Did you know Buena Vista Township has a Community Garden? Impact Harvest, a local non-profit organization; along with a couple hundred volunteers built the garden two years ago at the Dr. Martin Luther King Center in Newtonville.

The garden was built to serve the residents, but we need help. Impact Harvest is looking for committed volunteers to help with the garden next season. It’s light work and there is no experience necessary. All ages, abilities, and groups are welcome to help. All volunteers are welcome to share the bounty of harvest from the garden. If you are interested in helping next spring, please contact Valerie Behrens at (609) 440-6717 or val_behrens@impactharvest.org

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo & Township Clerk Lisa Tilton

On August 28, 2017, Mayor and Township Committee reappointed Lisa A. Tilton as Township Clerk/Registrar. Lisa also currently serves as the Planning/Zoning Board Secretary and is a member of the Township’s Master Plan Committee, Development Review Committee and Advisor to the Environmental Commission for Sustainable Jersey.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo administered the Oath of Office to Ms. Tilton with her family present. “It is an honor and privilege to not only work, but be part of Buena Vista Township” Tilton said. Lisa has worked in Government for over fifteen (15) years, is a lifelong resident of Atlantic County and a graduate from the Pilgrim Academy in Galloway Township in 1995. Lisa came to Buena Vista Township in January 2014 as a temporary employee and was made a permanent appointment shortly thereafter.

On August 4, 2014, the Township Committee appointed Lisa Tilton as Township Clerk/Registrar.  She is a Registered Municipal Clerk, Certified Municipal Registrar, Certified Technical Assistant, Certified Planning Board Member and a Notary.

Prior to coming to Buena Vista, she served ten (10) years in the Township of Galloway, completing her tenure as Township Clerk/Registrar. Lisa also served as a Planning Board member for the Township of Galloway in which she worked on the Township’s Master Plan and served on their Development Review Committee.

Lisa works with a dedicated staff in the Clerk’s Office, which includes Lori Ricci as the Deputy Clerk/Deputy Registrar and Lori Faisst as Clerk Typist/Alternate Deputy Registrar.

The season is approaching where we are once again asking for a helping hand to those less fortunate in our community this Thanksgiving and Christmas time.

Buena Vista Township will be accepting canned food and non-perishable food items that will go to help the Community Food Pantry at the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center in Newtonville and the Abundant Living Church Food Bank located on Route 54 at Jackson Road.

Collection containers will be located at each of the Township Post Offices, BVT Municipal Building, and the MLK Community Center, 661 Jackson Rd. in Newtonville.

Please make any donations no later than November 10^th for Thanksgiving and December 15^th for Christmas.

The 13^th Annual Saw Mill Park Halloween Fun Day will be held on Saturday, October 21^st from 11 am to 1 pm at Saw Mill Park, Harding Highway (Route 40) in Richland Village.

There will be a costume parade with lots of candy and prizes for the funniest, most beautiful, scary, cutest, original and best all-around costume!  The coloring contest pages will be judged with prizes in three categories.

Entry forms will be distributed throughout the schools or pick one up at Town Hall.  Free hayrides and games for the kids!

Pizza and drinks will be available for sale at reasonable prices.  Come enjoy this event with the family!

No Admission – Donations are accepted. Come and see highly detailed HO scale models of many different   trains, operated on a large realistic model railroad through beautiful scale scenery of western Pennsylvania and eastern New York State. The HO Scale Patcong Valley Model Railroad Club is in Richland Village on Route 40 & Fir Avenue about 10 miles west of Mays Landing, near mile marker 38.5. For GPS search, look for 1308 Harding HWY., Richland, NJ.

On Thursday, hundreds will gather to pay their respects and offer words of inspiration to the memory of Sen. Jim Whelan. He leaves a legacy that impacted Atlantic City, Atlantic County, the region and the state.
I remember him most as a fellow mayor.

Someone you could depend on and look up to. Many remember him as a lifeguard, athlete, teacher, coach, councilman, assemblyman and, of course, two-term state senator. A career that spanned a lifetime.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I cannot attend Thursday’s memorial service due to my health, but my thoughts and prayers will be there to remember a man who contributed a lasting legacy.

He was a true public servant.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello
Buena Vista Township