Washington, U.S.A. — A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies provides a detailed picture of immigrants (legal and illegal) in the United States and in New Jersey. Using the latest Census Bureau data from 2010 and 2011, the study reveals that New Jersey’s immigrants tend to be more prosperous and better-educated than the population in other top immigrant receiving states. However, they lag behind natives in the state in most measures of economic well-being. As a result they comprise a very large share of the state’s poor and uninsured.

The report is online at http://cis.org/2012-profile-of-americas-foreign-born-population.

• New Jersey’s Immigrants:

New Jersey’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) grew 25 percent (368,000) from 2000 to 2010. Nationally the immigrant population grew 28 percent over the same period. Immigrants accounted for 21 percent of New Jersey residents in 2010, the third highest of any state. Immigrants are 28 percent of workers in the state.

Of New Jersey immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18), 13 percent live in poverty compared to 9 percent of natives and their children. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) account for 28 percent of the state’s overall population and 37 percent of all persons in poverty.

Of New Jersey immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18), 29 percent lack health insurance, compared to 11 percent of natives and their children (under 18). Immigrants and their children account for 51 percent of those without insurance in the state.

New Jersey immigrants’ home ownership rate is 54 percent, compared to 70 percent for natives.

Of households headed by immigrants in New Jersey, 26 percent used at least one major welfare program, primarily food assistance and Medicaid, compared to 17 percent of native-headed households. The lower socio-economic status of New Jersey’s immigrants is not because most are recent arrivals. Their average length of residence in the United States is 19 years.

One of the primary reasons so many immigrants in the state are poor and access the welfare system is a large share arrive in the U.S. as adults with relatively low levels of education.

Of adult immigrants (25 to 65) in the state 19 percent have not completed high school, compared to 4 percent of natives. The share of immigrants in the state with at least a bachelor’s degree is 34 percent compared to 41 percent for natives.

In 2010, 30 percent of students in New Jersey public schools were from immigrant households. Overall, 29 percent of public school students in the state speak a language other than English at home.

• Illegal Immigrants in New Jersey:

Our best estimate is that about one-fifth of New Jersey’s immigrants are in the country illegally. Illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) account for 6 percent of the state’s overall population, 14 percent those in poverty, 21 percent of the uninsured and 9 percent of the school age population, ages 5 to 17.

Image Courtesy of  Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com

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Newark, U.S.A. — The Street League Skateboarding DC Pro Tour Fueled by Monster Energy (SLS) will cap off an amazing 2012 season with its winner-takes-all Championship. The historical event features the top eight Street League pros battling for $200,000 – the largest first place prize purse in skateboarding history, an all new 2012 Chevy Sonic, plus the highly coveted Nixon Championship watch and ring set. The Street League pros qualified into the Championship are as follows:

• Nyjah Huston
• Chaz Ortiz
• Paul Rodriguez
• Luan Oliveira
• Sean Malto
• Bastien Salabanzi
• Chris Cole
• Ryan Sheckler

2011 Street League Champion Sean Malto is back to defend his title against an all-star lineup including Paul Rodriguez, Nyjah Huston, Ryan Sheckler, Chaz Ortiz and Chris Cole. The eighteen-year-old Ortiz and the thirty-year-old Cole have multiple second place finishes between them, but each has yet to win a Street League contest. With an impressive second place finish earlier this season, European Selection winner Bastien Salabanzi is the lone Street League rookie to earn a spot in the final eight.

Ryan Shecklerand Paul Rodriguez are veteran contest skaters and fan favorites, both coming off of incredible recent performances including P-Rod’s first league win at Stop Three in Arizona last month. Come August 26th, it could be anyone’s day to take the most elite title in professional street skateboarding.

Last year’s final event left fans on the edge of their seats as Nyjah Huston was ultimately denied a season sweep by Sean Malto who put a stop to Huston’s historical win streak. The seventeen-year-old Huston has yet to win a Street League championship since the league added the winner-take-all finale as the Championship instead of a season-long point system that was in place in its inaugural year.

“We’ve had an amazing year so far and there is no better way to end it than our winner-take-all Championship” says Street League creator Rob Dyrdek. “We know each one of these 8 pros has what it takes to win. On August 26th we’ll see who can rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest to become Street League Champion.

The stage is set for our best Street League ever.” “Most of the guys that are usually in the top spots—Chris Cole, Malto, P Rod—will make it an incredible Championship,” said winner of this season’s first two stops Nyjah Huston. “P Rod has been killing it lately. Got to look out for him. All those guys…This is pretty much the top of all the dudes in skateboarding and Street League, so it’s going to be interesting.”

The 2012 season has been one for the history books, with record-breaking crowds for skateboarding, and undeniable excitement with each event ending with the top three skaters within one or two points of each other in the final attempt. Nyjah Huston and Paul Rodriguez are the only skaters to win Street League events this season, but the victories have not come easily.

Bastien Salabanzi was a single trick away from winning in Kansas City, as was Chaz Ortiz in Ontario, and Chris Cole in Arizona who suffered the same fate after missing their final attempts.Street League’s $1.6 million purse is the largest in skateboarding history and almost double the combined winnings for all other skate contests. The SLS tour culminates in a winner-takes-all Championship inNewark, NJ at the Prudential Center on August 26.

The SLS Championship will feature the Golden Ticket winners of the first three stops of the 2012 tour along with the remaining top six qualifiers who will compete for $200,000 as well as the title of Street League Champion. The Championship will air LIVE on ESPN2 on August 26 at 5pm ET. Check www.streetleague.com for the complete pre-show and Chevrolet Overdrive webcast schedule.

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Newark, U.S.A. – Today’s Presidential primary election is meaningless for citizens living in New Jersey, California, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. “This creates an alienated and cynical electorate that is becoming more disenfranchised with every election cycle,” says Jim Lynch, author of “The 2020 Players: A Futuristic View of the 2020 Presidential Election.”

Lynch asks, “Can you blame Americans for tuning out? This is not democracy; in fact, it just may be as bad as the backroom politics back in the old days of bosses and political machines.”

“As a result, millions of Americans had absolutely no voice in the Presidential selection process. Let’s face it; the primary system is broken,” says Lynch.

After today’s vote, which involves some 299 uncontested electoral votes, only Utah has yet to weigh in and they’ll hold off until June 26.

“Voting in America should be cherished as a sacred right, as a meaningful experience to every American. But voting has become totally meaningless for almost a third of the states participating in 2012 Republican primary balloting,” says Lynch.

“This flawed process is a ringing endorsement of the reform proposal to have a National One Day Primary on the same day in all 50 states for all presidential candidates. The single day primary would bring an end to local pandering to voters – like Newt Gingrich telling the people in Cape Canaveral ‘We should build a moon base’ – and to months of negative campaigning on TV and radio, one harmful and nauseating attack after another, without end.  And it would be far easier for both parties to unite behind the winners who emerge from the one day balloting,” says Lynch.

Lynch believes Americans must overhaul the political process and the insidious role that media advocacy plays in this process. “In my novel, The 2020 Players, I also advocate a viable three-party system, a single six-year term for President, and a ban on any political campaigning while in office.”

Jim Lynch is a native New Yorker, married with eight children and four grandchildren. His parents worked for the FBI. He spent eight years as an investigator and was an executive for AT&T. Lynch is a full time novelist.

Image Courtesy of  Jim Lynch

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Its been thirty-three years since 6-year-old Etan Patz went missing, and it’s taken 33 years to find the man who took away his life. The case of Patz, who is known for sparking the missing children’s movement and known as the first missing child to be put on the face of the milk carton, might finally have come to a close and justice might finally be served.

Pedro Hernandez, 51, a resident of New Jersey, was arrested on Thursday after confessing to choking a 6-year-old boy in New York City back in 1979. According to police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Etan Patz was last seen walking to school in his lower Manhattan neighborhood. At the time, Hernandez was 18 years old and worked at a local convenience store close to Patz’s home. The day he disappeared was the first day that Etan’s parents let him walk to school by himself.

Hernandez described in graphic detail what he did to the innocent and naïve Patz. Kelly said, “Hernandez told police he lured the boy to the convenience store with the promise of a soda, then took him into the basement and choked him.” Detectives then said that, “Hernandez admitted to luring the boy into the store, strangling him, and placing the body in a box. He said he put the box out with the trash and when he came back later, it was gone.”

Detectives do have cause for concern, though. The media attention this story has gotten has led to many false leads over the years around the anniversary of Patz’s disappearance, May 25. The day became known as National Missing Children’s Day.

But for those who have heard Hernandez’s confession, many are convinced they have finally found the right guy. “He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part,” Kelly said. “We believe that this is the individual responsible for the crime.”

Considering how much time has passed and the way Hernandez described the disposal of the body, detectives believe it is extremely unlikely they will ever recover Patz’s body.

According to the New Jersey Real-Time News, “the confession still left many questions unanswered. Hernandez did not explain why he killed the boy during a three-and-a-half hour interview with police on Wednesday.”

Etan Patz’s family has not made a statement at this time.

Kelly states that the case will now be turned over to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. They will continue to investigate Hernandez as he faces the murder charge of Etan Patz, the tragedy that captured the hearts of millions across the nation and has gone down in history as one of the most famous missing persons cases in America.

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On April 16, 2012, New Jersey issued its first permit to grow medical marijuana legally to Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair. This is their first step toward enacting medical marijuana distribution centers.

Greenleaf can begin to grow their first crop, which can take around three to four months, but they still face another obstacle before the full plan can be put underway.  The center needs another permit before it may begin distributing to patients.

New Jersey is one of 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, that has laws involving medical marijuana. An additional 12 states have pending legislation to legalize marijuana.  In New Jersey, marijuana is approved for a number of chronic conditions, including seizure disorders, severe pain, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. Other states identify similar diseases, but vary in their laws for growing and distribution.

The New Jersey law, New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, was signed two years ago by Governor Jon Corzine, but the law has yet to move forward.  Greenleaf Compassion Center, with its CEO Joe Stevens, wrote a letter one month ago to the governor accusing him of purposefully delaying distribution unnecessarily.

According to the Star Ledger, Stevens had a verbal promise from John O’Brien, Jr., head of the legalization program, to begin growing under a preliminary permit.  The promise was later retracted and, to Stevens’ frustration, halted the implement of distribution centers once more.

Following this, a local doctor and his patient, who have been waiting for the centers to become active, sued the state for causing undue suffering to patients by purposefully dragging its feet to delay the program. Despite skepticism, Governor Chris Christie asserts that he is not against the law. However, the first permit was issued only a week after these events took place with no ‘preliminary permit’ needed.

As of now, the problem lies in individual governments that delay the placement of a distribution center in their town. According to NJ.com, Christie said, ‘If individual municipalities do not want an alternative treatment center in their town, I cannot force them to take one.”

There is also some miscommunication between the distribution centers and the government. According to spokesperson of the New Jersey health department, Donna Leusner, in an article on NJ.com, officials are trying to find a balance between ‘public safety and access for qualified patients.’

Some opponents, such as the state Fraternal Order of Police, believe that the care centers will send the wrong message to youths and become central crime hubs.  Supporters are happy to finally see legal rights for natural pain treatment, and many patients eagerly await the substance that could take their pain away.

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Only two states in the United States offer full-service gas: New Jersey and Oregon. New Jersey made it illegal for consumers to pump their own gas in 1949, Oregon in 1951, on the grounds that it was dangerous to handle a liquid so flammable. Now it is 2012, and the laws are still standing their ground even though many other states have created self-service stations. Why?

The debate, of course, is monetary. With full-service, gas stays about five or six cents a gallon cheaper. With gas prices going up, this could make a difference to some drivers. New Jersey has some of the cheapest gas available in the United States, but Oregon gas prices compare to Washington and California.

Gas stations also receive lower insurance premiums when they employ people to serve gas, because workers are trained with safety information and hazards are minimized. Yet, this deduction in insurance is balanced by employee wages. According to Future of the Whirled, 11 to 12 billion cars are fueled without incident. The few accidents that do happen occur because of too much static electricity, not slips or spills.

New Jersey and Oregon have the same basic argument. Officials say that the full-service gas industry creates jobs, about 7,600 workers in each state. They also claim that this service is preferable to the customers. Residents prefer not to get gas on their hands or clothes or deal with the smell, and during bad weather, there is no need to get out of the car.

Chris Christie, current Governor of New Jersey, proposed switching to self-service stations during his campaign in 2009, but the idea was dropped when drivers opposed. KVTB News, for Idaho News and Weather, cites a list of other reasons Oregon officials want to keep the law intact. These include how impossible it is to enforce safety standards on the driving public, Oregon’s rainy climate leading to more slick spots, and gas drive-off thefts being cut down.

The elderly and the disabled prefer to not pump their own gas. In these two states, they have no problem.  In other states, their needs are not being met. The Americans with Disabilities Act: Assistance at Self-Serve Gas Stations requires equal access at self-service stations. This means that employees need to help those who cannot pump the gas themselves, for whatever reason, without charging anything extra. However, the law is difficult to enforce and many struggle with gas station attendants.

Opponents of Oregon or New Jersey’s law claim that self-service saves time, and gas will be the same price no matter what. Regardless, the laws are not going to be changing anytime soon.

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Jersey City, N.J., U.S.A. – Things went viral, with a mass media frenzy and blogger mega-attacks, after the film festival worldwide premieres of THE LIFE ZONE and O.B.A.M. NUDE, two highly inflammatory movies from the mind of best-selling author/acclaimed filmmaker, Kenneth Del Vecchio.

The writer/director/producer of nearly 20 star-filled movies and chairman of one of the world’s largest film festivals, Del Vecchio is also a former New Jersey judge (one of the youngest in state history). He’s clearly no fan of the current president, as O.B.A.M. NUDE is the first-ever satire about Barack Obama.

And THE LIFE ZONE – described by the Los Angeles Times as “a psychological thriller bringing an emphatically anti-abortion slant to the hot button issue” – doesn’t reflect the normal Hollywood pro-choice stance. Both films open theatrically on June 1 at Hudson Cinemas in Jersey City, New Jersey. The following week, they are released in over 15 cities nationwide. DVDs can already be purchased via pre-orders.

Starring Academy Award nominee Robert Loggia (Scarface, Big), Lindsey Haun (“True Blood”; Broken Bridges), Blanche Baker (Emmy winner; Sixteen Candles), and Martin Kove (The Karate Kid), THE LIFE ZONE chronicles the kidnapping of three women from abortion clinics – who are held for seven months until they all give birth.

The controversial fictional movie cuts right down the middle, examining the topic of abortion from both sides. However, as stated by “The Colbert Report” – “Just like all great horror films, Del Vecchio’s movie has a shocking twist” – the ending sends a definitively pro-life message.

O.B.A.M. NUDE weaves a satirical tale that mirrors much of Barack Obama’s history. A loner, O.B.A.M. (played by Del Vecchio) snorts cocaine, secretly hoping to one day become someone important. His dream comes true when Satan appears, promising the world.

Satan and his new protege scheme an agenda that ends with the United States presidency, transforming the world’s greatest democracy into a communist fiefdom, ruled by an enigmatic dictator. O.B.A.M., no doubt, will trick the masses with the Satan-created mantra of “hope and change.”

For more information, visit www.JusticeForAllProductions.com.

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What happens when a former paparazzi photographer gets the picture of a lifetime – a revealing shot of The First Lady? SNAPSHOT will premiere at Hoboken International Film Festival’s (HIFF) 2012 as the Opening Night Feature Film. The festival will be held at the Hudson Cinemas at the Hudson Mall in Jersey City this year, from June 1- June 7, 2012.

SNAPSHOT screenwriter Robert Borneman was inspired to write the film as a result of tragic events including the death of Lady Diana to the recent suicide of Rutgers student, Tyler Clementi.  Borneman said, “SNAPSHOT weighs the public’s right to know against an individual’s right to privacy. We examine this issue in a dramatic and entertaining manner.” Robert and Joyce Borneman served as executive producers of SNAPSHOT.

Kenneth Del Vecchio, SNAPSHOT’s producer, is a critically acclaimed filmmaker/best-selling author who has produced 15+ feature films that star several Academy Award and Emmy winners and nominees. A former New Jersey judge, Del Vecchio is also HIFF’s founder and chairman.

Joyce DeWitt, who plays “The First Lady” in SNAPSHOT says, “Ken Del Vecchio is a brilliant and wonderful producer.  SNAPSHOT was an exciting film to act in. It has an unexpected twist in a story about the challenges of personal integrity vs. personal needs.”

DeWitt served as co-host of NYC’s top morning show- Fox’s- Good Day New York…  On the program, she talked extensively about the film. Here’s a clip…Click Here To See Joyce on Good Day NY.

Del Vecchio handpicked Eric Etebari (“Witchblade,” “The Lincoln Lawyer”) – a longtime lead and supporting actor in several of his films – to serve as SNAPSHOT’s director. Robert and Joyce Borneman, previously served as executive producers for three Del Vecchio written/produced films, “The Great Fight,” “The Life Zone,” and “The Grand Theft.”

Del Vecchio inked a three-picture deal with Screen Media for these critically acclaimed – and highly controversial – flicks, directly after they premiered last year at HIFF; all three movies will be released theatrically later this year.

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The Commonwealth Foundation released an alarming new report on Pennsylvania public welfare that finds widespread abuse of tax dollars, with spending growing faster than the economy and exceeding education appropriations for the first time in state history.

Policy analysts from the free-market think tank examined numerous documented cases of fraud, waste and abuse including service providers billing the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare for luxuries such as a chandelier, landscaping, a six-person hot tub and a bowling alley.

“Government welfare was once a helping hand to those in need, but has instead become a tangled bureaucracy of often abused programs that fall far short of the good intentions behind them,” said Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO.  “While some say reforms unfairly hurt the poor, the reality is Pennsylvania is quickly reaching a point where the tax base cannot support the benefits lawmakers are promising.”

Analysts also found DPW represents the largest department in the state’s General Fund, encompassing nearly 40 percent of the budget.  Despite dramatic increases in welfare spending, they conclude measures have failed to free Pennsylvanians from a poverty rate that has been climbing since 2000.

“The welfare system in Pennsylvania is expensive, ineffective, and largely unaccountable,” said Brouillette.  “It should be no surprise then that ever-increasing welfare spending is simply failing to bring independence to citizens.”

According to U.S. Census data, Pennsylvania is among the top-10 states in budget percentage spent on public welfare, surpassing neighboring states such as Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia.  Moreover, the number of Pennsylvanians receiving food stamps benefits is at an all-time high while increases in welfare spending outpace personal income and state tax revenue growth.

“The majority of welfare programs and their funding originate with the federal government, leaving states with little room for innovation and flexibility in their administration,” said Brouillette.  The current federal funding system actually encourages states to spend more in order to draw down additional federal funds.

Among the foundation’s recommendations are calls for state legislators to aggressively pursue waivers as other states have successfully done in order to overcome federal mandates and save taxpayers’ money.  They also recommend DPW rapidly cuts waste and abuse by reducing error rates and enforcing eligibility standards. Additionally, legislators should utilize performance-based budgeting to expand programs that work and end programs that don’t.

“If no action is taken, welfare spending will continue to crowd out other departments like education and transportation, depriving the truly needy from proper care and leading to future tax increases,” said Brouillette.  “If that happens, lawmakers will be delivering decades of dependence instead of dignity.”

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Over the course of their illustrious 25-year career, Blues Traveler have sold more than 10 million combined units worldwide, played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned them a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

A television favorite, they have been featured on Saturday Night Live, Austin City Limits, VH1′s Behind the Music and they hold the record for the most appearances of any artist on The Late Show with David Letterman.

On March 6, 2012, Hip-O Select/Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases Blues Traveler: 25 , a 2-CD retrospective that spans the first 25 years of the band’s incredible recording career. 25 features a total of 29 tracks including a newly recorded cover version of Sublime’s “What I Got,” their greatest hits, B-sides, unreleased demos and rarities— among them a remix of “Run-Around” by acclaimed electronic producers Gunslinger, and excerpts from the band’s online concept album Decision of the Skies: A Traveler Tale of Sun and Storm.

Remarks vocalist John Popper, “In a quarter century, through every possible kind of high and low, through every dream realized, through every hope dashed, always there was a return to that dedication and belief in the music and in each other.

On behalf of all of Blues Traveler, I am privileged to express how honored we are, how deeply proud we are to share with you the first of our quarter-century celebration and appropriate look back at some favorites you may find familiar as well as rarities that for some reason or another have yet to see the light of day. In our hearts we view this as a time to step back to look at what we’ve done. We hope you will share that experience with us with as much satisfaction as we have had in bringing it to you.”

Originally from the suburbs of New Jersey, Blues Traveler moved to New York in the late ’80s where they became an integral part of a new wave of artists coming up in the jam-band scene, packing clubs like Nightingale’s, Wetlands and Mondo Cane.

The band’s live reputation landed them a deal with A&M Records and over the years they released a string hit albums including their 1990 self-titled debut; 1991′sTravelers & Thieves; 1993′s Save His Soul; the platinum selling Straight on till The Morning; and their massive, 1994 multi-platinum breakthrough release Four.

Disc one of Blues Traveler: 25 features the band’s biggest hits and staple tracks representing all nine of their studio albums. Included are their No. 1 hit single “Run-Around,” and their top 20 hit “Hook.” Both songs were taken from 1994′s Four which climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and has now sold over six times platinum.

Other tracks featured are the No. 4 hit single “Carolina Blues” from 1997′s Straight on till Morning, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200; the band’s first top 20 hit “But Anyway” plus “Gina” and “100 Years” taken from their 1990 self-titled debut; “Amber Awaits” and “After What” from their top 50 album Bastardos!, an album produced by former Wilco member Jay Bennett; the hard-rocking, Led Zeppelin-esque track “How You Remember It” and “You, Me And Everything” from their most recent 2008 release, North Hollywood Shootout; plus a new 2011 recording of Sublime’s “What I Got” which is only available on this two-CD set.

Disc Two of 25 is a collection of rarities including B-sides, unreleased demos and studio tracks. Featured are early demo versions of “But Anyway” and “Trust In Trust” recorded in 1988; the quirky “The Poignant and Epic Saga of Featherhead and Lucky Lack” which was recorded in 1993 but never made it to an album;

The unreleased studio track “Demon” which was written in 2000 during a songwriting session in Austin; plus the tracks “12 Swords,” “The Sun and the Storm” and the 20-minute odyssey “Traveler Suite,” all taken from their 2000 concept album Decision of the Skies: A Traveler Tale of Sun and Storm, which was originally only made available as a download through the band’s website.

As Blues Traveler prepares for the next 25 years, they are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their tenth studio album.  They are about to embark on a nationwide tour celebrating 25 years of making music, and Blues Traveler: 25 offers a glimpse into the evolution of one of the most beloved artists to come out of the jam-band scene

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/bluestraveler

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie renewed his commitment to enacting strong school choice legislation for students in failing school districts during his annual State of the State speech at the State Capitol in Trenton.

The American Federation for Children—the nation’s voice for school choice—praised the governor’s speech as a call to all elected officials to put politics aside and enact legislation that will allow thousands of Garden State students to attend the school of their parents’ choice.

Governor Christie urged legislators to pass the Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA), which has bipartisan support in the legislature and would create a scholarship tax credit program for children in low-income families who are currently trapped in the state’s lowest performing school districts.

“We applaud Governor Christie for continuing to fight for expanding educational options and his strong commitment to the Opportunity Scholarship Act,” said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children. “Thousands of families across the state stand with Governor Christie in calling for passage of this important legislation.”

While Christie said he will pursue many education reforms in 2012—including expanding access to charter schools and teacher tenure reform—he made enacting the OSA one of the focuses of his 2012 agenda.

“Opportunity should not be offered to only those in an excellent school district or with parents who have the money to release their children from the prison that is a failing school,” the Governor said during his speech. “Let’s pass the opportunity scholarship act now.” Christie has been a long-time supporter of school choice since taking over as governor two years ago.

In 2010, he was the keynote speaker at the American Federation for Children’s first annual policy summit. ”Democrats including Senators Lesniak and Ruiz, Assemblymen Fuentes and Greenwald, long-time party leaders like George Norcross, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker have voiced their strong support for giving low-income parents this critically important option,” said Kevin P. Chavous, a senior advisor to the American Federation for Children.

“With bipartisan support in the legislature and support from the Governor, it’s time for New Jersey to pass the Opportunity Scholarship Act and give these disadvantaged children immediate hope for a brighter future.”

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/megwhitman2010/

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Gift of Life Donor Program – the region’s organ procurement organization (OPO) serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware– announced that the organization coordinated the recovery of 1,185 organs from a record 441 individuals in 2011, making this region the most generous in the U.S. and setting a new national record.

For the past 4 years, Gift of Life has averaged over 400 donors per year, and serving nearly 10.3 million people in the region, Gift of Life’s procurement of nearly 43 donors-per-million-population ranks among the highest in the world.

For the family of Jillian Shallock, this generosity meant a life-saving heart transplant. On December 1, 2010, 5 month-old Jillian was placed on the pediatric heart transplant list. Baby Jillian had been born with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) earlier that July—a condition which restricted the blood flow to the young girl’s heart. After several months, her parents, Billy and Shannon Shallock, decided to place their daughter on the waiting list for a new heart.

After nearly two months on the transplant waiting list, Jillian received her heart on January 25, 2011—aNew Year’s gift to start the young recipient and her family on the road to a new life. ”It really is hard to think about what our life could have been like had someone not made the decision [to donate]—a decision that saved our daughter’s life,” says Shannon.

Another “first” for Gift of Life took place in fall 2011, when, for the first time in the Delaware Valley, a patient underwent a complex and intricate bilateral hand and arm transplant to significantly enhance the quality-of-life for a multiple limb loss. The procedure was performed by Penn Medicine’s Hand Transplant Program, which operated under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, and was proudly performed in conjunction with Gift of Life.

Another milestone was an unprecedented increase in the number of individuals and families who said “yes” to tissue donation over the last 12 months, with more than 2,700 tissue donors. One tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of more than 50 individuals, and as a result, an estimated number of 45,000 people may be helped from life-enhancing procedures due to the generosity of others.

Additionally, 1,235 musculoskeletal donors provided life-enhancing bone allographs for orthopedic surgeries, skin for burn patients, and heart valves to repair defects in 2011. And Gift of Life is grateful for our 2,500 eye donors, whose corneas have been transplanted used to restore precious sight.

Gift of Life also helped Donate Life America reach its goal in 2011, of registering 100 million people in the United States as organ and tissue donors—nearly 4 million of these selfless individuals were registered in our region, in addition to countless families who have generously said “yes” to donation without previous designation.

But Gift of Life could not have achieved this alone: The hard work and dedication of the region’s 138 hospitals and 15 transplant centers has helped, and their perseverance and dual advocacy for families throughout the transplant process.

“We work closely with Gift of Life to help create the opportunity for meaningful donation, out of what is often a difficult, stressful situation for our donor families,” says Dr. Gerard Fulda, Chief of Surgical Critical Care for Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. ”Knowing the importance of these gifts helps our staff be dual advocates for both donor families and our transplant recipients.”

Gift of Life works hand-in-hand with medical professionals and continues to give hope to those individuals waiting for life-saving transplants, while supporting the families of our heroic donors—families like that of Francis “Franny” Gessler.

In the fall of 2011, the 30 year-old father suffered a fatal brain aneurysm during a pickup hockey game. His wife Christine and mother Fran were quickly by his side in the hospital, and knew that organ donation was something Francis would have wanted, as a generous and giving father, son and husband.

“We as a family are very religious and deep in faith, so all along, we had hopes for Franny’s recovery,” says Gessler’s mother, Fran. “But when we learned that there wasn’t hope for recovery, we looked at each other and we knew: Franny was the kindest, gentlest kid ever. He would want to save others, so the decision to donate was made. The knowledge that others are living through him is comforting.”

“Families like the Gesslers truly are heroes,” said Gift of Life President and CEO Howard M. Nathan. “We thank those individuals and their loved ones for giving others the gift of a second chance at life in 2011. Moving forward in 2012, we will continue to educate our community about the critical need for more organ and tissue donors and to support families awaiting these critical transplants with programs like our new Gift of Life Family House.”

Opened in summer 2011, Gift of Life Family House is a 30-room facility that provides temporary lodging and supportive services to family members of transplant patients in the Philadelphia region. Resources such as nutritious meals and transportation to regional transplant centers are offered at an affordable cost, to help assist patients and their families on their transplant journey.

Gift of Life is proud to note the excellence of its staff, who have worked hard to make transplantation possible, and offer expanded care for families, both with programs such as the Family House, and with the organization’s continued educational outreach. Gift of Life’s dedication to increasing donation means that donor families like Francis Gessler’s have given patients like little Jillian Shallock’s the gift of learning to walk, talk and grow with her three sisters and loving parents.

Of the 441 organ donors in 2011, 46% were registered as donors on their driver’s license or state-issued IDs. While this number is encouraging, more than 6,500 men, women and children in this region are currently on the waiting list for transplants, and more than 112,000 patients remain on the list nationally.

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The fathers, who were married in California and joined in a civil union in New Jersey, had long desired to be parents and created embryos using the eggs of an anonymous donor.  The sister of the non-biological father agreed to carry the pregnancy.  After giving birth, she challenged the fathers’ right to primary custody of the children.

In a fifteen-page decision issued on December 13, the court granted the biological father sole legal and physical custody of the couple’s daughters, now five years old, emphasizing the importance of their commitment to their children’s well-being and their values of tolerance and inclusion.

Following a trial that spanned more than a year and included more than 30 days in court, the Honorable Francis B. Schultz of the New Jersey Superior Court concluded that the girls’ best interests would be served by placing them with parents who would celebrate their unique histories, noting, “The common thread of [the biological father's] testimony was to … explain to the girls (when age appropriate) everything necessary for the girls to understand their origin, their heritage, as well as religion, and the [fathers'] same sex [relationship].

Nothing negative about these sensitive issues will be brought to bear upon the children by their father.” In contrast, the court found that the mother and grandmother have “strong feelings about surrogacy and homosexuality” that “will be understood by the girls and will have a very damaging effect on them. It will make them feel ashamed of themselves, and this they do not need.”

“This decision is a victory for parents, particularly those in non-traditional families, who value diversity and inclusion and pass those values along to their children,” said Karim G. Kaspar, senior counsel in Lowenstein Sandler’s Litigation Department.

“This important case exemplifies Lowenstein’s longstanding commitment to addressing significant social issues through public service,” said Kenneth H. Zimmerman, Member of the Firm and Chair of the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest.

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Grammy, a 70-year-old Italian woman from New Jersey, makes the best meatballs and gravy that you will ever eat. For those of you who don’t know, gravy refers to a very thick, red sauce for spaghetti. By the time it is done, the concoction is so thick and delicious, starches aren’t necessary to enjoy the meal… all you need is a spoon.

The following recipe is how Grammy dictated it to me, as her mother did to her. The recipe is a family tradition that has been passed down, made every Sunday, here now for all to enjoy. However, there are secrets to the sauce. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t come out perfectly the first time. Some of Grammy’s secrets: the longer it cooks, the tastier it will be; use fresh basil; and use a lot of garlic.

Meatballs:

• 1 pound of ground beef, pork, and veal (meatloaf mixture)
• 1 egg
• handful of grated romano cheese
• half a handful of parsley
• 6 cloves of garlic, choppedn (more or less, according to taste)
• 1/2-3/4 cups of bread crumbs
• salt
• pepper

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Roll them and transfer them to a well-oiled pan. Fry them in a frying pan until dark and crispy. If you make more than a pound of meat, bake in oven at 375 until well browned.

Jersey gravy (spaghetti sauce):

• 2 or 3 cloves of garlic
• medium onion, sliced thinly
• 2 cans of San Marzano whole Italian tomatoes, squeezed
• 1 can of tomato purée
• Tablespoon of basil
• Sprinkle of oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt
• Pepper

Put oil in a heavy pan, and sauté onion until transluscent. Add and sautéd garlic. Add the squeezed tomatoes and tomato purée and seasonings, and cook for at least 3 hours, on simmer. Add meatballs or any other meat (and scrapings from pan to the pot). You could also use any other meat including: pork, chicken and braciole.

This should serve 2 to 4 people.

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On October 19th international known rock star Jon Bon Jovi opened up his new donation only restaurant, Soul Kitchen. Teaming up with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the Soul Kitchen is located in Red Bank, New Jersey, Bon Jovi’s home state. The Soul Kitchen is a unique restaurant where people can enjoy healthy meals from locally grown products without dipping into their wallets to pay for it.

Bon Jovi understands the struggles of his fellow Americans during the current hard economical times. With the increased prices of food and millions losing their jobs, many people across the country are left hungry and without much hope. Bon Jovi’s mission in creating a pay what you want restaurant is to make sure people in his supportive community do not go hungry anymore.

“This is not a soup kitchen,” the rocker stated. “You can come here with the dignity of linens and silver, and you’re served a healthy, nutritious meal. This is not burgers and fries.” For the minimum donation of $10, people can enjoy the experience of dining out in a restaurant while eating a nutritious and delicious meal.

Every person dining in Soul Kitchen can enjoy a three course meal American meal. For the first course, diners can choose from either a soup or salad. For the main course, people are given the choice of having a meat, fish, or a vegetarian entree. A sweet dessert rounds out the three course meal.

The chefs at Soul Kitchen strive to create regional dishes using only the freshest ingredients. The restaurant uses organically grown produce as much as possible and often sources its ingredients straight from New Jersey. Although there is a minimum of $10, people who are able to afford to donate more can make an impact in the lives of their community.

Those who pay more than $10 can cover the bill for someone else who can’t afford the meal. Dining out is often considered a luxury for people around the country, and some simply can’t afford it. Soul Kitchen aims to make sure people don’t go without a healthy meal, even if the $10 minimum donation is too high of a price for some.

Soul Kitchen will not turn away anyone who can’t pay, and instead gives these people an opportunity to volunteer at the restaurant. These diners are able to pay for their meals by helping around the restaurant. They are able to lend a helping hand in preparing the food in the kitchen, cleaning and setting the tables in the front of the restaurant, or helping others as a waiter or waitress.

Not only are people able to work for their healthy meals, they learn valuable skills in the restaurant business that may lead to permanent jobs in the industry. Soul Kitchen has their doors open to volunteers in the community who want to make a difference in the lives of others.

The selfless act of community service is highly encouraged and Soul Kitchen is always on the look out for people who want to help serve others. For more information on how to volunteer at Soul Kitchen, check out jbjsoulkitchen.org.

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The name Carl Lewis will be on the ballot for the New Jersey senate election this November. Republicans claimed Lewis, a Democrat, was not eligible to run for senate, but much to their dismay, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals overturned previous ruling to take Lewis’ name off the ballot on September 13.

Republicans, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, claimed Lewis, who is running for the 8th Legislative District Seat currently held by Dawn Marie Addiego (Rep.), did not fulfill the residency requirements needed to become senator of New Jersey. In Article IV, Section II, Paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution, it states that a senate candidate must have been a legal resident of New Jersey for four years before running for senator.

Lewis, 50, grew up in New Jersey and went to Texas for college. He moved to California after finishing school. In 2005, he bought a pair of condominiums in New Jersey, and in 2007, he bought a house in the same state. However, Kim Guadagno, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State of New Jersey, argued that Lewis bought the house eight days after the election-date cutoff, which is November 8.

Complaints about his residency also stemmed from records showing he voted in California as recently as 2009. The complaint was filed in April, stated that by voting in California in 2009, Lewis was still legally a resident of California, and could not have been a resident of New Jersey at the same time.

Republicans contested Lewis’ candidacy in April, just after announcing that he would be running for Senate. On September 7, a federal district court in Philadelphia decided Lewis did not fulfill the requirements of residency. Lewis and his attorney, Bill Tambussi, contested that decision and appealed to federal and state courts to try to reverse the ruling.

Tambussi opposed arguments that the four-year residency rule helped candidates see which issues were important to voters. In court, he argued that anyone with access to a computer would be able to read about the issues and judge which issues were important.

United States District Court Judge Noel Hillman countered this argument by saying that there was a difference between reading news on the computer and listening to what local people have to say about the issues. However, the judges allowed Lewis’ name to be reinstated on the ballot – though they never issued an official opinion, given the panel room to reconsider the decision if needed.

The decision to reinstate Lewis’ name came just days before printing November ballots was to begin. On September 19, the panel of judges began reconsidering the ruling, and asked both sides to appear in court to answer additional questions.

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The rumors swirling around a potential presidential bid for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are not ready to die yet. During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” a former Bush aide stated that Christie is still weighing his options.

“I don’t think Republicans regard this as a strong field,” Michael Gerson, a former George W. Bush speechwriter said. “So there is still talk of people getting in the race. Not just [Sarah] Palin but last week, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey was in Chicago and had two meetings with serious Republican groups from the Midwest.”

“He is actively, I think, considering getting in this race, which would throw things open once more,” he added. “But the desire for that to happen … it shows that they are not happy with the current field, they think it needs to be filled out in an important way. I don’t know if that is going to happen, but the desire for many Republicans to expand this field shows that they are not content with it.”

Many New Jersey residents and voters have praised Gov. Christie for his handling of Hurricane Irene which may have triggered the speculation of his presidential bid again. A new poll found that 54 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the governor.

Angered when beachgoers were not heading the warnings before the storm, Christie announced “Get the hell off the beach,” at a news conference. Christie was praised for his forthrightness, although some criticized his vulgarity. Now, that the storm has passed Christie has told beachgoers to return. “Get the hell back on the beach!” he tweeted before Labor Day.

Christie has insisted in the past that he is not running for president. Of course, there is still speculation around Sarah Palin who has not ruled out a potential run. Despite some republican insiders and political pundits’ unhappiness with the field, voters seem generally satisfied.

An Associated Press-GfK poll released last week found that two-thirds of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents were pleased with the presidential field.

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The scandal shaking Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in the United Kingdom has crossed the waters to the United States.

U.S. authorities have acknowledged that they are looking into a report by Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper that reporters with The News of the World offered to pay a New York police officer for private phone records of some 9/11 victims.

U.S. officials explained that News Corp. employees sought to hack into the phones of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and tried to bribe law enforcement officers for information.

The Daily Mirror‘s report, citing an unidentified source, has yet to be independently verified but has already fueled U.S. emotions over the phone hacking scandal that has taken over Britain and shaken Murdoch’s company.

Legal experts say the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is ordinarily used against companies accused of paying bribes to win contracts. But some U.S. lawmakers and experts have suggested it could be used against News Corp. because News of the World journalists allegedly bribed police officers to gain information.

New York attorney, Normal Siegel, who represents Sept. 11 family members in three legal cases, sent letters on Monday, July 11 requesting meetings with FBI Director Robert Mueller, Attorney General Eric Holder and Representative John Conyers, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.

“We will, of course, provide an appropriate response to any letter from representatives from the 9/11 victims,” said Bill Carter of the FBI’s national press office.

It was not immediately clear whether federal prosecutors in Manhattan were involved in the case. They would most likely have jurisdiction over any prosecution because the 9/11 victims and their cellphones were in Manhattan when they died.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, democrat of West Virginia, was the first to issue a statement on the matter, saying on Tuesday, July 12 that the U.S. government should hold investigations to “ensure that Americans have not had their privacy violated.”

He was also joined by the two New Jersey senators, Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg. Sen. Menendez asked the Justice Department to investigate the claims involving 9/11 victims, saying in his letter that the “large scope” of the hacking in Britain made it “imperative to investigate whether victims in the United States have been affected as well.”

It appears that it is not enough that U.S. citizens remain scarred over what took place on that dark day of Sept. 11 since, overseas, the tragic phone calls are being taken without permission, violating the rights of those families.

These revelations have critically damaged Murdoch’s British operations, leading to the withdrawal of his $12 billion offer for the country’s largest satellite television operator, British Sky Broadcasting. They have also created a major political test for British Prime Minister David Cameron over his close personal ties to News Corp. executives.

Media analyst, Claire Enders said News Corp. might be tempted to sell its other British newspapers — The Sun, The Times and the Sunday Times. This is an outcome favored by some analysts and shareholders.

“The politicians want the Murdoch’s role in public life to be greatly diminished,” Enders said. “They would like them to move to New York and stay there.”

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Gay pride parades were especially raucous this past weekend after New York’s historic vote that allows same-sex marriages beginning in late July in the state. Governor Andrew Cuomo attended the parade in New York City. He told the crowd that the vote in New York will be instrumental in other states. “I think you’re going to see this message resonate all across the country now. If New York can do it, it’s OK for every other place to do it,” Cuomo said to cheering applause.

“This is an immense win that brings giant momentum to the movement to end marriage discrimination in the U.S.,” said Evan Wolfson, president of national gay rights group Freedom to Marry. Many celebrities also cheered the decision. Neil Patrick Harris tweeted on Friday night right after the bill passed. “It PASSED! Marriage equality in NY!! Yes!! Progress!! Thank you everyone who worked so hard on this!! A historic night!!” Other celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Alec Baldwin, Russell Simmons, Alyssa Milano, and Kathy Griffin also tweeted their support.

But, not everyone was celebrating. Opponents said they would go on the attack against the four senate Republicans who supported gay marriage. Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said New York’s move was a “disaster for the Republican Party,” and that his group planned to spend $2 million over the next 18 months to defeat the legislators who supported it. “It’s the wrong thing to do,” said Maggie Gallagher, Chairman and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage. “But it’s also incredibly politically stupid for the Republican Party to take responsibility for passing the gay marriage bill in New York.”

Sen. Mark Grisanti, a Buffalo Republican who had been undecided voted for the bill. Grisanti said he could not deny anyone what he called basic rights. “I apologize to those I offend,” said Grisanti, a Roman Catholic. “But I believe you can be wiser today than yesterday. I believe this state needs to provide equal rights and protections for all its residents,” he said.

Governor Chris Christie from neighboring state New Jersey stated he was not a fan of gay marriage and would not sign a law like the New York law. Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann took it one step farther, stating she would support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who repeatedly spoke out against Same Sex Marriage before, did so again after Sunday Mass. “We don’t believe that marriage can be changed and radically altered to accommodate a particular lifestyle,” he said.

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