News-Info-Alerts

Re: Rolling Thunder Stirs Up Storm Over New Office

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: September 21, 2003

"Lindenwold to decide if Rolling Thunder can open office

By DANIEL WALSH Courier-Post Staff

LINDENWOLD

Lindenwold's planning board will decide Monday whether to let a veterans group known for their motorcycles open an office on Chews Landing Road.

Rolling Thunder, a Vietnam veterans group active in POW-MIA causes, wants to occupy a formerly abandoned building they have renovated. The building is next door to Mueller's ice cream stand.

Mueller's owners, Kim and John Mueller, have opposed the move. They blocked a planning board approval in July by insisting Rolling Thunder's engineers lay out the location of handicapped parking spots and the dimensions of the parking lot.

Neighbors and patrons of the store sounded off in the weeks after that hearing. Frank Bayruns, a resident, says Rolling Thunder would be better off gathering with their Harley-Davidsons - known for their booming engines - in a less residential area. He said the group might be very respected, but common sense says put it where people don't sleep.

"To me, it just seemed kind of silly that they'd put it in a residential area," Bayruns said. "If you go to sell your house and they find out you have a biker clubhouse in your back yard, you're not going to sell it. It's just not the right spot."

Carol Homen, a patron of Mueller's, called the Courier-Post to say she'd be "privileged" to have the group's members as neighbors.

Rich Fetter, who lives near and works in the shop, said of Rolling Thunder, "I think basically they're just trying to get attention, and they like to stir things up."

Reach Daniel Walsh at (856) 486-2462 or dwalsh@courierpostonline.comA

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