Time for a Hero: Save a Life on Giving Tuesday

Veterans with TBIs are 155% more likely to take their own lives, with SOF at greatest risk. Under the VA, veterans with TBIs aren’t healing, they are dying in record numbers. Suicide rates tripled

in 2018.

Time For A Hero is stepping into the gap left by government’s failure.Our focus is on serving Special Operations Forces who’ve incurred one or more combat related brain injuries.

Right now 221 SOF veterans have submitted applications to Time for a Hero – and the list grows longer every day.

With your support, Time for a Hero can continue to provide personalized treatment plans including modalities like stem cell therapy and a variety of other alternative treatments that the VA doesn’t provide and insurance doesn’t cover.

DONATE HERE

DONATE NOW | #GivingTuesday | HELP SAVE A HERO

$449,119 Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Sold in Bergen County

TRENTON (Dec. 3, 2019)

– One lucky ticket matched all five numbers drawn winning the $449,119 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the

Monday, Dec. 2

, drawing. T

he winning numbers were: 03, 15, 20, 35 and 36 and the XTRA number was: 02.

The retailer will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for the winning ticket sold. That ticket was sold at Krauszer’s Food Store, 403 Midland Ave., Garfield in Bergen County.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 453,181 tickets purchased for the drawing. By adding XTRA, for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn. For correctly matching four of the five numbers drawn, 61 ticket holders won $573 each and 17 others won $1,146 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three of the five numbers drawn, 2,600 ticket holders won $16 each and 459 others won $32 each with the addition of XTRA. Lastly 5,733 ticket holders each won $2 for correctly matching two of the five numbers drawn with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.

New Orleans City Council Budget Includes $3M Investment for Early Childhood Ed

The city grows its early childhood education budget from $750,000 in 2017 to an unprecedented $3 million in 2020, as well as several additional key funding initiatives

NEW ORLEANS

– After several weeks of budget hearings, the New Orleans City Council

adopted the City\’s 2020 Operating and Capital Budgets, concluding the annual budget review process and establishing spending levels for the coming year. Prior to the meeting, Nthe City held a special Revenue Estimating Conference to adopt an adjusted 2020 revenue forecast and capture newly identified sources of revenue.

Since October 17, when Mayor LaToya Cantrell appeared before the Council to present a proposed $721.9 million annual operating budget from the City\’s general fund, the Council has held a rigorous budget review process to learn the needs of each department and listen to residents\’ concerns. As a result of the budget revenue process, the Council adopted an amended operating budget totaling $725.9 million, which represents an increase of $4 million.

\”Today is a historic one for the City of New Orleans and our children. We\’re setting an unprecedentedly high bar for the State of Louisiana and the entire country with this incredible investment in our young people. We\’ve gone from $750,000 two years ago, to $1.5 million in 2018, to an unprecedented $3 million for early childhood education in 2020. I\’m extremely grateful to my colleagues, the Administration, and my staff for the months of hard work that went into this budget. Our future and that of our children, has never been brighter,\” said District \”D\” Councilmember and Budget Chair Jared Brossett.

2020 Budget highlights include funding for the following:

Early Childhood Education programs to expand access to quality early childcare and education in New Orleans (doubling funding by $1.5M to bring the allocation to $3M)

Total Community Action to purchase a food pantry freezer to store food provides low-income vulnerable individuals/families with food supplements ($8,000)

Demolition of the blighted Higgins Gate apartment complex ($800,000)

Algiers Water Management Study ($250,000)

Code Enforcement to address quality of life needs and eliminate blight ($700,000)

Department of Health for mobile decibel monitors to address noise concerns ($45,000)

Department of Health for a Domestic Violence Initiative ($250,000)

\”I\’m very pleased with the collaboration of the budget process,\” said Council President Helena Moreno. \”My colleagues and I on this Council have been laser-focused on making New Orleans a more affordable city to live in since we began in 2018. Today, the Council followed through by lowering – not raising – property taxes at a time when assessments are skyrocketing and potentially forcing long term homeowners out of their neighborhoods. The Council also made clear its priorities: infrastructure and public safety. I\’m also proud that we once again doubled funding for early childhood education and allocated specific funding for domestic violence initiatives.\”

Throughout this year\’s budget hearings, the Council led a negotiation process with the Mayor\’s Administration to ensure critical initiatives and services are funded while minimizing the burden on our residents\’ tax bills. Given that the 2020 tax year is a quadrennial reassessment year, there has been considerable discussion regarding the reassessment process and the rising property tax assessments that resulted, leading to heightened concern among residents about their tax bills and the effect a potential roll forward could have on that bill.

In a reassessment year, the Council may roll forward millages up to the maximum authorized rates. Recognizing the concerns of residents, Councilmember Brossett ensured the redirection of certain millages to fund public safety and infrastructure while reducing (rolling back) other millages during the negotiation process with the Administration. This redirection of millages allows the Council to ensure critical initiatives and services are funded while remaining revenue-neutral.

Key millages being funded:

New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) & Fire Department (NOFD)

Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB)

City Alimony

Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund (NHIF)

Certain millages being levied below the rollback millage rate:

Economic Development Fund

Capital Improvement Fund

Audubon Park

New Orleans Public Library

\”The extraordinary commitment we\’ve made here today will pay way more dividends for our city in the long-run,\” said Council Vice President Jason Williams. \”Because of Governor John Bel Edwards, and what\’s happened at the State level, we\’re now in a position to receive matched funding to the already historic amount we\’ve approved, doubling the number of young people we\’re able to help with a total $6 million investment. This is a tremendous day in the City of New Orleans as we become the only state providing this level of localized investment in early childhood care and education. Finally, New Orleans is becoming the city on a hill for the State of Louisiana, the South and the entire United States, and our children will be a testament to that for generations to come.

\”Today, we protected funding for vital public services in a smart way,\” said District \”A\” Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. \”Government\’s first job is to provide those public services responsibly. This deal between the Mayor and Council concentrates on quality of life issues with spending for first responders, streets, drainage, maintenance, and other fundamental needs.\”

David A. Baxter, Jr., of Bellmawr.

David A. Baxter, Jr., on December 2, 2019, of Bellmawr. Age 74.

Reunited for Eternity with his beloved wife, the late Helen (nee Buckholdt). Devoted father of Natalie Hartey and David A. Baxter III. Loving Pop-Pop of Caitlin, Shane, Erin, David IV, Steven, Matthew, and Morgan. Dear brother of Joan Bozarth. Loving uncle of Scott, Brian, and Susan.

There will be a viewing from 9am to 10:30am Saturday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, BELLMAWR, 200 S. Black Horse Pike, Bellmawr, NJ 08031.

Funeral service 10:30am Saturday at the funeral home.

Interment Arlington Cemetery at Pennsauken.

Shirley M. Carter (nee Smith), – 84, of Ocean City, formerly of Westville

Passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at The Shores at Wesley Manor. Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was formerly of Westville, NJ moving to Ocean City, NJ 10 years. Mrs. Carter worked as Executive Secretary for Pennsylvania Bell Telephone in Philadelphia, PA for 30 years. Surviving are a son, Charles E. Carter, Jr. (Leslie) of Somers Point, NJ, three grandchildren, Patricia Beck, Kristen Carter and Charles E. Carter, III, four great grandchildren, Kaydence Beck, Jeffrey Beck, Jr., Makenzie Beck and Addisyn Beck.

A Memorial Service will be offered Saturday, December 7th at 11 o\’clock from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 30th Street at Bay Avenue, Ocean City, NJ where friends may call from 10:30 am until the time of service. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Grace Hospice, 105 Fieldcrest Avenue, Ste. 402, Edison, NJ 08837. For condolences to the family, visit

www.godfreyfuneralhome.com

Code Blue Issued in Newark

Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Department of Health and Community Wellness Director Dr. Mark Wade are activating a “Code Blue” for Monday afternoon, December 2, 2019 through Tuesday afternoon December 3, 2019.

“Code Blue” is called when temperatures reach 25°F or lower without precipitation, 32°F or lower with precipitation, or a wind chill factor of 15° or lower.

‍

“Newark is preparing for snow and cold temperatures early this week,” Dr. Wade said. “We will meet nature’s challenge with the strength and resilience that defines us. I urge our residents to take precautions to keep their homes safe and be safe when they are out and about, and to check on their neighbors, especially the disabled, children, and the elderly.”

‍

In addition, Dr. Wade reminded residents of the hazards of cold weather. “Several layers of warm clothing and protection against moisture and wind are important, even though weather may not seem to threaten cold injury. Gloves and socks should be kept as dry as possible. Insulated boots that do not obstruct circulation are essential in very cold weather. Warm head covering is particularly important, since 30 percent of heat loss is from the head,” he added.

‍

“We are expected to endure temperatures as low as 27°F and residents should take measures to ensure their safety at home and when outside of their home,” said Dr. Wade.

‍

The City is reminding residents that there are emergency shelters operating during the extreme cold weather that have partnered with the City to provide overnight sheltering.

For more information about sheltering services, contact the shelters listed below or the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Division of Social Services at

(973) 877– 9481, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The City offers the following tips on keeping homes safe and coping with extreme cold weather:

· Keep the house heated to a minimum of 68 degrees. The temperatures inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 68 degrees will not keep the inside walls from freezing.

· Identify the locations for the main water shutoff in your home. Find out how it works in case you have to use it.

· Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will prevent them from freezing.

· Check on seniors to make sure that they are warm and dry.

· Stay indoors as much as possible.

· Check all windows and doors for drafts. Place plastic if you feel a draft.

· Do not leave space heaters unattended.

· Do not use generators indoors.

· It is illegal to use kerosene heaters indoors.

· Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.

· Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

· Never use your oven to heat your home.

· Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

· Take inventory of emergency items.

· Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.

· Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by checking and cleaning your furnace and chimney regularly and ensure you have proper ventilation and the exhaust pipe is free of debris.

The City of Newark Housing Code requires all property owners to supply heat from October 1 through May 1 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. at a minimum inside temperature of 68°F, and between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. at a minimum inside temperature of 65°F.

To report no heat or hot water in your apartment, call the Division of Code Enforcement at (973) 733-6471.

Anyone with questions about the City’s heat ordinance or any other Newark municipal policy or program can contact the Newark Non-Emergency Call Center at

(973) 733-4311

, from

8:00 am to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Rutgers-Camden Students Engage in Conversation about Diversity/Inclusion

TO THE POINT

CAMDEN – A

Rutgers University‒Camden

speaker series aims to help students feel comfortable while they are learning and developing friendships and support systems on campus.

“Beyond the Mill” provides a welcoming environment for the campus community to join host

Oscar Holmes IV

, an associate professor of management, and other faculty and area business and community leaders to discuss thought-provoking topics involving diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“I get a lot of gratification out of publishing my own diversity, equity, and inclusion research and reading others’ research on the topic, but diversity and inclusion work doesn’t stop or start at publication,” says Holmes. “My goal for ‘Beyond the Mill’ is to provide a healthy place for identity exploration, identity growth, and a catalyst to eliminate systemic oppression.”

Sophomore Emanuel Rodriguez says that by addressing issues about identity, orientation, relationships, and finding community, the “Beyond the Mill” program helps to make the campus an inclusive space for everyone.

The accounting and finance major from Camden believes that the program prepares students to handle issues that they will encounter in the workplace. “Whether you are a black male entering a workforce full of white males, a homosexual trying to fit in with society, or a woman trying to break the glass ceiling, you might face some difficult challenges. Open conversation helps prepare us for those challenges.”

Launched in the fall of 2018 in collaboration with the

Rutgers‒Camden Office of Diversity and Inclusion

, the program has featured topics such as race in college admissions, LGBTQIA+ identities within the university setting, and the #MeToo movement and eradicating sexual harassment and assault.

“I really feel that the program is the best way to get many different people together in the same room to learn about these topics,” says Holmes.

The program’s executive producer, TiAira Neal of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, works with Holmes to publicize the “Beyond the Mill” series to the campus community.

On Oct. 2, “Beyond the Mill” kicked off its second season with a program in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring attorney Jason Hernandez of the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project and Trisha Trinidad, a Rutgers–Camden undergraduate student and president of the Latin American Student Organization.

A discussion on how to have conversations about race was held on Nov. 6, featuring Patricia Kline, a lecturer in the Rutgers School of Business–Camden, and David Cheatham, the president of Transform Communications.

On Dec. 4, the program features Mary Beth Daisey, Rutgers‒Camden vice chancellor for student affairs, and Patrick Wallace, associate director of the Campus Center, for a discussion on being an effective ally to anyone who feels marginalized. The program is open to the entire campus community.

The programs are taped and available for viewing any time on the

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

website. “Life is hectic and people have many demands on their time,” says Holmes. “So I tried to make it as accessible to as many people as possible.”

NJ LL Team Wants Undocumented Immigrants to Have Drivers\’s Licenses

Elmora Troopers Little League Team Joins the Call to Expand Access to Drivers’ Licenses in NJ

“We will be safer, our students will be safer, if immigrants can drive in New Jersey” says Coach

ELMORA, NJ– Coach Jairo Labrador and members of the Elmora Troopers Little League team showed their support for expand access to drivers licenses in New Jersey. A team of immigrants and children of immigrants, they showed their support for the Let’s Drive NJ campaign in a photo. Driving is critical for immigrant families to be able to take their kids to school and to afterschool activities. Coach Jairo Labrador gave a speech at a rally on Sunday of supporters of expanding access to licenses. “We will be safer, our students will be safer… if immigrants can drive in New Jersey,” said Coach Labrador to a crowd of supporters.

See

video

and

photos.

Otherwise qualified drivers face barriers to obtaining a license in New Jersey: vulnerable populations like undocumented immigrants, survivors of violence, transgender individuals and veterans are impacted in particular. Fourteen states and Washington, D.C. have expanded access to drivers licenses to qualified drivers, regardless of immigration status. In New Jersey, approximately 719,000 potential drivers could benefit, bringing in $90 million in economic gain to the state. Legislation to expand access to drivers licenses is currently pending in the state Senate and Assembly. Committee votes are scheduled for December 9th in the Assembly and December 12th in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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/

Retired Gen. Frank Sullivan Charged with 15 Felony Counts

of Possessing Child Pornography

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro today

charged

retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Frank Sullivan (photo)with more than a dozen felony counts related to his possession of child pornography after a search of his Mechanicsburg home turned up computers replete with thousands of searches for “preteen”

images, as well as pictures of children “engaged in very graphic sexual acts.”

Sullivan, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission and a decorated veteran with tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, was arrested today in Cumberland County and charged with 15 second degree felony counts of sexual abuse of children and one count of criminal use of a communication facility after investigators found images of child porn on a home desktop and laptop.

“General Sullivan’s alleged actions disgrace his work and besmirch the Pennsylvania National Guard, an organization that has bravely and dutifully come to the aid of Pennsylvanians whenever they have been called,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “I’ve said it time and time again—nobody is above the law. My Office will investigate and prosecute anyone who harms Pennsylvanians, no matter what positions of power they may hold.”

Shapiro said Office of Attorney General agents discovered Sullivan’s penchant for viewing images of preteen children during an investigation on a file sharing network. In October, a search of Sullivan’s Tunbridge Lane, Mechanicsburg, home revealed a desktop and a laptop that were filled with searches and images of preteen children. In addition to finding child pornography on the laptop, a computer forensic analysis identified 37 search terms commonly used by people looking for child pornography.

Related to the charges against Sullivan, Attorney General Shapiro’s Child Predator Unit arrested one of the accused’s tenants in October, Bobby Glenn Williams Jr., and charged him with 14 felony counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, 11 felony counts of child pornography, and one felony count of criminal use of a communication facility. Williams was renting a room in Sullivan’s Mechanicsburg home.

Sullivan was arrested and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Kathryn Silcox. Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones will prosecute the case. All charges discussed are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.