Tag:

Veterans Affairs

Riverhead, NY
Politics
Election 2024: Here’s Final Look At Long Island Congressional Races Election 2024: Here’s Final Look At Long Island Congressional Races
Election 2024: Here’s Final Look At Long Island Congressional Races These competitive races on Long Island could determine which party controls the US House next year. Below are the four congressional races that will be decided by Nassau and Suffolk county voters this Election Day. US House Office of Photography // Wikimedia Commons user Meenween 1st District: Nick LaLota vs. John Avlon Incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota is hoping to defend his 1st District seat from Democratic challenger John Avlon. The district includes the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County. The 46-year-old LaLota is a US Navy veteran who received a law degree from Hofstra …

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by Michael Mashburn
Marlton-Evesham, NJ
News
South Jersey Air Force Vet Named NJ Adjutant General, 1st Black Woman Heading National Guard South Jersey Air Force Vet Named NJ Adjutant General, 1st Black Woman Heading National Guard
South Jersey Air Force Vet Named NJ Adjutant General, 1st Black Woman Heading National Guard An Air Force veteran from Burlington County has been nominated as the next New Jersey Adjutant General, Gov. Phil Murphy announced. Effective Monday, July 1, Colonel Yvonne L. Mays of Lumberton Township also would become the state's first black woman in the state's history to head up the New Jersey National Guard. The opening as acting head of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs comes after the departure of Major General Lisa J. Hou, who has accepted a new assignment as the director of the Office of the Joint Surgeon General, National Guard Bureau. The nomination is …

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by Jon Craig
Albany, NY
News
Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say
Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say A man from the region is facing federal charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a paramedic at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Rensselaer County resident Robert Seifert, age 65, of Troy, was arraigned in Albany federal court on Tuesday, April 9. Prosecutors said Seifert grabbed the paramedic’s breast and groin at the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  It was not immediately clear when the alleged assault occurred. If convicted, he could spend up to two years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

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by Michael Mashburn
Bethlehem, PA
Obituaries
Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29 Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29
Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29 Tributes are pouring in for Derrell Lamar Kelley, who died on Saturday, April 8 at his Easton, Pennsylvania, home at the age of 29. Born in Rahway, New Jersey, Derrell — affectionately known as “Rellooo Hellooo” — spent time in Roselle before moving out of state, his obituary says. Derrell played basketball as a Forward before graduating from Freedom High School and earning an associate’s degree from Northampton Community College. He worked in the Food and Nutrition Department at the Department of Veterans Affairs and at Loves’ Lounge in Allentown. He also graduated from the Boyz II Men …

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by Valerie Musson
Massapequa, NY
Politics
My Pleasure: George Santos Brings Chick-fil-A For Reporters Camped Outside Office (Video) My Pleasure: George Santos Brings Chick-fil-A For Reporters Camped Outside Office (Video)
My Pleasure: George Santos Brings Chick-fil-A For Reporters Camped Outside Office (Video) Embattled New York Congressman and late-night media darling George Santos appears to have employed a new tactic to rid himself of those pesky reporters: bribery. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the freshman Republican lawmaker, who represents the state’s 3rd District on Long Island’s North Shore and parts of Queens, posted a video on his official Twitter account showing him bringing Chick-fil-A for reporters camped outside his House office. “Guys, I brought you guys some lunch since you guys are staying out here all day,” Santos is heard telling them. “I just wanted to make sure you guys were taken…

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by Michael Mashburn
Cambridge, MA
Police & Fire
Lawrence Men Targeted Soldiers With Drug Addictions To Sell Fentanyl: Feds Lawrence Men Targeted Soldiers With Drug Addictions To Sell Fentanyl: Feds
Lawrence Men Targeted Soldiers With Drug Addictions To Sell Fentanyl: Feds Police arrested two Lawrence men last week and charged them with planning to sell fentanyl to soldiers who were seeking help for addiction and substance abuse issues at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, federal investigators said.  Deiby Bladimil Casado Ruiz and Pedro Antonio Sanchez Bernabel are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Casado Ruiz is also charged with an additional count of distribution of fentanyl.  Investigators said&nbs…

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by Josh Lanier
New Haven, CT
News
VA Medical Director/Yale Professor Who Died Suddenly Was 'Bright,' 'Caring' VA Medical Director/Yale Professor Who Died Suddenly Was 'Bright,' 'Caring'
VA Medical Director/Yale Professor Who Died Suddenly Was 'Bright,' 'Caring' The community is mourning the sudden death of a Yale professor and local doctor who was also the beloved medical director in the Veterans Affairs women's medical program. Dr. Jacqueline Rosemarie Satchell-Jones, 51,* died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to a written memorial by the Yale School for Medicine, where Satchell-Jones was a professor. Satchell-Jones became the medical director of the Connecticut VA Women Veterans Program, which oversees nearly 5,000 women veterans, in 2018. “She was identified by her peers as a bright, caring, and supportive colleague,” Yale sai…

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by Kristin Palpini
Amherst, MA
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Defrauded Veterans By Not Inspecting Medical Equipment Western Mass Man Defrauded Veterans By Not Inspecting Medical Equipment
Western Mass Man Defrauded Veterans By Not Inspecting Medical Equipment The owner of a medical gas company has admitted to taking money from Veterans Affairs hospitals for inspections that he lied about having performed. Chester Wojcik, 49, of Agawam, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Thursday, Aug. 20, in U.S. District court. He will be sentenced on Nov. 19, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts said. Wojcik was the owner of Alliance Medical Gas Corporation. From Mahy 2014 through March 2015, Wojcik falsified invoices and reports for medical gas inspections that never took place. Medical gas supply systems deliver piped gases, such as oxygen or compressed a…

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by Kristin Palpini
Paramus, NJ
News
Veterans Home In Paramus, With 72 Dead, Suffers One Of Worst COVID-19 Outbreaks In U.S. Veterans Home In Paramus, With 72 Dead, Suffers One Of Worst COVID-19 Outbreaks In U.S.
Veterans Home In Paramus, With 72 Dead, Suffers One Of Worst Covid-19 Outbreaks In U.S. One of the places where you would've seen Tuesday’s military flyover saluting workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey was a veterans home in Paramus that's had one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the nation. At last count, 72 deaths of those who proudly served the U.S. were reported at the state-run New Jersey Veterans Home at Paramus. More than half of New Jersey’s total coronavirus deaths have been reported at more than 500 nursing homes – nearly 4,200 in all -- which far exceeds any other state. Many, however, consider such a high number at what is …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Paterson, NJ
Police & Fire
Disabled Vets Group Praised By Murphy Could Lose Liquor License For Alleged COVID Violation Disabled Vets Group Praised By Murphy Could Lose Liquor License For Alleged COVID Violation
Disabled Vets Group Praised By Murphy Could Lose Liquor License For Alleged COVID Violation A North Jersey group publicly praised by Gov. Phil Murphy for distributing free meals to disabled veterans and hospitals is now fighting to keep its liquor license after investigators cited them for violating the governor’s emergency closure orders. Organizers of Disabled American Veterans Chapter #2 in Clifton have been doing all they can to help 300 or so members cope with the isolation created by the coronavirus pandemic. They also delivered 100 gas gift cards last month to nurses, doctors, EMTs and staff at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and at St. Mary’s General Hospi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Paramus, NJ
News
Report: Commissioner Of NJ Veterans Homes Resigns After 103 Residents Die Of Coronavirus Report: Commissioner Of NJ Veterans Homes Resigns After 103 Residents Die Of Coronavirus
Report: Commissioner Of NJ Veterans Homes Resigns After 103 Residents Die Of Coronavirus The official who helmed New Jersey's veterans homes, which reported a total 103 coronavirus deaths and 391 cases, resigned from his position, NorthJersey.com reports. Mark Piterski oversaw the Paramus and Menlo Park homes, which together have more COVID-19 deaths and cases than any other nursing homes in New Jersey. Retired New Jersey Army National Guard Colonel Walter Nall -- who is currently the director of Veterans Services -- will be the acting Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, NorthJersey.com reports. Piterski reportedly resigned Monday. Click here for more from NorthJersey.c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Bergenfield, NJ
Police & Fire
Retired 23-Year Police Chief In Bergen Finally Gets World War II Medals Retired 23-Year Police Chief In Bergen Finally Gets World War II Medals
Retired 23-Year Police Chief In Bergen Finally Gets World War II Medals More than seven decades after he served in World War II, a 92-year-old Bergen County native who served as a local police chief for 23 years received the medals he earned for his service in Okinawa. Thomas Simpson received his medals Monday at the Sunrise of Old Tappan assisted living facility – where lives with his wife of 70 years, Dorothy -- from U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer. There was the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Reserve Discharge Button and the Ruptured Duck Honorable Service Lapel Pin. The Congressman also …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Hackensack, NJ
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man Who Threatened To Kill NJ Congressman, Staff Gets 7+ Years In Federal Prison South Jersey Man Who Threatened To Kill NJ Congressman, Staff Gets 7+ Years In Federal Prison
South Jersey Man Who Threatened To Kill NJ Congressman, Staff Gets 7+ Years In Federal Prison A South Jersey combat veteran who the government said threatened a “bloodbath” against former U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and members of his staff must spend more than seven years in federal prison. Federal jurors in Camden convicted Joseph Brodie, 40, of Millville, last year of making threats to U.S. government officials, officers and employees through a phone call and emails. Brodie, a veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Maine Corps, will have to serve just about all of his sentence because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Federal prosecutors said Brodie intended to carry …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Fair Lawn-Glen Rock, NJ
Police & Fire
Fair Lawn VFW Getting Back Its Cannon Fair Lawn VFW Getting Back Its Cannon
Fair Lawn VFW Getting Back Its Cannon UPDATE: A retired military cannon that was taken from in front of the Fair Lawn VFW post and relocated to Garfield's post was headed back to where it belongs, post Commander David Boone said Thursday night. "An especially big thank you goes out to our VFW District 2 Commander, John Chrzanowski, who personally met with both posts, discovered that wrong information was given to the Garfield Post that the Fair Lawn Post was closing and is currently working with both commanders to see that the cannon is returned," Boone said. "I am ever thankful that this situation was worked out in such a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Paterson, NJ
Lifestyle
Woodland Park Student-Veterans Get 'Military Makeover' On Lifetime TV Woodland Park Student-Veterans Get 'Military Makeover' On Lifetime TV
Woodland Park Student-Veterans Get 'Military Makeover' On Lifetime TV Two students from Woodland Park's Berkeley College will be featured on Lifetime's "Military Makeover" reality series. You can catch their stories at 7:30 a.m. on April 30 and May 4, on Lifetime. Grovert Fuentes of North Bergen graduated from Berkeley College with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Communications in 2017. He served six years in the U.S. Air Force and developed his passion as a combat photographer. While stationed in Afghanistan, however, his unit was attacked and he sustained injuries that made it impossible to continue this line of work. It was af…

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by Cecilia Levine
Teaneck, NJ
Obituaries
Former Teaneck Mayor Francis E. Hall Dies, 94 Former Teaneck Mayor Francis E. Hall Dies, 94
Former Teaneck Mayor Francis E. Hall Dies, 94 Former Teaneck mayor and councilman Francis "Frank" E. Hall died April 16. He was 94 years old. Although he will not make it to the birthday party he had planned for this coming Saturday, he wisely threw himself a 95th birthday party two years ago when he turned 93 to hedge his bets.  Hall was born in Englewood to the late Francis E. Hall and Adele (nee Colwell), and grew up in Ridgefield Park. After graduating from Ridgefield Park High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He saw combat in Guadalcanal, Bougainvill…

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by Cecilia Levine