Pine Barrens Tribune December 2, 2023-December 8, 2023 by Pine Barrens Tribune

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December 2 - December 8, 2023

Seldat Warehouse CEO Facing Federal Charges of Fraudulently Taking $3.2 Million in PPP Loans Given to Several Firms

‘DON’T DEVELOP MORE AND TAKE GROUND!’

Feds Claim Employee Counts, Average Payroll Overinflated and Falsified Documents Given; Funds Transferred Overseas

Locals Express Growing Frustration Over Continued Redevelopment Approvals in Pemberton Township and Inability of Municipality to Stop New Applications

• Planning Board Gives OK for 5 New Warehouses in Birmingham • Officials Explain They Can’t Stop Projects in Pipeline for 5 More • Measure to Curtail Warehousing Delayed, Blamed on No Response • Number of Homes Allowed to Rise for Browns Mills Housing Project

The Seldat Distribution, Inc., warehouse at 200 S. Pemberton Road in Pemberton Township.

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON —Mu ltiple clashe s occurred again during the latest Nov. 8 Pemberton Township Council meeting,

including over an earl ier Plan n ing Board approval for five warehouses in Birmingham, confirmation that five other warehouses are proposed in the township, the delay of an ordinance that would be an

PG. C2

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—The CEO of Seldat Distribution, Inc., Daniel Dadoun, who is said to manage three distribution centers for the firm, including the 509,038 squarefoot large warehouse recently built at 200 S. Pemberton Road, is the subject of a Nov. 9 federal indictment, charged with fraudulently obtaining over $3.2 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as part of a “PPP Program Fraud Scheme.” See CHARGES/ Page 6

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

attempt at curtailing future warehousing, and a proposal to add more residences to a Browns Mills housing project. See DEVELOP/ Page 5

INDEX

Business Directory...................................12 Christmas Countdown/Coloring Contest.... C1 Home for the Holidays & Gift Guide........ S1

Local News.................................................2 Marketplace......................................................11 Worship Guide..........................................10

PRINT ISSN | 2834-3611 ONLINE ISSN | 2834-362X CONTACT US: P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 | 609-801-2392

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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President of LeisureTowne Board of Trustees Asks Southampton Twp. for Rumble Strips, Speed-Limit Displays Similar to Ones on Ridge Road After Deputy Mayor Asks for Presentation on How They Work, Effectiveness, Officials Reveal New Strips on Ridge Road Have Led to Complaint Over Noise

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SOU TH A MP TON —T he pre side nt of the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees, Evelyn “Evie” Doherty, in contending there is a “terrible speeding problem i n L eisu reTow ne,” is re que sti ng the installation of pavement speed li m it marking displays and rumble strips in the age 55-plus retirement community, after observing their recent installation on nearby Ridge Road, but Township Administrator and Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman has revealed that the new rumble strips have already generated a complaint. Still, Mayor Michael Mikulski has committed to having the township look into the feasibility of installing them in the retirement community of over 2,250 homes. Ridge Road was resurfaced from Route 206 to Philos Bridge Road in October by Earle Asphalt Company, at a cost of over $365,000. After the repaving work concluded, the contractor installed 35-mph speed limit marking displays in about a half dozen locations on the road, in both the eastbound and westbound lanes, each one of them followed by four rumble strips. “When going down Ridge Road today, I have seen something that I have never seen before, which I thought was rather clever and could be used to stop speeding all over our town,” Doherty declared on Nov. 21. “When they repaved the road, they put down speed signs on the street and also put a four-line

tab behind the speeding sign. It is not a speed bump, but when you go over it, it makes you kind of slow down a little bit and I noticed, every two-tenths of a mile on Ridge Road, they had these signs.” D o h e r t y, a f t e r d e s c r i b i n g h e r observations, asserted, “I would like the township committee to consider doing something like that in LeisureTowne.” The board president said she would like to see such traffic control measures deployed on Westminster Drive, from Retreat Road to Huntington Drive, and on Huntington Drive, or what comprises the community’s main accessway that runs from the back gate to the front gate. “I think it is a great tool,” Doherty said. “It is not a speed bump, or as bad, and I think it is a great deterrent. I am bringing it to your attention and would like you to consider it in LeisureTowne.” During a later report, Deputy Mayor Bill Raftery declared that he “agrees with Evie on Ridge Road.” “I would love to hear a presentation of why they put speed bars in there,” Raftery said. “And what the experience has been.” That is when Hoffman, who pointed out to the deputy mayor that the “bars” are called “rumble strips,” revealed, “I already have one complaint” from a resident in which they are “directly in front of her house,” with Mikulski, in shedding more light on the nature of the complaint, pointing out See RUMBLE/ Page 11

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No Update on Electrical Unit During November Southampton Meeting, But Mayor Writes to Resident That No Final Decision Made on ‘Option B’ LeisureTowne President Asks That Collection Schedule Be Relayed to Manager; Mobile Home Park Licensing Fee Hike Passes, EV Charging Stations Operational

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—While the mayor of Southampton Township, Michael Mikulski, did not provide a public update during the latest Nov. 21 Southampton Township Committee meeting on any continuing efforts to relocate a controversial switchgear unit placed in front of about a dozen homes in the LeisureTowne retirement community, he reportedly wrote to a resident sometime prior to the session “there has not been a final decision on “‘Option B.’” That option, as was described at a preceding October Southampton committee session, would be to remove the existing electrical unit from a township-owned island on Saint Davids Place via a crane, put it on a flatbed truck, and transport it to a piece of property somewhere between Big Hill Road and Saint Davids Place. The unit would sit behind any LeisureTowne homes, officials maintained, and be more visible from Big Hill Road than from LeisureTowne. Some trees, the mayor had revealed, would have to be taken down in the process. Details on that option were revealed at the October session after the mayor claimed that he is of the “understanding” that Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G) had “turned down” a pole array to replace the massive unit on Saint Davids Place, though he saw nothing in writing to that effect, he added at the time. Southampton officials, in October, emphasized, that they did not have an exact

location for where the unit would be moved to, with Committeeman Ronald Heston reporting that much was up in the air due to conflicts with the Pinelands Commission. Phylis Peak, a resident of Saint Davids Place who has organized a movement to have the unit removed, in the wake of this newspaper’s reporting on the October session, wrote to Mikulski and asked to be provided with the “block and lot numbers” of the site under consideration. “This is his response,” she shared on Nov. 21. “‘Hello Phyllis. I do not have the block and lot numbers available to me at the moment. There has not been a final decision on ‘Option B,’ so I think it is premature to specify where it will be going. Once we have confirmation, we will schedule a meeting with the impacted homeowners. Have a nice Thanksgiving.’” The mayor’s response immediately drew rebuke in a social media group frequented by LeisureTowne residents, including from one resident, who wrote, “So, the mayor will let you know where it is going AFTER the site has been confirmed?” “Knowing beforehand is not premature,” that person added. “It is being transparent.” The mayor not knowing the block and lot numbers, another person maintained, is “unacceptable,” with that person also asking, “WHAT does our mayor know about his (OUR) township?” A th ird p erson, in pointing to an See UNIT/ Page 8

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Contest open to those ages 3 and up. Anyone under the age of 18 years of age must obtain parent or guardian consent to enter. Previous winners of such contests are not eligible to win. Employees of the newspaper and sponsor employees are not eligible to win. Entry automatically enters individual’s name into contest. Contest entries will not be returned. Contest entries may be displayed or published in print and online by this newspaper; and become property of the newspaper. Winner will be awarded a movie basket from Zallie’s ShopRite of Medford. One entry per contest permitted. Entry form along with completed coloring panel should be mailed to Pine Barrens Tribune, Christmas Coloring Contest, P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, NJ 08088 and postmarked by January 16, 2024 at 5 p.m. All entries must be received no later than 12 noon on January 19, 2024 and will not be returned. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. The decision of the judges is final. Winners will be notified by phone and/or email no later than January 30, 2024, and must appear in-person for award and agree to be photographed by the Pine Barrens Tribune and contest sponsor for publication. Important Information: • Postmarked by January 16, 2024 at 5 p.m. • Must Be Received by 12 noon on January 19, 2024 • Christmas Coloring Contest form must be attached to each contest entry Mail coloring page with completed entry form to: Pine Barrens Tribune | P.O. Box 2402 | Vincentown, NJ 08088

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 3

Washington Twp. Is Considering ‘Petitioning’ Several Entities to End On-Demand Openings of Green Bank Drawbridge for Scheduled Ones

Ambulance Squad Chief Describes ‘Ripple Effect’ Resulting Back-Ups Are Having; Limited Progress Reported on Senior-Center Lease and Boiler-Replacement Project By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—Officials in Washington Township are considering “petitioning” the U.S. Coast Guard and Atlantic County for “scheduled openings and closings” of the Green Bank Bridge for the summer of 2024 and beyond, with Mayor Daniel James, during a Nov. 14 Washington Township Committee meeting, declaring, “I am thinking they should go to scheduled openings with a time period of on-the-hour, ten minutes.” James offered his thinking on the situation with the drawbridge, which connects Burlington County to Atlantic County by taking traffic over the Mullica River, after Barbara Cavileer, chief of the Green Bank Volunteer Ambulance Company, called for the establishment of a “task force or committee” to address the bridge openings, maintaining they now occur so frequently in the summer, that at this point, traffic is backed up and those who are drivers for the ambulance company are stuck in the jams. As previously reported by this newspaper, since the Coronavirus pandemic, tourism and boating on the Mullica River has surged, purportedly resulting in a corresponding increase in the number of bridge openings. That increase in openings was blamed for a previous bridge malfunction, and during the time of repairs, business owners in nearby Mullica Township, of Atlantic County, pled for a temporary scheduled opening schedule to be lifted, maintaining it was adversely affecting their businesses

with boaters not able to go to and from their establishments, trapped on either side of the drawbridge. At one point, those on the Burlington County side of the bridge called for it to be left down to allow for passage of emergency vehicles (the nearest hospital to Washington is in Atlantic County). S i n c e t h e p rot e s t f ro m Mu l l i c a businessowners, however, Atlantic County has committed to an on-demand schedule, which has reportedly been applied since a repair. “When (the temporary closure of the) Parkway (earlier this year due to wildfire smoke) impacted the traffic through Lower Bank and Green Bank, you got right on it, and there was a big meeting,” Cavileer recounted. “But that (a Parkway closure) happens maybe once or twice a year. The bridge openings, and traffic delays and flow, occurs every weekend in the summertime.” It is having such an impact, Cavileer maintained, that she will be raising the issue “repeatedly” moving forward until something is done about it. “I’d like to request a task force or committee and that something is started now,” Cavileer said. “And maybe we can get something done by Memorial Day weekend.” James responded that he would have to get together with Washington’s emergency management coordinator to “see how to proceed” and that he would be the one to “know how to go about petitioning for scheduled openings.”

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New Rendition of Proposed Ordinance in Medford Lakes Borough Would Require Two Bodies Scrutinize Log Cabin Demo Applications

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Applicants Would First Need Historic Preservation Commission’s Input, Then Must Receive Final Determination from Planning Board for Permit

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—A new version of a proposed demolition ordinance for Medford Lakes Borough has been put forward by Borough Council, after a previous version had been pulled over some concerns. The latest version, introduced by council on Nov. 15, which is subject to another review by the Borough Planning Board prior to adoption, and will face a second reading and public hearing by council possibly as soon as Dec. 13, would require anyone wishing to raze a log cabin in the municipality to first seek a recommendation for approval from the Borough Historic Preservation Commission, and then final approval from the Planning Board. According to the proposed ordinance, the Plan n i ng Board wou ld have the ability to override a recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission in hearing any appeal. “No person shall demolish, in whole or in part, any log structure located within the borough without first submitting an application to the Construction Code Official and obtaining a recommendation for approval from the Historic Preservation Commission and approval from the Planning Board,” the proposed ordinance states. The Historic Preservation Commission, within 45 days of it receiving any application, would have to schedule a hearing. All persons testifying at any hearing, if the proposed ordinance is approved, would

have to be “placed under oath” and the applicant “shall bear the burden of proof in demolition applications.” The applicant would also be required to make the parcel at issue “available for members of the Historic Preservation Commission” to “review and inspect.” The commission would also be granted the authority to retain “experts” to review documents related to the application and “any such expert retained may be required to submit a written report and/or provide expert testimony as may be requested during the hearing.” If the reason cited for any demolition being necessary entails “mold, foundation, structural and/or fire” issues, an applicant would be required to “provide proof of costs” that are “prepared by an applicable licensed professional or licensed contractor.” The Historic Preservation Commission, within 30 days of any hearing, would be required to make a recommendation for approval or denial to the Planning Board. The proposed criteria for making a recommendation to either grant or deny an application would be based on: • The historical, architectural, cultural, and aesthetic significance; • The importance of the structure to the Borough of Medford Lakes to the extent that such demolition would result in the loss of (architecture) and/or (historic value); • T he i mpact of the demol ition or partial demolition on the surrounding See DEMO/ Page 8

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Cutting-Edge Patrol-Car Cameras, Addition of Social Worker Provide New Levels of Technological, Human Proficiency for Evesham Police By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

E V E SH A M — Ev e s h a m Tow n s h i p Police Chief Walt Miller updated the Township Council at its Nov. 21 meeting on two major upgrades in the capabilities of his department that he characterized as making it both more technologically proficient and better able to serve the human needs of the community. For one thing, the chief reported that all of the township’s 33 patrol cars have now been equipped with state-of-the-art Axon camera systems that he described as being the “best on the market” when it comes to recording and preserving evidence, as well as instantly capturing information from a multitude of license plates. “This is the premier equipment for that type of technology,” he contended. Miller also announced that as of Dec. 1, the Evesham Police Department would have the services of a full-time professional social worker at its disposal to offer residents the benefit of professional intervention with problems, and that a second one was in the process of being recruited. By instantly running the plate numbers of both moving and parked vehicles, Miller said, the new camera system will serve to alert officers to vehicles whose occupants might be either wanted or missing, as well as to those reported stolen or that have “DMV issues,” whether related to registration or license suspension. “This equipment communicates with our body-worn camera system, so it is a fully-integrated system,” noted the chief, who expressed his appreciation to township officials for having funded it. The new social workers, Miller said, while actually recruited and hired by the organization Volunteers of America, will be embedded with the police department and available to help people in a variety of situations “navigate what they’re going through.” In a subsequent phone interview, Lt. Dan Burdette, the department’s public information officer, told the Pine Barrens Tribune that the individuals hired in this capacity “will essentially be stationed in our records office, and can be deployed on an as-needed basis” to provide residents with a wide variety of services that include prevent ion a nd me d ic at ion-a s sist e d treatment, intensive outpatient services, family-focused treatment, mental illness suppor t, subst anc e abuse and cr isis intervention, in addition to helping them obtain emergency shelter, long-ter m assistance, and countless other needs. Such assistance, Burdette noted, may be rendered either at the individual’s home or by having them come to the department, depending on “how they want to receive the care.” “If we respond to a call where we have someone who is in a crisis but doesn’t necessarily meet the criteria to send them to a crisis center, we can call upon this person (the social worker) to essentially go over different options and provide resources for them,” he said. The individuals filling this position will not be dressed in police uniforms, said Burdette in reply to a question, but will wear jerseys making them “easily identifiable” as being affiliated with the police department and Volunteers of America. The l ieutenant also i ndicated that determining how the social workers can best perform their responsibilities in any given situation was going to be a trialand-error process. “This is very preliminary,” Burdette said. “We’re going to modify how we deploy the resources depending on what we find is

working and not working.” In addition, whether one of the social workers goes on a visit alone or accompanied by another department employee “will depend on the individual circumstances.” “But from the get-go, we want to make sure that everybody’s safe,” he maintained. Earlier in the session, Raymond Avenue resident Christopher Brooks got up to report that the township appeared to have finally found a solution to the issue of cars traveling at excessive speeds on that particular road, a situation he had complained about at previous meetings, claiming they posed a danger to his son, who has Down Syndrome. Brooks, while apologizing to the mayor, council and police chief at the previous meeting for having sent them admittedly “quite emotional” emails regarding the enforcement of speeding laws on Raymond Avenue, had nevertheless indicated he thought h is doing so had caused the township to remove a flashing 25-mph hour sign that had been in front of his house for 18 months. Miller, however, in a lengthy response, claimed the removal of the sig n was unrelated to Brooks’ emails, but rather ha d o c c u r re d b e c au s e a s Tow n sh ip Engineer Tim Staszewski had maintained, the municipality could not endorse the placement of a temporary sign “outside of the standard.” The chief had then told Brooks he “would be derelict in my responsibility” were he to accommodate such a request because “if we go outside of those standards and a crash occurs, there could be liability for the township.” At the latest meeting, Brooks said that his having “received some good news from the township engineer” in regard to the matter had caused him to modify further com ments he had plan ned to make. Instead, he commended the council and police department, and thanked Deputy Mayor Eddie Freeman III for offering “to come out and stand in my driveway and watch the cars go by,” adding, “I really appreciate that gesture.” Then, after making some conciliator y com ments ab out t he i mp or t a n c e of “work i ng together,” he proceeded to thank the mayor and council for ‘helping with the issue on Raymond Avenue.” Brooks, however, didn’t specify exactly what the “good news” consisted of, other than to add, “Hopefully, the sign gets moved.” But Staszewski, in his subsequent monthly report, explained that “some standards were identified that allowed us to relocate or make a recommendation to relocate the driver feedback sign.” Chief Miller, when asked by the Pine Barrens Tribune if he could elaborate on that, replied that he had no firsthand knowledge of whatever the engineer’s recommendations were. On another matter, the chief went to some lengths to clarify why the driver of a vehicle who had been involved in a Nov. 4 crash that killed the 19-year-old operator of a motorcycle, Tyler Ciabotonni, of Marlton, wasn’t subject to criminal prosecution. It was only after” a very comprehensive investigation” into the accident, which attempted to assess all the contributing factors,” according to Miller that a review with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office “determined that the enforcement would be done through municipal traffic law, not through criminal law.” “There have been a lot of questions ab out why,” M i l l e r a ck nowl e dg e d. “One of the answers is that in order to substantiate a violation of the law, we See POLICE/ Page 13

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For the

Foodie One of the stockings hung by your chimney with care may be for a foodie. Fill their plate with these impressive gifts. Pots and Pans A good pot or pan can last generations and these are no exceptions. While whole sets can run into the hundreds of dollars, you can opt for single pots or pans that can fit any budget. Calphalon’s Premier HardAnodized Nonstick 13-inch deep skillet with lid ($143.99) has a durable nonstick coating that Calphalon even says will hold up to using metal utensils. The All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Griddle is 11 inches of pancake-making steel ($59.99). Well, aluminum, actually, with a nonstick coating, double-riveted stainless steel handles and is oven safe up to 500 degrees.

Chow Down Everyone loves a gift you can eat. Just make sure it’s packaged properly and safe under the tree from any pets or kids. Omnom chocolates were founded by chef Kjartan Gislason and entrepreneur Oskar Pordarson.

The candies are small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate in decadent flavors like Black ‘n’ Burnt Barley, flavored with toasted and puffed barley and lava salt ($8.99); cookies and cream, which is white chocolate with hints of vanilla and grass with mildly bitter chocolate cookies crumbled into it ($8.99). The wrappers are fun, too, with geometric animals and trendy colors. Or hit up Murray’s for a box of cheeses to tempt anyone’s tastebuds. Try Roelli Cheese

Hause Red Rock with a pleasant earthiness with veins of blue ($39 per pound) or the gorgeous Alp Blossom, a fragrant cheese coated in dried herbs and flowers from Alpine meadows ($40 per pound).

Platters You eat with your eyes, so give the gift of a beautiful presentation. These platters are as unique as they are pretty, and are ready to

show off your foodie’s greatest creations. For a hint of Old World maximalism, look at Williams Sonoma’s Famille Rose Round Platter ($59.95). This traditional Chinese porcelain dish is hand-decorated with flora and fauna in hues of pink, yellow, red and green. For more modern tastes, look to the space-dyed simplicity of the Julo platter from Crate & Barrel ($49.95). It was made in Portugal and coordinates with the Julo dinnerware collection.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Snap a Great

Christmas Card Photo Greeting cards are among the first signs that the holiday season has arrived. Mailboxes are filled with cards and email inboxes have new messages popping up each day wishing others well. Many of these greetings feature family photos. A Shutterfly poll conducted by Ipsos in 2021 discovered that, while traditional holiday messages are by far the most popular missives at 63 percent, younger age groups show more interest in other types of cards, such as photo cards (between 34 and 38 percent depending on age group). Fortyone percent of people polled prefer to receive photo cards. That means holiday well-wishers may want to brush up on their photography skills. • Keep Cards in the Back of Your Mind. While the Norman Rockwellesque family tableau or a wintry

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Christmas scene is a go-to holiday card, any photo-worthy moment throughout the year can suffice. Keep a lookout for ideas while vacationing or enjoying time together as a family. • Avoid Busy Prints. Stick to solid colors when posing for holiday photos; otherwise, recipients’ eyes may not know where to look when viewing the photo. Photo subjects should coordinate, but wardrobes that completely match can seem contrived. • Plan Around Nap Times. If photos involve young children, schedule the photo shoot to occur when children are well-rested and fed. Now may be the time to offer kids treats they don’t normally get in an effort to reward patience and happy smiles. • Avoid Red Eye. Proper lighting can help avoid the occurrence of “red eye” in photographs, which happens when the flash bounces off a wide pupil. Asking subjects to look into bright light before the photo, or utilizing a camera that snaps a small burst of flash before the actual flash, can help alleviate this problem. •Embrace Candid Shots or Mixups. Some of the funniest and most memorable photos are when things didn’t go according to plan. A crying infant or a parent looking away from the lens may not be magazine worthy, but don’t be so quick to discard those lessthan-perfect snaps.

• Zoom In Tight and Cropped. Card recipients want to look at you and not the surroundings. Avoid landscape shots on holiday cards, and be sure to focus on the subjects’ faces as much as possible. • Angle Correctly for Flattering Photos. Adjust your body posture to look your best. Turn the lower half of your body to the side and then adjust the upper half to move slightly toward the camera to appear more svelte. Position the camera lens at eye level or above to

avoid double chins in photos. • Show Off Your Sense of Humor. You can show friends and family you like to laugh by posing in funny ways or by mimicking pop culture references in your photo cards. Recreate childhood photos of yore, or imitate photos from album covers or movie posters. Relax and have fun with holiday greeting cards. Plan outfits, watch lighting and catch kids at the right time to create memorable cards.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

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For the

Techie One of the stockings hung by your chimney with care may be for a foodie. Fill their plate with these impressive gifts. Hit the Right Note There are thousands of Bluetooth speakers out there, but none of them have the cool factor of the Marshall Middleton ($299.99). Available in cool cream or classic black and brass, the portable speaker goes for 20 hours. If you love the sound of AirPods but need an over-the-ear style, look to the AirPods Max ($549). These sleek headphones come in five colors and bring an immersive listening experience.

Work Tech List-keepers, here’s your gift. The Moleskine Smart Notebook Set ($279.99) is a smart notebook that allows you to take notes, erase, digitize, search, edit, organize, all in a trendy Moleskine cover. This wireless charger has a high cool factor and, bonus, it cleans up your devices while it charges. The Lexon Oblio Wireless Charger and UV Cleaner ($79.90) is a sleek, tulip-shaped bucket that charges Qi-charging smartphones. It comes in three colors: black, dark blue and

gold. Make those remote presentations a snap with the Belkin Face-Tracking Phone Mount ($45.99) that moves with you. It’s MagSafe compatible, so works easily and quickly with the iPhone 14, 13 and 12 series and certified MagSafe cases.

For the Home You can have draft beer in the comfort of your own home with the Fizzics DraftPour beer dispenser ($150.95). It converts any beer’s natural carbonation into a rich, creamy head with enhanced aroma, flavor and mouthfeel. And it goes great with the BioLite FirePit+ ($299.95), a smokeless wood-burning fire pit with a USB rechargeable powerpack. You can adjust your fire using a Bluetooth app to control the size of the flames and, in a pinch, that powerpack can even charge your devices.

Get Fit The Katalyst training system ($2,385) uses electro muscle stimulation technology to deliver a full-body workout in just 20 minutes, without any weights. It’s easy to use and portable, and the company says it’s the first product of its kind to be FDAcleared for consumer use. Recover from your workout with the Venom Go ($129), a super portable heated massager. The Bowflex SelectTech 840 kettlebell ($149) flicks from 8 pounds to 40 pounds with just the turn of a dial. Replace a whole set of kettlebells with just this one item.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

4 Unique Holiday

Party Themes The holiday season is a festive time of year filled with plenty of opportunities to socialize with friends and family. Parties abound this time of year, and many people may find themselves hosting everything from intimate gatherings to large family dinners. As people will be attending many different events in the weeks to come, savvy hosts and hostesses may want to set their occasions apart in different ways. One option is to pick an entertaining party theme that guests can get excited about. A fun theme can provide a break from the standard traditions. Consider these four unique party themes when planning holiday parties.

1. Ornament Exchange Decorating the home is commonplace this time of year. Who couldn’t use a new trinket for the mantle or an ornament to adorn the tree? Ask all guests to bring

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a gift-wrapped ornament to the party. Then place numbers in a bowl and have each guest draw a number; this is the order in which they will then select an ornament. After the first person makes their selection, subsequent guests can choose a new ornament from the pile or “steal” one from those already picked. The guest who picked first then has one last chance to keep or steal at the end.

2. Tropical Holiday The weather outside may be frightful, but a tropical island party can be utterly delightful. Give the event an island flair with fruity drinks, grilled kabobs, coconut desserts, and steel-drum music.

3. Grinch Party A party devoted to the Dr. Seuss character The Grinch can be a fun way to pass time together. While the holidays are supposed to be holly and jolly, a Grinch-themed party can put the emphasis on being a little bit more naughty than nice. And who doesn’t enjoy an ample serving of roast beast? Have guests come decked out in Grinch costumes or Grinch emblazoned t-shirts or other clothing.

4. Christmas Karaoke Set up the karaoke machine or utilize one

of the services available online, and make sure that guests are prepared to belt out their favorite holiday tunes — whether traditional carols or pop hits. A group of ladies can join together for The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” or guests can try their hands at hitting the high notes of Mariah Carey’s

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ubiquitous “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Chances are serving some liquid courage will help guests loosen up and be more inclined to grab the microphone. These are just a few different party themes that holiday hosts can consider this season.

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Christmas Stockings

• Utilize Stocking Holders. Stocking holders are either metal or wooden devices that are placed on mantels. Hooks on the holders suspend the stockings. Just be sure the holders are sturdy enough to handle the weight of a stuffed stocking if you plan on filling it with goodies.

Hanging Christmas stockings is just one of the many traditions that fill the days leading up to Christmas.

• Determine Your Style. There are Christmas stockings that coordinate to just about any interior design style. From farmhouse to modern to traditional, choose one that fits with your aesthetic. That isn’t to say you can’t mix and match stockings if you prefer a more eclectic, homespun feel.

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One theory regarding the origins of stockings says the tradition began when a poor widower who had three daughters worried over having enough money for their wedding dowries to help secure the daughters’ futures. The women, who had hung their stockings by the fireplace to dry, woke up to find solid gold spheres inside. This legend suggests kindly St. Nicholas visited the home in the night and left the presents, helping ensure the daughters could marry well, after all. Christmas stockings were the first places where gifts were stowed, before under the boughs of Christmas trees became the primary spot for placing gifts. Then stockings were secondary vessels reserved for small trinkets. Today stockings are largely Christmas decorations rather than places to place gifts. Still, they’re a key component of holiday magic. When including stockings in holiday festivities, follow these tips for whimsy and more.

• Enhance Your Stocking Look.

Monthly Wednesday Activities:

If stockings are strictly decorative, enhance their look with a few tricks. First, use tissue paper or balled up shopping bags to stuff the stockings and give them shape. Fill a small baggie with sand or florist glass and place in the heel of the stocking to balance it out and prevent the stocking from blowing around in the breeze. • No Fireplace; No Problem. Stockings are traditionally hung from the fireplace mantel, but if you don’t have a fireplace there is no need to fret. Simply use ribbons to hang them from the bannister of a staircase, or hang stockings right on walls with removable hooks, or from sturdy shelves. You also can think creatively and hang larger stockings on a door like you might a wreath. Whether they’re decorative or functional, stockings can be an integral component of holiday decor in a home. Replace a whole set of kettlebells with just this one item.

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Visit us on

Saturday, December 2, 2023

For the

Gardener Plant some smiles with these gifts for the green thumbs on your gift list. Keep good feelings blooming with these gardening gifts.

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or ADS@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM handle any terrain. Womanswork, a woman-owned business that makes accessories designed to fit women, offers gloves that are extra long to protect your arms from bugs and scratches. Get them for $39.95 from Williams Sonoma.

Wildlife

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still give great gifts that will liven up their garden. These adorable ducks from Uncommon Goods ($30-$40 per duck) are wearing cheery blue spotted boots. Or grab a set of six reusable plant markers ($29.99). These fade-proof, smudge-proof 32-inch markers are available from Gardener’s Supply Company.

Many gardeners love to see wildlife in their garden. These gifts encourage the birds and the bees to visit their garden. Hummingbirds are not only beautiful, but they’re pollinators that help our gardens grow. Clad in sleek copper, the Perky Pet Elegant Copper Hummingbird Feeder ($52.99) has a wide opening to make filling and cleaning easier. It holds 12 ounces of hummingbird food. You can also bring all the bees to the yard with the Nature’s Way Green Pine Flush-mount Bee House ($10.98). It attracts solitary bees to hollow bamboo tubes and predrilled blocks.

Staying Comfy in the Garden

Plants

Gardeners can spend all day outside and you can keep them more comfortable with these accessories. Harbor Freight has a rolling work seat with a tool tray that looks like an oldfashioned tractor seat ($74.99). It has a 300-pound capacity and 10-inch tires to

For the gardener, plants are always a welcome gift. But holiday weather isn’t always kind to plants. Look for grow kits and other plants that can, at least temporarily, live inside. Uncommon Goods offers the grow indoor and outdoor olive tree that, eventually, will

Décor

♦ Page S7

even produce olives ($75). The Amazing Creation Stackable Planter ($39.99) is a vertical planter that lets your garden grow up. Each pod in the planter accommodates a 5-inch plant, making it perfect for veggies, flowers, herbs,

succulents and more. For plant parents that like to make propagate, look for a trendy propagation station like the Renmxj Plant Propagation Station ($13.99). It has three bulb vases made of boron silicon heat-resistant glass.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

For the

Bookworm There’s nothing like a good book to cuddle up with on a cold winter’s night. These gifts will make your bookworm smile every time they pick up a good read. Make Sure They Can See For late-night readers, grab a light that won’t bother anyone else trying to sleep. The Hooga book light ($12.99) is a blue-blocking amber LED light that reduces eye strain and helps you enjoy your book without disrupting your circadian rhythm.

Hold Your Place Set your book down and pick it up again at the right place with the COLwood Craft Night Stand Book Holder ($30.39) that props it open at just the right spot without damaging the spine. You can also turn to (get it?) the Poketo brass bookmark in wave ($18). This solid brass bookmark keeps your spot in style. For a minimalist bookmark, turn to Book Darts Line Markers ($18.95) that hold the exact line

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♦ Page S9

you read last. You can also use them to mark passages you want to remember later.

Reading in the Tub Even better than snuggling up with a good book? Reading in a long, hot bath. The Bambusi Free-Standing Bath Caddy ($30.99) not only holds your book, but also your phone, your snacks and your beverage of choice. While you’re reading, light up a book candle from Noble Objects ($38). Choose from beloved titles such as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “War and Peace” and more.

Organize Your Collection Keep all those books straight with the Umbra Conceal Wall Shelf ($38 for a set of three). These floating bookshelves turn your books into décor and are perfect for small spaces. If you need something more, look for the Article Fantol Bookcase, Slim ($499). It’s a leaning shelf with an airy, natural feel. Keep all those books neat with bookends, such as the industrial-feeling Acrimet Premium Bookend ($11 for a pair). Or go whimsical with the Fenestra bookends ($60) from the MoMA Design Store. Take your books with you in a canvas library bookthemed tote bag ($19.50) from Barnes & Noble. This Cavallini & Company bag is 13x17 with an inside pocket to carry all your stories and accessories.

A Victorian Christmas at Smithville Mansion Every room is decorated by local clubs, historical societies, and individuals highlighting this year’s theme HB’s Victorian Christmas.

Christmas Day Tours:

Will be Held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12/7 through 12/30 with exception of 12/24 and 12/25. Adults $10 • Seniors/Students $8

Candlelight Tours:

will be held on 12/14, 12/17, 12/22 and 12/29. The cost is $15 per person. Reservations are required online. www.smithvillemansion.org

The Boutique will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday during the month of December beginning 12/1. Christmas Tea Events: All are sold out. 803 Smithville Road, Eastampton, New Jersey • Call 609-261-3780 for More Information and Reservations.

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Page S10 ♦

For the

Snag the picture-perfect gift for your loved one that’s always on-trend. We’re saving you the trouble of sifting through Amazon or, even worse, social media.

keep your skincare routine cold as ice. The QUBI mini fridge ($169.95, Amazon) features an automatic climate control system to eliminate water left inside the fridge. HIME SAMA’s LED face mask ($139.99) provides seven colors of light therapy to improve pores, calm skin, smooth fine lines and repair skin using natural light waves. Clean all the makeup off your face using just water — no harsh cleansers here — with the Original Make Up Eraser ($20) in several colors. Smooth puffy skin and give your face a luxe massage with Sephora’s cooling wands ($28).

Hair

Makeup

Picture-perfect hair starts at the roots. Olaplex’s Perfector No. 3 Repairing Treatment ($30) treats all hair types with visible damage with once-a-week treatments. Detangle your hair and blow dry it fast with the T3 Dry Vent hair brush ($28). The vented design allows the air to circulate freely while smoothing your strands. Keep that hair smooth as silk with a satin pillowcase ($19, Kitsch) in colors to match any décor. Bring back the 1990s with the hair accessory du jour, the claw clip. Get a set in on-trend colors from Amazon from Shalac ($8.99).

Gift sets are where it’s at for makeup gifts. That way, your recipient gets a variety of products and you don’t drop a ton of cash. Grab a set of travel-sized lip plumpers from Too Faced that hydrate, nourish and visibly plumps lips ($36, Sephora). Bring the drama with the Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara & Drama Liqui-Pencil Liner Gift Set ($39). It comes with 24-hour mascara and eyeliner. Smashbox’s On-Set Esstentials: Primer and Setting Spray Trio ($34) comes with a full-size eye shadow primer, mini blurring primer and mini setting spray.

Fashionista

Skin This mini fridge looks luxe and will

and this Azure gift set has everything you need to get started, including tools and a variety of dips. It’s less than $30 at Amazon. Burts Bees offers up a Tips N Toes Hands and Feet Kit ($26.05) that includes hand cream, lip balm, hand cream, foot cream

Saturday, December 2, 2023

and hand salve. Nail polish, as beautiful as it is, can do a number on your nails, but this recovery system can help. Get a Dermelect Nail Recovery System ($44.25) that includes a nail strengthener, ridge filler, nail thickener and cuticle treatment.

Nails Here are the new nail (gifts)! Dip powder is the latest way to get color on your nails,

Saturday, December 2, 2023

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Because the Best Gifts Bring Comfort and Protection.

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Do’s & Don’ts for

Holiday Wreaths

No greenery is more recognized during the holiday season than Christmas trees. However, wreaths likely take a close second to towering evergreens when it comes to green holiday decor. It is important to treat wreaths with care in order to maximize their longevity and beauty. The following tips can help ensure wreaths remain fresh and festive throughout the month of December. • Choose the Right Design. Select a wreath that is not too busy nor too boring. It is important to strike the right balance. A good wreath has a focal point, which may be a festive bow or another decorative piece. Keep in mind this is a wreath which should have lots of greenery on display, rather than flowers that characterize other seasonal wreaths. • Weigh Your Wreath. Take a moment to ask a salesman how heavy the wreath is when you purchase it. Knowing the weight of the wreath will help you identify the proper hanging mechanism, as hooks are generally characterized by the weight they can hold. A less than sturdy hook can increase the chances the wreath falls down and ends up damaged.

• Determine Your Hanging Method. Once you know the weight of the wreath, you can figure out how to secure it to a door or window without having to drill holes into any structures. Removable adhesive strips are one option, provided you attach something like cardboard or another material to the back of the wreath upon which the adhesive strips can be stuck. Otherwise, over-thedoor wreath hangers are wise investments that can support large, heavy wreaths. • Consider the Safety of Pets. When decorating with plant material, it is important to know what is safe for pets in the household. According to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, most holiday plants cause irritation of the mouth. Pine trees produce oils that can cause gastrointestinal issues. • Exercise Caution with Storm Doors. If you hang a wreath between a glass storm door and your front door, the air around the wreath will heat up and cause the wreath to turn brown. • Choose a Cool Spot. In addition to avoiding heat that builds up between doors, you should select a cool spot out of the hot sun. Many pine trees, like balsam fir, react more favorably to cooler temperatures and will keep their vibrant green color and fragrance more readily. • Go Artificial. If you want to hang a wreath indoors, opt for an artificial one. Prolonged warm temperatures inside may prematurely dry out a fresh wreath, ultimately turning it into a fire hazard. A few pointers can ensure wreaths remain a beautiful component of holiday decor throughout the season. Whether they’re decorative or functional, stockings can be an integral component of holiday decor in a home. Replace a whole set of kettlebells with just this one item.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

DEVELOP

(Continued from Page 1)

Plan for 5 Warehouses Receives Approval The Planning Board gave approval to Pemberton-2, LLC, on Nov. 2, to build five warehouses on a tract in the Birmingham section of the township that is approximately 23.5-acres and will be subdivided into five lots. The vote was 6-1, with Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins casting the lone opposing vote, and his “no” vote receiving loud applause and cheering. Tompkins’ reasons for voting against the application moving forward were extensive, and include: • Reservations about a paper road; • Issues with a stormwater management plan and that a planned solution to add four bays could purportedly create a “bigger problem than designed to solve” based on feedback he received; • Concerns of what he perceived to be “arrogance” on the part of the applicant and its representatives on a “couple” of occasions, including an instance of “snickering and smiling,” which led him to believe “they kind of were making fun of our residents”; • Apprehension about the way the buildings are proposed to be situated, with the plans, he maintained, essentially calling for them to be “sitting over top some of these residences” in which “people in these offices would be looking over some of these properties and residents sitting inside their homes”; • Concerns that cannabis products “could be moving into there very soon”; • Observations that “key people who work within the township” are “involved with this applicant,” including that “two of the property owners – a husband and wife – work for the township, and they own the largest section of property that is part of this development”; • And lastly, “the public just plain doesn’t want it.” The mayor’s vote was followed by that of Democratic Councilman Paul Detrick, also a Planning Board member, whose vote in favor of the application drew some jeers. Planning Board Member Dan Hullings, in casting his vote, said that “while I agree with a lot of what the mayor said, I still have to abide by the rule of law,” declaring, “I am sorry, I did not make the zoning that made this possible.” “I have nothing to do with it,” Hullings further declared. “They are not asking

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 5

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or ADS@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM anything of us outside of what they are allowed to do.” Hullings, just prior to casting a vote in favor of approving the application, asked those gathered for what was one of several meetings on it, “If any of you owned land, think about the day you need to come to me and say you want to do something legal on your property and I simply tell you ‘no’ because I don’t want you to do it – how would you feel then?” Richard Brown, also a member of the Planning Board, said that while he is also voting ‘yes,’ asserted, “I must tell you I have been very disturbed by the whole rash of warehouse problems, and we can’t turn back the clock.” “If you go back and look at all these warehouse redevelopment areas approved by the town, it is a disgrace,” Brown declared. “It has brought about more sadness and caused people to become more upset than I think I have ever seen. I was on the Planning Board back in the 80s and 90s, and we never had anything like this. But now, it is just like it is every day.” Brown added that while he “feels very bad for you and about all the stuff that has happened here” (continuing claims of heavy truck traffic, yard flooding, etc. brought about by an initial warehouse recently built in Birmingham that is 509,038 square-feet, with that project having ties to Pemberton-2, LLC), the reality is “these folks who have come in, have met the requirements of our ordinance.” “As much as I would like to say, ‘Heck, we are going to ignore this,’ I can’t say that legally,” Brown concluded. S evera l of t he re side nt s, i n t u r n, attended the Nov. 8 council session, maintaining that they had been told by members of the Planning Board to go to the council to complain because “they approved it,” or made it possible for the warehouses to be built. Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer initially responded, however, that “land use applications don’t go before council, they go before the Planning and Zoning Boards.” As residents, however, continued to recall the comments of the Planning Board members, Bayer maintained that they were “conflating two things.” “Under the law, the governing body creates zoning ordinances,” Bayer said. “Any applications are made under the GCLI (General Commercial Light Industrial District) zoning, which has been in place since the 70s.” However, the township solicitor ultimately acknowledged, “Yeah, in 1980, the (then-) council adopted an ordinance, which allowed it, and then the contract-purchaser (for the land) filed an application that was before the Planning Board for approval.” “If it meets approval, it is hard to vote ‘no’ because of the law,” Bayer emphasized.

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“Because if an application meets the requirements of the zoning standards, and they deny it, they are going to get sued and the Planning Board owns it.” Some residents appeared to be taken ab a ck t h at t he i r mont h s’ wor t h of investment in protesting the application was all for nothing. Resident Michelle Forman, however, grilled Bayer as to what possible avenues remain to potentially appeal the decision. Bayer appeared to squirm at such a question, recognizing that an “appeal is a lawsuit” and that from his position being the township attorney, “I don’t like to encourage lawsuits against the municipality.” But Forman, in further pressing the township solicitor, got him to point to the state statute allowing for an appeal to be filed as “proceeding in lieu of prerogative writ” in the Superior Court, though the township solicitor at one point quipped, “I am not your lawyer, Michelle.” (Bayer did not say, however, that an individual has 45 days from the time of a decision to file such a motion.) Forman, in recognizing the overall consensus of those in council chambers, asked that even if officials believe everything is “100 percent right” with the approval, “When do you give consideration to all these people who come to all these meetings?” (Who have mostly spoken out against warehousing, and development.) Longtime meeting attendee America Phillips, in specifically directing her comments to Bayer, asserted, “We are taxpayers paying your salary, and you should represent the residents.” “And don’t throw us under the bus!” she maintained. “You are the one that has to represent us – please take into consideration these people working very hard (at protesting the development).” Phillips, in pointing to the comments of some of the Planning Board members about who is at fault, also asked, “Who is telling me the truth - that side or this side?” “I am confused,” she added of who bears responsibility for approving the warehouses.

5 Other Warehouses Under Consideration “Frustrated” Catherine Pennino, of the Birmingham section of the township, a 23year resident of the community, demanded to know from officials on Nov. 8, “What other warehouses are in the pipeline?”, following the Nov. 2 approval of five additional warehouses in Birmingham. “Where are they going to be located?” she further asked. “What is the square footage of each of the warehouses, and where are the entranceways/access points of each of the warehouses? What is in the pipeline?” Tompkins answered that in addition to “the five warehouses that are approved,” one

more is planned near Route 206 and Powell Road that will be 800,000 to 850,000 squarefeet, though the square footage “may vary depending on how they develop it around a farmhouse that a lot of us want to try and preserve that is 300 years old.” That property, he noted, is on the EastamptonPemberton Township border. “It is as far away from the township center as you can get,” Tompkins maintained. “It is almost in another town.” The mayor advised the resident “to then go to the other extreme” on Route 206, or Pemberton’s border with Springfield Township, and on the other side of Little Construction Company, a developer is “looking to put two smaller warehouses” there, or on what is known as the Mattson Farm. These two warehouses, according to the mayor, would be like what was just approved for Birmingham – the kind that are for light industrial use. Yet another warehouse, Tompk ins recounted, is slated for the Cramer Farm that currently comprises an antenna farm at the end of Birmingham Road, where it intersects with N. Pemberton Road, though he said the antenna farm will remain “from my understanding.” And the “last one” is slated for “right across the street” on the corner of N. Pemberton and Birmingham roads. Beside the large warehouse that is planned, Tompkins said he could not recall the proposed square footage for the others. When Pennino asked what is the “process” for the warehouses that are proposed, Tompkins responded they are “before the Planning Board now – they are already on the schedule.” “So, they have already been approved?” she asked, to which Tompkins answered, “Ma’am, they have already been in the pipeline for a while,” to which Pennino quipped, “I don’t remember seeing this stuff” and that they seem to get “slipped in,” resulting in the response from Bayer that land use applications aren’t seen by the council, but rather the Planning and Zoning Boards. (The zoning was adopted by council in the 1970s, and in some areas, warehousing was made a permitted use, and the latest Master Plan from 2014 essentially reinforced the prior planning. Since then, and up through the pandemic, in certain, specific areas of the township, the then-council declared areas in need of redevelopment to further modify the zoning to entice such redevelopment, or broadening/adding the allowable uses [meeting attendance was poor on several of those occasions]. If a developer files an application for a permitted use, they are grandfathered under the established zoning at the time as dictated by the Time of Decision Law. The Planning Board, in reviewing site plans, is to ensure any See DEVELOP/ Page 9

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CHARGES

(Continued from Page 1) The indictment came down just days after the Pemberton Township Planning Board approved an application for five warehouses to be built at 316 Birmingham Road by Pemberton-2, LLC, a firm that has an apparent connection to Seldat Distribution, Inc., as previously reported by this newspaper, with an online search conducted earlier this year for Pemberton-2, LLC, bringing one to a website for DD1 Development, or the developer of the Seldat Warehouse in Pemberton Township. Several links on Google for that website that had worked previously, as of the afternoon of Nov. 29, now bring this newspaper to the message, “This site can’t be reached.” But word that the Seldat Distribution CEO, with ties to an already highlycontroversial warehouse project, is facing four counts of bank fraud and two counts of transacting in criminal proceeds is already causing further fury and concern with the recently built warehouse as well as proposed development, with a member of the Birmingham Stop the Warehouses movement providing a copy of the criminal complaint to this newspaper, and sources telling this newspaper that at least a couple Pemberton councilmembers have since raised serious concerns to the township Administration that the company’s assets could ultimately be frozen, leaving behind vacant facilities and threatening muchadvertised “jobs” the operations were supposed to bring to the town, as well as an added township revenue source. “We have asked Special Counsel to contact the U.S. Attorney assigned to the case, to engage us, as the process unfolds to ensure that the township’s interests are considered,” said Pemberton Township Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel to the Pine Barrens Tribune on Nov. 29 when asked about the possibility that the firm’s assets could be frozen. “While the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) may take the action you indicated, Special Counsel will be asking the U.S. Attorney's Office to preserve the warehouse as a going concern, so that people do not face job losses and so the township can continue to receive quarterly PILOT payments. The operator has a multiyear lease with a tenant, and we’re hopeful the USAO will take that into account.” The facility appeared to be in use on Nov. 29, with vehicles going in and out of its parking lot. Dadoun, according to the criminal complaint, is “associated with various bu si ne s s e s lo c at e d i n New Jer s ey,” including DG Distiservices, LLC; Seldat Distribution, Inc.; Seldat Staffing, Inc.; Seldat Fashion, LLC; and 200 S. Pemberton Urban Renewal, LLC. The complaint alleges that Dadoun “made numerous false statements and misrepresentations to fraudulently obtain over $3.2 million in federal COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses and that he then “diverted the proceeds to his own use, transferring funds among bank ac counts that he controlled and using the funds for other business ventures.” It is alleged Dadoun defrauded four financial institutions in North Carolina, New Jersey, Utah and New York, taking out a total of four PPP loans over the course of several months. “It is not only alleged that Dadoun defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program by submitting false loan applications, but he anted up the game by submitting fraudulent loan forgiveness applications,” Thomas M. Fattorusso, special agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York, said in a press release. “Dadoun may have known how to work the benefit system for his own financial

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM gain, but now it’s law enforcement and the judicial system that will work to hold him accountable for his crimes.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from April 2020 through August 2022, Dadoun engaged in a scheme to illegally obtain over $3.2 million in PPP loans on behalf of businesses located in New Jersey by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications. After receiving the PPP loan proceeds, Dadoun sought to keep the money by submitting false and fraudulent PPP loan forgiveness applications. The loan applications misrepresented i n for m at ion ab out t h e c o mp a n i e s , including the number of employees and payroll expenses. In support of the loan applications and subsequent applications for loan forgiveness, Dadoun submitted falsified tax documents, altered and falsified bank statements, an altered and falsified lease agreement, and a false letter purportedly signed by a New Jersey accountant. Specifically, in applying for a PPP loan for Seldat Distribution on April 13, 2020, Dadoun is said to have “falsely stated,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, that the firm had approximately 400 employees and an average monthly payroll of about $850,000. However, IRS records at the time showed that the company only had 97 employees during the first quarter of 2020 and an average monthly payroll of less than $170,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office maintained. Then, in completing the loan application, Dadoun is accused of “also submitting a false IRS Form 941,” or one that was never actually filed with the IRS, which stated that Seldat Distribution had approximately 263 employees and paid about $624,068 in wages from Jan. 1, 2020, to Feb. 15, 2020. Then, a day after a lender in Cherry Hill disbursed a $2,215,000 loan to Dadoun, the Seldat Distribution CEO is accused of transferring the full amount to a bank account for Seldat Fashion. On the same day, $2,100,000 of the funds were transferred to a “Seldat Distribution Bank Account 2,” with most of those funds later being put in a bank account for DG Distiservices. On Sept. 1, 2021, when filing an application for loan forgiveness, Dadoun is alleged to have stated the Seldat Distribution had 110 employees at the time, but according to IRS documents, he only had three employees on the rolls for the firm in the first quarter of 2021, and no employees for the remainder of that year. In trying to support the provided figures on the forgiveness application, it is alleged that Dadoun “submitted a false bank statement that contained several transactions that were altered to support false representations” made to the Cherry Hill lender. Those “false statements” had led the Cherry Hill lender to partially forgive the loan, the criminal complaint charges. “Daniel Dadoun is alleged to have engaged in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud for personal gain without any regard for the United States taxpayer and undermined the public trust in government programs,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “HSI takes allegations of fraud seriously and will continue to pursue these crimes vigorously.” Dadoun, in taking out a PPP loan for Seldat Staffing on May 11, 2020, according to the criminal complaint, stated that he was “not the owner of any other business” all while he owned “several other businesses.” For the staffing services business, he reportedly put down on a PPP application that he had about 80 employees and a monthly payroll of $74,064. But investigators, in reviewing IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) records for the business, found that it had no employees and paid no wages between 2018 and 2021. See CHARGES/ Page 10

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(Continued from Page 2) approaching deadline, added, “We Are STILL HERE … and NOTHING has changed here for the residents of Saint Davids Place – absolutely nothing.” During the Nov. 21 committee session, Evelyn “Evie” Doherty, president of the LeisureTowne Board of Trustees, while in attendance, made no mention of the unit. She previously wrote a communication to residents about the second option being pursued, asking for their patience and also maintained the exact location for any relocation is not yet known, but that the board is continuing to pursue relocation. What Doherty did do on Nov. 21, however, is ask for better communication from the township, in particular from Township Administrator and Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman, so that the retirement community’s manager could relay to residents, via a robocall, any changes in the township’s trash collection schedule, including those because of the holidays.

DEMO

(Continued from Page 3) neighborhood compared with the existing condition of the property; • The structural integrity of the log structure and the economic feasibility of restoring, repairing, or rehabilitating the structure; • Whether the structure is a traditional full log structure, a newer or partial log structure or a simulated log structure; • Whether the structure poses a threat to public health and safety pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code (UCC); • Whether the cost of repairing the structure exceeds 100 percent of the traditional full log cabin structures’ e qu a l i z e d i mprove m e nt a s s e s s e d value employing fully chinked log construction in whole or in part; • W hether the rest of repair ing the structure exceeds 75 percent of the newer or partial log structure or a simulated log str ucture equalized improvement assessed value employing reconstruction in whole or in part; and • A fully chinked traditional full log cabin structure that is demolished is to be replaced with a fully chinked full log cabin structure. If the Historic Preservation Commission recommends approving an application, the Planning Board would have 45 days to review the recommendation and make a

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Mikulski replied that the collection schedule, including any holiday changes, are posted on the township website and decided in the beginning of the year, with Hoffman adding that one can find the schedule under the Public Works tab of the website, with messaging put in a pop-up window in the right corner of the homepage around the time periods of the holidays. “He or she should be able to get an entire years’ worth,” said Mikulski of the retirement community manager, by looking on the township website. But Doherty shot back that she herself has “gone on your website time and time again” and it is “very hard to find” the information and that, “I think it would be great to change it.” “I will look at it,” the mayor responded. “I have no problem to remind you, as a secondary reminder, but they should be able to find it at the beginning of the year.” Prior to public comment, the township committee adopted an ordinance – without anyone objecting during a public hearing – that would implement, beginning in January 2024, what was supposed to have been a 2017 mobile home park licensing fee increase, but

that didn’t happen because of some sort of an oversight. When the township had tried to enforce the provision earlier this year, there was a purported “protest” from a park owner (with the existing code making no mention of dates for after 2016). Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2024, “and for each year forward,” according to the ordinance, is that the “township shall charge and collect for the license an annual fee of $200 and the sum of $7 per calendar week for each mobile home occupying any space in the mobile home park during the calendar week or part thereof.” Additionally, the township is seeking to charge $14 per calendar week for any mobile home that is “greater than 18 feet wide, or more than one story in height.” “The township committee originally adopted this back in 2017,” Mikulski said. “There was some dispute over the wording – this is basically cleaning up the wording. There will be a $200 annual fee, and $7 (charge) per calendar week.” Hoffman pointed out that for a “double” (double-wide mobile home) the fee for the calendar week “of course, doubles,” or what amounts to the $14 per calendar week. In a report to the township committee,

Hoffman announced that “we had two electric car charging stations put in” at the Robert L. Thompson (Southampton Township) Municipal Building and they are “up and operational” at 5 Retreat Road. “Has anyone used them?” asked Mikulski, to which Hoffman replied, “No, not yet.” (Democratic Governor Phil Murphy issued an administrative order last week limiting the number of gasoline vehicles that can be sold in New Jersey beginning in 2027, but implementing an outright ban starting in 2035.) The meeting concluded with Committeemen James F. Young, Sr. and Heston announcing that the township Christmas Tree Lighting will be on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m., and the township’s Holiday Concert will be held on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. “Please bring a gift certificate for a child,” asked Young of attendees, with Heston adding that “if you are able and wish to, bring a gift card and the school nurse will sort it in denominations.” “Each family gets approximately the same amount,” Heston said. “It has been working really well.”

final determination, and if the commission recommends a denial of an application, the Planning Board would also have 45 days to hear an appeal and make a final determination. If the Plann ing Board finds in an applicant’s favor, it would issue a “demolition permit,” the proposed ordinance states. “I thought it was nicely written – well written – and comprehensive as we can be with this issue,” said Dr. Gary Miller, mayor of Medford Lakes. “Let’s see what the board wants to do with it.” Boroug h Clerk Mark J. McIntosh previously explained to this newspaper that the Planning Board recently heard an application to demolish a log cabin in the municipality’s Historic District at 140 Chippewa Trail and that it is “one of our original cabins,” with part of it having been built back in 1929. The application, he said, “kind of caused concern with the planning board” because the “planning board felt the current ordinance doesn't support the kind of questions they wanted to have answered,” and that despite the applicant’s professionals having “provided answers to the board,” the body “felt the historic ordinance should be reviewed by the governing body and beefed up a little bit more.” Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold also previously explained that the borough’s existing demolition ordinance is “very short” and “doesn’t provide a lot of guidance as to the standards” that should be applied by the Planning Board when deciding any approval. The borough’s demolition ordinance, he declared, “could be a lot stronger.” According to a copy of the proposed

ordinance provided to this newspaper on Nov. 15, the current borough code simply stated, “Demolition of any structure employing log construction in whole or in part, either hidden or visible, shall be permitted only if the Construction Code Official determines that the structure poses an immediate danger to public health or safety, or if, in the best estimate of said public official, the cost of repairing the structure exceeds 75 percent of the cost of replacing it in kind.” The borough, through the proposed ordinance, maintains that “the presence and preservation of our log cabins are essential to the unique identity of Medford Lakes, constituting a signature element to the unique sense of place that living in and visiting the borough offers our residents and the public at large.” It is added that the council “finds that revision of the demolition procedure is necessary in order to establish guidelines c onsist ent w ith the Me d ford Lake s Master Plan Community Design Plan Element of 2016, and the Medford Lakes Demolition Controls and Process Ordinance Recommendations of Sept. 1, 2023, to provide for the review and evaluation of demolition of log structures so as to regulate such demolitions more effectively, and to the greatest extent, seek to prevent demolition of same, and to more generally seek to preserve log structures within the Borough of Medford Lakes.” Also during council’s Nov. 15 session, the governing body awarded a $32,625 contract to Grayson Contracting Company, of Millstone, to “supply and install” a roof for the Medford

Lakes firehouse. Grayson was one of four bidders, with the next closest bid at $47,482 and the highest bid placed at $111,357. Deputy Mayor William Fields asked if the contractor is “going to be reconstructing the roof, or will put a roof on top of roofing?” McIntosh answered that “the bid went out strictly to replace what is there,” but that when tearing off of the existing roofing occurs, there is a chance a “minimal” change order might be needed to address any additional findings. When Fields recounted that the roof is over an existing peak, an official responded that they think what might be under it is in “good shape.” Council also approved the purchase of $3,504 in turnout gear for the fire department. The meeting concluded with McIntosh explaining that the borough received a request from a resident to start leaf composting. “Can we have the leaves and compost ourselves, on our own property?” said McIntosh of what the letter writer asked. “The answer is ‘yes,’ but we have to have an extensive DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) permit, and I am doubtful that on the property we own, we can do that, or that it is acceptable, because it is too close to the creek, and things like that. But it is something we will look at again, but we had looked at in the past.” Miller maintained the “volume is too great” for the borough to begin leaf composting, with McIntosh agreeing that it would be quite an effort, adding “then there is an odor, too” to consider.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

DEVELOP

(Continued from Page 5) submitted plans meet the set standards. In other words, the time has well passed for residents to stop much of the ongoing redevelopment proposals without a court order. The only real action council can take, moving forward, is to prevent future applications coming in by changing uses.) After questioning what is the point of attending the sessions if essentially the applications have already been approved, Pennino pressed officials as to whether it was true that one of the warehouses would have an accessway onto Bir mingham Road, even though the warehouse will be on Route 206. “The application is scheduled before the Planning Board, and as a Planning Board member, I really shouldn’t be talking about any active applications,” Tompkins answered. “But if you go look at the drawings on file in Community Development, unless there has been a change, you will probably see the access to that warehouse will probably be on Birmingham Road. But that is subject to change.” Pennino shot back, “Well, wouldn’t you think that should be subject to change!” “This is our town!” Pennino further declared. “It is not … we got bullied on that thing the other night!” While someone in the audience quipped, “They are trying to run us out of town!”, Pennino asserted, “I am trying to figure out whether or not I should put my house up for sale so that I can get the hell out of here!”

Delays on Measure to Curtail Warehousing As Pennino saw it, “We know you have been working on warehouses – you just can’t wait to approve them.” “It is so we can take care of this tax situation,” said Pennino of some officials justi fy i ng welc om i ng the warehous e industry to town to increase ratables. “My taxes went up $600, and I am sure so did everybody else’s. So, I hope this is really going to be the solution, but then you are going to have to spend quite a bit of money having to fix up the roads after you have all this construction and new people coming into the town.” When approving the redevelopment agreements for some of the warehouses to be built on Route 206, two Republican c ou n c i l m e n c a mp a ig n e d t o c h a ng e course now, while a third, a Democratic councilwoman, Elisabeth McCartney, expressed the need to end warehousing after those projects were approved. Since then, council has been entertaining a n ord i n a n c e t h at wou l d a m e nd a

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or ADS@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM redevelopment plan for the area of Route 206 and S. Pemberton Road, modifying the “locations and associated zoning standards for warehouses within the township.” The ordinance was due for a second reading and public hearing on Nov. 8, but that did not happen, with Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel explaining that while the ordinance was sent to the Planning Board for a required review prior to council adoption, “I’ve not heard anything back from the Planning Board.” Council had also decided to create a subcommittee to steady warehousing in town, but while Planning Board Chairman Steven Borders was asked to appoint a representative of the Planning Board to it, “I’ve not heard back, unfortunately,” Hornickel said. Members of council asked legal counsel about whether they should proc e ed, anyhow, on the ordinance (until any amendments to the township zoning is adopted and advertised, applicants can continue to file applications in town hall for warehousing.) Bayer called what was before them a “pretty comprehensive zoning ordinance,” maintaining, “I think you would want to hear from the board.” “For the warehouse subcom mittee, I don’t know where that is in terms of meeting, but I think this ordinance is taking on topics you would want to hear from them on,” Bayer continued. “This is not a legal view, but a personal view.” However, since the measure was “referred a while ago,” Bayer maintained, “you can move ahead without a Planning Board recommendation, legally.” Detrick, a former practicing attorney, however, responded that he has looked over what is proposed and it “has got specific language” in it that is “confusing” and “not really acceptable.” “Also, some of the content of it, I think needs more work, myself,” Detrick added. Democratic Council President Donovan Gardner expressed his belief that the “Planning Board should take a look at it, before we decide something on it.” Republican Councilman Joshua Ward said that while he is “not trying to delay this anymore than it has to,” he would rather get the changes “right the first time than to have to go back and chop it up.” The measure, as is, contains “very convoluted” language, Ward maintained, and as one of the residents living in Birmingham observed earlier on Nov. 8, it is not specified in the draft measure what zone Birmingham would fall under. “I think, yes, you definitely need a member of the Planning Board to get on the subcommittee, and get it done as quickly as possible,” Ward added. Detrick, however, contended someone had be en chosen to ser ve on the

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES ♦ Page 9

subcommittee, but that the person and his wife fell ill with COVID. Tompk i ns, i n response, said, “I’d like to see us move forward on this to be honest,” with Ward asserting, “The faster, the better.” “The community has been waiting on a decision for quite some time,” Ward recognized. “Believe me, we are all trying to get this done for everybody.” It was decided to have the subcommittee meet later in November, and to proceed w ithout a Plan n i ng Board me mb er, if need be, as well as to carry forward the proposed ordinanc e to council’s December session.

‘Redevelop Things That Need Redeveloped!’ A second ordinance on council’s Nov. 8 agenda was titled, “Approving the Amended Bobolink Boulevard Scattered Sites Redevelopment Plan.” “The more you develop Pemberton, the worse it is going to get,” declared local far mer Valerie Roohr. “Putting more houses in is not going to fix Pemberton. Fix the houses that need fixing! Redevelop things that need to be redeveloped! Don’t develop more and take ground! We want you to fix things that are broken, not tear up ground and break it! We don’t want you to break new ground, we want you to fix old ground!” She maintained other com munities are finding ways to br ing com merc e to town by holding holiday events, for example, while Pemberton is “putting up warehouses” and “tearing up ground, instead of making a community!” It was after Resident Pat Guthrie asserted, “I don’t think ripping up a farm or destroying a forest is a source of improvement,” that Gardner clarified the Bobolink project does not entail warehouses. Rather, a combi nation of officials – Gardner, Hornickel, Tompkins and Detrick – explained that this particular development proje ct would be going behind The El Sombrero Motel and that a “development is already there,” and the intent of this project is “infill development” with there being housing on most sides of the project area. “It is a highly developed area with residences, and this is allowing them to take some of the houses and put them on lots between other houses and do something with them,” Detrick explained. When Guthrie quipped, this project wou ld si mply “make the m more congested,” Detrick acknowledged, “Yes, it will be more congested.” “I don’t know what you guys are doing, honestly,” said Guthrie, apparently floored as to why the council wasn’t acting on behalf of the scores of residents coming

Protectors Of Public Health & Property

out to the sessions imploring council to put a stop to the redevelopment. All of this led Forman to ask, “What’s wrong with having a few empty lots or ones with trees on them so that kids can run around on them, or for them to be not so congested?” When For man maintained she had been told 90 units would be constructed, Hornickel clarified, “60 houses and the amendment may give them another six.” Bayer further clarified that “this ordinance amends the prior plan to include six additional houses in the neighborhood.” (Hornickel later further clarified to this newspaper that the Bobolink area has been slated for development since at least 2007 and the area at issue is currently vacant. There are homes, he said, that sit directly to the North, East and South, with the Ong’s Run bordering the property to the West. It is infill development within the existing R-80 [Residential on 8,000 SF lots] zone, he noted. “There are no homes on the blocks and lots desig nated as the Bobol in k Re development A re a,” the bu si ne s s a d m i n i s t r a t o r a d d e d . “ T h e i n it i a l Bobolink Redevelopment Plan envisioned approximately 60 dwellings; the amended plan is expected to yield six more units.”) But the most raucous par t of the i ntens e, th re e -and-a-hal f hou r-long me eting came when both Bayer and Hornickel contended the township stands to gain $1.15 million from the sale of the properties and will gain additional revenue from connection fees. Tompkins said the tow nsh ip st ands to re c eive approximately $6,000 in taxes for each home, or collect a total of $400,000 in property taxes, half of which will go to the municipality, and the other half to the school district, with Bayer emphasizing this project will put these vacant parcels back on the tax rolls. “The point is you are cutting down trees!” Forman declared. “Pemberton Township, right now, there is so much development.” In further declaring, “You don’t have to take up every spot,” she once again asked, “What is wrong with leaving a bit of space?” And “more and more people,” she said, equates to “more of a traffic problem.” Things turned even more fiery when resident Stephen Mark Georgia asked, “Has anyone considered the amount of children you will have to educate, or would this be an adult development?” “Every time we talk about age-restricted development, we have s chool board members come up and say, ‘You can’t do that, because it limits the number of children going to the schools, which limits the amount of funding from the state and federal government.” See DEVELOP/ Page 11

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WORSHIP GUIDE

CHARGES

(Continued from Page 6) Dadoun, also in this case, is alleged to have submitted false tax documents with the loan application, including a false IRS form 941 that showed Seldat Staffing had employees and paid wages in 2019. Another document, that turned out to be a false IRS Schedule K-1 with an attached IRS Form 1065, purported to show that Individual-1 was entitled to a 100 percent share of the profits of Seldat Staffing and that the person got $96,743 in ordinary business income in 2019. But, authorities learned the document contained a “false Social Security number” for that purported person and that it had never been filed with the IRS. Additionally, investigators determined that Seldat Staffing never reported any income for 2019 and that bank statements provided to obtain the money were false. When it came time to seek forgiveness for the $185,162 that was ultimately disbursed to Dadoun from a lender in Sandy, Utah for Seldat Staffing, the criminal complaint states, the CEO turned in a forgiveness application claiming he had approximately 35 employees and had payroll costs of about $361,585 from May 26, 2020, to Oct. 30, 2020. The loan had been forgiven. But authorities found IRS and SSA records showing the firm had no employees and paid no wages in 2020, the criminal complaint states. For DG Distiservices, in seeking a first draw PPP loan, Dadoun is alleged to have put down on an application that he had 100 employees and an average monthly payroll of about $185,923. But IRS and SSA records on file with the federal government, the indictment states, found the firm had no employees in 2019 and only four in the first quarter of 2020. And the firm had paid no

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WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM wages in 2019 and an average payroll of less than $15,000 in the first quarter of 2020, authorities said they learned from records on file with the agencies. Yet another false IRS form (having reportedly never been filed), the complaint claims, stated that DG Distiservices paid $2,156,747 to employees in 2019, with a second one stating the firm had around 453 employees and paid $1,475,228 to them from Jan. 1, 2020, to Feb. 15, 2020. But based on the purportedly supplied information on the PPP application for this business, a lender in Charlotte, North Carolina gave Dadoun $464,805, debiting it in a bank account for the company. But then, on the next day, Dadoun is alleged to have transferred about $115,000 to a Vietnamese bank account in his name, as well as a bank account in Canada. But on Sept. 2, 2021, Dadoun, i n submitting an application for forgiveness, provided “a false lease agreement and altered bank statements,” which the U.S. Attorney’s Office claims was in a bid to “support false representations made” to the North Carolina firm. The loan in this case had also been forgiven based on those purportedly false documents and statements. It was on Feb. 22, 2021, when a second draw PPP loan was pursued for DG Distiservices, and while that particular loan application listed another individual as the contact person, according to the criminal complaint, the provided contact phone number belonged to Dadoun. And investigators learned the application contained a false Social Security number, the indictment added. Additionally, while it was listed on the application for a second draw that DG Distiservices had about 150 employees with an average monthly payroll of $185,922, IRS and SSA records painted a different picture,

showing the firm in 2020 and 2021 only had a “maximum” of 63 employees and an average monthly payroll of less than $60,000. Yet again, authorities allege a number of false documents were turned in, including one showing that “Individual-1 was entitled to a 100 percent share of the profits of DG Distiservices and that Individual-1 received approximately $93,743 in ordinary business income in 2019.” However, the Social Security number on it had never been filed with the IRS, authorities maintained. And investigators learned that Dadoun submitted a letter claiming to be from a tax preparer “together with documents that purported to reflect financial statements for the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2020” for DG Distiservices, but that they had not actually been prepared by one and “did not reflect accurate financial information regarding DG Distiservices.” After getting another draw of $464,805, on the same day the funds were received, the CEO took $350,000 and transferred it, with then $5,000 transferred to a Vietnamese bank account in his name, the criminal complaint alleges, with another roughly $70,000, two days later, transferred to a bank in Israel. This second draw loan was also ultimately forgiven, but based on what amounted to more false and altered bank statements. The criminal complaint, signed by James R. Haines, a special agent of the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations Unit, concludes that “the loan proceeds for the two DG Distiservices PPP loans and the Seldat Staffing PPP loan were deposited by the victim-lenders directly into the DG Distiservices bank account” and that “as described above, all but $25,000 of the loan proceeds for the Seldat Distribution PPP loan was also transferred – through other accounts – to the DG Distiservices Bank Account. “Bank records indicate sig nificant

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spending from the DG Distiservices Bank Account on behalf of 200 South Pemberton Urban Renewal, LLC, an entity controlled by Dadoun, for construction of a multimilliondollar warehouse in Pemberton, New Jersey. “The total loss to the victims was approximately $3,239,773.” Dadoun, 47, formerly of South Plainfield, New Jersey, and who holds French, Canadian and Israeli passports, after being charged with the four counts of bank fraud and two counts of transacting in criminal proceeds, made an initial appearance on Nov. 13, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court. He was reportedly detained after that initial appearance. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charges of bank fraud each carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The charges of transacting in criminal proceeds each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest. “The allegations in this complaint describe the falsifying of documents in order to secure loans and then submitting fraudulent documents to have those loans forgiven,” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger declared in a press release. “These programs were designed to help Americans struggling through the pandemic. Our office will combat this type of fraud whenever we encounter it.” Prior to going offline, the Pemberton-2, LLC, website had claimed in April 2022 that it had developed a budget of $60 million for the Pemberton-2 project.

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♦ Page 11

DEVELOP

(Continued from Page 9) Georgia, however, kept returning to his question of whether the number of children such a development could possibly bring to the township has been a consideration. Ultimately, Bayer said about 80 children could be added, and when Georgia pressed him whether it was known “at what cost,” the solicitor deferred to the local school board. “Hold on!” Georgia shot back. “The reason I am asking if you have considered that, is you are talking about a builder paying this ($1.15 million), but when you educate a child, you are talking about a 12year project, and costs are going up. How can you be approving a project and not considering the amount of children?” S o m e t h i ng i s w ro ng , h e f u r t h e r maintained, with council not considering the potential “huge bill” for education. Tompkins responded that it would “balance out” because “if you talk to some of the school professionals, our schools are losing children because of the way the population is,” and by losing population, the schools are seeing less state and federal aid. Georgia, who emphasized the need for the township to shift gears and look at grant opportunities, shot back that a developer may have “just paid a million dollars for this,” but asked, “In 10 years, what is that costing us, and will you have the tax revenues to justify paying the education of these children?” He further added the focus should be in filling the vacant storefronts in town because

BRIDGE

(Continued from Page 3) One of the things a task force could do, Cavileer maintained, is “check on the practice” of the bridge tender, charging that the person has been observed leaving the bridge open for boats that are still a “long distance” away from arriving at the drawbridge, and is also not requesting that boats first try to lower their antennas (which might allow them to have enough clearance to safely pass under the drawbridge without requiring an opening). “Because by leaving it up, then putting it down, and then putting it right back up, cars are backing up, and we can’t get drivers to get an ambulance out,” Cavileer said. The current practice is creating a “ripple effect” that is affecting things down to the

RUMBLE

(Continued from Page 2) that a rumble strip “does cause noise.” The resident of Ridge Road who registered the complaint, according to the township administrator, has “requested that they be removed” because she “has migraines and can’t sleep.” “If we do put them in, we have to be mindful where we put them, so they don’t interfere with anybody’s ability to sleep,” Hoffman declared. Officials did not say how they plan to address the Ridge Road complaint. According to various online sources, rumble strips (also known as sleeper lines or alert strips), by nature, “alert inattentive drivers” by causing a “tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the vehicle interior.” The various online sources contend they are proven to reduce the number of traffic accidents where applied. Mikulski maintained rumble strips are

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without them filled, “Who would want to come to Pemberton?” and that as a past business owner, he knows, “businesses bring revenue” to the town and “not children,” the latter which requires tax dollars to educate.

Despite a lot of protest, the Bobolink redevelopment amendment passed, 4-0, with GOP Councilman Dan Dewey attending the session by Zoom, but unable to be heard during the entire session, including during voting.

E ditor’s Note: T he CEO of Seld at Distribution, Inc., was indicted after the Planning Board and Council meetings on charges of a PPP loan scheme – see separate story.

squad transports, she further maintained. “I am thinking they should go to scheduled openings with a time period of on-the-hour, ten minutes, so that way you know, ahead of time, it is five minutes after nine o’clock, and you have to take the long way around or wait five minutes for the bridge (to come down) … scheduled openings and closings.” In a later report to the Washington committee, Committeeman C. Leigh Gadd, Jr. declared that he “finally had a virtual meeting with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)” on Oct. 19 about the lease for the Washington Township Senior Citizens Center “after months and months of trying to get this accomplished.” Questions, he said, were posed about the lease and he is “waiting for a response.” The senior center, a former state ranger station, has been closed for several years now due to it being in disrepair, with concerns over

the lease apparently being in the way of what the township needs to do to reopen the facility. In noting that it has taken “two years or more” to get to this point, Gadd said the NJDEP “did not give me a timeline” for when it would respond to the outstanding questions, but it was told to the agency that the township is “prepared to do what we need to do to get this taken care of, because we can’t wait another year or two to look at something.” “I was assured that it would not take that long to, one way or another, get answers to my questions,” Gadd said. “So, we will see.” The township has also been trying to secure replacement of a boiler in the municipal building’s basement, as well as secure a contractor to expand and perform upgrades to the facility’s parking lot. Both those projects are also currently at somewhat of a standstill. When asked by the committee about the status of the boiler project, Township

Engineer Kevin Dixon replied, “it is almost the same situation as the parking lot – we have a bidder who is not pre-qualified.” (Previously, several attempts by the municipality to secure proposals for the parking lot project resulted in few bids, with those submitted deemed excessively high by local officials, and the town, after a couple failed attempts, is now in a position to negotiate the work with a contractor.) Dixon said the township, if it wants, can “piecemeal” the parking lot project “if we get the right contractors,” while for the boiler, “we don’t have a contractor who is pre-qualified, and the pricing exceeds the threshold ($42,000), even with a qualified purchasing agent (QPA).” “So, we have to go out to bid on that,” Dixon concluded. “That is going to be a bid package.”

“similar to speed bumps,” or that they are “great unless you live in the house adjacent to them,” with some speed bumps installed in the Vincentown section of the township having drawn complaints in the past about noise and cracks in foundations. But the speed bumps remain in place several years after they have been installed. “We will still look into it, and see what the cost was,” Mikulski told Doherty of her request for rumble strips in LeisureTowne. “There may be certain spots where we can do that, which don’t impact people.” Hoffman, on Nov. 29, told this newspaper, “I am waiting for the cost.” Committeeman Ronald Heston, tasked with evaluating township roads for the municipality’s road program, pointed out on Nov. 21 there actually were rumble strips on Ridge Road prior to the resurfacing project, but that they had lost their effectiveness after snowplows slowly chipped away at them over the years, and that there weren’t as many of them prior to the resurfacing. Hoffman acknowledged the previous ones “weren’t as large” and that “these are the real deal,” with Heston adding the current

ones are “heavy-duty paint.” In response to Doherty describing that LeisureTowne has a “terrible speeding problem,” Mikulski said it is “everywhere,”

causing Doherty to shoot back, “Well, it is even worse where we are because we have a huge amount of traffic going in and out of our community with over 2,250 homes.”

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(Continued from Page 4) have to be able to prove factors that someone actually violated it.” In a case such as this, he noted, the relevant statute “does allow for accidents to occur and not be criminalized.” Factors that would call for a criminal charge to be filed, he said, would include being able to “prove or substantiate” that someone was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, that a driver shouldn’t have been on the road by virtue of their license having been suspended, or “if we could prove that they were operating their phone and that distraction was a contributing factor.” But not being able to demonstrate such things, he asserted, “takes the criminal element of it out and leaves the traffic element.” That is not to say, however, that a driver involved in a fatal crash can simply get off by paying a ticket online. “When it involves something like this, it doesn’t work that way, but comes in front of a court,” the chief explained. In such a case, assuming a guilty verdict is rendered, “the judge has discretion within the law that allows for license suspension and sometimes incarceration and higher fines.” “So, t here i s a level of i nc re a s e d accountability with a fatal accident,” Miller said. “But, again, that would be

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P.O. Box 311 Medford, N.J. 08055 Robert H. Griscom Fully Insured NJTC768766 a judicial process deter m ined by the municipal court judge.” Miller also told the council that his depar tment has managed to acquire some 40,000 followers on Facebook, making its page one of the most highlyrated among police departments in both the state and the country, and that it had raised approximately $42,000 at its recent “Comedy Night” fundraising event, which drew some 425 attendees. In other business, Acting Township Manager Lavon Phillips reported that a library drop box that would enable patrons to return books from their cars rather than having to park in order to do so would soon be made available, and that

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NJ Lic. 13VH06395500 a mechanism was also being developed to upload nonresidential Zoning and Plan n i ng Board appl ic ations to the township website. Ph i l l ips also than ke d Fi nanc e Department employees Corrine Falo and Ed Brown for having kept the department running and working extra hours with other municipal operations with only 25 percent of its normal staff during the township’s search for a new chief financial officer. A n over v iew of the cur rent status of the com munity energ y plan being developed for the township by the firm of Heyer, Gruel & Associates, based on the state’s 2019 Energy Master Plan,

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was also presented to the council, with the “key takeaway” being that in order to succeed, the latter plan is going to have to be implemented at the municipal level, according to Senior Planner Megan Stanley, who made the presentation. Stanley noted that the state Board o f P u b l i c Ut i l i t i e s h a s p r o v i d e d municipalities, including Evesham, with grant money in order to help in facilitating the plan, which has no fewer than 39 initiatives, “making sure that everything is done equitably and that everyone has a voice,” and that proper input is provided to the public about the plan, which the council is expected to review and adopt within the next two or three months.

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

The Knee: A to Z Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 6 p.m. Location: Zoom Meeting The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body and one of the most complex. Learn more from an expert at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, DR. ARJUN SAXENA, a fellowship trained and board certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in primary and revision hip and knee replacement/reconstruction and director of the Marjorie G. Ernest Center for Joint Replacement. Dr. Saxena will discuss the anatomy and physiology of the knee, common injuries, and the latest surgical techniques available.

Achieve More with a Healthy Pelvic Floor Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 6 p.m. Location: Zoom Meeting Are you experiencing pain in your pelvic area during sex, personal care, or urination/bowel movements? It’s time to advocate for yourself! Join Kathie Olson, nurse practitioner and program director for Capital Health’s Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health, to learn strategies for living your life without pelvic pain. Kathie will be joined by Natalia Ochalski, a certified pelvic floor physical therapist, to discuss the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy. All genders are welcome!