CNB Hunting/Fishing News NJ: Species on the Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest

CWF invites high school students from across the state to submit a series of original social media posts showing why it is important to protect wildlife in New Jersey.

The fun and educational

Species on the Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest

capitalizes on high school students\’ expertise with social media platforms and provides them with the opportunity to showcase their talent, creativity, and love of nature.

Students will create their own original content (for example: video, text, photograph, computer graphic) or use existing Conserve Wildlife Foundation content to create a series of posts focusing on a vulnerable New Jersey species that CWF helps protect.

The contest helps to develop students’ experience in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and apply critical thinking and project management skills.

Best of all, it’s

free

– and gives students the chance to win prizes! All entries will be eligible to win a day in the field with a wildlife biologist.

place wins $1,000

place wins $500

place wins $250

Read the contest kit

for details on entering, judging and rules.

Apply online

, or use the form in the kit, by February 28, 2020.

Species on the Edge 2.0 Contest Kit 2020

–

271.8KB

Species on the Edge 2.0 Contest Kit 2020

In order to participate, the completed

entry form

must be submitted by Friday, February 28, 2020.

Social media posts must run between March 1, 2020 and March 8, 2020 at midnight.

For more information

Ethan Gilardi.

Amish Patel, 31, of Delanco Sentenced for 2018 Willingboro Double Fatal Collision

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Delanco man was sentenced today to 12 ½ years in New Jersey state prison for causing the deaths of a married couple during a collision two years ago in the jug handle at Route 130 and Bridgeboro Road in Willingboro Township.

Amish Patel, 31, must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The sentence was handed down in Superior Court in Mount Holly by the Hon. Philip E. Haines, J.S.C.

Patel pled guilty in November to two counts of Vehicular Homicide (Second Degree) and Driving While Intoxicated for the deaths of Robert Stephens, 52, and his wife Janet, 50, of Burlington Township, on January 13, 2018. He acknowledged in court that he had been drinking and at the time of the accident was traveling at a speed of more than 100 miles per hour.

The investigation revealed that at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Stephens’ minivan was stopped in the jug handle waiting to cross Route 130 onto Bridgeboro Road when Patel, who was traveling northbound on Route 130, lost control of his BMW 440, entered the jug handle and crashed into the minivan.

The force of the impact propelled the minivan over the guardrail and down an embankment, where it submerged into a body of water that is part of Olympia Lakes. Autopsies revealed that both victims had drowned.

“Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, who spoke so beautifully today about what special and selfless people they were,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “This tragedy is made all the worse by the fact that it was entirely avoidable. There is absolutely no justification for anyone who is intoxicated to get behind the wheel.”

Patel was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Josh Dennis, supervisor of the BCPO Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, and Assistant Prosecutors Douglas J. Bligh and Brandon Almeida. The collision was investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Willingboro Township Police Department. Assistance was provided at the scene by the Delran Township Police Department, Edgewater Park Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Police. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Michael Reagan and Willingboro Township Police Detective Ed Walker.

VOORHEES MAN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

VOORHEES, NJ–Lafayette Adams, 46, of Voorhees, was charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography and two counts of Possession of CDS, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Voorhees Police Chief Louis Bordi.

On January 15, 2020, detectives from the High-Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and Members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Cherry Hill Office executed a search warrant for Lafayette Adams’s residence on the 200 block of Echelon Road in Voorhees. An onsite preview of digital media devices found in the home resulted in Adams being charged. Numerous digital devices were taken to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office’s HTCU forensic lab to be further analyzed.

Lafayette Adams was transported to the Voorhees Police Department, where he was processed and released pending further court proceedings.

The Voorhees Police Department, Lower Camden County Emergency Response Team and a New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Electronic Storage Detection K9 assisted the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office HTCU Detectives and HSI-Cherry Hill in this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Pennsylvania Offers New Funding to Help Philly Students Discover Opportunities in Manufacturing

HARRISBURG, PA (January 15, 2020)–Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) was approved for $110,000 in Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career funding to nearly double the number of teams in Bucks, Montgomery, and

Philadelphia counties participating in the educational competition, ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ (WSCM).

“More and more students have a growing interest in manufacturing employment because of innovative and interactive programs like ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ said Gov. Wolf. “We are proud to support the creative efforts being made by Pennsylvania teachers, students, and manufacturing companies as they collaborate to illustrate the opportunities available in this industry.”

WSCM matches teams with manufacturing businesses in their communities that invite student filmmakers to highlight products, interview staff, and best showcase what it would be like to work for that employer. The new funding made available by the Wolf Administration will help grow the number of participating teams from 28 to 40 this year.

WSCM was created to help shape the image of manufacturing and career and technical education opportunities for students by highlighting the potential for good-paying, stable jobs in an evolving industry. A focus on career pathways in schools and more STEM education in many Pennsylvania classrooms combined with technological innovations in the industry are shaping the future of manufacturing and preparing the next generation of workers.

The contest creates regional awareness of advanced manufacturing careers, increases both student and parent interest in STEM and technical education opportunities, helps students get an inside look at manufacturing companies in their community, encourages collaboration between industry and educators, and offers a project-based learning experience for students.

The funding will support additional outreach to schools and companies in the Philadelphia area, professional services and consultations, trainings, equipment and supplies, and more. This funding supports Governor Wolf’s commitment to enhancing the growth and competitiveness of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry by identifying and training a skilled workforce.

“The commonwealth’s support for ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing’ allows us to manage and promote the program for another year to demonstrate to the future workforce the importance of manufacturing in the region,” said DVIRC Executive Vice President Tony Girifalco. “With support from the Montgomery and Bucks County Workforce Investment boards and the Manufacturing Alliance of Bucks and Montgomery counties, we’re pushing hard to increase participation to 40 teams—a nearly 50 percent increase over last year. Companies love it, students love it, and parents and teachers love it, so anything we can do to build more interest in and support for manufacturing and manufacturing careers, we are glad to do.”

Governor Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative

was launched in October 2017, and since then has funded 35 projects and invested more than $9 million through the Training-to-Career program. Training-to-Career grants support projects that result in short-term work-readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing. The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career program works collaboratively with local manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential skills for entry level applicants seeking manufacturing employment, engage youth or those with barriers to career opportunities in manufacturing, and advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers.

For more information about the Wolf Administration’s commitment to manufacturing, visit the

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website

or follow us on

Twitter

Facebook

, and

YouTube

Joan M. Wood (nee Williams), of Williamstown, formerly of Gloucester City

Joan M. Wood (nee Williams), on January 15, 2020, of Williamstown, formerly of Gloucester City. Age 68.

Loving companion of Raymond “Skip” Bellows. Devoted sister of Frances Monahan (Phil), Donna Williams (Robert), Debra Williams (John) and the late G. Robert Williams, Lynda Thiel and Josephine Wiltsey. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Joan loved playing Bingo and going on casino trips.

There will be a viewing from 9 to 11am Wednesday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral Service 11am at the funeral home.

Interment Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Joan’s memory to American Lung Assoc., 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.

Voice Recognition Technology: Why Alexa Succeeds

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–I

t would be understandable to think that voice recognition does not have too much of a place in the realm of modern technology. While it would be nice to have, it is understandable to think that it might be more of a nuisance than anything. When compared to something such as touch technology, voice recognition might be seen as more of a luxury than a necessity. However, Alexa has continued to prove that voice recognition has a place in today’s world and has so far exceeded expectations.

With the help of

Alexa skill development

and a bit of creativity, Alexa has become known as the premier voice assistant – and for a good reason! One of the technological standards that helps Alexa in its rise to stardom is the modern app, as the tech behind

Amazon Alexa skill development

allows it to fully integrate and be used in ways that continue to surprise.

A boon in marketing and more

One of the most successful uses of Alexa involves skill development in stain removal, with the help of Tide. Not only will Alexa help you in ridding yourself of hundreds of different varieties of stains, but it will also suggest the best types of products to help you achieve your goals. Since we have all had to deal with stains at one point or another, it is a convenient way of utilising Alexa, and it simultaneously markets Tide products to create the perfect storm of marketing.

As if that was not enough,

Alexa for business

is something that is still seen as relatively untapped. There are still plenty of potential ways to utilise Alexa for business, such as the use of business software between departments.

A joy to have at home

Aside from Alexa’s uses in business, its primary function is to be used in the household. It can integrate with other apps to aid you in providing as much convenience as possible. Are you looking to stream your favourite shows or videos? What about gaming? Alexa has your back!

What is surprising about Alexa in the household is it can be utilised in many creative ways. For example, it is entirely possible for an Alexa skill to be used in controlling the lighting or the temperature in your home. You can transform your humble abode into the house of tomorrow!

A world of untapped potential

The best part is that when it comes to what Alexa can do, it is still relatively untapped. The limits to Alexa’s uses in today’s world are only limited by the imagination of those who utilise its skills and features. While voice recognition might not necessarily be seen as necessary when compared to touch technology or apps, Alexa’s potential could very well hold the future.

Without a doubt, Alexa succeeds because she is making use of convenience instead of a gimmick. Instead of burdening us with more to do, she offers a more natural way to get the job done!

Image:

https://pixabay.com/photos/pokemon-pokemon-go-phone-game-1553989/

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania Announce New Push to Fight Medicaid Fraud

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG, PA–Pennsylvania lawmakers and the state’s Attorney General’s office announced on Monday they’re teaming up to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers will sponsor bills in both the House and Senate aimed at protecting the health insurance program for 2.7 million of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. The proposals come nearly nine months after a state grand jury released its recommendations to curb fraudulent claims from siphoning funding from the public program.

“This is a nonpartisan issue that brings people together to solve a challenge,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said at a Monday news conference in Harrisburg.

The proposals include a bill that would create a state version of the federal False Claims Act, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to recoup fraudulent Medicare expenditures. Shapiro said Pennsylvania is the only state among the top eight Medicaid spending states that does not have a False Claims Act on the books.

That means while the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Shapiro’s office was able to make 292 arrests, get 173 convictions and reclaim $34 million in taxpayer funds in 2017 and 2018, it was not able to reclaim all the funding it could have.

State Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, will sponsor the House bill that will allow the state, as part of national settlements, to regain an additional 10 percent in funds for false claims made against the state’s Medicaid program. It will also allow Shapiro’s office or a district attorney appointed by the attorney general to look into cases where fraudulent or other improper claims may have been submitted.

State Sen. Lindsay Williams, D-Allegheny, will sponsor a similar bill in the Senate.

“I applaud Attorney General Shapiro for bringing to light the glaring problems our Medicaid program faces. Every misspent or fraudulently used dollar is another dollar hardworking taxpayers have to make up for,” Grove said.

Also among the bills is a proposal state Rep. Tommy Sankey will sponsor that requires any Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) to enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and allow the state to recoup any Medicaid funding that paid for such erroneous services.

Among the money misspent includes $43 million approved by MCOs for what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deems as “provider preventable conditions.” That would include cases where mistakes were made, such as the removal of the wrong appendage during an amputation.

In addition, state Rep. Wendi Thomas will also file legislation that would make knowing or causing a fraudulent claim to be file a crime. Any claim over $2,000 would be a third-degree felony, with claims valued at $100,000 or more becoming a second-degree felony.

published here with permission of The Center Square

Sewell Resident Barbara Glass Honored as Volunteer of the Year

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice’s Andrea Kinsey, Volunteer Coordinator; Barbara Glass, Volunteer of the Year; and Linda Brennan, Volunteer Coordinator at the Volunteer Center of South Jersey’s Spirit of Community celebration. Glass was awarded the 9th Annual Volunteer of the Year Award for her volunteer efforts with Samaritan.

Marlton, NJ –

Barbara Glass of Sewell, N.J. was recently honored with the 9

Annual Volunteer of the Year Award through her volunteer efforts with Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice. The Volunteer of the Year Award, given by the Volunteer Center of South Jersey (VCSJ), is one of the most prestigious not-for-profit awards in the South Jersey community and provides not-for-profit organizations like Samaritan the opportunity to highlight a volunteer for outstanding contribution to the organization. The award was presented to Glass during VCSJ’s Spirit of Community celebration.

Glass, a retiree, has been a volunteer with Samaritan since 2011, visiting with patients receiving hospice and palliative care from Samaritan. Glass has also stepped up to take on the responsibility of serving as a vigil volunteer, spending time with patients and during their final hours and comforting their families.

“Visiting hospice patients can be a difficult but tremendously important task. Not everyone can do it,” says Mary Ann Boccolini, President and CEO of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice. “The entire Samaritan team is lucky to be able to rely on Barbara’s strength and compassion. She brings comfort and dignity to our patients, and I cannot think of anyone else more deserving of this reward.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, contact Sally Cezo, Director of Volunteer Services at 856-552-3235.

Barbara Glass (center) and her family and friends enjoyed the 2019 Volunteer Center of South Jersey’s Spirit of Community celebration, where Glass was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her volunteer efforts with Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice.

About Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice:

Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980. Samaritan is the regional leader for hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, grief support and counseling, end-of-life education, and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief in their homes, assisted-living, or nursing home communities and through two inpatient hospice centers: The Samaritan Center at Mt. Holly and The Samaritan Center at Voorhees. Two thrift shops, in Westmont and Pitman, support Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO); the Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey; and is a four-star-level hospice in NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans program, created in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information, visit

www.SamaritanNJ.org

Introduction to Online Casinos

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–Gambling is typically considered as a zero-gravity area from where the chances for a surge and a plummet are equal. Time and technology have redefined casinos as the space of unlimited entertainment, and it gradually materialized into the screens as well. For as long as the urge for thriving fortune exists within humans, casinos will stand high in the zone of factors that shoot up the economy. As online casinos are getting more players to the platform without the need for exhibiting live casino etiquettes, doors to the live casinos are gradually closing down. Although this trend has been spreading for a long time now, it is quite sporadic. Polarising views on the concept of casinos have been developed, and the groups that prefer the online platforms are increasing day by day.

Playing on online casinos would seem like a difficult task to take up, and many of the regular players are neophobic towards this idea. Familiarizing with every new technology has been imperative, so is the case of online casinos. Delving deeper into a subject wouldn’t be as hard as getting it started. Every aspiring player needs to learn the basics of the games and the platforms on which they are planning to begin their gambling career.

Fundamentals

Here are a few essential details that every player needs to know before stepping into the game.

The overall experience is what matters the most, and the bets that you place should never affect your financial stability. Luck is a result of the randomness of the entire game that takes place, and in the case of online casinos, this factor of randomness is produced artificially. Random number generators are computer programs that are used for this purpose.

The security and fairness at online casinos are of great concern for the players. Since the digital platforms hold a high number of frauds and scams, the apprehension towards signing into these would be as equally high. But the online casinos have been programmed in such a way that they do not conduct unfair games or stay biased to a certain group of players. Security has also been ensured by these platforms, which has ensued in the massive footfalls.

Most of the casinos prefer to use third-party software to run their games, and the three types of software that are used are the downloadable, instant, and mobile versions.

Incentives are always motivators, and no one refuses to accept it. In online casinos, various types of bonuses are provided to the players at the time of signing up. Additional funds to play the games and chips to enter it are usually offered as sign-up bonuses. Many sites necessitate an initial payment for the rewards, whereas a few other casinos provide it free of cost.

Choosing the Best Online Casino

Selecting a particular online casino is never as easy as reading through the list. The ones that are ranked on the top might not be the ones that please you the most. Your priorities matter the most when narrowing down to that one site, which makes that particular option the best. While some casinos prove to be ideal for poker, some others support blackjack. Ignition, Betonline, and Bovada are some of the best online poker sites

according to this website

. The player has to decide on which casino site to be selected for his/her game. Best is, therefore, a subjective term here, and it would be the site that meets your needs that turn out to be the best one. Make sure to check the geographical restrictions of the site, so that you don’t choose the one that isn’t available in your state/country. So, pick the right option rather than the best one.

Conclusion

Online casinos have been witnessing immense growth for the past few years, and this has generated an urge to jump into gambling without a second thought. Acquire the necessary information about such online platforms before leaping into the game, so that you play the game safely.

Camden City Initiative Wins Nationwide Competition

Secures $500,000 in Grants to Improve Residents’ Health

New \”Roots to Prevention\” initiative will expand healthy food choices for residents

and increase income opportunities for urban farmers

The kick-off team for the Roots to Prevention initiative, from left: Nicole Vaughn, PhD, of Rowan University; Koren Norwood, MS, CHES®, of Camden County Department of Health and Human Services; Jonathan Wetstein of Parkside Business and Community in Partnership (PBCIP); April Schetler, MS, RD, of Virtua Health; Bridget Phifer of PBCIP; and Greg Mayers, MPH, of Virtua Health.

Camden City, N.J. — January 14, 2020 — A Camden group has won a national grant competition that will increase both healthy food options and income opportunities for city residents.

Roots to Prevention Partnership (RTP)

recently secured the

BUILD Health Challenge® award

. RTP is among 18 awardees nationwide, selected from more than 130 applicants.

The award includes a $250,000 grant — plus a $250,000 matching contribution of cash and in-kind support from

Virtua Health

— to implement a new healthy-food access program. The award will support free and low-cost produce for eligible Camden residents, nutrition education, and city produce farming.

The BUILD Health Challenge aims to reduce health inequities in U.S. communities. It is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other prominent organizations.

RTP’s long-term goals are to improve Camden’s food environment and create sustainable solutions. The group’s core partners include Parkside Business & Community in Partnership (PBCIP), Virtua Health, Camden County, Rowan University, The Food Trust, and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers.

“This award will enable us to encourage local health care providers to purchase produce grown in their communities,” saidBridget Phifer, executive director of PBCIP. “It will help us reduce hunger and the prevalence of diet-related illnesses while also supporting job creation, land redevelopment, and economic revitalization.”

“This is a visionary initiative, and we’re thrilled to support it,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system. “Social and economic factors have a huge impact on people’s health. The RTP initiative will address the roots of these issues to help the people of Camden live healthier, happier lives.”

RTP will also form a committee of Camden residents to provide insights and help guide the program, such as identifying the challenges residents face in accessing healthy foods.

Improving nutrition, supporting economic growth

The $500,000 in awards will partially fund these key activities for two-plus years:

Launch the “Food Bucks Rx” program at

Virtua Health’s Camden Campus

, to provide vouchers that can be redeemed for fruits and vegetables.

Establish six Food Bucks Rx (FBRx) redemption sites in Camden, to expand access to healthy foods and other program benefits — such as cooking demonstration and health screenings.

Create income opportunities for local food growers by supplementing the FBRx food supply with locally grown produce via an expanded Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Collect and analyze data on these initiatives to measure their effectiveness and develop long-term solutions that promote economic development through urban farming as well as cultivate a healthier food environment in Camden.

“This is what community health is all about: neighbors taking care of neighbors,” said April Schetler, assistant VP of community health engagement at Virtua Health. “Virtua is deeply committed to the health and wellness of the communities we serve. We are extremely proud to be a part of this movement, and grateful to the BUILD Health Challenge for its support of the RTP initiative.”

RTP will now be able to connect food-growing organizations throughout Camden with a major new customer: Virtua Health’s Food as Medicine programs, including the

Virtua Mobile Farmers Market

and

Virtua Food Pantry

Camden City residents work in a city produce garden, which will participate in the Roots to Prevention program. From left are Mike Evans (tan jacket), Cortez Bazan (orange shirt), and Jose Torres (black shirt)

Phifer of PBCIP also expressed appreciation for another important partner: Campbell Soup. “If it weren’t for the generous support of the Campbell Soup Company, this cross-sectoral collaboration could not have come together and ultimately completed a successful grant application — now awarded,” she said.

“RTP believes in the health care sector’s capacity to support a healthy local food economy,” added RTP administrator Jonathan Wetstein. “We also recognize the need to bring more partners to the table. The more RTP grows, the more resources and opportunities exist for local food growers and food-prescription recipients to participate in the future of urban farming and ultimately improve community health.”

About the BUILD Health Challenge

BUILD is a national program that supports partnerships between community-based organizations, health departments, and hospitals/health systems that are working to address important health issues in their community. Each community collaborative addresses root causes of chronic disease (also known as social determinants of health) in their local area by leveraging multisector partnerships and working with their local community. To date, BUILD has supported 55 projects in 24 states and Washington, DC.

BUILD stands for Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, and Data-Driven, which together form a powerful model to transform community health. The BUILD Health Challenge award provides funding, capacity-building support, and access to a national peer learning network to enhance collaborative partnerships locally and address a city’s most pressing health challenges.