More Than 10,000
COPIES Distributed Weekly and Now Direct Mailed to OVER 2,250 HOMES in LeisureTowne and 195 HOMES in Hampton Lakes
Not Going Swimmingly
No Puppy Mill Pets Allowed
Freeholders Faced With New Concerns Over Fate Of Pool On Former RCBC Campus
Medford Lakes Restricts Sales Of Dogs, Cats To Those From Shelters, Rescues
PG 3
www.pinebarrenstribune.com
Vol. 3 – No. 26 ♦
Facebook.com/PineBarrensTribune
@PineBarrensNews
The News Leader of the Pines
♦
PG 4
To Advertise Call: 609-801-2392
February 23, 2019 – March 1, 2019
Photo By Mike Kent
Vehicles continuously parking on the front lawn of Solstice Counseling and Wellness Center in Pemberton Township destroy its front lawn.
CENTER OF CONTENTION Birmingham Residents Demand New Addiction Facility Be Accountable for Alleged Surge in Neighborhood Police and Emergency Service Calls By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer
BIRMINGHAM—Dozens of residents from the Birmingham neighborhood, which spans three Burlington County municipalities, are up in arms over Solstice Counseling and Wellness Center, an addiction facility that opened there last July providing “physical, psychological and spiritual healing” to those on the road to recovery. The residents allege that the business has tur ned their once “Hamlet-like neighborhood” into a “hangout” with drug use, suicide attempts, trespassing, excess litter, aggressive driving, speeding and illegal parking. Neighborhood safety has purportedly deteriorated so much where Eastampton, Southampton and Pemberton townships join together, that local parents are forbidding their children from going fishing at the nearby North Branch of the Rancocas Creek. A Pemberton Township police officer has also issued an emotional
plea to Pemberton Township Council to take action before local residents get hurt, even expressing concern about his own wife’s safety. T h e p u r p o r t e d a c t iv it y i n t h e Birmingham neighborhood is only one element drawing neighborhood outrage. Its residents are also questioning how Pemberton Township has allowed Solstice to operate at 300 Birmingham Road after its owner, Michael Mandale, submitted an application to the municipality before the facility opened stipulating that it would be used as “general office space.” While Pemberton officials appear to be on different pages about whether Solstice’s activities fall under office use, Mandale told this newspaper that the “endless onslaught of complaints” are over the “fear of the unknown” about those suffering from the “disease of addiction.” Mandale also urged the community to show compassion towards his clients,” most of whom he says are from Pemberton Township, who “suffer
from a disease.” The business owner added that he fears for his life over purported death threats he has received in the wake of the complaints from neighbors. An estimated 64 residents from the Bir mingham neighborhood packed council chambers at the Pemberton Township Municipal Building on Feb. 6, sharing personal stories of how Solstice has impacted their lives since opening its doors on the far western edge of Pemberton Township. Residents previously at tended a Pemberton Council meeting in the fall to voice concerns over parking issues along Indian Trail and Birmingham Road from Solstice’s operation. The roads, which rarely had cars parked alongside them according to residents, suddenly had dozens of vehicles parked there on a daily basis. The parking problems, along with complaints, eventually forced Pemberton Council to establish a no-parking zone along the two roads.
“ T h i s i s s ue of Sol s t ic e i n ou r neighborhood now transcends parking problems,” said Southampton resident Mike Kent to Pemberton Council on Feb. 6. “With a little bit of homework and some Open Public Record Act (OPRA) requests, we have found that there have been 33 police and or EMS calls, and or incidents, at Solstice since they officially opened in July. That is more calls—and more incidents and presence by the police and EMS—than in the entire community during the last ten years.” A purported suicide attempt on Jan. 24 amplified resident concerns. “The day a guy ran out of Solstice, and ran out in front of a car, changed everything,” said resident Matt Simmons to Pemberton Council. “It escalated this.” According to Simmons in a phone interview prior to the meeting, the car did make contact with the purported Solstice client and had sustained damage.
See CONTENTION/ Page 18
INDEX Health................................ 11 Leo the Lion......................... 4 Opinion................................ 6 Here's My Card.................. 16 Hobbyist............................ 15
Local News.......................... 3 Senior Column................... 10
Jobs................................... 20 Marketplace....................... 19 Worship Directory................ 9
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Presorted Standard US Postage