Dec 2 2017

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Construction of New Tabernacle Town Hall Hits Road Block. Page 6

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE www.pinebarrenstribune.com

Vol. 2 – No. 14

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The News Leader of the Pines

December 2 – 8, 2017

Lenape Regional Athletes Fight for Equality

Parents and Students Ask for Officially Sanctioned Girls’ Golf Program in the LRHSD

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—A group of concerned parents and students in the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) are calling on the LRHSD Board of Education to approve a permanent and officially sanctioned girls’ golf program for district students.

Roy Hambrecht and his daughter Morgan, a junior Cherokee High School girls’ golf player, pleaded the group’s case to the board during a Nov. 15 meeting.

The Hambrechts were among a large turnout of students and parents who showed up to express support for the district having a permanent and officially sanctioned girls’ golf program.

“I didn’t think that the biggest life lesson

that my daughter would be learning would be her fight for equality,” said Roy Hambrecht to some applause. “We shouldn’t be here talking about this issue.

“We shouldn’t be inundated with news stories about people like Emily Nash, a 16-year-old golfer from Massachusetts being denied a first-place trophy because she’s a girl.

We should be reading about her winning the Massachusetts State Finals and celebrating her efforts and hard work.”

Nash, the player Roy Hambrecht referred to, shot the lowest score in a Central Mass.

Division 3 boys’ golf tournament in October.

However, Nash wasn’t awarded a first-place trophy or invited to a state tournament held the following week because of a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rule which

stipulates that girls playing on a fall boys’ team cannot be entered in a boys’ team tournament.

Nash’s school doesn’t have a girls’ team. This is a similar situation faced by the girls in the LRHSD as well as in other South Jersey school districts.

Last year, Morgan Hambrecht—a sophomore at the time—and sixth grader Emma Hare, the daughter of PGA Professional Brad Hare, asked the board to allow girls’ golf teams.

The girls were granted a pilot season, which allowed girls from Lenape, Cherokee, Shawnee and Seneca to scrimmage against each other and some to play with the boys’ teams. But, because the sport is not officially sanctioned, the group alleges, their scores did not count when the girls’ teams played against each other or cannot be considered by colleges

when and if the girls seek scholarships.

“I think we all need to take a good, hard look at ourselves and ask, ‘What can we do better?”’

Roy Hambrecht said. “Instead of denying girls opportunity for success, start empowering and encouraging them for what they have to offer because sadly, in some cases, this has been missing.”

The father asked each board member about what they would do realized their daughter was not being given the same opportunity as boys or if their minority child was being singled out.

“There is no difference between these two situations,” he said.

Roy Hambrecht said there was a significant turnout for girls’ golf–thirty-one girls between

EQUALITY>>PAGE 18

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LOCAL NEWS

LRHSD BOE Appoints New Medford Representative

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PHOTO SUBMITTED From left to right: Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education President Linda Eckenhoff, newly-appointed board member Allison S. Eckel, of Medford, and Business Administrator James Hager pose for a picture after a Nov. 15 LRHSD Board of Education meeting.

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—After almost two months, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education has their new Medford representative.

Allison S. Eckel, a 12-year Medford resident, took the oath of office to join the board at a meeting on Nov. 15.

Eckel will complete the remainder of Dr. William Bisignano’s term. Bisignano retired from the board on Sept. 27, after 20 years of service.

Eckel is currently the director of e-Commerce and co-founder of Opa’s Attic in Moorestown.

She has a master’s degree from Emerson College and a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College.

“When I heard that the board was accepting applications, I thought that this was an interesting opportunity that I would like to pursue,” she said. “I really enjoy working with youth and making sure that they have as many opportunities as possible.”

Eckel, who has a sophomore son at Shawnee

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INDEX Automotive..................................... 23 Business Directory.......................... 10 Community....................................... 9 Fun and Games............................... 16 Health.............................................. 15 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22

Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace..................................... 17 Opinion............................................. 8 Scanner.............................................. 7 Worship Directory............................. 9

The Pine Barrens Tribune is published weekly by Pine Barrens Media, LLC. The newspaper is distributed free at select locations in Bass River, Evesham, Hammonton, Medford, Medford Lakes, Pemberton, Pemberton Borough, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, Washington, Whiting, Woodland and surrounding areas. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392.

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Winter in the Pines Celebration Returns to Historic Batsto Village For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WASHINGTON—The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. (BCCI) will host a holiday celebration “Winter in the Pines” on Dec. 3 at Historic Batsto Village in Washington Township.

The headline event of the day will be a holiday musical presentation performed by New Jersey’s own Troubador Valerie Vaughn, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center auditorium.

The admission fee for the show is $5 per person.

Vaughn is a singer, musician and songwriter from Tuckerton. She specializes in teaching the history and folklore of South Jersey through music. In addition to performing in her home state, she has performed in England and the southwest U.S.

Carriage rides through the village, conducted by the South Jersey Carriage Company, will commence at 12:30 p.m. The Victorian design carriages are scheduled to wind their way around several buildings located in the upper village. Each carriage ride costs $3 per person.

Carolers from the Aurora Choir of St. Nick’s Church in Egg Harbor City will stroll the village and entertain visitors with songs of the season, adding to the festive atmosphere of the day.

The stately Batsto Mansion, dressed in the splendor of the winter season, will be available to tour for $3 per person.

The famous Batsto Post Office will be open

CELEBRATION>>PAGE 20

Aromando Refutes Allegations Made

by Medford Lakes Deputy Mayor

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—A resident here, who unsuccessfully ran in November’s General Election for a Medford Lakes Borough Council seat, is refuting an allegation made against him

by Deputy Mayor Robert D. Hanold in October.

Hanold, on Oct. 26, said that resident Joseph Aromando recently went down to the borough’s maintenance yard and told Public Works Foreman Mark Witsczak how to do his job.

“He upset that man (Witsczak) so badly, he was ready to quit,” Hanold said. “He was ready to resign.”

Aromando said in an interview last week that Hanold did not tell the truth.

“That never happened,” he said. “I would

never tell him what to do. It (these allegations) hurts my relationship that I have with him. I am a local business owner and I don’t want people to believe this lie.”

Aromando, a 28-year Medford Lakes resident who previously served as a councilman from 1998 to 2002, ran against Councilman Dr. Gary Miller on Nov. 7 for an unexpired council seat.

Miller, a non-partisan incumbent, handily defeated Aromando, 1,085 to 389 votes.

Aromando said previously that there was “a heated discussion” between him and Witsczak.

He said it started when he was asked to go to the maintenance yard to see if some of his campaign signs had been dropped off.

(That is when) “I pretty much got ambushed

ALLEGATIONS>>PAGE 20

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Council Urged to Promote Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Awareness

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—The Medford Lakes Borough Council has been asked to raise awareness for a disorder that constrains muscle movement.

Gary Whyte, from Mountainside in Union County, appealed to council to adopt a resolution or proclamation to promote Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP) awareness.

FOP, according to the U.S. Library of National Medicine, is a disorder in which muscle and connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments are gradually replaced by (ossified) bone forming outside the skeleton that restricts movement.

Although the disease is not technically considered fatal, many who have FOP die at an early age due to starvation, when their jaws freeze shut. Some FOP sufferers also suffocate when new bone develops.

Whyte said he has been on a crusade for FOP awareness in New Jersey since 2001.

He said he has successfully persuaded 534 of 566 municipalities in the state, through writing letters and making visits, to issue a resolution or proclamation promoting FOP awareness.

Whyte said he was motivated to raise awareness for FOP after he attended a fundraiser for someone who had been recently diagnosed with the disorder.

Whyte also conducts an annual fundraiser where the proceeds are donated to University of Pennsylvania Hospital for FOP research and equipment.

“This is one of two books that contain all of the proclamations and resolutions we’ve

collected over 16 years,” said Whyte, referring to a massive binder that he displayed for the council. “On June 14, 2017, I received the 500th proclamation in Warren County. From that day on, I’ve been hitting the road to go to the rest of the towns that I haven’t heard from over the years. Tonight—which my wife isn’t too happy about— this is my 46th town meeting since June.”

Whyte said he had the poorest response from Burlington County municipalities.

“For whatever reason, Burlington County had the highest number of towns (12) that hadn’t responded to me yet,” he said. “Tonight is my seventh meeting in Burlington County.”

Whyte said he wrote to all of the state assembly representatives and senators last year to see if they would consider permanently designating April 23 as FOP Day in New Jersey. He said three assemblymen and 13 senators have signed on to a potential bill.

April 23 is already considered International FOP Awareness Day by the International FOP Association, as that is the date in which the discovery of the FOP gene was announced.

Whyte said he personally advocates for seven people in the state who have the disease, two of whom reside in Camden County and one each in Somerset (a little boy), Atlantic, Bergen and Morris counties.

Medford Lakes is one of the last remaining municipalities that has not yet formally recognized FOP. “This governing body has acknowledged the requests, but there are so many causes out there that deserve support,” said Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh. “Historically, we have not made any

AWARENESS>>PAGE 18

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Saturday, December 2, 2017

Construction of New Tabernacle Town Hall Hits Road Block Ask The Expert!

By Dean Mainardi

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.”

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.

541 Barbershop................................................12 Femmina Italian Grill......................................13 McElven Fuel Inc...........................................22 Medford Eyewear Center................................15 Modern Day Recycling...................................14 Neuberts Tire & Auto.....................................23 Red Lion Inn...................................................13 Runway Cafe...................................................14 Spanky’s Candles............................................12

PHOTO BY JAKE WASIAK Tabernacle Town Hall.

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE—Another discussion about the possible construction of a new Tabernacle Town Hall, or an upgrade of the current one, was the highlight of a Tabernacle Township Committee meeting on Nov. 13.

The matter was last discussed at a Sept. 11 committee meeting and like the last time, officials had few answers to many questions.

Mayor Stephen Lee IV said the township has been looking into the construction of a new town hall on a piece of vacant land which sits next to the Sequoia Alternative Program building.

He said the municipality has also been entertaining the idea of adding to its existing property at 163 Carranza Road.

The township’s first step was to consult the Pinelands Commission.

Lee said that he along with Township Engineer Dan Guzzi and Township Administrator Doug Cramer met with commission representatives to talk about the potential uses for property in the town.

“We invited Tabernacle Board of Education President Vicki Shoemaker and Vice President Antony Laudicina,” Lee said. “It was a very positive meeting, but the Pinelands Commission told us that, regardless of what we do, we would have to tie into the septic system at the school (Sequoia). The Tabernacle School Board oversees that line. If we want to do anything with any kind of development within Tabernacle, we would need to tie in to that septic.”

The Tabernacle School Board not only owns the septic line and the Sequoia building, but it also owns the 5.7-acre area of vacant land next to it that the township has set its sights on.

Lee said that he reached out to Shoemaker and she presented the township’s ideas for the land to the school board in an executive session.

However, he said the board decided against having any further dialogue with the township about the matter.

“The problem was that we didn’t even get an opportunity to talk about the septic with the school board because they refused to meet with us,” Lee said. “They have an agreement with the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) for usage of (Sequoia) until 2020.”

Lee said the township was told “informally” by board representatives that the board doesn’t

want to make the LRHSD “mad” at them. The LRHSD runs the Sequoia Alternative Program.

“They don’t want to talk about anything that has to do with the property until (the agreement) runs out,” Lee said. “But as Dan will say, that really puts us in a bad spot because of the amount of time it takes to get things through Pinelands—it is lengthy. My question to the committee is— where do we go from here?”

Contacted after the committee meeting, Shoemaker, in her fourth year on the school board and second year as president, confirmed what Lee said.

“We have been leasing the building (Sequoia) to the Lenape District since the early 2000s and we don’t want to break it (the agreement) or cause any problems with them,” she said.

“We have a good working relationship with the district and want to keep it that way.”

Shoemaker said that when the LRHSD made renovations to Sequoia, they tied into the Tabernacle School District’s septic plant and piping that runs through the land of interest.

“We did (and do) not want to disrupt anything at Sequoia,” she said. “When the lease is up in 2020, we will look to include LRHSD in further discussion.”

Committeeman Richard Franzen seemed incredulous about the lack of discussion with the local school boards, but said more opinions on the town hall matter should be sought.

“We keep saying that we want to have a new building or have an addition, but we really need to hear from the public to see if they want that,” he said. “It sounds like it’s a big hassle across the street, but I don’t see the (septic) tie-in as an issue. I think that if we need it, it has to happen.”

Franzen said he doesn’t see how either of the two school districts could say that the township can’t tie in to the existing septic system.

“But that’s a lay opinion,” he said. “I’m not an engineer.”

Dr. Carol Birnbohm, superintendent of the LRHSD, said in an interview that it is the Tabernacle School Board’s decision to make and she has no further comment.

Lee, after the committee meeting, said that a new town hall is needed in the township.

“We’re looking to improve services to taxpayers and trying to get an updated facility

CONSTRUCTION>>PAGE 19

Saturday, December 2, 2017

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SCANNER Evesham Police Hoping to Identify Gucci Purse Thieves

Thanksgiving Service to the Community

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Evesham Township Police Department is searching for an African American man and woman, pictured, caught on surveillance video last month shoplifting.

The Women’s Club of Medford supplied Thanksgiving dinner to the Medford Township Police Department’s officers who were assigned to work on Thanksgiving.

EVESHAM—Officers from the Evesham Township Police Department are searching for two people who were caught on surveillance video last month shoplifting two Gucci purses.

Police say the incident happened on Nov. 10 around 8:30 p.m. at a TJ Maxx store located at 173 S. Route 73.

Surveillance video shows an African American man and woman stealing the designer purses.

The stolen purses are valued at $2,800.

If anyone knows the identity of the suspects pictured above, you are asked to contact the Evesham Police Department at 856-983-1116 or their confidential tip line at 856-983-4699.

Smoke Prompts Evacuation of Chatsworth Elementary and Early Dismissal WOODLAND—Students were evacuated from Chatsworth Elementary School in Woodland Township on Nov. 20 after a malfunctioning heater circulator filled the building with smoke.

According to Woodland Township School District Superintendent Misty Weiss, the incident began around 10 a.m.

“The heating system in our building consists of three boilers,” she said. “Throughout the building, there are heating circulators that push the heat into the hallways and classrooms from each of the boilers. One of the fan motors, in one of the heating circulators, malfunctioned, causing smoke to come into the hallway near the main entrance.”

Weiss said the school’s boiler, circuit breaker and thermostat were immediately turned off and the school’s occupants were evacuated to the Woodland Township Municipal Building.

The building is located across the street from the school.

“We quickly took them inside, out of the weather,” she said. “The township fire company responded right away and deemed the building safe to re-enter.”

However, Weiss said there was still a haze in the building and very strong odor.

“It was decided to dismiss students earlier than planned,” she said. “The school day was

PHOTO SUBMITTED The Medford meal included turkey and all of the fixings that go along with a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

EVACUATION>>PAGE 20

Sheriff Stanfield’s 22nd Annual Toy Drive Underway MOUNT HOLLY—The Burlington County Sheriff Department’s 22nd Annual Toy Drive is officially underway.

Residents and businesses can donate toys for children in need at 49 drop-off locations throughout the county. The drive will run until Dec. 17.

“It has been a privilege of mine to host this annual toy drive for the past 22 years,” said Sheriff Jean Stanfield. “We always receive a wonderful response to the drive. Last year, approximately 1,500 toys were collected.”

After the drive, the department’s officers will gather up the bins and return them to the Burlington County Government Complex.

Human Service agencies will work with the

sheriff’s department to distribute the donations to local children.

Agencies considered for the donations include the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, Oaks Integrated Care, Catholic Charities, Christian Caring Center, Providence House, Sisterhood in Burlington City, Servicios Latinos, Foster and Adoptive Family Services and House of God in Delran.

“The holidays are a special time for everyone and through the generosity of all of our volunteers and the community, we can make it a joyous time for those less fortunate,” Stanfield said. “It has been incredible to witness the county come together year after year and

TOY>>PAGE 18

PHOTO SUBMITTED In Evesham, 11 officers from the Evesham Township Police Department (pictured) assisted the Marlton Business Association with delivering Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

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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.

Editorial

All Government Meetings Should Be Recorded for Broadcast Over the Internet With the internet and digital video recording capabilities becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society, we believe the state Legislature should require that all government meetings be streamed over the internet or video recorded and posted on the internet for view within 24 hours.

The public is more inclined to pay attention to the issues of the community when they can watch their decision makers engage in the decision-making process at any time and from anywhere.

Streaming meetings over the internet years ago would have cost upwards of $20,000 and was impractical given dial-up internet speeds.

But now it has become quite practical to stream meetings over the internet—even here in the Pine Barrens.

In our area, high-speed internet and Wi-Fi now exist in just about every location where there is a municipal meeting room.

Cameras and the technology are also considerably cheaper.

The new technology has made livestreaming more economical and many government bodies in the U.S. are now streaming their meetings and archiving them for a cost of $250 a year or less.

Recently, the Pinelands Commission has experimented with an internet stream of their meetings. It is a move in the right direction— toward transparency and accountability.

The commission traditionally convenes around 9:30 a.m. at their headquarters in New Lisbon, a time when most people are at work or finishing up dropping their kids off to school. Individuals pre-occupied are now able to go online at anytime they want to and watch what took place.

The streaming has been well received, not only by the working or parenting public, but also by individuals who live outside of the

Burlington County area, but are still within the Pinelands (such as Cumberland County residents). The streaming has eliminated the need for 60-minute or greater travel times to and from the commission’s headquarters.

Recently, the Pinelands Regional School District streamed their parent meetings online. 200 to 400 eyes were drawn to the online feed—mostly parents who were in a position that requires them to attend to their children at home or put dinner on the table; but yet wanted to pay attention to the issues of the district.

We believe the district should now extend this courtesy to its school-board meetings so the public can continue to be able to pay attention to the issues of the district.

Of course, we realize that some self-serving politicians out there want to prevent citizens from hearing about possible legislation or listening to important conversations between lawmakers. The last thing they want is 200 or more eyes on their conversations.

But, transparency and accountability are essential parts of government and all government bodies must strive to be as open and transparent as possible. Politicians who shy away from the spotlight are taking away from the spirit of local government and robbing citizens of democracy.

Broadcasting the meetings provides convenience to the working public, those homebound or those who are simply preoccupied with other activities.

It is well worth the now nominal cost. All residents in the state deserve an opportunity to have more public access to their government and we urge lawmakers to make streaming meetings a requirement.

So many puerile ideas become law in Trenton on a yearly basis, but this is one that has merit.

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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.

Letter to the Editor Congressman MacArthur Invites Governor-Elect Murphy to a Discussion on Tax Policy Last week, I sent a letter to Governor-Elect Phil Murphy inviting him to a substantive discussion on tax policy, after the governor-elect questioned my efforts to provide tax relief for New Jerseyans.

As the editor of a local newspaper in my congressional district, I wanted to share with you the full text of the letter (found below).

Dear Governor-Elect Murphy, The day after you were elected, I was pleased to talk with you and agree to work together to improve the lives of New Jerseyans, while refraining from taking cheap political shots at each other. I thought we had a good conversation and remain hopeful we can have a productive working relationship. I was therefore, very disappointed by press reports that during your very first sit-down TV interview two weekends ago, you chose to go after me over my sincere efforts to provide real tax relief for my constituents.

While you have promised to raise taxes on New Jerseyans by $1.3 billion dollars, the bill I voted for will cut taxes for the vast majority of families and businesses in our state. This bill includes a number of provisions that will benefit our residents including: • Increasing the child tax credit from $1,000 per child to at least $1,600 • Creating a tax credit for those caring for non-child dependents

• Doubling the standard deduction to $24,000 for a family • Preserving a property tax deduction that will benefit all N.J. homeowners • Moving from a high-rate system with lots of loopholes that usually just benefit the wealthy, to a simpler, fairer system that lowers rates and closes loopholes Furthermore, I understand that state legislative leaders in New Jersey are already reconsidering their plans to raise taxes, which would be a welcome new direction for Trenton.

I have never shied away from a serious policy discussion and recently held a five-hour town hall meeting in Willingboro, a town in which I only received 12 percent of the vote in the last election. In that same spirit of an open and honest dialogue, I’d like to invite you to my home county for a substantive discussion on tax policy. Let’s put the talking points aside and have a conversation about your plan to raise taxes in N.J. and my efforts for real tax reform in Washington D.C. Our mutual constituents deserve nothing less.

You have my cell phone number and should feel free to call me to discuss.

Congressman Tom MacArthur 3rd Congressional District Toms River, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Cranberry Festival Chairwoman Lynn Giamalis Dies of Cancer) I was so honored to have her as a friend for over 40 years. To say that my heart is broken is an understatement.

Fran Evans (Re: Cranberry Festival Chairwoman Lynn Giamalis Dies of Cancer) Such a wonderful soul gone too soon! We will sure miss the heck out of you Lynn! R.I.P. Deborah Grear Kleinow (Re: Cranberry Festival Chairwoman Lynn Giamalis Dies of Cancer) She was fair with me when she was the dog catcher.

Jeffrey Magnini (Re: Cranberry Festival Chairwoman Lynn Giamalis Dies of Cancer) She was a beautiful lady who was always smiling. She is going to be missed.

Mariza DeLeon (Re: Letter to the Editor-Sexually Explicit Material Should Be Removed from Pinelands Regional) Mama Bears: let your voices be heard on this issue. Excellent letter. It makes me happy to see that these parents are wise enough to call smut what it really is, and to recognize and call out the agenda. The sexualization of children is rampant. They probably have the Teen Vogue magazine on their shelf too with an article promoting anal sex. What’s very scary is that the administration and the staff reviewed the material, and then unanimously re-approved it. These are the people making decisions every day for your children...yikes. May I suggest home education?

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

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COMMUNITY

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

Events

December 2 Event: Bowling Tournament Location: Toms River Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Whiting is hosting an adult/youth bowling tournament, at Playdrome Lanes in Toms River, at 10 a.m. The tournament is open to all adult and junior bowlers. The fee is $36 per bowler. Entries close on Nov. 30. For more information, call William Bodine III, 732-814-6683; Playdrome Lanes, 732-349-5345; or the parish office, 732-350-2121.

Event: Yellow Ribbon Cookie Drive for the Troops Location: Medford Details: Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey is hosting its annual holiday cookie collection drive to send to the troops deployed in the Middle East. Show the brave men and women deployed in harm’s way your support! Drop off your cookies and baked treats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the 8th District Legislative Office, 176 Route 70, in Medford.

Please package your cookies and treats in layers in large Ziplock bags or Glad disposable containers (cookie tins are expensive to ship). Think about adding an unsealed note of encouragement along with your donation. Or, add a child’s handmade card (no last names, addresses or phone numbers).

Event: An Olde Fashioned Tree Lighting Ceremony Location: Plumsted Details:The township will hold its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Plumsted Municipal Building, 121 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. The event is rain, snow or shine and will feature the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company’s big red fire engine which will transport Santa Claus to his stop in the community. Parents can have their children’s photo taken with Santa for free during the program and hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Bring your own ornament and help trim the township tree. Members of the Girl Scouts of Plumsted Township will be singing carols during the evening.

Non-perishable food items for the Plumsted Business Merchants Association’s food drive will be collected during the night.

The Plumsted Townshp Council for the Arts will be hosting a gingerbread contest from 6:30 to 8 p.m. immediately following the tree-lighting ceremony. For information on how to obtain an entry form, e-mail Rebecca Nowalski at d4nova@ gmail.com

December 3 Event: Winter in the Pines Location: Batsto Village Details: Enjoy a holiday celebration, “Winter in the Pines”, Sunday at Historic Batsto Village. Valerie Vaughn, a singer and musician from Tuckerton, will perform from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.,

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN Holidays are Coming for Seniors

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—It does not seem possible, but December is already here! The days, months, and years pass too quickly as one becomes a senior!

The new Senior Gazette has been published and has all the information about both December events and the events for the coming year. Seniors look forward to the events planned for 2018 and selecting which events will be of interest.

There are the usual trips, but also a few new venues have been added.

Please take notice that the wrong date was accidentally published last week in the Pemberton Township Senior Citizens Column

PAGE 9

for an upcoming Christmas dinner/party.

The Christmas dinner at the Garden State Diner will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16. Check your calendars for that date. The seating will be at 11:45 a.m., with dinner served at noon.

There will be the usual five courses, beginning with a fruit cup. This will be followed by soup and salad. Of course, delicious cinnamon rolls and cheese rolls will be on the table. All entrees will include a baked potato and family style veggies. Dessert will be cake and ice cream. There will be plenty of coffee and tea available.

This is a full meal, so there will probably be a lot of “doggie” bags to take home.

“Side Car Charlie” will be at the dinner

HOLIDAYS>>PAGE 10

Come

in the Batsto Visitor Center. Admission is $5. Carriage rides through the village are $3 per person. Carolers will stroll through the village entertaining visitors with seasonal songs.

Tours of the Batsto mansion are $3 per person. Also see blacksmith, Toby Kroll, demonstrate in the Batsto blacksmith shop; the Batsto Post Office will be open to hand cancel holiday mail in the tradition of Batsto and visit the Museum Shop. Light refreshments will be served.

December 9 Event: Holiday House Tour Location: Tabernacle Details: Join us for a day of Christmas cheer with Tabernacle Historical Society’s “Christmas in the Pines” Holiday House Tour. United Methodist Church’s annual Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., then join the Church of Christ for their luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (free for those with a tour ticket). Tickets are $25 and may be purchased the morning of the event at the Tabernacle Town Hall, 163 Carranza Road.

Or, pre-order your tickets for $20 by calling Margaret Hangley 609-923 -7707.

Proceeds benefit the Tabernacle Historical Society and their efforts to preserve and restore local history.

Events should be submitted at least three weeks in advance.

Christmas in the Pines House Tour and More For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE—A full day of Christmas Cheer awaits you at the Historical Society of Tabernacle Township’s “Christmas in the Pines House Tour and More” on Sat., Dec. 9.

Start your day off by purchasing your house tour ticket at the historic Tabernacle Town Hall, 163 Carranza Road.

Proceed across the street to the United Methodist Church’s “Cookie Walk,” 166 Carranza Road, from 9 a.m. to noon to get your homemade cookies for Santa and your guests.

With your House Tour ticket in hand, you are welcome to partake in a free luncheon at the Church of Christ, located at 160 Carranza Road, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or you may eat on your own at the restaurants mentioned in the ticket brochure.

Worship With Us

After you have eaten and rested, start your house tour by going to the 1860 KnightPepper House, located at 163 Carranza Road and then on to the little red 1890 Friendship Schoolhouse located on Carranza Road, next to Sequoia Alternative Program building.

Your ticket will then direct you to the featured homes distinctly decorated for your pleasure which are open from 12 noon to 6 p.m.

Four residential homes will be decked out in their holiday fineries.

Start with a lovely home festively decorated and featuring a wonderful collection of over 200 unique Santas. Proceed on to a Byer’s Choice Christmas and enjoy a large collection of these dolls and their unique history.

Next, gather up the clan for a holiday home bedecked in family tartans and traditional

CHRISTMAS>>PAGE 10

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HOLIDAYS PAGE 9

entertaining all of the participating seniors with many old favorites and some Christmas Carols.

Some music will be suitable for dancing and some great for a sing-a-long. It is always a pleasure to be entertained by “Charlie.”

The Browns Mills Senior Club often has him entertain on the third Tuesday of the month at their meeting. So, check him out in the future if you enjoy some live entertainment. He can play all the “Oldies.”

Unfortunately, all the tickets for the Christmas Dinner have been sold, but there is a wait list.

A Dec. 6 trip to Resorts still has a seat or two available. If one does not have a ticket, the bus leaves the Acme parking lot at 9:30 a.m.

Show up and check out the seating. If there is an unfilled seat, usually last-minute sign-ups can be accommodated. There seems to always be last-minute absences providing that empty seat.

Tickets are now on sale for a Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 trip to the Sands Casino. This casino is located in Allentown, PA. The cost for senior residents is only $25 and $35 for guests. Seniors will receive $20 on their slot card and a $5 food voucher. There is a food

court as well as several excellent restaurants.

An Outlet Mall is attached to the food court and casino, so it is all under one roof.

The buses even unload in a covered area and there is a heated waiting room. This is a great place to enjoy a meal out, shop, and even gamble a little.

Seniors always look forward to shopping in the mall. Each senior will receive a coupon booklet to find some real bargains in the stores.

The bus will fill quickly, so if you are interested in this trip, stop at the Pemberton Township Senior Center soon.

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

Expect the usual excellent meal with all the “trimmings.” Tickets are priced at $15 for senior residents and $30 for guests. Prices have not been raised for many years and remain the same as previous years. This will probably be the last time a price increase can be avoided, so enjoy the festivities. “Side Car Charlie” will entertain at this party also. Tickets are on sale now.

March will be a busy month.

A trip to Doolan’s for a St. Patrick’s Day Party is scheduled for Thursday, March 8.

The following week, the Interact Club from

Pemberton Township High School will visit the senior center and treat the seniors to a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day Party on Wednesday, March 14. This is always a great evening and seniors look forward to the interaction with the students.

The next week will feature a trip to the Mt. Airy Resort in the Poconos. On Tuesday, March 20, seniors will travel to see “Sweet Caroline,” a Neil Diamond Review. This trip will include a super delicious buffet and, of course, some slot dollars.

The full schedule is included in the Senior Gazette, so stop at the center and pick up your copy. Save your copy of the schedule and mark the events you wish to participate in. Tickets for each event will be sold beginning about three months in advance. All reservations and tickets

CHRISTMAS PAGE 9

décor. Your final stop will be a jolly 1800s Stage Coach Stop and Post Office, which is an antique lovers dream. All homes are truly Tabernacle treasures.

To be respectful to our homeowners, the society asks that you be prepared to take off

Saturday, December 2, 2017

need to be finalized by 30 days in advance to assist in the planning. Most ticket costs must be paid to the vendor 30 days in advance to secure the reservations.

Remember, the Pemberton Township Senior Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and nourishing meals are served, by reservation. Transportation is available for non-driver seniors. If you do not drive, phone 609-893-4400 for information on transportation to the center.

The staff is ready to assist seniors with many services. Coffee and tea are available along with snack items beginning at 8 a.m. Many seniors stop in for “breakfast” and exercise to begin their day. The center is located in Browns Mills, across from the U.S. Post Office.

your shoes when you enter the homes and carry them in a plastic bag. Tickets may be preordered for $20 by calling 609-923-7707 or 609-268-1255 or bought the day of the tours for $25. All proceeds will benefit a maintenance fund. The Historical Society of Tabernacle Twp. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are gratefully accepted.

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Saturday, December 2, 2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

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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.

Measure Reverse T3 and Get Thyroid Healthy!

I bet you know that hypothyroidism means reduced level of thyroid hormone. Active thyroid hormone is dubbed as “T3.” But, you probably have not heard of reverse T3. Today I’m going to tell you why you should never ignore reverse T3 testing, even if your endocrinologist does.

First, the basics. The hormone called T3 gives you energy, it’s sometimes called the gas pedal in your body. Reverse T3, abbreviated as rT3, would then be the brakes. You sometimes want the brakes, don’t you? Or else your body will speed down the highway and zoom out of control. rT3 is required as part of the push-pull balancing system.

So, in my humble opinion, not testing for rT3 levels is an oversight. If you’re rT3 dominant, you’re clinically hypothyroid, stressed, anxious, overweight, tired and cold!

The scary part is that your TSH and your Free and/or Total T4 levels might be in perfect range.

How would know you were rT3 dominant unless you were tested. I’m making a good case heren aren’t I? Thyroid hormone regulation influences your weight and metabolism meaning how fast you burn off that figgy pudding. It is responsible for mitochondrial production of ATP, so ask yourself if you’re tired all the time. By the way, I have a much longer and comprehensive medical article that gives you much more information about rT3 and thyroid. This version includes ways on how to lower rT3 naturally and get slim and gorgeous again. I’m happy to email it via my newsletter if you sign up

for that at my website suzycohen.com. In the meantime, do you have: 1. Low T3 If you have too little Free T3 relative to T4, you get hypothyroidism. Therefore, you experience weight gain, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, depression, and a tendency to feel cold.

2. High rT3 Too much reverse T3 and you get the same effects as hypothyroidism (low T3) because the high rT3 blocks the cell’s ability to bind active T3.

If you have high levels of rT3, I suggest you do NOT use T4 drugs (Levothyroxine is the generic), because it tends to break down into even more rT3 (as opposed to T3). As a result, some of you still feel awful and hypothyroid, even though you take your medicine, and never miss a dose.

What if rT3 is high? What if your TSH is normal but you still feel terrible? I’ve covered this entirely in my book, Thyroid Healthy. I’ll nutshell it for you here by recommending that you talk to your physician about switching medications, and use with that contains T3. I think adaptogenic herbs can help, specifically ones that activate T4 to T3, for example ashwagandha. I’d consult the oracle Dr. Google (lol!) and learn as much as possible about this little gland. It’s good to bind heavy metals, another cause for elevated rT3. And finally, there are specific B vitamins and minerals, as well as vitamin D, that help reduce rT3 and raise Free T3.

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.

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Saturday, December 2, 2017

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?”

She Turns Ugly in Company Mode It’s Thanksgiving week and we must all make ready, for we are in the thick of the holiday season.

Ready or not, here we go!

The holidays are much more than trimming trees and tangling tinsel. It’s beyond decking with boughs of holly.

Yes sir, it’s more about cleaning halls and tackling bedrooms with an effort that is reminiscent of mucking stalls.

If you know what I mean.

This time of year we tend to host gatherings for family, friends and orderly people.

Therefore, as I prepare, I clean with frenzy in an attempt to hide our slovenly ways.

In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I polished mirrors, took a swab to the cool air returns and decontaminated the light switches.

When our Charlie came home for a weekend, I greeted him with a warm embrace, a peck on the cheek and a heartfelt, “Mommy loves!” Then I said the five words that all of my sons dread hearing, “We’re in Company Mode, Bud.” In my defense, Company Mode doesn’t mean that my family has to dust the rafters or sweep the chimney. I don’t expect them to pull out the stove or hot mop the driveway.

No sir, Company Mode just means they simply have to pick up after themselves. It may also mean that I’ll be a tad cranky, slightly demanding and an all-out nag.

More ghastly than a pop quiz, harder than the extra lap around the track, Company Mode consists of family members placing their own dishes in the dishwasher; picking up their dirty towels; and, as if a mop-wielding psycho was only a step behind them, keeping things neat and clean.

I turn ugly in Company Mode; I know that.

I snap at people for haphazardly dropping their shoes. I throw a fit when they leave their wares strewn about, and I have been known to chew out my husband for having the audacity to use the bathroom sink.

Last weekend, with nary 24 hours remaining before the arrival of our first round of holiday guests, the time had come to face the music.

The thought of involving the family with

preparations brought back the memories of our eldest and wise-cracking son, Vernon, who once said, “We live, we breathe. Why must we apologize for that?”

He was standing in the midst of a pile of electronic rubbish at the time.

Charlie, the youngest of the Clinch clan, was sent to the family room with great hopes that he would get the place ship shape. I found him, only moments later, lounging in his favorite spot on the couch, spinning a basketball on his fingers and watching a game on TV. “You haven’t done anything with this room,” I said with disgust.

“I did my best,” he said without looking at me.

“There’s an extension cord on the floor and candy wrappers on the carpet. Not to mention a pair of dirty socks as well as a foam football that’s been partially consumed by the dog.”

“You know, he said as he flashed his baby blues, I get the feeling that you don’t like how I decorate.”

Sometimes I get the feeling that he’s spent too much time with Vernon.

Our family gathering was a huge success.

The turkey roasted nicely, the mashed potatoes were succulent and the green bean casserole was to die for.

We gave thanks, we dined and I can’t help but believe that the clean refrigerator gave appetites a real shot in the arm.

Following the festivities, the guests loaded their suitcases in their cars and with the “toot-toot” of their horns, drove away and left us all alone…and with a clean house.

As I write, the foyer remains dusted, the bathrooms glisten and the refrigerator still shines with sterility despite its abundance of leftovers.

A little voice in my head whispered, “We should stay in Company Mode long enough to get us through all of the holiday celebrations! I should dust bi-weekly, make the foyer a priority and keep the bathrooms polished.”

Yeah, right. I’m quite certain that a more sane idea would be to defend ourselves with the fact that we live and we breathe.

Better yet, I think that I’ll take me and my alter-ego, the “Company Mode Nag”, on a nice little holiday vacation.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D Across 1 Birthstone between sapphire and topaz 5 Frees (of) 9 Russian ruler until 1917 13 Get a better mtge.

14 Take by force 16 Germany’s von Bismarck 17 Biting remark 18 “Divine Comedy” poet 19 Auntie of Broadway 20 Lena Horne classic that begins “Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky ... “ 23 Historic time 24 Earth tremor 26 Measure of a store’s visitors 32 Tic-tac-toe win 34 Dryer screen buildup 35 German-born sex therapist, familiarly 36 Neither here __ there 37 Choir members 39 John, in Scotland 40 “All My Children” vixen 42 “Not so hot” 43 Tangerine kin 46 Subj. for nature lovers

P U Z Z L E

47 Before, to Byron 48 Bright spot in tough times 50 Sales talk 52 U.N. advocate for workers’ rights 53 What a Geiger counter measures ... or, as two words, what the ends of 20-, 26- and 48-Across are 60 Tiny “smashing” target 62 Gem measure 63 __ of expertise 64 Works on the lawn 65 Subway entrance 66 Fish home, at home 67 Game on horseback 68 Piped up 69 Grinds to a halt Down 1 Planets, to poets 2 Gardening moss 3 Oversize coif 4 Opera text 5 Poet Kipling 6 “__ Mommy kissing ... “ 7 Sandy hill 8 Madrid miss: Abbr.

9 Marisa of “My Cousin Vinny”

10 Touring figure skating show 11 Emer. cash source 12 Caviar 15 Feed the neighbor’s cat, say 21 “The A-Team” muscleman 22 Actress Anne 25 Milked animal, in kiddie-speak 26 Olympic stadium centerpiece 27 Mideast ships 28 Hunting, catlike 29 Common typeface 30 Old French money 31 Practice fly ball, e.g.

33 Postgrad tests 38 Spread, as seed 41 Do over, as a kitchen 44 They’re dug up at digs 45 Gave off 49 Yalie 51 “You are not!” rebuttal 54 Cheerios grain 55 Opera showpiece 56 Colombian city 57 Persia, now 58 See to 59 Jabbers 60 Rock band need 61 As well

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

Saturday, December 2, 2017

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

AUTOMOBILES/TRUCKS We buy all used cars, vans and trucks.

Any make, any model, any condition and any year. We also specialize in buying classic Porsches, Mercedes and Jaguars. Running or not, dead or alive.

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Medford area room for rent. Full house privileges. $300 deposit, $150 weekly rent. 609-321-1945.

Two bedroom house in Chatsworth for rent. Quiet area, no dogs. $1,200 a month, plus utilities. 1 1/2 month security. Call 609-432-0560.

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

HELP WANTED Nursery with position for someone who is willing to work and learn–A prosperous cranberry plant propagation business located near Chatsworth, NJ has an opening for an individual who is motivated, dedicated with a strong work

ethic and an interest in becoming familiar with plant propagation. Experience in farm culture is advantageous.

Responsibilities would include plant care, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and assistance with daily operations. This is an hourly, year-round position. Advancement determined by the individual demonstrating the ability to take on responsibilities.

Applicant should send a description of their work experience or resume to P.O. Box 517, Chatsworth, N.J. 08019.

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 diploma or GED; pass a background check and drug screening and have a valid driver’s license. 401kbenefits and paid training. Please apply online at www.mypetrojob.com Area claims writer. No experience.

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PAGE 18

EQUALITY PAGE 1

the district’s four main schools–due to word of mouth and emails from interested girls and parents.

He said the significant turnout occurred without any advertising or promotion from the district or his daughter’s high school (Cherokee).

“I anticipate an even better turnout in the coming spring,” Morgan Hambrecht said.

She said the district has the opportunity to set the standard and champion the fight for girls in South Jersey and elsewhere.

“Encourage us and embrace our talents as you do boys,” Morgan Hambrecht said.

“Cherokee has helped me to be a better leader.

Don’t be hypocritical by teaching me leadership, then ask me to step back when it’s time to fight for what’s right. Girls’ golf is the right thing to do and I’m convinced you know that.”

According to Brad Hare, the decision by the district to offer another pilot season has already been made. “(This will be) another year of unsanctioned events that provide our girls with fewer and fewer scholarship opportunities because the tournaments that they play in are not recognized by the colleges,” Roy Hambrecht said. “The boys’ events are. So, tell me, how is that equality? These girls have taken time out of their schedules to be here and have sacrificed many hours of hard work and they deserve better.”

Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm commended Morgan and the other girls in the room for their efforts.

“The board is supporting girls’ golf as much as we can,” she said. “We continue to be pioneers in the Olympic Conference, urging other members in the conference to start girls’ golf. I’ve personally asked the other superintendents at South Jersey regional meetings to add girls’ golf. So, we’re working with you.”

Danielle Hare, Brad’s wife, who also has a son at Shawnee High School, disagreed with

AWARENESS PAGE 4

resolutions because there are so many.”

Mayor Thomas Cranston said McIntosh’s explanation is probably why council has never acted on Whyte’s request.

“Personally, I feel that with the effort that you’re putting forth and what you’re trying to accomplish, I can’t think that there’s any reason we shouldn’t accommodate your request,” he said. “I don’t want to be the one town that didn’t oblige. So, we need to have our solicitor review the resolution first, but we can put it on the agenda for our next meeting on Dec. 13.”

Whyte, who thanked council, said that his personal goal is to have recognition documents collected from all state municipalities in time for his next fundraiser on March 3, 2018.

That is when he said he would like to donate his collection books to the New Jersey Historical Society, which requested to have them as an example of the biggest awareness initiative in the state’s history.

Whyte said the society’s request got him some additional publicity in June from an unexpected source.

“I was given the (New Jersey State Governor’s) Jefferson Award (for achieving measurable community impact) by Gov. Chris

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Saturday, December 2, 2017

Birnbohm as she stepped up to the meeting podium.

“Although you are saying that you’re encouraging (girls’ golf), are you aware that your athletic directors and your coaches are not supporting it?” she said. “I’m urging you to research that and talk to them.”

Brad Hare, who also works with Moorestown High School’s girls’ golf team, which is officially sanctioned, followed his wife with comments.

Hare also runs GolfU, a Cherry Hill-based indoor teaching facility for golf, and organized the first LPGA Girls Golf High School Classic at Ramblewood Country Club in April.

“There’s no reason that we can’t do this at Cherokee, Lenape, Shawnee and Seneca,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a reach. I think you have people in the district (parents and students at the meeting) who are really working hard to make this happen. On the flip side, there are other coaches and athletic directors who are not.”

The PGA Professional asked the board who makes the decision to push forward with girls’ golf teams.

“Is it left to the athletic directors and the coaches, who may not want anything to do with it?” he said. “Or is it a board decision to run another (year of a) pilot program?”

After Brad Hare and Birnbohm disagreed with each other on level of interest and how that might help girls’ golf become an official sport in the district and beyond, Birnbohm sought to conclude the dialogue.

“The Olympic Conference is all co-ed golf—that is the way that it’s been run,” she said. “We’re trying as much as we can to get the Olympic Conference to buy into this. We’re trying to find a league for our girls. We’re also trying to encourage more girls to come out.”

However, Brad Hare was not satisfied with Birnbohm’s response.

“So, you’re not going to be the pioneer and actually add (girls’ golf) until Washington Township adds it,” he said with some sarcasm. “(It can only be added after) another Olympic Conference team does it.”

Birnbohm said the district needs to be

part of a conference or league in order to run a competitive, sanctioned sport. She stressed to the Hare family and all of the others in the room that the board and administration was “trying” to establish a permanent and officially sanctioned girls’ golf program for district students.

Brad Hare continued to refute Birnbohm’s statements after the meeting as he spoke to supporters and the press.

“Nobody would ever allow other sports to be ‘co-ed’, but for some reason, they get away with saying, ‘We’re going to do co-ed golf because it’s easy and nobody wants to fight the fight,”’ he said. “There is no reason you can’t grab Moorestown High School—that would give you five schools right there just in this area. If Lenape Regional puts it in, Cherry Hill’s going to jump on board and then you get Eastern.”

Brad Hare said that the LRHSD has the ability to create a “snowball effect.”

“Moorestown travels to North Jersey because there is (no other official team) within 50 miles,” he said. “So, you talk about (how you need) a team that would join your league— they are one.”

The operator of GolfU said he disagrees with the district’s position and expressed disdain for the lack of promotion the district has done for the pilot program.

“I disagree with what they said,” Brad Hare said. “Despite everything going on last year, there were still 31 girls who showed up without advertising and emails sent to the parents. This was all word of mouth. So, the word ‘pioneer’ is a funny word.”

Interviewed the following week after the meeting, Birnbohm reiterated that she, the board and district athletic directors have been doing all they can to provide an opportunity for girls interested in high school golf.

“Our school board and administration are doing more than others for girls’ golf,” she said.

“We’ve asked the Girls’ Golf League in central New Jersey (where Moorestown plays) to add our schools, but they said ‘no.’”

According to Birnbohm, the reason that the central New Jersey league gave for not

admitting the LRHSD girls’ teams was that they didn’t want to travel to southern New Jersey (other than to Moorestown High School) for matches.

“I would like to provide girls that competition and want to work towards a conference locally,” Birnbohm said. “The problem is that there have been no other schools yet in the Olympic Conference that have had enough interest in a girls-only team.”

Birnbohm, during the interview, refuted the argument that girl golfers in the district are not eligible for scholarships.

“The New Jersey State Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has always recognized girls’ scores when they’ve played on co-ed teams,” she said. “It’s true that when our girls’ teams play each other, they’re considered scrimmages and the scores don’t count.

“But our athletic directors have also found sanctioned tournaments for girls to play.

The notion that girls in our district need a girls-only high school team to (be eligible) for scholarships is false.”

Birnbohm said she is reaching out to parents who attended the board meeting and hopes to meet with them later this month to have a discussion about how to move forward.

But, regardless of the decision-making and discussions yet to come, girls such as Taylor Miles, another Cherokee junior girls’ golfer, just wants the opportunity to prove herself. “(The boy golfers at Cherokee) are all about their scores and themselves because they think that they’re always better than all the girls,” she said. “A girl will only get to play in a guy’s match if you’re in the highest level and because we have so many well-rounded boy players, they’re all going to get the No. 1 spots and the girls aren’t.”

Miles said that all girls attending Cherokee should be given more opportunities to increase their skill level.

“You learn by watching and you learn by being around the better people,” she said. “I think that if we were allowed to play more, it would help us.”

Christie,” he said. “He put the medal around my neck. When they got to the part that I’ve just gotten 500 resolutions and proclamations from the mayors across the state, he put his arm around me and whispered in my ear, ‘How the hell did you do that? I can’t get the state legislature to agree to anything.’”

Whyte said Christie’s recognition of his cause was very nice and it gave his FOP awareness efforts “good PR.” In other news, it was announced that Dr. Gary Miller, who won a seat on borough council for an unexpired term and is currently sitting on council as a temporary appointment, will be officially sworn in at the Dec. 13 meeting.

Miller, a non-partisan incumbent, handily defeated rival Joseph Aromando on Nov. 7, 1,085 to 389 votes.

A second reading of an ordinance pertaining to flood-damage prevention standards was tabled.

Cranston said second reading was delayed until the next meeting due to notification requirements issued by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Three resolutions passed.

The first issued a raffle license to the Lions Club of Medford Lakes to hold an off-premesis raffle on Dec. 9. The resolution passed, 4-0, with Councilman William Fields

abstaining.

The second resolution authorized the disposal of a 2011 Chevy Tahoe and a 2000 Ford Crowne Victoria, which are no longer needed.

The last appointed Karen L. Summers as a certified municipal registrar for the borough.

During a communications report, Cranston discussed a letter from a resident who was concerned after she had a note put on her door, from the borough, letting her know that she should have the front of her leaf fence (plastic material to keep leaves together) open for easier leaf collection.

“She said in her letter that she didn’t know

that leaf collection would be so early,” Cranston said. “She’s correct—the new truck was just doing some preliminary collections as training. As part of that, a notice was left on her door as information.”

Cranston said the notice was not intended to suggest that the resident was in trouble.

“It’s just to ask residents to help us make the collection process smoother when we come back,” he said.

Borough Manager Robert J. Burton said signs will be posted around town soon with anticipated leaf pick up dates. The information will also be posted on the borough’s website.

TOY

PAGE 7 make this all possible.”

Drop-off locations in the Pine Barrens include: LeisureTowne Administrative Office, 102 South Plymouth Court, Southampton; Settlers Hall, 106 South Plymouth Ct., Southampton; Laurel Hall, 236 Huntington Dr., Southampton; Pemberton Borough Municipal Building, 50 Egbert St., Pemberton Borough; Pemberton Township Municipal Complex, 500 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road,

Pemberton Township; Shamong Township Municipal Building, 105 Willow Grove Road, Shamong; Southampton Township Municipal Building, 5 Retreat Road, Southampton; Tabernacle Elementary School, 132 New Road, Tabernacle; Tabernacle Township Municipal Building, 163 Carranza Road, Tabernacle; and the Vincentown Post Office, 1813 Route 206, Southampton.

For more information or if you would like to donate toys, please contact the Burlington County Sheriff Department’s Community Services Unit at 609-265-3788.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 19

REPRESENTATIVE PAGE 2

High School and a daughter at the Maurice and Everett Haines Sixth Grade Center in Medford, also keeps busy with a number of other endeavors.

She’s in her sixth year as a Girl Scouts leader and also serves on the committee for Boy Scouts Troop 48.

Additionally, she serves as a board member for the Medford Education Foundation and is in her second term as a member of the Medford Township Economic Development Commission.

“We are very pleased to welcome Allison,” said Linda Eckenhoff, president of the LRHSD Board of Education, in a press release. “We realize that she has big shoes to fill due to the retirement of Dr. Bisignano, but we know she is ready to accept the challenge.”

In other news, Cherokee High School North Principal Donna Charlesworth and Cherokee High School South Principal Len Iannelli, along with Seneca High School Principal Jeff Spector, gave a presentation to the board about LRHSD’s Common Planning Time.

Common Planning Time is professional development time that every LRHSD teacher has built into their schedule. Teachers in the district are given time to meet for 57 minutes, two out of every four days.

“Teachers need continued professional development,” Charlesworth said. “This builds strong working relationships and student learning, which exist within any good school.”

She said teachers often need time to meet, collaborate and talk about what works well for them.

“They need to be treated like the experts they are in their classrooms,” Charlesworth said.

“They know their needs, curriculum and most importantly, they know their students.”

Charlesworth said that although one-off workshops are still important, the district principals find that ongoing professional development is more effective.

CONSTRUCTION PAGE 6

in the center of town that has all the township services under one roof and is modernized,” he said.

Lee also appeared to agree with Franzen’s stance on the school district’s control over the septic system.

“We don’t want a new facility to be an additional burden to the taxpayers,” he said.

“The Tabernacle School Board owns the land, but ultimately, it’s the taxpayers that have the title.”

Barring a different response from either of the two-school districts, it appears that the township may be at a standstill.

“We can’t do anything as a municipality without their cooperation,” Lee said. “We can’t even do renovations to the current building because the (Tabernacle) school board also owns the septic facility and pipelines and the Pinelands Commission won’t allow us to do anything without that access.”

A liaison meeting with members of the committee, township administration, Shoemaker and Tabernacle School Superintendent Glen Robbins occurred in late November.

“We had a meeting last week and we are waiting to hear back from the Tabernacle Board of Education,” Lee said.

In other news, a bond ordinance appropriating $1.03 million to complete reconstruction and/or resurfacing of

Examples were given as to how teachers in each of the district’s five schools are using Common Planning Time to their benefit.

Spector said that at Lenape High School, English teachers have created rubrics to help students with college essays. He said teachers are also recording themselves complementing students and the video is played on Lenape’s closed-circuit television program.

At Seneca, teachers have been using their time to analyze effective PSAT and SAT training.

Iannelli said World Language teachers at Shawnee High School have been working to become more familiar with ReLanpro, a computer program which provides students with an opportunity to speak and record a paragraph or script. The students can then send the recordings to their teachers for evaluation.

At Cherokee, Iannelli said teachers have worked on Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, One-Book, One-School lessons and progress assessments.

Following the presentation, Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm and Board Member David Stow discussed the district’s Community Lunch and Learn program. Both said the lunch program has enabled students to take advantage of the programs developed during Common Planning Time.

“I continue to hear of other school districts that visited us—throughout the state—and picked up on our school schedule and are now utilizing this plan,” Stow said.

Birnbohm said the LRHSD acquired the Community Lunch and Learn concept from a school in North Carolina and two schools in New Jersey.

“Our seniors, this year, are the last group of kids who (experienced) the old schedule before lunch and learn,” she said.

Birnbohm provided some examples about how the district’s schools have recently used Community Lunch and Learn time.

She said an engineer from Lockheed

Martin spoke to the students at Lenape about the importance of developing women engineers.

She added that Cherokee offered Academics in Motion (AIM) tutors and Sequoia provided enrichment for any student struggling academically with a grade of ‘C’ or lower.

Birnbohm also provided information on professional development that took place in October.

“Turnkey training, in which you train a few (teachers) and have those teachers give information to the rest of the people in their departments, is really important,” she said.

Birnbohm said at Lenape, 2017-18 LRHSD Teacher of the Year Christene Willitts provided autism training to all members of the Child Study Teams at all four high schools.

She said Shawnee teachers received certified training on Google Classroom and two Cherokee teachers attended a New Jersey Science Teachers Convention in Princeton on Biology and AP Chemistry.

Birnbohm also spoke of the peer-to-peer training that took place at Seneca.

The superintendent, who is entering her sixth-year as the district’s leader, also said that 1,373 students in the district registered this year for a “CAP Program.”

The program allows high school students to take courses at their respective high school, which count for college credits through Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) or Rowan University.

Birnbohm also noted how the district’s students took part in an annual Halloween activity.

“All of the schools had a student-led safe trick or treat,” she said. “They (students and staff) dress up (in costumes) and little ones from the towns come over to play games and get candy. It’s a good way to get kids and their parents into the high schools early and get them acclimated.”

The board spent the final minutes of the

meeting taking formal action on a number of fronts.

October’s payroll of $7,807,200.86 and the writing of checks totaling $5,617,881.45 was approved.

New hires approved for an annual total of $204,189 included an interim secretary for the district, one long-term substitute for Seneca and a secretary for Shawnee.

In addition, approval was given for two staff members from Seneca to retire or resign.

The most notable departure approved was that of Seneca Assistant Principal William Cornell.

One staff member was approved to transfer from Seneca to Cherokee and one Cherokee teacher was approved for a leave of absence.

The board increased the substitute custodian pay from $10.80 to $13 an hour.

A $400 donation from Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers for each school activity requiring EMS services was approved.

Also, the board accepted the monetary donation of $9,000 for Cherokee soccer apparel from the Cherokee Boys Soccer Booster Club.

Seneca’s Wind Ensemble students were given permission to travel to the Kimmel Center to rehearse with the Philadelphia Orchestra in November. The school’s Chorus students were also given permission to perform at a Flyers game in December.

Cherokee’s Concert Choir was given the OK to perform at the White House in December. This marks the third time that Cherokee has been invited the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States.

The board approved on second reading policies pertaining to Unsafe School Choice Option, high school graduation, video surveillance, nutrient standards for meals and other foods, booster clubs, expulsion, evaluation of administrators (non-principals) and evaluation of principals.

various (unspecified) roads in the township and purchase air packs for the fire department was passed on second reading, but not without discussion.

During a public hearing on the ordinance, resident Fran Brooks expressed concern that the ordinance tied the air packs and road repairs together. She also expressed concern that Powell Place Road would be addressed, rather than the southern part of Carranza Road—a stretch of road she has previous called on the committee to repair due to a number of potholes.

“The air packs are absolutely critical to the work that the fire department does,” she said. “But, I object to the township spending $900,000 to fix Powell Place Road, which is in no comparison with the damage on Carranza Road. We’ve been very patient waiting for repairs there and I think this is a poor use of our money.”

Cramer said there were no roads that were specifically named in the ordinance.

“It (the language) is purposely left that way (made vague) so that if something happens before we’re ready to spend or if there’s a failure somewhere else, we have flexibility (to reappropriate or redirect the money),” he said.

Lee agreed with Brooks.

“I don’t like the fact that this (payment for road repairs) has been cobbled together with the appropriation for the air packs,” he said. “It should have been separated. I’m not interested

in this particular bond unless we have a focus on Carranza Road. Mrs. Brooks called me out on that and she’s right. I made a commitment to Carranza Road and I want to stick to that.”

After Franzen also expressed support for using the bond ordinance to fund repairs for Carranza Road, Guzzi provided a suggestion.

“We can update the cost estimate for Carranza Road and whatever is left over, we can look into other roads and give you a road program that would utilize the other money,” he said. “The only missing link would be (any) grants (we get) and how much we would get from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).”

Guzzi was referring to a resolution passed later in the meeting, which approved the submission of a grant application to NJDOT for improvements to Carranza Road.

“Hopefully we will hear about the grant sometime after the New Year,” he said.

Ultimately, adoption of the ordinance as written was approved by a 4-0 vote. Deputy Mayor Joseph Yates was absent from the meeting.

A resolution binding the committee to earmark the bond’s funds for Carranza Road, barring any subsequent action by the committee, was also approved by a 4-0 vote.

Late in the meeting, Lee brought up a proposed resolution that was not included on the regular agenda. The add-on item was to express opposition to proposed rule changes to the Pinelands Commission’s Comprehensive

Management Plan.

The changes contend with the maintenance of firebreaks, which are areas that are cleared of vegetation that enable the starting of backfires and stop fires from penetrating larger areas.

Lee said the Pinelands Commission has proposed allowing for only a 6-foot wide clearage of vegetation or maintenance of vegetation, in creating a firebreak.

He said creating a firebreak of more than 6 feet would now require a permit.

“I can tell you from personal experience that 6 feet is not very practical,” he said. “Since I found out that the comment period for this proposed rule change ends this week, I wanted to bring it to everyone’s attention because of the amount of land we have in Tabernacle.”

Lee said he wasn’t sure what prompted the proposed rule changes.

Township Solicitor Peter Lange said firebreaks are currently allowed to be unlimited in size.

“We (Tabernacle) were the first ones to really plan forestry in New Jersey on a large scale,” Lee said. “We did firebreaks that were anywhere between 30 to 50 feet wide. This was part of the forestry plan that the Pinelands had previously approved.

“There was a prescribed burn done on a property adjacent to me that had gone into my property this past March. If it hadn’t been for that clean firebreak that provided access

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EVACUATION PAGE 7

already a scheduled half-day due to parent/ teacher conferences. Parents were alerted with exactly how the situation was going to be handled. Students were dismissed from the township building to parents or onto their bus.”

Weiss said the conferences went on as scheduled, in the school, beginning at 12:15 p.m.

“From the very start of the situation, staff and students were calm and safe at all times,” she said.

The superintendent said she was grateful

ALLEGATIONS PAGE 4

by (Witsczak) who came out fairly upset about remarks that got attributed to me from Bob Hanold,” he said.

Aromando said Witsczak was told about remarks he made about the borough’s pothole machine during a council meeting in September. He said the relaying of his remarks was done with malice and that while Witsczak was upset, they had “time to talk” about them.

Hanold has denied Aromando’s allegation.

“I never said anything about what you said,” Hanold said.

Witsczak has not returned multiple requests for comment by this newspaper.

Lisa Scafidi, an assistant to Witsczak, referred all media inquiries about the incident to Borough Manager Robert J. Burton.

“The borough has no comment at this time,” Burton said.

Thus, the veracity of the allegations made by both men cannot be established by this

CONSTRUCTION to all for their cooperation.

“Thank you to all of our students for remaining calm during the entire situation, following all directions from staff when necessary, and using all of the skills that we practice during evacuations appropriately during this time,” Weiss said. “Thank you to our staff for quickly reacting to a potentially dangerous situation and helping in all aspects with getting each of our students home safely.

Finally, thank you to all parents and caretakers for being patient and supportive during the entire situation as well.”

newspaper.

At the latest council meeting on Nov. 9, a new allegation was brought against Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold by Aromando.

Aromando said he thought Heinold, also a borough resident, unfairly offered his opinion while he ran against Miller.

“The fact that we have a paid professional who, just because he happens to live here, thinks that he can campaign on behalf of members of council—I feel that there is some sort of conflict there,” Aromando said.

“It’s perfectly fine to vote for and to support somebody and congratulate them. But, to do it in a public fashion, I have no chance. I don’t think that any of our paid professionals should get involved in any type of politicking.”

Heinold later denied the allegation.

“To be clear, Mr. Aromando is criticizing me for saying ‘congratulations’ on a Facebook post made by the successful candidate after the election,” he said. “That is not politicking and is clearly not a conflict.”

PAGE 19

for equipment, materials and water to put the fire out, (the fire) would have gone a lot further than it did.”

Lee apologized to the committee for the lateness of the resolution, saying that if he had known about the rule changes ahead of time, more of a dialogue could have taken place.

“There is an article I read in Rolling Stone magazine about a year ago that talked about New Jersey being the next tinder box and it would be worse than anything that happened in California,” he said. “If a fire got going here, it wouldn’t stop until it hit the bay.”

After some additional discussion, Lange offered a slightly revised resolution, stating that the proposed Pinelands regulations would place significant financial, administrative and safety burdens on stakeholders due to the potential limitations posing a risk to Tabernacle residents and property.

The resolution passed unanimously.

Four other resolutions were also unanimously passed.

The purchase of a stainless-steel dump truck and a hooklift truck was approved, which came about as the result of a Public Works Subcommittee report and findings.

The subcommittee recommended that the committee liquidate six township trucks and purchase two new ones.

Opposition was expressed to Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) legislation that had recently been introduced by state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen).

“We received a request from the Municipal Clerk’s Association of New Jersey to oppose a bill that looks to create a burden on small municipalities in terms of new regulations regarding OPRA and those processes and the way to pay for it,” Lee said.

Lange said the League of Municipalities had outlined problematic language with the bill.

“The new language requires a public agency, when seeking a protective order, to allege that the requestor has sought public records with the sole purpose to harass the public agency and I think a lot of the clerks would find difficulty in dealing with frivolous requests statewide,” he said.

During public comment, Brooks opposed the resolution.

“As you know, I am a transparency advocate,” she said. “There is a lot of support out there, in spite of what’s being circulated, for the proposed OPRA legislation.

“The vast majority of the provisions in both bills have to do with getting more

CELEBRATION PAGE 4

to hand cancel holiday mail in the tradition of Batsto—with no zip code! Due to its age and historical significance, a zip code is not required to be part of the hand postmark cancellation at the Batsto Post Office, first opened in 1852.

Blacksmith Toby Kroll of Three Cedars Forge will demonstrate some of the techniques and tools of the trade in the Batsto Blacksmith Shop.

Light refreshments will be served in an exhibit room that adjoins the Batsto Post Office. Several displays for both adults and children will be available for viewing.

The Batsto Museum Shop will also be open to assist with your holiday shopping needs. A large selection of Pinelands books, jewelry,

Saturday, December 2, 2017

documents on the website in order to relieve responsibilities for the clerk. So, it’s hard for me to grasp why you would be opposed to that.”

Also approved was a performance bond for Lakes Sand and Gravel, for a subdivision project.

“A residential development had received approval years ago as one large project,” Guzzi said.

The original performance bond was for $1,497,254.

“About 1½ years ago, the applicant came back in and asked for amended approval to divide the project into three phases,” Guzzi said. “The goal of the developer, in order to make the project more saleable is to sell in it in phases, instead of all at once. So, the new Phase 1 bond would be in the amount of $677,658.

Nothing else is substantially changed from the original approval.”

The final resolution set a Board of Health meeting date.

Lange revisited discussion about a 1.2-acre vacant lot on Oak Trail, which the owners wish to donate to the township.

“There are issues concerning the requirements of an alternate septic system and the Pinelands Commission is demanding a partial credit,” he said. “For us to even take the property, there would need to be some investigation concerning its environmental condition.”

Lange said the property’s current owners have been unsuccessful in finding someone to donate the property to.

“If we say no, it would go through a tax sale,” he said.

Lee said the property’s owners originally purchased the land with the intent of building a house on it and they never did.

“They want to give us this piece of ground and don’t want to renege on their taxes, which they have been paying,” he said. “It doesn’t have a public purpose today, but it could have one down the road.”

The committee passed a motion (by a 3-1 vote) in which the township would agree to accept the property if the owners paid for a Phase 1 environmental study and the study produced clean results.

Committeeman Joseph Barton voted against doing so.

The committee held an executive session to discuss Fran Brooks v. Township of Tabernacle and the matter of an unsafe structure at 14 Moore Road.

No action was taken upon the committee’s return.

Committeewoman Kimberly Brown participated in the meeting via speaker phone. ornaments, apparel and many other pinelandsrelated gifts are available for purchase.

Located on County Route 542, Batsto Village is a New Jersey historical site. Administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Parks & Forestry, this site is nationally recognized for its historical significance and beauty. The roots of Batsto Village can be traced back to 1766. Two centuries of American history are available to visitors, with the Pinelands environment as a scenic backdrop.

The Batsto Citizens Committee was founded in 1956 to aid the state in the development of Batsto Village as a historic site. Its purpose was to advise, assist and promote the restoration and interpretation of the historic and natural aspects of Batsto Village. In 1997, the committee reorganized and became incorporated as the BCCI.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

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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.

‘Screaming and Yelling in Public’ Wilbur Ross, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is not happy with you, me, and, based on comments he made at a gathering of Big Biz executives Nov. 16, our republic’s representative government.

When asked about the slow-and-gettingslower NAFTA trade talks at an invitation-only Wall Street Journal “CEO Council” meeting that day in Washington, D.C., Ross, identified

by Politico as “one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisors on trade,” said the U.S. “will continue to take a hard line on its proposals” just as the fifth round of the increasingly bitter talks continued later that week in Mexico City.

Ross went on to report that “the [NAFTA] negotiating environment has only grown more difficult as a result of industries like ag that have voiced a greater level of concern over the direction the administration is taking in the 2.0 talks.”

The Commerce chief was right; “ag” has voiced great concern “over the direction” the White House had taken in talks with two of the nation’s largest farm and food trading partners, Mexico and Canada.

So concerned, in fact, that three weeks before the Journal gathering, 85 farm-affiliated businesses and groups—from Deere & Co. to the Pet Food Institute—had sent a sternly-worded letter to Ross calling into question his “recent observation that there is ‘not a world of oversupply of agricultural products.’”

The letter also reminded Ross of the Trump Administration’s worrisome talk of leaving NAFTA, a deal that accounted for an estimated 28 percent of all U.S. ag exports ($39 billion out of $140.5 billion) in the 2017 ag trade year.

Had Ross and the President forgotten that just a year ago, candidate Trump’s “initiative to modernize NAFTA” contained “a ‘do no harm’ pledge to American food and agriculture” sectors?

Withdrawing from NAFTA—even the suggestion of withdrawal—the letter warned, “would cause immediate, substantial harm” to American farmers, ranchers, and the “U.S. economy as a whole.”

If Ross received the letter, he didn’t heed it.

He again complained about “agriculture” to the Journal audience when asked about NAFTA. “‘As one special interest group, say agriculture, for example, gets nervous,’” the Commerce secretary whined, “‘they start screaming and yelling publicly. They start writing letters, soliciting the Congress people, and they start screaming and yelling in public.’”

And, good grief, an exasperated Ross added, all this public participation “just complicates the environment and, frankly, makes the negotiations harder.”

Yeah, that’s the trouble with democracy.

A government of, for, and by the people involves—believe it or not—people. Some, like Ross, are rich; others are poor. Some are powerful; others weak. Some are well informed; others completely ignorant.

All, however, were created equal no matter the amount of money in their back pocket or the number of politicians in their vest pocket. We are equal even if we are the ones “screaming and yelling publicly” or on the receiving end of the screams and yells.

And, sure, democratic government would be speedier and less messy if we the public sat in silence while the plutocrats and autocrats run it.

But the Founders didn’t envision a government where individual wealth or personal power were paramount. Instead, they created a government that empowered all people: E pluribas unam, out of many, one. Those many include everyone— billionaires and poets, plumbers and teachers, bankers and, yes, even yellers. Everyone.

Their reason was elegantly simple. If plutocrat billionaires—and even former plutocrat billionaires like Ross— dominated American government, the United States wouldn’t be a democratic republic that empowers people; it would be a banana republic owned solely by the powerful.

We are those people, all of us, including Ross.

We are the public in public debate, public policy, and public accountability. We are, in fact, the “public” in republic.

Truly successful leaders live this idea from birth; fools die never knowing it.

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

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

Saturday, December 2, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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 Chevrolet Silverado The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck lineup is available with a number of features engineered for serious towing, including the available NHT max trailering package, which features a 9.76-inch rear axle, heavy-duty rear springs, revised shock tuning, enhanced cooling and an integrated trailer brake controller to optimize capability and comfort when trailering.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offerings include regular cab, double cab and crew cab body styles -- all offered with 4WD. Silverado 1500’s 12,500-pound maximum trailering rating that tops the segment for crew-cab models.

A muscular front-end design with bold horizontal elements and a sculpted hood creates a wide, aggressive stance. Each model projects strength and capability.

New for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado are: Cajun Red Metallic and Havana Metallic exterior colors; the eAssist package is now

offered on LTZ in addition to LT; tire pressure monitor system now includes tire fill alert; rear-vision camera is now standard on all models; and MyLink 7-inch radio system is now standard on WT model.

Silverado’s trio of EcoTec3 engines (285-horsepower, 4.3L V-6; 383horsepower, 5.3L V-8, 420-horsepower, 6.2L V-8) is designed for the needs of full-size truck customers. Each features direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

Chevrolet’s standard Teen Driver feature encourages safe driving habits with teenagers, enabling parents to view the vehicle’s maximum speed, distance driven and the number of times active safety features were engaged during a drive.

Compiled by Motor Matters.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, December 2, 2017