Catholic Schools Still Different Where It Counts

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week came to a close on Saturday, Feb. 1. Throughout the Diocese of Camden, schools sponsored open houses; special liturgies and prayer services; academic competitions and showcases; meals for seniors, volunteers and other special people; events to celebrate diverse cultures;

activities to foster community spirit; and an onslaught of service projects.

Catholic schools are known for these activities and more throughout the year, so why the need for a concentrated week? For Sister Sheila Murphy, principal at Cape Trinity Catholic School in Wildwood, it’s all about tradition. She remembers the first Catholic Schools Week, 1974.

“‘Different Where It Counts.’ That was the first tagline and I’ve always loved it. It stayed with me,” said Sister Sheila. She said she thinks about the tagline at the opening Mass every year, a Mass that could not happen outside a Catholic school community, the perfect example of how Catholic schools are different where it counts. According to Sister Sheila, this year’s Mass was particularly special because it was also the conclusion of the parish mission at the school’s primary parish, Notre Dame de la Mer. Turnout from school families was high, and Mass was followed by a parish lunch.

Service is the other element of Catholic Schools Week Sister Sheila cherishes. Like many other schools, Cape Trinity Catholic honors local first responders during the week. Students bring items for gift baskets, which are hand-delivered by families to several police and fire stations. Toiletry bags are also assembled by students and delivered to The Branches, a center in Rio Grande that cares for individuals who are homeless.

“We do some things just for fun, too,” said Sister Sheila, citing the teacher-student volleyball game as a highlight.

For anyone who might have missed the chance to visit during Catholic Schools Week, no worries. The doors to South Jersey Catholic Schools are open for visits, and students are welcome to shadow and discover the difference in a Catholic school education. Find a school near you at

www.southjerseycatholicschools.org

Seasonal Flu More Dangerous Than COVID-19

Gloucester Township, NJ) – While Coronavirus (COVID-19) is in the headlines and a prime topic with medical professionals, the County Department of Health and Human Services says it currently poses little risk to residents in the United States. While the outbreak continues throughout the 22 impacted countries, the county health department is maintaining constant contact with health care providers in the region and state and federal agencies. The department is maintaining contact with local universities and other institutions to monitor and report any new developments.

To date, there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, and there have been only a handful of cases across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains that the threat of human-to-human transmission of the virus in the United States is low.

“For the vast majority of Americans, unless you have recently traveled to Hebei Province where the outbreak is believed to have started, you are not at risk of contracting the coronavirus,” said Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako. “Still, the dedicated professionals at the Health Department are receiving constant updates from the CDC and state Department of Health in order to monitor any changes in this assessment and to keep the public informed.”

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus which is believed to have first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. A novel coronavirus is a coronavirus which has not been previously identified. These are different from other coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans like the common cold.

Although it is considered a serious public health concern by the CDC, the agency maintains that based on the current information available, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general public in the United States is considered low.

The New Jersey Department of Health is working with state and federal partner agencies to track and monitor any suspected cases of the virus and those who had been in contract with any ill persons. The Camden County Department of Health also has the ability to order quarantine for anyone suspected of having contracted the virus.

Anyone with questions about the novel coronavirus, symptoms, or their risk of exposure, can call the free, 24-hour public hotline at (800) 222-1222 where trained professionals are standing by to answer questions about COVID-19.

“It is still important to practice good hygiene, washing your hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes with sleeves or tissues instead of your hands, avoiding sick people when possible,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez. “We want to use this opportunity to stress to the public that while the coronavirus poses little threat at this time, the threat from the seasonal flu remains quite high throughout New Jersey.”

Rodriguez and health officials are stressing the deadly potential of the seasonal flu which currently poses a much greater risk to our community than COVID-19. There have not been any coronavirus-related deaths in the United States, meanwhile the CDC estimates that since October 2019, the seasonal flu has caused more than 10,000 deaths in the United States.

In New Jersey, flu activity remains high in all counties, and officials are reporting an increase in Type B influenza strains, which, like Type A, can cause serious respiratory illnesses and fast-spreading epidemics. The flu vaccine is generally more effective against Type B viruses.

Camden County residents can still receive the influenza vaccination at Camden County’s Regional Health Centers in Bellmawr and Camden City.

To schedule an appointment or to inquire regarding walk-in hours, please contact the appropriate center:

Bellmawr Regional Health Center

35 E. Browning Road

Bellmawr, NJ 08031

(856) 931-2700

Board of Social Services Building

600 Market Street, Basement B-55

Camden, NJ 08102

856-756-2266

“While not 100 percent effective, the flu vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick,” Rodriguez said. “While we keep those affected by the coronavirus in our thoughts and prayers, we hope that our residents will take the initiative and use their elevated concern surrounding the virus and focus on the much more immediate risk which is the seasonal flu.”

For additional information about where and how to receive the flu vaccine residents can contact the county Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 999-9045, or visit

www.camdencounty.com

, or contact their primary physician.

Pennsylvania Suing Delta Auto to Get Money Back for Consumers in Repair Scam

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced today that his Office has filed a civil lawsuit against extended automobile warranty company Delta Auto Protect to get money back for consumers and repair shops which fell victim to its car repair scam. Delta is operated by Omega Vehicle Services LLC and its managing member Charles Seruya.

The

lawsuit

alleges the company advertises and sells vehicle service and repair contracts to thousands of consumers in multiple states from a virtual office in Exton, PA, but refuses to honor the contracts it sells and, after accepting payment from consumers, refuses to cover the necessary repairs promised under contract.

“Many customers of Delta Auto Protect of Exton have complained to my Office, and they’re not happy,” AG Shapiro said. “From phone calls to emails and letters, consumers have let us know how unresponsive this defendant has been to them. This rude and illegal treatment of customers is unwarranted. We are listening, and we are taking action to get their money back.”

The Attorney General said he wants restitution for Delta customers who:

Paid for warranties and didn’t get the coverage they were promised,

Paid out-of-pocket costs to repair their vehicles, and

Tried to cancel their policies but didn’t receive refunds.

Shapiro said he is also seeking restitution for repair shops that didn’t get paid.

The lawsuit says Delta advertised “24/7 customer service” to entice sales, but when consumers and the repair shops called about missing payments, the company dodged them, re-routed their calls, left them endlessly “on hold.” They also failed to return messages.

In some instances, Delta placed a condition on payment that required a consumer to remove their negative reviews of the company. Multiple consumer complaints allege the company failed to pay refunds for contract cancellations.

“I’ve been calling this company almost every week for the past year and it has failed to pay for the repairs on my car,” said Carolyn Ames, a customer from Germansville, Lehigh County. “Delta is impossible to reach. If I do get through they hang up and they never return my calls. I’m so glad to know Attorney General Shapiro is standing up for consumers like me and is taking action to get my money back.”

AG Shapiro is urging any consumers who believe they were victimized by the defendants’ business practices to

submit a complaint

with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, calling the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or emailing

scams@attorneygeneral.gov

This complaint has been filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas by Senior Deputy Attorney General Karen C. McRory-Negrin.

# # #

FBI Authorities Investigating Case of 9-Year-Old Who Disappeared 20 Years Ago

Asha Degree was 9 years old when she disappeared on February 14, 2000. An age-progressed photo shows what she might look today.

Charlotte, North Carolina–It was 20 years ago today that Asha Degree, a shy 9-year-old North Carolina girl, went missing in the middle of the night. The spirited fourth-grader’s disappearance in 2000 shook her rural community of Shelby and remains an enduring mystery, even as police, the FBI, and her family continue to actively search for clues.

“After 20 years, I still believe my daughter is alive,” said Iquilla Degree, who, with her husband Harold, still harbors hope that Asha (pronounced Ay-shuh) might find her way home. “I do not believe she is dead. And I know someone knows something. I’m not crazy enough to think that a 9-year-old can disappear into thin air without somebody knowing something.”

The case remains an open investigation, with a local detective reviewing leads—old and new—and FBI investigators from the Charlotte Field Office consolidating and combing through case files for unexplored patterns or clues. Like Asha’s mother, investigators believe someone in area may hold the key that could unlock the case.

“We strongly believe that there is someone out there that may have a piece of information that will help her,” said Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Tim Adams, who came out of retirement in 2014 to lead the department’s probe. In 2015, the sheriff’s office teamed up with the FBI and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in a top-to-bottom re-examination of the case, which has since generated more than 350 leads, including 45 in the past year.

“The fact that it was a small child that left on Valentine’s Day really caught everybody’s heart in this community,” Det. Adams said. “She’s been called Shelby’s Sweetheart, because she’s a child that’s one of our own that has gone missing, and we want to find out what happened to her.”

What is known from the earliest hours of the investigation is that Asha disappeared from her bedroom sometime between about 2:30 a.m. on February 14, 2000, when Harold checked on Asha and her older brother, and 6:30 a.m., when Iquilla went in to wake the kids for school. There was no sign of forced entry and no promising scent trail for search dogs to follow. That afternoon, investigators received at least two separate reports from individuals who said they saw a young female walking along Highway 18, in the opposite direction of the Degrees’ home, around 4 a.m. One person said they went back to check on the girl but she had left the roadway and disappeared into the woods.

“That was the last time anyone had a sighting of Asha that had actually been confirmed,” Det. Adams said.

On August 3, 2001, some 30 miles north of the last sighting, construction workers digging an access road for a new home in neighboring Burke County found a book bag that belonged to Asha. Inside was a concert T-shirt featuring boy band New Kids On The Block and a children’s book,

McElligot’s Pool

, by Dr. Seuss. Neither belonged to Asha, though the book was from the library at Asha’s school, Fallston Elementary. Investigators released images of the shirt and book in 2018, hoping to jog the memories of people who may have helpful information.

The 2015 re-investigation also turned up another possible lead: Asha may have been seen getting into a dark green 1970s-model Lincoln Continental Mark IV or Ford Thunderbird with rust around the wheel wells. The FBI publicly announced the potential lead in 2016 and released images of the vehicle models.

“We encourage anybody out there that if they have any information—no matter how small or minor it may seem—it might be extremely crucial to further us getting one step closer to Asha,” said FBI Special Agent Michael Gregory, who is leading the case now for the Bureau. “We will continue to pursue all avenues to find out what circumstances led to her disappearance, and we will continue to pursue this case at all costs.”

Working with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the FBI has released multiple age-progressed photos of Asha, including a new version this month showing what Asha may look like now as a 29-year-old. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward on top of $20,000 set aside by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and the community. Three years ago, the FBI deployed its Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, which spent more than a week on location and generated still more leads and interview prospects.

“Although Asha left her house 20 years ago, we treat it as if it happened yesterday,” said Jeanine Merritt, an FBI intelligence analyst who has worked the case since 2014, bringing reams of 20-year-old paperwork from disparate offices and investigations into a single searchable database. “We’re constantly accepting new leads. We’re constantly sifting through new data.”

There are few clues about why Asha left her house on Valentine’s Day, which is also her parents’ wedding anniversary. If she was upset about her poor performance at a basketball game the Saturday before her disappearance (she fouled out and her team lost by one point), it seemed to have dissipated by the next morning, when the family went together to church and Sunday school. Still, it was a crushing loss for Asha, her mom said, leading Iquilla, Harold, and investigators to wonder if it may have spurred the competitive, intelligent 9-year-old to hatch some unknown plan.

“Apparently, she packed her bag prior to leaving, but the contents—from what we can tell—looked like something a child would pack rather than her parents preparing her for an overnight stay,” Det. Adams said.

For Asha’s family, prayers and hope have sustained them for the last 20 years, but they need answers. Iquilla appealed directly to anyone who may have been involved in her daughter’s fate to come forward and unburden themselves.

“That’s my prayer every night, that God will get into their heart and let them come forward, because it’s got to be a weight on them,” she said.

Iquilla was seated beside Harold, clutching a photo album full of pictures of Asha.

“We’re hoping and we’re praying that she’s had a halfway decent life even though we didn\’t get to raise her,” she said. “She was 9 years old, and she’ll be 30 this year. So we’ve missed everything. But I don’t care. If she walked in the door right now, I wouldn’t care what I missed. All I want to do is see her.”

Resources

ASHA JAQUILLA DEGREE

Investigators Seek Public Assistance in 20-Year Missing Girl Investigation

CNB Medical News: The Winter Blues

(NAPSI)—You may have heard the terms—winter blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern. No matter what you call it, with approximately 17.3 million adults in the U.S. experiencing seasonal depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, feeling gloomy this time of year isn’t uncommon—but it can be overcome.

The Problem

Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern (formerly called SAD) can affect anyone of any age. Whether you’re a student returning to class, a busy working professional who’s always playing catchup, or even newly retired with found time on your hands, the excitement of the holidays is long over and wintry dark days are here. While January and February are the typical peak months for the disorder, symptoms can persist through April, according to Mental Health America.

Doctor’s Advice

When that feeling of sadness persists for several weeks, it’s time to take action, according to Dr. Desreen Dudley, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Health Provider of Therapeutic Services for Teladoc Health. But, she points out, often the toughest thing for many is how to discern whether what they feel is temporary or something more serious.

“If someone has a few days of feeling low, that’s normal and typically nothing to worry about. It’s when the feeling lingers for weeks and people lose interest in daily activities and suffer persistent negative thoughts, that lend a stronger basis for Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Affective Pattern diagnosis,” she says.

What To Watch For

Other symptoms she warns about are:

•Change in appetite

•Change in sleep pattern

•Decreased energy

•Decreased concentration

•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

•An inability to think, concentrate, or finish tasks at work or school

•Thinking about suicide, self-harm, or death

Dr. Dudley contends individuals already struggling with depressive disorders are susceptible to SAD patterns. For older Americans, a Vitamin D deficiency can exacerbate low moods. On the other end of the spectrum, she has worked with newly independent college students who find SAD a heavy burden and say their new responsibilities of classes, exams and jobs can compound their depression. For some, not rising as early for classes as they did in high school means sleeping in more and further limiting their exposure to sunlight.

What To Do

In addition to considering therapy, such as virtual care, which is available on your terms and from any location you choose, Dr. Dudley recommends:

•Avoiding or cutting back on alcohol and other addictive substances

•Eating healthfully—more lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and eliminating sugar

•Daily exercise at least 30 minute a day (walking counts)

•Yoga or meditation

•Learning about and trying light therapy

•Regularly surrounding yourself with those you enjoy being around.

When To Seek Help

According to a recent global study conducted by Ipsos MORI for Teladoc Health, individuals often recognize when they’re struggling, but even so, over a third of the respondents who have had one mental health episode admitted to not seeking professional help. The reason? For many, it’s often the difficulty in finding mental health care.

“Thankfully, virtual care is becoming increasingly available as a source of convenient mental health care,” Dr. Dudley says. “It eliminates the traditional obstacles of in-person visits and has opened up access for anyone with a busy schedule, individuals who may have difficulty getting out of the house and students who may fear the stigma of walking into the campus mental health clinic.”

Learn More

For further information, visit

www.Teladoc.com/therapy

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey in Maryland Shows Rise in Bird Count

February 6, 2020

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Wintering Duck, Geese, and Swans

Photo by Orietta Estrada

In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the state’s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 627,000 waterfowl, which was higher than the 566,300 birds observed during 2019, but lower than the five-year average of 738,440 birds.

“The abundance and distribution of wintering waterfowl is influenced not only by the annual changes in population size, but also the weather conditions during migration and throughout the winter,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto. “Moderate winter weather up and down the east coast has allowed most waterfowl species to remain spread out across Maryland and our surrounding states.”

Overall, the number of dabbling ducks was higher (93,000) than last winter (64,400). However, fewer diving ducks (149,700) were observed than in the 2019 survey (182,000). Biologists also counted more Canada geese this year (327,200) than last year (250,200). Following 2018’s record low hatch, Atlantic Population Canada geese benefited from normal spring weather conditions on their nesting grounds in 2019, leading to average gosling production.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1950s and covers most of the tidal shoreline and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland.

White Supremacist Fred Arena, of Salem Sentenced to Prison for Lying to FBI

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Fred Arena, 41, of Salem, New Jersey, was sentenced to six months’

Fred Arena

(photo courtesy of the Courier Post)

imprisonment and two years’ supervised release by United States District Court Judge John R. Padova for making false statements to government agents.

Arena, who was an employee of a federal contractor at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and as such was required to obtain a federal security clearance, lied to obtain the clearance. He also subsequently lied to federal investigators who asked him about his answers to questions on the security clearance paperwork. He was arrested and detained in October 2019, and pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2019.

On January 10, 2019, Arena completed the standard Form SF-86 to obtain a federal security clearance for his employment. On that form, he was required to disclose whether he had ever been a member of an organization that used (or advocated the use of) force or violence to prevent others from exercising their constitutional rights. He falsely answered that he had not. In fact, Arena was an avowed member of Vanguard America, a white supremacist group that fits that description. His membership in Vanguard America and his participation in their activities were demonstrated by his many admissions and photos on social media, including events surrounding the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. On the same application, Arena was asked whether he had had property repossessed within the past seven years. He falsely answered that he had not. In fact, Arena had previously defaulted on a car loan, and his car was repossessed within the seven year window.

As part of his sentence, the Court specifically ordered that Arena shall, during the period of supervised release, be barred from membership and participation in any organization that advocates or practices unlawful acts of force or violence to discourage others from exercising their rights under the United States Constitution or any state of the United States.

“Lying on federal security clearance forms and to government agents are very serious matters,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Further, no employee working for the federal government, being paid with taxpayer dollars, has any business being a member of a white supremacist group or espousing white supremacist views. Under the terms of today’s sentence, Arena’s activities will be closely monitored by the Court and Probation after he finishes his jail term in order to prevent him from engaging in new criminal behavior that may violate the civil rights of others and endanger the public.”

“Fred Arena lied about being a white supremacist to land a security clearance and government job he never should have had,” said Tara A. McMahon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “When the FBI questioned him about his background, he continued this pattern of deception. There must be serious consequences for actively deceiving federal agents. Otherwise, critical investigations would grind to a halt, hobbling our justice system and giving criminals and terrorists the upper hand.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Camden County Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Joseph LaBar and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Martha Nye.

2020 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards

Camden County\’s very own XPoNential Music Festival at Wiggins Waterfront Park, along with a number of other Camden County arts and music organizations, has been nominated for the 2020

JerseyArts.com

People\’s Choice Awards. Also nominated were:

Mainstage Center for the Arts Harmony Show Choir (Blackwood)

Scottish Rite Auditorium (Collingswood)

Ritz Theatre Company (Haddon Township)

South Camden Theatre Company (Camden)

Symphony in C (Collingswood)

Perkins Center for the Arts (Collingswood/Moorestown)

African American Film Festival (Camden)

Voting is now open at

JerseyArts.com/vote

. Support the arts that Camden County has to offer by casting your vote. Don’t delay; voting ends

February 20th,

and winners in each category will be announced on

March 11, 2020

Tips for keeping your car insurance low

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 17, 2020)–Auto insurance is a tailor-made product, and your policy is very much your own based on factors that are exclusive to you. It is not a fixed cost and could cost you some good money. Still, you can lower it through better bargaining with the insurance company to get better

insurance quotes

only when asked for. Having adequate coverage does a lot of good when you face adverse situations that damage the car or injure others and damage property. The insurance policy protects you financially as the insurance company pays out for the damage when you lodge a claim.

It does not require that you cut down driving, which can help to lower the premium because there are many other

ways to obtain other discounts

which, when added together, considerably lower the premium.

Focus on safe driving

Since insurance rates depend upon the risk assessed by the insurance company, the more you prove that you are a safer driver, the lower would be the insurance rate. On the other hand, if you are accident prone and used to frequent traffic violations, be ready to pay higher insurance. To ensure safe driving, drive at moderate speed, and stay alert and agile so that you have better control over the vehicle and avoid accidents. Maintaining the smallest list of traffic violations is the way to keep insurance costs low.

Buy an insurance friendly car

The car is a major factor that determines the insurance rate, and when you buy a car, check if there are better models from the insurance perspective. The cost of the car and its fancy features are reasons for a higher premium, and it is better to choose a car that is more need-oriented than an object of vanity. The value of the vehicle has a direct relation to the collision coverage, and it is inherent in some car models to attract higher insurance. If you buy a sports car or something that one can interpret to be a sports car, then you must be ready to pay higher insurance as you must for other luxury cars.

Avail behavior-based discounts

Insurance companies reward well-behaved and disciplined drivers with favorable insurance rates by offering discounts. Having a clean driving history underlines the safe driving habits and lowers the risk which the insurance company acknowledges by charging a lower premium. The more control you have on your driving behavior, the better it is because you can claim better rates from insurance companies.

Focus on care safety features

Choose a car that matches your budget and has adequate safety features. Avoid buying a car that might cost less because of fewer safety features because insurance companies rely on better safety features that can minimize vehicle damage after accidents and lower the claim amount. Striking a balance between the cost of the car and its safety features, which must be something more than the minimum, will lead to a lower premium.

If you can reduce the average driven distance in a year, the insurance will be lower.

Philly Baptist Church Minister Says Trump\’s Opportunity Zone Program is Working (video)

Rev. Todd Johnson, \”Trump changed Philadelphia for the better, people are waking up to pandering Dems.\”

PHILADELPHIA, PA (February 15, 2020)–Appearing on

\”Fox & Friends: Weekend\”

, Reverend Todd Johnson, of the

First Immanuel Baptist

Church

said Saturday the Opportunity Zone in the city of brotherly love — created by the 2017

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

— is working.

According to the

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

, Opportunity Zones are designed to spur

economic

development and

job creation

in distressed communities throughout the United States by providing tax benefits to investors who invest eligible capital gains by making an appropriate investment and meet other requirements.

(CONTINUE TO READ)

Watch the latest video at

foxnews.com