Pine Barrens Tribune May 9, 2020-May 15, 2020

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May 9, 2020 – May 15, 2020

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AT NEW LISBON

More Inside This Issue

Families Describe Heartbreak Over Crisis, See Page 2 Photo By Joe Giuliani

Woodland to Provide EMS Help in Exchange for Fuel, See Page 5

The New Lisbon Developmental Center’s Human Resources Building.

Number of COVID-19 Cases Associated with Developmental Center Nearly Double Over Course of One Week to 224 with State Officials Flouting Inquiries of This Newspaper and 8th District GOP Legislators; Woodland Mayor Says Situation Is ‘Unfortunate’ But ‘We Got to Fix It’

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND—The number of Novel Coronavirus cases at the New Lisbon Developmental Center, a state-run facility in Woodland Township, nearly doubled over the course of just the last week, according to a weekly report issued by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), all as remarks by Woodland Township Emergency Management Coordinator Shawn A. Viscardi, made during an emergency township committee meeting last week, further verified a New Lisbon employee’s account previously published by this newspaper that the setup of the developmental center and a shortage of staffing, is allowing for community spread

of the deadly virus.

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, when this newspaper read aloud during a press briefing last Saturday the employee’s remarks that there was a “very dire situation” occurring at the facility, and that the staff “needs help” and is “just stressed to the max, and sick” and “there are few of them, not enough of them, and they have not had a break,” as part of a question asking if help was on the way, replied “yeah, I mean, obviously, this is a concern.”

“As a general matter, this is one of the vulnerable populations that we have spoken about regularly, and so it is a general matter, and I am going to give you a general answer,” the governor replied. “I suspect we are going to come back to you with some specifics. But

this is a population, as a general matter, of grave concern for us. I think we have said that repeatedly.”

The governor contended that the “grave concern” his administration had in recent days about the population with developmental disabilities, and the staff taking care of them, is why he recently authorized the deployment of saliva-based testing, or as he put it “a new wave of testing capability” recently made possible through Rutgers University.

“This is exactly the population, both the patients themselves, clients, as well as employees, that we want to prioritize and we will prioritize, and in fact have to some extent already, including with Rutgers,” Murphy added.

Otherwise, the governor said that he would defer to New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Commissioner Judith Persichilli on the situation at the New Lisbon Developmental Center. Persichilli suggested that it was the first she heard of the situation at the state-run facility.

“I will have to come back to you,” she said. “We will definitely look into it. The developmental centers totally are being tested, along with the Department of Human Services and Rutgers, but I’ll look specifically into New Lisbon. Thank you for bringing it up.”

As the Pine Barrens Tribune reported last week, Nicholas Gangemi, a spokesman .

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Budget for Tabernacle Proposes Tax Hike, Town’s Memorial Day Parade is Cancelled

By Michael Garofalo Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—The Tabernacle Township Committee voted at its April 27 meeting to introduce a 2020 municipal budget that proposes a two-cent property tax increase.

The revenue that would be generated by the increased tax rate, according to Chief Financial Officer Rodney Haines, is necessary to cover the township’s debt service obligations in the proposed $5,194,792.91 municipal budget.

The proposed property tax increase of two cents per $100 of valuation over last year’s rate, he said, would translate to roughly $52 in additional annual taxes for a home in the township valued at $260,000.

Haines had previously presented the township committee with a preliminary budget in March that contemplated a threecent tax increase. He explained that the necessary tax increase had been reduced to two cents due to additional state funding that Tabernacle and other Pinelands municipalities are expected to receive this year through New Jersey’s Open Space Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.

State funding through the program, which compensates local governments for foregone tax revenue from preserved land, was cut by one-third in 2010 under the administration of former Republican Governor Chris Christie.

The administration of current Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, however, recently certified that Tabernacle’s funding will be restored to pre-cut levels in 2020, Haines explained.

Tabernacle expects to receive $138,733 in state aid through the program this year, roughly $48,000 more than the municipality has received annually since the cuts were put in place.

These additional state funds offset the municipality’s need for increased tax revenue, Haines said, explaining why his proposed budget requests a tax hike of two cents, rather than the three-cent increase included in the earlier preliminary budget.

The committee scheduled a public hearing on the budget for its May 26 meeting at 7:30 p.m., after which the governing body can move to adopt the budget.

Mayor Kimberly Brown asked Haines if he expects that the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic could negatively impact the township’s revenue, due to homeowners’ potential difficulty paying taxes due to the economic downturn.

“I believe that our tax collections will be suitable,” Haines responded. “There may be some (people) that may be slower (in paying their taxes), but as the year goes on, I don’t think that it will be in a

detrimental manner.”

The township committee held a special meeting May 4 to grant some short-term relief to Tabernacle taxpayers in the form of a onemonth grace period for payment of second quarter property taxes, which are typically due May 1. An ordinance passed by the committee at the special meeting extends the due date to June 1. An executive order issued

by Murphy on April 28 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic authorized New Jersey municipalities to establish such a grace period.

Also du r i ng the Apr il 27 tow nship committee meeting, which was held via web conference due to the ongoing pandemic, Committeewoman Nancy K. McGinnis said that she had been contacted by Tabernacle residents and business owners concerned about the economic impact of the Coronavirus shutdown.

“They asked me if I could write a letter to the governor asking him to open up the state right away,” McGinnis said. “I feel that if we take special precautions, we should be able to open up the state sooner.”

McGinnis asked her fellow committee members whether they would support sending such a letter.

Committeeman Robert Sunbury, who in addition to sitting on the governing body also serves as the township’s emergency management coordinator, responded that he believes the state should exercise caution with respect to easing social distancing guidelines and other Coronavirus-related restrictions.

“I a m look i ng for wa rd t o t he d ay we reopen the economy in full, but at the present time Burlington County is experiencing a resurgence in the numbers,” Sunbury said.

No other committee members weighed in on McGinnis’s proposal.

Brown said that the committee will limit its agenda items to essential township business while the governing body is forced to hold meetings remotely during the pandemic.

“I hope it’s soon (that the committee can again meet in person), but until then, I don’t want to do anything that would hinder the public being able to participate,” she said.

At Brown’s suggestion, the committee reached a consensus that the township should not hold its annual Memorial Day parade later this month.

“My suggestion would be to have the [township] staff lay a wreath at our memorial, and any organization that normally would lay a wreath at the memorial can do so at a time of their choosing without the public around, (so as to maintain appropriate social distancing),” Brown said.

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Relatives of Loved Ones at New Lisbon Describe Very Heartbreaking Situation Posed by COVID-19 Outbreak at Facility

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WO ODL A N D —T h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s surrounding an outbreak of COVID-19 at the New Lisbon Developmental Center have left family members of loved ones at the state-run facility both heartbroken and concerned.

90 -year-old Delores Hard man, f rom Manahawkin, called this newspaper Monday in desperate search for a copy of the Pine Barrens Tribune.

She said that a longtime friend in the Egg Harbor City area had seen this newspaper’s coverage of the “very dire situation” unfolding at the state-run facility due to community spread of Novel Coronavirus, and alerted her to it.

As Hardman would later explain, the COVID-19 pandemic forced New Lisbon to suspend visitors’ access to the facility, where her daughter has been an 8-year resident, in early March.

“The last time I saw my daughter was in February, and then they closed down the place to visitors,” she said. “I haven’t seen her in a month and half now. No visitors are allowed on campus, and the residents are not allowed out. I am the kind of mother where I would take her home religiously every Saturday and Sunday.

I can’t do that now, and this is really hurting me and hurting her.”

Two weeks ago, she said, she received a telephone call from a New Lisbon social worker informing her that her daughter had just tested positive for COVID-19 and developed a fever. She told this newspaper that the staffer advised her that her daughter, who previously was hospitalized three separate times over the last several years for bacterial pneumonia, was prescribed a Zithromax Z-Pak. Other than that single call, Hardman said, she has not gotten an update on the condition of her daughter.

This newspaper’s report was the first meaningful update Hardman had received on the situation at New Lisbon since that phone call two weeks ago from her daughter’s social worker, she contended.

As the whistleblower who sounded the alarm over the situation at the New Lisbon Developmental Center described to this newspaper last week (see separate story), many of the New Lisbon residents are non-verbal, and therefore are unable to express whether they are feeling ill.

“A lot of our guys are non-verbal,” the New Lisbon employee said. “They can’t say how they feel. It is very hard to communicate with them.”

Hardman told this newspaper that her daughter is mentally challenged, bipolar and autistic, and that although she calls her almost every other day, and her daughter is one of

the New Lisbon residents who can actually talk and walk on her own, she has difficulty communicating with her without face-to-face contact.

“I telephoned her, but she is not a talker on phone,” Hardman said. “If she can’t see you, she doesn’t understand you, and can’t hear you that well. My conversations have been very brief, and I pretty much just say ‘Take your medicine, be a good girl and the nurses will take care of you. I love you.’”

Adding to an even more challenging circumstance is that due to the contagious nature of the virus, the staffers at the facility have been directed to only allow phone calls through speakerphones, according to Hardman.

“I called her three different times last week, but they put her on speakerphone because they don’t want anybody touching phones,” she said. “Ever ybody i n her cot t age ha s tested positive for the virus. I don’t know much more as I haven’t seen her in a month and a half. I have no other details, but it was said she had a fever. She has been on medication for two weeks, that is all they told me, besides that they thought they got to it pretty early, so they were hoping it would dissipate.”

Hardman stressed to this newspaper that the New Lisbon staff always takes good care of her daughter, and she can’t blame the staffers for the situation that they find themselves in.

She contended that they are “overwhelmed.”

“As much as I, Mrs. Hardman, am upset, I still appreciate her being taken care of because I can’t do it,” she said.

However, Hardman told this newspaper she is devastated over not being able to see her daughter in person, and adding to her heartache is that her daughter probably doesn’t fully understand the circumstances.

Giving Hardman the most heartbreak, however, is her not being able to bring her daughter summer clothes as the weather turns warmer. She said she left a message asking if she could drop the clothes off for her daughter, but she has not heard back from the facility.

“I washed all her summer clothes, and wanted to know if I have permission to bring her summer clothes to her, but they have not responded,” she said. “It is too delicate of a situation at present. What I want and what I will get are two different things. But I understand how busy they are …completely overwhelmed… even during normal times, it was a difficult situation there as the staffers have to help them emotionally, give them medication, and many are very touchy and can get easily upset.

See OUTBREAK/ Page 11

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Bass River Board of Commissioner Seats All Up for Grabs in Vote-By Mail Election

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

BASS RIVER—All three seats on the Bass River Township Board of Commissioners will be up for grabs on May 12 during the municipality’s scheduled nonpartisan election.

The three incumbents—Mayor Deborah Bu zby- Cope, Deput y Mayor Nicholas Capr iglione and Com m issioner Louis Bourguignon—will be seeking re-election to another 4-year term, with four challengers joining them on the ballot this year.

Challenging the incumbents are Karl Swanseen, Carol Bitzberger, Kevin Foder and Brenda Percy. Bitzberger previously ran against the three incumbents in 2012 and lost her bid.

The three incumbents ran unopposed during a 2016 election, and have served together on the board for the past eight years.

Buzby-Cope, a local chiropractor, has served five-straight terms on the board, during which the last 12 years she has served as mayor. She previously served as deputy mayor of the municipality from 2004 to 2008, and was first elected as a commissioner in 2000.

“An important issue to me is how people work together and help one another when needed,” Buzby-Cope said. “We are a town that has had people here for many generations.

It is an old town; and people keep to themselves, mind their own business and basically want to be left alone. When someone is in need, under the weather or has had an unfortunate situation, folks come out to support them.”

The mayor added that Bass River Township offers residents opportunities to hike, kayak, canoe, horseback ride, camp, build campfires in their backyard, hunt, bike and ride motorcycles on its winding roads.

“This is why they like living in Bass River Township,” she said. “We call it ‘God’s Country!’”

Buzby-Cope contended that if elected to a sixth term, she hopes to update the municipal tax maps, as well as bring in more ratables to lower the tax rate.

B o u r g u ig n o n i s a fi r s t r e s p o n d e r a n d d e p u t y e m e r ge n c y m a n a ge m e nt coordinator for Bass R iver Tow nship.

See ELECTION/ Page 7

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Six Candidates Vie for Three Council Seats in Hotly-Contested Medford Lakes Election

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—Six candidates will vie May 12 for three open seats on Medford Lakes Borough Council.

The ballot in Tuesday’s election will consist of two incumbents, Mayor William Fields and Deputy Mayor Dr. Gary Miller, each seeking another four-year term, and challengers Joseph Aromando (who previously served on council from 1998 to 2002), Dr. Gail Caputo, Dave Mason and Bethany Holtz.

Councilwoman Kathy Merkh has chosen not to seek re-election. Whoever is elected Tuesday will serve alongside Councilmen Thomas Cranston and Bob Hanold.

Caputo, Miller and Fields are running a joint campaign, known as “Medford Lakes First.”

Fields, a school safet y and securit y coordinator in the Rancocas Valley Regional School District, was first elected to council in May 2016. The 24-year resident has also served on the Medford Lakes Planning Board since 2014.

“Maintaining Medford Lakes’ unique, smalltown and family atmosphere and lifestyle is

important to me and, I believe, most Lakers,” Fields told this newspaper. “I would like to provide the services residents need and want, through efficient and effective management of borough resources.”

Fields added that he plans to continue the pursuit of grants and other funding sources to pay for projects, purchases and improvements.

“I will seek alternative revenue streams, which is also important to me,” he said. “I plan to continue working on existing projects and seeing them to completion, such as the firehouse renovation and sewer lining. Improving relations between council and residents and information sharing is a focus as well.”

Miller, who has spent many decades in public service, including serving as the Mental Health/ Human Services Administrator for Burlington County, would be adding four more years onto his third council tenure, after previously defeating Aromando in a special election held in November 2017. Since moving to Medford Lakes in 1985, Miller has also served as a councilman from 1994 to 1998, and 2010 to See COUNCIL/ Page 7

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CRISIS

are looking into the issue and trying to find out what needs to be done out there. Something, obviously, needs to be done.”

(Continued from Page 1) The New Lisbon Developmental Center, which had only 11 known cases among for Burlington County, on April 30 told this residents on April 16, according to a letter newspaper that the county had elevated its sent at that time to family members of the concerns about New Lisbon to “multiple residents, maintained the highest number of individuals and departments at the state.”

COVID-19 resident cases among five state-run Gangemi, in a follow-up telephone call with developmental facilities. this newspaper, when asked for more color “The way they are going, their population about the concerns the county had expressed is pretty much…like…decreasing daily here,” to the state, said that it involves what this said Viscardi during the April 29 emergency newspaper has already reported: that longtownship committee meeting. “It is a shame to term care facilities around the state are seeing say, but with the numbers I got this morning, a (more concentrated) outbreak of the virus the respiratory calls are going to continue to and oftentimes it is affecting those with prego up until this levels off. existing conditions.

“Unfortunately, with the way New Lisbon is He added that the county had received setup, and the way they work their staff, it is just concerns from surrounding municipalities a vicious cycle—it will keep cycling through about the burn rate (speed at which PPE is being the facility until we get a used) of PPE at the New vaccine or something.”

Lisbon Developmental “Unfortunately, with According to the last Center due emergency census released by the the way New Lisbon is services responding to the NJ DH S , 288 p e o ple facility more frequently, setup, and the way they h a d r e s i d e d a t t h e and that the facility isn’t work their staff, it is just a developmental center. So giving PPE to responders responding to the facility. vicious cycle—it will keep far, as of press time, six of the facility’s residents Woodland Township cycling through the facility have been reported to have Mayor William “Billy” until we get a vaccine or died from COVID-19.

DeGroff, in a May 5 Viscardi, during the i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h i s something.” — Shawn A. special meeting, said that n e w s p a p e r, s a i d h e Viscardi Sr., Emergency the number of staffers was “surprised” by the reaction of Persichilli to Management Coordinator who work at New Lisbon “is in the neighborhood” this newspaper’s questions for Woodland Township of 250 people. about New Lisbon.

The New Lisbon “I am surprised they are employee, who came forward last week to this unaware of this because we have reached out to newspaper to sound the alarm about the events the governor’s office twice with our concerns,” happening at the facility due to COVID-19, DeGroff said. “I can tell you that we reached but asked that her name be withheld from out to his (the governor’s) aide, and both times publication, provided a detailed account about he has gotten back to us to say that he is aware how the virus was spreading rapidly at the of the situation. I am glad they are doing saliva facility. testing now because that is a big thing because She said that the facility did not make of the possibility that the residents at the facility quarantine preparations prior to the outbreak are asymptomatic. I am glad so we can find out at the facility, despite the virus spreading who has it and doesn’t have it.” elsewhere in the U.S., and that it was only According to the latest weekly NJDHS after the COVID-19 outbreak first began at the report, which called those residing at the facility that “six or seven cottages being used facility “residents” again after this newspaper for storage” were cleaned and set up to handle reported that the previous week’s report quarantined residents. listed them as “clients” following address of “The ceilings and walls don’t meet,” she record issues that had caused discrepancies said, explaining that the lack of enclosures is between the data being released by NJDHS allowing for the virus to spread. and county health department, noted that of the The New Lisbon Developmental Center 224 confirmed cases of COVID-19 associated employee added that there has not only been with New Lisbon, 154 are among the residents. a shortage of PPE at the facility, but that what Two of the state’s other developmental centers PPE is actually at the facility has not been had under 30 resident cases of COVID-19, accessible to all of its employees. according to the state’s weekly statistics “At one point, we were actually given greenreleased this week, while the remaining two plastic ponchos, instead of being given proper had under 75 resident cases of COVID-19.

PPE,” she said. “These were rain ponchos that “I know we are getting people expressing you can buy at the dollar store. The yellow concerns to us,” said DeGroff in the May 5 gowns were only given to nurses and cottage interview with this newspaper. “We did reach staff in (the) quarantine (cottages).” out to the governor’s office, and I believe they

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Democratic Governor Phil Murphy responds to a question posed by this newspaper about the New Lisbon Developmental Center.

The New Lisbon Developmental Center employee told this newspaper that a staffing shortage at the facility is also resulting in “cross-contamination” at the facility. She said that staff have no choice but to go from the quarantined cottages to the non-quarantined cottages because there aren’t enough of them to go around and care for the residents.

“They have to go from cottage to cottage,” she said. “There is cross-contamination between staff. They have it from one and take it to the next, instead of limiting the employees working in the quarantined cottages to one place.”

She contended that even the “cleaning people” have been going from the quarantined cottages to the non-quarantined cottages due to staffing shortages.

Within a couple hours of this newspaper questioning the governor last Saturday, May 2, about the situation described at New Lisbon, Tom Hester, communications director for the NJDHS, emailed this newspaper “in regards to the question today to the governor.”

“Human Services has worked proactively to address the critical needs of individuals at all developmental centers, including New Lisbon, during this unprecedented event,” he said.

Hester added that all residents and staff at state developmental centers will be tested.

“In partnership with Rutgers and Accurate Diagnostic Lab, universal testing will begin at New Lisbon Developmental Center next week,” he said. “As universal testing rolls out, it is expected that more positive cases of asymptomatic individuals may become known.”

Murphy had previously contended that saliva-based testing at New Lisbon would begin the week of April 26 to May 2. DeGroff had previously told this newspaper that saliva-based testing at the facility began April 30.

Hester did not reply to several inquiries

seeking clarification about the testing schedule.

Hester also did not reply to several inquiries requesting specifics on PPE levels, number of employees on hand compared to preCOVID-19, and the setup of the facilities at New Lisbon.

But, in the email he sent to this newspaper following the governor being questioned about the situation at New Lisbon, Hester contended that the facility follows CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and DOH (both state and federal) guidelines.

“The New Lisbon Developmental Center follows universal precautions and provides recommended PPE to employees,” he said.

“Higher levels of PPE utilization have been required during the pandemic for the safety of residents and staff. PPE levels are regularly monitored to ensure proper supply is on hand.”

Hester, when pressed to detail who specifically is charged with monitoring the PPE levels at New Lisbon, and if the monitoring detected shortages of PPE at any point at the facility, did not respond.

The communications director also would not say what steps would be taken to resolve the reported issues concerning PPE and staffing shortages, and whether any patients would be moved from the facility to a different setting.

DeGroff, on May 5, told this newspaper he could not comment on whether residents should be relocated to a different setting.

The Pine Barrens Tribune posed several questions this week to Mur phy’s press secretaries, including whether the governor would visit the New Lisbon Developmental Center, if he planned to be involved in the matter going forward, and if he still had full confidence in NJDHS Commissioner Carole Johnson’s ability to oversee the department.

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Woodland Signs MOU with Human Services to Provide Ambulance Service for New Lisbon in Exchange for 300 Gallons of Diesel and Gas

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WOODLAND— “All of a sudden,” as Woodland Township Volunteer Fire and EMS Company Chief Shawn A. Viscardi Sr. put it during an emergency township committee meeting on April 29, Dave Thomas, CEO of the New Lisbon Developmental Center, has offered to the volunteer entity 300 gallons of “diesel and gas,” or fuel, per month if the municipality agrees to a one-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement stipulating that the EMS squad will continue provide its services to the state-run facility.

The offer came amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, which has posed a “very dire situation” for the developmental center, with 224 confirmed cases of COVID-19 associated with New Lisbon, as of press time, according to weekly statistics released by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), which oversees the developmental center (see separate story).

154 cases are among the residents, and there have been six New Lisbon resident deaths related to COVID-19 as of press time.

Viscardi, in remarks he made during the emergency meeting, contended that over 13 New Lisbon residents, as of last week, were hospitalized with COVID-19. 94 residents, at the time of the emergency meeting, he said, were symptomatic.

He also said that, as of last week, three other New Lisbon residents had died within the last couple of weeks, but that officials were awaiting autopsy results to confirm the cause of death.

The offer also came just days after this newspaper questioned Democratic Governor

Phil Murphy about a 2016 decision by NJDHS to discontinue New Lisbon’s emergency services transport service, and whether bringing it back during the pandemic was a consideration.

As previously reported by this newspaper prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company had reported to the township committee that it was seeing a significant increase in calls due to needing to respond to incidents at the New Lisbon Developmental Center after the facility did away with its own EMTs and ambulance, and that the situation was “draining residents of Woodland of their services.”

A spokeswoman for NJDHS later confirmed that the New Lisbon Developmental Center ceased operating emergency transportation services in September 2016 to align the developmental center operationally with other state developmental centers, which provide only non-emergency transportation.

T he gover nor lea r ned t h roug h t h is newspaper’s questioning of him that Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff had contended two weeks ago that the evolving COVID-19 situation at the New Lisbon facility had put a “strain” on the township’s EMS agency.

Viscardi, during the emergency meeting, explained that each COVID-19 call from New Lisbon requiring a hospital transport has put 30 to 35 miles on the EMS agency’s rig due to all local patients being sent to Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly. He contended that Deborah Hospital in Browns Mills was not accepting COVID-19 patients.

“We are put ting some miles on the

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Route 206 Accident Sends Three to Hospital SHAMONG—Three people were sent to area hospitals on May 2 following a “twovehicle collision” on Route 206 in Shamong Township that occurred in front of Pic-Ililli Inn. The crash occurred sometime around 5:30 p.m., according to the New Jersey State Police and the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company.

The vehicles that collided were a Toyota R AV4, driven by Brian Petrow, 32, of Woodbury, and a gray Toyota, driven by Timothy Flick, 62, of Newfield.

Petrow, Crystal Petrow, a 26-year-old passenger in his vehicle, and Flick were all sent to area hospitals, according to Lt. Theodore Schafer, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police. There was no word on their conditions as of press time.

CRISIS

(Continued from Page 4) governor, deferred this newspaper to NJDHS, which did not address the inquiries pertaining to the governor.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, the department’s focus has been on prevention and mitigation in the centers,” said Hester in the email he sent Saturday immediately following the governor’s presser. “Actions taken include, but are not limited to: restricting visitors; ceasing community outings; conducting staff screening, including temperature taking; and reviewing infection control, cleaning and cohorting procedures. The department continues to take all available actions to support our residents and staff. As was the case before the COVID-19 pandemic, New Lisbon follows all Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, including those related to staffing.”

Brian Woods, a spokesman for Assemblyman Ryan Peters and Assemblywoman Jean St an field, both Republican legislators representing the 8th District, which includes Woodland, said the legislators reached out to the NJDOH beginning in April to ask if there was anything they could do to help the New Lisbon Developmental Center.

“They also forwarded anonymous complaints made to this office about issues at the center made by multiple people, including lack of PPE,” Woods said. “Our office has yet to get a direct response from the state department that oversees the center, but we will continue to follow up with the situation and are glad to hear that the saliva-based testing has been provided.”

DeGroff, in the May 5 interview with this newspaper, said that he has not been to New Lisbon, and he won’t visit the facility given the outbreak.

“I don’t know what their protocol was,” he declared. “That is definitely one of our

EXCHANGE (Continued from Page 5)

Photo Provided By Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company

One of two vehicles involved in a two-vehicle collision on May 2 in Shamong Township.

“The incident is under investigation,” he said.

The southbound lane and shoulder of Route 206 was blocked for nearly two hours, according to Schafer. concerns—what was their protocol up there, and how did it get this bad.”

However, the mayor reiterated what he did in previous weeks to this newspaper, only in more detail, contending that his number one priority right now is making sure members of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company are safe and don’t catch the virus.

“If one of them happens to get it, we lose all of our EMS and fire personnel, basically,” DeG rof f contended. “We a re a small community, (with a small volunteer base), and we may lose EMS and fire personnel as whoever is in contact with a person with the virus has to be quarantined for 14 days. If we lose our EMS, what is going to happen to the residents of Woodland?”

The mayor, during the emergency township committee meeting, giving color to the dire situation at New Lisbon, said Viscardi was “absolutely correct” that he does not want to visit New Lisbon and that “he holds his breath when he goes by there.”

Bass River, Washington and Woodland townships have similar geography, density and population (under 2,000 residents). Speaking to the magnitude of the crisis, county health department statistics released this week show that Bass River has under 5 resident cases of COVID-19, Washington has zero resident cases of COVID-19, while Woodland has over 190 cases. Evesham Township, which has over 45,000 residents, is of much greater density and has numerous shopping centers and business districts, has just over 200 COVID-19 cases.

“It is a concern for us, no doubt, and other than that, it is a pretty quiet town right now,” said DeGroff in a follow-up interview with this newspaper. “I hope in the future they (New Lisbon) will learn from this and correct it (the issues). I am not sure what went wrong up there.

They may have followed everything properly and there was an outbreak. It is unfortunate it (the outbreak) happened up there, but it happened up there and we got to fix it. That is the thing.”

ambulance,” he said. “I know it is one of those weird things because we met with him over a year ago, and now, all of a sudden, he (Thomas) wants to get this thing signed and going by May 1.”

Viscardi called signing such an agreement “a double-edge sword,” and said that he felt he could not do such a thing without the approval of the township committee.

“We are putting out money for fuel, and we have a chance now not to be putting out money for fuel (if the township forces the state to bring back its EMS service or hire a private one),” Viscardi said. “I get the point of all of sudden, out of the blue, agreeing to put out 300 gallons without a problem.”

Viscardi noted that Thomas previously met with him and DeGroff about a little more than a year ago to discuss the EMS issue, and nothing was ever agreed to or offered because “he (Thomas) didn’t have time,” the “whole thing was going back-and-forth,” and it “was a scheduling thing between everybody.”

Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon questioned why Thomas would all of a sudden want to enter into an MOU and make such a lucrative fuel offer.

“I guess, he knows, he is kind of at the mercy of us right now,” Viscardi said. “In his view, he wants to take care of us.”

It was at that point during the emergency meeting that DeGroff contended that he thought Thomas “was trying to cover his butt because he let the ball slip up there with this outbreak.”

Township Clerk Maryalice Brown, once this newspaper obtained the emergency meeting audio through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request and started inquiring about Thomas’ role at New Lisbon given the mayor’s remarks about his possible motives, contended that the mayor “was just frustrated” when he said he thought Thomas was engaging in a coverup.

“We don’t really think he’s trying to cover his butt,” she said.

DeGroff, in a later May 5 interview with this newspaper, said he regretted making the comment, and that it was a “kind of an offthe-wall comment” on his part. He added that he believed Thomas was concerned that the Woodland Township Volunteer Fire and EMS Company was going to leave New Lisbon without an ambulance service during the pandemic.

Herndon, during the April 29 emergency meeting, pointed out that he has signed a lot of contracts over the years, and it has been his experience that such dealings are only done when the other party benefits from it.

“In my experience, and I have signed a lot of contracts, nobody ever makes a contract to protect ‘me,’” Herndon said. “They always do it to protect themselves.”

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Saturday, May 9, 2020 Herndon added that he is “automatically just a little suspicious” of Thomas’ motives.

“The guy all of a sudden wants a contract when he wouldn’t do one last year?” Herndon said.

Committeeman Derrick Daniels replied that he agreed with Herndon, and that New Lisbon’s “bottom-line” would not change by offering 300 gallons of fuel to the EMS agency.

“From the reports I have seen, the cost of fuel isn’t going to go up anytime soon,” said Daniels, referring to a dramatic drop in oil prices and demand tied, in part, to the pandemic. “His costs are the same, but on paper, I offered you more, but there is no cost difference.”

Viscardi said the Woodland Township Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, on average, has been spending $3,000 to $5,000 annually on fuel, on top of “1,300 gallons we get right now.”

“It will (the offer of 300 gallons) help us out moneywise for now,” the fire and EMS chief said.

DeGroff said he felt that the state’s offer to pay for 300 gallons of fuel would almost save the volunteer entity from spending $3,000 to $5,000 a year on fuel, especially if fuel prices drop to $1 per gallon.

“From our end, we are going to save money by doing this,” said Viscardi, also Woodland’s emergency management coordinator. “We are not locked into it (the MOU) forever, and even if after this pandemic kind of lessens and he says we are going to drop it down, if we have a contract, we can say it is not negotiable until the year is up.”

It was the sentiment of the township committee that if Viscardi was “comfortable” with the offer, they would get behind it, and that the contract would lock in the state’s offer.

“Once this pandemic calms down, it would definitely benefit us,” the mayor said. “Most of your trips would have you going to Deborah, rather than Mount Holly.”

Viscardi said that a round-trip to Deborah puts 18 miles on a rig, versus going to Virtua in Mount Holly, which puts 30 to 35 miles on a rig.

The township committee voted 3-0 to agree to the MOU. Emergency meetings can be held for emergency purposes only by governing bodies without providing adequate 48-hour notice to the newspaper or public, though governments are encouraged to make an effort to try to notify the press and public when possible.

Woodland’s emergency meeting was not attended in real-time by this newspaper, or members of the public, given that no notice was provided ahead of it occurring, and thus there was no public comment heard on the MOU. DeGroff has expressed concern in recent weeks about township EMS personnel responding to New Lisbon, especially due to PPE issues.

This newspaper reported last week that Thomas Hester, communications director for NJDHS, said on April 29 that after “cordial See EXCHANGE/ Page 7

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ELECTION (Continued from Page 3)

“I have lived in New Gretna my whole life, and represent all Bass River residents,” Bourguignon said.

Capriglione is a retired teacher of more than 50 years and a current nursery specialist at a local Lowe’s Home Improvement store. He has served as the municipality’s deputy mayor for the last eight years, as well as the board’s representative to the Pinelands Regional School District for the past 12 years. He has also been a member of the New Greta Volunteer Fire Company for the past 30 years. “ Fiscal st abil it y, e spe cial ly i n t he Coronavirus era, is what my current priority is, along with having the guaranteed best possible emergency services available for both fire and ambulance,” he said. “I also believe in striving to improve the appearance of the town, while respecting individual rights through due process.”

Capriglione added that he aims to “guarantee the best education for our children” especially as the Bass River Elementary School closes

EXCHANGE (Continued from Page 6)

discussions” with the township EMS agency, the depar tment “recently increased its contribution to the EMS services' gas purchase by 25 percent” and “we will now be providing 300 gallons of gas per month.”

“We look forward to a continued cooperative relationship with the center's hometown community,” said Hester last Thursday.

DeGroff contended that now that the MOU is in place, it would be a good time to reach out to state legislators, and the state, to see if the municipality can secure a grant for a new

th 30 Anniversary

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its doors for good in June after the Bass River Board of Education recently authorized a sendreceive agreement to send township students to the Little Egg Harbor School District. He vowed to ensure that “no student is adversely affected” through the new send-receive policy.

“My campaign is, as it has always has been, about honest and responsible government, and putting people first.”

Bitzberger is also a retired educator, as well as a retired employee of General Dynamics Elect r ic Boat and Computer Sciences Corporation, where she dealt with contracts.

In addition, she served as secretary to the Bass River Environmental Commission from 2012 to 2013, or until it was dissolved.

Bitzberger contended that she will work to keep Bass River a rural community, and apply common sense to land management and environmental issues. She added that she feels the rules and ordinances of Bass River should be better enforced, or changed, if deemed appropriate. Property taxes, she said, should be revisited and she would like to provide equal treatment for all.

See ELECTION/ Page 11 ambulance.

“We should really go on a campaign to push for that,” Herndon said.

DeGroff noted that Brown “was awful quiet” during the emergency meeting. She replied that she “was just listening.”

DeGroff later told this newspaper that Brown often gets a lot of criticism from township residents, but he wants the public to know that she spent the entire weekend on the phone with him over the COVID-19 crisis unfolding at the developmental center.

“I have been on phone with Maryalice all weekend dealing with issues,” DeGroff said.

“Maryalice has been great through this—she really has.”

COUNCIL (Continued from Page 3)

2016, and spent time on the Medford Lakes Zoning Board.

“My 35 plus-year record of service speaks for itself and paints a picture of dedication and excellence,” said Miller, who considers himself now semi-retired. “I love everything about Medford Lakes and am committed to not only preserving it, but to building enhancements.”

Miller added that “maintaining strong services and low taxes” are “every bit as important” as is “retaining the many social and community events” that are enjoyed in the community.

“My entire life in public service has involved finding creative, conventional and effective solutions for complex social and financial challenges,” he said. “The fiscal uncertainties that COVID-19 may possibly present will be no exception. Responsible stewardship is the legacy that I wish to leave for my children and my children’s children.”

Caputo is a researcher and professor of Criminal Justice at Rutgers UniversityCamden. She has served as a either chair or member of various committees and task forces.

She is currently the only female volunteer firefighter for Medford Lakes.

“I am committed to this distinctive town and its engaged community,” she said. “I am most concerned about safety, health in all its forms, and education. I will bring my 25 years of higher education and policy research, leadership, innovation and strategic planning skills to the job to represent the needs of the community. Community commitment and cooperation are key.”

Aromando, a 31-year borough resident, has attempted many times within the last decade to regain his seat on council. He previously has served as a liaison to the Medford Lakes

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Public Works Department, Medford Lakes Wastewater Department, and the Medford Lakes Environmental Commission. He also served on the Medford Lakes Facility Advisory Committee and Medford Lakes Planning Board.

He is currently self-employed as the owner of the F1 Computer Sales and Service, and contended that he would be looking to “improve and change the relationship between local government and the people it serves” if elected back to council Tuesday.

“The people are always a little ahead of their elected officials in deciding what is best for them,” Aromando told this newspaper. “They were again last November when they approved moving May elections to November. It was unacceptable for Mr. Fields and Mr. Miller to use the ‘non-binding referendum’ provision of the referendum question as an excuse to circumvent and nullify the voters’ decision.

This shows a contempt for the voters, and that has no place in the democratic process. They must be held accountable for their decision and not be re-elected to council.”

Fields and Miller previously expressed concerns that moving the borough election to November, when presidential, congressional, senate, and gubernatorial races are held, would invite partisan politics into the borough’s nonpartisan council elections.

Holtz, who was born and raised in the borough, is a substitute teacher for Medford Lakes and Medford Township schools, and also works part-time as a web designer for the Colony, a non-profit organization that organizes social, community and recreational activities for the borough. Holtz told this newspaper that her study of science in college, and a passion for sustainability, led her to research sea turtles. Holtz said her work has been published and presented at international See COUNCIL/ Page 10

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Saturday, May 9, 2020

NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION Large Crowds Flock to State Forests and Parks on Reopening Day Posing Traffic Safety Issues

Hundreds of vehicles parked alongside roads leading to Batsto Village on May 2.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

BATSTO—State parks and forests reopened for the first time in a little over three weeks on May 2, after Democratic Governor Phil Murphy shut them temporarily due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, and many of them were quickly “overrun.”

Mur phy and New Jersey Department of Environ mental Protection ( NJ DEP) Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe had said for weeks prior to the reopening that state parks and forests were closed “during the surge of the COVID-19 outbreak” because “the crowds at our parks became too large for our State Park Police to continue ensuring the social distancing that is so critical in our fight to prevent further spread of the virus.”

That decision faced heavy backlash in its initial days, and after Murphy contended last week that he needed to see “14-day trend lines showing an appreciable and sustained drop in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations” before reopening them, a bi-partisan group of legislators, including the state’s most powerful Democrat, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, called on him to reopen them immediately.

Murphy caved to the public pressure. The governor, despite large crowds flocking to the state parks and forests on May 2, contended that everything was “so far, so good,” during a press briefing held just hours after the grounds opened.

On Monday, the governor acknowledged that “many of our parks filled up early in the day” on both May 2 and 3, but thanked the “overwhelming number of you who did the right thing and took all of our asks and precautions to heart.”

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan, also director of the state’s Office of Emergency Management, contended that with “regards to the parks,” there “certainly (was) overwhelming compliance there.”

There was reportedly social distancing compliance, but there were plenty of traffic safety issues posed by the number of people who descended on the parks and forests on both May 2 and 3—a number that was estimated by local officials to be near historic levels due to a combination of the amount of people who are currently laid off or furloughed due to non-essential business closures, warmer weather and neighboring states that are also shut down.

“Batsto, New Jersey—there are more people in the state park today than in the city of

Photo Provided

Philadelphia,” wrote one man on social media.

A serious dirt bike accident occurred in the Shamong Township portion of the Wharton State Forest, and local emergency officials described coming upon a “packed parking lot of hikers and dirt bike riders” while responding to the incident (see separate story).

Pictures and video emerged from the area near Batsto Village, in Washington Township, that showed hundreds of cars parked alongside a nearby road for a couple of miles, many of which had out-of-state plates.

The governor, in his order that reopened state parks and forests, had said that parking areas would be limited to 50 percent of maximum capacity and that parking would be prohibited in undesignated areas.

A spokesman for the governor did not respond to an inquiry about whether any of the vehicles parked alongside the roads leading up to Batsto Village were ticketed.

Woodland Township Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff told this newspaper that he had not seen such crowds at Franklin Parker Preserve, which is in Woodland, outside of the annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival held every third weekend in October.

“There was definitely a lot of people who were out and about,” he said. “I know Franklin Parker Preserve was full of people.”

DeGroff said his primary concern over the state parks and forests situation is the recent surge in “traffic and amount of people.”

DeGroff said that “another concern” he and his administration have is that people were not only parking their vehicles alongside the road when the parking lot for the preserve became filled, but were then walking across the road to get to the preserve without any type of traffic control in place.

The parking lot is located on a sharp bend off County Route 532.

“We are addressing it with the Conservation, and believe we will get the problem resolved,” DeGroff told this newspaper. “Everybody is stir- craz y r ight now, and ever yone wanted to get out and about. By no means do I want to discourage anybody from going there, but we just have to use common sense and social distance.”

A spokesman for the governor would also not say if restricting park usage to in-state residents only was a consideration.

“We will be carefully reviewing these char ts and maps (showing COV I D -19 cases and hospitalizations) over the coming days to see if the reopening of our parks was successful,” contended Murphy during a press briefing held on May 4.

Man ‘Severely Injured’ After Crashing Dirt Bike in Wharton State Forest on Its Reopening Day

Photo Provided By Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company

First responders rush a man injured in a Wharton State Forest accident to a medevac helicopter on May 2.

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—A man was severely injured after crashing his dirt bike on May 2 in the area of Quakerbridge and Stokes roads in the Wharton State Forest, which was reopened to the public earlier that day after being temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

New Jersey State Park Police, through the overseeing agency of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), provided only scarce details about the crash to this newspaper, not even indicating the time it happened, or where the man is from.

“A male victim was severely injured after crashing his dirt bike and hitting a tree,” said Caryn Shinske, a spokeswoman for the NJDEP. “The male was flown to Cooper Hospital for treatment.”

Shinske later told this newspaper that “the person survived the accident.” She said no further information was available on the crash.

According to the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire

Company, which responded to the accident, the first report of it came in around 12:48 p.m. on May 2.

May 2 was the first day in over three weeks that state parks and forests were reopened to the public following an executive order by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy that closed them due to COVID-19.

“Upon arrival at the Atsion Ranger Station, we were greeted with a packed parking lot of hikers and dirt bike riders,” said the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company in a statement. “The incident turned into a multi-agency search and rescue since the victim’s location in the forest was still undetermined (upon arriving to the scene.)”

Arriving “off-road units,” according to the fire company, proceeded into a “general search area and “fanned out” to locate the victim.

“Eventually the victim was located by Chief 2800, and his navigator, and it was determined that the rider had sustained multiple injuries,” said the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company in a statement.

Open-Casket Ban Reportedly Modified to Allow Brief Period for ‘Identification’

By Bill Bonvie Staff Writer

MEDFORD—A New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) emergency prohibition on open-casket viewings that went into effect on April 22, as reported on by the Pine Barrens Tribune in last week’s issue, seems to have since been modified, although details of the change in the edict were still a bit sketchy by this newspaper’s press time.

Fr o m w h a t c o u l d b e a s c e r t a i n e d by this newspaper, it appears that members of the immediate family of the deceased may now view the person’s body in an open casket for the purpose of “identification” for a “minimal period of time,” meaning no more than perhaps 15 minutes.

T h a t a b b r e v i a t e d v i e w i n g p e r io d would apply whether or not Coronavirus was determined to be the person’s cause of death. (Such gatherings, under a previous directive, are still limited to a maximum of 10 people, including funeral home officials and clergy.)

The likelihood of such mitigation, in fact, was first mentioned by New Jersey State Police Colonel Pat rick Callahan

during a news conference April 30, just after this newspaper had gone to publication with its story on the ban, a provision of Executive Directive No. 20-010, which was signed by NJDOH Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

Questions subsequently put to NJDOH Communications Director Donna Leusner were referred to Lisa Coryell, a public information officer for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, who requested to see copies of emails this newspaper hadreceived on the matter from the NJDOH and the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA). After complying and hearing nothing f ur ther, this newspaper again contacted both Leusner and Coryell.

On Wednesday, Coryell finally emailed a response that read, “While open-casket viewings are prohibited, guidance has been provided that a brief, open-casket identification is allowed.” The reply also contained a link to a COVID-19 joint advisory issued by the New Jersey Cemetery and Mortuary Science boards.

See BAN/ Page 10

Saturday, May 9, 2020

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NEED-TO-KNOW INFORMATION Local Women Rise to the Occasion to Sew Masks for Residents and First Responders

Schools to Stay Shut for Rest of School Year for In-Person Instruction Due to COVID-19, Spring School Sports Season is Cancelled

Photo By State Press Pool Photographer Kevin Sanders/New Jersey Globe

New Jersey Education Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet speaks on May 4 about the closure of New Jersey schools for the rest of the academic year.

Photo Provided

Medford Lakes Girl Scout Maddie Holtz has sewn nearly 150 face masks in her lodge room for those in need during the Coronavirus pandemic.

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

MEDFORD LAKES—Amid a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks, during the Coronavirus pandemic, and a state mandate that now requires one to wear a mask while out in public or at work to help curb the spread of the virus, some Pinelands residents have volunteered their time to sew reusable face masks to disseminate for free to help fulfill the need.

Girl Scout Maddie Holtz, a lifelong resident of Medford Lakes, told this newspaper that she has already sewn close to 150 masks as part of a Gold Award scouting project, while six ladies from the Pemberton Township Quilting Group and Presidential Lakes Civic Association have sewn more than 2,400 masks.

“When I see someone wearing one of our masks, it just makes my heart feel good,” said Betty Joe Willitts, a member of the Pemberton Township Quilting Group and officer of the Presidential Lakes Civic Association. “It is little, but it is something.”

All of the volunteers are asking for nothing in return, as they continue to produce more and more masks for the community within the walls of their own homes.

Holtz, 17, is a senior student at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken Township and a member of Girl Scout Troop 23028, which is comprised of young women from Medford Lakes Borough, Medford Township and Shamong Township.

Her “Take Action” project, in order to qualify for what is one of the highest awards in scouting, had to focus on meeting the needs of a community during, or after, a natural disaster or community-wide emergency.

Holtz told this newspaper that she had originally planned to fulfill this requirement by traveling to St. Croix, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands that had been destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017, to help restore its libraries.

However, the unexpected pandemic forced a change in plans, and her focus shifted to making the masks for her local community during a time of great need.

“I saw how fast everything was happening, and how supplies were running low,” she said. “Some people weren’t able to get their own masks.”

In addition, her grandparents, Joan, 85, and Harry, 90, who live with her family inside a cabin on Comanche Trail in Medford Lakes, served as part of her inspiration behind the project. She said she wanted to help protect people like her grandparents, who are considered to be part of an “at-risk” age group for having complications from the virus and “can’t always protect themselves.”

Holtz said she decided to take on the project last month inside her own lodge room with the help of her older sister, Bethany, who is her advisor for the project, and her neighbor, Giovanna Pilch, who has served as her mentor.

“I knew how to sew and had taken a few lessons, but it had been years,” Holtz said. “(Giovanna) taught me all the different stitches, and now, I can do it on my own. She has passed the torch in a sense.”

Holtz, so far, has delivered masks to 20 different people listed on a registry containing local seniors and those in the community needing assistance during the state of emergency. She also donated masks to Virtua Hospital—Marlton, where her cousin works as a nurse.

Some businesses and first responders have also benefited from Holtz’s volunteerism.

“They were really grateful because they were not expecting the masks,” she said. “It was like giving them a big present on Christmas.

It is something they were looking for, but just couldn’t find.”

Next on Holtz’s list are area nursing homes, starting with the Medford Care Center, a place where she previously volunteered.

“My goal is to personally hit 500 total masks and begin reaching out to nursing homes,” she said. “Nursing homes have a lot of cases of the virus, and there are workers risking their lives to help others.”

The Pemberton group making masks has distributed more than 2,400 face masks, so far, to local medical offices, schools, businesses and much, much more.

According to Willitts, the Pemberton group, which also includes members Antoinette Bytheway, Nancy Dunnigan, Bonni Hurley, Dorthy Schmelia, and Linda Vadon, began its operation long before it became mandatory to have a face covering walking into any essential See MASKS/ Page 10

By Andy Milone Staff Writer

TRENTON—New Jersey public and private school students will not return to their school buildings for in-person instruction this 201920 academic year, Democratic Governor Phil Murphy announced on May 4.

Murphy said his decision to close schools was “based on the guidance from our public health experts,” and made with a “single goal” in mind: the “safety and wellbeing of our children and our educators, administrators and staff.”

The decision came in line with the governor’s recent philosophy that “public health creates economic health,” or as he put it in this case, “public health creates educational health;” and came 11 days before his previously set deadline of May 15 for when he said he had planned to render a final decision about the reopening of schools for the academic year.

Murphy, in his May 4 pronouncement, contended that New Jersey was the 46th state to close schools for the remaining academic year, and that it became apparent that he could not reopen them in New Jersey without jeopardizing the safety of students and staff.

Murphy, when asked why he waited until this point to make the decision on schools, acknowledged “with each passing week, we are going to know more,” and that there was growing pressure from “both sides.” Murphy explained that a lot of parents of student athletes were pressuring him to reopen schools, while the “pressure has been far more on the other side,” including from educators, to keep the schools closed.

“If the standards to reopen our workplaces are high, they are even higher when it comes to schools filled with our most precious assets, our children,” said Murphy on May 4, just a few days after New York state Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo came to a similar conclusion about his state’s schools.

New York has for mulated a regional partnership with New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and most of Murphy’s recent decisions have followed in the neighboring state’s footsteps.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf had also closed schools in his state for the rest of the academic year a few weeks ago.

“We simply could not find a way to reconcile that core principle and open our school buildings at this time,” Murphy said. “The hurdles; logistical, educational and most of all, practical; that would have allowed students

and faculty to return, even for a short while, could not be overcome. We could not guarantee an environment that would not only be safe, but fully capable of meeting the educational needs of students in a setting built for social distancing.”

Murphy, and his administration, did not provide any definitive guidance, as to what school districts should be doing for graduation ceremonies, proms and other traditional endof-the-year celebrations.

“We have a deep sympathy for the seniors,” Murphy said. “I would say yet again, the seniors who participate in something after school, particularly in sports, it is not what any of us signed up for. It is with, in some respects a heavy heart, but we have no choice in this. This is not a decision that has been made based on emotions. This is based on the hard science.”

New Jersey school buildings have been closed since March 18. This latest announcement from the governor translates to more virtual learning for many students, as school district’s look to fulfill the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) 180 days of school requirement.

NJDOE Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet said Monday that after surveying more than 520 districts, there are close to 90,000 New Jersey students out of 1.4 million of them, who do not have access to the internet, or the necessary technology to connect to it.

As to what traditional end of the year celebrations could look like, Repollet said that the NJDOE will work with school officials to identify “safe and innovative” virtual ways for these events to still take place, or make the decision to possibly postpone the events further into the summer.

“My team at the Department of Education is committed to helping each district find solutions uniquely tailored to the needs and priorities of their local communities,” Repollet said. “We recognize that in our work to honor students, it is critical that we elevate their voices and let their passion and innovative thinking inform decisions that impact them the most.”

Repollet said the department also will create a steering committee of stakeholders to explore summer learning opportunities for students beyond June 30, which will then provide recommendations to the Murphy administration as to which services need to continue remotely.

Also, the committee will explore approaches See SCHOOLS/ Page 10

Page 10 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

MASKS

(Continued from Page 9) establishment in New Jersey.

“When we found out we couldn’t meet in our usual spot, I sent an email out to our sewers, and one member responded back with patterns for masks,” Willitts said. “We just started out by giving masks away to family and friends, but then people talked with one another, and we started getting requests.”

As the demand increased, according to Willitts, the women started running low on materials, such as elastic and flannel.

“The word got out there, and we received quite a bit of materials,” she said. “That kept us going. We really can’t talk enough about how good the community has been in support of us.”

The ladies also purchased some of their own material, and have used leftover supplies from previous sewing projects. The operation has blossomed, as they continue to fulfill as many orders as they can.

Many of them have converted their living rooms, dining rooms, kitchen tables, and

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM wherever else there is room, into sewing stations.

The masks, according to Willitts, are washed and sanitized, and then placed in Ziploc bags, before they are distributed.

“I have great pride in our members taking the initiative to provide for those at great health risks, and who have compromised immune systems,” said Bob Barney, president of the Presidential Lakes Civic Association, in a statement to this newspaper. “I take great pride in these ordinary members that find a way to help in these strangely difficult, yet necessary times. Their drive to help others in these uncharted circumstances make these individuals stand out as nothing less than extraordinary individuals. They have united the community in seeking donations of materials, cutting, sewing, sanitizing, and distributing the masks to all.”

If interested in receiving a mask, making a contribution to this cause, or learning more about these sewing operations, Holtz can be reached at: mholtzbe@gmail.com , and Barney can be reached at: presidentiallakescivic@ gmail.com .

COUNCIL (Continued from Page 7)

sea turtle conferences.

“I am the next generation of Lakers who want to carry-on our town’s traditions, along with bringing a ‘customer service’ perspective to the borough government,” she said. “What that promise means to residents is: respond to questions or inquiries within 48 hours with no excuses or delays; redesign the borough website to make it easier to find information and provide services to residents online; improve how our government works by relying on data-driven decisions.; share information about important topics before a council vote is taken; work to ensure our council is pursuing the interests of our residents; and make communication a twoway street through quarterly surveys to find out what is on someone’s mind and gather feedback about the services the borough provides.”

Holtz also shared with this newspaper her “Day One” plan, that would support the fiscal and physical health of the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

She contended that she wants Medford Lakes “first in line” to make sure “the next round of federal stimulus includes towns like ours.”

She also said that she wants the borough to be “more aggressive about our share of state grant monies.”

She added that her plan would help “public health officials make sure Medford Lakes residents who need testing get tested,” or as she put it, protect Medford Lakes.

Mason, a three-year borough resident, is a pharmaceutical supply chain compliance and serialization lead, who also serves on a committee for the World Bank focused on supply chain pharmaceutical security.

“I want to represent all Lakers and assure their voices are heard,” he said. “When in government, we work for the taxpayer, so I will be accessible for questions and even concerns.”

Mason contended that the reason he has chosen not put election signs up throughout

BAN

(Continued from Page 8)

Photo Provided

Betty Joe Willitts, a member and officer of the Pemberton Township Quilting Group and Presidential Lakes Civic Association, sews face masks in her living room as part of a group who has crafted and donated more than 2,000 masks for free to those in need.

SCHOOLS (Continued from Page 9)

for the safest and most efficient reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year.

Spring sport seasons, according to the governor, are cancelled for the 2019-20 school year. Murphy said this decision was made, in part, based on guidance from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

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would have needed to have seen in the data in order to have been confident in reopening schools again, Murphy said the NJSIAA decision broadly played into the final decision, along with healthcare concerns.

“We don't have therapeutics or a vaccine,” the gover nor added. “We have got big intergenerational concerns. Even though this has been very benign with kids, I think the experts to my right would suggest that there is unwitting asymptomatic passage of this that we don’t, any of us, have our arms around yet.

And so for all of the above reasons, it felt like a bridge too far.”

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Howe ve r, t h a t “g u i d a n c e ,” w h i c h was in the for m of a paragraph in the advisor y under a bullet point reading “Encourage Closed Casket Services,” merely specified that while “the Directive prohibits in-person open casket viewings,” the board had clarified with the NJDOH and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner “that a brief, open-casket identification is allowed, but that a traditional, public, open-casket viewing is not” and that “closed-casket services are encouraged.”

The easing of the prohibition was also attested to Wednesday in an email from George R. Kelder Jr., CEO and executive Director of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA), which noted that “all bodies regardless of cause of death can be viewed by less than ten family members for a minimal period of time prior to disposition.”

The NJSFDA, in a communique attached to another email from Kelder, took credit for the change, noting that “our advocacy on your behalf with the state makes clear that less than ten family members can once again identify and spend time with a decedent in an open casket or container prior to disposition during this state of emergency.”

Questions emailed to the spokespersons for both the NJDOH and the Attor ney General’s Office (as well as to Quin Archer at the Department of Consumer Affairs, whose email address was on the advisory), were still unanswered as of the time this newspaper went to press. Coryell, however, did email a statement Thursday morning that provided no specifics.

Saturday, May 9, 2020 town is that he felt it was necessary “to spend the money on the community” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Instead of spending money on campaign signs and brochures, I am donating to organizations and businesses in the area who are making an impact in our community,” he said. “This includes making monetary donations to the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge and the Medford Lakes Lions’ Food Bank, and donating fresh food boxes to our frontline responders. I have been working with local businesses to provide food boxes to people in our community that might be going through some rough times right now due to the pandemic.”

Mason added that the “Laker community” is “small and tight knit,” and that he feels he can communicate his campaign’s message and positions through social media and “social distancing conversations.”

With the possibility of funding cuts and revenue shortfalls amid the pandemic, Mason told this newspaper that he would like to organize a public forum to review the municipal budget. He indicated that such a forum might determine projects that can be delayed, or lead to the discovery of private foundations grants or other alternative funding sources.

This year’s municipal election, held amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, will be held by vote-by-mail only, as ordered by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy who contended that voting by mail, rather than at a polling place, would ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety.

Fields previously told this newspaper that every registered voter in Medford Lakes will receive a mail-in-ballot in through the U.S. Mail ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Ballots will still be able to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, and are received within 48 hours of the (8 p.m.

May 12) close of polls.

Editor’s Note: A majority of the information about each of the candidates was gathered through a questionnaire sent to them by this newspaper.

“Open-casket identifications are one of the many sensitive matters members of the funeral industry manage regularly,” it said. “The Division of Consumer Affairs understands the painfulsituation that family members face when grieving for their loved ones during the current pandemic. The Division has provided the funeral industry w it h g u id a nc e t o u se t hei r t r a i n i ng and experience to balance the requirements of the Executive Directive and the need to protect the health and safety of the public with the personal and sensitive nature of these circumstances.”

Coryell added that she would have no further comment to offer on the matter.

A couple of area funeral directors confirmed that they had been notified of such a change by the NJSFDA, which was also the channel through which they were informed of the directive that preceded it.

“It’s been a flip-flop back and forth on this,” said Carl J. Hasson of the Mathis Funeral home in Medford, who confirmed that “a very brief private family visitation” of no longer than about 15 minutes would now be allowed again.

However, Hasson told this newspaper that previous practices, such as the deceased person being touched or kissed by a relative, were now prohibited, and that family members must instead wear masks and stand six feet back from the casket.

“We’re not seeing the contact we used to see,” he said.

Hasson also maintained that embalming, which has been strongly discouraged, but not prohibited under the directive, isn’t necessary if such a visitation takes place within 48 hours under state law.

That claim, however, seemed to contradict See BAN/ Page 13

Saturday, May 9, 2020

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

ELECTION (Continued from Page 7)

“I can be objective and honest; and handle all situations with integrity,” she said. “All concerns from Bass River residents will be heard, and all questions will be answered and acted upon if necessary. If you want change in Bass River, vote for me.”

Swanseen, who is retired after serving as a director, vice president and chief information officer (CIO) in the casino and mortgage industries for approximately 23 years, has never served as a commissioner, but previously served on the local board of education for approximately eight years.

Swanseen told this newspaper that he fell in love with the Bass River area around the same time he fell in love with his wife. He added that he is particularly fond of the area rivers, the “towering” wooded forests, and the “small, but endearing community,” among a long list of other things that brought him and his wife to the township about three decades ago.

“As an area protected as a Pinelands village from overdevelopment, it was an ideal setting to raise a family in our minds,” said Swanseen of what attracted him to the municipality. “Over time, most of this has eroded, with clear cuts, the butchering of Harrisville Pond, and the New Gretna House, Rustic, bakery, luncheonette, bank, and now our school all gone.”

Swanseen contended that the “problem” is that “things are not being replaced.”

“It is a disgrace that our ‘business district’ has remained in ruin for a long time,” he said. “I honestly do not know if I can make a difference, but maybe it is time for a fresh look and new approach. I am a problem-solver and it seems we have plenty of problems to solve. I would like to see a new vision for Bass River, one with modest, but incremental business and residential development. A vision with an improved sense of community.”

Foder, who has served in various capacities in local fire and EMS services, is a current member of the Bass River Township Board of Education.

“It is time for change,” Foder said. “The administration is stale in this town. Their time has come and gone.”

Foder said he would like to see a reassessment of properties in the township to ensure all residents and businesses are paying their fair share of taxes.

“It is time to give the town back to the

residents, and it is time to stop playing political games,” Foder said.

Percy did not respond to questions posed by this newspaper as of press time. However, like the other incumbent challengers, she often participates in commissioner meetings and is vocal.

Percy, late last year, asked during a commissioner’s meeting why she was paying “such high taxes on a property that is not worth it.” She also said that she would like to see more beatification in the town.

Percy, at one point, contended that she had feral cats coming into her yard, and feels diseased animals should not be allowed in town.

A husband and wife alleged at that same meeting that Bourguignon and his wife were feeding feral cats (about a quarter mile from Percy’s residence) and that their puppy was getting sick as a result of eating the waste left behind by the cats.

At one point, the husband repeated remarks that he alleged Bourguignon made during a dispute over the matter, which reportedly occurred prior to the meeting. It was at that point that Foder became involved in the meeting discussion and called for an investigation into Bourguignon due to the nature of the alleged remarks by the commissioner.

Township Solicitor JoAnne O'Connor replied that Bourguignon committed no crime as provided for under state statute and, therefore, an investigation is not warranted.

Bourguignon’s wife later told this newspaper she was only putting out enough food for a couple of cats, not enough to attract dozens of cats as was alleged at the meeting. The husband that spoke at the February meeting later told this newspaper he saw an improvement in the number of cats in his neighborhood.

This year’s municipal election, held amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, will be held by vote-by-mail only, as ordered by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy who contended that voting by mail, rather than at a polling place, would ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote without risking their health and safety.

Election officials have said that every registered voter in Bass River will receive a mail-in-ballot in through the U.S. Mail ahead of Tuesday’s election. Ballots will still be able to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, and are received within 48 hours of the (8 p.m. May 12) close of polls.

Editor’s Note: A majority of the information about each of the candidates was gathered through a questionnaire sent to them by this newspaper.

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“I don’t want to be a pushy parent, or critical, but the only thing is we need help there; and always have needed more help there.”

Another woman, who asked that her name be withheld for this story, contacted this newspaper also on Monday with concerns about her brother, who is an over 30-year resident of the facility.

She told this newspaper she would “stick up for the staff,” any day of the week and that “they are wonderful,” but “they need help.” She told this newspaper that she heard first-hand from those taking care of her brother that there are significant problems with cross contamination, staffing and PPE at the facility.

“My main concern is these workers need to stop cross contaminating, and they need the proper gear,” she said. “Somebody has to step up and get them proper gear. They don’t have gowns, and they are going into regular cottages with the same gear on. I heard that first-hand— definitely first hand as I keep in contact with some of his staff members.”

The woman claimed that she had been deferred to Thomas Hester, communications director for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, which oversees New Lisbon, a couple of times over the last couple years with concerns, “but just doesn’t get anywhere with him.” Hester is also a spokesman for the department, and has only replied to this newspaper’s inquiries with generalities, and not returned several inquiries asking for specifics about employee staffing levels or PPE at the state-run facility.

“I don’t know what to say,” the woman told this newspaper. “I just want them to get the proper equipment. If I could buy it for them, I would. I don’t know where to get it, either. I am now going through (Democratic) Governor (Phil) Murphy’s Office for answers, but he has his priorities, and I guess this is not obviously at the top of his list.”

The woman told this newspaper that she calls her brother every day, but she cannot get in to see him due to the temporary prohibition on visitors.

“I can’t get in,” she said. “I normally go down there every two weeks to take him to lunch. I haven’t been there since March 2. It is very scary.”

The woman noted a similar predicament to that of Hardman—she can’t care for her brother like the staffers do at the New Lisbon Developmental Center.

“If I could bring my brother home, I would,” she said. “But I have a daughter here, who can’t be exposed to the virus, and both of my parents

♦ Page 11

just passed away. I work full-time and can’t care for him.”

The woman also remarked that adding to her distress is that her brother, and none of the other guys in his cottage, understand what is going on, and why she can’t visit the facility.

“They are bored out of their mind there,” the woman said. “They barely can go outside.

But that I understand. I would rather keep them safe, inside, then have them go outside and have increased exposure or spread. It is very upsetting…and for residents extremely upsetting.”

Hardman told this newspaper that in many ways, both family members and the residents “feel so isolated,” by the circumstances posed by the virus, and that “people may not understand this situation unless experiencing it” for themselves.

“There has always been, even during times not as serious as these, a tremendous shortage of staff,” Hardman said. “They have been putting flags up, and big signs up, asking for help. The main thing is they don’t have enough help, where regular staff has to work double shifts. They have to do overtime since there is such a shortage. It is putting them in the red because they have to pay time-and-a half.

“This has been a chronic problem for eight years that I know of. I would go to parent meetings and heard the CEO of New Lisbon complain constantly that he doesn’t have enough help, and how his budget is spent already, and he doesn’t know what he is going to do. Despite the big signs and flags, he couldn’t get anybody to come there. It is a difficult job, even worse than nursing homes. Some people can’t speak and can’t walk. There are so many with physical and emotional problems. It is not their fault that they can’t get staff. People aren’t attracted to work there. There are not enough people who want to do that kind of work anymore.”

Hester’s office released a press release on April 29 that the Murphy Administration will provide $24 million in state and federal resources for temporary wage increases for the direct support professionals who care for adult individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in group homes and supervised apartments—$10.6 million in state funding and $13.4 million in federal matching resources.

“With these funds, beginning May 1, the Department of Human Services will implement a temporary $3 per hour wage increase for these professionals for three months, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.

It was unclear whether the NJDHS considers the developmental center a group home or supervised apartments. An inquiry placed with a worker in the NJDHS press office was unreturned as of press time.

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from mere irritants into serious problems— car crashes, deaths, and job losses—it becomes increasingly more difficult to affirm them as opportunities for growth.

It may, at times, be wrong to think of them this way, as it would be heartless to say that someone’s loss of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis is an opportunity to grow and develop. But inwardly, we sometimes have to believe this, to believe that God is shaping us for higher things through this cosmic furnace and anvil.

Otherwise, we despair. How strange and wonderful are the ways of God.

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(Continued from Page 10) one made earlier to this newspaper by Leusner that “to have an open-casket viewing

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typically necessitates embalming,” a practice the directive itself discourages during this crisis.

She claimed that the practice is not recommended by the World Health Organization (as was noted in the joint advisor y sent out to funeral homes).

One mortician who was less than enthused

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dies, the disease is still there,” said Lankenau on Wed nesd ay when asked about the reported change, which he said he was hearing about for the first time. “I think if it is an active COVID-19 case, there definitely should be no viewing. If it isn’t, there should be no danger.”

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Willow Grove & Indian Mills Roads • Shamong, NJ Pastor Rev. Jack Orr Church Office (609) 268-5699 E-mail: pastorjack4256@gmail.com

The Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”—James 1:2-4 NIVNIV

*Offer expires 5/31/20, call for more details. Min. purchase is required. Offer applies to Gutter Helmet gutter protection installations only and must be presented at time of estimate, cannot be combined with any other offers and subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited by law. †Subject to credit approval. Interest does accrue during promotional period but all interest is waived if paid in full within 10 months. Lednor is neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by 3rd party lenders, under terms & conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lenders, satisfactory completion of finance documents is required. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only. NJ HIC Reg. #13VH04341800 - PA #010099 © 2020 Lednor Corporation.

Page 14 ♦

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Local BUSINESS

Saturday, May 9, 2020

AUTOMOTIVE

& SERVICE DIRECTORY

AT ONLINE LE 24/7 B M A IL C .

A S V A ICE O NSSERV E R R A B PINE

BOOKKEEPING/TAX PREPARATION

AUTOMOTIVE

Full Line Auto Repair Towing Service

ELECTRICAL

10% OFF

for Military Vets or Senior Citizens.

Commercial,, Industrial,, Residential

300 Campus Drive, Mount Holly, NJ 08060

Hours : Tue. Thru Sat. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For Jobs Over $500.

Driveways & Parking Lots

SEALCOATING:

Jennifer R. Hodder EA

609-893-9353

10 % OFF

Burlington Business Solutions Full Charge Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation

239 Pemb.-Browns Mills Rd. • Browns Mills, NJ 08015

CONSTRUCTION AUTOMOTIVE

609-267-2880 609-267-2083 Hodderbubuso@comcast.net www.BurlingtonBusinessSolutionsllc.com

Asphalt Overlays Repairs • Asphalt Patching

Driveway B-ball keys only $300

Hot Pour Crack Repair Line Striping • Stenciling Sign Installation/Sign Removal Speed Bump & Bollard Installation

Free Estimates Fully Insured Like us on Facebook HIC:13VH09369600

609-859-8668 • www.nickolausconstruction.com

MASONRY

ELECTRICAL/SOLAR

Joe Posch

Cell: (609) 709-1331 (609) 494-6566 Fax: (609) 812-9281

SINCE 1989

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

.

Whole House Generators Backhoe & Bucket Truck Service A+ BBB Rating • FREE Estimates

RUSS HUBSCHMAN OWNER • LIC# 9924

FREE ESTIMATES • FULLY INSURED • COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

www.bearelectricco.com

REAL ESTATE AUTOMOTIVE

John’s Painting

• Garage Slabs • Driveways • Sidewalks • Curbs • House Raising • Foundations • Etc. Lic. #13VH06233700

609-894-9014

PAINTING AUTOMOTIVE

ALL TYPES OF MASONRY

TREE SERVICES

llc.

Quality Workmanship

Senior

nts!

Discou

Painting & Staining Interior/Exterior Powerwashing Drywall Repairs White Washing Bricks

Mon.-Fri. 8a.m.-5p.m. • Sat 9a.m-5p.m Call: 856-283-7970 • Email: jjamison4321@gmail.com

WELL SERVICES

TREE SERVICES Removals Shrub Trimming

Pruning Stump Grinding

Land Clearing Firewood

Serving Burlington, Camden & Ocean Counties

Robert H. Griscom Fully Insured

N.J. Lic. #NJTC768133

(609) 654-6602 NJ Lic. 13VH06395500

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS FROM PAGE 12

Saturday, May 9, 2020

MARKETPLACE

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

♦ Page 15

12

$ AD RATES AS LOW AS

TO ADVERTISE CALL OR EMAIL

609-801-2392 • SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM DEADLINE: TUESDAYS AT 4 P.M. 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

95 PER WEEK

AUTOS WANTED

HEALTH AND FITNESS

MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS

BARGAIN VEHICLES NE W WANTED, UNDER $3,000!

TODAY ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN RUNNING VEHICLES FOR SALE DUE TO RELOCATION, OR ESTATE SALE. 2014 MODELS OR NEWER. LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 30,000), LIKE-NEW/ EXCELLENT CONDITION. NO ACCIDENT HISTORY. MUST BE CLEAN, SMOKE-FREE AND WITHOUT PET DANDER.CALL 609-6689408.

Generic Viagra and Cialis! 100 Pills $99 with free Shipping! 100 percent guaranteed. Open 24/7, call now! 1-888-889-5515.

Call Empire Today® to schedule a free in-home estimate on carpeting and flooring. Call today!

1-855-404-2366.

HOME AND GARDEN

Cross Country Moving, long-distance moving company, out-of-state move $799. Longdistance movers. Get a free quote on your longdistance move. 1-844-452-1706.

Lung Cancer? Asbestos exposure in industrial, construction, manufacturing jobs, or military may be the cause. Were family members in the home also exposed? Call 1-866-795-3684 or email cancer@breakinginjurynews.com. $30 billion is set aside for asbestos victims with cancer. Valuable settlement monies may not require filing a lawsuit.

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2019! Any condition. Running or not. Top $$$ paid! Free towing! We’re nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806.

AWNINGS ATLANTIC AWNINGS professional installations.

Residential/commercial.

Retractable awnings, window awnings, retractable and stationary canopies, recovers, repairs, take downs, re-hangs and washing. Fully insured. FREE ESTIMATES. 609-618-2420.

LIC#131VH06758700, atlanticawningcompany. com.

EDUCATION AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING—Get FAA technician certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance at 1-866-453-6204.

FOR RENT Christian Home Sharing. No drinking. No smoking. Call 609-386-0024.

Rototilling. Call Joe at 609-713-7913.

INSURANCE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPER COVERAGE. DON’T ASSUME. GET PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, DEAL WITH AN INDEPENDENT AGENT. O’NEAL INSURANCE AGENCY, 1614 ROUTE 206, TABERNACLE, NEW JERSEY, 08088.

PHONE NUMBER: 1-609-268-2158.

LAWN CUTTING Lawn cutting, along with yard and gutter clean up. Shrub pruning and some tree work, along with hauling. Free estimates=reasonable rates. Call Bob at 1-609-880-3789.

LOST AND FOUND Adopted from Popcorn Park: looking for three dogs, Miniature Pinschers named Taz, Rusty and Henry. Please call 732-796-3572 or 908670-1173. Reward for return.

FURNITURE

MISCELLANEOUS

Victorian couch and two chairs. $1,000. Call Robert at 609-654-8881.

Applying for Social Security disability or appealing a denied claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, at 1-855-498-6323! Free consultations. Local attorneys nationwide. [Mail: 2420 N St. NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/ NM Bar.)]

FURNITURE REPAIR Adam’s Furniture Restoration, LLC. Fully insured. Furniture repair, kitchen cabinet refinishing, touch-ups, and in-home services.

Call 1-856-979-6210. Visit www.facebook.com/ adamsfurnres .

HAULING Household appliances.

Televisions, furniture, etc. for disposal or transport.

Garage, yard and gutter cleanups and gutter cleaning. Free estimates. Call Bob at 609-880-3789.

FREE!

Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value)

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing - trusted by authors since 1920. Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed.

Comprehensive services: consultation, production, promotion and distribution. Call for your free Author’s Guide. Contact 1-877-6262213.

Walk-In Tubs

WALK-IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 ✔ Backed by American Standard’s 140 years of experience ✔ Ultra low entry for easy entering & exiting ✔ Patented Quick Drain® Technology ✔ Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard ✔ 44 Hydrotherapy jets for an invigorating massage

Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Not just a discount plan, real coverage for [350+] procedures. Don’t wait, call now at 1-877-308-2834 for details. www.dental50plus.com/cadnet#6258 .

DISH Network special—$59.99 for 190 channels. Add high-Speed internet for only $19.95/mo. Call today for $100 gift card! Best value and technology. Free installation. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-837-9146.

Earthlink High Speed Internet. As low as $14.95/month (for the first 3 months). Reliable high-speed fiber optic technology. Stream videos, music and more! Call Earthlink today at 1-855-520-7938.

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a free LeafFilter estimate today. 15 percent off entire purchase. 10 percent off senior and military discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373 .

HughesNet Satellite Internet: 25mbps starting at $49.99 per month. Get more data free! Offpeak data and fast download speeds. Wi-Fi built in! Free standard installation for lease customers! Limited time, call 1-855-973-9254.

Or visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/network

Portable Oxygen Concentrator may be covered

by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 1-888-609-2189!

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-481-3969 or visit www.walkintubquote. com/national . **Stop struggling on the stairs** Give your life a lift with an ACORN stairlift! Call now for $250 off your stairlift purchase and free DVD & brochure! Call 1-866-471-1334.

Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless!

Ask how to get the Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e for free. Get a free iPhone with AT&T’s buy one, give one special. While supplies last! Call 1-866-565-8452 or www. freephonesnow.com//cadnet .

WANTED TO BUY Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.

CIRCULATION The Pine Barrens Tribune is published every Saturday. This newspaper is protected under the Federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any part is not permitted by mechanical or electronic means without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to revise or reject any advertisement. No liability shall be attached to the Publisher for interruption of publication or limitation of size and/or number of pages due to shortage of material, failure of transportation, flood, fire, severe weather, winter weather, riots, strikes, acts of God, a public health emergency or other causes beyond his or her control. It is our policy to promptly correct errors. If you believe that you see a mistake, please call (609) 801-2392. © 2020 Pine Barrens Tribune

Dental Insurance

Get dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company to help cover the services you’re most likely to use –

Cleanings

X-rays

Fillings

Crowns

Dentures

1-877-308-2834

Call now to get this FREE Information Kit!

Limited Time Offer! Call Today!

877-381-3271

!! Old guitars wanted!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top dollar paid. Call toll free at 1-866-433-8277.

dental50plus.com/cadnet Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN).

6154-0120

Page 16 ♦

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, May 9, 2020

CAPITAL HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP IS PLEASED TO WELCOME CAPITAL HEALTH OB/GYN − BROWNS MILLS Capital Health OB/GYN – Browns Mills is a comprehensive women’s health practice. After serving women in the Lower Bucks County, PA region for almost 30 years, our team is bringing its trusted obstetric and gynecologic care to women in Browns Mills, NJ. Our experienced and board certified providers include DRS. ROBERT BERK, NEIL BLUEBOND, AMY HARVEY O’KEEFFE, MARK KUHN, and ANNE WALKER. Our team provides women

with comprehensive prenatal and obstetrical services, as well as annual women’s health exams, in office hysteroscopy, open and minimally invasive/laparoscopic surgery, cancer screenings, and minor surgical services.

Capital Health OB/GYN – Browns Mills joins Capital Health Medical Group’s extensive network of more than 400 physicians and other advanced care providers who offer primary, specialty and surgical care.

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 609.896.1400 CAPITAL HEALTH OB/GYN − BROWNS MILLS 6 Earlin Avenue, Suite 290, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 capitalhealthobgyn.org/brownsmills

MOST INSURANCES ARE ACCEPTED

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

MEDICAL GROUP