MARCH 2003

Buena students showcase talent at art exhibit

Local artists display work for times a year

BUENA VISTA -- David Wayne Albert never handled a paintbrush until three years ago.

In Buena -Animal control gets dogged by mixed reviews

BUENA -- Dan Vitale called borough police when he spotted a stray dog running through his yard.

The police said they would call Tri-County Animal Control Services, which handles such concerns in the borough.

Tri-County finally responded after 16 hours and two more calls to police, Vitale said.

By that time, the dog had tangled itself in some rocks by Vitale's pool, nipped at one of his sons and bit another man, he said.

"I'm disappointed," Vitale said. "The dog was a danger. He could've bitten somebody (else)."

These situations are becoming more frequent, Buena Police Chief Doug Adams said.

He suspects John Hill, the borough's animal control officer and cruelty investigator, is spreading himself too thin.

"Over the last two or three years (Hill's) services have declined," Adams said. "In the last year we've started to get a lot more complaints."

Hill, 59, runs Tuckahoe-based Tri-County with his wife, Joanne. They provide animal control services to 12 towns in Atlantic and Cape May counties and free animal cruelty services to nine of those towns.

"We're busy people, but we're not overloaded by a long shot," said Hill, adding he does not plan to expand animal control services to more towns.

Hill said he is doing everything for which he's contracted, which is 24-hour on-call, emergency service only.

"Our job is to keep disease-carrying, biting or injured domestic animals off the street," he said.

Hill also provides regular inspection patrols of Buena from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Tri-County normally responds within an hour of when the call is placed, he said.

Hill scores high marks in Buena Vista Township, where the number of dog licenses increased by about 331 last year.

Animal licenses bring funds into municipal coffers.

"We've had a high level of positive response from residents," Mayor Chuck Chiarello said. "He's getting out into the community and hitting a high number of calls every month."

Last month, Hill investigated 43 animal complaints in Buena Vista. As a result of those complaints, Hill responded to 66 calls, issued two summonses and picked up eight dogs and one cat, Chiarello said.

"The number of responses is greater than any previous response rate we've had in the township," Chiarello said.

The township's praise of Hill spurred the borough to hire him.

"He promised great services, and he has gotten the licenses to where they should've been," Buena Mayor Joseph Baruffi said.

About 515 licenses were issued in the borough last year.

But that hasn't stopped disgruntled residents' calls to police, Adams said.

They complain about Hill's delayed response and total failure to respond, Adams said.

Police reports detail each animal control incident. They also indicate whether Tri-County was contacted.

Police paged animal control multiple times on at least eight occasions last year, according to police reports. Officers handled the calls themselves in several other instances.

Since there's no reporting system, there's no way for police to know how many calls Tri-County responds to after they're paged.

That wasn't the case when the police department provided animal control services.

"My policy here is to respond to all calls no matter what they are," Adams said. "That's what our citizens want, and that's what they're used to."

That's what Josh Parker, 17, expected when he called Tri-County after he found a stray dog.

Tri-County said they do not respond to calls on weekends "unless it's a real emergency," he said.

"I already have three dogs, and I had to take another one," the Minotola resident said. "Other people would've left it outside to freeze."

Jim DiRenzo, 49, said he called two or three times before Tri-County responded to his animal emergency.

Hill removed about 16 feral cats from DiRenzo's property.

"John was good with me," he said. "I did have to call a couple times to get him going, but really I have no complaints."

But Loretta Tomasello, 57, of Minotola said she has a legitimate grievance.

Tomasello called animal control when she discovered a black cat huddling in her bitter cold yard.

She left a message on Tri-County's 800 line but still hadn't heard back after three weeks.

"We need someone with a quick response who gets back to people," Tomasello said.

There's also the question of whether borough residents expect too much of Tri-County.

Hill was "constantly awakened during the early morning hours concerning barking dogs, non-aggressive stray dogs (and) lost pets," he said in a letter to borough police.

"These are not emergency situations and will be addressed during normal business hours," he wrote.

But he knows his business demands flexibility.

"It may not be an emergency to us," Hill said. "But if the person is afraid of dogs, it's an emergency to them, and we will respond."

Township applies for $165K to restore park in BUENA

BUENA VISTA -- Gaping cracks marring three tennis courts at Michael Debbi Park are not only unsightly, they're also expensive.

The township applied for a $165,771 loan from the state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday to replace the deteriorating courts.

They are besmirched by cracks ranging from a "hairline to about 3 or 4 inches" in width, Business Administrator Ron Trebing said.

The low-interest Green Acres loan also would pay for new fencing and lighting around the courts.

If approved, the township would repay the loan at 2 percent interest over 20 years.

Township officials decided to replace the tennis courts after unsuccessful refurbishing attempts. The township spent $24,000 over five years for improvements to the existing courts, Mayor Chuck Chiarello said.

"Rebuilding the courts is the only way we can see to alleviate the problems," he said.

The courts are in extensive disrepair. The mercurial weather aggravated the cracking, Chiarello said.

The settling ground beneath the courts resulted in an uneven surface, said Steve Lingle of Triad Associates, the township's project consultant.

"(The tennis courts) are in bad shape," said Cedar Avenue resident Sharon Lolli, 55. "They've needed to be resurfaced for a long time."

Lolli has played tennis at Michael Debbi Park for 20 years, she said. The park is directly across the street from her house.

The court's poor conditions have affected her game so much, she'd rather take her tennis racket to the courts at Vineland High School.

"It never fails that when you hit the ball, it lands in the cracks," she said, of the Michael Debbi courts.

The township's Green Acres loan application is the latest in a flurry of efforts to improve its recreational facilities.

·  Township officials are awaiting word on a $60,000 Atlantic County Open Space grant to pay for construction of a new football field at Newtonville Park.

·  Two community development block grants would pay for a new roof at the Martin Luther King Center in Newtonville and an addition to the public works building.

"One of the most positive impacts on the community is the availability of good recreational facilities," Chiarello said.

Buena schools finish budget 'balancing act'

Officials turn in tight budget late

BUENA -- Buena Regional School District officials submitted their 2003-2004 school budget today, a day after it was due to the Atlantic County Superintendent's office.

Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo attributed the delay to a "difficult budget year."

"We have a whole bunch of documentation to put together," she said. "It's been a difficult year for us, as it has been for everyone."

DeGiacomo and business administrator Tom Kearney planned to work through the night to prepare an updated budget, which school board officials tentatively set at $25.01 million two weeks ago.

The figure may have changed to account for emerging "new factors," such as enrollment changes in two sending districts -- Newfield and Estell Manor -- and changes in the tuition those districts pay.

"These factors change every day," DeGiacomo said. "If enrollment changes from a sending district, that could bring down the tuition they pay us and we'll need to take that money from somewhere else. It's a balancing act."

The situation is more complicated this year because of what happened in 2002.

Voters last year rejected a budget calling for a 17-cent hike in the school tax rate.

The school board cut the budget by $500,000, which dropped the tax hike by about 6.5 cents.

That will crimp this year's spending plan, as budgets build on the spending of prior years.

"When our cap is lowered, that makes a big impact on the money we can spend this year," said DeGiacomo. "We'll never be able to recoup that money."

The board eliminated another $1 million this year that would have paid for new academic programs and new employees. They saved an additional $500,000 by cutting a little from several line items.

Still, the district faces contractual salary increases and rising insurance premiums.

The Buena Regional budget will be a "top priority," said Richard Marshall, acting Atlantic and Cape May county school business administrator.

Buena BOE struggles to determine budget

BUENA -- Buena Regional school officials are still scrambling to formulate a 2003-2004 budget, despite the fact the spending plan was due on the county school superintendent's desk Tuesday.

The district met the deadline last year, business administrator Tom Kearney said. But this year's budget held greater challenges.

At the earliest, the budget could be complete and on its way to the superintendent's office sometime today. Then again, it may take the rest of this week.

The school board already approved a $25.01 million budget, which calls for a 14-cent tax-rate hike in Buena Vista Township and a 17-cent tax-rate hike in Buena Borough.

School officials were trying to trim that on Wednesday.

"It's hard to ask the taxpayers to pay more when you can't get that money from the state," Kearney said. "That's why we are trying to get the tax rate down as low as we can."

School budgets can increase by only a certain amount each year based on the prior year's budget. Anything over the allowable amount cannot be submitted to the county superintendent, Kearney said.

But the school board may have no other choice given rising salaries, insurance premiums and utility costs.

School officials have already gone through the budget a number of times. They managed to cut more than $1.5 million in new programs, hiring and maintenance line items.

"When you have the budget and all the contractual increases and the cost-of-living increases and there's no money from the state to offset that, then you may have to hit the taxpayers," Kearney said.

Pinelands Municipal Council elects new officers

The Pinelands Municipal Council elected Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky as its chairman at the organization's meeting Tuesday in Winslow Township, Camden County.

The council, created under the Pinelands Protection Act of 1979, is comprised of the mayors, or their designees, of the 53 southern New Jersey municipalities in the Pinelands area.

The council reviews changes to the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan and advises the New Jersey Pinelands Commission on matters it deems advisable.

Pikolycky had served as acting chairman since Jan. 3. He previously served as vice chairman since March 2002.

Also elected to serve on the council's Executive Committee were: Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello, who will serve as vice chairman; Berkeley Township designee Steven Ewing, who will serve his seventh term as secretary; Bass River Township Mayor T. Richard Bethea, who will serve his seventh term as treasurer; and Mullica Township Mayor Robert Hagaman, who will serve his fourth term as member at large, according to the Pinelands Commission.

Chiarello served as council chairman from 1996-2002. Gov. James E. McGreevey recently appointed Hagaman to serve on the Pinelands Commission.

Winter takes toll on Buena Vista budget

BUENA VISTA -- This winter will leave a lasting impression even when the few remaining patches of snow finally melt -- if not on residents' minds, at least on their wallets.

That's because Mother Nature is largely to blame for a projected 3.9-cent increase in the municipal property tax rate.

The township's preliminary 2003 municipal budget indicates the township spent nearly $40,000 to cover the cost of snow removal this year. That equates to about 25 percent of the increase in this year's budget, estimated at about $3.94 million.

The municipal budget will be presented at a public hearing April 7.

"This winter has taken a big toll on us," Mayor Chuck Chiarello said. "Without the major snows this season, we could've had a 2-cent increase."

The township paid about $15,000 in salaries and wages for snow removal.

Part of that went to 10 private contractors hired to salt and plow the town's 125 miles of locally controlled paved roads. Each received about $75 per hour.

A sizable portion went to the township's six public works employees, who needed considerable overtime to keep streets clear.

The snow was more costly because it fell on a holiday weekend. Public works employees are paid time-and-a-half for Saturday work and double time on Sundays. They received time-and-a-half on top of holiday pay for their Presidents Day shifts, the worst day of the storm.

Township officials are applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to recoup the money they spent.

If they're successful, the money would go into the township's surplus to help offset another tax hike next year.

Still, a 3.9-cent tax increase is a modest one, Chiarello said.

He also said the township is proud of capital improvements it has made through the use of county and state funds. They include:

·  Reconstruction of Ruth Street using a $150,000 grant from the N.J. Department of Transportation.

·  Improvements to downtown Richland funded by a $60,000 Livable Communities grant.

·  More than $200,000 worth of improvements to the Martin Luther King Center in Newtonville and the public works garage using a community development block grant.

Parents, community attend class to discuss testing

BUENA -- The hands flailing in the air and the hurried scribbling Wednesday in the Buena Regional High School library were not those of students.

Like eager schoolchildren, parents and community members came to learn about state testing and core curriculum contents.

The audience of more than 150 people questioned a panel of educators including:

·  Buena Regional Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo.

·  high school principal Kenneth Soboloski.

·  school board member Barbara Jargowsky.

·  assistant commissioner of the state Department of Education Richard Ten Eyck.

The meeting was co-sponsored by New Jersey United for Higher School Standards to promote understanding of the state's testing and educational standards.

State tests are administered in the fourth, eighth and 11th grades, Soboloski said

Only about 20 percent of the students at Buena Regional went on to higher education in 1982, he said. That figure since has jumped to about 70 percent.

"We are taking great strides in terms of raising the bar, and we will continue to raise the bar for our kids," Soboloski said.

But some worried the school system was focusing too much on tests and not enough on all-around education.

"All these standardized tests create bigger problems," said Veronica Chinea, 37, of Vineland. "We should be looking at other ways to redo the system."

State and federal school funding also was a concern.

Commissioner of Education William Librera recently recommended that Buena Regional be denied Abbott status. That would have given it funding to compare with wealthier districts.

Lorraine L. Lark, 60, of Buena noted that there is no summer school system in place at Buena Regional.

Summer school classes were not a possibility, given the district's limited funding and resources, DeGiacomo said.

Funding isn't everything, some in the audience argued.

Parents should be actively involved in their child's education, Soboloski said.

They could seek out the assistance of teachers -- including the district's three ESL teachers -- and guidance counselors, DeGiacomo said.

Fire election winner rejects board post

RICHLAND -- The Board of Commissioners for Fire District 1 will operate with only four members for the remainder of the year.

They made that decision Tuesday after Paul Micheletti Sr. turned down a position on the board, said board secretary Michael Burshtin.

Paul Micheletti Sr. won one of two three-year terms on the commission last month during District 1's board and budget elections.

But Paul Micheletti Sr. was not a contender. His name erroneously appeared on the ballots in place of his brother -- Peter Micheletti Jr.

Paul Micheletti Sr. received 24 of 38 ballots cast. His father, Peter Micheletti Sr., also received 24 votes to be re-elected to the commissioner board.

"The votes determine the victor," Burshtin said.

But Paul Micheletti Sr. resigned the seat, he added.

The board, which traditionally consists of five members, will function with four until the election for Commissioner is held next year. The winner of that election would fill the unexpired term for the next two years.

Operating with only four members should not impair the board's function, which is to oversee the financial operations of the Richland Fire Company, Commissioner Carlo Merighi said.

"We have four members today and the bills got paid and the decisions were made," he said.

In Buena, Padre Pio shrine a growing miracle for faithful

BUENA - In the otherwise quiet town of Landisville, a small clearing at the corner of Route 40 and Central Avenue becomes the hub of activities on a certain weekday.

There, against the backdrop of acres of farmland, sits a 6-foot statue of a man who is believed to perform miracles.

Every Wednesday his followers come with flowers, candles and candies to pray at his statue. In the past few years, stories about his healing powers have spread beyond the little town.

He is believed to have cured cancer, depression and alcoholism and also to have rescued devotees from their deathbeds.

Today, people drive from as far as Philadelphia to seek the blessings of Padre Pio, the Catholic saint of healing.

"There are such wonderful stories," follower Diane Stahl said.

Stahl's 18-year-old nephew, Tom, was diagnosed with leukemia and doctors recommended a bone-marrow transplant.

The family prayed at the shrine each week, and when Tom returned to the hospital for pre-testing before the transplant, his leukemia had disappeared, she said.

"That's our miracle," Stahl said. "It's been almost two years now and he is fit and we attribute it to Padre Pio's intercession."

Millville Police Detective Sgt. Michael Santiago said he, too, is a living example of the saint's healing powers.

Santiago survived an E. coli infection and a rare, near-fatal blood disease last year. He said his family prayed along with the congregation and asked for God's intersession through Padre Pio.

"I really believe he pulled me through," he said. "My kidneys were about to shut down and I was in bad shape. It's the prayers that helped me recover."

Born in Pietrelcina in 1887, Pio, a Capuchin priest, lived at the San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy. His followers say he also could prophesize and "bilocate," or appear in two places at once. Devotees also believe that Pio was the first Roman Catholic priest to bear the stigmata - bleeding wounds on his hands, feet and side like those suffered by Christ when he was crucified.

The Landisville shrine was inspired by resident Maria Dandrea's visit with her husband, Peter, to Giovanni Rotondo a few years ago. She says she had a vision that she had to build a monument to her beloved priest on their family's land. With the generosity of other devotees, Dandrea was able to realize her dream.

"This (the shrine) itself is a miracle," Dandrea said.

She recalls the time when just a group of five started reciting the rosary at the site, there was no statue or shrine then.

"Curious people would stop by to see what we were doing," Dandrea said.

With passage of time most of them ended up becoming regulars at the Wednesday rosary sessions. They donated marble and wooden benches, statues of Jesus and Mary, electric candles, music, cement, labor and trash cans.

Slowly but steadily, the number of followers began to increase. Today, more than 300 people visit the shrine on Wednesdays and devotees are expecting to build a chapel soon to accommodate everyone.

Until then, they will pray in the open during summer and spring, but in harsher weather they gather at St. Michael's Church. There, they say their rosaries and pray for their parents, friends, relatives, pets or peace in the world. The silent night reverberates with their prayers as they slowly run the rosaries through their fingers.

"My faith has grown so much stronger, I feel so much closer to Jesus," said Denise Verderose, of Millville

Verderose said she was going through a spiritual dry spell until two months ago, when her friend coaxed her to come for the rosary session. She's never missed a Wednesday since.

Followers say they feel the saint's presence among them when they gather at the shrine, or to say the rosary. They say they sometimes smell violets while they are praying.

"That's a sign from him," Stahl said.

For Stahl and other followers the shrine has become a retreat when they encounter life's problems. The miracles give them strength and faith to go on.

Township to solicit bids for public works addition

BUENA VISTA -- Township Engineer Dave Scheidegg presented a blueprint to Township Committee on Monday for an addition to the public works garage.

A 50-by-100 foot metal structure will be added to the building on Union Road to house public works equipment and provide much-needed storage space.

Township officials gave Scheidegg the go-ahead to solicit bids for five local roads in need of improvement.

The township is seeking quotes for asphalt paving on 19th Street and general repair to Railroad Boulevard, Richland Avenue, Sally Lane and Yost Road.

Although the township has up to $100,000 for road projects, it has not decided which of the roads will be repaired.

Officials also expect to receive Federal Emergency Management Aid to reimburse the city for about $40,000 in snow removal. Mayor Chuck Chiarello hopes FEMA will pay for as much as 75 percent of the township's costs.

Snow removal expenses were the major reason behind the township's 3.9-cent municipal tax hike this year, officials said. Any FEMA funds will be reflected in next year's budget.

In other news:

·  A black-and-white journal featuring three photographs of African-American landmarks in Newtonville was donated to the library at Buena Regional High School.

"Small Towns, Black Lives," a book highlighting the African-American community in South Jersey, features pictures of an African-American Cemetery and Dugout House in the Newtonville area.

School board President Barbara Jargowski accepted the donation on the district's behalf.

·  Members of the Buena Regional wrestling team were commemorated for "Making Buena Vista Proud." The high school wrestlers won the Cape Atlantic League National Division championship and finished runner-up in the state.

Township to solicit bids for public works addition in Buena

BUENA VISTA -- Township Engineer Dave Scheidegg presented a blueprint to Township Committee on Monday for an addition to the public works garage.

A 50-by-100 foot metal structure will be added to the building on Union Road to house public works equipment and provide much-needed storage space.

Township officials gave Scheidegg the go-ahead to solicit bids for five local roads in need of improvement.

The township is seeking quotes for asphalt paving on 19th Street and general repair to Railroad Boulevard, Richland Avenue, Sally Lane and Yost Road.

Although the township has up to $100,000 for road projects, it has not decided which of the roads will be repaired.

Officials also expect to receive Federal Emergency Management Aid to reimburse the city for about $40,000 in snow removal. Mayor Chuck Chiarello hopes FEMA will pay for as much as 75 percent of the township's costs.

Snow removal expenses were the major reason behind the township's 3.9-cent municipal tax hike this year, officials said. Any FEMA funds will be reflected in next year's budget.

In other news:

·  A black-and-white journal featuring three photographs of African-American landmarks in Newtonville was donated to the library at Buena Regional High School.

"Small Towns, Black Lives," a book highlighting the African-American community in South Jersey, features pictures of an African-American Cemetery and Dugout House in the Newtonville area.

School board President Barbara Jargowski accepted the donation on the district's behalf.

·  Members of the Buena Regional wrestling team were commemorated for "Making Buena Vista Proud." The high school wrestlers won the Cape Atlantic League National Division championship and finished runner-up in the state.

BUENA -- The Buena Regional school board approved the district's proposed 2003-04 operating budget at Tuesday night's public hearing.

In point-by-point fashion, Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo outlined the elements making the $29.76 million spending plan.

The budget would result in a $7.9 million tax levy for residents.

Under the new budget, the owner of a $100,000 home in Buena Borough would pay $1,822.30 in school taxes -- an annual increase of $131.60 more than what they now pay.

In Buena Vista Township, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $1,922.20 -- an increase of $97.40.

The budget remains to be approved by voters, who will decide on April 15.

The current plan is the minimum the school district can work with, DeGiacomo argued.

"Our budget will provide a thorough and efficient education in the most prudent, cost-efficient way," she said.

The budget continues basic academic programs, ESL classes, World Language classes, core curriculum, preschool at Milanesi School and extracurricular activities.

The budget also includes the cost of capital projects, such as carpet cleaning, boiler clean up, plumbing and electrical work.

This winter's snow removal also put a dent in the budget, and will likely affect energy costs, DeGiacomo said, adding energy prices could rise even further due to the Iraq war.

With about $14.5 million in aid, the state helps offset about 51 percent of district expenses.

But DeGiacomo emphasized that's not enough, as reflected in what the budget does not provide. It does not provide for any new programs or personnel, and will not replace three outgoing teachers.

Buena Regional is currently fighting to attain Abbott status, which would grant the district greater state aid and ease the burden on taxpayers.

But Education Commissioner William Librera rejected the district's plea for the special-need status, in part because he reasoned local taxpayers could pay more in school taxes.

But Robert Levari, a Buena Vista Township resident, doesn't buy that logic.

"We're in a no-growth area and our costs keep going up. How is the native community going to keep paying?" he asked.

About 90 percent of the township is Pinelands, which hinders the addition of new ratables.

Amy Collins says she's willing to pay higher taxes so her children can have the best education.

"The budget is a small price to pay for the education of our children," said Collins.

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Iraqi children walk through the rubble of a house that Iraqi officials say was hit by a missile Wednesday in the West Baghdad district of Al -Hadamiya.

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Nick Scarella, 9, of Buena Vista shows off a yellow ribbon he made Wednesday at the Abundant Life Center.

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Stephanie Burgard, 9, makes a ribbon to support troops fighting in Iraq.

Comar rated first among state plants - Safety First!

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Gregory Bianco, operations manager at Comar in Buena, discusses his company's outstanding community achievement award for safety.

Vineland rally salutes troops in Iraq

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Dave Raffio of Buena Vista pays tribute to U.S. soldiers in Iraq during a rally Sunday at the American Legion Post No. 4. To begin the rally, participants marched and drove down Landis Avenue before concluding at the American Legion hall.

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Gladis Hampton of Vineland shows her support for troops during a rally Sunday at the American Legion hall.

VINELAND -- Dom Panichelli stood on the curb, his breath visible in the raw spring air and an American flag clutched between his numbed fingers.

Not exactly ideal conditions for a parade, he acknowledged, but far more comfortable than the lifestyles of those he came to salute.

"When you think about what our troops are going through to protect us, it's silly to think a little rain and cold should stop any of us," he said.

It didn't.

Panichelli, a Vineland resident, was among 200 people who gathered Sunday in Center City to salute the efforts of coalition forces overseas.

The rally -- sponsored by the United Veterans Council -- kicked off with a parade down Landis Avenue. Veterans led the procession on foot, followed by a caravan of civilians and siren-blasting fire trucks.

The march finished at American Legion Post No. 4 on West Avenue, where former soldiers led attendees in "God Bless America" and "This Land is Your Land."

The event wasn't a pro-war rally.

The mission, rather, was to support those who volunteer to protect freedom and promote democracy, said Matt Jordan, past president of the United Veterans Council.

"We don't want war, and we don't want death," Jordan said. "(But) if it weren't for our men and women fighting on foreign soil years ago, we may be speaking Japanese or German right now. Just think about that."

Bob Albrecht of Vineland was one of those men. He enlisted in the Marines in 1950 and served in Korea.

"I've been there and done that," Albrecht said. "You're out there all alone sometimes. It builds morale to know people in your hometown support you. This is the least we can do."

That's exactly what Dawn Cain of Bridgeton wanted to do.

Cain, 18, rode in the rear of a pickup Sunday, flashing a handwritten sign to passing traffic on Landis Avenue. It read: "Our Troops Make Peace."

"I believe in what they're fighting for -- the freedom of the Iraqi people from a dictator who likes to kill his own people," Cain said.

Most of those in attendance Sunday were outwardly confident the United States and its allies will prevail.

But -- just like those who protest the war and President Bush's policies -- they know difficult days likely loom ahead as troops inch toward Baghdad.

As sirens blasted in the distance and flag-waving marchers made their way toward the Legion hall, a well-dressed yet curious passerby approached Panichelli on the sidewalk.

"What's going on?" the man asked, pointing to the commotion. "Did the war end or something?"

Panichelli clutched his flag a little tighter.

"No," he replied. "That would be nice, though."

Buena Vista Township
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