New Jersey Department of Health Reminds Residents It’s Not Too Late To Vaccinate

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is December 1-7, 2019

The New Jersey Department of Health is reminding residents to get their annual flu vaccine as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). While flu vaccination is recommended before the end of October, NIVW was established to remind people that getting vaccinated can be beneficial through the holiday season and beyond.

“As the holiday season is beginning, increased travel and close family gatherings can create a great opportunity for illnesses to spread,” Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. “Getting vaccinated now can help protect yourself and your loved ones.”

For millions of people every season, flu means a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue and miserable days spent in bed. Millions of people get sick, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu each year.

There is a vaccine that can help reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine to everyone six months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu viruses.

Certain people at greater risk for serious complications if they get sick with the flu:

Children younger than 5 years old, but especially children younger than 2 years old

People 65 years of age and older

Pregnant women and women up to 2 weeks after the end of pregnancy

American Indian and Alaskan Natives

People who have medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes

“Flu vaccine also has been shown to save children’s lives, prevent serious events associated with chronic lung disease, diabetes and heart disease, and prevent flu-related hospitalization among adults and older adults,” Persichilli said. “Getting vaccinated isn’t just about keeping you healthy; it’s also about helping to protect others around you who may be vulnerable to becoming very sick, such as infants, older adults, and pregnant women.”

Flu vaccines are safe, effective and offered in many locations including doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, urgent care centers, and pharmacies. Click

here

for general flu information and to find a flu shot near you.

The Department has two ongoing initiatives to promote flu prevention. The

New Jersey Influenza Honor Roll

recognizes institutions that are striving to promote influenza prevention at their facilities. It is open to four categories of honorees: business, community-based partners, education, and healthcare facilities. In addition, the Department is challenging students at 10 participating colleges and universities to engage in a friendly competition to improve flu vaccination coverage on their campuses through the

New Jersey College & University Challenge

For more information about NIVW, visit the CDC’s website

here

Liberty National Golf Club Millionaire’s Golf Course is Back

NEW JERSEY SIERRA CLUB OPINION

Liberty National Golf club is back and billionaire Paul Fireman is pushing legislators and lobbying to get his ultra-exclusive golf course expansion onto the Caven Point are of Liberty State Park. Just two weeks ago,

A4903 (Mukherji)/ S3357 (Cunningham),

the Liberty State Park Protection Act, aimed at keeping public parkland open to the public and away from private developers, unanimously passed out of the New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Developers are working to be exempt from the legislation to build their golf course.

The opening of the new golf course is a great opportunity for locals who are interested in golf to start playing the sport. In case you want to play golf but are unfamiliar with the gear and other basics of the game, you should start with a simple, inexpensive golf club set.

Callaway Strata Review

explains all the reasons why this set is so popular among beginners. It’s generally agreed that it is one of the best golf club sets for beginners.

“Once again, billionaire Paul Fireman is trying to play games with Liberty State Park. He is trying to expand his golf course in Caven’s Point, which is a wilderness area. This time he is pushing to weaken

A4903 (Mukherji),

that protects LSP, and land that belongs to all of us. Fireman is behind the scenes lobbying and campaigning to weaken the law and put a loophole in the bill big enough to fit a bulldozer, or a golf cart through. Liberty National Golf want to cut down trees and fill in wetlands for their wealthy members just to see the skyline. They will also be using an enormous amount of water, pesticides, and herbicides to maintain the course,”

said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

“This land is held in the public trust and belongs to all of us, not just to be for a private club. This billionaire is trying to destroy wilderness and take our public land for millionaires.”

The Caven Point Natural Area of Liberty State Park is a 22-acre peninsula located at the southwestern-most area of the park, accessible by the waterfront walkway. This area is frequently used by birders, and fishermen, and people enjoying nature. Proponents of the golf course proposal argue it is not just a golf \”academy.\” It is a proven youth development program where life-changing opportunities are offered and fulfilled every day. They claim that if the proposed land swap that will allow the creation of The First Tee Learning Links funded by Liberty National is needlessly blocked, thousands of youth in Jersey City each year will be denied these same life-changing opportunities.

“This is the only wild are in an urban part of New Jersey. Filling in wetlands and cutting down forests here would be a reckless act for greed. Last year, Liberty National Golf Club put out a public relations campaign to try to grab public land that belongs to all of us. The youth-golfing program is a puppet show to own Liberty National Park. Liberty National Golf Club is trying to take public land from the families of these kids for their private golf course. These families can’t even afford this golf club because membership is over $300,000 a year,”

said Tittel.

“Children are already in nature programs at Caven’s Point. The golf course would deny those children opportunities to explore the environmental benefits and beauty of Caven’s Point.”

In the NJ Statehouse, legislation to protect Liberty State Park is moving forward. The \”Liberty State Park Protection Act\”,

A4903 (Mukherji),

establishes Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park. The bill would prohibit the DEP from considering any proposal to commercialize, develop, or privatize Liberty State Park, except as provided in the bill. The bill would prohibit any concession, conveyance, or lease within the 235-acre natural restoration area in the interior of Liberty State Park, and at Caven Point Peninsula.

“Thousands of people use Caven’s Point for environmental programs and recreational uses such as fishing and bird watching. It is a critical area because it is the buffer between Liberty Golf Course and Caven’s Point. It is in an environmentally sensitive area that needs to be preserved. Legislation like the LSP Protection Act will help prevent harmful privatization proposals to be built at LSP. That is why it is critical for our New Jersey State Legislators to move forward on passing this bill,”

said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

“LSP belongs to all of us and Caven’s Point is an important part of the park. It should be left for people to enjoy. It is not a millionaire’s golf club. We have been fighting for 30 years to protect Liberty State Park from water parks, marinas and we will keep on fighting.”

Pope Bestows Honors Upon 10 People for Service to the Church of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA PA–The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is proud to announce that Pope Francis has bestowed Papal Honors upon 10 individuals for their exceptional service to the Catholic Church. One individual will receive the Benemerenti Medal; four will receive the

Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

(Cross for the Church and Pontiff); three have been named Dame/Knight in the pontifical Order of

Saint Gregory the Great; and two have been named Dame/Knight Commander in the same Order.

The honors will be conferred by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. at an evening Vespers service:

Monday, December 9, 2019

6:00 p.m.

Chapel of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Background Regarding the Benemerenti Medal

The Benemerenti Medal was established by Pope Pius VI in the last quarter of the 18th century as a military honor for outstanding service to the Holy See. The medal was later extended to worthy members of the clergy and civilian laity. It can be granted to persons as young as 35, and its reception is open to Catholics as well as members of other faith traditions.

Mr. Christopher J. Stefanick

Mr. Stefanick began his career as a highly regarded youth and young adult minister working at the parish level before assuming larger responsibilities at the diocesan level. He later founded and continues to lead successful evangelization efforts on a national scale. His work forming the character and leadership skills of Catholic men has been exceptional. He has provided outstanding counsel for many years to various bishops throughout the country, including Archbishop Chaput, and to several committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Background Regarding the

Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

The Cross

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice,

or Cross of Honor, was established in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII. It is awarded to Catholics aged 45 and above who have shown long and distinguished service to the Church and to the Papal office.

Reverend Philip G. Bochanski

Father Bochanski, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than 20 years, has spent the last decade counseling and supporting persons who experience same-sex attraction. He has worked tirelessly, with compassion and great sensitivity, to advance Church teaching on human sexuality, and gained national respect for the Courage apostolate in the process. Starting as a local chaplain for Courage International, he later advanced to National Associate Director, and now serves as the National Executive Director.

Mrs. Helen Mc Connell

For three decades, Mrs. McConnell has cared for the priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a registered nurse, Administrator of Villa Saint Joseph, and Director of Priest Retirement Services. In addition to her administrative duties on site at the Villa she frequently travels to care for priests living independently, in parish rectories, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Her career in service to the Church has been one of extraordinary compassion and care for those men who have given their lives to a priestly vocation for the benefit of others.

Dr. Phillip J. Miraglia

Dr. Miraglia, a distinguished clinical counseling psychologist, began his professional association with the Archdiocese in the mid-1970s. At that time, he worked as a counselor for Catholic Social Services. Over the last four decades, he has served the needs of clergy, religious men and women, and seminarians with exceptional dedication and discretion. As a psychologist consultant and collaborator, Dr. Miraglia’s counsel— on some of the most difficult and sensitive issues faced by the Catholic Church — has been generous, wise, and honest. His career has been an invaluable gift to the Church.

Mrs. Louise M. Sullivan

Mrs. Sullivan has served the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in various capacities for more than 30 years. In the early 1990s, she was part of the leadership team responsible for Archdiocesan nursing homes. During that time, she worked on numerous projects aimed at ensuring the highest quality of life for the aging. Since 2005, she has served as Office Manager for the Archdiocesan Vicar for Clergy. In addition to her critical administrative service for this secretariat, she assists with on-going formation programs, retreats, workshops, and continuing education programs for the priests and deacons of the Archdiocese.

Background Regarding the Order of Saint Gregory the Great

The Order of Saint Gregory the Great, one of the five pontifical knightly orders, was founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1831 to honor his great sixth century predecessor. Over the course of nearly two centuries, it has been awarded to philanthropists, diplomats, military and business leaders, artists, scientists, and interfaith leaders who have shown, by their service, extraordinary love for Jesus Christ and his Church. With the exception of Catholic heads of state, diplomats assigned to Vatican City State, and others of international standing, the Order of St. Gregory the Great is the highest honor granted by the Holy Father to laypersons.

Dame/Knight in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great

Mrs. Jacqueline J. Delaney

Mrs. Delaney has embodied a lifelong, active commitment to the mission of the Church. She has served on numerous Catholic-related boards and committees, and is the first woman named chair of the Board of Directors for the Malvern Retreat House. Over the last decade, Mrs. Delaney has also served as the chair of the Archbishop’s Benefit for Children, raising funds vital for youth programs administered by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese.

Mr. James Delaney

Mr. Delaney has more than 40 years of business leadership in the health care and financial industries. He has served on numerous boards and foundations including the National Advisory Council of the U.S. bishops, the National Advisory Board of the Church Leadership Institute, the National Catholic Community Foundation, the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute, and Catholic Athletes for Christ. He is also the former Chairman of the Board at Neumann University, in addition to serving as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee for the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Board of Trustees.

Miss Kerry F. Kober

Miss Kober has provided superior and irreplaceable executive assistance to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap for more than 25 years. She has supported his episcopal ministry in Rapid City, Denver, and Philadelphia with exceptional discretion and diligence on a wide range of sensitive Church matters. Her commitment to Jesus Christ and to the work of the Church makes her a powerful Christian witness.

Dame Commander/Knight Commander in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great

Mrs. Suann T. Maier

Mrs. Maier’s distinguished teaching career — in Catholic schools in New York, Los Angeles, and Denver — spanned more than four decades. As a mother and grandmother of children with disabilities, she has been a counselor, coach, grassroots organizer, volunteer, and leader in prolife and special needs organizations for 45 years. In addition to her parish volunteer work over the decades, Mrs. Maier founded 14 prolife centers and 21 prolife hot lines for women with problem pregnancies, and has served in leadership and on boards for various Catholic women’s organizations.

Mr. Francis X. Maier

Mr. Maier has a career spanning 41 years in Catholic journalism and senior diocesan service, including 23 years as senior advisor and special assistant to Archbishop Chaput in Denver and Philadelphia. Over the decades he has written, spoken, and mentored extensively on Church matters, served as a youth minister and catechist, and been active in Catholic men’s groups and prolife advocacy. In 2005, Mr. Maier and his wife Suann, were named Knight and Dame in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great by Saint John Paul II.

CNBNews Entertainment: Jay Mohr Coming to The Hard Rock Casino

JAY MOHR

Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m.

Sound Waves

**On Sale Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m.**

Tickets: $34.00, $29.00, $24.00

2019 – 2020 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

12/2 – 12/5 – Greg Fitzsimmons & Adam Degi – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

12/6 – LeAnn Rimes “You and Me and Christmas” Tour – Sound Waves

12/7 – Hallmark Channel Presents Mariah Carey “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

12/9 – 12/12 – Dan Naturman & Tom McTiernan – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

12/13 – The Cult “A Sonic Temple” – Sound Waves

12/16 – 12/19 – Craig Gass & Joe Fernandez – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

12/27 & 12/28 – Jim Breuer – Sound Waves

12/28 – Earth Wind & Fire – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

12/29 & 12/30 – Human Nature – Sound Waves

12/31 – Kool & The Gang / K.C. & The Sunshine Band New Year’s Eve Party – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/6 – 1/9 – Chris Franjola & Richie Holliday – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/11 – Top Rank Boxing: Hart Vs Smith – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/13 – 1/14 & 1/16 – Tom Cotter & Kerri Louise – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/18 – Sounds of Philadelphia featuring Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and The Manhattans – Sound Waves

1/20 – 1/23 – Keifer Thompson & Dale Jones – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

1/25 – Marc Anthony

Opus Tour

– Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

1/29 – 1/30 – JF Harris – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/3 – 2/6 – Rich Vos – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/7 – Sugar Ray – Sound Waves

2/10 – 2/13- Jessica Kirson – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

2/15 – Fitz & The Tantrums – Sound Waves

2/22 – Eros Ramazzotti – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

2/22 – Bob Saget – Sound Waves

2/24 – 2/27 – Greg Morton & Ben Moore – Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club

3/14 – Jay Mohr – Sound Waves

4/17 – Ana Gabriel – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena

For Tickets, visit

hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com

STUDY: Starting drinking young predicts hospital admission for acute intoxication

Newswise — In studies, younger age at first alcohol use has been associated with later alcohol problems in adult life, including heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder. That is the reason why around the world, as in the Netherlands, a key aim of alcohol policy is to postpone the age at first alcohol use. In a report published in the journal

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

, researchers from the Netherlands have investigated whether age of drinking onset is a risk factor for alcohol intoxication among adolescents aged under 18 years.

The study was based on data collected between 2007 and 2017 in the Netherlands for the purpose of monitoring trends in pediatric hospital admissions for acute alcohol intoxication. Data from almost 5000 adolescents admitted for intoxication ─ for whom medical staff had logged additional information including age at first alcohol use ─ were analyzed retrospectively.

Among this group of adolescents, half had had their first alcoholic drink before age 15 years, and half when aged between 15 and 18 years. Those with earlier drinking onset were more often female, lower educated and raised in nontraditional family structures than those who started drinking later. Age at first alcohol use was significantly associated with age at hospitalization for intoxication. For those who started drinking at age 14 or younger, the average age at admission was 14.8 years, compared with 16.0 years for those with later drinking onset. The researchers showed that after adjusting for other factors that could influence the results, a year’s delay in drinking onset was associated with a 6 month increase in age at admission for intoxication.

The results suggest that interventions aimed at postponing first alcohol use could help reduce the risk of early acute intoxication, and provide further support for policies in the Netherlands and elsewhere that aim to delay drinking onset. The risk groups identified for young-onset drinking (girls with lower educational background a from nontraditional family set-up) could also help to target interventions to those most at risk.

Age at First Alcohol Use as a Possible Risk Factor for Adolescent Acute Alcohol Intoxication Hospital Admission in the Netherlands.

L. De Veld, J. Van Hoof, S. Ouwehand, N. Van der Lely (pages xxx).

ACER-19-4053.R1

SEE ORIGINAL STUDY

Powerball Jackpot Rolls to $120,000,000 For Wednesday’s Drawing

TRENTON (Dec. 2, 2019) – The Powerball jackpot has rolled to $120 million! Although no one won the jackpot in the Nov. 30, drawing, 20,183 New Jersey players took home an estimated $122,999 in prizes ranging from $4 to $400, according to Lottery Acting Executive Director James Carey.

The winning numbers for the Saturday, Nov. 30, drawing were: 15, 35, 42, 63 and 68. The Red Power Ball number was 18. The Multiplier number was 04. The Powerball jackpot rolls to $120,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10:59 pm.

Heart + Paw Partners With Philadelphia Based Vendor

Creates the Perfect Holiday Gift for Your Pet

Don\’t Forget About Your Four Legged Family Member This Holiday Season!

PHILADELPHIA, PA (December, 2019)

– It’s no secret that

Heart + Paw

takes their role in pet parenthood very seriously. They’ve thought of everything; from unique service touchpoints in their locations to ensure pets are always comfortable to state of the art facilities.

Along with a passion for pets, Heart + Paw is very passionate about working with local makers and companies to build each of their locations. It is a part of Heart + Paw’s core mission to deliver on sustainability; both in avoiding extensive global shipping and sustaining businesses in their backyard in the wake of globalization. See below for the full list of makers that Heart + Paw has partnered with:

Porcelain Tableware for your pet – Some of the best restaurants around the world seek out Felt + Fat for their porcelain tableware, and we didn’t want our pets to miss out on the fun.

Heart + Paw

and

Felt + Fat

teamed up to design a modern tableware setting for our four legged family members. This is the bowl set for the life of your dog or cat – it’s made of durable high-fire porcelain that is both dishwasher and microwave safe. See the behind the scenes process of how they’re made and shop our custom colorways at

https://shop.heartandpaw.com/

All the furniture, millwork (woodworking), hand welded fencing, retail shelves, and cat exam shelves come from

Edgewood Made

– a modern craft studio that designs and manufactures in Philadelphia.

The welcome desks and the entryway stainless steel dot insert in concrete were provided by

RustFab

– a studio specializing in concept design and fabrication for artists, museums, and institutions.

The lights in Heart + Paw were provided from

Edsel

, an interior design company based in Philadelphia.

Norman Porter

, a soft-goods manufacturing company in Philadelphia, provided upholstery and floor exam pads.

Giggy Bites

, from Chadds Ford, PA, provided cat treats. These treats are created by pet parents themselves, so you can feel confident in feeding these to your felines knowing that they only include the best ingredients.

Other regional vendors include:

Love Thy Beast

provided dog totes and felted toys for the store,

Found My Animals

provided leashes, collars, keychains, slip leads (for in-center use),

Spoil Me Rotten Dog Biscuit Co

provided dog treats,

MixLab

provided shampoo and

Fetching Fields

provided plant-based treat bars.

With stores already open in King of Prussia, Glen Mills, and Cherry Hill, Heart + Paw is expanding rapidly.

Pet owners in Center City should look forward to 2020, because three new Heart + Paw locations are opening up in Northern Liberties, East Market and Callowhill

. Plus there will be another New Jersey location in Marlton.

For media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact

Molly@PhillyPRGirl.com

About Heart + Paw

Heart + Paw is an integrated pet care company that combines a tailored physical destination with the convenience of a digital presence to provide a seamless experience for pet parents and each dog or cat’s entire care team across the dimensions of wellness. A growing and already popular pet lifestyle brand with upcoming locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia, Heart + Paw offers a wide range of services from veterinary care to grooming, day care, boarding and retail. Thoughtfully designed and digitally enabled, Heart + Paw is pet care reimagined. To learn more, visit the Heart + Paw website at

www.heartandpaw.com

, or follow Heart + Paw on

Instagram

and

###

Sanctuaries to Release Illegal Immigrants Jailed for Rape, Murder, Child Molestation

Source Judicial Watch

(December 2019)–A national crisis generated by local law enforcement agencies offering even the most violent illegal immigrants sanctuary is driving federal officials to resort to desperate measures. Under a local-federal partnership known as

287(g)

, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is

notified of jail inmates in the country illegally so that they can be deported after serving time for state crimes. Unfortunately, a growing number of local law enforcement agencies are instead releasing the illegal aliens—many with serious convictions such as child sex offenses, rape and murder—rather than turn them over to federal authorities for removal. Judicial Watch has reported on this extensively and just a few weeks ago

outed

yet another elected law enforcement official who freed a child sex offender and forbids his department from honoring ICE detainers.

Now ICE is trying to strike preemptively by publicly

disclosing convicts

, complete with mug shots, scheduled to be released before they are actually let go by police in municipalities that proudly offer illegal aliens sanctuary. It indicates that the federal agency is determined to do its job amid a growing wave of local resistance. This month ICE targeted six offenders incarcerated in two Maryland counties notorious for shielding illegal immigrants from the feds. These are no boy scouts and ICE is pleading with authorities in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to hand over the prisoners instead of freeing them into the community. Most are incarcerated for sexual crimes involving children, including rape and serious physical abuse that resulted in death. A couple of the offenders are in jail for murder and assault and ICE wants them all transferred to its custody, so the illegal aliens don’t reoffend.

“The county leadership has chosen misguided politics over public safety,” said ICE’s Baltimore office director, Francisco Madrigal, in the

statement

announcing the upcoming scheduled releases. “The individuals we have lodged detainers against have been arrested in the community and will likely be released directly back into that community under these dangerous policies. We aren’t asking Montgomery County or Prince George’s County to conduct immigration enforcement, we’re asking them to honor a lawful request to transfer these individuals into our custody where they can avail themselves of due process in the immigration court system.” Judicial Watch reached out to law enforcement officials in both Maryland sanctuary counties, but calls went unanswered. ICE reminds them that when local jurisdictions refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement, they betray their duty to protect public safety.

Besides Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, two other large Maryland jurisdictions—Baltimore County and the city of Baltimore—shield illegal immigrants from the feds and deportation. Maryland’s Attorney General, the state’s chief law enforcement official, issued a

legal memo

last year defending the practice. Complying with ICE detainers for criminal illegal aliens is voluntary, the Attorney General writes in the document, and state and local law enforcement officials are potentially exposed to liability if they hold someone beyond the release date determined by state law. In 2017, Baltimore’s Chief Deputy State’s Attorney instructed prosecutors to

think twice before charging illegal immigrants

with minor, non-violent crimes to shield them from Trump administration deportation efforts.

North Carolina is another state well known for releasing droves of illegal immigrant criminals back onto the streets after being jailed for serious state crimes. This fiscal year alone,

nearly 500 offenders

with ICE detainers were freed throughout the Tar Heel State. Just weeks before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed those disturbing statewide figures, Judicial Watch

reported

that the elected sheriff of North Carolina’s largest county, Mecklenburg, released numerous violent offenders rather than turn them over to federal authorities for removal. Among them was a previously deported Honduran (33-year-old Oscar Pacheco-Leonardo) charged with rape and child sex offenses. Throughout his campaign, Mecklenburg‘s sheriff, Garry McFadden, promised to protect illegal immigrants and as soon as he got elected in 2018 he ended the program that notified ICE of jail inmates in the country illegally.

Joseph Domanico of Haddon Township Named League Runner of the Year

TROY, NY (12/02/2019)– Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Joseph Domanico of Haddon Township 08108 and Haddon Township High School has been named the Liberty League Men\’s Cross Country co-Runner of the Year, the conference has announced. This is the first post-season, year-end award for the senior captain.

Domanico, who shared the honor with Dadley Ogetii of St. Lawrence University, is the fourth consecutive runner from Rensselaer to be recognized. Grant O\’Connor \’19 was chosen Runner of the Year in 2018 and 2017 and Fazio captured the award in 2016.

Joe Domanico: Liberty League Men\’s Cross Country Runner of the Year

Finished 17th at NCAA Championship Meet … Personal-best 8K (24:49.1) … Highest finisher of any Liberty League participant … Second highest finisher from any Northeast school … NCAA All-America … Team finished school record 10th at NCAA Championship … Highest finish of any Liberty League team … Third highest of any Northeast school … Fifth at NCAA Atlantic Regional … Second highest finisher of any Liberty League participant … All-Region … Team finished second … Third at Liberty League Championship … First on team … All-Liberty League First Team … Team finished first … Ran 46th at Connecticut College (team was 3rd) and 58th at Louisville Classic (team was 5th) … Liberty League Performer of the Week once … Liberty League All-Academic … Captain.

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America\’s oldest technological research university. For nearly two centuries, the Institute has been a driving force behind breakthroughs in engineering and science in virtually every arena-from transportation and infrastructure to business, medicine, outer space, and cyberspace.

As it approaches its bicentennial anniversary, the Institute continues to define The New Polytechnic, a new paradigm for teaching, learning, and research that uses advanced technologies to enable fresh collaborations across disciplines, sectors, and regions, in order to answer the global challenges of our day.

The achievement gap: Is your school helping all students succeed?

Is your school equitably serving its students? Successful schools have found fair, effective ways to raise the performance of all.

by:

GreatSchools Staff

Many diverse schools experience an achievement gap, meaning that some groups of students achieve at a much higher level than other groups, especially on standardized tests. It is common to see persistent patterns of underachievement for lower-income, African American, and Hispanic students on standardized test scores. More and more, standardized tests are serving as gatekeepers to a child’s academic future. As a result, schools are being asked to close this gap and to help all children reach high standards.

If your school, or the school you are considering for your child, has disparities in outcomes between groups of students, you should look into why this gap exists and what measures the school is taking to close the gap. Schools should strive to create an environment where all children feel valued and all children are learning to high standards. To find out if your school is working to close the achievement gap, schedule a school visit to meet with the principal and observe some classes.

Meeting with the principal: Questions to ask about equity

Here are some questions to ask the principal that will help you assess the school’s commitment to helping all children reach high standards:

Ask:

How are students achieving in the school now? Are there any groups of students that are scoring below others on standardized tests? If so, what is the school doing to address this challenge?

Listen for:

Exact achievement data for each group of students in the school; specific strategies the school is using (curricular programs, interventions, etc.) to raise the achievement of low-performing students; and concrete, measurable school goals for improving test scores.

Ask:

How do the teachers hold all children to high expectations and measure progress to ensure that all students are learning?

Listen for:

Concrete examples of assessments that teachers use to gauge student learning and ways that teachers analyze this assessment data to make sure all students are on track.

Ask:

How is the school working to close the achievement gap? Are teachers using any new curriculum or instruction? Are they offering extra academic support for students?

Listen for:

Specific actions the school is taking to raise achievement for low-performing students. Potential actions include: Implementing new teaching strategies that have been proven successful in other schools and providing additional academic support for students, during the school day and after school. Ask how many children take advantage of these resources and how parents are notified about this extra help.

Ask:

Do all students have equal access to the most challenging classes or are lower-achieving students grouped in remedial programs?

Listen for:

Evidence that all students have access to high-level courses and enriched curriculum and the school discourages permanent “ability grouping” and remedial programs. If you’re not sure, ask to see the demographics of the students in accelerated courses vs. remedial courses.

Walking around the school: Looking for signs of equity

Take a walk around the school, visiting classrooms and observing the surroundings. As you walk, keep an eye out for some of the following signs that this school is striving to be equitable for all students:

Teachers using a variety of instructional strategies, including cooperative learning (students working in groups) and directed lessons to meet the learning needs of the students. Watch to see if students look engaged in the lessons and if the purpose of the lesson is clear.

Artwork and decorations, both in the hallways and in classrooms, that value and affirm the culture, language and backgrounds of the students.

Evidence that the school makes an effort to communicate with parents through their home language and encourages parents of all ethnic and cultural groups to participate in the school.

Accommodations for students with physical handicaps to access all parts of the school.

It may take years for a school to reverse historical trends of underachievement and inequity. The key is to look and listen for evidence that the school is aware of its challenges and is working actively to raise the achievement of all students.

source

https://www.greatschools.org/