The Times They are a Changin’…

I wanted to take a moment to tell our residents that real progress is being made in Buena Vista Township. On March 21^st new Digital LED Lights were tested at Michael Debbi Park, and they looked terrific. This offers the newest state-of-the-art lighting and energy savings to our residents using the baseball, softball, and football fields. This $800,000.00 project, approved by Green Acres, as a loan, will put us in a new dimension of lighting that will take us forward for the next 20 years.

The $400,000.00 Buena Vista Township Local Road Program is well underway re-asphalting over a dozen roads throughout the Township including 6^th Road in Newtonville. The Township has always had a local road program each year for as long as I can remember. We try to evaluate roads to make living and traveling in Buena Vista Township a little easier. Unfortunately, we have 125 miles of paved roads in our Township and can only do so many each year.

We are in the process of replacing a 1988 Road Grader. It is no longer working and parts are not available. A newer 2008 model is in the bid process which will help to maintain our dirt roads throughout the Township. It will even assist during snow storms.

This year we completed the long overdue Weymouth Road Project after six years of State Road Aid Grant money. The next project we have requested from the State is to help rebuild Chestnut Avenue in East Vineland and we are waiting for approval.

Another project that will begin soon is at our Public Works building on Union Road in East Vineland. The plans are complete, and the funding is in place to remove the old concrete portion of the building which was built in the 1950’s. A modern replacement steel structure will be built on the same footprint that will allow us to store more equipment indoors, have a better work area for repairs, offices, and a meeting room/kitchen area. The funding for this project comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a long-term loan.

The Township also plans on purchasing some new equipment for our Public Works Department that is long overdue. Included are dump trucks and pick-up trucks so that our fleet can stay up-to-date and be able to serve the community better.

It is important that the Township try to maintain our buildings, equipment, parks, and roads, so that we can continue to offer all the services that we do. Please know that a great deal of thought goes into making these decisions. Some of the projects mentioned in this article have been in the planning stages for as long as ten years.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello

State Senate President, Steve Sweeney, acknowledges Buena Vista Township Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly for her service as President of The Atlantic County League of Municipalities on Friday, February 16, 2019, at a dinner held at the Mays Landing Country Club.

The First Baptist Church of Richland held their annual African American Cultural Day on Sunday, February 24, 2019. The event, led by Rev. David Mallory, was filled with culture, music, poetry and special guests.

Pictured here is Musician/Singer Lonnie Youngblood who shared his talents during the day and Mr. Ralph Hunter, the head of the African American Heritage Museum at the MLK Center. Township Committee members were also in attendance at this event.

On Friday, March 1, 2019, Committeeman John Williams read Dr. Seuss Books at Gateway School during Read Across America. In recognition of the birthday of the beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, on March 2nd, the purpose of Read Across America program is to motivate children to read. It is an important factor in student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers. Thank you Committeeman John Williams for recognizing the importance of and participating in this day.

Assemblyman John Armato swore in the 2019 Pineland Municipal Council members at Buena Vista Municipal Complex on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

On Friday March 8^th, 2019, Buena Vista Township Committeeman John Williams was sworn-in as the new President of The Atlantic County Association of Township Officials. He was sworn-in by Buena Borough Council President, Rosalie Baker.

Buena Vista Township hosted their annual rabies clinics that were held on March 2^nd and March 16^th. Many fur babies came out and visited Township Employees and Committee who helped with the clinic.

A crowd of about 80 people were in attendance on January 7, 2019, to see the swearing in of the newly re-elected Committee Members Chuck Chiarello and Teresa Kelly.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello was sworn in to serve his 23rd year as Mayor alongside of Teresa Kelly as Deputy Mayor, serving her 21st year.

Chiarello and Kelly also started their 28th year as an elected Township Committee Team.

The entire Committee looks forward to serving the community together again. A mass swearing in was held for all of the new appointees and reappointments to the Township sub-committees and staff.

The New Jersey State Police Color Guard presented the Flag while Eugene Moore of Newtonville sang our National Anthem.

We were also honored to have Congressman Jeff Van Drew with us, and he gave a very motivational speech to the audience. Music was provided by Miss Veronica Farkas.

The Rev. David Mallory of the 1st Baptist Church in Richland and the Rev. Ken Albert of the Abundant Living Church in Williamstown delivered the invocation and benediction respectively.

All ages, abilities, and groups welcome. No experience required! The program is supported by Impact Harvest and the Buena Vista Township Environmental Commission.

You would be supplied with plants you choose from a list of plants provided by Impact Harvest. You would plant, weed, and water your bed throughout the season. You would get to harvest the produce and take some home for yourself and leave some for the Food Bank to help the community.

There will be monthly classes on gardening tips and environmental topics. These classes will be educational and accompanied by a small, easy-to-do project. And best of all…It’s FREE! You need only give your time & effort. Don’t wait, we will be beginning soon.

If interested, please contact Beth Conway at Conway.bethann@yahoo.com or Valerie Behrens@impactharvest.org

Health & Wellness Fair at Buena Regional Middle School will be held on February 21, 2019 from 5 to 8 pm.

Free and open to students and families of Buena Regional School District. Door Prizes & Giveaways. Free Dinner from 5 – 7 pm. 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. Activities and Demonstrations.

Free Health Screenings. Wear comfortable shoes & sneakers so you are ready to move. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Free Community Closet will also be available with items from Infants to Adults.

There will also be an Art show in the Library.

Buena Vista Township Fire Companies will be conducting their annual Fire District Elections on Saturday, February 16, 2019 from 2-9pm. Fire Commissioners and proposed budgets will be on the respective ballots. You can vote at your local Fire Hall for Richland Vol. Fire Company, East Vineland Fire Co., Milmay Fire Company, Newtonville Fire Company and Collings Lakes Fire Company.

For more information contact the Township Clerk’s Office at 856-697-2100 and press option 1.