Pine Barrens Tribune April 18, 2020-April 24, 2020

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FR EE

April 18, 2020 – April 24, 2020

CASUALTY OF CORONAVIRUS

Washington Intends to Disallow Jet Skis from Docking at Beach Near Clam House

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

Photo Provided By Ravitz Family Markets

Steven Ravitz

Patriarch of Ravitz Family Markets, Including ShopRite of Marlton, and Philanthropist Dies at 73 After 13-Day Battle with Coronavirus; Community Recalls His Reach as ‘Exponential’ and ‘Unmeasurable’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

M A R LT ON — S t e ve n R a v i t z , a n influential local business leader who served as the “patriarch” of the Ravitz Family Markets, including the ShopRite of Marlton, for 40 years before retiring last year, and on the board of directors of Wakefern Food Corporation for 27 years before retiring in 2015, lost a 13-day battle on April 7 to the Novel Coronavirus, according to a social media posting from Jason Ravitz, one of five children and current vice president of retail operations for Ravitz Family Markets.

Steven Ravitz, who built a chain of five ShopRite grocery stores in Burlington and Camden counties, and opened one Price Rite supermarket in Camden County, passed away last Tuesday night at age 73.

“South Jersey lost a true community leader with the passing of Steven Ravitz,” said Democratic Governor Phil Murphy during an April 8 Coronavirus briefing held to discuss the growing toll the COVID-19 pandemic is having on New Jersey, now under a public health emergency due to the virus until at least May 8. “Steven headed his family business, operating five ShopRite markets across the region. But Steve will perhaps be best remembered for his many philanthropic pursuits, and his longtime support for community non-profits and other organizations, which was literally in the millions of dollars.”

According to a statement provided to this newspaper by the Ravitz family, Steven

Ravitz served as chairman emeritus of the Ravitz Family Foundation, a private, nonprofit that has donated more than $5 million to community groups and organizations, funding everything from after-school programs and playgrounds to food pantries and community gardens.

“He was a longtime supporter of many organizations, including JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) of SNJ, Boys and Girls Club and Jefferson University Hospital, where he served on its Board of Directors,” the family wrote. “He was also past president of Temple Beth Sholom and Crescent Memorial Cemetery.”

News of the death of Steven Ravitz, who passed away at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, sent immediate shockwaves throughout the region, especially since he is the first iconic local figure to die from complications of Coronavirus.

Prior to his death, area residents had only come to know the seriousness of the disease in the local community through daily releases of statistics from county and state Health Department officials indicating the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19, or who had succumbed from the highly contagious and novel virus.

Due to many COVID-19 patients requiring quarantine and intensive care, many are both unable to see the impacts of the virus upclose, and to be with loved-ones suffering from the illness in their final moments.

“I just wanted to send everyone a note

thanking them for their support and love during the past 48 excruciatingly painful hours,” wrote Jason Ravitz on Facebook. “I am trying to read everything that was sent to me and get back to everyone with at least a thank you. I am heartbroken and very sad.

“I know life is not fair—and my dad told us that a lot as children—but losing my father to a worldwide pandemic is very difficult to comprehend and process. Three of the most influential men in my life are now gone, my two grandfathers and my father—thinking about that brings me to tears—all three taken in the last 20 years, and with two of the three, there was no way to say goodbye or comfort them as they passed on. Life is not fair sometimes and can also be pretty cruel.”

Steven Ravitz was a huge supporter of Operation Yellow Ribbon, a Marlton-based non-profit that collects donated supplies to send as care packages to U.S. Troops serving overseas and arranges surprise welcome home ceremonies for military men and women who come home from a tour of duty.

“There are no words that can properly express the sadness, sorrow and shock we are feeling as Operation Yellow Ribbon would not exist if it wasn’t for the huge heart, generosity and love for our U.S. service members that Steve Ravitz, his family and their wonderful family-owned ShopRites has demonstrated for years and years, and as well to Operation Yellow Ribbon and See CASUALTY/ Page 4

WASHINGTON—A proposed ordinance up for consideration would “essentially eliminate” jet skis from “coming ashore, docking and staying” at a public beach adjacent to the River Road Clam House, off County Route 652 (also known as River Road), in the Lower Bank section of Washington Township.

The draft ordinance was introduced unanimously by the Washington Township Committee during an April 7 meeting held virtually through a GoToMeeting application due the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.

“I think the thought here was that these personalized watercrafts are becoming somewhat of a nuisance and this was an opportunity to allow people to continue to enjoy the beach without having to share it with jet skis,” said Township Solicitor Tom Coleman during the meeting.

Officials did not expand on the nuisance posed by the jet skis. Mayor Daniel James did not return messages seeking comment on this story as of press time.

Michelle Lubaczewski, owner of River Road Clam House, was stunned when she heard of the township’s proposal from this newspaper on April 9.

“I don’t see any problem” she said. “I don’t see too much litter other than what comes from anyone else on a boat, or who comes by and uses the beach. I don’t think we should single them out. I don’t see a problem.”

Lubaczewski contended that there have been a few times over the years where there is a gathering of jet skis (and their operators) at the beach, which sits along the Mullica River waterfront, but that it does not happen very often. She added that most people who do congregate at the beach are residents or friends of the residents.

“I don’t see 100 people using that beach,” she said. “I don’t even see five people using that beach half the time. It is not used a lot. I don’t see why people are upset about it (the jet skis).”

Lubaczewski told this newspaper that jet skis in operation are “actually pretty interesting to watch,” especially “trick jet skis.”

“They don’t bother me,” she said. “But I think I can see both sides of the story. I am not opposed to jet skis, but I am not opposed to limiting the number of jet skis on the beach either.”

Overall, however, Lubaczewski contended that she doesn’t understand why jet skis are being singled out over boats, and why this is See DOCKING/ Page 4

INDEX COVID-19 Information... 5

Local News.................... 2

Here’s My Card............ 10

Marketplace..................11

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

County Route 542 Repaved Following Residents Slamming County Officials

Pemberton Township to Borrow $3 Million for Road Work, Procurement of Equipment, Mayor Contends 2020 Budget Contains ‘Very Responsible’ Spending Increase and ‘Moderate’ Rise in Local Taxes

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

A view of a resurfaced County Route 542 near Batsto Village.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHI NGTON— Cou nt y Route 542 has been resurfaced just mere weeks after Washington Township residents cited alleged broken promises by county officials to repave the road and contended that the county doesn’t even know of their existence.

The residents, as previously reported by this newspaper, were considering taking their plight directly to the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders within the next month or two, and called on local elected officials to join them at an upcoming Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting.

“As far as the county, they don’t even know we exist,” said resident Michael Peranteau during a March 2 township committee meeting. “What has it been, two years since they promised that they were going to re-do it? We can’t get any action at all. Somebody is going to get killed from one of those potholes or bumps and nobody will take responsibility for it.”

This newspaper, on March 7, published an article headlined, “Washington Residents Contend County Does Not Even Know of Their Existence After County Route 542 Falls into Disrepair,” containing the comments of residents.

Nicholas Gangemi, a spokesman for Burlington County, told this newspaper in the published report that the county has five-roadsection field offices geographically throughout the county and paving in “section five” would begin on or about March 16, weather permitting.

He said section five includes roads in Woodland, Washington and Bass River townships, along with roads in parts of Shamong and Tabernacle townships. Gangemi, when asked what specific length of County Route 542 is being paved and when, had said “that information is not available yet.”

“The majority of County Route 542 has been repaved,” said Deputy Mayor Paul Seybold

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

during an April 7 Washington Township Committee meeting held virtually through a GoToMeeting application due the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. “They were working their way back from New Gretna to Hammonton, or actually Pleasant Mills, where Batsto Village is.”

Seybold said he had anticipated that County Route 542 would be “repaved completely from Batsto to New Gretna” by the end of the week.

This newspaper observed that the paving work had been completed by April 8 and the county roadway was already striped.

Peranteau, in an interview on April 9, said that signs announcing that County Route 542 would be under construction appeared “two weeks after the meeting and the paper came out.”

“I don’t know if we had anything to do with it being repaved any sooner,” he said. “If it did, I am glad we did say what we had to say.”

Peranteau, however, reiterated that residents “for a couple of years” had been promised by county officials that they were going to repave the road.

“We still matter, and although we don’t pay the kind of taxes other towns pay, we still pay some kind of taxes,” he said. “We should get some kind of service. If it didn’t get repaved, I was ready to go up to a freeholder meeting.

I am just glad everything was taken care of.”

Peranteau contended that while he has not traveled the length of the whole road yet, the part he has driven is “so much better.”

“There were so many potholes not getting filled,” he said. “It seems to be, really, a lot better and I hope it lasts for many years.”

Peranteau, in March, had also remarked about the deteriorating condition of River Road.

Part of the road is maintained by the township, while the other part is maintained by the county and also called County Route 652.

“I heard through the grapevine that within the next two or three weeks, (the county) should See REPAVED/ Page 4

STEVE STURM BUILDERS

Saturday, April 18, 2020

PEMBERTON—Officials in Pemberton Township will be undertaking a number of capit al i mprovement project s “all t o be done t h is ye a r,” a ccord i ng t o Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel.

Pemberton Township Council, during an April 1 meeting held via a teleconference call due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, approved a $1.7 million bond ordinance to f u nd equipment purchases, paving projects and renovations.

“Road paving improvements” to all, or portions of, Albion Way, Columbine Avenue, Palm Avenue, Partridge Street, Hanover Boulevard, Eldridge Street, South Brynwood Drive, Curtain Avenue and Juniper Avenue are slated to be funded through the bond.

A portion of the bond will also fund renovations to the Pemberton Township Mu n icip a l Bu i ld i ng, wh ich i nclu de s securit y upgrades, car pet replacement and installation of a door FOB (frequency operated button) system. Several rooms are expected to be renovated entirely, and a loading zone will also be constructed.

Funds from the bond are also allocated for an addition to the Pemberton Township Depar tment of Public Works building.

According to the bond ordinance, the addition will include a new repair bay, new parts storage room and new offices.

The siding on the existing portion of the public works building will be replaced, and its roof will be repaired, according to the bond ordinance.

Electrical upgrades are also planned for the existing part of the public works’ headquarters.

The remaining part of the bond will fund the procurement of one backhoe/loader, two 4x4 trucks with plows, one 21,000-pound dump truck with a plow and tailgate spreader, a number of water fillable barricades, two dump trailers, a number of non-passenger SUVs for the Pemberton Township Police Department, two non-passenger SUVs for the Pemberton Tow nship Volunteer Fire Depar t ment, five sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and various vehicle equipment for the Pember ton Tow nsh ip Depa r t ment of Recreation, including a travel trailer.

A second $1.3 million bond ordinance approved by council will fund the acquisition of an ultraviolet system for the township’s wastewater system and a closed-circuit television system for pipe inspections.

Funds from the second bond are also allocated for upgrades to the township’s Sewer

Utility plant, including all engineering and design work, surveying, construction planning, preparation of plans and specifications, permits, bid documents, construction inspection and contract administration, environmental remediation and all work materials, supplies, equipment, labor and appurtenances necessary.

The township took over the sewer utilities on Jan. 1 after disbanding the Pemberton Township Municipal Utilities Authority (PTMUA) last year. The township, in doing so, had contended that the PTMUA did not invest in the sewage infrastructure.

Mayor David Pat r iarca, in a budget presentation held prior to the passage of the bond ordinances, noted that the township’s total municipal debt obligation, including water and sewer debt, prior to Dec. 31, 2019 was $25,093,412.

Hornickel, when asked about the impact the two bond ordinances will have on the township’s existing debt, told this newspaper that the township anticipates that it will be “retiring debt this year” and there will be a “large drop in the 2021 debt service” due to a last installment coming due.

Hornickel contended that the Federal Reserve’s recent lowering of interest rates to zero due to the ongoing public health emergency’s impact on the economy made this a perfect time to borrow the money.

Patriarca, during the budget presentation, p r o p o s e d a $ 2 5, 0 2 5, 417 m u n i c i p a l operat i ng budget for 2020, wh ich he said is a $142,427 i ncrease over last yea r’s $24,882,990 operat i ng budget.

“It represents roughly eight tenths of a penny increase this year,” Patriarca said.

Salaries and wages for township personnel are to decrease by a total of $151,409 this year, according to Patriarca. Civilian Employee Pension Fund payments are to decrease this year by $21,291, but Police Pension Fund payments are to increase by $47,306.

“We can control this if we reduce employees and reduce pension contributions, but that has not been our goal here because that would ultimately result in a reduction in services, and I don’t think we are heading in that direction,” Patriarca said. “I know we are not.”

The biggest driver of the increase in the size of the budget is the township’s operating expenses, proposed to be $253,404 higher than last year due to “prices going up annually.” The operating expenses for Solid Waste Services are also rising over last year by some $75,000.

The township will receive $3,018,097 in See BORROW/ Page 4

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

CASUALTY (Continued from Page 1)

before that; the Yellow Ribbon Club,” said Dave Silver, president of Operation Yellow Ribbon. “Steve has taught us all how to give back to others and the community and to ‘heal the world.’”

Silver called Steven Ravitz’s reach in helping others “exponential” and “unmeasurable.”

Ravitz Family Markets has a storied history that spans over four generations.

Steven Ravitz’s father, Stanley, opened his first corner store on Broad and Susquehanna streets in Philadelphia in 1950, drawing on the grocery store experience of his father, Dave Ravitz.

Stanley Ravitz then established the family’s first South Jersey supermarket at the intersection of Chapel Avenue and Kings Highway, in Cherry Hill, in 1968. A second store was opened in the Woodcrest Shopping Center, also in Cherry Hill, in 1975.

Four years later, Steven Ravitz and his brother, Ron, entered the business, and according to the Ravitz Family Markets’ website, Steven Ravitz’s grandsons Jason, Shawn, and Brett “got their first taste of the retail world” at that time.

Shortly thereafter, also in 1979, Stanley Ravitz drove the company’s expansion by purchasing Shop N’ Bags grocery stores in Ellisburg and Delran. In 1983, The Ravitz Family joined the Wakefern Food Corporation and began operating its stores under the ShopRite name.

In the 1990s, the chain grew further when

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM the family would build stores in Mount Laurel and Cherry Hill. The Ravitz family acquired three Stop ‘N’ Shop locations in 2007.

Today, in addition to the ShopRite of Marlton store, Ravitz Family Markets owns and operates the ShopRite of Garden State Pavilions, ShopRite of Union Mill Road, ShopRite of Mount Laurel, ShopRite of Evesham Road and Price Rite of Camden.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ravitz family as they mourn the loss of Steve Ravitz,” wrote the neighboring Zallie-family owned ShopRite of Medford in a statement.

“ShopRite stores are a cooperative made up of family owned businesses and we are deeply saddened by the loss of not only a member of the ShopRite family, but also a dear friend.”

Steven Ravitz, upon his retirement last year, passed the leadership of the Ravitz Family Markets to his sons, Jason, Shawn and Brett.

Jason Ravitz, who is also the deputy mayor of Voorhees Township, started a “Ravitz ShopRite Corona Virus 2020 Update” Facebook group shortly after crowds started flocking to the local grocery stores to pickup essentials in response to mandatory stay at home, school shutdown and non-essential business shutdown orders issued by Murphy, and others, to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

Jason Ravitz has not only provided sometimes hourly stock updates as some essentials are now in shor t supply or unavailable, but has responded to customer requests and feedback on the fly. It is also here that he has shared words of encouragement as the community is reeling from the impact of See CASUALTY/ Page 8

Saturday, April 18, 2020

REPAVED (Continued from Page 2)

be repaving River Road, the county portion, in Lower Bank,” said Seybold on April 7. “I will be speaking to Mr. Peranteau about that as I know he was very concerned about that road.”

Additionally, the township committee on April 7 awarded an approximately $151,000 cont ract to A rawa k Pavi ng Compa ny (one of two bidders) for the resurfacing of the municipal portion of River Road and Henderson Avenue. This project is being funded through a New Jersey Department of Transpor tation Grant, according to Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman.

“We wouldn’t have put in for them if we didn’t think it was necessary,” said Hoffman

BORROW (Continued from Page 2)

state aid this year, according to the mayor.

The budget calls for a $13.82 municipal tax increase on a home assessed at $164,110, and a $21.06 municipal tax increase on a home assessed at $250,000. Patriarca contended that the tax increase was “moderate” for the “type of services being provided by our employees here in the township.” He added that the average property tax bill in 2019 for the 565 towns in New Jersey was $8,953 and Pemberton Township was considered the 17th lowest in the state, and the third lowest in Burlington County with an average property tax bill of $3,870.

when asked about the condition of the roads.

Seybold, also during the April 7 township committee meeting, announced that the Wa sh i ng t on Tow n sh ip P ubl ic Work s Department had just completed graveling Washington-Maxwell Road, Pine Street and Patten Lane. Lane Run Road (previously the subject of controversy over ownership in which the municipality ultimately declared it was a township road), Smith Lane and Bell Lane were also graveled, he said.

The township committee introduced a $1,457,955 municipal budget during its April 7 meeting. A public hearing and final adoption are tentatively scheduled for the first Tuesday in May. “We have no local tax rate, so there is no impact on the average assessed home,” said Chief Financial Officer Kristen Manning.

“The tax levy for this year is represented by eight tenths of a penny increase,” Patriarca said. “This year’s tax levy is $15,285,485.

So that is somewhere around a half percent i nc rea se ($78,0 0 0 on $15.2 m ill ion).

“I think it represents a very responsible increase, and although I am not going to come here and ever tell you that I am going to cut taxes, I will tell you that we will manage taxes, and provide the services that are requested at the cost it takes to do so. We will not let this thing get out of hand and I don’t believe this is anything close to being out of hand like when we watched many budgets here years ago increase 10 to 12 percent at a time. We try to keep our budgets under a 1 percent increase, and certainly under 2 percent.”

DOCKING (Continued from Page 1)

an issue being undertaken as she doesn’t see a lot of people using the beach.

She added that some of her customers are the operators of the jet skis (and boats) that visit the beach as the clam house owns a ramp in the area. The beach and its parking lot is township property, she said.

Deputy Mayor Paul Seybold had initially suggested tabling the measure due to some changes in language that James had proposed.

Coleman, however, contended that he “doesn’t view the changes as material” and the proposed ordinance “can still be tinkered with” following first reading. Committeeman C. Leigh Gadd Jr. declared that the measure should be moved along so that it becomes law prior to the watercraft season.

“We have them (jet ski operators) here,” Lubaczewski said. “They have them in Sweetwater (in neighboring Mullica Township), and all over the place. I don’t think they pose a threat here. Most of them are fairly decent, good people.”

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A public beach adjacent to the River Road Clam House in Washington Township where officials contend jet skis coming ashore are posing somewhat of a nuisance.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A ramp owned by the River Road Clam House that allows for watercraft access to the Washington Township public beach, River Road and the establishment.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

COVID-19 INFORMATION

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NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION Decision to Temporarily Close State Parks and Forests Due to COVID-19 is Criticized

Date of 2020 Primary Election Changed, Debate Arises Over Vote-by-Mail Ballots

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

An electronic sign placed near a guardhouse for The Batsto Mansion announcing that state parks and forests are temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and warning that State Park Police are enforcing the closure.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

BATSTO —A decision last week by Democratic Governor Phil Mur phy and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe to do an about face and temporarily close all state parks and forests during the Coronavirus public health emergency is not sitting well with local outdoor enthusiasts and some state lawmakers.

McCabe, facing heavy pressure to reopen state parks and forests, including, locally the Bass River State Forest, Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village, and Atsion Village and Recreation area—tourist and recreational attractions key to the identity of the Pinelands—issued a four-paragraph statement on April 14 defending the Murphy administration’s April 7 executive order.

Jay Webber, an assemblyman representing the state’s 26th Legislative District, which is in Northwestern New Jersey where there is another area of significant state parks and forests, started a blistering online petition demanding that the governor immediately rescind the executive order, which has since garnered at least 31,000 likes.

“Your complete closure of parks appears to be based purely on anecdote and without any data or health science to support that decision,” Webber wrote. “As you have repeatedly observed, access to fresh air and exercise for our citizenry, especially during this stressful time, is paramount. For that reason, safely and responsibly using our state’s open spaces should continue to be encouraged, not prohibited.”

The petition has been shared on various

Pinelands social media outlets.

“O u r cit i ze n s a re sa c r i fici ng t hei r livelihoods, their connections with friends and loved ones, their recreation, and, in short, their lives as they have come to know them, to do their part to fight this disease,” Webber wrote. “They have done so largely willingly, or at least without great protest, understanding that public health exigencies might dictate temporary collective action led by our state government. In short, we are doing our part.

Public health priorities and individual liberties are not always at odds, however.

“Respectfully, governor, you should trust us more. We are fully capable of making intelligent, common-sense, and responsible choices that permit us to both to meet our obligations to the fight against COVID-19 and use our state park resources for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.”

It was only just a few weeks ago that McCabe told the press that the public “needs access to spaces for outdoor recreation more than ever for the opportunity to take a break from time indoors and for physical exercise.” The commissioner even had encouraged residents to seek state parks, forests, recreation areas and Wildlife Management Areas, “including roads, parking areas, trails, lakes and other open space areas” for “healthful passive recreation.”

“Keeping state-owned open spaces available to the public is important so people can continue to enjoy the healthful benefits of recreation and being outdoors,” said McCabe on March 16. “We advise the public to practice social distancing while enjoying our open spaces.”

See PARKS/ Page 6

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S O U T H A M P T O N — N e w J e r s e y ’s 2020 primary election has been moved by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy from June 2 to July 7 due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, a highly-contagious and deadly novel Coronavirus that has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths statewide since March.

Murphy ordered the postponement of the primary election through an April 8 executive order. He signed a Legislature bill on April 14 ratifying the change.

“P reser vi ng basic f u nct ions of ou r democracy is critical in this unprecedented time,” Murphy said. “Citizens exercising their right to vote should not have to risk their safety, and the safety of others, in order to make their voices heard. Postponing our primary elections is a difficult, yet necessary, choice to ensure that our citizens can partake in their civic duty of voting.”

Secretary of State Tahesha Way, also the state’s top election official, contended that Murphy’s decision to move the primary election to July will provide state, county, and local election officials with the time needed to prepare for a “free, fair, and safe” election.

The filing deadline for candidate petitions for the primary election will remain unchanged, according to the governor’s order. However, the deadline for change of party affiliation

declaration forms to be filed has been moved to May 13. Additionally, independent candidate petitions will now be due by 4 p.m. on July 7.

Previously, ahead of the primary election and elections scheduled for May 12, Democratic Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz on March 12 urged voters to vote by mail, instead of voting in person at the polls.

“Voting by mail ensures all residents can vote without traveling to a polling location in a safe and secure way,” Schwartz said. “This will allow the election process to continue without interruption.”

Amid a growing movement nationally to conduct vote by mail elections this year in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, Republican President Donald J. Trump contended that “mail-in voting is horrible” and “it is corrupt.”

Trump, now a resident of Florida, voted by mail last month, but contended that was OK because it is “called out of state” and there is a “big difference” between “somebody who is out of state and does a ballot and everything is sealed, certified, and everything else” and “thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody’s living room, signing ballots all over the place.”

“I think that mail-in voting is a terrible thing,” Trump declared. “I think if you vote, you should go (in person), and even the concept See ELECTION/ Page 9

Washington’s Website Lacks Updates During COVID-19 Emergency as Town Decided Against Renewing Web Host

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—Just about a month prior to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to New Jersey, the Washington Township Committee dropped the host for the Washington Township mu n icipal gove r n me nt websit e, w it h Committeeman C. Leigh Gadd Jr. contending that renewing a contract with the firm “is like throwing money in the trash.”

“The website is terrible,” contended Gadd in February. “It has never been good.”

While the website has contained a number of outdated postings since its 2017 launch,

along with broken links, and has even been reportedly hacked from time-to-time, its host was dropped without a replacement in place.

“We used to have a gentleman that does a lot of websites in Galloway, and he still does them and it was a lot less than what this was,” said Hoffman in February. “We don’t have to renew it. We can just drop it.”

As the emergency continues to progress, the homepage of the Washington website has a single article from 2017 (as of press time), “Our Website Has Launched,” listed See WEBSITE/ Page 6

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

WEBSITE (Continued from Page 5)

under “News and Announcements.”

Gadd, during an April 7 meeting of the township committee held virtually due to the ongoing public health emergency, said that he sent Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman the name of the vendor that hosts the City of Absecon’s website, along with some information he obtained from his place of work.

Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman replied that with the introduction of the municipal budget for 2020, she can now prepare a purchase order. She added that she reached out to the current website host to “at least” have Dudley Lewis removed from the website as mayor.

Daniel James replaced the now-retired Lewis as mayor of the municipality in January.

“We are trying to clean it up,” Hoffman said.

“I was able to get Dudley off the website and make corrections to the names. I am working on that.”

Gadd said he was “surprised” that the website host was doing anything considering the Washington committee decided not to renew the contract.

“If anyone wants to take a look at the City of Abescon’s website, they do a nice job and they put all of the information on it in a timely fashion,” Gadd said. “I am not sure how much it costs, or if there are different tiers we can subscribe to since we don’t have a whole lot of content change other than maybe agendas and minutes, but I did send their contact information because this other company is terrible and we didn’t pay them.”

This newspaper asked Washington officials during the latest meeting how the municipality was reaching its residents with local emergency information given that the municipal website

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM is virtually down.

“We’re posting in town hall and trying to get the word out as much as we can,” Hoffman said. “People are watching the news. You have to live in a bubble to not know.”

Besides local media, municipal websites have served as the primary conduits of local emergency information and municipal an nou ncements du r ing the COV I D -19 emergency. Tow n halls, including the Washington Township Municipal Building, have been closed to the public.

“We have a mass mailing that we send out to every one of our residents who has signed up for it,” said Deputy Township Clerk Karen Bacon when Hoffman was pressed further about how local information was being disseminated to the community.

Hoffman, after fr ustration about the Washington website had been expressed by the public in 2017, said that the staff members of the Clerk’s Office were to receive training and would begin the inputting of content.

In 2018, a Washington resident expressed outrage after a calendar on the Washington website incorrectly stated that Washington committee meetings begin at 7:30 p.m., and not 7 p.m. There was also a link on the homepage at the time titled “Home Invader Identified as Goldilocks,” which took site visitors to a page with content written in Latin.

The Washington committee contracted with Revize in 2016 to revamp the municipal website. The township paid the company $1,650 during the first year and $700 during the second year to upgrade and maintain the website.

According to Deputy Township Clerk Karen Bacon, Revize proposed a 2020 renewal price of $700.

“It is in dire need of updating,” said Hoffman in February when the township committee See WEBSITE/ Page 8

PARKS

(Continued from Page 5) At the same time of McCabe’s March 16 statement, Murphy had begun implementing a series of social distancing measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus, including ordering the closing of non-essential businesses and schools. He later issued a stay at home order.

Additionally, the governors of New York and Pennsylvania issued similar orders.

McCabe’s encouragement to visits state parks and forests to take a break from time indoors, combined with the number of people home from work and school, resulted in droves of people descending on the Pinelands.

Parking lots for state preserves, including off Russ Anderson Boulevard, County Route 532 and County Route 563 in Woodland Township, had become packed day after day, as observed by this newspaper. The parking lots were the most crowded that this newspaper had ever observed, outside of the major Chatsworth Cranberry Festival weekend in October or July 4 weekend.

Many parked vehicles had Pennsylvania and New York license plates. Some locals expressed concern on various Pinelands social media outlets that out-of-state residents were traveling from urban COVID-19 hot spots, such as New York City, and potentially further spreading Coronavirus to the Pinelands.

“Temporarily closing the parks and forests during the surge of the COVID-19 outbreak was a very difficult, but necessary, decision,” said McCabe in the April 14 statement. “All of us at NJDEP understand the need for fresh air and exercise, and the desire of our New Jersey family to get outside when so many of us are feeling stressed and restless during this difficult time. That is why NJDEP continued to encourage public use of the state parks for as long as possible.

Saturday, April 18, 2020 “Unfortunately, as weather warmed in recent weeks, just as the COVID-19 outbreak was surging, the crowds at our parks became too large for our State Park Police to continue ensuring the social distancing that is so critical in our fight to prevent further spread of the virus.”

McCabe, in the statement, also contended that just prior to the governor’s executive order, state park visitation was at “unusually high levels” with “large numbers of visitors coming from out of state.”

“Our law enforcement officers were forced to issue hundreds of verbal warnings to practice social distancing, disperse more than 160 gatherings of multiple people, and break up fights over parking spaces in overcrowded lots,” she said. “Our officers even had to evict attendees at a wedding. This was creating unsafe conditions, for visitors, as well as park personnel, in too many places and very likely would have worsened over the holiday weekend.”

McCabe declared that “it pains us to see our parks closed,” but vowed to reopen them “as soon as it is safer.”

“My administration’s top priority is to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases, so we do not create a surge within our health care systems and overwhelm the health care professionals who are managing our response on the frontlines,” said Murphy in a statement that accompanied the executive order. “We have seen far too many instances in our parks where people are gathering and socializing in groups and by closing these areas, we are further limiting public interactions to only the most essential purposes. Data shows that our aggressive efforts to flatten the curve are beginning to make a difference; however, we must continue our push to flatten it to the point where our day-over-day increase is zero.”

See PARKS/ Page 11

Saturday, April 18, 2020

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the Coronavirus and a disrupted daily routine.

“Our dad would want everyone to take precautions and be safe,” Jason Ravitz declared.

“This awful plague must end, COVID-19 took our dad, but it will not take his spirit. It will live on in those who (he) touched. We will carry on his work—please wear PPE, please take care of your loved ones, our healthcare workers need supplies and they do not need non-medical field persons to tell them how to treat their patients!”

Some wrote personal tributes in the Facebook group eulogizing Steven Ravitz.

“I have worked for the Ravitz family for 28 years now,” wrote one man. “Back in the early 2000s, my wife and I made settlement on our home. I was unable to be home the day our furniture was being delivered, and my wife called me at work and told me that the furniture company would only take cash on delivery.

As I finished the conversation with my wife, Steve happened to be next to me, and asked about what the problem was. He then said to follow him to the bank inside the store, and asked ‘How much do you need?’ I tell him, and without hesitation, he hands me the cash and says to take it to my wife and to have no worries, “Pay me when you cash your check!’

I will never forget that moment.”

Coronavi r us, previously decla red a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) after originating last year from Wuhan, China and now spreading to at least 180 countries, according to President Donald J. Trump, has now devastated the U.S., with over 650,000 reported positive cases and 30,000 plus reported deaths as of press time, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

As of press time, New Jersey had the second-most Coronavirus cases in the U.S., with over 75,000 positive cases reported statewide. 3,518 deaths in the state, as of press time, have been attributed to the disease, including at least 52 in Burlington County.

Over 1,150 Burlington County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.

T he st atew ide outbrea k ha s forced Wakefern Food Corporation, the retailerow n e d s u p e r m a r ke t c o o p e r a t ive , t o implement enhanced safety protocols at stores to help protect shoppers and associates.

This newspaper has learned that Wakefern stores have now implemented a temperature monitoring program.

As part of the initiative, Wakefern stores and associated warehouses will use Non-contact Forehead Infrared Thermometers to take the temperature of associates and vendors as they arrive for work. Any person with an elevated temperature will be sent home.

Earlier this month, the cooperative installed Plexiglas shields at cash registers, customer service counters and pharmacies across all its banner brands, and some stores began limiting occupancy during peak shopping hours. All store associates also now must wear protective masks.

“These are extraordinary times and we

WEBSITE (Continued from Page 6)

chose not to renew Revize’s contract.

Washington officials are also in the process of dropping its current telephone and internet provider, Verizon, for Comcast.

It was revealed in February that Washington Township was billed $722 for two-months of landline telephone and internet service and another $224 for cellular service. The township has a population of less than 600 people and the municipal building is open primarily two evenings per week.

“That is a lot of money for phones I can’t even figure out how to use,” Gadd said.

Saturday, April 18, 2020 are committed to protecting our associates and customers as we keep our stores open to serve our communities,” said Joe Colalillo, chair man and CEO of Wakefer n Food Corporation. “We are closely monitoring the fast-moving COVID-19 emergency and all new recommendations and CDC protocols, and using that information to guide our decisions.

We are proud of our hard-working associates and doing everything we can to support them and keep them safe as they work on the front lines of this public health crisis.”

Wakefern stores, according to spokeswoman Laura Panza, are also emphasizing social distancing with special signs, in-store announcements and floor markers, and many are also offering shopping hours or designated checkout lanes for seniors and other at-risk customers.

“In addition to rigorously enforcing est ablished protocols for proper food handling, hand washing, hygiene and store sanitation, stores are also taking extra steps to deep clean and sanitize food contact surfaces and high-touch areas such as credit card pin pads and shopping carts,” she said.

Jason Ravitz, in a Facebook posting, urged the community to “please pray for everyone who has passed from this earth and who are still fighting this br ut al disease.”

“Our hearts are heavy on the loss of our beloved father/grandfather/brother/uncle, Steve, to the Coronavirus—he battled for 13 days in the hospital,” wrote Jason Ravitz. “We started a makeshift memorial at the corner of Springdale and Evesham roads, in front of our store. Under the current conditions, this is the best that we can do to collectively express our anguish and sor row as we are not in any shape to gather our thoughts and write a tribute as this is too fresh, and the last couple weeks have been awful.

“One definitive lesson that everyone should take from the loss of our dad is that this virus is not the flu, it is far worse, and if it grabs hold, it can ravage your body. It is a deadly disease and acts indiscriminately. Please, please, please take precautions—there is no cure or treatment guaranteed to heal anyone.

Our dad would not want anyone else to suffer.”

Steven Ravitz is also survived by his fourth son, David; his daughter, Remy Strause; daughters-in-law Debbie Ravitz and Lauren Ravitz; son-in-law Brett Strause; his brother, Ron Ravitz, and eight grandchildren.

A service for Steven Ravitz will be held at graveside, on April 12, at Crescent Memorial Park in Pennsauken. Platt Memorial Chapels will provide livestream access, according to Jason Ravitz on Facebook.

The Ravitz family has asked that the media, and those seeking to express their condolences, respect the family’s privacy at this time.

Contributions in Steven Ravitz’s memory can be made to the Ravitz Family Foundation at www.ravitzfamilyfoundation.org .

“We are so grateful for all that Steve has taught us and given us, as well as what he has done for so many others,” Silver said.

“Thank-you Steve Ravitz for being a blessing to us all. We will never forget what you have given this world.”

Hoffman noted that phone and internet service was going “in-and-out.”

This newspaper has been unable to connect to James’ extension using the township telephone system. When selecting the prompt for the mayor, it attempts to forward calls to his cellphone, but disconnects, saying a 1 needs to be dialed before the area code.

“I reached out to Comcast and they are going to come in and do a comparison and we will probably be switching phones so everyone can do their voicemails and set their phones up,” said Hoffman on April 7. “It (Verizon) is outrageous in price. But we will be switching to Comcast.”

Hoffman confirmed that Comcast has offered to give the municipality internet access for free.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

WORSHIP GUIDE

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uman beings are social animals, and this fact is easily observed by noticing how we thrive in groups, how readily we help each other, and how we naturally teach and learn from each other.

Conversely, we often struggle when we are alone, we are instinctively repulsed by antisocial behavior, and we require a long period of education and socialization to become fully functioning adults. All of this points to something important: our lives have meaning and value to the extent that we are contributing to the common good.

Someone who is wallowing in addiction, for instance, cannot believe that God created them to just drink or use drugs all day.

People who are unemployed often struggle with depression because they know that

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they aren’t contributing to society through their labor. Oftentimes the best thing for the unemployed to do while seeking a job is to go out and do some volunteer work. This will give them a sense of worth, and might even lead to employment. God has a plan for all of us, and it is always, in one way or another, to serve our fellow creatures.

The specific plan is not, however, written in stone, and must be discovered, even created, by each of us as we work through our lives. Some people know at an early age what they are destined to do and be. Many more of us struggle with this at every stage of our lives. But no matter where we are in life’s journey, we must work faithfully towards fulfilling God’s plan.

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ELECTION (Continued from Page 5)

of early voting is not the greatest because a lot of things happen, but it is OK. But you should go and you should vote. I think you should go and you should vote.

“You look at what they do, where they grab thousands of mail-in ballots and they dump it. I’ll tell you what—and I don’t have to tell; you can look at the statistics—there is a lot of

dishonesty going along with mail-in voting— mail-in ballots.”

Schwartz, when asked about the president’s comments, said she has “always been a strong advocate of voting by mail” as it is “not only convenient, but also a very safe and secure way to vote.”

May 12 elections for three seats on Medford Lakes Borough Council and three seats on the Bass River Board of Commissioners will continue to be held, however, they will be held through the mail only, as ordered by

Murphy on March 19.

This newspaper has learned that voters in Bass River and Medford Lakes Borough will not need to apply for a mail-in ballot to vote in the May 12 elections. Every registered voter will receive postage-paid ballots to return.

“We have sufficient stock and personnel to address, insert and mail out the ballots,” a notice for the May 12 Bass River Board of Commissioners election states. “There will be no voting machines at polling places. There

will be no emergency or provisional ballots needed. Ballots will still be able to be counted as long as they are postmarked by election day, and are received within 48 hours of the (8 p.m.

May 12) close of polls.”

Schwartz, last month, pointed out that encouraging voters to vote by mail is in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines to minimize direct contact with other people and reduce crowd size at polling locations.

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CIRCULATION The Pine Barrens Tribune is published every Saturday. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, a public health emergency or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392. © 2020 Pine Barrens Tribune

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(Continued from Page 6) Murphy later said the decision to close the parks was not enjoyable, but that he needed to “tighten the ship up.”

“We had to shut these parks,” Murphy said.

“And to those who say ‘Gosh golly, we’re more rural,’ here is the problem: The entirety of the rest of the State of New Jersey will be on your doorstep in your park.”

Word that the executive order would be enforced by State Park Police seemed to drastically reduce visitation to the Pines by last Saturday, though one vehicle with New York plates was observed by this newspaper

parked on the side of County Route 532, by Chatsworth Lake, and two vehicles were seen parked in front of caution tape placed by the state to close off a preserve entrance off County Route 563.

Batsto Village proper, marked with two electronic signs announcing the closure of state parks and forests, and warning of State Park Police enforcement, was abandoned on a spring-like and sunny Saturday, April 11, though a few cars appearing to contain those with recreational and sightseeing intentions traveled on Batsto Road in the direction of Batona Trail and the Washington Turnpike.

Closure notices printed on 8 ½” x 11” copy paper were taped on various signs for Batsto Village.

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Saturday, April 18, 2020

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