TOWNSHIP OF TEANECK

MUNICIPAL BUILDING

TEANECK, NEW JERSEY 07666

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Teaneck Municipal Election – May 8, 2012

On May 8, 2012, there will be a Municipal Election to fill a total of three (3) seats. The seats will be for a four-year term. The terms of Barbara Ley Toffler, Mohammed Hameeduddin and Monica Honis will expire on June 30, 2012. All candidates run as council members-at-large. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by Council.

The nominating petitions will be available at 8:00 a.m. on January 3, 2012, in the Township Clerk’s Office, located in the Municipal Building, 818 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, New Jersey for all those interested in being a council member. A minimum of 251 valid nominating petitions must be filed to secure a position on the ballot.

Each candidate must be a Teaneck resident for a minimum of one year as of the date of the Municipal Election, a registered voter, a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years of age.

All petition signers must be registered voters in Teaneck. Signed petitions must be returned to the Township Clerk's Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 5, 2012.

If you have any questions, please call the Township Clerk's Office at 201-837-1600, extension 1025.

WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM FOR TEANECK RESIDENTS

            Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin has announced a free weatherization assistance program for residents of the Township of Teaneck who qualify according to federal income guidelines. The program is a national effort to help homeowners and tenants improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The program is administered locally by the Bergen County Community Action Partnership, BCCAP.

             You are urged to participate in this program if you have trouble keeping your house or apartment warm during the winter and cool in the summer or if your energy bills are unusually high. This is how it works.

             Number 1: Be sure that you meet the income requirements:

                                                Income Guidelines

                     Family Size                                            Yearly Gross Income

            For family units of more than 8 members, add $3,820 for each member. If you think you are slightly over the limit or you’re not sure what your annual income is, fill out the application. Let BCCAP determine if you are eligible.

            Veterans who are receiving cash benefits and recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, TANF, automatically qualify.

            Number 2: Pick up an application packet at the municipal building, 818 Teaneck Road, or at the Bergen County Community Action Partnership office located at 241 Moore Street, Hackensack. Return your completed application as quickly as possible to the BCCAP office.

            Number 3: The Bergen County Community Action Partnership will make an appointment for a technician to visit your home to perform an energy audit. This is a way to examine your home to see if air is leaking out through the windows, doors, attic or any other penetrations. The furnace, boiler, stove, refrigerator and water heater are also checked. You will be informed of the results of the audit.

            Number 4: Expert mechanics will repair or replace faulty windows and doors, install high-

efficiency insulation and, if necessary, repair or replace boilers, furnaces, refrigerators and water heaters.

             “The investment of these funds in the Township of Teaneck is a major help to our residents,” said Mayor Hameeduddin. “If you feel that you may qualify for this program, do not wait to pick up an application. Do it today.”

For more information, please call 201-457-0021.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO CLOSE ON SUNDAYS

NEPTUNE, N.J. – The FEMA/state Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will close on Sundays, announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

DRCs will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Assistance is available online at any time, or through the FEMA Helpline between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., ET.  Survivors are encouraged to register for disaster assistance before visiting a DRC.

There are three ways to register – go to www.disasterassistance.gov or m.fema.gov or call FEMA toll-free, 800-621-3262 (FEMA).  Those with access or functional needs and who use a TTY, call 800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service to call 800-621-3362.  Multilingual operators are available.

The deadline to register is Oct. 31.

Residents can find the DRC closest to them online at: http://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at http://blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

SABBATH AND HOLIDAY CANDLE SAFETY

More than 33 percent of candle fires occur when candles are left unattended. Half of the people killed by candle fires in the home are younger than 20 years of age, with most of the victims between the ages of five and nine. Burns and fires are the leading cause of death in the home for children and young adults.

Holiday time means candles, matches and fire. When burning candles, make your home safer by:

• Using sturdy candleholders, with flame-protective non-combustible (glass or metal) shades or globes.

• Placing candles at least four feet away from curtains, draperies, blinds, kitchen cabinets and bedding.

• Placing candles out of reach of small children and pets.

• Extinguishing candles when they burn within two inches of the holder.

• Never leaving burning candles unattended.

• Securing hair and clothing, such as sleeves or aprons, from the flame when handling candles.

• Keeping candles, matches and lighters, including lit memorial containers and Chanukah menorahs, out of reach of children.

• When lighting multiple Sabbath candles, families need to be aware of the high amount of heat the candles generate. Create a safe place in the house where multiple candles can be lit.

•NEVER use candles as emergency lighting.  Always have one or more working flashlights for when the lights go out.

Sukkot/Sukkas

1. Extension cords should be new and specifically designed to be used outdoors. Do not overload the wall circuit or the extension cord. Tape cords down so that no one trips over them.
2. Heaters—be cautious about using them. Children and animals can tip them over easily.
3. Candles in the Sukkah—when they are lit, do not leave them alone, even for "just a moment." The wind, animals, or small children can knock them over.
4. Electric lights—do not place high wattage lights next to Shach or anything else flammable.
5. Be careful about bringing hot food and beverages into and out of the Sukkah. It is easy to trip and be scalded.

The Teaneck Fire Department thanks the FDNY and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for assistance with this article.

Resources

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Public%20Education/CandleSafetyTips.pdf

http://www.candles.org/safety_rules.html

http://www.fdnyfirezone.org/download/fire_safety_for_jewish_observance-en.pdf

http://nyp.org/news/hospital/burn-prevention-tips.html