Link: The Pocono Record.

July 06, 2008

News this week: Hunting licenses are on sale. You can go to the county treasurer\’s office to buy a license, but then you\’ll miss the chance to browse at all the hunting equipment at area stores. We tell you where you can buy them.

If you need something to get you in the mood for hunting, take a peek at last year\’s photo gallery.

Our reader fishing photo of the week was submitted by Travis Capalbo who caught this striper, weighing 6 to 7 pounds, at Beltzville State Park. Check our fishing photo gallery for others caught this season

By Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith Special to American Forces Press Service ARLINGTON, Va., July 7, 2008 – The first group of 200 California National Guard members called out by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for direct ground support on the fire line July 1 have competed their classroom training and are ready to deploy for hands-on training tomorrow, National Guard officials here said today. California Army National Guard soldiers receive firefighting training from California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention instructors to prepare them for the possible dangers they might face. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stuart Brown, California National Guard (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Answering two call-ups by Schwarzenegger for additional wildfire assistance on the ground last week, 400 California National Guard members joined or were preparing to join the more than 20,000 civilian ground-based firefighters and support personnel today engaged in extinguishing 330 active fires charring the state. Officials said that the addition of Guard members at the fire lines will help relieve \”overburdened and exhausted\” firefighters on the ground. It\’s the first time California Guard members have formally deployed for the governor to a fire line in nearly three decades. \”I have ordered additional California National Guard soldiers to provide direct ground support to our firefighters in their efforts,\” Schwarzenegger said. \”These additional soldiers will bring much-needed assistance to the efforts of the firefighters who continue to tirelessly battle the blazes across California.\” Nearly 1,000 National Guard members are supporting numerous firefighting operations in California. Since June 21, at least 32 Guard fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft and aircrews from more than half a dozen states repeatedly have joined state and federal agencies battling wild land blazes from the state\’s smoke-filled skies. The Guard\’s aerial missions have dropped more than 1.7 million gallons of water and fire retardant in and around the state\’s wild land fires. Most recently, aircrews from the California Guard\’s 129th Rescue Wing joined the air battle as the state\’s first combat search and rescue wing to qualify and carry 660-gallon buckets of water to the wild fires. The recent introduction of National Guard ground forces into the fire fight includes 200 soldiers who trained at the state\’s Wild Land Fire Training Center at the former McClellan Air Force Base. \”The California National Guard is actively engaged in responding to the wildfires in Northern California by providing assistance to local authorities and to the citizens of the affected communities,\” Army Maj. Gen. William Wade, California adjutant general, said. \”We continue to do this through air assets and personnel and equipment on the ground. The California Guard is proud of its ability to respond rapidly to those citizens affected by this horrible disaster.\” Officials said the soldiers were trained by the state\’s Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention personnel in fire behavior, fire safety and how to create fire containment lines using hand tools. The soldiers will be issued equipment tomorrow and conduct hands-on fire training today at a \”cold-line\” section where wild fires have previously burned. A majority of the soldiers are from the 100th Troop Command and the 115th Regional Support Group. \”It will be tough work, tedious and dangerous,\” said retired Army Col. Terry Knight, director of community relations for the California Guard. \”They are getting hot and heavy as we speak.\” Knight said a primary function for the two teams will be to construct fire lines, by hand, in places heavy equipment cannot reach. Still, other Guard officials said, the Guard members also will provide follow-up support and may possibly end up fighting active wild fires. Officials said an additional 200 California Guard soldiers, called out by the governor July 4, are the next group to train at McClellan for ground firefighting support. Other California Guard forces on the ground are providing truck transportation and command and control personnel for civilian responders. Eight California Guard bulldozers and operators are also cutting fire lines in their efforts to contain the blazes. (Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith serves with the National Guard Bureau.)

Related Sites: National Guard Bureau Related Articles: Air Guard Rescue Unit Certifies in Firefighting Technique

Link: Philadelphia Daily News | 07/07/2008.

Pier 11 coming back from the dead?

By CHRIS BRENNAN
Philadelphia Daily News

[email protected] 215-854-5973

The \”opportunistic species\” – that\’s horticultural lingo for some serious weeds – soar 10 feet and taller on Pier 11, a historic structure that juts into the Delaware River just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

The pier\’s tale tracks the story of Philadelphia – a life launched from and thriving upon commerce that comes with a perch on a big river.

photos by John Schmidt

The Schooner \”Northwind\” arrived on Saturday from Greenwich, NJ, to its new home at Freedom Pier, in the City of Gloucester. The schooner is docked at the former Coast Guard Base, King and Cumberland Streets. Aboard for the ride from Greenwich were Mayor Bill James and other city officials.

As it was about to dock the Mayor gave the ship a welcome tune on his bagpipes.

Plans call for using the former sail training 75-foot vessel for public sailing excursions up and down the river and as a working marine educational exhibit, attracting maritime business and programs for adults and youth. The city recently purchased the schooner with funds from its Urban Development Action Grant.

Along with the schooner, a 65-foot, 150-passenger excursion boat, The Flagship, will operate from the pier throughout the summer, offering sightseeing excursions and group charters; and the development of an outdoor cafe at the pier is underway.

Link: MyCentralJersey.com.

The gun, a Gamo P-23, was sitting under the rear window of the 2004 coupe. Looking like a larger-caliber handgun, the firearm drew a quick response from the bicycle-patrol officer who stopped Narciso for doing 40 mph in a 25-mph zone. With gun drawn, the officer arrested him.

Narciso\’s father, an architect, bought the pellet gun at a garage sale a few years ago to fend off squirrels that made their way into the attic of the families home on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Edison, the father and Narciso\’s lawyer, Amilcar Perez of Perth Amboy, said.

Under a new state law, Narciso\’s possession of the weapon qualifies as a Graves Act offense. Narciso could face what prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys call a \”hard three,\” meaning three years with no prospect of parole.

Hi Bill,

I am not a graduate of Gloucester Catholic and yet I am another person who has been \”closed down\” or \”regionalized\” by the Diocese of Camden.\” With a letter in my children\’s backpacks, I was notified of the closure of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mount Ephraim. This was 2 years after many parents made significant contributions to the parish of which 50% went to the school for renovations which included new windows, flooring, etc.

We kicked and screamed enough to have a meeting with the Diocese administrators to discuss the closing but their minds were made up and their plans were in place long before we said our peace and made proposal after proposal on how we could increase the funding and keep the school open.

Bill, the bottom line is the bottom line for the Diocese in terms of black and red. They do not care about history and tradition. They do not care about the impact that 2 empty and vacant buildings in the center of the Gloucester City community. They care about how many additional, new students they can lure, with undoubtedly a higher tuition to a brand new high school in Mullica Hill. Nothing else matters to them.

The shame of it all is that they are losing so many souls who simply give up to the religion who has given up on them. The foundation of the Catholic School is the Catholic Education. When you educate your population in God\’s teachings, they give back to the church and community. When you show your parishioners and community that you simply don\’t care what they think and you will go about your plan to close and regionalize you Catholic Schools, and \”relocate\” as the try to pull of the Gloucester Catholic move, you turn your back on them.

Is it any surprise that people are abandoning the church in droves. When you step inside the church, how many young people do you see? What is the average age of the parishioners who are attending? Abandoned Catholic\’s and their children stop attending church. Why go to a place where you have been abandoned yourself. The Diocese saw fit to close your schools and regionalize your parishes. Do you just continue to take it from them?

What happens when they tell you that St. Mary\’s has too few parishioners and costs too much to remain open? What happens when the backlash hits were all the affected Gloucester Catholic students and parents stop showing up for mass and stop putting money in the collection boxes? When Sacred Heart Elementary closed the Sunday collections were immediately cut in half.

With few people entering the vocations and no change coming from the Vatican, the richest, non-profit corporation in the world, and the largest real estate landholder (The Catholic Church), will be bringing you video priest and home mass to you soon.

Bill, your article hit a nerve. Best Regards.

Tom Taraschi

 

Link: Yakima Herald-Republic Online.

But Jim Pearson isn\’t some pretentious snob. He\’s not even a jet-setter. The retired Yakima English teacher and freelance writer is a roll-up-the-sleeves guy who has been willing to spend his diligently saved dollars on the African hunting experience of a lifetime … more than once in a lifetime.

And he does it without breaking the bank.

Honest.

Even with that seemingly exorbitant cake-and-coffee experience.

That $2 million was in Zimbabwean dollars, then already rendered all but worthless by that country\’s political instability at that time — and even more so now.

Michael R. Wilke suddenly, on July 2, 2008, age 21, of Wenonah, NJ. Beloved son of Michael & Eileen Wilke of Wenonah, NJ. Loving brother of Joseph, Rosaleen and Kelly all of Wenonah, NJ. Dear Grandson of Mary T. Murray of Haddon Twp., NJ. Also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation Tuesday morning from 9 to 10:45 AM at St. Margaret¹s Church, Third St. & Beech Ave., Woodbury Hts., NJ.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM at the church. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill, NJ. For e-condolences please visit www.jacksonfh.net

http://www.legionbaseball.com

HADDON HEIGHTS (11) BROOKLAWN (1)

Game Summary: Andrew Noon threw a 2 hitter with 2 K\’s and 1 walk in a 5 inn mercy rule game. Ian Lindsey hit a grand slam in the 2nd while Nate Adamo hit a 3 run homerun in the 4th. Andre Frias scored Brooklawn\’s only run in the 3rd on a double by George Spingler.

Haddon Heights and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico will play for the championship title today at 4 PM.

View Full Boxscore

Line Score:

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Haddon Heights,	0	5	0	3	3	X	X	X	X	11	12	0
Brooklawn, NJ	0	0	1	0	0	X	X	X	X	1	2	3
BKLN ﾠ- Cressman.R (C) ﾠ- Donovan.W ﾠ- Melendez.D HHTS ﾠ- Noon.A (C) ﾠ- Leadbeater.R

HUNTER, MARY D.
(Nee Dunn), on July 2, 2008, of Voorhees, NJ. Formerly of Bellmawr, NJ. Age 87.
Wife of the late William C. Hunter, Jr. Loving mother ofPatricia H. Monagle (Dan), William D. Hunter (Marie), and Edward P. Hunter (Maureen). Devoted Nana to her 10 grandchildren, Kevin, Kelly, Kara, Katie, Bill, Matt, Andrew, Dennis, Maura, and Patrick, and 6 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Samantha, Emily, Beth, Matty, and Baby Thornton. Also survived by her sister Margaret Hayden and her niece Donna Witeoak.
Mary was proud to be a founding member of the Altar & Rosary Society of Mary Mother of the Church in
Bellmawr. She loved reading, arts & crafts, antiques, shopping and most of all, her family.
Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Saturday, July 12 from 1:00-2:00 PM at the BRADLEY FUNERAL HOME, Rt. 73 & Evesham Rd., Marlton, NJ. Memorial Service will be 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made in Mary\’s name to The Alzheimer\’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.