By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Marlton Sun
Emphasis on signing up for fall programs through the township’s website was discussed at the Aug. 21 city council meeting.
Director of Recreation and Senior Services, Monica Vandenberg, presented the review of recreational programs for the fall for ages ranging from 18 months through senior citizens in the township.
30 percent of the programs this fall will be new programs the remaining will be programs set to return, according to Vandenberg.
Vandenberg created new program books both available online and in print available at the blue barn, the center for the arts, the library and the Gibson House. The total cost of production was approximately $700 to reproduce 1,000. The township ultimately saved $30,000 by foregoing the usual mailers of the booklet between the printing and postage used to send them out.
“The emphasis is to really get residents to go online,” Vandenberg said.
Vandenberg took into consideration the needs of the varying age groups in addition to local businesses and what they offer in the process of choosing programs the township will run.
“The objective is definitely not to lose money, revenue would be nice, but to provide services local businesses may not offer,” Vandenberg said.
Some of the programs available to Evesham residents, including swimming, and boxing, a new program added. Participants will have to travel outside of the township due to lack of facilities, in all other cases, instructors will travel to Evesham’s facilities to teach the classes.
The courses range from four to 12 weeks, typically one day a week depending on the type of class.
“Baby boomers is new, boxing is new, calligraphy, cardio core and more and the citizens police academy are all new programs,” Vandenberg said. “De-cluttering and de-stress are also adult programs getting away from the typical yoga and Pilates, they’re still there but these will be offered as well,” Vandenberg said.
The Knights of Columbus presented the township with $650 raised through various charities and campaigns they ran to put aside for the special needs children of Evesham Township. The amount will be added to the $250,000 to reconstruct the playground at Memorial Park. The new park will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and bids will begin in the upcoming months for construction of the new playground.
“I would like to thank you for all the continued support over the years,” said Vandenberg.
“We thank you for going over and above what normal residents do. We really appreciate this. This money will be put to good use,” said Mayor Randy Brown.
Additionally at the meeting, council passed two ratifications of the teamster contracts for both the clerical union and public works, both of which were without a contract for 18 months.
“We, Bill, myself, and Tom Shanahan worked over many months to create a contract that was number one, fair to the tax payers. And number two, fair to the employees,“ said Brown. “We think we arrived with the help of our insurance company.”
To see the new program brochure, visit www.twp.evesham.nj.us/pdf/fall_2012_rec.pdf and online registration can be accessed at register.communitypass.net/reg/index.cfm.
The next meeting will be Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at 984 Tuckerton Rd.
