Related:
ARTIST Dave Wolfe
Vol. 6 No. 31 (Jan. 26, 2020)
Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. (click image to enlarge)
Category: PHILLY & PA. NEWS
The Cleanup of Gloucester City\’s Superfund Sites Continues; $384 Million Spent So Far
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (January 26, 2020)–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing the cleanup of contaminants in Gloucester City that came from the defunct Welsbach Factory located at King and Essex Streets and the Delaware River. Presently the property is the home of the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property.
The same area was also the home of Armstrong Cork for many years.
The EPA is preparing the plans to remove contaminants from the Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property at King And Essex Streets (gloucestercitynews.net photo)
The Welsbach factory manufactured gas mantles in Gloucester City from the 1890s to the 1940s. Using state-of-the-art technology at the time, the wicks for the gas lamps were dipped into radioactive thorium so they would “glow in the dark.”
The company, not knowing the thorium was radioactive, discarded the wicks throughout Gloucester City. A similar manufacturing company, General Gas Mantle, located in Camden City did the same with the waste coming from their plant.
Since 1999 the EPA has been removing the thorium at various sites such as the baseball and football fields on Johnson Blvd. The same cleanup process has been ongoing in Camden.
In 1980, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sponsored a flyover radiological survey in Gloucester City and Camden City. Based on the survey, the EPA investigated more than 1,000 properties surrounding the two former gas mantle facilities – Welsbach in Gloucester City and General Gas Mantle (GGM) in Camden City.
As for the upcoming work at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, a source told us that an above ground tank 42 feet in diameter and 16 foot tall was going to be erected at the site.
Elias Rodríguez,
Public Information Officer, Region 2, New York, was asked to explain the purpose of such a large structure.
A similar tank like this one will be erected on Gloucester Marine Terminal/Holt property (Gloucestercitynews.net files)
\”
You are likely referring to the tank for the groundwater treatment system. Groundwater treatment will be conducted using physical and chemical treatment processes. The final design of the groundwater treatment facility including the treatment equipment/tanks has not been completed. However, one of the tanks to be designed/constructed is expected to be an open tank and would be used as an emergency back-up storage tank. So, it would not regularly contain impacted groundwater. In addition, the contaminants of concern are not ones where movement from the water to air is a concern,\” said Rodriquez.
\”
Construction of a groundwater treatment facility has been initiated and is part of existing work addressing excavation of radiologically contaminated soil at the port facility. Water encountered during the soil excavations will require treatment/disposal and that necessitates the design/construction of the groundwater treatment facility,\” he said.
\”
The Holt Cargo/Gloucester Marine Terminal parking lot is the location of the groundwater treatment facility. The port is the location of the former Welsbach facility. The former Welsbach facility operated from the turn of the century to roughly the 1940s and a waste by-product from their manufacture of gas lanterns contained low levels of radioactive material that was used as fill material in areas of Gloucester City and Camden City. One of the remaining buildings on-site at the port facility is the Armstrong Building.\”
Rodriquez said
the Welsbach Company (Gloucester City) and GGM (Camden City) produced gas mantles from the late 1890s to 1941. The companies used radioactive elements in the production of the mantles to help them glow brighter when heated. In the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found elevated levels of radiation at the site and in many residential areas. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1996.
Cleanup activities completed to date include:
¨ Excavation/disposal of contaminated soil and waste materials from numerous properties in Gloucester City and Camden;
¨ The demolition/off-site disposal of the former GGM building in Camden;
¨ Cleanup of radiologically contaminated building surfaces in the Armstrong Building, the last standing building associated with the former Welsbach Company at the port in Gloucester City;
¨ Cleanup/restoration of the William Flynn Veterans Complex, which included rebuilding three baseball fields, a football practice field, and a parking area; and
¨ Cleanup/restoration of the Nicholson Road Sports Complex, which included restoration of three softball fields, a Little League baseball field, bathroom facilities, and a concession stand. Current cleanup activities include:
¨ Excavation/disposal of radiologically contaminated soil at fifteen locations at the port facility; and
¨ Relocation of utilities (e.g. electrical, gas, telecommunication) within the port facility to facilitate subsequent large excavation of radiologically contaminated soil.
The prime contractor for the groundwater treatment facility is APTIM Corp.
APTIM specializes in engineering, program management, environmental services, disaster recovery, complex facility maintenance, and construction services. They have offices in Philadelphia and New York City and throughout the United States and Canada.
https://www.aptim.com
The value of the groundwater treatment facility project being built at the marine terminal is estimated to be $7 million Rodriquez said.
According to Rodriquez a
n estimated $384 million has been spent for investigations and clean-up and that includes work in Camden and Gloucester City.
When asked how much longer will it take to finish the projects in Camden and Gloucester Cities Rodriquez said, \”The current projection for the complete cleanup of these two communities is 10 years.\”
From the EPA\’s
WELSBACH & GENERAL GAS MANTLE Superfund website;
To address long-term site risks, EPA has investigated close to 950 properties in Camden and Gloucester City and has completed the cleanup on 163 of the nearly 175 properties identified as contaminated. To date, EPA has excavated and disposed of more than 350,000 tons of radiologically contaminated soils and waste materials. These cleanups included removing about 105,000 tons of contaminated soil from Gloucester City Swim Club and adjacent residential properties; about 23,000 tons from the site of a Gloucester City middle school; 35,000 tons from residential properties along Highland Avenue and Klemm Boulevard in Gloucester City; more than 55,000 tons from the General Gas Mantle area in Camden, more than 16,000 tons from residential properties and wetlands areas along Temple Avenue in Gloucester City, and about 130,000 tons from the recreational properties along Johnson Boulevard in Gloucester City.
(See More)
RELATED:
Video (s): $25 Million Spent on EPA Cleanup of Johnson Blvd. Sports Complex
www.gloucestercitynews.net › clearysnotebook › 2009/08 › epa-to-ho…
GLOUCESTER CITY: EPA to Hold Meeting On Welsbach …
Aug 18, 2009 –
Road
. To better understand how the community uses these ball
fields
, EPA … EPA plans to begin the
cleanup
at the
Gloucester City
Land Preserve by early fall 2009. … be working on, plug in
Johnson
Boulevard,
Gloucester City
, NJ 08030. … and Common Council of
Gloucester City
(
gloucestercitynews
.
net
) …
source of graphics EPA
Mustafa Al-Imam Sentenced to Prison for September 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi, Libya
New York, NY (January 24, 2020)–Mustafa al-Imam, a 47-year-old Libyan national, was sentenced today to 236 months in prison on federal terrorism charges and other offenses stemming from the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission and CIA Annex in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty
died in the attack.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu, Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
“We have not rested in our efforts to bring to justice those involved in the terrorist attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, which led to the death of four courageous Americans – Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Christopher Stevens – and we never will,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Those responsible for these crimes must be held accountable. I want to thank the agents, analysts, and prosecutors – and all of their partners in the U.S. government – who are responsible for this important investigation.”
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the United States’ continuing commitment to pursue justice against those who commit terrorist acts against the United States no matter how far we must go or how long it takes. Mustafa al-Imam played an important role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the U.S. Mission and the CIA Annex in Benghazi,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against all those who murdered these four American heroes and who seriously injured our personnel defending these U.S. facilities overseas.”
“The tragic loss of four American lives in the Benghazi attacks will never be forgotten and today’s sentencing of Mustafa al-Imam is an important reminder of that,” said Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI is committed to investigate and bring to justice all individuals involved in acts of terrorism against U.S. facilities or citizens and will use the full range of our resources to pursue such cases.”
“Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives,” said Assistant Director William F. Sweeney, Jr. “While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, today’s sentencing is a reminder that the safety of Americans—whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise—will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice.\”
Al-Imam was captured in Libya on Oct. 29, 2017, and brought to the United States to face trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was
found guilty
by a jury on June 13, 2019, following a six-week trial, of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists and one count of maliciously destroying and injuring dwellings and property, and placing lives in jeopardy within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. He was sentenced by the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper.
According to the government’s evidence, on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, a group of extremists, armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades, and other weapons, swept into the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, setting fires and breaking into buildings. During that violence, Ambassador Stevens, Mr. Smith, and Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Scott Wickland valiantly tried to protect themselves when the attackers stormed into the Ambassador’s residence, sheltering in a secure area. However, when the attackers could not gain entry to the secure area, the attackers set fire to the residence. Ambassador Stevens and Mr. Smith suffocated from the thick, black smoke that enveloped the residence. Special Agent Wickland, who tried to guide them to safety, was injured and repeatedly took small arms fire while trying to rescue Ambassador Stevens and Mr. Smith.
Al-Imam arrived at the Mission shortly after the attack began, accompanying Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the leader of an extremist militia named Ubaydah bin Jarrah and one of the planners of the attack. During the attack on the Mission, al-Imam maintained contact with Khatallah in a series of cellphone calls, including an 18-minute phone call that took place during the height of the attack. Members of Ubaydah bin Jarrah, as well as other extremist groups, were caught on surveillance video attacking the Mission. After the American security personnel withdrew from the Mission, al-Imam, Khatallah, several UBJ members, and other extremists entered the Mission’s office and removed sensitive information, including maps and other documents related to the location of the CIA’s Annex in Benghazi.
Following the attack at the Mission, in the early hours of Sept. 12, 2012, the violence continued at the CIA Annex, first with gunfire and then with a precision mortar attack. While defending the Annex, Mr. Woods, Mr. Doherty, DSS Special Agent David Ubben, and CIA security specialist Mark Tiegen were hit by a precision mortar attack, leading to the deaths of Mr. Woods and Mr. Doherty. Special Agent Ubben and Mr. Tiegen were seriously wounded but survived.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with substantial assistance from various other government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the two victim agencies, the CIA and the U.S. Department of State\’s Diplomatic Security Service. The National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section provided significant assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cummings and Karen Seifert of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Coleman and Jolie Zimmerman, Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, detailed Paralegal Specialist Ashley Davis, Intelligence Research Special Dustin Powell, contract Document Management Analyst Michael Watts, Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant, Tonya Jones, Laverne Perry and Wanda Queen, and Litigation Technology Chief Leif Hickling. Earlier stages of the prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Opher Shweiki and Julieanne Himelstein.
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA CELEBRATE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2020
The National Catholic Schools Week Theme:
“Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed”
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join in the national observance of Catholic Schools Week
January 26, 2020 – February 1, 2020. Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the Christ-centered, faith-based education that students receive in the 119 elementary, 17 secondary, and 4 schools of special education in the five-county metropolitan area comprising the Archdiocese. The national theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK CORNERSTONE EVENT
MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. FITZGERALD TO CELEBRATE
MASS OF THANKSGIVING FOR DEDICATED TEACHERS
CELEBRATING MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES
Teachers who have dedicated their lives to the mission of Catholic education for 25 years or more than 50 years this academic year to be honored.
.
Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be joined by senior leadership from the Office of Catholic Education as well as teachers who have dedicated their lives to the mission of Catholic education for 25 years or more than 50 years this academic year for a special Mass.
Friday, January 31, 2020
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Chapel
18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Following Mass, Bishop Fitzgerald along with senior leadership from the Office of Catholic Education will join these teachers for a reception in recognition of their commitment to the school communities they have faithfully served.
1:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center – Auditorium
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Mass and portions of the reception will be livestreamed on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools Facebook page
www.facebook.com/AOPSschools/
.
ADDITIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK EVENTS
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Saint Joseph/Saint Robert School; 850 Euclid Avenue, Warrington, PA 18976
9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
will host an Open House for prospective families on the opening day of Catholic Schools Week.
The school offers education from Pre-K through 8th grade. The school has an option for five half or full day Pre-K and Kindergarten. Applications are being accepted for all grades. Saint Joseph/Saint Robert 7th & 8th grade students will greet and act as tour guides for interested families.
Bishop Shanahan High School; 220 Woodbine Road, Downingtown, PA 19335 (Chester County)
10:00 a.m. (Mass)
will kick off Catholic Schools Week with a Mother/Son Mass and Communion Breakfast. The breakfast will be held at the Downingtown Country Club; 93 Country Club Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335. The school will also host its annual Father/Daughter dance on Saturday, January 25th from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. This year’s theme is, “Ties and Tiaras.”
Saint Norbert Catholic School; 6 Greenlawn Road, Paoli, PA 19301 (Chester County)
12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
During its Catholic Schools Week Open House, Saint Norbert Catholic School will welcome current and prospective school families for a tour of its school. Additionally, the school will showcase its students work and the lessons they tackle in their classrooms each day with the instruction of their teachers. Saint Norbert, Upper School’s curriculum is bolstered through 1:1 computing and the use of iPads daily in the classroom and at home, with iPads provided to each Lower School classroom to complement traditional learning approaches. In 2019, Saint Norbert 8th graders earned $249,000 in scholarships to archdiocesan and private high schools.
Saint Dorothy Catholic School; 1225 Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 (Delaware County)
11:30 a.m. (Mass); 12:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Open House)
Saint Dorothy Catholic School’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week begins with a special Mass on Sunday, January 26 at 11:30 a.m. Following the conclusion of Mass, current and prospective families are invited to tour the school, view student work, and meet the faculty. Additionally, the school’s Book Fair will be open between the 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Masses.
Saint Albert the Great Catholic School; 214 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 18976 (Montgomery County)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
To showcase its students array of strengths in STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Math), Saint Albert the Great is kicking off Catholic Schools Week with a “Showcase of Excellence.” The hallways will be filled with it student projects and live demonstrations by students. Visitors will be able to see all the hard work students have put in, so far, for the 2019-2020 school year.
Saint Peter the Apostle Church (Shrine of Saint John Neumann); 1019 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
9:30 a.m.
Saint Peter the Apostle School will celebrate the Opening of Catholic Schools Week with a Mass at the Saint Peter the Apostle Church, home to the Shrine of Saint John Neumann. Saint John Neumann is one of two local saints in Philadelphia and the founder of the first Catholic School System in America. Immediately following Mass, the school will have refreshments in the Atrium. Many school families will take part in the Mass and students will assist with the liturgical celebration.
Archbishop Wood Catholic High School; 655 York Road, Warminster, PA 18974 (Bucks County)
2:00 p.m.
For over 30 years, Archbishop Wood has sponsored an “Elementary School Writing Contest” and for the past two decades the awards ceremony takes place on the Sunday of Catholic Schools Week.
In November, writing prompts were sent to all of the surrounding elementary schools. Students were invited to submit an essay. Hundreds of submissions were received and three winners from each grade were selected. During the Awards Ceremony, the winners will be invited to read their essay. Five eighth grade winners will be selected and two of these winners will receive a $500 scholarship to attend Archbishop Wood for the 2020-2021 academic year. Members of The National Honor Society of Archbishop Wood judged the essays. At the Awards Ceremony, the president of the National Honor Society will also addresses the assembly. Families of participants are invited to attend as well. Each winner will receive a certificate and a gift card.
Monday, January 27, 2020
Our Lady of Good Counsel School; 611 Knowles Avenue, Southampton, PA 18966 (Bucks County)
8:00 a.m.
Our Lady of Good Counsel School will open its doors on what it has deemed “Parent Appreciation Day” for an Open House. The school is inviting all parents and guardians to visit with their sons and daughters in their daily learning environment and see students putting their learned skills in STREAM curriculum into action.
Saint Elizabeth Catholic School; 120 Saint Elizabeth Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425 (Chester County)
11:15 a.m.
Students in fourth through eighth grades will have the opportunity to compete in the school-wide annual spelling bee in the school gymnasium.
Archbishop John Carroll High School and Saint Katherine Day School (Radnor Site); 211 Matson Ford Road, Radnor, PA 19087 (Delaware County)
9:10 a.m.
Archbishop John Carroll High School
and
Saint Katherine Day School
(Radnor Site)
will open Catholic Schools Week with a school wide, student led Mass and Community Service Award vote.
Holy Rosary Regional Catholic School; 3040 Walton Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 (Montgomery County)
1:30 p.m.
On “Patriotic Day” at the school, the Holy Rosary Community will welcome Command Sergeant Major Edward Pfannensteil, who is traveling from his base in Germany to speak with students. He will thank them and explain how much the 1,000 stockings students, faculty, and staff filled with food for his troops at Christmas meant to the soldiers. He will also present the school community with a token of appreciation. Students have prepared several patriotic songs, speeches, and poems to fit with the theme of the event.
Blessed Trinity Regional Catholic School; 3033 Levick Street, Philadelphia, PA 19149
9:00 a.m.
The Blessed Trinity School community in Northeast Philadelphia will hold its 6th annual “Community Helpers” breakfast. They have invited members of the community to the school to thank them for serving and keeping the students safe throughout out the school year. Representatives of the15th and 2nd Police Districts of the Philadelphia Police Department as well as Engine 52 of the Philadelphia Fire Department will be on-hand. Additionally, school crossing guards and other members of the community who provide support to the school will be shown appreciation by the students through songs, poems, and other tokens of thanks. Many parents and grandparents of students at Blessed Trinity are first-responders.
Father Judge High School for Boys; 3301 Solly Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19136
8:45 a.m.
During a school-wide Mass,
the “Salesian 7 Awards” will be presented to five deserving members of the senior class. These students exemplify the “Salesian 7” virtues, which reflect the moral teachings of Jesus as practiced and promoted by the school’s Patron, Saint Francis de Sales: Respect yourself and others, Recognize your unique gifts and talents, Be patient with everyone, especially yourself, Be gentle as you go through your day, Be grateful – appreciate all that life offers, Be positive – approach life with an optimistic attitude, and Be confident – believe in yourself. During this ceremony, the “Salesian Achievement Award” will also be presented to two deserving faculty members.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Saint Bernadette of Lourdes School; 1015 Turner Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
8:00 a.m.
Cardinal O\’Hara High School student and Saint Bernadette Alum, Liam Walsh, will be presenting 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Theresa MacIntosh, the Cardinal O\’Hara High School “Excelsior Award” at 8am during a morning gathering in front of the student body.
Saint Dominic Catholic School; 8510 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia 19136
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Saint Dominic students will spend the day “Celebrating Our Students” by holding a spirit-wear and school colors dress down day as well as an afternoon social among students through games of skill for older students and toy sharing for younger students.
Cardinal O’Hara High School, 1701 South Sproul Road, Springfield, PA (Delaware County)
9:10 a.m.
Cardinal O’Hara will hold its Student Council Induction Mass and Reception for members of the student leadership who assist with activities and projects within the school community throughout the year.
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls; 1000 W Lycoming St, Philadelphia, PA 19140
8:15 a.m.
During Catholic Schools Week, Little Flower will honor its alumnae with a token of appreciation at the school Liturgy. Each alumnae in attendance will be given a rose by current students. Additionally, faculty and staff will display photos.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School; 815 Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128
8:30 a.m.
The entire student body of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) will gather for a special Catholic Schools Week Mass. Students will serve as lectors, altar servers, gift bearers, and cantors. Additionally, the student council will show the schools appreciation for its adult volunteers including bus drivers and crossing guards.
Presentation BVM Catholic School; 105 Old Soldiers Road, Cheltenham, PA 19012 (Montgomery County)
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Students will take part in an
American Society of Civil Engineers STREAM activity. Prior to the start of the activity, students in grades kindergarten through eight will see a slide presentation on, \”What is Civil Engineering\” and have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A to learn more on the topic. Students will work as a class on the “Slender Tower Challenge.” Participants will draw out a tower and using materials will build from the plan. The culmination of the activity will be measuring the tall towers.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Saint Agnes School, 211 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380 (Chester County)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Grades 1-4)
1:10 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. (Grades 5-8)
Students will “Celebrate Vocations,” the national theme for Thursday, with a Career Day. Students will dress to impress emulating a career they may like to hold in the future. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn more about vocations and careers from adults in various fields of work.
Pope John Paul II High School; 181 Rittenhouse Rd, Royersford, PA 19468 (Montgomery County)
1:45 p.m.
Pope John Paul II High School will celebrate a Winter Sports Pep Rally recognizing student athletes competing in Winter Sports including basketball, swimming, and wrestling.
Friday, January 31, 2020
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK CORNERSTONE EVENT
MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. FITZGERALD TO CELEBRATE
MASS OF THANKSGIVING FOR DEDICATED TEACHERS
CELEBRATING MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES
Teachers who have dedicated their lives to the mission of Catholic education for 25 years or more than 50 years this academic year to be honored.
.
Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be joined by senior leadership in the Office of Catholic Education as well as teachers who have dedicated their lives to the mission of Catholic education for 25 years or more than 50 years this academic year for a special Mass.
Friday, January 31, 2020
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Chapel
18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Following Mass, Bishop Fitzgerald along with senior leadership from the Office of Catholic Education will join these teachers for a reception in recognition of their commitment to the school communities they have faithfully served.
1:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center – Auditorium
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Mass and portions of the reception will be livestreamed on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools Facebook page
www.facebook.com/AOPSschools/
.
# # #
Step by Step Procedure of How to Replace Your Water Softener Resin Bed (Video)
Gloucestercitynews.net (January 25, 2020)–The primary role of your water softener resin bed is to convert hard water into soft water. It does this by exchanging hard ions for sodium ions. After long use of your water softener resin bed, you may have recently noticed that the machine is not performing its task as expected.
There are many reasons why this happens. Some of the reasons include exposure to chlorinated waters, contamination from visible algae growth, excess fine sand, and foul smell. Whichever the reason, your water resin bed needs a replacement. Here is a simple guide on how to
replace a water softener resin bed on a budget
.
Diagnose the issue
You cannot begin replacing your resin bed without confirming if it has become damaged or not. As a result, the first step of replacing your machine is by conducting a test that proves a problem with the resin bed. To check if your water resin bed has a problem, clean it using iron removal chemicals. After this, proceed to pour your hard water, and if it runs out of soft water quickly or even worse, do not produce soft water, follow the step below.
Remove the old water softener resin bed
Various fasteners are holding the valve head to the bypass valve. Remove these fasteners to allow easier removal of the entire unit. Remember to become keen with the O-rings for the faster reinstallation of the new unit.
Fix the new unit using a new riser tube and resin
Please place a new riser tube in the freshwater softener resin bed but ensure it has an equal height to the previous one. From here, proceed to put the new resins in the tank and then fix the new unit into the location of the old water softener resin bed. Ensure that you correctly fix the screws to avoid problems with your new unit. While pouring the resins, use a resin funnel and seek help from a friend as this part is always tricky and can get messy.
Things to keep in mind before replacing your water softener resin bed
The entire process takes about four hours. Also, essential equipment for the replacements includes a funnel, gravel, new resins, four in one screwdriver, and a riser tube. It becomes recommended that you settle for quality products. Usually, these high-quality products are expensive but get the work done. The main reason they become recommended despite their high price is to have the water softener resin bed serving you for an extended period without any complications.
Conclusion
There is a low chance that the procedure may turn out negative. If this is what you end up experiencing, consider seeking help from a licensed professional plumber. However, keep in mind that this will cost you an estimated $150. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that the above economical
procedure for replacing the water softener resin bed
will fail.
MAKING 500 MILES OF TRAILS BY 2025 A REALITY
CIRCUIT TRAILS COALITION RELEASES ACTION PLAN TO REACH INTERIM GOAL FOR REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORK
Report details 12 policy recommendations for advancing 171 miles of trails
across the Circuit’s nine-county region
PHILADELPHIA
(Jan. 23, 2020) – Today, in a critical step forward for the continued development of the region’s growing Circuit Trails multi-use trail network, the Circuit Trails Coalition released its report,
“Moving the Circuit Trails Forward to Reach 500 Miles by 2025.”
The report includes 12 policy recommendations to advance the progression of 171 miles of trail that are currently funded or planned, in order to reach an ambitious interim goal of developing 500 miles of trail by 2025.
These policy recommendations are designed to accelerate trail development in a meaningful way in order to stay on track to complete the eventual 800-plus mile trail network by 2040, which is the timeline defined by the region’s long-range transportation infrastructure plan. Currently, more than 330 miles of trails in the network’s nine-county region in Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey are complete.
“Our goal to complete the Circuit Trails network by 2040 is not a pipe dream. We know it can be accomplished, and this plan maps out the steps that our regional partners, including public agencies and municipalities, must act on for us to collectively reach the finish line on schedule,” said Sarah Clark Stuart, chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition. “For more than a year, our coalition members dug in to identify the trail opportunities that are most ripe and realistic for completion. Now, we need the support and action of key public agencies and public officials to make it a reality,” she said.
The report’s policy recommendations are tailored to the various key entities that impact the Circuit Trails: the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), key state agencies, counties and the Circuit Trails Coalition. The recommendations are aimed at eliminating identified obstacles at state, county, and regional levels to advance the construction of more miles of Circuit Trails. The recommendations are as follows:
For the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
Create a right-of-way acquisition team to enable trail projects to move expeditiously past feasibility into engineering, design and construction.
Support creation of multi-municipal authorities to accelerate trail development.
Enhance dedicated capacity for trail planning and development by procuring consultant services on behalf of municipalities or counties.
For Counties
Adopt best practices to advance Circuit Trails development, including full-time employees to manage trail planning and development projects and county leadership support of significant trail corridors.
For the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
Enhance coordination of Circuit trail projects with state road projects with a full-time, district-level Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator.
For the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)
Create new positions to accelerate New Jersey trail projects.
Incorporate trail projects into the Complete Streets checklist and better coordinate trail development with the highway planning process.
Use existing federal funding sources for design of trails and increase the maximum size of Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program funding for trail construction awards.
For the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
Enhance staffing and capacity for NJDEP’s Recreational Trails Program.
Create a larger “Trail Planning, Design and Construction Fund” for NJ Circuit Trails Projects.
For the Circuit Trails Coalition
Convene stakeholder working groups or task forces around specific trail segments.
Prioritize particular trails and identify critical gaps.
“Trails on the Circuit connect our urban, suburban, and rural communities across nine counties and two states; offer a place for active recreation and transportation; bring us closer to our waterways; and link our region’s destinations together. With the support of our region’s key players, and the many trail enthusiasts who advocate for and use the Circuit Trails, a completed network of more than 800 miles of trails is not just a vision, but a reality we can collectively achieve,” said Clark Stuart.
The Circuit Trails Coalition is comprised of more than 60 non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with 25 state and local agencies and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to promote Circuit Trails development, marketing it to the general public and highlighting the Circuit Trails multiple benefits. For more information about the Circuit Trails, visit
www.circuittrails.org
.
About the Circuit Trails:
Greater Philadelphia is the proud home of the Circuit Trails, a regional trail network of hundreds of miles of multi-use trails that is growing in size each year. One of America’s largest trail networks, the Circuit currently includes more than 330 miles of completed multi-use trails with a vision of including more than 800-plus miles of interconnected trails across a nine-county region in Pennsylvania and New Jersey by 2040. Nearly 65 nonprofit organizations, foundations and agencies are working together as part of the Circuit Trails Coalition to advance the completion of the trail network. A premiere regional amenity, the Circuit Trails connect our people to our local communities, providing endless opportunities for recreation and commuting. So whether you bike it, walk it, run it or paddle alongside it, the point is—just enjoy it. Learn more at
www.circuittrails.org
, and connect with the Circuit Trails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out what is happening #onthecircuit.
Philadelphia Union Announces New Partnership With Ardent Credit Union
Ardent Credit Union named the Official Credit Union of the Philadelphia Union and Talen Energy Stadium
CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 23, 2020)
– Today, the Philadelphia Union announced a new partnership with Ardent Credit Union, a Philadelphia-based member-owned financial cooperative, to become the official credit union of the Philadelphia Union and Talen Energy Stadium. As a part of the agreement, Ardent will be the presenting partner of year-round youth programming, community initiatives in the Philadelphia-area, and pregame activities for fans on the plaza.
“Serving the greater-Philadelphia area is a top priority for the Philadelphia Union and something that we aim to include as a part of every partnership agreement,” said Jean-Paul Dardenne, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at the Philadelphia Union. “With a strong focus on the counties immediately surrounding Philadelphia, we found a perfect partner in Ardent to continue our mission to create change in our own backyard.”
Ardent Credit Union will be the presenting partner of year-round youth soccer programs in the five counties served by Ardent – Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia. In addition, Ardent and the Philadelphia Union will produce a youth program which will provide financial education materials to schools in the greater Philadelphia area.
“We\’re thrilled to kick-off our partnership and financial education program with the Philadelphia Union,” said Rob Werner, President & CEO of Ardent Credit Union. “We have established a legacy of supporting financial literacy and are proud to align ourselves with an organization that offers youth programs that encourage learning. As two innovative, challenger brands with grit, we are looking forward to working together.”
For more information, please visit
www.philadelphiaunion.com
.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA UNION
The Philadelphia Union is an innovative, forward-thinking professional soccer club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) and one of Philadelphia’s five major league sports teams. Driven by unprecedented fan support, MLS awarded the Philadelphia expansion franchise rights to Jay Sugarman in 2008 and the Union kicked off its inaugural season in 2010. The club has reached the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018, and has appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
The Philadelphia Union is part of parent company Keystone Sports & Entertainment, which also operates USL Championship side Philadelphia Union II, the Philadelphia Union Academy, Philadelphia Union Foundation and Philadelphia Union Youth Programs. With a commitment to developing talent from the Delaware Valley, the Union have signed nine local players from their academy to a first team contract.
The Union play at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA on the banks of the Delaware River. The custom-built stadium is part of the Union’s unique waterfront campus, featuring an historic power plant rebuilt into a 500,000 sq. ft. creative office building, a state-of-the-art Training Complex, over 7 acres of professional grade practice pitches and multiple onsite parking fields. For more information about the Philadelphia Union, visit
www.philadelphiaunion.com
and follow @PhilaUnion on Twitter or Instagram.
ABOUT ARDENT CREDIT UNION
Ardent Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Originally founded in 1977 by the employees of the SmithKline Corporation, Ardent has more than $700 million in member assets. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Ardent serves Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester Counties. For more information, visit
ArdentCU.org
or call 800.806.9465.
Lehigh University announces names of NJ students who attained Dean\’s List
BETHLEHEM, PA (01/21/2020)– Students at Lehigh University attained Dean\’s List in Fall 2019. This status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses. The following local students were named to the Dean\’s List at Lehigh University in the Fall 2019 semester:
Elora Marvasi of Maple Shade, NJ
Mackenna Brody of Woodstown, NJ
Albin Rosado of Pennsauken, NJ
Anastasia Citsay of Port Elizabeth, NJ
Dana Teach of Roebling, NJ
Sean Ellery of Haddonfield, NJ
Sean McKenna of Cherry Hill, NJ
Beverly Passos of Delran, NJ
Alexis Romeo of Maple Shade, NJ
Luke Kim of Moorestown, NJ
Evan Umstead of Cinnaminson, NJ
Brian Nasielski of Mount Laurel, NJ
Julia Zak of Mount Laurel, NJ
Larissa Chow of Hainesport, NJ
John Cantwell of Moorestown, NJ
Briana Boulton of Riverton, NJ
Ryan Ferdinand of Merchantville, NJ
Brad Edgerton of Roebling, NJ
Monica Powers of Cape May Court House, NJ
Matthew West of West Deptford, NJ
Madison Kahn of Ocean City, NJ
Renali Patel of Voorhees, NJ
Ann Foley of Merchantville, NJ
Gabriela Montes of Willingboro, NJ
Thomas Bolte of Moorestown, NJ
Cynthia Coleman of Mount Laurel, NJ
Alyson Duffin of Bellmawr, NJ
Isabella Cammisa of Cherry Hill, NJ
Kara Bonner of Medford, NJ
Mason Bitar of Voorhees, NJ
Andrea Pecora of Marlton, NJ
Destiny West of Cape May, NJ
Elizabeth Kolaski of Haddonfield, NJ
Dayna Pfau of Ocean City, NJ
Conor Gaffney of Haddon Heights, NJ
Bradford Geyer of Cinnaminson, NJ
For more than 150 years, Lehigh University (
lehigh.edu
) has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. The institution is among the nation\’s most selective, highly ranked private research universities. Lehigh\’s four colleges – College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College of Education and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science – provide opportunities to 7,000 students to discover and grow in a learning community that promotes interdisciplinary programs with real-world experience.
Few Cancer Patients Enroll in Potentially Life-Extending Clinical Trials
Newswise — Patient enrollment in clinical trials as the first course of treatment after
cancer diagnosis is low, despite the fact that enrollment may increase life expectancy, according to researchers at Penn State. They also found that white males with private health insurance and metastatic cancers treated at academic medical centers are more likely than other groups to enroll in clinical trials.
Dr. Nicholas G. Zaorsky, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn State College of Medicine, led a team of Penn State Cancer Institute researchers who analyzed data from more than 12 million patients with 46 different types of cancer between 2004 and 2015 in the National Cancer Database. They found that only 11,576 (0.1%) of those patients were enrolled in clinical trials as their first course of therapy following diagnosis.
According to Dr. Niraj J. Gusani, professor of surgery at the College of Medicine and senior author of the study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the low enrollment is troubling because clinical trials may be beneficial for patients.
“Major advances in cancer treatment have been supported by clinical trials,” Gusani said. “By volunteering to participate in a trial, patients may help further the field of research and gain access to new treatments.”
Zaorsky, Gusani and their team found that patients with cancer treated in clinical trials, when matched and compared to similar patients not treated on trials, lived longer. They report that patients with cancer in clinical trials at the first course of therapy had a median survival of seven and half months more than those not enrolled in a trial.
According to Zaorsky, previous evaluations of whether clinical trials improved survival compared patients who were enrolled in trials against those not enrolled in trials — but didn’t account for factors like age, race, gender and cancer type.
The researchers performed a stratified analysis in which they matched each patient who participated in a clinical trial with another patient who was not enrolled in a trial that had ten similar characteristics — including cancer type, age, race, insurance type, disease stage, and whether or not surgery or chemotherapy were part of the treatment plan.
“If you’re going to evaluate whether clinical trial enrollment is beneficial for patients, you have to try and match each patient to someone who has a similar cancer and sociodemographic profile,” Zaorsky said. “Otherwise, it is like comparing apples to oranges.”
While the survival trend was evident across cancer types, the researchers said that this may not necessarily be true for the general population. In their analysis, they determined that the patients who enrolled in clinical trials at first course of therapy tended to be white males with private insurance, metastatic disease, who had no other chronic medical conditions and were treated at academic medical centers.
“If clinical trials are going to be used to determine standards of care for the general population, then the study participants need to be representative of the general population — and this study shows that often this isn’t the case,” Gusani said.
According to Zaorsky, increasing patient enrollment in clinical trials cannot happen without first improving the infrastructure of clinical trial design and management. Patients may not live close to locations where clinical trials are offered. Even if they are in close proximity to a center offering clinical trials, the trials may not be for their type or stage of cancer.
Gusani suggests that the biggest barrier to clinical trial enrollment is the stigma around them. Patients may feel they are ‘guinea pigs’ in experiments and that they are receiving substandard care. In reality, trials emphasize patient safety at every stage and are carefully regulated and monitored by institutional review boards.
“The increased level of quality control in clinical trials may be beneficial for patients,” Zaorsky said. “Patients who go onto a clinical trial must be treated
per protocol
, meaning that there are many quality measures that must be met, and that there are many other health care providers looking over the patient’s care.”
Officer Down: Police Officer Katie Thyne Dragged by a Vehicle Pinned Against a Tree
Police Officer Katie Thyne
Newport News Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Police Officer Katie Thyne, age 24, died after being dragged by a vehicle while conducting an investigation.
Police Officer Thyne and her partner were investigating reports of drug activity when they approached a car along the 1400 block of 16th Street in Newport News. During the investigation, the driver sped off, dragging Police Officer Thyne for a block. The vehicle struck a tree, and Officer Thyne was pinned between the tree and the vehicle door.
Police Officer Thyne was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she died from her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody and charged with felony homicide, evading and eluding, and possession of narcotics.
Police Officer Thyne served with the Newport News Police Department for approximately one year and had previously served with the United States Navy.
Police Officer Thyne is survived by her two-year-old daughter.
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published Gloucestercitynews.net | January 24, 2020