Archives

bookmark_borderWissahickon Robotics: This Beats a Coma

Posted on by admin

To the Entire Team 341 Family:

Many of you showed your support last Summer for, Team 341 Alum, Doug Markgraf, and his bike ride across the United States in support of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research.  Well, his entire journey was filmed and the documentary is now ready for release. This documentary was created by our very own media coach Scott Richardson with help from Kirsten and many others.

To see the trailer, visit: http://vimeo.com/25396432

The documentary website is here:  http://www.thisbeatsacoma.com

To celebrate this achievement and to support TBI Research, you are cordially invited to a very special documentary showing on June 30th. This new film not only chronicles the story of Doug’s inspirational ride, but also his daily struggle with TBI and his efforts to inspire others.

Doug is an incredible member of our Wissahickon family and I urge you to support this cause by joining us at the Ambler Theater on June 30th.

The documentary, This Beats a Coma, will premiere at the Ambler Theater on June 30th at 1 PM and tickets are only $5.  Please mark you calendar!(A brief explanation of Doug’s story and the documentary showing details are copied below)

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you at the showing!

Mr. O.

Trailer: http://vimeo.com/25396432
Website:  http://www.thisbeatsacoma.com

~About the Film: 
Traumatic brain injury is a horrible way to lose your mind. Doug Markgraf would know. On May 31, 2006, he was involved in a hit-and-run accident while riding his bicycle in a bike lane in West Philadelphia. In the collision, Doug shattered bones, helmet, bicycle – and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lying in a coma for half a month, doctors refused to acknowledge that his condition would allow anything similar to a complete recovery. And, the last thing they ever expected was that he would awaken, recover, and return to the bike. But, he did. And now he’s on a mission to inspire other TBI survivors, and surprise everyone.    To see the teaser, visit: http://vimeo.com/25396432      Documentary Website:  http://www.thisbeatsacoma.com

~Showing Specifics: 
Date: Saturday, June 30, 2012
Location: The Ambler Theater  – Address: 108 E Butler Avenue, Ambler PA 19002   –    Website/tickets: 

Time: 1:00pm
Cost: $5 / ticket

After the screening of the film, there will be a Q+A session with Filmmaker Scott Richardson and Doug Markgraf. Be prepared to be inspired!

 

bookmark_borderInternet Security and Your Children

Posted on by admin

HARRISBURG, PA — Agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested a Lancaster County man accused of sending nude and sexually explicit webcam videos to what he believed was a 14-year old girl.

Kelly identified the defendant as Jeffrey Lee Mentzer, 46, of 146 East Franklin St., New Holland.

According to the criminal complaint, Mentzer used an Internet chat room to approach an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit, who was using the online profile of a 14-year old girl.

Kelly said that during their initial online chat, Mentzer allegedly asked the girl to send a nude photo herself, commenting, “when I was with AOL I had a lot of girls your age send me nude pics.”  Mentzer also allegedly sent a digital photograph of himself and later transmitted a webcam video that showed him engaging in a sex act in front of his computer.

During later online chats Mentzer allegedly sent a second sexually explicit webcam video, repeated his request for nude photos of the “girl” and discussed meeting her for sex.

“Internet predators will often send sexual materials during their first online contact with children,” Kelly said. “It is essential for parents to regularly discuss online safety issues with their teens and to stress the importance of immediately reporting any inappropriate contact.”

Mentzer is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene and other sexual materials and performances) and one count of criminal use of a communications facility, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Kelly said that Mentzer was located in Vendergrift, Westmoreland County, on June 8, 2012, by agents from the Child Predator Unit, assisted by officers from the Vandergrift Police Department.

Mentzer was initially held in Westmoreland County on a parole detainer, awaiting county extradition and transportation back to Lancaster County to face these criminal charges. He is currently being held in the Lancaster County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 28th, at 3:15 p.m., before New Holland Magisterial District Judge Rodney H. Hartman.

The case will be prosecuted in Lancaster County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher J. Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Attorney General Kelly thanked the police departments from New Holland, Lancaster County, and Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Internet Safety

Kelly explained that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has made 305 arrests involving individuals from across Pennsylvania and numerous other states – conducting proactive investigations and also assisting local law enforcement with cases involving the attempted sexual exploitation of children.

Kelly encouraged parents to stress the importance of not sharing personal information with adults – either online or in person – including full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and added that children should always be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Additionally, Kelly urged parents to regularly discuss Internet safety and security issues with their children, including the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone engages in inappropriate activity, such as:

  • Sexual discussions.
  • Sending or requesting nude photos or explicit videos.
  • Sharing links to pornography.
  • Trying to arrange face-to-face meetings.

Incidents involving child predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit by using the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 800-385-1044.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

bookmark_borderAgreement For Delaware River

Posted on by admin

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania has signed a one-year renewal of an agreement governing the management of water in the Delaware River, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced today.

The renewal of the flexible flow management program, which was also signed by fellow parties Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New York City, is effective Friday, June 1.

Pennsylvania is a party to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decree that established an equitable allocation of water use under federal common law.

“This agreement will ensure that the continual and steady flow of water in the Delaware River protects Philadelphia’s water supply from salt water, which can flow in from the Atlantic Ocean,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “This extension will allow all of the partners to work together this year to find longer-term solutions to the flow issues on the Delaware River.”

The agreement allows for the occasional release of large volumes of cold water from reservoirs in New York to improve fishery habitats and ecology downstream as well as provide a balance in water supply throughout the states during drought conditions. The reservoirs provide drinking water for millions of residents in the four states.

The agreement also calls on New York to store less water in some of the reservoirs during most of the year, creating greater storage capacity during storm events to help reduce flooding downstream.

For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 717-783-4693.