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/

Colorado Rapids Ahead of a Busy Offseason

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 2, 2019)–Tim Howard retired and coach Robin Fraser was handed the reins on a permanent basis. The squad made a sluggish start to the 2019 season, but in the end, they were unlucky to miss out on a postseason place after delivering a strong rally. Now it is time for a new chapter to begin and these are the top five reasons for Colorado supporters to feel positive about the franchise’s prospects:

Improving Results

Colorado Rapids endured an 11-game winless streak at the start of the 2019 season. They lost nine and tied two in a dreadful run of form that left them rock bottom of the Western Conference standings.

The top-rated sportsbooks made them huge underdogs in every game and they were given no chance of reaching the playoffs.

Yet they then secured 12 wins and four draws in their final 23 games of the season and they were ultimately unlucky to miss out on a postseason spot. That strong upturn in form should allow them to approach the offseason in a positive fashion, and it gives them something to build upon in 2020.

A Visionary Coach

The team went through three coaches in 2020 and that sort of upheaval is always going to dent results. However, they ultimately settled on former Colorado Rapids player

Robin Fraser

, who guided the team to five wins in their final seven games of the season. The 52-year-old is just the second African American head coach in MLS history, and he arrived with a big reputation. He was part of the coaching staff at Toronto FC during their domestic treble in 2017, while he previously headed up the coaching team at Chivas USA, and he was also an assistant coach at Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls. “I consider Colorado to be home, I’ve played here, coached here and I know the soccer community in this state,” said Fraser. I’m committed to the club’s vision and I’m excited to work with this strong group of players and especially the nucleus of young, talented players we have at the club.” He has the tactical nous and dynamism to drive this franchise forward, and he proved that in the final weeks of the season.

Tying Down Top Centre-Backs

The Rapids have moved quickly during the short transfer window that opened on Monday, signing the talented Lalas Abubakar on a permanent basis and making a move for Philadelphia’s Auston Trustly.

They also signed center-back Drew Moor for the 2020 season

, and that should provide them with a strong blend of youth and experience at the back. Colorado conceded 63 goals last season, the second-highest tally in the conference and the best way to generate an improvement in 2020 is to tighten up at the back. Abubakar will be key to that, as they conceded 1.5 goals per game when he played and 2.4 when he was missing this year. “We’re thrilled to have Lalas back and with us from the very start next year,” said executive vice president Padraig Smith after meeting Columbus Crew’s transfer demands. “I think Lalas himself was pretty open about the fact that he enjoyed his time here, he felt like he integrated into the group very well, this was somewhere he wanted to be and I think that\’s very important.”

Designated Player Spots

The Rapids have three DP slots to play around with during this offseason and that should allow them to add significant talent. These players operate outside of the salary cap, and it provides the franchise with a tantalizing opportunity to recruit the sort of overseas talent that can light up the league. Smith has spent time in South America on a recruitment drive, and we could see some stellar talent move to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before next season begins.

Cap Space

Smith also has cap space and plenty of Targeted Allocation Money to use as he bids to build a squad that can end a three-year postseason drought. “We’ve brought in some great young players over the last 12-18 months, but we need a little bit of experience in this group,” said Smith in a recent interview. The best teams in MLS history blend youthful exuberance with the steady presence of some veteran pros, and it is good to see Smith recognize this. He is building a strong, enthusiastic group of players and it will surely benefit from a smattering of Latin American talent and a few season professionals to help steady the ship during tough away games. “This is the way we want to do this,” said Smith. “We’re building a young, dynamic, attack-focused team. Being able to add these new DPs will be huge for us.”

image courtesy of unsplash.com

Turnersville Resident Participates in Widener University Study Abroad Program

CHESTER, PA (12/02/2019)– Undergraduate students at Widener University returned home after spending the fall semester abroad in countries across countries in Europe and in Australia. The international learning experiences allowed students to gain a global understanding and prepare them for careers in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

\”Widener\’s long-term study abroad program provides students with life changing experiences,\” said Kandy Turner, director of International Student Services and Programs. \”Studying in a foreign country is an excellent opportunity for students to grow both professionally and personally through honing critical skills, such as adaptability and independence, as they prepare to enter into their respective fields. These opportunities complement their academic work on campus while introducing them to different cultures, customs and traditions across the globe.\”

Among the students was Megan Welding. Welding spent the fall semester in Austria.

Welding is a senior psychology major and a resident of Turnersville.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener comprises seven schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate, baccalaureate, master\’s and doctoral degrees. Visit the university website,

http://www.widener.edu/

Governor Murphy Urges Residents to Prepare for Two-Part Snow Storm

Wintry Mix of Rain and Snow Will Cause Hazardous Conditions Sunday and Monday

WOODBRIDGE (Dec. 1, 2019)–

– As winter weather moves into New Jersey Sunday and Monday, Governor Phil Murphy today encouraged residents to prepare for the winter storm and hazardous travel conditions. The Administration is continuously monitoring weather conditions as the holiday weekend ends and the work week begins. New Jerseyans are encouraged to prepare for messy road conditions Sunday and Monday and are strongly encouraged to use public

transportation if possible.

“New Jersey is expected to receive significant snow, sleet, and freezing rain that will create hazardous implications for our commuters and roadways,”

said Governor Murphy

. “My Administration is closely monitoring the snow storm and deploying all necessary resources to keep our residents safe. I urge everyone to travel with caution this holiday weekend and to always use their best judgment on the road.”

“New Jersey’s transportation agencies — the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, NJ TRANSIT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — are coordinating our response and prepared for whatever weather comes,”

NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said

. “If you are traveling today, plan extra time, drive carefully, and move over to give our crews and emergency responders the room to do their jobs to keep the state’s highways clear and safe.”

“Troopers are ready to assist residents and motorists across the state both on and off of the highways throughout this busy travel weekend,”

said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police

. “We encourage everyone to prepare for winter weather. Please use caution when traveling and assemble an emergency kit for use at home and for your vehicle.”

“We are in communication with the utilities and they are prepared and ready in the event of outages,”

said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

. “In anticipation of the coming weather and potential power outages, we recommend charging phones in advance and having contact information for your utility available. And, as always, never touch any downed power lines.”

“We ask our Interfaith partners to encourage their communities to make the necessary preparations and to check on neighbors throughout the storm,”

said Jared M. Maples, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness

. “Additionally, if you ‘See Something, Say Something.’ Please report any suspicious activity to our Counterterrorism Watch Desk by calling 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (866-472-3365) or emailing

tips@njohsp.gov

.”

Important Tips to Remember When Preparing for Winter Weather:

Be prepared! Visit ready.nj.gov for information on how to prepare for: home, work, and your vehicle. Have an emergency kit/go-bag for all three locations.

Pets are family too! Remember to include them in your emergency plans. Visit animalemergency.nj.gov to find out more.

NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working before a storm.

Know how to report a power outage to your utility company.

Have cash on hand. If the power is out, so are the ATMs and credit card machines.

Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out. Texting uses less power than a phone call, so send text messages to save power if possible.

Be sure to keep an adequate amount of gas in your car.

Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who have access or functional needs.

Need a warming center? Call NJ 2-1-1 or visit

www.nj211.org

to get connected!

Be sure to have extra medications on hand and keep them in a water-resistant container.

Get all of your vital records and insurance papers together now. Keep them in a water-resistant container. If you can, scan and email them to yourself so you have a copy of important numbers and policies.

Discuss business continuity plans now. Whether you are the boss or report to a boss, discuss your game plan for continued business operations.

Here are a few tips if you must drive during or after winter weather:

Check 511nj.org for traffic updates before you hit the road.

Be sure to have a full tank of gas before you start your trip.

Follow directions from local officials.

Take it slow!

Don’t crowd the plow! Give them plenty of room to work and never pass a snow plow on the right.

Keep a winter weather kit in your car, containing an ice scraper, blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, bag of kitty litter, shovel and charged cell phone, as well as reflective triangles or flares, cloth or paper towels and jumper cables.

Weather:

A mix of snow, sleet and rain will develop from south to north across the state this morning. Most areas will changeover to all rain later this morning and into this afternoon. But the higher elevations of Northwest will likely remain snow or a wintry mix. Any rain/mix will changeover to all snow Monday morning. Periods of snow will continue through the day Monday and will end Monday evening/night. Confidence on the changeover times and amounts is still low and snowfall amounts could change. Preliminary snowfall totals across the state: 6-8″ Northwest; 2-6″ Northeast; Up to 2”Central and Less than an inch South and none Coastal areas.

Stay Informed:

Follow weather news for local forecasts, warnings, and storm watches. For those living in Central and Southern New Jersey, visit the U.S. National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly at

http://www.weather.gov/phi/

. For those living in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area, visit the US National Weather Service New York, N.Y. at

http://www.weather.gov/okx

Follow New Jersey Office of Emergency Management on social media for important weather updates and safety information:

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/ReadyNewJersey

Twitter:

www.twitter.com/ReadyNJ

Instagram:

www.instagram.com/ReadyNJ

Buena Vista Township Taxpayers Pay $185,000 to Settle Lawsuit

EDITOR\’S NOTE: Yacovelli served as business administrator for the Ocean City Board of Education until

his October 7, 2014 resignation

. Yacovelli also previously

served as a member of the Audubon Board of Education

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNewsnet

BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (December 1, 2019)—A lawsuit filed against the Buena Regional Board of Education, Atlantic County, was settled in May for $185,000, according to John Paff of

New Jersey Civil Settlements.

The suit was brought by a confidential secretary to the district\’s business administrator who claim the administrator gave a female employee in whom he had a

sexual interest a $10,000 raise to be his secretary.

According to the suit, the business administrator took the employee to the Tropicana in Atlantic City to have sex with her and also had sex with her in his office during school time. It was further alleged that both the business administrator and the female employee bragged to the secretary about the intensity of their sexual encounters.

In her lawsuit, Phyllis Boehm, a secretary for Buena Regional, claimed that Business Administrator Pasquale Yacovelli gave a $10,000 raise to a secretary who worked \”on a different side of the building\” so that she would become his secretary and ultimately his lover. Boehm claimed that the secretary, who is referred to in the lawsuit as \”Jane Doe,\” was her friend and that Yacovelli asked her to talk to Jane Doe about his interest in her.

According to the lawsuit, Jane became Yacovelli\’s secretary in September 2015 and Yacovelli \”used his influence as Business Administrator to get Jane the ten thousand dollar raise she wanted.\”

Boehm said that she \”was very uncomfortable with the whole situation\” and that Yacovelli\’s and Jane Doe\’s sexual activity and comments created \”an environment that was hostile for women to work in [and] was in violation of [the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination].\”

Before working for Buena Regional, Yacovelli served as business administrator for the Ocean City Board of Education until

his October 7, 2014 resignation

. Yacovelli also previously

served as a member of the Audubon Board of Education

The case is captioned Boehm v. Buena Regional School District, et al, Superior Court Docket No. ATL-L-496-17 and Boehm\’s attorney was Leo B. Dubler of Mount Laurel. Case documents are on-line

here

Paff

said none of lawsuit\’s allegations have been proven or disproven in court. Settlement agreements typically state that payment does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by any of the defendants. All that is known for sure is that Buena Regional or its insurer, for whatever reason, decided that it would rather pay Boehm $185,000 than take the matter to trial, according to

Paff.

The district consists of the Buena Regional High School, the Buena Regional Middle School, (both in Buena) the Dr. JP Cleary Elementary School, Minotola, the Collings Lake Elementary School, Collings Lake, and the John C. Milanesi Elementary School, Buena

The Top 6 Frequently Made Automation Mistakes and How to Solve Them

Gloucestercitynews.net (Dec. 1, 2019)–Testing is a vital procedure in the development of products, software or hardware, separate components in order to find and eradicate errors, ensure that it’ll perform well and have good output.

Test automation can also be described as a method of utilizing an automated testing tool to check, analyze and predict expected results to actual ones. It intends using software to automatically perform the most difficult testing jobs or carry out ones that may appear many times, usually more than once or twice. The main advantage of

automation testing

over manual is that it’s much faster and more correct and accurate.

While automation is anything but difficult to perform whenever done right, it\’s much simpler to fail to understand the situation.

Using test automation every time

Automation shouldn\’t be viewed each time since certain issues don\’t even require robotization. Some of the tests ought to be done manually. A strategy for figuring out which test way to employ ought to be created to spare automation testers from burning through their time and vitality on automating what must be done in manual way or doing manually what should be automated.

Here’s the solution: Automated testing is reasonable for tests with a great deal of information, tests that give precise results, rehashed tests, and so on, while manual testing is appropriate for API,UX and UI tests.

Utilization wrong automation tools

Using an inappropriate device to take care of the correct issue will prompt awful results. Additionally, in the event that you have very few testings\’ to mechanize, it wouldn\’t be right to utilize only one computerization device. Thus, utilizing only a device to tackle every one of your issues via automated testing will bring terrible outcomes in light of the fact that various issues more often than not may require various methodologies and instruments.

Proposed solution: Analyze each issue you have and decide which tool is the most appropriate in each case.

Neglecting validation test

Validation

is significant in testing automation since it is required to affirm the framework is working as wanted and the normal outcomes are acquired. In this manner, dismissing the approval stage may prompt getting undesired results if there had been bugs in the framework that wasn\’t recognized in light of the fact that approval was skipped during testing.

Consider this solution: Validation testing can be performed successfully utilizing instruments like Appium, HP quality focus or Selenium.

Drive testing through the UI

Embracing this technique means one thing: slow results. The whole process initially runs smoothly, but then becomes slower and slower over time. There are continuous delays in the display of test results and if there was a mistake during the procedure, the results are affected and the whole procedure has to be started all over again.

Solution: use of a test tooling system through an upgraded UI

Separating tests from advancement

Initial stage

of automation testing is writing of codes. The written codes may along the line contain bugs which will be corrected, and then the test runs smoothly. The problem is, there is set back on the feedback from development to testing. The code may not have the necessary qualities to test it.

Solution: create tests at the beginning that can be managed by a tester or software.

Duplicating or pasting test codes

In the case of a rush and the programmer decides to save time by copying and pasting instead of writing the codes. Some procedures will have an intermediary link or phase before proceeding. Copying/pasting will break off the automation of each stage. This makes the testing procedure disorganized. This makes the testing methodology complicated.

Proposed solution: fix duplicated codes or even better, compose new codes. Capacities for intelligent procedures can also be made.

Seniors in Pain find Relief with Cannabis

Stephanie O\’Neill:

September 18, 2018

Megan Baker (left) of Papa & Barkley Co., a cannabis company based in Eureka, Calif., shows Shirley Avedon different products intended to help with pain relief. (Stephanie O’Neill for KHN)

Shirley Avedon, 90, had never been a cannabis user. But carpal tunnel syndrome that sends shooting pains into both of her hands and an aversion to conventional steroid and surgical treatments is prompting her to consider some new options.

“It’s very painful, sometimes I can’t even open my hand,” Avedon said

So for the second time in two months, she’s climbed on board a bus that provides seniors at the Laguna Woods Village retirement community in Orange County, Calif., with a free shuttle to a nearby marijuana dispensary.

The retired manager of an oncology office says she’s seeking the same relief she saw cancer patients get from smoking marijuana 25 years ago.

“At that time [marijuana] wasn’t legal, so they used to get it off their children,” she said with a laugh. “It was fantastic what it did for them.”

Avedon, who doesn’t want to get high from anything she uses, picked up a topical cream on her first trip that was sold as a pain reliever. It contained cannabidiol, or CBD, but was formulated without THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient.

“It helped a little,” she said. “Now I’m going back for the second time hoping they have something better.”

As more states legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use — 30 states plus the District of Columbia to date — the cannabis industry is booming. Among

the fastest growing group

of users: people over 50, with especially steep increases among those 65 and older. And some dispensaries are tailoring their pitches to seniors like Avedon who are seeking alternative treatments for their aches, pains and other medical conditions

On this particular morning, about 35 seniors climb on board the free shuttle — paid for by Bud and Bloom, a licensed cannabis dispensary in Santa Ana. After about a half-hour drive, the large white bus pulls up to the parking lot of the dispensary.

About half of the seniors on board today are repeat customers; the other half are cannabis newbies who’ve never tried it before, said Kandice Hawes, director of community outreach for Bud and Bloom.

Residents of Laguna Woods Village, a retirement community in Orange County, Calif., ride a free shuttle to a marijuana dispensary in August.

(Stephanie O’Neill for KHN)

“Not everybody is coming to be a customer,” Hawes said. “A lot are just coming to be educated.”

Among them, Layla Sabet, 72, a first-timer seeking relief from back pain that keeps her awake at night, she said.

“I’m taking so much medication to sleep and still I can’t sleep,” she said. “So I’m trying it for the back pain and the sleep

.”

Hawes invited the seniors into a large room with chairs and a table set up with free sandwiches and drinks. As they ate, she gave a presentation focused on the potential benefits of cannabis as a reliever of anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain and the various ways people can consume it.

Several vendors on site took turns speaking to the group about the goods they sell. Then, the seniors entered the dispensary for the chance to buy everything from old-school rolled joints and high-tech vaporizer pens to liquid sublingual tinctures, topical creams and an assortment of sweet, cannabis-infused edibles.

Jim Lebowitz, 75, is a return customer who suffers pain from back surgery two years ago.

He prefers to eat his cannabis, he said.

“I got chocolate and I got gummies,” he told a visitor. “Never had the chocolate before, but I’ve had the gummies and they worked pretty good.”

“Gummies” are cannabis-infused chewy candies. His contain both the CBD and THC, two active ingredients in marijuana.

Derek Tauchman rings up sales at one of several Bud and Bloom registers in the dispensary. Fear of getting high is the biggest concern expressed by senior consumers, who make up the bulk of the dispensary’s new business, he said.

“What they don’t realize is there’s so many different ways to medicate now that you don’t have to actually get high to relieve all your aches and pains,” he said.

But despite such enthusiasm, marijuana isn’t well researched, said Dr. David Reuben, the Archstone Foundation professor of medicine and geriatrics at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.

While cannabis is legal both medically and recreationally in California, it remains a Schedule 1 substance — meaning it’s illegal under federal law. And that makes it harder to study.

The limited research that exists suggests that marijuana may be helpful in treating pain and nausea, according to a

research overview

published last year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Less conclusive research points to it helping with sleep problems and anxiety.

Reuben said he sees a growing number of patients interested in using it for things like anxiety, chronic pain and depression.

“I am, in general, fairly supportive of this because these are conditions [for which] there aren’t good alternatives,” he said.

But Reuben cautions his patients that products bought at marijuana dispensaries aren’t FDA-regulated, as are prescription drugs. That means dose and consistency can vary.

“There’s still so much left to learn about how to package, how to ensure quality and standards,” he said. “So the question is how to make sure the people are getting high-quality product and then testing its effectiveness.”

And there are risks associated with cannabis use too, said

Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz,

who directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“When you have an industry that does nothing but blanket our society with messages about the medicinal value of marijuana, people get the idea this is a safe substance to use. And that’s not true,” she said.

Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, and with long-term use, there’s a potential for addiction, some studies say.

Research suggests

that between 9 and 30 percent of those who use marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana use disorder.

Still, Reuben said, if it gets patients off more addictive and potentially dangerous prescription drugs — like opioids — all the better.

Jim Levy, 71, suffers a pinched nerve that shoots pain down both his legs. He uses a topical cream and ingests cannabis gelatin capsules and lozenges.

“I have no way to measure, but I’d say it gets rid of 90 percent of the pain,” said Levy, who — like other seniors here — pays for these products out-of-pocket, as Medicare doesn’t cover cannabis.

“I got something they say is wonderful and I hope it works,” said Shirley Avedon. “It’s a cream.”

The price tag: $90. Avedon said if it helps ease the carpal tunnel pain she suffers, it’ll be worth it.

“It’s better than having surgery,” she said.

Precautions To Keep In Mind

Though marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, it’s legal in some form in 30 states and the District of Columbia. And a growing number of Americans are considering trying it for health reasons. For people who are, doctors advise the following cautions.

Talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor you’re thinking about trying medical marijuana. Although he or she may have some concerns, most doctors won’t judge you for seeking out alternative treatments.

Make sure your prescriber is aware of all the medications you take. Marijuana might have dangerous interactions with prescription medications, particularly medicines that can be sedating, said Dr. Benjamin Han, a geriatrician at New York University School of Medicine who studies marijuana use in the elderly.

Watch out for dosing.

Older adults metabolize drugs differently than young people. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, try the lowest possible dose first to avoid feeling intoxicated. And be especially careful with edibles. They can have very concentrated doses that don’t take effect right away.

Elderly people are also more sensitive to side effects. If you start to feel unwell, talk to your doctor right away. “When you’re older, you’re more vulnerable to the side effects of everything,” Han said. “I’m cautious about everything.”

Look for licensed providers.

In some states like California, licensed dispensaries must test for contaminants. Be especially careful with marijuana bought illegally. “If you’re just buying marijuana down the street … you don’t really know what’s in that,” said Dr. Joshua Briscoe, a palliative care doctor at Duke University School of Medicine who has studied the use of marijuana for pain and nausea in older patients. “Buyer, beware.”

Bottom line:

The research on medical marijuana is limited. There’s even less we know about marijuana use in older people. Proceed with caution.

Jenny Gold and Mara Gordon contributed to this report.

This story is part of a partnership that includes

NPR

and Kaiser Health News.

KHN’s coverage of these topics is supported by

John A. Hartford Foundation

and

The SCAN Foundation

SUNDAY HUNTING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

HARRISBURG, PA

– It’s official: expanded Sunday hunting is coming to Pennsylvania in 2020.

Gov. Tom Wolf today signed into law Senate Bill 147, which permits additional hunting on three Sundays per calendar year – one within the archery deer season, one within the firearms deer season and one selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The law will take effect Feb. 25, 2020, and the first new Sunday hunting opportunities will be identified by the Game Commission thereafter.

In Pennsylvania, Sunday hunting generally is limited to the hunting of foxes, coyotes, crows and feral hogs during open seasons.

Introduced by state Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, Senate Bill 147 passed the state House of Representatives by a 144-54 vote Oct. 29, then passed the state Senate by a 38-11 vote Nov. 18.

Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said today’s signing of Senate Bill 147 by Gov. Wolf is a win for Pennsylvania’s hunters.

“People today tend to lead busy lives, and hunters are no exception,” Burhans said. “No matter how badly a hunter might want to get out and enjoy the outdoors during hunting season, other responsibilities might take priority and make it difficult.

“Providing opportunity to experience hunting on previously closed Sundays has game-changing potential for hunters with tight schedules and, in many cases, will make a difference by enabling those hunters to hunt alongside their children, setting them on a path they’ll follow the rest of their lives,” Burhans said. “To Sen. Dan Laughlin and to all of those who supported the bill and helped to make it a reality, please accept a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the Game Commission and hunters statewide.”

Laughlin, Chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, said the new law will create opportunities for tens of thousands of working families across Pennsylvania.

“I believe this has been a long time in coming and is truly a tribute to the thousands of hunters and the many organizations who have supported this effort,” he said. “Weekends are essentially the only time that most working men and women can get out into the woods. The same could be said for many young people, the ones who represent the future of the sport. Lifting the ban will give them increased opportunities to pursue the activity that they love.”

Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, who serves on the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee as Minority Chair, sees the new law as an important tool in helping to recruit new hunters and keep them active.

“Sunday hunting will boost interest in the sport and open up new opportunities for hunters who are unable to get into the woods on other days of the week,” Brewster said. “I have been a longtime supporter of adding days when hunters are able to be in the field.

“This law will create access yet provide reasonable protections for farmers and landowners,” he said. “Sunday hunting will allow us to usher in new generations of sportsmen and women to enjoy our woodlands.”

State Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, the Democratic Chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, said Sunday hunting provides for hunters who otherwise have little time to hunt.

“It opens up opportunities for hunters who work six days a week, for students in college, and for junior hunters who can spend an extra day being introduced to our sport,” Kortz said. “It’s a big win for hunters, while respecting the concerns of all who enjoy our state’s outdoor traditions.”

Prior to passing the House of Representatives, Senate Bill 147 was amended to require all hunters on private land on the selected Sundays to carry written permission from the landowner. This requirement does not apply on Sundays when only foxes, coyotes, crows and feral hogs may be hunted.

The bill also gives Game Commission officers the authority to investigate private-land trespassing complaints and enforce trespassing violations as a primary offense. Previously, trespassing violations were referred to police unless a Game & Wildlife Code violation also was alleged. Once the new law takes effect, hunting-related private-land trespassing violations will be enforced year-round by the Game Commission.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Travis Lau – 717-705-6541

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Wreaths of Remembrance Dec. 7

(Monroe Township, NJ) On Saturday, Dec. 7, residents are invited to gather at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery to help remember those men and women who defended our country\’s freedom during the annual Wreaths of Remembrance Ceremony.

Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said, \”By placing these wreaths annually, we continue to show our thanks to those who gave their lives and show that we remember them and will continue to do so for years to come.\”

The Wreaths of Remembrance Ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 10 a.m. sharp.

Freeholder Dan Christy, liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs, said, \”For some families, this is a way to include their relatives in their holiday festivities and keep them in their hearts, for others, it is a way to honor a veteran for their service and sacrifice.\”

The Ceremony will include a moment of silence for those who served, followed by opening remarks and the announcing of those laying the wreaths. Immediately following the ceremony, volunteers will assist to lay a wreath on each of the individual 2,800 graves.

The Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at 240 N. Tuckahoe Road in Monroe Township.

Wreaths of Remembrance Parking is at Williamstown High School. Bus service will be provided to and from the cemetery. Vehicles should not park on the roadway.

PRELIMINARY THREE-DAY BEAR HARVEST RESULTS

HARRISBURG, PA

– Through three days of Pennsylvania’s general bear season, hunters have harvested 1,498 bears, with bears taken in 52 counties.

That compares to a three-day 1,833 in the 2018 general season. However, the 2019 general season harvest is complemented by a large bear harvest during new and expanded early bear seasons for muzzleloader, firearms and archery hunters. Factoring in the early season harvest, 3,373 bears have been taken through Tuesday. That already tops the 2018 total bear harvest of 3,153, with plenty more bear hunting still to go.

After the season’s third day, two bears of more than 600 pounds have been added to the list.

A 743-pound bear taken Tuesday morning with a rifle in Greene Township, Pike County, by Matthew J. Erdie Jr., of Nazareth, ranks as the third-heaviest bear taken across all 2019 bear seasons.

Meanwhile, a 661-pounder taken Monday morning with a rifle in Lake Township, Wayne County, by Michael A. Biduck II, of West Abington, now ranks as the fifth-heaviest bear in 2019.

The largest bear through all 2019 seasons continues to be the 813-pound male taken with a rifle on the opening day of the general season in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, by Victor M. Vassalluzzo, of Kintnersville.

The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pounder harvested in 2010 in Middle Smithfield Township, Pike County. Since 1992, seven black bears weighing at least 800 pounds have been lawfully harvested in Pennsylvania hunting seasons.

Other large bears taken in the 2019 general season’s first three days – all taken with a rifle – include: a 747-pound male taken in Wright Township, Luzerne County, by J. Kripp Jr., of Mountaintop; a 696-pound male taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, by Brian J. Borosh, of Jim Thorpe; a 657-pound male taken in Franklin Township, Columbia County, by Nicholas A. Podgurski, of Elysburg; a 656-pound male taken in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, by Dale J. Kobal, of Hunlock Creek; a 623-pound male taken in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, by Mikael J. Catanese, of Sewickley; a 620-pound male taken in Miles Township, Centre County, by Reuben Kennel, of Turbotville; and a 604-pound male taken in Gallagher Township, Clinton County, by Steven Z. Rohrbach, of Lock Haven.

The top bear-hunting county in the state over the general season’s first three days was Lycoming County with 113 bears. It was followed by Tioga County with 107 bears.

Three-day preliminary harvests by county and region are:

The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows:

WMU 1A

, 11 (17 in 2018);

WMU 1B

, 44 (100);

WMU 2A

, 3 (5);

WMU 2C

, 69 (115);

WMU 2D

, 92 (114);

WMU 2E

, 38 (56);

WMU 2F

, 170 (198);

WMU 2G

, 309 (344);

WMU 2H

, 49 (59);

WMU 3A

, 85 (99);

WMU 3B

, 138 (117);

WMU 3C

, 56 (45);

WMU 3D

, 161 (141);

WMU 4A

, 76 (123);

WMU 4B

, 32 (53);

WMU 4C

, 50 (83);

WMU 4D

, 92 (112);

WMU 4E

, 21 (48);

WMU 5A

, 1 (4);

WMU 5C

, 1 (0).

Three-day harvests by county and region are:

Northwest (221)

: Warren, 61 (52); Clarion, 35 (37); Venango, 30 (68); Forest, 26 (52); Jefferson, 25 (64); Butler, 20 (17); Crawford, 19 (49); Mercer, 4 (12); and Erie, 1 (15).

Southwest (114)

: Somerset, 34 (57); Armstrong, 30 (25); Indiana, 24 (30); Fayette, 14 (32); Cambria, 7 (13); Westmoreland, 4 (11); and Greene, 1 (0).

Northcentral (626)

: Lycoming, 113 (103); Tioga, 107 (86); Clinton, 87 (119); Potter, 76 (54); McKean, 59 (43); Clearfield, 53 (72); Elk, 51 (46); Centre, 35 (46); Cameron, 30 (61); and Union, 15 (13).

Southcentral (154)

: Huntingdon, 49 (76); Bedford, 34 (51); Fulton, 17 (33); Perry, 16 (14); Blair, 15 (21); Juniata, 8 (15); Mifflin, 6 (10); Franklin, 5 (14); Cumberland, 3 (4); and Adams, 1 (4).

Northeast (349)

: Pike, 66 (46); Monroe, 44 (46); Luzerne, 39 (50); Bradford, 36 (46); Wayne, 35 (29); Sullivan, 30 (30); Susquehanna, 29 (10); Wyoming, 19 (24); Lackawanna, 18 (15); Carbon, 16 (25); Columbia, 12 (17); and Northumberland, 5 (17).

Southeast (34)

: Dauphin, 14 (25); Schuylkill, 13 (17); Berks 6 (1); and Lebanon, 1 (7).