Come out &
cruise
Today, we have all heard and read or been
involved in online social networking. In the
1950s, social networking didn’t occur behind
a computer or smartphone screen. It happened
on the street corners and in the restaurants
of places like downtown Hammonton.
This Friday, September 10, Cruisin’
MainStreet returns, and brings with it the
opportunity for people of all ages to engage
in social networking that’s face-to-face,
outside under a beautiful evening sky and
set against the backdrop of restored
downtown buildings, classic cars, music and
contests.
Recently, it was reported that hula-hooping
is making a big comeback. Since Cruisin’
MainStreet began more than 15 years ago,
kids and adults have hula-hooped at the
corner of Bellevue and Central Avenues. The
smiles on their faces – and the faces of the
people in the crowd watching them – tell the
story of people having a great time.
The cars, of course, bring a social network
of their own. The people who restore them
and drive them come together with people who
remember when they owned them, or their
parents owned them. In recent years, a new
generation of people looks at the cars as
unique rolling pieces of historical art.
They admire them for their beauty, just as
they enjoy Cruisin’ MainStreet for its
ability to bring people together for a good
time.
As time has rolled forward, Cruisin’
MainStreet has gone from being an event that
recaptured the look and feel of the downtown
in the 1950s to an event that actually feels
like the downtown did during the 1950s. The
stores and restaurants are back; the people
socialize as they did when the center of
town was the place to be, enjoying each
other’s company in the same way they did
then, but with a modern twist that is
up-to-the-minute.
Cruisin’ MainStreet has helped bring our
downtown back, and people have had a lot of
fun doing it. Come downtown on September 10
from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and experience it for
yourself.
Bankable town
By the early part of 2011, there will be ten
bank branches in Hammonton, and eight
separate banks.
Bank of America, Capital Bank, NJM Bank,
Select Bank, Sun Bank, Susquehanna Bank, TD
Bank and Wachovia Bank will all be operating
together in Hammonton next year. According
to this week’s front-page article by Julie
Fink, banking in Hammonton is competitive,
which aids the consumer.
While the industry is heavily regulated,
business and individual customers can only
benefit from having so many banking options
locally. At a time when banks across the
nation are still extremely conservative
about lending, for example, Hammonton
customers who qualify are finding the banks
ready, willing and able to lend.
That is an excellent situation for the
Hammonton economy, which is continuing to
move forward during a recession with
construction – including the construction of
a Capital Bank building on Bellevue Avenue
and a space for NJM Bank within the new $48
million NJM Bank southern New Jersey
headquarters on 12th Street.
Banks are not only aiding the current
pushback against the recession, they are
taking an active role with their investment
in the town with these two significant new
tax ratables.
Bank of America and Wachovia have also seen
significant upgrades to the exterior and
parking areas of their facilities in recent
months.
The financial sector continues to be a
strong component of the local economic
scene. Their presence in Hammonton shows
confidence in the community.
