Buena Regional Class of 2017

Congratulations to the Buena Regional High School Class of 2017. The graduating class consisted of many National Honor Society students and not one but three Valedictorians!

Linda Franceschini of Milmay, Daniel Dormanen of Estell Manor and Olga Koturlash of Buena stunned the crowed with their insightful and entertaining speeches during graduation. Buena Vista Township is proud to have so many bright young minds working towards bright futures. Congratulations again from Buena Vista Township.

14^TH ANNUAL Run 4 Ricky 

The 14^th Annual Run 4 Ricky was held on Saturday, June 10^th at the home of remembered student and athlete Ricky Wilcox. The run gathered hundreds of past, present and future students of Buena Regional High School, friends and family, and Township Officials.

The yearly event raises money used to provide deserving students with scholarships at the end of each year. The total for 2017 was $17,500.00. This year’s event was no different, from the awards, runners new and old, walkers both kids and adults and a kids run fit for the little ones of the event. After the run the BBQ for the event was held at Michael Debbi park which involved food, a bounce house, Starbucks Coffee, music and a prize auction.

A very successful event once again. Keep an eye out for next year’s event and how you can help at www.run4ricky.org.

Buena Vista Township is Awarded Clean Communities Grant 

The Clean Communities Grants were awarded in the beginning of June granting money to municipalities and counties all over New Jersey. $2.2 million dollars in grants were awarded to the 21 counties in New Jersey. Buena Vista Township received a grant of $30,713.39.

According to Commissioner Martin, “Clean Communities money is a vital resource for New jersey’s municipalities and counties every year because these grants help fund cleanups that will further enhance our communities, natural resources and roadway.

By taking care of the environment around us, we encourage others to do the same in their own communities and build pride across the state.” Buena Vista is honored to receive such a large grant and continues to focus on making our communities better each and every day.

Buena Chiefs Softball Wins South Jersey Title 

Photo Credit: Press of Atlantic City

The Buena Chiefs softball team coached by Pamela Picket has had quite the season in 2017. Wining their third consecutive South Jersey Title was a huge part of the season topped off by April 8, 2017 when Coach Pam Picket achieved her 600^th career win.

Coach Picket of course gives most of the credit to her players over the last 30 years but she is definitely a spectacular coach and woman herself. Players of the Buena Chiefs Softball team both present and past, feel that they are the players they are today because of Coach Picket or Coach Pick for short.

During the season, Aysiah Cintron crushed another record help by a previous play Samantha Horner for her career hits. Cintron broke schools record by hitting her 143^rd hit in the 2017 season.

Another proud moment for Coach Picket and the team. We look forward to seeing the team next year during another great season!

Buena Vista Township Committee Tours Outside of New Teligent Building

On Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Mayor Chuck Chiarello, Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly, Committeeman Steve Martinelli and Committeeman John Williams toured the new construction work at the Teligent site on Lincoln Avenue. Also in attendance was Township Administrator/CMFO Kenia Nunez and Township Clerk/Planning – Zoning Board Secretary Lisa Tilton. Teligent Vice President Peter Gallagher led the tour which featured pointing out some of the construction process and European style used in the design of the building. The project is moving along rapidly and work has already begun inside the new 75,000 sq. ft. addition. Teligent is a manufacturer of generic medical products.

Merighi’s Savoy Inn Expands Luna’s Outdoor Restaurant 

On Thursday, May 18, 2017 Buena Vista Township Planning-Zoning Board approved an expansion for Luna’s outdoor restaurant located at Merighi’s Savoy Inn in East Vineland. The new expansion will enhance the dining experience and expand the outdoor kitchen area which will include a fire pit and an outdoor waiting area. Parking will be redesigned to have a front parking area and the rear banquet area parking. Work is expected to begin immediately so that the “Key West” Style restaurant will be fully operational this summer. It will be a nice addition to a very successful establishment in Buena Vista.

Shoreline Vintage Grand Re-Opening 

Shoreline Vintage located on Route 40 in Richland Village has added new vendors to their Antique/Consignment Retail Store. Stop in and take a look at the changes.

On May 29, our country celebrated Memorial Day. For different families across the country, that day held a different significance. For me, that last Monday in May always brings me back to May of 1967, the month I became an airman in the U.S. Air Force.

Coming from Buena Vista Township, joining the Air Force was both exciting and nerve-wracking. People always ask me why I chose to enlist during a time when our country was at war. My answer has always been because I believed it was the right thing to do.

We owe so much to our veterans. Just getting them home safely is not enough. We need to make sure that these men and women are educated on the financial and medical services that are available to them. And we need to do what we can to remove the barriers that stand between them and these services.

As chairman of the Buena Vista Township Veterans Committee, I’ve had the privilege to serve our veteran community here in Buena Vista. Every day I work to make sure our veterans have access to the benefits they deserve. Recently, a resident came to our committee to ask if we could help her obtain her late husband’s medals. She had been trying for years but to no avail. With the help of our congressman, we got the job done. When she invited me over to see the medals, I was so gratified to see the Purple Heart that she could now share proudly with his friends and family.

Our veterans, our fallen soldiers and their families deserve our respect and commitment. In Buena Vista, our committee took on the task of getting a proper memorial stone at Township Hall that listed all the names of our neighbors who had given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. But we must do more than just memorialize. Too many veterans don’t know what services they have available to them or how to access the ones they’re aware of. For those who have already sacrificed so much to serve our country, that’s unacceptable. To be able to make their lives easier or solve challenges they might be facing, are tasks I feel honored to take on.

Our men and women in the military made the choice to risk their lives so that we could continue to enjoy our lives back home. On Memorial Day, let’s remember those who made the greatest sacrifice and let’s recommit our efforts to serve those who have come home.

John Armato

Buena Vista

Hamilton Historical Society’s bus trip to the new Museum of the American Revolution Philadelphia is on June 21, 2017.  The bus will be leaving at 8:30 a.m. from County Parking Lot 2nd St. & Farragut Avenue.  It will return at 6:00 p.m.  The cost is $70.00 per person.

For more information please call Cheryl Fetty at 609-625-1598.

Mark your calendars for 9 – Yes, 9!!  Wednesday night’s beginning June 29^th and running through August for music and dancing under the stars at Michael Debbi Park in Richland.

The concerts begin at 7 pm until 9 pm (weather permitting).  They are performed at the Special Events Center Gazebo.  If it rains, the concert will be rescheduled to another date.  Affordable refreshments will be available.  Flyer coming soon.

Hot dogs, desserts and beverages will be sold. Bring your dancing shoes. Seating is available or bring your own lawn chairs. (weather permitting)

• Wednesday, June 28th – John Clark – Little Big Band
• Wednesday, July 5th – Joe Kelly – Tear It Up
• Wednesday, July 12th – In High Gear
• Wednesday, July 19th  – Poor Mouth Henry
• Wednesday, July 26th – Kenny I Entertainment
• Wednesday, August 2nd- Lonnie Youngblood
• Wednesday, August 9th –  45 RPM Oldies Concert
• Wednesday, August 16th – Ed Rodriquez – Ten Eddy Drive
• Wednesday, August 23rd – Dr. Cheeko
• Wednesday, August 30th – Reserved for Rain Date

This schedule is subject to change.

On Saturday May 27, 2017 at twelve o’clock noon, a special dedication will be made for the Tree Monument –perhaps the most “Unusual Tree” in the state of New Jersey. Located in Saw Mill Park in Richland Village a mighty white oak tree stood for 235 years (approx. 1780-2015) next to a Saw Mill that led the way for the once mighty railroads to crisscross here in Richland, Buena Vista Township. When time took the life of this tree, it still had 125 ft. wing span.

Our community searched for ideas to allow this otherwise dead tree to live on. The idea of a Tree Monument was born with the guidance of Mayor Chuck Chiarello and the Township Committee in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Buena Vista Township. It would be a tree that depicted the Township’s history and yet transformed into a contemporary piece of art. With the help of local tree surgeon Gary Heitz and a talented chainsaw artist by the name of Brian Ackley the Tree Monument was born. After almost a year of planning, the tree will be unveiled at the 3rd Annual Richland Village Festival which also serves as an official Sesquicentennial Event for the Township’s 150th Birthday.

A 600 year-old giant white oak tree recently died in a church cemetery in Basking Ridge, NJ. That tree was cut down except for the stump where a memorial stone will be placed and some of the wood will be used to build furniture to furnish the church it sat next to and the Township Hall in Basking Ridge.
The concept of our Tree Monument was to allow the tree to remain standing and be a lasting memorial for its days of glory.

Over $20,000 was raised from the community to complete the project which included the trimming, carving, paving, fencing, , and planting of seven young white oak trees.

We humbly ask for your presence at the dedication to celebrate the life of this new Tree Monument which depicts almost 40 different carvings that show the past and modern history of what we call home, Buena Vista Township.

Saw Mill Park is just over an acre in size and features a children’s play train, a real Pennsylvania Railroad Steel Caboose from the 1930’s, a gazebo, a Veteran’s and a 9-11 Memorial along with benches. The tree is lit at night and has already attracted hundreds of visitors during the construction phase. Visitors may also stop in to the Patcong Valley Model Railroad Building Lobby and see an original painting of the Saw Mill that once stood on this site and a white oak tree that stood nearby. The painting was done by a family member of the early settlers in Richland Village in the late 1800’s.

Come help us celebrate at 12 Noon Saturday, May 27, 2017. Small samples of the original tree will be given to those in attendance and a special commemorative puzzle will be given to the first 150 people who show up for the dedication (Limit one per family). A special puzzle designed by the Missing Piece Puzzle Company and Photographer Dave Griffin both who are based in Richland Village, will be given away. It resembles a post card, see below.

The ceremony is part of a larger day of family activities including a 100 Vendor Toy Show, Huge Car Show, Classic Car Parade, Train Rides on the Cape May Sea Shore Lines, Live Music featuring three bands, fun things for the children, over 16 food vendors and over 40 other vendors/crafters and much more!