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

The Buena Vista Township Green Team will be taking on conservation and nature projects that will be educational, recreational, resourceful and fun!

Our goal is to help make everyone in our Township more aware of the importance of nature and its preservation to live more sustainably and to “Get out and smell the roses!”

Some of our proposed projects are:

• Reopen the Nature Trail at Michael Debbi Park with educational signage about the habitat.
• Save the Monarch Butterfly Project.  We will be planting a Monarch Butterfly garden (all other pollinators will be welcomed also) at Michael Debbi Park to coincide with the Nature Trail.  We will also make Milk Weed Plant seeds available for home gardeners to plant as this is the ONLY plant where a female Monarch Butterfly lays her eggs and the ONLY food source for the caterpillar stage to feed on to metamorphosis into a Monarch Butterfly!
• A community garden where vegetables can be grown and shared.
  We are seeking people that are positive and interested in being a part of our Community Township Green Team. To be part of the Green Team projects, please contact Committeeman John Williams at 609-513-7318 or email jwilliams@buenavistanj.com.  Be sure to check every month for Green Team News and Tips!

by the BVT Green Team

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR RECYCLING ELECTRONICS
Personal Computers (laptop & desktop), Computer Monitors, Televisions and other electronic items can no longer be put out with your trash.  This has been required by New Jersey State Law. You can drop these items off to Buena Vista Township at no cost.  Curbside pickup is not available.

These items will be accepted on the first Saturday of each month at the BVT Public Works Yard between 8 am and 12 noon.  You may also call Public Works at 856-692-4121 to drop these items off in the morning or late afternoon when someone is present at the yard.  You can also use these local options for electronics recycling instead:

GOODWILL STORES:
6701 Black Horse Pike, Cardiff, NJ 08234 – Monday thru Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm.; Sunday 12 noon to 6:00 pm – Call 609-569-1112 for more information.

200 White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037 – Blueberry Crossing Shopping Center, Monday thru Saturday, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm; Sunday, 12 noon – 6:00 pm – 609-704-1744 for more information.

EARTH 911:  Visit www.earth911.com and enter “electronics in the first search box and your sizp code in the second box to find disposal locations near you.

BEST BUY STORES:
100 Consumer Square, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 – 609-485-0500 for more information.

Most electronic items are accepted, including tube TVs up to 32”, flat screen TV under 50”, DVD players, MP3 players, cell phones, small electronics, fans & vacuums, desktop and laptop computers.

STAPLES:
2300 Wrangleboro Rd., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
9 Bethel Rd., Somers Point, NJ 08244
Staples accepts computers, monitors, printers, ink and toner cartridges, cell phones.  Visit www.staples.com/recycling for more information.

The NJDEP maintains a list of consumer electronics recycling facilities at www.nj.gov/dep.  You can also visit Atlantic County Utilities Authority at www.acua.com.

CLICK HERE for FLYER

A crowd of over 150 was on hand on Friday, December 4^th to greet Mr. & Mrs. Claus plus their Elves as they arrived via the Richland Volunteer Fire Co. and a parade of Fire & Emergency vehicles.

Once the tree was lit, Santa heard the wishes of all the children gathered and they received a special gift just for them.  There was singing and refreshments for all.

Anna from the movie “Frozen” made guest appearance along with Miss Buena Ciarra Sikking.

The lobby of Township Hall had a beautiful tree decorated with ornaments made by the children of the Milanesi and Collings Lakes Elementary School Children’s choirs welcome Santa.

Santa’s “Secret Elves” prepared the goodie bags for Santa to give to all the good little boys and girls.

The 54/40 Community Shuttle began service on Monday January 4^th with service between Richland Village, Buena Borough, Newtonville, Collings Lakes, Folsom and Hammonton.  The new Shuttle connects to multiple bus routes and the train in Hammonton allowing our residents without cars to make connections to take them anywhere.

The main benefit is for those seeking jobs or being able to get to them.  There is no cost.  This is a one-year experiment so please give it a try so we can meet the requirements to keep it running after the first year. The Shuttle runs in the mornings and late afternoons Monday to Friday.

You can see a complete route map at www.buenavistanj.com or on our Facebook page.