On-Site Assessment of the Mantua Police Dept.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MANTUA TOWNSHIP, NJ (February 13, 2020)–The Mantua Township Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of its program to achieve accreditation by verifying that it meets recognized professional best practices.

Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function.

Agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 856-468-1920, option 2, on Monday, March 2, 2020 between the hours of 10:00am and 11:00am. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. Email comments can be sent to the police department at

mantuapd@mantuatownship.com

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Mantua Township Police Department, 405 Main Street Mantua, NJ 08051. Please contact Lt. Shaun Butler at 856-468-1920 ext. 1546 for more information.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Mantua Township Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them by email to Harry J Delgado, Ed.S Accreditation Program Director,

hdelgado@njsacop.org

, or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.

Address/Location

Mantua Twp. Police Department, NJ

405 Main Street

Mantua, NJ 08051

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-468-1920

Indiana Legionnaires/Lawmakers Support Homeless Veterans

Cameran Richardson

FEB 11, 2020

American Legion Department of Indiana National Executive Committeeman Jerry Jordan helps during the homeless veterans donation drive at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 10. Photo by Ben Mikesell/The American Legion

Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows that the homeless veterans population in the state of Indiana has increased by 6 percent in the last year. As a result, anywhere from 300 to 400 homeless or at-risk veterans visit the food pantry at the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation (HVAF) in downtown Indianapolis every month.

Together, the American Legion Department of Indiana and state lawmakers are helping those veterans in need by creating 500 care packages filled with non-perishable food and toiletries.

“Who better to take care of homeless veterans than veterans who understand the struggle when you transition out of the military, essentially leaving behind your second family, and you have to recreate yourself and assimilate back into civilian society,” said Department of Indiana Adjutant John Crosby.

The Helping Our Hoosier Heroes Donation Drive brought Legion leadership and Legion Family members from across the state to the fourth floor of the Indiana Statehouse the morning of Feb. 10 to fill grocery bags with the 3,000 care items stacked on tables. HVAF will be one of four shelter destinations to receive the care packages for homeless veterans statewide.

“This is coming at a really great time for us because our donations are down for the pantry and demand is high,” said Ashlee Walls, vice president of Advancement at HVAF.

The opportunity for the Department of Indiana and state lawmakers to work together arrived when homeless veterans issues became the charitable cause for the House legislative year.

“We are just overwhelmed by the service of Hoosiers to our nation. So policymakers want to do everything that we can to help support those who served our nation and served our state as well,” said Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Brian Bosma. “We all understand the importance of encouraging that (military) service and supporting our veterans. So we were thrilled that The American Legion of Indiana stepped forward and said, ‘We’ll help you with this.’”

Donations for the care packages poured in from the Legion Family, lawmakers and community. “There’s been a lot of community effort come together for this,” Crosby said.

As House Democrats and Republicans came out of legislative session, Legionnaires walked around the tables with them to fill grocery bags, discuss homeless veterans issues and get their picture taken.

“They appreciate what we stand for, what we do, what we’ve done and they want to help us help others,” said Tommy Goul, a Desert Storm Air Force veteran and member of Post 437 in Selma, Ind. “Anytime we can give back to veterans is great. And anytime I get a chance to be a part of this, I’m all in for it.”

The homeless veterans initiative at the Statehouse also served as an opportunity for members to discuss American Legion initiatives, legislative priorities and membership. Indiana American Legion 10th District Commander Ron Patterson spoke with Rep. Steve Davisson’s about the need for more county service officers to help veterans with their benefits claims. Crosby said currently the Department of Indiana represents about 63,000 of the 85,000 service-connected disabled veterans with claims.

“These care packages will help (the homeless veterans) for a few days, but the bigger idea here is that we get them in touch with a service officer and show them that there is help out there to get off the street and get rehabilitated,” Crosby said.

During their conversation, Patterson learned that Davisson’s son, Jay, is a disabled veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan war who currently is a full-time caregiver for his wife who has a terminal brain tumor. Patterson extended the invitation to invite Jay and his wife into the Legion Family by paying for his dues. “We will help take care of him,” Patterson said.

Davisson handed Patterson a business card to make the Legion Family connection happen.

“A lot of good things are going on here,” said Department of Indiana Commander Allen Connelly. “(The Helping Our Hoosier Heroes Donation Drive) really helps to shine a light on the veteran community and problems with homelessness.”

source

https://www.legion.org

NJBIA Supporting Youth Wage Tax Credit Bill

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association is supporting legislation heard in the Senate Labor Committee today that would provide tax credits to employers who hire

workers under 18 years old.

The bill, S-718, is designed to help mitigate the impacts of youth hiring following the signing of New Jersey\’s $15-an-hour minimum wage law signed last year.

\”One of the unintended consequences of increasing the minimum wage so dramatically is an expected decrease in the employment of high school students,\” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. \”Our members have told us that as the minimum wage increases, they will be less likely to hire youth workers with limited skills or less experience.

\”Without this legislation, many young workers will have challenges attaining that after-school or summer-vacation work experience that has helped set so many of us on our way in the workforce,\” Siekerka said. \”This bill would make it more feasible for an employer to hire someone under age 18.\”

Specifically, the bill provides an employer with a refundable tax credit against the corporation business tax or the gross income tax, as applicable, for the extra wages and payroll taxes paid to a worker under age 18.

The bill is one of several measures NJBIA is advocating for to help mitigate the negative effects of the minimum wage increase. Others include an \”economic off ramp\” to suspend minimum wage increases in a severe recession or after a natural disaster, providing tax credits to businesses with 10 or fewer employees, and a requirement to study the impact of the minimum wage increase on the economy.

New Law Will Require Developers To Pay Towards Transit Improvements

(Trenton, NJ)(February 13, 2020)–Today, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee released S368 (Cryan/Weinberg). The bill permits municipalities to require developers to make contributions for mass transit improvements.

“This legislation is important because it will make sure developers pay their fair share of mass transit costs associated with new developments. New developments create more demand on mass transit systems, and create more traffic in the area. New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states in the country, and we have some of the worst air quality in the nation,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Developers should be required to help offset the burden that their developments put on mass transit.”

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, with 1,213 people per square mile. New Jersey has been waiting to see improvements for many different transportation routes. For example, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has been waiting over a decade for an extension in Bergen County. Other routes waiting for improvements and expansions include the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) Line, the West Trenton Line, and the Northern Branch Corridor.

“Developers are getting a free ride. They are letting taxpayers pick up the tab for mass transit improvements associated with their developments. What’s even worse is that when developers build near mass transit, especially rail and light rail, their property values go up dramatically. They can sell housing units and rental properties at much higher rates, especially when they are next to new or improved transit systems. There are many transit lines that are waiting for improvements, like the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line, the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line, the SJ Line, and many more, that developers are already benefiting from,” said Jeff Tittel. “Some of the profit that these developers are benefiting from should be captured back to help pay for improvements to these bus, rail, and light rail systems.”

Some states and cities use Transportation Development Districts to help generate revenue to pay for the costs of transportation infrastructure improvements in and around new developments. Some cities use value-added tax (VAT) to help compensate for increased property values.

“This is a step in the right direction, but we need to do more. We should be expanding Transportation Development Districts, or TDDs, as a way to capture more funding based on enhanced property values. These TDDs help coordinate and finance transportation infrastructure improvements. We should also have a value-added tax, like in L.A., San Francisco, and other cities. These taxes assess a benefit based on the increase in property values for developments near transportation, and benefits for developing transit villages,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This legislation will make sure developers pay their share for mass transit improvements near their properties. Commuters and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill.”

New Jersey Allows Residents To Choose What Gender They Want To Be

TRENTON – New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton today announced that customers may now change the M/F gender designation on their New Jersey driver license or non-driver identification card without a doctor’s note.

The “Declaration of Gender Designation Change for New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card” form is available at NJMVC Agencies and can be downloaded from the NJMVC website,

njmvc.gov

, and no longer requires the signature of a health care practitioner.

Customers who choose to change their M/F gender designation must surrender their current driver license or identification card and obtain a duplicate for the standard fee of $11.00.

“We are proud to serve one of the most diverse states in the nation, and it is a bedrock principle for us at the NJMVC that we represent and treat every individual with respect and dignity,” said Chief Fulton. “Allowing customers to change their gender designation to reflect their gender identity is deeply important for showing that all New Jerseyans are valued equally. We are proud to stand with our LGBTQ community.”

The ability to change gender designation by self-attestation follows the passage of the “Babs Siperstein Law,” named after the noted transgender activist, which was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy on July 3, 2018.

Later this year, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will offer an \”X\” gender option on New Jersey driver licenses and non-driver identification cards for non-binary New Jersey residents.

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ON THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS

March 2020 programming includes a renowned Broadway revival,

celebrated artists from across comedy, jazz, chamber & orchestral music, and more

(Philadelphia, PA, February 13, 2020) ––The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus, along with Resident Company support from Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and The Philadelphia Orchestra, celebrates Women’s History Month in March 2020 with an array of programming honoring a breadth of female artistry and expression. Additionally, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Philadelphia and Drexel University’s Vision, 2020’s “Women 100” National Women’s Equality Initiative will host a series of events, including the

Seat at the Table

FREE and interactive exhibition, opening in March and running through September in the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza.

“Representation of women is one of our top priorities when presenting world-class art, as we continue to fulfill our mission to engage the Philadelphia region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education,” said Anne Ewers, President & CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Throughout Women’s History Month, and all season long, we partner with our Resident Companies to bring you stories about women and female artistic champions, from comedy to Broadway, jazz to dance, chamber music to the orchestra. It is imperative to us that our audiences, particularly our growing student attendees, see themselves reflected onstage. Furthermore, it is an honor to serve as this institution’s President & CEO, with more than half of its dedicated staff made up women, and 51% female at the executive level.”

Women’s History Month-specific programming on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus includes

Hello, Dolly!

, called “The Best Show of the Year” by NPR and “Classic Broadway at its best” by

Entertainment Weekly

, running at the Academy of Music February 19 through March 1. Comedian

Paula Poundstone

, most recently known from NPR’s #1 show,

Wait, Wait…Don\’t Tell Me!

, returns to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater on Saturday, March 7; Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer

Kristin Chenoweth

returns to Verizon Hall on Friday, March 13; while the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ jazz series continues with Grammy Award-nominated

Jazzmeia Horn

in Perelman Theater on Saturday, March 14; and Emmy nominated comedian, actor, writer, director, and executive producer

Ilana Glazer

brings her

Horny 4 Tha Polls

to the Merriam Theater on March 21.

With the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Philadelphia and Drexel University’s Vision 2020’s “Women 100” National Women’s Equality Initiative will host a series of events, enlightening attendees to challenges; aiming to refocus attention for 50-50 leadership in business; and impacting the 2020 election by encouraging all women to vote. The Kimmel Center will host a

Seat at the Table

exhibition

On Thursday, March 12,

Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de SILVIA LOZANO

plays the Merriam Theater, reflecting the work of Mexico’s leading researchers and practitioners of folklore, dance, music, and costumes. Silvia Lozano is a distinguished artist, internationally recognized as a leading promoter of authentic Mexican folklore. She has dedicated herself to sharing the beauty of music, dance, costumes, and Mexican traditions with people around the world.

Join the Kimmel Center for a presentation of Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, at the Merriam Theater for

National Geographic Live! When Women Ruled the World

on Wednesday, March 18. Learn about women often neglected in history books, whose undeniable power and influence allowed them to work both with and against the patriarchal society. Cleopatra used her sexuality – and her money – to build alliances with warlords of the Roman empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Neferiti is known more for her beauty than for bringing a fractured Egypt together. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers.

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is home to eight beloved Resident Companies – this Women’s History Month, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents

Pamela Frank, Violin and Peter Serkin, Piano

on Tuesday, March 3. These beloved chamber musicians unite to perform an unforgettable evening of Bach. Grammy Award-winning soprano

Ana María Martínez

graces the Perelman Theater on Friday, March 13 for an all-Spanish recital of works by Rodrigo, Granados, Lecuona, de Falla, Moré, Capó, and selected zarzuela.

Takács Quartet

performs a renowned Beethoven performance on Sunday, March 15. Diving into the emotional depths of Beethoven’s music, the

Belcea Quartet

presents several of his famous string quartets on March 17 and 18. On Tuesday, March 31,

Jörg Widmann, clarinet; Tabea Zimmermann, viola; and Dénes Várjon, piano

perform a fantastical program featuring three of Europe’s most versatile and intriguing artists and Widmann’s contemporary take on classic fairy tales. In addition, The Philadelphia Orchestra joins the celebration with

Porgy and Bess

, conducted by Marin Alsop and starring soprano Angel Blue, March 5 – 7, and with Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank for

BeethovenNOW: Symphonies 2 & 3

, March 19 – 22. As part of the latter program, the Orchestra premieres a new work by Jessica Hunt, a student of Frank’s Creative Academy. Both programs are part of the Orchestra’s

WomenNOW series

, embracing and exploring the range, creativity, and power of women in music on the podium, in composition, and on stage.

For additional information, visit

www.kimmelcenter.org