Aug 19 2017

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Woodland Eyeing Land For Possible Economic Development. Page2

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE www.pinebarrenstribune.com

Vol. 1 - No. 51

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The News Leader of the Pines

August 19-25, 2017

Bittersweet Goodbye After 17 Years at the Helm Superintendent and Principal of Bass River Elementary Bids Farewell

Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—Dr. Larry Mathis’ 17-year tenure as superintendent of the Bass River Township School District and principal of the Bass River Elementary School has come to a bittersweet close.

The Bass River Board of Education last month voted reluctantly to accept his resignation for the purpose of retirement.

“If we say no, does he have to stay?” said one board member, summing up the sentiment in the room for Mathis. “What will we do without him?”

When Mathis was appointed as superintendent in 2000, dial-up internet service and flip-style cell phones were making a debut in the township.

After his final school board meeting, the superintendent was using a smartphone to

connect to high-speed internet, via a Wi-Fi hotspot, to send out a goodbye letter to the district’s staff.

Overseeing the incorporation of technology in the elementary school, whether it was for educational or security purposes, is something Mathis is most proud of.

“I definitely think since I came aboard 17 years ago, we kept current with academic challenges and our students are well prepared for middle school,” Mathis said. “One of the biggest projects I am most proud of was construction of a security vestibule funded with a $100,000 donation from Viking Yacht Co.” Mathis is no stranger to the area.

He grew up in nearby Tuckerton and is a proud graduate of the Pinelands Regional School District, which currently provides instruction to middle and high schoolers from Bass River Township.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

“It has been a pleasure to service this school for the last 17 years,” Mathis said. “I want everyone to know that I was really welcomed here and the school became a second home to me. I’ve enjoyed all my years here and all the support I have gotten from the board, the boards of the past, teachers and community.”

Board member Cindy A. Ruffo said Mathis is and will always be a pillar of the community.

“He has done a wonderful job in this school,” she said. “I leaned on him like no other during my term and wish him the best of luck.”

Board member Bonnie Adams said Mathis will be greatly missed.

“Larry is very professional, yet personable with all of the students and parents,” she said.

“He made the community feel welcomed and involved.”

Chris Manzer, fourth-grade teacher and

WOODLAND—Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Skleros has handed in his letter of resignation after just three months on the job in Woodland Township.

“It is with disappointment that I must tender my resignation, effective immediately,” said Skleros in a resignation letter dated Aug. 1.

Skleros’ tenure was overshadowed by controversy and bickering over Mayor Matthew Henrich’s decision to replace Shawn Viscardi, who previously held the post. Viscardi is also the fire chief of the Woodland Fire and EMS Co. Committeeman William DeGroff alleged that Henrich never told the committee about his desire to replace Viscardi.

DeGroff later clarified that Henrich did tell the committee about his desire during a Feb. 22 budget meeting, but that it “accidentally came out” and no chance was given for discussion.

DeGroff said Viscardi did a great job for the township, while Henrich was troubled with a lack of communication from Viscardi during a forest fire on June 12, 2016.

Executive session meeting minutes later revealed the change was at least partially the result of an ongoing dispute between Viscardi and Henrich.

Viscardi’s removal contributed to a nasty Republican primary in June.

Henrich said last week that Skeleros was doing an excellent job and he respected his decision to step down.

“Tom Skeleros resigned because his wife (Marybeth) was unable to be his deputy due to the township’s nepotism policy,” he said.

The nepotism policy came to light after DeGroff defeated his challenger, Thomas Getz, in the primary.

Resident Marvin Matlack, Getz’s fatherin-law and self-described adviser to Henrich, asked Township Solicitor William Burns during a Woodland Township Committee meeting on June 28 to outline what the township’s handbook defined as nepotism.

“The township has adopted a personnel committee and there is a nepotism aspect in the personnel manual,” Burns said. “The manual states that no relative can be employed in the township where another relative has a supervisory capacity over them.”

Matlack thanked Burns, but didn’t elaborate on why he was asking.

But the reason became obvious moments

FAREWELL>>PAGE 19

COORDINATOR>>PAGE 19

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS D. MELEGARI Dr. Larry Mathis (left) welcomes Dr. Detlef Kern as interim superintendent of the Bass River Township School District and principal of the Bass River Elementary School.

By Douglas D. Melegari

Skleros Resigns as Woodland’s OEM Coordinator

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

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LOCAL NEWS

Woodland Eyeing Land Near Romanza Pizza & Pasta for Possible Economic Development

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A shrinking tax base due to shuttered businesses, multiple foreclosures and land being scooped up by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is serving as a call to action for local officials to come up with ways to bring revenue into Woodland Township.

Mayor Matthew Henrich said during a July 28 Woodland Township Committee meeting that he and other township representatives met with a high-ranking Pinelands Commission official to determine the feasibility of developing land, which sits adjacent to Route 72, to help regrow the tax base.

“I went up to Pinelands and took Mr. Marvin Matlack (resident who is a self-described adviser to the mayor), a commercial realtor, and Township Clerk Maryalice Brown,” he said. “We had a meeting with Chuck Horner (director of regulatory programs for the commission) about the 103 acres we have on Route 72.”

Henrich said the committee wanted to learn what they could possibly do with the land.

“It is sitting there and we could possibly develop it,” he said. “The bottom line is we are trying to bring some income into the town and that is the only place where I feel we can possibly build something and bring some muchneeded tax revenue into the town.”

Henrich said the township notified the NJDEP of their plans, as required by law, and the agency has 60 days to respond.

“They have the right to buy it,” he said. “I am not sure if they are going to buy it. If they don’t, we have options. If they do, we have options.”

Henrich didn’t elaborate on what the options are.

Matlack said after the meeting that the land of interest is located near Romanza Pizza & Pasta, a restaurant located in the unit block of Route 72.

Route 72 is a state highway that connects the mainland to Long Beach Island, a very popular shore destination in Ocean County. It’s the busiest thoroughfare to run through the township.

During a special Woodland Township Committee meeting on Aug. 8, township officials did not appear to be as eager to develop the land as they were at the previous meeting.

Brown said the NJDEP responded that they were interested in purchasing the property through their Green Acres program and a woman contacted her from the agency to find out more information.

“I think we should look at every option,” said Committeeman William DeGroff.

“She did ask me why we would want to sell

our last remaining commercial piece,” Brown said. “I told her that between restrictions with Pinelands and reaching out and just asking questions, we haven’t seen a whole lot of interest. Right now, we are just putting feelers out there and seeing what options there are. I said ‘We may not be interested in selling it to you.’”

Brown clarified that there is no obligation that the township has to sell the land to the NJDEP, if they are interested in purchasing it.

A closed session meeting of the township committee will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. to discuss the land.

Officials will be meeting with Thomas Hastings, Esq., an economic-development attorney, regarding the land. The hope is that Hastings will provide the township with clarity as to what could be developed on the property.

“Should we talk to this guy, before he comes here?” Henrich said. “I just don’t want him to waste his time by coming here. I just don’t want to get that long, drawn out 15 hours—$1,500 bill.”

DeGroff said Hastings might be able to shed some light on whether buildings such as townhomes could be developed on the property.

“This town can’t handle that—not with the school,” he said. “We would be screwed.”

DeGroff said the township should fill out a Green Acres application and see what kind of money they would offer for the land.

“So, we fill out this application,” Brown said. “We send it back to them. At that point, they will get an appraisal done on the property and do a title search to make sure there is a clear title. At that point, they will make an offer. There are two properties there. At that point, we will make them an offer and they will accept it or deny it.”

Brown said there are two options if the township decides to work with the NJDEP. The first entails the township selling the Pinelands Development Credits (PDCs). The NJDEP cannot purchase the land if the PDCs are sold, but the agency can accept it as a donation.

The second entails the township selling the land directly to the NJDEP, without going to auction, which is permissible since a public entity would be acquiring the land.

Brown said the NJDEP did not say what they want to do with the land. However, she said if the PDCs are severed from the land, the NJDEP could never build on it. She also said the land in question involves two properties.

Brown asked for a motion to file a Green Acres application with the NJDEP. The motion was approved by a 2-0 vote. She said Committeemen Mark Herndon was absent from the special meeting due to a planned trip.

INDEX

Automotive......................................23 Business Directory...........................14 Community......................................10 Fun and Games................................17 Health ..............................................16 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22

Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace......................................18 Opinion ............................................ 9 Scanner ............................................. 8 Worship Directory............................10

The Pine Barrens Tribune is published weekly by Pine Barrens Media, LLC. The newspaper is distributed free at select locations in Bass River, Evesham, Hammonton, Medford, Medford Lakes, Pemberton, Pemberton Borough, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, Washington, Whiting, Woodland and surrounding areas. 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, 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.

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Redevelopment Plans for Sections of Medford Continue to Move Forward

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—At its Aug. 1 meeting, Medford Council introduced three ordinances to adopt plans for Hartford Square, Stokes Square, and Arc Wheeler; all areas of redevelopment.

“These are related to our agreement that we struck to be in compliance with COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) Round 3,” said Councilman Christopher Buoni. “It’s a horrible law. Some attorneys think it’s in the constitution of New Jersey. I adamantly disagree. But, unfortunately, because we have such a poorly-staffed supreme court, we’re bound by it. This is something that citizens should be informed about.”

The councilman was referring to the Third Round guidelines of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, which deals with affordable housing obligations for each municipality. Medford Township has been working to satisfy its constitutional obligation based on its Fair Share Housing Plan.

This topic was discussed during recent Medford Planning Board meetings.

These ordinances are based on events and actions taken since Jan. 17; a series of resolutions have been adopted over the past several months by council, authorizing the township planning board to investigate if the three locations—Hartford Square, Stokes Square, and Arc Wheeler—qualify as redevelopment areas, as well as then designating those areas as such.

According to the written ordinances, “the Redevelopment Plan provides a broad

overview for the planning, development, redevelopment and rehabilitation of the township for purposes of improving conditions within the township and to allow for the implementation of the township’s Housing Plan and Land Use Plan.”

A public hearing on the three ordinances occurred on Aug. 15. Details will be included in next week’s edition.

“Tim and Tyler Prime (of Prime Law) did a really great job on this and I think we put the township in such a good position,” said Buoni of the plans.

In other action, there was a special proclamation during the meeting to acknowledge the Cross Keys One-Room Schoolhouse Living History Program. The New Jersey Historical Preservation Office recently praised the program for its preservation education.

Four consent agenda resolutions were also passed, unanimously, by council.

The first awarded a contract for the Medford Bicycle Network Project to Command Company Inc. for $401,284.40, the result of the township reviewing submitted bids.

Another granted a “solicitation on roadways” permit to the Medford Vincentown Rotary Club, allowing the organization to run a coin drop on Main and Union streets on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The coin drop is a fundraiser for the Halloween Parade.

The third resolution urged the State Legislature to extend the 2 percent cap on police and fire arbitration contract awards for five years.

REDEVELOPMENT>>PAGE 19

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Pemberton Twp. Approves a Major Spending Program

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

The second ordinance amended a chapter of the township code concerning rental properties. The ordinance is massive, almost 10 pages long. The major change involves tenant screening, more precisely the dropping of a requirement that all tenants be screened at every change of occupancy. The original screening checked for criminal records or court activity regarding tenant-landlord court disputes.

Another three ordinances were introduced.

They face final action at council’s next meeting.

The first ordinance introduced would vacate a part of Arizona Trail, allowing adjacent property owners to buy the land.

A second affects the township’s two motels, the Red Carpet Inn and El Sombrero. Business licenses for the two would be amended in the interest of public safety.

The last proposed ordinance seeks to amend a chapter of the township code regarding site-plan reviews. No details were immediately available.

The votes on all resolutions and both sets of ordinances were unanimous, 5-0, with one exception.

Council President Jason Allen abstained on the police mutual aid resolution. Due to his police ties, Allen always abstains on such issues.

There was only one purchase of more than $2,000 approved. That was $2,258 for tickets to Hershey Park for Field Trip Week.

The meeting drew 75 to 80 residents for the police ceremony, but dwindled to about six when it adjourned at 8:55 p.m., lasting almost two and a half hours.

PEMBERTON—While most of the public’s attention at a Pemberton Council meeting on Aug. 2 was directed at the swearing in of nine new police recruits (see separate story in Issue #50, page 10), council nevertheless acted on a substantial amount of regular business.

Four consent agenda resolutions passed. Here is a summary: Liens were placed on several properties found to be in violation of the township’s Property Maintenance Ordinance. All of the liens are quite small; the total amount is only $1,520. Two plenary retail (liquor) consumption licenses were renewed for 201718. They are for Jamesons Bar and Grill and Shree Hari. The latter is not open.

The third approved the purchase of electricity supply services for public use on an online auction website, while the final one approved participation in Burlington County’s Safe Streets Initiative for police mutual aid.

Two ordinances were passed on second reading.

One appropriated $3,331,000 and approved a bond issue of $3,164,450 for a variety of improvements in the township. The most notable is construction of a combination firehouse and community building in Presidential Lakes for $1,950,000. Another $500,000 is earmarked for paving improvements on township roads. $458,000 is planned for four various trucks, a street sweeper and a mounted vacuum/sewer jetter, while the final $400,000 is slated for a modular building to serve as a police headquarters extension.

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PAGE 5

Migrant Worker Outreach Organization Welcomes Farm Workers and their Families During Harvest

PHOTO SUBMITTED Pocket prayer squares, with laminated cards containing verses in Haitian Creole or Spanish, were knitted by volunteers at Faith Presbyterian Church, Cathedral in the Woods, and Christ Presbyterian Church.

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

HAMMONTON—Migrant Worker Outreach (MWO) fulfilled their mission of welcoming migrant workers to South Jersey during this year’s blueberry harvest.

Volunteers visited 25 to 30 migrant camps in June and July to welcome farm workers and their families.

In collaboration with area groups and individuals, MWO organized various social activities for migrant workers and their families, including art nights, story-telling nights, and field trips. Outdoor evening English classes, held at migrant camps, were co-sponsored by MWO and Rotary Club of Hammonton.

“Our English as a Second Language classes ran for five weeks this summer, with our largest number of program volunteers yet,” said Dory Dickson, co-founder and director of MWO. “Students could opt to join one of several activities or rotate between activity tables to study various topics and enlarge their English-speaking vocabularies through practice.”

Two youth groups were taken to visit Hammonton Airport, Hammonton Lake Park, and Hammonton Library.

“Both groups stopped for ice cream on their way back to the migrant camp,” Dickson said.

“Children participated in an outdoor art night at one of the migrant camps and were given art supplies of their own. Migrant youth at the camp helped set everything up and assisted younger children.”

One of the new projects this summer was a nutrition program for pregnant farm workers.

“MWO volunteers delivered various food items to pregnant workers at several camps on a weekly basis throughout the blueberry

harvest,” Dickson said. “Food packages included fresh produce from HOPE Garden which included bread, rice, beans and nonperishable items. Baby clothes, bedding, toys and cardboard picture books rounded out the offerings.”

Area groups, in collaboration with MWO volunteers, assembled 2,350 toiletry and laundry gift bags. Items for the gift bags were donated by Wyndham Skyline Tower, CommUNITY SJP and Red Lion Faith Chapel along with other area groups and individuals.

Volunteers from MWO and Medford Faith Presbyterian Church helped distribute the gift bags to migrant workers along with bandanas, socks, baseball caps and other donated items.

MWO volunteers assembled 300 Zika prevention kits with material supplied by New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Primary Care & Rural Health. The Zika prevention kits were provided to workers traveling back and forth from Haiti. Some workers traveling back and forth from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico and El Salvador also received the kits.

Two kinds of insect repellent were included in the kits. Information cards in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole were also included in the kits which describe how to avoid exposure to Zika Virus, especially for women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant.

A MWO display ad in this issue lists the groups and organizations who helped welcome farm workers by contributing to the annual spring clothing drive or volunteering. For more information about MWO, go to www.MigrantWorkerOutreach.Org or call Dory Dickson at (609) 969-2480.

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PAGE 6

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Multifaceted Political Feud in Woodland Shows No Signs of Abating; Corrective Action Taken on a Number of Tax Issues

Seneca Student Recognized for Superior Academic Achievement For the Pine Barrens Tribune

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A multifaceted political feud involving members of the Woodland Township Committee, Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Committee, Woodland Township Historical Society and Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. is showing no signs of abating anytime soon.

The latest heated exchange occurred during a Woodland Township Committee meeting just before the start of August, when Mayor Matthew Henrich discussed this newspaper’s reporting on the controversy surrounding roofing repairs at the Lebanon Lakes and Chatsworth firehouses.

Henrich was upset that this newspaper included the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co.’s position because he views their allegations as inaccurate and untruthful.

The township committee voted, 3-0, on April 26, 2016 to provide the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. with $75,000 to make the repairs despite the fact that the firehouses are not owned by the municipality.

The committee cited the need to protect equipment partially paid for by the township, especially inside the Chatsworth firehouse where the roof was in poor condition and leaking.

However, the fire company, led by Fire Chief Shawn Viscardi, later alleged that Henrich wanted them to sign over the firehouse deeds to the township in exchange for the money.

At the time the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. levied the accusation against the mayor, the township committee was entertaining the idea of allowing the installation of a cellphone tower somewhere in the Chatsworth section of Woodland Township.

The township committee heavily leaned towards having the tower installed on Chatsworth Elementary School grounds and Henrich made it a point to work with the Woodland Township Board of Education.

However, the township committee did tell a resident during a March 23, 2015, special meeting that alternatives for the placement of the tower included the township parking lot, firehouse property, property across from the inn, the inn itself, and a property belonging to a Mr. Huber.

The admission that the township committee viewed the firehouse property as an alternative location for the tower raised eyebrows with the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. since the township did not own the property.

Ultimately, the fire company decided to seek other sources of financing for the repairs as they believed both properties were worth more than $75,000.

During a township committee on June 9, 2015, the township committee entered into a shared-services agreement with the board for the tower’s construction at the school. The tower project has faced a number of hurdles and remains incomplete.

“You had mentioned we wanted to take over the (fire company) property for $75,000,” said Henrich at the latest regular committee meeting. “It is not accurate. We said (to the fire company) ‘We are going to give you $75,000 and we are going to have a lien placed on the property,’—meaning if they sell it, they give us the $75,000 back. That is the facts about that.”

Nancy Valentino, Esq., who represents the festival committee and Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, disputed Henrich’s

latest comments during a tense publiccomment session.

“I need to correct a few untruths or possible misstatements that were just made,” she said.

“There were multiple discussions over an extensive period of time regarding the firehouse situation and—in fact—the $75,000 lien was never even one of the options. We went from ‘Sign us over the building,’ to ‘We want those buildings.’

“I have the emails from your solicitor where I am told that is the case. I have very clear notes and I have a pretty good memory. I can restate every single meeting that we had and every word that came out of everyone’s mouth.”

Prior to Valentino speaking, Henrich said the festival committee placed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request which cost the township $4,000. He said the cost was incurred because the township’s legal team had to go through 60 months of paperwork to protect attorney-client privilege material.

“The second thing I want to share with everybody, which really annoys me to no end, is that we had an OPRA request for five years of lawyer bills, five years of engineering bills, five years of personal financial stuff that has to do with me, and five years of phone records because I work for a phone company and I guess somebody thought I was doing something wrong,” he said.

Henrich’s phone company comment is a veiled reference to a rumor that has been circulated throughout the township that he wanted to build the cell phone tower to benefit his employer.

While the rumor has been cited by his political adversaries during recent political campaigns, it remains unsubstantiated.

“That OPRA request cost $537 and the Cranberry Festival chairwoman paid for that,” Henrich said. “That is what is going on in this town. OPRA requests cost our town $4,000.

Ridiculous!”

Valentino said requests for public documents are permitted by state statute through the OPRA. “Any organization can request them,” she said. “Any organization can request anything they want, that they are able to get. If it is something that you are not able to get, Township Clerk Maryalice Brown is well versed in her job and she would have responded back to me about the reasons why I couldn’t have them. I then would have then had the opportunity to appeal. She did not respond that way because the things that were requested by the festival committee, for very valid reasons, were in fact, subject to OPRA.” Valentino said the township had an opportunity to charge the festival committee a reasonable fee for the cost of producing the documents.

“Ms. Brown was kind enough to provide me with the breakdown for her hourly rate and what it would cost to produce the legal bills and the fee was paid by the Cranberry Festival Committee,” she said. “Maryalice Brown, in her position, followed the law and provided me with what she is supposed to provide and what the State of New Jersey allows. It is not the law of Woodland Township; it is the law of the State of New Jersey. I am grateful everyone graciously complied.”

Henrich reiterated that the festival committee’s request was “ridiculous.”

FEUD>>PAGE 20

Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO SUBMITTED James Pronchick of Tabernacle.

TABERNACLE—The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) announced last week that James Pronchick, a Seneca High School student who resides in Tabernacle, has been selected to become a member of the esteemed organization.

The NSHSS recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment. The announcement was made by NSHSS Founder and Chairman Claes Nobel, senior member of the family who established the Nobel Prizes.

“On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice and commitment that James has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence,” Nobel said. “James is now a member of a unique community of

SENECA>>PAGE 19

Woodland Mayor Lobbies Municipalities to Fight PILOT Program Cuts

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A local mayor is urging his colleagues across the state to rally behind a state senator’s fight to fully restore Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program payments.

Woodland Township Mayor Matthew Henrich announced last month that he had a productive phone conversation with 1st Legislative District Senator Jeff Van Drew (D).

While Woodland is part of the 8th Legislative District, Van Drew has introduced legislation which would require the state to make payments in lieu of taxes to municipalities for certain preserved open space.

Numerous parcels in the township have been acquired by the state for open space preservation. As a result, the properties have been removed from the tax rolls.

The state, in 1977, established the PILOT program to compensate municipalities for the loss of tax revenue due to the tax-exempt status of state-owned property by providing annual payments.

However, Gov. Chris Christie in 2010 made drastic cuts to the program.

He reduced the amount paid to municipalities by one-third and required that payments to towns with preserved open space be based off pre-2010 preserved open space

acreage. Over the past seven years, since his decision, the number of preserved open-space parcels has increased statewide.

“Senator Van Drew has sponsored a bill to try to get our money back,” Henrich said. “We have lost $250,000 since 2010.”

Municipalities most dependent on the program, due to substantial preserved open space within their borders, are Bass River Township, Downe Township, Harmony Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor Township, Manchester Township, Maurice River Township, Washington Township and Woodland Township.

“I offered to lobby the top 10 towns that got the most money from the state—which Gov. Christie cut by one-third,” Henrich said. “We are No. 2 by the way, as we receive the second largest amount of money (from the program).

I offered to put together a letter and send it to nine other towns (asking for their support). I am going to be sending this letter to nine other mayors asking them to join the sponsorship of this bill.”

Henrich is hoping Van Drew’s legislation passes so the municipality can “get our money back.”

Christie, at one point, attempted to phase out the funding for the PILOT program altogether.

Shamong Passes Drone Policy and Introduces Measure Governing Special Events

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—During a busy meeting lasting nearly two hours, the Shamong Township Committee passed on second reading an ordinance prohibiting use of the ever more popular drones over or within 100 feet of parking lots or a field of play during the use of that field for organized play; whether it be a practice, game, or the like.

Mayor Tim Gimbel said the township doesn’t plan to ban drones, but wants to put into effect some “common sense” safety requirements.

As an example, Gimbel said, drones will be banned from flying over youth activities, such as outdoor sports. He said it was natural that some parents might want to view their children’s activities via drone, but the possible chance of a crash, causing injuries, was enough to bar that.

In other action, three consent agendas were approved.

One entered the municipality into an agreement with Burlington County for 2017 recycling and solid waste disposal.

Another appointed the township’s new Deputy Clerk Joanne Robertson as an additional contact person for the Employment Practices Liability Attorney Consultation Service spearheaded by the Burlington County Joint Insurance Fund’s (JIF).

The third appointed Rebertson as an Assistant claims coordinator for JIF matters involving the township.

Robertson, in other action, had four other posts assigned to her, two of which are also related to the municipality’s participation in the JIF. Barbara Valenzano, who recently retired

DRONE>>PAGE 19

Saturday, August 19, 2017

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Washington Committee Recognizes First Responders Who Battled Penn Swamp Wildfire

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—The personal bravery and interagency cooperation of all first responders and mutual aid agencies who responded to the Penn Swamp Wildfire last month in Washington Township was recognized by Mayor Dudley Lewis during an Aug. 1 Washington Township Committee meeting.

The fire, which broke out two miles north of Batsto Village on July 20, scorched 3,500 acres of the Wharton State Forest in a remote section of the township.

Lewis was particularly grateful that there were no injuries despite the “dangerous conditions of summer drought and extremely high temperatures.”

“The fire was located in a remote and poorly-accessed area that had a heavy load of hazardous fuels due to the Pinelands forest cover,” he said. “This area had not been burned by a wildfire since the Batsto fire of May 1960—when a historic wildfire spread over 13,000 acres from Mullica Township into Washington Township.”

Lewis said property in the township was spared from significant damage and recalled a time when the township wasn’t so fortunate.

“The wildfire was contained after spreading over several thousand acres of the Wharton tract, which had historically been burned by conflagrations of greater size and extent,” he said. “A larger area had been burned in Washington Township during May 1930 by another fire that had spread from Atlantic County, across the center of Washington Township and into Bass River Township— consuming more than 20,000 acres and destroying a number of homes and agricultural structures.”

In other township action, a measure amending an employee manual for municipal workers was approved after months of postponement.

A resolution authorizing certified animal control services for the care of injured animals

by Mount Laurel Animal Hospital was also approved.

The committee had tabled the resolution last month because they were unaware if proposals were sought from other agencies.

Lewis said he had since found out that the animal hospital was the only one that offered to perform services for the township.

Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman said the committee typically authorizes up to a $200 treatment for an injured animal and charges any established owner for the treatment.

A memorandum of agreement between the Washington Township Wildfire Safety Council and New Jersey Fire Safety Council was authorized.

A wildfire safety council consists of members of the community and municipal fire department who are charged with updating the municipality’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

The municipal council is partnering with the state’s council to help to build partnerships between the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, community liaisons, the municipal Office of Emergency Management and the township fire department.

A corrective action plan was adopted based on the findings contained in the municipality’s 2016 audit report. The audit found that the township’s fixed-asset accounting system is not being maintained in accordance with a technical accounting directive issued by the state.

Shamong to Use Medford Lakes’ Court Employees and Court Facilities

By Mark Hatoff

Chief Financial Officer Kristen Manning pledged in the plan that she would proceed with any and all measures needed to ensure that a fixed-asset ledger is being maintained for all 2017 additions and deletions, using the balances from the 2016 audit report.

Several parade-permit applicants who paid a $250 escrow fee in February 2015, December 2015, and January 2016 will have their money returned.

Parade permits are issued by the committee to any organizer of a motorcycle race, rally, tour, or similar function on any street, park or other public place which falls under township jurisdiction.

Cancellation of outside liens on two properties, one off County Route 542 and another off Smith Lane, was approved. A total of $1,367.70 was paid for the redemption of the tax-sale certificates.

The Green Bank Volunteer Ambulance Co. received authorization to solicit contributions on Route 542, near the intersection of Route 563 on Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All actions were approved unanimously.

Code Enforcement Officer William Ward asked the committee to consider regulating the use of PODS, or portable self-storage containers. He said a township resident is currently using one as a shed and has wired electricity to it without securing an electrical permit.

Lewis said an electrical permit is required “no matter what” and recommended that Ward issue a citation to the property owner.

Hoffman said some towns now regulate the use of PODS and shipping containers because they are not considered a ratable.

During public comment, resident Barbara Cavileer, who is also the chief of the Green Bank Volunteer Ambulance Co., complained about a large pothole near the River Road Clamhouse on River Road.

She also said that vegetation growing on a private property along the approach to the Lower Bank Bridge is obstructing the view of traffic and is overhanging the roadway.

Committeeman Barry Cavileer, Barbara’s husband, said it is “pretty bad.”

He also said he received permission from the property owner to have the municipality trim the vegetation back. He said the municipality will trim the vegetation, even though it is overhanging a county road.

Following an executive session which lasted for about 15 minutes, an ordinance to acquire the Green Bank School property was unanimously added to the agenda and introduced for first reading (as was previously reported in last week’s edition of the Pine Barrens Tribune).

“Ordinance 2017-06 authorizes acquisition of property at lot 15.01, block 16.01, also known as 2434 Route 563, from the Washington Township Board of Education within the Township of Washington for general municipal purposes,” Hoffman said.

Last week, after the article appeared, Hoffman posted an official legal notice asking residents to “please take notice that the township committee of the Township of Washington will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Washington Township Municipal Building, 2436 Route 563.” The legal notice says that formal action may be taken on the ordinance.

A resolution to extend the grace period for property taxes may also be discussed and acted upon.

PAGE 7

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—A shared-service agreement and dam repair update were the highlights of a Medford Lakes Borough council meeting on Aug. 10.

The execution of a shared-service agreement for court administrative employees and municipal court facilities with Shamong Township was approved through a resolution by a 4-0 vote. Councilman Dr. Gary Miller was absent from the meeting.

“The net result (of the agreement) is that Shamong will be using our judge, prosecutor, public defender, court staff and facility,” Mayor Thomas Cranston said.

Cranston and Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold said Shamong’s proceedings will be held on the same day as Medford Lakes’ proceedings.

“Shamong had been in a shared service with Southampton,” Heinold said. “But, it’s Shamong’s understanding that Southampton was talking about doing a shared court with Lumberton going forward. They haven’t had a court in Shamong for five or six years, so this is a good solution to their issue.”

Shamong Township, which had already approved the shared service-agreement with Medford Lakes, will pay an annual fee to the borough. The agreement is for three years.

“Shared services don’t always make sense, but this one does,” Cranston said. “It’s not a ton of money, but it’s a little bit of a revenue bump for us. It’s a win for Shamong and a win for us.”

During the reports portion of the meeting, Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton said that repairs to the Mishe-Mokwa Dam, located near

Beach 3 off of Hiawatha Trail, will be slightly delayed due to extra time needed to obtain parts.

“The sluice gate needs to be replaced,” he said. “It’s easier to do this when the water has been lowered. We’re also going to be putting an epoxy coating on the actual concrete, which will give us more life on the dam. We should be completing the work by Sept. 15, so there should be no disruption while school is in session.”

Burton said children sometimes use the bike path on Hiawatha Trail, near the dam, as a shortcut to get to Nokomis and Neeta schools.

In other borough news, Burton said a flashing light at Cochise Circle will be installed within the next week.

Cranston said during a communications report that citizen leadership forms have been collected for positions on the Medford Lakes Planning Board and the Medford Lakes Historic Commission.

He said that there were three openings on the planning board (one regular Class IV and two alternates). He added that there is one opening on the historic commission.

Council voted unanimously to approve Karen Schneider to replace Joe Dinoto on the planning board for an unexpired term. Cranston said Dinoto was an active and long-time member of the planning board, but that he recently passed away. This appointment filled one of the vacant positions.

“I had a discussion with Karen,” Cranston said. “She’s very excited and brings a new perspective.”

He said an appointment to the historic

COURT>>PAGE 20

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, August 19, 2017

SCANNER State Police Arrest Woman for Abandoning Child with Special Needs On Thursday, Aug. 3, a passing motorist spotted the boy in a wooded area near the visitor’s center at Joint Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst.

The motorist contacted military personnel, who brought the boy to the visitor’s center. He was given food and water, and then evaluated by military first responders who determined that he had minor, non-life-threatening injuries.

The boy told employees of the visitor’s center that his mother walked him into the woods with his luggage and left him there. He stated that he fell asleep and woke up hungry. The boy was able to provide his mother’s name and phone number to employees who then contacted Wisler.

Responding State Police detectives assumed custody of the boy. The state’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency was contacted and they were able to locate a temporary home for him.

PHOTO SUBMITTED On Friday, Aug. 4, Wisler spoke with State Debra Wisler, 39, of Millville, is charged with Police detectives who determined that when endangering the welfare of a child.

Wisler discovered that her son was not eligible for a child program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix, JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKE- she walked him to a nearby wooded area and HURST—New Jersey State Police have left him there with only his luggage.

Wisler was arrested and charged with arrested Debra Wisler, 39, of Millville, for allegedly abandoning her 10-year-old son who endangering the welfare of a child. She was released pending a court date. has special needs.

Medford Township’s National Night Out

PHOTO SUBMITTED Hundreds of people gathered for Medford Township’s National Night Out earlier this month.

Missing Teenager Found Unharmed TABERNACLE—A Tabernacle boy who disappeared last week has been found alive and well.

New Jersey State Police, along with other first responder agencies, launched a search for 14-year-old Jacob Adams after he was reported missing by his family on Aug. 10.

He was last seen riding a red bicycle in the area of Yates Lane before his

disappearance.

“Jacob was unharmed when we found him,” said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police. “Jacob was located in the area of Powell Road and Powell Place Road in Tabernacle around 10:40 p.m.

Friday night (Aug.11).”

Goez said the reason for his disappearance is still under investigation.

Police Investigate Nighttime Southampton Burglary SOUTHAMPTON—New Jersey State Police are searching for clues after a nighttime burglary last week in Southampton.

Police say a burglary was reported in the 600 block of Avenue D at 11:19 p.m. on Friday,

Aug. 11.

“No arrests have been made and this burglary remains under investigation,” said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Many children and parents enjoyed a K-9 demonstration led by a Medford Township Police Department officer.

Vehicle Thefts Reported in Hidden Acres TABERNACLE—Nighttime vehicle thefts in the Hidden Acres development, in Tabernacle Township, are being investigated by the New Jersey State Police.

Lt. Theodore Schafer, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, confirmed the active police investigation.

However, he would not provide additional details to the Pine Barrens Tribune, citing the

active investigation.

A relative of one of the victims posted still images in an online social media group from surveillance video taken on July 30 at around 3:39 a.m.

The relative said the two people in the pictures, who are seen entering into an SUV before walking away, are the thieves in action.

One of the individuals was wearing a backpack.

Large Tree Branch Falls on Vehicle in Shamong SHAMONG—A large tree branch fell on a Mazda CX-5 traveling through the intersection of Stokes and Burnt House Roads, on Aug. 13.

The incident happened at 3:36 p.m.

“The branch struck its windshield,” said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for

the New Jersey State Police. “There were no injuries.”

The branch also took down phone and power lines. Stokes Road was closed between Willow Grove and Burnt House Roads for four hours.

PHOTO SUBMITTED A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flew overhead and a rescue demonstration was given.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

OPINION

Letters submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, address and phone number of the writer. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, letters should be 150 words of less.

How to Send Items to the Editor: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com, put “Letter” in the subject line.

PAGE 9

Guest Commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune can be submitted by an appointed or elected official, political candidate, organization leader, or community leader. Guest commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, photo, address, affiliation, title, and phone number of the writer. Commentary may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, commentary should be about 450 words or less.

Editorial

Guest Commentary

Watch for Children and School Buses

Reverse Mortgages: A Word of Caution

In just a little more than two weeks from now, school will be back in session.

This newspaper received far too many reports, during this past school year, of motorists ignoring the flashing red lights of school buses. We also received several pictures of motorists tailgating buses as they traveled through area neighborhoods.

We urge motorists to use common sense.

Watch for children crossing the road, stop for school buses that are dropping off or picking up children and maintain a reasonable distance from the backside of a school bus.

Three notable school bus crashes occurred during this past school year. Interestingly, all

three crashes occurred on a Friday.

A school bus and a vehicle collided on Oct. 14, 2016 in Pemberton. The accident occurred at the intersection of Arney’s Mt. and North Pemberton Roads.

A car pulled out in front of a school bus on Junction Road in Pemberton and side-swiped it on Dec. 2, 2016.

A Volkswagon was proceeding southbound on Hartford Road in Medford and subsequently drifted into the northbound lane, into the path of the school bus, sideswiping it on Dec. 9, 2016.

In all three cases, thankfully, there were no serious injuries.

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Nine Pemberton Township Police Recruits Sworn In) Congratulations and I pray for the safety of all, and especially my former students!

Gayle Lederman Rubinstein (Re: Virtua Named One of the Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems for Fourth Consecutive Year) Virtua is indeed wired. The ER doctor who “saw” me for a sudden visual disturbance was online in another state. After doing $22,000 worth of tests, I was sent home with no result.

Probably, if someone, online or in person, had ever asked if I have had migraines, I would have been out of there in 5 minutes, not 5 hours. If I had no insurance, I’d be broke. So much for being wired.

Judy Kruger (Re: Tabernacle and Chatsworth United Methodist Churches Welcome New Pastor) Definitely exciting! It seems like he will bring a new vigor and fresh-faced ideas to both congregations.

Kristy Godfrey (Re: Pemberton Residents and Police Come Together for Promotion of Neighborhood Unity) It was a fun time and was well thought out and set up. Each year it gets better.

Wayne Grey (Re: Christie Administration Marks Groundbreaking of Senior Apartments in Whiting Built with Sandy Recovery Funds) If he really wants to help the seniors in our state, he should consider giving them bigger realestate tax breaks. So many seniors are being forced to sell their homes because they can’t afford to live here any longer.

Debbie Chromeck (Re: Christie Administration Marks Groundbreaking of Senior Apartments in Whiting Built with Sandy Recovery Funds) Meanwhile, thousands of houses still sit unrepaired at the shore...it is time to end federal flood insurance and FEMA. Its a scam!

Jack McGinnis (Re: Tabernacle Committee Mulls Creation of a Public Safety Department and Director) What politician gets this job?

Vince Neuroth (Re: Tabernacle Committee Mulls Creation of a Public Safety Department and Director) If it’s like Mt. Laurel Twp., the person chosen will be a retired cop who is already collecting a $4,000 monthly pension.

Terry Bush

Please comment on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Twitter: @PineBarrensNews with the hashtag #SoundOff or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinebarrenstribune.

By: Jill Schlesinger, Senior Business Analyst for CBS News As house prices have increased, many older Americans may be tempted to tap the equity in their homes with a reverse mortgage, which is a loan that allows homeowners 62 and older to convert a portion of the equity in their homes into cash.

Most reverse mortgages are home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs) offered through the Department Jill Schlesinger of Housing and Urban Development and are guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration.

In addition to the age requirement, to qualify for a loan you need to own your home outright or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at closing with proceeds from the reverse loan and you must live in the home. You also must be able to pay real estate taxes, utilities and hazard and flood insurance premiums.

The amount you can borrow depends on several factors, including the age of the youngest borrower, the current interest rate, the appraised value of your home and whether the rate is fixed or adjustable. The more valuable your home is, the older you are and the lower the interest rate, the more you can borrow. A reverse mortgage can help retirees convert an illiquid asset - a house - into a liquid one that can help supplement retirement income while allowing them to remain in the home.

When the home is sold or no longer used as a primary residence, the cash, interest and other HECM finance charges must be repaid.

All proceeds beyond the amount owed belong to your spouse or estate. This means any remaining equity can be transferred to heirs. No debt is passed along to the estate or heirs.

If all of this sounds too good to be true, it can be, according to reverse mortgage suitability and abuse expert Sandy Jolley. Jolley’s passion for the topic is personal: After her parents saw TV commercials for reverse mortgages, they contacted a reverse mortgage company. A salesman came to the house and sold them a reverse mortgage “that was totally unneeded,” Jolley says. At the time, her father was in the last month of his life with terminal cancer and her mother had Alzheimer’s disease, which prompted Jolley and her sister to litigate the matter.

“All of these commercials talk about features of the reverse mortgage, but don’t talk about whether or not it benefits the borrower,” Jolley says.

After losing the case, Jolley immersed herself in reverse mortgages, became an expert and now educates others through her website, ElderFinancialTerrorism.com. Like many other financial products, a reverse mortgage can be useful, but Jolley notes that the HUD certified counselor or financial salesperson’s role is to inform you of the process and various reverse mortgage programs available to you - and is “not permitted or qualified to give you any legal and/or financial advice to determine if a reverse mortgage is right or harmful for your circumstance. The lender has no responsibility or fiduciary duty to the borrower. You are responsible for determining if a reverse mortgage is right for you or will financially harm you over the long term.”

She also noted that while reverse mortgages are part of a federally insured program, “HUD is a big bureaucracy and does not have the structure or system in place to audit, regulate or enforce any consumer protections.”

Jolley advises those considering a reverse mortgage to incorporate it into a comprehensive financial plan. If you and your fiduciary adviser determine that a reverse mortgage meets your needs, go for it. Otherwise, skip it!

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016

Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO Pat Carney, Senior Graphic Artist Adam Tait III, Copy Editor Colleen Jordan, Copy Editor, Graphic Artist Vince DeBlasio, Copy Editor P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

E-Mail Story Ideas and Community Events: news@pinebarrenstribune.com

Events

August 18 Event: Spring Cleaning With Essential Oils Location: Evesham Details: Did you know chlorine bleach and ammonia can be irritating to your eyes, throat and lungs? Incorporating essential oils in your life is a defining moment in your quest for health and longevity. 7 p.m., Evesham Branch Library, 984 Tuckerton Road. Call 856-983-1444 to register.

Event: Pinelands Photography Exhibit Location: Millville Details: The Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts will feature the luminous Pinelands photography of Albert D. Horner. Titled “Mystery and Magic – New Jersey’s Pinelands,” the exhibit will showcase 27 of Horner’s intimate landscapes.

The show runs from August 18 through Sept. 10. The Center will host a reception on Friday, August 18, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a lecture and book signing by Horner at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 27. The Center for the Arts is located at 22 N. High Street, Millville, and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday. For information, call 856-327-4500.

August 19 Event: Astrophotography on the Beach Location: Bass River State Forest Details: Astrophotography on the Beach by Ben Wurst. Bring your camera equipment, insect repellent and flashlight from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Bass River State Forest, Lake Absegami Beach. For more information, call 609-296-1114.

August 26 Event: Pinelands Presentation Location: Bass River State Forest Details: Join us for a presentation by Ocean County historian, Timothy G. Hart, Esq., titled The Pinelands Jetport and Other Pinelands Dreams. 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a free event; donations are welcome. Bring a flashlight and something to sit

on. ADA accessible. Bass River State Forest, Lake Absegami Beach. For more information, call 609-296-1114.

Event: Undies Walk to Fight Cancer Location: New Gretna Details: Get your underwear decorated and kick butt to cancer!

Create a team with a unique name. Walk for yourself and for others. The Undies Walk will be held at the New Gretna Playground (across from the Elementary School), N. Maple Ave., New Gretna. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Vendor space is $100 (bring your own table, chair & tent). Bonnie 609-226-3203, Text only.

August 27 Event: Adult/Youth Bowling Tournament Location: Toms River Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Whiting will host a Summer Sizzler Adult/Youth Bowling Tournament on Sunday, August 27, at 10 a.m., at Playdrome Lanes, Toms River. The tournament is open to adults and junior bowlers. The entry fee is $36 per team or $18 per bowler. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call Playdrome Lanes 732349-5345; William Bodine III 732-814-6683; or St. Stephen’s 732-350-2121.

September 2 Event: St. Stephen’s Annual Fair Location: Whiting Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will hold its Annual Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items for sale run the gamut, from attic treasures to furniture! There will be delicious baked goods for purchase. Lunch and refreshments will also be available for purchase. For more information, call Stephanie at 732-3502904. St. Stephen’s will accept items after Aug. 19. 180 Route 539, Whiting (one mile south of Route 70).

September 11 Event: Volunteers Training for Reassurance Program Location: Moorestown

Details: CONTACT of Burlington County, a 24/7 Crisis Helpline, is seeking volunteers to make brief “care calls” to elderly and disabled clients of our Reassurance Program. Calls can be made from the volunteer’s home, to check on a client’s well-being and to provide friendly conversation. A 2-session training program will be held on Mondays, Sept. 11 & Sept. 18, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., focusing on listening and communication, crisis skills and community resources to address aging-related issues. For more information, contact Lisa Harkins at 856-234-5484 x 212, or lharkins@contactburlco.org.

September 16 Event: Country Fair Location: Whiting Details: The cooks are planning menus, bakers are baking, jewelers are asking for bling, and the silent auctioneers are keeping very quiet about their goodies. Christ Lutheran Church is hosting their Country Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting. For more information, call 732-350-0900.

September 17 Event: Glorigals Show Location: Whiting Details: The Glorigals will be at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, September 17, at 2 p.m. The dancers have created a wonderful show. Homemade refreshments will be served. Tickets may be purchased at the door – suggested donation is $5. 180 Route 539, Whiting (one mile south of Route 70). For more information, call Stephanie at 732-350-2904.

September 18 Event: Thyroid Support Group Location: Whiting Details: The Thyroid Support Group will meet at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting, NJ (one mile south of Route 70). Monthly meetings are held to support, educate and share information. For more information, call Stephanie 732-350-2904.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN Seniors Listen to Patriotic Musical Presentation

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Pemberton Township Seniors traveled to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse on Aug. 8 to see the musical “The Land We Love.”

This musical presentation featured a wide assortment of patriotic music. Eight participating cast members were all talented with powerful voices and excellent dancing skills. Each branch of service was featured and different vignettes highlighted various times in

our history.

The Statue of Liberty and her famous poem

by Emma Lazarus were part of the presentation with the powerful words, “Give me your tired, your poor.” There was a seven-piece band backing up the performance and the music was all familiar. There were many reminders of years gone by with skits about the USO and the many social events of those days gone by.

The performance was appreciated by the seniors as most have a military connection

and many present were veterans. The words to the songs could be heard around the room as seniors joined in singing familiar tunes.

The finale of “God Bless America” was joined in by all as the audience gave a standing ovation and cheered as the performance concluded. The day was perfect and all remarked about what a wonderful time was had by all.

The food was terrific, served by attentive wait staff and prepared with the finest ingredients.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

The best part was the dessert buffet, which took up several tables in the Garden Patio Room.

Each dessert was “bite-sized” so one could try several different ones without eating too much.

There was also a diabetic table with sugar-free choices and large red ripe strawberries.

There is a bake shop on the premises and many purchased cakes or special breads to take home to enjoy later. There is also a Fashion Boutique with many different choices in

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

SENIORS>>PAGE 14

Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 11

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SENIORS PAGE 10

fashion and accessories. Many of the ladies

enjoyed shopping for themselves or for gift and some seniors took brief walks outside to items. The selection is different from any local enjoy the sun and fresh air. stores and provides a chance to have something Marty Gravenstein, the driver, brought the unique. The playhouse grounds are beautiful group safely home for a 5 p.m. arrival, ending a

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

perfect day. The group will return to the playhouse three times in 2018. The schedule will be published in November.

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.

Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

What’s in Your Meatball?

Imagine a large white bowl where you toss in the ingredients to make meatballs. You expect them to be delicious and juicy if you put in the following ingredients right?

– Ground beef – Bread crumbs – An egg – Chopped onion – Parsley and garlic – Salt and pepper That is the basic recipe. You mash that together with your hands, forming meatballs and then simmer them in spaghetti sauce. Does it turn out tasty everytime? Perhaps in your kitchen it does.

Now let’s consider your health, and you are the meatball. I’ll show you the pharmaceutical equivalent of all these classic “ingredients” designed to get you healthy. Here it goes: – Ground beef = Sleeping pills – Bread crumbs = Antidepressants – An egg = Statin cholesterol drugs – Chopped onion = Pain killers – Parsley and garlic = Acid reducers – Salt and pepper = Blood sugar pills What’s in your meatball?

The average “meatball recipe” consists of 13 medications per day. Does this recipe sound good? Many of you have agreed to it, whether or not it resonates with your personal-health convictions. Do you feel foolish for wanting to use natural remedies? Do you worry that herbal extracts and vitamins are not approved by the FDA? There are many reasons you have become this meatball. Probably because 80 drug ads are aired every hour of every day, on American TV. One out of every three people ask their doctor

about drug commercials seen on TV. My recipe above is slim, when you consider that the average person takes 13 medications per day.

It’s not always due to careless prescribing practitioners. No fingers are being pointed here. In fact, many innocent mistakes happen because your medication list is not complete, or current at each doctor’s office. Regardless, the mistakes affect you and only you.

Mistakes are dangerous. Because we, as a nation, are so heavily medicated, I am confident this meatball recipe needs revisions. It needs a complete make-over immediately! Everyone’s so worried about heroin and other illicit drugs, but do you realize that there are 10 times more deaths per year from properly-administered prescription medications?

Some people experience a sudden adverse reaction and get rushed to the emergency room.

106,000 people never get to go back home to finish what they were doing. You take it for granted that your pills are safe, don’t you?

Prescriptions are handed to you super fast.

Picture money shooting out of an ATM … super fast like that.

The intention of my blog is to force you to face reality and think about your future. I’m very aware as a pharmacist for almost 30 years, that some meds are necessary, but some are not.

It’s my responsibility to make sure you understand there’s a risk to taking every pill you take, just like a potential advantage. Your risk is understated at the time the prescription is placed in your hand. Your true risk may not even come to your awareness until it is too late.

Make sure your meatball recipe is right for you.

This information is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose your condition.

For more information, please visit www.SuzyCohen.com. © 2017 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

Are Your Child’s Vaccines Up To Date?

They Should Be.

By Sue Hubbard, M.D. August is here and that means back to school across the country. When I think of kids heading back to school, I also think about their immunization history. I want to make sure that everyone is up-to-date on their vaccines, because what better place to be exposed to disease and germs than in a school full of children?

Vaccines continue to save lives, and vaccines are one of the greatest medical achievements in history. But, despite the continued data on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, there are those who prefer to “ignore” the data and either “decline to vaccinate” their children or want an “alternative vaccine schedule.”

I was recently a guest on a Facebook Live segment discussing back-to-school vaccines, and I was amazed at some of the comments that were posted after the segment. It seems that there are many people who are reading “fake news” to make decisions about vaccines and their children.

There are also those who will continue to believe discredited physicians who wrote “fake” articles that have been retracted. A “former doctor” has caused so much parental anxiety that I find myself discussing the safety

of the MMR vaccine on a regular basis. I am always ready to discuss vaccines, particularly their safety and efficacy with my patients. I also rely on science and data; not anecdote to make a point.

Vaccine-preventable diseases are just that: preventable, but not eradicated. This means that although the latest generation of parents may have never had the disease or even seen the disease, these diseases are still present.

Measles, meningitis, polio and mumps are still circulating around the world and may “drop in” to visit our country at any time. This is evident in the recent measles outbreak in an unvaccinated population in Wisconsin, and, prior to that, a measles outbreak in California several years ago. We currently have mumps in Texas and are on the lookout for more cases.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) publishes the immunization schedules based on a plethora of science and input by some of the smartest minds in immunology, microbiology, infectious disease and medicine. The vaccines that are recommended are given in a certain order and at certain intervals because they

VACCINES>>PAGE 19

Dr. Sue Hubbard is an award-winning pediatrician, medical editor and media host. “The Kid’s Doctor” TV feature can be seen on more than 90 stations across the U.S. Submit questions at http://www.kidsdr.com. The Kid’s Doctor e-book, “Tattoos to Texting: Parenting Today’s Teen,” is now available from Amazon and other e-book vendors.

We’ve Moved 3 Doors Down!

Saturday, August 19, 2017

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PAGE 17

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

FUN AND GAMES Are We There Yet?

By Lori Clinch

Lori Clinch was born and raised in North Platte, Nebraska, a hotbed of material for writers whose passion it is to make people laugh. Lori Clinch is the mother of four sons and the author of the book “Are We There Yet?”

It was a ‘Clean Dream’... Momentarily Although I thoroughly enjoy a clean house, sometimes it just isn’t worth the hassle.

This is especially true when all four of our sons are home. There’s the extra laundry, messes and for the love of sanity, must we leave all of the laptops strewn about? It also poses the age-old question: just how many phone chargers are too many?

Knowing that their visit will pass all too quickly, and that I will soon be a blubbering idiot as they prepare to depart, I let their over-sized shoes, slovenliness and messy clutter slide.

In fact, I was standing in the kitchen just the other day and biting my tongue with regards to the poor attempt that one of them put forth in cleaning up his scrambled-egg mess, when my cell phone rang.

Imagine my surprise to learn that not only was my good friend, Imogene Clean, in town, but by golly, she had some extra time on her hands and would love to stop by.

Talk about a unique blending of emotional bliss combined with a blow to the proverbial gut.

Only my younger two sons were lucky enough to be home at the time and I quickly summoned them from the basement. “Boys!”

I called out in a panic, “Imogene is coming!

Quick, we haven’t much time! Grab the shoes, make the beds and for the love of all that is sane, someone gather up the basketballs!”

This summons set off a series of questions that included, but wasn’t limited to, “Who in the heck is Imogene Clean?” But we hadn’t the time for explanations. Floors needed sweeping, a wall needed wiping down and then there was still the scrambled-egg mess to contend with.

I must say, I never saw those kids work so fast. They delegated their own tasks, and moved through the house like a sanitation crew and soon had the whole place shipshape with minutes to spare.

After Imogene’s departure, I looked around the house with gratitude. Thanks to Imogene’s visit, dishes were done, laundry was put away and we could enjoy the couch in all of its uncluttered splendor.

Although they wondered if Imogene was a paid actress that I hired to light a fire under them, I’m sure that my younger sons appreciated how the art niches looked when they weren’t full of dirty socks.

I walked through the house and smiled to myself. I had forgotten that the kitchen counter was so pretty. I pondered snapping a photo of my coffee table and uploading it to Pinterest. I even contemplated calling the neighbors over to share in the moment and appreciate the phenomenon.

And I should have. For one second I was living the clean dream, and the next Vernon, our eldest and wise-cracking son, walked in the door.

Following a hearty greeting, I gave him a lecture regarding keeping the house tidy. “Wash your toothpaste down the sink, put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher and let’s give some serious thought to keeping the foyer debris-free!”

“That sounds good, Mother,” Vernon said.

Then he dropped his gym bag, stepped out of his shoes and made his way to the refrigerator to make a sandwich.

I dearly love that husband of mine, but when he walked in and tossed a massive pile of mail onto the coffee table and dropped his oversized lunch pail on the kitchen counter, he received less than a heart-felt welcome. I’ll give you that.

Just then, our Huey walked in, dropped his jacket, kicked his shoes off on top of Vernon’s and tossed his hat into the art niche.

I had a decision to make. I could bark out orders, stomp my foot and perhaps spin my head on its axis in a fashion reminiscent of a possessed woman—or I could give up the ship.

Unaware of my inner struggle, Vernon suddenly commented on how nice it was to be home as Huey gave me a big hug and I heard a round of laughter come from the family room where Lawrence and Charlie were tossing their basketball through a make-shift hoop.

For the sake of everyone’s mental health, I decided to let it go.

They will all be leaving soon, and my heart aches at the thought of it. Still, I think I’ll fake a phone call from Imogene the day before their departure.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D

P U Z Z L E

Across 1 Word with time or money 5 Greek cross 8 Cameo shape 12 It may be straight 14 Ostracize 15 Spy follower?

16 Expenditure 17 Home to Mykonos and Milos 19 Concocts 21 Broad panoramas 22 Anatomical pouch 23 Sanctioned 25 __ lab 26 Condensed, for short: Abbr.

27 Schooner part 31 Woman undercover 35 __ String 36 Vessels on carts 37 Tennis lob strategy 39 Made a bad call, say 40 Park that opened in April 1965 42 Unkempt dos 43 Christian denom.

44 Guatemala gold 45 Election check 47 Simile center 50 Improvises 54 Like the water in a Simon &

Garfunkel song 56 Laundry challenge 58 New home subcontractor 59 De Tocqueville thought 60 Lummoxes 61 Online jotting 62 With 63- and 64-Across, meeting place suggested both literally and graphically by this puzzle’s circled letters 63 See 62-Across 64 See 62-Across

20 Approach to a subject 24 “Father Knows Best” actress Jane 25 Figures (out) 27 Perform improperly 28 Iams competitor 29 Svelte 30 River to the North Sea 31 Agenda bullet 32 300-pound Wolfe 33 Trivial objection 34 Half-brother of Ishmael 35 GMC Terrain, for one Down 38 Maine college town 1 Nudges 41 Pandora alternative 2 Actress Dern 43 Impart 3 Ancient Texcoco native 45 NFL ball carriers 4 __ mat 46 Footed vases 5 Popular reading in New York 47 Deal out and Washington 48 Handle 6 National Mustard Day mo.

49 Seller of TV time 7 Like some parallel bars 50 “Yeah, right!”

8 Has 51 Extinct bird 9 Immense 52 Stead 10 Rest __ 53 Actor Robert of “The Sopra11 Grazing sites nos” 13 Neptune or Mars 55 Recycling containers 14 “Better Call __” 57 TourBook-issuing org.

18 Pitch in

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

MARKETPLACE Submit a Classified! E-mail sales@pinebarrenstribune.com to receive a form and pricing.

AUTOMOBILES/TRUCKS We buy ALL used cars, vans and trucks. Any make. Any model. Any condition. Any year. We also specialize in buying classic Porsche, Mercedes and Jaguar, running or not. Dead or alive. Call 609-598-3622.

AUTO PARTS & SVCS. SCRATCH AND DENT REPAIR BY AUTO BODY STORE. First class auto body repairs and painting. Cars, trucks, trailers, or tractors. FREE estimate visits in LeisureTowne. 609-859-3670.

AWNINGS ATLANTIC AWNINGS. Professional Installations. Residential/Commercial.

Retractable Awnings, Window Awnings, Retractable and Stationary Canopies, Recovers, Repairs, Rehangs, Take Downs, Washings. Fully insured.

FREE ESTIMATES. 609-618-2420.

Lic. #13VH06758700. atlanticawningscompany.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

HELP WANTED

Janitorial subcontractors wanted to service commerical accounts in Burlington, Mercer and Ocean counties. Must be insured. Please Call 800-227-9069.

As a Technician/Mechanic, you will provide accurate and efficient services to customers by troubleshooting, diagnosing, and repairing heavy duty semi-truck trailers in a safe, reasonable and responsible manner. You will be required to have a “whatever needs to be done” work ethic and attitude, be mechanically inclined, and a team player with neat, clean appearance. You should be self-motivated, dependable and work well with others. Qualified candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED, and pass a background check and drug screening. A valid driver’s license is required.

401k - Benefits and paid training. Please apply online at www.mypetrojob.com

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Medford area seniors offer a regular schedule of events running Monday through Friday. Included are bridge, pinochle, knitting, investing, writing, painting, genealogy, yoga, healthy bones and more. Go to Medfordtownship.com for more information or visit us at Cranberry Hall behind the municipal building at 17 N. Main St.

GARAGE/YARD SALE Multi-Family Yard Sale. 611 Birmingham Road, Southampton. August 19, 8 a.m.

- 1 p.m. A little bit of everything, including tools.

GENERAL MERCHANDISING Chairs, six burgundy leather swivel for office or home. Good condition, $20 each.

Will sell seperate. Must sell. 609-8010054.

Area claims writer. No experience.

PT/FT flex. hours. NJ/PA. Call or text 609-548-3108. Target income. $30k/$80k.

Brotherton Indian Tribal Offices Brotherton Indian Reservation, Tribal Lands Office of the Chief Brotherton Indian Reservation Indian Mills, New Jersey 08088 Attention Dr. Sam Beeler, Chief 973-222-1920 973-432-8894 Wanted! Experienced florist. Full-time position. 609-267-8708.

Lawn Maintenance. Full-time. General mowing/weeding. Maintain common areas in 55 plus community. Must have valid NJ drivers licence. Call 609-893-3388.

Short order cook. Part-time experience Friday 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday 6 a.m. -

5 p.m. Medford area, good pay. Call 609315-2465.

Great storytellers with sound news judgment sought. Strong interpersonal, writing, and AP-style skills a must! Call 609-801-2392. Must be available during the evening hours.

Newspaper Delivery Driver Needed. Dependable person who can work during the daytime on Fridays. Pay is excellent. Call 609-801-2392.

MISCELLANEOUS Cash paid for Selmer Saxophones and other vintage models. Email lenny3619@ gmail.com or call 609-581-8290.

Cash paid for World War II militaria.

Swords, bayonets, helmets and other related items. Email lenny3619@gmail. com or call 609-581-8290.

Seniors! Let Me Help You Organize.

Filing, household accounts, medical records, writing checks, general office work, good verbal and interpersonal skills.

Please call Ellen at 732-716-1017 or leave a message. $10 an hour. References are available.

Extra

Saturday, August 19, 2017

COORDINATOR PAGE 1

PHOTO SUBMITTED Thomas Skleros has resigned as Woodland Township’s emergency management coordinator. later when Getz questioned why DeGroff’s wife, Debbie, was allowed to serve as the secretary of the planning board despite the fact that her husband is a township committeeman.

Burns later recommended that Debbie DeGroff resign as the secretary of the planning board. William DeGroff promised his wife would resign immediately. She did, but only verbally, according to the township.

William DeGroff, at that same meeting, revealed that Tom Skleros asked his wife to be the deputy emergency management coordinator, but the decision to establish a salary for her had been tabled by the committee due to the nepotism policy.

Up until his resignation, Tom Skleros was working to overhaul the township’s Office of Emergency Management.

He said just a little more than a month ago that there is a lot of work to do to get the municipal Office of Emergency Management up to snuff.

The state has required since 1986 that every municipality and county form a 15-member Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) consisting of stakeholder groups and organizations.

“I have yet to find any documentation that we have one,” Tom Skleros said. “I’d like to reach out to residents and businesses, etc. to review planning.”

He also discussed the need to establish a municipal Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management.

Tom Skleros said there are three setup tiers a municipality can have for their EOC, two of which are viewed as acceptable.

REDEVELOPMENT PAGE 4

The legislation, enacted in December 2010, was imposed to “control increasing salary costs and provide a solution to assist local governments in keeping property taxes down and cost under control,” according to the township resolution document.

This included the 2 percent cap alongside the permanent 2 percent property tax levy for municipalities and school boards. After being extended in June 2014, the cap is now set to expire on Dec. 31.

“I think it’s important for our employees to

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The first is a hot setup where the municipality has a room already set up with adequate and appropriate equipment to respond to a crisis.

The second is a warm setup where the municipality has a room designated to respond to a crisis, but the needed equipment is stored elsewhere as the room has other uses.

The third is a cold setup where the municipality may or may not have a room designated to respond to a crisis and doesn’t have any equipment to setup.

“It is where you have nothing set up,” Tom Skleros said. “That is what we have right now and I am not comfortable with that at all as the summer season is upon us.”

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, a special meeting of the township committee was called to order at 12 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Tom Skleros, in his resignation letter, made a recommendation for an interim replacement.

However, the recommendation was redacted by Township Clerk Maryalice Brown.

“I intend to provide a thorough turnover to whomever is named successor and suggest naming current Deputy (redacted) as ‘acting’ until a permanent replacement can be named,” Skleros said.

His selection for a new deputy, to replace his wife, had never been announced publicly.

Brown, when asked why she redacted the name of the public official Skleros recommended, said “it was just a suggestion and not the actual appointment.”

Under state law, the municipal emergency management coordinator is to be designated by the mayor of a municipality.

Henrich chose Justin Wozniak to replace Tom Skleros.

A resolution authorizing a salary for Wozniak was then approved by Henrich and DeGroff.

Brown said Committeeman Mark Herndon was absent due to a planned trip to Disney World.

Following the approval of the resolution, Henrich asked Wozniak about who he would like to choose as his deputy emergency management coordinator.

Under state law, each emergency management coordinator shall appoint one and may appoint more than one deputy emergency management coordinators with the approval of the mayor. Wherever possible, such deputies shall be appointed from among the salaried officers of the municipality.

Wozniak chose Tom Toth.

A resolution authorizing a salary for Toth was also approved by Henrich and DeGroff.

“Justin Wozniak and Tom Toth were appointed during Tuesday’s special meeting to OEM coordinator and deputy coordinator (respectively),” said Henrich in a later statement. “Both are long-term residents with fire and EMS backgrounds. I am confident they will do an excellent job for our community.”

A special meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Aug. 23 to discuss the Office of Emergency Management. A regular meeting of the township committee follows at 7 p.m. know this is important to them as well; this is about maintaining the fiscal integrity of the state of New Jersey,” Buoni said. “We’re not the easiest negotiators at times, but all of this is being done as a way of protecting our current employees to make sure that they remain employees.”

The final resolution rescinded approval of a 2017-18 liquor license renewal for TateSomerset Restaurant LLC. After closing the public portion of the meeting, council went into executive session to discuss litigation matters related to the Burlington County Library and redevelopment.

FAREWELL PAGE 1

president of the Bass River Education Association also spoke highly of Mathis.

“It is a bittersweet conclusion,” he said. “It is great for him and his family. Larry has been the leader of our family for as long as I have been here, so it is really sad to see him go. But, we are excited to be under new leadership as well.”

Dr. Detlef Kern has been selected as an interim replacement for Mathis through June 30, 2018 at a per diem rate of $500. Mathis said he has had a lot of positive dealings with Kern and has got to know him well.

“I leave feeling comfortable, knowing that there will be a smooth transition and we have someone who is going to come in and fill the shoes of superintendent who is more than capable,” Mathis said. “You are hiring somebody nicer than me, smarter than me, and we have to debate whether he is better looking than me or not.”

Mathis recalled how he and Kern sat through roundtable meetings and collaborated during snowstorms to decide on whether or not to cancel classes.

“I taught both of his children,” he said. “I

DRONE PAGE 6

as the township’s deputy clerk, was appointed to an unpaid post as a class IV member of the Shamong Township Joint Land Use Board. Her term will last through 2019.

An ordinance passed on second reading bars the reopening of street surfaces for five years after repaving, unless in case of emergencies.

Several area towns have taken similar action in recent years, citing both inconvenience and the high cost of repairs.

An ordinance was introduced and faces future action. It would govern special events and require organizers to submit a basic security plan to the township for review.

The introduction of the measure was tabled last month so that the committee and officials could work on the language. The committee

PAGE 19

worked together with him at Pinelands. When I became the superintendent here, he was the superintendent at Pinelands. He and I have a good relationship.”

Kern is already facing his first challenge as interim superintendent.

After his appointment, Business Administrator and Board Secretary Steve Brennan announced that the district’s state aid was reduced by $17,734. The reduction was unanticipated.

“We are seeing a $17,734 decrease in state aid,” he said. “Just to explain, we already budgeted our expenses based on what they told us they were going to give us in March. Then they changed the game and ripped the rug out from under us.”

Brennan said the board can use surplus monies or decrease expenditures; but also must anticipate additional reductions next year.

“We have such a small budget, it is going to be hard to pick where we pull $17,734 out of,” he said. “Let’s use fund balance or surplus.”

Board member Ruffo said $17,734 doesn’t sound like an enormous amount of money, but for a small school like Bass River Elementary, it is an enormous amount. wanted to make sure that the measure would not become a burden for people by being too fine with the details.

Township Administrator and Clerk Susan Onorato said the committee has tentatively decided to require a submission of a security plan for any public event that is expected to draw a gathering of 250 or more people.

She stressed that private gatherings, such as backyard weddings, would be excluded.

Onorato said a security plan would be used in case “anything goes wrong.”

All actions at the meeting passed by a 4-0 vote. Committeeman Sean Gray was absent.

The township committee went into an executive session. The session involved attorney-client privilege material, possible land acquisition and contract negotiations.

The meeting, which drew only one member of the public, adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

SENECA PAGE 6

scholars—a community that represents our very best hope for the future.”

NSHSS President James W. Lewis said the organization is proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development.

“We aim to help students like James build on their academic success by connecting them with unique learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers,” Lewis said.

NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. At each step along the way, from

VACCINES PAGE 16

have been well studied to show that this is how the vaccines “work” and protect. It is not arbitrary as some parents seem to think and want to do a “cafeteria plan” of vaccines when they “want” to give them.

That makes no sense.

How do you know that your “plan” actually protects your child? In my own experience, this also leads to a lot of confusion in what has or has not been given and, in some cases, missed vaccines due to the wrong intervals between vaccines or age limits for vaccines.

high school to college to career, NSHSS connects outstanding young scholarswith the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions.

Formed in 2002 by Lewis and Nobel, the National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving millennials through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks.

Currently there are more than 1,000,000 Society members in 160 countries. For more information about NSHSS visit www.nshss.org.

Lastly, when parents “choose” not to vaccinate their children, they are not only putting their own children, at risk (they tell me it is a personal choice), but they are also putting others around them at risk of getting sick from a vaccine-preventable disease. Does that seem fair? Should we all immunize our own children so that their unvaccinated children are protected? The word “selfish” comes to mind, as I am now immunizing my own grandchildren and don’t want them “hanging out” with unimmunized children.

I am happy to point anyone to online science and websites with reliable information on vaccines. Just let me know.

PAGE 20

FEUD PAGE 6

Resident Bill Thames, angered over the fact that the township had to spend more than $4,000 to provide public records to the festival committee, delivered sarcastic remarks aimed at Valentino.

“I don’t know what that was all about—she calls herself a lawyer,” he said. “All I heard was the mayor say the Cranberry Festival Committee’s OPRA request cost our township $4,000—to fight whatever kind of information she tried to get. That is all I heard.”

In other news related to the ongoing political feud, a decision to fill a vacancy on the township’s Planning Board may be made as early as Aug. 23.

Residents Louis Cantafio and Thomas Getz submitted letters of interest and the two submissions are reflective of the current political climate in Woodland Township. The two men exchanged words with each other during a June township committee meeting.

Cantafio ran unsuccessfully in last year’s Nov. 8 General Election as a write-in candidate against Henrich. He has sided with the festival committee, Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company and Viscardi.

Getz, who had the backing of Henrich, unsuccessfully challenged Committeeman William DeGroff this past May in a Republican primary. DeGroff, who has also sided with the festival committee, Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company and Viscardi, narrowly defeated Getz by four votes.

Getz has said the festival committee should be charged for permits and taxpayers should never have been put in a position to fund roofing repairs for the firehouses.

In other township action, numerous resolutions received unanimous approval.

Of those that passed, several dealt with flawed tax records.

One canceled 11 erroneously-issued municipal-held certificates of sale issued on July 31, 2013. As part of the cancellation, the township must forward a $200 payment to Burlington County. Another recorded six tax sale certificates which were not recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008. As part of the recording, the township must forward a $48 payment to Burlington County.

A third recognized that taxes totaling $3.33 were erroneously adjusted off a piece of a property in 2012 and 2013 and reinstated the taxes.

Brown, when asked after the meeting about the number of erroneous items, referred this newspaper to court records which involve former township tax collector Stephanie Ettinger and said it is “a matter of public record.”

According to court records, Ettinger was charged with stealing almost $5,700 in property tax payments she received. She also was charged with failing to deposit more than $260,000 that she collected. The thefts occurred between May and October of 2012.

“Stephanie Ettinger entered a plea of guilty to Indictment 14-11-01200-A on Nov. 7, 2014 to a 3rd degree charge of theft by unlawful taking of movable property contrary to NJSA 2C:20-3A,” said Burlington County Trial Court Administrator Jude Del Preore. “On Jan. 16, 2015, she was sentenced to special Drug Court Probation for a period of five years.”

Del Preore said Ettinger was ordered to pay $12,509.53 in restitution to Woodland Township and $155 in fines and fees.

Of the other resolutions that were passed, one awarded $9,550 to Porretta Builders for

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concrete work at the township’s new recreational fields and field house. The work is necessary for the township to complete Phase III of the construction project.

Porretta Builders will supply and install a 6” concrete pad with welded wire fabric inside the field house. The work provided for the $9,550 includes minor grading inside the building to prep the pad, but does not include testing of the concrete, which is needed.

A pair of resolutions certified the township’s 2016 audit and approved a corrective action plan based on the findings. The audit found that the township’s computerized lien register is not being correctly maintained. The balance due on the current register is also overstated.

“The deputy tax collector continues to work on a project to help reduce the township’s lien debt,” said Chief Financial Officer Kathleen S. Rosmando. “The project is to notify property owners adjacent to the various township liens to see if they would be interested in lien assignments. Hopefully, this will help to increase our tax collection.

“Additionally, the deputy tax collector is working to convert all lien balances over from previously used software to the Edmunds software currently used by the tax office so that going forward the register will be correctly maintained. This continues to be a cumbersome project, but progress is being made.”

The final resolution passed by the committee approved an addendum to an agreement for energy supply services with TriEagle Energy.

“They have gotten a better rate, so we have to re-agree to the agreement,” Brown said.

Township Solicitor William Burns said the addendum will only affect the people who didn’t opt out of the energy aggregation program last year. It also requires a notice be provided by the consultant which gives people who didn’t opt out, an opportunity to do so now.

Brown announced that the county is delayed in providing the county tax rates to municipalities. Therefore, she requested and was granted an authorization to extend the mailing of tax bills.

“But it is very important to note—let’s say the extension was until Sept. 30 and you wait until Oct. 1—your interest goes back to the state-mandated due date of Aug. 1,” Brown said. “So, don’t be late.”

Brown read from a written report authored

by Viscardi. As of July 28, the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. had 111 more calls than last year. There were 39 calls in July; nine fire calls and 30 EMS calls. There have been more than 300 calls this year.

Additionally, Viscardi reported that a tender truck is out of service due to a crack in the tank and he is pursuing estimates for a repair.

DeGroff said the township received a $5,000 Community Wildfire Protection Plan grant. The township has six months to decide what to put the money towards.

He said the township committee is in agreement to put the money towards creating a fire break on White Horse Road. A section of the road, which runs from Panama Road to Route 563, is unpaved and has grown in with vegetation.

“That is the best thing to use that money for and open that road because that is an important fire break with all the homes on Panama Road,” DeGroff said. “I know the mayor has taken a ride in a helicopter and looked at it.”

Henrich said a local New Jersey Forest Fire Service official told him that the area, due to the lack of a sufficient fire break, is “the worst place in town.”

DeGroff said they are waiting for Pinelands

Commission approval to remove the trees.

Several people spoke during the meeting; mostly about public safety matters.

Tabernacle resident Bobbi Lyons urged parents to keep an eye on their children. She provided a detailed account of how teenagers, on ATVs or quads, were riding recklessly on the Chatsworth United Methodist Church grounds during worship services.

“There are elderly people who come out of the church,” she said. “The teens weren’t even looking. They weren’t aware of who was there.

I would like to say to anyone who has a child, who uses four wheelers, please do not use the church. It is private property. It is not a parking lot. It is not a race track. There is a liability involved in it.”

Resident Ken Bowker expressed frustration that deteriorating concrete sidewalks and steps outside the municipal building were not yet fixed.

“Two meetings ago, I asked for it to be fixed and then two meetings before that I asked for it to be fixed,” he said. “Five or six months have gone by and it is still crumbling to pieces out there.”

Bowker, after the meeting, showed this newspaper how a rug was placed on the sidewalk and covered up the crumbling sidewalk. Upon lifting the rug, several potholes in the sidewalk and pieces of separated concrete were revealed. Bowker said he felt the rug had been meticulously “fixed” to hide the disrepair.

“We are getting quotes,” Brown said.

Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon said the repairs are in the process of being done and the job has just been awarded.

Bowker also expressed dissatisfaction with township officials allowing a resident to park a Davey Tree truck, used for work purposes, in the municipal parking lot.

“The second thing I wanted to know is when did the township go into the private business of letting commercial vehicles park on their

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commission has been temporarily postponed.

He said council has not yet had an opportunity to review applications that were submitted for the vacancy.

An ordinance passed on second reading authorized the acquisition of a new police vehicle at $38,000, appropriating the sum of $40,000. Council made the decision to purchase the new vehicle to replace an old vehicle requiring expensive repairs.

Burton was appointed to be the municipality’s temporary chief financial officer, taking the place of Donna Condo, who moved on after 12 years in the position.

Burton’s term will be from Aug. 2 to Aug. 1, 2018. The position will require 10-12 work hours per week.

A refund of $50 was issued to the New Jersey Center for Tourette’s Syndrome and Associated Disorders for a special event application, as the event was canceled.

A contract was amended for work on the municipal building’s HVAC system. The amendment increased the contract sum by $1,800 to $56,886.

A resolution passed approving another refund, in the form of a check payment, to the Canoe Kids on the Block Float group. The group had a fundraiser with Chipotle Mexican Grill and raised $297.30, which was sent to the borough by mistake.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

property overnight,” he said. “It is a sight nuisance. Anything that is a sight nuisance draws kids to that.”

Henrich tried to interrupt Bowker, but he kept on talking.

“You were a kid once—you know,” Bowker said. “You know what you were used to doing as a kid—you saw something like that and you played on it. If you get hurt on it, who gets sued? The township does and that company, which is Davey Tree Company.”

Henrich said the person who operates the truck used to park it along Route 563. He then referred to an April 22 accident along the county highway. Steven Boden, 31, of Chatsworth was driving a Suzuki GSXR 600 motorcycle in the southbound lanes of the roadway when he entered the road’s right shoulder at around 10:30 p.m. and struck a parked Ford F-350. Boden was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I said ‘Don’t leave your truck there,’” Henrich said. “Enough is enough. Somebody got killed. I couldn’t believe the vehicle was parked there for the next week. I told him to go down to the gun club folks and see if he can park it there. He did. Then I started seeing it here at the township building.

“You make a good point, but I don’t want him on the darn road. I can tell you that much.

I would rather it be down at the gun club or somewhere else. But you have a very good point—we should move it off the township property. I’ll take care of it.”

The meeting ended with Rev. Kyle Cuperwich, who was recently appointed as the new pastor of Tabernacle and Chatsworth United Methodist churches, introducing himself to the committee and residents.

“Residents encouraged me to come to the meeting and hear what is happening in the town and there appears to be quite a bit happening,” he said. “I just wanted to introduce myself and look forward to meeting everyone.”

The disposal of surplus and found property consisting of two power washers, a shop crane, soil tiller, plate compactor, demo saw, gasoline air compressor and six air conditioner units was approved. The items will be sold through www. govdeals.com.

All action taken during the meeting were unanimous.

An executive session was held before the public meeting to discuss matters involving employment. There was no action taken.

Late in the meeting, congratulations were offered to Councilman Bill Fields, who captained his On the Rocks (OTR) team to victory in the borough’s 86th Annual Canoe Carnival on Aug. 5.

“We did a covered wagon (theme) with cactuses, a coyote howling at the moon and a vulture on the wagon that actually flapped its wings,” Fields said. “We played the song, ‘Rock Me Mama,’ by Darius Rucker and the wagon actually rocked as well.”

He said this was OTR’s 20th anniversary and that although they have won a few times previously, it was his first personal victory.

A trophy was presented to the winning team that has all the previous winners listed with their years in the carnival’s history, except for four years during World War II when the event was suspended. There were 22 entries this year, which was the most since the 1980s.

“It was a good year as far as the competition,” Fields said. “There were a lot of great floats this year.”

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm and Food File

By Alan Guebert

Alan Guebert is an award-winning agriculture columnist who was raised on a 720-acre, 100-cow southern Illinois dairy farm.

Let Me Translate No one you know says “grain” when they mean “soybeans” or “John Deere” when they mean “tractor.”

Of course, you might get away with these vague and misleading substitutes when talking to the non-farming public because most people don’t know soybeans are an oilseed, not a grain, and that Deere & Co. makes a lot more than just tractors.

Intentionally doing so, however, is neither vague nor misleading. Intention makes it lying, and lie is what your U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) now recommends some of its employees do when discussing climate change and its impact on U.S. farm and food production.

According to more than 60 pages of internal memos published Aug. 7 by the British newspaper The Guardian, USDA, the government agency most responsible for the science and safety of U.S. food served both here and abroad, would like some staff members to refer to “climate change” as “weather extremes” and “climate change adaption” as “resilience to weather extremes.”

These less-than-subtle suggestions—there were more—sound harmless or even hair-splitting to a casual consumer. To scientists, however, they are loaded with ambiguity and political misdirection meant to point to something other than clear, honest facts.

Interestingly, The Guardian story appeared the same day The New York Times published a not-yet-public draft report from 13 U.S. government agencies on climate change (not “weather extremes”) that stated without equivocation, “Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the ocean.”

The Times story all but put a spotlight on the USDA effort to downplay and mislead the public about climate change and its impact on American agriculture.

Perhaps acknowledging how foolish USDA looked by doing so, Tim Murtaugh, a USDA “spokesman,” told Politico that “there has never been a directive… regarding the term ‘climate change’ and that it was unclear why career officials behind the memos had raised the issue to staff.”

What may have been “unclear” to Murtaugh appears quite clear to others who had their eyes open to facts and not blinkered by petty politics.

For example, here’s how Politico explained what it saw in their daily “Morning Agriculture” report Aug. 8, the day after the USDA story broke: “President Donald Trump has long questioned the existence of climate change, once calling it a ‘hoax’ perpetuated by the Chinese…”

The Trump White House, Politico added, also “pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal and changed climate-change-related webpages for EPA and other government agencies to reflect its skepticism about the science.”

Those actions might not constitute a clear “directive” from the White House on climate change but they clearly show which way the wind blows in the Oval Office.

There’s another unmistakable link between the Trump Administration’s view that climate change is a “hoax” and USDA’s misleading terms in discussing it with the public: Sam Clovis, Trump’s nominee to be USDA undersecretary of research, education and economics.

Clovis, you may recall, labels “climate change ‘junk science’ and ‘not proven,’” according to the San Jose (CA) Mercury News.

He also has spent most of the Administration’s first 200 days at USDA as “Trump’s top political operative” there, reports veteran ag journalist Chuck Abbott.

Whether that’s a complete coincidence or not, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was feeling enough heat over all the steamy USDA climate news that he interrupted his all smiles-and-handshakes trip around the Midwest Aug. 7 to, once again, “fully support” the Clovis nomination.

And this despite the disclosure last week that Clovis had “once called progressives ‘liars and race-traders’” and “accused labor unions of coming out of the ‘Communist closet’ to support President Barack Obama.”

Linking the former president to communists, labor unions, and progressives likely would earn Trump, Perdue, and Clovis a cup of coffee—if not noon dinner—at most farm-town cafés.

Denying climate change, however, and whitewashing its lasting effects will earn them nothing but scorn from our grandchildren because, as farmers and ranchers well know, the climate has changed even if folks at USDA, the White House, and the local café lack the integrity to admit it.

© 2017 AG COMM. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own views and do not reflect the view of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

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AUTOMOTIVE New Vehicle Buying Guide Compiled by Motor Matters

E-mail Questions To: info@motormatters.com Mail Questions To: PO Box 3305, Wilmington, DE 19804

2017 Nissian Altima With a new exterior appearance, a refined personal space interior, enhanced connectivity, more available safety and security features, the Nissan Altima is one of the top choices for midsize sedan buyers seeking style, performance, quality and value.

The 2017 Altima is available in a choice of seven models. Five of the models feature a 179-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, while 3.5-liter Altimas offer a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Both engines are matched with a standard smooth and efficient Xtronic transmission with enhanced third-generation D-Step Shift logic.

All 2017 Altima models also are equipped with a responsive 4-wheel independent suspension for comfortable and controlled ride and handling. A special sport-tuned suspension is offered on Altima SR models. Active Understeer Control is standard on all grades, along with 4-wheel disc brakes with standard Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic

Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist, plus Electronic Hydraulic Power-Assisted Steering.

The 2017 Altima’s premium interior design comes with standard NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front seats, with leather-appointed seating standard on Altima 2.5 SL and 3.5 SL models. All grades include Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth and an Advanced DriveAssist Display in the center of the instrument cluster that integrates key information— including available navigation, text messaging notification and audio data—right in front of the driver.

Available safety features include Predictive Forward Collision Warning, radar-based Blind Sport Warning, Forward Emergency Braking, Intelligent Cruise Control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Base model estimated mpg: 27/39 Estimated starting price: $22,500

Compiled by Motor Matters.

2017 Nissian Altima.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, August 19, 2017