Pine Barrens Tribune April 15, 2023-April 21, 2023

By Bill Bonvie

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—In an age dominated by the Internet and debates about what role artificial intelligence should play in society, even those Americans residing in rural retreats like the Pine Barrens might have a hard time imagining trying to get along without what have for decades come to be considered basic amenities such as electricity and at least one bathroom.

Marie S. Kaelin, however, is one Burlington

County native and lifelong resident who can readily recall such privations while growing up on her grandmother’s dairy farm in the Buddtown section of Southampton Township, which was operated by her parents Charles T. and Ida (Endress) Simon, along with an uncle, and was the place she called home until 1954, when she moved with her late husband Vernon Kaelin to the farm he had purchased in Pemberton Township.

She continued to live independently there until a couple years ago, when a broken hip

necessitated her moving in with her daughter, Natalie Houwen, who resides next door, and whose husband Eric owns and operates Amish Country Sheds & Moving at the Dutch Wagon Market on Route 70 in Medford.

But while the hip injury may have put a halt to Kaelin’s driving (which she did until the age of 98), it has not kept her from singing in the choir (as well as playing “high C” in the bell choir) of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hainesport Township, to which she

See HEIRLOOM/ Page 6

Shooting Photographs

Ahead of Easter Bunny Event

Amounts to ‘Spitefulness’

Tompkins Says He Wants to Ensure Policy Prohibiting Councilmembers from Interacting with Departments Is Followed; Action Not Retaliatory

By Douglas D. Melegari

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A recent “directive” issued by Republican Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins that the municipality’s Recreation Department is “no longer allowed” to have Democratic Council President Donovan Gardner take professional photographs on behalf of the township, during the municipality’s sponsored events such as Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Pictures with Santa Claus, is being characterized by the “very upset” council president as retaliatory “spitefulness” that is “personal,” the result of the two apparent political foes clashing on a number of recent occasions since Tompkins took office back in January.

But Tompkins, when asked for a rebuttal by this newspaper to the allegations, while confirming he did in fact issue the directive, maintained it was handed down “shortly after coming into office” and that it was given “long before” those clashes took place.

Gardner is the owner of Pemberton-based JOCHAS Photography, and for years, has been seen at township functions taking various photographs of local events, particularly those that are township-sponsored. Some of those photographs, on occasion, have even been provided by Gardner to the Pine Barrens Tribune for free to help bring notice to and highlight the community traditions.

But as Gardner explained during an April 5 Pemberton Township Council meeting, as

Photo Provided

Marie Kaelin celebrating her 100th birthday with approximately 150 of her closest friends at the St Paul’s Lutheran Church parish hall in Hainesport. At right is her daughter Natalie’s lifelong friend Carmen Smith and Carmen’s granddaughter Olivia.

‘I GUESS I’M AN HEIRLOOM’

Having Just Turned 100, Pemberton Resident Marie Kaelin Reflects on a Life Spent Living and Working Entirely on Two Area Farms, One of Which Had Neither Power Nor Indoor Plumbing, Being a Trailblazer for Women Pursuing Their Own Careers and Continuing to Sing in a Church Choir, of Which She’s Now the Oldest Member

Pemberton Officials Hope to Secure Federal Funding to Establish ‘Part-Paid Fire Department’ Due to Daytime Shortage of Volunteers

How Program Would Be Funded Once Any Grant Expires Draws Many Questions, Director Responds, Warning Homes Could ‘Burn to the Ground’ Without Coverage; Town Receives $200K to Give Stipends to Volunteer Firefighters Responding to Calls

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—The establishment of what would essentially amount to a “partpaid fire department” is under consideration for Pemberton Township, Fire Director Daniel Hornickel revealed during an April 5 Pemberton Township Council meeting.

Meanwhile, the Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Department, according to Democratic Congressman Andy Kim, as well as Hornickel, who is also the township business administrator, has been recently awarded $200,000 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) program to “help recruit, train and retain firefighters.”

Council formally accepted the grant award on April 5.

However, a twin resolution authorizing the fire department to apply for a second time to receive a second SAFER grant to “hire a part-paid fire department,” or, according to Hornickel, “basically six people to cover us when we have very little volunteer coverage from Mondays to Saturdays” was the subject of some “concern” by some of the councilmembers who wanted to know what the plan is to cover the costs of any hires should the township obtain the grant, which would cover costs only for a three-year period, and then not receive another award down the road.

Ultimately, the resolution authorizing the fire department to proceed with filing its application passed, but not without some opposition and the fire director/business administrator sounding the alarm – or issuing a dire warning – should it not pass.

And that dire warning led this newspaper to query the fire director/business administrator following the proceedings about what is in place now to protect public safety, and what the plan is should the township not even be awarded with a second grant (a deputy fire chief from another nearby municipality, Tabernacle Township, recently gave a presentation in which it was said that FEMA typically does not award SAFER grants to towns in consecutive years, and then made a request of the Tabernacle committee for the township to continue providing funds to support the paid daytime program established there once funding expires at the end of this year, a request still under consideration).

“We are asking for permission to resubmit for the hiring grant to try to be able to hire firefighters to cover the daytime when we have a dearth of volunteers available,” Hornickel told members of council of the reason behind Resolution 118-2023 appearing on the agenda for consideration, or one to “submit an application to FEMA for a SAFER Grant to hire career firefighters.”

Republican Councilman Dan Dewey responded by asking, “Where are we going to get these firefighters from?”

“Well, we are going to initially look at any of our volunteers who are interested, who meet the eligibility requirements, and then from there, we would have to announce a civil service opening for the positions,” Hornickel replied. “But the preference would be to hire from the volunteers.”

Dewey, in a follow up question, asked if any of the firefighters hired through the program would be deemed “township employees,” to which Hornickel replied, “They would become township employees, correct.” The fire director/business administrator confirmed for the councilman, in response to another question, that the township is seeking at a “bare minimum” $1.2 million from FEMA to administer the program.

Dewey then inquired “what would happen” if the township gets the grant, which Hornickel emphasized covers a three-year period, hires the employees, and then can’t obtain additional funding from the federal government.

“So, after the three years, if they say ‘no,’ then we’ll have six full-time employees for the township and then the taxpayers would be paying for them?” asked Dewey, to which Hornickel replied, “Correct, or else we dissolve the fire department and go back to some other arrangement.”

Democratic Council President Donovan Gardner also inquired, “What’s next?”, if another grant award following any initial one for career firefighters “doesn’t come to fruition.”

“If I could be candid – if our volunteers can’t carry the load, then our homes will burn to the ground,” Hornickel warned in response. “I hate to say it, but we have gotten a recruitment and retention grant; we have advertised; we have held public forums; we sent out mailers; we advertised in the Pine Barrens Tribune and placed banners in town. If we don’t have firefighters, we either will have to hire firefighters or things will burn because we will then be forced to rely on mutual aid and that means companies from other towns would be coming in after a fire has destroyed more than what the local firefighters could have combatted.”

That dire warning led the council president to clarify that “don’t get me wrong, I am all for this,” adding “hopefully, people will come out and want to be full-time.”

The fire director/business administrator further explained the need for such a program, maintaining that “our volunteers really do great a job giving us coverage after hours, but that we are really starving (for coverage) during normal business days, because most are working on Monday through Friday, or weekends, or whatever it is.”

“We just don’t have volunteers to respond during the day,” Hornickel contended. “We are 64-square miles, have a population of 27,000 people and we happen to have the most fires of any town in Burlington County.”

That remark led Gardner to declare that, “I hope we get this,” so that “at least we will have permanent firefighters for the next three years on duty,” to which Hornickel added, “We need them.”

But Dewey maintained that officials have been “spending a lot of money” and “still don’t have an approved budget” for this year, and are now trying to “get a commitment here for a three-year grant.”

Hornickel explained that the “timing” of any grant award “if we were to get it” would probably be in “late fall,” and that the money will cover any costs for years 2024, 2025 and 2026.

“I think the question that Dan is posing, and I didn’t hear an answer, is let’s say they give us the money, and we hire guys for three years, and then we don’t get another grant, do those jobs disappear or does the township pick it up?”

Hornickel replied that in the event that happens, the township would either “have to budget for those positions,” or, “if we don’t want them, do layoff notices and eliminate the positions.”

The uncertainty surrounding the future funding for the plan, in part, led Republican Councilman Joshua Ward to assert he is a “little nervous and hesitant on this one for several different reasons,” though he declared, “I get you what you are saying – I don’t want my house to burn down.”

He maintained that he “looked it up,” or what the annual wage and salary is for a firefighter

Shamong Residents Ask Township to ‘Get Ahead’ of Proposed Pig Farm While ‘Small Family Farm’ Owner Confounded Over ‘Serious’ Concerns

By Douglas D. Melegari

Staff Writer

SHAMONG—The purported purchase of 543 Oakshade Road in Shamong Township, which abuts the Shadow Lake development, for “purposes of farming” entailing a “possible pig farm” led to a large crowd of concerned residents taking to an April 4 Shamong Township Committee meeting, calling on the governing body to “get ahead of the game of what could happen” and be “transparent.”

While one resident shared with the township committee various articles and studies from around the U.S. claiming that pig farms bring about adverse impacts on the nearby environment and surrounding population, mentioning everything from instances of water source contamination, bacterial infections and even a detectable carcinogen having been found, Patty Niculescu, owner of Woodland Township-based Piney Pig & Poultry Farm, who purchased the Oakshade Road property in question last month and intends to relocate her family and pigs there in the near future, was apparently surprised and confounded to hear about what she called “misconceptions” about her “small family farm” when interviewed by this newspaper following the meeting.

“I feel like we are being labeled as this big commercial pig farm, which is really not the case,” she told this newspaper. “It is like any other family who wants to raise pigs for their family.”

That being said, however, Niculescu confirmed to the Pine Barrens Tribune that she not only purchased the property and closed on it back on March 15, but will be applying to the Pinelands Commission for “commercial” purposes, which she maintained was at the request of the township.

“The reason for ‘commercial’ would be legally the township told me I would not be able to sell anything I produce on the farmland, because the

minute I do, it becomes commercial,” Niculescu said. “So, say I want to raise pigs for myself or for my family, which I plan on doing, that is fine. But the minute I go to sell a piglet, it is commercial. So even if I remain small scale, like I am now, I would have to put in the proper paperwork and application to operate commercially.”

However, she emphasized to this newspaper on a number of occasions during the April 10 interview that the approximately 10-acre property she purchased “will have no more than 20” pigs, and that “we will maybe have seven adults at any given time,” with the “rest usually piglets to raise for meat or to put up for sale.”

Niculescu described her intent to actually “downsize” the size of her enterprise once she moves from Woodland due to both health reasons and not wanting to disturb her new neighbors, and that her current farm is nowhere near the size and scope of a piggery that is based in Southampton Township that she believes some might be erroneously mistaking for what she does.

“Folks need to do their research a little better on the difference between big commercial pig farms and a small-scale family operated farm,” Niculescu declared. “… Folks are kind of picturing this big commercial pig farm, maybe like the one near LeisureTowne that is really smelly and huge, and they do have a waste processing system and all of that. Having 20 pigs is not that. It doesn’t even compare.”

Niculescu indicated at times during the interview that she has not even made a final decision about whether her farm will be a commercial operation at 543 Oakshade Road.

“If I were to go commercial, it would still be the same number of pigs,” she told this newspaper. “It would be requiring approval through Pinelands, of course, to be able to sell animals from the property or to sell meat, which I don’t plan on

See CONCERNS/ Page 13

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Survey, Title Search to be Performed by Woodland Twp. on Parcel

Cited as Reported Source of Ongoing Purported Feral Cat Problem

Resident, Deputy Mayor Give Input on Beneficiaries of Cranberry Festival; Township to Upgrade Software Allowing for Online Tax Payments, Access

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—An “official survey and full blown title search” has been ordered to be performed by the Woodland Township Committee on an abandoned gun club property that has been reported to be serving as the potential source of a feral cat problem in the area of Old Tuckerton and Baptists roads in Woodland.

The action was taken by the township committee following an approximately 25-minute executive session that occurred in the middle of a March 22 governing body workshop meeting, with the closed-door session convened to discuss “code enforcement properties and how to handle them financially,” according to Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown.

After the township committee returned to public session during the workshop meeting, held via telephone, Brown stated that, “We did discuss some properties that require us to do some research because of code enforcement issues.”

She then asked for a motion to “authorize” her and Township Solicitor William Burns to obtain the “official survey and full-blown title search” of “Block 53.01, Lot 36.03,” noting that the process will involve the Burlington County Surrogate’s Office.

At the time of the unanimously approved action, specific details about the property in question weren’t revealed, but Brown later told this newspaper that “the property in question is 11 Baptist Road.”

“This does have an abandoned gun club on the property and has been accused of housing feral cats, although adjoining neighbors dispute that claim,” Brown added.

This newspaper previously reported that residents Terry Sheerin and Jane Donoghue, who live in the area, complained in late January about a feral cat problem having an impact on their properties, with Sheerin maintaining that the cats were possibly coming from the gun club.

Burns responded at the time that the township has “some conflicting reports of feral cats and where they are coming from, and where they are located,” as well as that “there are some conflicting reports of how many cats (there are), and whether there is actually a feral cat problem.”

In February, officials recognized that the township animal control officer was removing feral cats from the area, all as Sheerin provided a picture to this newspaper depicting what she alleged were more than a half-dozen feral cats on her property in that shot alone, with Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff having informed Donoghue at the subsequent meeting that , “I

don’t think anyone doubted there was an issue with cats.”

As for the action taken by the township committee during its March 22 workshop session, Burns told this newspaper “one of the properties is not in good condition,” but there is an issue with the “bounds of the property and who the owners are” necessitating the title search and survey.

During the township committee’s latest regular meeting held March 22 immediately following the workshop session, the governing body approved an application by the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival Committee to hold the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 of this year.

It was then asked of the township committee to “waive” a $250 fee for a permit, which caused Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon to inquire whether such a request was “based on the fact that it brings in revenue for the township.”

“While I don’t disagree with waiving the fee, I don’t agree it brings in great buckets of revenue to the township,” Herndon declared. “I am hard pressed to think of anything we get.”

Sheerin, who said she was making the request as a taxpayer, but reportedly had been given authorization by the festival committee chairperson to make the inquiry (she serves on the committee), responded that she would “rephrase” that the event “brings in additional revenue to the township – to the residents who participate as crafters.”

“That it does,” recognized Herndon, with Sheerin providing further clarification that the event is “not helping the township or township committee in general, but is helping the residents of the township.”

DeGroff proclaimed that he is “good” with the request to waive the fee, but noted that the township committee “offered” to waive it previously, but “they refused.” Sheerin responded, in part, by saying “those bygones are gone.”

The fee was waived by a 3-0 vote.

Brown, during a clerk report, noted that the White Horse Inn, which sits at the corner of County Routes 532 and 563 and Savoy Boulevard, the largest dwelling in the town proper and well over 100 years old, will be getting repainted.

She explained there is sort of an “unwritten rule” that anytime repairs to the inn exceed $2,500, the festival committee, which helps provide for the upkeep of the facility, is to submit estimates to the governing body “not asking the township committee to pay for anything, but just making us aware since the township owns the building.”

SURVEY/ Page 9

Suggestion That Cannabis Businesses Warn Customers Their Product Violates Federal Law Causes Evesham Officials to Admit That It Does Township Attorney, Police Chief Acknowledge Legal Conflict Still Exists with Controlled Substance Act, But Its Enforcement Said Not Required

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

EVESHAM—The amending of an ordinance governing the language of signs used to identify recreational cannabis retailers at the March 29 Evesham Township Council meeting was the catalyst for another suggested change in that measure – one that would remind customers of such establishments that they are in violation of a still-existing federal law.

The proposal to include such a requirement in the sign ordinance came from Gary Warga, a resident who has been on a kind of oneman campaign at council meetings against recreational cannabis use, during a public commentary period that followed the unanimous adoption of an amended ordinance dispensing with the use of the word “dispensary” in signs put up by recreational cannabis businesses.

Warga’s recommendation, in fact, resulted in acknowledgments from both the township’s attorney and police chief that his point about state and federal laws on cannabis use being in conflict with each other was indeed correct, and that the local ordinance allowing cannabis businesses to set up shop in certain parts of the township, just like the state law enabling it, is technically overridden by the Controlled substances Act of 1970.

Tempering those affirmations, however, were statements to the affect that the federal government is not now actively enforcing that law and may be heading in the direction of revoking it.

Warga had initially voiced his support for the amended ordinance, pointing out (as has the Pine Barrens Tribune) that the word “dispensary” is one that would only apply to medical cannabis, which he indicated met with his approval, but with the caveat that he was disturbed by a report that “a majority of (recreational cannabis) customers are actually buying it to treat their own medical issues.”

“To try to self-treat any serious or chronic medical conditions,” he contended, “is a dangerous approach,” which he blamed for many people having become addicted to opioids and often dying as a result.

As he has on previous occasions, Warga then emphasized that cannabis is an addictive substance as well that “can also cause severe psychosis and violent behavior in a certain percentage of the population” before Mayor Jacklyn “Jackie” Veasy interrupted him to note that comments should be limited to the elimination of the “dispensary” reference in the amended ordinance.

In a subsequent public comment period, however, Warga got up to suggest that in addition to the revised business sign language, “it would be wise for the township to require a

warning sign in all cannabis stores” that would inform customers that “the sale or purchase of cannabis is a federal crime” under that 1970 law classifying it as a controlled substance, an admonition he thought might be “somewhat similar to the warning labels that are on cigarettes,” the rationale being that “you are less at risk legally if you warn the public what the risks are that they are taking.”

“No state has any authority to override a federal law that is in conflict with it,” he asserted. “Now, this conflict exists with the current cannabis laws here in New Jersey and in Evesham Township, and we need to be fully honest and transparent with the public who may have been misled and given wrong information.”

In fact, he maintained, the township “is promoting the violation of federal laws on this issue” and thus “is now exposed to legal liability once the council voted to approve sale of over-the-counter cannabis, which he termed “a serious violation, ”adding, “We are not allowed to pick and choose which laws we like and don’t.”

Calling this situation “a clear, positive conflict between federal, state and local laws,” Warga then asked, “Do we respect the laws here or do we just choose to ignore them when we want to? Do we keep the public informed on serious legal matters or do we just pray and hope that there will not be any future legal liability issues?”

“How do you deal with this conflict – ignore it or take a proactive approach?”

By way of response to Warga’s proposal, Veasy asked Township Attorney Christopher Orlando whether he minded addressing the “cannabis comment,” prompting Orlando, a member of the law firm of Parker McCay that was installed by a 3-2 council vote at a January reorganization meeting, to confirm that “there is a conflict between state and federal law” on the legality issue.

While the attorney said he hadn’t specifically examined the ramifications of the federal law governing cannabis, it “is still illegal, as I understand it, federally,” even though its use and possession (by those 21 and older) has been approved by the voters of New Jersey and signed into law by the governor.

Orlando added that he knew the state attorney general had spoken with a number of different police departments and that the ambiguity of the drug’s legal status had “created a conflict within the law enforcement world in regard to the ability to enforce federal law and state law,” but that he would be “happy to look at the federal law issue specifically and how state law marries with that,” and report back on it at the next council meeting.

“But there is a conflict there,” he reiterated. The mayor replied, “If you could speak on it,

See CANNABIS/ Page 9

Alvin and Barbara Johnson from Southampton Township would like to announce the engagement of their granddaughter Jessica Lee Laufeyson to Douglas Edward Lahey Jr. The beautiful brideto-be is daughter of Martin and Heather Ott of Medford Township and the groom-to-be is son of Douglas and Debra Lahey of Saint Simons Island, GA. The bride-to-be is a Public Safety Telecommunicator for the New Jersey State Police and the groom-to-be is a Sergeant for the New Jersey State Police. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Rutgers University and the groom-tobe graduated from Brookdale Community College. A May wedding is planned.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center Unveils Newly Installed $1M MRI Scanner Federal Funding Bill Appropriation Brings Highly-Specialized Diagnostics to Region

UPCOMING PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP CLEAN COMMUNITIES’ EVENTS

April 15, 2023

Country Lakes Area

Meet at Country Lakes Firehouse

For the Pine Barrens Tribune BROWNS MILLS—Less than one year after U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) were able to secure a $1 million federal appropriation for Deborah Heart and Lung Center to purchase a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the equipment has been received, installed, calibrated and is now ready for use, according to hospital officials. This highly specialized diagnostic tool creates detailed images of the heart without using radiation.

“I was proud to advocate for community projects across our state in 2022’s federal funding bill, including delivering $1 million for a state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for Deborah,” Menendez said.

“It is rewarding to know that this life-saving equipment is now installed at the hospital, where it is working to diagnose a variety of cardiovascular conditions and defects and will be essential in improving outcomes for patients.”

Recently, before its powerful tesla magnets were turned on, a celebratory team at Deborah officially “unveiled” the new MRI.

“This is a great day at Deborah,” said Deborah President and CEO Joseph Chirichella.

“I am thankful that Senators Menendez and Booker advocated for the residents of Burlington County and supported funding to expand access to cardiac care in the region. This technology is essential to diagnose and monitor a variety of cardiovascular conditions, especially disorders of the cardiac muscle and valves, as well as congenital heart defects.”

Chirichella explained that a Cardiac MRI is “critically valuable” in predicting the risk posed by different heart conditions, and is used to identify and tailor specific cardiac therapies,

including for heart rhythm disturbances, as well as conditions related to COVID-19.

“This state-of-the-art, rapid acquisition and wide bore scanner MRI will provide excellent access for our patients without many of the limitations of earlier scanners for comfort and study quality,” he said. “This, combined with the newest generation of cutting-edge software, ensures the highest quality cardiac imaging.”

Chirichella noted that in addition to providing access to sophisticated images of the heart, the MRI scanner also provides an opportunity for local patients to have MRI imaging beyond the heart including organs, bones, joints and muscles.

“Deborah is located in a designated medically underserved area,” he added. “As one of the country’s leading cardiac centers, a cardiac MRI builds on our program of excellence. However, community access to an MRI for a variety of other medical conditions will vastly reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for this type of specialized, detailed imaging, allowing people convenient, earlier, and more precise diagnosis of their conditions. We at Deborah are delighted to have this innovative technology on our campus, and are excited to play a role in a significant expansion of providing communitybased health care.”

Readers are urged to visit www. DemandDeborah.org for more information.

“Deborah’s new MRI scanner will make cardiovascular monitoring more accessible to South Jersey families, continuing the center’s century-long tradition of delivering high-quality heart, lung, and vascular care in a medically underserved area,” Booker declared. “I will continue to fight for projects like this that keep New Jersey families healthy and safe.”

May 20, 2023

Browns Mills Area-Meet at Browns Mills Firehouse

September 16, 2023

Country Lakes Area-Meet at Country Lakes Firehouse

October 14, 2023

Browns Mills Area-Meet at Browns Mills Firehouse

November 4, 2023

Presidential Lakes Area-Meet at Presidential Lakes Firehouse

Clean-ups are from 8 am to 12 pm - Supplies are provided including a free t-shirt 609-836-5258  dmcbreen@pemberton-twp.com

Earn $$ for your non-profit organization

Take advantage of a Clean Communities’ mini-grant and earn money for your non-profit group or organization cleaning up litter and debris from targeted Pemberton Township roadways. 609-836-5258 dmcbreen@pemberton-twp.com

APRIL

Have junk laying around your home? A public area around your home that needs to be cleaned up? Confidential papers to be shredded? Bring old tires (limit 12 tires, no oversized tires), paint cans with lids, household hazardous waste, concrete, bricks, lumber, etc. to the Public Works Yard (located behind the Municipal Bldg. at 500 Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068) for one day FREE disposal.

No gasoline or unidentifiable material accepted.

Note: Intact televisions, computers, waste motor oil and scrap metal may be brought to the Public Works Yard for free during normal yard hours. Pemberton Township Residents Only-No Businesses

Any questions please call 609-836-5258 or visit our website at www.pemberton-twp.com

Photo Provided

The Deborah Heart and Lung Center team from left, Christine Carlson-Glazer, MPH, vice president Government, Military and Community Relations; Michelle Hoffman, grant writer; Paul Antonucci, director of Imaging Services; Joseph Manni, executive vice president & COO; Joseph Chirichella, president & CEO; Marina Liem, MD, chair, Radiology Services; and Patrick Dungee, MRI supervisor.

HEIRLOOM

(Continued from Page 1)

has belonged since childhood and where she is now the oldest congregant.

“I guess I’m an heirloom,” is how she characterized that distinction.

Now, having just celebrated her 100th birthday on April 4, Kaelin reflected in a phone interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune about what farm life was like in these parts back in the 1920s and ‘30s, the changes she has lived through in the decades that followed, and how her many years of ‘living off the land’ while steering clear of things she considered detrimental to health may have contributed to not just her longevity, but her ability to remain sharp, active and quite literally ‘in harmony’ with much younger generations.

“I was raised on a 12-acre farm off Birmingham Road,” Kaelin replied when asked what her childhood was like. “There were 12 of us living in the house, including my brother, two sisters, my dad’s brother, his wife and two children, a single aunt and a single uncle.”

The house was one she described as a twostory brick structure with five bedrooms, but no indoor plumbing (outhouses only) and no power, being lit by gas lamps, which were also used in the barn. Refrigeration, she said, was provided by an old-fashioned icebox, which was chilled by “a big square piece of ice” that her uncle would usually bring back from town when he took a trip there to meet the milk truck with the farm’s output.

“Those chunks of ice lasted a couple days,” she remembered.

But then, she noted, “we were very selfsufficient in those days — and growing up on a farm, I always had regular chores,” which in her case included having to “hunt the eggs” laid by the free-roaming hens, and, along with her sister, “feed the dogs that were tied up at various stations in the yard,” carry wood from

the woodpile and stack it in the inside shed, and use a hand pump to fill a tub in the milk house with fresh, cold water to “float the cans of milk in” overnight.

The neighborhood surrounding the farm, she noted, was also one lacking in paved roads, which could make for significant problems in getting around at times. An example she cited was when her grandmother passed away in March of 1936, and the roads were so muddy and rutted that her casket had to be transported via a horse and wagon down to Pemberton-Vincentown Road to meet up with a waiting hearse.

All-told, it was a far cry from the lifestyle of basic conveniences, to say nothing of technological luxuries, that most kids today as well as their parents have come to take for granted, such as heat in the winter, the only source of which in the family farmhouse was a wood stove in the dining room. The two front parlors, however, were “never heated,” she remembered—nor were the bedrooms.

“Our beds were so cold that we had to heat them with bricks that were put in the oven during the day,” she said. “Then at night, we’d wrap them in newspaper and put cloth around them – some kind of tapestry – and put that at the foot of the bed so we could warm our feet.” Another indication of just how frigid the children’s bedroom could get was the fact that the water in a stainless-steel pitcher that her parents would bring upstairs at night in case they got thirsty would often be frozen solid on winter mornings.

The lack of indoor plumbing also made bathing and washing clothes rather tedious routines, calling for a large wooden tub to be brought into the kitchen and “set on the floor next to the wood range,” which Kaelin said had a reserve tank on the side that was used to heat the bath water while the stove was on during the day.

“We had a bath once a week on Saturday night,” she said, noting that she and her sister frequently “used the same bath water when we didn’t have electric” to conserve hot water.

Getting clothes clean was an especially arduous procedure, requiring an aluminum tub and a scrub board.

Not that such “having to do without” applied to everything in her childhood. The family, she said, did have a telephone during that time –albeit one connected to a party line (which was shared with other neighborhood residents) -- and a piano, which proved very important to Kaelin’s later life (more on that in a moment).

When electricity did finally make its appearance in the Simon family’s residence, it initially arrived in a kind of transitional form known as a Delco Light Plant, an ingenuous, if now largely forgotten system, which Kaelin recalled as consisting of a “service battery” set up in the basement that was operated by eight or 10 smaller batteries, and which is described on an Internet site as a compact, lightweight unit producing 750 watts of power on average, which operated automatically so as to only work when needed, being primarily intended to serve as a decentralized power supply for farms (although it was also used by some businesses). It was also one that necessitated having to buy “special appliances,” such as a mixer and an iron, to be used with it, she said.

The addition of a bathroom to the house, however, was the work of her husband, Vernon Kaelin, whom she married in 1947 and stayed married to for the next 54 years until his death – and who, from her description, could have been the paradigm of the totally self-sufficient American, being both a farmer and the owner of a service station at the corner of Arneys Mount and Fort Dix Roads (known at various times as Kaelin’s Friendly Tydol, Kaelin’s Flying A, and Kaelin’s Getty). Besides being proficient at doing all the plumbing himself for that bathroom installation, she noted, he went on to build a home with the help of his brother-in-law, Joe Haines, from fieldstones he dug up while clearing the land on a 40-acre spread he purchased on N. Pemberton Road in 1954 — one still owned by his wife (who continued to reside in it until moving in with Houwen, whose own house is a on a six-acre parcel of that property she was deeded by her father so as to conform to the township building code).

“My husband didn’t need the services of professionals – he was a handy guy,” Kaelin quipped.

But Kaelin was no slouch herself when it came to being handy – not only in her dual role as a ‘farm wife’, doing such chores as canning commodities, including sides of beef for use over the winter, and spending roughly seven hours at a stretch mowing the lawn on their property, and as the spouse of the owner of a service station for which she oversaw bookkeeping and payroll responsibilities as well as helping to wash cars, but as a salaried professional in her own right – a sort of pacesetter at a time following the allhand-on-deck demands of the Second World War when most married women had more or less reverted to an unassertive, stay-at-home lifestyle.

In fact, right after graduating from Pemberton High School in 1940, she was proficient enough

in mathematics to be hired as a bookkeeper by Sterling Davis Dairy in Wrightstown, an operation that had more than two dozen employees engaged in selling milk to the military at Fort Dix, in which she was given the job of overseeing the payroll and writing checks to area farmers.

“I worked there for 13 years and retired just two weeks before my daughter was born,” she recollected. But years later, when Natalie, was in the eighth grade, she went back to work, spending another 26 years keeping attendance records for the Pembertown Township Board of Education before retiring a second time in 1992 to help care for her grandson, who was born two months premature, since Natalie worked as a teacher. (Kaelin, however, was given a keepsake of that job – one of the attendance books she so meticulously kept.)

Through all these different phases of her life, however, Kaelin managed to continue pursuing her lifelong passion for music, serving St. Paul’s in various roles that included pianist and associate music director for the Vacation Bible School, as well as singing in the choir for a period spanning more than 65 years – an avocation she also trained for during a childhood that was otherwise somewhat short on frills.

“We always had a piano,” she emphasized. “My father’s sister could play, and my sister Elizabeth and I took lessons for 50 cents a week and had to practice an hour a day. In addition, she was exposed to music at an early age by dint of having a phonograph in the house – not a record player, but an earlier wind-up model owned by her German-born grandmother that played round cylinders, which she said mostly contained hymns. So, by the time she joined the choir at St. Paul’s following her confirmation at 13, she already well-versed in gospel music and was also proficient enough on the piano, along with her sister, for the two of them to play duets on holidays.

When asked by this newspaper about her personal tastes in music, however, they turned

Photo Provided

Marie Kaelin (right) on her 100th birthday with daughter Natalie K. Houwen and great nephew Michael Brindley.

See HEIRLOOM/ Page 8

Photo Provided

Marie on a visit to her childhood home in 2017, pictured with her two grandsons, Karl Houwen (left) and Kurt Houwen.

HEIRLOOM

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out to be surprisingly secular and versatile. Her favorite singer, she said, was none other than the “King of Rock ‘n Roll,” Elvis Presley (who also, it should be noted, recorded his share of gospel tunes), but she also enjoyed listening to such popular mid-20th Century performers as Bing Crosby, Andy Williams and Perry Como, in addition to which she and her husband “used to go see some of those local bands.”

But the kind of music prevalent today, she indicated, is not something she’s particularly in tune with.

“It’s very different,” she replied when asked about it. “They have such goofy tunes and words.”

Among the other current trends that bother Kaelin is the disappearance of individually owned family farms (for the record, the one

2023 LibraryRaffle

she still owns has been preserved through state and federal funding and is now being rented to a farmer) and that “everything seems to be less family oriented,” as well as the speed at which everything now seems to move. She did, however, offer the opinion that “most things are better now than they were back then.”

But for how she responds to today’s consumer technology, she said she prefers a “plain old flip phone” and has no use for a computer (although her daughter does, having used one to help facilitate this article).

Of course, the one thing that most people want to know from a centenarian, especially one who has remained dynamic and as sharp as Kaelin has, is what the secret of their longevity. When asked that question, she suggested a number of factors that made her life a bit different from the majority of Americans.

Aside from her maternal grandmother having lived to be 101, “so maybe I have some of her genes,” she maintained that she had “never smoked and I didn’t drink (except for communion wine),” and “didn’t eat junk food” – or, for that matter, processed food.

“We grew our own vegetables (using natural farming methods and without the help of agricultural chemicals, which she said was also the case on the farm where she grew up) and did our own canning and home cooking,” she declared, adding, “I did not rely on supermarkets.”

She did, however, profess to a lifelong love of “plain chocolate bars” (although chocolate in recent years has been called an increasingly heart healthy confection).

She also has obviously done more of her share of exercise while living and working on a farm, as well as doing regular horseback riding with her daughter after learning to ride on a mount her husband acquired at a farm auction when she was 49.

But her best advice to those who would like to reach her age is “stay active, and do practical things.”

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DIRECTIVE

(Continued from Page 1)

a longstanding tradition, he has also brought his own equipment to the township affairs to provide local families with portraits of their children posing with the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, for example.

It was a service he initially provided to the township for a fee due to the “cost of materials,” Gardner explained, that is until 2016 when he was elected to township council.

“When I was elected, I said I can’t do that (continue to charge a fee), it is against … it is just not right,” said Gardner during the April 5 council meeting. “So, for the last six years, I have been devoting my time and my equipment to the township at their events. The township purchases the picture paper, and I would provide my printer, my time, and my expertise and give them (the pictures) off to them. So, therefore, for the last six years, it cost the township nothing.”

The council president, however, maintained that in preparation for this year’s Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event that had been scheduled for April 1, he reached out to Nichole Pittman, township recreation director, to simply confirm the date and time of the function as he has always done, and that is when he was told Tompkins had “informed” Pittman that he was “no longer allowed to take pictures of any events that the Rec Department put on.”

“It is personal, but not so personal,” declared Gardner in “directing” his remarks to Tompkins during his April 5 council comments. “I think you did an injustice to our residents recently.”

Gardner, both during the April 5 council meeting and in an April 10 interview with this newspaper, contended that many families look forward to being provided with the portraits for free, wanting to maintain them as keepsakes in helping to display the “progress” of their children as they grow older.

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“Who is going to print them and give them to the township for free?” asked Gardner of the mayor, later telling this newspaper that most photographers do not bring a printer to an occasion and print photographs on the spot.

Gardner told this newspaper he does not yet know whether the Recreation Department was able to secure another photographer in time for the event, or what was offered during the occassion. He said he didn’t ask any questions to ensure township employees do not get in trouble while on the job.

Pittman declined to be interviewed for this story (with media inquiries typically having to be funneled through the administration, led by Tompkins).

“With the recent Easter Bunny event, if the director had time to find another photographer, it would cost the township, and it probably would not have been in their budget to do so,” Gardner contended.

The council president, in pointing to the “next big event,” or Pictures with Santa, asserted that “more people” attend that function and expect to be provided with portraits.

“So, if it is not in the budget (to pay for a

See DIRECTIVE/ Page 9

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Photo Provided Marie and her sister, Bette Simon, on the Simon family farm around 1926.

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari Pemberton Township Council President Donovan Gardner taking photographs and videos of Santa Claus’ 2022 arrival in town.

SURVEY

Three estimates were received, according to Brown, and also provided in a meeting handout, one from Revive Painting and Powerwashing, LLC, for $15,567, one from CertaPro Painters for $31,739, and another from Noble Painting for $75,500. Brown maintained she didn’t know for sure which company the festival committee would be selecting, but Sheerin claimed the festival committee settled on moving forward with Revive.

But an expenditure the township committee did approve on March 22 for use by the municipal government is a software upgrade from Edmunds for tax and finance purposes. According to Brown, the upgrade will allow the township to accept credit cards when residents go to pay their taxes. Chief Financial Officer Kathy Rosmando added that the software upgrade will also allow residents to do “direct bill pay,” or essentially issue an E-check from a bank account to the township.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity, and I think it is going to be very helpful,” said Brown of her “strong support” for moving forward with the purchase. “A lot of people have been calling

DIRECTIVE

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photographer), and it (the services of JOCHAS Photography) is provided for free, why are you going to prevent somebody from doing that?” asked Gardner of the mayor April 5.

Gardner, after qualifying his next question with a charge that Tompkins “didn’t have the decency or the courage to tell me” personally about the directive, put another question to the mayor: “Now, why did you do that?” or issue such a directive, maintaining the mayor

and asking about being able to do this, especially during COVID, as they didn’t want to be out in public. It is a simple program where people go online, enter their credit card information, and can pull up their own block and lot numbers, and see what is due. Payment is automatically wired to the account we have, and the tax collector gets a report for the day.”

The township, Brown explained, “gets no service fees” as a result of using the software, but rather that is passed on to the resident choosing to pay their taxes through an online portal. But the fee that the township must carry is for the implementation of the program.

The township committee, by approving the purchase, agreed to a five-year contract for $1,500, as well as the purchase of two credit card swiping devices for $250, for a “total package of $1,750,” with Brown noting the implementation fee alone was originally $1,750 before a discount.

Residents paying their taxes via credit card will be charged a 2.95 percent fee, while those paying by E-check will receive a $1.99 fee, according to the officials.

“This will also be beneficial because it does put our taxes on the internet,” Brown said. “So, a mortgage company, instead of calling the tax office, can key in. I think this will expedite the workflow in the tax office tremendously.”

owed an answer to “not just to me,” but to “the residents.”

While Tompkins’ response was inaudible on the tape of the April 5 proceedings posted to the municipal website, the mayor, according to Gardner, briefly responded that he “‘doesn’t have to tell me that.’”

“He apparently told the Rec Department that I was not allowed to do that anymore without any good explanation as to why,” maintained Gardner in the April 10 interview with this newspaper. “While he said he ‘doesn’t have to tell me that,’ in my opinion, there is no good

See DIRECTIVE/ Page 10

that would be great.”

Later in the meeting, Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller, before concluding his regular report, weighed in on the issue, noting that “federalism dictates that federal law would supersede state law when a conflict occurs,” something he called “a very old portion of our legal system.” But at the same time, he asserted, “the (U.S.) Department of Justice was given direction to not interfere with statesanctioned legalization programs,” although it still is involved in investigating illegal marijuana distribution.

The current situation was compared by Miller to the one that existed during the latter stages of Prohibition, in which he said various states started making their own laws to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages, even though federal authorities deemed it illegal under the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Eventually, he pointed out, enough states (36, or three-quarters) got together to vote for its repeal on a federal level.

“It seems like history is repeating itself right now,” he contended. “The predictions are if they get to about that number, it will tip the scales and the federal government will follow. So, we’re basically repeating the process, just with a different substance.”

(The chief, however, in response to a question from Deputy Mayor Eddie Freeman III, noted that his department, working with state police, had seized between 500 and 1,000 pounds of illegal marijuana from a business that had actually established a storefront, which had previously been raided while operating in Lumberton).

Then, just prior to the session’s conclusion, Councilwoman Heather Cooper said she had just quickly checked the cannabis law at a New

Jersey website that does address the Controlled Substance Act, and that, according to one of the comments there, “the states are not required to enforce the federal law or prosecute people for activities prohibited by federal law.”

“Therefore, compliance with the act does not put the State of New Jersey in violation of the federal law,” Cooper contended, thanking Miller for his comments.

Also speaking during the public comments portion of the meeting was Stephen Kavalkovich, a Planning Board member and natural healer, who had previously chided the council members that voted to appoint the Parker McCay firm as township solicitor, and who declared that he was “back again as I promised to hold you all accountable, as I believe myself to be someone who follows my own moral compass” and that he considered it his duty as a citizen to pose “some very serious and important questions that still remain unaddressed to the voters of this town.”

Kavalkovich particularly singled out for criticism “the member of this council who is also a practicing attorney (Freeman) who he noted “has yet to give reasons why he put forth a resolution to bring in a new law firm back in January … that was removed a little over four years ago by the same council” and had done so without offering “any explanation after three months.”

“I would think any wise attorney would conclude that council member … either doesn’t understand their role or is hiding something,” he asserted.

Kavilkovich also again raised the question of how the individual who would end up being appointed to that post (Orlando) knew to be at the Jan. 4 meeting where the vote was taken, and charged that his being “related to the current conflict counsel” constituted in itself a conflict of interest, asking whether the township has “hired a second conflict attorney to deal with that conflict, and if so, what does it cost?”

“What does all of this cost?” he added. “And how is this better for Evesham?”

answer for it.”

This newspaper has reported that since Tompkins took office on Jan. 1, Gardner and Tompkins have clashed over a number of issues, including over the appointment of municipal solicitor for 2023, later bills turned in by a solicitor temporarily appointed by the mayor, as well as the mayor’s salary.

Gardner, when queried if he believed these clashes had anything to do with the mayor’s directive, responded, “I believe so, yes.”

“With Mr. Tompkins, that is how he operates, full of vindictiveness and spitefulness,” Gardner charged. “This is not going to affect my job; however, it is going to affect the residents. It is just me doing a service for the township.”

Without having been reportedly provided an answer, Gardner told this newspaper that the “only thing that came to mind” about why this directive was issued is there possibly being some sort of a “conflict of interest,” but maintained “there is not a conflict of interest” in this case because he is “not charging the township anything” as well as is “not advertising services,” rather is merely “just taking pictures in the township.”

“I was very upset, especially with the way I found out about it – that was upsetting,” Gardner told this newspaper, noting there are a number of residents affected by the decision, especially given Pemberton is a military community within close proximity to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. “For the last six years or so, I did the pictures. They help you see the progress of the people in the township; it allows parents to the see pictures, and share them with grandparents and military members overseas, or loved ones that are not here.”

“It was very hurtful. And the hurtful part about it is the mayor didn’t have decency to say this is what is about to happen … this is what is about to transpire. I would love to know the answer as to why. Why? Tell me what it is – something that makes sense to me and everybody else.”

This newspaper, after hanging up with Gardner, who notably defeated Tompkins when the Republican sought to retain a seat on council back in 2016, contacted Tompkins for answers.

“Basically, personnel issues are run by the mayor, the way I understand it, and council people shouldn’t be interacting with the directors of departments and providing direction on how the department is going to be run,” replied Tompkins when asked if he issued the directive and why he did so. “That is why I made the decision to not let the councilman interact with the director of Recreation.”

But when asked by this newspaper if the directive that was issued specifically didn’t allow Gardner to take photographs on the municipality’s behalf at township-sponsored

directive.”

“It eliminates any misunderstanding, or misinterpretation with the councilman interacting with the department,” Tompkins added.

On several occasions during now-former township mayor David Patriarca’s 16-year tenure, it was told to various councilmembers that they cannot direct department personnel to do specific tasks, rather any directives must come from administration. The mayor, in Pemberton’s form of government, is considered administration, along with their business administrator appointee.

Tompkins, when asked by this newspaper if there had been any specific complaints brought against Gardner accusing him of giving direction to the department heads that necessitated the directive, responded, “No, it was just something I saw, that I didn’t think was appropriate and just wanted to end it.”

The mayor, when asked by this newspaper as to whether he would reconsider the directive, replied, “not at all,” and when queried as to whether he believed it was a mistake for him to not personally inform the council president of his directive, responded, “him and I rarely interface on anything other than a casual hello in passing – that is just about it.”

“When you are running departments and stuff, just sometimes you make a decision on what you feel is best,” Tompkins declared.

The Republican mayor, now more than 90 days into his mayoral term, when asked if the directive had anything to do with the recent clashes between him and the Democratic council president, replied “no, this decision was done long before that” and “actually something I did shortly upon taking office.”

“I guess it just hadn’t caught up to Gardner,” maintained Tompkins, who had been told just three weeks earlier by the council president, during a March 15 council session, that “what you did, in my opinion, is overstepping your boundaries, hiring someone without our approval” in regard to the appointment of GOP-affiliated attorney Jerry Dasti as temporary municipal solicitor, while Gardner – who also recently questioned the current mayor’s experience that entitled him to any raise in salary – maintained Township Solicitor Andrew “Andy” Bayer, a close ally of Patriarca, was able to act as a “holdover” until council approves an appointment.

After two failed attempts by Tompkins to get Dasti appointed permanent municipal solicitor, in a “compromise,” Bayer was appointed by Tompkins and confirmed by council as this year’s township solicitor, with Dasti named special counsel.

Gardner, when provided an opportunity to respond to the mayor revealing the basis for his directive over the photography, maintained that “for the last six years, under the previous mayor,” he approached a total of three Recreation directors about taking photos and had “no issues with them.”

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was it,” said Gardner of his interactions with the directors. “I wasn’t telling them how to run office or how to do the job, all I gave them is pictures and that was it.”

The council president, in recounting that Tompkins has frequently attended council meetings in Pemberton for the last six years since having lost his seat on council, asked,

“Why didn’t he say something then?” and “Why didn’t he bring it up then?”

“Nothing has changed,” said Gardner of the services he offers and limited interaction of just merely confirming the particulars of the events. “And also, now, for these events, especially the big one, Pictures with Santa, they are going to

FUNDING

in the state, and it is $43.80 an hour or what amounts to about $85,000 per firefighter, plus benefits.

“My concern is we are going to exceed that amount, and we are basing this (meeting future funding needs) off building more houses and having additional ratables that are going to subsidize this,” Ward declared. “It seems like a pretty large gamble.”

Hornickel replied that officials would “not be bringing them on at that rate,” but rather “bringing them in at the low 40s” and that their hourly wages “would stay at that for three years.” However, he acknowledged, any hired firefighter would “certainly form a union and negotiate for higher salaries down the road.”

“Right out of the gate, we are certainly not paying $85,000,” Hornickel said.

Detrick inquired whether there would be a secondary problem created by such a program, or that the volunteers might want to be also compensated for doing similar work as the career firefighters. The fire director/business administrator responded that it is “not uncommon” for fire departments in Burlington County to have paid firefighters during the day, and volunteers at night, citing Bordentown as example, revealing that is where he resides.

“My thing has always been the safety of our community, and we have approved things much bigger than this,” declared Councilwoman Elisabeth McCartney. “That is what I am thinking here, especially with us being number one for fire hazards in the county.”

McCartney’s questioning of Hornickel brought out that the hires the department plans to make with any funding would have a “dual title,” or the firefighters would also be trained as EMTs.

Still, there seemed to be some doubts amongst the rest of the councilmembers about the plans for any future such program and how it would be funded.

“I would indicate there are towns with smaller populations that have paid fire departments,” Hornickel said. “We are a town of 27,000 people, we are the fourth largest municipality, and we don’t have a paid fire department. And we probably have the most risk.”

McCartney agreed that the “delay” of having to wait for mutual aid firefighters because there are no firefighters based locally “can be life threatening.”

“We are looking to hire six firefighters because we have to be able to staff four people on a truck, so to do that, for six days a week, and to also factor in people taking time off with vacation, call outs, personal days, etc., we need six people to cover four positions six days a week,” Hornickel explained.

Ward responded by saying he is “all for it,” but that he would “just like to see a more detailed layout of what this is going to look like for the township,” with Gardner retorting that the business administrator just said that “if we get the grant and after three years we don’t have the money for it again, we dissolve the paid portion of the department.”

The resolution allowing the fire department to apply for the grant for a second time was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Dewey, who also questioned the reasoning behind the 2011 closure of the town’s Magnolia Road Fire Company, casting the lone vote of opposition.

After Dewey suggested the closure of that particular fire company was “over funding,” Gardner said there is “more to that story,” and when Dewey asserted, “let’s hear it then,” the council president responded, “maybe at another time, but there is more to that story.”

(A report from back then in a daily newspaper said that the closure was because of a drastically shrinking volunteer base that led officials to cut

funding for the firehouse that was established back in 1951 and move its apparatus to other fire companies within the township, with thenmayor David Patriarca quoted as saying there was nobody in the building responding to calls anymore, and while “we didn’t want to close the firehouse, and we didn’t technically close it, we chose to stop supporting it.”)

Dewey, on April 5, also pointed out that at a previous council meeting, Fire Chief Craig Augustoni stated that “within two years, and in no more than two years, we will need two fire trucks at a million dollars apiece,” to which Hornickel retorted, “We will need them regardless of whether we have career or volunteer firefighters.”

In light of Hornickel stating on the record there is currently a shortage of volunteers during the dayshift, “if our volunteers can’t carry the load, then our homes will burn to the ground,” and that “we need firefighters,” this newspaper later queried him as to what the plan is up until any grant award announcement is conveyed, and in the event a grant is not received at all.

“We currently have the Volunteer Fire Chief (Augustoni) responding to daytime service calls,” Hornickel replied. “If the call involves a structure fire or wildfire, we have four Public Works employees who are authorized to leave the job site (so long as they are not in the middle of a task they can’t abandon) to fight the fire. We are fortunate to have four employees on staff who also serve as volunteer firefighters. That is not a sustainable arrangement, but will continue as the status quo pending the outcome of the grant application. We also continue to rely on mutual aid.”

Kim, prior to the meeting, on March 27, had put out a press release announcing that the township had just received $200,000 from FEMA to help recruit, train, and retain firefighters.

“I’m proud to have been able to help Pemberton Fire and the township get this grant

so they can better recruit and retain firefighters,” said Kim in a statement contained in the release. “My favorite part of this job doesn’t happen down in Washington, it happens here at home – being out in the community, hearing directly from constituents at each of my monthly town halls, and working hard to deliver tangible results. I’m confident this grant funding will be impactful for our brave firefighters and will help support new firefighters that want to protect our community.”

The congressman explained that the SAFER grant program was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities.

“The SAFER grant will be a big boost to our all-volunteer firefighting force and will continue to help us recruit and retain capable volunteers to protect our homes, farms and businesses throughout the town,” said Augustoni in a statement in the release. “We are grateful for this latest round of funding for our volunteers.”

Augustoni was not present for the April 5 council meeting, however, in which the SAFER grant program was discussed at length. Hornickel, however, who is over Augustoni as the township fire director, explained that the received grant money will be used for “recruiting and retaining volunteers,” specifically giving them a “duty stipend” for “response to calls.”

“We are thrilled to accept the SAFER grant on behalf of our first responders and volunteer firefighters who continue to do excellent work in protecting our township and responding to fire calls,” said Pemberton Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins through the release. “We also appreciate the support from Congressman Kim’s office in helping us to secure this funding source for the next four years.”

CONCERNS

typically don’t get an updated deed for months.”

our properties because we pay a lot in taxes,” he declared. “But the biggest concern is the potential for health issues.”

doing right now. I just want to move my family there, and have our pigs for my own personal consumption.”

Ernie Lazos, a physician surgeon from the Shadow Lake community who previously led the charge for a dog ordinance to be passed in Shamong, and made many past public complaints about gruesome noises emanating from what had been a kennel operation on a parcel reportedly adjoining the one now the subject of concern, all of which led to the 2019 arrest and sentencing last year of a Shamong woman for having 161 dogs living in “inhumane conditions” and another 44 dead dogs packaged in plastic bags and stored in freezers, was the first to inform the township committee on April 4 that Piney Pig & Poultry Farm had “closed” on the sale of 543 Oakshade Road.

“The rumor is that is the person who purchased it (the owner of Piney Pig & Poultry Farm) for the sole purpose of escalating a pig farm operation and bringing it to Shamong,” Lazos said. “If that is the case – and this may be a little premature, but I think we would like to get ahead of the game of what could happen. Our community has a lot of concerns.”

Lazos, appearing to be a representative for those from his development in attendance at the meeting, asserted that “we get the fact this is a farming community and that there is the Rightto-Farm, but this is also a residential community.”

“And we have a right to reside,” he declared. “And we have a right to not be hampered with health issues, or be at risk of not being able to utilize our properties the we way we want to utilize them.”

Lazos then presented the township committee with a number of articles and studies, first focusing on one published by The Guardian detailing what he claimed is the “life of someone living next to pig farms.”

of asthma” were all observed to have been found in those living near such operations, contending part of the reason is there are “gases emitted from liquid manure.”

“It is pretty graphic,” Lazos asserted.

Di Croce thanked Lazos for the submissions, promised a review of the content and remarked, “the fact this person bought the property may be an indication of where we are going,” and conferred with attendees if the property in question is about 10 acres.

He said it was also mentioned that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were “measured at hog farms,” including “one possible carcinogen,” and in addition to that, there were more instances of bacterial infections and kidney disease reported in areas in “proximity” to pig farms, versus that that aren’t in close proximity to ones.

It was something that Shamong Mayor Michael Di Croce, who immediately took notice of the large crowd that gathered for the township committee meeting, immediately denied knowing about, asserting, “I don’t know if the property has closed” and “I don’t know of any news or what they plan to do with the property.”

“It has,” Lazos advised the Shamong committee, maintaining “rumors are that 543 Oakshade Road was purchased for purposes of farming, and a possible pig farm.”

Shamong Township Administrator and Clerk Susan Onorato, in response, told Lazos “we

The “main concern” of the residents, he maintained, involves potential health issues brought about “if this becomes a bona fide pig farm.”

“I love pork and love bacon, but I think there is a place (for these things), and certain things need to be looked at and curtailed, especially with the fact that the property borders directly behind the Shadow Lake community and the property is right on wilted grass,” Lazos contended.

After pointing out that the homes in Shadow Lake “sold for significant amounts of money,” Lazos maintained that it is “well documented” that pig farms put other properties “at risk” and “reduces the value of properties by 11 percent.”

“We really don’t want to lose anything from

Lazos, however, continued to cite from the materials he presented to the Shamong committee, including a 2018 Duke University article detailing how North Carolina “has a huge issue with pig farms and health issues.”

“This article basically states residents living near large hog farms have elevated disease and death rates,” Lazos contended.

The physician surgeon then pointed to “collaborative studies” on the topic that Duke was a participant in, which he claimed, according to the report, identified there is a “cancer risk to humans.”

Lazos then summarized a Wikipedia article that discussed the “environmental impact of pig farming,” and contended “tension, anger, fatigue, confusion, respiratory symptoms indicating toxicity, as well as headaches, runny nose, sore throat, coughing, diarrhea, burning eyes, reduced function of the immune system and higher rates

Essentially, he maintained of what he read, it amounts to “pig waste” getting into groundwater, the which “really poses a huge problem,” and that among the concerns is “we are talking about salmonella, and also talking about nitrogen, phosphorus and MRSA.”

“We are not talking about one to two miles here, we are talking about feet,” Lazos asserted. “That is what we are. We are talking about some pretty serious stuff.”

Lazos pointed out that the Shadow Lake residences rely on a “very shallow aquifer,” and that the potential ramifications of any local pig farm operation could extend far beyond Shadow Lake because the property in question “drains” into other area lakes.

“Any kind of runoff from these toxins goes into the water source, unless somehow this lady is going to be able to contain it … and my well is 70 feet!” Lazos said.

The physician surgeon asked the township committee to think about the source of lettuce contamination that occasionally prompts

(Continued from Page 3) See CONCERNS Page 14

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DIRECTIVE

(Continued from Page 10) have to buy a printer, do the photo setup or hire a photographer to do that. I brought with me my printer and everything that I needed.”

As for putting a value on such a service, Gardner said that “each photographer is different,” charging a fee based on their “skill set” and “equipment” that they provide in performing their services. However, he did share with this newspaper that he previously charged non-profit organizations $5 per picture.

Gardner then pointed to previous allegations leveraged against Tompkins in 2016, that he drove through a roadblock during a forest fire as a councilman and then tried to use his title to access a restricted area, actions for which he was later censored, or as Gardner put it, the council “gave him a verbal reprimand.”

“The way he operates, he thinks he is in a certain position, and has certain entitlement to things, like being able to cross a fire line,” declared Gardner, further alleging that in a purported recent back-and-forth discussion with Tompkins, a military veteran, about why he should be entitled to a greater salary for the mayoral post, Tompkins informed him, “‘Donovan, I am the general. I am a general.’”

Tompkins, in a second follow-up phone call for this story, declined to provide any rebuttal to those two particular charges by the council president. But what he did offer in that second call is that he attended both sessions of the Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event, and “actually thought the Rec Department did a phenomenal job” and he “didn’t hear any parents” raise concerns about the event.

In fact, he maintained, they were taking pictures using their smartphones, which he noted, “come to think of it,” gives the parents the ability to more easily share any photographs on social media, etc., “if they want to” and reduces the risk to the township of any claim arising from photographs being taken of their children without parental permission.

“It takes us out of it,” he said, adding that to his knowledge a photographer wasn’t booked for the event, although Pittman does have a “little bit of leeway” to contract out just like with any other event.

Following Lazos was Hugh Reed, “here to represent the 32 owners of Shawdow Lake” as part of its homeowners’ association, who declared, “We are very concerned about this potential pig operation that is going to be built.”

The council president, when asked if council has the ability to change the rules to allow councilmembers to have more interaction with department heads and town departments, said he would have to take a closer look at the Faulkner Act, which is the basis of the rules and regulations adopted for Pemberton’s form of government.

nationwide recalls of lettuce, and then declared that a pig farm “poses a risk to our community because we are a farming community,” contending, “I know the farmer across the street uses that creek (reportedly behind the property in question) as a water source when the lake drops.”

“So, his crop could be contaminated, and then shipped out to wherever,” said Lazos of what he believed could be effects of any pig farm that extend well beyond even Shamong’s borders. “Those people are going to be at risk.

“I think you guys (the township committee) are levelheaded, and I have no qualms with the Right-to-Farm, and that is why I moved out here, and I love it out here, but I think there is a place and a time. I think this poses real financial risk to all properties and a health risk for everybody involved.”

“We would ask that as any zoning or any other issues are looked at, that this really be examined by the township committee to make sure the residents are being kept safe,” Reed said.

Another resident, Joe Ruiz, who followed Reed noted that he hasn’t “seen this many people together” to voice a concern about an issue since 2009, adding “property value is one thing, but when you talk about health risks, that takes it to a whole other level.”

Ruiz asked for a “transparent process,” maintaining what is proposed is “going to impact us” and there is “no doubt about it” as indicated by “any study you find.”

After Ruiz came up to the dais, resident Ken

(Continued from Page 13) See CONCERNS/ Page 15

But what he does know is that by him doing the photography, he can “save the township money,” pointing out that Tompkins “came in under the notion that he would save the township money, but is just spending, spending, and spending,” with it “first being the lawyers, then wanting a higher salary and now having the township hire a photographer,” though “if another photographer wants to do it for free, I have no problem with it.”

As for whether Gardner accepts the mayor’s explanation for the directive that he relayed to this newspaper (with the mayor aware that this newspaper was going to ask for his rebuttal, calling it “fair” to do so), Gardner quipped of the mayor’s philosophy, “you have certain things in the book that says you can do certain

Gardner, also a veteran, during the April 5 council meeting, maintained there was a “long history” between him and Tompkins, but declined to expand on what he meant, that is until asked by this reporter April 10, alleging that after he defeated Tompkins in 2016, “for two years he didn’t say word to me after the election,” despite encountering each other at “different veteran events at the township.”

“Not a word, not even a ‘good morning,’” Gardner asserted. “It took him two years to start speaking to me.”

As for the photography clash, when asked how it would impact their working relationship in governing the town, Gardner replied, “It didn’t go up or down, and is still going to be the same – nothing has changed,” while Tompkins, when asked if he was concerned this directive would only make things even more tense in their relationship, chuckled, before saying, “No, I don’t think it can get much more tense than it already has been over the last couple of months.”

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CONCERNS

Koehler, after pointing out his background is in emissions control, stated that he is aware of the “inherent harm these facilities can cause to the environment,” further maintaining the “pollutants can be excessive.” He then inquired about any “due process” that there would be for the proposal, and whether the town could say “time out – let’s investigate” before permitting any pig farm at the site.

“In terms of due process, what typically happens is if they come in for any sort of land use approvals or zoning permission, depending on what they are asking for, there may be something that arises to a certain level where they have to come before the board,” Shamong Township Solicitor Doug Heinold responded.

However, depending on the nature of any site plan and the operation, Heinold noted that a pig farm can “qualify as a commercial farm under the Right-to-Farm Act,” allowing an applicant to “essentially bypass the municipality and go to the County AG Board.”

“So, we still have an ability to appear there, and you would all also have an ability to appear there, but the County AG Board has primary jurisdiction over issues that involve the right to farm,” Heinold advised.

If any zoning dispute arises between the township and a farm, Heinold noted that the farm “can take it up with the County AG Board” and “then we become a participant in that process as opposed to the ones who run that process.”

“All I can say is that in New Jersey, we have a fairly well developed Right-to-Farm law,” Heinold said. “We are a densely populated state, right? And because of that, there are a lot of these conflicts that do arise. There can be a mediation process associated with those issues, and there can ultimately be decisions from the County AG Board. Those are also appealable up to the State Agricultural Commission. It can be a long process.”

The “best that we can do,” Heinold told the residents, “is if we get information relative to the operation, or relative to what they are proposing, is to share that information.”

“Sometimes, as with anything, people may choose to just do what they can do under their rights, or in a commercial farm operation, and then it may be up to either the township or a resident to say they are aggrieved by what is happening on that site and bring the issue to a higher level. So, there is a lot of different ways it can happen. I think we are all sort of operating a little bit in the dark at this point. I think we know the property has been bought at this point, but we don’t know exactly to what extent or what use is going to end up on the site, or how many animals are going to be on site and what type and so forth. I think that is all to come.”

Niculescu, in the April 10 interview with this newspaper, said it was not only a “mystery” to her about how residents have ended up equating her “very small family farm” to a “big commercial farm,” but equally “surprising” is why township officials gave the impression April 4 that they knew very little about her intentions. Niculescu listed the names of a number of township officials that she says she spoke with over the course of the last couple months, including Zoning & Construction Code Official Edward Toussaint, who she maintained is “very aware” of her plans.

She described “still being in the permitting process,” “being very careful working with the township,” and that she has been “several times a week at the township building.”

“I have to put multiple permits in for each type of fence I want to put in, and it is quite a process, but I am doing it because want to be respectful,” she said. “I had asked, ‘Will this be a problem because I want to buy this, and am closing on March 15?’ I am surprised – at least a couple folks at the township should have known about this because I have been there a couple times.”

Niculescu, in maintaining she is “following

all the rules and doing the permitting process,” told this newspaper that she was hoping as early as this week to submit the required documents such as a wetlands delineation.

As for the concerns with any waste, Niculescu said she “just can’t see” how a maximum of 20 pigs would generate the kinds of issues some of the residents described, nor can she see how she would even begin to be compared to other bigger pig farms. She maintained she has had no past issues with her current neighbors in Woodland, contending they actually “love her,” and that at the time of the phone call, she was in her backyard at least 300 feet away from her pigs and she could not smell any odor.

Niculescu, at one point during the interview, asked this reporter if any screaming or squealing could be heard in the background of the phone call, to which there was no audible background noise, though she acknowledged “just like dogs or any other animal” there can be “excitement” when pigs eat.

“I am trying to do something to bring small family farming back to the community and I am getting an awful lot of pushback,” she remarked.

“It is a shame because I have a lot of folks in support of this, but at the same time I understand I have to follow the rules. It is not our intention to upset the community in anyway or folks that maybe aren’t on board with farming, but at the end of the day it is a farming community and they should have been mindful of that when moving into town.”

Toussaint, she maintained, purportedly expressed to her that he thought some of the residents might be thinking of her operation as being similar to the one near LeisureTowne in Southampton, with her declaring, “That is not us – certainly not us.”

As for the concern with property values, “if it it was an actual commercial pig farm maybe like the one off Big Hill Road in Southampton, and it was like that one, sure – who wants to live next to that?”

“I don’t think I should lower the value of anybody’s property more than a horse farm, or goats,” she said. “What I have is the same. Why are pigs any different than the goats or horses there?”

Niculescu continued by emphasizing that she plans to be “living there” at 543 Oakshade Road, including raising her two boys there, as well as bringing her elderly parents along and that, “I don’t want to live in poor conditions.”

“I also care about my animals very much, so I don’t want to have too many on a small piece of land,” she said. “We want them to be able to graze and live comfortably. … We are just trying to have a nice property, nice community and farm. And I thought it was a farming community, so I guess I am a little saddened that before I even got the opportunity to introduce myself, to make it my home in the first place, we are feeling a little unwelcomed.”

Niculescu added that “at the end of the day, I will live there,” and that if she can only “have pigs for myself and raise my family there, that is fine, because that was my primary goal with this property,” which she noted “checked off all the boxes” for her family.

“My intention was to not move in there, start a huge pig farm, and have a big commercial operation,” she said, noting that she suspects some of the concerns may stem from the past behavior next-door to her new property, activity she emphasized has nothing to do with her and that she is “very much against” as someone who previously participated in animal rescues. “My family is going to live there and I don’t want a huge stink either.”

She noted she is waiting to receive her permits before relocating to Shamong because, “I want to be where my animals are, and I am not moving in until my animals can come with me,” and that raising a handful of pigs for meat or to put up for sale is just merely about breaking even or making a little bit of money to help with the costs of having a farm.

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