Category: NEW JERSEY

Morris County Man Sentenced To Prison For Possessing Bombs And Being Felon In Possession Of Guns

NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for being a felon in possession of guns, possessing bombs, and precursor materials, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Christopher Faschan, 31, of Landing, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an information charging him with one count of unlawful possession of destructive devices and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Judge Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Feb. 1, 2019, Faschan detonated the bomb in the area of Lake Lackawanna in Stanhope. On Feb. 4, 2019, law enforcement agents interviewed Faschan, who said that he had ignited the bomb. He described it as two pounds in weight and explained how he used and mixed Potassium Perchlorate, Aluminum Powder, and Tannerite to make several bombs that were in his home.

Law enforcement agents executed a court-authorized search of Faschan’s home and recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, firearms, explosive devices and precursor materials.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Faschan to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; officers of the Byram Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter J. Zabita; the Roxbury Police Department, under the direction of Chief Marc Palanchi; the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Francis A. Koch; officers of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James M. Gannon; and officers of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Frederic M. Knapp, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean C. Sovolos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit.

Defense counsel: John Whipple Esq., Morristown, New Jersey

How Long Do Resin Beads in a Water Softener Last?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–Whether you have just purchased a water softener or still using the one you bought on your last shopping, one of your many worries include when to replace the resin bed. This leads to asking – how long do resin beads in

industrial water softeners

last?

Also, you inquire further about the kind of maintenance it requires, how they work, and which of these resin beads the best is for you. In this post, we\’ll provide answers to these questions and help you get the most out of your resin beads.

What is a Water Softener Resin

Water softener resin

is a media to remove the hardness of your water. This media uses an ion exchange process to eliminate the high amount of heavy metals and other minerals, causing hardness of water, leaving the water in your plumbing network soft.

While the water conditioner does not remove the hardness in water, the resin descales it. For salt-based models, the resin bed plays an integral part in making your water soft. In most commercial and residential houses, water treatment includes the water softening resin to get rid of minerals, causing hardness.

How the Resin Works

The resin bed of a water softener is a collection of thousands of resin beads located in the unit\’s tank. When you turn on the tap, water flows into the water softener and passes through the resin bed, where it comes in contact with the plethora of resin beads in the tank. During the process, the resin beads trap calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, allowing only soft water to flow out in your kitchen outlet.

Type of Resin

In the market today, there are two main types of water softeners, which includes:

Fine mesh resin

Standard ion exchange resin.

It\’s vital that you know more about each model before heading to your local store to purchase just any water softening resin that comes your way. However, you should choose the one that best suits your needs.

Fine Mesh Resin

This type of resin is excellent for removing high concentrations of iron. It comes with small-sized resin beads that are capable of removing as high as ten parts in a million dissolved iron.

That\’s not all: it helps make your drinking water taste better since this resin is sometimes blended with activated carbon. Besides, this type features small-sized resin beads; you must place a flow basket on the upper part to help avoid resin migration when it\’s regenerating.

Standard Ion Exchange Resin

This is the most popular water softener type on the market. Unlike fine mesh resin, the standard ion exchange resin is only capable of removing up to 5 parts per million of dissolved iron. When it comes to water purification, this model does it better.

Further, standard ion exchange resin uses sodium chloride or potassium chloride to regenerate the resin.

Crosslink Percentage

Crosslink is a crucial factor to consider when trying to pin down the best water softening resin. Crosslink is a measure of the amount of divinylbenzene (DVB), which a resin bed contains. Products featuring higher crosslink percentage, often come with a hefty price tag.

However, it doesn\’t mean resin with a higher crosslink percentage is the best choice for every homeowner.

To begin with, there are two variations of crosslink percentage – 8 and 10 percent. Let\’s take a look at each variation and why you should consider it.

8% Crosslink

The 8% crosslink is the most used

water softening resin percentage

. It\’s suitable for removing dissolved iron up to 3 – 5 parts per million while softening your water wholly. This resin should serve you for about 10 -15 years, which is based on your water quality. You can expect maximum effectiveness from this unit when used with non-chlorinated water.

10% Crosslink

When it comes to softening hard water, 10% crosslink packs a lot of strength. This type is recommended for people dealing with chlorinated iron-free water. Higher crosslink helps handle the high amount of chlorine in your water. Besides, it permits a huge capacity for water.

Sadly, owning a high crosslink resin can be way over your budget and often leads to a significant drop in water pressure.

Which is best

Still not sure which resin suits your needs? Let\’s help you make an informed decision.

For homeowners with water offering 5 P.P.M of chlorine, then you should lean more to resin with 8% crosslink. This option is also suitable for people looking to treat their city water.

But if you have got water featuring higher than 5 P.P.M of chlorine, which means you need a strong resin to handle oxidation. Fine mesh or 10% crosslink resin is an ideal choice. Also, for people with well water, you can make sure of any of the resins to remove hardness.

How long do they last

Needless to say, water softener resin requires replacement after a while. Most brands out there boast of a lifetime within 10 – 15 years. But, in the end, it boils down to the

quality of your water

and the number of times it regenerates.

In addition, keep in mind that the concentration of iron in your water and organic coating of your resin determines how long resin beads last. To simply say, a high amount of chlorine or iron can kill the resin bed faster.

Powerball Jackpot Rolls to $100,000,000 For Wednesday’s Drawing

Thousands of New Jersey Players Win Prizes

TRENTON (Nov. 25, 2019) – The Powerball jackpot has rolled to $100 million! Although no one won the jackpot in the Nov. 23, drawing, 20,113 New Jersey players took home an estimated $111,548 in prizes ranging from $4 to $300, according to Lottery Acting Executive Director James Carey.

The winning numbers for the Saturday, Nov. 23, drawing were: 28, 35, 38, 61 and 66. The Red Power Ball number was 23. The Multiplier number was 03. The Powerball jackpot rolls to $100,000,000 for the next drawing to be held Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 10:59 pm.

What Degree Is a Sand Wedge?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–A sand wedge is one of the clubs you need to get familiar with the game of golf, whether you are an amateur or an aspiring professional. Typically, a sand wedge is used to get golf balls out of sand bunkers; the sole wide design provides sufficient bounce and allows the club to move through the sand without getting stuck. In contemporary golf, it is the heaviest club in a player’s bag, but it comes with one of the shortest shafts.

As a beginner, you may be more familiar with the putters and drivers. Nonetheless, the club is responsible for up to 25% of shots made by professional golfers. There are many peculiar things about this club, from the shaft length to the heavy head and the loft angle, however, we will be very particular about the sand wedge degree and its importance in this post.

Sand Wedge Degree

This is what determines the kind of swing you take and the distance to which you can send a golf ball with this club. Although there are other factors that influence how far your shot will go, the

angle of the loft

on the sand wedge is one of the principal ones.

The higher the loft angle on a sand wedge, the lower the distance you can get the ball to travel, and the higher the elevation, the shot will produce. If you don’t understand what loft angle is, it is merely the angle between the face of the club and the shaft. If a wedge has a higher loft angle, the face of the club will be in a more horizontal position relative to the ground, and if it has a lower loft angle, the face will be in a more vertical position relative to the shaft.

What Degree Loft Is a Sand Wedge?

This is a very common question among beginner golfers, and to be factual, loft angles on sand wedges typically range from 54 degrees to 58 degrees. However, it is more important to understand the effect of these angles on the performance of a player during a game. You can collect

high handicappers wedges in golf

to get better performance.

The loft angle on any wedge affects the trajectory of the ball after it is hit; a sand wedge with a higher loft angle will make the ball travel more elevated in the air, through a steep trajectory, reducing the distance covered by the ball while a sand wedge with a lower angle will make the ball travel in a less steep path, covering more range than it would if the loft angle were higher.

Degree in Pitching Wedge

If you want to take a shot with a higher trajectory than what the 9-iron will give you and a lower trajectory than what the gap wedge will give you, the pitching wedge is the right club to use. Of all wedges, the pitching wedge is the commonest, and it has the least loft angle, ranging between 44 degrees to 48 degrees. It is more suitable for chip shots and for hitting long shots into the greens.

The degree in pitching wedges varies with different manufacturers, and in the past, you could easily find one with a loft angle as low as 43 degrees or as high as 50 degrees. However, these days, 44 – 48 degrees is the typical loft range. Just like with the sand wedge, the higher the loft of a pitching wedge, the higher the ball can be hit, and the less it will travel. On the other hand, the lower the loft angle, the less steep the trajectory and the farther the ball will travel.

Should You Be Concerned About Loft?

While loft angle can have a significant influence on your game, if you are a beginner or an amateur, you should probably not be too concerned with the loft angle on your wedge. Besides, wedges are not so common with these categories of players – there is enough fun to be had with drivers, putters, and irons – and the technicality of loft angles is usually not a problem.

However, if you plan to play golf professionally, you will have to pay more attention to the technical part of the game, and the loft is one of the technical parts. In some cases, you may have to adjust the loft angle on your club to get the kind of shot you want.

Conclusion

More than having the perfect angle on a wedge, it is vital to develop your skills through consistent training. You can have the best set of golf clubs in the world and still be very poor at the game. Golf is a technical game that requires a lot of

learning and practice

, so, apart from learning about the types of clubs and their individual features, take time out to always practice so that you can personalize your golf experience and improve your overall game.

State Taxpayers Purchase 1,400-Acre Cumberland County Farm to Preserve Endangered Species

Land Acquisition Will Also Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has entered into one of the most significant land deals in the agency’s history with a signed agreement to

purchase a 1,400-acre Cumberland County farm to preserve New Jersey’s largest concentration of endangered species and mitigate the effect of climate change. The property, which is owned by Atlantic City Electric and known as Holly Farm, is situated between Menantico Creek and Manumuskin Creek, two federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. The acquisition of the property will also directly connect to two Nature Conservancy preserves that will be donated to the Department of Environmental Protection. In total, these additions will expand the preserved Menantico Ponds Wildlife Management Area by more than 5,500 acres. Financial terms of the agreement will be made public when the purchase is finalized.

“Safeguarding New Jersey’s interconnected open spaces and diverse ecosystem is critically important in protecting our environment,” said Governor Murphy. “In addition to protecting endangered species, our open spaces have the capacity to store large amounts of carbon emissions and absorb water to reduce flooding in our communities. Through the acquisition of Holly Farm, we are able to preserve New Jersey’s natural resources and become more resilient to the devastating effects of climate change.”

“We appreciate Atlantic City Electric’s commitment to the environment by helping to preserve this critical open space in South Jersey,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “The purchase of the Holly Farm property is a tremendous accomplishment for the state of New Jersey, our conservation partners and residents. Preservation of this property protects an important wildlife corridor and eliminates the risk of development to a scenic and ecologically sensitive region. In addition, the trees and other plants absorb greenhouse gases, mitigating the effects of climate change.”

The Holly Farm property includes an area that Department of Environmental Protection has deemed a National Heritage Priority Site and represents some of the best remaining habitat for rare plant species and rare ecological communities in New Jersey. The site at Holly Farm is habitat for seven rare plants including the sensitive joint-vetch, a federally and globally protected species.

Department of Environmental Protection records have also documented the existence of the threatened Pine Barrens treefrogs, pine and scarlet snakes, corn snakes, barred owls, red-headed woodpeckers, Cooper’s hawks, and the dotted skipper butterfly. The property provides habitat suitable for timber rattlesnakes and Cope’s treefrogs and is the nesting and foraging area for 71 species of breeding birds and nine species of migratory birds. Additionally, the area has been deemed a critical nest buffer and foraging habitat for bald eagles, least tern, and ospreys.

\”Our commitment to serving our customers and communities goes beyond providing the safe and reliable energy service they count on,\” said Dave Velazquez, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric. \”We recognize that we need to lead the fight against climate change and help preserve the environment where we live and work.  We believe the sale of the Holly Farm property to the DEP best fulfills our responsibilities to our customers and communities, as it supports the continued well-being of the region’s natural environment and ensures the continued benefits of this open space for generations to come.”

“We are excited about the addition of this land to our Green Acres inventory and the expansion of open space connectivity in South Jersey,” said Ray Bukowski, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. “Visitors to this property will be able to enjoy the land as a place to quietly appreciate nature, hike, or view wildlife in pristine habitats.”

Many nonprofit and conservation groups partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection to secure funding through the Open Space Institute to assist with land surveys and plans for potential improvements to the property. They include The Nature Conservancy, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, NJ Audubon, Natural Lands, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions and Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River. The work of these organizations has been instrumental in ensuring that local planning and zoning efforts safeguard water resources and critical habitats on the property.

“NJ Audubon thanks Atlantic City Electric, the Murphy Administration and DEP for preserving the Holly Farm,” said Eric Stiles, President and CEO of the New Jersey Audubon Society. “This amazing site, which many state and local organizations have been championing for over two decades to permanently protect, provides essential access for outdoor recreation and wildlife and habitat protection. This achieves the twin objectives of supporting the economy through advancing nature-based tourism and improving and preserving our environment.”

“The Nature Conservancy applauds both Atlantic City Electric and the Murphy Administration for working together to preserve one of the crown jewels and a major missing piece in New Jersey’s open space system” said Tom Wells, Director of Government Relations for the Nature Conservancy.  “This tract is a keystone property connecting many thousands of acres of already preserved very high value natural lands and sensitive wildlife habitats in southern NJ  This is one of the most important land preservation projects in New Jersey in many years.”

“The preservation of 1,400 acres of forested land at Holly Farms in Millville, Cumberland County brings the total acres of preserved land in the area to over 28,000. This could not have happened without the strong environmental commitment of Atlantic City Electric and hard work of Commissioner McCabe to ensure open spaces are available for future generations,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. \”Our children and children’s children will benefit from this important forested land tract being part of the surrounding preserved open spaces.”

“After 30+ years of CU Maurice River’s intense advocacy, the Governor, the NJ DEP, and Atlantic Electric have made this monumental addition to the surrounding preserved lands a reality,” J. Morton Galetto, CU Maurice River. “We salute their courage. This newly acquired space preserves in perpetuity a bridge between two Wild and Scenic river corridors that are home to NJ’s largest concentration of rare and endangered species. This is a global treasure that the public will appreciate for generations to come.”

\”This is tremendous news for the people and animals that call the Garden State home,\” said Jennifer M. Coffey, ANJEC Executive Director. \”It\’s the completion of more than a decade of work to protect enormously special habitat for threatened and endangered species for generations to come. ANJEC extends gratitude this week of Thanksgiving to Governor Murphy, Commissioner McCabe, Atlantic City Electric, Cumberland County and everyone who helped make Holly Farms go green!\”

\”This is a fantastic day for the environment in New Jersey,\” said Ed Lloyd, Director of the Columbia Environmental Law Clinic. \”After three decades of negotiations, we want to commend Atlantic City Electric and NJ DEP for preserving this gem.\”

\”The New Jersey Conservation Foundation commends and congratulates Atlantic City Electric and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for purchasing and permanently preserving the 1,380 acre “Holly Farm” in Millville as public trust conservation lands for all New Jerseyans,\” said Michele S. Byers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. \”We applaud today’s announcement and are honored to support the New Jersey Green Acres Program on this momentous land preservation achievement. Ecotourism is a major economic force in this region and the preservation of the Holly Farm will boost public visitation and enjoyment, bringing much needed economic benefits to the area.\”

One Florida Lottery Player Wins $1,000 a Week for Life

Thousands of New Jersey Players Win Prizes

TRENTON (Nov. 25, 2019) – One Florida Lottery CASH4LIFE ticket matched the five white balls drawn for the Saturday, Nov. 23, drawing winning the $1,000 a week for life second prize. Moreover,

7,966 other players won $41,938 in cash prizes ranging from $2 to $500 with 1,576 of those tickets doubling their prize with DOUBLER. The winning numbers were: 14, 15, 22, 35 and 41. The Cash Ball was: 04.

The DOUBLER add-on feature doubles the $2,500 third-tier prize to $5,000 when added to a game play for an additional $1 per play. It also doubles all of the other tier prizes. The $1,000 a day for life and $1,000 a week for life prizes are not doubled.

CASH4LIFE offers two jackpot prizes for the $2.00 ticket price. The top prize is $1,000 a day for life, with a current cash value of $7,000,000, and the second prize is $1,000 a week for life, with a cash value of $1,000,000. In addition to the “for Life” prizes, the CASH4LIFE game offers seven other prize levels with prizes of: $2,500, $500, $100, $25, $10, $4, and $2. Now, DOUBLER provides players with the opportunity to double all non – “for Life” CASH4LIFE prizes by adding the feature to their ticket for an additional $1 per play, per draw.

CASH4LIFE tickets are now available in: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Players select five numbers from a field of one through 60, and then select a “Cash Ball” from a field of one through four. Drawings are held every day at approximately 9:00 p.m.

It’s Not Merely Flesh and Bones

Gloucestercitynews.net (Nov. 25, 2019)–All human beings are just a diaspora of the nine months confinement, which was regularly fed with love. That very love takes you further on in life, which some of us leave behind, to find momentary joy. Love is the only factor that keeps the world from collapsing all at once, but that love continues being redefined with every new relationship one builds in this wonderful journey called life. Love, these days, has been reduced to just a term and the true essence of this beautiful feeling seems lost on us. Also, the crimes that are being committed in the name of love are countless. The pleasure of groping a fellow being cannot be justified on any grounds. While some do it in the name of love, the others do it out of sheer lust.

The gratification of each person’s sexual urges is necessary; there is no denial of that fact. But that has to happen with consent. The point where a consensual feeling of the need to gratify that urge kindles within, is only when that step should be taken, which is nurtured with the right amount of genuine love for your partner. Where do things go wrong, then? It is when lust takes the place of love, where even the definition of lust takes a rampant turn. The word assault means any action that violates or harms the other person’s feelings when it is done without consent. No woman is sensual. They are only beautiful, with the hearts that they own that beats within them, which can never be scarred by the physical injuries that anyone inflicts on them. In today’s scenario, an assault has become a very familiar term, not just through the blogs you read and podcasts you hear but also through the repugnant encounters one has.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is:

A non-consensual grabbing, fumbling or touching of a private part of another person’s body.

Coercing a person to get involved in sexual acts, which could be oral sex or non-consensual penetration.

A person sexually exploiting you, when under the influence of drugs; could be in parties, pubs or any such occasions (drug-facilitated assault).

Abusing and involving kids in certain sexual acts where these kids are incapacitated or are not in a position to comprehend the devilry of the act.

The world now is in the clutches of a demon that is infusing it with the most dreadful qualities which are taking the world on a regressive roll to the pit of human annihilation.

What do you see when you open the newspapers and media platforms nowadays? Is it love, or is it hatred? It is pure evil in disguise, that lures you into oblivion.

Popular myths about sexual assaults

Sexual assault could also be when a spouse tries to sexually impose specific actions on the partner, which, as some may not know, also requires consent. Being a legal partner does not give a person the right to force their urge for their partner.

People come across such situations at the workplace, in public transport, in relationships, and the list goes on.

Toddlers wearing diapers get sexually assaulted these days. Where do you think the world is going? Multiple cases are reported every day of child sexual abuse, and how does this all culminate? Children, at an age where they aren’t able to fathom the difference between a fumbling touch and a lovely stroke, are made to do obscene acts, which can later even lead to the loss of a valuable life.

One of the biggest myths of the topic of sexual assault is that it is believed to be endured only by women, but that’s not true. Men equally face such assaults, be it from the opposite gender or also ones from the same.

Get back up from the bottom

Dealing with the mental trauma that follows such acts takes a lot of courage and constant support from peers, colleagues, and families. This keeps in happening families too; father molesting his daughter, brothers abusing sisters, and many more such cases still lay unsolved without receiving the deserved justice. People finding difficulty in dealing with such situations can contact

Nehora Law Firm

.

Conclusion:

Such situations could be a completely baffling experience for people, not knowing what step to be taken next to resolve it legally. Always go to the most reliable people around you and when it is that same person who assaulted you, a piece of advice alone cannot help, but each individual needs to develop the strength and courage to fight it by seeking the help of the law of your country.

With a lot of helpline numbers, organizations and websites to guide you through the bewilderment and trauma that you are facing, keep the confidence intact as you are not alone in this. The whole world would stand with you to augment the will power that you already possess, which cannot be destroyed by any filthy hands.

5 Effective Strategies for Managing Your Monthly Expenses

Gloucestercitynews.net (Nov. 25, 2019)–Do you struggle to maintain a budget every month?

Are you always hoping to save extra cash but end up spending it all?

If you\’re not careful, it can be easy to lose track of monthly expenses. The little things add up and suddenly you\’re over budget.

This article will teach you the best ways to keep a cushion in the bank each month.

1. Balance Your Wants and Needs

Before you can start saving money, you need to get real about the things you want vs the things you need.

Try adopting the

50/30/20 rule

where you spend 50% of your income on things you need, 30% on things you want, and 20% on savings.

Figure out how much you make in a month and cut it in half. That half should automatically be applied to things like rent, bills, groceries, and gas. Then take the remaining amount and spend 30% on things you want and put 20% in savings.

2. Eat at Home

It\’s easy to spend extra cash if you\’re always dining out.

Not only is the food more expensive, but you have to factor in a tip. Try making your meals at home for one month and see how much extra money you have.

This tip should also help you with your waistline, as you\’ll be the one in control of the ingredients.

3. Start a Calendar

Bills are due every month but not always on the same day.

Start a calendar so you can keep track of when different bills are due. This will keep anything from sneaking up on you and causing you to pay late fees.

It will also remind you when you have a particularly expensive week coming up that you need to monitor your spending closely.

4. Use a Budgeting Website

Human beings are fallible and it\’s easy to forget to write down a number or a bill payment.

Use a website for your budgeting that will send you automated reminders and keep track of what you\’re spending.

A website like

www.paystubs.ne

t is run by professional accountants who will generate pay stubs for you.

5. Discover Your Weaknesses

Everybody has different weaknesses when it comes to spending money.

Some will blow too much on new shoes, while others will spend hundreds to attend numerous sporting events.

It\’s important you identify your money spending weaknesses so you can curb them. You don\’t need to deprive yourself completely, but rather cut back and use your favorite treats as rewards for saving.

Follow These Tips to Monitor Your Monthly Expenses

Being careful with your monthly expenses will pay off.

If you become aware of how much you\’re spending and save more, in just a few months you could have enough to buy something you never thought you could have.

Did you enjoy this article and want to learn more helpful lifestyle tips and tricks? Then bookmark this page and come back often for updated content!

Investors Foundation Grant Helps Bring Joy of Reading to At-Risk Students Through BookMates

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J.

– BookMates, a program offered by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey, has received a $5,000 grant from the Investors Foundation. The grant will be paid out over two years and be used to bring the joy of reading to children in low- to moderate-income communities.

Photo Caption: Investors Bank’s Christopher P. Warren, senior vice president, business lending, (center) and Barry Epps, assistant vice president and Voorhees branch manager (right), recently presented a $5,000 grant payable over two years, to Rhonda Shevrin, BookMates Director, at a kick-off session for the 2019-2020 school year at the office of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

BookMates applied for the grant from the Investors Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations that enrich the diverse communities served by Investors Bank.

Investors Bank’s Christopher P. Warren, senior vice president business lending, along with Barry Epps, assistant vice president and Voorhees branch manager, presented the check at one of the BookMates kick-off meetings for the 2019-2020 school year at the office of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

“We are so pleased to support the BookMates program,” explained Warren. “More than 25 years ago, my wife and I participated in a very similar program and it made us realize the importance of giving back to the community. Investors Bank also is committed to giving back to the community. Literacy and education are particular passions for the bank. Investors is grateful for the opportunity to help children gain a love for reading that hopefully will carry through the rest of their lives.”

“I am so grateful that Investors Bank has chosen to support our mission of reading to at-risk students,” said BookMates Director

Rhonda Shevrin.

“I am looking forward to a long relationship.”

BookMates provides weekly one-to-one reading sessions with an adult volunteer in more than 40 schools receiving Title 1 funding in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties. Through the efforts of the trained volunteers, the children are further exposed to a wide range of literature, an expanded vocabulary, and an additional focus on reading comprehension.

According to Shevrin, more than 300 BookMates volunteers, many of who are retirees, read to more than 600 children in Kindergarten through second-grade. The children are not the only beneficiaries. Many of the volunteers return year-after-year to participate in the program because they see it as an enjoyable and satisfying opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life.

“We are delighted to support BookMates,” said Epps. “Investors Bank is committed to bringing ‘community’ back to banking. We believe that we only can be successful if we are involved and giving back to the communities we serve.”

About the Investors Foundation

Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. The Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education and affordable housing. The Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its customers and neighbors.

About Investors Bank

Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $27 billion in assets and a network of more than 145 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s banking services include complete deposit, loan and cash management products for consumers and businesses.

Investors Bank: Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

About BookMates

BookMates is a social justice program of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Catholic-Jewish Commission. It was founded in 1999, and is s

ponsored by Townsend Press in memory of Henry H. Nadell and Marjorie Nadell Schneider.

The mission of BookMates is to provide a nurturing one-to-one literacy experience for at-risk children that encourages them to develop a love of reading and provides them with a foundation to succeed in life. The program currently has 300 readers mentoring students in 40 schools in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties. For more information, contact

BookMates@jfedsnj.org

,

or visit the website at

www.bookmatessnj.org

.

EPA Proposes Plan Related to Combined Sewer Overflow Impacts on the Newtown Creek Superfund Site

NEW YORK

– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposed plan that evaluates impacts of the current and expected future volume of combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges to the Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area in New York City. EPA added Newtown Creek to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country’s highest priority

hazardous waste sites in September 2010, and investigations of the entire site are ongoing.

“This proposed plan is an important step forward in advancing the cleanup of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site,”

said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez.

“In this plan, EPA acknowledges that the work that the City is already obliged to do to improve the water quality of Newtown Creek, including major water infrastructure improvements through compliance with the state imposed long term CSO control plan, will be consistent with meeting the needs of the Superfund program and help EPA fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

The Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area is comprised of the waters and sediments of Newtown Creek in Brooklyn and Queens. Outside of the Superfund process, the City of New York is under order by the State of New York to implement a CSO Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) for Newtown Creek. The LTCP, which was approved by the state in June 2018, includes a number of components to reduce future CSO discharges to the creek, including construction of a storage tunnel.  The LTCP is ultimately anticipated to reduce the volume of CSO discharges to Newtown Creek by approximately 61%, and to achieve waterbody-specific water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. EPA evaluated the LTCP in the context of the Superfund site to determine if the volume reductions anticipated under the LTCP are sufficient to meet the needs of the future cleanup of the Superfund site.  EPA has determined that the water pollution volume controls prescribed by the LTCP that the city and state will implement, in accordance with requirements of the Clean Water Act, are sufficient to meet the needs of an eventual Superfund cleanup for the Study Area of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site. The EPA anticipates requiring monitoring of the four largest CSOs to confirm the assumptions made in this proposed plan.

The EPA is conducting in-depth investigations of the extent of the contamination at the entire Newtown Creek Superfund Site in order to determine how best to clean it up over the long-term. This proposed plan is for one aspect of the site.

The EPA will determine in the future whether additional control actions, either in the creek or at CSO points-of-discharge, are needed to address the cleanup of the full site. These additional control actions could include the placement of sediment traps and/or oil sorbent pads at the end of CSO discharge pipes and in-creek maintenance dredging to address potential accumulation of contaminated solids near the CSO discharges.

During the public comment period, EPA will hold two public meetings in New York City to inform the public of EPA’s proposed plan for reducing the volume of CSO discharges to the creek, and to receive public comments on the proposed plan and other options that were considered. The public meetings will be held on December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th Street in Queens and on December 11 at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 110, 124 Monitor Street in Brooklyn.

Written comments on the proposed plan, postmarked no later than close of business December 23, 2019, may be emailed to

schmidt.mark@epa.gov

or mailed to Mark Schmidt, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

To view the EPA’s proposed plan for the site, please visit:

www.epa.gov/superfund/newtown-creek

Newtown Creek is part of the core area of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary, which has been designated by EPA as an “estuary of national significance.” In the mid-1800s, the area adjacent to the 3.8-mile Newtown Creek was one of the busiest hubs of industrial activity in New York City. Numerous industrial facilities were located along its banks, including more than 50 oil refineries, as well as petrochemical plants, fertilizer and glue factories, sawmills, and lumber and coal yards. The creek was crowded with commercial vessels, including large boats bringing in raw materials and fuel and taking out oil, chemicals and metals. In addition to the industrial pollution that resulted from all of this activity, the city began dumping raw sewage directly into the water in 1856. During World War II, the creek was one of the busiest ports in the nation. Some factories and facilities still operate along its banks, and various adjacent contaminated sites have contributed to its contamination. Today, as a result of its industrial history, including countless spills, Newtown Creek is badly polluted.

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