Residents have sent doughnuts, pizza and bagels to police around South Jersey this morning.

In the wake of a tragic evening in Texas, which left five police officers dead and many others wounded, some New Jersey residents are reaching out to their local departments to thank them for their daily service.

In Audubon the police department posted photos of a note and bagel tray sent into the station from one unnamed resident.

Woolwich Township police thanked two young girls who brought doughnuts and coffee via Facebook this morning as well.

In Atlantic City Tony Baloney's sent some pizza's over for the city's finest.

Scanner Chatter: @AtlanticCityPD told all officers 2 stop by police station 4 some pizza! Courtesy of @tonyboloneys ! Best pizza in town

-- AtlanticCity911 (@AtlanticCity911) July 8, 2016

Antonio's Pizza also sent some of their fare over to the Monroe Township Police Department, according to resident Susan Miller Citrino.

Susan Miller Citrino

Have you seen any more of these in your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand.Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New Jersey State Police turned to Facebook to help identify the suspects.

Using Facebook, New Jersey State Police were able to identify and arrest two Millville men who allegedly stole from numerous residences in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Justin Daughtry, 24, and Kenneth Fuqua, 30, were charged with burglary, theft, criminal attempt and receiving stolen property. They are both being held in the Cumberland County Jail.

On June 2, surveillance camera footage captured two men attempting to break into a house in the Brotmanville section of Pittsgrove Township, Salem County. The two burglars fled before gaining entry into the house.

New Jersey State Police shared information about the burglary attempt and the video from the incident on its official Facebook page on July 1 in hopes of identifying the two men.

Authorities were able to identify the two men as Daughtry and Fuqua. The two men allegedly performed burglaries in the Maurice River Township area of Cumberland County and Franklinville area of Gloucester County.

Fuqua was arrested at his residence and held in the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail for the Maurice River Township area burglaries and $50,000 bail for the other burglaries. Daughtry was already being held at Cumberland County Jail for unrelated charges and was given a bail of $50,000 for the additional burglary charges.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

BeachGlow Music Festival 2016 features features pop, alternative, and electronic music on the Wildwood beach.

WILDWOOD -- A heat index of 90 degrees didn't stop the thousands of fans from dancing, jumping and singing at the BeachGlow Music Festival 2016 Friday evening. 

The charity music festival, now in its fourth year, features pop, alternative, and electronic music and continues Saturday at 3 p.m. 

All proceeds from the two-night festival on the beach go to Little Kids Rock, a music education nonprofit, which then donates the money to music programs in the Philadelphia school system.

Cawz, a DJ duo from Point Pleasant, kicked off the night followed by Dane, Jay Cosmic, Elephante and the headliner Robert DeLong. 

The lineup for Saturday features Audien, Slander, Nico & Vinz, Gazzo, Fareoh, Two Friends, Synchonice and the Little Kids Rock Band. 

Tickets are still available for Saturday and can be purchased at the door or at BeachGlow.org. 

Ticket holders must be 18 or older to attend the concert.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision. Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

CHEERS: To the latest cool science news from Rowan University, where researchers are developing joint replacements created on 3D printers. Today's joint replacements -- be they knees, hips or shoulders -- are made from metal. This new technology would do more than replace metal with plastic. Researchers say these plastic joints would include built-in antibiotics to fight off infections. Post-op infections are a huge problem in the joint replacement process, so this could mark a major step forward for something an aging population will need more of in the future. Thanks for keeping us healthy into our golden years, Rowan.

JEERS: To stealing from family. A Gloucester County grand jury indicted a Mullica Hill man last week on charges that he stole $75,000 from his grandmother, allegedly to buy drugs. Addiction makes people do crazy things, and in this case Victor F. Anderson, 28, is accused of scamming his grandmother by convincing her that she was out of money and needed to cash in certificates of deposit to pay her household bills and property taxes. We are always warned to be on the lookout for strangers trying to rip off the elderly, but sometimes we need to look closer to home. Kudos to Mantua Police and the county prosecutor's Elder Protection Unit for cracking the case.

CHEERS to knowing your rights. Much has been said about the tiff Collingwood educators got into with the borough's police department and Camden County Prosecutor's Office. While the parties appear to have come to an agreement on how to report future incidents and when authorities should get involved, another group is throwing its hat into the ring. Decarcerate the Garden State said earlier this week that if police are going to be present in school, students must be taught how to interact with them and not incriminate fellow classmates. Our stance here is in no way anti-police, but volunteering information to authorities that has nothing to do with an ongoing investigation could be a costly mistake for students and their guardians.

JEERS to wanton gunplay. Nobody has died -- yet. Burlington City has seen three shootings in as many weeks and authorities there are ramping up efforts to find whoever is slinging hot lead. The victim of Wednesday's non-fatal shooting was someone who happened to be in the wrong place -- asleep in their front room -- and the wrong time -- 4:10 a.m. Yes, that's sarcasm on our part. No, we aren't taking this lightly. Nearby Willingboro has also seen an increase in shootings, with four separate incidents being reported since June 1. When the suspected motive is rival gangs and teenagers are getting shot at playgrounds, it's time to double down.

CHEERS: To a day (or night) at the fair. On Tuesday, the 2016 Cumberland County Fair opened to the public for a five-day run. Once again, the event at the county fairgrounds outside of Millville is expected to draw thousands of visitors. There is plenty to do and see for all ages from animal exhibits, to music, food, entertainment and rides. The fair tops caps off its run with a real crowd-pleaser, the annual Demolition Derby on Saturday night. Don't miss your chance to visit the fair with the entire family.

JEERS: A betrayal of trust. You would think an employee at a local bank would have your best interests at heart. In all cases they do but authorities allege that wasn't the case when Connie M. Girtain of Pennsville allegedly stole $50,000 from two of her customers who thought their money was being safely deposited. When her superiors detected something was wrong they, much to their credit, took immediate action. Girtain, who was arrested back in March was indicted by a Salem County grand jury last week.

If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

The teen was swimming with friends when he went under the water and did not resurface.

FRANKLIN TWP. -- The family of a Franklinville teen who died after being pulled from a sand quarry on Thursday afternoon has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a funeral. 

William Schmitt, 16, was swimming with friends in the quarry behind Uni-Tech Well Drilling when he went under the water and didn't resurface. A Fire and Rescue team pulled him from the water, performed CPR, and took him to Kennedy Hospital.

Schmitt was transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where he was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m. Friday.

An obituary posted by the Bell-Hennessey Funeral Home says he was a student at Delsea High School.

The family of the boy has started a GoFundMe to raise money for his funeral. Anyone can donate by going to the page. 

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Grab the tissues. Watch video

WENONAH- In a spirited homecoming, second-class petty officer Christina Baez was reunited with her pitbull, Laila, Saturday after serving a year overseas.

 Laila ran enthusiastically to Baez as she entered the yard of the family who had been caring for the dog over the past year.

Although the two had been apart for a year, it was not the first time Baez had seen her dog. Earlier this year, the foster family had posted a video which went viral of 8-year-old Anna Masusock singing "You are my sunshine" as she laid in bed next to Laila.

The Masusock family fostered Laila for Baez, who serves in the Navy, through PACT for Animals, an organization which allows families to foster pets for people who are deployed overseas or unexpectedly hospitalized.

"With PACT, you become a family," Donna Masusock said. "Laila's like a family member, I'm even friends with Christina's family on Facebook."

This is the Masusock family's second round of fostering dogs with PACT. The first time they fostered three dogs at once, but Masusock added that Laila "was the most laid back dog we've ever had."

"You're fostering so they don't have to go to a shelter," she added. "If it wasn't for PACT, Christina would've lost Laila."

In the moments leading up to Baez's arrival on Saturday, Masusock's children, 8-year-old twins Liam and Anna, said their goodbyes to Laila as they threw a pink frisbee around the yard.

Masusock said that PACT allows visitation rights for the foster family after the pet is returned to its owner, so they will stay in contact with Baez.

"You're sad because you do have that attachment, but they're happy tears because Laila will finally get her mom," she said.

Moments before the reunion, Masusock fought back tears of her own.

"My time with Laila has been awesome," she said while wiping her eyes. "She's been a great impact in her house. I'll really miss her."

She added that Laila was a big cuddler and that everyone in the neighborhood knew her.

Baez, who is from Hoboken but stationed in Virginia Beach, pulled up to the house with multiple family members to partake in the reunion.

She described being both excited and nervous.

"When you're away from an animal, and even a child, you're nervous coming home and afraid that they won't remember you," she said.

Before she saw her dog, Baez said her biggest fear was that Laila wouldn't remember her, but all it took was that first sniff, and then Laila remembered.

Baez said the video of Anna singing to Laila warmed her heart while she was stationed overseas.

"It was so sweet," she said. "She [Laila] has gotten so much love and attention from the family. It brought me to tears, it brought everyone on my ship to tears."

Beaz said she's grateful for the support from the Masusocks.

"Laila has learned so much and grown so much with them," she said. "I wouldn't have it any other way, I wouldn't want it with any other family."

CJ Fairfield may be reached at cfairfield@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @fairfielc4. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Gloucester County NAACP is encouraging the public to attend the event

SEWELL-In wake of the tragic events around the country that resulted in two citizens and five police officers being shot and killed, the Gloucester County NAACP will be holding a "Justice For All Matters Forum."

The forum will be held Monday, July 11 at 7 p.m. in the Gloucester County Institute of Technology at 1360 Tanyard Road.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two men shot by police in Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights, and the police officers killed and those wounded in Dallas by sniper fire," said Loretta Winters, president of the Gloucester County NAACP.  "These startling incidents in our nation take on even greater significance, occurring in the middle of a presidential campaign where the issues of race, ethnicity, immigration, gun control and criminal justice reform are prominent." 

Gloucester County prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said law enforcement around the state has undergone systematic changes when investigating police-involved shootings, body worn cameras, the use of less lethal force and increasing diversity in the ranks of law enforcement.

"This forum will be an opportunity to discuss these national events and hopefully learn from them and build on some of the progress we've made locally," he said.

CJ Fairfield may be reached at cfairfield@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @fairfielc4. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The school garnered a first place in 'workplace skills'

DEPTFORD TWP. -- The SkillsUSA chapter at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) was recently awarded first place in the "workplace skills" category as a SkillsUSA Models of Excellence (MOE) recipient. Last year GCIT won top honors in the "technical skills" category, making their SkillsUSA chapter the nation's first to earn top honors back-to-back.

Models of Excellence is part of the SkillsUSA Chapter Excellence Program (CEP), sponsored by Lowe's Companies, Inc. to promote the application of personal, workplace and technical skills in local chapter activities. GCIT was one of 24 national finalists to compete for top honors during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, June 20-24. Chapter finalists will each receive a grant up to $4,000 from Lowe's to support SkillsUSA programming.  

"The members of Gloucester Institute of Technology have accomplished a major achievement," said Troy Dally, Lowe's senior vice president of customer experience. "Lowe's is honored to sponsor CEP because it inspires students to do amazing work in their communities and supports development of workplace and technical skills in demand by the industry.

The GCIT chapter was recognized for their organization and implementation of an "Out of the Darkness" suicide prevention walk. The walk, in its seventh year, was started by two GCIT SkillsUSA members to raise suicide awareness and much-needed funding for research, education programs and survivor support.

Since then, members have grown the event by implementing a plan of action, strategizing best practices, actively using committees, and engaging member and community involvement. Members used this activity to focus on the SkillsUSA Framework skills of teamwork, multi-cultural sensitivity and awareness, and planning, organizing and management. Students were completely in charge of every aspect of the walk, including publicity and event details, and active outreach efforts to diverse audiences such as grieving families and suicide prevention leaders. The event resulted in more than 600 participants and more than $24,000 for suicide prevention. Chapter members David Ahlzadeh and Margaret McGrath represented GCIT during the week-long conference in Louisville.

"The 'Out of Darkness' walk is just one of many examples of how our SkillsUSA members are developing high-demand workplace skills through community involvement," said GCIT teacher and SkillsUSA advisor, Toni Terpolili. Many thanks to Lowe's for making programs like CEP possible."

For more information, go to: www.SkillsUSA.org.

This item submitted by Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

The accident occurred Monday morning as the truck exited the state highway. Watch video

HARRISON TWP. -- A truck hauling trash crashed on an exit ramp from Route 55 Monday morning, according to state police.

The crash occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. on the ramp for Route 322 west from northbound Route 55.

The Cumberland County Improvement Authority truck ended up on its side to the left of the ramp.

7 people have died on this highway this year

The driver was taken to Kennedy University Hospital, Washington Township, with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Trucks and a front-end loader were brought in to offload the trash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

12 cast iron planters have been placed at intersections along Broad Street

WOODBURY -- Flowers are back in Woodbury's downtown walking district. With its first round of funding, a partnership between Woodbury Olde City Restoration Committee (WORC) and Main Street Woodbury Inc (MSWI) was able to donate a total of 12 cast-iron planters and place them at intersections along Broad Street as well as the front of the police station and City Hall.  

"We saw an opportunity to bring back the floral beauty that the Greater Woodbury Garden Club initiated several years ago," said Heidi Louis, president of WORC.   "WORC is strongly committed to Downtown Woodbury and felt that the planters fit nicely under their mission."

Main Street Woodbury's Board of Trustees quickly approved its participation in the project, and was able to provide the majority of funding for the first round. It's great to collaborate with another group in town and we want to do more of that", said Nick DellaRova, president of MSWI. "We and WORC also want to thank Main Street's Mary Carter and the Woodbury Public Works Department for their help in the placement and maintenance of the flowers."

Woodbury's community partners are connected through the Creative Team, a monthly meeting of the leaders of several Woodbury non-profit organizations, the Greater Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, and city officials. The Creative Team provides a structure whereby these leaders can share ideas, opinions, and seek collaborative opportunities.

Councilwoman Jessica Floyd is excited to see the product of the group's meetings made visible to residents and visitors of Woodbury, saying, "When groups can come together and work on a project like this, everyone wins."

Going forward, WORC, MSWI, and the Creative Team hope to bring more support to the planter project, through sponsorship and maintenance initiatives. Woodbury groups looking to support this project are asked to contact Louis directly, at president@woodburyorc.org.

WORC's recent projects include the rehabilitation of local landmark storefront, Polsky's (on the corner of Barber Ave and Broad Street), future home of Tiki Tiki Board Games (now at 232 S. Broad Street), through a new grant funding initiative geared to assist business owners housed in historic buildings in Woodbury. For more information about WORC, visit www.woodburyorc.org.

MSWI recently completed their annual White Table Gala fundraiser, and is  currently working on a new Woodbury Walking History Tour program. For more information about MSWI, visit www.mainstreetwoodbury.org.

This item submitted by Main Street Woodbury.

Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine offers free course on osteopathic medicine

STRATFORD - Realizing there is a gap in the public's understanding of osteopathic medicine, Timothy Tsai, a fourth-year medical student at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, has led a collaborative effort to create a free massive open online course (MOOC) that is the first known course of its kind to focus on osteopathic medicine. Launched in mid-May, the free course has already attracted more than 1,200 students eager to learn more about osteopathic medicine's holistic approach to health promotion and disease prevention.   

"Before enrolling in medical school, I had experience with MOOCs and wanted to create something similar about osteopathic medicine," Tsai explained. "The course we designed provides an overview of osteopathic medicine. Even if you are not interested in that as your career, the course can be a great resource for learning exactly what an osteopathic physician does and how osteopathic manipulative treatment can help patients."

Bowing to the demands of medical education, however, Tsai's original idea to create the course remained "stagnant" for about a year and a half. Then, support from the medical school's Department of Family Medicine and NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute breathed new life into the project. Those departments and students from the medical school's SYNAPSE organization, in collaboration with Rowan's Department of Information Resources and Technology, worked with Tsai to create the course.

"Developing the first known MOOC on osteopathic medicine is a major achievement for Tim and everyone who worked together on this project," said Dr. Joshua Coren, chairman of Family Medicine at the School of Osteopathic Medicine. "This program will help future students learn about our field, help patients to understand what we can do for them and let many others see the great student, staff and faculty involvement of our school and university."

Dr. Thomas Cavalieri, dean of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine noted the significance of the team's accomplishments. "It isn't just about being the first to create a course like this," he said. "The team's commitment to producing a program that is both comprehensive and, at the same time accessible to anyone, is a significant achievement that will help to advance the reputation of our school and of the osteopathic profession."

The course includes four modules - Introduction to Osteopathic Medicine; History of Osteopathic Medicine; Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments; and Clinical Applications of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy. The medical school's Academic Technologies group provided video support, recording the course lectures, all of which were presented by faculty at Rowan's School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Once all the elements of the course were assembled, one final hurdle remained: making the course available online. With assistance from Rowan University's Division of Global Learning & Partnerships, the team from the School of Osteopathic Medicine was finally able to see their work come to fruition. Two months ago, the course was posted on the Canvas Network, one of the world's leading providers of open, online courses.

A free, self-paced course, "Introduction to Osteopathic Medicine" is designed to allow students to complete all four modules in four weeks, assuming they are able to devote approximately four hours each week. To learn more, or to register, visit www.canvas.net/browse/rowanu/courses/osteopathic-medicine.

 This item submitted by Rowan University.

Cheryl Leonard weighs in about the loss of a boat launch in Elsinboro Township.

To the Editor:

I read Robert Lanard's excellent letter, "Wrong to shut down Salem Co. boat ramp," and would like to echo my neighbor's sentiments.

I moved to Elsinboro Township 10 years ago and the biggest attraction for me was the Salem River and easy access to it from my home. It has been very convenient to simply pull my boat out of the garage, cross the road, launch it, and have a wonderful day of boating. 

Now (because the ramp has been shut down in the wake of a court ruling on another neighbor's nuisance claim) this ability has been taken away.

It's not all about launching boats. People stop here to admire the river, bird watch or enjoy a sunset. I participate in the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project and use this location for my observations. 

Now, ugly barriers and "no trespassing" signs adorn the ramp property. This is unsightly and, in my opinion, lowers the value of the homes here. Maybe the judge needs to come here and see what is being denied to the residents and other users.

It is incredible one that single individual who prevailed in court gets to be the voice of the community. Our local officials have been very supportive, but no one who lives here or uses the ramp was solicited for an opinion to support the ramp as a valuable asset for our township. 

As a neighbor with the same exposure as the complainant, I have had no issues with the ramp or its users. My opinion is that he is the problem, not the ramp and its users.

Having this ramp closed on the July 4 weekend was a hardship for many, as they had to find another launching spot, and there was essentially no notice that this would happen. Some folks who came to launch their boats gave up and went home. That is indeed sad. Not a happy Independence Day.

Cheryl A. Leonard

Elsinboro Township 

Pick your shots when defying authority

To the Editor:

Regarding the article "Group: Teach children their rights in wake of police call" in the June 7 Times:

A group calling itself Decarcerate the Garden State wants "personal rights awareness" added to required curricula in our schools as a result of incidents in Collingswood schools involving repeated 911 calls to police. 

These people have been watching too much "South Park." 

When I was in the 5th grade, Jimmy Mitchell and I had to report to Miss Haupt, our principal, for playing marbles for keeps. You could play for fun, but not for keeps. 

Haupt was a square, stern woman who wore floor-length dresses, never smiled,and  could twist ears and whack knuckles with the best of them. She had voice control that would have been the envy of any Nazi SS officer. 

"Come in. You will be seated" she said, without looking up from what she was writing. When she was finished, she folded her hands, looked at Jimmy and asked, "Why are you here?" 

Jimmy started explaining that we weren't really playing for keeps when the principal said, "Not another word!" 

She then looked at me and asked, "Why are you here?"

We were playing marbles for keeps," I said. 

"Playing marbles for keeps leads straight to jail!," she said.

I started to cry. I thought we were going to jail. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had said I had the right to remain silent and wanted to call my lawyer. It wouldn't have been pretty.

Harry Walker

Pitman

Sweeny school aid plan fairest of them all

To the Editor:

Once again we are witnessing just how different the Democrats and Republicans really are. 

On one hand, you have Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has proposed a school state aid plan that devastates low-income districts and their students (because it calls for districts, whether wealthy, middl-class or poor, to receive the exactly the same amount of per-student funding.)

On the other hand, you have Democrat state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who has offered a plan to fix current inequities (by funding the existing 2008 formula at 100 percent of intended levels.)  His plan is fair to every student in every district.

Unlike Christie, Sweeney actually spends his time in New Jersey and recognizes the challenges facing our poor and middle-class residents. 

The divide between rich and poor is getting wider, and to impose that divide upon children's education is disgraceful. 

Children should not lose the opportunity to reach their full potential because they weren't born wealthy. Sweeney's plan levels the playing field and provides fairness for everyone.

Harry W. Elton Jr.

Woodbury Heights 

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Bob Witanek of "Decarcerate the Garden State" writes that a Times' editorial misstated its position on what to tell youngsters about their rights in dealing with police officers.

By Bob Witanek

I appreciate the continued interest of the South Jersey Times and nj.com in the letter in which my organization urged state Commissioner of Education David Hespe to add "Personal Rights Awareness" to the curriculum in New Jersey schools. I also appreciate the link to the letter, press release and related commentary from our blog where I published my letter to Hespe.  

However, the July 10 editorial "Don't poison cops for N.J, third graders" is a distortion of our position. Here is part of the text of my letter to Hespe:

"... given the role that the public schools you preside over are referring student matters to the police, it behooves this same statewide school system to equip the students with knowledge of their rights when they are forced into encounters with police -- in this case -- by the public schools.

"Students need to be advised of their right to ask for their parents and an attorney and their right to remain silent. Also, districts need to send letters to parents explaining what their varying police policies are and that parents have an interest in informing and educating their children as to what their rights are."

Nothing about telling students to "clam up" during interactions with police. No contradiction to what the editors culled from the American Civil Liberties Union's advice about police stops.

The editors have made a straw-man argument here -- putting words in my mouth that were not in my letter.

The editorial actually ends up agreeing with me that the students should not be interviewed by police without their parents, as may have happened in some recent Collingswood cases.

My letter to Hespe did not spell out exactly WHAT a the Personal Rights Awareness curriculum would consist of. It only called for the creation of same. Defense attorneys and civil liberties experts, as well as professional educators, would devise the course work. It could include scenarios and classroom discussion about various hypothetical situations.There would be room to explore the nuances of "the right to remain silent" versus collective safety in an emergency situation, for example. 

The Times could have made the same point without implying that we are saying anything that we, in fact, are not at all saying. The editorial could have made recommendations about what should be in such a course. Actually, the editorial did end up on that note. But the way it couched it comes across as in opposition to our position, falsely implying that we are saying that students should never talk to cops.

This was a poorly written editorial that probably harms the effort to increase youth rights awareness that, these days, could be the only thing standing between them living a happy life and ending up incarcerated for a substantial part of that life.

In a tweet, Ari Rosmarin of ACLU-NJ has called the editorial "misguided" and has stated that he agrees with Decarcerate the Garden State that it is never too early to know one's rights when dealing with police.

Instead of falsely representing advocates looking out for families and the rights of youth, perhaps the Times should press Commissioner Hespe to answer the demand to add rights awareness to the curriculum. There has been no reporting of his view, to my knowledge.  

Those interested in organizing one of our workshops for youth and families can call or text Decarcerate the Garden State at 908-881-5275.

Bob Witanek is co-founder of the group Decarcerate the Garden State. He writes from Belle Mead, Somerset County.

Cheryl A. Satoris was convicted of setting a fire that burned a condominium in 2011.

An appellate panel has tossed out the sentence of a Gloucester County woman convicted of arson in 2013 and ordered a new trial.

The appeals court found that the conviction of Washington Township resident Cheryl A. Satoris, 55, was based on unreliable evidence that an accelerant was used to start the fire.

Satoris was convicted of third-degree arson for allegedly setting her condominium building on fire Jan. 6, 2011. The building, which contained eight units, suffered major damage. No one was injured in the blaze.

Judge Walter L. Marshall Jr. sentenced Satoris to a five-year probationary term and ordered her to pay more than $48,000 in restitution. The probationary term was based on her having served 981 days in jail while awaiting her trial.

A neighbor testified that on the day prior to the fire, Satoris asked him if he was part of the conspiracy among "the Commissioner, Illuminati and other people to kill her." She also asked him if he had renter's insurance and asked, "Do you know these units are going to burn down?," the neighbor testified.

While prosecutors argued that an accelerant was used to set the blaze, the defense contended that Satoris had lit several candles before going to bed and woke to find her apartment on fire.

In filing the appeal, the defense argued that the trial court should not have allowed unreliable scientific evidence regarding the question of whether an accelerant was used.

Appellate judges agreed on this point. Over the defendant's objection, the court allowed testimony that an accelerant detecting K-9 had provided "positive alerts" for an accelerant after sniffing several items removed from Satoris' apartment.

Prosecutor 'abused discretion' in shoplifter's case

Only one of those positives was confirmed through laboratory analysis, according to court documents. The testimony about the uncorroborated K-9 alerts should not have been admitted as evidence, the appellate judges found, and was an inadequate basis for expert testimony provided by an investigator with the Washington Township Fire Department.

The expert's reliance on uncorroborated K-9 alerts violated national fire investigation standards for determining cause and origin of fires, the appeals court wrote.

The problem was exacerbated by the investigator's reference to "hearsay statements" that uncorroborated K-9 alerts are more accurate than lab testing.

"The testimony was the only direct proof of an accelerant being used to start the fire," the appellate judges wrote. "Under those circumstance, we cannot conclude the error was harmless."

A brief filed by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office in response to the appeal argued that both the prosecution and defense witnesses offered similar testimony about a dog's ability to detect accelerants.

In addition to the evidence issue, the state conceded that Satoris' sentence was illegal, according to the appellate ruling, resulting in the court vacating the sentence. The problem there had to do with the conditions set for the probationary term.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

These days, the county aims to preserve an average of 1,000 acres a year, officials said.

What began with a 164-acre farm in 1989 has grown into a massive farmland preservation effort that has protected about 17,500 acres in Gloucester County from development.

After 27 years, the county's farmland preservation program is still going strong, preserving an average of 1,000 acres a year, officials said.

The first farm preserved in the county in 1989 was the Joe DiBella property in Woolwich Township.

Since then, more than 250 large- and small-scale farmers have joined the program, in which the state and county buy development rights for the land.

Under the program, the land owner continues to use the land for farming and cannot sell it for a future housing development, shopping center or other non-farming use. Owners can sell the land with the development restriction in place to another farmer.

About 35 percent of the county's active farmland is now preserved, said Ken Atkinson, director of the county Office of Land Preservation. 

"Agriculture is still a major industry in Gloucester County," he said.

While the economic downturn in recent years has slowed construction of housing developments and other projects, Atkinson is seeing signs of a resurgence as well as an ongoing interest in preserving farmland.

"Even though development pressures might not be a high as they were five or six years ago, we have noticed an uptick in terms of development," he said

Under the program, the county negotiates a per-acre price for the development rights to each property. The average per-acre price paid in Gloucester County can run anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000, said Atkinson. Each property is different and the price depends on many characteristics, including the amount of tillable land, access to other properties and development potential of the land. 

All acquisitions are conducted in accordance with New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee guidelines, Atkinson said.

Which counties have the most preserved farmland

The state generally pays about 60 percent of the total, with the county picking up the remainder. The county's contribution is funded by a 4-cent farmland preservation tax.

Since 1989, the county has spent $84 million on preservation and has been reimbursed $36 million by the state, according to 2014 figures. The state currently owes the county about $7 million in reimbursements, Atkinson said.

The county's preservation efforts show no signs of slowing down with 15 to 20 applications in some stage of the process, he said.

This year alone, more than 800 acres of farmland have already been preserved, said Freeholder Frank DiMarco. 

Gloucester County leads in New Jersey as the county that is first to use its allotment of state preservation funds, officials noted. After state funds are used up, the county continues preserving and seeks reimbursement of the state share in the next funding round.

This aggressive approach is important to the long-term future of the county, officials said.

"We're gonna grab as much as we can," DiMarco said, pointing out that once farmland is sold to a developer this green space is gone for good. "In my lifetime, I've never seen a development become a farm," he added.

Between farmland preservation and the open space preservation program, the county has preserved more than 20,000 acres.

When selecting properties, the county considers the land's proximity to other preserved lands.

"We're trying to build greenways," DiMarco said. "The program keeps the county green and gives us fresh fruits and vegetables."

While massive farms with hundreds of acres were the traditional targets of preservation efforts, smaller farm operators are also involved. With the growth of agritourism, wineries and farms focusing on specialty crops, these smaller operators have taken an interest in selling development rights, too, Atkinson said.

"Farming is just evolving in a different way," Atkinson said. "The interest in preserving the farmland is still as strong as it ever was. We're evolving with the farming industry itself."

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The pizzeria is set to open within a month and bring the flavors of Italy to the table.

PITMAN -- When Vito Mannino decided to expand his presence in Pitman with a new pizza shop, he didn't have to look more than a block from his Mannio's Cucina Italiana restaurant on South Broadway.

"Pitman is a little destination town," said Mannino. "When we saw the chance to open the pizzeria down the street from the restaurant, we took it and I think it was a great decision."

Pizzeria Mannino's is slated to open within the next month. Mannino and his team are busy with the final stages of turning the former Merritts Flowers into Pitman's latest dining destination.

The pizza shop, at the corner of South Broadway and Laurel Ave, will look familiar with a 100-year-old front door and the siding that been on the building for close to a century.For Mannino, keeping Pitman's history intact with the new location a big selling point for the shop.

"It's a location so many people recognize and have ties to," said Mannino. "We wanted to keep that memory alive by keeping the building as little renovated as possible."

The oven is a hot topic

The centerpiece of the pizzeria is the artisan brick oven imported from Naples, Italy. The oven is typically set between 800-900 degrees and cooks pizza in roughly 90 seconds. 

"This is a completely new concept in this area," said Mannino. "But this is what you get in Italy."

The 5,000-pound, self-insulating oven is made from materials originating from Mount Vesuvio in Italy.

"Many people think that an oven at such a high temperature will make it much hotter in here, but that is simply not true," said Mannino. "It contains its heat so you can even touch the fully heated oven and you're completely safe."

The oven can cook more than 10 pizzas at once.

"That's only if you can prepare them quick enough to beat the 90 second cook time though," Mannino said. 

American Pizza? Forget about it

Part of the magic of the quick cooking oven comes from the pizza dough itself, Maninno said. 

The dough is aged 72 hours to create a high hydration in the dough. 

"This is absolutely not American pizza, the dough alone proves that," said Mannino. "American Pizza is filling, heavy, and loaded with toppings. This pizza, this will be light, crispy, well-done and not heavy. And there's very little gluten in it, it's okay for gluten-free people."

This aging process is the trick with Mannino's pizza.

"You can't rush perfection," he said. "This isn't mass produced and we need to protect that integrity. So if one day we make 130 pizzas worth of dough, that's all we'll have for three days later. We'll close it down and everyone will have to come back another day."

Everything on a Mannino's pizza will made in-house or imported from Italy, Mannino said. 

"Our sausage is sausage in-house, our mozzarella is made right here but the pepperoni, we get that shipping in from Italy," he said.

"We don't even have a freezer on the premises," Mannino said. "We have the oven and a refrigerator and that's it as far as appliances." 

Friendly seating

The seating area at the pizzeria will feature community dining, Mannino said.

"In Italy community tables are a big thing," he said. "I wanted to bring that here. You can come in here to get some pizza or a sandwich and sit at a table with a dozen strangers."

"You sit down strangers, but leave as family and friends," he added. "Since Pitman is such a small, close town, it'd be a great way for everyone to get to know everyone."

If community dining isn't quite your thing, Mannino's will also offer bar seating, a small dining room, and patio seating outside. Patrons will also have the option to take out their food. Delivery, however, is not an option.  

"Think of how hot this pizza is," said Mannino. "You have 10 minutes to deliver that before it's ruined. If a driver gets lost, the pizza is worthless."

After living in Pitman for 11 years and having worked with many residents at his restaurant, Mannino said he looks forward to seeing familiar faces at the opening.

"I hope all of my friends and family and their families can come out and give this my pizza a shot," said Mannino. "This is the new millennial pizza and it's going to be big."

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A pioneer in the studio-glass movement, Stankard interprets native flowers in small scale glass sculptures

Paul Stankard, a Mantua resident with an international platform for his peerless glass objects, has added a new bouquet to his vast awards collection.

Respected worldwide for his  work, Stankard was honored recently with the Muskingum University President's Medal. Stankard, who holds an honorary Muskingum Doctor of Fine Arts degree, was honored "in recognition of exemplary actions on behalf of others, and distinguishing himself through his career as an inspirational bridge  between past triumphs and future dreams."

"We are extraordinarily proud to honor Paul with the medal," said Anne C. Steele, Muskingum president and an attendee of the ceremony in Stankard's studio along with his past co-workers. "Paul is known worldwide for his exquisitely botanical works.. Today, his works reside in the permanent collections of more than 70 prominent museums throughout the world."

"I am truly humbled by this honor," Stankard said. "I attribute much of my career growth to the knowledge I have gained from scholars in the academic world.

"In recognition of this award, I have created a special orb, 'Celebration in Glass: VIsiting Walt Whitman's Garden on May 25,'.honoring Walt Whitman, a poet who has inspired my work throughout the years."

A pioneer in the studio-glass movement, Stankard interprets native flowers in small scale glass sculptures. His work explores and interprets color, texture and delicacy while celebrating the plant kingdom.

Stankard is artist-in-residence and lecturer at Salem Community College, where he inspires students to search for their creative spirits.

Stankard was selected to create the official United States gift to the People's Republic of China when diplomatic relations were established in 1979.

He also was recognized recently as "Master of the Medium" by the James Renwick Alliance at the Smithsonian Institute and was awarded the Glass Art Society's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Stankard delivered the commencement address at Muskingum in 2007 and received rave reviews and a standing ovation.

Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Four of five recommend Trident for their patients who chew gum, but the percentage of patients who get eye protection in the chair is sadly much lower.

Dentists warn that failing to visit them regularly leaves patients at risk for serious diseases that extend far beyond the mouth. For example, gum disease is known to have a relationship to heart disease.

So, imagine our surprise upon reading that having your choppers worked on can cause permanent, but preventable, damage -- to your eyes.

Credit Jenn Morrone of Collingswood for sharing a scary incident that cost her her right eye. As told by CBS3 health reporter Stephanie Stahl in a recent newscast, here's what happened to Morrone:

After she received a novocaine injection at her dentist, the needle was fumbled and dropped into her right eye. The next morning, it was red and swollen.

It was actually the mouth bacteria on the needle, not the syringe contents, that caused her problem, eye specialists told Morrone later. Unfortunately, despite antibiotic treatments and surgery, her right eye could not be saved, and was replaced with a glass eye.

Morrone was subjected to a rare, freak accicent. But mouth bacteria can land in your eye from normal drilling or routine teeth-cleaning. The Collingswood mom wants to raise awareness about this issue precisely because of how simply and inexpensively it can be avoided.

"This was 100 percent preventable, what happened to me," she told the TV station. "If eye protection was worn, we wouldn't be here and I would still have my vision, and my life would be a lot different."

She was talking about plastic glasses, which were not offered when she got into the chair. Ironically, dentists and hygienists often wear eye protection because that gunk from someone else's mouth flies everywhere. 

There must be a perception in the trade that your own bacteria can't hurt you. What other reason could dentists have not to insist upon eye protection for patients?

Eye protection for all dental procedures is recommended by both the federal Centers for Disease Control and the American Dental Association. Yet, surveys show a distressingly low compliance rate. A study cited in the CBS3 piece found that 54 percent of dentists surveyed had their patients wear eye protection "sometimes;" 20 percent said they insisted on it "never;" and only 6 percent required it "most of the time."

This vision-saving step seems to be where automotive seat-belt use was in the 1960s: optional, and you were derided as a safety freak if you buckled up.

Patient eyewear must be mandatory or a best-practices protocol, something with  -- um, more teeth -- than a mere recommendation. Glasses can be uncomfortable, but if patients want to opt out, they should be strongly advised of their risk.

Don't wait for the regulation police. At your next dental appointment, insist on  glasses, even if the dentist doesn't offer them.

And, thanks to Ms. Morrone for reminding us how important this issue is after own life-altering experience.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Dominick Ruggiero Jr. responds to claims of racism in "The Star Spangled Banner."

To the Editor:

In response to Milton Hinton's July 10 column, "End national anthem status for Star Spangled bias," which alleges that racism can be found in a verse of the "Star Spangled Banner":

Does Hinton really think this is the time to add fuel to a fire that is starting to engulf the country? All he ever does is find fault with everything done in America. If this country is so bad and Hinton is so unhappy with it, why doesn't he move to another country?

How come Hinton doesn't extol the good things like the former presidential candidacy of Dr. Ben Carson, and so many other African Americans who have contributed heavily to our country? One example would be the World War II pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen, an admirable group of men.

Why does Hinton forget about the many Caucasians who helped free slaves in the Underground Railroad? Llke some of the rhetoric from Washington, Hinton's words can further inflame a very sad and serious situation in our country. 

Hinton and other leaders in the African American community need to quell the rumblings of revolution, and lead the way to law, order and reasonable protest. Sure, there are injustices in this world, but we are human and this is a frailty of the human psyche.

Those who are looked up to as leaders must put personal belief aside and act responsibly for the benefit of the majority.

Violence is not the answer to effect change. It is the rule of law that should prevail. Maybe it all starts in Washington, or maybe it starts with responsible African American leaders like Dr. Carson.

Dominick A. Ruggiero Jr.

Sewell

Follow God after horrible shootings

To the Editor:

The past week was one of the most sad and unsettling weeks I can remember. After two black men were reportedly killed unjustly by police, a black man assassinated five law enforcement officers and wounded many more.  

All of these events are horrible beyond comprehension, but we are slipping into madness and insanity when our police are shot down like rabid dogs while they are protecting the very protesters who are cursing and abusing them.  

The Black Lives Matter movement has spawned vigilante killers who think it is justice to kill those we hire to protect us. If this is the new norm, then America is over. Evil wins, goodness hunkers in the corner until it, too, will be eradicated.  

When you give up the higher ground, all that's left is the lower ground. When you eliminate the higher ground, there is no place for us to run except into each other.

Individually, souls still reach out to God. Collectively, we have allowed the godless social architects of our day to push against and discourage the only hope we have of reaching common humble ground.  

We now see how wrongheaded it is to turn our back on God, who has blessed America, and is the historical anchor of our nation's soul. 

When we cede the higher ground to the ghost of political correctness, we open the door to the devious acts of our lower nature. At that point, evil is afoot and our nation is in jeopardy. 

I'm not trying to be cryptic. I'm only commenting on what seems to be obvious. When the brave who protect and serve are threatened, all of us are in peril.  

If we don't look up, we'd better look out.  

Ken Frank

Pitman

N.J. wins with deal on open-space funds

To the Editor:

After growing pressure from voters throughout New Jersey, legislation to allocate state open space funds was passed and signed just before the Fourth of July weekend. This law ensures consistent and reliable funding for open space, farmland and historic preservation for the next three years.

In November 2014, about 65 percent of voters agreed to constitutionally dedicate money to these preservation projects. Since then, several legislators have been hard at work creating a strong bi-partisan bill that reflects the will of their constituents. The approved legislation is the culmination of countless hours dedicated to the peoples' mandate of protecting open space. 

Because of the leadership of our conservation champions, countless projects can be completed and families across the Garden State will benefit for generations to come. 

The Nature Conservancy's New Jersey Chapter can speak directly to the importance of the consistent funding for various preservation projects in our priority acquisition areas. We are thrilled this legislation has finally become law. 

Specifically, we wish to thank state Senate President Stephen Sweeney for his consistent support of open space and farmland preservation, and for posting this legislation for a Senate vote -- thereby upholding the will of the overwhelming majority of New Jersey's voters on this critical issue.

 Barbara Brummer

State Director

New Jersey Chapter

The Nature Conservancy

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Investigators found 54 marijuana plants and a large supply of harvested pot in a Monroe Township home, police said.

MONROE TWP. -- Police have charged three family members and a family friend with running a pot-growing operation out of a township home.

Monroe Police received a tip that a house in the 2700 block of Fries Mill Road was being used to grow marijuana. After detecting the odor of raw marijuana, police investigated further and obtained warrants to search the property.

A search of the home and multiple vehicles turned up 54 marijuana plants, a "large quantity" of harvested marijuana, fluorescent lighting, water pumps, fertilizer, air filters and many other items used to grow pot, police said.

Officers also seized more than $700 in cash as part of the investigation.

Man allegedly stole $75K from his grandmother

Robert W. Rudley, 48, of Woodland Drive, Williamstown, is accused of leading the operation, while his mother, Yvonne Rudley, 69, of Williamstown, and aunt, Barbara J. Stevens, 63, of Sicklerville were also charged, along with family friend Janice M. Kessler, 53, of Sicklerville.

Robert Rudley was charged with the most serious offenses, including distribution/manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, being leader of a narcotics network and maintaining a CDS production facility.

He was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility on $75,000 full cash bail.

Yvonne Rudley, Stevens and Kessler were charged with distribution/manufacture of marijuana and possession of marijuana over 50 grams. Kessler was also charged with obstruction.

Rudley and Stevens were placed in Salem County jail on $25,000 bail each. Kessler posted $25,000 bail and was released.

While police said no one appeared to be living in the Fries Mill Road home, they think Robert Rudley was sleeping there recently because of a mattress found in the kitchen.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.