Mayor Chuck Chiarello who is a member of the Executive Board for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors has contributed an article in the second issue related to Economic Stability.

With an article titled “Economic Stability Starts at Home” Buena Vista has taken new initiatives in Difficult times. Buena Vista has taken great strides in not only maintaining ratables, but also has encouraged new commercial development and a business friendly environment.

To learn more about Buena Vista’s initiative Click HERE to view the Mayor’s article in the New Jersey Conference of Mayor’s Magazine.

The article is written by Mayor Chuck Chiarello and published by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.

Eighth grade students from the Buena Regional Middle School formed an Honorary Township Committee along with Honorary Department Heads on Monday, April 18^th.

The students spent the day at Buena Vista touring our Municipal Building and most of our facilities including Michael Debbi Park, Public Works Department and the King Center.  The students then appeared at our televised Township Committee meeting on Monday, April 25^th where they were sworn into office for the day and participated along with the Township Committee during that evening.

The Honorary Township Committee Program was started many years ago at the Cleary Middle School and was handled by Mr. Abate.  The program ran successfully for many years but was not continued after Mr. Abate retired.   Mayor Chuck Chiarello requested that the program be restarted through the new Buena Regional Middle School when it was first opened, but to no avail.

In 2015, Committeeman John Armato became the Municipal Liaison to the school district and was able to get the program restarted with this year’s  8^th Grade Class through the help of the Superintendent, School Board and the Principal of the Middle School.

This year’s program was a true success. Thanks to all the students that participated.  The honorary student members were:  TJ Cheli, Mayor; Aliyah White, Deputy Mayor; Victoria DeRossi, Township Committee/Reporter; Louis Flannery, Township Committee; Travis Welsford, Township Committee; Sierra Gonzalez, CMFO/Administrator; Hannah Lawless, Township Clerk; Franchesca Hansen, Tax Collector; Antonina Benson, Tax Assessor; Byron Spellman, Director of Public Works.

FREE reusable bags coming soon to the Independence Day Festival on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Check out the BVT Green Team table for a reusable bag and other great items. Bags available to the first 200 people who claim them.

Green Tip of the Week:

Plastic bag litter is a growing problem. Just look around and you are sure to see plastic bags hanging from the trees, stuck in storm drains, nestled in shrubs, and floating in waterways. The bags are responsible every year for the deaths of many birds, land animals and marine mammals. They can take from 15 to 1000 years to decompose.  In addition: Plastic is petroleum-base, so the more bags that are made, the more oil is wasted. The bags are photo-degradable, so if left out in the open, they break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers.* (CNN.com)

We can all do our part to reduce the plastic bag problem. The easiest solution is to carry reusable bags in your car at all times. These bags have become very prevalent and available for a small fee at most grocery stores and “big box” stores (Target, Lowes, etc.). These bags are not only sturdier than plastic bags but they also hold more! And some stores will give a small discount if you have your own bags. If you do accumulate plastic bags, please recycle them. Many supermarkets in the area have bins for recycling. But the best rule to follow is to reduce first, reuse second and then recycle.

This tip is courtesy of the Green Team in BVT.  For more information call the Township Clerk’s Office at 856-697-2100 or email info@buenavistanj.com.

To be part of the BVT Green Team please contact Committeeman John Williams at (609) 513-7318 or email: jwilliams@buenavistanj.com.

Members of the Richland Volunteer Fire Company and Collings Lakes Volunteer Fire Company were presented plaques by Township Committeemen John Williams and Steve Martinelli at our televised Township Meeting on Monday, March 28^th.

The Hero’s Awards were given in recognition of their outstanding search and recovery work during an incident at Pancoast Mill Pond on Thursday night, March 3^rd.

Our brave volunteers using boats rescued two hunters that had gotten stuck in water up to their waists.  Cell phone pings helped obtain the location of the hunters.  A New Jersey State Police helicopter scanned the woods and located the men using a beam of light which led the rescuers to their location in the dense woods.

They were found in good health.  Other fire companies, rescue squads, and canine units were called in to assist.  We are so proud of our local volunteers!

Buena Vista Township recently partnered with “Tobacco Free NJ” and adopted Ordinance 18-2016 which provides for a Smoke-Free environment in public buildings and public parks.

Buena Vista Township believes that the general health and well-being of its residents and children are top priority. Buena Vista recognizes the well-known health and safety risks posed by smoking and has found it is within the public’s interest to prohibit smoking in public buildings and on public properties such as parks and recreation areas as well as in any Township Vehicle.

Buena Vista Township believes this is a self-enforcing ordinance where members of the public will see the signs in the parks and know that public health is extremely important in Buena Vista.

Check out the new signs coming to a park near you!

CLICK HERE for Smoke Free Ordinance.

St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, NJ (www.hermits.com), in association with Prime Storage of Egg Harbor (www.PrimeStorageGroup.com) and United to Share (www.shoestoshare.org) has launched a Shoe Drive to benefit needy men, women, and children through various international and domestic programs.

The Shoe Drive calls upon the public to donate shoes that they no longer need from their closet so that they may be used by others who do need them.  Donations of new or used shoes are being accepted at Prime Storage of Egg Harbor located at 6649 Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township through May 6, 2016.  Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:30am to 6:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm.  Donors are welcome to leave their contributions by the door if the office is closed.

“This location has participated many times before and we are very proud to collect needed shoes again”, states Mr. Ronald Mondile, Area Manager for the Prime Storage of Egg Harbor location. “We hope to overwhelm United to Share with a record breaking bounty of shoes this year.”

Prime Storage of Egg Harbor also has pledged a FREE lock to any Customer that donates shoes and rents new storage space during this time frame as an added way to say Thank You.

Prime Storage of Egg Harbor (formerly Premier Storage) is proudly Owned and Operated by Prime Storage Group; the fastest growing chain of privately owned self-storage facilities in the United States.  Their portfolio of almost 100 locations covers the Northeast and the East Coast.

St. Augustine Preparatory School is a college preparatory school located in southern New Jersey. Their Mission is Setting Hearts on Fire. St. Augustine operates under the auspices of the Order of Saint Augustine and the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.

WELCOME TO THE BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP GREEN TEAM NEWS!

by the BVT Green Team

The goal of the Buena Vista Township Green Team is to involve township residents in living greener, appreciating and protecting our natural resources, and to live more sustainably.

Some of the BVT Green Team proposed projects are:

1.     Reopen the Nature Trail at Michael Debbi Park with the Environmental Commission that will include educational signage about the natural habitat of the Pinelands we live in.

2.     Save The Monarch Butterfly Project. We will be planting a Monarch Butterfly Habitat (all other pollinators are welcome also!) at Michael Debbi Park, to coincide with the Nature Trail and Bluebird nesting boxes.

3.     An exciting vertical Community Garden at the Martin Luther Community Center, which will provide fresh produce for the Food Bank at the Center.

4.     An organic Community Garden at the Abundant Living Church with a children’s garden, and which will also provide fresh produce for the Food Bank located there.

The Buena Township Green Team invites residents, clubs, Scout groups, and educators to join us in making our Township greener! We are seeking people that are positive, and want to be involved in community Green Team activities. To get more information and be part of the BVT Green Team please contact Committeeman John Williams at 609-513-7318 or email: jwilliams@buenavistanj.com

Green Team Tip for the Month

Regular pumping of septic tanks will vastly improve septic system functioning and help protect the environment. If the sludge level in the bottom of the tank builds up to the outlet pipe that carries the liquid to the septic field, the sludge will be carried to the field and will block release of the liquids. Grease also can cause clogs in vital tank components, so wipe grease from pots and pans before washing to help keep your septic system operating efficiently.

Check here next month for more BVT Green Team news and tips!

ATTENTION to all voters in Buena Vista Township Voting District 3 which includes Newtonville, Lake Ann, Buena Acres and Weymouth Road:  The election polling location has been changed from the Newtonville Fire Hall.

Voting will now take place at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, 661 Jackson Rd. in Newtonville for both the elections in June and November of 2016, as well as in the future.

Effective immediately, a Zoning Permit is required to be obtained from the Buena Vista Township Zoning Officer prior to most building permits from the State Building Inspectors.

You must complete and submit the application and payment to Rick Bracaliello, Zoning Officer.  The Zoning Office hours are every Tuesday 5 pm to 7:30 pm.

Applications are available on our website buenavistanj.com and at the BVT Municipal Building 9 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday, Tuesday evenings until 7:30 pm.

Questions regarding permits can be made to the Zoning Officer by telephone (856) 687-2100 ext. 9 or by email: zoning@buenavistanj.com.

February has been nationally recognized as Black History Month since President Gerald Ford in 1976. However, the history of celebrating, recognizing, and researching the achievements of African Americans dates back as early as 1915 and in 1926, the first national Negro History Week was established by Carter G. Woodson.  The 2^nd week of February was designated because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. For more information and reference about Black History Month go to www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month.

On February 20^th, the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center held a Black History Program to help inform and recognize various historical references and how they have impacted the African American culture. Rev. David Mallory of the First Baptist Church of Richland presented an audio and video presentation of performances and musical selections that helped express African American culture through song. These performances also demonstrated historic dance, storytelling and hardships African Americans faced and how music is some ways was an outlet of their suffering and celebration of their faith.

Upcoming events at the MLK Center include our very first Job Fair on Tuesday, March 15^th from 10 am – 2 pm. Representatives from Bayada Home Health Care, Comar, Caesars Entertainment, Resorts, South Jersey Industries, Pep Boys, Utiliquest and Cape May Brewery are just a few that will be on hand. We are expecting a large turnout, be early, be prepared and dress to impress.

Also in March our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, March 12^th at 1 pm so mark the date on your calendar and come and have some family fun (rain or shine). We will have a coloring contest, puzzles and other activities   The MLK Center also has other activities and programs for school-aged children. For our high school students, The MLK Peer Leadership, “We Care,” Group meets every Thursday at 7 pm in the Roberta J. Corbitt Community Room located in the rear of the Center.  For our elementary and middle school-aged children, Cocoa’s Story Hour is held the 2^nd and 4^th Friday of each month. For our senior citizens, The Seniors of the Newtonville Area meet at the MLK Center every Wednesday at 10 am. If you are interested in joining, call us at 609-704-7262.

The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey is also housed at the MLK Center. Their new exhibit – “Jet Black Brown and Tan on the Beach” is currently on display. Please call 609-350-6662 to arrange a tour.

The MLK Center is also available to rent for your family celebrations.  We can accommodate up to 100 people. Applications are available at the MLK Center or call us for details. The MLK Center is open weekdays 11 am – 7 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-6 pm.

If you like to get more information on our programs or activities or wish to volunteer please call us at 609-704-7262 or email us MLKCenter@buenavistanj.com. Check us out on the Buena Vista Township website or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/mlkbuenavistatownship

by Quentin McClendon, Director