Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of the Mount Laurel First E-News letter.

If you have not already done so, I would like to remind you that if you subscribe to the mailing list you will receive the E-News letter directly to your email account.  This letter is intended to inform you of what is going on around Mount Laurel - first.

Mount Laurel Basketball Winter Registration Is Open:  You can register by going to their website (provided on my LINKS page) and by clicking on REGISTER NOW. Mt Laurel Basketball offers leagues for boys and girls in Kindergarten through 12th grades. They have travel, intramural, and instructional leagues. They also offer a Challenger League for children with special needs. Last year they ran 200 teams for over 1700 players. Space is limited so be sure to sign up by October 31st to guarantee a place for your child.
Travel tryouts for grades 4 to 8 will start the week of October 8th and all players planning to try out must be registered by October 5th or they will not be permitted to tryout. Instructional, Intramural and Challenger play will begin the first week of December.
Fees for this season remain the same as last year. Fees for all children 3rd grade and up are $100 and Kindergarten to 2nd grade are $50. Fees for the Challenger League for children with Special Needs are $20 per player.
Email them at mtlaurelbasketball@comcast.net with any questions.

Councilwoman Devery has resigned:  At Monday night's public meeting (October 1, 2007) Virginia Devery submitted her resignation effective immediately upon the end of the meeting.  She has stated that she wishes to enjoy her retirement by traveling and visiting her children and grandchildren.  The County Republican Committee (of which I am a member of) will meet next week to choose three names to submit to the Township Council for them to vote on one name to complete the unexpired term, which ends on December 31, 2008

State Road Improvement Plan Updated:  The State has provided a copy of its latest road improvement plan for the intersection of Interstate 295 and Route 38 to the Township Manager. The plan calls for additional entrance and exits to and from Interstate 295 and includes improvements at the intersections of Route 38 and Marter Avenue and at the intersection of Route 38 and Briggs Road.  The current estimated cost for this project is 100 million dollars and is slated to begin in 2009 and last for around six years. A photo rendering of the project is located at the Township Municipal Office.

Open Space Acquisition: The US Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal for the MiPro acquisition that had been processed through the New Jersey Courts.  The parcel in question resides at the corner of Elbo Lane and Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road.  It is approximately 6 acres and the township tried to acquire this property as Open Space but the developer refused to sell so the township acquired it through eminent domain as Open Space for the community.  The developer sued and won in the NJ Superior Court but that ruling was overturned by the NJ Appellate Court and the Appellate Court's decision was upheld by the NJ Supreme Court.  The developer then petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear its case but was officially denied the review. 

Extending Open Space Ordinances:  This question has been placed on this year's ballot for voters to pass either one or both by popular vote.  Passing these ordinances will NOT increase Taxes but merely extend the original expiration date by 20 years on each, which would allow the Township to be able to fund future Open Space purchases and allow future residents to help pay for our current AND future purchases.  The Township Council introduced proposition to amend the sunset provisions of the 1998 and 2001 Voter approved referendum for funding Mount Laurel's Open Space Program at its June 18, 2007 meeting.  The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Paws Farm Nature Center: Travelocity and IgoUgo have named Paws Farm Nature Center a top insider spot for New Jersey and has listed it in its 2007 Edition of Local Secrets, Big Finds.  The online guidebook showcases hidden gems across the country that tourists often overlook.  Here is the link: http://svc.travelocity.com/promos/localsecrets_2007_new-jersey/0,,TRAVELOCITY,)).html

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,