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B E L L M AW R

Fall/Winter 2012

Christmas in Bellmawr “BELLMAWR BELIEVES” Every child should have surprises from Santa’s Sleigh December 2nd, Santa’s Elves will be collecting NEW UNWRAPPED toys along the Fire Truck Parade Route to fill his sleigh for our less fortunate families to be delivered on Christmas Eve.

Sleigh Rides

6:00 to 9:00 PM at Recreation Center

December 7 , 8 , 14 , & 15 TH

Donations may also be made at the Police Department and Borough Hall. “BELLMAWR BELIEVES” IS THE ONLY TOY DRIVE ENDORSED BY THE BOROUGH OF BELLMAWR.

The Bellmawr Police Department would like to remind residents to be alert and aware during the holiday season. There is always an increase in traffic during the holiday season, traffic accidents and intoxicated drivers increase also. Numerous additional traffic enforcement patrols will be operating now until the end of the year for Drinking and Driving Enforcement and other traffic violations. The police department would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and remember to be safe, sober and buckled up when driving.

HELP DECORATE YOUR RECREATION CENTER! You may have outside Christmas decorations in your garage or attic that you are no longer using but do not want to throw the decorations away. If you would like to donate any decorations for the Christmas in Bellmawr Sleigh Rides at the Recreation Center please call 933-1699 and we will make arrangements for pick up or drop off of your decorations. Thank You!

Members of Council: Mayor: Frank R. Filipek

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December 16th is alternate date for inclement weather.

The sleigh will also be at Christmas in Bellmawr/Sleigh Rides located at the Recreation Center on December 7th, 8th, 14th & 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

BE ALERT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

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John P. Bollinger • James F. D’Angelo Louis P. DiAngelo • David M. Duncan Stephen M. Sauter • Joshua T. Tregear

Santa's Mailbox

for Your Letter to Santa Mailbox located in front of the Municipal Building

December 1ST through December 19TH CHILDREN OF BELLMAWR!! Sons of Italy / Vita Nuova Lodge is sponsoring Santa’s breakfast.

Here Comes Santa Claus! Join Santa’s Breakfast at the Bellmawr Community Center on Browning Rd.

Saturday, December 8, 2012 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon If you were a good boy or girl Santa may give you a stocking stuffer. Santa arrives at 10:00 a.m. Seating limited. Editor: Chuck Sauter, Editor

Publisher: Pirolli Printing Co., Inc., Publisher

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Safety

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From the Bellmawr Bureau of Fire Safety

HOLIDAY LIGHTS Maintain Your Holiday Lights

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Christmas lights are made for temporary use and are not to be left up ALL YEAR long.

All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets

Don't Block Exits

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations

Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch.

Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit way puts you and your family at risk.

Do not leave holiday lights on unattended!

Wrapping paper in the fireplace can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney fire.

Never Put Wrapping Paper in the Fireplace

CANDLE CARE Avoid Using Lit Candles Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.

If You Do Use Lit Candles Make sure candles are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Never leave a room or go to bed with candles burning.

Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame, candles, lighters or matches. Please take the time to ensure you are fire safe as the Bellmawr Fire Department is all Volunteer and our members enjoy time spent with their families, rest assure if you or your neighbor needs help they will be there 24/7 365 days a year.

FIRE SAFETY REMINDERS CONSTRUCTION OFFICE INFORMATION Whether you are erecting a small shed or a shopping complex, this is where it all begins. The Construction office is responsible for processing zoning permits, and for enforcing the Zoning Codes of the Borough of Bellmawr. Before doing any work, please check with us first to avoid any costly issues. On residential properties, improvements such as fences, pools, or decks require a zoning permit and may also need a construction permit. If you change the use or occupancy of a building, a permit is also required. ALL residential rental properties must be registered and licensed ANNUALLY. For more information visit www.bellmawr.com or call the Construction Office at 856-933-1286.

Here are some fire safety reminders. If you have not changed your batteries in your Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors, please do so now. With the cold weather fast approaching we ask you to have your heater, fire place and chimney checked so that they are operating properly. Please ensure that any combustibles and storage items are kept away from your heater and hot water heater. When decorating for the holidays please do it safely. Your extension cords should not be overloaded. Live Christmas trees should be kept watered. When it snows, please watch where you pile the snow and park your vehicles. We encountered a lot of problems last year with the piles of snow on the fire hydrants and vehicles parked in front of the fire hydrants. Thank you for your cooperation and have a safe and happy holiday.

Season’s Greetings The Mayor, members of Council and borough employees would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL NEWS

NOW LERT! Our Public Works Department is working hard to make driving safer and easier in snowy weather conditions. Borough trucks may plow your street several times during these inclement times. As snow rolls off our plows, it will accumulate in driveway aprons and on sidewalks. Please understand that this is unavoidable and we apologize for any inconvenience you may experience while clearing your driveway after the plows have passed. To ensure safety of pedestrians, residents must remove snow from sidewalks following a snow fall. During recent storms the Public Works Department observed and notified residents using snowblowers to “blow” all snow on lawn areas. Also, we ask that residents do not shovel the snow back onto the street. Please throw snow back onto lawn areas towards your homes. Once an area is plowed curb to curb, that area is considered finished and will not be plowed again if snow is being thrown back into the street. Here are some helpful hints to make “SNOW” business less frustrating: • Shovel the snow to the right of your driveway (facing the street, left when facing your home) to minimize the amount of snow entering your driveway. • If possible, wait until the borough trucks have made at least three passes on your street before clearing your driveway. • If possible, DO NOT park cars on the street from one hour after snow has continuously fallen until 12 hours after snow has stopped...this speeds the removal process and prevents cars from being snowed in. • Please remove portable basketball courts from the street of parking strip. The borough is not responsible for any damages incurred due to plowing. FACTS: It takes sunlight and traffic, in addition to salt and sand, to completely remove ice and compacted snow from roadways. The average car length is 14 feet. If parked on the street during a snow storm the area that would have to be shoveled to park in front of a clean curb is 42 feet. The average driveway apron is 12 feet. A total of 30 feet of nonshoveling area would be gained if residents who have driveways USE them. We thank you for your cooperation. Please call us with any comments or concerns you may have.

As the 2011 Gloucester City Girls Softball Tournament was wrapping up, two of our Bellmawr girls softball teams were continuing the winning tradition. It was a bittersweet feeling because everyone was under the assumption the tournament would never again be played. The Johnson Blvd. softball complex was scheduled to undergo a major EPA cleanup, and there were no plans in place to continue the popular mid-summer tournament. During this past winter, three towns stepped up and volunteered their fields. Last September, Bellmawr Mayor and council promised to do whatever was necessary to host at least a portion, if not all, of the 2012 tournament. So, along with Maple Shade and Washington Township, Bellmawr hosted a third of the tournament. For two weeks in July, The Bellmawr Recreation Center was the scene as the drama of the 18 and under and 15 and under age brackets played out. The 10 and under age group went to Maple Shade and the 8U and 12U had to journey to Washington Twp. Although all the Bellmawr teams experienced successful tournament runs, the 10 and under Bellmawr girls overwhelmed each opponent they faced, successfully finishing the tournament undefeated in four games, and this after an undefeated run through the Runnemede tournament in June. The 18U team is comprised of many girls who have won the Gloucester Tournament several times in younger age brackets. They’re an experienced bunch with superior pitching and flawless defense. After losing their first tournament game, they battled through the loser’s bracket to win six straight, sweeping both ends of a double-header versus Wissahicken to win the championship. For the record: with two more titles this year, the Bellmawr Girls Softball League boasts 14 championships in 19 years. Both Championship teams were invited to the September Mayor and Council meeting for recognition. 2012 WINNERS: 8U Oak Valley 10U Bellmawr 12U Mt. Laurel 15U Mt. Laurel 18U Bellmawr 18U Layne Olsen Maddy Bekier Taylor Burmylo Tori Falciani Christina Olsen Christina Morelli Kelsey Funk Krista Wells Emily Vitacolonna Alyssa Parisi

Ellen Unger Leigh Ann Brocious Samantha Funk Coaches Joe Helmbold Chris Morelli Scott Burmylo Dave Funk Angela Funk

10U Amanda Magpiong Daliah Legenski Mackenzie Yurcaba Morgan Fries Kira Correll Nicole Morsillo Madison Baldwin Alexa Lee Nayellie Ortiz Danielle Campbell

Kaya Flynn Cara Forline Paige Tobey Coaches Ed Legenski Michele Legenski Ken Yurcaba Karen Tobey

BELL OAKS SCHOOL LADY OWLS SOFTBALL TEAM 14-0 Undefeated Tri-County Champions • 1st Championship in team history Front Row (kneeling or sitting) left to right: Nicole Herner, LeighAnn Brocious, Taylor Casey, Emma Stawisuck, Brianna Monroe; Middle Right: Daliah Legenski, Nayellie Ortiz, Morgan Fries, Tatum Siegrest; Back Row: Coach Sue Fischer, Nikita Lee, Paige Sauter, Coach Jamie Casey, Jasmine Ortiz, Layne Olsen, Manager Taylor Harper, Megan Dyson, Devan Barton, Kaitlyn Flemming, Karlie Kennedy, Janelle Fisher, Coach Mike Mazzuca; Not pictured: Manager Ashley Swales

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JULY 4, 2012 BICYCLE PARADE Most Decorative.......................................Hannah Richards Most Patriotic .............................................Gracie Sokoloff Most Original...................................Brenner Pourghassem

BABY PARADE Youngest Prince .........................................Jacob Chapman Youngest Princess ........................................Ariana Medina Best Decorated ................................KJ & Keegan Williams MOST ORIGINAL 1st Place..............................Bradley Gable & Johnna Kulik 2nd Place...........................................................Lily Dastick MOST PATRIOTIC 1st Place........................................................Paige Boldizar 2nd Place ...................................Kendra & Makayla Greene 3rd Place.............................Delaney & Saige Pourghassem 4th Place..................................................Savannah Medina Baby Queen ..........................................Saige Pourghassem Baby King ......................................................Colin Higgins

FLOAT WINNERS SMALL ORGANIZATIONAL FLOAT 1st Place ......................................Fabulous Feet Dance Co. 2nd Place .........Immanual Orthodox Presbyterian Church 3rd Place ...................................................Saint Rita Parish 4th Place ................................................Bellmawr Baseball 5th Place..............................................Cub Scout Pack 185 LARGE ORGANIZATIONAL FLOAT 1st Place ............................................Saint Joachim Parish 2nd Place ....................................Bellmawr School District 3rd Place ........................................Bellmawr Girls Softball INDIVIDUAL FLOAT 1st Place..............................Paige Boldizar – “Rocket Girl” 2nd Place..............................Ariana Medina – “Betsy Ross” 3rd Place....................................Kendra & Makayla Greene 4th of July Princesses SENIOR MARCHING UNIT 1st Place ..........................Bellmawr Senior Citizens Assoc.

“Special Thanks” To all of the Members of the Fourth of July Celebrations Committee for their dedication and hard work for our great Parade! Thanks to all of our volunteer judges for judging the Baby Parade, Bicycle Parade and the Parade. The time you gave is greatly appreciated. Mayor Frank Filipek and Members of Council

Bike Parade

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Baby Parade

Independence Day

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S.J. PLAYERS COME UP BIG FOR U.S.

PROMOTIONS & NEW OFFICER HIRED At the August Council Meeting three officers were promoted in the Police Department and one of our Class II Special Officers was hired as a Patrolman. It was great to see a nice turn out of family and residents for the ceremony. We would like to congratulate all the officers and wish them well in their new positions.

Scott Parker

Matt Gillis

Promoted to Lieutenant

Promoted to Sergeant

Chris Cummings

Brian Ertl

Promoted to Corporal

Hired as a Patrolman

Happy Holidays from the Bellmawr Police and Fire Departments!

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, the Student Government Officials began with being sworn into Office by Sheriff Chuck Billingham, who also spoke to the students about the operations of the Sheriff’s Department. The students then visited the Camden County Board of Elections in Blackwood, NJ to see the voting machine operations and the Election Law process. After lunch, the children met with Highway Superintendent Joe Ciano, Sewer Superintendent George Coleman and Water Superintendent Mark Huff as they spoke to the children about their respective departments. The children then returned to the Police Department where they met with Chief Bill Walsh for a tour of the Department. They returned to Borough Hall that evening for the Borough Council meeting to see how local government operates. Also, Senator Donald Norcross spoke to the students at their Mayor and Council meeting.

Position Student Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taylor Thomas Director of Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taylor Harper Police Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taylor Casey Borough Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zachary Billingham Borough Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zachary Kite-Dean Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kristen Devoe Highway Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephanie Revas Recreation Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas Brennan Director of Public Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Drummond Tax Assessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyrus Legenski Court Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marc Franklin Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leighann Brocious Director of Buildings & Lands . . . . . . . . .Sophia Grandinetti Chief Financial Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Megan Dyson Water Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexis Gonzales Sewer Superintendent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alyssa Jankowski Construction Official . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Colin Kaukeano Director of Health and Education . . . . . . . . . . . .Dalton Jetter

SUMMER PROGRAM – ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS! Special thanks to Dawn Gillis and her crew for a job well done.

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BELLMAWR ESTABLISHES SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES

HAPPY RETIREMENT

The Borough of Bellmawr has established Snow Emergency Routes to improve maneuverability during inclement weather. These routes have been designed by Bellmawr Police, Fire and Highway Departments and include the following streets, courts and parking areas: Name of Street Park Drive Peach Road Carter Avenue Farragut Avenue Holly Place Cherry Place Ash Terrace Pine Terrace Elm Place Beechwood Place Laurel Place Aspen Place Poplar Place Willow Place Fir Place Rockville Drive Bell Road Colonial Road Midway Lane Walnut Avenue Hall Avenue Old Kings Highway S. Bellmawr Avenue S. Cedar Avenue N. Bellmawr Avenue N. Cedar Avenue Braisington Avenue Devon Avenue Borough Parking Lot

Side Even Odd Odd Even

Location Creek Road to W. Browning Road Victory Drive to Carter Avenue Peach Road to Park Drive Charles Avenue to Creek Road End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court End of Court Even W. Browning Road to Anderson Avenue Even Creek Road to W. Browning Road Even Bell Road to Midway Lane Odd Creek Road to Colonial Road Even Hall Avenue to Worthington Avenue Even Walnut Avenue to Creek Road Both E. Browning Road to Dead End Both E. Browning Road to Dead End Both E. Browning Road to Dead End Both E. Browning Road to Sixth Avenue Both E. Browning Road to Sixth Avenue Even Spruce Avenue to Brown Avenue Odd E. Browning Road to Bradley Avenue All Rear Fire Department, Front Parking Area, Community Center and Library Please call 856-931-1111 for further information or visit Bellmawr.com for Ordinance details.

Regina F. Piontkowski – Councilwoman May 26, 1994 to September 30, 2012 In appreciation to Regina for your dedication and commitment to serving the Community of Bellmawr as Councilwoman for over eighteen years. Your tireless work on behalf of the Borough Employees and Residents of Bellmawr is greatly appreciated and will always be remembered. You are a kind, caring and compassionate person, and a Special Lady to all who had the pleasure of working with and knowing you. Regina, you will always hold a special place in all our hearts. You truly are one of the best! Frank R. Filipek Mayor John P. Bollinger David M. Duncan James F. D’Angelo Louis P. DiAngelo Stephen M. Sauter

Miss Bellmawr Pageant MISS BELLMAWR 2012-2013 Brooke Jeffries 1ST Runner Up ...............................................................................Taylor Mullen 2ND Runner Up ......................................................................... Ashley Matousek 3RD Runner Up ............................................................................. Natalie Moody 4TH Runner Up................................................................................ Randi Fisher Miss Congeniality ....................................................................... Brooke Jeffries As pictured (left to right): 3rd runner up, Natalie Moody; 1st runner up, Taylor Mullen; Miss Bellmawr 2011, Kaylee Mitchell; Miss Bellmawr 2012, Brooke Jeffries; 2nd runner up, Ashley Matousek; 4th runner up, Randi Fisher