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Bright Side Recent News

Bellmawr Planning Board to Hear Application for Chipotle on Oct. 5

On Monday, October 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., the Bellmawr Planning Board will hear via teleconferencing the application by Bellmawr Equities LLC for preliminary and final major site approval to construct a 2,325 square foot Chipotle restaurant with one mobile order pickup lane.

The proposed location is 2 N. Black Horse Pike and is currently vacant. It was the site of the closed Artist House Studios.

Mayor Chuck Sauter made an official announcement on September 24, 2020.

Image credit: Google

The municipality will post the proposed exhibits for public viewing on the Board’s webpage at https://bellmawr.com/planning-board at least two days prior to the public hearing.

Members of the public who wish to introduce or rely upon exhibits and evidence during the hearing that are not part of the application or plans should provide such material(s) as soon as possible to the Board Secretary, Margaret Sandrock, by email at taxcollector@bellmawr.com. 

While the Borough Municipal Building remains closed to the public for Board meetings, members of the public will have full access to the meeting, and will also be able to give public comment, present objections, and/or cross-examine witnesses on the application being heard by the Board:

Through GoToMeeting or telephone by following the below directions:

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/782078813

Dial in using only your telephone:

United States: +1(408) 650-3123 Access Code: 782-078-813

The Applicant will seek any variances, waivers, and approvals that may be required.

Regarding variances and approvals being sought, the following are additional details copied from the Public Notice that was published on September 25, 2020:

  1. Section 260-57H Minimum setback requirement for trash enclosure 5 feet required; 1.5 feet proposed;
  2. Section 260-87 Loading zone; 1 loading space required; 0 loading spaces proposed;
  3. Section 260-90D(2) Maximum area of freestanding sign; 25 sf permitted; 39.84 sf proposed;
  4. Section 260-90D(4) Maximum height of freestanding sign; 12 feet permitted; 20 feet proposed;
  5. Section 260-90D(1) Maximum number of façade signs; 2 permitted; 3 proposed; and
  6. Section 260-90D(2) Minimum setback requirement for freestanding sign from right of way; 20 feet required; 8.6 feet proposed. 

Post updated on September 26, 2020 at 5:55 p.m.

Categories
Bright Side Recent News

Chipotle is in the Works at Site of Former Artist House on Black Horse Pike in Bellmawr

A Chipotle is in the works at the site of the former Artist House located at 2 S. Black Horse Pike in Bellmawr, Mayor Chuck Sauter announced at the September 24, 2020 council meeting.

Mayor Sauter said that this is very exciting for the town and noted that if all goes well, the application for the Chipotle will be heard by the Bellmawr Planning Board on October 5, 2020.

This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as they become available.

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Bright Side Feature Stories

NJ SHARES & Volunteers of America Delaware Valley Expand SMART Program, Providing Rent & Mortgage Assistance to Those In Need in Atlantic & Camden Counties

Camden, N.J. – Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (VOADV) and New Jersey SHARES Inc. (NJ SHARES) are expanding their partnership by making their SHARES Mortgage Assistance Rent or Taxes (SMART) Program  available to both Camden County and Atlantic County residents in need.

“The SMART Program is designed to help individuals facing foreclosure or eviction help steer them back on a path of self-sustained living,” explained Cheryl Stowell, CEO of NJ SHARES. “By expanding into Atlantic County, our partnership with VOADV allows us to reach even more of our New Jersey residents in need while helping to restore stability to these households after crisis.”

“Our organization provides direct, immediate services to our society’s most vulnerable populations,” explains Daniel L. Lombardo, President and CEO of VOADV. “We remain committed to providing critical assistance to those facing potential homelessness, guiding them on a path towards stable, independent living. The expansion of the SMART Program allows us to do just that, offering Atlantic and Camden County residents access to this critical resource in uncertain times.”

The SMART Program provides critical funding for rent or mortgage assistance to individuals that are facing eviction or foreclosure. The program is designed to assist low-to-moderate income households in New Jersey with a combined total monthly income between 0-80 percent of the area median income for the region. Eligible households may then receive a one-time grant up to $5,000 to aide with a mortgage or rent payment.

Since May, VOADV and NJ SHARES have been administering the SMART Program with much success to individuals in need living in Camden County. The move to expand the program into Atlantic County is rooted in the desire to reach an even larger number of individuals in need who may require the financial assistance and navigational support this program provides.

With the expansion of the SMART program, individuals must be either an Atlantic County or Camden County resident and must meet the following pre-qualifications in order to be eligible for the program:

  • Have a back-owed rent or mortgage that puts the household in danger of eviction or foreclosure
  • Be experiencing a financial crisis, defined as a period of intense financial difficulty which the household did not create and which the household lacks the current means to overcome
  • Be able to demonstrate loss due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Have a combined total monthly income between 0-80 percent of the area median income for the region
  • Complete and submit an application, as well as all necessary supporting documentation

VOADV’s Navigational Resource Centers will continue to serve as the SMART Program’s referral source in both counties, pre-qualifying households and assisting them with the grant application process. The centers provide outreach, rapid response and homeless navigation services to the communities’ most vulnerable, at-risk individuals, including those experiencing homelessness, and offer a spectrum of services, such as treatment, housing, employment, education and legal services. Locations of these centers in each county are as follows:

  • Atlantic County:
    • VOADV Office – 26 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  • Camden County: 
    • VOADV Office – 1812 Federal Street, Camden, NJ 08105
    • Pine Hill Police Department – 48 W 6th Avenue, Pine Hill, NJ 08021

Individual grant amounts for the SMART Program are determined by NJ SHARES based on each qualifying household’s income and available resources, and is subject to certain limitations. All SMART funds are paid directly to the landlord, court or lien holder once an application for a SMART grant has been approved.

For more information or to apply for the SMART Program, please call (866) 657-4273 or e-mail njsmart@njshares.org.

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Bright Side Feature Stories

Middlesex County Man Wins $200,000 Jersey Cash 5 Jackpot Using Lottery App

Trenton, N,J. — A lucky New Jersey man hit a lottery jackpot without even leaving the house. Jackpocket, New Jersey’s first and only registered lottery courier service, today announced a Jersey Cash 5 player has won a $200,959 jackpot after ordering their ticket using Jackpocket’s mobile lottery app.

A construction consultant from Middlesex County received a big surprise when Jackpocket automatically notified him that his Cash 5 ticket had matched all five winning numbers from the Saturday, September 19 drawing. “I never really played the lottery much before the Jackpocket app,” said the Cash 5 winner. “I love that I don’t need to worry about checking my tickets. I’ve been telling my friends that the app is the best thing ever.”

The $200,959 prize marks Jackpocket’s biggest New Jersey Lottery win to date and comes just three months after the addition of Jersey Cash 5 and other popular New Jersey Lottery daily games to the app. Jackpocket is the first third-party app in the United States that offers an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket app users in New Jersey have won over $2.5 million in lottery prizes since the app launched in New Jersey in December 2019.

“Jackpocket was founded on the idea that the lottery should be accessible and convenient to play,” said Jackpocket Founder and CEO Peter Sullivan. “We are thrilled when our players win major cash prizes, especially knowing that they had the ability to play their favorite games from the comfort and safety of home.”

Jackpocket provides New Jerseyans a new way to play the lottery. Players can place orders for well-known jackpot games, including Powerball, Mega Millions, CASH4LIFE, Pick-6, Pick-4, Pick-5, and Jersey Cash 5, and view digital scans of their tickets right on their phone. New Jersey is the first state lottery to formally authorize lottery courier services, allowing the placement of orders through a mobile app.

The app is available for download on iOS or Android.

About Jackpocket

Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun and responsible way to play the lottery.

By being the first company to automatically lock a customer’s account to their ticket serial number, Jackpocket makes the lottery even more secure.

Jackpocket is currently available in Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Download the app on iOS or Android and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Bright Side Feature Stories

Bunting Family Pharmacy Acquires Permanent Prescription Drop Box

Bunting Family Pharmacy Owner, and Pharmacist in Charge Josiah Bunting with the permanent prescription drop box. (Photo provided)

Northfield, NJ —  Join Together Atlantic County (JTAC), a substance misuse prevention coalition has partnered with Bunting Family Pharmacy helping them secure a permanent prescription drop box for the public to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medications.

The box is located inside Bunting Family Pharmacy located at 1337-a, New Rd, Northfield, NJ, 08225. It will be available to the public during normal business hours, which are 9:00AM until 7:00PM Monday through Friday, and from 9:00AM until 4:00PM on Saturday. 

Image provided

You may contact Bunting Family Pharmacy at (609) 484-0026 or visit their website at https://buntingfamilypharmacy.com  for additional information.

Bunting Family Pharmacy Owner, and Pharmacist in Charge Josiah Bunting along with Join together Atlantic Counties, Brian J. Wilson have worked diligently to provide this much needed service to the local community.

Since 2008, Bunting Family Pharmacy has been a staple in the Northfield community and has always taken opportunities to give back to the community. 

They are extremely proud to help those looking for a safe way to dispose of unused or unwanted medications.  Wilson stated that properly securing and disposing of your medications are important steps in helping to prevent the theft and diversion of powerful opioid medications.

 Permanent drop boxes and the awareness campaigns surrounding them are an important part of reducing the misuse of prescription medication.  2 in 5 teenagers believe prescription drugs are “much safer” than illegal drugs. 

Every day in the U.S. 2,500 youths take a prescription pain reliever for the purpose of getting high for the first time.  Cleaning out medicine cabinets will reduce the number of prescriptions available for abuse.

Wilson commends Bunting Family Pharmacy for taking the initiative to help protect our environment and keep our communities safe by offering the public a safe way to dispose of their medications.

The prescription drop box waspurchased by JTAC with funds through a DFC (Drug Free Communities) grant from the ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). 

For more information about JTAC please visit www.jtacnj.org or call 609-272-0101 ext. 22.

JTAC challenges you to take the Five-Step American Medicine Chest Challenge:

  • Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
  • Secure your medicine chest.
  • Properly dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.
  • Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed.
  • Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.