Pine Barrens Tribune September 14, 2024-September 20, 2024

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609-801-2392 Vol. 8 – No. 39

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The News Leader of the Pines

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September 14 - September 20, 2024

Fa l l E ve n t G u i de S ee pg.

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Chatsworth Firehouse Struck, for Second Time in 2 ½ Years,

by Vehicle That ‘Failed to Stop’ at Savoy Blvd. and Route 563 Fire Company’s Relatively New Tender, Chief Says, Also Hit and Is ‘Non-Drivable’

By Douglas D. M elegari

HANGING ONTO HAVERS Photo By Nick Weissmann

Superintendent Jeff Havers listens to public comments on a new five-year contract proposed for him by the Pemberton Township Board of Education.

Pemberton Township Board of Education Approves New Five-Year Contract for Superintendent At Urging of Township Professional Administrators Association and Several Ex-Board Members, All While Local Education Association Expresses Its ‘Emphatic’ and ‘Resounding’ Disapproval

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Pemberton Township Superintendent of Schools Jeff Havers has been given a new five-year contract by the Pemberton Township Board of Education, at the urging of the Pemberton Township Professional Administrators Association, several past school board members, individuals belonging to the administrative team and a key community stakeholder – the district’s liaison to Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst (JBMDL), but to the displeasure of the Pemberton Township Education

Association (PTEA) and its members “united in our opposition to any extension of Mr. Havers’ contract.”

“Think about the guy here you already know,” urged former school board member and president John Willitts at one point during a Sept. 5 public hearing.

While much of the hearing focused on what various individuals purported to know about Havers and his responses to school funding cuts as well as the Coronavirus pandemic and resulting, reportedly lingering student behavioral issues and mental health “crisis” for students and staff, some members of the general public who

also voiced their opposition to the extension said it had nothing to do with who Havers is as a person, or any of those other factors for that matter, but rather simply due to their concern about steadily rising taxes, upon hearing the new contract calls for the superintendent to receive a $10,000 increase in compensation for the new 2024-25 school year over the last one.

By this newspaper’s count, 11 public hearing participants favored awarding Havers with what essentially amounts to a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2029, while 14 See HAVERS/ Page 7

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Staff Writer

WOODLAND—It has happened again, and only a little more than two-and-a-half years apart.

A motorist purportedly failed to stop at the intersection of Savoy Boulevard and County Route 563 in Woodland Township, during the evening hours of Sept. 8, and crashed into the Chatsworth firehouse of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company.

Like in a similar evening crash back on Dec. 22, 2022, the firehouse sustained damage – but only this time, in the latest collision, the company’s relatively-new tender truck was also hit.

According to New Jersey State Police Spokesperson Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron, a Honda CRV was traveling west on Savoy Boulevard, when at around 10:08 p.m. on Sept. 8, at the intersection of Savoy Boulevard and County Route 563, the “driver lost directional control and struck the front of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Station #1, as well as a fire truck parked inside the building.”

As a result of the crash, Lebron added, the driver of the Honda, a 55-year-old female from Egg Harbor City, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

The driver’s name was being withheld by See FIREHOUSE/ Page 8

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Saturday, September 14, 2024

Fee Increases Proposed for Rental and Resale Inspections in Pemboro, as Well as for Lead-Paint Inspections; Electrical Load Switch Still Pending

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON BOROUGH—Fe es for rental and resale inspections, along with ones for lead-paint inspections, are proposed to be raised in Pemberton Borough.

According to Pemberton Borough Mayor Bonnie Haines, the proposed increase has been suggested by Code Enforcement Officer Steve Phillips.

“The lead-(inspection requirements) are fairly new, and he doesn’t feel they (the fees) reflect what is going on out there,” said Haines of why Phillips reportedly made the suggestion. “And (the fees for) rental inspections were last set in 2003.”

Pemberton Borough Council, based on input from Haines and Phillips, tentatively agreed to raise the fee for a rental inspection from $50 to $100, and for a re-inspection, from $35 to $75.

The fee schedule for rental and resales would see the same increases under the proposal, according to Haines.

C o u n c i l wo m a n D i a n e Fa n u c c i expressed surprise that it had reportedly been 21 years since the fees for rentals were last raised.

As for the lead-paint inspection fee schedule set by council back in 2023, right now an inspection costs $200, said Haines, however, “according to Mr. Phillips, a re-inspection, if necessary, takes way more time, plus there are lab test costs

associated” with any re-inspection.

“He has suggested a bump to $300,” Haines contended.

Council President Terry Jerome noted that if a property owner fails a lead paint inspection, the ensuing inspection is “no longer visual,” but instead the inspector has “to do a swab test,” which is then sent out to a lab for analysis.

The one thing the borough intends to “do away with” is a $50 fee currently in place to obtain an inspection certificate, which officials recognize doesn’t result in a cost to the municipality.

T he new fe e s che du le wou ld b e implemented should a proposed ordinance to adopt it pass on second reading at the next borough council session, scheduled for Sept. 16.

Council was yet again questioned by a resident of Hearthstone Boulevard about the status of a “switch” that would allow the borough to shift the electrical load between two substations in town given previous reports that the switch was removed at some point during Hanover Street Bridge construction and is no longer operable, and one of the substations has too much load on it, leaving residents concerned about potential blackouts.

Jerome, who oversees the borough’s Electric Department, confirmed on Aug. 19 that the “switch has to be replaced” and the “one on the pole is damaged.”

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Online Threat Prompts Heightened Security at Pinelands Schools, But Police Department Says ‘Message Could Not Be Authenticated’

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—An online threat circulating on the evening of Sept. 9 into Sept. 10 prompted heightened security on Sept. 10 at Pinelands Regional Schools – Pinelands Regional Junior High School and Pinelands Regional High School.

A screenshot circulating online of the statement was somewhat blurry, but appeared to read, “We will be hitting up pjhs and high school since yall feel safe STOP PLAYING WIT ME (sic),” with the possible appearance of the abbreviation for the junior high school, in particular, creating anxiety amongst parents and students.

Underneath that remark was a second statement, “!!!Warning (hazard sign) tell your parents to satu home for your own safety rob elementary 2 times (sic).”

It was at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas, where a horrific mass shooting occurred in May 2022, with a shooter killing 19 students and two teachers.

Both remarks of concern appeared to be part of a thread talking about school shootings, likely a conversation in response to the Sept. 4 Apalachee High School shooting in Winder, Georgia that resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers.

Some, in seeing the threat, responded by using foul language, while one person wrote “people are so sick,” with another declaring, “Bro, can never have an OK school year – stay safe yall.”

“The police have informed us that they do not believe the social media posts circulating were legitimate threats,” wrote Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley to school families. “However, out of an abundance of caution, the school district has requested that an officer be present for after-school activities as an additional safety measure, as well as additional police presence during the school day.”

She added that “we appreciate your ongoing support and patience as we navigate these challenging situations.”

“It is unfortunate that social media continues to have such an impact on our

schools, but together we will continue to prioritize the safety of our students and staff,” McCooley declared.

McCooley, before writing the lengthy note to school families, had advised the school community “it has been brought to our attention that a social media post was made regarding a possible threat to our schools” and “the local police were immediately notified and are investigating the post.” She also thanked “the students who brought this to our attention.”

Pinelands Reg ional schools have students attending from both portions of Burlington and Ocean counties, and is located in Little Egg Harbor Township.

“On the evening of September 9, 2024, the Little Egg Harbor Police Department was contacted by the Pinelands Regional School District Administration regarding a soc ial me d ia s c re enshot mak i ng reference to a school shooting,” the Little Egg Harbor Police Department said in a statement. “According to school administration, the message was brought to their attention after being circulated among students. The police department immediately initiated an investigation into the origin of the message. Through the investigation, the message could not be authenticated and (it) has been determined that any potential threat was not directed towards Pinelands Regional Schools. Out of an abundance of caution, an increase in police presence was initiated at our schools this morning.

“Thank you to those who brought this information forward for investigation.

We take all threats seriously, and we can assure you that the safety of schools is of utmost importance.”

Numerous parents were vocal that they decided to keep their child(ren) home from school given what they believed was an uncertain situation. McCooley later informed parents that the executive county superintendent purportedly would not permit the absences to count as excused absences, and that it is part of “NJ code,” leading to an outcry.

She told parents, however, that she would be “researching this possibility further with our board attorney.”

Evesham Judge Reportedly Left Horrified After Virtual Court Session Is Hacked by Feeds of Two Users Displaying Pornography on Screen EVESHAM—A Sept. 4 proceeding of Evesham Township Municipal Court, held via the Zoom video conferencing platform, was “hacked” with pornography, one source described to the Pine Barrens Tribune in recounting what had occurred.

Judge Karen J. Caplan, as described to this newspaper by the source, was seen placing her hand over her face in horror as she watched helplessly as the court proceedings were interrupted by two feeds showing apparent lewd sexual activity.

“I’m not aware of an incident quite like this one,” said Pete McAleer, director of t he Of fic e of C om mu n i c at ion s and Community Relations for the NJ Administrative Office of the Courts, when

later asked by this newspaper about the incident and if something of this nature had ever occurred before given the increasing reliance on virtual platforms by the court system.

McAleer told this newspaper that the court session was able to continue after a delay.

“Court staff will provide Evesham Township Police, and the municipality, with whatever assistance is needed in this matter,” McAleer added.

There was no word from Evesham Police, as of press time, on whether any suspects have been identified and charged in this matter.

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Saturday, September 14, 2024

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LRHSD Schools Kick Off School Year with Three New Assistant Principals, Two New Department Coordinators, New Director of Buildings/Grounds Contract of $161K Awarded for Baseball Field Improvements at Cherokee High, School Board Decides to Have District Join Class Action Suit Over Social Media

Frustrated Taunton Boulevard Residents Back Before Medford Council with Demand for Police ‘Task Force’ to Address Concerns About Traffic Getting County Cooperation to Implement Mitigation Measures Complicates Long-Simmering Situation Now Facing Hornickel as He Assumes Managerial Duties

By Douglas D. M elegari

By Bill Bonvie

Staff Writer

SHAMONG —The last handful of Lenape Regional Board of Education meetings saw school officials setting the stage for the new school year.

Kevin Meder, who had been serving as Lenape High School’s social studies department coordinator, was moved into the role of Cherokee High School assistant principal.

He takes over for Steve Lee, who depar ted Cherokee as an assistant principal on Aug. 1.

Roseann Mullin, a Lenape social studies teacher, has been moved into Meder’s place.

In the wake of the Aug. 1 departure of Raymond Castor as an assistant principal for Lenape, Leah Mahr, who has been a business teacher for Cherokee, was appointed as a Lenape assistant principal.

Mahr will share the newcomer assistant principal status at Lenape with Alex Taliaferro, who was also recently appointed to fill a Lenape assistant principal vacancy

in the wake of the promotion of Amanda Cassel to district director of Special Services, following the Aug. 1 departure of Patricia Piserchia, who had held the post.

It was also decided to have Kristia Lamorgese, an English teacher at Shawnee High School, promoted to be Shawnee English Department Coordinator.

Following the retirement of Anthony Voiro as the district’s longtime Buildings and Grounds supervisor, Michael Jacobs, who was an assistant director, has been named as Voiro’s replacement.

Meanwhile, during the board’s latest Aug. 28 session, Command Co., Inc. was awarded a $161,742 contract for baseball field improvements at Cherokee High School.

At a preceding July 17 session, the board voted to join what was described as a “class action lawsuit concerning the impact of social media on its students” and retain the services of the Frantz Law Group to represent its interests. It was said there is no cost to the district to join the class action suit.

Medford Lakes Boro Awarded $1.48M Safe Routes to School Grant for Sidewalks on Tuckerton Rd., Pedestrian Bridge on Tabernacle Rd. Paving Company Given $196,459 Contract for Hiawatha Trail Improvements; Officials Look to Simplify Municipality’s Fee Schedule and Raise Some Rates

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

M EDFOR D L A K E S —T h e Ne w Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Safe Routes to School Program has awarded Medford Lakes Borough a $1.48 million grant for “Medford Lakes Pedestrian Improvements,” revealed Borough Mayor William Fields during an Aug. 22 Medford Lakes Borough Council session.

According to Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton, the grant will be used for installing sidewalks on Tuckerton Road, from Kihade to Mohawk trails, “for children to use to navigate to school.”

Fields observed that currently, children residing in this area, “have to walk across people’s yards” or “walk in the street” to get to school.

Additionally, the borough intends to install a pedestrian bridge next to Tabernacle Road, at the end of Trading Post Way, Burton explained.

An “old bridge” in the vicinity will be “replaced with a prefabbed-type bridge,” the borough manager described, with officials also looking to install a “certified crosswalk” from the end of Trading Post Way to along the side of Vaughan Hall.

See GRANT/ Page 7

Staff Writer

MEDFORD—If the primary focus of the Aug. 20 meeting of the Medford Township Council—the consistently heavy and allegedly hazardous traffic on Taunton Boulevard—had a somewhat familiar ring, that’s because it was practically a replay of the complaints aired at a council meeting conducted back on April 2.

And judging from the latest remonstrances from residents of the neighborhood, nothing much appeared to have changed since then in the conditions at issue, which have long been a source of agitation and anxiety to those living both on the boulevard itself and adjacent streets, especially in the Lake Pine community that it bisects.

This time, however, the demand that something be done about the volume and speed of the traffic along the heavily traveled thoroughfare took the form of a specific demand for a “task force” to be implemented there by the local Police Department, although the fact that the road falls under the jurisdiction of Burlington County, with weight limits on trucks regulated by the state, would add further layers of bureaucracy to the process of implementing any of the safety measures proposed by residents.

Another new factor in the equation is Medford’s having recently hired Daniel Hornickel away from nearby Pemberton Township to assume the duties of township manager, although he hadn’t yet started on the job when the August meeting took place, at which time he was on vacation in Japan.

Hornickel’s previous experience has included serving as assistant county solicitor and human resources director for Burlington County.

But in the meantime, Thomas Czerniecki, the municipality’s interim manager, was asked by Councilman Michael Czyzyk if he could get together with the township engineer “to see what positive measures could be taken to address the situation.”

Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson also reported that he had recently been informed that the county has “authorized a consultant to design a crosswalk at Chestnut and Taunton” with a flashing warning sign “so you know when someone’s coming,” as well as to upgrade the crosswalk on the access road to a beach in the vicinity. Watson also noted

that he is in “constant communication” with County Board of Commissioners Director Felicia Hopson to determine what can and can’t be accomplished on a county level.

Leading the latest effort to mitigate the traffic problem on Taunton Boulevard, as he also did in the April meeting and on previous occasions, was James Shiffer, who resides there, and who offered the council a copy of an eight-day monitoring report he said had been issued by the county commission in May. He characterized the results of that report as “disgraceful, demonstrating gross negligence and an indifference to our plight.”

Because of these issues “and the inability to get any kind of attention” to them, he said, the residents he represented were now demanding that the township create “a task force of Medford police officers charged with enforcing the posted speed limits for extended periods of time throughout the day for two staggered weeks each month for the next six months and then revisit that.”

Additionally, Shiffer said his group wanted the flashing speed limit sign activated at 31 mph and that the speed limit on Taunton Boulevard between Tuckerton and Tomlinson roads be reduced to 25 mph, and between Tuckerton and Hartford roads to 30 mph, as well as having at least three stop signs installed “to dissuade trucks from coming down that road.”

Due to the combined effects of constant speeding and steady truck traffic on Taunton Boulevard, he asserted, “our homes shake every day.”

Shiffer also emphasized that local officials have long been apprised of the situation to little avail.

“I came here four years ago in October and told you guys (the members of the council at that time) that road was starting to get bad and all I got was talk,” he declared.

“All I got was ‘Jim, trucks sound fast,’” and that the average speed on that road was 32 miles an hour. I don’t care about averages.

When a school bus is stopped and cars are traveling at 5 mph, that affects the average.

The average means nothing.”

Reinforcing Shiffer’s expression of frustration was another Taunton Boulevard See TRAFFIC/ Page 8

2024

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

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Sustainable Tips for Celebrating the Fall Season Here are some eco-friendly tips to help you welcome fall responsibly: • Support local farmers’ markets by buying seasonal produce, reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation.

• Decorate your home with natural elements like pinecones, gourds and fallen leaves in­stead of plastic or disposable decorations.

• As temperatures drop, conserve energy by sealing drafts, using a programmable thermostat and

Saturday, September 14, 2024

opting for warm layers instead of cranking up the heat.

• Use reusable bags, containers and utensils when enjoying fall picnics or packing school lunches.

• Before splurging on new fall attire, consider swapping or thrifting clothes. Repair, upcycle or donate items you no longer wear to extend the life of your wardrobe.

• Get creative with leftovers and preserve seasonal fruits and vegetables through canning, freezing or drying.

• Instead of bagging fallen leaves for disposal, compost them to nourish your garden or donate them to local composting facilities.

• Simplify fall festivities by prioritizing meaningful experiences over material possessions. Instead of buying excessive seasonal items, host potluck dinners with friends or go on out­door adventures.

• Opt for sustainable transportation methods such as biking or public transportation to enjoy fall foliage instead of driving.

• Join local sustainability initiatives or volunteer for fall clean-up events to make a tangible difference in your community’s environmental efforts.

Making small changes can have a significant impact on the environment. This fall, do your part to celebrate the season responsibly!

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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Recipe: Cheese and Zucchini Quiche THIS DELICIOUS VEGETARIAN QUICHE IS AN AUTUMNAL DELIGHT! TRY IT FOR YOURSELF.

green zucchini and one half of the yellow zucchini. Dice the other two halves.

INGREDIENTS • 2 medium zucchinis (ideally one yellow and one green) • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 2 tablespoons butter • 1/2 onion, chopped • 1 store-bought pie shell • 2 large eggs, room temperature • 1 teaspoon dried parsley • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 teaspoon dried basil • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese • 1 cup 35% heavy whipping cream • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • 1 small Italian tomato, thinly sliced • Rosemary, chopped, for garnish

SERVINGS: 6 TO 8

FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE ♦ Page S3

3. In an oiled cast-iron skillet (or on the BBQ), sear the zucchini slices for one or two minutes on each side until lightly browned.

Set aside.

4. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the diced zucchini and onion and saute for a few minutes.

Drain, set aside and let cool.

5. Place the pie shell in the oven for 15 minutes.

6. In a large bowl, beat the eggs.

Add the parsley, garlic, basil, cheese, cream and onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

7.

Using a kitchen brush, spread the mustard over the bottom of the par-baked pie shell.

DIRECTIONS

8. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Gently spread the zucchini and tomato slices on top. Garnish with rosemary.

2. Thinly slice one half of the

9. Bake for 35 minutes.

1.

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

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Pet Care: Fall Safety Fall is a beautiful time of year, but as the weath­er changes, so do the potential risks to your pets. As a responsible pet owner, prioritizing your furry friend’s safety and wellbeing is essential. Here are some tips to keep your pet safe this fall:

WATCH OUT FOR TOXIC PLANTS

Plants like mums and decorative corn are common in the fall but can be toxic to your pet if they eat them.

To keep your pet safe, keep these plants out of reach or avoid them altogether. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic plant.

BEWARE OF CHEMICALS

As rodents seek shelter from the cold, the use of rodenticides increases in the fall. Unfortunately, these substances can also be toxic to pets. Additionally, antifreeze, frequently used in the fall, is deadly

to pets. Clean up any spills immediately and store these items securely.

STAY AWAY FROM HALLOWEEN CANDY

Halloween candy can be tempting for pets, but it can also be toxic.

Chocolate, in partic­ ular, can harm your pet and cause serious health issues. Keep candy and other treats safely stored away from curious noses, and dispose of any wrappers or other debris that could be ingested.

If needed, book an appointment with a veterinarian to ensure your four-legged friend has a safe and enjoyable autumn.

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Saturday, September 14, 2024

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE ♦ Page S5

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

Recipe: Beef Meatball Soup THE INTOXICATING SMELL OF THIS HEART-WARMING MEAL WILL HAVE YOU HOOKED.

INGREDIENTS • 1 lb. ground beef • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (Italian or regular) • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 onion, finely chopped • 2 medium carrots, coarsely diced • 2 medium potatoes, coarsely diced • 1 tablespoon tomato paste • 1 quart beef broth • Salt and pepper, to taste • Chopped parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS 1.

In a large bowl, combine the beef, garlic, Italian seasoning, egg, cheese, breadcrumbs and

SERVINGS: 4 a little salt and pepper. Shape into balls slightly smaller than golf balls.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan and brown the meatballs on all sides. The aim is to color them, not cook them thoroughly. Set the meatballs aside with all the cooking liquid in the pan.

3. Heat the remaining oil in a large pot and saute the onion, carrots and potatoes for a few min­utes.

Add the tomato paste and beef stock. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Add the meatballs and cooking liquid to the pot and simmer for 10 more minutes (the veg­ etables should be tender).

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parsley.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE ♦ Page S7

flannel pillow covers in rich hues of burgundy, mustard and deep orange.

These cozy textiles will not only keep you warm but also add layers of texture to your space.

Visit local home decor and craft stores to effortlessly transform your home into a cozy sanctuary celebrating the season’s beauty.

Fall Home Decor Ideas: Welcome the Season

As the air turns crisp and leaves begin to fall, it’s time to infuse your home with autumn’s warm and cozy charm. Here are some budgetfriendly decor ideas to add a touch of autumnal magic to your abode.

NATURE-INSPIRED ACCENTS

Bring the outdoors into your decor with natural elements like pumpkins, gourds, acorns and pinecones. Arrange them in baskets or bowls or scatter them along mantels and tabletops for a rustic and inviting vibe.

FESTIVE WREATHS

Welcome guests to your home with a festive fall wreath adorning

your front door. For a touch of rustic elegance, opt for one crafted from dried leaves, twigs or burlap.

SEASONAL CENTERPIECES

Create eye-catching centerpieces using seasonal fruits like apples, pears and cranberries arranged in wooden crates or trays. Add taper candles or LED lights for a cozy ambiance during autumn gatherings.

SCENTED CANDLES

Lighting fall-scented candles throughout your living spaces will fill your home with the warm and inviting aromas of pumpkin spice, cinnamon and apple cider.

WARM TEXTILES

Swap out lightweight linens for plush throws, knit blankets and

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

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Recipe: Peppers Stuffed with Sausage Meat LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT GO-TO COMFORT FOOD RECIPE? BURSTING WITH DELICIOUS FLAVORS, THIS ONE IS SURE TO PLEASE!

INGREDIENTS

Saturday, September 14, 2024

DIRECTIONS

• 4 bell peppers in various colors, halved lengthwise (with stems, if possible) • 1 lb. sausage meat, your choice • 1 onion, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped • 1 cup cooked rice • 1 teaspoon Cajun spices (or other spicy seasoning) • 1 cup store-bought tomato sauce • 1 tomato, chopped • 1 cup shredded strong cheese, such as medium cheddar or Monterey Jack • 1 cup grated cheese that melts well, such as mozzarella or Gruyere • Salt and pepper, to taste

SERVINGS: 4

(TWO PEPPER HALVES PER PERSON)

1.

Remove the membranes and seeds from the peppers and preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. In a skillet, saute the sausage meat, onion and garlic in oil until the meat is cooked through. Remove from the heat and drain the fat. Add the rice, spices, sauce, chopped tomato and spiced cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Stuff the 8 bell pepper halves with the rice mixture. Place the peppers in an ovenproof dish and cover with alu­minum foil.

Bake for 30 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven, remove the foil and spread the melting cheese over the peppers.

Return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Broil for a toastier appearance.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE ♦ Page S9

Decorating Homes for Halloween Drive through a suburban neighborhood in October and it’s likely you will find yards filled with inflatable witches, animatronic grim reapers and makeshift graveyards bearing witty sayings on tombstones and bony hands reaching out from the soil. Decorating for Halloween has become big business, with consumers spending a collective $10.6 billion in this category in the United States in 2022, according to a survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics and the National Retail Federation. In fact, decorations, particularly outdoor decorations, were the second most popular way to celebrate Halloween (candy still reigns supreme). According to research by LombardoHome.com, which looked at Google searches across the country, Las Vegas, Denver, Baltimore, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle were the top five states that searched the most for Halloween decorations on average per capita. Carved pumpkins, skeletons and witch cauldrons

topped the list of preferred Halloween decorations in America.

Halloween is an opportunity to pull out all the stops for this fun fall celebration. The following tips can help to turn any home into a Halloween haunt to remember.

• DECIDE ON A THEME. Most people fall into one of two camps when decorating for Halloween.

There are those who want their homes to be frightening and full of horrific details, and others who prefer more of a fall harvest look.

Identify your preferences and then gather decorative items accordingly.

• SHOP EARLY/LATE. Ideally, the best time to buy Halloween decorations is the day after the holiday when prices get slashed (pun intended). This is the time to stock up on items for next year.

You can save anywhere from 50 to 70 percent when buying late in the season. For those who need new items for this year’s Halloween, close-out retailers like

HomeGoods and TJ Maxx start putting out Halloween products in the middle of summer. Stock up as soon as you see items, as they’re not likely to remain on shelves for long. By the time October rolls around, decorations may be gone.

• SUBTLE TOUCHES CAN WORK. Though some people just

love covering every square foot of a property with all things Halloween, it’s also possible to make a big impact with minimal effort. Lighting, or lack thereof, can create a spooky atmosphere. Swap existing porch lights with yellow or even black lights so everything glows. Candles flickering can add mystery. Place some battery-powered or electric candles in windows for an eerie feel.

Swap out your typical curtains with purple or black ones to drape the house in even more spooky appeal.

• WAIT ON THE CARVED PUMPKINS.

Halloween seldom is complete without jack-o’-lanterns.

But pumpkins often begin to degrade shortly after they’re first carved.

Use artificial pumpkins if you plan to decorate early; otherwise, wait until a day or two before Halloween to add freshly carved pumpkins to the Halloween scape. Children can come up with the design, but ensure only adults cut into the pumpkins.

Homeowners can quickly and easily transform their homes into spooky haunts this Halloween.

Page S10 ♦

FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, September 14, 2024

12 Outings to Make the Most of Fall Are you looking for activities to brighten up your fall evenings and weekends? Here are some seasonal suggestions.

1.

Pick local fruits or vegetables like apples, pears, pumpkins and plums.

2. Attend a seasonal festival.

3. Watch migratory birds.

4. Visit a vineyard to enjoy a wine tasting or participate in the grape harvest.

8. Go to a farmers’ market and stock up on delicious vegetables for your preserves.

9. Take in a show.

10. Stargaze late into the night.

11. Watch a movie at the drive-in before the end of the season.

12. Participate in Halloween themed activities like haunted houses and ghost tours.

What will you do this fall?

5. Plan a stay at an outfitter to take in the natural beauty of fall.

6. Admire an outdoor exhibition in a local park or museum.

7.

Explore a nearby corn maze for hours of family-friendly fun.

woods, the beauty of the rising or setting sun will make your environment shine.

6. AERIAL TREKKING.

Observe beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves up close by climbing or ziplining through the trees.

7. SPA.

Unwind in an outdoor bath and take in the breathtaking scenery.

Rejuvenation guaranteed!

8. DRIVING. Enjoy a leisurely drive

10 Activities to Enjoy the Fall Colors The cool fall weather brings out a brilliant display of brightly colored leaves. Here are 10 activities to make the most of this short-lived season.

1. HIKING. Take a walk in the forest or climb a mountain to observe nature in all its splendor.

2. BIKING. Ride along bike

paths in enchanting locations

and admire the majestic multicolored trees as they pass by.

3. KAYAKING. Waterways are

often lined with trees and offer unique views of the beauty of autumn.

4. PICNIC. Enjoy the season’s

warm colors with a delicious meal in the open air.

5. CAMPING. Deep in the

along

picturesque

country roads or take a drive to the peaks.

9. FLYING IN A PLANE OR HELICOPTER. Discover fall

like never before from high in the air.

10. VIA FERRATA OR ROCK CLIMBING. Contemplate the glorious fall panoramas as you dangle from a rock face at dizzying heights.

Autumn is calling!

THANK YOU

This local publication is made possible ONLY thanks to the paid advertisements you see within these pages, and because of our beloved readers. Please take a moment to let these generous businesses know you saw their Ads in the Pine Barrens Tribune.

It really DOES make a difference!

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE ♦ Page S11

Photograph the Falling Leaves!

Autumn is an excellent time for photography enthusiasts to capture the beauty of the changing leaves.

Here’s a short guide to help you make the most of photographing fall foliage:

TIMING

Plan your photo shoot during the peak of fall foliage. Monitor local foliage trackers to pinpoint the best time to capture nature’s spectacle.

SCOUT LOCATIONS

Explore parks, forests and scenic routes renowned for their autumn leaves. Look for diverse landscapes, including lakes, rivers

and mountains, to add depth and interest to your compositions.

FOCUS ON DETAILS

Get up close and personal with the leaves. Use macro photography techniques to capture their intricate veins, vibrant colors and unique textures.

PLAY WITH LIGHT

Utilize the soft, diffused light of early morning or late afternoon to enhance the warmth and richness of fall colors.

COMPOSE THOUGHTFULLY

Pay attention to composition and framing. Incorporate leading lines, diagonals and the rule of thirds to create dynamic and visually appealing images.

EXPERIMENT WITH ANGLES

Explore unique perspectives, from ground-level shots to aerial views, to capture the falling leaves from unique angles.

EMBRACE MOTION

Experiment with slow shutter speeds to convey the sense of motion and energy as leaves gently fall from trees.

Visit your local camera and photography stores to upgrade your photography kit. Let the falling leaves be your muse as you capture the magic of this fleeting season through your lens.

SEPT.

To promote your event on this page Events and special contact Jayne Cabrilla at 609-801-2392 promotions happening or email news@pinebarrenstribune.com locally this month!

SEPT. 21

Southampton Historical Society’s 50th Anniversary

Location: Vincentown

Details: Come join the Southampton Historical Society’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! There will be an Open House of historic museums in Vincentown, with docents on hand to show you historical displays and answer questions about the Society. The museums are: Old Town Hall and Lock Up, 25 Plum Street; Telephone Museum, 11 Mill Street; and One-Room Schoolhouse, Race Street behind the library in Saw Mill Park. Treats will be given out at Old Town Hall as well as items for sale and a silent auction (bidding ends at 1:59 p.m.). Food items available for sale at Saw Mill Park. All are welcome to attend this free event. For more information, contact Kathy Rosmando at 609-859-0524.

Page S12 ♦

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FALL FUN & FESTIVALS GUIDE

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HAVERS

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(Continued from Page 1) participants voiced opposition to it. One person appeared to be somewhat neutral in her position.

Deana Chiarella, secondary supervisor of Math/Science/Technology/AVID for the district, spoke on behalf of the Pemberton Township Professional Administrators Association (PTPAA), describing that the superintendent had the organization’s “strong support” due to his “tenacity and ability to navigate the district calmly and confidently” and “seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement,” which is a “strategy that has greatly benefited our district.”

“And his leadership style emphasizes visibility and accessibility,” maintained Chiarella, who also described Havers as a “relentless advocate for funding.”

Rob Horn, president of the PTEA, in pointing to the Pemberton Township High School (PTHS) auditorium containing “so many” PTEA “partners,” said it was because they are “very concerned about the direction of the district,” with him further asserting, “The ongoing morale crisis among staff in Pemberton Schools is real.”

“The staff sees the policies, practices and procedures of Superintendent Jeff Havers as driving factors in causing this crisis,” Horn declared. “ … I am here to emphatically declare, as a representative of the PTEA, our members are united in our opposition to any extension of Mr. Havers’ contract. Our vote on this proposal is a resounding ‘no.’”

Hor n charged that there is “micromanagement and heavy-handed staff discipline imposed by Mr. Havers and the administration” that “interferes with our ability to best serve our students.”

“He doesn’t value the knowledge and exp er ienc e of our educators,” Hor n claimed. “He doesn’t trust us to use our own judgement and expertise in helping students learn, grow and deal with problems. We are

INSPECTIONS (Continued from Page 2)

“I don’t know whether it was damaged when it came down from the pole or in storage,” Jerome said. “But it is beyond repair.”

Jerome added that there has been a “12-week lead-time” for the borough to obtain a new switch, and the municipality, at the time of the meeting, was “looking at four to five weeks” still left before the new switch arrives.

GRANT

(Continued from Page 6) “O ne of t he m a i n probl e m s we observed is with kids riding in the road on Tabernacle Road,” Fields explained.

The mayor noted that Medford Lakes has received the “second largest” grant award in the county and that the $1.48 million award represents a “substantial amount of money” for the municipality.

It is a result that saw Fields commending local engineering firm Environmental Resolutions, Inc. (ERI).

“I want to express thanks to ERI,”

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 7

professionals who work directly with our students every minute of every school day.

We know them. We care about them. For the good of the students, we need relief from Mr. Havers’ tactics, not five more years of what we have been going through since 2021.”

Horn then described that a “common theme” in exit interviews with staff is that the workplace has become “toxic,” that the administration takes a “top down” approach, and “our school staff has been cut to the bare minimum due to millions of dollars in budget cuts the last few years.”

“Class sizes are extremely high with 30 or more students to a classroom,” Horn maintained. “How can you justify giving a huge bonus and annual raises to the superintendent, when we need more teachers and aides to provide educational services, more custodians to keep the schools clean, and more security guards to keep the schools safe?”

Various teachers, throughout the more than an hour-long public hearing, read some of the purported exit interview responses, including claims that those who left the district felt “disrespected” by administration.

Bill Gurden, an English teacher at PTHS, maintained the interviews revealed Havers to be an “ineffective superintendent,” with Gurden asking the board, “Why would you give this man, who generated this negative reaction, a bonus a year early?”

“The staff morale is at a crisis point, with teachers and staff taking pay cuts, and having to flee the toxic environment here,” Gurden contended. “… We need a superintendent who wants to work collectively with students and staff.”

Raila Harvey, a Spanish teacher at PTHS, focused on the already limited financial resources the district has in addressing problems, contending, for example, “water falls” on students from “leaky ceilings.”

The extra $10,000 due to go to Havers, she said, could instead be put toward “fixing the ceiling” and “getting the facilities repaired.”

One individual, named Amy, who appeared quite put out by the proposal, declared

that “while top administration is receiving glorious salaries,” the “staff is receiving no bonuses, and in fact, is leaving in droves due to a top-down micromanagement style.”

“You have lost a ton of programs, and while I am glad to see Auto Shop back, what about Graphic Design, Woodshop, Fashion and Tech Design?” she asked. “They are gone, gone, gone, and he wants a raise!”

The woman then went on to recount an alleged incident during the previous school year that had reportedly taken the attention of an existing security guard, leading to a vulnerability in which a “door was unwatched,” and because of that, she maintained, “two of your employees were assaulted!”

“He can’t pay another security guard to float!” she said in scoffing at the proposal to take $10,000 to put toward a salary increase for the superintendent, instead.

In fact, she took issue with the “audacity” of the board for its proposal, asking its members, “How many instructional programs did we just lose?”

“You can’t even give a lunch lady six hours instead of four!” the woman declared. “You’re telling people to ‘do more with less’ (a past comment often attributed by staffers at board meetings to the superintendent) and you’re asking for a raise, and you are going to give it to him? For letting people get assaulted!”

Marcy Smith, a reading specialist in the district for 24 years, who has taught for 27 years, in questioning the “backstory” behind why the new contract has suddenly come about (Havers had been in the final year of his contract, which some PTEA leaders called on to be fully carried out to the end of June 2025 before a new proposal is weighed by the board), asserted that what she does “know” is that she and others have been “told ‘to do more with less’” and that the district “lost a substantial amount of staff members to other districts.”

“I have worked here long enough to know this district is a ‘team,’ a team of coaches and players,” Smith declared. “The commissioner is now being granted a new box seat. Why? To stay and oversee the

game. The coach has players, but the field they are left to play on is quicksand. How does this work and what does it look like?”

But the critical comments were preceded by a trio of individuals who extended praise on Havers, including regular meeting attendee Barbara Snyder.

“I have seen how much Mr. Havers and the board care about the students of Pemberton,” she said of her meeting observations. “I have witnessed Mr. Havers showing a student how to tie a tie before giving a presentation before the board.”

As a 38-year employee of the district, she maintained, the dedication Havers exhibits is something “that I have not seen in years.”

“Please don’t get discouraged by the amount of negativity on social media,” she asserted. “Most people don’t have an understanding of process, or how it works.”

Havers also got a rousing endorsement from Niki Naida, the JBMDL school liaison specialist, which is significant considering more than 600 military-connected students attend Pemberton Schools given the proximity of the military base.

“You have always been welcoming to me,” she said, further describing how Havers takes the time to answer her questions.

Naida also observed that Havers was “one of only two superintendents” to congratulate military-connected students graduating at a ceremony, and while “other schools didn’t allow students to wear purple cords to graduation,” Pemberton did under Havers’ watch.

The superintendent, Naida noted, has also “pushed for the Purple Star and Mentoring Program” and has seen to it that “every school in the district is a dedicated Purple-Star School.”

Havers, she vouched, is “always looking to utilize sources on base” and it is because of him that we have been “able to leverage our partnership.”

Havers, Naida pointed out, is the “seventhhighest paid superintendent” in Burlington County, but Pemberton is “ranked No. 1 for

“The new switch is expected soon,” Jerome assured residents. “I do know the electricians started to make provisions to get conductors across the (Rancocas) creek. We are waiting for the switch.

The switch will hopefully redistribute the load of the two substations we have placed in the town.”

Borough Engineer James Mullan, meanwhile, discussed that construction h a s c o m m e n c e d fo r P h a s e I o f improvements to Hearthstone Boulevard, the main thoroughfare for the Hearthstone retirement community. He added that planned work for improvements to

Reeves Street and the second phase of an improvement project for Egbert Street is “going to be advertised” to obtain bids “and I think we probably can get the best prices in the fall.”

Work to Davis Street to improve the drainage underneath the street to fix and prevent further sinkholes there, he described, has only a “punch list” of items remaining.

“We will check to see if there are any issues with settlement,” Mullan vowed.

And as for work to improve Jane Street, “we are closing that out.”

Fanucci, during her council comments,

in “bringing up something that is sad,” announced the recent death of “Sandy,” a longtime familiar figure to customers of Thompson’s Lawn & Garden Supply in the borough.

She died back in May of cancer, according to Fanucci who only recently learned of her death given there was no obituary that she could find. Fanucci recalled having encountered Sandy in bringing her lawn mowers to the establishment for repairs over the years.

“She was one of the best people in the entire world,” Fanucci declared.

Fields declared. “They took the ball and ran with it.”

In a separate item, ERI was awarded by council a $60,000 contract to oversee the borough’s 2024 road improvement program.

A s for t h e mu n i c ip a l it y ’s 2 023 r o a d i m p r ov e m e nt p r o g r a m , t h e council awarded on Aug. 22 Landberg Construction, LLC, of Dorothy, a $196,459 contract. The firm’s quote to conduct the work reportedly came in well under an engineer's estimate of $260,937, and beat out five other paving/construction companies who had vied for the project.

Officials said that the main scope of the

project involves Phase I of improvements to Hiawatha Trail.

Burton called the cost having come in well under the engineer’s estimate a “huge” deal, noting the “low bid gives us flexibility to utilize grant money for other projects.”

Council also introduced an ordinance “redoing fees for the borough” and “setting new fees,” as described by Borough Clerk Mark J. McIntosh.

McIntosh said that the proposed fee ordinance will simplify things for residents as officials “realized the fees are throughout the whole code” in “various ordinances.”

“What we kind of want to do is get all

the fees in one ordinance, so residents can quickly look up the fees, and look at the fee schedule,” McIntosh explained.

Additionally, at the same time, all of the fees were “reviewed” in what McIntosh maintained became “quite a project,” with Deputy Clerk Dayna L. (Kuzniar) Welsh having “researched” fees “in comparative towns nearby,” and in some cases, as a result of the findings, the borough will “raise our fees to that level.”

“People come here and laugh that a marriage certificate only costs $10, and in other towns, it costs $25 or $30,” said McIntosh of one example.

See HAVERS/ Page 9

Page 8

♦

WORSHIP GUIDE

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Worship Guide

First Baptist Church

COME VISIT! We would love to meet you!

Rev. Vernl E. Mattson, Pastor 39 Main Street Vincentown, NJ 08088

Grace Episcopal Church 43 Elizabeth St, Pemberton, NJ 08068 9 a.m. Sunday Service (609) 894-8001

Cross Roads Youth Group - Sundays �������5 p�m�

Adult Choir Practice - Wednesdays ����7:30 p�m�

www.fbcvnj.org • 609-859-8967

Please join us for Worship 9:00 am Contemporary In-Person or Facebook Live

follow us on facebook.com/MedfordUMC

10:30 am Traditional

All Are Welcome!

50 Burrs Mill Roadd, Southampton, NJ 08088 609 - 847- 4848

Sunday Worship Service �����������������������11 a�m�

Prayer Fellowship - Wednesdays ��������7:15 p�m�

I Am That I Am Ministries, Inc. Sunday Worship Se ervice at 11:30 a.m.

Pastors Florence and Russell Webberr

Sunday School����������������������������������9:45 a�m�

Bible Study - Wednesdays �����������������6:30 p�m�

Saturday, September 14, 2024

All are welcome here to grow closer to God through scripture, prayer, music, fellowship, and service to others.

www.iamthatiamministriesinnc.com

graceepiscopalchurchnj.com graceepiscopalnj@comcast.com https://www.facebook.com/graceepiscopalpemberton/

St. Andrew’s Church 121 High St., Mt. Holly MASS: 5 PM Sat. 10 AM Sun. Morning Prayer (M-F) 9 AM on Facebook Office: (M-Th, 8 AM-Noon) 609-267-0225 E-Mail: STANDREWSCHURCHMH@gmail.com Website: WWW.STANDREWSCHURCH-MH.ORG

In-Person or Facebook Live

Trinity Episcopal Church 18 Mill St. Vincentown, NJ 08088 Worship: Sundays 10 a.m.

609-859-2299 Transportation Available Call 609-859-2883

2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 info@medfordumc.org

FIREHOUSE (Continued from Page 1)

state police as of press time, pending nextof-kin notification.

“The crash remains under investigation, and no further information is available at this time,” Lebron told this newspaper.

Shawn Viscardi, chief of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, told the Pine Barrens Tribune in an email that “a little after 10 p.m. on the 8th, a motorist failed to stop at Savoy Blvd and Route 563 for unknown reasons” and “the impact was heard for over a block away” and “numerous residents” called him to inform him of the accident before dialing 911.

“I arrived on scene prior to dispatch due to this, and several residents were on location when I arrived,” Viscardi said.

The vehicle entered through the garage door of the firehouse, he observed, “where the water tender is parked” and “was partially under the front of the tender.”

The Pine Barrens Tribune covered extensively, from 2018 to 2022, the department’s quest to obtain funding for a new water tender that had come with many funding challenges. It all began when a 1997 tender had been placed out of service in January 2018.

This newspaper reported on the April 26, 2023, celebration when a new 3,000-gallon water tender, known as 2916, arrived at the firehouse. Its arrival had followed the summer 2022 decision by the Woodland Township Committee to bond for $425,000 and award a $424,737 contract to Alexis Fire Equipment, out of Illinois, through a cooperative purchasing agreement, for the piece of equipment.

“2916 will be out of service for an extended, unknown time frame,” Viscardi told this newspaper on Sept. 9. “At this point, the extent of damages hasn’t been determined, but the apparatus is non-drivable.”

It was also a long road to getting the firehouse repaired after the 2021 crash, which had knocked out a substantial amount of the brick exterior of the building.

In the latest Sept. 8 crash, “as far as the building damage,” according to the fire chief, “the garage door is destroyed, along with door sensors and the track.”

However, no utilities were stuck, Viscardi said, and no “other structural damage has been found.”

Additionally, besides 2916, “no other apparatus in the building or equipment was damaged and is still in service,” according to the fire chief.

As a result of the impact to the water tender, Viscardi explained, “additional companies have been added on dispatches for additional water when needed and (this incident) will not affect services.”

Viscardi noted that “no volunteers were in the building at the time of the accident.”

“The only injuries were to the driver of the vehicle, and their condition is currently unknown,” he said, noting the driver was flown from the scene to a trauma center.

“The New Jersey State Police are handling the investigation.”

The chief indicated that a further analysis will be conducted to “figure out the extent of the apparatus damage.”

The 2021 crash, which had also reportedly damaged apparatus inside the firehouse, was determined by state police to have happened when the driver of a Chevy Equinox was using a wireless device and failed to stop at the intersection.

Facebook: STANDREWSCHURCHMOUNTHOLLYNJ All are invited to join in worship and fellowship!

TRAFFIC

(Continued from Page 6) resident, Mary Lucas, who has also taken part in previous efforts to bring the situation to the council’s attention.

“We submitted petitions from 158 residents who are concerned for the safety of everyone in our neighborhood, but we’re not getting any feedback,” Lucas told the council. “I don’t know what else we can do … All the information is there, and now all we need is action and that’s up to you.”

Philip Manganaro, a Lake Pine community resident who also lives on Taunton Boulevard, told the council he was especially concerned about the safety of the kids and the older members of that community.

He warned an accident happening “is only a matter of time when people are driving like this,” adding, “I can hardly pull out of my driveway some days.”

Similar difficulty was described by another resident, who described how “people coming up behind me” on Taunton Boulevard made it difficult for her to turn into the side street where she lives, and how she can no longer enjoy sitting on her deck because of the noise from heavy trucks.”

“I sit at my kitchen table, and I watch heavy construction vehicles flying by, and I mean flying,” she said, adding, ‘I used to see police officers parked outside,” but hadn’t seen any lately.

“We need help, we’re begging for help,” she declared.

Yet another resident of the Lake Pine community said she wanted to “paint a picture” of what living there is like on a daily basis, with

speeding by “all sorts of vehicles—cars, vans, trucks, trailer trucks and construction vehicles, that occurs at all times of the day.”

“I work from home,” she said, “and from my living room window I can see speeding by morning commuters, speeding at lunchtime from construction vehicles and trailer trucks en route to unload their materials and speeding during the evening rush hour,” with the worst times of the day being afternoons and evenings, during which “you’ll see numerous drivers engaging in moving violations while quickly driving onto the shoulders and grassy areas to pass school buses and residents turning onto adjacent streets.”

By way of providing “some firsthand examples” of the hazardous situations she had witnessed, the resident told of seeing a group of girls attempting to cross Taunton Boulevard to access the lake being harassed by the driver of a pickup truck blowing his horn at them instead of coming to a stop, and another driver venturing onto the shoulder to pass a car waiting to make a turn and almost hitting two teenage boys on bicycles.

“Lake Pine residents of all ages have difficulty walking, running, biking, exercising, visiting neighbors or even accessing adjacent streets,” she asserted.

Township Solicitor Tim Prime, in pointing out that mitigation measures like speed limit and stop signs would require county approval, also reminded those present how such congestion was a relatively recent phenomenon by recounting how Taunton Boulevard had been “a dirt road” when he was growing up there, only to have evolved into “a major arterial road running through a residential community.”

Saturday, September 14, 2024

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(Continued from Page 7) Most Students on Free and Reduced Lunch, second for Military-Connected Students, third for Military Homeless Population, and third for total enrollment numbers” in the county.

And the district, she observed, has 750 special education students enrolled and is “one of the last districts to maintain kindergarten aides” in the county.

For some, however, it came down to other statistics.

Nancy Myers, a 23-year teacher at PTHS, pointed to student enrollment in 2020, at the end of previous school superintendent Tony Trongone’s reign, reported to be 5,063 students, compared to only 4,272 students in June 2024, a “decline of 791 students.”

Myers also pointed to the “top-10 administrators” salaries totaling $1,534,715, with a man shouting as she did so, “top heavy, top heavy!”

“If this is the case, and money is flowing in at the seams, maybe negotiate a contract for everyone – we would love a 3-percent raise,” said Myers to loud clapping from PTEA members.

She also pointed to a publication having detailed the “30 Most Violent Schools in New Jersey,” contending “two schools in Pemberton made the list!”

The woman named “Amy,” came to the hearing with statistics as well, declaring at one point, “the facts don’t lie” in reading aloud the number of bullying, violence and drug offenses incidents reported at the district’s middle schools, before citing an area magazine’s statistics that Pemberton Schools had a graduation rate of 95 percent, causing it to be ranked No. 15, and has a student to teacher ratio that led to a No. 42 ranking.

“A nd we are now dow n to 14 A P (Advanced Placement) classes, and World History is no longer offered!” she declared.

Dr. Angeline Dean, who describes herself on LinkedIn as “an unapologetic African American female disruptor, local and national organizer/activist, and scholar” based in the Greater Philadelphia area, also cited statistics in making an appearance at the hearing, pointing out that it was in 2019 when the state lifted the salary caps on superintendents.

Since then, Dean observed, salaries have risen between 25 to 50 percent for state superintendents. Dean maintained of her research into Havers that he was hired in 2021 at a salary of $192,700, when the “average medium was $181,000 at that time.”

“So, he already came in $11,700 above the median,” she said. “In 2022, the next year, his salary went to $197,500, another $10,000 over median.”

Yet, in 2022, the “Pemberton District is ranked at the bottom 50 percent of all 650 school districts” in New Jersey, and this year, “the district’s average ranking is two out of 10, which is at the bottom 50 percent of public schools.”

Dean expressed being somewhat miffed that the high school’s student reading proficiency is at 28 percent and science proficiency is near 20 percent, all while its graduation rate is at 95 or 96 percent.

At one point, she declared, “just look at the data.”

(Chiarella, in speaking highly of Havers, however, pointed to there being an increased number of students reading on a grade level under the superintendent’s watch.)

“As also a professor, activist, national activist and organizer, I listen to the stories of the people in Pemberton who talk about how they feel disrespected, neglected and (there is) toxicity,” declared Dean, also pointing to the district’s College Readiness

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Index at 24.4 percent out of 100. “… Of those superintendents in the State of New Jersey who are asking for and receiving raises, especially raises that are a little bit substantial, their economically disadvantaged communities are 6 percent. Pemberton’s economically disadvantaged is 56 percent. 56 versus 6!”

To loud applause, Dean reminded the board “they are here for this community” and the “taxes of our community are at stake!”

According to a copy of the new contract obtained by this newspaper, Havers is to receive $215,000, for the period of July 1, 2024 (retroactive) to June 30, 2025, and then get a “3 percent increase in salary and on each July 1st thereafter” through the end of the contract term.

Pat Guth r ie, one of the i mpacted taxpayers, described to the board having to recently pick up a second job just to continue to be able to afford to live in town, declaring, “I don’t understand why you are increasing his salary when a lot of residents are struggling financially.”

She was joined by resident Thomas Gallagher

who urged the board to vote “no” simply because of the “doggone taxes we have to pay!”

Expressing similar sentiment was resident Harvey Crawford, who described that when he went to Pemberton Schools, “we never had security guards, or second teachers,” but “yet we learned.”

“I think there is a lot of fat,” he declared.

“Right now, people are concerned about this bonus, and what this raise will do to our taxes. Taxes went up last year! They are going up next year! People can’t afford the taxes.”

T he Pe mb er ton d ist r ict ha s b e e n increasing the tax levy by 9 percent each year to make up for the funding losses.

The topic at hand, as far as Crawford is concerned, is “not personal,” but should be about “how to reduce.”

“Let’s get the boat on an even keel before we are playing with taxes or raises, and I don’t care about the guy who takes care of horses, the superintendent or anything else,” Crawford asserted.

But Crawford, while not coming to the hearing with statistics, opined on his

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observations in having spent time in the local classroom last year.

“Last year I was amazed – I was giving a presentation and asked the kids how many of you read the Constitution of the United States. One hand went up, and the student told me, well, he had read one little passage.

We don’t teach civics!

“How do you claim to raise intelligent, educated students when they don’t know how the government works? … I want to know how you can teach History (like this) … and expect students to know anything about this country?”

Overall, he told the board, “I think you need to get a grip on a lot of issues – basic issues.”

As for the concern about the increased level of compensation Havers is getting, Willitts described that any search for a new superintendent would be “expensive” and one would not “get the person’s character” or an understanding of “how they care about the kids” throughout that process.

“With this gentleman, you do know what

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HAVERS

(Continued from Page 9) you get into, and know what you are getting and got, and you know he cares about these kids,” declared Willitts, before urging those in attendance to, “Think about the guy here you already know.”

Another former board member, Joe Huber, pointed out that Trongone was hired at $202,000 and after a $30,000 merit bonus, ended his tenure at the school at $232,000.

“Havers is asking for $215,000,” he said.

“That is a steal.”

Andrew Sytnik, also a former board member, urged those to “think often” about “what we have been through for four years,” contending he thinks “we all forget” sometimes.

“Mr. Havers was honestly along for the ride, if not in the lead,” Sytnik maintained.

Sytnik recounted having heard Pemberton, as a result of the funding losses, was on a “sinking ship,” but Havers “took the position on” anyhow, “going on year-after-year, without the proper resources,” and also signed on amid the pandemic, when schools were still closed due to a pandemic lockdown decision.

The former board member observed that a number of teachers and parents advocated to keep the schools closed given the uncertainty,

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but Havers, “fought to open them up,” and now in hindsight, research and facts are proving Havers right in revealing the harm done to kids by closing schools for such a prolonged period.

“We are finally normalizing in life,” he said. “Based on his character, he has the personality traits that are perfect for a leader.

I have spent time with him, and he is one of the most genuine people I have met. And I can spot a psychopath from across the room because I deal with a lot of psychopaths!”

The contract, he maintained, is “well written, fair, and commensurate with what goes on in the district.”

The fourth former board member to weigh in was Sherry Scull.

“I know Mr. Havers is a very nice man,” she attested. “That is not in question. I think one of his problems from the start is that the former superintendent drove people out of the district, who would have been an asset to him. … You have to have people around you aware of the history and culture of the district. I think that is something that was not necessarily here for him at that time.”

Scull went on to “applaud his dedication in the fight for funding.” However, she added, “my main concern is, as good as Mr. Havers is in some ways, he does not take responsibility for some of the things he is not good at.”

One example she cited is when the “board was handed a couple hundred comments” from

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staff about their concerns, he purportedly said, ‘“I had staff tell me I did a good job.’”

“Look at what these folks are saying, and care about what they are saying,” she urged Havers.

The board consented to giving Havers the new contract with Board Member Vicky Adams casting the lone opposing vote.

Board Member Wanda Knox abstained given a conflict of interest, Board Member Sheri Lowery was absent and Roberto Fernandez, it was announced, had turned in his resignation due to “personal reasons.”

Robert “Pete” King, vice president of the board, when the hearing concluded, clarified the term “bonus” being used by some to refer to the $10,000 compensation increase for Havers is actually not a bonus.

“It actually does not contain any bonuses, and when Mr. Havers was negotiating, he did negotiate in good faith,” King maintained.

“He could have asked for merit bonuses up to 15 percent of his salary, and he did not.”

As for why the board decided to act now on a new contract, it was not addressed, but there were allegations raised during the course of the meeting that Havers had interviewed during the past couple of months at other districts that had superintendent openings.

Willitts, in having been a former board president, at one point noted, “shopping around is not unheard of.”

“I want to thank the board – I am extremely

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grateful for the support and vote of confidence,” said Havers in concluding the meeting. “It is a very humbling honor to serve Pemberton.

It is a tremendous responsibility that I take very seriously. I am somebody who has learned firsthand, as a student in Pemberton, whose life was changed by a teacher, the profound impact our tools have on our children, because I know the kind of impact it had on me.

“I also appreciate those who came out and expressed concerns. And I do take it all in.

I do reflect. We have conversations with the administrative team – we talk and want to figure out ways to improve. That is always the goal – constantly improving.”

Havers added that he would be “remiss” if he didn’t express his belief that some of the things posted preceding the meeting “were along the lines of personal attacks.”

“I think that is unfortunate, and I also think that is against our core values,” Havers declared. “And I hope that doesn’t continue.

With that said, it is not about me, it is about the kids. And so, I look forward to working together with the staff.”

He then closed by citing examples of how teachers “collaborated” with administration in getting ready for the first day of school, asserting, “I am a big believer in collaboration – I believe in the power of a ‘team’ and I want to continue to move forward in that direction, together.”

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