Community Magazine April 2013

Community Chest The SAFE Foundation Visits Ilan High School to Discuss Distracted Driving “Driving should be about driving,” Lieutenant of the Ocean Township Police Department Joe Pangaro told students at Ilan High School at an assembly presented by The SAFE Foundation titled, “Distracted Driving.” “When you are behind the wheel and distracted by your phone,” the Lieutenant warned, “you are four times more likely to have an accident. The average car is a 2,000 pound hunk of steel. Is it correct to operate this machine when you are distracted by eating, putting on makeup, or tending to a cell phone? All it takes is one second to ruin lives.” Pangaro continued, “Temptation is so much a part of our lives. We must learn to control ourselves. If this is difficult, put your phone in your trunk, shut it off, or make a rule for yourself that you will pull over if you need to tend to your phone.” When the Lieutenant was finished speaking, Shira Berkowitz, Director of Project SAFE, presented a film featuring speakers who described the pain and grief they have suffered as a direct result of distracted driving. One man cried as he spoke about how distracted driving led to the loss of his son. A real estate agent told how she used her car as her office, until one day that kind of behavior devastated her life, when someone driving while talking on her cell killed her mother. Now, in order to alert others, she has a bumper sticker on her car that says, “A driver talking on a cell phone killed my mom.” At the end of the program, students were invited to sign a pledge that they would not text and drive. One Ilan student who tries to limit her cell phone use said, “I feel like my generation is so caught up with being continually distracted. I don’t want to be dependent on always being connected. Aside from wanting to be a responsible driver, I also think it is important to know how to be alone.” Here are some things you can say if you are in the car with someone who is texting while driving: • Here, let me do that for you. • I heard that if you get caught using your cell phone while driving, it is a huge fine and points on your license. • Please don’t do that. I don’t feel safe. If you or someone you know needs help, please call The SAFE Foundation’s confidential, toll-free hotline, 24/7 at 1-866- 569-SAFE (1-866-569-7233). Have a question? E-mail: ask@ thesafefoundation.org. Stay current with The SAFE Foundation at its Facebook page: SAFE FNDTN. You can also visit www. TheSafeFoundation.org for tips, information and resources. Council Member Nelson Raises Concern Over Proposed Midwood Public School City Council Member Michael C. Nelson recently announced that he has learned of ongoing negotiations for the sale of three lots located on Ocean Avenue between Avenues L and M to the Department of Education, for the construction of a new public school. The Councilman expressed concern over the proposed school, which would serve about 450 students from pre-school to 5th grade, noting numerous potential problems that could be presented by the project’s location. While there are still many “ifs” to be sorted out, he says, the proposal, if made a reality, would negatively impact an already oversaturated neighborhood. “A public school in the proposed location would not serve the residents in the area,” said Councilman Nelson, noting that many in the community opt to send their children to one of the numerous private schools nearby. Furthermore, neighboring elementary schools are not full to capacity, raising questions of the project’s timing. “The area is already dealing with the Department of Education’s newly opened and misplaced truancy center, as well as the frequent JC Studio film shootings, which tie down streets for days at a time and take up valuable parking spaces for residents and commercial establishments,” Nelson added. Community Liaison Chaim Deutsch echoed the Councilman’s sentiments, saying that between the frequent film shootings, the amount of schools nearby, and the many commercial properties – including the massive Pomegranate supermarket – “traffic in the vicinity can get Manhattan-like during rush hour, and adding a school would create even more havoc.” Deutsch stressed the importance of reducing traffic congestion when possible, specifically for the needs of emergency vehicles. If a deal is not struck between the landlord and the Department of Education, the city has threatened to acquire the property through the use of eminent domain. The School Construction Authority reportedly considered four other properties before settling on Ocean Ave. 98 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE