Daylight Savings Mar 10–Change Clocks AND Batteries!
When Daylight Savings Time begins on March 10, 2024, it is the perfect time to put safety first. The Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Chief Jonathan T. Yahr, Fire Prevention Specialist Sima Clapman, and members of the Lakewood Fire Department are encouraging residents to prioritize their safety by changing the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms when adjusting their clocks. This initiative is part of the national “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign. The campaign encourages residents to use the transition to Daylight Saving Time as a cue to replace the batteries in their devices, ensuring they remain in optimal working condition.
Fire Prevention Specialist Clapman who highlights the critical role these devices play in home safety, said, “Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are essential components of home safety. Regularly changing the batteries ensures these devices are ready to provide early warnings in the event of a fire or carbon monoxide presence, potentially saving lives.”
Below are some fascinating but sobering facts from the Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Chief Jonathan Yahr, Fire Prevention Specialist Sima Clapman, Fire Department Chaplain Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, and the members of the Lakewood Fire Department.
SMOKE DETECTORS
• Two out of three fire deaths occur in homes with nonfunctioning smoke alarms.
• In recent years, 70 percent of home fire deaths resulted from home fires with inoperable or no smoke alarms.
• In reported home fires with inoperable alarms, 50 percent had missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
• On average, you and your family have less than two minutes to escape from the time the first smoke alarm sounds.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
• Known as the invisible killer, CO is colorless and odorless.
• CO affects adults and children differently. If your detector goes off, check on your children and/or the elderly.
• There are numerous potential CO sources, not just your stove or oven.
• CO sources include kitchen range or vent, water heater pipes, furnace, dryer, heaters, attached garage, and neighboring apartments.
• Standard smoke alarms do not detect carbon monoxide.
• 35 million people are still at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Are you one of them?
Calling on Shabbos and Yom Tov – Fire Department Chaplain Rabbi Moshe Rotberg says:
• Even when in doubt, if there is a chance of danger, one should call the appropriate authorities.
• One should not hesitate to call the Fire Department immediately. What may appear to the uneducated to be “nothing” may, in fact, be deadly.
• A safer choice for Yom Tov cooking is an electrical burner, which can be placed on the stove itself and be utilized with a timer.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms save lives by quickly giving you and your loved ones an early warning signal that something is wrong. Fire spreads fast but carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Working alarms are the most critical component of your escape plan.
• Be sure to have the right type of alarm. Alarms must be approved by Underwriters Laboratories (look for a UL mark) and have an audible end-of-life warning. All new and replacement smoke alarms should have a sealed 10-year battery that is non-replaceable and non-removable.
• Have both a smoke alarm and a CO alarm (or a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm). One type of alarm is not a substitute for the other.
• If your alarm still uses removable batteries, be sure to change them twice a year. A great reminder is changing batteries on days clocks are changed for daylight saving time. Replace these alarms with ones that contain sealed 10-year batteries as soon as possible.
ALARM INSTALLATION
• Install alarms where you sleep and on every level of your home, including basements.
• Locate alarms on the ceiling, preferably near the center of the room, but not less than four inches from a wall. If the alarm must be installed on a wall, it should be placed between four and 12 inches from the ceiling.
• Consider installing interconnected alarms so that when one alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Special alarms should be installed for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. Strobe lights and bed shakers are available.
• The following locations can either create a false alarm or avoid your detector from properly identifying the CO levels in your home: in close proximity to any
fuel-burning appliance; in excessively humid areas such as your bathroom; in direct sunlight; near any sources of blowing air such as a fan, vent, or open window.
ALARM MAINTENANCE
• Test your alarms regularly by pressing the test button.
• Replace alarms every 10 years or when the alarm signals that it has reached the end of life and needs to be replaced.
• Keep alarms clean by regularly dusting or vacuuming.
WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDS
• If a CO alarm sounds, you and your family should get out immediately and call 911.
• If a smoke alarm sounds, be sure to execute your escape plan.
• If an alarm is set off accidentally, quiet the alarm by pushing the hush or reset button. Open windows and turn on vent fans to clear the air.
• Accidental alarms often are triggered by bathroom steam or cooking vapors. Consider relocating alarms that often sound by accident.
For more information or questions, contact contact Sima Clapman, Fire Prevention Specialist, at 732-364-5151.
About the LAKEWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Lakewood Fire Department is dedicated to serving and safeguarding the community through proactive education, responsive emergency services, and continuous efforts to enhance public safety. Committed to fostering a safer living environment, the department encourages residents to actively participate in initiatives that contribute to the well-being of the community.
The Lakewood Fire District is made up of a combination volunteer and career fire department under the leadership of Chief Jonathan Yahr, and Deputy Chief David Wolf who report to the Board of Fire Commissioners. The volunteer department was established in 1888 and has grown to include seven strategically placed fire stations. The volunteer firefighters respond to all structure fires, requests for mutual aid, and many and varied other emergencies. The career division fire stations are manned 24/7 and employ 32 career firefighters and officers. These firefighters and officers work 24 hours on and 72 hours off schedule with two officers and six firefighters on duty each of four shifts. The career firefighters respond as first responders to all calls and are responsible to follow established protocols in requesting volunteer assistance as incidents dictate.
New Alarm Program Ensures Safety of Citizens
The Lakewood Fire Department and the Lakewood Police Department dedicated hundreds of hours to create an Alarm Assignment Program, a custom-designed protocol designed to streamline the emergency response process, ensuring that the appropriate personnel and equipment are dispatched promptly to the scene. It helps in efficiently allocating resources based on the nature and scale of the incident, allowing fire departments to manage their resources effectively and respond to emergencies in a coordinated
When a fire or other emergency occurs, the system automatically assigns a predefined level of response, which mobilizes specific resources such as fire engines, ladder trucks, and support units to the incident location.
The Lakewood Police Department Communication Division serves as the dispatch agency for the Township. They operate the emergency service dispatching system for police, fire, and other emergency services. Dispatchers are responsible for ensuring safe and efficient handling of emergency calls, ultimately providing service to our citizens.
Chief Yahr, of the Lakewood Fire Department, commends the exemplary work of the Lakewood Police Department’s Communication Division, stated, “The success of the Alarm Assignment Program is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our colleagues at the Lakewood Police Department. Their commitment to public safety and seamless coordination has significantly improved our emergency response capabilities. The Lakewood Fire Department looks forward to continued collaboration with the Lakewood Police Department, fostering a strong partnership that prioritizes the safety and well-being of our residents.”
Fire Commissioner Harrison Pfeffer, Vice-Chairperson of the Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners, said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Lakewood Police Department’s Communication Division for their outstanding work and dedication to the safety of our community. The Alarm Assignment Program is a testament to their commitment to excellence in public service.”
For more information, contact Yehuda Beer, Administrator, Lakewood Fire District No. 1 at the Office (732) 364-5151 x6102 or Fax: (732) 370-4878.
About the LAKEWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Lakewood Fire District is made up of a combination volunteer and career fire department under the leadership of Chief Jonathan Yahr, and Deputy Chief David Wolf who report to the Board of Fire Commissioners. The volunteer department was established in 1888 and has grown to include seven strategically placed fire stations. The volunteer firefighters respond to all structure fires, requests for mutual aid, many and varied other emergencies. The career division fire stations are manned 24/7 and employ 32 career firefighters and officers. These firefighters and officers work 24 hours on and 72 hours off schedule with two officers and six firefighters on duty each of four shifts. The career firefighters respond as first responders to all calls and are responsible to follow established protocols in requesting volunteer assistance as incidents dictate.
Free Hazardous Waste Disposal Announced for Lakewood Residents
Phil Roux, the Lakewood Township director of Public Works, announced that residents can dispose of household hazardous waste in Lakewood, Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Department of Public Works, 1 America Avenue. Preregistration is required online at co.ocean.nj.us/recycle
This event is sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Department of Solid Waste Management.
Acceptable household hazardous waste in their original containers except for oil and gasoline includes aerosols, auto products, cleaning products, chemicals/pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, fire extinguishers, gasoline, herbicides and pesticides, mercury-containing devices (thermostats), paint thinners, polyurethanes and polishes, propane tanks, stains and varnishes.
Materials that are NOT acceptable are asbestos; electronics; cylinders such as oxygen tanks; radioactive materials, such as smoke detectors; infectious waste; explosives, including boat flares, gunpowder, fireworks; and scrap metal.
For other household hazardous waste disposal dates and locations, visit co.ocean.nj.us/recycle. For more information, call Lakewood Public Works at 732-905-3405 or 732-506-5047. Email ocrecycles@co.ocean.nj.us.
2024 Biz Expo Hosted by Jersey Shore and Asbury Park Chambers on April 16
The public is invited, free of charge, to the 2024 BizExpo sponsored by The Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce (JSCC), Wall Township, and the Asbury Park Chamber on Tuesday, April 16, at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, 1401 Ocean Avenues, Asbury Park from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. to see more than 70 exhibitors, enjoy free tasting samples from member restaurants, and win prizes from free raffles.
Taste of the Jersey Shore give away includes gift certificates to local restaurants, wine, and more. Asbury Park gift baskets including overnight stays at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury.
A list of fellow exhibitors for post-marketing use and six-foot exhibitor tables with a cloth are available at a member rate of $259. A non-member rate of $429 includes membership in JSCC for 2024. The non-profit/government member rate is $179; and the non-member rate for a non-profit/government with a membership in JSCC for 2024 is $329.
Member rate sponsorships for $499.00 are available and include prime exhibitor space with an 8-foot cloth-covered exhibit table; social media exposure; company logo displayed on the Expo tote bag; recognition on display advertising, press, news articles, the Chamber website (www.jsccnj.com); and on a flyer emailed to more than 2300 businesses, community leaders, and chamber members. Also included are e-blasts announcing the event to more than 2300 contacts; an introduction at the event; a list of fellow exhibitors for post-marketing use; a list of all attendees; and an opportunity to choose a give-away door prize. The non-member sponsor rate is $699 with a membership in JSCC for 2024.
Sponsors to-date are Acorn to Oak Media Group, LLC, BarterPays!, Black Swallowtail Studios, Cowley’s Pest Services, Heartland, Lena Budraitis-Financial Planner & Insurance Agent-Northerwestern Mutual Network-Wall, Manasquan Bank, MM Home Services, and Grand Prize Sponsor Corinne McCann Trainor of Fox Rothchild.
Visit www.jsccnj.com to register and pay online; or mail payment to Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1305, Wall, NJ 07719-1305 by April 2. For more information, sponsorships, and table reservations, call JSCC, at 732-280-8800 or email mars@jsccnj.com.
Visit www.jsccnj.com to register and pay online; or mail payment to Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1305, Wall, NJ 07719-1305 by April 2. For more information, sponsorships, and table reservations, call JSCC, at 732-280-8800 or email emars@jsccnj.com.
Model Railroaders Hold Spring Open House
The Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, at 502 Country Club Road, Pine Park, Lakewood, N.J., is holding its Spring Open House, Saturday, April 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, April 7, Noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Historical Museum also known as the Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted.
Visitors to the Open House will see permanent layouts of passenger and freight trains running continuously. Some Thomas the Tank trains will also be making an appearance.
Ted Bertiger, president of The Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders, said, “We will have trains running for all ages. Come see our train club in action!”
For more information, contact Ted Bertiger 732-688-1184 or at captnkraft@aol.com. Also visit https://ocsmr.com.
Jersey Shore Chamber to Host Investing in AI
What do you know about investing in AI? The Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce (JSCC), Wall Township, is hosting Break to Educate with speaker and sponsor Dan Pace of Genuine AI to educate attendees and businesses about the knowledge, service, and security needed to invest in AI on Monday, March 11, 11:30 a.m. to l:00 p.m. at the B2 Bistro + Bar, 709 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach.
A hot buffet lunch, cash bar, dessert, and coffee are included for members at $35; and for non-members at $45.00. Register at jerseyshorechambernj.com/events/ For questions call the Jersey Shore Chamber at 732-280-8800 or email executivedirector@jsccnj.com.
Cocktails at the Court April 9 – Open to the Public
Georgian Court University (GCU); the Lakewood, Brick, and Jersey Shore Chambers of Commerce; and the MODC (Monmouth-Ocean Development Council) are inviting the public to Cocktails @ The Court for an evening of networking and tours of the GCU mansion, April 9, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Georgian Court University, 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, NJ.
A membership fee of $35.00 includes hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, wine, soda, coffee, tea, and beer from the Faith American Brewing Company. The non-member fee is $45.00. Kosher options are available.
To sponsor this event or for questions, call the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce at 732-363-0012 or email staff@mylakewoodchamber.com.
AFSCME Local 3790, Lakewood, Volunteers for Charities
AFSCME (American Federation of State and Municipal Employees) Local 3790, a union that represents Inspectors, Telecommunicators, and Clerical employees who work for Lakewood Township, recently donated their time by volunteering at the food pantry of St. Vincent DePaul Society, a local Ocean County charity, located on the grounds of St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood.
“The members of our local AFSCME have a big heart,” said Jimmy Esposito, president. “Members wanted to give back to Lakewood, Ocean County, and the community at large by distributing food to the food insecure, clothing, and hygiene products. Hopefully this will be on a monthly basis. Members of AFSCME 3790 look forward to assisting many more charities in the months that come. It was an honor to work alongside St. Vincent DePaul Society.”
For more information, contact AFSCME president Jimmy Esposito at
afscmelocal3790@gmail.com.
HR In-Person Mtg Program Changed for Mar 14 – Generative AI: What HR Needs to Know and Do
For HR professionals, the challenges and opportunities on the use of Generative AI affect every facet of an employee’s lifecycle. Tom Glasscock, a principal in Glasscock & Associates, will give a brief history of the key developments in AI, present the fundamental concepts of AI and Generative AI, and offer the key actions HT pros should now be undertaking at the breakfast meeting of JSAHR (Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources), open to the public, on Thursday, March 14 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune.
The sponsor of this program is Earthshare, a company that provides individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with the tools to work together for a just and sustainable world.
Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., followed by announcements at 8:30 and the speaker at 9:00 a.m. The Career Transformation Group begins at 10:00 a.m. Registrations online at: http://jsahr.shrm.org/events or admin@jsahr.org or call JSAHR at 732-701-7155.
Registration including breakfast is $35 for JSAHR members; $50 for non-members; $25 for each guest and those in-transition; and $10 for students with a valid ID.
JSAHR is a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) affiliated chapter. This program is pending one (1) SHRM PDC and one (1) HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute) recertification credit.
About the Speaker Tom Glasscock GPHR, SPHR: Tom Glasscock, an HR Professional with more than 20 years of experience, specializes in project and change management, particularly in the deployment and adoption of HR platforms in all stages of the employee lifecycle.
He received his B.S. in Business Management from Ithaca College. Because Glasscock became interested in Human Resources, particularly in Organization Behavior, he enrolled in the Executive Masters in Organizational Behavior at Fairleigh Dickinson. He joined Lucent Technologies when it spun off from AT&T, and worked as an HR project/program manager for Business Communications Systems (BCS), Lucent’s largest division later known as Avaya.
When the Alcatel-Lucent merger was announced, Glasscock left Lucent and set up his own consultancy, Glasscock & Associates, LLC. More recently, Glasscock helped the IT department New York University (NYU) on a number of projects, including the upgrade of their ServiceNow platform.
Disability Etiquette in the Workplace – Join HR Prof. In-Person March 14
To illustrate the value of disability etiquette in a company culture, the breakfast meeting of JSAHR (Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources), open to the public, on Thursday, March 14 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, will teach disability etiquette for recruiters, manager, and co-workers through stories, real life examples, and audience participation.
Attendees will learn etiquette pertaining to mental health, physical, intellectual, neurodiverse, learning, and hidden disabilities; ways to make the recruitment process more accessible and disability friendly; and how to have conversations about accommodations and preferences when addressing a disability.
The sponsors of this program is Earthshare, a company that provides individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with the tools to work together for a just and sustainable world; and Paylocity, a company that provides online HR and payroll.
Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., followed by announcements at 8:30 and the speaker at 9:00 a.m. The Career Transformation Group begins at 10:00 a.m. Registrations online at: http://jsahr.shrm.org/events or admin@jsahr.org or call JSAHR at 732-701-7155.
Registration including breakfast is $35 for JSAHR members; $50 for non-members; $25 for each guest and those in-transition; and $10 for students with a valid ID.
JSAHR is a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) affiliated chapter. This program is pending one (1) SHRM PDC and one (1) HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute) recertification credit.
About the Speaker Kate Kennedy, PHR, SHRM-CP, MSM, MSHRM: Kate Kennedy has more than 10 years of experience in HR, the majority of which has been in non-profit and social service agencies that serve individuals with disabilities. Over the last 30 years, Kennedy has spoken on similar topics regarding individuals with disabilities at the GSC SHRM State Conference, SHRM chapters, and The South Eastern Theatre Conference.
Kennedy is currently the President Elect of CNJ SHRM, Workforce Readiness Co-Chair for the Garden State Council, and a volunteer for the GSC SHRM State Conference. She is also co-creator and facilitator for the Global Play Brigade’s “How to Find Your Superpower” workshop.