Pine Barrens Tribune February 15, 2020-February 21, 2020

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February 15, 2020 – February 21, 2020

LGBTQ Pilot Puts Pinelands District at the Forefront of Culture Clash

TRAIL OF TEARS

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

Photo Provided By Michael Tamburri/GoFundMe

Lincoln Mack, who died in a gun tragedy on Feb. 7 in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township.

After a Gun Tragedy Ended the Life of a ‘Beautiful Young Boy,’​ a Family Friend’s Initial Shock Moved Him to Initiate an Effort​ That Showed How Much Empathy Can Still Be Found in Society

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

BROW NS MILLS—When Michael Tamburri of Ocean City turned on the 11 o’clock news on the night of Feb. 7, he had no idea that what he was about to hear would affect him in such a profoundly distressing manner—and would in turn result in him doing something that he had never done before. Ta mbu r r i, 57, be ca me somewhat concerned when he heard about a tragedy that had taken place earlier in the night in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township in which an unidentified 4-yearold had somehow shot himself in the face after gaining access to a loaded handgun, and had subsequently been pronounced dead at Capital Health at Deborah–Emergency Services. He knew that Browns Mills was where his friend Andrew Mack, with whom he shared a passion for collecting and trading a popular type of multi-colored tropical fish called African cichlids, lived with his wife, Amanda, and three kids, but had no reason to think the Macks were the family involved. But when he heard that the tragedy had taken place on Maricopa Trail, he became genuinely alarmed, realizing “that is Andy’s

street.” Then, when he saw a familiar sight on the television screen —“lights that looked like flames”—he feared it was the worst news possible: that the life of the bubbly and “supersweet” little boy named Lincoln, of whom Tamburri had grown especially fond on his visits to the Mack home, had been abruptly extinguished in a horrible and unexplained mishap. But still not wanting to believe it, he texted Andrew Mack, a Naval petty officer assigned to Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst, and said, “‘Andy, I just watched the news. Please tell me this wasn’t your family.’ “He texted me back a sad face,” Tamburri told the Pine Barrens Tribune in a phone interview a few days later. “My fiancé, Aimee and I, were up the entire night in disbelief.” This is when Tamburri, who owns Tamburri Associates, a steel fabrication business in Cinnaminson, said he decided he had to do something to help out the family in its time of crisis and grief. So, after getting permission to do so via a mutual friend who told him that Andrew Mack was too distraught to talk on the phone without breaking down, Tamburri, who handles his own company’s social media postings,

launched a GoFundMe page on the family’s behalf to help cover Lincoln’s funeral expenses, specifying that any funds that might be left would go toward the education of his sister and brother (who were both at home when the tragedy occurred, as were his parents, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.) The responses, he said, particularly from members of the community and from others who don’t know the Macks, have been “overwhelming,” with many sharing the page on Facebook and other social media outlets. As of press time, well over $7,000 had been raised toward a goal of $20,000. Accompanying the donations have been messages of support and sympathy for the Mack family. “This family needs all the help and prayers that they can get at this difficult time,” wrote one person. “I cannot imagine the grief that they are experiencing. I am very sorry for their loss.” Another person wrote, “May God wrap his loving arms around this family and give them the strength they are going to need,” while another said, “My love and prayers goes out to this beautiful family.” See TEARS/ Page 6

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—In a seeming attempt to put some 150 or so parents, residents and out-of-towners who gathered inside the media center of Pinelands Regional Junior High School on the evening of Feb. 5 in a harmonious frame of mind, the school’s choir presented a little prelude—a rendition of Billy Joel’s haunting 1990s lullaby to his daughter, “Goodnight My Angel.” Between the hymn-like recital and the attendance by a substantial number of the faithful, the impression created was almost like that of a worship service about to commence, rather than an event with an undertone of discord. But the potentially contentious character of what was actually an “informational session” was readily apparent from the presence of uniformed police officers, as well as one in plain clothes who took a reporter aside and informed him that members of the press were not welcome—but he could stay as long as he removed his ID and refrained from recording any of the proceedings or taking any more photos. The apparent concern was over the decidedly controversial subject of the session, which was how the Pinelands Regional School District, one of 12 in the state chosen to take part in a pilot program on the introduction of an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum specifically geared to 8th graders, plans to go about implementing the new instruction. A year ago, New Jersey became the second state in the nation, after California, to require that its public schools incorporate such an agenda in its curricula after a bill to that effect was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. The job of explaining to district parents the nature and purpose of the new course material fell to spokespersons for Garden State Equality (GSE), which promotes itself as “New Jersey’s statewide education organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.” The spokespersons were introduced by Pinelands Regional Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley. But while the crowd listened to them politely and without interruption, many of the attendees made known their opposition to the new program by displaying large yellow buttons that bore the message, “Family, Community and School, Not Special Interests,” which were reportedly distributed by some area churches. Among those present at the session was a See CULTURE/ Page 7

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Saturday, February 15, 2020

Official’s Consolidation Vote in Dispute By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—Gail Corey, a member of the Tabernacle Township Board of Education, contended last Sunday in correspondence to this newspaper that she voted in support of a plan to move the Tabernacle Township School District’s second, third and fourth grade classes from Tabernacle Elementary School to Olson Middle School, beginning with the 2020-21 school year, despite apparent audio and some press observations to the contrary. The board, as this newspaper reported last week, voted on Feb. 3 to move ahead with consolidation to help offset a projected $2.6 million loss in state aid to the Tabernacle Township School District over the next five years, the result of a recently implemented modified school funding law. It was an apparent 6-3 vote. The board conducted a roll call vote for the consolidation decision, with Corey voting first. “No,” Corey appeared to answer when Business Administrator and School Board Secretary Jessica L. DeWysockie called her name. Corey’s apparent opposition vote was heard by this reporter, sitting in the front of row of the meeting audience, and was immediately noted in this reporter’s notebook. Additionally, Corey can be apparently heard voting “no” when audio of the meeting, recorded by this newspaper, was played back. The Burlington County Times, which also had a reporter attend the meeting, likewise noted that the board voted to approve the consolidation by a 6-3 vote on Feb. 3. The Tabernacle Sun, which also had a reporter attend the meeting, contended that Corey “later voted yes on the plan to consolidate grades.” Initial word that Corey was disputing this newspaper’s reporting that she, along with board members Megan Jones and Kevin McCloy, voted against consolidation came through Board Member Daniel Dilks in a 10:47 a.m. Facebook message to this newspaper Sunday morning (Feb. 9). “In the following article, you report that the vote was 6-3, in favor of the consolidation,” Dilks wrote. “In reality, the vote was 7-2; I have verified this with Ms. Corey, who you cite as voting ‘no.’ She is in fact a ‘yes’ vote for consolidation. The Board of Ed meeting minutes will reflect a vote of 7–2.” Dilks, when provided with the audio of Corey’s vote, replied immediately that he would allow Ms. Corey to reach out to the newspaper, if she chooses to do so. This newspaper sent the same reply to Dilks also though his official school district email address. Dilks replied to that email, copied to Corey and DeWysockie, as well. “I will leave it to Ms. Corey to respond with her recollection is (sic) the vote, and the same to Ms. DeWysockie regarding the vote she recorded. My understanding was the cote (sic) was 7-2.”

Corey weighed in on the dispute at 9:54 p.m. on Feb. 9. “I want to set the facts straight, I voted ‘yes’ for the consolidation,” Corey wrote. “I had spoken with Dan (Dilks) and confirmed to him that I voted ‘yes.’ It was a difficult decision, but I think to consolidate grades two through four into the middle school is the best choice at this time.” Corey, when asked if she listened to the audio recorded by this newspaper, replied that there is “no need” for her to listen to the tape. “W hatever it says, I voted ‘yes’ for consolidation,” Corey contended. “If anyone asks me, I will tell them I support consolidation for grades 2 to 4 into the middle school.” Nearly an hour later, at 10:54 p.m., DeWysockie sent an email to this newspaper contending that she reviewed her meeting minutes. “I have seven ‘yes’ tallies and two ‘no’ tallies,” DeWysockie wrote. “Dr. McCloy and Dr. Jones were the only individuals that voted ‘no’ on this particular item.” McCloy and Jones, when reached Feb. 10, referred comment to district administration and Board President Megan Chamberlain. Chamberlain would not agree to a phone interview for this story, but did provide a response regarding the dispute through email. “If your question is in reference to Mrs. Corey’s vote on the consolidation of the grades to OMS, I heard the audio, I spoke to Mrs. Corey within minutes of the vote, and I heard with my own ears her say, ‘yes,’” Chamberlain said. “Our board secretary recorded Mrs. Corey as saying ‘yes.’” Brian Lepsis, a board member who is the head of the decision-making body’s finance committee, has contended that the consolidation will save about $290,000 each year, after the first year, on lighting, HVAC, IT, maintenance and telephone costs, to name a few, even though the elementary school will continue to hold kindergarten and first grade students. Lepsis contended Feb. 3 that “$200,000 plus in savings” would otherwise had to have been found somewhere else—most likely in the form of staff reductions—to “plug a hole,” or close a projected operating deficit for the 2020-21 school year of about $320,000. He contended the consolidation would save personnel, though doing so may still not be enough prior to the start of the upcoming school year to avert additional layoffs of district personnel, or privatization of positions. The district RIFed four teachers and a principal last year. During the 2018-19 school year, when the revised funding formula had its first-real impact on Tabernacle Public Schools, the district lost $198,000 in state aid, and this school year, the district has lost about another $312,000, according to DeWysockie. The business administrator recently contended that the district is anticipated to lose at least $481,615 See DISPUTE/ Page 9

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Dogs Purportedly Terrorize Neighborhood Biting Some 12 People Over Past 4 Months By Andy Milone Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—A man is facing multiple charges after his three dogs allegedly terrorized a neighborhood in Little Egg Harbor Township last week in what was one of at least six other incidents during the last four months involving the same animals. The latest incident, according to a press release from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Feb. 3 in the area of Lake Winnipesaukee Drive. It was there that officers, according to the release, found the three dogs on-the-loose along with a 69-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man suffering from multiple dog bites. “Over the course of the next hour, officers and residents frantically attempted to contain the animals as they continued to terrorize the neighborhood,” police said. “A total of six residents were bitten.” A video was released along with the press release showing a man trying to fend off the three dogs with a pole after being chased in an aggressive manner by the animals. “This was not normal behavior from a dog,” said Ashley Scerbo, a resident of Lake Winnipesaukee Drive, during a Feb. 7 interview with this newspaper. “They were trained to do that. They were trained to go after peoples’ necks.” Scerbo contended that she was bringing groceries into her home from her car at the time that the attack happened in her neighborhood. She said she heard her neighbor, who was attacked, screaming. “I have never heard anyone scream like this, except in a horror movie,” Scerbo said.

She contended that she and her 2-year-old son were inside their home when the dogs approached her property. She contended that the dogs, Cane Corsos, slammed into her door, barking and foaming at the mouth. The dogs were eventually contained and turned over to animal control, according to police. The police department also noted that “on at least seven occasions in the last four months,” its officers have responded to calls regarding the dogs. “In total we count at least 12 bite victims, and unconfirmed reports of others,” said the police department. “The owner of these animals had been issued multiple summonses in relation to these prior incidents.” Police did not release the name of the dogs’ owner. However, Esau Morales, 26, answered to the charges stemming from the latest incident during a Little Egg Harbor Township Municipal Court hearing last Friday (Feb. 7). A resident also told this newspaper that Morales was the dogs’ owner. According to online court records, Morales faces multiple charges stemming from the latest incident, including three counts of failure to obtain a dog license, three counts of dogs at large with the owner responsible for control and maintaining a nuisance. Morales, according to online court records, had another charge for failure to obtain a dog license filed against him in December 2019. Morales had purportedly told investigators, and said in court last Friday, that the dogs were vaccinated, but authorities later learned that was not true, according to a letter to the See DOGS/ Page 13

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New Physical Therapy Clinic Opens in Tabernacle Led by Seneca Alumna

Photo By Andy Milone

Carlie (Flake) Strazzullo, a 2011 graduate of Seneca High School, stretches the hamstring of John Santoro.

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—3 Dimensional Physical Therapy (3DPT) has officially opened its fifth clinic in Southern New Jersey. Ownership tapped Carlie (Flake) Strazzullo, a 2011 graduate of Seneca High School, to be its next business partner with this latest venture. She will lead the new, 3,200 square foot onefloor facility leased in Yates Plaza at 1572 Route 206, Suite 4, in Tabernacle Township. Other tenants of the plaza, owned by Kenmare Limited, LLC, include Upper Crust Pizza & Italian Restaurant, Leo’s Ice Cream Company and Waller’s Deli. “I am a really community-oriented person,” Strazzullo said. “I have been a part of Tabernacle, and the surrounding communities, for pretty much my entire life. To be able to put two of my greatest passions together—this community and physical therapy—by opening up a clinic and being the business owner in my hometown is pretty much all of my goals coming together.” Besides Tabernacle, 3DPT offers treatments at its locations in Medford, Cherry Hill, Haddon and West Berlin townships. Hundreds of therapy sessions take place per week, primarily focused in orthopedics, geriatrics and sports injuries. Strazzullo said that the new Tabernacle branch will add convenience for its patients from Shamong, Southampton, Pemberton, Tabernacle townships and nearby areas. The number of therapists that will work at the new location has not yet been determined. Its clinics range in size, between three and eight therapists. What is known is that patients will have

access to an experienced 3DPT veteran in Strazzullo, who received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Stockton University. She started with 3DPT as a PT Aid in 2014, and has been practicing physical therapy since 2018. Jeff Sallade and Ken Guzzardo, co-owners, founded 3DPT in 2011. Over time, they have named business partners to lead their growing number of clinics. “Carlie’s level of dedication and her commitment to being the best version of herself, being the best clinician that she can, and being the best for her patients, is something that pushes Jeff and I to be better,” Guzzardo said. “That is really what we look for in a partner—somebody who is going to make us try to become better. She emulates every core value that we have. We are pretty lucky to have her.” Strazzullo noted an interest in physical therapy began to percolate when she tore her ACL while playing soccer for Seneca High School in Tabernacle. She needed physical therapy as part of the healing process, and coupled with having an interest in the medical field and wanting to help people, she eventually landed at 3DPT. “The reason why 3DPT ended up being my place was because my values aligned perfectly with what Jeff and Ken have created,” Strazzullo said. “They do things differently. It is really patient-oriented, and we really try and make a difference through our patients, and make sure that it is a comfortable environment. “Everything that I could possibly want in a work environment is definitely here, so that is why I am excited that I get to create a work See CLINIC/ Page 7

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Marlton Man Indicted for Having Sex with Underage Girl Inside His Home

MARLTON—A man from the Marlton section of Evesham Township has been indicted on charges of having sex in his home last year with an underage girl he met through a messaging app. Charles E. Torrence, 50, of the 300 block of Summer Lane, was indicted on four counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree luring or enticing a child, four counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, two third-degree counts of criminal attempt endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree promoting prostitution. The indictment was returned Feb. 6 and signed by Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina. An investigation into Torrence began in June 2019 after law enforcement authorities from Ocean County, where the victim resides, contacted the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and indicated she had come forward with her parents to report the assault. The investigation revealed that Torrence and the victim met through the Kik social media

app and corresponded by texting and u s i n g F a c eT i m e for approximately one week before he traveled to her home and ret ur ned with her to his residence to have sexual intercourse. To r r e n c e’s Torrence cr iminal behavior in Ocean County was incorporated into the charges filed in Burlington County. He was arrested in June 2019 and released pending the outcome of the charges. He subsequently failed to appear for a Superior Court proceeding, according to Coffina, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Torrence was reportedly apprehended again last weekend, without incident, near Spruce Street in Philadelphia after authorities received an anonymous tip that he was staying in various homeless shelters in the city.

Pemberton Township Claims County is Failing to Fulfill Health Obligations By Michael Garofalo Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—The Township of Pemberton has found itself at odds with Burlington County over whether the county’s Health Department bears responsibility for enforcing local public health regulations in Pemberton. The Burlington County Health Department has informed township officials that it does not hold authority to conduct local health code enforcement in Pemberton Township, said Pemberton Township Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel during council’s Feb. 5 meeting. Hornickel contended that the county’s position is incorrect, given the existence of a 1978 public health services contract that he said assigns such responsibilities to the county. The issue arose in the course of Pemberton Tow nship’s ongoing effor ts to resolve purported public health issues at a house on Hanover Boulevard in the Browns Mills section of the township. The residence has been the subject of frequent complaints from neighbors, who contend that excessive garbage and other unsanitary conditions at the property have attracted rats and created other health risks. Hornickel provided an update on the situation after three residents spoke about conditions at the Hanover Boulevard house during council’s public comment period. Hornickel said that the county Health Department had recently inspected the site with township code enforcement. The township issued summonses, Hornickel said, but officials with the county Health Department did not believe they had authority to conduct healthrelated code enforcement within Pemberton

Township. “Apparently the problem lies with the fact that the county doesn’t realize that they are supposed to be doing that for us on our behalf,” Hornickel said. “I have an agreement between the township and the county from 1978 which clearly indicates that the county is responsible for enforcing the housing code.” The 1978 public health services contract bet ween Pember ton Township and the Bu rl i ng ton Cou nt y Boa rd of Chosen Freeholders, which Hornickel shared with this newspaper, designates the county’s public health coordinator as the party responsible for providing various health-related services, including those relating to housing. Burlington County has similar health services agreements with 34 of its 40 municipalities (including Pemberton Township), according to Hornickel. Like the Pemberton agreement, most of the other contracts were also signed in 1978, he said. Hornickel said he is unaware of any action by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders that would have rendered the 1978 contract invalid. Nicholas Gangemi, a public information officer for Burlington County, wrote in an emailed statement that the county has been in contact with Pemberton Township regarding the matter. “I have been advised by our solicitor that Burlington County and Pemberton are currently working through the issues by reviewing various ordinances and contracts,” Gangemi wrote. “At this time, we do not have any update to report, however Burlington County will continue to offer high quality shared services to all our municipal partners and residents.”

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12 Employees of Little Egg Walmart Reported Sickened by Exhaust Fumes LITTLE EGG HARBOR—An incident in which approximately a dozen people complained of feeling ill at the Walmart Supercenter in Little Egg Harbor Township, on Route 9, during the evening of Feb. 7 was reportedly caused by exhaust fumes from a diesel-powered pressure washer being used by an outside service in a back room of the store. According to a spokesperson for the West Tuckerton Volunteer Fire Company, those affected were all store employees, whose symptoms included nausea and dizziness.

While five of them asked to be checked out by EMTS, all declined to be taken to the hospital, she said. The store was open and bustling the next morning, with no indication that anything had taken place. Manager Tim Brewin, when asked about the incident, said he wasn’t in a position to respond and suggested that Walmart headquarters be contacted. An individual who answered a subsequent inquiry made to corporate headquarters, after checking, claimed she could find no information on the episode.

Medford Council Seeks to Establish Policy Outlining Meeting Decorum By Michael Garofalo Staff Writer

MEDFORD—A local council has proposed taking its existing practices for how meetings are conducted and largely codifying them into law. Medford Township Council introduced an ordinance on Feb. 4 that would essentially put a written policy in place regulating governing body meeting conduct and decorum, and Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson contended that what has been proposed will align with how public meetings are currently conducted. The proposed ordinance, in addition to requiring council members and township staff to “observe order and decorum” during all meetings, upholds the township’s present practice of allowing speakers a maximum five minutes to address the council during public comment periods. It also designates the township’s chief of police as council’s “sergeant at arms” and authorizes the chair to order the sergeant at arms to remove any individual who persists in disturbing a meeting after receiving a warning. Tow nship Solicitor Timothy Pr ime contended at council’s Jan. 21 meeting that the topic of enacting a municipal meeting conduct policy had been brought to the township’s attention by the Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (JIF). “There were some concerns about First Amendment lawsuits being brought by folks who want to trigger litigation challenging the right of the council to cut them off, and to have a standard,” Prime said. Paul Forlenza, the executive director of the Burlington County JIF, said in a telephone interview with this newspaper that clearly

laying out meeting practices in an ordinance can help to ensure that policies are followed and applied evenly. “The JIF believes it is a good idea to establish the decorum of public meetings, and to have it enforceable by ordinance,” Forlenza said. Prime said that the ordinance was drafted to be “as benign as we can make it,” while still providing the township with protection in the event of “the unusual situation where somebody deliberately tries to disrupt the public process.” “I want to make sure everybody understands this is not some effort by the council to stop f ree speech,” Pr ime said. “We are as comfortable as we could be that this would pass constitutional muster. It is no more than what we do now, really, except it is codified as a process.” An earlier draft of the ordinance contained a provision that would have imposed certain limitations on attendees’ ability to record video of meeting proceedings. Following discussion at the Jan. 21 meeting, that section was removed at the request of council. Medford Township currently records all of its council meetings and posts the videos on the township website. The ordinance is scheduled for second reading and public hearing at council’s next meeting on Feb. 18. Council also voted at its Feb. 4 meeting to introduce for first reading an ordinance that would relax zoning restrictions and regulatory fees associated with the operation of video arcades in Medford Township; the ordinance will be presented for second reading and public hearing also at council’s Feb. 18 meeting. Readers can visit this newspaper’s website for previous coverage of the video arcade regulation changes council intends to make.

Bass River Township Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Underage Girl BASS RIVER—A 62-year-old Bass River Township man pled guilty Monday (Feb. 10) in Superior Court to sexually assaulting an underage girl. Joseph Kaelin, of Mathis Lane, pled guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault in exchange for a term of 20 years in state prison, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina. Kaelin, under the agreement with the prosecutor’s office, will not be eligible for parole and must serve out the entire sentence, which is scheduled to be handed down on May 8. “Kaelin was arrested in June 2019, following an investigation that began when the victim

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divulged the abuse to family members, who then contacted police,” Coffina said. The investigation, according to the prosecutor, was led by the New Jersey State Police and revealed that Kaelin had abused the girl over a Kaelin multi-year period. The prosecutor added that further details sur rounding the investigation will not be released in an effor t to protect the identity of the victim.

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

TEARS

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM “one of the happiest kids” he has ever seen. “He had a smile on his face the entire time I was there,” Tamburri said. “The other thing I recall Lincoln loving was music.” Tamburri noted that Andrew Mack had a dash-cam video of Lincoln Mack in the back seat of a car, delighting in and swaying to the music from the car stereo. A similar characterization of Lincoln Mack was provided by Danielle Skinner, his preschool teacher at the Pemberton Early Childhood Education Center (PECEC), who described him as being “a sweet, fun little boy with a smile that lit up a room,” and could in turn “put a smile on anyone’s face at any time.” She recalled him as being a creative child who both loved to build wonderful structures with blocks, and who “happily walked into the classroom every morning eager to learn and play with his classmates.” The profound effect of his sudden passing on the Pemberton Township school system was evident from a press release it sent out at the beginning of this week, which noted that the tragedy not only impacted those at PECEC, but students and staff at Alexander Denbo Elementary School, where Lincoln Mack’s brother is a student. In response to the tragedy, the district said, an extensive network of emotional support was being initiated, with a crisis team of trained grief specialists being mobilized to respond to the needs of both students and staff. The effort, according to the statement, has included an outreach by counselors to parents in the individual classes involved at each school, with all district staff and parents being contacted by phone to let them know about the counseling services available, the allocation of “a safe room” to counsel both students and staff as needed, the posting of a dedicated webpage to provide talking tips and other information

(Continued from Page 1) That last description appears to match the cover photo found on Andrew Mack’s Facebook page. Along with a parenthetical reference to “Team Turbulence,” it shows a funloving family of five, along with a somewhat bewildered-looking pit bull, mugging for the camera and exhibiting various goofy poses and expressions, with Lincoln being held horizontally by his father in his stocking feet sticking his tongue out and appearing to be having a great time. In yet another photo, the boy is shown sporting a fake mustache and glasses to make him look like his dad. Those photos now ser ve as poignant reminders of how easily a sudden tragedy resulting from an unsecured firearm can shatter the most seemingly joyf ul and affectionate home environment and end a happy childhood—a hazard that, according to USA Today, claimed the lives of 73 children in the country in 2018, a statistic similar to that of the five preceding years. Just how blissful the feeling given off by the family was prior to this calamity was recalled by Tamburri, who said that he would occasionally come by the Mack house to exchange different types of tropical fish with Andrew Mack, or help him maintain his aquarium. A big show tank and its colorful inhabitants inside the Mack home, he said, were a particular source of allure for Lincoln Mack, who, along with his siblings, found it especially exciting whenever his father would add some new varieties—something he “absolutely loved” to watch from a couch situated in front of the tank. Besides Lincoln Mack’s fascination with his father’s fish collection, Tamburri remembers the four-year-old as loving the family’s very friendly dogs, being a Spiderman fan and as

See TEARS/ Page 14

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CLUES ACROSS

1. Expression of disgust 4. A place to unwind 7. A type of cooking range 8. Grasp tightly 10. Sea eagles 12. Carb dish 13. Late-night host 14. Revolutions per minute 16. Indicates odd or erroneous 17. FDR’s military chief of staff 19. Swiss river 20. Norwegian district and river 21. A form of motivation 25. Car mechanics group 26. Once a must-have home theater accessory 27. Broken branch 29. Apple and pumpkin are two 30. Skeletal muscle 31. Small Eurasian deer 32. Tight-lipped fellow 39. Comes after a cut 41. A place one lives

Saturday, February 15, 2020

42. Cognizant of 43. Albanian monetary unit 44. Carrot’s partner 45. Famed garden 46. Chilean seaport 48. Days (Spanish) 49. Sudden anxiety 50. 100 square meters 51. A type of beer 52. French/Belgian river

CLUES DOWN

1. Spanish dish 2. Concurs 3. __and her sisters 4. Patti Hearst’s captors 5. Used to refer to cited works 6. A state of excited movement 8. Advertising term (abbr.) 9. Nocturnal S. American rodent 11. New York art district 14. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! 15. Pre-release viewing 18. Northwestern Canadian territory (abbr.)

19. Consumed 20. Falters 22. Radioactive form of an element 23. Catch a wrongdoer 24. Breeze through 27. Thick piece of something 28. Yellowish-brown color 29. “The Raven” poet 31. Rural free delivery (abbr.) 32. Creating 33. Supervises flying 34. Northwestern state 35. Was obligated to repay 36. Diverging in lines from a common center 37. Bleak 38. We all have them 39. Hit with the palm of one’s hand 40. Sea that’s part of the western Pacific 44. Political action committee 47. Famed Spanish soldier El ____

CROSSWORD & SUDOKU Answers on Page 14

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Saturday, February 15, 2020

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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CULTURE (Continued from Page 1)

local pastor who later told the Pine Barrens Tribune of plans to try to bring about a change in either the law itself or the way it is being implemented by the district. The controversy involved is one that reflects two very divergent views of the proper role of education in a society that is undergoing rapid cultural transformation on one hand, and strong resistance to it on the other. Those leading and formulating the program, which they acknowledge is still very much a work in progress, contend it is all about making LGBTQ students feel “valued” and developing a classroom culture in which students not only “treat each other with dignity and respect,” but recognize that while people may be different, such differences need to be accepted as a normal part of life. By ensuring that such ideas are “infused into the curriculum,” and changing the “climate of how students treat each other every single day,” GSE says it aims to lower bullying statistics for all students, not just those with different sexual orientations. The organization maintains it also wants to decrease the rate of suicides or attempted ones, and to eliminate the feeling reported by 18 percent of students—those in the LGBTQ category— that they are not safe in school. A way of accomplishing these goals, as explained by the GSE representatives, is to emphasize the historical contributions made by individuals so categorized, that traditional education has ignored. Suggested approaches to promoting such awareness that eighth-grade teachers may or may not wish to adopt (which were listed in a handout provided by the group) are to promote an understanding of “how gender and mainstream ideas of American feminine beauty influenced roles in the Revolutionary War” and the role of patriarchy in colonial American social, political and economic institutions. Other proposed lessons involve the decadeslong efforts of a New York City group called the “Guerilla Girls” to “address systemic biases against women and people of color in the art world” following a Museum of Modern Art exhibition of the era’s important works whose 169 creators included only 13 women and no artists of color, and the role of “hypermasculinity, homophobia and racism” in a 2003 hate crime that “marked a turning point in Newark queer history.” But as bold, bias-busting and straightforward as such contemporary educational concepts may appear to some people, to others they are bound to be deeply disturbing—an example being the use of the word “queer” as signified by the “Q” in the LBGTQ acronym to encompass the entire group (although some have said it could also be used to mean “questioning”). As one GSE spokesperson at the information session readily acknowledged, “if you are 50 or

older, (you remember when) that was used in a derogatory way,” whereas “for today’s students, it’s used in a positive way.” “The newer generations have embraced and reclaimed that word, and identify as queer,” said GSE media spokesperson Jon Oliveira when subsequently contacted by the Pine Barrens Tribune. Other recent developments in society, including the emergence of an openly gay man as a viable candidate for president, have come as something of a sociological shock to many individuals whose beliefs and life experiences are rooted in traditional values and conservative religious teachings. A local educational consultant and former Little Egg Harbor School Superintendent Richard C. Ten Eyck contended to this newspaper that the fact that some people “have grown up in a culture where anything other than a heterosexual orientation was considered aberrant behavior is hard for them to let go of.” One of the button-wearing attendees at the information session called the program “a threat to everything that is right and Godly.” But not all the objections were grounded in religious precepts. One man, who identified himself as a public school teacher in Ocean County and didn’t want his name used in print, counted himself among the “local folks who aren’t comfortable having their kids socially engineered.” Another, who claimed to be a former board of education member, asserted that he would “refuse” to “surrender” his “individual judgment to specific interests or partisan political groups.” The idea that GSE is nothing so much as “a special interest” was echoed by a number of those who objected to its LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, some of whom pointed out that the New Jersey Code of Ethics for school board members includes a pledge that, “I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups.” Others cited the language of the new law, which specifies that “a board of education shall include instruction on the political, economic and social contributions of persons with disabilities” as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (a provision included in one of the handouts available to attendees). One such objector, Ray Bartlett, the parent of a seventh grader, accused the school board of bringing in a special-interest group to enforce the state law that “totally disregarded” those with disabilities. “I did not hear anything about disabled persons,” said another of those interviewed, who added that he thought that GSE sounds like it is a special interest. Also accusing the organization of seeming to be “a very focused special interest” was a father of two students who claimed that they had declined to attend the session with him out of concern that they would be discriminated

CLINIC

(Continued from Page 4) environment that is similar in Tabernacle, and hopefully, other people that work for me in the future feel the same way that I feel about how it has been working for Jeff and Ken.” The name, 3 Dimensional Physical Therapy, is derived from the three ways in which the therapists optimize patients’ recovery and wellness: treatment, education and motivation. “Our core values are at the heart of how every 3DPT clinic operates,” said Marketing Director Rachel Connelly. “All of those values

♦ Page 7

surround having the patient be first, making sure that when a patient comes here that they know they are going to get the undivided attention of someone who is going to be an advocate to help them get better and reach their goals as far as physical therapy goes.” Some of 3DPT’s other community highlights include free seminars, as well as sponsoring different athletic teams and scholarships. The new location is already open, but will host a grand opening and open house on Feb. 22. While some of Strazzullo’s patients will transfer to the new facility, 3DPT in Tabernacle is currently accepting new patients.

Got a news scoop? Send it over to news@pinebarrenstribune.com

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Page 8 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, February 15, 2020

Suzy Cohen AMERICA’S PHARMACIST

Natural Strategies for Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are benign cysts that can grow inside or outside of the uterus. Most women can live their whole life with little fibroids and not experience any problems, and maybe not even realize that they even have them! But fibroids can grow rapidly and cause a lot of lower pelvic pain, which can radiate into the groin or leg. When fibroids become large, they can cause the abdomen to swell or bloat, causing a woman to want to wear stretchy pants, and empty their bladder more frequently. Constipation is also pretty common with fibroids. In some cases, if the fibroid is large enough, it may actually cause tremendous discomfort and difficulty walking, sleeping or bending. A woman who is younger and still cycling may have symptoms such as heavy bleeding, subsequent anemia, fatigue, infertility and, of course, pain, including dysorgasmia. When one approaches their physician about suffering from fibroids, so often surgery is considered the first-course of action for treatment. I would like to offer you some natural strategies to help you try to shrink fibroids. Of course, discuss these possible strategies with your physician before trying them. Discontinue All Hormones That You’re Taking: Many post-menopausal women are

supported on hormones, which may be fueling fibroid growth in an older woman. It is the estrogen (estradiol) that could be the specific problem. Take Sulforaphane: Sulforaphane is a dietary supplement that is basically a broccoli extract. It is used to support Phase II liver detoxification enzymes, which break down estrogen properly. Sulforaphane supplements help to restore proper estrogen receptor gene expression, and interfere with tumor growth. Diindolylmethane (DIM) is another supplement that may help control estrogen. Increase Iodine Consumption: We assume iodine deficiency is one reason behind hypothyroidism, but iodine deficiency is also strongly associated with lumpy breasts (i.e. fibrocystic breasts), as well as uterine fibroids. Iodine may be useful in preventing further growth of a fibroid. Eat Turmeric: Turmeric spice has been studied for its ability to shrink uterine fibroids, by binding to and activating PPARgamma, and that in turn, shrinks a fibroid tumor. Curcumin is a stronger, standardized extract of turmeric spice. Take EGCG Supplements: In test tube and animal studies, cells treated with Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) grew far more slowly and were noticeably smaller within days!

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♦ Page 9

The Mouth:

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP SENIOR COLUMN

Who Is Influencing Healthcare Choices? Part II

Seniors Attend Spooky Dress Rehearsal for ‘Addams Family’ Musical Production

Gateway to Your Health

The major influences in healthcare decisions are cost and the coverage provided by Dr. Richard Weber insurance. Often, the first question that I will hear a patient ask is, “Does my insurance cover it?” This is a legitimate question. But if you make insurance coverage the primary factor when reaching a decision about treatment for a condition, I just want you to remember to take into account the best outcome for your health. Be mindful there are even financial incentives for insurance companies to

DISPUTE (Continued from Page 2)

in state aid for the 2020-21 school year, and perhaps as much as $520,000. The district is projected to lose another $596,575 in state aid during the 2021-22 school year, an additional $558,684 in state funding during the 2022-23 school year, another $347,400 in state aid during the 202425 school year and a further $109,705 in state aid during the 2024-25 school year, according to DeWysockie. Lepsis has contended that the board will have to make “harder and harder” decisions in ensuing years as the district continues to lose aid, but has not offered a concrete plan as to how the district will offset the additional anticipated losses in aid beyond the 2020-21 school year. Some members of the community have been critical of the board at recent meetings, contending that the consolidation is just delaying an inevitable cut in personnel, and is therefore unnecessarily putting district students and staff in an unenviable position as the outcome will be the same. “If I have a choice between cutting real estate or square footage, and cutting humans beings or the teachers of our kids, to me it is an absolute no brainer,” said Lepsis on Feb. 3 in reply to the criticism. “I will sleep perfectly fine tonight (with the vote) going this way.” Corey, during the initial minutes of the Feb. 3 meeting, made remarks suggesting that she agreed with Lepsis’ premise that there was no other good option to consolidation as it was not practical to raise taxes. She pointed out that Democratic Governor Phil Murphy vetoed a state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (also a Democrat) bill recently that would have allowed districts experiencing a decrease in state aid to exceed a two percent cap when voting to raise school taxes. Le psis, i n a rg u i ng i n favor of t he consolidation, contended the Tabernacle district

cover the cheapest option. Cost of any procedure or treatment is always of paramount importance since, after all, we live in the real world. But when you make choices that may impact the quality of your life for years to come, you must think about what is influencing these choices. This is not to say insurance companies are bad, or employers are cheap—in fact it is just the opposite! But the economic forces acting on them have the potential to work in a different direction than what may be best for your health. Having a trusted relationship with your healthcare provider, and their administrative team, can help you make the best choice for your wallet and health!

would need to raise taxes by some 40 percent to make up for $2.6 million in lost funding, and that even if the district raised taxes by 2 percent, “that is only 1 percent” of the district’s operating budget. Corey, however, in additional comments before the consolidation vote, called it is a “very difficult decision” and told those present, “Believe me it is a very hard decision.” Corey then told parents that the Tabernacle district’s Collaboratory cart program would be unaffected by the consolidation. But she was corrected by McCloy who contended that “no decision has been made yet” and that it was “premature to ensure that is not happening.” Corey replied that the “more information the board has about what will happen to the children” should be made available to the parents. Just before being told the continuation of the program was not a sure thing, Corey said “there are even questions I have” and “I love the Collaboratory.” She made no further comment, before casting her vote. Lepsis could not be reached for comment on this story. His wife told this newspaper he was away on business. During the “one-and-only” public comment period of the Feb. 3 meeting, held before any of the meeting’s business took place, the first speaker, resident David C. Heins, accused the board of a “lack of transparency.” “With this $481,615 loss in funds next year— we are to believe the following: with the closure of a portion of TES, this is in the best interests of our students,” Heins said. “However, the board of education has not studied the possible impact on the educational welfare of our children. The Board of Education is proving not to follow the New Jersey School Ethics Act, N.J.S.A. 18a. 12.21 to 18a. 12.33. There is a track record of mistrust with this Board of Education. “Last year, against popular interests, the board fired the TES principal with the expected savings of approximately $30,000 to $40,000. See DISPUTE/ Page 11

By Ebba Liguori

For the Pine Barrens Tribune

PEMBERTON—Dozens of seniors from Pemberton Township attended a dress rehearsal last week of a creepy, spooky and all together kooky musical production of “The Addams Family,” put on by the Pemberton Players. Many seniors attended the dress rehearsal at Pemberton Township High School, instead of the actual performances held on Feb. 7, 8 and 9, as they have early sleeping schedules and difficulty navigating the roads in darkness. The set for the production, directed by Vocal Instructor Christina Pinto, was truly a magnificent creation, and included a haunted house with many rooms, several staircases, an attic and even a basement. It was built to accommodate the cast of more than three dozen young actors. Moveable “trees,” also part of the set, hid supporting actors as necessary during the performance. 11 young actors had major roles in the production, singing and dancing their way through it. The stage crew supported the talented cast and accomplished multiple scene changes flawlessly. Lighting and sound were of professional quality, and special effects were unique. The makeup was ghoulish and the costuming perfect. Special effects included a lightning strike, a violent storm and even a rocket ship to the “moon.” Josh Laude, as Gomez Addams, and Allison Matthews, as Morticia Addams, gave

performances that will long be remembered. Their daughter, Wednesday Addams, was played by Yohanna Bauerdorf, and her boyfriend, Lucas Beineke, was played by Evan Shagg. These four actors were supported by their “families,” or the Addams and the Beinekes, made up of another seven actors. The plot included the many twists and turns around the young couple’s romance and future marriage. Nearly every line had the audience laughing and applauding, as this was both a musical and a comedy. The musicians in the pit band supported the cast with some typical “Addams Family” music, giving a flawless performance. Laude, while acting as Gomez Addams, even played some violin solos during the performance. Mat thews, while acting as Mor ticia Addams, performed not only amazing dance moves, but proved to be multi-talented with a powerful singing voice and carrying out a fantastic dueling scene with a real foil (one of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing). Alex Henrickson-Turely played the “Moon” and performed a modern dance, complete with acrobatics. During the performance, a realistic-looking moon was shown from the upper reaches of the auditorium. It was truly an extravaganza that kept the invited rehearsal audience, which also included 5th grade Pemberton students, entertained for about two hours.

Lori Clinch COLUMNIST

Finding the Silver Lining in Loss of Family I have been blessed to have had an amazing family. There were six of us at one time, and we could count on each other for anything and everything. Each and every one of us had a unique sense of humor. We would stop at nothing with our antics. Why, we once played out the Loud Family from “Saturday Night Live” when my younger sister had a gentleman caller. The young man never came back. We lost my brother, Artie, in August 2016 and his absence left a gaping hole in the hearts of all who knew him. After his passing, he sent a cardinal to tap at the window of our prayer room, which has a chair he had given me. I knew it was no coincidence that it was a sign Artie sent, letting me know that he was OK. Dad passed next from congestive heart failure and it shook the very foundation of our family. I have often written about my mom. Oh, what a character! When I first started writing, it was before the days of caller ID. My mom phoned in with several different accents, telling the receptionist at the newspaper office how much she enjoyed my writing. My mom only babysat our four sons once. She said that when doing so, they handed her the end of a rope, and as she sat in a chair, they ran around it and tied her up in it. When Mom became ill about a year ago, I began taking her to medical appointments. “Are you being abused at home?” the

professionals would ask. Being the prankster that she was, she would nod at me and then place a hand alongside her mouth and whisper, “Help me.” “Mom!” I would exclaim after the nurse left the room. “You can’t do that! They may not know that you are kidding.” We had our hands full. When we got her checked into the hospital, it was like nothing you have ever seen. She had to have her makeup on, get her hair done, and she most certainly did need all of her Vera Bradley accessories. She lay in the bed in her hospital room, adorned with a coordinating blanket, duffel bag and handbag. Her room looked more like a bridal shower than a medical stay. My mom’s room was one that all of the nursing staff hung out in. They styled her hair, did her makeup and made sure she was as beautiful as possible. But that sweet, beautiful woman passed away on Feb. 10 of last year. Losing my brother was awful. Losing Dad was inconceivable, but losing my mama...well, life will never be the same. But I take comfort in knowing that my loved ones are no longer suffering and that they are in a better place. There is also a part of me, albeit small, that hopes that they are playing the Loud Family in heaven. Lori Clinch was bornand raised in North Platte, Nebraska, a hotbed of material for writers whose passion it is to make people laugh. She is the mother of four sons and the author of the book “Are We There Yet?”

© 2020 LORI CLINCH

Page 10 ♦

OPINION

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GUEST COMMENTARY

The Road Less Traveled Beckons You Jackson Road, in Medford Township, is the main artery to a host of wonderful residential communities. Surrounded by stately pines and a lush understory, the desirability of coming home befits the American Dream! But there is another American Dream that came true here in 1979—the reality of visiting the Pinelands Preserve and what the United Nations designated as a Biosphere in the early 1990s. Where the asphalt of Jackson Road ends, the Pine Barrens begins in earnest for you to explore! The sandy road version of Jackson Road is an entrance to an understated and seldom traveled stretch of road that cuts through some of the wildest sections of the western reach of the Pinelands. Younger stands of pitch pines appear so dense that you can’t walk through. Other pitch pines are nearly 80 feet tall with a girth of 6 to 7 feet; probably a century old! Interspersed amid these pines, one finds scattered mountain laurel, high bush blueberry and American Holly saplings. The Kirkwood Cohansey Aquifer literally bubbles to the surface all along this road. The occasional vernal ponds lap along the roadside, owing to the high-water table here. In spring, amorous frogs and salamanders will come here looking for a mate. Streams here have the color of birch beer, caused by the pigment from the area pine trees. Several streams are dammed next to Jackson Road. Here you will find handsome hooded mergansers and stunning wood ducks to go along with the regular Canada geese and mallards. The texture of the forest changes too. The encounter with an Atlantic white cedar forest, with its closed canopy, darkens the road. This is the home of the endangered barred owl, which will alert of its presence by calling, “Who cooks for you! Who cooks!” The sudden breeze through this forest is typically cooler. Catching the fragrant waft of pine is a trigger to inhale and exhale deeply in satisfaction! Though there are ample signs alerting you to not trespass onto private properties, there are few homes

Miranda

Executive Director of Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge

along this stretch of Jackson Road. Even fewer cars come by. Literally, you can park your car along the road and explore the nearby forests leisurely from the roadside. So, explore to your heart’s delight! When you have had your fill, then come visit the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge! Follow the straight and undulating course to the parking lot of the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. Be sure to find an eager naturalist to answer your questions about the fauna and flora of the Pine Barrens. Tour our interpretive trail network. Visit the 50 plus birds and animals that we have kept in safe and ample enclosures for their safety, and for your curiosity. Learn about the 5,000 plus animals we have rescued, cared for, rehabilitated and returned to the wild last year. Before you go home, visit the refuge store. Be sure you buy a cap, hoodie or coffee cup emblazoned with the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. But most importantly, support our work with a gift of your membership. In the end, please join the growing family of the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge and become a partner in ensuring that the wilds of the Pine Barrens may be enjoyed, celebrated and protected by your children and future generations to come! Dennis O. Miranda is the new executive director of Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. With nearly 30 years of working in conservation, from saving the New Jersey Highlands to launching the Western Highlands Scenic Byway, he returns to a state with deep roots, and a large network of friends and colleagues.

Saturday, February 15, 2020 SOCIAL MEDIA

SOUND OFF

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

(Re: Alpacas, One Llama Feared Left Behind at Animal Rescue Moved to Virginia For Care by Owners)

Never in my wildest, skeptical imagination would I think that a farm would leave New Jersey. It is perfectly understandable, yet surreal. Wishing all the best to the McGoverns and the animals in their new home. ~Frank Gellenthin

(Re: Washington Twp. Asks County to Address Swamp Overflow That Floods Route 542)

You can tell when you get into Burlington County from Atlantic County as the road turns into a complete mess. There are many sections of the road that flood, especially during lunar phases when tides run high.

~Ben Wurst

(Re: Developer Pitches Potential Auto Auction, Warehouse For 271-Acre Lot Along County Route 530 In Pemberton)

Make it a park for ATV riders—its big enough. Then, those who visit, can pay weekend fees for riding, or yearly permits. We have a growing ATV community here in Browns Mills, and no legal places to ride. There are already a lot of trails embedded in Birmingham pit, and the land would remain the same with just a few more trails added if it is turned into a park. It would generate revenue for the township, and for local businesses, plus give an environment for off roaders to ride legally. ~David Baker

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Distribution Area

It’s Convenient for Richter to Change Residency As Easily as It’sz for Him to Change His Shirt

So, the Third Congressional District now has a new Republican Congressional candidate, an arrogant multi-millionaire named David Richter, who has threatened to “kick Andy Kim (a Democrat representing the district) out of Congress.” If he thought this was so easy, why did he bother to buy a house in Avalon, and move into Congressional District Two to run for office, initially? But oops! The one-time Democratic representative in Congressional District Two, Jeff Van Drew, became a Republican! So now his plan is to quickly buy a house in Ocean County and move into the Third Congressional District! Maybe former Third Congressional District Rep. Tom

MacArthur’s former residence in Toms River is still available? It must be very convenient, Mr. Richter, to change your residency as easily as you change your shirt. Richter does not have any interest in either constituency. He just wants a Congressional seat. It could just as easily be in Ohio or Florida. While he is making all these muscular statements about his plans, he conveniently forgets that there are other candidates in the Republican primary, but speaks as though he is already the candidate. Money always wins. Right? ” Ruth B. Gage Medford, New Jersey

How to Send Items to the Editor: letters@pinebarrenstribune.com, put “Letter” in the subject line. Letters submitted to the Pine Barrens Tribune must include the name, address and phone number of the writer. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and taste. Because of space limitations, letters should be 150 words or less. Due to the volume of letters received, we cannot guarantee every one will be printed.

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P.O. Box 2402, Vincentown, New Jersey 08088 Phone: 609-801-2392 • Fax: 609-801-2395 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.pinebarrenstribune.com ADMINISTRATION Publisher...............dmelegari@pinebarrenstribune.com NEWS News Tips..................... news@pinebarrenstribune.com Editors.........................letters@pinebarrenstribune.com ADVERTISING Place An Ad.................. sales@pinebarrenstribune.com CIRCULATION The Pine Barrens Tribune is published every Saturday. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392. © 2020 Pine Barrens Tribune

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First Baptist Church

Taking Care of Each Other

Sunday School..................................9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service .......................11 a.m. Cross Roads Youth Group - Sundays .......5 p.m. Bible Study - Wednesdays .................6:30 p.m. Adult Choir Practice - Wednesdays ....7:30 p.m.

I

n the nineteenth chapter of Leviticus there are some interesting remarks about how we should care for our fellow man. In addition to the well-known commandments to honor our father and mother, and to not lie or steal, we are told the following: “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God.” (Leviticus 19:14 NIV) And a little further on we are instructed “Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.” (Leviticus 19:16 NIV) A careful reading of this chapter of the Bible reveals that almost everything we need to know is there concerning the care of our fellow man, and proper behavior in general, from issues of justice, to proper behavior towards our families and the less fortunate and even what we might consider rules of etiquette. Many of the rules of etiquette haven’t changed much:

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Indian Mills United Methodist Church

Medford Farms BAPTIST CHURCH 1631 US 206 • Tabernacle, New Jersey 08088

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DISPUTE (Continued from Page 9)

This was expected after the hiring of an assistant principal as his replacement. The salary of $115,000 was replaced with a salary of $95,000. This left a savings of only $20,000 to justify the loss of an employee with 10 years’ experience, who knew all of our children’s’ names.” Lepsis replied that the new administrator “at $20,000 less” is “doing two jobs” and “so, it is $100,000 in savings right there.” “We didn’t do this to save $20,000,” Lepsis said. “We did it to save $120,000.” There was also a recent back-and-forth in an area social media group about the Tabernacle Board of Education, which was brought up during the Feb. 3 meeting.

18 Mill St. Vincentown, NJ 08088 Worship: Sundays 10 a.m. 609-859-2299

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:18 NIV

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“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” (Leviticus 19:32 NIV) In considering our behavior, we should of course be asking whether we are breaking any of the ten commandments. But we should also be asking more basic questions. Are we endangering our neighbor’s life, for instance, by drinking and driving, or by driving too fast? Are we putting stumbling blocks in front of the disabled, or cursing them? (That we are told to not curse the deaf indicates that it doesn’t matter if they hear us; we should not be “complaining inwardly” about people with disabilities.) And finally, are we doing our best to act justly and fairly towards everyone, and exercising compassion towards all? -Christopher Simon

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Trinity Episcopal Church

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“I am extremely disappointed in the members of the community who accused this board of having hidden agendas, and posted board of education ethics standards online to imply that we are acting unethically, and who said we are acting incompetently in rushing to this decision, when I have been hearing about the budget crisis as a parent, and working on it as a board member, for the past year and a half,” said Board Member Stephen Henske. That online discussion also contained comments contending that the board was not bring transparent. “We have been accused of corruption, greed, hidden agendas and being basically pansy asses for this,” said Lepsis on Feb. 3. “These are not easy decisions to make. We are trying to make them in as open and transparent of a process as possible. Part of the reason I am on the board is because I wasn’t happy with the lack of transparency in the past. I think that is

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true for many of us, and I think it is a different feel (up here) than it was several years ago.” Lepsis added that none of the board members were sitting on the decision-making body to “get rich.” “I know there is greed and corruption among the board and we are all trying to pad our board of ed pensions,” said Lepsis with sarcasm. “We are volunteers here—the job sucks some nights. It doesn’t pay very well. My car got totaled on the way here because I was rushing to a meeting and got rear-ended. Do you think I want to be here and then get crucified for it? We got hard decisions to make; we are going to make the decisions; and the chips will fall where they will. I got my Kleenex ready.” Dilks, prior to the Feb. 3 consolidation vote, “invited” anyone who thinks he is “not being open and honest” to run for a seat on the board. “A community member asked me last month,

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‘How much longer until my term ended?’” Dilks said. “I didn’t have an answer. I never thought someone would ask me that question. My term is up in one-year, 10 months and 28 days.” It was indicated three times during the Feb. 3 meeting that DeWysockie was planning to resign from her position. She would follow in the footsteps of Glenn Robbins, who left the Tabernacle district as its superintendent at the end of January for another position with the Brigantine School District. The board, however, came back from executive session and choose not to accept DeWysockie’s resignation yet. The district’s technology director and technology assistant has also recently resigned. “The reality is they all have the right to go and better their lives and do what they want to do,” said Lepsis on Feb. 3. “We can’t hold people here.”

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DOGS

(Continued from Page 4) community posted on social media by Police Chief Richard J. Buzby Jr. just hours after the court hearing. Judge Damian G. Murray, who presided over the Feb. 7 court hearing, had ordered Morales to turn over vaccination records for the dogs. “During our initial investigation, the owner of the dogs responsible for the attacks Monday (Feb. 3) maintained to our investigator that the dogs were vaccinated for rabies,” Buzby wrote. “A court proceeding on the matter was held today (Feb. 7) where additional, relevant information was adduced that gave rise to additional investigation by this department. As a result, we have now determined that, although required by law, no such vaccinations for rabies ever happened regarding these animals.” Buzby added that the police department believes that there are other victims who have not yet been identified. “Because of this, I have to strongly suggest that you immediately advise your medical professionals of this fact,” he said. “If you

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were a victim and you require anything at all to further assist you in recovery, you have but to ask.” The press release issued by the police department indicates that the dogs were previously removed from the neighborhood by animal control following one incident that occurred there on Dec. 10, 2019. Police noted that the dogs were “remarkably” returned to the owner at some point after that incident. While the police department did not say how the dogs ended up back into Morales’ possession, Murray contended during the latest court hearing that when Morales had answered to a previous charge, there was “no mention” ever made of any kind of prior dog bites or anything else. “At that time, I don’t know if you deliberately misled this court or by omission,” Murray said. The judge contended had there been a mention of the previous incidents, Morales would not have had the dogs in his possession before the Feb. 3 incident took place. Murray contended that the three dogs will be kept at an animal shelter in light of the latest incident. Little Egg Harbor Police Captain James Hawkins told this newspaper on Feb. 12 that

after police reviewed the audio transcript of the Dec. 12, 2019, court decision, “Morales deceived the court” by “telling or implying” the he was dog sitting and two of the dogs were no longer in his possession. “At this time, the dogs are being housed at the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter,” Hawkins said. “The police department has been advised that the dogs will not be released until the matter has been adjudicated by the court.” Donnie Alberts, Scerbo’s neighbor, said in a Feb. 7 interview with this newspaper that he was bitten in the leg in his front yard by one of the dogs running loose along Lake Winnipesaukee Drive. Alberts contended he was standing on his front lawn, showcasing his property to a potential buyer from San Francisco. The prospective buyer was also bit in multiple places, and later required stitches. Alberts contended that the pair eventually broke away from the dogs by kicking them. “The guy went to the hospital,” Alberts said. “I just want to make sure there is justice for him. …A lot of the neighbors have young kids. They ride bikes. There is that fear now that they have to look both ways for a dog, or another animal.”

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Glenn Johnson, who lives near the corner of Lake Champlain Drive and claimed to have witnessed one of the attacks, described the dogs as “running like crazy” back-and-forth past his home. He contended that prior to the last couple of months, he had never seen the dogs during his 20-year residency in Little Egg Harbor. “We would like to extend our sympathies to the victims and all of the residents of that neighborhood,” the police department said. “Yesterday’s (Feb. 3) events were horrific, and nobody should live in fear of allowing their children to play outside, walk down the street or simply getting the mail. The Little Egg Harbor Police Department will do everything in its power to ensure these dogs are never returned and allowed to menace this neighborhood in the future. This is an active investigation, and we will keep the community apprised of its resolution.” Morales faces up to a $50 fine for the license charges and up to a $2,000 fine, a 90-day jail sentence and 90 days of community service, or any combination thereof, for the dogs runningat-large charges. He will next appear in court on March 12 at 11:30 a.m.

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(Continued from Page 7)

TEARS

leader in the area of gun-safety legislation, the state does not require the owners of firearms to lock them when not in use. Among six measures signed into law last August by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy was one setting up a seven-member Personalized Handgun Authorization Commission to approve and maintain a roster of so-called “smart guns” that may be legally sold, setting up “performance standards” for them within one year of organizing the body, and then within another 60 days, calling for every firearms dealer in the state to make at least one such gun available for purchase. “We’ve seen far too many senseless deaths because of handguns accidentally getting in the hands of children,” said Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson (D-37th Legislative District) following the signing of the legislation. “The technology exists to curb this possibility. Current law is intended to encourage the development of smart gun technology. … This legislation will help our state to create a reasonable approach to improving gun safety, especially for children.” Whether such technology might have saved the life of Lincoln Mack had it been available is a question that can’t be answered. The nature of the episode generated strong reactions from both directions, with comments in response to one news story calling for Lincoln’s parents to be arrested and charged, and a Facebook site called “NJ Citizens for a Free State” assailing news coverage of the event, accusing the “biased media” of “dancing on the graves of dead children” and telling its readers not to expect any statistics to be published “on illegal firearms usage” or the “weekly body counts in gang shootings.” Describing the Macks as “a really nice family,” Tamburri expressed the belief that “people should keep negative comments to themselves instead of putting them on a public forum. “They don’t know this family, and the family is grieving,” Tamburri said. “The bottom line is a beautiful young boy’s life was tragically ended, and his parents are going to have a lifelong sentence anyway. People should just respect the privacy of the Mack family and the horrible tragedy that they are going through.”

pertaining to children and grief, and a plan to send letters home with students at both PECEC and Denbo giving parents a number to call should they need individual assistance. “All staff will continue to work together through this process as a supportive and caring community, keeping all those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers,” the district added. The day after the shooting, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina issued a press release with a statement of sympathy as well, even while his office, along with the Pemberton Township Police Department, was in the process of investigating what happened. “Our hearts are with Lincoln’s family in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy,” Coffina said. However, the prosecutor went on to note that “an accident like this is entirely preventable,” and urged everyone who owns a gun to immediately make sure it is secure and not accessible to any children in their home. Gun locks, for this purpose, are available for free from the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, according to Coffina. Public Information Officer Joel Bewley indicated to this newspaper on Monday that an active investigation was still underway, declining to comment on whether any charges were being considered. However, the press release from the prosecutor’s office contended that “the investigation” revealed that the boy “gained access to an unsecured handgun in the home,” and that “evidence indicates that the shooting was accidental and appeared to be self-inflicted.” The release noted that it was discovered Lincoln Mack was found just after 7 p.m. Feb. 7 inside the Mack home with a gunshot wound to his cheek, and was pronounced dead at approximately 8 p.m. at Capital Health at Deborah–Emergency Services. “The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed as of now,” the release noted. While New Jersey is considered a national

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She added that she thought a lot of the people attending the session weren’t even from the district. The superintendent also granted that those with disabilities “can be highlighted more,” and that it is something the district can look into. But as for parents who are concerned about the program and would like to have their children removed from it, she said there is “no way for them to opt out in the current climate” that we live in. “We need to create an inclusive environment for all students,” McCooley maintained. But getting the law changed to allow for students to opt out via a religious exemption is one of the goals of its opponents, according to Pastor Mike Dellaperute of Calvary Baptist Church in Little Egg Harbor— either that or convincing the Legislature to dispense with it entirely. In the meantime, he said in a phone interview with this newspaper, he and others in the Christian community would like to convince the Pinelands Regional district to stop taking part in the pilot program and try to get other participating school districts to do likewise. Contending that the law does not require any school to adopt the GSE agenda, nor does it proh ibit a relig ious exempt ion, he characterized GSE as representing “political lobbyists who want unrestricted access to children.” Dellaperute said he found the program objectionable on a number of levels —as a supporter of “parental rights, religious liberty and a classical education,” which he has taught to both graduate and undergraduate students at Christian universities for the past decade. He defined such an education as one consisting of traditional subjects such as math, science, English and music, not teaching activism. The pastor cited, as an example, a Pinelands Regional seventh grader having reportedly complained to his parents about being forced to watch a short animated film called “In a Heartbeat” about two boys falling in love with each other. He contended that the boy then had “to write an essay explaining what it meant to be an ally of the LGBTQ movement.“ He called that “abusing power by going beyond what the law requires,” which is to teach the historical contributions of LGBTQ persons and confine the pilot program to the 8th grade. “That is indoctrination,” he asserted. A contrasting view, however was offered by Ten Eyck, who also has worked both as an assistant commissioner for the NJDOE and for the International Center for Leadership in Education. Not having seen the proposed curriculum, Ten Eyck acknowledged that it would be presumptuous for him to comment on its strengths and weaknesses. But from a more general perspective, he said “it seems clear that it has become increasingly difficult for our young people to navigate the challenges of our current world.” “This points to a need for a more intentional response in our schools and families to help them understand who and how they want to be,” Ten Eyck said. “(At a time of increasing s e p a r a t io n), p r og r a m s w h i c h fo s t e r understanding of ‘the other’ and an increase in empathy for those whose lives and life styles differ from our own seem increasingly important.”

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against and bullied if they were seen exhibiting disapproval of the program. The sentiments of many of those present was perhaps best summed up by a woman named Noreen Rodriguez. “This is an indoctrination meeting!” she declared. When asked to respond to such allegations, Oliveira, the GSE’s press liaison, contended that “the premise of that criticism is offbase” and that the role of his group has been misinterpreted. “No school has to use the GSE curriculum,” he said, noting that it is being offered to schools for free so they don’t have to spend money on it. “Designing curricula is incredibly expensive and resource intensive. We are a nonprofit serving their community, but there is no formal arrangement. Oliveira noted that his organization is partners with the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and the New Jersey PTA, and that its curriculum work is mostly funded by grants from the PSEG and Braitmayer fou nd at ion s , t h i rd-ge ne r at ion fa m i ly foundations set up to encourage innovative education at the pre-collegiate level. “The criticism that I have heard from opponents is that this is being developed by GSE and not by educators, which is false,” Oliveira asserted. “We hired a dozen educators to develop the curriculum. We are doing that work on behalf of schools. If a school doesn’t want to use our curriculum, they don’t have to. But we are going to make it publicly accessible and free to every school district in New Jersey. We are piloting it in these 12 districts to see how it works, and making modifications so that we can present the strongest curriculum to educators this fall.” Oliveira added that research based on California’s experience with LGBTQ-inclusive curricula over the past five years has shown that it improves school attendance and academic performance and reduces bullying, and that New Jersey schools participating in the pilot program are also part of a research study in conjunction with Stockton University to measure those outcomes. In answer to the charge that the needs of disabled students are being ignored, he contended that it is really not GSE’s place to develop curricula for a community it does not represent. “That being said, we recognize the strength of the curriculum framework that we’ve developed and have reached out to people who work in disabled communities so they can replicate our model,” Oliveira said. As for the GSE being a “special-interest group,” he asserted that the organization is “especially interested in the safety and education of youth” and “wears that badge proudly.” McCooley, when asked by the Pine Barrens Tribune for a response to the program’s opponents, noted that while she appreciated the fact that a lot of their objections sprang from religious values, the district “doesn’t base its curriculum on religion in public schools” and that “a church is a special-interest group also.”

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Photo by Andrew King

Contest winner Millana Murchison, shown with her grandmother, Rosa Jackson (left) and Pine Barrens Tribune publisher Douglas Melegari.

Millana Murchison, of Browns Mills, was chosen as the winner of the Week #3 Christmas Coloring Contest, sponsored by ShopRite of Medford. She was awarded a realistic, life-size Santa Claus for her winning entry on Feb. 7, 2020.

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WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, February 15, 2020

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