By Lois Staas

NEWS Correspondent

Mayor Frank R. Filipek asked Bellmawr citizens to exercise their responsibility and call in obvious vandalism to public property as they witnessed it during last week\’s Borough Council meeting.

His comments followed Councilman John P. Bollinger\’s report about some incidents on October 19 on Roberts Avenue that involved tire slashing and car scratching. House break-ins also occurred on Roberts Avenue and Old Kings Highway, he said.

\”As Mayor and Council, we cannot assist citizens unless they come out and complain about damage to park benches and lights,\” Filipek said. \”I see people walking in Sauter Park, but people are afraid to call in. They don\’t have to give their names.\”

Councilman Louis P. Di-Angelo said, \”The cost to replace the damaged benches, lights, and playground equipment is $3,000.

On another matter, Councilman James F. D\’Angelo related the purchase of some new public works equipment, including a new trash truck. He said that because of several prior incidents, it is cost prohibitive for trash pick-up in the alleyway of Alcyon Drive.

\”Our insurance company will not cover accidents in the alleyway. Trash trucks can get in, but they have to back out. If there is an accident, the driver gets points and loses his CDL license,\” D\’Angelo said. \”We are stuck between a rock and a hard place.\”

.Councilman Stephen M. Sauter said, \”Buildings and Lands are up and running. I thank everyone who helped with the holiday decorations of haystacks, mums and pumpkins.\”

\”Football will come to a close this week, and it is time to bed down the Rec Center. If we look closed for following weekends, it is because we are getting ready for Christmas in the Park,\” DiAngelo said.

Filipek said that last year five or six families donated decorations to Christmas in the Park. This year\’s donations will be acknowledged with a plaque.

In the public forum, citizens again pressed their concerns about the trash pick-up in the alleyway.

Issues were with the difficulty of certain residents in placing their trash for collection, retrieval of trash containers, and fire department accessibility.

Both fire chiefs were concerned with the welfare of the citizens and fire department members, as well as damage to $375,000 worth of equipment should its mobility be compromised.

DiAngelo said this area was private property.

Solicitor Robert L. Messick added that residents need to police themselves.

Councilman D\’Angelo repeated that this was not a onetime issue.

As closure, the mayor cited times when the area would be cleaned up, only to fall back into congestion two weeks later.

 

Rider at MAAC Tournament

LAWRENCEVILLE— Rider University freshman soccer player Jim Bradley was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for all games played the final week of the regular season.

Bradley (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) scored two goals in Rider’s MAAC victory over Canisius in the regular season finale Sunday. Bradley collected a loose ball and scored just 2:03 into the game. Bradley scored his team-high fifth goal of the season off of a crossing pass for a 2-1 Rider lead in the 3-1 victory.

Bradley was also the MAAC Rookie of the Week September 10-17.

The Rider soccer team is the ninth seed and will play the eight seed, Siena College, in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship tournament.

The 10-team tournament is being held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida November 14-18.

Rider (7-9-2, 2-5-2 MAAC) ended the regular season on a two-game winning streak, defeating fourth seeded Canisius and seventh seeded Niagara. This season Rider tied the sixth seed, Marist and the tenth seed, Manhattan.

Rider lost 1-0 at Siena on October 7, and also lost by one goal to the second seed, Saint Peter’s (4-3), the third seed, Fairfield (1-0), and the fifth seed, Iona (1-0).

If the Broncs defeat Siena (5-9-4, 2-5-2 MAAC) at 2:00 pm Wednesday they will play the top seed, Loyola (15-3, 8-1 MAAC), at 1:00 pm Thursday. The semi-finals are Saturday and the Championship Game is Sunday at 1:00 pm.

-RU-

 

College Swimming & Diving

LAWRENCEVILLE—Members of the Rider University swimming & diving teams won all four of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference weekly awards this week after defeating MAAC-rival Marist. \”It is good to see them be recognized by the conference for their performance,\” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher.

Junior Josh Rosenbluth was named the men’s Swimmer of the Week for the second consecutive week, junior Priscilla Modrov was named the women’s Swimmer of the Week for the second time this year, junior Amanda Burke was named the women’s Diver of the Week for the second time this year, and senior Dylan Korn was named the men’s Diver of the Week.

 Against Marist Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) won the 200 butterfly (2:05.82), 200 breaststroke (2:28.68) and set a Rider pool record in winning the 200 IM (2:08.20), and swam on the winning 200 medley relay (1:49.41). It was the third Coppola Pool record she has broken this season in just two home meets. \”Priscilla has come back to the college season fit and ready to go, and it has shown in her record-setting early season performances,\” said Fletcher. \”She has more of a relaxed confidence in training this year that should push her to new levels of performance.\”

Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) won the 100 back (51.89), 200 back (1:56.05) and the 200 IM (1:57.48) and swam on the winning 200 medley relay in a time of 1:36.29 in Rider’s win over Marist.

Burke (Churchville, Pa./William Tennent) won the one-meter (254.10) and three-meter (289.95) dives against Marist, as did Korn (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) winning the one-meter (275.40) and three-meter (277.13).

The Broncs swim at Lehigh November 10.