The Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel to Mark Feast Day

Faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are invited to celebrate the feast day of Saint Katharine Drexel at her Holy Shrine within the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

12:05 p.m. (Sung Mass)

7:00 p.m. (Evening of Song and Prayer)

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, PA 19103

The Evening of Song and Prayer will feature the writings of Saint Katharine Drexel mixed with traditional and contemporary Christian worship music. Vocalists from across the Archdiocese are invited to join the choir for this event. Vocalists should reference the following link for sign-up information and rehearsal times:

www.SaintKatharineDrexelShrine.com/Events

The Solemn Novena to Saint Katharine Drexel began on Sunday, February 23, 2020. The Novena is prayed following all Masses at the Cathedral Basilica through to March 2. A link to the Novena is provided below for those who would like to pray the Novena at home:

https://www.saintkatharinedrexelshrine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Solemn-Novena-Prayers-Saint-Katharine-Drexel.pdf

Background Regarding Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Katharine Drexel was canonized on October 1, 2000. She is the second American-born person ever to be canonized. Born into tremendous wealth as part of the Drexel family, she gave up her life of privilege to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. She dedicated her life to serve the needs of African Americans and Native Americans, and inspired so many women, who joined the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, to follow her example.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

shell

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

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

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

sbouboulis@delawareestuary.org

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

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

to Fox News.

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

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

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

continent.

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

news release.

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

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

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

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(continue to read)

How to Understand that the Girl Is in Love with You

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 2, 2020)–Love is not one of the most understandable and studied things, even in the simplest of its components. Very often it is impossible to catch even elementary signs of whether a person feels something to you (even though there are some feelings).

There could be some additional difficulties, for example, the difference in mentality. When you are dating Russian women for marriage on

https://ladadate.com/russian-brides

, it may be difficult to understand whether the girl really likes you. At the same time, it is really important. So, how to understand that a girl is in love but hides it?

1. Her cheeks turn red when you are together

The red color will always be a sure sign of love! Here are the definite signs:

she is very shy when you are together;

she does not know what to say, what to do or how to behave;

she is embarrassed when you look into her eyes and blushes.

When a girl doesn’t care, she is not embarrassed, does not blush and does not hide her eyes.

2. She wants to be your best friend

Being the best of friends is the first phase for the most honest, long-term and happy relationship. You can count on her and know that she will always be there if you feel depressed or need some support. She may argue with you because of stupid things, but she will never leave you, and she will always apologize if she was really wrong about something. In a word, she wants to be your closest person!

3. She goes first to talk

There is a myth in our world that the function of initiating a conversation is always for a man, and it is not the woman’s duty to do this. Her role is playfully blinking and waiting. In fact, if she never takes the initiative to talk with you, to find out what is happening in your life and how you are doing, it simply means that she is not interested and this is not about gender roles.

4. She always plans to spend time with you

In any relationship, spending time together is a must! If you do not spend time with each other, you really do not know anything about your partner. She does not hesitate to take your time, loves to invite you on dates, loves to watch movies together. In general, the first who comes to her mind with plans for any activity is you!

5. She is waiting for your advice

She always asks for your opinion and says that this opinion is very important for her. She shares every problem with you and seeks your participation in it. Trust your intuition when you assume what is good for her and what is bad.

6. She wants to know everything about you

She likes to listen to you. She wants to know everything about your family, friends, work, childhood memories, likes and dislikes, about your interests, hobbies — about everything.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 35 (March 1, 2020)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. (click image to enlarge)

PETS ARE THE BEST: Giving The Gift Of Love

(NAPSI)—Most people would agree, the best gift during the holidays—and all year round—is the gift of love. For thousands of families, that means welcoming a puppy into their home. For those considering getting a new best friend for themselves or someone else, remember that choosing a puppy is a big decision. It’s also one you should think about carefully—for both your sake and the dog’s.

Consumer groups report receiving nearly 10,000 complaints about puppy/dog businesses in just the last three years, with 60 percent of consumers indicating they never got the pets they purchased, received pets that had health or genetic problems, or got no documentation for their pet. Just as concerning, most people don’t know how to make sure they are getting their pet from a reputable breeder and not an inhumane and substandard puppy mill. While everyone is encouraged to look to their local shelters and rescues, roughly a quarter of new pet parents obtain their puppies from breeders, whether because of allergies, size or temperament, or just because they have their hearts set on a particular breed of dog.

Whatever your motivation, you should make sure you know that the organization you use to find your new best friend is legitimate and will secure you a happy, healthy and responsibly bred pet.

To help you avoid scams and find properly raised puppies, here are some important tips from the experts at American Humane—the country’s first national humane organization and the largest certifier of animal welfare in the world—and PuppySpot, a placement service committed to helping responsible breeders place healthy, happy puppies with caring individuals and families:

• INTEGRITY:

Find a source you can trust.

• SUSPICIOUS PHOTOS:

Don’t be swayed by a fancy website or puppy photos that look like stock photos that are perfectly posed, don’t look real, or are found on multiple websites.

• PRICING:

If the price looks too good to be true, it generally is. People should avoid buying from a company that says it will transport a dog by air if the full purchase price seems to be less than or similar to the price of a flight.

• WIRING MONEY:

Never wire money to anyone you have met only online and avoid major money wiring companies and mobile payment service apps.

• BAD GRAMMAR OR MISSPELLINGS:

Be sensitive to strange language choices in puppy listings or communications. The vast majority of scammers are from foreign countries.

• BOGUS STORIES/EXCUSES:

Scammers often come up with complicated reasons they need immediate wire transfers or can’t deliver the puppy to you based on current events. Be on alert for bogus stories or excuses for why more money is requested after initial payment.

• REFUSAL TO SUPPLY DOCUMENTATION:

A responsible breeder, shelter or rescue organization will provide registration, vaccination and veterinary health records on request. Refusal to supply medical records or pedigree documentation is a red flag.

Bringing a new best friend into your home should be a positive and joyous experience. By following these guidelines and using diligence and common sense, you and your family may avoid unnecessary heartache and find the healthy, happy puppy of your dreams.

Learn More

For further information, please visit

www.AmericanHumane.org

and

www.PuppySpot.com

\’I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper\’

Steven B. Brooks

FEB 2020

Topsham, Maine–

There have been times when those participating in Corey E. Garver American Legion Post 202’s Winter Classic in Topsham, Maine, have slid on ice trying to run to first base, broken through a crusty layer of snow running down a fly ball, or even disappeared into a fluffy, four-foot pile of the white stuff attempting to dive for a ball in foul territory.

Not ideal conditions for softball, but that doesn’t matter at all to those who have been taking part in the annual fundraiser – some for all six years of its existence. From sub-zero temperatures to snow drifts lining the field adjacent to Post 202, the conditions don’t matter as much as the event’s cause: raising money to help end the veteran homelessness issue in Maine.

The motto for the event, which took place on Feb. 22 this year, is concise and to the point: “We play in the cold so that veterans don’t have to live in the cold.”

“That’s all this is about,” Post 202 Commander Nancy Laffin-Gillespie said. “Yes, we’re having fun. It’s a unique thing playing in the snow. But the reality is people live in the cold. Everybody here knows the reason why they’re here is to keep people out from the cold.”

The idea for the Winter Classic came from former Post 202 Commander Nik Hamlin, who helped save a nearly defunct Post 202 in 2013 and now is a member of American Legion Post 158 in Lisbon to be closer to home. But Hamlin doesn’t like to take credit for a vision that has grown bigger every year.

“I can’t take credit for this event because it’s a community event,” Hamlin said. “I can’t do this without everybody. When it comes to tackling any kind of issues that affect society, it’s going to take the community to do it.”

Laffin-Gillespie said the post is in the right community to make something like the Winter Classic a success. “We are very lucky here in the state of Maine. Our veteran community is amazing,” she said. “We all come out together and try to help in any way we can for any veteran problems.”

Each year the money raised has gone to a local or state program that includes among its mission eradicating veteran homelessness. This year’s funds went to Maine Veterans In Need, a non-profit that consist of members of the Maine American Legion, the Bureau of Maine Veteran Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other service organizations.

Teams were asked to donate $200, but many upped that donation. Additional funds raised and donated, along with a raffle and 50-50 drawing, brought this year’s total raised to more than $4,500 – triple what the event raised in 2019.

While Hamlin was pleasantly surprised by the donation total, “I feel if I wasn’t able to (donate that amount) this whole thing would feel hollow,” he said. “To be able to do that … I can see the fruits of my labor. I can see where the money goes. I can see those affected by it. I owe it to the people that come here to donate it to a place that’s a good place to accomplish the mission.”

Post 202 has thrived in part because while embracing traditional American Legion programs, it also takes a unique approach to carrying out its other missions – such as the Winter Classic.

“What we found with this is you can do it in a fun way,” said Department of Maine Commander Matthew Jabaut, a member of Post 202. “Too many times our events are maybe a little too solemn or a little too formal. If you can do a lot of cool, good, serious work in a fun way, it’s able to reach people, and then people really want to get active and engaged and be part of that. And then there’s that good feeling when you leave … and you’re not just having fun to have fun. You’re also doing it for a good cause.”

Laffin-Gillespie transferred to Post 202 around two years ago because of what the post has been able to accomplish over the past six-plus years. “I really like this post has a good grasp on the mission of The American Legion,” she said. \”It has a good grasp on veteran issues that need raised (and) that people need to be educated on. And we make progress in trying to help these problems.”

One of those problems is veteran homelessness, which has dropped considerably in part due to the efforts of Maine Veterans In Need, but still remains an issue in a state with a long, brutal winter season. “Veterans, especially when they’re transitioning, can fall into a lot of holes. I, myself, was a couch surfer for a while when I got out,” Laffin-Gillespie said. “Having a place that’s your home – your own home – means a lot. That’s why it’s important to me that I can help any veteran that I can. If this helps them to get a hotel room for five days just to get them off the street … that’s great.”

Those who participate in the Winter Classic share the same sentiment. Russ Taylor, a longtime member of the Sons of The American Legion and the current SAL Squadron 86 commander, has been a part of four of the six years of the Winter Classic, playing on a team consisting of American Legion Family members from Post 86 in Gray, Maine. Every year Post 86 has fielded a team for the event.

“We’ve never done very well, but we have fun and it’s for a good cause,” Taylor said. “We can go play in the snow for one day (and) a homeless veteran doesn’t have to live in the cold – that’s why we do it.\”

Team Grateful, which plays out of Lovell, Maine, has won the past two Winter Classics. But while the squad celebrated after its most recent championship, that’s not what motivated the squad to drive 90 minutes each way to play at Post 202.

Rich Massey, a member of Team Grateful, has participated in five Winter Classics with his team. “I think the biggest reason I do this is I didn’t serve,” he said. “This is how I try to pay it back: doing stuff like this and contributing any way I can. We love this, and we’ll be back every year.”

The double-elimination tournament started at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at around 5:30 that evening. Music played throughout the day, while those attending could get assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mobile Vet Center, which was set up outside the post.

Also in Post 202’s parking lot was a trailer converted over to

temporary homeless veteran housing

by Charles E. Sherman Jr. Post 36 Legionnaires Ed Harmon and Arthur Richardson. The Winter Classic gave participants and spectators a chance to check out the trailer, which is intended to be a prototype for a larger future fleet of similar trailers.

Harmon said it’s important to work together to end veteran homelessness. “It’s going to take a team to solve this issue,” he said. “It won’t just be one individual.”

But the Winter Classic started with one person: Hamlin. And it’s a cause that gets him emotional at times. Prior to the start of this year’s tournament, he shared with the participants the story of Navy veteran Russell Wilson, who died this winter in his sleeping bag near railroad tracks in Brunswick.

“We’re here to stop that. We’re here to make that (stuff) never happens again,” Hamlin said, his voice breaking a bit. “Help me make sure that never happens again. It takes a community to save a community.

\”I am my brother’s and my sister’s keeper.”

SOURCE THE AMERICAN LEGION

If You Want to Succeed on Instagram, Listen Up

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 1, 2020)–Here\’s the problem when it comes to social media marketing. A lot of people are under the impression that they have to just post the right content and everything will be fine.

Well, on an absolute level, this is 100% correct. There is nothing to debate. There is nothing to discuss. This is absolutely spot on.

But there are a lot of details to explore. There are a lot of gaps there.

What content? When do you post these materials? Who do you address this to? How do you position this content? I can go on and on. The list is actually quite long.

While we can talk about basic truisms, like you have to buy Instagram likes or social proof so you can get an organic critical mass going, you have to read between the lines. You have to dig deeper. This requires an overall day to day strategy. Simply buying social proof from places like

buzzvoice.com

isn’t going to be enough.

Now, please understand that this is very different from an overall holistic strategy. I\’m not talking about that. I\’m not talking about your big picture strategy or 30,000 bird\’s eye view perspective.

There\’s a place for that. It\’s absolutely important, but we\’re talking about day to day practical tasks that you need to do every single day for your Instagram marketing account to be successful.

So, what are these daily activities that you need to take care of? Well, first of all, you need to make sure that you use the right hashtags.

Now, how do you know which hashtags to use? Well, it\’s very simple. You mix and match.

You experiment with different hashtags that you lifted from other places. You can reverse engineer your competitors\’ hashtags. Wherever they come from, make sure you experiment and see which hashtags are actually delivering solid value.

How do you know? Well, you can call people to action. You can run little contests. Whatever the case may be, get your followers themselves to supply the hashtags through some sort of feedback so you can see if you are on the right path.

The second thing that you need to do is call people to action in terms of your content. Ask them, \”Is this the kind of content that you want?\” If not, please suggest the right content.

Offer them some sort of incentive. Here\’s the secret: it doesn\’t have to be money.

You have to understand that on the internet, especially on social media, symbolic or purely non-monetary incentives work as well, if not better, than monetary incentives.

You don\’t have to spend one red cent. Just get people to believe that they are getting value. Oftentimes, the perception of value is more important than the actual value. When your fans believe they are getting value, they spread the word about you. This is one of the cheapest and most sustainable ways to

grow your Instagram following

The third thing that you need to do is to constantly pay attention to your competition. This is the great thing about Instagram. Everything is transparent.

So, if you see that your competitors are up to something and they\’re experimenting with different types of postings as well as different types of media and hashtags and descriptions, sit up and pay attention. See if you can copy some of that and improve what you\’re doing.

By sticking to these three daily, highly practical tasks, you will be able to take your account to the next level in terms of reach and effectiveness.

Public Support for Program to Cut Pollution/Modernize Transportation in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

“It’s a Big Hit!”: More Than 9 Out of 10 Back Transportation & Climate Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC – February 28, 2019 – The message from residents of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to lawmakers couldn’t be clearer: The proposed Transportation & Climate Initiative cap-and-invest program to modernize transportation in the region is a winner.

A strong 91 percent of public comments from 12 states and the District of Columbia support the Transportation & Climate Initiative’s policy, according to a review by the Our Transportation Future (OTF) coalition of the 8,308 public comments filed

in the public portal

since mid-December.

An improved regional transportation system would mean more electric cars and trucks and charging infrastructure, reliable mass transit, walkable and bikeable communities, less congestion and pollution, and increased investments in projects that connect everyone, including those in underserved and rural areas.

Speaking on behalf of OTF, Jordan Stutt, carbon program director, Acadia Center said: “For elected officials who have been waiting on the close of the comment period to gauge public sentiment, the outcome could not be clearer: Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Americans want to fix our dirty and broken transportation system. No amount of oil industry-funded propaganda will change the fact that there is overwhelming public support for the important goals of the Transportation & Climate Initiative. It’s a big hit.”

OTF reviewed the comments submitted through an online portal between December 17, 2019 (when the states released a

draft memorandum of understanding

) and 9 a.m. ET today (which had previously been announced as the target deadline date for comment submissions). The 12 states are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

A sampling of comments from the public includes:

“…People in northern New England would be willing to utilize affordable public transportation if it was an option. Connecting the mid-Atlantic would also increase people\’s ability to travel and spend money in other states, which would ultimately boost the economy. Lastly, it would allow people with medical conditions, disabilities or other impairments to access more services in a greater area because there would be accessible and affordable public transportation. Please consider funding this project and allowing residents in even some of the most rural areas to be able to access public transportation …”

Alexandra Sturtevant, Portland, ME

“We need to focus on reducing pollution from transportation for climate sake, as well as to ensure our communities are livable. Maryland should formally join the plan to reduce emissions and should take important actions to ensure the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Any transportation policy should prioritize clean investments and should assist those areas that don\’t have access to clean investments. I appreciate the bipartisan creation of this policy and stress the need for regions to move forward, especially at a time when our federal government seems to be reversing course.”

Ed Trever, Silver Spring, MD

“As a member of the Republican party, I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. I have grandchildren, and I want them to live long, happy lives, where they don\’t have to worry about the status of our planet. I want them to have clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. Even though this program may raise gas prices, I think what we have to gain from doing so is more important than a few extra dollars spent. I think this is a relatively conservative approach to climate change, and is a market-based solution, which I appreciate as a conservative. I think that New York should join TCI, and that other states should consider joining as well.”

Paulette Arena, Rochester, NY

“I strongly support the TCI and hope that it is implemented. Not only will it help to address emissions from the transportation sector (the largest source of emissions in Massachusetts and across the region), but it will also raise funds that are desperately [sic] needed to upgrade public transportation as well as to transition to being powered by 100% clean renewable energy…”

Logan Malik, Great Barrington, MA

“TCI is a once in a generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and re-invest funds to much needed transit improvements, including safe and reliable public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and ‘Complete Streets’ for bikers and pedestrians. Unreliable transit is taking time residents should be spending at work or with their families. Those without choices have to drive and the resulting traffic congestion is further damaging our environment, public health, and quality of life. Please choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions cap. Please make sure the [sic] TCI policy has equity and investment in overburdened and under-served communities as a first and foremost priority.”

– Sara Holmes, Chester, CT

Members of the public were asked to weigh in with their support or opposition to the draft policy via a comment portal organized by the

Georgetown Climate Center by February 28th

Our Transportation Future

is a coalition of 74 local, regional, and national organizations committed to modernizing transportation across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. OTF is focused on improving our transportation system — the ways we move people and goods in the region – to spur economic growth, make us healthier and safer, clean up the environment, and improve our quality of life.

Harrisburg Businessman Sentenced To Prison For Defrauding College Faculty Union

HARRISBURG Pa– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the former owner/operator of a Harrisburg based dental and vision claims processing business, Michael Timothy Buchanan, age 69, currently a resident of Fishers, Indiana, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on February 26, 2020, by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, for defrauding a trust fund established by the

Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) out of $1,493,629.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Buchanan pleaded guilty in May 2019 to a criminal information charging him with one count of health care fraud. Buchanan executed a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Faculty Health and Welfare Fund (The Fund) between 2007 and 2017 by his submission of false, inflated invoices for the services his company, Actuaries, Consultants and Administrators, Inc. (ACA), provided The Fund in connection with the processing of dental and vision claims submitted by members of the APSCUF Union.

The Fund paid ACA $5.20 for each vision claim it processed and $8.10 for each dental claim it processed. Buchanan routinely and artificially inflated the number of claims it allegedly processed for The Fund between 2007 and 2017 that resulted in a $1,493,629 overpayment to ACA.

“Citizens have a right to expect that the hard-earned dollars they contribute towards ever increasing health care costs will be protected by the stewards of those funds,” said U.S. Attorney Freed. “When such funds are misappropriated via fraud, we in federal law enforcement will step in to hold the fraudsters accountable. We are pleased that Judge Rambo’s sentence recognized the serious nature of the defendant’s conduct, and that he has been ordered to pay back what he stole.”

“For a decade, Buchanan orchestrated the overbilling of the faculty union,” said Tara A. McMahon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.” “His company deliberately and repeatedly submitted one false claim after the next, resulting in the theft of nearly $1.5 million. With this sentence, he’ll begin to answer for such brazen fraud.”

“In an effort to personally enrich himself, Michael Buchanan stole more than $500,000 from union members’ health benefits through his scheme of submitting inflated invoices to the union trust fund,” said Derek Pickle, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the financial integrity of labor organizations,”

Judge Rambo ordered Buchanan to pay $1,493,629 in restitution to the Fund, to forfeit his interest in $1,493,629 in U.S. currency, and six Fidelity Brokerage Services retirement accounts. Judge Rambo also ordered Buchanan to commence service of his sentence on April 20, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel prosecuted the case.