By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 – President Bush today posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Mansoor, a Navy SEAL whose mortal sacrifice in Iraq saved the lives of two fellow SEALs and several Iraqi soldiers. The fallen SEAL\’s parents, George and Sally Monsoor, accepted the honor on their son\’s behalf during a White House ceremony. The Medal of Honor, awarded for gallantry in combat exceeding the call of duty, is the nation\’s highest military decoration. \”In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in arms,\” Bush said. \”Today, we remember the life of this faithful Navy SEAL, and on behalf of a grateful nation, we will present Michael Mansoor\’s family with the Medal of Honor that he earned.\” Monsoor, a 25 year-old machine gunner with SEAL Team 3, was providing security at a sniper lookout post on Sept. 29, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, when a fragmentation grenade hit his chest and bounced to the floor. Positioned next to the single exit, only Monsoor could have escaped harm. Instead, he threw himself onto the grenade. Monsoor used his body to absorb the blast and shield two nearby SEALs. The SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers survived, some with wounds, others unscathed. Monsoor died a half hour later. \”One of the survivors puts it this way: \’Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, \”You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead,\”\’\” said Bush, quoting one of the SEALs saved by Monsoor. In remarks today, the president characterized the petty officer as an unlikely candidate for the SEALs. As a child, he suffered from asthma attacks and coughing fits that routinely landed him in the hospital, Bush said. But the asthmatic child resolved to wean himself off his inhaler, strengthening his lungs by challenging his siblings in swimming races. The determined child grew into a young man who eventually completed SEAL training, which Bush called the \”ultimate test of physical endurance.\” \”Less than a third of those who begin this training become SEALs,\” he said. \”But Mike would not be denied a spot.\” The maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Command, Navy SEALs are expert reconnoiters and stealth warriors, often performing clandestine operations that larger forces cannot conduct undetected. Today Monsoor became the first SEAL to earn the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and the second SEAL to receive the award since Sept. 11, 2001. Monsoor will be inducted tomorrow into the Pentagon\’s Hall of Heroes, where his name will be engraved alongside some 3,445 recipients of the nation\’s highest honor. The petty officer previously was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with combat \”V\” device, and a Purple Heart before becoming the fourth servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor since the beginning of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Awarded by the president in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as a personal award of valor for members of the Navy. Today, every service branch confers the rare honor upon those who distinguish themselves \”conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life.\” \”The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it,\” the president said. \”Yet those who knew Michael Monsoor were not surprised when he did.\”

Related Sites: Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor The Ultimate Sacrifice Our Men and Women in the Military

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women’s lacrosse team rolled to its ninth straight victory as the Lions defeated visiting Mount Saint Vincent College by the score of 17-2 on Tuesday.

The win keeps the Lions, who moved up to the second spot in the latest IWLCA/Under Armour Division III poll earlier in the day, undefeated on the season at 9-0 and extended their home winning streak to 17 dating back to the 2006 campaign. The loss dropped the Dolphins to 4-6.

TCNJ put the game away early scoring six goals in the first five minutes of the game and led 12-2 at the half. Senior Karen Doane (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) paced the Lions to that lead in the opening 30 minutes scoring four goals and setting up another. Freshman Alison Jaeger (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) also contributed with two goals and two assists.

For the Dolphins in the first half, Lauren Perla (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) and Katie Tucci (Baldwinsville, NY/C. W. Baker) each scored.

TCNJ scored the only five goals of the second half with Jaeger, Katie Reuther (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North), Maggie Rarich (Titusville, NJ/Hopewell Valley), Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Kelly Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scoring those goals.

Doane finished the game with four goals and two assists, while Jaeger scored three times and set up three others. Senior Diane Haddeland (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) contributed with three assists.

Senior Caitlin Gregory (Winslow, NJ/Eastern) collected the win for the Lions making four saves.

In goal for the Dolphins, Jackie Horn (Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) collected three saves.

The Lions return to action this weekend hosting top-ranked and undefeated Salisbury University in a 5 p.m. showdown at Lions’ Stadium on Saturday.

The Gloucester City Lions Club and the Gloucester City Rotary Club at their annual joint public Citizen of the year banquet will honor Gloucester City resident Louisa Llewellyn on Friday night, May 9, at Nicolosi\’s Restaurant on Route 45, Woodbury.

The honored guest has been extremely active in civic, charity, education, and youth affairs for more than 40 years.

After retiring as a teacher at Gloucester City High School, she became a member of the local Board of Education and is currently its President, after having served as its Vice President for 14 years. She served on the Gloucester City Chapter of the Deborah Hospital, as well as a commissioner for the Gloucester City Softball League for over 12 years.

She is a very active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and has been a volunteer worker for the Gloucester City Ministerium Food Pantry for several years. She cooked meals monthly for parents and patients at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden. She has been the State appointed Gloucester City Historian since 1982

She has been very active with youth, having been active in the former Gloucester City Sounds of Youth organization, the Southern Regional Advisory Council for Youth Consultation Services, and has served as Treasurer of the Gloucester City P.A.L for approximately 25 years.

The affair is open to the public and friends who desire to attend the banquet.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in Gloucester City at Carr\’s Hardware, 22 N. Broadway; the law office of William Dilks, 116 S. Broadway, Labbree Realty, 23 N. Broadway, or from any member of the local Lions or Rotary Clubs.

By Lois Staas

NEWS Correspondent

Upon second reading and public hearing, Bellmawr Council adopted an ordinance authorizing appropriation for the preparation and execution of a complete program of revaluation of real property during last week\’s meeting.

In a related resolution, Council then awarded the contract for the revaluation to Professional Property Appraisers, Inc., of Delran for $299,300.

Council members acknowledged those in attendance, including the Rev. Vincent Kovlak of the Bellmawr Baptist Church, and Mike J. \”Juice\” Williams and Tracy Shinkarow, who are running for positions on the Bellmawr Board of Education.

In department reports Councilman John P. Bollinger said a police officer made an arrest of significance by stopping a fairly new Toyota pickup truck whose owner had seven pounds of marijuana valued at about $1,100.

Councilman Peter A. Di-Giambattista said, \”The budget has been to the state and we are awaiting approval. We are in better shape than the other municipalities. We have not laid anyone off.\”

Councilman Stephen M. Sauter was pleased to announce the upcoming dedication of Paglia Park on Thursday, April 24.

Rev. Kovlak suggested the Beautification Committee enlist the help of school students in a short clean up of the school area to encourage pride and responsibility in the school environment.

Councilman Sauter said the Daisies have volunteered to help with the clean up. Areas of concern are Wellwood and Essex avenues.

\”The Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Palm Sunday was a success. Most of the children went home with a prize,\” Councilman Louis DiAngelo said.

Councilwoman Regina F. Pointkowski said, \”I just want to let everyone know that the court is very busy, and all is running very smoothly. Also, the School Board election is April 15 from 2 to 9 pm. This is the time for everyone to come out and vote.\”

On a final note, Councilman Louis DiAngelo reminded everyone that Saturday, April 12, at 10 am will be the Opening Day ceremonies for girls\’ softball and boys\’ baseball in Bellmawr. All are invited to come out to celebrate the start of the new season.

 

 

http://www.reuters.com

NEW YORK, April 9 (Reuters) – Sunoco Inc (SUN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) released an unspecified amount of alumina silica from its 145,000 barrel per day Eagle Point, New Jersey refinery on Monday evening, blanketing several cars in West Deptford Township with the white dust, local media reported Wednesday.

The dust is considered \”a non-hazardous material,\” McCann told the Gloucester County Times. \”It\’s considered a nuisance dust, if anything. It\’s generally non-hazardous.\”

continue

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

Barack Obama\’s half brother, Barracuda Obama, is doing well in Japan and wishes the Illinois senator luck in his quest for the U.S. presidency, the Tokyo Shimbum newspaper reported last Tuesday.

In its annual April Fool\’s Day hoax feature, the Tokyo based newspaper published a story about a 39-year old Asian-African businessman who recently learned he was a child born to Obama\’s Kenyan father and an Asian woman.

Barack Obama Sr. divorced the senator\’s mother, Ann Dunham, in mid-1960s.The spoof says Barracuda was born as the first of four children after Obama Sr. remarried his second wife in Nairobi.

The story says Barracuda speaks fluent Japanese and studied business administration in Japan after graduating top in his class in Kenya He works for a Japanese trading company and specializes in dealing in rare metals.

\”The tradition of publishing hoax stories on April Fools\’ Day began in 2001.The article went on to mention they thought the article about Mr. Obama would entertain their readers, \”said the editor Kenji Zaitoku.

Barracuda acknowledges in the fake interview that he was suspicious with Barack Obama, especially because of the similarity in their names. But the full details were not disclosed to him until late last year.

\”I\’d like to meet (Barack) soon and have a conversation with him,\” Barracuda is quoted as saying to Tokyo Shimbum newspaper.

The paper accompanied the article with a highlight explaining it was a joke, as well as an image of a suntanned Japanese salertman with the caption saying it was Barracuda Obama.

Although Tokyo Shimbum\’s annual April Fools\’ Day features were met with complaints when they first appeared in 2001, none of its readers was taken in Tuesday or called the editorial office fuming over Barracuda\’s lack of authenticity.

The Japan Times on Tuesday published a spoof about the return of an extinct bird at the Alien Wildlife Quarantine Shelter, but in keeping with its April 1 tradition, which predates the Tokyo Shimbum\’s by several years, did not add a disclaimer.

The Yomiuri Shimbum newspaper, the Asahi Shimbum newspaper and the Mainichi Shimbum newspaper said they chose not to join in the spirit of April Fools\’ Day and played it straight.

 

 

Warm Regards from Hank & Keiko Miller from Warm and Sunny Kitakyushu City, Japan

\”Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl\”.

The priest asks, \”Is that you, little Joey Pagano?\”

\”Yes, Father, it is.\”

\”And who was the girl?\”

\”I can\’t tell you, Father, I don\’t want to ruin her reputation\”

\”Well, Joey, I\’m sure to find out her name sooner or later, so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?\”

\”I cannot say.\”

\”Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?\”

\”I\’ll never tell.\”

\”Was it Nina Capelli?\”

\”I\’m sorry, but I cannot name her.\”

\”Was it Cathy Piriano?\”

\”My lips are sealed.\”

\”Was it Rosa Di Angelo, then?\”

\”Please, Father, I cannot tell you.\”

The priest sighs in frustration. \”You\’re very tight lipped, Joey Pagano, and

I admire that, but you\’ve sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar

boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself.\”

Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and

whispers, \”What\’d you get?\”

\”4 months vacation and five good leads.\”

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
BASEBALL: Chris Discher (Cherry Hill/Cherry Hill West) went 7-15 (.467) at the plate last week, including a five-hit game against Kean. Discher hit safely in all three games to extend his hitting streak to five.
LACROSSE: Matt Bell (Jackson/Jackson) totaled nine points on five goals and four assists in two Stockton victories last week.
SOFTBALL: Natalie Berrios (Vineland/Vineland) went 10-16 (.625) while registering four multi-hit games and driving in five RBI last week.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: Tony DeFeo (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) was Stockton’s top finisher at the Osprey Open, placing second out of 26 competitors in the hammer throw (43.99m).
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: Meredith Malloy (Hamilton/Hamilton West) won the 5000-meter run by over a minute (18:24.35) and broke the school record by 25 seconds at the Osprey Open.

LATEST RESULTS

Baseball (15-7, 3-4 NJAC)
Rutgers-Camden 3, Stockton 0
Stockton 19, Kean 9
Kean 12, Stockton 9

Lacrosse (6-4, 1-0 Skyline)
Stockton 9, Susquehanna 8
Stockton 12, Farmingdale St. 11 (OT)

Softball (17-5, 2-4 NJAC)
Stockton 10, John Jay 0 (5)
Stockton 16, John Jay 0 (5)
Stockton 4, Rutgers-Newark 0
Stockton 15, Rutgers-Newark 2 (5)
College of New Jersey 2, Stockton 1
College of New Jersey 7, Stockton 0

Track & Field
No team scoring at Osprey Open

UPCOMING EVENTS (Home opponents in CAPS)

Monday, April 7
Baseball @ College of New Jersey 3:30 pm

Tuesday, April 8
Softball vs. ROWAN 3 pm

Wednesday, April 9
Baseball @ Ursinus 3:30 pm

Thursday, April 10
Softball @ FDU-Florham 3 pm

Friday, April 11
Baseball vs. RUTGERS CAMDEN 3:30 pm

Saturday, April 12
Women’s Rowing @ Knecht Cup
Track & Field @ College of New Jersey Invitational
Lacrosse vs. KEAN 1 pm
Softball @ William Paterson 1 pm
Baseball @ Rutgers-Newark (DH) 4 pm
(at First Energy Park, Lakewood)

Stockton Athletics Website

http://www.timesargus.com

The Vermont Legislature worked quickly to craft the bill after a special request from Rep. Peter Welch. During a visit to Iraq in January, the congressman dined with Holt at a forward base outside Baghdad. He asked the troops whether they had any special requests for when they got home. Holt, an avid sportsman, said he\’d really like to hunt a moose.

The Legislature obliged, moving a bill that gives Vermont veterans first crack at five of the state\’s sought-after moose permits.

Friends and family said the opportunity would be particularly thrilling for Holt. Todd Berte, Holt\’s brother-in-law, said it\’s difficult to overstate Holt\’s passion for hunting.
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source www.philly.com