March 17, 2018 Pine Barrens Tribune

INSIDE THIS WEEK:

50 Percent of Medford Lakes’ Trails Blocked at Height of Last Week’s Storm - Pg.6

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Vol. 2 – No. 29

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Valerie Traoré, president and CEO of The Food Bank of South Jersey.

March 17, 2018 – March 23, 2018

Partners in Caring contest winners.

One Team, One Purpose PHOTOS BY RYAN MARCHESE

A view of the back of a limited-edition Cheerios box featuring Medford Shoprite's team.

ShopRite of Medford Unveils Limited-Edition Cheerios Box Featuring Store Associates Fighting Hunger

By Joyce Blay

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—What's arguably better than being honored on a box of Wheaties?

If you work at the contest-winning supermarket ShopRite of Medford, it is: having your face featured on the back of 150,000 boxes of Cheerios.

A limited-edition series of Cheerios boxes will be available for sale at area ShopRite supermarkets throughout the remainder of this month and will feature the faces of three newlyfamous ShopRite of Medford employees: parttime cashier Andrea Boyle of Medford Lakes; ShopRite from Home Manager Kimberly Dean of Tabernacle; and Courtesy Manager Heather Lordi of Southampton.

Boyle, a single mother of three, convinced customers to round up the cost of their purchase to the next highest dollar amount, with the balance received going to a Partners In Caring fund drive.

“As a first-year ShopRite employee, I was excited to participate in Partners In Caring to

help others,” she said. “I truly believe that this is the best cause that anyone in our community can contribute to because the money raised goes to many organizations to support so many people in need.”

Dean collected prizes for a store silent auction, often on her own time. She praised ShopRite customers, as well as local businesses that contributed.

“I have never been turned down when asking for a donation for our silent auction,” she said.

“In fact, 99 percent of the businesses I ask for support give me a donation on the spot.”

Lordi was the numbers cruncher for the charitable operation. Thanks to her drive and persistence in keeping the Medford ShopRite team on track, the store exceeded its fundraising goal of $50,000 to raise nearly $54,000.

She attributed the store’s success as much to its customers as its dedicated employees.

“Our customers are really great” she said.

“Medford is a very giving community. We wouldn’t be as successful without them.”

The store not only surpassed its target goal of raising $50,000, it also increased donations over a previous-year record of about $40,000.

ShopRite of Medford was not just a prime mover in generating charitable donations in 2016 and in 2017, but also in 2015, making the store a three-peat for the third consecutive year.

“These three associates went above and beyond to make our Partners In Caring fundraising campaign a success, and we are thrilled to recognize their efforts publicly by featuring them on the Cheerios box,” said David Zallie, owner of ShopRite of Medford.

“Andrea, Kim and Heather each had a strong commitment to our ultimate goal of fighting hunger in South Jersey. I know many of our neighbors will benefit from their efforts.”

Since 2006, David and Renee Zallie have owned and operated the ShopRite at 208 Route 70 West in Medford. The Zallies also own and operate ShopRite supermarkets in Gibbstown and Lawnside.

ShopRite of Lawnside employees are

also winners: Sydnee King of Lawnside and Adienne Olah of Medford are featured on the limited-edition Cheerios boxes, too.

The Zallies’ passion to service and community is shared by all their employees, as well as those working at more than 270 ShopRite supermarkets that participated in last September’s challenge.

September is National Hunger Action Month.

Funds received from the annual drive are channeled to the ShopRite Partners In Caring program, a hunger-fighting initiative that gives support to more than 2,200 charities.

Since its founding, Partners In Caring has donated more than $44 million to soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, senior-citizen centers and other organizations that are on the front lines of fighting hunger.

As the winner of last year’s fundraising drive, ShopRite of Medford received the additional honor of selecting three employees to be featured on a limited-edition Cheerios

CHEERIOS>>PAGE 15

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LOCAL NEWS

Proposal to Send Chatsworth Elementary Students to Olson Middle School Falls Flat After Leaks

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A surreptitious proposal to send sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Woodland Township to Kenneth R. Olson Middle School in Tabernacle Township, instead of Woodland’s Chatsworth Elementary School, has fallen through, following its discovery by the public last month.

The discovery caused a controversy that was fueled by the secretive way school officials in both Tabernacle and Woodland chose to propose the idea. Many residents, fearing the concept would result in the beginning of the end of the Chatsworth Elementary, opposed the idea, while others favored the idea due to unavailability of programs at Chatsworth Elementary and transparency concerns.

Those in favor of the proposal promoted a petition in a secret social-media group supporting the move, adding to the controversy.

The proposal was found out by residents only after Woodland resident Kristen Mull posted in the secret social-media group about a conversation she overheard at a local sporting event.

“For full transparency, I was the parent who posted on the secret society Facebook page when a (school) board member from Tabernacle came up to another parent at a sporting event,” she said. “I was standing there (when the board member) started talking about how they are interested in having our middle schoolers.”

Mull was one of the residents who promoted the petition in support of the possible merger.

A Chatsworth Elementary School staff member alerted residents who often support the school to the petition and Mull’s posting and asked that they attend a Feb. 21 Woodland Township Board of Education meeting.

It was only after the leaks emerged about the existence of such a proposal that Edward Vincent, president of the Woodland Township Board of Education, confirmed a meeting took place over the proposal with high-ranking officials from the Woodland and Tabernacle school districts.

“We recently met with Tabernacle to have a discussion and explore what they are proposing,” he said. “I can tell you that before they had even come to us with facts about how the process would work, they first wanted to see if we would be open to the idea.

“They were thinking at first we could just send over our 6th grade and see how that went and then, year by year, send other grades, up to 8th grade.”

His confirmation came before an audience of dozens who attended the Woodland BOE’s Feb. 21 meeting.

Vincent defended the board’s transparency over the matter in remarks that lasted more than 10 minutes.

“I have been an advocate of being transparent to our staff and to our residents,” he said. “I know parents and kids would like to

FLAT>>PAGE 21

Food Trucks and L.E.D. ‘Open’ Signs Could Soon Be Permitted in Medford’s Downtown

By Nancy Rump

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—Township Council here may soon allow food trucks on Main Street for a proposed monthly event.

Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson suggested the idea at council’s March 6 meeting, with the hope that the monthly event could begin as early as this spring.

The mayor said he talked with some local businesses, the Medford Business Association and the Medford Economic Development

Commission about the proposal.

He said he hopes the trucks will encourage stores downtown to stay open later and will “bring a little bit more life to our downtown.”

Watson proposed allowing food trucks to park along Main Street, on one Thursday every month, from April through September.

Times, dates, and places have yet to be determined. The plan is in its earliest stages and was only discussed by council at its last meeting.

Watson said he picked Thursday for the

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L.E.D.>>PAGE 16

Election Results

x

Local BOE–Bass River Twp. John A. Allen (NBP)

41

50%

Carol A. Bitzberger (NBP)

26

32%

Kevin C. Foder (NBP)

11

13%

Personal Choice (NBP)

3

3%

INDEX Business Directory.......................... 12 Community..................................... 11 Fun and Games............................... 19 Health.............................................. 18 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 26

Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace..................................... 20 Opinion........................................... 10 Scanner.............................................. 8 Worship Directory........................... 11

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

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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f

Ask the Expert!

By Dean Mainardi

You are thinking about doing a project in your home, or an issue that just will not go away.

Who do you go to for sincere, honest advice? In recent years, the economic situation that our country is involved in, has brought many people to the “Trades” with little to no experience. We have seen some of the worst workmanship and solutions to problems than ever before.

In the end, hard-earned money is spent and bigger problems are created.

That’s why we are here. To help you! This section is a direct contact to give you the advice and experience you need to help solve any home improvement concern or issue you may have. The best part is it’s for FREE. No strings attached. Just good old-fashioned neighborly advice on the things you need to know. If I don’t have the answer, I will get it or refer you to the proper expert in our network of quality reliable contractors.

For every issue, I will choose the BEST question that I think will help the most people. If we publish your question, you will receive a $50 VISA gift card as a thank you from us for helping make this new section a success.

So, “We are what you have been waiting for.” Get to your computer and send your questions directly to me at AskTheExpert@onlythebestbuilder.com or call directly at 609-654-1698.

Dean Mainardi is a 3rdgeneration contractor. He has built everything from new homes to restaurants. He and his company“Only The Best Builder LLC” have been on a mission to hire the “Best” people, use the“Best” products, and give the “Best” service anywhere. You can read more about this company and their mission at www.onlythebestbuilder.com. Make sure you check out the “Page of Shame.”

www.onlythebestbuilder.com

541 Barbershop....................................................................... 24 Amish Country Sheds............................................................. 23 Femmina & Tarantella.............................................................. 3 Medford Eyewear Center........................................................ 18 Medford Ford.......................................................................... 25 Medford Lighting & Repair.................................................... 22 Runway Cafe........................................................................... 19 Smart Feet............................................................................... 22 Southampton Auto Center....................................................... 27 Top Job Watch and Jewelry Repair......................................... 13

Q

Dear Dean, I live in a bi-level home built in 1976.

What is the most effective and economical modern method of insulating the concrete floor at ground level, excluding the heater and laundry area? The spectrum of cost and choices of thermal materials now available is of interest.

I'm thinking of wood 3/4-inch floors.

A

Dear Michael, This is a problem that I am sure many people in our area face. The first point I want to bring up is since we are dealing with the lower level of the home, all the heat tends to rise up to the upper spaces. It is important to make sure that your attic area is properly insulated and also that your home exterior is properly wrapped and sealed for air infiltration, which will bleed off heat as well.

The most cost-effective way is to build a wood floor structure is by using 2x4 sleepers. (a 2x4 on flat edge fastened to the concrete floor).

Make sure you install a vapor barrier first, then insulate with foam between the stud spacing,

then cover with a plywood sub-floor. Then you can install your wood floor of choice.

A more modern solution that we have seen, comes from a company called Thermosoft International. (www.thermosoft.com). They manufacture, in the USA, several options of floor insulating/heating systems for use under all floor types. We feel this is a better option because you will keep the floor warm, which will give you an overall warm feeling in the rooms.

Both options are a DIY, except I would use a licensed electrician for the Thermosoft circuits.

Some food for thought...A 3/4 wood floor only offers about an R-1 rating. A 1 1/2 inch FOAM sheet only offers a R-5. So all in all you will only achieve about R6.5 doing the sleeper system. I personally don't feel you will see a noticeable difference with this option. Any reflective type product that someone might try to sell you would have no effect because heat rises. Those products are designed to reflect heat back to the source.

Let us know what you decide.

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Technology Curriculum Reinvented to Lay Groundwork for Future Engineers, Scientists and Computer Programmers

A mural inside of a STEM classroom.

By Judy Cohen Minches For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—Medford Township School District’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program, is developing creative, young minds.

First grade “engineers” at Chairville Elementary School in Medford Township recently built bridges from copy paper, index cards, craft sticks, straws, tape, string and paper clips.

They spoke with one another about abutment, constraint and tension issues they were trying to overcome; their bridges had to be strong enough to withstand automobile (toy) travel and the weight of 20 pennies, allowing for a wooden block barge to sail underneath.

They did this twice; the second test, a week after the first, was administered to illustrate the importance of making improvements after assessing what went wrong, a process that may require numerous attempts to get the desired outcome.

PHOTO SUBMITTED That, they were told, is how an engineer would do it and, in short, how problems are solved.

Christine Masters is their STEM teacher in the new “Fab Lab”—short for fabrication— at Chairville, where students have an opportunity to create something new and/or improve what already exists through hands-on experimentation.

The lab, which has the look of a sophisticated play room, sports the STEM mantra: “Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create and Improve.”

The idea, Masters said, is to actively engage students in the process that engineers would go through when faced with a task—a product to create, or a problem to solve, for two examples—and develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities which ultimately make the world a better place.

STEM, which has been prioritized, replaces the weekly hour of technology class at the school that at one time was cutting edge. The

COMPUTER>>PAGE 22

50 Percent of Medford Lakes’ Trails Blocked at Height of Last Week’s Storm

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—Living in a forested lake community can present potential problems when a major storm hits.

Certainly, Medford Lakes, a local lake community with countless trees, was one of the areas in the state tested when a Nor’easter producing high winds and heavy, wet snow blew through on March 7.

However, Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton and others on Medford Lakes Council said at a March 8 Medford Lakes Council meeting that although a number of residents struggled with power outages, the borough did not have any significant property damage or injuries reported.

He said residents were helped by local police and the Medford Lakes Public Works Department.

“Fifty percent of the trails had some sort of blockage or damage from branches or trees in the roadways and damaged wires,” Burton said.

“All of our patrol vehicles, except one that was out of service, were utilized in the event and they and DPW (Department of Public Works) worked through the night blocking dangerous areas off, and clearing as much as they could.

Burton said that he heard of some residential fences that were damaged and reports of trees on decks, but had not gotten any calls regarding

home damage.

One task that public works and police officers did not work on was removing trees that came into contact with wires, which was left for Public Services Electric and Gas (PSE&G) to handle.

The downed wires resulted in an estimated 150 addresses in the borough left without power, some for up to 48 hours. One section of homes on Onondago Trail was without power for over 50 hours.

“There were a number of people who were frustrated about the outages and the PSE&G response time,” Burton said. “They were upset since they didn't have heat. But overall, considering the magnitude of the storm, I think that (PSE&G) did a pretty good job.”

Burton explained that PSE&G prioritizes their actions and does not deem trees leaning on powerlines a top concern when power is still available.

In situations of widespread, damaging storms statewide, he said the borough’s small size works against itself in regard to receiving help from PSE&G. “Unfortunately, it’s important to note that we don’t have any hospitals or nursing homes, so priorities for other resources were shifted to other communities,” Burton said. “With that said, our police did reach out to seniors living alone and

TRAILS>>PAGE 14

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Two Longtime Seneca Employees Receive Top Educational Honors For the Pine Barrens Tribune TABERNACLE—Science teacher Dusty Carroll has been named Seneca High School’s 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year.

But the accolades for Carroll haven’t stopped there.

She has also been named the Lenape Regional High School District’s 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year, after competing with teachers from the district’s four other schools.

She began her tenure at Seneca in 2004 and has since taught Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Environmental Sustainability and Physical Science.

Carroll also teaches Engineering Design and Development, a capstone course that is part of a Project Lead the Way program.

The College of New Jersey graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, has developed a reputation as a demanding teacher, yet one who provides a comfortable environment for her students to take risks and learn as a result of their mistakes.

“I have a great relationship with my students, and I work hard to develop new ways of making them think,” Carroll said. “My entire focus is on ensuring that the students are constantly challenged, and everything I do relates to that goal.”

Seneca High School Assistant Principal and Science Supervisor Dave Maier said Carroll’s teaching style has a positive impact on student learning outcomes.

“Dusty provides learning opportunities that allow her students to master abstract science,” he said. “She always seems to know the right question to ask her students at exactly the right time to facilitate their learning.”

Carroll said she gives careful consideration to attracting and holding student interest and attention in today’s digital world.

“I love the students,” she said. “They constantly impress me. They take responsibility for their actions and they are resilient enough to keep learning how to become better students and better people even after they make mistakes.

They inspire me daily.”

Carroll added she works to incorporate technology into the classroom in creative ways and learn innovative approaches from her peers in science education.

“The best ways I have found to keep current in both my scientific knowledge and my pedagogical ‘bag of tricks’ are to read journals and blogs from reputable educational organizations and to keep in close contact with other educators, both informally and formally through various professional organizations,” she said. “Teachers must evolve with the current generation of students if they are to successfully teach them.”

Carroll is a member of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT), for which she conducts peer reviews of lessons and potential journal articles; the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA); and the New Jersey Science Teachers Association (NJSTA), for which she is first vice president and high school section chair.

She has also been published in The Science Teacher, a journal of the NSTA, and Chemistry Solutions, a journal of the AACT. “Great educators are informal leaders, studentcentered, passionate and lifelong learners,” Maier said. “As a consummate professional, Dusty exhibits all of these qualities, which make her a valuable asset to our students and our staff at Seneca and throughout the district.”

In addition to teaching at Seneca, Carroll is the high school’s STEM club adviser.

Also of note, Carroll coached gymnastics and spring track in the early days of her career.

She worked as a track coach at Cherry Hill High School West, after working in a physical therapy office, and these experiences helped her realize a passion for teaching.

“The student-athletes convinced me of my true calling,” she said.

She also worked at Cherry Hill High School West for five years before joining Seneca.

With her bachelor’s degree in chemistry, she chose to pursue a career as a science teacher and went on to earn a master’s in Chemistry Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

“We are lucky to have Dusty as part of our science teaching staff because of her ability to not only connect with students, but also with her peers to share best practices,” said Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm. “She strengthens our district’s culture of collaboration, which helps ensure that our students receive an education of the highest quality. In addition to helping our students learn the material, Dusty’s approach to teaching also fully engages students in the sciences, which is a critical first step in funneling bright, young minds into thriving STEM careers and putting our students on a path to success.”

Also receiving accolades is fourteen-year Seneca High School employee Amy Rominiecki.

She has been named the high school’s 20182019 Educational Services Professional of the Year.

After graduating from Temple University with a bachelor of science degree in sociology and women’s studies, Rominiecki pursued a master’s degree in library and information science from Drexel University.

Her foray into the world of education came from a former teacher who mentioned that Rominiecki would be a great educator.

Rominiecki said she chose to be a media specialist because she “gets to work with all types of teachers and students, in all subjects.”

Before coming to the Lenape Regional High School District at Seneca in 2004, Rominiecki worked at MAST Community Charter School in Philadelphia. as the school’s librarian.

In addition to her role as a media specialist, Rominiecki is also the adviser of the high school’s literary magazine and serves as the high school’s Knowledge Bowl team coach.

Additionally, she is Seneca’s Amnesty International adviser and the business manager for the high school’s fall dramas and spring musicals.

Rominiecki’s contributions go well beyond those at Seneca.

She is the New Jersey Association for School Librarians Standards Chair and a past President of that organization.

Rominiecki has also been recognized by the New Jersey Association for School Librarians as a recipient of their Presidents’ Award in 2016 and also as an emerging leader by the American Library Association (2009-2010).

Rominiecki has also helped Seneca’s Media Center earn other prestigious awards including the Jean E. Harris Progressive School Library Award (2012) and the American Association of School Librarians Outstanding School Library Award (2011).

When asked about receiving the Educational Services Professional of the Year honor, Rominiecki said she was shocked.

“The outpouring of love and support I’ve received from the staff has been overwhelming,” she said. “To be honored alongside Dusty Carroll is special because she has helped me grow my educational practice. I love that the staff and students know each other and genuinely care about each other. I love our library because it is a place where all of our students feel welcome and comfortable.”

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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SCANNER Police Make Arrests Following Three Unrelated School Shooting Threats in Evesham EVESHAM—Three students from Evesham Township have been arrested after purportedly making school shooting threats.

The unrelated threats were made within a four-day period last week.

The first incident occurred on March 7 when a 15-year-old high school student allegedly made a threat to be involved in a shooting at Cherokee High School in Evesham Township.

“The Evesham Police Department was notified that the 15-year-old student sent a Snapchat message to a fellow student about his desire to ‘shoot up the school,’” said the Evesham Township Police Department in a statement. “The fellow student immediately reported this incident to parents and school officials.”

Police said the suspect was immediately taken into custody, admitted to making the threat and was charged with making terroristic threats and creating false public alarms.

The second incident occurred on March 9 when a 12-year-old middle school student was arrested on charges that he made a threat to be involved in a school shooting in Evesham Township and created false public alarms.

The Evesham Township Police Department said that it was notified that the 12-year-old boy sent a Snapchat message to a fellow student about his desire to “plan a school shooting.”

The fellow student notified his parents of the message, who reported it to police.

Evesham detectives and school officials

worked quickly to identify the suspect and immediately located him at his residence, police said.

The third incident occurred on March 10.

Officers from the Evesham Township Police Department arrested a 14-year-old Cherokee High School student after being notified that the student sent a social media message to fellow students that he was in possession of a gun, wanted to shoot a police officer and advised his fellow classmates to wear certain color shirts so they wouldn’t get shot at school.

Police said they worked quickly to identify the suspect, who was immediately taken into custody and admitted to the threat.

“A threat assessment was conducted and the suspect did not have access to any weapons,” the department said in a statement. “The police department determined that there is currently no threat to the safety of staff and students.”

The 14-year-old student was also charged with making terroristic threats and creating false public alarms.

“We always take any kinds of threats against our schools very seriously,” said Christopher Chew, chief of the Evesham Township Police Department. “I am proud of the students who reported these threatening messages to their parents, who worked with our agency to uncover the source of the threats and make sure any potential danger to our police officers, students and school staff was immediately investigated.”

Teen Undergoes Mental Health Screening After Allegedly Sending Electronic Threat LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A former male student of Pinelands Regional High School was given a mental health screening last week after he allegedly sent a threatening message to the Pinelands Regional School District in Little Egg Harbor Township.

The electronic message was discovered by school district officials on March 8, while some of the district’s students were en route to Pinelands Regional Junior High School.

“Students in grades 9­-12 were already present in the school buildings, and the 7th and 8th grade students were en route,” said Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, acting superintendent of Pinelands Regional School District. “We used a police escort to disembark the 7th- and 8th-grade students from the buses and searched all 7th and 8th grade students and their bags prior to permitting entry to the building.”

She said the former student suspect, who withdrew from the school district two weeks ago, was identified and placed in police custody at the same time the 7th and 8th graders arrived to school.

“We were pretty sure we had the kid as we were taking the steps,” Stevenson said. “But, we took precautionary steps since we didn’t have enough information at the time.”

The suspect, a 15-year-old boy, according to the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, was taken into custody in another jurisdiction.

“A threatening message was received through an internal Pinelands Regional messaging system,” the police department said in a statement.

“The threat came from the account of a former

student who no longer resides within the district.”

Stevenson said the district placed both its schools in a Shelter in Place mode while the incident was being investigated and instructed all 9th graders to remain in their classrooms.

“Upon completion of the investigation by the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, it was determined that there were no confirmed threats to either the Junior or Senior High School,” she said. “Given that fact, we issued an all clear and both schools returned to normal operations by early afternoon.”

The Little Egg Harbor Police Department said in a second statement that investigators searched the “homes where the suspect resides or frequents” for weapons. The Barnegat and Manchester police departments, according to the second statement, were involved in the searches.

“None were found,” the department said.

“After questioning, the suspect, a 15-year-old male, was taken for a mental-health screening.”

Stevenson said the threat was “non­specific” and “unconfirmed.”

“It was more of a student being—quite frankly—stupid,” she said. “It was more of a case of, ‘Let me post it and see what happensʼ. It was a mistake, but he will be charged.”

The Little Egg Harbor Police Department said charges are pending the results of a forensic exam of the suspect’s seized electronic devices and receipt of his “Google Classroom” account information.

“There was no danger of harm,” Stevenson said. “But, in today’s times, you can’t make assumptions.”

New Gretna Woman Dies in House Fire

PHOTO SUBMITTED A home on West Greenbush Road in the New Gretna section of Bass River was destroyed by a fire.

BASS RIVER—A house fire turned deadly in the New Gretna section of Bass River Township last Saturday.

The fire, which broke out in a home on West Greenbush Road, was first reported to authorities at 12:11 a.m.

After firefighters cleared the scene, only a charred frame of the home remained standing.

“There was one confirmed fatality of a female,” said Trooper Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police.

“Her identification is pending an autopsy.”

He added that the victim was in her mid to late 30s.

New Gretna Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Tom “Tommy” Wetmore declined to comment on the blaze because he said the fire is still under investigation by Burlington County Fire Marshal Robert Carr.

Carr did not return phone messages seeking comment for this story.

Goez confirmed the fire is under investigation

by Carr and added that the state fire marshal is also investigating it.

The New Gretna Volunteer Fire Co. released a statement earlier this week on social media which provided a few more details about the incident.

“The chief arrived on location to find a large two-story home, fully involved,” the statement said. “Companies were placed into service and additional mutual aid companies were called to assist. This incident turned into a long night and couldn’t have been done without the help of numerous other agencies.”

The Tuckerton Volunteer Fire Co., which was listed as one of the mutual aid agencies to assist New Gretna Volunteer Fire Co. firefighters, posted on social media that New Gretna firefighters, followed by West Tuckerton Volunteer Fire Co firefighters, arrived at the scene to find “a well-involved home in a wooded area, and were unable to enter the building.”

Family Relocated After Home Sustains Heavy Damage in Blaze PEMBERTON—An unoccupied bi-level home in the Presidential Lakes section of Pemberton Township sustained heavy damage last Saturday after a fire broke out inside it.

The blaze at 412 Florida Trail was reported to authorities at 12:59 p.m. on March 10.

“Four people lived inside the home, but were not home at the time of the fire,” said Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig Augustoni. “It got called in by a neighbor.”

The fire chief said the insurance company of the homeowner, Joseph McCloskey, relocated the family to a hotel due to the heavy damage the home sustained.

The cause of the one-alarm blaze is still under investigation by the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office and state fire marshal.

“We really don’t have a cause,” Augustoni said. “We are looking at a couple of things.”

He said 40 firefighters responded to the fire.

Working Smoke Detector Helps Advert Disaster PEMBERTON—A working smoke detector played in a critical role in allowing firefighters to quickly contain a small fire that broke out last Sunday in a home in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township and alerting a sleeping homeowner of danger.

The fire broke out at 1:32 a.m. on March 11 in a 301 Carol St. dwelling.

“The homeowner was alerted to the fire by smoke detectors, which woke her up,” said Craig Augustoni, chief of the Pemberton Township Fire Department. “The alarm company called us immediately and she backed it up with a 911 call.”

Augustoni said upon firefighters’ arrival, a minor fire was found in the home’s wall.

“It was possibly caused by a defective

chimney,” he said. “The thinking is that mortar in the chimney cracked and caught fire.”

Augustoni said the homeowner, Maureen Schlette, was the only person home at the time of the fire.

“There were no injuries,” he said. “The moral of the story is that having working smoke detectors saves lives.”

Augustoni added that besides crews removing some facing and sheet rock from the home, there was no “real, big damage.”

“I strongly once again recommend that residents have working smoke detectors,” he said. “She and her dog got out of the home to live another day. They were relocated to her niece’s home in Manahawkin and it looks like she will be back home today (March 11).”

Saturday, March 17, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Teenager with Paintball Guns Charged with Making Terroristic Threats LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Mere days after a 15-year-old boy was apprehended for making a non-discrete electronic threat against the Pinelands Regional School District, another teenager was charged with making terroristic threats aimed at the district’s schools in Little Egg Harbor Township.

The Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department said that at about 8:30 p.m. on March 11, the department received information about a possible threat to the Pinelands Regional School District through social media.

An investigation led to a 19-year-old man being arrested later that night. He was charged with making terroristic threats, before being taken for a mental health screening.

“After a search of his residences in Eagleswood and Barnegat Townships, several ‘Airsoft’ and paintball guns were seized,” the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department said in a statement. “The subject’s electronic

devices were also seized.”

Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, acting superintendent of Pinelands Regional School District, said the 19-year-old is a senior at the district’s high school and that he made the threat in a Snapchat post.

Police said the March 11 incident was unrelated to the March 8 incident in which a former district student purportedly used an internal messaging system to send a threatening message to the district.

“With the national prevailing threat level being what it is, it shall be the policy of this agency to vigorously investigate and prosecute all those responsible for school threat incidents,” said Little Egg Harbor Police Department Chief Rich Buzby. “We would prefer to exercise our usual discretion handling issues with youthful offenders, but children are our most precious resource and their protection demands our vigilance and best efforts in these regards.”

Man Fighting Blaze in His Home Suffers Smoke Inhalation

A bi-level home on New Jersey Road engulfed in flames.

PEMBERTON—A fire in the Presidential Lakes section of Pemberton Township last week sent a man to the hospital and destroyed a bilevel home.

The fire started just before 10:26 p.m. on March 8 at 521 New Jersey Road.

Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig Augustoni said the home's owner, William Sweet, 60, was in the home as the flames broke out and spread throughout the home.

“He was trying to fight the fire and got smoke inhalation,” Augustoni said. “The place was pretty involved when we got there.”

The fire chief said up to 60 firefighters responded to the one-alarm blaze.

The home was boarded up after the fire.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Sweet was taken to Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, before being transported to Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

His condition was unknown as of press time.

“The bi-level was not livable,” Augustoni said. “It was pretty well destroyed as the fire went through the roof.”

Augustoni said Sweet’s wife and dog were not at home at the time the blaze broke out. The fire was put under control at 11:21 p.m.

The state fire marshal and Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

“It was accidental, but the cause is still under investigation,” Augustoni said.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PAGE 9

Former Lenape Teacher Pleads Guilty to Making Upskirt Videos of Female Students MEDFORD—Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Thursday that a former Lenape High School teacher admitted Wednesday in Burlington County Superior Court to recording upskirt videos and taking photos of female students last year in his classroom and the school’s hallways.

Eric T. Howell, 44, of the first block of Dogwood Court in Maple Shade, pled guilty to one count of second degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Under an agreement with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Howell will receive five years in New Jersey state prison when he is sentenced by the Hon. Mark P. Tarantino, J.S.C., on June 20.

An investigation revealed that Howell concealed a camera in a coconut water box that was then placed in the side mesh portion of his briefcase.

Coffina said Howell would unscrew the cap, walk in close proximity to female students and carry his briefcase in a manner that allowed the camera to point up their skirts or loose-fitting shorts.

Howell’s behavior was brought to the attention of the school administration on May 2 by an individual who observed him passing behind a female student and extending his arm sideways in an attempt to position the camera under her skirt.

Howell, who was hired in 2016 as a chemistry teacher at the school, located in Medford Township, was suspended that same day and has since been terminated.

School officials, the prosecutor said, contacted police after receiving the information and “were fully cooperative with law enforcement.”

The investigation also revealed that Howell

Eric Howell.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

did not share or upload the videos and recordings.

The case is being prosecuted by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit.

The case was investigated by detectives from the Medford Township Police Department and Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

The lead investigators were Medford Police Detective Nicole Fellona and Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Matthew Delgado.

PAGE 10

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

OPINION

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

Due to the volume of letters received, we cannot guarantee every one will be printed.

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

Guest Commentary Barry Calogero

The Trump Administration appointed Barry Calogero last year as the state executive director for the USDA New Jersey Farm Service Agency. Calogero joined the New Jersey FSA team on Nov. 27. Calogero brings over 30 years of financial experience across various domestic and international operations, most recently serving as operations manager for Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union. He has previously worked for the ConvergEx Group, HSBC Securities Inc., and Baring Securities. He resides in Jackson.

A Special 2018 Ag Day Message: National Agriculture Day Celebrates American Food and Fiber Production March 20 is National Agriculture Day; a day designated each year by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) to celebrate the accomplishments of agriculture.

The Farm Service Agency joins the council in thanking American agricultural producers, especially in New Jersey, for their contributions to the nation’s outstanding quality of life.

This year’s theme, “Agriculture: Food for Life,” spotlights the hard work of American farmers, ranchers and foresters who diligently work to provide food, fiber and more to the United States and countries around the world.

To ensure a prosperous future for American agriculture, FSA provides continuous support to agriculturalists across the country.

FSA is rural America’s engine for economic growth, job creation and development, offering local service to millions of rural producers. In fiscal year 2017, USDA Farm Loan programs provided $6 billion in support to producers across America, the second highest total in FSA history.

FSA also distributed $1.6 billion in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments to over 375,000 Americans to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion and increase wildlife habitat.

For agricultural producers who suffered market downturns in 2016, USDA is issuing

approximately $8 billion in payments under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.

USDA also continues to provide extensive assistance in response to natural disasters throughout the country; including last year’s hurricanes in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; drought in the northern high plains; wildfires in the west and central plains; floods; tornadoes; freezes and other catastrophic weather events.

To support beginning farmers and ranchers, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed a Memorandum of Understanding with officials from SCORE, the nation’s largest volunteer network of expert business mentors, to support new and beginning farmers. The agreement provides new help and resources for beginning ranchers, veterans, women, socially disadvantaged Americans and others, providing new tools to help them both grow and thrive in agribusiness.

I am honored to administer programs that enable our producers to manage their risks when the agriculture industry faces hardship.

On behalf of the Farm Service Agency here in New Jersey, I would like to thank our agricultural producers for continuing to feed our nation and the world.

For more information about FSA programs and services, visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016

Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO Adam Tait III, Copy Editor Jayne Cabrilla, Copy Editor Keith Tarnow, Graphic Artist Colleen Jordan, Copy Editor, Graphic Artist P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Guest Commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune can be submitted by an appointed or elected official, political candidate, organization leader, or community leader. Guest commentary submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, photo, address, affiliation, title, and phone number of the writer.

Commentary may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, commentary should be about 450 words or less.

Letter to the Editor No Longer Accept Politicians Who Offer Their ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ On Valentine’s Day, I was fortunate enough to come home from work with a dozen red roses for my wife and a dozen yellow roses for my daughter who is a senior in high school this year, in honor of her admission to the University of Delaware this upcoming fall (it is hard to find blue flowers on short notice).

Giving a dozen roses is a tradition I have maintained every year of my marriage and every one of my daughter’s 18 years of life.

I was fortunate.

My wife, who works at a high school in the Lenape Regional High School District, and my daughter, who attends Shawnee High School, both came home alive that day. For that, I am forever grateful.

At least 17 individuals did not come home alive from a high school in Florida that day due to yet another mass shooting at a school. My guess is some of them had flowers or chocolate waiting for them at home.

I am tired of, and will no longer accept, politicians offering their “thoughts and prayers” to the victims. We must commit to a change in how we view guns, who we vote for at local, state and national levels, and join

together to make sure that assault rifles are eliminated.

There is really only one way to stop gun violence and that is to remove them from our society, much as all other civilized countries in the world have already done. Based on simple statistics, a guy with an assault rifle is a bigger risk to us than ISIS ever was, or is.

Let’s begin by electing Andy Kim for the 3rd District congressional representative in New Jersey this fall. But let’s do way more than this.

Teachers, teacher unions, students and parents should consider staying out of school until meaningful legislation is passed.

Campaign finance reform laws must be passed as the NRA pays out millions of dollars per year to corrupt politicians.

These politicians have blood on their hands, as do all of us who stand idly by while our children, teachers and administrators are gunned down. This has to stop. I hope these words are a beginning, but words alone will do nothing. Vote! Act! Join!

Patrick R. Progar Medford, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Guest Commentary-My Taxes are Too High...I am Moving Out of New Jersey) We are moving after paying almost $9,000 in property taxes. Our house is too big now that the children are grown. I am moving to Florida where we can live off retirement and a side job to keep us busy. Living in Burlington County was worth it when the children lived here with great special service in the school. One got a Stars grant, one graduated early. But, it’s time to move on. ~Lori Burke (Re: Guest Commentary-My Taxes are Too High...I am Moving Out of New Jersey) Born and raised here, and I will probably die here. But, I do dream of leaving. I don't rely on the state to "fully fund" schools, that just adds more taxes at the state level. ~Bill Mecca (Re: Nor'easter Topples Trees and Powerlines Leaving Hundreds Without Power for Days) Pine trees are the worst.They are tall, have shallow roots in sandy soil, and when the ground is wet and the winds are strong, it is a disaster. Cut down pine trees next to your house! ~Danny Garcia (Re: Motorist Tells Police Pothole Caused Crash Involving Utility Pole) I know potholes can be bad, but they must have been going pretty fast for a pothole to throw them off course. ~Davey Wavey Please comment on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Twitter: @PineBarrensNews with the hashtag #SoundOff or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinebarrenstribune.

Cartoon

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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PAGE 11

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

PLEASE SUBMIT EVENTS 4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE

Events March 20

Event: Shade Tree Pathology Location: Southampton Details: A special meeting of the Southampton Township Board of Health will feature a presentation, “Shade Tree Pathology,” at 7:30 p.m. sharp. The presentation will include information about the Pine Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer, both of which are invading our area. Afterwards, there will be a presentation by Dr. Rachel Kline, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Skincare,” which includes information about protecting your skin while outdoors. 5 Retreat Road and Route 206, Southampton.

March 21

Event: Lenten Soup Supper Location: Medford Lakes Details: All are invited to the Protestant Community Church at 6:30 p.m. for homemade soup followed by a Lenten journey based on “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.” For more information, call 609-654-4220, or visit www. protestantcommunitychurch.org.

March 22

Event: Chairville Skate Night Location: Mt. Laurel Details: Chairville Skate Night will be held at Mount Laurel Skate and Fun Center, 1 Hovtech Blvd., in Mount Laurel, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

March 23

Event: Veteran’s Free Art Classes Location: Medford Details: The Medford Arts Center, 18 N. Main Street, Medford, is hosting a year of free art classes to U.S. Military Veterans.

Participants will explore their creativity in a warm and inviting atmosphere. All materials and supplies will be supplied. No experience is necessary. 4th Fridays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 609654-6033 for more information. Walk-ins welcome. Sponsored

by Stout & Caldwell, Engineers and Surveyors.

March 27

Event: Kindergarten Race Car Night Location: Medford Details: Kindergarten Race Car Night will be held at Kirby’s Mill Elementary School, 151 Hartford Road, in Medford, from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.

April 2

Event: Seafood Dinner Location: New Gretna Details: The New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company is hosting their 14th Annual Seafood Dinner, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Allen’s Clam Bar, 5650 Rt. 9, in New Gretna. Adults, $20; Children ages 5 – 12, $10; Children under 5 are free. Eat In or Take Out. Cash only, please. Proceeds benefit the New Gretna Vol. Fire Co. For more information, call 609-412-0044.

April 14

Event: The Colonel’s Walk Location: Eastampton Details: The Colonel’s Walk will take place at historic Smithville Park, in Easthampton. The walk is about one mile, through the wooded trails of the park. Registration begins at 11 a.m., the walk begins at 11:30 a.m. Adults, $15. Children under 12, $10. Children under 3 are free.

Proceeds benefit student scholarships and Veterans projects.

For more information, visit www.thecolonelswalk.com.

Event: Fun’d Feast Basket Auction Location: Eastampton Details: Please join the Timothy Christian Academy for great food, music, fabulous gift baskets and a fun family night. Proceeds benefit TCA’s tuition assistance fund. Advance tickets are available for $25 at https://2018fundfeast.eventbrite.com, or call 609-262-9578.

Event: Basket and Bag Bingo Location: New Egypt Details: The Cookstown Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary will host a Basket and Bag Bingo event at the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road and Rt. 528, in New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30; Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. For more information, call 609-668-2030.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—The “buzz” at the Pemberton Township Senior Citizens Center was all about the impending snowstorm.

“Will it be as bad as they were predicting?” or “Will we miss the worst of it?” were questions the seniors kept asking. Unfortunately, as the day progressed, the snow did not stop and there was no “good news.”

Being able to attend a Doolan’s St Patrick’s Day Party was the main concern.

At first, word came that the group scheduled to attend March 7 festivities had been canceled, and March 8 festivities were put on hold.

Snow Cancellations Spoil Seniors’ Planned Trips As the snow fell continually, blanketing the area in soft, white fluff, word came that the snow in Spring Lake had already reached a depth of five inches and Doolan’s was not certain that they would have enough time to clear their parking facility for March 8.

Most of the guests at these parties are senior citizens and, one by one, senior citizens groups called to cancel their participation in the March 8 festivities.

With virtually no audience for the performance, the decision was made to cancel the party for March 8 and the call went out around 3 p.m. on March 7.

Come

Of course, this caused a problem for the Pemberton group of seniors. 56 people signed up for the trip, so phone calls needed to be made to each one. Seniors volunteered to contact their friends and neighbors, so most received the news in a timely fashion.

Yours truly had additional problems due to the heavy, wet snow.

The electricity failed for periods of time, so email contact was limited. Comcast internet was also not available for a period of time. Seniors calling either the center or this reporter received only a terse “hello” and nothing further.

The good news is that the trip was rescheduled

Worship With Us

for Friday, March 16. The group will meet at the Acme parking lot and the bus will depart at 9:30 a.m. for the trip to Doolan’s.

The weather forecast looks good for the next several days and higher temperatures will mean the snow will quickly melt.

It is hoped there will be no more problems with scheduled activities and trips this season.

All those having tickets for the canceled trip on March 8, should contact the senior citizens center and reconfirm the rescheduled date.

The weather cooperated on Monday and the couponing ladies stopped at the senior center.

SPOIL>>PAGE 24

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Local Boy Wins Top Wrestling Honor

By Adam Tait III Staff Writer

WOODLAND—A local boy won top honors in his weight class last week in a youth state wrestling championship at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton.

Matthew Henrich led a host of local boys while winning the junior 90-pound title.

Henrich breezed to the championship with three pins and a 15-0 technical fall in the final.

It was his third consecutive title and fourth overall. He didn’t give up a single point in any of his bouts.

Eight other local boys finished in the top four of their respective weight classes. Michael Craft was runner up at novice, 80 pounds. Ed Vincent and Rich DeFulvio were third at 160 and 85 pounds at the junior level while Daniel Finelli was third in the bantam 45- pound class.

Four boys took home fourth-place honors.

They were Austin Craft and Jackson Young, 85-and 90-pound juniors, while Luke Johnston and Jake Barletta were fourth at novice, at 50 and 85 pounds, respectively.

Finishing in sixth place were Reilly Cavanaugh (junior 144) and Matteo Tramutola (novice 95) and in 7th place was Chase Horner (bantam 75).

Those competing at the state tourney had a long climb. Eight preliminary competitions took place throughout the state, beginning in January. Only the top three in each weight class qualified at the state level.

Congratulations to Henrich and the other competitors. You may see them on the highschool mats in just a few more years.

PHOTO SUBMITTED New Jersey State Champions: first place Matthew Henrich, left, and third place Ed Vincent, right.

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TRAILS PAGE 6

the department handled 120 calls (on Wednesday, March 7th). Plus, our phone did not stop ringing (the next day) all day.”

In response to some residents' concerns, Burton met with PSE&G representatives on March 14 to discuss advancing some infrastructure to prevent future lengthy power issues in the future, but said that such talk is in the very early stages.

He mentioned during the March 8th meeting that a charging station was opened and fresh drinking water was offered for residents without power.

“Our crew in town did an excellent job,” said Deputy Mayor Robert D. Hanold Sr. “I got up at 5 a.m. today and was able to get around the roads with no problem. I commend them all for taking care of the community. If you run into them, thank them for their help.”

In other news, a short presentation was made during the council meeting by representatives of HeroinKillsNJ, a Trenton-based nonprofit organization. The organization’s purpose is to help those in need of recovery by offering guidance with treatment facility placement, arranging aftercare, providing family counseling and providing education.

The organization, which is totally run by volunteers, performs interventions with a certified interventionist and is staffed with certified recovery coaches. It also helps with the preparation of job resumes and provides assistance to some with relevant legal issues.

The organization accepts no pay for its services.

“We’re trying to invite communities for an education night about addiction and recovery and discuss what our organization does to help out,” said coordinator Tom Clark. “We’re trying to see every municipality that we can get into.

We want to show that there are actually people

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, March 17, 2018

out there who care about what’s going on and see what the family and addict might need.”

Clark was joined by two other members who each had specific reasons for being involved with the organization.

“My son suffered from addiction and that’s how I became involved with HeroinKills,” said Diane Moller. “Even though he died from a fatal overdose in December 2017, at age 29, I want to stay with this organization. I don’t want another family or kid to go through what my son went through.

Judy Kraemer had also been touched by heroin addiction.

“I have a son who is 32 and he is in long-term rehab now,” she said. “It is his fourth time (in rehab) and he has been fighting addiction for a couple of years. I’m raising his 3-year-old son.

His girlfriend is an addict, also, and it just about destroyed our family.”

But, she said she has gotten stronger being part of HeroinKills.

“I just want to spread the word that there is help out there for the families who are going through this,” she said.

The council said that they will look for opportunities for the organization to present its message to the public.

Also of significance, it was reported that the borough received a grant of $230,473 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for road improvements to Pocahontas Trail, which has had drainage issues.

Four resolutions passed.

Three of them authorized two raffle licenses for the Shawnee End Zone Club for an event at PJ Whelihan’s on March 29 and a raffle license for the Medford Lakes Education Foundation.

The other authorized execution of a sharedservices agreement with Medford to provide a certified recycling coordinator for 2018, continuing an agreement that has been in place for seven years.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

CHEERIOS PAGE 1

box, while all other winning ShopRite stores received the honor of selecting just two.

Boyle, Dean and Lordi were ecstatic at being named this year's honorees. Boyle said her entire family waited anxiously for the release of the special Cheerios box so they could buy one with her picture on it.

In addition to having their faces printed on the limited-edition Cheerios boxes, all 82 featured employees of ShopRite supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania will receive a gift bag that includes an e-reader and a silver picture frame.

“Every year, they pick someone new to be on the box,” Dean said.

Last year, Sue Schembri was one of those lucky honorees from the Medford store.

She was present to see her co-workers honored as well.

This year’s recipients were treated to a gala event at the ShopRite of Medford.

At the event, there was a cake iced in festive red inscribed, “One Team, One Purpose.”

Stacked columns of alternating red and gold balloons were hung like streamers from one end of the store’s presentation area to the other.

Colorful construction paper cut-outs of figures identified by the names of the contest winners were pinned against a partition draped in red.

Dignitaries posed for photos in front of several posters. The smallest had a yellow background—the color of a Cheerios box— with a red “1” printed on it. The faces of all 2018 contest winners, from all ShopRite stores, were printed on the red “1.”

Printed on the poster was the contest theme: “The power of one.”

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Adjacent to the yellow poster was an even larger one with a black background. Yellow Cheerios boxes with a red “1” printed with the faces of contest winners were stacked to form a number one. White letters arranged above the “1” repeated the same powerful message: The power of one.

Representatives from St. Vincent de Paul Society food banks in Tabernacle and Medford, along with representatives from The Food Bank of South Jersey attended the March 6 presentation at ShopRite of Medford.

Many Burlington County food pantries will benefit from the store’s passion to give back to the community it serves.

As the highest-earning store in charitable donations among the 40 winning stores located in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania; the Medford ShopRite will receive $3,000 to donate to local food pantries.

Four other top earner stores will also receive $3,000 to donate to local food pantries.

The other 35 ShopRite stores will each receive $500 to help the hungry in their communities.

Food pantries rely on the generosity of those who have, who donate to those who do not.

Each year, they also rely on ShopRite supermarkets, the Wakefern Food Corp. of Keasbey, and General Mills Food Co. (owner of Cheerios) of Minneapolis to meet the demand for their services.

Founded in 1946, Wakefern is the largest retailers' cooperative group of supermarkets in the United States and the largest employer in New Jersey.

General Mills, headquartered in Minneapolis, is one of the world's leading food companies, operating in more than 100 countries around the world.

PAGE 15

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Shoprite of Medford employees Andrea Boyle, Heather Lordi and Kimberly Dean hold limited edition Cheerios boxes they are featured on and pose for a picture with store management.

Wakefern, ShopRite and General Mills are caring corporate partners on one mission: feed those in want, not just those in need.

ShopRite Partners In Caring is a year-round, community-based, hunger-fighting initiative that works with more than 50 food industry manufacturers to provide $3 million annually to qualified charitable agencies located in the four states where ShopRite supermarkets are located.

Since its founding in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $46 million to more than 2,200 charities.

ShopRite Partners In Caring supports

emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child-care centers, batteredwomen's shelters, senior-citizen programs, drug-rehab centers, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, after-school programs and other organizations that aid those in need.

The ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund was established in 2002 as a component fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey to accept private donations that help fund its charitable endeavors.

For more information or to learn how you can help, please visit www. shopritepartnersincaring.org.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Rohm and Welsh Named Shawnee’s Distinguished Staff Members of the Year For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Jessica Breaux, co-owner of Wonder World Toys in Medford, shows Medford Township Council an LED “open” sign which she had in her storefront before being threatened with a daily fine.

L.E.D. PAGE 2

proposal because it’s an “off-night before everyone goes to the shore.” He envisioned the event having six food trucks parked along Main Street with their doors open to the sidewalk.

No streets are currently anticipated to be closed and extra police would probably not be needed, he said.

“There are some really awesome and amazing culinary trucks out there,” said Councilman Chris Buoni.

He advocated for variety amongst the food trucks.

“That would be the goal,” Buoni said. “We’re trying to generate food traffic, to have people come try something new and different.”

Buoni also said the event shouldn’t diminish the “street presence” of Main Street’s existing restaurants.

Councilman Frank Czekay said parking for the program needs to be clearly defined.

“A basic ordinance should have the parameters of what is allowed and where they can and cannot park in town,” he said.

Hours of operation, insurance, and potential fees should also be addressed, said Czekay.

Likewise, Watson said he didn’t want downtown businesses to be “overly affected” by the food trucks.

“That is one of the reasons I didn’t want to do it on a Friday,” he said.

Watson added that Medford-based food trucks should be given some “preferential rights” to participate in the event.

Officials expect to finalize plans and introduce an ordinance soon. Watson said council would likely miss April, but he was hopeful his “Food Truck Thursdays” would begin in May. Also affecting downtown: council plans to temporarily stop enforcing a portion of its local sign ordinance related to LED signage.

Earlier this year, some businesses on Main Street were told they had to remove small, lighted “open” signs from their storefront windows and doors or face a $50 a day fine.

The move caused a stir, which has led to council’s increased attention on downtown needs.

Internally-illuminated, neon and LED-lighted signs are not allowed under the township’s existing ordinance.

But local business owners have argued that the restrictions in the law are too restrictive and that small signs shouldn’t be lumped together with larger, outdoor flashing displays.

A subcommittee established by council is currently reviewing the ordinance’s language, and Watson said it’s leaning towards allowing businesses to have lighted “open” signs.

In the meantime, the subcommitee said it wants small, non-flashing signs exempt from the law.

Township Attorney Timothy Prime said a resolution needs to be approved by council at their next meeting to exempt small, non-flashing signs from the existing sign law—in order for council’s wishes to be carried out.

In other news, council unanimously introduced an ordinance earmarking $650,000 for the purchase of land at 51 Union St. Councilman Erik Rebstock was absent.

In February, a resolution was approved to acquire the property for building a new municipal building and library. A home on the property was built in 1790 and was once owned by former Medford mayor, Ephraim Tomlinson.

Watson said the township used to have Easter egg hunts on the grounds when he was a kid.

A public hearing on the ordinance is slated for March 20 at 7 p.m., during council’s next scheduled meeting. All meetings are held at the Public Safety Building, 91 Union St.

MEDFORD—Shawnee High School in Medford Township has announced that Marc Rohm, a special education teacher, has been named the high school’s ‘Teacher of the Year.’

“Marc has worked in the special education department for over 20 years and has been well-respected by his peers as one of the leading teachers of the students with multiple disabilities program,” said Greg Eiding, assistant athletic and activities director at Shawnee.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities Rohm serves as a faculty adviser for the high school’s Fall Drama, Gay Straight Alliance, and Spring Stage.

Rohm possess a degree in computer science from Rutgers University. He also earned a Teacher of the Handicapped certification from Rowan University.

Guidance Department employee Darren Welsh was named Shawnee’s ‘Educational Services Professional of the Year.’

“Welsh has worked in the school’s guidance department for over 15 years and has been a highly-regarded leader of the guidance department,” Eiding said.

In addition to his regular responsibilities, Welsh serves as a Junior Varsity Boys Soccer coach, Girls Winter Track coach, and Girls Spring Track coach for Shawnee.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Editor's Note: We are re-running this page due to a technical glitch last week that caused the page not to print in color. We apologize for any inconvience.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.

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

This information is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose your condition.

For more information, please visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

© 2018 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

Don’t Ignore Bloating, It Could be Ovarian Cancer

C

ancer, named by Hippocrates as “karkinos” actually refers to a giant red crab in Greek mythology.

Eating crab legs (something I haven’t done in years) will never be the same now that you know this useless fact but anyway…cancer means that there is uncontrolled cell growth in a tissue, and it’s termed “proliferation.”

Cancer strikes fear into the heart of millions of people each year. Once diagnosed, people are often motivated to alter the number of chemicals in their life, change their diet and lifestyle and sometimes end toxic relationships.

20/20 hindsight occurs, like with my dear brother Danny, who had chronic, low back pain and dismissed it. Sadly, it was one of several plaguing symptoms that was connected to colon cancer and he realized this after his diagnosis. “My brother was a secret,” and he really was. If you’d like to read more about us, our relationship and his ultimate passing, go to my website and search that phrase. Momentarily, I am going to tell you about a common symptom that you might have which could be tied to ovarian cancer.

No one is immune from hearing the word if they live long enough, especially in a day and age where environmental and food pollutants abound. And then there’s cosmetic ingredients as well, such as talc. There was a woman who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2015, and her family was awarded $72 million dollars as a result of this talcum powder lawsuit!

New clinical trials and scientific articles have been popping up over the past year about medications and their benefit to ovarian cancer.

For example, the medication class of statins (used for cholesterol management) have been investigated for their chemoprotective role, which is good. And recently, a study cleared metformin, concluding that it does not raise risk for ovarian cancer, which is also good!

Here’s more interesting news. You might be able to detect it sooner if you don’t ignore this common symptom. Bloating. The bloating is not the typical kind of bloating that you might get now and then with your menstrual cycle, or after eating beans. The type of bloating is chronic. Additionally, other signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include pelvic pain, frequent urination, quick satiety, feeling queasy and chronic fatigue.

There are six natural remedies that I’d like to share with you today. I will list them all here for you, so you can research on your own.

If by chance, you want me to elaborate on the benefits of all of these, please sign up for my free newsletter (suzycohen.com) and I’ll email you a longer version of this article that contains that information. In no particular order, here are the six holistic options to consider for healthy reproductive structure and function: 1. Medicinal mushrooms 2. Chia and Flax seeds 3. Turmeric 4. Resveratrol 5. Green Tea Extract 6. Iodine If you’re struggling with ovarian problems, do personal research because new compelling treatments, natural remedies and anti-cancer therapies are constantly being evaluated and released. There is always hope.

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

FUN AND GAMES

Are We There Yet?

By Lori Clinch

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

I

That Terrie, Always Up To Something

am a nice person.

Although there are those who might not agree, that right there is a true story. I do good deeds when summoned, ask folks how they are doing with genuine sincerity and when need be, I hold the doors open.

It may seem over the top to some, but that is just who I am.

However, and it turns out that this may also be a true statement, I can be a handful. I suppose that I am opinionated, narrow-minded and have had folks point out to me that I am a control freak.

In my defense, however, people who lack these gifts cannot, and I do repeat cannot, run their own businesses.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Thankfully enough for me, we have our good friend Terrie working for us at our antique shop.

She is a strong personality who keeps me in check. She lets me vent, tolerates my “outlandish ways,” and lets my obsessive tendencies go.

Terrie lets me know when I’ve gone too far and better yet (as she often states) she tames my crazy.

Terrie calls me on things, addresses me with brutal honesty and keeps me in check.

I wouldn’t say that I adore her tendencies, but my crazy has been pointed out to me before, so I appreciate someone who cannot only work along side me, but put up with all that I bring to the table.

That being said, Terrie and I had a bad week last week. For reasons we may never understand, Terrie not only became tolerant of me, she was understanding, and I for one, did not know how to handle it.

Terrie was folding linens in a manner that I didn’t like and when I pointed it out to her, she smiled sheepishly and said, “Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

That statement is something in and of itself, but there was no sarcasm to it. Is that weird or

what?

While Terrie’s common statements consist of, “Don’t tell me what to do,” and “You’re not the boss of me!” (when I really am) she replaced them with, “OK,” and worse yet, “That sounds like a good idea.”

I would like to tell you that I was enjoying Terrie’s new and agreeable ways, but in all honesty, it was making me feel a bit uncomfortable and I felt the need to get to the bottom of it.

“You’re using my pen,” I told her later in the day, in an attempt to get her goat. The normal Terrie would have looked at me, licked the tip of the utensil and told me to take a hike. But this Terrie said in a voice that was reminiscent of a sincerely remorseful person, “Oh, I’m sorry.”

And then, Terrie actually handed me the pen! Can you believe that? I swear it was like something out of Invasion of the Body Snatchers!

“What the heck is going on with you?!” I exclaimed. One would think that a person such as myself would enjoy working with someone who was agreeable, who took my word as law and approached my every request with, “Ok.” But I must admit, I kinda like the fight and all of this agreeableness was making me a bit crazy.

“What do you mean?” Terrie responded. “I’m just trying to make you happy.”

“Well, knock it off!” I replied. “I don’t know what you have up your sleeve but it’s not going to work, little missy. Fold those linens as you see fit, disperse the antiques as you wish and if you have to use the best pen in the house, so be it. Just quit being so dang nice. I can’t handle it!”

“Quit leaving your sunglasses all over the place,” Terrie later shouted out. “Your lists of ‘things to do’ are making me nuts and you seriously have to go back to filing all of your papers away!”

I don’t know where the real Terrie went that day, and I’m loathe to admit it, but I’m glad that the old gal is back.

C R O S S W O R D Across 11 Corner piece 5 Singer James 9 One of more than 21 million Indians 13 British nobleman 14 Composer Janacek 15 Perfect 17 Shot that can't be blocked 19 Complaint 20 Office supply 22 Elbows, e.g.

25 Cause to roll in the aisles 26 Electrolysis particle 27 Jaguar, for one 30 Queen who succeeded William III 31 Ring result 32 Support for many a 29-Down 33 More degrading 34 Gucci competitor 36 Parade sight 38 "My thoughts are ... " 40 Economist Smith 41 Special __ 44 "The Daily Show" host Trevor __ 45 Malt option 48 Queen's subject 49 "__ a man who wasn't there"

P U Z Z L E

50 Pug or Peke 51 Certain trio member 55 Really enjoyed 56 Hard times 60 Haggard of country 61 Sets a price of 62 Not in the pink 63 R&B-influenced genre 64 Editor's mark 65 Catering aid Down 1 NBA employee 2 Homonym of 3-Down 3 Homonym of 2-Down 4 Habitual booster?

5 Pre-coll.

6 Gull relative 7 Film for which Jessica Lange won her first Oscar 8 Plus 9 __ cup 10 Inventor's need 11 Stock 12 "Try this" 16 "My Fair Lady" lyricist 18 People mover 21 "Norma __

© 2018 LORI CLINCH The views expressed in this column are the author’s own views and do not reflect the view of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

22 Square on a muffin 23 Relative of a puffin 24 What many a countdown clock does 28 Suffix denoting resemblance 29 Support garb 30 Gp. for drivers 33 Military aircraft hold 35 Bit of a cheer 36 Org. regulating vaccines 37 __ school 38 Needing to be bailed out ... or where 20-, 27-, 45- and 51-Across may be found 39 Supports a cause 40 Most dilettantish 42 Opposite of post43 Qantas hub, in itineraries 45 Site of the George W. Bush presidential library 46 Eco-friendly wheels 47 Antarctic explorer Shackleton 49 Force 52 Pilot's alphabet ender 53 Wedding tradition 54 MIT center?: Abbr.

57 __ bubble 58 Record label for P!nk 59 Something to look up to

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

FLAT

PAGE 2 know more than what we tell them, but there are certain laws that we have to follow that prohibit us from disclosing all information on a particular topic at certain times.”

At one point, Vincent also said he planned to talk about the proposal meeting at the next Woodland BOE meeting following it, stressing the Feb. 21 meeting was that first board meeting.

Vincent characterized the two districts holding discussions over shared services as not unusual.

“Since I have been on the board, I have learned that the Woodland Township School District and Tabernacle Township School Districts have met many times throughout the years to discuss what services and personnel they can share to help each district function as fiscally responsible as possible,” he said.

“Most recently, Tabernacle has reached out to our superintendent and the board of education to begin this conversation again, which they have done many times in the past.”

Vincent said Woodland Township School District officials held the meeting with Tabernacle officials two weeks before the Feb. 21 Woodland BOE meeting because of a duty they have to township parents and taxpayers.

“As board members, it is our duty to make sure that we are giving the best opportunities to our kids and staff while they are in the school,” he said. “While they are in school, we have to make sure their safety is a priority and their education is the best that we can provide.”

Vincent said it would be neglectful as a board not to listen to Tabernacle officials and look into any ideas that other districts present at the table.

Vincent was emphatic that Woodland officials never committed to the proposal— attempting to dispel rumors to the contrary that spread due to the absence of communication.

“My daughter came home from school today and she said, ‘Daddy, daddy, is it true?’”

Vincent said. “I said, ‘Is what true?’ and she said, ‘Is it true that we are going to go to Tabernacle Schools?’ I explained to her the whole process of rumors and what that is, how they get started and told her to don’t believe everything that you hear.”

Vincent added that he was not in favor of Tabernacle Township School District’s proposal, and neither was the rest of the Woodland school officials who attended the proposal meeting.

He said safety, quality of education and financial responsibilities were considered by Woodland school officials before arriving at their decision.

Vincent said he does not feel that Kenneth R. Olson Middle School is any safer than Chatsworth Elementary School and suggested adding to the school’s population would actually make it less safe.

“A bigger school has more kids,” said Vincent, also a Robbinsville Township school resource officer. “It creates more possible safety situations. It creates more parents coming into the school through the day, more teachers in the building, more staff in the building, more visitors, more deliveries, and more times that doors are open and a lot more possibilities for safety breaches.”

Vincent said he thoroughly looked into reports that Chatsworth Elementary School students were not as academically and socially prepared to enter Seneca High School as the high school’s other sending school students.

He said data suggested the opposite was true.

“Over the years, with talking to Lenape District administration, there is no truth to the rumors that our kids are significantly less

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM prepared educationally or socially than any other sending school district to Seneca High School,” he said. “In fact, over the last few years, we have sent various students to the Lenape District’s STEM program project Lead the Way.” However, most influential in formulating the decision, Vincent said, was the significant financial burden determined to be presented to Woodland taxpayers.

“Tabernacle’s cost to educate each student is significantly higher than our cost per student,” he said. “I can’t think of numbers right now, but right off the bat we would have a tax increase to send our kids to Tabernacle.”

Vincent also said the Tabernacle Township School District wanted the Woodland Township School District to pay for a $10,000 feasibility study to see if the merger would work.

“That study costs almost $10,000,” he said.

“You don’t get that money back if you decide it doesn’t work. You still lose that money.”

Vincent added that the Woodland Township School District would still have to spend the same amount of money to maintain Chatsworth Elementary School for the lower grades.

“If they left here to go to Tabernacle, our costs are not going down,” he said. “Our costs to run this building would stay the same.

Now we are losing money sending our kids to Tabernacle.”

Vincent said other deciding factors for opposing Tabernacle’s proposal included longer bus rides for Woodland students and limited school board representation (there would have been only up to two Woodland residents on the Tabernacle Board of Education if the merger went through, serving with up to nine Tabernacle residents).

Raising eyebrows during the board meeting, however, were Vincent’s comments that suggested Tabernacle school officials did not have the students’ best interests at heart.

“In speaking with Tabernacle, we know that their district enrollment has drastically dropped over the past 10 years and their enrollment numbers in their lower grades show that it is going to continue to drop,” he said.

“This we sure do know and you can look at the enrollment numbers: they are hurting in their enrollment numbers and they are looking to Chatsworth to supplement them in any way possible.”

Board member William Dirkin was blunter with his remarks; upset that the proposal was openly discussed at a sporting event, residents signed a petition based on the overheard conversation without hearing from the Woodland BOE first, and that some residents knew about it before he did and would not let him have access to the secret social-media group to respond.

“I think Tabernacle has done a very good job marketing this to whoever will listen,” he said. “They got the ear at sporting events.

I have heard that from people in the district.

The points I hear echoed in town are exactly the points I hear from our counterparts in Tabernacle.

“They have a vested interested in this going through. I understand. Eddie Vincent talked about their enrollment dropping. They are going to benefit from this. That is why they approached us about this. We are on solid ground. We’ve got a steady student population.

The school is not going broke. We are doing fine.”

Dirkin added that he only heard about Tabernacle’s proposal a week and a half after a January meeting of the Woodland BOE. “The first I heard about this Tabernacle thing was a week and a half after our last school board meeting,” he said. “I didn’t hear about it from Tabernacle. I heard about it from

Chatsworth Elementary School sign. a concerned friend who called to ask if the school was closing. I didn’t know anything about it. I said ‘No, I don’t know what you are talking about.’”

It remains unclear why Dirkin found out about the proposal only through a friend.

Dirkin, when asked after the Feb. 21 board meeting about why he wasn’t told of the proposal by Tabernacle or Woodland school officials, said at no time has he been excluded from anything involving the Woodland BOE. “I had been contacted by parents about rumors they’ve heard, concerned that the school was going to close,” he said. “Shortly after that, we did have a meeting scheduled with Tabernacle. I was told as soon as an official meeting was scheduled, and I was a participant in the meeting.

“I am aware that prior to my being on the board, previous boards have discussed shared services with Tabernacle. I first heard of this specific meeting to discuss the possibility of shared services among the two districts to better our schools in January as soon as it was scheduled.”

George Gahles, business administrator and board secretary for the Woodland Township School District, attempted to clarify that the school district and Woodland Township Board of Education was very pleased with the Tabernacle school officials only after learning that the Tribune was inquiring about Dirkin’s comments.

“The Woodland Township School District is and has always been open to working with other districts in the surrounding areas when it comes to all aspects of running our district most effectively,” he said. “The BOE had a very positive and productive meeting with Tabernacle’s BOE. Both districts only want the best for their children, staff and residents.”

Dirkin, around the time that he made the blunt remarks aimed at Tabernacle school officials, made another comment which raised eyebrows.

“I found that insulting when they said the other kids—they are not socially and academically prepared,” he said. “I had to bite my tongue because I told you I feel passionately about this place. I know my family came through this place.”

Dirkin, when asked after the meeting who made the insulting comments, said he was referring to “a rumor that surfaced from some residents about students from Chatsworth’s preparedness for high school,” and not comments made by Tabernacle school officials

PAGE 21

PHOTO SUBMITTED during the proposal meeting.

Dr. Carol Birnbohm, superintendent of the Lenape Regional High School District which operates Seneca High School, did not return messages seeking comment on whether she is aware of any data or has had experiences that suggests Chatsworth Elementary students are more or less prepared for high school than the district's other sending schools.

Before hearing from members of the community about the proposal, Vincent said he had “great news for our school.”

“I am pleased to announce, right now, that during this process we discussed ways in which Tabernacle and Chatsworth can work together to provide our kids with extra sports, clubs and activities that we don’t already provide here,” he said. “Tabernacle seemed to be open to this and they said they would get back to us. They recently got back to us and said they would allow our kids to participate in all they offer for school activities.”

He said one of the district’s buses will transport Woodland student athletes to Tabernacle after school lets out and it will be the responsibility of school parents to pick up their children.

“The timing would work out perfectly as our middle school is done at 2:10 p.m. and their school is done at 2:30 p.m.,” he said. “It will give us time to get our kids over there for sports and other activities.”

Vincent addressed concern that the Tabernacle BOE may not have good intentions at heart with allowing Woodland student athletes to participate in their extracurricular programs. (i.e. Once Woodland student athletes get accustomed to and hooked on Tabernacle’s programs, the Tabernacle BOE could demand that the Woodland BOE agree to send its sixth-seventh-and eighth-grade students to its district in order for it to continue a participation agreement—using the athlete’s disappointment to its advantage.)

“I want to assure people that as far as everything goes with these sports…some people have said that (the agreement) would be a stepping stone in finally getting their kids into our school…it ends with sports,” Vincent said. “It is not “Start with the sports and then get them in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.”’

Gahles said later that Woodland Township appreciates the opportunities children will be given to participate in, as far as clubs,

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STEM teacher Christine Masters works with students.

COMPUTER PAGE 6

replacement was implemented since students now utilize Chromebooks throughout the school day.

Each grade level has a different theme: designing bridges (civil engineering for first grade); improving the Play-Doh process (chemical engineering for second grade); designing maglev systems (transportation engineering for third grade); evaluating landscapes (geotechnical engineering for fourth grade); and cleaning an oil spill (environmental engineering for fifth grade).

The STEM philosophy has been discussed for several years; in 2013, the Medford Education Foundation (MEF) provided a $3,000 grant for one of the district’s technology teachers, Maureen Schoenberger, to be trained for the Engineering is Elementary (EiE) STEM program, an outgrowth of the Boston Science Museum.

Mark Damon, the district’s director of technology, said the MEF has been “hugely supportive” of the program, from the grant that started it all to a donation of $61,000 to redesign all of the tech labs in the K-5 buildings to become Fab Labs.

“Gone are the bulky computers, wires, and keyboards,” said MEF president Kristine Adler.

“They have been replaced with the space and tools necessary for children to explore STEM projects.

“The students are moving around, testing designs, exploring centers in different parts of the room, drawing designs on erasable tabletops...this space is truly foundational to the experiences these students are now having in the area of STEM.” Integrating STEM into the curriculum has been systematic: grades one and five were the first to start the program, with a unit added for each grade in-between until all elementary students were learning in the Fab Lab. Damon said the district also added STEM instruction to its sixth-grade campus with a biomechanical engineering class on safety helmets.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

He added that seventh-and eighth-grade students will soon be offered a course called “Design and Modeling,” which is part of an international STEM program called “Project Lead the Way (PLTW).”

This program is already in place in the Lenape Regional High School District, the high school sending district for Medford.

Damon said technology teachers in the Medford Township School District have worked hard to meet the challenges of the new curriculum.

“We should give enormous credit to our technology teachers who have had to reinvent themselves and their positions, going from teachers of technology and keyboarding to laying the groundwork for our future engineers, scientists and computer programmers,” Damon said.

First grade teacher Nadine Freedman, who accompanied her students to Masters’ class, snapped pictures of her students while they were building bridges.

“I am loving the thinking going on here,” she told her students, as they called out to her to take pictures of them as engineers, which she then posted on Twitter with a caption, “Back in the Fab Lab.” Freedman said they are learning so much in the class in addition to STEM itself, including conversation skills, teamwork, balancing each other’s roles and the practice they get listening to one another.

“Our brains were on fire today!” said Masters proudly to her students, before asking questions designed to illustrate the importance of making improvements to a project after a first try. “Is it right the first time?”

The students replied “no” in unison.

“How about the second time?” she said to the students, before answering for them. “Maybe… we will do it until it’s right.”

Masters said her first graders now like to use engineering language and have the lingo down.

She said they talk about the parts and elements of a bridge, including an arch, suspension bridge, beams, push and pull, forces and tension.

“Kids eat it up,” Masters said. “They love it.”

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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PAGE 21 and sports, as early as this September with Tabernacle.

Vincent said an agreement is “not yet in writing for sports and clubs, however it will be before things are finalized.”

“We thank Tabernacle for allowing us and helping to provide our kids this experience,” Vincent said.

A resident who went by “Nicole” told the Woodland BOE that she was asked to sign the petition in support of the possible merger. She said she was “bothered beyond belief” by it.

“My children are the fourth generation of family to go through Chatsworth Elementary,” she said. “I choose to stay here because I love the community and the school. I, for one, don’t want my child going to another school. This is our home, community and school.”

Resident Christina Dirkin shared similar sentiments.

“I have lived here just over 50 years,” she said. “We moved here because it had a small school and that is what we wanted. We raised our six children here. We have had four grandchildren that have been through this school. I have had no complaints.”

She said small classes promote better communication with teachers.

Mull, who spoke after the women, said she agreed there are a lot of great things about a quaint and small school, but Chatsworth Elementary is missing fundamental programs and activities.

“I have been saying since my daughter was very small that this school has failed her a little bit,” she said. “She has always been extremely smart and always been top of her class. When she was very young, I requested that she go into a Gifted and Talented program while they

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM still had it. They then got rid of it.”

She said students are catching up to her daughter year after year and that her daughter is teaching the other kids in her classes.

“That is my biggest reason for wanting to send my kid to another school district,” she said.

Mull, however, clarified that she wasn’t really promoting the petition to support the merger, despite what it advocated.

“The petition that we had people signing, was to ask for transparency,” she said. “It was (created) because we did know that there were meetings going on and wanted to hear about it.

It wasn’t a petition to (force residents to) stop, vote right now, and send our kids to Tabernacle.

It was (meant to force the Woodland BOE) to tell us what is going on right now. We’d love to know more about this.”

Several others who spoke at the meeting agreed with Mull that the Gifted and Talented program should be revived in the district and asked to be part of the decision-making process.

“If something this big is coming up (merging classes with Tabernacle) and it is an opportunity for the school, I want to know about it,” said resident Rachel Wall. “I don’t want to find out about it from another board. I want it all on the table. I want to know what the options are—what the good or the bad is. That is why I signed the petition.”

Woodland Township School District Superintendent Misty Weiss released a statement to this newspaper following the meeting about the calls to revive the Gifted and Talented program. Officials did not address the concern during the meeting.

“This district currently has an approved Gifted and Talented identification process for all students in grades K-8. According to the

state of New Jersey, their definition for a Gifted and Talented student is as follows: Gifted and talented students” means students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers in the local school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. If a parent or teacher feels that a particular student meets the above-mentioned criteria, the district has a process in place where a child can be identified as (a) gifted and talented student, using multiple measures (standardized test scores, SAGES IV test, classroom grades, and student work samples). In grades K-6, if a child meets the criteria of this identification process, then the parent, teacher and myself may work together to provide modifications to their typical grade-level instruction in order to meet their needs and capabilities. Students who are in grades 7 & 8 are eligible to participate in an advanced math program (pre-algebra and Algebra I). Given the size of our District, it has not been financially feasible to offer a gifted and talented program that provides pull-out instruction for students in all grade levels. The District has tried to be creative in the last few years by offering an enrichment period to all students in grades K-8. Students have this class three times per week and rotate three times per year. The enrichment classes that have been offered are the following: K-2 – Introduction to Computers, STEM – Lego Education, Introduction to Careers; 3-5 – Cursive Handwriting, Introduction to Typing, STEM – Lego Education; 6-8 – Financial Literacy, Career Studies, STEM-designing & Engineering. The above-mentioned classes have allowed our students to be exposed to various additional opportunities throughout

PAGE 23 the year, while still meeting many different standards that need to be addressed with students in grades K-8 as well. We are continuously looking into what other districts are doing that are similar in size to us with their Gifted and Talented programs in an effort to meet the needs of all of our students.

Tabernacle Township School District Superintendent Glenn Robbins, when reached for comment about what transpired at the Woodland BOE meeting, said it was his understanding that conversations between the two communities have been happening for several decades.

He also said it was his understanding that the two school districts at one time, before he arrived in the Tabernacle School District, shared services for teaching programs.

“When I came aboard last year in Tabernacle, we continued to maintain an open dialogue with the Woodland Township School District,” Robbins said. “At a meeting last month, the new board of education president (Vincent) invited us over to continue the conversations, as he was doing his job as a BOE president to ensure the following for his community: educational programs, safety/security, and financial responsibility.”

He said both districts discussed the many positives that are offered, talked about possible shared services and discussed the possibility of shared athletic programs.

“The meeting concluded with an understanding that their board of education president would go back to the board of education and community to discuss it further,” he said. “We will always welcome dialogue with Woodland Township, and other schools, as we all want the very best for all students.”

Robbins would not comment on Tabernacle’s student enrollment.

PAGE 24

SPOIL PAGE 11

Kimberly Tauche had numerous coupons and newspaper ads to share with the seniors. If one listens carefully and takes a few notes, one can save a considerable amount on groceries.

Many coupons can be “doubled,” that is, a newspaper coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon can be paired to provide a double discount.

There is a book of coupons kept at the center and updated regularly by Dawnette McKenzie.

This past weekend, many of the seniors attended a St. Patrick’s party at St. Ann’s Church. The menu included the usual St. Patrick’s favorites and several non-traditional foods.

There was plenty to choose from and the many homemade desserts added to the pleasure.

Wine and beer were available for a small charge.

If tickets were purchased in advance, the cost was only $10. This was truly a good price for some excellent food.

St. Ann’s hosts this party annually and a number of seniors always attend. Most can afford the small cost and enjoy a night out.

The meal was sponsored this year by St. Ann’s Confirmation Class.

On March 20, several of the seniors plan to travel to Mount Airy Casino for a show “Sweet Caroline,” a Neil Diamond Review. A gaming card is included with the trip, along with a full buffet lunch.

This trip is “sold out,” but an option for arriving at the parking lot and waiting to see if last-minute cancellations have been made exists. We do not like to travel with empty, paidfor seats while others really want to go.

Anyone waiting at the bus departure will be added if there is space available. Seniors often have something come up at the last minute and there is no time to notify a replacement.

Senior Prom tickets for April 18 have arrived and are being sold. This is always a funfilled night. The prom begins at 3 p.m. in the afternoon at St. Ann’s Social Hall and includes dinner and dancing.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

The DJ is terrific, providing all types of music. Colonial Village Catering is the caterer for the prom and provides a good meal, served by capable wait staff: our students. The party ends about 7 p.m., so with Daylight Savings Time, there should be light for the trip home.

The theme is “Springtime,” so get out your most flowery and colorful attire and head to the prom.

Elisabeth McCartney, faculty adviser for Pemberton Township High School’s Future Nurses of America, has another student visit planned for April 20. The students were at the center on March 16.

These visits are important to both the seniors and students.

Students have time to experience seniors in a comfortable setting. One day, during their adult career, many of them will be offering their services for seniors and this is great experience.

Helen Fort Middle School on March 15 presented their musical, “Aladdin, Jr” with a special showing for local seniors. Many local seniors ate lunch at the center, then car pooled to the school.

The seniors appreciate the outreach of the school drama and musical departments for the generous invitations to school productions.

Many seniors are not able to drive after dark, so the usual performances are too late for some to attend.

Unfortunately, the snow also rescheduled most of the students’ activities, so the Pemberton Township High School Interact Club party on Wednesday, March 14 had to be canceled.

Any seniors holding tickets for that party may exchange them for a Prom ticket or use the $10 as a credit towards one of the bus trips. We try to always give our seniors full value for any money they spend towards an event.

Let’s hope our winter has passed and we will have a pleasant spring to enjoy all future activities.

Stop in soon at the senior building across from the U.S. Post Office in Browns Mills, on Brook Street. Registration and many of the events and activities are free.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm& Food File

By Alan Guebert

T

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

Our Trap

he otter, too small to be a wily adult and too unschooled to be fearful of people, was sunning itself on the ice of small, city park lake when the lovely Catherine and I, also enjoying the sunshine, spotted it on a latewinter walk. Our surprised voices surprised the juvenile and it made a slinky dash for a hole in the ice to disappear.

A river otter in a city park in corn-andsoy-centric central Illinois? Who would have thought? Certainly not a 1950s vintage farmboy whose youth on a southern Illinois dairy farm featured only the tamest of wildlife: Holstein cows, barn cats, and bin mice.

Wildlife was, in fact, rare on our farm.

Whitetail deer were as unseen as Bengal tigers. Quail, once plentiful, were heard daily but seldom spotted. Squirrels, either red or gray, were neither seen nor heard because the farm’s ancient pecan trees were tall islands amid wide-open seas of hawk-patrolled pasture. Cottontails did abound, though, and winter dinners often centered on rabbit and dumplings.

Our farming practices back then—mowed roadsides, fall plowing, 2,4-D-drenched corn fields, set-aside acres choked with giant ragweed, no brush or bush that could hold a snake or scratch a combine—didn’t account for, let alone promote, wildlife. We ran a farm, not a zoo.

And that’s just the way it was. If an animal or plant added economic value, we protected it. If it didn’t, it was a goner.

There was one minor exception. With rivers on two sides and a shallow, lazy slough on its third, the farm was a haven for waterloving muskrats, raccoons, and opossums.

My older brothers and I avoided the coons and possums but, during the coldest part of winter, we trapped muskrats in the drainage ditches, pond and slough.

I can’t remember either needing or getting

a trapping license, nor can I remember any solid reason for the hobby other than the muskrats were there for the taking. Since they, like the mice, appeared to serve no useful agricultural purpose, we pursued them like Ahab pursued the white whale.

Unlike mice, however, the muskrats did have value. Their dried, stretched hides brought $3, maybe $4, apiece. That meant one smelly, untanned skin could buy Richard, David, and me a hamburger, chocolate shake, and French fries in town and still have change to restock our BB supply. The very idea of that treat warmed our wet feet and cold hands.

My trapping career abruptly ended one day when I stumbled on the biggest prize any small-time trapper could ever hope to find: a luxuriously brown mink caught—by pure accident—by its tail. It was beautiful and, unscarred, its pelt would fetch at least $20.

Thrilled by the chance to hold both a mink and a wad of cash, I reached to grab the animal behind its head. The tiny mink had its own plan and, like a cobra, sank its two upper fangs into the big knuckle of my left forefinger and retreated before I could even cuss.

Stunned by its lightening, do-or-die defense—and trying to remember if rabies was only sometimes fatal—I swung my only weapon, a small hatchet, at the trapped mink.

I missed but, again by pure accident, I hit the trap. The small animal shot away like a speeding brown bullet and with it went any desire to ever trap anything ever again.

I was 13 years old. The bite’s twin scars, still clearly visible, are almost 50. For decades they reminded me of how foolish I was to reach for the frightened, wild animal. Now, however, I see them as proof that nature, if given even the slimmest chance, will fight to the death just to live.

Our only task is to take heed or else we, too, will be permanently scarred.

© 2018 AG COMM.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own views and do not reflect the view of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

CROSSWORD

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 27

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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Saturday, March 17, 2018