Nov 11 2017 revised

SAVINGS COUPONS INSIDE WORTH: $250 INSIDE THIS WEEK

Longtime Police Service Dog Retired in Medford. Page 5

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

Vol. 2 - No. 11

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The News Leader of the Pines

November 11-17, 2017

Construction Scandal at Pinelands Regional Officials Admonished After Recommendation Made Before Students Fell Ill Was Ignored, Roofing Contract Wasn’t Followed, and Rooftop Asbestos Cleaning Wasn’t Done Correctly LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The disregard of a letter and contract pertaining to ongoing rooftop construction at Pinelands Regional High School caused numerous school parents to admonish Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks and Business Administrator Stephen J. Brennan last week during a parent construction meeting.

The admonishment of Banks and Brennan came in the wake of students and staff falling ill inside the high school and being subjected to SCANDAL>>PAGE 22 PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO

Playground at Pinelands Regional High School Tests Positive for Asbestos

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A playground at Pinelands Regional High School has somehow been contaminated with asbestos.

The playground, which is used for a child-care program that the district operates, was tested by TTI Environmental for asbestos on Oct. 18.

“We had soil and sample testing of the playground,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks. “A report came in on Oct. 30 and testing was taken on Oct. 18. There was a

finding of some non-friable debris and material in the soil and mulch in that playground.”

The test was performed after pictures surfaced online from the week of Oct. 2-9 showing roofers carelessly removing debris from the high school’s roof, near the playground—although officials have not said definitively that it was the images that prompted the testing.

The images show the debris being dumped into an open-top container truck. Related dust is seen flying through the air. Some pieces of

PLAYGROUND>>PAGE 23

N.J. Department of Labor Threatens Pinelands Regional with $13,500 Fine

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The Pinelands Regional School District is facing $13,500 in fines after the New Jersey Office of Public Employees’ Occupational Safety and Health, part of the state’s Department of Labor, inspected the district’s high school and found three violations of the Public Employees’ Occupational Safety and Health Act (PEOSHA).

According to a “Notice of Order to Comply” received by the school district on Oct. 17, an

Aug. 8 inspection of the high school found two serious violations and one not-so-serious violation of the PEOSHA. The inspection was prompted by a complaint.

The PEOSHA requires the district to provide asbestos awareness training yearly to all employees who perform housekeeping operations.

The training must educate the employees about the health effects of asbestos, locations of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos containing material (PACM)

THREATENS>>PAGE 23

More Coverage Inside: Brennan Disappears After Demand He Be Fired. Page 6 Now Direct Mailed to Over 2,250 Homes in LeisureTowne and 195 Homes in Hampton Lakes

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

LOCAL NEWS

Community Grieves After Student Collapses During Halloween Party and Later Dies

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Teddy Marousis, 14, of Little Egg Harbor passed away last week.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Hearts are very heavy in the Pinelands Regional school community after a 9th grader collapsed during a Halloween party at Pinelands Regional Junior High School last week and died a short time later.

The medical emergency began around 8:53 a.m. on Oct. 31, according to Sgt. Jeff Martin of the Little Egg Harbor Police Department.

Several law enforcement officers and a family member told the Pine Barrens Tribune that Teddy Marousis, 14, of Little Egg Harbor, began exhibiting symptoms similar to a seizure as he fell.

“He was at a Halloween party at the school

when he collapsed,” said Heather Marousis, Teddy’s mother. “They had to put the school on lockdown.”

Teddy Marousis was rushed to Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, where he later died.

Heather Marousis said that her son did not have a history of suffering from seizures. However, she said Teddy suffered from mitral-valve prolapse since he was 4 years old.

The condition causes an improper closure of the valve between a heart’s upper and lower left chambers.

“When his cardiologist would review an ultrasound of his heart, he would see what he described as a ‘duck quack,”’ Heather Marousis

STUDENT>>PAGE 23

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INDEX Automotive..................................... 27 Business Directory.......................... 16 Community..................................... 12 Fun and Games............................... 20 Health.............................................. 19 Home, Garden & Farming ............. 26

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

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

Chris Herren Speaks to LRHSD Parents About Dangers of Addiction

By Judy Cohen Minches For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MARLTON—Former professional basketball player and motivational speaker Chris Herren addressed Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) parents and guardians in Marlton on Thurs., Oct. 19, at a Substance Abuse Expo and Presentation.

The expo and presentation was held in the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center at Cherokee High School.

Before he took to the stage, local substance abuse education, prevention and treatment organizations including Princeton House Behavioral Health, High Focus Centers, Prevention Plus and King’s Crusade engaged with attendees.

Recovery Coach Michele Perez from the City of Angels also guided parents through a “Hidden in Plain Sight” typical teenager’s bedroom—staged with drug-related items—to learn how to identify the warning signs of addiction.

The Burlington County Department of Human Services’ Division of Behavioral Health was also present.

Barbara Biglin, division manager, said assistance is available for addicts struggling and/or in need of financial assistance to get “clean,” including the state’s new Opiate Overdose Recovery Program.

Readers looking for information should contact her office at 609-265-5536.

LRHSD Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm kicked-off Herren’s presentation by emphasizing the importance of communicating with teens about drug and alcohol use.

“Talk with them about your expectations,” she said, noting that Herren spoke with district students earlier in the week as part of the district’s “Defy the Issue” campaign, created to empower students to say “no” to the pressures of drug and alcohol use.

This effort was launched by students, staff and the community in 2010.

Herren’s presentation began with a brief video introduction of his past, starting with his standout performances on the basketball court of Durfee High School in Fall River, Mass., from 1990-1994. From there, he went on to Boston College and Fresno State. He played in the NBA from 1999-2001 with the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, followed by several years of playing overseas.

Before playing for Boston College, he failed a drug test for marijuana and cocaine use. While playing in the NBA, Herren started to use painkillers. He steadily increased the potency of substances until he was playing basketball overseas, where he could no longer access opioid prescriptions and turned to heroin.

He traveled in and out of rehab centers back in the states, and the stakes continued to grow. At one point, he overdosed on heroin and crashed into a utility pole. According to paramedics, he was “dead for 30 seconds.”

At multiple times in his life, Herren was given professional opportunities that others would only dream of having, yet he said he was tortured by the demons inside him, making poor decisions for many years.

Circumstances became so dire that on Aug. 1, 2008, Herren’s drug rehab facility counselor handed him a phone and told him that he did not deserve his own family and said to call his wife and tell her to tell the kids that he had died in a car accident.

Heeding his counselor’s words—and reflecting on eight years of shooting heroin daily, four overdoses, cocaine addiction,

PHOTO SUBMITTED The “Hidden in Plain Sight Exhibit” was set up in the Cherokee High School building before the presentation. Parent and guardian participants were able to search for staged drugs and drug paraphernalia that were hidden within the bedroom props.

PHOTO SUBMITTED LRHSD Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm (left), joins Lenape Regional Foundation President, Edward O’Malley, and LRHSD BOE President Linda M. Eckenoff in the presentation of the Lenape Regional Foundation donation. and alcohol abuse—he had grave disappointment in himself for turning into the addicts he had judged with disgust. He processed all the damage and pain he had caused and all that he was going to lose and finally woke up.

Flash forward 10 years, and here Herren stood, addressing parents as a sobriety expert, as well as LRHSD students.

He shared the painful story of his life and pleaded with parents to work with their teens to help end the cycle of substance abuse that has swept the nation and has especially hit their own community very hard.

He stated the horrifying fact that 18 LRHSD district alumni between the ages of 18 and 25 died from drug overdoses during the 20162017 school year; eight from Shawnee alone.

How it all started for these addicts, he said, is a critical question and must be examined in order to stop today’s epidemic.

“People often put too much focus on the addict’s worst day—instead of the first day,” he said.

Herren admitted that he stole his dad’s Miller Lites at 13 years old.

He said he knew his dad drank and that his mom cried a lot over it. He also said that on many nights, his mom begged his dad to come straight home and not stop at a bar first.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Former NBA Player Chris Herren speaks to approximately 750 parents and guardians of LRHSD students about the struggle of drug and alcohol addiction.

Nevertheless, Herren said the momentum to experiment started building and became progressively worse.

Bad habits were developed in the basement of a friend’s house, where Herren spent most of his weekend time.

There were 15 kids on his high school basketball team, partying each weekend in the basement, with parents on the floor above. He said seven became heroin addicts.

“My parents let us drink as long as we didn’t drive,” he said. “Why are we letting our kids do this?”

Herren emphasized the necessity for parents to tune in to their kids. He said parents like to unplug on weekends and do their own thing, but that these “are the times when kids need us the most.”

Herren said kids have plenty of teachers and coaches, but what they really need is parents.

“Spend time with them, talk to them, ask them about their feelings, ask them ‘Why?’ when they get into trouble,” he said. “Don’t focus on where they got the alcohol; ask why they are drinking; why they can’t have fun without drinking.”

Herren said he wished his somebody would have asked him, ‘Why?’ He said he would have said, “My father… he messed up our family. My mother is super

sad. Basketball? It’s a lot of pressure. So, I go into the basement and drink and smoke. I can’t stand the taste…but it lets me forget and shut the noise out for a couple of hours.’”

Herren, who has three kids, aged 18, 16 and 9, said that he knows parents apply a lot of pressure to their kids academically and on the field, telling them that “high school is the best time of your life.”

When he spoke to high school students earlier in the week, Herren said he asked them, “Do you want your little brother or sister to follow in your footsteps?”

He said some kids cried and said “no.”

He said he also asked the students: “If you don’t want it for your little brother or sister, why do you want it for you?”

Parent Karen Rogers, who has two teens at Lenape, said her children told her about Herren’s presentation and how quiet their classmates were as they were soaking it all in.

Another mother with two students at Cherokee, who asked to be kept anonymous, said she appreciated how frank Herren was and how he instructed parents to talk to their kids and know what is going on at home, and at parties.

She said she believes that alcoholism and substance abuse are real illnesses and should be

ADDICTION>>PAGE 24

Saturday, November 11, 2017

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Longtime Police Service Dog Retired in Medford

PAGE 5

.

a.m. - 5 p.m.

a.m. - 4 p.m.

PHOTO SUBMITTED “K9 Porter” with Officer Edwin McKemey.

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—Township officials and members of the community here bade farewell at a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 2 to a furry friend who was a dedicated member of the police force.

“K9 Porter” was retired from the Medford Township Police Department after seven years of service.

During a proclamation presentation, Mayor Charles Watson said that the police department has supported a K9 unit for “several decades.”

Porter, a Belgian malinois and Dutch shepherd mix, was one of two dogs working with officers.

Porter’s specialized training was in narcotics, while fellow service dog “Rio” had training in explosives detection. Both have skills in

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

Brennan Disappears After Teachers Union and Parents Demand He Be Fired

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Stephen J. Brennan, business administrator of the Pinelands Regional High School District, may be the first shoe to drop amid a widening construction project scandal at Pinelands Regional High School.

On Nov. 7, according to multiple sources, the 10-year district employee was escorted out of the district’s administration building after being asked to leave his position.

“It was definitely in the morning,” said one district source. “It was before the high school let out at 11:30 a.m.”

Several individuals have told the Pine Barrens Tribune that police were involved as Brennan was asked to leave the premises and that computers in Brennan’s office were confiscated. There are also multiple postings on social media to the same effect. However, the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, New Jersey State Police and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said they have no record of an active investigation into Brennan. They also said that officers from their agencies did not escort him off district property.

“The Little Egg Harbor PD did not escort Mr. Brennan out of any building, and has not confiscated any computers from the Pinelands Regional District,” said Lt. Troy Bezak, a spokesman for the Little Egg Harbor Police Department. “We have seen those social media accounts as well. They are completely unfounded.”

Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks said she can’t comment on the situation.

“I cannot respond to your questions right now,” she said.

Pinelands Regional Board of Education President Susan Ernst was muted about what happened too.

“I really cannot respond to matters having to do with personnel matters,” she said.

Emails sent to Brennan’s school district email account have bounced back.

Additionally, a citizen who filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request shared a message on social media that he received from Banks. The message said that Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, the district’s curriculum director, is now serving as the district’s acting records custodian. Previously, Brennan was the

district’s records custodian.

The alleged incident came less than 24 hours after Pinelands Education Association President Mel Reid presented the board with a “Petition of No Confidence,” after the majority of the association’s membership voted to express no confidence in Brennan’s professional abilities.

“The association’s ‘Petition of No Confidence’ is as unprecedented for our district as is the current debacle and split sessions,” Reid said. “But, we feel it is imperative that we communicate our concerns in the best interests of the students, staff and community.”

Reid delivered a scathing rebuke of Brennan as he presented the petition, which drew thunderous applause from more than 50 parents.

He said Brennan failed to: display effective leadership that students and staff deserve, effectively communicate with staff and students at the high school regarding significant health and safety issues, see to it that mandatory asbestos training was conducted for employees responsible for custodial and maintenance activity in the high school, see to the development of a written-hazard communication program, display good judgment with decision making, and communicate effectively and professionally.

“The association believes Mr. Brennan has displayed poor judgment and a failure to correctly communicate which has caused confusion and consternation among staff members, other district employees and the community,” Reid said. “Moreover, in the association’s view, Mr. Brennan has not been a capable steward leading to a degree of dysfunction in our district and significantly contributing to Pineland Regional’s current inability to maintain a functional, regular school day.”

Reid said the Pinelands Regional School District deserves better from its business administrator.

“Our student, staff and school climate has been adversely affected,” he said. “The association respectfully requests that the board act with a sense of urgency to restore the quality and reputation of education provided by our district.”

Brennan bowed his head throughout the entire rebuke. A mixture of sadness and anger washed over his face.

Calls for Brennan’s removal have grown much louder after a Sept. 10 letter addressed to Brennan, from Epic Environmental, was discovered by parents last month.

In the letter, Epic Environmental president James Eberts confirms that required cleaning of the high school’s metal roof deck was discovered to be incomplete prior to the installation of a new roof on the high school.

The discovery came after debris falling in high-school classrooms was investigated on Sept. 8.

Eberts informed Brennan that some of the debris found on the uncleaned areas of the roof tested positive for asbestos.

While none of the debris that fell in the classrooms tested positive for asbestos, Eberts said there was the potential for roofing debris to continue to enter the school and recommended the district cease all rooftop activities due to the asbestos-containing debris on the exterior.

Eberts’ recommendation was not followed and work continued (see separate story on page 1).

According to a signed contract and bid specs for the project, roof work is not permitted to occur while students or faculty are in the high school.

However, students and staff were in the high school while roof work took place in September and October.

The work caused dust and ceiling tiles to fall in classrooms and unfamiliar odors. This coincided with unexplained respiratory issues and rashes experienced by students and faculty.

Banks said on Oct. 30 that she was not made aware of the Sept. 10 letter until about two weeks ago.

Brennan said, also on Oct. 30, that the contents of the Sept. 10 letter was discussed during a Sept. 11 Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting and that the letter was available for all to read beginning on Sept. 16 or 17 on the district’s website.

Banks has admitted to being present at that meeting (see separate story), but has so far stuck to her story that she was unaware of the recommendation from Eberts.

“Had I known about that when I should have, I would have closed down the building,” she said.

At the latest board meeting, while Banks didn’t discuss what she knew, Brennan reiterated that the contents of the Sept. 10 letter

was discussed during a Sept. 11 executive session of the board.

Several board members, including Patricia Chambers, Karen Poklikuha, Thomas D. Williams Jr., and Ernst said the first time they saw the letter was on Oct. 2.

They also appeared to disagree that Eberts’ recommendation was discussed on Sept. 11, with some members pushing back against Brennan’s claim more forcefully than others.

Board members Jeffrey Bonicky and Kim Hanadel said they weren’t at the Sept. 11 meeting.

They pressed their colleagues on what was said, but few specifics were offered as Solicitor Amy Houck warned members not to disclose executive-session discussions.

A few minutes after Reid presented the education association’s “Petition of No Confidence,” parent Kelly Maher presented the board with a petition signed by over 150 parents calling for Brennan’s removal.

“He failed to take action on a report dated Sept. 1 from Ahera (environmental consultant) which showed high levels of ethylbenzene—detected above both residential and industrial-screening levels—as well as trimethylbenzene detected above residential, but below the industrial screening levels…all of this when the students in school became sick with rashes, headaches, sore throats and coughing.”

The report Maher references recommended that the district relocate and restrict staff away from active construction areas when possible.

Exposure to high levels of ethylbenzene in the air for short periods can cause eye and throat irritation. Vertigo and dizziness is also possible.

Trimethylbenzene can irritate the skin and eyes. Exposure to trimethylbenzene can also cause a person to feel dizzy, lightheaded and to pass out.

Reid and Maher were among more than 15 individuals who came up and spoke for more than an hour at the board meeting.

After the parent speeches, Ernst said she needed someone in the room to provide answers to the parents because “I don’t come to school.”

Brennan then started reading from a prepared speech that lasted 10 minutes.

“I would like to express my regret for the

FIRED>>PAGE 24

Testing Identifies Eight Water Outlets Producing Elevated Levels of Lead at Pinelands Regional Schools

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Eight water outlets in Pinelands Regional School District facilities have tested positive for lead contamination despite a district official telling parents last month that the new round of lead-testing showed that “everything was OK.” A report containing the results from the lead-testing conducted on Oct. 12 and 19 was posted on the district’s website last week.

According to the report, four water outlets in Pinelands Regional High School tested above the lead-action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) implemented by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) last year.

A sample taken from a sink in the snack bar of the high school had a reading of 62.4 ppb. A sample collected from another sink in the same room had a reading of 23.8 ppb.

Another sample taken from a sink near the high school’s band and chorus room had a

reading of 20.8 ppb.

A reading of 16.2 ppb was taken from a sample collected from a sink in a classroom used for the high school’s Home Economics students.

Another four water outlets in Pinelands Regional Junior High School were found to be producing elevated levels of lead.

A reading of 74.7 ppb was taken from a sample collected from a sink in the junior high school’s B-wing.

Samples taken from three outlets in classroom B-110 showed readings between 17.9 ppb and 44 ppb.

All of the water samples were analyzed by iATL International Asbestos Testing Laboratories of Mount Laurel.

According to NJDOE guidelines, the department, along with school parents, must be notified of positive results over the established action level. The notification should also describe the steps taken to immediately end the use of each drinking water outlet where lead

exceeds the permissible lead action level.

During a parent meeting on Oct. 30, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Rich Mueller said all of samples tested came back with results that were under the lead action-level.

“So every test and everything came back OK,” he said. “They were all under the limits.”

It’s unclear as of press time why Mueller made a statement that is contradicted by the report.

Pinelands Regional Board of Education President Susan Ernst referred all lead-testing questions to Interim Superintendent Maryann Banks.

“To be totally honest, I can’t answer any of these questions at this time...not because I don’t want to, but simply because I don’t have the answers,” she said.

Ernst said her “plate is a little full right now,” a veiled reference to the construction problems plaguing the district and a growing scandal involving the project. (See separate stories).

Banks referred all questions to Business Administrator Stephen J. Brennan and Mueller.

Brennan said after a Nov. 6 school board meeting that he believed Mueller misspoke and that he was in the process of drafting a letter to parents.

Mueller did not return a message seeking comment for this story.

Mueller said five additional samples collected inside the junior high school on Oct. 28 and 29 were submitted for testing after he changed some faucets inside a room used for cooking at the recommendation of TTI Environmental, the district’s environmental consultant.

He said the state’s guidelines require new lead-testing for any outlet where its parts or plumbing have been recently changed.

As of press time, the results of lead-testing on Oct. 28 and 29 had not yet been released by the district. Mueller said it takes about five days for the results to come back.

LEVELS>>PAGE 24

Saturday, November 11, 2017

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Rumors Related to Redevelopment Draw Flak in Pemberton

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—A small gathering of residents voiced concern at a Nov. 1 Pemberton Township Council meeting that there is a lack of transparency regarding rumored intentions for an area marked for redevelopment.

The concerns were raised despite no known agreement between the township and any developer.

An ordinance adopted by council later that night established a plan for approximately 30 acres of farmland along South Pemberton Road, near the border of Pemberton and Southampton.

The 30 acres is designated as a noncondemnation redevelopment area, following standard zoning measures.

The worry from locals stemmed from an Oct. 25 report that the township was seeking to bring in warehousing and distribution to the site. The report said that an “unnamed developer already is expressing interest” in the land.

Resident Jack Tompkins called attention to the report. As he spoke, he referenced remarks made by council at the previous council meeting on Oct. 18 that came in response to a question that he posed about the potential redevelopment.

“I was told, ‘We don’t know yet,’” Tompkins said. “I was really surprised when I opened the newspaper about a week later and see that we’re looking at putting warehouses in there. I guess government does work pretty quick when it wants to.”

Resident Bob Pelletier said he was concerned with the wording of the ordinance.

He asked how council could use the term “re” development for an area that had not been previously developed, as this is typically associated with improving dilapidated sections of town.

Another person, who did not provide a name, asked about what entity would manage the sewage and water impacts for a potential warehouse project.

Mayor David A. Patriarca said that a company had been looking at the area for warehousing, but that nothing had been presented to the township officially.

“That item (sewage and water) would be the

developer’s solution to come up with,” said Patriarca, in response to the resident’s question.

Councilwoman Letha Jackson, along with other members of council, said they were confused as to why the subject was being brought up by the public and drawing concern.

The resident who did not provide a name also wanted to know if the township would give a company tax abatement to a business that establishes itself at the redevelopment site.

Patriarca said giving an abatement would have to keep the best interests of taxpayers in mind.

He also said that it wouldn’t make sense to speak generally for all projects at this point in time due to the number of uncertainties.

“I can’t give you an answer until we’re presented with something,” he said. “We have no project to say, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll give them a tax abatement,’ or ‘No, I’d never give them that.’ How can I give you an answer to something we don’t have?”

Jackson said she hoped to gain clarification for the general purpose of the ordinance— rumors of a project aside.

“That (redevelopment) packet is mostly zoning rules, am I correct?” Jackson said.

Patriarca explained as much.

“It’s called a redevelopment plan, but it details a multitude of options and one of the main options is giving the town the ability to control the zoning of a particular property,” Patriarca said. “Or (the property) can continue to be used by the owner in its current use.”

Later, during a public hearing on the ordinance, Tompkins brought up a sentence that is part of the measure, which provides for a maximum of 110 tractor-trailer docking spaces as part of any development.

He asked if there would be an area for trucks going in and out of docking to wait.

“I can speak from experience—as I currently work for a business that does this—that they would have to be on-site,” said Council President Kenneth Cartier.

Other agenda action found the approval of four purchases of more than $2,000 as part of new business.

Public Works will receive 257 recycling carts that are 95 gallons from the Occupational Training Center at a cost of $12,983.64, as well

RUMORS>>PAGE 24

Evesham Agrees to New Payroll Services During Special Meeting

By Vince DeBlasio

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

EVESHAM—Council here has awarded a contract for payroll processing services to a new company in a move that officials say will save Evesham Township money.

The resolution was approved during a three-minute special meeting on Oct. 30.

Council granted the contract to ADP for five years, consisting of one-year renewable terms, in an amount not to exceed $55,000 annually.

The contract is set to take effect in the new year.

At $51,294.12, the estimated cost of services with ADP would potentially save the township $5,580.88 per year compared with total costs associated with the township’s current payroll provider, PrimePoint.

Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki thanked council for its swift response in adopting the contract, keeping in mind the changeover from one system to the next.

“This includes a lot of technological enhancements,” he said. “By meeting early and awarding this contract now—we realize there’s a lot of administrative work in order to switch over for Jan. 1—you did a great service to our employees.”

During bid submissions, according to a township memo, PrimePoint did not provide consent of surety—or a bond acting as an insurance policy—in the event of fraudulent actions or failure to perform.

The lack of consent of surety made the proposal invalid.

Request for Proposals (RFP) were advertised on Sept. 15. Proposals were received and opened in public on Oct. 4.

Three companies in total submitted bids to the township.

“This system (ADP) will provide productivity enhancements to Public Works, Parks, Golf Course and Human Resources for both administrative and managerial employees,” the memo reads.

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Republicans Claim Victory in 8th District Race, Democrat Calls for Recount

By Vince DeBlasio and Mark Hatoff Team Coverage

MOUNT LAUREL—Contests for the 8th Legislative District and two seats up for grabs on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders were too close to call as of press time, but that didn’t stop the two main political parties from claiming victory in some of the races.

Tom Pullion and Balvir Singh, the Democratic candidates running for freeholder, proclaimed victory based on unofficial election results from the Burlington County Clerk’s Office shortly before midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The unofficial election results (updated Thursday) show Pullion with 61,209 votes and Singh with 57,969 votes; while incumbent Republican Bruce Garganio had 55,566 votes and incumbent Republican Linda Hughes had 55,428 votes.

Garganio and Hughes, as of Wednesday evening, had not yet conceded the race.

Several calls to Burlington County Republican Headquarters went unanswered.

Josh Foote, Burlington County Republican Committee campaign manager, did not immediately return a message left on his cellphone.

Wade Hale, deputy clerk for Burlington County, said he could not speak for the decisions that either party makes.

Hale said two voting machine cartridges were not immediately returned in Cinnaminson and Riverside and that there may be some votes still outstanding on those cartridges. He hoped to review them by late in the week and did.

The votes on the cartridges did not change the outcome.

However, provisional ballots had not yet been counted by the Burlington County Election Board. A board worker said late Wednesday afternoon that they were in the process of unpacking them and would have a better idea about the number of provisional ballots cast late in the week.

As returns were still coming in Tuesday night, the Democratic freeholder candidates spoke before a sizable crowd at Carlucci’s Waterfront Restaurant in Mount Laurel.

“I am sincerely grateful,” said Pullion, giving appreciation especially to his family.

“All three of my children spent the last few days canvassing. I can’t thank them enough for that. I will pay you (all supporters) back by making sure that I do exactly what it is that we need to do to get this state back to being Democratic and fighting the wrongs coming out of Washington.”

Singh said public support of the Democratic ticket gave him the energy to go from one day to the next throughout the entire campaign.

“This has been a hell of a ride since the nomination was announced in early March,” he said. “I can’t thank enough all these Democratic towns. You have really given me the energy to go from one day to the next day.”

Pullion and Singh were joined by 8th District Democratic legislative candidates George Youngkin, (Senate) and running mates Joanne Schwartz and Mary Ann Merlino (Assembly).

Republican Senator Dawn Marie Addiego and Republican Assemblyman Joseph Howarth, along with Republican assembly candidate Ryan Peters proclaimed victory late Tuesday night after a late surge from voters in Atlantic County.

The unofficial election results from the

tri-county district show Addiego with 30,280 votes and Youngkin with 27,833 votes.

Addiego appeared both jubilant and subdued with her comments.

“We’re calling victory—whoo-hoo!” she said. “It was a very hard environment to run in this year. The Governor’s (Chris Christie’s) numbers were not good and so we were fighting that top-down momentum. But, we’re about good government and that’s what prevailed.”

Peters said he was happy, but relieved that he won a seat in the 8th District.

“I’m excited to be on the team,” he said. “It was an interesting election year. I think that Republicans (voters) stayed home with the rain and with a low turnout—it’s hard to predict.

I’m just happy to sneak by with this election.”

The Republican candidates made sure to praise their supporters for their successful outcome.

“We thank the voters for being there for us and we thank everybody (volunteers) here too—we appreciate it,” Howarth said. “We couldn’t have done it without these guys. Our victory lap is your victory lap.”

Addiego agreed.

“All the volunteers were here for hours and hours and hours and (made) hundreds of thousands of phone calls,” she said. “Thank you. It was a lot of hard work.”

Youngkin conceded that he lost his bid for senate late Tuesday night and again in a phone interview on Wednesday.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed in the outcome,” he said. “But, I think I ran a good race—a hard race. I don’t think I would do anything differently if I did it all over again. To me, running for office is all about hard work and getting out and talking to and listening to people. From a Democratic standpoint, I think we’re in a good direction statewide and nationwide.”

However, the two Democratic candidates running for assembly did not concede that they lost their bids.

The unofficial election results from the tri-county district show Howarth with 28,401 votes; Peters with 28,206 votes; Merlino with 27,843 votes and Schwartz with 27,933 votes.

Mail-in and provisional ballots in Atlantic County were still not completely counted as of press time.

Schwartz, just before midnight Tuesday, posted on Facebook that she was calling for a recount.

“My race for Assembly is too close to call,” she said. “There will be an official recount.”

Earlier in the evening, the Democratic hopeful was elated to be so close to the Republicans as the 8th District is traditionally a Republican stronghold and was not identified as being up for grabs by pollsters.

“We want to thank you all for everything that you’ve done,” Schwartz said. “The fact that we’re this close when we were projected by everybody to lose is absolutely amazing.”

Noted among accomplishments of the Democratic party during Tuesday night’s gathering was the capturing of votes and wins in towns such as Evesham, Moorestown and Delran.

“I’ve never seen Evesham turn out for Democrats from top to bottom before,” said Burlington County Democratic Committee Chairman Joe Andl. “It was a very exciting night for the Democrats all across the state of New Jersey.”

RECOUNT>>PAGE 25

Saturday, November 11, 2017

No Surprises in Municipal Races Despite Lively Matchups in Medford Lakes and Medford

By Mark Hatoff, Vince DeBlasio & Douglas D. Melegari Team Coverage

MEDFORD LAKES—It was a night of jubilation for all incumbent Republican and non-partisan candidates.

All easily won re-election.

In Medford Lakes, non-partisan incumbent Gary Miller handily defeated rival Joseph Aromando, 1085 to 389 votes.

“I was taken aback by the overwhelming support that I got last night and I was humbled by it,” Miller said. “Voters came out in unprecedented numbers. The total number of votes and the results were nothing that I could have expected and I’m thrilled that it occurred.”

Miller said he looked forward to continuing his service on council.

“I want us to continue to be strong and leave a legacy for our children in Medford Lakes,” he said. “The voter turnout shows that Medford Lakes residents have deep concerns for the issues that face our borough.”

In Medford, incumbent Republican Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson and incumbent Republican Deputy Mayor Brad Denn will serve the township for another four years, while running mate Erik Rebstock gets his first term on council.

According to unofficial election results from the Burlington County’s Clerks Office, Watson received the most votes with 4,312, followed

by Denn with 4,161 and Rebstock with 4,091.

“I thank the voters, I thank all the support of the residents of Medford for giving us the chance to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Watson said.

The winners join fellow Republican Councilmen Chris Buoni and Frank Czekay on the 2018 council. The terms for Buoni and Czekay expire in 2019.

Rebstock, a pastor and resident of Medford for over a decade, will replace departing Councilman Jeffrey Beenstock, who opted not to run.

“Erik is an amazing guy with a high degree of integrity and love of our town,” Watson said.

“He’s been involved in sports and leadership for years. Now bringing him into the governing level, working on the vision of where our town goes from here, he’s the perfect guy to do it.”

Defeated in the Medford election were Democratic challengers Kelly Clark, Stanley Czyzyk, and Linda Goldman who had 3,323, 3,321, and 3,285, votes, respectively.

A post shared on the candidates’ Facebook page Tuesday at 6:42 p.m. read, in part: “We thank you for your ideas. We thank you for walking with us. We thank you for supporting us. We thank you for donating your hard-earned money…we’ll keep working with you and (the winning candidates) to improve our services. We’ll keep working to create a MedfordForAll (sic).”

Watson said he is looking forward to building on what the current council has accomplished in the township, including establishing a road program and increasing the number of emergency personnel.

“I’m proud of what we have done for Medford to bring us out of some tough times and bring us into really good times,” he said.

“But, now we have four years to continue to work on making great strides to keep Medford one of the best towns to live in in New Jersey, in my opinion.”

In Pemberton Borough, Republican incumbents Terry Jerome and Tim Quinlan defeated challenger Steven Fenster.

Fenster garnered only 107 votes while Quinlan received 216 votes and Jerome got 188 votes.

Longtime Mayor James F. Young Sr. of Southampton crushed his rival, Luke Bohm.

Young got 2,271 votes, while Bohm got 1,075 votes.

In addition to the municipal races in Medford, Medford Lakes, Southampton and Pemberton Borough, there were several uncontested municipal races in Burlington County.

Republican incumbent Martin Mozitis won a seat on the Shamong Township Committee with 1,437 votes.

Republican incumbent Kimberly Brown won a Tabernacle Township Committee seat with 1,571 votes.

Republican incumbent Daniel James won a Washington Township Committee seat with 129 votes.

Republican incumbent William DeGroff won a Woodland Township Committee seat with 286 votes.

Ask The Expert!

By Dean Mainardi

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

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

Who do you go to for sincere, honest advice?

In recent years, the economic situation that our country is involved in, has brought many people to the “Trades” with little to no experience. We have seen some of the worst workmanship and solutions to problems than ever before. In the end, hard-earned money is spent and bigger problems are created.

That’s why we are here. To help you!

This section is a direct contact to give you the advice and experience you need to help solve any Home Improvement concern or issue you may have.

The best part is it’s for FREE. No strings attached. Just good old-fashioned neighborly advice on the things you need to know. If I don’t have the answer, I will get it or refer you to the proper expert in our network of quality reliable contractors.

For every issue, I will choose the BEST question that I think will help the most people.

If we publish your question, you will receive a $50 VISA gift card as a thank you from us for helping make this new section a success.

So, “We are what you have been waiting for.”

Get to your computer and send your questions directly to me at AskTheExpert@onlythebestbuilder.com or call directly @ 609-654-1698.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 9

Election Results Medford Lakes Boro. Council–NonPar 2 1/2 Yrs. Unexp.

New Jersey Governor/Lt. Governor

x

x

Kim GUADAGNO (R)

885,387

42%

Philip MURPHY (D) 1,165,001

56%

Matthew RICCARDI (C)

6,720

0%

Seth KAPER-DALE (G)

9,788

0%

Gina GENOVESE (RPT)

11,921

1%

Vincent ROSS (WTP)

4,834

0%

Peter ROHRMAN (L)

10,322

0%

Dawn Marie ADDIEGO (R)

30,280

53%

George B. YOUNGKIN (D)

27,833

47%

x Christopher J. CONNORS (R) Brian Corley WHITE (D)

x

Joseph A. AROMANDO, III (NP)

389

26%

Local BOE–Medford Lakes Boro.

705

31%

x

Benjamin VINCI (NBP)

628

28%

Robert F. BRITTAIN (NBP)

922

40%

x x x

Charles J. WATSON (R)

4,312

19%

Bradley H. DENN (R)

4,161

18%

Erik J. REBSTOCK (R)

4,091

18%

Stanley CZYZYK (D)

3,321

15%

Kelly CLARK (D)

3,323

15%

22,344

35%

Linda GOLDMAN (D)

3,285

15%

Joe HOWARTH (R)

28,401

25%

Ryan PETERS (R)

28,206

25%

Joanne SCHWARTZ (D)

27,993

25%

Mary Ann MERLINO (D)

27,843

25%

Ryan T. CALHOUN (NBP)

732

0%

General Assembly 9th Legislative District Brian E. RUMPF (R)

39,668

32%

Dianne C. GOVE (R)

39,040

31%

Jill DOBROWANSKY (D)

23,147

19%

Ryan YOUNG (D)

22,350

18%

x x x x x

Bruce GARGANIO (R)

55,566

24%

Linda HUGHES (R)

55,428

24%

Tom PULLION (D)

61,209

27%

Balvir SINGH (D)

57,969

25%

17

100%

Lenape Regional BOE–Evesham Twp. Barry J. FITZGERALD (NBP)

7,901

99%

WRITE-IN

87

1%

Local BOE–Evesham Twp. Elaine BARBAGIOVANNI (NBP)

6,554

28%

Lea RYAN (NBP)

6,184

26%

Jayesh C. PARIKH (NBP)

2,636

11%

B. ROBERSON (NBP)

2,404

10%

Janis KNOLL (NBP)

5,162

22%

x x x x x x x x

x x x x

Medford Township Council

65%

Local BOE–Bass River Twp.

x x

73%

Kenneth WOLSON (NBP)

Burlington County Freeholder

x

1,085

40,927

General Assembly 8th Legislative District

WRITE-IN

Gary A. MILLER (NP)

x

State Senate 8th Legislative District

State Senate 9th Legislative District

x x

x

Lenape Regional BOE–Medford Twp. David E. STOW (NBP)

4,849

99%

WRITE-IN

54

1%

Local BOE–Medford Twp. Katherine SANTAMORE (NBP)

4,582

34%

Jessica SIRAGUSA (NBP)

4,496

33%

Trudy COLE (NBP)

4,444

33%

x x x x x x

Lenape Regional BOE–Mount Laurel Twp. Paula D. LEE (NBP)

7,658

99%

WRITE-IN

76

1%

188

38%

Tim QUINLAN (R)

216

42%

Steven FENSTER (NBP)

107

21%

x

Local BOE–Pemberton Twp. Timothy HAINES (NBP)

2,862

37%

Tom BAUER (NBP)

2,508

32%

John R. WILLITTS, II (NBP)

2,371

30%

Linda M. ECKENHOFF (NBP)

2,037

99%

WRITE-IN

15

1%

Local BOE–Southampton Twp. Louise RICKBORN (NBP)

1,135

20%

Russell R. HANN (NBP)

1,252

22%

Marie PHILLIPS (NBP)

1,447

26%

Arnold E. HARRISON, III (NBP)

734

13%

Brenda J. CONOVER (NBP)

1,021

18%

Tabernacle Township Committee Kimberly A. BROWN (R)

1,571

99%

WRITE-IN

23

1%

Local BOE–Tabernacle Twp. Kevin McCLOY (NBP)

1,159

35%

Julia SAILER (NBP)

1,072

32%

Megan A. JONES (NBP)

1,086

33%

Washington Township Committee Daniel JAMES (R)

129

96%

WRITE-IN

6

4%

Local BOE–Washington Twp. Charlene LEE

13

72%

WRITE-IN

5

28%

Local BOE–Washington Twp. 1 Yr. Unexp.

Pemberton Borough Council Terry JEROME (R)

Lenape Regional BOE–Southampton Twp.

x x

Shamong Township Committee

Fatima FORD

2

67%

Cynthia WENTZ

1

33%

Woodland Township Committee William DeGROFF (R)

286

97%

WRITE-IN

8

3%

Local BOE–Woodland Twp. Edward A. VINCENT (NBP)

184

46%

Melissa HORNER (NBP)

207

52%

WRITE-IN

9

2%

Local BOE–Woodland Twp. 2 Yr. Unexp.

Martin D. MOZITIS (R)

1,437

99%

WRITE-IN

9

1%

WRITE-IN

7

Local BOE–Woodland Twp. 1 Yr. Unexp.

Local BOE–Shamong Twp.

6

100%

YES

946,691

60%

NO

634,616

40%

WRITE-IN

Melissa CILIBERTI (NBP)

808

54%

WRITE-IN

677

46%

Southampton Township Committee James F. YOUNG, Sr. (R)

2,271

68%

Luke BOHM (D)

1,075

32%

100%

x x

State Question No. 1

State Question No. 2 YES 1,065,703 NO

481,621

69% 31%

PAGE 10

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 11, 2017

SCANNER Kidnapped Man Taken to Secluded Area Along Route 563 and Shot at Multiple Times WASHINGTON—A man escaped serious injury last week after being purportedly kidnapped, brought to a secluded area along a section of Route 563—also known as Green Bank-Chatsworth Road—in Washington Township and shot at numerous times as he fled from his captors.

New Jersey State Police say they received a call from the victim, after he was able to escape, at about 11:53 p.m. on Oct. 31.

“The victim was able to immediately call 911 and advise police of what happened,” said Lt. Theodore Schafer, assistant bureau chief of the New Jersey State Police Public Information Bureau. “Troopers arrived very quickly and we realized it was a shots-fired complaint.”

Schafer said that once troopers arrived, they quickly determined that the victim was assaulted by three individuals and identified the suspects involved.

Teron Huggins, 40, of Camden; Kareem Tucker, 20, of Mount Laurel; and Antoine Ahiem, 31, of Browns Mills were charged with

attempted homicide, unlawful possession of a weapon, kidnapping and robbery.

“They got the victim into the vehicle they were using—a 2017 Ford Explorer that was possibly a rental—and they brought him to a wooded area,” Schafer said. “The vehicle was stopped in the secluded wooded area and the suspects ordered the victim out of the vehicle.

The victim was able to escape and flee into the woods, after which numerous shots were fired.”

The victim was found right away by responding troopers.

In addition to the New Jersey State Police Tuckerton station troopers who responded to the call, the agency’s K-9 unit, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Fugitive Unit were brought in to assist with the investigation.

State police are withholding the identity of the victim at this time. Schafer said he isn’t aware of the victim being injured in the incident, which remains under investigation.

Beeler Elementary Welcomes Home Veteran

PHOTO SUBMITTED Evesham residents welcome home Major Richard Marnin as he thinks he is simply visiting the school to talk to the students about his service and Veterans Day.

Officer Charged With Armed Robbery After Allegedly Pointing Gun at Motorist and Stealing Wallet SOUTHAMPTON—A Southampton Township resident, also a police officer in northern New Jersey, has been charged with various offenses after he allegedly pointed a gun at a motorist on Red Lion Road in Southampton last week and stole the victim’s wallet.

The incident occurred on Nov. 2.

“A citizen was operating their vehicle on Red Lion Road in Southampton Township, Burlington County when he observed a vehicle being operated in an erratic manner,” said Lt. Theodore Schafer, assistant bureau chief of the New Jersey State Police Public Information Bureau. “The two vehicles were being operated in close proximity to each other when a verbal altercation ensued.”

He said both vehicles stopped in the roadway and the occupants exited their vehicles.

“The accused, Teddy Cerra, 42, who was the erratic operator, pointed a handgun at the victim and took his wallet from him,” Schafer

said. “The victim returned to his vehicle in an attempt to depart from the scene. The accused pursued the victim and in the process struck two vehicles.”

He said state troopers arrived shortly after Cerra struck the two vehicles.

Cerra was arrested and charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and DWI. He was lodged into the Burlington County Correctional Facility.

Cerra works for the Franklin Township Police Department in Somerset County and is a sergeant on the force.

“Sgt. Cerra has been suspended from duty, in accordance with the attorney general’s guidelines,” said Lt. Philip Rizzo, a spokesman for the Franklin Township Police Department.

“There is an ongoing, active internal affairs investigation, and as such we cannot comment on the incident.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED Marnin, 47, has over 20 years of service with the United States Air Force.

Biker Seriously Injured After Motorcycle and Pickup Collide on Route 542 WASHINGTON—A collision of a motorcycle and pickup near mile-marker 17 on Route 542 in Washington Township on Nov. 2 left an elderly cyclist with serious injuries.

According to New Jersey State Police, the accident happened around 2:22 p.m. when a 1996 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Kyle Cramer, 21, of Galloway, attempted to make a left-hand turn, while a 2001 Harley Davidson

driven by Richard Greene, 77, of Little Egg Harbor was passing, also on the left.

Greene struck the left side of Cramer’s truck and was ejected from his motorcycle.

Greene suffered serious injuries and was flown by a Penn Star helicopter to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City.

Cramer was uninjured.

Thieves Steal Blue Tote Bag from Vehicle MEDFORD—On Nov. 5 at 1:31 p.m., officers from the Medford Township Police Department responded to 6 Nelson Drive for reports of a vehicle burglary.

Upon arrival, the officers observed the rear passenger window of a parked vehicle was shattered. Broken glass was found lying on the ground near the vehicle.

An investigation revealed that a blue tote bag containing miscellaneous school items was removed from the vehicle between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The vehicle burglary is currently under investigation by the Medford Township Police Department.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Marnin has been deployed to locations such as Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. There was one time where he was solely responsible for shutting down the air space for the entire country of Afghanistan for an entire day.

Saturday, November 11, 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 11

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

Letter to the Editor

Sexually Explicit Material Should Be Removed from Pinelands Junior High School There is a magazine in the Pinelands Regional Junior High School Media Center entitled Sex, etc.

Last month, I presented a request to the Pinelands Regional Board of Education that this publication be removed from the junior high school’s media center.

At the board meeting, I read aloud some of the content you’ll find below, and thought surely this is a slip up which has somehow escaped notice. I was told that it would take 30 days to review the challenged material, and that after a committee was formed to discuss it, a recommendation would be made to the school board, and a decision would follow. I also asked to know who ordered it and who approved it. To date, I have not been given any answers.

We consider this publication totally unsuitable for middle school students—particularly for 7th grade readers.

Our son is 12 years old with his innocence intact (not an easy thing these days).

We resent his exposure to this magazine in which teens—18 and older and called “sexperts”— answer the questions of other teens under 18. We find this to be a seriously flawed approach for obvious reasons.

If the school feels it necessary to keep material on hand to help answer sensitive sexual questions of 12 -and 13-year olds, why not provide a magazine where careful answers are provided by mature adults? Would any of you (parents) send your pre-teen son or daughter to an 18-or 19-year college student to help answer their questions about sex?

The copy of Sex, etc. which I showed Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks and the board has the look of a comic book. Several copies are scattered throughout the media center, along with other back issues of Sex, etc.

I want to provide you with just snippets of the content that are okay for newspaper readers.

In a Q&A section, one girl writes: “I usually feel insecure about how long it takes me to reach orgasm and I don’t know how to communicate it to my boyfriend.”

Another 16-year-old asks: “Is the hook-up culture acceptable? I feel like everyone views it as a taboo, and I’ve never minded it.”

To answer this question, a staff writer replies that there is “absolutely nothing wrong” with

‘hooking up,’ as long as you and your partner “know what you’re getting into.”

This 18-year-old male staff writer (or “sexpert”) gives his studied opinion to a 16-year-old male student (a minor), assuring him that there is “absolutely” nothing wrong with having sex whenever, and with whoever.

Our 12-year-old impressionable son can read this, along with other discussions about penis sizes, breast sizes, and even references to anal sex.

One young boy, upset about his penis size, tells of his embarrassment when, having sex with his girlfriend, she asked him if he was “in yet,” and he was “all the way in.” Another young girl was worried about the small size of her breasts until she realized how “properly they fit into the hand.”

Or, your 7th grader can read an article entitled “Being Transgender is Perfectly Normal.”

The comic book edition also features several pages of superheroes: “Captain Condom”, “Super Patch” along with 10 or 12 other contraceptive heroes.

These “superheroes” promote your young child to have sex, while avoiding unintended pregnancy. “Captain Condom” stands out as best hero, because not only will he prevent pregnancy, but he can also stop sexually transmitted diseases.

There is an article about gender expectations, for example, that boys are the only ones who really want sex, or, the notion that some girls feel it is expected of them to “gasp and moan” during sex.

Once upon a time, school libraries lined the shelves with biographies, literary classics, reference materials, adventure stories, and a world atlas to inspire the imagination. Now the imagination of these young children is directed differently.

My wife and I are two loving and concerned parents who have taught our children that sex is sacred; an amazing gift from God the Creator, designed for enjoyment in the context of marriage and family. Here, at school, our parental approach is blatantly contradicted.

As superintendent, Dr. Banks had the authority to immediately remove this

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 Vince DeBlasio, Copy Editor P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 Locally owned and published.

exceptionally inappropriate material, but she did not, because the board lawyer advised her to follow protocol and take a month to decide. Nor has Dr. Banks answered my question about who used our public dollars to purchase this explicit periodical Sex, etc., and who approved it. There could be a legal issue here, one I intend to explore, namely, “contributing to the corruption of a minor.”

My wife and I are not ignorant of the culture, with its push towards gender fluidity, same sex marriage and promiscuity. It’s hard to keep up with the changing landscape as there’s always something new on the horizon. But one thing everyone (including the law), still agrees on is the innocence of young children, and the need to protect them.

We parents—not the school district—are responsible for the moral formation of our children. My wife and I are certainly are not on board with current cultural trends and agendas.

Nor should public education embrace a particular agenda as they have done by providing this magazine. The school is not neutral on these issues, and the magazine, Sex, etc. is anything but neutral on sexual ethics.

I went straight to the school board because, in our experience, bringing up this discussion with principals, supervisors, and previous superintendents yields no meaningful action.

I won’t take the space to speak to the issue of the school’s Health education approach now (though it is a related concern), except to say this: students in the Pinelands Regional School District are not being given the full picture.

Why don’t they share statistics that challenge the kind of sexual promiscuity many of these teenagers are dangerously involved with?

Scientific studies, not religious convictions, consistently point to serious problems associated with early sexual experimentation.

This includes trauma, long-term psychological issues, post-abortion syndrome, and increased risk for suicide (especially among girls).

The CDC has studies on teen sexuality, which are consistently ignored by public school sex educators. The CDC is not a religious organization. Why not present some of the more troubling findings these studies clearly identify?

Why is there no balance? Why are these educators so eager to present only one side?

Do you imagine that a publication like Sex, etc. will add balance by highlighting these troublesome facts and cautioning our children? There’s nothing wrong with a healthy scare when it is based on facts.

No, instead educators in the Pinelands Regional School District chose a magazine that makes its opinion and values clear that there is “absolutely nothing wrong with exploring your sexuality and having fun.”

Our teens do not have the ability to properly assess risk. When Student Based Youth Services comes into the Health Ed. classroom to present on contraception and abortion, there is a heavy bias at work. A passing nod is made to abstinence as the only sure way to prevent sexual disease, (core curriculum standards require it), but the sum total of the presentation afterwards encourages kids to embrace early sexual activity.

College campuses have been dealing with the fall out for years. Not long ago, TIME Magazine featured a cover story entitled: “The New Crisis in Higher Education.” What is the “new crisis?” It’s the casual hook-up culture, an epidemic that keeps administrators scrambling. Our own middle school curriculum and others around the country, who fail to present abstinence as a serious option, are to blame.

One board member I know of is sympathetic with these concerns, but that is all the feedback I’ve had.

On. Oct. 20, my wife and I received a letter from Dr. Banks detailing the outcome of the committee’s discussion along with their recommendation.

This letter informs us that the committee, which was put together by the junior high vice principal, has recommended that the material—which they deem entirely in keeping with curriculum standards and goals—should continue to be made available in the junior high school media center.

Dr. Banks also chose to tell us that it was a unanimous decision, and further, that the content in the magazine Sex, etc. is actually suitable for 6th graders as well.

Peter and Theresa Cardillo Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Varicella Vaccine Recommended After Four Suspected Chickenpox Cases in Southampton) I didn’t vaccinate my kids against chickenpox and I won’t. Then again, they don’t get any vaccines in general and they won’t.

Cyndie Kuhl Haines (Re: Banks Returns and Vows Not to Reopen Pinelands Regional High School Until It’s Safe) Why aren’t they doing this construction after school hours like any other company that has a school contract? It is well known that if you are working past deadline, you work after school hours and thus you aren’t disrupting school sessions. Did someone miss that on the contract?

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

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

Events

November 14 Event: Trip to Sight and Sound “Miracle of Christmas” Location: Whiting Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Rt. 539, Whiting, will go to Sight and Sound to see “The Miracle of Christmas.” Tickets are $120 per person, includes bus transportation, driver’s tip, and lunch at Hershey Farm Restaurant. For more information, call Stephanie at 732-350-2904.

Event: Diabetes Support Group Location: Pemberton Library Details: Come to Pemberton Community Library at 10 a.m. and join Virtua clinicians for healthy snacks and an interactive discussion about diabetes. Registration is requested 888-847-8823.

November 15

Event: Wooden Ornament Workshop Location: Pemberton Details: Join us to make

Saturday, November 11, 2017

an

assortment

of

wood-slice ornaments to decorate your home for the holidays.

Pemberton Community Library, 1:30 p.m. Registration is Event: Medford VFW Sock Hop Location: Medford required. 609-893-8262.

Details: The Medford VFW invites you to a sock hop, from November 17 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy the music stylings of DJ Tony and a hot buffet by Chef Denny. The cost is $20. 317 Church Road, Event: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dance Performance Medford. 609-654-9823.

Location: Westampton Details: The Burlington County Library is presenting a flamenco dance performance. Expert artists will bring you a Event: Spaghetti Supper colorful and lively performance full of pride, passion, love and Location: Tabernacle Details: All you can eat Spaghetti Dinner, with all the sorrow. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. www.bcls.lib.nj.us. 609-267-9660 The trimmings, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 166 Carranza Road, Tabernacle. Adults $10, library is located at 5 Pioneer Boulevard, in Westampton.

Children 4 to 12 years old $4 and kids under 3 are free. Tickets November 18 sold at the door.

Event: Seneca High School’s Character Breakfast November 19 Location: Tabernacle Details: Seneca High School’s Interact and Community Event: Spaghetti Dinner Service Clubs will hold their annual Character Breakfast at the Location: Medford Details: Join the Medford VFW for a delicious spaghetti school’s cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Tickets are $50 at the door; includes breakfast, entertainment and games. For more dinner, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $12 per person. 317 Church Road, Medford. 609-654-9823. information, email gmccloskey@lrhsd.org

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN Senior Council Finalizes Plans for 2018

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Each year, the seniors of Pemberton Township start asking, “When will the new schedule be available?”

The good news is that the Pemberton Township Senior Council met this past week, reviewed the 2018 schedule and finalized a list of trips. Copies will be available in the December edition of the Senior Gazette. As in past years, seniors are advised to save their copy of the list of trips.

Each trip has been planned to provide a variety of experiences at the most economical cost, while still providing an enjoyable experience. The year will begin with a trip to the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pa. This casino is located adjacent to an outlet shopping mall, providing an opportunity to shop while enjoying a day at the casino.

There are several restaurants available for lunch, including one which serves a buffet.

There is also a food court for those who prefer a

more modest meal. Of course, there is a casino coin rebate and a food voucher to sweeten the day. This trip is scheduled for Jan. 31 and tickets are only $25 for resident seniors. Tickets will go on sale in December.

The annual Valentine dinner is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17. “Side Car Charlie” is scheduled to provide a variety of music. Some seniors may even do a little dancing. His music is easy listening and seniors often sing along.

A trip to Doolan’s Shore Club in Spring Lake is planned for the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 8. This trip always sells out and includes some excellent entertainment

by Mike Byrne and his band.

The trip to Mount Airy casino for the “Sweet Caroline” tribute to Neil Diamond show is scheduled for March 20. A buffet is included and always delights the seniors with the many choices included.

The upcoming year just gets better as three trips to Hunterdon Hills Dinner Theatre are scheduled and two trips to the American Music

Come

Theatre, including stops at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, are scheduled. These trips sell out quickly once tickets go on sale.

In all cases, tickets need to be paid for 30 days in advance of each trip because payments need to be made that far in advance to each vendor.

Most ticket sales begin about 10 weeks before the specific date. In every case, comparison shoppers will note that township seniors receive a bargain price for their trips.

This is to allow local seniors to enjoy a variety of entertainment and ensure that they keep socially active. Even non-residents will find their ticket costs below what other clubs are charging. The Pemberton Township Senior Citizen Council is truly “non-profit!”

Other trips this upcoming year include one to Delaware Park for some horse racing and another to Dover Downs for a show, “One Night in Memphis.” There will be a cruise out of Atlantic City and a cruise on the River Lady, out of Toms River. The shopping trip to Quakertown, with a stop at Mastoris, will be

Worship With Us

featured in early September. Of course, there will be a visit to Doolan’s for the annual Oktoberfest.

The programs currently offered at the senior center will continue. All programs will continue to also feature various guest speakers throughout the year.

Exercise classes will continue to be offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by line dancing. The exercise room is open daily for individual workouts.

Craft class is held each Monday and Thursday morning and that also will continue.

Their current project is creating the centerpieces for the annual “Senior Prom,” scheduled for April 18. Bible study is held on Wednesday mornings and new members are always welcome.

At the Pemberton Senior Center, coffee and tea are available each morning and toast, peanut butter and jelly are available, too. A nourishing lunch is also served daily, by reservation. Stop

SENIOR>>PAGE 16

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PAGE 13

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609-631-3420 www.HarryHelmet.com

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

Saturday, November 11, 2017

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SENIOR PAGE 12

in, register and enjoy the many advantages of being a senior in Pemberton Township.

In addition to the trips scheduled by the senior citizen council, Frank Journeigan schedules trips lasting several days. Recently about 20 seniors enjoyed a trip with him to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. They always have a great time on these trips. Journeigan uses Diamond Tours who are noted for good accommodations and arrangements.

He is leading a cruise during January, but

unfortunately it is too late to sign up for that.

He is now planning a trip to Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains. It is scheduled for April 23-28, 2018. This trip includes a total of five nights. Three nights will be spent in the Smokies, with an overnight stop while traveling in each direction. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel daily and three dinner shows. This will be a fun packed trip with plenty to enjoy.

Contact Journeigan at 609-500-8050, or stop at the center and pick up a brochure.

Journeigan tells me that, “We are the Fun Bus!” There are movies, card games with

prizes, Bingo and even horse racing! The all-inclusive price of $569, double occupancy, includes all bus driver and tour-guide gratuities.

The featured Smoky Mountain shows are certainly great entertainment and filled with talented performers. There are no residency requirements to join this trip so contact Journeigan soon to reserve your spot.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

The November Senior Gazette is available now, so stop in and pick up your copy. Spend time meeting the many seniors who visit the center on a regular basis. The staff is available to help you with many services. The center is located in Browns Mills, across from the Post Office, and open from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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PAGE 17

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENT

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HEALTH

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.

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

The Secret Nutrient That Helps Graves’ Disease Graves’ disease leads to high levels of thyroid hormone, termed “hyperthyroidism” which is the opposite of hypothyroidism, a condition that I usually write about.

Graves’ disease takes its name after the doctor who described it for the first time in 1835, Dr. Robert J. Graves. It affects 10 million people worldwide.

It causes your immune system to produce antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to make more thyroid hormone than you need.

Doctors then seek to surgically cut out or burn (radiate) your thyroid gland to stop the outpouring of thyroid hormone. After that, you will take thyroid medicine at standard doses.

Emerging research shows that deficiency of vitamin D is associated with this condition. It’s exciting. In a study published in Endocrine Journal (2012), scientists examined vitamin D levels in 26 women who had Graves’ disease.

This data was compared with vitamin D levels in 46 healthy (non-afflicted) women, meaning they had normal thyroid function and no signs of Graves’ disease. The vitamin D levels in women with Graves’ disease were considerably lower than the healthy participants.

There was another research study and the levels of vitamin D in 208 Graves’ disease patients were assessed. They noticed that women were way more vitamin D deficient than men (38% to 17%). It’s an interesting gender difference to keep in mind.

There’s also an interesting seasonal variation in vitamin D levels. As you would expect, the “sunshine” vitamin D levels were higher in summertime and relatively lower during winter.

If low levels of vitamin D contribute, cause or exacerbate Graves’ disease, could improving your vitamin D levels regulate thyroid metabolism?

In 2014, researchers published a case study in the Clinical Medicine Insight about a woman in her 40’s whose symptoms improved after vitamin D supplementation! She had complained of heart palpitations for the prior three months and finally came in to see her doctor.

Her physical exam revealed an enlarged thyroid gland consistent with Graves’ disease.

Lab tests checking for antibodies confirmed that she had Graves’ disease. Additionally, she had lower than optimal vitamin D levels.

The patient was given a vitamin D supplement and as you might expect, improvement was confirmed though lab testing.

It’s not that we have thousands of people from a large-scale test, but in my humble opinion, we have enough data here to make the case that D can support healthy antibody levels not only in Hashimoto’s, but also Graves’ disease.

Why? Because we know that vitamin D is an immune-modulator. We know that it supports Th1 and Th2 immune functioning. As a perk, it could improve mood in people who feel gloomy and tearful during the cold months.

Ask your doctor if it’s right for you even though it’s over-the-counter. Keep in mind that too much vitamin D could jack up levels of magnesium and calcium and adversely affect your heart rhythm. Don’t overdo it, and write me if you note improvement. I’d love to hear from you.

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.

One Clever Mom Keeps Kids on Track With ‘The Placebo Effect’

By Sue Hubbard, M.D. If you have never been to the Texas State children had “blown through” their money Fair, you don’t know what you are missing. Just on food and games when one of the children a few of the highlights include the automobile wanted another snow cone. She was trying to show, followed by the agricultural areas, the explain that the child could not have anything animals being shown and auctioned, and the else when she came up with the cleverest idea. incredible number of canned goods and baked How about a marshmallow snow cone? I must goods with prize-winning ribbons. Then there say I was a bit confused. She told me she went is Big Tex and the midway, where you can find and got ice chips and put them in a cup and any number of fried foods: fried cookie dough, told the children they were marshmallow snow fried Oreos, fried peanut butter and jelly, and cones, and that is why they were white and not the favorite corny dogs! But, many kids prefer colored. The children LOVED them and were cotton candy and snow cones, which come in thrilled that their mother had acquiesced for any color and flavor you can imagine. another treat. Everyone walked happily to the One young mother was in the office the car eating their marshmallow snow cones and other day after spending a day with her kids they were very content. The ride home was at the fair. Not only is it overwhelming in its without tantrums or tears. vast size, it is also an expensive outing for a What an ingenious mother! Thinking on family; especially with children who “want one her feet and saving money, and everyone was of everything.” She told me me that her happy. The placebo effect at its best.

Dr. Sue Hubbard is an award-winning pediatrician, medical editor and media host. “The Kid’s Doctor” TV feature can be seen on more than 90 stations across the U.S. Submit questions at http://www.kidsdr.com. The Kid’s Doctor e-book, “Tattoos to Texting: Parenting Today’s Teen,” is now available from Amazon and other e-book vendors.

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Saturday, November 11, 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?”

A Fabulous Gift, From The Lumberyard When Pat, my beloved husband of many years, walked in the door on a recent night, he was beaming with pride.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day long,” he said. Then he smiled, looked at me with love and reported, “And I’ve been considering an expensive gift.”

I’m here to tell you that there is nothing like an expensive gift to jump-start a woman’s heart!

I suddenly went from being a 50-year-old woman with bad hair to an 11-year-old little girl on Christmas Eve. “Something for me?”

I asked as I thought of the Red Wing crock that I’ve had my eye on.

“No,” he said, trying to contain his excitement, “it’s something for us.”

Now you can call me a spoiled brat if you want to. But “something for us” doesn’t sound like a fun “something for us” when you’re married to a man like my Pat. Pat opposes any and all glitz, doesn’t understand bling and totally bypasses extravagance so that he can make a beeline straight to the practical gifts. Instead of fulfilling the desires of a woman’s heart, he opts for hammers, drills, and anything that would effortlessly drive a bolt into concrete.

Still, I’m nothing if not optimistic, so I forced a smile and asked, “Will I like it?”

“Oh,” he said, still beaming, “you’ll use it all of the time.”

See, there we go again. No woman worth her salt wants something that she’ll “use all of the time.” She wants to wear it, stage it, and certainly wants to show it off to her friends.

Better yet, she wants to display her antique crock in the corner that would be perfect for it and spend her spare moments gazing upon it with love and admiration.

After all, how often do you see a woman showcasing her 150-piece wrench set as she says to her dinner party guests, “Don’t you just love these? I got them for Christmas!”

But I didn’t want to appear ungrateful, so I kept a stiff upper lip, forced a smile and said, “Well, let’s see it.”

With that, he pulled an ad from the local lumberyard out of his pocket and with a quick, “Ta da!” he showed me a lovely picture of a mechanical device that was large, bulky, and appeared to plug in.

Quite frankly, I hadn’t been so disappointed since he showed me a picture of a woman in his construction magazine who was sporting a pink tool belt and told me that I, too, could rock that look.

Don’t get me wrong, not all of his practical gifts are bad gifts. Oftentimes I wonder how it is that I’ve lived without nail punches and wire cutters with matching accessories. I would even make great use of the compact drill if it weren’t constantly at his job site.

In the grand scheme of things, I have everything that I need and want for nothing.

Nothing, that is, except for that Red Wing crock.

Our anniversary is looming on the horizon, Christmas is only moments away and I truly feel that it’s never too early to begin pondering my birthday.

Alas, my surprise gift was nothing that could be purchased at a jewelry store, or a timeless gift from an antique shop and it certainly wasn’t a crock that could be showcased in the coveted spot in the corner of the living room.

Rather, it was something that would come from the lumberyard, be quite useful in daily tasks and most likely spend the bulk of its time on a construction site.

Although I’m not one to boast, I am a great and considerate gift giver. I assess the recipient, ponder their dislikes and tastes, and mull to great lengths the desires of their hearts.

Therefore, for our anniversay, I’ve purchased for my beloved spouse the best gift ever, the ultimate and unsurpassed gifts of all gifts.

I shall drop little hints, leave little clues and enjoy his curiosity as it leads up to the day.

I shall enjoy the anticipation and I’m here to tell you that I simply cannot wait for him to see that I bought him the best gift ever—a Red Wing crock.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D Across 1 Alpine racing obstacle 5 Whisks 10 Thought-provoking 14 Arkin of “Argo” 15 Prenatal test, for short 16 Former “Fashion Emergency” host 17 Bug 20 Industrial Revolution power source 21 Kilt wearer’s refusal 22 Destructive insect 23 Bering Seaport 25 Invigorates 26 Bug 31 Cocoon and Posturepedic 32 Parks in American history 33 Cuba libre ingredient 36 Confident 37 Flags down 39 Cuba libre ingredient 40 Decorates with Angel Soft, briefly 41 “Now that you mention it ... “ 42 Places for French lessons 44 Bug 46 Backless furniture 49 Pallet piece

P U Z Z L E

50 Put up with 51 One to hang with 53 Pro shop set 57 Bug 60 4-F’s opposite 61 Intense 62 Cuba libre ingredient 63 Part of a wine list 64 Migratory birds 65 It’s measured in inches

25 Five-time NBA MVP Bill 26 Wordless summons 27 Do another stint 28 Couple in a dinghy 29 Superfluity 30 Moviefone parent co.

33 Othello or Iago 34 Hula strings 35 Difficult spot 38 __ carte 39 Instrument panel array Down 41 Cunning 1 Some square dancers 43 Adjuster’s concern 2 Settled on a branch 44 Beverages sometimes made 3 Zap from potatoes 4 Involve in a complicated way 45 Archipelago parts 5 Negative decree 46 Relish 6 “8 Mile” rapper 47 Chophouse choice 7 “Breaking Bad” Emmy winner 48 Quieted, in a way Gunn 51 Rate 8 Buster Brown’s dog 52 Reason for cold compresses 9 Ground cover and extra blankets 10 Deeply religious 54 Chief god of Asgard 11 Dubai dignitaries 55 Literary sea captain 12 Link between speakers 56 Large quantity 13 Reviewers of academic essays 58 Sign of a canine excitement 18 Atlanta university 59 Bridal bio word 19 Scary name in 2014 news 24 Kitchen gadgets

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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

AUTOMOBILES/TRUCKS We buy all used cars, vans and trucks.

Any make any model, any condition and any year. We also specialize in buying classic Porsches, Mercedes and Jaguars. Running or not, dead or alive.

Call 609-598-3622.

AUTO PARTS & SVCS. SCRATCH AND DENT REPAIR BY AUTO BODY STORE. First-class auto body repairs and painting. Cars, trucks, trailers or tractors. FREE estimate visits in LeisureTowne. 609-859-3670.

Technician/Mechanic Wanted. As a Technician/Mechanic, you will provide accurate and efficient services to customers by trouble shooting, diagnosing, and repairing heavy duty semi-truck trailers in a safe, reasonable and responsible manner.

You will be required to have a “whatever needs to be done” work ethic and attitude, be mechanically inclined, and a team player with neat appearance. You should be a self-motivated, dependable person, and work well with others. Qualified candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED; pass a background check and drug screening and have a valid driver’s license. 401k-benefits and paid training. Please apply online at www.mypetrojob.com

CONCRETE MASONRY Concrete work 12 x 12 ft. patio $1,200.

Sidewalks, driveways, stone and much more. Call F&S Masonry for free estimate. 609-339-1742.

CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTORS Redmond’s Mulch and Stone World, 1347 Monmouth Road, Eastampton, NJ 08060 Now Hiring Dump Truck Driver-F/T. Must have clean driving record & background. Capable of following directions & reading maps.

Construction background helpful. Triaxle experience & CDL required.

FLIGHT TRAINING Learn to Fly. Discovery flights and gift certificates. Free Flight Avaition. www.FreeFlightAvaition.com. 609-2650399.

FOR RENT Southampton. 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with fireplace and large yard. Available immediately. $1,700 a month. One and a half months security. Call 732-238-2949.

House for Rent. Manahawkin, N.J. Ocean Acres ranch home. Bowsprit Road, 3 bedroom, 1 bath. Private, fenced yard. $1,500 per month. Call Rodney 856-745-0786.

FURNITURE REPAIR Adam’s Furniture Restoration LLC. Twenty (20) years experience. Furniture repair, kitchen cabinet refinishing.

Touch-ups, re-gluing, upholstery, leather repair.

856-979-6210. www.facebook.com/adamsfurnres

HEALTH AND FITNESS New Weight Watchers Meeting held in Browns Mills, on Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. at Skills for Drills, 111 E. Pemberton Road. Weigh-in starts 1/2 hour before the meeting. Mention this ad and get a free gift.

HELP WANTED Area claims writer. No experience.

PT/FT flex. hours. NJ/PA. Call or text 609-548-3108. Target income. $30k/$80k.

Medford Nursery is seeking a seasoned Diesel Mechanic to join our team.

Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years’ experience, technician’s degree or a combination of both; a background in horticulture is preferred, but not required.

Daily responsibilities will include maintaining farm equipment; welding experience and the ability to fabricate will be essential. Additional responsibilities will include irrigation pump maintenance, company vehicle maintenance, and identifying repairs necessary within buildings on site.

This is a full-time position necessary for the daily operation of a wholesale nursery extending over 400 acres. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Contact us today to discuss this exciting opportunity! In Person, Medford Nursery.

560 A Eayrestown-Red Lion Road Lumberton, NJ 08048.

Nursery with position for someone who is willing to work and learn–A prosperous cranberry plant propagation business located near Chatsworth, NJ has an opening for an individual who is motivated, dedicated with a strong work ethic and an interest in becoming familiar with plant propagation. Experience in farm culture is advantageous.

Responsibilities would include plant care, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and assistance with daily operations. This is an hourly, year-round position. Advancement determined by the individual demonstrating the ability to take on responsibilities.

Applicant should send a description of their work experience or resume to P. O. Box 517, Chatsworth, N.J. 08019.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT–A prosperous cranberry plant propagation business located near Chatsworth, NJ has an opening for a career opportunity as Administrative Assistant. We are looking for an applicant who is very organized, disciplined with a strong work ethic, dedicated and motivated, with attention to detail and the initiative to learn about the

propagation business. Applicant must possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Computer skills are essential with proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Publisher, PowerPoint and QuickBooks.

Understanding of farm culture is advantageous. Responsibilities include the processing and management of customer orders, customer support, contractual agreements, analytical accounting of orders, costs and supplies, scheduling and arrangement of shipments, and graphic design for advertising. This is a year round position, less than full time, with flexible hours. Advancement to Administrator would be determined by the individual demonstrating the ability to take on responsibilities. Interested applicants should forward their resume to P. O. Box 517, Chatsworth, NJ 08019 Maintenance Team-FT-Mon-Fri 7 a.m.3:30 p.m. Valid NJ Drivers License in good standing a must. Commercial lawn maintenance experience, minor electrical, carpentry, be able to lift 60 lbs, climb ladders & work independently. Must be available for snow removal. Benefits, vacation, PTO package. Applications available at www.leisuretowne.org. Email

completed applications to caa@leisuretowne.org.

PT Office assistant-24 hrs. per week, general office duties include answering phone, customer assistance, data entry & correspondence. Must be dependable & have good communication & computer skills. Applications available online at www.leisuretowne.org. Email completed applications to caa@leisuretowne.org.

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

Newspaper Delivery Driver Needed.

Dependable person who can work during the daytime on Fridays. Pay is excellent.

Call 609-801-2392.

MISCELLANEOUS Cash paid for vintage saxophones and World War II military items. Email mymilitarytoys@optonline.net or call 609-581-8290.

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PAGE 22

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 11, 2017

SCANDAL PAGE 1

unsafe conditions inside the high school, while rooftop construction was taking place on the building’s exterior.

As the Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported, that work caused dust and ceiling tiles to fall in classrooms and unfamiliar odors which coincided with unexplained respiratory issues and rashes.

The high school was eventually closed from Oct. 3-6, after numerous individuals questioned the air quality inside the high school at a Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting on Oct. 2.

Classes resumed in the high school on Oct. 9 after precautionary air quality and asbestos testing did not detect any harmful compounds in the building’s air. However, some parents alleged that illnesses were still occurring and debris was still falling and pleaded for the building to be shut.

A few days after the high school was reopened, it was closed indefinitely after a screw from the school’s ceiling fell on a student’s head.

Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, who was acting superintendent at the time the incident happened, said that vibration from the ongoing rooftop work was believed to have caused the screw to fall.

Banks later said that when the roofers removed a level of the roofing earlier in the summer, the heads of numerous screws throughout the building were cut off, which loosened them.

Parents learned in the past few weeks through intensive online research and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests that the rooftop construction in September and October was unauthorized.

According to the project’s bid specifications and contract, the rooftop construction was mandated to be completed by Aug. 18 (in some parts of the document it says Sept. 5), so as to not interfere with the start of school on Sept. 7.

“All roof work shall be conducted within the contract time limits, but in no case while students or faculty are in the building,” the document says.

Brennan signed the document. It was also approved by the school board.

“Why were the children allowed back into that school when in your contract, and in your bid specs, it clearly says that no one—students or faculty—should be in that building while roof work is being performed?” one father in the audience said to Brennan. “Why were they there?”

Brennan said Epic Environmental, an environmental consultant at the time for the district, issued a report that there was “no danger to any occupants of the building.”

“I wish to read into the record this evening Section 7565, Preparation for Reroofing, 1.1 C,” the father said. ‘“All roof work shall be conducted within the contract time limits, but in no case while students or faculty are in the building.’ (That was) signed by you, sir.”

The father received applause from an audience of about 40 parents who gathered for the meeting.

Brennan reiterated that Epic Environmental on Aug. 30 determined that there was no danger being presented to the occupants of the high school.

“You violated your own bid specs and your own contract,” the father said. “You signed it as administrator. Why did this happen?

Somebody needs to give this public an answer.”

Banks said officials needed some assistance from the district’s architect and

PHOTO BY VINCE DEBLASIO Construction crews are also working on fixing the high school’s brick exterior. project manager to answer the questions the father was posing.

Parents began shouting at Banks and Brennan from their seats, questioning why the architect and project manager were not at the meeting since it was held to talk about the construction.

“They were invited to come and they declined to come,” Banks said.

Banks said the architect and project manager were scheduled to attend an upcoming school board meeting and urged parents to bring their questions to that meeting.

“The contractor did not put my son in school,” one mother shouted. “You two did!”

Banks, struggling to maintain control of the meeting, said that the purpose of the meeting was to talk about the split sessions that were recently implemented at the junior high school due to the high school’s closure and to provide a timeframe to parents.

Her remarks contradicted her opening statement, an announcement on the district’s website, and a letter she sent to parents—all of which called the meeting a “construction meeting.”

This led to more shouting from parents.

“No, it was about construction!” one mother shouted. “You do the same thing at every meeting. You can’t answer the questions and I am getting really tired of it as a parent!”

An officer from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, who was standing in the back of the Pinelands Regional Junior High School’s cafetorium, where the meeting was being held, interrupted the mother.

“Listen, she said she’ll answer the questions on Monday,” the officer said. “She is talking about the split sessions. She’ll address them on Monday.”

This led to a verbal exchange between several audience members and the officer.

“It was advertised as a construction meeting,” another father in the audience said.

Pinelands Regional Board of Education President Susan Ernst walked to the front of the

room.

She stood next to Banks with her arms crossed and whispered to her. She also stared down several parents who were shouting from their seats.

Six banners defining each of the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship) hung behind Banks and Brennan.

Another father in the audience read aloud the pillar of “Responsibility” and chastised Brennan for not taking responsibility for what happened.

“A (person with responsibility) meets the demands of duty and is accountable,” the father said. “(A person with responsibility) pursues excellence and exercises self-control.

You had plenty of self-control sending the kids to school—including my son who is a senior— as well as everybody else here who now runs the risk in years to come of cancer.”

Before Brennan could respond, another mother in the audience shouted, “How would you like it if you were my son?”

In addition to the project’s bid specifications and contract, parents also discovered the existence of a bombshell Sept. 10 letter from Epic Environmental president James Eberts.

Eberts tells Brennan that his company was contacted on Sept. 8 after debris was seen falling to the ground in high school classrooms 176, 177, 178 and 179 (in the D-wing).

Eberts informs Brennan that asbestos roofing was removed in August from the high school’s metal decking as well as from above classrooms 176, 177, 178 and 179.

As standard protocol, anytime asbestos roofing is removed from a building, the affected areas are supposed to be cleaned to prevent asbestos contamination of the air and surroundings.

Eberts tells Brennan that during a construction management firm’s investigation into the cause of the falling debris, it was discovered that the cleaning of the metal deck was incomplete prior to the installation of the

new roof.

“Bulk samples were collected and confirmed that the debris on the roof contained asbestos,” he said. “At this time, it is assumed that the cleaning of the entire roof in the areas containing asbestos was incomplete, and small amounts of asbestos roofing remain in the flutes.”

Eberts said Epic on Sept. 9 collected two bulk samples of the debris from the four classrooms and six air samples in the areas below the asbestos roofing.

He said asbestos was not found inside the building despite the discovery of asbestos debris on the high school exterior.

“The bulk samples were non-asbestos and no asbestos was detected in any of the air samples collected,” Eberts said. “Based on this evidence, there is no evidence that either the asbestos removal activities or the newly discovered issue have impacted the air quality in the school, and that airborne asbestos contamination is not present in the school.

“However, there is asbestos containing debris remaining on the roof deck and it must be removed. In its present state, there is the potential for roofing debris to continue to enter the school, especially for classrooms with a perforated deck. Construction activities will continue to deteriorate the debris and will cause safety hazards and air-quality issues. Based on previous data, asbestos contamination inside the building is not expected during this process.”

Eberts recommended the district cease all rooftop activities due to the asbestoscontaining debris.

“It is recommended that rooftop activities cease immediately until a permanent remedy for this situation is determined,” he said. “Debris is not expected to enter the areas in question if no rooftop activities are occurring. Therefore, classrooms in this section of the school may remain occupied when there is no rooftop work occurring directly

SCANDAL>>PAGE 25

Saturday, November 11, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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THREATENS PAGE 1

in the building, recognition of ACM and PACM damage and deterioration, and requirements in this standard relating to housekeeping and proper response to fiber-release episodes.

It was found that the high school’s custodial and maintenance employees were not provided with asbestos awareness training, despite known ACM in the building.

The district has until Nov. 30 to abate the “serious” violation. If it is not abated, the district will be assessed a fine of $6,300 for not having an asbestos awareness training program.

A number of blunders involving asbestos took place at the high school after the state inspection.

Asbestos roofing was removed in August from the high school’s metal decking as well as from above classrooms 176, 177, 178 and 179.

In a Sept. 10 letter from Epic Environmental president James Eberts to Business Administrator Stephen J. Brennan, Eberts confirms that required cleaning of the high school’s metal deck was incomplete prior to the installation of a new roof.

STUDENT PAGE 2

said. “Instead of the blood flowing out of the heart, some of the blood would flow back in.”

Heather Marousis said she was awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm the official cause of death.

Captain Jack Sramaty of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said the death is not considered suspicious in nature.

“The death of the Pinelands student is not suspicious in any way, shape or form,” he said.

“Our office is currently not conducting any investigation into the matter.”

Dr. Maryann Banks, interim superintendent of the Pinelands Regional School District, said that multiple people came to the aid of Teddy Marousis as he collapsed, including a substitute teacher and senior high school student who are both EMTs. Teddy Marousis was the oldest of Heather Marousis’ six children.

“We moved here in 7th grade,” Heather Marousis said. “Teddy was in Pinelands for three years and took many special classes as he was also autistic.”

The mom to several girls and boys recalled how Teddy Marousis looked forward to being

PLAYGROUND PAGE 1

the debris fell onto the ground.

Asbestos roofing was removed from the high school in August, but proper cleaning never took place before a new roof was put on the building (see separate story on pg. 1).

Some of the lingering roof debris tested positive for asbestos in September.

There is no definitive proof that the playground became contaminated with asbestos through the removal of roof debris.

However, Banks told the Pine Barrens Tribune that new mulch was put down on the playground during the weekend of Sept 8-10.

She said the roofing project had stopped the weekend before.

The project restarted after it was discovered

Debris found in the areas that were not cleaned tested positive for asbestos (see separate story on pg. 1).

Additionally, pictures taken in early October show roofers carelessly removing debris from the roof after they began to re-roof the building, due to the lack of cleaning that had taken place.

The debris is dumped into an open top container truck and related dust is seen flying through the air. Pieces of the debris also fell onto the ground.

The haphazard removal takes place near a playground at the high school. The playground is used for a child-care program that the district operates.

The playground was tested for asbestos on Oct. 18, after the images surfaced. The playground tested positive for asbestos (see separate story on pg. 1).

The PEOSHA also requires the district to develop, implement and maintain a written hazard communication program in the workplace.

It was found that the high school had not developed a written hazard communications

plan.

The district also has until Nov. 30 to abate this second “serious” violation. If it is not abated, the district will be assessed a fine of $6,300 for not having a hazard communications plan in place.

The act also requires a public employer to maintain a written plan describing how it will achieve compliance with a state law that sets indoor air-quality standards.

It was found that the high school had not developed this plan either.

The district also has until Nov. 30 to abate this violation as well. If it is not abated, the district will be assessed a fine of $900 for not having a written plan in place.

Brennan said during an Oct. 30 parent meeting that the Pinelands Regional Board of Education was notified of the violations shortly after the Aug. 8 inspection took place.

“It was in the beginning of August—the date escapes me right now—but the board was made aware of it through informal discussions from that date,” he said. “Then the report came out last week sometime—the official report from

OSHA.” During a Nov. 6 school board meeting, Brennan said he expects the district to be in compliance with the “Notice of Order to Comply” by Nov. 15.

“All of the items listed in that order to comply are nearing finalization,” he said. “As of the Nov. 15 (school board) meeting, we will be in compliance and I will send all of the necessary paperwork to the inspector.”

Board member Patricia Chambers asked Brennan about when the asbestos awareness training will take place.

“It is my understanding based on the information that I have that the training did take place and it included a varying degree of staff that were trained,” Brennan said. “I don’t have the information in front of me—I can’t document that everybody took it—but I do have a list of people who took the training.”

He said he only learned through the violation process that the training is supposed to occur annually.

“We have now instituted a process to get that training in every year for all staff,” he said.

part of Challenger League on the weekends.

The co-ed, noncompetitive league, is the first of its kind at the high school level in New Jersey.

Students with mental and/or physical challenges participate in sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and softball with their peers and students from other schools across the area.

On the field, participating students are assisted by varsity athletes as needed.

“They would bring in older (varsity) kids and they would all play together,” she said.

“He loved going there and playing sports. It is a great thing for children to learn from each other.”

Heather Marousis also recalled how her son liked working and interacting with students and staff at the Pinelands Regional School District’s student store.

“He touched a lot of people in this community,” she said. “Everyone has been saying to me that he had a great smile. He was a great kid.”

One of the fondest memories Heather Marousis had of her son was when she and her husband, Ted, bought him a cellphone a month ago. She said his face lit up with excitement.

“He loved to play video games and watch videos on it,” she said.

Tributes have been pouring in from all over the Pinelands Regional school community, which spans Burlington and Ocean Counties.

F. Eric Pschorr, principal of Pinelands Regional Junior High School, eulogized Teddy Marousis during a Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting on Nov. 6. He called him a “well-loved young man.”

“When I think of Teddy—I think of his infectious smile,” he said. “I think of his innocence. I think about every time he would see me—his face would light up as would mine. We would give each other a high-five.”

A video was also played that featured multiple students and staff whose lives Teddy Marousis touched.

“He was the happiest kid on the planet,” said one buddy of Teddy Marousis in the video. “He never stopped smiling and he would make your day better, no matter what.”

One teacher featured in the video said that at the end of every class, Teddy Marousis would come up to her and give her a high-five and a hug.

“He wanted to show how much he appreciated me,” the teacher said as she choked up. “He also knew I was waiting for it because he knew how much I loved him as a student and a person.”

Pschorr tried to hold back tears throughout

the tribute, but at the end he couldn’t help but shed a few tears.

“On Friday night we finally had our first junior high school dance and one of Teddy’s classmates came up to me and he goes ‘Mr. Pschorr—I miss Teddy. Do you miss Teddy?’” he said. “I said, ‘Michael—I do miss Teddy.’

Sure enough, as I looked up, there only had to be one star above my head and I have to believe…I am pretty certain that Teddy was looking over us and having a good time as well. Teddy—we love you and miss you—once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat (school mascot).”

A GoFundMe page set up by Donna Bamond, Teddy Marousis’ cousin, has raised $20,386 so far to help pay for funeral expenses.

“His selflessness and loving spirit is going to be sorely missed by all who had been privileged to know him,” she said. “No parent should have to bury their 14-year-old child, so anything that could be given to help the Marousis family with all the burdensome costs at this more than arduous time would be greatly appreciated.”

Readers can donate to the family by going to https://www.gofundme.com/funeralmemorial-for-teddy.

Teddy Marousis was laid to rest on Monday at Ocean County Memorial Park.

that the new roofing was put overtop the areas that weren’t cleaned.

“The children played on the playground on Sept. 26 and 27, and the re-roofing did not begin until Friday, Sept. 29,” she said.

“The children have not been on the playground since.”

However photograph shows that rooftop construction was taking place much earlier than Sept. 29.

In a Tuckerton Fire Department Facebook post, a photograph shows a West Tuckerton Fire Co. ladder truck being used to treat an unconscious construction worker on the high school’s roof just after noon on Sept. 14.

This photograph, along with several eyewitness accounts, has caused parents to fear the worst that their children may have been playing on a contaminated playground.

“So they (the kids) were playing on contaminated soil,” one father shouted at Banks during an Oct. 30 parent meeting.

Since tests on the playground were not performed between Sept. 10 and 26, Banks said officials “do not know” whether the children were playing on contaminated soil.

“It just came back contaminated (on Oct. 30),” Banks said. “We don’t know when it was contaminated.”

Banks said the playground has been shut down since the first week of October.

TTI has recommended that wood chips be removed from the playground area and be replaced with new wood chips. The district’s environmental consultant also recommended that the district clean all playground equipment and inspect and clean the areas surrounding the high school.

Additionally, TTI recommended that all of the cleaning be performed by a licensed abatement contractor.

“We are hiring an outside company to do the cleanup of the playground,” Banks said.

Officials have not yet said who they plan to hire.

The form of asbestos was chrysotile.

According to the World Health Organization, chrysotile has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as being carcinogenic to humans.

“Exposure to chrysotile, amosite and anthophyllite and to mixtures containing crocidolite results in an increased risk of lung cancer,” the organization says on its website.

So far, there have been no known reports of anyone who was on the playground on Sept. 26 and 27 falling ill.

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ADDICTION PAGE 4

treated as such.

The mother, who shared how hard it has been to watch a loved one try so hard to beat addition, said she is fearful that movies often desensitize people to the real-life destruction of addiction.

She said her heart goes out to Herren, knowing he may have inherited the illness and gives him a lot of credit for turning his life around.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

In 2011, Herren founded “The Herren Project” to increase awareness on substance abuse and to provide assistance to those who want to live a sober life. The project also educates and supports youth and other at-risk populations on the dangers of peer pressure and provides scholarships for treatment programs.

He also founded “Project Purple,” which was launched in order to break the stigma of addiction and to encourage teens to make positive decisions.

RUMORS PAGE 7

as a Sure-Lock All Pro locator from Joseph G. Pollard Co., Inc. for $3,825.

Class B Uniforms from Samzie’s Uniforms for Pemberton Township Police Department recruits came in at $5,017.96.

Ballistic vests from Lawmen Supply Company totaled $8,486.56.

Councilman Jason Allen abstained from voting on the second purchase due to a conflict of interest.

Several resolutions were passed.

A $184,706.10 contract was awarded to Cardinal Contracting Company for the construction of a water-main extension from Linnet Avenue to Bobolink Boulevard.

The use of Regional Contribution Agreement Funds from Evesham Township, in the amount of $17,475, was authorized for a Housing Rehabilitation Program on a township property. Various routine refunds totaling $95 were approved.

Property taxes were canceled for two properties that qualify for veteran-tax exemption status.

Council authorized a public auction of a lot at 390 Lakehurst Road.

This is municipally-owned property that is no longer needed for public use. Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez said that the township obtained the property through foreclosure.

An approval was made for the transfer of funds in 2017 budget appropriations of $254,700.

Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc. was

FIRED PAGE 6

level of frustration and misinformation circulating throughout this community,” he said. “I faithfully served Pinelands for over 10 years. Over that time, I performed my duties with a high degree of integrity, compassion and to the highest professional standards.”

The speech—which came with attached documentation—appeared to catch district officials off guard based on the facial expressions made by board members, solicitors, and administrators as he read it.

After Brennan finished his speech, he offered to provide a copy of it, along with the attached documentation, to the public.

Poklikuha asked if it could all be posted on the district’s website.

“Is there anything legal wise that is an issue?” Ernst said as she turned to Houck.

Houck said she would need to review it.

“Here is the bottom line—we will give Mr. Brennan’s letter to our school solicitor who will look at it and make sure there is no legal issue with posting it on the website,” Ernst said. “If there is no legal issue, it will be there.”

Houck advised Brennan not to give the speech and attached documentation out— even though it was already read into the

awarded an emergency 60-day contract for third-party plumbing sub-code inspection services. Gonzalez said this resulted from issues that could not be resolved with the previously contracted company.

“We have a right to terminate (the previous) contract and authorize a 60-day emergency contract with another company authorized by the state,” he said. “In the interim, during that 60-day period, I will put it out to bid again and then we’ll be back to council with a full three-year contract.”

In a measure detached from the consent agenda, council sought permission from the Division of Local Government Services to insert $3,812.44 from the 2017 Bullet Proof Vest Partnership Grant into the municipal budget.

During a closing report, Patriarca provided updates on the Public Works Department’s road-paving schedule.

He said Wissahickon Trail, Split Rock Road and Fire House Lane were recently repaved.

He said pavers will move on to paving a portion of Birmingham Road after installing “the final 11” speed tables in Sunbury Village.

Patriarca said test speed tables put in a couple of months ago “worked out well.”

Leaf collection is set to begin on Nov. 13 with “Area 1” of the township, which covers the east side of East Lakeshore Drive, Hanover Boulevard, North Lakeshore Drive, South Lakeshore Drive and Ridge Road.

Council will not meet again in November and is scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 6. record.

He did anyway—providing it to the Pine Barrens Tribune.

Among the attached was an email sent to board members on Sept. 12 that recapped a meeting held with the roofing contractor and administration earlier that day. In the email, Brennan makes a number of references to the contents of the Sept. 10 letter, although he never mentions its existence specifically.

He mentions that Banks was among the attendees at the Sept. 12 meeting.

“The latter half of the meeting focused on the issue discussed at the board meeting last night,” he wrote. “Much of our conversations centered on the scope of the problem with D-wing (sic) and other areas with acoustical deck. Kobithen Roofing understood and accepted a problem existed, but wanted more information on its enormity. We expressed our dissatisfaction over the quality of their work and the lack of attention to their cleanliness.”

The Nov. 6 board meeting featured several other issues that drew the ire of parents—from the junior high school fire alarm going off constantly and students being told to ignore it (which is illegal) to a magazine with sexually explicit material being displayed prominently all over the junior high school media center.

We’ll have more on these items in the coming weeks.

DOG

PAGE 5 tracking missing persons and locating evidence and suspects in investigations.

“The township council, on behalf of the citizens, does hereby recognize the work of K9 Porter and his partner, Officer Edwin McKemey, and call upon all residents to support our police dogs—notably Porter—upon his retirement,” Watson said.

Police Chief Richard J. Meder provided some background on Porter’s time with the department.

Meder said it was Porter’s apprehension of criminal suspects that the department was most proud of.

He noted an armed robbery investigation that called on Porter and McKemey.

Three suspects were brought into custody as the result of their work.

“On behalf of everyone in the police department, I want to thank Officer McKemey and Porter for their dedicated service to Medford,” he said.

In Porter’s absence, McKemey will take on a new partner, “Hugo.” The pair started training three weeks earlier at the New Jersey State Police Academy.

“We look forward to another great tandem,” Meder said.

Confirmed by a resolution later in the meeting, Porter was privately sold to McKemey.

The K9 will become a member of his family.

In other news, council introduced on first reading an ordinance that would give Comcast consent to continue to operate and maintain a television and communications system in the township.

A certificate of approval for Comcast to continue to operate in the municipality is required to be renewed every 15 years by council.

A public hearing for the ordinance is set for Nov. 21.

Township Manager and Clerk Katherine Burger informed council that $278,000 in grant funds was awarded to the township. $78,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds will be applied to an improvement project at Still Park to reconstruct ADA handicapped-accessible walkways and ramps. $200,000 was received from the Burlington County Municipal Parks Development Grant program, requested for upgrades at Bunning Baseball Field on Mill Street.

The funds will be used for the installation of a

LEVELS PAGE 6

Regulations adopted by the state required school districts to test their facilities for lead in all drinking-water outlets within a year of the effective date, which was July 13, 2016.

Pinelands Regional officials did conduct lead testing on June 21, 2016.

“Last year, on June 21, in the junior high school, we collected 20 samples and in the high school, 25,” Mueller said.

However, Mueller suggested at the parent meeting that not all of the district’s water outlets were tested at that time and no additional testing occurred until Oct. 12, well

Saturday, November 11, 2017

new wooden fence in the outfield, additional perimeter fencing, a new backstop, new dugouts, new batting cage, and new irrigation system.

The entire field will also be re-sodded and a “Bunning Field” sign will be restored.

Burger said the work at both locations is expected to start in the spring.

Council approved 13 consent-agenda resolutions.

Property taxes were canceled for two taxexempt veterans.

Council approved the sale of surplus property on GovDeals.com. The township’s list of sale items includes two Ford F-450 ambulances and expired air packs.

A liquor license was given to Tate Somerset Restaurant LLC for 2017-18, effective June 20.

The sale of undersized lots, three in total, was awarded to successful bidders.

Two resolutions authorized and established liens on 39 Ohio Trail and 4 Swift Court.

A $99,962 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Security and Customer Service Grant was inserted into the township budget. $37,180 and $35,000 appropriation transfers for 2017 were approved.

Three resolutions passed pertain to the annual Dickens Festival, set for Saturday, Dec. 2.

Council authorized the closure of Main Street between Branch and Mill streets to all traffic from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. An exception was granted for emergency vehicles.

A memorandum of understanding between the Sunrise Rotary Club of Medford and the township, for the festival, was extended.

Council also inserted $9,000 from the Sunrise Rotary Club into the township budget to help defray the costs of the Dickens Festival.

A $1,000 donation from the Medford Vincentown Rotary Club to help defray the costs of a recently held Halloween Parade was also inserted into the budget.

Matters related to redevelopment, the Burlington County Library system, and MVE Restaurants, LLC, and one matter related to collective bargaining agreements involving the Burlington County Professional Firefighters Association, were discussed in executive session.

Council returned and passed a resolution that authorized an addendum to a settlement agreement with MVE Restaurants, LLC. The next meeting will be held Nov. 21, returning to the township’s regular schedule of Tuesday night sessions.

after the state’s deadline.

“I collected this year 50 samples in the junior high school and 54 in the high school,” he said. “I took from every source where there is cooking and drinking water. I took every sample that I could.”

While the detectable levels of lead in some of the district’s draws are in some cases nearly triple the established action level, the readings pale in comparison to the amount of lead found in homes during the Flint, Mich. water crisis.

The crisis brought the issue of lead contamination in water outlets to the forefront.

Lead levels reached 4,000 ppb to nearly 12,000 ppb during the crisis.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

SCANDAL PAGE 22

overhead.”

Several parents at the meeting excoriated Brennan for not ceasing all rooftop activities or closing the high school as a result of the asbestos discovery.

“I was able to read that letter and understand what that last sentence stated—which was to not allow those kids in that school with that material being worked on—especially above that D-wing,” one mother said. “Did you understand that letter?”

Brennan said he interpreted the letter as saying that rooftop activities could continue as long as no work continues above the D-wing.

“Which it did not—which is what I was advised of,” he said.

Several parents shouted at Brennan that their children observed and heard work being performed above the D-wing through the beginning of October.

“It did,” one mother said. “My son was in that school and her daughter (of another mom sitting near her) was in that wing and had ceiling tiles falling in the classroom. That wing was definitely being worked on. I have two children in there. They both said that they heard it. They saw it. It was definitely being worked on, especially in that D-wing where that problem was. I just want to know why you would have not taken that warning seriously.”

Brennan said that a school-board work session meeting was held on Sept. 11, the day after Eberts wrote the letter.

He said that the contents of the letter were discussed at length with representatives from Garrison Architect, New Roads Construction Company and Epic Environmental.

He said all of the professionals advised the district that there was no reason to close the building.

“Epic was the one who made the recommendation to cease the work,” the mother said. “Why would they then turn around and say ‘My bad—it is okay?”’

Brennan paused for several seconds before responding.

“We made a decision based on the answers that were given to us at the time,” he said.

The mother pressed Brennan on whether he thought officials made the right decision.

“At this point—no—and hindsight is 20/20,” he said. “But, at the time, with the information that we had, we made the best decision that we could.”

Banks was asked by another parent if she knew about the Sept. 10 letter.

“For the record, I was not aware of the Sept. 10 record until approximately two weeks ago,” she said. “Had I known about that when I should have, I would have closed down the building.”

Banks’ revelation caused several parents to grill Brennan.

“With the board as your employer and Dr. Banks as your superior, why was she not made aware of that (letter) as superintendent of schools until almost two weeks ago?” one father said. “That is inexcusable!”

Brennan reiterated that the letter was discussed during the Sept. 11 board meeting and insinuated that Banks was at that meeting.

“Sept. 10 was a Sunday,” Brennan said. “We had a meeting on September 11—a workshop meeting—where our professionals attended.

Included in that meeting was the author of that report. The contents of that letter were discussed at that meeting and were posted later on that week on our website, approximately on Sept. 16 or 17.”

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Another parent asked when Brennan notified the school board about the Sept. 10 letter.

“In the (Sept. 11) meeting, the author of that report was discussing the contents of that letter,” he said. “The author said he was providing it to me. I indicated—like I did with all of the other test results—that it would be posted on our website, and it was after a reasonable period of time.”

The parent pressed Brennan on whether he notified the board of the letter.

“I don’t know if they were aware of it,” Brennan said. “I could just give them access to it. But, the information was there and provided about the situation that was occurring above the D-wing room.”

Banks, when asked this week by the Pine Barrens Tribune about why she didn’t know about the Sept. 10 letter until about two weeks before the construction meeting, said “I am not at liberty to answer your questions as they involve potential personnel matters.”

The superintendent also told this newspaper that she was at the Sept. 11 board meeting.

Epic’s services were mysteriously discontinued by the board shortly after the Sept. 10 letter was penned. One father in the audience demanded an explanation as to why.

Rumors have been swirling online for weeks that the board let Epic go so that the roofing project could be allowed to continue despite the warning given by Eberts. Another rumor swirling online is that the board discovered that Epic was owned by the same entity as the district’s contracted roofing company— Kobithen Roofing.

The father mentioned these rumors as he demanded an explanation for the change. ‘ Brennan knocked down the rumors.

“The board actually put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) at the end of August,” Brennan said. “They appointed TTI at their September board meeting—the date escapes me right now. Epic didn’t respond to the RFP. “We wanted to have a sole environmental consultant for the duration of the project because we had multiple going on at this specific time. So to provide some consistency, we did an RFP and that was how TTI was appointed. So, Epic wasn’t fired per se. They just didn’t respond to the proposal. We only had two responses and one of them was TTI Environmental and the other was AHERA consultants—who are very reputable in the position. Basically, it came down to price as far as TTI because they are very equal in their qualifications.”

Brennan was asked if the district is pursuing damages against the roofing company for the work not being complete and all of the problems that have occurred.

“We are going to seek everything we can and we have been in consultation with our attorneys on that,” Brennan said. “One of the hardest things to do in public contracts is to remove a contractor in our situation.”

The business administrator was accused by a parent of spreading a falsehood.

“Stop right there!” one father said. “I do this for a living. There is nothing hard about it. You take the second bidder—that is why your first bidder carries a bid bond and a performance bond—and you remove him and you can have a new roofing contractor in there within several days and pick up from where you left off. That is an absolute falsehood you are speaking of.”

Brennan said the district’s attorneys advised him that the bonding company would most likely not remove the contractor at this point of the project.

“It is not what I am speaking of,” he said. “It is what I was advised of by our attorneys.”

The father pressed Brennan on why there is no new completion date for the roofing project.

“Why are they still over there?” he said.

“What is taking so long?”

Brennan said he is not an attorney and he can just tell the public that the district’s attorneys are aware of various contract violations.

“They are advising us to proceed as we are proceeding,” he said.

In the Sept. 10 letter from Eberts, routine air-quality tests were recommended to be performed.

According to district records, an air-quality test was not performed between Epic’s Sept. 9 test and the one that came after the Oct. 2 board meeting when concerns came to the forefront about students falling ill.

“That letter also said that you should have been doing routine tests from Sept. 10 to Oct. 2,” one mother said. “How come you did none?”

Brennan said he would have to check the

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Each of the Democratic candidates from the 7th and 8th Districts thanked volunteers and supporters in attendance and gave recognition to Andl for his work.

Howarth said Republicans are going to “continue to do things we’ve been doing the whole time” and looked ahead to the new governor.

Democrat Phil Murphy handily defeated Republican Kim Guadagno on Tuesday in the gubernatorial race.

“We’ve been opposed to the property tax

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district’s website to see when the air quality tests were performed.

“I thought we did a number of tests,” he said.

The mother shouted, “You did none!”

The admonishing of Banks and Brennan continued for nearly an hour. At one point, a man asked why the administrators were receiving six-figure salaries. At another point, a parent who works in construction for a living told Banks that the district’s construction experts were making her look foolish.

Ernst left 20 minutes before the meeting ended. Board member Patricia Chambers sat in the back of the room and took notes throughout the meeting.

“What I think everyone is missing is we didn’t create this problem,” Brennan said. “We are reacting to it. We are trying the best we can to get it done.”

Brennan raced out of the building once the meeting ended. Banks stayed behind to talk privately with some parents after the meeting.

increases,” Howarth said.

“There’s going to be a lot of issues coming up right now with the Governor-Elect Murphy saying that they’re going to raise taxes by $1.3 billion.”

“That’s an issue and I don’t know if everybody in New Jersey really thought about before they ended up voting for him. But, we’re going to be there. We’re going to continue to fight. We have Ryan (Peters) with us now, he’s going to become part of this team and we’ll keep you guys posted as to what’s coming up in the future.”

Other members of the Pine Barrens Tribune also contributed to this report.

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

HOME, GARDEN, AND FARMING Farm and Food File

By Alan Guebert

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

Lazy Dogs

A joke bouncing around the ag grapevine shines more light on where rural America’s politics are than where its funny bone actually is. The abridged version goes like this: My dog sleeps 20 hours out of 24, eats free food prepared for him every day, gets free medical care, free housing, and never cleans up any mess he makes. Thinking about this it suddenly hit me: my dog is either a Democrat or a congressman!

Funnier than the joke, perhaps, is that just a week or so ago the cowboys who sent it were flooding rural email boxes with flaming denouncements of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue after he killed the GIPSA rule, a complicated but crucial market reform aimed at leveling the meatpackerdominated livestock and poultry markets.

Independent ranchers, hog farmers, and poultry growers had spent years fighting for the rule, administered by the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration, or GIPSA. All were “infuriated,” reported USA Today, when Perdue, traveling in Spain, officially “withdrew”—read dumped—it.

Their anger is understandable. The rule was the last best chance they had to protect what little market independence remains in today’s packer-controlled livestock and poultry markets. Perdue threw that chance on the bone pile without looking back—or forward.

The angry cowboys shouldn’t have been surprised. Big Meat, Big Ag, and Congressional Republicans spent almost 10 years delaying the rule after Democrats pushed it as a key element of the 2008 Farm Bill. In mid-2015, however, Congress allowed it out of the bureaucratic dog house as part of a broader budget deal. Tom Vilsack, Perdue’s predecessor, quickly moved to publish an “interim” rule.

But on Oct. 17, the day before the rule was to become “final,” Perdue tossed it.

Strangely, just a week later, those GIPSA-hot, Perdue-angered ranchers had all but forgotten that the Secretary had crushed their hopes for market reform and now were busy comparing a lazy dog to Democrats or worse, members of Congress.

Really? A Republican secretary of agriculture for a stridently Republican White House kills a desperately needed market reform that was promoted, passed, and protected by Congressional and White House Democrats (and a brave Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa) for nearly a decade, and these protectors are now freeloading dogs?

Wow. Little wonder Perdue and the Trump Administration tossed the rule; they knew it wouldn’t cost them one ounce of political support in beet-red rural America.

And even if it had cost them, were working farmers and ranchers who, according to some estimates, voted for Trump by a staggering 4to-1 margin, going to cry foul? Democrats in farm and ranch country these days are, after all, as rare as profitable prices.

And yet, despite his anti-farmer/rancher GIPSA action, Secretary Sonny can’t escape Big Meat’s ugly truth. Two stories published Oct. 30 by meatingplace.com showed where some of these loosely regulated giants now are.

The first story reports that “A classaction lawsuit filed last week in Benton County, Ark., Circuit Court accuses two rehabilitation programs of violating Arkansas law prohibiting slavery by forcing drug addicts to work for free at chicken processing plants and a plastic manufacturing facility under threat of incarceration.”

The second story, again set in a poultryprocessing facility, notes “Authorities in Alabama are investigating the death of a workrelease inmate yesterday while he was working at a Koch Foods poultry plant in Ashland…”

Are we as a nation, let alone as farmers and eaters, so blinded by ever-lower costs and ever-higher profits that we now have a system that allows drug addicts to be allegedly enslaved and low-cost prison inmates killed in our livestock slaughtering plants?

These aren’t market failures; they’re human failures. Our food, farms, customers, and communities won’t get better unless we demand better.

And, lazy dogs or not, Perdue’s killing of the GIPSA makes all of us worse, not better.

© 2017 AG COMM.

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

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

Saturday, November 11, 2017

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

AUTOMOTIVE New Vehicle Buying Guide Compiled by Motor Matters

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

2017 Chrysler 300 The 2017 Chrysler 300 lineup delivers on the promise of style, sophistication, world-class quality and technology. For 2017, the Chrysler 300 lineup consists of four models, all available with the AWD system: Limited, 300S, 300C, and 300C Platinum.

Class-exclusive TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on every model, delivering best-in-class V-6 highway fuel economy, plus best-in-class V-6 and V-8 driving range.

All Chrysler 300 models are available with an advanced AWD system. It seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and AWD with no driver intervention to maximize fuel economy.

Chrysler 300S offers more athletic and youthful appointments to the lineup thanks to a unique 300-horsepower Pentastar V-6 engine with paddle shifters and sport mode, touring-tuned (performance-tuned with V-8) suspension, blacked-out exterior accents, 20-inch Hyper Black wheels, leather-wrapped sport seats, exclusive Piano Black interior

accents and signature 10-speaker BeatsAudio system.

As the pinnacle of the Chrysler lineup, the 300C Platinum features model-exclusive Platinum Chrome finishes, 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels, sport mode with paddle shifters, signature two-tone Indigo/ Linen interior environment with segmentexclusive quilted and perforated Nappa leather seats and door panels, hand-sanded natural pore wood, French accent stitching and leather-wrapped steering wheel with unique chrome accent ring.

For drivers who want even more performance from the Chrysler 300S, 300C or 300C Platinum models, the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with four-cylinder mode Fuel Saver Technology delivers 363 horsepower, 394 lb.-ft. of torque, and goes from 0-to-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

Base model estimated mpg: 19/30 Estimated starting price: $32,340

Compiled by Motor Matters.

2017 Chrysler 300.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, November 11, 2017