Voorhees Township unveiled its Veterans Wall of Honor, the Voorhees Township Police Department got a new website and an artifact from the World Trade Center, at Voorhees Middle School each student has an iPad, Eastern Regional’s field hockey team won another Tournament of Champions, a devastating fire hit the Avalon Court apartment complex and the 2014 elections took place.
As the township takes that final step into 2015, here is a look back at just some of the happenings and changes that came to Voorhees throughout 2014, including photos correlating to the text, or of events happening around the same time.
Voorhees Township Committee and Board of Education reorganize:
One of the first notable events of the year for many townships across the state is the reorganization of the governing body and board of education, and in Voorhees that was no different.
On the Township Committee, Michael Mignogna and Harry Platt were nominated and accepted as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.
Committeeman Michael Friedman was sworn in once again as a result of his election victory in November 2013, placing him as the sole Republican on the committee.
As it did at the reorganization meeting, the committee throughout 2014 would continue consist of Mignogna, Platt, Committeeman Mario DiNatale, Committeewoman Andi Ayes and Friedman.
At the Voorhees Township Board of Education 2014 reorganization meeting, board members John Schmus and Richard Wojdon were appointed as a result of their election in November 2013, and board member Richard Horner was appointed to fill a term through 2014.
Voters approve Voorhees Fire District 2014 budget:
The Voorhees Fire District election was held on Saturday, Feb. 15, during which voters approved the 2014 budget, elected Robert Caruso, an incumbent fire commissioner, for a new three-year term, and voted to elect Gerard Flack for his first three-year-term.
At the time of the budget’s approval, the 2014 revenues for the department were projected to total $7.88 million, with expenditures for fire district employee payroll totalling $3.2 million, employee benefits of $1.7 million, about $90,000 for maintenance and repairs and about $141,000 for new supplies.
According to Fire Chief Jim Pacifico, the budget’s impact on taxpayers was minimal, calling it a slight increase of $25 per household. Caruso had previously served several terms as a board member to the fire district, including sitting as treasurer and vice chairman.
Police department launches new website:
Just before the start of spring, the Voorhees Township Police Department launched its new website, www.vtpd.com, with the intent to become more accessible for the community as well as help keep the community safer.
Features new to the site included a list of all members of the department, including their ranks and badge numbers, information on Megan’s Law, a “Kid’s Corner” that allows kids to learn and familiarize themselves with the department and a section where forms can be completed and printed regarding information such as insurance company codes, alarm registration, criminal record checks, police reports and more.
Also on the new website was a way for members of the public to anonymously report tips about crimes, as well as an area dedicated to the background and history of the Voorhees Police Department, supplemented by a photo gallery.
According to Voorhees Township Administrator Larry Spellman, the original idea to create a new site came from deputy chief of police and public information officer to the department Bill Donnelly, who Spellman said was looking for a place where residents could easily give their feedback to the department.
At the site’s launch, Mignogna said the Voorhees Township Police Department was the finest in South Jersey and encouraged old and young residents to check out the site. “It is now easier than ever to become more familiar with our men and women in blue,” Mignogna said.
Voorhees Township Committee approves 2014–2015 budget:
On April 28, the Voorhees Township Committee officially adopted the 2014–2015 municipal budget.
Total appropriations for the budget were listed at $27.62 million, with the amount to be raised by taxation at $18.71 million.
According to Spellman, the budget didn’t result in a large tax increase for the year. The open space tax for residents remained unchanged from 2013 year, at 2 cents, and the local tax rate was 58.7 cents.
With the 2014–2105 budget, the average taxpayer paid $1,500 in total, or $125 per month, for municipal services.
According to Spellman, the taxation increase fee was less than a $4 per month increase.
Spellman said money left in budget would be bonded out for capital projects, and any roads being repaired would be done through the township’s five-year road repair system, which was adopted about three years ago.
Voorhees school district approves 2014–2015 budget:
As with the municipal budget, the 2014–2015 Voorhees Township School District budget resulted in a slight tax increase for residents.
The Voorhees Township School District Board of Education approved the 2014–2015 budget with operating funds approximating $52.8 million at the public hearing for the budget on May 7.
For the average home in Voorhees assessed at a value of about $255,500, the result of the budget was a $5 a month tax increase.
The majority of revenue in the budget resulted from the local tax levy of $43 million, with the second largest share from $5.5 million in state aid.
There was also a $1.1 million portion of revenue from a budgeted fund balance and $17,077 in federal aid monies.
The budget used the maximum tax levy increase available by state law at 2 percent.
At the public hearing for the budget, board president Richard Nelson said the 2014–2015 budget would maintain all existing programs while “providing access to the highest quality of instruction for all students in the most cost effective manner.”
Nelson also said the budget would help with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, test. Upon adoption of the budget, the board thanked teachers in the district for their efforts in educating the children of the district.
Voorhees Relay for Life Event:
Jeanette Golden, chairperson of the Voorhees Relay for Life, said there were some difficulties with having the Voorhees Relay for Life Event in Voorhees in 2014, but that didn’t stop the event from happening.
Instead of cancelling the event outright, it was combined with neighboring Evesham’s Relay For Life at Cherokee High School on May 31.
Despite the change of venue and smaller outing, nine Voorhees teams with more than 40 participants were still able to raise more than $13,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Golden, a three-time cancer survivor, was no stranger to finding ways to make Relay for Life events happen, as three years ago it was she who started the first Voorhees Relay event.
“When I moved to Voorhees, there was no Relay or anything like that, and I guess it was in my blood,” Golden said. “It was something that I really admire, how they support survivors and honor those who didn’t make it.”
Golden said she wanted to thank Mignogna and those in Evesham for being supportive of the Voorhees Relay’s efforts.
“We have incredible teams and an incredible mayor who supports the entire Voorhees Relay, and we are just so grateful that Marlton allowed us to come on over and be celebrated,” Golden said.
Artifact of World Trade Center comes to Voorhees:
On July 16, members of the Voorhees Township Police Department went to New York City and retrieved an artifact from the World Trade Center to be used in the Memorial Garden Project at police headquarters.
To give proper respect to the artifact, it was transported back to Voorhees with an entourage of police cars, and upon arriving in Voorhees, the artifact was met by members of the Voorhees Fire Department along with one of its trucks.
When the artifact arrived at police headquarters, a American flag hung over the entrance.
In addition to the artifact, Police Chief Lou Bordi has also been working to obtain requested granite from the Pentagon and dirt from the crash site in Shanksville, Pa., to be used as centerpieces in the memorial.
iPads come to each student at Voorhees Middle School:
At the Voorhees Township School District Board of Education meeting in April, Voorhees Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Rossi outlined how students would be using iPads at the VMS starting in the 2014–2015 school year.
As part of a district-wide technology initiative, it was decided that each VMS student would receive an iPad, as opposed to the previous system, where different classes shared iPads at different times.
“The iPad itself is just a tool … we’re going to focus on higher-level thinking skills and real-life lessons,” Rossi said.
A month later, at the board’s May 7 meeting, the board approved the lease purchase agreement of iPads for the VMS in the amount of about $226,000 for three years, for a total purchase price of about $679,000.
As the school year started and the 1:1 iPad initiative took place at VMS, the program was highlighted at the October BOE meeting.
Rossi said the transition was seamless, and at the meeting a video was shown describing how the iPads were being used in all manner of classes, from science to gym to music.
At the October meeting, Diane Killough Young, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, read some emails from teachers about their experience teaching since the iPads had been in use.
“All I can say is impressive, incredible innovation at its best. I saw 21st century learning at its best,” Young said, reading an email from an administrator.
Voorhees unveils Veterans Wall of Honor at Town Center:
Voorhees Township honored those who fought for the nation’s freedom on Oct. 20 when it held a ceremony to unveil the Voorhees Veterans Wall of Honor at Voorhees Town Center.
Earlier in the year, the township sent letters to Voorhees veterans or their surviving family looking for any Voorhees veteran, or those veterans who might be from out of Voorhees but have an immediate family member living in town, to join those being honored on the wall.
At the time of its unveiling, on the wall were 219 names and pictures of veterans, including two husbands and wives.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by hundreds of people, and officials with the township said they expect the Wall of Honor will grow annually with the addition of other local heroes.
In addition to the 219 names and pictures of veterans along the wall, there are also pictures of veterans with family, friends and even famous individuals such as Queen Elizabeth and Bob Hope.
Mignogna said the wall was built with the purpose of paying homage to veterans who have completed honorable service in the United States armed forces.
“Voorhees Township is proud of our veterans, so with the generous assistance of local donors, we will give recognition to our honorable veterans who have served our country,” Mignogna said. Fire devastates Avalon Court apartment complex on Oct. 24:
What could have been a normal Friday the week before Halloween was anything but for 20 Voorhees families living in the Avalon Court apartment complex when a fire destroyed their homes.
According to Pacifico, the fire started at 11:40 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24. By 3 p.m. the fire department had brought the blaze under control, and by midnight units had cleared the scene of fire. T
hanks to the work of the Voorhees Fire Department, police department and EMTs, all 20 families were safely evacuated, but three police officers and one firefighter were treated for smoke inhalation and released the next day.
Most, and in many cases all, of the personal belongings for the families were destroyed, including many of the families who had school-age children in the community.
The American Red Cross provided support for the families for the first three days after the fire, including lodging, food, replacement of glasses and prescription drugs and help purchasing other items they might have needed.
A “Voorhees Avalon Court Apartment Fire” fundraiser was also held on www.giveforward.com, which raised more than $10,000, and friends and neighbors of the displaced residents held a drive that was met with overwhelming response.
2014 elections:
The 2014 elections were held for town committee and Voorhees board of education and it was the year of incumbents, as Mignogna and Platt won re-election, along with Voorhees Township Board of Education members Bruce Karpf and Richard Nelson.
One new member of the board of education was chosen with the election of Marissa Levy, filling the seat of a board member who chose not to run again.
Of his re-election, Mignogna said when he heard the election results, he was both pleased and humbled, and he worked very hard for the residents of Voorhees and would welcome the opportunity to serve the community for another three years.
“One of the greatest challenges in any election is trying to make personal contact with as many residents as possible,” Mignogna said. “I spent months knocking on doors to chat with people about our wonderful community and ways to make it even better.”
The official results from the Camden County Board of Elections are as follows:
Voorhees Township Committee race:
Michael Mignogna (D) — 28 percent (4,262 votes)
Harry A. Platt (D) — 27.48 percent (4,184 votes)
Rachael Brekke (R) — 22.89 percent (3,485 votes)
David Adamson (R) — 21.61 percent (3,289 votes)
Voorhees Township Board of Education Race:
Marissa Levy — 21.14 percent (2,774 votes)
Bruce I. Karpf — 20.94 percent (2,749 votes)
Richard J. Nelson– 20.74 percent (2,722 votes)
Patrick Keating — 20.19 percent (2,650 votes)
Matthew F. Dortch — 16.78 percent (2,203 percent)
Updates for Kirkwood Lake throughout the year:
On Thursday, Oct. 23, the EPA and Sherwin Williams met and it was determined that the removal of PAHs on the site would be required of Sherwin Williams, except for residential properties where instead the EPA would be handling affairs.
Camden County also presented a preliminary proposal that could quicken the dredging of Kirkwood Lake, which would be done to handle problems of spatterdocks, and in which Sherwin Williams would pay for the cost associated with disposing of any contaminated sediments.
However, there is yet to be any set timeline on any such plan. The EPA anticipates the finalized remedy for the residential site plans for the lake will be completed this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2015, according to Sherwin-Williams.
Eastern Regional High School field hockey team wins Tournament of Champions:
It was Eastern versus Oak Knoll in the Tournament of Champions on Nov. 21 at Rider University.
Like many times before, Eastern came out on top over Oak Knoll in a 3–2 game. Eastern was in the tournament after having cemented its 16th consecutive state title a week before when it beat Bridgewater-Raritan, 7–0.
The win marked the team’s 106th consecutive game without a loss, which gave Eastern’s seniors an undefeated career.
The championship is the sixth for Eastern in the eight years of the Tournament of Champions.
Coach Danyle Heilig repeatedly reminded the Vikings that the game wasn’t about them being the girls to end the tradition, it was about being the ones to carry it on.
“The sweet 16 is great, especially with some of the players we have. They’re a very special group,” Heilig said. “We are really proud of the way we stepped on the field. This is about enjoying the opportunity and taking in the whole experience.”
You’ve reached the end of our 2014 year in review. From all the staff, we at The Sun Newspapers wish our readers a happy New Year!
