Category: NORTH JERSEY

Mikhail Peleg: Soon, Machete will please fans with new hits

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28, 2019)–After a long creative work hiatus, the popular Machete band intends to return to the big stage.

This information was shared by Mikhail Peleg, the band’s producer.

The leader of the band, Yaroslav Malyi, said that a creative break was necessary for the group. They traveled around the world, absorbed the energy of ancient countries, meditated, and learned new things. But not only had the rest from the multimillion audience helped band members to grow. They had constantly rehearsed, wrote lyrics and music. Machete visited Israel, Bali, Singapore, and India, the soloist of the band reviewed his life values ​​and began to think differently. The guys do not hide the fact that Machete will present a new album soon, on which they have worked so long.

Frontman Yaroslav Malyi shares his travel experiences. He says that such breaks in creative work are necessary for everyone. For four years, the members of the band studied spiritual practices, practiced yoga, and read books. Lyrics were written for new songs, and musical accompaniment was invented in unusual conditions. Such a long renunciation from popularity yielded results. Completely new, wiser artists are returning to the stage.

Yaroslav Malyi admits that to refuse the attention of fans was a united band decision. Indeed, in order to break new ground and become the best, you need to radically change something in life. While traveling around the world, the band managed to get to know many talented performers, work with them and learn from valuable experience.

The producer of Machete band, Mikhail Peleg

https://genius.com/Dave-yaroslav-maly-machete-and-producer-of-the-band-mikhail-peleg-spoke-about-new-projects-annotated

, does not hide his enthusiasm for the work of Yaroslav Malyi and his team. He notes the unprecedented determination and talent of the band members. According to Mikhail, fans of the band will be able to see several Machete projects very soon.

It is not a surprise that after such a long break, the group will daze its fans with something new. The frontman of Machete has so far only announced that their new songs will combine different styles and genres. The compositions will cover topics that are important to all people.

The first track from the new album will be the song \”Sky is my home.\” Yaroslav says that he tried to put everything in simple but powerful words that could make people think. He tells about important and secondary, temporary, and permanent. According to Yaroslav, this particular song will be the key to understanding the meaning of the entire album.

Modern people are busy with the routine of everyday life. They are always in a hurry and do not pay attention to simple joys. A few adults will be able to say what real happiness is. The leader of the band says that everyone will be able to find the necessary answers to important questions in the song “Sky is my home.”

The comeback of the famous Machete (

Mikhail Peleg: Machete band launches new successful projects

) became public not so long ago. The founder of the band also noted that not only the style of their work has changed, but also the members of the group. Alexander Zinger (drums) and Mikhail Lisov (guitar) joined the band.

The rock band Machete was founded in 2010. Initially, it was an Internet project of Yaroslav Malyi, who was already a soloist of another group. But the very first songs became so popular that they went beyond the Internet and began to be broadcasted on television and radio. As a result, the independent Machete records label was created. The hits “Do not part with your loved ones” and “Dad” were gaining popularity every day, and the video for the song “Tenderness” gained nearly 34 million views on the YouTube channel.

How to Plan the Ultimate Solo Vacation

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28, 2019)–Sometimes life just gets to us, and that’s alright. Needing an escape is not a problem; it’s just a chance to treat yourself to a new routine. It’s healthy, it’s fun, and no, you don’t need to try to organize a trip with friends. If you find it’s difficult to get everyone to agree on dates, on destinations, on what to do or where to go – then go without them. Solo travel is very invigorating when you’re stressed, and can help you have the perfect trip that you’ve always wanted.

To ensure you get a full, rounded, enriching vacation, however, you’re going to want to follow these tips:

Choose a Destination with the Right Weather

There is always going to be great weather somewhere. If the temperature matters to you, then the temperature is going to dictate when and where you can go. If you need a sunny escape during winter, then heading south to

great destinations like Australia

is definitely the way to go. By choosing the weather first, you won’t be disappointed and instead can soak in the sun.

Read Local Guides Before You Go

The best way to learn about what there is to do is to read local guides written by local people. Try to stay away from big corporate travel sites, as their recommendations are going to be skewered. If you want a real, authentic, quality experience, then going where the locals go is your best bet. You can do this for nights out, for food and drink, and even for finding some hidden treasures in your destination that don’t get featured a million times on Instagram.

Be Aware of What is Available in Your Destination

Travel out of state, and the rules will be different. Travel out of the country, however, and you can enjoy a wholly unique experience that is simply not afforded to you back home. Head over to Australia for vacation, for example, and you’d be surprised to learn that brothels like Brisbane’s

cleosonnile.com.au

are exhilarating, legal, and safe. This keeps the experience safe and pleasurable for everyone.

Each country has its own set of rules, and knowing what you can (and cannot) do on vacation is a good way to make the most out of your trip and to ensure you don’t accidentally get in trouble.

Find Events and Book Tickets

Always check to see what events will be going on when you are in town. A great concert, a festival, your favorite comedian – there are so many opportunities at any given time. Going to an event will make your trip more unique and special.

Keep Your Trip Simple

Overdoing your itinerary

is going to be the death of you. Yes, you’ll be fully in charge of what you do, where you go, and what you see, but you don’t want to rush from place to place. You need to take some time to enjoy yourself and soak in the experience and quiet your mind. Regardless of how fun and exciting your trip is, taking some moments to be still will help you relax and rejuvenate so that you can return home well-rested in the mind and spirit.

4 Amazing Technologies Improving Our Health Every Day

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28,2019)–

We’ve come a long way from leeches. The high-tech boom of the Information and Innovation Ages has melded with the healthy-living craze. Cutting-edge technologies help us live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

Here are four amazing technologies for improving our health every day …

1. Software as a Medical Device

We get it—you already had to learn what SaaS means, but now you have to learn SaMD? Nevertheless, according to

Orthogonal

, “SaMD is proving to be a major disruptive force in the way healthcare professionals do their work, in areas such as bioinformatics, drug discovery, genomics, point-of-care diagnostics, robotics, and therapeutics.”

SaMD basically uses software to perform one or several basic medical functions. Examples include:

Artificially-intelligent software that examines MRI scans for signs of cardiovascular disease.

Software that recommends insulin dosage for a diabetic patient based on inputs from a patient’s cloud-based food log.

Software that determines the correct dosage of the medication for an individual, based on that individual’s cloud-based medical records.

Software that identifies signs of respiratory conditions based on breathing patterns recorded by the microphone.

Software that tracks the risk factors contributing to epileptic seizures.

SaMD should be distinguished from SiMD (software

in

a medical device) which includes programs that automate surgical robots or the magnets inside an MRI machine.

Instead of performing these mechanical functions, SaMD apps work in tandem with cloud-based data and wearable devices to provide medical professionals with a wealth of actionable data they couldn’t possibly get from a brief clinic visit (or the clipboard you fill out before the visit).

2. Wearable Health-Tracking Devices

There’s no need to guess when the doctor asks you whether you lead an active or sedentary life. Why guess when a

cheap pedometer

will tell you exactly how many steps you have taken over the course of a week? A month? A year?

In a way, wearable tech started with the wristwatch or pocket watch and took a long leap forward with the cell phone and then the smartphone. Technologies like the Apple Watch have made a clunky transition into the mainstream, but FitBits made a huge splash. HuffPo estimated that by 2018, 130 million wearable devices would have been delivered to consumers.

According to Business Insider Intelligence, a whopping 80%+ of consumers express a willingness to wear fitness technology.

It’s not just about tracking steps, though. Wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors stand to make a huge difference for patients living with heart conditions. A wearable ECG monitor can transmit data directly to your doctor, as well as your atrial fibrillation and details like your elevation, distance, and pace.

This year, Omron Healthcare debuted the first wearable blood pressure monitor to track daily blood pressure readings for patients at risk of hypertension, correlating it with geographical, environmental, and physical exertion data.

Phillips also released a wearable biosensor patch, like those given to astronauts, which shows the promise of an almost 89% reduction in preventable respiratory or cardiac arrest. What a time to be alive … and, presumably, stay alive.

3. Blockchain

No, we don’t mean we will pay all our medical bills with Bitcoin.

Blockchain technology usually makes the news for its role in the cryptocurrency craze. But while crypto is built on blockchain,

blockchain is not crypto.

The reality is far less sexy … and far more revolutionary.

“Blockchain” refers to a process where “blocks” of data exist on a “chain,” a digital, decentralized, and public ledger that exists simultaneously on thousands of individual computers.

As a result, blockchains are

easy to audit and almost impossible to hack or falsify.

This is why people trust it with systems of currency.

Where else do you need transparency, security, and integrity of data. All over the medical profession, of course. According to

Healthcare Weekly

, “Digital blockchains stand to revolutionize how the medical industry creates drugs, runs clinical trials, gathers medical records, and renders care.” In other words, pretty much the whole shebang.

How does blockchain do this? In many ways:

Warehousing of Pharmaceutical Data.

Blockchain and AI technology could standardize and maintain the integrity of the data that pharma companies use to create drugs.

Fighting Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals.

Pharma companies could reduce the $200+ billion in losses they suffer from counterfeit drugs by shoring up the supply chain with unhackable, unimpeachable blockchain records.

Siloing Clinical Trial Data.

No technology shows more promise than blockchain to create unalterable, auditable, secure databases of clinical trial data, which can be browsed by AI for relevant patterns. Blockchain could also bring data integrity to the identification of viable trial subjects.

Managing Patient Consent.

Blockchain’s biggest contribution to the business community may be “smart contracts”—e-signature records beyond reproach. This could apply to patient consent, as well as other hospital contracts.

Patient Intake.

Hey, what if you

didn’t

have to fill out a clipboard in every hospital waiting room and then wait for that data to be input before the doctor sees you? Blockchain offers a secure solution for patient intake

before

you arrive at the doctor’s office.

Verifying Physician Credentials.

Fraudulent physicians and unlicensed quacks are a real liability for hospitals. A transparent, easily-audited blockchain database could replace “scout’s honor” or burdensome research to verify a provider’s qualifications.

The global healthcare marketplace is expected to spend $5.61 billion on blockchain technology by the year 2025 …

and save $100-$150 billion as a result.

Online medical records facilitated by blockchain could work together with wearable devices and SaMD to completely change how patients track their health and how medical professionals deliver care.

4. Genomics

The mapping of the first human genome in 2003 was a medical milestone. The next frontier is the mapping of

your

own genome. Yes, each person’s unique genome, which contains its own inalterable “blockchain” of data about that person’s physiology.

Genomics stands to take personalized medical treatment to the next level. Doctors can take a much less scattershot approach to treatment, therapy, and medication, instead of tailoring a treatment plan to the data found in the patient’s genome. It really is the application of a data-driven age to the very cells of our body and the DNA inside of them.

Genomics stands to:

Reduce our intake of inefficient medications.

Reduce the application of unnecessary surgeries.

Revolutionize the treatment of cancer.

Provide treatment options for genetic disorders like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Angleman’s Syndrome, and many more.

Members of Newark’s ‘Boyz’ Street Gang Admit Drug and Firearms Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – Members of the “Famous Boyz” street gang have admitted to firearms and narcotics distribution offenses as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Shaka McKinney, 25, of Newark, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Jahid Vauters,” a/k/a “k”, a/k/a “KO,” 31, of Newark, pleaded guilty Nov. 25, 2019, before Judge Arleo to an information charging him with one count each of: conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; possessing two firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon; and possessing two firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As part of his plea agreement, the parties have agreed to a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Karen Armstrong, 29, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 7, 2019 to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.

Eugene Williams, a/k/a “Popa,” a/k/a “Papa,” 53, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 7, 2019, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Saeed Dawes, a/k/a “Nasty,” 22, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 6, 2019, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.

In October 2018, McKinney, Vauters, Armstrong, Williams, and Dawes, and 12 other members of a violent drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark were charged by criminal complaint after a lengthy wiretap investigation with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and/or heroin. McKinney and Vauters were also charged with firearms offenses.

On Feb. 25, 2019, a grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging three of the defendants, Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, and Jonathan Garcia, a/k/a “Bebo,” with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine for their alleged participation in supplying the “Famous Boyz” with cocaine.

On Sept. 30, 2019, a grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment against the remaining defendants and Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, Garcia, Javon Holmes, a/k/a “J-Dot”, and John Mosley, a/k/a “Breezy,” a/k/a “Brazy.” The charges in the superseding indictment are pending against the remaining defendants.

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

The defendants are members and associates of the Famous Boyz – a subset of the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods street gang – which dealt significant quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, in the area of South 18th Street and 15th Avenue, in Newark. The gang often referred to this area as the “8 Block,” “18th,” or simply by reference to the number “8.”

Mosley was a primary source of narcotics for the Famous Boyz and often directed the gang’s drug operations. He and other members of the Famous Boyz shared narcotics, customers, and firearms with one another in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking activities, and they used juveniles to distribute narcotics and stash firearms. Patricio Hernandez and Jonathan Hernandez were among the main suppliers of crack cocaine to Mosley, while Vauters supplied Mosley with heroin. Heroin sold by Famous Boyz members, including Dawes, Armstrong and Williams, contained a fentanyl analogue, which is an extremely dangerous and highly addictive substance.

Members of the Famous Boyz used social media to promote the gang’s criminal activities, including by advertising their narcotics trafficking activities and proceeds and by threatening both rival gang members and any individuals who considered cooperating with law enforcement. Those members who sold narcotics also enriched themselves by committing other crimes, including robberies.

The heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy and heroin and crack cocaine distribution counts to which Vauters pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. In addition, the firearm possession count to which Vauters pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other punishment.

The crack cocaine conspiracy count to which Williams pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The heroin conspiracy to which Williams pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.

The heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy counts to which Dawes and Armstrong pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million.

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, and officers of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation.

He also thanked the special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini; and the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gary Marshuetz, for their assistance with the investigation.

This investigation is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Newark. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Board of Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.

The government is represented by Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Mary E. Toscano and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica M. Sinopole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations against the remaining defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

5 Things That Could Go Wrong During Your Next Trip to Vegas

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 28, 2019)–It is not called Sin City for nothing. Las Vegas is a great place to go to for fun, gambling, entertainment and yes, some good, old fashioned debauchery. While the thrill-seekers paradise in the desert has become a lot more family-friendly over the last few decades, there is still plenty that can go wrong during a trip to Vegas. While the worst-case over-the-top scenario looks something like the movie

The Hangover

, there are plenty of other, more realistic things that can ruin your next Vegas vacation. Here are 5 things that could go wrong during your next trip to Vegas.

Get banned from a casino

Nothing will sour your trip to Sin City like getting tossed out of and banned from the casino. Aside from trying to cheat to win money (which we will discuss later), there are a few guaranteed ways to be asked to leave not so nicely by very large security guards.

Gambling News Magazine

has a pretty comprehensive list of the faux pas that will earn you a swift exit. These things include the number one reason, getting too intoxicated, as well as things like acting inappropriately at the tables, forgetting casino etiquette, or taking pictures on the casino floor.

Get caught cheating

There are a lot of ways to win in Vegas which also means there are a lot of ways to try to cheat to win. Getting caught by casino security or the “eye in the sky” trying to scam the casino is a surefire recipe to be ejected from the casino and not allowed back in here is what the casinos are looking for in the different table games to find cheaters.

Blackjack

– Card counting is the biggest way of cheating in blackjack. This is when players keep a running tally of what cards have come out and what cards have not. When the odds are against the player they bet less and when they are in their favor, they bet more. While not technically illegal, if you are accused of this you will get kicked out of the casino. The most famous example of card counting the

MIT Blackjack Team

in the mid-1990s who took the casinos for millions and inspired the book and movie, Bringing Down the House.

Roulette

–

In roulette, there are multiple ways to cheat and win big. All of which will get you a swift exit from the casino.

Gambler Daily Digest

lays out all the ways you can chest the spinning wheel. This includes everything from working with another player to using technology and modifying the wheel itself. There are even more technical ways included such as past posting and sector targeting.

Poker

– There are also multiple ways to cheat in poker including working with another player and the use of technology. While not in Vegas, there is currently a

major scandal

going on in the poker world that includes allegations of cheating by a player who plays in televised games in a casino in California.

Losing money

Everyone goes to Vegas in the hopes of winning big but, unfortunately, many players walk away with their wallets much lighter than when they started. One of the games people lose at the most is the slots. While it may feel like you are not losing big because you are only playing small bets, these can add up. While lots of people love the one-armed bandits, they can also be a money drench. If you want to play the slots anyway, you really need to learn how to give your chance the best odds to win.

Weekly Slots News

has a great guide on how to get better at slots and have a much better chance of winning that jackpot.

Getting married

Tons of people go to Las Vegas to get married every year. In fact, there are over 120,000 marriages performed in the city annually which translates to around 10,000 per month. While many people come to the desert specifically for this purpose, there are some who have no intention to do so but end up with a husband or wife anyways. Steve Lewis from

Online Casino Gems

says, “I have seen a lot of quickie weddings over the years. Everything from couples who have been engaged forever deciding spur of the moment to hit the chapel to couples who literally just met that night. It is one of the things you will ONLY see in Las Vegas.”

Being burned by the elements

If you were not already aware, Las Vegas is right in the middle of the Mojave Desert. It is one of the things that makes the city so unique but also what can make outdoor conditions very dangerous. Inside all the hotels and casinos, you will find a perfectly air-conditioned atmosphere. However, when you venture outside, there could be potentially dangerous conditions to deal with. A desert climate is known for very hot days and cold nights. Depending on the season, temperatures during the day can soar into the 100s. At night, they can drop to near freezing at times.

Make sure you are prepared for whatever the elements will bring if you decide to venture out of the temperature-controlled casinos. If you are lounging by the pool or going on a day hike, you will need to wear plenty of sunscreen to protect you from burns. Nothing can ruin a Vegas trip faster than second-degree sunburn. If you are going out to explore the natural surroundings and will be out past sundown, make sure you have warm clothing available to put on.

Conclusion

Yes, there is a lot that can go wrong during your next Vegas trip but do not let that scare you away. For most, Las Vegas is an amazing time with unforgettable experiences that will last a lifetime. If you follow the rules, don’t try to cheat, respect the desert, set yourself a budget and stay away from unplanned wedding ceremonies, you will have an amazing time that will keep you coming back to Vegas again and again.

The Cleary Family Wishes Everyone A…

And

Thank You for your Support!

~

Gloucestercitynews.net

Sweeney Says Murphy is Playing Politics with Critical School Funding

Senate President: Governor doesn’t realize his proposed $1B tax hike wouldn’t put a penny into overfunded districts under bill he signed into law

TRENTON

– Senate President Steve Sweeney today blasted the Governor for playing politics on critical school funding issues by calling for a $1 billion tax increase that would do nothing to help districts facing Adjustment Aid cuts.

“It is disappointing to see the Governor demagogue the critical issues of school funding and property tax fairness in order to call for an unrelated $1 billion increase in the sales tax and the millionaire’s tax,” Senator Sweeney said.

“What is more inexcusable is the Governor doesn’t even acknowledge his proposed $1 billion tax hike wouldn’t put a penny into overfunded districts under the school funding bill he signed into law 15 months ago,” Senator Sweeney said. “Any increase in state funding for schools would go to the overwhelming majority of school districts that are underfunded by more than $1.7 billion, not to the Adjustment Aid districts that would be helped by my plan for cap relief.”

Senator Sweeney’s 2018 school funding reform law restored fairness to the 10-year-old School Funding Reform Act by eliminating the growth caps that kept 72 percent of schoolchildren in underfunded districts – urban, suburban and rural – from getting the state aid they deserved, while establishing a seven-year phase-out of Adjustment Aid payments to school districts for students they no longer have.

On Saturday, Senator Sweeney announced that he was developing legislation that would provide cap relief to school districts facing Adjustment Aid cuts that were spending below the adequacy level established by the School Funding Reform Act – and affirmed by the state Supreme Court – as needed to provide the “thorough and efficient” education guaranteed by the 1947 New Jersey Constitution.

“We need to ensure that students do not suffer in districts that are now taking cuts after receiving more than their fair share of state aid for more than a decade,” Senator Sweeney said. “The new law will give school boards in these districts the ability to make up for past years when they had no incentive to provide their Local Fair Share because the Adjustment Aid windfall they were getting gave them no reason to do so.”

Senator Sweeney noted that the legislation signed into law by the Governor already gave the 31 former

Abbott

districts the ability to exceed the 2 percent cap if they were spending below adequacy, and required any school district facing Adjustment Aid cuts and spending below adequacy because it was not providing its Local Fair Share to raise school property taxes by 2 percent a year.

NJ Taxpayers Give $161.25 Million in Municipal Aid Grants to Municipalities

Change in Grant Cycle Will Help 542 Municipalities Better Plan Future Work

TRENTON

– Governor Phil Murphy today announced that 96 percent of New Jersey municipalities will receive Municipal Aid grant awards, totaling $161.25 million for fiscal year 2020. These are the first awards being made under the new Municipal Aid grant

cycle that better aligns with the state’s construction season and municipal budget cycles.

A total of 542 cities and towns across the state are receiving grants to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements, continuing the Department of Transportation’s Commitment to Communities initiative. With the announcement of the 2020 grants, NJDOT will have awarded nearly $1.2 billion to local governments during the first 18 months of the Murphy Administration.

“Our administration sought to deliver a fairer approach to how government does business and this round of grants will, in the third straight year, reach more municipalities than in the previous fiscal year,”

said Governor Murphy.

“In addition, in the spring the Department of Transportation announced it was accelerating the Fiscal Year 2020 Municipal Aid grant cycle so we could make the awards months earlier than in years past to help municipalities better plan important infrastructure projects. Today, by awarding grants to 542 municipalities in the state, nearly 96 percent of all cities and towns in New Jersey will be poised to break ground as the construction season begins.”

In May, NJDOT announced an

accelerated FY20 Municipal Aid grant cycle

to make awards in November each year, rather than in the spring as was done in past years. The vast majority of towns and cities operate on a fiscal year running from January 1 through December 31. Knowing the amount of Municipal Aid before the fiscal year begins helps municipalities better determine which projects will move forward that year.

“Accelerating the Municipal Aid grant award cycle this year is an example of the Murphy Administration’s commitment to listening to communities and delivering on our promise,”

said NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti.

“This change, along with NJDOT’s new Local Aid Resource Center, are making a real difference in providing municipalities the resources to improve safety and increase the reliability of the State’s transportation system at all levels of government.”

In addition to changing the grant cycle, NJDOT created a

Local Aid Resource Center

this year to support local public agencies, fulfilling a pledge to offer proactive assistance. The Resource Center assists communities with project planning, grant applications, project delivery, and guidance through the federal grant process by offering customized in-person training sessions, webinars, a library of YouTube videos, and a dedicated telephone hotline to receive technical assistance.

The competitive Municipal Aid grant program attracted 661 applications from 546 different municipalities in FY20 with a total of $368 million in work. Project applications are evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT Local Aid staff and an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers review the Local Aid recommendations. This process resulted in 545 awards to 542 municipalities. To see the list of FY20 grants, click

here

.

Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population and the number of local centerline miles. Municipalities compete for portions of their county’s share. NJDOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project. Of the $161.25 million, there is $10 million allotted for municipalities qualifying for urban aid under state law, with the amounts determined by the Department of Community Affairs.

In past years, applications were due to NJDOT by October. By accelerating the process, applications for Municipal Aid grants this year were submitted to the Department by July 2019. They were judiciously reviewed this summer so the announcement could be made by November 30.

There are seven project categories within the Municipal Aid program eligible for funding: roadway preservation, roadway safety, quality of life, mobility, bikeway, pedestrian safety, and bridge preservation. Past performance in connection with timely award of projects and construction close-out factor were part of the evaluation of the proposals. When evaluating applications, NJDOT also verifies if the municipality has adopted Complete Streets policies. Complete Streets policies, establishes guidelines that require consideration be given to pedestrians and bicyclists when local transportation projects are being planned, designed, and built

Impaired Driving Enforcement Crackdown to be Conducted Locally as Part of Statewide Year End Campaign

Lower Township — Law enforcement officials from the Lower Township Police Department will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

statewide campaign.  Beginning December 6, 2019 and continuing through January 1, 2020, local and state law enforcement officials will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated.

The national

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. “During the last five years New Jersey has experienced nearly 37,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 679 fatalities,\” said Chief William Mastriana.  “This is a critical law enforcement program that can save lives during a time of the year when social gatherings with alcohol increase the risk of impaired driving.”

Last year, 20% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Nationally, 10,511 people died in 2018 in drunk driving crashes. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $44 billion annually.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

2019 Year End Holiday Crackdown

offer the following advice for the holiday season:

Take mass transit, a taxicab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

Spend the night where the activity or party is held.

If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.

Always buckle-up, every ride.  It is your best defense against an impaired driver.

If you are intoxicated and traveling on foot, the safest way to get home is to take a cab, have a sober friend or family member drive, or escort you to your doorstep.

Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.

Address/Location

Lower Township Police Department

405 Breakwater Rd

Cape May, NJ 08204

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-886-1619

Steve Flinn, of Gloucester City; Member of Iron Workers Local 502; Central Metals Employee

Stephen W. Flinn

Gloucester City – On November 25, 2019. Age 65. Of Gloucester City. Loving husband of the late Fay D. Flinn (nee Martin). Beloved son of the late Raymond and Joan Flinn. Beloved brother of Dennis Flinn, Liz Dykie, Kevin Flinn, Joan Bohrer, Joyce Ann Buzby and Meg Boice. Cherished uncle of many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Also survived by loving members of the Martin family and his dear friend, Ruth Ferry.

Steve was a quiet kid and quiet man with a passion for the outdoors!

An environmentalist who had a love for kayaking in the pines, camping, hiking and his dogs; Wimpy, Major and Stewart. Steve also enjoyed traveling the USA by train to enjoy the beauty of this country.  He brought joy to many kids as Santa. Steve had a deep love for his Fay, the love of his life, whom he missed each and every day. They are together again preparing to celebrate Fay\’s birthday on 11/30.

Steve was a member of Iron Workers Union 502 for over 40 years and was previously employed by Central Metals in Camden, NJ.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation On Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, where his funeral service will be held at 7:30 PM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the New Jersey Sierra Club, PO Box 269, Garwood, NJ

07027 or online at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Stephen W. Flinn. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:

McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City, NJ.

Ph: 856-456-1142.