Virtua Surgeon Performs 1,000th Robotic Surgery

Medical milestone underscores Dr. Arthur T. Martella as national leader in his field

Perfectly timed with American Heart Month, Arthur T. Martella, MD, recently performed his 1,000

robotic-assisted heart surgery. He is among an elite group of surgeons, nationally and internationally, to achieve this milestone.

“The people of South Jersey are fortunate to have a surgeon as skilled and experienced as Dr. Martella performing such advanced procedures so close to home. When Virtua and Lourdes came together last year, we considered the cardiothoracic program, led by Dr. Martella, to be among the most important and complementary services we could now offer to a wider community. Dr. Martella’s achievement reinforces our belief that Virtua and Lourdes are truly better together,” said Virtua Health Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer Reginald Blaber, MD, FACC, MBA.

As chief of cardiothoracic surgery at

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, N.J.,

Dr. Martella strives to provide the highest quality outcomes through the least invasive methods. His clinical outcomes demonstrate the advantages that robotic surgical systems provide to both providers and patients. For surgeons, the robotic equipment offers greater flexibility, visualization, and precision – which often benefits patients through less pain, reduced risk of infection, faster recovery, and minimal scarring. Dr. Martella and the Virtua team perform common, though highly complex, robotic procedures, including mitral valve repair or replacement, lead placement for pacemakers and defibrillators, and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to improve the patient experience by offering an option that allows patients to get back to their lives sooner,” said Dr. Martella. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for 1,000 surgeries, and I look forward to the next 1,000.”

About Dr. Martella

Dr. Martella is a leader in the use of robotics in cardiothoracic surgery. He has been chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital since 2011, during which he led the specialty to national recognition. He is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery.

Prior to joining Lourdes Health System (now Virtua Health) in 2011, Dr. Martella was an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at Phoenixville, Brandywine, Pottstown, and Mercy Fitzgerald hospitals, and served as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Martella is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of multiple medical societies, including the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He serves as a member of Johnson & Johnson’s Professional Education Advisory Board.

Dr. Martella received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his MD from Jefferson Medical College. He performed a surgical residency and internship at Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein College of Medicine and completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Rochester. He has authored numerous publications and has presented his research at national and international medical conferences.

About Cardiothoracic Surgery at Virtua Health

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is the leading cardiothoracic surgery program in South Jersey and serves as the central location for Virtua Health’s cardiovascular program. Over the years, the program has received a variety of awards for its outstanding quality care. Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was included among Watson Health’s list of 2020 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. In November 2019, the hospital received the highest ranking, an A, in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade report. In June 2015, the

New York Times

featured Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital as a national model in the effective and swift treatment of heart attacks. For more information, please visit

www.virtua.org

or call 1-888-VIRTUA-3.

Virtua Health, Inc. maintains systems for protection of electronic information, which are the property of Virtua Health, Inc. and are to be used for legitimate business purposes. You shall at all times protect and maintain the confidentiality of your user name and password and shall not disclose them to any third party. You are responsible to comply with the regulations and security rules set forth by HIPAA and Virtua Policies regarding the protection of data & confidentiality. Excessive use of systems for any reason other than legitimate business purposes is prohibited. Virtua Health, Inc. monitors all system transactions. No right to privacy exists when using Virtua Health, Inc. systems at work or when accessing Virtua systems from a personal computer or other device. Virtua Health, Inc. has the right to monitor, access, review, audit and disclose information obtained through Virtua Health. Inc. systems, including email, without advance notice to and/or without consent. All users of Virtua Health, Inc. systems are required to notify the IS Help Desk if they become aware of any misuse. I confirm that I have read this acknowledgment and understand

The Point at Cape Henlopen Closes March 1 for 2020 for beach nesting season

LEWES, Del. –The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half-mile along the bay shoreline, will close Sunday, March 1, for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns, and other species.

The Point’s nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

DNREC’s Divisions of Parks & Recreation, Fish & Wildlife, and Watershed Stewardship have worked together since 1990 to implement a management plan to halt the decline of beachnester and migratory shorebird populations. The Point has been closed annually since 1993.

For more information, contact Cape Henlopen State Park at 302-645-8983 or stop by the Park Office.

About DNREC

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The

Division of Parks and Recreation

oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the

website

and connect with @DNREC on

Facebook

Twitter

State Police Charge Three Men with Attempted Murder for Firing Gun at Cop

Female Associate of Men Arrested with Handguns

Trenton, N.J.

– The New Jersey State Police have charged three men with attempted murder, and a woman has been charged with weapons offenses and obstructing justice in connection with an

incident in Trenton on Wednesday, Feb. 12, in which the men allegedly fired a gun at a police officer.

Dion Battle, 28, Shaiquan A. Hearns, 20, and Yahonatan R. Salter, 28, all of Trenton, were each charged with the following offenses:

Attempted Murder (1st degree)

Conspiracy (1st degree)

Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (1st degree—Based on fact that all three have prior convictions for crimes under the No Early Release Act)

Possession of a Weapon as a Convicted Felon (2nd degree)

Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose (2nd degree)

Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree)

Tameka V. Flemming, 30, of Trenton, N.J. was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (two counts, 2nd degree), Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree), Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function (4th degree), and Unlawful Possession of a Large-Capacity Magazine (4th degree).

Based on the preliminary investigation, at approximately 2:17 p.m., a Hamilton Township police officer assigned to the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Central Unit Task Force observed a shooting in progress in the area of West State Street and Parkside Avenue in Trenton.

The officer, who was operating an unmarked vehicle, followed the suspect vehicle to the area of the Oakland Park Apartments on Coolidge Avenue, where he was fired upon by the occupants of the vehicle, who allegedly were Battle, Hearns, and Salter. The task force car was struck, but the officer was not injured. When the suspect vehicle stopped, the occupants fled on foot.

Salter was arrested outside, while Battle and Hearns fled into the apartment where Flemming lives at the Oakland Park Apartments. Flemming was arrested by police when she attempted to leave the apartment with two handguns partially concealed in a small backpack. A loaded large-capacity magazine also was found in the backpack. Battle and Hearns were arrested inside the apartment.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, which assisted the New Jersey State Police with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time.

All four defendants are being held in the Mercer County Jail pending detention hearings.

The first-degree charge of attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison, while the other first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. The first-degree charges carry a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, with the exception of the first-degree charge of unlawful possession of a handgun, which carries a mandatory period of 10 years of parole ineligibility. Second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, with parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory term of five years of parole ineligibility. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

How to keep a check on your partner online?

With time advancement in technology makes our life much easier. Just as the innovation in web development and software brings ease. There are multiple online apps are

available through which you can keep a check on the things around you. usually, people prefer to use them for monitoring and surveillance for business purposes. As well as to keep a check on the kid’s activity. Moreover,

best phone tracker app to catch a cheating spouse

is getting common.

If you found or feel that your partner is cheating on you and you want to be assured. Get the tracker application and check the online activities of your husband or wife. The featured apps are supported for both android and iOS systems. So, if your partner has android or iOS no matters you have the options to get him or her.

Features of the spy applications

Advanced spy apps and services are offered a more secure and quick solution to find your partner red-handed. You cannot just track the messages or phone calls, but also with the GPRS tracking system now you can track the phone to check your partner’s cheating online. In the online featured application, there are certain add-ons to facilitate the user at the best level.

Spy applications are flexible in options and support for both android and iOS users. Even some versions are supported by the PC only.

The software offers direct access to track the GPRS and get the phone location. Moreover, direct cheating over phone calls, messages, and complete surveillance.

Applications even offer online surveillance too. You can keep a check on the internet activity of your partner. Get to know about the updated location, find out email checking, messages or call tracking and activities on the internet are no longer hidden.

So, whether it is about to just know that your partner is cheating on you or not. Or you are looking for the option to catch him or her red-handed. Only the spy software or applications are fully supported with user-friendly features. Now you can do the surveillance without letting know to your partner.

Why need to check on the partner online?

We are living in a fast-moving world, where you can easily find out hidden facts. Same as if your partner is not loyal to you can this is bothering. Or you want to make sure is this is true or you are in any kind of misunderstanding. One thing is to talk but if you think that does not work or maybe the truth will not disclose. Then you can check your partner online.

Use the spy applications for almost every device to keep a check and find out if your partner is cheating on you or not. You can do this without even letting him or her know about it. Applications offered direct access to view messages, calls, location tracking, internet activity monitoring and much more. so, now it is so easy to catch your partner red-handed or to clear your doubts without troubles.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

South Philadelphia Drug Delivery Service Operators, Known as the “Friends,” Convicted

PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Antoine Clark, 30, Gerald Spruell, 32, and Daniel Robinson, 36, all of Philadelphia, PA, were convicted after more than two weeks at trial of charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and distribution or possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin arising from their operation of an almost around-the-clock drug delivery service for several years in South Philadelphia.

Between 2013 and 2016, the defendants and their co-conspirators, known as the “Friends” and “7th Street” drug trafficking group, delivered crack cocaine and heroin to customers along the 7

Street corridor in South Philadelphia using a shared drug phone. The defendants used the phone to take orders and communicate with customers; they would pass the phone off in shifts to keep their operation going almost 24 hours per day. FBI agents conducted surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics from the defendants using audio and video recording devices. Agents recovered narcotics sold by the defendants after stopping their drug customers. During the course of the investigation, agents also intercepted phone calls and text messages from the shared drug phone, which documented the defendants’ illicit activities. Upon defendant Spruell’s arrest in June 2016, Philadelphia Police officers recovered a number of items related to drug trafficking, including two firearms and live rounds of ammunition.

“The defendants in this case ran a drug delivery operation akin to a ‘GrubHub’ or ‘UberEats’ for narcotics,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams. “But despite their ‘friendly’ moniker, they were no friends to this community. To the contrary, they jeopardized the safety of an entire neighborhood in South Philadelphia. This conviction marks the definitive end to their enterprise, and a new beginning for the 7

Street corridor.”

Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of lifetime imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and Jason Grenell.

How technology has changed romance

Gloucestercitynews.net (Feb. 27, 2020)–Technology, the force driving so many aspects of human development, is exciting, inspirational, and naturally evolving. There can be no denying the ways technological advances have improved lives across the globe, from drones assisting farmers in remote areas to scientists mapping climate changes. It has also had a profound effect on romance, with the proliferation of online dating making it so much easier for singles to seek eligible partners. Here are some of the many ways technology has changed romance.

People can enter a relationship in minutes

If romance was once a thoughtful activity where people had to spend time getting to know each other by embarking on a series of dates, nowadays it is far more immediate. Singles who are seeking a romantic encounter only have to sign up to a dating resource, where they could get to know a prospective partner for love in a matter of minutes. Some websites focus on providing people with candidates for long-term relationships. Others are quite blatant in that they are purely aimed at singles who are seeking a casual encounter, as quickly as can be arranged.

You can specify your ideal partner

In the traditional form of dating, singles often had no idea about the personalities of the potential partners they were superficially attracted to beneath the bright lights of a nightclub or inside a singles bar. Technology has changed everything, with websites relying on complicated algorithms running in the background, ensuring that you are matched with someone who is completely appropriate for you. You can decide who you would like to get in touch with when you begin to browse through the personals on your favorite dating site like

this

, and you can browse through search parameters according to anything you wish, from income to ethnicity to whether or not they have children.

The world is shrinking

Once upon a time, romance was something that tended to involve people within your social group or immediate geographical location. Technology has now provided an arena where you can get in touch with potential partners right across the globe. So, rather than being content with interacting with someone who might live a matter of blocks away, you could find yourself exchanging regular romantic messages with singles from a different country. With the advent of video chatting technology, these international barriers are being even more eroded.

Dating sites are focused on compatibility

From the outset, who you choose to date can be narrowed down right. There are all sorts of dating sites out there catering for every sort of aspiration. If you are particularly interested in getting to know singles who share your love of a particular sport or a style of music, then this can be specified from the outset so that you have every chance of being matched with someone exclusively on your wavelength. You can pay close attention to the type of services any website is offering, making sure you don\’t sign up for one which will be inappropriate.

But dating sites can also encourage flippancy

Technology has certainly changed romance in the way that it can create an arena where there can be misunderstandings. On the one hand, having the ability to make instant communication with someone is an obvious positive. However, it is not always possible to ensure an accurate message is conveyed in a short space of time. The use of flippant comments or even emojis and other forms of Internet shorthand can mean that the actual context of a message can change or be misinterpreted. This can lead to miscommunication and this would impair the chemistry being developed.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

JUMP SHOT, The Kenny Sailor Story (video)

He invented something everyone loves, but you\’ve probably never heard of him. This film chronicles the larger than life story of one basketball\’s greatest innovators: The legend you\’ve never heard of, Kenny Sailors. We\’re currently in production on the feature length documentary, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the action. jumpshotmovie.com

““I’m inspired by Kenny Sailor’s story because I’ve been playing basketball since I was five, and ever since I picked up the ball, shooting a jump shot was just second nature to me. To know the person that Kenny was and what he stood for, that is something that is very inspirational. I hope to have as much of an impact as Kenny did.”

— Steph Curry

““Jump Shot is an incredible story! Kenny Sailors really changed the game of basketball, all while being dedicated to his family and his community. It is awesome how one person can have such a big impact on our game. He was a true pioneer! Jump Shot is a must see film for any basketball fan.”

— Scott Drew. Baylor Men’s Basketball Coach

Email request for Team Discussion Guide

to events@aspiration.is

IN THEATERS ONE NIGHT ONLY | APRIL 2 | BUY TICKETS

FEATURING: STEPH CURRY, KEVIN DURANT, DIRK NOWITZKI, BOB KNIGHT, NANCY LIEBERMAN, KIKI VANDEWEGHE, CLARK KELLOGG, TIM LEGLER, DAVID GOLDBERG, FENNIS DEMBO, LOU CARNESECA, MARK PRICE, CHIP ENGELLAND AND MANY MORE.

Presidential Candidates Detail Plans to Reduce Poverty

Action for Opportunity Coalition Presses Candidates on Records on Economic Opportunity for Low-Income Americans

The Action for Opportunity Coalition, representing more than 30 non-profit organizations, unions, and advocates across the country have received from all presidential candidates, other than President Trump, written plans to address poverty and increase economic opportunity in the United States.

All candidates for president as well as several former candidates have written responses to the following questions:

What are the top five specific ways that you, as president, would increase economic opportunity for low-income Americans and decrease poverty, hunger, and homelessness?

What is your single greatest concrete career accomplishment to date that has increased economic opportunity for low-income Americans and/or decreased poverty, hunger, and homelessness?

As president, how would you staff and structure the development, leadership, and daily management of your economic opportunity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness initiatives in your White House, Cabinet, and Administration?

Responses from Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Elizabeth Warren can be found on the Action for Opportunity website:

https://actionforopportunity.org/

President Trump’s campaign was repeatedly asked to respond, but has not yet done so.

Ninety-three million Americans – nearly a third of the U.S. population – live near or in poverty, and many middle class Americans fall into poverty one or more times in their lives. From 2016-2018, one in eight U.S. households were food insecure. This includes one in six children, nine percent of working adults, and nearly eight percent of older Americans (ages 60+), according to Hunger Free America’s

2019 United States Hunger Atlas

The Action for Opportunity Coalition is led by Hunger Free America and A Place at the Table with major support from the Worcester County Food Bank. Other groups in the Coalition include the Communication Workers of America, South Carolina Appleseed, Bread for the World, Low Country Food Bank, the National Diaper Bank Network, Feeding Texas, the National Association of Social Workers-South Carolina Chapter, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Feast, Feeding the Carolinas, Food Research & Action Center, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, California Association of Food Banks, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus, Swipe Out Hunger, WhyHunger, First Focus Campaign for Children, Sue-Ham Entertainment, Gary Hair Solutions, City Harvest, Alliance for Period Supplies, Kean University Human Rights Institute, and the Progressive Policy Institute.

Chef, TV host, and food activist Tom Colicchio, co-founder of A Place at the Table said, “We must highlight the concerns and questions of low-income and working class Americans in the 2020 presidential election in order to have a more equitable society in the future. In our democracy, all Americans — not just the ones who can pay lobbyists — deserve to have their voices heard.”

Said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Fee America: “Here’s a startling statistic: In the primaries and general elections of 2008, 2012, and 2016, there were more than 50 Presidential candidate debates, yet not a single question on poverty, hunger, or homelessness was asked. We want to ensure that the road to the White House must pass through a very robust, fact-based discussion on how to slash poverty, hunger, and homelessness, rebuild the middle class, and restore the American dream.”

Camden County GOP Announces County Candidates

Ambrosino: “2020 marks the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and I am proud to announce a slate of candidates that happens to be all women.”

HADDON HEIGHTS (February 27, 2020)–– Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino announced the county slate of GOP candidates today.

“2020 is the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and I am proud to announce a slate of candidates that happens to be all women,” Rich Ambrosino said. “Our county candidates are, for Surrogate former Haddon Heights School Board member and Attorney Kimberly Stuart. Freeholder candidates are former Haddon Heights Councilwoman Jennifer Moore and Johanna Scheets, a board certified Behavior Analyst. Minister Nicole Nance, BBA rounds out the team running for the unexpired Freeholder term.”

Ambrosino continued, “On the stump our candidate in the First Congressional District, Claire Gustafson, discusses 2020 being the 100

anniversary of women winning the right to vote and the importance of supporting strong women for office, which fits perfectly with our organization’s efforts in recruiting more women as part of our work to diversify the party. I am proud of the team we have assembled.”

“To be clear, we did not choose an all-woman slate for the sake of choosing women, we don’t practice identity politics,” Ambrosino said. “We chose a group of strong, powerful women who are leaders that Camden County voters will be proud to vote for because they will make excellent elected officials.”

published Gloucestercitynews.net

NJ NEWS COMMONS: MURPHY: \”FREE\” (PUBLIC) COLLEGE IS ON THE TABLE AGAIN

Yesterday, Gov. Phil Murphy spoke about his plan to make college more affordable for students who enroll in one of New Jersey\’s public colleges and universities. The focus is four-year institutions, and there\’s 11 total, including Rutgers University and Rowan University. Under the plan outlined in his 2021 budget — which he delivered yesterday — families who earn under $65,000 per year would be able to send their teens to college for free. The plan would affect students who enroll next fall (2021) and later. (

NorthJersey

NJ.com

)

TRUMP MOCKED SEA WALL. NOW THE PROJECT IS HALTED.

In a move that was called \”unexpected\” by The New York Times, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it is putting a

$19 million

feasibility study

on hold due to a lack of financial support. The federally-funded project was set up to investigate how to protect New Jersey and New York from the expensive and potentially — even likely —

catastrophic impact of sea level rise

. But on Twitter last month, President Donald Trump

called

one plan — a so-called

sea wall

— a \”

costly\” and \”foolish\” idea that \”probably won’t work anyway.\”

(

NJ.com

)

Feds cut funding on studies to protect NJ from storm surge (

NJ Spotlight

)

Van Drew supports town in FEMA storm repayment dispute (

WHYY

)

U.S. Army Corps suspends sudy of NYC storm protections (

Bloomberg

)

HEALTH OFFICIAL: IT\’S TIME TO PREPARE FOR CORONAVIRUS

The Centers for Disease Control is now urging Americans to anticipate the coronavirus — it\’s not a matter of if, but when, the agency said, and the first confirmed case of coronavirus (of unknown origin) in the U.S. was

reported in northern California

yesterday. The director of the Hudson Regional Health Commission, Carrie Nawrocki, explained it this way: “We’re not saying this is the end of the world and they should clear the shelves,” she said. \”Our goal is to try to prevent sick people from leaving their houses.” (

Jersey Journal

)

MURPHY PLEDGES $80M TO REPLACE LEAD SERVICE LINES

One part of Gov. Phil Murphy\’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year tackles the toxic lead in our drinking water crisis, which infiltrates schools and homes through old pipes. The governor says the state should set aside $80 million to replace these pipes, though the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection wagers the job will cost

$2.3 billion

— yes, that\’s with a \”b.\” (

NJ Spotlight

)

🙈

We\’re also keeping an eye on—

Court sides with Trump in ‘sanctuary cities’ grant fight (

Associated Press

)

Budget: No boost in municipal aid for local governments (

NJ Spotlight

)