• Home
• Phone Book
• Forms
• Departments
• FAQs
• Useful Links
• Contact Us

USEFUL TIPS FOR…

A Cleaner Community
Crime Prevention
Fire Prevention
Keeping Children Safe
Cleaner Water
Utility Service Issues
Good Financial Principles
A Safe and Healthy Christmas and Holiday Season
Central Orange Redevelopment Plan
 

A Cleaner Community

1. Store garbage in covered containers
2. Place bulk items, recyclables, and garden debris at the curb only on the night before your scheduled pickup.
3. Remove empty containers as soon as possible after pickup.
4. Follow the rules set forth in the annual recycling calendar provided to residents.
5. Remove litter and debris from sidewalks and curb area on a daily basis.
6. Keep lawns cut, and hedges and bushes trimmed.
7. Keep cars off the streets on days designated for street sweeping.
8. Keep dogs on a leash when walking and remove the waste from public and private property.
9. Keep residential and commercial properties in good repair.
10. Make sure your vehicles are off the street on your designated street sweeping day.

Return to Top of Page

Crime Prevention

1. Have all doors and windows protected with appropriate locks, and use auxiliary deadbolt locks on exterior doors.
2. Lock your doors when leaving home, and leave a spare key with a trusted friend or neighbor instead of hiding it under a doormat, in a plant, or other common places.
3. Secure all sliding glass doors with a wooden or steel bar placed on the track.
4. Disconnect your automatic garage door opener when leaving your house for long periods.
5. Do not advertise a vacant home – have a neighbor pick-up mail, newspapers, etc. when absent or more than a day or discontinue the service.
6. Use indoor and outdoor lights generously when leaving a home unattended during evening hours.
7. Teach children the proper way to take phone messages when adults are not at home.
8. Never give out credit card, banking, or other financial information over the telephone without positive identification of the individual requesting such information.

Return to Top of Page

Fire Prevention

1. Provide a visible address number on your house.
2. Do not block exit doors and fire escapes.
3. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at every level of your home.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries periodically and change them at least one a year.
5. Do not use extension cords in place of permanent wiring.
6. Do not leave cooking food unattended and don’t wear loose clothing when cooking.
7. Never use the kitchen range or oven to heat your home.
8. Check all small appliances to ensure they are turned off before leaving the house or going to bed.
9. Never smoke in bed.
10. Keep all matches and lighters away from children.
11. Know the location of the nearest fire alarm box.
12. Do not part in fire zones or in front of fire hydrants.
13. Keep fire hydrants near your property clear of bushes, hedges, debris, and snow.
14. Develop and practice a home fire-escape plan.
15. In case of a fire, crawl or stay low to the ground beneath the smoke.
16. If a fire should occur, remember to get out and stay out.

Return to Top of Page

Keeping Children Safe

1. Walk the neighborhood with your children showing them safe places in an emergency like a neighbor’s house or an open store.
2. Review the route that your children use to walk to school to ensure that it is the safest alternative.
3. Practice having children recite their full name, address, and telephone number (including area code), and how to make emergency phone calls from home, phone booths, and cell phones.
4. Thoroughly check the references of baby-sitters and day care center personnel.
5. Encourage children to speak out when someone, even someone they know, touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable; let them know they should tell their parent or guardian immediately.
6. Listen carefully to your children and let them know they can talk to you about everything.

Return to Top of Page

Cleaner Water

1. Limit your use fertilizers and pesticides
2. Do not apply fertilizers if heavy rain is predicted
3. If you use fertilizers and pesticides, follow the application instructions on the label very carefully.
4. Hazardous products may include household or commercial cleaning products, lawn and garden care products, motor oil, antifreeze, and paints.
5. Do not pour any hazardous products down a storm drain because drains are usually connected to local waterbodies
6. In the event of a hazardous material spill, contact the Orange Fire Department at 973-266-4222.
7. Use natural or less toxic alternatives  for hazardous products when possible.
8. Recycle used motor oil.
9. Keep leaves and grass away from storm drains

Return to Top of Page

Utility Service Issues

1. For non-operating streetlights, first get the pole number from the metal band fastened to the pole, then call PSE&G at 1-800-722-0256.
2. To report a water or sewer emergency during normal business hours call
   1-866-893-0546.
3. To report a water leak after normal business hours, call United Water Company at 1-800-360-3040
4. To report telephone wires down, call Verizon at 1-800-275-2355.
5. To report an emergency gas utility problem, call PSE&G at, and if appropriate the Orange Fire Department at 9-1-1.

Return to Top of Page

Good Financial Principles

1. Open a bank account
2. Learn about easy ways to start saving and investing for your future
3. Make and use a budget as a realistic saving and spending plan
4. Know your take-home pay
5. Only borrow what you can repay
6. Understand the risks and benefits of using credit
7. Protect your credit record
8. Take steps to manage and deal with your debt
9. Protect yourself from predatory lending, identity theft and financial fraud
10. Understand out to get and keep insurance coverage

Return to Top of Page

A Safe and Healthy Christmas and Holiday Season

1. Never burn candles near evergreens or any potentially flammable item.
2. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow the directions carefully.  If inhaled, the spray can irritate your lungs.
3. Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel Hair” to avoid irritating eyes and skin.
4. Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials.
5. Keep Christmas trees fresh and place them away from heat sources & exits.
6. Be careful when selecting gifts for infants or small children.  Choose toys that are suitable for the recipient’s age.
7. Balance your eating with daily exercise to help avoid gaining extra pounds.
8. Always have a designated driver for holiday parties where alcohol will be served.
9. Set aside time from your busy holiday schedule to relax and relieve stress

Return to Top of Page