Dec 16 2017

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Man Shot As Bullets Fly Through Bedroom Window. Page 9

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE www.pinebarrenstribune.com

Vol. 2 – No. 16

The News Leader of the Pines To Advertise Affordably Call: 609-801-2392

December 16 – 22, 2017

BANKS RESIGNS Pinelands Regional’s Embattled Superintendent Bows Out for ‘Medical Reasons’ Amid Construction Scandal

By Catherine Galioto and Douglas D. Melegari Team Coverage

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Dr. Maryann Banks, who has served as the interim superintendent of the Pinelands Regional School District for one and a half years, resigned last week.

Banks, who purportedly resigned for “medical reasons,” has been embroiled in a construction project debacle since the beginning of September that has turned into a scandal with numerous parents and community members demanding an independent investigation.

Banks joined the district on July 1, 2016, replacing Robert Blake, who had resigned.

The Pinelands Regional Board of Education first offered Banks a one-year contract. Her contract was extended by the board to June 30, 2018 earlier this year.

State law prohibits a retired superintendent from serving as an

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Saturday, December 16, 2017

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LOCAL NEWS

Pemberton’s Early Childhood Education Center Welcomes the ‘Blanketeers’

Family owned and operated since 1985

SJ’s Best for Hardwood Flooring PHOTO BY PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS MEDIA SERVICE The Mt. Laurel Blanketeers display their homemade hats and scarves. Pictured from left to right: Jill McDonald, Suzanne Melchiore, Gert Collins, Joanne Antosh, Charlotte Wilson and Pat Wyszynski.

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—There was extra excitement at the Pemberton Township School District’s Early Childhood Education Center on Friday, Dec. 8.

Every day is exciting for the more than 500 3 through 5 year olds who arrive at the center daily to experience the many special preschool programs provided by district staff; but this day was different.

A group of “Grandmas” from Holiday Village in nearby Mount Laurel came to visit the young students.

Soon after 10:30 a.m., the students began entering the center’s media center with bright,

smiling faces. One could see the excitement as they entered the room and began filling the chairs, set in neat rows, awaiting them.

Then the announcement was broadcast that, “Our visitors have arrived!” Six lovely “Grandmas” were soon in the room, ready to interact with the students.

This visit was arranged by Michelle Walker, a Community Parent Involvement Specialist, in cooperation with the Mount Laurel “Blanketeers.”

These smiling ladies were a small representation of a larger group of more than 20 ladies who meet weekly at the Holiday Village Community Center. Their goal is

BLANKETEERS>>PAGE 19

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INDEX Automotive..................................... 23 Business Directory.......................... 20 Community..................................... 12 Fun and Games............................... 15 Health.............................................. 14 Healthy for the Holidays................. S1

Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22 Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace..................................... 16 Opinion........................................... 10 Scanner.............................................. 9 Worship Directory........................... 12

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.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

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Saturday, December 16, 2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

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Medford’s Largest Selection of Wine, Beer & Liquor!

Holiday Specials

SPIRITS Vodka 1.75L

Grey Goose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.09 Ketel One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.09 Absolut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.09 Smirnoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.29 Stoli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.09 Svedka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.29 Tito's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.09 Pinnacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.99 New Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.19 Three Olives 1 Lt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.00

Gin 1.75L

Bombay Sapphire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.09 Bombay Dry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.09 Beefeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.09 Tanqueray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.09 New Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.09 Seagram's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.49

Rum 1.75L

Bacardi Silver/Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.19 Capt Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.09 Admiral Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.09 Malibu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.09

Tequila 1.75L

Camarena Silver/Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.09 Jose Silver/Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.09 Hornitos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.09 Cabo Silver 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.09 Patron 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.09

Whiskey/Bourbon/Scotch 1.75L

Crown Royal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.09 Seagram's VO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.09 Seagram's 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.09 Fireball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.39 Woodford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.09 Maker's Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.09 Bullet/Rye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48.00 Jameson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.09 Jack Daniels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.09 Jim Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.09 Dewar’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.09 Famous Grous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.09 Johnnie Walker Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.09 Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.09 Glenlevt 12yr 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.09

Cordials 1.75L

Baileys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.09 Kaluha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.09 Pallini 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.99 Frangelico 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.09 Amaretto 750ml . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.76

RED WINES 750ML Fine Wines

Hall Cab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .43.99 Honig Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.99 Turnbull Cab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47.99 B V Tapestry . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .53.99 R Mondavi Maestro . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.99 Conn Creek Anthology. . . . . . . . . . 59.99 Silver Oak A/V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.99 White Hall Lane Resv. . . . . . . . . . . 64.99

Cabernet

Leese Fitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.67 Louie Martini Sonoma . . . . . . . . . 14.01 Josh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.09 Arrowood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.00 Greystone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.01 William Hill North Coast. . . . . . . . 12.01 Chateau St Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . 13.09 Murphy Goode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.66 Avalon California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.01 Bogle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.69 Zac Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.09 Edna Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.01 Coppola Dia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.09 Carnivor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.09 J Lohr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.99 Wente Southern Hill . . . . . . . . . . . 13.09 Educated Guess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.09 Franciscan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.09

Pinot Noir

William Hill North Coast . . . . . . . . 12.09 Meiomo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.01 Don and Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.00 Mark West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.39 Coppola Dia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.09 Hahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Julia James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.33 Estancia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.19

n lectio e S e Larg igars of C

Merlot

William Hill North Coast . . . . . . . . 12.01 Bogle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.69 Murphy Goode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.66 Martin Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.33 Line 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00 14 Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.09 Estancia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.19

Zinfandel

7 Deadly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.09 Whiplash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.00 Gnarly Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.01 R. Mondavi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.09

Syrah/Petit Syrah

Bogle P. Syrah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.69 Chateau St Michelle Syrah . . . . . . 13.09 Spellbound P. Syrah . . . . . . . . . . . 10.09 Mc Mannis P. Syrah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.00

Blends

Apothic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.29 Ménage à Trois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.99 Bogle Essencial Red . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.69 14 Hands Hot to Trot . . . . . . . . . . . 10.09

Value Wines 1.5L (all varieties)

Yellowtail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.39 Cavit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.09 Barefoot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.39 Woodbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Rex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.09 Sutter Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.98 C K Mondavi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.39 Clos Du Bois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.99

Happy Holidays!

BEER AND HARD CIDERS Domestic / Import Beers

WHITE WINES 750ML Chardonnay

Josh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Estancia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.19 Kendall Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.09 Bread Butter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.33 Raeburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.00 Sebastian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.67 Chateau St Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.33 Meiomi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.09 J Lohr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.79 Sonoma Cutter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.09 Leese Fitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.67 Popcorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.00 Tom Gore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Hahn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Joel Gott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.67 Avalon California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.01 R Strong Sonoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.33

Riesling

Chateau St Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.19 Pacific Rim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.29 A-Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.33 J Lohr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..7.49 Wente . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.68

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio

J Vineyards P/Gris . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kings Estate P/Gris . . . . . . . . . . . .

KJ P/Gris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duck Pond P/G ris. . . . . . . . . . . .

Estancia P/Gris . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sauvignon Blanc

12.01 11.66 10.99 10.76 9.19

William Hill North Coast . . . . . . . . 12.01 Josh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.09 Uppercut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.09 Prophecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.01 Chateau St Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.33 Layercake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.33

Varie Organ ty of ic Win es

Miller Lite 30pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.99 Miller Lite 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.99 Coors Lite 30pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.99 Coors Lite 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.99 Bud 30pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.99 Bud 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.99 Bud Lite 30pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.99 Bud Lite 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.99 Stella 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.99 Heineken 24pk Bottles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.99 Heineken Lite 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . 26.99 Corona Extra 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.99 Corona Lite 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.99 Sam Adams Wtr Lager 12pk Bottles . . . . 15.99 Leinenkugel Snowdrift 12pk Bottles . . . 16.99 Yuengling Lager 24pk Bottles .. . . . . . . . . 17.99 Yuengling Lite Lager 24pk Bottles . . . . . 17.99 Michelob Ultra 24pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . 21.99 Guinness Draught 12pk Bottles . . . . . . . . 15.99 Guinness Draught 8pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . 13.99 Einstok White Ale 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . 10.99

Local Beers

Cape May Coastal 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel 6pk Bottles . . . . .

Tuckahoe Steelmantown Ptr 6pk Bottles. . .

Spellbound Porter 6pk Cans. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Double Nickel Vienna Lager 6pk Cans . . . . . .

8.99 7.75 9.99 8.99 8.99

We carry a large selection of Craft Beers Craft Beers

Goose Island 15pk Cans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.25 Founders All Day IPA 15pk Cans. . . . . . . . . . 15.99 New Belguim Flat Tire 12pk Bottles . . . . . . 16.99 Lagunitas Little Sumpin 6pk Bottles. . . . . . . 9.99 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 12pk Bottles . . . . . . 14.99 Ballast Point IPA 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.99 Yards Brawler 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.49 Victory Golden Monkey 6pk Bottles . . . . . . 10.99 Founders Breakfast Stout 4pk . . . . . . . . . . . 10.49 New Holland Dragon Mills Stout 4pk Bottles.14.75

Seltzer / Hard Ciders

White Claw Variety 12pk Cans . . . . . . . . . 14.99 Spiked Seltzer Variety 12pk Cans. . . . . . . 14.75 Truly Variety 12pk Cans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.99 Smirnoff Seltzer Variety 12pk Cans . . . . . 14.75 Ciderboys First Press 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . 8.99 Angry Orchard Crisp Apple 6pk Bottles . . 8.99 Redds Apple 6pk Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.99

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Shamong Appoints Seven Individuals to a Soon-to-be Created Cemetery Board

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 24 • 7:30 p.m.

CELEBRANT: The Rev. Robert H. Legnani TRINITY EPISCOPAL* CHURCH 18 Mill Street, Vincentown, NJ • 609-859-2299 * Trinity is an Episcopal church but not a church for only Episcopalians.

ALL are welcome.

Additional parking behind church.

SHAMONG—Meeting dates for the start of the New Year, appointments to a soon-to-be created cemetery board and the results from recent inspections were just some of the topics discussed during a Shamong Township Committee workshop meeting on Nov. 28.

The committee passed a lone resolution appointing seven individuals to the soon-to-be created cemetery board that will oversee the construction of Pinelands Memorial Park Cemetery.

The Pinelands Commission approved the township’s application to build a 6.26-acre cemetery on a 7.49-acre parcel of land, off of Willow Grove Road, during their Feb. 24 meeting.

The proposed cemetery is slated for the former Cowperthwaite farm. The township purchased 23 acres of the 30-acre farm on Sept. 1, 2015, for approximately $223,000.

The township is targeting seven of the 23 acres of the former farm for a cemetery because it is surrounded by hedgerows providing for a country setting.

The cemetery board will be comprised of Mayor Tim Gimbel, Deputy Mayor Michael Di Croce, Township Administrator and Clerk Susan Onorato, Chief Financial Officer Christine Chambers, the township engineer or planner, and two residents.

Onorato said a related ordinance formally setting (or establishing) the advisory board will be passed early next year.

Mayor Tim Gimbel previously told the Pine Barrens Tribune that the township is undertaking the project because a lot of the town’s residents want a place to be buried in

town if they died.

The first two meetings of 2018 have been set and are as follows: a reorganization meeting on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., with a regular meeting to follow, and a workshop session on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Onorato said the New Jersey Department of Agriculture conducted a gypsy-moth survey on Nov. 3. This voluntary cooperative suppression program involves municipalities, county agencies, state agencies, and the USDA Forest Service.

The department found no major infestations in Shamong and did not recommend treatment.

Onorato also said the township received this year’s inspection report for the Indian Mills Lake Dam. Required maintenance, including removing brush and updating a disturbed area, was completed by Nov. 22.

The committee heard from two residents who provided information on the township’s inaugural Holiday Lights Contest.

Residents could enter the competition by decorating their home or business by Dec. 9.

Judging began that day and continued through Dec. 15.

Onorato said in an interview on Dec. 13 that 31 homes have been entered into the contest.

She said readers can go to shamong.net to view a map of the homes that have been entered.

A closing ceremony for the competition was set to be held on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Dingletown Recreation Complex, with an appearance from Santa Claus.

The contest results will be announced during the event. The names of the winners will also be posted afterwards on shamong.net.

The final committee meeting of the year will be held on Dec. 19, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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Dean Mainardi is a 3rd generation contractor. He has built everything from new homes to restaurants. He and his company “Only The Best Builder LLC” have been on a mission to hire the “Best” people, use the “Best” products, and give the “Best” service anywhere. You can read more about this company and their mission at www.onlythebestbuilder.com. Make sure you check out the “Page of Shame.”

541 Barbershop.......................................................................4 McElven Fuel Inc.................................................................22 Medford Eyewear Center......................................................14 Medford Ford........................................................................11 Modern Day Recycling...........................................................6 Neubert’s Tire & Auto..........................................................23 Red Lion Inn..........................................................................6 Runway Cafe........................................................................14 Spanky’s Candles..................................................................13 Wheelies Bike Shop.............................................................S7

You are thinking about doing a project in your home, or an issue that just will not go away.

Who do you go to for sincere, honest advice?

In recent years, the economic situation that our country is involved in, has brought many people to the “Trades” with little to no experience. We have seen some of the worst workmanship and solutions to problems than ever before. In the end, hard-earned money is spent and bigger problems are created.

That’s why we are here. To help you!

This section is a direct contact to give you the advice and experience you need to help solve any Home Improvement concern or issue you may have.

The best part is it’s for FREE. No strings attached. Just good old-fashioned neighborly advice on the things you need to know. If I don’t have the answer, I will get it or refer you to the proper expert in our network of quality reliable contractors.

For every issue, I will choose the BEST question that I think will help the most people. If we publish your question, you will receive a $50 VISA gift card as a thank you from us for helping make this new section a success.

So, “We are what you have been waiting for.” Get to your computer and send your questions directly to me at AskTheExpert@ onlythebestbuilder.com or call directly @ 609-654-1698.

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SCANNER Box Truck Driver from Marlton Receives Citation after Crashing into Utility Pole

“Pizza With Police”

PHOTO SUBMITTED A Marlton man was cited for careless driving after he lost control of his box truck and crashed into a utility pole on East Bay Avenue in Stafford Township.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Officers from the Evesham Township Police Department held a “Pizza with Police” event on Monday, Dec. 11.

STAFFORD—A Marlton man was cited for careless driving after he crashed a box truck into a utility pole in Ocean County earlier this week.

The Dec. 10 crash happened on East Bay

Avenue at around 11:50 a.m.

Officers from the Stafford Township Police Department responded shortly thereafter and found that the box truck had split the utility

TRUCK>>PAGE 19

Pemberton Man Shot in Arm after Bullets Fly Through Bedroom Window PEMBERTON—A resident of Pemberton Township is recovering in the hospital after he was struck by one of many bullets fired into his home.

On Dec. 11 at around 11:41 p.m., officers from the Pemberton Township Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at a residence located at 312 Serrano Trail.

Upon arrival, police found a 26-year-old

man inside the residence with a gunshot wound to the left arm.

“The bullet traveled through the victim’s arm and struck his side, but did not enter,” said Lt. David King, commander of the Pemberton Township Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. “The victim was transported to Cooper University Hospital by

BULLETS>>PAGE 18

North Carolina Man Traveling with Loaded Handgun Crashes into Tree in Medford MEDFORD—A North Carolina man with multiple outstanding criminal and traffic warrants for his arrest was apprehended by police last week after he crashed his vehicle into a tree alongside Route 70.

Police say the crash happened in Medford

Township at around 9:10 a.m. on Dec. 9, close to the township’s border with Evesham Township.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Medford Township Police

PHOTO SUBMITTED The event was held at Johnny Longshots, a pizzeria located on Route 70 in Marlton.

HANDGUN>>PAGE 18

Seneca High School Student Airlifted after Route 206 Accident TABERNACLE—A Seneca High School student was airlifted to an area hospital last week following a Route 206 accident.

The accident happened near mile post 15 in Tabernacle Township around 7:15 a.m. on Dec. 7. Classes regularly begin at Seneca each day around 7:30 a.m.

Trooper Gene Hong, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, said a Jeep driven by Robert Kenniff, 36, of Voorhees, collided with a Pontiac driven by Kayla Johnson, 17, of the Chatsworth section of Woodland Township.

“Both drivers sustained non-life threatening injuries in the two-vehicle accident,” Hong

said.

Kenniff was taken to Virtua Hospital in Voorhees. Johnson was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

Jeff Spector, principal of Seneca High School in Tabernacle, emailed parents shortly after the collision.

“This morning the New Jersey State Police utilized an adjacent property to Seneca as a landing zone for a medivac helicopter as a result of a car accident on (Route) 206,” Spector said. “A student was involved in the accident and the student’s parents have been notified by authorities.”

A great time was had by all.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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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.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

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

Letter to the Editor

No Town Can Succeed without Volunteers

Congressman MacArthur Is an Opportunist

Our recycling story published last week touched a nerve with a lot of readers.

We heard from so many people who were upset with Pemberton Borough Council’s treatment of a volunteer, Diane Fanucci, who spends countless hours picking up cans and bottles, along with other discarded items, off the ground in the borough.

Fanucci requested that council authorize the purchase of recycling containers and have them placed and serviced in areas frequented by the public. She said she often walks by the borough’s trash receptacles and finds recyclables mixed with the trash.

Her request was met with fierce resistance and a series of sarcastic comments.

Any town is lucky to have a citizen who cares about their town, looks after its people, and volunteers as much as possible. We hope

council will be more supportive of her and people like her in the future.

Fanucci is right on this issue—the borough should have recycling containers alongside its trash containers so that people are more likely to not mix recyclables with trash.

Mixing recyclables and trash increases tonnage fees and damages the environment, which leads to higher taxes and fees.

Borough officials have raised concerns that placing recycling containers in town will ruin the municipality’s aesthetics. We doubt anyone would notice the difference.

But we’re certain borough residents and visitors will notice the difference if volunteers like Fanucci get discouraged to the point that they stop picking up discarded cans and bottles off the ground.

Social Media Sound Off (Re: LRHSD Donates 89,585 lbs. of Clothing to Goodwill) Amazing effort, too bad it went to Goodwill and not a better organization.

Susan Curley Milone (Re: Request for Recycling Containers Leads to Heated Argument) It would be nice if people would support a caring neighbor. After all, you all live there.

Nancy D’Angeli (Re: Request for Recycling Containers Leads to Heated Argument) It sounds like by the end, Mayor Griffin was trying to save face and get a vote next election.

But, the damage was done and honestly to me that apology was worse because I didn’t see it as sincere. Go Diane Fanucci! You rock! She hasn’t changed a bit. Seriously, aesthetics Mayor Griffin? That was the first thing I thought of, but as a positive! No piece of trash is better than a recycling can. I wish still lived there so I could vote against him.

Susie Wernham (Re: Request for Recycling Containers Leads to Heated Argument) How would Mayor Griffin feel if Diane Fanucci was to stop cleaning up the trash for free?

The town would not look like it does now. We see Diane all the time walking up and down the streets, picking up trash, more than we see anyone else ‘just walking!’ So wrong! She deserves to be honored for what she does.

Teresa Green (Re: Request for Recycling Containers Leads to Heated Argument) I will beg my sister to stop keeping the town clean. But, she says that the people who live there always thank her, and that is all that matters. Typical council-like stuff. It’s a trash can! I know you walk a lot Councilman Robin Shawn Mosher, but I don’t think you have a clue about how much Diane does. Oh, and Mayor Griffin is worried about aesthetics when the first thing you see coming into the borough is Thompson’s? No good deed goes unpunished.

Bob Fanucci (Re: Request for Recycling Containers Leads to Heated Argument) Bob Fanucci: Your sister is a blessing to the borough. I’ve seen her cleaning up, not knowing who she was and thought, ‘Wow, this person really cares about her town.’ Your mom and dad raised three great children!

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

While reading Congressman Tom MacArthur’s “I’m the champion of the people” piece of wretched hypocrisy, I nearly lost my breakfast.

The 3rd Congressional District congressman said that he “wanted to share the text of a letter,” a supposed olive branch that he sent to Gov.-elect Phil Murphy—one which Murphy essentially responded to with a resounding, well-deserved, Bronx, err......Trenton cheer!

As MacArthur was busy heaping praise upon himself, i.e., “how great I art,” he expressed a desire to enter into a spirit of cooperation and to “put talking points aside.” (Read: because Murphy is a Democrat).

I would counter that there is no one who deserves to lose his congressional seat more than Tom MacArthur.

MacArthur, a former insurance executive, was one of two New Jersey lawmakers who voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which would have caused—according to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—23 million Americans to lose health-care coverage. According to financial disclosure filings, MacArthur bought or sold securities in health-care companies while the issue was before the House.

MacArthur bought as much as $800,000 in stock in health-care companies last year. Almost all of the stock was purchased on Jan. 9 and 10, just days before he dissented on the House Republican budget bill, making it easier to repeal the existing law.

His biggest purchases were stock worth from $102,000 to $280,000 in CVS Health and $51,000 to $115,000 in Roche Holding AG, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.

CVS listed “reform of the U.S health-care system,” including “possible repeal of all of parts” of the Affordable Care Act, as risk factors going forward in its quarterly report.

Just last week, it was announced that CVS Health had agreed to acquire U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc. for $69 billion.

Imagine such serendipity.

MacArthur, whose proposed changes helped bring back the Obamacare repeal debate, authored a provision that would allow states to seek waivers from the federal requirements that insurers offer a specific package of benefits, such as hospitalization and mental health treatment, and not charge more to those with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.

MacArthur also voted ‘nay’ on establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.

Look, I could go on. However, I am now suffering from intense acid reflux, having to write this letter to rebut MacArthur’s pathetic attempt to curry favor with the very constituents to whom he has been putting the screws in ever since voters were foolish enough to elect him!

MacArthur is nothing more than an opportunistic slug as far as I am concerned—a shill for insurance companies who has worked exclusively in the insurance business since graduating from college. He uses the power of his office as an “insider trading” tool to enrich himself at the expense of those who elected him.

Talk about chutzpah.

Kindly remember all he has done when walking into a voting booth for the 2018 midterm elections. It is your opportunity for some justified citizen comeuppance.

After all, Tom MacArthur is SmithBarney— he’s earned it—your disdain, that is!

Stephen Schwartz Medford, New Jersey

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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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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

Events

December 17 Event: Christmas Hymn Sing Location: Pemberton Details: First Baptist Church of Pemberton, 59 Hanover St., Pemberton, will host a community-wide Christmas Hymn Sing, 4 p.m. More details, 609-894-8685.

December 18

Event: Thyroid Support Group Location: Whiting Details: The Thyroid Support group will meet at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting, at 10 a.m.

The purpose is to educate, support and answer questions about your thyroid. 732-350-2904.

Event: Holiday Choral Concert Location: Marlton Details: Celebrate the holiday season with the annual LRHSD winter performances! The public is invited to Lenape Regional High School District’s Holiday Choral Concert, 6:30 p.m., at Lenape Regional PAC, 130 Tomlinson Mill Road, Marlton.

December 19

Event: Shawnee Instrumental Concert Location: Medford Details: Celebrate the holiday season with the annual LRHSD

winter performances! The public is invited to an Instrumental Details: Join Master Naturalist Kathy Gardiner for a free, Concert at Shawnee High School’s auditorium, 7 p.m., 11-mile hike on the Yellow Trail. Meet at Wharton State 600 Tabernacle Road, Medford.

Forest’s Batsto Village (CR 542) at 9 a.m. Bring a lunch and drinks. Heavy rain cancels. Register by calling Kathy at Event: Mullica in the Pines Historical Society 609-296-6574 (day of event 609-405-0360). www.njparksandLocation: Nesco forests.org.

Details: Angelo Dellomo, author & historian, will be the guest speaker at a Mullica in the Pines Historical Society December 21 meeting, 7 p.m., at the Hilda Frame School, 3410 Nesco Road, Event: Seneca Winter Concert Nesco. 609-561-4034.

Location: Tabernacle Details: Celebrate the holiday season with the annual LRHSD Event: Pemberton Readers – Mistletoe Series winter performances! The public is invited to Seneca’s Winter Location: Browns Mills Concert in the Seneca High School auditorium, 110 Carranza Details: Come and hear a discussion on the “Mistletoe Series,” Road, Tabernacle, 7 p.m.

by Richard Paul Evans. New members welcome! Pemberton Community Library, 16 Broadway Ave, Browns Mills. 609-893- December 24 8262.

Event: Christmas Candlelight Service Location: Lumberton December 20 Details: Lumberton United Methodist Church invites you to Event: Lenape Instrumental Concert Christmas Candlelight Service, 7 p.m., located at 5 Municipal Location: Medford Drive, Lumberton. 609-267-5536 Details: Celebrate the holiday season with the annual LRHSD winter performances! The public is invited to a Lenape Event: Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Instrumental Concert on Wednesday, at 7 p.m., in the Lenape Location: Shamong High School Auditorium, 235 Hartford Road, Medford.

Details: Indian Mills United Methodist Church invites you to Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 5 p.m. and at 8 p.m., Event: Walk in the Woods located at Willow Grove & Indian Mills Roads in Shamong.

Location: Wharton State Forest 609-268-5699, 609-980-3527.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN Seniors Prepare for the Holidays

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—The Pemberton Township School District’s Chorus visited the Pemberton Township Senior Center on Tuesday, Dec. 5 to bring some holiday cheer and set the scene for the holidays.

Choir instructor Christine Pinto brought the chorus and they serenaded the seniors for about one hour. There was a “sing-a-long” that the seniors really enjoyed. The program included many Christmas and seasonal songs.

The seniors always look forward to the visits from the district’s students. So many seniors at the center do not get to see their grandchildren on a regular basis, so it is always a treat when

Saturday, December 16, 2017

the students come to the center.

On Dec. 8, the Browns Mills Senior Citizen Club held their annual Christmas party at the senior center. There was a catered buffet and music by DJ Dominic Muscella.

Today (Dec. 16), many township seniors will celebrate Christmas at the Garden State Diner with dinner and music by Side Car Charlie.

The township’s seniors look forward to the Christmas Season and the holiday celebrations.

Many will have an opportunity to travel to their relatives’ homes for the actual holiday.

Soon it will be the New Year and the beginning of many more fun times and trips.

SENIORS>>PAGE 18

Come

PINE KNOTS COLUMN

Snow Cancels BMIA Potluck Holiday Dinner

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—“The weather outside is frightful,” as the line in the song goes.

The township posted a message on the NIXLE.com emergency notification website last Saturday which requested that all residents stay off the roads on Dec. 9 unless travel was necessary due to hazardous creations from falling snow.

That meant the Browns Mills Improvement Association (BMIA) meeting and “Pot Luck Dinner” scheduled for Dec. 9 had to be canceled.

An early afternoon accident near the Pemberton Township Municipal Building

Worship With Us

caused the township to issue the travel warning.

The next general BMIA meeting will be on Jan. 28, 2018 at the BMIA Building on Arbutus Street, off Eldridge, near Mirror Lake Beach.

Since the “Pot Luck Dinner” was canceled this month, there will be a “Pot Luck Luncheon” held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 28, before the regular meeting begins.

Members should bring a favorite dish large enough to share. We hope the winter weather will let up to allow for this luncheon. Since the Pot Luck will be during the daylight hours, perhaps more members will be able to attend.

Please mark your calendars now so you will

POTLUCK>>PAGE 18

Healthy for the

Holidays

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Healthy for the

Holidays ADVERTISERS INDEX Alfors’ Pharmacy..............S4 Hometown Pharmacy.......S5 Power’s Pharmacy.............S4 Wheelies Bike Shop...........S7

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | MENTAL HEALTH

Managing Stress

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he amount of stress caused by the holidays can have drastic effects on our moods and overall feelings.

There seems to be a stressful situation everywhere you turn: crowded shopping malls, diet-ruining foods and holiday parties that cause a sense of social anxiety. Be sure to manage your emotional health this year.

Did you know there is a connection to stress and dangerous diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes? The National Institute of Mental Health states that allowing stress to become chronic can lead to these diseases as well as depression and anxiety.

Routine stress is said to harm your body by never signaling your body to go back to normal functioning. This is when trouble starts and you should seek the help of a professional.

SLEEP HYGIENE Sleep hygiene means paying attention to the routines surrounding sleep. Sometimes our

sleeping schedules fluctuate depending on how busy we are. Following these tips from the National Sleep Foundation will get you in a good routine, which can help alleviate stress.

• Go to bed at the same time each night and wake at the same time each morning; • Your bedroom should be a quiet, dark environment that is neither too hot nor cold; • Make sure your bed is comfortable and is only used for sleeping and not for watching television or reading. You should eliminate distractions, such as tablets and cell phones

from your sleeping area; and • Avoid large meals before bedtime.

FIND TIME FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Physical and mental health rely on one another to optimize your overall well-being.

The American Psychological Association recommends exerting physical energy to assist in alleviating stressful feelings.

Rather than gathering the family for a typical movie night, plan a walk around the neighborhood. There will likely be many holiday decorations on your route to enjoy, making the activity fun for everyone.

SET REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS One big stress factor around Christmastime is the expectation to purchase gifts for everyone on your list. Be honest with yourself and your budget and set a number you feel comfortable spending.

Overspending or charging large gifts to a credit card can be hard to overcome later and make stress last all year long.

Explain to young children that Christmas isn’t only about gifts. Instead, begin fun traditions that they can pass down to their children one day.

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | EXERCISE

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Keeping Fit For The Holidays

he busy holiday season can make it easy to make excuses to avoid exercise. This can be a dangerous habit that will affect the hard work you put it in all year. The good news is that there are many ways to stick to a workout regimen, even during the holidays.

Of course, holidays are filled with large portions of food — including desserts that you might only see once a year. Do your best to not overindulge, as this may lower your energy, lessening your desire for physical activity.

With some effort, you can find the perfect balance between exercise and celebrating during this time of the year.

EXERCISE ON THE GO If you are planning to travel over the holidays, be sure to research the area in which you will be staying. Check maps for walking trails or parks near the location. Better yet, if you’re staying with family, ask them about their favorite nearby places to go burn a few calories.

They might even have exercise equipment in their home you can use to avoid exposure to cold temperatures. When making plans for your visit, incorporate light activities that promote exercise. For instance, see about taking a walk around the neighborhood to see the sights. Even walking at a light pace will benefit your cardiovascular system.

If you plan to stay in a hotel, find one that offers a free gym during your stay. The fitness equipment is likely top notch and can help you

feel like you are at your facility back home.

PREPARING A BACKUP PLAN Even the best schedules can be disrupted by unforeseen events. If your morning walk or gym visit gets derailed, you can still perform an effective workout without any equipment.

For these scenarios, you can create a quick workout routine including jumping jacks, squats, pushups or other favorite exercises. Try to include some that don’t require a lot of room as you might find yourself in a tight space.

EXTRA ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY The holidays can be extremely busy, so you might not know exactly when you’ll squeeze in a workout. Take advantage of any opportunity that invites physical activity.

Heavy snow might ruin your plans for getting outdoors, but you can get a great workout by shoveling the driveway. To burn extra calories and score brownie points with neighbors, offer to shovel theirs, too.

Another idea is to consider making extra laps at the mall while shopping for gifts.

Get creative with your physical activity this holiday season. Your body will thank you.

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | EATING

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Controlling Portions

ith the holiday season around the corner, Americans will likely be tempted to overeat at gatherings.

Potlucks, family get-togethers and work parties all tend to encourage second helpings of unhealthy foods. Be sure to avoid breaking your diet while enjoying this special time with your family.

Holiday traditions often include indulging in high-calorie recipes. Having control of your intake allows you to enjoy these delicious foods while keeping your calories in check. If you know you will be attending a get-together, it is a good idea to have a light breakfast or lunch so you can partake in these delicacies guilt-free.

KNOW YOUR INTAKE You likely have a smartphone or other device that can make calorie counting simple. It is an easy task to find a mobile application that allows you to record the number of calories you have ingested and even burned.

It is important to log your intake and output every day to ensure accurate results. This is a fun way to track eating habits and lessen the chances of eating foods that don’t clearly spell out their nutrition facts.

Get your family involved with the same program you’re using to track calories.

Friendly competition makes it easier to stick to your set number of calories. If everyone is on board, there might be fewer unhealthy foods on the table this holiday.

EATING OUT During the holidays, you will likely find yourself at a restaurant enjoying the company of family and friends. This is a crucial time for

© FOTOLIA

portion control. These foods can be rich in calories and other unhealthy components that can cause you to backtrack on your diet.

Avoiding all-you-can-eat buffets is a nobrainer, but if your family insists on gathering

there, you can still do it healthily. Most buffets have impressive salad and fruit bars that sometimes go overlooked due to the full dessert bar. Fill your plate with healthy choices, such as green vegetables and lean proteins.

Eating at a traditional sit-down restaurant can make it easier to make healthy decisions. If the menu doesn’t list the nutritional information, inquire with the staff about low-calorie options.

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | RECREATION

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Sled Safely I

f you live in an area that receives its fair share of snow, you probably have taken a sled for a ride.

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For many families, sledding is a holiday tradition, if the conditions are right. Be sure to take proper precautions to protect the children and adults while on the hill.

While sledding as a child, you probably didn’t realize how dangerous it can be. Now as a parent with safety in mind, you are likely aware of the steps you need to take to make sure sledding remains a safe, enjoyable family tradition for everyone involved.

FINDING THE RIGHT HILL Your first level of responsibility with sledding is to find a suitable hill. There are many factors to think of before you begin.

The experts at Kidshealth.org have listed some extremely important things to look for.

• Choose a hill that isn’t overly steep and leads to a long, flat bottom. This helps your child’s sled glide to a stop.

• Never attempt to sled on a hill that ends near a street, parking lot, pond or fence.

• Look for a clear path to the bottom of a hill. You should avoid obstacles such as bumps, rocks or other hazards that might cause the sled to leave the ground.

• Avoid sledding on icy hills. Aim for one with a coating of snow to create a softer landing spot in case your child falls off their sled.

PROPER ATTIRE Always dress in heavy clothing and keep your ears and hands protected. Exposing skin to the snow for long periods of times can cause frostbite.

Children should wear helmets when participating in sledding. Kids Health experts recommend this as a crucial safety precaution for children 12 and under. Try to find a helmet designed for winter sports, as it will be the most effective.

Forgo letting your children wear scarves.

They can pose a risk of strangulation. Keep necks warm with a turtleneck instead.

SAFEST SLED There are many different styles of sleds on the market. The safest option for children is one that can be steered and slowed down with a braking system. Avoid saucers, toboggans or tubes, as it is harder to influence where they will wind up.

Never use a substitute such as a large shovel or cardboard box. You might receive points for creativity, but these options pose serious safety risks.

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | DRINKS

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Celebrating Responsibly

he holidays present opportunities for gatherings amongst family and friends, many of which might include alcohol. Drinking responsibly is important all year round, but requires even more attention when celebrating over the holiday season. Keep yourself and others safe so everyone can celebrate in good cheer.

© FOTOLIA The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends drinking only one standard drink per hour. It also recommends drinking a non-alcoholic beverage between each drink. This will help you pace yourself during holiday celebrations.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS Even if you think you know how your body reacts to alcohol, there is a lot going on in your system that will impair your ability to function properly. The National Institutes of Health has debunked a few common misconceptions that we have about alcohol: Myth: You can safely operate a vehicle if you’re not acting erratically.

Fact: Your coordination is impacted long before signs of intoxication are present. The beginning stages attack your reaction time, which can lead to dangerous situations on the road.

Myth: You can drink coffee to sober up.

Fact: You may notice a higher level of energy, but caffeine does nothing to help regain coordination or bring your reaction time back to normal. The only way to recover from intoxication is time.

Myth: Drinking alcohol keeps your body warm.

Fact: Alcohol opens small blood vessels closest to your skin, which makes them fill with warm blood. The fact that you might feel warm means nothing, as your brain’s temperature regulation also is affected, enhancing the risk of hypothermia. It is, therefore, crucial to dress appropriately if you’ll be drinking outside this holiday season.

PLANNING AHEAD When planning to attend any event where alcohol will be consumed, it is important to know how you will get home. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 28 people died each day in 2016 due to impaired-driving accidents. Don’t allow your family or friends to become a statistic.

A designated driver should be appointed beforehand. Remember, a DD is required to completely abstain from drinking alcohol.

Driving after even just a couple of drinks can affect your abilities and put you at risk for a DUI penalty.

If everyone wants to partake in the celebrations, be sure you will have access to a taxi or other driving service. There will be a small fee, but it won’t compare to the major risks associated with drinking and driving.

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HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | EATING RIGHT

Healthy Meal Traditions Y

our family likely has several dishes reserved for special occasions. Chances are some of these are desserts or unhealthy dips that have been traditions for decades.

It’s easy to overindulge on the delicious foods you might eat only during the holiday season.

This year, introduce your family to new dishes that promote positive health benefits.

The American Heart Association offers many great ideas on how to make new traditions healthy.

SUBSTITUTE WHILE BAKING Most baking recipes call for heaps of butter, sugar and milk. While these ingredients might do their part in creating mouth-watering desserts, they also can impact a waistline.

When reviewing your favorite recipe, try to alter it with comparable substitutes.

The AHA defines saturated fat as fat molecules that have no double bonds between carbon molecules because they are saturated with hydrogen molecules. Too much saturated fat can raise the cholesterol in your blood, which increases your risk of heart disease.

The butter used in your favorite baking dish is a usual culprit, carrying high levels of saturated fats. Instead, you can use cinnamon-flavored, no-sugar-added applesauce for substance and vanilla or peppermint to add flavor.

Helpful substitutions for other ingredients: • Use a low-calorie sugar substitute when

© FOTOLIA

sugar is called for in a recipe; • Rather than using whole or heavy cream, use low-fat or skim milk; and • Avoid using candies or chocolate chips in your recipes. You can still have a tasty treat with dried fruit or nuts to enhance your dish.

HEALTHY SIDES How many times are you asked to “bring a side” when attending a holiday party? Guests are usually asked to bring a small appetizer while the host prepares the main entree. You’ve probably noticed these sides are often dips loaded with cheese, potatoes dressed to the max and some foods that should never be fried dropped into the fryer. (We’re looking at you, deep-fried Twinkie.)

This year, when you’re asked to bring a side, prepare a dish that will leave guests amazed by the flavor and impressed when they find out it is good for them. You might turn one of your friends or family on to a healthier diet.

Salads can please both the appetite and eyes.

Create an attractive salad by featuring several different-colored vegetables and a light-balsamic vinaigrette dressing to impress at the table. Add plenty of fresh vegetables and even fruits.

HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS GUIDE | OUTDOORS

A

Keeping Warm

mericans who live in regions that suffer from brutal winters will face many hazards this holiday season.

Ensuring you are prepared for the freezing temperatures is your best defense for staying healthy during the holidays.

IN THE CAR Over the holidays, there are generally more vehicles on American highways as people travel to visit their friends and families. It is crucial to make sure your vehicle is in good working order if you’re planning a road trip.

Becoming stranded during winter’s bitter temperatures can lead to many dangerous situations such as frostbite, hypothermia and even death.

Before embarking on your trip, be sure to have a winter emergency kit in your vehicle in case you do become stranded. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends stocking your car with a winter emergency kit including: • Booster cables or a jump box. In case of a dead battery, you might be able to restore power and avoid being stuck in the cold.

• Cell phone and a portable charger.

Be sure you have a way to contact help if you

experience vehicle trouble.

• Blankets and extra layers of clothes.

Depending on how long it will take help to arrive, you might need to use these supplies to keep warm.

The holidays are full of fun and cheer, but be sure to keep yourself safe when traveling to celebrate the festivities.

PREPARING YOUR HOME Prior to the colder temperatures, you should take steps to prepare your home to make sure it is safe and comfortable for the winter months.

Always have an expert inspect your heating system before you plan on having to use it. An early inspection gives you the opportunity to correct issues that will affect the system when the temperatures get frigid.

It can be dangerous if these problems are discovered during the holidays, as heating and air companies are usually extremely busy DRESSING FOR OUTDOORS and might have less staff on hand. You could Whether it’s singing carols or enjoying the be forced to endure a few days without heat, beautiful lights around your neighborhood, you which can cause serious health conditions for will find many activities to do outdoors during people in the home. the holidays. Be sure to dress appropriately

© FOTOLIA to avoid suffering from cold-weather illnesses.

Don’t forget to keep your head and ears warm as well as dressing in thermal underclothing if you’ll be outside for long periods of time.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

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PAGE 13

PAGE 14

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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.

5 Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure That Really (Really!) Work While waiting for a prescription, a friend of mine decided to check his blood pressure. He was dealing with a bout of walking pneumonia and his blood pressure (BP) spiked to 140/100!

Has this ever happened to you, where you checked your BP at the pharmacy and it was suddenly high?

You can blame stress, the modern diet, lack of exercise or a bad infection like my buddy had. You can blame other lifestyle factors, too, like smoking. Or it could simply be your genes, as high blood pressure, termed hypertension, tends to run in families. If left untreated, hypertension can cause or lead to blindness, stroke, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and heart failure.

Now, the good news. Here are five natural remedies that are proven to really (really) work!

1. Hibiscus Tea Hibiscus tea is a wonderful remedy for high blood pressure. It’s been used to lower blood pressure in other countries for decades, and it really works. In one study, researchers found that drinking hibiscus tea for just 12 days reduced systolic pressure by an average 11.7 percent and diastolic pressure by 10.7 percent.

You can buy commercially prepared teabags or you can easily make your own fresh hibiscus tea each morning. It’s fabulous for memory, in fact, if you email my customer service team (customerservice@suzycohen.com) I’ll send you the recipe card by email for “Memory Mint Hibiscus Tea.” 2. Magnesium Threonate Some forms of vitamins are better for certain conditions. With hypertension, look for the mineral magnesium threonate because this form of magnesium leaves ‘the tube’ meaning

it leaves your gut. This type of magnesium can get into the bloodstream and get across your blood-brain barrier, is easily absorbed by the cells and has been proven to lower blood pressure and be stroke preventative as well.

Magnesium threonate is also great for helping promote good, healthy sleep and relaxation.

3. Garlic Garlic cloves and garlic supplements have been proven to lower blood pressure. Garlic is an allium vegetable that is rich in antioxidants, good-for-you phytochemical and polyphenols, and sulfur-containing compounds called allicin (which are wonderful for collagen promotion too). Garlic is especially effective at lowering systolic blood pressure.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish and some plant foods like nuts, seeds and cruciferous vegetables. Fish oil is wonderful for lowering high blood pressure because it contains EPA and DHA, two wonderful compounds for lowering blood pressure and for keeping your heart healthy overall. Fish oils help reduce triglycerides and that reduces risk for heart attack and stroke.

5. Berries and Dark Chocolate I saved the best for last. Berries and dark chocolate… Mmm! This sounds like a wonder-combo all of you can get on board with, right?

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, goji and acai are rich in compounds called polyphenols which are blood pressure lowering. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids which dilate blood vessels reducing pressure. A tasty combo comes to mind. Try chocolate-covered blueberries, or dark-chocolate dipped strawberries.

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.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 15

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?”

Public Speaking is My Worst Fear Not long after I began writing my weekly column, I began to receive requests to do some public speaking.

There are a lot of things in this old world that people fear. There are the fears of heights, big bugs and rattlesnakes, and I’m here to contend that I would go toe to toe against any one of them rather than stand before a large crowd and do a little speech.

But I was a real trooper, back in the day.

With all of the wisdom that the ignorance of my youth would allow, I actually said, “Yes, why I would love to speak to your group.”

In the seconds immediately following my agreement to do this heinous thing, my hands began to tremble, my right eye began to twitch and suddenly, I found it difficult to swallow.

These symptoms not only lasted throughout the days in between my stupidity and that nauseating moment when I actually stood in front of the crowd, but they increased in intensity as the day approached.

Still, I tried to face the tedious task of talking to a group head on. I Googled public speaking and how to survive it, the art of not making a fool out of yourself in front of your peers, and following extensive research, I discovered that no one has ever died from it.

But it was all to no avail. I wisely hung up my microphone, put away the podium and responded to all requests for public speaking with a resounding, “Ah, heck no!”

Therefore, you can imagine my chagrin last week when I opened an email from a nice gentlemen, kindly reminding me that I had agreed to talk to his group the following Thursday at noon.

The words not only leapt from the page, a few of them stuck a hand out and slapped me right across the face. As the room began to spin, the computer monitor was suddenly the size of a

drive-in theater and began pulsating.

That’s how I remember it anyway.

Speaking of remembering, we all know I have a bad memory. I forget names, dates and oftentimes will look for my cellphone when I’m talking on it. Still, I know me and I know that I would never, not once ever, agree to do a speech and then forget about it.

I promptly grabbed the phone and called the guy to dispute the ordeal. Oh, he was so nice.

“It’s no big deal,” he said. “There will just be about 30 people and you’ll only need to talk for 15 minutes.”

Did he seriously think that any of that information was going to comfort me? I would have felt more at ease facing the aforementioned bugs and rattlers!

“People do it all the time,” he continued.

“You’ll do great.”

He was persistent, I had to give him that. I don’t know how he did it, but he convinced me and to the tune of a teenager forced to do a much-loathed chore, I sighed deeply and said, “Fine!”

Naturally it took about six years for the next three days to pass. When Thursday finally arrived, I pulled up to the building, walked in with my hands in my pockets to keep them from shaking and walked straight into the room full of people.

I didn’t pass out, I didn’t stutter and to be quite honest with you, I don’t think that I came close to dying even once during those 15 minutes.

I concluded to a round of applause and walked off the stage and I didn’t even trip.

The kindly gentleman caught up with me and said, “Hey! Great job! You really had them laughing in there. I don’t suppose I could get you to come and talk to our community group next Wednesday?”

If I really knew this guy, I would seriously consider giving him a big bug for Christmas.

C R O S S W O R D Across 1 Physics building block 5 Barbecue side 9 Run-of-the-mill 14 Track tipster 15 “How’s it goin’?”

16 Grammar topic 17 Folk story 18 Autobahn auto 19 British peers 20 It may be coiled in the grass 22 Frozen drinks 24 Brownstone entrances 26 Hebrew : Ben :: Arabic : __ 27 “... that golden key / That __ the palace of eternity”: Milton 28 “For real?”

29 Alias in a landmark case 30 Auctioned wheels 31 Unlikely replies from sycophants 32 Get dolled (up) 35 Atlantic and Pacific, in Monopoly: Abbr.

37 Prefix with magnetic 39 Subscriber’s order 43 Like some coffee tables 44 Biological building block 45 “Veep” network

P U Z Z L E

46 Henry VIII’s sixth wife Catherine 49 Public health org.

51 Sends 53 Chef’s chamber 54 NYC airport 55 Brahms’ Opus 18, for one 56 Messenger bags 58 Bend at a barre 59 Nobelist Root 60 Kentucky border river 62 Publisher Adolph 65 Samurai without a master 66 Nix 67 Wailuku’s island 68 Speaks harshly 69 Endor villager 70 Design detail, for short Down 1 All-hrs. cash source 2 Fisher-Price product 3 Privy 4 Ore. skiing destination 5 Crocs, e.g.

6 Guff 7 “Yes, cap’n!”

8 Home builder’s purchase 9 Salt Lake City team

10 Equine-like fish 11 Not ready for harvesting 12 Catching some z’s 13 To a smaller degree 21 Commercials on the tube, in adspeak 23 In need of leveling 24 Holiday song ender 25 Level, e.g.

33 Ancient source of prophecy 34 Award for excellence in the field 36 Nail polish 38 Fritos snack 40 Bit of ocean chop ... or, literally, what each part of 3-, 8-, 10-, 34- and 38-Down can have 41 Up to it 42 Too far off the trail 46 Tough questions 47 Land of Arthurian legend 48 Eye part with rods and cones 50 Kidney-shaped nut 52 Geometry rules 55 Hobgoblin 57 Followers of Attila 61 Skater Midori 63 Palette shade 64 Incite to go after, with “on”

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, December 16, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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

HELP WANTED

FLIGHT TRAINING Learn to Fly. Discovery flights and gift certificates. Free Flight Aviation. www.FreeFlightAviation.com. 609-2650399.

FOR RENT Browns Mills, one bedroom house with shed, gas heat for rent. $900.00 plus one month security. No smokers, no pets. Call 609-744-5522

FURNITURE REPAIR Adam’s Furniture Restoration LLC. Twenty (20) years experience. Furniture repair, kitchen cabinet refinishing.

Touch-ups, re-gluing, upholstery, leather repair. 856-979-6210. www.facebook.com/adamsfurnres

GENERAL MERCHANDISING Hockey tabletop Sportscraft Shoot Out. 84”, air powered with lights. Like new. $140. Call 609-801-0054.

Graphic artist/paginator needed to make print and online advertisements and lay out newspapers and assorted special sections in a fast-paced office located in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Candidate needs to have a mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign and Photoshop.

This job requires the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, meet several deadlines per week, and quickly adapt to design systems to maintain the company’s brand identity throughout its products.

Previous newspaper pagination experience is a plus. This is a fulltime, immediate opening.

Send cover letter, resume and link to work (portfolio) directly to Doug Melegari, publisher of the Pine Barrens Tribune, by contacting him at resumes@pinebarrenstribune.com or 609-801-2392.

Area claims writer. No experience.

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

diploma or GED; pass a background check and drug screening and have a valid driver’s license. 401k-benefits and paid training. Please apply online at www.mypetro-job.com.

Full-time HVAC Installers and Technicians; minimum 3 years of experience with gas, oil, and central air. Hourly and commissions; robust benefits package. Good driving record required. Apply in person at Harriett’s Energy Solutions, 101 South Main St., Medford, NJ, or email your resume to lynn@ harriettses.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

Technician/Mechanic Wanted. As a Technician/Mechanic, you will provide accurate and efficient services to customers by trouble shooting, 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 appearance. You should be a self-motivated, dependable person, and work well with others. Qualified candidates must possess a high school

Cash paid for vintage saxophones and World War II military items. Email mymilitarytoys@optonline.net or call 609-581-8290.

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

Saturday, December 16, 2017

SUPERINTENDENT PAGE 1

interim superintedent of a school district for more than two years.

As a result, the board began the process of a formal superintendent search earlier this year so that it could name a permanent superintendent for the 2018-19 school year— but the search was based on the premise that Banks would stay until she was required to leave.

At its meeting on Dec. 4, the school board added Banks’ resignation to the agenda after emerging from an executive session.

Towards the end of the meeting, the board returned to executive session, before reemerging and choosing Banks’ replacement for the remainder of the 2017-18 school year.

The board named Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, to take over Banks’ spot and made it official by a vote. Stevenson previously served as the district’s acting superintendent during Banks’ unexplained absence for a portion of October.

For her superintendent responsibilities, Stevenson will receive an additional $132 per day on top of her administrator salary of about $140,000 annually.

Banks came into the district to find that much of the district’s infrastructure was dilapidated.

In 2015 and earlier this year, she led efforts throughout the district’s municipalities to encourage voters to pass a $53 million bond referendum to make “no-frills” renovations and upgrades at both Pinelands Regional High School and Pinelands Regional Junior High School.

Voters in Bass River, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton had initially defeated the referendum in Nov. 2015. However, the referendum was passed during a second try on Jan. 24.

As part of the referendum, voters approved new roofing for the district’s high school.

According to the project’s bid specifications and contract later approved by the school board, the rooftop construction was mandated to be completed by Aug. 18 (in some parts of the document it says Sept. 5), so as to not interfere with the start of school on Sept. 7.

“All roof work shall be conducted within the contract time limits, but in no case while students or faculty are in the building,” the document says.

However, the roof work still isn’t finished, despite the mandatory deadline passing a long time ago. The work also occurred while students and faculty were in the building.

Students and staff fell ill inside the high school and were subjected to dust, debris, noise and foul odors, while rooftop construction was taking place on the building’s exterior.

The high school was eventually closed from Oct. 3 to 6, after numerous individuals questioned the air quality inside the high school at a Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting on Oct. 2.

Classes resumed in the high school on Oct. 9 after precautionary air quality and asbestos testing did not detect any harmful compounds in the building’s air. However, some parents alleged that illnesses were still occurring and debris was still falling and pleaded for the building to be shut.

A few days after the high school was reopened, it was closed indefinitely after a screw from the school’s ceiling fell on a student’s head.

Banks was said to be out of the country while the high school’s occupants contended with dust, debris, noise and foul odors. She returned

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

to the district a few days after the screw fell on the student’s head.

Upon her return, she revealed that roofers removed a level of the roofing earlier in the summer that caused the heads of numerous screws to be cut off, which loosened them.

In addition to the project’s bid specifications and contract not being followed, parents also discovered the existence of a bombshell Sept.

10 letter from Epic Environmental president James Eberts to Business Administrator Stephen J. Brennan.

Eberts told Brennan that his company was contacted on Sept. 8 after debris was seen falling to the ground in high school classrooms 176, 177, 178 and 179 (in the D-wing).

Eberts informed Brennan that asbestos roofing was removed in August from the high school’s metal decking as well as from the classrooms mentioned above.

As standard protocol, anytime asbestos roofing is removed from a building, the affected areas are supposed to be cleaned to prevent asbestos contamination of the air and surroundings.

Eberts told Brennan that during a construction management firm’s investigation into the cause of the falling debris, it was discovered that the cleaning of the metal deck was incomplete prior to the installation of the new roof.

“Bulk samples were collected and confirmed that the debris on the roof contained asbestos,” he said. “At this time, it is assumed that the cleaning of the entire roof in the areas containing asbestos was incomplete, and small amounts of asbestos roofing remain in the flutes.”

Eberts said Epic on Sept. 9 collected two bulk samples of the debris from the four classrooms and six air samples in the areas below the asbestos roofing.

He said asbestos was not found inside the building despite the discovery of asbestos debris on the high school exterior.

“The bulk samples were non-asbestos and no asbestos was detected in any of the air samples collected,” Eberts said. “Based on this evidence, there is no evidence that either the asbestos removal activities or the newlydiscovered issue have impacted the air quality in the school, and that airborne asbestos contamination is not present in the school.

“However, there is asbestos-containing debris remaining on the roof deck and it must be removed. In its present state, there is the potential for roofing debris to continue to enter the school, especially for classrooms with a perforated deck. Construction activities will continue to deteriorate the debris and will cause safety hazards and air-quality issues. Based on previous data, asbestos contamination inside the building is not expected during this process.”

Eberts recommended the district cease all rooftop activities due to the asbestoscontaining debris.

“It is recommended that rooftop activities cease immediately until a permanent remedy for this situation is determined,” he said. “Debris is not expected to enter the areas in question if no rooftop activities are occurring. Therefore, classrooms in this section of the school may remain occupied when there is no rooftop work occurring directly overhead.”

Banks and Brennan have been admonished by the public since the letter was discovered, facing questions as to why they didn’t act on Ebert’s recommendations.

But the public questioning led to few answers and finger pointing.

“For the record, I was not aware of the Sept.

10 record until approximately two weeks ago,” said Banks during a parent meeting. “Had I known about that when I should have, I would have closed down the building.”

Banks’ revelation caused several parents to grill Brennan.

Brennan responded by saying that the letter was discussed during a Sept. 11 school board.

He insinuated that Banks was at that meeting, which Banks later confirmed was true.

“Sept. 10 was a Sunday,” Brennan said.

“We had a meeting on Sept. 11—a workshop meeting—where our professionals attended.

Included in that meeting was the author of that report. The contents of that letter were discussed at that meeting and were posted later on that week on our website, approximately on Sept. 16 or 17.”

However, Banks maintained that despite her presence at the meeting, she was unaware of the Sept. 10 letter.

The public spat between the two administrators over who had knowledge of the Sept. 10 letter, and when, spilled over into ensuing school board meetings.

Several school board members, including Patricia Chambers, Karen Poklikuha, Thomas D. Williams Jr., and Susan Ernst said on Nov. 6 that the first time they saw the Sept. 10 letter was on Oct. 2.

They also appeared to disagree with Brennan that Eberts’ recommendation was discussed on Sept. 11, with some members pushing back against Brennan’s claim more forcefully than others.

Board members Jeffrey Bonicky and Kim Hanadel said they weren’t at the Sept. 11 meeting.

Brennan, after the Pinelands Education Association and parents called for his firing on Nov. 6, read from a prepared speech that lasted 10 minutes.

The speech came with attached documentation that suggested Banks was aware of the existence of the Sept. 10 letter.

The speech appeared to catch other district officials and board members off guard.

Among the attached was an email sent to board members on Sept. 12 that recapped a meeting held with the roofing contractor and administration earlier that day.

In the email, Brennan makes a number of references to the contents of the Sept. 10 letter, although he never mentions its existence specifically.

He mentions that Banks was among the attendees at the Sept. 12 meeting.

“The latter half of the meeting focused on the issue discussed at the board meeting last night,” he wrote. “Much of our conversations centered on the scope of the problem with D-wing (sic) and other areas with acoustical deck.

Kobithen Roofing understood and accepted a problem existed, but wanted more information on its enormity. We expressed our dissatisfaction over the quality of their work and the lack of attention to their cleanliness.”

On Nov. 7, the following day after Brennan made the speech, the 10-year district employee was asked to leave his position. Multiple sources have told this newspaper that he was escorted from the building.

Banks said at the time she could not comment on the situation.

Vague confirmation that Brennan was removed from his position came during the start of a Nov. 16 Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting.

“Under Human Resources, we are going to add Item #17 (onto the agenda),” said Board Solicitor Amy L. Houck. “That will be a motion to reinstate Mr. Brennan effective Nov. 16, 2017.”

PAGE 17

A short time later, the board narrowly voted to reinstate Brennan, 5-4, without explanation.

Ernst, along with board members Chambers, Poklikuha and Williams, cast the dissenting votes.

Ernst was asked to explain what happened to Brennan during public comment, but she refused to provide an answer.

The meeting, scheduled to start at 7 p.m., began at 7:50 p.m.

The board, beforehand, convened for a 6 p.m. executive session to discuss personnel matters and potential litigation.

The behind-closed-doors session was overextended, causing the delay.

As this newspaper previously reported, a source said that most of the executive session focused on Brennan’s employment status.

“Before Brennan’s ‘suspension,’ Stevenson and Banks floated information to the board that Brennan needed to be investigated because of mistakes made with the construction,” the source said.

According to the source, the board gave Banks the authority to investigate the alleged mistakes and she recently reported back to the board that she found things that were “probably illegal.”

“As she told the board the problems with Brennan, the school lawyer told the board that none of the accusations were actually illegal,” the source said.

The source said tempers flared because Houck’s remarks persuaded a majority of board members to no longer trust Banks with her investigation and reinstate Brennan.

“The board then (agreed to) reinstate Brennan, and Banks was furious,” said the source. “To take it a step further, some board members have now moved to get an independent investigation of Brennan—and Banks—as some don’t trust her now.”

According to the source, Chambers and Ernst—supporters of Banks—fought with Betti Anne McVey, vice president of the board, and board members Bonicky and Ann McDonald after they insinuated that Banks was dishonest with her investigation of Brennan.

“Chambers and Ernst were furious,” said the source. “When Banks took the job, she made it clear to the board that if she is interfered with, she will give notice and leave.

As an interim superintendent, she only has to give two weeks’ notice and then she can walk.

There are some who fear she is considering just doing that.”

During the board forum held at the end of the Nov. 16 meeting, there were notable signs of the infighting the source described to this newspaper.

Bonicky, during his remarks, took the side of Brennan.

“With regards to the letter from Epic (on Sept. 10)—I will repeat what I do know,” he said. “On Sept. 11, there was a discussion on the contents of the letter—not physically viewing the letter. I think we get a little hung up on the physical letter being in our hands.

“During the Sept. 11 meeting, the contents were discussed and a follow up letter was (sent) on Sept. 12. I remember actually seeing the letter sometime later that month. I can’t tell you the exact date, but the contents were discussed and that is documented in our minutes.”

Chambers followed Bonicky with an angry rebuttal.

“I want to say for the record, again, as I stated during the last meeting on Nov. 6— the entire contents of that Epic letter were not discussed with me at the Sept. 11 meeting,” she said as she raised her voice. “There is a difference between the contents of the letter

SUPERINTENDENT>>PAGE 18

PAGE 18

SUPERINTENDENT PAGE 17

and the entire contents.

“Many of your questions tonight deal with some of those content areas that I was not told (about) or (were) addressed. For the record, again, I saw the letter when most of you saw it on social media, which was on Oct. 3—the day after our Oct. 2 workshop (meeting). That is the truth. It is my own statement and I want it on the record. There is a difference between the letter content and the entire contents that were disclosed in that discussion.”

Ernst, a few minutes later, said aspersions were being cast and defended Banks’ reputation.

“I want to remind all about the job Dr. Banks has done in this last year,” she said. “While there are accusations out there, I would also like to address the fact that she has spent the first year of her interim superintendent job cleaning up some of the messes that have been hanging here for a decade.

“I could run through an entire list of them.

There has also been a promise that she will continue to do so during her second year. I will continue to support her decisions as long as I know that she is doing the best for this district and that is what I believe she is doing!”

A few days after the meeting, Ernst took community members to task in a local Facebook group over the accusations involving Banks. She said she would write a glowing reference for her any time.

Banks, according to the source, submitted her resignation letter to the board on Nov. 30 after the infighting continued well after the Nov. 16

HANDGUN PAGE 9

Department.

However, the driver of the vehicle, Keith C. Boyd, 28, of Wilkesboro, N.C. was placed under arrest due to the multiple outstanding criminal and traffic warrants previously issued for his arrest in New Jersey.

A search by police revealed that Boyd had a backpack with a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

Police say there were five hollow-point bullets inside the revolver.

“Additional hollow-point ammunition for the revolver was also located in Boyd’s backpack with the revolver,” said Medford Township Police Chief Richard J. Meder.

Boyd was transported to Medford Township Police Headquarters where he

BULLETS PAGE 9

ground.”

King said the man told police that he was inside his downstairs bedroom when several bullets came through a bedroom window, at which time he was struck in the arm.

Police later found seven projectile casings outside of the window.

Four other individuals, including an 11-month-old child and a 4-year-old child, were also inside the residence when the shots rang out.

“One of the children and one female subject

POTLUCK PAGE 12

not forget this change.

The BMIA building is handicapped accessible and there is ample parking available.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM meeting and she heard that certain board members were pushing actions that would affect her future with the district.

Banks received $600 per diem, not to exceed the district salary cap of $157,000, and did not receive benefits.

After officials approved Banks’ resignation during the school board’s Dec. 4 meeting, several gasps and murmurs were heard from those in attendance.

“She is the best superintendent we’ve had in the last 10 years,” said Ernst, who is also the president of the school board.

Banks had previously served as a superintendent in Vineland and interim superintendent for Little Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township.

Chambers, who chairs the school board’s policy committee, also praised Banks as a mentor and inspiration following the resignation. She said that Banks helped bring a large number of board and district policies up to date with state mandates.

“Her time and attention to detail resulted in a revised policy manual that was not only updated, but one that included mandated regulations that are in compliance with the state,” Chambers said. “Dr. Banks also assured all staff within the district followed all policies and regulations.”

Tearfully reading a prepared statement, Chambers said she would sincerely miss Banks. She said the superintendent was a pleasure to work with and an asset to the district.

“I want to commend her for a highly productive working relationship—in my opinion—with the Pinelands Regional Board

was processed and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and unlawful possession of hollow-point bullets.

Additionally, Boyd was cited for operating an unregistered vehicle, operating an uninsured vehicle, failing to produce a driver’s license, driving with a suspended driver’s license, operating a vehicle as an unlicensed driver, operating a vehicle with fictitious license plates and failing to maintain a lane.

During processing, Boyd complained of right arm and chest pain and was transported via ambulance to Virtua Hospital in Marlton for evaluation.

Upon being released several hours later from the hospital, Boyd was lodged in Burlington County Jail in default of bail to await a future Superior Court appearance.

were in the room (where the man got shot) at the time of the incident,” King said.

Anyone with any additional information about this shooting or who may have witnessed this shooting is urged to contact the Pemberton Township Police Department at 609-894-3310 or the Police Confidential Tip Line at 609-8943352.

“The Pemberton Township Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is conducting the investigation,” said Lt. Jay Watters, Patrol Division commander of the Pemberton Township Police Department.

“There is no suspect information at this time.”

The BMIA will soon celebrate 100 years of service to Pemberton Township. All residents are invited to join the BMIA. Annual dues are only $15 per family. Checks may be sent to: BMIA, P.O. Box 395, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.

of Education,” Chambers said. “Her highly effective style of organization, management, proactive decision-making skills and transparency dealing with district issues helped to begin to move this district forward.”

Chambers also praised Banks’ leadership during the referendum.

Chambers said Banks “thoughtfully helped communicate” the need to repair “crumbling facilities” in order to provide an adequate campus for students.

“I applaud Dr. Banks,” Chambers said. “I respect her, I admire her for her strength and her perseverance she gave this district every day. She was leading the way forward to make this district a better place and I will sorely miss her.”

Poklikuha said she voted for Banks’ resignation with regret.

“I too regret receiving Dr. Banks’ resignation and I hope she is well,” Poklikuha said.

Ernst said she has worked with several superintendents as a teacher and a few as a board member. She said there are few people that she truly admires and Banks was one of them.

“She is someone with a gentle side who can still bring the hatchet down when necessary,” Ernst said. “It’s been an extremely difficult four days knowing that she’s not coming back. I regret she is not coming back and I regret that she felt she had no choice. I miss her, I wish her well, and I wish her good health always.”

Hanadel and McVey also thanked Banks for her service.

Ernst said Stevenson had already begun to serve as acting superintendent before the board voted to accept Banks’ resignation. Stevenson

SENIORS PAGE 12

If you have never been to the center, sign up and start during the New Year.

The latest trip the seniors took was on Wednesday, Dec. 6 when two buses traveled to Resorts for a show, “The Jersey Tenors.”

The group has four very talented male vocalists who harmonize and sing a wide variety of music—Cameron Johnson, Vaden Thurgood, Danny Calvert, and Brian Noonan.

These talented men met each other while performing on Broadway in “Les Miserables.”

They have trained for opera, so they add a very different touch to many of the popular songs.

The four men specialize in songs performed by singers from New Jersey, including Frank Sinatra and Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons.

They just returned from a European tour and sang a number of songs with a European flavor, including some operatic arias. Each is able to vocalize within a wide range and the harmonies were amazing.

The vocalists sang several favorite Christmas songs, including everyone’s favorite, “White Christmas.” They recreated a scene from a family living room and sang just as if it were Bing Crosby and his friends. This brought back many fond memories to the seniors.

All the music was melodies that seniors were familiar with and often could sing along—or at least clap along. The oldies are definitely the goodies!

The show lasted for about one hour and concluded with a terrific rendition of “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory,” followed by the theme song from “Les Miserables.”

There was a standing ovation for the vocalists upon the show’s conclusion and then the four men rushed to the exit and were available for photos and autographs. Many

Saturday, December 16, 2017 was seated in Banks’ seat on the dais during the Dec. 4 meeting.

The board in November voted to designate the district’s director of curriculum and instruction as a temporary acting superintendent if there is an extended absence of the district’s superintendent.

Apparently, a formal policy establishing who was in charge if there is an extended absence of the district’s superintendent had not yet been adopted when Stevenson served as the district’s acting superintendent in October.

Stevenson said that she is serving dual roles as she’ll still maintain the hat of director of curriculum and instruction for the district, in response to a parent question on how to address an instruction issue up the chain of command.

The board’s decision to appoint Stevenson as the district’s acting superintendent for the remainder of the school year comes weeks after she, too, was criticized by the public.

Around the same time parents frantically tried to convince the school board to close the high school as the dust, debris, noise and foul odors were causing students and staff inside of the building to fall ill, Stevenson sent an email showing that she was aware of the conditions.

“The recent closing of school has become an opportunity for us to reset our processes, and from this point forward we must work together throughout the construction project,” said Stevenson to staff. “I must remind you that this is only the beginning and you must be prepared to work in an environment that includes dust, debris, noise, and unfamiliar odors…to quote one of the environmental consultants, ‘if it smells bad, is (sic) does not mean that it is bad for you.”

seniors purchased CD’s and had them autographed by the singers. This was a fitting end to a great show.

The package included a $20 meal voucher which provided a nice meal at any of the Resorts’ restaurants. Of course, there were credits placed on provided casino cards to allow seniors to partake in some free gambling.

A few seniors turned this into some winnings.

The weather was brisk, but sunny, so most seniors took a walk on a nearby boardwalk.

Drivers Marty Gravenstein and Gordon Goldberg wished all of the seniors a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy New Year” as they safely arrived back in Pemberton at about 6:30 p.m.

The next trip will be to the Sands Casino in Allentown, PA, on Jan. 31. Tickets, for sale at the senior center, are $25 for resident seniors and $35 for guests.

There is a lot of information in the December edition of the Senior Gazette.

In addition to the 2018 trip schedule, there is a flier with details about a “Learn to Control Your Diabetes” six-week workshop. The workshop is open to all who are on Medicare, even if you do not participate in the township’s senior programs.

The workshop will be held at the Country Lakes Clubhouse, 69 Tensaw Drive, and begins on Wednesday, Jan.18, 2018 and runs on succeeding Wednesdays through Feb. 21, 2018.

The workshop begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 12:30 p.m.

Each week, different topics will be covered.

Booklets and material handouts will be included. One must sign-up to attend. After the first week, no new signups will be permitted.

Mark your calendars so you can attend all six sessions. To sign-up, contact Jarmaine Williams at 732-955-8168.

SENIORS>>PAGE 20

Saturday, December 16, 2017

BLANKETEERS PAGE 2

to bring happiness and comfort to as many individuals as possible.

The group achieves their goal through knitting and crocheting many different articles for non-profit and educational groups. They made dozens of hats, scarfs and mittens for these and other students to wear during the winter months. Outdoor recess is a big part of the students’ day, and the weather can be very cold and windy. These young ones need their heads and hands covered.

This is the second year the group has gifted Pemberton’s Early Childhood Center.

Last year, the “Blanketeers” made many scarfs, hats and mittens and sent them to the center as gifts. This year, Walker invited them to visit and meet with the students receiving their generous gifts.

Leading the group was Jill McDonald. She keeps the group active and finds outlets for their many creations. Her husband, Gill McDonald, assists by making coffee and

TRUCK PAGE 9

pole in half and knocked down wires.

Electricity and phone service was affected in nearby communities and both Verizon and Atlantic City Electric were notified. Both companies responded and the pole and wires were replaced.

Police say that a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the truck, Kevin J. Gaskill, 23, of Marlton, was traveling east on East Bay Avenue when he attempted to

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serving it, along with refreshments, to the women participants.

This visit included Jill McDonald and her friends Suzanne Melchiore, Joanne Antosh, Gert Collins, Charlotte Wilson and Pat Wyszynski. These active ladies also provide handmade gifts for Wounded Warriors, the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Vineland and local Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

The children became so excited when each was allowed to select a scarf, hat and pair of mittens. Their facial expressions were similar to that of watching a child open a Christmas present on Christmas day.

Deborah Cepla, principal of the center, and also the daughter of one of the “Blanketeers,” invited the visitors to join the students in the center’s reading area and one of them, Wyszynski, read from the book, “The Mittens.”

“The Mittens” is a story adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett from the original Ukrainian Folktale.

negotiate a bend.

Gaskill lost control of his truck as he was negotiating the bend, drove off the roadway and struck the pole. As a result of the impact with the pole, the truck rolled over on its side.

Police say Gaskill was treated on scene by the Stafford Township First Aid Squad.

However, he did not go to a hospital.

Gaskill received a careless driving summons for the crash. This matter is pending a future court date in Stafford Township Municipal Court.

The students all sat quietly as they enjoyed listening to Wyszynski, who took time to show the many illustrations within the book. This story about the mittens fit perfectly with the theme of the day—mittens and scarfs for all the children.

The students of the center often experience story time with a staff member or a local volunteer. School officials said they always sit quietly and eagerly await the unfolding of the tale.

This morning program was one facet of Walker’s outreach to the community to provide

PAGE 19

a variety of intergenerational events linking the young and old, the school and the community.

Many of the district’s students do not have grandparents close by and miss the interaction within their families. This outreach brings generations together for the benefit of both.

Walker said volunteer storytellers are always welcomed.

If one cares to volunteer, contact Walker at the PECEC by phoning 609-893-8141, ext.

1520. Walker hopes for many more intergenerational activities in the future.

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Saturday, December 16, 2017

SENIORS PAGE 18

The workshop was also held a few months ago and was very popular with the seniors. The workshop’s presenters were well trained and the information was pertinent.

An educational seminar on Medicare will be held at the senior center on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. It will begin at 10:30 a.m. It is an educational program and no plan-specific benefits or details will be shared. The speaker

will be John A. Billetdoux of the BGA Insurance Group. He is a licensed insurance agent.

Topics covered will include: your rights and entitlements within Medicare, steps to take as you approach age 65, and differences in the Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement. If you are approaching Medicare eligibility, this could be a valuable seminar to attend. For pre-registration contact Billetdoux

at 856-324-3108.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, the annual Valentine’s Dinner will be held at Garden State Diner.

Tickets are priced at $15 for senior residents and $30 for guests. The Christmas dinner was a “sell out,” so get your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are on sale now.

Most ticket costs must be paid to the vendor 30 days in advance to finalize the reservations.

This means reservations and tickets need to be

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paid by 30 days in advance, so money is in the bank to pay these pending bills. Your cooperation is always appreciated in this matter.

All tickets are sold at the senior center between 9 a.m. and noon, daily, Monday through Friday. The center is located in Browns Mills, across from the U.S. Post Office. Further information is available by phoning 609-893-4400.

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Saturday, December 16, 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.

Capitol Hill’s Christmas Cookie Bake-off Business leaders like Warren Buffett and the late Steve Jobs often credited their enormous success to simplicity. Buffett repeatedly explains that his best stock market secret is no secret at all: Buy quality and hold it.

Similarly, Jobs made complex machines— computers, music recordings, cellular telephones—so simple and intuitive that even aging Oliver tractor drivers can operate them.

The simplicity they advocate is elegant, liberating, and empowering. With a couple of finger taps on your smartphone, for example, you can buy stock in Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, from the middle of any cornfield or pasture in the world.

Of course, at $292,830 a share (its price fell $1,275 as I wrote the previous 100 words) you may want to consider other options before that final tap.

We in agriculture, on the other hand, can’t be accused of simplifying much lately. For example, while nearly every major farm and commodity group enthusiastically endorsed Congressional efforts to reform—ostensibly, simplify—the federal tax code, experts agreed during the Senate debate of the bill that the effort, if completed, would ironically add another 10,000 pages to today’s already hog-choking 70,000-page federal tax code.

Given that single fact (we’ll get to others in a moment), it’s not possible to call either the House- or Senate-passed tax bills simple or reformative.

The competing legislative efforts, in fact, look more like the results of a Christmas cookie bake-off. Each chamber made a large batch of buttery cookie dough, flattened it with partisan rolling pins, then cut—and when necessary, re-rolled, re-cut and re-cut—the dough into the most vote-catching shapes imaginable.

But the final step was the most important: Congressional Republicans sprinkled their unfinished delights with the tastiest fruits, nuts, and sugary decorations known to hard-pressed billionaires and always-hungry global corporations to make their handiwork even more irresistible. Lower corporate tax rates. No estate taxes. Lower pass-through rates. Bigger, faster expensing.

All was done, said the cookie makers, so we could unleash corporations to pass their soon-to-be historic, beautifully higher earnings

on to current and newly hired employees who, in turn, would rev up the perpetual motion machine—consumer spending—to drive the U.S. economy to 4, 5, dare we say, 6, percent growth. Merry Christmas!

But then the Grinch arrived—the mechanical pencil crew who finds cheer in reading footnotes and fine print. Most economists who examined the two plans believe neither holds anywhere near the corporate joy and economic fuel the GOP chorus is singing about. Most, in fact, find turmoil in both plans.

What worries them is that both tax plans add at least $1 trillion—some predict far more—to the federal debt that in the coming decade will already grow by $10 trillion. “Lowering taxes is good,” writes financial columnist Robert Samuelson in the Washington Post, “borrowing to do so… is bad.”

How bad? “Neither the House or Senate [tax] plans would meaningfully improve economic growth,” Samuelson writes in quoting a recent Moody’s Analytics report. “Growth would be stronger initially, since the deficit-financed tax cuts are a fiscal stimulus. But given that the economy is operating at full employment, [we believe] stronger inflation and higher interest rates will result.”

Perfect, instead of December bringing Christmas and New Year’s, the GOP is bringing 1981 and 2008.

A lucky few won’t have to worry about it, though. Under the House plan, all estate taxes will be eliminated by 2024. Killing the “death tax” has been the proverbial Red Ryder BB gun most farm groups have hoped, prayed, and begged for every Christmas—despite a Congressional Research Service estimate that shows only 65 farm or ranch estates paid inheritance taxes in 2015.

The same can’t be said for a handful of people in the Trump Administration. In fact, if the final GOP tax plan eliminates estates taxes, the heirs of just four White House officials— the President, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and Small Business Administration boss Linda McMahon—collectively would save north of $3 billion in estate taxes upon their deaths.

And you? Well, you’re probably not going to make out as well.

But hey, enjoy the cookies before they crumble.

© 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

Saturday, December 16, 2017

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PAGE 23

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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

2018 Ford F-150 The 2018 F-150 arrives with bold new front and rear styling, advanced technologies and improved engines. The new engines include an all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 turbodiesel and enhanced V6 and V8 gas engines.

A high-strength steel fully-boxed ladder frame and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body save weight and add capability, helping F-150 tow heavier trailers than ever and deliver best-in-class payload ratings.

New enhanced segment-first available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality allows drivers to set a cruising speed. They then use radar and camera technology to monitor traffic ahead to maintain a set distance between vehicles.

The 2018 F-150 introduces an all-new, standard 3.3-liter V6 engine, with directinjection for increased efficiency. The 3.3-liter V6 is expected to offer the same 282 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque as the

previous model’s standard 3.5-liter V6.

An all-new second-generation 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine features advanced dual port and direct injection technology, reduced internal friction and improved robustness— all for improved levels of output, efficiency, quality and durability. Like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost is paired to the segment-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission for 2018.

The 5.0-liter V8 also sees improvements in 2018, as the naturally aspirated engine features significant upgrades for increased power and torque. It’s also paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission for the first time.

The 2018 F-150 also adds an available all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, designed, engineered and tested in-house and paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s the first-ever diesel engine offered for F-150.

Compiled by Motor Matters.

2018 Ford F-150.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, December 16, 2017