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BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP
Local growers add variety to make profit
Buena Vista mayor spoils dredge plans
BUENA VISTA -- The proposed relocation of dredge spoils from Stone Harbor to a residential area of the township's Richland section has been blocked by township officials. Mayor Chuck Chiarello learned about the proposed relocation Friday from conversations with the state Department of Environmental Protection and Stone Harbor officials. The spoils were supposed to begin arriving Monday at a privately owned portion of land on Cedar Avenue and Railroad Boulevard, he said. Alarmed, Chiarello initiated a chain of events that ended with cease-and-desist orders being issued to stop the spoils from coming to the township. "The township absolutely does not want this here," Chiarello said. The proposed site is adjacent to land owned by St. Augustine Preparatory School. It is currently being leased by Ken Levari, president of Levari Trucking on East Landis Avenue in Vineland. Levari said he was contacted by Stone Harbor to remove about 30,000 cubic yards of spoils. The spoils are a combination of sand, salt and clay dredged from the back bays of Stone Harbor. About 45,000 cubic yards -- roughly 1 ton -- of the spoils are located at Stone Harbor Point. That could be in violation of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit that requires their removal from the site, which is a habitat for the threatened piping plover shorebird. Stone Harbor has unsuccessfully tried to relocate the spoils to other towns in the past. The DEP was notified that Stone Harbor had identified a possible relocation site in the township, commissioner Bradley Campbell said. The DEP visited the site for a few hours on Thursday, Levari said. Campbell contends his department was still reviewing the site and had not issued any approvals. "As far as the DEP is concerned, there was no approval issued to Stone Harbor to move to that location at all," Campbell said. Any imminent move would only have happened "if Stone Harbor was prepared to violate the law." Messages left with the mayor's office in Stone Harbor were not returned. Furthermore, any DEP approval would have been subject to approval by the Pinelands Commission, Bradley asserts. The area in question lies in the Pinelands. But the commission did not learn of any proposed spoils coming to the area until the township told them Friday. There has been no application or formal proposal made to the Pinelands Commission for the storage of the materials at the site, spokesperson Fran Rappa said. "The commission has informed all parties that the material cannot be stored or disposed of in Pinelands without approval of the Pinelands Commission," he said. If an application is submitted, the commission will review a number of factors, including composition of the material and environmental impact. "The material has to be free of any contamination," Rappa said. Campbell contends that it is. "It's not toxic. This is clearly a clean material," he said. "There is no risk to the environment or the water supply." But Raymond Barrett, 36, who lives between 300 and 400 yards from the site, doesn't buy that assessment. News of the spoils has prompted a laundry list of fears in Barrett's mind, including a possible stench in the summer and traffic from trucks going up and down. But those are secondary concerns, he said. Environmental concerns to the residents who rely on well water are even more pressing. "It can't happen. Who cares what they say," he said. "There are chemicals in there. It's got to be lead, mercury. "Whether its within the federal standards I don't care," he continued. "I don't want any of it. What are my children going to grow up with? A toxic waste dump?" There also is a question of whether clearing the area may have been done in violation of Pinelands regulations. The Pinelands Commission requires a permit for the clearing of more than 1,500 square feet of woods. "The township and the commission will work together to determine if a clearing violation may have occurred," Rappa said. Levari said he did not remove any trees, only debris left behind by ATV riders and people who play paintball on the site. Chiarello said Levari may have encroached onto surrounding property perhaps belonging to the township when he cleared the property. Levari has spent around $40,000 preparing the land for the spoils, which he planned to blend with concrete sand to make ice control sand for sale to other municipalities, he said. "I thought that by moving forward everybody would be comfortable because the kids wouldn't be there," Levari said. "I thought that it would help the area from being a dumping ground. I wanted to dress it up a bit, but I guess it wasn't meant to be." But the township was never told of these plans. Municipal ordinances do not allow the removal or importation of more than 10 cubic yards of any material onto any property in the township without prior approval. The proper approvals were required from both the township and the Pinelands. Neither has been received. Indeed, the township was in the dark about the goings-on at the site until just last Friday, Chiarello said. "We received extremely short notice and we've done the best thing in heading off potential problems from our residents. We should've been more in the loop from all parties involved," Chiarello said. Property owner Anthony Cinotti and Levari Trucking were served Friday with cease and desist orders to stop any operation on the property. "I don't think it's going to come into Buena Vista at all," Levari said. Campbell has this to say: "At this point, we're not taking any action until fully consulted with the affected communities."
Town deserves answers about dredge fiasco If you were the mayor of a rural township, would you want between 30,000 and 45,000 cubic yards of dredging spoils dumped within your borders? Probably not. Would you want it dumped within your borders with almost no advance notice or DEP approval of the dumping? Absolutely not. Such a situation may have almost come to pass for Buena Vista Township, where a plan to dump that large quantity of material, dredged up from the back bays of Stone Harbor, was apparently scheduled to begin Monday. But thanks to Mayor Chuck Chiarello, the plan has been halted for further examination and review. Clandestine dumping of offensive materials -- and we're inclined to consider just about all dredging spoils offensive, or worse, until clearly proven otherwise -- is among the most egregious of environmental crimes. The very idea brings to mind infamous environmental tragedies such as now-defunct Vineland Chemical Co.'s long-term secret dumping of arsenic into the Maurice River or the now-remediated rag pile in Buena Borough or other area Superfund sites. While these dredge spoils are said to be uncontaminated, in their current location, they pose a threat to endangered bird life. The state Department of Environmental Protection says the transport of the spoils was not actually ready to begin and permits had not been issued. What's more, the Pinelands location of the dump site will likely require further review and deliberation, which may ultimately disqualify it. Nevertheless, Buena Vista has gotten a late start fighting this plan. But for the vigilance of local officials, the town might not have known it was happening until it was done. In an area with more than its share of environmental horror stories to tell, that's the kind of environmental fait acompli we'd hoped we'd seen the last of. State and local officials should get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.
Buena Vista blocks dumping of dredge spoils Buena
Vista Township became the second municipality this year to reject 45,000 cubic
yards of dredge spoils taken from the bottom of Stone Harbor's back bay.
Merighi's to celebrate 50th charity ball
BUENA VISTA -- No one knows when the Savoy Hotel came to the corner of East Landis Avenue and Union Road. It was just another country bar with a few rooms upstairs, like many such businesses throughout Greater Cumberland County. But that changed 50 years ago when Ernest Merighi Sr. scraped together enough money to buy the establishment. It would become a physical landmark as well as emotional anchor for the community. More than just timber and stone, Merighi's Savoy Inn is where people make their personal histories -- weddings, anniversaries, graduation parties, reunions -- all events to be remembered for a lifetime. To honor a half-century in business, Merighi's is hosting a gala celebration at 7 p.m. Saturday that will feature the best this local icon has to offer. "We're trying to do some things that people haven't seen before in our area, but not that it's so crazy gourmet that they won't care for it," said Thomas Merighi Jr. "The seafood station should be phenomenal." Merighi's Savoy Inn 50th Anniversary Charity Ball could fetch between $3,000 and $5,000 each for the Vineland YMCA and Hendricks House, a Vineland non-profit residential halfway house for men recovering from addiction. The full menu for the $100-per-plate affair is being kept quiet to enhance anticipation for the guests, who are expected to number between 230 and 240, Merighi said. In a business where surviving for a decade is a notable achievement, the Merighis have managed to thrive for 50 years with no signs of slowing down. That's partly because the establishment is rarely called the Savoy or the Inn, but simply Merighi's. Ernest Merighi passed the inn on to his children, who then taught their children the ropes of a business where reputation is everything. The third generation of Merighis learned those lessons from the bottom up, said Thomas Merighi Sr., the business' patriarch. "I started my son working in this place when he was 11 years old," Tom Sr. said of his son, Tom Jr. "Nothing was handed to him on a silver platter." Today, Tom Jr. has a son, Tom III, also known as TJ. The 8-year-old is waiting for his chance to start at the bottom and work the long hours required by the family business. "His dad says he has to wait until he's 11," Tom Sr. said. "You want to know what makes me smile? My grandson waiting for his turn -- that makes me smile." All that Tom Merighi III is waiting for is his chance to make other people smile -- to be a part of one of the area's landmarks and to be responsible for creating the setting where other families make their own personal histories. Those smiles, the ones that come from looking inward to a time and place, are still being served at Merighi's Savoy Inn. And there's still plenty of history in the making at what was once a humble country inn.
Squad members rebound from tough year
BUENA VISTA -- It was a little more than a year ago that the death knell tolled for the financially beleaguered Collings Lakes Ambulance Squad, but the unit's demise has resuscitated efforts to bring better emergency service to the township, officials say. In February 2003, with the squad mired in about $25,000 debt, the township declared the organization insolvent and terminated its services. Following that move, nine of the former squad's 12 volunteers joined the Collings Lakes Fire Department. Since then, the department, which now has about 35 members, offers better emergency medical service and faster response times -- two minutes faster per call -- as their equipment improves, morale rises, and staffing issues disappear. And that's good news for the Collings Lakes and Newtonville sections of Buena Vista served by the department. "It's the best thing that ever happened to us," said Cindy Moriarity, 41, a former ambulance squad member who joined the fire department. Solid finances Unlike the defunct squad -- which survived on fund-raisers, an annual $12,500 donation from the township and an additional $5,000 to $6,000 from the township for insurance -- the fire department operates comfortably on a $132,000 budget funded by Collings Lakes taxpayers, Chief Bill Donnelly said. The township has pledged $18,500 to supplement the department's emergency medical services for this year. And no longer is Moriarity burdened with the task of hosting fund-raisers, such as hoagie sales and coin drops, to help make ends meet. Stronger training, better equipment That strong financial base yields several operational benefits. Moriarity now can perform rescue work in addition to the EMS duties she previously had. Rescue personnel are responsible for assignments such as vehicle extrication, while EMS workers provide medical assistance. She was able to qualify for rescue status thanks in part to the types of equipment available at the fire department -- such as extrication equipment known as the Jaws of Life. That type of equipment wasn't available for training at the ambulance squad. And the equipment is better overall, members say. "It's a lot easier," said Patty Cohen, 30, an ambulance driver for the fire department who once belonged to the squad. "When you're pulling out a rig to save a life, you don't have to worry that there's a broken piece of equipment or the equipment's not on there to do what you have to do." A relic from the former squad, a 1995 ambulance that constantly broke down, now sports new tires, a paint job, a new alternator and working sirens thanks to more than $5,000 worth of repairs from the fire department. The squad owed about $11,500 on the vehicle, a debt assumed by the township, which is still paying it off. The fire department also has spent thousands of dollars on station gear for its new members, fire uniforms for those who became firefighters and special EMT jackets that protect against blood. New pagers and radios, at a cost of almost $500 each, also were purchased. "Let's face it, you're dealing with life and death here and you can't have second-class junk," Donnelly said. "When people see you care about them and want them to have the best of things, they give you the best." Morale on the rise As they respond to calls from the fire department on Cains Mill Road, members believe they've "gone from rags to riches," Donnelly said. Morale has skyrocketed. The transition to the fire department was a smooth one, in part because some former squad members also had been members of the fire department before the dissolution. "Everyone gets along here," said Denise Hendrickson, an EMT and former squad member whose husband is a firefighter with the department. "Before there was a lot of nitpicking and bickering. "That was a long time ago." At the Collings Lakes Fire Department, every member participates in emergency medical service, members said. Firefighters assist in EMS calls, either by driving the vehicle or acting as the "third wheel" and helping lift a patient in a gurney, Donnelly said. "We're not sitting outside waiting for someone to show up because you don't have a driver or EMT," said Hendrickson. "Here, you have that." Payoff for residents What that means for the residents of Collings Lakes and Newtonville is substantially improved EMS service, officials said. Response time is two minutes faster, Donnelly said. And all of the 320 calls clocked last year were answered, he said. The success is due partly to the close proximity of the department's 35 members -- all of whom live in Collings Lakes. The fire department makes sure to schedule ambulance service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the ambulance squad was in operation, the township had received complaints from residents that it was sometimes missing calls. But the beefed-up fire department guarantees at least two people during daytime calls and three at night, Donnelly said. "The township is very pleased with what the Collings Lakes fire company has done with the ambulance," Mayor Chuck Chiarello said. "It has improved the quality of service, it's dedicated to making it succeed and the most important thing to us is the residents are getting the best they can get."
Miss Buena Vista pageant set for Sunday More than $1,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs Sunday when eight young women compete for the title in the second annual Miss Buena Vista Township Pageant. The pageant is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Buena Regional High School. Tickets cost $8 each and they will be sold at the door. The pageant is not a launch pad to bigger pageants like Miss New Jersey or even Miss Atlantic County. Yet pageant coordinator Dolores Comparri sees the show filling a void in the township. "It's to promote pride in the township and let the people see the talents of some of these girls," she said Thursday. "A lot of them are interested in it because while they're busy with cheerleading, basketball or plays at the high school, they also play piano and guitar or sing and dance and there is no avenue for them to go and perform." Because the pageant is not affiliated with sanctioned competitions, the Buena Vista Township special events committee, of which Comparri also chairs, may not give out scholarship awards. But the top three winners will receive $500, $300 and $200 cash awards she hopes will be used for college. The money is one reason why contestant Crystal Brown of Richland decided to participate. "I'm so active in school that I wanted to do something outside of school, too, because that will look good on my college resume," said Brown, 18, a member of the high school's select choir and First Baptist Church of Richland's senior choir. "I plan to become an (registered nurse) by studying at Atlantic-Cape Community College for two years and then transferring to William Paterson University." Brown plans to sing Christina Aguilera's "A Voice Within" for the talent portion of the pageant. Rose Marie and Marissa Carrafiello of Hammonton and Kristen Cullinane of Hamilton Township also will judge contestants in casual and formal wear presentations. Buena Vista Township resident Nicole Duane is producing and directing the show and its country-western theme. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I love to be out on stage, honestly," Buena resident Stephanie Perkins said. Perkins, who will sing Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" added she also plans to use any winnings for college. The pageant's other contestants include, in alphabetical order:
BUENA VISTA -- A tougher law to keep dredge spoils out of Buena Vista is on township officials' agenda when they meet tonight. The Township Committee plans to introduce an ordinance that would ban such material from being stored in Buena Vista, said Mayor Chuck Chiarello. The move comes a little more than a week after officials here were surprised to learn that about 45,000 cubic yards of muck dredged from the back bays of Stone Harbor -- enough to fill about 2,000 dump trucks -- was headed to a property on Cedar Avenue and Railroad Boulevard near St. Augustine Preparatory School. The township immediately issued cease-and-desist orders to temporarily prevent the spoils from being dumped here. The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection last week said it was reviewing Stone Harbor's plans to relocate the spoils here and had not issued any approvals yet. Tonight, township officials plan to begin the process of keeping those spoils from ever arriving. The ordinance would be modeled after one passed late last year in Lower Township, which used the law to block the same dredge spoils from being dumped in that community. "It seems in the best interest of the town to at least ban the stuff," Chiarello said Sunday. The mayor said the township still needs to study the ramifications of the proposed ordinance further and awaits guidance from the Pinelands Commission about whether it's an acceptable regulation. About 90 percent of Buena Vista is part of the environmentally sensitive Pinelands region. Stone Harbor is under pressure to find a home for the dredge spoils. The federal government has ordered the Cape May County borough to remove the spoils -- a combination of clay, sand and salt that the state has deemed environmentally safe -- because they threaten the habitat of endangered piping plover birds. An ordinance already on Buena Vista's books prohibits anyone from storing more than 10 cubic yards of any material on property here without securing approval from the township and other officials. But it doesn't specifically address dredge spoils, so the new law being considered would be stronger, Chiarello said. "There doesn't seem to be any value to the community or the township with this material coming here," the mayor said. Furthermore, he said, there are better places where the dredge spoils could be deposited, such as landfills in Burlington County and other communities.
Merighi's celebrates 50 years with friends, family and great food
BUENA VISTA -- Guests were dressed in their finest formal wear for the Merighi's Savoy Inn 50th Anniversary Charity Ball -- yet the atmosphere was informal, more like a family gathering around a dinner table. "When you walk into this restaurant, it's not a business -- it's family," said Cumberland County Freeholder Lou Magazzu, one of about 240 guests who came to the popular gathering spot Saturday night to celebrate a half-century of memories. Magazzu said he especially has fond memories of the Savoy because it's not only where he met his wife, but also the place where they celebrated their wedding reception. A very emotional Tom Merighi Sr., offered guests his ingredients for success. "It's all about family. I get emotional talking about it," Merighi said. "Thinking about the last 50 years, there's been a lot of happy memories. A recipe for success is good food, good service, reasonable prices, a lot of hard work, patience, understanding, stirring and baking." To commemorate the restaurant's golden anniversary, co-owner Tom Merighi Jr. presented a portrait of his father to be displayed in the Savoy along with his grandparents' portrait. Guests wore black ties and long evening gowns for the fancy $100-per-plate affair. The restaurant dazzled with countless golden tea lights under sheer white fabric gracefully draped around the ceiling. White balloons were scattered throughout the Savoy, and dining chairs were wrapped like gifts in fine linens and golden ribbon tied into bows. The food included a seafood station, carving station, pasta bar and three homemade soups served in sourdough bowls. The charity ball was a fund-raiser for the YMCA of Vineland and Hendricks House, a residential halfway house for men in Vineland. Each is expected to receive $3,000 to $5,000. "I think this is a spectacular event and it's heartwarming, because it's all about the Merighi family and all of the families and functions that have been here for generations," local real estate developer Frank Guaracini Jr. said. "It's incredible from the food to the music, and it helps two local charities. We celebrate a great occasion, a momentous occasion."
Molinelli crowned Miss Buena Vista Township 2004 - Winner plans to study education at community college, then Rowan BUENA VISTA -- Michele Molinelli, a 17-year-old Buena Regional High School student from East Vineland, was crowned Miss Buena Vista Township on Sunday afternoon. Molinelli, who wore a glittering aquamarine evening gown, received a $500 cash prize, a crown, trophy and a gift certificate to Dondero Jewelry in Vineland. "I feel really good. I'm really happy," said the teen, the daughter of Karl and Darlene Molinelli. It was a big moment for her parents, too. "I am very proud of her. They all did a very good job," said Darlene Molinelli. During the pageant's talent portion, Molinelli performed a tap dance. Molinelli, a senior, plans to take classes at a community college before transferring to Rowan University in Glassboro to pursue a degree in secondary education to teach history. The first runner-up in the pageant was Amanda Ambrose, a 16-year-old sophomore at Sacred Heart High School. She is the daughter of Barbra and Paul Ambrose Jr. of Milmay. The second runner-up in the competition was Sara Marie Jackson, 17, of Newtonville. The Buena Regional High School junior is the daughter of Nancy and Wayne Spriggs. Ambrose received a $300 prize and Jackson won $200.
Ordinance would prevent dredge dumping - Response to Stone Harbor's attempt to dump spoils BUENA VISTA -- A little more than a week after the township narrowly averted the dumping of some 45,000 cubic yards of dredge spoils in a residential section of Richland, officials introduced an ordinance that would prevent a similar menace. The ordinance introduced Monday night by Township Committee would outlaw the disposal of dredge spoils in any part of the township and offer "a level of protection for our residents," Mayor Chuck Chiarello said. Cease-and-desist orders issued by the township to halt the relocation of the spoils from Stone Harbor -- where they were dredged from back bays -- are limited to individual block and lot numbers, Chiarello said. The disposal of dredge spoils is currently not regulated under existing township ordinances. An ordinance under the township's general police powers -- such as the one proposed -- would offer officials a broader restrictive scope, Chiarello said. The plan is modeled after a similar ordinance in Lower Township enacted ruin Stone Harbor's efforts to locate their spoils in that municipality. In Buena Vista, Stone Harbor had agreed to pay Levari Trucking, a local company, $12 per cubic yard to haul the spoils to a property on Cedar Avenue and Railroad Boulevard near St. Augustine Preparatory School, Chiarello said. The township intervened to stop it only days before the spoils' arrival, he said. "I'd like to think we weren't just used as a cheap dumping ground," Chiarello said. "But I think we were." In other news: A public land sale generated about $25,550 in revenue for the township.
Stone Harbor buries dredge plan BUENA VISTA -- Barbara Barrett got some welcome news Tuesday. About 45,000 cubic yards of dredge spoils -- the equivalent of roughly 2,000 truckloads -- won't be dumped on private property near her Cedar Avenue home. Buena Vista officials were surprised late last month when they learned Stone Harbor planned to transport the muck, dredged from its back bays, to the township's Richland section. But the Cape May County community has now scrapped any plans to bring the dredge spoils here, Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters said Wednesday. Instead, the spoils may end up on private property near the White Horse Pike in Atlantic City. Stone Harbor is negotiating with developer Ralph Clayton to move the spoils to a site where he needs fill for a commercial building he's constructing. Clayton said he'd use the spoils to form a three-foot base, raising the low ground on his 10-acre site above flood level. The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection must sign off on the plan before any deal is made. "We'd like to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and we'll provide an expedited review of any proposal that provides a solution for Stone Harbor," DEP spokesperson Fred Mumford said. Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-1, who notified Stone Harbor that Clayton's property could be a potential place for the spoils, is optimistic the solution will work. "I do not anticipate the DEP will have any problems with this site," he said. That pleases Barrett. "Even though they say it would be safe, I don't want anything near my home," she said. "If Stone Harbor wants to get rid of it so bad, why put it in our back yard?"
Public works building closer to completion
BUENA VISTA -- Workers from Vineland-based Capri Construction spent Thursday morning bolting the frame of a new 7,000-square-foot building for the township's public works department. The pre-engineered, metal building on Union Road will be a storage depot for public works vehicles and equipment. Cold, damp weather caused a three- to four-week delay in construction for the $249,000 project, which should be complete by early spring, township engineer Dave Scheidegg said. The new structure replaces a 3,000-square-foot portion of another public works building on Union Road. That part of the building was demolished in September. But the rest of the building remains standing and currently is used by the public works department.
State orders cease on gay marriage license issue New Jersey's attorney general told Asbury Park officials Tuesday they will face criminal charges unless they stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples and quit performing marriage ceremonies for them. Attorney General Peter C. Harvey also warned state officials that those licenses are invalid. The move came one day after Asbury Park's deputy mayor performed the state's first gay marriage, reasoning that it was legal to do so because no state law explicitly bans it. But even before the state's order, officials from several municipalities in greater Cumberland County indicated they wouldn't follow Asbury Park's lead. Authorities in Vineland, Millville, Buena Vista and Buena said they wouldn't provide licenses to same-sex couples because state law prohibits them. Vineland's deputy registrar, Cathy Spratt, said the city hadn't seen any local same-sex couples apply for marriage license but had at least one inquiry. A young woman came in asking about the application procedure and mentioned it was for her and another woman. Spratt's response was that only a man and a woman could apply for a marriage license in Vineland. "She got a little indignant and said she had seen something from Gov. (James E.) McGreevey's office," Spratt said, adding the woman indicated she intended to return to City Hall with the information to which she was referring. "She never came back," Spratt said. Millville Administrator Lewis Thompson said city employees were given a memo on how to handle any request for a same-sex marriage license but have received none. "My position here is the marriage application says 'male' applicant and 'female' applicant," Thompson said. "So, until such time as I get further information, I wouldn't be able to accept (a same-sex) application." Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello said he would perform a same-sex wedding if the state authorized that to occur. "But I don't think I'd be as bold to take the law into my own hands as I think some people have done," Chiarello said, referring to other mayors around the country who have married gay couples. In Buena, Mayor Joseph Baruffi is personally against the idea of gay marriage but said he'd perform such ceremonies it state law allowed. "I've never been approached with this, but I'd really rather not," Baruffi said. "It's just a personal feeling, that's all." In Asbury Park, 18 same-sex couples filed for a license through Tuesday afternoon, and 10 applications had been completed, officials said. The attorney general's letter to that city said Deputy Mayor James Bruno was wrong to perform a wedding ceremony for two gay men. More same-sex marriages could mean "potential criminal prosecution," Harvey warned. Gay marriage has so far been rejected by New Jersey's courts. On Nov. 5, the Law Division of N.J. Superior Court held that the state's marriage statutes don't permit same-sex marriages. Staff writers Lisa Grzyboski, Joseph P. Smith and Giselle Sotelo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Soldiers send thanks to Reindeer Brigade
Stone Harbor spoils suddenly hot property ESTELL MANOR -
Stone Harbor is shopping around their dredge spoils, with two businesses now
apparently seeking the material that previously no one seemed to want.
School bus driver jobs saved after public outcry BUENA VISTA -- The Buena Regional Board of Education has decided to preserve the jobs of six bus drivers that were in jeopardy as the school district considers budget cuts. The move came after hundreds turned out for Tuesday night's board meeting in a resounding public outcry against the potential job losses. Bus drivers were informed about two weeks ago that six could get the ax as the district tries to slash a spending plan that tentatively proposes a 26-cent tax rate increase for Buena homeowners and a 33-cent hike in Buena Vista. The district has 15 local bus drivers. Residents -- citing familiarity with those drivers and the safety of their children -- appealed passionately to keep the six positions that officials considered replacing by contracting out the jobs in a cost-saving move. A petition circulated in four communities served by Buena Regional included about 400 signatures supporting the drivers. "The people in the community know who our drivers are," said Roger Baker, president of the union that represents Buena Regional's 230 teachers. A contingent of teacher's aides, fearing their jobs could be cut, appealed to board members to save their positions. They argued they're an essential support staff providing personalized assistance for struggling children. "Without us, the teachers are going to have a rough time," said classroom assistant representative Judy Riordan. Residents agreed. "They take the time to help where the teachers can't," said Elizabeth Wilson, 45, a Buena Vista resident. District officials said the aides' positions aren't targeted to be eliminated.
Buena Regional school chief refuses to disclose changing budget numbers BUENA BOROUGH -
The school district faces one of its most difficult years so far as it grapples
with a possible tax increase that, at last count, was double the amounts voters
rejected the previous two years.
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