On Saturday, Dec. 15 at about 10:15 a.m., a group of local motorcyclists will descend upon the Vietnam War Memorial at Laurel Acres Park in Mt. Laurel.
Warriors’ Watch Riders member Gary Cogan shared the invitation with township council and the community at the Monday, Dec. 3 council meeting.
Wreaths will be laid at memorials throughout New Jersey on that day through the national troop support group.
Members of the public are welcome to attend.
“We’re going to 75 different sites,” said Cogan.
The motorcyclists will begin their morning of services at 9:30 a.m. at Freedom Park in Medford, Cogan said, before riding to the memorial behind the library in Marlton. Mt. Laurel’s stop will come next, followed by Cooper River Park.
“Last year was about 30 degrees,” said Cogan.
In motorcycle riding, the weather is everything, he added.
But, even if it rains, the group will still show, instead opting to arrive in a car.
“For years, Mt. Laurel wasn’t part of it,” Cogan said.
However, when he joined the group about four years ago, he made sure the memorial was added to the list.
The riders and the cause are now close to Cogan’s heart.
He planned to be part of a group escorting the remains of a fallen soldier from Dover Air Force Base to Toms River on Dec. 4.
Riders do escorts at the request of the family, he said.
“We never just show up,” he said.
For more information on the Warriors’ Watch Riders, visit www.warriorswatch.org.
Tax abatement
Being compliant with the zoning board, council members adopted an ordinance on second reading allowing for a maximum of 30-year tax abatement to Centerton Urban Renewal Associates, a national affordable housing firm.
The property, located at Centerton Road and Marne Highway, is the affordable housing area of 104 units tied to the Fellowship Redevelopment Project, said Mayor Jim Keenan.
According to the ordinance, when the residential project is completed, it will confirm to all state and local laws and ordinances relating to its construction and use.
The adoption, said Keenan, was first met with much research on the parts of council members and was best for Mt. Laurel.
Drive sober
Also at the meeting, a resolution was approved to add $4,400 as a special item of revenue in this year’s municipal budget for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative.
Learn more about the national program by visiting www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober/.
Santa’s arrival
Santa Claus will be making a special trip to see Mt. Laurel residents on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
Arriving in style on a fire truck, members of the community can meet with Santa from 2:45 to 7 p.m. at the Mt. Laurel Community Center, 100 Mt. Laurel Road.
There will be refreshments, story time, crafting and time for photos.
The township has suggested bringing your own camera for photographs with Santa.
Also, make sure not to forget your wish list for St. Nick.
For more details, visit www.mountlaurel.com.
