Last Days of August 2010

Taken Today on Market Street

Got to Love Bootsie Plaza,  Glassboro

Just leaving Staples, Sunday

Its the last week of August 2010 and I decided to capture(again) the mundane events and place I go to each day going to and leaving work. Its a pretty hot week out thus far. Not as bad as July hot but pretty warm that is for sure. I am working at a dizzying pace and have on again off again dizziness but its not too bad. On Sunday I went to Staples to have them clean up the unwanted programs at start up and to install Norton 360 which is the latest all-in-one anti-virus product they tell me. I just got it back today Tues August 31st. It does seem to start better and faster but some items still come up slow. I started my week taking the Route 408 as per usual. Got a photo of Bootsie Plaza. Say did George Clinton put up stakes in Glassboro New Jersey??  Each day the Route 408 passes the old Pittman Hotel.

The Old Pittman Hotel

It must have been a beauty back in the day but those days are long gone. She was a rooming house most recently but I hear they plan to tear it down.   You will see 3 large dirt mounds to left of the hotel. Maybe they are going to bury "Mother" who seemed to live on the top floor. That the only light I would see turned on when thhe bus pass the hotel by. Yup it was a product of bygone era. It must have been very pretty.
Well, I do take the Market-Frankford El and its pretty quick.This video video shows some pretty goofy folks riding on the pm commute on Monday. Today, I was in a dizzy mood and decided to videotape cars and tractors coming at me. Check this out its pretty cool.
Well, Its Midnight and I really should get myself to sleep after I clean up the dishes I made when I cooked some pasta tonite

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There Are Important Issues in Millville..not just Noise.

Image via Wikipedia

I live in Center City Millville and I agree with this gentleman:

To the Editor:

Since day one when the New Jersey Motorsports Park opened, a couple of groups have done nothing but gripe about everything that happens at the park.




Share I live very close to the NJMP and I have yet to hear noise so loud that I have to leave my home because of it.

TrackRacket and Millville First would find something else to gripe about if they closed the park down tomorrow. “If it’s not in my neighborhood, then who cares” is the attitude TrackRacket and Millville First seem to have.

Let me inform both groups: There is much more serious issues in Millville than the sound of cars and motorcycles because it’s in their neighborhood. Not one time has anyone from TrackRacket complained about the crime, safety problems, gangs, etc., in the city.

Why? It’s not in their neighborhood.

They, along with Paul Porreca and his little band of complainers, never show any concern for the safety of all the citizens of Millville. Could the reason Porreca and Tesoroni refuse to bring up how bad the crime is in Millville is because Dave Vanaman, a charter member of Millville First, is the commissioner in charge of public safety?

You can bet the house if any of the remaining four commissioners had public safety, Millville First would be as sarcastic, or even more so, to them. But you never have heard them question Dave Vanaman on any issue.

Why not ask about the lawsuits against the police department that have cost the city over a million dollars over the past few years.

Nothing is being said about the charges by Officer Gentile or Officer Colle. Not one officer on the Millville police force was mentioned as being responsible. If a civilian sexually harassed anyone, they would be arrested, have to post bail and go to court. But not those who caused Officers Gentile and Colle tremendous pain and made it hard for them to perform their duties as police officers. Why were those employees not fired or at least disciplined?

Mr. Porreca, where have you been when it comes to this costing the city money, as well as lawyers to represent the city in your lawsuit?

So there are more important issues in the city than the noise from the racetrack. What’s more alarming is the sound of gunshots, riots and gang violence.

I still believe the city should rent the fairgrounds and make it a tent city jail for gangs only. Put them all together and then let them go at each other. It would be easier for the police department to handle.

So, TrackRacket and Millville First, what will your gripe be next? The motorsports park is not going away, so maybe you should go away.

Louis A. Clendaniel Sr.
Millville

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Faulty Sprinklers

Its hot out and I took the dogs for a walk this AM to the riverfront. The sprinklers were on which was good new but the bad news is that some area do not work. Here is a video of sprinklers. Hope someone can go out and fix them. Also some fools busted  a few of the lamps.

Walk Though Millville NJ 3rd Ward

We decided to take a talk. The rain had stopped and it was much cooler then it had been before. We walked down Pine Street to Buck Street up towards Columbia Ave to Milliville's Third Ward. We went by the old factories and saw a grand home that had been owned by WAWA. The cloudy day made for great photo opportunities

Snow

Today we had a cold snow. It was about 5 inches or so. It was very pretty.

Millville Gardens Demolition Celebration

It was a drizzly day in Millville but Folks were out to celebrate the beginning of the end of Millville Gardens. This event had been a long time coming. This blog has followed the progress of the city’s and neighbors efforts to get rid of this eyesore of the 3rd Ward. The 3rd Ward Neighborhood Group lead the fight to demolish this blight. Don Cossaboon-DeGregorio (aka Big Don the Pirate) made a splash at a City Commission meeting in April 2008. He wore his green Tear Down Millville Gardens t-shirt and brought a large sledgehammer and urged the city to demolish Millville Gardens. The sledgehammer Mayor Shannon used on the sign was the same one Don brought to commission chambers that day in April. I could not be at that meeting since I was at the time campaigning for the Millville School Board. I bought one of my Tear Down Millville Gardens t-shirts Mayor Shannon, Commissioners Derella, Vanaman and Finch all spoke of the common efforts of neighbors, city officials and professionals to get to this point. Bucky and I posed with sledgehammers and our green t-shirts to mark this occasion.

Constructing and Erecting an Osprey Platform

The Southern NJ watershed organization Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. has been instrumental in the recovery of osprey in the Maurice River Watershed. The Osprey's numbers plummeted in the 60s and 70s due to the chemical use of DDT to kill mosquitoes. Since the mid 1980's volunteers have been erecting and monitoring nesting platforms. When the project began about 3 chicks fledged on the Maurice River, today (2009) as many as 74 chicks take flight on the Maurice. Citizens United has constructed over 100 nests for groups all over NJ. Seen here are volunteers constructing and erecting an osprey nesting platform. For more information about the natural history of osprey and detailed plans for constructing and erecting nests go to their website http://www.cumauriceriver.org/pages/osprey.html Be sure to check out their nature slide shows as well.

This Osprey Platform was built on September 20th 2009. You can see it while walking the City of Millville's Riverwalk.

My Art My Millville!

At the Oar House Carl and I saw the Phillies win their 10th game in a row! So is what winning is like?! Speaking of winners, The new ad campaign for the Millville Arts District is a cut above. See the video below. Tonite Erin showed a piece of her art.

Tuesday in Mid April 2009

Its Tuesday and another City Commission meeting is going on tonite. Its the last meeting before the May 12th elections. There are 15 folks running. Its a vote for moving forward or going stagnant in the past. There are school board elections happening today. Please vote for Bill Herman, Connie Johnson and Mike Weldon. They are all experienced and from my service on the board the past year they deserve to be elected.
This is my pup Jesus he is driving in our Honda Element, a very nice car.
Anyway spring is here

Millvile City Commission Meeting April 7th 2009

City Commission met last night. It started at 6:30 and there was some good news. First off, the city is nearing a deal to replace Millville Gardens. The city purchased the property for $2.7 million and took ownership last October. The proposed "Foundry Park" will have 36 market-rate homes, priced at $150,000, and six affordable housing units. Planning Director Kim Ayres said the plan would include a half-acre park for the neighborhood. This proposal had the smallest number of homes and there were no rental properties This is down from 120 Rental Units.
Next, Heather Santaro give a RAD report. 43 Home Rehab Projects have been completed and 13 folks have been helped in buying their first home. A total of 123 homes have been affected positively. 123,000 in investments. This is just after a year. The RAD was opposed by a few folks running to unseat the current Commission. I will be at the candidates forum being sponsored by Millville First. It is NEXT Tuesday April 14th 6:30 PM at the American Legion building on Buck Street. 9 of the candidates have confirmed that they will be there. I congratulate Millville First for holding this event. We can not hear what folks propose and get a public hearing.
The public hearing portion lasted as long if not longer then the meeting itself. A candidate for City Commission spoke and was informed by a sitting Commissioner.
Questions were raised about the Motorsports Park Financing. This went on till 8:25 as you can see the clock behind the speaker.

Testa Fest March 29th 2009

Today March 29th was Testa Fest. Musicians and artists came out and jammed at the
Holly City Family Center from 2-8pm!
Groups such as the Knomadz, 4 Peace Jazz, and Bread and Butta played. The Oar House got involved as well. There It was a fundraiser for musician and artist Steve Testa who suffered injuries and a BIG hospital bill. Here some photo highlights of the the day. You can see more video highlights on my YouTube page.

MDC To Decide New Ad Agency Today!

This morning at 8am, the lock box will be opened and the final tally will be made. I would be there but got to go to philly to work. Please let me know who got the contract!

March 2nd: A Snowy Day

Hi I ended not being needed at the Philadelphia Flower Show today. I then drove baaak to MillVILLE this morning. I ripped off old wood paneling to the downstairs bath. You must see the video at the bottom of this entry and see the glorious action. We then went to Lowes to get paint etc to beautify this 1st floor bathroom. I am in Millville and going to find out at 6am or so if I need to drive back to Philly for the flower show. Last night during the blizzard talked with my sister for over an hour. It helped me get though the blizzard. At our house 2 neighbors came over to help and the contractor came by as well. Here are some photos. My question, would you pay $18 Nick Asselta speak? Myself, well, nope.

New Look and New Snow to Start March

Its snowing out pretty good. Before the snow we finished painting the living room and put on a boarder. Our neighbor really helped out with this chore and had the patience to see it though. We used a paper cutter and a paint tray. Its harder then it looks...REALLY. I went to NY Style Pizza to get us some veggie pizza. Man, that was quite good and there are plenty of leftovers too!
Well I am getting ready to mail bills get packed to head off to Philly. Its gonna be a slow ride

MDC To Decide Ad Agency Contract!

I attended this meeting as a private citizen on Feb 25th at City Hall. It went from 5pm to about 8:30 or so.
Three agencies are going for the contract which will go to 2011. They are Graphicus, Whyble Advertising and an outside company called JFG. The decision will be announced at the March MDC meeting on March 12 at 8am. We were inpressed with one of them who had a catchy phrase.
MDC members were in attendence and were voting for each of the 3 companies as they gave their pitches. Whyble Advertising is the current holder of the contract and has been the agency for eight years.
I will keep my preference a secreat untill March 12th. You can guess between now and then.
I look forward to hearing opinions.

A New Week

Well, Its Feb 17th and what lies ahead? Well, getting ready for March 20th to open our gallery. A school board election in Mid-April as well taxes being due. There is the school district budget and contract negotiations which will be a challenge due to frozen state support. Corzine's funding plan will be decided by the courts in several weeks. The Philadelphia Flower Show is starting March 1st. I will again work during the week and this will be my 10th year working for ABG though the owner of states I may have my hours reduced due to the economy being in the crapper. The Millville City Commission elections are being held in May and if you read the Daily Journal forums then you would believe that the current city commissioners have done NOTHING RIGHT. At least Ian Roberts put his name down unlike the cowards who just bitch and moan under fake names. These forums are an echo chamber of the bitter and resentful side of Millville. I have to wonder what they want Millville to be and why I bother to read. I guess its like listening to Sean Hannity after work. I guess I am curious of the latest OUTRAGE of the angry.
Time to get to work in West Philly at the Welfare Department