Pine Barrens Tribune May 6 2017

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

Vol. 1 - No. 36

Southeastern Burlington County’s News Leader

Popular Football Coach Still at Risk in Pinelands Regional Job Cuts

By Catherine Galioto and Douglas D. Melegari Team Coverage

May 6-12, 2017

Belt Tightening: 13 Fewer Positions Proposed in Pinelands Regional

School Officials Recommend Tax-Rate Increase, Job Cuts in $31 Million Budget

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A proposal to eliminate 13 positions in the Pinelands Regional High School District, including a teaching spot held by a popular high school head football coach, rallied dozens of students, parents and teachers to attend a Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting on May 1.

This was the third such meeting which drew public outcry.

Brian Wilkinson, head coach of the Pinelands Wildcats varsity football team, is among those facing a job cut, and requested a Donaldson Hearing before the school board, which was held in a closed session.

A Donaldson Hearing is an avenue for non-tenured teachers to redress the potential loss of their job.

The other affected non-tenured teachers also requested to have a Donaldson Hearing and these, too, were conducted in closed session.

The board went into closed session to conduct the hearings and discuss other personnel matters at 8:40 p.m. and reconvened just before midnight, only to take no action on the matter— meaning the process of cutting the positions will continue as it is proposed in the 2017-18 school budget.

COACH>>PAGE 20

Medford Lakes Councilman Resigns to Become Borough Manager

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—Final adoption of the 2017 Medford Lakes Borough budget was almost completely overshadowed by a resignation and immediate appointment at a Medford Lakes Council meeting on April 27.

It was announced that Dr. Robert J. Burton had resigned from council. He then was hired as the new borough manager, replacing outgoing manager Julie Horner-Keizer, who had announced her resignation at a previous council meeting on April 13.

Burton has been a Medford Lakes resident since 2003.

“I had previously approached Rob Burton and told him that I was going to leave and thought he should put his hat in the ring,” said Horner-Keizer, who was participating in her last council meeting. “It was very exciting when I saw his resume come across my desk. I feel that whoever sits in this position has to have a love of Medford Lakes in their heart. It’s a special and rare community and

COUNCILMAN>>PAGE 19

PHOTO BY TOM WALKER Pinelands Regional School District Interim Superintendent Maryann Banks, Pinelands Regional Board of Education President Susan Ernst and Board Solicitor Amy L. Houck listen to a concerned parent on May 1.

By Catherine Galioto

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A $31.79 million proposed budget for the Pinelands Regional School District includes a tax increase and 13 fewer positions in what officials said is a belt-tightening year for the school district.

In his budget presentation on May 1, School Business Administrator Steve Brennan said state aid has not increased, while the district’s contribution to state-mandated programs and benefits is increasing, leading to a greater local tax burden.

This year, that setup translates into a 1.5 percent increase in the tax-levy portion of the budget’s revenue, for a total of $19.27 million.

State aid is down 0.1 percent, with only $11.62 million coming from state-aid sources. Special revenue (such as grants) is also down, with only $1.25 million from those sources in the 2017-18 budget.

Brennan said the district will use $801,112

from its surplus to help offset the budget.

The tax rate is broken down by town, as Pinelands Regional is a school district composed of several towns or sending districts: Bass River, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton.

The equalized tax rate factors in the number of students attending from those respective municipalities and a change in assessed valuation of tax ratables for those towns.

Brennan said that in some cases, because of how enrollment and the tax base shrunk or grew from each town, taxpayers could see a decrease even though the tax levy was larger year after year.

Brennan broke down the monthly tax impact by town, using the respective average home value: In Little Egg Harbor, based on the average home assessed at $196,100, the impact would be $1.95 less each month. The proposed 2017-18 tax rate would be $0.645 per $100 of assessed valuation.

In Tuckerton, based on the average home

assessed at $200,000, the impact would be $10.22 more each month, or a tax rate of $0.604 per $100 of assessed valuation.

In Bass River, based on the average home assessed at $221,017, the impact would be $2.50 more each month, or a tax rate of $0.707 per $100 of assessed valuation.

In Eagleswood, based on the average home assessed at $252,215, the impact would be $3.33 more each month, or a tax rate of $0.619 per $100 of assessed valuation.

A controversial part of the 2017-18 budget is the elimination of 13 positions: five teacher positions through non-renewal, seven teacher and staff positions through attrition, and one through the reduction-in-force process for tenured teachers.

At the last two school-board meetings, the public rallied in hopes of saving the positions, which included teacher Brian Wilkinson, also the head varsity football coach. (See related story - Popular Football Coach, Page 1)

BUDGET>>PAGE 19

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LOCAL NEWS 5

Forest Fire Service Urges Southampton Twp. to Create Municipal Wildfire Safety Council

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) is urging the Southampton Township Committee to establish a municipal wildfire safety council.

Representatives from the agency spoke to the township committee during their April meeting.

This was the second time since the fall that representatives from the NJFFS attended a meeting here to encourage the committee to act on their request.

“The premise behind the wildfire safety council is that it would be a volunteer group put together of your community members and fire departments to take care of updating your Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP),” said John Cowie, a district forest-fire warden for the NJFFS. “The idea is to take away work from the full-time employees and have a volunteer group do the work.”

He said the council would also help to build partnerships between the NJFFS, community liaisons, the local Office of Emergency Management, and township fire departments.

“Whether it is a wildfire—or it could be any large incident—when people know one another, there is a level of trust there that makes response much easier,” Cowie said. “I have been a wildland firefighter for 35 years and with these programs—bringing all the partners together before an incident—it makes an incident run much smoother.”

Two homeowners’ associations in Southampton, LeisureTowne and The Grande at Burrs Mill, have partnered with the NJFFS to become a “Firewise Community.” Tranquility, a third homeowners association in the township, has enrolled in the program and is expected to be officially recognized as a “Firewise Community” within the next 120 days.

Such communities agree to adopt long-term, proactive solutions to protect homes and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire.

All three homeowner associations are located in wildfire-prone areas of the township.

“I would just like to extend my gratitude to Southampton Township,” Cowie said. “You guys are, no pun intended, a hotbed of wildfire outreach programs. You got all of the components for keeping your residents and communities safe, which I commend you for.”

However, the agency would like the wildfire outreach efforts to be coordinated at the municipal level.

“The NJFFS has always been a suppression organization and what we have seen on the national level and on the state level is that we

have to engage residents,” Cowie said. “If we don’t engage the residents of communities, it can be a nightmare. By residents knowing what to do and taking steps to prepare only helps us out as firefighters and makes our jobs run much smoother.”

Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell appeared to support the idea of creating a municipal wildfire safety council in the township.

“I am a member of the Firewise Committee in LeisureTowne and these gentlemen have been coming to our meetings and are a great educational source for the Firewise program,” she said. “I personally just see this as continuing the education for the residents and continuing the safety for our community. 75 percent of Southampton Township is in the Pinelands. It is very important to keep our education up and educate our people.”

Mayor James F. Young Sr. asked Cowie if the work could be done by the township’s emergency management coordinator.

“The emergency management coordinator’s (role) is only a portion of it,” Cowie said.

According to the NJFFS website, wildfire safety council members are composed of concerned citizens, emergency management staff, local fire chief(s), insurance industry representatives, utility company personnel and usually a local elected official as an ex-officio or non-voting member.

Township Solicitor George Morris asked Cowie for a list of local towns which have established a wildfire safety council.

“Barnegat Township and Washington Township,” Cowie said. “Buena Township is looking into it.”

Cowie also explained what could happen if a wildfire threatens LeisureTowne, the largest population center in the township, which is also an active adult living community.

“One of the things we found on the national level is that we have to engage residents because (of the limited) emergency services, especially during a large incident such as a wildfire,” he said. “We live in a 911 society where you pick up the phone and there are three police cars and a fire truck at your door. The reality is that LeisureTowne has almost 2,400 homes and if you do the math with fire trucks, there is not going to be a fire truck at every door. Of course, mutual aid agreements come in to play but it is so important for residents to know what to do, how to keep their homes safe, and what to plug into if there is a disaster.”

Cowie left information with the committee which included model ordinances for the adoption of a council.

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INDEX Automotive......................................23 Business Directory...........................10 Classifieds........................................17 Community......................................14 Fun and Games................................16

Generations

Health ..............................................15 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 22 Local News....................................... 2 Opinion ............................................ 7 Scanner ............................................. 8

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

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Southampton Committee Adopts Budget Calling for Tax Increase Despite Surplus

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—After nearly two months of passionate debate, the Southampton Township Committee voted 4-1 to adopt a $6,603,556 municipal budget for 2017.

The budget calls for a 1.5 cent tax increase despite a recent revelation that the township has a $1.2 million surplus.

The committee verbally agreed to seek a 10-year, $3 million bond to fund municipal road improvements during a budget work session held on March 10.

Township officials have said that the revenue generated from the tax increase will be earmarked to pay for a 5 percent down payment on the anticipated bond.

State regulations require a municipality to budget a 5 percent down payment on any anticipated bonds.

An ordinance authorizing township officials to secure a bond has not been considered by the committee yet. A list of roads to be improved has also not been finalized.

The committee opted to take the surplus down to $650,000 for the year. However, the surplus would need to have been dropped to around $500,000 to avoid an increase in taxes.

The revelation that the township has a $1.2 million surplus is in stark contrast to the comments and actions taken by township officials and committee members over the past two years.

Township resident Evie Doherty congratulated Township Administrator Kathleen D. Hoffman and Treasurer Nancy

Gower during a public hearing on the budget. However, she said she could not ascertain where the surplus came from because she was unable to obtain actual figures from the township.

“In the beginning of 2014, we had a $150,000 fund balance,” said Township Auditor Kevin Frenia. “That is certainly not enough of a fund balance for a town of this size to effectively operate. So this year, we had a very good year.

I think it was probably an unusually good year and I don’t think we can probably depend on that for the next several years. We had a very good collection year. We collected almost all of our taxes, which is a good thing. There weren’t a lot of tax appeals. So that generated some income.”

Doherty said she was interested in knowing what line items in the budget were involved with the surplus.

“There was a recreation project for $100,000 that we didn’t spend (money on),” Frenia said. “That was actually in the budget. So that money went back into the surplus. We had a very good year of collecting taxes. We had some miscellaneous revenues. Employees are now contributing to healthcare. We had some insurance refunds. We had some things that were kind of outside the norm. We also had some funds from the 2015 budget that weren’t spent.”

Doherty asked if there was a way that she could get a list of the things Frenia mentioned so that she could compare them against the 2016 budget.

SURPLUS>>PAGE 18

Freedom Park Chosen for the 5th Annual National Ride of Silence

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—For the fifth year in a row, Medford will be hosting the 2017 National Ride of Silence on May 17 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., which begins and ends at Freedom Park in Medford.

The Ride of Silence is part of a national bike ride, which honors cyclists who have been injured or killed while riding on public roadways. The ride is also used to promote bicycle safety and awareness of sharing the road.

The event is especially dear to the hearts of many locals, as a result of the tragic and sudden death of two riders, Eileen Marmino and Ronald Filepp. Marmino, a 34-year-old mother of two, was tragically struck and killed on her 7th wedding anniversary while cycling in Medford during the summer of 2015. Filepp, a 64-year-old, lost his life on Nov. 11, 2016 due to a hit and run in Chatsworth.

This year, the Medford branch of the ride will be approximately seven miles long and will go at a slow and silent pace of 12 miles per hour through beautiful farmlands, neighborhoods and downtown areas of Medford. The roads will be temporarily closed for the ride, and riders will receive an escort from the Medford Township Police Department.

In honor of Marmino and Filepp, and all those who have passed, a white bike will be set up near the site where one of the tragic losses of life happened. Participating riders are asked to drop a flower as they pass the site, in Marmino’s memory and honor. Flowers will be provided.

Event organizers say the Ride of Silence will traverse and unite the globe as nothing before it.

Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent

procession to honor others who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

Event organizers said last week that cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists and that too often the motoring public isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes are not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Participants are required to have a safe working bicycle and helmet. Front and rear bicycle lights are suggested. Following the rules of the road is a must.

Volunteers and support crews will be present to keep the ride moving.

Past events have resulted in a strong turnout and organizers are hoping to double that this year.

“Previously, we’ve had a turnout of 200 plus people and we hope to have more than 400 participants this year,” said Larry Macdonald of Wheelies Bicycles in Medford. “In 2015, 818 people lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes, more than two people every day of the year in the U.S. This represents a 6 percent increase in bicyclist fatalities since 2006 and a 12.2 percent increase from the previous year (2014).”

The numbers represent just over two percent of the total number of people killed and injured in traffic crashes in 2015.

The number of estimated bicyclist injuries dropped to 45,000 in 2015, down from 50,000 in 2014.

“However, like pedestrian injury estimates, research into hospital records shows that only a fraction of bicycle crashes causing injury are ever recorded by the police, possibly as low as 10 percent,” Macdonald said.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Lightning Strike Causes Significant Damage to Indian Mills Memorial School Electronics

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—Officials in the Shamong Township School District have revealed that a number of electrical components at Indian Mills Memorial School were damaged by a lightning bolt last month.

“On April 6, lightning hit Indian Mills Memorial School in the late afternoon,” said Business Administrator Laura Archer.

“Students had already been dismissed for the day. New Jersey State Police and fire officials arrived due to a notification they received from our fire panel.”

An inspection of the entire building and surrounding grounds was completed by fire officials. A solar panel was found destroyed by the lightning strike during the initial inspection.

Additional damage became apparent in the days following the incident.

Thirteen solar panels, a fire monitoring panel, a security camera, a Bluetooth sound system in

the school’s gymnasium, door access controller board panels, five computers and circuits in the sewer plant were determined to be damaged by the lightning.

“All damage from the electrical strike will be submitted to the school district’s insurance company,” Archer said. “An insurance adjuster was on site on April 11 to review damages and collect needed paperwork.”

School officials have not yet calculated the total cost of repairs.

Due to the fire panel being affected and no longer working, a “fire watch” of the building had to be implemented by fire and school officials.

“Staff members from the maintenance and custodial department stayed at the building 24 hours a day from Thursday, April 6 thru Monday, April 10; completing circuits of the building to ensure there weren’t any problems,” Archer said.

Aletta Crichton School’s 50 Memorable Years Celebrated Before Demolition

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—You might think that a soon-to-be-demolished school wouldn’t be worthy of a celebration.

But that is what took place on April 29 at the Aletta Crichton School. About 300 people attended a festive and sentimental look back at the school, its former staff and above all, a

remarkable nurse, Aletta Crichton.

Hired in 1950, as Pemberton’s first school nurse, Crichton eventually spent 23 years supervising a staff of 10 other nurses.

The school was the first in the area and one of the first in the state to specifically focus on special-needs students in a general-education setting. It contained equipment for the hearing

CELEBRATED>>PAGE 18

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Southampton Committeeman Pledges to Start Letter-Writing Campaign Over Traffic-Signal Dispute

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—A Southampton committeeman’s quest to get a traffic signal upgraded has ratcheted up after he took jabs at state politicians and roasted New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials during a recent Southampton Township Committee meeting.

“We have what I consider a very dangerous intersection at Route 206 and Main Street,” said Committeeman Ronald Heston. “We have the roadway prepared for left-hand turns. We do not have the traffic signals that would allow a left-hand turn.”

He said the township, through some of his direction, has been in touch with the NJDOT and that he is displeased with their response that the township has to share the costs for the upgrade.

“The state wanted almost $25,000 from Southampton Township to do a study—that maybe they would consider putting those in if we paid for all the electricity,” Heston said. “It affects Route 206 which is a state road and Main Street which is a county road.

It is my opinion that the state should fix this intersection before we have bodies on the highway. There is absolutely no reason not to put in left-hand turn arrows. How many

(people) does the state want killed before they come out and look at it?”

Steve Schapiro, communications director for the NJDOT, said local officials who request changes to an existing traffic signal or want a new signal installed on a state highway are required to commit to 25 percent of the electrical costs.

“That commitment must be made prior to any work being done,” he said. “Once a request is made for an addition of or a change to a signal and the local jurisdiction (either the county or municipality) commits to the 25 percent funding requirement, NJDOT will begin a study.”

Schapiro said the study would include collecting information on traffic volume and crash data. He also said field studies would be conducted to assess the construction suitability for possible equipment locations. The process can take six to 12 months.

He added that local governments do not have to pay for the 25 percent up front.

“Only if the NJDOT analysis finds the change to be warranted is a cost-sharing agreement then prepared and executed,” Schapiro said. “Once signed by the respective parties, the town is billed the 25 percent prior to finalizing the design.”

The NJDOT told the Pine Barrens Tribune that they have not received a request

Pemberton School District Violence Statistics Drop Sharply; Budget Figures Released

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Passage of the 2017-18 budget school budget, expected at last Thursday’s Pemberton Board of Education meeting, was delayed to a special meeting on May 4 (too late to make this edition). It was the major item of business for the Pemberton Board of Education in a very heavy agenda on April 27 at the high school. The proposed budget total is $103,001,137.

The budget includes a general tax fund levy of $13,465,840. Pemberton Township is responsible for 93 percent of expenses, with Pemberton Borough paying the remaining 7 percent. The former Abbott District continues to receive significant state aid.

On a positive note, student violence figures have taken a nose dive.

According to Superintendent Tony Trongone, during the period of September 2015 to March 2016, the Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse (VVSA) figure was 145. This figure was cut nearly in half during the current school year, for the same period, September 2016 to March 2017, to 83.

A tentative collective bargaining agreement between the board and the Pemberton Township Principals and Administrators Association (PTPAA) was approved. The major point of the pact was approval of raises of 3 percent for PTPAA members.

The board also accepted a 21st Century Continuation grant of $414,689. This is the fifth and final year of the grant and must be met with a local contribution of $86,684. According to Trongone, the 21st Century Continuation is a federal program aimed at providing various enrichment courses to pupils.

After about 30 minutes, the board went into a 28-minute executive session. Vice President Jeff Wilson said later that personnel issues were discussed. No specific details on what was discussed could be disclosed.

Activities approved included summer enrichment programs, field trips and several assemblies.

About 15 pupils will serve as volunteers at the N.J. Youth Challenge Academy. In an unusual program, a miniature horse and handler will visit the Pemberton Early Childhood Education Center several times.

The first visit will take place on June 9. Pupils will also walk from Stackhouse School to Deborah Hospital to celebrate good deeds done at the hospital over the past year.

More than a dozen spring and summer professional development courses were approved for various faculty members. Several will be free, while the others range in cost up to $1,500, with one exception. That’s $12,920 for registration of 18 teachers to attend a three-day Advances Via Innovation Determination (AVID) summer training course in Philadelphia during July. They will receive $841 each for attending.

A student teacher from a distant college is spending three weeks at Busansky School.

She is Nikki Freeman of Liberty University, in West Virginia.

Various advisers and workshop leaders were named. They will hold parent workshops, run a Family Math Night, hold a mock Spanish exam, advise the National Elementary Honor Society or serve as tutors.

A summer meal program will be held at six locations. Dates are from Monday to Friday, June 19 through August 31, at the high school, Busansky, Stackhouse, the PECEC, Nesbit Center and Mirror Lake. A staff of 14, a supervisor and 11 substitutes were hired.

Staffers will earn $12 an hour for a 4.5–hour day.

In a move that could have future implications for the school district, there was a one-line notice on page 18 of the agenda, urging the board to approve a first reading for a

STATISTICS>>PAGE 18

from the township for changes to the signal at Route 206, Main Street and Retreat Road.

However, Township Administrator Kathleen D. Hoffman provided the Pine Barrens Tribune with an email sent to the agency requesting the change in August 2015.

Wayne D. Mathis, a NJDOT project engineer, confirmed receipt of the township’s request in an email sent to Hoffman on August 19, 2015.

“With respect to this traffic signal revision request, if justified, any such change will create the need to revise the traffic-signal installation, plan and timing,” Mathis said. “That being the case, as per NJDOT Policy 346, Southampton Township must commit to pay 25% of all costs associated with electrical construction projects.

Upon receipt of a township resolution committing to this cost sharing, we will be pleased to initiate the investigation process.”

The township committee has not unanimously agreed to share the costs of the project and thus no resolution was ever sent.

Heston said that there is a three-to-four hour window around rush hour in which there is great difficulty for motorists to make a left-hand turn at the intersection.

“If you are sitting on Route 206 going south in the morning and wish to turn on Retreat Road, you are taking your life in your hands because there is no arrow and they are coming at you to get to work,” he said. “At the end of

the day, if you are heading north, they are coming south and you have the exact same problem.”

Heston is requesting that everybody who lives in Southampton write a letter to Governor Chris Christie, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, and their 8th District legislators with requests that the traffic signal and the electronic system at the intersection of Route 206, Main Street, and Retreat Road be changed to permit arrowed left-hand turns.

“I ask that we write everybody we can,” he said. “It’s an election year. They also took our gas prices up 23 cents a gallon. Why? To do road improvements! Well, that is a road improvement!”

He said the good news is that the turn lanes are already installed, marked and paved.

“We have done a letter-writing campaign before when I was on the school board and we got notices from the legislators saying ‘Please stop writing letters, please, you are burying us,’” Heston said. “But we got action.”

Heston pledged to prepare a standard letter for township residents to send to state officials.

“This is something that we have to attack,” Heston said. “I tried to make a left-hand turn today and I had to wait through two changes of the light in order to make that turn. So I thought ‘This is it. We have to do something.’

CAMPAIGN>>PAGE 10

Eagle Scout Recognized by Shamong Committee for Organized Storage Project

PHOTO SUBMITTED Nick Boras is presented with a proclamation from Shamong Township Mayor Tim Gimbel.

By Adam Tait III

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

SHAMONG—An otherwise routine committee meeting was livened with the recognition and honoring of an Eagle Scout from local Troop 47.

The honoree was Nick Boras, who was accompanied to the meeting by his parents.

Boras, for his Eagle Scout project, chose to design, build and install 44 cubbies for the organized storage of horse-riding helmets.

This solved a long-standing problem over the disorganization of the helmets.

The disorganization had wasted time that could have been used to lengthen horse-riding lessons.

He raised just over $1,000 to finance the project.

It was said at the meeting that of all boys who join Scouting, only one of 25, or just 4

percent, achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

The beneficiary of Boras’ work was the Kaleidoscope Riding Program in Medford. The program aids youths with physical, cognitive and emotional problems as well as veterans.

In other action, June 1 was named as Seneca High School’s Day of Service. Seneca seniors will visit the town hall to clean the grounds, do some planting and weed and mulch flower beds.

A Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant of $33,587 to the township has been approved. This is for road damages caused by Winter Storm Jonas. According to Township Clerk and Administrator Susan Onorato, any funds left over will go into the township’s general funds.

Memorial services for Emilio Carranza, the

SCOUT>>PAGE 18

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Tabernacle’s Municipal Budget for 2017 Narrowly Passed by Township Committee

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE—The 2017 Tabernacle municipal budget was adopted at an April 24 Committee meeting, but not without lengthy discussion and reservations raised by some members of the township committee.

The reservations primarily focused on an across the board salary percentage increase for employees, aid to the volunteer ambulance companies and an increase in expenses to the fire department.

The 2017 budget of $4,276,422 was passed by a committee vote of 3-2. Joseph Barton and Deputy Mayor Joseph Yates voted “no,” while committee members Kimberly Brown, Richard Franzen and Mayor Stephen Lee IV voted “yes” for the budget.

The budget includes a 1.5 percent salary increase for township employees, $35,000 in aid to the ambulance companies and $106,500 in other expenses for the fire department.

“Our employees are amazing and the percentage increase across the board doesn’t give employees the opportunity to be recognized for the good work they do from a compensation standpoint,” said Lee, who said that he voted to pass the budget reluctantly. “I agree with Joe (Barton) that it isn’t fair not to give evaluations to employees each year. There has been no increase based on performance review in the last six years.”

The overall 2017 budget represented a 4 percent increase over 2016’s budget of $4,108,935, but was almost 2 percent lower than the 2015 budget of $4,354,554.

“If I recall, about 17 or 18 years ago, the

township got itself in a situation right after I got on the committee,” Brown said. “The way the regulation works, everyone has to be given the same raise and if they’re not, a claim could be made against the township.”

Township Solicitor Peter Lange said that the case brought up by Brown was related to appointed positions.

Township Administrator Douglas Cramer said that he oversees employee evaluations, although not as part of a desired system expressed by Lee and Barton.

“All of the employees were rated satisfactory and above,” said Cramer, who mentioned that he finished the evaluations earlier in the day.

“There are no specifics on how the committee should review me, although there is a standard form that could be used.”

Lee said that his point concerned an “across-the-board” increase and that discussion on evaluating Cramer and other members of the administrative team would be for another time.

Aid to the rescue squad was another point about the budget that concerned Barton, Lee and Yates.

“I think we need to see how to fund the rescue squad going forward,” Barton said.

“Every department should have a separate budget instead of it all being comingled together under public safety or other (headings). We have three rescue trucks for example. Do we need them all? What are the true costs?”

Lee agreed with Barton and discussed the benefits that the rescue squad receives from the township.

TOWNSHIP>>PAGE 18

Two Thumbs Up for Tabernacle Elementary School

By Judy Cohen Minches For the Pine Barrens Tribune

TABERNACLE—Hundreds of excited students piled into the gymnasium at the Tabernacle Elementary School (TES) on April 24 for the widely anticipated Earth Day Assembly, which featured a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new bottled-water refilling system.

There were four Elkay EzH20 bottle-filling stations installed over spring break, replacing half of the school’s eight water fountains. Each of these units also provides the water fountain component for students who do not bring reusable containers to school.

Placed strategically throughout the building for all students to access, there is a station in each of the second-and-third-grade hallways, by the cafeteria and in the gym.

School Principal Gerald Paterson said that the system was funded by a $10,000 grant from the New Jersey Education Association’s Sustainable Jersey for Schools initiative, which assists schools in creating and developing conservation and green programs.

He credited Caren Smith, the school’s media specialist, along with art teacher Jane Francis and Tabernacle School District Board of Education Member Gail Corey for their time and energy spent in researching and applying for the grant.

Second grade students sang “Green,” with music teacher Roberta Tursi accompanying them on the keyboard.

“Green is the grass and green are the trees… green are the buds and green are the leaves.

Green is the promise of new things,” the

students sang. “Green is the color of spring, spring, spring.”

Smith asked students to “Give two thumbs up if you brought a container to school today.”

Lots of hands waved in the air.

“The water-filling stations are healthy for our bodies and healthy for our earth,” she said.

“Our bodies are made up of 65% water and continually need hydration to stay healthy.”

Smith said that the hands-free, filtered water system promotes the drinking of clean, fresh water throughout the day without having to touch shared surfaces like water fountains, which are notorious for spreading germs.

“Healthy students are the best learners,” she said. “When you are thirsty, we want you to choose water, not sugary drinks.”

The new system also tracks the number of plastic bottles saved from ending up in oceans or landfills, which Smith said will be fun for everyone to monitor.

All these benefits appealed to Smith when she came upon a bottle refill station while hiking in the Glacier National Park in Montana. She knew she would be advocating for this upon her return to TES. She was also pleased that the eco-friendly system would feed into the school’s pledge to “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.”

Francis said the new system will be incorporated into learning activities that center on sustainability and going green.

“We will look at how to become more efficient with recycling at lunch with throwing away items, such as limiting the number of one-use plastic water bottles each

SCHOOL>>PAGE 20

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Medford Races into Kindergarten

PHOTO BY CATHERINE GALIOTO Dr. Elizabeth Asbury gives a presentation at the school-board meeting, explaining the “Race into Kindergarten” program to help introduce incoming kindergarten students to a day in school, in a fun way.

By Catherine Galioto

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—“Race into Kindergarten,” an event hoping to address the fears of children entering kindergarten, brought out more than 200 preschoolers and their families recently.

In the race-themed event, children were pushing parents on scooters in races and games in the gymnasium, while other break-out sessions introduced the youngsters to all they’d experience in the classroom, hallways and cafeteria.

The program was discussed in a special presentation before the Medford School Board at its meeting on April 24. Dr. Elizabeth Asbury, supervisor of instruction for the school district, explained the program and gave its highlights.

This year’s “Race into Kindergarten” was held over the course of about an hour in late March.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph J. Del Rossi said “Race into Kindergarten” is one of several phases of the district’s kindergarten readiness, with other phases offering registration forms, orientation and district tasks on gauging the needs of incoming kindergartners.

Del Rossi said at the meeting that 240 students were registered for the incoming kindergarten class, “and I expect to see another 20-25 students to register before the end of the year.”

Asbury said the program is a fun way to get kids and their parents excited and confident about kindergarten.

Del Rossi said he attended the event and was tasked with making the announcements for the groups to proceed to the next station. Asbury complemented Del Rossi’s race-day style announcements, which were complete with some racing lingo to help create excitement around the theme of a race track.

“This was an all-race theme,” Asbury said.

“There was so much excitement in the air that day.”

The students were divided into teams, by school.

“They could get to know each other and hopefully remember some familiar faces on the first day of school,” Asbury said.

She said the activities were varied, but all named for different “pit stops” for each activity

or subject. Art, math, alphabet, motor skills and fun activities were all part of the evening, and an actual race car visited the school as part of the excitement. Asbury said a staffer had a connection in the community with someone who had a race car, to the delight of children.

The event was not only about having fun and introducing the concepts of a school day, but also about the future students gaining confidence.

“We had a sort of a mock-cafeteria exercise,” Asbury said. “The process of getting a tray, selecting food for it, and carrying it might be a little intimidating.”

Part of the event allowed for some practice of that. It was another example of activities aimed at building a positive school experience.

“This is the first impression students get of what school is,” Del Rossi said. “They got an opportunity to go into the classrooms, gymnasium and cafeteria. They got to meet teachers. They got to meet principals and so forth. It’s a great way to provide a positive experience in a relaxed atmosphere.”

He said many students left giving him high-fives and saying they couldn’t wait to come back.

“They said, ‘You know what, this is a great place. School is a fun place to come to.’” Del Rossi said. “That’s the attitude to have and I believe they are on the right foot.”

He thanked the planning team, teachers and participants who helped make the event a success.

Del Rossi said the school district has several programs which address early learning and the transition from pre-K to kindergarten to first grade. The enrollment and acclimation process is started more than a half year before a new student will enter the all-day kindergarten program at Medford.

Del Rossi added that local preschools were contacted during the winter months to identify families who would soon have kindergarten-aged children entering Medford Public Schools. Next, a “Parents Night” allowed families to interact with teachers. This year’s “Parents Night” was attended by 225 parents.

The next phases are the “Race into

KINDERGARTEN>>PAGE 10

Saturday, May 6, 2017

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.

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

PAGE 7

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

Don’t Let Dangerous Intersections Go Unnoticed

Praise for Beneficial Bank and the Pine Barrens Tribune

A local committeeman’s worthwhile push to have a traffic light system upgraded at the intersection of Route 206, Main Street and Retreat Road, so that it contains left-turn arrows, has us thinking about other intersections throughout our area and how they could be made safer.

Which intersection(s) is driving you crazy?

We’d like to hear from you about which intersections in our coverage area you feel are exceptionally dangerous and are in need of improvements.

Drop us a line at letters@pinebarrenstribune.com .

W HAT A R E YOU R T H OU G HTS?

E-mail us: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com

Political Cartoons

In your April 22 issue of the Pine Barrens Tribune, you reported on the arrest of two men on April 10 who had allegedly installed an ATM “skimming device” on a Beneficial Bank ATM machine.

I compliment you on your reporting of this alleged criminal activity. As a customer of Beneficial Bank, I am relieved to know that arrests have been made for this illegal activity.

In your report, it was stated that the arrests were made at the bank’s ATM machine.

The bank notified me promptly when they

discovered this illegal device attached to their ATM machine. The bank told me they would send me a new ATM card. I received the new ATM card on April 21. I would also like to compliment Beneficial Bank for their prompt response to this illegal activity.

I enjoy reading your newspaper which keeps me informed of the local events and news items.

Keep up the good work.

Gary Warga Marlton, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Shamong Board of Education Decides to Outsource Teacher Aides) It’s a shame that the board did not listen to anything we had to say and had their minds set before the community came through the door. The BOE was rude to our community members as they were yawning, texting, and completely blind to what the community wants. They did not do their job by having other options for our schools and now they are punishing our students. Can we outsource them next?

Rebecca Marie Urso (Re: Shamong Board of Education Decides to Outsource Teacher Aides) This makes me sick and sad at the same time. How could they do this without even listening to the community? They only care about the money and I thought our community prided itself on a great education. Well, I guess that’s out the door. It’s a shame people don’t stand up to the board members. Wow! Leeann Poulysyn (Re: Dickens Festival Will Be Continued After Period of Doubt) If the Dickens Festival ceases, that will be the end of retail in the village. It is difficult enough with the competition we have: web sales and retail giants in our vicinity.

Judy Nawalinski Kraemer

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

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE Established 2016

Douglas D. Melegari, Publisher, CEO Pat Carney, Senior Graphic Artist Adam Tait III, Copy Editor Colleen Jordan, Copy Editor, Graphic Artist Robert Urban, Copy Editor Arleen Levine, Copy Editor P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, May 6, 2017

SCANNER Police Nab Suspected ‘Naked Jeep Driver’

10th Annual Burlco Explorer and Junior Firefighter Competition

PHOTO SUBMITTED Brian Tyburski, 29, from the 100 block of Nanticoke Trail in Shamong was arrested and charged with multiple counts of lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child.

PHOTO SUBMITTED The 10th annual Burlington County Explorer and Junior Firefighter Competition was held at the Emergency Services Training Center in Westampton on April 29.

MEDFORD—A lengthy search for a man alleged to have committed several acts of lewdness in the townships of Medford and Evesham has come to an end after an exhaustive investigation by several police agencies.

Officers from the Medford Township Police Department arrested Brian Tyburski, 29, of the 100 block of Nanticoke Trail in Shamong, on the morning of May 2.

On Dec. 31, Medford Township Police received a report of a past-tense lewdness complaint that occurred on Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.

The reporting person stated that while walking on Huntington Circle Drive, she observed a white male exit an older model Jeep.

The individual walked to the rear of his vehicle, opened the rear hatch, and then entered

the vehicle and drove away. The suspect did not speak.

The reporting person stated the male was nude, except for a pair of tennis shoes. The person who called police said the male was heavy set with brown hair and that he had an excessive amount of body hair.

The reporting person was unable to observe the vehicle’s registration in that incident.

Police say that the suspect and vehicle description matched an incident that occurred in Evesham Township on Dec. 30.

In that incident, police say that they responded to the area of Ravens Row and Fox Chase Road for a report of a lewdness complaint and attempted luring.

JEEP>>PAGE 20

Cherokee Drive Dwelling Heavily Damaged by Fire PEMBERTON—For the seventh time this year, area firefighters converged on a Pemberton Township structure to extinguish a fire.

The incident happened at 19 Cherokee Drive on April 24 around 9:14 p.m.

“The Pemberton Township Fire Department was dispatched to the unit block of Cherokee Drive for a report of a dwelling fire,” said Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig Augustoni. “Upon arrival, we found a onestory ranch-style dwelling with heavy smoke showing.”

Firefighters made an interior attack and brought the fire under control very quickly.

“The dwelling sustained heavy damage and the occupant was relocated with friends,” Augustoni said. “There were no injuries.”

Seven other fire departments from Burlington and Ocean Counties were called to assist the Pemberton Township Fire Department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office.

PHOTO SUBMITTED The Vincent Fire Company and Hampton Lakes Volunteer Fire Company’s combined team placed first during the competition.

Five People Displaced by Sunbury Village Dwelling Fire PEMBERTON—For the eighth time this year, area firefighters converged on a Pemberton Township structure to extinguish a fire.

The latest incident happened at 139 Lemmon Avenue, which is part of the Sunbury Village section of town, on April 30 around 6:00 a.m.

Firefighters arrived at the location and found one side of a duplex with fire showing.

“A total of five residents have been displaced and relocated by the Red Cross,” said Pemberton Township Fire Chief Craig

Augustoni. “The good news is there were no injuries.”

The fire is under investigation by the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety.

Augustoni said all eight structure fires in the township this year have happened within a months’ time.

“Be safe out there,” he said. “Make sure your smoke detectors are working and you have an escape plan,” he said.

PHOTO SUBMITTTED Tabernacle Fire Company #1’s team won a Sportsmanship Award for teamwork.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

CAMPAIGN

Saturday, May 6, 2017

WILDFIRE

PAGE 5

PAGE 2

So we will get some letters together. Check the website. I’ll have some copies available. You can stop in and pick one up. Let’s see what we can do to get the state to take care of Southampton Township before we have bodies on the road.”

None of his colleagues on the committee choose to comment on his plan. The letter has

not been posted on the municipality’s website as of press time.

Getting the NJDOT to upgrade the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 206, Main Street and Retreat Road was one of Heston’s signature campaign promises during the June 2015 primary.

“We are looking to expand this program because your community is such a hotbed with

three Firewise Communities; a ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ fire department (Hampton Lakes) and a CWPP in place,” said William F. Brash Jr., a wildfire preparedness planner for the NJFFS. “We would like to take you to the next step.”

KINDERGARTEN PAGE 6

Kindergarten” event, the round-up that comes with formally registering for kindergarten and the end of registration. The final step is organizing the incoming classes.

Del Rossi said the Sailors and Sparklers, which provide reinforcement for those students who “may not yet be ready” for the next

respective grade, focus specialized attention on those students so they are prepared to advance.

“As you can see, we really take a multi-pronged approach to providing experiences to our kindergarten students to make sure they can be as successful as they possibly can,” he said.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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Saturday, May 6, 2017

Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

Events

May 6 Event: 15th Annual Boy Scout Troop #31 Car Show Location: Southampton Details: Registration for the car show opens Saturday, May 6 at 8 a.m. and closes at 11 a.m. Dash Plaques for the first 150 exhibitors! The car show starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., at the Southampton Municipal Building Complex, Route 206 and Retreat Road, Southampton. There will be activities for children, great food and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Boy Scout Troop #31.

Event: Basket Auction Location: Pemberton Details: American Legion Post 294 is hosting a Basket Auction, Saturday, May 6, at 39 Fort Dix Road, Pemberton.

Doors open at 1 p.m. and the drawing starts at 3 p.m. No admittance fee. Wear your finest bonnet for the Kentucky Derby Hat Contest! Lunch special: half a hoagie and bag of chips, only $5.

Event: Whitesbog Volunteer Workday Location: Browns Mills Details: Have fun with friends, working in the gardens, repairing trails, or working around Whitesbog Village. Lunch provided. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 120 W. Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills, 609-893-4646.

Event: Migrant Worker Outreach Clothing Drive Location: Westampton Details: Help welcome migrant workers and their families to South Jersey during the blueberry harvest in June & July.

Donate clothing and more to the Migrant Worker Outreach Clothing drive. Visit www.MigrantWorkerOutreach.org to see a list of requested items. Call Dory Dickson at 609-969-2480 to set up an appointment to meet the MWO vehicle on Saturday, May 6, at Burlington County Main Library, 5 Pioneer Blvd.

Westampton. Donations accepted by appointment only.

Event: Healing Mission Location: Toms River Details: A Healing Mission will be held on Saturday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River.

The main speaker will be Gretchen Zimmerman. It’s sponsored

by Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Whiting, Chapters of the International Order of St. Luke the Physician.

The registration fee is $10 per person, breakfast and lunch are included. Call Christ Episcopal Church for more information, 732-349-5506, or email christchurchtomsriver@verizon.net.

May 7 Event: 22nd Annual Blessing of the Bikes Location: Whiting Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and Father Paul Van Sant, Rector, will have the 22nd annual Blessing of the Bikes, Sunday, May 7, from noon to 4 p.m., 180 Route 539, Whiting.

All bikes will be blessed at 2 p.m. by Father Van Sant.

Tickets are $15 per rider, no charge for children under 10 years of age. Tickets include barbeque, beverages, music, activities, kids’ games & more. George Stempinski will have his one-of-akind 9.5-foot, 300-pound wooden motorcycle at the event!

For more information call the parish office 732-350-2121, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or email ssechurch@ gmail.com.

Event: Breakfast Location: Jacksonville Details: The Jacksonville Community Center is serving breakfast on Sunday, May 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., including all you can eat pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, juice, toast, eggs, coffee and more. $10 per person.

Everyone welcome. Takeout is available. 1791 Jacksonville Road, Jacksonville (next to the firehouse). For more information, 609-861-9543.

Event: Spring Brunch Location: Browns Mills Details: Soroptomist International of Rancocas Valley is hosting a Spring Brunch, Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the BMIA Building, 40 Arbutus St., Browns Mills.

Tickets are $20. For more information, call Ellen Catalano 609-893-6550.

Event: Whitesbog Village Tour Location: Browns Mills Details: Stroll the historic village, learn about Whitesbog’s role in history, and visit Suningive, the workers’ cottage and other museums. $5 donation per person. 120 W. Whites Bog

Road, Browns Mills, 609-893-4646.

May 8 Event: Singer Guitarist Tom Kingston Performance Location: Medford Details: South Jersey Acoustic Roots Society will be featuring the local performer, singer-guitarist-penny whistle player Tom Kingston, on Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m., at the Medford Memorial Community Center, 21 S. Main St., Medford. Kingston will play some Beatles tunes, some Irish tunes, and a little bit of everything in between. Admission $10 at the door. For more information, 609-280-4926.

May 11 Event: Tabernacle Historical Society Location: Tabernacle Details: The Tabernacle Historical Society will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 11, at the Community Center (old Emergency Squad building) on Hawkins Road, at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a special program, “Pinelands at Risk,” presented by the Pinelands Preservation Alliance. The public is invited to attend. For information, call 609-268-1255. Refreshments will be served.

May 13 Event: Geranium & Bake Sale Location: Vincentown Details: The Southampton Historical Society will hold a geranium and bake sale on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Vincentown Grange Hall on Main Street in Vincentown. For advance orders, please call Kathy 609-859-0524.

Event: Arts in the Village, Market Day Location: Vincentown Details: Happenings in the Park, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Local artists and music for a fun day for everyone!

Event: Vincentown Village Wide Yard Sales Location: Vincentown Details: 18+ families throughout Vincentown Village will be have yard sales, the same day as Arts in Village Market Day, featuring local artists and music. 9 a.m. start time. Map of sale locations available on Main Street. Something for everyone in quaint Vincentown!

Pemberton Twp. Senior Citizen Column

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—The weather was overcast as the seniors left the Acme parking lot and headed north towards Route 78 and the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse to see the performance of a comedy, “Born Yesterday.”

The play was first produced on Broadway back in 1946 and featured Judy Holliday, Paul Douglas and Gary Merrill in the cast. The story entails a vulgar businessman, Harry Brock, who travels to Washington, to attempt some crooked deals with government officials. Of course he brings his charming, but uneducated girlfriend, Billie, along for the trip.

He is worried that her lack of social graces won’t impress the bigwigs he is trying to swindle, so he hires a young reporter to educate her. This should keep both the girl friend and reporter out of his plans.

Unfortunately, Billie likes the reporter and he treats her with kindness and respect. She quickly learns history and politics and just what Harry has planned. The story takes on twists and turns from there. It really shows that politics has not changed much over the past two generations and provided many laughs for the

Seniors Travel to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse

seniors.

The playhouse provides a perfect trip for seniors. The bus parks close to the front doors and there are plenty of free, sample snacks available at the bake shop just inside the lobby.

Tables are assigned and each provides an excellent view of the stage. The theater is handicapped accessible with side ramps and brass railings throughout. Once seated, the wait staff takes the meal orders and begins pampering the seniors.

There are several choices of entree ranging from Yankee pot roast, fried jumbo shrimp, Santa Fe chicken, Playhouse tilapia, eggplant rollatini, and vegetable kabob. Each meal includes a mixed garden salad, vegetable medley and choice of potato or rice. A basket of fresh homemade bread is on each table.

Coffee and tea are served and a bar is available for mixed drinks or wine. There is a piece de resistance, which is a famous unlimited dessert buffet that includes over 30 different freshly made bite-sized desserts, cakes and pastries.

This show runs until May 21, so if it sounds interesting to you, tickets are available by phoning 800-447-7313 or visiting their website at www.hhplayhouse.com. Another

trip to the playhouse is planned for Aug. 8 to see a patriotic show: “The Land We Love.” All the productions are professional and the upcoming musicals feature live stage bands.

The food is always delicious and of course there are unlimited desserts offered. Tickets are only $50 for resident seniors and $70 for guests.

On May 9, the seniors will travel to The American Music Theatre to see “Las Vegas Legends.” Las Vegas is the city that comes alive when the sun goes down. This show will capture the excitement and energy of Las Vegas. It will celebrate Vegas’ past and present and will be a tribute to the famed entertainers who helped make Las Vegas the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

Check to see if there may be space available with last-minute cancellations. Seniors will enjoy lunch at the famous Shady Maple Smorgasbord and have time to shop at the lower-level gift shop or next door at the Farmer’s Market.

The Atlantic City Cruise is scheduled for May 23, and includes a food voucher and coin card for Resorts. A few tickets remain for that trip.

A wait list is available for the June 21 “Nashville to Memphis” musical production at Hunterdon Hills. A great meal will be served

and the dessert buffet will be featured.

Although Elvis Presley is recognized as the “King of Rock and Roll,” his early name was “Hillbilly Cat.” Elvis was born, raised and lived most of his life in the South and he clung to his country roots. Award winning Jim Barone will be focusing on some of the classic country music that Elvis performed throughout his career. He will be backed by the great musicians and vocalists of the TGB Country Band, live and on stage. Uncle Floyd, legendary entertainer, will provide his own special brand of comedy. This show will be presented only on four dates and is a special feature for the playhouse.

Visit the senior center daily between 9 a.m. and noon to purchase tickets for all shows.

Listings are available on the bulletin boards and on the township website. All trips are offered to resident seniors and are priced below market value, so more seniors can take advantage of these opportunities. The May edition of the Senior Gazette is available this week. Stop in and pick up your copy. The senior center is located across from the Browns Mills Post Office. Stop in, enjoy some of the activities and plan to meet your friends and neighbors.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 15

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.

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

Parabens Found in Thousands of Cosmetics Parabens are a category of preservatives used in cosmetics, medications and foods. If you read labels, you’ll see them listed by their name or an E number such as methylparaben (E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216), heptylparaben (E209) and butylparaben.

Parabens may or may not be associated with cancer; there’s a lot of controversy. It has been reported that parabens are found in 99% of breast tumors, however, there is no evidence that they cause breast cancer. Also, keep in mind many issues have to collude in order to develop cancer. There was a 2013 study entitled “Combinations of parabens at concentrations measured in human breast tissue can increase proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.”

Parabens mimic estrogen, the female hormone. They’re sticky too; they don’t seem to let go of the tissue once inside it. This is why they are best avoided especially in hormone-driven diseases.

The argument for parabens is that your foods and personal-care items should be resistant to bacteria, mold and yeast so a preservative is crucial. The food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry frequently rely on strong synthetic chemicals like sulfites, propionates, EDTA, formaldehyde, alcohol or a paraben chemical. They are trying to protect us from germs. Here’s how you get exposed.

You eat them.

It’s common to find parabens in some brands of sauces, chutneys, jams, pickles, ice cream, soft drinks, desserts, broths or processed vegetables and flavoring syrups. Read the labels, you’ll see!

You slather them on.

Whether you use antiperspirants, makeup, toothpaste, face creams or moisturizers, you are for sure exposing yourself to parabens. But how many? Is it every product? You do have choices, they are not in everything, you should begin reading labels and researching.

There’s a website that exposes the ingredients of dental products, fragrances, cosmetic and skin-care products and much more: Skin Deep.

I told you about this site about 12 years ago, and it’s gotten considerably more comprehensive: www.ewg.org/skindeep I searched the word “paraben” and it picked up over 30,991 products just in their database. It’s easy today to avoid this preservative, you just have to look harder, and read labels, but there are trustworthy brands out there.

You take them unknowingly.

Parabens are in hundreds of medications as a preservative, but they do not have any pharmacologic activity. They’re commonly found in some asthma and steroid inhalers. They say parabens are completely absorbed upon ingestion and broken down to para-hydroxybenzoic acid, and metabolites are supposedly sent out from your urine. Depending on who you ask, or what lab test you read, there may be no evidence of accumulation. Parabens are obviously regarded as “safe” by federal regulations. I wouldn’t concern yourself with parabens if they’re in your medication(s) since the actual medication itself is just as synthetic as the paraben! You can certainly limit your exposure by looking for products labeled “paraben-free.” Many cosmetics manufacturers have found effective alternatives to parabens to prevent microbial growth in personal-care products.

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

For more information, please visit www.SuzyCohen.com. © 2017 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

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185 Route 70, Medford, New Jersey 08055

The Best Way to Treat Seasonal Allergies

By Sue Hubbard, M.D.

It is definitely allergy season around the country. The weird weather this year has made all things blooming start early, with sky-high pollen counts. Some areas have had a few recent super cold days, but warmer temperatures are starting again. While the cherry blossoms really suffered; the oak, elm, mulberry and ash trees are all just starting to spread their pollens and are causing a lot of runny noses, itchy eyes and scratchy throats.

If you know that your child is a spring allergy sufferer or if your child seems to be developing allergy symptoms (which often occurs after the age of 2), there are many products now available over the counter.

The mainstay of allergy treatment is the use of nasal steroids, which actually act as a preventative. They are used daily during allergy season. There are many different nasal steroid sprays available; including Flonase, Nasacort, Nasonex and Rhinocort.

Both Flonase and Nasacort now have a children’s brand and may be used in children as young as 2 years old. While the word “steroid” scares many parents, these steroids are not “the bad” ones associated with bodybuilding. The steroid is sprayed directly into the nasal lining and therefore very little is absorbed systemically, so there are few side effects.

Some children do not like sprays and “water up their nose,” but each brand is a bit different in

how it is delivered, so you might switch around and see which brand is easiest to use.

Many of the allergy symptoms that occur, including the runny nose and watery eyes, are related to the allergic cascade and histamines that the body produces in response to exposure to the pollen. So antihistamines are also a mainstay of treatment. Again, many of the previous prescription antihistamines are now all available over the counter. This class of drugs includes second generation nonsedating antihistamines such as Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritin and Xyzal.

First generation antihistamines are more likely to cause drowsiness and sedation, and the best known of these is Benadryl (diphenhydramine). For those with severe allergy symptoms, I sometimes use a nonsedating antihistamine in the morning followed

by Benadryl at bedtime.

For those children who have significant allergies, particularly year round, and respond well to typical treatment with nose sprays and antihistamines, it may be time to see a pediatric allergist. I recently sent one young boy for allergy testing. When I saw him for follow-up he told me he had gone to the “Pokemon” doctor, because he had received lots of pokes on his back! The testing is usually well tolerated and not painful.

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Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

FUN AND GAMES Are We There Yet?

By Lori Clinch

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

‘Nope. We’re Moving It All Today!’

Back in my college days, moving wasn’t a big thing.

I relocated frequently, and there was never a rush about it. Sometimes I would even stretch the process out for a week or two. When I was finally ready to get serious about it, my friends and I would pack a few boxes, tell a few jokes and then go to lunch.

It wasn’t until I was ready to embark on the moving experience with my future husband that I realized how exhausting such a day could be.

With two weeks left on my lease, I thought this first moving day might consist of scratching a head, looking at a box, perhaps laying out a plan for the new living room and then celebrate with a cup of coffee.

Mentally, I then envisioned Pat and me throwing caution to the wind, along with a box or two and then doing some shopping for new throw rugs.

That being said, I’m sure you can imagine my chagrin when I was awakened by the doorbell on that fateful Saturday morning at 7 am sharp. Not completely roused from my slumber, I pulled the sleeping mask up from the corner of my eyes and tried to tell myself that I had not heard what I thought I had just heard. I had darn near convinced myself of this when I heard the doorbell again, followed by a double ding that implied urgency.

Who, I ask you, has to experience urgency at seven o’clock on a Saturday morning?

I meandered from bed, stumbled down a flight of stairs and upon opening the front door, I not only saw a full-sized pickup backed up to it…but an empty horse trailer to boot.

“What are you doing here this early?” I asked as I brushed my bedhead hairdo out of my eyes.

“I’m here to help you move!” Pat replied as if I were a damsel and he my hero.

“But I have two weeks!” I said.

“Nope!” he said as he grabbed a heavy recliner all by himself and hauled it out of the door, “we’re moving it all today!”

We were moving that day, folks. We were filling the boxes, carrying the beds and packing

the unpackables.

We did it all in a day and it was an experience I never ever wanted to repeat.

Since the only “move” our family of four sons had endured with their father simply involved packing a pickup every time we went to work on our new house, our oldest son was unaware of what he was about to experience when he asked his father and me to help him move from his third-story apartment to his newly purchased home.

“Here’s the thing about your Dad,” I cautioned our Vernon over the phone, “he will move you in one day. There will be no debate, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Pack your boxes, bubble-wrap your breakables and insulate your perishables.”

Apparently Vernon thought I was simply cracking jokes and showcasing my awardwinning sense of humor, for when we arrived at his third-floor apartment, he had packed nary a container.

Not only were we faced with an abundance of garb, we were limited on boxes.

I grabbed a large tote and not thinking of its weight and who would carry it down the threeflights of stairs, I filled it to the brim.

Apparently, our Vernon and his buddy, Dodson, had given the tote a tug a time or two and opted to carry down lighter things such as the couch, and leave the tote for last.

Hauling Vernon’s wares down three flights of hideous stairs was a daunting task, to say the least. With sweaty brows, and fatigued physique, we all took in the remainder of items that needed to make the exhausting descent.

“Hey,” Dodson said with a toothy grin, “how about we carry the kitchen table down, and then go out for a nice dinner?”

“That sounds great!” agreed Vernon.

Upon hearing that, my Pat picked up a packed box, placed it upon that heavy tote, picked them both up at once and in a tone reminiscent of that one so long ago, said, “Nope!

We’re moving it all today!”

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D

Across 1 “You’re kidding, right?”

9 Will matter 15 “I give up” 16 Onomatopoeic dance 17 Criminology concerns 18 Weapons used on mounts 19 “Out of the Blue” band 20 Beyond harmful 22 Pabst brand originally brewed in Washington, familiarly 23 They’re slow to pick things up 26 Weaken 27 Runner’s distance 28 Fall deliveries?

30 Play or school follower 31 Alouette 1 satellite launcher 34 Catch 36 “Good __!”

37 Oakland’s county 39 Like some beaches 41 Gimlet flavor 42 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee 44 By the fire, say 45 Sediment 46 Programming language named for a comedy group

P U Z Z L E

48 “The world’s an __”: Dryden 49 Mexican painter Frida 51 Teamsters president James 55 Gp. with carriers 56 Like old timers?

58 Word in many Mexican place names 59 Egg, perhaps 61 More than one can handle 64 Stuck at a chalet, maybe 65 French for “stick” 66 Fit one within another 67 “There was a point here somewhere” Down 1 Babies”R”Us buys 2 Even a little 3 Half a playground exchange 4 Stuff that goes kablooey 5 Trouble 6 Give a good toss 7 Equally close 8 1996 treaty subject 9 Panache 10 Fissile rock 11 Light shade ... or avoid the shade?

12 Praise 13 Gossip’s stock-in-trade 14 “Piece of cake”

21 Goes after 24 Holds accountable 25 Perspective 29 Ordered 30 Pepperidge Farm treat 31 Joining the radio show 32 The Na’vi in “Avatar,” for one 33 Rat 35 “Ice cream or cake?” response, perhaps 38 Highest-ranking 40 Bear with a “thotful spot” 43 Educational outlines 47 “Poor baby!”

49 Holmes of “Touched With Fire” 50 Words spoken after coming to?

52 High wind?

53 They can be hard to face 54 Grill leftovers 57 1951 title role for Audrey 60 Abbr. on a Miami itinerary 62 Pull 63 Marseille sight

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

Saturday, May 6, 2017

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The job includes prospecting leads, making calls, daily territory travel, setting up appointments, and the use of technology. Previous newspaper and/ or sales experience is a plus, but not necessary. Strong face-to-face written, and verbal communication skills with an eye for detail are a must. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle. Please include your resume, cover letter, and professional references and send them to resumes@ pinebarrenstribune.com.

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work ethic, strong interpersonal skills, and a can-do attitude. The best person for this job will have excellent writing skills and thrive on breaking stories. Video editing, photographic editing and graphic artwork experience is a huge plus, but not required. A college degree in journalism/ mass communications or related field of study is required. The average work schedule will include evenings and weekends. Please include your resume, cover letter, three writing samples, and professional references. Send them to resumes@pinebarrenstribune.com.

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Extra

PAGE 18

TOWNSHIP PAGE 6

“The rescue squad is currently housed in the emergency services building on New Road rent free,” Lee said. “We pay their insurance and own a couple of pieces of their equipment. The rescue squad also collects $250,000 each year in third-party billing from residents outside of Tabernacle. If someone does not have insurance for an ambulance, Tabernacle pays for it. The $35,000 covers any cost incurred for residences within Tabernacle. They’ve got some good people with Emergency Services, but we already give (the rescue squad) their insurance and bond on their building and they don’t give anything back to the township.”

Lee also praised the employees of Tabernacle Fire Company #1, but thought that its budget expenses were high as well. The fire company’s expenditures increased from $60,000 in 2016 to $106,500. Cramer had previously said that most of that department’s increases were attributed to its training, communications, turnout gear and medical fit tests.

Although Lee agreed with Barton and Yates and vowed to examine the rescue squad going forward, that and the across the board increase for employees were not enough to prevent him from voting to approve the budget.

“I’m not happy about the budget, but one thing that’s the saving grace for me is that just because we’ve budgeted a certain amount of money, it doesn’t mean that we have to spend it,” Lee said. “Last year, we had to use a surplus to balance the budget. Now we’ve built up the surplus this year again. I think that we should have a reduction next year.”

In other news, earlier in the meeting, Lee issued a proclamation for “Heads Up, Eyes Forward!,” a Lenape Regional High School

CELEBRATED PAGE 4

impaired, larger rooms to hold wheelchairs, handrails, specially designed restrooms and living areas to teach life skills.

When the school first opened, in 1969, it was called Oak Crest. It was renamed after Crichton in 1978. She died on Aug. 11, 1995, just three days after her 86th birthday.

Taking note of her remarkable career on Saturday was a formidable list of local dignitaries: current Principal Norman Adams; school district Superintendent Tony Trongone; Sherry Scull, former president of the Pemberton Township Education Association; Valerie Chapman, the current Crichton nurse and Joyce Fray, former Crichton student and last year’s Crichton Teacher of the Year.

Adams, in his opening remarks, used the words “bittersweet” and “final farewell” in referring to the school. He later added that the sadness from losing Crichton is tempered by the knowledge that “the new building will be great.”

Others feted included some staffers who have made notable contributions to the school: Ellen Clark of “Ellen’s Eatery,” who fed hundreds over the years; Deborah Ceplo for whom the media center is named; Toby Green, who’s remembered in the “The Green Room” and the late Gerald DeClementi, principal from 1980 to 2006, and for whom Mr. D’s Hallway was named.

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District (LRHSD), student-led safe driving campaign which declared April 28 as “Heads Up, Eyes Forward!” day. As part of the day, messages encouraging safe driving were displayed outside of local high schools, elementary schools, police departments and fire stations throughout several states along the East Coast.

Accepting the proclamation were Sean Herb (Shawnee High School), Owen Volkerjik and Walter Klaus (both from Senaca High School) on behalf of the other LDTV (Lenape District Television) Option 2 students involved in the campaign.

The LRHSD program recently won the “You Got Brains” competition, an annual teen driving safety program made up of dozens of New Jersey high schools, for the seventh consecutive year. The students modeled shirts representing a periodic table with the message of “not driving distracted, even periodically.”

Two ordinances were passed unanimously during the meeting.

Ordinance 2017-5 set annual salary ranges for Tabernacle offices and positions. Ordinance 2017-6 amended the enforcement of the Local Fire Safety Act. Three resolutions were also passed.

Resolution 2017-51 approved the appointment of Robert Palfy to the position of Utility 1 (at a rate of $23.50 per hour) in the Public Works Department for Tabernacle. Resolution 2017-52 approved the appointment of Barclay Phillips to the position of Utility 1/ Parks and Recreation Forman employee (at a rate of $25.00 per hour), also in Tabernacle Public Works. Both of these resolutions passed unanimously. Resolution 2017-53, “fixing and determining salaries and wages of certain employees and officials for 2017”, passed by a 3-2 vote, with Lee and Yates dissenting.

DeClementi won local fame for some pranks, especially for wearing a gorilla suit and climbing to the school’s roof at Halloween.

He was noted for saying, “We are here for the kids and always will be.”

Three generations of DeClementi’s family attended and were warmly applauded.

DeClementi was succeeded for a year by Karen Cheress until her untimely death.

The school’s first principal was Harry Forconi, from 1969 until 1980. He retired as a teacher in 1989 and was noted for his involvement with pupils with special needs.

Participation in the Special Olympics and trips to the Philadelphia Zoo were introduced by Forconi.

Adams has held the post since 2007. He will move, with the pupils, to temporary quarters at the Haines school until a new school opens, in 2020. Current school enrollment is 349, from pre-kindergarten to second grade.

Adjoining Denbo, also to be demolished, holds 359 in grades three through five.

Both will be replaced by a two-story building; complete with an elevator, cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium, media center, music room, a science demo room, 42 classrooms and other amenities. The entire cost, estimated at $62 million, will be borne by the state’s Schools Development Authority.

Early in the program, there was a fine musical interlude by six of the school’s second graders who participated eagerly and skillfully with “Show Me a Smile.”

pinebarrenstribune.com

SURPLUS PAGE 4

“The 2016 budget doesn’t go into the fund balance until the end of 2017,” Frenia said.

So it stays open for a year. But in the 2015 budget, there was $194,000 that we didn’t spend which went back into the fund balance.

So there were a lot of different things that happened this year that were positive and now we have a fund balance that we can work with and we can stabilize taxes.

“When you have $140,000 in fund balance, if you have a dip in revenue or an expense you can’t meet, it makes it very difficult to do anything other than raise taxes. So the fund balance is probably at an amount you’d like to maintain. Let’s hope to generate enough revenue so that we can regenerate—so that we are sitting here next year in the same position with some fund balance.”

Doherty said she has looked at many budgets.

“Township budgets never show the actuals,” she said. “School budgets always do. I am just asking a question because I have never seen that data. Is it available to the public?”

Frenia said Doherty can look at the township’s annual financial statement which is available online.

Doherty also questioned the township’s $6,825,000 capital budget. She asked if the township committee really plans to undertake all of the projects which are listed in the capital budget.

STATISTICS PAGE 5

charter-school application. Wilson said the school, if it meets all requirements to open, has plans to eventually be from kindergarten through 8th grade, but would probably start with a narrower grade range.

A new club, Latin, was approved and held its first meeting in March.

There were four retirements. Eleven leaves of absence, from one day to four months were also approved, all without pay.

The retirements include two teachers, an aide and a reading specialist. The retirees are Jeanne Robinson and Michelle Ivory, both of whom teach at the Busansky School, with 30 and 16 years, respectively; aide Linda Hoskins, 18 years at the Helen Fort Middle School and Joseph Gaffney, a reading specialist, also at Helen Fort, with 15 years.

Three teachers were hired, one on an interim basis. The permanent hires will both teach students with disabilities, while the interim hire will instruct in social studies.

Among other personnel changes, two new assistant superintendent positions were created, as well as a new chief academic officer position. The new job descriptions were added due to restructuring.

Eleven substitutes were added, including five teachers. Four workers submitted resignations.

Two technical coordinators had their contracts extended from 10 to 12 months, with salary

Saturday, May 6, 2017

“The capital budget is strictly a plan,” Frenia said. “This doesn’t allow them to spend any money. Those projects would have to be done by individual ordinances. The committee would have to pass an ordinance for all of those programs. So there would be a public hearing on each ordinance. It is just basically ‘These are our needs and these are some things we are considering.’”

Doherty said she was glad to see something being done to the roads in Southampton.

“I think it is very smart to do a road program,” she said. “You really have to map out the whole town and spread it over time.

That is what I have seen done in other towns and it makes sense to do.”

Doherty also praised Committeeman Bill Raftery who said at a previous meeting that he was against increasing the local-purpose tax under the township’s current circumstances.

“Mr. Raftery, I’d like to say one thing to you,” she said. “As a taxpayer, I come to your meetings and I hear you speak. I do value the fact that you are trying to go for a zero (tax) increase; although I know there are disadvantages to doing it. I value the fact that you care enough about the people in the community that you try to make things like that happen, so thank you.”

Raftery, who appreciated Doherty’s remarks, opposed the final adoption of the budget in a vote that was conducted shortly after the public hearing concluded. bumps of $7,350 and $4,636 respectively.

Costs of repairs to three doors at the high school have grown. Originally expected to cost $15,100, with the firm of Garozzo & Scimenca Construction, an additional $5,463 was approved.

Six high school theatre workshops were approved with a total cost of $1,000.

A student–run car wash fundraiser is scheduled for May 29.

Student representative Anthony Joseph opened the meeting by reporting on recent activities. He’s a senior, heading to prestigious William & Mary University, in Virginia.

Joseph mentioned that in the recent annual Green & White Spirit competition, the Green team won for the first time in several years.

He also added that 19 students will take part in Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion.

During the public-speaking portion of the meeting, local activist Diane Fanucci questioned whether the district actually needed a policeman to guard a school crossing on Trenton Road. While acknowledging the heavy vehicle traffic there, she said she feels society doesn’t give children credit for their common sense, such as stopping and looking both ways before crossing.

In addition to the May 4 budget meeting, a board work session is scheduled for May 11 at 6:30 p.m. with the next general meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at the same time.

SCOUT PAGE 5

Mexican aviator who died in a crash in the 1920s, are scheduled for July 8. This is an annual ceremony.

A second stage of an Environmental Protection Agency study of the storm-water basin at Meadowbrook Drive is under way.

The long-awaited Shamong cemetery project

continues to move forward. The township is awaiting an expected approval from Burlington County. The county’s preference was for local planner Addison Bradley to make access to the cemetery one way throughout. Modifications to the previously submitted plan are underway.

Meeting attendance by the public dropped to zero after the Boras family left.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

COUNCILMAN PAGE 1

I couldn’t leave unless I knew that the town would be in good hands.”

Horner-Keizer said that of the 23 resumes the borough had received for the position, two were from out of state and nine included municipal experience.

“I hate to lose you as a council member, but I appreciate you stepping up,” said Mayor Thomas Cranston to Burton. “Now we have you working for the town five days a week.”

Cranston later explained that council now has 30 days from April 27 to appoint a replacement councilman or councilwoman for Burton. The new person on council would then serve in that position until an election is held in November. The person chosen would also likely run in the special municipal race.

“It will be bittersweet to walk into the office on Monday (May 1) that had been Julie’s (since 2010), knowing that it will now be mine,” said Burton, who was joined at the meeting by his wife Allison and daughter Kaitlyn.

The 17-year resident had been on council since 2012 and served as the mayor of Medford Lakes from 2014–2016.

“I’m excited about my new position and ready to get right to work,” Burton said.

After a short break for cake to celebrate Burton’s hiring and Horner-Keizer’s retirement, Horner-Keizer presented highlights of the new Medford Lakes budget.

The 2017 budget was unanimously approved at $4,786,733, which is a 6% increase over the 2016 budget of $4,510,936.

The largest increases were for the Police Department and Public Works Department, as both departments have made more hires.

Approximately $150,000 was budgeted for a road program, with Horner-Keizer explaining that the biggest need was for the improvement of Trading Post Way. The highest expenditure was for debt service ($120,000 for the dams in the borough), while the second highest was for emergency services.

There were a number of positive highlights from the budget, including healthcare.

BUDGET PAGE 1

Despite many supporters of the affected teachers speaking out, the budget progressed with the eliminated positions.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks said the budget better “managed human resources,” citing the efficiencies which could be had by eliminating positions and better managing the master schedule to still keep a reasonable class size.

She also said that clerical restructuring and assigning supervisors double subject matters were previously-used techniques to manage salary costs, but continued shrinking enrollment remained a concern.

Banks said that since Superstorm Sandy, enrollment decreased as families left the area, citing recent years with drops of 50 and 75 students.

“The senior class is larger than the incoming classes,” she said of how the trend should continue in the coming years.

Banks said the school report card shows an average class size of 10:1, factoring in the number of students and the number of teachers and staff who serve them.

However, during the public portion of the meeting, one student pointed out this was a mean average which included special education

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 19

“I’m proud that our healthcare costs are so much less than in other communities,” Horner-Keizer said.

She added that the borough saved $79,313 in healthcare in 2016 and also saved $56,000 in 2015.

“We are not in the state healthcare benefits plan, but are instead in a high-deductible plan in which the premiums are not as high,” Horner-Keizer said. “Medford Lakes covers a portion of the deductible. The state plan cost averages $25,000 per family, but we’re paying $14,000.”

Capital improvements in the budget include erecting a new office building and making improvements for a sewage plant that will be focused on wastewater sludge removal.

Improvements are also slated for the borough’s sewage pipes.

“I believe that the sewer lining is the most important thing that we can do in town,” Horner-Keizer said. “We will be more environmentally friendly and have a significant cost savings.”

She also reported that there has been no movement in state aid for the borough, staying at just under $300,000 for the ninth consecutive year.

“We’ve never lost any state aid since Governor Chris Christie’s implementation of best practices,” Horner-Keizer said.

“Although we did receive some higher aid before 2009, a lot of towns lose financial aid due to not being in compliance and that’s never happened to us.”

In addition to the budget; one ordinance was approved, one ordinance was introduced and two resolutions were approved; all by unanimous 4-0 votes.

The approved ordinance allows the borough to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank for 2017.

The ordinance that was introduced would allow the borough to appropriate the sum of $447,000 for capital improvements during the year. Expenditures that would be authorized by the ordinance, should it pass on second reading, include the construction of the aforementioned administrative building

for the borough’s sewer utility ($350,000), improvements to the borough’s Oaks Hall Municipal Building ($57,000), the acquisition of a police vehicle ($34,000) and the installation of flashing crosswalk signs on Dixontown Road.

The first resolution which was passed, authorized the reading of the budget by title only, which the state requires, instead of reading the budget line by line. The second resolution authorized the disposal of a 2003 Millermatic wire welder, which is no longer in use.

During a Council Sub-Committee report on Public Works, Deputy Mayor Robert Hanold, Sr. made a plea to borough residents to be neater around the front of their properties.

“It’s discouraging for public works employees to have to pick up leaves and brush

piles which don’t get put out in time, on the designated day, by residents,” Hanold said.

“If they can’t make the day, they need to find another place on their property for the debris and not just leave it out on the curb. This is the same for old furniture. Pick up is the first Monday of the month. Residents can help out a little.”

The meeting closed with council members offering a tribute to the departing Horner-Keizer.

“Julie had the same personality when she was working as when she was not working,” Cranston said. “I’m not that way, but that worked for her in a small town such as ours.

Her folksiness doesn’t mean that she is not a professional. Bottom line, she knows what she’s doing and did a wonderful job, our operating styles notwithstanding.”

classroom settings, that can be as small as a 1:1 ratio, and general education classes, including one social studies class which has 31 students in it.

Two social studies teachers, two language arts teachers and one special education teacher would be eliminated.

The budget is increasing by $281,000, or 0.9 percent, over last year’s budget: The budget contains appropriations for the replacement of about 100 outdated desktop computers in favor of Macbooks for classrooms.

Brennan said other cost saving initiatives include the replacement of less efficient boilers, HVAC and roofs along with a reduction to the employment of a school-based youth services position, from 12 months to 10 months.

A switch to fiber optics for communications and upgrades to security is also planned.

Banks’ presented figures for instruction trends, while Brennan focused on the tax levy and state aid trends.

The presentation and public hearing on the budget lasted for about two hours.

Most of the public present at the May 1 meeting were concerned about the staff eliminations, specifically Wilkinson, The commenters urged the board to reconsider

their position.

Board Member Stephen Kubricki of Eagleswood asked his fellow board members, who serve on the budget committee, if the budget had their support, and each said “yes.”

“There were a number of requests that we could not fund,” said Board Member Karen Poklikuha of Eagleswood. “We challenged a lot, seeing where we could save money, keeping in mind what’s best for our students.

We tried to strike a balance between the teachers, students and taxpayers.”

Poklikuha said that the coming tax burden of the Pinelands Regional $53-million referendum to repair facilities, coupled with municipal tax increases and the sending district’s referendum and tax increases were all in the thoughts of the Pinelands Regional budget committee.

Board Member Thomas D. Williams Jr. of Bass River said that during several of the public meetings held on the recent bond referendum, many people voiced that they wanted the district to focus on fiscal responsibility.

“The major concerns of a lot of those people were the cost per pupil, the staff to student ratio and how much they are paying in taxes for the schools,” Williams said. “It is a balance…All those things need to be considered when crafting a budget.”

Board President Susan Ernst said she compared budgets from 2015 onward and looked at projections for 2018 during the current budget process. She said this budget saw many requests that could not be honored.

“I saw tens of thousands of dollars slashed left and right and not because they were considered frivolous expenses, but because we have a $53 million referendum that we have to be mindful of,” Ernst said. “I, too, will support the budget, but I’m not going to say I’m 100 percent happy with this budget…but will I support it as it stands… yes I will.”

School Board Vice President Betti Anne McVey of Little Egg Harbor said a major impact on the budget is Superstorm Sandy, as so many homes and businesses destroyed have yet to come back on the tax rolls.

“This is a community still reeling from Sandy,” McVey said. “We do hope people come back, we do hope they rebuild and add to the tax rolls and that things will look better down the road. But we are a family that has to tighten our belt right now, and we made some really difficult decisions.”

The board vote on the 2017-18 school budget is scheduled for the May 10 meeting of the school board, at the Pinelands Regional Junior High School media center.

PHOTO BY MARK HATOFF Dr. Robert J. Burton being sworn in as the new borough manager for Medford Lakes.

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COACH PAGE 1

Since no action was taken, the district is required to send letters to the impacted staffers within three days of the meeting, notifying them in writing of the result. The letters were sent via email and US Mail to impacted staff members on May 3.

Prior to going behind closed doors, Interim Superintendent Maryann Banks said five teacher positions are at risk, by non-renewal.

She also said seven positions will be eliminated through attrition and one will be eliminated by a reduction-in-force process.

Banks clarified that of the five nonrenewal positions, two are from the Social Studies Department, two are from the Language Arts Department, and one is from the Special Education Department.

During a budget presentation held earlier in the meeting, Banks said the district had previously consolidated administrative roles, but with continued shrinking enrollment, more staffing cuts were identified as a cost-saving measure.

“I am confident that these cuts will not have an adverse impact on our programs or students because I am confident that existing staff will absorb students from these sections without significantly increasing class sizes,” she said, as part of her “statement of assurance” to the board and public.

Banks said the cuts were pursued because of a 10:1 ratio of students to staff average.

Supporters of Wilkinson and his colleagues not only filled the Pinelands Regional Junior High School media center during the public portion of the meeting, but they also filled a hallway during the closed session.

Wilkinson came to Pinelands Regional in 2003 and is credited with helping to turn around the football program, which in recent seasons

JEEP PAGE 8

A man reported to police that his 15-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old friend ran into his home after observing that a naked man got out of his vehicle and ran toward them.

It was reported that the young girls were walking in the area of Westerly Drive to the basketball courts when they noticed a black Jeep drive by them.

Police said the victims noticed the white male driver did not have a shirt on, which caught their attention.

Minutes later, police say the victims observed the Jeep again. The vehicle came to a stop and the male got out of the vehicle fully naked.

The girls reported that the naked male ran towards their direction at which time they ran home.

The suspect was last seen getting back into his vehicle and driving toward Ravens Row. Both girls reported the suspect did not say anything to them during the incident.

The victims involved in the Evesham Township incident described the suspect as a white, chubby male who was in his late 30’s or early 40’s. The victims also noted that the Jeep had a white sticker or decal on one of its windows.

Area police departments conducted searches of the areas where the incidents took place, canvassed neighborhoods, and followed up on several leads.

However, police were unable to positively identify a suspect until another incident which took place on May 1 in the Tamarac

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had increased its number of wins after several seasons of two wins or less.

He left a tenured positon at Toms River High School South for the non-tenured Pinelands spot.

During public comment, members of the audience offered suggestions on how to save the positions, whether by eliminating a late bus route or through using more surplus funds.

Others disputed some of the figures in the budget presentation by saying on one hand the cost of special education was increasing, but a special education teaching position was on the chopping block.

A student, who cited a social studies class with more than 30 students, said some class sizes for the general education population were much larger than the 10:1 ratio.

Banks said that the 10:1 ratio was an average and that larger classes showed the importance of better figuring out the master schedule and block scheduling.

A board member of a local football league urged the board of education to “use common sense and not just dollars and sense” in making their decision.

There were also many descriptions about how the affected non-tenured teachers transformed students’ lives and were involved in major sports programs which rallied the community.

Several people also expressed fear that the layoffs would undo the recent hard work by many to create community spirit in the district; which is still reeling from Superstorm Sandy and whose reputation was marred a few years ago by not having a winning football team.

The board and officials said that after a hard-fought referendum vote which will finally fund repairs to the crumbling district schools, they were in a period of belt-tightening.

“We’ve got to manage our human resources,” Neighborhood of Medford.

The reporting person advised Medford Police that a large white male exited a black Honda Civic and was naked.

An investigation into the incident, conducted by Medford Police detectives, identified the suspect in the latest incident as Tyburski.

Lieutenant Arthur Waterman, a public information officer for the Medford Township Police Department, could not yet elaborate on how detectives identified or located Tyburski from the Tamarac incident because detectives are still actively working the case.

Tyburski, once located, admitted to each of the incidents in Medford and Evesham. He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple counts of lewdness.

Tyburski was then turned over to Evesham Township Police at the conclusion of the Medford Police investigation.

Evesham Township Police charged Tyburski with 3rd degree endangering the welfare of a child and a disorderly person offense for lewdness.

“It was a fine piece of police work by detectives who took new pieces of information from the incident in Tamarac and developed a suspect charged for all the incidents in Medford as well as in Evesham,” Waterman said.

Police in Medford and Evesham believe the vehicle used in the December incidents was either a Jeep Patriot or a Cherokee-style Jeep based on the victims’ descriptions.

However, police have not located the Jeep involved in the incidents.

“He had switched cars,” Waterman said.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

PHOTO BY CATHERINE GALIOTO Parents, students and teachers listen to a proposal to eliminate 13 positions in the Pinelands Regional School District.

Banks said. “I’ve been monitoring the master schedule, I’ve been looking at class size…We are finding that we are overstaffed.”

The board is scheduled to vote on whether to approve the annual budget at its May 10 meeting.

Board comment during the meeting saw members explaining their support for the budget.

Wilkinson issued a statement on a Pinelands Wildcats Football Facebook page after receiving a letter from Banks informing him of the board’s decision.

“I am disappointed to say the BOE has voted to accept Superintendent Bank’s recommendation to let me go from my job at Pinelands. I’m disappointed the board didn’t

see value in what I try to offer to the students in our program. I have put together a weight program for the players through May—it is on TeamBuildr—this way our athletes have a chance to continue to get better. I hope the BOE finds a coach that loves the sport of football—not a coach that sees football as his ‘second sport’ or just another stipend. It is my hope they find a person who works hard in the off season to make themselves the best football coach they can be as that is what these kids deserve. Thank you for all those who supported me through my career at Pinelands. I’ve taken from Pinelands relationships that I will cherish forever. If any player—past or present—needs me for recommendations or anything, do not hesitate to reach out (to me). Go Wildcats!”

SCHOOL PAGE 6

PHOTO SUBMITTED Tabernacle Elementary pupils marked Earth Day on April 24 with an assembly featuring a new bottled-water refilling station. student uses,” she said.

With remaining money from the grant, TES has also purchased equipment to compost recyclable items from the school cafeteria, for the school garden. The compost will feed the garden’s vegetable plants. Food from the plants will be donated to a local food pantry. Rain

barrels, a pollinated garden and student gardening equipment will also be purchased with the remaining grant money.

Paterson said he is hopeful that everyone’s efforts to preserve the Tabernacle community will make a big difference.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

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PAGE 21

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Saturday, May 6, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm and Food File

By Alan Guebert

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

Sonny’s Big Adventure Those Wisconsin dairy cows at the center of another trade kettle now boiling between the United States and Canada, a friend suggests, aren’t really black-and-white Holsteins.

They’re tiny, yellow canaries, he opines, and their tweets—not President Donald J. Trump’s—are a warning that America’s reign as the world’s ag export superpower is fading and U.S. farmers and ranchers are ill-prepared for what comes next.

“This (was) the first time milk was left and not picked up at any price,” explains the friend, after more than 60 Wisconsin dairy farms were notified by their Canada-based milk buyer that they would be dropped.

That shocking news meant “We better make some decisions on the future of dairying real quick (because) every farm is expanding …to leverage survival.” Grain farmers, too, plow “every acre to plant more corn and beans to be sold below the cost of production.”

And, he adds, “This is insane.”

He’s right. More importantly, he isn’t the only one to hear canaries when he looks at the longer-term American ag picture. On April 21, a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal gave facts, figures, and dates on how and why America’s dominance in global ag export markets is not just slipping but flagging.

“With 43% of the [soy] export market,” explained the Journal, “up from just 12% 30 years ago, Brazil can sway global prices…”

Additionally, “It’s projected to be the second-largest corn exporter, on the heels of the U.S. this season.”

But it’s just not big, growing Brazil, continued the Journal. “As of the last crop year, Russia now beats America in shipments of wheat.”

That trend likely will continue. On April 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 2016/17 total U.S. wheat acres would fall to 46.1 million, the lowest since 1919, only because that’s “when U.S. wheat production records began.”

Into this ongoing global ag realignment comes the almost perfectly paradoxical farm team of President Donald J. Trump and Sonny

Perdue, his long-in-waiting secretary of agriculture. A more polar opposite pair would be hard to find.

Like a rooster, Trump sends Twitter threats to America’s biggest trading partners—Canada is our largest ag customer—with each sunrise.

Worse, he’s not kidding. In stone-faced silence American farmers watched as Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nearly completed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a multinational trade deal, shortly after taking office. He now plans to redo the long-standing, “very unfair” North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The other half of the team, Secretary Perdue, is a full-throated ag trade evangelist who, after his first White House meeting April 25, happily announced that American ag trade is “going to be my task, to go around the world with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, with our U.S. trade representative and our undersecretary for trade to make sure American products are on tables all over this world.”

The secretary should pack a very big suitcase because he will be on the road a long time given America’s slipping hold on the global farm trade and his boss’s very clear, very tough anti-trade stances on Canadian lumber, imported steel, exported milk, the TPP, NAFTA, the European Union, China and Mexico.

Of course, there is one sure way to better compete in the race-to-the-bottom global commodity biz—cheaper prices—and Perdue appeared to commit to that path in a press release USDA sent right after his first White House meeting.

“It used to be that people in agriculture feared disease and drought as the greatest threat to their livelihoods…” said the new secretary. “While those hazards remain, too often now it is the government—through interference and regulation—that poses the most existential threat to American farming. We aim to put a stop to that.”

Which is exactly what canaries did when the hazard they were guarding against became existential; they stopped.

Breathing, that is.

© 2017 AG COMM.

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Saturday, May 6, 2017