LAKEHUST—From the ‘planting’ of an American flag via parachute by a contingent of U.S. Air Force Academy Blue cadets making a coordinated jump from a C-17 Globemaster to a group of U.S. Marine helicopter pilots demonstrating their ability
to carry out a sling load operation by moving and positioning a Humvee under adverse conditions, to a robot dog’s role in military maneuvers, the 2025 rendition of the Power in the Pines Airshow and Open House at the Joint Base here not only lived up to, but likely exceeded the expectations of the more than 165,000 people estimated to have attended the two-day event staged on May 17 and 18.
Lenape Regional Schools Superintendent Birnbohm Announces Her Retirement After 13 Years as Top Leader District, While Seeking Replacement, Looks Back on Her Legacy of Pushing for Fair Funding Statewide, Leading Initiatives for Student Success, Safety
By DougLas D. MeLegari
Staff Writer
SHAMONG—The longtime superintendent of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD), Dr. Carol Birnbohm, will be exiting the district effective Sept. 1, retiring after 13 years at the helm of the county’s largest high school district.
Birnbohm’s retirement from the district that serves over 6,600 students from eight communities mostly in the Pinelands of Burlington County, was formally approved during a May 14 LRHSD Board of Education meeting.
And that didn’t count the audience of 200,000 others who watched the event as it was being livestreamed — for the very first time — in some 39 countries.
Every concession from barbecue and beer to arepas and frozen lemonade was doing a booming business. Spectators jockeyed for prime front-row spots or those under what
While the LRHSD has a history of hiring from within for the top post, the regional high school district posted a job announcement for the superintendent’s position on May 15, announcing that it was accepting applications until May 31, looking for someone with “five years of experience as a central office administrator in a high school setting, with a regional public education setting preferred.” The replacement must be available to start Sept. 1, according to the job announcement. Birnbohm has served as district superintendent since 2012, when she succeeded
The News Leader of the Pines May 24 - May 30, 2025
Photo By Staff Sgt. Breanna Klemm, USAF Thunderbirds, Public Affairs Specialist
Spectators view the 2025 Power in the Pines Airshow and Open House, including one of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds’ premier air demonstration.
By Bi LL B onvie Staff Writer
BASS RIVER—If an ordinance that the Bass River Township Board of Commissioners plans to introduce at its next meeting on June 9 should end up being adopted after a public hearing a month later, it would mean that the candidates running for the municipality’s three-member governing body once every four years will henceforth be listed on the November general election ballot, rather than on one given to local voters in a special May election that has been conducted up to now.
It will also mean that the terms of the current commissioners—Mayor William “Rick” Adams and Deputy Mayor Louis Bourguignon, who were elected (or in Bourguignon’s case, re-elected) last May, and Jane Allen who was elected last November as a replacement for Commissioner Nicholas Capriglione, who resigned—will be extended for several months longer than originally scheduled in order to accommodate such a change, Solicitor JoAnne O’Connor told the Pine Barrens Tribune when asked if that would be the case.
Addressing the May 12 Commission meeting, O’Connor reported that the mayor had told her the commissioners were interested in moving the township’s nonpartisan municipal elections from May, “which in the past has given us very low voter turnout,” to the November general election.
And that, she said, would also be a less expensive method of electing local officials “because you are not establishing all of the election protocol in May after you’ve already done it in November.”
“So, if everyone is in agreement, we will move forward with that,” she said, although reminding the commissioners that “you cannot go back to the May election for 10 years” once having moved the vote to the general election.
It was in the election held a year ago that Adams, a newcomer to the local political scene, received just enough votes to oust long-time Commissioner and Mayor Deborah BuzbyCope from the commission. He then replaced her as mayor with a supporting vote from Bourguignon, which caused Capriglione, who had just been re-elected by a larger margin than his fellow candidates, to hand in his resignation. Allen, also a political novice, was then appointed to replace him and later elected commissioner in her own right in November.
In an unrelated matter, O’Connor said she had been contacted by Tim Lovingham, of the Jersey Shore Live Steam Railroad, a nonprofit that offers free train rides for kids and adults on one-eighth-scale locomotives that operate on land it leases for a dollar a year in a municipal park, which also contains hiking trails, known as the Woods of New Gretna. The attraction, an ad for which says it is “temporarily closed,” has been “having some issues with the state,” she said, with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) having actually issued it a “cease-and-desist notice.”
The problem, as the solicitor described it, is that the railroad is considered an “amusement
ride” by the DCA, and as such, is required to have “specific licensing and inspections for that.”
But the train does get inspected by different departments from the state, she pointed out, so she and Lovingham have gotten together to address the matter in a letter for the mayor to review and send out to the proper parties, “just to see if we can put some pressure (on the agencies involved) to kind of get this worked out,” because, as she put it, the steam railroad is “not going to be able to function if they have to go through these inspections,” since “they survive on contributions” and “their whole staff is volunteer.”
“So, we'll work with them to try and get through this,” O’Connor declared. “But right now, the trains are not running.”
Adams said it is his understanding that the miniature railroad is not considered an amusement park, as the DCA is claiming in its violation notice.
“They had their licenses to run, up until they got turned in by somebody who was involved with the park or something,” he contended.
Bourguignon then mentioned that legislation to address the precise issue raised by this episode was debated 20 years ago, but never voted on—something O’Connor also recalled, noting that “it almost specifically addressed this law.”
Asked by this newspaper to provide further details, the solicitor recounted that back in 2005, a bill had actually made it to the floor of the State Assembly, co-sponsored by Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Christopher Connors, that would have exempted “certain nonprofit historic educational programs about steam locomotive railroads from regulation as amusement parks or rides.” But that bill, she said, never advanced, and the issue has remained in limbo ever since.
In the meantime, however, she said the steam railroad has had annual hydrostatic tests and inspection by the Mechanical Inspection Bureau of Boiler and Pressure
Industrial Equipment Distributor and Service Provider Opens in Tabernacle as Its Arborist, Contractor Business Flourishes Modern Equipment & Supply Finds Community to be ‘Gold Mine,’ or the ‘Heart of Where a Lot of Our Customers Are,’ as Mayor Says It Complements Growing Corridor of Businesses Beautifying Rt. 206
By D ougL as D. M e L egari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—A premium industrial equipment distributor and service provider established back in 1946 has opened a new outlet in Tabernacle Township that provides sales, service and parts for material handling, construction, arborist, and standby power generation needs.
Modern Equipment & Supply, a company within Modern Group LTD that is the number one Bandit equipment distributor in the country and is unique for the industry it serves in that it is a 100 percent Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, held its grand opening celebration on May 12, with a large selection of its construction and arborist equipment, as well as some of its power systems, on display.
“It is a very good location for us, by allowing us to have a presence in Jersey to take care of the arborist and contractor business that has just really flourished for us over the last 10 years,” said 11-year Modern Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Farrell in an interview. Farrell, who has been with the company now for two decades and has “been in the engine and equipment industry my entire life,” explained that “this is our ninth location throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey,”
recounting that he felt “that is a great building” to locally expand the company’s operations when he recently had learned the industrial building at 1608 Route 206 was available for lease.
“We have a lot of customers who told us they would like us in South Jersey,” said Farrell of his interest in leasing the location. “… This is our latest and greatest facility.”
Rick Nelson, vice president and general manager of Modern Equipment & Supply, explained that opening a location in Tabernacle was the result of “us listening to our customers,” who before the opening, had to travel “pretty significantly” to either their Edison, NJ or Bristol, PA. locations, both well over an hour away and that “were also a little bit difficult to get to” given heavy traffic in those areas.
“For several years, they had been telling us, look, we really love you guys – we love your products, we love your support, and we love your service, but we just wish you were somewhere in South Jersey as opposed to our other locations,” Nelson recounted.
Farrell, a resident of Tabernacle who lives a “stone’s throw from here,” according to Nelson, contacted him upon learning of the leasing opportunity at what is now their Tabernacle outlet at the corner of Route 206
and Moore Road.
“I hopped in my truck, shot down here and said, ‘We have got to do this,’” Nelson recalled. “It is a great opportunity. It is a great facility. It fits our business well. It is right in the heart of where a lot of our existing customers are. And quite frankly, it is right in the heart of where a lot of potentially new customers could be for us. So, we are really excited about it.”
Given its rural characteristics, it is not every day that Tabernacle hosts a grand opening celebration – and so this special occasion included a visit from Tabernacle Mayor Joseph Barton.
“We welcome Modern Equipment and Supply to our town,” Barton told this newspaper. “As you know, this building has had many uses over the years. And look, it is a
beautiful building. We thank them for choosing Tabernacle and bringing their business here. We wish them much success.”
Barton pointed out that the opening of Modern is part of several recent and planned business openings within the stretch of Route 206 from Carranza Road to Medford LakesTabernacle Road “that really are taking 206 and beautifying it.”
“So, we welcome them as our new neighbor,” Barton declared.
Nelson told this newspaper that making 1608 Route 206 an “excellent location” for Modern is that “all my customers are here,” referring to Tabernacle as a “gold mine” for the company.
“And there are a bunch of people here who
See EQUIPMENT/ Page 8
Photo By Douglas D. Melegari
Modern Group LTD Chief Executive Officer Paul Farrell (right), Rick Nelson (left), vice president and general manager of Modern Equipment & Supply, and Tabernacle Mayor Joseph Barton, celebrate the grand opening of the industrial equipment and distributor’s Tabernacle location at 1608 Route 206.
Township Council Approves Reserving Parking Spaces for Those Taking Part in Cranberry Hall Senior Center Activities
By B i LL B onvie Staff Writer
MEDFORD—The Medford Township Council, by a vote of 4-1 at a May 6 meeting, adopted an ordinance amending the township’s vehicles and traffic code so as to reserve certain spaces in the parking lot of the Cranberry Hall Senior Center at 44 Charles St. specifically for seniors participating in the center’s activities and events on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The one dissenting vote was cast by Councilman Charles “Chuck” Watson, Medford’s former long-time mayor, who said that while he wasn’t opposed to the idea of providing parking for seniors at the municipally owned facility, there were “a lot of other issues that we maybe should look at along with this” before making any such decision. Citing one apparent example, he pointed out that “there are a lot of businesses that use that lot.”
“I hope maybe we revisit this ordinance to address some of my concerns,” Watson added.
Support for the ordinance, however, was voiced by Edward Tenthoff, chairman of the Senior Center, which he noted holds “multiple events” at Cranberry Hall on a daily basis, some of which are attended by as many as 25 or 30 people, with sufficient parking spaces not always available there to accommodate them.
“We would really appreciate the ordinance being passed,” Tenthoff told the council in hopes that it would guarantee that those taking part in such events have access to adequate parking.
Township Manager Daniel Hornickel, when asked for further details of the new arrangement, told the Pine Barrens Tribune that the township is now looking to set aside about 20 of the 50 or so spaces the lot offers for exclusive use by seniors engaged in those activities during the hours designated by the ordinance, and to make sure those spaces give them “priority access to the entrance closest to the building.”
Hornickel added that the spaces provided for them will be specially numbered, with signage also provided to clearly indicate their purpose,
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Vessel Compliance, an agency within the state Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety & Health.
and that the Senior Center would be issuing placards for its members to display on their dashboards or rear-view mirrors authorizing them to use those spaces.
In regard to Watson’s reference to businesses using the lot on a regular basis, the township manager contended that Cranberry Hall is “a municipal facility dedicated primarily for use by seniors,” who should be given “preference” in the use of its parking lot if they are involved in activities there on evenings or weekends as well. Otherwise, he maintained, “public parking is for the public,” with the lot at Cranberry Hall mostly intended for use by those visiting the nearby park with its athletic courts and walking trails, rather than the employees of local businesses.
During an earlier public comment period, Mary Lucas, a Taunton Boulevard resident and representative of the Lake Pine Safety Committee, renewed a call for the speed limit on Taunton Boulevard to be lowered from 30 to 25 mph, contending that such a change could be “lifesaving” giving motorists “20 percent more time to recognize and respond to hazards such as children in the crosswalk, and improve safety for everyone who lives, walks, bikes and drives through our neighborhood.”
A recent traffic report, Lucas claimed, had shown that within a typical 10-minute span during peak time, 10 to 15 people cross that thoroughfare at the intersection with Falls Road.
And “while a plan for a pedestrian crosswalk is a critical first step, it is only part of the solution,” she asserted, maintaining “the current speed limit of 30 mph is simply too fast for a road with this level of foot traffic.”
The latest findings, she noted, show that on average, every minute and a quarter, there is a vehicle doing over 40 mph, which she called “just unacceptable.”
Lowering the speed limit would not only require the township council’s approval, but the approval of the county engineer’s office, according to Hornickel. Medford
O’Connor, in regard to another matter, also said she had been informed by a representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife that the agency is “moving forward” in “looking to purchase” some seven coastal properties comprising approximately 120 acres from the township
LRHSD to See Another State Aid Decrease for 2025-26 School Year, But New $178M General Fund Budget Doesn’t Cut Programs, Staff Tax Levy, However, to
Be Increased by Full 2 Percent, Resulting in Hike in Regional School District Taxes for Five of Eight Sending Municipalities
By D ougL as D. M e L egari Staff Writer
SHAMONG—The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education has passed a $178 million general fund budget for the regional district that takes into account a $567,953 decrease in calculated state funding, but does not reduce student programs or staff this time around.
“Our budget does not reduce any of our programs or staff,” announced Board Member David Stow, who also serves as the Finance Chairman to the board.
That is a change from the last budget cycle when the district made “a lot of hard decisions,” as Stow put it in a recent public budget presentation.
The calculated state aid reduction for the 2025-26 school year amounts to 3 percent, based on figures released by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).
It brings the total state funding for the regional school district for the 2025-26 school year to just over $18.3 million, according to Stow, a reduction of almost $10.9 million since the 2019-20 school year when the state was giving LRHSD some $28 million.
“It is unbelievable that with all the tax dollars collected from community members in our eight townships, our district gets back pennies on the dollar from the state,” declared Stow through the release. “With this latest reduction, the state is only funding 10.29 percent of our proposed budget for next year.”
Stow, during the budget presentation, said he “taped a dime” in front of the board members and administrators prior to the budget presentation.
“The reason for that, if you go back to 1994-95, the state funded our budget to the tune of almost 40 percent,” he said. “For the Fiscal Year coming up for 2025-26, they are funding us to the tune of 10 percent – 10 cents on the dollar. That time represents what the State of New Jersey is giving us for funding for our budget.”
Stow pointed out the “other 90 percent comes from us,” or the taxpayers who already “pay a tremendous amount,” further declaring, “10 cents on the dollar is how much the state thinks about our school and our kids.”
Additionally, the district, according to the release, stands to lose $2,111,448
in Stabilization Aid, resulting in a total reduction of $2,679,401 in state funding for the 2025-2026 budget.
At the same time, the district, according to the release, is facing rising energy costs, and increasing health insurance expenses, with the new budget reportedly accounting for a 14 percent increase in healthcare costs, with the district facing a deficit in employee healthcare contributions due to the mandated NJ Educators Health Plan, also known as “Chapter 44.”
Stow, during the budget presentation, noted district staff “already contribute close to $4.5 million toward their healthcare.”
While there are no cuts to student programs or staffing, the circumstances at hand, Stow noted during the budget presentation, have also meant there are “no additions to student programs or staff,” which he lamented is the “worst news.”
“In essence, while we are happy to report administration was able to balance this year’s budget without a reduction to student programs, and without a reduced amount of staff, the reality is we are still in a difficult position where we have to make decisions that are hard for us to make,” Stow declared.
The total general fund budget is $178,382,939, and then the district has a debt service of $7,856,135, for a total budget of $186,239,074. The general fund tax levy will be raised by the full 2 percent, the debt service tax levy is set for 0 percent, and the total tax levy increase is 1.91 percent.
“Our tax levy over the two accounts, the General Fund and the Debt Service Fund winds up being a tax levy increase of 1.91 percent, which is below the 2 percent cap that the state imposes upon us,” said Stow during the budget presentation. “So, not only do they take away from us as far as their support, but they also bind our hands, except for last year (when the district was allowed to exceed the cap one time because of a more severe funding cut).”
The budget for the 2025-26 school year, however, does not equate to a tax increase in every one of the districts eight sending municipalities, rather “five of our eight municipalities” will see an increase in regional school district taxes, and to varying degrees.
Pemberton Township Man Pledges $725K Endowment to RCBC, Reportedly One of the Largest Single Gifts in College’s History College Names Nursing Labs Section of Health Sciences Center in His Honor
For the Pine Barrens Tribune
PEMBERTON—A Pemberton
Township man, an alum of Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC), has pledged a $725,000 gift to the institution, and was honored on May 8 by the college naming its nursing labs in his honor.
Giving the gift is Joseph P. Wechselberger, who graduated in 1977 and returned almost 50 years later to support the endeavors of the college’s students, faculty and staff through an endowment in his will to the RCBC Foundation.
“I have been impressed with Joe’s passion for the college and his generosity that will benefit generations of students,” said RCBC President Dr. Michael A. Cioce. “I’m honored that the college’s nursing labs will bear his name and serve as a legacy to an alum who felt it was important to give back to the college that had a transformative impact on his life. I thank him for this gift and the message it sends that Rowan College at Burlington County is a worthy investment.”
A portion of Wechselberger’s donation, according to RCBC officials, will go towards part-time students who need financial assistance, in commemoration of his late partner, Edwin R. Catanach, who was once a part-time community college student.
However, most of the gift, according to the college, will benefit nursing students at RCBC in honor of Wechselberger’s mother, Rose.
Rose became a nurse in 1930 after passing her nursing exam on the first try, unusual for the time. For 15 years she had worked as a private-duty nurse in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. However, she stepped away from the profession to be a full-time housewife after Wechselberger’s father, Joseph Wechselberger, Jr., returned from World War II.
“I’d always thought about wanting to do something in her memory,” Wechselberger said. “She was very proud of being a registered nurse. I chose (RCBC) because they have a nursing school here, and it is affiliated with my old alma mater.”
Wechselberger said he hopes that the donation “will help expand the nursing population,” recounting that he worked for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), in Princeton, as a financial analyst
and had a portfolio of grants and programs, one of which was nursing.
A focal point for him was recruitment, but he recalled at the time there “weren’t sufficient nursing candidates in the pipeline to sustain the need, and the existing workforce was aging and retiring.”
Wechselberger’s time in Burlington County began in 1946. Born in Germantown Hospital in Philadelphia, he and his parents moved to Maple Shade, his father’s hometown, when he was two months old.
His father was a career Army man. During his father’s time in the Army, they lived in France for two-and-a-half years (1954 to 1957) and spent another 15 months (1957 to 1958) in Texas and Oklahoma.
His father retired in 1958 and the family settled in Tabernacle.
Unfortunately, Wechselberger’s father and mother passed away early in his life, when he was 23 and 25 years old, respectively.
At that time, Wechselberger worked for the federal government at Fort Dix, where he had been employed for several years.
Eventually, in December 1975 he quit his job as a budget analyst there, applied to RCBC, then known as Burlington County College, and began his college career in 1976.
In a departure from the nature of his federal government job, he studied liberal arts with an English concentration.
While Wechselberger noted he couldn’t put his degree to use in his career when he returned to Fort Dix and his later job at the RWJF, he still cherishes the experience in other ways.
“It helped me learn something about myself,” Wechselberger explained. “I made some friends while I was there … . We all supported each other. It was a very enjoyable experience.”
It also helped him expand on his interest since his youth: haiku poetry.
Wechselberger is a prolific haiku poet, with 657 haikus published in 48 international journals and a number of blogs and anthologies since 2018.
He has written about a variety of topics, some of which include subjects dear to him, like his partner, Edwin, and, of course, his mother; his first published haiku was about
See ENDOWMENT/ Page 6
162-Acre ‘Pine Tree Center’ Acquired by PPA and NJ Conservation, Becoming New Home in Tabernacle to Pinelands Research Institute
For the Pine Barrens Tribune TABERNACLE—The Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) and New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation) have acquired the Pine Tree Center in Tabernacle Township from the Boy Scouts of America, the Pinelands advocacy entities announced in a joint May 6 press release.
The Pine Tree Center, the entities noted, consists of 162 acres of upland and wetland forests; buildings for classes, gatherings and overnight accommodation; and campsites.
“The Pine Tree Center will be an outstanding resource for promoting knowledge and understanding of our region – and for having great experiences exploring the Pine Barrens,” declared Jaclyn Rhoads, executive director of the PPA.
Adjoining the 122,000-acre Wharton State Forest, the center connects to a network of several hundred thousand acres of preserved lands. The center is located in the heart of the Pinelands National Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that enjoys the benefits of the nation’s strongest conservation and growth management program and stretches across 1.1 million acres from inland forests and towns to the Jersey Shore’s estuaries, barrier islands and beaches.
PPA was able to acquire the Pine Tree Center thanks in part to an extraordinary bequest it received for the specific purpose of buying land for conservation. The property is now permanently protected for conservation, recreation and the study of nature.
The acquisition also could not have
happened without the support of PPA’s long-time partner, NJ Conservation, whose expertise managing the preservation process and significant contribution of funding through its grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)’s Green Acres Program was essential to the project’s success.
“We are so proud to have joined the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Green Acres on this remarkable land preservation project in the Pine Barrens, which will create a new hub for exploring this one-of-a-kind natural ecosystem in the Garden State,” said Alison Mitchell, executive director of NJ Conservation. “New Jersey Conservation Foundation has been permanently protecting land in the Pine Barrens for many decades, and we are grateful to be able to advance our Pinelands protection goals thanks to our incredible partners and supporters.”
Martha Sullivan-Sapp, director of Green Acres, added, “The Green Acres Program was happy to partner with New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance on this important acquisition.”
“The Department of Environmental Protection is committed to preserving forested land to support diverse wildlife habitat, mitigate the effects of climate change and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors,” Sullivan-Sapp further declared.
Multiple Motor Vehicle Burglaries Reported in Medford
MEDFORD—Police in Medford Township are investigating reports of multiple motor vehicle burglaries in the vicinity of Forrest Hills Drive and Hinchman Road.
Police say they responded to reports of the burglaries around 7 a.m. on May 15, and an ensuing investigation revealed that sometime between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the same day, “unidentified suspect(s) entered
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Stow, during the budget presentation, attributed such an outcome to an “equalized formula” that “nobody can really figure it out,” in which the impact “changes every year” based on “projections of students coming in” and “things that just boggle your mind when you try to figure it out.”
An accompanying graphic faulted the “Regional Apportionment Formula,” noting that it is “set by New Jersey Statute 18A:13-23” and not the school board.
The tax impact of the approved budget, as provided by the district: Evesham Township: Tax levy increase of 1.80 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $46.03 on a home assessed at the township average of $272,483; Medford Township: Tax levy decrease of 1.42 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $51.33 on a home assessed at the township average of $330,345; Medford Lakes Borough: Tax levy increase of 7.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $219.93 on a home assessed at the borough average of $290,821; Mount Laurel Township: Tax levy increase of 3.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $88.27 on a home assessed at the township average of $239,989; Shamong Township: Tax levy increase of 3.58 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $115.88 on a home assessed at the township average of $311,138; Southampton Township: Tax levy decrease of 2.97 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $54.08 on a home assessed at the township average of $189,284; Tabernacle Township: Tax levy increase of .51 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $11.61 on a home assessed at the township average of $274,091; and Woodland Township: Tax levy decrease of .65 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $19.85 on a home assessed at the township average of $255,866. The district maintained in the release that the “funding cut could have been even more severe if not for last-minute adjustments” made
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her.
Whether through verse or Wechselberger’s donation, Rose and Edwin’s legacies and the Wechselberger name will be remembered forever, college officials said, adding that generations of nursing students, especially, will feel the impact of this donation that wouldn’t be
several unlocked vehicles and stole various items, including a laptop and cash.”
Police, in the wake of the reported incidents are urging residents “to lock their vehicles and park in well-lit areas.”
The reported burglaries were still under investigation, as of this newspaper’s press time, and anyone with any information or video surveillance is asked to contact police at 609-267-8300.
by the New Jersey Department of Education.
“Some of the positive changes in how the state applied the funding formula this year are not written into law, which leaves us very uncertain about what to expect next year and beyond,” he said.
Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm maintained through the press release there is “instability” with the state’s funding formula.
“We continue to request an explanation of the changing multipliers from our elected officials and the Commissioner of Education, and we have not been provided any clear path to predict them,” she charged. “There needs to be accountability.”
She added, “We are relieved that we were able to balance this year’s budget without overburdening our taxpayers or cutting staff and student programs. But while many districts are finding ways to expand opportunities with increased state aid, our administration is focused on simply maintaining the status quo. It is frustrating that, despite the amount of money the state collects from our communities, we can’t afford basic services like a late bus –let alone invest in new, innovative programs that prepare our students for future success.”
Birnbohm, in remarks during the budget presentation, discussed how over the last seven years the LRHSD has had five “cutting or efficiency committees” in which “we worked on lists of things that we could cut and every year,” and yet, for “two-thirds of districts” seeing funding increases through the funding formula, she “found out something unbelievable,” or that they have “spending committees.”
“Think about how inventive we could be if we had spending committees,” she declared, discussing the possibilities of adding unified sports programming, new world language classes and programs to support careers in Artificial Intelligence (AI) should the district be getting aid increases.
Instead, she maintained the situation currently equates to the “haves and the have nots.”
Stow, meanwhile, surmised, in light of state aid now only being some 10 percent, “there is only about 9.5 percent more that they (the state) can go and cut, and then they might be coming to us and asking us for money.”
possible without one woman blazing a trail as a nurse almost a century ago.
“She was the sweetest woman in the world, a beautiful woman,” Wechselberger said. “I just wanted to do something nice for her.”
To commemorate Wechselberger’s contribution to the college, RCBC named the nursing labs section of its Health Sciences Center to the Joseph P. Wechselberger ’77 Nursing Labs. A naming ceremony was held May 8.
Seven Youngsters Selected for New Jersey Boys/Girls State
For the Pine Barrens Tribune PEMBERTON—The Eden-Stanley American Legion Post 294 in Pemberton Township recently made their selections for New Jersey Boys/Girls State.
Each year, the American Legion selects juniors from Pemberton Township Schools to attend the prestigious Rider University and Georgian Court for a week of informative classes in government inner workings, as well as leadership and speaking classes.
This year, as a result of a generous donation from the Pemberton Township Education Association (PTEA), as well as the Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion and the Tri-State chapter of the Nam Knights MC, the American Legion was able to send
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The Pine Tree Center will be the home of the Pinelands Research Institute and a hub for nature-based recreation and environmental education. The Pinelands Research Institute is a science-based field station in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey. Launched in early 2025, the Institute is an initiative of PPA. The Institute’s mission is to be a center for scientists, educators, naturalists and the public to generate knowledge and understanding of the unique forested ecosystem that is the New Jersey Pine Barrens, its broader region, and the Pinelands Growth Management Program.
“We are so excited to host this interdisciplinary research station, and we invite all interested scientists to contact us,” said Dr. Jennifer Krumins, director of the Pinelands Research Institute and a professor of Biology at Montclair State University. “A deep understanding of pine barrens ecosystems is the best pathway to guarantee conservation of this rare and beautiful place.”
With programming and activities at the Pine Tree Center, PPA’s Pinelands Adventures outfitter and the Pinelands Research Institute connect people from all backgrounds with the Pine Barrens’ forests, land and water. These connections are essential to building an engaged public that enjoys and cares for this region’s exceptional natural resources.
“The team at Pinelands Adventures is very excited to have such a versatile property to host our outdoor educational experiences and
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to fill a “doughnut hole” in its holdings in Bass River.
While noting that “we do not have an offer from them yet,” the solicitor said her Fish and Wildlife contact, Arthur McCollum, “did ask that we remove these properties from the list” so that “somebody else doesn’t come in” and bid on them when the process is three-quarters completed.
O’Connor said she had already reached out to one of the adjoining property owners who would have “first dibs” on these particular parcels and was told that individual was not interested in acquiring them. She also noted that Fish and Wildlife already owns many of the adjoining lots.
Adams, however, said he thought “we
five young men and two ladies to their prospective schools.
Attending Rider University for the gentlemen will be Angel Colin, Charles Bauerdorf, Darlington Sarpong, Isaiah Shockley and Dominick Carothers.
Attending Georgian Court for the ladies will be Sydney Martindale and Delores King.
The American Legion, in making the announcement, extended a “congratulations to all these fine individuals on their outstanding accomplishments,” and gave a “special shoutout” to Dr. Greg Wilson, Dean of Education at Boys State for doing the orientation.
The American Legion also acknowledged Phat Jawns for supplying the food for the orientation.
activities,” said Vince Iannone, manager of Pinelands Adventures. “The Pine Tree Center is a beautiful and naturally diverse area, which will be a lot of fun to share with people.”
The Pinelands provides an ideal location and environmental context for a scientific field station. The ecology of the Pinelands is distinctive and offers numerous subjects for inquiry in fire ecology, rare and endemic species conservation, the hydrology of a largely intact aquifer system under heavy human pressure and the “island ecology” of a relatively pristine ecosystem surviving among some of the most densely developed urban centers on earth.
The Pinelands includes habitats ranging across barrier islands, estuaries, maritime forests, freshwater wetlands, rivers, isolated ponds, upland forests, lands cleared for farming and a variety of human population centers, it was pointed out in the release, which added that the Institute’s remote location, expansive forest access and onsite accommodation provide opportunities for intensive research, one-day and multi-day classes and large-scale studies.
Through the PPA, researchers will also have access to the Rancocas Creek Farm, a 72-acre regenerative farm that practices sustainable agriculture with close ties to local communities.
The PPA, the release concluded, “believes that scientific research and education are essential to the formation of effective policies and practices that protect natural resources, promote human welfare and foster successful communities within the diverse habitats of the Pinelands.”
should leave it on the list until they do whatever they want to do.”
The solicitor responded, “Until we at least get an offer from them?” to which the mayor replied, “or a deposit—whatever they want to do.”
O’Connor subsequently told this newspaper that the properties would remain listed for now, but be removed “once we get further along in the process.”
Adams also noted that the budget passed at the April meeting by the commissioners had been sent to the county, “but we did not get that back yet.” However, the “Municipal User-Friendly Budget” provided by the State of New Jersey Local Government Services and previously made available to the Pine Barrens Tribune, which listed an $81 annual revenue increase as being its “impact on an average residential tax payment,” has since been linked to on the township’s website.
JUNE
Events and special promotions happening locally next month!
To promote your event on this page contact Jayne Cabrilla at 609-801-2392 or email news@pinebarrenstribune.com
JUNE 1
Coin and Collectable Show
Location: Lindenwold
Details: South Jersey Coin and Collectable Show will be held Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Moose Lodge, 2425 White Horse Pike (Rt. 30), Lindenwold. Admission and parking is free. There will be free door prizes, food and refreshments, over 30 friendly dealer tables. The show will be held on the first Sunday of each month during 2025. Dealers wanted! Security provided. For more information, call Tom at 609-742-2279, or visit southjerseycoinshow.com.
JUNE 7
Barks for Books Dog Show
Location: Southampton Twp.
Details: Sally Stretch Keen Library is hosting a Barks for Books Dog Show, Sat., June 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Peticote Veterinary Clinic, 221 Newbolds Corner Rd., Southampton. The event promises to be a fun show for dogs of all types and handlers of all ages! There will be food, prizes, baskets, training demos and a “pawtastic” time! Some of the judged categories include: Waggiest Tail, Shortest Tail, Unusual Eyes, Best Trick, Best Costume, Youngest Handler, Looks Most Like Handler, and Happiest Dog. For more information and to register online, go to vincentownlibrary. org or, Sally Stretch Keen Memorial Library on Facebook. NOTE: Liability waiver is required. Proceeds benefit Sally Stretch Keen Memorial Library in Vincentown.
EQUIPMENT
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I would like to be our customers,” he declared. “So, it was a no brainer for me. One of the reasons that we were so attracted to this place, beyond the other reasons I mentioned, is we think there is a really good talent pool here of technicians and mechanics. And so far, we have found that to be true.”
Modern, Nelson noted, has “already hired two local residents as mechanics” and “we are looking for more.”
“We will send them to training, which we pay for,” Nelson said. “And so, we’ll bring them up to speed on the particulars of the equipment we sell.”
In discussing the history of Modern, Farrell called it a “typical World War II success story.”
It was founded by the late Joseph McEwen when he “came back from World War II” to start the company in Philadelphia, which at the time, according to Farrell, had focused on “material handling.”
“Our legacy business is a forklift business,” Farrell said.
From there, according to Farrell, McEwen “grew that” into what Modern has become today, and when he retired, McEwen “sold the business to the employees.”
“So, Modern is an ESOP,” Farrell declared. “When you deal with a Modern employee, you are actually dealing with an owner, a shareholder of the company, which hopefully, they take a lot of pride in the company, and we return that investment back to the company.”
(A lot of the employees often will “sell their stock back” to the company, Nelson explained, allowing for a secondary form of retirement, and up until then, “when you have stock, you have a voice” in the company.)
“Service,” Farrell further declared, is “really our value package.”
“We sell equipment, but we service things very well,” Farrell pointed out. “We take a lot of pride in what we do. Anybody can sell it, right? But it is about who can fix it the best. And you can see by the brands on the building, we fix a lot of different types of equipment.”
Those equipment brands include Kubota, John Deere and Cummins, with Nelson pointing to what he called a “very important fact that I think people would appreciate knowing,” or that Modern is an “an engine parts distributor” for “all three big brands.”
However, Nelson emphasized, we fix all brands – all makes, models,” and while Modern is the number one Bandit dealer, “we probably fix as many Vermeers as we do Bandits – in fact, Modern can perform much of the warranty engine work that the other
competing brands cannot – so if your dealer won’t warranty repair your engine, bring it to Modern, we’ve got your back”.
(Vermeer, Nelson noted, is Modern’s largest competitor in the arborist equipment business segment.)
“I am always hesitant to say we are like a car dealer,” Nelson declared. “Because most of the time Ford dealers just fix Fords.”
A major part of “what we do,” explained Nelson, along with Modern’s marketing coordinator, Skylar Althouse, is “we are an arborist and construction equipment dealer.”
Althouse, who emphasized Modern’s customers are just not a number to its employees, took us through a makeshift showroom of equipment “all for sale,” on display outdoors, and standing out immediately was the tallest piece, an arborist lift that reaches 100 feet into the air.
There was also a Bandit chipper 21XP, as well as a plethora of Hyundai excavators and compact loaders (including what are known as Hyundai excavators), several of which are compact excavators, or notably mini versions of backhoes or wheel loaders “that can easily fit in backyards,” Althouse pointed out.
Also for sale is a stump grinder one “can use to get rid of a lot of stumps,” and in pointing to the stump grinder’s teeth, Althouse noted the “teeth are our best-selling part.”
Anyone can visit to see the display of equipment Monday through Friday, during the outlet’s regular operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., however, for the foreseeable future, Nelson will be firing up a hot dog cart every Thursday, offering hot dogs for lunch to any locals who would like to stop by and chat about their needs and learn more about the various offerings and equipment for sale.
Althouse noted Modern not only serves arborists, private companies and contractors, but also the equipment needs of local governments.
And Modern is also New Jersey’s only JLG Factory Authorized Service Center that expertly supports aerial work platforms and telehandlers.
“Our main customer focus at this location is the residential tree service and arborists and land clearers,” Nelson said. “Anybody that has to deal with trees, the maintenance of trees, the felling of trees, that is really our customer. And that is why you see the representation of equipment, that you see at this location, is really geared towards them.”
Farrell, in pointing to Modern now being locally present to service the needs of local arborists, declared, “every other truck that goes by here has a piece of equipment on the back of it, so we look forward to taking care of this community.”
The U.S. Air Force’s official demonstration team, the
prepare to take off during their ground performance at JBMDL for the 2025 Power in the Pines Open House and Airshow May 18.
DISPLAY
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little shade was available.
With more than 125,000 people all filtering into one small area, improving wait times to get to the actual flightline, where the ground events were also being held, was of paramount concern of organizers, according to Air Show Director Lt. Col. Matt Mattson.
With so many different types of events being presented by various branches of the military, there was something to appeal to everyone in the crowd. It was the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, for example, that drew Mike and Martha Kovalycsik, of Wyckoff, to the event on Saturday, arriving early to take in as much as possible.
“We like to see it all, but were most excited about the Thunderbirds,” Mike said.
The event, which happens every two years, seems to grow every time it is held, according to Mattson, so things are always being tweaked and new features added to optimize the experience for anyone who wants to see it.
This biggest addition to this year’s Air Show, he said, was the new livestream, complete with its own commentators, that people could watch from anywhere.
There were also novel experiences, like when three-year-old Jacob Potechko got to sit in the cockpit of a Mooney aircraft being exhibited by the Jersey Aero Club. His mom, Liz, said they used to live in the area before moving to Tamaqua, Pa., so the family has been to the event before, but it was a first for Jacob,
Because her husband is a pilot, Liz noted, it figures she would have a kid “who loves planes,” she said adding, “My aunt and uncle live locally so we figured we’d bring him with us this year. He’s having a great time.”
The day kicked off with U.S. Air Force’s Wings of Blue jumping out of a plane, each
carrying the flag of a military branch. One soldier had an American flag, and the National Anthem was sung as he floated through the sky, occasionally being helped by some gusty winds.
As different military aircraft flew back and forth above the crowd performing maneuvers and showing off what it can do, ‘Fast’ Eddie Leuter did the commentating, offering up lots of historical facts people may not have known about the various aircraft and missions they took part in.
While most kept their eyes to the skies, there was plenty to do on the ground as well –from all sorts of children’s activities provided, some for fun and some for learning, to vendors offering foods from all over the world. There was even live music from The 78th Army Band, part of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Joe Thomas, with Scooper Ice Cream and Novelties, said he works lots of events but has never sold ice cream in the shadows of a giant cargo plane before. As people waited in a long line on a hot tarmac to get a glimpse of the inside of one of these massive aircraft, many stepped out to purchase a cold treat to enjoy while they waited. He said he expected to sell a lot that day.
While the planes flying overhead were showing off what the different military branches can do in the skies, back on the ground they were also wowing the audience. A crowd gathered around Kevin Townsen, who was taking his dog for a walk. Spark Plug isn’t your average K-9, but rather a top-of-theline robot used to keep soldiers safe. Townsen said Spark Plug runs off his remote and can be used as a camera, microphone or recorder.
Claudia Madevo, of Queens, N.Y, said she had no idea there was so much stuff going on at the base.
“The dog, the jumpers the planes – it is all amazing,” she said. “It really makes you proud to be an American.”
Photo By U.S. Air Force Airman Haeleigh Bayle
“Thunderbirds”
AUTOMOBILES/TRUCKS
PAID FOR YOUR CAR
Cash Paid for Your Car. Looking to buy better than junk cars. Call 1-866-261-5277. We come to you.
BUYING OLD CLOTHES!!!
CASH PAID FOR OLD CLOTHES! (any condition): Military, hunting, graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts, sports, Harley, concert shirts, denim, jackets, workwear Carhart, etc. Vintage women’s as well. Call/text Dave any time 732-281-4508
CLEANUPS/LAWN CUTTING
Spring cleanups, lawn cutting, and gutter cleaning. Shrub pruning and some tree work, along with hauling. Free estimates=reasonable rates. Call or Text Bob at 1-609-880-3789.
ELECTRICAL
Lightning Strike Electric will service you for all your electrical needs. Expert electrical services. Spotlights, outlets, switches and troubleshooting, etc. Panel and service upgrades. Call Dmitriy at 856-631-7519.
RETIREMENT
Emily Capella in the superintendent role.
Prior to that, she spent five years as the district’s assistant superintendent, from July 2007 to June 2012.
Birnbohm, an alumna of the district’s Cherokee High School, first began working in the district back in September 1992, launching her professional career at Cherokee as a math teacher.
She also coached varsity lacrosse and swimming, as well as served as an assistant field hockey coach. In 1998, she was named New Jersey Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
ESTATE SALE
Estate Sale! Saturday, June 14th
Buddtown Methodist Church Estate Sale in Tabernacle 13 Mark Lane
Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cash Donation Only Furniture, Bedding, Kitchen Items Crystal, Clothes, Figurines.
Triple D., Inc. is seeking a dependable, responsible, detail-oriented and organized Accounts Payable/Receptionist to join our company. In this role, you would assist in answering telephone calls and be responsible for managing the accounts payable process. This entails ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices and maintaining strong relationships with vendors. QuickBooks, Excel and Word experience preferred. At least one year of accounts payable experience required. Send resume to sales@triplednj.com or call 609-859-3000 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., M-F.
Sale is May 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HAULING
Household appliances. Televisions, furniture, etc. for disposal or transport. Garage and yard cleanups along with lawn cutting and gutter cleaning. Free estimates. Call or Text Bob at 1-609-880-3789.
Teacher looking for a room and a bath to rent, preferably in Medford or the Lakes. Must have Wi-Fi. I have good references, no small children or animals, I go to church, and teach M-F. Please Call: 609-238-9338 and ask for Dr.
*Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189.
READER ADVISORY
WANTED TO BUY! VERY OLD, OLD, AND NEWER SOUTH JERSEY FIELD PICKERS
Among those students are her own three children – Kaitlyn, Jenna and Dylan - who are graduates of the district’s Seneca High School.
The district, in a press release that followed board approval of her retirement, outlined what is seen as Birnbohm’s legacy, starting with her efforts to “push for fair funding statewide” amid continuing state aid cuts to the regional school district.
Birnbohm, it said, has “prioritized initiatives that support LRHSD’s foundation for continued excellence,” describing that “she has relentlessly advocated for fair funding for LRHSD following the state’s modifications to the School Funding Reform Act eight years ago.”
to yearly funding reductions.”
The release went on to claim that Birnbohm’s oversight of the issue has “provided a framework for continued advocacy, and her accessible and empowering leadership style has prepared LRHSD colleagues and fellow school leaders to carry such efforts forward.”
The district sought to further define Birnbohm’s legacy by highlighting the initiatives she led “for student success and school safety,” including through the creation of a 2019 Strategic Plan, followed by a successful bond referendum in 2021, which has resulted in program and facilities improvements that students are currently enjoying.
the others being Lenape and Shawnee high schools, now have the option to pursue fouryear programs in Automotive at Seneca, Carpentry at Cherokee and Welding/ Metalwork Fabrication at Lenape. It was noted that the “career-focused programming” is an “extension” of LRHSD’s “Two Graduations” campaign, also introduced during Birnbohm’s tenure, which encourages students to think beyond their high school education to develop a vision – and a plan – for their futures (LRHSD students’ second graduation may be from college, a technical school or another post-secondary training program).
After spending about eight years at Cherokee, she was elevated to an assistant principal post there in July 2001, where she supervised mathematics and guidance counseling.
Three years later, she was elevated again, this time to serve as the district’s director of Programs and Planning, before becoming the district’s assistant superintendent.
A resident of Southampton Township, Birnbohm holds a doctorate in Education Leadership from Wilmington University, and a master’s degree in Education Administration from Rowan University.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Education from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she served as co-captain of a two-time NCAA Division III national championship lacrosse team.
In a letter to district staff announcing her retirement, Birnbohm said her involvement in the LRHSD “has been a constant source of pride as I have watched generations of students and staff grow, learn and achieve remarkable things.”
The release discussed how Birnbohm had vowed “not to sit back and ‘brace’ for impact, but instead to help develop a state-funding plan that was fair to all students in New Jersey public schools.”
A major achievement through that bond is the addition of air conditioning in high school buildings districtwide.
Other examples include specialized classrooms for new, in-depth career pathways.
Students across all four district high schools,
In 2018, it was noted that Birnbohm had collaborated with Burlington County’s Commissioners to obtain a safety and security grant, which ultimately enabled LRHSD to “enhance school entrance vestibules for visitor
(Continued from Page 1) See RETIREMENT/ Page 11
Birnbohm, the release maintained, “has yet to let up on that promise,” describing how she helped to form Support Our Students (SOS), a broader coalition of districts negatively impacted by the revised school funding formula.
The superintendent, the release accentuated, “has become one of the strongest and most consistent voices on behalf of SOS and, specifically, LRHSD.”
“She has forged relationships with legislators and aimed to educate them on school funding issues and possible solutions, leading to changes in policy and small wins for the LRHSD in the funding fight,” it was maintained in the press release. “She also has remained open and honest with LRHSD staff, students and taxpayers, who have, in turn, provided the district with unprecedented levels of support despite the cuts and sacrifices required to adjust
Downsizing. Has to go. A lot of collections and clothing and jewelry. And bring a lot of $$$ because they are very valuable. 22 Virginia Trail, Medford.
Bob. LOOKING TO RENT
BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY Local
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containment, upgrade entry systems and install bullet-resistant glass, all without affecting the school budget.”
Birnbohm, the district maintained, also “understood that caring for students’ well-being extends to supporting their mental health,” pointing out she oversaw a new partnership with Care Solace to provide 24-hour support, and the district also developed a Wellness Room in each school during her tenure to provide students with safe spaces to visit during the day and have access to a wellness counselor.
The release goes on to detail how Birnbohm helped to overhaul
the district’s class schedule, converting what had been a 13-period schedule to a current four-day rotating schedule, a process that reportedly lasted two years from start to finish and involved multiple committees of both students and staff.
It is noted that the scheduling overhaul is “one of her favorite accomplishments, largely because of the teamwork it took to make it happen.”
The release goes on to tout multiple awards and recognitions of Birnbohm, including her being named New Jersey Superintendent of the Year for Region III in 2019 and Outstanding Woman of the Year for Burlington County in 2024.
“Carol is a superintendent’s superintendent – an esteemed leader whose wisdom and expertise have been sought by highly accomplished peers,” current LRHSD Board President Charles D. Roseboro, representing Southampton Township, is quoted as
saying in the release. “Through her strategic vision, exceptional daily management of the district, and remarkable ability to build a strong leadership team, Carol has made a lasting impact on the LRHSD. The benefits of her contributions will be felt for years, if not decades, to come.”
In addition to Birnbohm, Capella was also an assistant superintendent before becoming the district’s superintendent (in 2007).
LRHSD’s assistant superintendent role was eliminated at one point back in 2012, but brought back in 2018, with Matthew Webb having served in the position since then, or for nearly seven years.
For now, Webb, who previously served as a vice principal at Seneca, before moving on to serve as the district’s director of Programs and Planning, offered praise for Birnbohm through the press release.
“It has been truly inspiring to work alongside Dr. Birnbohm – a talented and dedicated leader who consistently and fearlessly advocated for the students and staff of the LRHSD,” the assistant superintendent said. “Among her many achievements, one of her most significant contributions was her remarkable ability to recognize the strengths of her team and empower them to grow, take on new challenges and achieve their full potential.”
The last time the LRHSD hired someone for the superintendent role from outside of the district was back in 1993, when Daniel Hicks was named LRHSD superintendent, brought over from the Eastern Camden County Regional School District.
LRHSD superintendents are also part of a small club – Hicks was the successor to the now late K. Kiki
who led the Lenape district almost since its 1955 inception, or from 1963 to 1993. Capella had taken over for Hicks after his 14
