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The Alabama Legislature met in session for Day 5 of the annual Regular Session on Tuesday, February 18. Twenty-eight committee meetings were held during the week to consider legislation. Both Houses met in session on Thursday, February 20 for Day 6.

535 bills have been introduced so far this Session.

The Legislature will return to Montgomery on Mardi Gras for Day 7 of the Session with the House convening at 1:00 p.m. and the Senate convening at 2:00 p.m..

DURING THE WEEK

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on SB165 by Senator Tim Melson. The bill, named the Compassion Act, creates an appointed nine member medical cannabis commission to oversee regulations and licensing for medical cannabis cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, and requires a statewide seed-to-sale tracking system for all medical cannabis in the state. The bill does not allow for the smoking or vaping of marijuana or edible forms of the drug. However, treatment in the form of pills, gelatinous cubes, gels, orals or creams, transdermal patches, and nebulizers will be allowed.

Patients would receive a state issued Medical Cannabis Card and a patient registry would be established. Medical conditions are enumerated in the bill, including Crohns Disease, HIV/Aids Related nausea, cancer-related chronic pain, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Proponents and opponents spoke on the bill. After several amendments were adopted by the Committee, the bill was given a favorable report.

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a public hearing, but did not vote, on HB79 by Representative Tim Wadsworth that would authorize a judge of probate, district judge, or circuit judge to carry a pistol openly or concealed in a courtroom, courthouse, courthouse property, and within his or her office.

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Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Director Lance LeFleur and staff briefed the Mobile and Baldwin delegations on the structure and timeline of the containment, clean up, and monitoring of the Barry Steam Plant Coal Ash Deposit in Mobile County.

The Senate confirmed nine of the Governors board and commission appointments this week including Leslie D. Sanders to the Board of Human Resources, Representative Rod Scott to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and Wendall Wilkie Gunn to the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees.

BILLS PASSED BY HOUSE:

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HB46 by Rep. Hollis HB66 by Rep. McClammyHB84 by Rep. Hill HB140 by Rep. Baker

BILLS PASSED BY SENATE:

SB53 by Sen. BurketteSB106 by Sen. Barfoot

To prohibit the smoking of tobacco products or vaping in a motor vehicle when a child aged 14 or under is in the vehicle.

To authorize a municipality or county to establish a local redevelopment authority for property that is contiguous to an active US Air Force military installation.

To limit mayoral pardons in relation to convictions for domestic violence.

To provide that landfills covered by substances other than earth are included within the definition of a landfill.

To authorize a municipality or county to establish a local redevelopment authority for property that is contiguous to an active US Air Force military installation.

To authorize the formation of charter schools near military installations with a focus on serving military dependents.

HOUSE:

HB35 by Rep. PringleHB69 by Rep. RichHB74 by Rep. K. Brown

To prohibit public K-12 schools from participating in, sponsoring, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic athletic events at which athletes are allowed to participate in competition against athletes who are of a different biological gender (House State Government Committee).

To increase the fees for issuing permits in the regulation of of the manufacturing, sale, display of fireworks, and for the use of pyrotechnics before an audience with 5% of the total fee going to the Alabama Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund (House Insurance Committee).

To prohibit the operator of a motor vehicle from using a wireless communication device in any manner that would require the operator to physically hold the device (Amended in House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee).

SIGNIFICANT FLOOR ACTION THIS WEEK

NOTEWORTHY BILLS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE THIS WEEK

HB81 by Rep. C. BrownHB110 by Rep. C. BrownHB113 by Rep. C. Brown HB209 by Rep. McMillanHB233 by Rep. ReynoldsHB272 by Rep. Weaver

SENATE:HB147 by Rep. SellsSB59 by Sen. WardSB60 by Sen. Ward SB177 by Sen. GudgerSB183 by Senator Sessions

A proposed Constitutional Amendment to provide that a person charged with a Class A felony, when the proof is evident or the presumption is great, and if no conditions of release can reasonably protect the community from risk of physical harm, be denied bail before conviction (Amended in House Judiciary Committee).

To designate the Dauphin Island Sea Labs Alabama Aquarium as the official Aquarium of Alabama (House State Government Committee).

To provide for additional offenses that would require mandatory denial of bail (Amended in House Judiciary Committee).

To permit a pet dog in an outdoor dining area of a food service establishment under certain conditions (House County and Municipal Government).

To allow a municipality to use electronic records and signatures in the conduct of its affairs (House County and Municipal Government Committee).

To revise deadlines for candidates to qualify for the November 3, 2020 general election to accommodate the dates of the 2020 Republican National Convention (House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee).

To prohibit a municipality that does not already have an occupational tax from imposing an occupational tax unless authorized by local law (Senate Governmental Affairs).

A proposed Constitutional Amendment to provide that all individuals are entitled to reasonable bail prior to conviction, except for offenses enumerated by the Legislature by general law (Substituted by Senate Judiciary Committee).

To provide for additional offenses that would require mandatory denial of bail (Substituted by Senate Judiciary).

To provide that former public employees may resume employment with their former employer or with another public employer during the 2 year prohibition against lobbying or otherwise representing clients before the government body for which he or she had worked (Amended in Senate Fiscal Responsibility ond Economic Development Committee).

To authorize any county to issue bonds to refund certain bonds previously issued by the county, and to ratify and confirm the validity of any refunding bonds originally issued prior to January 1, 2011 (Amended in Senate Banking and Insurance Committee).

SB196 by Sen. Williams

To provide the Department of Agriculture and Industries with exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of working animals; to provide a reporting and investigation process for alleged violations of animal cruelty (Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee).

SIGNIFICANT INTRODUCTIONS THIS WEEK

A proposed Constitutional Amendment that would authorize municipalities to levy and collect ad valorem tax for the purpose of paying debt service on bonds, and the costs of public capital improvements (House County and Municipal Government Committee).To specify that the definition of gross receipts, for the purposes of municipal business license taxes, does not include any excise tax imposed by the federal, state, and local governments (House County and Municipal Government Committee).

To exempt slot machines manufactured prior to 1960 from the crime of possession of a gambling device under certain circumstances (House Judiciary Committee).

To create the Alabama Church Protection Act to provide for the justification for a person to use deadly phycial force in self-defense or in the defense of another on the premises of a church in certain circumstances (House Judiciary Committee).

To require each public school senior to legibly print and sign his or her name in cursive writing as a requirement for graduation from high school (House Education Policy Committee).

To provide that if a person is convicted of boating under the influence, the persons boating license and drivers license will be suspended (House Judiciary Committee).To authorize the adoption of local legislation authorizing wagering on professional, collegiate, and amateur sports contests and athletic events (House Judiciary Committee).To prohibit a medical procedure on or medication to a minor child that is intended to alter the minor childs gender or delay puberty (House Health Committee).

HOUSE:

HB253 by Rep. BallHB258 by Rep. CrawfordHB260 by Rep. C. BrownHB263 by Rep. GreerHB270 by Rep. SellsHB284 by Rep. ShaverHB301 by Rep. RogersHB303 by Rep. AllenPage 4 of 6

SENATE:

MSB194 by Senator WaggonerSB217 by Sen. WhatleySB219 by Sen. ShelnuttSB110 by Sen. Figures

To revise deadlines for candidates to qualify for the November 3, 2020 general election to accommodate the dates of the 2020 Republican National Convention (Senate Governmental Affairs Committee).

To require a municipality or county that levies a motor fuel tax to use the proceeds for road and bridge construction and maintenance with certain exceptions (Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee).

To prohibit a medical procedure on or medication to a minor child that is intended to alter the minor childs gender or delay puberty (Senate Healthcare Committee).

To repeal Act 2019-189 making abortion or attempted abortion a felony (Senate Judiciary Committee).

More:
Weekly Legislative Session Report: Week Three - alreporter.com

MILWAUKEE - The man suspected of killing five people before turning the gun on himself at the Molson Coors facility in Milwaukee has been identified as a longtime electrician with the company, multiple sources tell TMJ4 News.

Anthony Ferrill, 51, worked as an electrician at Molson Coors for the last 20 years. The above photo is taken from a family member's Facebook page that has since been removed.

Their names are:

Jesus Valle Jr., 33Gennady Levshetz, 51Trevor Wetselaar, 33Dana Walk, 57Dale Hudson, 50

Milwaukee police said the gunman opened fire at a Molson Coors building Wednesday afternoon. Five employees were killed before Ferrill turned the gun on himself. Police have not yet officially identified Ferrill.

A motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. Police were seen at a home believed to be owned by Ferrill Thursday afternoon.

Neighbors say investigators arrived to the 8000 block of Potomac Avenue before 3 p.m. on Feb 26, and haven't left.

State Representative Lakeshia Myers tweeted on Wednesday that the police presence in the area is related to the shooting that happened at Molson Coors.

"I feel bad for the family," said Elizabeth Pine. She lives across the street from the home being investigated.

She told TMJ4 News that federal agents came to her home as many as six times to question her about her neighbor.

"They were here until after 11," said LaPine. "It's just unreal. You know? You're just in disbelief. You wouldn't think somebody could do something like that."

LaPine and other neighbors, who did not wish to be identified, said police would not tell them why they were being questioned. But, after hearing news of the mass shooting at Molson Coors they quickly realized there was a connection between that tragic crime and the crime scene on their block.

"One of the policemen came and he had a picture and he asked me to identify the picture and then I knew who it was," said LaPine.

More here:
Molson Coors gunman identified as longtime company electrician - WJFW-TV

Ron Riveras lengthy period in Carolina mores than. Matt Rhules arrival in Carolina need to equate to large offseason modifications for thePanthers The actual obstacle for Rhule and also his training personnel will certainly be to determine what settings require prompt interest and also what places can wait till a year from currently.

The Panthers have a lineup that is ripe for a duration of major change. Naturally, there are a lots of inquiries regarding what the group will certainly do at quarterback. There stand disagreements for beginning the 2020 routine period with Cam Newton, Kyle Allen or Will Grier under facility. Its additionally feasible that the Panthers will certainly prepare a brand-new quarterback of the future with theirNo 7 general choice in Aprils draft.

The groups protection might additionally undertake a significant overhaul thisoffseason The groups leading cornerback, James Bradberry, is a substantial trip threat in totally free company. Key pass rushes Gerald McCoy, Mario Addison, Bruce Irvin, and also Vernon Butler are all freelances as well. Its difficult to assume that every one of those gamers will certainly be going back to Charlotte in 2020.

Figuring out exactly how to retool the Panthers pass thrill is a have to for Marty Hurneys front workplace this postseason.

The Panthers arent mosting likely to allow every one of their freelance protective electrician go, however they will not re-sign the whole team either. As such, infusing even more young people right into the team will certainly be a have to for the Panthers.

The great information is that in 2014s preliminary choice, Brian Burns, blinked Pro Bowl possible in 2014. His break matter and also influence need to just expand in his 2nd period as an expert.

Burns visibility on the side need to lead the Panthers to investing even more of their offseason funding on a within pass rush. McCoy looks most likely to leave using totally free company. Spending a high draft badger a turbulent defensive take on would truly assist reset the Carolina protection.

Continued here:
5 offseason needs for the Carolina Panthers - The Union Journal

Since the investigation began, a massage board staff member has been suspended for licensing Axiom graduates, and the boards executive director stepped down without explanation two weeks ago.

The same staff has been there for years, said a former massage board employee, expressing surprise at the failure to spot phony credentials. I dont know how they didnt catch them." The former employee requested anonymity out of fear of retribution from the owners of illicit massage spas.

Officials at the Division of Professional Licensure, which oversees the massage board and 37 others, acknowledged the existence of a federal investigation in January when they rejected a Globe public records request for documents related to the applications of hundreds of licensed massage therapists.

Federal authorities have advised DPL that dissemination of the requested records at this time will jeopardize or prejudice investigative efforts because these documents are related and/or touch upon an ongoing investigation, Kevin Scanlon, general counsel of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, wrote in a January e-mail.

A spokeswoman for the US attorneys office also declined to comment. An FBI spokeswoman said she could neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.

Last week, the Division of Professional Licensure belatedly released documents to the Globe in response to a request for records related to Axiom. The records show officials started suspending the licenses of several massage therapists with Axiom credentials in November a month after the Globe requested the documents.

Carolyn Assa, spokeswoman for the states Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, said the Division of Professional Licensure is now conducting an internal review of all 9,000 massage therapy licensees.

Public safety and license integrity are the Division of Professional Licensures top priority and the division has recently enhanced protocols to strengthen screenings for all applicants on a go forward basis, particularly for out-of-state schools, Assa said.

DPL staff is trained to look for signs of human trafficking in establishments and refers all suspected cases over to law enforcement for further investigation, as the division is not a law enforcement agency, she said, adding that "the department investigates all complaints.

Since Jan. 1, Assa said, each out-of-state application has been reviewed twice, and applicants will not be approved until the board receives proof that the school is in good standing with its state licensing authority.

The massage board, created by the Legislature in 2006, was supposed to relieve cities and towns of the burden of regulating the industry. The board is authorized to scrutinize the backgrounds of therapists and spa owners alike before issuing licenses, which are required. The board can fine spas that dont comply with the rules and can ultimately revoke their licenses.

But several police departments complain that the state actually undercuts local government efforts by licensing some people who are suspected of sex trafficking. In addition, they say, the state boards rules supercede local regulations, making it hard for cities and towns to set their own standards for massage parlors. In fact, a 2008 letter from the Division of Professional Licensure told cities and towns they could no longer regulate or license massage therapists.

The town of Oxford, for example, tried to crack down on unlicensed massage parlors that officials believed were offering sex to customers, based on complaints from neighbors and the towns own investigations.

Even though state licenses are required, violators typically face only fines. So, Oxford police and the board of health worked together to create their own rules, requiring the towns three unlicensed massage parlors to undergo frequent inspections, identify customers and employees, and submit to criminal background checks.

But the owners found an easy way to bypass the local bylaw: They got licensed by the state.

We went to do the inspections and we were trumped by the state licenses," said Oxford police Chief Anthony Saad. "We couldnt do anything.

The spa operators have denied any wrongdoing.

A Globe review of the states roster of massage therapists reveals hundreds whose credentials, addresses, or backgrounds could have raised questions for regulators.

For instance, more than 300 current Massachusetts massage license holders list Flushing, N.Y., as their home address. Law enforcement officials and experts have described Flushing as the hub of sex trafficking in the United States where young women enter the country and are then dispatched to other cities. The former massage board employee said the board did not single out these applicants for increased scrutiny because they felt that would be discriminatory.

A major sex trafficker convicted in Florida last year of operating illegal Asian massage parlors across the country has at least one licensed massage establishment in Massachusetts, according to federal court records. David C. Williams, who pleaded guilty in November to human trafficking, was cited in court records as associated with Braintree Massage, which operates on Commercial Street and is licensed by the state. Williams, prosecutors said, used other peoples names on official records to conceal his ownership.

A woman there answered the phone Hello? but didnt speak English and wouldnt take a message.

Even some women previously convicted of prostitution have valid Massachusetts massage licenses. Yu Yun Chen of Quincy, for example, was charged in 2013 with engaging in prostitution and operating an unlicensed massage business in Andover. Police said she ran a similar operation in Danvers. Chen admitted sufficient facts, akin to a guilty plea, in 2014 in Lawrence District Court and was placed on probation for six months. In 2017, she received a license from the state massage board, records show. Old misdemeanor convictions do not disqualify applicants for state licenses.

Earlier this month, the Division of Professional Licensure disciplined one employee. FeiYan Chen was suspended for three days for approving the licenses of applicants who claimed to have graduated from Axiom, according to records and a former DPL official.

In an e-mailed message, Chen said she would speak to her supervisor and the lawyer for the board before deciding whether to comment.

Records show Chen approved the applications of at least eight people who claimed to have graduated from Axiom, the now-closed school in Bergen, N.J. Its founder, Naresh Rane, pleaded guilty in 2018 in federal court in Newark to using interstate facilities to promote prostitution. He is currently awaiting sentencing. His lawyer, David A. Schwartz, declined to comment.

Rane sold fake school transcripts and graduation certificates for between $1,000 and $2,600 each, knowing that these documents would be used to facilitate the prostitution business," court records show. These documents enabled workers to obtain state massage licenses, which could be displayed at massage parlors offering prostitution services to create the appearance of legitimacy, prosecutors said.

In Massachusetts, most of the applicants claimed to have attended Axiom in 2015 or later although the school closed in 2014. Rane wrote a reference for one of the applicants.

The former massage board employee said the massage board also licensed therapists who graduated from other schools that had lost their accreditation, or were closed or unapproved. Sometimes required references were clearly fabricated, as well, claiming, I went to church with her in New York at a time when the applicant reported living in California, the employee said.

The federal probe comes as the Division of Professional Licensure is already facing heavy criticism for allowing applicants with long criminal records to obtain other types of state licenses. In December, the Globe reported that some dangerous sex offenders, including an electrician who served time for assaulting a boy he coached, and another electrician who served time for murder, were able to get electrician licenses.

There has to be some sort of vetting process that happens so people feel safe. Any breakdown in that chain causes a problem. Thats what were seeing now, said Senator Paul Feeney, chairman of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The panel held a sometimes contentious hearing with DPL leaders in January after the Globe story.

Leadership of the division has changed substantially in recent weeks.

Bob Houston, a former FBI agent and an expert on human trafficking, said state licensing authorities could make it much more difficult for illicit massage spas to exist by doing thorough background checks, vetting bogus schools, and screening false certifications. If state law allows for regulatory mechanisms to halt the exploitation before the victim-worker ever gets to an illicit massage business, it is a tragedy if these tools are not being applied, said Houston, a partner in Washington D.C.-based Heyrick Research.

In Oxford, officials have tried to for years to regulate or close three local massage parlors, including one where they arrested a massage therapist for soliciting an undercover officer in 2010. The woman, Yim Wai Kuen, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, a felony, and sexual conduct for a fee, a misdemeanor. She defaulted and a warrant was issued in 2011.

Oxford police say they would welcome a more vigilant massage board, or a new system of oversight, where cities and towns could also license or regulate massage businesses. The local bylaw, they said, should trump a state license.

Its a public safety nightmare, said Oxford police Lieutenant William Marcelonis. We dont even know their real names. Theyre being shipped in and shipped out.

We used to get on the girls for not having licenses, but then the state in their infinite wisdom decided to pass legislation that says theyre in charge of the licensing and theres nothing we can do to enforce it. So how effective do you think that might be?" he said.

Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea.estes@globe.com.

Excerpt from:
FBI investigating states licensing of massage therapists with fake credentials - The Boston Globe

There were stories about the founding of the State of Israel locked into the memories of people who lived locally as well.

I know that because I was honored to be able to tell a few of those stories.

Most but not all of the main characters in these stories have died, most of them after I talked to them, one long before I talked to his grandson. All the stories have been featured in the Jewish Standard.

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On January 24, 2003, I wrote about Reuel Dankner, who lived in Fair Lawn then; the story was called Its been an amazing life. Mr. Dankner was born in 1922, in Westchester County, but his father had been born in Palestine. The family moved to Netanya when Reuel was 10.

On their first day, he said, the family took a bus to their temporary new home. The bus went from the paved road from Haifa to Tel Aviv. They transferred to another bus to go to Netanya, but after a few miles the bus got stuck in the sand. We all had to get out and push the bus. Our first day in Palestine!

Reuel Dankner

Mr. Dankner described playing baseball in the familys eventually long-term home in Petach Tikvah with a broomstick, and the gloves hed brought from his old home. Just having them made him the home-run king of Petach Tikvah.

At 12, he was recruited into the Haganah. You dont just ask to join. They recruit you, he said. He soon learned how to put a gun together blindfolded. His parents never knew.

The family gave up on Palestine life was hard there and went back to New York. Mr. Dankner joined the American Army in 1942; he did intelligence there, and used the Arabic that he spoke to pick up information in Casablanca. He was on Normandy Beach on D Day, he was at the Battle of the Bulge, he came back home and had a regular life.

In 1948, among other adventures, I was in Los Angeles I did take a load of guns and ammunition down to the Mexican border. He had to leave it there, though, as other people took it across the border and loaded it on ships for Israel. They had my record they knew I had been in the Palestinian underground.

Reuel Dankner died in 2005

In 2003, three local people were among the 70 given awards by the American Veterans for Israel; the awards, celebrated after the Salute to Israel parade, were distributed on board the Intrepid. I wrote about them in the June 13th issue that year, in a story called Steaming Toward Palestine:

Nathan Nadler

Nathan Nadler of Rutherford, born in Brooklyn in 1927, was drafted into the U.S. Army when he turned 18; he was sent to Munich, where he put his training as an electrician to use. After the wars end and his discharge, he saw newspaper ads for the Barney Ross Brigade of the American Free League for Palestine. He went to Union Square to find out about it, but left its office unimpressed. But, he said, As I was leaving, a young boy ran over to me, put a piece of paper in my hand with a penciled telephone number scribbled on it. If youre really interested, call this number, he said. The kid was about 14. He called, was asked to go to a townhouse on Fifth Avenue near the Metropolitan Museum of Art a mansion, he called it, probably accurately and was interviewed by someone who sat in the dark and aimed a flashlight at Mr. Nadler, so he was blinded by it. He never saw his interviewer, but the next day he got a call, telling him to go Pier 32 in Philadelphia. Theyll be expecting you, he was told. He went, boarded the President Warfield, and was gone. He was 20 years old.

The boat was renamed the Exodus.

Concentration camp survivors from DP camps line up in Sate as they prepare to board the Exodus.

After it got to the port of Sete, in France, 4,554 people, all survivors, boarded. The British dogged them for the entire journey to Palestine, refusing to let them off, fighting them when they tried to disembark. One of the crew, standing right next to Mr. Nadler, was killed. His name was Bill Bernstein. They clubbed him and he died, Mr. Nadler said.

He was injured, but he, like everyone else, kept fighting, but in the end they lost. The boat had to take its passengers back, and the only place that would take those passengers all Shoah survivors was a one-time German concentration camp.

Mr. Nadler, meanwhile, as a crew member, was on a prison ship in Marseilles; his leg had been badly wounded. I never made it to Palestine then, he said. Back in the States, he became an electrician.

Nathan Nadler died in 2012.

David Hanovice of Fort Lee was born in Tel Aviv, grew up in Houston, went back to Palestine, and then joined the U. S. Army and was based in the Middle East during World War II. After the war ended he went back to the United States, but in 1948, when Israel was attacked, he returned. He got on a ship in New Orleans, the Yucatan, destined for the Israeli navy. It was all illegal; he couldnt get a passport to Israel, because the U. S. government wasnt giving them, but as a sailor he didnt need one. And no one on the Yucatan told the government that the ship was going to Israel. That wasnt legal either. It was a mishmash of all kinds of deception, Mr. Hanovice said.

David Hanovice

He stayed in the Israeli navy for many years, became a commander, moved back to the United States, and became a chief engineer in the American merchant marine; his wife, Rose, was a nurse in the Israeli army.

David Hanovice died in 2009.

Naomi Kantey of Hackensack was born in Philadelphia in 1925; she was a fervent Zionist and a nurse in the Cadet Nurse Corp. Out of my class, two were selected by the Navy, and I was one of them, she said. The other nurse got sent to California; she went to Queens. The war ended just before her training did. But she knew that there was trouble in Palestine, she said. All of us of that generation were profoundly moved by the Holocaust. We thought about it all the time. That concern propelled her to Palestine but getting there wasnt easy.

Naomi Kantey

She was able to get a passport, but she needed a visa from the British government, and it was denied. I was so sure that I was going to get a visa, the consternation must have registered on my face, she said. The British official took pity on her and suggested that she go to the Jewish Agency. He even gave me their address.

When she got there, she was sent away, but later she got a visa or a vise she later realized that it was a forgery, complete with misspellings. But it got her to Haifa. She was a nurse, and that made her valuable.

At one point, she said, her passport vanished; later it reappeared, courtesy of the Mossad. That is why Ive never been surprised by anything the Mossad has done, she said.

She worked in many hospitals in Israel, and later came back to the United States, where she worked as a nurse in the Teaneck public school system for 21 years.

Naomi Kantey died in 2015.

In the January 9, 2015 issue, I wrote a story, Scheherazade in Cresskill, about Shlomo Lev.

Mr. Lev was born in Odessa in 1927; a natural storyteller and extraordinarily wild child. His adventures arent relevant here, and must have been horrific for his parents, but theyre great story fodder.

Shlomo Lev

In 1933, he and his family moved to Palestine, and Mr. Lev grew up in Givat Yam. He wanted to fight the Germans and tried to join the British army when he was 16 he was too young for that, but not for the British navy but instead he was being secretly recruited into the Palmach. It sounds like a good adventure, he said. After his stint there ended, he joined the Palyam, Palestines new navy. They smuggled immigrants from Europe into Palestine. There were more adventures. He fought the British until the State of Israel was established, and then he joined the new countrys merchant marine.

In 1954, the Egyptians captured his ship in the Suez Canal really, it is impossible to make Mr. Levs story short, its glory is in its meticulously delivered wild details and he and his shipmates were imprisoned. It is at this point in his story that Mr. Lev brought out the underpants that hed sewn for himself while he was in captivity, in possession of a needle, thread, and the remnants of a shirt made of fine Egyptian cotton, but underwear-less.

After some time he and his companions were released, he came back to the United States, had more adventures, and raised a family here.

I am thrilled to be able to report that Shlomo and Alma Lev are still living in Cresskill, and most likely Mr. Lev has even more stories to tell.

In our November 27, 2017 issue, Paul Caine of Tenafly told the story of his grandfather, Wolf Herman Silberstein, a New York City patrolman who was born in Brooklyn in 1906 and died in 1948.

Mr. Caine knew very little about his grandfather until recently the story I wrote, My grandfather did what?, is about what he learned. The way he uncovered it bears re-reading, but this is the gist of it: His grandfather, working with another Jewish NYPD cop, Leon Katz, were helping the Jews in mandatory Palestine. As I put it in that story, quoting a story in the Jerusalem Post, Mr. Katz, another former New York City policeman and a onetime inspector general of the citys prisons, who made aliyah in 1981, talked about how he put together a group of other city cops who had, not to put too fine a point on it, smuggled guns to mandatory Palestine as it fought for freedom from the British.

Wolf Herman Silberstein

The story described not only how Mr. Silberstein and Mr. Katz stored the guns, but also how they sweet-talked the FBI into letting them go. Other NYC police brass knew about the gun-running, Mr. Caine said, but they liked Mr. Silberstein and Mr. Katz; moreover, because most of them were Irish and sympathetic to the struggles against the Brits, they had sympathy for the cause as well.

When Mr. Silberstein died, he was honored with a blue funeral, as an ocean of uniformed NYPD cops stood shoulder to shoulder at the Shomrim Societys cemetery in Queens.

There probably are many other stories of local people who were involved in Palestines struggle to become Israel or in Israels first years. Some might come from the people who were there; by now probably many more would come from their children or grandchildren. We would love to hear those stories. If you have any to tell, please email me at joanne@psfam.org.

Read more:
Stories from the Jewish Standard about Israel's first years - The Jewish Standard

John Bisset/Stuff

Police are investigating the death of a Brazilian man in Southland on Friday.

Police are still trying to piece together how aBrazilian man living in Southland died.

Honorary Consul for BrazilAna CristinaTurnbull confirmed that the man was JoelPalmeira.

Altitude Resurfacinggeneral manager Shaun McGowan saidthe incident that claimed the life of Palmeiraon Friday was a tragic accident.

Palmeira, who was a father of two, went missing on theWaiau Rivernear Lake Monowai at 6.50pm.

A police Search and Rescue team found his body four hours later.

READ MORE:* Brazillian man dies on southern river* Southland Brazilians mourn the loss of community member* Family of fugitive found dead in Taranaki creek still seeking answers over his death

A police spokesperson said itwasstill unclear how Palmeira died, butthe case had been referred to the Coroner.

Turnbull said the man was working in NewZealand as an electrician.

She said his employer had notified the Embassy of Brazil of his death and had offered their assistance to his family.

"Altitude Resurfacing wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the family of one of our valued team memberswho tragically lost his life in a recreational accident last week," McGowan wrote in a statement to Stuff.

He said it was a "sad and shocking time for the victim's family" and his team.

The incident happened during an after-hours social event.

"After finishing work for the day on February 21, the team took a well-earned opportunity to socialise together in the afternoon," McGowan said.

"He was a well-loved member of our team, whose contributions on both professional and personal levels were greatly appreciated by everyone at Altitude Resurfacing. We will all miss him," McGowan said.

He said the company was supporting Palmeira'sfamily "as much as we can" and had offered to contribute towards the cost of transporting his body back to Brazil.

A Facebook fundraising page had been set up by friendson Saturday to help withtransportation.

The page had raised$13,686by Wednesday morning.

Palmeirais believed to be an active member of the Southland Brazilian community.

The Southland Multicultural Society has postponed itsBrazilian Day event, which was scheduled to take place at Southern Institute of Technologyon Saturday.

McGowan also said Altitude Resurfacing had made arrangements to ensure its staff had access to support services during "this deeply sad time".

Read the original here:
Employer of a Brazilian man who died in 'tragic accident' says he was a well-loved team member - Stuff.co.nz

The Portland Public Library will close for six to eight weeks beginning on March 9 for renovations.

The Portland Public Library will close for six to eight weeks beginning on March 9 for renovations.

The Portland Public Library will close for six to eight weeks beginning on March 9 for renovations.

The Portland Public Library will close for six to eight weeks beginning on March 9 for renovations.

Portland Library to close for up to 8 weeks for renovations

PORTLAND - The Portland Public Library will close for six to eight weeks beginning on March 9.

The closure will allow a contractor to re-do portions of the library, as part of the $358,000 renovation of the 37-year-old building.

Even though the library will be closed, Library Director Janet Nocek said some activities will be held there, while others will take place in the nearby Senior Center.

The overhaul of the library will focus on improving the facility in terms of accessibility, service provision and energy efficiency, Nocek said in a statement.

Closing the library should make the project go faster - and go more smoothly, Nocek said in subsequent interview. Were certainly anticipating that the ambiance will be improved, and that the library will be made accessible to all.

Much of the work will involve efforts to make the building more accessible to people with either physical or mental disabilities or a combination of both, Nocek said.

Were trying mightily to remove those things that may be a barrier to our patrons, she said.

The project will involve providing more accommodating seating for members of the aging populations, as well as those with joint issues, she said.

This accommodating seating will be located in browsing areas and near displays of interest to visually impaired residents, Nocek said.

To further serve residents with physical disabilities, the library is installing tables of adjustable height, she said.

New lighting will be installed both at a new and updated service desk as well as in areas of adult browsing, Nocek said.

The lighting will serve to improve usability as well as being more energy efficient, she said.

The library also is addressing the desire of residents who want to use charging stations for mobile devices while reducing or eliminating the problems that can create.

At present, a number of patrons place cords in walkways to meeting roomsand use chairs as tables to get closer to an outlet.

However, in doing so, they create obstacles of wheel-bound persons and tripping hazards for others, Nocek said.

One of the main reasons the library will be closed is because the contractor is tearing up the existing carpet.

New carpet will be installed in the public areas, Nocek said.

Doing so will yield a number of benefits, she said.

It will provide better sound absorption. Color-coded layout of pathways will provide guidance in navigating the library for those with certain cognitive and visual challenges, Nocek said.

The project is being funded by a combination of sources, including a $108,400 grant from the Connecticut State Library, and $250,000 from the Endowment Fund.

It comes amid a surge in efforts to adjust and expand the library experience for residents of the region.

Just last week, Cromwell re-dedicated its library following a $3.2 million renovation and expansion.

And both the Russell Library in Middletown and the East Hampton Public Library have embarked on developing long-term strategic plans.

See more here:
Portland Library to close for up to 8 weeks for renovations - Middletown Press

Keeping up a house takes work. Keeping up a riverfront structure that houses ballrooms, exhibit halls and meeting rooms for hundreds of events and thousands of visitors takes even more work.

Add hurricane-related damage to that, and the workload increases exponentially. That is the reason the Wilmington City Council unanimously approved $1.9 million for repairs to the Wilmington Convention Center.Hurricane Florence inundated the area with record-setting rainfall in 2018, and it caused extensive damage to homes and other structures, including the convention center.The total convention center project, according to city staff, will cost $2.7 million. The city received $763,610 from FEMA funding, and insurance provided $25,463. The remaining funds will come from the Convention Center Fund.The $1.9 million includes roof repair, siding and major structural repairs that have to be done, Convention Center General Manager Fredia Brady said. Some of it has to do with general upkeep of the building, also.The Wilmington Convention Center first opened its doors in November 2010, so it was anticipated that maintenance would be needed to account for wear and tear of the facility, according to Mayor Bill Saffo.The fund created took into account that we would have to do general updating every 10 years or so, and we are getting more conventions, more conferences, more people coming, Saffo said.The project has been divided into two phases. The first phase is an architectural assessment, which has already been completed, and the second phase is the repairs, which are now in progress.One of the major repairs needed to the building includes the outside siding where water leaked behind and seeped inside damaging walls, floors and ceilings.The interior work is in progress and is set to be completed by the end of February.Refurbishing and redoing what needs to be done is expected on a 10- year basis. Repainting and installing new carpets is important for general upkeep of a facility that receives as much traffic as the convention center does, Saffo said.With about 75,000 attendees each year, the 10-year-old building has seen its share of wear and tear over the course of the past decade. Given that the event space is solidly booked most months, it can be difficult for construction crews to get in to make repairs.A reprieve in January allowed an opportunity to take care of some of the much-needed work.Water damaged its terrazzo floors, so convention center officials took advantage of the downtime and blocked out two weeks to get those resurfaced and sealed with a protective coating. Having to work around a busy event schedule, other repairs required careful planning and coordination in order to complete.In November and December, we didnt have any non-event days, Brady said. January was light, but now its February, and weve hit the ground running.Carpets and fabric paneling were replaced in three meeting rooms, all of which had seen hurricane water damage. New carpets were also installed in the ticket office and other administrative offices, and drywall and baseboards have been replaced and painting was completed throughout the space.Carpet has to be consistent from meeting room to meeting room, Brady explained.Both the main ballroom and junior ballroom are set to have carpets replaced and ceiling damage repaired.Exterior work has begun and a November completion is planned.The city has done a really good job studying and looking into how water was getting in and making sure it was fixed and preventing future damage, Brady said.The majority of the recent issues occurred on the north side of the building, which was exposed to extensive water damage during Hurricane Florence. An important component to the repairs is working to mitigate damage from future storms.With the siding, most of the money will go to figure out how to prevent water from getting in there again, Brady said. The city has been really smart about it.The heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit is in need of repair, as well as the gutters and downspouts on the exhibit hall roof that need to be installed.Another much-needed renovation on the north side of the building is the veranda that has been closed to foot traffic as a safety measure.The veranda has separated from the building, so that will be fixed, Brady said. It is not currently open to pedestrians until it is fixed, which will be over the next several months.The roof of the convention center is another concern.It is possible the entire roof will need to be replaced, but that will be several months down the road, Brady said.In addition to physical changes at the convention center, the facilitys management company, SMG, recently combined with AEG Facilities to create a new, stand-alone, global facility management and venue services company, ASM Global, according to a news release.ASM is headquartered in Los Angeles with key operations based in West Conshohocken, Pensylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. The company also has corporate offices in London; Manchester, England; Brisbane, Australia; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.The Wilmington Convention Center is the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast, and is continuing to grow with many conventions choosing Wilmington over nearby Myrtle Beach.The new Aloft Coastline Hotel with 125 guest rooms could be open this year and will increase the capacity to bring in even larger groups for the convention center.It is imperative that we keep our convention center up to date, refurbished and looking good, Saffo said. Tourism is a top industry in our area, employing over 6,000 people, and it is important for us to have an upgraded and very good convention center here.The increased business at the convention center is an asset to the Wilmington area, so any upgrades are considered investments in the city itself.The mission of the convention center was to bring in people, support hospitality, support businesses, and it is doing that, Saffo said. The convention center is a very important economic development tool for our community.

Read more:
Center of attention - Greater Wilmington Business Journal

Q: Im looking to remodel several rooms, including my kitchen, bathroom, foyer, staircase and living room. Is there one flooring product that can handle all these heavily trafficked, potentially wet spaces?

A: In the past, flooring options were limited to carpet, vinyl, hardwood, tile or laminate, each with their distinct pros and cons. But theres a new product that can serve all these rooms: luxury vinyl plank, or LVP.

LVP doesnt have a very provocative name, and many homeowners remain unaware of it even after seeing it many times at the home store. But LVP can be a superior choice over laminate flooring products of the past. Heres why:

LVP is affordable. You can buy LVP for $3$7 per square foot. Spending more will get you a thicker protective topcoat, but you can get a great floor in a wide variety of styles for under $5 per square foot. A word of warning: Dont be seduced by 96-cents-per-foot blowout prices. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

It comes in a wide variety.LVP offers seemingly endless options, from wood plank to large-format tile, and has a wide variety of textures, including stone and different types of wood. Up close, the look and feel of wood or stone varieties is uncannily realistic.

Its durable.LVP is well-suited for wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and basements. In homes with pets and small children, LVP resists scratching, foot traffic and spills. It wont chip or crack like tile if you drop a dish on it. Most LVP products come with at least a 10-year topcoat wear layer.

Its versatile.There are a few different installation options. LVP clicks together easily and can be glued down or float over the existing subfloor. Some products can even be glued down and grouted to mimic traditional tile.

Its comfortable.LVP is soft underfoot, absorbs pressure, and has sound-deadening properties. This makes it a great solution for stairs, multi-floored homes or the kids playroom. Some products are even designed to overlay radiant heat mats, the ultimate in bathroom luxury.

Its easy. LVP is relatively easy to install, doesnt retain dust like carpet, and usually cleans up nicely with just soap and water.

There are some minor drawbacks youll want to know about before jumping into LVP.

LVP lacks longevity.LVP is a one-trick pony and cant be refinished. Within 1020 years, youll need to replace it.

It requires substrate prep.The subfloor under LVP needs to be smooth and level. Unlike carpet, which can be installed over uneven basement concrete, LVP will shift and buckle if the floors are uneven.

Warranties vary.You get what you pay for, so research the manufacturers warranty and specifications. Low-end products will feature topcoat protection layers with warranties under 10 years. And again, beware of blowout prices.

Installation isnt always easy.Asmentioned above, LVP is generally easy to install. But in a home with nooks and crannies, installation can get complicated. Tying it into uneven floor transitions requires some skill and patience. Tricky floor plans will require that you order extra to cover the cut waste. In short, some projects are best left to the professionals.

Joe Reed is director of sales and marketing at Home Run Solutions, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question youd like answered by one of MBAKSs more than 2,700 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Read the original here:
This may be the best flooring product youve never heard of - Seattle Times

Ed O'Connor

Depending on when you read this, there will only be about 300 days until Christmas. I dont know about you, but Im getting my Christmas card list updated. Im in a quandary as whether to send cards to all the members of my fan club.

I will probably have to cut back this year. I budgeted $1.50 for postage. It costs 90 cents to send one card to the States. I hope the other member understands.

Its been rather quiet here since the beginning of the year. New Years Day is a bigger holiday in Moldova than Christmas. Well, actually, two Christmas days and two New Year days are celebrated the traditional days and the Orthodox holidays, which are each two weeks later.

However, things are starting to get back to normal as the Moldavian national pastime resumes politicians trying to see who can be the most crooked ... and the Bureau of Anti-Corruption trying to catch them.

And, speaking of national pastimes, the Democratic Theater of Hate continues. Its like watching the movie Groundhog Day. Just amazing. I havent seen Democrats this unhinged since Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans freed the Democrats slaves.

I find it interesting that what the Democrats accuse the Republicans of doing is what the Democrats are doing.

As Joseph Stalins henchman Lavrentiy Beria, the head of the Soviet secret police, once stated: Give me the man and I will give you the crime. Sounds like the four-year Democrat impeachment credo.

Moving again

The biggest happening for us has been an apartment move. After so much noise from the apartment above us for seven months, it was time for new digs. We had the notion that there was some kind of illegal activity being perpetrated.

We spoke to a neighbor about this and were told not to pursue it.

It was the sound of something sliding across the floor, such as furniture or boxes being moved ... for eight hours every night? In a one-bedroom apartment? More than a little suspicious.

And we wanted a larger place. I realized just how small the apartment was when I dropped my handkerchief on the floor and it looked like we had wall-to-wall carpet installed. Plus, we were able to reduce the rent by $80 monthly.

The location is good. There are four malls within four blocks of where we now live and seven within walking distance, along with five supermarkets and the citys biggest outdoor market. We can walk to all the theaters.

Fourteen travel/tourist agencies are located in a four-block area. Across the street is a gentlemans club.

Well, if it continues, we will be apartment hunting again. Whats it, Ed? The moron in the next apartment has a Siberian Husky in her third-floor, one-bedroom apartment. It started barking and howling all day long.

Now get this ... when we told people about the problem we had with a dog making noise next door, their response was, Oh, the poor dog. THE POOR DOG? Right, poor Phydeaux. What about us having to listen to a yelping cur for hours?

One intelligent person suggested that we let the Hound of the Baskervilles stay in our apartment during the day.

Why do these people think that they exclusively have the cutest, sweetest, most intelligent, most loving, cleverest, best behaved, most precious, funniest, gentlest, most obedient, most playful fleabag on the face of the earth? Beats me.

Give me a cat any day!

Cost of learning

Wow! Little Ralphie, you said that it costs $55 million to operate the Middletown Area School District? And a $6 million shortfall is the worst-case scenario? Wow! But Little Ralphie, whats the best-case scenario?

With the school district population of a little more than 18,000 residents, that is approximately $3,050 for every person. Again, wow!

So, with a budget of $55 million and a student population of about 2,300, that is $23,504 per student. Another wow!

On Eddy Os Wow! Scale, that gets a score of 5 out of 5.

About education ...

I was educated once it took me years to get over it. Mark Twain

I never let school interfere with my education. Mark Twain

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. John Dryden

Intelligence appears to be the thing that enables a man to get along without education. Education enables a man to get along without the use of his intelligence. Albert E. Wiggam

Weather in Moldova

I have been asked about the weather here in Chisinau, Moldova.

Ill start with a quick refresher for those of you who slept through geography class. Latitude is measured in degrees from the equator, north and south.

Chisinau is located at 46 degrees north latitude and Middletown at 40 degrees. So, for those who snoozed in math class, that is a 6-degree difference between the two cities.

Since one degree of latitude equals 69.2 miles, Chisinau is located 415.2 miles farther north than Middletown. But even with this difference, the weather is relatively the same as yours.

Have your eyes glazed over yet?

You would think it should be colder here. Must be that pesky global warming.

Remember that the global warming cult will tell you: Cold weather means global warming, hot weather means global warming, more hurricanes means global warming, fewer hurricanes means global warming, tornadoes mean global warming, no tornadoes means global warming, floods mean global warming, droughts mean global warming, bad weather means global warming, good weather means global warming and early bird migration means global warming. Disease outbreaks, crop failures, snowstorms and dont forget the polar bears ... yep, global warming. Theyll say anything to advance their cult, and even use educated children to do so.

Oops, how dare I? It is now climate change and not global warming.

Why is it that so called climate change never kills climate-change liberals? When is the last time you saw a headline, Hundreds of climate-change liberals found dead hugging polar bears? Me neither, but there is always hope.

And, yes, my name is really ED ... not to be confused with a certain kind of dysfunction that some men get.

Until next time, I remain warmly yours ... Eddy O

Ed OConnor, a former resident of Middletown and Lower Swatara Township, is an expatriate living in Chisinau, Moldova.

More here:
What is the education cost for Middletown students? Wow!: Ed O'Connor - Middletown Press and Journal