Nov 25 2017

SAVINGS COUPONS INSIDE WORTH: $321 INSIDE THIS WEEK

Pinelands Regional Forced To Cancel Classes Again. Page 5

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Vol. 2 - No. 13

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November 25 – December 1, 2017

Lynn E. Giamalis 1947-2017

‘Her Heart and Soul Was Chatsworth’ PHOTO BY TOM WALKER

Lynn Giamalis (center-right) presents a $6,000 check to Fire Chief Shawn Viscardi.

Longtime Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Chairwoman Dies of Cancer

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—Lynn Giamalis, 20-year chairwoman of the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Committee, died earlier this month after a short battle with cancer. She was 70.

“Her heart and soul was Chatsworth,” said son Bob Ettinger. “She led by example. She didn’t lead by giving orders.”

Ettinger said Giamalis began feeling very tired as she made some of the final preparations for the 34th Annual Cranberry Festival held on Oct. 21 and 22.

“She kept saying ‘I feel tired all the time,”’ he said. “We thought it was because she was

visiting my dad, Al, who is fighting an illness in the hospital and running the festival at the same time.”

Ettinger said his mom sought the care of her family practitioner after she noticed red spots on the inside of her lip.

He said her practitioner immediately sent her to an oncologist. A blood test was ordered and the results came back on Oct. 5.

“On Oct. 5, she was diagnosed with acute leukemia,” Ettinger said. “She had no platelets and white blood cells left in her body.”

He said Giamalis was told by her oncologist that she had to immediately go to the emergency room at Robert Wood Johnson

University Hospital in New Brunswick.

“She put up a fight,” Ettinger said. “She asked the doctor if she could wait until after the festival to begin treatment.”

However, he said the oncologist told his mom that she was experiencing a medical emergency.

“Her oncologist called Robert Wood Johnson to make sure they had a bed ready for her in the ER,” Ettinger said. “He told her that she was going to be the sickest person in that hospital. My mom said to him, ‘Really, I don’t feel that sick.’”

He said that his mother needed a platelet transfusion before she could be transported to

Robert Wood Johnson.

“The doctor said to her that if she got a cut, she would bleed to death,” Ettinger said.

Giamalis was admitted to Robert Wood Johnson after the transfusion and underwent aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

“Every major complication you can have happened to her,” Ettinger said. “Her breathing became labored, she was bleeding and her kidneys failed. It was the first festival she ever missed.”

He said physicians at the hospital had hoped to regenerate Giamalis’ bone marrow within 18 days of the chemotherapy treatments.

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LOCAL NEWS

Brennan Reinstated as Pinelands Regional School District’s Business Administrator

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Stephen J. Brennan, business administrator of the Pinelands Regional School District, listens to comments during a Nov. 6 Pinelands Regional Board of Ed. meeting.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—Stephen J. Brennan, business administrator of the Pinelands Regional School District, is back at the helm after he disappeared from his district position for nearly nine days 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. Sources also say that

computers in Brennan’s office were confiscated at the time he was asked to leave.

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 Brennan off district property.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks and Susan Ernst, president of the Pinelands Regional Board of Education, both said at the time that they could not comment on the

ADMINISTRATOR>>PAGE 20

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Woodland Establishes Municipal Wildfire Safety Council

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—The New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s (NJFFS) efforts to establish a municipal wildfire safety council in Woodland Township have been successful.

The Woodland Township Committee voted unanimously last month to form the allvolunteer council, which will be comprised of business owners, community members, township officials and local emergency personnel.

The council is tasked to coordinate wildfire prevention efforts within the township.

“I just want to congratulate you folks for passing the municipal wildfire safety council,” said John Cowie, a district forest-fire warden for the NJFFS. “We are here for any type of support that you need.”

Woodland’s wildfire safety council will consist of a minimum of five members appointed by the township committee.

The council may seek grant funding, propose and conduct outreach efforts and develop education opportunities to inform residents what they can do personally to reduce their wildfire risks. The body may also act as the township’s point of contact for the state’s Forestry Services and NJFFS. According to the ordinance passed, the council may accept and spend grant or donated funds for projects submitted to address the wildfire needs of the municipality. It can also manage any municipal funds as appropriated, subject to the approval of the township committee.

“The idea is to take away work from the full-time employees and have a volunteer group

do the work,” said Cowie earlier this year. “I have been a wildland firefighter for 35 years and with these programs—bringing all the partners together before an incident—it makes an incident run much smoother.”

The NJFFS is still hoping neighboring Southampton Township will soon establish a municipal wildfire safety council. The NJFFS approached the Southampton Township Committee last fall and again in April, requesting approval to launch a wildfire safety council for Southampton.

However, the Southampton Township Committee hasn’t acted to date on the NJFFS’ request. Cowie revealed three months ago that the NJFFS’s efforts with Southampton fell through.

Cowie has expressed his concern in the past with what could happen if a wildfire threatens LeisureTowne, Southampton’s largest population center, which is also an active adult-living community.

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

In other Woodland meeting action, Tax

COUNCIL>>PAGE 20

Annual Dickens Festival in Downtown Medford Back by Popular Demand

‘Take a Book Libraries’ Dedicated in Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

PHOTO SUBMITTED Members of Medford Lakes Girl Scouts Troop 24252 and the Medford Lakes Women’s Club pose with one of the “Take a Book Libraries.”

By Mark Hatoff

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD LAKES—Two “Take a Book Libraries,” part of a project spearheaded by members of the Medford Lakes Girl Scouts Troop 24252 and the Women’s Club of Medford Lakes, were dedicated at a ribboncutting ceremony in Leon E. Todd Memorial Park two weeks ago.

The Medford Lakes Borough Council promoted and attended the event.

Attending the ceremony from the Girl Scouts troop were Claudia Koch, Alli Vaiciunas, Lilly Round and Grace Heinold (Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold’s daughter), all sixth graders at

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PHOTO BY SUSAN MILLER

By Susan Miller

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MEDFORD—The Medford Sunrise Rotary Club will once again present the popular Dickens Festival on Saturday, Dec. 2 in downtown Medford.

The family friendly event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and it promises to be a magical time for children and grown-ups alike.

This will be the 28th consecutive year that Main Street in Medford will be transformed into a quaint winter wonderland, featuring holiday festivities galore with an old-timey flair.

The festival typically attracts more than 10,000 people from Medford and many surrounding communities. Locals never fail to catch up with old friends on the street; there’s something for everyone!

Grand Marshal Ron Murphy of Murphy’s Markets is once again the presenting sponsor of the Dickens Festival.

Exciting things get underway around 5:45 p.m., when a parade heralded by the town crier transports Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf or two to a gazebo in the center of downtown Medford Village or 18 N. Main St.

FESTIVAL>>PAGE 18

Neeta School.

The girls, who each devoted 20 hours to the project, will earn Bronze Awards for their work.

“We noticed that there was no public library in Medford Lakes and we wanted to have a place that people could go to when they’re not in school to get books,” Koch said. “You can give a book or take a book.”

The idea for the take-a-book libraries came from Women’s Club member Alexis Dillich.

“I had been traveling in the south and had been seeing a number of these,” she said. “I thought that since Medford Lakes itself doesn’t

DEDICATION>>PAGE 19

Pinelands Regional Officials Criticized Over Malfunctioning Fire Alarm System

By Catherine Galioto

Carolers at the 2016 Dickens Festival.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A fire alarm system inside Pinelands Regional Junior High School malfunctioned earlier this month and some parents are angry after students and staff occupying the building were purportedly directed to ignore the alarm going off.

Dr. Maryann Banks, Interim Superintendent of Pinelands Regional School District, said the fire alarm went off at the district’s junior high school because of a panel in the system that malfunctioned. She said the panel malfunctioned during a transition process from an old panel to a new one.

School officials announced on Nov. 15 that false alarms are no longer being triggered and the system is now operating properly.

The situation had put the school on “fire watch,” where various school personnel were assigned to monitor different parts of the building, at different times, for fires.

Banks said local emergency personnel were aware of the situation, so as to not trigger a response from the fire department.

Calls placed to the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department and local fire officials were not returned before press time.

“Anytime you take your fire alarm system off the (network)—that is, it doesn’t ring through to the fire department—you have to maintain what is known as a fire watch,” Banks said.

“That means you have to actually have people stationed in the building 24/7 until the fire system is fixed or up and running.”

Several parents told the Pinelands Regional Board of Education on Nov. 6 that

the fire watch did not alleviate their fears about their children’s safety and criticized the district for not fixing the malfunctioning panel sooner.

Some parents alleged the issue had been going on for a while.

“If this were a private business, we would have been fined and shut down if we couldn’t get our fire alarm system working,” said one parent.

Business Administrator Stephen J. Brennan, when questioned at the Nov. 6 meeting, told parents it was unclear when the panel issue would be resolved. This caused tempers to flare.

Banks said early November was not the first time the school was under fire watch.

She said during the summer, there was also a brief period where a fire watch was necessary due to similar circumstances.

Classes, however, were not in session during the summer.

Another parent said this time around was different because classes were in session and although the alarm was going off, students were being told to stay in place and not evacuate the school.

“Why do we have a situation where our children are ignoring alarms and we don’t know if there is an actual fire going on?” asked the parent. “How do you maintain a fire watch— are personnel in every single room where they are going to know that there is a fire (or isn’t)?”

Due to an ongoing construction scandal (see separate story on pg. 2) causing heated moments during the residents’ forum portion of board meetings, board President Susan Ernst

ALARM>>PAGE 19

Saturday, November 25, 2017

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PAGE 5

Pinelands Regional Forced to Cancel Classes Again

By Catherine Galioto

Banks said the day before Thanksgiving is normally a half-day session.

However, because the district had to unexpectedly revert to a split schedule after the indefinite closure of Pinelands Regional High School, a half-day session won’t work.

With the split session schedule at Pinelands Regional Junior High School, students in grades 10 through 12 begin their classes at 7:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 11:34 a.m. Students in grades 7 through 9 begin their classes at 11:55 a.m. and are dismissed at 4:30 p.m.

Therefore, Banks had to close the district on Nov. 22 as part of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The original days off for the holiday were only Nov. 23 and 24.

“It’s impossible to do a half-day schedule with a split session,” Banks said. “So, in consultation with the transportation administrators, we’re going to recommend that the district actually close that day.”

To make up the loss of instructional time on Nov. 22, the district will be in session on April 4, cutting spring break short by another day.

Banks said recently in a letter to parents that although original estimates had the high school reopening by mid-November, it will now likely be sometime in mid-December.

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The school calendar for the Pinelands Regional School District has been revised after construction problems at the district’s high school prompted officials to close the entire district for several days last month and one day this month.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks announced the revisions during a Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting on Nov. 6. The board voted to officially amend the school calendar at its Nov. 15 meeting.

“We lost five days due to the emergency closing of the district (in October),” Banks said.

“We are required to make up those days.”

The closures last month took place on October 3, 4, 5, 6 and 13.

The makeup days for the October closures will be February 15, 16 and 19 and April 5 and 6. The days chosen in February were previously given off for President’s Day holiday celebrations. The days chosen in April were previously given off for spring break.

February 15 and 16 will be full-day sessions.

February 19, which is Presidents’ Day, will be a half-day session.

April 5 and 6 will be full-day sessions.

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Saturday, November 25, 2017

SCANNER Fire Damages Vacant Unit in Whiting Shopping Center WHITING—Police are investigating a suspicious blaze that damaged a vacant shopping center unit in the Whiting section of Manchester Township last month.

On Oct. 29, at around 3:30 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to 108 Lacey Road, the location of Whiting Shopping Center, for an active fire alarm.

Upon arrival, officers observed black smoke coming from the rear roof of the complex.

Firefighters responded and located an active

15th State Police Superintendent Sworn In

fire in a vacant unit within the back section of the shopping center. The fire involved one wall and extended up into an attic space.

The involved unit sustained fire, water, and smoke damage as did an adjoining unit belonging to Charles Edwards “A” Salon.

This was the second fire in the same unit over the last month. Police say the fire is considered suspicious and is being investigated by multiple agencies.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Ptl. Matthew Juralewicz at 732-657-2009, ext. 6371.

Philadelphia Man Arrested During Narcotics Operation EVESHAM—A man from Philadelphia has been charged with various narcotics offenses after he was purportedly caught selling heroin by police.

On Nov. 3, members of the Evesham Township Police Department’s Investigative and Proactive Unit conducted a narcotics investigation in the Heritage Village neighborhood of Evesham Township.

Police say that Brian Brown, 24, was distributing heroin and seized 70 packets of the drug from him.

Brown was charged with second degree distribution of heroin, third degree possession of heroin and fourth degree loitering to commit a narcotics offense. He was released on his own recognizance.

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Governor Chris Christie recently selected Patrick J. Callahan to become the 15th Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

Two Browns Mills Residents Arrested for Heroin Distribution EVESHAM—Two people from the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township have been arrested for allegedly conducting the illegal sale of heroin in Evesham Township.

On Nov. 15, officers from the Evesham Township Police Department’s Investigative Unit and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a narcotics investigation in the Heritage Development.

The undercover investigation led to the arrest of Junior Laster, 35, and Jessica Homan, 29,

who were both allegedly involved in the distribution of heroin while in the development.

70 bags of heroin were seized from the pair.

Laster was charged with second degree distribution of heroin, third degree possession of heroin and fourth degree loitering to commit a narcotics offense.

Homan was charged with fourth degree loitering to commit a narcotics offense.

Both were released on their own recognizance.

License of Doctor Who Practiced Medicine in Marlton Permanently Revoked EVESHAM—New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced on Nov. 15 that the state Board of Medical Examiners has permanently revoked the medical license of a psychiatrist who practiced medicine in Marlton.

Porrino said Dr. Joel B. Glass, 74, prescribed more than 62,000 Oxycodone pills to two patients over four years without justification and without conducting mandatory lookups on the NJ Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).

The attorney general said Glass indiscriminately prescribed dangerously high quantities of opioids, as well as other controlled dangerous substances (CDS) despite warnings from fellow doctors, pharmacies and insurance providers.

According to the state’s complaint, an investigation into Glass began with a referral from the Vermont Board of Medical Practice alleging he was overprescribing highly addictive medications to a patient who lived in Vermont and was filling the prescriptions there.

A subsequent investigation by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs

Enforcement Bureau and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration uncovered evidence that Glass had been treating five patients for pain management in a manner that constituted repeated acts of gross negligence.

The complaint alleged Glass prescribed his patients extremely large numbers of highlyaddictive CDS—primarily Oxycodone and the anti-anxiety drug Diazepam—with no justifiable reason evidenced in his records.

Glass was also accused of failing to substantiate his patients’ need for pain medication through use of diagnostic testing and physical examinations and failing to employ safeguards to prevent drug abuse.

On Oct. 27, Glass entered a consent order with the board in which he agreed to immediately retire his license to practice medicine in New Jersey, with such retirement to be deemed a permanent revocation.

Under the terms of the order, the revocation shall be with prejudice and Glass is prohibited from re-applying for his license at any time. He must also pay a $25,000 civil monetary penalty and reimburse the state $42,002.90 for costs associated with the investigation and

REVOKED>>PAGE 19

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Callahan (right) succeeds Col. Rick Fuentes (left), who served as superintendent of the New Jersey State Police since 2003 and submitted his retirement notice effective Nov. 1.

PHOTO BY RYAN MARCHESE Callahan, who earned his Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University and a Master of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, enlisted in the state police in April 1995, as a member of the 115th Class.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

OPINION

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

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

PAGE 7

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

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

It Can’t Be Only the Beginning; It Must Be the End

Advice to Pilgrims Still Relevant Today

The ongoing chaos in the Pinelands Regional School District must be put to a stop immediately by the Pinelands Regional Board of Education—without delay.

What’s happening in the district is not to be taken lightly. Already, a district school has been shut down indefinitely because of preventable construction problems, something we opined about last week.

We’ve now learned that students in the district’s junior high school were told to ignore the sound of an active fire-alarm on multiple occasions earlier this month.

Even though the school’s fire alarm system was experiencing mechanical issues, parents are right—officials had no real way of measuring whether there was or was not a fire in the dozens of rooms in the building.

Coincidences do happen.

Then there was the letter we learned of from Dr. Cheryl Stevenson, who served as the district’s acting superintendent in early October, to district staff.

It came at the same time parents had difficulty convincing the board that the district’s students and staff were being subjected to dust, debris, noise and foul odors inside the district’s high school—all while roof work was taking place on the building’s exterior.

Stevenson wrote, “I must remind you that this is only the beginning and you must be prepared to work in an environment that includes dust, debris, noise, and

unfamiliar odors.”

Around the same time that Stevenson wrote the letter, parents frantically tried to convince the school board to close the high school as the dust, debris, noise and foul odors were causing students and staff inside of the building to develop respiratory issues and rashes.

“To quote one of the environmental consultants, ‘if it smells bad, is (sic) does not mean that it is bad for you,’” wrote Stevenson.

She is surely one brazen administrator.

One parent said to the school board earlier this month that the letter is “not acceptable.”

It’s not—and we’re astounded that any educator, let alone an administrator, would author such insensitive remarks after listening to the accounts of sicknesses just days earlier.

We surely hope that this isn’t only the beginning of what is to come because we’re already aghast over the handling of the $53 million construction project.

The school board has for two meetings now discussed the possibility of hiring an outside agency to conduct an independent investigation of the troubles that have taken place.

It’s undoubtedly a necessity at this point— but leadership is too.

An investigation will take months, if not years. The board doesn’t have years to get this right—they have to get it right now for the sake of the children and their families.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I read selections from “Of Plymouth Plantation” to my boys every year. This book, by William Bradford, recounts the trials and tribulations of that sturdy pilgrim band, whose first thanksgiving meal serves as the model for our Thanksgiving Day festivities.

Within that book is a letter written in 1620 by John Robinson, who served as a pastor to the pilgrims before they left Holland and England to come here. He wrote them a letter full of great advice on how to live as they set off on their perilous adventure to our New England shores.

One of the best pieces of advice is still relevant today. In the current climate of division and incivility, it would do us good to try to heed these wise words: “We must be watchful that we ourselves neither give, nor easily take, offense.” In other words, in our day-to-day dealings with others, we should try hard not to be offensive.

We should take into account the beliefs, convictions and circumstances of others in our

words and deeds. We should go out of our way to be civil, gracious and charitable.

Conversely, we must not get offended so easily. In today’s cultural climate, it seems like people are going around looking for things to be offended about. Nerves are raw and emotions are high. Situations and statements that normally would be taken in stride are causing undue angst. I would like to see us as American citizens, toughen up and choose our battles more wisely.

John Robinson’s wisdom appears to have been heeded by the Pilgrims, as the record shows them dealing kindly and justly with each other, and with the Native Americans they encountered, despite extremely difficult circumstances.

If we would also follow this advice, perhaps our divisions would heal, and, particularly social media, would change for the better.

Marni V. Cunard Tabernacle, New Jersey

Cartoon

Social Media Sound Off (Re: Juvenile Charged After State Police Investigate Social Media Post Involving Seneca H.S.) Wow, my daughter goes to Seneca and I did not receive any email regarding this. But, I will be sending an email inquiry. They need to improve their communication with all parents.

Catherine Riley-Johnson (Re: Letter to the Editor-Sexually Explicit Material Should Be Removed from Pinelands Regional) Many parents are unaware of the guidelines for comprehensive sex ed implemented in schools and the large amount of money devoted to advocacy for these programs (some of which comes from taxpayers). This magazine is just one of many resources. The National Teacher’s Union endorses these organizations and programs, so it is not surprising that parents meet with resistance when they protest them. You may also find some parents vocally supporting these programs. If you have children in school, it’s worth taking some time to look into the curriculum and the advocacy groups that greatly influence the standards being used.

Rebecca Nugent (Re: Letter to the Editor-Sexually Explicit Material Should Be Removed from Pinelands Regional) Are you serious that this is allowed and some of the worlds classics are pulled? What was up, is now down. Sex education should be from the parents or educators in school, not from another child. Just my $0.02 from an old man.

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

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Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

SPOTLIGHT Peace Among Nature Promoted at Black Run Preserve

By Scott Kern

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

EVESHAM—Nestled among 1,300 acres of unspoiled hiking trails and quiet lakes sits Black Run Preserve, an Evesham Township oasis, a mere 20 miles from Philadelphia.

John Volpa, the preserve’s founder, has been a township resident for 30 years and currently resides in the Marlton subdivision known as Brush Hollow.

As a member of the Evesham Township Environmental Commission in 2003, Volpa presented the commission with his vision of a naturalist concept that over the next decade morphed into Black Run Preserve.

After a 37-year public-education career, mostly teaching sixth-grade environmental science, Volpa in 2012 helped found the Friends of the Black Run Preserve (FBRP), of which he is now chair, and became a senior fellow of the environmental leadership program.

He is also currently working full-time as the director of education for Pinelands Adventures in Shamong Township, promoting life-long outdoor recreation in the Pine Barrens.

Volpa has both a passion and vision for the preserve’s unique tract of pristine South Jersey wilderness.

“In 2002, I used to take my kids hiking along these trails, and ride my mountain bike over here thinking, ‘Why aren’t we utilizing this space, it belongs to the people?’’’ he said. “So, I came up with a proposal to present to the Evesham Environmental Commission concerning using this land for sustainable outdoor recreation and education. They liked it. It then took about four years to move the proposal through the administrative process of local municipal government.”

Now Volpa is proposing a “Peaceful Partners Trail,” to help improve the preserve’s accessibility.

“We want to create a nine-mile trail that will start from Rancocas Conservancy’s Cold Spring Preserve, cross a (proposed) “Peace

By Judy Cohen Minches For the Pine Barrens Tribune

BASS RIVER—The dream is finally coming true for Jim Comis, president of the Veterans United Military Memorial Museum (VUMMM) located at 5576 Route 9 in the New Gretna section of Bass River Township.

After nearly three decades of collaboration with veterans who served from World War II through the Vietnam War, Comis is moving forward with the next step of VUMMM’s master plan: the museum’s opening.

This past January, he paid $1 to the township for an initial one-year lease on a structure of approximately 60 feet by 40 feet, built from three trailers no longer used by the township.

Comis credits American Legion New Jersey Commander Ted Behr, who passed away last year, for helping to make the museum happen.

“Now we have a place to call home,” he said of the non-profit VUMMM, which was forced to cram wartime artifacts into a pair of smaller trailers until more appropriate space was arranged.

Comis said the museum will provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about different

Bridge” that is expected to be completed in 2018, and continue through the Black Run Preserve, terminating at the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge,” he said.

He said the bridge is key since a local beaver dam closed part of a bog along the proposed trail.

The bridge’s cost of $15,000 is expected to be funded through a fund set up on GoFundMe or PayPal Giving. The bridge will be the centerpiece of the Peaceful Partners Trail.

Volpa, throughout the interview for this story, often stopped along the planned hiking trail to point out local fauna and wildlife native to the region adding to the sights, sounds and smells of this sanctuary.

He said local volunteers and committed nature enthusiasts have been essential to the success of the FBRP. “We have about a dozen volunteers, led by Darlene Emers, who monitor 40 plus nest boxes (in the preserve) that were built by local middle-schoolers and Eagle Scout candidates,” Volpa said. “Darlene maintains the upkeep of the bird feeders. We have also been offering benches to be purchased by donors.

Donated benches would receive a plaque with the name of the donor on it.”

Volpa said he finds it amazing that the preserve is a short distance from bustling Route 73.

“So here we are—about one-quarter mile from the highway and aren’t you getting a sense of being in the wilderness,” he said. “Our hope is that more and more senior citizens will be coming out here to this short section of trail.”

Volpa said the FBRP plans on installing two donated benches at the beginning and end of the trail.

“One of our volunteers brings his grandfather out here, but he needs to sit down,” he said.

Since July 2009, Volpa had forged a partnership with the camping store REI in Marlton. REI has provided two grants to FBRP

PRESERVE>>PAGE 18

John Volpa, Chair of the Friends of Black Run Preserve.

A view of Black Run Preserve.

PHOTO BY SCOTT KERN

PHOTO BY SCOTT KERN

A Veterans’ Museum in the Making wars and the daily lives of soldiers in decades past through the large assortment of military keepsakes.

“I want kids to learn that freedom isn’t free,” said Comis, an electrician whose dad served in the Korean War. “We must never forget what we have done to get to where we are.”

The idea to showcase military memorabilia began in 1985, when several veterans spoke about the importance of keeping history alive.

At the time, Frank Place was president of the VUMMM effort, but he passed away 20 years ago, leaving Comis with a heap of inventory from World War I through Vietnam.

Comis spends much of his time at the museum, sorting through the stock and deciding how to best display it.

He said one of the planned exhibits will focus on the progression of weapons meant to wound, maim or kill—from bayonets and mustard gas used in WWI through Vietnam-era weaponry such as rifles and tanks.

Comis said the new museum currently owns about 500 books, including “WWI Army Field Manuals,” “U.S. Navy Cruise Books,” and

MUSEUM>>PAGE 19

PHOTO BY JUDY COHEN MINCHES Jim Comis, president of the Veterans United Military Memorial Museum (VUMMM).

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 9

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

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

Events

November 25

The cost is $56 per person. For more details, call 732-350-2904.

Event: Medford VFW Toys for Tots Location: Medford Details: Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., bring an unwrapped toy of $15 or more and enjoy one of Chef Denny’s fabulous dinners on us! Roast beef, sausage & peppers, chicken bites, salad bar and more. 317 Church Road, Medford. 609-654-9823.

December 1

November 27

Event: Pemberton Township Friends of the Library Book Sale Location: Pemberton Details: The book sale runs through Sunday, Dec. 10, during regular library hours, at the Pemberton Community Library, 16 Broadway Ave., Browns Mills. Hardback books 50 cents; paperbacks 3 for $1. Proceeds benefit the community. 609-8938262.

November 29

Event: Southampton Christmas Tree Lighting Location: Southampton Details: Ring in the holiday season with Southampton Township’s annual tree lighting ceremony. Sing along with the school band and choir as we await Santa’s arrival and light the Christmas tree at the intersection of Main and Mill Streets at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments follow a visit with Santa at Old Town Hall on Plum Street.

Event: Ocean County Sierra Club Location: Toms River Details: Please join the Ocean County Sierra Club for their next meeting, 7 p.m., at the Skywalk Café, downtown Toms River. Interesting and informative, learn ways you can help Mother Earth. 609-296-4367, www.meetup.com/sierraclub-ocean-group Event: Trip to Longwood Gardens Location: Whiting Details: A trip has been planned to Longwood Gardens from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting.

December 2 Event: Yellow Ribbon Cookie Drive for the Troops Location: Medford

Details: Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey is hosting its annual holiday cookie collection drive to send to the troops deployed in the Middle East. Show the brave men and women deployed in harm’s way your support! Drop off your cookies and baked treats from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the 8th District Legislative Office, 176 Route 70, in Medford.

Please package your cookies and treats in layers in large Ziplock bags or Glad disposable containers (cookie tins are expensive to ship). Think about adding an unsealed note of encouragement along with your donation. Or, add a child’s handmade card (no last names, addresses or phone numbers).

Event: Bowling Tournament Location: Toms River Details: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Whiting is hosting an adult/youth bowling tournament, at Playdrome Lanes in Toms River, at 10 a.m. The tournament is open to all adult and junior bowlers. The fee is $36 per bowler. Entries close on Nov. 30. For more information, call William Bodine III, 732-814-6683; Playdrome Lanes, 732-349-5345; or the parish office, 732-350-2121.

PEMBERTON TWP. SENIOR CITIZEN COLUMN

PINE KNOTS COLUMN

Thanksgiving for Pemberton Seniors

School Superintendent Tony Trongone Speaks at November BMIA meeting

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Seniors in Pemberton Township have kept busy throughout the year, but things turn quiet for them around Thanksgiving.

The Pemberton Township Senior Center always closes on the Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week. That means some seniors have to find a way to celebrate the holidays alone.

Friends will often invite the seniors, who do not have family close by, over for a meal.

Sometimes, family from afar will come and bring their senior to their home to visit for a couple of days.

But, those who do not have someone close by, spend a lonely day. Of course, there are church services and other activities locally to keep lonely seniors busy.

Meals are served daily at the Pemberton Township Senior Center, Monday through Friday, so the closing for Thanksgiving affects many of the seniors. It is so nice to be able to eat in the community setting, enjoy a tasty nourishing meal and socialize with one’s friends.

By Monday morning the seniors will be glad to see one another again.

The center was open for three days this past week. On Tuesday, Margaret Graiff from Aspen Hills, presented a morning of Bingo.

She brought gift cards as prizes and had gift bags as door prizes. Everyone looks forward to winning something.

She will host the Bingo breakfast at Aspen Hills on Thursday, Nov. 30. Registration is required for this event as seating is limited.

The seniors celebrated Carl Kelker’s 93rd

THANKSGIVING>>PAGE 19

Come

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—The monthly general meeting of the Browns Mills Improvement Association (BMIA) was held at the BMIA Building on Nov. 19.

Pemberton Township School Superintendent Tony Trongone was the guest speaker.

Trongone presented his annual “State of the Schools” report to the membership.

The meeting was well attended and Trongone shared many aspects of the educational system during his informative talk—accompanied by PowerPoint slides.

Students who attended Crichton have been moved to Haines. Crichton will be demolished beginning in January.

The construction of a new “state-of-the-art” school is being totally funded through the state

Worship With Us

and no local money is going towards this project.

Trongone said the transition to Haines has gone well. He also emphasized that although there are multiple mobile classrooms being used, none are used for regular classrooms.

He said each child attends classes in a normal schoolroom setting. The mobile units are being used for art, speech and enrichment programs.

Trongone shared details about many bus transportation improvements.

He said all buses are equipped with GPS so officials can track the location of each bus. He added that the time at each stop is noted and travel time between stops is also noted. Safety checks for each bus have been instituted and before any bus leaves the garage, the safety check list must be completed. Trongone said

SUPERINTENDENT>>PAGE 19

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 2017

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.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

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.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AGRICULTURE

AUTO Emission Repair Major & Minor Repairs

State Inspection

CRAIG’S AUTO INC. Goodyear Tires

109 Route 38 Pemberton, NJ 08068 (609) 894-4258

APARTMENTS

24 Hr. Towing Flatbed Service Road Service

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 11

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CHILD CARE

PHYSICIANS

SOLAR

CONCRETE

REAL ESTATE

TREE SERVICE

FUEL/OIL Removals Shrub Trimming

Pruning Stump Grinding

Land Clearing Firewood

Serving Burlington, Camden & Ocean Counties

Robert H. Griscom Fully Insured

(609) 654-6602 NJ Lic. 13VH06395500

WELL DRILLING

LEGAL

ABRAMS

WATER WELL SERVICE, LLC WELLS * PUMPS *TANKS *CONDITIONERS IRRIGATION WELLS - RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL Serving Southern and Central NJ Keith Abrams Lic# 1547

PEST CONTROL

SALON

609-268-0580

Call for Free Estimates

PAGE 12

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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.

You Will Never Look at Pumpkin Pie the Same The other day I was eating a banana and decided to dip it in some fresh pumpkin butter that I had bought. At no other time of the year would this “pumpkin” thought ever float through my head. With the holiday season upon us, and pumpkin pie everywhere, allow me to share what I know about these medicinal and delicious spices. You’ll never look at pumpkin pie the same way again after reading this. Here’s how they heal you: CINNAMON-Cinnamon is thought to aid in regulating blood sugar in people with hyperglycemia, pre-diabetes and diabetes. It works by blocking digestive enzymes such as alpha-glucosidase, sucrose and pancreatic amylase which blunts the amount of sugar released into your bloodstream. Cinnamon also contains MHCP (MethylHydroxyChalcone Polymer), which acts similar to your own insulin shuttling sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cell.

CLOVE-We call it “clove” because none of us want to call it by its botanical name: Syzygium aromaticum! If you love Chai Tea, or Masala Chai, you obviously like the taste of cloves because this is an integral part of chai recipes. If you have dental pain, you can put a drop of clove essential oil in water and have sips. You can put some clove essential oil onto a Q-tip and dab your achy tooth. Aside from toothaches and gum problems, clove can help with many respiratory diseases, Candida, headaches and throat infections. Some men report that it improves their libido, which makes sense because clove is known to enhance

testosterone, at least in animal studies.

NUTMEG-Feeling blue around the holidays? Nutmeg is your antidepressant spice and can be sprinkled on coffee, hot chocolate, pumpkin pie and sweet potato dishes. Nutmeg extract was given to mice for three days and it reduced signs of depression. The researchers concluded it was so profound, it was virtually comparable to shots of antidepressant drugs, namely imipramine (Tofranil) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Another interesting little-known fact is that nutmeg can help mice with lung inflammation and asthma symptoms due to its high content of another compound called macelignan.

You know how you have been trained to breathe in relaxing aromas of lavender in order to sleep at night? Well, inhaling nutmeg scent is actually better! According to a study in The International Journal of Molecular Science, “Nutmeg oil afforded a greater inhibitory effect than did lavender oil.” The reason it works is because nutmeg is a CNS (central nervous system) tonic that contains a potent anxiolytic called 4-terpineol. It increases activity of GABA in your body and dampens down glutamate.

I need to caution those of you in the benzo community who are still struggling to recover.

If you are in PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) then avoid nutmeg until your receptors upregulate and heal. They will do that if you hold on and please hold on! The topic of benzo and PAWS is covered in some of my other articles on my website.

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.

Lechner Funeral Home

a!al

24 N. Main St. Medford, NJ 08055 609-654-2298 Richard B. Lechner, Mgr. NJ Lic. No. 3720

-Cremation Services Available Richard B. Lechner, Jr. Director -No-cost pre-arrangement NJ Lic. No. 4872 counseling New Website with video tributes:

www.lechnerfuneralhome.com

PAGE 15

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 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?”

Our Toilet No Longer Whistles As near as I can tell, this partial statement rings true in homes across the land: “I love my husband, but I really wish he would fix the…”

I am sure that there are husbands who turn screws whenever necessary, fix doorknobs post haste and would never ever consider letting a hinge squeak for longer than an hour.

If you are married to such a man, count your blessings and know this…we do not want to hear from you.

The thing about my dear and beloved spouse is this—he is a builder, a master of carpentry, and therefore, he is quite handy.

That’s right, Pat can build anything out of nothing, make repairs to complex situations and measure, to the fraction of an inch, any framing job that you want to throw at him.

Pat is creative, he is talented and would be your go-to guy on any construction site.

He doesn’t leave many tasks undone on the home front. If there’s a major blowout or a breakage of a main line, my Pat is on it.

The trouble is that I’m the daughter of an interior decorator and I know how to fix a lot of stuff, too. I grew up with a paintbrush in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. At an early age, I learned how to lay carpet, hang wallpaper and swing a hammer like it was my job.

Yet, while I can bring home a container of paint and pour it out of the can, I lack the desire to repair the living room couch.

I can fix the soap dispenser on the sink in the kitchen, the laundry room doorknob and the stupid mini blind that won’t go up all the way, I just don’t want to.

Yet, I am nothing if not a patient woman. I know my poor Pat works diligently on his construction jobs and burns the midnight oil on the paperwork that goes along with it. But lately I’ve been hit with something difficult and it’s hard to keep silent.

“What is it?” you might ask. “Did you grow weary of keeping the back door closed with a wash cloth because the knob mechanism gave out? Are you tired of losing valuable items down the bathroom drain because the drain

stopper didn’t live up to its years?

“Or,” and this one’s a Clinch classic, “did the loose canvas on your pop-up tent fill up with rain water on that historic camping trip and spill icecold water down your spine when you pushed up on the belly of it?”

No, folks, it was none of these. The bone of my recent contention (and I’ll remind you that I’m a patient woman) is this—a whistling toilet.

You show me someone who doesn’t think that a whistling toilet is that big of a deal, and I’ll show you someone who is not trying to entertain for an afternoon, watch The Voice on a Monday night, or trying to catch some Zzzzs at 3 a.m.

Wanting to keep me happy, my handsome husband purchased the necessary parts a month ago. Then, being busy as he is, he placed them on the bathroom counter along with the tools necessary for completing the task.

I know I mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again, my Pat is a busy man. Still, that doggone toilet was whistling and it was making me crazy.

When I pointed that fact out to him he simply said, “Oh, that’s what it is.”

I try not to nag him, honest to Pete I do. But this last week the shrill of it all was getting on my last nerve.

I’m quite sure that I could have called a plumber, looked it up on YouTube or consulted my mother.

But I’m nothing if not an independent and resourceful woman, so I did this: I let him know about it as he dined, brought the whistling up during his football games, and nudged him at 1 a.m. with a loving, “Your toilet’s whistling.”

I’m not quite sure what finally persuaded him to fix it this last weekend. Perhaps it was the incessant whistle, or it could have been the fact that my hair was standing on end and I was blinking faster than a woman ought to during coffee time.

Either way, the toilet is fixed and I can’t help but appreciate the silence.

Now we just need to get him on to that stupid mini blind that won’t go all the way up.

I wonder if I can get it to whistle.

© 2017 LORI CLINCH

C R O S S W O R D

Across 1 Alaska’s Alaskan Malamute, for one 9 Have rounds all around 15 Locks maintenance 16 Tennyson’s “lily maid of Astolat” 17 Volcanic glass 18 Omitted from a speech?

19 Calms 20 Spells out 22 __ United: English soccer team 23 Serious order shortage?

24 Ideal: Abbr.

26 Where Andorra is 28 __-American 29 Picketing displays 33 Iranian city known for its carpets 35 Rest 36 Where Andorra is 37 Ascribe (to) 38 Few are chosen 40 Hamlet 41 “Moulin Rouge” (1952) co-star, familiarly 43 Storm dir.

P U Z Z L E

44 __-wip 45 Underhanded undertaking 50 Bonus 52 Southwestern native 53 Hyphenated frozen food brand 54 Ear-piercing 56 Analgesic rub 57 Gave the business 58 Auto options 59 Blows Down 1 Marine hazard 2 China setting 3 Theater access 4 F-A-C, e.g.

5 One barely working?

6 Place of honor 7 __ pro nobis 8 Pair in many languages 9 Britain’s Yeoman Warders, familiarly 10 “Hyperbole and a Half” blogger Brosh 11 __ check 12 Avoids being seen by 13 Private sign?

14 __ XING 21 “The Good Wife” crisis manager Gold 23 Rx 25 Drops off 27 Some house-to-garage links 28 Yellow Pokémon species that ultimately evolves to Alakazam 29 Roaring group 30 What “love is like,” in a 1960s hit 31 Take in 32 No small feat 34 Bare 38 Bad news metaphor 39 Eponymous weapon 42 Star Wars, initially 44 Godzilla ally, at times 46 Prefix with tropic 47 FDR bought the first one in 1941 48 Champagne holder 49 Kerfuffles 51 University of Latvia locale 52 Lineup member, hopefully 53 Delivery pros 55 __ populi

S U D O K U

ANSWERS ON PAGE 22

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

PAGE 17

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.

Truck for sale. 1994 Dakota runs good. $1,400. Phone #: 609-980-8809.

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

FOR RENT Townhouse For Rent. 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths. Saratoga community in Toms River. $1,650 per month plus utilities.

1 1/2 months security. Non smoker.

Available immediately. Call 732-2701750 after 6 p.m.

2 Bedroom House in Pemberton. Very sucluded. Oil heat, no large dogs. $1,000 a month, plus utilities. 1 1/2 months security. Call 609-894-2593.

Medford area room for rent. Full house privileges. $300 deposit, $150 weekly rent. 609-321-1945.

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

GARAGE/YARD SALE Moving Sale. Everything must go. Old and new items including guitars and jewelry. Monday thru Saturday for the next 2 weeks. From 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

27 Exeter Street, off South Lakeshore Drive in Browns Mills.

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

HELP WANTED 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.

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. 401kbenefits and paid training. Please apply online at www.mypetrojob.com Area claims writer. No experience.

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

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. 609-2611118

LAWYERS Erwin Apell attorney, 57 Juliustown Road, Browns Mills. All legal matters, free hotline 24/7. Visa and Mastercard.

609-220-3059.

Erwinapell@gmail.com.

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

Errands Done & More Grocery shopping, pick up / drop off mail, packages, returns. etc.

Handyman services, picture hanging, window treatments, assemble/ move furniture.

No job too big or too small. Rates as low as $16.00 per hr. 7 days, senior/ veteran discounts.

609-222-1744 Brotherton Indian Tribal Offices Brotherton Indian Reservation, Tribal Lands Office of the Chief Brotherton Indian Reservation Indian Mills, New Jersey 08088 Attention Dr. Sam Beeler, Chief 973-222-1920 973-432-8894

PAGE 18

CHAIRWOMAN PAGE 1

“Her body just wasn’t able to overcome it,” he said. “On Nov. 2, they put my mom in hospice and on Nov. 4, she passed away with her family and best friends at her side.”

Giamalis took over as the leader of the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Committee during its fifth year of operation.

Ettinger said the festival was in trouble after festival founder Maryann Thompson ran into legal issues.

He said Giamalis saved the annual tradition from dying.

“The mayor of Woodland Township at the time, Robert DePetris, approached my mom about taking over the festival because he knew she was a crafter and always ran craft shows,” Ettinger said. “She agreed to take it over. But, initially, it was only supposed to be for a few months.”

A few months in 1997 turned into 20 years.

“Each year the festival committee held an election for various roles and they always chose her to be the chairwoman,” Ettinger said.

This year alone, more than 20,000 people flocked to the Chatsworth section of Woodland for the festival. More than 160 foods, arts and crafts vendors now participate in the annual event.

The festival was established, in part, to raise funds for the renovation of the White Horse Inn. The inn, located at the intersection of County Routes 563 and 532, sat devoid of character for many years. The inn has since been mostly restored, due to Giamalis’ efforts.

Moreover, the festival continues to serve as a celebration of the area cranberry harvest each year.

The state is ranked third in the nation for cranberry production. A lot of the harvesting happens in Woodland and in neighboring Washington Township.

FESTIVAL PAGE 4

Santa and Mrs. Claus will stay at the gazebo all evening long to greet children of all ages.

An annual tree-lighting of the township’s Christmas tree will happen in ceremonial fashion once Santa, Mrs. Claus and town officials gather at the gazebo.

Visitors are invited to stroll along Main Street in Medford’s historic district, past lampposts and shops adorned with holiday decorations and twinkling lights. Carolers, many of them dressed in Dickens-era garb, will make their way up and down the street, entertaining the masses.

Various musicians will also perform favorite

PRESERVE PAGE 8

in excess of $63,000 to cover the costs of improving signage and building new trails as per the preserve’s concept plan.

FBRP continues to raise awareness of the economic and public health value of the preserve, as well as ecological value in the unique sub-watershed community.

Volpa recently finished training 11 adult ambassadors who will provide weekend warriors and nature enthusiasts with helpful tips, directions and knowledge to make their visit more enjoyable.

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 2017

“My fondest memory of Giamalis is most definitely her running the festival,” said William DeGroff, a Woodland Township Committeeman. “The festival gave our town a lot of notoriety. When you mention the name of our town, people automatically think of the Cranberry Festival.”

In addition to organizing the festival each year, Giamalis was known for reminding her festival colleagues about the importance of philanthropy.

Last year, she presented the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. with a $6,000 check from the festival committee, a portion of the funds collected from the 2016 Cranberry Festival.

“People are going to miss her,” DeGroff said. “She did a lot for the township and the people and is going to be tough to replace. She donated to the firehouse and she did a lot of good things for the town.”

Bobbie Lyons, a festival volunteer, quickly became close friends with Giamalis after moving to the area from Texas.

She happened upon the festival nine years ago when she went to worship at the Chatsworth United Methodist Church on County Route 563.

“No one told me about it and I was in for a surprise when I came across the crowds,” she said. “After the church service, I strolled up to the White Horse Inn and walked around the festival grounds. I thought to myself that I would like to be a part of this.”

Lyons soon found out that it was Giamalis who ran the festival.

“I went to see Mrs. Giamalis and walked into her office,” she said. “I introduced myself and she said, ‘What do you want?’ I told her I would like to become a festival volunteer and work next year. She sat back in her chair, gave me the biggest smile and asked if I could cook.

I said ‘yes’ and she went ‘You are hired!’”

Giamalis retired from working for Woodland

Township as a tax assessor’s assistant and animal-control officer.

One of Lyons’ two fondest memories of Giamalis involved the time some residents played a prank on her.

“She was an animal-control officer for a number of years and one night she got a phone call that there was a coyote near Hot Diggidy Dog,” she said. “She came over with her traps, went to the building where everyone stated the coyote was, slowly opened the door and a stuffed coyote fell out. Everybody was laughing.”

Lyons also recalled the time that her son and grandson came to visit her from Hawaii and she invited Giamalis over to a party to help celebrate their arrival.

“Lynn was drinking some water and my son said to her, ‘Don’t you know water isn’t good for old people,”’ Lyons said. “Lynn said to him, ‘Who are you calling old?’ and proceeded to chase him around the yard to throw water on him. My son is 6’6” tall and he ran like hell.

She was a person who could take a joke and do a joke.”

It’s no secret that Giamalis fought the township on a number of occasions whenever she felt the festival or a cause she believed in was threatened. This newspaper has reported on a number of incidents recently where Giamalis stood up to Mayor Matthew Henrich and his allies.

“It broke her heart when certain politicians would make accusations against the festival committee,” Ettinger said. “She hated seeing all the legal stuff and felt it was a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

As fate would have it, however, Giamalis gained one of her best friends throughout the political battle with Henrich and his allies: Nancy Valentino, Esq. Giamalis hired Valentino to represent the festival committee.

“Lynn started out as a client and in no time

became a friend,” Valentino said. “Suddenly, we were family. Her ability to bring you into her circle and make you feel like you belong will live on forever.”

The Hammonton attorney said that whenever Giamalis had an issue with something, she fought for what she believed in.

“Lynn was a person of conviction—basically that means she did whatever needed to be done, never gave up and kept the fight going,” Valentino said. “She put causes and other people ahead of herself.”

Ettinger said that despite all of the battles his mother had with certain politicians, she never held their beliefs against them.

“She would listen to the opinions of other people,” he said. “She never held a grudge or held it against them about their differences of opinion.”

Ettinger’s fondest memory of his mother was her support for area law enforcement and EMTs. He said Giamalis knew the importance of these organizations as a former member of the Mercy First Aid Squad, now called the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Co. “She was loved by the Pemberton Township police force,” said Ettinger, an 18-year officer with the force. “She was loved by everybody in the EMS, fire and police business. She was their best friend—but also their mother. She gave them motherly advice.”

Ettinger and Valentino vowed to see to it that the festival is continued on in Giamalis’ memory.

“The hard work of the volunteers needs to be carried on,” Valentino said. “It’s gone beyond professional to me personally caring about seeing the festival continue for all the good that it does.”

Lyons said nearly 70 people came out for a celebration of Giamalis’ life at the White Horse Inn on Nov. 11.

“The festival is her legacy,” she said. “She was our general and we were her soldiers.”

holiday tunes from porches along the way.

Many popular entertainers and activities will be offered once again, including pony rides, ice sculpting, outdoor movies, a moon bounce (with a “Frozen” theme), jugglers, stilt-walkers, a face painter and a town crier.

Don’t be surprised to see Olaf from “Frozen” roaming the streets!

A heart-warming Live Nativity will also once again be on display at Tomlinson Park, in front of Pinelands-Medford Library.

New this year will be a Victorian Best Dressed contest; with $50 gift-card prizes awarded to an adult man, adult woman, child— and a dog—wearing the best Dickens-era costume.

Plan to do some holiday shopping during the event. A whole host of crafters and vendors will be on hand with unique gifts suitable for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Many new vendors will be here this year in addition to some favorites.

Plenty of delicious food and beverages will be available, provided by vendors arranged in food courts at the ends of the streets, allowing for easier flow and less generator noise.

While you’re in town, pick up your annual illuminated glass Christmas ornament at the Medford Sunrise Rotary table and enjoy freebies and information from various local businesses.

Local radio stations B101-More FM radio

and Radio Station Z889 @ Rowan at BCC will be doing a live remote from the festival.

Main Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic during the course of the event, from Route 70 to Chapel Avenue. Parts of Union Street and Bank Street will also be closed.

The annual Dickens Festival would not be made possible without the wonderful support of the community. Rotarians raise money for the festival through fundraisers, including an annual coin-toss collection. Also, tax-deductible donations to keep the tradition going may be made through a GoFundMe site for Rotary Dickens Festival at www.gofundme.com/7ahcb.

“Whatever you’re trying to get across to people, you need to make it relevant and meaningful to them,” said Volpa, echoing his philosophy of teaching. “There is no attachment to the information if they can’t attach some relevance and meaning to their own lives.

“I connected all of the sciences; earth, life and physical into the umbrella of environmental science. Plus, being in the Pinelands, this is where you live. This is your own backyard. Let’s learn about what’s important and what we can do to enhance it... it’s a refuge for people as much as it is for animals.”

FBRP ambassador Maureen Heenan has

created Quick Response (QR) codes for the preserve, symbols that appear on selected trail signposts that can be scanned with a cellphone to view a short video clip online about a particular point of interest.

One of the video clips features President John F. Kennedy’s commencement address at American University in June 1963 when the president addressed his concept of peace.

“I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on Earth worth living,” he said, “The kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children. Not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and

women, not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.”

Volpa said there will eventually be a pathway with 30 signposts representing the (30) Articles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Students at Marlton and Frances S. DeMasi middle schools have been tasked to create pictures of each of the articles for the planned pathway.

Installation of the signposts is expected by the end of 2018, helping to connect the Black Run Preserve and Rancocas Conservancy.

Readers can find more information about Black Run Preserve by going to http://www. blackrun.org/.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

ALARM

SUPERINTENDENT PAGE 9

this all adds up to safer transportation for township students.

Also, Trongone said bus drivers are now being included in the personnel workshops that discuss how to improve the behavior of students. This is in response to many complaints about bullying. Trongone admitted there are problems and said he is working to find solutions.

The superintendent of schools said the number of students reading at, or above, grade level is improving on each grade level.

The schools are also achieving status in the fields of character education. The state has named Helen Fort, Denbo, and Emmons as “Schools of Character.” These schools are now working towards national recognition. There are 11 pillars of character that are being worked on.

Trongone also noted that high-school students received a personal tablet for computer-generated learning, followed by middle-school students. Both of these groups may take their units home to continue technical education modules.

He said grade-school students are now included in this learning process as well, but may not take their instruments home.

Trongone said township students are becoming proficient in the use of technology and the many improvements in access to information. However, he said this has created a problem in the schools. The routers and servers are being over-taxed, so Trongone is implementing an increase in the server

THANKSGIVING PAGE 9

birthday this past week. He had helium-filled balloons from Dollar Tree attached to his chair and a delicious cake from Acme, thanks to his friends. Everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday, and later eating a slice of cake.

It is always fun when someone has a special birthday. No one would ever guess Kelker is 93. He is as slim and trim as ever and walks just like the retired serviceman that he is. He is remarkable in that he takes care of his own clothes and always has spiffy shined shoes and a pressed wardrobe.

Don’t forget, the next trip is on Dec. 6 to Resorts for a show, “The Jersey Tenors.”

Included in this fun day is a $20 food voucher so one can enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants at Resorts. A coin voucher for gaming is included along with the show ticket.

The group will leave the Acme parking lot at

capability in each school. He said students must be able to access the internet in the classroom at all times for the program to work.

Safety in our schools is also being addressed with improved alarms in every school.

Video cameras are being installed throughout all the schools and even license plate readers will check vehicles that drive on school grounds. Access to the schools after hours is being more strictly controlled. Procedures for “lockdowns,” along with many other safety regulations and protocols, are being enforced.

Trongone said one can be certain that township schools are becoming far safer.

Trongone is scheduled to return to the BMIA for a March meeting and will further inform the community on the many advances he has instituted. He is striving for 100 percent improvement in every area of concern. He is currently scheduling workshops on bullying and prevention of bullying.

He is also working on attendance. He said too many students, especially in the upper grades, have poor attendance records. He added that he is using innovation and training to assist staff in solving the problems facing township students.

Trongone said he has a good working relationship with the Pemberton Township Board of Education.

He said the township is seeing an educational system that is answering the many needs of our students.

The December meeting of the BMIA will be a Pot Luck Dinner, open to members and their guests, on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. The special guest of the evening will be Santa Claus.

9:30 a.m. and return at about 7 p.m. It promises to be a fun day. Tickets are still available and only $40 for senior residents. Stop at the center and reserve your seat. Do not be disappointed.

There will be two buses for this trip, so a few seats are still available.

The annual Christmas dinner at Garden State Diner is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11:45 a.m. This five-course banquet is one of the highlights of the holiday season. Side Car Charlie will entertain.

Unfortunately, most of the seats are now reserved and a wait list is being maintained.

These events sell out quickly. To participate in the trips and activities, tickets need to be purchased at least 30 days in advance.

Stop in at the senior center and sign up for the many fun activities. There is no charge for many of the options available.

If you do not drive, phone 609-893-4400 for information on transportation.

MUSEUM PAGE 8

U.S. Naval Academy yearbooks from 1937 and 1947.

Comis is also planning displays with “mess kit” equipment such as pots and pans and utensils; survival supplies, including canned food (powered eggs and frankfurters) that could feed one person for 16 days or two for eight days; pins and patches; a WWI field phone and switchboard section telephone from 1967, as well as items from many other collections.

Comis is well aware these and other artifacts will trigger emotions by “bringing back

memories that many soldiers have tried to forget.”

He hopes to open the museum on weekends. Groups can request a weekday visit.

Comis is also working with a grant writer to procure funding to install a handicapped ramp for wheelchair accessibility.

He’s hopeful that history buffs like himself will donate their time to help with the museum opening and organization of displays.

He has requested that interested visitors and volunteers contact him at 609-513-6454 or email vummm1@yahoo.com.

PAGE 4

has changed the format for answering questions raised during board meetings.

Ernst collected the questions and gathered in-depth answers for release shortly before a Nov. 15 board meeting.

Answers to parent concerns over the fire watch were provided via a written handout.

“A fire watch legally occurs any time we take the fire alarm system offline to make repairs,” Banks wrote. “Custodial staff is assigned to different locations in the building in order to conduct the fire watch. The local fire department is notified.

“When the fire-alarm system is worked on, it is necessary for the company (in this case Siemens) to turn the system on and test it.

Students and staff are advised of the test and told there is no need to evacuate the building.

On another note, during our review of security drills with students and staff, they are trained to ignore a fire alarm during a lockdown. The reason for this is to prevent an intruder from deliberately pulling the alarm in order to gain access to students and staff.”

Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Rich Mueller said in the written handout that the

DEDICATION PAGE 4

have a library, it would be really nice to bring them (Take a Book Libraries) to this park so kids could have books available to them for whenever they wanted to take them. “(The libraries) took eight to nine months to complete, from the time we first brought it up at a Women’s Club meeting and heard from the Girl Scouts that they wanted to do it as well.”

Dillich added that the new libraries will be registered with www.littlefreelibrary.org, which tags all libraries of this type on a world map for anyone to visit.

“Our town is all about partnerships and teamwork,” said Suzy West, also a Women’s Club member.

Medford Lakes School Superintendent Anthony Dent said the Girl Scouts and

REVOKED

PAGE 19

problems began after summer construction.

“Due to summer construction, new equipment was installed,” he said. “Aging sensors and modules are being replaced. The fire-alarm system is currently operational and we are working with the state Fire Marshal to make sure we do not have additional issues.”

Banks said the people assigned to watch the district’s buildings during such instances are usually custodians, but during the school day it could also be other staff members or teachers.

Ernst, during the Nov. 6 board meeting, asked if the fire watch was leading to overtime costs for custodial staff and directed Brennan to find out.

Brennan was removed the following day and was reinstated nine days later (see separate story on pg. 2). Since Brennan was reinstated on Nov. 16, he has not yet publicly answered.

The junior high school is also currently serving as the Pinelands Regional School District’s high school.

The high school has been closed indefinitely due to ongoing issues related to roof construction.

Banks continues to revise the estimated reopening date of the high school. On Nov. 15, she said the closure might now last through mid-December.

Women’s Club have done a lot for the community.

“As I’ve seen over the last five years, Medford Lakes is a tight community where something like this will actually be used,” Dent said. “This is just a great way to keep kids reading on their own time.”

As she addressed those who gathered for the ceremony, West thanked Albin “Chip” Scheibner, Medford Cedar, the Public Works Department, Township Manager Dr. Robert Burton, the Girl Scouts and their troop leaders Dani Durante, Bridget Bandomer, Julia Moore and Jessica Perry, among others, for their help.

“I leave you tonight with a famous quote (attributed to Plato),” said West at the end of her speech. “Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Porrino said Glass is the first physician to be cited by the PAGE 6 board for violating regulations that took effect filing of this matter. last year, requiring all prescribers to conduct “Dr. Glass has learned the hard way that quarterly PMP lookups for patients to whom when it comes to fighting the spread of opioid they prescribe Schedule II CDS for acute or addiction and saving lives, we mean business,” chronic pain.

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PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, November 25, 2017

ADMINISTRATOR PAGE 2

situation.

But, notably, Banks and Ernst never denied the reports and signs that something had taken place involving Brennan began appearing almost immediately.

Emails sent to Brennan’s school district email account on Nov. 8 bounced back.

Additionally, Jeff Epstein, co-founder and editor of Citizens’ Media TV, shared a message online that he received from Banks after filing an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.

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.

After the story about Brennan’s disappearance was published, his email account was reactivated, but the contents of an automatic reply message served as further evidence that he left.

“Steve Brennan is currently out of the office,” said the message. “If this is an urgent matter, please contact Interim Superintendent Dr. Maryann Banks.”

Vague confirmation that Brennan was removed from his position came during the start of a Nov. 16 Pinelands Regional Board of Education meeting.

“Under Human Resources, we are going to add Item #17 (onto the agenda),” said Board Solicitor Amy L. Houck. “That will be a motion to reinstate Mr. Brennan effective Nov. 16, 2017.”

A short time later, the board narrowly voted to reinstate Brennan, 6-4, without explanation.

Ernst, along with board members Patricia Chambers, Karen Poklikuha and Thomas D. Williams Jr., cast the dissenting votes.

Ernst was asked to explain what happened to Brennan during public comment, but she refused to provide an answer.

The meeting, scheduled to start at 7 p.m., began at 7:50 p.m.

The board, beforehand, convened for a 6 p.m. executive session to discuss personnel matters and potential litigation.

The behind-closed-doors session was overextended, causing the delay.

“I apologize for the lateness of this meeting,” Ernst said. “I am really sorry—it is just that business really needed to be taken care of.”

A source told the Pine Barrens Tribune that most of the executive session focused on Brennan’s employment status.

While the Pinelands Education Association and parents called for Brennan’s firing less than 24 hours before he was apparently removed, the source said his removal was not related to those calls per se.

“Before Brennan’s ‘suspension,’ Stevenson and Banks floated information to the board that Brennan needed to be investigated because of mistakes made with the construction,” the source said.

According to the source, the board gave Banks the authority to investigate the alleged mistakes and she recently reported back to the board that she found things that were “probably illegal.”

“As she told the board the problems with Brennan, the school lawyer told the board that none of the accusations were actually illegal,” the source said.

The source said tempers flared because Houck’s remarks persuaded a majority of board members to no longer trust Banks with her investigation and reinstate Brennan.

“The board then (agreed to) reinstate

Brennan, and Banks was furious,” said the source. “To take it a step further, some board members have now moved to get an independent investigation of Brennan—and Banks—as some don’t trust her now.”

According to the source, Chambers and Ernst—supporters of Banks—fought with Betti Anne McVey, vice president of the board, and board members Jeffrey Bonicky and Ann McDonald after they insinuated that Banks was dishonest with her investigation of Brennan.

“Chambers and Ernst were furious,” said the source. “When Banks took the job, she made it clear to the board that if she is interfered with, she will give notice and leave. As an interim superintendent, she only has to give two weeks’ notice and then she can walk. There are some who fear she is considering just doing that.”

The source said that the closed-door session was extended because Chambers and Ernst tried to convince the board’s “neutral” members to oust Brennan. “(Board members Stephen) Kubricki and Poklikuha were neutral,” said the source.

“Kubricki was the one who suggested an independent investigation because he was the wildcard vote.”

According to the source, Chambers and Ernst were further distressed because McDonald is leaving the board in January and being replaced with ally Christie Palladino.

The source said Palladino’s vote would have likely resulted in a tie, causing Brennan to remain out of a job.

“McDonald is going out,” said the source.

“But, the incoming person was recruited by Chambers and Ernst.”

As the Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported, calls for Brennan’s removal grew 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.

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 prior.

Brennan said, also on Oct. 30, that the contents of the Sept. 10 letter were 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, 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 a previous board meeting, while Banks didn’t discuss what she knew, Brennan reiterated that the contents of the Sept. 10 letter were discussed during a Sept. 11 executive session of the board.

Several board members, including Chambers, Poklikuha, Williams 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.

Brennan later read from a speech that came with attached documentation. 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.

During the latest board forum held at the end of the public meeting, there were notable signs of the infighting the source described to this newspaper.

Bonicky, during his remarks, took the side of Brennan. Previously, on Nov. 6, Bonicky said he wasn’t at the Sept. 11 school board meeting.

“With regards to the letter from Epic (on Sept. 10)—I will repeat what I do know,” he said. “On Sept. 11, there was a discussion on the contents of the letter—not physically viewing the letter. I think we get a little hung up on the physical letter being in our hands.

“During the Sept. 11 meeting, the contents were discussed and a follow up letter was (sent) on Sept. 12. I remember actually seeing the letter sometime later that month. I can’t tell you the exact date, but the contents were discussed and that is documented in our minutes.”

Chambers followed Bonicky with an angry rebuttal.

“I want to say for the record, again, as I stated during the last meeting on Nov. 6—the entire contents of that Epic letter were not discussed with me at the Sept. 11 meeting,” she said as she raised her voice. “There is a difference between the contents of the letter and the entire

contents.

“Many of your questions tonight deal with some of those content areas that I was not told (about) or (were) addressed. For the record, again, I saw the letter when most of you saw it on social media, which was on Oct. 3—the day after our Oct. 2 workshop (meeting). That is the truth. It is my own statement and I want it on the record. There is a difference between the letter content and the entire contents that were disclosed in that discussion.”

Ernst, a few minutes later, said aspersions were being cast and defended Banks’ reputation.

“I want to remind all about the job Dr. Banks has done in this last year,” she said. “While there are accusations out there, I would also like to address the fact that she has spent the first year of her interim superintendent job cleaning up some of the messes that have been hanging here for a decade.

“I could run through an entire list of them.

There has also been a promise that she will continue to do so during her second year. I will continue to support her decisions as long as I know that she is doing the best for this district and that is what I believe she is doing!”

A few days after the meeting, Ernst took community members to task in a local Facebook group over the accusations involving Banks. She said she would write a glowing reference for her any time.

“They (Chambers and Ernst) fear if she walks, then Pinelands will not have a superintendent ready to go,” said the source.

“Things are going to get uglier. There is a lack of trust between the board (the majority) and Banks.”

Banks did not return messages seeking comment about whether she had confidence in Brennan. Brennan also did not return messages seeking comment on what happened to him.

Ernst, when asked if she can still work with Brennan despite her lack of confidence in him, said her working relationship with him is no different than that of any other board member.

“If I or anyone else has a question regarding finance, operations, the referendum projects, etc., we ask Mr. Brennan,” she said in response to an inquiry. “If we have a question regarding Education and Policy, Human Resources, or other matters outside the financial area, we ask Dr. Banks. So, that relationship will be no different because I voted ‘no’ to reinstate him.”

COUNCIL PAGE 4

Collector Nancy Seeland said that the township is trying to collect $593,988.34 in delinquent taxes.

She said notices have been sent out to those who owe the township money.

A 13-page ordinance passed unanimously that updates the municipality’s flood-damage prevention standards to stay in accordance with state and federal requirements.

Tom Hastie was appointed as a redevelopment attorney for the township. A measure authorizing the appointment dictates that no legal work or services can be performed in excess of $2,000 without the express consent of the township committee.

Township officials recently met with Chuck Horner, director of regulatory programs for the Pinelands Commission, to determine the feasibility of developing land the municipality owns near Romanza Pizza & Pasta, a restaurant

located in the unit block of Route 72, to help regrow the tax base.

A shrinking tax base due to shuttered businesses, multiple foreclosures and land being scooped up by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is serving as a call to action for local officials to come up with ways to bring revenue into Woodland.

Township Engineer Thomas Leisse announced concrete work at the township’s new recreational fields and field house was completed.

He also said deteriorating concrete sidewalks and steps outside the municipal building were fixed. A rug was previously placed on the sidewalk to cover up the deterioration and prevent visitors from tripping.

A resolution that would amend the township’s employee manual was tabled with no explanation given.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

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PAGE 21

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Saturday, November 25, 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.

Those Not Around the Table The scarlet and gold promise of mid-harvest has slipped into the gray, damp reality of early winter. Last month we smiled at sun-kissed crops; this month we smile when we finally see the sun.

On the southern Illinois dairy farm of my youth, November was a month more endured than enjoyed. Its most memorable features were muddy cows, muddy machinery, and often-muttered prayers for weather cold enough to freeze the ground so we could complete harvest by Thanksgiving.

Neither ever happened. Harvest usually dragged on until the next holiday, Christmas.

The only consolation to that cold fact was that we weren’t the only ones picking corn in the mud and snow. Back then, very few farmers completed harvest—let alone fall tillage—by Thanksgiving.

Still, outside of milking cows, we never worked on November’s high holiday.

Thanksgiving was reserved for family, feasting, and loud, laughter-filled pinochle games with my father’s side of the family.

Those long, wonderful holiday afternoons, like the equally long, wonderful holiday meals, were pure delights. Card partners had been decided at birth; they were, as Grandpa liked to announce, “Missouri Synod,” or women versus men. The friendly competition, however, was anything but ladylike or gentlemanly.

I can still see and hear the usual players—my parents, Dads’ parents, and my grandmother’s two sisters and their husbands—playing eight-handed, single-deck, single-bid pinochle from almost the moment the dinner table was cleared until the minute the supper table was set.

At the head of the table was Grandpa doing the two things he did every card game— keeping score and scowling. The grimaces were usually directed at his own teammates, Uncle Ches and Uncle Pete. Ches was the family comedian who often brought games to a guffaw-filled halt with a clever wisecrack.

Uncle Pete was Ches’s perfect straight man.

“What’s so funny?” he’d often ask with a

face so placid it would ignite another round of full-bellied laughter.

Grandma sat opposite Grandpa at the kitchen-end of the dining room table in the unlikely event someone could possibly want more food during the game. She and her sisters, Aunt Del and Aunt Lu, were as quiet as their husbands were loud. All, however, laughed and laughed when the Ches-and-Pete “What’s trump? Who’s my partner?” comedy routine started.

My grandmother, however, would be the first to get back to the business at hand because she played cards like Ulysses S. Grant commanded a battlefield: she always attacked. Grandma never hesitated to bid over, trump over, and shout over anyone, including her sisters, husband, son or pastor, if they stood between her and card table triumph. Also like Grant, she was humble in victory and quiet in defeat.

Now, 50 years later, all, except my mother, are gone. The first to go was my grandfather after a summer-long ailment in 1969. The last was Aunt Del, in 2008, after 102 healthy, card-filled years.

After my grandfather’s death, the Thanksgiving meals and card games rotated between Dad’s aunts and two sisters. Since all except Aunt Lu and Uncle Pete lived 40 or more miles from the farm, one of my older brothers or I would “volunteer” to stay home on Thanksgiving to do the evening milking so everyone else could enjoy the holiday.

It was better than it sounds. A three-hour shift in the evening dairy barn with the quiet, easygoing herdsman, Howard, was a small price any teenager would gladly pay for an entire day of no church, no parents, and no hard work.

But I did miss being at a table so sturdy and so generous it could easily hold Grandma’s wonderful food, the family’s roaring, red-hot card games, and a three-generation chorus of almost endless laughter.

I still do, and all will be mentioned—as will many others—when we again give thanks for all their giving.

© 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 25, 2017

PINE BARRENS TRIBUNE, WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

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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 Ford Taurus Ford Taurus delivers more of what buyers of large sedans really want – technology, design refinement, craftsmanship and great driving dynamics.

The Taurus sedan features a standard 3.5liter V6 and available 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine. Taurus SHO comes standard with 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. All models use a six-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift. Paddle shifters come standard with Taurus SHO. All-wheel drive is standard for Taurus SHO, and available on SEL and Limited series trim levels.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost produces 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 – standard equipment in the high-performance Taurus SHO – is Ford’s most powerful EcoBoost offering, delivering 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

New for 2017 for the Ford Taurus are a premium sound from Sony with Clear Phase

and Live Acoustics technologies. It’s standard for Taurus Limited and Taurus SHO. Also for 2017, Taurus includes SYNC enhanced voice recognition and entertainment system with available SYNC 3 featuring an LCD touchscreen with swiping and pinchto-zoom capabilities, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, AppLink and 911 Assist.

The 2017 Taurus features plenty of driverassist technology including available lanekeeping warning and lane-keeping aid; Curve Control, which automatically slows the car if it enters a curve too fast; torque vectoring control; and adaptive cruise control.

New colors available for 2017 include White Gold and Smoked Quartz Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.

Base model estimated mpg: 20/29 Estimated starting price: $27,345 Compiled by Motor Matters.

2017 Ford Taurus.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

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Saturday, November 25, 2017