Topics in Brief
A Community Bulletin

The Princeton Youth Concerns Committee will honor its chairman, John Witherspoon Middle School Principal William Johnson, for more than three decades of service to Princeton young people at its monthly meeting May 26 at noon at the Princeton Public Library. Mr. Johnson is retiring at the end of this school year after 36 years as principal of John Witherspoon Middle School. The Youth Concerns Committee includes representatives of many school and community groups, the library, HiTOPS, Princeton Recreation Department, Corner House, Westerly Road Church, the two police departments, the YMCA and YWCA, Princeton Education Foundation, Committed Princetonians, the Princeton Youth Project, and Princeton University’s Community House. 

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Mercer and other New Jersey counties will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, but flood survivors can continue to register for, or receive additional federal assistance though a variety of ways.” Though these centers are closing, FEMA remains committed to helping flood survivors for as long as there is a need for assistance,” said William L. Vogel, federal coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents can register for aid, follow up on their applications or find the location of the center closest to their home or business by calling (800) 621-FEMA, ext. 3362, or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for the speech and hearing impaired (for relay service, call 711 or (800) 852-7897) between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m., seven days a week. Multi-lingual operators are available. Residents may also visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

New Jersey teachers of grades K through 9 are encouraged to apply for funding through Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG) Environmental Education Grant Program, which provides funding to educators who can link their students’ understanding of math, science, computer science, and technology with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment. The grants, which may be as large as $3,500, can be used to purchase materials and equipment, fund field trips, and develop curriculum-related activities. Applications that focus on the development of one or more classroom units, the expansion of an existing course or curriculum, or the extension of classroom work to community or after-school activities will be considered. Projects must be conducted over at least two years. Applications, which are available online at www.pseg.com/eegrants, must be submitted by Wednesday, June 30. PSEG has awarded more than $335,000 to 143 project grantees since the program began twenty years ago.

In preparation for 2010 Hurricane season as well as any potential emergency event, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management has created New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters, a free, voluntary and confidential program designed to assist people with special needs who may find it difficult to get to safety in the event of an emergency. “The time to get ready is now,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and Director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. “Make an evacuation plan for yourself, your family, and your pets. Prepare a readiness kit of things you’ll need to have with you if you must evacuate or shelter in place for an extended period of time. Talk now to friends and family who can help you get to safety when a crisis hits,” Mr. Fuentes added. People with special needs (or caregivers on their behalf) are encouraged to register electronically, if possible, by accessing www.registerready.nj.gov. Alternatively, they can call New Jersey*s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service. This service will register people, offer free translation, and provide TTY services for the hearing-impaired. Paper registration forms are also available at all 21 county offices of emergency management via: www.ready.nj.gov/about/association.html.

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