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reprinted with permission of ProPublica.org by Lois Beckett ProPublica, Sep. 13, 2011, 12:27 p.m This summer, as students enjoyed their summer vacations, education officials in many states were busy handling sweepinginvestigations into teacher cheating. In one school district in Atlanta, at least 178 teachers and principals were implicated in a widespread falsification of student test scores. They had taken students' standardized test sheets, erased wrong answers and replaced them with the right ones. One teacher told investigators that the district was "run like the mob" and that she was afraid of retaliation if she didn't participate. The cheating in Atlanta was uncovered in part thanks to two simple checks that states can conduct to look for suspicious test results. The same machines that grade the penciled-in bubbles of standardized tests can also tally how many answers on the tests have been erased and changed from wrong to right. The technique,... Read more →

The American Legion - September 12, 2011 During a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House today, President Barack Obama outlined his $447 billion Jobs Act that includes incentives not only to hire veterans, but also will provide for the training to make those veterans more marketable. Obama delivered his remarks flanked by a group that included American Legion staff and three members of the Legion's Small Business Task Force, as well as teachers, police officers and firefighters. Under Obama's plan, which the president will send to Congress this evening, small businesses would receive a Returning Heroes Tax Credit of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been unemployed six months or longer, and a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit of up to $9,600 that will increase the existing tax credit for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed six months or longer. Another... Read more →

Drexel Athletics Partners With the Philadelphia Sports Congress, the City of Philadelphia, PPL Park and the Philadelphia Eagles to Host the 2012 NCAA Lacrosse Quarterfinals and 2013 Men’s Lacrosse Championships Drexel University and the City of Philadelphia will partner with the Philadelphia Eagles to host the 2013 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships and with PPL Park to host the 2012 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals. It will be the first time since 2006 that the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships will be played in Philadelphia and the first time the quarterfinals have ever been held in the City of Brotherly Love. "Drexel University is excited to work with PPL Park and the Philadelphia Eagles in bringing these NCAA events to the area,” Drexel President John A. Fry said. “It is a privilege for our University to host such prestigious collegiate events and to help crown a national champion in a sport with such... Read more →

by John Stossel 09/14/2011 Ponzi! Ponzi! Ponzi! There, I said it. To the extent people believe there are trust funds with their names on them, Social Security is absolutely a Ponzi scheme. So is Medicare. People need to hear it. Many people think that when the government takes payroll tax from their paychecks, it goes to something like a savings account. Seniors who collect Social Security think they're just getting back money that they put into their "account." Or they think it's like an insurance policy -- you win if you live long enough to get more than you paid in. Neither is true. Nothing is invested. The money taken from you was spent by government that year. Right away. There's no trust fund. The plan is unsustainable. Medicare is worse. Mitt Romney and other Republicans who scoff at Rick Perry shamelessly pander to older voters. They should tell people... Read more →

reprinted with permission of ProPublica.org by Marian Wang ProPublica, Sep. 15, 2011, 1:08 p.m. Once hailed by the Obama administration as a key example of its commitment to green technology driving growth and creating jobs, solar company Solyndra has lost a good deal of its shine. It’s bankrupt and the target of a federal criminal investigation. Scrutiny — particularly from House Republicans — quickly shifted to the Obama administration, which has been accused of rushing to approve a $535-million loan to the company in 2009 for political reasons and without carefully weighing the risks. Podcast Latest Episode: Editor-in-chief and CEO Paul Steiger joins the podcast for the first time to talk about how ProPublica came to be and what we've accomplished in three short years. Listen » So what’s the situation, who’s the focus of the investigations, and how big a deal is this Solyndra storyline? We sort through what... Read more →

click ad HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 13, 2011) – As Major League and Minor League Baseball begin to wind down in September, intercollegiate baseball is just getting under way with the fall season. The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team began their 2012 campaign this past weekend and has finalized their schedule for the upcoming year. With the departure of Rochester Institute of Technology from the Empire 8, the league and conference schedules look much different. Instead of the normal four-game doubleheaders that the Empire 8 implemented, the conference will now go to home-at-home three-game series in 2012. The four-team conference will now play a doubleheader to start the series and follow up the next day with a nine-inning affair. The Ducks went 14-23 overall and 6-10 in the Empire 8 last season, but first year head coach Kristaps Aldins looks to turn around a program that posted over 20 victories... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr. (cnbnews.net)This summer has been hotter and longer than most.But rather than fight it hide indoors in the comfort of air conditioning. Westerners of all ages seem to embrace the summer with a certain zest:tank tops, shorts, sandals, wrinkles,skin cancer. The Japanese on the other hand,do not seem to be suited for heat. I remember as a child in the summertime in Gloucester,City as a boy running in and out of the house all day long in bare feet and no shirt just wearing blue jeans to go outside. Not in Japan. Children are not allowed to go outside without changing from indoor slippers to outdoor footwear, Japanese children are never allowed to go out without a shirt that is forbidden. You cannot reverse the process either, and simply run into the house from outside, even if you are running from lions.They'd... Read more →

Ocean Township, NJ, September 9, 2011 -On Friday, October 14, 2011, the Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association (JSPRAA) will announce the winners of the 37th annual JASPER awards. This year, Prevention First won a gold or silver award in five different categories. The categories are Print Material: Poster, Corporate Identity: Stationery Package, Television/Video: Short Documentary/Promo (61 seconds - 10 minutes), Special Event Planning: Community Event (one-time), and Special Event Planning: Fundraiser (one-time). The award for Print Material: Poster is for an advertising campaign created by Filter Advertising to bring awareness to the problem of bullying and highlights Prevention First's expertise on the issues of bullying. The Television/Video: Short Documentary/Promo award is for a video done by Jeff Buccellato about Prevention First's What If... program, which is one of the bullying programs that Prevention First provides to high schools. The award for Corporate Identity: Stationery Package is for Prevention... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia (Sept 17-18) Two air shows will be held at this family resort the weekend of September 17-18. Both are free. The 26th Annual Ocean City Airport Festival is set for Sat., Sept. 17 at the Airport, 26th and Bay Ave. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Airport's grounds will be packed with unusual air planes. There will be an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. for the most outstanding aircraft on display. Highlight of this display will be a rare Mitchell World War II B 25 Bomber that gained fame for its flexibility and durability during that conflict. It was brought to national attention in April of 1942 when General Jimmy Doolittle led 15 B-25's from the aircraft carrier "Hornet" in America's first attack on mainland Japan. The B-25 will take off from the Airport at the conclusion of the Festival at 3 p.m. It was made... Read more →

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ - (September 13, 2011) – Kevin P. Murphy, the Republican candidate for Washington Township Mayor, announced that he will not take the $25,000 per year mayor salary. A special election on November 8 will decide who will replace former Democratic Mayor Mathew Lyons, who was forced by the New Jersey Supreme Court Professional Ethics Committee to resign this summer due to an ethics violation. “Kevin is a proud, selfless individual who is committed to putting public service ahead of self service and is running on a platform to right the wrongs in Washington Township on four main fronts: Business, Efficiency, Services and Taxes,” said Chairman Pascetta. “During the last 12 years residents have seen a doubling of their property taxes, reductions in services and a terrible business friendly environment,” said Kevin. “The township has lost its way and become stagnant. Our township must become more... Read more →

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 BC Bill Stallfort speaks about his experiences as a World Trade Center site responder Several hundred Cherry Hill community members gathered on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks to dedicate the Township's new 9/11 Memorial. The Memorial is located in front of Cherry Hill Fire Department Central Command, at 1100 Marlkress Road, and is open to the public FF Ray Reis (left), 9/11 Memorial Coordinator and Firefighter Ed Morris, Memorial Desiger The centerpiece of the Memorial is a 3-foot long piece of steel from 1 World Trade Center (north tower), suspended between two black granite towers. These towers stand on a granite pentagon-shaped based. The monument is dedicated "In Honor of the Lives Lost on September 11, 2001". The Memorial was constructed by Cherry Hill Firefighters and EMS members and supported by the generous donations of many businesses and individuals in the community. CHFD... Read more →

GET INTO THE WILD DURING (11/P114) TRENTON - Have you been longing to camp, hike, hunt, or fish but just didn't quite know how to get started? Or are you looking for ways to hone your skills to get even more out of your outdoors experiences? Then don't just sit in front of the TV wishing you were outdoors. Instead, get out and learn how to make the most of New Jersey's hundreds of thousands of acres of parks, forests and wildlife areas during the DEP's Second Annual WILD Outdoor Expo. This year's Expo will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18, at the Colliers Mill Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine. DEP staff and a host of experts will provide plenty of fascinating and challenging hands-on activities and demonstrations geared toward people of all ages and skill... Read more →

RELATED STORY EHD Using a primos outdoor camera, Gary Devine has been able to capture some still shots of the deer and turkey visiting his bait pile in a patch of woods located in South Jersey. An avid outdoorsman, Devine enjoys spending his leisure time hunting and fishing. He writes, "The deer love yams, corn, red apples, golden delicious apples and left over parrot food from out two African Grays. My bait pile last only a day. I am out there everyday feeding them. Even the turkeys are pushing there way in." ELK DRAWING RESCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 14 Two Game Farm tours cancelled and up to 40,000 pheasants lost or escaped due to flooding; Tours cancelled for State Game Lands in Bradford and Dauphin/Lebanon counties HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced the agency has rescheduled its public drawing to award 56 elk licenses for... Read more →

Ewing, NJ...The College of New Jersey Student-Athlete Advisory Council will kick-off a canned food drive on Friday, September 16 at the football home opener. The student-athlete organization will have a table set up inside the gate at Lions’ Stadium on Friday when TCNJ hosts FDU-Florham for its home opener on Friday. Gates open at 6 p.m. The fund-raising effort is part of the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s third annual “Cans Across the Conference” initiative. All of the food items collected by the 10 league institutions were donated to various food banks and charities throughout the State of New Jersey. TCNJ senior softball player Lauren Fitzsimmons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) noted that the organization will also collect items throughout the fall season at various athletic events. “The goal is to collect as many canned goods as possible throughout the fall to help those in need throughout the state,” Fitzsimmons said. “Last year we... Read more →

Surrounded by his loving family, on September 13, 2011. Age 84. Of Brooklawn. Formerly of Philadelphia. Devoted husband of 63 years to Mary T. (nee Solen). Loving father of Ginny DeLong (Bill), Joan Barton (Joseph) and Fred Decker. Cherished grandfather of the late Joseph Raymond, Jesse, Christian and Lauren and great-grandfather of Ashlee and Olivia Nicole. Predeceased by his sisters Caroline Boyle and Catherine Ayrer and his brother, Frederick F. Decker. Ray proudly served our Country in the U.S. Army. He retired after 40 years as a Supervisor of Operations for Tidewater Grain Co. in Philadelphia. He worked 12 years as an Orthopaedic Technician for DeLong-Born Orthopaedic Associates in Haddonfield. Ray was one of the founding parishioners of St. Maurice R.C. Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and was also involved in the Holy Name Society at the church. He was also a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady... Read more →

(CNSNews.com) - There were only 1.75 full-time private-sector workers in the United States last year for each person receiving benefits from Social Security, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Social Security board of trustees. That means that for each husband and wife who worked full-time in the private sector last year there was a Social Security recipient somewhere in the country taking benefits from the federal government. Most state and local workers are part of the Social Security system and pay Social Security taxes; and, since 1984, all federal workers have been part of the system and pay Social Security taxes. However, unlike private sector workers who pay Social Security taxes with private-sector dollars, government workers pay their payroll taxes out of wages government pays them with tax dollars or with money that was borrowed by government and taxpayers must eventually repay. In its latest... Read more →

Catholic League president Bill Donohue notes recent lies about priests: It has been said that Fr. Mychal Judge, the first of the First Responders to die on 9/11, was gay. Not everyone agrees. No matter, even those who allege that Judge was gay say he kept his sexual orientation private, disclosing it to only a few friends. Fr. Brian Jordan, for instance, said of his fellow Franciscan in 2002 that "I knew him for 25 years and I didn't know that he was gay until after he died." It really shouldn't matter whether Judge was gay or straight, but unfortunately some in gay circles, as well as in liberal quarters generally, are turning this issue into a national spectacle. Worse, some are lying. In the August 19 edition of a dissident Catholic newspaper, the National Catholic Reporter, it says, "Judge was a Catholic priest who publicly acknowledged that he was... Read more →

By Elaine Sanchez American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2011 - A few weeks ago, I was browsing the Web, filling my insatiable appetite for pop culture trivia, when I saw a familiar face among the new cast of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Army veteran J.R. Martinez, a wounded warrior turned motivational speaker and actor, will appear on the new season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution imageavailable. Among a line of reality and pop stars was Army veteran J.R. Martinez, a wounded warrior turned motivational speaker and actor. I smiled as I recalled meeting the former soldier three years ago. At the time, I was the post newspaper editor at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and had volunteered to write about a special camp for military teens whose parents were wounded or deployed. The camp took place at the middle school,... Read more →

From the August/September 2011 issue of National Wildlife 07-15-2011 // Roger Di Silvestro Threats to Bats Could Cost Agriculture Billions “People often ask why we should care about bats,” says Paul Cryan, a U.S. Geological Survey research scientist. He is one of the authors of a new study, published recently in the journalScience, that answers the question: Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats likely save the U.S. agricultural industry as much as $53 billion a year, according to the analysis, which also warned that noticeable economic losses to North American agriculture could occur in the next four to five years as a result of emerging threats to bat populations. “Bats eat tremendous quantities of flying pest insects, so the loss of bats is likely to have long-term effects on agricultural and ecological systems,” says Justin Boyles, a researcher with the University of Pretoria and the lead author of the study.... Read more →

reprinted with permission of ProBublica by Paul Kiel ProPublica, Sep. 9, 2011, 3:28 p.m If you weren't listening closely to President Obama's speech last night, you might have missed his new plan to help millions of homeowners. The State of the Government's Loan Modification Program See the performance of all the mortgage servicers. ProPublica's Foreclosure & Loan Mod Facebook Page Ask questions, share your experiences, and connect with fellow homeowners on ProPublica's new foreclosure Facebook page. Resources Making Home Affordable.gov The administration’s web site for the foreclosure prevention program. Provides an FAQ, homeowner examples, and other tools to see whether you might qualify for the program. Foreclosure Avoidance Counselors A list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies nationwide. FTC Tips for Mortgage Servicing Consumers Tips for homeowners from the Federal Trade Commission. Program Guidelines for Mortgage Servicers These "supplemental directives" lay out how mortgage servicers are supposed to conduct the program.... Read more →

SEPTEMBER 11TH-From left, Kelsey Morad (sang National Anthem) Tom Gurick, Chief Petty Officer Shannon Coyle, Maryann Steward and Robin Pierman Gloucester City, NJ, September 11, 2011: Gloucester City Youth Soccer League (GCYSL) opened their soccer season with a first ever parade for the soccer players and a 9/11 remembrance. The day was overcast and it looked like rain but the ceremony went on. All the players, ranged in ages from 4-13, were lined up behind Gloucester City High School and all were handed red, white or blue carnation. The parade started at 12pm, led by a color guard provided by Cub Scout Pack 165 of Gloucester. The parade marched behind the High School to the Soccer fields, where the players moved into a single line around the outside a soccer field. 217 players lined the field, each one holding a carnation. The coaches stood with their players while the parents... Read more →

On September 13, 2011. Age 82. Of Gloucester City. Loving and devoted husband of 54 years to Theresa C. (nee Rodgers) Loving father of Marie Phelps (Rick), Eileen Bruno (Steve), Joe Boyle (Teresa) and Dan Boyle. Cherished grandfather of Carolyn, Nicholas, Sean, Charles and Kevin.Bucky graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School class of 1947. He retired from Asbestos Local #14 in Philadelphia after 35 years. Bucky was Past Grand Knight and 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus council #674 in Gloucester City. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Interment New Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Charles H.... Read more →

By Chris Concannon Gloucester City News The Bellmawr Board of Education (BOE) reported all three schools are ready to begin the new academic year during its August meeting. In their school reports, Burke and Bellmawr Park Principals Frank Jankowski and Elizabeth Calabria, respectively, thanked the maintenance staff, with Mrs. Calabria adding she feels blessed to be in the Bellmawr Schools community. Board Vice President Jody Mangus said the new District calendar was to be available on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 6. Board Member Bill Murray updated the Board on the new ovens, lunch prices, along with bidding information regarding the impending Route 295/42/I-76 highway project. Also, he said the annual school walk-thru took place in late August. Superintendent Annette Castiglione covered several policy matters, including lateness/absences, as well as the District’s bullying criteria, and added remarks on the District’s Interactive Kids program. Also, she said the District... Read more →

(cnbnews.net)The Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums performed for several hundred people on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the dedication of the Brooklawn 9-11 Memorial and Monument located on South Hannevig Road across from the Brooklawn Methodist Church. Also at the ceremony was the Brooklawn American Legion Post 72 Honor Guard. The 9/11 Memorial and Monument was built by the Borough of Brooklawn and the Brooklawn American Legion Post 72. It features an 8,438 lb steel beam from the World Trade Center rising 9’11” from a pentagon shaped based. The beams are flanked on both sides by two stone columns holding a limestone block from the Pentagon disaster site and encapsulated soil from near the crash site of Flight 93. The memorial/monument was conceived and executed by Brooklawn Police Captain Steven Saymon. A first responder at the World Trade Center nearly 10 years ago, Saymon wanted to build a... Read more →

Sunday, September 11, 2011 “No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time”. Ten years have passed since September 11, 2001 - a day most will always remember. Whether in New York City, or thousands of miles away, we all remember where we were and what we were doing the instant the news reached us. For the men and women of the Cherry Hill Fire Department, we also remember what it did to galvanize our resolve and commitment to providing our region with an emergency response, ready 24 hours a day, to meet any challenge before us. We’d also like to take this opportunity to recognize that 10 years have gone by since so many victims lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, and so many of our colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice when they rushed into both World Trade Center towers to do what any of us would... Read more →

Hello and thank you for your support thus far. We have less then 60 days until Election Day and with this being a very exciting year for Washington Township, we kindly ask for your assistance and support. As such, Kevin Murphy's campaign for Washington Township Mayor is in gear, and we kindly ask that you communicate the following to your Republican friends and neighbors: New Campaign Website: http://www.votekevinmurphy.com/: Website offers information about our candidates platform, background / accolades, and offers a link to contact our mayoral candidate. New Facebook Page: We have set up a New Public Figure page that we will now use to communicate moving forward. If you haven't done so already, please visitwww.facebook.com/votekevinmurphy and LIKE the page. Those that already have, THANK YOU! Committee People: You will be advised about campaign signs for your districts at the next meeting which will be held September 21st at the... Read more →

Volume XVI No. 36: September 9, 2011 Lawmakers of all political stripes are fond of reminding everyone in earshot that the Constitution gives them the power of the purse. Congress wields this power through twelve spending bills that fund all facets of government and have to be passed each year. Well, fiscal year 2011 turns into a pumpkin at midnight September 30, just three weeks away, and how many of the dozen bills have been signed into law? Uh, that would be zip, zilch, zero, nada. In many years the House passes all of their bills before they leave for August recess, and the Senate has at least moved everything through committee if not the floor. Not so in 2011. The House has passed six spending bills; the Senate has passed a grand total of one. But that's just the start. Remember after each chamber adopts their version of a... Read more →

Welcome Back From Afghanistan Audubon, New Jersey Who: Cpl Frank Miller When: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Time: 6:30 PM Where: 11 Payson Ave. Audubon, New Jersey 08106 Contact: George “GT” (Yellow Ribbon Club) 856-685-3150 Dawn Miller (Mother) 856-546-4881 Please come out to welcome home Cpl Frank Miller from his deployment in Afghanistan. Returning from his 2nd deployment in Afghanistan. 22 Years old and has been with the US Marine Corps for 4 years. Graduate of Audubon High School where he wrestled and played football. Frank’s grandfather was also a Marine. OOH RAH!! Frank is the oldest of 3 children (Sister Melissa and Brother Nicholas) Friends, Family, The Warriors Watch, A Hero’s Welcome, The Yellow Ribbon Club, The Borough of Audubon Police Department, The Borough of Audubon Fire Department, The Borough of Audubon, and others will be on hand to make some noise and welcome home this Hero in Rock Star... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia The NJ DEP's Division Fish and Wildlife has been receiving reports of dead and dying deer since early August, presumptively due to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Field investigations have yielded usable samples from seven deer to date. EHD has been isolated from five counties. EHD is a viral disease spread by biting insects known as midges, which inhabit mud flats along waterways. As such, outbreaks are generally confined to specific drainages which contain the midges. To date, Fish and Wildlife is aware that EHD is present in the Millstone River and Passaic River drainage systems, and reports of dead and/or dying deer have been received from the following locations: Hunterdon County: East Amwell, West Amwell Somerset County: Hillsborough, Montgomery Mercer County: Hopewell, Princeton, Hamilton Morris County: Madison, East Hanover, Harding, Florham Park, Great Swamp NWR Union County: Berkeley Heights There is no need for the public to... Read more →

AGE: 47 • formerly of Collingswood Diane Marie Houser, on July 23, 2011. Age 47. Of CA. Formerly of Collingswood. Loving Daughter of Madeline Houser and the late Frank Houser. Beloved mother of Tony & Michael Martinez. Cherished Sister of Frank Houser and Michael Houser (Linda). Diane was a 1982 Collingswood H.S. Graduate. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend her Visitation on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 7-8 PM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth St. (at Brown St.) Gloucester City. Religious Service and Eulogies 8PM officiated by Pastor Bill Dilks of Highland Park Church of God. In lieu of flowers donations to Highland Park Church of God: 111 Baynes Ave., Gloucester City, NJ 08030. Memo: Diane Houser. Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Diane Marie Houser. Funeral arrangements and inquires may be made through: Read more →

BY BILL CLEARY CNBNEWS.NET (cnbnews.net)Jerry Blavat, the Geator with the Heater, the Boss with the Hot Sauce, released his autobiography, You Only Rock Once, earlier this summer. Blavat, who grew up in South Philadelphia, reminisces about dancing on Bandstand at age 13. Building a career for himself as a DJ spinning records on the AM radio station WCAM. Holding record hops at MEPRI Hall in Mount Ephraim, the Starlight Ballroom in Wildwood, the L&M Ballroom, and Wagner’s Ballroom both in Philadelphia along with other venues in this area. His lifelong friendships with people like Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, U.S. Ambassador Walter Annenberg, Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo and his relationship with Philadelphia Mafia boss Angelo Bruno that resulted in a 10-year FBI investigation. From the book’s jacket cover, “Jerry Blavat is a Philadelphia icon and major influence in the national music scene as creator of the “oldies” format and as... Read more →

By St. Marys on September 7, 2011 I've heard way too much of this recently. This is from one of my college students, anonymous. It's part of a mini-essay she wrote. I know the "Our Father" by memory and still do the cross hand gesture of the crucifix when passing a Catholic church out of habit from my father. I live my life in a respectful-way and believe in the 10 commandments and praise God. However the last time I went to my local church was the very last mass they had when they were closing and join another church in a town next to where we live. That was last year 2010 around September. I remember being so sad and hurt that they could actually close a church, a place of worship. How do they even do that I wondered to myself? It was a very emotional day. They... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia 9/8/2011 - WINSLOW TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL COMPLEX 125 SOUTH ROUTE 73, BRADDOCK, N.J. 08037 Over the past several months Winslow Township Officials have been successful in rescuing over 30 pit bulls from a very detrimental situation that existed for quite some time. To date the dogs have been doing very well, and caring people have responded admirably in assisting officials with nursing these dogs back to health. However, conditions do exist where the dogs still need additional medical treatment and additional funds are needed. If anyone wishes to make a monetary donation to assist with providing the proper medication to these fine animals, you can do so by sending donations to the Voorhees Animal Orphanage at Attention Winslow Township Pit Bull Care, P.O. Box 1363, 419 Cooper Road, Voorhees, N.J. 08043, and it would be greatly appreciated. If you wish to verify you’re your donation is going to... Read more →

GPCC Emphasizes Continued Commitment to Arts and Business Council PHILADELPHIA – The Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, a program of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC), announced the departure of its longtime President and CEO Karen Davis and the appointment of Chamber executive Karin Copeland to assume responsibility for leading the Arts & Business Council. Over 30 years ago, the idea of collaboration between the arts and business segments of the community was proposed to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. From that idea, the Chamber authorized the creation of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. Since that time, the Council has operated as a program of the Chamber’s Regional Foundation under the astute direction of Karen Davis. Under Karen’s leadership and the extraordinary support of its Advisory Board members, the Council’s programs have engaged thousands of individuals in the business community and provided invaluable... Read more →

You have to watch this tape. If this is an example of the mentality of the next generation, also known as the "Entitlement Generation" who will inherit the United States one day, our country is in deep trouble. submitted by John Branin Read more →

Bishop Joseph Galante formally announced that the parishes of St. Vincent Pallotti, Haddon Township, and St. Aloysius, Oaklyn, will unite and the new parish resulting from the consolidation, St. Joseph the Worker, will be established on Oct. 12. The announcement establishing the new parish was made in a formal decree, which is published in the Sept. 9 edition of the Catholic Star Herald (pp. 14-15). Father Walter Norris has been named pastor of the new parish for a six-year term. St. Vincent Pallotti will be the seat of the parish, serving the pastoral needs of the 1,500 Catholics in Haddon Township and Oaklyn, with St. Aloysius remaining open as a worship site. It is the 36th decree issued by Bishop Joseph Galante in a diocesan-wide reconfiguration of parishes announced two years ago to strengthen parishes and improve pastoral care to the people of the diocese. The reconfigurations are a result... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia By: Ken Klukowski | 09/08/11 8:05 PM Op-Ed Contributor In addition to Mayor Mike Bloomberg's barring clergy and prayer from the 10-year 9/11 memorial service in New York, another sad incident is playing out in our nation's capital. Religious leaders representing half of the American people are being excluded from a memorial service originally scheduled for the National Cathedral. The National Cathedral is a familiar sight to those who live around Washington. This massive structure sits atop a ridge in northwestern D.C. Its beautiful architecture is visible for miles on the Virginia side of the Potomac. The National Cathedral is an Episcopal church, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion (the Church of England). Days after 9/11 a nationally televised memorial service was held at the National Cathedral, at which President George W. Bush spoke. On the 10th anniversary of the attacks another service is being... Read more →

A Passyunk Square resident and Long Island native commissioned a work to commemorate those lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks. By Joseph MyersPosted Sep. 8, 2011 Donna Bachety’s living room contains two Flags of Honor that include the names of the victims of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Her brothers were among the first civil servants to try to minimize the death total. Photo by Greg Bezanis Many Americans will mark Sunday’s 10th anniversary of the 9/11 carnage with family gatherings, religious services and solemn observances. Donna Bachety last month chose art to evoke patriotism and to show respect for the 2,977 souls who died on account of four plane hijackings across three states, with the two most documented takeovers leading to the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City’s Lower Manhattan area. A native of nearby Long Island, N.Y., she called on color to... Read more →

The American Legion - September 8, 2011 The attacks of 9/11 instantly spawned memorials, commemorations, and simple gatherings for Americans to express their grief. And every year since then, these Americans have gathered across the country to honor the victims and heroes of that day. But 2011 marks a milestone - the 10-year anniversary - leading this weekend's events to carry an extra weight. The three sites where the attacks took place will all hold major events. The 9/11 Memorial, at the site of the former World Trade Towers, will be dedicated on Sunday and will open to the public the next day. The 9/11 Memorial Museum will open in September 2012. TheFlight 93 National Memorial, in the field near Shanksville, Pa., where Flight 93 went down after its re-taking by passengers, will be dedicated on Saturday. The Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va., will be open to the public on... Read more →

By American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong - September 8, 201 Photo by Amy C. Elliot The events of Sept. 11, 2001, drew a line through human history. Time is now defined as either pre-9/11 or post-9/11. I will leave it to social scientists to study and interpret the differences between the two eras. I can only say what 9/11 meant to me, as a member of The American Legion, and how the attacks stand to influence the work of our organization going forward. First of all, Kimlau Post 1291 in Chinatown was The American Legion's closest presence to Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks. I was adjutant of that post on 9/11. Another post, housed in the Downtown Athletic Club in lower Manhattan, was destroyed in the attacks; it has since reconstituted itself onboard the USS Intrepid, as 9-11 Memorial Post 2001. Like much of the city, Chinatown... Read more →

press release Critical Gloucester County industries, the county’s residents and the men and women who are sent to the scenes of disasters first, all have become better protected through homeland security projects undertaken in the decade since Sept. 11, 2001. The training and equipment ranging from surveillance cameras to newly-available industrial locations for SWAT team drills is especially needed in Gloucester County, which has been identified as having a high number of potential private-sector targets for terrorists. The county is home to two oil refineries, chemical plants and soon a new cargo shipping port on the Delaware River. A total of $6.88 million in federal Department of Homeland Security funding for safety features such as a marine patrol boat and automated license plate readers to help police on patrol detect stolen vehicles and fugitives has largely been channeled through the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, after assessing needs and preparing applications... Read more →

Monitoring System on MV Twin Capes Measures Delaware Bay Water Quality Data (Lewes, Delaware) This summer, the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE), with the cooperation and assistance of Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) launched a unique research project using a complex, automated measurement and sampling system on the MV Twin Capes. The SeaKeeper 1000, manufactured and installed aboard the ferry vessel by YSI, Inc. of Yellow Springs, Ohio, collects water quality data while the vessel transits the Delaware Bay. “Although historically it did not suffer the extreme pollution of the urban Delaware River, the Delaware Bay does suffer from more subtle ‘pollution,’ habitat destruction and overfishing,” said Jonathan Sharp, Oceanography professor at the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment who has been studying the estuary of the Delaware River and Bay for more than three decades and is assisted in this... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia Congressman Rob Andrews and Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. will mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attack by remembering and honoring those who died in a special ceremony on this Sunday, September 11th at the Jack Curtis Stadium in Cooper River Park. The event will begin exactly at 9:11 that morning. The ceremony will precede the 911 Heroes Event 5k Race at Cooper Rive Park sponsored by the Travis Foundation, which honors veterans across the country and throughout the world. As part of the ceremony, a bell will be rung for those who have died and a representative of the Travis Foundation will speak about the organization’s mission. The Collingswood Choir will sing at this event and proceeds from the 5k Race will go to the Heroes Scholarship Fund. “We hope that residents come out to join us in honoring those... Read more →

Image via Wikipedia Philadelphia, September 6, 2011- Mayor Michael A. Nutter, along with Peter Luukko, President of Comcast-Spectacor, and Reed Cordish, Vice President of The Cordish Companies, highlighted the ongoing construction at Philly Live!, a new entertainment, retail and dining development on the former site of the Spectrum. Phase One of the construction will employ 500 construction workers and will create approximately 400 permanent positions. Philly Live! is scheduled to open in Spring 2012. “Philly Live! is a great example of a new development that directly provides jobs for Philadelphia’s residents and provides construction opportunities for minority contractors,” said Mayor Nutter. “This exciting new district will enhance every aspect of the experience at the Stadium Complex, will itself be a regional draw, and will provide hundreds of permanent jobs in its multiple entertainment and dining facilities. I am excited for this progress and look forward to the opening next Spring.”... Read more →

EP HENRY PRESS RELEASE Activities to Honor 9/11 Victims and First Responders What: The Brooklawn 9/11 Memorial and Monument of the Delaware Valley will be officially dedicated with activities to commemorate the tragic events of 9/11. The dedication will correspond with the annual Patriot’s Day services held every year by Brooklawn American Legion Post 72. The memorial/monument features an 8,438 lb steel beam from the World Trade Centerrising 9’11” from a pentagon shaped based, flanked on both sides by two stone columns holding a limestone block from the Pentagon disaster site and encapsulated soil from near the crash site of Flight 93. The memorial/monument was conceived and executed by Brooklawn Police Captain Steven Saymon. A first responder at the World Trade Center nearly 10 years ago, Saymon wanted to build a memorial/monument where people could reflect and remember all three disaster sites in one place. EP Henry donated the material... Read more →

Wed Sep 7, 2011 1:14pm EDT (John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own) By John Kemp LONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Sunoco's decision to put its East Coast Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries up for sale has probably condemned both to closure.In a world where seaborne light sweet oils are much more expensive than landlocked U.S. crude and heavier and sourer imports, Philadelphia and Marcus Hook are the two worst refineries to own in the United States. Both will struggle to find buyers, unless someone can be found willing to invest large sums of money to upgrade their desulphurisation and coking capacity, enabling them to improve margins by processing cheaper heavier and sourer crudes. With so much pressure on margins and surplus refinery capacity in North America and Western Europe, the prospect of a saviour emerging seems remote.Now the question is which refinery might... Read more →

Through September 18 Romancing the West: Alfred Jacob Miller Philadelphia Museum of Art 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway 215.763.8100 www.philamuseum.org Through September 25 Fore! The Planet Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway 215.299.1000 www.ansp.org September 9-November 19 To Scale The Print Center 1614 Latimer Street 215.735.6090 www.PrintCenter.org September 11 God Bless America: Remembering 9-11 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Broad and Spruce Streets 215.893.1999 www.kimmelcenter.org September 11 Grandparents Day Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway 215.299.1000 www.ANSP.org September 14-October 30 The Big Bang Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Broad and Spruce Streets 215.893.1999 www.KimmelCenter.org September 17 Constitution Day Celebration National Constitution Center 525 Arch Street 215.409.6600 www.ConstitutionCenter.org September 18 & 19 Hummel and Schubert The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Broad and Spruce Streets 215.893.1709 www.chamberorchestra.org September 23-January 2, 2012 Flotilla Journey on Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers Philadelphia... Read more →

http://www.mediafreedominternational.org Validated Independent News It has been eight years since the Taliban has theoretically been removed from power, yet women’s rights have not improved for the larger population. In 2004 the Constitution proclaimed equality for sexes under the law, yet abuse, rape, arrests, and inadequate schooling for women are still issues that have not been fixed. The United Kingdom’s The Guardian stated that 52% of women are affected by physical violence, while only 17% of women disclosed instances of sexual violence. Human Rights Watch claims that the majority of women held in Afghan prisons were accused of “moral crimes,” which include adultery or running away from one’s home or from a spouse. Half of the marriages within the state are of women 16 years or younger, which is illegal under the law, and in 80% of marriages the young wife does not consent. In April of 2009, President Karzai signed... Read more →

As children flock back to school, the annual plague of head lice lurks beyond the classroom doors. The vile creatures don’t spread disease but can be a severe nuisance for teachers and families. The vermin are estimated to afflict between 6 million and 12 million young children in the U.S. each year and parents generally turn to a variety of pesticide-based shampoos and treatments for relief. Parents often aren’t aware that some of the most prescribed and over-the-counter treatments can be harmful to children, an iWatch News investigation found. The Food and Drug Administration’s adverse event reports – collected anonymously from doctors, hospitals and others – detail cases where the pesticides in lice treatments have been involved in conditions ranging from headaches to death. The reports were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. One of the biggest worries for some health experts is a prescription treatment for head lice... Read more →

The busy ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., were shut down on Thursday as an increasingly violent dispute between unionized port workers and the owner of a grain export terminal in Longview, Wash., spilled over to the other facilities. Longshoremen in Longview, Wash., faced off with police in a rare showing of union militancy. About 500 longshoremen stormed the new $200 million terminal in Longview before sunrise Thursday, carrying baseball bats, smashing windows, damaging rail cars and dumping tons of grain from the cars, police and company officials said. Later in the day, more than 1,000 other longshoremen shut down the ports of Seattle and Tacoma by not coming to work. Officials with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, while claiming they had not authorized the actions in Seattle and Tacoma, said the ports would reopen on Friday. Members of the union are livid that the Longview terminal’s owner, EGT,... Read more →