This wearable device camouflages its wearer no matter the weather

The wearable thermal camouflage device is embedded in an armband and blends with the ambient temperature.

« This wearable device camouflages its wearer no matter the weather

Newswise — Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a wearable technology that can hide its wearer from heat-detecting sensors such as night vision goggles, even when the ambient temperature changes–a feat that current state of the art technology cannot match. The technology can adapt to temperature changes in just a few minutes, while keeping the wearer comfortable.

The device, which is at the proof-of-concept stage, has a surface that quickly cools down or heats up to match ambient temperatures, camouflaging the wearer’s body heat. The surface can go from 10 to 38 degrees Celsius (50 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in less than a minute. Meanwhile, the inside remains at the same temperature as human skin, making it comfortable for the wearer. The wireless device can be embedded into fabric, such as an armband. A more advanced version could be worn as a jacket.

To build the device, the team turned to a phase-changing material that’s similar to wax but with more complex properties. The melting point of the material is 30 degrees Celsius (roughly 86 degrees F), the same temperature as the surface temperature of human skin. If the temperature on the outside of the device is higher than that, the material will melt and stabilize, insulating the wearer; if colder, it will slowly solidify, still acting as an insulating layer.

The team, led by UC San Diego mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Renkun Chen, detailed their work in a recent issue of the journal

Advanced Functional Materials

At the technology’s core are materials that can create heating or cooling effects when the ambient temperature changes, and flexible electronics that can be embedded into clothing. The outside layer of the device is driven by a technology that Chen and colleagues detailed in a paper in

Science Advances

in May 2019. It is made of thermoelectric alloys—materials that use electricity to create a temperature difference—sandwiched between stretchy elastomer sheets. It is powered by a battery and controlled by a wireless circuit board. The device physically cools or heats to a temperature that the wearer chooses.

Current state of the art heat camouflage technology consists of a surface coating that changes how much heat clothing emits at the surface. The coating absorbs the heat from the wearer’s body and reflects only enough energy to match the ambient temperature. However, the coating only works at a predetermined temperature. If the ambient temperature rises or falls, it no longer works.

The researchers’ biggest challenge now is to scale up the technology. Their goal is to create a jacket with the technology built-in, but under current conditions, the garment would weigh 2 kilograms (about 4.5 lbs.), be about 5 millimeters thick and only function for one hour. The team will be looking to find lighter, thinner materials so the garment could weigh two or three times less.

The work was supported by the Advanced Research Project Agency and by a UC San Diego start up grant. It work was performed in part at the San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure (SDNI) at UC San Diego, a member of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, which is supported by the National Science Foundation.

An Adaptive and Wearable Thermal Camouflage Device

Sahngki Hong and Renkun Chen, University of California San Diego

Sunmi Shin National University of Singapore

West Virginia Couple’s Violent Robbery Spree Thwarted by FBI, Local Partners

Robbers Who Targeted Elderly Sentenced

In 2018, a 74-year-old Tennessee woman was attacked in her home by a pair of robbers who ransacked her house and stole her sense of safety.

Days later, a 72-year-old Tennessee man with dementia was attacked outside his home by the same assailants. They forced him inside and threw him down a stairwell after robbing him of a few possessions. Among the items stolen was a bomber jacket from the man’s service in Vietnam. It was an irreplaceable keepsake that investigators never found.

In all, Joshua Small and his girlfriend, Joni Johnson, robbed—and in some cases violently assaulted—seven senior citizens in West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee during a short period in the summer of 2018. In several cases, they subdued their victims by punching or hitting them and then tying them up while they ransacked their homes. The robbers held some of their victims at gunpoint or threatened them with guns.

The incidents shook the small, quiet towns where they took place.

“One victim’s son told us, ‘This is a small town. Everyone here knows me or my dad,’” said Special Agent Wesley Leatham, who investigated this case out of the FBI’s Knoxville Field Office along with FBI Task Force Officer Mark Webber of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. “It really caused a lot of worry and concern in these communities.”

A break in the case came when a tipster saw a couple driving a rental car that matched the description of the robbers’ car and told local police. Pawn shop employees also confirmed that Small had been seen pawning stolen jewelry and other items.

Investigators found overwhelming evidence against the couple once they were identified, including incriminating evidence on their cell phones. Several victims also identified Johnson and Small based on photos.

The couple lived in West Virginia, and they used Small’s employer, a family paving business, to find some of their elderly victims. In other cases, investigators aren’t certain how the robbers targeted their victims, but they were all in their 70s, 80s, or 90s.

“Everyone really wanted to see justice for these victims, especially given their ages and the level of violence they suffered.”

Wesley Leatham, special agent, FBI Knoxville

With multiple sheriffs’ offices involved, the FBI played a key coordinating role. The Bureau also brought resources to the case, including the ability to press federal charges.

“We had great local partners in this case,” Leatham said. “Everybody came together with outstanding coordination. Everyone really wanted to see justice for these victims, especially given their ages and the level of violence they suffered.”

In July 2019, the couple was convicted of kidnapping charges. In January, Small was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, and Johnson was sentenced to 25 years.

Investigators hope the outcome brought some closure to the victims and communities that were traumatized. One victim died before the trial and some others were unable to travel to it, but their relatives gave powerful impact statements.

“We’ve heard from the victims’ families since then that this has destroyed their sense of safety. They’re constantly checking the door to make sure it’s locked. Visitors have to call before they come over,” Leatham said. “It’s really had a lasting effect on a lot of people.”

Resources

Joshua Small and Joni Amber Johnson Sentenced for Kidnapping Elderly Victims

Energy efficiency lighting rebate grants offered by DNREC

Available to businesses, local governments and non-profits

DOVER, Del. – Delaware organizations looking to reduce energy consumption and related costs through energy-efficient lighting now have expanded grant opportunities through Delaware’s Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF). Administered by DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal, & Energy, the fund

offers grants to offset the cost of energy efficiency improvements, and has broadened the kinds of light fixtures that will qualify for grants while adjusting incentives offered for large custom projects to reflect competitive regional market rates.

EEIF assists with energy assessments, lighting, HVAC, complex retrofits, building improvements, and thermal energy systems. Changes to the lighting incentives include 34 new categories of eligible fixtures, varying incentive rates based on wattage, and the addition of incentives for lighting control systems. All incentive levels also have been adjusted to reflect market conditions for LED lights.

Updates to comprehensive custom projects have been made to promote maximum energy efficiency efforts, including implementing a tiered system that encourages applicants to consider projects with multiple end-use benefits. The EEIF program is also creating its first incentives for reducing emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO

“The EEIF program has been hugely successful supporting projects that saved over 55 million kilowatts in fiscal year 2019 alone,” said Dayna Cobb, director of the Division of Climate, Coastal, & Energy. “These additions to EEIF add even greater value to a program that is already reducing energy usage and pollution.”

EEIF is funded through the Public Utility Tax (PUT), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and one-time funding from the Exelon-Pepco merger settlement through which Delmarva Power, a major Delaware energy provider, became an Exelon company in 2016. Grant amounts are capped at 30 percent of the project’s total cost. Any application approved after Feb. 1, 2020 will reflect the new lighting and custom incentive levels.

For details on the program, application forms, and a list of eligible lighting products and rebates for deploying them, please visit

www.de.gov/eeif

A Little Girl from Indiana is Pursuing Her Dreams Thanks to Her New Kidney

March is National Kidney Month:

March 2, 2020

—

March is National Kidney Month, which is a month-long, awareness-raising grassroots effort to spread the word nationwide about the importance of kidney health. An Indiana transplant family knows all too well the life-saving difference a

healthy kidney can make.

Paula and David Check of Fishers, Indiana, remember the excitement of learning they were pregnant with their first child. Paula’s pregnancy was normal by all accounts and they were simply counting the days until their precious baby would be born. Baby Lydia arrived in December 2009 and the family of three felt complete. She was an adorable infant who grew into a toddler — her first years of life seemed ‘normal’ to both Paula and David.

But during the summer months of 2014 Paula noticed then four-year-old Lydia was becoming increasingly sick, tired and weak. By the fall months Lydia was vomiting and having diarrhea regularly. She began bleeding from her bowels. Paula remembers taking Lydia to the family doctor several times insisting there was something seriously wrong with their little girl. In January 2015 Lydia’s weight loss became incredibly noticeable; she was literally skin and bones. In February 2015 a gastro intestinal specialist diagnosed Lydia with Ulcerative Colitis, which meant she had bleeding ulcers in her stomach and colon. Eight months later in September 2015 it was determined Lydia also had a serious kidney issue that would require a kidney transplant for her long-term survival.

Lydia, with a little help from her mom, has written a narrative about her transplant journey. Here is how Lydia tells her transplant story to date:

Hello my name is Lydia, I am 10 years old, and the last six years have been really difficult. I have been sick since August 2014 with an autoimmune disorder. When I was younger I was weak, tired and had extreme weight loss. My parents took me to the doctor repeatedly, always telling him something was wrong. But my problem went undiagnosed until January 2015. That is when I began treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. After several doctor appointments and medications, it went into remission.

In August 2015 something was not right with my kidney function. Labor Day weekend I was admitted to Riley Hospital for Children and I had a biopsy performed. I spent the entire day in bed. I was required to lay flat on my back to prevent bleeding from the procedure. The next three days in the hospital I was given super strength IV steroids. I initially showed improvement from the steroids and was sent home on Labor Day afternoon. Steroids work great for some people but I was not showing signs of improvement — just the side effects of weight gain, a puffy face, lots of emotions and not being able to sleep through the night. In May 2016 a G Tube was placed in my belly so medications could go right to my tummy. An overnight drip of Pedialyte was started to keep me from dehydrating. Testing determined I have a genetic disease.

Lydia’s diagnosis, Nephronophthisis, is a

genetic disorder

of the

kidneys

that affects children. The disorder is inherited in an

autosomal recessive

fashion and, although rare, is the most common genetic cause of childhood kidney failure. Although the range of characterizations is broad, those kids affected by nephronophthisis typically produce a large volume of urine, drink excessive amounts of liquid, and after several months to years, develop

end stage renal (kidney) disease

— a condition necessitating either dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to survive.

As Lydia’s kidney disease progressed, Paula and David started meeting with the transplant team at Riley Hospital for Children. In January 2017, upon a transplant social worker’s urging, Paula called the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to learn more about fundraising for transplant-related expenses. COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA in honor of Lydia are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and COTA funds are available for a lifetime of transplant-related expenses. COTA uniquely understands that parents who care for a child or young adult before, during and after a life-saving transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a community team of trained volunteers. On February 24th Lydia became part of the COTA Family.

A COTA fundraising specialist travelled to Fishers, Indiana, on March 20th to train the family’s volunteers and walked them through the entire process. This group of family members and friends quickly got to work organizing fundraisers to help with mounting transplant-related expenses. According to Paula, COTA’s team of professionals was supportive, encouraging and very helpful every step of the journey.

Once we found out I needed a new kidney, several people started the testing process to see if they could be my living donor. Those tests were unsuccessful. In late 2017 I was approved to be on the national kidney waiting list. However my wait was long and in August 2018 I went from low kidney function to kidney failure.

That is when the doctors told us it was time to begin dialysis. Our family decided hemodialysis was the best choice and I went in for the surgery that would allow me to be on dialysis. During the first surgery I lost a lot of blood and needed a blood transfusion. Then they were unable to get the dialysis machine up to full speed during my first treatment. It was decided there was a problem with my central line and they needed to do surgery again. This time it worked. I was on dialysis four hours a day, three days a week. It was long and exhausting.

On August 31, 2018, right when we got home from dialysis, Mom got a phone call from Riley. They had a kidney match for me! It was an emotional roller coaster. I was happy. I was scared. I had no idea what to expect. The next day on September 1

, I received my new kidney and the transplant was a big success. Sixteen days later on September 17

I was released from the hospital to go home. Wow.

“I knew Lydia’s transplant surgery and follow-up care and medications and everything would be very expensive. Once we found COTA a huge stressor was lifted from our shoulders. If we had not been introduced to COTA our family would have been very lost during a time of tremendous need. COTA gave us the strength and direction we needed to get through a very challenging chapter in our family’s story,” Paula said.

“The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) gave us hope when we were feeling hopeless. COTA’s team of professionals were supportive and encouraging every step of the way. Knowing COTA funds are not just for the expenses leading up to a transplant but will be there throughout Lydia’s life is truly amazing. If we had not found COTA, we would have been lost during a time of tremendous need. COTA gives our family strength and direction, and will continue to do so …

for a lifetime

,” Paula said.

Lydia returned to Fall Creek Elementary and completed third grade with her new kidney. She also was able to return to her beloved dance classes at Wishes Dance Studio. When asked how life has been with her new kidney Lydia said, “I have done amazing things like riding on my very own float in the Fishers Spark Parade, running in a Super Hero 5K, going to my first Indiana Pacers game, and meeting Mickey & Minnie Mouse.” These days dancing remains at the top of the list of the things Lydia enjoys doing, but she also loves singing, pretending she is a Super Hero, cheerleading and meeting Disney princesses. She also loves to tell the story of her transplant journey.

Lydia’s new lease on life has allowed her to start dreaming about a future, which is the best gift Paula and David can imagine for their vivacious girl who has a huge smile and a huge heart. Lydia’s bucket list currently includes taking a Disney Cruise, seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, meeting Taylor Swift and having tea with the Queen of England.

In Lydia’s word, “Wow.”

March is designated National Kidney Month to raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of kidney disease. More than 30 million Americans have kidney disease, and many do not know it. There are more than 100,000 people waiting for kidney transplants, with close to 600,000 people in the United States suffering with kidney failure. More than 3,000 new patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month; 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list. You can visit

www.RegisterMe.org

to indicate your wish to be a life-saving donor.

For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA),

or to find a COTA family in your area, please email

kim@cota.org

The Future of Gambling Sponsorship in Sport

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 3, 2020)–It goes without saying that bookmakers are inextricably linked with various sports events. Moreover, betting companies have significantly influenced the popularity of some sports. The profitability of some sporting events sometimes reaches several billion dollars. Thanks to this, many companies and clubs can earn significant financial support from sports advertising, ticket sales, gadgets, and so on. Bookmakers strive to promote their brands and ensure a stable income so they sign partnership contracts with many sports clubs. One can frequently see the logos of gambling companies on the T-shirts of the most popular football players, on banners at stadiums, and in other places. However, it would be wrong to deny the fact that gambling in sports really supports athletic events by investing money in world contests. Indeed, it actually helps to promote an active lifestyle among the population even though betting businesses gain profits.

Vulkan Vegas, bet365, and other betting companies as sponsors of Premier League teams

In the UK, bookmakers have long gone beyond the narrow framework of providing their services in their hometowns. Large British betting companies are not just entering the national arena, they are also challenging European leadership. Companies such as

Vulkan Vegas

, bet365, and many others already support a large variety of football clubs in England and Europe as a whole. However, the gambling business cannot yet compete with the world\’s richest titans. For example, Manchester United is sponsored by General Motors, which bought the right to place the name of its Chevrolet car brand on the club’s shirts. Their neighbors, Manchester City, also have a rich supporter – the airline from the Emirates,

Etihad Airways

, which had enough money to buy the name of the stadium.

Sponsorship of mid-range teams

Gambling companies do not yet have such budgets to approach the richest clubs in the league. However, with the mid-range teams, they are already able to reach agreements. At a time when

Tottenham Hotspur

had not yet shown the high results it has in recent years, its partner was Mansion.com and this logo appeared on the team’s shirts from 2006 to 2010. This gambling operator, registered in Gibraltar, began its activities with online casinos and poker but has recently become interested in bookmaking.

The most successful sports and gambling collaboration in England is an agreement between bet365 and Stoke City. Gambling company has managed to not only become the official sponsor of Stoke City in 2012 but also to redeem the right for the club’s stadium to be named after this bookmaker in 2016.

Second division clubs

Championship clubs frequently work with bookmakers. Most of them have sponsorship contracts or partnerships with betting companies. Nottingham Forest has partnered with the 888sport online bookmaker. Starting from the 2017/18 season, Bolton has been placing the logo of the British betting company Betfred on its shirts. This bookmaker also collaborated from 2006 to 2013 with Manchester United as the club\’s betting partner. It seems that it will not be long before every football club in Britain has a sponsor or partner from the world of betting. Moreover, it is likely that the last strongholds of the

Premier League

will soon fall – the richest clubs in England that will not resist the temptations of the contracts offered by local gambling representatives.

The future of gambling sponsorship in sport

Gambling companies will, for sure, strive to become more deeply immersed in world sport in the next years. They invest a lot of money into sponsorship and gain even bigger profits from it. Despite the fact that not every football club is loyal to betting businesses, it is a good opportunity for weaker teams to secure financial stability and use it for improving youth academies, infrastructure, management, etc. That is why the upcoming years will definitely be the years of gambling companies sponsoring local and national teams.

Conclusion

It is impressive how gambling has incorporated itself in sport sponsorship at the world’s largest event. Currently, almost every football, basketball, or hockey club has a sponsor connected to betting. For sure, such a tendency has some negative features, since bookmakers might be able to insider sports betting, but the fact that gambling companies invest in sport, making it thrive definitely covers the drawbacks of betting sponsorship in sports.

Animal News: Rescue Puppy Named New Voice Of The TurfMutt Foundation

(NAPSI)—A puppy named Mulligan has big paws to fill, but the mixed breed rescue dog is up to the challenge of becoming the new voice for the TurfMutt Foundation, says his new owner and guardian, Kris Kiser, President of the organization.

Since 2009, Kiser’s rescue dog, Lucky, “pawed it forward” by leading the Foundation’s environmental education and stewardship program for students in grades K to 8. Sadly, Lucky passed away recently, but his superhero cape is being picked up by perky Mulligan, who was found by Kiser last month during Lucky’s Mutt Madness, a national pet adoption event organized by the Foundation during GIE+EXPO, the nation’s leading trade show for outdoor power, landscaping and hardscaping industry professionals, held each October in Louisville, Ky.

Mulligan was not the only rescue pup to find a new home. Fifteen other dogs from the Kentucky Humane Society also went home with new owners.

Carl Bennett and his family brought home a beagle mix puppy, named Jovial. “She is completely living up to her name. She’s happy and sweet and loves everyone. She’s very smart and is already learning tricks,” said Bennett.

Bennett admits they weren’t planning to bring a puppy home but added, “When we saw her sweet little face and floppy ears we all fell in love. We never expected to adopt but something told us she needed to be a part of our family.

A ten-year-old dog named Mama went home with Mark Potocki. He was concerned she wouldn’t get the love she deserved because she was older. “Once I had the chance to hold her, she curled up in my arms and my decision was made,” said Potocki.

He said Lucky’s Mutt Madness was a wonderful experience. “What a great event. The vibe of the afternoon was fun and drew attention to the need for pet adoption,” said Potocki.

Kiser is deep into puppy training for Mulligan. “As a spokesdog, TurfMutt has to visit schools, and sometimes goes with me for public appearances and on TV sets, so Mulligan needs to be well-socialized and know how to behave.”

“Mutt Mulligan” marks a new page in the TurfMutt platform, which grew from a youth education program launched in 2009 in a handful of Sacramento and Washington, D.C. schools to reaching 70 million students, teachers, and families with its message that everyone can help save the planet, starting with their backyard.

Kiser added, “People can understand the value of a living landscape, when they see it through the eyes of a dog. You suddenly realize that soft grass is kinder to paws than hard concrete and that you need shade and a variety of plants in your yard.”

The TurfMutt program has become a national platform, appearing on every major television network, The Hub, Animal Planet and more, including the award-winning show, “Lucky Dog,” for three seasons; being featured in Parade magazine’s Earth Day issue; and winning awards. TurfMutt is an official USGBC Education Partner and part of its global LEARNING LAB, and has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

More information on Lucky’s Mutt Madness event and the program is at

www.TurfMutt.com

Federal Court Orders Deposition of Hillary Clinton on Emails and Benghazi

Court: ‘It is Time to Hear Directly from Secretary Clinton’

(Washington, DC) March 2, 2020–

Judicial Watch today announced that U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth

granted

Judicial Watch’s request to depose former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about her emails and Benghazi attack documents. The court

also ordered the deposition of Clinton’s former Chief of Staff, Cheryl Mills and two other State Department officials.

Additionally, the court granted Judicial Watch’s request to subpoena Google for relevant documents and records associated with Clinton’s emails during her tenure at the State Department.

The ruling comes in Judicial Watch’s

lawsuit

that seeks records concerning “talking points or updates on the Benghazi attack” (

Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State

(No. 1:14-cv-01242)). Judicial Watch famously uncovered in 2014 that the “talking points” that provided the basis for Susan Rice’s false statements were

created by

the Obama White House. This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit

led directly

to the disclosure of the Clinton email system in 2015.

In December 2018, Judge Lamberth first

ordered discovery

into whether Secretary Clinton’s use of a private email server was intended to stymie FOIA; whether the State Department’s intent to settle this case in late 2014 and early 2015 amounted to bad faith; and whether the State Department has adequately searched for records responsive to Judicial Watch’s request. The court also authorized discovery into whether the Benghazi controversy motivated the cover-up of Clinton’s email. The court

ruled

that the Clinton email system was “one of the gravest modern offenses to government transparency.” The State and Justice Departments continued to defend Clinton’s and the agency’s email conduct.

Judge Lamberth today overruled Clinton’s and the State and Justice Department’s objections to limited additional discovery by first noting:

Discovery up until this point has brought to light a noteworthy amount of relevant information, but Judicial Watch requests an additional round of discovery, and understandably so. With each passing round of discovery, the Court is left with more questions than answers.

Additionally, Judge Lamberth said that he is troubled by the fact that both the State Department and Department of Justice want to close discovery in this case:

[T]here is still more to learn. Even though many important questions remain unanswered, the Justice Department inexplicably still takes the position that the court should close discovery and rule on dispositive motions. The Court is especially troubled by this. To argue that the Court now has enough information to determine whether State conducted an adequate search is preposterous, especially when considering State’s deficient representations regarding the existence of additional Clinton emails. Instead, the Court will authorize a new round of discovery …

With respect to Clinton, the court found that her prior testimony, mostly through written sworn answers, was not sufficient:

The Court has considered the numerous times in which Secretary Clinton said she could not recall or remember certain details in her prior interrogatory answers. In a deposition, it is more likely that plaintiff’s counsel could use documents and other testimony to attempt to refresh her recollection. And so, to avoid the unsatisfying and inefficient outcome of multiple rounds of fruitless interrogatories and move this almost six-year-old case closer to its conclusion, Judicial Watch will be permitted to clarify and further explore Secretary Clinton\’s answers in person and immediately after she gives them. The Court agrees with Judicial Watch – it is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton.

“Judicial Watch uncovered the Clinton email scandal and we’re pleased that the court authorized us to depose Mrs. Clinton directly on her email conduct and how it impacted the people’s ‘right to know’ under FOIA,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Two wells near Dover AFB have possible elevated PFOS/PFOA levels

DNREC, EPA told results from USAF sampling are not yet validated

Dover, Del. – The U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Dover Air Force Base (AFB) notified Delaware’s

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) that preliminary (i.e., not yet validated) results show two wells near the base have possible elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The preliminary results indicate concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory for these substances of 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

The preliminary, unvalidated results for these two wells are in addition to validated detections of PFOS and PFOA for four wells announced in July 2019. The USAF continues to provide alternative water supply to those properties. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is working with DNREC, USAF, Dover AFB, and the owners of the affected wells to protect public health. The owners of the two wells, who each provide water to a single commercial business, have been notified and provided with bottled water by Dover AFB.

The unvalidated results of water samples recently collected by the USAF from ten other wells reported PFOS and PFOA below the federal health advisory level. Although the recent test results are unvalidated at this time, validation of the data is expected within 30 days.

PFOS and PFOA are part of a group of synthetic chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in a variety of products that over time have become widely distributed in the environment. These chemicals have been found at Dover AFB and other air bases and airports in firefighting foam. The USAF and EPA have been working with DNREC and DPH to determine the impacts of PFOS and PFOA on private wells in proximity to the base.

A USAF fact sheet about the Dover AFB PFOS and PFOA sampling published in spring 2019 indicated that groundwater samples collected in shallow monitoring wells on the base also showed levels of PFOS and PFOA above EPA’s 70 ppt health advisory.

No PFOS or PFOA have been detected in five nearby municipal water wells tested by Dover AFB’s water supplier, Tidewater Utilities. Tidewater sampled four on-base municipal supply wells and the off-base municipal supply well nearest the base. All these wells draw water from a deep, confined aquifer. There were no PFOS or PFOA detections in any of them.

The primary step necessary to protect the public’s health from exposure to PFOS and PFOA in drinking water is to use an alternate water source until a permanent solution can be determined, which may consist of treatment, connecting to a new system, or other solution. DPH encourages the impacted businesses, office building, and dwellings in the affected area to use the bottled water provided by the DAFB until a permanent solution is in place. Anyone with specific health concerns or questions about potential health impacts is encouraged to contact their primary care provider. General questions about the health effects from, and exposure to, PFAS can call DPH at 302-744-4546.

At this time, there is no federal or state required standard for PFAS substances in drinking water supplies, so actions taken are based on the federal lifetime health advisory level.

Thanks to Pilot Program, Residents Can Recycle Oyster Shells at PDE’s New Drop-Off Site

WILMINGTON — Preparing oysters at home can be fun, and makes for a delicious meal. But what do you do with the shells when you’re done? Tossing them in the trash doesn’t feel right, and you can’t recycle them — or can you?

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) has started a pilot residential shell recycling program in Delaware. PDE has two recycling bins in the parking lot of George & Sons’ Seafood Market in Hockessin. Now, all people have to do after enjoying their delicious oysters at home is drop them off when it’s convenient in the specially marked bins in George & Sons’ parking lot. PDE will pick up the shells and take them to its shell recycling area. These shells will be used in living shoreline restoration projects and to expand oyster habitat. In more than three years, PDE has reinforced 1,300 feet of living shoreline in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey by using recycled oyster shells.

“PDE\’s shell recycling program has always been a great point of pride for our organization, but whenever we talked about it with the public, the response was always ‘how can I help?’” said Sarah Bouboulis, PDE’s Habitat Project Coordinator. “All of our shells came from area restaurants until today, and there was no direct link to our shell recycling efforts and the general public. Now there is. We are so excited to offer this opportunity to oyster lovers, and we hope residents take us up on the offer.”

Since 2016, PDE has had an agreement with area restaurants to collect their used oyster shells, but this is the first time that the organization has formally offered shell drop-off to residents.

\”This program is a prime example of one more way we can engage and educate the public about the benefits of embracing our coastal culture,” said George Esterling IV of George & Sons’ Seafood Market. “To now have the opportunity to involve our community in these efforts is just the icing on the cake. At George & Sons\’, it is our goal to provide not only friendly service and quality product, but also a culture that residents of our state so desperately need to embrace —coastal pride. We\’ll keep on shuckin\’, and you keep on recycling.”

But wait, there’s more! Starting on March 2, residents who recycle their shells can be eligible for a monthly gift card drawing. When recyclers drop off their shells, they can take a selfie — or

shell

fie — next to the recycling bin and post it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the #PDEShellfie hashtag. From there, they become eligible for the random prize drawing.

As this is a pilot program, PDE’s drop-off site at George & Sons’ is the first of what it hopes will be many locations for residential shell recycling. PDE will add locations depending on the success of the pilot program.

George & Sons’ Seafood Market is at 1216 Old Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, Delaware. For more information about the recycling program, contact Sarah Bouboulis at

sbouboulis@delawareestuary.org

CNB Hunting/Fishing NJ: The Largest Black Bear on the North Continent Harvested in NJ

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 2, 2020)–The biggest black bear ever killed with a bow and arrow in North America was taken last year in New Jersey according

to Fox News.

The 700-pound bear was shot by Jeff Melillo on Oct. 14, 2019 in Morris County during NJ\’s bow season.

Jeff Melillo shot a 700-pound black bear in Morris County, NJ on Oct. 14, 2019. The bear was the biggest taken in North America, according to the Pope and Young Club, a national bowhunting organization

In February the Pope and Young Club, a national bowhunting organization, announced that there was a new world record for the largest bow-harvested black bear on the

continent.

On Feb. 8, the bowhunting and conservation group Pope and Young Club assembled a special panel of judges during the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Penn. to verify the record, the club said in a

news release.

Melillo’s bear scored 23 5/16, toppling a record set in 1993 by a hunter in Mendocino County, Calif.

\”It has been an inspiring journey, to say the least,” Melillo, a native of New Jersey, said in a statement. “Many years ago, I read an article in Outdoor Life magazine stating that the new world record black bear will most likely come from New Jersey. They were spot on, and I never doubted it for one second.”

Eli Randall, records director for the Pope and Young Club said, \”I knew I was going to be looking at an impressive black bear skull, as it was officially measured at over 23 inches and weighed in at 700 pounds. I was not prepared for the amount of mass the skull possessed, not only was the skull huge, but the bone structure was the heaviest I had ever seen.”

Preserved through taxidermy, the 700-pound bear will be displayed at the Pope and Young Annual Convention in Chantily, Va. in March.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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