BUENA VISTA -- State Agriculture Secretary Charles M.
Kuperus greeted the local harvest with a mouthful of grape tomatoes, his palate
savoring the succulent red juices.
He purchased a dry pint of the Garden State tomato variety at Muzzarelli
Farms on Oak Road -- one of four South Jersey farms anticipating the secretary's
return since his May visit.
At that time, Kuperus saw crops being planted at Muzzarelli Farms, G. Ruggeri
and Sons in Buena Vista, Castellari Farms in Buena and Ed Wuillermin Farms in
Hammonton.
His return visit Thursday came at a time when those crops were ripe for the
picking. He also observed harvesting activities at Bellview Farms in Buena and
the Jersey Fruit Cooperative Association in Glassboro.
Overall, he liked what he saw.
"It's a beautiful harvest, the quality is good, the crop is excellent and
farmers are pleased with the prices," Kuperus said.
The harvest was delayed seven to 10 days at Muzzarelli Farms after a cold
winter and a wet spring, but otherwise turned out better than expected, owner
Charles Muzzarelli said. Prices are better than average at the Vineland Produce
Auction, where he sells 90 percent to 95 percent of his crop, he said.
Muzzarelli Farms bears the Jersey Fresh designation, which sets the state's
produce apart for its enduring quality.
"See this?" Kuperus asked, pointing to the Jersey Fresh label on his grape
tomatoes. "This is our challenge, right there."
The mark of excellence goes beyond the label to the individual farmer, he
said.
By
producing a diverse array of crops, Garden State farmers can adapt to the needs
of changing markets nationwide, he added.
A paver awaits the arrival of a dump truck hauling fresh
asphalt Monday as work begins on Tuckahoe Road. The project shut down
a portion of the northbound lane in Buena Vista, forcing motorists to
take a detour.
Performing one of several quality-control steps, Jimmy
Bankowski of the U.S. Engineering Labs in Atlantic City takes the
temperature of the freshly paved asphalt.
BUENA VISTA -- Bright orange diamonds indicating roadwork ahead, the
steady hum of the slow-moving rollers and a horde of yellow-vested
contractors have beset Tuckahoe Road for the third consecutive year of
road repairs.
On Monday, contractors began the milling and overlay of a 2-mile
stretch of the county road from 20th Avenue in Milmay to Cape May
Avenue in Weymouth. The roadwork shut down a portion of the northbound
lane, and motorists were detoured east along Route 552 and eventually
rerouted onto westbound Route 40 to return toward Buena Vista.
Today, a portion of the southbound lane is expected to be closed so
workers can begin improvements on that side, said Jimmy Bankowski of
U.S. Engineering Labs, which is overseeing the project's quality
control.
AE Stone Paving Inc., the Pleasantville company responsible for the
roadwork, will ground up 4 inches of the existing road, replacing it
with 2 inches of a new base layer and two more inches of surface
asphalt. The company has 45 days to complete the job, said Atlantic
County engineer Joe D'Abundo.
The roadwork will rid the problem of grooves, cracks and poor
drainage and "increase the durability and longevity of Tuckahoe Road,"
Bankowski said.
In driver speak: "It's going to give you a smooth ride," he said.
The smoother, crowned surface will allow water to run off rather
than form puddles, a problem caused by ripples along the aging road.
The upgraded stretch of road could last up to 15 more years
maintenance-free, Bankowski added.
Atlantic County awarded $600,000 for this phase of work along the
well-traveled Shore route. Road improvements over the last two years
included a 5-mile stretch of Tuckahoe Road from Route 40 to Five
Points and ending at 20th Avenue. The latest installment completes the
upgrades to the entire length of road in Buena Vista.
For Eric Hensel, the improvements have been a godsend. Drainage
problems once made for a dangerous ride, especially in winter, when
puddles formed slick ice patches.
"This was a severe road, a hazardous road to drive on," said Hensel,
who owns Hensel Farms on Tuckahoe Road, "and they're making tremendous
improvements."
BUENA VISTA -- Officials introduced an ordinance Monday night that
would tighten the leash on the number of dogs allowed in the
township's residential areas.
The ordinance would allow no more than three adult dogs on
residential properties of 3.2 acres or smaller. Another dog would be
permitted for each additional acre of land not exceeding nine adult
dogs.
An adult dog is defined as at least 7 months old -- the licensable
age for a dog in Buena Vista.
That distinction permits a litter of puppies, which would not be
subject to the ordinance, until they became 7 months old.
The proposal also would prevent residents from keeping, harboring
or maintaining any dog that "habitually barks, howls or cries" from 10
p.m. to 7 a.m. in residential areas. Dogs producing those noises for
more than 10 minutes during those hours also would be banned.
Writing the ordinance has been a difficult process for committee
member and Solicitor Joseph Gindhart because of the township's mixed
nature.
Buena Vista is home to a diverse community including large rural
farms and smaller residential settings.
"We were trying to come up with a solution that accommodates the
varying parts of the town," Gindhart said.
A provision sets annual license fees for kennels and pet shops:
· $50
for kennels accommodating up to 10 dogs.
· $100
for kennels with more than 10 dogs.
· $50
for pet shops.
· No
fee for shelters and pounds.
What's next
A public hearing
on the township's proposed dog ordinance will be held at the committee
meeting at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25.
BUENA VISTA -- The result of timely forethought,
sheer luck or a happy combination of the two, Bob Zikowski is now the
proud holder of approvals for a conventional septic system.
It'll be one of the last such systems allowed in designated
Pinelands areas as officials try to balance developers' needs and
environmental concerns..
And it's an honor likely to save Zikowski thousands of dollars, as
the Pinelands Commission continues to phase out pressure-dosing septic
systems in favor of five state-of-the-art alternate wastewater systems
that could add as much as $15,000 to the cost of building a house.
The pressure-dosing systems, which had been required since 1994 on
lots smaller than 3.2 acres, were deemed ineffective at treating
wastewater. Last year, the commission prohibited any more from being
built.
The commission now requires costlier systems be installed wherever
new home construction takes place on those smaller lots. These
systems, while costlier, are considered two to three times more
effective at treating wastewater than standard septic systems.
But there were exceptions to the new rules, which took effect Aug.
5 of last year.
People who had filed a completed application for new home
construction with the Pinelands Commission by that date could
construct a lower-costing pressure-dosing septic -- if the designs won
approval from the commission and county health department within one
year's time.
Zikowski is one of the lucky ones.
The 30-year-old would-be landowner hopes to build a home on a
parcel measuring just over one acre at Buena Vista Country Club.
Just four days shy of Tuesday's deadline, he received his approvals
from the commission and the Atlantic County Health Department .
That allows him to circumvent the new system requirements and build
a pressure-dosing system.
Those who didn't make the cut-off date will have to make a
substantial added investment in the alternate systems. By Buena Vista
Township Engineer Dave Scheidegg's estimates, one of these systems
could cost $15,000 more than conventional septic systems, which range
anywhere from $7,000 to $12,000 apiece.
"It's a lot of money and a lot of technology, and it's something
homeowners will end up having to deal with," Scheidegg said. "I, as a
homeowner, am not prepared to deal with that."
Ed Wengrowski, the Pinelands wastewater management coordinator,
estimates the total cost for the system at more like $20,000. The cost
is well worth the overall benefit to the environment, he said.
The new systems reduce nitrates, which can pose ecological and
health concerns by contributing to poor water clarity, algal blooms
and low oxygen levels in surface water. In exceedingly high amounts in
drinking water, they can cause a potentially fatal condition known as
"Blue-Baby Disease" in infants and pregnant mothers. Those instances
are rarely seen but do happen, Wengrowski said.
"We're basically trying to maintain and preserve the ground and
surface water in the Pinelands," he said. "That's really what it's all
about."
But the ultimate environmental benefits carry a hefty price tag.
The high cost is largely the result of a number of Pinelands-required
oversight and monitoring procedures to ensure the systems are
designed, built and working properly:
·
Engineering plans will continue to be prepared by a state-licensed
professional engineer, as is the case with standard septics, but they
must then be certified by a company engineer.
·
Company representatives are required to inspect and certify final
construction and provide periodic site checks to monitor the system.
· A
state-certified laboratory also will have to test effluent quarterly
for at least three years.
John Hooper, president of The Builders League of South Jersey,
argues the safeguards are unnecessary for these systems, which have
been used with proven success over time.
"This technology is not new," Hooper said. "What makes it so
expensive is the Pinelands requirement for all the monitoring of these
systems ... that's not necessary."
Hooper worries the high cost could stymie new home construction in
Pinelands areas, where growth is already limited. Growth-restricted
Pinelands areas cover about 90 percent of Buena Vista. Every $1,000
increase in the cost of a home puts about 7,000 South Jersey residents
out of market for that home, said Hooper, whose trade association
comprises about 600 firms throughout seven South Jersey counties.
Still, Wengrowski notes, the Builders League voted in favor of the
new alternate wastewater systems program before it was approved one
year ago.
"This really is a good program," he said, "that strikes a balance
by allowing people to develop while at the same time protecting our
groundwater."
With the help of his father and grandfather, Gary Frank Jr.,
18, installed this fiberglass flag pole at the Milmay Post Office
located behind the Milmay firehall. Frank completed an Eagle Scout
project by installing the flagpole and sees it behind the fire
company, for which he volunteers. "It makes me feel proud," he says.
BUENA VISTA -- Isaac
Winrow has seen his share of flagpoles while working his way
from novice letter carrier to full-fledged postmaster over
the past 43 years.
But none were worth more than a casual glance -- until he
saw the tall, slim beauty outside the Milmay post office.
For Winrow, it was love at first sight.
"This is wonderful," he said. "As a matter of fact, this
is the nicest flagpole I've seen."
The credit for this match made in flag heaven goes to
Gary Frank Jr. He unwittingly played Cupid by installing the
40-foot flagpole that majestically overlooks the Broad
Street post office and adjoining Milmay Fire Company.
His intention, however, was finishing an Eagle Scout
project that would earn him scouting's highest rank.
Frank's community-service project is one of the
requirements that could initiate him into the Eagle Court of
Honor.
A Tiger Cub in the first grade and a Boy Scout since he
was 12, he recently installed the flagpole one month shy of
his 18th birthday -- the project deadline.
"I see it every time there's a fire call or every time I
come to mail a letter," said Frank, a Milmay resident and
member of the volunteer fire company. "It makes me feel
proud."
The project took about one and one-half months to
complete and came at a time when the post office had
operated without a flagpole for several months.
The old flagpole, which was attached to the building's
roof, was removed when the roof was replaced last year,
Milmay Fire Chief Eric R. Hensel said.
To compensate, the fire company displayed a flag in
between the fire hall's garage doors.
But Frank was unsettled at seeing a post office without a
flagpole.
"It looked bare," he said.
Flags must be displayed on stationary flagstaffs at all
postal facilities, including offices, branches, stations,
terminals and garages, according to the U.S. Postal
Service's Administrative Support Manual.
What could be better than completing his Eagle Scout
project while providing the post office with a flagpole it
sorely needed and adding to the look of the fire company,
Frank wondered.
He dug a 5-foot-deep hole, poured concrete inside and
hoisted the 250-pound flagpole into the hole with a
forklift. It stands about 35 feet above ground. His father
and grandfather aided him in the installation process.
Unlike most masts, the halyard is inside the fiberglass
pole; it's raised and lowered by a mechanism also inside.
The flagpole's innerworkings are kept under lock and key.
That protects the halyard from severe weather and prevents
tampering, said Winrow, who's in charge of the key.
Part of the roughly $1,600 cost for the flagpole was
donated by Collo Iron Inc., an ironworks facility in Somers
Point that also sells flagpoles. The fire company wrote a
check to pay for the other half.
With heavy traffic flow a daily occurrence, making a left-hand
turn from Jackson Road onto Route 54 can be a dangerous proposition.
But a new traffic light may change that.
BUENA VISTA -- The firetruck sirens blare, and the lights flash in a
flurry of red.
Still, the Newtonville Fire Company has difficulty exiting its
firehouse on Route 54, Fire Chief Gene Sykes said.
But an upcoming traffic signal at the nearby intersection of
Jackson Road and Route 54 should help the situation.
The state Department of Transportation decided to install the
signal after 27 non-fatal accidents occurred there over four years. It
could be fully operational by next month.
Jackson Road intersects the busy state road and traverses the
Collings Lakes and Newtonville sections of the township.
The signals will be of the standard red-yellow-green variety. The
stop signs currently controlling traffic flow along Jackson Road will
be removed.
A two- or three-day test period, in which the signals will flash
yellow and red, should help prepare drivers for the permanent change.
The DOT agreed to install the traffic signal last year after
several years of attempts by the township.
Buena Vista officials learned of problems at the intersection from
newspaper reports of accidents and concerns of the Newtonville Fire
Company, Mayor Chuck Chiarello said.
The DOT agreed to install the light after its traffic engineering
and investigations departments decided a signal was warranted.
"We've been looking to have a light there probably for almost 10
years, and we have known there's been some bad accidents, that there's
been a dangerous situation there," Chiarello said. "I'm very excited
that it will be a much safer intersection once the light is
installed."
A total of 27 accidents occurred at the intersection from 1998 to
2001, said state police Sgt. Mike Zaleski, an assistant traffic
officer.
The number remained relatively low in 1998 and 1999, with totals
actually decreasing from five accidents to four.
But they spiked suddenly the following year, and in 2001 state
police tallied 11 accidents -- the highest total of all four years.
None of the accidents resulted in any fatalities, but injuries did
result in 11 of those instances. The rest resulted in property damage,
he said.
"That's one (accident) a month, almost," Zaleski said. "That's too
many for that intersection."
Zaleski believes the increase is largely the result of unsafe entry
from both sides of Jackson Road onto Route 54 and increases in traffic
along both roads.
An increasing number of shore travelers use Route 54, he said.
Increased residential development in the township, especially in its
Newtonville section, has led to higher traffic volume along Jackson
Road.
Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly, a resident of Collings Lakes, says she
has witnessed numerous close calls.
The DOT's most recent traffic statistics, which measured the
two-way traffic along Route 54 in 1995, indicate that a daily average
of about 7,700 cars passed through the intersection that year, DOT
spokesman Mike Horan said.
"It's a busy intersection, bottom line," Zaleski said.
A backhoe and a bulldozer at work on Weymouth-Malaga Road
between Rt. 40 and Rt. 54.
The fleet of
Buena Regional School District buses awaiting deployment can
anticipate a smoother ride along Weymouth-Malaga Road when classes
resume.
Paving began Wednesday on a section of the county road from Route
54 in Buena Vista to the Boulevard in Landisville. The work is part of
a larger road reconstruction project along Weymouth-Malaga Road that
extends as far west as Route 40. It also includes drainage
improvements.
Since work started last month, contractors have focused their
efforts largely on the portion of road fronting Buena Regional High
School. County and local officials emphasized the need to complete the
roadwork nearest the high school in time for the upcoming academic
year, which begins in about two weeks.
By the time school is in session, that stretch of road should
include a new base course and temporary striping, Atlantic County
Engineer Joe D'Abundo said. Though lacking the final top layer, the
road will provide a much smoother ride to the high school, D'Abundo
said.
Asphalt Paving Systems in Hammonton is completing the $977,000 road
project.
Kelly Sainson, 12, of Vineland, hand paints the mane
of Oscar uring summer day camp.
BUENA VISTA -- It was a mix of playtime and a
lesson in responsibility for youngsters this summer at Buena Vista
Equestrian Center, which wraps up a six-week day camp today.
The camp pairs children ages 3 to 17 with a horse. The participants
learn a variety of skills, from riding horses to bathing and grooming
the animals to managing stables, said Victor Burroughs, a trainer at
the center. About 75 to 80 kids participated in the program throughout
the summer, Burroughs said.
The center has offered the day camp annually for the past 12 years
but never before had such a large turnout, he said.
The equestrian center has 35 stalls situated on 20 acres at Vine Road
and Central Avenue.
BUENA -- A new report card for elementary students in the Buena
Regional School district could soon be in parents' hands.
It would be easier on the scrutinous parental eye and provide a
more accurate account of student progress, said Donald Weisenstein,
principal of Edgarton Memorial School in Newfield.
Weisenstein was chairman of a committee created last September to
update the current elementary report cards.
"We needed a better document, a better reporting process," he said.
The committee debated ideas and studied other districts' report
cards until reaching a consensus on the final draft. That was reviewed
by the assistant superintendent and district principals.
The new card has been approved by the school board's educational
committee but still awaits the approval of the full board,
Superintendent Diane D. DeGiacomo said.
Board members will decide Tuesday whether to approve the new report
card.
Here are some :
Standardization
The new report card would be used in grades 1 through 5, replacing
two different versions. One present version exists for grades 1
through 3, and the other for grades 4 and 5. Kindergartners' report
cards would not change.
Language Arts
The language arts section has been subdivided into its three areas:
reading, writing and language. That way, students can be graded
according to each category rather than an average of all three.
·
Comment space
The new report card features four highly visible boxes where
teachers can write comments. The centrally located boxes would anchor
the new cards.
Individual comment boxes also have been reserved for each of the
district's six special areas, including health, art and physical
education. These subjects are taught by different teachers, and the
single comment box in the current report card proved insufficient for
all their comments, Weisenstein said.
The added space for written comments replaces a checklist normally
used to evaluate a student's conduct and performance. The change adds
more of a personal touch, he said.
Final Average
The new report card would include a student's end-of-the-year grade
average in each of the major subject areas. The current report card
does not include that feature.
The final average, which is computed and entered by teachers,
allows parents to view their child's average grade at the end of the
year.
It also saves principals the time they spend sifting through final
report cards when compiling a report of their school's failing
students for the district.
"It's much clearer for parents to understand," DeGiacomo said.
"They will be able to see the continuity from grades 1 through 5 and
it will make an easier transition to the computer-generated form,
which will be the next step."
Depending on how it's received, the district eventually may attempt
to incorporate the new report card into the school's online database
and print a hard copy for parents.
The day may come when parents themselves may be able to access
their child's report card online, Weisenstein said.
BUENA
VISTA -- Glenn Lolli won't be sorry to see road workers leave after
putting the finishing touches on Tuckahoe Road.
He and his fellow Tuckahoe Road residents are nearly through with
the minor inconveniences caused by road improvements.
Earlier this year, Atlantic County officials awarded a $600,000
contract to Pleasantville-based AE Stone Paving Inc. to mill and
overlay the portion from 20th Avenue to Route 552.
The intersection of Route 552 likely will be done when that road is
rebuilt later this year, Mayor Chuck Chiarello said.
Barely three weeks after Stone contractors converged on Tuckahoe
Road, the lane closures and the detours have disappeared. Only bright
signs warning of impending roadwork remain.
"Thank God it's done," Lolli said.
Well, almost done.
While the road has been repaved and striped, the shoulders still
are being packed with topsoil and seeded, Atlantic County Engineer Joe
D'Abundo said.
Driveways that were disturbed during the project are being paved up
to 5 feet from the roadway, he said.
Only time will tell how effective the road improvements will be in
preventing frozen puddles from forming a few hundred yards from
Lolli's home near Hensel Farms.
Drainage also was a problem across the street from Kowalski's
Korner, the Tuckahoe Road business owned by Henry Kowalski, 55.
A woman was killed years ago after she hydroplaned and hit a tree,
Kowalski said.
"The water came out about two-and-a-half feet from the edge," he
said. "You could've gone fishing in there."
A drain installed a few years ago did little to alleviate the
problem, he added. A cone placed along the road shoulder to warn
drivers of the treacherous puddles helped most.
Kowalski hopes the improved road will end the hazards.
"They did a good job; it's excellent," he said. "But you can't
really tell until you get a big time rain."
BUENA VISTA -- A proposal to limit the number of
dogs in the township has been delayed.
A provision in the original ordinance was left out in the final
draft set for a public hearing Monday, Solicitor Joseph Gindhart said.
The hearing is now scheduled for Sept. 8.
Under the plan, up to three dogs would be allowed on any
residential property measuring 3.2 acres or less. One more dog would
be allowed per additional acre, but not exceeding nine dogs on a
property.
Dogs that bark, howl or cry during certain times also would be
banned in residential areas. A provision excludes puppies until they
become 7 months old.
A kennel fee was increased to $100, a figure in line with
surrounding communities, Mayor Chuck Chiarello said. The penalty for
violating the ordinance would be a $500 fine or up to 90 days in jail.
"We're not looking to cause hardships, but we do not have a law on
the books to address any problem," Chiarello said. "This is
specifically addressed to solve problems, not go in search of them."
Also, local officials approved an occupancy tax for Buena Vista's
lone motel.
A state law enacted July 1 imposed a 7 percent hotel and motel
occupancy fee and allowed municipalities to impose similar taxes.
Buena Vista can charge up to 1 percent for every occupancy until
July 1, 2004. After that, it can charge up to 3 percent.
The Econo-Lodge at routes 54 and 40 would absorb the cost. Front
desk clerk Ashvin Patel does not look forward to telling guests of the
added tax.
"You put more tax, they complain more," he said. "They don't want
to pay that much more money."
BUENA
VISTA -- Gunfire erupted outside Rumors Sports Café around closing
time in a weekend incident that state police are investigating.
No one was injured when an unspecified number of gunshots were
fired after an altercation broke out between the Route 40 bar's
employees and patrons early Sunday morning, state police Detective
Andrew Pizzo said.
The argument began outside the business around 3:15 a.m. It's
unclear whether the bar had shut down or was in the process of doing
so when that occurred, Pizzo said.
By law, the establishment is required to close its doors at 3 a.m.
The gunshots were fired into the air as employees tried to disperse
the crowd outside, Pizzo said.
The shots awakened Route 40 neighbor Ted Dorofee.
"It just woke me up -- bang, bang, bang," Dorofee said. "I didn't
know what was going on."
Dorofee estimates he heard a half-dozen gunshots.
Owner Chris DeCastro, 33, vehemently insists such incidents won't
be tolerated. DeCastro, who reopened the bar on Memorial Day, is
working to "class the place up," he said.
The bar has a strictly enforced dress code that prohibits sneakers,
T-shirts, hats, headscarves and other unwanted garments.
DeCastro warned of dire consequences if trouble persists.
"I'm going to change it or I'm going to close it," he said. "That's
the way I feel right now."
DeCastro said he spent about $200,000 to completely overhaul the
two-acre property, which includes a large outdoor dining area where
bands can perform and a 5,000 square-foot building.
The dance floor and stage were expanded, the building repainted and
carpeting installed. DeCastro also furnished the building with two new
pool tables and an electronic dartboard.
DeCastro's dream is to model the place after other well-known
establishments such as Outback Steakhouse.
And he's actively scouting quality entertainment, including local
bands, to perform at Rumors.
Eight acts had performed Saturday night, prior to shots being
fired, DeCastro said.
DeCastro envisions an outdoor amphitheater pavilion with a
surrounding 10-foot steel fence.
"I want to offer a safe environment with a small, high-quality menu
and great relaxed atmosphere with good entertainment, the best quality
entertainment I can get," he said.
''I want to offer a safe environment with a small, high-quality
menu and great relaxed atmosphere with good entertainment, the best
quality entertainment I can get."
Crime was on the rise in Cumberland County last year, in
contrast with state trends showing a drop in violent and
nonviolent incidents across New Jersey.
Vineland and Millville fared worst in the
county, according to data in the annual state Uniform Crime
Report released Wednesday. The number of incidents per resident
in each of those cities surpassed the crime rate in Bridgeton,
which saw a decrease in criminal activity between 2001 and 2002.
Other communities in the region, such as Buena
Vista and Buena, saw slight dips in their crime rates over the
previous year.
Overall, Cumberland County witnessed a small
drop in violent crimes such as murder, rape and assault. But the
number of nonviolent crimes, such as burglary and theft,
increased by about 15 percent, according to the report.
That increase in nonviolent crime could be due
to several factors, Vineland Police Chief Mario Brunetta said.
With a soft economy, he said, a boost in
burglaries and other property crimes could be the result of
increased unemployment.
"When people lose their jobs, it tends to
affect property crimes," Brunetta said.
But Brunetta said a long view of statistics is
needed to get a true picture of crime.
Although Vineland's crime rate is up slightly,
he noted, criminal activity has dropped significantly over the
last 10 years.
"There always will be fluctuations," he said.
"We're concerned about any increase in crime, but you have to
keep it in perspective."
While crime inched up slightly in Cumberland
County during 2002, statistics indicate a sharp decrease in
nearly every category of crime over the past decade.
Compared to 1993, the number of violent crimes
in the county in 2002 is down by more than 300 incidents while
nonviolent crimes are down by 1,100 incidents, the report shows.
The only category to increase over the past
decade is domestic violence, which has grown sharply from 1,542
incidents reported in 1993 to 3,192 incidents reported last
year.
In 2002, reported domestic violence incidents
rose by more than 200 -- or about 7 percent -- compared to 2001.
Only two other counties in the state, Warren and Sussex, saw a
faster rise in domestic violence.
The increase could be due to poor economic
conditions or other factors, Brunetta said.
"Our reporting procedures are so much better
than they were in the past," he said. "You pick up a few
percentage points just in better reporting."
Bridgeton Police Chief Greg Everingham said
the across-the-board decrease in crimes in his city over the
past year could be caused by several factors, including
increased enforcement, better training and simple luck. The
29-year veteran law-enforcement officer also noted most crimes
are committed by a relatively small number of career criminals.
"We could just have the right people behind
bars right now," Everingham said. "They could get out tomorrow,
and we'd have a spike in crime."
Police officials in Millville declined to
comment on Wednesday's report.
"I haven't seen the figures yet," said Lt.
Thomas Romanishin. "Basically what you see in the report is what
we've reported to the state."
The report covers all crimes reported to
law-enforcement agencies in 2002. It shows a slight decrease of
12,000 crimes statewide, and an increase of 501 crimes in
Cumberland County.
BUENA -- A surprise is in store for the parents of Buena Regional
elementary school students.
The school board approved a new format for elementary school report
cards this week.
Edgarton School Principal Donald Weisenstein, who helped draft the
new version, hopes parents find it more detailed and easier to read.
Parents can determine that at the end of the district's first
marking period in November.
But this may be just the first step.
School officials anticipate the day when parents can consult
computer-generated and online report cards.
The new report card should help ease the transition to that end,
Weisenstein said.
It provides a uniform format for all elementary grades. Two forms
were used previously -- one for grades 1 to 3 and another for 4 and 5.
The new version will measure student performance in the subjects of
reading, writing and language in place of the traditional language
arts section.
For the first time, final grade point average will be displayed.
Teachers also will have more room to write their comments.
"We always try to find ways to improve," Weisenstein said. "There's
no such thing as a final, final draft."
In other news, the district school board offices
will undergo renovations to meet federal standards set by the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The $74,000 needed to improve the
building was set aside last year, Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo said.
The renovations include:
·
Raising the building's step risers by a few inches.
·
Altering a bathroom to make it handicap accessible.
·
Building a ramp in the rear of the building for wheelchair access.
