Pine Barrens Tribune Jan. 14 Issue

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

Vol. 1 - No. 20

Southeastern Burlington County’s News Leader

Towns Reorganize

Southampton Committee Selects New Deputy Mayor, Young Begins 23rd Year As Mayor

January 14-20, 2017

Medford Council Reorganizes and Elects New Mayor

By Jayne Cabrilla

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD–The Medford Township Council met Jan. 3 to hold its annual reorganization meeting, followed by a regular meeting.

The first item of business was for the council to select a new mayor and deputy mayor for 2017. Charles M. Watson was chosen to serve as mayor of Medford. Bradley Denn was chosen to serve as deputy mayor. Each official, in turn, was sworn in by Township Manager Kathy Burger.

The township operates under a councilmanager type of government. The five members of the council are elected by the public. During the first meeting of each January, the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another member to serve as deputy mayor for the year.

The mayor only serves as head of the council and has no special privileges, such as veto power.

Watson is a 4th generation Medford resident.

Watson, 57, graduated from Shawnee High School and then Rider University. His business, Charles M. Watson Co., a commercial

COUNCIL>>PAGE 20

Senator Dawn Marie Addiego (NJ-8) swears in Southampton Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON– The Southampton Township Committee selected a new deputy mayor at the town’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2.

The reorganization meeting began with the swearing in of Committeeman Michael Mikulski and Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell.

8th District State Senator Dawn Marie Addiego, R-Burlington, officiated at the swearing-in for Mikulski and Rossell.

The committee unanimously selected James F. Young, Sr. to serve as the township’s mayor for 2017. Young is entering his 23rd year as the township’s mayor.

Bill Raftery was chosen amongst his colleagues on the committee to serve as the

deputy mayor of Southampton for a one-year term.

Last year, Latham Tiver was selected for the role of deputy mayor. However, Tiver resigned from the committee in May after he was selected to fill a vacancy on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Committeeman Ronald Heston filled out Tiver’s remaining term as deputy mayor which expired on Dec. 31.

Interestingly, after Raferty secured enough support for the committee to entertain a motion to select him as the town’s deputy mayor, Rossell threw her name into the pot for the role.

However, she could not secure enough support amongst her colleagues and the committee was unable to entertain a motion nominating her for the position.

Township Administrator and Clerk Kathleen

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS D. MELEGARI D. Hoffman conducted a roll call, acting on the motion which nominated Raferty for the deputy mayor position. The vote was unanimous.

Stacy Moore, Esquire, administered the oath of office to Raftery and Young. Young was assisted by his granddaughter, Melanie Montgomery and her husband, Matt Montgomery, and his great grandson, Cooper Montgomery.

Following the swearing in ceremony, the committee made a number of professional appointments for the year with no significant changes.

The Parker McCay law firm was appointed as the municipal attorney with George M. Morris, Esquire, designated as the primary representative for the town and Moore serving as a substitute.

Holman Frenia Allison, P.C. was selected as

COMMITTEE>>PAGE 21

Woodland Reorganizes Speedily

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WOODLAND — On a very chilly Wednesday (Jan. 5) morning, the Woodland Township Committee held its 2017 reorganization meeting in Chatsworth.

The outdoor temperature was in the high 20s, and it wasn’t much warmer inside. The heat had gone off two days prior and the meeting began 10 minutes late, while the handful of people present moved about as much as possible in a vain attempt to stay warm.

No members of the public attended.

As late as Monday, Jan. 9, the township building was still plagued by cold-weather problems.

The heat was back on, but the pipes were frozen.

Nevertheless, the show went on. Matthew

WOODLAND>>PAGE 21

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LOCAL NEWS

3 Sworn In For Terms on LRHSD BOE, Bende Absent To Take Oath

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS D. MELEGARI James Hager, board secretary and business administrator for Lenape Regional, swears in William Bisignano Jr. (Medford), Margaret Estlow (Woodland), and Bonnie Olt (Evesham).

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG– Smiles, handshakes and hugs were a common sight at the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education reorganization meeting on Jan. 4.

William Bisignano, Jr. (Medford), Margaret Estlow (Woodland), and Bonnie Olt (Evesham) were sworn in for full terms on the board.

Bisignano and Estlow were re-elected to the board in November’s general election. Olt was also elected in November to replace Joseph Borucki who retired last month after serving on the board for 18 years.

Dr. Robert Bende, Jr. (Tabernacle) was absent for his swearing in.

James Hager, board secretary and business administrator for the LRHSD, appeared perplexed by the absence of Bende.

After conducting the swearing-in ceremony, Hager returned to his seat to allow for picture taking. He turned to his colleagues to ask how to proceed if Bende arrived later in the meeting.

It was concluded to swear Bende in as soon as he arrived.

However, he never showed up for the meeting that began at 7:30 p.m. and ended at 7:41 p.m.

No explanation was provided for his absence during the meeting.

Elaine Kurtz, district spokeswoman and director of administrative services for the LRHSD, and Dr. Carol “Lynn” Birnbohm, superintendent of schools for the LRHSD, did not return messages seeking comment on Bende’s absence.

Ellen Sullivan, an assistant for Bende’s veterinarian practice in Tabernacle, told the Pine Barrens Tribune that he missed the meeting because he was ill with the flu.

In other news, Linda Eckenhoff (Southampton) will serve another year as

president of the board. Paula Lee (Mount Laurel) will serve another year as vicepresident of the board.

Several appointments to key positions were made, with no significant changes.

Hager will remain the board secretary.

Crystal Scott will retain her position as the treasurer. Paige MacGregor will continue as the custodian of records. MacGregor is also the director of personnel for the district. Hager and Constance Stewart will continue as the district’s purchasing agents.

Matt Webb was appointed as the district’s affirmative action officer and anti-bullying coordinator. James Kehoe and Jim Murphy were appointed as the district’s emergency management coordinators.

The board also retained the Comegno Law Group as their solicitor. Five law groups and one attorney were appointed to serve as special counsel to the district. A request to approve other legal support as deemed necessary by Birnbohm was also given the green light.

The board appointed Medford Station Associates, LLC, which also goes by the name 69 North Main, LLC, as the district’s medical inspector.

Holman Frenia Allison, P.C. was selected as the district’s auditor for fiscal year 2017.

Gallagher Benefits Services, Inc. was chosen to provide insurance services.

The district designated 25 bank accounts through TD Bank for depository of funds. Three other financial institutions were also designated as depository of funds.

15 items adopting or ratifying general policies and procedures were approved.

The meeting concluded with the board providing various departments and employees

ABSENT>>PAGE 20

INDEX Automotive......................................23 Business and Technology ................15 Business Directory...........................16 Classifieds........................................19 Community......................................13 Fun and Games................................18

Health ............................................. 17 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22 Local News....................................... 2 Opinion .......................................... 11 Scanner ........................................... 12

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 and Woodland. 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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Woodland Closes 2016 with Routine, 23-Minute Meeting

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WOODLAND—A brief meeting of 23 minutes was all it took to wrap up 2016 business in Woodland Township on Dec. 28.

There were three major items on the night’s agenda.

A NJDOT letter solicited applications for state funds for 2017. Woodland hasn’t decided how much to seek for the coming year, but Township Clerk Mary Alice Brown said Woodland usually asks for $200,000. All the funds are used for road maintenance.

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—In a reorganization meeting lasting just over an hour, but marked by pomp and ceremony, this community’s council administered the Oath of Office to two councilmen, one of them a newcomer, chose a new president, passed 39 resolutions and an ordinance, then handled some other routine business.

The meeting began with the presentation of colors by the JROTC of Pemberton High School.

Taking the oath of office were veteran Norma Trueblood and newly elected Donovan Gardner. Trueblood, who had missed two prior meetings due to surgery and her recovery, was sworn in by her husband, Rev. Dr. Andrew Trueblood.

Gardner was accompanied by his two sons when he took the oath.

Following the swearing in ceremonies, there was a changing of the guard for the council president position, which routinely changes each year.

The 2016 president, Jason Allen, administered the oath of office to veteran Councilman Kenneth Cartier.

The reorganization consent agenda items are too numerous to list completely, but here are some of the most important.

A temporary budget was adopted. Sunshine Dashiell was reappointed deputy township clerk, assisting Township Clerk Amy P. Cosnoski.

Regular council meeting dates were set for 2017 as well as a holiday schedule. An interest rate was set for delinquent tax payments. Cancellation of property tax overpayments or delinquencies of under $10 were approved.

Various township employees including Dennis Gonzalez, Michele Brown, and Joyce Tinnes were named to some secondary positions.

Two organizations and an individual were awarded refunds ranging from $137 to $788 for tax overpayments. The same individual also qualified for a veteran’s tax exemption worth $3,858.

In the only piece of major legislation, council unanimously approved a proposal setting up a series of payments due to the township involving vacant commercial properties. The program closely resembles one in effect for years governing residential properties, described in detail

by Township Administrator Dennis Gonzalez in November. Basically, the longer the property stays vacant, the higher the payment to the township will be.

Vacant and neglected properties have long been a problem in the township.

Two volunteers, Joseph Schmidt and Jason L. Price were accepted by the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Co. Rev. Trueblood gave the parting benediction.

LRHSD BOE Approves Chiller Replacement, Silent About Tragedy

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG– The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education held a regular meeting, immediately following a reorganization meeting on Jan. 4.

The meeting was an unusually swift one for the district. It lasted for only four minutes.

The board unanimously approved a resolution to award a bid to Driscoll Mechanical in the amount of $373,000 for a chiller replacement at Seneca High School. Money was appropriated from the district’s capital reserve fund to support the full cost of this project.

The board approved the resignations and appointments of coaches and activity advisers.

A SAT preparation course for district students was also approved which will be held at Cherokee High School on four Saturdays from Jan. 28 to Feb. 25 at no cost to the district.

There was no new business. The solicitor, board secretary, treasurer, and superintendent did not have anything to report during the “reports” portion of the meeting.

Shamong Holds Joint Reorganization and Regular January Meeting

The Agriculture Department confirmed earlier reports of no gypsy moth damage to the township in the past year. This is a constant worry for all Pinelands community towns, so Woodland can rest easy for another year.

Dog license fees for 2017 will be $11.20 for neutered dogs and $16.20 for non-neutered ones.

Also, there was a minor item on the night’s agenda. A routine task for all towns at year’s end is the cancellation of outstanding checks for the year. A single check, for $1, was canceled.

The meeting drew seven townspeople. The next regular meeting is scheduled for the fourth Wednesday in January, the 22d, at 7 p.m.

Pemberton Swears In Veteran, Newcomer To Council

By Adam Tait III

Saturday, January 14, 2017

“Nothing at this time,” said Dr. Carol “Lynn” Birnbohm, superintendent of schools for the LRHSD. Interestingly, there was no mention of a tragedy that has profoundly impacted Shawnee High School, which is a part of the LRHSD, since the last board meeting.

The Medford high school suffered an unexpected loss with the death of a prominent biology teacher, Nicole Spirit. She died following injuries sustained during a motor-vehicle crash on Dec. 17.

The unexpected loss has been deeply felt by the school’s students and staff members and the Burlington County Crisis Response Team had to respond to the school to provide support.

Elaine Kurtz, district spokeswoman and director of administrative services for the LRHSD, and Birnbohm did not return messages seeking comment on why there was no moment of silence in remembrance of Spirit or a mention of the tragedy at the Jan. 4 meetings.

The next meeting of the LRHSD Board of Education will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. at 93 Willow Grove Road in Shamong.

Deputy Mayor Michael DiCroce get sworn in.

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—This township is one of the few to hold its reorganization meeting along with a regular monthly meeting on the same night.

It’s true, it takes longer, but it also gets a lot done.

The reorganization took place at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3, 30 minutes prior to the regular meeting.

Most of the business was strictly routine, but here are the highlights.

Tim Gimbel and Michael DiCroce were sworn in for three-year committee terms.

Gimbel’s wife, Nancy, held the Bible as he was sworn in. A few minutes later, Gimbel was named mayor for another term by the other members of committee. DiCroce was named deputy mayor. Both terms are for one year.

Among 18 resolutions passed, Raymond, Coleman, Heinold, Norman LLP of Moorestown was named as township solicitor.

Dante Guzzi Engineering Associates, Medford, was picked as township engineer. Inverso & Stewart LLC of Marlton will be township auditor. All were reappointments.

Pogue, Inc. of Estelle Manor will direct alcohol and drug testing. T.C. Irons of Medford will be the risk management consultant.

A temporary budget was approved.

Among 25 lesser appointments, Susan Onorato and Barbara Valenzano were named to nine and six, respectively.

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER Several other persons were reappointed to various township boards. There were no objections or debate. This part of the meeting lasted only 25 minutes.

After a brief break, the regular monthly meeting began.

A contract for $1,435 was awarded for software maintenance for the registrar’s office.

Edmunds & Assocs. won a $6,025 contract with costs shared between the Finance Department, $2,639 and the Tax Department, $3,386.

Boy Scout Troop 47 won approval to pick up discarded Christmas trees as a service project on Jan. 16. Donations will be accepted.

A representative of Verizon gave a presentation on the use of nodes to boost phone service.

The nodes will be placed on existing telephone poles in lieu of the far more unsightly cell towers. No action was taken by the committee.

Two ordinances won approval. The first is to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank. This action gives municipalities more flexibility over temporary budget fixes.

An ordinance fixing annual salary ranges for the township committee and other designated workers was also approved.

A shared-service pact with Waterford Township over a truck also won approval as did an agreement with M&R Wildlife Removal of Palmyra for animal control.

The meeting adjourned just before 9 p.m. Attendance varied at different times but averaged about four.

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PAGE 5

Washington Rescinds Agreement, Mayor and Deputy Mayor Remain Unchanged

PHOTO BY DOULAS D. MELEGARI PHOTO BY DOULAS D. MELEGARI Solicitor Thomas Coleman swears in Washington Mayor Dudley Lewis and Washington Deputy In Washington, Mayor Dudley Lewis and Washingon Deputy Mayor Daniel James are congratulated Mayor Daniel James.

by Committeeman Barry Cavileer.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON– The first Washington Township Committee meeting of the year kicked off on Jan. 3 with the swearing-in of Dudley Lewis who was re-elected for another two-year term to the township committee.

Lewis won unopposed in November’s general election.

Lewis was also nominated by his colleagues to serve another one-year term as mayor of the municipality.

Daniel James was nominated by his colleagues to serve another one-year term as deputy mayor of the municipality.

Tom Coleman, Esquire, administered the oath of office to Lewis and James.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, numerous resolutions were approved by the

committee concerning the town’s finances.

These resolutions are routine for the first meeting of the year.

The committee also made a number of professional appointments for the year with one significant change.

Scott Brown of Dante Guzzi Engineering was appointed as the township engineer. Brown will replace Kris Kluk who served as the township’s engineer for many years.

Lewis told the Pine Barrens Tribune that the decision was made to replace Kluk because of pricing.

“He priced higher than the other one,” Lewis said.

Committeeman Barry Cavileer said that it was a difficult decision.

“It was not the easiest decision to make,” Cavileer said. “He has been a friend to us.”

Coleman will continue to serve as the township solicitor.

Kevin Quinlan, Esquire, will continue to serve as the municipal prosecutor. Brian Rumpf will continue to serve as public defender.

Holman Frenia Allison, P.C. was selected as the municipal auditor.

Charles Garrity of NJ Animal Control, LLC was reappointed as the town’s animal control officer.

Several township residents were appointed to various boards and committees.

Following the appointments, the committee went into an executive session for approximately five minutes to discuss a part-time employee.

Once the committee reemerged from the executive session, they unanimously choose to rescind a resolution passed on Dec. 27.

The measure had permitted the town to enter

into an interlocal services agreement with Bass River for both towns’ use of a common tax assessor, James Renwick, on a part-time basis.

The committee then passed a resolution to enter into a interlocal services agreement with Southampton for Washington’s and Southampton’s use of a common tax accessor.

Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman did not accompany the committee into executive session. Coleman said that this was done to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Hoffman is also the township administrator and clerk of Southampton.

She can hold both positions because Washington’s municipal offices are only open one evening a week. Hoffman works five days a week in Southampton during the morning and afternoon hours.

Homeowner Left Without Heat After Mix-up Is Denied Exception, Challenges Decision

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON– A dispute over a road -opening permit for natural gas service will return to Superior Court.

Joseph Perretta has alleged that he is living without a source of adequate heat in his home after he was provided with incorrect information by Southampton officials.

Perretta purchased a dwelling on Cotherstone Drive in the LeisureTowne section of Southampton in 2014. Around the time of purchase, Cotherstone Drive was resurfaced by the township for $153,000.

The home was built in 1986 and had electric baseboard heat upon purchase.

Perretta rehabbed the home in 2015 and removed the electric heating system. He had PSE&G install a hybrid heating system which runs on electricity during certain periods and then switches over to natural gas at lower temperatures.

“Once it gets below 40 degrees, it needs a backup system,” Perretta said. “So, there is no

heat in there once the outside temperature is below 40 degrees.”

However, a natural gas line was not hooked up to the home at the time of the conversion due a road opening moratorium that goes into effect on newly repaved roads in the municipality.

Perretta, who lived in Medford at the time of the installation, described to the Southampton Township Committee on Dec. 20 that he moved into his LeisureTowne home this past summer.

He said that he moved into the home after he was told by township officials that the road opening moratorium for Cotherstone Drive was three years and set to expire in April 2017.

“When we came around and before I did anything, we had a meeting here and everybody here said three years,” Perretta said. “Your engineer, everybody else said three years. It is a matter of record.”

He said that he also had a discussion with Southampton Mayor James F. Young, Sr. about expiring the moratorium earlier so that he could move into LeisureTowne as soon as possible.

He said that the mayor promised that the committee would make an exception to expire

the moratorium four to five months earlier than April 2017 to accommodate his wishes.

Young said that Perretta did ask him if the township could change the expiration date.

However, he said that he did not guarantee any action by the committee.

“I said it’s possible that the committee could do it, but I didn’t say we were going to do it,” Young said.

When Perretta settled into his home, he was notified that the moratorium on newly paved roads was five years.

The mayor admitted that the committee provided Perretta with incorrect information on the moratorium’s expiration date.

“At the time when he came in, the committee was under the impression that it was three years,” Young said. “Then when we finally did the research, we found it was five years.”

Perretta applied for the permit in August in preparation for the cold weather. He was hopeful that the committee would recognize their mistake and that the mayor would keep his word.

However, Perretta was unable to secure a permit from the township and filed suit in Superior

Court.

The case went before Burlington County Assignment Judge Ronald E. Bookbinder last Nov. 7, 9, and 10. Bookbinder ordered Perretta to appear before the committee.

Perretta asked the committee for a hardship exception or an emergency exception.

“You were instructed by the court to provide information regarding how your property is different than the others on the road,” said Township Solicitor George M. Morris.

Perretta said that his house is basically about the same size as everybody else’s house.

“The biggest difference is they have heat, I don’t,” Perretta said.

Morris said that there was a heat source in the home from 1986 to 2014.

“You took a heat source out of that house,” Morris said. “You created your own “emergency”.

Morris and Perretta went back and forth with each other for over 20 minutes. The two men talked over each other at times.

HOMEOWNER>>PAGE 20

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MacArthur Sworn in to Second Term Representing South Jersey in Congress

Pinelands Commission Changes Location and Time Of Next Meeting

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON– The New Jersey Pinelands Commission has rescheduled its next monthly meeting from Jan. 13 to Jan. 24 and will hold the meeting in the Parish Centre at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Pemberton.

The changes in date and location were made in response to public comment asking for additional time and a larger meeting space.

The meeting will commence at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Centre, located at 22 Trenton Road in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton.

The agenda for this meeting will include an opportunity for the public to comment on the

PHOTO SUBMITTED Congressman Tom MacArthur took the oath of office beside his family on January 3. House Speaker Paul Ryan conducted the ceremonies. ing Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, growFor the Pine Barrens Tribune ing our economy, demanding accountability WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom from FEMA for our neighbors and fighting the MacArthur has officially been sworn in for a heroin epidemic that is destroying our commusecond term representing New Jersey’s Third nities. It is a privilege to represent our corner of Congressional District in Congress. MacArthur the United States and provide a voice for South took the oath of office administered by Speaker Jersey residents. Over the next two years, I will continue to provide the best possible constituent Paul Ryan, surrounded by family on Jan. 3.

“Representing South Jersey in Congress has service for our community members and work to been one of the greatest opportunities of my achieve bipartisan solutions to improve the quallife,” said MacArthur. “I remain committed to ity of life for New Jersey’s Third Congressional providing for our national defense and protect- District residents.”

Local Towns Reorder Salt After Two Systems Drop Measurable Snow

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG–The first snowstorm of the new year blanketed Burlington County and much of the state with a plowable snowfall on Jan. 7.

According to the National Weather Service, central and southeastern portions of Burlington County received between three and six inches of snow.

The LeisureTowne section of Southampton received the most snow in our coverage area with a trained spotter measuring six inches of fresh powder.

The storm followed a minor snow event which occurred on Jan. 5. That storm dropped between a coating and an inch of snow.

The back-to-back storm systems kept road crews in our area busy.

In Shamong, officials tasked four full-time Department of Public Works employees to conduct snow removal operations. Four temporary drivers were also brought in to help with Saturday’s storm.

“At the peak, we had seven trucks out on the road,” said Susan Onorato, township administrator for Shamong.

Tabernacle brought in nine individuals to clear the roads of snow and ice.

“We came in around 8 a.m. Saturday and started salting,” said Township Administrator and Director of Public Works, Douglas Cramer. “We finished plowing at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Three men came back in at 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon and plowed drifts back until 8 p.m.”

Both town’s salt supplies decreased due to

the storms. However, there is no shortage of salt.

“We went through over 300 tons of salt,” Onorato said. “We still have a couple hundred tons left and we have ordered 400 tons.”

She said that the township ordered a new shipment of salt last week so that they could refill their salt barn in anticipation of additional winter weather this month.

Tabernacle went through 150 tons of salt. The town also sprayed the salt with calcium chloride to keep the road treatment active as temperatures fell below 20 degrees.

Tabernacle also reordered salt to restock their salt barn.

During the peak of the storm, hazardous road conditions were reported throughout the state.

The New Jersey State Police responded to 318 motor vehicle crashes and 536 motorist aids in their patrol areas statewide. Motorist aids can be anything from a spin out, a flat tire, or a mechanical breakdown.

The storm also coincided with an arctic outbreak of cold air.

Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio declared a Code Blue Cold Weather Emergency that lasted through early week.

“A Code Blue declaration is made in Burlington County when winter conditions pose a threat of serious harm or death to individuals without shelter,” Garganio said. “When a Code Blue is enacted, it provides for short-term emergency sheltering.”

Temperatures had moderated by mid-week.

However, more winter weather is possible later in the month.

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South Jersey Gas Company’s application to build a natural gas pipeline in the Pinelands.

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held in the Ocean Acres Community Center in Manahawkin.

The commission has also set up a special webpage with information on the application and public comment period. Readers can find the special webpage at http://www.nj.gov/pinelands/home/news/special.shtml .

Written comments are also being accepted on the proposal until Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. Comments may be sent to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, P.O. Box 359, New Lisbon, New Jersey 08064.

MacArthur Elected Co-Chair of Tuesday Group For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) announced last week that he has been elected Co-Chair of the House Tuesday Group.

The Tuesday group is one of the three main coalitions of House Republicans and is comprised of close to 60 members who focus on working with members of both parties to effectively govern, including basic functions of government, such as passing the Defense bill and government funding bills on time.

“I am thrilled to take on the role of Co-Chair

for the Tuesday Group and work with this pragmatic group of problem solvers who are willing to respond to the issues facing our nation in a responsible, solutions-oriented way that will improve the lives of our constituents and move our country forward,” MacArthur said.

“Representative MacArthur is thoughtful and measured; he will be a great asset to the Tuesday Group as one of our co-chairs,” said Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15). “I look forward to working with Representative MacArthur and our fellow co-chair, Representative Elise Stefanik, to help Tuesday Group members navigate the issues we will face in the coming Congress.”

Saturday, January 14, 2017

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PAGE 7

FIRST WINTER STORM OF 2017

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER

The calm after the storm. Have you ever noticed how quiet it is just after the snow stops falling? Some distant traffic, perhaps a little animal activity, perhaps a child’s voice or two. I ts almost preternaturally quiet. You can hear the silence in the two photos above.

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER PHOTO BY SCOTT KERN Solitude! Very little moves in a storm’s aftermath. The road above is cleared but carries no traffic. Pemberton Lake sleeps, waiting for warmer weather and the cries of children jumping into the-then warm water.

PHOTO BY SCOTT KERN PHOTO BY SCOTT KERN Brendan T. Byrne State Forest awaits spring, as does the lonely trail in the picture to the right. You can almost expect deer to slowly cross the trail or perhaps a wild turkey or two.

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

Properties in Disrepair Prompt Concern, Updates Given on Hampton Lakes EMS and Telephone Building Negotiations

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON–Concerns about unkempt properties and potholes have been raised in Southampton.

A few residents spoke about the issues during public comment at a Southampton Township Committee meeting held on Jan. 2.

Prior to public comment, the committee gave the green light for Township Administrator and Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman to issue a number of licenses to businesses which were listed on the meeting agenda.

Some establishments in the township require a license to operate. Also, a license is required for the use of some materials.

“When do you renew the licenses for junk yards?” said Carolyn Budd, a longtime resident of Southampton. “I don’t see that on here.”

Hoffman said the township no longer provides licenses to junk yards.

“So, they can just pop up anywhere?” Budd said.

Hoffman deferred to Stacy Moore, Esquire, who was filling in for Township Solicitor George M. Morris.

Moore said that junk yards require the approvals that any other business must obtain.

He also said that they have to be in compliance with the township’s ordinances.

Budd asked Moore what was the legal definition of a junk yard.

“A place where a property is accepting junk and may sell items to the public,” Moore said.

Budd inquired as to whether a property that is giving the appearance of a junk yard would meet the definition.

Moore said that a property maintenance official from the township would have to evaluate a property in order for a “classification” to be made. He said that a property could be designated as a junk yard if members of the public were stopping at the site and viewing junk.

Budd identified three properties that she believes need township intervention.

The first is in the 100 block of Main Street. She said that she spoke to Hoffman numerous times about the property.

Hoffman said that the township has taken its owner to court. She said that the owner has been given an extension to clean the property up.

“That is the problem,” Mayor James F. Young, Sr. said. “You go out and cite somebody and right away they ask for an extension.”

Hoffman said that is unfortunately due process in America.

Moore said that once the matter is in the hands of a judge, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the township committee to intervene to have the property cleaned up faster.

“The judge will have to render an opinion,” he said. “If he fines them or something, they will have to comply with the judicial order. If whatever he does is not effectual, then the township committee at that time may step in.”

Budd said that she believed the situation is presenting a health issue.

“There are cars down there,” she said. “We know what is in cars, oil. It is a winter habitat for whatever comes out of the meadow that is owned by the township right behind this property. It is a winter habitat for rats.”

Young asked Hoffman to notify the Burlington County Health Department of the situation. Hoffman agreed to do so.

Budd also complained about a property in the 1800 block of Route 206. She said the property

has weeds that are at least eight feet high. She also said that the owner has been taken to court by the township several times and nothing has been done to improve the site.

Committeeman Michael Mikulski asked his colleagues if the property in the 1800 block of Route 206 was the one with out-of-state owners that the committee has talked about in the past.

His colleagues told him that the one Budd is referring to is a different property.

However, Budd, aware of the property Mikulski referred to, which adjoins Route 206, New Road, and Ridge Road, asked if the out-ofstate owners had a license to store trailers on it.

“No, they don’t,” Hoffman said.

Budd asked the committee why the trailers are on the property if they don’t have a license.

“They have been there for years,” she said.

“Why are they there?”

Young said that he will have the township send out an inspector following the committee meeting.

Budd said that her sister’s property adjoins that property.

“They are storing farming equipment,” she said. “But they don’t farm there. Do you understand?”

Mikulski said that the township has previously sent out inspectors to the property.

Budd said that the owners cut down some trees and added fencing.

“They put up some crazy fencing out on Route 206 which made it look worse than it did before,” she said. “The fence issue is the one that is falling down on New Road.”

Budd added that she was concerned about property values.

“If my sister were to put her property for sale anytime soon, that would be a detriment for the sale of her property,” she said. “I am concerned for her.”

Young asked Hoffman if the property’s owners get farmland assessment.

Hoffman said that she believed that they do receive farmland assessment.

“I think you should send the assessor out there to revoke it because they are not farming it,” he said.

Hoffman said that the township could roll back two-years worth of farmland assessment.

“It is a shame because if you lived next door you would be upset,” Budd said. “You wouldn’t want this right next to your property. You wouldn’t want a junk yard next to your property.”

Moore suggested that Budd talk with the municipal prosecutor.

“The next time there is a court appearance, talk to the municipal prosecutor,” he said. “Let him know that you are willing to testify as a witness to the effect that this having on the neighborhood. That would make the case stronger and the judge may be motivated to take a sterner action.”

Young asked Hoffman to notify people near the affected properties of upcoming court dates.

“The next time they go to court, we will notify the people nearby,” Young said.

Committeeman William Raferty said that the township ordinance requires six residents to complain about a messy property before a code enforcement officer can go out and react to it.

Budd said people are afraid of retaliation and don’t want to get involved. She also said that a lot of the township’s residents are elderly and are not able to do that.

“The problem is people don’t speak up,” Budd said.

Pat Topham, also a Southampton resident, said that the overgrowth of brush on the property

which adjoins Route 206, New Road, and Ridge Road is leading to accidents at a four-way stop intersection at Ridge and New Road.

“There are accidents happening on New Road and the fence, I think, has a lot to do with it,” she said. “There is a telephone pole and then the fence is leaning. There are weeds there. I see it as a big hazard, too. I think we need to fix the fence and cut down the weeds to make it a little bit safer.”

Budd returned to the microphone to inquire about another property that that is in disrepair.

The Vincentown and Tabernacle Telephone Company building, which has also served as the home to the Southampton Historical Society since 1976, has been closed for over five months after a code enforcement officer condemned it for usage.

Township officials took the unusual precaution of closing the building due to the possibility that further erosion of the embankment next to the building will cause the bulkhead protecting it to fail with little or no advance notice. While the structure itself has recently been determined to be sound by a structural engineer, the erosion of the embankment is creating a precarious situation.

Officials theorize that the building could collapse into the creek should the bulkhead, which holds back the creek’s water, fail.

The committee has been debating what to do with the building. Options include moving it to another site, raise the building and repair the bulkhead, or just repair the bulkhead. However, all of the options are expensive.

The committee has also been pursuing an insurance claim with a neighboring property owner.

The deterioration of the embankment began

several years ago after unhealthy trees were removed on the other side of the creek, across from the telephone museum. Normally, tree removal on the other side of the creek would cause no harm.

However, wisteria vines grew very heavily in the area and formed a connection between the trees on both sides of the creek. As the trees were knocked down on the one side of the creek, the vines were pulled in a way that uprooted several trees along the telephone museum side of the creek. It was these roots which helped to hold the soil into place. The absence of the tree roots has led to the erosion.

Budd asked about the status of the negotiations with the neighboring property owner’s insurance company.

“We are in contact with the insurance company now,” Young said. “We did send letters to them.

We are waiting for a response. We sent them an estimate of what it would cost to repair it and so far they haven’t responded.”

Hoffman said that the estimate is a little over $100,000.

“That is to do it right,” Young said.

The estimate includes engineering, bulkhead repair, and permits. Young said the permits alone will cost between $10,000 and $14,000.

Budd then asked if the township still repairs potholes.

“I live in LeisureTowne. You go in from Route 70, here is the guardhouse and here is the pothole. It’s been there for months. You go out to Route 70 and there is a pothole there. It has been there for months. Does somebody have to call in or does public works see these things?”

“It’ll be taken care of tomorrow,” Young said.

NEGOTIATIONS>>PAGE 20

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PAGE 9

Burlington County Freeholder Bruce Garganio Named as 2017 Director

PHOTO SUBMITTED PHOTO SUBMITTED Honorable Phillip E. Haines congratulates Bruce Garganio after he was sworn in to the Burlington Honorable Phillip E. Haines swears in Burlington County Sheriff Jean Stanfield to another threeCounty Board of Chosen Freeholders. year term.

By Jayne Cabrilla

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MOUNT HOLLY–The Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders held its annual re-organization meeting on Jan. 4, at the historic Courthouse in Mount Holly.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Deacon Joseph Tedeschi, which was followed by the Star Spangled Banner, sung by Heather Mooney.

The Honorable Philip E. Haines swore in elected officials, Sheriff Jean Stanfield; Surrogate Mary Ann O’Brien; and Freeholder Latham Tiver.

Stanfield was first elected as Burlington County Sheriff in 2001 and was re-elected in November 2016 to serve another three-year term.

Mount Holly’s beautiful historic Courthouse is an appropriate location for the board to meet, as the term freeholder is also historic, dating back to New Jersey’s 1776 Constitution. County freeholders are unique to New Jersey – in other states, the positions are known as county executives, or county commissioners.

Elected freeholders are part-time legislators who are charged with overseeing county operations and budgets, such as for parks, jails, roads and social services.

The county surrogate’s duties include overseeing issues such as wills, guardianships and adoptions.

O’Brien, a lawyer, was elected to serve as surrogate for a 5-year term. It is a full-time position and pays $120,000 per year. O’Brien had previously served as a freeholder. Prior to being elected as surrogate in November, she had

also served as the county’s freeholder director.

At the meeting, Bruce Garganio was unanimously selected by the board to serve as its director for 2017. During his remarks, Garganio vowed to cut property taxes, improve county services, and put residents back to work.

“We have cut county property taxes more than any other freeholder board in the state,” Garganio said. “This gets harder to do every year, but it is just as important today as it was when we started. Our residents deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money because government should work for them, not the other way around,” Garganio said.

Garganio proudly announced that Burlington County’s single-stream recycling program saved county residents more than $3.4 million dollars last year.

“Tonight, I am directing our economic and

academic partners to begin crafting agreements with targeted businesses for custom courses and training,” Garganio said. “If we teach what is needed in the real world, our students will be better prepared.”

Freeholder Kate Gibbs was selected to serve as deputy director of the board.

Garganio also announced the 2017 freeholder assignments.

He will serve as director of administration and solid waste. Gibbs will oversee public works and the health department. Freeholder Linda Hughes will be the liaison to education, economic development and human services.

Freeholder Ryan Peters will serve as liaison to public safety and the prosecutor. Tiver will serve as liaison to elections and corrections.

Tabernacle Township Committee Begins New Year With Familiar Faces

By Monica Hollenbeck

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE–Tabernacle’s government held a reorganization meeting on Jan. 4th. However, by the end of the meeting, no changes were made in the leadership of the township committee or with township appointments.

Stephen Lee IV and Joseph Yates IV first took the oath of office as committeemen, having won re-election in November. This is Lee’s third term and Yate’s seventh. They are joined by returning committee members Joseph Barton, Richard Franzen and Kim Brown.

Brown was absent from the meeting and is up for re-election this year.

The committee then turned its attention to leadership. Lee was nominated for mayor and Yates for deputy mayor, both for the second year in a row. The men nominated each other, with Barton offering the second motion for both.

Lee thanked his colleagues for the confidence they placed in him to lead the meetings again.

“It’s truly humbling for me to be in this chair for a second consecutive year,” Lee said. “I look

at it is a team effort. There’s not one chair that is more important than the other. I’ve said this before, there’s not one voice more important than the other and that’s how we get things accomplished by working together.”

The committee’s first order of business for the new year was to make various township appointments, including Peter C. Lange, who will continue his role as township solicitor and Dan Guzzi who remains the township engineer. All appointments were unanimous.

Emergency Management Coordinator Colonel William C. Lowe presented the list of people he is appointing to the Local Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC). These include members of the fire company, rescue squad, school and business districts, a farmer and the public.

Lowe said they represent all the different areas of the township and will look at plans he developed for the township in case of an emergency.

Regular township committee meetings will PHOTO BY MONICA HOLLENBECK take place on the second and fourth Monday of Tabernacle’s Joseph Yates IV and Steven Lee IV smile after being sworn in as deputy mayor and the month at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The next mayor, respectively. meeting is Jan. 23.

PAGE 10

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

Virtua CEO Rich Miller to Retire December 2017 For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PHOTO SUBMITTED Virtua CEO Richard P. Miller.

MARLTON–Virtua President and CEO Richard P. Miller has announced his plan to retire at the end of 2017 after leading the organization for 21 years. Virtua’s Board of Trustees announced that it has begun a search for his successor to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

Miller’s decision to retire caps a remarkable career of continuous service to Virtua, and its predecessor West Jersey Health System. Virtua’s current Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dennis Flanagan, noted that Miller led the way for Virtua to transition from a group of community hospitals into a highly-respected regional healthcare provider.

“It was Rich’s leadership that helped create Virtua from the merger of the West Jersey Health System and Memorial Health Alliance in 1998,” Flanagan said. “Since then, Virtua has become a leader in the region delivering quality healthcare and bringing innovative programs and services to the communities it serves. He has built an outstanding leadership team that will continue to fulfill the organization’s mission.”

Incoming Chairman of the Board David Kindlick noted that Miller is a visionary who saw the need to shift hospital-based services to an outpatient setting to increase convenience and reduce costs for patients before other providers.

“He led the way in introducing wellness services as part of a health system’s offerings and recognized the benefit early on of adding fitness centers, weight-loss programs and urgent care centers to Virtua’s continuum of care,” Kindlick said.

A graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College, Miller earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University.

“I’ve been privileged to lead one of the region’s greatest healthcare teams with people who are dedicated to compassionate healing and outstanding customer service,” Miller said.

“The time has come for me to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders and I will take great pride in watching the organization continue to fulfill its mission of helping people be well, get well and stay well.”

Miller joined the West Jersey Health System in 1986 as Vice President of Finance. During his tenure at West Jersey, he served as Executive Director of the Berlin Hospital, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President of Hospital Affairs before being named President and CEO in 1996.

Miller played a key role in the formation of Virtua in 1998 at which time he was named President and CEO for the new health system.

At the time, he committed to evolving the health system from average to award winning, the re-

Medford Police Receives Grant To Purchase Body Cameras For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TRENTON –Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced last week $566,000 in awards for 37 law enforcement agencies across New Jersey to buy body-worn cameras. Since 2015, the Attorney General’s Office has provided more than $4.5 million, including the new round of funds, to enable the New Jersey State Police and other police departments across the state to buy their officers body cameras to promote transparency, mutual accountability, and trust between police and the community.

Porrino announced the availability of grant funds on Sept. 20 and invited applications from agencies that had not received funds in the prior round of funding in 2015. Today, he announced the specific awards by agency. Thirty-seven agencies that applied received funds, and most received funding for all of the body cameras they requested. The $566,000 will help to fund purchases of 1,132 body cameras. Agencies can use up to $500 in grant funds for each camera or camera package, including camera and related equipment.

Police departments in 15 of 21 counties received awards. Locally, the Medford Township Police Department received $16,500 in grant funding which will be dedicated towards the pur-

chase of 33 body cameras.

This round of grants is being provided using funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program. JAG funds are appropriated by Congress to the U.S. Department of Justice to assist states and local units of government in carrying out programs to prevent and control crime and to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. In July 2015, Governor Christie and the Attorney General’s Office announced a total of $4 million in funding for body cameras using criminal forfeiture funds. They announced $1.5 million in funding to fully equip the State Police with body cameras for every officer conducting patrol duties. They also announced $2.5 million in grant funding that was awarded to 176 police departments for the purchase of more than 5,000 cameras.

“We’ve made positive police-community relations a top priority in New Jersey through policies and programs that have been embraced by law enforcement and community stakeholders alike, including our efforts to promote the use of body cameras by police,” said Porrino.

“This new round of funding for body cameras

CAMERAS>>PAGE 13

sults which have been demonstrated by awards for quality and patient safety by US News & Health Report, Healthgrades, Leapfrog Group, and countless other organizations as well as considerable growth in market share, making Virtua the largest health system in southern New Jersey.

During his tenure, he oversaw the transition of a Camden inpatient facility into a vibrant outpatient center providing much-needed primary and specialty healthcare and social services to Camden residents. In 2011, he opened one of the region’s first new hospitals in 20 years despite a declining economy. At a time when many hospitals in the state are struggling, Virtua earned an AA- credit rating from Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, making it the first health system in New Jersey to receive such a high credit rating.

In addition to ensuring high quality and financial stability, Miller was also the moving force behind a culture that focused on creating an outstanding customer experience, achieved by investing in employees and hiring for values. As a result, Virtua has been named a Best Place to Work by the Philadelphia Business Journal for the last 10 years.

Miller has been recognized nationally with appointments to the Leadership Advisory Council of the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare (CTH) and to the Governing Council of Healthcare Executives for the American Hospital Association. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and

served as a trustee of the National Quality Forum.

Miller serves on the Operating Committee of the Board of Select Greater Philadelphia. He has served on the Board of the University of the Sciences of Philadelphia, was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Hospital Association, a member of the Governor’s Committee on Benchmarking for Quality and Efficiency, and the NJ Healthcare Access Study Commission. He is a past chairman of the board for the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey.

Among his many honors, Miller was named Human Resources CEO of the Year by HR Department of the Year Awards. He received the CEO IT Achievement Award from Modern Healthcare magazine, was named Healthcare CEO of the Year by the Philadelphia Business Journal, Lean Six Sigma National CEO of the Year, Distinguished Citizen of the Year by Boy Scouts of America, and received the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award from New Jersey Junior Achievement.

Goodwill honored him with the Helms Award for spreading goodwill through leadership and philanthropic involvement. He has been named among The 100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Business by NJBIZ magazine, one of the 50 Most Powerful People in Health Care

by NJBIZ, a “Person to Watch” by Philadelphia Magazine, and recognized nationally on the list of “291 Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

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OPINION

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

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

PAGE 11

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 Tribue 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

We Support Pinelands Referendum

Lives Depend on Ambulance Service

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, voters in the Pinelands Regional School District (PRSD) will once again be asked to approve a 53.6 milliondollar bond referendum.

Voters will be asked to approve three questions on the ballot. The first question must pass for the second and third questions to be eligible for approval.

Question 1 asks for voters to approve exterior system replacements at Pinelands Regional Junior High School (PRJHS) and Pinelands Regional High School (PRHS). The repair work includes new roofing and masonry. Also, the question asks for your approval of interior repairs, HVAC replacement, electrical upgrades, security upgrades, and communications upgrades.

Question 2 asks for voters to approve a new, secured, all-weather entrance for both schools, the installation of a rear bus drop-off/ pick-up area at PRJHS, and renovations to the main entrance and library at PRHS. Question 3 asks for voters to approve a storm water management system, upgrade a grass field at a PRHS stadium, recondition a decaying track at PRHS, and refurbish tennis courts at PRHS. The district has posed the questions in the order of urgency.

The state will pick up 40% of the cost if voters approve the referendum. This means that district taxpayers will bear 60% of the cost.

Our analysis of provided documentation shows that these repairs are critical and basic. The renovations are clearly necessary to maintain a safe, effective educational environment. The district says that these are no-frill renovations and we agree.

Water has penetrated the building’s brick veneer, causing its deterioration. Also, a stair tower’s connecting steel beams are corroding. The district has closed a total of seven classrooms and the stair tower because of these issues.

This speaks of great urgency and we urge voters to pass all three questions on the ballot to address this problems and the others that are similar to it.

One of the deciding factors for us throwing our support behind all three questions is the excellent efforts Interim PRSD Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks and her team have made to communicate with the public and press.

They’ve been transparent on what needs to be done. They’ve posted cost calculators, fact sheets, and engineering reports online.

They’ve also held special meetings for constituents to learn more about the problems plaguing the system.

In this district, there is a true appreciation for public input and independent monitors of power.

In our opinion, they’ve built trust.

Political Cartoons

Once again I am reading an article about the Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad contract negotiations. A contract still has not been signed.

Based on what I have read, it sounds like both sides have had their share of “interpreting and assuming” many aspects of the contract.

My husband and I have lived in Hampton Lakes for over 30 years. We are senior citizens. My daughter and her family also reside in Hampton Lakes.

We have always supported our emergency squad and fire department. We have always had

a sense of security knowing both were close if ever needed.

Is this what you are taking away from not only us but our LeisureTowne neighbors? I do not normally voice my opinion but this directly affects me, my family, and friends.

The holidays are now over and it is time from Southampton Township to make this a priority through special and emergency meetings to have all issues resolved and a new contract signed as soon as possible. Lives depend on this.

Barbara Bates Southampton, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Pine Barrens Tribune) To the staff of the Pine Barrens Tribune, I wish to express my happiness with your paper. You are good on covering local and more regional NJ events and are not overwhelmed with ads. In all, your newspaper is a very satisfying read.

Jonathan Connor (Re: Children Suffer Head Injuries In Route 70 Crash) Yet another deadly crash on Route 70. Was she trying to pass? This really upsets me.

Elizabeth Froelich (Re: Response to Multiple Motorcycle Accidents in the Penn State Forest Prompt Concern) The fatality had nothing to do with the Pine Barrens 500. This actually highlights the reasoning for organized rides with set medical coverage by the townships and the PB 500 organization.

Most of Washington’s concern was the 911 center did not have the proper instructions to direct Woodland resources to the ride according to pre-planning, instead of Washington resources, which are further away.

Michael Bradway

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

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

SCANNER Police Release Sketch Of Naked Jeep Driver

NJSP Youth Explorers Meet at Seneca High School

PHOTO SUBMITTED Students from all across Central Jersey gathered at Seneca High School for their very first New Jersey State Police Explorer meeting.

PHOTO SUBMITTED MEDFORD – Police have released a composite sketch of a man who exposed himself in Medford and Evesham Townships during the last week of December.

In the Evesham incident, the man is believed to have run towards two teenage girls in the area of Ravens Row and Fox Chase Road.

Police in Medford and Evesham believe the

suspect drives either a Jeep Patriot or a Cherokee-style Jeep based on the victim’s descriptions.

The Jeep reportedly had a white sticker or decal on one of its windows.

Anyone with any information regarding the suspect is asked to call Central Dispatch at 609-267-8300.

Vincent Fire Company No. 1 Announces 2016 Statistics

SOUTHAMTON–2016 was a busy year for Vincent Fire Company No. 1., which provides fire and rescue services to Southampton and mutual assistance to neighboring communities.

The fire company responded to 48 fires, 145 EMS incidents, 55 hazardous conditions with no fire, 29 service calls, 88 good intent calls, 51 alarm system calls, and 8 severe weather related incidents.

More than 1,866 hours of time was logged responding to these occurrences.

Friday was the busiest day of the week with 69 incidents. June was the busiest month with 50 incidents.

256 incidents were between 6 a.m. and 6

PHOTO SUBMITTED Explorers is a nationally recognized career program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20 years old.

p.m. on Monday through Friday.

“We greatly appreciate the assistance given by our public works team during this time of day when most of our membership is unavailable,” said Vincent Fire Company Fire Chief Barry Pratt.

The average incident response was 8 personnel.

Also, 70 total training courses were completed with 484 attendees logging 1,979 hours of training.

1,690 hours of other activity time was logged which included township events and fundraisers.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED The purpose of the program is to provide information and experiences to young people interested in a career in law enforcement.

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COMMUNITY Events

January 14 Location: Browns Mills Event: Whitesbog Moonlight Walk Details: Meet at the Whitesbog Village General Store at 7 p.m., 120 W. Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills. $5 per person, ages 11 and under are free. 609-893-4646

January 16 Location: Whiting Event: Thyroid Support Group Details: January is Thyroid Awareness Month. The next meeting of the Thyroid Support Group will be held on Monday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting. The meetings help to educate, support and answer questions about thyroids. For more information, call Stefanie, the group facilitator, 732-350-2904.

Location: Browns Mills Event: Martin Luther King Day of Service, Whitesbog Village Details: 120 W. Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills. Call 609893-4646 or visit whitesbog.org for more information.

January 21 Location: Pemberton Event: Introduction to Meditation – Pemberton Community Library Details: Join us on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. for an Intro-

duction to Meditation. This one-hour program will include an overview of a variety of meditation techniques, followed by a Guided Visualization, and a brief time for quiet contemplation, ending with an opportunity to share or ask questions. Suitable for beginners or for those who have had experience with meditation, participants will have the chance to feel the difference that meditating in a group can provide. Registration is requested by calling 609-893-8262.

January 25 Location: Pemberton Event: Coloring for Adults – Pemberton Community Library Details: Get stress free during our new coloring night.

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 5:30 p.m., drop by for a relaxing coloring session. We’ll have a grown-up table with grown-up supplies and a kids’ table for their own coloring. Bring your own supplies or use some of ours! Open to all ages.

Registration is requested by calling 609-893-8262.

January 27

Location: Browns Mills Event: Whitesbog Family Game Night Details: Come to Whitesbog Village for some family time in the General Store at 6 p.m. old-time games and light refreshments will be provided. This event is free. Registration is requested by calling 609-893-4646, or email WhitesbogPreservationTrust@gmail.com. 120 Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills.

“Walk in the Woods” Road Trip To The Franklin Parker Preserve For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WOODLAND– Bass River State Forest’s 2017 “Walk in the Woods” series begins the New Year on Jan. 18 with a free, guided, 6-mile hike through the Franklin Parker Preserve near Chatsworth, a village known as “the heart of the Pines”.

The Franklin Parker Preserve is over 10,000 acres in Woodland that is administered by the NJ Conservation Foundation. This former cranberry farm is a rare ecological treasure of wetlands and forests that provide critical habitat to more than 50 rare, threatened or endangered species.

Meet Volunteer Master Naturalist Kathy Gar-

diner at the Bass River State Forest Office parking lot at 762 Stage Road at 9 a.m. to carpool to trail head. The hike is on mostly flat ground.

Bring lunch and drink.

Severe weather will result in cancellation of the event.

Upcoming walks are scheduled for Feb. 8 and a dog walk on Feb. 18.

Register and get questions answered by contacting Kathy at (609) 296-6574 or cell (609) 405-0360. You can also find information on the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry website at www.njparksandforests.org.

Local Police Agencies to Attend Anti-Bias Training For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD —To increase police officer awareness of bias and better serve those that reside and visit the towns that law enforcement serves on a daily basis, the Medford, Lumberton and Palmyra Police Departments have joined the Anti- Defamation League to provide Anti-Bias Training to all of our officers.

The unique role of police officers in any community makes cross-cultural understanding imperative. In an effort to better communicate with all segments of the population and help

PAGE 13

the members of their communities feel that their concerns are understood, the departments reached out to the Anti-Defamation League. The Anti-Defamation League has created a specialized anti-bias training program. These training workshops have been presented to the FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department, the New York State Police and many other local law enforcement agencies.

Training workshops for all three departments are being held at the Lumberton Township Municipal Building. Training is being conducted on Thursday, Jan. 12 and 19.

January 28 Location: Little Egg Harbor Event: Sunshine Foundation Fishing Flea Market Details: The Southern Ocean County Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation will hold its 2d Annual Fishing Flea Market on Jan. 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Community Center, 319 W. Calabreeze Drive, Little Egg Harbor.

The Sunshine Foundation helps fulfill the dreams and wishes of terminally ill, chronically ill and abused children. For additional information, call Tom Siciliano 732-267-6451, or Frank Muinos 908-380-8491.

March 14

Location: Whiting Event: Philadelphia Flower Show Details: The Crestwood Village Garden Club will be going to the Philadelphia Flower Show, Mar. 14. The theme this year is “Holland: Flowering the World.” The cost is $61 per person.

Contact Stephanie for more information, 732-350-2904.

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CAMERAS FROM PAGE 10

will keep New Jersey in the vanguard nationally in using this technology, which promotes transparency in policing while protecting officers in their difficult and dangerous jobs.”

“We’re rapidly reaching the tipping point where a majority of the police departments in New Jersey will have body cameras, and the remaining departments are likely to follow suit,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Police departments recognize that these devices are powerful tools for promoting mutual accountability and trust between police and the communities they serve.”

The decision regarding whether to acquire body-worn cameras remains up to individual police departments and municipalities. However, the strong support of the Attorney General’s Office for use of body cameras – which also led the office to issue a statewide policy in 2015 establishing guidelines for deploying the cameras – has put New Jersey at the forefront in the United States in embracing this technology. Prior to the Attorney General’s funding and policy, 50 police agencies in New Jersey had body cameras. With the help of the two rounds of funding from the Attorney General’s Office, the number of police

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departments in New Jersey that have body cameras or are in the process of acquiring them has reached more than 240, nearly half of the roughly 500 law enforcement agencies in the state.

The statewide policy for body cameras issued by the Attorney General’s Office in 2015 was designed to promote best practices and uniformity in using the devices. The policy, which guides police departments statewide that decide to deploy body cameras, establishes foundational requirements while allowing individual police departments to tailor policies to local needs.

Over the past two years, the Attorney General’s Office has held meetings with law enforcement leaders, civil rights organizations and community advocates to discuss ways to strengthen police-community relations and enhance public trust and confidence with respect to police use of force. Those meetings have been instrumental in the development of the Attorney General’s initiatives to expand and guide the use of body-worn cameras by police. That outreach also informed a directive issued by the Attorney General’s Office in July 2015 that strengthened New Jersey’s already widely respected procedures for independent and impartial investigations of all police-involved shootings and deadly force incidents.

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Pemberton Seniors Welcome 2017 with a Full Calendar of Activities

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON–2017 looks like a busy year for Pemberton Township Senior Citizens. The township-appointed Senior Council holds meetings on the first Thursday of each month and has a plan for activities and trips every month. The first trip of the year will be to the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA on Wednesday, Jan. 18. This trip leaves the Acme shopping center at 9 a.m. and heads to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Northeast Extension for the trip to Bethlehem.

The Sands Casino is not too large, but is attached to a full-service hotel and an enclosed Outlet Shopping Mall. There are more than 20 shops in the two-story mall and they include shops like “Charming Charlie’s,” Lenox, Corning, and Dress Barn among others. It is always fun for seniors to shop, and there are always sales. The Farmer’s Almanac Old Country Store is there and has many unusual items available. After playing the slots or tables for awhile, stop in and relax to browse the stores.

Seniors will receive a $20 coin card for the games and a $5 food coupon to use towards a meal. There are several good restaurants available, including one of “Emeril’s.” There is also a Food Court where more traditional food offerings are available. If you want, a sit down full meal is available, or just “graze” your way through the food court. The group will leave the casino by 4 p.m. and arrive home around 6 p.m. The best part about this day is the cost, only $20 each for resident seniors. It is almost like they are paying you to go. The tickets will sell out early, but there are always last minute cancellations, so get your name on the wait list.

Now that the academic year is partly completed, Pemberton Township High School students within the Medical Arts Curricula are gaining expertise in their field. Faculty member Elisabeth White McCartney will bring members of the FNA (Future Nurses of America) to the center to administer blood pressure tests to the seniors. This allows the students to get practice in their future vocation and the seniors to receive a valuable service. It also gives a chance for the youth and the seniors to get together for some socialization. Many seniors are miles from their grandchildren and seldom see them, and many youth no longer have grandparents in the community. This becomes an opportunity for sharing between the generations. This is just one example of the way Pemberton residents bridge the age gap. It’s really fun also as

the students join in many of the activities while at the center. The next date for blood-pressure testing by the students will be Friday, Jan. 20.

Students plan to arrive before 9 a.m.

The most important activity that goes on at the senior center is the daily lunch. This program is part of the Burlington County Nutrition Program. Pemberton Township cooperates with the county on this vital nutrition program and provides nourishing meals for local seniors. The meals are catered by Colonial Village Caterers located in Pemberton Borough. They prepare meals for the multiple locations in the county as well as for the “meals on wheels” program. A dietitian plans and approves all meals and publishes a monthly menu which is distributed in the Senior Gazette and posted on the township web site. Residents sign up each week before Tuesday noon for meals the following week.

This is essential to provide planning and avoid waste. Reservations are required to enjoy the meals, but sometimes there are last minute cancellations and walk-ins can be accommodated.

There is a nominal cost for the lunch, but most other activities have no fees.

The center is located in “downtown” Browns Mills across from the Post Office on Brook Street. It is handicapped accessible and has good parking available. There is no fee to join the senior center, but a registration form is required. This form includes emergency contact information in case one needs some medical or family assistance. The center is staffed and is prepared to assist seniors. The staff makes coffee every morning and has snack items available for a continental breakfast. In the colder weather, the building is warm and provides a great place to socialize. In the hot summer months, the building is air conditioned, so seniors without air conditioning can spend much of the hot days in a cool environment. Many afternoons, seniors sit in small groups and play board games or just socialize.

Check out the senior center and see if this is the answer to your complaint of nothing to do.

See if you will make new friends and find new pursuits now that you are retired, or at least partially retired. Do not be lonely when the senior center has an answer for you. Join Paula Kosko, Director, and her staff Heidi Blankenship, Melissa Cuevas, Maria Martinez, and the senior bus driver Willis Mahoney. Transportation is available by arrangement for all non-driving senior residents. The staff hopes to see you in to register soon.

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

PINE KNOTS COLUMN

BMIA meeting on Sunday, January 29

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON–Residents are reminded that the BMIA general meeting will be held Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. at the BMIA Building.

The guest speaker this month will be Pemberton Township Mayor Dave Patriarca.

He will speak about community updates. If you have been following the newspapers, you know that lots of changes are being proposed within the township. There are vacant commercial buildings as well as vacant residential properties. These are all bad for our bottom line with unpaid real estate taxes due on many of the buildings. Patriarca is proposing efforts to help solve these and other problems.

Recently township employees completed renovations to the Bayberry Playground.

Residents are pleased with the new look. When warm weather arrives, more improvements will be added. These innovations were accomplished using a monetary grant and labor provided by employees. This is a most cost-effective way to make improvements in the community. Not too long ago, township employees renovated the

BMIA Building and residents admit they did a superb job. We are fortunate to have many talented individuals capable of first-quality work.

There will be time allowed for questions about civic problems and future township plans.

Learn more about your community and ways we can all help improve it. The BMIA Board of Directors will be providing refreshments for all to enjoy following the meeting. Come and meet your neighbors and join in the efforts to improve our community.

The Browns Mills Improvement Association, known as the BMIA, is the oldest local civic organization in Pemberton Township.

Meetings are held on the fourth Sunday monthly, September through June, at 2 pm at the BMIA Building on Arbutus Street, near the Mirror Lake Beach. The building is handicapped accessible and there is ample parking. Check out our Face Book page “BMIA – Browns Mills Improvement Association” or check the township website under Community Links. Annual dues are only $15 per family.

Checks may be sent to: BMIA, PO Box 395, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.

SEEKING TALENTED MEN AND WOMEN WITH OUTSTANDING :

Communication skills People skills Organization Dependability Sales Advertising candidates should be energetic and possess a positive, goal-driven mindset. Prior sales experience is a plus, however we will train the right individual.

Opportunity for advancement. Competitive salary. Interested applicants should submit their resume to: gblountjr@pinebarrenstribune.com Equal Employment Opportunity

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BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY Christie Administration Awards $14.3 Million In Recycling Grants For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TRENTON–New Jersey’s local governments will receive $14.3 million in state grants to help implement and further enhance recycling efforts in their communities, the Christie Administration announced last week.

The grants are based on 2014 recycling performance and awarded through the state’s Recycling Enhancement Act. “Each of us can make a real difference for New Jersey’s environment simply by recycling,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. “The impacts of recycling reach far beyond keeping our environment clean and safe. Recycling conserves resources and results in less waste going to landfills or incinerators. It helps local governments save money, and leads to economic development and job creation.

“New Jersey still has the goal of achieving 50 percent municipal recycling,” Commission-

er Martin continued. “These grants demonstrate our continued commitment to safeguarding the environment and shows why New Jersey remains a national recycling leader.”

The recycling grant program is funded by a $3 per-ton surcharge on trash disposed at solid waste facilities across the state. The grant program rewards local governments and enhances recycling efforts through initiatives such as running tire collection days, providing recycling receptacles and maintaining leaf composting operations. Each award is based on materials collected and recycled, and can be used in various ways to improve recycling results.

In 2014, New Jersey generated 9.6 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). DEP documented the recycling of 3.9 million tons of MSW and the disposal of 5.6 million tons of MSW, for an MSW recycling rate of 41 percent.

By comparison, the 2014 national MSW recycling rate was 34 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Overall, New Jersey in 2014 generated more than 20.8 million tons of solid waste, which includes municipal waste plus construction debris and other types of non-municipal waste. Of this, more than 12.8 million tons were recycled, for an overall recycling rate of 62 percent.

Municipalities receiving the highest grant awards for 2014 recycling efforts are: Newark (Essex County), $552,249; Vineland (Cumberland County), $306,675; Jersey City (Hudson County), $298,152; Paterson (Passaic County), $227,130; Secaucus (Hudson County); $209,815; Woodbridge (Middlesex County), $208,520; Clifton (Passaic County), $180,157; South Brunswick (Middlesex County), $175,783; Toms River (Ocean County), $174,085; Paramus (Bergen County), $143,280; Edison (Middlesex County), $142,127; Hamilton (Mercer County), $137,687; and Monroe (Middlesex County), $136,349.

Also receiving grants are: Burlington County Occupational Training Center (Burlington

County), $131,944; Lakewood (Ocean County), $131,798; Cherry Hill (Camden County), $126,438; Logan (Gloucester County), $126,366; Middletown (Monmouth County), $115,672; Brick (Ocean County), $109,795; Fair Lawn (Bergen County), $108,999; New Brunswick (Middlesex County), $107,711; East Brunswick, $103,535; Freehold Township (Monmouth County), $102,628; Millville (Cumberland County), $100,503; Atlantic County Utilities Authority (Atlantic County), $100,485.

“New Jersey set the standard by becoming the first state to require recycling, and continues to show that the recycling culture is part of our daily lives at home, work, school, and at many institutions across the state,” said Mark Pedersen, Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management. “We are glad to see that so many communities are doing their part to help pitch in and protect the environment.”

New Jersey Division Of Fire Safety and DEP Issue Fireplace and Chimney Cautions For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Fire Safety and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are reminding residents that during the cold winter weather and annual home heating season, fireplaces and wood stoves command a set of fire safety cautions, independent of those for conventional heating units, though proper chimney maintenance is common to both.

Fire statistics show that there were 23,100 chimney or fireplace fires in 2013 and 10 related fatalities, and a consequent property loss that year of $109 million nationwide. Fires typically happen at the beginning of the heating season every year, but are almost always preventable with the proper maintenance and cleaning.

Fire experts say a primary concern is the practice of dealing with the ashes left from a fireplace or wood stove fire. A Christmas fire in Connecticut in 2011, that took the lives of three young children, was found to have been caused by the improper disposal of fireplace ashes which contained embers that were not completely extinguished. In the last month, the Forest Fire Service - Northern Division and local fire departments responded to 20 separate reports of fire near and in local woods in roughly 100 square miles of the “Division A” section of North Jersey as a result of stove ashes that contained still smoldering embers and other sources of fire ignition.

The Division of Fire Safety and the Forest Fire Service recommend the following steps to

properly dispose of fireplace or wood stove ash: Scoop the ashes using a large metal trowel or pan, scoop all the ashes out of the fireplace.

Lift large pieces out with fireplace tongs, if necessary.

Put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. Stir them to ensure that they are all completely submerged, and let them sit for about 10 minutes.

Pour out the water and empty the bucket in your garden or lawn. Wood ash works as a fertilizer for plants.

Experts with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service note that improper disposal of ashes from fireplaces and woodstoves can cause both structural and wildland fires. Improperly extinguished wood ashes can retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days and high winds – even in the cold winter can uncover still-hot embers and start a wildfire if conditions are right. So don’t take the chance of accidentally starting a wildfire and use the simple steps above to ensure a warm and safe winter at your home.

In addition to these safety steps, fire safety authorities recommend these general tips when using alternative heating units such as fireplaces and wood stoves.

Have your new fireplace installed by a certified, insured professional installer and schedule annual inspections by that professional of all your household chimneys. Make sure your home is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

Check smoke and CO alarms regularly to make sure they are in working condition and have the necessary batteries. (An easy way

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to remember to do this is make it part of your routine when you adjust the clocks each year for Daylight Savings Time, and don’t forget to check the date of the alarm manufacture, as an alarm older than 10 years should be replaced).

Each level of your home should be equipped with smoke and CO alarms, and should be located inside or near sleeping areas.

Equip your home with a fire extinguisher -- and learn how to use it before you need it!

Keep flammable materials three feet away from the fire and heat source.

Never burn anything in a fireplace that the

manufacturer hasn’t approved.

Never leave a fire unattended.

Keep small children and pets away from the fireplace. Consider using a physical barrier, such as a gate, to keep children at a distance.

Check to be sure that the fire is completely out or gas/electric appliances have been turned off before you leave your house or go to sleep. Consider a glass enclosure for the fireplace hearth. It makes it both safe and energy efficient.

Read and follow the manufacturer’s safety and maintenance instructions for your particular fireplace.

MacArthur Named to Financial Services Committee For the Pine Barrens Tribune

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) announced last week that he has been named to the House Financial Services Committee in the 115th session of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House Financial Services Committee has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the economy, the banking system, housing, insurance, and securities and exchanges. Additionally, the committee has jurisdiction over monetary policy, international finance, international monetary organizations, and efforts to combat terrorist financing.

The committee oversees the Nation’s economy through its oversight of the Federal Reserve Board and individual reserve banks, the Treasury, the production and distribution of currency, and the Nation’s capital markets. The Committee also oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to represent South Jersey on the House Financial

Services Committee,” MacArthur said. “Whether it’s buying a car, your first home, starting a business or investing in the future, Financial Services touches some of the largest financial decisions and milestones in all of our lives. In particular, I am anxious to begin work to reform the National Flood Insurance Program to give all Jersey shore residents certainty in the future.”

“Tom’s distinguished career in the insurance industry and vast knowledge on the issues before our committee make him a welcome addition to our roster,” said House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling. “Tom’s personal story of financial risk, development and investment in his business will serve him well as we work to create opportunity for hardworking taxpayers.”

Agencies under oversight by the Committee include: the Federal Reserve, Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Export-Import Bank.

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Diana Grover

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2835 A Route 206 Columbus, NJ 08022 Direct Phone: (609) 456-4740 Email: JACKRYAN@REMAX.NET WWW.JACKSELLSNJHOMES.COM Office Phone: (609) 784-8021 Each office is independently owned and operated

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.

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

Some Condiments Can Make You Sick When you think of histamine, you think of allergies and sneezing right? But histamine is actually a neurotransmitter and release is activated by any outside ‘invader’ such as pollen. We make histmaine in our cells, then dump it out after exposure to a trigger. But we might also be eating histamine on a daily basis.

By eating certain foods you unintentionally raise an ‘allergy’ chemical.

Maybe you don’t mean to, but that’s what you’re doing nevetheless.

Foods that are high in histamine are almost always fermented (basically, they’ve started to rot a little bit). Sorry for the visual! Highprotein foods like meat or seafood don’t contain much histamine when they are fresh, but the longer they are cured or stored, the more histamine they contain. Leftovers are super high in histamine. Cold-cuts, hot dogs, processed fish, wine/alcohol, aged cheese like Parmesan, vinegar (including fermented beverages like kombucha) and sauerkraut are all very high in histamine. There are dozens more that I’ll tell you about in my free ebook (offer below).

In 1989, a study examined ‘Chinese food syndrome’ and discovered people’s reactions mimicked symptoms of histamine intolerance.

They measured plain soy sauce to contain 220 micrograms of histamine per gram, while tamari (a gluten-free soy sauce) was loaded with an astonishing 2,392 micrograms histamine per gram. That’s 10 times higher, just to get gluten-free soy sauce! Both soy and tamari are fermented. If there is MSG present in your meal, the combination of excessive glutamate from the MSG and histamine from

tamari could trigger diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, panic attacks and pain.

You can see how easy it is to mess yourself up with a condiment! It’s even more problematic for the brains of sensitive vegans/vegetarians that eat fermented or manufactured foods that often high in MSG and histamine.

Histamine intolerance disorders can occur when you get too much histamine and your tissues can’t break it down fast enough. DAO is the enzyme that processes histamine to help us keep it in balance. Excess amounts are the problem. Histamine intolerance from your meals can also cause diarrhea, headache, sinus congestion, sneezing or a runny and itchy nose.

How many of you have been put on antihistamines only to get awful side effects?

Maybe the problem was just something on your plate.

What about inhalers for asthma? Asthma is another sign of histamine intolerance.

Minor annoyances are one thing, but psoriasis, Hashimoto’s, multiple sclerosis, sjogren’s, lupus and others are serious enough that you should eliminate histamine-rich foods for several months to gauge improvement. I’m willing to give you a free ebook on this topic upon signing up for my free newsletter (then you get me on your email). Just go to suzycohen. com.

It’s called “Hashi Food No-No’s” and it’s all about this topic and includes a complete list of histamine-rich foods. The ebook is for anyone, especially if you have symptoms listed above. Histamine intolerance is so easy to address, and changes to your health are swift and dramatic.

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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Dr. Michael Etter

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Laser dentistry, reducing the need for anesthesia.

Treating patients from age 3 to 101.

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What Can You Do When Your Child Has A Cold?

By Sue Hubbard, M.D.

Although it is just getting really cold across the country, it feels as if we have been in full cold and cough season for a while. The office sounds like what I call “kennel cough,” as every child seems to be coughing; even those who are just coming for checkups.

Parents often ask, “What is the best way to keep from catching a cold?” The answer continues to be: “Wash your hands, and try not to touch your hands to your eyes, nose and mouth.”

Easy enough for an adult (well, maybe not), but trying to tell your toddler not to put their hands in their nose or mouth is nearly impossible! That is one reason children get so many colds in the first several years of life. Toddlers typically get the most colds, as they have just started having playmates with which they share not only toys but their germs. It’s all part of growing up.

I remind parents that coughs are there for a reason. While they are a huge nuisance, and cause a lot of sleepless nights for children and parents, a cough is there to keep the lungs clear, and a cough is actually protective. In other words, coughing helps you clear the lungs of mucous that comes with a cold; it also helps to prevent pneumonia and secondary infections.

With that being said, learning to cover your mouth when you cough is not only polite, but it is also protective for others. It is a big day when your child learns to cover their mouth with the crook of their arm (better than the hand). Who knew, as a parent, this would be a milestone for

your child?

Whenever your child has a cough and cold, it is important to not only listen to their cough but to actually observe how they are breathing.

Parents send me videos or voicemails of their child coughing, but I am usually more interested in seeing their chest and watching their breathing. Your child may have a huge productive cough and sound terrible, but have no respiratory distress. Your child could also have a little non-productive cough and be struggling to breath. In most cases, the visual is more important than the audible.

The best treatments for a cold and cough continues to be the tried and true: Saline and suction to clear the nose of the mucous and make it easier to breath, a warm bath or shower before bed to loosen up the mucous, a cool mist humidifier in the bedroom and honey for the cough. Remember, you cannot use honey with a child under the age of 12 months.

Don’t panic if your child gets sick; each time they fight off a cold and cough, they are actually boosting their immune system. It is not unusual for a toddler to get six to seven colds in one season (and their parents get half as many as that from them). Once your child turns about 3, you will see that they don’t get a cold every other week and also seem to handle the viruses a bit more easily.

If your child has any difficulty breathing, call your pediatrician.

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

FUN AND GAMES Are We There Yet?

By Lori Clinch

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

They Think The Can Is Half Empty!

Although we’re painfully close to being empty nesters, we still get to enjoy the company of our children from time to time.

They come and as they go, they like to leave telltale signs of their aforementioned presence that they were here. There’s always at least one stray sock left under the couch, evidence in the bathroom sink and dirty cups strewn about the kitchen.

Generally speaking, I don’t like to spend limited time with our boys complaining about their slovenly ways, but sometimes I really have to let it fly.

Take the other day, for example, when I opened the cupboard under the kitchen sink and saw that not only was the trash can full to capacity, but was flowing over into the cabinet.

I envisioned my young men as they observed the situation, convinced themselves that the receptacle could certainly hold one more item, shoved it in to the conglomeration, shut the door and walked briskly away before the dang thing exploded.

I, for one, feel that moments such as these are best handled with family meetings complete with presentations. I’m not one to toot my own horn, but I have created some great demonstrations in my day. I’ve done my Toilet Paper Spindle exhibition, my Bend at the Waist and Retrieve Things From the Floor seminar and my own and personal favorite, You Too Can Put Shoes Away.

I couldn’t help but feel that this moment was screaming for a demonstration. Although I didn’t remember ever delivering a trash can demo, I was mentally preparing and knew this one could be a doosey.

Luckily the clan gathered only moments later and I jumped right into it. “Can anyone tell me what this is?” I asked as I opened the cupboard and pointed to the mess in all of its glory.

“Oh, oh, I know,” said Lawrence as he raised his hand high in the air, “pick me!”

“It’s a trash can,” blurted out Charlie.

Lawrence, obviously in great despair at having his answer stolen from him, then slugged Charlie and called him an idiot.

“Well,” I continued as I ignored the brawl,

“can anyone in the room tell, just by looking, what’s wrong with the trash can?”

They all stared at me with wide eyes but spoke nary a word. “Anyone?” I asked again.

Nothing.

“Well then I’m going to tell you, my dear family, what is wrong with the trash can. See, it’s at full capacity and although there may be other methods for reaching that conclusion, I, for one, was able to tell it just by looking.”

I can’t say that I had their full attention or that any of them were happy to be in my audience, but they certainly seemed to be entertained, after all it had been a while since they had been able to enjoy one of my seminars.

“Okay then,” I went on with great drama, “let’s just say that an individual, such as yourselves, opened the cupboard and wanted to toss in some garbage. Do you feel that you would be able to tell, simply by looking at the trashcan, whether it was full or empty?”

“Could you repeat the question?” asked Lawrence.

“Can you tell, simply by looking, if the trash can is full or empty?”

“Can you go into detail of the things that we should look for?” asked Charlie “Never mind that,” I said as my frustration began to build. “Let’s say you looked inside and saw that adding even an ounce of refuse would cause the cupboard to explode, would any of you know what to do?”

Again with the blank stares.

“You grab the trash can, along with all of the stragglers, and pull it from the depths of the cupboard, then you grab the bag, tie it like so and prepare to haul it to the trash receptacle.”

“Wow!” responded Huey as he pretended to be in awe.

Charlie said that he thought my process of trash removal was amazing and Lawrence quickly grabbed his cell phone so that he could, and I quote, “Text this good information to others.”

They can act as if my words of wisdom fell on deaf ears, but I’ll tell you this, the next time my eyes fall on a similar situation, the trash can might not be the only thing to explode.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

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C R O S S W O R D

ACROSS 1 Drain problem 5 GI sought by MPs 9 Jewish authority figure 14 Fallon’s predecessor 15 “Get a __!”

16 Estate measures 17 Like single-malt scotch 18 Superfluous individual 20 Food from heaven 22 Long-necked bird 23 Ivy League school 24 Compilation of wacky outtakes 28 Pioneer Carson 29 PC key near Z 30 Eastern path 31 Police warnings 33 Some deli breads 35 Part on the stage 38 Stable female 39 Summer blouse 42 Steer clear of 44 iPhone voice-activated app 45 Hunk of bacon 49 Like many warm sweaters 51 Snaky fish 53 Miner’s discovery 54 Little terror

P U Z Z L E

55 Olympian’s achievement 59 Have to have 61 Flight connection word 62 Capital of Senegal 63 Ride around ... or what the ends of 18-, 24-, 39- and 55-Across can do 67 Single 68 Occupied 69 Currency symbolized by € 70 Coffee holders 71 Fax forerunner 72 Zipped 73 Editor’s “Leave it in”

DOWN 1 Seaside eatery 2 Within the law 3 Without variation, musically 4 “Please tell me that’s not true” 5 Sitcom E.T. 6 PlayStation 3 rival 7 Put on the market 8 “I’ll handle this” 9 Word before data or deal 10 In need of aspirin 11 Crashing wave 12 Direct route 13 Lands in the sea

19 Shades 21 Abbr. in many an urban address 25 __ of Sandwich 26 Tree anchors 27 Airport waiter 32 Performs hip-hop music 34 Synagogue 36 Polynesian wreath 37 Blundered 40 From square one 41 Concert ticket info 42 “__ to Watch Over Me” 43 Optimistic 46 “Watch it!”

47 Orchestrate 48 Recuperation advice 49 Proceed without preparation 50 Smoked salmon 52 Showed the way 56 __”Hemingway’s “The Sun Also 57 Really enjoy, as praise 58 Allays the fears of 60 Prescription amount 64 Bills coach Ryan 65 Wrath 66 Buddy of Wynken and Blynken

S U D O K U

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HOMEOWNER FROM PAGE 5

Perretta kept pointing to Young’s comments.

Morris said that Young is only one person on the committee and that the mayor’s conversation wasn’t on the record.

Morris questioned why Perretta applied for a permit rather than having a discussion on the record during August and September committee meetings.

Perretta explained that he had some previously scheduled engagements and that he came in right before one of the committee meetings began and talked to Young about the situation. He also said that he attended the June and July committee meetings.

Young acknowledged that Perretta did come in and talk to him right before a meeting. He said that Perretta did tell him that he couldn’t stay for the township meeting.

Morris also read information from PSE&G. He said Perretta was informed by the utility, when the unit was installed, that the system would not be good because he didn’t have access to gas.

Perretta denied that the conversation with PSE&G took place.

Young said the township’s building inspector came out and inspected the heating unit and determined that it was fine.

Perretta said that the unit is operable.

However, he said that at temperatures below 40 degrees, an “emergency heat required” indicator light turns on and the unit stops putting out heat without a natural gas source.

Morris distributed pictures of Cotherstone Drive to the members of the committee. He pointed to the “pristine” condition of the road and said that it was paved with $153,000 “taxpayer dollars”.

He also provided them with pictures of road opening on Westminster Drive in LeisureTowne. The pictures showed uneven patching, recently repaired potholes, and cracks in the surface where a road opening took place.

Committeeman Michael Mikulski asked Township Administrator Kathleen D. Hoffman about who would be on the hook for closing the opening if the township granted Perretta an exception. She replied that it was the responsibility of either PSE&G or the homeowner.

Mikulski said that he was concerned about what would happen to Cotherstone Drive if it was opened for a PSE&G gas line. Hoffman said that several residents on Cotherstone Drive were opposed to the installation of gas lines on their street.

“I did hear from some residents that claim that Mr. Perretta had asked them to come around and sign a petition,” Hoffman said. “They did not want to (sign it) because they did not want the road opened because it was a pristine road that was newly paved. They were opposed because they have seen what road openings can do.”

Perretta said that is a misstatement.

“I never went around with a petition,” he said.

“You sent out a letter.”

Committeeman William Rafferty inquired about how many homes Perretta currently owns.

Perretta said that he was still in possession of the Medford home and was currently rehabbing that home to prepare it for a sale.

Upon hearing his response, Rafferty called Perretta a “rehabber” and said that he should have known better before removing the electric heating system from the LeisureTowne residence.

“I think the committee has already made the decision to keep it at a five-year moratorium and frankly I don’t see a reason to deviate from that decision,” Rafferty said. “Had you been a homeowner that did this by mistake, I might sympathize. But you had some knowledge of what is takes to get a home to a marketable situation.”

Perretta said that he was not a professional rehabber.

“You paint it and you put new rugs in,” he said. “Anybody can do that. You can do that.”

Young said that he was concerned that Perretta wanted to have natural gas installed in the LeisureTowne home so he can sell it. He said the township had no way of knowing what his future plans would be.

“I am not going to sell it,” Perretta said. “I am going to live there.”

Morris said he was concerned that an exception would create a new precedent.

“The biggest concern I have is that when the issue was originally raised, there were four or five homeowners who wanted to apply, pop the road open at that point,” Morris said. “So, if an exception is granted for one, you have to do it for all and that would destroy the $153,000 roadway.”

In anticipation of Perretta’s appearance before the committee, Morris prepared a resolution denying Perretta’s request for an exception. He attached the prepared resolution to the photographs he provided to the committee members.

Committeeman Ronald Heston entertained a motion and Mikulski seconded it.

In a break from township tradition, Morris read the entire resolution into the record. The three-page resolution took nearly five minutes to read.

Right before the roll call, Perretta said that he had health issues and had provided a doctor’s note to the court and township.

“Just so you are aware of that,” Perretta said.

Morris said it wasn’t a doctor’s note, but rather a note from a registered nurse. Perretta said the nurse works on behalf of his doctor.

Mikulski said the may have felt differently if it was April 2017.

“I’d feel differently if it was April, I think, based on having him been here and being erroneously told it was three years,” Mikulski said. “But we are not at that point yet.”

The committee voted unanimously to deny Perretta’s request for a road opening permit.

In the resolution passed by the committee, the township’s road opening moratorium is to remain at five years. The moratorium for Cotherstone Drive will not expire until April 30, 2019.

The resolution also says that the township has determined that the situation is not a public-health emergency.

“I’ll see you in court tomorrow,” said Perretta as he walked out of the meeting room.

Perretta and Southampton’s legal counsel will return to Superior Court for a conference call in front of Bookbinder on Jan. 27.

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NEGOTIATIONS FROM PAGE 5

“We fix potholes all the time.”

Mikulski said that township crews do search for potholes, but that they also rely on people to report them.

In other news, the township conducted a first reading of an ordinance which would allow the municipality to exceed budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank.

The township also unanimously passed two resolutions. One released a performance bond for Alloway Associates Realtors. The second approved a change order for phase one of a road project on Holly Boulevard.

Baseway Motors, S&S Motors, Highline Motor Cars, Southampton Imported Cars, Southampton Auto Center, and VIP Auto Outlet were granted operating licenses for 2017.

Red Lion Metals and Cramer & Sons received permission to use trucks and trailers for storage and temporary offices for the new year.

Operating licenses were also granted for Mobile Estates and Son Nyugen of Rising Sons Tattoo.

Mikulski provided an update on the status of a contract with the Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad (EMS). The contract expired on Dec. 31 and the committee failed to pass a memorandum of agreement on Dec. 20.

“Bill (Raftery), Kathy (Hoffman), and I met with Kit Applegate (Hampton Lakes EMS

COUNCIL FROM PAGE 1

and industrial electrical company, was founded by his great grandfather.

Watson was first elected to the council in 2012 and served as mayor in 2014.

Watson thanked outgoing mayor, Jeffrey Beenstock, for his leadership and vowed to continue keeping the township’s budget reined in. Watson said he wants to focus on making decisions concerning the library and repairing the roads in the township that are in really bad shape.

The Pinelands Library, currently a branch of

ABSENT FROM PAGE 2

with $200 in petty cash.

Following the meeting, Olt expressed to the Pine Barrens Tribune her excitement at being able to serve her constituents and hopes to accomplish great things while serving on the board.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

attorney) about the Hampton Lakes Emergency Squad on Friday of last week I think just to go over the information that each was waiting for,” Mikulski said. “Kit came with information about what they hope to generate in income and also their wish list of things they need.”

“They did win the contract, now we are just finalizing some of the terms of that contract to basically make sure that the squad as comfortable as we are that the township is meeting its obligations under Federal Law. It was a good meeting. We have come to what we think are some agreements that he is now going back with to speak to the squad about. On the 17th, we’ll probably be ready to make a presentation to the committee, assuming that he comes back and says everything is good.”

Hoffman said that it is her understanding that the township is going to continue to give Hampton Lakes EMS fuel, insurance, and auto repairs.

Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell announced that the township had been certified as a “silver” municipality under the Sustainable Jersey program.

Silver certification means that the municipality has made significant progress in a number of categories toward sustainability and is a state-wide and national leader.

Several township residents were appointed to various boards, committees, and commissions

by Young. the Burlington County Library System, has long wanted to become an independent library with control over its budget, location and personnel matters.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to have served as Mayor of Medford,” Beenstock said.

“The job was both fun and challenging and I’m happy to pass it along to Mr. Watson.”

In other township news, Burger reported that leaf collection was completed on Dec. 30 and two passes were made in each collection zone.

Over 27,000 cubic yards of leaves were collected last year. In 2015, the collection was 25,000 cubic yards.

She said that she was proud of what the board has accomplished and stands for. She praised Birnbohm.

“She does a phenomenal job,” Olt said.

Olt hopes to help implement emerging technologies in the classroom, move forward with STEM education, and prepare kids for the real world.

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SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

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PAGE 21

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS D. MELEGARI Southampton’s William Raferty is sworn in by Stacy Moore, Esquire, after being nominated for the position of deputy mayor while Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman holds a bible.

PHOTO BY PAT CARNEY Township Clerk Mary Alice Brown swears in Matthew Henrich as Woodland’s mayor.

COMMITTEE FROM PAGE 1

WOODLAND FROM PAGE 1

the municipal auditor.

The Alaimo Group was appointed as the municipal engineer with Frank Morris designated as the primary representative for the town.

Andrew Smith, Esquire, will continue to serve as the municipal prosecutor. Christian M. Towers, Esquire, was reappointed to serve as the township’s public defender.

Numerous other resolutions were approved by the committee concerning the town’s finances.

These resolutions are routine for the first meeting of the year.

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Following the brief ceremony, the committee took up 16 reorganization resolutions. All of them were routine, but a few filled positions. Debbie DeGroff, wife of Committeeman William, was named land development board secretary.

Township Clerk Mary Alice Brown was appointed both as Board of Health secretary and dog registrar. Steven Walsh of E.J.A. Carpenter was named township risk management consultant.

Henrich was sworn in as mayor. As a photographer prepared to take a picture, the mayor realized he was wearing a heavy coat and wool Navy watch cap and quickly doffed both.

Another committeeman, Mark Herndon, was ill and voted from home, via phone. The connection was poor at first.

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Saturday, January 14, 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, 100cow southern Illinois dairy farm.

Sawmill

Riephoff Major Farm Groups to Trump: Adopt GIPSA Rules

For almost a month now, we’ve watched what NFU’s president, Roger Johnson, agreed and DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton calls “the added that ag’s ultimate customers, consumers, visceral political fight” over three changes to are also winners under the new rules. “Both livestock marketing rules proposed by the U.S. producers and consumers benefit when the Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, markets are competitive and the practices and Packers and Stockyards Administration, or process are transparent,” he offered.

GIPSA. But that’s precisely what the Big Boys hate “Visceral” is a fitting word to describe Big about the rules: all provide more sunshine to Meat’s reaction to the Dec. 14 rules livestock and poultry markets that now are announcement.

Meatpackers and their dominated by in-the-dark, contract production. contracting partners at the National Pork For example, GIPSA’s interim rule would Producers Council (NPPC), the National allow farmers and ranchers to “only prove they Chicken Council (NCC), and the National were treated unfairly by a company to win a Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) hate the legal remedy,” explained Chuck Abbott for the proposed rules and made their view plain that Food and Environmental Reporting Network day.

Dec. 15.

The NPPC, however, went even further. It It would replace today’s standard that called the proposed rules an “apparent attack on requires the producer to provide proof “that rural America for its role in helping elect harm has been done to the entire market” before Donald Trump president.” any individual is granted relief. That’s like a Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack high school quarterback singlehandedly beating labeled that hair-on-fire analysis as “absolutely the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl. It will absurd.” never happen unless the field is leveled.

The Secretary was too kind; NPPC’s Which is what all three GIPSA rules do, says reaction was 100 percent baloney. It, like its Iowa’s GOP Sen. Charles Grassley. The rules contract-enforcing packer pals, of course knew “enjoy bipartisan support in Congress [and] I’m the proposed rules originated in the pre-Trump glad [USDA acted] to help level the playing 2008 Farm Bill. Big Meat’s political allies in field…”

Congress, however, effectively bottled up the But that political support will be quickly changes after Republicans retook the House in tested because a Trump-led USDA can kill the 2010. interim rule and two proposed rules by simply That ended in 2016 when Congress approved withdrawing them without fanfare or even a USDA’s funding without the previous years’ tweet.

GIPSA handcuffs. Free to follow the law—the Right now, however, that choice will carry bipartisan 2008 Farm Bill law—USDA did its a heavy political cost. The packer-backed meat duty: it released the long-in-waiting rules Dec. groups claim Trump is their rule-killing, free 14. Big Meat went to DEFCON 5 an instant market champion so he must, and will, thereafter. withdraw the GIPSA rules.

In perfect contrast to the packer-captured AFBF, NFU, and other groups like the meat groups, however, the nation’s two Organization for Competitive Markets see largest general farm groups, the American Farm it differently. They point to “working” rural Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Americans—and, in particular, farmers and Farmers Union (NFU), offered vigorous ranchers—as Trump’s core political supporters. endorsements for all three GIPSA proposals.

He wouldn’t betray them for Big Meat right out AFBF’s president, Zippy Duvall, a of the box, would he?

Georgia poultry farmer, noted the rules, if Politics aside, there’s a better reason to keep finalized, will “better protect individual farmers GIPSA’s proposed Farmer Fair Practices Rules: from discriminatory treatment” in the market, It’s the right thing to do for farmers, ranchers, provide “greater transparency,” “…hold and all Americans who believe in fair play and companies accountable and give farmers a open, transparent markets. voice.” © 2017 AG COMM.

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