Isn’t Time Relative to Age?: Louis Mascolo

By Louis Mascolo

Congratulations to our local politicians who won their elections last month. Elected to Township Committee were Chuck Chiarello and Theresa Kelly, Freeholder James Curcio and State Representatives Nelson Albano and Matt Milam. We’re proud that all of them contribute to our paper and realize the importance of keeping you informed. Keep up the good work lady and gents. Why is it that our local politicians always do a better job than the Federal legislators? No matter how many people we elect to Congress, it’s always the same bull. Big promises, little results! I guess if corporations started contributing big money to local municipalities, we would experience the same corruption. Lucky for us!

Tough year for everyone, but the Holiday Season and the New Year is upon us and we welcome a little relief from the constant barrage of bad news. 

It seems like such a short time ago that we were worried about Y2K. The turn of the millennium is almost ancient history, yet is seems like it was only yesterday. The booming economy, no 9/11 terrorism, low unemployment—a wonderful joy ride. At the same time, it seems like the bad times have been going on forever. Crazy contradiction. Time flies, pain lingers.

Ten years ain’t what it used to be! And as many of you are completely aware of, the older you get, the faster time moves. Doesn’t Einstein have a theory about that? Relativity of the speed of time to age? Hmmm!  Something to look into. But like an ex-President says, “Bring it on!” Happy to be here to face it!

I was also wondering why the New Year begins on January 1. The New Year actually begins on December 21^st at the winter solstice. It’s then that the shortening of days ends and the beginning of longer days begins. In reality, it’s the beginning of new year. Those Romans screwed up. The calendar needs a 10 day shift so that January 1^st falls the day after the winter solstice. Hmmm! In case you’re wondering, what the heck is he talking about, better to ponder this than the miserable economy, two wars and greedy financiers and bankers.

Everything passes and let’s hope 2010 marks the beginning of a new upswing for us all. Now if we could only get the Chinese to give us back some of those jobs.

Happy Holidays and a Properous New Year!

And it isn’t even my birthday!: Lynn Petrovich

By Lynn Petrovich

Here’s a little known fact about me that you probably could live without: I was conceived in New Jersey but born in LA, which means I toured the nation in the fetal position.

And of course like most products of conception, I started out likeable enough, endearing (and tolerable despite the occasional noxious fumes) but as time passed, grew larger, more demanding, with an insatiable appetite.  Some would say now I’m too big for my britches.

Concepts can be good, like free education, or bad, like Agent Orange.  They develop over years of input, and changes are often gradual; sometimes so obtuse they defy observation.  And, occasionally when the process is complete, the result is a monster (like high property taxes) no one has the (political) courage to tame. 

Except the very few.

Two weeks before the election, in his opinion column entitled “Christie, the man with no plan, blew his big chance”, Jeff Edelstein of The Trentonian, complained that Chris Christie would lose the governor’s race because he didn’t assert himself by explaining how he was going to reduce our property taxes:

“If Christie had done that - and nothing else – he would have cakewalked to victory in less than two weeks.  Instead, this is what Christie has been pretty much saying and I paraphrase: ‘Uh, duh. Blippity blippity duh. Property taxes.”

Despite Mr. Edelstein’s rant, Christie is our next governor, so what better time to reduce “blippity blippity duh” to a plan of action (expecially because I’m sure Mr. Christie has no idea what he got into).  For the past few years, I’ve been researching NJ’s 605 individual school districts, 566 municipalities, hundreds of local Authorities, and 21 County governments as a part my forthcoming book, NJ’s Naked Numbers. 

So, Mr. Christie, listen up, below is my E-Z-Bake-Oven 12-step plan to reduce property taxes.  It’s so easy a child could do it.

I call it: “P.S. 101: Whatever happened to Public Service?”

(1)  FREEZE IT:  Freeze salary increases for school superintendents and municipal finance officers (the highest paid) whose salaries are often $150,000 to $200,000.  Some make as much as $233,500 (Long Branch). 

Annual Savings: $14 million

(2)  PLUG IT.  Immobilize salaries for assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, business managers, assistant business managers, financial officers, assistant finance officers and all other top 15% wage earners.

Annual Savings:  $25 million

(3)  TIE IT.  Tie salaries of the top 15% to no more than 2 times (Supers/CFOs) or 1.65 times (others) the median family income of that municipality.  Carteret’s median family income at $41,994 would translate a maximum superintendent’s salary of $83,988.  (Oh we’re talking big savings here).

Annual Savings: $316 million

(4)  PARK IT.  Eliminate the free cars.  We no longer have to pinch ourselves imagining the highest paid actually using their own vehicles to drive around town. 

Annual Savings: $16 million

(5)  CUT IT.  Reduce vacation days from 25 to 10, which would still leave a very generous package of 14 holidays, 4 personal days, and unlimited “seminar” days. 

Annual Savings: $50 million

(6)  CAP IT.  Cap accrued sick and vacation time at amounts not to exceed a cumulative total of $15,000.

Annual Savings: $231 million in addition to (5) above.

(7)  SHARE IT.  Mandate 15% co-pay for insurance premiums for top 15% wage earners.  Why are the highest compensated exempt from contributing to medical, vision, and dental plans?  That’s regressive.

Annual Savings: $12 million

(8)  MERGE IT.  Any school district with less than 1,000 students should have shared services.  Monmouth Beach has 300 students and is projected to spend over $5 million next year. 

Annual Savings: $315 million

(9)  LEGISLATE IT.  NJ should be at the forefront of insisting that our representatives demand the State’s right to enact Universal Single-Payer Health Care.  Congressman Frank Pallone (Democrat NJ-6^th) said last August “When single-payer comes to the floor, I’ll vote for it.”  Great! 

Annual Savings $2.2 Billion

(10)  ADVOCATE IT.  Get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Return tax dollars to our communities!  We are paying for a war that the majority of Americans do not want.  Advocate for withdrawal from W-A-R. 

Annual Savings for NJ:  $3.4 Billion

(11)  VOTE IT.  Vote for independent candidates.  Give the Republican-Democrat Duopoly a boot.

Annual Savings:  No more paid empty offices.

(12)  SCREW IT.  Any Party boss or election contributor that does not advocate for these twelve very simple steps, we can say:  Screw it, you’re out.

Annual Savings:  Priceless   

Disclaimer/Side Effects

This 12-step plan may lower blood pressure and increase family enjoyment.  It’s not recommended for use by squeamish politicians who make promises they fail to keep (see definition of Republican or Democrat).  It’s safe for use by pregnant women, those who used to be pregnant, are thinking about becoming pregnant, or were the result of someone’s pregnancy.   

Total annual savings for this plan $6.6 Billion per year.

The day I learn Governor-elect Christie has the courage to positively address these ideas, I’ll shake my head and think to myself “And it isn’t even my birthday!”

Lynn M. Petrovich, Copyright 2009

Just Passing Through: Gail Benson

By Gail Benson

Found this ad in the South Jersey Star of 16 Nov 1917. Call, in this context, must mean knock on your front door.

So, how did a piano tuner wind up in rural South Jersey. Piano was the form of entertainment at that time. Folks gathered in the parlor and entertained themselves with the new songs of the day, so there may have been more pianos around than we would believe; certainly more than in the households of today.

In 1918 when it was required for Albert Edward Cotton to register for the draft, he said he was living in Newtonville, New Jersey, was born 13 June 1878, and was working as a carpet weaver for a company in Philadelphia. He probably just hopped the train to get to work. Since he didn’t mention piano tuning, it was probably a secondary occupation. The draft card tells that his wife’s name was Mary Jane, and that he became a citizen of the US by virtue of his father’s naturalization before Albert’s majority. Doesn’t say where he was born.

Going forward, the 1920 census lists Albert and Mary in Philadelphia and learn that both were born in England. He is still a carpet weaver; perhaps the commute got too much for him. He is living on Nicetown Lane, next to the Walter Chamberlain family. Walter is also a carpet weaver. Chamberlain is a known Newtonville family name.

By 1930, Albert and Mary Jane are living in Kirkwood, Voorhees Township, Camden County. They have a nine-year-old adopted son named John who was born in Pennsylvania. Albert is a farmer on a poultry farm. The Walter Chamberlain family is next door. In 1942, we still find the Cotton’s on Pine Avenue in Kirkwood. This time, Albert tells us that he was born in Birmingham, England.
Going backwards, the 1910 census tells us Albert and Mary Jane are both carpet weavers living in Philadelphia. Did they meet at work? They have been married for 8 years, and have had two children who have died. Where is neighbor Walter Chamberlain in 1910? He and his wife Ada are in Buena Vista Township, living next to the family of William Chamberlain on 9th Street. Perhaps the Chamberlain’s are a topic for another story.

In 1900, both Albert and Walter were weavers living in Philadelphia. Both arrived from England in the 1880’s. Simple camaraderie at work? Related in some way? And what would make him follow Walter to Buena Vista Township?

So, our piano tuner did not stay here for very long. Defnitely less than ten years, and perhaps as short as one or two. His ads seem to appear from October 1917 through January 1918. But, even in that short time, his name is permanently connected to Newtonville, New Jersey

If you have any information for us, you can email BuenaHistorical@gmail.com or contact us by regular mail at P. O. Box 114, Buena, NJ 08310

Buena Historical Society meets on the third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Buena Vista Township Municipal Building, Route 40, Buena. Please join us. January meeting is our annual business meeting.

BUENA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO HONOR
TWO “BABES”
Buena Historical Society is holding its annual Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 6 p.m. at Buena Tavern. At this event each year the Buena Historical Society honors local residents who have served the communities of Buena Borough and Buena Vista Township. This year’s honorees are

Richard “Babe” Cantoni and Lewis “Babe” Lolli.
Tickets for this event are available at $18 per person for a buffet dinner. They may be obtained by mailing your check to Buena Historical Society, PO Box 114, Buena, NJ 08310. For further information, please call 856-692-5227.