Pine Barrens Tribune June 5, 2021-June 11, 2021

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This project was supported, in part by grants from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions.

This project was supported, in part by grants from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL or CMS policy.

Department of was Health and Human Grantees projects under government sponsorship to express freely(CMS) their of findings conclusions.

This project supported, in partServices. by grants from the U.S.undertaking Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centersare for encouraged Medicare & Medicaid Services the U.S.and Department Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL or CMS policy.

of Health and Human Services. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL or CMS policy.

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Vol. 5 – No.Accommodations 35 ♦ The News Leader of the Pines June - June 11, 2021

AGE 6 SE E P

Longstanding Tradition of Pine Barrens Festival Hosted by Area Church Discontinued by Pastor

‘REPREHENSIBLE’

Priest, Despite Acknowledging Event Served as ‘Hallmark’ for Over 30 Years, Says Parish Must Become Self-sufficient; Attorney Speaks of Volunteer Shortage

This project was supported, in part by grants from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department This project was supported, in part by grants from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or of Health and Human Services. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL or CMS policy. opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL or CMS policy.

9731 CS_PBT_Full Page.indd 1

9731 CS_PBT_Full Page.indd 1

By Douglas D. Melegari

1/22/20 12:04 PM

1/22/20 12:04 PM

Staff Writer

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Woodland Township Municipal Building.

Woodland Office Clerk Caught on Tape Disparaging Cancer Patient and While ‘Action Has Been Taken with Respect to the Employee,’ She Is Still on the Job, with Town Declining to Offer Public Apology

Solicitor Claims at Meeting ‘Allegations’ Were Made Against the Employee About ‘Criminal Record,’ Adding She Cleared Subsequent Background Check Get a life!”

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A municipal employee of Woodland Township has reportedly been the subject of an “action” following a verbal altercation with a resident at the Woodland Township Municipal Building on May 4, with a partial audio recording from that day being released to this newspaper by the resident in which the employee is heard disparaging her terminal cancer diagnosis.

“A woman who is dying from cancer, who has her nose in everybody’s business – you should be kissing the friggin’ ground you are still alive!” Township Office Clerk Karen Winks (referred to by locals as the deputy township clerk) can be heard shouting to Resident Terry Sheerin. “OK?!

But no! You continue to put your nose in everybody’s business, do all kinds of OPRAs (Open Public Records Act requests). You have nothing else to do!

Sheerin, who told this newspaper that she had undergone 19 surgeries so far in her battle to stay alive and was administered last rites on three separate occasions since her 2015 diagnosis with Stage IV cancer, declared after a May 26 telephonic Woodland Township Committee meeting that she was releasing the recording because, after listening to

TABERNACLE—A beloved tradition that took place for 31 years, a muchanticipated summertime event by locals that spoke to the areas’ culture and identity, celebrating many of the local Burlington County communities that comprise of the Pine Barrens, has officially come to an end following the Coronavirus pandemic.

Fr. Andrew Jamieson, pastor of Holy Eucharist Roman Catholic Church in Tabernacle Township, announced in a recent, but undated letter to parishioners posted on the church’s website that he is “making the very difficult decision to discontinue the Pine Barrens Festival going forward.”

Jamieson, who wrote that “because of the current challenges, we have to cancel the 2021 Pine Barrens Festival,” added the cancelation of the event for this year “reinforces our need to move away from the Pine Barrens Festival and other fundraisers to fund the mission and vision of our church.”

Instead, he contended, the church “needs to become self-sufficient through parishioner support.” The festival was reportedly initiated decades ago, in part, because the church needed to rely on more than just parishioner support to keep it alive.

“This decision does appear

See CLERK/ Page 16

See FESTIVAL/ Page 17

INDEX Business Directory... 20

Local News................. 2

Job Board................. 23

Marketplace.................22

Worship Guide.......... 19

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Saturday, June 5, 2021

Woodland Mayor Unleashes Diatribe Against Newspaper Over Coverage of Chief’s Absence, Communication Issues

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Fire Company Leader Attends His First Committee Meeting of Year After Article He Didn’t Submit Reports, Return Inquiries About Fire; Residents Left ‘Disturbed’ By Remarks from Mayor, Call for Changes

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By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WO O DL A N D —W i l l i a m “ B i l l y ” DeGroff, a committeeman in Woodland Township since 2009 (who has served as mayor of the municipality since 2018), when facing a tough re-election battle in 2017, campaigned on unity, improving dialogue with residents and bringing the township together after years of fierce political infighting.

He even at one point expressed dismay with his immediate mayoral predecessor’s attacks on this newspaper.

But the current mayor, whose tenure has been dogged by a number of blunders since mid-2019, stepped on his own message again May 26, by launching an “angry” diatribe against this publication for its recent coverage of Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS company chief, Shawn Viscardi.

Th is newspap er had repor ted two weeks ago that Viscardi was absent from all committee meetings during January, February, March and April of this year – in addition to reportedly not submitting monthly reports for the governing body’s March and April meetings (despite being listed on the agendas, a monthly tradition).

And, as also mentioned in that report, when this reporter attempted to contact the chief on numerous occasions via both phone and email over the course of a week to obtain public information about a May 15 blaze at an apartment near Mayo’s Halfway House on Route 72, he did not respond.

This reporter’s fourth attempt to reach the chief, which was via a cellphone number he previously provided to this newspaper, had revealed that it had since been assigned to someone else, who noted that she was going to “try to find a phone number for him because I have been getting a lot of important calls for him.”

After this newspaper mentioned to Township Clerk Maryalice Brown on May 18 that the fire chief had not responded to requests for comment on the blaze, an email was sent to this newspaper from Township Solicitor William Burns on May 19, in which he contended that he was both the solicitor and public information officer for “the township,” and to contact him with questions about the fire.

Burns, however, also did not return messages left at his office and on his cellphone for the story.

New Jersey State Police, instead, provided this newspaper with basic information about the conflagration. But the state police were limited in what they could say about what transpired, as fire specifics traditionally come from the local fire chief.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Additionally, Burns, as this newspaper reported, had not been designated at the time as a public information officer, nor had it ever been divulged by the municipality that such a position existed in its organization.

Brown, in a May 19 response to a May 18 Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request seeking an ordinance that established such a post, wrote, “There is no ordinance. It is part of Mr. Burn’s responsibilities as the township solicitor, as per the township committee and administrator.”

Gover n ing body me eting m inutes, however, make no mention of those duties ever being assigned to Burns, at least during its noticed meetings.

It wasn’t until the May 26 committee meeting that Burns was officially designated by the governing body as Woodland’s public information officer, though, at that time, he contended “he was historically advised” that the solicitor serves as such.

Burns left the Woodland solicitor post in 2020 after switching law firms, but was brought back to the post this year.

DeGroff, at this latest committee meeting, instead of demanding accountability for the lack of communication, came to the defense of the chief and bashed the “local newspaper,” though not by name, contending it published “a horrendous article.”

Of course, it was only this newspaper that had published a report about the chief, as it is the only publication to provide hyper-local news of Woodland affairs.

The mayor, who admitted “this is really getting me angry” as he raised his voice in launching the diatribe, kept contradicting himself, contending in one breath “I don’t read the paper,” but then noting “I read an article in the paper” and “I was reading the paper about our fire chief.”

“The things that were said about him … were horrible,” DeGroff maintained. “Our fire company, and our EMS people, work their butts off. And they put their safety in jeopardy so many times this year. And to have a report put in that paper, and to put our chief down, is disgraceful. That is one of the reasons why we now use Mr. Burns as our public information officer because of the untruths that are printed in this newspaper and the rumors on social media.”

DeGroff added that the newspaper “constantly puts our town down and makes us look like a bunch of hillbillies,” contending “that is why I don’t read it.”

The Tribune, however, never put down the fire chief, nor did it ever mention the fire company volunteers, but rather reported the facts about his absences, not submitting See MAYOR/ Page 15

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Grassy Lake Road Repaving Project Progressing, $3.3 Million Budget with Flat Tax Rate Approved

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—A project to repave the entire length of Grassy Lake Road, which is considered the worst of all the roads in Shamong Township by officials and has been the subject of many past complaints, is progressing.

The Shamong Township Committee, during its regular May meeting, awarded a $287,400 contract to Arawak Paving, of Hammonton, to conduct Phase II of the resurfacing project.

The firm was one of five bidders, according to Township Administrator Susan Onorato.

The tow nsh ip rec eived a $248,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to conduct Phase II, and will make up the difference of $39,400 “from the current budget,” Onorato noted.

The municipality has also received a $210,000 grant from the NJDOT for Phase III of improvements to Grassy Lake Road, and will be going out to bid shortly for that next phase.

Township Engineer Dante Guzzi said he is optimistic that the township will award Phase III this summer and “get it done” around late summer or early fall.

However, he said there will need to be a Phase IV to finish the entire length of the road, and while the township intends to apply for additional grant funding, there is some uncertainty about how much will be awarded given the Coronavirus pandemic’s impact on state finances.

“We will be crossing over Stokes Road with this latest phase, and head towards Atsion Road,” Guzzi said. “We definitely need a Phase IV, and hopefully that will get us to Atsion Road.”

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Upon competition of Grassy Lake Road, Onorato contended that “the next road that needs attention” is Atsion Road.

“That is a big, long multi-year project as well,” said Guzzi, with Onorato adding that the last time the road was resurfaced, it had to be done in “13 sections” and there were some years the township did not receive a grant to do the work.

Motorists can also expect that several municipal roads will be restriped, with the committee during its April regular meeting awarding Zone Striping, Inc., of Glassboro, $29,113 to do 264,672 linear feet of striping work. Painting of “25 MPH legends” in some areas will cost the township an additional $200.

A roof leak in the municipal building, which Onorato said was the result of drains failing, will also be addressed for at least $2,300, the committee decided in May. While the township is 10 years into a 20year warranty, she said, the manufacturer said the issue is not covered by it. The leak, she noted, is in the area of the building where the committee holds its in-person meetings.

The committee also decided during its May meeting to award a $20,000 contract for both a base and alternate bid to Nickolaus Construction Co, Inc., of Southampton, to convert two tennis courts at Dingletown Sports Complex into six pickleball courts.

Nickolaus competed with American Athletic and Turf, also of Southampton, for the job, which provided Shamong with a base bid of $27,500, Onorato said.

She added that the pickleball courts will be converted using “open space and recreation funds,” and therefore the project See REPAVING/ Page 13

♦ Page 3

Bass River Twp. Man Reaches 100th Birthday Milestone

By Douglas D. Melegari

retirement from carpentry, he began “a long career” of growing and selling produce at his home, the mayor said.

BASS RIVER—There are estimated to be “He began with strawberries and has been just over 53,000 centenarians in the United growing and selling lima beans for the past States, which make up just 0.0173 percent 28 years,” Buzby-Cope said. of the population.

The local centenarian is a lifelong member One of them is now in our backyard. and volunteer of Saint Paul’s United Howard S. Ware, a resident of the New Methodist Church, she Gretna section of Bass added.

River Township since “One of his job duties 1949, turned 100 years included ringing the bell old on May 23. for services,” Buzby-Cope The community said. “He enjoyed his work held a drive-by parade at the church so much that in celebration of the he would even bring his milestone, one of three very young neighbors with (with the others having him to help him ring the to be either having a bell on occasion.” cute baby or celebrating Ware, she noted, also you r 75t h m a r r i a g e has been a member and a n n i v e r s a r y) t h a t caretaker of the Janvier make you eligible to be Gun Cub for many years. featured on a Smucker’s “Howard has led a quiet jar du r i ng the NBC daily life characterized Today Show. by devotion to his faith, Ac cording to Bass fam ily and fr iends,” River Township Mayor Photo Provided B u z b y - C o p e s a i d .

Deborah Buzby-Cope, Ware has been “a good Howard S. Ware receives a copy of “Through hard work, neighbor to all” and a proclamation in honor of his 100th humility, and humor, he “many neighbors can tell birthday and contributions to the has influenced countless people by his life of stories of him assisting community during the last century. service to our country t h e m w it h bu i l d i ng and our community. He has lived through the houses, sheds, decks,” and sometimes most eventful century of this nation’s history without even being asked. and has been a model and inspiration to his Ware, she said, worked as a carpenter by family, neighbors, friends and all those who trade until his retirement in 1985. have known him.”

“His carpentry talents are on display in Ware, the recipient of a proclamation the house he now resides in, which he built from Bu zby-Cope, when reached for himself in 1950,” Buzby-Cope noted. c om ment on Ju ne 2 , said he get s a Ware, or iginally from Weekstow n, served in the Merchant Marines. After his newspaper on a daily basis.

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Two Washington Girls Commended for Quickly Dialing 911 After Finding Their Mom Suffering from Medical Emergency

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Two Shawnee Alumnus to Play Sister and Brother in Act Peering into Window of Italian Multi-Generational Family

Photo Provided

Two 1988 Shawnee High School graduates, actors Natalie Mazzu Stone and Tamer Tewfik, who will play sister and brother Gina and Vinny Scamorza in “La Famiglia” at South Jersey wineries this month.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Mayor Daniel James (left) honors Giana, 11, and Sadie, 10, children of Raymond and Vinny Bartling, with a proclamation for their quick actions in dialing help for their mom on May 25.

Also pictured is Barbara Cavileer, chief of the Green Bank Volunteer Ambulance Company. Not pictured is Giana, who was attending a class.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—Two children from Washington Township were honored by Mayor Daniel James and the Township Committee for “keeping their wits about them” and dialing 911 after arriving home from school last week to find their mother suffering from a medical emergency.

Giana, 11, and Sadie, 10, children of Raymond and Vinny Bartling and students at Mullica Township Middle School, found their mother suffering from the emergency at their home in the unit block of Turtle Creek Road on May 25 and called for an ambulance, according to James, who called what they did “an exceptional act.”

“They should be commended for their clear thinking on getting help for their mother,” James declared.

Barbara Cavileer, chief of the Green Bank Volunteer Ambulance Company, the responding entity, told this newspaper that while she could not reveal much about the incident due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), she could say that the girls’ mother speaks Spanish and her daughters served as interpreters for first responders upon their arrival.

“They knew what to do in an emergency,” Cavileer said. “I called their principal to commend them for what they did. The girls were calm throughout the entire ordeal.”

She added that their level of “maturity” was “just outstanding” to the point where they could serve as interpreters for their mother.

Raymond Bartling, when reached for comment on June 2, told this newspaper that he was “very proud” of his daughters for “doing exactly what I taught them to do” in an emergency, including to “assess the situation and make a correct decision.”

“As their father, and also from their mother’s opinion, we are both very proud of them,” he said. “We are very happy with how fast they acted, but also knowing they did what we taught them to do. We are very, very, very happy for the resolution.”

Raymond Bartling, who noted that he was at work when he first learned of the emergency, commended the local first responders for responding “very courageously and fast.”

“I am ver y pleased to rely on my community to respond to my needs in that sense,” Raymond Bartling said.

His wife, he said, “is doing fine,” but he declined to specify the nature of the medical emergency.

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By Judy Cohen Minches Staff Writer

MEDFORD—Two 1988 Shawnee High School graduates who met in their French and Shakespeare classes – and have stayed in touch ever since – will take center stage in the live theatrical production of “La Famiglia,” starting on June 6.

Actors Natalie Mazzu Stone and Tamer Tewfik will play sister and brother Gina and Vinny Scamorza at the Autumn Lake Winery in Williamstown, on June 6, 7 and 8 and at the Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery in Pilesgrove on July 18, 19 and 20.

“This play is a celebration of accepting people with differences,” said Tewfik of the comedic story of the fictional Scamorzas, an Italian multi-generational family, as they navigate their way through the ups and downs of their lives.

Tewfik, who has an Egyptian background, said he and his character of Vinny meshes well with Stone’s Sicilian heritage, given that their cultures share similar characteristics, one of those “being rambunctious and talking loudly.”

“You need to be my Vinny,” Stone told Tewfik, when asking him to join the cast. “You would be perfect because you understand the hot headedness of an Italian family.”

While this is the first time the two will share the spotlight together, they have always kept tabs on one another, despite following different paths for many years.

After high school, Stone went to culinary school; Tewfik headed to acting school.

She saw him perform in New York as a singer and musician and still has his first CD. Years later, he created Stone’s website for “Bella’s Biscotti” – named for her youngest child – which she operated out

of her home in Medford Lakes. He also hired her as an actress several years ago for one of the commercials that he created (with SQ Productions, his video and media production business) advertising a smart car, when he learned that she had taken acting classes and was going on auditions.

Stone then brought Tewfik onboard to “La Famiglia,” along with his two daughters, who will sing “Ave Maria” in the opening of the second scene.

Tewfik said his girls “love theatre,” as they were born into it, with parents who met when they were cast as husband and wife in “Camilla,” a show staged at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in 2001, before 9/11 rocked the country. One of their daughters, a freshman at Cherry Hill East, was also the lead in this year’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The role of Vinny has been a lot of fun, with a personality “like Archie Bunker” (from the long-running television show in the 1970s called “All in the Family”), and is extremely dramatic, angry and over-thetop, said Tewfik.

Playing opposite Stone as his sister Gina – his own sister passed away when she was just 21 – Tewfik has become immersed in the complex dynamics of the familial relationships on display. Gina and Vinny bicker a lot and he is relentless with teasing her, albeit with heartfelt affection. In one of the scenes, he is supposed to grab her head as if he is going to choke her, but he gives her a kiss on the cheek instead.

His take of Gina as a woman who has worked hard to get to where she is, despite the struggles along the way – as he sees Stone – is one born of respect and care.

See SHAWNEE/ Page 13

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♦ Page 5

Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Canceled for Second Year, Freedom Festival Denied Permit Amid Coronavirus Fears Governing Body Discussion Encapsulates Internal Struggles and Conflicts Some Towns Have About Reopening for Events; Farm Fair and Local Church Traditions Also Not Taking Place

Past Chatsworth Cranberry Festival scene.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—As several Burlington County towns emerged from the waning Coronavirus pandemic and reopened over the Memorial Day weekend with packed holiday gatherings (in addition to the scenes of crowded boardwalks at the shore being broadcast on local television outlets), some of them, including Woodland Township, known as the Capital of the Pines, will remain closed to public gatherings for the foreseeable future.

A local discussion held last week about reopening Woodland and allowing festivals encapsulated the anxiety, internal struggles and conflicts that some area municipalities and organizations are still having about reopening in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Despite Democratic Governor Phil Mur phy recently lifting the outdoor gathering capacity limitations, social distancing requirements and face mask mandates (in most cases) as vaccinations against the disease progress and related hospitalizations plummet, the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Committee has decided to cancel the famed event usually held the third week in October, for a second year in a row.

The festival, which would have marked its 37th year, typically draws more than 40,000 spectators over a two-day period, with up to 80,000 festivalgoers during terrific weather years, to the downtown Chatsworth section of Woodland to mark the local cranberry harvest – the third largest harvest in the U.S. The main attraction of the festival – besides countless offerings of delightful

Photo By Ryan Marchese

cranberries and assorted baked goods and jellies that contain the fruit – is a diverse showing of many artists and craftsmen, some of whom demonstrate their crafts, as well as display them for sale. The crafters handmake their crafts and are juried.

But the festival also raises money for the upkeep of the White Horse Inn, a community center in Chatsworth, in addition to allowing the few businesses in the downtown district to expand its yearly profit margins from the traffic, while the local school and associated organizations raise funds by charging for parking.

It had just been a couple months ago that the festival’s chairperson, Melissa A. Camiscioni, had applied for and received a permit to hold the event this year from the Woodland Township Committee, despite a member of the public at the time indicating that she felt the issuance of such a permit was premature given, at that time, Murphy had not yet lifted the mandates.

“The health and safety of our guests, vendors, volunteers and committee is our priority,” wrote Camiscioni in a statement on the festival’s official website. “We will be back in 2022! Stay safe and be well!”

The township’s Memorial Day gathering, traditionally a small gathering, was also not held this year, the Pine Barrens Tribune has learned.

During a May 26 Woodland workshop committee meeting, the governing body was asked to decide whether or not to issue an event permit to Crispy Crunchy Market, which wanted to hold a “Freedom Fest” in Chatsworth on June 6 on the “Cranberry See CRANBERRY/ Page 14

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Saturday, June 5, 2021

‘The Living Never Forget Them’ Brigadier General ‘Blown Away by Patriotism and Tradition’ at Southampton’s Memorial Day Parade, First Since COVID 142nd Annual Parade is Considered ‘Oldest, Continuous’ in State

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—The dead never truly die so long as the living never forget them, declared Jeff Hicks, master of ceremonies for the 142nd A n nu al Southampton Township Memorial Day Parade, and the municipality’s residents (along with those from other towns) came out in droves on May 31 to line Main Street in Vincentown Village to pause and remember the over 1.3 million U.S. Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who died while serving this country since the Civil War – helping to mark the first township parade and large event in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The show of patriotism and compassion displayed by Southampton Township over the past 142 consecutive Memorial Days is a true testament to the love and respect this community has for our fallen and active U.S. Military personnel, veterans and their families,” Hicks said.

U.S. Brigadier General Brian E. Miller, guest speaker, remarked during a ceremony to memorialize Southampton’s fallen, which followed the parade, that the township’s show of “patriotism and tradition” simply

blew him away.

“I am just so tickled to be here,” he said.

“You guys put on a phenomenal Memorial Day parade. Isn’t it great to be outside?

Most of us don’t have masks on and we are together. Praise god, right?”

Some Burlington County communities had canceled their Memorial Day events all-together last year and this year due to the virus, but not Southampton.

Last Memorial Day, with the state under a mandatory lockdown, a small group of residents, veterans and officials still paraded, albeit in a significantly scaled-down fashion, down Main Street to the township’s war memorial near Allen’s Propane and Oil to the keep the tradition alive.

“It is the oldest, continuous parade in the State of New Jersey” pointed out Deputy Mayor and Parade Committee Chairman Ronald Heston, adding in a later interview with this newspaper that Southampton was thrilled to have an active brigadier general as its guest speaker.

And with the lifting of the virus mandates in time for this year’s Memorial Day weekend, the Southampton parade returned to pretty much full-scale this past Monday, See PARADE/ Page 11

Photos By Andrew King

Scenes from the 142nd Annual Southampton Township Memorial Day Parade held May 31.

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Man, 21, Charged with 3 Counts of Making Threats on Snapchat Against Pinelands Regional, 2 Students Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A 21-yearold man has been charged with using a social media account to threaten individual students at Pinelands Regional High School, as well as the school itself, which he had reportedly attended several years ago.

Frankie Caserta, of Pleasantville (Atlantic County) was lodged in Ocean County Jail, in Toms River, on June 1 pending a detention hearing, facing three counts of making terroristic threats between May 23 and 25, according to a press release from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Caserta, who refers to himself as “Buddha Caserta” and also goes by the name of “Frankie Gagootz” on Facebook, used a group message on the social media platform Snapchat to claim that gang members were coming to shoot up the school, and also threatened two of its students with physical harm via messages sent on Snapchat, Billhimer reported.

Little Egg Harbor Township Police, the release noted, were alerted to the threats by a student at the school (something that might not otherwise have come to their attention, since one of the principal features of Snapchat is that pictures and messages are usually only available for a short time before they become inaccessible to their recipients, according to Wikipedia).

The following day, according to the release, detectives from the Little Egg Harbor and Pleasantville police departments executed a search warrant at Caserta’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of multiple electronic devices.

Caserta was subsequently picked up by Ocean County authorities after his release pursuant to bail reform from the Burlington County Jail, where had been incarcerated on May 25 on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court on unrelated charges (which Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Joel Bewley told this newspaper he was not at liberty to disclose the nature of). The investigation remains “active and ongoing,” the release said, noting that additional charges may be forthcoming.

A former classmate of Caserta’s, who didn’t wish to be identified, told the Pine Barrens Tribune via Facebook Messenger that she had known him when they were both students at Pinelands Regional, although she didn’t know whether or not he had ultimately graduated from the school, having left before he did.

Responding to an inquiry from this newspaper on the evening of June 2, Pinelands Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley commented, “On May 25, 2021, The Pinelands School District was made aware of threats made via social media to both the school and individual students. The Little Egg Harbor Police Department was notified immediately and in collaboration with Pleasantville Police arrested the person who made the threats within hours.

“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and were at no time in danger from this incident. We would like to thank the Little Egg Harbor Township Pol i c e D e p a r t m e nt , O c e a n C ou nt y Prosecutor’s Office and the Pleasantville Police Department for their swift and thorough response.”

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Mother of Pinelands 7th Grader Faults Officials for Failure to Promptly Notify Her of Scuffle in Which She Maintains Her Son Was Injured

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The mother of a seventh-grade special education student at Pinelands Regional Junior High School has accused school personnel of having failed to supervise a locker room prior to a ball game where she claims her son was injured in a confrontation with a teammate and then having neglected to both notify her of the incident until hours after they became aware of it and to examine him once they did find out about it.

The mother claims the May 24 altercation, in which her son, who had been suiting up for baseball, was shoved into a bathroom stall following a fistfight, striking his head, resulted in his being taken to the hospital twice, the second time because the left side of his face was swollen from a punch to the jaw and he was having trouble swallowing. But she said she was initially unaware that he had been in a fight when he came home at about 5:30 and went to bed complaining of a headache after having sat on a bench during the game for more than three hours. She only found out about it, she contended, when she received a call later that evening from the principal.

Before going home, however, she said her son had shown the coach a video of the incident that a third student had taken on his cellphone and posted on a social media platform, saying he wanted the coach to see that his teammate was the one who “threw the first punch.”

The coach, she claimed in an interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune, “did not respond, nor did he follow board policy that when someone is injured, they notify the parents immediately.

“My son is very shy and doesn’t like to get

people in trouble,” she added.

The short clip, which depicts her son as he is putting on his shoe and being accosted by a teammate coming into the locker room, followed by several others, then scuffling with the individual who proceeds to shove him into the stall, is one that she herself has since posted on Facebook. The other student, she maintained, was one who had bullied her son since elementary school.

The outraged mother has also taken school officials to task for having suspended her son, along with the other student, for three days as a result of the incident, claiming “they classified it as a fight under school policy, although it is clear he didn’t start it,” and faulted School Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley for not having followed up with her about his condition.

“Not once since I spoke with her (early the following morning) has the superintendent reached out to check on the well-being of my son,” she told this newspaper, contending that McCooley was more worried that she had posted the video on social media. “She said that she could not tell me what to post, but I should not have posted that. I asked her, ‘Am I supposed to protect the interests of the school and hide?’

“My son was attacked and punched in the face in what it supposed to be his safe zone— his school, which I entrusted with my son, but failed to notify me until five-and-a-half hours later that he had taken a blow to the head,” she said she had told the superintendent.

As a result, she said, she was pursuing the matter with the Little Egg Harbor See SCUFFLE/ Page 11

Saturday, June 5, 2021

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‘THE SURPRISE WAS ON HIM’

MARLTON—U.S. Army Specialist Cody Wallace thought he was visiting Van Zant Elementar y School in Evesham Township on May 28 to talk to its students about his service and Memorial Day. But, unbeknownst to him, the “surprise was on him.”

That is because Van Zant students, upon Wallace’s arrival at the school, threw him a surprise Welcome Home Celebration, arranged, in part, by Operation Yellow Ribbon.

He arrived to hundreds of kids at times cheering, “Welcome

Home!” in addition to groups of flagwaving volunteers, and a massive flag brought in by Evesham Township Fire Rescue.

Wallace, who signed with the U.S. Army National Guard and completed basic training at Ft. Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina, currently serves with the Co B628th Aviation Support Battalion.

He had just returned from his first deployment, including a mission in Syria in which he was bestowed an Army Achievement Medal for “his exceptional service,” according to

Operation Yellow Ribbon.

While Wallace lives in Gibbsboro and graduated from Palmyra High School in 2015, he was said to have many family members currently living in Marlton, including “Aunt Jen, Uncle Paul, Cousin Ashley, Cousin Taylor, Brother Conor and Sister-In-Law Brielle.”

Wallace, according to Operational Yellow Ribbon, has decided to reenlist for another six years of service and plans to pursue a career in law enforcement. His brother, Chris, is a police officer in Voorhees Township.

Photos By Andrew King

Saturday, June 5, 2021

PARADE

(Continued from Page 6) and was well-attended given that many not only looked forward to getting back to normal and returning to the full-scale solemn tradition, but the extra participation from those who live in other communities which did not hold events or ceremonies.

“I want to thank the entire parade committee, and in particular township employees with the DPW (Department of Public Works),” said Heston in a later interview. “The people in the township building, who are new employees, and the public works employees who are new, never worked a full Memorial Day parade, but they did an outstanding job. We also had a few new volunteers who stepped up. The whole thing was a joint effort.”

In noting that the “dead never truly die so long as the living never forget them,” Hicks declared that the “proud residents of Southampton Township have steadfastly upheld that belief for 142 consecutive years by annually observing Memorial Day.” “We celebrate their lives and principles and ideals so we and future generations enjoy a better tomorrow,” he added.

Miller, deputy commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Reserve Affairs and resident of Red Bank, pointed out that he could see a “love of country and

SCUFFLE

(Continued from Page 8) Township Police through the school resource officer, who is a member of the department.

Contacted on June 2, she said it had been decided to have the other child perform

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♦ Page 11

service” in Southampton, which he noted has “more than a thousand veterans out of its population of 10,000 people,” or more than twice the national average.

“The rest of the country is below 5 percent,” he said.

Miller maintained that more than 1.3 million service members died fighting for our country, “most of whom were in World War II and the American Civil War,” but noted that “we are still losing people today” and “are still not out of the woods yet.”

“Memorial Day is not a celebration, and while I know there are some BBQs and things like that, it is actually a day of national awareness – a day of solemn reverence – a day for us to honor military men and women who gave their lives fighting for our country,” declared Miller, who pointed out that Memorial Day was first observed right after the Civil War, but known then as Decoration Day because many decorated the graves of the fallen with flowers and flags.

This year, as Miller also pointed out, marks the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. He called both the tomb and national cemetery “awe inspiring and humbling,” and recognized those who are buried there.

“The sacrifices they did – we stand upon those sacrifices,” he said. “They helped build this country and we inherited it. I am so impressed this community provides so much for our country.”

The brigadier general, who was introduced

by Southampton Mayor Michael Mikulski, served tours of duty in both Iraq (2004) and Afghanistan (2014), serving alongside the mayor who is a recently retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

“We didn’t know each other at first, but got to know each other,” Mikulski said. “(In Iraq), I served as his executive officer when he became a battalion commander, and I then replaced him as battalion commander. We then went to Afghanistan together in 2014.

So, ten years later we went oversees again.

Brian has been a great friend ever since.”

Miller, a graduate of U.S. Army War College, is “well decorated,” Mikulski noted, including the recipient of the Legion of Merit (given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements) and two Bronze Stars (awarded for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone).

He was also bestowed a Combat Action Badge (CAB), according to Mikulski, which provides special recognition to soldiers who personally engage or are engaged by the enemy. Miller currently works for Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G).

Serving as the parade’s grand marshal was Joseph P. Painting, a retired lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army.

Painting, according to Hicks, after being commissioned into an ROTC program, received his “first assignment” as a rifle

platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, before being assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tölz, Germany.

After that, Hicks said, Painting served two tours of duty in Vietnam, from 19671968 and 1970- 1971, and following those tours, Painting was assigned to U.S. Army – Europe in Heidelberg, Germany.

Painting then served as an operations officer at the Ft. Dix Training Center, with a “final assignment” of senior advisor for the Second Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division of the New York Army National Guard in New York City, according to Hicks.

“He retired in June 1989 with 28 years of active service,” noted Hicks, pointing out that Painting moved to Vincentown in 1985.

Painting, once he resided in Southampton, worked for the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, retiring as chief of the operational planning bureau in 2006.

During Monday’s ceremony, he recited poet John McCrae’s memorial poem, “In Flanders Fields.”

“After going around the country, I finally settled in Southampton, and it was one of best decisions we (he and his wife of 59 years, Susan) ever made in our lives,” declared Painting after reading the poem.

“It is a beautiful place to live, the people are friendly, it is out in the country, the services are wonderful, the schools are great – it is just a super spot to be. I have enjoyed the 35 years that I have lived here.”

“community service at the police station,” although that could not be immediately verified with a spokesman for the department.

McCooley, while responding to this newspaper with a statement about terroristic threats made on social media against the school (see accompanying story), failed to offer any comments or clarification in regard

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McCooley also declined to comment on an episode earlier in May in which the mother of another special education student in the Pinelands Regional district complained about a teacher having allegedly photographed her son sitting in a group not wearing a

mask while eating lunch, then sent it to a Facebook group site called “Maskholes, make them infamous.” That complaint resulted in a police report being filed and a special executive session being convened by the school board at which a Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) report on the incident was reportedly discussed.

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SHAWNEE (Continued from Page 4)

“She is a fighter, just like Natalie,” he said.

“She has figured out how to make life work for her. She isn’t hiding behind anything; she tells it all like it is. She is playing herself.”

Stone, who started acting/performing just over a decade ago when she was 40-years-old, is grateful for the opportunity to portray a character with whom she can identify, while also sharing her world with the audience.

“Acting is so much fun; it’s a hobby I love,” said Stone, who ventured into the field with the encouragement of her husband to live out her dream. “If I could do it every day, I would do it every day.”

Stone is known for a variety of shows including but not limited to “Rocco’s Dinner Party” (2011), Turkey’s Done (2019) and is post-production for the character of Rosanne in “Not for Nothing.”

Stone said that bringing Tewfik into this production has added a meaningful dimension for her, given their long history

REPAVING (Continued from Page 3)

can be done “without touching the current budget.”

“I think we are going to have people waiting in line to play,” said Shamong Mayor Timothy Gimble. “This is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to it.”

Sha mong Com m itte eman Michael Cooney noted that some towns charge for time on their pickleball courts, adding its “an option (to explore) for the future.”

G i mble, i n expla i n i ng why som e municipalities charge for court use, noted

♦ Page 13

and the fact that he is “a true Renaissance man, so talented, a giving and loving friend, and a really nice guy.”

St on e h a s five c h i l d r e n a nd t wo grandchildren, as well as two shih tzus, Vinny and Santino.

She continues to mourn the loss of her son, SPC Nicholas C. Graham, who died on September 30, 2018, from fentanyl poisoning, at 24-years-old.

A graduate of Shawnee High School, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving as a calvary scout and sharpshooter in Operation Spartan Shield, and had earned many medals and ribbons for his service. He was also a musician and artist and had other endearing qualities including “his charm, smile and amazing presence.”

In memory of her son, Stone created a Memorial Peace Path outside in the back of her home with plantings and painted stones, which brings her much comfort and peace. Her three-year-old granddaughter, Evelyn, also “loves” to look at the path and walk along it.

Stone said she is a grieving mother who will never be herself again and that

Nick Graham’s passing “has profoundly” changed her.

She has become an outspoken advocate for families whose children have been caught in the growing epidemic that includes mental illness, alcohol, and drug addiction.

She is grateful to Lt. Lou Fisher, from the Riverside Police Department, who cofounded NJTIP (New Jersey Treatment Incentive Program) for helping those struggling with drug addiction, while also facing charges and jail time, to instead enter a treatment program. More information may be found on their website at www.njtip.net or on Facebook.

Other organizations that Stone found helpful include Heroin Kills (heroinkills. org) and Teen Challenge in New Jersey (TCNewJersey.org).

Stone said that people “may be private when it comes to talking about their child’s life, but this is not something to be shy about,” adding, “Scream it from the mountaintops if you have to. Get him help again and again and again and again, whether it’s one time or 10 rehabs.”

Her message to parents is clear: Don’t be shy. Ask for help.

“The kids who are successful are the ones who have people who love them,” Stone declared. “Let them know you are there when they are ready for your help. You want to light that spark when they might be coherent enough to hear the message… so it has to be constant.”

Stone, who is all about family, said that “La Famiglia” is a must see and is a wonderful way to spend the evening.

“Peer in the window of most any family and you’ll recognize the Scamorzas right away; you may even recognize yourself,” said writer and Philadelphia media personality Lorraine Ranalli, based on her book “Gravy Wars: South Philly Foods, Feuds and Attytudes.”

A trilogy of one-act plays, “La Famiglia” is being produced by Blue Moon Theatre, which showcases local talent in Woodstown under the auspices of Cheryl Stark, the theatre’s founder and president.

Tickets may be purchased on Eventbrite. com (search for “La Famiglia”).

that the sport is so popular in nearby Medford Lakes Borough that their court “so overused” requiring of them to “create their own club.”

“There are 80 members only for Medford Lakes now,” he said.

During the Shamong committee’s regular June meeting, a $3.3 million budget passed following a public hearing, reflecting a reduction over last year of $154,000, according to Onorato.

The Shamong committee, she noted, is using $1,280,000 of a $1.9 million surplus to balance this year’s budget.

“Obviously, we are relying on that surplus pretty heavily here, but we are hoping to maintain one going forward,” Onorato said.

The budget, she pointed out, contains no increase in the local purpose tax. A home assessed at the Shamong Township average of just over $309,000 will pay $293 in local purpose taxes.

“We have had this flat rate for four or five years now,” Onorato declared. “The value of the local purpose tax to the budget is $631,000.”

Recently, Shamong sold a some 6-acre, vacant Red Onion Road property for $131,000.

However, “as this is an influx of new, one-time money,” she said, the Shamong committee and officials “don’t want to have this be part of our regular operating

expenses, but rather have it go towards debt or capital projects.”

The Shamong committee decided in May to put $22,325 of the money toward a debt payment for the township’s Pinelands Memorial Park Cemetery, while another $22,780 of the funds will pay down a debt for cemetery improvements.

The remaining $84,925, the governing body decided, will be entered into a capital improvement fund for buildings and grounds (which may also be used for roads).

Onorato noted that she thinks “this is wise” considering a “41-year-old septic system” adjacent to the municipal building “is one of her concerns.”

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CRANBERRY (Continued from Page 5)

Festival grounds.”

An event poster, which appeared on local social media pages, made mention of Hirsh Singh, as if to suggest the GOP gubernatorial candidate would be attending the event.

Sources told this newspaper he has attended similar festivals held by the organization.

The Woodland committee ultimately unanimously denied issuing the event permit for the organization to hold such an event in Woodland.

“My personal feeling or concern is it is safety issue,” said Woodland Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff. “We are not holding the Cranberry Festival this year because of COVID, and I know Burlington County is not holding the county fair and (this is) the case in most local towns, where they are not being held. I don’t feel we can be holding any festival in this town with a large gathering of people in our town.”

The Burlington County Farm Fair was canceled April 2 because, at the time, “Governor Murphy indicated that the largest number allowed for outdoor gatherings is 200.” Rosemary Kay, manager of the Farm Fair, told this newspaper at the time that pulling off such an event requires advanced planning, and therefore the fair was forced to make a decision by that date, or it could not be pulled off.

“We are hop efu l that as the year progresses, this number will increase and we will be back to being a fully operational fair for 2022,” she said at the ti me.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to work within this number confine for this year.”

Kay maintained that the decision was made with a “heavy heart” and “after much anguish.”

“Please understand this decision is a tough one to make,” she said. “We fully support all of the people and families who take their time to make our fair happen. We are proud of the longstanding tradition of our fair. Rest assured, that while we may not be having our fair, the work to put the next fair on continues! There will be several new and improved areas for you to experience the next time.”

Evesham Township, however, on May 31, held a Memorial Day ceremony at its municipal complex, while Southampton Township and Medford Lakes Borough held Memorial Day Parades. All three events were well-attended.

Medford Lakes recently announced it is also proceeding with its famed Canoe Carnival in August.

However, there are still some other famed events in the other area towns that will not be moving forward this year, such as the Saint Joan of Arc Carnival in Marlton, and the Pine Barrens Festival in Tabernacle (see separate story).

Additionally, Medford and Pemberton townships decided not to hold Memorial Day parades this year. A small gathering, however, was held at Pemberton’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Angela Gasior, who made application to Woodland for the Freedom Fest and is the organizer of Crispy Crunchy Markets, pointed out that the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance has lifted mask mandates, adding, “I am caught up on what guideline specifically prohibits us from doing something like this.”

“I am sorry that I misread what I thought the feeling of the town (Woodland) was,” she declared. “I thought it was a freedomoriented town.”

DeGroff, who declared in response “I think we are a freedom-oriented town,” acknowledged there was no longer a mask

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mandate, but kept citing the virus as the reason for not proceeding with the permit. As he did so, Woodland Township Solicitor William Burns attempted to steer the conversation away from the pandemic, and instead cited technicalities as the basis for the conclusion.

“The application that is before the committee is not an application from a committee; it is not an application from a political committee; it is not an application from a candidate; it is from a for-profit quasi entity that asked to do a craft fair vendor (type event),” Burns maintained. “… I think we are getting off the issue. The fact is the application before us is from an entity that does not have 501(c)(3) status, meaning it is not declared a non-for-profit, nor is it declared a charity organization from the IRS. It is not a non-for-profit or non-profit under New Jersey guidelines. From the application presented, it indicates it is a Crunchy festival, there will be commercial food vendors, as well as other arts and crafts akin to what has traditionally been the Cranberry Festival, which is recognized charity, 501(c)(3).”

The solicitor added that no “public safety plan” nor “first responder/emergency services plan” or “plan developed with Woodland OEM and the fire department” accompanied the event permit application.

But after Gasior contended that she did not receive a return call from Woodland Fire and EMS chief Shawn Viscardi and had a “PMA, 508” , “we are not for profit”, and that “we are political in the nature that we are conducting business and are looking to show our children that normal life can still go on, and there is a freedom aspect to it as well;” Burns, after a long pause, said “this is a matter for committee to discuss.”

Viscardi then asked how many people would attend such a festival, to which Gasior replied that the last ones had 35 to 40 vendors and there would be “350 people in attendance, maximum.”

“Yes, right now, as you stated earlier, there is no (mask mandate), but we still have a right to restrict it due to public health (concerns), because there is still a public health emergency,” Viscardi said. “You still have to practice social distancing. Do you have a plan for that?”

Gasior maintained “it is something for people to know” and that she is “just trusting people to use their best judgement.”

“Even though the state is lifting some of the rules, the local level still has the right to enforce restrictions, because there is still a local declaration of emergency for public health,” Viscardi said. “That is kind of why we are not allowing any kind of events of that scale.

“Like the mayor said, we are not allowing the Cranberry Festival Committee to hold a festival, and if we allow you to do anything, we would have to open it up to them and that could be creating a can of worms.”

The permit issued to the Cranberry Festival Committee on March 24, however, has not yet been formally revoked by the governing body.

“We are nowhere close to the Cranberry Festival volume,” Gasior declared. “We are like 300 to 400 people at most.”

Murphy, in a May 14 statement sent to this newspaper, said his administration has begun working with Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on legislation that will end the public health emergency that has been in place since March 2020, while also ensuring that the “administration retains the necessary tools to manage the ongoing threat to public health, as well as recovery and vaccination efforts.”

“Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed,” Murphy said. “If legislation is finalized ahead of the renewal date, the Public Health See CRANBERRY/ Page 21

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MAYOR

(Continued from Page 2) the monthly reports nor returning messages seeking comment on the fire at Mayo’s (which impacts this newspaper’s ability to chronicle any accomplishments or acts of heroism that the mayor pointed to).

“I read your article, read it all the way through, and I saw nothing wrong with it,” said resident Debbie Bowker, who attended the May 26 committee meeting and listened to DeGroff’s diatribe, which occurred at the end of the proceedings, after public comment was closed. “In saying the fire chief has tried to be contacted by other people, and he has been so-called ‘MIA’ and doesn’t return phone calls, that’s the truth.”

She added that “at some point” Viscardi “should have just returned the messages” from this newspaper (which he has yet to do so).

Viscardi has become entangled in a fiasco involving what is a much-anticipated cellphone tower project in downtown Chatsworth. The project, initiated by his having received a federal grant to have a tower erected behind the Chatsworth firehouse to improve local emergency communications, went awry last year when the Pinelands Commission issued a stopwork order.

The order was issued, in part, over charges that those living within 200 feet of Giles Avenue did not receive required notification of the street being vacated. The street is part of land that is slated to be used for the tower.

Some residents have also claimed that they were never informed of the plan to erect a tower until after an application had already been approved. There were also apparently some conflicts with property boundary lines referenced in the area.

GUTTER

S

The Woodland Township Committee voted on May 26 to essentially re-vacate Giles Avenue for purposes of the stalled project.

Additional points of contention over the project include aesthetics, concern that radio frequencies that would be emitted could pose health issues for nearby residents, and whether the proposed tower meets the standards of the Pinelands Commission, with questions as to whether it would serve as an accessory use to the fire company and is primarily for the purpose of emergency communications.

Residents, last fall, pressed for answers as to what happened, and whether it will ultimately be built, but township officials were told at times by the committee’s legal counsel that the issue could not be discussed because it was both before the township Land Use Board and the subject of potential litigation.

“I believe, if you go through your minutes, in November, I asked him (Viscardi) a question for an update on the cell tower, and he gave it, and that was the last (or one of the last times) we heard from him physically being in one of the meetings,” Bowker said.

“If they (the chiefs) can’t be there, they then submit a written report, and then Maryalice would read it. But that wasn’t even done. I can understand he has his (regular) job, and whatever, but you have a whole month to write and submit a report.”

Viscardi, who made his first committee appearance of the year at the May 26 meeting, had last attended a governing body meeting on Dec. 16, 2020, when it was announced that he was resigning from as the township emergency management coordinator effective Jan. 1 of this year, but would retain the chief position.

That latter meeting is when there were even more questions posed by residents regarding the tower, and then resident Ken Bowker

inquired about the lighting and height of a U.S. flag at the Chatsworth firehouse. The chief, at the time, had responded tersely to Ken Bowker, a 74-year-old local-disabled Vietnam veteran, that the flag is above the roofline of the firehouse and the lighting meets the requirements.

“It was unfair and unjust,” said Ken Bowker, who also attended the May 26 committee meeting, of DeGroff’s diatribe.

“I thought what was reported was the truth and they, especially the mayor, took the truth and tried to rearrange it where the chief is an angel of some sort and I don’t think he is.

“He has been away; he wasn’t around for a while and he didn’t attend any meetings for quite some time. I don’t know where he was, and it is none of my business, but he is supposed to be at every meeting or have a report about what went on for that month.”

DeGroff is one of only four people to hold the mayoral position in Woodland since 1975. He was preceded by John Bowker Jr. (1975-1996), Robert A. DePetris (1996-2011) and Matthew Henrich (2011-2017).

Ken Bowker is the son of John Bowker Jr., the latter a township mayor of 22 years, but who passed away while holding elected office.

“I haven’t gotten out amongst the people and all, but I think things could be run a little better with the township, instead of the way it is being run,” Ken Bowker told this newspaper, while noting a portrait of his father sits outside the committee chambers.

“It wasn’t this way years ago and shouldn’t be that way now.”

T he Bowker s p oi nt e d out to th is newspaper that the township committee has not held a single in-person meeting since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. All of its meetings since that time have been held by telephone, except one held by Zoom. Woodland is one of only two

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towns in our coverage area to not hold at least one in-person meeting since the start of the pandemic.

Additionally, DeGroff has forgone the U.S. flag salute at the telephonic meetings, which is traditionally recited at the start of public meetings to remind all in attendance of their allegiance to the flag of the U.S. “I do believe with all my heart they should have a flag salute and a moment of silence like they always had,” Ken Bowker maintained. “I don’t know the total reason why they are not having meetings in the meeting place, in the township, while other townships are having them. We could go wearing masks, if necessary, and still hold a township meeting.”

The Bowkers suggested the meetings should be of hybrid nature when they resume, to allow those with health concerns to attend from home. The committee, earlier this year, said that when in-person meetings do resume, they would be against offering the hybrid option.

Debbie Bowker remarked that she is concerned with the direction that the municipality is headed, and that while she understands there has been change in the community since John Bowker was mayor, “we are a very small community” and “should still all work together, be together and not against each other.”

“I understand people have gripes and everything and all, but … ,” said Debbie Bowker, noting that she felt it would have been more appropriate for DeGroff to have contacted the newspaper directly with his concerns, and request a retraction if he felt there were any inaccuracies. “That’s what papers do – they fix it (any errors). But you reported it as you heard on the tapes. I say, ‘Fix it. Don’t criticize it.’”

Resident Terry Sheerin, who was the

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

CLERK

(Continued from Page 1) a brief discussion of the matter during the proceedings, in which it was revealed that a disciplinary hearing through a Rice notice was not convened, she believes the township only “slapped the wrist” of Winks for what she views as a very serious offense.

“It is not only a crass remark to say to somebody who has got a significant illness, but it shows a lack of moral mettle when you have to pull something out of left field that has nothing to do with the conversation just to be hurtful and malicious,” Sheerin declared. “She doesn’t have to like me, but her personal feelings need to be checked at the door so that she can perform her job unbiased, and in a professional fashion, for anyone who comes into that building.”

Sheerin added that she also believes the township is “insincere” thus far with its claim to have effectively dealt with the matter, contending that she has yet to receive an apology, and that she also was not given the “professional courtesy” of being informed before the committee meeting that action had been taken with an explanation of the consequences assigned to the office clerk.

“Don’t you think I should have gotten a phone call and been advised of what is being done about it?” she asked.

Making her even more upset, she said, is that Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff made a point during the same committee meeting that he was “angry” about another item, calling it a “disgrace” but yet couldn’t find the words to publicly condemn the incident that involved her, one that she called “reprehensible.”

Township Solicitor William Burns, who announced during the committee meeting that “action has been taken with respect to the employee” involved in the May 4 matter, with Township Clerk/Administrator Maryalice Brown identifying the employee as Winks after claiming that she had received her consent to release her identity to the public, did not offer any apology for what had occurred that day (nor did any of the other township officials or committeemen attending the committee meeting).

Instead, the township’s legal counsel seemingly offered a defense of Winks concerning, as he put it, “some allegations” that had reportedly been made against her about having a “criminal record,” maintaining that she had since cleared a background check.

And despite the remarks by Winks having been made within the confines of public property while on the job, when given additional opportunities after the meeting to offer public apologies, township officials would not do so.

Instead, Burns, who the committee appointed during its latest meeting as its

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public information officer, a position the mayor contended is needed because of both the recent “local newspaper” coverage of municipal affairs and social media “rumors,” wrote to this newspaper that “the comments by the employee do not reflect the opinions of the township or the township committee.” He added that Winks “is also a cancer survivor, who recently went through treatment” and that it is “important to note that the employee consented to the release of that typically confidential information.”

Sheerin, when asked for a response to that disclosure, told this newspaper that “if she indeed had any type of cancer, her remark is even more callous.”

“Any person who ever had a significant disease would certainly be reprehensible in using another person’s disease to mock them,” Sheerin declared. “My opinion is anyone who alleges to have survived cancer would go out of their way to lift up others who have the diagnosis because they know how hard it is to get through it. Hopefully this is a wakeup call for proper, professional behavior in the workplace.”

Both email and telephone messages left with Winks were not returned as of press time. DeGroff, in announcing that the committee would be appointing Burns as the municipality’s public information officer, contended that he would be the “only one allowed to give a comment to the newspaper” from that point forward.

Winks’ husband announced his attendance at the May 26 committee meeting, but did not offer any public comments.

Sheerin, in recounting what occurred on May 4, told this newspaper that her neighbor took off early from work the day of the incident for a scheduled appointment with Tom Boyd, the township code enforcement officer. The neighbor, Sheerin said, texted her because “he could not get someone to pick up (the telephone) at the township building” to receive the status of Boyd’s expected arrival.

“He said he thought that it might be his cell signal and asked me if I wouldn’t mind calling for him, which I did,” recounted Sheerin, contending that her neighbor did not want to miss the appointment because Boyd also works in Tabernacle Township Monday through Friday.

Winks picked up the telephone at town hall, Sheerin said, upon her making the call. After explaining the reason for her call, Sheerin alleged that Winks became angry, shouting, “‘Stay out of this! This is none of your business, Terry! Stay the hell out of this!’” before hanging up.

“I was like what was this about,” Sheerin recounted. “She came out of the gate unapologetically angry.”

A short time later, according to Sheerin, while at her mailbox, she ran into her neighbor who informed her that he still could not get through to the municipal

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building. Sheerin said she then called town hall again, putting the phone in speaker mode so that her neighbor could talk.

“Karen picked up the phone the second time, screamed at the top of her lungs that I should keep my nose out of other people’s business, and that she doesn’t know why I am involved in this, and slammed the phone down,” Sheerin recalled. “I decided that I needed to go up to the township (building) to see why she was so angry when all I was doing is trying to help my neighbor when he requested it.”

Upon arrival, Sheerin contended, she knocked on the door to Winks’ office and there was no answer. She knocked again, she said.

“You heard on tape the rest of it,” Sheerin said. “She was angry, screaming at the guy down the hall, screaming at me. She yelled at the fella walking down the hallway just trying to get an inspection done. When she found out yes, indeed, he had asked me to help him, she said, “‘I don’t care! I don’t care if you were helping him! It is not your business!’”

Sheerin added that at one-point Winks was “pounding her fists on her desk” and “threatening to call the State Police on me” if she did not leave Winks’ office.

“I am a taxpayer, and I have the right to ask a reasonable question of the municipal clerk’s office,” Sheerin contended.

In the re cordi ng obtai ned by th is newspaper, Winks shouts at Sheerin, despite the latter asking the office clerk to lower her voice, “What is going on with (the neighbor) is going on with (the neighbor)!” before adding that, “It is not going on with you! … If he calls here, I don’t need you to ask what is going on with him!”

It was at that point that Sheerin’s neighbor tells Winks that he asked for her to call the municipal building.

After Winks shouts “I don’t care” if Sheerin was trying to help her neighbor, Sheerin replies that, “I do care about the way in which you speak to me.”

Winks yells “I don’t care!” several more times, and it was at that point she said, “A woman who is dying from cancer, who has her nose in everybody’s business – you should be kissing the friggin’ ground you are still alive! OK?! But no! You continue to put your nose in everybody’s business, do all kinds of OPRAs (Open Public Records Act requests). You have nothing else to do!

Get a life!”

Brown, shortly thereafter, then attempts to intervene after apparently hearing the yelling in the building.

“For her to say what she did about cancer – she is done!” Sheerin told Brown. “You cannot speak to people that way! I have a life; I worked 90 hours a week.”

Brown then replies that she did not hear Winks make the cancer remarks. “‘For somebody who has cancer, you got your nose in everybody’s’ business. Kiss the ground you are walking on,’” Sheerin says

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Saturday, June 5, 2021 to Brown in recalling what was just said to her. “… Who does this individual think she is? I know her history from the Five Hour Energies at Wawa.”

While it is not clear what that apparent accusation referred to, Brown responds by telling Sheerin, “That wasn’t necessary, either,” to which Sheerin counters that “all bets are off” if someone is “going to scream at me and make fun of my cancer.” Winks then begins shouting again, causing Brown to ask Winks repeatedly to, “Please, shut the door.”

“Is she accusing me of something?!”

Winks shouts. “ … D***** bag!”

The door is then slammed shut, with Sheerin pointing out that “is being recorded too.”

“That was in the course and scope of her employment,” Sheerin told this newspaper of what she said next.

Sheerin, as also captured in the recording, informs Brown that the screaming at her on the telephone was unacceptable and that the township must provide “customer service,” and that “it is not personal – it is business.”

“All I know is that it is not acceptable,” Sheerin tells Brown, adding that there were several witnesses to her being screamed at on the telephone. “At this juncture, that is unacceptable behavior. You don’t talk like that to people. I don’t talk like that to people. Have you ever heard me come in here and scream at the top of my lungs at somebody? Never – never!”

Sheerin added in the conversation with Brown that it is the “neighborly thing to do in Chatsworth” to help residents.

“I am going to deal with it,” Brown vows to Sheerin, with the township clerk acknowledging on the recording that the neighbor told her he had asked Sheerin to assist him.

But Sheerin, after leaving the municipal building that day, told this newspaper that nobody reached out to her in the weeks that followed the May 4 incident to discuss anything about it, or to “listen to the tape to verify the facts,” despite Brown being made aware that there was a recording.

“Nobody cared, and they just chose to ignore it, which bothers me immensely,” Sheerin said. “If it was aimed at any of them, it would have been dealt with. Everybody is not treated on the same level playing field.”

And Burns, she said, contacted her on May 24, but to her surprise, not about the incident, but rather “something that had nothing to do with him or the township.”

“I had been speaking to a gubernatorial candidate about his itinerary, before the primary on June 8,” Sheerin told this newspaper.

Burns indicated during the committee meeting held on May 26 that he had contacted “a resident” about that individual’s call to a gubernatorial candidate, which he maintained was connected to a possible See CLERK/ Page 19

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Voice Clarifying TV Headset

A ground view of the Pine Barrens Festival fair grounds in a prior year.

FESTIVAL (Continued from Page 1)

counterintuitive,” Jamieson acknowledges.

“But I would argue that if we follow our mission to grow disciples in our corner of God’s vineyard, He and His people will provide what we need to accomplish that mission.”

Jamieson maintained that by no longer having the festival, the church can put its “energy” into upgrades and “improving our ministries, especially to enhance our weekend experience, grow our parish, and make a difference in our community.”

“We are not going to allow the pandemic to stagnate our growth; we have big plans for the future,” the pastor maintained.

Jam ieson, in thanking the festival leadership team and volunteers for their “hard work,” recognized that the event has served as a “hallmark in our community for over 30 years.”

A hallmark it has been, with six fun-filled nights of food, live entertainment, games, rides, dancing and culture each year devoted to the Pines.

Area youth usually pack the church grounds to take part in the games and rides, while many local adults cram a beer garden. For some, the event allows them to catch up with friends and former classmates who they haven’t seen in years, if not decades. For others, it has been a source of childhood memories.

In planning the festival over 30 years ago, Holy Eucharist also wished to celebrate the families and towns in the church’s surrounding area, according to past remarks made to this newspaper by festival leaders.

It became a tradition for a person from each town in the church’s coverage area (which comprises of Medford Township, Medford Lakes Borough, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle and Woodland Township) to be recognized with a service award for their contributions to the communities of the Pine Barrens.

“For this reason, we named our festival the ‘Pine Barrens Festival’ and each year, an award is presented to an individual who has made a meaningful contribution to the culture, history or ecology of the Pine Barrens,” said Mary Fischl, who served at the time as chairperson of the Holy Eucharist Culture Booth, in a 2016 report by this newspaper.

Dur ing each n ight of the festival, a different town from the Burlington County communities of the Pine Barrens was spotlighted as part of a “Focus on Our Town” event. It was during this nightly event that the respective town honoree received his or her award.

“We firmly believe that the quality of life in each town is highlighted by the quality and quantity of volunteer service that is gifted to the town by its people,” said Fischl in 2016. “We wish to show our appreciation and congratulate these folks.”

The “finest of local entertainment” was also featured through the festival, including

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the 40 North Band, Denny O Trio & DJ, Trumpboyz, Hot Sounds DJ and Bullzeye’s Rockin’ Country Band.

And, of course, there was the Super 50/50 raffle at the event’s conclusion, where one lucky winner walked away on the closing night of the festival with an average cash prize of $19,000.

The “celebration of all that is great about our community,” as posted in an event description on Eventcrazy.com, is listed as a “must-do.”

Attorney Matt McCrink, of McCrink Kehler & McCrink, one of several nowformer festival directors, and who served as legal counsel for the Pine Barrens Festival Committee since the event’s inception, told this newspaper in a June 3 interview that the “ultimate decision was made by Fr. Andrew,” but that all of the now-former festival directors support it, citing both the challenges posed by COVID and a lack of volunteers.

“I am sorry to see it go,” McCrink declared. “Having said that, during the past year, and this year, it was a virtual impossibility to pull this off, and my understanding is that, quite frankly, a lot of people who ran the festival year-after-year were getting older and older and there was really not a replacement of young people coming in to help.”

McCrink told this newspaper that 400 to 600 volunteers are needed to run the festival each year, and in recent years, the festival committee could only find half that number.

“Instead of people working the festival one or two nights, they were working it all six nights,” he said. “Basically, it was wearing everybody out. I think Fr. Andrew saw that. He is a really good priest and good guy, and I am sure he didn’t let it go without obviously considering the positive effect the festival had on the community; but he was also sensitive to the needs of the parish, and number of people who were frankly getting too old (to continue to run it). I think he was searching in a different area, in a different way. Father is moving in a different direction, with different ideas.”

McCrink, who told this newspaper that he was the one “way back when” who got the original approvals from Tabernacle Township to hold a festival, noted that the event was not only started to help the church financially, but to help “people to get to know each other.”

“When working the festival, you were flipping burgers with others, or working elbow-to-elbow in other areas or tents, and it was a good community builder where the people in church got to know each other on a friendly basis,” McCrink said. “But, again, the problem was finding a community of people to do it. We lost some of the directors, and other critical people, and just weren’t getting replacements. It was getting harder and harder for people to work the venues.”

McCrink noted that volunteers weren’t just needed to run the festival, but to perform setup and take down.

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MAYOR

(Continued from Page 15) subject of disparaging remarks made May 4 by a municipal employee about her terminal cancer diagnosis at town hall (see separate story), described to this newspaper that she was made even more upset by the DeGroff diatribe because he called the newspaper’s reporting a “disgrace,” but yet couldn’t find the words to publicly condemn the incident that involved her, one that she called “reprehensible.”

“I thought that incident (in which DeGroff became so angry with the newspaper) was reflective of a systemic problem within the local government where this (getting angry) is acceptable behavior,” said Sheerin, pointing out that the mayor also became “quite abrupt” with another resident during the latest committee meeting over a land dispute. “I will be honest with you, for the mayor to be so angry about things in his closing comments, making comments that were directed to another individual, but then be so laissez-faire about things said to me by his employee was disturbing. It is disturbing that somebody carries on like that.”

Sheerin added that there was “no excuse” for the mayor’s “hissy fit” on May 26, nor the comments made by the municipal employee to her, pointing out that the “mayor was so angry about something and just hung the phone up” instead of professionally adjourning the meeting.

“It has been brought to the attention of the public over the last few years during municipal meetings that the paper is unfair, that the paper misquotes people, and makes us look foolish,” Sheerin said. “I suggested on the record that if they believe what is being printed is incorrect, they could simply call the paper and the paper, which has tapes

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of the meetings, would be happy to discuss it with them. As far as I know, that has never happened. It is confusing to me. Why would you not want to have open and transparent communication?”

DeGroff, who noted during the diatribe that he “got so angry reading this article about our chief,” added that it is “horrible the stuff that is said about our fire company and our chief,” adding that, “There are so many people who sit back and say what we should do and what we can do and do this and do that, but yet, we can’t get no one to volunteer in this township to be part of our fire company!”

“It is a disgrace what was put in that paper!” DeGroff maintained. “That man is dedicated with his time, for over 10 years to this town! How many other people dedicate what he does, and what the volunteers do, in this town? And to answer all the EMS calls this year. It is a disgrace! And I would like to thank the chief and all the fire and EMS members for our town. That is pretty much what I have to say!”

Jane Donoghue, another resident who attended the May 26 proceedings and heard the diatribe, told this newspaper in a statement that “he reminded me of a petulant child storming off after he had his temper tantrum.”

“No wonder the employees of the township treat the residents like crap,” she declared, pointing out that when her phone during the May 26 meeting accidentally went off mute, she was yelled at by Brown in public, instead of being asked politely to address the issue.

“She could have been just a little polite,” Donoghue added. “… It is also ver y disconcerting that there are no consequences for bad, disrespectful actions by township employees, but with a ‘leader’ like ‘Billy Bob,’ I am not surprised.”

Sheerin pointed out to this newspaper that “the systemic nature of this – it starts at the

Saturday, June 5, 2021

top and dribbles down.”

In a May 26 workshop committee meeting exchange that only further corroborated this newspaper’s previous reporting, a woman seeking an event permit to hold a festival in Chatsworth (which was ultimately denied by the governing body due to pandemic concerns), after Burns had contended that there had been no first responder plan developed, remarked, “I actually tried to contact Mr. Viscardi. I called last week. I didn’t receive any call back. I really reached out. I tried to do everything Maryalice told me to do. I thought I was diligent in this.”

Viscardi, in his May report given to the committee, maintained that “so far for the month we had 39 incidents,” including “one fatality on Route 72 involving a motorcycle and dump truck” and “a fire on Route 72 that is still under investigation.”

“That brings us up to 177 calls year-todate,” he said. “Other than that, that is pretty much about it.”

A resolution “by title only” appointing Burns as the township’s public information officer was not on the May 26 committee meeting agenda, but rather suggested to be voted on during a report offered by the solicitor. The item, however, was not added by a committee vote to the agenda before a vote on the actual item, a procedural requirement.

“I think it is necessary to appoint you as the public information officer,” contended DeGroff when the resolution was presented and secured the votes of all three committeemen. “There has been a lot of misstatements and rumors this way and here and all. You are the only one to give any comment, on any incident regarding the township.”

Burns, also the municipal solicitor, contended that the municipal salar y ordinance does not have to be amended, maintaining “that there is no extra pay and

there is no salary defined for it,” noting “he is not an employee of the township committee” but rather this is a “designation.”

Debbie Bowker contende d to th is newspaper that she “doesn’t think the two jobs should be mixed” because “I would think it would be more of a neutral position.”

“At least we were told before, by the solicitor, that he is there on behalf of the committee, and he works for the committee,” she said. “It seems that (public information) should come from another area. I already know he is the solicitor for the township, and I know he is a lawyer.”

Debbie Bowker pointed out that the township is “small” and that she doesn’t believe the municipality has ever had a public information officer before, and doesn’t know why one is needed now when public information has always been put on the municipal website.

“Why can’t the mayor answer your questions – why not?” she asked. “He is the top one there, and he should be able to give a newspaper or a television station answers, and frankly, they (the press) should be able to ask questions of any one of them (the committeemen) in public office.”

Debbie Bowker added “the township hands money over to the fire company,” pointing out that it provides $60,000 annually in contributions, but yet, “there is never any breakdown in the reports” of where that money is going.

A response to an OPRA request revealed that the township has cut $343,435 worth of checks to the fire company since 2016, in addition to it receiving $403,462 in federal funding last year. Additionally, the fire and EMS company has received federal grant awards in 2016 ($57,068); 2015 ($545,030) and 2004 ($71,550).

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CLERK

(Continued from Page 16) event appearance in town.

“It had nothing to do with him or the town,” Sheerin later told this newspaper.

“I was simply trying to find out whether this particular candidate was coming to our town so I could ask him questions because it was not on his itinerary.”

According to Sheerin, she made the recording of the incident involving Winks because “my daughter suggested it” in light of “some of the history and interaction with some of the representatives from the local municipality.” “‘You might want to tape the conversation for your protection,’” Sheerin recounted her daughter saying.

Sheerin told this newspaper that she has no doubt that the police would have been called on her, and that she was have been accused of doing something wrong, if she did not have that recording.

“I did it because of the volatility of interactions in the past, where I was told one thing and then it was changed to something else,” Sheerin added, noting that Winks saw she was recording the events using her cellphone. “I wanted to make sure I was protected because of that history.”

Sheerin not only pointed to past public meetings in which Winks lashed out at residents, but provided this newspaper with another recording (one that she told Brown existed during the May 4 exchange) of Winks leaving a voice message Dec. 24, 2019, on her house phone in response to a purported inquiry the resident made about whether the municipal transfer station would be open on Christmas Eve. Winks, after leaving the voice message on Sheerin’s phone, appears to not realize that she forgot to hang up the telephone, and because of that, immediately after leaving the message, is heard remarking, “She is just a finding fool that woman today.”

The office clerk then is caught on tape saying that she needs to call Brown to inform her that the telephones aren’t working properly or “that’ll be the next bi*** they have.”

“Yeah, because we are such important people,” Winks added at the time.

Sheerin said she was turning over that recording as well to this newspaper because “it has to stop.”

“She is a public employee,” Sheerin maintained. “Unless you address bad behavior, you only increase the odds of it continuing.”

Despite Brown being keenly aware of what occurred on May 4 and vowing that she would deal with the matter, Burns, during the May 26 regular committee meeting, remarked, “there was an issue brought to light this week by a resident regarding a personnel matter.”

“I believe that resident is in attendance tonight, and I can tell the residents that personnel matters are not discussed in any detail whatsoever, as that employee has not been Riced, but just as a general statement I can say that action has been taken with respect to the employee, and that the committee and the administrator, specifically, Maryalice, deems appropriate,” Burns added.

But there had b e en no s che du le d com mittee meetings since the May 4 incident, raising questions whether the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) had been violated.

“With respect to that personnel matter, there were some allegations that an employee of the township had a criminal record involving an arrest or conviction pursuant to criminal offenses,” maintained Burns during the May 26 committee meeting. “That came to the employee’s attention. In an effort for the committee to do its due diligence and the township to do its due diligence, with

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the advice and consent of the employee, a full background check was completed and the true facts are actually as follows: 1.) there has not been an arrest notice pursuant to a New Jersey State Police database, pursuant to a criminal background check; 2.) there has not been a conviction for either an indictable offense; or a disorderly persons’ offense.

In-Person Services “So, therefore, the employee in question – on June 13th & Maryalice I defer to you if you want to state June 27th at 9:30 am on church the employee’s full name, I believe she has grounds. consented to the same, but I defer to you on 18 Mill St. that – does not have a criminal background, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Pre-Register at she has not been arrested, at least according follow us on medfordumc.org Worship: Sundays 10 a.m. to the New Jersey State Police,facebook.com/MedfordUMC which is a definitive source in this, and does not have 609-859-2299 a conviction in either Superior Court or Municipal Court.”

Burns then reiterated “there was a 2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 personnel item that came to the attention info@medfordumc.org of the committee.”

“The administrator, who is the employee’s supervisor, handled the situation and responded in an appropriate manner,” Burns said. “I advised the committee that the employee has not been Riced (referring Subscription Order Form to being given a Rice notice, a notification Mail To: P.O.Box 2402 Vincentown, NJ 08088 from a public body that it will be discussing an individual’s employment in an upcoming Sign Up for 13 Weeks of the Name:_________________________ meeting). For lack of a better description, Pine Barrens Tribune at $2 6 she has not received her Rice notice, and Address:_______________________ there does not appear there will be any Sign Up for 26 Weeks of the discussion this evening with respect to the Pine Barrens Tribune at $52 City:__________________________ terms and conditions of her employment, or anything that will impact her employment, Sign Up for 52 Weeks of the State:_________ Zip____________ but the employee did advise Ms. Brown that Pine Barrens Tribune at $10 4 she would like the record set straight that she Email: _________________________ ———— C r e d i t C a r d ———— has neither been arrested nor convicted in the State of New Jersey of anything.”

Name:_____________________________ Phone:_______________________ Brown then notes “it was a situation that Card #:____________________________ involved Ms. Karen Winks in my office” Check: $ ____________ (Enclosed) and “we did run a background check and Exp. Date__/__ Security Code_________ everything came back clear.”

Money Order: $ ______ (Enclosed) Depending on your location, you will either be signed up Burns, despite putting all of this on the for home delivery of the newspaper or a mail subscription. record regarding criminal allegations at a public committee meeting attended by more than a dozen people, then “advises the public” that “any further publication or accusations that defame could potentially subject them to civil action on behalf of Ms. Winks for defamation.”

Sheerin, in recounting to this newspaper her remark to Brown about Winks the day of the incident that, “I know her history from the Five Hour Energies at Wawa,” pointed out that she found it peculiar that officials would interpret that as suggesting a criminal history, emphasizing “nothing was said about a violation in any shape or Ad Hotline: 609-801-2392 form of a criminal action.” She also said it was odd for officials to allege that there were Report News Tips, Breaking News: 609-801-2392 criminal allegations made against Winks at General Questions: 609-801-2392 a public meeting.

Nevertheless, Sheerin told this newspaper Fax: 609-801-2395 “it was out of left field” for her to suggest Submit Ad Copy: sales@pinebarrenstribune.com anything about Winks and that while she shouldn’t have said what she did in reference Submit News Tips, Press Releases: to the office clerk, that, “I admit what she news@pinebarrenstribune.com said bothered me immensely.”

“The reason it came out of my mouth Send Letters to the Editor: is what she did was absolutely malicious,” letters@pinebarrenstribune.com Sheerin said. “It was just cruel. … I feel like Write Us: Pine Barrens Tribune, P.O. Box 2402, (her remarks) were disparaging and they were made to be malicious and mean spirited. And Vincentown, NJ 08088 they were meant to diminish me.”

While the township would not issue a public apology, and ignored questions from The Pine Barrens Tribune is published each Saturday, this newspaper whether any resignations would come about as a result of this incident except Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Day. or if it had been referred to the state Serving Medford, Marlton, Vincentown, LeisureTowne, Attorney General’s Office, Burns wrote Browns Mills, Chatsworth, New Gretna, Little Egg, to this newspaper that the “committee, on behalf of the residents and employees Whiting and Hammonton, and all points in-between. of the township, unequivocally state that Woodland Township celebrates equity, 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. diversity and inclusiveness.”

The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to “Simply, Woodland Township respects the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size/and or pages due to shortage of diversity of people, identities and cultures,” material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, pandemics, acts of God, or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. he added. “All people are welcome in If you believe that you see a mistake, please call 609-801-2392.

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CLERK

(Continued from Page 19) ethnicity, disability, sex, age, race, national origin, range of abilities, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation.

Woodland Township has fostered a culture of inclusiveness and will continue to do so while maintaining opportunities for engagement, education and discourse related to issues of equity and inclusion.

“Moving forward upon entering the confines of the municipal building all people, whether an employee, a resident, a taxpayer or a guest will experience a civil environment. Civility requires mutual respect, tolerance, acceptance, cooperation, kindness, courtesy, and patience. All members of the community including employees and guests are and will be expected to exemplify and promote civility.”

FESTIVAL (Continued from Page 17)

“It literally takes countless hours of work not only during the festival, but in the six weeks before the start of the event,” McCrink contended. “We have to run ovens out there, hook up the gas to them. Literally, hundreds of hours are spent doing the setup.

Then, afterwards, it takes 10 to 20 people to take everything down, and all the equipment has to be cleaned and stored.”

McCrink told this newspaper that the amount raised through the festival each year was “very weather dependent,” but “somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 net – gross a lot more than that.”

Jamieson, he said, is focused on “building church membership in different ways,” contending that since the pandemic, the pastor has stepped up both the church’s internet/livestreaming presence and homilies.

“He has a pretty good TV audience now,”

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Sheerin, however, called it a “terrible conundrum to live in a town where you are not supposed to go to town hall to ask about general things in the community because they don’t want you there,” contending “that kind of response” is experienced “on a normal basis, but probably May 4 was the worst response in years.”

“I th ink anyone who contacts the township, or comes into the township, and has the phone hung up on them, is yelled at, is screamed at, has their own private medical history thrown in their face, or is threatened with having the police called on them, when all they did is try to help their neighbor out, I think that is reprehensible and unprofessional,” said Sheerin said during the May 26 meeting. “If you don’t like somebody, you leave your personal attitude at the door and do your job in your professional fashion. I don’t think I have ever asked for more than that.”

McCrink said. “He is drawing more people through TV then we ever had in church.”

Jamieson, in his letter (which McCrink said was mailed to parishioners a couple weeks ago), maintained that the church, last year, organized a Summer Faith Gift campaign, where it set a goal of $100,000 and “our community heard this call and exceeded the goal with an amazing total of $109,000!”

He said the church, this year, will once again be holding the campaign, setting the goal at $150,000 in contributions.

“We are working hard this year to transition from a big, once a year campaign to increased giving over the whole year from the members of this parish,” Jamieson maintained. “As we make this transition, we still need to pay our operational expenses, which brings us to this year’s campaign.”

The pastor then mentions a scripture in his letter, Matthew 6:21, from the Bible, quoting Jesus as saying, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be,” before See FESTIVAL/ Page 22

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(Continued from Page 18) only been provided with copies of five of the numerous check images, as of press time, with Brown contending she needs until June 14 to further respond. Burns, after protest from this newspaper about the delay, replied the “township is not willing to move the date as the checks are not immediately available,” contending it was due to personnel issues.

DeGroff and Viscardi said recently that

CRANBERRY (Continued from Page 14)

Emergency extended today will be allowed to expire (in mid-June).”

DeGroff reiterated his “personal feeling” that the governing body “should not allow festivals” because “the county is not holding the county fair due to public health concerns, and therefore, I don’t think we should approve any large gatherings at this time.”

Burns again tried to steer officials away from the pandemic basis for the denial, and pointed out that the state police would need to review a security plan. Viscardi added that Gasior would also need to seek approval from the county to host the event “because two county roads would be impacted.”

“Like the mayor said, if the county is not allowing anything, that is kind of where we are at here,” Viscardi maintained.

Burlington County, however, held an inperson Memorial Day ceremony on May 30 at Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington Township, which was attended by top county brass. Burlington County Commissioners Director Felicia Hopson also attended Evesham’s Memorial Day ceremony.

Gasior maintained that Medford is planning to hold its annual Apple Festival in the fall.

the fire company is in need of a federal grant to purchase a tanker truck, which it does not have after its old one was auctioned, with the mayor adding that its ambulances are “in bad shape also.”

“What is done with that (money), mayor?”

Debbie Bowker asked during the interview with this newspaper. “I know it is a nonprofit fire company, but they are getting this money on behalf of the residents of this township and it seems to me, in return, the township committee should provide an accounting of what is being spent.”

“But that is not until what – October?”

Township Clerk Maryalice Brown retorted (even though the Cranberry Festival is held that same month).

Burns maintained that the concerns over the Freedom Fest are “trifold,” including over the virus, coordination with the county over road closures, and coordination with the state police over security, but that by the township declining this event permit, “it is not precluding events in the future.”

“Bringing 300 to 400 people in our town is a lot of people,” DeGroff said. “We have limited room. It can cause an issue. Like the chief said, you have to get approvals from the county, state police. To have something in our town that is that large in our town is a major event. There is no other event we are hosting this year, so it wouldn’t seem right to host such a gathering at this time.”

Burns noted, however, that “if Mr. Singh would like to come and give a speech or campaign, and do whatever he wants to do in the township, that is one thing,” but the Freedom Fest is “not a campaign event or sponsored by the (candidate for) governor.”

In Burlington County, there have been 782 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, and 73 probable deaths, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. There have been 38,206 total cases in the county, with another 5,963 probable cases.

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(Continued from Page 21)

offering that if six people give $5,000; 30 people give $1,000; 100 people give $500; 250 people give $100 and 300 people give $50, the church will have met its goal.

The church upgrades, he said, that are needed include improving the audio system and adding projectors in the church’s main worship area so that “people are more engaged in the worship experience” and it “gives them an amazing weekend experience so that they want to come back” following the pandemic, which, nationally, has resulted in decreased place of worship

95 PER WEEK

MISCELLANEOUS

Artisan brooms at Burlington County Farmer’s Market, 500 Centerton Road, Moorestown, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Soft sweep for inside; stiff for outside. The broom handles made from storm damaged trees. Will be there May 22, May 29 and June 5. Natural colors.

Make sweeping a pleasure. Product of a Burlington County farm.

FESTIVAL

12

$ AD RATES AS LOW AS MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS Household appliances.

Televisions, furniture, etc. for disposal or transport.

Garage and yard clean ups along with gutter cleaning. Free estimates. Call or Text Bob at 1-609-880-3789.

Saturday, June 5, 2021

HEALTH & FITNESS

LAWN CUTTING HAULING

attendance over Coronavirus fears.

The church, he noted, recently had cameras installed to allow its masses to be livestreamed for those worshiping from home, a new trend in the wake of the pandemic.

“We want you to love what we all do at Holy Eucharist so much that you invite your family and friends to come to our Church and witness an amazing experience too,” Jamieson wrote. “We take our mission from Jesus to build His Kingdom seriously. The first step is to meet our visitors, where they are, so that they are comfortable and engaged in the worship experience. Then, we need to provide life changing experiences so that they recognize and walk the path of discipleship.

“These upgrades will accompany the hard work we are doing to bring people

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Call 1-866-825-6523. *DISH TV: $64.99 For 190 Channels plus $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free installation, Smart HD DVR included, along with free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. Call 1-833-872-2545. *Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support Our Veterans. Fast - free pick up. 100 percent tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398.

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PICK YOUR OWN Poinsett Farm. Pick your own blueberries starting June 20, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat., Sun., Mon. Starting June 26, open Sat. thru Tues. 209 Columbus Ave., Browns Mills. 609-744-5522.

WANTED TO BUY *Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

READER ADVISORY Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds with an asterisk. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home.

Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

into relationship with God and grow and increase our faith community. However, the upgrades are currently a goal – we still have work to do on getting our finances in order.”

Jamieson, who added that he is “confident that our community can sustain the needs of our church and move forward on our plans,” concludes his letter by quoting John Maxwell, in “Church Money” authored by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran, who says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no money, the vision perishes.”

The festival committee described the “thrill”, however, of having an “opportunity for us to come together” through the Pine Barrens Festival in a July 29, 2019 Facebook posting, writing, “To see you having a blast behind the scenes setting up everything

every day, dancing while flipping those burgers and powdering those funnel cakes, cheering on contenders as you run those games, smiling as you put on wristbands and sell countless tickets, giving high fives as you quench the thirst of our volunteers with a beverages and so much more – we hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we enjoyed running this event with you.”

“I think he (Jamieson) did a lot of soul searching when making this decision,” McCrink noted. “The directors discussed it at length and supported it. For right now, pretty much, I think he has decided that we are not going to pursue it (the festival) in the near future. I don’t think he intends to bring it back.

Certainly, we support him and we will see how it works out. Ultimately, it is his decision.”

Visit www.PineBarrensTribune.com

Saturday, June 5, 2021

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392

JOB BOARD

♦ Page 23

Employment Opportunity Skilled Carpenter First Class Lead Carpenter/Remodeler wanted to work with well established and organized company operating out of the Cherry Hill area for over 45 years. Experience in all phases with strong skill emphasis on framing, trim, cornice, cabinet installation, aluminum brake work, windows, doors and can read and understand blueprints.

Other requirements include: • • • • • • •

Must be in good physical condition Valid drivers license Pickup truck or work van Necessary tools to perform your job including power and pneumatic Self motivated and sufficient with experience requiring minimal management Zero tolerance for alcohol or drugs on or near jobsite Must present well to our clients (we enjoy a great reputation in our area and would like to keep it that way)

Benefits include: •

• • • • • • • • • •

Minimal travel (90% of the work performed by this company is within 5 miles of our office) Seven paid legal holidays Social Security, State disability and unemployment Workers comp and liability insurance Medical benefits (HRA PLAN - health reimbursement after 3 months employment) Stable and regular hours Referral bonus Disposable tool reimbursement 5 sick or personal days (after 3 months employment) Gas card Starting salary $27.00 per hour and up with pay level review after 30 days

Go to tommichalikbuilders.com to check out our company!

Send resumes to tmichalikbuilder@yahoo.com for consideration or call 856-857-9265

we’re hiring.

come join our team.

Full-Time Food & Beverage Experts • Part-Time Food & Beverage Experts Full-Time General Merchandise Experts • Part-Time General Merchandise Experts Part-Time Closing Experts • Full-Time Starbucks Barista

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You’ll help us create a great experience for our guests every time they shop. Visit us at target.com/careers and see what being a part of our team is all about. We can’t wait to meet you.

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more to love Benefits:

10% discount at Target and Target.com + an additional 20% off fruits & veggies, Simply Balanced and C9 merchandise (+ 5% more with a Target REDcard).

Market competitive pay.

Apply today! Visit target.com/careers Starting at $15/hr all positions available

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A variety of schedules offered, including weekend only availability.

Check out targetpayandbenefits.com for even more.

Page 24 ♦

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, June 5, 2021

IS YOUR BLADDER CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE?

Understanding Overactive Bladder Wednesday, June 9, 2021 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting Are you (or is someone you know) living with urinary frequency or urgency, with or without urine leakage? Overactive Bladder (OAB) can happen to people at any age, so join KATHIE OLSON, an advanced practice nurse and clinical coordinator of the Capital Health Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health, to learn about the causes of OAB, changes you can make to improve it, and the many effective treatment options that are available. Don’t let your bladder run your life—by becoming informed, you become empowered!

This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address.

Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2-3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

@capitalhealthnj

INTRODUCING CAPITAL HEALTH OB/GYN − BROWNS MILLS Capital Health OB/GYN – Browns Mills is a comprehensive women’s health practice. After serving women in the Lower Bucks County, PA region for almost 30 years, our team is bringing its trusted obstetric and gynecologic care to women in Browns Mills, NJ. Our experienced and board certified providers include DRS. ROBERT BERK, NEIL BLUEBOND, AMY HARVEY O’KEEFFE, MARK KUHN, and ANNE WALKER. Our team provides women with comprehensive prenatal and obstetrical services, as well as annual women’s health exams, in office hysteroscopy, open and minimally invasive/laparoscopic surgery, cancer screenings, and minor surgical services.

Capital Health OB/GYN – Browns Mills joins Capital Health Medical Group’s extensive network of more than 500 physicians and other advanced care providers who offer primary, specialty and surgical care.

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 609.537.7200 CAPITAL HEALTH OB/GYN − BROWNS MILLS 6 Earlin Avenue, Suite 290, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 capitalhealthobgyn.org/brownsmills

MOST INSURANCES ARE ACCEPTED, INCLUDING TRICARE

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

MEDICAL GROUP