O cers Graduate From Police Academy

STAFFORD – The Stafford Township Police Department would like to congratulate Sgt. John Morrin and Sgt. Phil Mauro on their graduation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Command and Leadership Academy. This intensive 14-week program was developed by the NJSACOP, in partnership with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and focuses on leadership as a science, logical and critical thinking, decision making, communications, and conflict management. They are proud of the dedication and hard work that our officers continue to put in to develop their skills and leadership. Way to go sergeants!

Spring Break Camp

LACEY – Lacey Recreation’s Spring Break Day Camp program provides children with the opportunity to build friendships and enjoy crafts, games, trips and more. Learn to play a new game of GaGa Ball and enjoy trips to Color Me Mine on April 11 and Bounce About on April 12. Trips and lunch on trip days are included in the cost of the program. All of the activities and bus trips are fully supervised by the Lacey Township Recreation Dept. Participants must be 7 years of age before the program begins.

Cost is $149, includes all trips and lunch every day. Held at Hebrew Park; Rain Location: Community Hall, corner of Route 9 & Lacey Road.

Camp runs from April 10 through 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to ages 7 to 13. Camp includes: all crafts, games, trips, lunches, Italian Ice. To register online visit: register. capturepoint.com/laceytownship.

Monday: Camp Day at Hebrew, Pizza for lunch

Tuesday: Color Me Mine

Wednesday: Bounce About

Thursday: Movie and PJ Day, Location: TBD

Resilient Sta ord Planning Workshop

STAFFORD – Mayor Myhre and Township Council would like to invite residents to the Resilient Stafford Planning Workshop being held on March 14 at 6 p.m in the Township Council Meeting Room, 260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin.

The workshop will be presented by the Township of Stafford as well as representatives from Owen, Little and Associates and Ramboll Group. For more information, contact Rachel Giolitto at 609-597-1000 ext. 8509.

Spring Cra And Antique Show

NEW GRETNA – Veterans United Military Memorial Museum is going to have a Spring Craft and Antique show on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in becoming a vendor or more information, email at eagleswoodcreations@yahoo.com or call, text at 609513-6454.

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Conflict:

Continued From Page 5 to be run by volunteers,” said Board member Sandra Churney. “My notes tell me that benefits include student wellness, community gathering and revenue generation. No notes of mine or yours say that this was a collaboration with special ed.” Churney claimed she only became aware of the special education component after reading a Jerseyshoreonline.com article posted on social media saying she was one of four members who challenged the bistro.

The reporter who wrote the article shared two emails written to her and three others seeking an explanation for their vote against the bistro. The communication was fi rst transmitted the day after the meeting and included details obtained concerning the proposed special education component. No comments were received by the board members and available for publication.

“It was presented multiple times,” said Board of Education President Sean O’Brien. “You had three chances to ask about it – the fi rst was the Finance Committee, where apparently the questions were not addressed properly. You could have asked at the Committee of the Whole where Ms. Tarnowski brought it up and then right before the vote. There were no questions asked about the bistro.”

As far as Churney was concerned, it didn’t make sense for her to ask questions on a subject she said was never discussed. The bistro will use a surplus in food services monies primarily accrued as a result of free lunches afforded to all students during the pandemic.

“The bistro is not just for the special ed population,” Board Vice President Bonnie Levy added. “It is for the entire high school. It for improvement in attendance and for eliminating tardiness. It is for having a special healthy social atmosphere for children to collaborate with one another and staff members.”

Board member Scott Sarno, who also voted against the bistro, claimed he did so for a different reason. Despite the special nature of the funds, Sarno said that spending $400,000 on one school was not efficient as it only serviced a quarter of the district’s student body.

“It’s not that I’m against special ed or high school kids,” said Sarno. “The money should be spent more prudently throughout the district.”

The surplus funds that have now increased to $867,909 will continue to have a large surplus after the bistro project. The money cannot be used for anything outside food services and cannot sit indefi nitely.

Washburn said she wasn’t informed of all the details beforehand. She suggested the board needed the benefit of a presentation on the bistro even before the architect drew up plans.

“My wish was to see our cafeterias and our kitchens improved and advanced upon,” shared Washburn. “I know that some of the equipment in the buildings needs to be updated.”

Washburn said she has access to information to support her claims that some of the kitchens are not up to date. She did not reveal how she was privy to resources outside the knowledge of other board members.

Superintendent of School Dr. Brian Latwis said that he was taken by surprise when the four votes against the bistro surfaced. No one reached out to him with questions about the plans or requests for additional information.

Churney voted no without explanation when it came to submitting the proposal to the Department of Education as a proposed long-range facility plan. Carol Geene, Sarno and Washburn abstained.

Public Session Commentary

The length of the meeting and the harsh nature of the comments left many individuals to leave the in-person setting. Meanwhile, an unusual number of participants decided to tune in online and later remarked about their disappointment.

“The behavior by this board was absolutely disgraceful,” said Delaney, a parent. “There was no consideration for the time of the parents, the children sitting here waiting to be recognized and to share things.”

“You are aggressive, argumentative and cutting people off,” continued Delaney. “You guys should be ashamed; you should truly be ashamed.”

At the request of Jeanette Tarnowski, Delaney read a statement prepared by her. Jeanette is a grandmother to children in the district and also the mother of Board Member Regina Tarnowski.

Jeanette brought up a couple of issues that disturbed her, including a social media post Sarno shared after the untimely death of the young teen in Central Regional. She viewed the request for an ad hoc committee (something never mentioned during the recent meeting) as an attempt for recognition.

The statement continued with Jeanette’s revelation of how a similar project to the proposed bistro had helped her special needs son in another district.

“A room full of children here for recognition of their achievements,” Jeannette said. “Does not need to be rewarded with unnecessary bickering.”

John Gennarelli, who sits on the district’s Citizens Advisory Board said he was instrumental in making sure the district’s meetings were available for broadcast. He expressed his disappointment that a number of Boy Scouts sat through a meeting that was long and unpleasant.

Directing his comments directly to Sarno, Gennarelli said he acted like a high school bully and reminded him the goal of a board member should be to be there for the students.

“When you sit on this board, you’re professionals,” remind Gennarelli. “So act with dignity and respect.”

April