Sen Allen, GOP Women Lawmakers: Act On Patterson

Don't Miss NBC 10 At K'NEX Toys Tuesday AM!

Santa's elves at K'NEX Toys will be on NBC 10 tomorrow morning.
Check it out from 5-7 am if you're up e-a-r-l-y (or just stay up after the lunar eclipse!). Ho ho ho!
And congratulations to KNEX PR pro Aimee Cirucci for pulling off this major coup.
K'NEX is the next generation of construction sets. It inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless!
K'NEX Brands, L.P. is a privately held company, with the headquarters and manufacturing facility located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Today, K'NEX is the most innovative and fastest growing construction toy company. Internationally, K'NEX products are distributed in over 30 countries. K'NEX Brands is also proud to distribute BRIO trains and toys, as well as Lincoln Logs in the North America. 

Breaking: Christie Commutes Aitken Gun Sentence

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has just commuted the prison sentence of Brian Aitken. 

The 27-year-old Aitken was arrested in New Jersey in 2009 when police found he was transporting legally-owned and properly-stored firearms. This past August, he was sentenced to seven years in jail. He and his supporters have been seeking clemency from the governor.

Aitken’s attorney has argued that not only did his client not break the law because the guns were purchased legally (from a Bass Pro Shop), but he was also exempt from the state’s gun laws because he was moving residences – from Colorado to New Jersey.

Aitken’s lawyer, along with his supporters, say the judge who tried the case ignored evidence supporting Aitken’s innocence.

Happy Holidays From Wake Forest University!

Holiday Greetings from Wake Forest University from The Office of the President on Vimeo.
. . . and Happy Holidays from Aimee Cirucci, Wake Forest Class of 2000.

Senators Kean, Allen Praise Christie Choice

New Jersey State Senators Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Westfield) and Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden), Republican members of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statements on Governor Christie's nomination of Christopher Cerf for Education Commissioner:

Senator Tom Kean, Jr.:
Christopher Cerf's highly successful record transforming New York City's public schools speaks for itself. Mr. Cerf brings with him a focus on accountability for teachers and administrators, as well as increasing charter school options that allow parents to extricate their children from chronically underperforming schools. Improving public education is the new civil rights struggle of our time, and I look forward to hearing more from the nominee during the confirmation process about his ideas for providing every child in New Jersey with a quality education.
Senator Diane Allen:
Reforming the education system to ensure every child is prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing world requires creativity and strong leadership. I believe Christopher Cerf will bring both of these attributes to the Department of Education if confirmed. He brings an impressive track record not only of getting results, but of building much needed consensus among all players, as a Deputy Chancellor in our nation's largest public school system.

NJ: GOP Women Want Hearings, Vote On Nominee

New Jersey State Senators Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden), Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth/Middlesex), and Dawn Marie Addiego (R- Burlington) were joined by Republican women of the Assembly today to call for a vote on Anne Patterson to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Their comments come in response to controversy surrounding the appointment of an interim justice to fill the vacancy created by John Wallace's departure from the bench.

"There is no need for the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court to continue," said Senator Allen. "The dispute over the interim justice could end tomorrow if the Senate President and Judiciary Committee Chairman would schedule confirmation hearings and a vote on Anne Patterson's nomination to the Court. In fact, we never would have gotten to this point in the first place had the Majority respected the Governor's Constitutional authority to make judicial appointments and the Senate's responsibility to actively consider and vote on the nomination. Advice and consent means an up or down vote, not delay and deal cutting. Anne Patterson is extremely well qualified and has built an impressive legal and public service career. She should be judged on those merits and those merits alone, and all Senators should be given the opportunity to register their opinion of the nomination on the floor of the Senate."

Patterson's nomination has been pending before the Senate for seven months.

Beck said that the Senate has abdicated its Constitutional responsibility by ignoring the nomination. "There is really no reason to delay action on the nomination of an exceptionally accomplished attorney and former Deputy Attorney General," said Beck. "Anne Patterson is well-qualified and her nomination was both well within the Governor's authority to make and entirely appropriate. If there are Senators who feel otherwise, those feelings are appropriately voiced during the confirmation hearings and vote that the Constitution requires. It is time to act on this nomination to restore order to the Supreme Court and to install an individual of impeccable achievement and credentials to the highest judicial body in the state of New Jersey."

Senator Addiego noted that if confirmed, Patterson would give the New Jersey Supreme Court a female majority for the first time. "The Senate has an opportunity to make history by confirming Anne Patterson to the bench," she said. "We could, for the first time ever, have a female majority on the Supreme Court, and become only the fifth state in America to have that distinction. What a wonderful message to send not just to the nation, but to every little girl in New Jersey about the endless possibilities that await them in life. It is truly a shame that the Senate Majority does not recognize the importance of this opportunity, and has instead chosen to shirk its responsibility and pick a partisan fight. In so doing, Senate Democrats have given our New Jersey a black eye. The State Constitution is clear- the Governor makes appointments, the Senate offers advice and consent on those appointments. It is time for the Senate to do its job."

Christie Names Cerf To Top Education Post

Today, Governor Chris Christie announced the selection of Christopher Cerf, an innovative, reform-minded and experienced education professional, as his nominee for New Jersey Education Commissioner. Cerf, having previously served as President and COO of a nationally recognized charter school operator and most recently as Deputy Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, is a seasoned education professional with more than 30 years of experience. He is a widely-respected leader in comprehensive school system reform and respected for his hands on approach. Cerf’s experience on education reform issues will be crucial to executing Governor Christie's bold agenda as part of the 2011 "Year of Education Reform."

“For far too long, the education establishment and political leadership in our state and across the country have accepted low expectations and failure – particularly in our urban school districts. We can no longer fail to act or continue to defend the status quo at the expense of our children,” said Governor Christie. “I am thankful that Chris Cerf is bringing to New Jersey his passion for education and experienced leadership to help enact the bold and innovative education measures we need to finally bring a quality education to every child in our state. Mr. Cerf's innovative leadership will be invaluable as we address the civil rights issue of our time.

“I also want to thank Rochelle Hendricks for her tireless efforts and work as Acting Commissioner. Since August, Rochelle has done a terrific job of leading the department through a number of critical issues, including the crafting of our education reform plans in September, the creation and appointment of the Educator Effectiveness Task Force, the partnership with Newark schools and superintendent pay cap implementation. I am pleased that she will continue to serve as a leader in the Education Department and play a key role in my Administration. The State of New Jersey desperately needs her knowledge, perspective and expertise in advancing education reform.”

Christopher Cerf is a nationally recognized expert in comprehensive school system reform. He most recently served as Deputy Chancellor of the New York City public schools, where he was responsible for a broad portfolio, including organizational strategy, innovation, human capital and external relations in the nation’s largest schools district, serving 1.1 million students in 1,450 schools. He previously served as the Chancellor’s Chief Advisor on Transformation. Prior to his work in the New York City public schools, Mr. Cerf worked as General Counsel and Executive Vice President, and then President and COO for Edison Schools, Inc., a nationally-recognized private-sector manager of public schools. Under Cerf’s tenure, Edison, Inc. was the largest such operator in the nation.

“Governor Christie has made it clear that 2011 is the year for education reform in New Jersey. He has put forward a bold plan and vision for remaking the system and taking on the challenges of inequity that currently exist,” said Christopher Cerf. “With the Governor’s commitment to a high-quality education for every child, it’s clear that we can go far in increasing student achievement, and providing every child the quality education they deserve regardless of zip code. I look forward to being a part of this fundamental and transformational change.”

Cerf began his career as a history teacher at Cincinnati Country Day School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he taught for four years prior to pursuing his juris doctor at Columbia University School of Law. Mr. Cerf went on to serve as a clerk in the U.S. Appellate (D.C. Circuit) and U.S. Supreme Courts, followed by private law practice. Mr. Cerf served as Associate Counsel to the President in the Clinton Administration from 1994-1996.

Christie: On 60 Minutes: 'We Gotta Climb Out Now'

How To Survive The Cold Weather Months

Tomorrow will be the shortest day of the year - the day with the least amount of daylight
Which means it will seem like the l-o-n-g-e-s-t day.
Okay, maybe you'd like to live in southern California or Arizona where it's (presumably) warmer. But maybe  you're not able to move anytime soon.
And maybe you'd like to head for a tropical island but you can't. Maybe you just can't afford it and/or can't get time off from work.
Which means you have to hang around and endure the cold weather.
Here's how to get through the rest of December and the two dreadful months that lie ahead. Remember that starting Wednesday, it's all downhill to summer.
Each day that follows winter solstice (December 21) will have more daylight. From that standpoint, each day will be a little bit nicer. And each day will have less darkness.
We've about to reach the low point. Soon, we're on the way back up again.
So, even though winter is technically just beginning, winter's demise is already underway.
In other words, the dead of winter is really the beginning of the death of winter.

Vote In Poll: Happy Holidays Or Merry Christmas?

It's time to put this to the test.
Happy Holidays.
Seasons Greetings.
Merry Christmas.
Which seasonal sentiment is your favorite? Which do you prefer to hear?
Here's your opportunity to vote in our poll.
Do you prefer a homogenized greeting or the more traditional expression of  "Merry Christmas." The choice is yours but we want to hear from you.
Vote in the poll at the top right hand corner of this blog. Let your voice be heard!
We'll tabulate and report the results as we approach Christmas.