As we come to the end of 2024 and look forward to the new year, here’s a look back at Delran’s top three stories.
High-tide waters from the Delaware River and its tributaries flooded homes in Delran, Cinnaminson and Palmyra during a rainstorm in January.
Worse than Sandy
It just kept raining Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Jan. 10, and by high tide that afternoon, raging water from the Delaware River and its tributaries were flooding homes in Delran, Cinnaminson and Palmyra.
“There was 20 inches of water in my basement and backyard, and the Delran fire department spent all night pumping out water for me and my neighbors,” said Bob Gilbert, who lives on Stewart Avenue.
“All of us on this street have been getting flooded regularly since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. This time, I only lost my water heater,” added Gilbert on Jan. 13; had been boiling water on the stove for cooking and cleaning.
“This is worse than Sandy,” he noted, pointing out that the flood waters flowed all the way from the Rancocas Creek, past Friendship Park, and up to Burge Street, three blocks inland toward the L&M Bakery. A resident near the park said she had 2 feet of water in her basement.
The Rancocas Creek merges with the Delaware River several hundred yards upstream from River Drive.
The issues of continuous flooding during high tides and rainstorms for the Riverside Park neighborhood came to a head in January as Delaware River’s tide crested at 11.99 during a rainstorm – higher than Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021.
Several of the 100 one-to-two story homes were left uninhabitable. First responders had to conduct a number of water rescues – three in Delran.
The storm dropped between 2 to 3 inches of rain across most of the county, adding to already high rivers, streams and water tables and causing the Delaware River to crest at a record-breaking 11.99 feet. That created severe flooding conditions along the Route 130 corridor.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman (left) signed an agreement with Delran Mayor Gary Catrambone that will result in an investigation of shoreline erosion problems and opportunities.
Agreeing to share
What happened in council chambers on June 24 was 12 years in the making.
Mayor Gary Catrambone – alongside U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman – signed a feasibility cost-sharing agreement, which initiates a study – under Section 14 of the district’s Continuing Authorities Program – to investigate shoreline erosion problems and opportunities.
Critical infrastructure is currently vulnerable to erosion in the study area, located along the Rancocas Creek approximately 0.25 miles from the confluence of the Delaware River along River Drive, directly parallel to Hawk Island. Erosion from Rancocas Creek threatens to undermine the Delran sewer plant and stormwater infrastructure along River Drive.
The newly opened Rancocas Creek River Trail is also vulnerable. Burlington County has received and invested more than $19.3 million in grants towards trail projects, including the first 4-mile segment of the Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail between Amico Island Park in Delran and Pennington Park in Delanco. The first segment of the Rancocas Creek Greenway was completed in 2022.
The study area includes the sewer plant and River Drive. Catrambone said “to have finally signed a contract with the Army Corps of Engineers is a major step in the right direction for Delran.”
Superintendent search
After an extensive school superintendent search with community input, a familiar face remains.
The Delran board of education approved the appointment of Dr. Lisa Della Vecchia as superintendent under terms and conditions negotiated between her and the board’s counsel at a meeting on June 18. Della Vecchia had been serving as interim head since Superintendent Dr. Brian Brotschul left the district in the summer of 2023.
“Dr. Della Vecchia brings a unique skill set, which will be a tremendous asset in continuing to move our district in the correct direction,” the board noted, adding that by virtue of her eight years in the district, Della Vecchia has seen and participated in the growth and success the district has achieved over the last decade.
“Coupling this experience with her vision and outlook for the district’s future, she is the best choice to maintain and enhance the district and its goals heading into the future.”
Della Vecchia expressed in a message to her staff “deepest gratitude and privilege” on the appointment.
“It is with immense humility and excitement that I accept this responsibility,” she said. “Entering my eighth year in Delran, I am honored to serve the staff, students, and community.”
The superintendent search process began in January, led by Mike Kuchar and Brian Zychowski of Strategic Educational Advantage LLC.
