On Friday, December 2, 2016, the Buena Vista Township Special Events Committee held the 17th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Township Hall.  The evening began with a Welcome from Mayor Chuck Chiarello.

Karen Coates along with Kim Albert led the Buena Middle School Select Choir and the Abundant Living Church Children’s Choir in a wonderful selection of holiday songs.

A crowd of over 200 was on hand to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus and their Elves as they arrived via the Richland Volunteer Fire Company in a fire   truck parade of fire and emergency vehicles.  Once the tree was lit, Santa heard the wishes of all the children and they received special gifts.

Minnie Mouse made a special appearance and had her picture taken with many of the children.  Hot chocolate and cookies were available to all.

A big Thank You to our Special Events Committee for making the evening a success! Merry Christmas!

Atlantic City Electric Lineman Todd Haig shows Buena Vista Township officials an LED streetlight Dec. 6. Township officials pictured left to right are Teresa Kelly, Buena Vista Township Deputy Mayor; Township Committeemen John H. Williams and John Armato; Kenia Nunez-Acuna, Township Administrator; Steve Martinelli Sr., Township Committeeman; and Chuck Chiarello, Mayor, Buena Vista Township.

Atlantic City Electric to Install LED Streetlights in the Township 

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (Dec.8, 2016) – Atlantic City Electric (ACE) recently began work to convert nearly 700 existing street light fixtures to more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs in Buena Vista Township, N.J. Over the next month, ACE will convert all streetlight fixtures in Buena Vista Township to LED.

Buena Vista’s Township Committee approved a bond in September to fund the project after determining that new LED streetlights will save residents money while reducing the township’s carbon footprint.

“We are pleased to offer a more energy efficient lighting option to our customers,” said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. “LED bulbs use less energy, reduce operating costs and are better for the environment compared to traditional streetlights.”

“The LED project will not only save Buena Vista taxpayers money in the long run, it’s an environmentally-friendly action in shrinking our carbon footprint,” said Buena Vista Township mayor Chuck Chiarello. “Our streets will be brighter with less energy being used and on-going maintenance to our streetlights will be greatly reduced. Buena Vista Township is among the very first towns in Atlantic County to implement this type of program that should be a model for other communities to follow. The Township Committee was 100 percent behind this project and expedited it in record time allowing work to begin promptly,” added Chiarello.

Atlantic City Electric lineman Todd Haig installs a light-emitting diode (LED) light Dec. 6 in Buena Vista Township. Atlantic City Electric recently began work to convert nearly 700 existing street light fixtures to more energy efficient LED lights in the township.

LED lighting benefits include:

• • LED lighting reduces environmental impact. On average, LED’s can reduce energy use by up to 65 percent depending on the type and size of the existing fixture.

• • LED bulbs require less maintenance. LED’s have a life-span of approximately 20 years compared to about 5 years for a standard High Pressure Sodium bulb.

For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visit atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect.

Our mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.

As reported in ShoreNews Today; Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jim Whelan and Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, that would help existing industrial businesses in the Pinelands region grow and create jobs was signed into law by Gov. Christie Monday.

The law would allow existing rural development areas zoned for industrial use in the Pinelands to qualify for incentives through the Grow New Jersey and Economic Redevelopment and Growth programs.

“This is a great day for Atlantic County,” said Whelan. “Working in a bipartisan fashion, we were able to implement a law that is going to help Atlantic County’s largest manufacturing facility expand and create jobs.”

“Atlantic County families are still reeling from the recent casino closings,” said Mazzeo. “Extending incentives to companies who want to stay and grow in New Jersey will provide a much-needed lifeline to our region while at the same time having no negative effect on our beautiful Pinelands.”

The new law will help Comar, a company in Buena Vista Township that manufactures plastic bottles and packaging materials for medication, powders, supplements and more. The company said it would be forced to leave the state unless it can expand its existing facility.

With assistance from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Comar will expand, allowing for the creation of about 150 new jobs and bringing in more tax revenue to the township, according to a joint statement released by the legislators.

Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello said the region cannot afford to lose any more jobs or businesses and called the passage of the law a win-win for Comar and Atlantic County.

Whelan and Mazzeo said feedback was solicited from various environmental groups on the legislation, including the Sierra Club. Comar will not be increasing its footprint, and the new law narrowly applies to existing businesses already zoned for industrial use.

Credit of Story is ShoreNewsToday 

For 6 years Buena Vista Township has been a Bronze Member of Sustainable New Jersey which award points to towns and schools for their environmentally based programs that keeps things green.  Working extra hard for the past year, the Buena Vista Green Team and the Environmental Commission were able to boost their point levels to allow them to obtain “Silver Status” for the program for the first time.

The Township must maintain the Silver Status for the next 3 years and be prepared to maintain it after that time frame.  There is also a Gold Level that will have to be reviewed for the future.  Only a select number of towns in New Jersey receive these honors.

Buena Vista Township received their Silver bar at the New Jersey League of Municipalities in November 2016.

Special thanks go to Environmental Commission Chairman, John Williams and Township Clerk Lisa Tilton.  Other active members include Mary Motter, Teresa Kelly, Ben Simone, Marie Armato, Bonnie DeStefano, Kathy Babel, Valerie Behrens and Gene Sykes.

On Monday, December 5^th at 8 am, chainsaw artist, Brian Ackley of AckMonster’s Chainsaw Art, will commence carving the giant 235-year-old oak tree that died last year in Saw Mill Park, Richland Village.

The work will be done over a 7 to-9-day period through Tuesday, December 13^th, unless it is raining consistently.  Mr. Ackley will be carving the tree to create a panoramic display featuring highlights of Buena Vista Township’s 150 year’s existence.

We invite everyone out to watch, at a safe distance, as this master artist brings the giant old oak tree back to life with his carvings.

For more information please contact Pam McDaniels in the Mayors Office at 856-697-2100 ext. 8.

On or about November 9, 2016, two sheds that belong to the Township at Michael Debbi Park located on Cedar Avenue in Buena Vista Township were broken into.

Several items were stolen including four leaf blowers, one self-propelled walk behind mower, four weed whackers, one chain saw and one hedge trimmer. The ten items taken were valued over $5,000.

The Township is seeking information on the individual(s) that may have taken these items. A $500 reward is offered by the Township to anyone that has information leading to the arrest and conviction of those individual(s).

Anyone with information in encouraged to contact the New Jersey State Police at (609) 561-7267 or the Township at (856) 697-2100 ext. 1 or ext. 8.

The Buena Vista Township Special Events Committee presents the 17th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony/Fire Truck Parade on Friday, December 2nd at 6:30 pm at Township Hall, 890 Harding Hwy., Buena.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Elves will arrive in a Fire Truck Parade.  There will be sing-a-longs and lots of Holiday music.  Tell Santa what is on your wish list and receive a special present!  Complimentary cookies and hot chocolate will be served.  Help support our local Food Bank by bringing canned food or a non-perishable item and receive a ticket for a chance to win a prize. Let’s kick off this Holiday Season in the true spirit of Buena Vista!

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 December 16th.

Come out and celebrate the beginning of this Holiday Season with the lighting of our Holiday Christmas Tree.  Join the Buena Vista Township Special Events Committee on Saturday, November 12th at 4PM at Saw Mill Park on Harding Highway (Route 40) in Richland Village.  Santa will be arriving along with two of his Elves with the help from the Richland Volunteer Fire Company.  There will be holiday music and sing-a-longs.  Every child will receive a candy cane.

Help support our local Food Banks by brining canned food or a non-perishable item and receive a ticket for a chance to win a prize!  Lend a hand to help a family in need.

Citing Concerns Over Economic Impact & Transparency, Buena Vista Leadership Joins New Jersey Casino Expansion Opposition

Newark, NJ – Today, Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello and the entire township committee came together to endorse Trenton’s Bad Bet and oppose the expansion of casino gaming into North Jersey.

“As a mayor, I know that openness and transparency are necessary requirements for those in government,” said Mayor Chiarello. “Unfortunately, proponents of casino expansion have been everything but transparent.”

The referendum for the expansion of gaming in New Jersey was proposed with few details, calling into question the level of transparency the state electorate could anticipate from the deal. In spite of multiple polling surveys indicating that residents are opposed, with 70 percent of likely voters against the referendum in the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, Trenton politicians seem to be forging forward, attending private meetings with would-be developers and participating on panel discussions with special interest groups.

“We have been left in the dark about important details to the proposed expansion, which we know would lead to an increase in home foreclosures and unemployment,” said Mayor Chiarello. “All across the state, towns like Buena Vista would be forced to face the consequences, while only a small group of well-connected, special interests in North Jersey would benefit.”

The mayor’s comments were supported by the entire township committee including Committeemen John Armato, John Williams, Steve Martinelli, and Deputy Mayor Teresa Kelly.

Mayor Chiarello concluded, “Our decision could not be easier – we are voting no on Question One.”

For more information about the Trenton’s Bad Bet, or to follow the group’s social channels, make donations, and find other opportunities to get involved, visit the group’s web site: www.TrentonsBadBet.org
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About Trenton’s Bad Bet:
Trenton’s Bad Bet is a diverse collection of concerned New Jersey community leaders, unions, businesses and residents that will work to oppose the New Jersey Casino Referendum that seeks to expand gaming into North Jersey.

Committee Contact:
Trenton’s Bad Bet
(201) 870-0548
press@TrentonsBadBet.org
www.TrentonsBadBet.org