By Lois Staas

NEWS Correspondent

Superintendent Annette Castiglione said June was a busy and exciting month with lots of activity during last week\’s Bellmawr Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

\”The eighth grade dance was an unbelievable success, and the retirement dinner was fun but very touching,\” she said.

\”Annunciation Regional School Principal Kathleen Fields joined our classrooms for a demonstration of the Smart Board. Bellmawr Librarian Peg Feld visited our schools with a series of activities.

\”Our Fourth Grade Student and Parent Orientation was a great success. Study Island has been extended to grades 2, 3, and 4 as well as age appropriate agenda books,\” she said.

\”We would like them to become familiar with them at an early age, and we are planning on using the agendas to implement our new nutrition program in the fall,\” she said.

\”We are waiting for the report from our Needs Assessment that was conducted by ERIC. Our state test scores are back, and I believe we may meet AYP. In September we will present an analysis of the data.

\”Our Summer Camp and Enrichment Program has begun. The Language Arts section is very active.\”

Mrs. Castilione reminded everyone that school business hours during the summer are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Parents are invited during these hours while \”We are working on housekeeping and new ideas,\” she said.

BOE Member Frank Filipek Jr. thanked the superintendent and Bell Oaks Principal Anthony Farinelli for all of their help during his first year as a board member.

\”It was touching and moving at the eighth grade graduation. I was proud to be a part of all the action.\”

Speaking as chair, Member Betty Shepard said, \”The negotiations committee continues to meet.\”

Member Jamie Casey said the next meeting of Emergency Management was to be July 3.

BOE Member Jody Mangus was pleased that the librarian\’s school visit was extended four days.

She encouraged all students to become involved with Study Island and summer reading, and added that the next school policy review is scheduled for July 10.

Congratulations and best wishes were extended to Bruce B. Finkle, who will be leaving the Bellmawr School District to become business administrator at Gateway. Mangus noted Finkle\’s service and dedication.

During the public portion of the meeting, one parent was present to ask about the four additional days during spring break.

Castiglione said, \”The ac-ademic success of the students was a primary concern. The full week vacation would follow state testing, and give the students a much needed break and a solid fourth marking period. This places Bellmawr in line with the receiving high school, the surrounding public elementary schools, and Annunciation Regional School.\”

In regular business the board approved the repair of the Park School boiler.

Monarch Boiler Construction Company was approved to fix the crack for $4,900.

Due to a crumbling concrete walkway and curbing and leaning wall at Bell Oaks, the board selected Think Pavers to do the work for $23,784.75.

The board approved the following voluntary transfers: Katrina Krapf from Grade 7 to Grade 8 Social Studies; Michael Mazzuca from Special Education to Grade 7, Social Studies, Susan Fisher from MD program to Kindergarten Aide4 at the E. M. Burke School.

Jan Degenais was given a warm welcome as the new Living Skills teacher. Degenais had previously filled in for another teacher who was on leave.

 

by D. Paul Harris
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Having a short, pug face can be dangerous in the summer heat–for dogs, that is.

Breeds with pug faces such as Boston terriers, Shih Tzus or Pekingeses, which have a harder time breathing anyway, are more susceptible to the heat, says Dr. Karen Van Anrooy, a veterinarian at the Edwardsville Pet Hospital, in Edwardsville, Pa.

\”Don\’t take them outside, because they won\’t last too long,\” Van Anrooy said. \”Keep that breed in a cool area, because they will develop heatstroke very easily.\”

In hot weather, life outdoors for pets and plants can be unbearable, even fatal, without the proper care. Chip Sindel, co-owner of Sunset Plantland in Sunset Hills, Pa., said the best treatment for most vegetation in the heat is watering.

Sindel said lawns need to be watered two to three times a week, with a good soaking. He said plants should be watered once or twice a week, and new plants at least twice a week.

To help plants survive the heat and humidity, Sindel said, most shrubbery and flowers need to be fertilized every week or two.

When it comes to pets, Van Anrooy said, owners should remember to make sure dogs have plenty of fresh water and are allowed to lie in the shade in an area where a breeze can help them stay cool.

Long-haired dogs such as German shepherds, chows, Afghans, Akitas and collies will be fine as long as they are not exposed to the heat for long periods of time, she said.

\”Usually cats adapt pretty well to the heat and humidity. They will usually find a shady spot under a tree, porch or deck,\” she said. She said other animals such as horses overheat as well, and owners should be cautious during the heat wave.

Signs that a pet may be overheated include heavy panting, drooling, rapid breathing, muscle tremors or seizures. Van Anrooy recommends that at the first sign of such symptoms an owner spray the animal with water or immerse it in a tub of water until its temperature reaches 103 degrees.

Also, Van Anrooy added, no animal should be left in a car under any circumstances. \”Even if the window is down, in a car they can still overheat\” in hot weather, she said.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

The South Jersey Bass Club Association is a non-profit organization serving twenty-five bass fishing clubs in the area encompassing southern and central New Jersey. The SJBCA works to prevent tournament scheduling conflicts, specifically to ensure multiple tournaments are not held on the same body of water simultaneously. Moreover, the SJBCA promotes the sport of bass fishing and serves as the voice of South Jersey’s bass fishermen to the government. Money raised by the association is used to support various community activities and fishing events.

The SJBCA assists the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife with lake improvement projects when help is needed. Most recently, the SJBCA has helped prepare Lake Audrey in Cumberland County for fish stocking.

The organization is very focused on fishing activities that involve children. August calls for the South Jersey Youth Outdoor Day which the SJBCA co-hosts at Carney’s Point in Salem County. This free fishing- and shooting-sports event attracts 150 kids and their parents. It allows young people to experience outdoor activities without having any expertise, equipment, or supplies.

The SJBCA holds eight regular member meetings annually, and a special pre-Bass Bowl meeting in October. Meetings generally take place in a clubhouse near Parvin State Park. All meetings provide members with refreshments and the July meeting offers members a lakeside barbeque at Parvin State Park.

All clubs who fish in the southern or central New Jersey area who believe they could benefit from membership in the SJBCA are invited to join. Member clubs pay dues of only $20 per year. \”Associate\” memberships, which only require attendance at one meeting per year, are available for clubs who may have difficulty attending the meetings. To join, contact the SJBCA for an invitation to a meeting.contact info

Today, this is the Envoy Motel, Rt. 130, across from the King of Pizza………….

Here, where the air is loaded with iodine and where the ultra-violet ray is ever-present in our smiling sunshine, your health and happiness is our business.\” Sun Fun in New Jersey (1946 publication of the New Jersey Resort Association)

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