Month: February 2020

CNB Business News: 20 Digits Establishes Executive Team in Preparation for National Expansion

GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY—February 24, 2020—20 Digits, a start-up developing innovative solutions for the integrated facilities management (IFM) industry, has named Scott Dickson as Chief Technology Officer amid a

year of strategic expansion. 20 Digits is a subsidiary of

NEST

, the

Scott Dickson to guide the start-up’s growth as Chief Technology Officer

integrated facilities management consultant and analytics solution serving enterprises in the United States and Canada.

“As an organization, we recognized just how important technology is for an IFM program,” said Rob Almond, Chief Executive Officer of NEST. “Though 20 Digits was originally established to fill that need and develop solutions for IFM, it quickly exceeded our expectations. Now, with Scott leading the group, I have full confidence 20 Digits will expand as a company just as it grew its initial offering.”

In his new role, Dickson will be responsible for overseeing the continued expansion of 20 Digits, as well as development, product management, infrastructure and security for the existing platform offering.

Dickson joined 20 Digits from multinational retailer David’s Bridal after 15 years. During his tenure, Dickson was responsible for introducing DevOps practices built upon Amazon Web Services in order to deliver cloud-native services into a complex ecosystem with aging technologies.

“I’m thrilled to be helping 20 Digits on the next leg of its journey,” said Dickson. “IFM is an industry that’s ripe for tech innovation. We have the opportunity to save clients a lot of money and solve issues they haven’t even identified yet.”

###

About 20 Digits

20 Digits Technology is a provider of technology solutions for the integrated facilities management (IFM) industry. Comprised of a team of technology veterans but maintaining the agility of a start-up, 20 Digits is developing cost-saving solutions for enterprises with multiple large-scale brick and mortar locations, including those with robust digital experiences. A subsidiary of NEST, the leading IFM solutions provider, 20 Digits is driven to provide next-generation solutions that are both innovative and secure. For more information, visit

http://20digitstechnology.com/

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CNB BUSINESS NEWS

Pick-6 Hits $3 Million for Feb. 24 Drawing

TRENTON (Feb. 21, 2020)

– The Pick-6 drawing on February 20 produced

six

winners of

$3,727

for matching five out of six white balls drawn.

Two

of those tickets were

purchased with XTRA, multiplying the prize to

$7,454

. The $3.0 million drawing will be held Monday, February 24, 2020.

The

winning numbers

for the

Thursday, February 20

, drawing were:

02, 06, 24, 35, 40 and 49

. The XTRA

Multiplier

was:

02

. By adding XTRA for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn.

Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 447,247 tickets purchased for the drawing and of those sold, thousands were prizewinners! For correctly matching four numbers, 312 ticketholders won $69 each and 42 others won $138 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three numbers 6,093 ticketholders won $3 each and 926 others won $6 each with the addition of XTRA. 7,574 ticketholders each won $2.00 for correctly matching two numbers with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.

Lawmakers Put Pennsylvania State Police On \”The Hot Seat\”

By Christen Smith |

The Center Square

House lawmakers grilled the Pennsylvania State Police on Thursday over the governor’s proposal to raise $136 million for the agency via municipality service fees that some see as akin to a tax increase.

“We were told this is a no tax increase budget, but in order to afford this, municipalities will have to probably raise property taxes,” said Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Fayette, during a House Appropriations Committee meeting.

“I think it’s up to the municipalities whether they want to raise taxes or find another way to fund it,” PSP Col. Robert Evanchick said.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed that the Legislature adopt a weighted formula that would charge municipalities for the state police services they use, rather than borrowing from the Motor License Fund to cover the bill each year. About two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s 2,560 municipalities rely on state police coverage instead of a local department.

Critics argue the service fee disproportionately shifts the burden onto taxpayers in poorer rural districts who would pay more per person than those in wealthier, more populated areas.

Prior proposals from Wolf’s administration used sliding scales and flat fees to generate additional funds, but never gained traction within the Legislature. The latest version is “predicated on station coverage costs based on incidents and coverage area and considers other factors like population and income,” according to the administration’s budget summary.

In Tioga County’s Delmar Township, for example, PSP would collect $32.92 per resident to fund the $92,000 it spends annually to maintain full-time coverage. Philadelphia residents, by comparison, would pay just 97 cents per person to cover the $1.5 million in PSP expenditures incurred there each year.

“Is this the best way?” Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, asked. “We all want to make sure you have the funding you need, but is this the best way to fill that $136 million gap?”

“To add one more fee or tax or whatever you want to call it is a big ask for me,” said Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga.

Evanchick defended the formula as a fair representation of expenditures at each of its stations and said the department tried to limit the impact on the municipalities with more needs.

“We are concerned about the rural communities because that’s where we should be doing our greater work,” he said. “We understand that these communities don’t have resources out there.”

Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester, pressed PSP on the amount of free police coverage it provides at public events. In 2019, Evanchick said the agency staffed more than 111,000 events for free– including protests and little league baseball games. PSP also received $1.5 million in reimbursements for covering professional and college sporting events, he said, such as Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

“We looted the Motor License Fund to pay the state police while the Eagles, Penn State and the Farm Show are getting a free ride on behalf of the Pennsylvania taxpayers?” Lawrence said. “We should really be taking a look at that.”

Evanchick again clarified that Lawrence’s statements weren’t “entirely true,” noting that the department had been paid for covering certain events.

Wolf’s budget also proposes a $13 million appropriation to fund four cadet classes to replace the 200 troopers expected to retire next year. Evanchick said PSP staffing levels are at a 10-year high, reaching 4,719 in 2019.

Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, said despite the record amount of troopers currently employed, the numbers alone highlight the limitations of the agency.

“I think there’s room for both local and state police in Pennsylvania,” he said. “With your complement, you can’t do everything. It’s impossible, with your numbers, to solve everything out there.”

published here by The Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

Edie May Downie of Runnemede, age 89

Edith “Edie” May Downie (nee Hlubb), on February 19, 2020, passed away at home with her daughters by her side.  She was a longtime resident of Runnemede. Age 89.

Beloved wife for 57 years of the late Jim. Devoted mother of Donna Frost (Gene) and Denise Monahan (Robbie). Loving Grandmom of Holly Plank (Steve) and Kevin Roback (Tiffany). Proud Great Grandmother of Jackson, Caleb & Gracyn Plank and Madison & Logan Roback. Predeceased by her siblings, John Hlubb, Joseph Hlubb, and Laura Recca and loving sister-in-law, Joan Hlubb.

Mrs. Downie was employed by the Runnemede Board of Education for 25+ years and also served as bookkeeper for her husband’s business, DECO Tool & Die.  She was President of the Runnemede Fire Company Ladies’ Auxiliary, a member of the Runnemede Women’s Club and the Collingswood High School Class of 1948 Reunion Committee. She delighted in baking and decorating cakes for friends and family.

There will be a visitation from 10:30am to 11:30am Saturday, February 29

th

at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral Mass 12 noon at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa RC Church, Runnemede.

Interment private at the request of the family, Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hurffville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edith’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 33105 or Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL  34238.

DOWN THE SHORE: Coming This Summer Sundays at Surfside Concerts, at Surfside Park

AVALON, NJ–The Avalon Department of Recreation has announced a brand new concert series at Avalon’s Surfside Park, located adjacent to the Avalon Boardwalk at 30

th

Street and the beach.  Nine concerts will be held this summer during the “Sundays at Surfside” events, starting Sunday, June

28

th

.  All concerts will begin at 7:00pm and conclude at approximately 8:30pm.

“Our ‘Sundays at Surfside’ promised to be a major attraction this summer”, said Avalon Recreation Department Director Chuck McDonnell.  “We have scheduled some of the most popular entertainers in the Delaware Valley, and the event will feature a cross section of music from oldies to country to Irish music, and everything in between”.

The first “Sundays at Surfside” will feature “Jimmy & the Parrots”, the band that performed during the grand opening of Surfside Park in June, 2019.  “Jimmy and the Parrots” play contemporary, country, island, and Jimmy Buffet music during an energetic performance.

Avalon’s “Sundays at Surfside” concert series is as follows:

June 28

th

—Jimmy & the Parrots

July 5

th

—40 North

July 12

th

—Dead Reckoning

July 19

th

—Trinadelphia Quartet Steel Band

July 26

th

—All Souled Out

August 2

nd

—Johnny Cash Tribute Band

August 9

th

—Central Park/the Band

August 16

th

—The Quietman (Irish Night)

August 23

rd

—Beatlemania Again

All concerts are free and open to the public.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a beach chair or a blanket to see the concerts.  In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held inside Avalon Community Hall.

Surfside Park opened in May, 2019 and is supported by a grant from the Cape May County Open Space Program.  It includes a performance stage, restrooms, an open lawn area for recreation, and a playground that welcomes children of all ages.

For more, visit

www.avalonrecreation.org

.

Abdullah S. Bryant Sentenced for Dumping Solid Waste Material under Highways in Newark

TRENTON

– Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a man was sentenced today for illegally dumping huge quantities of solid waste from his rubbish removal business at unauthorized

sites underneath highways in Newark, N.J.

Abdullah S. Bryant, 41, of Newark, N.J., who did business under various names, including International Rubbish Removal, was sentenced to three years of probation and 300 hours of community service by Superior Court Judge Mayra V. Tarantino in Essex County. Bryant pleaded guilty on Nov. 22, 2019 to a charge of third-degree criminal mischief. The state had requested a sentence of 364 days in the county jail as a condition of probation, but the judge imposed a sentence of noncustodial probation. Bryant will be required to pay restitution for the costs of clean-ups conducted at the dumping sites, in an amount to be determined in a separate court hearing.

Deputy Attorney General Gezim Bajrami prosecuted Bryant for the Division of Criminal Justice. Bryant was indicted in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Environmental Crimes Unit, assisted by the DOT Office of the Inspector General, New Jersey Transit Police Department, and Amtrak Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor, and Department of Health.

The investigation revealed that Bryant illegally collected, transported and dumped more than 100 cubic yards of solid waste at a site owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) underneath elevated sections of I-78 and U.S. Route 22 between Frelinghuysen Avenue and the Northeast Corridor Rail Line. He also illegally dumped an unspecified quantity of solid waste on DOT- and Amtrak-owned property located under the Route 21 overpass near Poinier Street. The illegal dumping occurred between January 2016 and April 2017.

“We are committed to protecting New Jersey’s environment and the health of our residents using every tool at our disposal, including both civil actions and criminal prosecutions,” said Attorney General Grewal. “It is especially important that we hold polluters accountable when they dump waste and hazardous materials in disadvantaged areas, believing that no one will care. We absolutely do care, and we are stepping up our environmental enforcement efforts statewide to crack down on such crimes.”

“The judge in this case did not impose the 364-day jail sentence that we requested under the terms of the plea agreement, but Bryant is now a convicted felon who is responsible for paying restitution for the cleanups conducted at these sites,” Attorney General Grewal added. “These are not victimless crimes; they are crimes that victimize entire communities. We intend to work even harder to ensure that polluters face justice and that all of our residents can live and work in a clean, healthy environment.”

In October 2019, Attorney General Grewal issued a new Environmental Crimes Handbook to train law enforcement officers across New Jersey about the range of environmental crimes defined in the state criminal code and to encourage stronger enforcement efforts to root out such crimes and hold violators accountable:

https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases19/Environmental-Crimes-Handbook.pdf

“We have zero tolerance for polluters who threaten our environment and the welfare of our residents through their illegal activities,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Our Environmental Crimes Unit will continue to work with government partners and law enforcement at all levels to prosecute those who harm our communities by illegally dumping waste.”

In March 2017, the DOT Office of the Inspector General alerted the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) about the illegal dump site under I-78 and U.S. 22. Later that month, the NJ Transit Police alerted DCJ about the second illegal dump site under Route 21. DCJ investigators inspected the sites and found extensive quantities of solid waste at each location. The debris field under I-78/U.S. 22 was roughly 1,000 feet long by 500 feet wide. The debris field under Route 21 was about 1,200 feet long and 50 to 150 feet in width. The solid waste included, among other things, household items, discarded paper, construction materials, flammables, asbestos, medical waste, lead paint, and other hazardous materials.

Investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice examined the solid waste to identify suspected points of origin. They conducted numerous interviews at the source locations, identifying Bryant as the individual who was paid to remove waste from those locations. Bryant was not authorized by the DEP to collect solid waste or dispose of it at the sites in question, as required by state law.

The DOT and its contractors conducted a cleanup at the illegal dump site under I-78 and U.S. 22, and Amtrak hired contractors to conduct a cleanup at the illegal dump site under Route 21. The I-78 site is the same elevated stretch of I-78 that suffered severe structural damage in August 1989 due to an illegal solid waste dump that caught fire.

Deputy Attorney General Gezim Bajrami presented the case to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Environmental Crimes Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline Smith and former Bureau Chief Andrew Johns. Detective Sgt. Steven Ogulin was the lead detective for the Division of Criminal Justice. Attorney General Grewal thanked the DOT Office of the Inspector General, New Jersey Transit Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor, and Department of Health.

*APPLY NOW! The Philadelphia City Scholarship Program

Attention Philadelphia high school seniors! Each year the Philadelphia City Scholarship Program awards approximately 50 scholarships to high school seniors. Selected students receive $1,000 each academic year for four consecutive years of full-time enrollment in

accredited, four-year, bachelor degree programs.

Applications for 2020-2021 City Scholarships are now open and must be submitted online by March 1.

Applicants must be enrolling at a school in Chester County, Delaware County, Philadelphia, Montgomery County, or Bucks County. The Philadelphia City Scholarship Review Committee will consider factors including high school grades, extracurricular activities, leadership potential, writing ability, and financial need (from FAFSA Student Aid Report).

NOTE: Students who receive the

Mayor’s Scholarship

(a different scholarship program) to the University of Pennsylvania are not eligible to receive the Philadelphia City Scholarship.

Follow the link below to complete your City Scholarship application. Your guidance counselor should be able to assist you if you have questions about compiling this information.

For general questions about the Philadelphia City Scholarship Program, email

PhiladelphiaCityScholarship@phila.gov

or call (215) 686-0333.

Apply to the 2020-2021 Philadelphia City Scholarship

Click here to learn more and fill out the 2020-2021 Philadelphia City Scholarship. This year’s applications are due by March 1.

Tips to Minimize Fire When Using Generators In Your Home

(NAPSI)—The fall and winter seasons bring cooler temperatures, holidays, and images of cozy nights by the fireplace. Yet the change in seasons also comes with the chance of severe weather and an increase in fire risks. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more home fires occur in winter than in any other season.

“Holiday decorations, space heaters, generators, and fireplaces all present fire hazards if not properly used and maintained,” said Steve Hirsch, chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council. “Residents should be aware of the dangers and take the steps to make sure their families and homes are protected.”

Follow these tips to minimize home fire and safety risks:

• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test monthly to ensure they work.

• Install carbon monoxide alarms and test them at least once a month.

• Know where the gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are and how to use them.

• Place fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage, and living room, and make sure all household members know how to use them.

• Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it with the entire family.

• Keep portable generators outside and away from the home.

• Install a screen in front of each fireplace or wood stove. Store cooled ashes in a metal container outside the home.

• Have chimneys professionally inspected and cleaned every year.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, or other heat source.

• Never leave lit candles unattended, and keep them out of the reach of children and pets.

• If using a live Christmas tree, keep it adequately watered and get rid of it after Christmas or when it gets dry.

Residents can also take an active role in protecting their communities from hazards such as fires, medical emergencies, and much more. Fire departments across the country are looking for volunteers to serve as firefighters, EMS providers, and auxiliary members.

“The majority of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers—neighbors helping neighbors in an incredible and rewarding way,” said Hirsch. “We need more people to answer the call to serve.”

Training is provided by the department, and volunteers can serve in a variety of roles, from providing life-saving emergency response services to conducting fire prevention programs and disaster preparedness planning.

Learn more and find a volunteer fire service opportunity by going to

www.MakeMeAFirefighter.org

.

Enviromental Bills Up Monday

The following environmental legislation is up in the New Jersey state legislature on Monday, February 24, 2020.

Assembly Board List

A1459 (Moriarty): Prohibits the sale of certain children\’s products containing lead, mercury, or cadmium.

“This legislation is critical to protect the health of our children. Children are at particular risk because of common development behaviors of biting, chewing or sucking on toys and other products containing metals like cadmium. Lead, mercury, and cadmium are extremely dangerous for children and can result in learning disabilities, brain damage, and other health problems. Mercury is a neurotoxin, which is carcinogenic and threatens children’s health in particular. Young children are at the greatest risk of health problems related to exposure to these metals, including serious brain and kidney damage,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This legislation is a step in the right direction to protecting our children, but we need to do more. Our children are affected by the paint in their homes, the soil contamination in their backyards, and the air emissions from nearby incinerators. We need to protect our most precious resources – our children.”

A1993 (Pinkin/Benson): Requires developers to offer electric vehicle charging stations as an option in certain new home construction.

“This legislation will save ratepayers and homeowners money by making sure new homes are wired to allow for electric vehicle charging stations to be installed. This will make it easier for people to access EV infrastructure, and will encourage more EV use in our state. Over 45% of our greenhouse gases in New Jersey come from automobiles, but these emissions can easily be cut by implementing EV technology. We also need to make EV technology available to people from all communities, and we need to address range anxiety by creating a statewide charging network,” said Jeff Tittel. “Making sure that new homes are wired for EV charging stations should be addressed by building codes, but since it isn’t the legislature has to step in.”

A2775 (Houghtaling): Makes pilot program for special occasion events at wineries on preserved farmland permanent program.

“This is land that has been paid for and preserved by taxpayers to keep farming viable for future generations. This legislation undermines that commitment by New Jersey to protect our farmland. Preserved farms are meant to be just that. We should not be allowing more non-agricultural development on preserved farms with this legislation. We’re turning farms into Disney World with amusement rides, adventure activities, bounce houses, group hubs, weddings, bed and breakfasts, tractor repair, music festivals, and wineries,” said Tittel. “The people of New Jersey paid to protect this land and keep it as farmland.”

A741 (Johnson) Establishes NJ Fuel Cell Task Force to increase use of fuel cells in State.

AR38 (Conaway): Urges Congress and President to provide funding and other incentives to states to promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicle usage.

“While fuel cells may be the future, right now the technology is still in the early stages. It’s very expensive to create and produce this technology, and we’re not yet ready to sustainably produce hydrogen. This is because most of the hydrogen from fuel cells comes from natural gas, completely undermining clean energy goals. We can research fuel cells, but we should be focusing our time and energy on moving forward on electric vehicles instead. We should be focusing on making electric vehicles available and accessible to people from all communities,” said Jeff Tittel. “This is especially important because EVs can be hooked up to solar power and other renewable energy, making them better for the environment and public health than vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells”

Senate Environment and Energy Committee

S232 (Singleton/Weinberg): Concerns environmental permits in burdened communities.

“For far too long, certain communities in New Jersey have been overburdened by pollution. This legislation will help protect disadvantaged and minority communities that have been a dumping ground and have facilities that no one wants. Our concern is that DEP is in charge of determining if accumulative impact on a project meets the standard of overburdening a community, but we don’t know what that standard is or if they will actually do it. When DEP does grant permits for new air polluting facilities, we want to make sure there are reductions and offsets in those communities to make up for the new sources of pollution,” said Jeff Tittel. “This legislation will help these communities deal with pollution and polluting facilities. It will give the public and towns a say on project permits.”

S331(Smith/Codey): Requires environmental sustainability plan for State House Complex. The plan would encourage water and energy conservation, green building technology, and carbon pollution reductions.  This plan would improve the environment while saving taxpayer money.

“This bill is a step in the right direction to save us money and energy in the long-run. However, many of these programs for green building and blue roofs should be required as part of building codes in governmental expenditures, not offered as suggestions.  We have not updated our building codes in more than seven years. The administration and Legislature have robbed the Clean Energy Fund which could help pay for a lot of this work to balance the budget,” said Jeff Tittel.

S349 (Smith): Requires developers to offer electric vehicle charging stations as option in certain new home construction.

“Making sure new homes are wired to allow for electric vehicle charging stations to be installed will save ratepayers and homeowners money. This legislation will make it easier for people to access EV infrastructure, and will encourage more EV use in our state. Over 45% of our greenhouse gases in New Jersey come from automobiles, but these emissions can easily be cut by implementing EV technology. We also need to make EV technology available to people from all communities, and we need to address range anxiety by creating a statewide charging network,” said Jeff Tittel. “Making sure that new homes are wired for EV charging stations should be addressed by building codes, but since it isn’t the legislature has to step in.”

S1016 (Smith): Directs DEP to classify neonicotinoid pesticides designed for outdoor use as restricted use pesticides.

“Instead of restricting the use of these harmful pesticides, we should be banning them. New Jersey needs to phase out neonicotinoids, especially imidacloprid as quickly as we can. These insecticides are not only harmful to human health, but are destroying our bee population who are critical to our ecosystem and food supply. These toxins have also posed a risk to other animals like birds.  Without bees, many crops would cease to exist and will make human existence much harder,” said Tittel. “We are entering into an environmental crisis because of loss of bees, and pesticides are the main factor. This has a dramatic impact on farming and the environment.”

S337 (Smith/Greenstein): Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to issue up to $20 million in bonds to finance cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in State, local, and school district buildings.

“We need to step it up when it comes to funding critical environmental programs for New Jersey. We need to tie fixing our infrastructure to energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as green building including blue and green roofs to reduce flooding. If we don’t consider climate change, we could end up wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money. We have also have major problems with lead including $8.2 billion worth of pipes that need to be fixed, $4.6 billion for getting lead out of our water, and a $6 billion combined sewer overflow fix. Overall, we need at least $46 billion to fix New Jersey’s environmental problems,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.