Peyton and Me Meandering Through Gloucester City and Brooklawn
Thursday, November 28, 2024
WE ARE SORRY!
CNBNews apologizes for announcing that this new outlet store would be opened on Friday, November 29. We hope that we didn't inconvenience you. That information was on their website. We tried to contact them but were unsuccessful.
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William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews ++++
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A NEW RESALE OUTLET OPENS IN GLOUCESTER CITY
Welldepots has officially opened its doors at the former Nash Engraving site located at 528 Nicholson Road. This exciting new store specializes in offering a wide array of high-quality products sourced from Home Depot returns and overstock inventory. Shoppers can explore unbeatable prices on everything from tools and home improvement items to décor and furniture, making it a treasure trove for bargain hunters and DIY enthusiasts alike. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, Welldepots aims to provide a unique shopping experience that combines quality with affordability.
RELATED: Peyton and Me Category (91 columns)
Our warehouse is packed with a diverse range of items, from home improvement tools and hardware to décor and appliances, all carefully inspected to ensure great value for our customers.
At Welldepots, we’re committed to providing a seamless shopping experience, whether you’re looking for a bargain or planning your next project. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions, or stop by our warehouse to explore our ever-changing inventory.
**RIVERVIEW HEIGHTS and MOTHER NATURE**
Over the many years we have lived in this residential neighborhood, we have seen eagles, hawks, turkeys, deer, beaver, foxes, and pheasants without fear of humans. But this is the first time we have seen such a big snake in this area. Walking home from Cold Springs Drive, we noticed "Lookie Lou's" stopped to see an elderly gentleman trying to pick up this reptile above with his cane. After several attempts, he succeeded, carrying the snake on his cane to a nearby field and letting it go. One of the neighbors said not too long ago, he witnessed a bigger black snake slither up to the top of the tree across the street.
**BROOKLAWN, NJ, A VIBRANT DESTINATION**
The Borough of Brooklawn is emerging as a vibrant destination for new businesses eager to establish their presence. Excitement is building in the community as we spotted a bright sign indicating the imminent Grand Opening of the Brooklawn Appliance Outlet, conveniently situated next to Petco. This new store promises to offer a wide range of home appliances at competitive prices, catering to the needs of residents.
In addition, another highly anticipated establishment is on its way: a McDonald's Restaurant, which will be making its home at the former site of St. Maurice Catholic Church along Route 130. This familiar fast-food chain aims to provide the community with quick, delicious meals, along with the convenience of a drive-thru service. Both openings are sure to bring added energy and economic growth to Brooklawn.
**SERENITY NOW!**
Haddon Lake Park is another favorite place that Peyton enjoys. It is a 73-acre park in Haddon Heights, Audubon, and Mount Ephraim. Does anyone remember what show the saying Serenity Now came from?
**A COMMUNITY WITHOUT PRIDE**
Regardless of where you find yourself, there are always individuals who seem unconcerned about the impact of their actions on the community. They thoughtlessly throw their trash on the ground, treating public spaces with neglect. The image captured here was taken on the bustling 800 block of Market Street in Gloucester City, right across from the historic St. Mary’s Cemetery, a place that should be respected and preserved. This careless behavior not only diminishes the beauty of the area but also reflects a troubling lack of pride in the community.
**Another Example of Lacking Pride**
Some individuals mistakenly believe the city's trash receptacles are intended solely for their personal use. The accompanying photo, taken at the playground located at Lane and Thompson Avenue, vividly illustrates this problem, showing a trash bin overflowing with discarded materials. This unsightly scene is not just a one-time occurrence; similar incidents can be found daily throughout Gloucester City, highlighting a troubling neglect pattern affecting our community's cleanliness and pride.
**RACCOONS EVERYWHERE**
We were driving along Klemm Avenue and noticed that 10 raccoons had taken over a feral cat site. They were eating out of the cat dishes, and some were inside the shelter houses that were placed there for the cats. We had never seen so many raccoons in one place.
**NJ AND THE GRINCH **
Garden State drivers will be faced with higher tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and on the Garden State
Parkway starting January 1, 2025. A spokesman for the Turnpike Authority said the increase was needed to fund the authority’s $2.7 billion budget.
Tolls will rise by 16 cents on the NJ Turnpike, 8 cents at ParkwRay barrier plazas, and 3 cents on Parkway entrance and exit ramps. Authority members voted for the increase at their November 20 meeting, just what the public didn't need to hear with the holiday season a few days away.
New Jersey politicians are always thinking about ways to grab your money. In 2020 Gov. Murphy passed a higher gas tax because the public wasn't driving enough. The tax rose by 9.3 cents on October 1, 2020 to 50.7 cents. The tax on diesel increased to 57.7 cents.
You are a heartless bastard, Mr. Grinch!
Related: Because We Are Driving Less, the Gas Tax was Increased by NJ Gov Murphy
** MOTHER NATURE IN ALL ITS SPLENDOR**
Peyton and Me have been enjoying the tranquility of Johnson Blvd. Park. On this beautiful morning, we found ourselves captivated by the soft golden rays of the sun coming through the tall pine trees, casting shadows on the ground below. In the distance, the water from the shimmering fountain at Martins Lake danced and sparkled, catching the light as it splashed playfully. The serene atmosphere and the gentle sounds of nature made it a perfect day to enjoy the outdoors.
**BOGEY'S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT**
Nestled along the picturesque banks of Big Timber Creek in the charming borough of Brooklawn, the anticipated restaurant Bogey's is rapidly approaching completion. This establishment is being developed on a scenic property owned by Donald and Svitlana Bogey, offering stunning views of the flowing creek. The site can be conveniently located from Route 47 and Creek Road, making it easy for visitors to find.
The new restaurant will feature an impressive 6,000-square-foot building, designed to harmonize with the natural beauty of the two-acre landscape. To make room for this project, approximately 3,300 square feet of existing retail space will be cleared, while around 850 square feet will be converted into a garage to support the restaurant's operations. Brittany L'Esperance, a skilled civil engineer hired by the developers, is overseeing the project to ensure that every detail aligns with their vision of creating a welcoming and vibrant dining destination.
**GLOUCESTER CITY SPENDS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS**
For the past four decades, the City of Gloucester City has grappled with the ambitious goal of transforming its waterfront, a vision that eight different mayors have championed over the years. Since 1984, however, each administration has faced hurdles that have prevented any meaningful progress on this project. The mayors who have taken on this challenge include Bob Bevan, Walt Jost, Chuck Billingham, Bob Gorman, Tom Kilcourse, Bill James, Dan Spencer, and Pat Keating, each bringing their hopes for revitalization to the table.
The city’s endeavors to develop the waterfront have come at a significant financial cost to taxpayers, amounting to more than a million dollars spent on an array of studies, architectural designs, engineering reports, maps, land surveys, and various other preparatory efforts. Notably, it was the administrations of Chuck Billingham and Bob Gorman that drew considerable criticism when they made a controversial decision: they granted control of the historic Coast Guard building to Holt Logistics through an extensive 99-year lease that shockingly lacked a cost-of-living adjustment clause, ensuring that the city would receive no financial protections over the decades.
Under this arrangement, Holt Logistics was set to utilize the lower section of the Coast Guard building for office space, while the city would lease the upper floor to a restaurant developer, promising a dual use of the landmark. In exchange, Holt committed to improving the adjacent pier, a key aspect of the waterfront project. However, when faced with the daunting reality of the pier’s condition—requiring substantial and costly infrastructure upgrades—Holt abandoned its obligations, ultimately walking away from the deal and leaving the city without the expected development.
Cresmont remained the tenant and the Holt entities became the subtenants of Cresmont. The 2001 settlement also called for extending the lease for the Coast Guard building from 79 years to 99 years beginning March 1, 2001, at the annual fixed rent of $152,000. It stipulated without an increase for the length of the contract.
Today, Holt has supposedly filed a lawsuit to stop the City from building a high-rise apartment complex on that pier. He says the extra automobile and tourist traffic from that plan would interfere with his employees working in the nearby former Coast Guard building. We have reached out to Leo Holt to confirm that rumor, but as of this publication, we have received no reply.
Besides the Holt lawsuit, Rocco D'Antonio head of Gloucester City Organic Recycling LLC (GCOR) filed a $10.5 million lawsuit in March 2021 against the taxpayers of Gloucester City claiming Rocco D’Antonio, head of Gloucester City Organic Recycling LLC (GCOR)
D’Antonio said he sued the City because the mayor and council did not live up to their side of the contract. Presently the matter is in the deposition stage. BARON & BRENNAN, P.A. of Voorhees represent D'Antonio. The City has hired ARCHER & GREINER of Haddonfield to represent the taxpayers.
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Gloucester City's Waterfront Remains Undeveloped, and is Wasting Away