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E GUID
AGES SE E P 8 S1-S
Vol. 6 – No. 9 ♦
The News Leader of the Pines
♦
FR EE
December 4 - December 10, 2021
Idea to Privatize Trash Collection in Southampton Formally Tossed
‘WE’RE ALL LEADERS, ALL LEARNERS –
Decision Occurred After Official Revealed He Got Phone Calls; Township Committee Pursues Purchase of New Trash Trucks
ALL THE TIME’
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
S OU T H A M P T ON —T h e i d e a o f privatizing Southampton Township’s trash collection service has been formally thrown out by the current Southampton Township Committee in a decision that came about just a little more than a day prior to Thanksgiving. And while the municipality’s mayor, Michael Mikulski, appeared to not want to tightly seal the lid closed on the idea, however, using phrases such as “likely,” “for the foreseeable future,” and “anytime soon” in public remarks regarding the decision of the township committee, it looks as though a lot will need to happen for it to pop off. That’s because not only has Southampton been recently warned by a local hauler of the problems associated with privatization and received no bids in October on a joint privatization proposal with Springfield Township, but the Southampton governing body also voted unanimously on Nov. 23 against privatization in the wake of public pressure. The Southampton committee also, as revealed by both Committeeman Bill Raftery and Mikulski on Nov. 23, reportedly had already authorized the Southampton administrator, Kathleen D. Hoffman, as well as Southampton Public Works Director Ryan Hagerthey, to proceed with “shopping” for one, possibly as many as two new trash
Photo Provided
Rev. Wendolyn Trozzo, who was installed on Oct. 23 as pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Tabernacle Township.
That Is the Inspirational Message from the Newly Installed Pastor of Lord of Life in Tabernacle, Who After ‘Global Mission’ of 7 Years in Malaysia’s Kota Kinabalu, Now Leads Lutheran Church with Hopes of Sharing That Experience and God’s Love, While Also Listening to What People Seek By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—Back in the United States after spending the last seven years on a “global mission,” alongside her husband, Eric, in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state in the northern part of the island of Borneo, Wendolyn Trozzo is now taking on a new mission locally, serving as pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Tabernacle Township,
where she hopes to grow the congregation not just in size, but in faith. Rev. Wendolyn Trozzo, who was born into Lutheranism and graduated from seminary in 2005, was installed as the new pastor of Lord of Life on Oct. 23, after spending the previous 14 months at the church fresh off her return from “by far, the poorest part” of Malaysia, where she had answered a calling to serve overseas because “the church is growing so fast
there, it didn’t have enough pastors.” “I always dreamt of serving overseas and having our kids experience life in a different culture,” Wendolyn Trozzo told this newspaper in an interview. “And so, we ended up in Kota Kinabalu, island of Borneo, and got to work at a seminary there where they needed personnel. We helped the Church there a lot.” See PASTOR/ Page 9
See TRASH/ Page 9
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
SEE PAGES 3-4
INDEX Business Directory...................................12
Job Board.................................................15
Christmas Coloring Contest ����������������������5
Local News.................................................2
Christmas Countdown �������������������������������3
Marketplace..................................................... 14
Holiday Gifts & Lifestyle Guide ��������������� S1
Worship Guide..........................................11
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Presorted Standard US Postage
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Saturday, December 4, 2021
‘Preview’ of Pemberton Schools’ 2022-23 School Year Budget Maintains 9 Percent Tax Levy Increase After Voters Appeared to Reject Candidates Who Suggested Raising Taxes Beyond That Would Help Offset Aid Cuts Helping to Somewhat Reduce the Severity of Aid Cuts is ‘State Military Aid,’ Approved Last Month with Initial Disbursement Already Given to District, Though Millions in Reductions to Its Overall Aid Expected for Upcoming Year
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON —A memb er of the Pemberton Township Board of Education, appointed in February of this year to fill a vacancy, and who declared in August that he was “fully prepared to pay more in taxes” to help prevent additional cuts to staffing and programs in the Pemberton Township School District in the wake of state aid reductions, following firsthand accounts that the cuts that had already been made by the board were having a “devastating” effect on student safety and education in the district, has lost a bid to become an elected member of the board. Andrew Sytnik, who had even gone as far as to say that he was working on “a bunch of spreadsheets” to provide to Business Administrator Dan Smith, which were expected to propose a different course of action instead of a plan previously presented by Smith (and adopted by the board a “few years ago,” according to the business administrator) to raise the district tax levy by 9 percent each year from the 2019-20 school year to the 202425 school year, while continuing with the cuts, was the lowest vote getter of five candidates who sought three open seats for three-year terms on the school board. Sytnik, who received just 1,152 votes in the Nov. 2 General Election, lost to Terry A. Maldonado, the vice president of the board who garnered 2,170 votes, as well as fellow board appointee Carmen Cristina Bivins, who got 2,693 votes, and newcomer Roberto Fernandez, who received 2,776 votes, according to the official Burlington County election results released late last month. The other candidate to lose the school board race was Chris Otis, who has served as a member of the board since 2019, and previously served a stint on it from 2013 to 2016. He received only 2,075 votes, according to the official Burlington County election results. Otis, when concerns about “unsustainable” circumstances were conveyed yet again by staff and parents in September, had acknowledged, “I don’t have a magic answer unless we dig deeper and pay more out of our pockets,” though he stopped short of saying that he would move in that direction. There was also a one-year unexpired term on the ballot to replace outgoing board member Joseph Huber, who decided not to pursue re-election to spend more time “with his children.” With no petitions filed in that race, however, numerous individuals
were written in by voters, including Sytnik (receiving 5 votes) and Maldonado (receiving 3 votes). However, newcomer Robert King prevailed after receiving the most write-in votes, or 31 of 293 of them, according to the official Burlington County election results. Sytnik did not attend the last scheduled school board meeting of the year on Nov. 18, also the first session to follow his and Otis’ losses, which included a “preview” of the 2022-23 school year budget with a PowerPoint presentation from Smith, in which the business administrator proposed the board maintain course with the 9 percent annual increase in the tax levy through the 2024-25 school year. Meanwhile, Otis, who did attend the session, and later received recognition for his years of service to the board, along with Huber (Sytnik was excluded from that presentation and was simply thanked at the end of the meeting by Board President Tom Bauer for his brief service to the board), suggested that he would again seek reelection to the board at a future date. And while voters appeared to have spoken for the moment on the idea of raising taxes to offset reductions in staffing and programming, staff members and parents continued for yet another meeting to come to the microphone to describe deteriorating conditions in Pemberton Schools, with one asking, “Is there any end in sight?” Smith, in giving the preview of the 202223 school year budget, said that the district is anticipating anywhere from a $3,561,454 to $7,505,677 reduction in state aid for the upcoming school year, on top of four consecutive years of cuts. Having an aid decrease as high as $7.5 million, he said, would only come about if the district does not qualify for “municipal overburden” aid from the state, or if the School Development Authority (SDA) district does not have a “tax rate greater than the statewide average.” The district has qualified over the past two years for municipal overburden aid, and Smith said he is “pretty confident we will hit municipal overburden” for the upcoming school year, though there is no sure guarantee. The ultimate reduction in state aid for the 2022-23 school year, the business administrator noted, will also depend on whether the district receives any “state military aid,” or what he described as a “new See BUDGET/ Page 13
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Saturday, December 4, 2021
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
Are you starting to feel the magic of the season? Or perhaps you’re feeling a bit of holiday stress? In either case, staying on top of your to-do list will ensure the weeks ahead unfold smoothly.
• Confirm your guest list, and make sure you have enough chairs and tableware. • Stock up on alcohol for your holiday party as well as drinks for the kids. • Choose outfits for the family to wear to upcoming events. • Buy the last of your gifts as well as wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and name tags. • Hang stockings on the mantel, and put up the rest of your indoor decorations.
And to get you in the holiday spirit... Remember to pause and enjoy quality time with loved ones. This week, put on some holiday tunes while you flip through old holiday photos or set up a miniature Christmas village.
♦ Page 3
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CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
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CHRISTMAS COLORING CONTEST
♦ Page 5
’s y Zallied r ored b Spons ite of Medfo Shopr
ENTER NOW: Name:_________________________________________________ Age:___________ Parent’s Name:_________________________________________________________ Home Address:_________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________ State:_____________Zip:___________ Contact Phone:_________________________________________________________ Email:_________________________________________________________________ All fields required. Include entry form with your entry.
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 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. All entries must be received no later than 12 noon on January 12, 2022, 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, 2022, and must appear in-person for award and agree to be photographed by the Pine Barrens Tribune and contest sponsor for publication. Important Deadlines: • Postmarked by January 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. • Must Be Received by 12 noon on January 12, 2022 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
WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM
Shamong Makes Improvements, Upgrades to Municipal Complex and Discusses Upcoming Road Improvements, Fire Entity Requests
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
SHAMONG—If you have visited the Shamong Township Municipal Complex at 105 Willow Grove Road in recent days, you might have noticed some sizable changes. Its parking lot has been resurfaced with asphalt and striped, delineating available parking spaces, while both the municipal building and Public Works facility has been outfitted with surveillance cameras, work that was authorized by the Shamong Township Committee in October and completed by the end of November. And improvements to a local park have also been completed in the past month, with the township committee – in a little bit of a pickle over heavy usage of new pickleball courts – now in the planning stages to bond for $1 million to improve several township roads in disrepair, while also giving some consideration to a hefty 2022 funding request from the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, which is said to be in need of new equipment. The township committee sought quotes in early fall for the paving and striping of its municipal complex parking lot, but did not have to go out to bid for the project since the township has a qualified purchasing agent (QPA) that was able to review the quotes in conjunction with the township engineer, according to Township Administrator Susan Onorato. By choosing to award a contract in that manner, a project cost must not exceed $44,000, she added. Three quotes were received for the paving project, Onorato noted, with Command Company, of Egg Harbor City, submitting the “lowest quote,” getting the recommendation of the township engineer, and found to be compliant with the state’s bid specifications
by the QPA. The firm was then awarded a $41,450 contract to conduct the resurfacing in a 3-0 township committee vote on Oct. 5 (with Deputy Mayor Michael Di Croce and Committeeman Michael Cooney absent from that meeting), with the township engineer, during the governing body’s subsequent Nov. 9 meeting (with all the township committee members present for that session), confirming the resurfacing was completed. Three quotes were also received and reviewed by the township’s QPA, along with its engineer, to repair a “good part” of a 25-year-old walking path that goes around the entire length of Dingletown Park and was “decaying,” according to Onorato. Command Company, she said, also submitted the “lowest quote” for that project, some $39,401, with the township committee additionally awarding a contract to the firm for that one on Oct. 5 by a 3-0 vote. The township engineer reported on Nov. 9 that the Dingletown project, funded through a Burlington County Municipal Park grant and a township trust fund, had also since been completed. The portion of the walking path that was improved, according to Onorato, included a “section by a snack stand up to the township’s new pickleball courts.” And those pickleball courts, opened in August after the township took three of its tennis courts and converted them into six pickleball courts, have turned out to be very popular, according to officials, so popular in fact that officials are now thinking about establishing limitations of some sort beginning for next year so that all parties, but particularly township residents, have a fair chance to use them. See UPGRADES/ Page 11
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Saturday, December 4, 2021
Pemberton Twp., Pemberton Borough Reach New ‘Water Agreement’ in Which Borough Will Give More Capacity for Anticipated Development
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
PE M B E RT ON B O ROUG H —T h e municipalities of Pemberton Borough and Pemberton Township have reportedly arrived at an agreement where the borough will continue to provide potable water to the western portions of the township, while also giving more supply to it for an anticipated age-restricted housing development to be built on the outskirts of the borough. The ten-year “water agreement” was approved by Pemberton Township Council on Nov. 3, while Pemberton Borough Council approved it on Nov. 15. According to Borough Clerk Donna Mull, the agreement allots the township “12 million more gallons per year” for an anticipated “new development” in the township on North Pemberton Road. The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that a redevelopment plan was approved by the township council in September for three lots, totaling some 153-acres, that comprise the Greenberg Farm, a former dairy cattle farm that abuts both North Pemberton and Arneys Mount roads. The redevelopment plan allows for “a maximum” of 354 age-restricted, singlefamily homes to be built on the Greenberg Farm. John Stinger, a borough resident, asked during the Nov. 15 borough council meeting if the borough engineer was “absolutely, positively sure” that providing more capacity to the township for the development “would not affect borough residents” by having an adverse impact on the municipality’s water supply or pressure. “Yes, absolutely,” Mull replied. “We actually only went halfway to what they wanted. So, we have quite a bit of surplus.” Stinger then recounted “an old saying”
that asks, “’What are you going to do if the well runs dry?’”, before asking if borough officials could shut off water to the township in the event something like that were to actually happen to the borough. “We only used half of the surplus that we had,” Mull reiterated. “There should not ever be a problem. There is wording in the contract that allows us to get out of the contract, if we put it in writing.” B o r o u g h S o l i c i t o r D av i d S e r l i n maintained “it is only for 10 years” and that the agreement “subsidizes our cost to some degree by the number of users we have.” “It is definitely to your (the borough residents’) advantage to keep the rates lower by having more users,” Serlin contended. “By not having the township continue to use our water supply, then the rates would go up substantially. A significant amount of our water is sold to the township.” Serlin added that there was a “possibility” the borough can actually “sell more water to the township in the future depending on how this works out,” and that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) was “probably going to be requested” to review the usage to determine such feasibility. Stinger asked if there was another source of water that the township could use in the event the borough cancels the agreement or turns the water off to the township. “We don’t have an answer to that,” Serlin replied. “They could seek to build their own system. It was borough council’s decision in negotiating to continue the relationship so there would be enough users to keep our rates lower. So, we got them to agree to 10 years. Initially, they wanted to do a three-year agreement, which was felt to See AGREEMENT/ Page 14
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♦ Page 7
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Puzzling ‘Save Our Schools’ Signs Appear All Over LEHT, Eliciting Critical Response from Pinelands Regional Head By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer
LITTLE EGG HARBOR—That some person or group would like to “Save Our Schools” seems apparent, judging from the amount of effort they expended this past week in putting up green and white signs all over the Little Egg Harbor Township area with that message sandwiched in the middle of a double S.O.S. What they want to save our schools from, however, or what individual or organization went to all that trouble to place the signs at various roadside locations – sometimes two or three in a row – remained a bit of a mystery by the evening of Dec. 1, this newspaper’s deadline time. This reporter spotted at least a couple dozen of the signs while on a short ride along Route 9, Otis Bog Road and a couple other Little Egg Harbor thoroughfares. Calls the reporter subsequently made to various sources, as well as a query placed on the Newswatch Tuckerton, Little Egg Harbor & S. Ocean County Facebook site, failed to elicit any answers, although the latter posting did generate considerable speculation. The signs were also not put up by the organization that goes by the name of “Save Our Schools NJ,” according to an email Pinelands Regional School Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley received from Julie Borst, its community organizing and board president, whom the superintendent contacted in regard to the signs. “Unfortunately, ‘Save Our Schools’ is not copyrighted, and anyone can use it,” wrote Borst in the email, which McCooley shared with the Pine Barrens Tribune. “Whomever (sic) is placing signs and using the phrase is not part of our organization.” Borst added that she was “dismayed that anyone would attempt to organize under literal cover of darkness,” particularly as being a “parent organizer.” “That is certainly not how we operate,” maintained Borst, responding to McCooley’s claim that a review of security camera footage had shown the signs being placed after dark on Sunday night (Nov. 28). Whatever the signs are meant to signify, however, McCooley made it quite evident that she disapproves of the manner in which it is being conveyed, which she called “quite ambiguous” in a letter sent to parents, which also informed them of her exchange with Borst’s organization.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Driver of Pontiac Killed in Crash on County Route 532 WOODLAND—A Bayville man was killed in a Nov. 26 crash on County Route 532 in Woodland Township. The crash, which occurred in the eastbound lane of County Route 532, near mile marker 17, was reported at around 7:05 a.m., according to Trooper Brandi Slota, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey State Police.
“A 2007 Pontiac lost directional control and went off the road to the right, struck several trees, and overturned,” Slota told this newspaper. The driver of the Pontiac, Andrew Needham, 18, was “partially ejected” in the crash and “sustained fatal injuries,” according to the State Trooper.
Man Dies After Malibu Strikes Wooden Posts, Utility Pole
Photo By Bill Bonvie
Three of the mysterious “Save Our Schools” signs lined up in a row on Giffordtown Lane in Little Egg Harbor. “Placing signs throughout the town without contact information is not an effective way to communicate nor does it assist with alleviating any concerns about the school districts,” the superintendent’s letter contended. Other, presumably better methods she suggested for voicing “inquiry or concern” include email, text, in-person meetings, attending Board of Education meetings, and participation in “Sit with the Sup” sessions. “It was also concerning that the placing of these signs on public property throughout the town is a violation of a local ordinance,” the superintendent wrote. McCooley concluded the letter by saying she welcomed the opportunity “to discuss this further with the organizer of this misleading and unclear endeavor.” Some postings on Facebook suggested that the signs might be a call for “new leadership” or a protest against the teaching of Critical Race Theory,” which someone else claimed in reply is not taught in primary or secondary school. Another source of potential controversy is a recent recommendation by a group of expert consultants that the Pinelands Regional School District, which currently operates the high school and junior high serving Little Egg Harbor and three other municipalities, be consolidated to include all the schools in those communities. But whether any of these issues motivated whoever put up the signs was left to conjecture.
Two People Discovered Dead in LeisureTowne Home SOUTHAMPTON—Two people have been found dead in a home in the LeisureTowne retirement community of Southampton Township. State Troopers responded to a residence on Huntington Drive around 5 p.m. on Dec. 1 for a report of two adults found unconscious in
a house, according to Sgt. Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police. “When troopers arrived, a 72-year-old male and 64-year-old female were found deceased in the residence,” Goez told this newspaper. He said the cause and circumstances of the deaths are currently under investigation.
BASS RIVER—A 28-year-old man from Tuckerton is dead after his vehicle struck several wooden posts, as well as a utility pole, in a crash on Route 9 in Bass River Township. The incident was reported around 11:18 p.m. on Nov. 25, near mile marker 59 of the state highway. “A Chevrolet Malibu traveling south went off the road to the right and struck several wooden posts and a utility pole,” said Trooper Brandi Slota, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey State Police. The driver, Kyle Gormley, “sustained fatal
injuries,” according to the State Trooper. Slota noted that no other passengers or vehicles were involved in the crash. Gormley, who was said to have been recruited to work for Shooters Sporting Center over the summer, was described in a Facebook tribute by the Little Egg Harbor business as a “nephew, brother, cousin, friend and coworker” who was “one hell of a salesman.” “He may have been a goofball, but he was a pleasure to have around the gun shop,” the tribute stated.
Homeowner Returns Home to Find Burglary Happening Inside; Suspect, Who Took Loaded Handgun in Incident, Apprehended EVESHAM—An Evesham Township homeowner is reported to have returned home to a man allegedly inside, burglarizing the dwelling, who reportedly had taken the homeowner’s loaded handgun among other possessions. That homeowner, according to a press release from the Evesham Township Police Department, then chased the “burglary suspect on foot” from the home in the 200 block Tomlinson Mill Road while responding officers were enroute to the location.
“Upon officer’s arrival to the area, they quickly located the suspect,” the press release stated. A leja nd ro Bon i l la- Ca men, 30, of Blackwood, was arrested and charged with burglary, theft and possession of methamphetamines. He was lodged in Burlington County Jail. Police noted that when Bonilla-Camen was apprehended, officers found him in “possession of the homeowner’s property, which included a loaded handgun.”
Medford Woman Accused of Illegal Dumping at Pemberton Lake After Man Reportedly Confesses to Being Hired to Dump Debris PEMBERTON—A Medford Township woman has been charged with illegal dumping after a man was reportedly hired to pick up “debris” that was “related to a house cleanout” and confessed to having discarded it at Pemberton Lake, which is off of Magnolia Road in Pemberton Township, according to information released this week by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and New Jersey Conservation Officers Association. Melissa L. Horner, 43, of Medford, has been charged with dumping refuse on a wildlife management area and dumping solid waste greater than 0.148 cubic yards, according to Caryn Shinske, a spokeswoman for the NJDEP, which oversees the state Conservation Police. The incident occurred on Oct. 6, Shinske said. According to a Facebook posting from the New Jersey Conservation Officers
Association, officers responded to the Pemberton Lake Wildlife Management Area for a report of solid waste dumped in the parking lot, consisting of residential garbage. Upon police arrival, debris was located that “consisted of residential garbage that appeared to be related to a house cleanout.” “A suspect was identified, and he confessed to being hired by the homeowner to pick up and discard the debris,” the association wrote. According to Shinske, upon the man being interviewed as part of the investigation, “the investigating officer ultimately determined that Ms. Horner was the individual finally responsible for dumping the debris at the Wildlife Management Area.” Summonses were issued in the incident, and Shinske told this newspaper that Horner has a Dec. 13 court date at Pemberton Township Municipal Court.
Saturday, December 4, 2021 A Special Section of
GUIDE
Tree Tips
Rewarding Retirees
How to keep your Christmas tree fresh this holiday season
Great holiday gifts for retirees who can’t wait to travel
PG. S2
PG. S4
Christmas Crafting with the Kids PG. S6
DIY decorations to make with children
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Tips to Keep Your Tree Fresh this Holiday Season
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hristmas trees are often the pièce de résistance of holiday decor. Few things draw the attention of holiday guests quite like an awe-inspiring Christmas tree, especially when that tree maintains its fresh, healthy sheen throughout December. Many families purchase fresh trees over Thanksgiving weekend or during the first weekend of December. Though the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day may seem like a long time to keep a tree looking great, there are a handful of ways for holiday celebrants to help their trees maintain that undeniable appeal for the long haul. Pick the right tree. Choosing the right tree is one of the simplest ways to keep a tree looking good throughout the holiday season. A freshly cut tree that buyers choose and cut down themselves or have cut down can reassure them that the tree is likely to stay strong throughout December. Trees purchased from a tree lot may have been cut down long before they made it to the lot, which can make it harder to keep them looking good until Christmas Day. Cut an inch off the base of any tree that is not freshly cut. MSU Extension at Michigan State University notes that all Christmas trees are conifers, which means they have resin canals in their trunks. Once a tree is cut, the resin can block the pores and make it harder for the tree
Saturday, December 4, 2021
to take in water. Cutting an inch off the base of a tree that was not freshly cut just before putting it in the stand can help ensure it gets the water it needs to stay healthy and firm. MSU Extension notes that this approach should be taken with any tree that was not cut within six to eight hours of being put in a stand. Replenish the water supply every day. Fresh tree veterans recognize that Christmas trees can be very thirsty, especially within the first week or so of being cut and brought home. Fill the stand with water each morning and, if necessary, refill it each night before going to bed. The more water a tree gets and drinks, the more likely it is that the tree will look healthy all the way to Christmas Day. MSU Extension notes that many decorative or antique tree stands do not hold much water, so anyone with such a stand may need to replenish the water supply more than once or twice per day. Keep the tree away from a heat source. For safety’s sake, trees should be kept away from heating vents, fireplaces and space heaters. But keeping trees away from such heat sources, and ensuring they are not spending the daytime in direct sunlight, also decreases the chances they will dry out before Christmas Day. A handful of simple strategies can help holiday celebrants keep their Christmas trees looking good throughout the month of December.
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A Guide to Picking the Perfect Christmas Tree C
ome the holiday season, perhaps no tradition evokes the warm and fuzzy “feels” more than a family outing to pick a Christmas tree. Whether it’s a trek to a live Christmas tree farm or a short drive to the nearest pre-cut tree lot, the process of selecting a tree that will serve as the crown jewel of the entire season is a great way to make lasting memories. Selecting a tree is a yearly ritual and each person has his or her set of criteria for what makes the ideal Christmas tree. These tips can help families find the right tree. Choose your species Do some homework on the type of tree you want prior to buying the tree. Balsam fir and fraser fir are popular Christmas tree varieties, but there are many others, such as noble fir and Norway spruce. Balsams are
known for having the most fragrant smell, but frasers tend to keep their needles the longest. For those who prefer a douglas fir, keep in mind that they sometimes drop their needles prematurely due to foliar diseases like needle-cast fungus. Space for ornaments In addition to aroma and needle longevity, look for trees that have a desirable shape and allow for adequate space between branches, advises the home and garden resource The Spruce. Trees groomed to be lush and full will look beautiful unadorned, but once ornaments are added, full branches may cause those ornaments to hang low or even fall off. Trees with sparse branches allow for ornaments to hang straight. Measure your space Trees in the field or in a lot may look much smaller than they do
when brought into the living room. Don’t make the mistake of selecting a tree that is too large for your home. The agricultural firm Ragan & Masey says to measure the room from floor to ceiling and subtract the height of the tree stand and tree topper. It’s equally important to measure the width of the area where the tree will stand and allow for ample space for foot traffic around the tree. Perform a needle check Every tree will drop some needles, and most evergreens hold their foliage. Modest needle loss is not an indicator of a poor tree. However, Decker’s Nursery in Greenlawn, NY says if 50 percent of the needles are lost when you swipe your hand down three to five different branches around the tree, the tree likely is not a good choice. In addition, avoid a tree that has glaring defects in the trunk as it can impede water flow through the tree. Heavier is better A heavy pre-cut tree means it is full of water and has been cut more recently. A healthy, fresh tree is going to require an effort to lift. Older, dried out trees will not be heavy. Upon arriving home, make a fresh cut off the tree trunk and get it in water as soon as possible — even if that’s a bucket until the tree stand can be set up.
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Did You Know? Lights on a Christmas tree may seem like a relatively recent phenomenon, but people who can’t wait to deck the halls each December may be surprised to learn that this beloved tradition dates all the way back to the late nineteenth century. Edward Johnson, a friend and colleague of Thomas Edison, introduced holiday light bulbs in 1882. Prior to that, candles were lit on trees and families would briefly gaze at this awe-inspiring bit of holiday decor before the candles were quickly extinguished. Johnson is credited with being the first to suggest light bulbs, which were invented by his friend Edison, be used to light trees in place of candles. While many were impressed by Johnson’s eight-bulb holiday display, it remained a novelty until the 1920s, when preassembled lights became more accessible. Since then, Christmas tree lights have taken hold as a must-have piece of holiday decor in households across the globe.
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Gifts for Retirees Who Can’t Wait to Travel
etirement provides a chance for adults who have worked throughout their lives to take a step back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Though the most indelible image associated with retirement might once have been a rocking chair, modern retirees like to get up and go, and holiday shoppers can take that joie de vivre into consideration as they look for the perfect gift for retirees who can’t wait to fly the friendly skies or hit the open road. Maps It might seem simple, but roadmaps can be an ideal gift for retirees. A recent poll from RBC Wealth Management found that 63 percent of Americans age 50 and older say travel is an important retirement goal. Roadmaps of their own country or a foreign country can help seniors plan their dream vacations. Seniors can study maps and create their own routes as they visit popular tourist attractions and find lesser known locales along the way. Vouchers/gift cards Airline vouchers can inspire retirees to take to the skies and visit locales that have long taken up real estate on their bucket lists. If seniors prefer to take to the open road, hotel vouchers or Visa gift cards that can be spent anywhere that accepts credit cards can help pay for gas, meals or entry to popular parks and tourist attractions. Projector and portable screen Retirees may want to get away from it all, but that doesn’t mean they have to leave everything behind. A projector and portable screen can let on-the-go seniors enjoy movie
night under the stars or watch their favorite teams even when they’re far from home. This can be an especially good gift for retirees who are anxious to gas up their RV and leave home behind for a few weeks. Lifetime pass to world-renowned parks All United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, which provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites across the
country. Those sites are managed by federal agencies like the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation, among others. A similar system is in place in Canada, where adults age 65 and up can gain unlimited admission for a full year to more than 80 Parks Canada locations across the country. Tablet Of course, retirees may still want to enjoy some of the comforts of home
while they’re off in parts unknown. A new tablet can help traveling retirees read the latest bestsellers and stay in touch with family and friends via video conferencing apps like Zoom. Many campgrounds and hotels now provide free WiFi to guests, so a tablet can be just what on-the-go retirees need to stay connected to life back home. Holiday shoppers can make the season bright for their favorite retirees who can’t wait to spend their newfound free time traveling the world.
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How to Care for Fresh Holiday Wreaths
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ajestic Christmas trees garner the lion’s share of the decorative fanfare when the holidays arrive. Trees may be the focal points of holiday decor, but the humble wreath adorning the front door is the first decoration guests are likely to see when visiting a home. Wreaths may need some care to maintain their beauty all month long.
preassembled wreaths may be convenient, but ornaments can make it challenging to give the wreath the moisture it needs to survive. Moisture/water Access to moisture will help to keep the wreath fresh. While a Christmas tree trunk may sit inside of a stand filled with water, wreaths require a little ingenuity. According to the wreath and garland retailer Club Botanic, if you will not be hanging a freshly purchased wreath right away, keep it in a plastic liner in a cool, dark place to help it retain moisture. Just make sure you don’t seal that liner closed. Before hanging, lay the wreath in a couple of inches of water for about an hour or up to a day so that the cut stems can soak up water. Once the wreath is hanging on a door or elsewhere, spritz it with water every few days to prevent it from drying out.
Here are some tips to help holiday wreaths last as long as possible. Choose a wreath wisely When shopping for a wreath, choose freshly cut greenery that you assemble yourself; otherwise, look for wreaths made from freshly cut boughs with their foliage intact. Make sure not too many needles or leaves are falling off. Heavily decorated,
Location, location, location Where you hang the wreath is key to its longevity. Wreaths and garlands hung indoors likely won’t last as long as those hung outside, advises the floral retailer Bouqs. com. Evergreen boughs tend to require a colder climate to thrive, and indoor heat can prematurely zap moisture from the wreath. Using a humidifier indoors or misting the
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wreath may help. It’s probably best to hang fresh wreaths outdoors, but avoid direct sunlight, which can dry out the greenery. Slightly shaded spots are best. If your front door is bathed in full sun for hours, hang an artificial wreath here instead of a fresh one. Maintain airflow Another factor that can affect the wreath’s longevity is an ample flow of oxygen. Wreaths tend to last much longer when kept on an outer door, indicates Harbor Farm in Ellsworth, ME. Wreaths sandwiched between a front door and a storm door will probably perish faster due to lack of oxygen. Following these tips can help keep fresh wreaths as vibrant as the day they were brought home.
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Saturday, December 4, 2021
3 Holiday Crafts Families Can Make Together
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ecorating for the holidays can be made even more special when decorations are handmade creations families can cherish for years to come. Holiday crafting is an enjoyable way to pass some time and create lasting holiday traditions and memories. The following are some crafts families can make together. Personalized elf For families who want to make their own personalized elf dolls, all it takes is a little computer knowledge, some clever photo work and a some sewing skills. Find a template for a rag doll sewing pattern or an illustration of an elf online. Superimpose an image of your child’s face on the template in a photo editing program. Print
out the entire image onto iron-on fabric transfer paper. Iron it on to a light-colored piece of fabric from the craft store according to the product directions. Cut out the fabric with ironed-on decal, leaving about a oneinch margin to allow for sewing and eventual stuffing. Duplicate the shape of the doll onto another piece of fabric to make the back of the elf doll. Place the front elf image face down on the back piece of fabric and sew the edges together, leaving a small opening at the end. Using that opening, flip the elf right-side out and stuff with pillow fill material. Sew the small opening closed and enjoy a personalized elf doll for the holidays. Holiday candle
This craft is attractive and also
smells good. Gather one bar of fragrant soap (like Irish spring); a small, white washcloth; red and green ribbon; a round of colorful mesh or tulle fabric measuring roughly 12 inches or enough to wrap your bar of soap; craft glue; a piece of yellow felt cut to look like a flame; and one or two sewing pins. Roll the washcloth into a cylinder shape to serve as the “wick” of the candle. Glue the edges together and wrap a piece of ribbon diagonally around the wick and adhere to secure even further. Glue the felt flame to the top of the wick. Place the soap in the center of the round piece of fabric. Attach the wick vertically to the soap using the pins. Then gather the tops of the mesh fabric around the base of the wick and use another Full of Vitamins C&A
piece of ribbon to tie into a bow and secure the fabric to the wick base. The soap and pins should now be concealed. Place the “candle” out of direct sunlight and away from heat, preferably on a little dish so the soap will not damage any furniture. Growth indicator ornament Purchase a large glass or plastic Christmas tree ball. Select an acrylic paint in your color of choice and squirt some into a paper plate. Have a child dip his or her hand into the paint and then transfer the handprint to the ornament. Let dry and then attach a ribbon to hang on the tree. Through the years see how much children have grown from that little handprint.
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Tips to Ensure Holiday Road Trips Are Safe And Stress-Free
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fter a 2020 holiday season in which the pandemic forced the postponement or cancellation of festivities, families are planning to get together once again in 2021. Many people will head home for the holidays this year, and the vast majority will take to the highway to do so. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics says the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year’s holiday periods are among the busiest for longdistance travel. The highways will be busy with motorists criss-crossing the country to visit loved ones. Holiday travel may require covering a long distance in a limited amount of time. Finding ways to be efficient in regard to time management can reduce stress and improve safety.
phone or dashboard GPS systems to get where they need to go. However, it helps to have a general idea of the route so that if service drops out you can still find your way. Scout out rest stops or acceptable restaurants online prior to leaving so you have a plan for making stops in safe areas. Stock the car
Travel at night
While presents may be taking up valuable real estate, pack a cooler with snacks and beverages to help reduce how many times you need to get off the highway. Also, games or other forms of entertainment can keep children occupied on long trips.
If you can safely manage it, you may experience considerably less traffic in the evening hours than during other times of day. In addition, if kids are in tow, they may sleep much of the way, helping to reduce the number of times they ask, “Are we there yet?” Share driving responsibilities with another person so that each driver can take a break to prevent drowsy driving.
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Slow down in inclement weather The holiday meal can be reheated if you’re late, so don’t feel compelled to speed or drive erratically when the weather is stormy. It’s not worth the risk of getting into an accident that can cause serious injuries. Travelers United, a nonprofit organization that represents all travelers, also warns that quick storms that pop up after a long dry spell can immediately make road surfaces extremely slippery. Use caution.
Get a vehicle maintenance check No one wants to get stranded on the side of the road with a car filled with gifts and treats. It’s well worth the investment to have a mechanic give a vehicle a checkup prior to leaving. Get an oil change even if it’s a little early to do so. Look at tire tread wear and ensure that you have the right tires for the road conditions where you’ll be headed.
Planning and preparation are essential to getting home safely this holiday season.
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Classic Holiday Films Families Can Enjoy Together
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he holiday season is steeped in tradition. Few traditions may elicit more collective belly laughs than holiday movie night, a tradition in millions of households across the globe. Families can consider these classic holiday films as they plan family movie night this holiday season. “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): This classic is centered around a man named “Kris Kringle” (Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be the real Santa Claus after a successful stint as a department store Santa in midtown Manhattan. A trial to determine if Mr. Kringle is telling the truth soon follows. This version of the tale has earned a 96 percent rating on the popular film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. “A Christmas Story” (1983): Though it airs all day long on Christmas on the cable television network TBS, families can get a head-
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start on that marathon and watch the film uninterrupted whenever they choose. Families can laugh together as 9-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) hopes to unwrap his official Red Ryder BB gun on Christmas morning. The film, which boasts an 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, includes a memorable performance by Darren McGavin, who plays Ralphie’s father. “Babes In Toyland” (1934): Also known as “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” this nearly century-old classic stars the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy as two helpful tenants living in Mother Peep’s shoe in Toyland. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1967): An animated version of the Dr. Seuss classic, this film has entertained scores of children since it was first released more than 50 years ago. “Holiday Inn” (1942): Hollywood legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
star in this classic that is perhaps most remembered for introducing the Irving Berlin class “White Christmas” to the masses. The film boasts a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has something for fans of song, dance and romance. “Arthur Christmas” (2011): Not all Christmas films date back to the 20th century. This animated tale tells the story of Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy), Santa’s youngest son who is thrust into the Christmas Eve business of delivering presents when his father fails to deliver a present to one child
out of the hundreds of millions of kids on his list. “A Christmas Carol” (1951): Many holiday season celebrants cannot imagine letting a season go by without watching at least one adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. The 1951 version is widely considered the most faithful to Dickens’ 1843 novella that recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Alastair Sim stars as Scrooge, and many consider his performance the best of any actor to take a turn as the notorious 19th century miser.
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PASTOR
(Continued from Page 1) That experience, she maintained, was “inspiring” as she got to be part of a “really vibrant church” that had a “mix of cultures,” ranging from “tribal cultures to people of Chinese and Indian descent.” “I now get to bring back to America that inspiration and excitement,” declared Wendolyn Trozzo, noting that it is a “very big world” out there, but also a “very small world when people are trying to connect across cultures.” She and her husband, originally from Maryland, with the latter (who holds a doctorate in Systematic Theology) now the pastor of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Moorestown, had “interviewed with churches and seminaries all over America” upon their return to U.S. But when they had talked to the “Church in New Jersey,” or the New Jersey Synod, a geographical grouping of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations, and its Office of the Bishop, Rev. Tracie Bartholomew, “it just felt like coming back home,” Wendolyn Trozzo explained. “We were really excited and South Jersey has all the benefits of North Jersey, but just at a pace that is a lot slower, with a lot more breathing room,” Wendolyn Trozzo added. Barthmolew, according to Wendolyn Tro z z o, “s u g g e s t s c a n d i d at e s t o a congregation,” and had selected her to be placed at Lord of Life, and after completing a multi-month interview process and getting an opportunity to preach to the local congregation, was chosen to lead the Tabernacle church. Installation, while it took 14 months, is comparable to a wedding, noted Wendolyn Trozzo, “whereby the time you get to your wedding day, you already know who you are going to be together with,” and a “wedding is just a public celebration” of that commitment. “It was a celebratory evening of welcome,” said Wendolyn Trozzo of the evening when she was installed to lead Lord of Life. “It was a tear-eyed moment because I made vows for how I will serve God here, and the congregation makes vows on how we will serve together. It was very precious to witness – to know you are not going at it alone, while seeing the people who chose me as their pastor and are joined in for this journey ahead.” She called the “magnificent” moment both “very inspiring” and “very heartening.” Wendolyn Trozzo noted that she had “so many mentors in faith” over the years leading up to the big moment, including those who watched over her as she made her first communion, invited her to sit on church council as a high schooler and encouraged her to go to seminary. “Especially when it comes to the Lutheran
AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 church, we talk a lot about social ministries,” Wendolyn Trozzo said. “Our tagline is ‘Changing and saving lives.’ We feel people come to our church to have an encounter that changes them and prepares them for their week ahead, and for their whole life in general.” She noted that the Lutheran Church also emphasizes “law and grace,” teaching that “God has high standards for all of us” as well as “sees and loves us just for who we are.” “The Church is always refor m ing, listening and growing, not just in numbers, but in faith,” Wendolyn Trozzo, or “Pastor Wen” as she is called, declared. Lord of Life currently offers three different types of services, including a “more traditional service” on Saturday nights at 5 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., which Wendolyn Trozzo described as “a very familiar liturgy and very beautiful” with a lot of music, and a 10 a.m. Sunday contemporary service that is “very family oriented, uplifting and energizing” and includes Sunday school for kids. There is a “mix of all ages,” Wendolyn Trozzo said, at “all the different services” at Lord of Life and the new pastor hopes that you will come worship at the congregation at 1 Winchester Court, Tabernacle. The church currently has about 500 members, she added, with about 100 attending the services each weekend. There is also a breakfast held each Sunday for area 5th and 6th graders. Lord of Life, Wendolyn Trozzo declared, is “still discovering” itself after being founded in 1986, initially holding services at Indian Mills Middle School in Shamong before the current church building was constructed. “A lot of people remember communion on the foul line and those kinds of things,” said the new pastor, who took over Lord of Life from the founding pastor. “That is still kind of the vibe of this place – we feel like we are still growing and meeting people in the community as the congregation is less than 40 years old. “We welcome more people in, but it is not about growing in numbers; it is about discovering what it means to be embraced by God’s love and a community.” Wendolyn Trozzo noted that “the most important thing a pastor can do is love their people” and that the church’s LED sign that currently displays the message, ‘What church does: listen, love and learn,’ is reflective of “my goal as pastor, which is to listen to people, where they are and what they are seeking” and to “share God’s love with them and for all of us to learn together.” “We are all leaders, all learners – all the time,” declared Wendolyn Trozzo, who has two sons, Dante, 16, and Caedmon, 13, the former who is already volunteering alongside his mother for the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company in Shamong, and the latter who is aspiring to do so upon eligibility.
TRASH
(Continued from Page 1) trucks, with the mayor noting that the directive was given “last month,” though it had not been publicly disclosed and the circumstances about how that came about were unclear. Mikulski had previously promised a decision regarding privatization by the end of the year, but the topic did not appear on the Southampton committee’s Nov. 23 agenda. Instead, it came about 23 minutes into the meeting when Southampton Committeeman James F. Young Sr., who previously served as mayor of the municipality for a quarter century up until January 2020, remarked during his committee report that he has “been getting some calls from residents” who are “really concerned about the trash.” “They don’t k now wh ich way th is committee is going to go, or what they are going to do,” said Young of the phone calls he has received. “So, I would like to make a motion this evening that we do not privatize – that we keep the trash in-house.” Young, when the topic of privatization was first broached by his colleagues in 2017, asserted that “when I first came onto this committee, the first thing that was said to me was, ‘Whatever you do—never, never, never touch the trash.’” During a political forum held on Oct. 20 in LeisureTowne, Southampton’s largest community, which is comprised of retirees, Southampton Deputy Mayor Ronald Heston declared privatization was a “dead issue” one day after Mikulski had announced that no bids were received on the joint proposal with Springfield. However, at the time of the Oct. 19 announcement about the lack of bids, Mikulski maintained that the Southampton governing body did not have a chance to discuss what happened yet, was continuing to “fact-find” and left the door open to the possibility of a “rebid.” Heston seconded Young’s Nov. 23 motion. When Mikulski asked his colleagues if there was any “discussion,” there was momentary silence. “As we have talked about from the beginning, this was all about ‘fact-finding’ and making a determination based upon those facts once we had them all,” Mikulski contended. “We now have as many of them that I think we are going to have, at least for the foreseeable future. The bids came back without a bidder, therefore, at least as far as I am concerned, there is no decision to make. We are not, in my opinion, likely to privatize anytime soon.” Though the mayor maintained that he felt “there is no decision to make,” he declared that he had “no problem” with allowing a vote to proceed on Young’s motion. Upon it passing without dissent, Mikulski asked Young if he had “anything else,” to
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which the former mayor replied, “Have a Happy Thanksgiving,” saying it in such a way, and with a smile, that seemed to emphasize the moment at hand. “We authorized the purchase of a new garbage truck last month,” quipped Raftery, who previously raised the idea of privatization, in response to the vote. “Well, actually we haven’t ordered it, but we authorized it.” Hoffman then provided some clarification that “we are shopping for it,” with Mikulski adding that “we are shopping for it, and we haven’t actually voted on the purchase because we don’t know what the purchase price will be, etc.” “But we authorized last month to go get those prices, and we are in the process of doing that now,” the mayor maintained. “So, if that makes people feel better, that is fine!” Heston pointed out that while attending the rec ent Leag ue of Mun icipalities Conference in Atlantic City, he was able to “talk to four trash truck/container suppliers” and “requested that they submit information and costs” to Hoffman. “And they will be doing that in the next few weeks,” the Southampton deputy mayor maintained. “So, we will have that information.” Heston then contended that “basically, everyone agrees” that in “moving forward,” the “best thing we can do” is purchase a rear loader for Southampton Public Works. Hagerthey, when he appeared before the Southampton committee in May, provided several possible options that officials could pursue. Among them were that the Southampton committee could purchase new “rear loaders,” like the existing trash trucks in the township fleet, or purchase “OneArmed Bandit” trash trucks, known as the cart tippers or automated collection trucks. The Southampton Public Works director suggested the latter was the best option if the township maintained trash collection services in-house because it would eliminate the need for workers to be stationed on the backs of any trash trucks while they are in motion, and having to get on-and-off them to lift garbage bags/cans, thereby reducing the risk of injuries. Heston noted on Nov. 23 that in the process of moving forward with any rear loader, there was also agreement to “add on an auto dump” to the back of the vehicle, which “normally takes two containers at once and dumps them.” “That way, if we proceed with a onearmed throw, and something breaks, we have a backup truck to handle it (collection),” Heston said. “But you also have a fairly new truck to do bulk collections, because it is not an automatic system or a manual throw, and that will allow the truck going down the road to handle that sort of thing.” Heston called the information he received from the four vendors he claimed to have spoken with “very interesting.” Earlier this year, Southampton residents See TRASH/ Page 10
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
TRASH
(Continued from Page 9) had heard from Hagerthey, who didn’t mince words as he appeared before the Southampton committee on May 18, describing that the “last few months has been, I guess, a struggle with trash” and that is “what I have been doing – trash – trying to keep it alive for the last month.” Ac c ord i ng to Hager t hey, t wo of Southampton’s three trash trucks, were beyond their useful life and, at the time, offline with mechanical troubles, and the municipality was reportedly relying on used trash trucks from other municipalities because of the circumstances. Some of the latter equipment was in such disrepair that Hagerthey admitted to having to spend late nights at the Southampton Public Works garage to perform repairs. Hager they note d at the ti me that Southampton’s ageing equipment was the result of the governing body putting off new equipment investments as it debated whether to pursue privatization. The Southampton Public Works director, in calling the situation “dire” at the time, pleaded with the Southampton committee to arrive at a decision as soon as possible for the good of the department, though he cautioned that any decision should be well “thought out.” The governing body last purchased a new trash truck for Public Works in 2019, but the last one purchased prior to that one was in 2013, according to Hagerthey, who said such vehicles need to be “bought, bought, bought” on a regular basis to avoid such troubles. When the Southampton committee first broached potential privatization of the municipal trash service during 2017 budget meetings, the issue had died soon thereafter following considerable outcry from Southampton residents. That had led to the 2019 purchase. Several of the concerned Southampton
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residents – both back then and this year – have pointed to several municipalities in the state that ultimately privatized their in-house trash hauling services and sold off their equipment, initially seeing a savings, but then, about three to five years later, when it came time for renewal, found themselves faced with private solid waste collection prices that soared, doubling or even tripling in some cases. And that is if those towns were lucky enough to get a bid, the Southampton residents have pointed out, as some have struggled to find even a lone bidder during the renewal process, as the number of haulers (and drivers looking to work for them) has diminished over time. The Southampton residents have also expressed that they are very much satisfied with the services Southampton Public Works staffers currently provide, with them often hauling away larger items (which private firms tend to do only on a limited basis, if at all, and should they do it, there is often a fee) without issue, in addition to being content the municipal trash program, as is, employs many locals. The Pine Barrens Tribune reported last month that just a couple weeks prior to the bidding process involving both Southampton and Springfield townships concluding, one area trash hauler sent Hoffman a press release from Delran Township “for her knowledge.” In that release, Delran announced that it had “sent bid packages out to all the major trash companies that service this area and allowed a 60-day response period to promote competition,” but that only its current provider, Republic Services, placed a bid, which was “in the amount of $822,030 for the first year.” “This reflects a significant increase of $363,138 over the previous contract amount of $458,892,” noted Delran officials in the press release, calling it “regrettable that only one company submitted a bid.” Following the issuance of the news release, Delran Mayor Gary Catrambone wrote a note to residents calling the decision
Saturday, December 4, 2021
“difficult,” adding that he “understood and shares” the frustration Delran residents have in being “forced to endure such a huge increase in cost for no change in service.” “I would also like to address a concern regarding the way municipal solid waste companies are approaching bids in ALL townships in New Jersey,” Catrambone asserted. “Some of the large collection companies are buying up smaller trash companies and creating a lack of competition. This results in ALL municipalities in New Jersey receiving fewer bids or, in this case, only one bid, and those bids are certainly higher than any one municipality is comfortable with, knowing the financial effect it has on all residents. This is the same thing that happened in Delran. We received only one bid this year. That kind of lack of competition for an essential service creates a REAL and serious long-term problem for Delran residents and everyone else in New Jersey.” This newspaper also reported earlier in the year that several area towns are having difficulty in obtaining bids for new trashhauling contracts, and that the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, in an article posted on its website in 2019, acknowledged that “municipal managers have had to face the fact they receive very few bids for their garbage-hauling-proposal requests – and they all run more expensive than they have in the past.” Additionally, neighboring Medford Township, this newspaper previously reported, cut ties earlier this year with Gold Medal Environmental of NJ, Inc., its solid waste collector and disposal service provider of nine years, and instead went with Republic Services. While Medford would only say that it went with the “lowest responsible bidder,” this newspaper learned through public records that the municipality paid $499,800 for its collection and disposal services in 2012, and Gold Medal proposed a charge of $1,105,799
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for this year. Republic has agreed to charge Medford $810,781.20 during the initial year of providing services. Mikulski, before the Southampton committee meeting concluded, seemingly offered a staunch defense of the Southampton governing body’s decision to conduct “fact-finding” this year with regards to privatization, and was critical of those who mistakenly “believed we already made up our mind and are doing it” simply because there was “talks” about privatization, maintaining “people for some reason don’t understand what we are going to do.” “I think we owe it to the township residents that we are doing things as efficiently as possible, as cost effective as possible, and when it comes to trash, as safely as possible for our workers,” the Southampton mayor declared. “And that is what this thing started out as – not only as a way to look into whether or not we can save money, but more importantly, whether or not we can do something safer for the guys who are on the back of the trash trucks as we read more and more about incidents throughout the country.” Mikulski pointed out that last year, the township’s “only major injuries” reported by township employees “came on the back of a trash truck,” and called trash collection a “very dangerous” and “very grueling” job. “We spent about nine months I would say looking into it, and that includes looking at the privatization option,” Mikulski said. “But even if bids had come back, that didn’t mean we were privatizing. We were going to factor that into our decision making. We have now asked Kathy and Ryan to not only look into one new truck, but asked them to look into the possibility of purchasing two new trucks, because if we are committing to doing it this way, the trucks we have (will likely need to be replaced). … It was a process! Trust the process! The process was completed! That is how we moved forward to today.”
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“Somebody told me they haven’t seen that many people on the tennis courts in 10 years,” said Mayor Timothy Gimble on Oct. 5. “There were 40 people out there last Saturday.” Onorato noted that the township has reached out to the Indian Mills Athletic Association (IMAA), as well as some of the “meet up” groups using the pickleball courts to help with scheduling. “We discussed how we can make it fair, so Shamong residents can go to the courts, and if they see they are packed, have hopes of using the courts in their own town,” Onorato said. Onorato noted that among the items discussed were numbering the pickleball courts with only certain ones available to non-residents, or limiting non-resident use of them to certain days. Gimble called “figuring out the best way to do this” and “managing it” a “work in progress.” He noted that neighboring Medford Lakes Borough’s pickleball courts became “so crowded,” it switched to a “members-only” model for them. “We certainly don’t want to go to a members-only facility here,” declared the Shamong mayor, noting that the township would have no way to police such a thing anyhow. He stressed that it is just a matter of a “balancing act” and the township “wants people to use it the best we can” and “manage it the best we can.” Gimble said that “if people keep showing up,” he might be amenable to “putting more out there” at Dingletown, quipping, “the whole place can turn into giant pickleball facility.” “The courts were only completed in late August,” Onorato maintained. “We really didn’t envision it being this popular, this fast.”
AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 As for township roads, both the mayor and township administrator acknowledged in October and November that several of them are in need of resurfacing, with the township committee receiving a resident complaint on Oct. 5 about the condition of Yorktown Drive. After “30 years” of the township “not touching its roads,” the township committee developed a 10-year road improvement plan about six years ago, according to Gimble in his Nov. 9 remarks, and subsequently took out a $1 million bond at the time, resurfacing “many” municipal roads with that money. But to get to all the municipal roads that need resurfacing, it will cost the township some $5 million, he and Onorato maintained. Now the township, Gimble said, is getting ready to carry out the next phase of that plan, preparing to take out another $1 million bond for it, while also seeing what funds are available follow us on for road improvements to incorporate in the facebook.com/MedfordUMC 2022 budget, though the mayor acknowledged that it may take longer than 10 years to get to every road that requires resurfacing and other associated improvements because of limited revenue and cost. In preparing for the next phase of road improvements, Onorato said that the township engineer recently completed updating a priority list, with Manitoba Trail, from Montreal Court to Indian Mills Road, Quebec Court, Liberty Circle, Princeton Circle, Yorktown Drive from Princeton Drive to Tuckerton Road, Three Bridge Road from Stokes Road to the end of pavement, Laurel Vista Court, Mill Road and a portion of E. Stokes Road from Route 206 to end of pavement given “higher priority” for resurfacing. “We are going to make another big dent,” vowed Gimble on Nov. 9. “We are going to bond, and put some money aside in the budget to accomplish this. This will get us, from a road infrastructure standpoint, in a good spot. But we have to put in place another plan, so we do not let them go for another 30 years. That is See UPGRADES/ Page 14
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state aid funding stream that provides state aid to districts serving military-connected students.” Given its proximity to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL), Pemberton Schools have a number of military-connected students enrolled. Smith explained that the new funding stream was signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy on Nov. 8, part of a bill sponsored by local state Senator Dawn Marie Addiego. Disbursement apparently took effect immediately upon the bill signing, and Pemberton Schools received $3,287,424 to be included into the present school year budget, according to Smith. The board, in the lone piece of good financial news of the evening, approved amending the 2021-22 school year budget to insert the $3,287,424, which Smith said will be used to buy an LED sign at Fort Dix Elementary School, purchase outdoor classroom supplies for Fort Dix Elementary, buy a temporary classroom unit to be placed behind Fort Dix Elementary, increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) resources district-wide, purchase a lawn mower for several facilities, including Pemberton Township High School, and fund HVAC projects at some district schools both now and in the immediate future. The “estimated” 2022-23 school year allocation of state military aid is $2 million, Smith said, noting that the amount is expected to be lower for the upcoming school year because of “reduced enrollment” and an expected increase in federal funding (the calculation for state military aid compares what local taxpayers are contributing to the budget versus what is being received from the U.S. Department of Education in impact
ofin
(Continued from Page 2)
aid, according to the business administrator). But even if the district receives the expected amounts in municipal overburden aid and state military aid, Smith warned that $3.5 million in aid losses under the best-case scenario is “still a big number to cut,” especially considering “we have been cutting every year.” “It doesn’t get any easier,” he said of the decisions that will have to be made to offset the additional cuts in state aid. “It actually gets harder as we go through time.” The estimated tax levy for the 2022-23 school year, Smith noted, is currently $20,252,824, which he said is the “amount that the state says local residents should be contributing to the budget.” An updated figure is expected to be received from the state in February, the business administrator added. “A few years ago,” according to Smith, in response to the state providing districts with notice of what its Local Fair Share (LFS) should be seven years from the time S-2, a revised school funding formula (which states districts that receive adjustment aid, which are determined by the state to be spending above adequacy, will have their adjustment aid reduced over 7 years), was fully implemented through 2018 legislation enacted by Murphy, the “board developed 9 percent levy increases until we reach our LFS” in school year 2025-26. The district will be entering “year five of seven going into the 2022-23 budget,” Smith noted, with the state implementing an estimated 55 percent reduction in adjustment aid to Pemberton Schools, and by the board maintaining its original plan, it will generate an additional $1,672,252 through the next tax levy increase of 9 percent, which he referred to as anticipated “new revenue.” That anticipated revenue, however, is factored into the worst- and best-case scenarios for the upcoming school year, meaning that the district will still have to make up $3,561,454 to $7,505,677 in losses through additional cuts,
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or find other new revenue sources to cover it, with the latter a tall order. “I have trouble clapping,” quipped Superintendent Jeffrey Havers when Smith concluded his presentation. Maldonado asked Smith just how much personnel would need to be cut to make up the difference, to which the business administrator replied that it was “too early” to provide such a figure, “but it would be significant.” However, Smith noted that there are “different areas in the budget where we could make reductions that don’t involve personnel.” Though Smith presented the previously approved 9 percent increases in the tax levy through the 2024-25 school year in his presentation, he pointed out that between now and March, when a preliminary budget for the 2022-23 school year has to be adopted, a number of meetings will be taking place between board members, the finance committee, staff and administration where “we will be discussing the budget and what is in the budget.” (Though those increases were previously approved by a prior board, the current board could change the tax levy in adopting a new budget.) The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that Havers remarked in August that “we won’t be able to have aides in kindergarten classrooms” beginning with the 2023-24 school year. The plan to do away with kindergarten aides, however, has generated considerable controversy. Smith, in noting on Nov. 18 there is a way for reductions to be made in the district budget that don’t involve personnel, said he was aware “kindergarten aids have been talked about.” The past two board meetings have featured extensive discussion about the troubles district students, particularly in the elementary and middle schools, are having in the classroom in the wake of being out of school for a lengthy period of time during the past two school years
due to Coronavirus shutdowns. It has been reported that test score indicators for district students are showing alarming trends following the shutdown, while many students are experiencing severe mental and behavioral health issues (a situation which will be chronicled in a future issue of this newspaper). Donna Lefebvre, 29-year aide in the district, who watched the budget presentation, said in response she couldn’t help but notice that district administrators “were talking about all this trauma students have been suffering from” and “all the resources we need,” but yet acknowledged two months ago there was a plan to “cut 18 kindergarten aides.” “These are people these five-year old children depend on,” Lefebvre declared. “I know you are talking June 2023, but when you look at the needs of these students, why would you start with five-year old children who really need help and guidance, and hugs. … They need that support and our teachers need that support. This is a big mistake the district is contemplating.” Lefebvre warned “you have to start young” to get children “on the right track.” She also pointed out that most aides and “support staff” are currently unable to check their emails during the day because the district has not provided them with devices, yet has given iPads to each student. “There is nothing for the aides,” she asserted. “We’re told check your emails. How? We have no service! … We have no access!” And that wasn’t the only grievance aired by district staff at the latest board meeting. Lisa Stemmer, a district teacher, maintained “each and every day” district staff are now “performing some aspect of work outside of our contractual duties.” “When is enough, enough?” she asked, further contending that the district’s “current system” is “deteriorating our mental health.” See BUDGET/ Page 15
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UPGRADES (Continued from Page 11)
the basic management of road infrastructure.” The township has also applied for and received New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grants over the course of Onorato’s 16 years with the municipality to resurface its heavily traveled thoroughfares. But according to Onorato, the “grants are shrinking” and the “costs are growing.” When the township’s portion of Atsion Road was last resurfaced 16 years ago, according to the township administrator, the NJDOT was providing the township with $500,000 grants to help complete 13 different phases of the project. When the township was awarded a grant last year to conduct Phase III of a resurfacing project for Grassy Lake Road, she said, the amount was only $210,000, calling it a “pretty significant” decline in financial aid from the state. “We are in trouble going forward to cover heavily-used roads usually funded through
AGREEMENT (Continued from Page 6)
be disadvantageous to the residents of Pemberton Borough, because if the township were not to use the borough’s water supply, your rates would go up substantially.” This newspaper put Stinger’s question to Pemberton Township Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, who replied in a Nov. 29 email that Pemberton Township “will be developing its water resources on the west side of the township and will be seeking funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help finance such.” “In the meantime, we appreciate the borough’s willingness to sell us more water,” Hornickel added.
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NJDOT grants,” Onorato declared. She asked for the “patience” of motorists with the mayor calling the prioritization of roads a “juggling act.” “We know we need to address a lot of roads, and hopefully we can get the bonding secured for this, and will have enough money in our operating budget to pay for rest,” Onorato said. “But we need to be realistic.” The township, she said, does intend to seek NJDOT grant funding for the resurfacing of Atsion Road if it meets the NJDOT’s current truck traffic criteria. “Some sections are really getting rough,” noted Onorato of Atsion Road. Work continues to improve Grassy Lake Road, which was long considered Shamong’s worst road because of its condition. The NJDOT just awarded the municipality a $165,000 grant to conduct Phase IV of improvements to the road, which will take the repaving “to Atsion Road,” according to the township engineer. He expected Phase II repaving to commence in November, and noted that Phase III was put out to bid. Onorato, in previewing the 2022 budget, noted that on top of everything else, the Indian
Mills Volunteer Fire Company is requesting of the township $134,000 for new air packs (this newspaper previously reported that they are due to expire, and learned more recently that the company’s efforts to secure a Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] grant through Rep. Andy Kim didn’t pan out), $45,000 for new turnout gear and $750,000 to replace a firetruck. “It is a lot to swallow,” she declared, noting that when the fire company’s Shamong EMS was disbanded earlier in the year with the township entering into a shared services agreement with the Tabernacle Rescue Squad, the municipality, due to resulting decreased revenue to the fire company, had already agreed to increase the fire company’s line item by $11,000 to help cover fixed costs on maintenance, or from $49,000 to $60,000. “We have to talk to them and see what can and can’t be achieved.” The township, according to Onorato, “never wanted to install a surveillance system” at the municipal complex “unless it had to.” However, Burlington County, she said, selected the municipal building as a Voteby-Mail dropbox location this past fall. But all dropboxes must be in a location with a
surveillance system in use, Onorato said, and the municipal building did not have one. Burlington County offered to help “offset” the municipality’s costs for installing a surveillance system at the municipal building, so that a dropbox could be placed there for local voters to use. The Shamong committee on Oct. 5, in a 3-0 vote, gave its consent for the township to contract with Joseph L. Randall, Inc. for the installation of security cameras, and decided to “kill two birds with one stone” and have them also installed at the Public Works facility due to recent “illegal dumping” of “mattresses and truck tires” in recycling containers that are placed outside of it, “which creates an additional expense to the township,” Onorato noted. The municipal building installation of the surveillance system cost $3,495, she said, while the Public Works facility installation cost $2,995. The cameras are now in use and the recordings last for 30 days. “The lack of respect for our trash and recycling is aggravating,” said Onorato, who vowed the systems will be used to “catch” those in the act of illegal dumping.
Stinger, during borough council’s Nov. 15 meeting, said that he “fully appreciates extra revenue” to the borough and understands the municipality is in need of every possible source of revenue right now, but that he doesn’t “want to see (borough) resident’s water put at risk.” “Borough council and the engineer did a study, and the engineer came back satisfying the council that this could be done without risk to the residents,” Serlin replied. “That is who we rely upon and hopefully he is right.” The newly executed agreement between the two municipalities, according to Mull, also “takes care of” a situation in which the “last contract was never signed by the township.” Mull, following the meeting, told this newspaper that the township, in the new agreement, has agreed to pay the borough $45 per unit (one unit equals 100 cubic feet
or 748 gallons). During the borough council meeting, resident Diane Fanucci asked Mull if the borough was “making any money” by executing the new agreement, to which the borough administrator replied, “Yes, we are.” On the subject of borough finances, borough council introduced an ordinance on Nov. 15 that would increase the fee for new electrical connections (as the borough operates its own electric utility for residents) from $75 to $500. “This hasn’t been done in umpteen years,” said Mull of the reason behind such a proposed increase in the fee. “And, obviously, $75 just does not cover the cost of connecting to new built homes, so that is why we are doing this ordinance.” The latest borough council meeting was held by Zoom. After recent tense exchanges between
Borough Council President Bonnie Haines and her colleagues, including Borough Mayor Harold Griffin and Borough Councilman Robert Brock, over holding in-person council sessions during the Coronavirus pandemic, the borough governing body emerged from a Nov. 15 executive session, and decided that it would resume in-person meetings beginning in December. It remains to be seen, however, how the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus, which happened about a week after the meeting, would impact that decision, given it has already brought about renewed travel restrictions and cancelations globally. Griffin and Brock have cited their health issues in expressing their reluctance to return to inperson meetings while the pandemic continues. The township council, meanwhile, has been meeting in-person since the summertime.
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(Continued from Page 13) Nancy Myer, a teacher at the district’s high school, who was previously very outspoken about the troubles in the district, declared that she is “frustrated” and while she “keeps wishing for the dawn of a new day,” she sees “no end in sight.” “We need a magic wand for our troubles to go away,” Myer quipped. “But I know that isn’t reality, is it?” Describing herself as “close to getting to the end of my rope,” Myers explained how school security, short-staffed, have been assisting her with the “roughest students I have ever had in my 20 years,” while custodians are “working their regular hours, plus some more” with no substitutes or “step-ins” available. A nightshift custodial supervisor, she said, is now filling gaps during the day, causing the daytime custodial supervisor to “come back at night.” “When is their relief going to come?” she asked. Myer also described a situation in which high school staffers “can’t go to the bathroom” because of overloaded schedules, in addition to being unable to eat lunch. In many instances, she added, teachers are having to teach class sizes of “27 students, plus,” including with students assigned Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). And, in some cases, she added, teachers are having to teach different courses “in the very same class, very same period, with the very same teacher at the very same time.” “You better hope you don’t have to go to the bathroom, because there simply isn’t time to do that,” asserted Myer. “I am simply exhausted. Is there any end in sight? We’ve been in school only 49 days, with 131 days remaining. When is the magic wand going to come?” John Myer, a district custodian who is the
vice president of the “association representing the cafeteria staff as well as the maintenance staff and groundskeepers,” angrily declared that such support professionals “are doing more with no more.” (He indicated he was taking a swipe at the superintendent, who reportedly previously advised district personnel to “do more with less”). “We are merely ‘people’ who are expected to show up and do a job,” asserted Myer, who ripped into the administration for also failing to acknowledge its support professionals during Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day on Nov. 17, calling it an “epic failure,” adding that it “never ceases to amaze me” how the administration expects staff to do their jobs “without any encouragement, support or a thankyou – which would have been appreciated.” He added that the district’s support staff are “just not appreciated,” nor are they “valued as people or employees,” before asking, “When is the administration going to wake up?” Another district employee, Carly White, declared she was “tired of my colleagues feeling unsafe in the hallways” and “tired of the additional workload, being told, ‘Oh, you can handle it – status quo – do more with less.’” Havers, in response to the comments, maintained that he “wished I could wave a magic wand” and that “I wish we didn’t get cut by $4 million last year.” “Mr. Smith handed me the budget presentation and asked me to review it, and quite honestly, it made me sick to my stomach,” Havers contended. The superintendent vowed that he would “continue to advocate for more money” and that he “doesn’t want less staff.” “I don’t want to be a broken record, but I’ll keep saying it,” Havers declared. “I didn’t want to make the cuts we made last year, or the year before that or the year before that. The bottom line is we are stuck – there is not a choice.” As for aides having devices, Havers maintained that he “didn’t think that was
necessary” for that role and that “there is a cost to it, and it is something we don’t have the luxury to do.” The superintendent also apologized twice for not recognizing support professionals on ESP day, maintaining that he “would never not want to show respect to or appreciation for people.” He contended that he “did not know it was ESP day” on Nov. 17 and attributed what occurred to “being new in my role.” Sytnik, in previously declaring in August that he was “fully prepared to pay more in taxes,” contended that while he realizes not everyone can,” he wants to “make sure my kids have enough staff, enough subs,” as well as access to other educational necessities. “The only way you are going to stop the cutting, stop the bleeding and bring back the staff and personnel you think is going to enhance the district and learning is to raise property taxes, to cut into that budget gap,” maintained Sytnik
back on Aug. 26, who said he was even willing to propose raising the tax levy to 20 percent, even if he was the lone person to do it. Otis, on Nov. 18, wished the board “good luck in 2022” as they “try to take two newbies underneath their wings.” “It is not easy,” Otis declared. “We have all been schooled in our board endeavor. I wish you guys the best of luck. You will most likely see me on the other side of the podium, or next November. I had a blast, like I always do. It is not my first term, not my second term and it won’t be my last term.” Bauer, who is the longest serving board member, serving since 2011, replied, “Good to hear that!” “I feel like a coach because I have a great team, who are all winners, and who have accomplished a great deal,” Bauer declared. “I think the school district is in great shape, though we have a long way to go.”
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Saturday, December 4, 2021
Eating Well for Your Mind and Body Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 6 p.m. Zoom Meeting Did you know that your food choices can affect your brain health? Join MINDY KOMOSINSKY, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator from Capital Health, to learn how our food choices can support a healthy brain. Other topics include mindful eating strategies and eating plans that help reduce dementia and the decline in brain health that often occurs as people get older.
This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.
@capitalhealthnj
Food Addictions: Symptoms and Management Wednesday, December 15, 2021 | 6 p.m. Zoom Meeting Do you or someone you know think you have a food addiction? You’re not alone! Food addiction can be a serious health challenge for many people, so join DR. ARVIND BHASKER from Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists to address your questions and concerns. Topics include the signs and symptoms of food addiction, the short- and long-term consequences, and the treatment options that are available to get you on the path to better health.
This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.
@capitalhealthnj