New Jersey’s Largest Net-Metered Solar Project Planned for Six Flags Great Adventure
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

New Jersey’s Largest Net-Metered Solar Project

Planned for Six Flags Great Adventure

 

 

World’s Largest Theme Park Takes Giant Leap

Toward Reducing Its Carbon Footprint

 

 

Six Flags Great Adventure, the world’s largest theme park, plans to take a giant step toward reducing its carbon footprint by partnering with KDC Solar LLC. Together they have introduced the state’s largest solar net metering project. KDC Solar will construct, own and operate the solar power system on Six Flags’ property.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to conservation and eco-friendly initiatives, we intend to generate clean energy,” said Park President John Fitzgerald. “Solar power will significantly reduce our reliance on harmful fossil fuels.”

KDC Solar estimates that construction will take 16 to 18 months, and that the solar facility will be operational in the second half of 2016.

As conservationists for the past 40 years, Six Flags Great Adventure has cared for more than 70 different species of animals, including some that are endangered and even extinct in the wild. The Jackson theme park recycles more than 60 percent of its annual waste, including manure, paper, plastic, wood and mixed garbage. The theme park eliminated the use of paper towels in favor of energy-efficient hand dryers, and is firmly committed to other energy-saving programs.

“We are continually searching for new ways to operate more efficiently and enhance our role as good stewards of the environment,” Fitzgerald said.

KDC Solar LLC

KDC Solar supplies commercial, industrials and governments with significantly lower long-term electric costs through solar power. KDC Solar is supported by an allocation of $225 million in equity from Diamond Castle Holdings, a New York-based private equity fund with more than $1.8 billion of committed capital under management. KDC Solar is committed to using clean solar energy to provide economic stimulus and jobs in New Jersey. It currently operates more than 50 megawatts of net-metered solar facilities at 11 different locations and is constructing and permitting 72 megawatts of solar projects at businesses and institutions throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit www.kdcsolar.com.

 

Food Truck Event April 18 Mercer County Park
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE PREMIERES AT PASSAGE THEATRE
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE PREMIERES AT PASSAGE THEATRE

A play about love and the modern family by Ian August

 

Passage Theatre Company will present The Goldilocks Zone by Ian August at the Mill Hill Playhouse in Trenton May 14-31.

 

Franny and Andy will do anything to have a baby.  But Franny can’t conceive, Andy’s gay, and they haven’t told their partners.  A Craigslist ad causes worlds to collide in this playful and moving look at parenthood and modern families.

 

The production features four actors from New York and Philadelphia, and will be directed by Damon Bonetti, familiar to Passage audiences from his work on past productions such as True Story and The Gun Show.  Artistic Director June Ballinger says, “As the composite of ‘family’ is expanding and changing in today’s world, we are thrilled to have such a witty, touching play addressing the challenges of even starting a family. People ask me it is a science play, as the Goldilocks Zone has astronomical implications.  Not quite. But just as stellar conditions must be favorable for life on earth to begin, so must the right conditions be in place within the family structure." 

           

Playwright Ian August is a founding member of Passage’s Playwrights Lab. His play Donna Orbits the Moon was featured in Passage’s 2010 Solo Flights. In 2006, his play Le Supermarché or What I Did for Lunch won the 31st Annual Samuel French Inc. Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival.

Damon Bonetti returns to direct his second Passage show of the season, following EM Lewis’s The Gun Show. He has also directed for Play Lab and State Street and appeared in Blood: A Comedy.  Damon is the Co-Founding Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, dedicated to producing rarely performed classic plays in site-specific locations.  For PAC he directed The Sea Plays, Changes of Heart, and Blood Wedding. Most recently, he directed The Stinky Cheese Man at the Walnut Street Theatre and The 39 Steps at Hedgerow Theater.

Tickets: Tickets to The Goldilocks Zone are $20-$35 for adults and $12 for students.   There are also senior and group discounts. Tickets are available by calling (609) 392-0766 or purchasing on-line at www.passagetheatre.org.     Dates and times: May 14-31.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday @ 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. PRESS OPENING: Saturday May 16 @ 8pm.   Tickets can also be purchased at the Passage Theatre Office: 219 East Hanover Street in Trenton, Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 am -5:30 pm or at the box office, or 1 hour before each performance at the performance site.     Directions & Parking: Passage Theatre performs at the Mill Hill Playhouse, owned and operated by the City of Trenton.  The Mill Hill Playhouse is located at 205 East Front Street (at the corner of Montgomery St) Trenton, NJ. Security guarded on street parking is available on S. Montgomery St, Front Street along the park, and in the Art Works parking lot. Detailed directions can be obtained from the website www.passagetheatre.org or by calling 609-392-0766.   For almost 30 years, Passage Theatre has developed and showcased new work by emerging and established playwrights. As a key participant in the revitalization of urban Trenton, Passage presents outstanding plays that celebrate our common ground, transcending culture and race.  www.passagetheatre.org

The Story Slam
Topic: ART NEWS

 

 

Arts Council of Princeton Announces Second Event of the Witherspoon-Jackson Stories Project

The Story Slam

 

 

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) developed a series of public programs focusing on the history and transition of the W-J neighborhood entitled, The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Stories Project. The Story Slam is the second in the series of public events of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Project. With the aim of providing an opportunity for further community engagement, all are invited to share a story, poem or song about the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood or Women’s History Month, along with invited speakers Dr. Cecelia Hodges, Princeton High School’s poetry group and several W-J neighborhood residents. Saturday, March 28 at 3pm, this event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777. Parking is available in the Spring and Hulfish Street Garages and at metered parking spots along Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place.

 

Recognizing the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the historically African-American Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood in Princeton, NJ, the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) developed a series of public programs focusing on the history and transition of the W-J neighborhood entitled, The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Stories Project.

 

The project’s purpose is to collect personal stories and create a permanent record and directory that will tie together photographic and historical collections currently housed by the Arts Council, the Princeton Public Library, Princeton University Center for African American Studies, Paul Robeson House and the Princeton Historical Society.

 

The Story Slam is the second in the series of public events of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Project. With the aim of providing an opportunity for further community engagement, all are invited to share a story, poem or song about the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood or Women’s History Month, along with invited speakers Dr. Cecelia Hodges, Princeton High School’s poetry group and several other neighborhood residents. Saturday, March 28 at 3pm, this event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777. Parking is available in the Spring and Hulfish Street Garages and at metered parking spots along Witherspoon Street and Paul Robeson Place.

 

The Arts Council of Princeton’s Paul Robeson Center for the Arts is located in Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, a historically African-American community with a rich history dating back to the 18th century. Residents of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, which was named for its original boundary streets, were involved in the Civil Rights movement and social justice activism. Additionally, the house directly across the street from the Robeson Center was the birthplace of the renowned singer, actor, film star, and human rights activist Paul Robeson. As Princeton becomes more gentrified, residents fear that the rich cultural history of their neighborhood will be lost. Through the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Stories Project, the ACP aims to not only highlight, document and preserve the personal stories of longtime residents, but to also create an appreciation for the influence the neighborhood has on Princeton as a community. 

 

Witherspoon-Jackson Stories Project partners include the Arts Council of Princeton, Paul Robeson House and the Historical Society of Princeton. Funding for the Stories project is provided, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

 

 

Chocolate Painting at the Hunterdon Art Museum
Topic: ART NEWS

 

 

 

Chocolate Painting at the Hunterdon Art Museum

 

 

 

Chocodiem and the Hunterdon Art Museum are teaming up on Friday, April 3 for a tasty and fun family event: painting chocolate eggs with dyed cocoa butter.

Two chocolate-egg painting sessions are being offered at the Museum at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. for adults and children ages 6 and up.

Cost is $30 for two participants, and includes two chocolate eggs for painting, truffles to sample and a demonstration by artist Amanda Wentz. Indulge your sweet tooth and reserve your space by calling the Museum at 908-735-8415.

Chocodiem, 49 Main St. in Clinton, focuses on making the best chocolate possible.  Using Old World Belgian standards, master chocolatier Jean-Paul (JP) Hepp, along with pastry chef, Kathleen Hernandez, hand make gourmet chocolates in small batches with unique and distinctive fillings and flavor combinations for any occasion.

The Hunterdon Art Museum, located at 7 Lower Center St. in Clinton, presents changing exhibitions of contemporary art, craft and design in a 19^th century stone mill listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It also offers a dynamic schedule of art classes and workshops for children and adults.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC

The Museum is at 7 Lower Center St. in Clinton, New Jersey, 08809. Our website is www.hunterdonartmuseum.org and our telephone number is 908-735-8415. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm and suggested admission is $5.

 

How Is Hamilton Doing?
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

How Is Hamilton Doing?

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going all the way back to the time of George Washington, much of what we see and hear in the political world consists of lies and deceptions. Despite assurances to the contrary, politics is not about truth, justice, and principle. It is about money, power, and status.  Politicians habitually lie, pretending to fight for principles, in order to conceal their true selfish motives. Citizens who need the frequent injunctions to participate in politics and abjure political cynicism are likely to be duped into contributing their tax dollars and even their lives for dubious purposes. Most individuals gain little from political participation.  Citizens need to think outside the (ballot) box, and find new ways to act on behalf of their interests and the public good.  When politicians tout that they have “the most comprehensive ethics program”, the truth is, there probably is not one or one that is so weak, crime and deceit are rampant.  Politicians need to be held accountable for their actions.

 

Let’s rewind for a moment. In 2013,  (see link below)

 

 

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/09/hamilton_council_awards_mercer_county_cyo_contract_to_run_bromley_center.html

A potential conflict of interest surfaced before the vote was taken on the RFP for the Bromley Center. John Ricci, Hamilton Twp Business Administrator, revealed that township recreation director Marty Flynn, who was appointed earlier that year, served on the CYO’s board of trustees. Flynn’s name was listed on the CYO’s website the afternoon of the RFP award. 

 

In September 2013, an official ethics complaint was filed with the State. (Below is the actual complaint)

 

“I am writing to request a review of an apparent violation of NJSA 40A:9-22.5 sections c, d and e that occurred on September 17, 2013 in Hamilton Township, Mercer County.

           

Martin Flynn, Director of Health, Recreation, Seniors & Veterans Services for Hamilton Township Mercer County. Mr. Flynn is responsible for the operation, management and administration of the Township owned Bromley Neighborhood Service Center.

 

John Ricci, Business Administrator for Hamilton Township Mercer County.

 

Kelly Yaede, acting-mayor for Hamilton Township Mercer County.

 

Ed Gore, President of Hamilton Township Council Mercer County.

 

Dennis Pone, Member of Hamilton Township Council Mercer County.

 

David Kenny, Member of Hamilton Township Council Mercer County.

 

Iliana Schirmer, Member of Hamilton Township Council Mercer County.

 

The Hamilton Township Administration failed to disqualify the Mercer County Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) as a bidder to operate the township owned Bromley Neighborhood Service Center.  It was necessary for the Administration to take such action as the Business Administrator himself, John Ricci, revealed at the September 17, 2013, meeting of the Hamilton Township Council, that Martin Flynn simultaneously sat as a Township officer and a member of the CYO Board of Directors and had participated in the solicitation of bids.

 

Furthermore, with full knowledge of these revelations, regarding Martin Flynn’s position on the Mercer County CYO’s Board of Directors and involvement in the bid process, the Hamilton Township Council approved awarding the $115,000 contract to the Mercer County CYO in a 4-1 vote.

 

It should be noted and offered as proof of the above complaint that a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued by Hamilton Township for the Operation, Management and Administration of The Bromley Neighborhood Service Center with responses due August 15, 2013. Prior to the issuance of this RFP, Martin Flynn did conduct a tour of the Bromley Neighborhood Service Center for the Mercer County CYO.  In addition, Mr. Flynn discussed the CYO plans with residents of the Bromley section of Hamilton Township prior to the award.

 

This complaint is not intended to impugn the reputation of the Mercer County CYO, who by all appearances is an unwitting by-stander to these events, nor that of Martin Flynn as the newly hired Director of Health, Recreation, Seniors & Veterans Services, but it was incumbent upon the Hamilton Township Administration to avoid this conflict and bring it to the attention of all parties.”

 

To date, several years later, there has been zero outcome to this complaint. This is a fairly easy issue to analyze. Why, years later, is there no outcome to the complaint?  We have OPRA’D a list of all the complaints from 2013 to present day in Hamilton, to see where they all are in the process. We are awaiting the information.

 

 In Feb of 2013, Mayor Yaede said, “A municipal board of ethics is equivalent of the fox watching the hen house.” “By using the state’s local government ethics board, we’re taking the politics out of the procedure. The DCA has the staff and resources to properly operate and has complete separation and independence from (municipal) matters.”   This does make sense, because the hens are running amuck in Hamilton. The state is taking entirely too long to evaluate ethics complaints in Hamilton. Why is there no follow up happening on these complaints?

 

Hamilton Township employees and board members receive copies of the township’s ethics code each year and are asked to pledge to follow the code, and certain individuals will be required to undergo annual ethics training.

 

The reality of this ethics code is……it’s a memo. There is no comprehensive plan given to employees or volunteers.  This is a link to the town’s comprehensive plan below.

 

http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/230035/230037/Code_of_Ethics_-_January_2013.pdf

 

Gifts policy

 

http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/230035/230037/Gifts_and_Gratuities_Policy_-_Revised_January_2013.pdf

 

 

This memo that was written by the ex-Mayor who went to jail.  The new mayor just updated the date and placed her name to the memo.  In the memo, they make mention to a “Local Government Ethics Law.”. This document is no where to be found in the walls of the municipal building in Hamilton Township. There is not even a link given to anyone who is asked to sign the memo.   Even after numerous requests to the townships leadership to share the full document, it was never shared.   So this “rigorous training” people go through is based on what? No one really knows all the rules.  There are documents on the State web site that could be what they used, however, no one in the township would ever verify which document they used to create the memo.

 

In the world of thoroughness, courtesy and professionalism, it is odd that even after numerous requests to the townships leadership for the information, the emails all went ignored for this information. .

 

The townships insurance company came in and did some ethics training, not the townships HR department , which was interesting.  They made it clear that if you violated a rule, even if you were an employee of the township, you would not be covered under the townships insurance policy. You would be on your own to get your own lawyer. The insurance company felt that by being present at the training meant that you were trained on all things ethical. So, by not giving the entire comprehensive policy to employees, volunteer, etc, everyone is at risk that interacts with the township.

 

In the private sector, when given a summary page to read and sign one would always have a direct link to additional documents. One would  click on those, read them and document that you read the information.  If a company was not focused on saving trees, one would be given the hard copies of the referenced documents.

 

If the township is trying to cut down on photocopying expenses they can always print, scan and post the referenced documents to the Twp's Intranet.  To enforce that people must sign a document; without the supporting documentation, is not proper protocol. Would you sign the front page of a mortgage document without seeing all pages to the mortgage, I doubt it.  But, this is what the townships leadership expects people to do.

 

 

No matter what the outcome of this ethics complaint about the Bromley Center, one cannot help but demonstrate how poorly things have been managed at the Bromley Center since this RFP was awarded. As taxpayers in Hamilton, everyone should be up and arms about this. What evaluation is done by the Twp leadership to ensure things are on cadence?

 

The original Scope of work for the Bromley Center was that the winner of the RFP was the following.  The successful proposer must provide, at a minimum, the following services at the Bromley Community Center.

 

Food Pantry

Holiday Parties

After school tutoring

Teen Evening programming

Career Services workshops

Computer Lab

Bus trips to places of interest

Meet quarterly basis with Bromley Neighborhood Civic Association and the Director of Health, Recreation and Senior & Veteran Services

Provide quarterly reports detailing activities, programs, rentals and financial receipts of the Center

Provide such additional programming as the operator and the Civic Association may deem appropriate

Provide a full time Center director and such other personnel, as may be necessary to provide services contracted for

Manage and coordinate the rental of rooms in accordance with TWP rates and policies

Provide background checks for all individuals who will be working at the center

 

So, how is the CYO doing with the minimum requirements.?  Not so good.  They were required by the mandates in the RFP to do quarterly meetings with the Bromley Neighborhood Civic Association. They are in breach of contract.

 

The first meeting that took place was not until Feb 24,2015. This only happened due to the persistence of the BNCA. It probably still would not have happened if it were not for the BNCA’s persistence.  Pat Hardiman took the stance with the BNCA that is was their responsibility to set up the quarterly meetings. This clearly is not what is stated in the RFP that the CYO was awarded.  The CYO is responsible for this.

 

Food pantry: A simple phone call to the Hamilton Township Public Works revealed that the township does not have a refrigerated truck in their inventory to transport perishable items. However, in the 2014 annual report consolidated by CYO for the township, as it pertains to the Bromley Center, it states that the Hamilton Public Works provides a monthly truck and trailer for the pick-up of food from the Southern Regional food Distribution Center in Vineland, N.J.

 

We placed a call and spoke to Steve Morris (he runs the food pantry collaborations in Vineland) and learned that they send both perishable and non perishable items to the Bromley Center in Hamilton, NJ.  We asked how does one deal with perishable items if the township is not bringing a refrigerated truck?  He said,” They have an enclosed truck and in the summer months we do not ship perishable items.”

 

The Bromley Center continues to participate in the N.J. Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program.  The program provides yearly, $20 vouchers, which can be redeemed at local farmer markets to purchase locally grown fresh fruit & vegetables by Hamilton Twp. Seniors.  They distributed 14 vouchers to area seniors for the 2014 season.  Only 14 vouchers for the entire year given out? One can only question why this is so low and how is the community being made aware of this program?

 

Teen Center: (Information in Township annual report)

The Teen Center, which opened in the summer of 2005, continues with 9 to 13 yr. old "pre teens" & 14-17 yr. old teens, who utilize the center's video games, with the Xbox, PS3, Xbox One & PS4 consoles. They state they also have a pool table, ping pong table, foosball table, basketball shoot game & air hockey table, along with various board games. The average daily attendance has increased to 15-25 teens.

 

It was designed to provide local youths with educational, recreational, and social activities & has become a "safe haven" for Bromley Neighborhood youth.

 

In speaking with some of the teenagers who visit the center, they were told that if they do not have at least 12 kids each day visiting the center, they will no longer be able to supply pizza for them. So, if there are so many kids coming as the report states, why the threat to the kids who are coming, that they will no longer get pizza. It may be worthwhile to see the actual sign in sheets to see the actual attendance.

 

Computer Room Access/Computer Classes: Hamilton residents have access to a computer room from 9:00 am until 3:15 pm. The computer room contains 16 computers, a networked printer and continues to be available for both adults and students. Uses include job searches, on-line applications, and career searches. e-mail checks, researching school projects or business topics and word processing.  Evidently they have created lessons for a basic computer class to offer local residents. Volunteers have taught classes on and off, since 2003.  When asked for a list of how many attendees actually came to the class, this was not available by the center to the people who attended this meeting.

 

Tutoring: Currently the tutor who is available is not a college graduate or a certified teacher. She did not graduate from high school with a 4.0 average.

 

Social Hall Usage:  The Civic Center is the only physical location at which Bromley families, civic groups and other associates can gather within their neighborhood. It has the potential to be the single focal point for hosting meaningful events within the neighborhood.

 

Though the CYO may not believe that the rental, rates are a factor in what we perceive to be a reduced hall rental rate, it was requested that they support (not advocate) to solicit Township council to reduce the Bromley Civic Center's rental rates.

 

This is justifiable for the simple fact that the other rentals in the Township have had significant investments in the appearance of these facilities, are marketed to a wedding and business demographic and are marketed to Hamilton at-large. The Bromley Civic Center is a neighborhood center and is not marketed as a wedding or business destination.

 

Improving the rental rate of the Bromley Civic Center equates to more community events and more volume in rentals this more revenues.

 

Additionally, if the CYO is not responsible for the rental rate nor incentivized  to rent the facility then the CYO web site should not be the sole means of finding information about the facility rental rates or its availability for rental.

 

They have hall rentals year round on Saturdays and some Sundays. There were a total of 27 rentals/hall usage in 2014. Most rentals are baby showers & birthday parties, although  they also have bridal showers, wedding receptions, special meetings and community events. Attendees of this meeting asked for 2013 data and this was not available.  The rental fees have been increased, which could be leading to the decrease in hall rentals.   One can only wonder if the township offered reduced rental fees for Hamilton residents, if this could increase the hall’s usage?

 

There are numerous flyers in the annual report that reveal details to events, summer camps, tutoring programs, the food pantry, hall rentals, senior citizen club, etc.  Unfortunately, not one of these flyers ever made their way to the townships facebook page, website or twitter feed.  How does the township expect the community to know about the programs?  How is the community getting told about them?

 

Let’s review the rules of engagement for the RFP. The BNCA never received any correspondence by email, phone or mail from the CYO, even though they were required to do so and hold meetings quarterly. This is a requirement in the RFP.  There is no documentation that demonstrates any attempt  was ever even  made to do so. The CYO states they have been submitting reports to the township, however, one can only question why the township, knowing the requirements of the RFP, never questioned they were there not any minutes to meetings with the BNCA. Who in the township is responsible for making sure RFP awards are being executed upon properly? This does not seem to be a focus of the administration.

 

Based upon this single meeting of Feb 2015, there are items that the BNCA and the community would expect to have followed-up information for the next meeting. It was generally agreed upon at the meeting, that communicating about the available programs and driving up attendance is critical to the success of and perceived value of the Bromley Civic Center. Furthermore, as a commonly accepted principle of determining progress (in business, sports and other endeavors)is to measure the results. The expectation is that this happens. Only time will tell if this is done by the center and the township.

 

There is zero cost to communicating to the Bromley Community and to possible volunteers and resources in Hamilton at-large. The use of social media could be quite helpful.  The township could create a separate FB page, website and twitter feeds just for the center.

 

The Bromley Center management stated they are sending mailers to the community on the events. But when pressed on who is on the list and how are the mailers evaluated, they had no answers. How do they know that the mailers are getting to the people? Is there return labels put on the mailers to see how many are returned? Where did they get their lists from?  How old is the list? What are their plans in growing the list? None of these questions could be answered by the township leadership.

 

As only one of many means of measuring the success of the various Bromley Center programs that the CYO has inherited, the attendees of the meeting urged them to acquire data from the Township for the 5 years prior to 2014 and provide the Bromley Community  with comparative data of pre and post CYO management of the Bromley Community Center. This would include:

 

- attendance at Teen programs

- hall rentals 

- attendance at Senior programs

- food pantry participation

- add other programs

 

Let’s see if this is presented at the next meeting. The next meeting is in May, but no date has been set by the CYO.

 

This is just one example of how there is no follow up on RFP’s and accountability to the administration for the RFP awards they make to businesses.

 

There was a recent RFP released for the Mayor’s new idea for an Entertainment District, The Big H  (aka Heroin)  An RFP that has no Twp business plan or economic evaluation to prove it even makes sense in the first place. This needs to be available for the residents of the community to read or for a developer to understand if this is worth doing. What developer in their right mind will respond to such a request?

 

RFP for Entertainment District in Hamilton, NJ (see link below)

 

 

http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/228430/229179/SKMBT_60115030909210.pdf

 

If how the Bromley Center is being managed by the township is any indication on how this new RFP for an entertainment district will be managed, I think we can all agree, this is an accident waiting to happen. This will cost the taxpayers millions of  dollars and hold no one in office accountable for its failure.  What will the township do to rectify these situations?

 

The Big H
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

The Big H

 

 

 

 By Tammy Duffy 

 

"They don't speak about Hamilton Township like they did two years ago. It's 'the Big H.," said. Mayor Kelly Yaede

 

The street name for the drug  Heroin is, “The Big H.” The Mayor of Hamilton Township , Kelly Yaede, wants to nickname the town, “The Big H.”   She evidently is completely unaware of the street name for Heroin (The Big H). Yet, she is the Director of Public Safety as well as the Mayor of the town. 

 

The three largest killers of people in the state of NJ are stroke, heart disease and cancer. (Source: NJ Chronic Disease report 2014). However, when I met up with a lobbyist from the NJ Medical Society and asked her what her biggest focuses were on Capital Hill for 2014 and beyond, her response was, “DRUG , DRUGS, DRUGS.”  The Drug problem in NJ has become an epidemic.. It should be a focus for politicians to rectify in their towns. It should  not be taken lightly by wanting to rename a town, The Big H. (aka Heroin)

 

There are over 520 cities in the state of New Jersey. Hamilton Township, Mercer county, ranks 26^th in the state  for residents admitted to drug treatment during for heroin and other opiates.  (Source: NJ Dept of Human Services, 121 Hamilton residents were admitted in 2013)

 

 

 

Since 2012, the numbers have increased over 116% . In 2013, there were 741 deaths in NJ from “The Big H”.  There have been deaths from the Big H in Hamilton, NJ, Mercer County as well. A member of the Hamilton Council lost their son in 2009 due to a Big H overdose.  

 

But along with the rise in heroin use has been a rise in overdoses.   The Big H (aka Heroin) has become an “equal opportunity offender,” no longer dismissed as an urban drug by suburban parents.  Kids are dying in their bedrooms and bathrooms in the suburbs. This should not be taken lightly by any anyone.

 

According to the Mercer County medical examiner’s office, 35 heroin or opioid overdoses were reported in 2013, up from 32 in 2012. There have been significant increases in heroin or opioid overdose deaths across the state. Ocean County saw the worst increase, from 52 deaths in 2012 to 112 in 2013.

 

Many prescription drug addicts, especially those using “synthetic heroin” oxycodone, find themselves addicted to heroin, which is cheaper and more powerful than the prescription drugs.   It starts in the medicine cabinet with Vicodin, Percocets and OxyContin.

 

When it comes to overdoses, advocates are still waiting for widespread adoption of Narcan, an aerosol form of naloxone hydrochloride that is administered as a nasal spray to counteract the effects of a heroin overdose.  This is making a positive impact, but more must be done.

 

There is no silver bullet for this addiction. What we need to do is look at where the system is failing and it's failing in many ways.  Parents and communities need to be vigilant. 

ebay and Sotheby's: A New Partnership
Topic: ART NEWS

 

 

 

ebay and Sotheby's: A New Partnership 

 

 

 

eBay is launching a live auction page for Sotheby’s on its site. The collaboration is the next stage of ebay live auction technology.

 

The auctions themselves happen in the “real” world, in a Sotheby’s location, but with real-time integration with the eBay-Sotheby’s site.

EBay and Sotheby’s first announced their partnership last summer. The collaboration is designed to give Sotheby’s more access to a younger, digitally savvy clientele, while eBay gets an opportunity to expand its high end inventory. Where Sotheby’s and other auction houses have rare, highly valuable inventory, eBay has a decade’s worth of auction technology, making its platform an easy bridge out of the stodgy (and some would argue arcane) world of live auctions.

“We’re seeing appetite  for high purchase points across the site,” says Megan Ford, director of eBay’s live auctions. “We went into the bullion category at this high price point and we went into the vehicles category, and every time we move up market our buyers come with us,” she says.

Sotheby’s and eBay’s love child is a sleekly designed interface that features upcoming auctions alongside artist interviews, articles, and other content created by Sotheby’s editorial team.

It displays auction previews on a page that mimics the look and feel of a gallery space, with artworks set against a minimalist white backdrop alongside artwork title, artist name, and materials. High resolution pictures allow bidders to zoom in for brush-stroke detail. A picture of the item hung on a wall let’ them imagine how it would look in their home.

The idea is to recreate the experience of a live auction in the digital realm.

Bidders will be able to view a running feed of bids as they come in and place their own bids. They’ll also be able to flip through the auction catalog within the live auction screen.

To bring together the offline auction with its online counterpart, each online bidder is paired with a representative on the auction floor to place bids on the online client’s behalf.

 

EBay teamed up with live auction site Invaluable in May of last year to build a live auction platform. So far, eBay has hosted a mix of auctions through Swann Auction Galleries, Heritage Auctions, and others, and already live auction bidders are proving to be return customers, says Ford. Since launching in the fall, she says, live auction bidders have purchased an average of four items.

 

Ford also says that eBay has no problem selling high-end items. An acetate record of Elvis singing live, for example, recently sold for $300,000. According to the company’s numbers, every day 3,500 auctions on eBay close above $5,000. But by working with Sotheby’s, which has exclusive access to high value items, eBay is hoping to increase the number of large daily sales.

Art and collectibles accounts for $8 billion of gross merchandise volume for the company, and that category hosts 37 million active buyers, says eBay. Live auctions were a natural way for the company to grow this section of the market and its blossoming relationship with Sotheby’s is just the beginning.

“We believe that eBay live auctions is a billion-dollar-plus business at scale, so we’re going to be investing in this business for the long term,” says Ford.

With eBay splitting from PayPal later this year, there’s been a lot of pressure on the auction site to develop a plan for revenue growth post spin-off. Today’s launch is the company’s first big reveal in terms of a forward looking strategy.

And while building out auction platforms for others is an obvious use of eBay’s technology, rather than the development of something shiny and new, connecting high art with a wider audience could ultimately be a winning bid.

 

ELF MAKE-UP’S BEST KEPT SECRET
Topic: FASHION NEWS

 

 

 

ELF MAKE-UP’S BEST KEPT SECRET

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

As an entrepeneur one always looks for ways to get the most out of your money.  Being frugal is a way of life and a recipe for success.  During one of my trips to Wegman's market, I came across a brand of cosmetics called, e.l.f.

 

e.l.f is a brand that fits the needs of all women. There are a multitude of products available in the line. Many of the products are below $3. The first products I purchased were:lip primer & plumper, wrinkle refiner, eyeliner and shadow stick, make-up mist and set, cream eyelier, waterproof lengthening and volumizing mascara and some flawless eyeshadow. I loved all of the products. The mist allows your make-up to last all day. I finally found a mascara that does not flake or run and it only cost $3.

Now, mind you, like any brand of cosmetics, you will find something you might not like. However, this is few and far between.  When you do find something you do not like, you do not feel so bad, because you are only out a few dollars, not $20 or even hundreds of dollars.

Their web site demonstrates their full line. Its quite extensive.  Other products I have tried and really like are: the flawless foundation, clear brow & lash mascara, perfect blend concealer, golden bronzer and their smugpots. Their brushes are to die for as well and they are priced from $2 to $6.

 

 http://www.eyeslipsface.com/makeup/new

 

e.l.f. Cosmetics was founded by Joseph Shamah and Scott Vincent Borba in  2004. Shamah and Borba met at a party in 2002.  Shamah was a 23-year-old NYU business student. Borba was a 31-year-old LA beauty-industry veteran, responsible for previously launching brands such as Hard Candy cosmetics. Both were enthusiastic about an inexpensive, high-quality cosmetics line for women, and decided to form a company together. A few days after the party they sat down to brainstorm, and a business plan was created within months. Borba claims the idea originated from seeing women with expensive cars such as BMW's and Mercedes Benz’s buying bargain-price cosmetics at 99-cent stores in Los Angeles.

 

e.l.f.(short for Eyes Lips Face) Cosmetics was officially launched in NYC in June 2004, also with the assistance of Shamah's father Alan. They continue to sell high-quality cosmetics at $1, $3, and $6 price points.

 

 

 

 

The company started with only 13 makeup products, but has since developed more than 300 products that include bath products, skin-care products, mineral-based makeup, professional tools, eyeliners, lipsticks, glosses, blushes, bronzers, brushes and mascara, and more. Most items cost $3. The variety of e.l.f. products allows the company to target a demographic with a broad age range, from teenagers to women in their 40s and 50.

 

In June 2007, e.l.f. launched Ask Achell, a beauty blog and advice column that touts products (not only e.l.f.) and talks about celebrity sightings. Since then, the length of customer visits to the website has tripled. All product pages on the site host a "chat now" button that lets customers connect directly with one of the company's in-house professional makeup artists. The site hosts a "virtual makeover lab", where customers can digitally test products on models or their own photos.  Customers can create a personal profile, publish and comment on blogs, converse with other customers, and access a beauty encyclopedia.  They can also create a "beauty profile", and are recommended e.l.f. products according to their skin type, hair and eye colors, and typical beauty regimen. Also included is the option to create a wish-list that connects to Facebook, or view educational web videos on makeup techniques and styles.  The website currently includes over two million members.

 

e.l.f. frequently hosts online events, and since 2010 has asked customers of all ages and ethnicities to submit to a casting resource to select a yearly model-representative for the brand. Four selected individuals are brought to New York City to receive makeovers from Achelle Dunaway, e.l.f.'s Creative Director and lead makeup artist, as well as participate in a photo shoot. There are various cash prizes for nominees, and the winner is dubbed "face of e.l.f.

 

They are great products at great prices. You can find them at many stores. In my local area they are sold at Wegman's and CVS among others.  

 

The link below gets you to their online shop.

 

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/makeup/new

 

Great Tasting and World Changing

 

 

Great Tasting and World Changing

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

As Americans we are obsessed with flavor and fresh breath. There is not a day that goes by that I do not see someone voraciously chewing gum.  At times we chew as if we are competing for the gold in the Jaw Olympics.

 

There are hundreds of brands of chewing gum in the USA.  There are 22 leading chewing gum brands in the United States. Some names we know are Trident, Orbit and Wrigley's Extra.  These are among U.S. consumers' favorite gum brands. Trident was the top-selling brand, with generated sales of about 657.3 million U.S. dollars. The gum industry is a several billion dollar industry annually. 

 

Tyler Merrick, CEO of Project 7 has spent his life as a successful entrepreneur and benefactor for good across multiple platforms and organizations.  In 2008, Tyler found himself at a professional crossroads wanting to help more people through his business endeavors and be a catalyst for change in a continually inward consumer centric culture.

The answer was simple... "products for good!"

 

"If people are going to buy things, lots of things. Then let's use those things they purchase to help change the world around us. Let's make everyday products for everyday people to solve everyday problems around the globe".

 

In 2008, Tyler Merrick became a Social Entrepreneur and Project 7 was born; a company dedicated to making 'Products for Good" Each gum flavor focuses on one of the companies philanthropic initiatives. There are 7 flavors to choose from. Each package when purchased will go to help an amazing global initiative. I will personally never buy another type of gum again. I will only buy Project 7 gum. Gum that makes a difference, I am in! I have tasted two of the flavors an really like the gums.

 

 

Save the Earth: Fresh and Breezy Flavor gum

Plant trees back into the earth, heal the damage of deforestation and help Save the Earth. More than an acre of rainforest is lost every second. From global warming to the extinction of plant and animal species, the consequences of deforestation are far reaching. However, healing can begin with your small purchases.

 

House the Homeless: Coconut Lime Flavor Gum

You can help House the Homeless and give basic care for “emergency relief” shelters for those have lost a home as a result of natural disasters.

Provide shelter for people in need with simple purchases of their gum and mints.

 

Feed the Hungry: Peppermint Vanilla mints

Make a difference and help Feed the Hungry in your own backyard. Hunger isn't only an international problem. More then one in ten U.S. households experience poverty-related hunger.

Provide meals in U.S. communities with simple purchases of their gum and mints.

 

Quench the Thirsty: Mint Julep Flavor Gum

More then one billion people worldwide lack a basic supply of clean drinking water. We can help bring water to those who need it .

 

Heal the Sick

You can help Heal the Sick and deliver life-saving malaria medications to someone in need. Though easily preventable, malaria is responsible for at least one million deaths every year.

Help deliver the medications the world needs with simple purchases of their gum and mints.

 

Teach Them Well: Front Porch Lemonade Gum Flavor and Sour Carmel Apple Flavor

Make an impact. We want to give all children in developing nations a chance at a proper daily school education and brighten their futures.

 

Hope for Peace: Birthday Cake Gum Flavor

Put a stop to bullying in U.S. schools. Anti-bullying programs lead to a major increase in the number of students who feel that their school is safer and who are willing to stop bullying when they see it.

Simple purchases of their gum and mints can help your schools be a safer place.

 

Project 7 is making a difference in the world with their gum. They are a specialty gum and mint brand dedicated to bringing great flavor back into your day while at the same time giving back to 7 areas of need. All of their products are made in America. They have partnered with non profits making impacts both here in America and abroad. 

 

Little purchases when added up, can pull many people together and make life changing impacts every day of the week.  Project 7 is thankful  to their non profits, suppliers, distributors, retailers, brokers and end-customers who make this equation and story possible. 

 

Below is a link to the online store for Project 7. It is also available in a multitude of stores as well. Look for it at Wegmans and Target in our area.

 

http://project7.com/collections/all