Pine Barrens Tribune May 7, 2022-May 13, 2022

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Proposed Redevelopment Plan Would Clear the Way for New, State-of-the-Art Red Lion Diner, May Bring About Shopping Center

A LOCAL WORK OF ART

Preliminary Proposal Would Make Better Use of ‘Oversized,’ 20-Acre Restaurant Parcel, Creating ‘Centerpiece’ of Southampton Twp., Add Route 70 Entrance to Eatery for Safety

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SOUTHAMPTON—A “brand-new, state-of-the-art” Red Lion Diner is a “very preliminary” possibility that may come to fruition if a proposed redevelopment plan for the “Red Lion Diner Redevelopment Area” is approved by the Southampton Township Committee as early as next month, with the proposed restaurant facility slated to be part of a planned, new shopping center for where the existing diner currently sits at the Red Lion Circle, the latter connecting Routes 70 and 206.

The proposed redevelopment plan would also allow for a “much more improved” traffic circle, according to Paul Tsiknakis, co-owner of the Red Lion Diner, in an April 26 interview with this newspaper.

Tsiknakis told this newspaper that somewhere between 15 to 20 developers had approached the diner over the last several years with an interest in developing the approximately 20-acre diner property (consisting of three lots combined, with the diner sitting on a lot that is three-acres), which extends from Route 70 to Allentown Road and is not currently being used to its full potential, with plenty of buildable space on what he called an “oversized lot.”

But the current developers working with the diner to pursue development at 1753 Route 206, Red Lion Circle Partners,

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Artists Ed Jarrett and Bettē Brower work on their Tiki Village sand sculpture at Redmond’s Garden Center in Tabernacle.

Four-Time Holders of Guinness World Records for ‘World’s Tallest Sandcastle by Hand’ Make a ‘Tiki Village’ Sand Sculpture Now on Full Display at Redmond’s Garden Center in Previewing Attempt for ‘World’s Tallest Sand Sculpture by Hand’ at Laurita Winery

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—An artist couple from Forked River featured on the Discovery Channel, who hold four Guinness World Records for having built the “World’s Tallest Sandcastle by Hand,” and intend to pursue yet another world record this summer by erecting a some 50-foot-tall sand sculpture by hand in New Egypt, and

who are believed to be among some of the last people in the world to do such work without use of machinery, are wrapping up their latest work of art for all to enjoy at Redmond’s Garden Center in Tabernacle Township – a Tiki Village.

The very detailed creation, which greets visitors upon walking inside Redmond’s main greenhouse for its garden center, is 12-foot-high, comprised of 50 tons of

sand, and with there being 2,000 pounds in a ton of sand, according to co-creator and artist Ed Jarrett, 100,000 pounds of sand was used in the finished product.

Jarrett, and his co-creator, Bettē Brower, told this newspaper they estimate that at least 100 hours were put into creating the Tiki Village, with the idea for one being See SCULPTURE/ Page 9

See DINER/ Page 14

INDEX Business Directory...................................20

Marketplace..................................................... 22

Job Board.................................................23

Opinion.....................................................19

Local News.................................................2

Worship Guide..........................................19

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Saturday, May 7, 2022

Ban Now in Effect on Plastic and Paper Bags Given Thumbs Down

by Substantial Majority of Area Supermarket Customers Surveyed Shoppers Interviewed in 5 Diverse Locales Describe Their Various Uses for Disposable Bags and Concerns Over Replacing Them with Reusables

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Disposable plastic bags seen available at ShopRite of Medford on one of the last day’s that they were permitted by law to be distributed.

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

THE PINE BARRENS—If a random survey taken of shoppers entering and exiting supermarkets at five very distinctly different locales in Burlington and Ocean counties is any sort of gauge of how New Jersey residents feel about the ban on single-use plastic and paper bags that is now in force, popular support is anything but ‘in the bag’ for the initiative, Senate Bill 864, which was approved by a majority of state lawmakers and signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy back in November 2020, but not implemented until May 4.

Of some 45 individuals queried by the Pine Barrens Tribune at Acme in Little Egg Harbor Township, Stop & Shop in the Whiting section of Manchester Township, Acme in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, Murphy’s Fresh Market in Tabernacle Township and ShopRite of Medford Township, on the two days prior

to the prohibition’s taking effect, a total of 25 said they were opposed to it while only 14 viewed it favorably, with six others indicating they were ambivalent.

The stores where the parking-lot interviews took place were deliberately chosen on the basis of the diversity of their locations so as to best reflect attitudes toward the ban by a cross-section of area residents. The ShopRite, for example, attracts a largely suburban clientele, Murphy’s a more rural one, while the Brown’s Mills Acme is in a neighborhood with many lower-income residents. The Little Egg Harbor Acme attracts more of a small-town/suburban demographic, while the Whiting Stop & Shop is in a community that has become a magnet for seniors and retirees.

With the exception of Browns Mills, however, of the shoppers who took part in the survey, exactly three at each of these retail settings indicated they were in favor See BAGS/ Page 12

Aromando Again Seeks to Get Back Seat on Medford Lakes Boro Council

by Challenging Cranston, O’Neill in May 10 Non-Partisan Borough Race

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—Former Medford Lakes Councilman Joseph A. Aromando III is once again throwing his hat in the ring of the borough’s non-partisan May 10 election in an attempt to rejoin the Medford Lakes Borough Council where he held a seat from 1998 to 2002, this time by trying to capture the seat of either Mayor Thomas Cranston and Councilman Dennis P. O’Neill, both of whom are running for re-election.

Aromando, who operates a computer sales and service business and whose campaign slogan is “Democracy Works Best When You Vote,” says his goal is to “serve the people of Medford Lakes by using my experience, knowledge of the issues, good judgement and common sense to responsibly manage our resources, make sound decisions and insure our government is accessible and accountable to the people”— all of which he claims to have previously demonstrated during his terms on council and on the borough Planning Board (from 2010-11).

His achievements, he adds, have included offering “countless ideas how to manage the borough’s financial resources wisely and improve the delivery of services” and saving taxpayers “hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing wasteful spending, unnecessary debt and the loss of valuable tax revenue.”

Cranston, a certified public accountant, is running on a platform of “Continued Leadership.” He has served on the council

since 2010, has lived in town his entire life, and says he has worked hard to help keep the community affordable while providing the best services for local residents.

Being a CPA, he said, has enabled him to move the borough off the state health benefits plan and onto a private plan that “over the years has recognized significant cost savings.”

“When I first came on council, I was able to just analyze the budget and identify opportunities to save the taxpayers money,” Cranston told the Pine Barrens Tribune.

“Outside of that, I think it’s important we all try to work together as a council in cooperation with the community.”

O’Neill, who has served on the council for the past year and a half, having been originally appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Robert Hanold, is running on the slogan, “Integrity, Dedication, Honesty.”

He describes himself as “practically a lifelong Laker who has worked hard to improve things throughout the community.”

In his previous role as a leader of the Medford Lakes Colony Homeowners Association, he was one of the lead project managers for the Vaughn Community House and also had a key role in the replacement of the Craft Pavilion. He also points to his efforts with fellow members of the council “to contain property taxes through re-evaluation of ongoing expenses and operations.”

Those wishing to vote in the upcoming election must have been registered voters in the borough at least 21 days prior to the date of the election.

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Residents of Taunton Boulevard Ask That Medford Council ‘Advocate’ to Make Road ‘Safer, Quieter,’ Citing Speeding and Excess Truck Traffic Individual Leading Movement, in Declaring, ‘We’ve Just Had It,’ Describes ‘Severe Public Safety Issue’ with Even More Trucks Due to Bridge Closure

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD —Ab out a h a l f- doz e n residents of the Lake Pine community are calling on Medford Township officials to “advocate for us,” asking that they address Burlington County-maintained Taunton Boulevard with county officials to make it “safer” as well as “quieter,” contending that the amount of speeding and volume of commercial truck traffic “in a residential area” has “gotten worse,” particularly over the last several years to the point that it has now evolved into a “severe, severe public safety issue.”

For some of those residents, this was their second or third time going before the governing body in the last year, and while they acknowledged the law enforcement presence on Taunton Boulevard has since been stepped up, several of them have maintained that the situation is still “serious” and more needs to be done, suggesting the deployment of dynamic speed signs, more speed limit signs, speed limit pavement markings, a commercial truck weigh station, a commercial truck ban, a speed trap and/ or a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at commercial vehicle infractions.

“Something needs to be done to rectify this situation because it is dangerous out there,” declared one Taunton Boulevard resident, Ronald Powell, to Medford Township Council on April 19.

Steve Delacy, one of several residents that evening who called on council to have dynamic speed signs posted alongside the roadway, as well as asked for more generic

speed limit signs to be posted, indicated that the concern was more than just simply a hypothetical one, detailing a number of incidents that he said had already occurred as a result of the circumstances.

In 2015, he noted, he had just moved to the area when his dog “got away from me” only to be “ran over by a speeding car,” and while the pet ultimately survived, it was “dragged for about 30 yards, and the car kept on going.”

A house next to Delacy’s residence, the latter homeowner recounted, had two of their cars “taken out by a car that swerved.”

Then, in 2020, “a car that I babied since 1993 – a Jeep – was totaled” by another car that also “swerved.”

And prior to moving into his home, according to Delacy, a large oak tree located in front of his house was reportedly involved in “two collisions” with the crashes purportedly attributed to “speeding around the bend.”

“I’m told one person died before I lived here,” said Delacy of what he was told about one of the crashes involving the oak tree, with the resident also suggesting that speed limit pavement markings be a consideration for Taunton Boulevard, such as ones painted near the Lake Pine Colony Club.

T h o m a s D u r h a m , a fo r m e r l aw enforcement officer who moved to Taunton Boulevard some five years ago, noted that he had been told the situation has been a “constant problem for 35 plus years” and it was his understanding “it took a longtime apparently to get it (the speed limit) down See TRAFFIC/ Page 11

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Tabernacle Municipal Offices Finally Relocated to Temporary Trailers, But Town Spent Thousands of Dollars on Them While They Sat Unused Municipality Had Them in Place for Six Months, But Unanticipated Challenges Delayed Move-in, with Advocate Citing Unasked Question for Circumstances and Another Suggesting Ongoing Lack of Questions Will Lead to ‘Bad Decisions’

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

A notice on the doors of Tabernacle Town Hall on April 29 informing the public that “this building is closed to the public” and “all offices are (now) located at the Town Hall Mobile Trailers.”

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—A long-awaited notice finally appeared on the doors of Tabernacle Town Hall on April 29 informing the public that “this building is closed to the public” and “all offices are (now) located at the Town Hall Mobile Trailers,” but the length of time it took to conduct the move (some six months after the trailers were first put in place) has caused one of two resident transparency advocates to declare, “when you don’t ask questions, you are likely to make bad decisions,” with both calling out the township committee for

doing just that.

One of the transparency advocates, Fran Brooks, during an April 25 Tabernacle Township Committee meeting, pointed out “it has been six months since the installation,” and during that time, the municipality spent “approximately $4,500 a month on these unused trailers.”

“When you voted to install the trailers, not one of you asked how long it would take to occupy them,” she said.

She accused the Tabernacle committee of spending thousands of dollars on them while See TRAILERS/ Page 10

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Medford Lakes Council Candidate Says Nearly Half of His Election Signs Have Been Stolen Ahead of May Election, Calls It ‘Civil Rights Violation’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES —A candidate for Medford Lakes Borough Council – a former borough councilman who has run in every municipal election since his single term expired in 2002 – says 18 of 25 of his “brand-new” election signs for this upcoming Tuesday’s non-partisan municipal election were stolen last month, and about half of his 80 signs in total have now been taken.

According to Joseph A. Aromando, III, who is challenging Mayor Thomas Cranston and Councilman Dennis P. O’Neill in May 10 borough election, when he came to Medford Lakes Borough Hall on a Thursday night in April for a Planning Board meeting, he saw the signs that he put up throughout the borough, but “by the next morning, a significant amount of them were gone.”

Aromando, in informing the borough council on April 27 that he has since filed a police report pertaining to the purported theft, declared “this isn’t going to be some minor situation” and “this is not going to be some situation where there is (simply) some disorderly person’s (charge).”

“I am targeted,” he declared. “This is a civil rights violation! I have contacted the state. Something is going to give on this! And if the person is found, they are going to feel the full force of this.”

Aromando, who has been a vocal critic at times of the borough administration and council since losing his seat on the governing body, and who has over the years gotten into some tense exchanges with some of the current local officials, maintained there are “serious problems with signs.”

“I don’t think you guys want to have an unfair advantage by letting all your signs stay

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out there and allowing somebody in town to steal every sign I put up,” Aromando told the council. “I don’t know how you feel about it, but you have an opportunity to speak to some of this lawlessness and the attitude people have here that they think they can pull this kind of crap.”

Aromando added that there is also an opportunity for “all” to ask that whoever stole his signs “to ‘return them’” or “‘put them in a pile and honestly call.’”

“The other thing that we can do (to signify) that we all detest this type of behavior is we can put our signs together, chain them together – and I am not talking about all of them, I am just talking about some of them as a symbol – and make a statement, put it out there that we don’t tolerate this,” Aromando said. “We might run against each other, have different beliefs and views about things, but you don’t steal, and you don’t cheat.”

The candidate allegedly the victim of a theft further declared that “if we don’t stand up for those things, the fish are going to be rotting from the head down.”

“I can look at you guys with a lot more respect if I knew you were going to detest it, and I knew you were going to do something to tell these people it is not acceptable and that they are not doing you any favors,” Aromando said.

He added that the chances of the signs belonging to Cranston and O’Neill getting stolen are minuscule, before asserting, “Unfortunately, I don’t get the same rights as everybody else.”

One of those aforementioned, classic tense exchanges would soon begin in earnest on April 27 when the candidate seeking to reclaim a council seat raised the “unbelievable” See SIGNS/ Page 13

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Saturday, May 7, 2022

Medford Solicitor Pens Letter to Carns Matriarch with Intent to Seek ‘Enhanced Penalties’ Against Her for Storage of Commercial Vehicles With the Next Step Up from the Basic Fine Involving ‘Imprisonment,’ as Outlined in the Letter, Sibling Says It Left Him ‘Sick to My Stomach,’ But Now Solicitor Claims Town Would Not Seek to Put Anyone in Jail

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—A Sunday, formal letter from Medford Township Solicitor Timothy Prime, sent to a Carns family sibling via email, stating that the township “intends to seek enhanced penalties” against the Carns Family matriarch over the storage of commercial vehicles (tree trucks) on her property has left the family – who has already been upset, claiming there has been harassment and retaliation on the part of the township over the past two months – incensed, after a mention in the correspondence that penalties beyond the basic fine in violation of the zoning ordinance establishing a limit on commercial vehicle storage include “imprisonment,” in addition to a higher fine, begging the question, what are the “enhanced penalties” to which Prime was referring and how far is the municipality willing to go here in a feud that has upset the local political landscape.

The Carns matriarch – who has stayed out of the public fray to date, but actually owns the tree farm that has been at the center of public controversy since March, and therefore is the official addressee of record for any township letters pertaining to her property, is 80 years old, according to son, David Carns, and is also currently wheelchair-bound, in addition to being a widow, making the letter all the more offputting to the family, and one, that left David Carns personally “sick to my stomach.”

“I am just surprised at the use of the

Photo By Andrew King

David Carns asks if Medford officials plan to incarcerate his mother, as was apparently suggested in a letter authored by the township solicitor. word ‘imprisonment’ and think it is just ridiculous that it is even on this document, to threaten my mom with incarceration,” said David Carns in showing the letter to this newspaper on May 2. “People are shoplifting and not even going to jail for it (there has been a recent national trend to forgive lower level crimes), and my mom is See SOLICITOR/ Page 15

Saturday, May 7, 2022

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Wildfire Investigation in Black Run Preserve Remains Active After Blaze Consumes 63 Acres; Some Trails to Remain Closed

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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An aerial view of the “Aerohaven Fire,” in the Black Run Preserve of Evesham Township as captured by a Downstown Aero Crop Service, Inc. pilot.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

EVESHAM—A wildfire that developed Sunday in the Black Run Preserve area of Evesham Township consumed 63 acres, but did not threaten any structures or require evacuations, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), which oversees the former.

According to NJDEP Spokeswoman Caryn Shinske, the fire was reported at 10:22 a.m. on May 1.

An individual manning the “Medford Fire Tower,” she said, was the first to spot the blaze.

“Its final size was 63 acres and 100 percent containment was achieved at 2 p.m. – less than four hours after the fire was reported,” Shinske told this newspaper. “There were no structures threatened or evacuations conducted.”

The blaze, dubbed the “Aerohaven Fire,” reportedly occurred near the near the old Kettle Run Airport.

Given its proximity to a populated area, numerous photographs of the blaze emerged, including one showing thick smoke rising in the distance for a time behind a BJ’s Wholesale Club in neighboring Voorhees Township.

“Evesham Mayor Jackie Veasy and all of

Evesham Township Council would like to take one more opportunity to thank the brave men and women of Evesham Fire-Rescue and the Evesham Township Police (NJ) for their work to keep our community safe earlier today while responding to the brush fire incident in the Black Run Preserve,” said a statement issued by Evesham Township.

“Many of our first responders may try to humbly say today was ‘just part of the job,’ but their actions today are just the latest example of how these brave men and women perform selfless acts of courage each and every day in service to our community. Our first responders put their lives on the line to protect our residents, and we will always be thankful for all that they do.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Shinske. The township announced that “due to the recent fire incident in the Black Run Preserve, the REI Yellow Trail and Overlook Trail in the Aerohaven section are closed to the public until Saturday, May 21.” “ T h i s a r e a i s p a r t of a n a c t i ve investigation,” it was stated in the township announcement. “Additionally, this area has many hazards after the fire, including smoldering debris and weakened and damaged trees. When you return to this area of the park, please use extreme caution when navigating the area and be aware of hazards.”

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County GOP Says It Plans Court Challenge to Appointment of Eckel to Board of Commissioners, Calling It ‘Illegitimate’ Democrats Accused of Far Exceeding Legal Deadline to Replace Hynes, But Their Chairman Says He ‘Strongly Disagrees with Characterization’

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

MOUNT HOLLY—The appointment of Allison Eckel, of Medford, who has been a member of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education, and an unsuccessful 8th District Assembly candidate, as the newest member of the Burlington County Board of Commissioners to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Linda Hynes, who resigned back in January to become a Superior Court judge, is being termed by county Republicans as an “illegitimate” one to which they are planning to mount a legal challenge.

The basis of the GOP charges, which were aired at the last regularly scheduled meeting of the commissioners on April 27 and include warnings that any vote in which Eckel might participate could be ruled invalid, is that the currently all-Democratic board went well past the legal deadline of 35 days in choosing her as a replacement for Hynes when she was appointed by the other four members at a brief special session conducted the night before that meeting.

The Republicans, in fact, have already attempted in Superior Court to keep the county board from making such an appointment after it failed to do so by the Feb. 19 deadline set under the law. But the judge hearing their complaint, John E. Harrington, declined to rule either way, saying a decision would have to wait for an actual appointment to be made, although he was also reported to have expressed skepticism about the applicability of legal deadlines in such matters, citing the 2002

New Jersey Supreme Court decision that allowed then-incumbent U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli Jr. to be replaced on the ballot in October of that year by then-former Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Asked by the Pine Barrens Tribune whether Republicans were again planning to take the matter to court now that such an appointment has been made, Burlington County GOP Executive Director Josh Zoppina stated in a May 4 email reply, “Yes, we plan on challenging this appointment again” and “have already taken steps to do so.”

Objections to Eckel’s presence on the board were raised by a number of people who spoke at the April 27 meeting, which was also heavily attended by members of various unions who came out to show their support for her appointment, as was noted in a May 2 press release issued by the county Democratic organization under the headline, “Large crowd backs Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel at her first meeting.”

During that session, Board Director Daniel J. O’Connell also gave Eckel her oversight assignments, which includes public safety, resource conservation and the Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the Board Of Social Services, the military base and the County Planning Board.

But the show of support and her being assigned those official duties didn’t deter those opposing her being allowed to serve on the board at this point from accusing the commissioners of having made an unlawful appointment, some quite vociferously.

See CHALLENGE/ Page 13

Saturday, May 7, 2022

County Commissioners Welcome Allison Eckel as Newest Member For the Pine Barrens Tribune

MOUNT HOLLY— So who is Allison Eckel, of Medford, the newest member of the Bu rl i ng ton Cou nty Board of Commissioners?

She holds a degree in Geoscience from Franklin & Marshal College and a Master’s in Writing and Publication from Emerson College and has extensive experience in digital marketing and media.

“Our Board has succeeded in governing responsibly to suppor t our county’s affordability and high quality of life, but also in a way that reflects our compassion and empathy for the struggles some residents face every day,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Dan O’Connell.

“We welcome Allison and are confident she will help uphold this tradition. We look forward to working with her to continue to make Burlington County the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

Eckel, who ran unsuccessfully last year for state Assembly, is currently employed as a marketing specialist for the Garden State Council of Boy Scouts of America.

In addition to her work experience, Eckel brings a long history of community service to the Board of Commissioners, including more than four years of service as a member of the Lenape Regional High School District’s Board of Education, and more than a decade as a scout leader, den leader, mentor and advisor to the Boy Scouts of America. Her volunteer service also includes work with the Medford Education Foundation and the Medford Township Economic Development Commission.

She was formerly a co-leader of the Army’s 561st Medical Company Family Readiness Group. In that role, she helped coordinate support for the unit’s families while members were deployed in Iraq for

Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Burlington County Commissioner Felicia Hopson and Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion said these experiences would be of great value to the commissioners board and to Burlington County’s residents.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Allison to our Board,” Hopson said. “She’s already been a great role model and mentor for our youth, and I know she will excel in her new role as a county commissioner, adding to Burlington County’s legacy of dynamic women leaders.”

Pullion added that “Allison has already demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community service and Burlington County’s people” and maintained that she will “hit the ground running and help us continue to protect the high quality of life and affordability that is so important to our families and businesses.”

Eckel, in a press release provided to this newspaper, said she was proud to join a group of public servants who have demonstrated their deep commitment to the county and its more than 460,000 residents.

“Throughout the last several years, I’ve witnessed Burlington County assist families and businesses and invest in infrastructure and initiatives that safeguard residents’ health and wellbeing,” she said. “They have helped preserve and enhance our county’s natural beauty, history and economy, while also holding the line on taxes to deliver much-desired affordability. I know it hasn’t been easy and that new challenges await us, but I feel honored and privileged to serve with these commissioners, and I promise to do all I can to help Burlington County prosper.”

But Eckel’s appointment is getting off to a rocky start over the timing of it (see separate story).

Saturday, May 7, 2022

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Photos By Douglas D. Melegari

Artists Bettē Brower and Ed Jarrett touch up and carve elements of their Tiki Village sand sculpture.

SCULPTURE (Continued from Page 1)

built locally coming about when John Redmond, owner of Redmond’s Garden Center, had seen their work at New Eygpt’s Laurita Winery, where a shot at a fifth Guinness World Record will be attempted this summer, according to Jarrett.

“To our knowledge, Bettē and I are the last two sculptors in the world doing world record attempts by hand,” Jarrett said. “So, the one this summer will be very unique.

Nobody has beaten our favorite and last sandcastle record by hand, built back in 2013 at Jenkinson’s Beach for Superstorm Sandy relief.”

The sandcastle at Jenkinson’s, Jarrett noted, was 38 feet tall.

One looking at the creation at Redmond’s, or any of the others the artists have built, may mistake them for cement.

“We only use water,” Jarrett said. “People always thinks it is cement, but it is not. You can’t carve cement after it dries.”

Jarrett, in walking this newspaper through the process he and Brower used to build the Tabernacle sand sculpture, explained that the sand they used for it “has never been rounded by the ocean, nor has it been touched by the ocean.”

“This is glacier sand,” he pointed out. “We got this out of Kenvil, New Jersey (located within Roxbury Township, in Morris County). They bring it out of the earth and float it in a pond. Then, they take it out of a pond as it drops – that is how heavy it is, and the second to last drop is considered fine sand.”

That process, according to Jarrett, creates “the finest sand you can get.”

Also nicknamed “sharp sand” or “utility sand,” Jarrett said it is commonly put over wires and pipes buried in the ground because “when this stuff cracks, it self-heals,” an important bonding mechanism that stops those things from moving, and thus it is used for the same reasons in the art of building sandcastles or sand sculptures.

“So, this sand is something we learned, and we have been on the Discovery Channel, Brain vs Brawn (the network’s show for Outrageous Acts of Science),” said Jarrett, noting he was featured on an episode for a world record he and Brower attempted at Laurita a few years ago.

The key to getting the sand to hold, Jarrett explained, is “just water,” and the criteria he noted that Guinness had been using prior

to allowing machinery only allowed use of water. (Since then, the records for the “World’s Tallest Sandcastle by Hand” have been broken several times, but only with machine assistance.)

“We use water with everything we sculpt,” he said. “You can see you can pick this stuff up (dry, from the sand pit) and it will fall right apart. But this over here has been packed down with water, so when this comes off, it goes back to its original form. But this is pretty hard right now (the sand packed with water comprising the sculpture). Now while it is drying out, it is sort of soft like butter to allow the sculpting.”

The sand, when packed, he noted, “has got resistance to it when fully dried” and “the more resistance you got, the sharper the sand.” The artists look for that “little pop” from a “dried-out meatball-sized piece.”

“The doorknob you see here was stuck on like a softball meatball,” Jarrett pointed out. “It stays together, dries and then you can carve it afterwards.”

The Tiki Village at Redmond’s is a form narrative art, or one that tells a story, one that Jarett narrated for this newspaper.

This particular creation features a “whole family,” including a family dog, teenagers, uncles, a little girl, and a mother upset that the dad climbed on top of the hut.

“He has got his hand down, giving the official hang loose sign, saying, OK, I am up here, but just ‘hang loose’ and stop yelling at me,” Jarett explained. “But the mother is upset because the baby in the doorway is crying, upset because of the noise he is making on the roof. The baby was sleeping, started crying and the mother is out there telling the dad to get off the roof.”

In another visual comprising the sand sculpture at Redmond’s, Jarett detailed, there is a little girl with a dog named Dunkin and an Uncle Joe sitting on a dock.

“There are waves and sharks,” he pointed out. “So, we have them up on a little island where we have Uncle Joe feeding the sharks by hand, but the shark is going to come too close to Uncle Joe, so he is going to be scooting back on the dock. Then we got ‘Hear No, Speak No, See No Evil’ (three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”). And those are the three teenager tikis and one of the teenagers has a parrot.”

When this newspaper toured the sand sculpture on April 25, the boats and sharks were in the process of being carved, but See SCULPTURE/ Page 17

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Page 10 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

The small “lobby” for the public inside of the temporary office trailers for Tabernacle Township.

TRAILERS

(Continued from Page 4) they were unused because “you didn’t ask any questions.”

This newspaper previously reported that upon the Tabernacle committee learning last year that a structural analysis of town hall had reportedly found that the “building needs significant help to the point it is a structural concern to keep using the building,” it then voted to relocate the township’s municipal offices into three temporary office trailers combined, awarding a $161,240 contract on Oct. 25, 2021, to Satellite Shelters, Inc. The trailers, which are designed to provide for some 2,000 square-feet of office space, then arrived and were confirmed to have been put in place in mid-November, assembled in the same parking lot utilized for town hall (163 Carranza Road).

Tabernacle Code Enforcement Officer Tom Boyd, a month prior to their arrival, had said that he would be obligated to plaster a brightly colored “Notice of Unsafe Structure” onto town hall’s doors on Jan. 13.

But that date came to pass, with delays in the relocation blamed on a labor shortage, as well as IT troubles (with the town recently having to award an IT firm a $15,000 contract) and a lack of internet and cable connectivity.

According to copies of recent bill’s lists posted on the Tabernacle Township website, the municipality paid $22,255 to Satellite Shelters in November 2021 for “delivery and setup.” The municipality has paid the company a monthly rental fee of $3,405 since

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January, for a total of at least $13,620 over the past four months.

(The estimated figure Fran Brooks derived during the governing body meeting was from her taking $161,240 and dividing it by the 36 months, assuming the municipality had paid a rental fee in November and December 2021 as well – it wasn’t immediately clear why it appeared no rental fee was paid by the township for those two months.)

This newspaper previously reported that Tabernacle Committeeman Robert Sunbury had disclosed in February that that plumbing and electrical work for the temporary office trailers unexpectedly cost the township almost an additional $25,000, with officials blaming inflation and limited contractor availability for that amount.

“The trailer situation was actually a gimme and it bodes very poorly for the construction of a new town hall,” Fran Brooks declared.

“None of you are asking any questions, necessary or unnecessary – you are just not asking any questions that will ensure you just don’t end up wasting our money.”

According to the bill’s list, the municipality paid $10,975 in October 2021 to the engineering firm of Regan Young England Butera for a “study” released that month regarding “convert to office space.”

Tabernacle officials, when discussing the results of the study later that month, contended that another possible option, converting the former Tabernacle Rescue Squad building on Hawkins Road into temporary municipal offices, was cost prohibitive due to “a lot of renovation work,” maintaining it was also “too small” for the municipal operation.

LECK’S

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Leasing available space (where a Dunkin Donuts used to be before being damaged by a fire) at the Celebration Square shopping center on Route 206, was yet another option offered in the study, with a single, 2,100 square-foot unit in the shopping center said to be available at the time for a three-year term of $247,200 (including retrofitting).

Stuart Brooks, husband to Fran and the second resident transparency advocate, declared on April 25 that the former Tabernacle schoolhouse on Carranza Road (180 Carranza Road), known to locals as Sequoia due to previously housing the Sequoia Alternative Program for years (which has since been relocated to Marlton), should have been “option four.”

“But Mrs. (Kimberly) Brown and Mr. Samuel Moore (who are still on the present Tabernacle committee with the latter currently serving as township mayor) voted against buying it without asking questions, or making comment,” Stuart Brooks added.

“The property was sold for only $625,000, far less than the cost of the new municipal building. When you don’t ask questions, you are likely to make bad decisions.”

(The Tabernacle committee, for years, prior to the structural issues, explored the possibility of a new town hall or renovating the current one, and at one point had even considered the purchase of the Tabernacle schoolhouse. The governing body ultimately began renovating the existing town hall.)

At the last couple of Tabernacle committee meetings, it was revealed that the governing body is exploring the possibility of purchasing a 19-acre parcel at 144 Carranza Road “for the potential relocation of the municipal building.”

Tabernacle Chief Financial Officer Rodney Haines previously revealed that the governing body was “kicking around $500,000 for the acquisition” of the parcel, and that is why, after a meeting with bond counsel, “we decided on $1 million” for a proposed bond ordinance, formally introduced for first reading during the April 25 Tabernacle committee meeting. In addition to the potential acquisition, the bond, he noted, would provide funding for the “title searches and various things.”

On April 11, the Tabernacle governing body passed a motion authorizing an “environmental assessment of 144 Carranza Road” for $6,600, and another authorizing $4,500 for appraisal work on “Block 13.01, Lot 403,” also known as 144 Carranza Road.

Following a Tabernacle com mittee executive session on April 25, the governing body returned to public session and approved a $29,052 “survey for wetlands delineation for the new property,” with Township Solicitor William Burns contending it was necessary as part of a “due diligence” process to “see if 144 Carranza Road is actually appropriate for acquisition.”

Last year, when the town hall structural

troubles became known, a figure of at least $3.8 million was thrown about just for the cost of making repairs to the existing municipal building and its annex, with engineering and architectural professionals noting that the figure was based on the known structural troubles, and that even if town hall can be repaired, its second floor would still not be able to be used for public meetings due to load issues that can’t be resolved through new construction.

Officials still have not decided what they will do to the existing town hall, pointing out previously that the structure is historic and would probably still require some form of repairs.

New municipal buildings, on average, have cost Burlington County municipalities somewhere between $6 and $10 million.

A notice posted on the Tabernacle Township website on April 28 announced that “we will close the doors to town hall officially on Friday, April 29, 2022,” adding that, “all municipal offices have moved from the town hall building that we all know and love.”

“On Monday, May 2, 2022, all offices will be found at the mobile building, which is across the parking (lot) on the right-hand side facing town hall,” the notice added.

Stuart Brooks, during the Tabernacle committee’s public comment period on April 25, yet again asked the governing body about its plans for the current municipal building and complex, pointing to Moore’s previous remark that the “‘committee is discussing all the options.’”

“What options are you considering for the present town hall site?” Stuart Brooks asked. “At the last meeting, you said you were ‘considering all options.’ What are they?”

“Thank you for your comment, Mr. Brooks,” repl ied Moore, conti nui ng a relatively new protocol in which the Tabernacle committee has no dialogue with the public, only occasionally, indirectly answering questions from constituents.

Stuart Brooks, when he had the floor, also called out Sunbury for stating at the preceding governing body meeting that “town hall couldn’t handle additions and the committee really had no options, except to build a new town hall.”

“That is absolutely false,” Stuart Brooks declared. “Your own facility assessment report from last October lists three options, and option two is specifically called addition to town hall, (discussing) construction of a one or two-story addition on the northside of the existing town hall, and it goes on from there. We all know town hall can handle additions; we all know there are other options besides building a new building.

“You just want a new building, and because you have already made up your minds on this, you don’t ask questions, answer questions or discuss options.”

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TRAFFIC

(Continued from Page 4) to 30 mph.”

But since purchasing his residence, he said he has “seen an increase in traffic and heavy vehicles.”

“All I am saying is (we are asking for) a little help – maybe some extra resources and maybe the getting of contacts from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to kind of help the people here to make it a lot safer and a little bit quieter, because I can tell you the trucks are rattling our windows,” Durham said.

James A. Shiffer, also a resident of Taunton Boulevard who has been leading the movement to bring changes to the road, described that “18 wheelers are traveling on the road exceeding 50 mph constantly,” and maintained that with kids now using the road as the weather turns warmer, “this is a severe, severe public safety issue right now,” in addition to the circumstances presenting a “quality of life issue.”

Truck traffic, he noted, has increased significantly since a bridge went out on Jackson Road last year, claiming “no contingency plan” has been put in place to divert such traffic.

Several “loaded dump trucks,” he said, originating from the Berlin area, are traveling to ongoing affordable housing projects in Medford, detouring onto Taunton Boulevard instead of taking Route 73 to Route 70 as an alternate route.

Meanwhile, he noted, Taunton Boulevard, “the third most heavily traveled road in Medford,” is “the most residential-heavilypopulated mile stretch of road in Burlington County.”

“We have just had it,” said Shiffer of why so many Taunton Boulevard residents were

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM in attendance and speaking out publicly at the April 19 Medford Council meeting. “I bought my home with property taxes based on living on a 30-mph road, not a highway.

And if this is going to continue, then I want my property taxes to reflect I live on a highway today. I don’t think anyone in here would argue that point!”

Ray Janelli, also of Taunton Boulevard, and who’s lived in the vicinity for the past 50 years, said the “trucks and speeding” have been “getting progressively worse,” but that it has “gotten really bad over the last three to four years.” Janelli maintained that his brother-in-law, a retired State Trooper, when told of the problem, “suggested a weigh station for construction vehicles.”

If commercial truckers are ticketed, he contended, “they will find another route.”

A temporary “speed trap” setup last year, he noted, “worked last year” and is something he has recommended be established again to Police Chief Arthur Waterman.

Two other area residents pointed to their observations that the situation has “probably gotten worse over the last couple of years, particularly with commercial vehicles and heavy trucks,” and that while there has been a “noticeable,” stepped up law enforcement presence, they haven’t observed any commercial trucks get pulled over as of yet.

Shiffer, who pointed out that the Medford Township Police Department’s most recent traffic analysis indicated that 3 percent of the cars traveling down Taunton Boulevard exceeded 45 mph, with somewhere between 7,000 to 10,000 vehicles using the 30mph road every day, contended that it was “upsetting” to learn that the county reportedly denied a request for (solar powered) dynamic speed signs on Taunton Boulevard because the canopy coverage was too great. But such signs, he maintained, were approved for a local road that has far

more tree canopy.

Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson, however, maintained that it was the “first he heard the dynamic speed signs were not approved by the county.”

“It is a county road, and everything we do on that road, the county has to approve it,” Watson added. “My understanding is they did approve the dynamic speed signs, but we have to pay for them.”

Township Manager Kathy Burger noted that the dynamic speed signs are actually part of the township’s anticipated capital budget for this year, and “once the full budget is approved, then we do a capital ordinance.” However, final approval of that ordinance wouldn’t occur until sometime in late June or July, due to the required advertising process, she noted. Despite that being the case, however, the township manager maintained there is “nothing more to be done” and “they (the dynamic speed signs) are in (the capital budget).”

As for the mayor’s remark about the municipality having to pay for signs on a county road, Shiffer quipped, “Would you prefer to pay for some lawsuit when some kid loses their life on that road?”

Watson replied that he “wasn’t complaining” about the municipality having to pay (but rather was making the point that the township is paying for the dynamic speed signs because they were approved by the county).

With Shiffer’s time to speak expired after five minutes had passed, and the beginnings of a back-and-forth exchange with the mayor, Burger declared “we are setting a precedent” and “we can’t do that.”

“We are really here tonight to ask you to advocate for us,” Shiffer concluded.

That remark caused Watson to assert, “We have been – we really have,” to which Shiffer remarked, “Then we would like to see some results come out of that.”

Shiffer, prior to his public comment time

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 11

expiring, also made the point that he would like to see “weight restrictions” instituted on Taunton Boulevard with nearby Route 73 a “perfectly good highway” to divert trucks so “they don’t have to go through a residential neighborhood.”

Watson, in response, maintained that he “knows DOT has been contacted at least twice over the last several years” but that officials with the agency “refused to allow us to put weight restrictions on that road.”

However, Doug Fugate, a local clinical p sycholog ist who l ive s on Tau nton Boulevard, noted that when he first moved there in 1988, “there was actually a ban on truck traffic on Taunton Boulevard.”

“I don’t know what happened and why it went away, but when it did, here came the trucks and it has gotten worse ever since,” Fugate said. “We are just lucky there haven’t been more serious accidents that have happened. I was watching some of the trucks today pulling heavy equipment. If they had to stop for a child crossing that road, there is absolutely no way they could stop. They are going way too fast.

“It may look like a law enforcement problem, but the police can’t be there 24 hours a day watching every car. When I drive around the area, such as on Lenape Trail, they have the flashing signs that show people how fast they are going, and (the signs) tell them to slow down. I’d love to see something like that on Taunton Boulevard.

I understand it is a county road, and the county has to basically approve them, I guess. But if you could work with them, give them some information about how serious the situation is becoming, maybe we can get somewhere with it.”

Burger noted that the county was “supposed to paint markings in the road,” with Watson declaring, “let’s follow up with that.”

“We’ll keep working on it (the situation),” the mayor added.

Page 12 ♦

BAGS

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

(Continued from Page 2) of the ban, whereas at least twice that many at the Little Egg Harbor, Whiting and Tabernacle locations were against it, while in Medford, where fewer shoppers had time to answer a reporter’s questions, there was an equal number who registered their opposition and one who was on the fence. Finding people outside the Browns Mills Acme who were willing to voice their opinions proved to be even more difficult, with two favoring the ban, two not, and another two taking an equivocal position.

However, some of the individuals who expressed disinterest in participating when they were initially approached abruptly changed their minds once they were told what the subject was.

“I’ll take that survey,” said one such respondent, Laurie Benton, of the Mystic Island section of Little Egg Harbor, who, when then asked what she thought of the ban, replied, “I like my plastic bags, and use them for multiple purposes.”

“I put my cans in them and use them for diapers and have even got my kid’s uniform in a plastic bag,” she added.

As for whether banning them would help the environment, Benton felt it would not be all that beneficial, since “there is so much other plastic out there” and “so many other important things to worry about in this world other than plastic bags.”

Jose Ramos, of Whiting, was likewise “not happy” with the bags being removed from circulation, being in the habit of using them to line his waste baskets and to clean up after his pets. Similar sentiments were voiced by other interviewees for whom the designation “single-use” was not necessarily an accurate one, inasmuch they often reuse these disposable bags in a variety of different ways, such as for scooping kitty litter or when walking the family dog, which the law also requires – convenient applications that will no longer be available to them and replacements for which will now take an additional bite out of their income.

“Don’t even get me started (on that subject),” said Nancy C. King, of Browns Mills, an owner of two cats who was among those surveyed at the Medford ShopRite, and who was plainly put out that she would soon have to use part of her Social Security increase to order litter bags from Amazon.com.

Another ShopRite customer, who referred to the bag ban as “stupid,” but said she would rather not be identified, declared, “You’re going to be seeing poop all over the place.”

“Stupid,” in fact, was just one of a number of characterizations of the about-to-beimplemented law used by those wishing to emphasize how put out they were over it, other such epithets being “ridiculous,” “silly,” “It stinks” and “It sucks” (those last

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM two terms used by a number of shoppers when asked their opinion of the ban).

Concerns about the potential problems of having to bring larger, reusable bags to the checkout counter included a couple that were voiced by Whiting resident Linda Lobas, who thought that doing so would prevent her from being able to “properly” pack her order, with certain items in separate bags, and that the larger bags would be too heavy and unwieldy for her to carry.

Lobas also said that those heavyweight bags, in her opinion, would end up being worse for the environment than the thin plastic variety being banned once they have to be disposed of.

Others, such as Ann Langran of Medford, worried about the reusables being a possible source of contamination.

“Bringing your own bags is a health hazard – that’s what they were telling us when COVID hit,” she maintained, adding that in her opinion banning bags in retail settings was nothing more than a “BandAid” for environmental problems.

Langran, who said she had just returned from a three-week vacation and had forgotten about the pending ban, had stopped at Murphy’s in Tabernacle to buy some items for a friend just when the store ran out of both disposable and reusable bags a day before the ban took effect, causing her along with a number of other shoppers to have to place groceries in their cars without any containers whatsoever. Some who did so expressed chagrin that the only kind available there was a “cold bag” with a $10.99 price tag.

ShopRite, by contrast, had filled the front of its Medford store with a plethora of reusable bags of various sizes and styles selling at relatively affordable prices, the cheapest being 33 cents. Some customers interviewed in its parking lot, including King, were nonetheless highly critical of the law that the generous inventory of more durable bags was obviously intended to address.

One of the more outspoken ones, Donna Facey, of Southampton, said that in addition to creating “more confusion for consumers,” she feared the bag ban could act as a possible “tipping point” for a society whose members are “already stressed to the max,” resulting in more arguments and frustrations and possibly even leading to further incidents involving “rage and gunfire.“ The effect that the ban will have on seniors with fixed incomes, who might both forget to bring in their own bags and can ill afford to buy reusable ones, was of greatest concern to retired Postal Service employee Mike Arrabito, of Whiting, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Persian Gulf war.

“I think it’s illegal and I think it’s wrong,” declared Arrabito, who identified himself as a “dissatisfied Democrat,” in referring to the law that was totally sponsored by state Democratic members of the Legislature.

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At the opposite pole, however, was Little Egg Harbor resident Mary Jerkowicz, whose bumper stickers indicated that she was both a diehard fan of former Republican President Donald Trump and an advocate for Barnegat Bay, and who when queried acknowledged that despite being a committed member of the GOP, many of whose members in the state are vocal opponents of the bag ban, she is “all for it.”

But then, Jerkowicz said, she is also a senior program monitor at Ocean County Solid Waste Management, which is supportive of the ban, in addition to having worked for the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program.

She said she also believes there is too much plastic in the environment, especially in coastal communities, as evidenced by the way plastic bags would get caught in the propellers of the boat she and her husband used to own.

Also attesting to the way plastic bags have found their way into bodies of water was Southampton resident Frank Tiringer, who noted that he lives on a lake and “you should see all the bags” there, and who said of the ban, “I think it’s great,” adding, “They should have done this a long time ago.”

Others who expressed similar enthusiasm for the law on the eve of its taking effect pointed out stray plastic bags lying on or near the site where they were being interviewed as demonstrating the need for such legislation.

Some of the ban’s supporters, such as Lorraine Wolff, of Medford, conceded that it might be somewhat inconvenient, even for her, since she uses plastic bags when scooping kitty litter.

“But that’s OK,” she said. “I’ll figure something else out. People can adjust, and find new ways to deal with things.”

Another backer of the ban from Medford, Patti Parezo, also acknowledged that it might tend to create problems for some people, “but nowhere near as bad as (those caused by) plastic.”

In response to claims of that nature, however, detractors of the law contended that plastic bags are a relatively inconsequential part of the plastic detritus that is polluting the seas, much of which is deposited there by other countries or by industrial fishing operations, and that banning them is simply a token gesture to environmental interests while making things tougher for those who bear no responsibility for that situation.

There were also those, such as Elizabeth Stewart, of Shamong, who contended that whether or not to use plastic bags, should be a choice left up to the individual, and Lynn Smith, of New Egypt, who maintained that “if they want to get rid of plastic bags, they should compromise and provide us with free tote bags,” or at least easily affordable ones.

Another question raised by several of those interviewed was why old-fashioned paper bags had to be included in the ban.

“They’ve gone too far with the paper bags,” contended Manahawkin resident Scott Fritzinger during a stop at the Murphy’s in Tabernacle, calling that aspect of the ban “silly.”

Finally, one woman, who declined to identify herself, said that while she was personally fine with the ban, she was ”baffled” to discover that the retail operation for which she worked was planning to discard hundreds of plastic bags after damaging them so they could no longer be used – something she thought was “counterproductive.”

Adding to the controversy created by the newly-implemented law, which also includes a ban on Styrofoam plates and cups being given out by restaurants and retailers, were notices issued via the media by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) instructing members of the public how they can report businesses that violate the ban.

Among those denouncing the law as it went into effect was GOP 8th Legislative District Assemblyman Michael Torrissi, Jr., who in a press release headlined “Ban the Bag Ban,” called it the strictest such ban in the country that “nobody’s happy about besides Democrats in Trenton,” and noted that while he was not yet in the Legislature when it was voted on, had he been, his vote would have been “a resounding ‘no’ along with every other Republican in the Assembly.”

“At a time when inflation is squeezing every pocketbook, turning a trip to the grocery store into a bankruptcy-inducing event, New Jersey Democrats felt the need to turn the screws a little more,” Torrissi contended.

“We all still need bags and banning them in stores is nothing more than passing the cost on to consumers who will now just have to add them to their monthly purchases.

“I know it’s not the most scientific way to make laws or handle business” he contended. “But sometimes politicians have to ask themselves one simple question before making things tougher for the general public: ‘Is this really something people need right now?’”

Torrissi further maintained that “it’s never been clear that banning bags has ever really helped the environment,” claiming one U.K. government study showed that you would have to reuse a tote bag hundreds of times before it becomes more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag, and that a Danish government study showed a cloth bag would have to be reused “thousands of times before it becomes more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag.”

“In 20 years, we’ll have an environmental study on the harmful effects of tote bags and how we need to ban those and switch to pillowcases,” he added.

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SIGNS

(Continued from Page 6) issue “that is blowing me away” of residents “encroaching” on the borough right-of-ways (by putting large stones or planting vegetation right up against the road), and some he contended, even parking their vehicles right in the middle of the street during visits with friends or family.

“This is really indicative of the people moving in here,” Aromando contended. “…

This has been going on all over the place – people ‘stealing’ more and more property and I brought this to your attention a number of times. … It is being done right under our noses. … There are too many instances of this happening and it leaves a bad statement for us allowing it to happen. Where is the enforcement?”

A romando cal led the situation “unacceptable” and maintained “this is what I am talking about.”

“People here, more and more, are ‘taking things’ and have no consideration!” the candidate vying to unseat the two incumbents declared. “And it is done with leadership – it is done with leadership!”

Borough Manager Dr. Robert Burton, after declaring, “You’re right, the ‘property maintenance code’ really needs to be addressed,” caused Aromando to begin shouting.

“I don’t know what you are talking about!”

Aromando asserted. “I am talking about the borough right-of-way! You are not funny! You are a clown! But you are not funny!”

Burton, a former councilman, responded that he “didn’t know what you are talking about,” causing Aromando to respond that he “didn’t know what you are talking about, but I am talking about ‘parking!’”

“And I am talking about ‘theft’!” Aromando declared. “Maybe we should look at what your hours are and what you are doing here! Believe me, I have been talking about it with a lot of people and they are really curious!”

Burton, in response, quipped, “Oh, absolutely!”

Aromando, “in one last thing,” started accusing an official of “already having misspoke once about me,” with other officials beginning to talk over each other at that point in trying to respond, all as Cranston could be heard saying that Aromando had already been allowed to speak beyond an allotted three minutes for public comment.

“You (Aromando later confirmed to this newspaper he was speaking about Cranston) were on the planning board and last year you missed eight out of 11 meetings (that number was later confirmed by the borough clerk)!”

Aromando said. “This year you are zero for three! Are you going to remove yourself and put somebody there who is actually going to do the work for the borough, or are you going to insult the people, the taxpayers of Medford Lakes by just coming and going when you want? It is wrong! Anybody, in any organization, would never tolerate this! But you have this thing locked down! You made sure nobody would vote anymore!”

Aromando then criticized the mayor for not moving municipal elections to November, as had been decided by the voters who voted in a 2019 non-binding referendum.

“You made sure you nixed it so your buddies who support you, who like going around doing the things they do here, take …,” said Aromando before being cutoff.

Cranston asserted that “it is one thing to say what is on your mind” and that “it is another thing to openly insult a member of council.”

“Why is it OK for you not to show up to planning board meetings?” Aromando pressed. “You are all complicit! You are all complicit!”

As Aromando continued to go on, Cranston asked if there were any other

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM members of the public who would like to make comments, “and hearing none,” moved to adjourn, receiving a second to do so.

W h i le t he me et i ng wa s of fic ia l ly adjourned, Aromando again repeated an earlier comment about “fish rotting from the head down.”

“I don’t like your accusations that we had anything to do with that (the election sign theft), or we would even know who to contact to bring your signs back,” said Councilman William Fields. “It is exactly what I heard from you (as Aromando denied that’s what he stated or was implying). If I hear something, I will definitely get them back to you.”

This wasn’t the first tense exchange of the year involving Aromando. There was also one during a Feb. 9 council meeting when Aromando questioned why department reports from the various borough departments were not being turned in to the governing body as required by law.

“The situation was worse than I thought it was,” Aromando declared. “… You are required to do this; it is part of their (the department heads) job description to turn them in at least three days prior to the second borough council meeting. It says it right here!”

Aromando also pointed to a stipulation in borough code that certain department heads are supposed to attend the last borough council meeting of every month.

“Not only can’t I get reports, the inmates have taken over the asylum, deciding when they are going to do reports in violation of their own job description!”

Burton attempted to cutoff Aromando at that moment, exclaiming, “Excuse me!”, declaring, “I take offense to your comment the ‘inmates are running the asylum!’”

“This is not an asylum, and we are public servants, and to reference us as ‘inmates in an asylum’ is offensive and I am outraged you said that!” Burton asserted.

Aromando replied that he was “outraged these reports have not been done every month, in every year.”

“That is a disgrace!” Aromando quipped.

“Don’t blow smoke and try to distract people from the facts here!”

Fields replied that “the government can ask for those maintenance reports.”

“I am tired of you coming here and berating us!” he declared. “All you do is come here and berate!”

Mark J. McIntosh, borough clerk and deputy manager, later told this newspaper that “the reports are now being turned in by the departments no later than the second meeting of the month.”

“As a matter of fact, I just got reports in ahead of our next meeting,” he maintained.

“All departments are now handing in reports.

There was a time where some were, and some were not. In our ordinance, it is mandatory that the police and fire departments turn them in, and they have been doing it pretty good for the last two months now.”

As to why all departments hadn’t been turning in the reports, McIntosh said he didn’t want to speculate, but added that Burton, as the borough manager, always gives a report to council that “somewhat covers all the departments anyway.”

And McIntosh added that he would “assume” that if council requested a department head to report to its meetings, “I am sure they would be there.”

Aromando later told this newspaper that since the Feb. 9 exchange, he and Fields “shook hands” and was grateful that the councilman “took a moment to try to take the temperature down a little bit.”

However, since the April 27 council session which had also turned tense, “six more” of his election signs, he contended, were stolen and another police report has since been filed, but stressed he did not imply and did not say that any of the council members are in anyway responsible for the thefts, but believes they can send a strong message that such activity will not be tolerated.

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 13

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Allison Eckel, of Medford, appointed to the Burlington County Board of Commissioners.

CHALLENGE (Continued from Page 8)

“I think it’s a blight on the way this county government operates,” declared Lumberton GOP head Mark Galli. “I think it’s going to put a serious legal question on the items that Ms. Eckel might vote for. I noticed she abstained on items tonight, which I appreciate, but do you plan to abstain on every piece of county business that comes on your desk? And if that’s going to be the case, what’s the point of filling that seat for a stipend of over $10,000 a year for somebody that’s going to abstain all the time?”

Another outspoken objector, Beverly Marinelli, of Lumberton, said she found the appointment “absolutely reprehensible and

disgusting,” and that she was “ashamed of the people sitting on this board representing me, my friends and neighbors.” She also excoriated “the manner in which this was done – illegally and in the dead of the night.”

“Shame on you, all of you, “said Marinelli in scolding the commissioners.

Also weighing in on Eckel’s appointment was Jeffrey Fortune, a small businessman from Moorestown whose candidacy for the Board of Commissioners has been endorsed by the county GOP. “The antics of the Burlington County Democrats over the past 24 hours are an absolute travesty, and outright illegal,” Fortune contended in remarks upon leaving the meeting, which were subsequently posted on YouTube. “Allison Eckel should not be sitting on that board. She should not have been appointed to the Board of Commissioners, and she absolutely should not have been sworn in. “ The Democrats, Fortune maintained, had 35 days to legally fill the seat, but in waiting until day 101, they voted to appoint “an illegitimate commissioner, and every vote she takes between tonight and Dec. 31 will be illegitimate.”

Asked if he would like to respond to those charges, Burlington County Democratic Chairman Joe Andl emailed this newspaper the following reply: “The Burlington County Democratic Pa r t y s t ro ng l y d i s a g r e e s w it h t h e characterization that Commissioner Eckel is illegally occupying a seat on the County Commissioner Board. We strongly believe that the citizens of Burlington County deserve a full complement of its county representatives and we will strongly defend this principle against a blatant attempt by the Burlington County Republican Party to deny such.”

Page 14 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Existing Red Lion Diner in Southampton Township.

DINER

(Continued from Page 1) LLC, has presented “basically the only opportunity we had where we were able to continue the greatness of the Red Lion Diner,” Tsiknakis noted.

“The one thing that the developers proposed to us is that we build a brandnew diner,” Tsiknakis said. “And basically, we would have a smooth transition and obviously close one restaurant and open the other.”

This newspaper previously reported that the diner was looking to do a “massive renovation” through the redevelopment process, but according to Tsiknakis, “it is very old building with extension after extension, and after talking to some contractors and everything, it seems like the best thing for us to do would be to build from the ground up.”

“And the developers have proposed something to us that may be beneficial to everybody, especially to help out the development project we may consider, and we are negotiating with the developer right now to possibly build a brand new Red Lion Diner, and it is on the (current diner parcel),” Tsiknakis said.

Any new diner, he maintained, “would be start-of-the-art.”

“We are proposing an entirely stateof-the-art facility that would be energy efficient, draw a much bigger crowd, employ an additional 30 to 40 employees because of the fact that it is going to be brand-new, and be more efficient in the way that we operate the kitchen,” Tsiknakis explained.

“Our employees will have an easier way to

operate, because, right now, it is a little tight in our kitchen.”

Any renovation, he noted, would have redesigned the inside of the existing diner to be more efficient, “however, the cost really would be substantial, whereas if we start fresh, sometimes it just makes sense.”

While “everything is very preliminary,” Tsiknakis stressed in the interview with this newspaper, any new diner, while “basically the same size,” would have a “nice vestibule area” as well as a designated area for picking up take-out. There would also be a “little stonework” undertaken.

“The efficiency would allow us to serve our customers more efficiently and better,” said Tskinakis of the primary change, with the proposed building “very square” in its shape compared to the existing diner, but yet the frontside would look very similar to the current one, with a lion proposed for the front of the new facility, identical to the one currently in front of the existing diner.

As for any outdoor dining, which became an option during the Coronavirus pandemic for many restaurants, including the diner, Tsiknakis said that “since COVID died down, people have chosen to sit inside.”

However, a “consideration,” he noted would be for the “windows of certain dining rooms” to be constructed in a way where they can be removed to allow for outdoor airflow should the need arise.

“We are working with the developer to expand use of the property, because, right now, it is not being used to its full potential, and if it is, it would bring in ratables to the town, and obviously be a nice convenience for the local residents as I believe it would be a good addition to the LeisureTowne community, and of course, many more,” Tsiknakis said.

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The circle, he noted, is “really the only section in town where development like this can happen.” If the project moves forward, Tsiknakis, while not one of the partnering developers, said it would probably consist of “just a couple pad sites, one being the one we are proposing for the Red Lion Diner.”

“It wou ld have the same address, however, it would be a parcel within a development, similar to how you see malls with restaurants in front of them, like a parcel with an Applebee’s or Taco Bell,” explained Tsiknakis, noting the developer would be careful not bring any business into the develop that could compete with his restaurant.

The “infrastructure of the circle” would also be “much more improved,” according to Tsiknakis, with an entrance to the diner built on Route 70, in addition to the one from Route 206, “whereas, currently, you have to slow down and worry about someone rearending you as turn into diner on the circle.”

“This is a proposal that the developer has brought to the town,” Tsiknakis said. “If they do approve it, I think it would be very beneficial for us and the town. It is definitely would be an improvement to the circle, bring revenue to the town and I believe it is going to be a centerpiece of Southampton for sure.”

Southampton Mayor Michael Mikulski, as the Southampton Township Committee introduced an ordinance on April 19 for first reading that would approve the redevelopment plan, declared, “We are pleased to introduce it.”

“I recently met with Paul, the owner of the diner, to talk about what the potential plans would be in this area,” Mikulski added. “Some years ago, we entered into an

agreement through the county – through the Bridge Commission, to basically provide for some opportunities for some development at this location. And it required some properties to potentially be rezoned in order to meet some of the requirements of the Pinelands Commission. I am pleased to report the committee was not in favor of some of those rezoning options, and if this redevelopment plan happens, the redeveloper is actually going to handle any of those zoning issues by either purchasing property or purchasing the zoning rights, meaning the building rights for some of the properties in the area.

“In speaking with Paul, he is committed to remaining in Southampton, and committed to the diner being in Southampton. The building I believe was built in 1947, and the building needs a lot of work, and this is an opportunity he has to potentially recommit to the diner being there, as well as an opportunity for one of the few properties in Southampton that are buildable.”

Tsiknakis told this newspaper that any new Red Lion Diner would have the “same recipes, same food and same bakery,” and he and his family are “proud” to continue ownership of it “for as long as God wants us to,” with a future rendition in the works that “will make everybody feel like, ‘Hey, this looks a lot like the old place, but still is very new.’”

“If the approvals go through, that is when we start figuring out the timing,” he said.

“But I guess the first thing is to see if the town is accepting of this. I believe this is a new age for the Red Lion, a brand that has become a staple in Southampton. I look forward to proposing something that would be very good for the town.”

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

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Saturday, May 7, 2022

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Brian Carns declares he and his family are not getting answers from Medford Township over their farm.

SOLICITOR (Continued from Page 6)

being threatened with it because of trucks (only one commercial vehicle is permitted on residential properties in Medford, including on farms, no matter the size, Prime would later tell this newspaper). It is nuts, especially with how loose things are right now across the U.S. in terms of jailing people for crimes, and to just put this on this letter (imprisonment) is just sickening.”

Prime, when pressed by this newspaper about whether the township intended to seek jail time for the Carns family matriarch, initially emailed a reply that “Mr. Carn’s email specifically asked for the penalties for zoning violations.”

“Rather than summarize the ordinance that could somehow be misconstrued, I simply reprinted the ordinance provisions verbatim,” he added. “The ordinance specifically mentions possible ‘imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.’” I did not suggest that anyone should go to jail over this zoning violation; however, that decision is up to the sentencing judge in the event of a conviction.

“My reference to ‘enhanced penalties’ meant that the tow nsh ip wou ld not recommend minimum penalties because, as stated in my response, these violations constitute ‘a clear and unambiguous intent to continue to violate Medford Township’s ordinances over an extended period of

time, and after an agreement to abate the violations was entered in the record.’” In fairness to him, and since he asked, it was important that Mr. Carns understand the potential penalties for these violations, especially the ordinance provision that, ‘Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.’”

This newspaper previously reported that the Carns, and their customers, have been the subject of numerous township actions since March, one including a Notice of Violation over the storage of commercial vehicles on the family farm, with those trucks belonging to David and Brian Carns, co-owners of Cornerstone Tree Service, but who maintain those vehicles also play an important part in the operation of the family’s tree farm and associated firewood stand.

While there have been complaints filed by neighbors and anonymous individuals in relation to the Carns farm, firewood stands as well as farm stand, the actions were taken after David Carns pursued what had been an unpaid bill for firewood with Mayor Charles “Chuck” Watson, who mysteriously withheld payment on his tab for some two months. This newspaper reported last week that an email had been unearthed showing that Township Manager Kathy Burger provided the mayor with a heads up about a forthcoming action involving the storage of commercial vehicles on the Carns Family Farm, among another, ahead of Watson’s purchase of firewood from the sibling. Other emails showed township officials appearing to pursue their own complaints against the Carns after observing social media posts about them.

The latest letter from Prime surfaced just a day after this newspaper’s report on the emailed heads up (in which David Carns called out the email’s contents), in addition to another report pertaining to a closure of a township trail due to tree hazards, which Cornerstone apparently had offered to clear for free, but claims was prevented from doing so by Zoning Officer Beth Portocalis, also the municipal Open Space Coordinator, which the Carns have been at odds with due to the series of recent actions.

In the latter Tribune report pertaining to the trails, David Carns had stated he would be contacting the attorney general over what has been going on.

Prime, in his May 1 letter, in describing the penalties for Carolyn Carns allowing the storage of more than one commercial vehicle on her property, wrote, “Having received no response (to the Notice of Violation), and since the commercial tree service continues to illegally operate on the property, and the three commercial vehicles continue to be illegally located on the property, in violation of the Medford Township Land Development Ordinance, the zoning officer will be issuing summonses to municipal court to enforce the ordinance and seek

penalties for violation of the ordinance.

“Section 1004. Fines. 1.) Any violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 for the first offense and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days; and a fine of $1,000 for each subsequent offense imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 days. 2.) Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.”

(Notably, there was no comma between offense and imprisonment in the letter in reference to the higher penalty, nor was there an ‘and/or’ to distinguish imprisonment would be an option of the judge should he or she agree to the township request.)

After contending that “these violations go back to 2016,” Prime wrote, “the township intends to seek ‘enhanced penalties’ under Section 1004 for the present violations since they represent a clear and unambiguous intent to continue to violate Medford Township’s ordinances over an extended period of time, and after an agreement to abate the violations was entered in the record.”

Prime ultimately called this reporter after being further pressed via email by this newspaper over the suggestion that the “enhanced penalties” could include “imprisonment” based on the contents of his letter and how the penalties were outlined, in addition to this newspaper also asking Police Chief Arthur Waterman point-blank if the police department would be the arresting agency should jail time be prescribed by a judge to Carolyn Carns, and if the department was preparing for the likely public scrutiny that would come with any such arrest (to which the chief did not respond).

“I am not suggesting or recommending putting Mrs. Carns in jail,” declared Prime in the telephone interview.

When asked to clarify then what are the “enhanced penalties” he was referring to, Prime answered, “not the minimum fines” as “frequently the township does agree to the minimum fines,” but rather, “since we have gone through this before” with the Carns, he was “going to ask for more than the minimum.”

“I don’t know what that would be – but we are going to work with the prosecutor,” Prime said. “But I certainly am not going to request that we jail anybody!”

The letter was attached to an email reply to one signed by Brian Carns, who asked Portocalis for “written clarification regarding the zoning violation issued to our mother for the commercial vehicles on our property” and what the deadline would be for the commericial trucks to be removed.

“What will be the penalty after that date, such as summons, fine, amount, etc.?” Brian Carns asked.

The family, according to David Carns, expected an informal reply from the township

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 15

zoning official, but never to get a formal letter addressed to the mother, let alone one with two references to imprisonment and a call for “enhanced penalties” in that regard.

A hard copy of Prime’s letter arrived in the mail on May 4, according to David Carns.

And Brian Carns, when he sent the email to Portocalis, had not only just asked about penalities, but asked a lot of questions about the ordinances, appearing to show a goodfaith effort to work with the official.

“I am very upset they sent this to my mom,” David Carns declared, in hoping that Medford residents will attend forthcoming council meetings and speak up because “if this can happen to us, it can happen to them.”

He called Prime’s letter “another form of harassment.”

“It is retaliation, and shame on them!”

“They are now going to force my mom into court who is handicapped, and she is currently in a wheelchair.”

“Where are the sensible people here? What are we doing here? Where are these people?

There has got to be a couple good people up there on council. I don’t understand where they are at. In fact, I know there are a couple good people on council. I wish they would speak up.”

Brian Carns, during a May 3 Medford council meeting, the first since Prime’s letter was sent, declared, “give us at least a fighting chance to avoid the fines and answers.”

Prime responded that Brian Carns, if he had questions about the ordinances, “not a violation that has already been issued,” that he can “discuss it with her (Portocalis).”

Prime, however, in sending the letter about enhanced penalties, put in the body of an email with the attached letter addressed to Carolyn Carns, but initially sent to Brian Carns, “I have instructed Ms. Portocalis to not respond to any emails or communication from you or your family.”

Brian Carns pointed that out, to which the solicitor replied, “that’s correct.”

“The interpretations of the zoning ord i na nc e s a re t he zon i ng of fic er’s determination,” added Prime, noting that both Portocalis and Brian Carns can “go to the zoning board” in the “event an interpretation” is needed.

Brian Carns declared he felt like he was “getting the runaround” and “can’t even get answers,” pointing out that as of the May 3 council meeting, “I don’t even have a lawyer” yet the township was now using their lawyer “to protect Beth.”

T h a t ’s w h e n P r i m e c l a i m e d h i s involvement in the matter was the result of “active ‘citations,’” to which Brian Carns, on May 3, expressed his surprise, asserting, “We don’t have active ‘citations.’”

“Well, I don’t know when she was going to issue them; I thought she was going to issue them today,” Prime said.

See SOLICITOR/ Page 16

Page 16 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

Photo By Andrew King

Medford Township Solicitor Timothy Prime on May 3.

SOLICITOR

(Continued from Page 15) That revelation caused the audience to react in aghast, with officials publicly announcing a citation against a private citizen in a governing body forum, especially against a citizen not present, a highly unusual move, that some online, after watching the clip, also expressed was disrespectful.

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM “No, they’ve already been processed,” said Burger after Prime pointed to her in appearing to ask for her assistance in addressing what he had just revealed.

When Brian Carns asked if the issuance of citations meant “we are going to court,” Prime declared, “It is up to her (Carolyn Carns)” and “if she removes the vehicles.”

“I don’t k now be cause there were violations before,” Prime asserted.

But both David and Brian Carns have refuted the solicitor’s suggestion that there has been an ongoing violation since 2016, as Prime indicated in his letter, with the latter telling the municipal solicitor on May 3 that “things have since changed” with the township now allowing firewood to be sold by ordinance, which involves use of the commercial tree trucks. Additionally, they also refute that there was any agreement to abate a then-issue.

“We definitely never signed anything saying that we will remove our trucks,” David Carns said. “There was no official agreement. I would never sign anything like that. Why would I sign something like that?

Show it to me in writing. And we use the trucks at the farm.”

David Carns noted that “there was probably a conversation,” however, about placing one truck on a neighboring property.

Prime, in his email to this newspaper, maintained that the “Carns continue to try to blur their operations at the property.”

“They have a right to operate a tree farm in the Agricultural Retention zone,” he added. “They do not have a right to operate

Saturday, May 7, 2022

a commercial tree service that includes tree removal on third party properties for commercial customers, with equipment for that purpose. That is not ‘forestry.’”

However, David Carns rebutted, “How am I supposed to bring my wood in, in a minivan?”, maintaining that Prime has never been to the family farm to see his operation and is getting his information from the zoning official, which is incorrect.

After contending that the township was simply enforcing an ongoing matter since 2016, and is acting on a complaint, it was pointed out by this newspaper to Prime that the township appeared to suspend any enforcement when Watson had visited the farm in 2021 in his bid for re-election and even posed for a photo-op with Brian Carns.

“I am not aware of any decision by the township to ‘seemingly suspend enforcement of this issue in at least 2021, when members of council faced re-election…’” Prime maintained. “I can only assume that there were no complaints about the operations at the Carns property that would have led to investigation and/or enforcement during that time.”

As for the letter Prime sent to Carns matriarch, Burger, in trying to offer an explanation to the public during the May 3 council meeting as to why it was issued, said “when a complaint is received and a violation is noticed, a letter is sent from the zoning officer to the property owner and on that you have so many days to reply to the zoning officer, and she asked you to please contact her” and “in this particular case the

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a specific period was given and she was not contacted, so it has gone to the next level.”

A “plan” g iven to Por tocal is, the township manager contended, “can abate the situation.”

Prime, when asked by this newspaper if, in retrospect, he believed his letter was overthe-top and stood by it, replied, “I have to …

I have to …,” and when asked if the council was interested in finding a compromise to this situation, replied that it likely was not, pointing out that Carolyn Carns could seek a use variance, a process that David Carns said he ultimately ended up abandoning in 2016 after spending some $14,000 and being told a month before a hearing that the township planner was going around town saying his family had “no chance of getting one” – all after being mandated to establish an escrow account.

“Are you going to incarcerate my mom if I don’t move my trucks off the farm?” asked David Carns of the council and Prime on May 3. “… The trucks have actually been removed from the farm. They are no longer at the farm. The three commercial trucks have been removed so the zoning can sleep good at night knowing that there isn’t a major crime happening in Medford.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how the zoning official would exactly be satisfied a violation is abated, with several townspeople, online, calling on Medford Council to change its ordinance with regards to commercial vehicles, among others that they feel have arbitrary provisions being enforced against the Carns.

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Some of the other creations of Ed Jarrett and Bettē Brower, including one of the record-setting sandcastles.

SCULPTURE (Continued from Page 9)

Jarett declared “that will all be done – the sharks will be done, the boats will be carved out, all so you can see the seats and everything.”

“And Bettē is working on a koi pond, that

will have lily pads and stuff,” Jarett added.

“Then Redmond’s is going to put palm trees and tropical plants in for the scene.”

Jarett noted that Red mond, upon first observing the couple’s ice and sand sculpturing work at Laurita, wanted them to do “something unique” to complement the tropical outdoor living theme of plant offerings at Redmond’s.

With the sand sculpture built indoors, according to Jarett, “this sculpture would be here 200 years from now,” unless there was a lightning strike that would shake the ground, noting that another built at a restaurant in Connecticut, a “little gargoyle building a sandcastle,” has now lasted for 15 years “once it hardened up.”

That being said, according to Jarett, “John has big aspirations for the holidays to have us change the whole scene,” and the plan is “next spring to do something new.”

Summer training classes in sand sculpting, Jarett noted, will be offered at Redmond’s, courses to provide for “quality family time” where the families can “sculpt together.”

Brower told this newspaper that she always wanted to build sculptures, while Jarett said he always wanted to be a painter.

But the two had held those roles in reverse until they met, and now intend to “be together forever.”

“The reason it has gone so well for us is we both want to learn from each other and that is kind of where we are at,” Jarett said.

Jarett getting into sculpting was the result of his mother complaining he would become a “starving artist,” with his guidance counselor ultimately recommending, “to make his mom happy,” that he attend culinary arts school.

“Because that is all I wanted to do, go to an arts school,” Jarett said. “I was always drawing fun things.”

He ultimately heeded that advice and attended Johnson & Wales University for Culinary Arts, “where I learned how to carve ice.”

“I had a car ving business before I graduated,” he said. “Then I worked for private golf courses and did it as a fun thing.

So, I have been sculpting since the early 80s.

I started with ice, went to snow, as I am from Maine. I was with a country club up there for 8 years, and did a big snow festival up

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there with L.L. Bean. So, we created snow sculptures, ice igloos, snow igloos, you name it – we did every igloo.”

The first attempt at a Guinness World Record in 2002 was unsuccessful, Jarett noted, and in 2003 another attempt was made and the world record was beat by three inches. In 2007, a second record was earned, with two more added in 2011 and 2013.

They have been recognized at Laurita as “artists in residence,” and have been provided a building to open an art gallery in conjunction with their upcoming Guinness attempt. The gallery will feature their wood sculptures, paintings, authentic grapevine art, design furniture and much more.

The current Guinness World Record to beat for the “World’s Tallest Sandcastle” now sits at 69 feet tall, according to Jarett, and “that was with machine assistance.”

He and Brower are planning to challenge it someday.

This summer, however, their aim is to earn a Guinness World Record for the “World’s Tallest Sand Sculpture by Hand” (a new category with a 50-foot minimum sculpture required to make a record for the first time). They are constructing a 60-foottall hardscape silo at Laurita to build it in.

“If we do another sandcastle by hand, we can go as high as 100 feet, or 200 feet, if I had the right amount of people, the right structure and we have it covered,” he said.

“So, we are not done yet. Once we get this world record in hand at 50 feet (for the sculpting), then we will go back out and look at doing a record setting sandcastle and do it all over again. We had four recordsetting sandcastles, and they changed the rules and made machines an option to go after us because nobody has been able to beat us by hand.”

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Page 18 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Pemberton Schools ‘Month of the Military Child’ Celebrations Photos Provided

Photos highlighting Pemberton Township School District’s Military Family Breakfasts, National Purple Up Day, recent dignitary visits, Fort Dix Elementary School’s Touch-aTruck event, and much more.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@ PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

OPINION

OPINION/WORSHIP GUIDE

♦ Page 19

Stealing of Election Signs Deprives Me of My First Amendment Right There is a certain criminal element in Medford Lakes that thinks it is OK to steal campaign signs.

I had 18 of 25 signs that I put out stolen.

All of the signs were taken during the night of April 21 to April 22 in a coordinated effort to deny me my First Amendment right to campaign for elected office. The police have been notified, and without divulging their sources and methods, are doing everything they can to apprehend the criminals.

What is becoming of Medford Lakes?

Who is this lawless element that is moving in here? Where is the ‘Laker love?’

Every time things like this happen in our community, along with the other things people are oblivious to, the community is devalued.

Property values are compromised and the town’s reputation is tarnished.

If you know anything about who took follow the signs or where the stolen signs canus beon facebook.com/MedfordUMC found, please call the Medford Lakes Police at 609-654-2156 or dial 911.

Joseph A. Aromando III Candidate for Council Medford Lakes, New Jersey

Uncle Jim Left Gate Open: Why You Should Be a Good Neighbor The recent controversy with the Carns family got me thinking.

My family used to own what is now Liberty Park, as a farm and I think it’s fair to say I grew up in Old Medford, before it was so fashionable. We only really only had the one red light, and if you backed up over the pressure counter a couple times you could make the light change.

Now this all happened before I was born, but family lore said that one day my young Uncle Jim accidentally left the gate open.

Cows being cows, they had invented the concept of the “grass is always greener” and ambled out of their pasture.

My Grandfather noticed that his cows were gone. Not exactly an unknown occurrence, later in years I used play cowboy, chasing them down on my Schwinn bike that I bought from the Penberthy’s garage sale and Linda later bought it from me at our garage sale. So, my Grandfather goes to look for his cows.

Which he finds had been collected up and placed into another farmer’s barn.

Who was not happy. You see the cows had gotten into a field of his corn. I don’t have to tell you how much damage cows can do to a field of corn. Then again, considering who now lives in Medford, I doubt any have milked a cow or even touched a cow. But take my word, they can do some damage.

After some loud talking everyone went back to their respective houses.

Later, after some time passed, the two farmers got back together. I am sure some money changed hands and they parted as friends and neighbors. Because the other farmer knew that someday maybe his cows might get loose in my Grandfather’s corn field, or some similar incident might happen, and well, that is what good neighbors did, they got along.

It’s not that there will not be conflict and disagreement, sometimes real or imagined in the future, but it’s all about how you handle those situations. Maybe it’s a function of how our society has developed, 24-hour cable news cycle or social media,

with righteous outrage on your channel or message board and with the ‘give no quarter mindset’ to someone you have never met or known. Since my side is always right and your side is always wrong, on everything, well you do the math.

Think of the mathematician, Nassim Taleb (the inventor of the Black Swan concept of unexpected or “impossible” events that create huge impacts) whose family comes from Lebanon, where the community fractured and broke down into open civil war. Taleb noticed that the worst people at getting along together appeared to be academics and government types.

They often live in the very rigid worlds, that they create and control with very strict rules. Think cable news channels with the same drama but without the cameras and as much makeup.

All while business or commercial types of people tend to get along better. Taleb said he thought it had to do with being in the marketplace together, you just had to get along with others to be successful. Be they Jew, Gentile or Muslim, you needed everyone to be your customer, you could not anger half the people against your business just because of politics or religion – think Disney as a recent example in the news.

You just had to get along to transact business as part of a larger community.

Because someday you would need to deal with each other for mutual benefit, unencumbered by petty jealousy or silly grudges over some long forgotten slight or oversight, real or imagined.

I don’t think my Uncle Jim and Taleb ever met or talked about cows, but I think their message or wisdom from the past would be the same on being good neighbors in your community and to get along.

Maybe we need more cows and fewer cars in Medford?

Bruno DiStefano Medford Lakes, New Jersey

The Pine Barrens Tribune would like to hear from you about what is happening in your town, or your opinions on any news story and subject!

To submit a Letter to the Editor, email letters@pinebarrenstribune. com. Letters should be about 150 words maximum, and include your full name, address and telephone number where you can be reached.

All submissions become property of the Pine Barrens Tribune and its affiliates and may be published in print and online. We reserve the right to not publish all submissions.

Please join us for In-Person Services 8:15 am | 9:30 am | 11:00 am | or via Facebook Live

I Am That I Am Ministries, Inc. All Are Welcome!

Sunday Worship Se ervice at 11:30 a.m.

Pastors Florence and Russell Webberr 50 Burrs Mill Roadd, Southampton, NJ 08088 609 - 847- 4848

www.iamthatiamministriesinnc.com

Bible Sttudy m.

7 p.m Wednessday

2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 info@medfordumc.org

Trinity Episcopal Church 18 Mill St. Vincentown, NJ 08088 Worship: Sundays 10 a.m.

609-859-2299 Transportation Available Call 609-859-2883

Ban the Bag Ban Which Just Makes Things Tougher for the Public The Bag Ban is here, and nobody’s happy about it besides Democrats in Trenton.

On Wednesday, New Jersey officially enacted the strictest bag ban in the country, getting rid of everything from plastic bags to paper bags and to-go containers. I was not in the Legislature when the Bag Ban was voted on, but if I was, I would’ve been a resounding ‘no’ along with every other Republican in the Assembly.

At a time when inflation is squeezing every pocketbook, turning a trip to the grocery store into a bankruptcy-inducing event, New Jersey Democrats felt the need to turn the screws a little more. We all still need bags and banning them in stores is nothing more than passing the cost on to consumers who will now just have to add them to their monthly purchases.

I know it’s not the most scientific way to make laws or handle business, but sometimes politicians have to ask themselves one simple question before making things tougher for the general public, ‘Is this really something people need right now?’”

Can’t we just cut people a break? As if they don’t have other things to worry about, now they have to see their stash of 100 plastic bags stuffed inside another plastic bag dwindle while wondering what’s going to go inside their mini garbage cans when the stash runs out.

And if it’s a scientific argument you want to make, it’s never been clear that banning bags has ever really helped the

environment. One U.K. government study showed that you would have to reuse a tote bag hundreds of times before it becomes more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag, and forget about a cloth bag a Danish government study showed you’d have to reuse it thousands of times before it becomes more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag.

Few people are carrying the same raggedy tote bag around to every store they visit for the next decade. In 20 years, we’ll have an environmental study on the harmful effects of tote bags and how we need to ban those and switch to pillowcases.

This is all to say that whether you use 20 plastic bags while shopping, order 30 Amazon packages to your doorstep every week or mine for Bitcoin on your free time, everyone, everywhere, is doing something to hurt the environment, and the only way it’s going to get better is if people make the personal decision to consume less and live a simpler lifestyle. But that’s not for the government to decide. That’s between you and yourself.

So next time you’re in WaWa and already bought a drink for you and a friend, a hoagie, a bag of chips and a cookie for later, and then think, “crap, how am I getting this to my car,” just remember, I was perfectly fine with you getting a bag.

Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. 8th Legislative District Hammonton, New Jersey

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Page 20 ♦

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LANDSCAPING Lawn Cutting, Fertilization & Bed Maintenance Landscape, Shrub & Tree Installation In Business Over 25 Years

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♦ Page 21

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Adult Male, Juvenile Arrested as Suspects in Double Shooting

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Police said three firearms were also found in the vicinity of where the shots were fired.

One of them, Martin Demarceus, 25, of Beverly, was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of a large capacity magazine and was lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a court appearance.

His companion, a 15-year-old from Pemberton, was charged with similar offenses and lodged in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center while waiting to appear in court.

Details about the third suspect were not released. Police said the investigation was ongoing.

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The suspects, who matched a description of individuals fleeing the area of Kinsley Road after gunshots were reported there, were apprehended and detained, while a third was still being sought.

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Page 22 ♦

MARKETPLACE/JOB BOARD

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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds with an asterisk.

Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home.

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JOB BOARD

♦ Page 23

GENERAL LABOR EMPLOYEES WANTED Pine Island Cranberry Co. in Chatsworth, NJ is seeking full-time general labor employees. Duties include various labor-intensive tasks in an agricultural setting. Must be hardworking and able to work in different weather conditions. Competitive hourly pay, benefits, paid vacation, profit-sharing retirement plan.

J OCBC JOB F A I R B JJ OO B JJOJOBBO B J O BF A I R FF AA II RR FFFFAAAAII RRI R LABORER NEEDED FOR PIPELINE PINE ISLAND

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Location: NEW LISBON DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER New Lisbon, NJ Snacks and refreshments will be provided Mayrefreshments 26, 2022 G P S A d d r e s sSnacks : Rain date and 104 NJ-72 Location: Vincentown, NJ 08088 N E W L I SPBhO o nNe :D6E0V 9E - 7L2O 6P - 1M 0 0E0NxT4A1 L 5 2C E N T E R

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With proven relevant skills, increased compensation and company vehicle are provided. CDL license is a benefit but not required.

Jobs are generally in NJ, PA, MD, NY, CT. Expenses paid when on road which is almost every week from Monday to Friday. Must be willing to travel for periods of days to a week at a time. Often have transportation from office by company vehicle, if not, then fuel and tolls are paid for commute. Home date May 26, 2022 base for job isRain Southampton, NJ. Normally only at home location for starting or L oending c a t i o n :each specific project. All other time working in the field.

New Lisbon, NJ NEW LISBON DEVELOPMENTAL GPS Address: New Lisbon, NJ 104 NJ-72 GPS Address: o w nbe , N Jprovided 0 8 0 8Rain 8 Snacks and refreshments will berefreshments providedV i n c e n twill date May 26, 2022 and Rain date May 26, 2022 Snacks and Snacks refreshments will beP provided Rain date May 26, 2022 hone: 609-726-1000 x4152 104 NJ-72

refreshments will be provided refreshments will be provided

Location: Location: Location: NEW LISBON DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER NEW LISBON D E VW ELOPMENTAL CENTER N e w L i s bNoE n , N JL I S B O N D E V E L O P M E N T A L Rain date May 26,N2022 G P S A dedwr eLsiss: b o n , N J N e w L i s b o n , N J 1 0 4 NGJP- 7S2 A d d r e s s : GPS Address: Location: Rain date J -8782 V i nMay c e n t26, o w 2022 n , 1N0J40N 80 104 NJ-72 D E V E L O P M E N T A L PChE N T E R n -t1o0w o n e : 6V 0i9n- c 7e 26 0n 0 , xN 4 J1 50 28088

CENTER

Health benefits and 401k after probation periods. Year-end bonus.

Job Type: Full-time Starting Pay: $25.00, more if candidate possesses relevant experience.

Vincentown, NJ 08088

CE PN hT oE nR e: 609-726-1000 x4152

Contact with resume to jobs@pointintegrity.com or call 609-859-4323.

NEW LISBON t ioonn, : N J i n0cxe4n1 5t 2o w n , N J 0 8 0 8 8 N e wL oLci sab P h o n e : 6 0 9 - 7 2 6 - 1V 00 NEW LISBON G DPESV E MsEs N Phone: 609-726-1000 x4152 ALdOdPr e : TAL CENTER New 1 0L4i sNbJo-n 7 ,2 N J An d ,dN r eJs 0 s :8 0 8 8 V i n c eGnPtSo w 1 094- 7N 2 00 x4152 Phone: 60 2 J6--71 0 Vincentown, NJ 08088 Phone: 609-726-1000 x4152

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

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Saturday, May 7, 2022

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

@capitalhealthnj

Building Better Bones Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 10 a.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting Osteoporosis is a common condition in which the bones become brittle and more likely to fracture or break, but there are a lot of things you can do to keep your bones healthy and strong. In this informative lecture, DR. DEBORAH SIEGEL-ROBLES, a physician at Capital Health Primary Care – Princeton, and JANICE PESCO, director of Capital Health Rehabilitation Services, will discuss medications and diet options to help maintain your bone health and offer exercise advice for beginners and experienced exercisers.

When is Back Pain More Than Just Back Pain?

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting With more than half of all adults suffering daily, back pain affects most of us as we age. Join DR. DAVID KAYE, a spine surgeon from Rothman Orthopaedics Institute and director of the Orthopedic Spine Center at Capital Health, to learn effective solutions for managing pain when your back is telling you it’s time for something more.