Category: PHILLY & PA. NEWS

Holiday gifts teachers really want

Looking for a special teacher gift for the holidays? Take a tip from teachers themselves.

by:

GreatSchools Staff

|

December 5, 2012

Sure that “World’s Best Teacher” coffee mug is cute, but imagine how many of them an experienced teacher already has! Here, teachers share what gifts they’d really like, and it turns out that gifts from the heart are among the most appreciated.

Teachers tell us what they want

There is a perfect gift for every teacher, as comments from these teachers show:

“I am a teacher so I have plenty of knowledge on this topic. Gift cards are a beautiful thing; restaurants, stores, movies, grocery cards are all really great gifts. Flowers are also a nice gesture.”

“I always enjoy getting flowers or a gift card,” adds Dr. Ruth Jacoby, an educational consultant in Florida and co-author of the

School Talk! Success Series

. “Many of my parents usually ask other staff what my likes are. One school at the beginning of the year sent a survey to all staff members on likes and favorites, so many times I get gift baskets with my favorite coffee, snacks, and books.”

The always popular gift card

Teachers told us that gift cards they can use to treat themselves to something special or buy supplies for the class are always appreciated. You can even pick up a wide assortment of gift cards at many grocery stores, making this gift even easier!

Homemade gifts and cards

A teacher in Washington, writes:

“My students always ask me what I want for Christmas. My answer is the same every year. I ask for a homemade Christmas ornament with the child’s name and year on it.

“Each Christmas, as I hang these ornaments made by precious hands, I remember those students. I reflect on the difference that I made in those lives and my new year’s resolution is already made, to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of my students!

“I have over 25 years of ornaments that I now display. Each one is filled with memories.”

A gift for the whole class

“My favorite gifts to receive from my students are those that I can use at school,” writes a Mississippi teacher and mother of two.

“Because of tight supply budgets, practical items like pens, pencils, cap erasers, paper clips, sticky notes, and lined notebook paper make ideal gifts for teachers. A personal note from the student that the teacher can place in his/her ‘memory’ file will make the gift special.”

Other teachers agreed that gifts to teacher supply stores, bookstores, or other places they could buy much-needed things for the classroom were greatly appreciated.

One teacher suggested that parents can tap their own skills to make a special contribution to the classroom: “One of the best gifts that I ever received as an educator was the donation of a parent’s carpentry skills to put a door on an ugly sink cupboard for my classroom.”

Donations in the teacher’s name

Several teachers told us that they love to see students helping others in their honor. Margaret Wallace, a special education teacher in Queensbury, New York, said, “The only gift giving these days which I support is donations to causes which one cares about.”

Of course, most teachers care deeply about education, so if your child’s school is lucky enough to have most everything it needs, a donation to

DonorsChoose

may be a great way to honor your teacher. DonorsChoose is a nonprofit that allows teachers to post specific requests for their classrooms and donors to directly fund them. You can fund a project in the name of your child’s teacher or give the teacher a gift certificate to use to help the project of her choice. There are classrooms all across the country looking for help paying for field trips, science equipment, and more.

Get a wish list from the teacher

One parent shared this practical approach for pooling resources and getting teachers things they need:

“Most teachers equip their classroom using their own money. I ask the teacher what he/she could use for the classroom and put together a wish list and pass that out to the parents.

“I found that most teachers wish for a globe, a stack of books, dictionaries, craft material, replacement parts for the computer like a mouse or mouse pad. Often these items are more than what an individual parent wants to spend, but if two or three join together the item can be bought. This helps the teacher by keeping those coffee cups to a minimum and helps your child too, by providing better instructional materials.”

You can also:

• Donate a book to the school library in honor of the teacher.

• Make a donation in honor of the teacher to the PTA, a school foundation or a children’s charity.

• Give a gift certificate good for “One day of cutting out art projects from Jane’s Mom.”

If you really want to buy something…

Mary Beltran, a second-grade teacher in Pacifica, California, says:

“Most teachers I know always appreciate gift [cards] to Starbucks, Target, school supply stores, or bookstores. New teachers, who spend a lot of their own money on books and supplies, especially appreciate these gifts.”

She also emphasized that a personal touch makes a gift special, as she says, “I always get a kick out of gifts that have been chosen or made by a child.”

Scrip gifts

Marcie Wollesen, a third grade teacher in San Francisco, suggests that parents consider purchasing their gifts through scrip organizations. Scrip brokerages, such as

eScrip

, are groups that coordinate merchants and schools for mutual benefit, with a percentage of the profits going to the school of your choice. “Scrip gives money back on purchases, so that makes so much sense to me,” says Wollesen.

If your school isn’t already raising money with scrip, consider starting a scrip program so that parents can buy from participating retailers and see a portion of their money go back to the school. Parent groups can work with merchants directly or through a scrip broker who does the coordinating in return for a portion of the profits. Be sure to choose your scrip broker carefully by checking credit references and contacting other parent groups.

Donate to a teacher’s favorite cause

Peggy Mannion, an eighth grade social studies teacher in San Francisco, remembers one especially meaningful gift:

“A student made a donation to the American Cancer Society in my name. I liked that, because, you know, I don’t need anything! I mean if somebody said ‘I gave ten dollars to a homeless person instead of buying you a gift,’ I’d be thrilled!”

Just say thanks!

Many teachers told us their favorite gift was as simple as positive or grateful words. As one Oregon teacher noted, don’t underestimate the value of praise.

“A supportive, positive letter, with a copy to the teacher’s administrator and/or school board would be a wonderful gift,” the teacher wrote. “And don’t forget those marvelous ‘Letters to the Editor’ in newspapers.”

“Heartfelt letters mean the most,” said Washington teacher Sandi George. “I always keep them in my teaching album,” she said. “It’s important for parents to let us know how much they appreciate all we have done. We work hard at what is often a thankless job.”

Florida teacher Cynthia J. Bradford wrote:

“The best gifts I have gotten are the ones my parents have given me — tears at hearing their child read for the first time in 6th grade, a letter to the superintendent about how their child is reading for the first time in the 8th grade, and a letter to the BOE (Board of Education) and the local paper telling how their child is reading and going back to church because he can read.

How Vegas hotels inspire loyalty among patrons

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 10, 2019)–The customer, like all businesses, is the most important person in both the hotel and casino industry and by extension, their loyalty is vital to their success.

Loyalty schemes and bonuses aren’t anything new – just about every business offering a product or service utilizes them. Pick up a coffee at any local shop and you’ll fill another space on the loyalty card, log on to an online casino and you’ll be able to claim comp points for the games that you play.

Loyalty schemes and rewards aren’t anything new, but how effective each method is is still up for debate. But those discussing will struggle to argue that the Vegas hotels and casinos are at the forefront of the loyalty business.

There are

so

many different hotels in Vegas and with each one competing for the same customers, it’s hardly a surprise that loyalty is a serious business. So, how exactly do hotels inspire loyalty among patrons?

The brand itself

The single most important marketing consideration that any business faces is the brand itself and, done correctly, this is enough to make for strong loyalty.

By marketing the hotel for the correct audience and selling the lifestyle rather than the hotel itself, businesses are much more likely to receive new customers that they may otherwise fail to have caught. This can be done in a number of different ways, perhaps the most interesting in recent times being

digital and social media marketing

.

Branding is particularly important through the hotel itself too with the decor, feel and staff all linking to the lifestyle that the brand portrays. In the era in which the everyday person chooses to share their life online – everything matters and the good (and bad) will be shared.

Traditional loyalty schemes

A traditional loyalty scheme structure seems to be the preferred way for the Vegas hard-hitters to instill loyalty and create a loyal fanbase.

From offers and discounts on rooms, the chance to bag tickets to events before the rest of the crowds and VIP treatment wherever you go – it does a very good job of keeping customers happy. But this doesn’t tend to come easily and there’s a price to pay before the benefits can be reaped, often in the form of

tier credits

. The more tier credits earned, the better the benefits that can be claimed.

The best we to run through this to give you an idea of what to expect is to have a look through a case study and get to grips with the loyalty offered.

Case study: MGM Resorts – M Life Program

Maybe the

best example of hotel loyalty

schemes comes from the bosses at MGM Resorts and their loyalty program “M Life” consistent across all hotels owned (MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mirage, etc.).

The company uses a five-tier system with each tier offering bigger and better benefits for those staying at any of the MGM resorts.

A certain number of tier credits is required before the next level can be reached which are earned with spending on gaming activities, hotel rooms, dining, entertainment, etc. If you’re spending money at the resort, chances are that

you’re collecting tier points

in doing so.

Sapphire

The first loyalty level that all guests will receive is the Sapphire status – the level received for simply signing up for the rewards scheme.

Members will receive a 10% discount on rooms at valid MGM properties with an additional 5% discount at the participating shops found at the resort. There’s even the chance to earn early access to tickets for events at MGM resorts around the globe.

Pearl

Next up is pearl, the status reached when earning 35,000 tier credits inside a program year.

Alongside the benefits earned from Sapphire, members will find themselves with a 10% points-earning from slot play and an additional six months of expiration time. There’s the chance to be invited to members-only events and the shopping discount is bumped up to 10% at those stores participating.

Gold

Gold follows Pearl and requires members to earn 75,000 tier credits per program year to qualify.

The benefits of Pearl will still stand, but there’s a 20% bonus on slot play and express comps, the availability of priority check-in lines and room upgrades for hotel stays. Gold members will also be able to make priority reservations at restaurants as well as VIP lines in both buffets and select nightclubs.

Platinum

A huge 200,000 tier credits inside a singe program year are required to reach the Platinum level and the benefits that come with it.

Those at the Platinum level are entitled to one free cruise per program year on either Royal Caribbean of Celebrity in either the Bahamas or the Caribbean for 3, 4 or 5 nights depending on gambling history. That’s just the start and Platinum members should also be able to earn 30% on slots and express comps alongside a 15% discount at shops.

Noir

The highest tier available in the M Life Program is Noir, an invitation-only program that’s rumored to only be available for those spending $250,000 or more per year in MGM casinos.

Benefits include a complimentary week-long cruise, a 40% bonus on slots play and express comps, VIP check-in services, private lounge access, guaranteed hotel and restaurant reservations, complimentary limo service from the airport to the hotel and the list goes on…

To cut a long story short

To cut a long story short, there’s a huge number of ways that Vegas hotels

could

inspire loyalty among patrons, but, as our case study points out, it’s the traditional loyalty scheme that proves popular with the Vegas hard-hitters.

By introducing a tier-system, customers have the incentive to try and earn tier points and move up the levels to gain access to improved benefits and amenities. With cruises, slot and express comp bonuses, shop discounts and even limo service all available and working with the brand itself, it’s not difficult to see why the

loyalty schemes are so effective

.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

Photo Pop Philly’s Winter Wonderland Debuts

Special Holiday-Themed Philadelphia Phillies Motion Capture

Experience

PHILADELPHIA, PA (December 2019)

— After major success this past summer,

Photo Pop Philly

is back this holiday season! The first ever holiday installment of the pop-up opened in November and includes more interactive art than ever before. Photo Pop is ready for guests to immerse themselves in the joyful enchantment of Winter Wonderland. Over

15 local Philadelphia artists

, some new and some returning, have presented ideas of what “Winter Wonderland” means to them in the exhibit which includes over 30 installations and murals.

Photo Pop Philly proudly announced its newest partner, the

Phillies

, this past month. Photo Pop\’s Operations and Technology Director, Andrew Stapp, created an amazing motion capture experience for guests to enjoy that incorporates the latest partnership. With this installation, guests can participate in an interactive winter experience that makes you feel like you’re right in front of Citizens Bank Park. \”When I created the motion capture experience, I envisioned guests enjoying the best part of winter; the snow! Merging snowmen and baseball together was a no brainer,\” explained Stapp. Stapp is also the owner of

Xplore VR Studios

, a Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality development studio.

The Phillies Snowmen aren\’t the only new additions popping up for December. In Photo Pop’s newly designed motion capture room, guests can dance as all kinds of holiday characters in various winter settings.

With the addition of this Phillies themed motion capture experience, the winter season is sure to be a home run at Winter Wonderland. As the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in American professional sports, Photo Pop is proud to be partnering with a team that has such strong roots in Philadelphia.

Photo Pop Philly is open to the public from now until January 5th. General admission tickets are on sale now at

PhotoPopPhilly.com

. Connect with Photo Pop by visiting their

website

and following along on

Instagram

,

Twitter

, and

Facebook

. For media inquiries, please contact

Molly@PhillyPRGirl.com

.

ABOUT PHOTO POP PHILLY

Photo Pop Philly is an interactive art exhibit that strives to design thought-provoking and wholesome experiences weaving art, pop culture and seasonal celebrations together.  Guests can escape reality, have fun, and express themselves, all while taking one-of-a-kind photos. It’s the first of its kind in Philadelphia. Winter Wonderland is Photo Pop’s third exhibit.

A Shepherd Visits The Infant Jesus

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard. An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away all night. We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus\’ lap from time to time. This is too sweet not to share.  No one mentioned that the dog breed is a \”shepherd!\”  (

Catholic Study Fellowship)

submitted by former Gloucester City resident Nancy F.

AG Bill Barr Blasts ‘Completely Irresponsible Press,’

Hits FBI For ‘Gross Abuses’ In Trump Probe

CHUCK ROSS

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

Attorney General William Barr blasted the “completely irresponsible press” Tuesday as well as the FBI for their respective roles in pushing the debunked theory that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government in 2016.

Barr said in

an interview

with NBC News he disagreed with

a Justice Department inspector general’s report

, released Monday, that said the FBI had a legitimate rationale to open an investigation into Trump campaign associates in July 2016.

Barr said he believes the FBI may have acted in “bad faith” in opening the investigation.

“I think there were gross abuses … and inexplicable behavior that is intolerable in the FBI,” Barr told NBC News. “I think that leaves open the possibility that there was bad faith.”

WATCH:

The inspector general’s office said the FBI had a proper predicate for opening the investigation; however, the report also laid out extensive evidence of FBI agents omitting and withholding information regarding the Steele dossier, which the bureau used in applications to conduct surveillance against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

(RELATED: Watchdog Report Puts Final Nail In Steele Dossier’s Coffin)

The report said FBI agents working the case failed to disclose exculpatory information regarding Page and George Papadopoulos, another former Trump aide. FBI agents also withheld information that called the credibility of dossier author Christopher Steele into question.

Barr doubled down in the interview on remarks he made earlier this year that he believes the U.S. government spied on Trump campaign associates.

“It was clearly spied upon,” Barr said of the FBI’s actions towards the Trump campaign. “That’s what electronic surveillance is … going through people’s emails, wiring people up.”

Barr criticized the press on two fronts. He faulted the industry for largely ignoring the parts of the inspector general’s report that undercut the collusion conspiracy theories. He also accused news outlets of overhyping allegations of Trump-Russia collusion.

He lamented that the inspector general’s report has not been “accurately reported by the press over the last day.”

Barr also added: “I think our nation was turned on its head for three years based on a completely bogus narrative that was largely fanned and hyped by a completely irresponsible press.”

The special counsel’s report, which was released on April 18, said there was no evidence that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia or that any Trump associates acted as agents of Russia. The FBI opened its investigation on July 31, 2016 to find out whether anyone on the campaign was working with Russia to hack and release Democrats’ emails.

As part of the probe, the

FBI relied heavily on the unverified Steele dossier

to assert that there was probable cause to suspect that Page was conspiring with Russia to release emails.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact

licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

.

published here with permission

ICE HSI Announces 37,547 Criminal Arrests; Record-High Number

WASHINGTON – During fiscal year 2019 (FY19), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) effectively combated transnational criminal threats against the United States resulting in a record-breaking number of criminal arrests. HSI is the principal investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security with more than 9,800 employees, including over 6,700 special agents and 700 intelligence analysts,

assigned to more than 210 cities throughout the U.S. as well as 78 offices in 52 countries. HSI investigates a multitude of crimes including: financial crimes, bulk cash smuggling, cybercrimes, exploitation of children and child sex tourism, weapons smuggling and export enforcement, trade crimes such as commercial fraud and intellectual property theft, human smuggling and trafficking, narcotics smuggling and trafficking, identity and benefit fraud, human rights violations, transnational gang activity, counterterrorism and visa security.

HSI\’s investigative strategies resulted in a record-high 37,547 criminal arrests, almost a 10 percent increase from FY18, as well as the seizure of more than $775 million in currency and assets from criminal proceeds.

\”HSI uses aggressive investigative strategies to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal

organizations that engage in cross-border crime,\” said Acting HSI Executive Associate Director Alysa Erichs.  \”HSI special agents worked tirelessly to address threats posed by criminal networks to protect national security and public safety in the United States and around the globe.\”

HSI arrested 5,750 criminals associated with human smuggling investigations in FY19, a 41 percent increase from FY18, due in part to the use of Rapid DNA testing technology to detect fraudulent families at the Southwest border. During FY19, over 400 HSI personnel deployed to the southern border to protect children from being smuggled into the United States through fraudulent family units, often tied to larger transnational criminal syndicates.

In FY19, HSI arrested 2,197 criminals associated with human trafficking, a 38 percent increase from FY18, as well as identified and/or assisted 428 victims of human trafficking in FY19, a 39 percent increase from the previous year. HSI uses a victim-centered approach in its trafficking investigations, where equal value is placed on both the identification and stabilization of victims and prosecution of the traffickers. HSI also developed the Strategic Trafficking Outreach Program (S.T.O.P.) to educate and raise awareness as well as how to report instances of suspected trafficking.

HSI saw a record-breaking year in narcotics enforcement by leveraging partnerships and using a variety of task forces, including its Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST). HSI seized more than 12,450 lbs. of opioids in FY19 – a record-breaking amount – exceeding FY18 seizures by more than 2,500 lbs. HSI also seized more than 3,600 lbs. of fentanyl and made more than 1,900 fentanyl-related arrests in FY19, which are both substantially higher than FY18 figures. HSI also seized more than 145,000 lbs. of methamphetamine in FY19.

Identity and benefit fraud pose a severe threat to national security. HSI leads 36 Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces (DBFTF) across the country to combat this fraudulent activity. HSI made 2,198 arrests tied to identity and benefit fraud in FY19, a nearly 75 percent increase from FY18.

HSI also continued its fight against child predators and transnational gangs in FY19.  In FY19, HSI arrested 3,957 child predators as well as rescued or identified 1,069 victims.  HSI also made 3,886 criminal gang arrests, including 337 criminal arrests of MS-13 gang members during the same timeframe.

HSI Noteworthy Cases

Financial Crimes

On July 17, 2019, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases, including \”El Chapo\” and \”El Rapido,\” was

sentenced

by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to life imprisonment plus 30 years to run consecutive to the life sentence for being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel – a charge that included 26 drug-related violations and one murder conspiracy. The Court also ordered Guzman Loera to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture.

Narcotics Enforcement

In June 2019, HSI Philadelphia and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted a

joint press conference at the U.S. Custom House

in Philadelphia to announce the multi-agency seizure of over 17 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $1.1 billion.

In August 2019, HSI Norfolk and law enforcement partners announced indictments against 39 individuals in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy as part of

Operation Cookout

. This HSI-led operation resulted in 35 arrests, as well as the seizure of 24 firearms, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, 30 kilograms of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than $700,000 in cash during a three-day takedown.

Counterproliferation Investigations

On June 28, 2019, ICE and HSI leadership announced the results of an

international weapons trafficking operation

that resulted in a total of 25 arrests and 53 search warrants executive in three countries.

Child Exploitation

On October 10, 2019, HSI announced the conviction of a Texas businessman who was convicted in federal court of

sex trafficking of a minor

female and other related changes.

6 Reasons Why Men Hire Escorts

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 10, 2019)–One of the most common reasons why men hire escorts is because they are not getting sexual satisfaction in their current relationship. However, there are other reasons, and you will be surprised that they are not all about sex. Here are some of the reasons why men hire escorts.

Partners don\’t make them sexually satisfied

Let\’s start first with the most popular reason, which is their partner doesn\’t meet their sexual needs. Men usually have high libidos, and although they love their partners, if they are not

satisfied with their sex life, it could cause them to look for sexual satisfaction elsewhere. It doesn\’t necessarily mean that they no longer love their partners, but they are looking for a way to achieve their sexual fantasies without any strings attached.

London escorts

are professional in what they do. They will provide their service for business, and they will be discreet, so there will be no calling or texting afterwards unless you initiate the communication with them.

One woman is not enough

Some guys are not content having sex with only one woman. No matter how much they love their partners and how attractive they are, they are still looking to experience sex with other women. It doesn\’t mean that all men are like this. As mentioned, there are some who are, and they want variety when it comes to sexual partners and experiences.

They want a deeper connection

Hiring an escort isn\’t always about sex. Sometimes, men want intimacy, which is more on the emotional side. These men and their partners may not have an intimate relationship as before because of various reasons, including tiredness from work and household chores, and taking care of the kids. They need someone that they can talk to and who will listen to them, and this is one of the reasons why some men hire an escort.

It\’s a convenient way to have company

Men have their sexual needs to satisfy, and this is true with those who travel a lot. Instead of having a relationship in every country they go to, which can be a hassle, they go for a professional escort service because of its convenience. Once they leave the city or state, they don\’t have to worry about anything like maintaining a relationship, since it\’s purely business.

The partner becomes more of a mother

In the first stage of the relationship, things may be running smoothly, and there\’s sweetness all over. However, as time passes by, things gradually change. That once sweet partner is now nagging about everything, including small issues. Men can get frustrated over this, and this might push them to look for an escort who will not nag at them during the duration of the service.

Men feel unnoticed

When men feel that they are not prioritized, they might seek attention from other women, including escorts. They will be their escort\’s priority while they are together, so they will feel wanted and important, which is something that they might want from their partners.

Professional escorts will have their clients as their priority, and they will do everything that they can to satisfy their needs.

image courtesy of pixabay.com

Census Bureau has Increased Pay for Positions in Camden County

Camden City, NJ)(December 2019)– The United States Census Bureau is continuing to recruit and hire individuals from hard-to-count communities for the 2020

Census. In response to the continued demand for workers in our area, the Bureau recently announced an increase to the minimum hourly rate for census positions in Camden County, from $16.50 to $17.50, and is paying over $20 an hour for certain positions.

Some communities have historically been more difficult to count than others, including those with large populations of those living in poverty, the homeless, children, and racial and ethnic minorities. The Bureau is prioritizing hiring members of these communities to help collect Census data in the neighborhoods they know.

“You know your friends and neighbors better than anyone, and that’s why we need you as a Census taker in your community,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “Census jobs are temporary, flexible, and excellent for anyone who needs extra income or is looking to supplement their paycheck after work. This is a great opportunity to support your community while adding to your income.”

Recruiting sessions will be held at two locations in Camden City on Dec. 12, to assist interested applicants in understanding the work that is available and helping them to apply for positions.

The following locations will host recruiting sessions in hard-to-count areas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Puerto Rican Unity for Progress (PRUP)

Address:

818 S Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103

Phone:

(856) 541-1418

Additional info:

Bilingual staff will be on site to assist Spanish-speaking/Latino applicants.

Youthbuild Housing Authority Camden City  (HACC)

Address:

1700 Federal St, Camden, NJ 08105

Phone:

(856) 756-0241

Staff at all branches of the Camden County Library System, as well as the Camden County One-Stop Center, are also available to assist interested applicants during regular operating hours.

“The Census dictates the size of our community’s representation in Congress and the level of funding we will be appropriated for social services and other projects,” Rodriguez said. “An accurate count is critical to ensuring that we are given the resources we need.”

In preparation for the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is recruiting more than 400,000 part-time workers across the country, and as many as 3,000 in Camden County, to help collect census data in their communities.

Most openings are for census taker positions. These individuals conduct in-person follow-ups with households that have not completed their questionnaires in order to make sure they are counted.

Census jobs in Camden County pay an hourly rate of $17.50 and offer flexible hours that can include evenings and weekends. The community is especially in need of individuals who speak Spanish and other non-English languages to work with the diverse community in the City.

The Census Bureau is already accepting applications for these positions and encourages prospective applicants to apply as early as possible, so they don’t miss their opportunity.

Census employees must be 18 years or older and have a valid Social Security number, among additional requirements. More information regarding pay, hours, and requirements are available by visiting

https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/job-details.html

.

For more information regarding participation in the 2020 Census, how to respond to the Census questionnaire, and why every response is critical, residents are encouraged to visit

www.2020census.gov

.

The Best CBD Gummies – Review and Buying Guide

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 10, 2019)–We, here at

MarijuanaBreak

, will stop at nothing to find the

best CBD gummies

out there. We recognize that there are a lot of great brands with top-quality products to choose from. However, in our opinion, the CBD gummies in this article represent one of the best

CBD Products

available.

What makes these CBD gummies great? Well, for starters, they are made by some of the most successful brands in the CBD industry. Also, they tick a lot of boxes when it comes to quality and purity. These brands are big believers in transparency; that’s why they provide independent third-party lab-testing results for all of their products.

While transparency is hugely important, there are some other vital factors that potential buyers should consider before making a purchase. We recommend opting for brands whose products contain less than 0.3% THC. Ideally, you should look for CBD gummies made from CBD isolates, which are 100% THC-free.

We also recommend that you choose companies that use solventless extraction methods, such as supercritical CO2 extraction. This ensures that you won’t have to be concerned about any residual solvents in the CBD gummies you are eating.

All of the CBD gummies in this list are sourced from organically-grown, non-GMO hemp, which means they are free from herbicides and pesticides too.

When making your choice, you will also need to consider why you want to consume CBD gummies in the first place. Are you looking for the best CBD gummies for pain? Are you looking for CBD gummies to help you sleep? Or do you simply want to consume CBD gummies as a dietary supplement?

Whatever your needs might be, we hope that this list will help you to make up your mind. Check out these tasty CBD gummies from some of the top brands out there.

Green Roads – CBD Froggie 25mg ($4.95)

If you are looking for a reputable brand, then a great place to start is with Green Roads. They are an award-winning CBD company with over 10,000 retail locations. Not only that; according to the Brightfield Research Group, Green Roads is the largest privately-owned CBD company in America.

Green Roads offer a wide range of CBD gummies, which come in a variety of different shapes, flavors, and CBD concentrations. Many of these are formulated to help relieve specific conditions. For example, Green Roads CBD Sleepy Z’s contain 0.5mg melatonin per gummy and are intended for nighttime use as a sleep aid.

Green Roads describe its CBD Froggies as their “flagship edible product.” According to Green Roads, its 25mg On The Go! Froggies are pharmacist-formulated, supercritical

CO2-extracted

and triple

lab-tested

to ensure what’s on the label is what’s in the package.”

These On The Go! Froggies are a great place to start if you are trying out CBD gummies for the first time.

Pure Kana – CBD Vegan Gummies 500mg Bottle ($40)

As you can see from the price, these CBD gummies by Pure Kana are at the premium end of the market. So, what are you getting for your hard-earned money? Well, this bottle contains 20 gummies, and each one is packed with 25mg of CBD.

All of Pure Kana’s CBD gummies are sourced from a 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. They are 100% vegan, and non-GMO, too.

Premium Jane – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

These premium-end CBD gummies are from the appropriately-named Premium Jane company.

The reason for the higher price is that Premium Jane’s bottle contains 750mg, whereas Pure Kana’s contains 500mg. In simple terms, Premium Jane’s bottle contains 30 CBD gummies, and Pure Kana’s contains 20 CBD gummies.

Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, just like Pure Kana’s, are made from a 99% CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Also, like Pure Kana’s CBD gummies, each Premium Jane gummy contains 25mg CBD.

The similarities between these two brand’s CBD gummies do not stop there either. Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are also 100% vegan and non-GMO. They are organic and free from pesticides, solvents, and chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are lab-tested for safety, purity, and potency.

Whether you opt for Premium Jane’s CBD gummies is largely a matter of personal taste. You may choose Premium Jane’s CBD gummies if you are looking for a slightly larger bottle with more gummies inside.

Hemp Bombs – High Potency CBD Gummies 750mg ($79.99)

As you may have noticed, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies are more expensive than both Premium Jane’s and Pure Kana’s. Like Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies come in a 750mg bottle containing 30 gummies.

Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies also contain 25mg of CBD per gummy. However, they do offer a less expensive variety, i.e., Original CBD gummies. These contain a lower amount of CBD, with 15mg per gummy. If price is an important deciding factor, then you can always opt for these instead.

Hemp Bombs CBD is extracted from industrial hemp that contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Similar to Green Roads, Hemp Bombs offers a wide variety of CBD gummy products. These include the aforementioned Original and High-Potency variety, as well as CBD Sleep Gummies. Each of these three varieties are sold in packs containing 5, 15, 30, or 60, CBD gummies.

CBDISTILLERY – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

Introducing the new and improved CBD Gummies by CBDistillery. CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle contains five fewer gummies (25 as opposed to 30) than Premium Jane’s and Hemp Bombs’ 750mg bottle. While there are only 25 gummies in CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle, each gummy is packed with an additional 5mg per gummy (30mg of CBD per gummy as opposed to 25mg of CBD per gummy).

As is the case with the other brands in this list, CBDistillery’s CBD Gummies are made from 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Not only that, they are gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, and kosher. Each bottle of CBD gummies contains a variety of flavors, including raspberry-lemon, raspberry, and strawberry.

WINNERS OF ANNUAL PATH HOLIDAY POSTER CONTEST

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP, PATH AND THE JERSEY CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

A poster depicting a PATH train encircled by a holiday wreath was selected as the grand-prize winner in this year’s PATH Holiday Poster contest – the 30th year the annual contest has been held as part of a vibrant partnership between PATH and the Jersey City Board of Education.

The winner, sixth-grader Lawrence Ballesteros from M.S. 7, will have his artwork featured in PATH stations and in rail cars throughout the holiday season. He was selected in the 6th-8th grade category, one of three categories used to judge contestants.

The other finalists were Polina Sobolev, a second-grader from P.S. 3, representing the K-2nd grade group, and fifth-grader Caidence Ramirez of P.S. 38, who took home the prize in the 3rd-5th grade category. They will also have their seasonal depictions displayed in PATH stations during the holidays.

Click

here

to view the winning posters.

This year’s event held this morning in the concourse area of PATH headquarters at Journal Square, featured presentations by PATH leaders and representatives from Jersey City, as well as a musical performance by the Psaltis Chamber Choir of the Jersey City ARTS Vocal Program. The competition this year was fierce, with more than 500 entries reviewed by a panel of judges.

“This is an annual highlight for PATH,” said PATH General Manager/Director Clarelle DeGraffe. “We’re grateful to all of the talented students, their teachers and our partners at the Jersey City Board of Education who have helped us make this event a holiday season highlight for three decades.”

“PATH has honored the Jersey City Public Schools in supporting and providing this wonderful experience annually during the most joyful season of the year, the holidays,” said Ann Marley, the Jersey City board’s District Supervisor for Visual and Performing Arts. “On behalf of the thousands of students guided by their art teachers who have participated over the past 30 years in the PATH Holiday Poster Contest, thank you for affording them to the opportunity to share the beauty of art.”

Each of the winners received four tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and complimentary 10-trip PATH SmartLink cards provided by the Port Authority to get the winners and their families to and from the show. The winners also were awarded $50 American Express gift cards and art supplies from the Jersey City Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Contact:

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

212-435-7777

Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit

http://www.panynj.gov

.