Street Name Change Has Upset Residents of Vineland

By: Erin Haskell

Vineland- The Vineland Planning Board has received several complaints in the past few months from residents over a street name change due to an in-fill project.

An application for a major subdivision called Woodcrest Fields was before the Planning Board.  This project, intended to create new building lots, including construction of a street that would connect existing streets called Woodcrest and Joshua Drives.

 “We wanted them to have the same street name because Woodcrest was an older neighborhood with older homes, “said Kathie Hicks, Planning Board Supervisor. “ The public, when that went to City Council, was not happy about having their street name changed.”

Residents of Joshua Walk have been advocating against the street name change during recent board and council meetings, stating that the added cost to the existing residents is a burden and should be charged to the developer.

“A gentleman came in (to the October Planning Board Meeting) and expressed the opinion that a developer should have to stick to existing street names,” said Hicks. “It was explained that the developer didn’t advocate changing the street name, but rather the Planning Board required it.  It was also explained that generally existing street names are retained, but in this particular instance where existing streets were being connected, one name had to be selected.  Councilman Albrecht advocated that the ordinance be changed to require the developer to pay for the costs incurred by existing residents (change of address, driver’s licenses, etc.). 

The issue of the ordinance being changed to require the developer to pay the costs was further discussed at the November Board meeting, where Frank DiDomenico, Board Solicitor, explained that State statute doesn’t allow the cost to be put on the developer.  

Neither the City Council Members nor the Planning Board Solicitor could be reached for comment.

“The positive (of the street name change) is that there is a single street name, which is better for emergency management,” said Hicks.

   

Continuous Warm Temperatures in Vineland Give Way to Freezing Temperatures Quickly

By: Erin Haskell

Vineland- After an unseasonably warm summer, Vineland sees increasingly cold temperatures early in the fall season. 

The Vineland climate is often warm during the summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during the winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30's. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 85.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 24.10 degrees Fahrenheit.

This past summer season, Vineland experienced record temperatures and was recorded to be one of the hottest summers in New Jersey, with at least thirty four days of temperatures warmer than ninety degrees. The warm temperatures also began earlier in the season than normal, starting in early March.

Temperatures continued to be warm up until the weekend of October 31 when a cold front swept in, allowing for many areas to experience their first freezing temperatures of the season. 

Although the temperatures are only minimally lower than the average for Vineland this time of year, it will feel colder because of the unseasonably warm temperatures the previous few months. 

This week’s forecast for Vineland will see a slight temperature increase since the last few weeks with temperatures reaching highs in the low 60’s and lows in the high to low 30’s. There will not be much precipitation over the next five day forecast, only sun and partly cloudy in areas. 

Next week, Vineland will be getting hit with some rain and clouds and an estimated downfall of 1.04 inches throughout the week. 

Temperatures will continue to get lower as the coldest months of the season approach. Residents of Vineland will experience freezing temperatures normal to the average for this time of year. 

Glassboro Mayor McCabe Voted In for Another Term

By: Erin Haskell

Glassboro- Democrat Leo J. McCabe was voted in for another term as Mayor of Glassboro on November 2, 2010 over Republican opponent Claude Butch Cox.

The official county election results confirmed on Tuesday that McCabe won over Cox with 2,932 votes to Cox’s 1,324.

Neither party could be reached for comment on their win or loss.

Mayor McCabe has been the Mayor of Glassboro since January 2002. He is a native of Rhode Island. He and his wife Mary have lived in Glassboro since 1962. They have three children and five grandchildren.

McCabe has a lot of involvement in the Glassboro community and has served on several committees including, The Glassboro Planning Board from 1964-66 and again in 2000, The Glassboro Library Board during the 1970's, was an elected member of the Glassboro School Board from 1973-92, and President of the Glassboro Education Foundation from 1998 to 2001, and in 2002, a founding member of the Boys and Girls Club of Glassboro.

McCabe has a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science from Providence College.

McCabe’s positions for election are as follows: controlling taxes, creating jobs, redevelopment, increasing quality of life for Glassboro residents, and sharing services.

McCabe’s primary focus is on job creation, with 400 temporary jobs being created for Rowan Boulevard construction and 700 permanent jobs becoming available upon completion.

 Downtown redevelopment will bring in $225 million in annual sales. Rowan Boulevard is just part of an overall downtown redevelopment effort that will bring 125 new retail businesses and $1.2 million in annual property taxes to Glassboro.

Rowan Boulevard represents a public-private partnership that is bringing in jobs, creating revenue and generating economic activity for the benefit of residents, students and local businesses alike. Since Rowan University housing is owned by the developer and leased by the University, it makes for a greater revenue generator.