3 out of 4 adolescents who were sexually assaulted were victimized by a close family friend or relative.

 

This week Your Legal Corner discusses the importance of reporting child sexual abuse. 

Many enjoy viewing football on Super Bowl Sunday, where we celebrate and watch, as the champion of yet another football season is determined.  Yet, there are others who enjoy a different type of "Super Bowl", the Super Bowl of films also known as the Academy Awards. Here, who will receive the prestigious Oscar for best picture and a host of other awards is decided by the Academy of Motion Pictures.  

While movies certainly have the ability to entertain, they can also educate us with regard to significant events and social issues.  This year, the film I found most compelling was entitled "Spotlight".  "Spotlight" has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards. The film shines a light on the troubling incidence of child sexual abuse. 

Child Sex Abuse Statistics

According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.  Surprisingly, 3 out of 4 adolescents who were sexually assaulted were victimized by a close family friend or relative according to a National Institute of Justice report.

Importantly, these statistics are just estimates because so many victims of child sex abuse do not disclose or report their abuse.  A 2007 study cited by the Child Assessment Center reported that 73% do not tell anyone of their abuse for at least a year; 45% takes at least 5 years while some do not disclose at all.

Reporting Child Sex Abuse

In New Jersey, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected must report this information immediately.  While some states limit who is required to report child sex abuse or child abuse in general, New Jersey law provides that anyone can report child abuse.  

Reports of child abuse should be reported to the State Central Registry.  This registry is open 24 hours 7 days a week and can be reached at 1-877-NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873.)  State officials will work with law enforcement to ensure an investigation is conducted and criminal charges signed where appropriate.

Whenever possible, reports should include the names and address of the child as well as the parent or person having custody of the child.  The report should also include the child's age, extent of abuse and any other information that is helpful in identifying the perpetrator.

Notably, any person making a report shall have civil and criminal immunity from any liability that otherwise may be imposed.  Conversely, any person with reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed who knowingly fails to report can be charged with a disorderly persons offense.

Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Typically, child predators prey upon children who are vulnerable and may not have the ability to report themselves due to personal or family problems.  Some warning signs of younger children can include nightmares, inattention, change in eating habits, bedwetting, sudden mood swings or development of new or unusual fear of certain people or places. 

Warning signs for older children may include self-injury, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, compulsive eating, running away from home, depression or suicide attempts. While any one of these factors may not mean anything, several factors should trigger further inquiry with the child. 

As we spotlight the Super Bowl of Films during this time of year, let us also be mindful of the duty to report the sexual abuse of a child.

Till next time, God bless, keep smiling, when Your Legal Corner will discuss  "Working with the lawyer to achieve your best result." Victoria M. Dalton is a dedicated Family/Elder Law Attorney with the Law Offices of Hoffman DiMuzio. Email correspondence to vdalton@hoffmandimuzio.com or call 856-845-8243.

            Please note that Your Legal Corner was created to provide educational material about the law and is not legal advice.

The column that reminds everyone to vote on which high school musical you want us to cover.

The column that reminds everyone to vote on which high school musical you want us to cover.

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Good morning!

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Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

"A New Life for Eagle Manor, Thursday, March 3, 10 a.m., David Sheppard House, 31 West Commerce St., Bridgeton.

"The Cohansey Area Watershed Association will host Charles Tichenor, the new owner of Eagle Manor, as he shares his plans for turning the property into an ideal location for vacations, reunions, weddings, meetings, and retreats. This historic property, built as Brick House Farm on the Cohansey River in 1786, is in on the shore of one of the most beautiful sections of the Cohansey River. The program is free and open to the public."

- Caroline Owens

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Good New Assembly of God in Upper Deerfield Township is having an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26, at 10 a.m.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 856-319-4335 or visit the church's Facebook page.

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Don't forget we are accepting submissions for the BEN Column's "My Kind of Town" tagline. Feel free to send submissions in to ben@njadvancemedia.com.

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The BEN before me, Jack Hummel, is back writing again.

Find his stuff at jackhummelblog.wordpress.com.

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Last week I talked about how tough it was for me to quit smoking. Friend of the column Jack Horner shared his story with me of how he started smoking at 12 years old when his brand was Lucky Strike. He changed his brand to Camels at 14 and kept with them until he was 28. Reach for the sweets instead of the cigarettes, he says, and pray to God for help. He'll be celebrating his 97th birthday in April.

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"To BEN Column,

"Just wanted to say something about smoking commercials on T.V. that really do not work.

"Tried a few myself from magazines ads. I know it's tough to quit but if you get the right help you will never crave a cigarette again. But you have to ask and that is the reason I say have you tried God? It worked for me. Never touched a cigarette again.

"For, if there is no God, the Bible is the greatest fairy tale ever written."

- Jack Horner

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"Just a note: My writing partner Nelson Trout and I dedicated our book, 'The Bloody Third,' to the wonderful Millville matriarch, Joyce Vanaman. Here is the dedication:

"This book is dedicated to veteran community journalist Joyce Vanaman, who covered the city of Millville for The Press of Atlantic City for 40 years. If it happened in Millville, you can be sure Joyce covered it. She is not only a well-respected, compassionate and ethical journalist, but was a mentor to many young reporters (including myself, Eileen Bennett), and has volunteered thousands of hours to various causes in her beloved adopted city. She is an institution unto herself. 
This book also is dedicated to all the long-time Third Ward residents, past and present. Their generosity in sharing their stories, memories and photos was truly amazing."

- Eileen Bennett

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MY KIND OF TOWN: Where there is always HOPE! (Jerry Young, president Tri City H.O.P.E.)

The event honoring Lee Ware helped to raise scholarship money for Salem County Vocational-Technical School District students.

PITTSGROVE TWP. -- As Lee Ware put it, he took one for the team.

Ware was honored Friday night at the Salem County vo-tech's Educational Foundation Leadership Recognition and Scholarship Dinner.

It was an evening filled with anecdotes delivered by some of those who have been closest to Ware over his years as Woodstown High School baseball coach and teacher, county freeholder, farmer and family man.

All of the ribbing was good-natured. And it was for a good cause -- student scholarships. 

"A Salem County icon." That's how Prosecutor John T. Lenahan described Ware. Lenahan, a longtime friend, pitched for Ware in his beginning days at Woodstown's baseball coach.

Dan Keller, assistant baseball coach at Woodstown High School, shared a list of amusing stories about his years working with Ware.

Dave Bailey Jr., current CEO of Ranch Hope in Alloway, recalled his days as a player with Ware as coach. 

Salem County Sheriff Chuck Miller, also one of Ware's longtime friends, offered his own stories about Ware -- all with a comic twist. 

He wasn't scheduled to speak, but veteran Phillies announcer Dan Baker was among the guests on hand and took to the stage to reminisce and praise Ware.

His political colleagues from the freeholder board offered their congratulations as did representatives from the Third Legislative District and Second Congressional District.

Master of ceremonies Joe Delmar, vo-tech superintendent Jack Swain and Salem Community College President Mike Gorman also added their own stories about Ware. 

Ware, who taught math at Woodstown High School for 38 years, is in his 42^nd year of coaching the Woodies baseball team. In addition, he has served as a county freeholder since 2000 and continues the family tradition of farming in Elsinboro Township. 

Friday's event marked the 15^th year the Salem County Vocational-Technical School District has held the scholarship dinner. 

Proceeds from the event -- several thousands of dollars were expected to be raised -- will go toward student scholarships through the vo-tech foundation. There will also be a scholarship named in honor of Ware.

As for Ware, he thanked his own family and his "extended families" for their support over the years.

More than 300 people turned out for the dinner at the Centerton Country Club.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Derek Howell will present the Coalition's program Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the Woodstown Moose Lodge.

WOODSTOWN -- The Faith and Freedom Coalition will host American law expert Derek Howell at its meeting this week.

Derek Howell will be the guest speaker at tuesday's meeting of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. (File Photo) 

The gathering will be held at the Woodstown Moose Lodge Tuesday at 7 p.m. 

Howell is a decorated former state trooper who worked undercover on both state and federal task forces (including international drug smuggling cases and terrorism investigations) who then went on to earn his law degree, practice law, and teach the U.S. Constitution, according to Coalition officials.  

Howell is a former chairman of the Republican Party for Harford County, Maryland.  He is on the faculty at Stevenson University, the Community College of Baltimore County and Faith Theological Seminary, where he has taught Constitutional law, the Biblical View of Law and Government and other law and criminal justice courses

"As a lawyer, I have been compelled to research the law," Howell says. "My research has led me to search the common law over and over. It is interesting that the more I study the common law, which is what our American system of law was founded upon, I find it is deeply rooted in Biblical law." 

Howell will present forgotten American history to show that America was founded as a Christian nation, Coalition officials say. 

The Woodstown Moose Lodge is located at 13 By Pass Road in Woodstown.

For more information, visit the group's website atwww.faithandfreedomnewjersey.org

Joe Hegarty writes that spending $12 million on athletic facilities is excessive in a bond proposal with no academic component.

The accident occurred Friday afternoon, forcing a second vehicle off the road, police say.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- Two Salem County residents were transported to the hospital after attempting to pass a school bus Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Carneys Point Police responded to a motor vehicle accident at 3:05 p.m. on South Pennsville-Auburn Road.

A vehicle attempted to pass a school bus, forcing an oncoming vehicle off the roadway and then striking an oncoming vehicle, police said.

ALSO: 300 Salem County students show off ingenuity at science fair (PHOTOS)

Both of the occupants in the passing vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital for pain.

The occupants of the vehicle forced off the roadway refused medical attention, according to authorities.

Police issued the passing vehicle traffic summonses. 

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

All votes cast for high school musicals won't count. New voting starts today and the deadline will be noon on March 4.

Last week, we tried to shine a spotlight on the hard work of high school students throughout South Jersey who take the stage -- or work behind it -- during spring musical season. 

We asked our readers to vote for which high school musical they wanted us to come photograph. The public school in each county with the most votes would win. A separate poll was created for non-public schools in South Jersey.

While we're excited to see how much interest and participation the polls have sparked, we're disappointed to see that not everyone's been honest. 

Numerous people have brought to our attention the possibility that a loophole in the system allowed votes to be cast too frequently. 

So, we're taking it from the top. All of the votes cast since the polls went up last Thursday are being scrapped and we're starting out fresh. 

This time, readers will only be permitted to vote once a day, per device. If we notice any suspicious votes, they will be discounted at our discretion. 

Voting will end at noon on March 4. Break a leg, everyone!

Atlantic County

Burlington County

Camden County

Cape May County

Cumberland County

Gloucester County

Salem County

Non-public schools

Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

A Salem County man is charged with burglary, theft, and robbery, police say.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- A Salem County man has been arrested after running out of a South Jersey tavern with a bag of money behind the bar, according to police.

Ernest Girtain Jr., 28
 

Ernest Girtain Jr., 28, of Carneys Point, was charged with theft, robbery, and burglary, after he walked behind the bar at Stubini's Tavern and snagged a bank bag full of an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said.

Girtain then fled on foot until he was located in the area of B Street by authorities.

The money was returned to the tavern and Girtain was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of $50,000 bail.

Girtain was also charged with criminal mischief for damaging his holding cell, police said.

Michael Van Culin, 32, of Monroeville, faces up to 10 years in state prison.

A South Jersey man pled guilty Monday to blackmailing a 16-year-old Canadian girl into stripping naked over a webcam while he recorded her, according to officials.

Michael Van Culin, 32, of Monroeville, in Salem County. (Submitted photo)Don E. Woods | For NJ.com 

Michael Van Culin, 32, of Monroeville, in Salem County, pled guilty to first-degree manufacturing child pornography.

In addition to blackmailing a 16-year-old to strip for him, Van Culin also allegedly attempted to blackmail girls in Arizona, Philadelphia, Maryland and Seattle, according to the attorney general's office.

Authorities arrested Van Culin on Feb. 10, 2014 after a joint investigation between the state Division of Criminal Justice and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. He was one of 28 people arrested in Operation Predator Alert.

"Van Culin is a ruthless predator who stalked vulnerable underage girls on the Internet, exploiting their insecurities so that he could sexually exploit them and use them to create child pornography," said Acting Attorney General Hoffman in a statement. "He's the type of online predator that every parent fears. Fortunately, we've ensured that he'll spend many years in prison, where he cannot pose a threat to children."

According to authorities, Van Culin befriended a 16-year-old Canadian girl online. During their conversations, he collected information from her that he used to hack into her email accounts with assistance from decryption software.

He threatened to expose information about the girl unless she stripped for him in front of a webcam, where he recorded it. Authorities found the video on his computer, which shows the visibly shaken girl disrobing in front of a mirror under his orders.

In total, Van Culin allegedly collected video footage of four girls -- three were between 14 and 16 years old. One was 17 years old. He would pretend to be a teenage boy and befriend the girls on social media and in chat rooms before blackmailing them. He allegedly attempted to blackmail a fifth girl but she did not comply with his demands.

Van Culin only admitted to blackmailing the 16-year-old Canadian girl, according to authorities.

He is scheduled for sentencing on May 27. He faces 10 years in state prison, of which he must serve eight-and-a-half years. Once released, he is required to register as a sex offender and be subject to parole supervision for life.

Police in Salem County stopped two for outstanding warrants on I-295.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- Two women were arrested in South Jersey Sunday on drug charges after a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 295, authorities said.

Emily Verdinelli, 19, of Pennsville, and Adam R. Silva, 19, of Wilmington, were stopped at 1:04 p.m. while traveling southbound on 295 for outstanding warrants.

Pennsville Police found both Verdinelli and Silva in possession of heroin, authorities said.

Verdinelli and Silva were charged with possession of heroin, possession of hypodermic syringes, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

2 injured when car tries to pass school bus, police say

After processing, Verdinelli and Silva were held at the Salem County Correctional Facility, in Mannington, in default of $2,500 bail.

A new bill directs the Motor Vehicle Commission to stop barring use of back-up cameras in driving tests. It's a good idea, with some limits.

Some elementary schools have stopped teaching handwriting (cursive), because -- well, because, who writes handwritten letters to friends anymore? Older students are often allowed to bring sophisticated calculators to mathematics tests because, well, why make them waste brain cells doing complicated calculations in their heads?

A New Jersey digital driver's license.File photo/NJ MVC 

Next to be driven to the growing trash heap by new and emerging technology are the tried-and-true methods to master parallel parking and determine when it's safe to back up a vehicle -- looking in the mirrors and out the rear windows.

Back-up camera systems on new vehicles end a lot of the blind-spot guesswork that comes with shifting a car or truck into reverse. "Invisible" obstacles like fallen trash cans or, scariest of all, a small child, can come into view clearly. Parking sensors provide more help to figure out where the curb is.

One problem: The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) doesn't recognize this equipment as a legitimate aid to acing your driver's license test.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, thinks that's wrong. He's sponsored a bill to reverse an MVC edict that requires the cameras and such to be disabled or covered during a road test.

Burzichelli and co-sponsor Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, have a point. Barring high-tech systems in tests is like the MVC telling drivers they have to tie one hand behind their backs. After all, safety is reduced when these driving systems are disabled.

Yet, in academic pursuits, a top engineer shows his or her expertise by demonstrating the ability to do more than push little rubber buttons. Aren't we all supposed to be driving "experts"?

The real-world issue here involves cars and their age. By federal law, rear-view cameras become standard on new vehicles for the 2018 model year. But the average age of U.S. vehicles on the road is 11.4 years. Most lack these safety features.

Say 18-year-old junior, who has learned to drive and took his test in Dad's up-to-date 2016 Volvo, then buys his own first car. It's likely to be a 2009 bargain-basement Dodge or something similar. What will Jr. do when there is no screen that pops up visual assists? Not run over his younger sister, we hope. He should learn without the cameras.

At some point, technology becomes "ubiquitous," to cite a phrase in the statement for Burzichelli's bill, which has cleared an Assembly committee. With these cameras and such, we're not there yet. 

As drafted, the law allowing the devices becomes effective immediately. Right now, the MVC should let adult drivers use the devices if taking the test in a car that they own. For youthful drivers in borrowed wheels, it would be best to stay with learning by eyeballing until the tech penetration reaches a truly ubiquitous 50 percent of the vehicle fleet.

A 24-year-old Salem County man faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A South Jersey man faces charges of child endangerment after sending "explicit" photos to a minor, authorities said.

Jaron Q. Sorrel, 24, of Pedricktown
 

Jaron Q. Sorrel, 24, of Pedricktown, was arrested Friday afternoon on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after police investigated complaints reported by a 13-year-old's mother.

Authorities interviewed the 13-year-old male after his mother came to the Pennsville Police station Thursday, Feb. 25, after finding pornographic photos from an unknown subject in his phone.

The cell phone was handed over to police, who then traced the photos back to a social media messenger app -- KiK -- and identified the man as 24-year-old Sorrel.

2 injured when car tries to pass school bus, police say

The teenager and Sorrel became friends about a year ago, according to police. Within that year, explicit photos were sent to the minor.

No sexual act contact has been reported at this time, authorities said.

Sorrel was processed and held at the Salem County Correctional Facility, in Mannington, in default of $50,000 bail.

Salem County Rewind looks back at the county's rich history with photographs and news tidbits from a century ago.

In this feature, which appears each week, a vintage photo of Salem County (along with a large number of other vintage Salem County photos in our accompanying gallery), and Salem County history tidbits.

SALEM COUNTY PICTURE FROM THE PAST

This vintage photo from Salem County shows the public school in Quinton around 1900. This picture postcard view was taken by Woodstown photographer E.W. Humphreys who captured many scenes of life around the turn of the century in Salem County and surrounding areas. We are not sure where this old school building was located in Quinton. The school used today is located on Robinson Street in Quinton. (Times file Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1916, these news items were included in the Salem Sunbeam. They appear throughout the week in print today in the South Jersey Times in our Salem County History feature.

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Tuesday night the Washington Hose Co. of Salem celebrated the 184^th anniversary of the birth of George Washington by giving an enjoyable banquet in the fire house on East Broadway. The Washington boys have given many banquets, but perhaps this one was the nicest of them all.

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Muskrat fur is selling for 32 and 42 cents each in Lower Alloways Creek, the latter price being for black pelts.

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Members of the Elmer Grange celebrated the 14^th anniversary of the Grange with appropriate exercises on Wednesday evening.

Richard Flitcraft has been filling his ice house in Woodstown. He started in mid February cutting four and a half inch blocks.

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Harry A. Dolbow has reopened his caviar factory on Railroad Avenue in Penns Grove.

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Because of a wrecked engine blocking the railroad Wednesday morning, the Philadelphia newspapers did not reach Salem until 10 a.m. that day.

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The Fenton Beach Ferry Co. will run one of their steamers between Pennsville and Wilmington if they can secure a landing in Pennsville.

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Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Carol Rhodes thinks state regulators will minimize or ignore any leaks.

To the Editor:

In Hudson County last week, state environmental regulators reported that an underground pipeline at a storage facility had leaked at least 3,000 gallons of fuel oil into a Bayonne park, before the leak was stopped. 

But the state Department of Environmental Protection decided that the spilled oil had caused no threat to the public or the environment. 

What a relief!

I'm sure if the recently approved South Jersey Gas Co. natural gas pipeline though the Pinelands leaks after it is built, our public officials will also say "no need to worry"  -- until our water looks like it came from Flint, Mich.

Carol Rhodes

Barnsboro

Peter Sena will take over as president of PSEG Nuclear later this month, officials said.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- A new chief has been named to oversee PSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island generating complex, company officials said.

Peter Sena has been named president of PSEG Nuclear, the company has announced. (PSEG Nuclear photo)  

Peter Sena, a veteran of the nuclear industry, will serve as president of PSEG Nuclear.

In his new role, Sena will be responsible for the operation of the company's three nuclear reactors -- Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek -- in Salem County.  The plants comprise the second-largest commercial nuclear generating complex in the U.S.

"We are very pleased to have Pete join PSEG as president of the nuclear business," said William Levis, president of PSEG's Power business. "His proven track record of creating sustainable excellence at multiple nuclear facilities over the years -- which was recognized by Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Excellence awards multiple times -- will be a tremendous asset to our business. "

Sena served as chief nuclear officer at First Energy Corporation culminating a 15-year career in a variety of leadership roles at First Energy nuclear operations. Most recently, he was senior vice president of operations, chief operating officer at NextEra, according to the announcement of his appointment by PSEG Nculear. 

Robert Braun, who had held the role of both president and chief nuclear officer, will remain as chief nuclear officer and will report to Sena, officials said.

In his early career, he was an engineering officer with the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion program for six years as well as serving as a resident inspector with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sena graduated from Penn State with a degree in fuel science and recently served as a Penn State Nuclear Engineering Advisory Board member. He currently serves on the Auburn University's Advisory Board. 

In addition, he has recently served on the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Advisory Committee and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Nuclear Strategic Issues Advisory Committee where he was the industry executive sponsor of the NEI post Fukishima flooding response initiative.

"His broad experience in the industry both as a representative on key task forces and as a leader at First Energy and NextEra makes him an ideal candidate for the role," said Levis of Sena.

Sena will begin his new job with PSEG Nuclear later this month and will report directly to Levis, the company said.

PSEG Nuclear's three reactors in Lower Alloways Creek Township produce about half of the electricity used in New Jersey.

The company has made application with the NRC for an Early Site Permit. The application for the permit was filed in 2010.

If that permit is granted, it would be the first step needed to allow the company to build another reactor at its Artificial Island site if it decides the time is right.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Noemi Pender of the Pender Tax Services in Rosenhayn admitted in federal court Tuesday to her role in filing bogus tax returns.

CAMDEN -- A Rosenhayn woman has admitted her role in a conspiracy to boost business at her tax preparation company by preparing bogus income tax returns for her clients, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Noemi Pender has admitted her role in preparing false tax returns, authorities say. (File Photo) 

Noemi Pender, 57, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to one count of an indictment charging her with conspiring to aid and assist others in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Pender was a tax preparer who operated Pender Tax Services on Elm Street in the Rosenhayn section of Deerfield Township.

For the tax years 2007 through 2011, Pender and Grace Garrett, 63, of Pittsgrove Township, sought to "increase referrals, enhance their business, and enrich themselves by preparing and filing income tax returns based on false information," officials said.

The pair used a number of fraudulent practices, including falsely claiming a filer was a "head of household," inventing and inflating deductions, creating fictitious dependents, and creating false credits for education and childcare, authorities said.

The government lost more than $340,000 because of the fraudulent returns, authorities said.

The conspiracy charge to which Pender pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential

penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 10.

Garrett pleaded guilty to her role on May 19. She will be sentenced on March 22, officials say.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Sixteen community photos from South Jersey

Flip through our digital scrapbook of community submitted photos. Have a photo you'd like to submit? Send it to towns@southjerseymedia.com. Please include a caption with names of those included.

Do you have an upcoming public event that you'd like included in our community calendar? Go to nj.com/myevent. 

It's better to buy a used car in the more congested parts of New Jersey, according to a study conducted by autolist.com.

Competition rules when it comes to getting the best price for a used car in New Jersey. That's what the results of a study by Autolist.com into the sale of used cars from November 2012 to September 2015 shows.

A look at average price paid by a buyer of a used car by county in New Jersey shows that congested North Jersey and Central Jersey offers the best prices, while the average price is higher in rural parts of the state.

The county with the lowest average price, according to Autolist, is Bergen, followed by Passiac, Morris, Somerset and Union. South Jersey counties Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May had the highest average prices for used cars.

This is the best time of year to buy a used car, said Alex Klein, vice president of Data Science at the firm, and this should remain through the end of April before prices begin to climb this summer.

How to stop your car from being stolen

"The wide range in prices is primarily caused by dealer density," Klein said. "At its core, our data aligns with basic economics: The more dealers in a given area, the more competition for buyers, and as a result, the lower the prices relative to a state and/or national average.

"The converse is true in areas with fewer dealers, as buyers have fewer options and as a result we see dealer prices being higher than the average."

The company collected over 3 billion data points on over 58 million vehicle identification numbers between November 2012 and September 2015, and broke that data down by zip codes, according to Klein. At any time, the site lists at least 4.5 million used cars for sale.

One of the most popular used cars in New Jersey is a 2012-2013 BMW 3 series with less than 25,000 miles. A check of any being sold in a 50-mile radius around Somerset County on Wednesday showed the best prices are in Bergen, Morris and Union counties (ranging from $23,700 to $23,990), while the highest price is in Gloucester County ($24,990). 

Car dealership sending workers' kids to N.J. college for free

San Francisco-based Autolist was launched in 2014 and aggregates car lists from almost all car sites, such as Autobytel and Edmunds, Klein said.

"You can think of us as the KAYAK for used cars," Klein said. "However, our biggest push starting this past year and going forward is buyer intelligence through big data.

"Because we have more cars than any other search platform, we have the most visibility into the dynamics and trends of the used car market."

Klein said the company's goal is to increase transparency in the used car market by using large amounts of data to reveal market dynamics, from the national to the local level.

The column that asks what Capt. Joseph Buck would think of his little town now?

The column that asks what Capt. Joseph Buck would think of his little town now?

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Good morning!

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Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

Millville was founded on Feb. 24, 1801 but it wasn't officially made a city until March 1, 1866.

With the Holly City celebrating its 150th year as a city, I thought it would be interesting to ask Millville residents what their favorite memory or story about Millville's history is.

Below are some of the answers I collected.

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"My favorite part of the (feel-good) history would be the amusement park and trolley/train at Union Lake. My favorite story would be several--but mostly about the working class families and how they struggled during the Great Depression...that's lessons that we can learn and remember."

-Heather Tucker

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"The flood of 1940, how the heroes of Millville saved the town. The stories of how they moved cemeteries to make room for expansion of the little town of Millville. It goes on and on! Great stuff."

- Terry Pangburn

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"Hiking back behind Millville Airport and collecting spent .50 cal bullets at the firing range from (fighter planes) that were part of the training base stationed there during WWII."

- Craig Becker

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"The Working Men's Institute run by Whitall Tatum Factory, later Armstrong Cork. They taught workers how to read, had a swimming pool and the first library. It is now the police building. What a wonderful example of town and factory working together. Of course no women allowed."

- Nancy Forester

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"Ice skating on Union Lake, and I mean the entire lake, back in the sixties. I can't remember what year, but we had a long cold spell and the lake's ice was very thick. We actually opened our jackets and let the wind blow us over the ice. Great times, even though we froze our (butts) off..."

- Eric Conova

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"Tales of sightings of the Jersey Devil on Cumberland Road in the early 50's. It was Jack Choko who wore a costume and would run across the road when a car would pass. He made the mistake of doing it to a passing trooper and was caught."

- Bonnie Hopman Reynolds

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"The Kenyon's 60-year service to the community."

- Sarah Johnson

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MY KIND OF TOWN: Where we all carry our region's history in our stories to each other.

Latest prices from Cedar Lane Feeds Auction for Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP. -- Prices at Cedar Lane Feeds Auction Tuesday were as follows:

Hay, per square bale: High, $8.75; low, $1.25.

Hay, per round bale: High, $72.50; low, $9.

Straw, per square bale: High, $4.25; low, $2.25.

Goats: High, $90; low, $87.50.

Sheep: High, $80; low, $ --- .

Calf: High, $60; low, $ --- .

Alpaca: High, $25; low, $ --- .

FFA cooks go Jersey Fresh

Chickens: High, $15.50; low, $1.

Ducks: High, $18; low, $15.

Rabbits: High, $7; low, $2.50.

Chicken Eggs - Brown: High, $3; low, $2.

Chicken Eggs - Green: High, $3.20; low, $2.60.

Duck Eggs: High, $5.75; low, $3.10. 

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.