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KEEPING CHILDREN AND TEENS SAFE ONLINE

KEEPING CHILDREN AND TEENS SAFE ONLINE: SEN. MENENDEZ, REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ PROPOSE NATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR INTERNET AND WIRELESS SAFETY EDUCATION

WASHINGTON – As the Internet and wireless devices play increasingly important roles in the lives of children and teens, and as dangers such as “sexting” and “cyberbullying” become increasingly prevalent, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) today unveiled legislation that would support and develop programs nationwide to educate schoolchildren, teachers and parents about keeping the Internet safe for children and teens.

The School And Family Education about the Internet (SAFE Internet) Act will create a grant program to support existing and new Internet safety education programs that meet guidelines based on the cybersafety strategies found to be most effective. In announcing the bill, the lawmakers were joined by Cynthia Logan, who has become a nationally-known Internet safety advocate after her daughter Jessie took her own life following a sexting incident; Miss Utah 2008, Kayla Barclay, whose platform is Internet safety; Parry Aftab, executive director of WiredSafety; and Judi Westberg Warren, CEO of Web Wise Kids.

Senator Menendez said: “The way to meet the challenges and opportunities the Internet presents isn't to deny our children access to this great resource but to make sure they know how to use it wisely. Just as we make sure our children know not to talk to strangers, not to bully kids on the playground, and not to give out their personal information, we have the same responsibility to teach them to apply these values online. That’s why I’m introducing this bill to make Internet safety the strong federal priority it should be.”

Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, a mother of three young children under 10, said: “The Internet has opened up the world for our children, but it has also opened up our children to the world. Educating children must be our first line of defense to keep them safe from the dangers of online predators, cyber-bullies, ‘sexting,’ and other online dangers. This bill will help fund high quality, engaging, and age-appropriate Internet safety education programs to teach our children how to be smart and safe online and reduce their risk of being victimized by Internet crime.”

Cynthia Logan said: “My daughter, Jessie, sought the help from her school when a picture meant only for her boyfriend was shared with everyone. She took her own life after no one would help her stop the harassment. The SAFE Internet law will help teach schools how to respond when one of their students is victimized online. I want to thank Senator Menendez and Rep. Wasserman Schultz for caring about our children.”

Kayla Barclay said: “My goal as Miss Utah is to help make our families safer online. I have become a WiredSafety Ambassador to help spread the ‘what were you thinking?’ message to high school and college students. The SAFE Internet bill will make my job easier by giving schools, families and students themselves the information and tools they need to make smart choices online.”

Parry Aftab, Executive Director of Wired Safety said: “It takes a cybervillage to keep our kids safe online - engaged industry leaders, connected schools, empowered parents, attentive law enforcement, informed kids and responsive policymakers. The SAFE Internet law brings all stakeholders together and encourages them to collaborate to deliver effective programs. Programs with merit will finally get the support they deserve. We’ve waited years for this. Thank you.”

Judi Westberg Warren, CEO of Web Wise Kids, said: “Web Wise Kids applauds Senator Menendez and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for their leadership in sponsoring this bill and recognizing the critical importance of programs to keep children safe in a cyber world. Today’s digital world presents a tremendous opportunity for innovation but also significant challenges to keep children safe. Our kids' futures depend on their understanding and leveraging technology in a smart way. We urge swift passage of this legislation which will help prevent online victimization of millions of children.”

Jim Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, said: “The Internet and digital media are already an integral part of our kids’ lives. That means it’s up to all of us – parents, educators and policymakers – to provide the best possible tools to help them become great digital citizens and to help them make smart, safe choices about the media they consume and create. Technology is here to stay and this legislation is a great way to make sure kids have the tools they need for the future.”

School And Family Education about the Internet Act (SAFE Internet) Act

Short summary: This bill would establish an Internet safety education grant program. It would initially fund research to determine best practices in Internet safety education and create guidelines for the grants. Then, using those guidelines, grants would be awarded to the following eligible recipients:
1. a partnership between a State Educational Agency (SEA) and one or more Local Education Agencies (LEA); or
2. a LEA of a State; or
3. a non-profit organization; or
4. a partnership between a nonprofit organization and –
a. one or more SEAs; or
b. one or more LEAs; or
c. a consortium of schools.

For the following purposes:
1. identify, develop, and distribute Internet safety education programs, including, but not limited to, educational technology, multimedia applications, online resources, and lesson plans;
2. provide professional training in Internet safety and Internet media literacy to teachers, administrators, and other staff;
3. develop youth online risk prevention programs;
4. train and support peer-driven Internet safety education initiatives;
5. coordinate and fund research initiatives that investigate youth online risks and Internet safety education;
6. develop and implement media campaigns to promote awareness of youth online risks and Internet safety education; and
7. educate parents about identifying and protecting their children from online risks;

Grant applications that have one or more of the following characteristics will be prioritized in the selection process:
• are collaborative
• target at-risk children
• provide services at no-cost to schools
• accommodate multiple languages
• accommodate differing levels of technological sophistication
• have a plan to continue program after grant funds run out

Funding: Authorized at $35 million per year from FY2010 through FY2014.

More details:
This legislation would authorize a five year grant program, under which each grant will be awarded for a two year period. Grant guidance and awards will be administered by the DOJ, in concurrence with the Department of Education, and the Department of Health & Human Services (the applicable agency heads), and in consultation with education, Internet safety, and other relevant experts. This grant guidance will also be in line with established principles and research-based recommendations as provided in the Act. The applicable agency heads shall contract with an independent research organization to conduct an initial investigation of current Internet safety education programs and youth online risk.

This research group shall have 3 months to report the following:
1. The nature and prevalence of current Internet safety education programs and any evidence-based research conducted on them already;
2. Findings regarding at risk children; and
3. Any other area the applicable agency heads shall require.
This research group shall also identify gaps in Internet safety education and youth online risk research.

As the grant administration process continues, and as the appropriation level permits, the applicable agency heads shall contract with the research organization to continue research in the identified gap areas. The research organization shall report its findings back to the applicable agency heads and the findings shall be included in the Final Report to Congress.

Funds appropriated under the grant program may also be used to support media awareness campaigns, which will be another way to disseminate the research and messages out to schools, parents, teachers, and kids.

This Final Report will use this research, grantee reports, and testimony from hearings, to further refine best practices in Internet safety. The goal is to use independent, more comprehensive research and objective studies of the effectiveness of individual Internet safety programs to confirm what really works, and what protects children best.

August Coupons and Special Event

Save Big in August with Coupon Codes from Leapfrog and Barnes and Noble as well as a Sears Friends and Family Event

Sears Friends and Family
This is your exclusive invitation to get a head start on your back-to-school shopping with a special after-hours event at Sears, Sears Grand, Sears Essentials, Sears Hardware stores, Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, The Great Indoors and Sears Hometown Stores1.
From 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, we will open our doors just for you, your families and friends. It’s our way of saying “Thank You.”

It’s the night to get out and shop for back to school. During this event you will save an additional 15% on apparel, accessories, and shoes and 10% on almost everything else we sell. Use your VIP savings pass and get 15% off apparel, accessories, and shoes or 10% off fine jewelry all day! Use the Find a Store feature on Sears.com to locate the stores nearest to you.
If you prefer to shop during the day, we are also offering a 15% VIP savings pass for apparel and footwear that may be used from store opening to 5 p.m. local time and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT on Sears.com on the day of the event.
Visit www.sears.com/vip to print and share this savings pass.

10% off at B&N now through August 23rd
Print Coupon for In store Purchase
To save 10% online you must enter coupon code C4J8V4P at checkout

Enter Leapfrog Promo Code: AUG9EEC To get Free Shipping on orders over 39.99 and $10 off Orders over 49.99

Bonus Coupon:
Check out TideStainRelease.com to learn more and get a $1.50 coupon!

The annual Perseid meteor shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower, which every year brings up to 100 meteors per hour blazing fiery streaks across the sky as the Earth passes through the dust trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle.

The legendary Perseid meteor shower will peak on the mornings of August 12 and 13, 2009.
You could see up to one meteor a minute. The show should continue for at least a week.
If you’re serious about trying to see some Perseids, you should avoid city lights. A wide open area – a field or a lonely country road – can work well. If you’re watching between midnight and dawn, the meteors will appear in all parts of the sky. Watch with friend, and try facing in different directions so that if someone sees a meteor, that person can call out meteor’ to the rest.
The evening hours don’t tend to be as good for the Perseids, but in 2009 the evenings have the advantage of being without a moon. So evening viewing on August 11 and 12 might be worthwhile as well.
The Perseid meteors are named for the constellation Perseus the Hero. If you trace the paths of the meteors backwards, they seem to radiate from this constellation.
Meteors are also called ‘shooting stars,’ but they have nothing to do with actual stars.

Instead, they start out as bits of dust left behind in space by a comet. The Perseid meteor shower peaks annually at this time of year, as our planet Earth passes through the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle. Even though this comet is now moving in the outer solar system, the stream of rubble trailing Swift-Tuttle extends for hundreds of millions of kilometers in space. For several weeks from late July to mid-August, debris left behind by this comet slams into Earth’s atmosphere. The fragments vaporize as they fall through our atmosphere, and the result is the Perseid meteor shower.

Summer Movies Under the Stars

Viewing a movie outside can be a fun-filled event for your Family

Here are some tips to make the most of your outdoor movie viewing experience.

Tips for outdoor movie viewing

Get a Comfy Seat Show up about an hour early to get a good seat and setup your little camp. Bring a cooler with Food and Drinks and have a pre-movie picnic

Dress for the Night. As the night progresses temperatures will most likely drop having a jacket on hand and a blanket are great for keeping warm or snuggling your little one.

Avoid the MosquitoesFolding Chairs in a bag
There are many safe and effective insect repellents that you can use to protect your child, including those that use deet, citronella, or soybean oil. Remember to only use products that are approved for children, follow the manufacturer's instructions and wash off the insect repellents when you return indoors.
Insect repellents with deet are probably the best and most commonly used. Although it is absorbed through your child's skin, it is generally safe as long as the product has less than 10% deet.
Using Insect Repellents Safely
Here are some more tips on the safe use of insect repellents on your kids:
Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing.

Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.

Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face.

Do not allow children to handle the products, and do not apply to children's hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.

Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use it near food.

Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing.
Heavy application and saturation is generally unnecessary for effectiveness; if biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.

After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center. If/when you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you.

To keep your children safe from insect bites, you can also:

Make sure to keep as much of her skin covered with clothing as possible, including long sleeve shirt, long pants, socks, and a hat.

Wear light colored clothing, so as not to attract bugs.

Avoid using any scented soaps or other products on your baby, since the fragrances can also attract insects.

Apply insect repellents to clothing instead of to skin so that it won't be absorbed.

Follow the instructions, including age restrictions on any insect repellent you are considering using.

Some Places in NJ to view Movies under the Stars
Hoboken's "Movies Under the Stars" is back this summer. These FREE outdoor movie screenings take place at Pier A Park, overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Movies begin at 9:00 p.m. in June and July and around at 8:15 p.m. in August, unless otherwise noted below. For the best seating, come early and bring a blanket or comfortable low-back chair.

Here's the schedule:
August 12 -- Horton Hears a Who
August 19 -- Madagascar 2
August 26 -- Coraline in 3D -- free 3D Glasses to the first 1000 people

Schedules are subject to change. In case of heavy rain, the film presentation will be canceled and rescheduled on Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 at 9:30 p.m. following the regularly scheduled film at 8:15 p.m. For further information call (201) 420-2207 and keep checking Hoboken Now all summer long for film schedules and reminders!

Constitution Park
Linwood Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ, 07024
(201) 592-3663

Fort Lee Film Commission Presents the 2009 Movies Under the Stars at Constitution Park (Linwood Avenue).
This summer long outdoor film festival highlights the films of the 1930s this year.
Film goers are encouraged to bring canned good donations for the Fort Lee food bank.

All programs start at 7Pm and films screen at sunset. Bring lawn chairs / blankets.
Schedule
August 12th StageCoach
August 19th The Bride of Frankenstein
September 2nd film - The Grapes of Wrath

Drive Ins
The peak years for Drive-ins were the mid to late 50's. New York's peak season was '63, with over 150 Driveins lit-up that year. Since then, the state has experienced a rate of attrition and decline of 82%, but yet, NY remains one of the top 5 Drive-in states, with nearly 30 Drive-ins that remain lit currently & seasonally.
Two Drive-Ins for NJ residents are in Warwick NY, and Port Jervis both are about 1hr 15 from GWB



The Warwick Drive in
Route 94
Warwick, NY 10990
Phone: (845) 986-4440 (showtimes)
Email: casey@warwick.net
Official Website: http://www.warwickdrivein.com

The Fair Oaks Drive In
365 Bloomingburg Road
Middletown, NY 10940
Website:http://thefairoaksdrivein.com/

Free Ticket Give Away-Friday, August 14th 2009

Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ would like to offer you our speedy stimulus package for our upcoming 8.50 index series race on August 14th, 2009. Being a valued customer, Raceway Park has put together a Fast, Family, Fun package allowing you redeem FREE tickets from our website. To print your FREE ticket just click here:

These Tickets are ABSOLUTELY FREE!

FREE ADMISSION, FREE PARKING,

JUST FILL OUT THE FORM

& YOU’RE IN!!!

Come join us and watch the side by side high speed action as our fastest racers compete in the purest form of American competition…DRAG RACING. Bring the entire family and come cheer on all of our 8.50 Index Series racers as they go from 0 to 150 mph in the blink of an eye down the famous Raceway Park ¼ mile drag strip. Enjoy a fun filled family night with a warm friendly atmosphere for free. Print as many tickets as you like!. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your neighbors. Gates open at 5 p.m, action begins at 8p.m.

All you have to do is print out the blank ticket form complete all the info, and bring it to the show. Please note these tickets are for grandstands seating.

For a complete schedule of all events head to http://www.racewaypark.com/

Free Ticket Form

I would not recommend this for small children as it is very loud - Definitely bring ear plugs
For 9 and up though the Races can be an exciting fun night out.

Abma’s “Taste of the Farm” Day

This Saturday August 8, from 11-4 Abma's Farm in Wyckoff NJ will be having a special Event.

Activities Include:
Visit and feed the farm animals, Walk through the fields and see first hand how vegetables grow. Visit the pigs and chickens, see how we collect our eggs. Take a hayride around the farm or a pony ride in the petting zoo. Visit the greenhouses, take a relaxing stroll surrounded by beauty and aroma. Visit HealthBarn USA for kids planting activities and the fruit smoothie bar.

Seminars Include:
11:30 Composting

12:30 Butterfly Demonstration

1:30 and 3:00 Walking Tour of Fields

2:00 Collecting Eggs

2:30 Field to Fork

3:30 Herbs

Food
Pig Roast: BBQ Pulled Pork and Ribs, BBQ Chicken wings,Homegrown Grilled Corn and Veggies, Tomatoes, Salads,
Potatoes and More!
Homemade Lemonade, Ice Cream and our Famous Cider Donuts!
Don't miss a day of FUN!
Abmas Farm is at 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff, NJ 07481, 201-891-0278

The Fort Lee Italian Feast
sponsored by the St. Rocco Italian Society.
August 5-9th, 2009.
Italian Cuisine, music, games, amusement rides, and fireworks.

Ten Tips to make your Day out more special

A Day at the Bronx ZooPlanning a special day out? Here are a few lessons I gleaned from a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Visit the web - The Internet is a great resource for finding information but often we just perform a cursory perusal of the site (Hours, Directions, and overview of attractions).
By digging a little deaper you can find information to make your day more enjoyable and in a many cases find ways to save $$$ on your day out.

Some additional things to look for when visiting an attractions website are: Special Deals (AAA, Affiliates, Credit Cards offers, and Entertainment books)

The Bronx Zoo also has Donation days where you pay what you wish for general admission

Pre-purchase tickets - Some offers are only good for online purchases. And by purchasing and printing tickets ahead of time you can walk right in and avoid lines at the ticket window.

Plan your Day - You get to the Zoo and the kids want to see the Monkeys, Tigers, Lions, and take a ride on a camel. You can either bounce around from attraction to attraction or have a plan.

Trust me without a plan you will be carrying around your toddler for much of the day. (Even forty pounds can get heavy after a while). By making a plan you will be able to see all your desired attractions without taxing your child's physical limitations.

Plan Breaks-
The Zoo can be overstimulating at times and being on your feet all day can be tiring. Plan where you will have snack breaks, Lunch, and other rides that can take your off your feet. Take a 10-15 minute break off your feet for every hour you have been walking.

Bring your own food - By bringing lunch, drinks, and snacks not only will you will save money and be able to quell any hunger pangs without having to wait in lines for food. PB&J will keep without a cold pack keeping you backpack a little lighter.

Bring extra clothes - Have a change of clothes in case of an accident.

Bring Wipes and antiseptic gel - Having stuff on hand to clean up with is always a good idea especially at the Zoo.

Bring a Camera-Make sure you bring a camera to capture your special day.

Check ahead - Our day at the Zoo seemed like it was Camp day. We counted thirty different Groups there that day. Get stuck behind them a be caught in the wave of kids without parental supervision can definitely put a damper on your day. So check ahead to see if there are any group or special events on the day you are planning to visit.

All and all we had a good time, but on our next trip I will definitely follow all of these tips instead of just a few.