Another Vas Collaborator Guilty

Plea shows taint infects school system

PERTH AMBOY—Ana Pestrana, a part-time assistant recreation supervisor who is employed full-time by the city’s school district, became the second municipal employee to plead guilty to charges of using city funds to purchase items for former Mayor Joseph Vas.

Pestrana admitted in court on Monday that she used city funds to buy sneakers, beach wear and other clothing for Vas, submitting credit card receipts for those items to the Perth Amboy Housing Development Corporation between Aug. 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006.

Pestrana agreed to give up the school job as part of her plea bargain. Superior Court Judge Frederick De Vesa agreed to let her finish the year as a special education teacher at the Shull Middle School, noting that she has agreed to testify against Vas and other defendants.

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Couples With Disabilities Prove Love Enables

UNION COUNTY—Valentine’s Day came a little bit late for 22 couples this year as they celebrated their relationships at the annual Community Access Unlimited (CAU) Couples Night dinner held March 6 at Suburban Country Club in Union.

Each year CAU treats members who are in long-term partnerships to an evening of fine dining and dancing to celebrate their achievements and reinforce the agency’s message that people with disabilities are able and entitled to enjoy every aspect of life, including building and maintaining romantic relationships.

“Community Access Unlimited believes it is important for couples to celebrate their accomplishments,” said Mercedes Witowsky, associate executive director at the agency.  “Relationships are not always easy, you have to work at them.  CAU members who are couples are no different when it comes to the joys and tribulations of relationships.  Everyone needs to take time to enjoy each other and remember the qualities that drew you to your partner from the beginning.”

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After School Program Offers Additional Learning Opportunities For Carteret Kids

By Vanessa Mironov

CARTERET—During times of belt-tightening budgets among many school districts, the students of Carteret Middle School are fortunate to be offered an extraordinary after-school program free of charge.  

Now in its second year at the middle school, the Carteret Arts and Sports Academy (CASA) proves to be a successful and unique program for students. The Arts and Education Center, in partnership with the Carteret Public Schools, has created CASA using the awarded federal funds from the 21st Century Community Learning Grant. Through the grant, funds will be available for five years allowing CASA to offer academic, artistic, athletic and cultural enrichment opportunities for students and their families.  

For about three hours everyday after school, approximately 200 students receive high quality supplemental services in reading and mathematics.  Under the direction of Tamira Chapman, CASA director, activities are planned in the areas of nutrition, music, art and technology. Students are given the opportunity to engage in the activity of their choice. Character education is integrated into all aspects of the program as well. To further extend learning, field trips are planned to such venues as museums and Broadway theaters. Chapman commented, “CASA is a wonderful opportunity to commit to new academic challenges while exploring the arts, sports and other extra-curricular activities.” 

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Kumpf Middle School Helps People in Need

CLARK—Students at Carl H. Kumpf love competition, so they were up for the challenge to see which homeroom could bring in the most non-perishable items for a charity in Elizabeth. Their added incentive was a pizza party that the Clark Kiwanis Club would sponsor for the winners.

For almost one month, the entire school participated in the drive. Many hands brought in the boxes of foodstuff that flooded the lobby and was stockpiled for St. Joseph’s Church in Elizabeth that runs a soup kitchen, a food pantry and a clothing outlet for homeless and at-risk people.

Not only did the youngsters get into the project wholeheartedly, nurse Catherine Kolb said, but the entire school. “The teachers and staff had a ‘Sweatshirt and Sneakers Day’ where they raised $271 for the cause,” she explained. Also, the P.T.A. helped the cause by having a dance with all monetary profits going for the fundraising effort. “Even the Board of Education office staff sent over a box of food, as did June Curti, the ALJ High School nurse,” she added.

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Insurance Coverage You Shouldn’t Do Without

By Jason Alderman

Some people looking to reduce expenses drop or trim their insurance coverage, gambling that they won’t become sick, have a car accident or suffer a fire or other catastrophe. Unless you’ve got unlimited savings, however, forgoing adequate insurance could place you just one unexpected event away from financial disaster.

Here are insurance policies no household should be without:

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Asthma Research Study Open to Qualified Participants

NEWARK—Each year, more than five million children seek medical care from their primary care providers for asthma related symptoms.  Asthma accounts for roughly 484,000 hospitalizations and 200,000 hospitalizations.   Children tend to experience increased asthma symptoms with the change of seasons.   Asthma causes airway inflammation and constriction of the bronchioles.  If not properly managed the lasting result is airway remodeling which is irreversible and has life long implications.  While there is no cure for asthma it can be controlled. 

According to the latest National Institutes of Health (NIH) Asthma Guidelines (2007), asthma education is essential to successful self-management of the disease. Health education programs can reduce morbidity and decrease costs associated with pediatric asthma. Experts recommend that asthma education begin at the time of diagnosis and be reinforced at each subsequent visit.

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