Download PDF Version of this week's highlights

The Health and Fitness Fair is held annually to educate Federal employees and active duty members and families on their health benefits and entitlements…and to maximize participation in those benefits.  This year’s fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 7, at the National Guard Joint Training Center (Bldg 3601) on Fort Dix.

Informative briefings will be held continuously from 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m.  Briefings and events include:

7:30 am - 5k Fun Run/Walk
9 am - Opening Ceremony
All Day - Briefings from Active Duty and Federal Employee Health providers
3pm - Closing ceremony and prize giveaways

Things will kick off with the Adjutant General of New Jersey, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, presiding over the opening ceremony.  Representatives from health providers such as Tricare, Aetna US Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HealthNet Federal Services, US Family Health Plan, Keystone and AmeriHealth will be conducting seminars and briefings – averaging about 15-30 minutes each – from 9:45 a.m. until the closing ceremony at 3 p.m.  In addition to the seminars, there will be more than 50 vendors and door prizes.  Some of the prizes include:

- Trip to Shades of Green in Walt Disney World Resort Package
- Tickets to Sesame Place
- Fitness Center gift certificates
- Weekend car rental gift certificates
- T-Shirts

For more information, contact Heidi Evans at 609-562-0846 or heidi.ann.evans@us.army.mil.

The Schmidt-Hoeger VFW Post # 3149 of Carlstadt, N.J., will honor the memory and sacrifice of New Jersey Army National Guardsman Staff Sergeant Frank T. Carvill.  On Thursday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m., during a special ceremony, a plaque will be placed on the Memorial Stone in the Memorial Park of Carlstadt at the corner of Division Ave. and Hackensack St.  Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony.

During the 'One Mall a Month' stop for the DMAVA Veterans kiosk at the Quarkerbridge Mall on Route 1 in Lawrence, nine Mercer County veterans were on hand to receive the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal  for their service in the Global War on Terrorism.

Fellow Iraqi veteran Lt. Col.. Mark Preston, commander of the N.J. Army Guard's 1-150th General Aviation Support Battalion from West Trenton presented the medals to the New Jerseyians who served in combat.

The medal ceremony was part of the three-day visit of the department’s kiosk as part of the Veterans Outreach Program. The kiosk makes a monthly appearance at major shopping malls across the state.

Service members serving away from their voting residence will submit a Federal Post Card Application SF-76 for registration and/or to request absentee ballots.

State voting rules are available in the 2006-07 Voting Assistance Guide, available online at http://www.fvap.gov.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, Fort Dix will host their annual Retiree Appreciation Day. This is a day that Fort Dix has set aside to honor the retired community with guest speakers, information tables, refreshments, medical screenings and a luncheon. The day's activities, held at Griffith Field House, begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.

The Camden Riversharks and Lourdes Health system are presenting a Military Appreciation Night at Campbell’s Field on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.  All active military personnel, including reserves and National Guard will receive free admission to the game – just come in uniform or show your military ID.  Retired veterans or family members of military personnel will pay $5 for their tickets (a $3 discount off the regular price.)

Everyone is encouraged to bring a donation of coffee or other nonperishable coffee cart supplies to support troops in the field.  There will be donation points around the arena for item drop off.

Rivershark players will wear specially designed military jerseys during the game.  After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to a Military Hospitality Fund sponsored by the Lourdes Health Foundation.

Order tickets at 1-866-SHARKS9 or www.Riversharks.com.

As the weather starts to cool, remember cold and flu season is just around the corner.  While a flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu, clean hands is an important weapon when it comes to keeping the germs from spreading.  Here are some hand-washing tips from the CDC:

• -     Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.
• -     Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap.
• -     Use warm water if available.
• -     Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all hand surfaces.
• -     Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds -- the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.
• -     Rinse hands well under running water.
• -     Dry hands using a paper towel or air dryer.
• -     If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• -     If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands.

Rolling Thunder Chapter2 is holding Freedom Run XI on Sunday, Sept. 17 at Warinanco Park, Roselle, N.J.  Departure time is 8 a.m., riding to N.J. Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, Holmdel.  You will need $3 to cover tolls, expenses and donation to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation and Vietnam Era Education Center.  For more info, please call 609-971-3544.

The Guard Booth Telephone Number is 609-671-6623.

Effective immediately all Directors, Managers, Supervisors and Employees that interface with outside personnel for hosting on-site meetings here at the Lawrenceville Headquarters are directed to notify the security guard when expecting scheduled visitors.

You are to provide the date, time and name of the visitor in advance whenever possible, also the DMAVA employee they are visiting and/or meeting they are attending. The Guard will issue a visitors parking permit. If you are expecting a large party for a meeting or event please provide a roster of attendees, with the meeting date time and location to the gate guard prior to the event.

Does your shopping list have either a U.S. Flag or New Jersey flag on it?  One good piece of news – the sales tax hike does not affect that purchase; in fact purchase of either flag is TAX FREE in New Jersey.  Please visit the following web page to check out the particulars: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/index.html?flag.htm.

The New Jersey Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  They perform inland search and rescue missions, aerial reconnaissance for homeland security and disaster relief missions.  CAP has an active cadet program and aerospace education program for young people.  All of the members are unpaid volunteers and must purchase their own uniforms, although CAP does try to provide uniforms for their cadet members without charge to them.

CAP is looking for donations of BDUs (woodland pattern) in wearable condition for use by their members.  They can use pants, shirts, field jackets and caps.  They will also accept Air Force Service Dress uniforms for cadet’s use.

If you have uniforms to donate, please contact Maj. Rick Ulmer, (732)364-7755 or e-mail: caplawyer123@comcast.net.  He will make arrangements for pick-up.

Employees are not allowed to accept any gift, favor, service, or other thing of value from any person or entity under circumstances from which it might be reasonably inferred that the thing was given or offered in order to influence the discharge of official duties. Some things of value are obvious, such as money, real estate, or automobiles. But less obvious things also have value, including offers of employment, loans, price discounts, entertainment, and meals.

State employees are required to disclose and turn in to the Department’s Ethics Officer any offer or receipt of a thing of value from any person or entity. If keeping the gift is allowed it will be returned to you. If it is inappropriate under the ethics rules to accept the gift, the Ethics Officer will return it directly to the donor or, if it is perishable, give it to a nonprofit entity in the name of the donor.

Other Resources. For a more complete discussion of this subject, see Guidelines Governing Receipt of Gifts and Favors by State Officers and Employees, www.nj.govllpslethics/giftcode.htm or Paragraph 8 of the Department’s Code of Ethics (DD 010.1), http://www.state.nj.us/ethics/docs/ethics/dmvacode.pdf

NJDMAVA employees are encouraged to contact their Ethics Officer, Jack Dillie, at (609) 530-7107 or john.dillie@njdmava.state.nj.us with questions or concerns related to Ethics or Conflicts of Interest. Federal Technicians and military personnel should direct similar inquiries to Lt. Col. Eugene Ingrao at (609) 562-0942.

One of our fellow employees, Ms. Sandra Langley, suffered a terrible loss last weekend.  A tragic fire resulted in the loss, not only of her home, but most importantly, her daughter and two grandchildren.

Ms. Langley, who is a Nurses Aide at the Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, can use our help as she begins to rebuild her life.

A collection box has been placed in our lobby for your donations of clothing and household items for Sandra.  Monetary donations are being collected by Ms. Cindy Leese in our Human Resource Division.  Checks should be made payable to: Sandra Langley Fire Relief Fund.

Because of the generosity of the DMAVA employees, along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3020 and Leonard Saxton Memorial VFW Post 6590, more than $4,000 has been collected to this point.

Thank you for your generosity.

If you are an Army Soldier or DA civilian, you can access more than 2,600 information technology, business, self-development and 30 foreign language courses for FREE through Army e-Learning.  Visit www.us.army.mil and select “my education.”  In Fiscal Year 2006, almost a quarter million courses were completed.  Some of the top 10 courses of the month for July were: Rosetta Stone Spanish and Arabic, Windows XP: Fundamentals, Accounting Fundamentals and Encryption Technologies.

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Emergency Hotline is:
1-866-232-5798

You will hear the following message:

You have reached the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Emergency Information Number.  Please listen to the following menu choices and select an appropriate option:

State employees – press 1
Federal employees – press 2
National Guard employees – press 3

General policy. As a matter of long-standing policy, DoD personnel acting in their official capacities may not engage in activities that associate DoD with any partisan political campaign or election, candidate, cause or issue.

Public commentary by military personnel. All military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve forces, acting in their official capacities may not engage in public commentary, including speeches and written submissions offered for publication, concerning political campaigns or elections absent prior clearance.

Are you looking for an affordable vacation spot?  The Armed Forces Recreation Center has resorts around the world for members of the Armed Forces, their families and other members of the Total Defense Force.  Room rates are based on rank, pay grade, duty status, room size and/or room location. Reservations are required, policies vary by location and guests may not stay more than 30 consecutive days or register again within the following 90-day period.  But if you are thinking of Hawaii, Germany, South Korea or Orlando as a possible vacation destination, this just may be the ticket!  Visit http://www.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/  for more information.

Doyle cemetery seeks volunteers

The Cemetery is working toward designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. We are enlisting the support of community volunteers for Outreach & Education. Scouting Groups, Veteran Service Organizations, Youth Groups, and other interested individuals are encouraged to contact Iven C. Dumas 1st Sgt, USMC (Ret) Assistant Superintendent, at 609- 758-7250 ext. 17 or by e-mail at Iven.Dumas@njdmava.state.nj.us.

The Joint Training and Development Center (JT2DC) recently unveiled the Memorial Walkway to the center.  The purpose of the pond and walkway are to serve as a reminder that there are Soldiers in harm’s way protecting the freedoms that we all cherish and enjoy.

The concept of the Memorial Walkway was to have Soldiers create a mark by dedicating inscribed bricks.  Soldiers have chosen to honor loved ones, family members, friends, and personnel with whom they served.

Anyone interested in purchasing an engraved paver for $50, can contact Command Sgt. Major Timothy Maskery at (609) 562-0539.

Membership
Give our state a larger voice by becoming a member of the Enlisted Association.  The increased numbers will help us speak on all legislative issues that will benefit you and your families. The association works hard for you at the Federal & State level on all important issues. Visit the web site EANG-NJ.org, click on Become a Member for the application and find out more about what the association does.

Conference
The Enlisted Association invites you to the Annual Conference at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Atlantic City West, October 6-8, 2006, to Honor and Salute our Airmen and Soldiers who supported the War on Terrorism. Saturday during the Military Ball will be our way to say thank you for their dedication and sacrifices that they and their families shared. Friday night will feature a Hawaiian luau with a show and an Army and Air challenge. Our mission is to have fun. Visit our web site EANG-NJ.org, click on EANG-NJ Conference to find out more. Thank you for your support. You can reach the membership chairman Jerome Zebrowski at 609-214-6959 or jcptfalc@aol.com or co-chairman Edward Goetschius at 609-965-1972 or esgtmaj@comcast.net.

Family Programs on the calendar

Bordentown Armory – B Co 250th SBF & Co D 250th BSB – Sept. 16, 10 a.m.
Hammonton Armory – 119th SB Corps – Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Jersey City Armory – D Co 2-113th – Sept. 20, 7 p.m.
Lawrenceville Armory – 50th PSB – Sept. 21, 7 p.m.; 50th Fin Bn – Oct. 14, 2 p.m.
Morristown Armory – 3-112th & 5/117th –
Newark Armory – A, B, E Co’s 2-113th Inf – Sept. 20, 7 p.m.
Port Murray Armory – 2-102nd Arm –
Teaneck Armory – 50th SBM – Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Toms River Armory – C/3-112th FA –
Vineland Armory – 5/117th Cav – Sept. 9, TBD
West Orange Armory – B Co 5/117th Cav – Sept. 23, 1 p.m.
Woodbury Armory – Trp C 5.117th Cav –

Recreation and Sports

The Trenton Thunder baseball team and its community partner, the Trenton Vet Center, has collaborated to sponsor reduced ticket prices for veterans and their families during the 2006 Trenton Thunder baseball season.

A regular $9 season ticket has been reduced to $7 for veterans and their family members.

Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard, separated, and retired veterans are eligible for this program.  Interested veterans must have a picture I.D. and provide proof of their veteran status by showing one of the following documents:

- Military I.D. card
- Federal Department of Veteran Affairs medical I.D. card
- DD Form 214

All Active New Jersey National Guard Members are entitled to Division of Parks and Forestry State Park Passes. When parking fees are in effect this pass entitles the NJNG member (and passengers) free parking at all New Jersey State Parks, Forests, Recreation Areas and Historic Sites (Does not pertain to Campground fees) ID Card must be shown with this Pass. See your Orderly Room for your pass.

Anheuser Busch has announced its program offering free amusement park tickets to the service members and their families has become so popular it will be extended another year. The "Here's to the Heroes," is open to active duty service members, active members of the National Guard or Reserve, and up to three direct dependents for one complimentary admission per year. Participants can go online to fill out a form for free admission at http://www.herosalute.com/.

The amusement parks participating in the program are: Sea World  parks in Orlando, Florida; San Diego and San Antonio;  Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia; Sesame Place, a children's play and water park, near Philadelphia; Adventure Island water park in Tampa; and Water Country USA water park in Williamsburg. 

Operation Oasis Outreach at Sandy Cove, North East, Md., offers a free, 3-day, 2-night time for rest and relaxation for military personnel who were deployed to the Middle East area during OIF/OEF with their spouse and children.  Sandy Cover is located at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.  If you are interested, contact Carol Lee Lynch: toll free 1-800-287-4843 or e-mail c.lynch@sandycove.org.

Picatinny Arsenal Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office is proud to announce new opportunities for Veterans.  As part of the Army's "Always a Soldier" program, Picatinny's Frog Falls Waterpark and Golf Course are now open to veterans as well as Active Duty and Retired Military and Reservists.  Frog Falls Waterpark offers annual memberships to veterans through our partnership with Rockaway Township Recreation.   Active Duty and Retired Military and Reservists can purchase an annual membership or visit the Waterpark for a $3 daily fee. Guest passes (for non-dependents) can be purchased at the gate for $7 (limit of 4 per visit).  Please call (973) 724-7275 for more information.  Picatinny Golf Course is also open to Veterans.  Please call (973) 724-GOLF for more information.

The 3rd Annual Tom Laffey Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Monday, Sept. 11, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start at The Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course, Plainsboro.  The tournament is sponsored by The Keeping the Faith Foundation which was created in 2004 by the children of Tom and Virginia Laffey as a way to honor the memory of their parents.  The proceeds from the annual golf tournament are donated to a special cause; this year’s proceeds will be given to the family of 1st Lt. Howard Gwin, whose daughter Ashleigh has been diagnosed with Krabbe Keukodystrophy. For more information about the tournament, please call Bill Laffey (732) 822-5814, Helene Wahl (732) 922-6539 or Tom Laffey Jr. (732) 846-1775.

The 10th Annual Lt. Col. Dave Savino Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Fountain Green Golf Course, Fort Dix on Monday, Sept. 18.  Format will be two person scramble (best ball).  Donation to play is $85 per person which includes greens fees, cart, refreshments and door prizes.  A buffet lunch will be held after the tournament.  For more information, call 609-754-2048.

The Freedom Riders “Support Our Troops” Motorcycle Run is scheduled for October 14, 2006 (October 15 – Rain date).  Proceeds benefit the Freedom Alliance Foundation providing:  Educational scholarships to the children of American’s Military Heroes that have given the Ultimate Sacrifice; pre-paid long-distance phone cards, gift cards for clothing, food, toiletries, books and magazines for the injured in our hospital; and funding for family members to travel to see and encourage their loved one.

For registration and information on the run go to:  www.citikids.org/freedom.htm

Applications for the 2006 Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament, held each year at Island Beach State Park, are now available. Early registrants save on adult registration fees, are eligible for special prizes offered to pre- registrants and avoid delays - pre-registration ensures timely entry to the park.

The tournament will be held Sunday, October 1st. Fishing begins at 6:30am. A variety of species are eligible for entry in the tournament, and there are winners in male, female, teen and child categories. Don't miss this exciting family event!

For more information and a link to the application form visit:

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm on the NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife website.

Are you a service member and a fan of World Wrestling Entertainment? WWE is offering all U.S. military personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Reserves and National Guard a complimentary ticket to a live WWE event in their local area, provided they come dressed in uniform with a military ID. 

Tickets are available the day of the event. Military personnel can log onto the World Wrestling Entertainment Web site to view a schedule of live events in their area.  Check out www.wwe.com for more information.

Scholarship News

Grantham University scholarships: Grantham University offers a scholarship program to severely injured service members and their spouses and adult children.  Go to www.grantham.edu for more information.  They also have scholarship programs for military veterans, service members, and family members.

Widener University CARES Scholarship: Widener University, Chester, Pa., has a full scholarship program for children of Global War on Terrorism service members who were killed in action.  Contact the Office of Admissions at 610-499-4126 for more information.

Veterans Information

The DMVA Veterans Outreach Campaign continues with kiosk displays at selected malls throughout New Jersey.  The schedule is as follows:

The kiosk will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the identified dates.

The Northern New Jersey Stand Down 2006, a one-day outreach to assist homeless veterans and their dependents, will be held at the Essex County College gymnasium, Sept. 9, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Many services will be offered to the veterans who take part in the program, including veterans and medical benefits information, social services, employment services, substance abuse programs, recovery programs, photo ID, PTSD counseling, legal services, clothing and more.

The college is located at Market Street and Martin Luther King Blvd, Newark, N.J.  A hot lunch will be provided.  For more information, please call (973) 748-0980.

On Sept. 16, at 1 p.m., there will be a dedication of the Pennsylvania War Dog Memorial at the Bristol Township Municipal Building.  The memorial will honor the military dogs and their handlers who have served our country proudly in both war and peace.

The War Dog Memorial will be part of a newly landscaped memorial garden situated near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial statue and the memorial honoring Bristol Township’s police, fire and emergency services personnel. The municipal building is located at 2501 Bath Road, Bristol, Penn.

Ocean County veterans now have a place to get Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling.  Once a week, counselors from the Trenton Vet Center will offer office hours at the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, 1027 Hooper Ave, Building 2, Toms River.

To schedule an appointment, call 732-929-2096.

Ocean County, with the state’s largest concentration of veterans, signed an agreement with the Vets Center, an arm of the Veterans Administration recently. 

John Dorrity, director of the Ocean County Veterans Bureau said that he has a waiting list of veterans who will participate in the counseling. He added that they will start off with once a week, but will possibly increase sessions if the need arises.

Charles H. Johnson, Vietnam veteran and poet, will have a reading of his latest book of poetry at the Vietnam Era Educational Center on August 12. Johnson of Hillsborough, N.J., is a graduate of the ROTC program at Rutgers University and a retired captain in the US Army Reserve.  From 1970 to 1971, he was a first lieutenant and an infantry platoon leader for the 1st Cavalry Division in South Vietnam.  He is the author of “Tunnel Vision” and numerous poems about Vietnam.  Three of his poems are engraved on the Plainsboro Veterans Memorial sculpture in Plainsboro, NJ.  Johnson conducts poetry workshops for high school students and teachers throughout New Jersey, and serves as a night editor and poetry reviewer for the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, N.J.

Johnson's book, Sam's Place, consists of free verse concerning the poet's service as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam and haiku about his dreams of America while he served overseas.  Other poetry in the collection relates the poet's reaction to the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and how he deals with the ever-present reality of war and its consequences.

Sept. 9 / 1 p.m. / 36 Years and a Wake-Up, a Vietnam veteran's memoir -- lecture by the author, Vietnam Veteran Carey Spearman.

Sept. 15 / 11 a.m. / National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Gold Star Mothers Day ceremony.

Sept. 17 / 12:30 p.m. / Arrival of the Rolling Thunder-NJ motorcycle run for POW/MIA awareness, leaving Warinaco Park, Elizabeth at 11 a.m.

Oct. 14 / 1 p.m. / "Vietnam: A View You Have Never Seen Before," a slide show with discussion about folk life in modern Vietnam by NJ school teacher Ken Mayberg.

Lecture attendees are asked to RSVP to (732) 335-0033.  A donation of $5 per person is suggested.  The Educational Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Regular admission is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel.  Regular adult admission is $4; student and senior citizen admission is $2; and children under 10 are admitted free.

For more information, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033 or (800) 648-VETS.  The Vietnam Era Educational Center is located adjacent to the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial off the Garden State Parkway at Exit 116. 

Beginning June 9, National Guard and reserve members released from active duty will get the same veterans’ hiring preference for federal jobs as those who are separated or retired from regular active-duty assignments.

Under the new rules, which Congress approved last year as part of the 2006 Defense Authorization Act, the definition of a veteran expands for the purposes of getting extra credit when seeking a federal job. Previously, veterans’ preference applied only to people “separated” from active duty under honorable conditions.

Under the new policy, hiring preference would extend to any person discharged or released from active duty if they had more than 180 consecutive days of duty since Sept. 11, 2001, served in a war or in a campaign for which a campaign badge or expeditionary medal was authorized. Also, the person who is discharged or released must have received an honorable or general discharge.

Located at 934 Parkway Ave, 2nd Floor, Ewing, N.J., the Department of Veteran Affairs, Trenton Vet Center, provides free readjustment counseling services to combat zone veterans and their families.

The Vet Center services include:

· Individual readjustment counseling
· Group readjustment counseling
· Screening for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
· Counseling for PTSD
· Substance Abuse counseling
· Marital and family counseling
· Sexual Trauma counseling    
· Community education and liaison
· Referral for benefits assistance
· Employment Assistance

Heading the Trenton Vet Center Staff is James Gordon, team leader.  Other staff at the center to help veterans and their families are Jeanne Morrison, Master Social Worker, Rawle Gaskin, Readjustment Counseling Therapist, Darryll Johnson, Readjustment Counseling Technician and Burnice Rice, Trenton Vet Center Office Manager.

The center is open Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Wednesday and Thursday extended hours by appointment only.

All services provided to veterans and their families are at no cost and clients’ rights are protected by HIPPA.  For more information call (609) 882-5744.

The New Jersey Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program has several part-time employment opportunities immediately available across the state for TDGs and Technicians.  Earn one day’s base pay and one retirement point for a few hours work providing Military Funeral Honors for our Veterans.  If you are interested, please contact SGM Edward Goetschius, Military Funeral Honors Coordinator, at 609-530-7090 or by e-mail at Edward.goetschius@nj.ngb.army.mil.

Sept. 1 – Emma N. Nutt Day (She is the first female telephone operator.  The phone company initially hired young boys – not a good idea – they fought with each other, were unruly and rude to customers.  On Sept. 1, 1878, Emma began her career as an operator; it lasted 33 years.
Sept. 2 – National Beheading Day
Sept. 3 – Uncle Sam Day – his image was first used in 1813.
Sept. 4 – Labor Day, National Macadamia Nut Day
Sept. 5 – Be Late for Something Day, Cheese Pizza Day
Sept. 6 – Fight Procrastination Day, Read a Book Day
Sept. 7 – National Grandparents Day, Neither Rain Nor Snow Day

Interesting animal facts:

- If you look into a gecko’s ear, you can see through to other side.

- To film the movie “101 Dalmatians,” 233 Dalmatians were used.

- Frogs use their eyeballs to push food down their throat.

- Whales dream.

- Dolphins can hear underwater sounds from as far as 15 miles away.

- The heaviest dog ever recorded was an English Mastiff named Zorba – 343 pounds.  He was also the longest – 8 feet, 3 inches from nose to tail.