HEIRLOOM

(Continued from Page 6) 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.”

The Burlington County LibrarySystem Foundation invites your participation in our first libraryraffle. Your $50 ticket purchase will help support libraryprograms and initiatives while also benefitting you!

Multiple cash prizes will be awarded but only 250 tickets* available for purchase: Prize List:

$100 (10 winners receive 1.6% of total prize money)

$200 (5 winners receive 3.2% of total prize money)

$400 (one winner receives 6.4% of total prize money)

$500 (one winner receives 8% of total prize money)

$600 (one winner receives 9.6% of total prize money)

$750 (one winner receives 12% of total prize money)

$2,000 (one winner receives 32% of total prize money)

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.

$50 per ticket

To enter,complete the attached application and mail with your check to “BCLS Foundation”, 5Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060.

*These amounts reflect awards if 250 tickets are sold; if fewer are sold, prizes will represent 2/3 of gross collected.

Afew things to note:

•All ticket stubs will be emailed. It is important to include an email address on the application.

•You need not be present to win!

•Drawing will be held on April 27, 2023. All winners will be notified subsequently

•Checks will be mailed after the drawing.

•Tickets will be emailed to person in charge of ticket. Prize checks for winning tickets limited to 2. Share distribution beyond 2checks is responsibility of winner

•Use 1application per ticket.

Burlington County LibrarySystem Foundation

5Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060 www.bclsf.org |NJLGCCC Registration #533-5-43251

“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

Burlington County Librar y System Foundation Librar yRaffleApplication

RETURN THIS PORTION WITH YOUR CHECK.

Name (Last, First):

Address:

Phone: Email (required):

Along with this application please mail $50 check payable to:

BCLS Foundation 5Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060

Upon receipt aticket stub will be emailed. Questions? Email foundation@bclsf.org

This form is also available at: https://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/support-library/bcls-foundation

The BCLS Foundation is aregistered 501(c)3 non-profitcharitable organization with amission to support and shape the libraries within the Burlington County LibrarySystem.

NJ LGCCC Registration #533-5-43251