By Birgitta Wolfe, Managing Editor
It was a year of celebrations and sorrows, renewals and endings and the everyday comings and goings of residents and government that keep the community vibrant and ready to take on another new year.
Below are parts of some of the stories featured in the Register-News in 2011:
Jan. 6:
New mayor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — A new mayor and deputy mayor will be presiding over the Township Committee this year.
Michael Dauber was unanimously appointed as mayor at Saturday’s reorganization meeting, and Committeeman Karl Feltes was unanimously appointed as deputy mayor. Both are Republicans. Mr. Feltes was elected to a three-year committee term in November.
Former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty administered the oath of office to Mr. Feltes.
Mr. Dauber recognized there are great challenges facing the township in the current “economic climate.” But he made it clear it is for “everyone’s benefit that we work together as a committee and as a community to address the challenges with creative solutions that will allow the town to flourish.”
He also encouraged residents to get involved with the township and volunteer in any way they could.
”We look forward to the new year with new positive developments in our township,” Mr. Dauber said, referring to a number of major projects in the township including a Holiday Inn Express and the Team Campus site that will bring an out-patient center to the township.
”These projects not only add to the services and employment available to our community but also increase the tax revenues we receive,” he said.
Mr. Dauber said he knows he set forth an aggressive agenda for the township, including plans for expansions on the Public Works Department with a car impounding lot, recycling center and waste transfer station, but looks forward to tackling any and all issues that come up.
Bordentown City Mayor James Lynch was also in attendance.
Jan. 13:
Dismissal
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The director of Community Development was fired from her township job Monday night.
A tearful Barbara Woolley-Dillon, who also served as the township planner, was visibly upset after the Township Committee voted 4-1 to terminate her, effective immediately.
”It’s not fair,” she said after the meeting, adding she was unaware the vote was coming up.
Committeeman Jason Medina was the only member to vote against the resolution.
Ms. Woolley-Dillon has a suit against the township seeking $25,000, plus attorney’s costs, for unpaid work she said she performed as administrative assistant to the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Environmental Commission.
She was hired in November 2009 at an annual salary of $70,666 for a 28-hour week.
According to the termination resolution, Ms. Woolley-Dillon’s performance was reviewed and determined to be “unacceptable and has delayed the routine functions of the township’s land use boards as well as the recovery of charges to developers and where the delay in those recoveries has impaired the township’s ability to recover the cost of her salary.”
The resolution also alleges Ms. Woolley-Dillon has “engaged in the improper use of township resources, including the unauthorized use of the township’s computer system, in order to perform work associated with her private planning consulting business while being paid a salary for the township.”
”I was totally taken aback and surprised by this resolution. I had no idea that this resolution was even on the agenda for tonight,” said Mr. Medina, the only Democrat on the committee.
”Immediately prior to this meeting commencing tonight, members of the committee as well as I were presented with a resolution calling for the termination of Barbara Woolley-Dillon, who is our director of Community Development as well as our zoning and planning board representative,” Mr. Medina said.
Mr. Medina said he reviewed the resolution and hasn’t been presented with any evidence to support “any of the allegations, serious allegations, in this resolution.”
Jan. 20:
Fallen soldier
BORDENTOWN CITY — Flags around the city are being flown at half-staff in honor of a 23-year-old former resident killed in Afghanistan.
Army Pfc. Benjamin Moore, 2006 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School and former EMT and lieutenant at Hope Hose Humane Fire Company, was killed in Ghanzi Province on Jan. 12, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Two other soldiers were also killed.
Pfc. Moore joined the fire company on West Burlington Street at the age of 16 after his interest in public service was piqued by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Fire company Treasurer and EMS Supervisor Brian Maugeri on Monday said Pfc. Moore’s mother, Amy Moore, would always tell the members he wanted to join the fire company when he got older.
”We took him under our wings when he was 16,” Mr. Maugeri said. “Within about three years, he became a lieutenant for the fire company. Ben worked hard. He had a lot of good trainers here at the station.”
Company Chief Engineer Clarence “C.C.” Carter said Pfc. Moore was always dedicated.
”Ben was always there when you rode on the truck,” he said. “He always asked us for advice. He always asked question. He was always afraid to make a mistake, but he never made any. He did his job well.”
Mr. Maugeri also just learned Pfc. Moore spent 16 hours at the hospital with Mr. Maugeri’s son and daughter-in-law while she was in labor.
”He was there the whole time she was in labor,” he said. “That’s kind of like what Ben was; he was really good to everybody.”
The city and the township are each sending a police car for the escort, city Mayor James Lynch said.
Jan. 27:
City mourns
BORDENTOWN CITY — Thousands gathered to honor and remember the life of a fallen soldier this past weekend as he was laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Army Pfc. Benjamin Moore, 23, gave his life while serving his country in Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle on Jan. 12. He has been posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist.
”He was a bright rising star that fell way before his time,” said former Mayor Bill Collum.
Mr. Collum and his wife, Ester, said they were glad the town could come together in the way it did to honor Pfc. Moore, who grew up in Bordentown City. Neither knew him personally, but felt they should show their respects after hearing numerous stories about him.
Family, friends and people who had never met Pfc. Moore gathered for the funeral service Saturday in freezing temperatures to pay their respects. Children were bundled up waving flags. Adults, also bundled up, held large flags and signs thanking Pfc. Moore for his dedication and service.
Emergency service vehicles from all over the state lined Farnsworth Avenue and took part in the half-mile long procession taking Pfc. Moore from the church to the cemetery.
Police departments from all over Burlington and Mercer counties helped the city direct traffic and keep the threat of protestors down.
”There was just a sea of emergency vehicle as far as you could see,” Hope Hose Humane Fire Company Treasurer and EMS Supervisor Brian Maugeri said. “I think if something like this ever happens again, we’re all going to make it a point to travel and show our respects.”
Pfc. Moore had volunteered with the company since he was 16. He joined the Army in 2009 and was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York, after completing his training.
”Since he went in the Army, around here, you could see how he grew up,” company Chief Engineer Clarence “C.C.” Carter said. “He always had his heart and soul in it. He wasn’t little Ben anymore.”
During his time in the Army, he earned the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the NATO Medal.
Son of Patrick and Amy Moore, of Hamilton, he was a Hamilton resident and a native of Bordentown City. He was the grandson of Dolores and Thomas Moore, of Bordentown City.
Jan. 20, Pfc. Moore’s remains were brought home from Dover Air Force Base, escorted by emergency service vehicles and dozens of motorcycles. Emergency service vehicles not in the procession could be seen on overpasses with flashing lights and members saluting as the casket passed by.
Signs were posted on businesses throughout the city warning of the street closure on Farnsworth Avenue from Park Street to Burlington Street “due to the enormity of the viewing and funeral services” and asked for “patience, understanding and cooperation under the extreme circumstances.”
The motorcycle groups, Road Warriors, Patriot Guard Riders, Nam Knights and others, were present.
Committeeman Bruce Hill said no one can ever fathom the outpouring of support for something like this until they see it.
” It always takes a tragedy to bring a community together, and I hope that never happens again, but to be a part of it was truly amazing,” he said.
Feb. 10: Ex- chief
sentenced
MOUNT HOLLY — In front of a full courtroom Friday, former Bordentown City Police Chief Philip Castagna was sentenced to 17 years in state prison following a conspiracy to commit murder conviction in October.
Superior Court Judge Jeanne Covert also sentenced Mr. Castagna to 15 months on a contempt charge to be served concurrently.
Mr. Castagna must serve 85 percent of his sentence, almost 15 years, before he is eligible for parole, following which there is a mandatory five years of supervised parole.
Judge Covert said the aggravating factors in the case outweighed the mitigating ones, causing her to come to the sentencing conclusion. Mr. Castagna was facing 10 to 20 years.
Clare Lindsey, Mr. Castagna’s sister, said there are several attorneys working on a case for appeal. They also are planning to appeal the sentencing, she said.
”A person’s status as the protector of the community can serve as an aggravating factor where that person engages in the very conduct that they were sworn to prevent,” Judge Covert said. “Mr. Castagna was chief of police … He more than anyone should understand the consequences of his actions in conspiring to murder his own wife and the reprehensible nature and circumstances of this offense.”
Joyce Leopold, Mr. Castagna’s ex-wife whom the plot was set against, spoke before the judge, asking her to give Mr. Castagna the full 20 years.
Ms. Leopold said Mr. Castagna is not the average citizen and his “duty was to protect and serve,” but, instead, he came up with the death plot against her. She said she suffered years of domestic violence and emotional abuse at the hands of Mr. Castagna, an array of stress-related medical issues and still is afraid harm will be done to her.
”I married my stalker; I did that,” she said.
She said her “stalker” was not a stranger or someone she knew from a business perspective, but her own husband she expected to spend the rest of her life with.
Mr. Castagna, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, showed little emotion during the hearing but continually shook his head as Ms. Leopold spoke.
Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Luciano asked Judge Covert to impose an 18-year sentence “so people understand that even police officers aren’t above the law.”
Mr. Castagna’s attorney, Robert Leiner, called it a unique case and told the judge to look at all of the evidence of it. He continually stated there was never any physical harm inflicted upon Ms. Leopold, and she was never contacted about the plot until charges were brought against Mr. Castagna.
The case against Mr. Castagna had been ongoing since 2004. He was suspended without pay in 2003 following charges of violating a restraining order and threatening Ms. Leopold with a gun. Mr. Castagna has maintained his innocence since the beginning of the investigation.
Feb. 10:
Resignation
NEW HANOVER — The school district’s business administrator — under investigation by the state Department of Education, Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance Investigations Unit — has resigned.
”The board received a notice of resignation with an effective date of Jan. 5,” Superintendent Brian McBride said.
Deborah Paone was suspended with pay Sept. 13, but as of Dec. 16, the Board of Education certified tenure charges against her and subsequently put her on a status of 120 days without pay.
The Board of Education is working to correct deficiencies in its financial accounts following the investigation revealing Ms. Paone was not performing the required duties of her position.
The board adopted a corrective action plan at its Dec. 16 meeting.
Currently, the district has an agreement with Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission and was provided with a business administrator, Kathleen Mandeville.
The district plans to keep the agreement in place until further decisions can be made as updates about the case come up. The services from MOESC are costing the district $60,000, but Mr. McBride said the district is receiving a cost savings of about 50 percent by keeping the agreement in place.
Feb. 10:
Grange help
COLUMBUS — The local Grange Hall is under the threat of being shut down because of financial troubles, but a small group of community-minded citizens is coming to its aid.
The Grange is a national fraternal organization that began in 1867 and prides itself on “being the people of America, people who share concerns for the needs of others; people who share the dreams of a better America; people who want to make a difference.”
The local Grange owns the two-story building at 88 Atlantic Ave., but if it were sold, the money would go to the state Grange.
Resident and Columbus Grange member Kate Moran had no intention of saving the Grange building, which dates to the 1940s, until she placed a phone call for information on renting out the hall.
The woman who answered the phone, the local Grange master’s wife, Mildred Bassett, said she’d be more than willing to rent out the hall, but wasn’t sure if they were going to financially make it through the winter.
There are about 30 Grange members on the books, but only about 15 attend the monthly meetings, Ms. Bassett said.
”She went on to tell me how they are financially hemorrhaging and having a terrible time,” Ms. Moran said. “My fiancé was in the room when I had the conversation, and when I hung up the phone, I was like ‘We love Columbus. This is such a community of pulled-together people.’ This is a travesty.”
Columbus does not have a library, and it doesn’t have a community hall so Ms. Moran started a mission to save the building.
Ms. Moran plans to keep the tradition of Grange alive but molding it to the new generation.
”Our first emergency effort to get us through the winter was a beef and beer in December,” she said. “We raised $2,100 in four hours.”
The new message for Columbus Grange is “we need your membership, volunteerism and your creative ideas to succeed.”
”We want to inject creativity into this whole thing,” Ms. Moran said. “We ask that our members show some volunteerism because one of the things we’ve heard in the past, and one of the reasons it’s in trouble is that, basically, people who joined say ‘I’m a member,’ but don’t come out to events or volunteer.”
March 3:
New chief
FLORENCE — Following a two-month search for a new superintendent, the Board of Education has recommended the current director of special services.
The school board Feb. 28 voted to recommend starting the contract negotiation process for Donna Ambrosius, of Mantua.
All nine voted yes, except for Richard Buck, who abstained. Superintendent Louis Talarico is retiring July 1, 2011, after serving the district for eight years. His salary is $171,542.
Formal action on the matter will not be taken until the new board is elected. Four seats need to be filled at the April election.
Ms. Ambrosius has had more than a decade of experience in working with children. She began at Westampton Township School District in 1999 and worked as a special services teacher, child study team coordinator, learning disabilities teacher and supervisor of special services.
March 31:
Out there
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — “I always thought that if we discovered life on the moon, or life on Mars, it would be the most exciting discovery in human history.”
This helps explain why Pat Marcattilio, of Hamilton, also known as Dr. UFO, began a UFO/ET Congress almost 27 years ago.
The 49th semi-annual UFO/ET Congress Reunion was held at the Ramada Inn on Route 206 this past weekend.
Some 60 believers gathered for two days to hear stories from researchers about sightings, abductions, mind control, the mysterious mothman and alien flight paths.
At noon Saturday, the meeting hall was cleared of all attendees, except those who had been abducted, contacted by aliens or had seen a UFO, alien or other paranormal event. This was an opportunity for them to share their stories with their peers at a special BYO lunch.
Before the abductee luncheon, speaker Will Allen discussed his ordeal of being abducted at a very young age. A professional photographer and UFO researcher, he takes pictures of noncorporal paranormal energetic bodies, or ghosts, and UFOs. He claims the government knows about these energy bodies and has been hiding this information.
April 14:
Zoo fire
SPRINGFIELD — The Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office received a body from Monday morning’s fire at the Animal Kingdom Zoo and tentatively identified it as the owner.
George Joo, supervising manager to the medical examiner, said positive identification still has not been made.
Owner Bridget Sipp, who has been missing since the fire, is believed to have perished in the fire.
The fire in her log cabin home on the zoo property called for a fleet of firefighters to put out the blaze.
Springfield Mayor Denis McDaniel said it was a devastating fire and confirmed Ms. Sipp is missing, but no positive identification has been made as of Tuesday afternoon.
The Animal Kingdom Zoo, located on Jacksonville-Jobstown Road, is a well-known local family spot for those with young children. The zoo has a number of wild animals, including giraffes, anteaters, Arctic foxes, a number of different breeds of monkeys, camels, coyotes and porcupines.
April 21:
Nazi patrol
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Patrol cars surrounded the Comfort Inn hotel on Route 206 over the weekend as a safety precaution as members of the largest neo-Nazi organization in the United States registered there from April 14 to 17 in anticipation of their Statehouse rally on April 16.
”Township police learned that numerous members of the National Socialist Movement would be staying at the hotel,” according to a release sent by Bordentown Township police. “Due to the fact that the NSM generally attract various counter-protestor groups who have shown previous tendencies to engage in violent attacks against them, the Bordentown Township Police Department formulated a security plan for the hotel.”
The plan included 22 officers from Bordentown Township, four from Bordentown City, four from Chesterfield, two from Mansfield, one from Florence and approximately 25 from the New Jersey State Police.
The hotel was not aware the rooms were rented to members of the group, according to township police, because all reservations for the members were made under fake names.
The detail also was responsible for all other civilians that were staying in rooms at the hotel.
”The importance of this detail became even more apparent when the NSM members briefly departed Bordentown Township on the evening of April 15 and traveled to the Borough of Pemberton for a dinner and conference,” police said. “One of their major opposition groups, Anti-Racist Action, became aware of the location of this dinner, traveled there and engaged in a large-scale fight with the NSM, which involved various weapons and resulted in several injuries.”
Other counter-protestors were arrested at the rally April 16 after they caused damage to buildings near the Statehouse in Trenton.
No incidents were reported in Bordentown during the NSM’s stay.
April 21:
Duffy School
FLORENCE — The Township Council is moving ahead with its affordable housing project for senior citizens at the old Duffy School on Second Street.
Township Administrator Richard Brook said the original plans for the project were to renovate the old school and transform it into affordable housing for seniors.
Now however, plans are to demolish the building, but to implement some of the features of the old building into the new structure, he said.”
The township and the school district have been speaking since the school built their new facilities and renovated the property on Front Street,” he said.
The project discussion started a few years ago when the state said “you can set aside 50 percent of your affordable housing for seniors,” according to Mr. Brook.
May 5:
Budget nixed
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Residents of the Bordentown Regional School District on April 27 defeated the total operating budget of $33.2 million by a 1,283 to 989 vote.
Superintendent Constance Bauer said she’s obviously disappointed the budget wasn’t passed because “we’ve already made significant reductions in spending and were able to present the budget within the 2 percent cap.”
”We were hopeful that those pursuits would have resulted in having the budget pass,” she said. “There are questions about what may happen as a result of the meeting (with the mayors).”
Dr. Bauer said a meeting will be held with the municipal officials, Mayor James Lynch from Bordentown City, Mayor Michael Dauber from Bordentown Township and Mayor Ed Tyler from Fieldsboro at 7 p.m. May 12 at the high school.
”At this point, we really do have a budget that I believe is fiscally responsible,” she said. “The impact of any additional reductions will not be fully understood until after we have the opportunity to meet with the municipalities.”
Where the cuts will be made are still unknown.
May 12:
Ocean Spray
BORDENTOWN CITY — Ocean Spray, which has had a manufacturing plant in the city on East Park Street for more than 60 years, has decided to leave town in two years.
City and state officials began negotiations with the company last fall in an effort to keep it from moving to Pennsylvania.
Ocean Spray now plans to close the plant in September 2013.
Mayor James Lynch said, “I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am. We tried our best, for the last six months, to put something together for them. I’m beginning to wonder if it was real or if they were just trying to string us along.”
The 62-acre property opened its 500,000-square-foot juice-bottling and manufacturing plant in 1943 and employs nearly 300 nonunion employees, according to the Ocean Spray website.
State Assemblyman Joseph Malone, who represents Bordentown City where he lives, said “to say I’m disappointed is an understatement.
”I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” he said. “I don’t think Ocean Spray ever really intended to deal in good faith with the city or the state with this issue. I think the general feeling was that they weren’t being really upfront. I think it’s a sad commentary for a relationship that has been built over 50 years that they couldn’t be a little more forthcoming with us.”
Company spokesman John Isaf said Ocean Spray over the last several years, has decided it needs a “more efficient and modern Northeast manufacturing solution.”
The Bordentown facility is the oldest and “highest cost facility in the manufacturing network,” he said.
Ocean Spray will be relocating to an undisclosed area in the Lehigh Valley.
May 12:
Missing student
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP — The family of missing Allentown High School student Sarah Townsend has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.
A full-day search Monday and Tuesday of Green Acres Field off Old York Road turned up no evidence of the missing 18-year-old Florence resident whose car was found abandoned there Monday morning.
Sarah was last seen by her parents, Roy and Laurie Townsend, of East Second Street, Florence, leaving for Allentown High School where she is a student. She is attending AHS as a tuition student because her father is employed in the district, which offers available spaces to the children of employees.
Sarah’s boyfriend reported her missing at 10 a.m. Monday after trying to reach her by phone and discovering her car at Green Acres Field near Sherman’s Pond.
Lt. Bruce Painter said police were at the scene moments after the car was discovered and started organizing the search. Lt. Painter said the search was started so quickly because both Sarah’s purse and cell phone were discovered in her car.
”At this time, we don’t suspect foul play,” Lt. Painter said Monday night. “Our investigation hasn’t led us to anything yet. The only reason we’re searching here is because this is where we located her car, and there’s nothing (no evidence) to take us out of this area. It starts here.”
Police departments from all over Burlington County, including Bordentown Township, Florence, Palmyra and Medford and from Philadelphia all joined in on the search.
Lt. Painter said more than 100 people were searching along with dogs trying to track Sarah’s scent. A helicopter from the New Jersey State Police also was used to do an overhead search of the large area.
May 13:
Body found
Friday afternoon, a body believed to be that of missing Allentown High School student Sarah Townsend was discovered in a park police had been searching.
Burlington County Public Safety Directory Walter Corter told CBS tracking dogs were searching for the 18-year-old Florence resident when they picked up a scent in Green Acres III Park and led police back to a pond they had searched earlier in the week. NBC reported a dive team recovered the body.
Mr. Corter said that at about 1:15 p.m., during their search of the pond, they found a body believed to be that of Ms. Townsend, whose car was found abandoned Monday morning.
Ms. Townsend was last seen by her parents, Roy and Laurie Townsend, of East Second Street, Florence, leaving for school. Her boyfriend reported her missing at 10 a.m. after trying to reach her by phone and discovering her car at Green Acres Field near Sherman’s Pond.
May 26:
Gone too soon
FLORENCE — Mourners gathered at the Florence United Methodist Church, on Second Street, on Sunday to remember the life of 18-year-old Sarah Townsend.
Florence Police Chief Stephen Fazekas estimated 1,000 people were present throughout the night to pay tribute to Sarah.
Loudspeakers were set up in the adjacent parking lot so the crowd could follow the service since the church could accommodate only 120 people.
At the service, Pastor Jack Foster of Florence United, where Sarah was baptized, told one of his favorite stories about a caterpillar that turned into a beautiful butterfly.
”The caterpillar becomes overwhelmed by a scary feeling, and it tries to run away, but it can’t,” he said Monday. “He’s suddenly in darkness and then becomes a beautiful butterfly.
”It’s an illustration. I was trying to say that Sarah is fine, and she’s made a transformation into a beautiful place.”
Buses were provided by the Upper Freehold Regional School District. where Sarah had been a senior at Allentown High School, to shuttle people to Florence so they could attend the memorial. Buses also were provided by the township to shuttle people to the church from the municipal complex and Veterans Memorial Park.
Chief Fazekas said fire police volunteers were helping control pedestrian traffic for the evening to ensure everyone made it safely to and from the service.
June 16:
Calls it quits
BORDENTOWN CITY — Longtime legislator and city resident Joseph Malone has called it quits after nearly 20 years in the state Assembly and said he will not run for another term in November.
However, “I’m not evaporating from public life, and I will not go into a senior village and eat soft food,” said the 61-year-old former mayor of Bordentown City, who will compete his current term in office.
Mr. Malone, a Republican, said being recently redistricted out of his old 30th Legislative District to the 7th District was not a factor in his decision.
Among the towns in the old 30th District are Bordentown City and Township, Chesterfield, Fieldsboro, New Hanover and North Hanover in Burlington County; Robbinsville in Mercer County; and Allentown and Roosevelt in Monmouth County.
”I’ve been mulling this over since the last election,” he said.
He said it was one of the reasons he resigned from the Assembly Budget Committee in January.
”I need to know who Joe Malone is (when) out of public office,” he said Tuesday, noting he has held some form of public office since he was 23 years old, “my whole adult life.”
He explained he did not want to wait another election cycle to decide, having gone through 17 or 18 elections. He was unopposed in the June 7 primary election.
”It consumes you. I want to do it the way I want to do it … it’s a what I want to do when I grow up sort of thing,” he said. “I’m not retiring. I want to look at what to do the rest of my life. I’m turning the page on the next chapter of my life, and it’s not written yet.”
