Buena Vista Township hosted their annual rabies clinics that were held on March 3^rd and March 17^th. Many fur babies came out and visited Township Employees and Committee who helped with the clinic.

Energy assistance is still available in southern New Jersey to help Atlantic City Electric customers pay for winter energy bills. Through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Atlantic City Electric customers can receive up to $1,000 in grant support toward their energy bill that they do not have to pay back. Customers must apply during LIHEAP’s open period to ensure they can secure their grant while money is still available.

Atlantic City Electric customers can submit LIHEAP applications now to secure their grants. Customers can apply for LIHEAP through April 30, 2018 by visiting nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/html or by contacting their local LIHEAP agency. For a list of LIHEAP agencies by county, visit state.nj.us/dca/agencydirectorylist.html.

“We understand that our customers may face financial challenges in meeting their energy needs, so we help them secure the essential energy assistance they need to help pay their utility bills,” said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. “It is essential that our customers submit their application now, before this important money runs out.”

Last week, Atlantic City Electric employees traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in LIHEAP Action Day hosted by the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition. The employees advocated for policies that protect funding for the LIHEAP program by sharing stories with elected officials and policymakers that demonstrate the program’s value to vulnerable households in southern New Jersey.

To be eligible for a grant, a customer’s annual household income cannot exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Each state has determined eligibility guidelines based on household size and income. Homeowners, renters, roomers and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Customers do not have to be behind on their bills to receive a grant.

New Jersey’s eligibility requirements are as follows:
• $24,120 – One-person household
• $32,484 – Two-person household
• $40,848 – Three-person household
• $49,200 – Four-person household

In addition to LIHEAP, there are many other programs and tips available to help Atlantic City Electric customers save money and manage their energy costs. Customers can also Get more detailed information about your energy usage so you can make more informed choices about how you use energysign up for My Account, which contains tools and detailed energy usage information. By tracking their energy use, comparing usage trends, and discovering the results of energy-saving practices, customers can manage their energy more efficiently. Customers can visit atlanticcityelectric.com to learn more about My Account, available energy assistance programs, and other ways to save money and energy

Customers also can receive financial assistance through Helping Hands, a program, funded by Atlantic City Electric, providing $3 million to help struggling customers meet their energy needs during the next three years. These funds are annually dispersed to low-income residents through the Affordable Housing Alliance, New Jersey SHARES, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden and the People for People Foundation.

Atlantic City Electric will work with customers who may have difficulty paying their energy bill. The company offers payment options, like budget billing, which averages payments over a 12-month period to help customers manage their monthly electricity costs, or flexible payment arrangements that offer individually tailored payment installment plans. Customers who may be struggling to make a payment should contact Atlantic City Electric as soon as possible at 800-642-3780.

To learn more, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online news room. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.

The Urban Treatment Assoc. Inc. in   collaboration with Atlantic County Health Department will be conducting a FREE Narcan Training Class on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center located at 661 Jackson Road.

This class is open to the public and all are welcome including school nurses, first responders, teachers and those interacting with the public. To register for this class, please contact the MLK Center at 609-704-7262 or email us at MLKCenter@buenavistanj.com.

Buena Vista Township Committee has voted unanimously to become a Bee City USA®. This completed the efforts of the Environmental Commission to accomplish this certification. Bee City USA is a nonprofit national organization that galvanizes communities to sustain pollinators by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides.

Imperiled pollinators like honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies, moths, bats, hummingbirds, and others are responsible for the reproduction of ninety percent of the world’s wild plant species and one in every three bites of food we consume. Buena Vista Township is the second municipality in New Jersey to become certified as a Bee community.

This certification becomes an initiative for the Environmental Commission in their goals to continue with a Silver Certification with NJ Sustainable Jersey. Buena Vista Township is the second municipality in State of New Jersey (the first in South Jersey) to become certified as a Bee community.

On Friday, February 16, 2018, Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly was named the President for the Atlantic County League of Municipalities.  New Jersey Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo performed the swearing-in ceremony.

Also appointed were Third Vice President Councilman Clifford Mays, Jr. of Egg Harbor City, Second Vice President Committeeman John Williams of Buena Vista Township, First Vice President Weymouth Township Mayor Kenneth Haeser and as Secretary Paula Geletei, City Clerk of Atlantic City.

Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello has become the new President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM).  On January 10, 2018 NJCM President Jim Perry announced that as a result of the annual re-organization in his municipality he was no longer the Mayor and as such in accordance with the NJCM Constitution and By-Laws could not continue as NJCM President.

Due to the vacancy, First Vice President Mayor Chuck Chiarello immediately assumed the position of President for the balance of the term of Former President Perry, through April 2018, and continues for another year of his regular term as President until the end of April 2019.

New NJCM President Mayor Chuck Chiarello and the members of the NJCM Executive Board all extended their appreciation to Former President Jim Perry, on behalf of the NJCM Membership, for his many efforts in support of the NJCM and wished him well in his other efforts.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello was sworn in at the NJCM winter summit on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at the Mosonic Temple in Trenton by Governor Phil Murphy. There were over 150 Mayors in attendance from around the State.

The colonel of the New Jersey State Police Patrick Callaghan also spoke on behalf of Mayor Chiarello.  Legislative issues were discussed which Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senator Tom Kean and Assembly Minority Leader John Bramnick.