“Natural gas lease: 'Roughnecks' move in amid plans to build 'Man Camp ... - Sun and Press” plus 4 more |
- Natural gas lease: 'Roughnecks' move in amid plans to build 'Man Camp ... - Sun and Press
- 2009 Taste of Greenville Avenue = Success! - KERA
- Taking a stand against bullying - Pharos-Tribune
- E-mail this story - Joplin Globe
- Dante Society honors ‘The Montes’ - Westerly Sun
| Natural gas lease: 'Roughnecks' move in amid plans to build 'Man Camp ... - Sun and Press Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:43 PM PDT (4 of 4) Crime data does not seem to support the notion that roughnecks are outlaws. Complaints logged with the Athens Borough Police Department have risen by about 12 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to Chief Christopher Hutchinson, but that is not surprising, given the increase in traffic, population and activity across all sectors related to the gas boom. "Anytime you have an increase in population, the crime rate will go up," he said. Many of the calls were related to traffic, he added. He did not see a disproportionate problem with roughnecks. Police in Searcy, Ark., where gas drilling is also flourishing, gave a similar assessment. "We have not seen that much of an impact on public safety," said Searcy Police Chief Kyle Osborne. "There is more traffic. There are more people ... Maybe a few more accidents." A good bunchAbout 40 miles due east of Athens, Cabot Oil & Gas has staked out its own territory over the Marcellus in Dimock Township. Like Chesapeake, Cabot is ramping up drilling operations, importing crews from the South and hiring new people. Between 150 and 200 workers are developing gas wells in Susquehanna County, about half of what the company plans to eventually employ in the area, said Rick Mullins, foreman of the Susquehanna District Office. Unlike Chesapeake, Cabot doesn't house its crews in Man Camps. They live out of hotels between Great Bend and Scranton or rent homes. They patronize local delis, restaurants and convenience stores. Tony Pickett, a lifelong resident of Montrose, sees more roughnecks in a day than just about anybody else in the region. He manages Can't Get Enough Foods, a mobile vendor catering to the work force. He and his helper, Denise Hubbard, drive two trucks to drilling sites in Dimock, coordinating rounds so each site gets served twice a day. They are a popular team with crews. Workers passing in trucks beep and give Pickett a thumbs-up when they see him parked on the roadside. "It's the only chance a lot of them get to eat," he said, stocking provisions -- hot dogs, soups, hamburgers, egg sandwiches, drinks -- from one truck to the other. Although he has a captive customer base, his pricing is comparable with the mom-and-pop convenience stores in town. He pulls up to a site and soon is surrounded by burly guys in coveralls and hard hats. They give him the good-natured ribbing -- the standing joke -- about how he is making a killing off them, before walking back to the their derricks and trucks, steaming grub in hand. Hubbard, a petite figure with a bright pink hard hat, clearly savors her job feeding an appreciative gang. "It's like having mom on wheels," one of them remarks. What does Pickett think about the roughnecks' contribution to the local population? They are hard-working, close-knit, loyal to one another. What separates them from the locals, roughnecks don't stay very long. "People tend to think the worse," he said. "Once you get to know them, they are a good bunch of guys." Perhaps he has the ideal business model to get to know them. "They keep movin'," Pickett said. "We keep followin'." This content has passed through fivefilters.org. | |
| 2009 Taste of Greenville Avenue = Success! - KERA Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:43 PM PDT It's just been a couple of short hours since the the last tent was tucked away, after the first (of hopefully many more to come) Taste of Greenville Avenue. It was a proud day for the Greenville Avenue/M-Streets/Lakewood community. Truly. The crowd was a pleasing mix of hipsters, SMU coeds, neighborhood dwellers, kids, dogs, families, musicians, artists…and most definitely comedians. No need to go into more detail, because we have video! Art&Seek gives a huge thanks to comedian Dave Little for hosting today's Art&Seek video tour….enjoy. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. | |
| Taking a stand against bullying - Pharos-Tribune Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:22 PM PDT | Published: October 24, 2009 10:21 pm Taking a stand against bullying Logansport middle schools implement bully-awareness program By Jennifer TangemanPharos-Tribune staff writer Administrators at Logansport middle schools are saying they have had enough with bullying. Columbia and Lincoln middle schools are starting a national program aimed at eliminating bullying. "I don't think Logansport schools experience any more bullying than anywhere else," Columbia Middle School principal Greg Grostefon said. "It is a universal thing. But we are not going to take it any more is kind of the rallying cry." Grostefon said the schools kicked off the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program last week with a comedy program presented by Stephen and Other Dummies. Teachers began going over the schools' rules last year in preparation for the Olweus program. "If you ask the kids what the rules are, they can tell you," Grostefon said. The four rules children are learning and reciting are, "We will not bully. We will help those who are bullied. We will include those who are left out. We will tell an adult at school and at home if someone is being bullied." After establishing the rules, the students started spending their first period focus class covering topics such as cyber bullying, gender issues, peer pressure, diversity and prejudice, how to handle anger in healthy ways and popularity. Ann Easter, a Columbia Middle School essential skills teacher, has been addressing bullying with her students for about seven years. Easter said she was looking forward to adding the Olweus approach because it was backed by data. A lot of times, her students, especially female students, do not consider their actions to be bullying, she said. "They equate it with someone who is physically violent," Easter said. "But things like excluding kids from groups, not talking to students and rolling their eyes need to be addressed." The teacher said her students had been receptive to the new program. "We're opening up, sharing things," Easter said. "Most the kids do see bullying as a problem. They see it as something that needs to stop. Overall, this program just brings an awareness." One of the biggest components of the program is a survey administered to students every fall. Middle school students took the survey for the first time last year. Grostefon said he could not release the results, but he said he was not surprised by what he read. "It was all kind of what I'd expected," Grostefon said. "There was maybe a little bit more bullying going on than we know about, because not all bullying gets reported. It definitely got my attention." Since the inception of the program, Grostefon said students have started to tell educators when they see bullying. "They are starting to realize that they don't have to put up with it," he said. "We are trying to teach the students that they have the power. The vast majority that do not bully need to bring their power to bear on the bully by not allowing it to happen. "Bystanders need to take over and say, 'we're not going to stand for it.'" Grostefon said the schools planned to use grant money to keep the program running in the middle schools for years to come. "It's a message that can't hurt to be heard over and over," he said. "We want to imbed it into our school culture." • Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com. 
This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| E-mail this story - Joplin Globe Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:43 PM PDT | JEEP, 1998 GRAND CHEROKEE TOYOTA, 2007 PONTIAC, 2000 BONNEVILLE, BUICK, 1999 TOYOTA, 1999 CAMRY XLE, DODGE, 2002 CARAVAN SE, BUICK, 2002 LESABRE LIMITED, TOYOTA, 1994 CAMRY, HYUNDAI, 2003 TIBURON, DODGE, 1985 PROSPECTOR, This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Dante Society honors ‘The Montes’ - Westerly Sun Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:22 PM PDT WESTERLY - Two heads are always better than one. And when it comes to this year's Dante Society "People of the Year," the two heads equal a perfect pair of exemplars - par excellence. Jacque and Vincent "Dr. Monty" Montemarano of Charlestown have been chosen as this year's "People of the Year" - a couple friends describe as loving, devoted, generous and kind. The couple has together given years of service to dozens of community organizations - from Stand Up For Animals to the Pine Point School, and the Westerly Education Endowment Fund to The Westerly Hospital - and friends said each has touched the lives of countless individuals. "We chose Dr. Vincent Montemarano and his wife Jacque as a team," said Dante Society president Lou Toscano. "Jacque has been at the forefront of so many charities, and Vinny, though more of a behind the scenes person, has been a sort of medical angel to many, many people." The Dante Society chooses a person or persons each year to honor publicly - typically someone who has made a positive difference in the community. A candidate's level of volunteerism is important, said Toscano, adding that another criterion considered is a candidate's "efforts to preserve and foster the Italian culture." But more important than anything else, he added, is the imitation factor. "They need to be good role models," Toscano said. And Jacque and Vinny Montemarano have been seen as good role models since they first arrived in Westerly nearly 30 years ago. Not only for their palpable contributions of time and money, but most recently for the touching example they've shared openly as they rearranged their lives following the stroke Jacque suffered three years ago. The stroke, which kept her in rehabilitation for three months and has left her with a slight paralysis, has perhaps strengthened their already strong marriage. Friends say that Vincent has been at his wife's side since the stroke, encouraging her to improve, and supporting her progress. "Dr. Monty," as many of his friends and patients call him, was born in Brooklyn where he spent most of his youth. He attended New York Medical College and became a Navy Seabee. He served in Vietnam and then was stationed at Quonset Naval Air Station. "That was my first exposure to Rhode Island," said the doctor, as he relaxed in his Charlestown home on a recent autumn evening after a day on the golf course. With the setting sun flickering through the picture window and Vivaldi's Four Seasons playing in the background, the Montemaranos - married for more than 31 years - sat in their large, comfortable living room. A long, curved, sectional sofa faces an enormous stone fireplace. Their dogs, Cyd, a Staffordshire Terrier, and Hannah, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, meandered in and out, pausing for a pat on the head or a scratch on the belly from Dr. Monty. As friends predicted, the surgeon deftly deflected any comments about his generosity and steered the conversation toward his wife and her achievements or to animals, another of his loves. "You've got to do what you've got to do," he said. "You do what you think is right." "Life is so short," he added. "You don't want to waste it." "He's amazing," said Jacque, "he doesn't want anyone to know anything about all the good things he does." Since Jacque's stroke, Dr. Monty has taken on a few extra domestic duties. He fixes dinner most evenings - "I can't cook without garlic," he said - and waits on his wife without fanfare. Jacque Greenwell Montemarano, a Rhode Island native and nurse by training who met her husband when they were working at South County Hospital, has shared her talents with just about every local non-profit organization. Instrumental in organizing Pine Point School's first golf tournament, in 1996 she was presented with the school's prestigious Stephen M. Castle Award, the highest honor a volunteer receives from the school. An athletic, fit woman who played golf and tennis regularly and with a passion, according to friends, she was also instrumental in organizing golf tournaments for both SUFA and WEEF. Those closest to the Montemaranos echo the comments made by Toscano and second the reasons they've been nominated for the award. "Great choice by the Dante Society," said Mike Lally, the former president and CEO of The Westerly Hospital and close friend of the Montemaranos. "Great news... fantastic folks." "We have been friends with Jacque and Vinny for close to 25 years," added Rita Lally, his wife. "When we first moved to Westerly and didn't know anyone, they welcomed us along with our boys and our dogs, with open arms and embraced us. We have been dear friends ever since." "We can't think of better recipients for the Dante Award than the Montes," she added. "Jacque has demonstrated incredible determination, resilience and a love of life while Vinny has been an anchor for the community, caring for the people of Westerly with overwhelming skill, compassion, and sensitivity." The Montemarano family includes daughter Lauren, a physician's assistant in Methuen, Mass.; Eric, a pilot living in Denver; Nicholas, a Baltimore police officer; and Michael, the youngest who lives at home and works at Sandy's Fine Food Emporium. There are also two granddaughters, Sophia and Anna. "Who's better than Jacque and Vinny," asked Jane Shanley, a longtime friend who has played cards with Jacque every week for the last 18 years. "How much have they given to this community? Every time there was a benefit or a fundraiser, they were there." "They are always giving," she added, "and Vinny is always at her side." "They are both caring, loving people," said Janet Aiello, of Westerly, who has been working as a medical secretary in Dr. Montemarano's office for 23 years. "They'd do anything for the community." Tony Trombino, physician liaison at The Westerly Hospital, agreed. "They are both outstanding people in so many ways," he said. "There's so much good to say about them both. Vinny is an old-time doctor," he added. "They're both loyal, involved and devoted. "I could go on and on," he said, adding that their devotion to one another and their friends is boundless. Larry Hirsch, president of Stand Up For Animals, nominated the couple for the honor and called them the greatest people in the world. "Jacque started the SUFA golf tournament," he said, "and Vinny does so many things that nobody knows about - so many kind things - and he never wants the publicity." "In my experience and involvement with Dr. Monty over the years," said Westerly attorney William Nardone, "he has always exhibited a quiet strength." "He has been of great assistance to many people without ever looking for any acknowledgement," added Nardone. "And of course you can't say enough good about Jacque in all of her efforts in everything she touches." Donna Celico, known for her own philanthropy, has been close with the Montemaranos since they first arrived in Westerly. She and Jacque - whom she calls her antiqueing/junk-finding friend - have worked together on several benefits and fundraisers, for the library, the Chorus of Westerly, the Colonial Theater and the Westerly Land Trust. "Class is not something one is born into," Celico mused while thinking of her friends. "Class is a quiet acceptance of unusual circumstances borne well. That's my feeling about Vinny and Jacque. Absolutely." The Montemaranos will be honored at the Dante Society Dinner and Dance Nov. 14 at the Venice Restaurant. Table reservations and tickets for the dinner are available by calling Banquet Chairperson Carol Marsiglio at (401) 596-9907. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from cultural - Bing News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment