Hopewell Township

School technology lab

to be rededicated Sept. 30

The Hopewell Crest School technology lab has undergone a major makeover and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The lab has been refaced with new flat-screen desktop computers, a lightning-fast wireless network, curriculum upgrades and new equipment. These improvements have made the lab a state-of-the-art facility.

The lab has been upgraded with funding from the Hopewell Crest School Science & Technology Foundation, local businesses and community members.

The foundation was created in 1998 by a group of parents and staff members interested in helping support the school's technology and science programs. The foundation meets monthly to discuss ideas to help raise funds that would improve curriculum by way of new equipment, technology or curriculum materials. A few of the events have included a Walk to the Future brick project, a laptop raffle, Dancing with the Staff, and an upcoming golf tournament scheduled for Oct. 25 at the Centerton Country Club.

The technology lab was created when the school was expanded to its current size in 1995-96. The school looked into several lab styles and decided on the Pittsburg, Kansas-based company Pitsco, which creates labs for elementary, middle and high school levels, including the Synergistic Systems lab, which is currently in use at Hopewell Crest.

Vineland

Main Sreet gets grant

Vineland Downtown Improvement District/Main Street Vineland has received a $21,000 grant from the Cumberland County Improvement Authority for the purchase of benches, planters, bicycle racks and recycling receptacles for the downtown.

The grant was applied for by the Green Landis subcommittee of VDID/Main Street Vineland. The purpose of this subcommittee is to concentrate on environmental issues regarding Landis Avenue, including the promotion of recycling, the creation of dedicated bicycle paths in the vicinity of the avenue, and promoting the use of environmentally friendly products whenever possible.

The Design Committee is one of four standing VDID/Main Street committees and is responsible for helping to improve and maintain the physical and aesthetic appearance of downtown, doing so in partnership with various city departments. During spring and fall planting days, members of the committee, with the help of other volunteer organizations, beautify the downtown miniparks and alleyways with flowers.

Some committee members sit on a special city-appointed committee, which approves plans submitted by businesses for facades and signs. The committee has worked closely with the city in drafting design guidelines that establish rules and regulations for how the downtown should look.

Five students honored

Five Vineland High School seniors have been named commended students in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are Paul Cohen, Victoria Druziako, Jessica Dzindzio, Brigid Wallace and Samantha Wallace.

Letters of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corp., which conducts the program, have been presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors. About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the 2009 competition by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.