Barrington Bulletin

Barrington foundation aims to help kids in need

Barrington Bulletin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:27:59 +0000

Children eligible for a free or reduced lunch at school often depend on the program for healthy meals, but are left without the opportunity once the school year ends, borough resident Beth Cavallaro told the Barrington School District Board of Education this month.

That’s why the “Cracked Egg” organization formed to bring the community together last fall in an attempt to break the world record for the egg toss is working on a new program to benefit children in need, she said.

“Children will be able to attend the summer recreational program free of charge and will be provided with a nutritious lunch and snack,” Cavallaro told the Bulletin. “We want to ensure these kids continue to keep active during the summer and receive a nutritious lunch.”

The Cracked Egg Foundation — which Cavallaro said may be renamed into something “more community focused” such as “The Barrington Children’s First Foundation” — will run a pilot program this year for Barrington students entering kindergarten through 4^th grade who are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program.

By partnering with Police Benevolent Association Local 328 — the union representing officers in Barrington, Audubon, Haddon Heights and Haddonfield will donate about $3,000, she said — Cavallaro hopes to expand the program to more communities and more age groups in coming years.

“We are considering them our partner in this initiative,” Cavallaro said. ” Not only will they be providing financial support, but they plan to spend time with the children during the six weeks getting to know them, answering questions and helping by being role models.”

The program also will be looking to local businesses for support, Cavallaro said. And it will work to ensure families in need can connect with other groups in town such as ABLE, local churches and the borough for additional support.

“Our main goal is the children,” Cavallaro said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Beth Cavallaro can be contacted at bcavall@gmail.com or (856) 323-8493.

Coming up: Tougher absentee policy at Barrington schools?

Barrington Bulletin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:50:44 +0000

The Barrington School District Board of Education discussed during its June meeting preliminary plans to strengthen district policy with regard to student absenteeism.

Under the proposal — which is in committee and has not been completed — students who miss 15 days of school may be required to attend a week of summer school, with additional weeks added when students pass 20 and 25 days absent.

At 30 days, students may be kept in the current grade level, Superintendent Anthony Arcodia said.

Arcodia and Woodland School Principal David Zucker described the effort as a deterrent meant to encourage students and parents to prioritize school.

Such a deterrent is needed, Zucker explained, because 15 percent of Woodland students missed 15 days or more this school year. And that reflects poorly on the entire school and community when it results in lower scores on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge testing.

DISCLAIMER

The author of the Barrington Bulletin, Mark Correa, is also a member of the Barrington School District Board of Education as of Jan. 6, 2013. Please be aware that I do not speak for the board in any way. The thoughts, views and opinions contained within the posts on this site are mine and mine alone. And the comments after any given posts are the thoughts, views and opinions of the author of the comment.

If you have any concerns over my objectivity or with the content on this site, please leave a comment or email me at BarringtonBulletin@gmail.com.

23 adults arrested in Barrington in May

Barrington Bulletin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:17:53 +0000

The Barrington Police Department answered 494 calls and 159 complaints during May, according to the monthly report delivered to the borough council this month.

Among the crime reported in the month were two assaults and two burglaries.

Overall, police arrested 23 adults and issued 97 traffic summonses. In comparison, the department made 28 arrests and issued 147 traffic summonses last May.

Among the calls answered and arrests made last month were:

3 possession of controlled dangerous substances (drugs)
3 obstruction of justice
3 theft
2 assault
2 burglary (1 residence, 1 motor vehicle)
1 driving while suspended
1 possession of prescription drugs
1 possession of a hypodermic needle
1 defiant trespass
1 fraudulent prescription
1 check fraud
1 criminal mischief
1 disorderly conduct

Severe weather system bearing down on Philly region

Barrington Bulletin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:54:22 +0000

From AccuWeather.com:

There is a risk of thunderstorms with damaging winds and a few tornadoes will shift to parts of the mid-Atlantic and South today and into tonight.

Strong thunderstorms with a high risk of flash flooding are likely in portions of: West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and northeast Georgia as one or more complexes of thunderstorms roll in from the Midwest late Wednesday night into Thursday.

The storm complexes bring a risk of widespread 60-80 mph wind gusts with even higher gusts locally.

Winds of this magnitude can knock down trees, cause power outages and significant property damage.

Full story.

National Weather Service reports and warnings for Barrington.

School board discusses greenhouse, scoreboard, math curriculum

Barrington Bulletin — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:36:58 +0000

The Barrington School District Board of Education this week sought further information before finalizing changes to Woodland School’s math curriculum and scoreboard while OKing a greenhouse at the school and honoring a top teacher and students of the month.

The board and Superintendent Anthony Arcodia set aside time at the beginning of the meeting to present a plaque to Avon School kindergarten teacher Maria Tregear, who recently was voted as “one of the best” teachers in South Jersey in the Courier-Post’s annual “Best of South Jersey” polls.

The board, along with Woodland School Principal David Zucker, also recognized May’s students of the month:

5th Grade: Alexander DiMatteo, Diamyn Green, Peyton Klopp
6th Grade: Madison Nichols , Chloe Ward
7th Grade: Jason Cavalieri, Kayla Stevens
8th Grade: Stephen Marty, Natalia Rommen

CURRICULUM

When it came to approving up to $19,000 for the purchase of new math textbooks for Grades 6-8, however, the board chose not to move forward.

Board members questioned whether moving to a curriculum that differs from what Haddon Heights School District uses might put Barrington students at a disadvantage when they begin to attend Haddon Heights High School in ninth grade.

Arcodia and Zucker vouched for the new system, noting it was more in line with statewide common core standards and was a more concrete way of teaching math, while the previous method was “too abstract.”

The board chose to delay its decision on the matter until the Curriculum Committee had the opportunity to learn more about the new textbooks and hear from teachers regarding their opinions on the change.

WOODLAND UPGRADES

The board did OK funds for painting and refinishing the Woodland School gymnasium and placing a greenhouse at the school.

The board asked about options for the new scoreboard in the gym including where it could be placed to best serve the players and audience and whether two smaller board placed on each end of the court might better serve everyone than one larger board near the center. Arcodia said he would seek answers and options.

The board also heard details regarding the construction of the new greenhouse at Woodland School. The 8.5-foot x 16-foot structure will allow for new education opportunities for students and may grow vegetables that will be used in school lunches. It will be placed in the courtyard area behind the school.

DISCLAIMER

If you have any concerns over my objectivity or with the content on this site, please leave a comment or email me at BarringtonBulletin@gmail.com.

Council to recognize outgoing Police Chief Eisenhardt during tonight’s meeting

Barrington Bulletin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:01:34 +0000

Barrington Borough Council set aside time during tonight’s regularly scheduled meeting to present an employee service award to Joseph Eisenhardt, who will retire Sept. 1 after 32 years with the department.

Also during the meeting, council is scheduled to authorize a redeveloper agreement regarding the former Harvey’s Cards property, waive late fees on pet licenses through June 30, authorize renewal of borough liquor licenses, set hours for the administrative offices and more, according to the agenda.

COUNCIL MEETING DATES REVISED

In a separate matter, council also recently published revised dates for caucus and council meetings. All council caucuses and regular council meetings are open to the public. Caucus meetings take place at 6:30 p.m. in the mayor’s meeting room; council meetings take place at 6 p.m. in council chambers. Both are at borough hall.

MONTH — CAUCUS — COUNCIL
July — 2 — 9
August — 6 — 13
September — 3 — 10
October — 1 — 8
November — 4 (Monday) — 12
December — 10 — 17

Haddon Heights: N.J. state champions for softball Group 1

Barrington Bulletin — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:46:35 +0000

From Philly.com:

Shayla Sweeney struck out eight, and junior centerfielder Chelsea Thomas delivered the game’s biggest hit in Haddon Heights’ 5-3 victory over Saddle Brook in the title game at Toms River East.

“I’m speechless,” Sweeney said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Image from Philly.com

Haddon Heights (26-3) won its second state title and first since coach Michelle Schlichtig led the Garnets to the Group 2 crown as a star pitcher in 2001.

“That makes it even more special,” Sweeney said of Schlichtig’s connection to both titles.

Full story here.

Photo gallery here.

Video here.

From NJ.com

When Haddon Heights claimed its last state championship, Michelle Schlichtig was in the pitcher’s circle.

It took 12 years for the Camden County school to win another title, and this time Schlichtig was serving as the head coach as the squad celebrated.

Taking Schlichtig’s place on the mound was Shayla Sweeney, and the senior right-hander ended the game the same way she started, with a strikeout, to give Haddon Heights its first state title since 2001 in a 5-3 triumph over Saddle Brook in the final of the NJSIAA Group 1 tournament yesterday at Toms River East.

Full story here.

Photo gallery here.

Flash Flood Watch issued for Barrington, surrounding communities

Barrington Bulletin — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:16:28 +0000

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Barrington and the rest of Camden County — as well as much of South Jersey, the Philadelphia region and parts of northern Delaware.

The watch is in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday because “period of heavy rainfall will occur through this evening. General rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches is expected with isolated amounts near 5 inches possible.”

“The heavy rain will result in flooding of some roadways and in areas of poor drainage,” the weather service states.

After the rain, temperatures should rebound with highs in the 80s through at least Tuesday.

4 candidate register for 3 spots on Barrington school board

Barrington Bulletin — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:55:35 +0000

Two newcomers have joined two incumbents for the three positions on the Barrington School District Board of Education up for election in November.

Borough residents Mindy Berwick and Holly McCauley will join board Vice President Carla Bolling and board member Robert J. Klopp in the race for the three positions. Board member G. Scott Manlove chose not to seek re-election.

Both Berwick and McCauley are listed as officers in the Avon Parent Teacher Association; Berwick is the president and McCauley is the secretary.

NOTE – As with last year, the Bulletin makes this offer: If any candidate would like to express his or her opinions, positions or goals for their school board candidacy within this online publication, please e-mail BarringtonBulletin@gmail.com to make arrangements.

BARRINGTON BULLETIN OPINION

It’s gratifying to live in an active community in which residents want to get involves and take part. Compare Barrington — where voters once again will have to make a choice come November — with other nearby communities such as Oaklyn, where two candidates registered for four positions, Woodlynne, where no candidates registered for two positions, or Collingswood and Haddon Heights, where three candidates registered for three positions.

The kind of civic engagement we have in Barrington is something to be proud of.

DISCLAIMER

If you have any concerns over my objectivity or with the content on this site, please leave a comment or email me at BarringtonBulletin@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Haddon Heights girls ready to battle for state softball title

Barrington Bulletin — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:56:02 +0000

Haddon Heights downed the only undefeated high school softball team remaining in the state Tuesday to advance to the New Jersey Group 1 Championship Game, likely to be played Saturday at Toms River against Saddle Brook.

Haddon Heights vs. Florence. Image from Philly.com.

Saddle Brook (28-3) was the top seed in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 tournament. Haddon Heights (25-3) was the third seed in the South Jersey Group 1 tournament.