New Veterans Clinic Opens in Northfield

For more than a decade, veterans throughout the region had complained of inadequate space at the existing clinic in Ventnor, as well as long days traveling to and from the VA hospital in Wilmington, DE, for treatment.

Although local and national officials had heard their pleas over the years, timing had a way of putting their dreams on hold.

That is, until now.

Local, state and federal diginitaries were on hand Monday afternoon, Jan. 9, in officiating a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new 10,000-square-foot facility in Northfield. Second District Congressman Frank LoBiondo  noted during the ceremony that there were times when "we had the approvals (to proceed with finding a new location for the local clinic) but not the money. In the next session, we had the money but not the approvals."

Yet, they kept at it, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) noted.

"Frank and I have been trying to get veteran services for veterans in southern New Jersey," Menendez said. "I just think it's wrong for vets to travel 90 miles (to the VA hospital in Wilmington, DE,) for treatment."

Menendez noted during Monday's ceremony that attempts are still being made to bring additional services currently only available at the VA Hospital to Shore Memorial Hospital. An earlier try was not successful. 

In the meantime, the clinic, located at 1901 New Rd., will offer a variety of services in women's health, lab work, and diabetic, retinal and dermatological screening and diagnostics. The clinic also consists of  triage and exam rooms, telemedicine services, an administrative area, public lobby and restrooms.

"It's really gorgeous," veteran Al Barb, of Mays Landing, said of the new clinic. "What a difference from Wilmington."

Egg Harbor Township resident Marco Polo Smigliani, who served in Vietnam, agreed, as did Pleasantville Mayor Jesse Tweedle, who had served in the Air Force.

Tweedle indicated that his city was one of the communities that had been looked at for the possible location of the new VA clinic. Even though Pleasantville wasn't ultimately chosen, he said, "I'm extremely happy they were able to do something, to have something like this."

"I think the facility is a dream come true," Smigliani added." It's a step in the right direction and a step toward making sure that this facility meets all of the needs of the veterans so that they don't have to go to Delaware."

Jerry Callahan, of Somers Point, sits on the county advisory board. He said that what the public saw at Monday's ribbon cutting may not the project's end.

"It'll be expanding even more as it grows," he said.