Third Annual Heart of a Hero Scholarship For Military Service Members Launched by First Lady Mary Pat Christie

Ten Scholarships to be Awarded to Support Post-Secondary Education Goals 

Trenton, NJ – Continuing the Christie Administration’s strong commitment to military members and veterans, First Lady Mary Pat Christie today announced New Jersey Heroes third annual Heart of a Hero Scholarship. The program helps military service members pursue a post-secondary education or vocational training by providing another resource to make their higher education and career goals a reality. This year, New Jersey Heroes is funding ten $5,000 scholarships to be awarded in time for the 2014-15 school year.

Former Mayors now Permitted to Solemnize Marriages and Civil Unions After New Law Signed by Governor Christie

According to the State of New Jersey Office of the Governor on January 17, 2014, Governor Chris Christie signed into law Bill A-2128, a law which includes permitting any former Mayor, who is not currently serving on the municipal governing body to solemnize marriages and civil unions. Bill language provides for the act to take effect immediately.

Previously only Mayors, Deputy Mayors when authorized by the Mayor or Chairman of a Township Committee were permitted to solemnize marriages and civil unions. Now former Mayors will be in the same classification as the current Mayor of a municipality. 

Galloway Awarded $230,000 Grant from NJ DOT for Safe Routes to School Program for Collins Road

(Trenton) – The Christie Administration today announced Local Aid grants totaling $530,000 for two Atlantic County municipalities. The Atlantic County grants are among 35 Local Aid grants totaling nearly $6.8 million supporting local road and safety projects.

·         Egg Harbor City will receive a $300,000 Safe Routes to School grant for its Pedestrian and Bicycle School Access Program.

·         Galloway Township will receive $230,000 through the Safe Routes to School program for pedestrian safety improvements on Collins Road.

The entire package includes ten state-funded Local 

Aid Infrastructure Fund (LAIF) grants totaling $1.1 million for emergency road repairs and 25 federally funded Safe Routes to School grants totaling $5.7 million for sidewalk, intersection, crosswalk and other improvements to help children remain safe as they walk or ride bicycles to and from school.

“These grants are among hundreds distributed by this administration every year to help local and county governments advance essential projects without burdening local property taxpayers,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said.  “Local Aid grants are funneling $380 million in state and federal funds to support worthy local projects and planning initiatives in the current fiscal year.”

The Local Aid Infrastructure Fund generally supports unanticipated expenses, and this round of grants includes funding that will supplement Federal Emergency Management Administration grants related to damage caused by Hurricane Irene in 2012.

The Safe Routes to School grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Today’s announcement of the 25 grants will be provided to the recipients as their projects advance.

According to Township Manager Arch Liston, the Township will still need to go through design and then bidding of this project for Collins Road. The first phase which including improvements along Wrangleboro Road was delayed due to the Township needing to obtain easements from property owners. Liston also stated the Township looks at no costs coming from the Township.

Complete lists of the recipients and grant amounts for the Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants, the Hurricane Irene-related LAIF grants and the Safe Routes to School grants are available online by clicking on the links here.  

The state Local Aid program is administered by NJDOT.

Publisher Seeks Input from Public on Galloway Township; Reveal of New Publisher Upcoming

New Publisher of GallowayTwpNews.com is seeking information from the Public as to what Information about Galloway Township piques the public's interest. As the new Publisher, I can rely upon statistics from traffic, but I would rather hear from you, the resident, the public, the community and business owners.

GallowayTwpNews.com under former Publisher Harry B. Scheeler, Jr. was innovative reporting on transparency and open government. That investigative style reporting and demanding of open government will continue under my operation. 

As the new Publisher, I intend to start 2013 with hard core reporting of transparency, open government, accountability and pressuring the elected officials not only at our Local Level, but also at our State Level to do what is right for Galloway Township residents and community. 

Many question and wonder when the reveal of the New Publisher of GallowayTwpNews.com will be announced. I can assure everyone, the announcement is coming and will most likely happen in the month of January.

In the interim, I am requesting all of our readers, business owners and residents of Galloway Township to submit either through email at gallowaytwpnews@gmail.com or by leaving a comment at the bottom of this story with what you would like to see investigated and published.  

We will review and investigate anything from Galloway's Budget, Commercial Developments, Residential Developments, Planning and Zoning Board Decisions and Applications, Council Appointments, new and existing Laws and Ordinances, Revenue Ideas. You name it, we will research it.

You can remain anonymous or you can provide your information. Any information you provide directly to this Publisher and not in the public's view will remain under the NJ Shield Law, unless you the individual direct this Publisher otherwise to use your information.

As Publisher, I intend to research everything provided. I will only report on facts and documentation. If you give me a tip and I can verify and prove what you have is credible and reliable; the story and investigation will be published. 

I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2013.