Holidays mean closures, shorter hours

Government offices and other facilities have special hours this week because of the New Year’s holiday.

See below for a full list of area closures or holiday hours:

- Municipal government offices — All closed on New Year’s Day. Vineland: Normal hours on New Year’s Eve (tentative). Millville: Normal hours on New Year’s Eve. Buena Vista and Buena Borough: Close at noon on New Year’s Eve.

- Federal, state and county offices — Open on New Year’s Eve. Closed on New Year’s Day.

- Trash and recycling pickup — Vineland: No pickups on New Year’s Day; all pickups normally on Friday will occur on the following Tuesday. Millville: Pickups normally scheduled for Friday will be on Saturday. Buena Vista: Pickups normally scheduled for Friday will be on Saturday. Buena: No change.

- Supermarkets — Acme (Vineland): 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Year’s Day. Acme (Millville): 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Pathmark: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve; 7 a.m. to midnight New Year’s Day. ShopRite (Landis Avenue): 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Year’s Day. ShopRite (Delsea Drive in Vineland and North 2nd Street in Millville): 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Day.

- Cumberland Mall — Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

- Post offices — Most post offices will close at noon New Year’s Eve. All are closed on New Year’s Day. There will be regular mail delivery on New Year’s Eve but not on New Year’s Day.

- Libraries — Vineland: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Millville: Closes at 3 p.m. New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.

- Motor Vehicle Commission offices and public inspection stations — Open on New Year’s Eve. Closed on New Year’s Day.

- Banks and credit unions — Hours vary. Many close early on New Year’s Eve and are closed on New Year’s Day. Check with your branch for hours.

- NJ Transit — Bus schedules vary by route. Check individual schedule for details.

- The Daily Journal — Advertising and circulation departments and the lobby will close at 1 p.m. New Year’s Eve, and the newsroom will close at 4 p.m. The lobby and advertising department will be closed on New Year’s Day. Papers will be published and delivered on New Year’s Day.

Local dealership announces closure

File photo.

The Matt Blatt Auto Dealership will close its Delsea Drive branch on Jan. 31 after 10 years, owner Roy Greenblatt said Tuesday.

The Vineland location will be consolidated starting Thursday with the dealership's sister locations in Egg Harbor Township and Glassboro.

But some employees will remain in the Vineland facility through Jan. 31 to assist customers with service, paperwork and sales issues, Greenblatt said.

The Vineland dealership is laying off roughly 22 employees due to the consolidation, he said. About one-third of the site's 35-member staff will be split between the two other branches.

"We're sorry we have to do this, but we feel the economy is forcing our hand," Greenblatt said.

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See what’s new on library shelves

Did you know you can see what's new in books at Vineland Public Library each month?

In November, the Landis Avenue library got in "Facebook for Dummies," "Flip it and grow rich: The heart and mind of real estate investing," and Michael Crichton's "Pirate Latitudes," to name a few.

Go here for a month-by-month look, but follow the Read More link below to see the latest posted list: New Books for November 2009.
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Y offers family nutrition courses

The YMCA of East Landis Avenue scheduled three new classes for families starting in January.

The classes are “Family Nutrition Series,” “Weight Management Class: Older Teens and Adults,” and “Family Strengthening Class.”

Each begins the first week of the month and will be held during evening hours at the YMCA, according to facility spokeswoman Chris Ward Garrison.

The community is welcome to participate.

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Have questions about Vineland’s snow removal efforts?

File photo.

Mayor Robert Romano and city officials will try to dispel rumors and answer questions at a public meeting Monday about the city's cleanup efforts after the recent snowstorm.

Romano will reveal information relating to how the city prepared for and handled the storm, how much the city paid in overtime, and what vehicles were used in hopes of improving the situation next time.

"We're looking into every possibility to provide a better service," he said, adding he even had to rely on neighbors to push his car out of the snow.

The meeting is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 640 E. Wood St.

Walmart manager heads to YMCA board

W. Mark Conley joined the Y's board of directors. Submitted.

The YMCA of Vineland recently added W. Mark Conley to its board of directors. 

Conley is general manager of the Walmart Supercenter on West Landis Avenue, which employs over 600 associates. He has previously worked with Walmart in Louisiana, Delaware and Maryland.

"I am very pleased to be selected to the YMCA Board of Directors. The YMCA’s Christian family values coupled with healthy living is a great combination," he said. "The YMCA has been part of my life since 2005. I was a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana YMCA, where I coached basketball."

For more information about the YMCA, call (856) 691-0030.

Need plans for New Year’s Eve?

File photo.

Want to know how to party like it's 2009? Looking for something to do on your day off on Jan. 1?

See below for a list of things to do on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day whether you want to stay local or head out of town.
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City to offer free rabies clinic

In preparation for the 2010 dog and cat licensing program, the City of Vineland’s Department of Health, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Health Department, will hold a free rabies clinic Jan. 9 in Vineland at: South Vineland Fire Hall, 876 E. Sherman Ave.; North Vineland Emergency Medical Services Station, 1676 N. West Ave.; and the Carl Arthur Center, 217 N. Third St.

The clinics are for dogs only from 9 to 11 a.m. and for cats only from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For animals which have been previously vaccinated, owners should bring a copy of the most recent proof of vaccination so the animal can get a three-year shot. All animals must be controlled by an adult or person strong enough to effectively manage the animal in case they become disturbed in the company of other animals. Cats must be on a leash or in closed carriers.

The re-licensing period for all cats and dogs is during the months of January and February. It is necessary to present a current rabies inoculation slip, valid through the entire licensing period, to obtain a license.

For more information, call (856) 794-4131.

A city of lights with the click of a mouse

Submitted art.

Don't feel like driving, but want to see all the Christmas lights around the city?

Make some cocoa and check out this gallery of pictures that city residents submitted.

Students in giving spirit

Pictured from left to right are student council member eighth-grader Jessica French, seventh-grader Joseph Quilan, Minnie Torres, bilingual outreach with Family Success Center, Donna Cooper, coordinator of Family Success Center, Ann Mulvihill, outreach specialist with Family Success Center, Arianne Steinborne, medical outreach, seventh-grader Shelby McCarty and eighth-grader Allyson Sciblo. Submitted photo.

The student council at Notre Dame Regional School under the Direction of Pat Simone, continued a holiday tradition of collecting gifts for those in need.

Last year the school adopted the Family Success Center of Vineland, an outreach program designed to help families with many different resources all at one location. The students collected for the Family Success Center again this year.

Four employees of The Family Success Center visited Notre Dame Regional School in Landisville to collect the wrapped Christmas gifts. It took all four employees and four vehicles to transport the the amount of gifts provided by the Notre Dame Families, according to Melissa Knapp, school spokeswoman.

With three votes, council adopts spending plan

City Council on Tuesday adopted a $60.4 million municipal budget that translates to a 3-cent tax rate increase for local property owners.

Council voted 3-2 to adopt the budget, with council members Douglas Albrecht and Mayra Arroyo voting against it.

Though the council previously agreed that for fiscal year 2009-2010, a 3-cent increase was fair considering the shaky state of the economy and the size of the city's spending plan.

The tax hike was necessary due to an increase in employee salaries, pension contributions and operating costs, city officials said.

"We never took an up or down vote on anything in this budget," Albrecht said. "I could see the mountaintop, and we could have gotten to zero.

The previous municipal tax rate was $1.228 per $100 of assessed value, or $1,228 a year for a home assessed at $100,000. Under the budget approved Tuesday, the tax rate will increase 3 cents and the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $1,258 per year based on the new municipal tax rate of $1.258 per $100 of assessed value.

Mayor to host benefit for post-grad party

Mayor Robert Romano is sponsoring the inaugural “Winter Wonderland ~ Class of 2010” benefit to raise funds for Project Graduation.

The benefit is scheduled Friday, Feb. 19 and will be an adult dinner and dance at St. Anthony’s Community Center on West Wheat Road from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.

Romano is seeking corporate sponsors to underwrite the entire cost of the event, so all the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards this year’s Vineland High School Project Graduation.

Project Graduation began more than a decade ago as a drug and alcohol-free all night celebration following the graduation ceremony. Project Graduation, a $50,000 plus project, has been threatened in the past years by state budget cuts.

“Project Graduation is designed to keep our children safe on one of the most memorable evenings of their lives. Since this event has been threatened by budget cuts, parents, teachers and community members can help fundraise to finance this event,” Romano said.

For tickets and sponsorship information, contact Mimi Bernard in Romano’s office at (856) 794-4011, or VHS South's Meredith Fiori at mfiori@vineland.org.

Hand-drawn bookmarks earn two students top honors

Posing with their bookmarks are Maddison Mowchan, left, and Taina Ruiz. Submitted photo.

Two students from Barse Elementary School were the winners in the recent Vineland Library bookmark contest, according to Maureen Riley, the school's media specialist.

Madisson Mowchan was first place winner in grade 4 and Taina Ruiz took the top honor for in grade 5.

More than 1,000 students in grades 1 to 6 entered the contest, said Helen Cowan, the children’s librarian at the Vineland Library.

Highlight a local woman for her accomplishments

The deadline for nominations for the Cumberland County Women’s Hall of Fame is Jan. 15. Nominees selected will be honored by the Hall at its second annual induction ceremony in April.

Anyone can nominate outstanding women who have made significant contributions to a profession, the community and/or women’s causes.

The Hall of Fame, a new organization that had its first inductions last spring, will honor this year’s winners at a gala event on April 21. Any woman selected for the award must be or have been an innovator and a role model. She must be a native of Cumberland County or be employed in the county or have made her contributions here.

Keep reading for contact information and how to get a nomination form.

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Trees for free

Yesterday I posted about trees available at City Hall. Here's why.

Mayor Robert Romano and Moises Afanador of Moe's Auto Sales delivered small evergreens -- from Afanador's tree farm -- to about a dozen homes on Wednesday morning.

Staff photo/Cody Glenn

This is the second year Romano and Afanador teamed up to ensure local seniors and needy families would have a tree for Christmas. In all, Afanador donated 23 trees -- and for one reason: "We're blessed."

Another eight trees were made available later in the day on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 3 p.m. In eight minutes, all those trees were gone. By the end of the day, a few extra trees that Afanador brought to City Hall also were claimed by residents.

Read the full story here.