New Phone

Well, I got an Apple iPhone. I got a good deal on it and learning the stuff it can do. Its a 3GS and works well. I can even get reception on the El and Broad St Subway. Any Apps that folks recommend?

Related articles

• Apple iPhone 5 to Have Aluminium Case (crenk.com)
• Apple iPhone: Factoid of the Day (blogs.wsj.com)

Hiatus: First Week of March 2011

My Security Outfit March 3rd 2011

The Curtis Building: Was to be My Assignment

Well, Its been almost a week since I last posted. I had  a buzy week looking for part-time work. I went to orientation with this company called Securitas on Wednesday. It was all day and I got my suit and my assignment. I went to the the assignment at the Curtis Building at 6th and Chestnut on Friday and Saturday nights   On Friday I decided to resign from this job as an overnight security during each weekend. Even I realized that this was going to be too much and I returned my suit back to Securitas at the Navy Yard and I am now looking on Craig's list at this time.
On Thursday night I had a Zoning Board meeting. We spent over an hour debating whether Community Health Care on High Street would be granted a variance to build a large digital messaging sign.  More on that mess is on  a separate posting.
I got an iPhone and have been spending lots of time with that. Boy you can Facebook your face off for sure and kill 2 hours on the bus with no problem. Its a pretty cool phone for sure. I got all these contacts from an old email and I tried to go to the apple Store to get them off but no success as of yet. I might try to go today or tomorrow in downtown Philly to get this done.

 While I was at the Apple Store, I saw some urban youth running amuck and then the police came by.

We then spent time at a friends house for a yummy dinner. Boy that was needed for sure. Fred cooks the best meals that is for sure.

Related articles

• Pressuring Securitas to Treat their Workers with Dignity and Respect (uspoverty.change.org)
• Banned (in 2008) from Apple's App Store, iBoobs finds refuge in Android Market (androidcentral.com)
• Apple Store is back up, gives more detail on the digital adapter (tuaw.com)
• Apple removes all traces of MobileMe from the Apple Store online. (chatootsboots.wordpress.com)
• Apple Protesters: Publishers Should Boycott App Store (APPL) (businessinsider.com)

Signs of Clutter: Millville's Sign Ordnance

Image via Wikipedia

We DO Pay Attention to Noise Problems Here.

On Thursday night I had a Zoning Board meeting. We spent over an hour debating whether Community Health Care on High Street would be granted a variance to build a large digital messaging sign. They already had signs that were not conforming to the city's zoning ordnance. The lawyer and the rep from Community gave us all these stats about how many folks they help and they they are a non-profit. They were really blowing smoke at us to bore us in to submission.  In the end most of the board did approve of this large garish sign. There was little if any talk of positive or negative criteria in the discussion.  It appears that the city's sign ordencence is vague or not really enforced when it comes to large messaging signs. One of the board member excused this ugly sign because there is ALREADY a large McDonalds sign. So we just allow a bunch of large messaging signs all along High Street as one gets closer to our Arts District. My question, what impression (message) are folks going to have 10 years from now when High Street is LITTERED with 7 messaging signs from McDonalds, Rite Aid, Dr Offices, etc. Of course our local papers did not cover this long debate, they wrote about the pending request of Wal-Mart to expand. All the Zoning Board did was to approve that the application was complete.  When we will get serious about this?? Its the old Okie Dokie just letting thing go cause we all just  get along. Go along to get along. I think you get the picture!!

Report on the Levoy

Here is the latest report from the Levoy:

 Huge construction signs on Dumpster and windows of building all while the owner of the co stares at the Levoy and takes pictures. 

The facts are this.  The Alley is clear, there has been a construction company sign posted on the fath bldg since the week of Jan 3rd and the owner of that const company Thunderbolt construction. William Opperman has been standing on High Street and walking around with a ladder taking pictures continuously of what? The Fath building? No, the Levoy. While the Fath building tenants are being supported by Levoy supporters the owner of the Fath building doesn’t even start the repair of their home. It’s a disgrace. The rumor is the Fath building was insured and has the ability to fix the situation but hasn’t acted with any urgency. Even the tenants were rejected when they tried to get their belongings from the building in the early weeks. The owner told them the building was unsafe all the while he let numerous people into the building for hours at a time. He even has this “Contractor” allegedly on site who could have easily gathered the tenants belongings, if he chose to.

City Commission Meeting: New Asphalt Plant in Millville?

Attendance at the March 1st City Commission Meeting

I attended last night's City Commission meeting.  Folks came out in droves to comment on a proposed ordinance that would allow new asphalt production facilities to be built in an industrially zoned area. The city has an asphalt plant. The city permitted asphalt plants. As stated in the Daily Journal article of March 1st, the proposed ordnance would be more strict then current law.

Vice Mayor Joseph Derella, who also is a Planning Board member, said the city's land use regulations allowed asphalt plants until a few years ago. The pertinent regulation inadvertently was dropped during a reorganization of the city's codebook.


The proposed ordinance contains stricter regulations than the old ordinance had because it allows such plants only as a "conditional use" instead of a "permitted use," Derella said.


The difference is that, as a conditional use, city planners have more leeway in setting requirements for construction and operation.

Resident Speaks Against Plant

The city is considering allowing a new plan for these reasons why this proposed plant would be a positive. It is more than a half a mile away from any residential area. They cite a ratable – the land is currently at assessed at $3000 ($240,000) an acre (raw land) add development and the assessed value increases to a minimum of $20,000 p/acre ($1.6 million). The potential jobs (20 -25) available are union and pay well with benefits
.

Listening to the Opposition

Opponents cite the following for their opposition. The area is a nationally recognized wild and scenic river supporting numerous species. The EPA, the DEP, and OSHA have all determined that asphalt plants are among the worst polluters of clean air and water for people. They are high health risks for people as well-numerous carcinogens, toxic fumes. The site is near an elementary school, residential developments, and wildlife reserves. There are 2 in the county, and one is within a mile and a half of the proposed site. Why should people have to subject their health and the health of their children to not one, but two asphalt plants? Not to mention the fact studies that the average house value within a mile will be affected by 27%, with houses nearest affected at well over double that percentage.
Commissioner Jim Quinn publicly spoke against the proposed 75 foot buffer as too little. I would agree with that assessment. It was a civil meeting and we should learn the exact wording of the change of this ordnance. The Commission will meet March 15, a Tuesday night at 6:30
Below are videos of Renee Brecht and Commissioner Joe Derella.

Related articles

• How Is Asphalt Recycled (energybloggers.com)
• MINI Countryman on it's way on asphalt (rallyperformance.wordpress.com)
• Manitoba paving company fined $33,500 over teen's asphalt death (canada.com)

Asphalt Plant in Millville?

Its now Tuesday morning and I just read  a letter from Matt Blake in the News of Cumberland County that the Millville City Commission will be meeting. On the agenda is a first reading of an ordinance amending its land use regulations to allow asphalt production plants as a conditional use within the General Industry Zone (I-1). It will reduce the buffer from 200 feet to 75 feet from nearby properties.
I am concerned about this since in the letter to the Editor Mr. Blake states

AROWAK Paving seeks to develop an 80-acre tract of undeveloped forest on Gorton Road, northeast of Route 55 in the Millville Industrial Park. The site is nearly surrounded by a Nature Conservancy Preserve and the state’s Menantico Ponds Wildlife Management Area. It is also within about 800 feet of the National Wild & Scenic River, Menantico Creek.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states, “Asphalt processing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter and toluene. Exposures to these air toxins may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems and skin irritation.”

More needs to be known about this proposal. As far as I know this issue has not come in front of the Zoning nor Planning Board. I suppose this is because AROWAK wants the ordenence changed

I plan to be there, and should should you!!

Can You Hear Me?

The Beatles Rain is one of my favorate Beatles songs. The lyrics were ahead of it time. It also fits the weather we have had for the past few days.

Back in the real world, its tense in the CDU world at work. Feeling besieged at this moment with some changes going on. Steve will be moving out soon and I am to go to orientation for this security job I applied for back in January and then interviewed for  in February. I am not sure I have the endurance to do this and do my other stuff. I am sure we will find out shortly