Michael Swayze's Community Resources

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  • Veterans Event – Operation Stand Down – Morristown, NJ – January 18 & 19

    A number of veterans and community agencies will host Operation Stand Down at the Morristown Armory on January 18-19, from 8AM to 5PM. A Stand Down, according to the groups’ press release, is a community-based intervention program designed to bring together in a single location homeless or needy veterans to begin to address their individual problems and to rebuild their lives.

    At Stand Down events – patterned after the initial event in San Diego, California in 1988 – hundreds of homeless veterans are provided with a broad range of necessities, including food, clothing, medical, legal and mental health assistance, job counseling and referral, and most importantly, companionship and camaraderie. It is a time for the community to connect with the homeless veteran population and address this crisis that affects each and every town, city and state in this country.

    For further information visit the Operation Stand Down Morristown page at http://www.shrm-morrisnj.org.

    The Morristown Armory is located at 430 Western Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey.

  • Contacting Congress

    A month ago I posted an article about the Fiscal Cliff which turned out to be a moderate win for the White House. It was probably less of a win for the American public, given the behavior of some in Congress. Because of expected fighting between Republicans and Democrats in Washington you may be smart to keep in touch with your Congressman or United States Senators. I’ve updated the list of our New Jersey representatives and their district offices as there have been changes. For example, due to the 2010 Census and redistricting, New Jersey is now allocated only twelve Congressman not thirteen. Congressional district lines have also changed, resulting in the relocation of a few Congressional district offices.

    If you wish to telephone your Representative or Senators, listed below are the telephone numbers of their Washington office and district offices. Phone calls are most often taken by a staff member. Ask to speak to the aide or legislative assistant who handles the issue of your concern. Also listed is the link to their email contact form.

    Senator Frank Lautenberg (D)
    Washington 202-224-3224
    Newark 973-639-8700
    Camden 856-338-8922
    http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/index1.cfm

    Senator Robert Menendez (D)
    Washington 202-224-4744
    Newark 973-645-3030
    Barrington 856-757-5353
    http://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/

    1st District – Robert Andrews (D)
    Washington 202-225-6501
    Woodbury 856-848-3900
    Haddon Heights 856-546-5100
    https://andrews.house.gov/contact-me

    2nd District – Frank LoBiondo (R)
    Washington 202-225-6572
    Mays Landing 800-471-4450 or 609-625-5008
    https://lobiondo.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

    3rd District – Jon Runyan (R)
    Washington 202-225-4765
    Mount Laurel 856-780-6436
    Toms River 732-279-6013
    https://runyan.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

    4th District – Chris Smith (R)
    Washington 202-225-3765
    Hamilton 609-585-7878
    Whiting 732-350-2300
    http://chrissmith.house.gov/contact/zipauth.htm

    5th District – Scott Garrett (R)
    Washington 202-225-4465
    Glen Rock 201-444-5454
    Newton 973-300-2000
    https://garrett.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

    6th District – Frank Pallone, Jr. (D)
    Washington 202-225-4671
    New Brunswick 732-249-8892
    Long Branch 732-571-1140
    https://pallone.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

    7th District – Leonard Lance (R)
    Washington 202-225-5361
    Flemington 908-788-6900
    Westfield 908-518-7733
    http://lance.house.gov/contact-me1

    8th District – Albio Sires (D)
    Washington 202-225-7919
    Bayonne 201-823-2900
    Jersey City 201-309-0301
    West New York 201-558-0800
    Elizabeth 908-820-0692
    https://sires.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

    9th District – Bill Pascrell (D)
    Washington 202-225-5751
    Paterson 973-523-5152
    http://pascrell.house.gov/contact/

    10th District – Donald Payne, Jr. (D)
    Washington 202-225-3436
    Jersey City 201-369-0392
    Newark 973-645-3213
    http://payne.house.gov/contact/email-me

    11th District – Rodney Frelinghuysen (R)
    Washington 202-225-5034
    Morristown 973-984-0711
    https://frelinghuysenforms.house.gov/contact-form

    12th District – Rush Holt (D)
    Washington 202-225-5801
    West Windsor 609-750-9365
    https://forms.house.gov/holt/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

    Other useful website are:

    Communicating with Congress – by Congress.org – providing a lot of tips such as the fact that our representatives prefer to receive email. However, it gives the phone number for the U.S. Capital Switchboard, 202-224-3121.

    Contacting the Congress – by Juan Cabanela. A site that has been around since 1995. Enter your address to identify who your representative is, and then complete a form. Almost as easy as sending a postcard.

    Find Your Representative – by U.S. House of Representatives. “Identify your member and let your opinion be heard.”

    Additional links for New Jersey elected officials are available on a page of the New Jersey Community Resources website.

    Keep in mind the income inequality gap between low and medium income earners and the top 1% has widened considerably in the last 30 years. The vote to avert the “fiscal cliff” did not change this fact. Continue to make your voice heard.

  • Music Venues In New Jersey

    For a long time I’ve been collecting music and theatre links and adding them to the NJ links page of my website. In the past week I had help from family members who gave me names of a few more music venues. The new links can be found at www.njcommunityresources.info/nj.html/#music. All of the 9 new additions are in North Jersey. They are: Notes From Home House Concert Series (Montclair); The Meatlocker (Montclair); The Stanhope House (Stanhope); Bernie’s (Chester); Ringside Pub (West Caldwell); Immaculate Conception Music Ministry (Montclair); At The Tabernacle (Tabor); Tierney’s (Montclair); and Salt Gastropub (Andover).

    Today I’m asking the larger community of music lovers to send me your additions. Where do you go in New Jersey for live music (and has a website)? I’m sure Central and Southern Jersey are under-represented in the current 147 music and theatre sites currently on the webpage. Send your additions and comments to me at info@njcommunityresources.info. Thanks and have a Happy (and safe) New Year.