Mount Carmel Kindergarteners Suspended For Bringing Toy Bubble Gun To School

From The Pottsville Republican - 

MOUNT CARMEL - A 5-year-old kindergarten student at Mount Carmel Area Elementary School was suspended last week for allegedly telling classmates she was going to shoot them and herself with her pink Hello Kitty Bubbles Gun.

She was reportedly questioned for three hours before her mother was contacted, said Robin Ficker, 69, an attorney from Bethesda, Md., who is representing the family.

"This is an innocent child who was made to cry while being questioned for three hours about something she said that she doesn't even understand," he said.

Ficker said the girl, who did not have the toy in her possession at school, was initially suspended for 10 days by Mount Carmel Area Elementary School Principal Susan Nestico in what the school classified as a "terroristic threat." The suspension was later reduced to two days and labeled a "threat to harm others."

Mount Carmel Area Superintendent Bernie Stellar said Friday he couldn't comment on the incident or suspension because he's not allowed to discuss student discipline issues.

The incident occurred Jan. 10 and the student returned to school Monday, Ficker said.

He said her parents do not want to discuss the incident with the media but he confirmed the girl lives in the Mount Carmel area.

Steve Colbert's Sister Running For Congress From South Carolina

Elizabeth Colbert-Busch

Australia Limited Guns - Prime Minister Writes Article in NY Times Today

This is the final paragraph of that article - 

In the end, we won the battle to change gun laws because there was majority support across Australia for banning certain weapons. And today, there is a wide consensus that our 1996 reforms not only reduced the gun-related homicide rate, but also the suicide rate. The Australian Institute of Criminology found that gun-related murders and suicides fell sharply after 1996. The American Journal of Law and Economics found that our gun buyback scheme cut firearm suicides by 74 percent. In the 18 years before the 1996 reforms, Australia suffered 13 gun massacres — each with more than four victims — causing a total of 102 deaths. There has not been a single massacre in that category since 1996. Few Australians would deny that their country is safer today as a consequence of gun control.

Thrift Store Moves Into Tamaqua Community Center

TAMAQUA — Business is booming at a thrift shop in Schuylkill County, so much so that it has to expand. That means people who use a neighboring community center need to find a new place to go. If you spend any time inside the thrift shop in Tamaqua, called Life’s Second Hand Treasurers, you’ll find that it’s pretty cramped. There is no room to display the lightly-used furniture. You’ll find it in outside tents. “We have it in our tents and as we sell it, we restock it with the stuff we have stored in our trailer,” said Derek Seiger of Access Services. The shop on Center Street is run by a non-profit group called Access Services. “This is a low-income community. There (are) many people struggling and below the poverty level, so when we do get any furniture in, it does go fast,” said Sheila Davison of Access Services. Access Services wants to buy the Tamaqua Community Center for $150,000. The sale will be final on the first of the year. “Our donations have been so much that we can’t display larger furniture or anything, so that building will be used to put furniture and bigger items in,” said Davison. Tamaqua owns the community center. Officials say selling it to Access Services will avoid a tax increase for property owners. “Our budget would be impacted if we kept this building, with the ongoing cost of maintaining it and heating it and the proceeds from the sale to help balance this year’s budget,” said Micah Gursky, who’s on the Tamaqua Borough Council. Some community groups use the community center. Access Services and borough leaders say they are looking for other places for the groups to meet.

FSU Indoor Football Practice Field Progressing

The practice arena is north and west of Doak Campbell Stadium. In the distant center is Dick Houser baseball stadium - it is designed to look like the Baltimore Orioles field.

Jimbo Fisher has been pushing the boosters to buy him a place to practice inside. In August it rains in Tallahassee a lot. But rain is not the big problem - it is a time for lots of lightning. Many practices must be called off or shortened due to lightning. 

I think I have the numbers right - it is costing $15 million - one booster gave $5 million to kick it off. 

The new indoor floor looks to be big enough for a full 120 yard field. It also appears high enough for even the longest passes - but not tall enough for punts. 

Tallahassee Receives Award from EPA for Excellent Water

New 2014 Corvette at Detroit Auto Show

It will be called Stringray - imagine that. It has a small block V8 producing 450 HP and 450 foot pounds of torque - thru a 7 speed manual transmission to the rear tires. The Generation 7 is a little lighter than last year's Generation 6 - a tiny bit longer and wider. No mention of the cost. The Detroit Auto Show opens today and runs all week.

Seminoles Lost A Close One to Carolina

North Carolina is not the usual powerhouse having started the ACC season 0-2. Four of their starters were picked in the NBA draft first round. Six Seminole seniors graduated last year. The Mob actually favored the Noles by 4 today. We were ready for a smack down.

If the Seminoles win this one - they would be in first place in the ACC at 3-0. The Noles beat Carolina 2 times last year hoping to run that string to a record.

It was a beautiful day in Tallahassee - it reached 80 and we went to the game in shorts and on the Vespa. We didn't have tickets - FSU announced it sold out. They upped the usual $16 price to $50. A lot of people must have been out enjoying the weather instead - because there were plenty of empty seats in the Civic Center.

Outside - lots of people were selling extra tickets. I held up 2 fingers in plain sight of a cop - he ignored me. I bought a pair of tickets 13 rows behind the FSU bench for $20 each. In my absent mindedness - I peeled off four 20's and handed them to the guy. I whistled to Lulu to prevent her from buying any. As we approached the turnstile I realized I gave the guy too much. I saw him behind us and asked him to check his pocket. Sure enough there were four 20's and he gave me two back.

We were inside 12 minutes before tip off. The place was much more crowded than usual - but clearly half the seats were empty. Tallahassee people show up late. People were flowing in well after tipoff. After about one quarter - everyone was in. I could still count maybe 2000 empties.

The game went back and forth by a point or 3. In the last 2 minutes - the Tar Heels pulled ahead and stayed ahead. It was a bit of a let down for the fans. In the last few minuted with the score within 2 points - the same folks that arrived late - left early. I wonder what they have that is so important. Is the Banana Republic running out of khakis?

After the gun - we walked out to our scooter - there was very little traffic - and we were home in 10 minutes with the rest of the day to ourselves. After a long walk at Southwood and a quick burger at McDonalds - we were home and in for the night at 7.  I went to my office to write this - Lulu went to the TV to watch the replay.

Duke lost - FSU lost - St Johns lost - the only Everhart win was the Hoyas. Keith and Liz went to Manhattan to see that game. Georgetown pounded St.John's in the Garden. Drew's Dukies were 15-0 before today. NCSU showed them to the door.

Carolina at Noles

We got two nice tickets behind FSU bench. 12 rows up. $20. Noles are favored by 4.

Great Article by Dick Cavett about Guns in the NY Times

Now

Then

Back When I Was Packing

By DICK CAVETT

I know what it feels like to be a gun lover.

As a kid watching Saturday afternoon World War II movies in Nebraska, I fell head over heels in love. With the Luger. I don't expect more than a handful of folks to know what I'm talking about. But it was real and it was intense; terms usually associated, I know, with a love affair.

There is something about a Luger that separates it from all other handguns, and Luger devotees and Luger society members speak of it in romantic terms that must sound plain nuts to those who consider themselves level-headed.

I sat in the dark and watched Helmut Dantine, the downed German flyer in "Mrs. Miniver," menace Greer Garson with his Luger and, yes, I dreamed that night that he came to Grand Island, Neb., and gave the gun to me.

Napoli in Tamaqua Going Down

When we were kids - it was one of the two major hangouts in town. The other one was the Palma Maria on Broad Street. The Napoli is being leveled for a new business.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: Selling Our Old Home - Moving Into Brick House on New Lot - Building New Home on New Lot - Tearing Down Brick Home on New Lot

Preparing 1607 Seminole Dr for sale.

One of the main holdups about building our new home has been what to do with the brick house on the lot down the street. I wanted to save it somehow - the rest of the family wants it gone. During an encounter around the dinner table over the holidays I was convinced (5 to 1) that the brick house must go. That decision has been holding us up for 2 years. In my mind - since I paid $150k for the house and lot - I was throwing away $100k. The other 5 family members said that we paid $150k for the lot when we bought it - I just got cheap. 

Former Student Chuck Shuck Receives Another Honor

Coming This Spring - the Disney Bracelet

By BROOKS BARNES From the NY Times today

ORLANDO, Fla. — Imagine Walt Disney World with no entry turnstiles. Cash? Passé: Visitors would wear rubber bracelets encoded with credit card information, snapping up corn dogs and Mickey Mouse ears with a tap of the wrist. Smartphone alerts would signal when it is time to ride Space Mountain without standing in line.

Fantasyland? Hardly. It happens starting this spring.

FSU Seminoles Finish in Top 10 - First Time in Years

The 2012 college football season is officially in the books, and the Florida State Seminoles finished in the top 10 of both major polls

The USA Today coaches' poll has the Seminoles at No. 8 in the country, while FSU checks in at No. 10 in the AP Top 25.

Florida finished 10th in the coaches' poll, and 9th in the AP poll.

Here is the final 2012 USA Today coaches' poll:

1. Alabama 13-1
2. Oregon;12-1
3. Notre Dame;12-1
4. Georgia;12-2
5. Texas A&M;11-2
6. Stanford;12-2
7. South Carolina;11-2
8. Florida State;12-2
9. Clemson;11-2
10. Florida;11-2

Happy New Year From The Everhart 8

Liz - Keith - Harry - Lulu - Jack - Kate - Robin - Drew

I think this was the our first Christmas that Lulu and I did not spend up north. We exchanged presents alone under the tree at Seminole Drive in Tallahassee - but did not have to wait long for the festivities to begin. The rest of the family arrived for New Years - for a week of exchanging presents - lots of good food - watching FSU in the Orange Bowl on TV - birthday parties - nightclubbing - feeding the ducks - enjoying museums - shopping - riding the golf cart - riding Jack's little jeep - and planning for the future. 

Merry Greek Christmas Santa Brought Us A Little Toy

 This is a Haier 3.5 cubic foot freezer.

While Lulu was off at work today - the Greek Santa stopped by with a big package. It is a 3.5 cubic feet deep freezer. It is only 22 x 22 x 32 inches. It is supposed to hold 125 pounds of food. It costs less than $2 a month to operate it. 

On the front there is a thermostat to set it to a certain temperature. There is a red light to show when the power is on - and a green light to tell you when the compressor is running. It draws less than 1 amp of power when running. Our Honda generator puts out 15 amps - so in a power failure the generator could power 15 of these at one time.

It is finished on all sides - even the back. It weighs 70 pounds. There is a basket shelf to hold smaller items. The freezer fits in a convenient nook in the kitchen. 

It is made by a Japanese company called Haier. It sells for $150 at HH Gregg. They wanted $79 to deliver it. Good thing Santa has a red Prius. It slid in the back of sled.

It can hold 125 pounds of food. It runs on less than 1 amp of power.

LEDs show when it is plugged in and when the compressor is running.