Rotary’s Cards: From Princeton To the World
Riverboat: Donate Or Volunteer
Corrections or additions?
These articles were prepared for the December 20,
2000 edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
How Much Is Too Much?
If you plan to join a few friends for a few drinks after
work, or if you still have that holiday office party to attend, you
might be wondering how much is too much in the eyes of the police
who enforce drunk driving laws. The West Windsor-Plainsboro News,
the community biweekly that routinely reports a dozen of more drunk
driving arrests in its police blotter section, was also curious. So
the paper dispatched freelance writer Diana Wolf, accompanied by a
bottle of Gewurztraminer wine (12.5 percent alcohol) and a designated
driver, to the West Windsor police station. There she simultaneously
got intoxicated and underwent exams to determine her level of
intoxification.
If you are thinking of drinking and driving here’s what you need to
know. First the legal limit now is 0.10 percent, but soon it will
be reduced to 0.08. How fast you reach that level depends on your
body size, whether you are drinking on an empty stomach, and what
kind of liquor you are drinking. For the West Windsor test, the
reporter
is an average-sized woman; her drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce
bottle
of beer or a mixed drink with a one-ounce shot of hard liquor.
Wolf starts drinking at 6:45 p.m. on an empty stomach and nibbles
pretzels while she finishes her second glass. At 7:45 p.m. Patrol
Officer Marylouise Dranchak runs the field tests. Wolf passes the
first two — assessing her balance and ability to follow
directions.
But she shows some signs of intoxification on the test called the
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus or HGN, which tests the driver’s ability
to follow a lighted source from left to right. (The HGN is good at
detecting heavy drinkers who may be able to function normally
otherwise.)
After two drinks, had she been stopped by Dranchak, Wolf would have
been allowed to proceed.
At 8:23 p.m. Wolf pours her third glass of wine and eat some more
pretzels. She fails the field tests, which would have earned her a
trip to the police station. At 8:57 p.m., 20 minutes after that glass
is empty, Wolf gets a breathalyzer test. The reading: 0.09, almost
there. And she waited an hour before drinking her third glass —
the score might have been higher if she had imbibed more quickly.
At 9:15 p.m. she finishes the fourth glass. At 9:40 p.m. the
breathalyzer
test reads 0.16.
The law would have had no mercy: If caught and convicted you can
be subject to loss of license (six months to a year), substantial
fines ($250 to $400 plus $100 to the state’s DWI enforcement fund
plus nine points on your license and a doubling or more of your
insurance costs for three years), as well as mandatory attendance at
“an
intoxicated driver resource center.”
And if you get arrested and refuse the breathalyzer test, you are
guilty of violating the law that requires you to take the test, and
carries with it penalties identical to the drunk driving law. And
you could still be convicted of drunk driving based on the field
tests. And the penalties are consecutive.
Top Of PageRotary’s Cards: From Princeton To the World
Sixteen children learned that they can make a big
difference
to other children around the world, says Susan Edwards, a
psychologist
at Montgomery Commons. Many Rotarians learned this too. Edwards heads
the Rotary Club of Princeton’s project, the Paul Harris Children’s
Poster Card program to benefit the Rotary Foundation, which aims to
inoculate children worldwide and stamp out polio.
The poster card program began with a children’s drawing competition
on 16 variations with “Living Things Require Nurturing” as
a theme. “The concept is that children can remind adults what
is important,” says Edwards. “They made drawings and wrote
a little essay or made comments, and when adults look at them they
are reminded of what is timeless, and everyone wins.”
Sixteen children between the ages of seven and nine won the right
to have their drawings used on the greeting cards. Harwill-Express
Press in Hightstown printed the cards at a discount. Two of them
were made available to businesses, with personalized imprint, to use
as holiday cards. The contest ran in 1999 and card sales started last
summer.
An eight-pack of cards may be ordered online for $10 at
and be ordered in quantities — perhaps for use as invitations
or notecards — by calling Steve Portrude at Harwill-Express
Press at 609-443-5900. They also may be purchased by the pack at the
Princeton Historical Society or Bowhe & Peare on Palmer Square. A
profit of $6 per pack is being donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Nonprofit
organizations can buy the packets “wholesale” for $7 and split
the proceeds with the foundation.
Two of the designs were sold as holiday greeting cards, imprinted
by businesses. “The U.S. 1 Business Directory was used to contact
almost 200 local businesses by mail,” says Rotarian Bob
Coleman,
“and Rotary Club members approached businesses with which they
had contacts.” The designs are now being promoted again as generic
greeting cards.
“When adults see these cards, it is very obvious that this is
about love — love of animals, love of freedom, love of nature,
love of others,” says Edwards, “things all of us need to
remember
but often forget as we trample the daffodils on the way to the
car.”
Each child supplied words to explain his or her drawing. For instance,
in the category “Understanding that people can be different on
the outside and the same on the inside,” Ryan Czepiel pictured
a globe with children of different races and the line “All the
people around the world are the same in our world.” Under the
category: “Helping wild animals,” Darielle Rocca wrote,
“My
friend and I are helping a cat that we found in the wild about two
months ago. He was playing by a sewer. He is eating soft food and
he has one tick in his ear.”
At the awards ceremony, the artists learned that their work could
help save children in other countries. “Something that a child
did in Princeton might help a child in Madagascar — that was
really
amazing to them,” says Edwards. “It was a powerful
illustration
that they could do something to help in the world.”
The Friends of the International Center will no longer be able to
sell UNICEF cards and gifts at the Princeton University Store or on
the Princeton University campus, says Henny Dekker, a board
member. “Instead, the Friends would like to direct their faithful
UNICEF buyers to go to Pier One, on Route 1 South, for this year’s
cards and gifts.” For information, call 609-258-5006.
Anne Zuckerman of Edith’s Lingerie at 170 Nassau
Street has commissioned the design of a pin in the shape of a gold
running shoe with pink ribbons over the shoe laces. The sale of these
pins, for $8 each, benefits the Breast Cancer Resource Center of the
YWCA of Princeton. As part of an independent fundraising effort for
the center, the pins are also a reminder that early detection saves
lives. For information call 609-921-6059. Pins can be purchased by
phone and mailed.
The Community Health Law Project and the New JerseyState Bar Foundation have collaborated to publicize a little-knownprogram of the Social Security Administration entitled,”PresumptiveDisability.” It entitles low-income people with AIDS, who haveapplied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit, to collectbenefits and health insurance up to six months earlier. The form,available from any Social Security District Office or downloaded fromthe Community Health Law Project’s web page (www.chlp.org), must becompleted by a doctor and sent to a Social Security District Officefor processing.Brochures and posters have been mailed to New Jersey based AIDStreatingphysicians, AIDS Service and Advocacy Organization, Social SecurityDistrict offices, Hospitals and County Medical Societies. For moreinformation, contact the hotline at 888-838-3180.ShopRite supermarket pharmacies in New Jersey areprovidingshoppers with information about the state’s free or low-cost healthinsurance, as a part of NJ FamilyCare’s outreach and enrollmentefforts to offer quality affordable health insurance for uninsuredchildren and adults. The program includes coverage of uninsuredparents,single adults, children, and couples without children for regulardoctor’s visits, hospitalization, physician care, lab and X-rayservices,prescription drugs, and mental health services. For information visitwww.njfamilycare.org or call 800-701-0710Princeton Partners helped the Connecticut-based St.Vincent’sHealth Services raise $1.7 million for cancer education, screening,prevention, and support programs by creating print ads and broadcastspots and leveraging media relationships to place more than $260,000in public service announcements about “Swim Across the Sound,”an annual event.Employees from Bovis Lend Lease on Alexander Road havebeen volunteering at Anchor House, the shelter for troubled children,and they also sponsored an in-house miniature golf tournament to raisemore than $1,000. They also collected donations for Manna on MainStreet, an interfaith service organization located in Lansdale,Pennsylvania.In another effort, they constructed and painted four children’splayhousesto donate to daycare facilities.Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has contributed $35,000to various medical associations for diabetes research and educationthrough the new NNPI Signature Wall program. More than 10,000healthcareprofessionals have signed the Signature Wall, aiding the 250,000citizensof New Jersey who suffer from diabetes, and 16,000 that live in MercerCounty alone.The New Jersey Department of Education has awardedMercerCounty Community College a $416,206 award through the Carl D.PerkinsVocational and Technical Education Grant. The grant will enable Mercerto offer new services to disabled students for career planning,counseling,andaccess to technology that can help them succeed. It will also benefitthe aviation program, which will purchase a global positioning system,and the horticulture program, for needed greenhouse equipment andsoftware.Coldwell Banker Hamilton raised more than $3,000 forGilda’sClub with a dinner dance for 60 people in November. More than halfof those attending won one of the donated door prizes. Named afterthe comedian Gilda Radner, Gilda’s Club offers a place for those withcancer can get support, networking, education, and socialopportunitiesin a welcoming setting (www.gildasclub.org or call 201-457-1670).Snelling Personnel Services on Alexander Street gave $250to Better Beginnings, a child care center in Hightstown; donated$1,000in scholarship to student employees, and contributed to the food drivefor Mercer County Street Friends this month.Sujoy Banerjee, president of Microcon , an IT company onState Road, spent one week last summer teaching school-age childrenabout the intricacies of the World Wide Web, by using of the websitewww.educatemenow.Boston Properties, the real estate investment trust thatowns much of the Carnegie Center property, has formed a scholarshipfor the children of employees and will distribute $25,000 in newawardsannually. “We are proud to be investing in the future of oursociety,”says Mortimer B. Zuckerman, board chairman. The Citizens’ ScholarshipFoundation of America will monitor selection procedures.Johnson & Johnson hosts a brunch for the National Councilof Jewish Women on Sunday, January 7, at 11 a.m. Jacquelyn Marichand Shirley Ellison will receive the Hannah G. Solomon Award for theirwork with Women Aware , a battered women’s resource in MiddlesexCounty. For reservations call 732-940-2265.For the third year employees from Cylogix , a WashingtonRoad-based IT firm, hosted a holiday party for more than 125 clientsof Womanspace, Mercer County’s nonprofit agency that helps victimsof domestic violence. In addition to donations from merchants andindividual employees, the corporation contributed more than $1,700in cash; toys and gifts were provided for each woman and child. Theparty included face painting, decorating of gingerbread men, andphotoswith Santa. Bristol-Myers Squibb provided gift bags oftoiletriesfor the women, and students from Princeton University offeredadditional craft activities. To make a donation (by check or giftcertificate) to Womanspace call 609-394-9000.Top Of PageGiving Blood At the OfficeB>Annette B. Lanham, a nurse with American Red CrossBlood Services, is offering to bring her “goal efficientmini-mobile”(GEM) blood collection unit to your workplace. To ask about schedulinga GEM at your organization, call the Penn-Jersey Region at 800-GIVELIFE (215-451-4254).As a registered nurse, Lanham takes charge of every part of the bloodcollection process, from making the appointments to offeringrefreshments.Lanham sets up her equipment in a conference room as, one by one,without losing much time from their jobs, up to workers donate blood.Among Princeton’s “GEM Corporate Angels” who ran minibloodmobilesthis fall are the Uniform Code Council, Commodities Corporation,CommunityOptions, N.T. Callaway Realtors, Saul Ewing LLC, NJHA Center forHealthAffairs, Jardine & Sayer, Chancellor Assisted Living, Hamilton Supply,Visual Education Corp., and PERQ/HCI. Eden Family of Services, CapitalHealth Systems’ finance department, and Sibson & Company sponsoredthe bloodmobile for two days each.Top Of PageRiverboat: Donate Or VolunteerA river pilot and a boiler operator are among the moreunusual volunteers needed to help create an educational boat rideto teach the ecology and history of the Delaware River and canalsystem.Bart Hoebel, the tree-growing owner of Little Valley Farm anda professor at Princeton University, is trying to refit the 14-tonShawnee Princess steamboat, built as a replica in 1970, to be afloatingclassroom. Also needed are a grant writer and a fund raiser. CallHoebel at 609-921-6612 or Email: hoebel@princeton.edu.Gordon Griffin of Mason Griffin & Pierson on Poor FarmRoad helped the organization incorporate as a 501-C-3 non-profitgroup.C. J. Vanderbeck and Son of Hightstown helped to rehabilitate theboiler. General Electric donated an unbreakable clear plastic,Lexan, to shield passengers from the steam engine, and United CraneRentals donated the use of a crane to lift the steamboat onto a60-foot trailer. A corporate sponsor is needed for boat repairs andteacher training.Top Of PageDonate PleaseUnited Way of Greater Mercer County is asking fordonationsfor its 2000/2001 campaign. United Way agencies have programs thattarget the immediate and critical needs of the community. Year-roundmonitoring of these agencies is conducted by volunteers to ensurethat 90 cents of every dollar contributed to a program is usedproperlyto fulfill grant commitments. The United Way serves to build astrongercommunity, but a financial commitment is essential to deploy theseprograms. Call 609-637-4900.The Princeton Regional Scholarship Foundation hopes toidentify alumni of Princeton High School who can help college seniorswho are having difficulty paying for college tuition. The 30-year-oldfoundation gives grants of up to $4,000, based on need, to about 10percent of the graduating class. Joe Seldner, vice president ofbusinessdevelopment at www.LawStreet.com in Edison, is the president of thefoundation. Donations from businesses and corporations would alsobe welcome. Call 732-767-9500, extension 205.Top Of PageMentors NeededTrenton Central High School hopes to form partnershipswith businesses, hospitals, and agencies to provide sites for studentinternships. “We would also like to form an advisory board foreach small learning community,” says Priscilla M. Dawson ,principal. “The advisory board will provide information aboutthe latest trends in the industry, helping to establish standardsfor our students and assisting in securing resources. Yourparticipationwill make a difference.” Call Mary Burks at 609-989-2425or Mary White at 609-989-2474.Volunteers are also needed for the Environmentors Project ,a program that pairs mentors and students on environmental studies.”Through our one to one program, our workshops, and the assistancewe give to high school students as they apply to college, we arehelpingto increase the confidence of high school students in their ownabilities,”says Maureen J. Quinn, N.J. Project Director. “Thesestudentsare developing and improving their critical thinking skills and timemanagement skills, improving their research and study skills, andgaining opportunities for public speaking and teaching experiencesthrough our programs. Our staff and volunteers assist these studentsby creating an environment in which our young people can grow intoself sufficient adults.” Call 609-278-5844 or E-mail:Mquinn@environmentors.orgTop Of PageGift of LearningShopping malls aren’t the only places offering giftcertificates this season. Mercer County College offers Certificatesfor Lifelong Learning, covering short-term courses for personal orprofessional development. Certificates start at $25 and go up to $100or more. Choices include fitness, sports, writing, languages, arts,humanities, horticulture, and career development with several coursescovering business and computers. For information, go to www.mccc.eduor call 609-586-9446.Top Of PageLearning to TeachMontessori training for teachers is now available atMercer County College, which is partnering with the Montessori TeacherTraining Institute of New Jersey. Designed for educators, newteachers,or parents, the program provides two certification options focusingon the age groups of infant/toddler or early childhood. Call609-586-9446,send email to ComEd@mccc.edu, or visit www.mccc.edu.The program covers the complete Montessori curriculum including childdevelopment, didactic materials, classroom management, observationand record keeping, and peace education. Courses include science,social studies, language, the arts, administration, parent educationand observation. The session begins Thursday, January 4, and mostclasses meet 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday or Thursday evenings oron Saturdays at the West Windsor campus.Top Of PageLearning in JanuaryWhile many students relish the winter school break asan opportunity to ski, socialize or just hang out, some opt to takecourses in the wintersession semester, also known as”minimester.”This three-week time slot could also work for someone who wants totake an inexpensive “study vacation” from a nine-to-five job.”The opportunity to complete a three- or four-credit course hasbecome very appealing to more than 1,000 students each year, eitherto make up a course, to get ahead in their studies or just to takethe course they were never able to fit in,” says DianeLemcoe,director of admissions at Middlesex County College.The three-week courses at Middlesex meet daily, most from 9 a.m. to12 noon, starting December 28 and running though January 18. For acomplete course listing or to register, call 732-906-2523.Top Of PageJobseeker MentalityJob loss need not put a crimp in Christmas, accordingto a global study, “Impact of Career Transition on Family,Finances,and Health,” conducted by Drake Beam Moran among its more than3,000 career transition clients in 18 countries. The majority weremiddle managers and senior executives between 30 and 50 years old.Sixty percent of participants earned more than $75,000 while working;86 percent had been the principal wage earner in their household.Most of those surveyed had no great fear of long-term unemploymentand did not feel that they were vulnerable to stress. Nor did theyfeel that family ties had suffered, personal relationships had beendamaged, or household spending squelched. It should be pointed out,nevertheless, the Drake Beam Morin clients typically have worked forFortune 500 or 1000 companies, presumably have good separationpackages,and are receiving effective outplacement services.As DBM’s Mindy Mazer points out, the process of changing jobsis rendered “more productive and effective with professionalguidance.”Nearly 90 percent of respondents in the United States said theybenefitedfrom career transition services. Globally, 29 percent turned to afinancial advisor and 14 percent sought legal counsel. A smallpercentageturned to churches, religious groups, and psychologists for support.Those who were experienced professionals with family responsibilitiesbelieved that career transition could produce good opportunities.Less than five percent in the study were “very concerned”about the financial impact of their job loss, and 41 percent havemaintained their household spending habits. Only 15 percent ofparticipantsin the United States were willing to relocate either domesticallyor overseas for a new position compared to 53 percent in LatinAmerica,who were ready to move.For information and to receive a copy of the study, E-mail:David_Maus@DBM.comor contact David Maus at 202-728-7476.Top Of PageNominate PleaseFleet Small Business Services has created the Fleet SmallBusiness Leadership Award to honor small business customers forleadershipand forward thinking. Ten nominees will be chosen. Winners willreceivea $10,000 cash award, and the bank will donate $10,000 in thebusiness’name to a designated charity. Call 877-624-4848 for nomination formsbefore January 31, and entries are due by February. An awards ceremonywill be held in Bermuda in June.The Business Marketing Association of New Jersey is takingentries for the 2001 Impact Awards Competition in categories rangingfrom print advertising to websites. Membership in the organizationis not required. Entries must be postmarked by February 9, and theaward dinner is Tuesday, April 24, at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany.Fees are $85 for non-members; go to www.bma-nj.com or call AnnFody at 914-895-9108.Previous StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
