Pine Barrens Tribune July 15 2017

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Overhaul of Woodland’s OEM Underway. Page 2

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July 15-21, 2017

Political Hot Potato in the Pines Nepotism Claim Surfaces Amidst Anger Over Primary

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO

White Horse Inn (large photo) and Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. building.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

“This is crazy. I lived here 32 years and never saw such dissension and it is frustrating to me. I had a lady friend of mine come and buy a house here, an oncology nurse, and she was told by some little old man in the post office ‘You don’t want to move here. This is the Wild West.’”

-Resident, Terry Sheerin WOODLAND—A wave of anger following an extremely nasty primary election crashed ashore during the latter part of a Woodland Township Committee meeting held days before the 4th of July holiday.

Tension has been building in the community with a population of 1,788 since the township committee contemplated selling the historic White Horse Inn, the town’s “communitycenter” (in dispute), which is used for historical purposes, to the Cranberry Festival Committee in 2015.

The committee sought appraisals for the inn that was built in the early 1800s on Jan. 27, 2015.

After some brief deliberation, the committee awarded Bruce Leff, a real-estate appraiser with Appraisal Institute, $2,400 to conduct the job.

Leff’s findings were revealed during a special meeting of the township committee on July 16, 2015.

A lease agreement involving the inn with the festival committee muddied the waters.

However, Leff concluded that the inn is worth

about $125,000 with the lease. If there was no lease, the inn would be valued at $250,000.

Mayor Matthew Henrich, as he revealed the results of the appraisal, said a title search was done and the township found out that a $114,000 grant from the state was accepted by the festival chairperson in 1992 and imposed stipulations on any future sale of the building.

He said one of the stipulations is that if anyone purchases the building for something other than its current historical use, a buyer would have to reimburse the state $114,000.

Additionally, after reimbursing the grant dollars, a buyer would have to wait 20 years before they could use the building for another purpose.

The stipulations were added by the state because the inn is part of the township’s

Commercial Neighborhood Zone and a buyer could turn it into an active hotel, restaurant, bed and breakfast, or a single-family residence.

The Cranberry Festival Committee’s initial offer for the building was $50,000.

Henrich was opposed to the committee selling the building. He said at the special meeting that the decision should be left to the voters in the form of a ballot question.

Committeeman William DeGroff was in favor of selling the building, if the use stayed the same. He said that the township receives $1 a year from the festival committee to rent the building and cited legal issues with the building that were costing the township a lot more money.

The committee moved into executive session that night and remerged without a decision.

ELECTION>>PAGE 18

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LOCAL NEWS

Overhaul of Woodland’s Office of Emergency Management Underway

PHOTO SUBMITTED Thomas Skleros, emergency management coordinator of Woodland Township.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—Efforts are underway to get Woodland Township the tools, resources and supplies needed to respond to a crisis and improve communication.

Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Skleros has been evaluating the township’s readiness to respond to a large emergency or disaster since he was appointed in March.

His message was clear to the Woodland Township Committee on June 28: there is a lot of work to do to get the municipal Office of Emergency Management up to snuff.

The state has required since 1986 that every municipality and county form a 15-member Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) consisting of stakeholder groups and organizations.

“I have yet to find any documentation that we have one,” Skleros said. “I’d like to reach out to residents and businesses, etc. to review planning.”

He also discussed the need to establish a municipal Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management.

He said there are three setup tiers a municipality can have for their EOC, two of which are viewed as acceptable.

The first is a hot setup where the municipality has a room already set up with adequate and appropriate equipment to respond to a crisis.

The second is a warm setup where the municipality has a room designated to respond to a crisis, but the needed equipment is stored

elsewhere as the room has other uses.

“You have to move stuff into the room,” Skleros said.

The third is a cold setup where the municipality may or may not have a room designated to respond to a crisis and doesn’t have any equipment to setup.

“It is where you have nothing set up,” Skleros said. “That is what we have right now and I am not comfortable with that at all as the summer season is upon us.”

Skleros said Steve King, county emergency management coordinator, recently provided the township with some communication equipment, including two-way radios, upon learning of Woodland’s predicament.

Skleros added that he has been meeting with Colonel William “Corky” Lowe (USA-Ret), emergency management coordinator of Tabernacle, and John Lyons, emergency management coordinator of Shamong, because the township lacks a large contingent of volunteers to assist with emergency situations.

“They run something called the Pinelands CERT,” he said. “It is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). They have 140 members who, in the event of an emergency, can come to whatever that emergency is and assist.”

He said Lowe encouraged Woodland Township to join Pinelands CERT during his meetings with him.

“I think it is a good idea we participate in that group because they have a lot to offer,” Skleros said. “They offer a free 20-hour training course, plus set up. They have way more resources than what we have. It is really nice for us.”

Mayor Matthew Henrich, who appointed Skleros to replace Shawn Viscardi earlier this year and said his decision was partly based on the response to the Butler Place Fire, asked why the township was not already part of the Pinelands CERT. Skleros said that the municipality was not a member of the Burlington County Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) until 2012 and that membership is a requirement for the municipality to enter into a shared-services agreement.

He added that Lowe and Lyons are working with him to draft up a new contract and the township committee would have to approve it.

Skleros said it would be a “process,” but that he is hoping to get something in place by the time the municipality holds the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival.

The emergency management coordinator has also been working to acquire maps of township roads and trails. Few maps existed and the ones

OVERHAUL>>PAGE 20

INDEX Automotive......................................23 Business Directory...........................10 Community........................................8 Fun and Games................................16 Health ..............................................15 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22

Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace......................................17 Opinion ............................................ 7 Scanner ............................................. 6 Worship Directory............................. 8

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

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Crowd Gathers For Evesham’s 10th Annual Independence Day Celebration Despite Variations in Weather

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

EVESHAM—Variations in the weather did not cancel or keep people away from Evesham Township’s 10th Annual Independence Day Celebration on July 4.

In the morning, hundreds of locals stepped out in the sweltering heat and found a spot along Main Street to watch the Fourth of July Parade.

The parade got underway at 11:30 a.m.

Participants started on Maple Avenue and traveled just under a mile east to Bettlewood Road. American flags could be seen everywhere.

Members of the Cherokee High School JROTC marched in to lead the way and were followed by groups supporting the U.S. Armed Forces.

The many tributes to our troops included a truck fronted by an “Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey” banner and the “Yellow Ribbon Band.” A bus from the Wiley Christian Retirement Community also displayed a sign honoring veterans.

Vehicles and personnel from the Marlton Fire Company, Evesham Fire Rescue and the Evesham Fire Department made appearances on the parade route.

Several musical ensembles were in attendance: the Philadelphia Brigade, Dixieland USA, the Burlington City High School Marching Band, and the Quaker City String Band, the last of which donned colorful, feathery costumes.

Children from the Florence V. Evans School came in large numbers and displayed a banner celebrating 60 years of excellence.

Representatives from St. Joan of Arc School

also marched down the parade route in recognition of 50 years of Catholic education in Marlton.

In the evening, many more people flocked to the Cherokee High School grounds to watch additional festivities and a fireworks show scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

At around 7 p.m., Mayor Randy Brown delivered remarks, youth bands played, and there was a salute to the troops, among other happenings.

The evening was moving along as expected.

However, a developing thunderstorm near Philadelphia caught the attention of officials.

At first, they appeared optimistic that the storm might miss the township as evidenced by an 8:20 p.m. Facebook post.

“Evesham Township Independence Day festivities are still scheduled as planned,” the township wrote. “Come out to enjoy the night’s festivities at Cherokee.”

However, the thunderstorm moved eastward and necessitated action by the township.

Visitors at the grounds were moved inside Cherokee for safety at about 9 p.m. Some, however, got in their cars and left. “(It) was really wonderful of the school district to make the school open to us,” said Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki in a later interview.

The start time for the fireworks was pushed back to 10 p.m. The township notified the public of this change on its Facebook page, through a news release, at 9:30 p.m.

Czerniecki said the township had to monitor the Marlton Parkway because of the storm. The township closed the road at 9

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO Members of the Philadelphia Brigade play during the Evesham Independence Day Celebration. p.m., but reopened it again for cars to clear out.

It is standard practice to close the parkway for fireworks “because it is within the radius of where they can fall,” he said.

The fireworks celebration went off shortly after 10 p.m. once the parkway was free of cars

and the storm moved away.

“We had to wait for the storm to clear, but then we also had to wait for the traffic to clear Marlton Parkway so we could shut it down again,” Czerniecki said.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

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Lone Repair Bid for IMMS Well Pit Too High, Rebid Will Be Sought

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—In a special July 5 Shamong Board of Education meeting lasting only 13 minutes, the major item of business was the rejection of a bid to repair a well pit at Indian Mills Memorial School.

The bid was scuttled as it came in over the school board’s estimated repair costs.

The project will be rebid in the near future, according to Christine Vespe, superintendent of the Shamong Township School District.

The board also voted to accept federal funding of just over $188,000. Of that amount, $11,015 is for preschool activities, the balance is for basic education.

Two change orders in security upgrades resulted in credits of $5,800 to the school system. Both changes were referred to as routine.

An anonymous donation of $400 for the

Student Activities Drama Club fund was accepted.

An amended contract for Vespe was approved by the executive county superintendent. It will run through June 30, 2021.

The contract was amended to reflect the modifications that were recently made to superintendent salary caps.

“The cap adjustment for our district was amended from $145,000 to $169,689, which I will reach in my final year,” Vespe said.

Chris Coles, purchasing/board office clerk, had her weekly hours raised from 25 hours to 29 hours and 55 minutes.

There was one revision of the coming year’s school calendar. Fall parent-teacher conferences were moved from Nov. 27-30 to Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 1.

The next two board meetings are listed for Aug. 15 and Sept. 19.

Skeet Road Improvements Underway

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—The schedule for a Medford Township Council meeting on July 5 featured several consent agenda resolutions and the second reading of an ordinance related to a major road project.

But before council acted on these items, they recognized a local team’s achievement.

A proclamation was presented to the Medford Memorial Middle School baseball team, which won the South Jersey Middle School Baseball League Championship for the first time in 20 seasons. Medford captured the title over William Allen Middle School, 6-2, on June 9.

Members of the team were in attendance and came before the public as Mayor Charles Watson read from the proclamation.

“They have earned the prestigious Simon Cup, which is awarded annually to the league champions,” said Watson prior to shaking hands with team members. “The coaches and players on the team and their families are to be commended for their commitment to the boys’ baseball program and congratulated on this outstanding achievement.”

Council discussed Ordinance 2017-8, a measure providing for general improvements and related expenses for the township’s Skeet Road Phase II Paving Project, with an appropriation amount of $210,000.

“This is for the paving project on Skeet Road—from the grant that we are receiving from the New Jersey Department of Transportation,” Watson said.

The ordinance was adopted, after an initial reading on June 20.

Phase I of the paving project began on June 26.

Councilman Christopher Buoni inquired about the total cost of the project.

“We’re going to see what portion this will cover now,” said Township Manager and Municipal Clerk Katherine Burger. “The last portion that we just did was (paid for by using) a $196,000 grant, so we’ll see what section we can complete now with this.”

Buoni asked if the township was just using grant dollars to fund the project.

“Correct,” Burger said.

Councilman Jeffrey Beenstock asked if, with Phase I completed, there was a “better sense” of how much they would get done of Phase II. “We’re using different engineers for both phases, so I’m waiting on a report right now,”

Burger said.

Buoni then posed the question of the township contributing funding for the project.

“Does it make sense—if it’s 75 percent (covered) to supply the other 25 percent for our roads program or is it better to wait on state money for these projects?” he said.

Burger said she would prefer to use state money for Skeet Road because of its extensive length.

“There’s some drainage issues that have to be addressed at the same time, so we plan to phase (the money) in,” Burger said.

Only certain road projects get state funding, Burger said, another reason for the township to wait for that money.

In other action, nine resolutions were passed unanimously.

The first dealt with Medford pledging support for the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” 2017 statewide Labor Day crackdown.

The next approved a corrective action plan for 2017, while the third extended the grace period for payment of this year’s third-quarter taxes.

The fourth resolution authorized termination of an interlocal services agreement for court administrative services between the Medford and the Borough of Medford Lakes.

The fifth awarded a contract for emergency medical billing services.

Another resolution dealt with redevelopment of certain property. It designated a block (2701.20) and four lots (9.01, 9.02, 9.03 and 10.01) in the township as an area in need of redevelopment and authorized the preparation of a redevelopment plan for these parcels.

The seventh allowed the township attorney to execute an amended settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing Center.

The eighth authorized the sale of surplus property on GovDeals.com. The resolution authorized a transfer of certain municipal property to the Medford VFW. Council also approved 50/50 licenses for Paw it 4ward Foundation, Inc. for Sept. 16, from 1 – 6 p.m. and Shawnee Corner’s Club for July 15, at 12:15 p.m.

Following public proceedings, council members went into executive session to discuss a resolution related to redevelopment. Buoni said no action was taken.

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Evesham’s School Resource Officer Program Might Be Scaled Back This Year

By Jennifer Peacock

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

EVESHAM—There will be police officers in Evesham Township schools this upcoming school year, but a School Resource Officer (SRO) program will be scaled back unless township and school officials can agree on how to fully fund it.

Mayor Randy Brown, who phoned into a special Evesham Township Council meeting on June 27, while away on vacation, repeatedly blasted the Evesham Board of Education for agreeing to provide only $250,000 toward the SRO program, which township officials have estimated costs from $500,000 for new recruits to $700,000 for seasoned veterans to operate.

The program has been in place for about one-and-a-half school years, with the school district paying a portion of the first half-year’s costs.

The mayor said he wants a multi-year deal with the school district struck over the summer.

“We should not be footing a bill for $750,000 for the SROs,” Brown said. “In all the years when we lost tax appeals, if I remember correctly, the school district never paid us a penny for the hundreds of thousands of dollars that we paid out when we lost tax appeals. We didn’t go crying to them, ‘Oh, you know, we want the money back.’ That’s the law, that’s what we dealt with. But moving forward, it’s time that they step up, they become the policy makers they’re elected to be, and not sit back and whatever the non-resident administration wants to do, they do.”

Township officials have promised that the SRO program for the 2017-18 school year will look like a program with only $250,000 to spend. Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki told reporters after the meeting the township will explore different models for its SRO program, but that whatever it looks like, it will not be as robust as last year’s program. He declined to offer further details, citing security concerns.

Superintendent of Schools John Scavelli Jr. explained at a June 22 Evesham Township Board of Education meeting that the state aid the district receives is unrestricted aid is combined with the school tax levy and other revenues. The district isn’t required to match up expenditures to the aid or category of aid received. He added that federal aid is restricted.

The superintendent gave the example of the state giving districts extra funds several years ago for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) aid, although he said the districts were not required to spend it on anything PARCC related.

“The categorical security aid that we do receive for the 17-18 year is $347,614,” said Scavelli, noting that the total amount of security items is $555,032. That amount covers the SROs and other security-related items, which he didn’t detail.

At the Board of Education’s regular June 22 meeting, President JoAnne Harmon said she watched the June 20 council meeting via a live feed.

She thanked Police Chief Christopher Chew, Czerniecki, Brown and council for “their work and partnership” in continuing the SRO program.

“I truly have no interest or desire for any negativity, especially on this topic,” Harmon said. “…On this subject, we all need to work together as one unit…for the safety of our children. I’ve been consistent with this and I deeply value the police presence in our schools. I love the program and on multiple occasions welcomed and encouraged members of the town council and the finance committee of this board to sit down and discuss the SRO program.

“We do represent the families of this town.

While we represent the families of this town, I think it would be irresponsible for us to have meetings without the input and presence of the people who know the town, security and schools best: the town manager, the chief of police, and the chief administrator of our schools.”

Harmon wants Czerniecki, Chew and Scavelli at SRO-related meetings. Township officials have asked to meet with elected officials on this topic.

The board on June 22 approved an agreement for the 2017-18 SRO program, with four members voting against it, according to Board Secretary John Recchinti: Sandy Student, Nichole Stone, Dennis Mehigan and Elaine Barbagiovanni. Student told the Pine Barrens Tribune after the meeting that the school district should foot the entire bill for the program.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

SCANNER 100 Feet of Copper Piping Stolen After Bilco and Garage Doors Forced Open at Residence MEDFORD—On July 10 at 11:38 a.m., officers from the Medford Township Police Department responded to a report of a burglary, at a property with a vacant house, located in the 500 block of Tabernacle Road in Medford.

Officers examined structures on the property and found rear basement bilco doors and detached garage doors forced open.

Evesham 4th of July Parade

Approximately 100 feet of copper piping, with an unknown value, were removed from the basement of one of the structures.

No additional items were found to be missing.

Police are actively investigating the burglary and anyone with information is urged to contact the Medford Township Police Department at 609-654-7511.

Police Allege Man Taken Into Custody on Warrant Was in Possession of Heroin

MEDFORD LAKES—On June 27 at 8:06 p.m., patrols from the Medford Lakes Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on a silver Jeep on Stokes Road for a speeding violation.

The driver, identified as Matthew P. Giordano, 32, of Vineland, was found to have an active criminal warrant out of Vineland.

Giordano was taken into custody and was found to be in possession of heroin.

He was charged with possession of a

controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and various traffic offenses.

Giordano was processed and released on a summons complaint pending a court appearance at Burlington County Superior Court.

Vineland Police authorized Giordano to be released on his own recognizance in reference to his criminal warrant.

Shamong Woman Injured in Crash at Route 206 and Cramer Road TABERNACLE—New Jersey State Police are investigating an accident that left one woman injured last weekend.

State Police say that the accident, which occurred around 6:42 a.m. on July 8 at the intersection of Route 206 and Cramer Road in Tabernacle, involved a Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus.

The driver of the Ford Focus, Victoria Schneider, 56, of Shamong, was

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO The antique Marlton Fire Co. Engine No. 1 was a highlight of the July 4 parade in Evesham.

transported to Virtua Hospital in Mt. Holly with non-life-threatening injuries.

No other injuries were reported in the crash.

The Tabernacle Rescue Squad said on social media that there was a reported entrapment in one car.

However, State Police told the Pine Barrens Tribune that there was no entrapment.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

K9 Sniffs Out Heroin During Car Stop in DDACTS Zone EVESHAM—On July 7 at 4:20 p.m., an Evesham Township Police detective conducted a motor-vehicle stop on Brick Road.

Additional officers responded to the scene and an Evesham Police K-9 named “EZ” was called upon to assist with the detection of narcotics.

The K-9 was walked around the exterior of the motor vehicle at which time she alerted officers to the presence of narcotics inside. A subsequent search of the vehicle by officers resulted in the discovery of heroin and hypodermic needles.

Daniel Carruol, 29, of Marlton, was charged with third degree possession of heroin and a disorderly persons offense for possession of hypodermic needles.

He was released on his own recognizance.

Carruol was the driver of the vehicle.

The vehicle was pulled over in the Data

Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) Zone.

Police say DDACTS integrates location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources.

Using geomapping to identify areas that have high incidences of crime and crashes, DDACTS uses traffic-enforcement strategies that play a dual role in fighting crime and reducing crashes and traffic violations.

“Drawing on the deterrent of highly visible traffic enforcement and the knowledge that crime often involves the use of motor vehicles, the goal of DDACTS is to reduce the incidence of crime, crashes, and traffic violations in Evesham Township,” the Evesham Police Department wrote on social media.

The JROTC of Cherokee High School steps off proudly.

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO

Police Arrest Florida Man for CDS Possession in Medford Lakes MEDFORD LAKES—On July 9, at 11:47 a.m., patrols from the Medford Lakes Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on a silver Honda for a non-moving traffic violation.

The driver, identified as Evan P. Vernon, 33, of Hallandale, Fl., was found to be in possession of marijuana and CDS paraphernalia.

Vernon was taken into custody and transported

to police headquarters.

He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS paraphernalia and various traffic offenses.

Vernon was processed and released on a summons pending a court date in Medford Lakes Municipal Court.

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO A massive truck sports a banner for Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey.

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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.

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Guest Commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune can be submitted by an appointed or elected official, political candidate, organization leader, or community leader. Guest commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, photo, address, affiliation, title, and phone number of the writer. Commentary may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, commentary should be about 450 words or less.

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

Woodland’s Residents Deserve Substantive Conversation

Surveillance Cameras for Sunbury Village Should Not Be Funded with Tax Dollars

Woodland residents must come together and unite to solve the issues facing their community and put aside this ridiculous bickering over the White Horse Inn, Chatsworth Cranberry Festival and Chatsworth firehouse.

People like living in Woodland because of the serenity and beauty of the Pinelands.

This atmosphere should be preserved.

The town needs to invest in its fire protection and this is not even debatable in a town with vast amounts of forest susceptible to wildfire.

The inn is historic, a keepsake and should serve as a place for all to gather for community events.

The festival is a cherished event and one the town (and the Pinelands) cannot afford to

lose.

It’s time for the township committee to join with residents to have a substantive conversation about the future of their town, which is contending with multiple foreclosures, shuttered businesses, and loss of tax ratables.

The committee must work together with stakeholders and residents to create a realistic plan to reopen notable businesses such as Buzby’s General Store.

If it’s not feasible for these businesses to reopen, the township committee must work to make it lucrative for new businesses to open their doors in the township.

It’s time to put aside the petty differences and do what is best for the town.

Social Media Sound Off (Vehicle Incident Sheds Light on Security Lapses at Parade) So we invited the State Police to attend and just assumed they knew they had to play security?

Someone dropped the ball here, but not the State Police.

Andrea Prentice (Vehicle Incident Sheds Light on Security Lapses at Parade) At the same parade, a gentleman collapsed and within seconds a township worker arrived.

The worker called for help on a radio of some sort and medical attention was there in less than a minute.

LeAnn Ditzman (Valued Township Employee Calls It a Day in Shamong After Nearly 36 Years) Thank you Barbara for all you have done throughout the years for our township and the people of this community! We love and adore you! Congratulations and happy retirement!

Shari Bohan Fisher (Pinelands Commission Poised to Curb Use of Off-Road Vehicles in Protected Areas) They’ll regret it. Pulling off-road vehicles out of the Pinelands will only increase racing on the streets.

Fred Myers

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

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016 Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO Pat Carney, Senior Graphic Artist Adam Tait III, Copy Editor Colleen Jordan, Copy Editor, Graphic Artist P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

Sunbury Village landlord Richard Gober thinks my tax dollars should be spent installing security cameras in the section of a neighborhood he rents out to 56 homes, to give more security for this high-crime area.

“No,” is my reply. The township’s funding should not be used in such a manner.

This grand-scale land owner, Gober, should be more responsible with whom he rents his properties to.

I believe Sunbury homes probably receive state funding or Section 8 housing stipends.

Let’s check to see how much the owner gets for each property. I am sure it is a large amount of money.

Additionally, the police department should assist Gober with a listing comparing his properties with persons who have serious criminal records residing. There is a law that

states homeowners are responsible for their tenants. When the tenants become a public nuisance, what is the next step?

Also, does Gober need to use the landlord-tenant court to remove these targeted addresses?

I do not agree with my township tax dollars being used to give Gober another method to be a poor landlord or land owner.

As a new retiree, I did attend my first council meeting in May and I attended a zoning board meeting in June. But my time is better spent with reviewing the dollars spent with the township budget.

However, I will make a note on my calander to attend the council meetings regularly.

Nadirah Shakir

Browns Mills, New Jersey

Political Cartoon:

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COMMUNITY Events

July 15 Event: BAD DOGZ in Concert Location: Bass River State Forest Details: Bluegrass, Gospel, and Old-time music, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Bass River State Forest, Lake Absegami Beach Breezeway.

Bring flashlight and something to sit on. ADA accessible. For more information call 609-296-1114. This is a free event, donations to the band are welcome.

Event: Carpenter Frog Pinelands Hike Location: Wharton State Forest Details: This is a guided hike of three to four miles, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Historic Atsion Office. Bring water and snacks. For more information call 609-567-4559 or 609-268-0444.

Event: BBQ to benefit United Services Organization (USO) Location: Medford Details: July 15, starting at 11 a.m., Medford Ford, Route 70, Medford, will host a charity BBQ, open to all to benefit our Armed Forces. Complimentary food and drinks will be provided; we ask that you provide a donation to the USO. For over 75 years, the USO has helped military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country; throughout their service to the nation. Stop by and show your support.

July 16 Event: Let’s Dance!

Location: Brick Details: Join us for this special tribute to the music and

Saturday, July 15, 2017

memories of the Frank Gutowski Orchestra and Gene Mendalski & The G-Men, featuring Eddie Biegaj & The Heroes, at the Brick Elks Lodge #2151, 2493 Old Hooper Ave., Brick.

Doors open at noon. Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner served at 1 p.m., dancing from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets $25. For more information call 732-901-9977, or 732-330-0624.

July 18 Event: Annual Blueberry Festival Location: Vincentown Details: Trinity Episcopal Church will host its “Everything Blueberry Festival” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on July 18, at 18 Mill Street, rain or shine. Bluegrass music by Murphy’s Law. Blueberry shortcake, blueberry jam and other blueberry treats for sale. Also, hot dogs and meatball sandwiches for sale.

609-914-0196.

Event: Kiki Scholarship Golf Tournament Location: Marlton Details: The 25th Annual Kiki Konstantinos Scholarship Golf Tournament will be Tuesday, July 18, at Little Mill Country Club in Marlton. Proceeds fund scholarships for graduates of Lenape Regional High School District. Cost per player is $220, which includes greens fees, cart, lunch, prizes and an awards dinner. For more information visit www.kikiopen.org, or call 856-768-1985.

July 19 Event: Intermediate Internet Computer Class Location: Evesham Details: Sharpen your internet search skills. Research, explore, shop, watch, learn and find better than before!

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Evesham Branch Library, 984 Tuckerton Road. Call 856-983-1444 to register.

Event: Burlington County Gardeners Association presents The Ancient Art of Bonsai Location: Westampton Details: Curious about this beautiful Japanese art form?

Wondering if you can do it yourself? Tom De Simone, founder and president of the Bonsai Society of South Jersey, will share his knowledge of bonsai cultivation, discussing how to get started and maintain the trees. This is a free event open to the public.

10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Burlington County Library, 5 Pioneer Blvd., Westampton.

July 22 Event: Bluegrass & Blueberry Social Location: Whiting Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will have a Bluegrass and Blueberry Social on Saturday, July 22, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. For more information, call 732-350-2121. 180 Route 539, Whiting.

July 23 Event: Bowling Tournament Location: Toms River Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host a Sport Shot Singles Bowling Tournament at Playdrome Lanes, 821 Conifer St., Toms River, at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $45, check-in and registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information call Playdrome Lanes, 732-349-534; William Bodine III, 732-814-6683; or St. Stephen’s office, 732-350-2121.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN Summer Programs Keep Seniors Busy

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Pemberton seniors will host some very special guests at the Pemberton Township Senior center this weekend.

Little Lambs Preschool students will stop by and entertain the seniors. Whenever the youngest come to visit, it is a very special time for seniors. Many do not have opportunities to visit with their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so having the little ones stop in is a double pleasure.

Conversely, many of these children do not have grandparents nearby, so visiting the seniors fills that void. Both groups benefit from the visit. The “Little Lambs” have prepared some entertainment to present for the seniors.

It will be a very special weekend.

The Senior Center will host the annual Farmer’s Food Voucher Program beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19. Stop in at the center during the week and pick up the forms to be completed. These vouchers allow seniors to get free produce at local farm stands. There are income requirements posted at the center.

Seniors may check with the staff, complete the form and sign up for an appointment.

Vouchers will be distributed all morning or until all those with appointments have been served. Do not miss out on this opportunity to receive free Jersey Fresh produce.

Later the same morning, Carla Fynan, county dietitian, will be available to discuss nutrition and menu choices for the county meal

program. Seniors are eligible to enjoy a well-balanced meal daily; resident seniors pay only $2 per meal and non-residents pay $3.

These meals are subsidized by both the county and the township to encourage seniors to eat well-balanced meals. Meals are from a menu planned by Fynan and prepared by Colonial Village Caterers of Pemberton Borough. This local business is contracted to provide the meal service for the entire county nutrition program and the Meals on Wheels program. Meals are always tasty and satisfying.

If you would like to participate, you must register on Monday the prior week by informing the staff. On some days, as many as 100 local seniors will enjoy the meal. The

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

accompanying socialization enhances the experience and helps to keep seniors healthy.

Pemberton seniors are fortunate to have such a comprehensive nutrition program available locally. There is a senior bus available for non-drivers to attend the many programs at the center. The center is located conveniently in downtown Browns Mills, across from the Post Office on Brook Street. There is no charge to register and participate in most programs. Sponsored programs are always offered to seniors at reduced cost. Exercise equipment is available for seniors’ use at no charge and exercise programs are offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The goal is to keep seniors healthy

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

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SENIORS PAGE 8

and active.

On July 20, there will be a “double feature” movie at the center.

In the morning, “In the Beginning” will be shown from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a movie prepared by the famous Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. Discover with Adam and Eve their delightful surroundings and the wonders of their early relationship. One of the seniors purchased it on a recent trip and has agreed to share it with the group. If you are unable to take the trip to Lancaster to the Sight and Sound Theatre, this can help fill that gap.

There will be no charge for this viewing.

In the afternoon, following lunch, “A Dog’s Purpose” will be shown as the July monthly movie.

Each month on the third Thursday, Melissa Cuevas selects a movie for the seniors to enjoy.

There is no charge and the movies are shown on a large screen. Bring some snacks and enjoy

a movie in the air-conditioned comfort of the center.

If you have diabetes or care for a diabetic, a course, Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP), is offered on six Wednesdays beginning on August 2. Janet Knoth of Quality Insights will be the presenter and she will share ways to successfully manage diabetes. There is no charge for this program and it is open to all seniors interested in learning how to best cope with this disease. Sign up is available at the center. See Cuevas to enroll in this informative program.

One question for all. If you read last week’s column, did you stop in and congratulate our friendly senior, “Pat” Hines for his 50th anniversary of service? This is a memorable milestone for both Hines and the community.

On Aug. 22, seniors will travel to the Jefferson House, located on the shores of Lake Hopatcong, near Sparta. Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in New Jersey, about four square miles in area.

The Jefferson House owns a large pontoon boat and will take groups of seniors on a narrated cruise as part of the day’s activities.

A “Hoe-Down” will be the featured attraction and will include country western line-dancing for all to enjoy. The country buffet will include BBQ beef, southern fried chicken, hush puppies, apricot glazed pork ribs, baked beans, prairie pasta and “Ma’s apple pie” for dessert.

Beverages will include coffee, tea, soda, wine and beer.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Last year the seniors were able to look out the large picture windows and watch some jet skiers. They put on quite a show. Perhaps there will be some informal aquatic entertainment for seniors to observe this year.

Tickets will be going fast, so if you are interested, stop in at the center between 9 a.m. and noon to sign-up. The cost, including the transportation, is only $50 for resident seniors and $70 for non-resident guests.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

How to Treat a Dog Bite

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.

I Bet I Can Make You Yawn Last week I forced myself to stay up two nights in a row to work. I certainly had work to do, but I also wanted to evaluate my brain function after sleep deprivation. The following morning, I was yawning quite a bit while sharing the story with Sam. He jokingly snapped, “Hey, stop that! You’re making me yawn!”

I thought that was hilarious and kept my eye on him for several minutes, and sure enough, when I yawned, he yawned. Yawns are known to be “contagious,” especially if you are emotionally connected with one another. Did I get you to yawn just yet?

Saying the word out loud or reading “yawn” triggers a yawn. They’re usually satisfying in nature, and if they’re not, it is thought to be your subconscious inability to let go. One yawn lasts about six seconds and during that time, your heart probably beats faster.

A yawn does not really happen just because you’re bored or tired. I mean it could, but it doesn’t have to. For decades, doctors said it was your brain’s attempt to pull more oxygen in for the tissues. Research on animals published in The International Journal of Applied Basic Medical Research in June 2017 points to yawning as a way to drain lymph from around the brain. That’s interesting because we are only now realizing the brain actually has a lymphatic system.

We, meaning humans, yawn in the womb, and yes, it’s boring in there for sure, but around 11 to 20 weeks post-conception, it can be seen on ultrasound. Another interesting fact about yawning is that medications can cause it. For example, one of the biggest offenders is the

category of antidepressants, especially the SSRIs and SNRIs like Prozac and Cymbalta, respectively.

Benzodiazepines (clonazepam, alprazolam) and opiate analgesics (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine) will often trigger yawning attacks - it’s a well-documented side effect during normal treatment. It’s more apt to happen during ‘interdose withdrawal’ (the hours in-between your scheduled doses of the day), or more likely when you quit taking these drugs, which requires a long tapering process.

Yawning attacks induced from antidepressants, benzos and opiates are almost always annoying and uncomfortable.

Anesthetics used to sedate you before surgery can cause yawning. A big yawn-inducing category are the dopaminergics used in Parkinson’s such as L-dopa or Levodopa (Sinemet contains that) or Apokyn (Apomorphine).

Did you know that the complete disappearance of yawns could indicate damage to your hypothalamus? It’s specifically damage to the dopaminergic (dopamineproducing) neurons. This is why Parkinson’s patients yawn less frequently. Likewise, the effectiveness of Parkinson’s drug therapy can actually be gauged if the patient begins to yawn again.

Some researchers think you yawn more if you are depressed. I’m not really convinced of that.

Confirming this is difficult because depressed folks often have insomnia, so they are going to naturally be more fatigued during the day, and probably yawn more too.

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.

By Sue Hubbard, M.D. I am a dog lover. We have always had a dog aggressive. The next words out of the father’s in our house, even before we had our children. mouth: “Do you know a good plastic surgeon?”

But some dogs will bite and, unfortunately, Not words you want to hear from another there are more than 800,000 people every year physician. who receive medical care for a dog bite. More Thankfully, I did know a good plastic than half are children. surgeon. I woke him up after his long day in the Children are also more likely to be severely in- OR, and he got out of bed and met us to suture jured from a dog bite and I was reminded of this my son’s face with over 20 stitches. Luckily the recently when I saw a very serious dog bite to a bite only involved his nose, cheek and chin and child’s face. The child was brought to my office just barely missed his left eye. I am sure I cried by his nanny after being bitten on his cheek by more than my son did. He still has a scar across the family’s dog. It was one of the worst bites his nose, which only bothers his mother.

I had ever seen! He was severely injured and Incredibly, he never “blamed” their dog, he should have gone straight to the ER. The good went back to play at their house, and he still news is that he will be OK, but he had to loves his own dogs more than anything. undergo surgery to repair the bite and will It is especially important to teach your probably require another small surgery. children to never approach a dog or to pet it In this case, as in most, the dog bite occurred without first asking the owner if it is OK. when the child was interacting with a familiar Children should learn to move slowly and let dog. The little boy, along with a twin sister, the dog “sniff” them first and to stay away from were playing when he was bitten. The dog their face and tail. Teach your child how to had been around the children since they were gently pet an animal and to always be born, and it is unclear what precipitated the gentle. If they are around a dog who is bite. Sometimes a dog becomes aggressive if behaving in a threatening manner by growling it is bothered while eating or sleeping and you or barking, they should slowly back away from know toddlers—they can “bother” anyone. the dog and try to avoid eye contact with the One of my sons is also a dog bite statistic. He dog. If they are ever knocked over by a dog, was raised with dogs, so I was totally caught off they should curl up in and ball and protect their guard one night when the phone rang. My son face with their arms. had been spending the night at a friend’s house, If your child is bitten and the bite is and the voice on the other end was the father superficial, it will probably just require care of the friend (he, too, a doctor), informing with soap and water. For bites that break the me that my child had been bitten by their dog. skin, you should check in with your The boys were lying on the floor watching a pediatrician. Make sure you know the rabies movie and eating popcorn. For some unknown vaccination status of the dog that bit. You also reason, the dog bit my son on his face. need to make sure that your child is up to date The bite was not precipitated by anything; on their tetanus vaccination. In some cases, they had not been playing or roughhousing your child may also need an antibiotic. with the dog, and the dog was not known to be

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Saturday, July 15, 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?”

Tangled Cords Really Get His Goat I hope you won’t think me a braggart when I say my husband and I rarely quarrel.

Although we’ve been together for many years, we’ve never thrown a punch, swung a frying pan, or called each other a dirty so-and-so.

I must give all the credit to Pat, for I love nothing more than a good argument. I enjoy a battle of wills, a witty exchange and the occasional, “Oh no you just didn’t!”

Yet, when I’m stomping mad, my Pat flat-out refuses to give me the proverbial, “What for!”

Instead of coming back with a, “Yeah!” to my “Oh yeah?!” he calmly says, “You’re right, Lori. You’re always right.”

That just cheeses me off. I clinch my fists, stomp about and shoot fire out of my ears as I firmly retort, “Yeah, well maybe I’m not right.

Maybe you’re right. Did you ever think of that?”

The audacity of that man telling me that I’m always right.

We do have an occasional tiff when Pat tells me I don’t need to purchase something that I obviously need.

I like to respond to that by not talking to him for the rest of the evening. I do some internalizing and try not to notice that he’s actually enjoying the peace and quiet.

Still, the man has the patience of a saint. He lets the little things go, doesn’t sweat the small stuff and tends to let things slide.

“What does ruffle his feathers?” you might ask. I’ll tell you what gets under his skin and, at times, really grinds his gears—tangled cords.

That’s right. He can remain calm when a kid repeatedly kicks the back of his chair and he doesn’t do a freak out when someone knocks over his coffee (and the man does love his coffee.)

But you wad up a 20-foot extension cord and he’ll throw out a, “Dadgummit!” quicker than you can duck around a corner and pretend you had nothing to do with it.

Pat likes neatly wrapped air hoses, nicely rolled water hoses and heaven forbid if you don’t put his tie-down straps back just the way he had them.

That being said, the maddest that peaceloving man has ever been at me was the day we had a cable TV installation at our new home.

To the installer’s credit, the guy had asked if we wanted to spend the extra money to bury the cable. The second option was to string it above

the yard and then staple the sucker all along the house.

It was early on in our marriage and while I knew my beloved spouse had a thing about unsightly cords, I didn’t know it extended to cables being strewn around the corner, hung across the windows and stapled into his new siding.

I mean shouldn’t things like this be addressed in premarital counseling?

Therefore, when the cable guy outlined the choices, I simply pondered my husband’s over-zealous desire to save a buck and went with the cheaper option.

After all we didn’t need the cable buried.

I’m fairly certain Pat knew that something was amiss long before he saw it. He didn’t have x-ray vision and therefore lacked the ability to see through the walls, but his sixth sense alerted him to a problem long before he gazed in the back yard and absorbed the technological chaos.

It took some doing, but Pat got through it and thanks to the vows he took on our wedding day, he remained at my side through the cable disaster as well as many marital years of kinked up hoses.

But that didn’t make anything any easier this past week when I knew an Internet guy would be coming to do an installation.

“How do you feel about wadded up extension cords?” I asked the installer as he climbed out of his truck.

“Hate ‘em,” he responded.

“Uh, huh,” I said before firing off the next question. “Ever string a wire along an exterior wall with little or no regard for curbside appeal, harmony or worldwide peace?”

I was chasing him and his ladder-climbing ways as he said he’d been doing this for years, had never disappointed a customer and wanted to assure me that his installation would be nothing, if not professional.

Thinking of my Pat and his unfailing desire to save a buck, I followed the technician up the ladder and called out, “Will all of this professionalism cost us more money?”

“No Ma’am,” he called from the rooftop, “it’s what we do.”

I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I pondered this: I’ll bet, if given a chance, Pat would marry me all over again.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D

P U Z Z L E

Across 1 Man of many words 6 Course designer 10 Hiker’s map, briefly 14 Words spoken on a star?

15 Virna of “How to Murder Your Wife” 16 Organic compound 17 ‘60s executive order creation 19 Combine 20 Locks in a zoo 21 Human Be-In attendee 23 1988 Cabinet resignee 27 Apostle known as “the Zealot” 28 Facetious tributes 29 Steady 30 Comfort and others 31 Avid surfers 35 Societal change begun in Quebec during the ‘60s 39 Money-saving refuge 40 Subway purchase 41 Blue dye 42 Hints 44 Renders harmless 48 Greasy spoon 49 It’s not widely understood

50 Small flaw 51 Cozy spot 52 ‘60s aviation nickname 58 Quattro competitor 59 Quattro, e.g.

60 2013 One Direction hit 61 Victor’s “Samson and Delilah” co-star 62 Line holder for a cast 63 Lustrous synthetic Down 1 Swindle, with “off” 2 Run a tab, say 3 1998 Angelina Jolie biopic 4 F1 neighbor 5 It’s across from Alice Tully Hall 6 One of many in “Orphan Black” 7 Engage 8 Sixth of five?

9 Skid 10 Largo and presto 11 Matinee hr.

12 March of Dimes’ original crusade 13 Ancient 18 Mama in music 22 Trooper’s outfit?

23 La Salle of “ER” 24 Fried treat 25 Obsession 26 Thomas Cromwell’s earldom 27 Determined about 29 Oblique cut 31 Half a Caribbean federation 32 Tom’s “Mission: Impossible” role 33 Reunion attendee 34 More put out 36 “__ heaven” 37 American West conflict 38 Overly curious 42 Former Blue Devil rival, briefly 43 Not suitable for kids 44 Shore show of the ‘70s 45 Modern message 46 Alaskan cruise sight 47 Jim-dandy 48 Pizza sauce herb 50 Off-target 53 Color distinction 54 46-Down kin 55 Magpie relative 56 “Microsoft sound” composer 57 Brown shade

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

Saturday, July 15, 2017

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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

Auto Parts and Svcs.

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Community Activities Medford area seniors offer a regular schedule of events running Monday through Friday. Included are bridge, pinochle, knitting, investing, writing, painting, genealogy, yoga, healthy bones and more. Go to Medfordtownship.com for more information or visit us at Cranberry Hall behind the municipal building at 17 N. Main St.

General Contracting Anything We Haul It. Estates, Attics, Basements, Space Places, Odd Jobs,

Yard Work, Demolition, Pools Removed, etc. Call 609-694-9356, Earl Evans.

Help Wanted NOW HIRING in Chatsworth! General Laborers & F/L operators NEEDED at Ocean Spray! $11/hr! Mandatory OT = more money in your pocket. Long-term work & bonuses! Call 609-387-2900 today!

Area claims writers. No experience. PT/ FT flex. hours. NJ/PA. Call or text 609-994-2156. Target income $30k/$80k.

Brant Beach, LBI. Rental checkers for single-family home sleeps 10. 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays now - 9/30. $15/hr. with an end of season bonus for excellent work. Must be smart, handy and detail oriented. 602-663-3303.

Energetic individuals who are dependable and possess a positive, goal-driven mindset are needed to sell advertising.

Earnings are commission based with potential to make $40,000 plus a year.

Call 609-801-2392.

Great storytellers with sound news judgment sought. Strong interpersonal, writing, and AP-style skills a must! Call 609-801-2392. Must be available during the evening hours.

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Home Improvements

related items. Email lenny3619@gmail. com or call 609-581-8290.

rental seasons. $25-50 per day. Gretchen, 602-663-3303.

Arrow Painting. Free estimates, quality painting and pressure washing. Call 609-351-2236. No Job Too Small.

Cash paid for Selmer Saxophones and other vintage models. Email lenny3619@ gmail.com or call 609-581-8290.

Sporting Goods

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Single professional nonsmoking female needs 1-7 day lodging pre/during LBI

Reading tutor. 42 yrs. experience.

Teacher trained in Wilson Language Program. All ages! First session free.

Call Mary 609-636-1095.

Hoyt compound bow. Right hand 50-70 lbs. Everything needed for hunting: hard bow case, 17 carbon arrows. $500.

609-388-5227.

TENNIS INSTRUCTOR, 24 years of experience at Nick Bolletieri’s in Bradenton, Fla. Also instructor at BCC. For serious tennis players; advanced, intermediates and beginners. Reasonable rates. Private, semi-private and group lessons as well as drills. Call Bob at 856-905-2635.

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Brotherton Indian Tribal Offices Brotherton Indian Reservation, Tribal Lands Office of the Chief Brotherton Indian Reservation Indian Mills, New Jersey 08088 Attention Dr. Sam Beeler, Chief 973-222-1920 973-432-8894 Cash paid for World War II militaria.

Swords, bayonets, helmets and other

Extra

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ELECTION PAGE 1

During a regular meeting on July 22, 2015, the possible sale of the building was raised again.

DeGroff said a counteroffer was made to the festival committee.

A source told the Pine Barrens Tribune that the counteroffer was $70,000.

Henrich again expressed opposition to selling the inn to the festival committee. He said that if the building was to be sold by the township committee, he wanted a stipulation in the deed that the township would get the building back should the festival committee disband.

DeGroff reiterated that he was in favor of selling of the building and that the township receives $1 a year from the festival committee to rent the building. He said that the sale of the inn should not be put on the ballot.

Committeeman Mark Herndon said that he agreed with DeGroff that the sale of the inn should not be put on the ballot.

Multiple residents spoke out about the possible sale. Some were in favor of the sale while others were against it.

Many of those who spoke out against the possible sale were concerned that the Woodland Township Historical Society would be prohibited from using the building if it was sold.

Henrich said at the meeting that Deborah Grove, president of the Woodland Township Historical Society, and Lynn Giamalis, chairwoman of the Cranberry Festival Committee, can’t get along.

Grove said that the inn lacks many amenities and she received threats of slander over the historical society’s use.

DeGroff said the township shouldn’t be caught in the middle of the dispute between the historical society and festival committee.

The township committee moved into executive session that night and reemerged without a decision.

On Aug. 22, 2015, the township committee met again.

Herndon made a motion to accept an offer of $62,500 from the festival committee to sell the inn. DeGroff seconded the motion.

DeGroff and Herndon voted to accept the offer. Henrich voted to not accept the offer and strongly disagreed with the decision.

“I am worried they will kick out the historical society,” Henrich said. “The appraisal also came back too low.”

The festival committee reportedly spent about $600,000 in Cranberry Festival proceeds to fix up the building.

During public comment, resident Ethel Brower questioned the acceptance of the offer and was particularly critical of Herndon.

Herndon said $62,500 was the best price offered and it was better than receiving $1 each year in rent.

Giamalis said that she was tired of her and the festival committee being bashed.

“Residents need to realize that not one dime that went into that building was from taxpayers,” she said. “All money spent is from the festival and residents make money on the festival. The festival committee did all of the renovations and got their own dumpster so that nothing went into taxpayer dumpsters.”

After a few months of behind-the-scenes negotiation, the township committee on Oct. 28, 2015, introduced an ordinance authorizing the sale of the inn to the festival committee.

DeGroff and Herndon voted to introduce the measure. Henrich was absent from the meeting.

On Nov. 24, 2015, the township committee adopted the ordinance to sell the inn to the festival committee. DeGroff and Herndon voted

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to sell the inn. Henrich voted against the measure.

But the sale could not be closed. On April 27, 2016, the committee voted unanimously to rescind the ordinance authorizing the sale of the inn to the festival committee.

The reason the sale fell apart is still in dispute.

Nancy Valentino, Esq., who represented the festival committee through the sale and historical society dispute, told the Pine Barrens Tribune this week that festival committee members got “cold feet” that the deed could contain a reverter (if there is a stipulation that is not followed by the buyer, the township could take back the property).

Henrich offered a different take on the matter.

“The Cranberry Festival President Lynn Giamalis convinced the other two committee members to sell the inn for $62,500,” Henrich said. “I made it clear in several meetings that I was 100 percent against this. The township bought the same amount of land that the inn has (1.01 acres) directly across the street for $115,000 from Garfield Demarco in 2010. The land without the building was worth $115,000.

Both of my peers wanted to sell the building and the land for $62,500 which I was against.

The township spent more than $10,000 for an appraisal and lawyer fees over four to five months and when it was time to close, the festival committee decided not to follow through.

“I have no idea why they pursued the sale of the building, divided the committee, cost the town over $10,000 in attorney fees and then decided not to buy it. I wanted this decision to be voted on by the residents. However I was overruled by the two other committee members. Their lease is up in 2025—so hopefully the residents will have the final say for the sale of the building or the renewal of the lease.”

At the same time wrangling was happening over the sale of the inn, the township made a decision about funding repairs at the Lebanon Lakes firehouse and Chatsworth firehouse.

The township committee voted, 3-0, to provide the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. with $75,000 to make the repairs despite the fact the firehouses are not owned by the municipality.

The committee cited the need to protect equipment partially paid for by the township, especially inside the Chatsworth firehouse where the roof was in poor condition and leaking.

However, the fire company, led by Fire Chief Shawn Viscardi, later alleged that Henrich wanted them to sign over the firehouse deeds to the township in exchange for the money.

Valentino began representing the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. in matters involving the township.

At the time the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. levied the accusation against the mayor, the township committee was entertaining the idea of allowing the installation of a cellphone tower somewhere in the Chatsworth section of Woodland Township.

The township committee heavily leaned towards having the tower installed on Chatsworth Elementary School grounds and Henrich made it a point to work with the Woodland Township Board of Education.

However, the township committee did tell a resident during a March 23, 2015 special meeting that alternatives for the placement of the tower included the township parking lot, firehouse property, property across from the inn, the inn, and a property belonging to a Mr. Huber.

The admission that the township committee

viewed the firehouse property as an alternative location for the tower raised eyebrows with the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. since the township did not own the property.

Ultimately, the fire company decided to seek other sources of financing for the roofing as they believed both properties were worth more than $75,000.

Additionally, the township committee on June 9, 2015, entered into a shared-services agreement with the board for the tower’s construction at the school. DeGroff and Henrich approved the motion. Herndon was absent.

The tower project has faced a number of hurdles and remains incomplete.

On June 12, 2016, a large forest fire developed near Prince Street and Savoy Blvd. in the Chatsworth section of Woodland Township.

The forest fire was nicknamed the “Butler Place Fire” by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The forest fire burned for nearly a month and consumed over 357 acres.

While the fire was eventually extinguished, the incident added fuel to the political fire brewing in the township.

During a June 22, 2016, township committee meeting, DeGroff and Herndon praised the job done by Viscardi, the fire company, and state Forest Fire Service.

DeGroff also praised Giamalis for allowing first responders to use the White Horse Inn as a command post for the forest fire.

Henrich was muted about the fire’s response at the public meeting, but sources told the Pine Barrens Tribune that he was troubled with a lack of communication from Viscardi during the fire.

Viscardi, also the township’s emergency management coordinator at the time of the fire, was brought in on a Rice Notice (a notification from a public body that it is going to discuss an individual’s employment) as confirmed by the township committee’s meeting minutes.

It was at this point that Valentino began to represent Viscardi personally.

Louis Cantafio, a resident who ran last year as a write-in candidate against the mayor, said during a July 27, 2016 meeting that he was very disappointed with the decision to Rice Notice Viscardi and said “he was an example of service to the community.”

Cantafio ended up garnering 145 votes in last year’s Nov. 8 General Election, but Henrich surpassed him with 404 votes.

Bitterness from all of the disputes and general election spilled into the winter and spring.

Giamalis, on behalf of the festival committee, upset with the treatment of Viscardi, presented him with a $6,000 check (money raised from festival baked goods) for the fire company during an Oct. 26, 2016, township committee meeting.

Giamalis’ check presentation was made during public comment and was not a township committee presentation, a sign of the rising tension.

Viscardi, who received a three-year appointment to the emergency management post in 2014, was not reappointed during a chaotic March 29 committee meeting that ended temporarily in confusion and was then restarted.

Henrich thanked Viscardi for the multiple jobs done in town. However, he said that he “thought it was a good idea to spread some of the load.”

He then announced his replacement, resident Thomas Skleros. Henrich said Skeleros has 34 years of experience working in emergency preparedness at a nuclear power plant.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Replacing Viscardi seemed to catch most of the 11 residents attending the meeting and DeGroff by surprise.

“Shawn did a great job,” said DeGroff after the appointment was announced. “I don’t know why.”

Shortly after the announcement, the meeting adjourned, for the first time. After two or three minutes of discussion among most of the parties involved, the meeting was quickly called to order again and went into immediate executive session. The executive session lasted about 20 minutes.

Township Clerk MaryAlice Brown said the next day, in a follow-up phone call, that the meeting was resumed because Viscardi said he wanted to discuss not being reappointed with the committee.

Viscardi, in a conference call with Valentino, told the Pine Barrens Tribune on April 3 that he placed his non-reappointment squarely on the shoulders of Henrich.

Viscardi said that he believed the other two committeemen were unaware of the action until it was brought up at the meeting.

Viscardi also said he was told in the executive session that his removal was not performance related, but was based on “personal” reasons.

He added, however, that the reasons were never specified.

The Pine Barrens Tribune obtained the executive session’s meeting minutes this week through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. The specific reasons for the change were given during the meeting and centered around an ongoing dispute between Viscardi and Henrich.

When Viscardi asked why he was not being reappointed, Henrich said that it would have been nice if the deputy emergency management coordinator had not run against him at the last election. Henrich was referring to the June 7, 2016 primary election race between himself and now-former deputy emergency management coordinator Wayne Morris; Henrich received 159 votes to Morris’ 59.

Viscardi denied having anything to do with Morris running for the seat.

Henrich said Viscardi should not have mocked him in front of a meeting.

Additionally, Henrich said that he had an issue with Viscardi because when his son won a state championship, he refused to put his son’s name on a firehouse sign.

Viscardi responded that he put Henrich’s request to a vote among firehouse members and they turned down the request. He also said that he abstained from that vote.

Henrich said that he felt “the lowest thing Mr. Viscardi had done” was that he did not bring Santa Claus to his house at Christmas to visit his children ever since a fight about a firefighter application.

When Viscardi asked if the lack of appointment was a personal vendetta, Henrich said he felt that “we” needed someone separate to do the position.

Additionally, a debate developed between Henrich and Viscardi over whether the forest fire should have been declared an emergency.

Henrich told the Pine Barrens Tribune the week following Viscardi’s phone call to this newspaper that Viscardi’s removal was not a reflection on his performance, but of the township committee’s belief that he was simply spread too thin. Henrich, when asked to elaborate, said that Viscardi, in addition to his township fire chief and OEM duties, also has fire affiliations on both the county and state levels, including a state Forest Fire Service position.

He also contradicted Viscardi’s position that

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

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Herndon and DeGroff were unaware of the switch.

A few days after a story appeared in the Pine Barrens Tribune with Henrich’s rebuttal, DeGroff called this newspaper.

DeGroff said Henrich was wrong on virtually everything he had said.

He said he and Herndon were unaware of the impeding change until it was announced at the meeting.

“It was solely the mayor’s decision,” he said.

“We had nothing to do with it. We learned about it only at the meeting and we both disagreed with it.”

DeGroff also said that he had never met Skleros until the March 29 township committee meeting.

During a May 4 township committee meeting, the two men discussed their disagreement over Viscardi.

Henrich said he informed both DeGroff and Herndon about his decision to replace Viscardi during a Feb. 22 budget meeting. He said both committeemen didn’t say anything about his decision.

“The reason I replaced Shawn was the disaster from the fire last year,” Henrich said.

“No one told me what was going on. Mr. (Wayne) Morris (deputy OEM coordinator at the time) didn’t know what to do. That is why the change. If there is a fire, we need the firefighters to fight fire. Tom has the experience.

My decision. That’s the facts.”

Henrich also pointed to a March 29 resolution which appointed Skleros to the position. The resolution was passed, 3-0, according to the meeting minutes signed by Brown.

DeGroff, in the phone interview preceding the meeting, said under state law the mayor has the explicit authority to appoint the municipal emergency management coordinator.

According to the state Office of Emergency Management website, “In every municipality of the state, the mayor shall appoint a municipal emergency management coordinator from among the residents of the municipality.”

Brown, when asked by this newspaper to explain the situation, said that the mayor has sole authority to appoint an emergency management coordinator, but that a resolution from the committee was needed to approve the salary for the emergency management coordinator.

After Henrich spoke, DeGroff said that the mayor was correct that the decision to replace Viscardi came out during the Feb. 22 budget meeting.

“You didn’t tell us,” he said. “It accidentally came out. You said you met with (Steve) King (county emergency management coordinator).

You should have let us know. It would have been nice if you sat with us and discussed it.”

The disagreement marked the beginning of a nasty primary in which resident Tom Getz, a vocal critic of the plan to sell the inn, challenged DeGroff.

In a twist that only added fuel to the fire, residents learned that Grove, the historical society president, decided not to hold an annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Finger pointing began almost immediately.

On social media, Henrich was accused of canceling the ceremony because it would have given DeGroff free publicity as it is tradition that the incumbent running for re-election attend the ceremony.

Grove offered different reasoning for the cancellation. She said the historical society

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published their intentions on Facebook and in the Chatsworth Chat, a monthly community newsletter produced by the historical society.

“The Woodland Historical Society has been holding the Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery for 15 years,” she said.

“Unfortunately, this year, we didn’t have enough members available to participate.”

The cancellation left numerous residents fuming.

“Due to the amount of phone calls the township is receiving, be advised that the Woodland Township Historical Society has made the decision to lay wreaths on all veterans graves this year instead of hosting the Memorial Day celebration,” the township wrote on social media amidst the firestorm.

Less than a week later, it was announced that the festival committee, instead of the historical society, was going to hold the ceremony.

“Please be advised that the festival committee will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at the Chatsworth Cemetery on Sunday, May 28 at 11:30 a.m.,” the township wrote on social media. “All township veterans’ names will be read. All are welcome to attend.”

Giamalis organized the ceremony and discussed her efforts in an interview with this newspaper.

“I had heard a rumor that there wasn’t going to be anything here because there was no interest,” said Giamalis in an interview.

“My feeling was: if there’s one person that’s interested, that’s enough to do this.”

After a brief introduction before a group of approximately 20 people, DeGroff read from a list of names of residents and locals who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Giamalis said that the idea of the short ceremony was just to pay respect to veterans and that the holiday’s purpose is often forgotten.

“As far as I’m concerned, Memorial Day is a day to honor all of our veterans and what they’ve done for our country,” she said. “I don’t want that to slide under (the rug) with picnics and going to the beach and that kind of stuff.

We have to remember why we’re here and why we’re having this holiday.”

Politics turned even more contentious after the Memorial Day ceremony in this normally-quiet town.

Getz’s challenge of DeGroff, first elected to the township committee in 2009, fueled claims of political retaliation.

The uproar grew louder after an open letter penned by Getz appeared in the Chatsworth Chat.

The letter, which levied attacks against DeGroff, was published just days before the June 6 primary. The newsletter is printed monthly and therefore the timing didn’t allow DeGroff to have a chance to respond prior to the election.

Additionally, for reasons that are unclear, DeGroff was exiled to column six on the ballot, the political equivalent of being sent to Siberia.

Several residents, angered by what they had seen, contacted the Pine Barrens Tribune. Most of the residents who contacted this newspaper are known adversaries of Henrich.

Henrich also serves as the municipal chair of the township’s Republican Committee.

The foes of Henrich said that Getz’s “last minute” candidacy, the timing of the letter and ballot positioning was Henrich’s attempt to dump DeGroff from the committee.

“That is not true,” said Getz in an interview with this newspaper. “I decided over a year ago that I was going to run because my taxes have

gone up three-fold.”

He said that he submitted his election paperwork to the county at the end of March or during the beginning of April, “before the dispute with Viscardi.”

“I ran because of the fact that the township wastes money,” Getz said. “The township tried to sell the White Horse Inn to the Cranberry Festival Committee below its market value and the building has a $90,000 lien. They also were putting money into a building (Chatsworth firehouse) that they did not own.”

In the March 23 executive session in which Viscardi and Henrich went at it, the meeting minutes show that DeGroff commented that Henrich is accusing Viscardi of doing the same thing Henrich is doing—having someone run against him. According to the meeting minutes, “Henrich confirmed that yes, he is having Tom Getz run against Committeeman DeGroff and wants to say it to your face.”

However, as May 4 executive session minutes show, Brown’s notetaking of Henrich’s comments pertaining to Getz was changed after a protest by DeGroff and Herndon. As Herndon protested the minutes, he said he felt there was a conscious decision to change the minutes.

Brown said she made a change because she thought she had misquoted Henrich because there was no tape recording. Henrich protested the override by DeGroff and Herndon and said that he said, “I wanted you to be the first (and) tell you to your face—Tom Getz is running against you.” during the March 29 executive session.

Getz’s letter charged DeGroff with agreeing to sell the White Horse Inn to the festival committee for $62,500, far below its market value. The letter also alleged that DeGroff wanted taxpayers to foot the bill for $75,000 for roof repairs to the firehouse.

The claims in the letter were rebutted

by Viscardi, Valentino and Giamalis in a joint interview with this newspaper after Getz’s letter appeared.

Giamalis said Henrich has referred to her as “evil” and “wicked.”

The Cranberry Festival began in 1987, with Giamalis taking leadership 10 years later.

She said needed permits for the festival are granted easily in some years, but can be difficult to get other years, with no explanation why.

Interestingly, Getz said the third reason why he chose to run for office is because the festival committee is not charged a parade or permit fee each year for holding the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival.

“I believe she (Giamalis) should have been charged,” he said. “Taxpayers do not receive any fair shake or benefits for having the Cranberry Festival here.”

He decried the fact that township residents have to foot the bill for the festival cleanup, including the trash that is left behind by attendees.

Getz’s letter was, however, only one of three that stirred the pot.

A second, anonymous letter was distributed throughout the township and left in Chatsworth Chat boxes. A copy was also sent to the Pine Barrens Tribune.

In this letter, the writer said he was “disturbed by certain statements and actions” of Henrich.

The writer accused the mayor of pleading guilty to waste of wildlife in Iowa. The writer also accused Henrich of having his hunting license suspended for one year and being thrown off New Jersey conservation land.

“This is a criminal act and should have prevented Henrich from running for political office in New Jersey,” the anonymous writer wrote.

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The letter writer also criticized Henrich’s stance in the roofing dispute, accused him of spending $20,000 in taxpayer dollars for attorney fees over the inn dispute, and accused the mayor of charging people to park in a public street during the Cranberry Festival.

A third letter, penned by DeGroff, was distributed throughout town in response to Getz’s letter.

DeGroff wrote six paragraphs defending his decision to sell the White Horse Inn. In his defense of the inn vote, he said the festival committee signed a 30-year lease. Another two paragraphs defended his vote to fund roofing repairs for the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. “Mr. Getz states that I wanted to use $75,000 of taxpayers’ funding to repair the roof of the firehouse,” he said. “He states that upon further investigation it was found that the township does not own the building. The fact is the committee has always known this. In fact, we looked into taking over ownership of the building several years ago and it was the recommendation of our attorney that we don’t.

The reason that the committee was going to fund the roof is because we own the equipment and the roof was in such bad shape that equipment was being damaged and had to be moved out of the building.”

The only contested municipal primary election in our coverage area was a nail-biter until the bitter end.

DeGroff narrowly defeated his Republican challenger, Getz, by four votes for a three-year term.

All of the ingredients came together for a wave of anger which was expressed during a June 28 township committee meeting. At first there was some glimmer of hope that the tide had been turned. But that hope quickly faded.

“I want to first and foremost say congratulations to Bill for winning the primary,” Henrich said. “It was nasty. It is time to move on. It is time to start working together and face the issues in this town instead of the little baby stuff that has been going around— rumors and lies. Facebook (posting) is getting out of hand. If anybody has a question for me that has anything to do with this town, I will gladly sit with you.”

Henrich then went through some of the events that had taken place leading up to the election.

“First and foremost, the lease on the festival is a 15-year lease with a 15-year renewal,” he said. “It is not 30 years. Fact.”

Henrich reiterated his stance on the emergency management choice.

“Secondly, the media wrote for the second time that I had Billy and Mark’s approval to change the OEM director,” he said.

“False, false, false. I said Billy and Mark did not agree with me, but they were aware of it for five weeks in advance. If I need to repeat that, I will repeat it.”

The mayor responded to the charges levied against him on social media about the cancellation of the Memorial Day ceremony.

“Another lie: the Memorial Day event,” Henrich said. “The Memorial Day event has been held by the historical society since I’ve been on this committee. Every year, one of the three of us goes up there to support the vets and shows up at the dedication—from the township committee. This year was Billy’s turn. Next year is Mark’s turn. The following year is me.

“The historical society decided that they didn’t have a lot of members this year and they are getting older. They decided to post some wreaths up there. They put some nice flags down to honor the vets and that is all they could

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do this year. Now some coward on Facebook said I canceled the event. I would love for that person to come talk to me and say that in a meeting like a man. I didn’t cancel a Memorial Day event. I have more respect for veterans than anybody out here. My grandfather was a veteran.”

He received applause from several members sitting in the audience.

Henrich addressed the letter distributed throughout town which personally attacked his character.

“Another person, that may or may not be in the audience, wrote a letter and illegally put it in the Chatsworth Chat,” he said. “This person wrote I was a criminal. Let me tell you something—I am not perfect. I am far from it. I got a ticket in Iowa deer hunting. It is going to take a hell of a lot more to get rid of me than a ticket. I do a lot for this town and I’ll continue doing it.”

The mayor discussed his role as the head of the township’s GOP. “Another lie that came up is that I had Tom Getz run against Billy,” Henrich said. “You can ask Tom Getz tonight. Tom Getz was ready to run for the position last year. This disagreement Billy and I had over OEM had nothing to do with Tom Getz running. That’s a fact.”

Henrich also discussed Giamalis’ claim that she has difficulty obtaining permits for the festival.

“Since I’ve been on this committee, there was one year where there was a discrepancy because they didn’t put their financial audit in,” he said.

“Other than that, there has never been a discrepancy. They always get their permit.

Fact.”

DeGroff, who spoke before Henrich during committee reports and didn’t bring up the election, tried to respond. However, he was shut down by Henrich.

“You’ve had your time to talk!” Henrich said.

“Open to the public! Meeting is open to the public!”

Getz was the first to speak. He delivered a scathing congratulatory speech aimed at DeGroff.

“Mr. Degroff, I am here to formally congratulate you on the victory,” Getz said. “I think the final count was four votes. Hopefully, it is an eye opener for you and Mr. Herndon that people in the town aren’t happy with what is going on. Put the petty BS behind you—‘I don’t like you, you don’t like me.’ This petty crap has got to get behind us. Work for the town. You are elected by the town, so work for the town. Stop being puppets for certain people who are sitting behind me and some who are not here. Speak up and do what you have to do to represent the town and not the people who are manipulating.”

Resident Terry Sheerin expressed her disappointment in the events that have unfolded.

“It was a dirty, dirty election,” she said. “I was disappointed in everybody. You gentlemen are here for us—the township. We are a little township. We are a nice township. People drive through it and say ‘What a cute township.’ It is. We have so much potential. The infighting was so bitter and so heinous. I couldn’t believe it. If we can all get on the same page and work for the township and the people that live here, I think we will all be in better shape.”

Cantafio, who appeared to be still bitter over his loss to Henrich last year, delivered sarcastic remarks aimed at Henrich and Getz.

“Congratulations to Committeeman DeGroff,” he said. “The column six stuff was interesting. I am kind of surprised that the

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Burlington County Republicans colluded with us on that. Quite interesting. That is not the first time we have taken a run at you. Last year, we investigated your pension and spent $1,100 in township tax money—which to me seemed very much like a campaign expense. I think you should reimburse the township…mayor.”

Cantafio asked Getz if he was being looked into by the township for the violation of building code and property-tax fraud.

People began shouting in the room, “Don’t answer!”

The two men exchanged words with each other, but they were inaudible, even by playing back the meeting audio maintained by the township.

The only thing that could be heard through the exchange was Cantafio saying, “That is nice to know it is a rumor.”

But perhaps the most riveting development yet in this political disagreement came when resident Marvin Matlock, Getz’s father-in-law and self-described friend of Henrich, asked Township Solicitor William Burns to outline what the township’s handbook defined as nepotism.

“The township has adopted a personnel committee and there is a nepotism aspect in the personnel manual,” Burns said. “The manual states that no relative can be employed in the township where another relative has a supervisory capacity over them.”

Matlock thanked Burns, but didn’t elaborate on why he was asking.

But the reason became obvious moments later when Getz spoke again.

“Correct me if I am wrong, Mr. DeGroff,” Getz said. “Isn’t your wife employed by you as the secretary of the planning board?”

DeGroff said his wife, Debbie, is not employed by him.

“I didn’t appoint her,” William DeGroff said. “She is appointed by the Mayor and Committeeman Herndon. I recused myself from anything that deals with her. As a matter of fact, the Mayor appointed my sister one time.

Again, I recused myself.”

Getz called for his former opponent to make a decision on the spot.

“So now that it has been brought up to the public—I feel you should honestly abide by the rule and you or your wife should resign from the position,” Getz said.

William DeGroff asked for Burns’ recommendation.

“As previously discussed, your wife is currently in violation of the policy,” Burns said.

The room, which had a pep-rally feel to it throughout the night, got silent.

“Then my wife will resign immediately,” William DeGroff said.

The audience erupted with people clapping, some shouting and others cursing.

Sheerin, a 32-year resident, returned to the microphone and was livid with how the meeting was being conducted.

“This is exactly what is happening here,” she said. “This division is not going to stop unless we dig ourselves out of this s--- storm. It is not going to get any better. It is going to have one side of the audience clapping. Is that something new? I missed a few meetings being sick and I didn’t realize that we were allowed to do that in a municipal meeting.”

A woman in the audience shouted that the clapping “was not new.” Sheerin chastised Burns for not maintaining control of the meeting as the solicitor.

“How long are we (going to act) like fifth graders in a parking lot?” she said. “This is crazy. I lived here 32 years and never saw such dissension and it is frustrating to me. I had a lady friend of mine come and buy a house

here, an oncology nurse, and she was told by some little old man in the post office ‘You don’t want to move here. This is the Wild West.’ How can we encourage people to come to our town, which I just gave praise to because I love living here?

“How can we do better? That is what I am asking you gentlemen to do. How can we bring the township together instead of being Hillary and Trump, for God sake? We are such a small player in a big game. I would appreciate if maybe the focus could be on that.

How can we do better for what we have here?

We are a very special community and it is falling by the wayside. We have foreclosures and tax problems. We need to do better and we can. I am asking you gentlemen to concentrate on that because if it is going to be like this until January—it is frightening.”

None of the committeemen or fighting parties responded to her question.

Resident Linda Morris asked Burns to elaborate on how Debbie DeGroff or William DeGroff was in violation of the nepotism policy.

“One relative would be responsible for auditing the work of the other,” Burns said. “In the current situation, Mr. DeGroff, as a committee person, as well as one of the members of the planning board, has the authority to appoint, remove, discipline or evaluate a spouse. As such, as she sits as secretary of the planning board and is an employee of the township, where Mr. DeGroff serves as a member of the governing body, she is in violation (of the policy).”

Debbie DeGroff, who was in the audience, decided to speak and delivered emotional remarks.

“Why did you ask me to take the job, Mr. Mayor?” she said. “Why? In fact, you basically begged me two times ‘Please Deb, take the job,’ and I have done a great job, haven’t I?” Henrich said the committee didn’t know the township had a nepotism policy until about a month ago.

“You’ve done a great job,” Henrich said.

“You’ve done a great job [he repeated again].”

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Henrich told the Pine Barrens Tribune on July 6 that Debbie DeGroff did not resign as far as he knew.

Debbie and William DeGroff did not return several calls requesting comment for this story.

An email seeking comment from Debbie DeGroff, sent to her township email address, was rejected with a return message that said “the email does not exist.”

On July 10, Brown said that Debbie DeGroff provided a verbal resignation, but that she was still waiting for a written resignation.

Interestingly, before Sheerin spoke for the second time, DeGroff said the reason for a delay in the appointment of a deputy emergency management coordinator was because of another issue presented by the nepotism policy.

The Pine Barrens Tribune has learned that Skleros asked his wife, MaryBeth, to be the deputy emergency management coordinator.

Brown confirmed that the township committee tabled a resolution to appoint MaryBeth Skleros in May. The decision to table the resolution was unanimous.

The township clerk was also asked why MaryBeth Skleros’ picture was posted on the township website under emergency management, listing her as the deputy emergency management coordinator, despite the fact that the resolution was tabled.

“She is not official,” Brown said. “I will have to remove it.”

The committee in June entertained another Skleros pick for the position, Justin Wozniak.

Action on his appointment was also tabled, but a reason why has not yet been given.

Wozniak’s name is also listed on the township website on the emergency management page.

“He is not official,” Brown said.

Under state law, each emergency management coordinator shall appoint one and may appoint more than one deputy emergency management coordinators with the approval of the mayor. Wherever possible, such deputies shall be appointed from among the salaried officers of the municipality.

OVERHAUL PAGE 2

that did were not up to date.

“We now have a whole new set of township maps,” he said.

Skleros has been reviewing the response to the Butler Place Fire. Since his appointment, sensitive to the political firestorm that has ensued over Viscardi’s removal (see front page story), he has been emphasizing that the two men are working together and not against each other.

Viscardi, while no longer the emergency management coordinator, is the fire chief for the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. “We are looking at, not what did we do wrong, but what would we like to do better,” he said.

Improved communication has emerged as a priority.

Skleros is investigating reverse 911 technologies, or a system that allows authorities to notify large groups of township residents in the event of an emergency.

Most towns in the state have already put a reverse 911 system in place.

“Swift 911…is free…and residents would go to sign-up (to receive) declared emergencies— they would get a phone call or an immediate message,” he said. “Different sections of town could be called depending on where the emergency is. I think that is a pretty good thing and it is free.”

Henrich said lightheartedly that Skleros should remember that being a municipal emergency management coordinator is a part-time job.

It was a veiled reference to the fact that the person who holds the position is considered to be part-time municipal employee and receives $2,571.87 annually.

“What this job is—I am not a firefighter, I am not an EMT—I am somebody that looks at all of those groups and I take care of logistics, resources, communication, and things like that,” Skleros said.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm and Food File

By Alan Guebert

Alan Guebert is an award-winning agriculture columnist who was raised on a 720-acre, 100-cow southern Illinois dairy farm.

‘Done Reading Your Rubbish…’

Six months may have passed since readers last another newspaper not only offered me “two got their say in this space but nothing during cents worth” of professional advice, it also that time has mellowed their views of this offered my oldest brother and me some career effort, the words they use to explain those advice.

“Maybe it’s time the ‘Guebert Boys’ retired,” views, and some of their more colorful suggestions on where they think I should store noted the letter writer, taking me to task for a late January column and, coincidentally, a my ink pens.

For example, a March column outlining how missive that my brother, a State Farm group Congress’s first effort to reform the Affordable officeholder, had written that was published the Care Act, or Obamacare, would impact rural same week in the same newspaper.

Two brothers publishing separate columns America wasn’t well received by Kevin B. “Just got done reading your rubbish on rural in the same newspaper the same week get one health care. Your left-leaning ignorance is letter that objects to both them and their columns has to be some sort of record, right? shining thru again!” his email began.

A mid-June column that took exception to His solution to my (and, later, the Congressional Budget Office’s) deep concerns President Donald J. Trump’s withdrawal from about the first House rewrite was as simple as the Paris climate accord brought more than a it was straightforward: “Don’t you worry your few warmly-worded emails from readers. One little pouty head off; the adults, the opened with “Mr. Guebert, are you so foolish to Republicans, … are running the Country buy into the biggest sham in all of history?” and ended, “Surely you are smarter than to be taken now…”

Another late winter column, this one on the in by this.”

Another, in part, read, “I’d like to tell you proposed (now approved) merger between three upper Midwest Farm Credit lenders, brought what I really think of your (Paris) column… but emails, editorials, and telephone calls from I cannot without my blood pressure rising.”

At least not all the mail was written with one Delaware to Nebraska. Many began like one letter to the editor published in the March 21 eye on the woodshed. Most arrived carrying kind praise and warm compliments.

Delmarva Farmer: One letter, written in print so small and so “I am writing in response to Alan Guebert’s poorly researched column regarding Farm perfect that, at first glance, it appeared Credit,” wrote a boss at MidAtlantic Farm mechanical, begins “Dear Alan,” and quickly Credit. “Guebert,” he claimed, “has gotten all adds, “I hope it is OK to say ‘Dear Alan’ instead his ‘facts’ from two people” who are “paid to… of ‘Mr. Guebert’—I feel like you are a propagate false ‘facts’ about the Farm Credit neighbor after reading many of your writings in System to eliminate us as a competitor in local our newspaper.”

Sure, it’s okay, neighbor; and it’s an honor. markets.”

One Nebraska emailer, like many others If true, those two paid propagators are even worse at their jobs than I am at mine because over the years, wondered how a member of the the Farm Credit System (FCS)—despite “LCMS”—Lutheran Church Missouri Synod— all our “false” propagating—is one of the can “have the political views that you express in fastest-growing lenders in the world. In 2013, your columns. I was wondering, are you still a FCS reported $247.5 billion in assets. In 2016, member of the LCMS?” Yes, of course, brother; and, oh, go in peace. its listed assets were $320.1 billion, a $72.5 Before you go, though, keep those cards, billion jump in just three years.

Another published letter to the editor in letters, and emails coming. © 2017 AG COMM. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own views and do not reflect the view of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

Burlington County Farm Fair

By Jennifer Peacock

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SPRINGFIELD—One of the county’s biggest events is coming to the Burlington County Fairgrounds.

The Burlington County Farm Fair will be held July 18 through 22. This year’s theme is “Red, White & Blue fly over the Farm Fair View!” Events start at 10 a.m. on July 18 at the north show tent and wrap up at 11 p.m. on July 22.

Visitors can see vendor displays and go on rides from 4 to 11 p.m. on July 18 to 21, and 1 to 11 p.m. on July 22.

4-H competitions and other animal shows are held during the morning and early afternoon.

Parking is located across from the fair for $10 per day, per car. A special $25 pass for multiple days is also available for purchase.

Guests should see parking attendants for details. Military members get 50 percent off parking with ID. There are more parking details at burlingtoncountyfarmfair.com/information.html The Burlington County Farm Fair, Inc., a nonprofit organization, promotes agriculture, social life and youth. The public is educated about agriculture through exhibits, livestock and farm products.

The farm fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year to the fairgrounds. Guests can see horses, cows, rabbits, chickens, sheep, goats and other animals that are on display each day. 4-H members, who hope to take home blue ribbons, show most of the animals.

On July 21, area dairy farmers will compete in a large dairy cow show. Visitors can also

watch dairy cows being milked.

The public can enjoy daily horse shows, which are always a major attraction.

Guests can relive the old days with steam engines and antique farm equipment and; watch the beloved tractor pull in a dedicated tractor pull arena. Children can participate in becoming a “Farmer for a Day” as well.

Events will include: egg to chick hatching; children’s scavenger hunt; recycled scarecrow contest display; Burlington County history tent; a visit from Beep Beep the Clown Tuesday through Saturday evenings; bubble ballgames all day, every day; fireball mountain laser tag, dusk to closing; FFA and Poultry Club presentations; and Happy 20th Anniversary to the kiss the pig contest.

Other events will include: horse shows, 4-H events, small animal displays to see and touch, dog shows, home arts and crafts, commercial vendors, food concessions, live music and shows, amusement rides, pony rides, horse pull, laser tag and bubble ball.

The evenings will be filled with music shows, the men’s spike-driving contest, the women’s skillet throws, 4-H cloggers, Future Farm Fair Queen Parade, Farm Fair Queen Pageant as well as tractor pulls for children and adults.

A full list of events can be found at burlingtoncountyfarmfair.com/default.html Photos of the fair will be available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Burlington County Farm Fair is located at 1990 Jacksonville-Jobstown Road, Springfield, at the corner of Route 206 South and Jacksonville-Jobstown Road.

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

AUTOMOTIVE New Vehicle Buying Guide Compiled by Motor Matters

E-mail Questions To: info@motormatters.com Mail Questions To: PO Box 3305, Wilmington, DE 19804

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country Volvo Cars reveals its adventurous side with the new 2017 V90 Cross Country. Since the introduction of the first Cross Country almost 20 years ago, Volvo has become synonymous with the rugged all-road, all-weather product category, with a growing stable of Cross Country models.

Volvo’s Cross Country wagons fulfil an increasingly important part of the Swedish automaker’s product portfolio as luxury car buyers seek out a more experienced-based lifestyle that occasionally takes them off the beaten track.

With Volvo Cars’ Scalable Product Architecture providing the underpinnings, the 2017 V90 Cross Country has undergone rigorous testing to ensure that it can survive the extremes in which it will ultimately find itself.

From secret testing facilities in the frozen north of Sweden, where temperatures regularly hit sub-zero to the searing desert heat of Arizona, where Volvo Cars performs its high temperature testing program, the V90 Cross

Country is built to last.

With a design that clearly stands out from the crowd, the V90 Cross Country’s rugged character belies a sumptuous interior that delivers a level of luxury uncommon in the segment, combining all the benefits of the connectivity and entertainment features that were launched with the new S90 and V90, including a high-end sound system by Bowers & Wilkins.

The V90 Cross Country’s exterior design cues communicate the powerful and dynamic capability that the car exemplifies, while offering the flexibility to choose from both rugged and elegant expressions.

The eagerly awaited V90 Cross Country completes Volvo’s 90 Series line-up, while significant improvements have been made to both the S60 and V60 Polestars over the 2016 model, most notably a 362 horsepower version of Volvo’s Drive-E powertrain.

Base model estimated mpg: 22/30 Estimated starting price: $55,300

Compiled by Motor Matters.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, July 15, 2017