Category: CONSUMER NEWS

NRA-ILA: Crime in Virginia is Falling – Governor Focuses on Making You a Felon

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020

SUPPORT NRA-ILA

Disgraced Governor Ralph Northam and his anti-gun allies in the newly elected legislature have made it clear they are hell-bent on enacting gun control. They

want to take your guns

and they

want taxpayers to fund it

. They’ve seen the same research that has shown

that gun control doesn’t work

.

Violent crime in Virginia fell for the second consecutive year, and the Commonwealth has the fourth lowest violent crime rate in the nation – also for the second consecutive year. Virginia had the 25

th

largest decrease in the violent crime rate from 2017 to 2018, while holding its spot as the fourth safest state. Virginia is outpacing the nation in reducing violent crime; the national rate decreased 3.6% while Virginia’s decreased 5%.

It isn’t just overall violent crime that has decreased in Virginia. The murder rate fell by 17.3%, and firearms-related homicides specifically fell by 13.8%. For all of the Bloomberg talking points Northam and his minions regurgitate, there were eight homicides with a rifle

of any type

in Virginia in 2018. There were 3.75 times more homicides with knives (30 total) than rifles of any type and about twice as many fatal assaults with hands, fists, or feet (15 total) than rifles of any type.

Virginia has 14 times the population of Baltimore but 1.4% of the homicides (391 in Virginia statewide compared to 309 in the city of Baltimore). Clearly firearms aren’t the problem, and gun control doesn’t work.

The robbery rate fell 17.3% in Virginia from 2017 to 2018, and there was a decrease in both the number of robberies committed with a firearm (down 7.5%) as well as the percentage of all robberies that were committed with a firearm (down 2.4%).

The rate of aggravated assaults increased 0.7%, and changes in the number of aggravated assaults committed with a firearm tracked with the number of overall aggravated assaults (increases of 8.1% and 7.9%, respectively). The share of aggravated assaults that involved a firearm was steady while the percentage of assaults involving a knife or other cutting weapon increased 1.4%. There was a larger increase in the number of aggravated assaults committed with knives (9.2%).

So violent crime decreased. Homicides and robberies committed with a firearm both decreased while the percentage of aggravated assaults involving a firearm held steady and the overall aggravated assault rate only marginally increased. One might think, to listen to anti-gun legislators and activists, that Virginia is some kind of apocalyptic frontier with no law, no order, and danger around every corner. The data shows that Virginia is safe, both comparatively and categorically.

None of this is to suggest that any level of crime is acceptable. There is still violent crime in Virginia, and there are still criminals to find, arrest, and prosecute. However, the best way to tackle the crime that does occur in Virginia is to focus on those who commit the crimes – not criminalizing gun ownership and lawfully owned firearms.

Virginia would be best served by efforts focusing on criminals rather than bringing Bloomberg’s fantasy of criminalizing legal gun ownership to life. These efforts have been acknowledged by the Bloomberg-funded researchers at the

Bloomberg School of Public Health

and have had

actual real-world results

. Anti-gun researchers

, found that so-called “universal background checks” don’t reduce crime

just as we know that

bans on commonly owned firearms don’t reduce crime

.

Focusing on actual criminals does work.

Please contact Gov. Northam and let him know you oppose his unconstitutional gun control measures. You can contact Northam using the

Governor\’s Office contact form

or call his office at 804-786-2211​.

Help us hold the line.

Join us in Richmond

on January 13

th

and sign up to

volunteer

to help us defeat Northam’s unconstitutional gun control agenda.

Evidence Linking ‘Vaping’ to Increased Odds Of Asthma And COPD

Newswise — Using data from a large federal government telephone survey of adults, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report evidence that inhaling heated tobacco vapor through e-cigarettes was linked to increased odds of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), conditions long demonstrated to be caused by smoking traditional, combustible cigarettes. The data, the researchers say, also suggest that odds of developing COPD may be as much as six times greater when people report they both vape and smoke tobacco regularly, compared with those who don’t use any tobacco products at all.

Reports on the studies are published Jan. 2 in the

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

and on Oct. 16 in

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

.

For both studies, the researchers caution that they weren’t designed to show that vaping directly causes lung disease, but only whether doing so was associated with an increased likelihood of having disease. The researchers also didn’t distinguish between vaping tobacco compared with cannabis. They also cautioned that self-reports via telephone surveys may not be wholly reliable. However, they say their findings demonstrate the need for continued research with e-cigarette users over time to confirm and clarify the risks.

“

Although e-cigarettes may turn out to be safer overall than traditional combustible cigarettes, our studies add to growing evidence that they carry health risks,” says

Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H.

, professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“

These studies are the first in a series of larger and long-term studies that will more definitively provide evidence to inform tobacco users and regulators.”

Asthma, marked by inflammation of the airways and shortness of breath, affects an estimated 25 million Americans, and life-threatening episodes can be triggered easily by pollution, allergies and smoking. COPD, which affects some 16 million Americans, describes a group of disorders including emphysema and chronic bronchitis that make it hard to breathe due to permanent damage to the lungs over time. Rates of asthma and COPD are rising worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Most cases of COPD result from smoking traditional cigarettes.

A study published by Blaha earlier this year in the

Annals of Internal Medicine

estimated that 1.4% of people, or about 1.9 million people in the U.S., solely use e-cigarettes. Scattered reports have linked the practice to a spike in respiratory illnesses dubbed EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury), affecting more than 2,500 people and associated with numerous deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because vaping and the products inhaled with it are still relatively new to the market, its safety remains unclear.

To shed some light on the risk, the researchers took advantage of national survey data gathered by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2016 and 2017. This annual survey, commissioned by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consisted of telephone interviews of more than 400,000 adult participants and provides data on health-related risk behaviors and chronic medical conditions.

In the analysis published in

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

, the investigators analyzed data from 402,822 people who identified themselves as never smokers, meaning they said they had smoked less than 100 combustible cigarettes in their lifetimes. Of these, 3,103 reported using e-cigarettes or vaping, and separately 34,074 people reported having asthma. The average age of e-cigarette users was 18–24. About 67% of e-cigarette users were men. Approximately 57% of e-cigarette users reported that they were white, 19% were Hispanic and 12% were black.

Almost 11% of the e-cigarette users reported having asthma, compared with 8% of those who had never used e-cigarettes. Those people who reported being current e-cigarette users were 39% more likely to self-report having asthma compared with those people who said they never used e-cigarettes. Those who said they used e-cigarettes some days were 31% more likely, and daily users were 73% more likely to report asthma, compared with non-e-cigarette users.

For the study published in the

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

, the researchers analyzed the same data from all the questioned participants. From the more than 700,000 interviewees, about 61% reported being never smokers, about 9% were current smokers, 30% were former smokers, more than 3% said they currently used e-cigarettes, and 2% said they used both e-cigarettes and smoked. The e-cigarette users were more likely to fall in the age range of 30–34, almost 60% were men, 72% identified as white, 8% as black, 3.5% as Asian and 11% as Hispanic.

Of those who said they used e-cigarettes, about 11% said they had chronic bronchitis, emphysema or COPD, compared with 5.6% of people who said they had never used e-cigarettes. Among never smokers, current e-cigarette users were 75% more likely to report having COPD, compared with those who had never used them. Those who said they used both e-cigarettes and smoked cigarettes were almost six times more likely to report having COPD, compared with those who had never used either, whereas just using combustible cigarettes alone increased the odds by three times.

“As a physician, I am most worried about those who use both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes because they may end up taking in the most nicotine, which may do the most damage,” says Albert Osei, M.D., M.P.H., a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author on the study.

“

Through public health campaigns, we finally had smoking levels down in some populations, but now with the current vaping epidemic, I foresee a whole new previously tobacco-naïve, young generation becoming dependent on nicotine if we do not intensify public health education efforts.”

According to the CDC, of the 16 million people in the U.S. who have COPD, 38% of them still smoke.

Additional authors on these studies include Mohammadhassan Mirbolouk, Olusola Orimoloye, Omar Dzaye, S. M. Iftekhar Uddin, Zeina Dardari and Shyam Biswal of Johns Hopkins; Andrew DeFilippis and Aruni Bhatnagar of University of Louisville; Emelia Benjamin of Boston University; and Michael Hall of University of Mississippi Medical Center.

This study was supported by a grant from the American Heart Association Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, which is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2U54HL120163).

COI: Defilippis receives funding from Astra Zeneca and consults for Radiometer America, Inc.

SEE ORIGINAL STUDY

How to Get a Car Loan When You Have Bad Credit Score

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 8, 2020)–The

credit scorecard

plays an important role in getting a loan for the car. Unfortunately, bad credit score makes the process difficult for the borrower in terms of getting a favorable loan amount, monthly payments, and average interest rates. If you have got your heart set on

purchasing the dream car, then you probably need to contact a reliable lender for receiving

auto loans

. Your lender will guarantee the best auto financing deal regardless of your credit history. Read this article for more

information on getting a car loan with bad credit portfolio.

Work On Your Existing Scorecard

It is recommended to work on your existing credit score before you decide to buy a car on a loan. Check-in advance if your credit report will allow you to get a car loan or not. The bad credit portfolio surely decreases your chances of availing loans on favorable terms and conditions. By improving the score of your credit, you can shop around to choose the lending institution that fits best with your desires. It also increases your chances of getting car loans at the lowest possible rates. You can start by evaluating all the probable items that are responsible for your bad credit profile. Clean all the liabilities by paying off your unpaid accounts, reducing the number of total debts, highlighting the positive information on your scorecard, and resolving credit report errors. The continuous improvement in your scorecard leaves a good impression on the car dealers.

Increase the Amount of Down Payment

When you get to increase the amount of down payment, it means you have automatically improved your chances to receive a car loan even with bad credit history. Higher the down payment results in lesser the number of monthly payments, shorten the terms of your loan and lower the borrowing cost. The down payment is considered as money-in-hand which can impact the decisions of car loan lenders. The auto loans lender will support you in getting a car of your dreams even with a low credit score. It tends to reduce the risks associated with the default of the debtor.

Buy a Car That You Can Afford

Have you ever heard a common saying, “the less is more?” Well, that is also true when you make your decision to apply for a loan to buy a new car. If you desire to get an expensive car, then you probably realize that you would also have to take a considerable amount of loans. Similarly, when you have a limited amount saved up as down payment, then you will again have to cover the rest of the amount by getting a loan from financial lenders. Make sure you choose a car based on your estimated budget so you can afford monthly loan payments. Also, this will allow you to negotiate the average rate of interest against an approved amount of car loan.

Put Up Collateral Option

You can benefit from the collateral option if you are in trouble because of a bad credit scorecard. The collateral option allows the financial lenders to trust you because you have the intention to pledge something of great value like your house or expensive jewelry. This technique ensures the monthly payments and the residual amount of loan in the event of default or

bankruptcy

. Be careful when pledging your valuables as collateral, because your lender will sell them in case you are not able to pay. Consider all the significant risks to avoid worse case scenarios.

Consider the Help of a Co-Signer

If you have no credit history or if you are someone with a bad credit score, then don’t you worry! You can ask your parents, friends, siblings, or even your employer to co-sign the car loan. When you are financially stable and have a definite source of income, then your people will have no problem supporting you. Similarly, lenders will be happy to close a deal with you if you are in a position to mitigate the potential risks. Be absolutely sure you can make payments on time. Otherwise, your co-signer will become responsible for your debts.

image courtesy of Pinterest

Can\’t Decide What Type Of Boat To Buy? Here Is A Short Guide

Buying a boat for the first time can be an overwhelming process for the first time. Many different types of boats can be used for various purposes. You shouldn’t look at any friend’s or family member’s vessel and get the same thing because it might not be as suitable for your needs. Here is a list of the various kinds of boats, and other things that you might want to consider before making the decision.

Before Thinking Of Buying

The first thing is, you will need to have a boating license. For which you should consider taking classes, consider taking

practice tests by Aceboater

if you are in Canada. Then, check the laws in the state you plan on riding the boat. Similar to registering a car, you might need to register the vessel as well. Also, learn about transferring the registration to your name if you are considering to purchase a used boat.

Look into each different kind of boat

Think about what you want to do with the boat. Make a list of all the activities that you, or your family, might want to do. Here is a list of the common types of boats:

Aluminum Fishing Boats

It is very commonly used for angling, which is a fishing sport. It has lightweight, and it is effortless to transport.

All-Purpose Fishing Boats

If you are really into fishing and like to catch all kinds of fishes, then this might be a good option. This type is excellent for maximum versatility.

Bowriders

Bowriders are excellent for families and groups of people. They can be used for numerous watersports and regular joy rides.

Cuddy Cabins

Cuddy cabins are excellent for a beautiful day out in the waters, under the sun. If needed, they also have a covered area.

Cabin Cruisers

These are more luxuries versions of cuddy cabins.

Deck Boats

These boats are fantastic for bigger crowds. They are all about making more space inside and maximizing the seating capacity. They can even be used to throw small parties.

Fish and Ski

If you are the kind of person who loves to fish but also enjoys the occasional water sports with friends and family, this might be the ideal boat for you.

High Performance

If you are planning to race, or love speed, then a streamlined boat with high speed and low air resistance would be suitable. Luckily, high-performance boats are just that.

These are just a few, and there are many other types that you should look at before buying.

New Or Used

Now that you have the appropriate information about the kind of boat that would be best, take a look at the budget. It would help if you decided whether to buy a brand new boat or a used one. If you have been saving up for a while, or money is not a problem, then new ones are the way to go. If you are a little low on cash, then purchasing a used one would be better. Used boats can be just as good and last just as long if they are in good condition. Consider getting a thorough inspection before buying a pre-owned vessel.

Visit

boatsforsale.co.uk

and browse through their wide selection of different types of boats both new and used.

images courtesy of Pinterest

Michelle Yampolsky and Matthew Gomez Married

Michelle Ness Yampolsky and Matthew Alfred Gomez were married Dec. 31 in New York. Cantor Laura Stein officiated at One Hanover Square, an events space.

The couple met at Rutgers, from which both graduated.

Ms. Yampolsky-Gomez, 29, is the senior marketing manager at Essence, a digital media agency in New York.

She is the daughter of Yana Fridman Yampolsky and Henry Yampolsky of Livingston, N.J. The bride’s father works in New York as a senior customer solutions manager in the financial services division of Amazon Web Services. Her mother is a director in the New York corporate and investment banking offices of Crédit Agricole, the French bank.

Mr. Gomez, 30, works in New York as a technical recruiter for YouTube, the video-sharing subsidiary of Google.

He is a son of Sharon Kapuscinski Gorman of Mount Ephraim, N.J., and Col. Alfred F. Gomez of Cinnaminson, N.J. The groom’s mother is a middle school language arts teacher at Somerdale Park School in Somerdale, N.J. His father is the director of the medical command at Fort Dix, overseeing the medical operations for the New Jersey Army National Guard.

source New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/

CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE COACH LOU ABBATTISTA TO BE FEATURED SPEAKER AT CAPE-ATLANTIC DAY

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP NJ–The Albert Carino Boys Basketball Club has announced that the Annual Cape-Atlantic Day will be Wednesday, January 22nd at the Harbor Pines Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township, NJ starting at 11:30 A.M. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and may be

made by calling Jack Mongulla, (856-461-8800), or Jason Lewer (609) 706-7063 (or emailing the Club at basketballclub@comcast.net. Tickets are $25.00 each.

The Club will honor Taj Thweatt (Wildwood Catholic), Najee Coursey (Cedar Creek), Stephen Byard (Atlantic City), Chris Kalinowski (Holy Spirit), Alanus Urbanos (St. Joseph’s) and Kevin Foreman (St. Augustine)

at the luncheon.

LOU ABBATTISTA (photo)Head Men’s Basketball Coach Camden County College

Coach Lou Abbattista is beginning his 8th year as head coach at CCC. In his 7 year the Cougars have a record of 139 wins & 69 losses. The Cougars have been in the Region 19 playoffs every year Coach Abbattista has been the head coach and in 6 of those years they advanced to the Final 4 of the playoffs. In addition, the program has sent 25 former CCC players on to 4-year colleges or universities to continue their careers.

Before coming to CCC Coach Abbattista was an assistant and head coach from 1982-1999 at Paul the 6th HS in Haddonfield NJ and was a part of 2 NJ State Championship teams. He then moved to St Augustine Prep in Richland NJ from 2000-2005 and was a part of 1 NJ State Championship team.

Coach Abbattista came to CCC in 2006 as the associate head coach and took over as head coach in 2011.

Reservations for this event must be made prior to Thursday, January 16th. Lunch cost is $25.00. Your school will be financially responsible for all reservations made.

Future meetings for the season will be Unsung Heroes Day (Wednesday, February 5th), Senior Day (Wednesday, February 19th).

January, February and March Events in Philadelphia & The Surrounding Area

January 7

–

19, 2020

THE BAND’S VISIT.

One of the most Tony-award winning musicals in history makes a stop at the

Academy of Music

as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

January 10 & 11, 2020

DRUMLINE LIVE.

The energy, rhythm and musicality of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands hit center stage at the

Merriam Theater.

(215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

January 14 – 19, 2020

32

nd

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL OF BLACKS IN DANCE.

The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) continues its 50th anniversary celebration by hosting this event at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Merriam Theater and SEI Innovation Studio, the DoubleTree Philadelphia, Cambria Hotel Philadelphia and The University of the Arts. (301) 755-0831,

iabdassociation.org

,

philadanco.org

January 17 – 19, 2020

HAMLISCH: WITH LOVE.

In dedication and tribute to the late composer Marvin Hamlisch, The Philly POPS perform renditions of his award-winning songs from Broadway (

A Chorus Line

) and Hollywood,

The Way We Were

, with help from vocalist Ashley Brown. (215) 893-1999,

phillypops.org

January 18 – March 22

, 2020

ORCHID EXTRAVAGANZA. Longwood Gardens

creates an absolutely transcendent experience for orchid lovers, perching and planting the rarest and most beautiful of flora from conservatories to outdoors. (610) 388-1000,

longwoodgardens.org

January 22 & 23, February 26 & 27, March 18 & 19, 2020

DANCE UP CLOSE.

A three-part, midweek, midwinter dance festival begins with

Junkspace

featuring Tori Lawrence at

Christ Church Neighborhood

House

in January; continues with

Boundaries & Other Works

and

Nest

, at

Christ Church Neighborhood House

in February; and wraps with

Reassembling Corporeal Knowledge

, featuring short videos, live solos and duets at

FringeArts

in March.

philadelphiadance.org

January 20, 2020

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE.

Greater Philadelphia holds the country’s largest day of service every Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with tens of thousands of volunteers doing community projects throughout the city and region.

mlkdayofservice.org

January 21–26, 2020

RIVERDANCE – NEW 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW.

This brand-new production reinvents the Irish and international dance and music stylings of the worldwide sensation at the

Merriam Theater.

(215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

January 12–24, 2020

CENTER CITY RESTAURANT WEEK.

Select restaurants in the

Center City District

will offer signature three-course dinners for $35 per person, and three-course lunches for $20 per guest.

ccdrestaurantweek.com

January 18, 2020

LUNAR NEW YEAR CULTUREFEST.

Asian Arts Initiative helps host the

Penn Museum’s

annual celebration of the Lunar New Year with dance, martial arts, music, craft-making, calligraphy, storytelling and a grand finale lion dance. (215) 898-4000,

penn.museum

January 23 – February 8, 2020

BEETHOVENNOW.

The Philadelphia Orchestra marks Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday with pianists Yefim Bronfman, Daniil Trifonov and Emanuel Ax performing all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos. January performances take place at the

Academy of Music;

February performances occur at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

(215) 893-1900,

philorch.org

January 24, 2020

WONDERSPACES. Fashion District Philadelphia

debuts its latest in immersive, experiential fun: a 24,000-square-foot art gallery and bar designed for the date-night crowd.

philadelphia.wonderspaces.com

January 25, 2020

JERRY BLAVAT DISCO, ROCK N’ ROLL AND SOUL.

The Boss with the Hot Sauce hosts a show in

Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

featuring musical acts Peaches & Herb, The Trammps and Gary U.S. Bonds, among others, and a tribute to the late Johnny Maestro. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

January 25, 2020

LUNAR NEW YEAR.

The celebration of the Year of the Rat includes a parade through

Chinatown,

midnight lion-dance performances and special events at

Reading Terminal Market,

the

Independence Seaport Museum

and

The Rail Park.

FEBRUARY 2020

Philadelphia Auto Show, February 8-17, 2020

— Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

Through February 8, 2020

BEETHOVENNOW.

The Philadelphia Orchestra marks Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday with pianists Yefim Bronfman, Daniil Trifonov and Emanuel Ax performing all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

(215) 893-1900,

philorch.org

Through February 23, 2020

THE ROTHMAN ORTHOPAEDICS ICE RINK AND CABIN AND WINTERGARDEN.

The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Skating Rink, the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin and Wintergarden finish their seasonal run at

Dilworth Park,

City Hall’s front yard. (215) 440-5500,

centercityphila.org

Through February 29, 2020

BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Major attractions across the city—including

The African American Museum in Philadelphia,

the

National Constitution Center,

the

Free Library of Philadelphia

and more—celebrate the month throughout February with events and special programming.

visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/black-history-month-in-philadelphia

February 1, 2020

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR.

One of the oldest and largest single-day events for African American children’s books in the country, the 28th annual African American Children’s Book Fair at the

Community College of Philadelphia

features nationally known and bestselling authors and illustrators, representatives from the multicultural literary community, enriching children’s books, and activities that promote the power and joy of reading.

theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org

February 1–16, 2020

GETAWAY AT THE GREENHOUSE.

Fairmount Park Horticultural Center

celebrates summer in winter, setting up a giant sandbox, live music, food trucks and

Gaia, The Traveling Artwork

, British artist Luke Jerram’s spectacular giant globe of the Earth featuring detailed NASA photography. (215) 685-0096,

myphillypark.org

,

my-earth.org

February 1 – June 7, 2020

VOTES FOR WOMEN: A VISUAL HISTORY.

The

Brandywine Museum of Art

commemorates the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote using drawings, illustrations and posters expressing the message of the suffragists, as well as costumes, clothing, sashes and emblems worn by the women activists. (610) 388-2700,

brandywine.org

February 1 – June 14, 2020

WITNESS TO HISTORY: SELMA PHOTOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN SOMERSTEIN.

This exhibit on display at the

Brandywine Museum of Art

documents the historic 54-mile march for civil rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. (610) 388-2700,

brandywine.org

February 6–9, 2020

GREY ROCK.

A fantastical new work from director and playwright Amir Nizar Zuabi bridges American and Palestinian cultures and makes its Philadelphia debut with a five-person cast from Palestine, including acclaimed actor Khalifa Natour, at

SEI Innovation Studio

at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 6–16, 2020

PHILLY THEATRE WEEK.

A 10-day regional theatrical festival promises 100 events, including panels, concerts, meet-ups and loads of live theater. (267) 761-9950,

theatrephiladelphia.org

February 7–9, 2020

NICK JR. LIVE! MOVE TO THE MUSIC.

Friends from

Bubble Guppies

,

Paw Patrol

,

Dora the Explorer

,

Shimmer and Shine

,

Blue’s Clues and You

,

Blaze and the Monster Machines

, and

Top Wing

lead a singing-and-dancing adventure at the

Academy of Music.

(215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

February 8, 2020

JOURNEYS.

Acting Without Boundaries (AWB), a Philadelphia-based theater workshop for kids, teens and young adults with physical disabilities, takes part in Philly Theatre Week (see above) by performing a songs and scenes from some of Broadway’s greatest hits in the

Rendell Room of the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 8–17, 2020

PHILADELPHIA AUTO SHOW.

The automotive industry’s latest creations are on a 750,000-square-foot display at the

Pennsylvania Convention Center,

the showplace for more than 700 pre-production, classic, luxury and exotic cars.

phillyautoshow.com

February 14–16, 2020

ARETHA: RESPECT.

To honor the Queen of Soul, The Philly POPS features Broadway powerhouse Capathia Jenkins and R&B singer Ryan Shaw in a program that includes renditions of

Bridge Over Troubled Water

,

Respect

and

Chain of Fools

. (215) 893-1999,

phillypops.org

February 15, 2020

AFRICAN AND DIASPORIC CULTURES CELEBRATION.

The Penn Museum’s second CultureFest of the year reunites traditional and contemporary African and African Diasporic arts through mask-making, drumming and more live music, storytelling, film screenings and an African marketplace. (215) 898-4000,

penn.museum

February 15 – September 20, 2020

SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST.

Survival strategies of sloths, iguanas and pancake tortoises, among other animals that are slow and small, are explored in this exhibit at the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

(215) 299-1000,

ansp.org

February 16, 2019

MUMMENSCHANZ: YOU & ME

. The mesmerizing Swiss theatrical troupe performs their brand-new show at the

Annenberg Center

creating shapes, forms, sounds and stories that delight audiences of every age. (215) 898-3900,

annenbergcenter.org

February 19 – March 1, 2020

HELLO, DOLLY!

Matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi and the rest of the characters from the musical-comedy classic make their way to the

Academy of Music

as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

February 21 – March 14, 2020

#GLASSFEST.

This three-week festival presented by the

Annenberg Center

celebrates Philip Glass’ career and includes the Philadelphia premiere of the composer’s

Music in Twelve Parts

and the world premiere of

The White Lama

, a theatrical piece by Nikki Appino that features a score by Glass. (215) 898-3900,

annenbergcenter.org

February 23

–

May 10, 2020

MARIE CUTTOLI: THE MODERN THREAD FROM MIRÓ TO MAN RAY.

Cuttoli, a modern art pioneer, commissioned international modernist artists to design pieces that were woven into tapestries, as seen in this

Barnes Foundation

exhibit. (215) 278-7200,

barnesfoundation.org

February 24 – March 6, 2020

EAST PASSYUNK RESTAURANT WEEK.

Three-course prix fixe lunches and dinners are available (tax, alcohol and gratuity not included) at various restaurants in the South Philly neighborhood.

eastpassyunkrestaurantweek.com

February 26 & 27, March 18 & 19, 2020

DANCE UP CLOSE.

A three-part, midweek, midwinter dance festival that began with

Junkspace

with Tori Lawrence at

Christ Church Neighborhood

House

in January continues with

Boundaries & Other Works

and

Nest

, at

Christ Church Neighborhood House

in February, and wraps

Reassembling Corporeal Knowledge

, featuring short videos, live solos and duets at

FringeArts

in March.

philadelphiadance.org

February 26–29, 2020

TURN.

Philadelphia performance artist M’Balia Singley world premieres a work that delves into themes from Shakespeare’s

Othello

through the lens of an African American woman at the

SEI Innovation Studio

at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus.

kimmelcenter.org

February 29 – March 8, 2020

PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW.

The annual gardening celebration at the

Pennsylvania Convention Center

is the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind, with top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, entertainment and more than 100 vendors. This year’s theme: “Riviera Holiday.” (215) 988-8800,

theflowershow.com

MARCH 2020

Philly Wine Week, March 30-April 6, 2020

— Photo courtesy Philly Wine Week

March 2020

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH.

March marks Women’s History Month, a time when attractions and venues across the city welcome guests for special events, tours and presentations oriented around the month-long celebration.

Through March 1, 2020

HELLO, DOLLY!

Matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi and the rest of the characters from the musical-comedy classic make their way to the

Academy of Music

as part of the Broadway Philadelphia series. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

Through March 1, 2020

IN CONVERSATION: VISUAL MEDITATIONS ON BLACK MASCULINITY.

Fifty-five female and non-binary photographers of African descent present an exhibition at the

African American Museum in Philadelphia

exploring the notions of Black men, masculinity, sexuality and gender identity. (215) 574-0380,

aampmuseum.org

Through March 5, 2020

BLUE CROSS RIVERRINK WINTERFEST.

Penn’s Landing’s

wintertime ice-skating rink and Winterfest wonderland, complete with a lodge, arcade and confectionery cabin enjoy their seasonal run. (215) 629-3200,

riverrink.com

Through March 8, 2020

DESIGNS FOR DIFFERENT FUTURES.

The future feeds designers’ inspiration and this exhibit at the

Philadelphia Museum of Art

shares examples of what creators think the years ahead hold. (215) 763-8100,

philamuseum.org

Through March 8, 2020

PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW.

The annual gardening celebration at the

Pennsylvania Convention Center

is the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind, with top-of-the-line horticulture and landscape design, entertainment and more than 100 vendors. This year’s theme: “Riviera Holiday.” (215) 988-8800,

theflowershow.com

Through March 17, 2020

COST OF REVOLUTION.

This 5,000-square-foot exhibition at the

Museum of the American Revolution

chronicles the untold story of Irish soldier Richard St. George who, after an injury at the Battle of Germantown in 1777, returned to his native country to find it energized by the revolutionary spirit. (215) 253-6731,

amrevmuseum.org

March 22, 2020

ORCHID EXTRAVAGANZA. Longwood Gardens

creates an absolutely transcendent experience for orchid lovers, perching and planting the rarest and most beautiful of flora from conservatories to outdoors. (610) 388-1000,

longwoodgardens.org

March 1, 2020

FRANKLIN SQUARE.

The carousel resumes to turning and Square Burger gets back to making Cake Shakes, as Historic Philadelphia Inc.’s Franklin Square fully reopens after a winter break. (215) 629-4026,

historicphiladelphia.org

March 1 – September 20, 2020

SEAT AT THE TABLE

.

A free, seven-day-a-week, interactive art exhibition by Dome Collective at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

invites the public to experience women’s representation in places of power (seats at tables) through 3D infographic furniture, while a wall of interactive screens introduces pioneers in women’s history. (215) 893-1999,

domecollective.com

March 5–7, 2020

PORGY AND BESS.

Conductor Marin Alsop leads The Philadelphia Orchestra and a cast including soprano Angel Blue, baritone Lester Lynch and the Morgan State University Choir in George Gershwin’s American classic that shares a story of heartbreak and hope along Charleston’s Catfish Row. (215) 893-1999,

philorch.org

March 6–8, 2020

POPS ROCKS PHIL COLLINS.

Philadelphia salutes the only performer to play both London and Philly for Live Aid in 1985 in this tribute performance to Phil Collins at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts,

featuring hits such as

Easy Lover

,

One More Night

and

Two Hearts

. (215) 893-1999,

phillypops.org

March 7, 2020

PHILLY CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL.

Called “one of the top 10 beer festivals in America” by

Forbes Traveler

, the festival features national and international breweries, food trucks and a VIP session with rare brews at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard.

(631) 940-7290,

phillycraftbeerfest.com

March 7–29, 2020

ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL. The Israeli Film Festival,

Philadelphia’s annual showcase of the best in Israeli film, returns with a powerful lineup of documentaries, dramas, films and more. (484) 904-5421,

iffphila.com

March 7 & 8, 2020

PALEOPALOOZA.

Visitors get up-close-and-personal with rare fossils from the collection of the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

, talk to paleontologists and participate in a number of activities planned for dinosaur fans of all ages. (215) 299-1000,

ansp.org

March 12, 2020

BALLET FOLCLÒRICO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO DE SILVIA LOZANO.

This nearly 60-year-old institution brings the culture of Mexico to the

Merriam Theater

through folklore, dance, music and costumes. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

March 12 – April 5, 2020

BEETHOVENNOW.

The second of two epic celebrations marking Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday sees the Philadelphia Orchestra at the

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

juxtaposing the composer’s nine genre-transforming symphonies with contemporary works from composer-in-residence Gabriela Lena Frank and her diverse composers from the Creative Academy of Music. (215) 893-1900,

philorch.org

March 14–22, 2020

THE WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL.

It’s year five for this empowering, Philly-grown, women-centric festival that celebrates women’s roles behind and in front of the camera.

thewomensfilmfestival.org

March 15, 2020

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE.

Marching bands, decorated floats, music and dance groups, youth groups and Irish associations march down Broad Street to City Hall and from City Hall to Market Street to Penn’s Landing.

philadelphiastpatsparade.com

March 17

–

29, 2020

LES MISÉRABLES.

The Broadway Philadelphia series brings the Tony-Award winning musical classic with its inspiring tale to the

Academy of Music.

(215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

March 18 & 19, 2020

DANCE UP CLOSE.

A three-part, midweek, midwinter dance festival that began with

Junkspace

with Tori Lawrence at

Christ Church Neighborhood

House

in January and

Boundaries & Other Works

and

Nest

, at

Christ Church Neighborhood House

in February wraps with

Reassembling Corporeal Knowledge

, featuring short videos, live solos and duets at

FringeArts

in March.

philadelphiadance.org

March 21, 2020

FOUNDERS DAY.

Visitors pay what they wish at the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

to celebrate the founding day in 1812 of the oldest natural history museum in the Americas. (215) 299-1000,

ansp.org

March 21, 2020

SIMPLE GIFTS WITH ORGAN: THE CASHORE MARIONETTES & ORGANIST MARVIN MILLS.

The music of Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven and Copland fills

Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts,

while the Cashore Marionettes express touching scenes of everyday life. (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

March 22–29, 2020

QFLIX PHILADELPHIA.

This annual festival celebrates all genres of film that pertain to or were created by members of the LGBTQ communities, with screenings based at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

qflixphilly.com

March 28, 2020

NOWRUZ. Penn Museum’s

CultureFest honors Nowruz, an ancient Persian New Year festival celebrated by people in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond, by hosting live performances, art-making, gallery tours, storytelling, workshops and a Persian bazaar. (215) 898-4000,

penn.museum

March 29 – May 3, 2020

SPRING BLOOMS.

Visitors take in the sights and smells of spring’s arrival at

Longwood Gardens

with 240,000 tulips, azaleas, dogwoods and more. (610) 388-1000,

longwoodgardens.org

March 29 – August 23, 2020

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR.

This exhibit at the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

, organized and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, displays 100 stunning images of nature and wildlife. (215) 299-1000,

ansp.org

March 30 – April 6, 2020

PHILLY WINE WEEK.

The annual eight-day festival returns for another year of wine-centric events, tastings, pairings and specials at bars and restaurants throughout Philadelphia.

phillywineweek.org

March 2020 (TBA)

CENTENNIAL INNOVATIONS.

Please Touch Museum

®

unveils a new, 5,000-square-foot permanent gallery that takes a colorful, interactive look back at its building’s roots in the 1876 Centennial Exposition — the fair that introduced the U.S. to the telephone, banana, Corliss engine, popcorn, typewriter, adhesive bandage and more — in order to let kids look into their future.

pleasetouchmuseum.org

Don\’t Become A Victim Of A Stolen Vehicle This Winter

SOURCE GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPT

People are more likely to leave their car running unattended on chilly winter mornings than any other time. Unfortunately, that’s a perfect time for thieves to take advantage of innocent people.

We know everyone loves to get into a warm, ice-free window, vehicle, but never leave your vehicle running and unattended.  This is very attractive to thieves and joy riders and you may be violating the NJ Idling law.

So, What is idling?

Idling occurs when a motor vehicle with a diesel or gasoline engine is running but the vehicle is not in motion.

New Jersey has laws which prohibit the idling of a vehicle for more than 3 minutes, with certain exceptions.

Three minute idling limit does NOT apply to:

Vehicle being actively serviced or repaired.

Below 25 F° for up to 15 minutes (no exception in New Jersey for high heat)

Busses while it is actively discharging or picking up passengers may idle for 15 consecutive minutes in a 60-minute period

Motor vehicle idling in traffic, In queue or congestion. (i.e. bank drive-thru, dump truck loading)

Cargo refrigeration requiring engine power (most are self powered and therefore not exempt)

Then we look at crime prevention….. Car thieves are known for jumping at an easy opportunity, and an unlocked, unattended running vehicle is as easy as it gets. The use of \”smart keys\” and keyless ignition starting in 1997 helped reduce theft. But these safety devices are useless if the keys are left in the vehicle, or if the vehicle is left running and unattended, such as while the driver makes a quick stop at a convenience store.

Never leave your vehicle running and unattended!

For More Information on the Idling law and the exceptions click the following link:

https://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/aceacademy/Idling.pdf

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

ICE HSI Nogales exposes drug tunnel

ICE\’s HSI special agents and taskforce officers on BEST executed a federal search warrant late Tuesday night and discovered a tunnel along the U.S. Mexico border, seizing nearly 200 lbs. of methamphetamine, almost two pounds of white heroin, close to three pounds of cocaine, over six and a half pounds of fentanyl, in addition to arresting two individuals and seizing one vehicle.

NOGALES, Ariz. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and taskforce officers on the Border

Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) executed a federal search warrant late Tuesday night and discovered a tunnel along the U.S. Mexico border, seizing nearly 200 lbs. of methamphetamine, almost two pounds of white heroin, close to three pounds of cocaine, over six and a half pounds of fentanyl, in addition to arresting two individuals and seizing one vehicle.

The tunnel that runs from the residence on North Morley to the IOI measures eight feet deep and stretches 82 feet (entry to breach of the IOI). The IOI is a gravity wastewater pipeline that runs from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico to Rio Rico, Arizona. The reinforced passageway features a sophisticated ventilation system equipped with tubing reinforced by several 2 x 4\’s and beams allowing for crawlspace. Special agents estimate the tunnel has been in existence for a few months due to the advanced construction and material used to excavate.

\”It comes at no surprise that HSI special agents on the BEST and those on the Joint Port Enforcement Group (JPEG) dismantled an operational drug tunnel along the border,\” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. \”As this investigation makes clear, we remain focused on exposing border crime and combatting the cartels\’ increasingly unabashed underground smuggling tactics.\”

The investigation began earlier this year when investigators received information that a drug trafficking organization was smuggling large quantities of narcotics through the IOI. As the investigation progressed, HSI special agents obtained evidence to present to a federal judge for a search warrant. That evening, while executing the search warrant, agents uncovered the receiving end of the tunnel.

Those arrested, Jovany Robledo-Delgado and Jesus Martinez Selgado, both citizens of Mexico, were presented to the U.S. Attorney\’s Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson on charges of possession and conspiracy to distribute hard narcotics. They were initialed in federal court Wednesday afternoon.

The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

January Polar Bear Plunge in The Wildwoods

Join in the fun of a January Polar Bear Plunge at the Wildwoods Convention Center and the Wildwoods Beach! Registration begins at 10 a.m. Plunge begins at 1 p.m. Event supports training and competition for more than 25,000 athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey. For more information, call 609.896.8000 or visit http://www.NJPolarPlunge.org.