Deadly New York Harbor Pilot Accident; Coast Guard Responds

SANDY HOOK, New Jersey – The Coast Guard responded with units from the New York Fire Department and New York Police Department Harbor Police to an incident where a Sandy Hook Harbor pilot fell while boarding the merchant vessel Maersk Kensington at 4:30 this morning.

The pilot, who was transported to a hospital on Staten Island by a Sandy Hook pilot vessel, eventually succumbed to injuries received in the fall. The name of the deceased is being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.

The Coast Guard has begun an ongoing investigation into the circumstance surrounding the fall.

Do You Need a High School Diploma?

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 30, 2019)–In the United States,

90% of the population

has a high school diploma or higher.

Do you need a high school diploma? To answer that question, let’s break down what exactly a high school diploma does for you. How it can help you and whether or not a high school diploma is truly necessary.

Starting off, we can look at tangibles that can be measured by statistics. Then, we will explore the social impacts of not having a degree.

Work Options

If you don’t have a high school diploma, you’ll have fewer options for work. Many employers require that employees have at least passed high school before they are eligible to be hired.

You can

get a GED

to make up for a lack of a high school diploma. This will open a lot of doors, but without either, you’re going to have trouble finding a job.

Construction jobs and jobs with specific apprenticeships are among the few choices. In general, you will have to elect for a more physical job.

Earning Potential

As a general rule, the higher an education you have the more you make. Those who have at least a high school diploma earn more than those who don’t.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the

average weekly earnings

of someone

without

a high school diploma is $493. If you have a diploma, then your weekly earning potential is bumped up to $678.

The more education you receive, the more you are likely to make. The less you receive, the less money you will be paid. Time and experience can turn those tables a bit in your favor.

Social Status

Many people who do not receive a high school diploma feel awkward about it. Over time it can even become something that you will feel embarrassed about.

Most of this reaction comes from how people treat those who do not have high school diplomas. They can be viewed as less intelligent or lazy even if that is not true.

In some cases, it can even affect your ability to get a spouse or significant other. Working low-level jobs that require a lot of physical exertion will keep you from meeting a lot of people.

If you work hard enough and promote high enough at your job, you can escape this stigma. It will require that you put in years gaining experience and the trust of your employer. Hard work can pay off.

Making It Harder on Yourself

Without a high school diploma, you are

making life harder on yourself

. Very few people have viable options to begin their adult lives without having a high school diploma.

You’ll have to work twice as hard as someone with a high school diploma to obtain the same things in life. Education doesn’t mean intelligence, but it does make things easier.

Having the diploma is like having proof that you are a smart, creative and interesting person. If you don’t have one, you will have to prove all of those things to everyone you work for.

Other Options to High School

The question “Do you need a high school diploma?” can be answered another way. It is possible to get a GED which will function exactly the same as a high school diploma.

The difficulty in receiving your GED is that you won’t have anyone keeping you on task. You will have to motivate yourself and work at your own pace to succeed.

Studying is also something that makes the GED more difficult. If you don’t like studying or think you will have difficulty being motivated to study, you might have difficulty getting your GED.

If you are studying for your GED and want to have a diploma, you might consider a realistic diploma. You should

find out more

about realistic diplomas if you feel that might be a good temporary solution.

Do You Need a High School Diploma?

The short answer is not necessarily. There are options such as the GED and manual labor careers that don’t require a high school diploma.

The main thing that having your diploma will do is give you options. If you don’t want to work in a career field that requires heavy manual labor or equipment operation, you will need a high school diploma.

Not everyone will judge you for not having a high school diploma. You can simply not mention it to your friends and colleagues. Eventually, someone might find out, but perhaps by then, it won’t matter.

If you don’t have a diploma, you will make less throughout your life. While you can earn your way up, you will start at a lower pay scale. This will make it more difficult for you to retire at a reasonable age.

Millions of people graduate every year with high school diplomas. Diplomas have lost some value because so many people have them. The problem is this creates a large majority pool.

The size of this population pool means that employers don’t have to lower standards. They don’t have to give a chance to someone that doesn’t have a diploma. They have plenty of people to choose from as-is.

Without a high school diploma, you could potentially still have a good life. Most of what applies to

not

having a high school diploma also applies to having a high school diploma when compared to higher degrees.

In the end, degrees aren’t the end-all of life, but they help tremendously.

You Need a Diploma

Life is difficult as everyone already knows. Challenges and difficulties will continue to confront you throughout your life. As we choose our paths in life, things can be more or less challenging.

Do you need a high school diploma? Yes. If you want to make things easier for yourself and make it further in life, you will. Having a high school diploma, or even a higher diploma, can open doors that otherwise will have to be forced open by long, hard work.

We hope you found this article helpful. If so, please take a moment to browse our site and find other great reads to inform and entertain you.

CHOP RESEARCHING HAND/ARM DISORDERS & TREATMENTS

PHILADELPHIA PA–Orthopedic clinicians at Children\’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are actively researching a range of hand and arm disorders and treatments. Orthopedic doctors regularly collaborate with The Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP, one of the world\’s largest genetics research programs and the only center at a pediatric hospital to have large-scale access to state-of-the-art throughput genotyping technology.

Current hand and arm research includes:

Long-term follow-up of gunshot wounds to the hand or upper extremity in children

Pink pulseless hand (prospective study)

Diagnostic utility of MRI scans in pediatric wrist injury

Outcomes of reconstruction of congenital hand anomalies such as syndactyly

Unstable supracondylar humerus fractures: experience with the “suprone” technique

Validation and integrated use of a simulated pediatric distal radius fracture reduction model

Functional outcomes of displaced distal radius fractures in children

Shoulder instability in adolescents

With research, orthopedic leaders at CHOP hope to be able to improve surgical techniques, range of motion and quality of life for children with hand and arm disorders.

For an appointment/referrals with the Hands and Arms Disorder department call

215-590-1527

Illegal Immigrants Can Get Drivers Licenses in NJ

TRENTON, NJ–A new law signed by NJ Gov. Phil Murphy will allow drivers licenses to be issued to illegal immigrants. According to a New Jersey101.5 report, supporters of the measure claim roads will be safer as a result. However, opponents argue the state is just rewarding the lawbreakers.

The legislation creates two classes of license. One is compliant with federal REAL ID standards, and will be the only sort of license that can be used to fly on a plane or enter a federal facility starting in October of 2020. Applicants for those licenses will have to prove they have a legal right to live in the U.S. and New Jersey.

The other is a standard license — similar to the ones most NJ residents have now — and will be available to all Garden State residents, regardless of immigration status.

Sue Fulton, the Motor Vehicle Commission\’s chief administrator, told the state Senate Transportation Committee on Dec. 12 many immigrants are already driving without a license because they can’t get one.

\”In my view, our roads are safer when our drivers are trained, tested, licensed and insured,\” she said.

An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report found over a two-year period, nearly 20% of fatal crashes involved unlicensed or invalidly licensed drivers.

Fulton also argued an unlicensed driver is more likely to flee the scene of a crash, complicating police efforts.

FAQ: New Jersey driver\’s licenses for immigrants here illegally

Dawn DiGiacomo Loved Life; Died Too Soon

by William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNewsnet

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (December 29, 2019)–—Funeral services for Dawn DiGiacomo will be held this afternoon starting 4 PM to 6 PM at McCann-Healey Funeral Home 851 Monmouth

Dawn DiGiacomo

Street., Gloucester City.

Dawn was a lifelong resident of Gloucester educated in the local Catholic School system, She graduated from Gloucester Catholic in 1987.

Her husband Vince DiGiacomo said he and Dawn were together for 32 years.

He said that Dawn wasn\’t sick for very long. \”She was having trouble walking, her knee kept giving out. It got so bad she couldn\’t walk. She was admitted

to Cooper Hospital and underwent a battery of tests. At the end of two weeks the doctors said she either had Stage 4 lung cancer or it was a parasite that was causing her problems. We looked at each other and said if we have a choice we will take the parasite. But, as you know it didn\’t work out that way\”

Vince said she was released from the hospital and for the next month as an outpatient she underwent two weeks of chemo and another two weeks of radiation.

\”After the treatments she was at home when she got a terrible pain in her ribs.

We thought she pulled a muscle and went back to the hospital.

Why doctors were examining her she told me not to stress out, go get a coffee. When I came back later she was in a different room and hooked up to all these machines. She had a breathing tube inserted in her trachea. We never had a verbal conversation again after that day. That was the last time I talked with her. \”

At one point she died but doctors were able to revive her after 8 minutes. \”She was never the same after that,\” Vince said.

\”The cancer

spread into her back and into her brain. The doctors said she had 50 lesions on her brain.\”

Dawn loved spending time down the shore. She was into crafts and would gather seashells from the beach her husband said. \”She would make wreaths out of the shells and give them to friends as a gift. She also liked crabbing and fishing. One of the places she like was Champagne Island which was near the North Wildwood Marina. We would head out there in our pontoon boat and spend the day. She loved to garden. She always had to have some kind of water feature like a pond around the garden. Dawn died too soon, she loved life,\” he said.

Besides her husband Dawn is survived by her children Derick and Ashley Fowler, Amber DiGiacomo, Vincent DiGiacomo, Jr. and Dominick DiGiacomo. Cherished grandmother of Brianna, C.J., Maximus and Derick, Jr. Cherished daughter of Earl T. Fowler, Sr. and the late Louise A. Fowler. Beloved sister of Michelle and Thomas Quinn, Stephanie and John Bryszewski, Kimberly and Michael Morrell and Earl Jr. and Kelliann Fowler. Beloved daughter in law of Amelia Fountain and sister in law of Aldy and Tina DiGiacomo, Georgeanne and John Fagan and Nicole and Doug Rathbone. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins and her beloved dog, Opie.

Tomorrow, Monday, December 30

a viewing will be held from 9:45 to 10:45 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM in the church. Entombment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hurffville.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Animal Welfare Assoc., 509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Please memo, Dawn M. DiGiacomo.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at

www.mcannhealey.com

under the obituary of Dawn Marie DiGiacomo. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City, NJ. Ph: 856-456-1142.

Dawn DiGiacomo, 51, of Gloucester City; GCHS Alumnus

Route 22 Eastbound Connector to Hillside Ave. to Close Next Week

Safety improvement project begins in Hillside Signed detour will be in place

(Trenton)(December 29, 2019)– – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced that the Route 22 eastbound connector ramp to Hillside Avenue will be closed next week as the Route 22 Hilldale Place/North Broad Street safety improvement project begins in Hillside, Union County. The $10.3 million federally-funded project will replace the existing bridge that serves as the Route 22 eastbound connector. The new bridge will meet current design and safety standards and improve the vertical under clearance over Route 22.

It will also include an acceleration lane for the Route 22 eastbound entrance ramp from Hillside Avenue, a deceleration taper for the Route 22 eastbound entrance ramp to Hillside Avenue, and a right turn lane in the area between N Broad Street and Harding Terrace.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2019, NJDOT’s contractor, Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., is scheduled to close the Route 22 eastbound connector ramp to Hillside Avenue. The ramp from Hillside Avenue to Route 22 eastbound will remain open.

Variable Message Signs will provide advance notification to motorists of the traffic pattern changes associated with the work. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT\’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news follow us on Twitter @NJDOT_info and on the NJDOT Facebook page.

Recording Artist CC Miles Named Youth Ambassador for Food Bank of South Jersey

PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY – With a focus on increasing awareness of the impact of food insecurity and the importance of healthy eating in the youth community of South Jersey, the Food Bank of South Jersey announces recording artist CC Miles, 18, will serve as Youth Ambassador 2020.

Recording artist CC Miles

As Youth Ambassador 2020 for the Food Bank, Miles will bring the message of food insecurity and hunger awareness to regional schools, communities and organizations, as well as work directly with the Food Bank of South Jersey’s Health & Wellness and Community Engagement & Impact teams to distribute information and resources to support healthy eating, nutrition awareness and an understanding of the many faces of food insecurity in South Jersey communities today.

“I am honored to support the Food Bank of South Jersey’s mission to spread food insecurity awareness and health and wellness strategies and eating habits to young people throughout South Jersey,” CC Miles shares. “Nutrition is a very important topic for me, personally, and I can see no better way to share my enthusiasm for healthy eating and proper nutrition while, at the same time, assist young people in South Jersey in understanding the disaster of everyday hunger that impacts so many children, families and entire communities.”

Currently, in Camden County alone, there are 17,200 food-insecure children, 24% of whom are currently ineligible for federal nutrition programs, and 76% of whom are currently income-eligible for nutrition programs – at least, as of today.

Overall in Camden County alone, the total food-insecure population is over 60,000. Food insecure populations in Burlington, Gloucester and Salem counties are equally sobering. Burlington County currently has 41,680 food-insecure residents, of which 10,960 are food-insecure children. Gloucester County holds 8,180 food-insecure children in a total food-insecure population of 26,860 individuals. Suffering the impact of rural hunger, the less populated farmlands of Salem County shows 8,080 food-insecure individuals, of which 2,550 are children – all of which may live more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store.

“We are delighted to appoint CC Miles our Youth Ambassador for 2020,” reports Fred Wasiak, CEO, Food Bank of South Jersey. “The message of food insecurity and its impact on children throughout our region is a vital point of understanding for today’s youths – awareness can, and will, create power and change in the effort to end hunger in South Jersey.”

ABOUT CC MILES

Recording artist and songwriter CC Miles has released three albums in less than five years, with her most recent album,

Almost

, released in August 2018. Popular on iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify, CC engages her growing

Instagram

and

YouTube

followers with new releases and original music between touring the country performing live in Nashville, New York, throughout the United States and internationally, including performances in Italy. Whether on stage, on tape, or on-screen, 18-year-old recording artist CC Miles invites everyone into her world. By way of candid lyrics, genuine charm, and undeniable charisma, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist imparts a storytelling sensibility on impassioned and irresistible pop. Driven by her voice as a writer and augmented by personal instrumental prowess, she shines through each side of every song. At first listen, you might just feel like you know her. CC Miles was born and raised in Medford Lakes, New Jersey. For more information, visit

www.ccmiles.com

ABOUT FOOD BANK OF SOUTH JERSEY

Marking its 35th year in 2020, the Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is the leader in providing safe and nutritional food to people in need throughout South Jersey. FBSJ distributes food, provides nutrition education and cooking courses, and helps food-insecure families and seniors find sustainable ways to improve their lives. Throughout 2019, FBSJ distributed 14 million pounds of food, including 75,000 after school snacks, over 200,000 summer meals and more than 15,000 senior food boxes, as well as serving 95 health and wellness programs to more than 6,000 residents. Providing community impact through local support, FBSJ ensures that local donations stay local. FBSJ is a member of Feeding America, our nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. To learn more, visit

www.foodbanksj.org

USDA Approves Plans for Domestic Production of Hemp by Louisiana, NJ, and Ohio and Three Indian Tribes

(December 28, 2019)–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the first set of plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. The plans were submitted by the states of Louisiana, New Jersey, and Ohio, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux, Santa Rosa Cahuilla, and La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indian Tribes.

image courtesy of

https://www.agriculture.com/

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) directed USDA to develop a regulatory oversight program for hemp and include provisions for USDA to approve hemp production plans submitted by states and Indian tribes. Accordingly, on October 31, 2019, USDA issued an

interim final rule

establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program and the provisions for USDA to approve submitted plans. State and tribal plans provide details on practices and procedures that enable hemp producers in their jurisdictions to operate according to their individual plans and in compliance with federal laws.

To produce hemp, growers must be licensed or authorized under a state, tribe, or USDA production program. The program a grower is licensed under depends on the location of the hemp growing facility. If a state or tribe has an approved plan or is in the process of developing a plan, growers must apply and be licensed or authorized under its hemp program. If a state or tribe does not have a plan and does not intend to have a plan, growers can apply for a license from USDA.

USDA continues to receive and review plans from states and Indian tribes and maintains a list of all on our website, along with approved plans. To check the status of a plan or to review approved plans, visit:

Status of State and Tribal Hemp Production Plans

For additional information about the program and the provisions of the interim final rule, visit the

U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program

web page.

For information or questions related to a specific plan, please contact the applicable state or tribe.

Retiring Paterson Firefighters, Police Officers Receiving $1.2 million Leave Time Payouts Under Tax Deferred Plan

PATERSON, NJ (December 28, 2019)–Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh (photo) and council members have agreed to set up what’s called a 401(a) plan, tax-differed retirement saving accounts, for retiring public safety employees. According to The Paterson Times members of the City Council approved

a measure this past Monday allowing Sayegh’s administration to set up the plan at the request of the police and fire unions.

Under the proposal, the city will deposit the accumulated leave time payouts for police and fire employees into the tax-differed retirement savings accounts. Before the new year, the city is paying $1.2 million to 19 firefighters and police officers. The sum is a partial severance payout for the employees.

Municipal official disclosed the city has to pay approximately $5 million in accumulated leave time payouts to firefighters and police officers. The lot includes approximately 30 employees, said officials.

How to Choose High Quality CBD Oil

Gloucestercitynews.net (December 28, 2019)–CBD industry is expected to grow by $ 1 billion in 2020. It is one of the top players in the health and wellness industry as well. This is no wonder because people across America have realized the therapeutic effects of CBD products.

Even though the research on the health benefits of CBD is fancy, there are numerous cases of common people who have successfully improved their lives with daily dosage of CBD oil. Intrigued to try CBD oil to heal your mind and body? Well, go ahead but keep in mind to choose the

best quality of CBD oil

for consumption.

Now, the question is how to choose high-quality CBD oil? There are a few things you can do to be assured that the CBD oil or any other product for that matter, is of great quality and worth trying.

Before anything else, you should know these things about CBD

CBD or Cannabidiol is derived from the cannabis plant, yes, the parent plant of marijuana. Before you question the legality of it, you should know that CBD, unlike its siblings, is non-psychoactive in nature. This means that it doesn’t comprise or encircles only traces of THC, which is basically the high-inducing compound.

You should know that CBD is also excluded from the list of ‘controlled substances’ in America. Under the 2018 Farm Bill (passed in December last year), CBD is now legal across all 50 states. However, you must learn about local laws of your state as well.

Why is CBD oil a hit among people?

CBD oil is an amazing supplement and considered to be a great alternative form of medication for people suffering from illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, skin problems, indigestion, even cancer.

Here’s a list of diseases that CBD oil is known to treat naturally-

Stress

Depression

Anxiety

Sleep disorders

Epilepsy

Bipolar disorder

Cancer (in some cases)

Inflammation

Skin problems

Indigestion

Hair fall

Migraines

Heart disease

Blood pressure

Parkinson’s disease

Restlessness

Fatigue

Irritability

There are no conclusive studies on humans about the positive benefits on CBD oil on people’s health. However, there are countless anecdotes across the country about people who have healed and still are healing with the help of CBD oil and other products.

Now that you’ve gathered all the necessary information about CBD oil, it’s time to learn about the product that suits you.

Things to keep in mind before buying CBD oil

There are plenty of CBD oil available in the market at affordable prices. However, everybody responds differently to different products. Thus, it is important to do thorough research on the products before you pick the

best CBD oil

for you.

So, are there any signs of quality CBD oil that you can use to determine whether it’s reliable or not? Whether you are a rookie or an expert in buying CBD oil, here are the following points that you must keep in mind to get the best quality of CBD oil-

1. Do your research: The first thing to do before buying a CBD oil is to do a thorough research. Do not incline toward the companies that sell CBD oil at a low price. Understand all the terms related with CBD oil, such as full-spectrum, pure oil, interaction with Endocannabinoid system, THC, etc. Once you learn about the necessary information on the same, go ahead and buy the product.

2. Packaging: Once you are through with the research part, head over to the label of the CBD product you are thinking to buy. Learn the terminology of what is written on the label both at the time of order and delivery. Also, make sure that the material is made of dark ember glass which is impenetrable. A good packaging helps the product to last for long and guarantees a good quality.

3. THC content: According to Federal Law in the United States, the concentration of THC in CBD products shouldn’t go beyond 0.3%. If it is over the limit, then it is absolutely illegal to sell or purchase the same. It is imperative to check the THC content of the CBD oil before buying it, or it might cause more harm than benefit.

4. Make sure that it is third-party lab tested: You might have heard about the phrase ‘third-party lab tested’ but what does it really mean? Well, for starters, it is crucial to know this before buying CBD oil. The quality and dosage of CBD oil is yet not regulated by FDA and the government. The product is tested for purity and quality in private labs. The report worked out by these labs includes content like date of publication, synchronicity with the product label, certificate of analysis, and accreditation. So, make sure that product is tested by a reputable lab party, such as, Think20 Labs.

5. Be assured that CBD oil is additive-free: When it comes to buying CBD oil, fewer additives, the better it is. CBD oil shouldn’t comprise of anything apart from its main ingredients, such as essential oils and cannabinoids. The more natural it is, the more effective it will be for your problem.

6. The knowledge of hemp-growing standards: If you do not find any indication of growing standards in the product, don’t trust its quality. If you are not able to verify the hemp-growing standards, in most cases, it means that the hemp has come into contact with toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers. This will directly affect the quality of the CBD oil.

7. Place of manufacture: Make sure that the product is grown and manufactured in a place where selling and buying of CBD is legal. It is also important to understand that the company you are buying the product from sources its material from the states where the Farm Bill 2018 is applied and accepted. Also, make sure that the company you are buying CBD oil from is quite transparent in terms of money-back guarantee and return policy.

8. Learn how CBD oil is extracted: If you think that learning about the extraction process of the CBD oil isn’t important to know about the quality of the product, listen to this. There are various methods of extracting CBD oil that determine the quality of the end product. The best way to extract CBD is via CO2 at a given temperature and pressure. CO2 is a natural solvent, thus, the end product is generally of high quality and pure in nature. In fact, extraction process also helps in changing the genetic structure of the entire product.

Closing thoughts

At the end of the day, it is important to know why you want to buy CBD oil in the first place. So, the type and quality of the CBD oil also depend on the problem you want to buy it for. For instance, for skin problems, like acne, it is recommended to buy topical ointments of the extremely high quality. In order to treat body pains, it is recommended to

buy full-spectrum CBD oil

. Nevertheless, the quality, potency, and transparency are the top things one must keep in mind before buying CBD oil.

images courtesy of unsplash.com and pinterest.com