Altman\’s stance disconcerting, it is unsurprising considering she failed to vote for Cory Booker in 2013 as he became our first African American United State Senator from New Jersey. In fact, Altman failed to vote in the Primary Elections for Democrat candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barbara Buono, Jon Corzine, and Jim McGreevey because she had been a lifelong registered Republican.

Sincerely,

James Beach & Barbara Holcomb

NY Man Charged with Seeking Sex Online with ‘Underage Girl’

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 42-year-old Staten Island man has been charged with attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he

met online and believed was a 14-year-old girl.

In reality though, John Emilio, of the 600 block of Wooley Avenue, was communicating with a detective from the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit. During the investigation, Emilio sent nude pictures of his genitals, said he was very excited that he would be having sex with a girl so young, and looked forward to taking her virginity.

Emilio was charged with Attempted Luring (Second Degree), Providing Obscene Material to Person Under 18 (Third Degree) and Attempting to Debauch the Morals of a Child (Third Degree).

Emilio became a suspect in November during a BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit proactive investigation into the exploitation of children in cyberspace. He had discussed coming to Burlington County to have sex with the girl, either at a Route 130 motel or inside of his vehicle, but the trip never materialized.

Emilio was taken into custody yesterday at his residence following the execution of a search warrant. He waived extradition and will be brought to New Jersey in the near future. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment. Emilio will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Remy.

The investigation was a cooperative effort involving the New York City Police Department Computer Crimes Squad, which is a member of the New York City Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistance was provided by United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, the Cinnaminson Township Police Department and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office in New York.

The lead investigator was BCPO Detective Sergeant Dave Kohler, who oversees the High-Tech Crimes Unit.

The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit and the Cinnaminson Township Police Department are members of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The BCPO also belongs to the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gloucester City PD Issues Road Closures/Parking Restrictions for St. Patrick\’s Parade

February 25, 2020

On Sunday, March 1

st

. the 5

th

. annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin on Johnson Blvd. at Monmouth Street at 1:00 pm.

The parade will proceed west on Monmouth Street to King Street, then south on King Street to Cumberland Street.

In order to accommodate the parade, the following road closures/ no parking will be in place from 10:30 am until the Highway Dept. finished sweeping the parade route following the parade. When viewing the attached maps, all streets highlighted in yellow are closed to traffic and parking.

Streets highlighted in pink are open, but parking is prohibited.

Monmouth St. closed from Johnson Blvd. to King St.

Johnson Blvd. closed between Highland Blvd. / Klemm Ave. and Bergen St.

Brown St. closed between Somerset and Bergen Sts.

Somerset St. closed at Johnson Blvd.

Kathryn St. closed at Johnson Blvd.

Frances St. closed

Highland Blvd. closed between Baynes Ave. and Greenwood Ave.

Klemm Ave. closed between Johnson Blvd. and Rosalind Ave.

E. Brown St. closed between Frances St. and Sparks Ave.

Sparks Ave. closed

Baynes Ave. closed between Johnson Blvd. and Barnaby Ave.

S. Railroad Ave. closed at Monmouth St.

N. Railroad Ave. closed at Monmouth St.

Library Parking Lot closed at Monmouth St.

Champion Rd. closed at Monmouth St.

Sussex St. closed at Monmouth St.

Burlington St. at Monmouth St.

Willow St. closed at Monmouth St.

The following parking restrictions will be in place from 10:30 am until 3:00 pm:

Klemm Ave. between Rosalind Ave. and Sylvan Ave.

Rosalind Ave. between Klemm Ave. and Highland Blvd.

Baynes Ave. between Market St. and Barnaby Ave.

King St. between Monmouth St. and Cumberland St. (west side only)

Signs will be posted and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Helen E. Comber (nee Karschies) of Runnemede

Helen E. Comber (nee Karschies) of Runnemede, formerly of Barrington. Age 84.

Beloved wife of the late Richard Sr. Devoted mother of the Richard Jr. (Betsy), Frank (Diane), Mark (Barbie) and Helene (Matthew). Loving grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 9. Dear sister of Hildegard Lipschutz and Elizabeth Gilles. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation from 9am to 11am Monday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Service 11am at the funeral home.

Inurnment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

OFFICER DOWN: Sumter County Corporal Andrew Gillette Murdered

ANDREW GILLETTE

Sumter County Sheriff\’s Office, South Carolina

End of Watch

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

SUMTER COUNTY, SC (February 26, 2020)–Corporal Andrew Gillette, age 37, was shot and killed while he and other deputies attempted to serve a detention order and eviction notice at a

home at 3120 Thomas Sumter Highway at 11:30 am.

The subject named on the orders opened fire, striking Corporal Gillette in the chest. Other deputies who were on the scene returned fire and killed the subject.

Corporal Gillette was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He served with the Sumter County Sheriff\’s Office for seven years and was assigned to the Civil Process Division. He is survived by his wife and 11-year-old son.

RELATED:

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

CNB Crime

Blue Line

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

CNBNews Point of View

BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | February 26, 2020