Pine Barrens Tribune Feb 11 2017

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Bass River Medford Medford Lakes Pemberton Pemberton Borough Shamong Southampton Tabernacle Washington Woodland

Vol. 1 - No. 24

Southeastern Burlington County’s News Leader

February 11-17, 2017

Major Subdivision Proposed in Tabernacle ‘Seneca Woods’ Receives Preliminary Approval

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER Pictured from left to right: Edward Brady, a professional engineer; Amy Jones, a senior biologist; Nathan Mosley, a senior project engineer who specializes in traffic engineering; and Richard Hluchan, an attorney representing Rockwell Tabernacle, LLC.

By Douglas D. Melegari

‘Seneca Woods’ Quick Facts: – 87 Acres – Market-Rate Housing – 49 Single-Family Homes – Average Lot Size of 1.8 acres – 1 Access Way – 1 Boulevard and 3 Side Streets – 2 Open Space Lots – Stormwater Management Facilities – Tot Lot – Contribution In Lieu of Basketball Court – Site to be Developed in 2 Phases – Over 50 Residents Attend Public Hearing

Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—The Tabernacle Land Development Board has given preliminary approval to a contract purchaser to develop 87 acres of land near Route 206 and Flyatt Road.

Rockwell Tabernacle, LLC of Media, Pa., filed an application with the board to construct a major subdivision at Block 802.01, Lot 25 on Jan. 18. The estate of Louis F. DeVlieger is the owner of the property.

Residents living near the site received notice on Jan. 23 of the application and public hearing scheduled for Feb. 1.

Over 50 township residents attended the second land-development board meeting of the year to listen and partake in the hearing on the application. There was standing room only.

“It is a pretty packed house from the usu-

al two people we see each month,” said Noble McNaughton, chairman of the board.

David Frank, solicitor for the land development board, reminded the board members about what their role is since it is rare the board hears an application for a subdivision.

He said the board in recent years has primarily dealt with variances.

“When we are faced as we are here with an application for a subdivision or site plan, our job is to review the application under the standards of our municipal ordinances,” Frank said. “We don’t look at the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) concerns with highway access. We don’t look at the county’s concerns with regards to septic systems. We don’t look at what I will characterize as generalized considerations of public welfare. We don’t get to invent new standards.

“We need to look very closely at what the ordinance book says about the things that the applicant proposes to do and pass on whether or not those things meet the standard.

If they do, we have a legal obligation as a board to approve. If they don’t, then the applicant is free to make arguments for variances or waivers from those standards under the principles in the municipal land-use law which is the state-wide statute, which governs how we do the business of this board.”

He said that there did not appear to be any significant deviations from the township’s ordinance standards based on a review by Township Engineer Dan Guzzi.

“Our job is to really make sure that it meets those standards,” Frank said. “The role of the public in this sort of a discussion is important

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LOCAL NEWS

Complaint Over Chatsworth Elementary School Computers Dominates Otherwise Routine Meeting

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WOODLAND—What appeared to be a brief and strictly routine meeting of the Woodland Township Committee, was suddenly roiled by the complaint from a mother of a pupil in the local school about what she called the dreadful condition of the Chatsworth Elementary School’s computers, particularly concerning use of FIOS Internet.

Dawn Johnson, mother of three, who has a son in the township grade school, had a litany of complaints about the computers. She told of seeing blank, white and black screens, others not working and turned off and some pupils just standing around, not being able to use a working machine.

Johnson said this was nothing new, that the problem dated back for over a year, but recently had gotten much worse. Included, she said, was the fact there is no designated computer room in the school and a great deal of the equipment is simply obsolete.

Even worse, she said, was the reaction she got when she raised the issue at several school board meetings. The school board’s attorney, Amy Guerin, she said, interrupted her each time she tried to speak and wouldn’t let her discuss the computer issue, ruling her out of order and shouting her down.

She said Guerin told her the school board meeting is not a public forum and that the public has no right to speak there. Johnson believes the school board is badly run.

According to Johnson, the school’s computer specialist is a retired policeman. She said she’s been unable to verify any computer expertise he may have.

As Johnson points out, schools get 75 percent of the tax dollars Woodland collects. She thinks residents aren’t getting their money’s worth and calls the situation “bizarre and very frustrating.”

Committee members promised her that they would look into the situation. Another speaker questioned how much influence the committee might have with the board.

Somewhat ironically, Woodland sends its students on to the Lenape Regional High School District which has recently been criticized for not allowing the public to speak in a case of a home-schooled pupil who wants to play football in high school.

Three calls to Woodland Township School District Superintendent Misty Weiss by the Pine Barrens Tribune were not returned. The person answering the phone quoted Weiss as saying she wouldn’t comment.

In other developments at the meeting, bills and claims totaling almost $456,000 were submitted.

The committee also passed two ordinances and two resolutions. One ordinance creates a new construction and inspection code fee schedule, with small across-the-board increases.

The other amends the salary-range ordinance, again slightly upward.

One resolution approved a municipal aid application for this year. The other approved a program for aerial mosquito control.

December tax collections totaled $48,685.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The public comment portion took over half that time.

It drew an attendance of eight, higher than usual.

The committee meets next on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

County Freeholders Receive Request to Support Obamacare

By Jennifer Peacock

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MOUNT HOLLY—The Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders was presented with a request from two county residents on Jan. 25 to approve a resolution which would request of Congress not to repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, without having a replacement that keeps key components of the law in place.

Maura Collinsgru of NJ Citizen Action and Renee Koubiadis of Anti-Poverty Network of NJ, Inc. presented the resolution to the freeholders and urged them to pass it.

They said other counties throughout the state have already done so.

Freeholder Ryan Peters said Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-NJ-3rd Dist.), whose district includes a large portion of Burlington County, voted against putting in motion a repeal of the ACA. He was the state’s lone Re-

publican to do so.

Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ-2nd Dist.), whose district includes Washington and Bass River Townships, voted in favor of putting the ACA in motion for repeal.

The controversial healthcare law has been increasingly unpopular since its implementation.

Senate concurrent resolution 3 set forth the congressional budget for the U.S. Government for fiscal year 2017 and set forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2018 through 2026.

The resolution also contained language which allows for the repeal and replacement of the ACA. The resolution passed the House 227-198, with votes along party lines.

A separate bill, HR 370 introduced by Congressman Bill Flores (R-Tex.), calls for the re-

INDEX Automotive......................................23 Business and Technology.................11 Business Directory...........................12 Classifieds........................................18 Community........................................9 Fun and Games................................17

FREEHOLDERS>>PAGE 21

Health ..............................................15 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22 Local News....................................... 2 Opinion ............................................ 7 Scanner ............................................. 8

The Pine Barrens Tribune is published weekly by Pine Barrens Media, LLC. The newspaper is distributed free at select locations in Bass River, Medford, Medford Lakes, Pemberton, Pemberton Borough, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, Washington, 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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Shamong Committee Hears Pitch For $5.4 Million School District Bond Referendum

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—This township’s most recent meeting on Jan. 31 had quite a variety of subjects on its agenda.

A long-time employee retired and was honored. The Shamong Board of Education made a pitch for its bond issue list of needed school improvements. Two miles of a major traffic artery, Oak Shade Road, are due for resurfacing. Also, Mayor Timothy Gimbel, expressed deep concern over the rising overall tax burden for residents.

In addition, all the usual minutiae of government, plus more public comments than usual kept the meeting going until 9 p.m., which is unusual for this township. There was also a closed executive session, but that was very brief and no action was taken.

Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Stanley Rowe retired after 45 years of service to the community, both as a part-time employee and volunteer.

His most recent stint, following some shorter ones, lasted from 1978 to Dec. 31. He was praised by the committee members and received a proclamation recognizing his work.

John Lyons will continue to serve as the township’s Emergency Management Coordinator. Lyons’ term will expire on Dec. 31, 2019.

Shamong Schools Superintendent Dr. Christine Vespe, made the school bond-issue

pitch. As school improvement projects go, this one is relatively modest. The total sought is $5.4 million.

The timing is a huge plus. A current debt, dating to school improvement projects in 2003, will be retired next year. That means that firstyear debt costs of $50 per $100,000 of assessed home valuation, will be cut almost in half in 2019.

The average home assessment in Shamong is $308,000. The school bond issue vote will be held on Mar. 14, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It was at that point that Gimbel took the podium. He insisted that he was not opposing the school vote. At the same time, he pointed out that the township, despite a long history of fighting to hold costs down, also needed more money and wondered aloud how much more residents could be asked to pay.

In a follow-up call, Gimbel repeated those concerns while adding the Lenape Regional High School District was a third taxing entity residents had to contend with. He again emphasized he wasn’t opposing the school improvements, but feared the overall tax impact.

Gimbel came up with a plan that he believes could help address the situation. He would like all the tax-collecting and spending bodies to meet and try to balance their competing needs.

In more routine matters, two residents voiced concerns. The first was Laura King. She raised two issues. The first was taxes.

REFERENDUM>>PAGE 16

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Pineland Students Grab Gold at Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey’s Governor’s Awards For the Pine Barrens Tribune

LITTLE EGG HARBOR —Theatre students at Pinelands Regional High School (PRHS) have done it again!

For the 12th consecutive year, the PRHS students have brought home gold - and 20 awards overall - from the annual Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey’s (STANJ) Governor’s Awards in Arts Theatre Competition.

The competition was held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

According to PRHS Theatre teacher Chuck Miller, Pinelands students entered 29 selections in the competition; students made the finals in 20 of those selections. There were 26 schools entered in the competition and 60 awards were presented in total. Miller said that any one school only can be eligible for 29 awards; Pinelands came home with one-third of all of the trophies.

“In 12 years, Pinelands has won 188 awards at STANJ, including 56 Governor’s Award medals,” Miller said.

Pineland’s Governor’s Award Medal winners this year are: Comedic Monologue, Isabella Raposa; Dramatic Pairs, Jordyn Ventresca and Tommy Allen; and Scene: “Small World”, Christian DiFrancia, who will be accepting on behalf of the group when the medals are presented in Trenton in May, which also included Kamryn Barr, Shane Nourie, Sabrina Matarazzo, Dan O’Brien and Paige Miller.

Pinelands has been very successful at STANJ. “We’ve made it important to us to do well,” Miller said. For us, it’s the theatre Super Bowl.”

Miller said that the Governor’s Award is prestigious and only so many are given out each year. He said when he was a student, he competed at STANJ and was fortunate to win a Governor’s Award twice.

“It’s always been something I wanted the students at Pinelands to experience,” Miler said. “But I never dreamed it would be like this! The culture in the theatre program has been driven by the fact that no class or group wants to be the ones who do not win.”

Miller also believes that finding the right pieces for the students to use in the competition is also key to Pinelands’ success. He said that although he helps the students find the material, they can select whatever they want.

“They do not have to do any piece in which they feel uncomfortable,” Miller said. “It’s a long process, but it works.”

He also noted that casting is the key.

“If I shoot down a piece, it’s usually because a student doesn’t yet understand their type,” Miller said.

Students also select their partners, when the category calls for more than one person.

“I ask them to find someone who fits the part best,” Miller said. “Not who their friends are, and more often than not, they choose wisely.

It’s about serving the piece above all.”

AWARDS>>PAGE 16

Southampton Township Schools Winter Sports Awards

PHOTO SUBMITTED Southampton Township Schools honored the boy’s basketball team during the Winter Sports Awards.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Southampton Township Schools honored the Girls Basketball Team during the Winter Sports Awards.

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Tabernacle Elementary School Awarded $10,000 for Sustainability Project

PHOTO SUBMITTED The Tabernacle School District was presented with a $10,000 check for a sustainability project.

Featured left to right: Donna Drewes, Co-Director, Sustainable Jersey; Glenn Robbins, Tabernacle School District Superintendent; Jane Francis, Teacher; Gail Corey, Education Foundation of Tabernacle Representative and School Board Member; Caryn Smith, Teacher; Gerald Paterson, Ph.D., Principal; Sean Spiller, Secretary-Treasurer NJEA. For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE—Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) announced that Tabernacle Elementary School has been awarded a $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant.

Ten schools and school districts across the state received $10,000 grants which were distributed to fund a variety of projects, including physical activity and wellness programs, an aeroponic greenhouse, school vegetable and rain gardens, food-waste composting, mobile environmental carts, student green team capacity building, the greening of school festivals, bicycle racks, a creation station, an outdoor classroom, energyefficiency programs, enhanced recycling efforts and more.

“We are greatly thrilled to be associated with this wonderful organization,” said Dr. Gerald Paterson, principal of the Tabernacle Elementary School. “I truly believe that sustainability is not just an action but a way of life. Ronald Reagan once said, ‘There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.’ I truly believe that our initiative epitomized the late President’s words.

“This was truly a team effort with many great educators, such as Caryn Smith, Jane Francis, community members, such as Gail Corey and most importantly students working together to make Tabernacle Elementary School more sustainable and aware of their important part of taking care of their community.”

With this contribution, NJEA has provided $500,000 to support a sustainable future for children across the state.

“NJEA is proud to continue to work with Sustainable Jersey on this important program that directs resources into our schools,” said Sean Spiller, NJEA secretary and treasurer. “It is our job to help create a new generation of engaged citizens and leaders. Emphasizing the value of sustainability, we also help ensure that

we leave a better world for our students.”

In addition to the grant funding, NJEA supports Sustainable Jersey for Schools as a program underwriter.

“Sustainable Jersey grantees help advance our continued goal to create a more sustainable New Jersey and world,” said Donna Drewes, codirector of Sustainable Jersey. “We look forward to the innovative projects and work that these schools and school districts will accomplish and we will share the tools, models and activities with other schools across the state.”

Proposals were judged by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee.

The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Tabernacle Elementary School will promote “Water Bottle Refilling Stations: Healthy for Our World and Our Bodies”.

As part of this new initiative, students will promote water as the beverage of choice. The students will track the reduction of single-use plastic water bottles as a result of water stations being installed throughout the school.

In addition, the school will continue its work on their outdoor learning environment.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs.

The NJEA is the state’s largest association of education professionals; representing 200,000 elementary and secondary teachers, administrators, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, retirees and students preparing to become teachers.

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Librarian Retires

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PEACOCK Jacqueline J. Lennon, principal library assistant for 33 years in the Burlington County Library System, was honored by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Jan. 25 with a certificate of appreciation for her service. She retired Jan. 31.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

Seneca Wrestlers Earn 200th Program Win

By Frank Miele

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE— Greg Bauer, an environmental science teacher, has been the head coach of Seneca High School Wrestling since the inception of the program 14 years ago.

Shortly after being named head coach he was faced with quite a challenge. The sending middle schools abandoned their wrestling programs, leaving him with no feeder program.

“I was literally approaching kids in the hallway and asking them to come out for wrestling,” Bauer said.

Bauer, a former Regional Champion at Lenape High School, was determined to broaden his recruiting opportunities. He became a coach at Tabernacle’s Youth Wrestling Club where his brother Brad, Seneca High School’s Athletic Director, is the head coach.

Coaching at the youth level provides Bauer with the opportunity to prepare these young wrestlers for the high-school mat. It also allows him to spend time with his two sons, ages 7 and 9, who are wrestlers at the club.

Bauer’s efforts were rewarded on Jan. 21 when the Golden Eagles entered a quad meet hosted by Pemberton. They entered the quad with 198 program wins. They reached the 200th win milestone by first defeating West Windsor - South Plainfield (57–18), and then, Allentown (39–27). They went on to sweep the quad by defeating Pemberton (60–24).

Last year the Golden Eagles boasted a 22-4 record and advanced to the Group III semi-finals, where they lost to Wall.

Bauer was recognized by the Burlington County Times as Coach of the Year. Unfortunately, nine starters were lost to graduation, leaving only four returning starters.

“We lost nine starters to graduation and a couple of others to injury,” Bauer said. “We had

only four returning starters but still managed to get 10 wins.

He is pleased with his team’s performance this year, considering the lack of experienced personnel.

Co-captains Liam Casey and Joe Manchio play major roles in their team’s success. Bauer characterizes both as disciplined wrestlers who are team focused.

Casey, a senior, is a four-year starter and is 13-4 with 23 career pins.

Manchio, a junior, is a three-year starter and is the defending NJSIAA State Champion.

Manchio registered his 100th career win at the Pemberton Quad by recording a 12-second pin of Allentown’s Kolin O’Grady. If you’re a high school wrestling fan in South Jersey, the name Manchio may sound familiar to you. Mark Manchio, Joe’s cousin, was a three time NJSIAA State Champion from Sterling High School in 1999, 2000 and 2001. He is currently the head wrestling coach at St. Joseph’s of Hammonton.

I had the pleasure of talking with both young men. It came as no shock that both were not only focused on wrestling, but on their academic future as well.

Joe Manchio plans to attend college, further his wrestling career, and pursue a degree in engineering.

Liam Casey plans to continue wrestling in college, become a certified diver, and pursue a career as an underwater welder.

This year the team’s strength lies in the lower and upper weight classes which are occupied by more experienced wrestlers. The middle weight classes have talented but less experienced wrestlers. Anyone who has wrestled realizes the importance of mat experience and its impact on an individual wrestler’s success.

If these younger wrestlers work hard and remain focused, Golden Eagles fans can look forward to a highly competitive team in 2018.

Major Medical Building Expansion Plans Advance in Pemberton

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—A big step forward was taken on Feb. 1 in what is hoped will be a major medical building expansion in the Deborah Hospital vicinity. The Pemberton Township Council approved a resolution launching an investigation into whether the properties in Browns Mills are in a non-condemnation area.

As Township Manager Dennis Gonzalez explained, Deborah, the township and Burlington County are all anxious to proceed with the hospital’s long-term expansion plans. One building is already in the works, but it may be just the beginning.

The resolution authorizes the township’s planning board to investigate if the land is in a non-condemnation redevelopment area. This term, unfamiliar to many, could be termed “frosting on the cake” to residents and property owners there.

As Gonzalez put it, the “non-condemnation” determination protects existing home and property owners from condemnation proceedings.

That’s often the downside of any major development project. Existing owners are often shoved aside and forced to leave. Under this proposal, if the planning board rules this is a non-condemnation area, any new development cannot displace current owners.

In other business, Pemberton is also seeking an unspecified grant from the state Department

of Transportation for a major reconstruction of several parts of Sepulga Drive. The council also approved a contract of $30,600 with the firm of Adams, Rehmann & Heggan, relating to the Sepulga Drive project.

A sale by the township of unneeded scrap metal was approved as well as a contract with EIC Agency Corp. for third-party plumbing subcode services.

An application for funds was made to the governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for a Municipal Alliance grant. This amount can vary but is usually in the $20,000 range.

Finally, Joe Ngov won a plenary retail consumption license transfer and renewal.

There were six ordinances introduced and all won speedy approval.

The first five authorized land sales to township residents. These covered small fragments of township-owned land that weren’t needed.

The buyers were adjacent property owners who can use the land for minor improvements to their properties.

The sixth established salaries for some employees and township workers, although not all.

This was explained in a follow-up call this way.

These are people at the top of their salary scales.

The raises, all modest, average about 2 percent.

The meeting, which drew four residents, lasted about 40 minutes. Council will meet next on Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

PHOTO BY SKIP HARRIS Seneca celebrated its wrestling program’s 200th win after the 39-27 downing of Allentown.

Seneca also defeated West Windsor South Plainfield for its 199th and Pemberton for its 201st wins.

PHOTO BY SKIP HARRIS Joe Manchio took 12 seconds to pin Allentown’s Kolin O’Grady, earning his 100th career victory.

State Police Launch Investigation Into Suspicious Incident in Tabernacle, Search For Suspect

By Douglas D. Melegari For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE–The New Jersey State Police released a composite sketch on Wednesday of a man who was seen in surveillance video using his vehicle to prevent a woman, who was accompanied by her son, from pulling out of her driveway on Jan. 24.

The agency released a statement about the incident on Feb. 8.

“The New Jersey State Police are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying a man who was involved in a suspicious incident in Tabernacle Township, Burlington County. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the suspect, described as a white man in his early 50s, sat inside of an idling car for approximately two hours outside of the victim’s residence. When the victim attempted to leave, the suspect blocked her exit with his vehicle. He then got out of his car, approached the victim’s window, and initiated a verbal altercation. The suspect left the area driving a gold or beige four-door sedan. The picture (on page 16) is a composite sketch based on the victim’s decription of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Red Lion Station at 609-859-2282. Anonymous tips are welcome.”

The incident happened just before 6:40 p.m. on Mulberry Court.

In a video tape of the incident obtained by the

Pine Barrens Tribune, the son of Gregory and Karen Nixon goes outside to start his mother’s vehicle in the family’s driveway.

“He warmed it up to go to wrestling,” Gregory Nixon said.

Once he started the vehicle, the boy went back inside the home. He came back outside a few minutes later and sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

After he entered the vehicle, a gold or beige-colored, four-door sedan is seen passing the home.

The driver of the sedan turned around at the end of a cul-de-sac and parked near the victim’s driveway with the lights of the vehicle turned off.

“He came back with his lights off and sat in front of the house,” Gregory Nixon said. “My wife came out and got into the car. She started to back out and the car moved up slowly.”

The driver of the sedan turned on his headlights and pulled up to the driveway. He blocked it off with his vehicle, preventing the family’s vehicle from being able to exit.

The man exited the sedan.

Gregory Nixon said his wife observed the man take something out of his vehicle. He

SEARCH>>PAGE 16

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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.

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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.

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

Woodland Township Board of Education Should Re-Think Their Policies

Double Standard When It Comes To Making Threats

The January meetings of the Woodland Township Board of Education were dismaying.

Concerned parents posed questions to the board concerning technology problems, transportation issues and multiple faculty vacancies.

In response, Amy Guerin, a solicitor for the board, told parents that public comment is not meant to be a question and answer session.

She also took it one step further.

When parents asked why citizens are no longer able to ask questions at the district’s board meetings, Guerin stated that the purpose of a school board meeting is to only conduct school business in a public setting.

We join the majority of the school’s parents in disagreeing with Guerin.

While school board meetings aren’t meant to serve as “cross examinations,” the spirit of a school board is to promote and foster communication between the school, administration, parents and the community. It is an opportunity for collaborative problem solving while setting forth the policies, goals and objectives for the district.

A very unsettling complaint procedure has also been recently established by the board.

“If a problem arises, the teacher will notify the administrator. If a parent calls or comes to see the administrator, the administrator will instruct the parent to meet with the teacher. If the parent-teacher meeting does not resolve the problem, the parent can meet with the teacher and the administrator. If this meeting does not resolve the problem, the parent can go to the school board at which time the administrator and teacher may be represented.

In the event, that a parent or citizen bypasses the complaint procedures; the board will not discuss or take action on the complaint.”

This policy is outrageous and ill-advised.

Let’s put this into perspective.

The first sentence of the policy suggests that parents don’t have to report problems to the administration because a teacher will bring

them to the forefront.

Parents are known to bring problems to the forefront that school officials wouldn’t have ever known about; including threats, plots to cause injury and cheating.

What if a parent approaches an administrator with allegations of sexual assault? What if a parent approaches a school administrator with allegations of inappropriate conduct?

Per the established protocol, the parent would be re-directed to a teacher first. That’s scary.

This complaint policy will undoubtedly prolong a problem and perhaps bury something that really needs to be brought to the forefront immediately, especially if the complaint centers around a teacher.

The policy will also prevent parents from getting one-on-one time with an administrator to ask questions about their child’s education and better understand the rationale for the decisions being made.

The policy needs to be revoked immediately.

Any professional or board member who endorses these shameful policies or shares the view that they aren’t accountable to the public, especially parents, shouldn’t have any involvement with a school district.

These stances adopted by the board are not building strong home-school relationships, supporting student success and making Chatsworth Elementary School the best it can be.

They’re only alienating the parents and the community.

The next scheduled meeting of the Woodland Township Board of Education is on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Township residents should be allowed to participate in the meeting and their questions should be answered.

While public education can be an emotional issue, and understandably so, the board and administration must strive to maintain a certain level of decorum at a meeting and during the school’s daily operations.

Political Cartoon

I read the article in your newspaper concerning a former Medford Lakes resident who is accused of threatening President Obama’s life.

This threat is obviously not to be taken lightly.

But here we go with who you are.

Madonna was on television saying she’d like

to blow up the White House. Actress Sarah Silverman said we should overthrow the government with military force if necessary.

But, hey, that’s okay.

Susan Daniels Medford Lakes, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Special Committee Meeting To Discuss Southampton Municipal Budget Canceled Again) If the local committee cannot get itself together to do even its basic functions then it should be dissolved and a new one put into office by a new general election.

Jonathan Connor (Wallet Stolen From Purse Left Inside Unlocked Vehicle) Why on earth would anyone leave their vehicle or home unlocked?

Susan Curley Milone (LRHSD Board of Education Approves Chiller Replacement, Silent About Tragedy) I sold my home and moved to get out of the Lenape School District. I am glad that I did.

This is a prime example of their values and what they teach our kids.

Raisin Guthrie

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

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016 Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO George L. Blount, Jr., MBA, Director of Operations Pat Carney, Senior Graphic Artist Adam Tait III, Copy Editor, Reporter Robert Urban, Copy Editor Colleen Jordan, Copy Editor, Graphic Artist Jayne Cabrilla, Reporter Scott Kern, Reporter Judy Cohen Minches, Reporter Frank Miele, Reporter P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

SCANNER Pemberton Township Man Indicted for Tabernacle Murder

157th New Jersey State Police Recruit Class

PHOTO SUBMITTED The New Jersey State Police 157th Recruit Class is now in session. Classes started on Jan. 9.

PHOTO SUBMITTED David M. Stead, 42, of Pemberton Township, was indicted on charges of Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree) and Theft by Unlawful Taking (Third Degree).

MOUNT HOLLY—Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced last week that a Pemberton Township man was indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury for fatally shooting a Tabernacle resident in the victim’s home last summer.

David M. Stead, 42, of the 800 block of Pemberton-Browns Mills Road in Pemberton Township, was indicted on charges of Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Second Degree) and Theft by Unlawful Taking (Third Degree).

The indictment was returned on Feb. 2. An arraignment will be held soon in Superior Court.

Stead is lodged in the Burlington County Jail on $1 million full bail.

Stead is accused of fatally shooting Thomas Wright II, 49, inside of Wright’s residence on Patty Bowker Road in Tabernacle in the early

morning hours of Friday, July 1, 2016.

State troopers were called to the residence on July 1 after Wright’s father discovered his body inside the residence. The victim operated a business out of his residence known as Artisan Building Creations. His family went to check on him after he failed to show up at work.

The investigation revealed that Stead, who was formerly employed by the victim, went to the residence with the intention of robbing him. Once inside, Stead shot Wright multiple times in the head and neck, then fled with a small amount of cash in a rented pickup truck that was being used by the victim. The truck was later discovered on Colemans Bridge Road less than a mile from Stead’s residence.

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the New Jersey State Police, with assistance from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Recruits are taught the importance of uniform appearance, even if the uniforms are khakis at the moment.

Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Tuckerton Road

MEDFORD—On Jan. 30 at 8:38 p.m., Medford Township Police responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Tuckerton Road, east of Oakwood Drive.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Michelle Levine, 61, of Maple Shade was operating a black 1997 Chevrolet Blazer westbound on Tuckerton Road when she crossed into the eastbound lane.

Steven Nahill, 40, of Tabernacle was traveling east on Tuckerton Road in a red 2009 Jeep Wrangler when Levine’s vehicle crossed into his lane of travel.

The front of the Jeep collided with the rear driver’s side of the Chevrolet in the eastbound lane. The collision spun the Chevrolet and ejected Levine from her vehicle.

Levine was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Nahill was not injured in the crash.

The crash is still under investigation by the Medford Township Police Traffic Safety Unit.

Snow squalls were passing through the area at the time of the crash. Officials have not determined whether inclement weather played a role in the fatal crash.

PHOTO SUBMITTED The New Jersey State Police 157th Recruit Class partakes in lively classroom discussions.

Recruits will graduate after concluding the 24 week program.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

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

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COMMUNITY Events

February 11 Location: Vincentown Event: Create a Portrait in Oil Details: Adult oil portrait painting classes will be held on Saturdays, Feb. 11, 18 & 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $30 (Must attend all three classes). Start by creating a 5”x7” blackand-white study of a portrait; the following week you will focus on value and composition; in the last class you will complete your portrait with colors and depth. Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required, please call 609-859-0607 or email dfascenda@ comcast.net. Old Town Hall, 25 Plum St., Vincentown.

Location: Browns Mills Event: Whitesbog Moonlight Walk Details: 6 p.m. Listen to the night sounds of the Pines, learn about Whitesbog and experience the seasonal changes of the Pinelands. All walks are 3-5 miles in length, weather permitting, and led by experienced leaders. $5 donation per person, reservations requested 609-893-4646. 120 Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills.

February 12 Location: Medford Event: Medford VFW Steak Night Details: Come join the Medford VFW for Steak Night! Sunday. Doors open at 3 p.m. and we serve until 6 p.m. Dinner includes a delicious steak, potato, green salad, roll & butter, and coffee or tea. All prepared by our own Chef Denny. Only $12 per person. 317 Church Road, Medford. 609-654-9823.

February 13 Location: Medford Event: Pinelands Garden Club Details: The Pinelands Garden Club of Medford meets at Medford Leas Auditorium, Rt. 70, Medford, Monday, Feb. 13 at

10 a.m. The program will be “Saving the Bay and Commercial Fishing Today” which deals with pollution and environmental issues. Visitors welcome.

February 14 Location: Browns Mills Event: Shinrin Yoku Wellness Walk at Whitesbog Details: Step lightly on this guided nature walk. This is a free event beginning at 10 a.m. in front of the Whitesbog Village General Store. Advance reservations requested by calling 609893-4646. 120 W. Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills.

February 15 Location:Vincentown Event: Last Will and Testament Details: Come in and learn about wills and what they can do for you. The presentation, by Kit Applegate, a local lawyer, will be on Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. Please call 609-859-0607, or email dfascenda@comcast. net for more information. Old Town Hall, 25 Plum Street, Vincentown, NJ.

February 18

Location: Tabernacle Event: 8th Annual Community Wide Chili Cook-off Details: The Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 166 Carranza Road, will be holding their 8th Annual Community Chili Cook-off on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. Make a great chili? Enter it for free by calling 609-792-2603. Love chili? Come and try all the entries, as well as a salad & bread bar, and beverages; only $8 for adults and $4 for kids. Everyone gets to vote for their favorite chili. Prizes will be awarded to top votes in several categories.

February 20

Location: Whiting Event: Thyroid Support Group Meeting Details: The next meeting of the Thyroid Support Group will

be Monday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. These meetings are held monthly at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting.

The purpose of the meeting is to educate, support, and answer questions about thyroids. Contact facilitator Stephanie at 732350-2904.

February 24 Location: Browns Mills Event: Family Game Night at Whitesbog Details: Come into Whitesbog for some family time in the General Store at 6 p.m. Old time games will be available and light refreshments are provided. The event is free. Registration is requested 609-893-4646 or email WhitesbogPreservationTrust@ gmail.com.

February 26 Location: Browns Mills Event: Kids Canvas Paint Party Details: 1 p.m. at the Gallery at Whitesbog, 120 Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills. Children are provided a canvas and all the supplies needed as they follow along with local children’s librarian, Miss Theresa, as they create a snowflake painting. $8 per person; advance reservations requested to ensure there are enough supplies. Call 609-893-4646 or email WhitesbogPreservationTrust@gmail.com Location: Medford Event: Medford VFW Blood Drive Details: The Medford VFW and the Seaboard AMCA are hosting a Blood Drive. In conjunction with the Red Cross and in memory of Kathy Papasso, we are asking that you donate a pint of blood that may save the life of three people. Sunday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 317 Church Road, Medford. Appointments preferred but not required. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Pemberton Seniors Are Guests At “Music Man” Performance

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON– This was the week it was good to be a senior citizen and active at the Pemberton Senior Center. Music teacher Christina Pinto, sent an invitation to the seniors to attend the dress rehearsal of the Pemberton Township High School production of “Music Man.” What a treat for the seniors, a 9:30 a.m. performance so no night driving. Seniors really appreciated the opportunity to attend the musical. The timing was perfect as seniors attended the performance and then drove to the center and enjoyed lunch. Sort of a “Dinner Theater” outing.

Pinto teaches general music at the high school, serves as co-director of the high school choir, and is the musical performance director. She serves as the facilitator for the Fine Arts Music Education Academy and director for the summer theatre program. She works with the students and the many adult volunteers who make these annual musical productions possible.

There are so many talented students within the Pemberton schools. Students in both the middle and elementary schools were featured in prominent roles. Seniors were amazed at the talents and professional performances rendered by the students.

For anyone not familiar with “Music Man”, it revolves around a smooth-talking con man, Harold Hill. Hill visits River City, Iowa, where he expects to dupe its residents with his elaborate money-making scheme. He convinces

everyone that he is a brilliant band leader and recruits the boys in town to become members of the band. He sells the parents instruments and uniforms for their boys in the band, planning to take the money and skip town. Unfortunately, he falls in love with the local librarian and music teacher. This complicates the story and there are several twists and turns that follow.

Harold Hill was played by Sean Barton, a talented senior at PTHS. There are so many words and songs to memorize, and he was able to complete the performance with no prompting. The seniors were impressed with his talent. His costar, Marian, the librarian and music teacher was played by Siobhan McGuinness, who has the most beautiful voice and sang at a professional level. These students are truly the “cream of the crop” and represent the community at the highest level. Other students sang, danced and acted to complete the high quality of the presentation.

Every year the performances are excellent and always to the highest standards. The seniors are fortunate to have invitations to enjoy these performances.

We are expecting a similar invitation to be issued for the middle-school musical “Hairspray, Junior” to be presented the last weekend in March.

Each year the seniors are invited to the dress rehearsal to provide an audience for the actors.

It helps the actors to hear the audience responses, laughs and clapping. The seniors are happy to join the audience and make enthusiastic responses. More than 50 seniors were at the

school for this performance and a group of students from another school joined in with the positive feedback. Pemberton Township has many talented students.

The Fine Arts Academy provides an opportunity for students to further explore the arts with a view towards college majors. Several recent graduates are pursuing performance degrees or have already completed their education and are earning their living as actors, musicians or educators. Credit is due to the many talented faculty members in the local schools and the many adult volunteers who assist them.

Making the performances truly superb were the excellent sets provided by the volunteer stage crew. There is a talented group who constructs the sets so professionally that sometimes other schools will actually borrow the sets to save the trouble of making them.

This team is ably led by volunteer Mike Pinto, media services coordinator. He assists the stage, lighting and sound crews with the many technical aspects of production. Students are able to learn many useful skills and often go on to pursue careers in the media.

This is a great community where all generations work together and cooperate in many endeavors. Soon the high school Interact Club will be hosting a St. Patrick’s party for the seniors at the senior center. Tickets are for sale at the center and are available at $10 each for resident seniors.

In April, the various clubs at the high school are working with the Pemberton Township Ed-

ucation Association to prepare a “Senior Prom” for the enjoyment of resident seniors. Tickets for this event have just gone on sale and are also $10 each. Due to space limitations, only senior residents are eligible to attend either of these events. More information will be shared in the coming weeks, so don’t miss getting your copy of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

Have you read in the news about the cracks in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania Turnpike Bridge and that it is now closed to all traffic? Until the bridge is repaired, all trips heading to Pennsylvania will need to leave Browns Mills at least a half-hour earlier. Seniors are advised to check at the center within a few days of each trip.

The next trip affected by this change will be on Feb. 28 to the Mount Airy Casino. The bus will leave the Acme parking lot at 8:30 a.m., one-half hour earlier than originally scheduled. Seniors are asked to be at Acme by 8:15 a.m. to begin boarding. Please pass this word to anyone you know who may be on that trip.

There are a few tickets remaining for the Valentine dinner at the Garden State Diner on Saturday, Feb. 18. The usual full-course meals will be served and Side Car Charlie will provide music for entertainment and dancing. The meal will be served at noon. Tickets are available at the senior center daily between 9 a.m. and noon at $15 for resident seniors. The senior center is located on Brook St. across from the Browns Mills Post Office. It is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Information is available on the township website, or phone 609-893-4400.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

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BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY NJ BPU Begins Process of Considering Request for New Area Code Overlay to Provide Relief in the 609 Area Code For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TRENTON— The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) has begun the process of considering a request filed by Neustar, the Federal Communications Commission’s designated North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), seeking the implementation of an all-services distributed overlay to provide area code relief for the 609 Numbering Plan Area (NPA) or area code.

In response to Neustar’s petition, the board opened a public comment period to accept written comments until close of business on Feb. 27 and scheduled a public hearing to be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 23 in the Merit System Room, 1st Floor, 44 South Clinton Ave. in Trenton.

On Dec. 10, 2013, Neustar filed a petition with the board requesting permission to enact an all-services distributed overlay to provide area code relief for the 609-area code.

Neustar recently informed the board that the

609 area code exhaustion date has been moved up to the third quarter of 2018 because it is anticipated all available phone numbers within the 609 area codes will likely be in use. According to Neustar, the original 609 area code exhaustion date in 2019 has been accelerated due to increased demand for numbers in the 609 area code.

The all-services distributed overlay proposed will assign a new, additional area code to the 609 area code geographic area. New requests for phone numbers within the 609 area code will be assigned the new area code.

Customers will retain their current telephone number, but will be required to change to a 10-digit dialing system within the geographic area, and add 1 to the 10-digit dialing systems when dialing between geographic areas or zones with other area codes.

The telephone industry along with Neustar has recommended an all-services distributed overlay as the least disruptive and most efficient re-

Stokes Creative Group Announces Five New Stockholders

PHOTO SUBMITTED Stokes Creative Group announced that five employees have been awarded partial ownership of the South Jersey public relations firm.

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

VINCENTOWN—Stokes Creative Group, Inc., a certified woman-owned business (WBE/ DBE/SBE/WBENC), is proud to announce that five employees have been awarded partial ownership of the South Jersey public relations firm: Diane Konopka, Operations and Personnel Manager; Matthew Touhey, Production Manager; Patty Egan, Business Development Manager; Qiao Wu, Project Manager for the Tappan Zee Bridge project; and Sam Capri, Chief Operations Officer.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a while now, so I’m thrilled to share stock with these five outstanding individuals,” said President Joanne Stokes.

“Chris Stokes (Vice President) and I couldn’t be more excited to add these dynamic employees who have been helping grow the company to our ownership, and we are proud of the fact that

three of the five are women.”

Each of the five team members will participate in monthly owners’ meetings and will be able to shape the direction of the company as it enters its 32nd year in operations.

Stokes Creative Group, Inc., is a full-service marketing firm with more than 30 years in business, specializing in the transportation and construction industries. Their diverse creative expertise allows them to provide unique approaches to achieve clients’ specific business objectives. Additionally, their goal is helping clients tell inspirational stories of success and triumph, setting them apart from the competition and ultimately growing their business.

Stokes is as unique as their clientele, and has had the pleasure of working directly with industry leaders. They have offices throughout the East Coast including New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida.

lief plan as it does not require the redrawing of existing geographic area code boundaries.

The board will rule on the petition at a later meeting after public comment has been received and reviewed.

If approved by the board, an all-services distributed overlay would be phased in over a 15-month period. To ensure impacted customers have a full understanding of the process and impacts, the phase in would begin with a seven-month Network Preparation and Customer Education program.

Also, if approved by the board, once the overlay is implemented, customers will have the option to continue using the 7-digit dialing pattern for a seven-month period of Permissive Dialing before it’s necessary to switch to the 10-digit pattern. At the end of the Permissive Dialing period, all customers would need to utilize the 10-digit dialing pattern. Actual area code activation would begin one month after the mandatory 10-digit dialing pattern switch occurs.

Should the board approve the petition, the overlay process will ensure the transition is smooth and that customers do not need to do anything other than familiarize themselves with the new dialing pattern. Once the switch is made, the new area code is predicted to last 46 years.

A notice regarding details of the public hearing and how to submit written comments will be posted on the NJBPU website and published in area newspapers.

Written comments should be mailed to Irene Kim Asbury, Secretary of the Board, 44 S. Clinton Ave., 3d Floor, Suite 314, Post Office Box 350, Trenton, NJ 08625-0350. Comments may be sent via email with the subject “609” to board.secretary@bpu.nj.gov.

All comments received will be made a part of the formal record of the anticipated proceeding and any information submitted will be available to the general public.

Civil Air Patrol Cadets Take to the Skies With Orientation Flights at South Jersey Regional Airport

PHOTO SUBMITTED CAP Cadet Christopher Plunkett gets ready for his first flight.

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

LUMBERTON—Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets from area squadrons soared over southern New Jersey this past Saturday morning as “co-pilots” and passengers in single-engine Cessna aircraft flying out of South Jersey Regional Airport.

Known as O-Flights, this CAP orientation program introduces young people ages 12-18 to aviation and a lifelong love of aerospace education.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. CAP was founded in New Jersey by aeronautics pioneer Gill Robb Wilson. The first patrol departed Atlantic City’s Bader Field, looking for enemy submarines in March 1942.

Civil Air Patrol will be commemorating that event during its annual New Jersey Wing conference next month in Atlantic City. With

its three-fold mission of aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs, CAP has a fleet of 550 aircraft and 55,000 volunteers nationally. New Jersey Wing boasts 23 squadrons, five aircraft and more than 1,200 volunteer adult and cadet members, including 22 orientation pilots.

Capt. Robert Cardona, CAP of Cinnaminson has been a CAP pilot for six years and is a member of the Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron in Cherry Hill. He worked with cadets C/1st Lt Alyrica Lackey, 16, of Haddonfield and C/ CMSgt Natasha Pavlinetz, 17, of Holmdel. After ground instruction plus a comprehensive flight check, the two cadets strapped on their harnesses, put their headsets on and were airborne for 45 minutes. Prior to that flight, C/Airman Ethan Albert, a 7th grader in Cherry Hill and C/CMsgt Christopher Horner, 15, also of Cherry Hill, had their turn.

CADETS>>PAGE 16

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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Cannot

Cannot

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Saturday, February 11, 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.

Avoiding Salt is Bad for Your Heart Before you reach for the salt shaker, you need to know that the kind of salt you eat matters.

Typical table salt found in almost all kitchens and restaurants is similar to the industrial chemical used to de-ice highways. Not very appetizing, is it?

Despite its bad rap as a prime driver of heart disease, good salt is actually an essential component of a healthy diet. Even the mainstream medical establishment is starting to understand that good salt isn’t the bad guy it’s been made out to be. In 2010, a study published in JAMA found that (in exactly the opposite of what most of you think about salt consumption), the risk of heart disease and related deaths rises with seemingly modest salt reductions. Yes, rises!

This is troubling when you consider that the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have steadily recommended American reduce their sodium intake, from 6,000 mg per day in the 2005 guidelines to 2,300 mg per day in the 2015 guidelines.

Another 2010 study published by researchers out of Harvard, found a link between a low-salt diet and an increase in insulin resistance, which is the gateway problem that leads to diabetes and obesity.

Table salt is so refined that I consider it a food additive and not a food. It’s high in sodium and chloride only, it has been stripped of life-sustaining minerals like copper, iodine, potassium, magnesium, chromium, zinc and iron. There is nothing left except sodium chloride. It’s nutri-

tionally naked. Sea salt is different. Avoiding sea salt (the unrefined kinds) could actually be bad for your health.

Refined table salt (i.e. sodium chloride) is often mixed with chemicals to keep it from clumping up inside your shaker. They may use an anti-caking agents called talc, which is a possible carcinogen found in baby powder.

Unrefined sea salt is not chemically modified in a lab or stripped of its minerals. Be careful because sea salt can also be refined too much.

But colorful, unrefined sea salt is essentially water from a sea (or river) that gets evaporated and purified. These types of salts should not dramatically impact blood pressure like table salt.

In fact they offer healthy minerals which drive thousands of metabolic reactions all day long.

I will now list a few salts, but please go to my website to read the longer version of this article which includes other unique salts: Pink Himalyan Salt. The color comes from iron oxide, but this one has over 80 trace minerals, the most of any type of salt.

Red Alaea Hawaiian Salt. This sea salt starts white but then develops a beautiful rich red color when it’s dried in salt ponds that are lined with red volcanic clay (known as alaea in Hawaiian).

That red hue comes from the presence of iron.

Celtic or French Grey Sea Salt. This comes from France, and gets its color from the clay found in the tidal pools where the salt is dried.

It is a particularly good source of magnesium.

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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Can Homemade Products Cure Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease?

By Sue Hubbard, M.D.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, or so it seems according to several of my patients’ mothers who have resorted to all sorts of stuff to “treat” their children’s hand-footand-mouth (HFM) disease.

Remember, HFM is a viral infection that most children get in the first several years of life. It may cause all sorts of symptoms, but in a classic case the child develops a maculopapular (flat and/or raised) vesicular rash on the palms, soles and buttocks. In some children, the rash is fairly mild and in others it can look pretty disgusting and uncomfortable; but it has to fade away on its own, with time.

There has been a lot of HFM in our area and much anxiety among parents about this infection fueled by social media identifying who has HFM, where they go to school and how many cases there are. Parents are even posting places to “stay away from.” Some of my patients’ parents are scouring their children, looking to see if there might be a bump and wondering if it could be HFM; and if so, what do they can do to “stop” it. That would be “nothing” besides good hand washing, as it is a viral infection and you may be exposed to it almost anywhere.

Since coxsackievirus has been around for years, this means that most adults had the virus when they were young. But, several moms and dads, whose children have HFM have also shown me a rash on their palms and soles

that I presume may be HFM. They are kind of freaked out and may be uncomfortable, too, but this is not life threatening.

Even so, several parents are resorting to Google to get their medical information; and one young mother kindly brought me all of the stuff that she found to treat her son’s HFM as well as hers. She was earnest in hoping that this was the “cure,” and asked if I knew about all of these remedies.

There was Epsom salts - an “antiviral” - for baths, turmeric and ginger in veggie juice, crushed garlic, which she was mixing with small amounts of orange juice and squirting into her toddlers mouth with a syringe, lavender essential oil and “virgin” coconut oil massages.

I was most impressed that her sweet toddler was eating, drinking and bathing in all of this.

Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, it took about two weeks for his rash to totally disappear and she kept him under house arrest for most of that time. He could have gone out long before that, as he was over his acute illness, but she wanted every “mark” to fade. She was most chagrined to hear that he might get HFM again.

I am not sure that her tricks did any good, except in her mind.

If you do resort to “internet medicine” remember the oath: “First do no harm” and check with your pediatrician about some of the advice you might find online; not everything may be safe.

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REFERENDUM

AWARDS

FROM PAGE 4

“I’m 70. I’d like to retire but I can’t afford to,” she said.

She also wondered if there would be an end to tax increases.

King asked if air conditioning was a school necessity. She conceded that it was nice to have and had some health advantages, but also pointed out that the older generation managed very well without it.

She said she has a continuing fear that the combined tax burden threatens the house in which she lives, pointing out that people have lost homes due to their inability to pay taxes.

Her other concern was crime and what she believes are increasing rates. King cited recent burglaries, saying the perpetrators are growing “more brazen.”

Shamong’s protection is provided by the N.J. State Police Red Lion Barracks. The barracks covers four contiguous towns covering 170 square miles.

The second speaker was Rich Tallekesen. He was incensed that a neighbor’s sofa, discarded along the edge of his street, Packenah Trail, was still there after two months. Shamong doesn’t provide trash pickup. That’s each homeowner’s responsibility.

The township is aware of the problem. A collector was supposed to have come twice to pick the sofa up. However, for some reason the collector never came.

Tallekesen said he believes the township is not being well maintained. He said there are several downed trees in his neighborhood, drainage problems and several properties are being choked by weeds.

In other business, Township Administrator and Clerk Susan Onorato won approval to take a yearly required course. Successfully com-

FROM PAGE 4 pleting it allows her to continue to perform her clerical-administrative duties.

The committee also granted approval to the Burlington County Division of Mosquito Control to conduct aerial larval/adult mosquito controls.

Eric W. Jahr II was approved for full membership in the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Co. In the last discussion matter, Eastern Armored Services won approval to carry township funds.

All fees will be paid by Investors Bank.

The 2017 budget is still a work in progress.

Salaries, road costs and state aid are the major issues.

A South Jersey Gas Co. expansion project was announced. It will take place this summer.

Five resolutions passed, all by unanimous, 4-0 votes. Committeeman Sean Gray was absent.

Here are details: State aid of about $220,000 to finance a major, two-mile repaving of Oak Shade Road is being sought.

Several small tax overpayments from 2016 were transferred to 2017.

Minor tax refunds or delinquencies of under $10 were canceled. Onorato said there were about 55 or 60.

A shared-service agreement with Tabernacle was reached for certified recycling coordinator services.

There were various reports offered late in the meeting, but all were minor.

Attendance reached 10 early in the evening, but dropped to four during the course of the meeting.

The committee met again, just one week later, on Feb. 7. Details from that meeting will be in the next issue of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

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FROM PAGE 6 approached Nixon’s vehicle with his right hand behind his back.

“She was afraid he was going to hit her with something and pulled the car forward,” Gregory Nixon said. “She leaned on the horn.”

After hearing the car horn, Nixon walked outside to see what was going on and the man drove off. He said the man was wearing a blue flannel shirt and khakis. He said the man looked like he was in his 50s.

“My wife said he was acting very irrational,” Gregory Nixon said. “He walked in circles near

Saturday, February 11, 2017

PHOTO SUBMITTED STANJ Governor’s Award recipients for their group scene, “Small World.” Top row, from left: Paige Miller, Christian DiFrancia, and Kamryn Barr. Bottom row, from left: Dan O’Brien, Shane Nourie, and Sabrina Matarazzo.

In addition to the Governor’s Award winners, other results for Pinelands included: Comedic Monologue: 2nd Place, Tommy Allen; 4th Place, Erica Palandro; 5th Place, Christian DiFrancia; Finalist, Li Ann Yu. Dramatic Pairs: 2nd Place, Carl Olsen & Kamryn Barr; Finalist, Sabrina Matarazzo & Cara Waldron; Finalist, Christian DiFrancia & Li Ann Yu. Comedic Pairs: 2nd Place, Mike Frezza & Jared Fagan; 4th Place, Tommy Madge & Tommy Allen; 6th Place, Liam McGettigan & Paige Miller. Dramatic Monologue; 2nd Place, Sabrina Matarazzo; 6th Place, Jordyn Ventresca; Finalist, Paige Miller.

Improv Pairs: 4th Place, Christian DiFrancia &

Taylor Bongarzone; 6th Place, Amanda Delbury & Sarah Keady; Finalists, Isabella Raposa & Rose Farrell; Finalists, Cara Waldron & Sabrina Matarazzo.

Miller said the students work very hard in preparing for the competition.

“We work mostly in class and during lunch time (because students all have the same lunch schedule),” Miller said. “It has been such a blessing for everyone to have the same lunch, because when students who are right for a particular piece are in two different classes, it gives them more time to prepare. That happened to many of our winners this year.”

a tree. He kept pointing at my son.”

After the incident, Nixon reached out to his neighbors to see if they recognized the man.

He said that two of his neighbors saw the man parked on Mulberry Court when they came home from work around 5 p.m.

“My neighbor said that he was sitting there for an hour and half between two mailboxes and trees before this happened,” Gregory Nixon said. “Was he just scoping the neighborhood out or was he just getting to us first?”

The Pine Barrens Tribune reported 10 days ago that the family had difficulty getting the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Barracks to pursue an investigation into the incident.

CADETS

FROM PAGE 11 “It was great,” said Albert, who sat at the controls for the first time.

Horner was a little more subdued.

“It was my last flight,” he said. “It’s kind of like an alternate reality, definitely different than driving.”

Horner, who aspires to attend the Air Force Academy and become a fighter pilot, reached the maximum of five powered flights allowed to each cadet before they turn 18 years old. He has also taken advantage of non-powered glider O-Flights. He hopes to attend a National Cadet Special Activity with CAP in New Mexico this summer.

Air Victory Composite Squadron cadet and Mount Laurel resident C/Maj Joshua Plunkett,

15, flew with his 12-year-old brother C/Amn Christopher before they split up for separate O-Flights.

“The curriculum is different for each of the five flights,” said Maj. Wasim Baig, NJ Wing Cadet Orientation Flight Coordinator, “Christopher was taking his first flight. That’s where we cover the airport environment, pre-flight and ground handling, takeoff, use of the flight controls, and landing. Joshua was on his fourth flight where we go into maneuvers.”

As he climbed aboard the aircraft, Christopher was apprehensive about handling the controls. After landing he was exuberant and said he couldn’t wait until his next flight.

PHOTO SUBMITTED The New Jersey State Police is seeking the public’s assistance with identifying a man who was involved in a suspicious incident in Tabernacle.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

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PAGE 17

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

FUN AND GAMES Are We There Yet?

By Lori Clinch

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

Cold Weather, Taxes, and Now the Flu January is not a nice month.

He is a selfish old man who is cold, frigid and all about himself. He wants the lovely Christmas memories boxed up along with any trace of my jovial mood. He also wants any hope for summer days eradicated and worse yet, he brings along one of his nasty old friends, Mr. Tax Season.

Have you ever heard anyone say, “I can’t wait for January!” I think not.

He is now a day or two behind us and I bid him a fond adieu. For you see, January, in all of his disgusting existence, isn’t content with just himself and his tax guy. No sir, he has to bring along another filthy accomplice, Fred Flu. If one knew that Fred’s visit was looming upon her horizon, she could put some plans into play. She could stock the cupboards, take care of pending appointments and batten down the hatches.

But Fred just isn’t that polite. He’s like a disgusting guest that you had in the past and never liked in the first place. That guy you were rude to, gave the what for and was so self-centered that he still didn’t get the hint.

What Fred does do, a day or so in advance, is send out his own special calling card.

Although I didn’t know what it was at first, I received Fred’s calling card last week when I was shoveling snow. Huh, I thought to myself.

I just don’t seem to have the stamina for moving this stuff around today.

I didn’t get it when I weakly lifted a heavy box, was oblivious when I seemed to have lost my wit and had nary a clue when I slumped in to a chair with complete exhaustion by 11 a.m.

I have a tendency for being dramatic. You may not believe it to be true but it is. So as I did a mental inventory I thought to myself, Am I getting old? Is this the new-old me? Can I no longer do the day’s tasks without feeling exhausted?

It wasn’t long after I noticed that my fingers

hurt, my neck ached and to the tune of “Oh, no!” that every move was excruciating. Not to mention the general malaise.

It wasn’t until the chills came upon me that I realized that not only was Fred here, but he had settled in for an extended stay.

Talk about a dirty so and so.

With a stomach that was rolling like a ship on a stormy sea, I did the only thing that I thought could possibly make me feel better and I placed a phone call to my dear and precious mother.

That sweet little woman who used to make me Jello water and place a cool wash cloth on my head at times such as these.

While some would expect a mother to be sympathetic and to race to a daughter’s sickbed with a thermometer and a bowl of chicken noodle soup, my mother explained the detrimental impact of a flu for “a woman of her age.” Then she quickly tapped on the receiver, claimed that we had a bad connection and promptly hung up.

My beloved spouse, Pat, patted me on the head and wished me well before leaving for work.

Our sons sent me sympathetic text messages and our dog Sadie was kind enough to drop her toys in my lap in hopes for a game of fetch.

Still, it turned out that I was largely on my own.

It’s been a couple of days, and it appears to those not in the know, that Fred has taken his leave. Yet I know that he is a clever and formidable adversary and I just don’t trust him.

I fear he will do his best to find his way back into our home. In fact, I can almost hear my poor and unsuspecting husband as he brings Fred home for dinner with an unknowing, “Hey honey! Look who I ran into at the lumber yard!”

January is gone and I couldn’t be happier. I just wish there was a way to contact that nasty month and say, “Hey there, Bud! I think you forgot somebody!”

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

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C R O S S W O R D

ACROSS 1 Chaps 5 Measure up 15 “My Country” author 16 Busy, in a way 17 Stellar phenomenon 18 Wheel of Fortune and others 19 Error 20 Oil sources 21 Airport NW of PIT 22 1975-’76 World Series champs, on scoreboards 23 Called, nowadays 24 Not abundant 25 Recording acronym 27 Piece of Plymouth pizza?

28 Former National Security Advisor Scowcroft 29 Citizens Bank Park team 31 Picks up 32 Alley group 33 Barber’s supply 34 Emotional 37 Youthful nickname for the 1950 29 A cross 41 Opposite of après 42 Monopoly item 43 ‘30s-’40s Kildare portrayer

P U Z Z L E

44 Canada goose relative 45 Kind of acid in red wine 47 Canadian sign letters 48 Indian address 49 Cleaned up 50 Symbolic dance 51 Jackson 5 song covered by Mariah Carey 53 Sch. whose mascot is Pay dirt Pete 54 Canadian asset 55 Town in province of Padua 56 Some lucky breaks 57 Slate, briefly

DOWN 1 Shooter’s protection 2 Wipe out 3 Fictional code name 4 Piece of cake 5 “The Chosen” author 6 Breaks down 7 Road markings 8 Left, with “off” 9 Doled (out) 10 Bar IDs 11 Oldies syllable

12 Flashlights, across the pond 13 Court boundary 14 Is in high dudgeon 23 Support piece 24 Requiring delicate handling 26 Skiing category 28 “The Human Comedy” author 30 Big initials in banking 31 Italian counterpart of the BBC 33 Offended outburst 34 Kennedy Compound component 35 Blanket 36 Plain-__ 37 Mearth portrayer in “Mork & Mindy” 38 Siberian metropolis 39 Exhaust 40 Like some curves 42 Causes for pauses 45 Rwandan ethnic group 46 Inventeur’s notes 49 Judge 50 Shades 52 Hardly a warm reaction

S U D O K U

@PineBarrensNews ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

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HOSTESS/CASHIER. Job requires ability to stand/walk up to eight hours and good communication skills. Apply in person.

Ask for Cynthia. NO PHONE CALLS. Red Lion Diner at Red Lion Circle, Southampton, N.J.

Rears 4x4 Ford F-250 1979 410 gears, not complete, 1 axle missing $450. 66 CU in motor did run $400. 856-371-5076 Fred.

Auto Parts and Svcs Auto body repair technicians, experienced professional, collision technician, busy shop, with insurance DRPs. Valid driver’s license a must. Top salary offered. Call 609-893-8292.

Automotive technician Class. A tech busy automotive repair center. All makes and models. All computer diagnostics done on site. Top pay offered. 609-893-8292.

Food Service workers needed for Lenape, Seneca, Shawnee, & Cherokee School District. Part time-M-F. Summers off! Must be able to lift 30lbs and pass a fingerprint-background check. If interested Maintenance person able to do all types please call Sue at 856-983-5141 x 2371 or of housing repair, painting, spackling, etc. email resume to LEN@nsfm.com Call 609-893-7721.

Pine Barrens Tribune, LLC– Searching Help Wanted for a sales representative. The right SERVER FOR BUSY DINER. Expe- candidate will be highly organized, rience preferred but will train right indi- collaborative, and creative closer who vidual. Apply in person. Ask for Cynthia. thrives in a deadline-driven sales environNO PHONE CALLS. Red Lion Diner at ment and demonstrates a passion for both the Red Lion Circle, Southampton, N.J. print and digital advertising sales. The job

includes prospecting leads, making calls, and thrive on breaking stories. Video daily territory travel, setting up appoint- editing, photographic editing and graphic ments, and the use of technology. Previous artwork experience is a huge plus, but not newspaper and/or sales experience is a required. A college degree in Journalism / plus, but not necessary. Strong face-to- Mass Communications or related field face written, and verbal communication of study is required. The average work skills with an eye for detail are a schedule will include evenings and weekmust. Candidates must possess a valid ends. Please include your resume, cover and drivers license and a reliable vehicle. letter, three writing samples, Please include your resume, cover professional references and send to letter, and professional references and letters@pinebarrenstribune.com send to letters@pinebarrenstribune.com.

Competitive salary plus commission with Pine Barrens Media, LLC–Accepting opportunity for advancement. applications for a newspaper delivery driver to work in the Burlington Pine Barrens Media, LLC– Searching for County area. This is a great part-time a freelance journalist/reporter with strong income opportunity for a motivated reporting skills and great storytelling individual. A personal vehicle is necessary abilities to join the Pine Barrens Tribune and a large van, cargo van, SUV, or news team! The ideal candidate will have extended cab pickup truck is preferred. excellent news judgment and be able to Working hours may vary depending upon develop sources to allow them to break delivery arrival time. The ideal candidate major stories both in print and online. We should be available Thursday through are seeking a motivated, energetic, creative Saturday. Responsibilities include lifting and aggressive reporter who can think and up to 25 pounds and delivering newspapers perform outside the box. The candidate to racks and local businesses. Excellent should be able to develop story ideas and reading, comprehension, organizational, gather information for the newspaper and and written and verbal skills are required. website, have sound writing skills, a great A valid drivers license, insurance card, and work ethic, strong interpersonal skills, and reliable transportation is a must! Please call a can-do attitude. The best person for this 609-801-2392 and ask for George. The pay job will have excellent writing skills rate is competitive for new hires.

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SUBDIVISION FROM PAGE 1

because even though it meets the standards, there may be things that are of concern to the public that can be addressed by the applicant.

“We can’t, as a body, make the applicant do anything that the ordinance standards don’t impose on the applicant or that an outside agency doesn’t impose on the applicant. But certainly, if the public has a particular concern, I am sure the applicant would like to hear that and it can be accommodated.”

Richard Hluchan, an attorney representing Rockwell Tabernacle, LLC, said that the applicant is seeking approval to build 49 single-family homes and two open-space lots which will have stormwater management facilities.

“The property on which we are proposing to build 49 homes is 87 acres and is located on the west side of Route 206 roughly between Medford Lakes Road and Flyatt Road,” he said. “Access to our project will be from Route 206.”

Hluchan said the developer will need to obtain a permit from the NJDOT to install an access road to the site since Route 206 is a state highway. He said that there will be no other access to the project from any other road in the township.

“There will not be a connection from our project to Hidden Acres Drive, Sleepy Hollow Drive, or any other streets in the area,” he said.

He also addressed concerns that the developer was proposing low-income housing units.

“We are proposing market-mate, single family houses,” Hluchan said. “This is not low-income housing. This is not moderate-income housing.”

The property is in the area designated by the township as the Regional Growth Industrial Zone. Single-family homes are permitted on minimum 1-acre lots in this zone. The zone also carries various setbacks and bulk standards.

“All of the lots we are proposing are 1-acre or larger,” Hluchan said.

He then introduced three witnesses and asked that they testify before the board about the site application.

Edward Brady, a professional engineer with Taylor, Wiseman, and Taylor, was called up first.

He prepared the plans for the application. An alumnus of Drexel University with a BS in Civil Engineering, Brady joined the firm in 1985.

He said the average size of the proposed lots is 1.8 acres. He reiterated that access to the development will be from Route 206 only.

He said that the subdivision will have a boulevard style entrance. He said the boulevard style entrance is required by the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS). RSIS are statewide requirements for improvements made in connection with residential development.

The housing units are going to be dependent on septic systems and wells.

“The septic systems we are proposing are going to be in the front yards,” Brady said. “We have had test pits done there and they have been approved by the Pinelands Commission as part of our submission to them.”

The current plan calls for most of the site to remain wooded.

“We are going to do select clearing for the houses and driveways,” Brady said. “Most of the site is going to remain treed.”

An existing building on the property will be demolished and removed.

The site will also have a tot lot for young children to play and explore.

The project will be completed in two phases.

The first phase will include the construction of 25 homes. The tot lot will be part of the first phase. The second phase will include the construction of 24 homes.

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A township ordinance requires the installation of a basketball court and tot lot in any new, major subdivision. However, a developer can request permission from the land development board to make a contribution to the township’s recreation committee in lieu of constructing the facilities.

Brady said Rockwell Tabernacle, LLC has requested to make a contribution to the township’s recreation committee in lieu of constructing a basketball court. On average, the company will be required to make a $3,000 contribution per home if the board approves their request.

The subdivision will consist of two different types of buffers.

The first type of buffer consists of vegetation that is not to be cleared, which separates the proposed development from surrounding land uses. The buffers vary in size from 25 feet for residential land uses to 75 feet for commercial land uses.

The second type of buffer consists of vegetation that is not to be cleared, which separates the proposed development from a wetland transition area. Traditionally, a 300 foot buffer is required.

However, the Pinelands Commission has authorized a 175-foot buffer.

The site will also have two drainage basins, one large one and one small one, due to two different drainage sheds.

Douglas Cramer, a member of the board who also serves as the township’s administrator and director of Public Works, said he was concerned with the plan calling for an 8-foot median in the center of the boulevard with 16 feet of pavement for a lane of travel on either side of it.

“I have concerns over the ability for a trash truck, plow truck, fire engine, or whatever getting by if someone parks at those houses,” Cramer said. “A parked car is going to take up at least eight feet of space.”

He asked if the median can be limited to the entranceway where there are no housing units.

“The reason the boulevard is required by RSIS is because we have the one entrance,” Brady said. “We have to have a boulevard to the point where we have no more than 25 lots past that.

We wouldn’t mind getting rid of it. But that is one of the state’s requirements.”

He said that he is not proposing a curb alongside the boulevard. He said motorists will have a full 16 feet of lane to travel on.

“That is great for the two years that you are responsible for it,” Cramer said. “But I have to take care of it forever.”

The board searched for an alternative to the landscaped median. After some discussion, they determined that they could have a landscaped median from the entranceway at Route 206 to where the first houses start and then have it transition to striping.

McNaughton said he was concerned with the varieties of trees and plants that were selected for the median and alongside the boulevard.

“They are very wide trees,” he said. “From the looks of things, in about five years they are going to take over most of the road.”

Brady said he would comply with the requests to change the tree species and eliminate the median.

Cramer said he was also concerned with a proposed storm drain slated to be installed in the woods, off of one of the three proposed side streets in the subdivision. He said it would be difficult to reach the drain with a truck and jetter to clean it of debris, especially once any new trees and vegetation are planted.

“I need some kind of roadway or access that is more permanent then you grassing over it and saying I got it,” Cramer said.

Brady said a drain is proposed in the woods because it is a low spot and something is needed to allow the water to percolate into the ground.

Cramer also questioned the access to manholes and the material used to hold road signs upright. He asked that reflectors be placed on any road-sign posts.

A sidewalk is also proposed on one side of the boulevard.

Cramer said from a maintenance standpoint, he would prefer it not be there at all or made of asphalt instead of concrete.

He also said that he was concerned about the number of street lights proposed to be installed throughout the subdivision.

“There are a lot more streetlights than we have in our existing subdivisions,” Cramer said.

“Most of the streetlights are at the intersections only. A lot of our subdivisions don’t have interior lights in them.”

He said the township spends $22,000 per year for the existing streetlights throughout the municipality.

Nathan Mosley, a senior project engineer who specializes in traffic engineering with Shropshire Associates LLC, was called up next to give details about the traffic impact the new subdivision might have on the township. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Drexel University. Mosley has prepared traffic studies for over 200 projects throughout the state.

“There is only one point of access for this site and that is along southbound Route 206,” Mosley said. “That driveway is under the purview

PAGE 19

of the NJDOT and requires their approval and a permit which we will be seeking. This site is classified as a mainly minor development by the NJDOT. It does not require the types of work that would be needed for a shopping center.”

He said that his team went out and did traffic counts along Route 206 in the vicinity of the site. The data was then quantified down to the morning and afternoon peak hours which are between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

A trip generation analysis was then performed using traffic rates provided by the NJDOT. “The site will generate approximately 46 trips in the morning peak hour and 57 trips in the afternoon peak hour,” Mosley said. “So, a little less than one trip going in or out of the site every minute during the busiest times of the day. It is not a very intense traffic generator from that perspective.”

He said that the intersection of the boulevard with Route 206 will be controlled with a stop sign. He said that he anticipates the average delay for someone exiting the site to be 15 seconds during the busiest times in the morning or afternoon.

He added that there was adequate site distance for motorists exiting the site to safely see north and south along Route 206.

He said that there are 10-foot shoulders on Route 206 which will benefit vehicles turning into the site. He said motorists would be able to

SUBDIVISION>>PAGE 20

PHOTO SUBMITTED Over 50 Tabernacle residents turned out to listen and partake in the ‘Seneca Woods’ proposed subdivision hearing.

Landscape rendering of proposed ‘Seneca Woods’ subdivision.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PAGE 20

SUBDIVISION FROM PAGE 19

bypass vehicles in the northbound lane of Route 206 which are attempting to make a left turn into the subdivision.

“I do believe we have done what we can to provide for safe and sufficient access to this site,” Mosley said. “In my opinion, this is a good design from a traffic perspective. We are not looking at access points all over the place.

We have focused everything along one driveway on Route 206, which is I believe, where it should be.”

Mark Lemire, a member of the land development board, said the township has different traffic patterns throughout the year due to summertime shore traffic.

“We put tubes across the road,” Mosley said.

“We did our counts in December 2016. The NJ DOT requires that the traffic data is collected no more than 12 months prior to the submission of an application.”

He said the tubes were put on the highway for a period of one week to collect daily, hourly, and weekly traffic volumes for the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 206. He said that they aggregated the data and evaluated the typical conditions of the roadway during the middle of the week to come up with their findings.

“What we are looking at is the most common situation during the entire year,” Mosley said.

“Not the least intense and not the heaviest intensities. But more conservatively, the higher end so we typically look at the morning and afternoon peak hours.”

He said hourly volumes were just under 1,000 going north and south on Route 206 during the peak hours. He said in the morning, 60 percent of the traffic is going north and 40 percent of the traffic is going south. He said the percentage figures are reversed in the afternoon.

“Mark is right,” said Denny Stevens, another member of the land development board. “You talk about anytime in the summertime, Friday night traffic is continuous. On Sunday night, it is going the other way. I can’t imagine coming up Route 206 and making a left turn into this thing and holding up traffic when everybody else is trying to go along the shoulder. I think you are going to have real problems. It is a lot of traffic there and you are talking about a stop sign at the end of this boulevard.”

Lemire said the township has been receiving complaints from motorists having difficulty making a left turn at a traffic light at the intersection of County Route 532 and Route 206, which is a bit north from the proposed subdivision. He said there is an absence of a turning lane and motorists are having difficulty bypassing vehicles that are making a left turn.

“Your traffic study may have satisfied the requirements for the NJDOT,” Stevens said. “But it is really not very practical. There is a lot of seasonal traffic here and it doesn’t seem adequate.”

Stevens said that she would prefer a deacceleration lane. Mosley said that the NJDOT does not require one because of the 10 foot shoulder.

Mosley said the study was performed from Dec. 15-21.

Several board members said that theoretically school may not have been in session during that week and that several residents were also on vacation.

Mosley said that school was in session during that week.

Some board members also expressed concern with the legalities of using the highway’s shoulder to pass vehicles and deaccelerate their vehicles to make a turn.

Amy Jones, a senior biologist with DuBois

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Environmental Consultants, LLC, was called up next to give details about the environmental impacts the project may have on the township. She received a B.S. from Juniata College in Ecology.

She has been an environmental consultant for 15 years and previously worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We delineated the wetland as well as performed threatened and endangered species surveys,” Jones said. “In addition to that, we went through the buffer delineation model that the Pinelands Commission allows to provide a reduction in their standard 300 foot buffer.”

Frank said that a township ordinance requires a minimum 300 foot buffer separating a development from a wetland transition area. However, he said that Hluchan provided him with a state statute earlier in the day which says towns cannot regulate wetlands.

State laws take precedent over municipal laws.

“We don’t have authority to do that,” Frank said. “The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Pinelands Commission does. We don’t.”

He said that the wetlands provision got put in the township’s ordinance by the Pinelands Commission.

Jones said the commission verified the project’s wetlands delineation and that the project is not proposing any development in wetlands.

She said the project is near a deciduous forest wetland.

Jones said the commission agreed that there would be no threatened and endangered species impacted by the project and there would not be an increase in surface water running off into the wetland. She said there would be no change in the seasonal flow patterns in the wetland. Jones added that there will be no alteration of the water table in the wetland and said there will not be an increase in erosion resulting in an increase of sedimentation in the wetland. Jones said there will not be a change in the natural chemistry of the ground or surface water in the wetland.

Jones added that there will be no loss of wetland habitat. Jones said there will be no reduction in wetland habitat diversity and there is no change in wetlands species composition. She said there would be no disruptions to areas used by indigenous and migratory wildlife for breeding, nesting, and feeding.

“You hit all the bases,” Frank said. “If we need to give a variance, those are the criteria.”

Guzzi reviewed 27 recommendations with the applicant. He also said that the street names in the proposed subdivision have not been identified.

Lemire inquired about how large the homes will be and how much they are expected to sell for.

Jeffrey Bartos, a developer and homebuilder for sixteen years from Pennsylvania, who attended the hearing as a representative of the owner, said the homes would sell for approximately $400,000.

“The homes could start at 2,700 sq. ft.,” Bartos said. “People have a tendency to add on and they could end up being in the mid-3,000 sq. ft. range.”

He said that he was aware of concerns with the price points. However, he said you cannot build and sell a home with a septic system in the Pinelands without a price point that is high.

Lemire asked if there was going to be a homeowner’s association.

“We are not proposing a homeowner’s association,” Hluchan said.

Cramer asked who was going to maintain the stormwater management facilities without an homeowner’s association.

“Maybe we need a homeowner’s association for that,” Hluchan said. “I guess we would have a limited homeowner’s association.”

The proposed boulevard will serve as the site’s only construction entrance. The boulevard will be stoned during the initial construction phases.

The site of a sales and construction trailer has not yet been determined.

Eighteen township residents asked questions, provided testimony, and voiced concerns about the new subdivision during public comment.

Here are the highlights: Stephen Carbone asked if the traffic study included the number of accidents on Route 206.

He also said that flooding during heavy rains is an issue on Flyatt Road and wondered how the project would impact runoff in the area.

McNaughton said that the accident figures were not in the traffic study. However, he said the NJDOT will review the number of accidents.

He said that Flyatt Road would not see an increase in rainwater runoff.

Jason Peak is closing a real estate transaction on April 10 with Lot 26 at 1431 Route 206. The property is adjacent to the proposed boulevard entrance.

“There looks to be 75’-100’ of trees or something of that nature that is currently there,” he said. “I don’t think it is going to be sufficient for the level of privacy which I have today. I have concerns around headlights of vehicles coming into Lot 26.”

He also said that he was concerned with having to possibly fight additional traffic when turning out of his property, the proposal to add lighting at the boulevard entrance, and deed restrictions. He requested some additional plantings so that he can keep his privacy.

Brady said he would make a note to look at installing extra plantings to serve as a screen.

Leslie Schmidt criticized the traffic study. She was concerned that the study was performed during the least traveled week of the year.

“I strongly recommend that the traffic study be done at a different time,” Schmidt said.

She said she believes other roads are going to be impacted because motorists will seek alternate routes to avoid delays near the subdivision access point.

She also raised the issue of a subdivision project in the municipality which was started several years ago, off of Tabernacle Road. The developer cleared land, installed light posts and constructed an asphalt road. However, no homes have been built at the site.

“Not all middle-class people have the credit scores for conventional financing,” Schmidt said. “The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has expanded their regulations of distances between septic fields and drain fields. I don’t think the way he is describing it is going to provide that distance to provide the FHA financing if they can’t get approved conventionally. We are going to have a developer who is building likely very beautiful homes. But we are going to be clearing land when there is already land cleared on Tabernacle Road that hasn’t been touched because of the same endeavor, because of the same struggle, and because you can’t get conventional financing 100% of the time.”

Schmidt listed other “grave” concerns which drew applause from the audience.

“You say environmentally it is not going to be impacted,” she said. “You are adding lights. You are adding pollution. You are adding 98 more cars to an already dangerous area, especially on Route 206 which is a highly-traveled road.”

She also said that she was concerned that elements of the project would affect the habits of the deer and cause them to migrate towards the road.

“I don’t want it happening on any other street,” Schmidt said. “I am going to be honest.

I don’t want it happening here at all. I am going to be very frank with you. I don’t agree with it.

I think you are putting it up and you are taking

Saturday, February 11, 2017

things down where I don’t feel it is going to be a success. I think the research needs to be done for Tabernacle Road where it was already cleared and the builders split.”

Alan Adamczyk said he was concerned with the impact the new homes will have on the school system and school taxes assuming that new families will move in with their children.

Frank said the land development board doesn’t get to consider the school system impacts under state law.

“Another reason to get rid of Trenton,” Adamczyk said.

Nick Furia inquired as to whether the board can withhold a bond or letter of credit to avoid what took place with the stagnant subdivision project on Tabernacle Road. He wanted to know if the township had a mechanism in place to make a developer restore a site to its original condition if homes cannot be sold.

“The law allows this board to impose only two types of bonds,” Frank said. “The first type is called a performance bond. That bond is posted not to restore the site to its original condition, but to complete the public improvements in the development. For example; the roads, the drainage structure, the lighting, the landscaping, and things of that nature. Before the applicant is allowed to have their plan signed and issued for construction, their obliged to post those performance guarantees. There is an estimate provided by the applicant’s engineer and it is reviewed by the township engineer.

“Once the improvements are in fact completed, the town is permitted by the statute to require a maintenance bond. That can only be for two years. Once the streets are completely topped and the sidewalks are completely installed and all of those things, we get two years to make sure that they don’t fall apart real fast. If we do, we get them fixed. If they fall apart two years and two months later, we all get to pay for it.

That is the law.”

He said those are the only two types of performance guarantees the board gets to impose.

“There is no provision in the law for a restoration bond in the situation,” Frank said.

Keith Antolik said that he thought the developer should build a fence around the drainage basins, especially with the tot lot near them. He recalled a drowning in the township.

He also questioned why one drainage basin on the plan is smaller than the other since each basin would serve approximately the same number of homes in the proposed subdivision.

He also said that a traffic study was performed in the summer of 2015 just north of Carranza Road. He said the vehicle count for a Wednesday in the summer was 22,000 with a peak hour count of 1,800 vehicles.

William “Corky” Lowe, emergency management coordinator for Tabernacle Township, said he was speaking on behalf of the township’s emergency services.

“That area of Route 206 is probably the most dangerous area of Route 206,” he said. “In this township, it is extremely dangerous. There have been a number of accidents off of Flyatt Road. I know you can’t stop this thing because of Pinelands. I know you have no impact on that. I know you can’t tell them how to do anything different.

I know you can’t tell the state any better. I highly recommend that somewhere in the findings here of whatever you send forward to the state, that you put out that it is a danger area. There needs to be a couple of left-hand turn lanes.

There needs to be maybe a traffic light at Flyatt Road which will slow up traffic. There needs to be some kind of addressing of that before this thing is done, rather than after when somebody is killed at that intersection.”

Jim Jones said he was concerned that 49 new

SUBDIVISION>>PAGE 21

Saturday, February 11, 2017

SUBDIVISION FROM PAGE 20

wells would impact residents downstream. He said he knows that people in the area have suffered from dry wells and had to re-drill them.

He wanted to know if there were any studies performed as to how the proposed wells will impact the flow of water underneath the ground surface.

Frank said the NJDEP and Burlington County Health Department have an exclusive role with monitoring the wells and septic systems.

Stephen Ward, who owns a trailer repair business which adjoins the proposed subdivision, said he was concerned that the cellular tower on his property will draw children from the new houses.

He added that the cellular tower has only a 6’ fence around it.

“My yard has a tower on it,” Ward said. “Kids are known to come and be curious. You put this many more kids close to my property, what is going to stop them from coming in and climbing it?”

“Barbed wire,” McNaughton said.

His response to Ward’s question drew laughter from the audience.

Frank said that the land development board can’t impose on the applicant a condition that they make some sort of improvement on Ward’s property with regards to an attractive nuisance.

“I have been there 29 years and run my operation there,” Ward said. “Tractor trailers pull out onto that highway. It slows traffic down on the highway already and now cars will be coming out right next to it. It is going to be bad.”

Patti Thompson said she doesn’t understand why the township is allowing another developer to come and tear down more of the Pinelands when there are vacant houses throughout the municipality.

“There are tons of houses sitting here empty that are rotting away,” she said.

McNaughton said each property owner has the right to develop their property in accordance with the ordinances no matter what else is happening in the township.

“If people can’t afford to live here now in the houses that they have, what makes you think that people are going to be able to afford $400,000 plus houses?” Thompson said.

McNaughton said that isn’t his problem, that is their (developer’s) problem.

“It is our problem because they are taking down the trees,” Thompson said. “They are taking away the wildlife here in the Pinelands. That makes it our problem because we live here.”

McNaughton said in this country the property owner has the right to develop his property according to the ordinances of the township and that is what the board has to deal with.

Judy Witowski Argentine said she moved to Tabernacle because it is the “Gateway to the Pines.”

“Our lives are going to change very, very drastically if this comes in,” Argentine said. “We are used to the privacy. I know your hands are tied. I understand that. But a 25-foot buffer is really not a lot. If you can’t stop a developer from coming in, what is to stop the homeowners from cutting down those trees?”

Frank said it would be a violation of the zoning standards for homeowners to remove trees.

He said the zoning officer would issue a violation if trees are removed by a homeowner.

“But the trees are down (at that point),” Argentine said. “It is happening now. People are coming in and clear cutting their yards. When they are gone, they are gone. We are the ‘Gateway to the Pines’ and we are supposed to be

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what people see when they enter the Pinelands and it is going to be gone if we keep this up.”

Donna Ostapowycz, whose property also adjoins the proposed subdivision site, provided very emotional testimony to the board.

“Just looking out my yard last week, I saw a herd of 15 deer,” she said. “How can they say that they are not going to hurt the animals?”

She called the situation “horrible” and said “we don’t need that here”.

Tery Realley asked if the developers had a timeline for the project.

“It depends on the market,” Hluchan said.

“They’ll build it as fast as they can sell it.”

The comments drew jeers from the audience.

Mark Levondosky inquired if the board could change the zoning of the property in order to preserve the township’s green space.

“We can’t change the zoning in a way that would impact this developer’s efforts to obtain approvals under the current zoning ordinance because of a law that was passed five years ago,” Frank said. “It was at the time called the ‘Time of Decision Rule,’ but it is really the ‘Time of Application Rule.’ What it says is once an applicant files an application, the town can’t change the rules of the game.”

Stephen Cramer requested that the intersection of Old Indian Mills Road and Route 206 be realigned and fears there will be traffic issues at the intersection from the new development.

Donald Shearer inquired as to whether the township’s current emergency services can handle an additional 49 houses. He said he was concerned about access to the subdivision in the event of an incident at the main entrance.

“Why doesn’t there have to be an egress or another place to go in with fire equipment?” he said. “Is it okay to just have one entrance to it?

What happens when there is an accident out at the road there and there is a fire at one of the back houses? It is still, no matter how you do it, I think a problem.”

He said that bigger lots should be proposed so that it reduces the number of houses in the subdivision.

McNaughton said the board can’t make the applicant do that.

Maryanne Corsini called on the developer and board to consider the impact of additional street lights in the area.

“I have lived in Camden County and in Gloucester County,” she said. “When I came into Burlington County, one of the things I say is it is my favorite because I can see the stars. If I cannot look up because of light pollution, why am I here?”

She said that she values deeply in her heart the nature and animals that exist in the area.

“While I understand, you cannot control what happens under those guidelines, I would like to say that you are my voice in this process,” Corsini said. “I want to ask you to just think very clearly about how you service your existing constituents and residents as opposed to perspective unknowns. This is our neighborhood. This is our community. While you hear our people here speaking about concerns, I understand you have final resolution in this. Please hear what we’ve had to say.”

The public portion of the meeting was then closed.

Ray McCarty, a land development board member, concluded the hearing with a brief statement.

“Like you, I really hate to see development.

Yet, here I am. At my advanced age, this has been somewhat of an education to sit on this board because there is a lot of things we can’t control in life. Development is one of them. I grew up in Medford in the 1950s and 1960s.

Frankly, as a kid, it was a great place to grow up. It was a wild and really neat place. There

were a lot of dirt roads. We had old cars. We did things kids shouldn’t do. It was a great place to grow up in. The trouble is, by the 1970s it started to get developed and changed drastically.

When it came time for me to go out on my own, I bought in Tabernacle here because Tabernacle reminded me of the Medford of my youth. I grew up with a lot of kids from Tabernacle because we all went to Mount Holly to go to high school. So, anyway, Tabernacle has developed more than I would care to have it. But let’s think about a very scary future that was predicted back in the 1960s. They were going to put a jetport out past Chatsworth, between Chatsworth and Long Beach Island. They were going to put a road in from Atsion down to Chatsworth. They were thinking the whole area would be filled up with one or two-acre lots. It would have been vast development. Thanks, partially to inertia, it was too big of a project that nobody did it.

Also, thanks to the Pinelands Commission, that never happened. That was a very scary future.

Things could have been a lot worse then what we perceive them to be now or we perceive them if these guys get their way. I think a lot of people on the board are the same way. We like Tabernacle the way it was. But there are rules and we have got to choke down those rules and follow them.”

Stevens said that she had very strong concerns with the traffic patterns. She asked if there was anything the board could do to delay a motion on the subdivision.

“I don’t feel that we have enough information on this traffic study to be able to make a motion,” Stevens said.

Several board members agreed with her that the traffic study was not adequate. Frank said that the Supreme Court has ruled that land development boards cannot deny applications due to traffic concerns.

FREEHOLDERS FROM PAGE 2

peal of the ACA. At press time, there appeared to be no co-sponsors or a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

Mostly Republican senators have floated replacements, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) who introduced S. 222, “The Obamacare Replacement Act.” According to a Jan. 25 press release from Paul’s office, the act will allow Americans to choose inexpensive insurance free of government dictates, save unlimited amounts of money in a health savings account (HSA), have greater options for using those funds, buy insurance across state lines, and join together in voluntary associations to gain the leverage of being part of a large insurance pool.

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have called for the complete repeal of the ACA, which was made law back in 2010.

Trump’s first executive order allowed federal agencies and department heads to waive the requirements of the ACA to the “maximum extent permitted by law.” This is the first step to repealing the entire law.

Trump’s seven-point plan called for modifying existing laws to make purchasing health care easier, including creating a market for cheaper drugs.

Locally, Collinsgru and Koubiadis want Obamacare to remain intact. But if repealed, they want a replacement that will benefit those most vulnerable to the law’s repeal.

The elements of the ACA they would like to see remain intact include the provisions that require insurers to cover pre-existing conditions, allow young adults to remain on parents’ health plans until age 26, and cover mental health and substance abuse treatment costs.

PAGE 21

The board decided to ask the township committee to send a letter to the NJDOT to express the concerns.

“Our job is not to communicate with other agencies about things that come before us,” Frank said. “Our job is to hear and decide applications and work on the master plan. That is what we do and we do it under our ordinances. But we are certainly able to express our concerns about matters of important public safety to our governing body. They are the piece of our government that is empowered to go speak to other levels of government and other agencies about concerns.”

Several of the recommendations that the board members had during the course of the meeting were incorporated into a resolution providing preliminary approval to the developer. Stevens made a motion to move the resolution and board member Dan Oiler seconded the motion.

The resolution was passed unanimously.

Bartos, also a former lawyer for Toll Brothers, Inc., the nation’s largest luxury homebuilder, and the current president and CEO of Mark Group, Inc. which is a global energy efficiency business, thanked the board and praised the site’s “neighbors”. He said he attended a lot of meetings throughout his career and the audience here was “the most courteous and respectful.”

After the meeting concluded, he declined to comment on the preliminary approval.

“I am going home,” he said. “I got a long, twohour drive ahead of me.”

He then departed the municipal building and parking lot within a minute.

The municipal approval is now subject to review by the Pinelands Commission. At some point, the plan will return to the land development board for final approval.

Collinsgru read from a prepared statement.

“Access to health care is important to the economy and to the stability of our communities, families and health care system,” Collinsgru said. “The ACA greatly expanded that access. More than 800,000 New Jerseyans gained coverage in New Jersey and millions more have benefited from the protections the ACA guarantees.”

Collinsgru said statistics in Burlington County paint this picture: about 43,000 residents would risk losing benefits. Seniors will pay higher prescription costs, people will lose their marketplace coverage and tax credits that help them afford health insurance.

Vigils have been held outside Republican lawmakers’ offices throughout New Jersey urging them to keep the ACA, or at least keep key components when replacing it.

NJ Citizen Action describes itself as “a statewide grassroots organization that fights for economic and social justice. We combine onthe-ground organizing, legislative advocacy and electoral campaigns to win progressive policy and political victories that make a difference in people’s lives.”

The Anti-Poverty Network describes itself as “a membership organization, made up of individuals with lived experience of poverty, non-profit and community-based organizations, faith-based communities, elected and government officials, private businesses and all concerned individuals.”

Collingsgru told the Pine Barrens Tribune she planned to attend the next regularly scheduled freeholder meeting on Feb. 8 to follow up and urge them to adopt the resolution.

The all-Republican board did not voice an opinion on the topic one way or another.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm and Food File

By Alan Guebert

Alan Guebert is an award-winning ag journalist and expert who was raised on a 720-acre, 100-cow southern Illinois dairy farm.

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Of all the words used to describe President serum Jan. 26 when he endorsed a 20 percent Donald J. Trump during his first days in of- “border tax” on imports entering the U.S from fice—bold, boastful, alternative facts—here our free trade partner Mexico. are two that almost no person or pundit uttered: The border tax, explained White House press promise keeper. secretary Sean Spicer, is less about our “ridicLove him or loathe him, Trump took no time ulous”—yes, he said “ridiculous”—free trade in checking off key items from his unconven- policy and more about, well, one tall, beautiful tional campaign’s list of unconventional prom- wall between the U.S. and Mexico. ises. “… Right now our country’s policy,” said Toss out the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Spicer, “is to tax exports and let imports flow check. freely in, which is ridiculous. By doing that [20 Start process to build a wall: check. percent border tax] we can easily pay for a wall Impose “extreme vetting” on immigrants and just through (sic) mechanism alone.” refugees from various Muslim-majority counA border tax to pay for a border wall, howevtries: check. er, wasn’t one of his boss’s campaign promises Gut the Environmental Protection Agency: and it caught American Big Ag leaders and Encheck is on its way. rique Pena Nieto, the president of Mexico, flatCongressional Republicans kept their mouths footed. Nieto immediately cancelled a planned politely shut when the President acted on the White House meeting with Trump. list’s first two items. Free trade and free access Still, after so much awful ag-related trade to much needed, cheap labor—legal, reportedly news from the White House, there is good legal, or other-than-legal—are core conserva- news in its terrible border tax idea, says New tive principles but, their silence seemed to say, York Times columnist Paul Krugman, a Nobel it’s the President’s first week so we’ll act like Prize-winning economist and no Trump acolyte we didn’t hear him. (he calls President Trump “Agent Orange”).

Farm leaders, however, with both more to First, explains Krugman, any border lose and more courage than their Trump-shrunk tax “can’t be country specific”—aimed solely congressmen and senators, howled when Trump at, say, Mexico—therefore it cannot be imposed announced his TPP-killing action. and will never pay for any border wall anyThese Big Ag, mostly Trump backers very where. well knew Candidate Trump had made that Second, a border tax “might well be considpromise but they very well didn’t know Pres- ered WTO-illegal” because the World Trade Orident Trump would keep his promise. What ganization often views it as “a combined export backslapping politician ever does? subsidy and import tariff.” Neither is allowed But Trump doesn’t see himself as a under WTO rules signed by both Mexico and politician. In fact, neither do most farmers and the U.S. ranchers who overwhelmingly voted for him So, a border tax is no bueno no matter what because, as they said in poll after poll, “He’s the White House says. not a politician; he’s like us, a businessman.”

But that fact won’t quiet American farmers They were right—on both counts. So, stick a and ranchers. They made a quid pro quo when fork in TPP; it’s cooked because Trump thinks they voted for the non-politician Trump: We’ll it’s bad business. risk your populist, anti-trade babble in return for He later signaled the same fate for T-TIP, the a favorable rewrite of the tax code, a dehorning not-yet-finished Euro-centered Transatlantic of the EPA, and a 2018 extension of today’s revTrade and Investment Partnership between the enue-based crop insurance programs.

U.S. and the European Union.

So far they’ve gotten the quid right in the If these trade-smacking moves were too sub- eye—just as Trump promised. What’s next is tle to ag’s free traders, the President gave all anyone’s guess. another red-hot dose of his promise-keeping © 2017 AG COMM.

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

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PAGE 23

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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Saturday, February 11, 2017