March 31, 2018 Pine Barrens Tribune

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INSIDE THIS WEEK: Veteran Local Newsman and Tribune Editor Passes Away at Age 81 - Pg.2

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Vol. 2 – No. 31

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March 31, 2018 – April 6, 2018

PHOTOS BY RYAN MARCHESE A long-vacant supermarket retail space at the Browns Mills Shopping Center in Pemberton Township is boarded up, aesthetically displeasing to many.

Pemberton Aims to Seize Long-Blighted Shopping Center PHOTOS BY RYAN MARCHESE

A sign for the Browns Mills Shopping Center in Pemberton Township sits in disrepair.

By Joyce Blay

Ordinance Introduced; Condemnation Plan Reemerges Also: McCartney Appointed to Take Over for Veteran Councilman

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—If at first you don't succeed—try, try, and try again.

That is what Pemberton Township Council members have done by introducing an ordinance on first reading at a March 22 special meeting that would authorize acquisition of the Browns Mills Shopping Center and adjacent vacant land in Pemberton, for redevelopment, at a cost not to exceed $920,000.

The Notice of Taking ordinance, if approved on second reading by council, would pave the way for condemnation of the commercial property located on Block 775, Lot 19, owned

by Rocco Berardi, and on Block 775, Lot 18, owned by Berardi's wife, Antonia Berardi.

The Declaration of Taking Act is a Federal Law governing the taking of private property for use under eminent domain.

If the township cannot negotiate a taking price, the formal notice will meet the legal requirement for condemnation of the property under eminent domain.

This is not the first time the township has

sought to condemn the shopping center for the purpose of redevelopment.

A previous attempt at condemnation landed public and private parties in court for years.

In 2005, an appeals court ruled that under the New Jersey Eminent Domain Act, Pemberton Township, as condemnor, had to file a Declaration of Taking and make a required deposit of compensation with the court, offered to Rocco and Antonia Berardi as condemnee.

If the township did not want to comply with the court order, it had to abandon the condemnation proceedings.

After the opinion was issued, Pemberton filed a Notice of Abandonment of Proceedings to abandon the condemnation proceedings.

In November 2005, a trial judge ordered the Berardis to return the $2,270,000 that Pemberton had deposited with the court.

On Aug. 18, 2008, the Berardis filed a complaint against Pemberton, “seeking the recovery of fees, costs and damages resulting from the abandonment of the antecedent condemnation case.”

The Berardis charged that Pemberton’s use of eminent domain temporarily deprived them of their property rights, including the ability to rent out a vacant supermarket retail space, once occupied by Acme Markets, in the Browns Mills Shopping Center.

The Browns Mills Shopping Center’s remaining tenants include a Dairy Queen, pawn shop, restaurant and barber shop.

The Berardis contended that as a result of the actions taken by Pemberton, they lost rental income, business opportunity, and opportunity to expand.

According to their appraisal report, “just compensation” for the thirty-four-month taking would be $1,161,000. The report further stated that the husband and wife realized $368,751 in rental income from the properties in 2002, $316,978 in 2003, $293,019 in 2004, and $319,654 in 2005.

Pemberton filed a motion for partial summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the complaint for damages.

In response, the Berardis filed a cross-motion.

In an Aug. 5, 2011 opinion, a state Superior Court judge ruled that Pemberton did not have to pay damages to the Berardis because the municipality had not filed a legally required Declaration of Taking for any of the subject properties owned by the Berardis.

On Nov. 14, 2011, a state Superior Court judge dismissed the Berardis’ motion for compensation of damages; but awarded the couple attorney fees and disbursements.

The state’s Appellate Division upheld the Aug. 5, 2011 ruling in a July 25, 2013 decision.

That was then.

This time around, Pemberton officials are offering less in compensation to the Berardis as the commercial properties they own continue to lose value.

Pemberton Township Attorney Andrew Bayer, of GluckWalrath LLP, said at the March 22 special meeting of the Pemberton Township Council, that the current fair market value of the Browns Mills Shopping Center is now $929,000.

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LOCAL NEWS Pinelands Regional Students Commended for Not Walking Out of School During Protest Day

By Catherine Galioto

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PHOTO BY SHAMONG TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT Adam Tait reads Dr. Seuss during Read Across America Day at Indian Mills Elementary School.

Veteran Local Newsman and Tribune Editor Passes Away at Age 81

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—He was a man who lived by old fashioned virtues—he could spell, use a dictionary, and was always punctual until the end.

On March 25, the Pine Barrens lost one of its most trusted newshounds as Adam Tait III passed away at age 81.

Tait joined the Pine Barrens Tribune shortly after the newspaper launched in Sept. 2016.

But, Tait had a storied career in the journalism and the print industry, well before his time at the Tribune.

A Temple journalism graduate, Tait spent a decade at the Philadelphia Bulletin (1972-82) where he became the Bulletin’s assistant copy chief and copy editor, supervising eight people.

In his supervisory capacity, he edited 25 to 30 stories daily and frequently worked with reporters to make copy readable and accurate.

“I was told by the Bulletin’s copy chief that he had never known any editor who combined speed and accuracy as successfully as I did,” said Tait, in the months before his death as he recalled his time in the Philadelphia newsroom.

One of Tait’s proudest contributions to the Bulletin was writing copy for and annually editing a 640-page reference book that the newspaper printed for its readers each year.

But, for him, editing at the Bulletin was nowhere near as thrilling as the opportunities he had at the newspaper to cover Frank Rizzo, a former Philadelphia police commissioner and mayor who had a reputation for being boisterous and brooding, particularly to media, and often was at the center of volatility.

On Jan. 29, 1982, Tait shared tears and memories of the “glory days” with his 1,700 colleagues after the 134-year-old newspaper closed its doors following a failed search to find a new owner.

Tait quickly landed a new job at Commodore Business Machines, an American home computer and electronics manufacturer, where he edited computer manuals and manuscripts.

Four years later, he returned to the news business and served as a Philadelphia Daily News copy editor.

Fate eventually landed Tait in a Trenton newsroom where he joined the Trenton Times in 1989 as a features and business copy editor.

The veteran journalist’s time spent in newsrooms, helping “green” journalists craft their writing and interviewing skills, eventually launched Tait into a new calling.

In 1991, Tait became a journalism instructor for Rowan College of New Jersey (now known as Rowan University).

For years, Tait not only taught his students how to conduct news interviewing and gathering, but also how to copy edit and compose special journalistic writing (features, editorials and columns).

“I used my newspaper experience to bridge the gap between theory and reality,” he said.

“Student and administration evaluation of my courses was consistently high.”

As the 21st century approached, Tait started “Health Alert,” a daily two-or-three-page summary of health news for Health Ink. He also became a senior editor for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.

But, he was soon drawn back to the news business again when an opportunity opened at Journal Register News Service for a freelance reporter to cover municipal government affairs for two of its newspapers—the (Pemberton) Community News and (Medford) Central Record.

Susan Miller, executive editor of both newspapers at the time, interviewed Tait for the

STUDENTS>>PAGE 21

TAIT>>PAGE 21

INDEX Business Directory.......................... 12 Community..................................... 11 Fun and Games............................... 18 Health.............................................. 17 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Pinelands Regional School District administrators are praising their students’ actions after they decided not to walk out of school on March 14 to protest recent gun violence.

U.S. students were called upon by various groups to walk out of school for 17 minutes as part of a “National School Walkout” protest following a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that killed 17 students and staff a month prior.

While thousands of students across the U.S. did participate in the controversial walkout, instead, Pinelands students were encouraged to have a day of service and memorial to honor those who died in the Parkland shooting.

Acting Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Stevenson said Pinelands Regional High School and Pinelands Regional Junior High School student councils independently came up with ideas with how to do that.

At the high school, 17 empty desks, representing each Parkland victim, were presented during a memorial service.

Biographies of each victim were also read aloud and a moment of silence was held.

At the junior high, students raised $200 for the Parkland victims’ families.

“At Pinelands, the junior high and high school student councils met and came up with ideas to recognize the 17 people who died,” Stevenson said. “At the high school, they read the bios of those killed, and had a desk representing each person, and encouraged everyone to complete 17 acts of kindness.”

In a related matter, Stevenson discussed a threat (the first of two) towards the district.

Police took a teen into custody following the first threat, but the incident forced the high

school to go into lockdown and 7th and 8th graders, still en-route to school, to be escorted off their school buses.

Stevenson said student bags were searched, along with the buses.

“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.”

Stevenson said that in light of the recent school violence that took place in Broward County, Fla., the district will continue to be hypervigilant and take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Feedback from parents was mixed on how the district handled the incident—and alleged student searches were a point of contention for some.

“We have a lot to analyze as far as the protocol and welcome input from the community,” said Stevenson as she looked back at the procedures followed.

In other news, action was taken at a March 14 Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting that moves the district one step closer to its plan to close the high school for the 2018-19 school year so infrastructure repairs can be made.

The Pinelands BOE approved a shared services agreement with the Little Egg Harbor Board of Education that would allow Pinelands Regional to hold some classes this upcoming school year at Frog Pond Elementary School.

However, Stevenson emphasized there are many approvals and agreements yet to be ironed out in order for Pinelands Regional’s high school closure plan to be implemented.

Local News....................................... 2 Marketplace..................................... 19 Opinion........................................... 10 Scanner.............................................. 9 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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Civic Organization Offers $1,000 Grant Toward Project Helping Two Pinelands Towns

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—The Pemberton Rotary Club has launched a new contest called, “The Pemberton Project.”

The club intends to award up to $1,000 for a project that will help residents of Pemberton Township or Pemberton Borough.

Interested individuals and organizations can submit an application that describes the project.

The applications will be reviewed and chosen candidates will be asked to present a Shark Tanklike presentation to club members.

The project ideas are endless, but the project must be planned to start in 2018 and must support the Pemberton community.

Student groups, community organizations, local businesses, religious groups, individuals, and others are encouraged to apply. Applicants cannot be a Rotarian or an immediate family member of Rotary.

First round applications are due by April 23.

To receive an application, please email the club’s president, Bobbie Downs, at bobbie_downs@ comcast.net.

Marlton Florist Celebrates 50 Years By Giving Back to the Community

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

EVESHAM—Fifty years ago, Bakanas Flowers & Gifts was started as a homegrown, family operation by founders Eileen and Raymond Bakanas.

From their greenhouse in Mount Laurel to their current location in the Allison Shopping Center in the Marlton section of Evesham Township, Eileen and Raymond Bakanas have enjoyed sharing fond memories and beautiful flowers with everyone.

Now retired, they have passed the business into the hands of their daughter, Anna Marie Bakanas, and son, Paul Bakanas.

From children to adults, Anna Marie Bakanas and Paul Bakanas have seen Bakanas Flowers & Gifts grow and prosper.

They have been a part of the many joyful moments that flowers have created including weddings, anniversaries, births and birthdays.

They have also shared in the sorrowful moments of illness and funerals.

Throughout the cycle of life events, the Bakanas family has made new and wonderful relationships with their customers; many of whom they can call friends.

Just as their parents passed down the business

to them, Anna Marie Bakanas and Paul Bakanas hope to usher the business to the next generation of Bakanas family members. They also wish to share the joy of 50 years with members of the community.

Bakanas Flowers & Gifts would like to give commemorative arrangements to 50 people who bring joy to the lives of others.

Readers may nominate someone for this opportunity by contacting the flower shop with the person’s name and reason why they deserve to be honored—using Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (#BakanasFlowers #50yearsofmemories).

Submissions may also be submitted via a nomination by letter to Bakanas Flowers & Gifts, 27 N. Maple Ave, Marlton, NJ 08053.

Readers are asked to submit all nominations by April 30.

Bakanas Flowers & Gifts is also inviting the community to join them at the store on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to celebrate their 50th year of business.

The store will announce the first group of contest winners at that time.

“Come share memories and celebrate this milestone occasion with everyone at Bakanas Flowers,” said the store in a statement.

Forested Borough Dodges Bullet Second Time Around; Oil Tank Removal at Lukoil Gas Station Prompts Concern

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—Despite getting slightly more snow on March 21 than on March 7, (a tenth of an inch higher with 7.6 inches of snow recorded), the Borough of Medford Lakes, according to officials, did not have nearly as much tree damage and power outages as was experienced with the first Nor’easter.

Medford Lakes had greater advance warning

about the latest Nor’easter that hit the borough too.

“All crews were ready to go for this storm and not nearly as many trees came down this time,” Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton said. “We also had nowhere near the amount of homes without electricity as in the last storm.”

Borough Clerk Mark McIntosh said only five borough homes lost power during the latest

OIL>>PAGE 16

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Soft Surroundings to Open Its 60th Boutique at Promenade at Sagemore For the Pine Barrens Tribune EVESHAM—Soft Surroundings, a rapidly growing women’s luxury lifestyle brand will open, in Evesham Township, its 60th U.S. store, and 4th in New Jersey, on Friday, April 6.

The all-day Grand Opening event will include complimentary sweet treats, drinks and specialized beauty treatments for all guests.

The first 100 customers in line for the 10 a.m. opening will receive an exclusive Soft Surroundings gift bag filled with an assortment of products.

The Soft Surroundings brand is best known for their extremely soft fabrics, global inspiration, customer service and convenience.

Most of the apparel and home goods in the store are designed exclusively by and for the brand.

The store’s beauty department will feature complimentary cosmetic and skincare consultations, as well as, regular beauty events.

“We are just thrilled to welcome Soft Surroundings to our family of stores at The Promenade at Sagemore,” said Laura Balga,

general manager of the Promenade. “Their brand is about slowing down life’s rigorous pace and taking the time to rejuvenate and take care of one’s self. That, coupled with our center’s mission to offer a relaxing, convenient and enjoyable shopping and dining experience, makes it a natural addition to our store mix.”

The Promenade’s newest store Soft Surroundings, is located between Ann Taylor and J.Jill.

The Promenade at Sagemore is a “lifestyle” center featuring a collection of unique, upscale stores situated in an open-air shopping environment where shoppers may park adjacent to their favorite store or casually stroll along beautifully landscaped walkways in the pursuit of something special.

The shopping center is conveniently located one mile south of the Route 70 and 73 intersection and sits between Evesham and Brick roads in Marlton.

For more information on the Soft Surroundings opening or other events, visit thepromenadenj.com or call 856-985-3846.

New ‘Straight … to Treatment’ Program Offers Help to Drug Users For the Pine Barrens Tribune EVESHAM—Those who are caught in the powerful grip of addiction and substance abuse, but would like to break free will now have an opportunity to seek treatment and turn in their drugs without the fear of arrest under a new initiative that began Monday.

The initiative, launched in Evesham Township, known as “Straight . . . to Treatment,” allows drug users to come to the Evesham Township Police Department and be connected with a program to assist them in overcoming their addiction.

Participants can also safely turn in any drugs or drug paraphernalia in their possession and not be charged with a drug possession offense.

The process of finding treatment for those who come forward will be handled by Oaks Integrated Care of Mount Holly, which will be on call to meet in person with those who request help for addiction.

Oaks, which offers treatment for substance abuse as well as other health and social service programs statewide, will use its network in an

effort to find help for all who come forward, including those without the resources to seek it on their own.

One of the common challenges of providing treatment for substance abuse is making sure that help is available when someone has decided to seek assistance.

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said that moment must be seized and this new program “does just that.”

“Straight . . . to Treatment will provide another option for those who are struggling with addiction to find their way to treatment,” he said. “The heartbreaking number of people caught in the nightmare of this disease demands that we as a community do everything in our power to find help for people seeking it.”

Coffina said he is incredibly grateful to the Evesham Township Police Department and Oaks Integrated Care for devoting their resources to launch this program.

“Straight . . . to Treatment can be a lifeline for those seeking treatment, and their families

HELP>>PAGE 20

Marlton Woman’s Club Honored with Proclamation From Burlington County Freeholders For the Pine Barrens Tribune EVESHAM—Recently, a large contingency from the Marlton Woman’s Club was on hand to personally accept a proclamation from the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders honoring the Marlton civic organization for its “unwavering service to the community-atlarge” and unparalleled enhancement of the quality of life within the Marlton community.

Also, a non-profit volunteer service organization, the Marlton Woman’s Club was honored for “advancing the welfare of the community and promoting the progress and work of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs through the education, civic and charitable interests of its members.”

The club, organized in 1963 and federated in 1964, has more than 40 members and has been a fixture in the local community for over five decades.

The organization’s noted projects have

included preparing Boatsie’s Boxes Christmas stockings for troops, providing annual scholarships for a graduating senior woman at Cherokee High School, working with Literacy Volunteers of Burlington County, participating in Relay for Life and formulating a recent clubwide effort to stock the shelves of a Cherokee Food Pantry to help local families in need.

The board said it commends and recognizes the remarkable service and dedication of the Marlton Woman’s Club and expresses its sincere appreciation for the organization’s positive impact on improving the quality of life for all Burlington County residents.

The Marlton Woman’s Club is a member of the NJSFWC and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).

Self-described as a “a group of women who raise money and give it away,” the organization raised and donated $16,815 in 2016 and 2017,

CLUB>>PAGE 12

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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.

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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.”

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541 Barbershop......................................................................... 3 Amish Country Sheds............................................................. 15 DK Electrical Solutions.......................................................... 22 Medford Eyewear Center........................................................ 17 Medford Lighting & Repair...................................................... 6 Smart Feet................................................................................. 7 Southampton Auto Center....................................................... 23 Top Job Watch and Jewelry Repair......................................... 13

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SCANNER Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Homicide in Death of Marlton Customer EVESHAM—Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said this week that a Sicklerville drug dealer pled guilty Monday in Burlington County Superior Court to homicide for causing the death of a customer who bought heroin from him, laced with fentanyl, in Nov. 2015.

Leonard Hicks, 37, admitted before the Hon. Terrence R. Cook, J.S.C., that he sold heroin to a 26-year-old male, who was discovered dead inside his apartment by Evesham Township police officers responding to a call from a friend to conduct a wellness check on Nov. 29, 2015.

Authorities are withholding the name of the victim.

Under the terms of an agreement with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Hicks pled guilty to first-degree strict liability for druginduced death in exchange for a 10-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison.

Under the state’s No Early Release Act, Hicks must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Hicks’ sentencing has been set for July 20. He remains free on $200,000 bail.

An investigation revealed that Hicks delivered the heroin to the victim’s apartment and was paid $200 for the drugs. Toxicology tests, ordered by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood, revealed that heroin and fentanyl caused

SHAMONG—The discovery of a bullet inside an Indian Mills Memorial School classroom on March 28 has prompted a police investigation.

New Jersey State Police were dispatched to the Shamong Township School District school at 9:22 a.m. after being contacted by school administrators about the discovery.

“A bullet was found by a teacher, on the floor of a classroom, next to a trash can,” said Principal Tim Carroll. “The item was turned over to administration and the New Jersey State Police were contacted.”

The principal said no students witnessed the

teacher’s discovery.

Trooper Alejandro Goez, a New Jersey State Police spokesman, said the teacher discovered a .22 caliber rifle bullet.

“The event posed no threat to students or staff,” he said. “The bullet was seized and the case remains under investigation.”

Carroll said that he feels “very fortunate” that the school district has developed a great working relationship with the state police.

“Working together, we are doing everything possible to keep our schools a safe place,” he said.

Man Targeting LA Fitness Members Identified and Arrested Leonard Hicks.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

the fatal overdose.

The case is being prosecuted by Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Evesham Township Police Department and Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Several Pets Die in Blueberry Farm House Fire PEMBERTON—A fire last week in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township claimed the lives of several pets and destroyed a home under renovation.

The dwelling fire at 60 Ridge Road broke out at around 5:40 a.m. on March 20.

Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig Augustoni said firefighters received word about the fire from a passerby who was on their way to work.

He said firefighters had difficulty accessing the home that was ablaze, on a blueberry farm, due to a fence, mud and overgrown vegetation.

“We couldn’t get to the fire at first,” Augustoni said. “The blueberry farm was well off the road, about a half-mile off Ridge Road, and the driveway was not well maintained. We had to

Teacher Finds Bullet Inside Indian Mills Memorial School Classroom

drag a hose all the way out to Ridge Road.”

The fire chief said that by the time firefighters reached the home, it was fully engulfed in flames.

“We had to call in special equipment from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,” Augustoni said. “The house was beginning to collapse when we got there.”

Firefighters remained on the scene of the onealarm fire for almost five hours.

“A dog and a few cats were lost inside the home,” Augustoni said.

Norman Foulks lives on the property, although Augustoni said he was in a “front house” at the time the blaze broke out.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no injuries to people were reported.

EVESHAM—Officers from the Evesham Township Police Department have arrested a Voorhees man in connection with a concerted effort to steal from members of a LA Fitness gym located in the Marlton section of the township.

Anthony Hoffner, 31, was charged on March 13 with nine counts of fourth degree theft and one count of third degree burglary and taken into custody on March 15.

Police said that since December of last year, there have been 11 thefts from gym member’s lockers at the 1051 Route 73 north gym and eight burglaries of vehicles that were parked outside the business.

Cash, credit cards, wallets and gym bags

have all been targeted.

In the majority of vehicle thefts, vehicle windows were smashed out to gain access.

Police said the 19 thefts have resulted in thousands of dollars’ worth of personal property being reported stolen.

Police have not yet been able to solve the thefts and burglaries Hoffner was not charged with.

“There are still outstanding cases,” said Lt. Joseph Friel, a spokesman for the Evesham Township Police Department. “An investigation points towards others involved.”

Hoffner has been lodged in Burlington County Jail.

State Trooper Helps Man Dig Out

Vacant Home Cited for Numerous Property Maintenance Violations Destroyed By Fire PEMBERTON—A vacant dwelling in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township was destroyed by fire last weekend.

The 9 Berl Lane blaze broke out at around 8:05 p.m. on March 25.

“The fire went through the roof of the home and the roof collapsed,” said Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig Augustoni. “The home was a total loss and required an extensive overhaul.”

He said a backhoe was brought in to demolish the home.

“The building was unsafe with holes in the floor,” Augustoni said.

The one-alarm fire remains under investigation by authorities. Augustoni said the property has been cited for numerous property maintenance violations.

The Pine Barrens Tribune has also learned through sources and public records that this home

has been the site of police activity for a shooting investigation and domestic disturbances. The home was listed in foreclosure at the time of the blaze.

Augustoni said, so far, there are no signs that anyone was inside of the home at the time the fire started. He added that the home still had “city gas” and electricity connected to it when the fire broke out.

The house that burned down is only a short distance away from another one that burned down four days earlier at 60 Ridge Road. Berl Lane intersects with Ridge Road.

Augustoni said investigators have considered whether the blazes are connected, and have been asked by residents about a possible connection.

“Not at this point (do we believe they are connected),” he said. “I would say that if we have another fire there (in that area), something could be going on.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED New Jersey State Trooper Jason Slatas helps Washington Township resident Bob Lampkin dig out on Thursday, March 15 after a heavy, wet snowfall on Wednesday, March 14.

PAGE 10

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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.

Saturday, March 31, 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.

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

A Life’s Lesson: Committed and Dependable Until the End

Educating Youth at an Earlier Stage Can Greatly Reduce Sexual Assault

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing, on March 25, of veteran journalist and editor Adam Tait III. Tait possessed a quality that is increasingly scarce in today’s society: dependability. He wanted to work and did not mind putting in long hours or traveling long distances to get the job done.

No matter the hassle, Tait showed up, and never fussed. His age couldn’t even stop him.

Tait had been ailing for months, but still reported to work, adamant that he had a job to do for you, the reader.

So, when Tait didn’t show up last Thursday for copy editing, we knew something was gravely wrong.

Tait was so dedicated to his craft, that on

that day, despite a rapid deterioration in his health, he got in his car and attempted to come into work.

Unfortunately, he just couldn’t make it and turned around on Route 73. But, it is the thought that counts and why we are sharing his story: to inspire.

The former Rowan University journalism professor, who was a clock watcher in a positive sense because he viewed deadlines as sacred—which they are—offered a good lesson for all throughout his life work, and especially last Thursday.

Godspeed, Adam. We will all miss you and your old-fashioned virtues more than you could ever know.

Cartoons

We have all followed the stories of late about famed men who have violated women in our country. Then it was followed up by a lunatic doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young ladies.

As we well know, abuse of power comes as no surprise!

So, what are we going to do about it? How are we going to stop it?

Everyone is outraged about the alleged sexual assaults, but no one offers suggestions on how to fix the problem.

Well, we have two choices in life. We can throw our hands up in the air and give up or we can try to fix the problem.

It all needs to start in the home, but unfortunately the home is not the same home that people of my age remember.

Both parents are now often working and they are not spending quality time with their children. There are also too many damaged families where the man of the house has gone missing.

So here we go again, another project for our teachers. Should it be thrown on their shoulders to fix this mess? Of course not, but who else but our teachers really have the attention of the youth today?

We need to be talking to our young boys and telling them it is not acceptable to touch or speak to young women inappropriately. We need to teach them the difference between right and wrong when they are young, so just maybe, our words will follow with them for the rest of their lives.

We also need to tell our young ladies that they need to speak up if they are violated.

Silence is not the answer. They do not have to feel embarrassed when things like this happen.

Will some men still perform these despicable acts? Of course, but just maybe if we start early enough with education, the number of these incidents will be greatly reduced.

Richard Gober Ventnor, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Wet Snowstorm Drops More Than a Foot of Snow; Downs Numerous Trees) Tip of the hat to those folks who worked in dangerous conditions to remove trees, limbs, and downed wires. ~Mike Kaliss (Re: NJDEP Purchases Green Bank School for $1.25 Million) What a deal! At the taxpayers’ expense! ~David Powell (Re: NJDEP Purchases Green Bank School for $1.25 Million) So, we payed to build it with our taxes, and then bought it with our taxes. ~Ralph Pedrick (Re: NJDEP Purchases Green Bank School for $1.25 Million) That stinks! Just what we need is a bunch of bullies in our own backyard. Thanks for nothing! ~Marty Monaghan (Re: ShopRite of Medford Unveils Limited-Edition Cheerios Box Featuring Store Associates Fighting Hunger) I am so proud of you Kim Dean! ~Judi Gamble-Morrison Please comment on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Twitter: @PineBarrensNews with the hashtag #SoundOff or Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinebarrenstribune.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016

Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO 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 31, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 11

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

Events

April 5

Event: Medford Historical Society Location: Medford Details: The Medford Historical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 14 Union Street. The program about the Quakers and slavery in New Jersey will be presented by Rick Geffken. The public is welcome.

April 9

Event: Technology Class for Adults Location: Jackson Details: The Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library will host “Spotlight on Windows 10” at 2 p.m. Become comfortable using the operating system. Attendees may bring their own laptop. The library is located at 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. To register for this free event, call 732-928-4400.

April 10

Event: Technology Class for Adults Location: Jackson Details: The Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library will host “Microsoft Word Basics” at 10 a.m. Learn to create and format a document, write text, change font and more. The library is located at 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. To register for this free event, call 732-928-4400.

Event: Book Discussion Location: Jackson Details: The Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a book discussion on “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren, at 1 p.m. The book is a memoir of geochemist, geobiologist and professor Hope Jahren. The library is located at 2 Jackson

Drive, Jackson. To register for this free event, call 732-9284400.

April 11

Event: Free U.S. Citizenship Preparation Classes Location: Lakewood Details: The Lakewood Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a seven-session class to help prepare people planning to take the test for U.S. Citizenship. The class will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23. To register and for more information, call 732-363-1435, ext. 2100.

The library is located at 301 Lexington Ave. in Lakewood.

April 12

Event: Learn the Process of Home Ownership Location: Jackson Details: The Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library will host “How to Improve Credit Score & Become a Home Owner” at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to fix their credit score and go through the home buying process. The library is located at 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. To register for this free event, call 732-928-4400.

April 15

Event: Spring into Aquatics Safety Location: Pemberton Details: This free program teaches children ages 6-12 the best practices for water safety, including swimming skills and safety habits in and around water (American Red Cross Skills), from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the RCBC Pemberton Campus Pool. Call to register 856-222-9311, ext. 1010.

PLEASE SUBMIT EVENTS 4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE

April 16

Event: Biofeedback for Stress Management Workshop Location: Medford Details: This free workshop for adults will be held at the Center for Counseling and Education of Medford, 66 N. Main Street, Medford, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call to register at 609714-8400, or infor@cfcenj.com.

April 18

Event: Beef & Beer Fundraiser Location: Medford Details: Beef and Beer Fundraiser for the Shawnee High School Marching band will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Ott’s, 656 Stokes Rd. in Medford.

April 21

Event: Spaghetti Dinner Location: Vincentown Details: Trinity Episcopal Church, celebrating 150 years, will host a spaghetti dinner, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Adults, $10; and children ages 6-10, $5; children under 6 years of age, free.

Take-out available. The church is located at 18 Mill Street, Vincentown. For more information, call 609-859-2299.

April 22

Event: Food Truck Festival Location: Marlton Details: The Promenade at Sagemore’s Sunday-Funday Food Truck Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a variety of fabulous tastes from some of the area’s most unique food truck vendors.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN

By Ebba Liguori

‘Sweet Caroline’ Neil Diamond Tribute at Mount Airy Lodge

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—On Tuesday, March 20 several seniors from Pemberton Township participated in a trip to the Mount Airy Casino for a Neil Diamond Tribute: “Sweet Caroline.”

The weather was “iffy,” but the bus company assured the seniors that the Poconos were not going to be affected by adverse weather.

A bus to transport the seniors to their destination arrived at the Browns Mills Acme store parking lot at 8:30 a.m.

Soon, the bus was loaded and departed. It turned out to be a good day: cloudy, but bright.

The trip took less than two and a half hours,

so by 11:30 a.m. everyone was in the casino, ready to party.

The trip package included a full buffet lunch, so most hurried to join the buffet line.

Once inside the buffet, one was astounded at all the choices available.

There were five soups to choose from and a complete salad bar with all the fixings. There were also several different prepared salads and many dressing choices.

Then there was the taco bar with all the ingredients for a perfect taco.

A pasta bar was available too, with many choices to complete the perfect pasta dish.

Additionally, there were main courses, side veggies, fresh sliced meats, and all sorts of gravies and other additions.

Also available was dessert, and what a selection! There was even hot bread pudding with a choice of hot compote to add for extra flavor.

The buffet was truly unbelievable.

The “Sweet Caroline” tribute to Neil Diamond began at 1 p.m.

The Gypsie Theatre was packed with mostly senior citizens, but many in the Pemberton group were able to secure front row seats.

The performance included most of Diamond’s

Come

Worship With Us a.m.

favorite well known songs and many in the audience sang along.

Palladin Tours arranged for this show and they are noted for bringing world class performers to local venues.

The day certainly provided a great break for everyone who was totally tired of snow and ice.

The trip back to Browns Mills was uneventful until some sleet began falling when the bus reached the Flemington area. Everyone was able to clear their vehicles of ice and snow when the bus returned to the Acme parking lot in Browns Mills and arrived home safely.

NEIL>>PAGE 16

PAGE 12

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, March 31, 2018

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PAGE 14

AIM

PAGE 1

“That's a substantial reduction in value from several years ago,” Bayer said. “The thinking is that it’s too good not to take it.”

Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez discussed Pemberton’s initiative to redevelop the shopping center in March 23 and March 26 telephone interviews.

“Most of the businesses have left, including the Acme supermarket,” Gonzalez said. “The shopping center has been vacant for 12 or 15 years.”

Gonzalez said the township has held many discussions with Rocco Berardi, asking him to redevelop the property and to “clean it up,” but that he was not receptive to their repeated requests.

According to Burlington County Tax Board records, Berardi purchased the shopping center site in 1988.

Since then, Gonzalez indicated that the shopping center has continued a spiraling decline due to the owner’s neglect.

“We’ve had many, many discussions with the owner to redevelop it and clean it up, but he was resistant to improving the property,” he said. “The man has got a lot of money and does whatever he wants with (it). He owns many other properties in the state that are in much better condition. I have not seen them, but others have.”

Rocco Berardi did not return a March 26 telephone call for comment left with his Ridgewood office.

Gonzalez said every redevelopment area requires a determination that it is blighted.

“There was a determination made more than a dozen years ago that the (shopping center) is in need of redevelopment,” he said.

Gonzalez said the determination was made in accordance with state requirements that the area be investigated to ascertain if it met the state’s requirements for redevelopment.

Determining that the Browns Mills Shopping Center is a blighted site in need of redevelopment may end up being easier than finding a developer willing to redevelop the site.

For years, Pemberton has attempted to solicit redevelopment proposals for the shopping center, but found few developers willing to undertake such a project.

“There are general plans and we continue to speak to developers about a variety of ideas,” Gonzalez said. “Nothing has worked out yet, (but) we would make it public if it were.”

In addition to introducing an ordinance that would authorize a declaration of taking for the shopping center, the Pemberton Township Council approved a resolution accepting an award for condemnation of private property located at Block 553, Lot 1, known as 16 Market Street.

Gonzalez discussed the resolution in a March

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM 26 interview.

He said the property, located in an area near the Browns Mills Shopping Center, was also identified for redevelopment. However, a courtappointed commissioner appraised the property at a higher valuation than the township.

“We made an $85,000 appraisal, (but the) commissioner determined that it was worth $91,000,” Gonzalez said. “We now need to create a mechanism to finance the difference.”

He said the difference in appraisal valuations would be paid out of a 2018 municipal budget that council members introduced at their March 22 special meeting.

Council’s originally scheduled meeting date of March 21 was canceled due to a Nor'easter.

Gonzalez, when asked if the $6,000 difference was reported in the 2018 municipal budget, said “no.”

“It’s not reported in the budget,” he said. “But it is a budget expenditure.”

Mayor David Patriarca discussed the 2018 municipal budget that was introduced.

“We feel that it is a responsible budget,” he said. “It’s the second-lowest tax rate in Burlington County and the 16th lowest in the State of New Jersey."

Gonzalez also commented about the budget during its introduction.

“This budget maintains a very stable tax rate,” he said. “We hired five new police officers, one law-enforcement officer and additional Public Works employees. We also plan to begin reconstruction of nearly six miles of roads (this spring).”

During the special meeting, council members also approved a $2.1 million bond ordinance on second reading.

The ordinance calls for the issuance of $2 million in bonds with a $100,000 down payment.

Gonzalez told Pine Barrens Tribune that this bonding ordinance includes the $920,000 limit authorized for either a negotiated taking of the Browns Mills Shopping Center or its condemnation through eminent domain.

The bonding ordinance also authorizes financing for the Department of Public Works, which has an in-house road construction crew that repairs three to six miles of the township’s roadways every year, according to Gonzalez.

Patriarca said the township’s budget represented taxpayer dollars that were wellspent.

“When you take into consideration all that we have done…and with all that is going into debt, you say to yourself, ‘How can we still keep taxes so low?” Patriarca said. “We are a large community with so many challenges, but we are proud of what we have accomplished.”

Gonzalez said Pemberton Township Police Department salaries and wages comprise 47.9 percent of the proposed $24,932,066.04 total budget appropriations, while the Department of Public Works salaries and wages comprise 35

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE A boarded up retail space at the Browns Mills Shopping Center in Pemberton Township is boarded up.

percent.

“We need all those services,” Gonzalez said.

Patriarca said that he welcomed council’s input, but asked that they do not jeopardize needed township services by reducing expenses that comprise the bulk of this year’s municipal budget.

Gonzalez, responding to a question by Councilman Jason Allen, said that the cost of repairing the township’s roadways this year will be supplemented by the addition of $175,000 in unspent funds.

Patriarca said that before Pemberton began bonding for the yearly cost of maintaining its roadways, the township paid for the expense out of municipal budget funds.

He said that by bonding for the expense and spreading it out over a period of years, the township was able to support the cost of services it could not otherwise afford.

Allen also said it looked as if the township was not funding the service cost of lifeguards.

In response, Gonzalez said that the budget allocated $10,900 for the service at Presidential Lakes.

Council President Norma Trublood motioned for a budget hearing on May 2 and council unanimously approved.

Members of the public can inspect the Pemberton 2018 Municipal Budget at the municipal building or on the home page of the township’s website: http://www.pembertontwp.com/index.html.

In other news, council approved all other resolutions on the March 22 special meeting consent agenda, including one that awarded a three-year contract, with 2-year mutual option, to Virtua Emergency Medical Services for basic life support emergency medical services.

Gonzalez said that talks to add ambulance services in order to relieve volunteers had not been successful, so the township put a bid out for emergency medical services.

Gonzalez said Virtua and two other companies bid on the contract. Virtua submitted the lowest bid.

The new contract will now provide muchneeded relief for volunteers servicing the emergency ambulance needs of the community.

“Essentially, (this new contract) increases the ability for Virtua to respond at no additional cost to the township,” Gonzalez said.

Council’s consent agenda also included a resolution authorizing an application to, and an acceptance of an award from, the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safetyʼs Division of Highway Traffic Safety for a 2018 Distracted Driving Crackdown Grant program fund in an amount of $6,600.

Council members also approved a resolution authorizing a side agreement with PBA Local 260, which modifies a current collective negotiations agreement by reducing overtime rates for enforcement of the Distracted Driving Crackdown Grant program during the remainder of this year.

Allen, a New Jersey State Police employee— but not a trooper—abstained.

Council also accepted a gift of private property and took action to formally take it over.

An ordinance on second reading, scheduled for action at council's March 22 meeting, conveyed Block 139, Lot 20 to Pemberton Township.

“The owner offered to give it to the township because it’s too small to develop," Gonzalez said.

According to Burlington County Tax Board records, the property is owned by Richard and Eugenia Byrd, represented by Felix and Laurene Ortiz.

Prior to adjournment, the mayor praised the township’s Department of Public Works employees for their recent work in the aftermath of a March 21 snowstorm.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

PHOTO SUBMITTED Elisabeth McCartney, has been appointed for a two-year unexpired term on Pemberton Council until December 2018.

“They were prepared for the storm,” Patriarca said.

He also commended the town's volunteer firefighters and EMS. “I give these men and women so much credit,” Patriarca said.

The mayor criticized Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), alleging the company had a four-hour delay in responding to a “highpriority call” of a downed live-wire during the previous day's storm.

“JCP&L can do so much better,” Patriarca said. “Our guys are out there clearing the roads of fallen trees…but when there's a live wire involved, they won't touch it. We’re not happy with Jersey Central.”

Patriarca said power had been restored to 75 percent of the town’s renters, and that five percent would have their power back by the following evening.

“That is a little better than the last story (from the last storm),” he said.

Patriarca congratulated council's newest member, Elisabeth McCartney, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Pemberton Councilman Ken Cartier.

McCartney, a resident of Pemberton Township since 1969, was instrumental in introducing and implementing the Pemberton School District's Medical Arts Academy. These college level courses provide college credits for students who successfully complete them. The program gives students an opportunity to earn credits at a reduced cost.

She also is a faculty advisor for Health Occupations Students of America and Future Nurses of America. Additionally, McCartney has collaborated with Deborah Heart and Lung Center healthcare education staff to develop a Nursing Assistant Program.

McCartney was awarded a spot in the Pemberton Township High School Hall of Fame in 2017 and currently serves the township as president of the Browns Mills Improvement Association (BMIA).

Cartier, who moved out of the area, resigned on March 11.

The veteran councilman served the township from 2007 through 2014. Cartier returned in 2016 to fill a vacant seat left by the death of councilwoman Diane Stinney. Councilwoman Letha Jackson, an employee of the Pemberton School District, announced that Pemberton High School’s fashion show, scheduled for the following evening, would be rescheduled.

The annual event benefits Black History Month.

“The students work so hard on it every year,” Jackson said.

Jackson and Trublood both thanked members of the public that attended the meeting a day after the snowstorm.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 15

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

NEIL

Saturday, March 31, 2018

OIL

PAGE 11 The “major” storm did not hit the area until afternoon of the following day.

This is a first for as long as I can remember: on Wednesday, March 21, the Pemberton Township Senior Citizens Center was closed because of snow.

Burlington County, in the past, has canceled meals offered at the center for a day because of an impending snowstorm, but the center has always remained open.

This time was different.

Heavy snow was predicted and rather than have seniors come out and get stuck in the snow, when the county canceled the meal, the center announced the closing.

However, this did not mean the center’s staff got a day off. On the contrary—they arrived at the center at their usual hours and worked catching up on many chores.

At 10 a.m. that day, there still was little snow on the ground with sleet falling.

It looks like seniors could have been fooled into going out and finding themselves with cars to clean off and a treacherous ride home, because by evening close to a foot of snow had fallen.

The county also canceled the nutrition program on Thursday, but Pemberton Township, through special arrangements with the provider Colonial Village Caterers, was able to serve a delicious meal on Thursday.

There are certainly benefits to having the nutrition program’s caterer location within the township.

Colonial Village provides many meals for local social events, including the “Senior Prom” coming soon on April 18.

Thursday’s meal was a special treat prepared just for the Pemberton Township nutrition site.

The most delicious vegetable lasagna was served and seniors really enjoyed the treat.

Easter and warmer weather will soon be here. The senior center will be closed on Monday, April 2, for the holiday weekend.

Staff will enjoy a well-deserved long weekend, but seniors will miss the daily activities.

The beginning of a new month also means a new Senior Gazette with updates on trips and activities. Stop in and pick up your copy.

Tickets are now on sale for the “Senior Prom” to be held on Wednesday, April 18, at St. Ann’s Social Hall in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township. The Pemberton Township Education Association sponsors this event.

Students from the Pemberton Township High School decorate the hall and serve during

the prom. Seniors enjoy a music filled evening and interact with the students throughout the evening.

Dancing will fill the evening and a delicious meal will be served. A “King” and “Queen” will be chosen by the students and there will be a “crowning.” Professional photographs will be available.

Do not miss out on this event, get your tickets soon! They are only $10 each and include the meal. The fun begins at 3 p.m. and is over at 7 p.m. so seniors can be home before dark.

Tickets are on sale daily at the senior center between 9 a.m. and noon. The theme is “Spring Time,” so get your pastels and floral outfits ready.

If you missed your own high school prom, this is your chance to make it up. All seniors are welcome to attend. Do not worry if you have no “date,” the students will be happy to become your dance partner. There will be plenty of line dancing to enjoy, and that does not require a partner.

Tickets are selling fast for the Hunterdon Hills Dinner Theatre “Steel Magnolias” show on Wednesday, April 25. A bus is scheduled to leave the Browns Mills Acme store parking lot at 9 a.m. and returns close to 5 p.m.

A sit down meal will be served by wait staff and there is a lavish dessert buffet available in the Garden Room. A bar is available for host drinks. Tickets are only $55 for senior residents and $70 for senior guests.

Avoid disappointment and stop at the center soon to get your tickets.

The month of May will soon be here and there will be two special trips.

On May 9, several seniors will travel to the Pines Dinner Theater in Allentown, Pa. This is a small theatre with intimate seating. The cast is talented and always provides a super show.

On May 23, several seniors will travel to the American Music theater in Lancaster, Pa. This trip includes a stop at Shady Maple.

Tickets are on sale for both trips, so stop in to purchase tickets soon. Both trips usually sell out.

Now that the weather is warming, consider stopping at the senior center and become involved in exercise programs offered. There is a room dedicated to exercise equipment and group exercises are offered each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. There is no charge for using the equipment or joining the group exercises.

There is also a “Zumba Gold” class on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. There is a $5 charge to participate in this class.

HELP WANTED

Associated Building Maintenance Corp., a janitorial company, is looking to fill three part-time jobs in Medford, cleaning a facility.

1st job: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Start time is 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

2nd job: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

3rd job: Monday to Friday 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Candidates must have commercial and/or residential cleaning experience.

If interested, please call Judy at (609)-654-1234

PAGE 2

PHOTO SUBMITTED All equipment, including underground storage tanks, were removed from a former Lukoil gas station site in Medford Township.

Nor’easter, as opposed to 247 homes in the last one.

“They were basically back online within a day,” he said. “We also didn’t have as many trees come down because the last storm took care of any weak trees that we had. The ones that were still standing are healthier and the wind was not as bad.”

However, as the Tribune reported last week, towns just to the south and east of the borough were not as lucky with the March 21 storm and experienced far more tree damage and power loss than the first storm.

In other news, eyebrows were raised when Burton responded to a question from Deputy Mayor Robert Hanold about activity that has been taking place at a former Lukoil gas station site in Medford Township, which sits nearly adjacent to Medford Lakes Borough, at the corner of Tabernacle and Stokes roads.

Oil tanks were recently removed from the property, which has sat vacant for nearly three years.

Hanold said he has been slightly concerned about potential environmental impacts and has questions about their removal.

“I have not been told that there is an issue,” Burton said. “Medford Township Manager (Katherine Burger) responded to my email question that they were simply taking out the tanks. I believe that the Department of Environmental Protection regulates how long tanks can be in the ground from service stations that are no longer operational.”

When reached the following week for comment by the Tribune, Burger said she was not able to provide any additional information about the site, other than that Lukoil has permits to perform work there.

Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold said the property was not indicated as being sold as of at least two months ago.

It has been posted for sale since Nov. 25, 2015.

“It is in our backyard and we stare at it every day since it is literally right across the street, in the dividing line of Medford and Medford Lakes,” McIntosh said. “There has been a fence up and workers spotted. We’re just curious.”

Resident Joseph Aromando said he thought that more information needed to be gathered by officials.

“I think that council should receive a report from Medford Township about the work being done there and get the full scope about what the

work is,” he said. “Is it just an oil tank removal or are there going to be new wells installed there? Is there going to be contamination testing of the soil and water?”

Two resolutions passed.

One resolution awarded professional services contracts to a group of architects for various building projects.

Mayor Thomas Cranston said nine firms would be allowed to bid on borough projects for one year. Those firms are: Regan Young England Butera of Mt. Holly; Fraytak, Veisz, Hopkins, Duthie, PC of Trenton; Wayne Neville, AIA of West Berlin; Adamson, Riva & Lepley Architects of Moorestown; Charles J. Collins, Jr. of Medford; Jose F. McKernan, Jr. Architects and Associates, LLC and ARMM Associates of Cherry Hill; The Design Collaborative of Cape May Court House; and Walter A. Olt of Marlton.

“Starting in 2010, council decided to put all professional services out for bids,” Hanold said. “In some cases, we only selected one candidate—such as for auditors or solicitors.

But, in cases when there was a need for engineers or architects, you can have more than one. So, in that way, they can be ready to bid on projects as they came up.”

He said the nine firms are not being paid at this time, and that they will be able to just bid on projects in Medford Lakes as they come up.

“We put out a Request for Proposals in November of last year for an award in December, but we had interest from other architects that missed that RFP, so we put out a second RFP,” McIntosh said. “All of the six first-round architects asked to remain for the second round, when we picked up an additional three more. All of the architects have different skill sets. We do this every year.”

Council also issued a raffle license to Folwell School PTO for an event at Medford Lakes Country Club on May 19.

An executive session was held by council with discussion about attorney-client privilege material, contract negotiations, and what to do about a residential property at 14 Lenape Trail.

The property, located near Stokes Road, was last discussed publicly during a regular council meeting on Jan. 25.

It has been unoccupied for four years and is in poor condition. The borough took ownership of the home in January. No action was taken following the session.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

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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.

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The Connection Between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Thyroid

T

here are many reasons that you might be tired and suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

To be clear, CFS is not the kind of fatigue that goes away after you’ve rested, this is a persistent type of weakness that is inexplicable, unrelenting and disabling.

CFS has been pinned on Epstein-Barr (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV6), parasites, mycotoxins, mold, adrenal dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies and much more. But new research published in March 2018 in Frontiers of Endocrinology has uncovered a rather obvious link, one that has the potential to change your life dramatically, and in a good way!

Chronic fatigue impacts about 2.5 million people in the United States who deal with it, but live in an awful state of exhaustion, brain fog, dizziness and muscle pain or weakness.

Attempts to treat it with antibiotics, stimulants, sleeping pills and antidepressants have left millions of people adversely affected by the drugs and still feeling pretty dreadful, perhaps only marginally better, but certainly not cured. I’m confident, especially now, that thyroid medication holds the key to getting better if you have CFS. Scientists in the Netherlands and in Spain got together and inferred that CFS could be a result of low thyroid (T3) hormone levels, independent of the TSH. To test the theory they looked at 197 people, of which 98 had been diagnosed with CFS and 99 were not. After comparing thyroid function, and biomarkers of inflammation, the researchers found

that the people with CFS had dramatically lower levels of important thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) but surprisingly they had normal TSH levels.

This means that your TSH could appear normal on a lab test, but your T3 could be lower due to poor activation (which means that the T4 isn’t converting to T3 fast enough). This means that you would have all the symptoms of low thyroid (and it will not be detected if the doctor just looks at your TSH levels) and let me remind you, this is what most do, they just look at TSH levels and nothing more!

There are many reasons for poor T3 activation, and I wrote a book on this topic called, Thyroid Healthy. It’s on Amazon. I also have an E-book I can share for free if you sign up for my newsletter at my website. The folks with CFS happened to produce higher amounts of reverse T3 (rT3) which sadly is like your hibernation hormone. It slows you down, it basically puts you to sleep. It’s not biologically active like T3. To read more about this go to my website and use the search box to find the article called, “Measure Reverse T3 and Get Thyroid Healthy.”

This critical research means that people with CFS are likely suffering from an underlying thyroid problem and could benefit dramatically from simple affordable medications like Compounded T3, Cytomel or other forms of T3 medication. The T4 drugs like Levothyroxine will not be of benefit and might exacerbate the problem due to more rT3 formation.

Take your news to the next level!

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PAGE 17

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Saturday, March 31, 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?”

P

The Phone Book Is, Like, So Yesterday!

hone books.

Back in the day, I never used them.

Why, I would simply dial 411, state a name and city and wait patiently for the nice person on the other end of the line to look the phone number up for me.

The small fee that they began to charge for such services brought that to an abrupt halt. Suddenly I was looking numbers up all by myself. My family kept a phone book by the desk, one in the utility drawer and another under the rotary dial telephone that sat in a small opening in the wall between the dining room and the living room.

In days gone by, if I needed the number for an out-of-state relative, it was no big deal.

I would just call Grandma Johnson, who would look it up in her Rolodex. Then I would open my own little metal book of important numbers, add the new name with the cute and all-inclusive pencil and life was good.

That was the tops!

My but how things change. On a recent excursion, where all of our sons were present in the family sedan, I called to the back seat without turning around, “Could someone please hand me the phone book?” Nary a peep.

“Hello?” I called out into the void, “Hand me a phone book would you?” Still no response.

When I turned to face the four passengers (that I brought into this world), I was met with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

“Hand you a what?” asked Vernon, the eldest of the Clinch Clan and Mr. Technology himself.

“A phone book,” I replied while resisting the temptation to add a heart-felt, “Duh!” “Who are you trying to call?” Vernon asked as if he were addressing an imbecile.

“I want to call the deli and preorder our dinner.”

With an emphatic eye roll, Vernon then pulled a sleek little iPhone out of his shirt pocket, pressed a button and asked Siri for the number. “Shall I dial it for you?” Siri cordially asked.

Vernon then handed me his ringing device and turned to his chuckling brothers and mocked, “’Hand me the phonebook,’ that’s just rich.”

It’s all fun and games until someone gets annoyed.

Although I don’t have an abundance of techno wisdom, I know how to push buttons. I am perfectly capable of surfing the web, paying bills online and I’m proud to announce that I man my own website.

I Facebook friends, have been known to Instant Message and I communicate via text messaging like it’s my job. I can also Tweet, Snap and Instagram. Not bad for an old gal.

But I still prefer to chat it up on my landline and yes, I still use the phone book. I keep one in the kitchen, one in the home office and one in the car.

Yet, these days, with so many folks dropping their landlines, listed numbers have gone the way of the Dodo and looking them up just isn’t the same.

Although I loathe it, more often than not I’m forced to go online. Some websites are difficult to navigate, while others make you endure pop-ups—not to mention the everloving “Hey, why don’t we make you a member and for a mere $9.99 per month, we’ll find your phone numbers!”

And I thought the 25 cents that 411 charged was excessive.

I, too, have Siri but I find her to be unreliable and oftentimes condescending. “I’m sorry, Lori, you don’t have any contacts with that name,” she said when I asked her to phone the utility company the other day.

She’s also been known to take untimely breaks on the job; for she thinks nothing of telling me, “I’m sorry, I can’t take any requests right now.” No explanation as to why she wasn’t taking any requests right now. I guess she just wasn’t feeling it.

Could it have been because she was busy?

Do you suppose she was hanging with her peeps and didn’t want to be bothered? Was Siri on a hot date? Perhaps she was in a meeting with other snotty, technological devices and they were all in the midst of practicing their condescending voices?

Technology is great. But sometimes it seems as if Grandma Johnson and her Rolodex were light years into the future.

© 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.

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C R O S S W O R D Across 1 1 Splitting target 5 Taqueria adjective 10 Heavy wind?

14 Splitting 16 Author Blyton 17 Degree seekers 18 Hendrix hairdo 19 Alert follower, perhaps 20 They may be spilled 22 Reason for many a school absence 24 "In __, I know not why I am so sad": "The Merchant of Venice" 25 '90s Philippine president Fidel 28 JAMA subscribers 30 It merged with SAG in 2012 32 Cal's "East of Eden" brother 33 1996 Richard Gere thriller 35 Nigerian native 36 Some vents 37 GPS suggestion 38 Premium Scotch choice 40 Enthusiastic 41 Flummoxed 42 Blues with sticks: Abbr.

P U Z Z L E

43 Performed, in Shakespeare 44 __ scheme 46 "The Other Side of Oz" autobiographer 48 Buddy 50 Sticks around 54 Eclectic magazine 55 Hardly a light six-pack?

57 Staple in 48-Down 58 NYC saloon featured in a 2000 film 59 The Stans were among them: Abbr.

60 Ministers 61 Chinese menu possessive Down 1 Essentials 2 Corner 3 Santa Ynez Valley prefix 4 Badger State city 5 Help, in Le Havre 6 Percussion staples 7 G-man 8 Union requirement 9 Church areas

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10 Detach, in a way 11 Free 12 Demographers' concerns 13 Flaps 15 Highland attire 21 Barbecue supply 23 Like much property 25 Mrs. Gorbachev 26 Resolves, as a contract dispute 27 Still runner 29 Detect vulnerability 31 Isn't for you?

33 Baltimore bard 34 Wall adornment 36 Beast of burden 39 Springs with steam 40 18th-dynasty Egyptian pharaoh 43 Crowded 45 Make official 47 Goes through carefully 48 57-Across sellers 49 High wind?

51 Lines of thought?

52 Pull up stakes, informally 53 Stone and others 56 Preserves, for keeps: Abbr.

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HELP WANTED

Associated Building Maintenance Corp., a janitorial company, is looking to fill three part-time jobs in Medford, cleaning a facility.

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

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Associated Building Maintenance Corp., a janitorial company, is looking to fill three part-time jobs in Medford, cleaning a facility. 1st job: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Start time is 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2nd job: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 3rd job: Monday to Friday 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Candidates must have commercial and/or residential cleaning experience. If interested, please call Judy at (609)-654-1234.

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The Pemberton United Methodist Church is seeking an organist. The qualified candidate must be able to sight-read and play a pipe organ. The position is parttime and the compensation is $15,000.

Services start at 10:45 a.m. with a Wednesday evening rehearsal. Please contact Rev. William D. Carter, III at pastor@pemberton-umc.org or 609-8948015.

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HELP PAGE 6

searching for hope for their loved ones,” he said.

The initiative is similar to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Blue Heroin Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) program, which was initiated by Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato early last year.

Coffina said Ocean County’s program has been successful at connecting addicts with treatment.

Statistics reveal that there is a strong need for treatment in Burlington County.

In 2017, Burlington County experienced 141 overdose deaths, a 70 percent increase over 83 in 2016, and an 88 percent increase over 2015.

Burlington County law enforcement and emergency responders also deployed Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, over 900 times last year, a 40 percent increase over 2016.

The deployments, Coffina said, saved nearly that many people in the process.

Without the naloxone deployments, Burlington County could have approached 1,000 overdose deaths last year.

Evesham Township experienced 11 fatal overdoses in 2017, and its police department has been one of the more proactive agencies in seeking to address the drug crisis.

“The Evesham Township Police Department is honored to partner with the Burlington County

Prosecutor’s Office in launching the Straight . . . to Treatment program,” said Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew. “I am proud that this initiative will reduce the impact of opiate abuse in our community and will provide those who suffer from addiction an opportunity to get help and guidance to recovery.”

Initially, the program will be in operation on Mondays from noon to 7 p.m. at the Evesham Township Police Station, which is located at 984 Tuckerton Road in Marlton section of the township.

All three partners expect to extend the hours as the program takes hold, and Coffina said he anticipates expanding the initiative to other municipalities in the near future.

Oaks Chief Executive Derry Holland said the organization actively seeks to create partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, municipalities, hospitals and nonprofit community providers to help those in need.

“We all know someone impacted by substance abuse - a family member, friend, neighbor, colleague - the disease has no boundaries,” Holland said. “Recovery is possible with the right resources, treatment and continuing care.

Straight . . . to Treatment will give individuals and families in our communities increased access to critical services and offer hope for long-term recovery.”

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PHOTO SUBMITTED From left to right: Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina; Oaks Integrated Care Vice President Brenda Brown-Goggins; Oaks Integrated Care Addiction Services Supervisor Nicole Bixler; Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew; and Evesham Township Mayor Randy Brown.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina addresses reporters at Monday's press conference announcing the new Straight … to Treatment program to assist drug users.

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STUDENTS

TAIT

PAGE 2

PAGE 2

role. She recalled in the wake of his death how Tait stood apart from the rest of her interviewees.

“Most of the people who responded to the newspapers’ job postings were young and college-age, often inexperienced,” she said.

“Adam, on the other hand, was well into his 70s, with an impressive resume that included a stint at a major daily newspaper in Philadelphia. He was enthusiastic on the job interview, even though he was obviously over-qualified for the position. I worried a bit that he wouldn’t like the work, but he proved to be one of my best hires.”

Tait’s beats for Journal Register were Pemberton Borough, Pemberton Township and Shamong Township.

“Adam worked for me for several years and during that time he made himself available on nights and weekends—and would travel miles without complaint to attend a meeting or an event,” she said.

Miller said Tait was reliable and never missed an assignment or a deadline.

“He approached every council meeting, every school board gathering, every run-of-the-mill assignment as if it were a fascinating subject that people would be clamoring to read about,” she said. “He cared deeply about the written word, about the people he interviewed, about the subjects he covered—but mostly about his readers.”

In 2014, Journal Register laid several workers off due to budget cuts, including Tait, and closed the Community News. Tait, who could not find local job opportunities in journalism, reluctantly decided to enter retirement.

“I’m afraid of what I will do as this is what keeps me interested and active, doing what I love to do,” said Tait to Pemberton Township Council on July 16, 2014. “I’ve been getting paid to do this (reporting) since high school. I don’t want to get very old, very fast.”

Tait’s natural aptitude for using words in a quick and inventive way left a special mark on Pemberton Township Clerk Amy Cosnoski, who frequently worked with Tait since she records the meeting minutes of council.

“I would like to express sadness in learning of the passing of Adam and will miss his kind and gentle soul,” she said. “Working with Adam was a pleasure as he always had a smile and a kind word to say while working at his craft.”

In 2016, Tait jumped at the opportunity to come out of retirement when he received a call from yours-truly that the Pine Barrens Tribune opened in Southampton Township and was looking to hire him as a reporter and copy editor.

He arrived at the newspaper’s offices, with a pen and notepad in hand, less than 12 hours later.

“I was very happy when the Pine Barrens Tribune opted to hire Adam once his position was eliminated at my paper,” Miller said. “He so loved his role as roving reporter; it made him feel relevant and engaged in life.”

Within a month at the Tribune, Tait returned to his familiar beats and received warm hugs and handshakes from politicians, business owners and residents who long admired his tenacity and commitment to telling their stories.

“There are not enough good things I can say about him,” said Pemberton Borough Mayor Harold Griffin. “He was very fair and unbiased and I am really sorry to hear of his passing. He is going to be missed.”

Shamong’s local officials, including Township Administrator Susan Onorato and Mayor Michael DiCroce, said they will also miss Tait, who became a friend over the years.

“Adam was a gentleman who seemed to really enjoy looking for the ‘story,’” Onorato said. “He took the time to know those he worked with and was always a professional!”

Pemberton Township Council President Norma Trueblood also said Tait brought professionalism to his beat.

“On behalf of the Pemberton Township

PAGE 21

PHOTO SUBMITTED Adam Tait III copy edits the Pine Barrens Tribune.

Council, it is with great sadness to receive the news of the passing of Adam Tait,” she said. “We will miss his professionalism, his unique gentle mannerism, and his dedication to his profession.”

Tait, for the Tribune, added Woodland Township to his roving reporter responsibilities, after he received calls about political turmoil in the township.

He covered the early days of the turmoil before ailing—an assignment he took very seriously as he often thought about the future for Woodland children.

But, at times, his coverage put him at odds with the politicians at the center of the turmoil.

Ironically, the last story he wrote, published two weeks ago, was about the accolades Woodland children earned on the wrestling mat.

Tait said often, including in recent months, that reporting on and speaking with youth is one of the fringe benefits of a reporting job—one he truly enjoyed.

“I get to talk with bright people about something I really enjoy,” he said after talking to Indian Mills Elementary School children last year. “Often, I walk away with having learned something myself.”

Tait’s favorite assignment for the Tribune, by far, was covering last year’s Read Across America Day festivities in the Shamong Township School District, which runs Indian Mills Elementary School.

“It was a true pleasure to work with Adam over the past eight years,” said Shamong Township School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Vespe. “Adam was always interested in stories that involved our children, teachers and the community. As a regular attendee at our Board of Education meetings, he will truly be missed.”

Jen Babbitt, president of the Shamong teachers' union, invited him to also participate in last year’s Read Across America Day festivities with 20 other readers.

Tait said reading two of his kid’s favorite Dr. Seuss books was a “real treat” for him.

“My own kids and most of my grandchildren, along with their children, are in New York or New Hampshire,” he said. “I don’t get many opportunities to read aloud anymore.”

Miller said Tait will always be known for his gentlemanly manner and very unique voice in the community.

“His stories were a perfect blend of folksy and informative; a nice combination for a community newspaper,” she said.

A few weeks ago, Tait—reminiscing about his career and marriage of 56 years to his wife, Virginia—said he enjoyed a “real good life.”

“Anytime you think you’ve seen the worst thing in your life, you know you’re wrong,” he said. “I hope on the last day of my life, I can laugh. I think I will.”

PHOTO BY SCOTT BEATON Pinelands Regional High School students arranged a desk for each person who lost their life in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. on Feb. 14.

“We must get approvals for bus routes and from the state Department of Education,” she said. “As we speak, the administration will be working on developing schedules to see how this will all work. I know there’s a lot of information out there (on social media), but I want to emphasize the accurate information will come from my office and be posted on the district’s website.”

The district instituted an emergency closure of the high school from October 2017 to January of this year after illnesses, foul odors and falling debris occurred during a roofing

project, part of the first phase of construction.

During the closure, the district used a split schedule to house both junior high and high school students in Pinelands Regional Junior High School. However, the schedule created complaints that students were not receiving enough instruction time and quality education.

“We are trying to avoid at all costs a split schedule,” Stevenson said.

The roof work and planned construction this summer is all part of a $53 million voterapproved referendum that authorized “no-frills renovations.”

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm& Food File

By Alan Guebert

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

Seventy Crops

S

hortly after he turns 86 on April 10, Eugene Glock will begin planting his 70th corn crop on the Butler County, NE farm he operates with his son. “He runs the place,” explains Gene by telephone, “and I’m the hired hand. I plant all the corn, though.”

And, the Lord willing, he adds, he will harvest it all, too.

If so, Gene will use a trusty combine not quite half his age, a six-row, International Harvester 1460 he bought in 1978 for (you might want to sit down) $23,000. That sum included an 18-ft. grain head, too.

Even more remarkable, it’s a good bet that Gene and the machine have even more years ahead of them. “My mother lived past 100,” he reports.

It’s not the longevity of either him or his machinery that makes most conversations with Gene interesting and insightful. It’s what he’s experienced and inspired across those decades that keeps you listening, learning, and laughing.

For example, he relates, “I planted my first corn crop while in high school for my FFA project. It was 12 acres of my dad’s best creek bottom land, and I used anhydrous ammonia that year, something my father never had. I raised 100 bushels an acre and sold it all for $2.54 a bushel.”

After splitting the windfall with his “landlord” father, Gene used his share to buy an “M Farmall and enough seed to plant 80 acres the following year.”

That crop brought other memories, too.

“My high school graduation speaker—I don’t remember his name—said we FFA fellows had the world by the tail because corn prices had reached a ‘new plateau’ and they’d always be high.”

The words still echo across the decades.

“The next year I sold corn for 90 cents. In my career, I’ve been told corn prices ‘have reached a new plateau’ five different times and I’m still waiting for that plateau.” His neighbors, the vitality of his local communities, and a lot of topsoil, however, are long gone.

That clear-eyed view of modern agriculture—that farmers seem prepared to

outbid and out-borrow neighbors in hopes of out-lasting them—led Gene into off-farm efforts to influence commodity markets and farm policy. In the early 1970s, he helped form the Nebraska Soybean Association and was elected its first president.

(It wasn’t a close race. “I left the meeting to use the restroom and when I came back all of ‘em said, ‘Welcome back, Mr. President!’”)

In the late 1980s, when his son returned to the farm, Gene made room by serving as Sen. Bob Kerrey’s statewide ag deputy from 1989 to 2001. “He told me I had just two jobs: be his eyes and ears to all Nebraska farmers and ranchers, Democrats and Republicans alike, and to tell him the truth.”

During those 12 years, Gene drove 652,000 miles across the state, often with the senator riding shotgun, to meet and help farmers and ranchers. “We always talked about possibilities, rarely ever about failure.”

To illustrate, Gene explains that Kerrey, a socially progressive Democrat, and his Nebraska colleague, Sen. Chuck Hagel, a socially conservative Republican, often disagreed on state and national policies. “In private, boy, they could really go after each other,” he says.

But afterwards, also in private, “One or the other would finally ask, ‘Well, what’s the bottom line you need for us to go forward together?’ And they’d figure out something neither liked but that both could live with and the problem got fixed.”

That wasn’t bipartisanship, Gene emphasizes, so much as pragmatic leadership.

“People had problems and the senators’ job was to help. That’s what we did.”

Ah, he sighs, not today. “Now everybody spends way too much time worrying about themselves and not enough time worrying about the people coming after us,” he offers.

This spring, however, Gene sees some flickers of hope. “It’s those kids in Florida,” he explains, “they’re talking about change and making change. That’s a hopeful sign.”

And who knows more about hope than an 86-year-old farmer with a 40-year-old combine ready to plant his 70th crop.

© 2018 AG COMM.

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

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AUTOMOTIVE

New Vehicle Buying Guide Compiled by Motor Matters

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

C

elebrating 25 years, Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most-awarded SUV ever. Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of four available 4x4 systems, Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension system and class-leading Selec-Terrain traction management system.

The 2018 Grand Cherokee boasts best-inclass towing of 7,400 pounds and a crawl ratio of 44.1:1. For 2018, the Jeep brand expands its Grand Cherokee lineup with the introduction of the new Trackhawk model -- the most powerful and quickest SUV ever -- that already includes the most capable factory-produced and most luxurious Grand Cherokee models ever with the Trailhawk and Summit.

Interior luxury is achieved with premium amenities, including Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood trim and unique color offerings. Grand Cherokee models are equipped with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the latest version of Uconnect's 8.4-inch touchscreen radio system that features higher resolution and pinch-andzoom capability. Higher-resolution 7-inch

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee

screen replaces the standard 5-inch Uconnect radio system.

The Grand Cherokee Sterling Edition debuts for 2018, available on Limited models, marking Grand Cherokee's 25th anniversary and features Platinum Chrome badging, lower fascia applique, grille rings, roof rails and fog lamp bezels, 20-inch Heritage wheels, available Sangria exterior color, platinum tow hooks and a "25th Anniversary" badge.

Inside, a new Real Metal package, leathertrimmed instrument panel and center console, and unique Heritage perforated seats that feature decorative stitching is standard. Uconnect's 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a nine-speaker audio system with active noise cancellation and Blind Spot monitoring with Cross Path Detection are also standard.

The Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6-powered Grand Cherokee, rated up to 295 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, tows up to 6,200 pounds while the available 5.7-liter V-8 packs 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque with bestin-class towing capacity of 7,400 pounds.

Compiled by Motor Matters

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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