Building with Purpose

Serving Garden-Grown Food in School Lunches

The video below from Edutopia.org highlights a middle school in California that makes nutritious and healthy meals for its students a priority. The school has its own vegetable garden and the veggies are used in school meals. The students also help to tend the garden, adding a level of personal involvement in their own nutrition. They have fun with the hands-on approach and learn something about health along the way. Even traditional, processed meals such as mac and cheese get the healthy treatment at the school since they make their own sauce with natural cheese and ingredients. The video also relays the message that in order for the school’s success to be copied elsewhere, parents and the community have to be vocal in their desire for healthy meals for their kids.

CD WiRe (Aug.26-Sept.1)

1.  Private company’s redevelopment of New Brunswick could be model for Atlantic City revamp
Atlantic City is again on the skids, and Gov. Chris Christie is determined that a state takeover of the casino district is the only way to save one of New Jersey’s largest cash cows.  It is a drastic plan, and the inspiration for a rebirth of “Las Vegas East” comes not from Nevada or even Miami Beach. It comes from New Brunswick.  While Atlantic City was mismanaging its casino windfall, state officials said, New Brunswick built 7 million square feet of downtown space, generating nearly $1.6 billion in redevelopment investment.
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2.  N.J. financial aid program slashes assistance to college students
Low-income college students who rely on New Jersey’s popular Tuition Aid Grant program to help pay their tuition bills will see their aid checks slashed by nearly 8 percent as they return to campus for the new school year.
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3.  Education fill-in experienced in charter schools
Although it’s only a temporary assignment, it isn’t too surprising Rochelle Robinson Hendricks is Gov. Chris Christie’s choice as acting commissioner for the suddenly topsy-turvy Department of Education.  While the Christie administration casts its net for a permanent replacement for Bret Schundler — fired last Friday in the Race to the Top application fallout — the education department is now being headed by a 23-year state employee who leads the division that includes charter schools, one of Christie’s top education priorities.
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4.  Google Funds Housing For Low-Income Families, Senior Citizens
Google Inc. has invested $86 million in a tax-credit fund to finance the construction of 480 low-income housing units, a move that comes as the Internet search giant ramps up its engagement in the public sphere.  Google’s money will be managed by U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp., or USBCDC, an arm of commercial bank U.S. Bancorp (USB) that invests in community projects. The fund will provide housing for low-income families and senior citizens, according to a press release posted on U.S. Bancorp’s website.
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5.  N.J. takes suicide prevention program for veterans online to reach more in need of counseling
As the issues of suicide among veterans and service members gains national attention, a much-recognized state program to assist veterans is expanding to reach former military men and women and their families over the Internet.  NJ Vets2Vets, a five-year-old help line outreach effort, will offer one-on-one, online instant messaging counseling, group chat rooms for former soldiers and their relatives and video chats for “face-to-face” conversations with counselors.
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6.  Number of Illegal Immigrants in U.S. Fell, Study Says
The number of illegal immigrants in the United States, after peaking at 12 million in 2007, fell to about 11.1 million in 2009, the first clear decline in two decades, according to a report published Wednesday by the Pew Hispanic Center.  The reduction came primarily from decreases among illegal immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico, the report found. The number of Mexicans living in the United States without immigration status did not change significantly from 2007 to 2009. Some 7 million Mexicans make up about 60 percent of all illegal immigrants, still by far the largest national group, the Pew Center said.
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7.   Banks to allow local groups to buy foreclosures
Major banks are agreeing to give local governments and nonprofit groups the ability to buy foreclosed homes before they are sold to private investors.  The Obama administration said Wednesday local officials could benefit from acquiring these properties and renovating them or using the land for redevelopment projects. Congress has provided $7 billion to buy the homes, but these groups are struggling to spend the federal money because they are often outbid by speculators who are snapping up foreclosures.
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8.  N.J. ranks second for August job cuts, U.S. labor market strengthens
Job cuts announced by U.S. employers fell in August from a year earlier, a sign of improvement in the labor market.  Planned firings dropped 55 percent to 34,768 last month from 76,456 in August 2009, according to figures released today by Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Announced job cuts last month were the fewest since June 2000.
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9.  “Redevelopment 101″ highlights, including NJ Transit’s proposal for Hoboken rail yards
The city of Hoboken hosted a two hour public information session last night at the Multi-Service Center called “Redevelopment 101.” The session was designed to educate residents about the oft-misunderstood redevelopment process, not to discuss particular redevelopment plans.  Hoboken Now was there to bring you the highlights of the talk, including the city’s plans to meet with New Jersey Transit about its proposal for the redevelopment of the Hoboken rail yards.
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10.  Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made ‘Race to the Top’ error
Former Education Commissioner Bret Schundler admitted today he made the crucial error that cost New Jersey up to $400 million federal education funds, saying he inadvertently removed crucial data from the state’s application.  However, Schundler, who was fired from his post last Friday, continued to maintain he did not lie to Gov. Chris Christie when describing what happened during the state’s Race to the Top presentation to judges in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.
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Waiting for Superman

A new documentary from David Guggenheim, creator of “An Inconvenient Truth”, explores the current state of public education in our country and how it is failing our children.  In “Waiting for Superman” (out September 24th), Guggenheim follows five kids and their parents who, in their quest to obtain a decent public education, must enter a lottery system to be admitted to a good charter school because their “home schools” are failures. Along with the kid’s stories, Guggenheim introduces the audience to a group of education reformers currently trying to create better schools with better teachers to give children a better education.

Also, check out Thomas Friedman’s article from the New York Times on “Waiting for Superman”.

As a future teacher, I believe that the condition of our education system is in need of an overhaul from everyone involved–teachers, principles and parents alike. This critical issue had flown under the radar for far too long and hopefully this movie will bring to light the sad situation that faces the future generations if they are not given the proper education they deserve.

Becky Grossman
Research Assistant

Agriculture Secretary Urges Schools to Take the Healthier School Challenge

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urged schools across the country to take part in the Healthier US School Challenge, happening this week. This USDA endeavor recognizes and awards schools that focus on health by providing access to healthy meals, encouraging physical activity and teaching kids about nutrition. Vlisack says of the program:

While many schools have made healthful changes to school meals, more can be accomplished. The Challenge encourages schools to take voluntary extra steps toward improving the nutrition of all foods offered in schools, enhancing the opportunity for children to be physically active during the school day and providing nutrition education to help them learn how to make healthy lifestyle decisions.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service even offers monetary incentives for schools to participate. This will help in efforts to teach nutrition and reduce the levels of obesity across the country. Awareness of this program comes at a crucial time as Congress is in the midst of considering overhauling the Child Nutrition Act. For more information on the Healthier School Challenge, click here.

CD WiRe (August 19-25)

1. N.J. schools face tough call on state funding offer for repairing buildings
School districts are divided on whether they can afford to accept their portion of $270 million in capital grants that Gov. Chris Christie could make available to repair buildings.
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2.  Mass. named a winner in Race to the Top competition
Hoping to spur innovation and boost student achievement, the US Department of Education has decided to award Massachusetts $250 million under the Obama administration’s Race to the Top program.  Massachusetts will be among 10 recipients to win money in the second round of the $4.35 billion competition. Massachusetts was the top scorer in this round.
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3. Nonprofits could lose tax-exempt status
More than 4,000 Maryland nonprofits face losing their tax-exempt status because they failed to file their financial information during the last three consecutive years.
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4.  Middlesex County Dental Clinic Helps ‘Working Poor’
Like many communities today, Middlesex County is home to families at both ends of the income scale. There are more than 60,000 households with annual incomes over $100,000. There also are more than 40,000 households with annual incomes under $25,000, which doesn’t go far in today’s economy. It most likely is not even enough to rent a two-bedroom apartment. You can imagine that for these families, dental care is probably not a priority.
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5.  N.J. nonprofit suggests replacing proposed mosque near Ground Zero with rehab center for 9/11 families
A New Jersey-based nonprofit group wants to replace a proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero with a rehabilitation center for those affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.  The Drums and Disabilities organization announced its proposal in Parsippany.
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6.  Sodexo signs Fair Food agreement with CIW
This is very big news for the growing Campaign for Fair Food. The food service industry — the companies that, operating largely behind the scenes, manage cafeterias in the nation’s grade schools and universities, hospitals and hotels, government agencies and institutions, and more — is comprised, almost in its entirety, of its three largest members, Compass, Aramark, and Sodexo. With today’s announcement, all three of those companies have now signed Fair Food agreements and will be implementing those agreements in their supply chains this coming season. This marks the conclusion of the Student/Farmworker Alliance’s remarkably successful “Dine with Dignity” campaign, a campaign that combined energetic campus activism with smart tactics to bring all three industry leaders to the table in just over one year.
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7.  Death of the ‘McMansion’: Era of Huge Homes Is Over
Between 1950 and 2004, the size of the average American home increased from 983 to 2,349 square feet, as Americans dreamed of larger homes with 3,200-plus square feet. However, dreams that were realized had become nightmares for many owners by 2010. Citing multiple earlier reports of a ”McMansion glut” or ”backlash,” and new market research, CNBC writer Cindy Perman calls the era of giant houses ”over.”   A survey conducted in July 2010 by Harris Interactive for Trulia.com found that just 9 percent of respondents still believing the ideal home should have at least 3,200 square feet. Thirteen percent endorse 3,200-2,600 square feet, 27 percent endorse 2,600-2,000 square feet, 28 percent endorse 2,000-1,400 square feet, and 9 percent endorse 1,400-800 square feet.
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8.  New York City Plans Major Street Improvements Next Year to Reduce Pedestrian Fatalities
Although New York’s traffic fatality rate has been the lowest among big cities nationwide, reports Wall Street Journal writer Andrew Grossman, officials pledged in 2008 to reduce fatalities by 3 percent annually until 2030. Last year saw the fewest fatalities ever. The city already has reassigned car lanes for buses and bicycles on four avenues in Manhattan and a road in the Bronx, installed many crosswalk islands to slow down traffic and give pedestrians more time to reach the other side, permanently banned cars on Broadway and other streets around Times Square, and temporarily reserved some others for pedestrians and cyclists.
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9.  Newark council proposal to sell city property is expected to generate $50M, cost $60M in long term
Desperate to close an $83 million deficit, Newark plans to sell one of the last assets it has remaining. Itself, one municipal building at a time.  Police precincts, fire houses and office buildings are being eyed for a sale the city council hopes will generate $50 million for the 2010 budget.
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10.  Scientists Outraged By Block on Stem Cell Research
The U.S. District Court’s freeze on federally funded embryonic stem cell research has sparked a firestorm of controversy as scientists in the field cope with the devastating blow this ruling deals to their work. Judge Royce Lamberth ruled this Monday in favor of a case brought by Christian medical groups and adult stem cell researchers, approving a temporary injunction of federally funded research involving embryonic stem cells on the grounds that it violates the 1995 Dickey Wicker amendment.
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Sccst action

Sccst action

Originally uploaded by READS USA

Eric Felczak
READS
(cell) 908-797-2844

Gym Delivery

Gym Delivery

Originally uploaded by READS USA

Eric Felczak
READS
(cell) 908-797-2844

Working for Healthy School Foods

School Breakfast to School Wellness Partnership

During the 2010-2011 school year, Action for Healthy Kids and Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund are partnering with local school districts and/or school buildings (public, private, charter, religious) on a new strategy to promote school wellness in more than 90 schools nationwide by enhancing and expanding school breakfast programs. By increasing student participation in the “most important meal of the day,” schools can help prevent or reduce childhood obesity while seeing a positive impact on student attendance and learning, and classroom behavior.  Read the full article here.

Senate Adopts Historic Improvements for School Foods

The United States Senate achieved a rare, bipartisan consensus as it passed by unanimous consent child nutrition legislation in advance of the food programs’ September 30 expiration date. The legislation, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, increases reimbursements to school systems for lunches, provides more training to help schools serve healthier meals, and strengthens school wellness policies on nutrition and physical activity. Passage of the bill also signals an eventual removal of junk foods from school vending machines, hallways, and elsewhere on the school grounds as it requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set science-based nutrition standards for foods that may be sold.  Read the full article here.

NYS AG settles with Sodexo for school food services

A multi-million dollar settlement with a food services provider to 21 school districts across New York State has been reached.  State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced a $20 million settlement has been reached with Sodexo.  The investigation is part of an on-going industry wide investigation.   The probe determined that Sodexo illegally overcharged the school districts and the SUNY system for food services.  Sodexo is among the world’s largest food services companies.  Read the full article here.

CD WiRe (August 12-18)

1.  N.J. Senate committee to consider bill to expand charter school system
The Senate Education Committee meets to discuss a bill that would create new avenues to expand the state’s charter school system.  The bill would allow Rutgers University to authorize the creation of charter schools – something only the commissioner of education can currently do. It would also expand their scope to include online schools, single-sex schools and schools for students with special needs, such as autistic children. Community residents, in addition to parents and teachers, would also be able to apply to establish them, and applicants would no longer face deadlines.
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2.  Christie signs law updating how N.J. refers to ‘disabled’
The words “retardation” or “feeble-minded” will be replaced by “intellectual disability” or “developmental disability” in all state laws and regulations, under a bill Governor Christie signed into law Monday afternoon.
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3.  East Brunswick residents split on Hatikvah charter school
Last week, the township board of education went to court, claiming Hatikvah International Charter School doesn’t have enough students enrolled to legally satisfy the requirements to open. Additionally, the public school district will lose $1.2 million.
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4.  Graphic Designer Goes Homeless in Union Square for Charity
A graphic designer will sleep on the streets of Union Square for a week – for the second time – in a bid to raise money for the Food Bank of New York City.  Yusef Ramelize, 33, spent Sunday night, the first evening of his week-long effort, on a cardboard box behind the pillars of the Daryl Roth Theater on Union Square East. He did the same thing in 2009, and raised $3,635 for the Coalition for the Homeless.  This year the designer is collecting donations for the Food Bank on his project’s website, “Homeless for One Week.” As of Monday, he had raised half of his target of $5,000 for the charity, which supplies roughly 1,000 different programs across the city.
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5.   N.J. DOT to concentrate on better maintaining state highways
Vowing to make New Jersey the “cleanest state in the nation,” state Department of Transportation officials launched a campaign today aimed at cleaning litter, painting over graffiti and removing brush and trees that have become overgrown along state highways.  Already in the last month, DOT crews have picked up 170 tons of litter, painted over 30,660 square yards of graffiti, mowed 1,330 acres of tall grass and removed heavy brush and trees from 134 acres of land.

6.   N.J. Education chief supports multiple institutions having oversight of charter schools

7. Developing world in grip of killer cancer

8. Factors that influence what we eat

9. Seminar provides help for homeowners

10. Ground broken on MS facility

Project Spotlight: Highland Park church undergoing conversion

By RICK MALWITZ • mycentraljersey.com • August 14, 2010
HIGHLAND PARK — A former church is undergoing a radical conversion, though instead of souls being converted here it is the bricks and mortar of the building itself.  The former All Saints Episcopal Church on South Third Avenue that once housed a congregation is being converted into 11 housing units for veterans, with the targeted completion date of Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The project, known as “Bring Them Home to Homes,” is the work of the Reformed Church of Highland Park-Affordable Housing Corporation (RCHP-AHC).  Though it will have a different mission than a place to worship, the building will still resemble a church. The steeple will remain, the entrance will remain, some of the stained glass will stay in place and inside the building a supporting arch has been incorporated into the new construction.  The roof was raised to allow for construction of five second-floor apartments and an addition has been put at the rear of the former church to build a stairwell.  However, the outside appearance is an unmistakable reminder of the building’s past.

“Our goal was to maintain the look of a church,” said Jeff Crum, vice president of Real Estate Advisory and Development Services of Metuchen, which is managing the project.  The most difficult task, according to Crum, was removal of the trusses that held the old roof. It was discovered during the conversion that the original building, completed in 1931, was well constructed, with a firm foundation and an attention to detail.  “For a small church it was quite ornate,” he said. One of the 21st century additions to the old church will be the solar panels on the roof.

The $3.1 million project is being funded by a loan from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Agency, a $700,000 grant from the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and a $400,000 federal grant.  Though the corporation has been established as a nonsectarian effort — and it will serve veterans of all faiths — its mission is consistent with the Reformed Church historic thinking.  “Who is going to help the homeless veterans?. We do it in a church way,” said Pat Kaufman, a member of the corporation’s board. “We ask, “What did Jesus care about?’ and then we do the work he would do.”  This is an example how God can turn a sacred place into something that’s still sacred — places for veterans to live with dignity,” said Seth Kaper-Dale, pastor of the Reformed Church.

The corporation’s first project was construction of Irayna Court, built atop the Reformed Church building’s, located behind the South Second Avenue church. It provides six units of housing for women between 18 and 21 who have aged-out of the foster-care system.  The veterans who will be offered housing here will be selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Their rent will be equal to 30 percent of their income, and their stay will be open-ended.

The residents will be entitled to the services of the VA hospital in Lyons and will have on-site case management and through University Behavioral Health Care of UMDNJ. Ten of the apartments are studio apartments. The three on the first floor will have 15-foot ceilings in half of the apartment. Three will be built in the basement, including one two bedroom apartment for a married veteran, his or her spouse and children.

The $3.1 million budget allows only for the construction of apartments with bare walls.  A committee of board members has been established to solicit donations of items to furnish the apartments — from beds and dressers to utensils and coffee makers.  “We want them to walk into the apartment and have everything they need waiting for them,” said Jacquelyn Juricic, who heads the committee seeking items and donations.  In addition to furniture and kitchen utensils the committee is also seeking donations of money for gift cards to allow the veterans to give their apartment a personal touch.  “We want them to have a beautiful space that’s theirs,” corporation board member Linda Lachesnez said.

The plan is to give the veterans roots in a community where they can walk to shopping have access to public transportation, while being grounded in one place, with a mailing address.  Homelessness, Lachesnez said, “sucks the energy from you.”  According to Victor Carlson, a psychologist and chief of homeless services for the Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, there are an estimated 3,500 homeless veterans in the state.  According to a report by the Department of Veterans Affairs an estimated 107,000 veterans were homeless on any given night in a survey conducted in 2009.  Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.  Bob Porter, quartermaster of VFW post 370 in New Brunswick, has followed the project here from its inception and he has only one regret. “I wish it was bigger,” he said.  “I’m impressed what they’re doing. They want this to be a seed program, and interest other communities to do something similar,” said Porter, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Information about the project here, and how to make donations, is available on the web at www.helpinghomes.org.