Pine Barrens Tribune September 9-September 15, 2023

Southampton Committee, in Passing, 5-0, Agreement for Switchgear Relocation, Also Quietly Gives Consent to Preliminary Arrangement for Big Hill Landfill Cell Tower

Southampton Committee Made No Mention of Cell Tower Plan When Approving Accord; Saint Davids Place Leader Also Surprised by It as Well as Officials with Pinelands Commission

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

By Bill B onvie

Staff Writer

LITTLE EGG HARBOR—For Greg

Gates, Tuesday, Sept. 5. had to be “the best first day back to school EVER!”

Only, rather than being a 12-year-old,

Since Childhood

Trying Out an Upbeat New Approach to Starting Off the School Year, Pinelands Regional District Sends Entire Staff on a Daylong Outing Packed

Greg is actually a science teacher at Pinelands Regional High School in Little Egg Harbor Township.

But he, along with about 300 other members of the ditrict’s staff including administrators, faculty, secretaries and

paraprofessionals, spent that particular opening day enjoying a brief return to the pastimes most often associated with childhood summers, from canoeing, fishing and generally splashing around to

See KIDS/ Page 9

SOUTHAMPTON—A preliminary arrangement for a “cell tower,” proposed for the Big Hill Landfill, has been agreed to between Southampton Township and BEMS Southampton Solar Farm, LLC, a subsidiary of CEP Renewables, in what was simply advertised and highlighted by the Southampton Township Committee as an agreement between the entities to relocate a highly-controversial switchgear station erected in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the LeisureTowne retirement community of Southampton, the Pine Barrens Tribune has learned.

The cell tower provision of the relocation agreement, labeled as number nine, “Cell Tower,” was discovered through this newspaper’s review of the relocation agreement, which was only provided for press and public review after the Southampton committee had already gathered for a vote on the matter during a Friday night, special Aug. 25 meeting.

The relocation agreement was quickly, unanimously approved via a Southampton committee resolution following an See TOWER/ Page 7

Though Democrat Gaye Burton’s Entry in 8th District Senate Race May Be a Last-Minute One, She Is Definitely ‘Up for the Challenge’

In Stepping in for Heather Cooper, Retired Educator Cites Experience with NJEA, Pemberton Council and Willingness to Do Her ‘Homework’

By Bill B onvie Staff Writer

MOUNT HOLLY—When former Pemberton Township Council President

Gaye Burton got the news that Heather Cooper, the Democratic contender for the 8th Legislative District Senate seat occupied by retiring Republican Jean Stanfield, had unexpectedly withdrawn from the race due to a health issue with just a few days left for the party to choose a replacement candidate, she realized what she had to do.

The retired middle school and special education teacher, who had been serving as a foot soldier in the campaign knocking on doors and making calls to drum up support for Cooper, an Evesham Township council member and ex-deputy mayor, let the Burlington County Democratic Committee know that she wished to pick up the baton. She then filed a petition with them to that effect, as well as in Atlantic County, which contains a part of the district.

Burton, however, wasn’t the only one to have that idea. Also vying for the post was Janet DiFolco, a longtime member of the Mount Holly Board of Education whose husband, Richard, is a former mayor of that community, which serves as the county seat. And DiFolco was clearly the candidate favored by some of the Democratic Party standard-bearers, including 7th District Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, Assemblyman Herb Conaway and Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel, as well as the district’s two Democratic Assembly hopefuls, Andrea Katz and Anthony Angelozzi.

But when the push of endorsements came to the shove of actual delegate votes just prior to the Aug. 30 deadline, the results from approximately 160 members of both county committees were “decisive” for Burton, according to Burlington County Democratic Chair Joe Andl, although he declined to provide an exact tally to the Pine Barrens Tribune, calling the numerical outcome “a private, internal thing.”

Whether or not DiFolco’s recent conversion from reportedly disillusioned Republican to Democrat had any bearing on that delegate vote count (former 8th District

Senator Dawn Marie Addiego having been trounced by ex-County Sheriff Stanfield in a re-election bid for Senate after making a similar party switch), the fact remains that Burton is now suddenly faced with the challenge of having to take on former one-term GOP Freeholder (now known as County Commissioner) Latham Tiver in what Andl acknowledged to this newspaper is a Republican district.

“I don’t know her campaign style,” Andl was also frank to admit. “And we’ve only got a 60-day window to Election Day. But we’re hoping she runs a hard race and claims victory in November.”

He predicted that “everybody’s going to be towing the line for the entire slate.”

And Burton, for her part, is philosophical about her rival’s having been so blatantly favored in the lead-up to the nomination.

“I can’t focus on stuff I can’t control,” she told this newspaper in a Sept. 6 telephone interview.

And in order to realize her goal of turning the district Democratic by winning over some of its Republican voters, she noted, “I have a lot of work ahead of me.”

Describing herself as a lifelong public servant, she maintained that she is “a candidate who is going to stand for an economy that represents all people, regardless of differentiating factors.”

But one faction that Burton clearly hopes will back her in that effort is the group whose interests she helped promote during her 25-year teaching career – the New Jersey Education Association, whose local chapter she served in various capacities, including those of building representative, convention delegate and chair of its legislative action team.

Interestingly enough, however, Tiver may also be a rival when it comes to turning those kinds of activities into votes, since he also can lay claim to years of union affiliation, currently serving as business representative for Operating Engineers Local 825.

Asked about potentially competing with him for the ballots of working people, Burton responded, “When I was involved

File Photo

Former Pemberton Council President and Democratic 8th District Senate Candidate Gaye Burton.

Cancelation of Pair of Pemberton Events Held at Historic Whitesbog Village, Reportedly at Mayor’s Behest, Leads to Question from Council President About Why Official is Allegedly ‘Trying to Cut Ties’ with Preservation Trust As Democratic Council President Asks Locals to Query GOP Mayor Given ‘Lame’ Answer, Admin Says Fall Fest Wasn’t ‘Community Event’, Winter Event Saw ‘Duplication of Efforts’ All While Local Asks About Timing ‘Rumors’; GOP Councilman Cites Village’s Importance

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—It is a question that Pemberton Township Council President Donovan Gardner publicly asked Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins during an Aug. 2 governing body session.

And it is one that the mayor, as of press time, has only responded to in a limited fashion, causing Gardner to retort that his response is “lame” and “not a good enough answer.”

And in light of that query not being answered by the mayor to Gardner’s satisfaction, the council president, during a subsequent Aug. 16 session, told residents who gathered for the meeting that, “I would like you to ask the mayor, ‘Why is he trying to cut ties with the Whitesbog Association?’”

The association is more commonly known as the non-profit Whitesbog Preservation Trust, the caretaker of Whitesbog Historic Village, a small cranberry farming village founded in 1857 off Lakehurst Road. The premise of the council president’s question has to do with the township’s abrupt cancelation of two events it has reportedly traditionally hosted at the village through the municipal Recreation Department: Pemberton Township Fall Festival and Pictures with Santa.

Rumors began circulating about the cancelation of the pair of events shortly after Tompkins got into a public spat with Recreation Director Nichole Pittman during a July township Water Carnival, which later reportedly led to Tompkins deciding to remove Pittman as the director, a decision ultimately unanimously overturned by council on July 31.

As debate was had on social media about the circumstances surrounding the apparent action taken against Pittman, and some disputed the rumors that the pair of events were also canceled around the same time, Pittman responded, “I assure you that the Winter Festival/Pictures with Santa and our Fall Festival that were scheduled for the community to enjoy, as they have for years now, have in fact been canceled as per our mayor.”

According to a July 31 Pemberton council meeting resolution that reversed the mayor’s decision with respect to Pittman’s employment, the recreation director received the action taken against her on July 13.

Pittman, in further responding online to a resident, wrote on July 28 that she is “just stating the facts,” and that the events were canceled – “yes, as of Thursday, both events have been canceled,” with the referenced Thursday apparently being July 27.

Last week, a source familiar with the situation, claimed that the mayor’s decision to cancel the events came after the spat with Pittman, not before.

While that source could not say if the cancelation of the events had any direct correlation to the Pittman spat, the source told this reporter to, “Think about it – if these events are canceled, what would she have to plan for?,” explaining to this newspaper that by the mayor canceling the events, it takes away her purpose for holding the position, as well as her ability to do her job independently.

“I am looking for clarification about a lot of the rumors of the fall and winter festivals being canceled, and for what reason being

that it was already budgeted,” resident Tom Hughes told Pemberton council on Aug. 2.

“Why was it canceled?”

Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel responded that “rather than duplicating efforts,” it was decided to “combine the winter events all on one day,” contending that in the past, the Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Department would host Pictures with Santa, in addition to there being a separate Pictures with Santa event at Whitesbog. This year, he maintained, the changes call for Pictures with Santa to be held at the firehouse in Browns Mills on the same night as the township Christmas Tree lighting.

As for the reason the township is “looking to replace the Fall Festival,” Hornickel, in pointing out the event was first hosted in 2021, and held again in 2022, contended “when we held it the first time, it was a good event,” but during the second affair, “it turns out we had several thousand people attend” and “a lot of out of state license plates” were observed, “which told us this wasn’t a community event.”

“So, we are looking to replace that with a different event in the fall,” he added. “The planning is underway.”

But large crowds, whether or not they comprise locals, bring apparent commerce and tourism to Whitesbog Village.

And Republican Councilman Dan Dewey, in recognizing that, focused his Aug. 2 council comments on the history of Whitesbog, proclaiming at one point, “We should do whatever we have to do to help them.”

“There is a lot of history in Whitesbog,” Dewey declared. “And if it wasn’t for Whitesbog, there would not be a Browns Mills or New Lisbon.”

Dewey went on to explain that Whitesbog, once the biggest cranberry farm in the state, is also the birthplace of the blueberry industry, detailing Elizabeth White’s efforts to cultivate the first highbush blueberry (White’s father, Joseph J. White, was the sole executor and manager of a 600-acre cranberry farm now known as the 3,000acre plantation of Whitesbog).

“At one point, there were 100 blueberry farms in the township, and it was because of Whitesbog,” Dewey said. “It employed a lot of people.”

Those people, he explained, fueled the local economy and “Whitesbog is what put Pemberton on the map.” Credit is owed to the village, he said, “when you hear about people putting in cranberry bogs in Wisconsin and across the U.S.,” citing a number of locals who “started cranberry machines instead of scooping” and “made equipment to harvest cranberries,” contending, “it is the same thing with blueberries.”

“So, for years and years, Whitesbog provided for Browns Mills and New Lisbon,” Dewey declared. “The state owns it, but you still have the village. But now is about time to pay Whitesbog back! If the trustees need a hand out there, putting something on, such as a Moonlight walk, this town should be involved because we owe Whitesbog! If it weren’t for Whitesbog, there would not be a Browns Mills. We owe a lot to Whitesbog and we should do whatever we have to do to help them!”

Dewey’s Aug. 2 remarks received a round

See WHITESBOG/ Page 13

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Pemberton Township’s Use of Federal American Rescue Plan Funding to Purchase, Install Four Electronic Marquee Display Signs Leads to Stir Mayor Says Signs Would Serve Purpose During Emergency, Pointing to Two Tornadoes

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff

Writer PEMBERTON—A decision by Pemberton Township Council to use federal Coronavirus relief funding to purchase four LED electronic marquee display signs, as well as pay for their installation in the municipality, has created a bit of a stir in recent days.

The purchase of the signs was actually authorized by council in December 2022, when the governing body was still under absolute Democratic control, before becoming 3-2 Democratic controlled in January.

The then-council awarded a $137,540 contract on Dec. 7, 2022, to KC Sign & Awnings for the marquees.

Afterwards, on Dec. 21, 2022, the thencouncil passed an ordinance “appropriating $137,540 received from the American Rescue Plan (ARP)” to provide for acquisition of the displays.

During an Aug. 16 Pemberton Council session, it was announced that the current plan is to install the signs at the Pemberton Township Municipal Building, Reflections Park and Pemberton Train Station, as well as in Presidential Lakes.

According to Business Administrator Daniel Hornickel, at the time the sign expenditures were approved back in December, “we were under the presumption we could re-use two existing foundations (at the municipal building and Reflections Park [Mirror Lake]),” but that “further investigation over the spring informed us that the existing foundations are insufficient.”

“Consequently, we asked council to appropriate $160,000 for the cost of designing new foundations and the construction of those foundations (using the funds),” Hornickel told this newspaper.

That ask came about during council’s Aug. 16 session, when the current council was presented with a “budget amendment to include $160,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds as a special revenue item in the CY2023 budget,” as well as an ordinance “appropriating $160,000 received from a grant provided by the federal American Rescue Plan act of 2021 to provide for the expenses of installing electronic marquee displays for the Township of Pemberton.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” asked local farmer Valerie Roohr. “$160,000 for a little video board! Are you kidding me?! That is wasteful money (spending)! Wasteful! You are wasting our precious dollars!”

Roohr also asked, “Couldn’t that money go towards something else better in our community?”

Republican Mayor Jack Tompkins pointed out to Roohr that the $160,000 installation cost is “not for one billboard,” but that there will be “four throughout the township.”

He maintained that the reason there is such a cost is because, for example, at the municipal building, “we initially thought we could reuse the base” for the current sign, but that once it was evaluated by Public Works, it was determined “it will not support a new, heavier electronic marque.”

“So, we have to replace that base, and I think we have to also do it out in Reflections Park,” Tompkins added.

Roohr, who pointed out that she knows someone who has installed stadium signs, maintained the cost “sounds ludicrous.”

“It is way too much money for what you are getting out of it,” she declared, urging officials to seek out additional estimates for the installation.

Former Democratic Councilwoman and Council President Gaye Burton, who voted to purchase the signs last year, asked, “Why do we need one by the train station?”

Tompkins replied it is a section of the township that “gets high visibility.”

One of the township’s current letterboard marquees reportedly contained the message at one point, “Have a safe summer.”

“Do we need to have four electronic things to say, ‘Have a safe summer!’?” Roohr asked.

Tompkins responded to that remark by suggesting that the signs would prove useful “if we have a natural emergency,” for instance, pointing to the two tornadoes that touched down in Pemberton this year, adding, “And we are trying to alert our residents natural disaster coming.”

Roohr, however, in a rebuttal, questioned the likelihood that residents are “going to run out” of their homes during severe weather to “read the board.”

While Democratic Council President Donovan Gardner, as Roohr continued to rail against the signs, interjected that “this is a council meeting” and not an “academy award” event, the topic of governmental communications during an emergency was one recently highlighted in The New York Times in the wake of the Maui wildfires, with an article titled, “Maui Sent an Evacuation Alert. Why Did So Few People Get It?”

The newspaper reported that many people “most in need of the alert” about the wildfire said an emergency message never reached their phones, leaving them scrambling for safety as the fire began roaring toward their homes,” with the report noting that “more than 100 people died in the inferno, and some survivors

See FUNDING/ Page 13

Private Single-engine Airplane Crashes in Vicinity of Ocean County Airport, Killing Pilot and Sparking 810-Acre Wildfire That Threatens 25 Structures

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

LACEY—A wildfire that ultimately grew to 810 acres, initially spotted during the late evening hours of Sept. 2 in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area in Lacey Township, west of the Robert J. Miller Airpark and Ocean County Airport, was the result of a private singleengine airplane crash that occurred a short time beforehand, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) confirmed on Sept. 6.

According to the NJFFS, agency personnel were dispatched to the area to investigate smoke at 11:40 p.m. on Sept. 2.

Upon arrival, they reportedly encountered a “smoke condition and ash falling from the sky.”

After what has been described as an “extensive search” that took place, a wildfire in excess of 25 acres was found in the middle of the dense section of forest.

The initial responding forest fire warden, according to the agency, subsequently found the wreckage of a small aircraft within the wildfire perimeter.

A spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later advised regional media outlets that a Cirrus SR20 crashed at 10:18 p.m. on Sept. 2, about a half mile southwest of the Ocean County Airport.

The plane reportedly had taken off from Monmouth Executive Airport in Farmingdale, about 30 miles north of the crash site.

According to Lacey Township Police, “due to smoke and fire in the area, as well as the difficult terrain, authorities could not immediately access the scene of the airplane crash,” and “the fire

continued to spread, at which time the New Jersey Forest Fire Service activated their personnel.”

Lacey Police said it wasn’t until the afternoon hours of Sept. 3 that authorities were able to access the scene of the crash, where it was confirmed that the pilot of the airplane had died.

On Sept. 5, Lacey Police identified the deceased pilot as Oscar Molina, 61, of Long Branch.

At one point, the wildfire forced the closure of several local roadways and had threatened 25 structures. As of 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 5, the NJFFS declared the wildfire 100 percent contained.

The NJFFS led the wildfire investigation and requested assistance from the NTSB, FAA, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Lacey Township Police Department and Berkeley Township Police Department.

Although the NJFFS identified the cause of the wildfire, the NTSB is conducting a “full investigation” into the airplane crash.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Brian Rayner, a senior safety investigator with the NTSB, during a Sept. 3 press conference held in that area of Ocean County, said he did not believe weather was a factor in the crash, noting winds were calm and conditions were clear on Saturday night, Sept. 2. He reportedly had advised that he anticipated being able to access the crash scene on Sept. 4 and would possibly have the remains of the plane removed to an off-site facility for examination.

As of Sept. 6, the NTSB had not yet released a preliminary crash report.

Man Charged with DWI, Aggravated Assault on Medford Police Officer and Also ‘Resisting Arrest’ After Crashing Corvette on Tuckerton Road

MEDFORD—A Medford Township man is facing allegations that he purportedly resisted arrest and assaulted a police officer last month after he crashed a Chevrolet Corvette on Tuckerton Road, a single-car collision that police say is suspected to have occurred as result of the man driving while intoxicated.

Joel M. Bane, 44, of East Woodthrush Trail, according to police, was traveling on Tuckerton Road, near Heath Road, around 5:54 p.m. on Aug. 24, when he lost control of his black Chevrolet Corvette, which left the roadway and ended up in an adjacent ditch. According to police, Bane was determined to be the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, and further investigation led authorities to

believe he was “under the influence of alcohol as a related cause of the crash.”

Bane, police said, was “taken into custody by patrols after he resisted arrest,” and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath testing and failure to maintain a lane of travel.

Lt. James D’Averso, a spokesman for the Medford Township Police Department and also the agency’s Criminal Investigations Bureau commander, told this newspaper that a “female officer was struck in the face with Bane’s hand.” She ultimately refused medical treatment, he added.

Pemberton School District Information Technology Coordinator Charged with Attempting to Meet Student for Sex, Nabbed at Browns Mills Park

PEMBERTON—A Pemberton

Township School District employee has been charged with trying to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage female student, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

He has since been put on leave, according to the district.

Christopher J. Perry, 34, of Piute Trail in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, employed by the district as an Information Technology Coordinator, according to a prosecutor’s office press release, allegedly contacted the student through Snapchat in July.

The student’s parents reportedly then notified school officials, who contacted authorities.

An investigator with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is reported to have continued the text exchange with Perry, who believed he was still communicating with the 15-year-old student.

When Perry attempted to pick her up in his personal vehicle on Aug. 25 at a park in Browns Mills, after having made arrangements to do so, he instead encountered law enforcement officers, who arrested him there, according to the press release.

The prosecutor’s office reported that Perry described “in detail” the “sexual acts he wanted to perform on the student” in the messages, and then, a short time before his arrest, on his way to the meeting location, had been observed stopping at a drug store to purchase condoms.

“I commend the parents of this young girl for reporting this interaction,” said Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw in a statement. “It cannot be

stressed enough how important it is for parents to be aware of what their children are doing online. This case strongly demonstrates how easy it is for the predators who prowl around cyberspace to quickly materialize in person as very real, very dangerous threats to those who we love and are supposed to protect.”

Perry has been charged with second-degree attempted sexual assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourthdegree attempted criminal sexual contact.

The investigation, said to be continuing, is being conducted by both the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Pemberton Township Police Department.

Anyone who possesses information concerning Perry, which might be useful to investigators, is urged to call the Pemberton Township Police Department’s tip line at 609-894-3352.

“Upon being made aware of an allegation involving a staff member engaging in inappropriate communication with a student, the district immediately launched an internal investigation, and referred the matter to the appropriate authorities,” the Pemberton Township School District said in a statement provided to this newspaper. “The district is prohibited from disclosing any further details since it involves confidential personnel and student matters, however, the employee will remain on leave while this matter is investigated.

“The district takes allegations of inappropriate staff conduct very seriously, and remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all our students.”

Crash at Route 541 and Route 70 in Medford Claims Life of Marlton Woman Who Had Many Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren and Step-grandchildren

MEDFORD—A morning collision on Aug. 22 at the intersection of Route 70 and County Route 541, also known as N. Main Street, has left one woman dead, according to the Medford Township Police Department. The collision occurred at around 9:30 a.m. Police have not released many details about the preliminary crash investigation, but have said that upon their arrival, the drivers of both involved vehicles sustained injuries requiring transportation to Cooper Trauma Center in Camden.

One of the drivers, Lorraine Blumberg, 85, of Marlton, passed away on Aug. 29 due to injuries she sustained in the crash, Medford

Police Investigating Rash of Burglaries in Medford and Surrounding Areas, Including Some in Which Suspects Appear to Be Focusing on Garage Doors

By D ouglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

MEDFORD—Police are searching for at least three suspects who they say burglarized a home in Medford Township on Aug. 26 by first burglarizing two vehicles that were parked in the driveway and taking a garage door opener inside, which allowed them to gain entry to the occupied home through the garage.

It is among numerous such incidents to have reportedly occurred in the township and surrounding areas during the past month.

The Aug. 26 incident, according to police, occurred around 7:04 a.m. at a residence on Rancocas Lane.

“The initial investigation revealed that at least three subjects arrived at the residence in a blue Audi (possibly a Q5),” said the Medford Township Police Department in a press release. “The subjects entered two vehicles that were parked in the driveway and utilized the garage door opener to access the garage and ultimately the occupied residence. The subjects fled the area when the home alarm system activated.”

Police reported that the vehicle and suspects involved in this incident are “believed to be involved in similar incidents” within Medford Township, as well as in nearby Medford Lakes Borough and Lumberton Township during the early morning hours.

“Due to increased incidents throughout the area of reported motor vehicle burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, the Medford Township Police Department is asking that residents take the time each day to double check and make it a routine to lock their vehicles,” police wrote.

In Lumberton, police have said of the recent burglaries there that they have happened when homeowners have left their garage doors open, allowing “suspects” to then enter the homes through the garages. The suspects have reportedly “taken car keys” from inside those homes and “then the car.”

Earlier in August, Medford Police reported

a burglary and theft at Camp Ockanickon in Medford. A maintenance shed was reported to have been broken into by three suspects “who proceeded to steal several pieces of property from the location,” having purportedly stayed there, or at 1303 Stokes Road, for about an hour, before leaving on foot into a wooded area in the rear of the camp.

Medford Police are also investigating an Aug. 28 morning vehicle burglary at Freedom Park on Union Street. Authorities were dispatched to the park at 9:08 a.m. and, according to a social media announcement, were advised by a female victim that the burglary happened “within a 30-minute timeframe.”

“A window to her vehicle was broken with her purse and belongings removed,” Medford Police reported.

In that incident, according to Medford Police, they are investigating the role of a possible light colored or white Toyota Camry. Authorities say it was observed in the park prior to the theft.

A fourth apparent incident in Medford involves the repeated “residential burglary” of a vacant home in the township reportedly undergoing renovations, during the afternoon of July 29 and evening of Aug. 23, but Medford Police, so far, in soliciting the public’s help in their investigation, have only acknowledged the investigation and released still surveillance camera imagery from inside showing what appear to be multiple teenagers or young adults rummaging through the structure.

Huy Q Ho, an architect, in sharing the still images in local social media groups from that particular incident, contended “these people broke into my house and stole my construction materials,” and “broke more windows and wrote graffiti in my house.”

“Medford is a beautiful township, but these disgusting people are around us,” he declared in asking for the community’s help. “We need to bring them (to) justice.”

Egg Harbor Man Charged in Medford Hit-and-Run after Striking Pedestrian

Police reported.

“The Medford Township Police Department Traffic Unit continues to investigate the cause of this crash due to the severity of the injuries and the passing of Lorraine Blumberg,” said Medford Police in a statement.

According to a published obituary, Blumberg leaves behind four children, 11 grandchildren, as well as two stepgrandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

“While we will forever miss her here on Earth, we know she is with her husband, Poppop, forever watching over us with her loving spirit,” the obituary stated.

MEDFORD—An Egg Harbor man has been arrested following a July hit and run motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian earlier this summer in Medford Township.

Martin Vanderpoel, 72, has been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in serious bodily injury, failure to render aid to an injured victim, as well as several motor vehicle offenses, police reported, in connection with the July 27 crash.

It was on that day, around 11:28 a.m., that officers with the Medford Township Police Department responded to the parking lot of 666 Stokes Road, or where Murphy’s Fresh Markets of Medford is located, for a report of a crash and

reportedly found a female pedestrian suffering from what was believed to be a fractured or dislocated hip and ankle.

The victim was transported to Cooper Trauma Center by helicopter for treatment.

A subsequent police investigation sought a newer model Kia Sedona, silver/gray in color, that left the scene upon striking the pedestrian, which had been last observed exiting the parking lot traveling south on Stokes Road towards Medford Lakes Borough.

Police later thanked the community for their assistance in identifying the vehicle and “helping to bring this investigation to a successful outcome.”

Perry

approximate 15-minute closed-door session of the governing body. This newspaper received a copy of it through an Aug. 29 answer to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.

“As an additional accommodation to both the township and LeisureTowne, BEMS agrees to pursue, in good faith and using commercially reasonable efforts, the installation of a cellular phone service tower on the landfill property,” the provision titled “Cell Tower” states. “BEMS’ understanding is that cellular phone service in the area is poor and BEMS is endeavoring to provide a cellular phone service tower at the landfill property as an added benefit to the community. The installation of the tower would be subject to receipt of all applicable governmental approvals, but, as of the effective date, BEMS anticipates that it will be installed during calendar year 2024. The township’s execution of this agreement in no way guarantees land use approvals before the township’s Planning Board and/or the Zoning Board of Adjustment, nor any outside approvals, including but not limited to the Pinelands Commission.”

Southampton officials did not offer any indication on Aug. 25 that there had been additional discussions beyond relocating the switchgear station, with there being no mention of a cell tower possibly in the works at the special meeting, or recent preceding regular sessions.

The governing body did respond to public comments on Aug. 25, but those mostly had to do with concerns about purported lack of communication and transparency over the electrical unit, as well as purported resident damages sustained through the switchgear construction that reportedly had not yet been addressed, given the agreement was not a publicly available document at the time for residents to make comments about.

Officials maintained that Southampton Mayor Michael Mikulski had to execute the relocation agreement before it could be released.

Solar Company Targets 2024 for Cell Tower on Landfill

Phyllis Peak, a resident of Saint Davids Place who has been leading the charge to have the electrical unit relocated from a township-owned island on that street, when shown a copy of the cell tower provision by this newspaper and asked if she had any inkling that one was in the works, expressed shock to this reporter.

“We know of no other agreement,”

she responded. “Why would they not tell us? What is this cell tower for? Like cell phones? That has never come up!!”

Mikulski, on several occasions in recent months, referred to ongoing discussions between the township, BEMS and the Pinelands Commission regarding potential options to relocate the switchgear station.

The Pine Barrens Tribune interviewed Chuck Horner, director of regulatory programs for the Pinelands Commission, on Sept. 6, who was joined on Zoom alongside Paul Leakan, the agency’s communications officer. When asked about the cell tower having now come into the mix and when it had first become a possibility, Horner responded, “I can answer that one pretty easily.”

“We have no knowledge of any proposal to install a cell tower,” Horner said. “We do have knowledge that the township and the applicant are working with PSE&G on whether they can come up with an alternative means to relocate the equipment that is currently on the ground, on a series of poles on Big Hill Road. That is my extent of knowledge on that issue.”

Southampton is subject to the Pinelands Commission’s Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), which established areas where cell towers are permitted throughout the Pinelands, with Horner describing to this newspaper that the commission adopted “cell tower siting regulations to limit the number of cell towers throughout the Pinelands.”

“We would have to review it to determine whether or not it is an area that has been designated for such a tower by the Master Plan, as approved by the Pinelands Commission years ago,” he added.

If any entity wishes to construct a cell tower, he said, “it would require application to the Pinelands Commission to build a cell tower.”

“We call them ‘communications towers’ and if a communication tower is proposed, it would require a separate application to Pinelands,” Horner emphasized.

Horner, evidently having heard of the proposal for the first time from this reporter on Sept. 6, theorized it could be a “semantics issue where someone is calling it a tower when it could be a utility pole,” but when the director was read aloud the cell tower provision in the executed relocation agreement between the township and BEMS, he responded that, “My only comment on that is it would definitely require an application to the Pinelands Commission.”

The director of regulatory programs for the Pinelands Commission then noted that he has had “two or three meetings or discussions” with the entities at issue and “there has been no mention of a proposal for a communications or cell tower in any of those meetings,” and when asked by this

Jury Finds Evesham Man Guilty of Killing Friend, His Dog After Stabbings

EVESHAM—A 26-year-old Evesham

Township man has been found guilty in Superior Court of fatally stabbing a friend along with that person’s dog, while robbing him in early 2022.

According to a press release from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, after deliberating for just over an hour, a jury returned guilty verdicts on Aug. 31 against Donovan G. Hollingsworth on charges of first-degree murder, firstdegree robbery, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, thirddegree cruelty to animals and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

As previously reported by the Pine Barrens Tribune, on Feb. 5 of last year, officers from the Evesham Township Police Department were called to the Olympus Apartments on Baker Boulevard for a report of a possible dog attack on a resident.

inside his residence with multiple stab wounds.

A subsequent investigation, according to the prosecutor’s office, revealed that Hollingsworth traveled to Pierson’s apartment with the intention of robbing him. An altercation then ensued, during which Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django, the latter the victim’s dog, a Cane Corso, found on a stairwell landing, also with multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

Hollingsworth

Hollingsworth is alleged to have fled the scene, but was later taken into custody by Evesham police at the emergency room of Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where he had reportedly gone for treatment of minor injuries. According to the prosecutor’s office, Hollingworth has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest a few hours after the slayings.

When officers arrived, they discovered Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, dead

Judge Christopher J. Garrenger has scheduled Hollingsworth’s sentencing for Oct. 27 at the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly.

Medford Man Faces Eluding and Reckless Driving Charges After Failing to Stop for Police, Allegedly Driving at High Rate of Speed on Unregistered Motorcycle

MEDFORD—A 19-year-old man from Medford Township has been charged with eluding and reckless driving, among multiple other traffic offenses, after authorities say he purportedly failed to stop for police within Medford Township while riding an unregistered and uninsured motorcycle, one that he was observed driving at a high rate of speed on two separate occasions.

Trey Cataldo, of Delaware Trail in Medford, purportedly had an initial encounter with officers from the Medford Township Police Department on July 10.

Police report that at around 12:46 p.m. on that day, Cataldo traveled at a high rate of speed on Hartford Road after observing an officer attempting to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the blue sport-style motorcycle he was operating.

Then, on Aug. 26, Cataldo is accused of “passing several vehicles and disregarding several

newspaper if it is a permissible use where it is apparently proposed, responded that he would have to investigate.

“If T-Mobile or AT&T, participants in the commission-approved communication tower Master Plans, proposed to locate a cell antenna in the area to improve service, the approved Master Plans require the proposed antenna to be

traffic signals” while allegedly having traveled at a high rate of speed on County Route 541.

On Aug. 31, Cataldo was identified and served with criminal complaints for eluding and multiple traffic offenses to include reckless driving and operating an unregistered and uninsured motorcycle.

“These criminal and motor vehicle complaints are a result of incidents from July 10 and Aug. 26, where Cataldo is believed to have been operating his blue sport-style motorcycle and failed to stop for police during an attempted motor vehicle stop,” said Medford Police in a statement.

Cataldo’s motorcycle was impounded, according to Medford Police, “as these investigations are continuing.” Authorities called Cataldo’s operation of his motorcycle both “unsafe and reckless.”

located on the existing water storage tank in LeisureTowne,” he later told this newspaper after checking the CMP. “If there is no room on the existing water tank for an additional antenna, a communication tower could be authorized for one of the two plan participants in an

See TOWER/ Page 8

approximately one-half mile radius from the water tower. Whichever Master Plan participants proposed the tower, they would need to address the tower siting criteria in the CMP to identify a site within the approximately one-half mile radius.”

Southampton Committeeman Ron Heston, in a Sept. 5 interview, said he “believes there are three vendors on the water tower for cell service,” but “doesn’t know the answer” as to whether the carrier(s) for the proposed cell tower would be different from the ones that currently have antennas on the tower, or “if they are looking for an upgrade,” but can say “for whatever reason, the coverage is incomplete,” despite current antennas on the water tower, which sits on one of the highest points in Southampton on Big Hill.

The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported on proposals to erect cell towers in both Washington and Woodland townships, also in the Pinelands in Burlington County. But these proposals have yet to secure the needed approvals from the Pinelands Commission, given that the proposed sites for the cell towers are in areas of the Pinelands where cell towers are currently not a permitted use under the commission’s adopted standards.

The water storage tank in LeisureTowne sits between New Castle Drive and Old Forge Road (a paper street), with Old Forge Road near the edge of the landfill property. According to Google maps, it is a little more than 150 feet away from the apparent edge of the landfill property, with a half mile comprising 2,640 feet.

Heston, also a member of the township’s Zoning and Planning boards, when asked

about the appearance of the cell tower provision in the relocation agreement, responded, “It was a surprise to me,” when he first saw it in the relocation agreement about four days before the Aug. 25 meeting.

Heston, who contended that he “believes” the relocation agreement was negotiated by Southampton Township Solicitor George Morris and Mikulski, “but I don’t know who was doing what,” maintained that he was “unaware of that being part of the negotiations,” but then contended that “it would be an asset to the people in LeisureTowne because there are some dead spots.”

He emphasized that he “never heard of a cell tower” being in the works prior to reading the relocation agreement, but felt that it was appropriate that such negotiations took place in private. He also at one point noted he has “no knowledge of how the Pinelands Commission feels about a cell tower on that landfill.”

Steven Gouin, an attorney for BEMS, previously wrote to Saint Davids Place residents in a letter that relocating the switchgear station would present the solar company with “significant costs.”

Additionally, in the relocation agreement approved on Aug. 25 by the Southampton committee, it contains stipulations such as “BEMS shall pay directly to the township the amount of $6,250 per month in consideration of the impacts to the township related to the switchgear installation at St. David’s,” payments which were to commence Sept. 1 and are to continue until the relocation of the electrical unit is completed.

Heston did not want to respond to a question inquiring about whether the proposed cell tower project is any kind of a barter that could potentially allow the solar company to ultimately recoup its relocation costs by giving the firm an additional

potential revenue source for the landfill site (through probable lease arrangements with cellular service providers).

He maintained, however, in the interview, that the cell tower project “may be something that the solar company has been thinking about.”

“According to the contract, it is being offered to alleviate a perceived problem with cell service,” Heston noted.

Gouin, in a Sept. 6 email to this newspaper, after having been asked about how the proposed cell tower came about and when, whether it had been negotiated to provide the firm a way to recoup its costs, as well as what, if any, experience CEP Renewables has had previously in erecting cell towers, responded, “I can tell you that when CEP first approached LeisureTowne several years ago regarding the solar project, it was discussed with us that cell service was something that really needed to be improved in the area.”

“We were asked to go out and find a cell developer that might be able to build a tower somewhere in the vicinity,” he added. “We have identified a potential partner and that partner has told us that the landfill is really the best location for a tower anywhere in the area due to the available space. It is not something that CEP is doing in exchange for anything, just something that we are pursuing to hopefully provide the residents of LeisureTowne with better cell service. We view it as something that we can do to help the community. It is still in the very early stages of planning.”

Gouin did not disclose who that “partner” is, and he did not respond to a follow-up inquiry asking whether the exact distance is known between the water tank and proposed location for the tower. He also did not reveal who asked the solar company to seek a cell developer.

Cell tower proposals in the Pinelands have historically been highly controversial, due to aesthetic, environmental and electromagnetic radiation concerns.

Heston, in the interview with this newspaper, when asked about the proposed location for the cell tower, contended, “it is my understanding that a lot of people prefer them on locations that can’t be built upon.” Landfills, he maintained, are ideal for solar arrays and cell towers, “provided they don’t touch the cap on the landfill.”

Landfills, he added, are also ideal places for cell towers because

“there are no close-by residences to be concerned about electromagnetic fields that some people think exist with cell towers, and that is why a lot of people don’t want it by schools, and you had the article about the cell tower by the firehouse in Chatsworth (in which nearby residents raised concerns about the proposed tower for there being too close to residences).”

A benefit of having a cell tower in the BEMS landfill, Heston contended, would be that it is “not close to residences” and it would also be “next to a major highway.”

“Those are my two major attributes for it,” he declared.

Heston, however, when it was pointed out to him that there are homes on the western and northern edges of the landfill property in LeisureTowne, acknowledged, “there are homes by the landfill,” adding, “So, it depends where they are locating it on the property, because it is a large piece of property.”

The landfill, according to previous remarks of the solar developer’s professionals, comprises 113 acres in total, and the solar energy facility is reportedly about 26 acres in size.

It was not immediately clear, as of

See TOWER/ Page 10

Event Guide

September 9, 2023

Fall flavors galore

Are you planning a fall-themed meal? Stock up on ingredients to evoke the essence of the season. Here are a handful of must-haves.

• Pumpkins: These delicately flavoured gourds can be prepared in a myriad of ways. Make a creamy soup, a comforting stew, healthy muffins or a decadent cake starring this all-purpose vegetable — let your mood be your guide!

• Apples: Buy juicy, ripe apples from your local orchard or market and cook them however you like. Apples roasted with vegetables, for example, make a great

Event Guide

accompaniment to pork chops. As for desserts, you’re spoiled for choice. From pies to crisps to donuts, the list of yummy possibilities is endless.

• Oysters: Fall is oyster season. Enjoy them raw with a squeeze of lemon juice, add them to a fresh pasta dish or use them as a lavish garnish. Oyster recipes abound, so you’re sure to find one to make your guests’ mouths water.

• Spices: Spices that say autumn — think pumpkin spice — make excellent enhancements to stews, meats, pies and lattes. Classic fall seasonings include cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves. These flavors will warm your tastebuds and your heart.

• Game: Meat harvested during hunting season makes a pleasing alternative to those you routinely enjoy. Broaden your culinary horizons by cooking meats like venison, moose or goose. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

Bon appetit!

Sponsored by:

Event Guide

Does the end of summer give you a touch of the blues? You can give yourself some consolation by reacquainting yourself with the charms of autumn. Here are five excellent reasons to love this time of year.

1. Magnificent landscapes: Seize the few weeks when the trees are adorned with sublime colour. Take a walk in the forest, go on a road trip or set out on a bike ride — and don’t forget to bring your camera.

2. Culture kick-off: Fall is the perfect time to join a new recreation program, watch new TV shows, catch a new exhibit and attend a book or record launch. Reconnect with your friends and find beautiful new ways to escape from the daily routine.

3. Halloween preparations: You can have a great time checking out the local haunted house, decorating your home or working on your costume for that big Halloween party. If you have children, the fun is multiplied.

4. Cocooning season: After a frenzied summer, now is the time to wind down. Put on your favorite

5 reasons to love autumn 29THANNUAL PINE BARRENS JAMBOREE Down Home Melodies and Memories

woollen cardigan, grab a hot mug of herbal tea or coffee and catch the chatter of migratory birds. Indulging in me-time is such a pleasure!

5. Harvest time: Vegetable farms and orchards are in full swing, offering an incredible variety of tasty treats. Visit restaurants, country cafés and farmers’ markets to stock up on succulent fresh produce.

Autumn is a marvellous season to indulge!

Event Guide

Autumn:

the perfect season to get moving

Do you want to stay in shape this fall? This list of activities is sure to inspire you to get moving, no matter your interests.

• Hiking: Lace up your hiking boots and explore the trails in your area. Whether you take to the hills or meander through the forest, you’re sure to find your fill of magnificently colored landscapes. Your energized, oxygenated body will thank you!

• Biking: Whether you prefer a classic cruiser or an e-bike, the possibilities for scenic rides are endless. Set yourself a calorie or mileage goal, pack a snack with some water and off you go!

• Kayaking: Explore a tranquil lake or river near you and observe the colorful reflections of the surrounding trees. Kayaking is an excellent way to strengthen your

arms and shoulders while engaging with your natural surroundings.

• Running: The sweltering heat and humidity of summer make running difficult and potentially harmful. In the fall, running workouts are more enjoyable, enabling you to extend your distance.

• Horseback Riding: Trot across fields, on a beach or through an idyllic country path. Savor the rustle of falling leaves crunching underfoot. Even though you’re in a saddle, you get an excellent fullbody workout.

Visit your local sporting goods store to find everything you need to get moving this fall.

803 Smithville Road, Eastampton,

Event Guide

Refresh your fall wardrobe

Adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe is one of life’s little pleasures. This fall, treat yourself to a look that reflects your personal style. Here’s some trend inspiration for 2023.

• Feathers: Whether natural or artificial, feathers add a festive, daring touch to any outfit. Awaken the audacious bird within you with a featherembellished coat, skirt or hat.

• Crafted leather: This fall’s leather options are like nothing you’ve seen before. Keep an eye out for embroidery, textures, embossing, draping and treatments that make leather look like other materials. From classic to rocker or romantic, reinvented leather is a dazzling choice for your next jacket or dress.

• Giant bows: As chic as it is playful, the bow is a key

accessory for fall 2023. Worn on the shoulder, waist or chest, large bows have appeared on the catwalks of this year’s most prestigious international fashion shows.

• Red: What color is more captivating or irresistible than red? This flattering, confident shade is showing up on shirts, pants, jackets, dresses and shoes. If you find bright red too over-the-top, try burgundy.

• Tartan: You’ll see this timeless fabric in coats, dresses, suits and capes this fall. If you like turning heads, don’t be afraid to experiment with patterns in non-traditional colours like pink or purple.

• Saturday, September 16, 1 - 5 p m

Pinelands Heritage & Americana Fest - Music Venders

• Saturday, October 14, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Wells Mills Jamboree, Wells Mills Park Waretown, NJ - Music All Day

• Sunday, October 15, 1-5 p.m., Hootenanny!

• Saturday, November 4, Legend of the New Jersey Devil Show - 5:30 p m

• Saturday, November 11, Veterans Day Show - 6 p.m.

• Saturday, November 18, Pinelands Cultural Society Day - 6 p m

COME ON DOWN TO WARETOWN!

A R T S , C R A F T S , G R E E N V E N D O R S , F R E E W O R K S H O P S , A N I M A L S , M U S I C , R E C Y C L I N G & M O R E ! G R E E N D A Y HAMMONTONGREENCOMMITTEE COM Festival Save the date for Hammonton’s 15th Annual Saturday, November 4 12 to 4 pm Veteran’s Memorial Park, Bellevue Ave Hammonton

131 Wells

Mills Rd. (Rte 532), Waretown, NJ

Spiced pumpkin muffins

As nutritious as they are delicious, these muffins smell incredible as they’re baking.

Serve them as a dessert or a quick snack.

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 12

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 2 eggs

• 1 can pumpkin purée (13.5 oz)

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

• 12 shelled walnuts, whole

• A few fresh mint leaves

Event Guide

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a muffin tin with paper cups.

2. Whisk together the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and spices in a large bowl. Set aside.

3. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin purée, melted butter and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently until the batter is smooth.

4. Add the chopped pecans and gently stir to combine.

5. Place about 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cup. Top each with a whole walnut.

6. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the cooled muffins on a serving platter and garnish

Easy carrot soup

This bright, fragrant soup is easy to make. Adding rice will give it a pleasingly smooth texture.

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 6

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 3 cups diced carrots

• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

• 1/3 cup uncooked rice

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

• A few basil leaves for garnish

• 2 cups homemade or store-bought croutons for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot, heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic without letting them brown.

2. Add the carrots, broth, rice and ginger. Bring to a gentle boil.

3. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

4. Mix in a blender or food processor until smooth.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Serve with garnishes.

Event Guide

UPCOMING PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP CLEAN COMMUNITIES’ EVENTS

PEMBERTON

September 16, 2023

Country Lakes Area

Meet at Country Lakes Firehouse

Event Guide

Simple couscous royale

This traditional dish is over a thousand years old and has many variations. Here’s a simplified — and delicious — version you can make in the oven rather than on the stovetop.

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 4 to 6

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 large onion, sliced

• 1 lb. stewing lamb cubes

• 1 lb. chicken thighs, deboned and cut into large pieces

• 2 large carrots, diced large

• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons couscous spices;

(1 teaspoon finely grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cardamom)

• Salt to taste

• 4 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

• 1 small zucchini, diced large

• 6 Merguez sausages

• 11 oz medium-grain durum

wheat semolina couscous

• 1 tablespoon butter

• Parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe sauté pan or casserole dish like Le Creuset. Lightly brown the onions and add the lamb and chicken. Sauté for a few minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 300 F.

3. Add the carrot, turnip, chickpeas, garlic, tomato paste, spices and a dash of salt.

4. Add just enough broth to cover the mixture. Add water as needed.

5. Cover and bake for 60 minutes. Add the zucchini and then return the dish to the oven for another 30 minutes.

6. Grill the sausages in a pan.

7. Just before serving, cook the couscous in 1.5 times its volume of boiling water (approximately 2 cups), or by following the cooking instructions on the package. Add butter and fluff with a fork.

8. Serve the meat and vegetables with the broth on a bed of couscous. Garnish with parsley.

October 14, 2023

Browns Mills Area

Meet at Browns Mills Firehouse

November 4, 2023

Presidential Lakes Area

Meet at Presidential Lakes Firehouse

Clean-ups are from 8 am to 12 pm

Supplies are provided including a free t-shirt

609-836-5258  dmcbreen@pemberton-twp.com

Earn $$ for your non-profit organization

Take advantage of a Clean Communities’ mini-grant and earn money for your non-profit group or organization cleaning up litter and debris from targeted Pemberton Township roadways.

609-836-5258 dmcbreen@pemberton-twp.com

PEMBERTON

SEPT. 30, 2023

8:00 AM to 12 Noon

Have junk laying around your home? A public area around your home that needs to be cleaned up? Confidential papers to be shredded? Bring old tires (limit 12 tires, no oversized tires), paint cans with lids, household hazardous waste, concrete, bricks, lumber, etc. to the Public Works Yard (located behind the Municipal Bldg. at 500 Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068) for one day FREE disposal.

No gasoline or unidentifiable material accepted.

Note: Intact televisions, computers, waste motor oil and scrap metal may be brought to the Public Works Yard for free during normal yard hours. Pemberton Township Residents Only-No Businesses

Any questions please call 609-836-5258 or visit our website at www.pemberton-twp.com

their reactions, it had the desired

KIDS

ontinued from Page 1)

sort of goals that Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley along with a group of Pinelands personnel that included Dr. Kim Clark, director of research, Junior High Teacher Michele Maleski and Instructional Technology Coach Rich DiMauro, were hoping it would achieve.

“Instead of sitting through the traditional, lecture style professional development,” McCooley noted in an email to the Pine Barrens Tribune, “the staff loaded onto charter buses and headed out to Camp Ockanickon,” an overnight camp for boys in Medford Township, where “we all participated in team building activities and had fun.”

After a day the superintendent described as being “truly full of laughs and building camaraderie” she maintained, the staffers were “ready to start the school year on a positive note!”

However, judging from the degree of enthusiasm for the outing expressed by some of the participants in replies to a request by McCooley for personal reactions, its effects may have been even more rejuvenating— in a quite literal sense— than the planners might have imagined they would, especially in the wake of the last few problematic years for educators.

For example, there was this response to McCooley from highschool fine arts teacher and Art Club and National Honor Society Adviser Jayne Yaeger: “I had such a fun time at the Pinelands experience yesterday,” Yaeger said. “The funniest part of the day for me was falling in the swamp, along with new teacher Emily Chant. I must say it was very refreshing. It was such a great way to meet new teachers and have a great day with my coworkers! Laughing is the best medicine, and I did a lot of that yesterday!”

And this one from Pinelands Junior High Health and Physical Education Teacher Alicia Herbert-Eric: “I was in group 15 and our activities that we had scheduled were SO fun for me!” HerbertEric declared. “We went kayaking and it was beautiful and relaxing, very enjoyable! Then we went to pond ecology and had so much fun in our group catching frogs! There were SO

many, we almost kept stepping on them and then our group was SO entertained by the snake that we spotted in the water. We watched it for a good five minutes, slowly sneaking up and attacking a huge frog and trying to eat it! We didn’t think the snake would even be able to eat the frog because it was larger than a softball size. … We will never know if the snake could even eat a frog that big, regardless it was hysterical and a very fun and entertaining time!”

Another Pinelands Junior High faculty member, English/Language Arts Instructor Julie Luna, asked, “What other district can say they welcomed their new and current staff back to school that way?”

“It might have been hot and exhausting, but it was worth it!” Luna added.

A number of responses also indicated that the aim of getting colleagues better acquainted or connected with each other was indeed successful, such as this one from 8th grade Science Teacher Ashley Grasso:

“I really enjoyed yesterday’s activities at the staff’s Pinelands Experience,” Grasso maintained. “I enjoyed doing the archery activity and found out that I’m actually pretty good at it! I also found out that one of the new ELA (English/Language Arts) teachers, who was in my group, actually worked with one of my friends/old coworkers over the summer. It was really nice finding this connection!”

Then there was Health and Physical Education Teacher Christine Kunder, who told McCooley that “being outside and active with my colleagues and friends is how I’d want to start every year!” —a sentiment that no doubt many of those who went along also ended up sharing.

It was also one that the superintendent was apparently hoping the trip would foster in the district’s employees. As McCooley noted in a brief conversation with this newspaper, the following morning, its main objectives were “for members of the staff to have fun and meet new staffers they might not know, and to do team building.

“And to be kids again,” McCooley added.

Photos Provided

in the union, I wasn’t up the ladder like some people are.”

“I didn’t hold a high-ranking position,” she noted.

But what Burton would really like to emphasize about her qualifications to serve in the Legislature is what all those years of being a teacher have taught her—to “do your homework” on every issue, rather than simply relying on claims made by others or her party and coming to an independent conclusion based on the facts.

“I love to learn, so you can’t just push something in front of me, say ‘this is it’ and simply expect me to go along with it,” she contended. “I like to know as much as I can to make an informed decision.”

When asked, for example, about her position on the controversy over “gender identity” that has recently erupted in many school districts, she would only say that “it’s an area that I still need to be educated on” before venturing any definite opinion. But she does believe that issues involving the best

TOWER

(Continued from Page 8)

this newspaper’s deadline time, whether any site plans have been shared with Southampton pertaining to the location of the proposed cell tower and any setback from residences.

According to Horner, if the proposed location for any cell tower is an approved site, as per the Pinelands Commission’s Master Plan, “it certainly makes the 2024 deadline feasible.” However, “if it is not included in the previous Master Plan for the entire Pinelands, for these communication towers, it is not as clear to me that the whole plan can be amended, and all the information provided within that timeframe.”

Deadline of 6 Months Given for Switchgear Removal

The switchgear, according to the relocation agreement, must be removed “no later than six months following the approval date” of the agreement – signed by Mikulski on Aug. 25 and at some point by Gary R. Cicero, managing member of BEMS – “but no later than Feb. 29, 2024.”

“BEMS agrees to remove the switchgear to one of the three potential alternative locations,” it is noted in one of the stipulations.

Previously, Mikulski emphasized a “three-pole array” option as being the most feasible one, but as previously indicated, it requires PSE&G’s approval. The utility would only say the proposal is currently under review, and the utility’s response has since led to efforts in LeisureTowne and by the 8th District legislative delegation to pressure the utility to approve it.

Option One, identified in the relocation agreement, appears to outline this possibility, but calls it a “five-pole array,” part of a construction plan said to have been developed by Kupper Engineering. If approved, according to the relocation agreement, the array would be installed on Big Hill Road.

In line with the Southampton mayor’s previous statements, the relocation agreement notes that “Option One is the best possible alternative for the switchgear relocation, with the least impact on surrounding property owners,” as well as it being the most suitable to Pinelands

interests of school children “should really be up to the parents,” as “they are the first advocates for their child.”

And while, as a member of the Pemberton Council, Burton did voice opposition to the township legalizing the sale of recreational cannabis, which it ultimately ended up approving, she won’t go so far as to issue a blanketed condemnation of cannabis use.

“I wholeheartedly voted against it because I didn’t believe Pemberton Township needed to get into that business,” she explained.

But at the same time, she said, “I think each community should look at it based on their need,” adding, “From what I’ve read, it’s very helpful to some people for health issues.”

And if she came to believe it was “best for everyone overall, then I might vote to approve it,” she further maintained.

In general, however, she characterized herself as taking an “anti-drug” position, not just in regard to marijuana, but “a lot of things.”

“We have children who have overdosed on prescription drugs,” she emphasized.

Her four-year stint on the Pemberton Council, she noted, also taught her a great deal about being able to collaborate in a

Commission regulations.

During the “approval period” for Option One, BEMS agreed to continue to pursue Options Two and Three.

Option Two, according to the relocation agreement, would be to install a switchgear station at a point on Big Hill Road, while Option Three would be to erect one on a piece of property that BEMS “is in the process of negotiating” to acquire, Block 2702.25, Lot 40.

“In the event the parties are unable to secure the approvals from PSE&G for Option One, BEMS will perform the switchgear relocation” in line with Option Two, unless, “at BEMS’ sole discretion, the location contemplated for Option Three is determined by BEMS during the approval period to be a more economical, practical and feasible option.”

Option Three, as indicated in the agreement, would require “consent” from LeisureTowne (the Association) and the property owners surrounding Saint Davids Place.

Option Two, it is further indicated, “will require that BEMS secure new or amended easement rights from the HOA to complete the switchgear relocation.”

It was memorialized in the agreement that all costs associated with the approvals and relocation of the unit, along with permitting fees, is the “sole responsibility” of BEMS.

Did the Parties Put the ‘Cart Before the Horse?’

The relocation agreement not only gives BEMS until February at the latest to relocate the electrical unit, but the firm has until Oct. 31 to “secure all permits, approvals, easement rights and other agreements, consents or authorizations to cause the removal of the switchgear from Saint Davids Place and the relocation of the switchgear to one of the three alternative locations.”

BEMS, if it should fall into default of its commitment, risks being assessed $2,000 per day in liquidated damages by the township, as outlined in the agreement. Additionally, the solar company was to provide a $150,000 performance bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit to Southampton, and, “as additional security,” provide the township with a “collateral assignment of leases and rents” for the landfill parcel.

Horner, in explaining the solar firm’s

political setting, and that she has the ability to “work with anyone as long as we’re respecting one another.”

And while she might have lost her council re-election bid, she said she bore no ill will about that defeat, but has rather moved on to “helping the public in as many ways as I can”— for example, through a project she launched this past summer in the community that she calls “Bringing Them Out,” which has involved providing services to the homeless and to veterans, such as housing, mental healthcare, and addiction treatment and prevention, with the help of county agencies for which she has done volunteer work. (One upcoming event geared toward veterans is scheduled for Sept. 26 at American Legion Post 294.)

But some of the things she would like to accomplish if elected to the Senate, she noted, include funding schools, achieving better conditions in the workplace, taking action to support small businesses, keeping healthcare affordable for everyone, and helping the state maintain a leadership position in “common-sense gun safety.” She also would like to focus on closing “economic and racial gaps” and enact measures to stabilize taxes, as well as rents, which

preference to install the switchgear on a series of poles along Big Hill Road, was asked by this newspaper whether the option is something that has already been given written or verbal approval by the Pinelands Commission.

“No, is the answer to your question,” Horner responded. “We have indicated to the town that relocating equipment on the utility poles along Big Hill Road will probably be consistent with our rules.”

The director of regulatory programs for the Pinelands Commission maintained that the “problem” is that no “physical plans” have been provided to the agency as of yet.

“We have not seen what this looks like yet,” he declared.

Horner explained the “generic process” for approval that the Pinelands Commission has in place, noting that first an applicant proceeds to the municipality or county and “secures whatever approvals or permits are necessary.” Copies of those permits or approvals are then to be sent to the Pinelands Commission for review to “see if they are consistent with, or not consistent with our rules.”

In this particular case, however, “we have already issued a Certificate of Filing for the cable and switchgear box,” and that allows an applicant to simply make “modifications” to their existing application.

“Whatever the applicant is going to propose, the applicant would proceed back to Southampton Township to secure whatever permit or approvals the town may require,” Horner said. “Copies of those permits or approvals would come to our office, and we would review them and issue a letter, and say, either they are consistent and can take effect, or there is a problem.”

He noted “all of our reviews are thorough” and “we would review the proposal, whatever it may be, to make sure it is consistent with our Wetlands Protection Standards and all other standards of the Pinelands CMP.”

Horner noted that what has been provided to the Pinelands Commission is “four different options” for relocating the switchgear “on the ground out along Big Hill Road,” and that the agency “indicated to them that all four of those locations raise wetland issues to the Pinelands Commission.”

“But we did provide them with two other locations along Big Hill Road, that we thought would work and meet the condition standards,” Horner said. “I

might help make housing more affordable for working families, many of whom have now been priced out of the market.

When asked whether there had been a motivating force in her life that influenced her choice of a career, she replied, “As a little girl, I had an aunt who was a teacher. I just liked the idea of someone who was able to mold minds with educational facts.”

That influence, she added, carried over into the work she did with special education students, who she found “sometimes just need a little more push,” and some of whom she has remained in touch with over the years.

Despite the uphill battle that the Democratic chairman believes Burton will face in a Republican-leaning district, Burton believes that once 8th District voters learn what she represents, she will have a “good shot at winning.”

“I want them to know I’m there and up for the challenge, and absolutely plan to campaign hard,” she declared.

But in the event that she falls short, that won’t necessarily mean she will leave the political arena. In fact, she just might consider running for Pemberton Council again.

believe they explored two of those options and determined that one of them would work for the applicant, and we have not received any further information since those discussions occurred about a month ago, because I believe the applicant is still pursuing their discussions with PSE&G, attempting to relocate their equipment on a series of utility poles, but I don’t know that to be a fact, though I believe it to be true.”

When asked by this newspaper if placing the equipment on the poles is something that would even have to come before the Pinelands Commission given an existing utility Right-of-Way, Horner replied, “Yes.”

“It is actually in the Big Hill Road ROW, but development, wherever it may occur, in most instances, has to come before the Pinelands Commission, whether you are widening the road or putting in utility lines, or putting in water lines, even though they are in the ROW – it still requires an application to Pinelands,” Horner declared.

Could there be a situation where the Pinelands Commission has verbally indicated a plan looks OK in “conceptual discussions,” but then deny approval? “Sure” is the answer that was given to this newspaper by Horner.

“We try to give good faith guidance to an applicant, but we don’t have anything in front of us, where we can say, ‘Yes, this clearly works, and it can be approved,” Horner continued. “We have had conceptual discussions, but to reiterate, we are not exactly sure how many poles are involved, what the poles look like or how tall the poles may be. So, we don’t have any knowledge about the poles.”

He noted “conceptually we indicated a ground-mounted box would work at a certain location, but we don’t have a plan in front of us to show us exactly what is proposed.”

When the dates contained in the agreement were read back to Horner, he replied, “from our standpoint, upon receipt of any township approval, whether it be for a ground or pole-mounted switch station, our office is required to respond within 15 days saying the approval is good, or that it raises issues that need to be addressed.”

If there are issues, Horner said, he would anticipate they could be resolved within 30 to 60 days.

“Again, it is a little bit of a cart before the horse in the sense we don’t really have a plan in front of us at this point,” Horner declared.

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WHITESBOG

(Continued from Page 3)

of applause from the audience.

Gardner, in “piggybacking” on what Dewey had to say about Whitesbog, pointed to Hornickel “touching on why we are not doing (events) at Whitesbog,” before posing an ultimatum “directed at the mayor”: “I want to know why we are just cutting this off,” or what has resulted in a decision to “terminate the Whitesbog Fall Fest this year.”

“It was just a decision made at the time,” he replied.

Gardner shot back, “That is not a good enough answer – that is not a good enough answer!”

“Because for a person who likes to talk about the ‘First Amendment’ and talk

FUNDING

(Continued from Page 4)

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about this and that, that lame answer you gave is nothing!” further retorted Gardner. “You don’t have to answer me! Please address the residents as to why you seem fit to terminate the relationship with Whitesbog!”

Tompkins, considered a member of the township administration, replied that “this is a ‘council’ meeting as you have reminded me many times, and you asked me for ‘mayor’s comments,’ and I didn’t have any and still don’t have any.”

Gardner responded that he is “asking you a question right now,” and that “since you don’t answer me,” he would “urge you guys,” or the residents, “to ask that question, ‘Why the termination?’”

During the subsequent Aug. 16 council meeting, before opening public comment, Gardner pointed out that those attending the previous session “learned of the very importance of Whitesbog and the connection to this township and surrounding area,” and therefore, “I would like you to ask the mayor, ‘Why is he trying to cut ties with the Whitesbog Association?’”

While no resident has yet to put the question to the mayor, as of press time, this newspaper tried reaching Tompkins to put the question to him directly. The mayor, however, did not return messages left at his

limitations, relying on the resilience of cell networks and the proficiency of emergency crews across a patchwork of local agencies.”

home and on his cellphone, as well as an email for this story, as of press time.

Hornickel, prior to Hughes posing a question about the cancelation of the events, had been asked a similar one by this newspaper, and while the business administrator responded mostly in the same fashion as he did to Hughes, he added a point that had not been conveyed to Hughes or council later in the day, contending, “the township bore most of the expense” of the events, but “did not receive any of the proceeds that were raised.”

“We did cancel the Fall Festival and Pictures with Santa (as its own event) this year,” Hornickel confirmed. “The Fall Festival was an event we first hosted in 2021; since it was successful, we hosted it again in 2022. However, in 2022, the event attracted several thousand attendees, and it was reported that a large portion of the license plates in the parking lot were from out-of-state. The township bore most of the expense of the festival, but did not receive any of the proceeds that were raised.

“In looking at our calendar from last fall, we hosted four events in the span of approximately three months: Fall Fest, Night of Terror, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Pictures with Santa. For this fall, the mayor would like to continue with Night of Terror and expand the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and pair it with a couple of other holiday events on the same day. The Volunteer Fire Company sponsors a Christmas event similar to Pictures with Santa, so we are coordinating with them

signs won’t work,” but noted that while he can’t speculate, “it would be uncanny to lose power at all four locations.”

to have their event on the same day prior to the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Regarding Pictures with Santa, similarly to the Fall Fest, the township bore the bulk of the expenses for running that event.”

Hornickel also served as business administrator of Pemberton during the final years of Democratic Mayor David Patriarca’s tenure (up until he was reportedly let go by Patriarca in the wake of a November 2022 election loss, before Tompkins ultimately brought Hornickel back to the business administrator position upon him being sworn into office back in January.)

Patriarca, while Hornickel still sat in the business administrator post, or was part of the then-administration, had this to say in October 2022 about the Fall Festival: “How could I forget the Fall Fest that Recreation did? They did a phenomenal, I mean just a phenomenal job on that event, working with the Whitesbog Trust and holding it at that venue, Whitesbog.”

At the time, Patriarca told residents “you don’t want to miss the Winter event that they do,” calling Whitesbog “the perfect venue,” pointing out the 2022 event was “very well attended” and “packed the whole time” with “plenty of vendors.”

“It was a very good event,” said the thenDemocratic mayor on Oct. 5, 2022, about two weeks after the last Fall Festival was held.

According to Hornickel, he, the current mayor and recreation director “will be working on a couple of new events, which we hope to debut for the fall and/or spring.”

wondered why they

had

not been notified earlier that the situation was out of control.”

The New York Times report went on to detail that “as more households disconnect landline telephones and fewer families have access to broadcast television and radio, emergency managers have increasingly focused on wireless emergency notifications to instantly reach large numbers of people,” but that “the modern system has its own

In response to that report, this newspaper put a couple questions to Hornickel about the potential reliability of the electronic marquee displays in the event of communication or electrical outages, asking whether such signage is updated remotely and/or are dependent on electricity.

“The LED signs will be powered using electricity,” he replied. “From what I’m told, they will be programmable via a Bluetooth link.”

He acknowledged “if the power fails, the

“We have a mobile electronic messaging sign, and the county has several they offer during states of emergency,” he noted.

The business administrator also clarified that “we intend to use the signs for both public service announcements and emergency communications.”

Gardner, during the council session, emphasized that the sign work is covered through a grant. Roohr said while she understands a grant is covering the costs, she asked if “this particular grant can be used

on signs.” The council president maintained “construction and foundations” are eligible for use of the federal money, with Roohr quipping, “So, you are going to waste money just because you can?”

The final use rules for the federal grant program provide a handful of uses local governments can put the funding toward, with Hornickel telling this newspaper, “We will also be using some of the CARES Act funds to cover the township’s cash share of rehabilitating the New Lisbon Water System (anticipated to be around $292,000), which we hope to put out to bid this fall.”

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