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DUFFY'S CULTURAL COUTURE
Saturday, 10 October 2015
N.J. county unveils first-of-its-kind program to pay for overdose victims' rehab
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

N.J. county unveils first-of-its-kind program to pay for overdose victims' rehab

 

 


 

 

 Kits of Narcan, a drug used to counter the effects of opioid overdose, are shown during a training event in Salem County. Camden County announced on Wednesday it would use grant money to pay for overdose victims' treatment in a pilot program. (Joe Warner | For NJ.com) (Joe Warner)

Alex Young | For NJ.comBy Alex Young | For NJ.com 
Email the author | Follow on Twitter 
on October 07, 2015 at 1:19 PM, updated October 07, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Reddit
 

COLLINGSWOOD — Police officers in Camden County saved 300 lives using the anti-overdose drug Narcan in just the last 16 months. But what happens to those lives after they are discharged from the hospital? Camden County is starting a first-of-its-kind program that hopes to keep those overdose victims from going through the same process all over again.

On Wednesday, the county announced Operation SAL, a pilot program that looks to build on the success of the state's expanded Narcan deployment by helping people who are saved by the anti-overdose drug get into detox and treatment.

The program is named after Sal Marchese, a Blackwood resident who died from a heroin overdose in 2010 after struggling to find treatment for his addiction.

Under Operation SAL, law enforcement and the county's four hospitals — Cooper, Lady of Lourdes, Kennedy and Virtua — will work together to get overdose victims into rehab.

"We're targeting patients who received Narcan treatment in the field and are brought to the emergency room," Freeholder Director Lou Cappelli said. "For any of those patients, we are offering paid treatment with the help of the healthcare providers."


ALSO: N.J. overdose remembrance vigil a tribute to those lost

For any patient willing to participate, there will be what's known as a "warm hand off" from the ER to detox and intensive outpatient treatment at Delaware Valley Medical, in Pennsauken. From there, they will be treated on an outpatient basis until a bed opens at another facility or they can be managed at the level of care determined by their case manager, according to Cappelli.

The pilot program will be funded by the county's Homelessness Prevention Trust fund and the county general fund. The $150,000 in funding for the program is enough to pay the way for about 50 people, according to county spokesman Dan Keashen.

The announcement was made at a luncheon to recognize the law enforcement officers who saved a life using Narcan in the field.

Cappelli said Operation SAL was important step for the county and for how addiction is handled in general.

The county has been working to improve the way it deals with the problem of addiction since the inception of its Addiction Awareness Task Force last year, and Cappelli said they've made some big strides in that area. However, the biggest request they keep getting is for better access to treatment.

"Access to treatment is something that's difficult for people to obtain." he said.

"We as a nation need to have a lot more discussion about how we treat addiction and fund treatment," he said. "We aren't paying enough attention to this problem. We're going to do what we can with our limited resources, but a lot more needs to be done."

Alex Young may be reached at ayoung@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlexYoungSJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

 


Posted by tammyduffy at 6:21 AM EDT
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Mayoral Debate Oct 8 2015
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 
 

 

 
 Mayoral Debate Oct 8 2015
 
 
 
 
Click on this link to listen to today's Mayoral Debate
 
Hamilton, NJ 2015
 
 
Vote Nov 3 2015!! 
 
 
 
Click on these two links below to listen to the audio from the debate
 
 
 
 https://youtu.be/BXyo3iTFe3g (photomontage)
 
 
 
https://mayoraldebate.sharefile.com/d-s69f82c1c2c944098
 
 
Audio from the debate at link above 
 
 

Posted by tammyduffy at 9:56 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 8 October 2015 10:51 PM EDT
PET RESCUE FUND RAISER
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST


 


Posted by tammyduffy at 6:28 PM EDT
Arts Council of Princeton presents The Annual Hometown Halloween Parade
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 
  

 

 

 

 Arts Council of Princeton presents

The Annual Hometown Halloween Parade

 

 

 

 

The Arts Council of Princeton presents the Annual Hometown Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 29 at 5pm in Downtown Princeton.

 

 

Calendar Listing

(Holiday, Family, Parade…)

 

All are invited to dress in their best costumes to join the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) for the Annual Hometown Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 29 at 5pm. Led by the Princeton University Marching Band, the parade will start on Palmer Square Green at 5pm and make its way through Downtown Princeton, ending in Hinds Plaza (next to the PPL). This event is free and open to the public. Please call (609) 924-8777 or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.

 

Dress up in your best costume and join the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) for the Annual Hometown Halloween Parade! The free, fun, family-friendly event will be held on Thursday, October 29 at 5pm


Starting at 5pm on Palmer Square Green, the parade will make its way through Downtown Princeton and end in Hinds Plaza (next to the Princeton Public Library). Enjoy a performance from the Environmental Ensemble Experiment, comprised of the ACP's “CAP”s teen afterschool program participants, playing handmade percussion instruments. At 6:30pm, the Library will screen the DreamWorks movie Home in their Community Room.

This event is free and open to the public. Please call (609) 924-8777 or visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.

The 2015 Hometown Halloween Parade is organized by the Arts Council of Princeton. Thanks to our sponsors: Princeton Public Library, McCaffery's Food Market, and JaZams. A special thanks to the Princeton University Marching Band.

 


Posted by tammyduffy at 6:09 PM EDT
The Good Ship Lollipop Gives Huge Gift
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST


 

 


 

 
 
 
 
 
The Good Ship Lollipop Gives Huge Gift
 
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that it has received a gift valued at more than $5 million from the late Oscar®-winning Hollywood actress and United States Ambassador Shirley Temple Black and her family. This gift includes both a substantial monetary contribution to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ capital campaign as well as key artifacts from Shirley Temple Black’s indelible early career. To recognize this gift and honor the star’s legendary childhood contribution to entertainment, the Academy Museum’s education center will be named The Shirley Temple Education Studio.
 
 

 

“Shirley Temple Black captivated audiences as an actor and her work as a diplomat touched countless lives,” said Bob Iger, who is chairing the Academy Museum’s capital campaign along with co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. “Her gift to the Academy Museum ensures her work will continue to inspire future generations of film lovers.”

 

 

 

The Shirley Temple Education Studio will be the center of the Museum's dynamic education program, which will draw upon the expertise of Academy members, artists, and scholars in a range of disciplines to explore cinema history and the collaborative process of filmmaking. The program will provide hands-on workshops in moviemaking techniques, as well as inspire creativity and critical thinking. A core feature of the program will be its teen initiative, serving students from diverse backgrounds in the greater Los Angeles area.

 

 

 

“Our mother believed that the Academy Museum project will provide the key to broader public understanding both of the movie industry’s history and of its future,” said the Black family. “We are so pleased with the Academy’s naming of the Shirley Temple Education Studio, and again encourage our mother’s many admirers to join us in supporting the Museum and its new Education Studio with a donation honoring her memory.” 

 

 

In addition to financial support, this generous gift includes unique objects such as: the miniature Oscar presented to Shirley Temple at the 1934 Academy Awards in recognition of her screen work that year; the tap shoes and portable wooden practice-steps given to her by legendary dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson for their famed stair dance routine in 1934's “The Little Colonel”; the star’s first set-chair from Fox Studios; and the ornate Los Angeles public-school system desk she used for her daily lessons on the Fox lot. 

 

 

 

“We know Academy Museum visitors will be elated to see these treasures,” said Kerry Brougher, Academy Museum director. “This generous gift is a significant addition to our collection. The Shirley Temple Education Studio will provide students with opportunities to build meaningful connections with the finest creative minds in filmmaking today.”

 

 

 

The Academy is currently raising $388 million to support the building, exhibitions, and programs of the Academy Museum. The capital campaign was launched in 2012 and is chaired by Bob Iger and co-chaired by Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. The Academy has already secured more than $250 million in pledges from more than 1,300 individual donors globally.


Posted by tammyduffy at 3:14 PM EDT
Monday, 5 October 2015
MCCC Gallery to Feature Artists from Trenton!!
Topic: ART NEWS


 

 
 
 
 
 
 MCCC Gallery to Feature Artists from New Jersey’s Capital City Oct. 13-29
 
 
 
 
Opening Reception Oct. 14, 5-7 pm
 
 
 

Leon Rainbow's "Hear, See, Speak” is among 32 works by 22 artists in “Art Served Up Trenton Style,” coming to the Gallery at Mercer County Community College Oct. 13 to 29. An opening reception will be held Oct. 14, 5 to 7 p.m.

 

 
 
 
 
The Gallery at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) presents “Art Served Up Trenton Style,” an exhibition of works from the Trenton Artists Workshop Association (TAWA) and the SAGE Coalition. The show runs from Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Thursday, Oct. 29, with an opening reception to be held Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. 
 
 
The MCCC Gallery is located on the second floor of the Communications Building on the college’s West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Directions and a campus map can be found at www.mccc.edu.
 
 
 

Aubrey Kauffman Graffiti

 

 

 

 
The exhibition combines works by 22 artists from the two organizations, both of which have made a major mark on New Jersey’s capital city art scene. The artists include: Priscilla Snow Algava, Joanne Amantea, Elizabeth Aubrey, William Condry “Kasso,” Jonathan Conner “Lank,” Katie Hector, Dean Innocenzi “Ras,” Aubrey J. Kauffman, James Kelewae "Luv One," Wills Kinsley, Dave Klama "Mek One," Mary Allessio Leck, Mel Leipzig, Terri McNichol, Marge Miccio, Dave Orantes, Gentrifried Prufrock, Leon Rainbow, Bonnie Christina Randall, Addison Vincent, Jesse Vincent and Andrew Wilkinson.
 
 
The 32 artworks, which were created between 2011 and 2015, reflect a mixture of backgrounds, approaches, and traditions in media including acrylic paint, spray paint, watercolor, steel and rubber, oil paint, print, plaster, mixed media, and photographic print. The size of the works ranges from 11 x 14 inches (Conner) to 48 x 48 inches (Leipzig). Pieces by Leipzig, Kauffman, Rainbow, and Kasso were featured in a recent gallery exhibit in New York City.
 
 
The Trenton Artists Workshop has a 30-year history of exhibiting in venues such as the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton City Museum and Artworks. It produced the ground-breaking “Eyes on Trenton” festival, an artistic exchange with the Soviet Union, and has spearheaded important city arts initiatives and programs.
SAGE is a younger organization composed of street writers and artists. The group has launched Trenton’s “Windows of Souls,” a city-beautification program that uses mural and graffiti art to bring life to abandoned buildings and streets. SAGE organizes the annual “Jersey Jam,” one of the largest graffiti projects on the East Coast.
 
 
Gallery Director Dylan Wolfe is looking forward to hosting an exhibit that incorporates both long-established and current/emerging artists who are infusing energy into the Trenton arts scene. "MCCC has a long history of supporting the arts in Trenton, going back to the college's origins as an art and design school in downtown Trenton. Our Gallery is the ideal venue for this exhibit,” Wolfe said.
Gallery hours for this show are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
 
 
 

Mel Leipzig’s "Leon"

Posted by tammyduffy at 4:17 PM EDT
Sunday, 4 October 2015
What's Appropriate? Social Media Etiquette for Government Employees
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST


 

 What's Appropriate?
 
Social Media Etiquette for Government Employees

 
 
 
By Tammy Duffy
 
 
 


 

 
 Actual posting from the Hamilton Forum by a government employee
 
 
 
 
 
 Use of social media has become prevalent among government  employees and agencies. Federal employees would be wise to ponder before posting and to think through their tweeting in order to avoid running afoul of government ethics policies, according to newly released guidance from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Government employees are expected to set an example and standard of professional business conduct. When this is ignored, bad things happen. 

 

Rules called the Standards of Conduct apply to social media in areas such as fundraising, seeking outside employment, use of an employee’s title and more for the government.

 

The Standards of Conduct do not prohibit government employees from establishing and maintaining personal social media accounts. As in any other context, however, employees must ensure that their social media activities comply with the Standards of Conduct and other applicable laws, including agency supplemental regulations and agency-specific policies. Violations can lead to disciplinary actions, up to firing. 

 

One issue commonly arising, involves use of job titles on personal social media accounts. The rules generally require that employees avoid using their titles or positions in a way that would create an appearance that the government sanctions or endorses their activities or those of another.

 

A violation might occur if an employee refers to his or her connection to the government as support for the employee’s statements.

 

Additionally, a violation could occur if an employee “prominently features his or her agency’s name, seal, uniform or similar items on the employee’s social media account or in connection with specific social media activities,” among other situations.

 

The Office of Special Counsel, which enforces Hatch Act partisan political activities restrictions on federal employees, similarly has posted information on how that law applies to social media.

 

It says, for example, that there is no violation of the ban on soliciting donations for parties or partisan candidates if a social media “friend” of a federal employee posts a link to the contribution page of a partisan candidate on the employee’s page. However, the employee should not “like,” “share,” or “retweet” the solicitation, “or respond in any way that would tend to encourage other readers to donate,”. If you look at local social media pages, this is not the case. There are shares, likes and retweets happening all the time. So why is this ignored?

 

It's the government employee's job to use common sense when making his or her opinions public, and it's government's job to provide a set of general guidelines that will guide employees in the right direction.

 

Municipalities  should be able to guide employees to smart use of social media and not try to dictate to them. Dictating rarely works in such cases anyway, so a government's goal should be to craft a social media policy that will encourage employees to think before posting.  In the town of Hamilton township, they do have such a policy.

 

 

See link to Hamilton Township Social Media Policy

 

http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/118151/118153/118188/E-mail_and_Internet_Policy_for_Employees_2011_thru_present.pdf

 

"TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON POLICY AND PROCEDURE USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL AND INTERNET SERVICES This policy establishes standards for the proper use of email and internet services provided by the Township of Hamilton. All email and internet services are owned by the Township of Hamilton and are to be used for Township business only. Use of these services for personal or non-business related purposes is not permitted. This policy applies to all full and part-time employees, contractors, volunteers and any other users of the Township of Hamilton Network.

 

Internet Policy Details Use of the Internet must be done responsibly and ethically, consistent with the purpose for which these services are provided.

 

The following activities are prohibited when using the Internet, including, but not limited to:

 

 • Downloading, viewing or transmitting fraudulent, threatening, obscene, intimidating, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory or otherwise unlawful messages or images;

• Installing or downloading computer software, programs or executable files;

• Uploading or downloading copyrighted materials or proprietary agency information;

• Uploading or downloading access-restricted township information;

• Any activity with religious or political purposes outside the scope of the users assigned and authorized township duties;

• Any unauthorized purchase;

• Disruption, obstruction or burden of network resources;

• The intentional or negligent introduction of computer viruses into the Township Network. In short: ­ Employees should visit only those Web sites necessary for their business duties ­ Employees must understand that "surfing" the Web on company time is a violation of policy ­

 

Under no circumstances should any employee computer ever be used to visit "adult" or otherwise prohibited sites ­ Employees with laptop or notebook computers or those who access Township systems remotely must understand that these rules apply to remote use as well as in-office Internet use Failure to comply with any of these policies may result in the loss of email and internet services, disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

 

The sending of e-mail using another’s identity, an assumed name, or anonymously is prohibited.

 

Prohibited in Hamilton, but it happens often. Why is that? Why are these behaviors tolerated by employees?

 

Below is another example of a township employee's postings on a blog. Does this seem inappropriate to you? Share your thoughts.

 

 


 

 

 

 

Towns acknowledge employee rights to privacy and free speech that may protect online activity conducted on personal social networks. However, what is published on such personal sites should not be attributed to or reference the town and should not appear to be endorsed by or originated from the town. Employees that choose to list their work affiliation or reference their employment with the town in any way on a social network should regard all communication on that network as if it were a professional network.

 

Online lives are ultimately linked, whether or not employees choose to mention the town on personal online networks. Town employees engaging in social media networks must at all times be conscious and respectful of the fact that their words and actions are representative of the town, regardless of when, where and how the content was posted.

 

In Roanoke County, Va., there was an incident in which an employee was fired for statements she posted online. In her online profile, she was listed as a county employee. In this case, she was clearly making threats and so she was justly fired. While threats aren't likely to be protected by anyone, government employees can protect themselves online by removing all job or employer references from their online activity. By  simply adding the statement that its personal, rather than representative of their employer, towns can elevate a lot of headache and legal messes.  Including the disclaimer, “Opinions are mine, not my employer's, should be part of a towns policy.  Such a disclaimer makes intentions clear -- that they are communicating as an individual, not as a government representative. If they do not have this, it opens a lot of doors to litigation.

 

Many governments have a social media policy that outlines how the government's own social media presence should be run, with no mention of how employees should conduct themselves personally online.  This is evident in the policy for Hamilton township. Such social media policy is even more crucial in government than it is in the private sector.  At all times government employees are not just preserving an image or a brand name, they are a safety net, the single source provider to everybody who's in the towns audience.  Towns must be all things to all people and they must maintain a really strong level of trust and confidence. This is what must be delivered and is what taxpayers expect.

 

Employees assume any and all risk associated with their off-duty personal/private blogging and use of social media on non-City-owned equipment. The City may require immediate removal of material and/or take disciplinary action for personal/private blogging or personal/private use of social media sites by employees that causes disruption of the workplace or impairs the mission of the City.

 

Employees who engage in personal/private blogging or use of social media sites may not:

 

a. Attribute personal statements, opinions, or beliefs to the City

b. Disclose confidential City information;

c. Use the City logo or trademarks; or

d. Post any material that: (i) constitutes harassment, hate speech, or libel; (ii) violates the privacy rights of fellow employees; or (iii) is disruptive to the work environment because it impairs workplace discipline or control, impairs or erodes working relationships, creates dissension among co-workers, interferes with job performance, or obstructs operations.”

Public employees are different than private sector workers, and everything they say becomes part of the public record. Public employees are held to a higher standard and they need to conduct themselves knowing that they work for a public entity and whatever they do could be reflected onto their organization.

 

 

A Middlesex County law clerk resigned from her position this month after posting disparaging Facebook comments about the death of New Jersey State Trooper Anthony Raspa.

 

In April, a Hamilton Township (Atlantic County) fire chief resigned from his position after racially insensitive posts on his Facebook page were brought to the township’s attention. While officials and experts warn personal social media pages can be dangerous for the careers of public employees, many municipalities do not have specific social media policies in place.

 

Here are some examples of postings by a high ranking Hamilton government employee.  What are your thoughts on this persons online behavior? Is this the behavior we should allow of our township officials? Why is this acceptable? Someone had the courage to "out" "ISSUES ONLY" on the Hamilton Forum. Why is the township allowing its employees to behave in this manner?

 

Earlier this year, a Hamilton township council member was reported in the Trentonian to have made racial slurs about the Muslim community. Was there any update to the township social media policy after this debacle? No.

 

Link to article by the Trentonian below on racial slur by Hamilton township official

 

http://www.trentonian.com/general-news/20150722/hamilton-councilman-ed-gore-explains-his-muslim-scum-comment

 

In April, former Hamilton Township(Atlantic county) fire chief John Sauerwald resigned in the wake of racially insensitive posts on his Facebook page. Sauerwald resigned before any action was taken by the township and told the Press the posts were made on his personal Facebook page. A post from November on his page spoke out about to the incidents in Ferguson, Missouri, after the death of Michael Brown and referred to the rioters as "animals."

Another post described an Arab person in a derogatory way and said, "Our doors to this country should have been locked tight after 9/11."

 

I think it’s important for local government and state government that the public be assured government is unbiased and free of things that would make people feel distrustful. The use of social media is only dangerous if you abuse it. What you put on Facebook stays there forever. Words may be forgiven but not forgotten. It’s up to the individual judgment of the person that enters into that arena.  The leaders in government positions must set the bar high for social media interactions and have low tolerance for their employees who abuse it.


Posted by tammyduffy at 7:50 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 5 October 2015 4:11 PM EDT
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Office of Deception?
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 
 
 
 
OFFICE OF DECEPTION ?
 
 
 
By Tammy Duffy 
 
 
 
 


The United States has an enormous drug problem.   An estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002. The increase mostly reflects a recent rise in use of marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug.

 

Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting more than $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care.

 

It is critical to the success of a community to have a war on drug use. The leadership in towns must be focused on this initiative. It is critical to the safety of the community, ability to attract businesses and the financial success of a community.

 

Imagine our surprise when we saw this press release  on Sept 24, 2015 from the Mayor of Hamilton, Mercer County. (see link below) 

 

 http://www.hamiltonnj.com/news/?FeedID=1376

 

They also put this on their Facebook page that evening. (https://www.facebook.com/Hamilton-Township-192161034187633/timeline/)

 

The mission of the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse Committee (HAASA) is to serve as the official Township coordinating body for the planning, awareness and education of substance abuse prevention efforts on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD’s). The committee is dedicated to promoting safe, healthy and responsible lifestyles through community involvement, education programs and family oriented events for all residents of Hamilton Township. HAASA is advisory in nature; and awards State allocated funds to programs that meet certain criteria. 

 

We were surprised that the township posted that a "new" ordinance was just passed, focused on this new program. (see link below) HAASA. (Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse) (see ordinance link below)

 

 http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/228430/229761/284288/Municipal_Alliance_Ordinance_of_Establishment.pdf

 

 

Is this ordinance just window dressing? Why would they be voting on something that has existed since 1991? Was there even a vote?

 

If you visit the townships website (see link http://www.hamiltonnj.com/HAASA) you will see the first words on the site are: "In 1991, Hamilton Township formed the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse committee (HAASA), a volunteer committee comprised of representatives from the Mayor’s office".

 

If this has been around since 1991, why just write an ordinance now? This seems odd to anyone with a functioning brain.  You would not be able to OPRA information on this group (unless it was after June 2011) because all of the digital government records, emails, etc have been destroyed. This was shared with us by the Township clerk's office. There were never any certifications done either in the past 35 years to destroy the government records according to Ms. Gore either. She has been in her position as clerk for the past 35 years. All certifications would come through her office.

 

We took the extra step to call HAMSTAT to ask about this program. We asked the HAMSTAT employee," What can you tell us about HAASA?" The response we got was," I know nothing about this program, I have never heard of it?  You should call the mayors office."

 

Call the mayor's office? This seemed odd to us. Why is HAMSTAT not equipped to educate the community on this program? They should be with all the heroin deployments that have occurred in Hamilton. Every single person should know about this program and what it offers. 

 

We then called the Department of Health in Hamilton and spoke to one of the nurse practioners. We asked the same question, " What does she know about HAASA?"  Her response was," I just got back from vacation, I know nothing of this program."  Let me see what I can find out." 

 

She just got back from vacation.....this program has been around according to the townships website since 1991. Has the nurse practioner at the Department of Health been on holiday since 1991? Again, we question why the Department of Health knows nothing of this program. How can this be?   There is a sign at Steinert's track which has rusted bolts advertising the group (HAASA)that has been there for years.  How is it that HAMSTAT employees and the Hamilton Dept of Health know nothing of this program. One would think they would know.

 

 

This is a very sad state of affairs. What if a person who was calling HAMSTAT or the DEPT of Health was in dire need of help. Maybe they were on the fence to try drugs for the first time or otherwise. These two interactions could have sent that person into a world of heroin that they would never get out of. The ramifications of this could have been horrifying.  

 

More confusion occurs when you click on the link that supposedly shows when HAASA meets. (see link below)

 

 

 http://www.hamiltonnj.com/content/228309/228375/229619/284299.aspx

 

" In 1991, Hamilton Township formed the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse committee (HAASA), a volunteer committee comprised of representatives from the Mayor’s office, the education system, the court system, the health care community, law enforcement, and the community at large.  The committee meetings are usually held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Hamilton Township Municipal Building, Legal Conference Room. The public is encouraged to attend.  For the full list of meetings during the year check the Hamilton Township Calendar (Click Here to View)."

 

When you hit "click here to view" you are taken to the twelve month calendar for the township. However, it does not demonstrate when thois group actually meets.

 

What is going on in Hamilton? Why all this deception on something so important? Why does no one know about this program? Hamilton has the highest deployments in the county and there appears to be a game being played with this program. This is not how a program so important should be managed.

 

In speaking to people within the township we learned that on occasion this group does meet, however there hardly ever is a quorum (which would not allow for any votes) and not all the positions are filled. What is this group actually doing? Are they getting any grants? Who knows.

 

Below is a link to the miraculous ordinance that appeared out of thin air. 

 

 http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/228430/229761/284288/Municipal_Alliance_Ordinance_of_Establishment.pdf

 

In early September, Mayoral candidate, Amy Inman held a press conference to educate the community on how to help with the heroin crisis. She shared with the community how one can become certified at TOPAC to administer Naloxone.  At her town meetings she has educated residents on her plans for helping Hamilton with their addiciton issues. She has a plan.

 

The residents of Hamilton are confused. Or is this just another gimmick by the current administration? Does the current administration feel pressure to react to the positive things Mayoral Candidate, Amy Inman is doing in the town by sending residents into circles for answers?  Why does the current administrations Dept of Health and HAMSTAT teams know nothing of this program? Residents want answers, not gimmicks and to be sent in circles. They want leaders that care and make a positive impact. 

 

The current administration needs to read their own website. They need to know what is on their own site. Sending out this ordinance more than 20 years after the inception of the group makes zero sense and makes them look foolish.  There was nothing in any recent council meetings to review or read this ordinance either that we could find on the township web site. An ordinance does not become an ordinance without going through a process. No one, not even the mayor can scribe an ordinance on a whim and make it official. There is a process ordinances must go through. Residents have lost trust in the current administration with these types of shenanigans. The residents of Hamilton are smart, they see through this nonsense. The current administration talks about a "transparent government". The only thing that is transparent,  is that these types of behaviors demonstrate a lack respect for residents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Posted by tammyduffy at 8:27 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 3 October 2015 1:04 PM EDT
Neil Simon’s “Rumors” Upends Good Time Among Friends at MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre Oct. 23-Nov. 1
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST


 

 

Cassie (Judy Venturini) and Glenn (Wayne Rossignol) Cooper get pulled into the cover-up, along with the other dinner guests. 

 

 
 Neil Simon’s “Rumors” Upends Good Time Among Friends at MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre Oct. 23-Nov. 1
 
 
A 10th anniversary party for a power couple sure sounds like a lovely way to spend an evening – unless you are on the guest list for “Rumors,” Neil Simon’s hilarious send-up of the privileged class. The Yardley Players presents one of Simon’s most celebrated comedies at Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC’s) Kelsey Theatre Fridays, Oct. 23 and 30 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road.  A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night show on Oct. 23.
 
 
Charley Brock, Deputy Mayor of New York, and his wife, Myra, have invited some good friends to celebrate their wedding anniversary with them.  Lawyer-types Ken and Chris Gorman are the first to arrive, but find no signs of a party.  In fact, Myra is missing, there are no servants anywhere, and Charley appears to have “accidentally” shot himself in the ear, but is unconscious and unable to tell them what happened.  Hoping to avoid a scandal, Ken and Chris begin a well-meaning attempt to conceal what they assume to be the unpleasant truth of the situation.  As the other three couples arrive – Len and Claire Ganz, Ernie and Cookie Cusack, and Glenn and Cassie Cooper — the concocted story spirals out of control, with everyone joining in to conceal the evening's events from the local police and media.  By the end of Act 2, the cover-up is so complicated that none of them really even understands it.  It’s all deliciously ridiculous, turning what should have been be a pleasant evening of socializing into crazy town!  
 
 
Rumors” opened on Broadway in 1988 and ran for 535 performances.  It continues to be staged around the country and remains one of Simon’s most popular comedies.
The cast features (by order of appearance): Susan Galli of Lambertville and Stan Karuzis of Lawrence as Chris and Ken Gorman; Sara Their of Newtown, Pa., and Ron Sangiovanni of Burlington as Claire and Lenny Ganz; Marilyn Licciardello of Pennington and Nathan Parker of Manalapan as Cookie and Ernie Cusack; Judy Venturini of Hamilton and Wayne Rossignol of Hamilton as Cassie and Glenn Cooper; and Charles Acosta of Levittown, Pa., as Officer Welch and Laura Murey Ghaffoor of Yardville as Officer Pudney.
 
 
The production staff includes Producer Marge Swider, Director Elizabeth Wurtz and Stage Manager Laura Murey Ghaffoor, with costumes by Louisa Murey, set design by Michael Almstedt, lighting design by M. Kitty Getlik, and sound design by Eric Collins.
Tickets for “Rumors” are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students/children. Free parking is available next to the theater. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333.  Discounted “Pick 6” subscription packages for the 2015-16 season are still on sale.  For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure.
 
 
 

Posted by tammyduffy at 6:53 AM EDT


 

 
 Hunterdon Art Museum Workshop Series to Feature
Award-Winning Book Illustrators

 Spend an afternoon with an award-winning book artist and enjoy a family-fun art project at the Hunterdon Art Museum’s Meet the Illustrator series.
 
The series kicks off with Airlie Anderson reading from Momo and Snap Are Not Friends and Cows in the Kitchen on Sunday, Oct. 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. A fun art project, inspired by the books, will follow.
Future Meet the Illustrator workshops will feature:
 
Lena Shiffman sharing A Second Chance for Tina on Sunday Nov. 8.
 
Santiago Cohen reading Home for Navidad and Yiddish Fish on Dec. 13.
 
All workshops begin at 2 p.m. and an art project will follow.
Also, these workshops will coincide with exhibitions of each illustrator’s work in the Museum’s ArtZone.
 
All ages are welcome. The program is $5 per person to cover the cost of materials for the event. Registration is required either by visiting www.hunterdonartmuseum.org  or by calling 908-735-8415. 
 
Many of the books that will be read at the workshops are available for purchase at the Clinton Book Shop, 12 East Main St. The book shop is donating a portion of the purchase price of the books to the Museum. 
 
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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.


Posted by tammyduffy at 6:43 AM EDT

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