Blogs

By Angela Delli Santi
Associated Press
April 14, 2010

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Proposed state aid cuts to higher education would result in tuition increases, bigger classes and fewer scholarships, according to nine public college presidents who decried the cuts at a legislative hearing on Wednesday.

Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget proposes cutting $173 million in aid for the fiscal year beginning July 1, on top of a midyear cut this year.

The governor has proposed sweeping cuts in school and municipal aid, as well as higher education, to close a multibillion dollar budget gap.

Even without the latest cuts, the Garden State ranked 47th among the states in higher education appropriations, according to the Association of State Colleges and Universities.

"This is a sorry story for a wealthy state like New Jersey to let its colleges and universities fall into decrepitude, with consequences for the next generation of students as well as our economy," said Rutgers University President Richard McCormick, one of the nine who testified before the Assembly Budget Committee.

McCormick said all college presidents would try to keep their campuses intact no matter the budget. But, he said, practical implications of the budget cuts include less faculty research and delays in graduation because students will have longer waits to get all the courses they need.

"As we approach the next cut, I don't believe we can leave the academic side untouched," said R. Barbara Gitenstein, president of The College of New Jersey in Ewing.

For Immediate Release:

Route 295 traffic shift scheduled for this weekend

(Trenton)-- The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced a traffic shift on Route 295 from Route 168 in Mount Ephraim to Route 561 in Cherry Hill, Camden County for the ongoing resurfacing project.

Starting Friday, April 16 ...at 9 p.m., I-295 northbound will be reduced to two lanes, with motorists using the northbound express lane on the southbound side of the roadway and one local lane shifted to the right side of I-295 northbound. This pattern will remain over the weekend until Monday, April 19 at 6 a.m. There will also be periodic, temporary closures of the ramps to I-295 northbound to implement the shift.

Once the traffic is shifted, I-295 northbound will maintain three lanes of traffic using the existing northbound express lane on the southbound side of the roadway and the right lane and shoulder. The new work zone will be located in the left and center local lanes.

NJDOT is rehabilitating I-295 in Barrington, Bellmawr, Cherry Hill, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Lawnside and Tavistock in Camden County and West Deptford and Westville in Gloucester County. The project also includes replacing five I-295 bridge decks. Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2012. Real-time traffic information is available at www.511nj.org

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Here is a list of some Earth Day festivities in the 6th District, for you and your family:

Cherry Hill
Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 24
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Free Admission
Croft Farm (100 Borton’s Mill Rd)
www.sustainablecherryhill.org

Collingswood
Second Annual Green Festival
Saturday, April 24
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free Admission
Along Irvin Ave, between Haddon Ave and PATCO high speed line
http://www.collingswood.com/parks/going-green

Haddon Township
Earth Day Clean Up
Saturday, April 17
9:30 am to 1 pm
Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association will host an Earth Day volunteer event, rain or shine. If you are interested in signing up for the event, please email Donna at donna@saddlerswoods.org or call (856) 869-7372.

Second Annual Green Event
Saturday, April 24
10 am and 2 pm
Free Admission
Westmont Theatre parking lot
http://www.haddontwp.com/?page_id=124

Haddonfield
“Celebrate Earth Day!” Benefit Sale
Thursday, April 22
3:00 to 7:00 pm
Haddonfield Home, 132 Warwick Rd
http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/pdf/EARTHDAYjewelry.pdf

Come Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
Saturday, April 24
Starting at 10:00 am
Crows Woods
http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/pdf/2010earthday.pdf

Winslow Township
Winslow Township Environmental Awareness Day
Sunday, May 16
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
125 S. Route 73, Braddock, NJ
http://www.state.nj.us/dep//seeds/earthday/april.htm#m16

Assembly Higher Education Chairwoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) released the following statement Wednesday as the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony on Gov. Christie’s budget plan for higher education:

“Gov. Christie repeatedly insisted as a candidate that he was committed to higher education, but his cuts to colleges, tuition aid and scholarships seem to show otherwise.

“This testimony clearly shows that Gov. Christie is putting the financial burden directly on New Jersey families, putting the dream of a college education out of reach for thousands of New Jersey students.

“But our colleges and universities are also economic engines that help drive our economy, create jobs and wealth and spark research and development, both now and in the future. Cuts like these will stagnate their ability to grow and economy and slow our recovery from the global recession.”

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Assemblywoman Lampitt, 856-435-1247

The NJ State Office of Emergency Management has re-opened the door for our county to be included in the Presidential Declaration for FEMA aid for flooding resulting from the rains storms of March 12-14th. Sam Spino, Camden County Emergency Management Coordinator, is coordinating the appeal.

Residents, municipalities and non-profits only have a short window to make a claim – deadline is Monday, April 19 at noon -- so residents, municipalities and non-profits need to get back to us as soon as possible.

Types of claims:

Public Assistance (PA) claims, aimed at county and municipal governments and private non-profits, should include dollar damage assessment and location of the claim.

Individual Assistance (IA) is for residents. Homeowners should include, name, address and a contact number. If the county gets enough of these, we can request an assessment team from the state to come down and assist individual home owners with flood damage claims.

IA is based upon population, not dollar amounts.

Residents are urged to call their local municipalities and report damage caused by flooding. They can also call Camden County’s Department of Emergency Management at 856-783-4808 ext 5408. The deadline for filing this appeal is Monday, April 19, at noon.