Find out what you need to figure out when decorating your walls with mosaic

olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com (Dec. 25, 21019)–Mosaics are not the recent discovery, as you may know. Earlier their use was mostly confined to the floor decoration. But things started changing since the Paleochristian era when they made their appearance on the building walls for decorative purposes. The art may have disappeared from the trend for some time; however, nobody could resist its luxurious appeal and uniqueness. That’s why perhaps it has made a successful comeback both in commercial and residential projects. So, as a homeowner, if you want to adopt this tiled artwork in your interiors, then make it a part of the walls. It can breathe in a new soul into them when done thoughtfully.

Find the right place for it first

Mosaic tiles can decorate any walls easily

, and hence, you don\’t need to limit your imagination and choice of design. But make sure the side you choose for this artwork has clear visibility in the house.

For example, if you explore previous designs and themes, you will notice that most of them found their place in the entrance halls where anyone would host their guests. Considering this factor, you can have it beautify the wall in the lounge, a dining area, kitchen, or even a bathroom. In the bathroom, it can give you a bit of a Roman feel.

No matter which area of your house you choose for this, you should feel enthusiastic about it. Then only it makes the best choice.

Designs

Dimension and form can be two critical factors to consider here. What location you choose for this artwork will be integral to this decision. If you select a huge theme for a small space, it can look loud, and if the area is reasonably large and the piece of mosaic art is comparatively tiny, then it will not be as effective as it should be. Hence, being sure about the dimension is necessary.

When done with this part, you can decide on the types of shapes, sizes, textures, and techniques. During ancient times, artists used tiles directly on the walls. But in this era, you can have them framed and use as paintings.

So, there is a vast scope of experimentation. You can bring something to cover the entire wall or a part of it. You can also buy one large frame and a couple of tiny ones to arrange them attractively. It is all up to you what you want to do. Nowadays, the artistic style is quite popular. If you are an ardent lover of art and believe in collecting timeless pieces, then the creative designs should appeal to your taste.

These are two main points that need your attention when you plan to jazz up the appearance of your walls in the house. Some people still go with the idea of embedding the tiles into a wall. Although there is nothing wrong with it, you will not have the flexibility to do anything else there in the future. However, it doesn\’t mean that it will go out of trend. It is just that if you get a frame, you will have much more freedom. For design ideas and other assistance, you can visit

Mosaicist

image source pinterest

SURVEY SHOWS MAJOR INCREASE OF ENDANGERED SEABEACH AMARANTH PLANTS SOUTH OF SANDY HOOK

TRENTON – An annual plant census along New Jersey\’s coastal beaches south of Sandy Hook shows a significant surge in the number of seabeach amaranth, a federally threatened and state endangered plant species, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Biologists with the DEP and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey counted 7,195 plants, a more than 600 percent increase from the 2018 total of 1,053 plants. Similarly, 1,591 of the plants are at Island Beach State Park, compared with 307 found there in 2018 — a more than 500 percent increase.

\”I am very pleased that the statewide surge of seabeach amaranth experienced in 2018 has been far exceeded this year,\” Commissioner McCabe said. \”Our DEP biologists indicate that while the increase can be the result of many different factors, it could not have occurred without the presence and structural integrity of the habitat required by this species.\”

The resurgence of seabeach amaranth is particularly remarkable because the plant had not been observed in the state from 1913 to 2000 and was considered lost from New Jersey flora. The plant was rediscovered in 2000 near Sandy Hook following a beach-fill operation in Monmouth County for coastal storm protection and recreation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants pay for the DEP to do annual surveys of the plant since its rediscovery.

\”Staff of the Division of Parks and Forestry and its many partners and supporters should take a bow for their contribution to the resurgence of this very interesting and specialized plant,\” said Division of Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn. \”Of course, if a little bit of luck was involved, we are thankful for that, too.\”

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a low-growing plant with fleshy, spinach-like leaves and reddish stems. Plants germinate as early as April, and in June and July begin to produce inconspicuous yellow flowers that are wind-pollinated. Seed production soon follows, and plants typically grow about four inches across but sometimes may grow to a meter in diameter. Flowering and seed production continue until the plants die in the fall and early winter.

Seabeach amaranth is an annual plant, meaning that the individuals counted in any year are new plants resulting from seed dispersed in prior years. The seeds are durable, waterproof, and can be dispersed long distances by wave and wind action, or they may stay relatively close to the parent plant. The seed are also thought to remain viable for long periods, known as seed banking. Consequently, it is impossible to predict how abundant the plant will be from one year to the next.

On an undisturbed beach, seabeach amaranth may grow anywhere from the base of the dune to the high tide line. Managing human activity along the New Jersey coast, including beach raking as well as government and recreational vehicle use, also occur in the habitat that is vital for this and other species, whether rare or common.

The presence of seabeach amaranth is an indicator of a healthy or recovering habitat. It is one of only six plants in the state that are listed as either endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The DEP, in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Raritan Valley Community College is working to protect the habitat where seabeach amaranth thrives.

Island Beach State Park has created special protection zones, known as plant protection strips, that are marked with stakes, strings and signs to alert the public to the presence of a protected area along the base of dunes. This allows public recreation to continue near thriving plants. The protection zones have proven successful, with seabeach amaranth and other rare plant species continuing to repopulate and expand in these areas.

Between 2001 and 2015, Island Beach State Park had an average of seven seabeach amaranth plants per year. After the 2016 expansion of protections throughout the park, the average number of seabeach amaranth jumped to 479 plants annually.

The protection zones also create habitat essential for beach-nesting birds to raise new young successfully. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus), a federally threatened shorebird, returned for nesting at Island Beach State Park in 2016 following a 27-year absence. Plovers have returned each year since, with 2019 marking the most successful year for the species in the park since protections were put in place in 2016, with six young birds fledged.

The same protections also allowed American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), a species of Special Concern in New Jersey, to successfully nest on the ocean beaches for the first time.

Habitat protection at Island Beach State Park began as a pilot project by Raritan Valley Community College in 2008 and has been implemented since 2016 with grant funding received by the Branchburg college serving Somerset and Hunterdon counties, and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

Additionally, through its annual issuance of beach and dune maintenance permits, the DEP is regulating municipal beaches where seabeach amaranth and other federally listed plant and animal species occur. These permits include actions that must be taken to protect habitat for these species based on data collected by the DEP and its partners.

\”Beach and dune maintenance permits issued to public and private entities are predicated on annual coordination as seabeach amaranth take root and bird species come to nest,\” said Division of Land Use Regulation Bureau Chief Ryan Anderson. \”The cooperation and willingness of our regulated partners to adjust their maintenance activities based on the presence of sensitive species cannot be understated in the resurgence of seabeach amaranth.\”

For a fact sheet on plant protection strips and other information, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/amaranth.html*photos__;Iw!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwudmgwYcC$

Learn more about the DEP\’s Division of Land Use Regulation and Office of Natural Lands Management at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/landuse/lu_onlm.html

and the New Jersey Natural Heritage Program at

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/index.html

For more information on the Division of Parks and Forestry, visit

http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/

For more information about the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, visit

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!cjPqEDgpoW-57P8qheZVqA7sWG5w36uOPqt0zu57fDQWhb4ZnEDM6DC1xttw6XZwuRIR3e-I$

PATCO Hosts \”Transportation YOU\” Event at Lindenwold Facility

Goal of program is to educate young women on the importance of transportation industry

DRPA/PATCO’s Engineering Department was the proud host of a program that offers young women the opportunity to explore first-hand a wide variety of transportation careers.

The program is called Transportation YOU and it is run through the Women\’s Transportation Seminar (WTS).

Dozens of young women, ages 13-18, recently had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at PATCO’s main headquarters in Lindenwold, New Jersey.

PATCO General Manager John Rink, PATCO Director of Equipment John Barrett and DRPA Senior Engineer Elisabeth Klawunn conducted a tour of the Lindenwold facility that included a look at the equipment shop and the work needed to keep PATCO trains running and clean.

Through the program, WTS chapters work to make a difference in the lives of young girls by offering programs and activities that will spark their interest in all modes of transportation and encourage them to take courses in math, science, and technology, which are the stepping stones to exciting careers that can change the face of the transportation industry. The program is led by over 30 women professionals (engineers, planners, marketing, and finance professionals) who volunteer their time as mentors.

CNB Hunting/Fishing Maryland: Home on the Fringe: White-tailed Deer Thrive in Suburbs

December, 2019

MARYLAND–Suburban deer sightings are so common that few of us pay much attention anymore. White-tailed deer are everywhere – along the roadways, throughout our parks, and in our very own backyards.

Many people incorrectly presume that these animals belong in the deep woods, and the ones wandering into our neighborhoods are refugees displaced by residential, commercial, or agricultural development. In fact, development actually creates better habitat for deer. White-tailed deer are a fringe species, exploiting the benefits of forested land for cover and open areas for food, requiring a substantial portion of each to survive.

As it turns out, their natural habitat bears a striking resemblance to the one we’ve built for ourselves. When residential neighborhoods grow and multiply, they support much higher densities of deer than a natural setting would. We unwittingly provide a refuge in which a lack of natural predators, limited hunting, quality habitat, and a variety of abundant food resources combine to allow deer to reproduce at an equal or higher rate than natural environments.

Living in close proximity isn’t for everyone. While some can’t wait for another glimpse, others lament the financial costs to their property and would rather not host a herd of hungry deer

Whitetail are browsers, not grazers. Natural food sources include acorns, hickory nuts, berries, herbaceous plants, tree seedlings and other woody stems – even things like greenbrier and poison ivy!

They’re also known to satisfy their appetite at the expense of cultivated crops like corn and soybeans. And many homeowners would note that nearly all garden vegetables and ornamental plantings are on the menu as well.

Intentionally feeding neighborhood deer is strongly discouraged by wildlife professionals. Such food sources tend to attract and congregate the animals, not only increasing the chance of disease transmission between them, but also upping the danger posed to them by traffic on adjacent roadways. Even in severe winter conditions, providing food actually does the animals more harm than good, as it disrupts and overwhelms their stomach’s seasonally-tuned balance of bacteria and protozoans necessary for proper digestion.

“Despite good intentions, the reality is that feeding whitetail adversely affects not only their wildness, but also their well-being,” says Urban Deer Biologist George Timko. “ Human response to presumed deer health is often misguided and not in line with the animal’s specific biology or behavior.”

In general, most rescue efforts are ill advised. More often than not, it’s better to let wild things be wild. Keep your distance, respect the potential dangers to yourself and the animal – and though it may seem cruel – leave things in the hands of mother nature.

When in doubt – but before acting – reach out to a wildlife expert. Check out our website for a searchable list of local wildlife rescue and rehab organizations, or call our Wildlife and Heritage Service at 1-877-463-6497.

Don’t be a fawn napper!

Photo by Justin Prden

Each spring, countless fawns are removed from their natural environment for fear of parental abandonment – a strategy intentionally employed by the mothers to protect their young. In the first few weeks of a young deer’s life, it has no scent and limited mobility. During this time, the mothers will stash their fragile offspring, returning only occasionally throughout the day to nurse before wandering away again – and in doing so, diminishing the threat she herself brings from predatory attraction.

How many is too many?

One of the more far reaching impacts of overpopulation is on the understory of our forests. Hungry deer have voraciously thinned almost all of the underbrush in high-population areas, not only challenging their generational succession, but also altering the ecosystem. This has resulted in lost flora, impacting other creatures that depend on it.

There’s also human health to consider. Robust deer herds can better support large populations of blacklegged ticks, the parasite that transmits Lyme disease — the most commonly reported tickborne disease in the United States.

Perhaps the greatest threat to us is that from motor-vehicle collisions. Across the nation, more than one million automobile accidents each year are deer-related, and several hundred of those result in human fatalities. Countless more result in severe injury and significant vehicle damage. In Maryland, there are an estimated 30,000 strikes a year.

The majority of such incidents occur in October and November, as breeding season make male and female deer more active and somewhat prone to irrational movements. Another, less-intense spike in activity can be observed in May and June, after does give birth to their young — requiring mother’s to cover more ground while foraging.

Control

If left unchecked, the number of deer in our state might very well become untenable. For decades, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has managed stable populations through well-regulated hunting practices.

Currently, the statewide deer population estimate is about 225,000, down from a one-time peak of about 300,000. Biologists credit the drop to expanded hunting seasons and bag limits. Some attempts were also made with birth control or sterilization, but to date those have proven largely ineffective.

In urban and suburban neighborhoods, hunting presents a challenge. There are examples of communities successfully reducing deer populations by conducting controlled hunts or contracting sharpshooters, but allowing such hunts requires close study, broad consensus, and special permitting.

There are also several non-lethal options to help reduce damage by exclusion or behavior control. The installation of tall or electrified fencing can help keep deer from entering yards or gardens. Individual plant protection, such as wire cages, plastic netting or tree shelters, is also commonly used. Taste and odor-based repellents are also somewhat common, but must be frequently re-applied or managed, and in some instances deer have adapted to their use.

Biologists with the Department of Natural Resources will continue to investigate both non-lethal and lethal deer control methods as they evolve, and make this information available to the public. Likewise, deer numbers will be carefully monitored and efforts will continue to manage populations at levels compatible with their human neighbors.

Additional information about the species and control options for it can be obtained online at

dnr.maryland.gov

, by phone at 410-260-8540 or via email at

CustomerService.DNR@Maryland.gov

dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife

Stephen Badger is a public affairs officer with the department’s Office of Communications. Appears in Vol. 22, No. 4 of the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, fall 2019.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Agents

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Dec. 11, 2019, Tariche used one of his Twitter accounts to post threats to ICE agents: “We need to kill all ICE agents.” He also posted: “Why can’t mass shootings occur at @ICEgov buildings them mfs need to get smoked.” Tariche also used his Twitter account to compare his feelings to that of Elliot Rodger, the individual who carried out a mass shooting at Isla Vista, California, murdering six people and shooting 14 others. Tariche also posted on Twitter: “You might’ve heard I paint houses,” a phrase that refers to murdering people and that was recently popularized by the movie, “The Irishman,” which depicts a mafia hitman.

Law enforcement officers were able to link Tariche to his Twitter account through an investigation of his social media accounts and the locations from where he logged onto his Twitter accounts.

The charge of interstate communications containing threats carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of HSI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charge.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Avalon Attains Class 3 CRS Rating

35 Percent Discounts on Flood Insurance Come in 2020

The Borough of Avalon has achieved a Class 3 status in the Federal Emergency Management’s Community Rating System that evaluates the flood mitigation practices of a community. During its five-year review process, the CRS program elevated Avalon from a Class 5 to a Class 3, meaning property owners who carry flood insurance will enjoy a 35 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums. This translates into approximately $1.6 million in cumulative insurance savings for Avalon residents starting sometime in 2020. 1,700 municipalities participate in the CRS program nationwide; Avalon is one of only 13 municipalities in the entire country to achieve a Class 3 rating.

“This two-level increase by the Borough of Avalon in this program is extremely significant and a true reflection on the Borough’s best flood mitigation practices, recognized on the national level”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “Flood mitigation is not a once a year, but an everyday practice among our employees, professionals, and volunteers. The CRS program has recognized the Borough’s level of excellence in making our community more resilient and protected from future storm events and sea level rise”.

Avalon received a draft verification report on the points assigned to various activities for which the Borough participates. Avalon secured enough points to move from a Class 5 to a Class 3. In addition, Avalon also secured enough points during this review process that will still secure the Class 3 classification even when points are taken away in the future from every community for adopting advisory base flood elevation maps following Hurricane Sandy. Avalon may also amend its application in 2021 with the potential of achieving a Class 2 status, providing further discounts in flood insurance premiums.

The Borough is aggressively reviewed in this program with a complete evaluation of resiliency efforts, including building code standards, ordinance and regulations, public communications and notification, maintenance of proper elevation certificates, storm water management, and higher regulatory standards. Avalon achieves additional points for having its own Watershed Management Plan and Floodplain Management Plan. Avalon recently authorized a north end flood mitigation project, the elevation and repair of the 8

Street Jetty, and a flood sensor program that measured actual impacts in flood-prone areas.

The Avalon Office of Emergency Management is also highly credited for having a model program for flood risk communications, including a standalone emergency website, presence on social media, Avalon weather station, and municipal flood risk map that is included in all messaging.

Avalon is one of two communities in the State of New Jersey to elevate its program to the Class 3 classification.

DNREC Monitoring Partially-Treated Effluent Discharge from Lewes Wastewater Plant

DOVER

(Dec. 25, 2019) – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control today continued to monitor the Lewes wastewater treatment plant’s ongoing discharge of partially-treated effluent into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and the lower Delaware Bay due to a system malfunction at the plant that occurred Dec. 18.

DNREC also continues to work with the facility and its owner, Tidewater Utilities, Inc., to help expedite the work of repairing the system currently operating on a bypass situation and restoring full treatment to the Lewes WTTP’s effluent discharge. The bypass operation began when membranes that normally provide a very high level of effluent treatment were contaminated during an automated backwashing process. The membranes must be replaced and other equipment repaired before the system can return to full treatment.

Tidewater Utilities, Inc. has informed DNREC that new membranes have been procured and are expected to arrive at the plant by Dec. 27 for immediate installation, enabling the Lewes WWTP to treat incoming effluent flow as normal and to discontinue bypass pumping. Until then, at DNREC’s direction, Tidewater Utilities, Inc. continues to sample partially-treated effluent discharge for fecal bacteria count at locations after it leaves the plant.

Michael Globetti

Office of the Secretary

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

A Holiday Message to Gloucester Township Residents From Police Chief Harkins

As we reflect on the past year, we are honored that we helped make Gloucester Township a great place to live, work, and play. We look forward to making 2020 an even better year. We will continue to use cutting edge methods and programs to interact with community members, to make the Gloucester Township Police Department the very best that it can be.

We are excited to meet the challenges, and we will partner with our community to overcome any situation that we encounter.

We are very thankful to all of those residents who have delivered kind words, cards, cookies, and food to the hard working men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department during this holiday season. This kindness brings the joy of the holidays to our officers and dispatchers.

On behalf of the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year! Rest assured that we will be on duty and celebrating the holidays by serving our community.

Thank you for your support!

David J. Harkins

Chief of Police

CNBNews 2008 ARCHIVES: Remembering Sgt. Joe Farley, \”Merry Christmas & Happy NY from Iraq!\”

EDITOR\’S Note: We recently found the letter below from Sgt. Joe Farley. It was sent to the Cleary family 12 years ago by Joe and published on CNBNews on January 1, 2008. The Farley family lived in our neighborhood for decades. We watched Joe grow up from a little tyke into a man. He was one of the good guys that came from our community of Gloucester City, NJ.

Joe was a great representative of our country and the community of Gloucester City. After graduating from Gloucester City High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Joe passed away from cancer in April 2017.

We are republishing his January 1, 2008 letter to us as a tribute to Joe\’s memory. At the same time, we like to thank all the soldiers serving in some foreign land around the world protecting our country from evil.

Sincerely, The Cleary Family

******

Hi Bill and Connie,

I wanted to write to you much sooner

and no other excuse then work has been very busy and that the NEW unit in charge made us an every remaining unit move out of their living areas and into others across the FOB, plus the INTERNET is slow as usual.

I want to wish you and everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from beautiful FOB Iskan, Iraq!

Well not much longer for me and my soldiers here.

We have our (TOA) Transfer of Authority on the 19th of JANUARY then we will be flying out to (BIAP) Baghdad International Airport from where we will wait a day or two then manifest for a flight and then the whole 127th MPCO will fly to Kuwait and then finally home safe to Rammstein Airbase then a nice lovely 2-hour bus ride to Hanau to Pioneer Kaserne to where we will have a welcome home ceremony.

We should be home hopefully between the 22-23rd of January with all the traveling and manifesting for flights.

As for all the recent news in my (AO) Area of Operations, I will give you a quick but thorough update of information that you don\’t see or hear about on the NEWS.

On 1 NOV my soldiers and I went to the Al Haleema Primary School (1st-6th Grade) for girls located in Hamiya and conducted a school supply drive. We distributed school supplies to 50 of the most

underprivileged and to the top 50 students designated by the school headmaster. We also had the Iraqi Police from the Hamiya Local Police Station assist in the

distribution of school supplies along with the soldiers of my squad. This is a great way to build a strong bond between the people of Hamiya and the IP\’s (Iraqi Police).

Photo: Sgt. Joe at the Al Haleema Primary School

This gets the IP\’s involved in their community and presents a positive image at the same time. Also, this helps improves their IPC skills: Interpersonal communication skills and allows them to interact and get to know the people and show the children that IP\’s are good people and they can be looked up to in a positive manner like role models for a brighter future for Iraq!

This is one of the manyj ob responsibilities as (PTT) Police Transition Team Chief that I have on a daily basis to help the IP\’s here gradually become independent and able to perform the daily duties without any (CF) Coalition Force assistance.

As for the School Supply Drive, we ended up handing out 100 backpacks filled with 4 notebooks, 10 pencils, 5 pens, 2 erasers, 1 pencil sharpener, 24 pack of crayons, toothbrush, and toothpaste, and then each child got to pick an item from a table like art supplies, toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, bubbles, and flip flops and sandals. It\’s amazing how fast a smile can change your day and make you feel like you are making an impact here.

My motto has been: Winning the hearts and souls of Iraq ONE smile at a time.

We also conducted another School Supply Drive on DEC 26 at the Al Yarmok Primary School for boys in Hamiya. We used the same concept a utilized the IP\’s and this time around we ended up helping 400 students.

Each student received 4 pencils, 2 pens, 1 notebook, toothbrush/paste and then got to pick an item from a table: Matchbox cars, action figures, nerf footballs, crayons, and art supplies. Then the top 2 kids from each class also received a soccer ball. We handed out a total of 30 soccer balls to the children to include 6 for their athletic department for the kids to play during recess and gym classes.

I actually had soldiers from my other squads asking me if they could come out on Patrol and take part this time around after out last drive. It\’s nice to see there are others out here willing to forget we\’re here in IRAQ and try to do something positive for a good cause. I know for sure these positive images will not only last in each young soldier\’s memories but also in the little children we reach out and touch every day we do something that leads this society in the right direction.

Like always we finish the school supply distribution then get all the children together and take photos. They really get excited and smile and are really grateful.

Well if a picture can tell a thousand words these images can tell more and last a lifetime. (click on photo to enlarge)

This is a reason sometimes its worth tying up your boots and strapping 40 lbs of gear on and driving thru IED infested roads just so you can show these people here that we\’re the GOOD guys and not all of us are here for the god damn oil that our greedy government claims their not here for. I also thru the help of my interpreter speak to all of the students and stress the importance of getting an education and that the more knowledge each of them acquires the more POWER they will have in the future in turning their society in the right direction.

For those who don\’t know most Iraqi children unless in a very big city like Baghdad don\’t really have the option to just get an education, they have to help at home with farming and with what ever hard labor that\’s going to help put food on the table for them to survive. This is a really poor society for the most part and they live in very crude dwellings that we would find unlivable and unsuitable for our families. Hopefully one day the Government of Iraq can get their stuff together and be a

successful Nation like it was before the SADDAM era.

Photo: Make funny faces!

Our next and final push before we leave Iraq starts on JAN 2nd. We are doing a, Iraqi Police recruiting drive at the Iraqi Army Compound located on FOB ISKAN. There will be over 500 of the (CCP) Concerned Citizen Program coming thru and being screened for possible Iraqi Police candidates.

They must bring all their documents then go thru a process were we scan their

EYES and FINGERPRINTS into a database to ensure their not on a BOLO List and not barred.

Then each recruit then takes a reading and writing test in Arabic. Then speaks with an Iraqi Police officer. Then it goes to me and my SQUAD conducting the (PT Test) Physical Fitness portion. Each of the recruits has to complete 20 pushups, 20 sit-ups, 5 pull-ups, run 100 m sprint and then 1500 m run for time. I know it sounds like our Police academy. After 5 fun days of this, we will start to train and OJT the incoming MPs that are going to replace us. We call this the RIP Process Relief in Place. We do our LEFT and RIGHT seat drives meaning we take them out the first few times and they are the passengers then we let them drive and we sit back and

monitor their abilities.

Well that\’s about it from here. Please let me know if there is any more I can do before I leave Iraq. Just let me know if you would like something. I will enclose some photos of the School supply drives below. I am hoping to be home in Gloucester City sometime around the 22-23 if FEB too visits my Pop-Pop and Aunt Cass and rest of my family on Block Leave.

One last thing could you please update my INFO from the SOLDIERS serving in IRAQ…I am a SSG US Army and (MP) Military Police. They list me as a PFC in the Marines. I\’m not a Jarhead. GO ARMY!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

SSG Joseph Farley

127th MPCO

HI FROM IRAQ

U.S. Army Sergeant Joseph Farley, Decorated Iraq War Veteran and former Gloucester City Resident, Loses His Nine Year Battle With Cancer