Newsletter - September 2016

Mark Your Calendars
Pequannock Township Shred Day

Saturday, October 15, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Pequannock Township Municipal Building, Front Parking Lot

Bring your personal and confidential paper documents and watch them be shredded for recycling.  No need to remove staples and paper clips.

Open to Pequannock Township residents only (no businesses please)


Pequannock Township Police Department

         Back to School Safety

Children and parents are reminded to please use our newly painted crosswalks that our Township DPW employees have refurbished with high visibility paint.

We ask that you please be mindful of children and our Crossing Guards in the school zones throughout the Township.  Our Crossing Guards work very hard to ensure your child's safety to and from school, and your attention to the speed limits through school zones will be very much appreciated.

 

Distracted Driving Enforcement

  The Pequannock Township Police Department would like to remind everyone to put down their phones while driving.  With the start of another school year, officers will be detailed to aggressively patrol school zones.  Failing to utilize a hands free device while conversing on a cell phone and texting while driving are two of the many distracting behaviors that all of us witness on a daily basis.  In an effort to keep our school children safe, police will devote extra resources to the task of enforcing distracted driving violations, especially around our schools.  Motorists are subject to warnings and summonses as part of this initiative.  Checkpoints, unmarked vehicles and plain clothes officers will be utilized to observe violations and take enforcement action.  Please put down your phone while driving and pay exclusive attention to the road.  Lives depend on it.

 
Municipal Alliance Committee -- MAC
 
Your kids are going to ask you tough questions about drugs and alcohol . Not to worry - Here are some tips to help you answer them.
But before talking with your teen, keep the following strategies in mind to help you have a positive and productive conversation - no matter what question is thrown at you.
  1. Remain calm. Take a deep breath before responding.
  2. Keep an open mind. If your child feels judged, he's less likely to be receptive to what you have to say.
  3. Avoid lecturing. Instead, try to come from a place of positivity and curiosity which will help lead to a more open dialogue. Example: Let's explore your question in more detail, because it's a good one.
  4. Thank your child for coming to you with questions. This will reassure him that you're a safe place to get answers. At the end of your conversation, thank him again for talking with you.
  5. Remind your teen that you care deeply about his health and well-being. Example: "I want us to be able to discuss these topics because I love you and I want to help during these years when you're faced with a lot of difficult choices."
 
YOUR CHILD ASKS:  Prescription drugs aren't as bad as street drugs, right?
Be sure your child understands that simply because prescription drugs are legal it does not mean they are always safe - and that prescription drugs are only legal for the person for whom they're prescribed.
Abuse of prescription medicines can be just as addictive and dangerous (even fatal) as the abuse of illegal street drugs. In fact, some of those "hardcore," illegal street drugs are made of the same stuff as prescription pain relievers.
YOUR CHILD ASKS:  Weed's legal, isn't it?
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but marijuana for medical purpose is now legal in 25 states, of which four (plus Washington, DC) have legalized it for recreational purposes.
In those four states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, plus DC), you must be 21 years old to purchase, possess or use retail marijuana or marijuana products. And it is illegal to give or sell retail marijuana to minors.
YOUR CHILD ASKS:  Drinking is worse than smoking weed, isn't it?
While some teens may argue that weed is safer than alcohol, research shows that teens don't typically use alcohol OR weed; they use both, often at the same time - a dangerous combination. The biggest impact of mixing marijuana and alcohol is the significant increase in impairment in judgment. The level of intoxication and secondary effects experienced can be unpredictable. Some people may be more prone to episodes of lightheadedness and fatigue.
For more information, Check out the Partnership for a drug free America at www.drugfree.org  or consider joining us, Pequannock Township Municipal Alliance. 

Are You Registered to Vote?
The General Election will be held on November 8th. There are elections for candidates in the following offices:
President
House of Representatives
Sheriff
Freeholder
Township Council
 
In order to vote you must be registered!
If you are not yet registered you must be registered by October 18th.
You may register to vote by mail or in person at the Morris County Clerk's Office or the Pequannock Township Clerk's Office. For your convenience, both the Morris County Clerk's Office and the Pequannock Township Clerk's Office will be open until 9:00 p.m. on October 18th.
Voter registration forms can be printed from this website:
Forms are also available in the County and Township Clerk's Offices.

 
Election Day Poll Workers
 
Interested in helping ensure the fairness and validity of our election process?
Poll workers, those who staff the polling locations for each of our elections, play an important role in ensuring that the voting process is fair and accessible. Elections are administered by the Morris County Board of Elections. If you are interested in working at a polling location, information may be obtained at the County Website here:
 
 
Or by contacting the Morris County Board of Elections at (973) 285-8350.

Department of Public Works
 
 
Fire Hydrant Flushing
 
            Flushing of fire hydrants will be done during the Fall season on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and Midnight starting September 19, 2016 and will continue for approximately two weeks, weather permitting. Discoloration of the water and low pressure may occur in the area of flushing, however, this condition is temporary and the water remains safe to use.  It is suggested that residents be alerted to such discoloration of the water when laundering is done between these hours.
            Flushing removes sediment from the water distribution system and tests the operation of fire hydrants.  The cooperation and patience of residents is requested during this flushing program.



Bats Joining Our Mosquito Control Team
 
  
Bats are one of our most valuable allies in the fight against yard and garden pests and also in slowing the spread of insect-borne diseases. Bat houses are therefore a great addition to your backyard as well as our parks and recreation areas. Pequannock Township will promote natural mosquito control by installing our first bat house at Greenview Park, and possibly several other public areas around town. Check out the light pole next to Greenview pond for a look at the newly installed house.
The Township is looking for a Girl/Boy Scout to spearhead a bat house making project as part of earning their next rank. I know of another community where the scouts built the houses and assisted in installation throughout the community. It is a fun project that helps the environment, builds leadership and comradery.
Now some facts garnered from the internet; Bats eat a large number of flying insect and are the main nighttime predator of mosquitoes. A single little brown bat can eat between 600 and 1,200 mosquitoes an hour. Unlike their stereotype, bats are not blind, and are actually very clean animals. They do not get caught in peoples' hair or chew through the attic of your house. Bats will not interfere with feeding backyard birds, and they will not be disrupted by pets or children. The number of mosquitos eaten will vary depending on the predominant local bat species.
Many people have serious misconceptions about bats. Myths that they are vicious carriers of rabies and pests are abundant. Bats are actually quite harmless and are important indicators of a healthy environment. Bats are excellent, chemical free weapons in combating insects that are actually dangerous to humans.
With the increased media coverage of the Zika Virus, many communities are looking for effective ways to combat mosquitos and prevent the spread of the disease. The Zika Virus is spread through mosquitoes, and mosquitoes are a significant portion of a bat's diet. As previously stated, a small bat can capture as many as 1,200 mosquitoes in a single hour! Studies indicate bats cannot contract Zika by eating infected mosquitoes. In addition to mosquitoes, bats also help control the populations of beetles, moths and leafhoppers.
Even the very presence of bats in an area can reduce insect populations as many insects can hear bats up to 100 feet away and will keep their distance from areas occupied by bats. The effectiveness of bats in some areas diminishes the need for pesticides, which will harm both the pests and their natural predators.
Installing a bat house then is one of the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to reduce the mosquito population near your home. Bat house sizes range in capacity from holding 20 to over 100 bats. Most North American species of bats prefer to live in large groups, called colonies; so a mid-sized house (80-300 bats) is recommended for most situations. A bat house may be mounted on a tree, a pole without nearby obstructions, or a building. However, bat houses mounted on poles or buildings tend to have a slightly higher occupancy faster than those mounted on trees. For mounting on buildings, wood, stone or brick buildings are best; and the bat house should be mounted with southern exposure so the sun can keep it heated. You should mount your house 15-20 feet above the ground, the higher the house the greater the chance of attracting bats.
In New Jersey, it is advantageous to paint the bat house black to absorb plenty of heat (when baby bats are born, they need it very warm). Use non-toxic, latex paint to paint your bat house and only paint the outside. Bats return from migration and awaken from hibernation as early as March in most of the U.S. They will be abundant throughout the summer and into late fall. Most houses used by bats are occupied in the first 1 to 6 months (during the first summer the bat house was erected). If bats do not roost in your house by the end of the second summer, move the house to another location. Once the houses are occupied they should not be moved or cleaned.
These are just a few of the several excellent reasons to install bat houses in town or on your property. Many local bat populations are in danger or are already displaced due to habitat destruction and alteration by humans, so providing artificial roosts to replace lost habitat is a primary reason to install a bat house. Bat houses can have success even in suburban and urban areas. If you have ever seen bats flying around your neighborhood, a bat house will probably help. Installing a bat house and observing the occupants is an exciting and fun activity for the whole family.
People all over the world have discovered the benefits and wonder of using bat houses to attract bats to their own backyards. We hope you will join them by providing new homes for these gentle and fascinating mammals with a voracious appetite for troublesome insects.

Township of Pequannock

973-835-5700

peqtwp.org