WITH OVER 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WE'RE HRT EXPERTS.
Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for this condition. Perhaps worse is that more and more adults and children are gaining weight across the country, choosing the convenience of fast and nutrition-deficient foods over healthy eating, exercise, and positive life choices. From an aesthetic standpoint, being overweight is a struggle - clothes don't fit right, people make uncomfortable comments about how you look, and everyday activities are less appealing.
From a health and wellness standpoint, however, being obese is much worse. Your life is literally on the line. The people who love you and depend on you to be in their lives could lose you sooner than you expect. With time, you have a higher chance of suffering from significant, life-changing issues such as:
While obesity is a serious problem, a new medication on the market is giving hope to millions of men and women across the U.S. This game-changing treatment is called Semaglutide in Washington Township, NJ. This anti-obesity medication is unique because it treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, rather than a problem that can be solved through sheer willpower. The best part? Semaglutide and other medical weight-loss peptides are now available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we understand that losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our medical weight loss clinic offers custom medical weight loss plans tailored to your body, rather than plans based solely on your age or weight. In fact, our team of doctors and practitioners provides personalized guidance to help you achieve real results and live a healthier life.
Because the truth is maintaining good health and fitness are crucial in the modern world. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect those who are overweight and unhealthy. At Global Life Rejuvenation, we take a comprehensive, custom approach to medical weight loss that includes peptide therapy and more. We then work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, so you can lose weight, get healthy, and boost your wellbeing permanently - not for a few weeks or months.
If you're ready to get back to loving your life with more energy, confidence, and positivity, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may be for you. But to truly understand the benefits of peptides like Semaglutide, it's important you grasp what peptide therapy is and how it benefits your body.
Many individuals turn to peptide therapy to enhance their overall wellbeing by boosting hormones. Different types of peptides can target different areas of health, such as collagen peptides that can help improve skin, hair, and gut health.
Other peptides, such as AOD 9604, CJC 1295, and Semaglutide in Washington Township, NJ, are incredibly beneficial for losing weight. Compared to vitamin supplements, peptide therapy works differently as peptides are already part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to absorb and benefit from. Conversely, our bodies can sometimes fail to absorb all the nutrients present in multivitamins, leading to their excretion through urine.
However, it's important to note that weight loss is a complex process that involves various factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and diet. While peptides like Semaglutide can provide much-needed assistance in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with healthy dietary choices, regular exercise routines, and overall healthier lifestyle choices.
If you've already tried different weight loss plans and diets but haven't had any success, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may provide that extra boost you need to realize your goals.
If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, diet and exercise are important, but it can be difficult to stick to a routine. For busy adults and parents, Semaglutide can be a helpful tool for weight loss. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in weight loss and improve long-term health.
You may be wondering to yourself, "That sounds great, but how does this type of peptide work?" Semaglutide acts like glucagon in your body, which signals to your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide, and you try to overeat, your body waves a proverbial red flag as if to say, "That's enough."
Semaglutide also slows down digestion, reducing unnecessary snacking throughout the day. By reducing glucose spikes after meals, it reduces inflammation, which is important for overall health. Additionally, Semaglutide helps your pancreas secrete insulin, regulates the glucose levels in your body, and even has anti-aging and longevity properties. If you're struggling to lose weight, peptide therapies for weight loss like Semaglutide can be an invaluable addition to your weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation.
When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, Semaglutide can help provide:
There are multiple medications available to combat obesity by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. However, Semaglutide stands out as an exceptional option.
A recent study of 2,000 obese adults examined the effects of Semaglutide when combined with a diet and exercise program. The results were compared to those who only made lifestyle changes without taking Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, it was found that half of the participants using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, with nearly a third losing 20%. In contrast, those who only made lifestyle changes lost an average of 2.4% of their weight.
It's obvious, then, that Semaglutide is a safe and effective supplement for your weight loss journey with Global Life Rejuvenation. But who is the ideal patient who should be taking it?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, or if your BMI is 30kg/m2 or higher, the FDA recommends Semaglutide for weight loss.
As medical weight loss experts, one thing our doctors and practitioners know at Global Life Rejuvenation is that true weight loss isn't dictated by medicines. It's achieved by sticking to a combo of exercise, healthy life choices, and healthy eating habits. From there, peptides like Semaglutide in Washington Township, NJ are great for taking your weight loss efforts to the next level of success.
One area where many patients fail in this process is with their diet. If you're considering Semaglutide treatment, keep these diet tips in mind.
To enhance your dietary habits, a practical approach is to concentrate on consuming whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These food items are rich in nutrients and can provide a feeling of fullness and satisfaction while also promoting your overall wellbeing.
Eating mindfully involves being fully present and engaged during meals. This entails taking the time to enjoy the flavor of your food, being aware of your body's hunger and fullness signals, and avoiding distractions like electronics or television.
To maintain good health and support weight loss, it's crucial to drink plenty of water. It's recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily. You may also try adding low-calorie drinks like herbal tea or infused water to keep things interesting.
Planning your meals in advance is an effective approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Set aside some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, keeping in mind to incorporate a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will prevent impulsive food choices and guarantee that you have nutritious options available when hunger strikes.
Unlike many medical weight loss clinics, which only offer cookie-cutter weight loss plans and one or two additional fat-busting solutions, Global Life Rejuvenation provides access to new, innovative supplements and medicines. If you're used to fad diets and "quick" weight loss plans, peptides like AOD 9604 and others may be new to you. To help build your foundation of healthy living knowledge, let's take a look at a few of the most popular weight-loss peptides and medicines available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
Often combined with Semaglutide regimens, AOD 9604 is known to promote fat breakdown, inhibit lipogenesis, and support tendons and cartilage. However, most recently, it has gained popularity due to its ability to boost metabolism and aid in burning fat.
What sets AOD 9604 apart is that it stimulates the pituitary gland without affecting tissue growth or blood sugar levels. Additionally, it can burn fat without causing overeating, making it a viable option for obese men and women who are trying to implement better eating habits.
Interestingly, AOD 9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes without requiring an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces the accumulation of new fat cells. By helping to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, AOD 9604 is excellent for weight loss but also for other maladies like inflammation.
Some conditions that this powerful peptide can help address include the following:
This medical weight loss supplement Is technically a combo of two peptides. These substances work by stimulating your pituitary gland to produce more of your body's natural human growth hormone, which is secreted during both waking and sleeping periods.
This results in increased protein synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factors. As hormone secretagogues, they help release hormones into circulation while mimicking the pituitary gland's production. Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin. As a tool for medical weight loss, it has shown very promising results.
That's because when growth hormone levels increase, nutrients are transported through the body faster, more fat is burned, and weight management becomes simpler. Additionally, because CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin increase the amount of growth hormone in your body, it stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides in adipocytes, leading to improved fat metabolism and reduced abdominal fat.
Benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin for weight loss include:
A Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) injection is a mixture of lipotropics that aid in fat breakdown. The key components - methionine, inositol, and choline - work together to metabolize fat cells and eliminate stored fat deposits in the liver and body. Methionine is an important amino acid, inositol contributes to proper cell formation, and choline is a water-soluble nutrient that promotes healthy liver function. When combined, these compounds may help reduce body fat.
When used in conjunction with a medical weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation, MIC injections can be a powerful addition to reclaiming your health and wellbeing.
Request AppointmentLike other weight loss peptides and medicines on this page, Phentermine can help you lose weight when you stick to a medical weight loss plan that includes dieting, exercise, and smart life choices. It does so by reducing your appetite, which limits the number of calories you eat every day.
As is the case with Semaglutide, Phentermine has been approved by the FDA and is supported by clinical studies that show it can support weight loss. With time, patience, and healthy living, this supplement may help you reach your wellness goals sooner than you thought possible.
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In the body, 7-keto-DHEA is produced from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone made by glands near your kidneys. However, unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted into androgen and estrogen in your body. Instead, 7-keto-DHEA is used orally or topically to boost your body's metabolism. It also helps convert more of your energy into heat, instead of storing it in your body as fat, which can accumulate with time and lifestyle choices.
Much like Semaglutide treatment in Washington Township, NJ, 7-keto-DHEA has been shown to be very effective for weight loss as well as a host of other issues. Additional benefits of taking 7-keto-DHEA may include the following:
Have you tried everything under the sun to try and eliminate the cellulite on your legs, arms, and other areas of your body? If you're like most people, getting rid of cellulite isn't just difficult - it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, those days are over. Lipo Sculpt Cream from Global Life Rejuvenation can help reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite while also refining your figure and firming up your skin.
The active ingredients in this product have the ability to reduce and prevent the growth of fatty tissue while also improving microcirculation. They work together to treat both adipose and aqueous cellulite, and aid in the elimination of fatty deposits and excess water stored in the tissues. This results in a reduction of dimples and an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin.
If you have experienced success with a medical weight loss plan and reached your target weight but still suffer from cellulite, Lipo Sculpt Cream is a fantastic choice to consider. A few of the most common benefits include:
Are you craving a productive life at a healthy weight? Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The pathway to wellbeing starts by contacting our office for an in-depth consultation, where we'll learn more about your weight-loss goals and needs.
From there, we'll create a custom weight-loss plan tailored to your body. This plan will map out the steps of your weight-loss journey, including peptide therapies like Semaglutide in Washington Township, NJ. Though every person's weight management goals are different, when you're a patient at Global Life Rejuvenation, you benefit from dedicated doctors and practitioners committed to improving your weight and, in turn, your health.
Whether your health is on the line, or you don't like how being overweight makes you look and feel, our team is ready to guide you toward long-term health and happiness. This way, you can get healthy, stay in shape, and fall in love with your newfound body.
Call Us 866.793.9933
After anxiously waiting for real progress at two development projects for Five Points in Washington Twp, construction of a brand new Burger King has started, and the new Wawa Convenience store building foundation is in ahead of the core building development starting.The property sits at the Five-Points intersection of Washington and Deptford Townships, with the bulk of the property facing Egg Harbor Road and Blackwood-Barnsboro Road.This development property was made significantly larger a few years ago when the Blackwood-Barns...
After anxiously waiting for real progress at two development projects for Five Points in Washington Twp, construction of a brand new Burger King has started, and the new Wawa Convenience store building foundation is in ahead of the core building development starting.
The property sits at the Five-Points intersection of Washington and Deptford Townships, with the bulk of the property facing Egg Harbor Road and Blackwood-Barnsboro Road.
This development property was made significantly larger a few years ago when the Blackwood-Barnsboro Road was adjusted to be further away from the core busy intersection, creating a larger parcel of land that will support both a Super Wawa (with gas station) and a new Burger King.
The new Burger King will sit at the traffic light corner of Egg Harbor Rd. and Blackwood-Barnsboro Rd. Wawa will be directly next to it, and closer to the main Five-Points intersection.
As is the case with many of these larger projects there are a series of developers and owners in the mix through the entire timeline. We can see now that as part of the initial broader site preparation work, a full common sidewalk was created around the property on the two main bordering roadways, as well as the driveways in and out of the two individual projects are developed.
From there the development was turned over to the two individual developers for the Wawa and the Burger King properties.
42Freeway first wrote about the plans for the Burger King two years ago, but not much news has come from it since.
But in just the last few days a banner appeared on the construction fencing announcing the new Burger King is coming. My drone images show that construction trucks are on the Burger King portion of the site, seemingly working on site prep and water management basins.
I never did track down the site plan for this new Burger King but I know it’s the same franchise ownership group as the new location on Blackwood-Clementon Road in Gloucester Township.
That new Blackwood Burger King is literally the best location in South Jersey. Obviously it’s all new, so that is a big plus right from the start… But it also appears to be well managed; the restaurant is always open for is published hours, seemingly well staffed, clean, and in my few visits I get freshly prepared food.
Not that I eat at BK a lot but I do enjoy a simple double-cheeseburger from them, and had made up my mind I would only dine in the Blackwood store. Ha!
But this upcoming Burger King is actually much closer to my home, and I’m oddly excited that it’s the same management group as the ones that operate in Blackwood. The Ampler Group has over 450 restaurants including Burger King, Church’s, Little Caesar’s and Taco Bells!
Others are going to note at the 42Freeway Facebook page that there previously was a Burger King in that area, which is correct. The bank that sits across from the Seven Star Diner was originally a Burger King location, and if you look closely you can actually still make out the telltale frame of the dining room area from the original styled Burger King!
Likely one of my most covered new Wawa projects in the 42Freeway article repository, the upcoming Washington Township Five-Points location is really moving “full-bore: on the project now!
I bet we will be seeing a building and gas pump canopy standing on that property sometime in August.
Going further out-on-a-limb, based on my observations of other Wawa development projects in the area… I would expect this new Wawa to be opened before the end of the year.
As well as the upcoming locations in Gloucester Township on Blackwood-Clementon Road and in Erial.
For the Washington Township Five-Points Wawa the gas tanks have been installed, and backfilled with dirt.
And further back I could see the concrete outline of the convenience store building has been poured. Also the interior utility pipes that dart throughout the facility can be seen popping out of the ground.
The configuration of this Wawa is very traditional with the gas pumps situated out front of the store, and the store sitting back further off the road.
My home is closer to the “classic” Wawa in Deptford at County House, which I believe is expected to close when this new location opens. I’m happy to have a new Wawa gas station option close by (and with Milkshakes!) but damn I will miss the close convenience of my little neighborhood Wawa!
Wawa and Burger King – Five PointsEgg Harbor Road and Blackwood-Barnsboro RoadWashington Township, NJ
Limoncello Ristorante opened earlier this spring in Washington Township, describing the menu as “authentic Italian cuisine meets the refreshing taste of lemons”During my recent dinner visit I was able to try several amazing entrees and appetizers, and clearly Limoncello is a standout new addition to the South Jersey food arena.Owner Eric Rakaj and his team have seen great success with several restaurants located at the Jersey Shore (Sea Isle and Avalon). For his latest restaurant inspiration, Limoncello Ristorante&h...
Limoncello Ristorante opened earlier this spring in Washington Township, describing the menu as “authentic Italian cuisine meets the refreshing taste of lemons”
During my recent dinner visit I was able to try several amazing entrees and appetizers, and clearly Limoncello is a standout new addition to the South Jersey food arena.
Owner Eric Rakaj and his team have seen great success with several restaurants located at the Jersey Shore (Sea Isle and Avalon). For his latest restaurant inspiration, Limoncello Ristorante… he wanted to position it further away from the summertime-boom beach towns, to help balance out the dining seasons for his Modo Mio restaurant company.
And he chose Washington Township… well in big part because Eric and his family are “Township” residents! But also because Washington Township and the surrounding area is a key South Jersey restaurant destination area.
Limoncello Ristorante is a BYOB restaurant located across the street from Washington Township High School, in a unit which previously operated as Pelican Restaurant.
Eric took over the space and transformed it into his own signature style Italian restaurant. He has a lot of experience in this, as his growing restaurant empire includes several restaurants; A Modo Mio and La Finestra in Sea isle and Il Posto in Avalon.
It’s an amazing success story for Eric… who arrived in the U.S. just 15 years ago! He started out working for Philadelphia restaurants and hotels, quickly became a talented chef.. and 10 years ago started out with his first restaurant, now has 4… and he is always looking for more opportunities.
For Limoncello Ristorante in Washington Township he is serving authentic Italian cuisine with the refreshing taste of lemons mixed throughout many of the dishes.
Their goal is to give you a dining experience which transports you straight to the streets of Italy!
The pasta is homemade in the restaurant and they use only the freshest ingredients.
They do accept walk-ins but it is recommended to make reservations, with most people using OpenTable.com
“Reservations, I live and die by them:
Eric Rakaj – Limoncello Ristorante
Eric went as far to say “Reservations, I live and die by them”… partly because he wants to make sure he has enough seating available for you when you arrive, but also he really strives to have the freshest food available… and every day the team adjusts their fresh food deliveries based on the number of reservations queued up at each location.
And speaking of OpenTable.com, as an indication of the popularity of his restaurants, the reviews at his restaurant all average 4 1/2 or 5 stars!
Plus consider as an example that La Finestra has 1700 reviews and maintains a 5 star average… that really is amazing!
And it’s all the more reason for Eric to choose to open Limoncello in his home town.. to bring the delicious tastes and experiences that he and the team have been offering at the Jersey shore, back home to Washington Township.
And as I said it’s a smart move to balance the summer and winter seasons. While his beach town restaurants are open all year round they will likely slow down somewhat in the off-season, and the new Limoncello in Washington Township will become an even bigger hot-spot come the fall and winter (even more than it’s already very busy reservation calendar!)
My visit to Limoncello had me arriving a few minutes before their 4:30pm opening, which was perfectly timed for me to enjoy a delicious meal while providing Eric some time to sit with me a bit before the dinner rush started.
Currently they are only serving dinner, but Eric has plans to start a lunch service also… but likely not until the fall when the summer shore season winds down.
“If I’m not going to eat it, I’m not gonna serve it”
Eric Rakaj – Limoncello Ristorante
The Limoncello space is designed as a soothing and tranquil space, styled with a lighter beige walls on the upper section, and darker wainscot and flooring. With the white tablecloths it creates a really nice style contrast.
It’s a medium sized dining space seating maybe 80-100 persons. From what I’ve seen online, simply from early word of mouth they’ve already become very popular. Did I mention you should make reservations?
I started with an appetizer of Calamari Limoncello which offered fried calamari, portobello, shaved parmigiano, siracha and a balsamic reduction.
The calamari was cooked perfectly with a light crispy outer coating, very tender calamari, and the flavors of the parmesan, siracha and balsamic reduction really tied everything together amazingly. The perfect hint of vinegar and heat.
For entrees we went with a variety of experiences to really give the menu a true workout, which included items for the pasta, beef, and seafood sections.
Pappardelle e Capesante featured perfectly cooked scallops in a fresh homemade pappardelle pasta, covered in a sun-dried tomato pesto with asparagus tips.
Incredible flavors swirling around the amazing fresh pasta and scallops.
Another entrée featured a light Filet Bronzino which was served with crab meat on top, along with cherry tomatoes and a lemon white wine sauce. Complementing the dish on the plate where roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables.
Tender and flaky fish with amazing crab meat on top… and the lemon wine sauce really helped bring out all of the flavors.
In our conversation Eric shared his love for Washington Township, as well as being excited for the successes of other area restaurants.
I mean, the family lives in Washington Township and being a food-lover he obviously is dining out in the area somewhat regularly!
So as an example, it was nice and to hear him speak complimentary on the success of Cinder Bar on Cross-Keys Road, and that Luna Rossa in Washington Township is a favorite restaurant for him to dine with his family and friends.
But I share that conversation mainly to show he really is just a genuine nice guy, who is fully confident in what he and his staff put on their plates. He is truly happy for everyone’s success and feels the better dining experiences like his and others he mentioned, will always find success.
We chatted a long while… one of those conversations where you just don’t run out of things to talk about.
So back to the Limoncello food! For beef we went with the Braised Short Ribs on a parmigiano risotto.
It’s a dish I could eat every time I visited. Perfectly cooked short ribs which are just super tender and incredibly delicious. The parmigiano risotto was a tasty foundation for the short ribs.
And Limoncello is definitely a restaurant where you save room for dessert.
I went with a slice of delicious lemon cake which had the perfect balance of sweetness and lemony taste.
While it’s not like I am eating fancy Bronzino dishes every week, I will say that my food and dining experience at Limoncello has been one of the top highlights of 2023 for me.
Limoncello Ristorante508 Hurffville – Cross Keys RoadSewell, NJ 08080
(856) 589-6969BYOBOpen Daily: 4:30pm to 9:30pmGift Cards Available
A Primo Hoagies location is coming to the popular Egg Harbor Road commercial district in Washington Township, specifically in the ShopRite Shopping Center.Sometimes I have to do deep investigative research and interviews, and other times I am just running out to ShopRite to get some potatoes for that night’s steak dinner and I see the “Coming Soon” banner on the storefront! ha!Primo Hoagies is a widely known hoagie and cheesesteak outlet with close to 100 locations in the USA, but they started out 30 years ago...
A Primo Hoagies location is coming to the popular Egg Harbor Road commercial district in Washington Township, specifically in the ShopRite Shopping Center.
Sometimes I have to do deep investigative research and interviews, and other times I am just running out to ShopRite to get some potatoes for that night’s steak dinner and I see the “Coming Soon” banner on the storefront! ha!
Primo Hoagies is a widely known hoagie and cheesesteak outlet with close to 100 locations in the USA, but they started out 30 years ago in South Philadelphia. The original founding family live in Sewell NJ!
A competing Jersey Mike’s location is also planned for this area in the Acme Shopping center. We reported on them back in October and at this time we do not have an update on it’s opening. Liscio’s is located directly across the street from this upcoming Primo Hoagies.
Keep reading for more on Primo’s and their upcoming Washington Township location!
As mentioned the new Primo Hoagies is coming to Egg Harbor Road, in the ShopRite Shopping center.
Colorful “Coming Soon” signage is up on the windows announcing the new store (and also smartly hiding construction activity ahead of the opening).
The location in the Mill Pond Shopping Center (Egg Harbor Rd and Greentree) is between Hair Cuttery and La Modal Nails… just a few stores from the left end of the main center.
In the immediate area they have locations in Runnemede NJ and Cross Keys Rd.
Primo is a sandwich shop first and foremost, featuring cold hoagies as well as hot cheesesteaks and chicken cutlets sandwiches.
Their menu is broken out into categories, and they offer some Primo’s variety to the classics
Delicious sides and desserts round out the menu!
Plus they offer catering!
While most of the locations are in the Delaware Valley area, they are poised for big time growth with stores located in Pittsburgh, Denver, Houston, New Orleans, the Carolinas and several Florida Cities.
A solid foundation of stores to continue their franchise expansion!
Earlier this year the Philadelphia Inquirer featured Primo Hoagies and the family behind the deli, Richie and Coleen Neigre.
Richie started the deli in 1992 in South Philadelphia. In 1996 they opened a second location, the new one in Center City.
By 1999 that had 4 locations and by 2001 business was doing so well they started franchising!
Their business is still in the family and daughters Colette and Audrey operate different stores in the region.
Soon many others in the family joined the business. Husbands, nephews, uncles and more!
Sadly the reason for the lovely Inquirer feature piece on the Family and Primo Hoagies was that founder and Patriarch Richie Neigre had passed away in May of this year.
“My husband was committed to quality, bread, and making different things that you never had before,” Coleen said. “He made concoctions and we would taste it and we would say, ‘Does this seem like it’s good together?’ Like he made sandwiches that people never heard of.”
Coleen Neigre on her husband Richie
Primo Hoagies Sewell (Coming Soon)380 Egg Harbor RoadSewell NJ, 08080
856-742-1999
For months, Allison Welsh wondered why her son, Levi, had suddenly stopped wanting to go to school. He couldn’t sleep, had nightmares, and begged to stay home.Then, two weeks ago, she was sent a disturbing video recorded by an aide in his special education classroom at Wedgwood Elementary School in Washington Township in Gloucester County. She recognized the cries of her son, heard from within a folded gym mat, acting as a barricade...
For months, Allison Welsh wondered why her son, Levi, had suddenly stopped wanting to go to school. He couldn’t sleep, had nightmares, and begged to stay home.
Then, two weeks ago, she was sent a disturbing video recorded by an aide in his special education classroom at Wedgwood Elementary School in Washington Township in Gloucester County. She recognized the cries of her son, heard from within a folded gym mat, acting as a barricade.
“I can’t breathe. I can’t leave. Let me out,” the kindergartner is heard pleading on the video.
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Welsh was horrified and immediately demanded answers from the South Jersey school system. She also began talking with the parents of other special-needs children in the class and heard other troubling allegations of things that had occurred in the classroom.
It appears that the teacher had been using with other children the barricade method known as seclusion, which is an involuntary confinement. The video with Levi showed the teacher and an aide supporting the barricade.
“He sounded terrified,” Welsh said. “What they did to him was wrong and not acceptable. Nothing like that should have been attempted.”
Welsh said her son, who is 6, has trouble self-regulating, cries easily, and has difficulty calming himself down when he becomes agitated. But she said the use of seclusion was not included in her son’s individual education plan, or IEP.
School Superintendent Eric Hibbs declined to comment directly about the incident, citing an active investigation.
But in a statement, he said, “As a leader, the safety and security of our children is our top priority.”
Wedgwood principal Charlie Zimmerman didn’t respond to a request for comment. Welsh said parents were told that the teacher, a newcomer, had been removed and was “never going to step back into that school.”
Welsh, a speech pathologist in a neighboring district, said she reported what happened as child abuse to the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency and has spoken with an investigator. A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.
Under a 2018 state law on restraint and seclusion, tactics such as confining students alone in a closed room can be used only with students with disabilities who present an immediate danger to themselves or others. Levi’s mother said the youngster was probably crying because he was hungry or tired.
The nine kindergartners and first graders in Classroom 14 at Wedgwood began having behavioral problems shortly after a new teacher arrived in January, according to Stacy Garofalo, one of several aides assigned to the classroom. The students have communications disorders and other learning disabilities and most cannot speak.
“Her whole personality was horrible,” Garofalo said. “She was not a kids kind of person.”
The teacher could not be reached for comment.
The teacher came to Wedgwood to replace another teacher in the self-contained classroom that was added this year, Garofalo said. The students were supposed to interact with general education students during lunch, recess, and non-academic classes, but parents said that never happened.
» READ MORE: Gov. Phil Murphy approves extension of special-needs services, calling it ‘the right thing to do’
The episode involving Levi occurred in March and was recorded by Garofalo on her cell phone. She said she took the video to provide evidence to support her allegations after her earlier complaints were not addressed.
Garofalo said she reached out several times to Zimmerman and notified him about the video. A union representative told her to stop talking about the allegations and that Garofalo would be reprimanded, she said.
“I just got to the point that I couldn’t take it anymore,” said Garofalo, who eventually resigned from the district.
She contacted Welsh by Facebook and sent her the videos. Welsh made several TikTok posts that went viral. She also began hearing from other parents who shared concerns about the teacher at a school board meeting last week.
One parent said her daughter was left unattended in a soiled diaper, embarrassing the girl in front of her peers. Guistina Canning said her son, who is on the autism spectrum, has been terrified to go to school because of the conduct in the classroom.
“These children deserve better, and we as parents demand better,” Canning said.
It was after she saw the video that Welsh, a mother of three, said she finally began to understand Levi’s reluctance about school. He had told her, “My teacher is mean to me,” but hadn’t been able to give examples.
Before shooting the video, Garofalo, an aide in the district for nearly nine years, began keeping a list of what she described as the teacher’s aggressive behavior toward students. She reported the episodes to her superiors, and provided The Inquirer with copies of emails she sent.
» READ MORE: Philly parents call for a public school that would be devoted to autistic kids
In one instance, a medically sensitive student was pushed down to her knees. Another student sitting on the floor was jabbed with a foot. A boy had a metal water bottle pressed hard against his forehead, she said.
“I get that some of these kids have behaviors, but this is no way that a teacher should be treating them,” she wrote in a February email provided to The Inquirer. “They come to school for safety and security.”
In 2020-21, about 7.2 million students ages 3 to 21, roughly 15% of all public school students nationwide, received special education services, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Most were classified with learning disabilities.
Garofalo said Levi was kept in seclusion for about an hour on several occasions. Welsh said Levi usually can be calmed down by positive reinforcement. He also responds well to his sister, Chloe, a second-grader in the same school, who has a soothing demeanor, she said.
Now that the teacher is no longer at the school, Welsh said, Levi has returned to his former self. On a recent school morning, Levi told his mother that he liked his new teacher. “She’s nice.”
Upon hearing that, Garofalo said everything was worth it. She has landed a job in another district and has no regrets for speaking out.
“I know that I got those kids safe,” she said. “I did my job.”
A 47-unit age-restricted townhome project is proposed for Ganttown Rd In Washington Township. The adjacent iconic red barn will be saved .The barn building was most recently operated as “Antiques Only”. It is expected to be operated as a commercial business again, but that exact use has not been disclosed yet.The townhome project is being proposed by Fieldstone Associates of Bridgewater NJ. ...
A 47-unit age-restricted townhome project is proposed for Ganttown Rd In Washington Township. The adjacent iconic red barn will be saved .
The barn building was most recently operated as “Antiques Only”. It is expected to be operated as a commercial business again, but that exact use has not been disclosed yet.
The townhome project is being proposed by Fieldstone Associates of Bridgewater NJ. 42Freeway first brought news of them acquiring the property back in August of 2022.
Locally, one of Fieldstone’s most well known and successful projects is the Haddon Towne Center on Haddon Ave, in Haddon Township. The $53 million project converted an abandoned diaper factory property into all new 252 high-end apartments with retail.
This Washington Township project WAS scheduled to be reviewed by the Washington Township Zoning Board on Monday June 12th at 6:00 PM. I am being told the meeting was postponed this morning to give the developer time to speak to residents.
The larger undeveloped portion of the property to the left/east of the red barn is proposed for 47 Age-Restricted senior housing townhomes.
Age-restricted is typically defined as being 55 years of age or older.
I believe some of the units will be designated as “affordable”, but I am not clear on the percentages.
Most towns in New Jersey are required to have a certain amount of affordable units in their overall housing inventory, and one way to meet some of that criteria is through senior targeted housing.
The expectation is that persons who are retired are typically living on a smaller pension or social security income, and with their now retirement income being lower, the qualify for affordable housing.
According to the site plan, there will be one entrance off of Ganttown Road which then splits into two roads… sort of like a lower case “h”. Each of those two roads will end in a cul-de-sac.
The site plan shows 7 segments of townhomes varying from 4 to 8 units per building.
The public notice indicates several variances are requested as part of the approval.
Since this is a townhome development the density per acre is higher at 4.11 units per acre. The current zoning of the property is PR-1, which is targeted at single-family home developments.
Overall this reduces several “setback” requirements such as distance between buildings and Ganttown Road.
The project does not include a recreation or open space portion for the townhome development, as required.
The building segments contain more units in some of the buildings than the zoning allows.
They are also looking to continue use of the barn as commercial retail, which is a continuance of a prior nonconforming use variation.
This project is being reviewed by the Zoning Board because of requested changes to the lot lines, and associated zoning uses.
To better explain the lot lines, while today the Ganttown property visually appears as a large almost 15 acre home, barn and farm…. It is actually two distinct properties, currently separated in a unique way.
Today the developed portion (home and barn) of the extended property is a small .9 acre notch out of the larger 15 acre parcel. What that means is the larger farmland portion to the property actually wraps around behind the barn and extends to both sides of the house.
This “notch” split was likely done decades ago to separate farmlands from developed land. It’s a fairly common practice in New Jersey, as farmland is taxed at a lower rate than commercial/residential uses.
As mentioned, today there is the proposal to build townhomes on the larger leftmost/west undeveloped portion of the property.
So the first part of the approval request is to adjust the lot lines so that the properties are split more cleanly east/west. The home and barn property will pick up that smaller right portion of undeveloped lands to the right/west making it a total of 3.5 acres, and the land targeted for townhomes will be 11.5 acres on the larger portion of the property on the left/east.
Fieldstone Age Restricted Townhomes220 Ganttown RoadWashington Township NJ
Zoning Meeting – TO BE RESCHEDULED!Monday June 12th, at 6:00 P.MWashington Township Municipal Building523 Egg Harbor RoadSewell, New Jersey
