Tag: Ridgewood Schools

NEMO: COLD RELATED INJURIES . . .

Frostbite: Damage to body tissue caused by that tissue being frozen. Warning signs include loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, Get medical help immediately ! If you must wait for help, Slowly re-warm affected areas. If the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.

Hypothermia: Low body temperature. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If a person’s body temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, Immediately seek medical attention.

IF MEDICAL CARE IS NOT AVAILABLE:

•Begin warming the person slowly, warm the body core first. If needed use your own body heat to help.

•Get the person into dry clothing and wrap them in a warm blanket covering them completely, including the head and neck.

•Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food; warm broth is better.

•Do not warm extremities (arms & legs) first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure.

Strain from the cold and hard labor may cause a heart attack.

•Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snows, especially if you are not in peak physical condition.

•If you must shovel snow, take it slow and lift small amounts, especially when removing heavy snow, slush or ice.

Food & Drink Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids (water and juice; limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol) to prevent dehydration.

How to be prepared at home:

• Keep a battery powered radio and extra batteries for news and official broadcasts.

• Store food that can be prepared without an electric or gas stove.

• Stock emergency water and cooking supplies

• Have flashlights, battery-powered lams and extra batteries in case of a power outage. Candles and matches can be a fire hazard

• If you have a wood stove or fireplace store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood.

• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows how to use them and knows fire prevention rules

• Keep in touch with elderly neighbors or family

Be prepared if you go out:

• Wear layers of thin clothing instead of single layers of thick clothing

• Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. If you add unaccustomed exercise, such as shoveling snow or pushing a car, you may risk heart attack or stroke.

• Mittens are warmer than gloves.

• Wear a hat; most body heat is lost through the top of the head.

• Cover you mouth with scarves to protect your lungs from directly inhaling the extremely cold air.

Winter driving tips:

• If you must travel, take public transportation whenever possible. If you must use a car, take winter driving seriously. Travel by daylight, and keep others informed of your schedule. Drive with extreme caution; never try to save time by driving fast or using back-road shortcuts.

• Make sure you car has fuel, and is equipped with chains or snow tires

• Keep you car “winterized” with antifreeze. Carry a “winter car kit” that includes a windshield scaper, flashlight, tow chain or rope, shovel, tire chains, a blanket, a bag of sand or salt, a fluorescent distress flag and an emergency flare in case you are trapped in a winter storm. Keep extra outerwear and pre-packaged food in the car. Make sure you windshield wipers are working properly and there is windshield washer fluid in the car.

If a blizzard traps you in your car:

• Pull off the highway; stay calm and remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you.

• Turn on your emergency flashers and hang a distress flag fro the radio aerial or window.

• Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close but be too far to walk in deep snow.

• If you run the engine to keep warm, open a window slightly for ventilation. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Periodically clear away snow from the exhaust pipe.

• Exercise to maintain body heat (by clapping and moving around) but avoid over exertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat as a blanket.

• Never let everyone in the car sleep at one time. One person should look out for the rescue crews.

• Be careful not to use up battery power. Balance electrical energy needs — the use of lights, heat and radio — with supply.

• At night, turn on the inside dome light, so work crews can spot you.

Asian astrologers warn of stormy Year of Snake

AFP – A stock market slide, escalated conflict between Japan and China and more Gangnam-styled success for South Korean singer Psy will shape the incoming Year of the Snake, say Asian soothsayers.

Those who make predictions according to the study of feng shui — or literally “wind-water” — are influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives or renovate houses and offices based on the advice.

As they bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon, the fortune tellers warn that the “black water snake” that emerges to replace it on February 10 — the first day of the Lunar New Year — could be a venomous one that brings disaster.

https://www.france24.com/en/20130207-asian-astrologers-warn-stormy-year-snake

Photo by Boyd Loving

A Whole Lotta Nothing: Kenneth Gabbert will remain village manager in Ridgewood
Thursday February 7, 2013, 1:28 PM
BY  CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record

RIDGEWOOD — Kenneth Gabbert will remain the village manager for at least the next few months, according to a statement from Mayor Paul Aronsohn.

The statement — composed by the entire council — says that the governing body “has agreed to work toward a common goal and is establishing an evaluation process for the village manager and will closely monitor it over the next few months.”

Earlier this week, administration sources contended the embattled village manager would be asked Wednesday night by a contingent of three council members to resign.

It is not clear if Gabbert was actually asked to step down during the closed session.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/Ken_Gabbert_will_remain_village_manager_in_Ridgewood.html

A GUIDE TO THE NEW JERSEY OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT
WHAT IS THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW?

The Open Public Meetings Law, which is commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Law”, was enacted in 1975. It establishes the right of all citizens to have adequate advance notice of all public meetings and the right to attend meetings at which any business affecting the public is discussed or acted upon. – N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 to 10:4-2

IS THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW THE SAME THING AS THE RIGHT-TOKNOW
LAW?
No. The Open Public Meetings Law refers to public meetings. The Right-to-Know Law refers to public records. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 to 47:1A-4

TO WHOM DOES THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING LAW APPLY?
The law applies to any public body of the state, county, or municipal level of government that has legal authority to vote on public matters or to spend public funds.

TO WHOM DOES THE LAW NOT APPLY?
The law specifically exempts the Judiciary, grand and petit juries, parole boards, the State Commission of Investigations, The Apportionment Committee and any political party committee. In addition, the Law exempts informal or purely advisory bodies and meetings of a
public official with subordinates.

ARE ALL GATHERINGS OF PUBLIC BODIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW?
No. In order to be covered by the provisions of the Law, a meeting (whether attended in person or conducted by means of communications equipment) must be:
(1) open to all the public body’s members, (2) attended by an effective majority of the members of that public body, and (3) the members present must intend to discuss or act upon public business. For example, political caucus meetings and change encounters of members of public bodies, or gatherings attended by or open to all members of three or more similar public bodies are not covered by the Law.
However, the Open Public Meetings Law specifically prohibits any person or public body from failing to invite a portion of its members in order to avoid the requirements of the Law.

WHAT MUST A PUBLIC BODY DO TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW?
The Law requires public bodies to provide the public with: (a) adequate advance notice of all its meetings, (b) the right to attend its meetings, and (c) reasonable comprehensive minutes of all its meetings. In each of these areas, the Law sets forth specific requirements:
A. ADEQUATE NOTICE
The Law requires the public bodies provide the public with adequate advance notice of all its meetings. This can be accomplished by either:
(1) an “Annual Notice” or (2) a “48-hour notice.” The “Annual Notice” containing the time, date, and, to the extent known,
the location of each meeting, must be provided within seven days of the annual organization or reorganization meeting of the public body. If there is no organization or reorganization meeting, “Annual Notice” must be provided by January 10th.
A “48-Hour Notice” is required when a public body wishes to convene a meeting which has not been listed on the annual notice or regularly scheduled meetings. The Law mandates the public body to provide a written notice at least 48 hours prior to the convening of the meeting.
The “48-Hour Notice” must contain the time, date, location and, to the extent known, the agenda of the meeting.
Both the “Annual Notice” and the “48-Hour Notice” must be (1) prominently posted in at least one public place reserved for such announcements, (2) transmitted to two newspapers in time for publication 48-hours in advance of the meeting, (3) filed with appropriate Municipal or County Clerk or the Secretary of State if the public body has statewide authority, and (4) mailed to any person upon request.
B. MEETINGS
The Law requires that public bodies permit all members of the public to attend their meetings. However, the right to attend meetings does not entitle members of the public to participate in the meetings. The public body may exclude the public only from portions of a meeting
known as the “executive” or “closed session.” Prior to excluding the public, the public body must first adopt a resolution at a meeting which is open to the public indicating generally what matters will be discussed in closed session and when these discussions will be disclosed to the
public. The following items are permitted to be discussed in closed session.
1. Any matter considered confidential by federal law, state statue,
or court rule;
2. Any matter in which the release of information would impair the receipt of federal funds;
3. Any material which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy if disclosed;
4. Any collective bargaining agreements or other discussion of the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement,
including negotiations leading up to such an agreement.
5. Any matter involving the purchase, lease or acquisition of real property with public funds, the setting of banking rates or investment of public funds where disclosure of such matter could adversely affect the public interest.
6. Any tactics and techniques used in protecting the safety and property of the public and investigations of violations or possible violations of the law.
7. Any pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiations in which the public body is or may become a party, and any matter falling within the attorney-client privilege, to the extent that confidentiality is required to preserve the attorney-client relationship.
8. Personnel matters related to the employment, appointment or termination of current or prospective employees, unless all individuals who could be adversely affected request, in writing, that the matter be discussed at a public meeting.
9. Any deliberations of a public body occurring after a public hearing that may result in the imposition of a fine upon an individual or the suspension or the loss of license or permit belonging to an individual. The New Jersey courts have recognized the potential for misuse of the closed session exceptions by public bodies and have, therefore, strictly construed these exceptions in an effort to further the legislative intent of providing open public meetings in most instances.
C. MINUTES
The Law requires the public body to keep reasonably comprehensible minutes of all its meetings, showing the time and place, the members present, the subjects considered, the actions taken, the votes of each member and any other information required by law to be recorded by
minutes. These minutes are to be made promptly available to the public. In addition, the Law requires that a statement be entered into the minutes at the outset of each meeting indicating (1) that adequate notice has been provided (specifying the time, date, and manner in which the notice was provided), or (2) that adequate notice was not provided and an explanation for the failure of public body to provide adequate notice.

https://www.shamong.net/vertical/sites/%7B23FE350B-4C74-4538-8594-9B75E8AB3E35%7D/uploads/%7B6E1F1F17-C2D8-4169-BD05-13C0DAA7ED0A%7D.PDF

https://hpcpsdi.rutgers.edu/NJHPG/downloads/Sunshine%20Laws.pdf

Art exhibit in Ridgewood features the Jersey Shore
Friday, February 1, 2013
BY  EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

Greg Bennett has spent his life in Cape May County – growing up in Bridgeton and now living and painting in his beach block home and studio in Strathmere. His oil paintings on exhibit at the Cottage Place Gallery capture the beauty of the New Jersey coast as only a native can. Bennett paints the bay and marshes of his small tight-knit barrier island community.

Bennett calls his most visited subjects the seascapes and landscapes that surround him. His work is greatly influenced by his environment. “I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “I like the winter palette because of the variations in the many grays in the landscape.”

“Winter Evening at the Point” shows St. Mary’s Retreat at Cape May Point on the bay where it meets the Atlantic; “Huddled” is a painting of backyard chairs which the artist felt were huddling to keep warm. Smaller oil paintings in the winter theme include: “Storm’s End,” “Inverted Boat in Winter,” “Changing Over to Rain” and “Winter Sunset.”

https://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/art/189325821_Art_exhibit_in_Ridgewood_features_the_Jersey_Shore.html