Princess the camel makes final pass, no Super Bowl prediction this year

Princess the prophetic camel, known around the world for her ability to select winning football teams, particularly in the Super Bowl, died just a few weeks before the big game, this year in New Jersey on Sunday, Feb. 2.

“She was a very big part of everything that went on here, not just because of her size. It was her personality and everything,” said John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park Zoo in Forked River, where Princess lived for 10 years. “She was a very big presence here, and we’re all saddened by her loss. The fact that it happened before the Super Bowl, I don’t know that makes a big difference to us. It’s coincidental; it really is,” he added.

Photo via Popcorn Park
Princess the beloved camel is known for
selecting winning football teams.

Princess was humanely euthanized at 27 years old, after suffering from severe arthritis that made it impossible for her to stand due to a parasite that she had contracted, which her sister, Baby, died of in the early 1990s.

“Princess also had quite a bit of damage done to her joints, but she did survive it. So she’s been compromised for a pretty long time,” said Bergmann.

The local zoo took over the care of Princess in 2004, after the members of Duke Farms in Hillsborough Township, which protected endangered species for many years, including Princess since she was 6 months old, decided to turn the park into an environmental center.

“The veterinarian that Princess had all her life also worked for us, and he knew that this would be a great place for her to live out her life,” Bergmann said.

Princess began selecting winning teams during football season after The Hawk, a Toms River radio station, decided to include one of the animals from the zoo for their predictions.

“Princess was perfect because she loved graham crackers,” said Bergmann.

Whichever hand Princess ate the graham cracker out of would indicate which team she predicted to win for each game, he explained.

“She did it all football season long, and then ended up at the Super Bowl. She had really good seasons,” said Bergmann. “She was very, very good with the Super Bowl picks.”

Princess’ predictions came true for six out of the seven seasons. Last year, she successfully chose the Baltimore Ravens, who beat the San Francisco 49ers by three points during the 2013 Super Bowl. Princess did not get the chance to choose this year’s Super Bowl winner.

A memorial service for Princess will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2 (Super Bowl Sunday) at Layton’s Home for Funerals in Forked River. The service with a few tributes and a special video will start at 10:30 a.m.

“I think that’s very fitting because she made her celebrity status in newspapers and in sports magazines and radio shows all over the country every time Super Bowl season comes around. So that’s her time of the season, I think,” said Bergmann. “Wherever the teams are from, as soon as she makes her pick, I got radio stations and newspapers from those towns calling and wanting to know who she chose and why. That’s probably one of her busiest times,” he added.

In lieu of flowers, the zoo is asking people to send donations in memory of Princess to Popcorn Park at 1 Humane Way, Forked River, N.J. 08731. Funds should be addressed to Princess.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Animal experts urge pet owners to bring pets inside during cold weather

As the outside temperature drops and the wind chill increases, the heavy blankets are taken out of the closets and the heat in the house is turned up. While scrambling to make the inside living conditions a bit more tolerable, it is important to remember that pets need a warmer environment, too.

“It’s a very critical time to be more in tune with our pets, especially when it gets down to the freezing and the below-freezing mark,” said Brian Lippai, animal facilities manager at the Ocean County Health Department. “A lot of pet owners seem to neglect their pets as they get cold. We certainly encourage and would really like to urge people to bring their pets indoors during this time when it does get cold.”

Photo via Marie Claire
Cold weather makes it the perfect
time to cuddle with furry friends!

Indoor-outdoor pets should not be let outside, either. Many animals get lost in the snow and ice because they lose the scent and landmarks to find their way home, said Dorothy Reynolds, president of the Friends of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter. Many animals also get hit by cars during snowstorms since they are not aware of the street curbs. Cats looking for shelter often crawl under car hoods. If a driver starts a car without banging on the hood to jostle the cat out, it can be severely injured or even killed, she added.

“As much as your furry little friend wants to go outside and hang around, I would not leave them out at all. I would keep them indoors until the temperature rises,” said Lippai.

If animals are not welcome inside the home, such as in the mudroom or a spare room, Lippai suggests bringing them into the garage. If that is not an option, he said owners must provide their pets with permanent outside housing. The lodging should be raised 1 to 2 feet off the ground. Lippai recommends using lots of blankets and lining the inside of the area with hay or straw to keep it insulated. Protected shelter, such as igloo-style doghouses, can be purchased at many pet stores, such as Petsmart. The housing should be free of drafts and leaks to help keep out wind and rain.

“Animals are in just as much danger as humans as far as being exposed to the elements and any kind of hypothermia,” said Lippai. “Freezing and hypothermia is very prevalent. A lot of people do it; there are a lot of cases every winter of people just not thinking. Just by being smart, they could really save their pet’s life. A dog can very quickly get hypothermic and can die.

“If your dog is in a tight area and he doesn’t have an opportunity to move and to exercise, just like a human, a dog’s body temperature, in a confined area, can drop dramatically. That’s a big concern,” he added.

Bedding should be kept elevated from the ground. Kuranda dog and cat beds are equipped with raised legs and can be used outdoors.

“Once the temperature freezes, the moisture in the dirt or grass is going to freeze. Since the ground is already frozen, basically that poor pet is going to be sleeping on a slab of ice, really,” said Lippai. “It is very important that the animals are kept warm. It’s very dangerous for the animals to be outside, especially when it comes to a combination of the cold and the wind.”

Plenty of fresh water is also essential. Pet owners need to check on the water consistently to keep it from freezing. Lippai suggests checking on the supply every half-hour to an hour.

Pets who have a shorthaired coat and are typically groomed may need a coat or sweater for extra protection and warmth. Booties are a good choice for pets with sensitive paws, especially when salt and other slip-resistant substances are on the ground.

“A lot of folks like to dress up their pets because it’s cute, but there are practical purposes for some of those items. Salt in a wound, as you know, is extremely painful,” said Lippai.

Antifreeze and ice melts are toxic to pets if ingested from the ground or licked from their paws and fur. Choose a pet-friendly alternative instead. Reynolds suggests wiping off the animal’s paws after being brought inside.

For more tips on how to keep pets safe during cold weather, visit aspca.org/pet-care/cold-weather-tips.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven council honors public works for help during Superstorm Sandy

The Beach Haven Council saluted its public works department during its meeting held Monday, Jan. 13. Councilmen James White and Charles Maschal Jr. handed out certificates to each member of the department, snapping photographs and recognizing their efforts during Superstorm Sandy.

Photo via Asbury Park Press
The Beach Haven public works department
responds to damage from Superstorm Sandy.

“No words could ever express the gratitude that this town owes to the public works department,” said White. “We’ve been saying it publicly, I think, since the storm started. I don’t think anybody has seen anything like this since 1962. It was a Herculean task what happened.”

Referring to them as “sometimes unsung heroes,” White congratulated every single member for doing what they had to do without complaint and without regard to their personal lives, which had been “severely interrupted.”

“Everybody came out and put their heart, their soul and especially their backs into what they had to do,” he added.

Despite the devastation, White said the department “rose to the occasion, surmounted it and brought our town back to the beauty that it is now, from the beaches to the bay.” 

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Zumbathon to benefit Scojo's Restaurant manager

Photo via Salsa Orlando
The Surf City Volunteer Fire Co. hosts a zumbathon
to benefit a local resident who is battling leukemia.

Dance, donate or just watch at the A.L.L. for Dawn Zumbathon, led by freelance instructor Theresa Brown, on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 11 a.m to noon. The event, held at the Surf City Firehouse, located at 713 North Long Beach Blvd., will benefit Scojo’s Restaurant manager Dawn Russo, who was diagnosed in October with acute lymphomoblastic leukemia. A suggested $10 donation is requested. Checks can be made payable to “David’s Dream and Believe for Dawn Russo.”

“Every additional amount of money we can raise for her is pretty significant. So we’re trying, even if we just raise a little bit at a time,” said Mary Alice Basile, a Ship Bottom resident and long-time friend of Russo. “We exercised together and attended zumba classes prior to her becoming sick,” she added.

Another zumbathon will be held for Russo at the Ship Bottom Firehouse in March. For more information, call Basile at 201-207-2192.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven council considers trailer ordinance, water usage

Beach Haven’s first borough council meeting of the new year, held Monday, Jan. 13, picked up right where it left off in December, addressing old business the council and Beach Haven’s constituents have not yet come to full agreement on. More than a year ago, concerned citizens Don and Bonnie Lenhard suggested the town create an ordinance that would keep people from parking recreational, construction and commercial vehicles on residential streets during the nighttime.

Recently, Councilman Charles Maschal Jr. explained, Don Lenhard asked members of the council to drive around town with him “so he could show each of us personally where he felt there were trailers that were causing a blight in the community.” Three of the five council members acquiesced to the tour, and many of the owners of the trailers agreed to move them when asked.

Photo via Wikipedia
Beach Haven, known on LBI as the "Queen City,"
is a late 19th-century, beach-front resort originally
established in 1873 to house wealthy, summer
residents from Philadelphia. 

“Our objective is to be responsive when taxpayers raise questions and issues,” said Maschal. “Our intent is to do so with the best interest to ensure our streets are in compliance and that we are following the law.”

Mayor Robert Keeler said the council wants to be able to think through the issue before passing an ordinance that could be disadvantageous for other residents. He raised the point that many households have more than one car and no driveway.

“We can’t expect people to park a mile away from their house,” he said.

To help move things forward, Councilman James White said a letter would be drafted and attached to every permit coming out of the building department, requesting that contractors respect the rights of the homeowners and avoid parking their vehicles in front of other peoples’ homes. The code enforcement officer will follow up, he explained.

In response, Bonnie Lenhard said she believed this could work only as a temporary solution.

“Do we have to wait until an accident happens to do something? Let’s be proactive and do something before something happens,” she added.

Resident Irene Bailey said she, too, has had a similar problem in which her neighbors have not moved their truck for more than a year.

Of course, many residents sat on the other side of the fence, too.

Tammy Harrison said her 17-year-old daughter, Amanda, has four sport racing cars, which are personally registered. They must be kept on the street in front of the family’s property due to limited available space.

“We don’t have a lot of money, so we can’t store them anywhere else. That’s the only location, but they do move,” said Tammy.

Other residents agreed that neighbors with private-use trailers and vehicles should not be forced to move their personal property.

“I just don’t understand their (the council’s) reluctance to pass an ordinance,” said Bonnie. “This is not going to cost them any money. It will make the town look better, make it safer and enhance real estate value. Why would you not want ordinances to keep confrontations from happening? I still question their motives,” she added.

Richard Crane, borough manager, also mentioned at the meeting that the number of gallons of water pumped in town during the 2013 calendar year was down 22 million gallons from 2012. This is significant, he said, considering the town did not pump any water in November 2012 following Superstorm Sandy. The town also pumped 40 percent less water than normal in December 2013.

Because of this, the town has received more calls than usual regarding "brownish water." To rectify the situation, public works has been opening individual household meters. They have also been flushing hydrants in areas where a number of residences in a common geographical location are experiencing the same problem, something officials usually do only once a year, in the springtime.

On the same topic, the recent cold snap has caused a lot of pipe breakages, said Crane. Officials have responded to the leaks by turning off the water and contacting the property owner. Crane suggests owners update their contact information with the town to expedite the process should any more leaks occur.

Board utility officials told Crane many outdoor showers have not been properly winterized; some even have exposed pipes. He attributed the “lulled complacency” to the recent mild winters, but urged people to use more caution.

Nancy Taggart-Davis, council president, said the council is working on establishing a weekly or biweekly newsletter to help better disseminate information to the public. Anyone with opinions or ideas for the format of the newsletter should contact her.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

FEMA awards Ocean County a $1.5 million grant for Sandy damage

Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-3rd) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 14 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded Ocean County a grant for $1,518,808.26.

Photo via The Telegraph
A home in Pt. Pleasant beach is filled with
sand during Superstorm Sandy.

“With Hurricane Sandy nearly 15 months behind us, we are reminded that although significant progress has been made, we still have a lot more work to do in Ocean County,” Runyan said in a press release. “I applaud FEMA for awarding this grant so that the people of Ocean County can continue the rebuilding and recovery process,” he added.

The federal grant will be used for emergency protective measures to implement evacuations as well as search and rescue operations, and to secure temporary facilities that were damaged during Superstorm Sandy. 

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

U.S. Coast Guard rescues three duck hunters near Beach Haven

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people who were stranded on Shelter Island near Beach Haven after their 18-foot pleasure craft became grounded during a duck-hunting trip during the extreme cold of Tuesday, Jan. 7. The call was received around 8:30 p.m.

One of the rescued men used a cell phone to report the three were stranded on the bay island after their boat grounded during low tide. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City located the men and lifted them to safety.

Photo via Wikipedia
The U.S. Coast Guard rescues three people
stranded on Shelter Island near Beach Haven.

As a precautionary measure, members of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. were dispatched by Beach Haven police to set up a landing zone at Walsh Field in Beach Haven for the Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police to land helicopters. Instead, the hunters were transported to the air station in Atlantic City, where their care was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

Despite wearing cold-weather gear for hunting in freezing temperatures, the men said they were very cold. Yet no immediate medical concerns were reported.

“They were about 15 miles away, and we were there in seven minutes,” said Capt. Jeff Powell, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. “They were dressed well and had means of signaling. When they heard the helicopter, they used a flame to get our attention, which directed us to their exact location. Having any means to signal, whether a flashlight, flare or even a cell phone screen light, can greatly help a rescue crew at night,” he added.

There are many safety precautions boaters can take to prepare for potential emergencies. Nick Ameen, petty officer at the Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Atlantic City, suggests always wearing a life jacket while boating; children under 13 years old must wear a life jacket at all times. Boaters can also invest in an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, which sends a satellite signal to rescuers during an emergency situation and taking the “search” out of search and rescue, Ameen explained. A VHF-FM radio can also be more reliable for contacting rescuers than a cell phone, which might lose signal or battery power.

Ameen also suggests filing a float plan by informing a loved one of where boaters are leaving, where they’re going and when they plan to return. Equip the boat with distress tools such as signaling mirrors, which are valuable for daytime distress situations; and sound-producing devices such as air horns or whistles, which are essential in cases of thick fog or low visibility, he added. Attending a boating safety class and becoming more knowledgeable about boating is also essential. For more information, visit uscgboating.org.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Stockton College offers free technology workshop on MLK Jr. Day

The Manahawkin Instructional Site of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located at 712 East Bay Ave., will offer a free, interactive technology session during the school’s 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is open to the public, but scheduled appointments are encouraged.

Photo via Eminent
In honor of MLK Jr. Day, Stockton College
offers a free, interactive technology workshop.

Stockton volunteers Mark Pezzotta and Matt Kappe will help anyone in need of assistance with modern electronic devices, including basic operation of popular tablet devices and laptops, email setup and Internet security. It is requested that electronic devices are no more than three years old.

The one-on-one appointments will last no longer than 20 minutes. To schedule one, contact Pezzotta at mark.pezzotta@stockton.edu or call 609-626-3883. Participants should be able to provide the name of the type of electronic device(s) they are using, as well as any additional information that will help the volunteers better prepare for the appointment.

Other community events will be offered throughout the day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., including emergency preparedness, basic first aid and card making workshops. Volunteers can also join in recording Superstorm Sandy stories, as well as data entry for the Lighthouse International Film Festival. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day. To register, visit stockton.edu/servicelearning or call 609-626-3883.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

SRHS cheerleaders host local competition, raise funds for national championship

The Southern Regional High School cheerleaders will sponsor their annual Rams Invitational Cheerleading Competition on Sunday, Jan. 19, at SRHS in the 11/12 gymnasium, located at 90 Cedar Bridge Rd. in Manahawkin. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Photo via Press of AC
SRHS cheerleaders perform during a pep rally
at Pinelands Regional High School.

Competitors will include local rec teams from kindergarten through eighth grade and middle school, junior varsity and varsity squads from across New Jersey. Ocean County teams will include Southern Regional, Barnegat, Pinelands Regional, Lacey and Manchester high schools. Each cheer/dance is limited to three minutes.

“It’s such a great time,” said Jacqueline South, head coach of SRHS cheerleading. “You get to see all these amazing teams compete locally. It’s a lot of fun.”

The event will help raise money for the SRHS junior varsity and varsity teams’ trip to the National High School Cheerleading Championship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., in February. The junior varsity team earned its first ever bid to nationals after placing first at the Universal Cheerleading Association’s Northeast Regional Championship at the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River in November. The varsity team earned its 12th bid to nationals.

Admission to the invitational competition is $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 12. Admission is free for kids younger than 5. The cafeteria will be open for breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact South at jsouth@srsd.net or call 609-597-9481, extension 2114. 

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Art, environment focus of N.J. Top Ten Beaches project

The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups committed to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment, is ringing in the New Year with a call for artists to be part of a New Jersey Top Ten Beaches project that will use art to help promote environmental awareness while celebrating the Jersey Shore.

Photo via Inhabitat
Painted rain barrels are beautiful and eco-friendly.

The consortium and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program are teaming up to use rain barrels, 55-gallon recycled food-grade containers placed at the downspout of a roof to collect rain water, for a partnership project. Rain barrels help reduce the amount of rain that flows into storm drain systems, which helps prevent flooding and pollution from entering New Jersey’s waters. Collected rainwater can be used for household tasks such as watering the garden. Rutgers has donated 10 fully outfitted barrels prepped as blank canvasses, which will be painted with iconic coastal, beach, bay, ocean and boardwalk scenes and images commemorating the Jersey Shore.

Artists are now being invited to apply for a chance to paint one of the barrels and turn it into a functional work of art. Selected artists will receive a fully rigged and prepped rain barrel and a stipend for their participation.

“We’re really excited about this since a whole barrel full of benefits – art, tourism, environmental education and water conservation – are blended into one single project,” said Kim Kosko, the consortium’s director of communications and project coordinator for N.J. Top Ten Beaches.

The barrels will be showcased at the consortium’s 12th annual State of the Shore Media Event on May 22, when the sixth annual N.J. Top Ten Beaches list will also be announced. The barrels will roll out on tour around the state throughout the summer and be displayed at selected New Jersey beach communities and special events. The barrels will be auctioned or raffled off to the public after Labor Day.

Interested participants can contact Norma Wokas, the project’s art coordinator, at normawokas@comcast.net. Applications are also available at water.rutgers.edu and njtoptenbeaches.org. Artists will be chosen by representatives from the Monmouth County Arts Council, Rutgers Water Resources Program, NJSGC and Wokas. Applications are due Feb. 7. Finalists will be notified on Feb. 14. For more information, visit njseagrant.org. 

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Remote car starters are a new necessity for keeping warm in cold weather

No one really likes getting into an icebox, also known as the car in the wintertime. As the temperature outside decreases, the demand for remote car starters increases. Once installed, the radio-controlled device can preheat a vehicle by the touch of a button, allowing the driver to enter into a toasty-warm car.

According to Vic Perri, owner of Tronix Autosports, located on Route 9 in Barnegat, installations for a remote starter, which is wired to the car’s electrical system to simulate the act of turning the key in the ignition, started to become popular nearly 10 years ago. Perri said he installs many remote starters for local car dealerships that package the systems into their financing.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Tronix Autosports in Barnegat installs Avital Remote
Start Systems to help keep commuters warm. 

“As the weather gets colder, everybody kind of panics and wants one right away,” he said. “If the defrosters were left on the night before after a snowstorm, you could potentially defrost the snow off your car without having to clean it off,” he added.

Although the local shop owner said customers begin to request installations for a remote starter when temperatures begin to drop around October, he said he usually receives so many calls in December that he has to hire someone just to answer the phone and set up appointments.

“They’re a huge Christmas gift,” he emphasized. “Customers come in, they buy a Christmas gift for their wife or husband, and they get a gift certificate that’s valid for one remote start installed in a specific vehicle. It goes into a remote start gift box, and we give it to them so they can wrap it up and put it underneath the tree. When the recipient opens the gift, they get to make the appointment to get it done.”

Tronix staff installed about 100 remote starters and sold nearly 200 gift cards for future installations prior to Christmas this year. Installations take between two and three hours to complete.

“Generally they get wired in right underneath the dashboard. The car gets put back together, and you never know we were even in there,” Perri explained.

Although the systems can be installed in new and older cars, Tronix staff will not install them in manual transmissions due to “safety purposes.”

“The vehicle can actually try to start three times with a remote start, so if it’s left in gear, and the car lurches forward, you run the potential of damaging property or God forbid a person. It’s not worth the insurance liability,” Perri said.

There are many different remote starters available on the market. Tronix installs Avital Remote Start Systems. Installations come with a lifetime warranty and a key fob, allowing the driver to start the vehicle up to 1,000 feet away.

“If you park the car far away from your job, or if you live in an apartment complex or condos, you have about a 1,000-foot range to reach the car to start it. Your average person that lives at home with a car in the driveway is only about 100 feet away,” Perri explained.

Customers also have the option to start or lock and unlock the car via a smartphone app called Viper SmartStart.

“Essentially, with the app on your smartphone, you’re really just calling your car, and you’re controlling the car through cell service,” said Perri. “The nice thing about having it built into your cellphone is if you lock the keys in your car, you always have your cellphone on you,” he added.

Perri suggests having a remote starter professionally installed rather than purchasing a do-it-yourself kit because many vehicles require extra parts.

For more information, contact Tronix at 609-607-8882.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

N.J. school districts delay openings due to polar vortex

Due to the extreme cold weather and strong wind conditions, the Beach Haven and Long Beach Island schools, as well as mainland school districts from Little Egg Harbor to Ocean Township, had a two-hour delayed opening on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The district superintendents decided on the early-morning delay via email the previous day.

Photo via AJC
The polar vortex makes waiting for the school bus
an unbearable feat for students in New Jersey.

“We have a conference call and make decisions together,” said EvaMarie Raleigh, superintendent of the Beach Haven School on LBI. “We talk about what we’re going to do, and we all decide together. We usually talk to each other about what’s going on down here. Sometimes it’s on a conference call, sometimes it’s through email, sometimes it’s through text messages. We’re all in connection together.”

The superintendents agreed on the districts’ delayed opening and closing for snowfall on two separate occasions in December.

On Tuesday, students, faculty and staff at the Beach Haven School started the workday at 10:20 a.m. instead of the usual 8:20 a.m. opening.

“It makes things easier when you calculate classes in school and shift things for 90 minutes. Otherwise our classes get confused,” Raleigh said.

The school’s nine classes, including lunch, were shortened 10 minutes each; the classes were held for 30 minutes instead of 40 minutes.

Raleigh said the school building was warm when she arrived at 8:25 that morning.

“We weren’t sure (the building would be warm), so it gave us that extra two hours to make sure it was perfect for the kids to come in,” she said. “It was more the wind chill and the children waiting on the corners for the buses, the extreme weather conditions and being out in the elements, that was the concern.”

The Barnegat Township school district had a delayed opening of two hours for four elementary schools, a middle school and the high school. 

“It was really too cold out there to have the kids stand out at the bus stops at the normal early morning time,” said Helen Behrens, administrative assistant to Superintendent Karen Wood. “It should be better on Wednesday.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

American Red Cross South Jersey Region offers cold-weather safety tips

“American Red Cross South Jersey Region urges everyone to stay safe in the current extreme cold-weather conditions. To stay safe during this weather, be prepared with our cold-weather safety tips,” said Laura Steinmetz, community/government relations officer. The South Jersey Region consists of four chapters, including the Jersey Coast Chapter, which serves 1.1 million people in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Photo via Red Cross
The American Red Cross urges residents to
stay safe in the cold-weather conditions.

To keep protected during winter storms when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, the Red Cross suggests wearing layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent loss of body heat.

Shoveling snow is physically strenuous work. The Red Cross suggests taking frequent breaks. It is also imperative to stay hydrated. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of hypothermia occur, such as confusion, dizziness, exhaustion or severe shivering. Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue, or yellow skin discolorations, or waxy-feeling skin.

Do not forget to bring pets indoors. Make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

Avoid frozen pipes by running water, even at a trickle, and keeping the thermostat at the same temperature during the day and at night. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, and be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children and pets. Garage doors should be kept closed if there are water lines in the vicinity.

Download the American Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. The free app is available in the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. See all Red Cross apps at redcross.org/mobileapps.

To prevent fire danger, the Red Cross suggests avoiding the use of a stove or oven for heating purposes. Space heaters should be kept on a hard, level surface, and anything flammable, such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs, should be kept at least 3 feet away from the unit.

If using a fireplace, utilize a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Make sure fireplace embers are out and space heaters are turned off before leaving the room or going to bed.

Never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage, and do not hook up a generator to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the necessary equipment directly to the outlets on the generator.

A winter storm could result in the cancellation of Red Cross blood drives in areas heavily impacted by the weather. Despite the circumstances, hospital patients across the country will still need blood. Consider making an appointment to donate blood or platelets. Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, meet specific weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. New Jersey allows anyone 16 years of age to donate with parental consent.

A Red Cross blood drive will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 1 to 6 p.m. Appointments can be made online at redcrossblood.org, keyword LBI St. Francis, or by calling 609-494-8861. Walk-ins are welcome.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Discounted college courses at Stockton's Manahawkin instructional site

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Board of Trustees voted against increasing tuition and fees for 2014 summer courses, which already include a 20 percent discount. During the 2011-2012 academic year, tuition and fees had increased by 5 percent.

For one credit, the summer session rates for in-state students are now $229 for undergraduate courses, $543 for master’s courses and $597 for doctoral courses. An additional fee for transportation and safety is charged once for the summer term. Sessions are in May, June and July.

Photo via Facebook
Area residents can take discounted Stockton
courses at the Manahawkin instructional site.

The summer courses are offered to help students save money and graduate on time or in advance.

“Stockton continues to work diligently to help our students afford the cost of a higher education, which is so important to their future success,” Stockton College President Herman Saatkamp said in a press release.

Although the college has managed to “hold the line” on tuition and fees for 2013-2014 through economies such as energy savings, Saatkamp warned that future sessions would most likely increase due to rising costs such as medical health insurance and state-negotiated contracts that mandate salary increases and other benefits.

The trustees also agreed to pursue a partnership agreement with Meridian Health that, if approved, would offer a tuition and fee discount to employees of Meridian and possible internships to students from Stockton’s School of Health Sciences. The resolution passed by the board notes that the agreement “would benefit our health care community partners and our health professions programs.” The health care system is comprised of many South Jersey hospitals, including Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin.

Fees for all undergraduate students also remain unchanged for the coming year. The $2,187 semester fee covers a range of services such as course supplies and technology fees, and also helps finance the college Wellness Center. Tuition and fees for master’s and doctoral courses will also remain the same.

Some 287 summer courses, 70 of which are offered online, will be available at the Manahawkin and Hammonton instructional sites, as well as at the main campus in Galloway Township. Courses at the Manahawkin site, located on East Bay Avenue, include Baseball History and Film; 20th Century Latin American Short Stories; The Philadelphia Experiment; Statistics; Documentary Photography; and Introduction to Psychology, among others.

Registration for summer courses begins Monday, Dec. 16. For more information, visit the office of the registrar.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.