"PEOPLE TO PEOPLE". Leave the cooking and cleaning to us at Vaughan Hall on April 26th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adults $10 and kids under 12 are $7. Eat in or take out. Bring your favorite beverage with friends and family. To book ahead call Sabina Holston 953-2711.
LOST AND FOUND
Lost: large, orange tabby named ―Gabe‖ – a neutermed male who’s been gone since April 8. He is very shy. If you’ve seen him or have information, please contact 6540718. Reward offered.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECKPOINT
The Medford Lakes Police Department will be hosting a Child Safety Seat Checkpoint on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 10 A.M - 2 P.M. The Burlington County Sheriff's Department will be on hand to assist with the event which will be held in the parking lot of the Medford Lakes Fire Department located at 12 Stokes Road, Medford Lakes. Certified Law Enforcement Technicians from the MLPD and BCSD will be on hand to check for unsafe safety seats which are broken, expired, recalled, or not properly secured. The main goal of the checkpoint is to educate parents on proper installation and use of child safety seats. The Medford Lakes Police Department is committed to the safety of its residents and safety of the community. Medford Lakes Police Department is urging everyone to have their child safety seat inspected. The Medford Lakes DARE Truck along with Medford Lakes Fire Department trucks will be on display. The event is free and open to the public. Eight out of ten child safety seats are not installed properly. A reminder to parents that children under the age of 8 or weighing less than 80 pounds must be properly restrained in the appropriate child safety seat or booster in the rear of the vehicle.
NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED
The Medford Lakes Colony Board of Directors would like to welcome the following new members: Jeffrey Danna of Manhasset Trail; Dean Dordaro & Kristen Roberts of Blackfoot Trail; Maribeth Juhas of Onondago Trail and Ed & Megan Kent of Sitting Bull Trail.
YARD SALE One person's trash is another person's treasure!! The Shawnee High School Environmental Club is hosting its Annual Yard Sale on Saturday, April 25th from 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. in Shawnee High School's cafeteria. Please come out and support the club and come out to support our environment by keeping usable items out of landfills.
If you have anything that you would like to donate to the yard sale, contact Jenna Graziani at 654-6582 or at jengraziani@comcast.net.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT VOTE Thank you to all who voted! The 2009 Special Assessment to bring the Medford Lakes Colony operating budget to break even and enable us to begin to undertake urgent maintenance and capital improvement projects passed by a vote of 111 (yes) to 42 (no). The additional $75 for members/$25 for members over age 65 is due before September 1, 2009. Bills will be mailed soon. Questions – call 654-7747.
NEETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8TH GRADE DANCE SUBWAY FUNDRAISER Help support Neeta Elementary 8th Grade students on Friday April 24, by dining at Subway! Simply go to Subway between 5pm Friday 4/24/09 and 9pm Saturday April 25. When placing your order let your server know you are supporting the Neeta School 8th Grade Dance Fundraiser. 10% of your purchase will be donated to the fund by Subway. It's a great way to support students and businesses in the community. Thank You!! STATE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT Please go to the Medford Lakes School District website (www.medford-lakes.k12.nj.us) to see both the explanatory letter and the fact sheet regarding our schools and the proposed 2009-2010 school budget. We hope that the information you find will assist you in making an informed decision.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Dr. Lynch at jlynch@medford-lakes.k12.nj.us or 609-654-0991. Thank you for your support of our community and school AREA YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN JR. OLYMPIC SKILLS COMPETITION The Medford Township Department of Recreation is pleased to announce the opportunity for local youngsters between the ages of 8 and 13 to participate in the Jr. Olympic Skills Competition. This free grassroots youth participation program allows boys and girls, competing separately, the opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities in four (4) athletic events - basketball, soccer, tennis and track & field. The program is designed to encourage youth participation in sports while promoting sportsmanship. The local qualifying event will take place Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Allen Elementary School in Medford. Check-in is at 1:00 p.m. and the competition begins at 1:15 p.m. Winners in each age bracket and event will advance to the Regional Competitions to be held in Medford on May 17th with hopes of advancing to the National Finals. Each year the Medford Recreation Department has co-sponsored this program with the U.S. Olympic Team, at least one participant has advanced to compete in the national event, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and they have returned to Medford with gold medals! This program is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please visit the Recreation Department located in the Medford Municipal Building at 17 North Main Street, or call 609-654-2512. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also find more information at www.jrolympicskills.com. Cub Scout Pack 48 will be holding their plant sale now through April 26th. Plants will be delivered on May 9th – just in time for Mother’s Day. If you are interested in ordering, please see your favorite Cub Scout or call Linda Campbell at 654-1514. Plant and ordering information is also available at our website: http://sites.google.com/site/medfordlakescubscoutpack48. We are offering a variety of annual flats, hanging baskets, 4.5‖ potted flowering plants, herb gardens, patio tomato plants and hot pepper plants. The boys of Pack 48 thank you for your support!
COME "INTO THE WOODS" CUB SCOUT PACK 48 PLANT SALE
MLEF and the students of Neeta School cordially invite local senior citizens to enjoy a complimentary performance of "Into the Woods" Our talented students have been working diligently to ensure this will be an enjoyable afternoon for all. Choose from either Sunday May 10 or Sunday May 17 at 2pm. Feel free to bring a guest with you. Medford Lakes Lions Cabulance has set aside time to help with rides to the performances. To make your reservation, arrange a ride or for any questions, please contact Brigid Bandomer at 953-7642.
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
From June 5th – 7th (the start the National Garden Week) the Medford Lakes Garden Club is hosting a Walking Tour. Open to all homes in Medford Lakes. Criteria: Front entrance including window boxes, landscaping, front door decoration, arbors, etc. Must be able to see from the street, no one will walk on the property. Natural Plant Material only! Homeowners must sign up in Vaughan Hall in order to be recognized by the Club. Maps will be available at Vaughan Hall on June 5, 2009.
YARD WORK?
Any colonist who is landscaping around their house this season who is willing to donate any shrubs, or plants to Medford Lakes Colony please contact Colony Director Kenny Glover at kennyglover@comcast.net or you can call the Colony office at 654-7747. Thank you!
EARTH DAY – PLEASE COME AND HELP
There will be an Earth Day celebration at Jackson Park Sunday, April 26th. The celebration will take place from 10:00am-12:00 pm. Please bring grass rakes, shovels, and gloves. You can show up on the 26th or Contact Colony Director Ken Glover if you are interested at kennyglover@comcast.net. MLAA SPRING BASKETBALL CLINICS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Middle school basketball clinics will begin Saturday April 25 and run through Saturdays in June at Vaughan Hall. Cost is $30 for the spring session & a minimum of 8 athletes is needed per session. Looking for a coordinator for the boys clinic, Brigid Bandomer is coordinator for the girls clinic. Registration is open until April 22nd and forms can be picked up at the Colony Office. Questions: contact Brigid Bandomer 760-3793 / bebandomer@verizon.net. Additional information: www.mlaasports.com.
SAVE THOSE "TWIST-OFF" PLASTIC BOTTLE CAPS FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR CUB SCOUTS!
"Twist-off" Plastic bottle caps are not generally recyclable. The caps we are collecting are: bottled water, sports drinks, laundry detergent tops - any plastic twist off cap, not flip tops. There is now a company called "Aveda" who is collecting these caps; they now have three plants in the country to recycle them for use again with their products. The Medford Lakes Cub Scout Pack #48 with AVEDA and Clean Ocean Action (COA) are working together to keep these bottle caps out of our oceans, landfills and out of the stomachs of unsuspecting wildlife. Our drop off point is 82 Tecumseh Trail and hopefully in our schools in the near future. We will be collecting the caps indefinitely, but the "countdown competition" date is May 1, 2009. This is a very important "Community Service Project" for our boys - please help us, help our environment. Any questions? Please call Pam O'Neill (609-654-7493) DUCKIES DAY – MAY 16! Last year was such a huge success; the ducks are migrating to Mirror Lake for the Second Annual Rubber Duckie Race. Calling all duck lovers. We need your help! The Duck Race is at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009. But, we want the day to be fun filled from morning until after the race. This is an opportunity for Scout Troops, School Clubs, Student Councils, Sport Clubs, Float Groups, etc. to make some money. All of you! Call Mike Levinsky – 654-6095 for ideas and more information and to reserve some space. FLEA & CRAFT SHOW Space is available for $20.00 on the May 16, 2009 Flea & Craft Show that will be held with the Rubber Duckie Race. Call Mike Levinsky for more information – 654-6095.
DUCKIE DAY RUN
May 16, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. runners are invited to gather at Vaughan Hall. The Duckie Run will kick off the day’s festivities. There is a $5.00 entry fee. Call Dave Wasson at 654-2548 for more information. So, come on down – walk, run, but no waddling allowed. Race Course: APPROX. 3.2 MILES (5K) – Marked with Bright Green Arrows Start at the Stop Line Tecumseh/Powhatan Tecumseh to take a sharp left at Pocahontas onto Neeta Follow Neeta to Omaha to Blackfoot Right onto Oak Cross McKendimen to Chippewa to Beach Drive Right on Stokes to first right onto Timbo to left on Comanche Cross Stokes to Bowker to Minnetonka Go over the footbridge (Quogue) Go Right onto Natchez and follow to Lenape to Stokes to Aetna Way and back at Vaughan
MLAA SPRING SPORTS OPENING DAY Saturday, April 25th 10:00am - 12:00pm at Hopkins Field. Come out & cheer on our spring athletes, play games, learn about local volunteer activities and businesses all while having fun. Athletes, you will be given parade details from your coach. Please visit www.mlaasports.com for more details. NEW JERSEY THEME FLOAT All you float builders out there. It is not too early to think about your idea/theme. More ideas for the New Jersey Theme Category could be, Lucy the Elephant, Nipper the RCA doggie, the Boardwalk, Gypsy Moths or how about the Light Bulb/Thomas Edison. Have fun and get involved. Any questions, call Samantha at the Colony Office, 654-7747.
2009 LIFEGUARD TRAINING
The American Red Cross will hold ―dark water‖ lifeguard certification training at Birchwood Club House beginning - Thursday, April 30 – 6 p.m. for the CPR Professional Review. Training continues the weekend of Friday May 1 and the weekend of Friday May 16. To register for training you need to contact the American Red Cross by calling 609-267-9595 ex 108 – George Reilly – email – georger@redcrossbcnj.org
ITEMS NEEDED
Please help the Medford Lakes Girl Scouts Make the world a better place for babies in need. We are collecting new or unused baby items and will be distributing them to families in need through social services agencies and religious organizations in the community.
Among the items being collected for infants are: clothing (up to 36 months); toys; bottles; pacifiers; bowls and spoons; bath items and toiletries; nursing items; formula; diapers; and hand-made items such as booties, hat, quilts and receiving blankets. No glass items are needed. There is a collection basket at the Colony office. Thank you for your continued support! HELLO RESIDENTS OF MEDFORD LAKES. In case of a biological emergency, Medford Lakes has a plan in place to hand out antibiotics to its residents. The ML office of Emergency Management, in conjunction with the Burlington County Dept of Health, are conducting a drill on May 2 from 9 am to noon at Neeta School to practice handing out medication. This is an opportunity for our residents to participate in the drill and to learn how to receive their antibiotics if the need ever arises. We are looking for a minimum of 100 "Players" to be used to cycle thru the line. All volunteer participants are encouraged to show up between 9 am and 11:30 am to be our "players". Families, girl scouts, boy scouts, all MLAA sports players, hop on your bikes and come over to Neeta School and help our borough conduct this drill. Please confirm with OEM Steven Heicklen at sbhski@aol.com if you can participate. If there are any nurses, doctors, or health professionals that would like to help out from 8 am to 12 PM to staff the MUNI-POD and help to "interview" or "distribute" the mock antibiotics please email OEM Steven Heicklen at sbhski@aol.com. Medford Lakes Emergency Management Steve Heicklen 609-654-4886
LAKESIDE CHAT
Our latest meeting opened with the usual formalities, and then swiftly moved to the reports of the various VP’s. VP of recreation, Jeanie Watters, detailed the requirements necessary for keeping our beaches open for all Colony members, that we are required to have three guards each shift, and that guards cannot multi-task by tag-checking while on life-guard duty. Jeanie also mentioned that camp registration is going well, and the mandatory meetings were well attended. She is also looking at other options within her department to cut our costs or increase revenue like increasing the cost of guest tags. VP Paul King followed Jeanie’s concise presentation with a list of all the projects that won’t be getting done if we don’t get funding. Our top priority projects right now are Ballinger and Sioux dam. We are exploring legal options for Ballinger (which we have funding for), but this is in the ―exploratory‖ phase. Both dam projects are moving forward, and we appreciate everyone’s patience on this issue. We will be updating the Colony website as information comes in. Other priorities are the state required storage sheds for the lifeguards’ safety gear, the scary docks at Beach 3, the craft shop, and Jackson Park. Speaking of Jackson Park, Director Ken Glover has been organizing clean-
up crews and tree plantings. He is also planning a Colony Earth Day event at Jackson Park on April 26th, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Our meeting had a slightly different format in order to accommodate the presentation of VP of Finance, Kristen Farr. Once again, there was lively debate about why Seniors should get a break, and why we don’t adopt a different structure (like charging lake-front owners more), and of course, why do we need a SA to begin with. We simply cannot keep operating at a loss, not when our $2.1 million loan needs to be paid, property is falling into disrepair and actually becoming a liability, and operating expenses increase. Needless to say, the Colony provides services for the benefit of all members that in other towns are provided through tax dollars. Unfortunately, prices for goods and services are not static, and it becomes a matter of survival that we ask for a Special Assessment as a stop-gap measure. The break down for the SA, which did pass, by the way, to be due by September 1st, is an increase for regular members by $75, for members over the age of 65 by $25, and no increase for the Seniors who qualify through the Borough for a reduction in their taxes based on their income (those that are paying $200). Kristen spent many long hours working on this presentation, and we exchanged many late night emails on the subject. We felt the pictures, which showed the dilapidated state of many of our properties, in conjunction with the fact that we have been financing our annual operating losses with the future year’s income, adequately showed the need for the SA. To have our common areas fall into such disrepair affects all members. That children can no longer be safe on Colony docks, especially those that are used for camp, or even use the Craft Shop anymore are our most two glaring examples. In the end, Kristen’s tireless effort paid off with the passage of the SA. Thanks to all of the past-Presidents who took the time to come out—Cindy Gallimore, Sarah Plasha, Greg Lackey, Bob Lee, Betty Reis, and Joan Lewis. It was wonderful to see you all there, and every one of us on the Board was honored to have you attend. As always, the meeting minutes are available at the Colony office for review. Among other items we are addressing is the permanent sequestration of our various cash accounts, currently a Board policy, which will be adopted in the Financial Resolutions in January 2010. The requirements for Lakes Restoration also need to be revisited to ensure that all lake projects that are not operating expenses are covered. In addition to Secretary Christine Tucker’s recording duties, which she so ably performs, she is once again organizing the Memorial Day Run for 2009. Thanks again to all who came out to the meeting, and thanks to all who came out and voted. Also special thanks to those who suffered through some of the more contentious moments of our meeting. The Board does understand that sometimes issues fester and emotions run high, so we really do appreciate your patience and graciousness as we strive to work on the many issues before us. Respectfully submitted,
Margo Pellegrino, President
PRESCHOOL CAMP
The Medford Lakes Colony preschool camp program for colonist children and grandchildren (age 3, 4 or 5) will be held in Neeta School from 9 – 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, July 6 – 17, 2009. The preschool camp fee is $55/camper. Registrations will be accepted through April 30, 2009. Call 654-7747 with questions.
FIVE YEAR OLD SWIM PROGRAM
For the children and grandchildren of colonists entering kindergarten in the fall of 2009 the Medford Lakes Colony offers a swim program for five year olds. The swim program will be held at Beach three from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, June 29 – July 24, 2009. Registrations are being accepted through April 30, 2009. The fee for this program is $60.00 – check or MOs only to Medford Lakes Colony. Call 654-7747 with questions. LAKE SAFE” FERTILIZERS. ―Lake Safe‖ fertilizers meet the following criteria: -50% or more of the nitrogen in slow-release form -Low or no phosphorus -Pesticide free (no weed-and-feed) -Ratio nitrogen to phosphate 5:1 or greater Please use and be sure your landscapers use lake safe products. Continued lake health and water quality has to be a community wide effort.
Aerospace Mania Days Flying W Airport May 2nd 9:00am-3:00pm ages 3rd-6th grade $50.00 fee includes Hand-on activities including: Rocket building & Launch, airplane building, For an application/info please email nancymacphee@comcast.net Free orientation flights run by the Young Eagles from 10:00am-12:00pm
YELLOW RIBBON CLUB
Colonist Elaine Phillips recently joined the Yellow Ribbon Club. It is a group of dedicated people who collect items for care packages to be shipped to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Yellow Ribbon Club plans elaborate homecomings for these soldiers when they return home. If anyone or their organization would like to donate items, you can contact Elaine directly at elaineph2@comcast.net To learn more about the club and to see the items that the troops need, go to www.yellowribbonclub.org.
YARD WORK The Women's Auxiliary is offering a volunteer based service to our Medford Lakes seniors along with those who have limited mobility. This service includes light yard work, raking leaves and shoveling snow. If you would benefit from this service please contact Nancy Schuck at 609-654-8087 for more information. WOMEN PADDLERS A women's paddling group will be starting soon, in the evenings Monday -Thursday nights, time to be determined by whatever works best for everyone. Boats and paddles provided. Call 654-0845 if interested (we tried this before but things got crazy-let's try it again!)
DONATIONS NEEDED Conor, Sean and Delaney Cahill are still collecting items for the AWA animal shelter in Voorhees. Items needed include: Cat and dog food, dog toys, towels, blankets, bleach, and laundry & dishwasher detergent. For your convenience you can bring your donations to the Colony office during regular business hours. Thank you!
LAKE WATCH In its on going effort to be responsive to and address concerns of the membership regarding our lakes, the Colony Board has established an email address to report lake related issues. Please use this address to notify the Colony of issues such as weed growth, water quality concerns or other water maintenance issues that concern our lakes. Please send an email to lakewatch@hotmail.com. You must include the following information: your name and address, location/lake name, what you are reporting (please be as detailed as possible), the date and time that you made the observation. This account will be monitored closely. We will follow up and promptly respond via email. Thank you in advance for you assistance in helping to preserve and maintain the health and quality of our lakes. Suggestions are always welcome and we encourage all Colonists in good standing to attend the monthly Colony meetings! SCHOOL FACILITIES USE Prior to any activity-taking place in the school building or on the school property all paperwork must be completed as follows: -A completed facilities use application with a certificate of insurance showing Medford Lakes School District as an additional insured signed by the President of the organization. -Applications and certificates of insurance are due to the Superintendent’s office two (2) weeks prior to the Boards? Meeting for inclusion of the agenda. -Board of Education approval of application. Please call Mary Jo Cooper at 654-0991 x 15 for a Facilities Use Application.
WILSON FIELD Residents, please be aware Wilson Field will be used for Medford Lakes Athletic Association sports programs for our youth. Please pick up after your pet! It is the law and it is common courtesy. Thank you! PLEASE PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET There is a common misconception that pet waster benefits the environment by fertilizing the soil. The truth reveals that pet waste contains disease-causing bacteria and parasites that can harm water systems. Typical organisms found in pet waste include the bacteria, E. coli and campylobacteria, the protozoan parasite cryptosporidium and roundworms. Pet waste also contains nutrients that can promote the growth of algae and waterweeds. Disease and Contamination Prevention: Reducing this problem consists of picking up after your pet. When walking your dog, always carry a pooper-scooper and a bag. Periodically pick up dog waste from your yard, especially during wet-weather seasons. Place all bagged wastes into the garbage. Dispose of kitty litter in the garbage, not in the yard. Do not allow pets to roam unsupervised near streams or wetlands.