Little Falls News Items (12/24/25)

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Dec 24, 2025, 7:22:40 AM (3 days ago) Dec 24
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Together we can make a difference for a better Little Falls.
Arnie
Arnold Korotkin
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Blog: Parking and Parking Meters (see 1 comment)
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Calendar of Events - Event List  

Here’s how to manage mental health this holiday season (NJ Spotlight News)






Pulled 60 Minutes segment on CECOT
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https://archive.org/details/60minutes-cecotsegment

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NY Times Flu Report ~

It’s the season

The flu came early this year. Britain, Australia and Japan have already seen spikes. The United States appears not far behind.

New York City and its suburbs recently recorded some of the highest levels of flu like illness in the United States, my colleagues report. (A private school in Brooklyn closed for two days earlier this month after roughly a third of students became ill.)

The numbers aren’t great in Louisiana or Colorado either. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tracker shows spikes in Denver and in New Orleans and Lafayette, La.

The dominant strain of the flu virus circulating this season is H3N2 subclade K, reports Dani Blum, who covers health. H3N2 is a common strain. But the new variant — that subclade — is a doozy. It may enable the virus to spread more widely.

The flu shot may not stop you from getting subclade K, but it helps guard against becoming seriously sick. Here’s mom again: Get that jab.

How bad is it this year?

In Britain, where I’ve been for the last week, the flu season started so early and has accelerated so quickly that the tabloids here are calling it the “super flu.” (I’ve been working by opening windows and dropping vitamin C tablets into my water — which does basically nothing, but makes me feel proactive.)

It’s too soon to know if the same will happen in the United States, an expert told Dani. But there are a lot of infections, and we’re still weeks from when doctors generally see high-water marks for the illness. In 2024, New York City didn’t have 10,000 laboratory-reported cases of flu until late December. This year, the city crossed that threshold three weeks ago.

“It’s earlier and faster this year, and the trajectory is much quicker than usual,” the chief of public health and epidemiology at Northwell Health said.

Symptoms and treatment

Vaccines remain the best way to protect yourself from the flu, perhaps during the holiday season especially. You’ll come into contact with more people than usual on the plane, at the train station or if you're singing carols in a hall. Who knows who’s carrying?

Experts say the best time to get vaccinated is in early fall. Still: “I tell patients that it is generally never too late to get it,” an infectious disease specialist told my colleague Maggie Astor, a health reporter. “Some protection is better than none.”

And there are additional ways to avoid risks. Dani knows them well:

Frequently washing hands, wearing a mask in crowds and improving ventilation as much as possible — by opening windows, if it’s not too cold, or running air purifiers — can minimize the risk of catching the flu. So can disinfecting hard surfaces like phones, doorknobs and countertops, where the flu virus can linger for over a day.

Based on the symptoms, it’s hard to distinguish the flu from other respiratory illnesses. But the flu often comes on quickly, the way a truck might hit you in a crosswalk. There are now at-home tests that detect both Covid and the flu. Those are helpful because you can treat the flu virus with an antiviral medication like Tamiflu. (Would that we had something similar for the common cold.)

Stay safe, everyone. Now, let’s see what else is happening in the world.

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How is debt affecting your financial situation and your everyday life?

Workers are being crushed by the soaring costs of basics—housing, healthcare, child care, college, even the cost of keeping up with credit cards or medical bills. This survey will help us identify the most urgent affordability issues and shape the resources we build to help members get the relief they need. Please fill out this confidential AFT Debt Survey and share it with other members.

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New Jersey residents can attend a webinar discussing the autonomy and self-determination under the state's Adult Protective Services on Jan. 8. It is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be led by NJAPS, healthcare professionals, and advocates for senior safety. Attendees will learn about the APS system, indicators of abuse and neglect, and ways to respond to crisis situations that uphold autonomy. Registration is required. Free admission.Add to 📅.png.
New Jersey Department of Human Services


Upcoming programs - 


Addressing Ageism: Upholding Autonomy and Self-Determination in APS

Thursday • January 08, 2026
11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
Community Partners in Protecting Vulnerable Adults
Thursday • January 22, 2026
11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
Decision Making Capacity and Supported Decision-Making
Thursday • February 05, 2026
11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
Strengthening Community Responses to Protect Vulnerable Adults
Thursday • February 19, 2026
11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
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"Holiday Lights Spectacular" planned at Turtle Back Zoo through Jan. 3 in West Orange. The zoo will be illuminated and there will be more than 50 winter- and holiday-themed characters. The event is free and from 5-9 p.m. Donations of non-perishable food, used winter coats, and new toys are suggested. It is closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1.
Turtle Back Zoo

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Little Falls Public Schools’  FRIDAY FOLDERS (12/19/25)

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Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund - December 2025

Tip: Make a list of what is and isn't working, with examples, before the meeting.

Preparing for an IEP Meeting

Meaningful family engagement is a cornerstone of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

"Almost 30 years of research and experience has demonstrated that the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective by...strengthening the role and responsibility of parents and ensuring that families of such children have meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children..."

The term "parent" in the law includes anyone who has the legal authority to act as a parent and students who are legal adults.

Why is your participation so important?

IEP meetings must include people knowledgeable about the student. That includes YOU. You are not a "guest" at an IEP meeting. You are a member of a team with important rights and decision-making power. Whether you are a parent or a student, you have important history and information to share. You also need to hear directly from the school team and have a chance to ask questions and request follow-up.

Although there are rules about how often the IEP team must meet, these are minimum requirements. Anyone on the IEP team, including you, can request a meeting at any time (it will be held when school is open). This is sometimes called an IEP "Amendment Meeting." In California, the meeting must be held within 30 days of delivering a request in writing.

Barriers to Participating

IEP meetings can be stressful. You may be confused by the technical and legal terms, and the meeting process is complicated. Most members of the team are professionals with authority, which can be intimidating. You may worry that if you disagree with or question school staff, you will be seen as hostile or aggressive, or feel judged or blamed for problems. By preparing ahead of time, learning as much as you can about what to expect, and knowing your rights, you become a stronger advocate and informed team member.

Tips for Preparing for an IEP Meeting

  • Learn as much as you can about the special education process and your rights in advance. Your Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) is a great place to start. They provide free, family-friendly resources, training, advocacy tips, and referrals. What Are Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs)? | Understood.

  • Get organized. Gather copies of recent progress reports, testing, attendance, discipline records, work samples, and any notes or logs you have showing student progress. Check out How to Organize an IEP Binder | Understood. 

  • Request student records from the school district before a meeting. States may have different timelines for providing these, but the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) sets a 45-day maximum. How long does an educational agency or institution have to comply with a request to view records? | Protecting Student Privacy | U.S. Department of Education.

  • Check in with your child's teachers and service providers ahead of time and document the conversation in either a journal or in a follow-up email to the teacher or service provider. Don't forget to check in with the yard attendant, lunchroom staff, or PE teacher if you have concerns about non-academic progress (behavior, bullying, or social skills) as well.

  • Create an agenda of issues you want the team to discuss and bring it with you to the meeting. Review in advance. Talking points can be hard to remember in the actual meeting. Sample Parent Agenda | Wrightslaw.

  • Write your own "Parent Report" or create a video to share your child's strengths, challenges, and your family's vision for the future. Students can do this too, and parents, caregivers, and special education teachers can help. Here is a great starting document from Equip for Equality: Preparing for the IEP. Another resource is IEP Meetings | How to Create a Parent Report for an IEP Meeting | Understood.

  • If you have an annual or triennial IEP meeting that is due soon, take the first step to offer dates and times for the meeting that work for your schedule. If the meeting is scheduled for a time you can't attend, write back immediately to ask for another time and offer a few options. Clarify that you do NOT agree to have the team meet without you.

  • If you need an interpreter for languages other than English (Interpreters for LEP Parents | Wrightslaw) or require disability–related accommodations (ADA Accommodations When Advocating in Your Child's School | National Center for Learning Disabilities), let the case manager and special education administrator know in advance, in writing. 

  • Consider bringing a friend, family member, or trusted ally to the meeting to support you. Let the District/School know if you plan to invite someone.

  • If you want to share outside reports/information with the team, provide these ahead of time if possible. 

  • If the school district will be presenting evaluations/assessments, request copies ahead of time. It can be difficult to participate fully if you don't have enough time to read and process information. Let the scheduler know that you prefer to delay the meeting if reports aren't given to you before the meeting because you may not be able to participate effectively. 

  • Let the District/School know in writing ahead of time that you expect ALL IEP team members to attend the entire meeting. Think carefully before agreeing to excuse team members. Check out When the IEP Team Meets to learn more about things to consider when excusing team members.

  • Finally, you can attend an upcoming Special Education Academy webinar that DREDF hosts once a month, or review the recorded session on our website. At the end of each presentation are advocacy tips that parents, families, and students can use immediately while navigating the special education process. As always, you can contact an Education Advocate at DREDF to help you prepare for your upcoming meeting at 510-644-2555 or 1 (800) 348-4232.

Related Resources

General Special Education Resources

Get Involved! Join Your Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC)


As busy as we all are, it is important to pay forward what we learn in advocating for our child to make special education work better for everyone. Learn about opportunities to work to improve the special education system for all families, educators, and students, and partner with schools and community partners for more funding, services, and professional development. Contact your school's special education administrator to learn more.
 

CAC Resources:

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