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Dear Neighbors,
As the holidays approach, there are several
items of interest some good and some rather
frightening. Here they are: Sex Offenders
Residential Prohibition Ordinance: On
October 10th, the Lumberton Township Committee
passed a Registered Sex Offenders Residential
Prohibition ordinance. The law prohibits
individuals convicted of a sexual crime against
a minor from living within 2,500 feet of a
school, day care facility or a public
park. It also prohibits individuals
convicted of a sexual offense against a minor
from being with within 500 feet of a public
park. Proponents of the new law believe it
is one more tool to help protect children from
sexual predators who are not fully rehabilitated
after
release from prison. Opponents of the
ordinance believe it is a violation of the civil
liberties of individuals who have already
paid their debt to society. Lumberton is
just one of many Burlington County towns that
have recently enacted these laws.
Lumberton Man
Alleged to Have Attempted to Lure Minor for Sex:
According to two local newspapers, Lumberton
Resident, Dorence Caulker, was arrested in Passaic County
for allegedly attempting to meet a minor for sex
according to the Passaic County Sheriff's
Office. According to voting records,
Dorence Caulker resides at 84 Kingsbridge Drive in Bobby's
Run. For more information, you can read
the Philadelphia
Inquirer or the Burlington
County Times articles online.
In an unrelated
story, the Burlington County Times reported that
a Lumberton woman was assaulted in her home on
Main Street earlier this week. The full
story can be found on the Burlington
County Times web site.
Bryan L.
Freeman, Jr. Park Dedication:
On Veteran's Day, the Bobby's Run Park was
re-named the Bryan L. Freeman, Jr. Memorial
Park. With the support of private
donations, the township constructed a memorial
at the corner of Bobby's Run Boulevard and
Westminster Drive and unveiled it as part of a special Veteran's Day dedication ceremony. The ceremony drew a
crowd of about 200 residents, friends of the
Freeman family and dignitaries. Bryan
Freeman, Jr. was killed in Iraq on November 8,
2004 while serving with the 443rd Army Reserve's
443rd Civil Affairs Unit.
Low and
Moderate Income Housing: The township
is completing its low and
moderate income housing plan that is required by
the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).
According to COAH's approved studies and their
housing formulas, Lumberton will be
required to add 149 low and moderate income
housing units between now and the end of
2014. The township is required to submit a
Low and Moderate Income Housing Plan to the State before the end of
this year in
order to maintain protection from court ordered "builder's remedy". Builder's
Remedy is where a court allows a developer to come
into a community, supersede zoning regulations
and building codes to build large, high density, low and
moderate income housing developments against a
communities wishes.
Lumberton's plan seeks to
pay another community to take as many low income
units as COAH will allow. The
township's proposed plan also seeks to maximize
the number senior housing units allowed and then fill
the
remaining obligation with rental units because
COAH gives extra credit for these units.
According to the proposed plan, Lumberton will
pay another municipality to take 74 units and construct
45 units - 29 senior units and 16 rental
apartments.
Supporters of
this plan assert that this arrangement will have
the least impact on Lumberton's
infrastructure, public services, traffic and open
space. The plan still has to be approved by
the Land Development Board and Township
Committee.
New Businesses
Opening In Lumberton: In the
past few months, a few new business have opened
in Lumberton:
- Brightest
Beginnings Child Care - Route 38 behind The
American Red Cross
- Quiznos
Sandwich Shop - Evergreen Shopping Center
- Eastern Auto
Parts - Evengreen Shopping Center
- Ultimate
Leather - Lumberton Plaza.
Community
Calendar: Here are some interesting
community events scheduled through the end of
the year:
- Senior
Christmas Party: The Lumberton Annual
Senior Holiday Party will be held at the
Bobby's Runs School on Sunday, December 4th
from 1 PM - 4 PM. There will be entertainment,
door prizes and food. To RSVP, call 267-3217.
- Township Tree
Lighting: The township's annual tree
lighting will be December 4th 6:00 PM - 7:00
PM outside the Municipal Building. There
will be some entertainment, singing and
refreshments.
- Greater
Lumberton Business Association (GLBA):
Congressman Jim Saxton will be the guest
speaker at the GLBA's December
meeting. The meeting is scheduled for
Monday, December 12th at 5:00 PM at Ocean's in
Motion in the Mount Laurel Commons Shopping
Center.
-
January
Lumberton PTA Meeting: Dr. Michael
Moskalski, Rancocas Valley Regional High
School Superintendent, will be the guest
speaker. He will provide an
informational briefing on the regional high
school. The meeting is scheduled for
January 11th starting at 7:00 PM in the
Lumberton Middle School auditorium. Dr
Moskalski is scheduled to start his
presentation at 7:30 PM.
New Features:
Following the success of the Lumberton E-News
Classifieds and Online Poll, I have added another
small feature a link to the PSE&G Report a
Burnt Out Street Light Form.
As always, I hope
you enjoyed this issue, and I appreciate your
support. Please continue to share it with
your friends and neighbors.
Pat Delany
Founder &
Editor
122 Kingsbridge
Drive
Lumberton, NJ
08048
(609) 560-8045
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