MORE NJ
SENIORS TO BENEFIT FROM
FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM
Extra Federal Funds To Pay For Seniors’ Feeding
Program
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles M.
Kuperus, Yvette Jackson, Mid-Atlantic Regional
Administrator, United States Department of
Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, and Senator
Loretta Weinberg today announced additional funding
this year for a program that promotes consumption
of Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables and other local
products for senior citizens.
The federal Farm Bill authorized an additional
$500,000 for the Garden State to provide low-income
seniors with four $5 checks, valid through November
30, to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from
farmers markets, roadside stands and community
supported agriculture programs.
“For some seniors on fixed incomes, buying fresh
fruits and vegetables is not a possibility and the
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives them
an opportunity to get New Jersey’s bounty directly
from the farmer right in their own communities,”
said Secretary Kuperus. “This extra funding for the
program will help a great many more people improve
their diets as well as support our state’s
hard-working farmers.”
Total funding for the Senior Farmers Market
Nutrition Program in New Jersey, administered
locally by the Department of Health and Senior
Services, and funded through the USDA Food and
Nutrition Service, is now $1,171,273 for 2008 with
the additional money.
“We are very proud of New Jersey’s success with
this program that benefits eligible seniors and the
farming community, with the goal of improving the
health and well-being of its citizens,” said
Regional Administrator Jackson.
In 2007, 129,000 senior checks were redeemed
through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition
Program. The New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services estimates the additional funding
for this year could benefit more than 20,000 more
people than last year. About a million seniors
qualify for the program.
“Only one-third of seniors eat the recommended
amounts of fruits and vegetables. And with
food costs on the rise, eating right is becoming
even more difficult for older people on low, fixed
incomes,” said Health and Senior Services
Commissioner Heather Howard. “Through this
program, thousands more seniors across the state
will be able eat nutritious, locally-grown fruits
and vegetables.”
The funding announcement was made at the Teaneck
Farmer’s Market in Bergen County, while Bergen
County Division of Senior Services provided
vouchers and applications to seniors who qualify
for the program.
Also participating in today’s event today was Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
“Our agricultural industry is a thriving natural resource that has helped grow the Garden State,” said Vainieri Huttle. “We must protect it and nurture it even as it nurtures each and every one of us. On behalf of those seniors who will enjoy the benefits of our Farmer’s Market program, we offer our gratitude to the federal government for their support.”
Farmers markets provide residents with access to fresher, better tasting produce with less travel. The farmers then benefit from increased marketing opportunities while providing residents with healthy food choices.
For more information on the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/wic.html.
For complete information on locations, days and hours of community farmers markets throughout New Jersey, visit www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/urban.htm.
A VISIT WITH THE BERGEN COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
From the Bergen County Historical Society
website:
"Governor Corizine visited HNBL today. He spent
over an hour discussing the site with HNBL Park
Commission officers Jim Bellis, Mary Donohue,
Senator Loretta Weinberg, Kevin
Wright and Chairman Mike Trepicchio, Deborah
Powell, BCHS President and representatives from the
DEP. We gave him a brief historical
orientation, explained the role of the different
stake holders, including BCHS, the largest
landowner at HNBL and asked for his support on
several critical issues ranging from updating the
Commission's jurisdictional boundaries and powers
to changing the name of the North Hackensack Train
Station to Historic New Bridge."
SO FAR THIS MARCH...
On March 14th, Senator Weinberg hosted a District 37 Shared Services meeting featuring Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria speaking to the town representatives on the availability of shared services planning grants and other programs. Staffers from the Department of Environmental Protection were also on hand to answer questions on green acres grants. 10 of District 37's 12 towns sent representatives to this informative session.
On March 15th, Senator Weinberg was featured on a panel on women's issues at the Center for American Women annual Ready to Run conference at Rutgers University. This much anticipated annual event is well known by women office holders and those wishing to run for office for the first time.
On March 17th, the Senate will vote on Senator Weinberg's bill to require background checks for those dealing with youngsters at adoption agencies along with another bill co-sponsored with Senator Singer declaring the month of April Jewish Heritage month.
On March 19th, the Governor comes to Bergen County for a ceremonial signing of Senator Weinberg's bill establishing a new missing persons model program for law enforcement. The law is named in honor of Patricia Viola whose husband, Jim, spearheaded the effort. Patricia Viola of Bogota has been missing for several years and her family has never given up finding out what happened to this remarkable woman. Assemblyman Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vaineri Huttle are the bill's prime sponsors in the Assembly. [FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PATRICIA'S LAW]
Also, this month, Senator Weinberg is featured on a panel along with Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman and Assemblywoman Allison McHose hosted by Cablevision's Laura Jones which was taped at the Governor's Conference for Women in Atlantic City. More than 1500 women from around the state attended this successful conference.
THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
On Friday, March 23,
2007, Senator Loretta Weinberg was honored at the
New Jersey Issues Convention with the 2007
Legislative Leadership Award in recognition of her
outstanding support for public history in New
Jersey.
The Legislative Leadership Award is given annually
to a legislator in each party in reocgnition of
their contribution to the efforts to promote New
Jersey history and cultural life. Loretta has
participated often at the History Issues Convention
on the legislative panels. The focus of the
Convention this year was on "What's Happening to
History in the Classroom."
Honor presented by:
Dr. David A Cowell, President of The Advocates for
New Jersey History
FROM SENATOR
WEINBERG TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY:
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE
LORETTA WEINBERG
SENATOR, 37TH DISTRICT
February 28, 2007
Dear Friend:
As a member of the New Jersey Israel Commission, it
is my pleasure to again provide you with an update
on some of their programs and accomplishments.
This past November, the third annual Israel Life
Science Road Show was held at the Conference Center
at Mercer in West Windsor. This event is to
facilitate business and strategic partnerships
between U.S. and Israeli Companies in the Life
Science and Medical Technology sectors.
The previous shows have resulted in several
strategic partnerships when several Israeli
companies chose New Jersey for their U.S.
locations. The Israel Commission works with the Tel
Aviv based Industrial Research Foundation to
distribute grants up to USD 1 million to Israeli
companies locating in New Jersey. The commission is
also seeking out New Jersey companies that are
interested in an Israeli partner or technology or
already have a partner and don’t know they can
receive grant money.
For further information please visit the web site
at www.state.nj.us/commerce/Israel/ I am pleased
that Governor Corzine recently signed an executive
order extending the commission until 2012.
In addition, I am pleased to tell you that we were
able to obtain a small grant for the Jewish Family
Service to start a program for adult Asperger’s (a
form of high functioning autism) to develop
educational and job opportunities. We are also near
passing a larger pilot program through the
Department of Human Services which came out of a
very large meeting of advocates held at the Teaneck
Jewish Center.
My best wishes and I hope you all enjoyed a happy
and joyous Purim. Please call on me if I can offer
any assistance. My office address is 545 Cedar Lane
in Teaneck and my office phone number is (201)
928-0100.
Sincerely,
Loretta Weinberg
Senator, District 37