Weekly Roundup: Registration underway for free Braves cheer camp, council awards bid for 2017 Road Program at April 9 meeting
In other news, The Williamstown Organic Community Garden will open on Earth Day, April 22, and residents are encouraged to attend and sign up for a plot.
Registration is underway for a free two-week cheer camp through the Monroe Township Braves cheerleading program, and the Monroe Township council met on Monday, April 9. Catch up on everything you missed in our Weekly Roundup:
Free cheer camp
Registration is underway for the Monroe Township Braves free two-week cheer camp, which will run from April 30 through May 3, and May 7 through May 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The camp is open to kids ranging from age 5 through 14, and for both new and returning cheerleaders.
“I felt the need to put it out there for parents of children who are just unsure,” director of cheerleading Nichole Powers said. To sign up for the camp, email nikkipowers@mtbraves.com.
Crime prevention and awareness seminar
On May 18 at Cross Keys United Methodist Church, Retired Range Master Training Sgt. and parole officer Kharis F. Sepulveda will present ‘Refuse to be a Victim’, a seminar that promotes awareness and prevention of criminal confrontations. The course will be held in Faith Hall at 7 p.m., and last approximately three to four hours. The event is open to the public — both males and females, as well as children ages 14 and up, are welcome to attend. The cost is $15.00 per person. For more information, or to register, contact Donna Stephan at (856) 881–8788 or at webmaster@crosskeyschurch.org, by May 1.
Organic Community Garden opens on Earth Day
The Williamstown Organic community Garden will open for its second season on Earth Day, April 22, at 10 a.m., and volunteer Mary Ellen Muth, along with garden coordinator Patrick McDevitt, both of Sustainable Monroe Township, invite all community members to attend Opening Day to see what the garden’s all about and make this season another successful one. The garden hosts monthly events, and welcomes in and out-of-towners to sign up for a plot.
WHS girls lacrosse defeats Kingsway
Williamstown High School girls lacrosse defeated Kingsway 13–6 on Monday, April 9. Goal scorers included Gabbi Kirsch, Kate McKinney, Madison Foti, Madison Coyle and Claire Gailliout.
WMS student honored as “she-ro”
Williamstown Middle School eighth grader McKenna Harris was recently honored by the Gloucester County Education Association as a “she-ro,” as part of its Women in Education celebration. Harris is involved in Operation Safe Haven, which created temporary homes for displaced veterans in Franklin Township. Harris collected household and personal items to create welcome baskets for the first veterans to take up residency, and is working on delivering several more baskets to the project.
Council introduces bond ordinance at April 9 meeting, awards bid for road program
Monroe Township Council introduced a bond ordinance that would appropriate funds for capital improvements within the township, including the construction of a new fire building for the Cecil Fire Department, and approved two resolutions associated with the 2017 Road Program at its meeting on Monday, April 9. The O:13–2018 bond ordinance would authorize the acquisition of various pieces of equipment and completion of various capital improvements for the township, and appropriate a sum of $7 million. The estimated amount of bonds or bond anticipation notes to be issued is $6.6 million, with a required down payment of $350,000.
Additionally, Ordinance O:12–2018 was also introduced for first reading, appropriating a sum not to exceed $50,000 for services related to the improvements throughout various parks within Monroe Township. The second reading and public hearing for both ordinances will be held at the April 23 meeting.
R:90–2018 awarded a bid to South State, Inc. for services associated with the road program as specified in the bid specifications, and authorized township officials to execute the required documentation. The contract is contingent upon review and approval by the state Department of Transportation. The resolution specified the township clerk received seven bids for the road program, and South State, Inc. was the second-lowest bidder, with a base bid of $882,873. Arawak Paving Company, Inc., the lowest bidder — with a base bid of $682,000 — withdrew its bid on March 28.
RCGC’s new InnovationStudio brings forth student creativity
A collaborative learning space, the InnovationStudio fosters imagination in students of all ages, provides exposure to new technologies and encourages community-based discovery and entrepreneurship in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Open Monday through Thursday, the InnovationStudio is operated by the Gloucester County Library System and offers scheduled programs and free training on equipment and tools. Michael Beckford, of Williamstown, is an exercise science major at RCGC and the president of the college’s Student Government Association. Beckford and other SGA members have used the makerspace to help promote and raise funds for the club, creating buttons to cheer on the Eagles during the Super Bowl and posters to advertise an upcoming mixer.
