Home Care In Hainesport, NJ

Burlington County just got a new, unusual resident — a 20-foot troll named “Big Rusty.”

The troll, made entirely from trash and recycled materials, is a sculpture created by renowned, Denmark-based sustainable art creator Thomas Dambo and his team of about 12 people.

Last week, Dambo’s team and local volunteers completed the sculpture, located off Route 38 in Hainesport Township near South Branch Rancocas Creek.

The sustainable sculpture sits in front of the same abandoned pottery factory that it was born from, Dambo said.

Thousands of different recycled remnants from the building, including 100-square-meters of rusty metal roofing, a plywood attic, concrete walls and old pallets were used to bring Big Rusty to life, he said.

New Jersey’s new troll is part of Dambo’s “Way of the Bird King” sculpture series, where he and his team of about 20 builders and local volunteers will install ten different trolls in locations across the state.

“I hope that this will leave a meaningful (impact) that will encourage people to come out and hike a little bit around in nature and find some beautiful art and remember that together we can think big and make things happen with our trash,” Dambo said while traveling in an RV on his was to his next destination — Michigan.

The “Way of the Bird King” series has a story that starts in South Jersey with Big Rusty, as its the first of the ten trolls that will be installed by Dambo and his volunteers in only 100 days.

All the trolls have their own individual stories that connect to a bigger message rooted in fostering a greater sense of environmental responsibility within people, Dambo said.

In the tale behind the project, a main character troll travels through different islands, or towns around the country, setting out to figure out why the waterways have been murky, the artist said.

The troll first lands in Hainesport where it encounters a big monster troll named Big Rusty, who grows larger with the more trash it eats.

The main character then asks, how large will Big Rusty grow, Rambo said.

“It’ll continue growing forever because there’s so much trash,” he said.

After the interaction, the troll runs off into the forest until it encounters the next troll monster in Vermont, the story goes.

Though this is the first time the Copenhagen-based artist has started an art installation series in the U.S., he has created over 100 other troll sculptures around the world.

“I use my sculptures to draw people out to go and explore the local area where they are and to find something a little bit adventurous there,” Dambo said.

The coordinates for Big Rusty’s location are (39.9762330,-74.8264650), according to officials.

Hainesport Township, which recommended the location for the project because the pottery factory that was previously there had been abandoned for several years, plans to turn the property into a park, according to Dambo.

The township recently gated the location off but will reopen it on July 17, once they clean the area up, a spokesperson for the “Way of the Bird King” series said.

“There’s a river behind the factory and some nice graffiti and stuff on the factory and I think it’s a good little, Sunday afternoon adventure for people,” Dambo said.

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Jersey Mike’s Subs is getting ready to open its newest shop in New Jersey.

Located at 1520 Route 38 in Hainesport, the popular sandwich chain will officially debut April 12 following a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials, Jersey Mike’s executives and other community members.

To celebrate the occasion, the restaurant will host a special fundraiser on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Delaware Valley Chapter. Through April 16, customers with a special coupon distributed prior to the opening will be able to donate $3 to the nonprofit and receive a free regular size sandwich.

The newest Jersey Mike’s location is franchised by quadruplet brothers Erich, Nick, Sam and Tom Ballard, all of whom started with the company as their first jobs in high school. They went on to receive support through Jersey Mike’s Coach Rod Smith Ownership Program, which is an investment model that gives store-level managers or assistant managers a track to shop ownership.

Jersey Mike’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Cancro launched the program in 2020, naming it after his high school football coach – and local bank executive – who gave him a $125,000 loan to purchase his first sandwich shop in Point Pleasant when he was 17.

Tom Ballard said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to grow with a fantastic company, to become a part of the Hainesport community, and to support the Alzheimer’s Association of America with all of the meaningful work that they do.”

Catherine McCarthy, development manager, Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, said donations will support the organization’s programs and services, such as its free 24/7 helpline as well as research related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“The commitment and passion of our volunteers, like the Ballard brothers, is the engine that drives our mission forward. In New Jersey alone, there are more than 190,000 people 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s and another 272,000 family members and friends caring for them—this disease is impacting those right in our communities, in our own families,” she said.

Jersey Mike’s Hainesport restaurant will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Guests can place orders in-store or for pick-up through the Jersey Mike’s website or app. Additionally, delivery is available in most areas via the Jersey Mike’s app or third-party delivery partners.

The local shop is also looking to hire team members. Interested applicants can visit the store or call 609-534-2282.

Founded in 1956, the Manasquan-headquartered chain is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the U.S., with over 2,500 restaurants nationwide, including more than 125 in the Garden State.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:20 p.m. ET April 10, 2023, to clarify the chapter name of the Alzheimer’s Association.

HAINESPORT, N.J. (CBS) -- An animal clinic in South Jersey has a special worker who helps calm people and pets down during spay and neuter procedures.

Her name is Didi.

She's blind and has special needs.

She's a goat.

"She just does so much for us and for our clients," Dr. Lori Cobb, who runs Ace of Spays in Hainesport, said. "Everybody loves to see her. We have some people come in repeat times with their dogs just to come see Didi."

Dr. Cobb said Didi brings peace to the office during what can often be a scary procedure for pets and their owners.

"It's a little stressful coming in to have your pet spayed and neutered," Dr. Cobb said. "Didi helps with the peace, and she helps the animals. She's been a really great addition to our team. We didn't expect that."

When Didi was born on easter 2020, she didn't have enough oxygen was flowing to her brain, and one of Dr. Cobb's vet techs had to resuscitate her.

As a result, along with her blindness, she doesn't have a fully functioning brain, but she can hear really well.

For pet owners like Josephine Dantonio, feeding Didi a piece of food brings her peace.

"It's nice to come in here when you're maybe stressed and then you see this beautiful, gentle animal just lighting up your day for a few minutes," Dantonio said. "Just adorable."

Dr. Cobb said as Didi grows older, the clinic will continue taking care of her and giving her time with pets and their owners.

"Come on in to Ace of Spays, we want to help spay your pets," Dr. Cobb laughed. "Come meet Didi. She's a great little goat."

Brandon Goldner

Brandon Goldner is an award-winning reporter/multiskilled journalist for CBS News Philadelphia, where he primarily covers South Jersey.

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HAINESPORT — The municipality has purchased over 28 acres off Route 38 in hopes of one day providing the community with passive recreation along the Rancocas Creek.

The Township Committee appropriated $630,000 for the acquisition and issued $598,500 in bonds at a meeting earlier this month.

Known as the Kleiner property, the land consists of two tracts: 24.56 acres of woods along the creek's south branch and 3.58 acres across the street with frontage on the westbound side of the state highway.

The 3.58 acres were donated with the sale of the larger parcel, according to Township Administrator Paula Kosko. The assessed value of the larger tract was $686,800, she said.

Both locations consist mostly of woods, aside from a couple of structures on the larger property that were once home to the Creek Turn Ceramic Supply Co., according to Kosko. The property owners remediated the ceramics company site last year, she said.

The Rancocas Creek spans the entire length of the nearly 25-acre site. The municipality plans to dedicate the land along the creek and the portion tucked back from Route 38 for preservation.

"Future use may include passive recreation for residents of all ages to enjoy. Installing a canoe/kayak launch and natural walking trails by utilizing available grants has been suggested as a conceptual plan," Kosko said.

The committee is looking to partner with local agencies and residents to develop a plan for the passive use.

"Considering there are no county or state parks on the south side of Hainesport, there may be an opportunity for walking trail connectivity for the residents of the Creekview and Lakeside at Creekview community to enjoy," Kosko said.

Those developments are between Route 38 and Creek Road, adjacent to the acquired land.

Although the goal is to provide for recreation, the land is in a redevelopment zone, so the township could choose to develop it in the future.

“Hainesport Township is committed to preserving the majority of this land from development as part of our open space inventory," Mayor Tony Porto said. "The frontage along Route 38 may be subdivided and sold to create future tax ratables and add jobs to our local economy, as part of our plan for smart growth."

Annual debt service out of the operating budget to pay for the property is expected to be $59,850, Kosko said. It could be lower if the township decides to divide the land and sell the Route 38 frontage to developers.

The municipality could also decide to pay some of the debt service with open space preservation money, Kosko said.

"It is important to note that there will be no increase in taxes to pay for this purchase," Porto said.

Brian Woods: 609-410-9962; email: [email protected]; Twitter: @woodsb42

HAINESPORT — Joseph Corn has always been a part of the Hainesport community. He grew up in the town, attended its school, and is raising his daughters here as well.

Now he's taken on a more prominent role as the superintendent and principal of the kindergarten-through-eighth-grade district, which serves over 600 students.

"To me, it's always been a special place," Corn said in an interview Friday. "Having lived all my life in Hainesport, the heart and soul has always been the school district. So, for me, after 20 years in this business of education, coming back home holds a very special spot for me."

Corn was selected by the Board of Education in September after Joseph Campisi announced his resignation to take a position as an assistant superintendent in the Cherry Hill School District.

Corn got his start as a teacher at the Burlington County Institute of Technology in 1997. From there, he became an assistant principal and then building principal in Edgewater Park. He also was superintendent in Wenonah, a preschool-to-sixth-grade district of about 250 students in Gloucester County.

In Hainesport, Corn said one of his goals is to bring a sense of stability to the top leadership position.

"My hope is to be that consistent leadership which Hainesport hasn't had over the last 20 years or so now," he said.

Corn is the district's fifth superintendent since 2009. Virginia Grossman left in June 2012 to take over in nearby Westampton. Joseph Miller, who has served as an interim superintendent in many county districts, was Hainesport's interim from June 2012 until Campisi replaced him in the summer of 2013. Susan Mintz, formerly a superintendent in Medford, was the interim from late September, when Campisi left, until Corn officially took over.

Despite the turnover, the teachers have been consistent in their instruction and continue to impact the students in a positive way, Corn said.

He said he also has built a relationship with his alma mater, Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, where his daughter is a sophomore, to help his students make the transition from eighth grade to high school.

In addition, Corn wants to continue to build on the district's growing early childhood programs, which included the expansion to full-day kindergarten at the start of the school year.

"Full-day kindergarten was a step in the right direction to achieve those goals, so I want to continue to build upon primary education," Corn said.

Another goal is to be visible in the community.

"I think today in schools, townfolk want to see their building leadership visible and approachable. So, to me, that's something I prided myself on," he said.

One of Corn's first appearances as superintendent will be at the Board of Education meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, where parents, residents and students are encouraged to speak with the new district leader.

Kelly Kultys: 609-500-0429; email: [email protected]; Twitter: @kellykultys