Category: LegacyImport2

GUEST OPINION: NJ Sierra Club End of Year Review – 2019

We have had a very eventful and busy year in 2019. We accomplished a lot to protect New Jersey’s environment. We won some battles and lost some, and there are a few that keep coming back. In addition to everything we have accomplished this year, we still have a lot that we are trying to get done.

“This has been a year of many accomplishments and many disappointments at the state, local, and national level. We still have a lot of work to do. The Murphy Administration has been frustrating because of their failure to move forward, especially on issues like climate change and sea level rise. We have been calling for a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects for over a year, but Governor Murphy has failed to act. He has also failed to repealed a single Christie-era rule,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “The current administration does not see the urgency of climate change and the extreme impacts it is already having on New Jersey. In spite of these drawbacks, we are seeing some environmental progress and we hope to see more in 2020.”

Environmental Battles Still in Progress

We are still trying to get bills passed in lame duck, including S2252 (Smith/Greenstein), a bill that would set up EV charging infrastructure, and S2776 (Smith/Greenstein), a bill that would comprehensively ban plastic across the state

NJ Sierra Club is suing BPU and Pinelands Commission for approving the Southern Reliability Link (SRL), but the Murphy Administration has refused to issue a stay. This means the pipeline could be built before we have a chance to stop it in court

Murphy has made three nominations to the Highlands Council and five nominations to the Pinelands Commission, but the Senate has yet to vote to appoint the nominations

The Pinelands Commission has failed have a full quorum to vote on withdrawing their approval for South Jersey Gas’s pipeline

The DEP has denied permits for Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE) three times without prejudice, but the Transco keeps reapplying

Environmental Wins

New Jersey’s new smoking ban, which prohibits smoking on public beaches and state parks, went into effect at the beginning of this year

B.L. England, the last major coal-powered plant in New Jersey, closed after more than 50 years of burning fossil fuels

The DEP purchased Holley Farm, a vital ecologically important area in the Pine Barrens and Delaware Bayshore forest region, after a 20 year battle to protect it

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the PennEast Pipeline cannot use state lands. This will delay the project for at least two years and could possibly stop it or cause it to be rerouted

BPU granted the state’s first offshore wind solicitation of 1,100 megawatts to Ørsted, setting the record for the single largest award for offshore wind in the U.S

Governor Murphy raised New Jersey’s offshore wind goal to 7,500 megawatts by 2035

Governor Murphy came out against the Meadowlands Power Plant, although he has yet to take any action to stop it

Keegan Landfill in Kearny and Silver Spruce Drive in Vernon will be finally closed and cleaned up after illegal dumping of materials by NJSEA in Kearny and Joseph Wallace in Vernon.

Environmental  Losses

The Murphy Administration has failed to repeal a single Christie-era rule

Lead levels in Newark’s drinking water were at record highs this year, reaching 52 parts per billion between January and June.

The Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI), the agency responsible for setting standards of acceptable limits for toxins and carcinogens in our water, has not had a single meeting in 2019

This summer had a record number of algae blooms due to climate change and water pollution

New DEP Stormwater Rule fails to properly manage certain contaminants and will lead to more flooding and pollution. Even Trump’s FEMA criticized the rule.

Several bills that had consensus in the Legislature were weakened by last-minute amendments that came from the DEP and the Governor’s Office, including the Beach Access Bill S1074 (Smith), the Carbon Bill S3207 (Smith), and the Environmental Justice bill S1700 (Singleton/Weinberg).

DEP granted permits for the Roseland Compressor Station even though the compressor station is unneeded and will create more pollution and flooding in the region

Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan draft changes the definition of clean energy to include dirty energy like  natural gas, fossil fuel plants with carbon sequestration, and incinerators

The New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Program is close to crashing because of the cost cap on solar energy

The DEP has fewer employees now than under Christie, and New Jersey is 10th in the nation for the reduction of environmental staff

NJ Transit is rated the worst in the nation. They need to move forward with electric buses.

Governor Murphy has failed to stop the bear hunt, even though he said the he opposes it

Although there has been some progress, the Murphy Administration has continued to move much slower than we had hoped. State agencies are still implementing many of Christie’s policies because they are led by the same people and the same rules. The Trump Administration has continued to attack the environment by rolling back critical rules that protect our clean air, clean water, and open space. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, released the following statement:

“There have been many successes and progress in the environment. But this is the year that climate change, toxins in our drinking water, and dirty water have really hit New Jersey hard. We saw climate impacts with sunny day flooding, sea level rise, storm surges, and more pollution in our waterways. Our water systems were contaminated with lead and chemicals like PFOAS. Newark’s drinking water had record levels of lead this year, and we had 70 suspected and 39 confirmed harmful algal blooms in New Jersey. Invasive clinging jellyfish were found in larger numbers in our bays and rivers. A DEP report showed that we can only consume 38% of our drinking water supply because of contamination and pollution. The report also showed that only 5% of our streams and rivers meet criteria for fishing and swimming.

“We had a lot of environmental wins this year. Environmental victories this year include the implementation of New Jersey’s smoking ban for public beaches and state parks, the closing of our last coal-fired power plant B.L. England, and the DEP’s purchase of Holley Farm to preserve it. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed approval of the PennEast Pipeline, slowing them down for two years and perhaps stopping the project or causing it to be rerouted. The BPU granted the state’s first offshore wind solicitation of 1,100 megawatts and Governor Murphy raised NJ’s offshore wind goal to 7,500 megawatts by 2035. Governor Murphy also came out against the Meadowlands Power Plant, although he has yet to take any action to stop it.

“There have been many environmental lows this year. The Murphy Administration has still failed to repeal a single Christie-era rule. Lead levels in Newark’s drinking water reached a record 52 parts per billion, which is over ten times the federal limit. The DEP signed off on a weak Stormwater Rule and also granted permits for the Roseland Compressor Station. NJ Sierra Club is suing BPU and Pinelands Commission for approving the SRL pipeline, but NJ refuses to issue a stay which means the pipeline could be built before we have a chance to stop it in court. Murphy has redefined clean energy to include dirty energy, the Solar Program is close to crashing because of the cost cap, and NJ Transit is rated the worst in the nation. New Jersey is also 10th in the nation for environmental staff reductions, with fewer DEP staff now than under Christie.

“Climate change is here, and it is only getting worse.  A recent DEP study projects dramatic sea-level rise in New Jersey of up to 8.8 feet over 2000 levels by 2100. Instead of limiting development and pulling back from building on flood-prone areas, we are putting more homes in flood risk zones. According to a new Zillow report, New Jersey is developing in flood prone areas faster than any other state. We are still using Christie-era rules like the Flood Hazard Rules, Waiver Rules, Stormwater Rules, and CAFRA rules that encourage development and cause more flooding and pollution. We are also still the only state in the region without a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.

“New Jersey needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help mitigate climate change impacts. There are currently over a dozen new fossil fuel infrastructure projects in New Jersey that will increase emissions by over 32%. Last year, we formed a coalition called Empower New Jersey that now has over 90 groups. The coalition has been calling on Governor Murphy to put a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects until we have the programs and standards in place to achieve our 100% clean energy goals. So far, Murphy has not been willing to put a moratorium on these projects. Our state can be a national leader in clean energy and green jobs if we aggressively move forward with renewable energy.

“Governor Murphy’s draft Energy Master Plan does not address the urgency and existential threat that we are facing. The Governor has made a commitment for 100% clean energy by 2050, but instead of trying to meet that commitment he has changed the definition of clean energy to dirty energy. He redefined clean energy to include natural gas, fossil fuel plants with carbon sequestration, nuclear power plants, incinerators, biomass, carbon credits and offsets. The Plan fails to mention the 15 fossil fuel projects in the state, which means that New Jersey supports moving forward with these projects even though they will undermine GHG reductions and renewable energy.

“This was a record year for algae blooms and closed lakes. The DEP failed to clean up our lakes and get rid of this problem. They need to reverse Christie’s rollbacks, restore New Jersey’s lake management program, and deal with phosphorus. A recent Environmental Working Group report showed levels of cyanotoxins in lakes, rivers, and other water bodies across the country at levels higher than EPA health guidance standards. New Jersey needs to be doing more when it comes to preventing toxic algae blooms in the future. DEP needs to establish stream buffers and enforce real Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards that limit pollutants in our lakes. We also need to reduce overdevelopment and sprawl in environmentally sensitive areas.

“Another major water problem we faced this summer was the presence of an invasive species of clinging jellyfish in our waterways. The jellyfish were first spotted in New Jersey in 2016 and have turned up every year since. This is a stinging rebuke of failed policies to deal with overdevelopment and stormwater runoff. Seeing jellyfish in New Jersey waterways like Barnegat Bay and Shrewsbury River is a canary in the coal mine. These jellyfish thrive in warm water and areas with pollution because they need less oxygen than other sea life. The state needs to work to reduce pollution and address climate impacts. We also must work to restore watersheds, wetlands and streams, and preserve environmentally sensitive areas.

“New Jersey has far too many water problems, whether it is PFOAs, chlorpyrifos, cyanobacteria in our reservoirs, or lead. For too long, New Jersey has failed to adequately protect its drinking water and is putting the public at risk. Our Water Supply Master Plan is still outdated, and DEP have yet to adopt strict standards for hazardous chemicals in our drinking water. The Drinking Water Quality Institute, the agency that is supposed to set standards and protect public health, did not meet at all in 2019. The Murphy Administration made a commitment to move forward with protecting our drinking water, but no drinking water standards have been set or amended this year.

“Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment and our water. They are a menace and an existential threat to our drinking water, beaches, and wildlife. So far, over 40 towns in New Jersey are moving forward on banning plastic. New Jersey needs a comprehensive plastic ban bill that will protect our environment and public health. We are still trying to get S2776 (Smith), a comprehensive statewide plastic ban bill, passed in the lame duck session. We need to keep fighting to get this bill heard and released before our plastic waste problem gets worse.

“There were several bills that had consensus in the Legislature that were weakened by last-minute amendments. Governor Murphy signed a weakened Beach Access Bill, S1074 (Smith), and a weakened Carbon Bill, S3207 (Smith), into law this year. The Beach Access Law still allows towns to block access to beaches and waterfront that should belong to all of us, and the Carbon Bill falls short of steps taken by other states to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Other bills that have been weakened by amendments include the Electric Vehicle Bill S2252 (Smith/Greenstein) and the Environmental Justice bill S1700 (Singleton/Weinberg).

“We are fighting multiple battles to protect the integrity of New Jersey’s environment. We are in court challenging a BPU and Pinelands Commission approval of NJNG’s Southern Reliability Link Pipeline. We have asked for a stay because we believe they will cause irreparable harm by moving forward with the construction of the SRL pipeline, but the state has refused to issue a stay. This means that the pipeline will be built before we have a chance to fight it in court. The Pinelands Commission has a resolution to withdraw their support for the South Jersey Gas pipeline, but the resolution has been tabled since April. New Jersey Sierra Club is also involved in litigation against the Bellemead Sewer Plant and in a rate case challenging a powerline for the Meadowlands power plant.

“The current Administration has made some environmental progress this year, although much more needs to be done. Governor Murphy finally signed the stormwater utility bill S1073 (Smith) into law this year, which will help us mitigate stormwater runoff. In August, Murphy made three nominations to the Highlands Council, finally replacing Christie appointees. He has also made five nominations to the Pinelands Commission so far, but he and President Sweeney need to get these nominations moving. In October, Attorney General Grewal and DEP Commissioner McCabe announced new Environmental Justice actions targeting polluters in lower-income and minority communities in the state.

“New Jersey came out blue with a green tide in this year’s elections. Environmental champions were selected on a state and local level. An overwhelming majority of our endorsed candidates won by comfortable margins. Many returning legislators have been leaders on a variety of environmental issues, from pushing electric vehicles to securing critical environmental protections to advocating for environmental justice. This year’s election day was a win for the environment on a state and local level. Now with re-elected incumbents and new leaders, we must move forward to fight climate change and protect New Jersey’s clean air and clean water.

“Our legislative priorities for 2020 include 100% renewable energy by 2035 and zero carbon by 2050. The Murphy Administration needs to take climate change and water pollution more seriously in 2020. They need to fix outdated rules like CAFRA and move forward with a Coastal Commission. They also need to work on removing lead from our water and banning dangerous contaminants like chlorpyrifos. More funding needs to go toward urban and state parks, NJ Transit needs to buy electric buses, and we need to remove the solar cost cap. We hope to see legislation like A5033 (Pinkin) passed that would prevent backsliding of certain State regulations due to changes in federal law or regulation. The Trump Administration has continuously rolled back critical rules and regulations, and we need to build a green wall around our state.

“In 2020, New Jersey can move forward with renewable energy to create green jobs and a green economy. We will continue pushing for a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects because we need to stop dirty power plants and other fossil fuel infrastructure from taking over the state. Let’s start the New Year on the right track toward meeting Governor Murphy’s 100% clean energy goals. Murphy still has time to change, but he needs to act quickly. He needs to step up and take leadership in making New Jersey cleaner and greener. New Jersey can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Togel Singapore – Everything to Know About It

Gloucestercitynews.net (DecemberThe brick and mortar casino had put a stepping stone for the online casinos. And now online casino sites are taking the gambling fun to the globe. But we must not forget giving thanks to the internet that has a huge role in making it popular. Today, no matter where you go and what you want, everything is accessible at your fingertips. That’s 100 percent true. Say any gambling casino games and it is available on the casino site. And most popular across all the games is

togel Singapore

. Not only Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are enjoying the game but even the western world has accepted the game.

Unfortunately, even today some people have no access to togel games because they don’t even know about togel. For all those who have played the game once or trying it for first, this is a handy guide on togel Singapore.

About the togel game

This is a game of fate and luck where players predict the lucky numbers. The right prediction wins. However, not everyone playing togel is lucky enough to win the game. As a result, they

lose all the cash

. Therefore, if you feel that you are unfortunate to predict the right number then doesn’t dare to play.

Despite this many people wager every day again and again and hopes that they will win. Moreover, different people use different statistics to predict the right number. But the question is what makes the togel Singapore popular. Its numerous advantages that it has and you must know about them, so read further.

Togel advantages to know

Less capital

A common myth among players is that the game requires huge capital to invest. However, it is not the fact because online lottery requires less capital than your imagination. This is why most of the players switch to the togel online. This is also one reason that you will find most of the players betting online.

Ease in playing

Unlike Texas Hold’em and other poker games, togel is a pretty simple game to play. Moreover, learning the rules take only few minutes and easy to understand. Ultimately, everyone and anyone can play this game irrespective of being professional or beginner. There are four lines on which players bet. And if their prediction is correct then they win and the rest of the players lose.

Safety

Another common myth about togel Singapore is that they are not safe. And this is again beaten by the reputed and reliable online casino websites. Moreover, these websites are designed in a way that anyone from any city can feel

safe while betting

. Their information and money are safe within them.

On the other hand, there is no surprise if you land on fraud websites. It is because they are also available in bunches. But there is a way to ditch those websites by checking their legality and gingerly reading their privacy policy. Your safety is in your hand so check the websites each information and then play.

Bonus

No doubt this is a better and top reason to play togel Singapore. The bonuses these websites have are worth taking and no player can ignore them. Luckily, the bonuses are never-ending and one can see them every day. Therefore, you never lose a chance of winning them. They have lots of bonuses in each category as well.

Due to these advantages, players like togel online more than other online games.

Togel Singapore- how to play?

Luckily, all you have to find a website and start betting online. This is a fun way to make some more money besides your 8 hours job. Start by enrolling in those sites and begin betting. Register to the website and then click on togel game and predict a right number. Also, while registering you may get lots of bonuses, cashback offers, referrals, deposits discounts, and more. In addition to this, you may get some promo codes to use while playing the games to earn more points.

You can make use of any of the offers while making deposits. However, remember that deposit money is non-refundable in case you lose, you lose money and bet. Therefore, we suggest you have a perfect foolproof strategy to win the betting. This will take some time for research but since togel Singapore is a luck-based game you may not even try finding strategy tips. Well, don’t rely on the fact because it is possible to use some tips and make close to the right prediction.

And to help you, we have some tips for winning at togel.

First, get as much bonus as you can so that even if you lose the game you don’t feel regret. Moreover, new online casino sites give a bonus equal to your deposit.

Get free spins scores from new online casinos.

Find odds of the winning

Before starting with these tips you should know about the account options available for transactions. A player will have to register with a bank account when registering for the online togel websites. This will ensure that all the credit, deposits, and withdrawal will be made from your bank account.

Regulation and legislation

The majority of the casinos deal with some regulation and legislation that needs to be identified to ensure the trustworthiness of a site before playing. This is very important because your money is at stake and you cannot leave it in the hands of any

fraud websites

.

Once you are assured that everything is okay about the websites, you are ready to play

togel Singapore

. But it can be an addiction so, one should know when to stop before situations get worse. Moreover, until you replaying within limits and not greedily for the money you are safe. Play togel only for fun and not for money because this is the real pleasure of the game.

Don’t lose the real fun of the game in the haste of making money. No matter whether you win or lose it will be fun playing and spending some time on a new game. This will fill you with new energy.

GUEST OPINION: Pennsylvania AG Targets Partially-Manufactured Receivers, Gun Owners

HARRISBURG PA–On December 16, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a

convoluted interpretation

of state gun law that will have broad implications for Keystone State gun owners. The attorney general’s letter expanded the state’s statutory definition of “firearm” to include almost any material that has the potential to be fashioned into a firearm frame or

receiver. The strained interpretation has the potential to effectively eliminate Pennsylvanians’ long-standing tradition of making their own firearms for personal use.

Under federal law (18 U.S. Code § 921), the term firearm is defined as follows,

(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B)

the frame or receiver of any such weapon

; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.

The only individual piece of a gun that is regulated as a “firearm” under federal law is the frame or receiver. This permits individuals to customize firearms and procure and sell most gun parts without perpetual government interference.

Law-abiding Americans with a passion for firearms and working with their hands often purchase partially-manufactured firearm receivers or frames in order to make their own guns for personal use. As these materials are unfinished items that take significant additional manufacturing to complete, they are not considered frames or receivers under federal law. Gun owners purchase partially-finished receivers for a variety of reasons, including an interest in customizing their own firearms or the ability to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights without government intrusion.

Anti-gun organizations claim that the ability to make firearms for personal use without government involvement is a “loophole” in federal law. This is false. A completed homemade gun is a firearm under federal law. A felon or other prohibited person may not possess a firearm completed from an unfinished frame or receiver. A prohibited person that is in possession of such a firearm faces up to 10 years imprisonment.

In direct contrast to the federal understanding of what meets the definition of a “firearm,” Shapiro has interpreted the Pennsylvania statutory definition of “firearm” to include an uncompleted firearm frame or receiver at any stage of manufacture.

Various parts of Pennsylvania statute define “firearm” as “any weapons which [is] designed to or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an explosive or the frame or receiver of any such weapon.” Shapiro has claimed that partially-manufactured frames and receivers fall under this definition for two reasons. One, because they are “designed” to expel a projectile by action of an explosive. Two, because a partially-manufactured frame or receiver “may be readily converted” to expel a projectile by action of an explosive.

Shapiro’s first argument is absurd. Manufacturers that design and manufacture partially-manufactured frames and receivers do so with the intent that item does not fall under the definition of a firearm under federal law. In other words, the manufacturers explicitly design these items to not be able to expel a projectile by action of an explosive without further significant manufacturing. By their very nature, these items are not firearms.

For his second argument, Shapiro perverted the jurisprudence on a wholly unrelated portion of federal law to bend Pennsylvania statute to his gun control agenda.

According to Shapiro, the “may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an explosive” language in Pennsylvania statute should be interpreted as analogous to the may “be readily restored” language of the federal National Firearms Act.

The NFA defines a “machinegun” as “any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.” There is a body of federal case law that has further interpreted the may “be readily restored” language. Despite the federal statute and case law having no relation to the relevant Pennsylvania statute, Shapiro imported this irrelevant precedent wholesale into his interpretation of state law.

The federal NFA case law employs a several-factor test to determine whether an item can be “readily restored.” The relevant factors include, the time necessary to restore the firearm, the ease of restoration, the expertise required, the equipment required, the availability on the requisite parts, the expense of conversion, and the overall feasibility.

Shapiro used the most extreme federal case law on this topic to lower the threshold for what constitutes a firearm.

For instance, regarding time, Shapiro noted, “various jurisdictions have found a weapon could be readily converted or restored in as little as two minutes and as long as eight hours.” For equipment, Shapiro noted, “Courts have found this to occur in a variety of circumstance, ranging from the use of basic tools to a properly-equipped machine shop.

The multifactor test adopted by Shapiro is vague. In giving a small amount of guidance as to what would not be “readily restorable” under federal law and thus would not be a “firearm” under the new interpretation of Pennsylvania law, the attorney general wrote,

In contrast, an example where a receiver would not be considered \”readily convertible\” comes from the District of D.C, where the court considered these factors in determining whether certain weapons were \”readily restorable.\” In that case, the weapons were held not to be machine guns because it would have taken a master gunsmith (expertise) over 13 hours (time) working with specialized equipment (equipment), required parts that are not commonly available (availability), cost $65,000 to make the conversion, and the conversion could have damaged or destroyed the firearm as well as caused injury to the shooter upon firing.

While Shapiro’s

press office

and the media have portrayed his opinion as a way to target the use of so-called 80-percent lowers, the interpretation the attorney general has adopted would encumber the use of unfinished frames or receivers at any stage of manufacture. Shapiro’s “theory” of treating non-functioning blocks of polymer, steel, or aluminum as “firearms” is the equivalent of calling a pile of aluminum tubes a bicycle or even considering a hickory or ash tree a baseball bat.

Shapiro cited gun crime in Philadelphia as an impetus for his unconventional interpretation of state gun law. Gun violence

is a problem in Philadelphia

. However, that problem is at present being exacerbated by Philadelphia’s

George Soros-backed

District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Krasner has received well-deserved criticism, some from

U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain

, for his

soft-on-crime policies

. Consider the following case described by the Philadelphia Inquirer,

In June 2018, Maalik Jackson-Wallace was arrested on a Frankford street and charged with carrying a concealed gun without a license and a gram of marijuana. It was his first arrest.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office recommended the Frankford man for a court diversionary program called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) that put him on two years’ probation. His record could have been expunged if he had successfully completed the program.

But Jackson-Wallace, 24, was arrested again on gun-possession charges in March in Bridesburg. He was released from jail after a judge granted a defense motion for unsecured bail. And on June 13, he was arrested a third time — charged with murder in a shooting two days earlier in Frankford that killed a 26-year-old man.

The article went on to point out,

statistics obtained from the DA’s Office show that in 2018, Krasner’s first year in office, 78 gun-possession cases were placed in the ARD program — compared with just 12 such diversions in gun-possession cases the previous year, 11 in 2016, 14 in 2015. and 10 in 2014.

With his new interpretation, Shapiro is intent on making law-abiding gun owners pay the price for the behavior of violent criminals and the failed policies of Pennsylvania’s public officials. Shapiro and other Pennsylvania officials should focus on vigorously prosecuting those who commit violent crime and not on passing new laws and perverting old ones to further burden honest Pennsylvanians.

Voorhees Animal Orphanage Pet of the Week: Reuben

Reuben is a beautiful buff and white boy who came to the Voorhees Animal Orphanage as a stray and is looking for a fresh start. He\’s a gentle soul and enjoys being petted and loved. And he would love to go home with you! If you\’re looking for a devoted companion to keep you company, you must come meet sweet Reuben at PetValu on Rte 70 in Marlton, NJ today! You can read more about Reuben, and all of the other fine felines that are

available for adoption here

.

Florence Geissler, age 93, of Voorhees NJ

On December 23, 2019.

Age 93. Of Voorhees. Burial private Laurel Lawn Cemetery, Bridgeton. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:

McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME

: Gloucester City

www.mccannhealey.com

Ph: 856-456-1142

William Todd Roberts, 62 of Gloucester City

William Todd Roberts

GLOUCESTER CITY NJ–On December 22, 2019. Age 62. Of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted husband of Joanne Roberts (née Rosati). Loving father of Shawn M. Roberts (Jennifer), Steven C. Roberts, Todd Roberts Jr. (Dana), Lawrence Orsino 3rd (Rachel) and Rose Clark (Kenneth). Cherished grandfather of Lacey, Izabella, Mackenzie, R.J., Quinn, Lawrence 4th, Aiden, Bianca, Steven and A.J. Beloved brother of Dianne Bodenhorn, Andrea Lee (Rick) and Steven Roberts.

Todd was born in Anderson, Indiana to the late E. Max and Ruth Roberts. He worked over 30 years as a scale technician for Industrial Weighing Systems in Pennsauken and Thermoseal in Gloucester City. Todd was a proud member of the Original Garden State Corvette Club for many years. He also enjoyed vacationing to Riviera Maya and spending time at the campground with his family and friends. He loved animals, especially his dog Brutus, his “best friend”.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Sunday, December 29

th

from 10 to 11:30 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, where his funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Msgr. Lucitt’s Needy Children’s Fund, PO Box 87, Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Please memo, William Todd Roberts.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of William Todd Roberts. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through:  McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City, NJ.  Ph:

856-456-1142

.

Exposure to Ozone Pollution or Wood Smoke Worsens Lung Health of Smokers/Former Smokers

Newswise — Over many years, exposure to the levels of ozone and other forms of pollution found in most U.S. cities and some rural communities can take a toll on a person’s health. Two studies led by Johns Hopkins researchers describe the impact of pollution on lung disease, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the U.S.

In one study, published Dec. 9 in

JAMA Internal Medicine

, Johns Hopkins researchers found that, among other effects, long-term ozone exposure increases the risk of lung disease — and the severity of that disease — among both former and current smokers. In another study, published Oct. 23 in

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

, Johns Hopkins researchers also found that increased neighborhood use of wood as a primary heating source — which releases fine particles into the air — is associated with higher prevalence of lung disease among never-smokers in the community.

“Even if you spend very little time outside, the cumulative effect of pollution over many years seems adequate to have a negative impact on respiratory health,” says

Nadia Hansel, M.D., M.P.H.,

director of the pulmonary and critical care division, professor of medicine and associate dean for research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of both studies.

Ground-level, or tropospheric, ozone is formed when industrial pollutants interact with sunlight, and it is the main ingredient in the smog found around major cities. Ozone is known to irritate the lungs by increasing inflammation, and spikes of very high ozone levels — such as those that occur on hot, sunny days with heavy traffic — can exacerbate lung diseases such as asthma.

Former and current smokers are at high risk of chronic lung diseases and are particularly susceptible to environmental triggers for lung disease flare-ups. Smokers are particularly prone to COPD, a group of diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, characterized by chronic and progressive lung inflammation that leads to shortness of breath and coughing.

In the new

JAMA Internal Medicine

study, Hansel and her collaborators around the country used data collected from people in several U.S. cities as part of the SPIROMICS (Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study) air pollution study. Participants in SPIROMICS were former and current smokers ages 40–80. The new analysis included a subset of SPIROMICS participants for whom there was available data on the previous 10 years of ozone exposure — based on where people lived. These 1,874 participants were 54% male, 79% white, 37% current smokers and had smoked an average of 50 pack-years — the equivalent of 25 cigarettes a day for two years, or five cigarettes a day for 10 years.

After adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors as well as smoking status and pack-years, the researchers found that people who had been exposed to higher levels of ozone over the previous 10 years were more likely to have COPD. For every 5-parts-per-billion increase in a person’s 10-year ozone exposure, they were 16% more likely to have COPD and 37% more likely to have had a severe exacerbation of the disease in the year prior to study enrollment. The same 5-parts-per-billion increase in ozone exposure was also associated with an increase in the percentage of people with emphysema and a worsening score of the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, which reflects health impairment affecting quality of life.

“What really stood out was that the effect was apparent even among current heavy smokers,” says Hansel. “This means that active smoking doesn’t outweigh this effect of ozone.”

In other words, even people already at the highest risk of COPD had an increased risk with ozone exposure. Moreover, Hansel says, the effect of increasing ozone was apparent even when ozone exposure was at the low end of the spectrum, such as among people living in northeastern cities where dark winters lead to an annual ozone exposure that’s relatively low compared with that of many southwestern locales.

“I think this adds to increasing evidence that there is probably no healthy level of ozone,” she says. “There are policies that suggest we just need to reach certain targets and everything will be OK, but in my mind that is probably not enough.” Policymakers must develop ways to get ozone as low as possible, she adds, rather than aiming for a particular target number.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that COPD costs the U.S. health care system more than $32 billion, and that there are approximately 7 million COPD-related emergency room visits in the U.S. each year. Hansel and her colleagues calculated that a 5-parts-per-billion decrease in 10-year ozone levels could reduce emergency room visits by 27%, saving a substantial amount of money on COPD care.

While the

JAMA Internal Medicine

study only measured lung health, previous research has suggested that high levels of ozone can affect cardiovascular health. So Hansel hypothesizes that long-term exposure to ambient levels of ozone may have similar effects on heart disease as it does to lung disease.

“The adverse health effects of ozone likely go beyond what we’ve identified here,” says Hansel. “And we need to keep building evidence of these effects so that it’s not debatable anymore that we need to do more to clean the air.”

In the second paper, researchers including Hansel, associate professor of medicine Meredith McCormack, M.D., M.H.S., and pulmonary and critical care medicine fellow Sarath Raju, M.D., studied data on 8,500 adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 2007–2012. Of the participants, 19.5% resided in rural areas and 29.6% in urban areas. Rural areas, with a 12.0% prevalence of COPD, had more than double the disease burden seen in urban communities, with a 5.9% prevalence.

By analyzing differences between urban and rural communities that might affect COPD risk, the team discovered that communities with a high rate of solid fuel use — either coal or wood for primary heating — were associated with COPD prevalence. A 1% increase in the number of homes using wood as the primary heating source was linked to 12% higher odds of COPD among people who have never smoked. In rural areas, 4.1% of people used wood as their primary heating source, as opposed to 0.6% in urban areas.

“Wood smoke is a household source of pollution that is associated with high levels of particulate matter and toxic gases,” says Raju, first author of the

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

paper. “We hope that this paper raises awareness of the growing epidemic of rural COPD.”

The researchers are now launching further studies that aim to collect individual level — rather than community level — data on environmental exposures that might contribute to COPD. They’re also partnering with other institutions to study COPD rates and risks in rural Appalachia.

Other authors on the

JAMA Internal Medicine

paper were Han Woo, Roger Peng, Ashraf Fawzy, Nirupama Putcha and Patrick Breysse of Johns Hopkins; Laura Paulin of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; Amanda Gassett, Kipruto Kirwa and Joel Kaufman of University of Washington; Neil Alexis of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Richard Kanner, Robert Paine III and Cheryl Pirozzi of University of Utah; Stephen Peters of Wake Forest University; Jerry Krishnan of University of Illinois at Chicago; Mark Dransfield of University of Alabama, Birmingham; Prescott Woodruff of University of California, San Francisco; Christopher Cooper of University of California, Los Angeles; Graham Barr of Columbia University Medical Center; Alejandro Comellas and Eric Hoffman of University of Iowa; MeiLan Han of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Fernando Martinez of Weill Cornell Medicine.

The work described in the

JAMA Internal Medicine paper

, part of the broader SPIROMICS study, was supported by the National Institutes of Health (HHSN268200900013C, HHSN268200900014C, HHSN268200900015C, HHSN268200900016C, HHSN268200900017C, HHSN268200900018C, HHSN268200900019C, HHSN268200900020C, U01 HL137880, R01ES023500, K23ES025781), AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Bayer, Bellerophon Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chiesi Farmaceutici S.P.A., Forest Research Institute Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Grifols Therapeutics Inc., Inkaria Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Nycomed GmbH, ProterixBio, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanofi, Sunovion, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Theravance Biopharma, and Mylan.

Other authors of the

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

paper are Emily Brigham, Nirupama Putcha and Aparna Balasubramanian of Johns Hopkins and Laura Paulin of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The

AJRCCM

paper was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P50MD010431, F32 ES029786-01, R21ES025840, T32 HL007534-36) and the Environmental Protection Agency (R836150).

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Dec. 9-15

Reminder for the week: Hunting and fishing licenses and Conservation Access Passes

help fund Delaware conservation and outdoor recreation facilities

DOVER (Dec. 23, 2019) – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Dec. 9-15 made 1,360 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 16 citations. Officers responded to 43 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.\”

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation:

Hunting on a refuge (1), removing antlered deer parts prior to checking (1), possession of unlawfully taken antlered deer (1), failure to tag antlered deer (1), failure to check antlered deer within 24 hours (2), failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours (1), and no License Exempt Number (LEN) (1).

Boating & Boating Safety:

Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2).

Public Safety:

Possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vessel (1) and possession of drug paraphernalia (2).

Other:

Damaging state property – cutting plants (2) and operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway on a state wildlife area (1).

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to

http://de.gov/ogt

, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?

Did you know that your purchase of fishing and hunting licenses and Conservation Access Passes helps fund fish and wildlife conservation and public outdoor recreation facilities? Revenue from fishing and hunting licenses supports statewide fish and wildlife surveys, management, and conservation, as well as habitat management and fishing and hunting access on state lands managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife to include boat ramps and state wildlife areas. Conservation Access Pass revenues also help fund management and maintenance of state wildlife areas.

Delaware fishing and hunting licenses and Conservation Access Pass are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license or Conservation Access Pass online, visit

Delaware licenses

. For additional information on Delaware fishing or hunting licenses and Conservation Access Passes, call 302-739-9918.

Michael J. Gillen, Volunteer Member of Brooklawn Fire Dept/EMS; Past Member of Brooklawn Board of Ed

Michael J. Gillen

BROOKLAWN NJ–On December 23, 2019. Age 54. Of Brooklawn. Loving and devoted husband of 27 years to Margaret “Peg” Gillen (nee Spates). Loving father of Andrew and Mikaila Gillen. Cherished son of Elsie Gillen and the late George J. Gillen. Beloved brother of Cheryl Graham (Dave), Robin Sobieski (John), Kathy Bairstow (Rich) and George “Skip” Gillen (Ann). Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Mike was born in Philadelphia and formerly resided in West Collingswood Heights. He was a graduate of Haddon Township High School class of 1985. Mike was a 20-year life member of the Brooklawn Fire Company, having served as past president and former captain. Mike was a member of the Brooklawn EMS and a former member of the Brooklawn Board of Education for over 10 years.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Monday morning, December 30

th

from 10 to 11:45 AM at the Brooklawn United Methodist Church,

213 Maude Ave., Brooklawn,

where his funeral service will be held at 12 Noon. Committal prayers and last call service will take place immediately following in front of the Brooklawn Fire Company. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brooklawn Fire Company, 100 S. Wilson Ave., Brooklawn, NJ 08030. Please memo, Michael J. Gillen.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mccannhealey.com

under the obituary of Michael J. Gillen. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN–HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City Ph:856-456-1142

Resolve to Volunteer with Firefighters of Gloucester Township in 2020

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NJ–Tis the season for eating good food, spending time with family and friends and setting resolutions for the new year. With 2020 right around the corner, why not consider a new year’s resolution that will impact your life and the lives of others?

Volunteering with your local fire department is a great way to start the new year. The need for volunteers has never been greater, and there are a number of ways to make a difference as a team member of the

Firefighters of Gloucester Township

.

The Firefighters of Gloucester Township are comprised of four local fire companies: Blenheim, Chews Landing, Erial and Glendora. Our volunteers serve in a number of positions, each designed to help keep citizens safe.

Is volunteering right for you? Check out the ways you can contribute:

Volunteer Firefighter

– Among our greatest need is that for volunteer firefighters.

Training and equipment is free

. As a volunteer firefighter, you will learn how to respond to emergencies, help protect property and save lives. Volunteer firefighters must be at least 18 years old.

Junior Firefighter

– Junior firefighters must be at least 16 years old, and will be trained to assists firefighters at the scene of an emergency.

Training and equipment is free.

Becoming a junior firefighter is a great way to perform community service, and the experience makes an excellent mention on college applications.

Volunteer Associate Member

– Individuals who are interested in volunteering, but do not want to answer fire calls or assist at the scene of emergencies, can take this route. Volunteer associate members must be at least 18. They are trained to handle business vital to the operation of the volunteer fire companies, including fundraising, recruitment and retention, logistics and accounting.

Ladies Auxiliary Member

– Becoming an auxiliary member is a great way to meet new people and volunteer. Auxiliary members organize special events and fundraisers throughout the year. Must be 18 years old to serve as an auxiliary member.

“Volunteering to save lives in this township in 2020 will be one of the best decisions you will ever make,” said Recruitment and Retention Chair and Glendora Fire Chief Michael Ricciardelli. “The opportunity to serve the community, and to form bonds with other members of the fire department, will be life changing.”

Go to

FirefightersofGloucesterTwp.org

to start 2020 the best way you can. Firefighting is our passion. Volunteering is our tradition. Make it yours.