This year we are very pleased to present our Community Partner of the Year award to the City of Vineland Public Works Landis Avenue crew whom we will be honoring at our annual A Taste of Vineland & Volunteer Recognition Event on Wednesday, October 25 from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Greenview Inn at Eastlyn Golf Course. 4049 Italia Ave., Vineland.  Many of Vineland’s finest restaurants will be offering samples of their delicious signature dishes—main courses, appetizers, and desserts—as well as a fabulous silent auction and much more. 

We’ll also be recognizing our Main Street Vineland Volunteer of the Year (T. Carl Hemple) and our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (Sandra Forosisky). We will also be honoring the City of Vineland Public Works Landis Avenue crew which was formed this past year to take care of all of the upkeep on Landis Avenue, from Myrtle Street to Route 55. Much of their time is dedicated to our downtown Main Street Vineland district.

It’s one thing to have a job, and yet it is another to give you all day in and day out to exceed expectations and be exemplary in all that you do. Our City is filled with many hard-working, dedicated employees, and this crew is certainly one of them. Whether it’s keeping our streets and sidewalks clean and safe, our flowers and plants looking beautiful, assisting us at our many events throughout the year, or all the many other tasks this crew does on a daily basis, they always deliver above and beyond what is expected. 

This group is headed up by the Director of Public Works, H. James (Jim) Neher. Jim has a very impressive resume’ and is well qualified to lead this work crew with decades of experience working for Cumberland County in the same field of expertise. His pro-Vineland attitude and willingness to go above and beyond in doing anything to help make downtown Vineland as safe and beautiful as possible is evidenced daily. Although Jim’s responsibilities are City-wide, he always makes time for any issues needed in our downtown district.

Jim is a graduate of Vineland High School and a former Chief of the Seabrook Fire & Rescue. He volunteers his time with the NJ Veterans Memorial Home, United Veterans Council, Shekinah Masonic Lodge 58, and the Marine Corps League Detachment 205. 

Leading the downtown crew is Alexis (Alex) Gomez. Alex joined as the maintenance supervisor of the Landis Avenue crew this past year. He is married, and the proud father of two girls. Alex has served our community for over 14 years. He enjoys coaching softball and has been the head coach for many years at Vineland High School. Alex is an active volunteer in our community and enjoys working with our youth. He also has teamed up with my wife as owner of Salon Promise, LLC here in Vineland NJ. 

Working with Alex and Jim are Joshua (Josh) Rodriguez and Charles (Charlie) Lopez.  Josh was born and raised in Vineland and graduated from Vineland High School in 2019. His favorite hobby is playing baseball riding bikes and being with friends on the weekend. Josh’s favorite sports teams are the Eagles and Phillies. He is very hardworking with a good work ethic and is always looking for new challenges and better ways to improve his craft in everything he does.

Charlie is a 2004 VHS Graduate and has been a resident of Vineland most of his life. He recently got hired to work for the city of Vineland and he says that “there is no greater feeling than being able to help clean up my city.” Charles also volunteers for the City of Vineland as a volunteer firefighter for nearly sixteen years. He was honored this year by being voted in by his colleagues as Captain of Fire Company #3, He takes great responsibility for trying to help out even more and protect his firefighters under him and the great people of Vineland. 

We welcome you to come and help us honor Jim, Alex, Josh, and Charlie this year at our Taste of Vineland event. Tickets are now available for sale and additional sponsorship opportunities are available as well as ad space in the event program book. More information at Taste of Vineland

Our eighth annual Pumpkin Patch Party is planned for Saturday, October 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, at the mini-parks, Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. This event attracts 100 children and parents for holiday fun, games, and fellowship. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information: Pumpkin Patch Party

Registration is now open for our annual Christmas Parade on November 25th (rain date November 26). The theme of this year’s parade is A Christmas Luau on The Ave. Registration, sponsorship and vendor information is available at Christmas Parade