A Nevada COTA Family is Celebrating American Heart Month

Thanks to Their Toddler’s Heart Transplant

COTA Kid Emerson Buskirk Heart Transplant Recipient

February 3, 2020

—

February is the month to celebrate love and hearts. Since 1964 February has been known as American Heart Month throughout the United States. For the Buskirk family of Las Vegas, Nevada, February truly is a month to celebrate selfless gifts from the heart. Their toddler, Emerson, is alive and able to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year because of the new heart she received just over a year ago.

Emerson Lee Buskirk was born in June 2018 to ecstatic first-time parents, Andrea and Brandon. They were thrilled and thankful to welcome this precious infant to their now family of three. Their first few months at home in Las Vegas with Baby Emerson were like those of other first-time, adoring parents. According to Andrea and Brandon, Emerson was the world’s easiest baby and they knew how fortunate they were. She was a champion sleeper and eater. She was very calm yet very curious. But early in the morning of September 24

, they embarked on a new and unexpected journey with Emerson.

Andrea and Brandon both blogged and posted on social media regularly about Emerson’s transplant journey and what follows are excerpts from their narratives:

Brandon and I are both teachers, so when the school year started for Brandon, we knew it was inevitable he would bring home germs. In early September he had a cold that was eventually passed to Emerson. We did not know it at the time, but that virus was the tipping point for her body. In mid-September 2018 we noticed something was ‘off’ with Emerson. She was not sleeping as well as normal, and was a little more cranky than usual. We decided Brandon would stay home with her on September 24

because that was to be my first day back from maternity leave for my teaching job. However, I was not able to return to my classroom as planned.

That night Emerson’s whole demeanor changed and she was lethargic. We assumed she just was not feeling well because of her cold. At 3:30 a.m. we were awake with Emerson. She was refusing to eat and her wet diaper was very dark, signaling dehydration. We grabbed her diaper bag and left quickly for the local hospital’s emergency room. Upon intake, an IV was started and she was immediately put on oxygen. She was very pale and was having trouble breathing. A chest x-ray was performed and then a doctor came in with news we had not expected to hear — Emerson was in congestive heart failure. Our world stopped.

We were immediately transferred to Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas to meet with pediatric cardiologists. The cardiologist who performed Emerson’s first echocardiogram left the room saying, ‘I need to expedite this’ and then returned very quickly to tell us what he had seen. He knew Emerson would need a heart transplant to survive. We were briefly admitted to the PICU and plans were being made to transfer us to a pediatric heart center. Loma Linda University’s Children’s Hospital had an opening on the cardiac floor, and less than 12 hours later we were being life-flighted there … about 250 miles from our home.

The first week of Emerson’s Dilated Cardiomyopathy diagnosis was grim. By the time she had another echocardiogram performed on September 25

, her heart function had gone from 30% to 9%. Her body was failing. Loma Linda’s team of pediatric cardiac specialists thought she would need to be placed on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), which is highly specialized life support. She was sedated, intubated and placed in isolation. The only way we could see her was to put on a gown, mask and gloves. We could not hold or comfort her. We felt lost and far away from our support network. Emerson was officially listed as transplant status 1A on September 26

. Our pastors travelled from Las Vegas to California and we baptized Emerson in the hospital, which was not at all what we had planned. We were preparing for the worst.

The next step was to get Emerson off the ventilator, which could only be done if her heart function got better. On October 8

her first open heart surgery, the Pulmonary Artery Band, was performed. This procedure is so new in the world of Dilated Cardiomyopathy treatment that less than 100 had been performed worldwide. Emerson was the fourth Loma Linda patient to have this procedure. This banding allowed her to come off the breathing tube and start eating again. Her heart function improved to about 20%. With these successes, Emerson was moved from 1A status to 1B since she was no longer quite as critical. Then the waiting began.

A close friend of the family reached out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to learn more about the organization and about fundraising for transplant-related expenses. Andrea and Brandon then spoke to their Loma Linda transplant social worker to learn more. On October 15, 2018, the Buskirks officially became part of the COTA Family.

COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA in honor of Emerson 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 transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a community team of trained volunteers. A COTA fundraising specialist travelled to Loma Linda on November 3

to train the family’s volunteers and walk them through the entire process. This group of family members and friends returned to Las Vegas and quickly got to work organizing fundraisers to help with mounting transplant-related expenses.

The months following the Pulmonary Artery Band surgery allowed Emerson’s body to regain strength, allowed her to grow, allowed her to gain weight and allowed her to completely breathe on room air. From what our nurses told us, Emerson was a rare case. When babies need heart transplants, they usually do not look like her. From her appearance alone you never would have known she was so sick. She would light up the hospital room with her gigantic smile and truly loved all the attention she received. She was known as the ‘mood booster’ of the pediatric cardiology floor at Loma Linda. In January our cardiologist wrote to UNOS (the United Network of Organ Sharing) to petition Emerson to go back to 1A status since a heart transplant was her only chance at long-term survival.

We received our life-changing call that a heart was available on January 17, 2019, at 5:46 pm. Emerson was taken to surgery at midnight, and was brought back up at 6:30 am on January 18

. She was extubated right after the transplant. With her now healthy heart, she almost instantly ‘pinked up’ like other babies. Her numbers stabilized. Miraculously she was discharged nine days after her heart transplant.

On February 14, Valentine’s Day, 2019, Andrea posted the following update:

Valentine’s Day has a whole new meaning for us this year, because February 14

is also National Donor Day. Today we are especially thankful for our donor family who gave Emerson a second chance at life. Without families like theirs, our little girl would not be here. They truly gave us a priceless gift. Today I want to bring awareness to the thousands of children and adults who are waiting for a life-saving transplant. I urge you to prayerfully consider becoming an organ donor. Did you know one person alone can save eight people with his/her organs? Emerson required blood transfusions many times throughout her hospital stay. Donating blood is another great way to honor our little girl. Lastly, if you feel so inclined, Emerson was transplanted at six months old. If everyone gave just $6 to COTA for Team Emerson, medications can be provided for Emerson for many, many years to come. The outpouring of love and support we have witnessed over the past months is incredible — it has allowed us to focus on Emerson’s needs and care … and not on the financial stresses of life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Emerson and Andrea remained in Loma Linda until early April and regularly went to nearby clinic appointments to make sure she was doing well. (Brandon had been teaching during the week in Las Vegas and travelling to California on the weekends for several months, which is a transplant-related expense for which COTA funds can be utilized.) They were all able to return home to Las Vegas on April 1, 2019, to resume life as a family of three.

Today Emerson is thriving and is as curious as ever. Andrea and Brandon are elated to have her home and to watch her grow and develop. She continues to love life. Her personality is blossoming with every beat of her amazing new heart. Emerson loves to smile and make funny faces. She loves her kitties, any and all toys that make music and her large collection of stuffed animals.

The COTA fundraising effort in Emerson’s honor has been very successful, which has continued to alleviate many of this young family’s stressors.

According to Brandon, “When we first learned about COTA, it was a relief to see other families who were also in our situation. Through COTA we discovered there is an entire community of transplant families who know exactly what we face each and every day. The

COTA.org

home page provided us tremendous hope because we could read success stories about other COTA heart kids. COTA has allowed us to focus on our family first and not on worrying about how to pay for the resources Emerson needs today … and into the future.”

On Emerson’s first birthday in June, Andrea wrote her this note

My Dearest Emerson,

Today you turn one year old. A birthday we did not know we would ever be able to celebrate with you. The challenges and odds you have had to overcome in your first year of life are greater than most people experience in a lifetime. You have overcome Intubation … Being paralyzed … Two open heart surgeries … A heart transplant … Surgery to drain fluid on your heart … Numerous IVs … Countless blood draws … Numerous blood transfusions … Countless heart tests, CTs and MRIs … Withdrawal from narcotics … A collapsed lung … Doctors saying you might not survive … and so much more. Being your mom and watching you overcome such adversity has been a challenge. They always say having kids teaches you so much. That is an understatement with you. You have taught me how to fight … how to be brave … and how to overcome. Your ‘fighter’ spirit is something I pray lives inside of you forever.

“Emerson becoming a Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) kid continues to be a huge blessing for us. Our world turned upside down after her birth, and we had to move to another state for her care and eventual transplant. COTA provided us comfort regarding the mounting medical bills for our lengthy stay. Now that we are back home, we know Emerson will get the best care possible and continue her recovery without the two of us worrying about the medical bills. It is so reassuring to know that when Emerson inevitably needs another heart transplant, COTA will be there at that point and …

for a lifetime

,” said Andrea and Brandon.

Emerson has not slowed down in any way since her heart transplant. She has shown her Warrior Spirit and has proven she can weather any storm. People comment to Brandon and Andrea frequently that had they not followed her journey or known anything about her health challenges, you would never know what she has been through.

According to Andrea, Emerson is running through life (literally) and shows no signs of slowing down. She is a bundle of energy from the moment her eyes open in the morning. She loves taking her new puppy, Weston, on walks and playing fetch with him. She loves reading books, being chased around the house while letting out full squeals of excitement and dancing to any music she hears (especially if it is Moana!). Emerson is living her life with no abandon.

“While Brandon returned to work in the fall, I stayed home to make sure all of her appointments were always taken care of. We are seeing a delay in eating due to her time in the hospital and are currently working to find the right feeding therapist to help us address these needs,” Andrea said. “We find total comfort knowing COTA funds can be used towards this. That knowledge takes away the financial stress of paying for her necessary therapy and the medications she needs.”

This Valentine’s Day, Emerson will likely be eating her favorite foods and doing her favorite things, which will undoubtedly include dancing, laughing, reading making funny faces and simply being adorable. Andrea and Brandon will be remembering Emerson’s heart donor angel with love.

Happy Valentine’s Day Buskirk Family from your COTA Family!

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

5 Players We Could See At The Philadelphia Eagles in 2020

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 7, 2020)–Last season wasn’t terrible for the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. The joy of winning the Super Bowl in 2018 still looms large in the memory of many of the team’s younger fans, and sometimes obscures the fact that prior to that, the Eagles had never won the competition before, and had in fact only made it to two previous finals in their entire existence. Reaching the playoffs is still an acceptable result for a team of the Eagles’ standing, even if the

loss to the Seattle Seahawks

was a disappointing one.

As with every team in the NFL at the moment, the upper management and coaching team of the Eagles will be taking stock of what they have, what they need to improve on, and who\’ll soon be available to acquire both in terms of April\’s draft and in terms of free agency. There are places in which the team could definitely be improved, and conversations about making those improvements will already be happening as you read this article. It\’s probably safe to assume that we\’ll see some significant movement in and out of the Eagles before the first game of the new season arrives.

Making major changes to a settled lineup is never easy, and always comes with an element of risk involved. It’s as if the popular

online slots

‘Gridiron Glory’ has come to life. In exactly the same way an online slots player puts their money into a game and hopes for the best, Doug Pederson will be placing the club’s money into players and hoping that luck is on his side. Neither the online slots player nor the coach can change their selection after they’ve made it – they just have to trust the Gods of fate and hope that everything goes his way. But who might Pederson be looking at, and who can we realistically expect to see at Lincoln Financial Field when the new season kicks off? Let’s take a look.

Darron Lee

In the run-up to the Super Bowl, the New York Post ran an article about

Darron Lee’s ‘crazy’ journey

to the biggest game in the sport. We guess they must have a different definition of \’crazy\’ to us, because Lee barely even featured in the build-up to the final, and didn\’t see the field in the final game at all. Lee is, without a shadow of a doubt, a talented player, but he appears to be surplus to requirements at Kansas City. If he is, he will make an excellent addition to the Eagles, who could do with more strength and competition in the squad when it comes to linebackers. His statistics from last season are misleading. The numbers will tell you that he played every game of the regular season without making a single interception or sack, but that\’s not fair. Lee only started two of those games. At the age of 25, the prime of his career is still ahead of him, and there\’s the potential for him to come and play through it at Philadelphia.

Arik Armstead

You might think that this suggestion belongs in the realms of fantasy, but there are whispers that Armstead may be interested in a move when free agency comes around. The defensive end knows how good he\’s been this season, and he\’ll expect his level of performance to be reflected in any new contract he signs. It may be the case that the San Francisco 49ers simply can\’t pay him what he\’s looking for, but the Philadelphia Eagles can. The Eagles wouldn\’t be the only team in the hunt for him if he decides to test the market – we suspect every single ambitious team in the NFL does – but the Eagles make for an attractive package, and stand as good a chance as anybody else. All they would have to worry about is whether his form holds up. He was excellent last season as we\’ve already said, but for the four seasons prior to that, he was mostly anonymous.

Bryce Hall

This kid should be a priority for the Eagles when it comes to the draft. He was born locally, and he looks like the real deal. Bryce Hall has stood out in an exceptional Virginia team in the past, but due to an unfortunate injury, he\’s slipped under the radar during 2019 while he\’s focused on getting healthy again. Teams worry about rookies who\’ve already had breakages or dislocations, and Hall has had both, but the opinion of his doctors is that he\’ll be fully fit in time to start the season. This gives the Eagles the chance to pick up a naturally gifted outside corner that nobody else has on their shortlist – and given his connections with the area, he could stay with the team for the next ten years or more if the move works out.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson is not the best wide receiver who\’ll be available in this year\’s draft, but he\’s the best wide receiver likely to remain available when picking 21 rolls around, and the Philadelphia Eagles desperately need a new wide receiver. We suspect that he might even be a first-round pick for the team if nobody else picks him up first. In 2019 he picked up 111 catches – that\’s more than any other player at his level in the country. He also ranked second for TD catches and third for receiving yards. As the old saying goes, the numbers don\’t like – and the numbers all look very good where Jefferson is concerned.

Justin Madubuike

We think it might be a tale of two Justins when it comes to the NFL Draft in 2020. Justin Jefferson will almost certainly appear high on the list, and we think Justin Madubuike will, too. At 6’3 and over three hundred pounds, Madubuike is a big, big man, and he’s becoming available at the right time when we look at the current DT options within the Eagles squad. Malik Jackson is about to turn 30, and nobody knows whether he’ll ever fully recover from his foot injury or not. Fletcher Cox is also nudging on 30. Ridgeway and Jernigan, the only other options, haven’t developed as well as the Eagles hoped, and will likely be leaving as free agents. That will leave the Eagles with a big hole in the DT position – and to us, it looks like a Justin Madubuike-sized hole.

This is just our take on the matter, though – the Eagles could end up with all of these players, some of them, or none of them. That’s the risk you take when you try to make sporting predictions! From now until the first day of next season, we’ll be watching and waiting to see if we were right.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

Brooklawn School Property 4-Sale; What\’s Up At Paulsboro Marine Terminal? ; Johnny Hockey & Buddy Robinson; New Freeholder; Strike A Pose

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews.net

FOR SALE! BROOKLAWN CHURCH PROPERTY

—The former St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church, 401 Community Drive, Brooklawn which was purchased by the Brooklawn Board of Education for $720,000 in 2014 is up for sale. The asking price is $785,000. The Board had planned on using the buildings for classrooms and administrative offices but the development never materialized.

Gloucestercitynews.net file photo

The property, which is adjacent to the Alice Costello Grammar School, is situated on 2 acres with frontage on U.S. Route 130 south, close to multiple businesses, retail, and other numerous amenities. The listing states it is an ideal property for a daycare, private school, non-profits, professional offices or redevelopment. The total

footage of both buildings is 7,013 square feet.

The broker handling the sale is

Wolf Commercial Real Estate

has offices in South Jersey and Philadelphia.

For More Information Contact Phil Costa (856)-857-6300 or (215)-799-6900

phil.costa@wolfcre.com

WHAT\’S UP AT THE PAULSBORO MARINE TERMINAL ?

—The taxpayer-funded Port of Paulsboro, which opened three years ago, is still only bringing in steel from Russia according to a recent report by

NJ.com

Taxpayers invested $225 million in the Gloucester County property which was touted as the first new marine terminal on the Delaware River in nearly 50 years when it opened in winter 2017. It was formerly a 190-acre petroleum storage field that had to be cleaned up and redeveloped.

(March 7, 2017)–The Delaware River has seen the opening of a first new marine terminal in 50 years with the inauguration of the Paulsboro facility in New Jersey. The $175m Paulsboro Marine Terminal was developed by the South Jersey Port Corp and is being operated by Holt Logistics Corp. Holt has committed more than $12m to the project in the form of cranes, rolling stock and other capital items. The brownfield site, covering 190 acres, used to be a BP tank farm. Located near Philadelphia International Airport, it has 21,000 feet of new rail track and an 850-foot wharf with two more berths planned. With the terminal initially employing 40-50 people, the potential for expansion could see that rise to 200, says the operator. It received its first vessel when bulker Doric Warrior delivered 55,000 tons of steel slabs from Tuapse in Russia for its first tenant, international steel company NLMK USA. (source https://splash247.com/

“This has not yet been the big jobs producer, the big hope we all spoke about years ago,” he said. “I don’t know if there are more than 25 jobs right there right now. My big hope is that all that was talked about years ago come to fruition,\” said Mayor Gary Stevenson.

Officials say phase II of the Paulsboro development is underway and is expected to be completed in 2021. It includes two more wharves, infrastructure improvements and warehouses, which it doesn’t have now.

(Read more)

photo source The Calvary Flames

TIME TO TALK HOCKEY

—Former Gloucester Catholic Hockey Coach Guy Gaudreau, who runs the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell,

explained how he still gives pointers to his elder son, \”Johnny Hockey,\” and his son\’s friend Buddy Robinson. Both his son and Robinson, who presently play for the Calvary Flames, also played for the Gloucester Catholic hockey team when they were students at the school.

In a recent interview with the

Courier Post

, Guy explained how he talked to both players before last Saturday\’s upcoming game

The pair of Flames forwards (Gaudreau from Carneys Point and Robinson from Bellmawr) are the first two players from South Jersey to be teammates in the NHL. There are only 22 players who were born in New Jersey, according to hockey-reference.com, and went on to make it to the NHL. Nine remain active in the league as of this season.

Robinson, a 6-foot-6 right-wing, was playing for the Flames farm team when he got a call-up ahead of the Battle of Alberta with the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday night. Gaudreau and Robinson connected on a give-and-go play that resulted in the second career goal for Robinson, his first tally in the NHL since April 7, 2016.

(Read more)

NEW CAMDEN COUNTY FREEHOLDER

— Barbara Holcomb, was chosen recently to fill the vacant seat on the Camden County Freeholder Board that was held by Susan Shin Angulo, who resigned to become the new mayor of Cherry Hill.

Barbara Holcomb

Holcomb, the former deputy mayor of Winslow, is the vice-chair of the Camden County Democratic organization. She served one term on the Winslow school board before winning a township council seat and was presently serving on the Camden County Board of Taxation before accepting her new appointment.

Holcomb has not yet announced if she will run in a 2020 special election for the remaining 14 months of Shin Angulo’s term. William Tambussi, the counsel to the county Democrats, said that vote was only to fill the immediate vacancy and not to nominate Holcomb as the organization candidate for the June primary. Her ascension to the freeholder seat will create a vacancy on the Camden County Board of Taxation.

Read New Jersey Globe article

RELATED: Holcomb Wins But No One Loses

Gloucestercitynews.net photo

STRIKE A POSE PEYTON!-

-A Crown Chicken store is being added to the Gyro Restaurant at Broadway and Hunter Street, Gloucester City. Presently the store is closed while the renovations are being completed. Peyton saw we were taking pictures and being the \”ham\” she is jumped at the chance to get her photo taken.

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

CNBNews Point of View

BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | February 6, 2020

ICE Arrested a Brazilian National Wanted for Murder in NJ; 117 Illegals Arrested Statewide

NEWARK, N.J. – A Brazilian national, in the country illegally and wanted in Brazil for homicide, was arrested last week during enforcement efforts conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New Jersey, targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal reentrants and other immigration violators.

A Brazilian national wanted for murder in his country was arrested by ICE in Newark, NJ.

The state was designated a \’sanctuary state\’ by Democrat Gov. Murphy when he took office. (photo provided by ICE)

“The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety in the face of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive, which severely limits local and state law enforcement cooperation with ICE-ERO,” said Ruben Perez, acting field office director of ERO Newark. “This targeted enforcement action focuses on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety. Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are 115 fewer criminals in our communities.”

Any local jurisdiction thinking that refusing to cooperate with ICE will result in a decrease in local immigration enforcement is mistaken. These jurisdictions that choose to not cooperate with ICE are likely to see an increase in ICE enforcement activity as ICE has no choice but to conduct more at-large, targeted enforcement actions since the agency is unable to take custody of a criminal alien within the confines of a local jail.

Recent arrests include:

In Newark, a 53-year-old Brazilian national, who has a warrant in Brazil for the offense of homicide;

In Fairfield, a 58-year-old Peruvian national, who has a warrant in Peru for the offense of extortion;

In North Bergen, a 44-year-old Salvadoran national, who has a conviction for the offense of endangering the welfare of a child;

In Elizabeth, a 28-year-old Salvadoran national, who has a pending case in El Salvador for the offense of homicide;

In Glassboro, a 60-year-old previously deported Mexican national, who has a conviction for the offense of homicide;

In Guttenberg, a 40-year-old Mexican national, who has convictions for the offense of child abuse, DUI and domestic violence;

In North Brunswick, a 42-year-old Jamaican national, who has convictions for the offense of drug smuggling and exporting cocaine;

In Plainfield, a 31-year-old previously deported Guatemalan national, who has convictions for the offense of domestic violence and DUI;

In Paterson, a 45-year-old Salvadoran national who has convictions for the offense of endangering the welfare of a child and DUI;

In Passaic, a 50-year-old Bolivian national, who multiple convictions for the offense of endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension and DUI;

In Pompton Plains, a 55-year-old United Kingdom national, who has convictions for the offense of arson, domestic violence and distribution of narcotics;

In West Milford, a 46-year-old previously deported Mexican national, who has a conviction for criminal sexual contact involving a minor;

In Paterson a 22-year-old Dominican national, who is a member of the Trinitarios gang with convictions for the offense of possession of a weapon and theft; and

In Paterson, a 20-year-old Salvadoran national, who is a member of the MS-13 gang.

The individuals arrested throughout New Jersey were nationals of Argentina (1), Bolivia (1), Brazil (4), Colombia (3), Costa Rica (1), Cuba (2), Dominican Republic (9), Ecuador (9), El Salvador (12), Ghana (1), Guatemala (16), Honduras (9), India (2), Jamaica (2), Mexico (32), Nigeria (1), Panama (1), Peru (2), Philippines (1), Poland (2), Spain (2), United Kingdom (1), and Venezuela (1).

Some will face federal criminal prosecutions for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after removal. An alien who illegally re-enters the United States after removal can face up to 20 years in federal prison if criminally prosecuted.

From January 27 to February 1, ICE arrested 115 foreign nationals, and 84 percent had prior criminal convictions and/or pending criminal charges. Convictions and pending charges included: homicide, sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, extortion, DUI, fraud, domestic violence, theft, possession of a weapon, robbery, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, assault by auto, receiving stolen property, shoplifting, burglary and illegal reentry. Both ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) New York Field Office assisted ERO with these arrests.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extremely proud to have assisted in this targeted enforcement action,” said Troy Miller, director of the CBP New York Field Office. “It is through collaborative efforts that law enforcement agencies can combat illegal acts and apprehend criminals who pose a threat to the homeland.”

ICE officers carry out targeted enforcement actions every day in locations around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls.

ICE focuses its limited resources first and foremost by targeting those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and border security, and our officers make arrests every single day. The agency’s arrest statistics clearly reflect this. Nationally, approximately 86 percent of ERO’s administrative arrests during fiscal year 2019 either had a criminal conviction or were pending criminal charges.

Warhawks Release New EP ‘Stardust Disco’

Gloucester City, NJ (February 2020)–The Warhawks, a local band from Gloucester City announced the release of their new EP ‘Stardust Disco’ which is available on all music platforms. It was released on New Rivals Entertainment.

The six new songs were recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced by Dave Downham at Gradwell Recording House in Haddon Heights, NJ during the summer and fall of 2019.

If you’re interested in a physical copy (CD), contact the band at thewarhawksnj@gmail.com. CDs will also be available at all shows.

The band would like to thank Stephen F. James for the phenomenal co

ver artwork. Also thanks to Doug Green of New Rivals Entertainment and Kevin Day of Part Time PR for all of the hard work.

Listen to

Stardust Disco

below and connect with The Warhawks on

Facebook

Instagram

and

Twitter

Entertainment

Society’s Most Feared Disease

(NAPS)—Even more than cancer, there’s one disease most people fear. The thought of falling prey to Alzheimer’s disease and to the inevitable desecration of the mind is something that can make even the

bravest shudder.

After all, if you’re robbed of your sense of who you really are, you’re doomed to live your last days without the dignity that defines you and that you hold dear. Perhaps the ultimate horror of Alzheimer’s disease is that it is as indiscriminate, merciless, and devastating as a wind-swept wildfire.

As a result, a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has become a Holy Grail of sorts in the biotech industry. The disease is so ubiquitous, it casts a shadow over just about everyone’s family. At the same time, it exacts a devastating financial toll on society—perhaps even greater than cancer—with Alzheimer’s disease patients needing 24-hour care for an average of eight years and sometimes as many as 20 years.

The estimated cost for caring for Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is well in excess of a quarter of a trillion dollars per annum. This doesn’t even include unpaid caregiving. Also, Alzheimer’s disease is ranked as the third leading cause of death of seniors in the United States, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer. Approximately 6 million Americans have become its victims, and this number rises each year as lifespans increase due to advancements in medical science.

Progress From Pharmaceuticals

Fortunately, a few pharmaceutical companies, including Biogen, AC Immune SA and NervGen Pharma, have come up with ways to potentially treat the condition and perhaps slow it down. NervGen’s medical researchers are working on what may become an important breakthrough for Alzheimer’s and other afflictions that are defined by nerve damage.

Could This Be Modern Medicine’s Holy Grail?

Until recently, NervGen’s focus has mostly been on developing nerve regeneration for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. In fact, some remarkable results have been achieved in preclinical trials, including one where the treated rodents regained substantial functionality in their legs after sustaining severe spinal cord damage.

Assuming it also works in humans, the medical science world will be paying very close attention because there are no known therapies that can stimulate human nerve regeneration now.

In addition, NervGen intends to commence a Phase 2 clinical trial for treating multiple sclerosis. The company’s drug candidate is expected to treat many of such debilitating symptoms as numbness, loss of sensation, chronic and debilitating pain, partial loss of movement, paralysis, and even incontinence due to additional mechanisms of action called “remyelination” and “plasticity.”

The research team also believes that the same nerve-rejuvenating biotechnology can be adapted to treat Alzheimer’s disease, not just mitigate its symptoms due to its truly novel and innovate approach.

The essence of this technology is that it unlocks a damaged nervous system’s natural ability to repair itself. Proprietary molecules “unstick” nerves and prevent new ones from getting stuck by interfering with synaptic-like connections so the nerves can regrow in places that are normally highly inhibited by scar tissue.

The co-inventor of NervGen’s technology, Dr. Jerry Silver, is one of the world’s most foremost neuroscience researchers of spinal cord injury. Dr. Silver, who is also Professor of Neurosciences at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, has been working this unique approach to nerve rejuvenation biotechnology since the early ’90s by focusing on a protein called CSPG that inhibits the body’s natural ability to grow and regenerate.

Heretofore, no drugs have been approved anywhere in the world for nerve regeneration and remyelination, as well as improved plasticity in damaged nerves. Additionally, existing treatments are not considered very effective. So, the stakes are especially high for NervGen to create a blockbuster drug candidate that promises to even outshine any other Alzheimer’s disease drug. This is a wonderful opportunity to pioneer nerve repairing drug therapies that target some of the most devastating and pervasive diseases known to humankind.

Learn More

For further facts and figures about NervGen Pharma, go to

www.nervgen.com

Features of Real Estate Insurance in the USA

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 6, 2020)–The US insurance market is considered the most developed in the world. Thousands of insurance organizations work in the country. Relations in the field of property insurance are regulated in each state separately, and not by federal laws. This system, along with geographical and climatic features in different regions, has led to the formation of various tariffs and features of the damage coverage package. In addition to property insurance against fires, residents of different states try to protect themselves from floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Many take the opportunity to insure title rights to real estate in order to avoid problems when disputes arise with other applicants. Therefore, if you plan to secure your property, make sure to visit

www.americaninsurance.com

Volunteering and Obligations

According to the law, the conclusion of an agreement with insurers is an exclusively voluntary decision. But many people are simply forced to purchase policies. The grounds may be the following:

Tenant association requirements;

Bank conditions when applying for a mortgage.

Residents of regions prone to frequent natural disasters ensure real estate so as not to stay on the streets after another natural disaster. Many also seek to protect themselves from damage caused by fires. According to statistics, they are the most common reason for contacting insurers for payments.

Many states have special natural disaster insurance programs that commercial structures have traditionally been abandoned. This includes floods and earthquakes. They are being developed at the federal level and with the local government. Home or other property insurance is conditionally voluntary for participation in such programs. Anyone can refuse to do this. But in the event of natural disasters, such people will not be able to rely on state aid, loans, and subsidies if the building was damaged during a devastating event typical of the region.

A real estate insurance policy takes effect only 30 days after its conclusion. This reduces the chances of attempts to pay security fees only when an immediate threat arises. For example, if you were insured against a hurricane and it erupted in a week, you will not be able to receive compensation.

Title Insurance

Here we are not talking about an honorary title, but about the right to a specific property. As a rule, after acquiring property, people receive identification documents. Before the transaction, the legal purity of the object is checked. But this does not exclude a dispute. After all, sometimes documents that no one has seen for hundreds of years can come up, and the court will review the rights of the owners, giving the recently acquired property to other people. Title insurance protects against such cases.

The cost of the policy is less than one percent of the value of the object. However, if an insured event occurs, the damage is calculated based on the prices that exist at the time the payment becomes necessary. For example, a house is worth a million. When buying, the price was 50,000. In case of loss of ownership, the owner who insured the title will receive a million.

Things to Do to Keep Safe While Traveling by Air

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 6, 2020)–At a time when the entire world has gotten under the grip of the Coronavirus, it becomes important to talk about the ways in which we can handle ourselves and look after our health while traveling by air. Air travel is one of the easiest ways and the most convenient means of moving across long distances. But the same convenience and comfort can turn to ashes in the mouth when you have a virus at large, floating freely across volumes of air. It is not just about battling Coronavirus when you are traveling by air; it is about staying safe by all means and under every circumstance. The outbreak of this particular virus might not be a long-term affair. It shall subside like every other epidemic after a short while, but that is not a blank check to throwing caution to the air and not paying much attention to one’s health while traveling via air.

The article that we have put together talks about the ways in which we can stay safe while catching that plane, not just from a virus but also from unforeseen circumstances like the loss of documents and valuables while traveling.

Take Care of Your Health While Traveling:

You cannot hope to survive the ravages of any demanding situation if you have to keep worrying about your deteriorating health. It is imperative that you pay the utmost attention to your body while traveling by air. We shall, therefore, talk about the ways in which you can look after your health and then move on to the other aspects of air travel. Traveling by a domestic flight or not, booked via

Jettly

, prioritizing your health is primal.

Remember to Wear Masks-

You might not understand the importance of wearing masks while traveling by air, but it is time that you do. The air surrounding us is a disease-carrying vector, and it only takes less than a second to fall prey to the nuisance of a virus. Therefore, always use a mask even if you are seated within the confines of the aircraft.

Wash Your Hands Before and After Using the Toilet in the Plane-

You never know the kind of diseases that people are capable of carrying in them. Therefore, you must make it a point to sanitize your hands or at least wash it with plain water after you use the toilet. The toilet is the place where you are more prone to getting infected, and thus, you cannot afford to take any chances.

Drink Up-

As some would say, water solves everything. And the need for water by your body increases all the more when you are traveling. Therefore, make sure that you are hydrated; enough to sustain the long haul by air.

Keep One Eye On Your Travel Documents, Always:

Now that we have covered the discussion on how to take care of your health while boarding the flight, it is time to pay attention to the travel documents. You cannot afford to lose your documents or your valuables while traveling via air. Therefore, it is essential to understand how you could keep your documents safe or at least deal with a situation where one or more of your documents go missing.

Always Keep a Backup of Your Documents-

A photocopy might not serve the exact purpose as that of an original, but you could rest assured that the photocopies can at least serve as pieces of vital evidence. In case your documents go missing, you can always furnish your photocopies and apply for a set of new ones.

Keep Your Passport Handy-

Keep your passport safe, but do not pack it with your clothes. Keep your passport in your handbag so that you can always keep an eye on it and reach out for it when required. You cannot afford to lose your passport while flying.

Do Not Keep Your Documents in the Check-in Baggage-

Airlines take the utmost care in keeping your check-in baggage safe. But there is always a slim chance of losing a piece of your luggage or two. Therefore, you must avoid keeping your important documents in the check-in baggage.

Conclusion:

It is important to be safe while you are traveling by air. Airlines might have their own sweet ways of taking care of their passengers. But, you, as an aware and responsible passenger, must take up the measures of keeping yourself safe and protected against threats of all kinds.

Face of Defense: Authorities Apprehend Smugglers, Seize $46.2M in Cocaine

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO 02.04.2020 Photo by Ricardo Castrodad U.S. Coast Guard District 7 PADET San Juan, Crew members of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) offload 3,086 pounds of cocaine Tuesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico Feb. 4, 2020. The drugs were seized following two separate interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the Coast Guard and the United Kingdom Royal Navy Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, which resulted in the detention of nine smugglers.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard, United Kingdom Royal Navy and U.S. law enforcement partners seized 1,400 kilograms (3,086) pounds of cocaine and detained nine suspected smugglers following the interdiction of two separate drug smuggling events in the Caribbean Sea Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, 2020.

The seized drug shipments are estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $46.2 million.

The interdiction was a result of an international, multi-agency law enforcement effort in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard, Campaign Martillo (a joint, interagency, 20-nation collaborative counter narcotic effort), and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.

“These interdictions highlight the importance of working with our allied partners such as the United Kingdom Royal Navy, as well as our joint interagency collaboration with the Department of Defense and our local and federal law enforcement in the region, said Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones, commander of the Coast Guard Seventh District. “These efforts, underpinned by our unwavering resolve to stop drug smuggling vessels at sea, greatly contribute to safeguarding our citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and protecting our shared interests of a safer and more secure Caribbean.”

“These interdictions highlight the importance of working with our international partners as we combat drug trafficking,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These large drug seizures make our community safer by keeping the narcotics out of our neighborhoods. We commend all of our partner agencies for their steadfast efforts.”

\”These operations reiterate the significance of intelligence and resource sharing amongst agencies,” said A.J. Collazo, DEA Caribbean Division special agent in charge. “Successful interdictions like these, will continue to happen as a result of the collaborative efforts between DEA, USCG, HSI, FBI, the USAO and our foreign counterparts. We will continue to aggressively target and disrupt drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean.\”

In the first interdiction, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy RFA Mounts Bay (L3008), while on patrol with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and a Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) armed helicopter onboard, detected two suspicious go-fast vessels, approximately 74 nautical miles south of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The RFA Mounts Bay launched the Coast Guard HITRON helicopter and the ship’s pursuit vessel with the Coast Guard LEDET to interdict both suspect vessels.

The Coast Guard LEDET boarding team, with the assistance of RFA Mounts Bay crewmembers, boarded both suspect vessels, apprehending the seven men and seizing 42 bales of suspected contraband.

In the second interdiction, a marine patrol aircraft detected a northbound target of interest, southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic. The cutter Bear along with a helicopter responded to interdict the go-fast. Cutter Bear’s Over the Horizon cutter boat and embarked helicopter arrived on scene and stopped the go-fast. Cutter Bear’s boarding team detained the two men aboard the go-fast, after discovering 13 bales of suspected contraband.

The cutter Bear delivered the seized contraband and detainees from both cases to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-HSI, and DEA special agents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday.

Between October 2019 and December 2019, the Coast Guard and Caribbean Border Interagency Group authorities have seized 12,060 kilograms of cocaine and 407 pounds of Marijuana during law enforcement operations surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The wholesale value for these seizures is worth more than $314 million.

These cases are part of the CCSF, a multiagency OCDETF strike force comprised of federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, DHS, ICE, FBI, USCG, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety.

The Coast Guard’s efforts under Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency results being achieved each and every day locally under Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Commonwealth and Territorial law enforcement partners, who are working diligently to deter, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth Va.

The RFA Mounts Bay is a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), which provides logistical support to the United Kingdom Royal Navy.

OFFICER DOWN: Florida Trooper Joseph Bullock Shot and Killed

Trooper Joseph Bullock

Florida Highway Patrol, Florida

End of Watch

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

PALM CITY, FLORIDA (February 5, 2020)–Trooper Joseph Bullock was shot and killed when he encountered a subject at a rest stop on I-95 in Palm City.

Additional details have not yet been released.

Trooper Bullock was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 19 years.

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

CNB Crime

Blue Line

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

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BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | February 5, 2020