It’s the end of another year in Evesham Township as we take a look back on 2011. The year kicked off with a new member taking a seat on the township council, while a longtime council member resigned from his post at the end of the year to move on to a new position.
January
The newest member of Evesham Township Council officially took his post to start the New Year, being sworn into his seat during the township’s first-ever January reorganization meeting.
Steve Zeuli, a long time resident and small-business owner, was sworn into a four-year term on the five-member governing body.
Councilwoman Deb Hackman was also sworn into a four-year seat on council.
The seat was Hackman’s first full term. She was elected to fill out the remainder of now Burlington County Freeholder Chris Brown’s term, which expired in December.
Mayor Randy Brown was sworn into his second term as mayor.
Borders closed its doors to readers in January, ending a near two-decade chapter in Evesham Township. The 24,000 square-foot facility sold its last book on Friday, Jan. 8. Sandy Student, chairman of the Marlton Economic Development Council, said the store’s closing was more of an issue with the international company than it was with economic viability in Marlton.
The store originally opened in November 1991.
Parents, teachers, administrators and even college students came out at the end of the month in support of Cherokee High School North Principal Linda Rohrer.
Rohrer submitted a letter to the Lenape Regional High School Board of Education in late December stating she would retire at the end of the school year — June 30.Both sides remained silent on the reason or event that led to her sudden desire to retire. BOE President William J. Bisignano did state that if Rohrer submitted a second letter asking to stay on as principal, the board would take it under consideration.
Superintendent Emily Capella said it was not the board’s place to ask why Rohrer decided to retire. The principal submitted the request, Capella said, and the board acted.
February
The BOE opened up the month with some sobering news, as Superintendent John Scavelli and representatives unveiled some possible changes in the district. At best, the district predicted a shortfall between revenues and expenditures of almost $4.2 million for next year, based on a 2 percent tax increase and flat state aid. At worst, with a flat-tax rate, the 2011–2012 budget could have seen a shortfall as high as $5.7 million.
If the tax levy were to have remained flat, the district would have had to eliminate the equivalent of nearly 82 full-time positions and close Evans Elementary School to reduce costs by $5.8 million.
It might not have been on par with Don Rickles giving Johnny Carson a surprise by walking on to the Tonight Show unannounced, but NBC 10’s weatherman Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz certainly gave a DeMasi Middle School student a day to remember.
As part of his “House Calls” segment for NBC 10 ¬– where he surprises viewers with visits to their home — the weatherman visited one of his youngest fans when he came to Sean Kelly’s classroom. Kelly’s homeroom teacher Laura Colnes, a seventh-grade language-arts teacher, arranged the visit. Kelly had told Colnes that he was a huge fan of Schwartz.
March
Several members of the Inglis Gardens housing development made preparations to attend a township council meeting to voice their displeasure on what they believe is inaction from Evesham Township to construct a sidewalk in front of their community on 304 N. Elmwood Road.
But getting to a meeting for these residents is not as easy as hopping into a car and driving to the municipal complex. These are residents who live in a development for the physically disabled, most confined to wheelchairs, who must plan any trip to the smallest detail.
Gardens residents have been requesting a sidewalk be constructed on their side of the road for several years now to give them access to Evesboro-Medford Road and the shopping center at the intersection.
There is no sidewalk leading to the road on their side of the street, so residents have to either cross without a crosswalk or travel up the side of the road to the shopping center.
For the first time in Marlton Middle School’s wrestling history, the young athletes captured the school’s first-ever South Jersey middle school wrestling championship. The middle school wrestlers defeated Delran 45–44 to capture its first title. The South Jersey Middle School Wrestling League consists of 22 teams.
Coach Josh Zagorski said it capped off a dominant, three-year run by the squad’s eighth-grade wrestlers, who compiled a team record of 34–6 over the three years.
Overall, the team had about 37 wrestlers this season, down from an average of about 50 from years past.
The district went to a pay-to-play initiative this year, which brought the numbers down.
The eighth-grade Mustangs only experienced one home loss throughout the three years as well, Zagorski said, suffering its only defeat on Dec. 16, 2008.
Ten residents registered to run for three open seats on the Evesham K-8 School District BOE. Each seat has a three-year term.
The expiring seats belonged to Sandy Student, Rosemary Bernardi and Bonnie Olt. Both Student and Bernardi registered to run in the April 27 election.
Joining the two incumbents were Joseph Barbagiovanni, Harvey Brown, Joy Curley, Kenneth P. D’Andrea, Suzanne Schweiger Epstein, JoAnne Harmon, David J. Silver and Kevin A. Stone, according to the district.
Sami Zindel, 12, of Evesham Township, sang in the final round of the annual New York Mets “Anthem Search” competition at the end of the month. The annual event showcases some of the best singers from New York and the surrounding areas who think they have what it takes to sing the anthem at a 2011 regular season Mets game at Citi Field.
Zindel was one of 50 finalists who had one last chance to again audition.
The young singer performed the anthem at an audition at Citi Field on Wednesday, March 23.
The finalists were whittled down from more than 250 potential contestants.
April
Candidate Suzanne Schweiger-Epstein dropped out of the BOE election to kick off the month. The candidate was challenging for one of three open seats on the K-8 board, but confirmed she had to take her name off of the ballot.
No more details were provided on her decision.
This was the third candidate to drop out of the election.
Kenneth D’Andrea and Harvey Brown also dropped out of the crowded race in mid-March.
Meanwhile, to increase security at township hall, members of the council approved the installation of metal detectors at the entrance to the municipal building and courtroom.
Brown introduced the idea after the shooting tragedy in Arizona earlier in the year that took several lives and seriously wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
The new security measures would make entrance into the complex longer. Brown apologized for the delays. However, delays to enter the building would come with increased safety, he said, a right that every resident should have when coming into town hall.
A longtime board member said goodbye to the school district this month, as Bonnie Olt called it quits after a long career.
Olt chose not to run for reelection and attended her final meeting before the Wednesday, April 27 election.
Olt served on the BOE for 15 years and also served for a period of time on the Evesham Township Council.
Olt said she chose not to run for reelection to spend more time with her family and children. She said she planned to dedicate herself to supporting local PTAs.
Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi applauded a decision by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey that upheld the conviction of murder, attempted murder and multiple counts of aggravated-sexual assault against Christopher Kornberger.
The decision concluded Kornberger “was appropriately given a sentence that will ensure he spends the rest of his life in prison.”
Kornberger was convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering Krista DiFrancesco on May 10, 2003, outside the Evesham townhouse she shared with her husband and young child. The prosecutor’s office said in August 2003, Kornberger struck a female jogger with his car in Marlton with the intention of sexually assaulting her. In November 2003, Kornberger attacked an Evesham woman from behind with a knife, also with the intent of sexually assaulting her.
The name of a man involved in a horrific crash on Route 73 north in Pennsauken was released in late April.
Craig Powers, 55, of Evesham Township, was pronounced dead at the scene Monday, April 18, after a large truck failed to stop at a traffic signal and crushed the car.
According to Sgt. Chris Sulzbach of the Pennsauken Police Department, Powers was traveling northbound on Route 73 and waiting at a stop light at Remington Avenue around 9:35 a.m. For a yet-to-be-determined reason, Sulzbach said the driver of a box truck failed to stop at the traffic light and barreled into Powers’ car.
His car was pushed into a large roll-off truck — which is designed to haul dumpsters — and sandwiched in between the two vehicles.
Sulzbach said Powers was pronounced dead at the scene.
To end the month, Evesham Township voters approved both the K-8 district and Lenape Regional High School District budgets
Meanwhile, Joe Fisicaro was able to fend off newcomer Joanne Sanferraro to maintain his seat on the Lenape Board of Education.
Fisicaro received 2,351 votes, as compared to Sanferraro’s 1,823.
As for the Evesham K-8 BOE, voters elected a new member to the board.
Seven candidates ran for three spots. Newcomer David Silver was elected to take a seat on the board, and he was joined by Sandy Student and Rosemary Bernardi, also winners in the election.
May
Almost 10 years ago, the township constructed Inglis Gardens at 304 N. Elmwood Road as an affordable development for wheelchair-accessible apartments for people with physical disabilities. On a stretch of road in between Route 70 and Evesboro-Medford Road, the community is almost like an island unto itself. A small sidewalk is in front of the community, but it only runs about 200-feet to the right and left of the development.
Because of a lack of a sidewalk, residents at the development have to walk on the shoulder of the road to reach Route 70 or Evesboro-Medford Road — or attempt a risky mid-street crossing — all while dodging cars on the 35-mile-per hour road.
Despite a motion being tabled at the last township meeting, the township council took a big step toward providing a solution to the problem.
Brown endorsed a plan that would see the installation of a mid-street crosswalk in front of the Inglis Gardens community, allowing residents to cross to the other side of N. Elmwood that has a sidewalk.
An Evesham man was sentenced to four years in state prison in May for a series of fires he set in the summer of 2010, according to fire officials.
The suspect, 20, of Stafford Way, pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 in Superior Court to aggravated arson, arson, and failure to control or report a dangerous fire, representatives from the Evesham Township Fire Department.
Judge James W. Palmer Jr. also ordered the suspect to pay about $9,600 in restitution to the Evesham Fire District №1 for $5,435 and the New Jersey Forest Service for $4,172. The restitutions are for costs the agencies incurred in fighting the fires.
The Village Green Community Association’s clubhouse was terribly vandalized on May 14.
By the time representatives arrived at the clubhouse, it was too late to stop the vandal, who was gone, but he left behind an untold amount of damage to the clubhouse and the pool. The community is still waiting on an assessment from its insurance provider, but a representative said that it would likely be $10,000 or more to completely repair and clean up.
In the clubhouses pool area, several electrical sockets were knocked off of the walls, a soda machine was broken, and all of the pool furniture and several barbecues were thrown into the pool.
On one of the outside walls, a message was scrawled on the structure that said: “You will all die,” and was followed by the number 666.
After the vandal finished his work at the pool, he broke a window and got into the clubhouse. In the clubhouse, a fire extinguisher was emptied in the offices and hallways, ketchup was smeared on the walls and several windows were broken.
Following a presentation Monday, May 23, residents can keep tabs on just how much money and energy is being culled from the solar panel systems that are chugging away on top of the municipal hall complex, on top of the parks garage and the Blue Barn.
A monitor in the lobby of the municipal complex at 984 Tuckerton Road keeps a running total of how much energy the system has created and how many credits the township will receive from its system.
The solar panel system has actually been generating electricity in the township since early in 2011.
June
The Evesham Township Planning Board debated a conditional-use application from an insurance company to construct a new heliport near the Marlton Circle.
The proposal rankled more than a few citizens in town.
In July 2010, the township council passed an ordinance allowing the construction and design of heliports in Evesham Township, Brown explained.
After the introduction, a public meeting was held a week later and hundreds of residents turned out to the Evesham Planning Board meeting to protest the construction of the five-foot high, 45-foot wide helistop near Routes 70 and 73 on Lake Center Drive.
Spilling into the early morning hours of June 16, members of the public urged the board to consider thinking about the residents in close proximity to the proposed helistop, in regard to noise, fumes, real estate value and general quality of life.
However, the planning board voted 6–2–1 in favor of the helipad site.
Finally, a cheer went up over Blanchard Avenue on Tuesday, June 21 that could not be drowned out by the phalanx of motorcycles that escorted a stretch limousine down a small street.
A more than 100-foot tall American flag waved majestically over the limousine as the door opened and the swell of voices grew louder as the hero stepped out of the car.
Well, “heroes” is probably the better word, because his wife and children stepped out first to the adoring group of neighbors, family members and government officials.
Sgt. Michael Costello was given a hero’s welcome after returning from a six-month tour of duty overseas in Kuwait.
Friends and neighbors stood side-by-side along the street with American flags to greet the veteran as he came home.
The 38-year-old vet began his military career in 1991 when he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. He has been deployed this time since December 2010 for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn and was based in Kuwait.
Leslie Drummond, president of the Yellow Ribbon Club, was the first to shake his hand as he stepped out of the car. Drummond has organized hundreds of these return celebrations for veterans to the area.
On Friday, June 24, around 5 p.m., the state Department of Transportation announced that the 70-year-old Marlton Circle would officially be eliminated when the new overpass at the grade-separated intersection was fully opened to traffic.
The overpass was opened later on that night.
Route 73’s four travel lanes — two in each direction — now rise above and over Route 70’s four lanes. The Route 73 northbound lanes were opened in March.
“This newly configured intersection of two major highways in southern New Jersey will provide residents and visitors with safe and efficient travel for many years to come,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said. “A grade-separated intersection was the best solution for this particular traffic circle that had become overwhelmed by high traffic volume.”
The multi-million dollar project began in April 2009
July
If leadership were easy everyone would do it, Brown told his co-workers on the Evesham Township Council in early July after the group agreed to a one-of-a-kind program, which will see township employees contribute much more to their health-care benefit.
In a unanimous vote, members of the council agreed to have all township employees pay between 20 and 30 percent of their health-benefit costs starting Jan. 1.
The township will require employees in the state’s family health-insurance plan to pay 30 percent — approximately $432 a month — of their health-care premiums. An employee in the single plus plan will pay 20 percent — or $114 a month — of their health-care premiums.
Currently, employees only pay 1.5 percent of their gross salary to their plan.
The bottom line though, Brown said, is this new plan will save the township $350,000 a year.
Two weeks after members of the council passed an ordinance requiring township employees to contribute more to their benefits, employees were still reeling from the increase and wondering how they would make due in the months to come.
Terri Butz, shop steward for the Clerical Union of Teamsters Local 676, said most employees of understand they must contribute more toward their plan, but a jump from 1.5 percent to possibly 30 percent was unreasonable.
Butz has been a township employee for 10-plus years and will make $29,120. She’s enrolled in the single plan and will see a little more than $100 a month go toward her health insurance now.
Butz said there are 10 members of the clerical union who make less than $30,000 a year.
On the state level, the Christie administration announced last week the allocation plans for $850 million in new aid authorized for New Jersey schools in the fiscal year 2012 budget. This includes the initial $250 million increase for all school districts, as well as an additional $450 million for Abbott districts, and an additional $150 million for non-Abbott districts.
The Lenape Regional High School District received an increase of about $1.3 million from its 2011–2012 initial total of $25.8 million. The Evesham K-8 School District received an increase of about $718,000 over its 2011–2012 total of $12.2 million.
August
On Friday, Aug. 12, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi said several members of the Evesham Township Council did “unwittingly run afoul of the prohibitions contained in the OPMA (open public meetings act),” earlier this year when emails were exchanged that discussed a possible planning board ordinance that would allow Conner, Strong and Buckelew to build a helipad near Route 73. The members of the council came under investigation when the prosecutor received a formal complaint from John Paff, who inquired as to whether or not emails violated the open public meetings act.
Township solicitor John Gillespie and township manager Tom Czerniecki reconfigured an email communications policy in the wake of a prosecutor’s ruling.
Brown called for an overhaul of the 1976 Open Public Meetings Act as well, stating the law was created before emails and other social-media platforms were in play.
The month ended with a bang, as an earthquake struck up and down the east coast on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 1:51 p.m. The quake was measured at a 5.9 on the Richter Scale, according to the National Weather Service.
The service reported the epicenter at 34 miles northwest of Richmond, Va., or 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. There was no reported damage in Evesham Township.
September
Based on a decision made by President Obama, township representatives expected to receive some funding for the damage caused by Hurricane Irene in late August.
Brown said the township would officially declare itself eligible for funding from the FEMA because of the president’s declaring the hurricane a statewide disaster.
While there were no deaths or injuries that resulting from Irene, Czerniecki reported there was significant damage to two roadways in Marlton.
The council, meanwhile, and two lucky employees from Jay Roberts Jewelers, honored Anthony Baynard for his quick thinking in July when he helped save two injured people after an elderly driver crashed her car through the front wall of the jewelry store.
“It shook the whole building. I ran outside and saw smoke coming out of the jewelry shop,” Baynard said. “I just ran over and wanted to see if we could be of help to anyone.”
When he came to the storefront he was amazed to find a vehicle had crashed completely through the storefront window at Roberts Jewelers. He approached the vehicle and yelled at the woman to see if she was alright, Baynard said, and the first thing she asked was if she had “killed anyone” in the store. Thinking quickly, Baynard unjammed her foot from the brake and shut the car off before going into the store and seeing the havoc.
He helped two women who had been injured from the crash.
October
A Medford resident was indicted for practicing law without a license, according to the prosecutor’s office. The suspect represented a client in Evesham Township Municipal Court earlier this year without a license.
Demetrio S. Timban, 45, of Medford, was indicted on two counts of unauthorized practice of law in the fourth degree. The indictment was returned on Oct. 4.
Meanwhile, members of the council listened to a new email policy put forth by Gillespie in October, as he crafted the policy in the wake of a Burlington County Prosecutor’s ruling earlier this year.
November
To kick off the month, longtime Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education member Joe Fisicaro resigned from the district to take over an empty seat on the state board of education. Gov. Christie appointed Fisicaro to the board and he was sworn into his position in early October.
Fisicaro had been the Evesham representative to the Lenape Regional High School BOE for the past 18 years.
Come January, the Evesham Township Council will be down a member.
Joe Howarth won a seat on the board of chosen freeholders in November. He and his fellow Republican candidate Leah Arter defeated Democratic candidates Mary Anne Reinhart and Machell Still-Pettis to capture the two seats.
To end the month, after three years of applications, inspections and national conferences, the Evesham Township Police Department received a national accreditation that less than 400 departments have in the entire country.
The police department received its National Law Enforcement Advanced Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
December
The township might be instituting a new insurance program that could potentially reduce costs.
Representatives are reporting that the township will explore a new “self-funded” insurance program to help cut down on medical insurance premium costs.
A replacement for the outgoing Howarth will likely be named by early February, according to reports.
This is the first time the township has had to replace a council member who left office before his term expired since the township went to a partisan-election process, Brown said.
It was such a new process that nobody was quite certain how to move forward with when Howarth won a seat on the Burlington County Freeholder Board and announced he would have to resign from the council.
Brown said Township Solicitor Gillespie has been invaluable throughout the process and has briefed the members of the council on the process.
The Evesham Republican Municipal Committee will have 15 days after Howarth officially submits his resignation to the council to submit a list of three candidates of which the council members will choose to take Howarth’s empty seat, Brown said.
Howarth must officially submit his resignation prior to Monday, Jan. 2, when he will be sworn into his seat on the freeholder board.
After the township council receives the list of potential replacements, Brown said they have 15 days to accept a replacement.
