Mt Laurel Sun_Current Issue

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A night for township’s first responders

By JON DIAZ

The Sun

Mount Laurel Township has announced that it will host its inaugural first responders night on Wednesday, July 3, at Laurel Acres Park.

The free event is a way for residents to show their appreciation for community heroes like police, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. Guests will interact and celebrate first responders in the township with activities and giveaways, including free face painting, pretzels, live music, bounce houses and food trucks.

Hours for the event are 5:30 to 8 p.m., with fireworks at 9. Police cruisers and fire trucks will also be on hand, along with the police department’s K-9 officers. Other township representatives will include the fire department, its Emergency Management Services and members of the Diversity and Inclusion Board. Council members will also be in attendance.

Along with speaking to officers and others, guests will get information on volunteering for the township’s first responder agencies.

Kyle Gardner, public relations officer for the police department, noted that the event’s goal is to help officers

show transparency and improve relations with the community.

“You can never have enough positive interactions with the community,” he noted. “We want people to feel comfortable to approach us,

because we’re here for them and we want them to feel a connection with us.

“I think having events like this, especially with how big of a town Mount Laurel is, is important,” Gardner added, because it makes the commu-

nity feel like a small town, where it seems like everyone knows each other. We’re so lucky to have such a great community, and we love doing events like this because we want to show our appreciation for them.

“We look forward to having everyone there and having a good time.”

For updates on first responders night, visit the township police and fire department websites, the township site and Facebook pages.

Jonathan Diaz/The Sun Guests at the free event will interact with and celebrate first responders as they participate in activities and giveaways, including face painting and food trucks.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

Preschool Storytime: Ages 3 to 5 years. 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Join in for stories, song, and rhymes with a new theme explored every week. This story time helps kids build early literacy skills and a love of reading. No registration required.

Knit & Crochet Afternoon Meetup: Ages 18 years and up. 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Like to knit or crotchet? Join this friendly group. Beginners to experts are welcome to attend. Participants must bring their own materials. No registration required.

Tai Chi for Health: Ages 18 years and up. 4 to 5 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Certified instructor Bob Stanton teaches tai chi, a gentle exercise that can improve muscle tone, flexibility, and coordination. This class can be done seated or standing. Registration is required at www. mtlaurel.lib.nj.us.

CALENDAR

Jigsaw Puzzle Club: Ages 12 and up. 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. The library is hosting a Jigsaw Puzzle Club. The club will meet on the second Wednesday of every month. No registration required.

ESL Conversation Class with NJ Literacy: Ages 18 years and up. 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. This ESL class is for upper level beginner to lower level intermediate learners. Visit www.literacynj.org/burlington-student-application to apply. Applicants will be contacted and placed in an appropriate class for their learning level.

THURSDAY, MAY 9

Tumblin’ Tots: Ages 2 to 5 years. 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Join Miss Amy of Tumblin’ Tots for a fun and energetic movement class. Registration with a current Mount Laurel Library card is required at www. mtlaurel.lib.nj.us.

Tumblin’ Tots: Ages 2 to 5 years.

11:15 to 11:45 a.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Join Miss Amy of Tumblin’ Tots for a fun and energetic movement class. Registration with a current Mount Laurel Library card is required at www. mtlaurel.lib.nj.us.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

Knit & Crochet Afternoon Meetup: Ages 18 years and up. 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Like to knit or crotchet? Join this friendly group. Beginners to experts are welcome to attend. Participants must bring their own materials. No registration required.

MONDAY, MAY 13

Move and Groove: Ages 18 months to 5 years. 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Join in for this weekly outdoor event where participants will be able to celebrate music through rhymes, songs, and dance-alongs. This program will give kids a chance to learn new dance moves and get active. No registration required.

Talk: Asian Tea Experience: Ages 18 years and up. 1 to 2 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. The Far East has a long history of drinking tea. For many, it is an everyday occurrence. Participants of this event will learn about the Japanese tea ceremony, China’s Gong Fu Cha, and the customs of Korea and Vietnam. There will be a collection of tea sets on display, as well as various types of tea. No registration required.

Knit & Crochet Evening Meetup: Ages 18 years and up. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Like to knit or crotchet? Join this friendly group. Beginners to experts are welcome to attend. Participants must bring their own materials. No registration required.

TUESDAY, MAY 14

Toddler Storytime: Ages 18 months to 3 years. 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Residents are invited for stories, songs, rhymes,

and a take-home craft or coloring page as a new theme is explored every week. This story time will help kids build early literacy skills and a love of reading. No registration required. Check the library’s events calendar for updates

Mahjong: Ages 18 years and up. 1 to 4 p.m. at the Mount Laurel Library. Mahjong is a popular tile-based game of strategy, skill, and luck. Some experience recommended. No registration required.

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The Mt. Laurel Sun, 130 Twinbridge Drive, Pennsauken, NJ 08110. Or by email: news@mtlaurelsun.com

Samaritan honors employees for continued dedication to organization’s mission

Samaritan recently honored its employees for service milestones and continued dedication to Samaritan’s mission at their 2024 Winterfest celebration – an annual event held by the organization to recognize the hard work, commitment to excellence and compassionate care given by valuable members of their team, as well as the dedicated efforts of their community volunteers.

This year, Samaritan’s President and CEO Phillip W. Heath personally recognized long-time members of the Samaritan team for milestone anniversaries and exceptional years of service to the organization. Those individuals include:

30 Years:

Susan Fisher

During her 30 years at Samaritan, Fisher has held several roles: Lead On-call RN, After Hours Supervisor, Clinical Services Coordinator, Supervisor of the Referral Center and On-Call, Nurse Manager of On-Call and Team Manager and now Clinical Manager of Access and On-Call. Today, she manages over fifty employees comprised of three distinct teams that are vital to Samaritan’s clinical operations.

Joanne Rosen

Rosen joined Samaritan in 1994 as its first Director of Marketing, expanding her role to Vice President of Marketing and Development and today proudly serving as Chief Marketing and Public Affairs Officer. She also serves as an advisory council member of the Global Partners in Care Foundation and is a board member of the American Heart Association’s South/Central New Jersey Regional Board of Directors.

25 Years:

Sharine Earlie

Earlie is an experienced Home Health Aide who prides herself on taking time with each patient to understand what they need and build lasting relationships. She consistently goes above and beyond to honor the wishes of every patient and thoroughly communicates with her team to

ensure her patients’ needs are known and met.

20 Years:

Stephen Goldfine, MD

Dr. Goldfine serves as Samaritan’s Physician Executive. He previously served as Chief Medical Officer for more than 20 years, where he was responsible for overseeing the care of over 11,000 patients, clients and their families annually. Goldfine continues to support Samaritan’s established Home Visit Physicians and Palliative Medical Partners programs.

“These four individuals share an exceptional wealth of compassion, kindness and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others,” said Heath. “It is an honor to acknowledge Joanne, Sue, Sharine and Stephen for each of their significant contributions to Samaritan, and for allowing us to continue providing life-enhancing care to our patients and their families.”

Additionally, Heath presented two employees with special recognition awards for their continued commitment to service and excellence:

Judy Taylor Award for Certified Home Health Aide Service Excellence – James Stewart of Bellmawr

Stewart is a caring and compassionate “team player” – always willing to help, often picking up extra shifts and always saying “yes” to a new opportunity to help his patients. Stewart’s managers consistently state he is “an asset to our patients in the field and in our facilities.”

Bridget Flynn Nesko Excellence in Service Award – Kimberley A. Corda, RN of Newfield

Corda is an advocate for excellence in end-of-life care, committed to ensuring her patients receive the highest level of attention, regardless of where they call “home.” She continues to bring comfort to each of her patients and their families during the most difficult of times.

For more information, visit www.samaritannj.org.

JACKI & STAN

Meeting the educational needs of children with autism

Arecent event at a Voorhees school to promote support for autism education featured music from a local DJ.

Nothing unusual there, except the guy choosing the tunes was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old. The April 18 gathering of families and other guests – a day of ice cream and water ice called a Super Scooper event – raised more than $2,000 for special needs classrooms at Kresson Elementary.

Its planners envisioned a family-friendly gathering for children and adults to learn about and better understand autism.

“We wanted everyone to leave not just with happy memories of the day, but also with a deeper understanding of what it means to live with autism,” said Julie Calem, a member of the school’s Parent Faculty Association Board.

Living with autism and providing music at the school event was Nick Tyson, a native of Marlton who honed his skills at the International DJ Café in Pennsauken, according to a 2016 article in the Courier-Post. At 11, he learned mixing on a system that was a Christmas gift from his parents.

“He picked it up on his own,” his dad told the newspaper. “There’s been no formal training. Put that thing down in front of him and he figured it out.”

The school event coincided with April as Autism Awareness Month and highlighted the need for understanding and educational support of those on the spectrum.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that often strikes before the age of 3 and inhibits a child’s ability to communicate, respond to surroundings and form relationships. About 40% of children with autism do not speak or stop speaking after 12 to 18 months,

according to the World Health Organization.

About one in 270 people around the world are on the autism spectrum, which includes Asperger’s syndrome and other developmental disabilities.

As for their educational support, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 ensures that all children with disabilities are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education to meet their needs and prepare them for living independently.

So what is an appropriate public education?

Before the Disabilities Education Act came about, disabled children were often placed in segregated classrooms, without any specific measures to respond to their special needs. As of the 2022-’23 school year, approximately 12.81% of students with disabilities are identified as having autism, with state-by-state percentages ranging from 5.76% to 17.28%, according to the federal Department of Education.

Measures to improve those numbers, according to the National Education Association, include collaborating with families and caregivers, as well as educational support personnel, in an IEP (Individualized Education Program); understanding student learning styles and needs; and adapting lessons and units.

More specifically, education for autistic students could include a general-education classroom, a resource classroom, a special education classroom or an autistic-only setting in a school, according to verywellhealth. com. Some autistic kids can thrive in an inclusive class setting, while others are better in more tailored settings.

The bottom line is that education needs to be structured for children with autism.

“If a child cannot learn in the way we teach,” said the late Dr. O. Ivar Lovass, a pioneer in developing autism therapies, “we must teach in the way the child can learn.”

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County showcases senior and teen artists at historic Smithville Park

The Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery will host both the Burlington County Senior Art Show and selections from the Burlington County Teen Arts Festival now through Saturday, June 22. More than 70 works of art in a variety of mediums will be shown in both exhibits.

This year’s Senior Art Show features original designs from a record 46 artists, including 23 professional artists and 23 non-professionals. All the participating artists are 60 years or older and residents of Burlington County. The art includes acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, sculpture, photography, pastels and chalk drawing, mix media and craft.

All senior submissions are being exhibited in the Annex Gallery and will be judged in separate categories for professional and non-professional artists. First place winners from each category will be accepted to the New Jersey Senior Art Show later this year.

The Teen Arts exhibit is being held in Smithville Mansion’s recreation hall and features 28 prizewinners from the Teen Arts Festival in March. The 28 pieces were selected by a panel of professional adjudicators and will also be judged in a statewide Teen Arts competition later this summer.

A reception for the Teen Arts

Special to The Sun

The Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery will host both the Burlington County Senior Art Show and selections from the Burlington County Teen Arts Festival now through June 22. More than 70 works of art in a variety of mediums will be shown in both exhibits.

Pictured is a portrait on display in the Teen Arts exhibit from Alex Rodriguez, of Northern Burlington County Regional High School.

exhibit will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 19.

The Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery is located in Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton inside the former Georgian estate of Hezekiah Smith, the industrialist and inventor who purchased the village of Shreveville on the Rancocas Creek and transformed it into a thriving industrial village known as Smithville.

Lenape school board vet Shinske ‘an inspiration to others’

By KATHY CHANG The Sun

The Lenape Regional High School board of education (LRHSD) recently reflected on the passing of former long-serving member Ted Shinske.

He represented Shamong Township on the board from April 1997 to December 2018 and was instrumental in many key initiatives, including the groundbreaking initiative of building Seneca High School, according to a LRHSD press release.

Shinske passed away on April 14 at 83.

In his 21 plus years of service, Shinske helped foster a professional and supportive atmosphere to help all Lenape district students be prepared to succeed. He served as board president from May 2011 to December 2013 and was part of several important initiatives, including negotiations with the Lenape district’s collective bargaining units.

“Ted was an inspiration to others in his commitment to the board of education and every Lenape district student,” recalled board member David Stow, who served as board vice president during Shinske’s time as president.

“His dedication to making the Lenape district great was visible at every board meeting and every board committee meeting that he attended.”

Shinske showed patience, resiliency and understanding in adapting to the different leadership styles of each superintendent during his board tenure, starting with Dr. Daniel Hicks, continuing with Emily Capella, and then current superintendent, Dr. Carol Birnbohm.

“Mr. Shinske was the board president my first year as superintendent, and he provided me with an incredible amount of LRHSD history and support,” Birnbohm recalled. “He was a quiet, smart, generous

and kind gentleman, who had a knack for seeing the big picture and getting others to see it as well.”

Another long-serving board member, Dr. Robert Bende, will remember Shinske fondly.

“I knew Ted prior to when we were on the board together so I will miss him both as a dear friend and also as a board colleague,” he said.

Shinske had a long career as an entrepreneur, owning and operating a series of hair styling businesses in the area and a transmission business in Vineland. He retired in 1994 when he sold The Locks Shop in Lake Pine. His love of learning led him to attend trade school and take courses to ensure the success of each of his businesses and he earned a private pilot license in the late ’60s.

A graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Shinske is in the school’s athletic hall of fame for baseball. He was known for his skills as a shortstop, according to his obituary.

Shinske was the son to the late Theodore W. Shinske and Burnis (Jennings). He is survived by his wife Bette; his sons, John and Jim; and his

five grandchildren, JD, Jessica, Caroline (Thomas), Mike, and Tommy.

Shinske loved spending time with his wife, watching his grandchildren’s activities and playing with his dogs over the years: Cassie, Sultan, Daphne and Tina.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Indian Mills United Methodist Church, 89 Indian Mills Road in Shamong, or any animal shelter.

Courtesy of Lenape Regional High School District

Ted Shinske (third from left), who passed away last month, at the groundbreaking for Seneca High. He was instrumental in many key initiatives, including building the school.

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JOB FAIR

in the Nordstrom Corridor

Presented by Newspaper Media

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FRIDAY, May 17

10am-2pm

Are you looking for new employment opportunities?

Join us for the Employment Weekly Job Fair at the Cherry Hill Mall on Friday, May 17 from 10 am to 2 pm. We will be in the Nordstrom Corridor.

EMPLOYMENT

CHERRY HILL MALL

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If you are interested in registering your business to attend this event, contact events@newspapermediagroup.com Spaces are limited.

For Penn and Teller, mirth, magic and mayhem to come

By CHUCK DARROW

The Sun

Penn Jillette and his professional partner, who goes by the single name Teller, have been working together for almost 50 years. But despite the natural toll aging takes on the human body, and Teller’s 2018 spinal-fusion surgery, the finish line is nowhere in sight for the Las Vegas-based duo whose singular blend of magic and comedy – with a bit of premeditated chaos thrown in – has arguably made the most entertaining show business act of the past half century.

“You know, one thing that’s so odd is that nobody, as they get older, starts writing more stuff. But we’ve been doing that. We’ve written more stuff, certainly in the past five years than we’ve written in any other five-year period of our career,” offered Jillette during a recent phone chat occasioned by the team’s May 16 and 17 dates at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

One reason for their prodigious creative output, he reasoned, is that each episode of their popular, 10-year-old CW series, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” features a segment in which they perform. “But it’s also that we have a lot of crazy ideas we want to do in front of people. And, it’s really fun. I mean, most magicians write about 20 to 25 tricks in their career, and we’ve done 180.”

That’s not to mean that Jillette, 69, who hails from Western Massachusetts, and Center City Philly native Teller (his legal name for years), 77, haven’t ceded some ground to Father Time. For instance, Jillette—who is the tall one who

does all the talking during their act—spoke of one type of trick they pretty much have retired.

“When I was young–which I can barely remember–I saw The Amazing Randi do a ‘milk can escape’ when he was about 50. He was perfectly healthy to do it. He was great to do it. But

there are just certain things, as you get older, that don’t feel right.

“So there are a lot of tricks that we’re still capable of doing that we don’t do because they just don’t vibe out right. I don’t think that once you’re over 50, you can really do escapes. I always kind of thought, well,

if ‘Saturday Night Live’ had someone [President] Biden’s age playing Biden, would that be better?’ I think the answer is no. And I think the same thing for magic. There’s something very, very sexy about a 25-yearold man being tied up and escaping, and that’s just not true for someone over 50, 55 or whatever.”

Of course, this being Penn & Teller, they found a workaround.

“The whole idea was we’re too old to do escape, so we escaped from rocking chairs,” he recalled about a sequence they created. “It worked very well. We’re just writing stuff that’s more appropriate to our age.”

As Jillette noted, he and Teller have devised and performed an astonishing 180 tricks during their time together. When asked to identify those of which he is especially proud, he didn’t hesitate before responding.

The first bit he mentioned was the one in which an audience member is brought on stage and is transformed into Teller.

The second one is their celebrated “bullet catch” illusion that had them simultaneously firing bullets into each other’s mouths. According to Jillette, a survey of critics voted it the greatest magic trick of all time.

Nonetheless, you won’t be seeing it at Hard Rock, nor at Rio Hotel & Casino where the team has conducted Las Vegas’ longest headliner residency since January 2001, or at any other venue. That, he explained, is because of the divisiveness the politicization of guns has created among Americans.

Another source of pride for Penn & Teller is “Fool Us,” a weekly series in which ma-

gicians perform illusions in hopes of stumping the pair as to how they did them.

“We are by far, and I mean by a factor of two or maybe three, the longest-running show on The CW,” he bragged. “And, it’s really great, because we’ve gotten to see such changes in magic in just that short period of time.

“We obviously can’t book the acts that come on because that wouldn’t be fair. But we can give a generic push, and we would tell the producers every year, get people in that do not look like us. “Magic should not look like us. For a hundred years, magic has looked like us. It’s looked like middle-aged white guys, cis males who at least pass as heterosexual. And we want that to stop.

“A few years ago, we had a season where we had five women on, women who were not doing like a witch or dominatrix act, and were not assistants and were not part of a team, but five solo women who were dressed like men would be: Normally and not overly seductively. And all five of them fooled us.

“I think that needs to be noted. It was just a different way of thinking. We’ve had people who identify as every race. We had [a contestant] on last year who transitioned gender between their first appearance and their second. They came one year as a man and three years later as a woman.

“And very proudly, we’ve already had like four people on the show who started magic because they saw ‘Fool Us,’ and then came on and fooled us,” Jillette said. “And that’s pretty wonderful, you know? That feels pretty great.”

Courtesy of Penn and Teller

FRI, JUL 26

STEVE MARTIN & MARTIN SHORT SAT, MAY 18

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PATTI LABELLE W/ SPECIAL GUEST THE COMMODORES FRI, JUN 7 THE O'JAYS W/ SPECIAL GUEST THE SPINNERS SAT, JUL 13 BLACK PUMAS SAT, AUG 3

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NMG to host 20th job fair

Looking for a new employment opportunity? Pull out your best business attire, fill a folder with resumes and head to the Employment Weekly Job Fair.

The free event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in the Nordstrom Corridor of the Cherry Hill Mall. Please note: this is the centralized area near the fountains and escalators, not inside any specific retailer.

Businesses will be on hand showcasing both full-time and part-time job openings and other opportunities. All companies attending the event will be hiring for a range of employment opportunities. Job seekers can plan to discuss their resumes and employment aspirations on site with all businesses.

Gold sponsor, Camden County Department of Events, will be on-site to share hiring opportunities and support for job seekers, including One Stop; Camden County Prosecutor’s Office; Camden County Juvenile Detention; Workforce Development Board; Camden County Children’s Services; and Camden County College. Silver sponsor, Inspi-

ra Health, will also be on site with a range of open positions.

Bronze sponsors attending the event include Federal Bureau of Prisons; Virtua Health; AristaCare Health Services; Dr. Schär USA; and Comfort Keepers. Additional businesses confirmed to attend include Catholic Charities; PILOT Services; New York Life; Heart to Heart Health Care Services; Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey; The Sun Newspapers; J-Dogs; People Share; Foley, Incorporated; and Easton Coach.

“We are really excited to host our twentieth job fair at the Cherry Hill Mall,” NMG Director of Marketing and Events Michelle Donnelly said. “These events have done a great job connecting job seekers with hiring companies, and we are hoping this is especially true now, considering the job market.”

The Employment Weekly Job Fair is free, but registration is requested for all expected to attend.

To register and to see an updated list of participating businesses, please visit nmg. ticketleap.com/job20/.

Women with disabilities ‘deserve health equity’

The Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center, South Jersey’s first primary care practice dedicated to serving individuals with complex special needs, has launched an initiative to improve sexual and reproductive healthcare for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Funded in part by an Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Disability Services, the effort aims to elevate the standard of care and eliminate health-care disparities by reducing the stigma associated with sexuality education, deescalating patient fears, addressing potential histories of sexual trauma, and empowering patients to participate in their own health-care decisions, according to a press release from the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS).

“Our Inclusive Healthy Communities program aims to enhance accessibility and health, and that includes ensuring

women with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive the same equitable access to vital health care services,” said Kaylee McGuire, DHS deputy commissioner for Aging and Disability Services.

“Whether it be routine women’s health examinations or more in-depth personalized care, women with IDD deserve health equity.”

IHC is a grant program established in 2020 by the Division of Disability Services. The grants help communities and organizations engage in projects that promote the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities in the communities where they live.

“Individuals with intellectual disabilities have the same gynecological health issues as people who don’t have a disability, but are less likely to get these health-care needs met,” said Wendy Aita, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and co-director of the Rowan-Virtua RISN Center.

“Sometimes this is related to the stigma associated with

sexuality or the misconception that individuals with disabilities don’t need to have reproductive healthcare exams,” she added. “Sometimes it’s related to a health-care provider’s lack of training or experience with people who have intellectual disabilities.”

The RISN Center’s initiative has several key components designed to ensure comprehensive and compassionate care for patients of all abilities:

• Pap Camp: Women with intellectual disabilities come together with a health professional to talk about sexual and reproductive health and what to expect at a gynecological exam. The goal is to reduce fear about the experience; share methods of coping with stress or anxiety; understand permission and consent; and learn how to directly communicate with healthcare providers and advocate for themselves. Participants leave Pap Camp with a personalized plan they can take to their healthcare provider spelling out their special needs (for example:

extra time, sensory issues) and concerns.

• Accessible resources: The RISN Center has developed accessible, easy-to-understand resources about women’s health topics specifically for individuals with IDD. These resources will include informative pamphlets, videos, and an interactive workbook, ensuring that vital information is available in formats that cater to various learning styles and abilities. The Center included inclusive imaging in the resources.

• Medical training: Recognizing the vital role of healthcare professionals in delivering inclusive and person-centered care, the RISN Center is developing specialized training for medical students, residents, and practicing healthcare providers. This training equips medical staff with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively, address the unique needs of patients with disabilities, and provide compassionate care that respects patient autono-

my. Topics include accessibility options; addressing sensory issues, anxiety, and past trauma; and understanding the kinds of accommodations patients with disabilities may require.

• Empowerment and consent: A fundamental aspect of the initiative is promoting the autonomy and agency of individuals with IDD in matters concerning their own bodies. RISN prioritizes teaching self-advocacy skills, fostering a sense of empowerment, and ensuring that medical decisions are made with informed consent.

“We can improve health care for people with different abilities by including them in their own health-care decisions,” noted Jennifer LeComte, medical director of the RISN Center. “We see every appointment as an opportunity to educate and empower patients and their caregivers to advocate for themselves.”

For more information about the RISN Center, visit https:// centers.rowanmedicine.com/ risn/

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

(Never known to fail)

O most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity Oh Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein You are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech You from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request) There are none that can withstand Your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times) Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times) Say this prayer for three consecutive days. You must publish it, and it will be granted to You.

PRAYER TO THE

(Never known to fail)

Prayer of supplication to the Holy Spirit You who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can achieve my goal You who give me a divine gift to forgive & forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life are with me I want this short prayer to thank you for all things you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you, even in spite of all material illusions. I wish to be with you in eternal joy and thank you for your mercy towards me and mine The person must say this prayer for 3 consecutive days After 3 days the favor requested will be granted even if it seems difficult The prayer must be published immediately after the favor is granted without mention of the favor, only your initials should appear at the bottom.

O most Beautiful Flower of Mt Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein You are my Mother Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech You from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand Your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days. You must publish it, and it will be granted to You

X.X

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190-03960 .70 oval cut diamond G-VS2

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190-03803 .72 ct pear shape diamond D-VS1

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With 1.50 ct side stones

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G.I.A. Certified

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101-00627 2.03 ct emerald cut diamond D-VS1

G.I.A. Certified

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