Pine Barrens Tribune

25/03/2025

A long-sought plan to redo and expand the parking lot for the Washington Township Municipal Building, as well as add some amenities to the municipal lot, last presented in February 2023, is one Resident Barbara Cavileer is calling on the Washington Township Committee to “revisit” after it seemingly went by the wayside.

WASHINGTON—A long-sought plan to redo and expand the parking lot for the Washington Township Municipal Building, as well as add some amenities to the municipal lot, last presented in February 2023, is one Resident Barbara Cavileer is calling on the Washington Township Committee to “revisit” af...

24/03/2025

New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Emergency Management Planner Donald Nelson has initiated an “investigation” of the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company, Bass River Township Mayor William “Rick” Adams revealed at the March 10 Bass River Township Commission meeting.

The investigation is one that reportedly stemmed from an anonymous complaint made in response to an open meeting the company conducted Feb. 3 at which Fire Chief Patrick Monaghan attempted to address public concerns that it might close down due to a disagreement with the township over funding, an account of which appeared in this newspaper.

BASS RIVER—New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Emergency Management Planner Donald Nelson has initiated an “investigation” of the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company, Bass River Township Mayor William “Rick” Adams revealed at the March 10 Bass River Township Commission meeting. The investigat...

23/03/2025

McGinnis emphasized that the situation being realized is not how it was in the old days in the Lakes, rather his department has issued over 350 curbside warnings over the last four years “and if we could write faster with a pen, we would probably have more on record.”

Some 43 cases of late, the chief noted, have involved juveniles, but the chief said he suspects “that number is a lot higher because we have ‘suspected juvenile activity,’ as far as crime reported.”

MEDFORD LAKES—Details of a proposed “Parental Responsibility Ordinance” have now been released by Medford Lakes Police Chief John G. McGinnis, Jr., with him calling the proposal an effort to “help residents negatively affected by juvenile justice reforms,” with him adding he hopes it will ...

22/03/2025

In a momentous occasion that will be etched in the annals of the Friendship African Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation gathered on Feb. 16 to witness an historic milestone under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Hayes, Jr.

On this day, the church proudly hosted its first-ever Presiding Prelate, the 125th elected and consecrated Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green Sr., marking a significant chapter in the nearly 80-year history of the church.

BROWNS MILLS—In a momentous occasion that will be etched in the annals of the Friendship African Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation gathered on Feb. 16 to witness an historic milestone under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Hayes, Jr. On this day, the church proudly hosted its first-...

21/03/2025

ICYMI:

LaPlaca, in her March 18 Facebook response to the latest charges against her, told her constituents, “And no, I will not be resigning my position. I will come back from recovery stronger and more focused on what is best for my family and our community.”

LUMBERTON—Former Democratic 8th Legislative District state Assembly candidate and current Lumberton Township Mayor Gina M. LaPlaca was arrested on March 17, and subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child, among many other charges. According to a crim...

21/03/2025

The Southampton Township Land Development Board has indefinitely put off its scheduled review of an application for a use variance to allow the Bamboo Gardens Campground at 134 Landing St. in the Vincentown section of the township to accommodate mobile homes after being asked to put it off on the day before the board’s March 6 meeting by an attorney representing the property.

SOUTHAMPTON—The Southampton Township Land Development Board has indefinitely put off its scheduled review of an application for a use variance to allow the Bamboo Gardens Campground at 134 Landing St. in the Vincentown section of the township to accommodate mobile homes after being asked to put it...

21/03/2025

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 9:15 p.m. for Southeastern Burlington and Southern Ocean counties

19/03/2025

A purported notice of eviction sent to “Mr. Elly,” proprietor of Elly Premium Laundry at the Browns Mills Shopping Center (which is owned by Pemberton Township) a mere couple days after he and his family had complained to Pemberton Township Council about a continuing leaking roof over his store, as well as the outage of an outdoor lamp where his unit is located, set off a firestorm on March 5 that ended with Mr. Elly suffering an apparent medical episode during a council meeting, his daughter being brought to tears, all five Republican members of council forcefully calling on Mayor Jack Tompkins to resign immediately, and the mayor, who has previously faced calls to resign, departing the session some two hours before it was over.

PEMBERTON—A purported notice of eviction sent to “Mr. Elly,” proprietor of Elly Premium Laundry at the Browns Mills Shopping Center (which is owned by Pemberton Township) a mere couple days after he and his family had complained to Pemberton Township Council about a continuing leaking roof ove...

18/03/2025

Sean Kennedy, who leads the New Jersey team for global IT firm CGI, the very firm that College President Dr. Michael A. Cioce had reportedly recommended RCBC not contract with for website services last spring, which purportedly set in motion a cascading chain of events that led to calls for an investigation into Cioce in October, was elected the board’s new chairman.

MOUNT LAUREL—The Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Board of Trustees has finally reorganized and has a new chairman, who tried to both publicly distance himself from past tensions over an alleged nepotism in hiring scheme and strike a conciliatory tone during the board’s belated reorgani...

16/03/2025

A major issue that the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company has had in recent weeks with the government of Bass River Township appeared to have been resolved this past week with an announcement that the unit has switched the insurance on Chief Patrick Monaghan’s specially equipped truck to a company whose rules are less strict in regard to its use than those of the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), which will continue to provide coverage on other firefighting and municipal property.

B ASS RIVER—A major issue that the New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company has had in recent weeks with the government of Bass River Township appeared to have been resolved this past week with an announcement that the unit has switched the insurance on Chief Patrick Monaghan’s specially equipped truck...

15/03/2025

An old tire dump on Goose Pond Road in Tabernacle Township has been the source of a recent complaint about nuisance activity, according to Deputy Mayor Noble McNaughton, but New Jersey State Police are now involved and issuing warnings to observed trespassers.

TABERNACLE—An old tire dump on Goose Pond Road in Tabernacle Township has been the source of a recent complaint about nuisance activity, according to Deputy Mayor Noble McNaughton, but New Jersey State Police are now involved and issuing warnings to observed trespassers. The property at issue is t...

14/03/2025

The Woodland Township Committee has reaffirmed a September 2024 position to order an audit of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, but because of a “pretty good meeting” the governing body recently had with the entity, it will now only order a review of its 2024 books, and not for 2022 and 2023 as previously decided.

WOODLAND—The Woodland Township Committee has reaffirmed a September 2024 position to order an audit of the Woodland Volunteer Fire and EMS Company, but because of a “pretty good meeting” the governing body recently had with the entity, it will now only order a review of its 2024 books, and not...

13/03/2025

Officials in Pemberton Borough have now decided against using potential grant funds to restore an old canoe house by the Hanover Street Bridge, and instead have agreed to apply for funding to rehabilitate sidewalks on Hanover and Elizabeth streets.

PEMBERTON BOROUGH—Officials in Pemberton Borough have now decided against using potential grant funds to restore an old canoe house by the Hanover Street Bridge, and instead have agreed to apply for funding to rehabilitate sidewalks on Hanover and Elizabeth streets. There was a question last month...

12/03/2025

One man declared, “It is to a point now where my wife and I are talking about moving.”

A neighbor of that man declared that a realtor and lawyer recently came over to his house and had remarked, “How do you explain that?”, or what is next door.

Another neighbor asserted, “I live the same nightmare.”

SHAMONG—One man declared, “It is to a point now where my wife and I are talking about moving.” A neighbor of that man declared that a realtor and lawyer recently came over to his house and had remarked, “How do you explain that?”, or what is next door. Another neighbor asserted, “I live ...

12/03/2025

Southampton Referendum Question Preliminary Results
Yes: 837 votes (52%)
No: 772 votes (48%)
As of 11:03 p.m. 3/11/2025. Source: County Clerk

11/03/2025

Stricter curfew requirements, as well as requirements for parents of children, are on tap for Medford Lakes Borough.

MEDFORD LAKES—Stricter curfew requirements, as well as requirements for parents of children, are on tap for Medford Lakes Borough. According to Feb. 12 remarks by Medford Lakes Borough Solicitor Doug Heinold, Police Chief John McGinnis, Jr., has put in requests for “some additional authority rel...

10/03/2025

Pemberton Township has been the site of two reportedly separate environmental health issues that has led to the death of wildlife within the past couple of weeks – a confirmed case of Avian Influenza in a wild Canada goose that was found dead earlier in February in the municipality, and an apparent fish kill at Pemberton Lake.

PEMBERTON—Pemberton Township has been the site of two reportedly separate environmental health issues that has led to the death of wildlife within the past couple of weeks – a confirmed case of Avian Influenza in a wild Canada goose that was found dead earlier in February in the municipality, an...

09/03/2025

Now that Tabernacle Town Hall has been saved from a hastily-arranged demolition last year, Tabernacle Township officials say they want to hear from the public about “what people want to see down there,” according to Richard Franzen, a former mayor, president of the Tabernacle Township Historical Society and member of the Town Hall Subcommittee created by the Tabernacle Township Committee.

TABERNACLE—Now that Tabernacle Town Hall has been saved from a hastily-arranged demolition last year, Tabernacle Township officials say they want to hear from the public about “what people want to see down there,” according to Richard Franzen, a former mayor, president of the Tabernacle Townsh...