They are currently working with a Maasai farming community in Transmara District (in partnership with Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya of Kakenya’s Dream Organization), and a Kikuyu farming community in Central District, both in Kenya.

They are working with the local women and girls as well as organizations in their communities, teaching women basic sewing skills and providing girls with opportunity to bead bracelets and make other products as a way to pay for school-fees and school-related expenses.  The products that the participants of our programs create (Enkiteng Bags, Enkisoma Bracelets and Magoto Gifts) are then sold by Seeds to Sew on US market (see our EVENTS page to see where we will be next), and all proceeds are returned to the women and girls in the programs so that they can pay for school fees, medical care, and feed their families.

They have seen that with education, skills, self-esteem and an ability to generate income, women can better provide for their families.  Their stature within the community changes, they are better able to control resources, influence decisions and bring about changes that have a lasting impact on their communities well being. 

 

Visit their website to see the wonderful programs they promote

 

www.seedstosew.org 

Teen Empowerment
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

This wonderful teen girl

empowerment program will debut

in Atlanta on Nov. 7th. Please go

and help celebrate the event with

the new affiliate director, Annette

Mauzy who hails from Fulton, GA. 

 

 

Government Officials Ignore Residents
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

In April 2015, Duffy's Cultural Couture reported on the suboptimal practices of the Hamilton Township government as it pertains to record retention.   (http://www.tammyduffy.com/ARTFASHION/index.blog/2353642/hamilton146s-high-tech-filing-system/)

 

 

Upon entering the townships document retention area I was stunned at the condition of the room. There was visqueen plastic draped throughout the room clothes pinned to the ceiling. There were puddles of brown water laying within the visqueen.  I asked one of the township employees what was the cause of having all this plastic hanging from the ceiling. Their response,” the roof has been leaking for quite some time so we have this up to protect the file cabinets.  Last year, I was in the tax office in the municipal building and saw this same dramatic visqueen plastic set up due to the leaking roof. 

 

The room I was in was filled with numerous file cabinets. These file cabinets house important government records. All of the cabinets in this room had this plastic visqueen above them. There were extensive puddles of brown water scattered throughout the visqueen, above the cabinets. Obviously mold growing from the continued wetness.  Is this how our government documents should be safeguarded? This is also not an optimal work environment for the employees as well.

 

 Once I finished examining the files in the metal cabinets, I was given numerous old, collapsed boxes to leaf through to evaluate the documents.  The boxes are not labeled just stuffed with numerous amounts of paper.

 

Upon further discussions and follow up with the Hamilton township Clerk, who has been in her position for 35  years we learned that emails just "disappear.  All servers just "disappear" when people leave office, no email or digital file was ever saved prior to July 2010, they were all deleted.

 

In addition, in the past 35 years there has never been a certification (this properly documents what documents or emails have been deleted or sent to the state archive) done ever in the history of Hamilton township in Mercer County. All certifications come through the Hamilton municipal clerk and she has never processed one.

 

The municipal clerk is well aware of the shenanigans going on with the deletion of files and emails, her own have just disappeared, but nothing has ever been done to rectify the situation or document this behavior is going on.  

 

Governments are bound by law to protect all records; which includes emails. which are in their custody.  The law defines the roles laid out in the Annotated Code in an effort to protect records considered essential to the continuing operation of government, guarantee the integrity and preservation of permanent records, ensure the legal admissibility of the permanent record, secure the rights and privileges of citizens, assure public access to the records of government, promote agency legal and fiscal accountability, provide a means to document agency administrative history.

The law also further states that a person may not willfully alter, deface, destroy, remove, or conceal a public record except under proper authority. Exploring the regulations makes it clear that records management is important to the management of your government's responsibilities.

 

The Division and the State Archivist have adopted regulations to define the character of records of archival quality; determine the quantity of those records;  set standards for the development of record retention and disposal schedules; and provide for the periodic transfer to the State Archivist or disposal of records, in accordance with the schedules.

 

Transparency of government is only possible through records management. Continuity of records is an integral piece of public officials' responsibility to their constituents. Though it may sound challenging, adhering to good records management practices will be beneficial in the long-term. An office with easy and reliable access to its records will operate efficiently.

 

 Yesterday, the Trentonian reported a story, see link below

http://www.trentonian.com/general-news/20151020/hamilton-mayor-kelly-yaedes-tough-ethics-policy-becomes-local-law

 

 I sat on the economic development board for 1.5 years and resigned from the board due to the unprofessional aspects and lack of integrity of the township.  The way volunteers were treated was despicable.

 

We all had to sit through "integrity training" which was actually taught by the townships insurance company. There were NO township officials at the training. Only the workerbees and volunteers (at least at the scheduled training I attended). The HR team from the twp was not in attendance at the training I attended. The was orchestrated by the townships insurance company.

 

It was clear from the insurance company that after the training that if anyone ignored the training aspects and the township was sued for something an employee/volunteer did, and they were trained on this aspect, that employee/volunteer would not be covered under the townships policy. They would need to hire their own lawyer and the township would not help them in any way. 

 

The integrity policy that the township has does not have the teeth in it as the Mayor touts. It is nothing more than a memo, see link below.  

 

 

http://www.hamiltonnj.com/qcontent/NewsFeed.aspx?FeedID=1193

 

This memo which was written by the prior mayor who went to jail.  It makes reference to a state policy, but the township does not share this state policy with anyone who is asked to sign this memo. One would think they would have the link directly to the State policy near the memo. This is not the case. Clarity on these types of issues is the only way to ensure everyone understands the policy.

 

I will share with you an email exchange between myself and the township lawyer. This exchange happened during my tenure on the township economic development board.  There are several policies on the state site. Unless the township gives that exact policy to everyone, so everyone clearly understands all the rules, then it's not a policy.  The loopholes for the people become large and plentiful for those involved if this is not done. But maybe that is exactly what they want, loopholes.

 

In the article by the Trentonian they make reference to a statement by the Mayor.

 

"In a memo dated Feb. 4, 2013, Yaede informed all township employees, including police officers, that “gifts and other things of value that are otherwise permissible to accept may be impermissible if they are used or displayed in an inappropriate manner, such as in a manner that may create an impression of favoritism or endorsement.”

 

Any government employee worth the honor of holding office or having a government job, knows full well that they cannot take ANY gift EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. There are no exceptions. They cannot take even a pencil. If you do, you are out of a job, instantly.

 

This "new" law is not worth paper it is written on if there is no accountability demonstrated to those who break the laws. There is never follow up or accountability given for breaking the law with the current administration. They are running amok. They have a social media policy that their own employees do not follow. There are directors within the township that post inappropriate items constantly. There are no reprecussions for that.  

 

This photo taken in Feb 2014 on Sandalwood Ave in Hamilton, private plowing for twp "people". The road is not plowed, but this resident got a personal plowing. 

 

You will see in this email thread what I asked the township Lawyer about this memo they wanted us to sign. After his response I kept reaching out to him to obtain the full document that they are using as a reference. All the emails went unresponded to from Mr Burbage for this information. This is the typical response from township officials, no response. 

 

 

There are no teeth in this law, or in the policy. It's another wondercloud of falsehoods created by administration that is as dense as osmium. There is zero transparency in this local government.

 

Email thread below

 

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 4:23 PM, Tammy Duffy <tammy.duffy@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

LLB,

 

Thank you for this information. I went to the web and there are several links that go to different documents as it pertains to the Ethics Code for the State of NJ.

 

I might suggest that whatever document was utilized to create the summary memorandums that were sent to us, be sent to the members of the commissions. Without this no one can sign these documents. This will ensure that there is no confusion on how people were trained and what document was read by the individual. By sending the exact document this also ensures that in the event someone breaks the rules they were informed of ALL of the regulations and the individual cannot say, "I was never told and did not know". The summary memorandum does not cover all the policies that have been developed by the State of NJ. 

 

To compare this, one would never sign a one page summary given to you by a mortgage broker and not read the entire mortgage documentation to ensure you understood and were informed of all the details of the mortgage. 

 

I look forward to receiving the full document or appropriate link.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Tammy

 

Dr. Tammy Anne Duffy
Email:tammy.duffy@yahoo.com
Mobile:646-717-7494

 

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 2:54 PM, "LBurbage@hamiltonnj.com" <LBurbage@hamiltonnj.com> wrote:

 

Dr. Duffy-Loretta forwarded your email concerning the above referenced matter to me for reply. Although there are several references to the Local Government Ethics Law, the term “Local”, actually is referring to the State of N.J. Code. The summary, is just that, a summary of the high points in the state code. The entire document can be found on the N.J. website. Thank you for your questions.   LLB

 

 

Dr. Tammy Anne Duffy
Email:tammy.duffy@yahoo.com
Mobile:646-717-7494

 

 

Loretta,

 

HI! I have a question 

The code of ethics document is an interoffice memo. It is not a representation of the full code of ethics, it appears. In the second paragraph it says, "In summary", which leads me to believe there is a full document somewhere and these are just a few bullets from the document. Do you have the full document that this interoffice memo was created from?  It may just be that the words "in summary" need to be removed from the document because it creates the impression that the memo is a summary of a more extensive document.

Once I hear back with confirmation on what the full document looks like and have had the opportunity to read it, I will be happy to sign the documents. The gift and gratuity memo also makes reference to the "Local Govt Ethics Law."

I do not see this on the website ("Local Govt Ethics Law."). I only see the memo as mentioned above on the website.

 

If Hamilton really wants to have "teeth" in their law they will formally prosecute all the people involved with destroying government records over the years. All of the digital files and email prior to July 2010 have been destroyed.  There was no certification done to formally destroy these records. This is against the law, a serious violation of the law. One that should not be ignored.

 

 

As you know, Duffy's Cultural Couture has been reporting on the firing range that is located behind American Metro Way. This past weekend 30 dump trucks filled with dirt traveled through the community of Cornell Heights making a delivery. A delivery to the firing range. Upon speaking to the drivers of the trucks we learned the dirt (finest of grade) is being utilized to build add a high velocity component to the existing police range. What is this costing taxpayers? We tried to OPRA this information and the township refused to share it. But, the government is transparent?

 

In July, 2011, Kevin Schick,  Chief - Bureau of Environmental Evaluation & Risk Assessment contacted the township and had extensive discussions with the township on this firing range. He spoke with Richard Williams, Dir of Compliance and Planning.   He gave to them two documents that Schick considered the "gold standard" for best management practices (BMPs) at operational firing ranges.  The documents are from the ITRC and USEPA. "These BMPs should be considered for their operational police range", Schick said.  How much of what was in these documents from the DEP Chief do you think the township of Hamilton has implemented or created a SOP based on those documents?  I ask all of you to contact Mr Williams, OPRA the document and make your assessment about how transparent, caring of the community, this current administration is. Once you do that, make your decision on Nov 3rd for the people you feel are honest, caring of the community, and will put teeth into policies that are written.  

 

A final note to report on, the township did away with free permits for senior citizens in the township. What could this program possibly cost the township?  But, the township has no issue spending exorbitant amounts of money revamping a firing range and on a 5 person security detail for the current mayor?

 

Do you feel like you matter as a resident in Hamilton? Do you feel your hard earned tax dollars are being used properly? Do you feel safe? Do you feel that current administration is more concerned with serving themselves vs. serving the residents? 

 

Make your decision on November 3rd.

 

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are selling a residential property in New Jersey, you presumably wish to avoid having the buyer later back out of the deal, or worse, take you to court. To that end, you should consider what, if anything, you should disclose to a potential buyer about the property’s physical or other defects and issues.

 

 

You may have heard the legal term “caveat emptor,” a Latin phrase meaning "Let the buyer beware." It’s an age-old axiom that is still applied to real estate transactions, meaning that if the buyer isn’t proactive enough to figure out what’s wrong with the property, the seller can’t be held responsible. Allow me, however, to introduce you to a perhaps lesser known Latin axiom, caveat venditor. "Let the seller beware."

 

 

Although there are no required disclosures a seller must make under New Jersey statutes, New Jersey courts have carved out exceptions to this general rule (under what’s called the common law), which protect buyers against sellers who fail to disclose material facts or who hide information about their property.

 

 

Failing to understand and abide by your disclosure obligations can be costlier than whatever price reductions and repairs you might have had to undertake by being up front about problems early on. The ideal transaction will involve both the seller and buyer sharing with each other all information that is pertinent to the transaction.

 

 

 

http://www.tammyduffy.com/ARTFASHION/index.blog/2356187/when-a-crossing-becomes-a-compound/

 

We recently called the Sales office of the Crossings at Hamilton and spoke to one of their top sales reps.  As you may recall in our article (in link above) the residents of the Crossings have become landlocked. There is also a new addition going in at the Police firing range that sits behind the Crossings. There will be a high velocity range added to the firing range.

 

We asked some questions as it pertains to what has recently happened at the Crossings of their sales team. We asked, "Your website states that residents have a mere stroll to the train station from their homes. Yet there are new signs in the development that clearly state one would be prosecuted if caught walking in the area. Can you share with us how you can make the statement on your website in all honesty?"  The sales rep said," I had no idea this has happened. "  We find that hard to believe. There are signs posted all over the property, at the entrance, exit and throughout the property.

 

We also asked about their knowledge of the gun range and how they share that information with prospective buyers, again a completely denial of even knowing a gun range existed. Again, they denied knowing of the gun range. They would have to be hard of hearing not to hear the gun fire that is constantly occurring at the range.

 

What would happen if a gun was accidentally fired into the air by someone at this range? It would not matter what berm or wall that was established at the outdoor range, there would be no stopping that bullet.

 

Is this real estate agent clueless or dishonest from the Crossings? Do you believe that they knew nothing of both of these issues?

 

When selling your home, you may be obligated to disclose problems that could affect the property's value or desirability. In most states, it is illegal to fraudulently conceal major physical defects in your property such as a basement that floods in heavy rains. And many states now require sellers to take a proactive role by making written disclosures about the condition of the property.

 

Generally, you are responsible for disclosing only information within your personal knowledge. In other words, you don't usually need to hire inspectors to turn up problems you never had an inkling existed.

 

Some states require more. However, some states' laws identify certain problems that are your responsibility to search for, whether you see signs of the problem or not. In these cases, or where you could have seen a particular defect but turned a blind eye, you could ultimately end up in court, compensating the buyer for the costs of your failure to speak up sooner.

 

When selling a house, New Jersey law inserts a rule that you are implying that it is fit to live in or habitable under the "implied warranty of habitability." This is the case whether you say your house is habitable or not – in other words, you can’t sell it “as is” and thus escape this requirement.

 

In order to protect buyers from unwittingly purchasing real estate with hidden defects, a New Jersey home seller also has a duty under the common law to tell prospective buyers about known, latent (concealed) material defects in the property. For example, if you know that when it rains heavily your roof leaks into your attic, but there is no obvious evidence of that, you may wish to disclose this fact.

 

Hidden issues with the property that may affect the health or safety of inhabitants are particularly important to disclose. For example, if you have had your property tested for radon and the results show that the radon level is above what is considered safe, failure to disclose this may result in future legal action against you by the buyer.

 

As a seller, any materially false statements you say or write, or any material omissions you make that are relied upon by a buyer may, if they cause a loss to that buyer or make the property uninhabitable, set you up for a possible lawsuit. The likely legal bases include fraud or misrepresentation.

 

Such a lawsuit can be brought before or after the closing -- perhaps many years after, depending on New Jersey’s “statute of limitations” laws, which limit the number of years within which a suit can be brought.

 

The key to determining what other disclosures you must make to prospective home buyers is often found in the sale contract itself. Your Contract of Sale, if it is the standard form prepared by a licensed selling or listing Realtor in New Jersey, will include representations or promises you are making about the property.

 

One of these "promises" is that the property and all systems and equipment servicing the property are in good working order. This doesn't mean that each system is brand new or in perfect working order -- just that for the age and type of the particular system, it works.

The contract may also have you identify how you have used the property and state that this use does not violate any current zoning ordinances. So, if you are using it as a single family home, your contract will state that this is a proper use of the home under the current local zoning laws.

 

The standard contract will typically state that you have not made any improvements to the property that require permits from your municipality; and, if you have made any such improvements, that you have obtained final approvals for the completed work. The reason you need to disclose this information is twofold. First, the buyer will want to know that the work was done properly and according to code and that it passed formal inspection by the municipality. Second, the buyer will want to know that the property tax already includes an added assessment based upon the property as improved.

 

In many cases, a seller will have made additions to the property -- say, an extra bathroom -- but never notified the municipality about the work. If this information is revealed during the sale process (perhaps because the township does a certificate of occupancy inspection and discovers the new bathroom), the seller will have to pay taxes in the form of an "omitted assessment" at settlement. However, if the municipality does not find out until some later date, the buyer may end up having to foot the bill for up to two years’ worth of omitted tax assessments, and might possibly come after the seller for misrepresentation.

 

A standard contract includes many representations. Contracts of Sale are long, complex documents that include legal terms. So, it is best to retain an experienced, local real estate attorney to review the contract with you. The attorney will explain the contract and point out what each provision means and its importance.

 

You may want to sell your house "as is." Essentially, this means that you, as seller, do not intend on making any repairs to the property as part of the sale process. You may have set the sale price taking into account the condition of the property and reduced the price accordingly. You may not have the ability or the funds to make needed repairs to the property, even if you pay for them out of the sale proceeds.

 

Many Realtor-prepared contracts will include an "as is" clause. However, because the buyer is entitled to inspect and cancel, if warranted, this "as is" clause is often misunderstood by sellers to mean that if the buyer wants the property he has to take it "as is," without any chance to cancel the contract or request repairs from the seller.

The "as is" clause more accurately points out to the buyer that the seller most likely has no intention of making any repairs to the property or even entering negotiations about repairs. The "as is" clause is accompanied by an inspection clause that permits the buyer to cancel the contract should the buyer's inspection(s) reveal major defects that the buyer is not willing accept the property with.

 

If you intentionally misrepresent, fraudulently conceal, or even negligently conceal something unrelated to the failure of inspection, even the "as is" clause may not protect you in a common law fraud or misrepresentation case. For example, hiding the fact that there is an old underground oil tank on the property may be unwise. Not sharing the fact that you do not have access to a walkway to the train or that a high velocity range is within walking distance could become a large issue for a real estate agent.

 

Buyers in the business of investing in, rehabilitating, and reselling (flipping) properties often buy a property "as is" and in some cases, without completing a formal inspection. These folks know what they are getting into. They know they are paying a lesser price because of its condition and do not expect the seller to make any repairs. Even in this scenario, you should carefully consider what to disclose to the buyer.

 

For most buyers, inspections are a must. Standard New Jersey home sale contracts normally give the buyer the right to have certified inspectors inspect the property to determine whether it has any defects. If the inspection(s) reveal major defects, the buyer may be permitted to cancel the contract. The types of defects that will permit the buyer to cancel are generally outlined in the contract: roof leaks, problems with the foundation or structure, plumbing, or heating and electrical systems that are not working properly, and so on.

 

Don’t worry that the discovery of home defects will inevitably lead to the deal falling through. Even if inspections reveal problems -- as is likely -- most contracts include provisions that permit the transaction to survive. For example, the seller can agree to repair or replace the defective items, give the buyer a credit with which to make the repairs later on, or the buyer can accept the property with a reduction in the purchase price. These details are usually negotiated between the parties or, preferably, between the parties' attorneys. The result of the negotiations should be put into writing and form an additional part of the contract.

 

There are time-sensitive requirements outlined in the contract in order for the buyer to take advantage of these provisions. This means that if the contract gives the buyer the opportunity to inspect the property and he or she does not, the buyer is still obliged to go through with the purchase.

 

The Evolution of the Nude in 19th-Century French Art, at the Zimmerli this Fall
Topic: ART NEWS

 

“Nude figures traditionally represented ideal beauty in art,” noted Christine Giviskos, Associate Curator of European Art at the Zimmerli. “And ambitious artists worked diligently to master the human form. During the 19th century, artists still emphasized the human figure, but they no longer felt obligated to depict perfect human forms.”     

 

Mastery of the human figure continues to be a key tenet of serious artistic training. Renaissance masterpieces established the nude as a pinnacle of artistic achievement, a status that persisted for hundreds of years. When the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture institutionalized its program for drawing instruction in 1648, only the most advanced students were permitted to draw from nude models. The Academy also showed preference for painters who focused on allegorical, mythological, and historical subjects. Though the Academy was dismantled following the 1789 Revolution, and traditional subject matter declined in favor of landscapes and contemporary life, standards for representing the unclothed body remained static in the French artistic establishment well into the 1800s. But by the second half of the century, artists initiated new approaches to the topic.

 

The exhibition includes Edouard Manet’s 1867 print of Olympia – a reproduction of his earlier monumental painting that shocked audiences and critics at the 1865 Salon exhibition in Paris (now housed at the city’s Musée d’Orsay). The subject presented a sea change in thinking within the history of art: the realistic depiction of a nude woman confronting the viewer’s gaze is no longer unfamiliar in art, or the broader realm of the visual media. Manet initially created this etching for a pamphlet that accompanied an 1867 exhibition of his works, but neither Manet nor the exhibition organizers were satisfied with the translation of the painting into print. Instead, he published it in a small edition.

 

Several works in the exhibition focus on the subject of women bathing – that is, swimming or enjoying leisure time in natural bodies of water, – which had become standard among ambitious artists. Such images had long been popular in French art; in particular, the goddess Diana and her maidens in pastoral settings. And while some artists continued to make references to well-known mythological subjects, the modern female nude became increasingly unidealized and unromanticized.

 

Two prints of similar bathing scenes portray different moods, in part because of their varied techniques. The 1894 woodcut Les Trois Baigneuses (Three Bathers) by Swiss artist Félix Edouard Valloton reflects his intense interest in the subject during the last decade of his life. The stark, somewhat proper, figures do not seem to interact. They are fragmented and appear to float above the water's surface – an unusual format that may have resulted as a solution to the challenge of depicting a group of bathers in this vertically oriented composition for an avant-garde literary journal. In contrast, Hermann-Paul’s color lithograph Trois Femmes nues se baignant (Three Nude Bathers) – thought by some to have been created in response to Valloton’s work – is more fluid. The figures are somewhat brash, grabbing at each other. Though Hermann-Paul often depicted men and women in compromising situations for publications with a satirical or social commentary angle, he rarely documented nude figures in such common activities as seen in this print. 

 

The Zimmerli’s extensive collection of French 19th-century works on paper – notably prints and rare books – allows the museum to explore specialized topics that trace developments in the history of art, many of which are influential in today’s art world. Recent exhibitions have focused on the depiction of war, theater, sports, medicine, and satire, which remain relevant subjects in art and literature, as well as popular culture.

 

States of Undress: Bathers and Nudes in Nineteenth-Century French Art is organized by Christine Giviskos, Associate Curator of European Art.

 

 

 

 

The Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Center present the Annual Day of the Dead Celebration
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

  

 

On Sunday, November 1 from 3-5 pm, the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) and the Princeton Shopping Center host the annual Day of the Dead celebration. Celebrate Mexico’s El Día de los Muertos with strolling mariachis, sugar skull decorating, face painting, and refreshments courtesy of the Taco Truck. Learn about the traditions of this rich cultural holiday with the whole family!

 

Day of the Dead is observed throughout the world at this time of year (in connection with Halloween and All Souls’ Day), where family and friends gather to remember and honor those who have died. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars using sugar skulls, marigolds and favorite foods of the deceased, and then visiting graves with these as gifts.

 

This free community event is made possible through the generosity of Edens and the Princeton Shopping Center. “Day of the Dead” will take place in the Princeton Shopping Center Courtyard at 301 N. Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ. 

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)

 

Mayoral Debate Oct 8 2015
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

PET RESCUE FUND RAISER
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST