MOMS Club will support fundraising for playgrounds

PLUMSTED - The MOMS Club will be supporting the Township Committee's efforts to provide the community with new and upgraded playground equipment at the Recreation Park and Oakford Lake Park.

MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) is a nonprofit corporation representing an international network of support groups for all mothers-at-home. Nationally, there are more than 2,000 MOMS chapters with membership exceeding 100,000.

The New Egypt MOMS Club chapter was founded in 2004 and includes Allentown, Cream Ridge, Wrightstown, Browns Mills, Bordentown, New Hanover and North Hanover.

The MOMS Club provides activities such as visits to parks and playgrounds, field trips, crafts, etc., for mother and child to participate in together during the daytime. Mom-focused activities include coffee/ breakfast/lunch meetings and community projects.

The MOMS Club is actively involved in the design and layout of the new playground areas and is seeking input from residents, who can participate online at Plumsted's Neighborhood Preservation Program Internet Web site: www.downtownnewegyptnpp. org.

Fundraising efforts for the park playgrounds by the MOMS Club are being organized and anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation may contact MOMS Club President Stacy Burrows at (609) 758-4711.

According to Mayor Ron Dancer, to begin the fundraising efforts the Township Committee has approved an initial appropriation of $10,000 for the new playground project from the taxpayer approved Recreation, Open Space, Historic and Farmland Preservation dedicated trust fund. Last year's recreation improvements included a new soccer field and a new basketball court.

Additional park improvements are under way at Oakford Lake Park as Township Committeeman Eric Sorchik assisted in organizing two Eagle Scout projects by Scouts Brandon Traux and Pierce Kiernan. Gazebo renovations, flag pole installation and landscaping are a part of the Eagle Scout projects with supplemental funding improvements approved by the Township Committee from the Recreation, Open Space, Historic and Farmland Preservation trust fund.

In other business, Dancer announced that an abandoned building at 11 N. Main St. will be demolished to make way for future improvements. He said motorists and pedestrians should exercise caution in that area during the demolition. Regarding the abandoned Hartman Pharmacy building on Main Street next to the Welcome Center, the mayor said the township has established communication with the attorney representing the estate of the late Esther Hartman.

Plumsted has part-time employment opportunities for the positions of recreation park sports field maintenance and school crossing guard. Contact the municipal clerk's office at (609) 758-2241, ext. 101.

The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee will be Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. Residents may meet personally with Dancer at the Plumsted library on Sept. 12 from 7-9 p.m. to discuss local concerns or state issues.