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County and Medford Reach 2 Agreements for Pinelands Library to Move to Town Hall County to Contribute $625,000 Towards $8 Million Cost of New Combo Municipal-Library Building By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
Photos Provided
Samuel R. Moore III, and his wife, Penny, of Moore’s Meadow Blueberry and Cranberry Farm.
Neither Fire, Flood Nor the Capriciousness of Mother Nature Have Kept a Hardy, Dedicated Group of Pine Barrens Growers from Continuing to Cultivate a World-Class Blueberry Crop
Staff Writer
TABERNACLE —Being National Blueberry Month, July is the perfect time to enjoy the fresh, delicious varieties of this health-enhancing fruit that are grown right here in the Pine Barrens – but only because of a ‘true-blue’ tradition of family farming that has been resolutely carried on despite some challenges along the way. At their peak, these luscious blue beauties make a most versatile addition to
your diet, whether served in a bowl for an afternoon snack, added to cereal, tucked into pancakes, or as the main ingredient of a pie. They also freeze nicely for smoothies or for wintertime baking, when locally grown berries are not available. At Moore’s Meadow Blueberry and Cranberry Farm, in Tabernacle Township, some 40 acres of highbush blueberries – about 46,000 plants – are cultivated annually, including the Duke variety, which ripen early in the growing season,
FR EE
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and Bluecrop, a mid-season variety. Approximately 40,000 flat trays – each holding 12 one-pint containers – are annually packed for purchase directly at the farm, as well as at area farm markets, grocery stores and farm stands. Samuel R. Moore III, representing the sixth generation of blueberry growers to operate Moore’s Meadow, said that the farm has been in his family since 1829, when his ancestor, Aaron B. Moore, See FARMERS/ Page 6
MEDFORD—It has been a longtime coming, and the day finally arrived. After years of convening closed-door sessions to discuss, in part, “matters relating to litigation, negotiations and the attorneyclient privilege: Burlington County Library,” with the discussions reportedly pertaining to the future and possible relocation of the Pinelands Branch Library at 39 Allen Avenue, Medford Tow nsh ip Council authorized the execution of a Library Branch Service Agreement with the Burlington County Library Commission, along with a Library Branch Dedication Agreement with the commission and the Burlington County Board of Commissioners, on June 15. Dav id Lev i nsk y, a spokesman for Burlington County, later told this newspaper that the two pacts were approved by the Burlington County Library Commission, also on June 15, and by the Burlington County Board of Commissioners on June 23. The ag re ements, obt ai ned by th is newspaper through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, outline, in part, the logistics and cost responsibility for the relocation of the library branch to the new combination library and municipal building erected by the township at 49 Union Street in Medford, as well as set standards for the new building’s use by the library branch, in addition to assigning responsibility for upkeep and the payment of utilities. See LIBRARY/ Page 8
INDEX Business Directory... 10
Marketplace................... 9
Local News................. 2
Worship Guide............ 6
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Saturday, July 10, 2021
Tree Law Amended to Relax Wood Stand Regulations Drawing Praise from Those Previously Critical of Them
A firewood stand now open at the Carns Family Farm in Medford.
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
M EDFOR D — A t r e e ord i n a n c e u n a n i m ou s l y a d op t e d by Me d for d Township Council last October, which drew considerable controversy at the time, has been amended, with the most substantive change made to ease the requirements for “wood stands,” or firewood stands, to operate in Medford. Up until the adoption of the tree ordinance last fall, wood stands were banned in town. While the tree ordinance passed last fall permitted their operation on farmland that is 5-acres or more and farmland assessed, it was tied to another provision in the law that “any tree may be removed as part of the operation of an agricultural or horticultural use on (a) property,” or, in other words, any firewood for sale had to be harvested on the property where a wood stand was established. Dav id and Br ian Car ns, both the proprietors of a local tree service and who own a family farm in Medford, previously questioned the har vesting provision, contending that rather than harvesting wood from trees they had just taken down, they would instead have to cut down healthy trees on their farm to be able to sell firewood. Now, under the amended law, which was passed by council on June 15, the controversial provision has been struck and replaced with one that a firewood stand may “sell wood either harvested from property in Medford Township or harvested from any property in a municipality that abuts Medford Township, provided that no wood shall be sold that is harvested from any area or location that is prohibited by any emergency or permanent regulation of any state or federal agency having jurisdiction.” “The Carns Family would like to say thanks from the bottom of our hearts to the Medford Township Council and Mayor Chuck Watson for the changes made to the firewood ordinance that now allows our farm to sell firewood,” Brian Carns wrote June 15 on a Facebook page for the family farm. “We are beyond excited to start setting up racks this week and will be ready to start selling the best firewood in America.” The posting represented a dramatic shift in events in the local political scene as the Carns had previously gotten into heated exchanges with Watson at council meetings over elements of the tree ordinance, particularly involving the firewood stands, and alleged that their firewood stand had been previously shut down by the township. David Carns, after the exchanges and passage of the tree law, then
Photo Provided
told this newspaper that he was considering primarying the Republican mayor (who is up for re-election this November). That never happened, however, with Watson running unopposed in the GOP primary, and winning it last month. And council discussion emerged in the spring, just before it, pertaining to relaxing the wood stand requirements. “We are blown away by the support of the council,” Brian Carns told this newspaper in a July 6 interview. “We can’t thank them enough for listening to us and taking into consideration what we had to say. We are very happy they pushed it through. Now we are going to be gearing up to sell firewood.” The amended tree ordinance also now allows wood stands at retail commercial establishments or garden centers. Some of the other changes to the tree ordinance were, according to Township Solicitor Timothy Prime, requested by the Pinelands Commission, which conducts a review of all township ordinances to ensure compliance with the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) [given that part of the municipality falls within the Pinelands designated area]. The tree ordinance had stated, in regards to any required replanting of trees, that the “species of each newly planted tree shall be selected from the native species ‘Preferred Tree List’ of the Pinelands Commission. But the Pinelands Commission, according to Prime, actually does not maintain such a list, but rather a “fact-sheet” about “native Pinelands plants and landscaping.” The amended version now states that trees for replanting must be selected from a “list of native species required for revegetation as set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.25” and “the Pinelands Commission’s fact sheet entitled, ‘Native Pinelands Plans for Landscaping.’” The tree ordinance had defined a “tree” as any living woody perennial deciduous plant with a caliper of at least 6 inches, measured 6 inches above the ground, or any living woody perennial evergreen plant, or thinner deciduous plant (e.g., dogwoods, birches, American Hornbeams, etc.), at least 15 feet in height above ground level. It also had defined “caliper” as the standard measure of tree size for trees to be newly planted, stating “the measurement is taken 6 inches above the ground level for trees 4 inches in diameter or less and 54 inches above the ground for trees over 4 inches in diameter.” During last year’s controversy, some See WOOD/ Page 9
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Southampton Committee Asked to Drop Consideration of Outsourcing Trash Pickup, But It Remains Possibility By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
SOU T H A M P TON —A long t i m e LeisureTowne and township political activist, Evelyn “Evie” Doherty, along with another LeisureTowne resident, have urged the Southampton Township Committee to drop its consideration of outsourcing municipal trash pickup. However, according to remarks made by Mayor Michael Mikulski during the June 15 township committee meeting in which the pleas were heard, the governing body is still considering privatization, in addition to two other options that would retain trash services in-house: purchasing new rear loaders for the township fleet or phasing out the rear loaders altogether with the purchase of new one-armed bandit trucks, which would require the purchase of compatible trash cans for residences. “We are in the process of evaluating it,” the mayor said. “No decisions have been made. We can’t make a decision until we have all the facts. That would be a bad thing to do (making one without them). We are waiting to see what the prices are.” This newspaper previously reported on remarks made by Ryan Hagerthey, manager of Southampton Township’s Department of Public Works (DPW), at the township committee’s regular May meeting, in which he explained that the department was struggling to pick up trash in April and May because two of the township’s three rear loaders were out of service, including one that was past its useful life and taken off the road for safety reasons, and that two others borrowed from other municipalities were in a condition requiring him to make repairs late into the night.
LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Hagerthey contended that the committee needed to come to a decision as a result. At th is latest tow nsh ip com m ittee meeting, however, Township Administrator and Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman replied “yes” when asked by Committeeman Bill Raftery if both trucks were now operable, with Mikulski adding that they were put back in service the day after Hagerthey’s public remarks. The mayor contended that the township had the money to purchase new trash trucks, but that the township committee was holding off in authorizing a purchase because the governing body wants to “make a long-term decision.” “Because if a decision was made to outsource, you just bought a truck that you cannot sell for what you just bought it for,” Mikulski said. The mayor then contended that in speaking to Hagerthey, “though I don’t want to put words in his mouth,” the DPW director “would prefer outsourcing” so that the employees manning the trucks can be assigned other tasks. But, last month, the DPW director said on record the decision is “something that should be taken very seriously and thought out, because, I think that we provide a service to Southampton residents that most towns don’t do right now,” and said of privatization, “Where is that going to end you up? … I don’t know,” further explaining that the township “can get a great deal and then you can get it on the backend after the (initial) contract is up.” Doherty, in urging the township committee on June 15 to drop the privatization option, declared that Southampton has the “greatest See TRASH/ Page 7
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Meeting Turns Tense After Council President Challenges Need for Pemboro Police Department to Buy Two SUVs By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
PEMBERTON BOROUGH—A recent meeting of Pemberton Borough Council turned tense after its president, Bonnie Haines, challenged a request from the Pemberton Borough Police Department to purchase two new SUVs for use as patrol vehicles, with her expressing that two new cars would instead be sufficient for patrols. According to Councilman Robert Brock, who oversees the police department and brought the request to council, the reason the police department needs to purchase the new vehicles is that one of their existing vehicles is “on its third engine,” while another is “on its second engine.” Brock noted that the vehicles keep failing because they run on turbo engines, which “aren’t meant to sit and idle” because they “overheat.” And one of the vehicles, he said, “has a lot of miles on it” that has also contributed to its engine troubles. He added that the purchase could not “fit into this year’s budget,” so therefore the council would need to bond for the two new SUVs. “Why SUVs and not cars?” Haines asked. Brock replied that cars are only two-wheel drive, whereas SUVs are four-wheel drive, and that when there is snow and ice, twowheel drive vehicles “don’t go anywhere.” “I just don’t think it is necessary in a town this size,” declared Haines. “We don’t have long, dirt farm fields to go down to get to anybody’s house. We have the best plowed roads in Burlington County when it snows nowadays. … I just do not see the need and am not in favor of SUVs. And they are more expensive.” Haines contended that SUVs are also
“extremely more expensive to repair,” while Brock contended that was not the case. “You should look at the bill’s list then a little more closely as they are very expensive to repair,” retorted Haines in response to Brock. “I am not in favor of SUVs.” Councilman Steve Fenster pointed out that the New Jersey State Police still have cars among their fleet. “So, if they are good enough for the state, (why not for us)?” asked Fenster. “That is a question.” Councilman Terry Jerome, however, contended that all the state police’s newer vehicles are SUVs and “that I can say for certain.” Haines asked Brock to investigate whether they make cars that are all-wheel drive, or front-wheel drive, though the councilman believed he would come up empty handed. “I am not a car buff, but I don’t see the need for them (SUVs),” Haines asserted. “It seems like an expense that we don’t need.” A borough patrolman attending the meeting pointed out that it is easier to fit larger suspects that are apprehended into the back of a police SUV than it is a car, and that if they cannot fit inside, another department is called to transport them. Brock contended that the cur rent m a nu fa c t u r e r of c hoi c e for p ol i c e departments is Ford, and that Chevrolet is not making this year a model that is used for police cruisers. “I would like them to look at other things,” Haines said. “I want it to be thoroughly investigated instead of, ‘This is what they want.’” Brock then retorted that he could report See POLICE/ Page 8
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
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Woodland Temporarily Reliant on Mutual Aid for Fire, EMS After Official Contends Local Agency’s Volunteers Resigned, But Posting Claims There Is ‘Discussion’ About Restructuring While Newspaper Coverage Is Cited for ‘Resignations,’ Damning Letter Opposing Cellphone Tower Project Was Sent Hours Before, and Online Data Disappeared
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
WOODLAND—All the members of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, including Chief Shawn Viscardi, reportedly resigned from their posts with the company sometime over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, as is the “understanding” of Woodland Township Solicitor and Public Information Officer William Burns, while Nancy Valentino, an attorney representing the emergency agency, told this newspaper that a “majority or all” of the members resigned, including the chief. But then, on the afternoon of July 8, it was written on the Woodland company’s Facebook page that “we are currently in discussions with our township regarding a restructuring of the department” and that “we are still actively recruiting members,” and to get in touch with the emergency agency if interested in joining. And while the Pine Barrens Tribune’s recent coverage of events involving the company’s chief has been cited by Burns and Valentino as the reason for the reported resignations, this newspaper has learned of new developments involving the Woodland company that occurred in the hours leading up to the resignations, including the apparent disappearance of most data on its website and a damning letter (along with documentation) sent by a resident to various county and state agencies opposing a cellphone tower project that the chief has spearheaded for the downtown Chatsworth section of Woodland. It was not immediately clear, as of press time, what all of this means for the future of that cellphone tower project, as Burns said the application is that of the Woodland company, and therefore he would not be commenting on it, and Valentino only provided a two-minute interview to this newspaper. A federal grant was awarded to the Woodland company in 2019 to improve its emergency communications, and residents were supposed to have benefited secondarily from the presence of a carrier or carriers on the tower (which is supposed to be constructed by Centerline Communications LLC, utilizing AT&T technology available through FirstNet, an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce). But the project has already been at least delayed by a stop work order from the Pinelands Commission, and the letter of opposition addresses an upcoming public hearing scheduled by the commission with the applicant to determine whether to allow the project to proceed. Burns remarked about the reported resignations in a July 6 interview with the Pine Barrens Tribune, after this newspaper inquired about “extenuating circumstances” cited in a Nixle alert message sent to township residents the day before, July 5, informing them that, “Due to extenuating circumstances, Tabernacle Fire & EMS will be covering Woodland Township temporarily. If you have an emergency, please continue to follow normal procedure and dial 911.” “It i s my u nd e r st a nd i ng t h e fi r e department, that is willing to sacrifice their time and volunteer to provide their services, was not interested in continuing to be the focal point of what they perceive – again this is their perception – as continuing bias, just like at times it is reported, specifically the
articles in the Pine Barrens Tribune,” said Burns in the interview with this newspaper. Burns, however, was unable to tell this newspaper for certain when the township first learned of the resignations, or when they became official, contending he did not have a copy of the resignation letter(s), but added, “I believe it was yesterday (July 5); it could have been July 4.” “I believe Mr. Viscardi resigned his position as chief, and then the other fire officers tendered their resignations as well,” Burns said. Meanwhile, Tabernacle Township’s emergency management coordinator and administrator told this newspaper that the interim coverage arrangement fell back on existing mutual aid agreements, with the former stating that he first learned of the situation through this newspaper’s call requesting comment, with both Tabernacle officials indicating they are ready to talk with Woodland and support their neighbor if need be. Woodland Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown, also the municipality’s custodian of records, was off from work this week, Burns added. “The only comment that I have on behalf of the township is the township committee has ensured continuing fire suppression and emergency medical services,” Burns said. “The township has already ensured services will be continued through mutual aid agreements and will be meeting to identify a more permanent solution.” Mayor William “Billy” DeGroff and Deputy Mayor Mark Herndon did not return this newspaper’s messages seeking comment on this story as of press time. Valentino, in the brief interview with this newspaper, confirmed the chief had resigned and also contended that the resignations were “as a result of the misinformation, and misleading, manipulated information printed in the Tribune with respect to fire department’s men and women who volunteer to serve in the community,” adding that they “no longer wish to serve in their capacity and no longer wish to be subjected to what they have been as a result of the articles.” (She did not say, however, why she had called back to be interviewed by the very paper they accused of printing “misleading, manipulated information.”) A special Woodland committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 9 “to discuss Fire Station 291,” and potentially iron out a more permanent solution. Station 291 is the call numbers assigned to the Woodland company. This newspaper reported in its July 2 edition that an executive session was convened Ju ne 21 by the Woodland committee, 57 minutes prior to its regular June 21 meeting, to discuss, according to an agenda, “contract negotiations and personnel matters relating to Station 291.” After emerging from the closed session, DeGroff, when asked if action was going to be taken, replied, “No.” A general summary of the executive session, however, was not provided by officials at the time. Burns, when asked during the July 6 interview with this newspaper if he could provide a general summary of what had been discussed, would only offer that it was about “personnel matters.” The Pine Barrens Tribune had previously See RESIGNATIONS/ Page 5
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RESIGNATIONS (Continued from Page 4)
reported that Shamong EMS was recently disbanded, w ith Shamong Tow nsh ip deciding to instead employ the services of the Tabernacle Rescue Squad for emergency rescue/EMT ser v ic es. A shor tage of volunteers had been given as the reason for making the switch. At the ti me that the decision was formalized, Shamong Mayor Timothy Gimbel discussed the shortage of volunteers that emergency services agencies are experiencing, and noted that Shamong felt the only way forward is “from a business perspective” with a “long-term vision” in mind, adding that “the idea is” there would be a “regional Pinelands organization.” “It is not a transfer to Tabernacle, it is Pinelands Regional Rescue,” said Gimble, maintaining that the future vision was “beyond even Shamong, where everyone related to the Pinelands area – Lumberton, Chatsworth, Southampton, Atco, etc. (join forces).” Neither the chief of Tabernacle Rescue Squad, nor the Tabernacle Fire Department returned requests for comment on this story. Susan Onorato, township administrator for Shamong, could not be immediately reached for comment on this story, either. But Doug Cramer, township administrator of Tabernacle, told this newspaper on July 8 that he was not aware of regionalization negotiations “other than with Shamong,” but he was “not privy” to those discussions. “I a m awa re of t he sit u at ion (i n Woodland), and have been made aware of the situation,” he said. “When they want to talk, I am sure they will reach out to us and do that. As far as I know, we are providing mutual aid as required by the county mutual aid agreement and I am sure both of our chiefs are working with county coordinators to make sure Woodland has coverage from all the surrounding communities. Cramer said that if Woodland decided to utilize Tabernacle’s services on a permanent basis, a shared service agreement would then have to be worked out with Woodland. “I am sure there will be a discussion at some point in time if that is where they wish to go,” Cramer said. “I am sure they are doing the best that they can in a situation, stressful at the least, to make sure residents are provided the service they require.” Also, on July 8, Robert Sunbury, a township committeeman and emergency management coordinator for Tabernacle, said it “was a complete surprise” to learn from this newspaper about what occurred in Woodland “because there was no communication whatsoever from Woodland looking for support from us.” “It would be just through county mutual aid agreements in effect,” he added. “No one from Woodland has reached out, that I know of. If they need our services, it would just be through mutual aid agreements at this time.” Burns, in the July 6 interview with this newspaper, said he did not know how many volunteers were serving in the Woodland company at the ti me the pur por ted resignations were tendered to the township. Valentino, when asked just how many of the Woodland company’s volunteers had resigned, replied that a “majority or all of them,” but she “did not know at the time” of the July 7 interview. “I do not have time to look it up right now,” she said. Before the start of the global Coronavirus pandemic, however, during an Oct. 23, 2019, Woodland committee meeting, Viscardi stated, when giving a report about the activities of the Woodland company, that “five to six actual members are left of local volunteers.” That same statement appears in the Woodland committee’s meeting minutes for that session.
LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 When this newspaper asked about those figures immediately following adjournment of that governing body meeting, Viscardi began shouting about this newspaper’s reporting, particularly about a story pertaining to his request to the Woodland committee for air packs (at the time, he indicated the Woodland company’s future looked bleak without having unexpired ones, due to the lack of funding to secure new ones), contending the story resulted in him receiving calls from across the U.S. (Viscardi, however, as a courtesy to the Woodland company, had been asked to review that story before it went to press and had said on Oct. 9, 2019, that it “looks good” in an email to the newspaper.) Ultimately, the Woodland company received a letter of support from Democratic Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-3), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) subsequently provided $101,238 last year to the Woodland company for it to secure 15 new air packs. FEMA, as reported by this newspaper, since June 2020, awarded the Woodland company “three out of four grants,” totaling $403,462, with a spokesman for the federal agency pointing out that the local entity has been “very successful” with its assistance programs, “more so than most applicants.” The other grants awarded by FEMA to the Woodland company were for Recruitment and Retention ($260,825) and Supplemental Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ($41,399). Additionally, the Woodland company had received FEMA grant awards in 2016 ($57,068); 2015 ($545,030) and 2004 ($71,550).” The grant not awarded to the Woodland company was for the purchase of a new tanker truck. The Woodland company gave the tanker truck it had to the township last year, which then auctioned it off and gave a portion of the proceeds ($15,000) back to the company to finish a kitchen, so that it could hold fundraisers. The Woodland company was to try again this year in obtaining a grant to cover the costs of a new water tender, with Woodland Township footing the bill for a grant writer. But in the interim, according to past remarks from the mayor, the township, reportedly without any fire hydrants, has been reliant on mutual aid for additional water supply over and above what its firetrucks can hold, facing a less than ideal situation. The mayor also remarked earlier this year that the company’s ambulances are worn and in need of replacement. In addition to the FEMA money the Woodland company has received, the township has been giving $15,000 quarterly contributions (totaling over $300,000 since 2016) to the fire company. A Woodland resident, responding to the events of a May Woodland committee meeting, was recently quoted in a newspaper report questioning the whereabouts of the money that the company had received in light of the mayor’s statements that the Woodland company is unable to afford a new tanker truck and ambulances without the reliance of outside assistance. The Woodland committee, at its June 21 meeting, had approved increasing the quarterly township contributions to $16,250 (as presented on the bill’s list, although that was not discussed or on the agenda). This newspaper, in light of the recent questions surrounding the fire company’s finances, the result of the Woodland chief not attending the first four committee meetings of the year, and remarks made by Brown that reports were not submitted for two of them, had filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request seeking copies of the images of the checks Woodland Township wrote to the fire company. After stalling for several weeks, the images were provided to this newspaper, but only of the front sides of the checks, not the back sides. Brown noted “that’s all the bank supplies” and “there is
♦ Page 5
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HAINESBERRYFARM.COM no way for us to tell who cashed the checks.” Burns, when asked about the finances of the Woodland company in the July 6 interview, said, “How specifically the dollars are spent – I do not know,” adding that those questions “are in line for the former chief and his attorney,” Valentino. “I am not entirely sure what exactly you are talking about as we comply with everything that we are supposed to comply with, and file tax returns; and with any grants, they are spent the way they are supposed to be within the parameters of those grants,” said Valentino on July 7 when asked about the questions that have surfaced regarding the Woodland company’s finances. “There are no missing funds – every penny is accounted for. We do everything we are supposed to do.” Both Burns and Valentino claimed in the interviews with this newspaper that financial reports have been submitted to the township. As for the statements by Brown during Woodland committee meetings that Viscardi did not submit reports for the March and April committee meetings, nor for the Woodland committee meeting just held in June, Valentino remarked, “the Chief is not a paid township employee” but is a “volunteer chief not required to attend those meetings.” “He only has to make sure certain reports are submitted and he does that,” she added. Viscardi, however, is included in the Woodland committee meeting roll calls, with Brown noting his attendance or absences at the start of meetings, and there is a section on the governing body’s agenda to hear a report from the Woodland company’s chief. Up until Viscardi faced questions about the cellphone tower project that had gone awry in November and December of last year, he had rarely missed a governing body meeting, and if he was absent, he usually provided a report about the Woodland company’s activities for the month so that the governing body could enter it into the record. Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but just before the July 5 Nixle announcement was disseminated, the Woodland company’s formation history, pictures of its equipment and details pertaining to that equipment, along with a listing of its officers, call records dating back to over the last decade, and its incident response reports, disappeared from its website. What remained were links to the different pages, the Woodland company’s heading and national fire news. Bur ns, when asked for the reason that the infor mation was apparently removed, referred this newspaper to the “former chief Shawn Viscardi,” and his/ fire company attorney, Valentino, for comment, contending that he has nothing to do with the Woodland company and is not their spokesperson. He then provided the cellphone number for Valentino. Valentino, when she contacted this
newspaper, stated at the start that she had only two minutes to be interviewed due to a court proceeding and need to Skype with a client, and this newspaper was unable to ask about the website in that allotment of time. Valentino told this newspaper after providing a response to the question about the company’s finances that she had to get off the call. On the evening of July 3, also just before the issuance of the Nixle message and close to the time of the apparent resignations, a letter had been sent by Andrew Windisch, who has been leading an opposition movement against the planned location of the cellphone tower, to the Pinelands Commission, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Burlington County Office of Emergency Management, Burlington County Planning Board, several Woodland Township officials, and Viscardi, among others, contending that the “communications tower facility” was in “violation of Pinelands Commission and Woodland Township firebreak regulation.” Windisch and some 30 others, most of whom live in the vicinity of the proposed site, had signed a petition last year, and are part of a Facebook page called “STOP Cell Phone Tower in Heart of Chatsworth NJ,” contending that they support better emergency communication, but are opposed to the selected site for the tower, which they believe will “expose residents and the public to radio frequency (RF) radiation and other hazards, creating potential health, safety, financial, liability and scenic impacts.” In the July 3 correspondence to the local, county and state agencies, along with the cellphone tower project’s representatives, Windisch informs them that “the street vacation itself (Giles Avenue, a paper street adjacent to the Chatsworth firehouse vacated for the cellphone tower project) may be a violation of the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), since it circumvents existing fire break regulations that mitigate wildfire hazards, in order to accommodate a development within the Giles Ave right-of-way.” Windisch further maintained in the July 3 correspondence that “during consideration of the Giles Avenue street vacation, (in) the township engineer’s report dated April 15, 2021, the experts called by Woodland Fire/ EMS and the Land Use Board members and attorney, all neglected to address the above firebreak regulations of the Pinelands CMP and Woodland Township Land Use Ordinance, as reflected in the attached April 20, 2021, hearing proceedings.” The resident continues that the Woodland Land Use Board’s rules precluded him from submitting the “wildfire risk assessment expert report” during an April 20 land use board hearing on the cellphone tower application, but that he attached it to the correspondence ahead of the Pinelands See RESIGNATIONS/ Page 11
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Evesham to Ask Residents for Approval to Raise Taxes a Tad to Finance Open Space, Park System Upgrades Township Engineer Completing Inventory of Existing Resources
By Bill Bonvie
Engineer Tim Staszewski and personnel from the engineering firm of Remingon & Vernick have been engaged in compiling EVESHAM—Hav i ng u nan i mously a park inventory and assessment report approved a 2021 budget totaling $40.54 In-Person Services to begin similar to the inventory of streets and million ($40.47 million without grants) with July 11th @ 9:30 am in roads completed earlier this year “which “no new tax increases,” the all-Democratic the Family Life Center will inform us on what all our parks have Evesham Township Council, at its June 23 visit medfordumc.org and what they don’t have.” meeting, also proceeded to propose that for more details. residents’ taxes be raised just a tad for the Among the items that the preliminary follow us on purpose of enlarging its dedicated opendraft report covers for each of the township’s facebook.com/MedfordUMC space-improvement-and-acquisition fund. parks, Corrales said, are the presence or But that would only come about if local absence of consistent site identification and voters agree to go along with the idea in road signage, improved ADA (Americans 2 Hartford Road | Medford NJ 08055 a November referendum, the holding of with Disabilities Act) access, such as parking medfordumc.org | 609/654-8111 info@medfordumc.org which was also unanimously authorized by spaces, and more inclusive park amenities, council, that would give the municipality the as well as updating of the open-space and ability to raise an additional annual levy recreation plan and township-wide trail amount of up to, but not exceeding, three system. In addition, “just like the road Climate and risk of harm to the blueberry cents per $100 of assessed property value. program, it will also include a five-year bushes are two of the biggest worries for The last time such an increase for the plan” to prioritize and address the park farmers, he said. tow nsh ip’s op en spac e prog ram was improvements that need the most immediate “One bad rainstorm, one bad hailstorm, one approved by voters, according to the attention. windstorm, or one freeze can ruin an entire crop township’s Division of Public Information, Pointing out that open space both of blueberries for the season,” said Samuel R. was in the year 2000, when the levy was “provides families with public access to Moore III, whose operation lost half of its crop raised from $0.01 to $0.03 per $100 of the great outdoors and helps support the last year due to a prolonged freeze. assessed property value, where the rate has In addition, heavy rains can cause precious ecosystem,” the township manager remained ever since, generating around $1.6 blueberries to split, rendering them damaged noted that the pandemic had provided million annually. and therefore unable to be sold, he noted, a lesson in “how important and valuable C u r re nt ly, however, a c c ord i ng to adding, “Better luck next year. You don’t our open space and park system really is.” Township Manager Robert Corrales, recoup that cost.” It also made local officials more aware of nearly a third of that – 31 percent – goes Disease, fungi and insect infestation the lack of certain amenities “that would to open space debt service, with another 30 pose other concerns, which the farm relies enhance the experience,” like a pavilion to percent to the municipally-owned Indian on Rutgers University’s Integrated Pest safely hold family gatherings or more up-toSpring Country Club operating fund, and Management and the Philip E. Marucci Center date playground equipment, or an area for 24 percent to open-space recreation and to help alleviate by offering damage-control residents or even local businesses to utilize conservation maintenance expenses, with suggestions and ways to stimulate growth, that was “not wet grass after a rainstorm.” the remaining 15 percent to salaries. although these usually mean additional costs. While the township, Corrales said, has In providing an overview of the proposal, This year, the farm, like so many other Corrales also announced that Township See TAXES/ Page 11 businesses, is faced with a shortage of help, which is becoming a serious issue given there is a limited time in which the berries must be picked or they will overripen on the bush. In farming, Samuel R. Moore III says, “you get curve balls thrown at you every single day of your life,” and while solving the problems of today, tomorrow is always on the farmer’s mind. “We used to say, ‘As long as it’s solid, round and blue, it’s a good blueberry,’” he said. “But today, the focus is on products lasting longer in the store. As farmers, we have to plan for this five to 10 years ahead of where we are. You have to follow the market when it says, ‘I need this kind of variety for its shelf life.’” Questions such as “What can we do to improve economically?” and “Can we get better technology and better mechanical equipment to be more efficient and cost effective?” also must be constantly asked, he notes. Photo Provided Even with all the uncertainty over the Samuel R. Moore III, representing the sixth generation of blueberry growers to operate Moore’s future of small farms and whether they Meadow, and his father, Samuel R. Moore Jr. (right), representing the fifth generation, check out will remain economically feasible, there is blueberries picked from the farm. also gratitude for the lifestyle such farms provide and the opportunities they present wanted to sell it. His parents, he remembers, for spending time with family members. put their “blood, sweat and tears” into His sons, Samuel R. Moore IV and Matthew renovating the farm with new varieties of (Continued from Page 1) C. Moore, have also grown up on the farm, blueberry bushes, while also struggling to the former being a seventh-generation Moore’s bought 2,000 acres of land from a general who put food on the table. Meadow farmer who is in the process of fought in the Revolutionary War. Aaron B. Although times were tough, and it would becoming an agricultural pilot, and the latter, Moore then divided the property among 13 take four or five years for the new bushes to who is still in high school, now contemplating of his 15 children, some of whose descendants bear fruit and provide revenue, the Moores his options, with his dad supporting him in still own, but do not farm the land. felt compelled to invest in the farm’s future. any path that he may choose. Since then, Moore’s Meadow has managed But, he points out, farmers always need to Samuel R. Moore III’s wife, Penny, who to survive despite two devastating events spaced think ahead, as their livelihood is filled with works for an insurance agency, knows that 50 years apart to the day. One was on July 12, variables that are constantly changing or are to spend time with her husband, she will 1954, when a 20,000-acre wildfire destroyed out of their control, and which directly impact have to be at the farm, where he has spent the farm. Then on the exact same date in 2004, their bottom line and ability to survive. almost every waking moment since recently heavy rains – 13 inches in six hours – washed “Being a farmer is like rolling the dice,” retiring from the New Jersey Forest Fire away everything except for one cranberry bog. said Samuel R. Moore III, referring to being Service after 25 years – something she is at Samuel R. Moore III recounts that in at the mercy of both nature and the markets peace with because she too grew up on a 1977, his father, Samuel R. Moore Jr., “my – meaning the quality of the blueberry crop blueberry farm in Chatsworth. mentor and best friend,” and mother, itself and what the farm will get paid for it, For many years, Samuel R. Moore III has Geneva (“Neva”) Moore, bought a portion as well as the broader uncertainty of whether worked alongside his father, who is now 75 years old, as well as having worked with his of the farmland from other descendants who the farm will even have a crop to sell. Staff Writer
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mother until she died of cancer in 2016. His sister, Margaret Andress, stops by often, as she has taken over the books and other responsibilities that their mother had handled; his brother, David Elbertson, passed away in 2017. “My mom mentored me to be who I am,” said Samuel R. Moore III. “She would say, ‘It is about us … not about you. … If a farmer needs a hand, help them and they, in return, will help you.’” Moore’s Meadow, he said, has been the recipient of just that sort of kindness and generosity from neighboring farmers, such as Stephen and Abbot Lee in Speedwell, who came by and offered the family the use of their excavator “for as long as we need it.” Another example of such mutual support Samuel R. Moore III recounts was when the late Bill Haines, Sr., “one of the greatest farmers ever and the finest gentlemen you’d ever meet,” came over when his father was first starting out to provide guidance and lend the Moores equipment, saying, ‘If you guys need anything, you just ask.” “Farmers are like one big family,” Samuel R. Moore III said. “We are all here for each other, look out for each other and pick each other up, but we also have the common goal to make money … But we have to do it together.” When the farming community gathers periodically to discuss matters, the elder farmers take the opportunity to mentor younger farmers, Samuel R. Moore III said, but added that when he looks around, what he sees is the absence of younger faces. He attributes that to the promise of a college degree and more money to be made in other fields being more appealing to teens who “don’t want the work, the headache, and the stress” of operating a farm. For Samuel R. Moore III, “farming is a labor of love.” It is indeed hard work, but along with the love and respect he has for his family and the broader farming community, is his love for where he lives. “I’m a country guy, through and through,” he said. “I feel like I live in the last of the best places in New Jersey. My heart and soul are right here in the Pine Barrens.” Samuel R. Moore III told this newspaper that he greatly appreciates the support shown by area residents to local farmers and feels the gratification of a job well done when they share their enjoyment of the farm’s crops. He also is grateful for having been able to realize both his ambitions of being a fire warden and a blueberry and cranberry farmer, maintaining that, “You have to put in elbow grease, accept a failure every once in a while, try your best, and you can accomplish what you set out to do.” To place an order for a blueberry pick-up at Moore’s Meadow, which is at 126 Moore’s Meadow Road in Tabernacle, you can call them at (609) 685-4268 or send a private message through their Facebook page, Moore’s Meadow Blueberry and Cranberry Farm LLC.
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have seen in Southampton” where “taxes don’t go up in the township.” This year’s township budget contains a “very, very slight” decrease in taxes, following a county assessment, according to Township Auditor Kevin Frenia, with Mikulski noting it is the fourth year in a row that the governing body has not had to raise taxes. “I am happy to say it is due to the hard work of the staff to be able to (have) a budget that has no tax increase at a time when municipalities across the state are increasing taxes,” said Mikulski, noting that when you have “experienced people” working for the town, their salaries tend to be higher than those less experienced. Doherty noted she does “commend the committee for keeping taxes down.”
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trash collection system in Burlington County” and called the men of the township Department of Public Works “fantastic.” “I come from Cherry Hill, and when it (privatization) happened, it was great for three years, and when it ended, it became a nightmare with lawsuits, Doherty said. “It became more expensive than had they kept it (trash hauling in-house) in the long run. And that is not the only town where this happened. It happened in Tabernacle, and in other towns. This is a recurring problem.” Mikulski retorted that what Doherty said “wasn’t entirely true” because other towns would not even consider privatization if it was. “They want you to sign on the dotted line, to get your money, then after it is done and over with, then you have a nightmare on your hands,” Doherty contended. Doherty pointed to the current shortage of truck drivers, which has been impacting Burlington County’s recycling program, and said she was concerned that the employees of the DPW might leave their jobs. “When there are fears of losing a job, people start looking and they have a great need in Burlington County right now,” she declared. “We don’t need to lose our trashmen to Burlington County because we are (considering) outsourcing. You might say, ‘Well we are going to keep our employees.’ But that doesn’t resonate in an employee’s head when they start hearing about ‘outsourcing.’” Mikulski replied that the township does not have “trashmen” or “trash employees,” but rather “public works employees.” “Some DPW employees are assigned to trash duty,” he said. “There are a lot of things they are not able to get to (right now).
“outrageous,” contending the planning board only meets a handful of times a year. The mayor, however, said last year the planning board met every month, to which Doherty replied, “that is $1,000 per meeting (if the planning board secretary is paid $12,000).” “These are the salary ranges for those two positions that are open,” Mikulski said. “One we have to fill, the other we may fill.” Mikulski also remarked at one point that Doherty reminded him of a former White House reporter “back in the day” (Helen Thomas) who was known for her tough questioning of the U.S. presidents during their news conferences. But Doherty reminded the committee, when she first questioned the salaries, that, “You have always been the most frugal committee I
g
(Continued from Page 3)
If they were not doing trash, they would be rebuilding storm drains they haven’t been able to get to in a while, things like that. … We have told the public works department we have no intention of reducing its size. We have plenty of things for them to do – plenty.” Re s i d e nt Lu c y S i mp s o n , a l s o of LeisureTowne, told the township committee that, “I support the trash collections we have now.” “They do a great job, always dependable,” she declared. “They take what’s there. Even if it is something not related to trash, like an old flowerpot. I would like to keep them.” Mi ku lsk i repl ied that the idea of privatization “has zero to do with us not being happy with the work they are doing,” but rather is due to “the danger, nationally, to men on the back of trash trucks.” He added that two township public works employees were injured last year while picking up trash. Hagerthey’s May plea for the governing body to arrive at a decision came amid the township committee introducing a $7,308,404.10 municipal budget for this year. Following a state review, the budget was increased by $780, to $7,309,184.10. It passed 5-0 following a public hearing, with Doherty remarking during it, “I really value our trash collection guys and when I look at the salaries of administration being close to the cost of a (trash) truck, I question things.” Mikulski later told this newspaper that the recently passed municipal budget “includes funding for hauling trash in the same manner that is currently undertaken,” and that “we anticipate a decision on the long-term future of trash by the end of 2021 as we continue to gather the information on long-term costs, etc.” Doherty also questioned a salary ordinance establishing new ranges for the township Planning Board secretary ($5,000 to $12,000) and deputy treasurer ($20,000 to $42,000) posts, calling the maximum of the range
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A rendering of what the interior of the new Pinelands Branch Children’s Library will look like when it opens this fall.
LIBRARY (Continued from Page 1)
“The Burlington County Library System was New Jersey’s first county library system, and it continues to be one of the best in the entire state,” said Dan O’Connell, deputy director of the Burlington County Board of Commissioners and liaison to the Burlington County Library System. “This new agreement with Medford will allow the Pinelands Branch to complete its move into a library designed with today’s standards while continuing to offer the warm and inviting sense of community that has been a tradition at the Pinelands Branch for so long.” But the Library Branch Dedication Ag r e e m e nt a l s o m e mor i a l i z e s t h at B u r l i n g t o n C ou nt y h a s a g r e e d t o contribute $625,000 towards construction of the “shared space and dedicated area” by making three separate payments to the township ($312,500; $156,250 and $156,250; respectively) once certain conditions are satisfied. As previously reported by this newspaper, council, on Oct. 15, 2019, had awarded Arthur J. Ogren, Inc. $8,136,000 to construct the combination building. “The board’s and the commission’s willingness to provide financial support for the township’s construction is absolutely conditioned on the township’s commitment to continue to maintain the Medford Branch substantially as contemplated by the parties in this agreement, and a new branch service agreement between the parties replaces the existing branch services agreement currently in effect governing the Pinelands Branch Library at 39 Allen Avenue in the township,” the new Librar y Branch Dedication Agreement states.
If the township were to ever decide to withdraw from the county library system, it would not become effective until “Jan. 1 of the year following the year in which noti fication was prov ide d,” and the municipality would have to repay onefifteenth of the contribution amount back to the county for “each year remaining in the 15-year commitment period,” according to the new Library Branch Dedication Agreement. The termination repayment amount, however, decreases with time over the course of the Library Branch Dedication Agreement, to $41,662 on Jan. 1, 2036. As previously reported by this newspaper, the combination building, know n as Medford Town Hall, opened to the public on May 17 with municipal offices located on the second floor. However, the library portion of the building, which takes up much of the first floor, was unoccupied at the time with Township Manager Kathy Burger telling this newspaper during a tour that she anticipated the relocation of the Pinelands Branch would occur around or after Aug. 1. Ac c ord i ng to the Librar y Branch Dedication Agreement, Medford has formally agreed to provide no less than 6,268 square-feet of floor space in the new facility for “exclusive use” by the library branch, “wholly and exclusively” on the first floor. In addition, the township, according to the Library Branch Dedication Agreement, has agreed that about 4,490 square-feet of floor space in the new building will be available “as shared space” for use by the “Medford branch, its employees and its customers on a nonexclusive basis.” According to a press release provided to this newspaper by the county, the “larger and more modern” library’s amenities include a dedicated tech center featuring both Mac and PC computers, a study room, an event
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space, a larger children’s department, a “Friends of the Library” room and an extra meeting and workspace in a shared foyer. “Unless the commission agrees otherwise, the dedicated area and shared space shall be open and available for occupancy and use by the library system on or before Aug. 1,” the Library Branch Dedication Agreement notes, contingent upon any construction delays beyond the township’s control, acts of God or delays in the relocation of municipal offices. The press release, however, notes that the new location is expected to open “this fall.” “The Pinelands Library has been a key branch in the Burlington County Library System, serving customers in the greater Medford area and surrounding Pinelands Region for nearly 50 years,” said Burlington County Library Commission Chairman Jonathan Chebra. “We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with the Township of Medford that continues this great partnership through the current decade and beyond. It is an exciting time for our Pinelands Branch, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors into the new, modern space this fall.” The commission, the Library Branch Dedication Agreement states, has the “sole and exclusive right” to set the hours for the new facility of the library branch. However, it is stated in the Library Branch Service Agreement that the library branch, at no cost to the township, “must furnish a qualified and sufficient staff of personnel to operate and keep open the library at least 56 hours in each week” to meet “state aid criteria,” and that the municipality “shall retain control of the library facility for education and cultural purposes at other than scheduled library hours,” though the designated library branch manager must provide consent. Use of the new location “shall not be limited” to residents of Medford and be available to all “free of charge.” It is also noted in the Library Branch
Dedication Agreement that 30 parking spaces in the Medford Town Hall parking lot will be set aside for library patrons. The Library Branch Service Agreement calls for the municipality to “provide and pay for all the operating expenses involved in the operation of the said building” including “heat, air conditioning, electric, telephone, water and janitorial service.” The municipality, according to the Library Branch Service Agreement, must also “repair and/or replace furniture and furnishings delivered as part of the opening of the new library facility.” Providing for library supplies, along w it h m at e r i a l s a n d e qu ip m e nt for technology-based information services is the responsibility of the Burlington County Library System, the Library Branch Service Agreement states, and the system is also responsible for the personnel needed to operate the library branch (except for buildings and grounds staff). The library branch is responsible for “boxing up” its “library books and other chattels” and moving them to the new facility, according to a statement in the Library Branch Dedication Agreement. “Our Pinelands branch has such a closeknit relationship with the community, and I know that Medford residents will continue to be proud to call this library their own,” said Burlington County Library System Director Ranjna Das. “Being a part of the Medford Township offices will offer ‘onestop shopping’ to residents and enable us to provide an even better library experience to customers. We look forward to welcoming everyone through our doors as we begin this next chapter.” The current facility of the Pinelands branch is also a township-owned facility, Burger previously told this newspaper. It was mentioned during the June 15 Medford Council meeting that it is expected that the property will eventually be investigated for a possible redevelopment designation.
POLICE
Francis added that he “begs to differ” with Haines that borough roads do not become icy in the wintertime and that there are times during winter weather where cops have to “fly” along with ambulances in responding to medical emergencies. “And we got a lot of dirt roads and back roads around here (just outside the borough, in which the borough force provides backup),” Francis said. “But just the equipment part alone. Am I right or wrong? I think every one of them should have to go with (the patrolmen) for a couple hours, sit in that car and see what it is all about, before you make a judgement call like that! It is easy to sit up there (at the dais) and say that, but you don’t do that for a living!” One person, in response to Francis, exclaimed, “That is a good idea!”
(Continued from Page 3) to council that “a lot of time was spent on it.” Resident Harold Francis, after listening to the back-and-forth over the purchase of vehicles for the borough patrolmen, contended that “every councilperson in here should have to go with them two hours a day and ride in that little car out there and just see what it is like!” “Have you ever seen the equipment they have to carry with them?” Francis asked. “Between the computer on their dash, the radar detector and this, that, and everything else – that is why they went to bigger vehicles!”
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(Continued from Page 2) contended that the definitions were in conflict with each other. Now, a “tree” is defined as “any living woody perennial deciduous plant with a diameter of at least 6 inches measured 54 inches above the ground,” while “caliper” is now defined as the “standard measure of tree size for trees to be newly planted” with the “measurement taken between 6 to 12 inches above the ground level depending
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*Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free information kit available by calling 1-877-929-9587.
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Edie’s Beauty Salon. Sells fresh blueberries from their farm. Open Tuesday 9 a.m.-12 noon, Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. 609893-8614. 524 Lakehurst Road, Browns Mills.
*Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info. kit! Call 1-888-623-3036, or visit www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.
HELP WANTED Office assistant needed. Various tasks, including making inbound and outbound calls. Should have a pleasant, outgoing personality, be comfortable talking on the phone and well-versed with computers and emailing. Part-time or full-time. $15/hr. Call Doug, 609-801-2392.
HOME IMPROVEMENT *Update your home with beautiful new blinds and shades. Free in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - made in the USA. Free consultation, call 1-877-212-7578. Ask about our specials!
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, spring clean ups, and gutter cleaning. Shrub pruning and some tree work, along with hauling. Free estimates=reasonable rates. Call or Text Bob at 1-609-880-3789.
LOST PET Lost dog, Duce, one-year old chocolate lab with white chest. Black collar and leash. Missing from South Lakeshore Drive, Browns Mills, on June 15. Last seen in Bel Aire Estates. If you see him, please call Cathy, 609-937-2202.
on propagation method, e.g. ball and burlapped/containerized, bare root.” Newly planted trees, according to the amended tree ordinance, to replace removed trees now must “have a minimum caliper at the time of planting of one and one-half inches”, “be of nursery stock” and “be balled and burlapped, containerized or bare root.” The amended tree ordinance also clarifies that any tree “may be removed pursuant to an application for development (as defined in the Municipal Land Use Law) approved by the Medford Township Planning or Zoning boards, and, where required, the Pinelands Commission.
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*Attention Active Duty and Military Veterans! Begin a new career and earn a degree at CTI! Online computer and medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 1-888-449-1713. *Bath and Shower Updates in as little as one day! Affordable prices – no payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty and professional installs. Senior and military discounts available. Call: 1-855-761-1725. *DirecTV Now. No satellite. $40 per month for 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports and on demand titles. No contract/commitment. Call 1-866-825-6523. *DISH TV: $64.99 For 190 Channels plus $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free installation, Smart HD DVR included, along with free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. Call 1-833-872-2545.
*Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a free estimate. 15 percent off purchase. 10 percent off senior and military discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490. *HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 1-866-409-0308. *New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help self-publish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! Call 1-866-951-7214. *Never pay for covered home repairs again! Complete Care Home Warranty covers all major systems and appliances. 30-day risk free. $200 off + 2 free months! 1-866-395-2490.
WANTED TO BUY *Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support Our Veterans. Fast - free pick up. 100 percent tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398.
*Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201.
READER ADVISORY Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds with an asterisk. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.
A tree removal limit (up to three trees may be removed every 12 months for any reason from an existing lot within the Township of Medford, which contains a residential dwelling, but no more than 10 trees may be removed, for any reason, from an existing lot which contains a residential dwelling within any five-year period), one of the more controversial provisions of the tree ordinance, previously called “arbitrary” and “unfair” by opponents of the law, and drew protest that it violated private property rights, was not changed, however. Therefore, the owner of a residential lot who wishes to remove more than the
allotted number of trees must still file a “Tree Removal/Replacement Plan” with the township’s zoning officer, and receive a “Tree Removal Permit.” The permit costs a requestor $25. A “map, legal survey or site plan” showing a variety of items is required to be submitted with any permit application. There continues to be, however, an emergency exception in the ordinance that allows a homeowner to remove an unlimited number of trees that are dead, diseased or an immediate hazard – so long as there is photographic evidence, or certification from a certified arborist, that can be provided, upon request, to the zoning officer.
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Page 10 ♦
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Local
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Saturday, July 10, 2021
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♦ Page 11
TREE SERVICES
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RESIGNATIONS (Continued from Page 5)
Commission’s upcoming hearing on whether to allow the project to proceed. “As outlined in the attached wildfire risk assessment, locating the proposed cell tower facility within the existing 66-foot-wide Giles Avenue right-of-way and firebreak will expose the Village of Chatsworth to increased wildfire risk,” adding that, “With side setbacks of 33 to 66 feet from the extreme fuel hazard forest types of Franklin Parker Preserve, the cell tower facility proposed within the Giles Avenue right-of-way will have inadequate defensible space to protect critical communications structures from catastrophic wildfires spreading in from the west.” Windisch added that a cell tower in the “fire-prone Pinelands” should be located with “better resilience to catastrophic wildfires,” such as the “center of a large clearing with 100- to 200-foot setbacks from forested edges.” “I f t h e fa c i l it y i s c r it i c a l for communications during wildfire emergencies impacting Chatsworth, then it should be situated in a more defensible location that is less vulnerable to damage by anticipated wildfires,” he wrote. “The Woodland Fire/ EMS Station will become more vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires spreading in from the west if flammable communications facility equipment is developed in the Giles Avenue right-of-way and compromises this existing 66-foot-wide firebreak located immediately upwind of the station. “The proposal fails to prov ide an adequate firebreak-fuelbreak system at the Chatsworth Village boundary /wildlandurban interface at Giles Avenue, making Chatsworth generally more vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires spreading in from the west. This could increase the risk of catastrophic wildfire damage to many downtown homes and historical buildings, as well as threaten life.” Windisch also pointed out that a “1954 Chatsworth Fire” provides a “documented
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case study” of a catastrophic wildfire impacting the village from the west, which “burned the exact location of the fire station, proposed cell tower and other sincedeveloped areas, an event likely to happen again due to the prevailing westerly winds.” “A published quote from Woodland Fire Chief Shawn Viscardi indicates his belief that fire history repeats itself and a bad fire out of the west can’t be stopped,” Windisch concluded. “This makes the Giles Avenue firebreak a critical last line of defense against catastrophic wildfires. If a fire similar to the 1954 Chatsworth Fire occurred today, hundreds of homes built since then could be destroyed and many lives threatened. “For these reasons, the Pi nelands Commission and other review agencies may wish to consider challenging the Giles Avenue street vacation intended to accom modate development within an existing right-of-way and firebreak, and/or deny the cell tower applications associated with it, since this location will pose an unacceptable wildfire risk to the communications facility, the fire station and the entire community of Chatsworth.” Wi nd is ch att ache d the 25 -page “Wildfire Risk Assessment of a Proposed Com mu n ic at ions Tower Fa c i l it y at Chatsworth’s Giles Avenue Wildland-Urban Interface: Lessons from the 1954 Chatsworth Fire” report, along with other documentation. Though there has been continuing opposition to the cellphone tower behind the Chatsworth firehouse of the Woodland company, the petition, and questions raised by the public about the fire company’s activities, dozens of residents, in online social media outlets, expressed their support for the Woodland company and its volunteers. “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” wrote one man, with dozens of residents recounting stories of how the Woodland company’s volunteers came to their aid in a time of need. T h e Wo o d l a n d c o m p a n y, w h e n announcing a discussion about restructuring, noted “We appreciate the outpouring (of) support recently shown from everyone.”
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(Continued from Page 6) been able to address those deficiencies with the help of a county grant that allowed for the upgrading of four neighborhood parks and included a raised platform for Evesboro Downs Park, he pointed out, “this is barely the tip of the iceberg for all the improvements that we want to get done for our residents.” What having the additional revenue called for in the pending referendum means, he noted, “is we get to make the improvements in that draft report, as well as “hire much needed park employees to maintain our parks and open space to the high standards that we all expect.” Corrales also emphasized that it would enable the township to preserve and purchase open space like the Beagle Club property (now on track to be closed on within the next couple months, he told this newspaper) and other areas like Country Farms Park “to restrict some of the overdevelopment people have raised concerns about,” as well as improving the current infrastructure at Black Run Preserve and Croft Farm. “In addition, the h idden value of preservation is the benefits to the ecosystem services, which are the benefits nature provides to our well-being like clean air/ water, protection from natural disaster, fisheries, crop pollination and control of pests and disease,” he pointed out. Both Corrales and Mayor Jaclyn Veasy
cited neighboring Mount Laurel Township, whose parks many Evesham residents are drawn to, as an example of the difference some extra revenues for open space can make, pointing out that Mount Laurel taxpayers generate more than $4.6 million annually for this purpose (or $0.08 per $100), with the mayor declaring, “I hope we can bring our park system up to that level.” By contrast, Veasy contended, any time Evesham hopes to make improvements to any of its parks or open spaces, including Black Run, “it always comes down to a situation where we might have to take on some additional debt in order to make those changes happen or it is something that has to be put on the back burner, or wait until we can get a grant to take care of it so that we don’t burden the taxpayers with debt for a long period of time.” The mayor also said that both she and Councilwoman Patricia Hansen had the opportunity to visit the Beagle Club parcel recently, and it is “absolutely beautiful.” “So, I’m glad we’re able to move forward on that separate from the referendum and be able to offer to the residents something like (that) to enjoy,” Veasy said. Hansen stressed the importance of the pending referendum as well, noting that “numerous studies have shown that exposure to green space has positive physical and mental health benefits,” and that as such a large township, “we definitely need this.” “We need bike paths, playgrounds, trials, gardens,” she added. “The more we have, the healthier our residents will be.”
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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES
WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM
Saturday, July 10, 2021
ASpectacularFourth Photos By Andrew King
Scenes from Marlton’s Fourth of July 2021 parade.