The Current of EHT / 2015 COMMUNITY GUIDE Page 3

The Egg Harbor Township governing body is made up of five elected committee mem-bers, which include a mayor and deputy mayor. Paul Hod-son is deputy mayor, and the committee members are Frank Finnerty, Joe Cafero and Laura Pfrommer.

The township is situated in the southeast portion of Atlan-tic County, contiguous with At-lantic City. With a land area of approximately 68 square miles, it is one of the largest munici-palities in the state.

The township is bounded by Hamilton Township to the west; Galloway Township to the north; the cities of Absecon, Pleasantville, Northfield, Lin-wood, Atlantic City and Somers Point to the east; Longport and Ocean City to the southeast; and Estell Manor to the south. Egg Harbor Township once encompassed all of Atlantic County, including Atlantic City.

Our community is made up of diverse areas of wood-lands, waterfront and residen-tial growth areas. Egg Harbor Township has more waterfront than any other town in New Jersey – from West Atlantic City all the way behind Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Long-port, Ocean City and Somers Point, up to Mays Landing.

Farmington, Bargaintown, Cardiff, Scullville and West At-lantic City make up the majori-ty of the township. Anchorage Poynte and Seaview Harbor provide many waterfront res-idences. We are part of the Pinelands, and as a result our population has exploded in the last 10 years.

From 2000 to 2010 the pop-ulation went from 30,058 to 43,323 – a 44 percent increase. School populations increased substantially in correlation. Our residents approved many school building projects to keep up with the demand for

education. Meanwhile, I and Township Committee kept the local-purpose tax one of the lowest in Atlantic County for full-service communities.

Members of the Board of Ed-ucation are elected in the reg-ular November election along with Township Committee members.

Likewise, the township has kept up with the demand for ad-ditional municipal services and recreational opportunities. We have purchased many acres of open space for preservation and recreation. Our parks are centralized and serve many needs. Bargaintown Park was completed to provide soccer, tennis and baseball opportu-nities in addition to those pro-vided at Canale Park. A new 55,000-square-foot Community Center was completed in 2007 and provides a home for recre-ational services, art and crafts, basketball, fine arts programs and many other community ac-tivities. We have miles of trails for residents to use, and our Ar-boretum provides an opportuni-ty to enjoy peace and tranquility in a wooded setting. Veterans Park is the home to football, cheerleading, baseball, BMX and street hockey, and many other recreation activities are provided by numerous groups. Egg Harbor Township owns its own golf course and has many marinas for fishing and boat-ing. The township is working with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to pre-pare the north side of the Black Horse Pike in West Atlantic City for future redevelopment.

Egg Harbor Township is the home of Atlantic City Inter-national Airport, which offers flights throughout the United States and is the home of Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, the 177th Fighter Wing, and the Next Generation Aviation Re-search and Technology Park.

Egg Harbor Township offers a wealth of opportunities

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2015 Egg Harbor Township2015 Egg Harbor Township

Community GuideCommunity Guide

The Atlantic City Express-way and Garden State Park-way intersect our town, while major bus lines provide pub-lic transportation. It is easy to connect to anywhere in New Jersey and surrounding states from the township.

Residents and visitors can enjoy our expansive Great Egg Harbor River frontage, our many parks, and our cul-tural and recreational activi-ties. Business growth contin-ues in Egg Harbor Township, and excellent restaurants pro-vide a wide variety of cuisine, but our wonderful residents are the real reason Egg Har-bor Township is a great place to live.

Page 12 The Current of EHT / 2015 COMMUNITY GUIDE

There are 10 schools in the Egg Harbor Township school system: a high school, an alternative high school, two middle schools and six elementary schools, all overseen by Superintendent Scott McCart-ney.

The district is committed to pro-viding up-to-date, energy-effi cient schools, high-quality curriculum and instruction, multiple and di-verse co-curricular activities, and dedicated and competent faculty, staff and administration so stu-dents can reach their fullest poten-tial.

The district provides multiple learning opportunities to students and staff through differentiated instruction and professional devel-opment workshops.

H. Russell Swift Elementary School

The H. Russell Swift Elementa-ry School, 5 Swift Drive, houses preschoolers through third-grad-ers. The student body is approxi-mately 480.

Principal Patricia Connor writes in the school’s state report card profile that its mission is to provide a safe, positive learning environment where students have a variety of learning opportunities to help them develop into healthy, productive, lifelong learners.

Ellmore H. Slaybaugh School Complex

Principal Maryann Giardina is at the helm of the Slaybaugh Primary and Elementary schools at 13 and 11 Swift Drive, respec-tively. The primary school houses students in preschool through first grade, and the ele-mentary school is for students in second and third grade. Enrollment is about 850.

C.J. Davenport ComplexC.J. Davenport Primary and Elementa-

ry schools, at 2499 and 2501 Spruce Ave., respectively, teach students in preschool through third grade. Kevin Fricke is the prin-cipal for approximately 850 students.

In addition to the four preschool, 10 kin-dergarten and 10 first-grade classrooms, Davenport Primary has three self-contained classrooms for students with multiple dis-abilities. The primary building is also home to the district’s director of autism, a behav-ior specialist, and district offices for the IT department and the director of special pro-grams and grants.

The elementary school contains 21 regu-lar education second- and third-grade class-rooms and one self-contained classroom for students with multiple disabilities.

Joyanne D. Miller Elementary School

Joyanne D. Miller School, 2 Alder Ave., opened in September 2003 to all of the dis-trict’s fourth- and fifth-grade students. It is currently operating with approximately 1,140 students, just under its capacity of 1,200.

Principal Latifah Potter describes the school’s vision as “lighting the way for chil-dren to achieve their greatest academic po-tential while learning to respect themselves, others and their community is the foundation for our three simple school rules. These in-clude respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for your community.”

Fernwood Avenue and Alder Avenue Middle schools

The Fernwood Avenue Middle School, 4034 Fernwood Ave., is structured into nine small learning communities for a more personalized educational process. Principal James Batters-by oversees approximately 950 students here.

Alder Avenue Middle School, at 25 Alder Ave., is its sister school. Principal Joseph Marinelli oversees approximately 900 students here.

Both schools teach grades six through eight.

Egg Harbor Township High School

Egg Harbor Township High School, 24 High School Drive, serves about 2,400 students in ninth through 12th grade. Class sizes are slightly above average, according to state data.

Principal Terry Charlton leads the school along with four assistant principals, 11 depart-ment supervisors and a staff of nearly 200.

The high school has a graduation rate of more than 93 percent.

The school is classifi ed by the NJSIAA for most sports as South Jersey Group IV, a cat-egory that includes schools with enrollment of 1,135 to 1,946.

Eagle AcademyFor some Egg Harbor Township High

School students, Eagle Academy at 3517 Bargaintown Road is where they will fi nd suc-cess. Led by Director Bud Smith, Eagle Acad-emy has small class sizes to help students who are at high risk of failing or dropping out of school.

Board of EducationThe Egg Harbor Township Board of Edu-

cation consists of nine members and meets twice monthly in the meeting room of the Al-der Avenue Middle School. See www.eht.k12.nj.us.

– Laura Stetser

10 public schools help students reach their full potential

Page 18 The Current of EHT / 2015 COMMUNITY GUIDE

By SUZANNE MARINOStaff Writer

The Egg Harbor Township Community Cen-ter at 5045 English Creek Ave. offers programs especially for senior citizens 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Forget the notion that a day at the Communi-ty Center is spent sitting around and just play-ing bingo.

Working in conjunction with the Cygnus Cre-ative Arts Centre, the Community Center offers art classes where seniors can learn to draw and discover or develop talents.

If the nine-week drawing class offered every Tuesday is too big a commitment, seniors can try one of the crafts offered daily. Computer, line dancing, exercise, movement and self-de-fense classes are also offered.

Every Monday the Atlantic County Library bookmobile makes at stop at the center.

While Atlantic County operates nine nutri-tional centers at various locations, the site in the Egg Harbor Township Community Center is one of the most popular, seeing as many as 100 seniors Monday through Friday. Carolyn Maltz is the site coordinator.

The day starts 9 a.m. with a continental breakfast of toast, bread and juice.

Seniors can use their own transportation or arrange for the free county senior bus to pick them up and take them to the center or to doctor

appointments, trips for dialysis or other medical treatment. Rides are fi rst come, fi rst served for those who qualify. Call 609-645-5910 to deter-mine eligibility or 609- 272-8179 to arrange for transportation. Reservations can be made from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A complete senior lunch is served daily at noon; a $1 contribution is requested. The meal

normally consists of soup and a main course. Holiday parties and themed lunches are of-

fered around Christmastime, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day and other special days.

Bingo is the last activity offered each day.For information on trips and activities call

609-272-8120.

By SUZANNE MARINOStaff Writer

Veterans have a place of honor in Egg Harbor Township, where the job of staying on top of veterans issues is not taken lightly. The Egg Harbor Township Veterans Adviso-ry Board was started by Mayor James “Son-ny” McCullough to give veterans not only a voice in the community and a forum to ad-dress their needs, but to preserve and honor the men and women who put on a uniform in service to their nation.

Township Committeeman Paul Hodson is the liaison between the committee and the board, which is comprised of Don Clayton, William Hegarty, Douglas Lundberg, Paul Moschetto, John Rush and Mike Ebert. The group is working on plans for the annual Me-morial Day parade, set for Monday, May 25.

They are currently looking for more groups to be a part of the parade. All groups are wel-come as long as the theme is patriotic. Ad-vance registration is required to march in the parade. Color guards, marching units, civic groups, floats and emergency vehicles can

register at www.ehtgov.org and click on the link for the calendar and then Memorial Day parade. For information call 609-926-4088.

Township veterans gather at Cardiff Veter-ans of Foreign Wars Post 8098, at the corner of Spruce and Franklin avenues, with John Humphrey as post commander.

A 34-year U.S. Army veteran, Humphrey spent 12 years on active duty, and the bal-ance with the National Guard and Reserves. He completed a tour in Afghanistan before he mustered out with the rank of sergeant major.

Humphrey said the post welcomes all vet-erans, including those who fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, and those who served during peacetime as well.

“We really try to help our fellow vets – whether just providing them with a place to go where there are other veterans or to help them understand and receive the benefits they are entitled to – that’s what we try and do,” said Humphrey.

The post is also responsible for placing flags on the graves of military personnel bur-

ied in Laurel Cemetery. Humphrey said while they get some help from the Boy Scouts, most of the work is undertaken by post mem-bers.

The post hall is available for groups and private individuals to rent for parties and oth-er functions. Humphrey said renting the hall is another way people can help the group, by providing financial support for operating expenses and the many charitable donations made by the post.

Thanks to a law passed by the New Jersey legislature, proceeds from games of chance like bingo and raffles held at the post can now go toward maintenance, post improvements or to help veterans in need. Previously all the money had to be used for scholarships.

The post hall can accommodate up to 125 people and is handicap-accessible. The post has a liquor license, and patrons renting the hall can purchase drinks at the bar.

Post 8098 is also a drop-off location for torn and tattered U.S. flags. Members collect flags all year long in a red, white and blue mailbox in the parking lot and hold a flag cer-emony each Flag Day, June 14.

Community Center is senior central weekday morningsCommunity Center is senior central weekday mornings

Cardiff VFW Post 8098 welcomes all veteransCardiff VFW Post 8098 welcomes all veterans