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South African Journal of Surgery
On-line version ISSN 2078-5151
Print version ISSN 0038-2361
S. Afr. j. surg. vol.52 n.1 Cape Town Jan. 2014
Severity of upper-limb panga injuries and infection rates associated with early v. late tendon repair
N HowardI; W J M HolmesII; C E PriceIII; P RollinsonIV
IMSc, MRCS (Edin); Orthopaedic Department, Ngwelezana Hospital, Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
IIMRCS; Martin Singer Hand Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
IIIMB ChB; Martin Singer Hand Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
IVFRCS (Eng and Edin); Orthopaedic Department, Ngwelezana Hospital, Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
BACKGROUND: Panga or machete attacks are a common cause of significant upper-limb trauma in South Africa. Pangas are a multipurpose household tool used predominantly for foraging and agricultural purposes and are highly contaminated. While some centres advocate immediate primary repair if no concern exists regarding the risk of infection, others delay definitive repair until satisfied there is no evidence of infection.
OBJECTIVES: To compare infection rates and tendon re-rupture following early primary repair (within 24 h), primary repair after 24 h, and delayed repair following initial debridement.
METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective, observational study of 49 patients (mean age 28.9 years; range 17 - 69), who were followed up for a mean of 3.4 months (range 0 - 8). The injuries sustained included 32 flexor tendon injuries, 14 extensor tendon injuries, 9 fractures and 21 peripheral nerve injuries.
RESULTS: Of the patients, 17 underwent early primary repair (within 24 h), 19 delayed primary repair, and 13 delayed repair following primary washout. Wounds were assessed postoperatively using the ASEPSIS wound scoring system and patients were clinically assessed for tendon re-rupture. No significant differences were found in the comparative infection rates for early primary repair (5.9%; 1/17), delayed primary repair (10.5%; 2/19) and delayed repair following primary washout (23.1%; 3/13; p=0.662).
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate indicate that panga injuries can be repaired safely at first presentation with no increased risk of infection or re-rupture.
The panga is a variant of the machete used in east and southern Africa. Like the machete it has a long, broad, curved blade and is a multipurpose tool used for bush clearing and various other crude cutting tasks such as cutting wood. It is readily available with no legislation governing its acquisition.
Availability makes the panga a weapon commonly used in episodes of interpersonal violence. The type of injury sustained depends on the mechanism of injury. Stab-like injuries are inflicted using the end of the blade, while the back of the blade and the handle can be used as a blunt weapon. Injuries from blows with the long cutting edge of the blade are most frequently seen, and lacerations are often deep enough to transect tendons, nerves, blood vessels and bone, with amputations of digits and even limbs. A study from Nigeria found that upper-limb injuries accounted for 38% of all panga injuries.[1]
Only one paper has looked at the timing of repair of flexor tendon injuries in general and the use of antibiotics.[2] The authors concluded that repair of these injuries could be delayed beyond 12 h without increasing the likelihood of wound infection, and that antibiotics should be reserved for established infections and more serious hand injuries.
We aimed to delineate the pattern of panga injuries and compare infection rates in patients with early and delayed primary tendon repair v. debridement and delayed tendon repair (>24 h).
We conducted a prospective observational study in two South African hospitals, Ngwelezana Hospital in rural KwaZulu-Natal Province and Groote Schuur Hospital in central Cape Town. All patients who presented to hospital with panga injuries necessitating surgical intervention over a 10-month period were included.
We compared infection rates of injuries treated with primary washout and tendon repair v. primary washout and subsequent delayed repair after 48 h. Because delayed presentation of patients is so common in rural South Africa, even after serious injuries, the primary repair group was divided into two groups, those repaired within 24 h of injury and those repaired after 24 h, to investigate the effect this has on infection rates. Primary repair was carried out if the wounds assessed in theatre were not heavily contaminated. Wounds were washed and debrided, and a four-strand tendon repair was carried out on all ruptured tendons.
Inclusion criteria were: (i) isolated panga injury to the upper-limb, i.e. the anatomical territory from the glenohumeral joint to - the fingertip; and (ii) damage to a tendon, nerve or bone. Exclusion criteria were: (i) death; (ii) patients unable to attend for follow-up; and (iii) patients who discharged themselves without undergoing any medical treatment.
Data collection
For patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, age, gender, location of injury, associated injuries and time to presentation were recorded. The presence of fractures, nerve damage and tendon rupture and zone of tendon injury were also documented.
Treatment protocols
Patients who presented within 24 h with clean or clean-contaminated wounds were repaired primarily[3] at both centres. Patients who presented after 24 h with clean or clean-contaminated wounds at Ngwelezana Hospital were treated with washout, debridement and primary repair. Patients in the Martin Singer Hand Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital were treated with initial debridement, washout and closure. Wounds were reviewed at 48 h and delayed repair was undertaken unless there were signs of infection.
No patients included in the study had their management altered because of wound contamination at presentation. One patient who presented with an overtly infected wound was excluded from the study to make the groups comparable, as this patient would automatically have gone into the delayed repair group and been at increased risk of infection and tendon re-rupturing.
All patients were admitted and commenced on 1 g intravenous flucloxacillin four times a day until definitive repair had taken place. Postoperatively they were splinted, wounds were assessed at 48 h, and early limited mobilisation was commenced under the supervision of occupational therapists.
A prophylactic 5-day oral antibiotic regimen was given at both units with Gram-positive cover (500 mg flucloxacillin 4 times a day). Once satisfactory limited mobilisation was obtained, patients were discharged and followed up at a dedicated hand clinic.
Outcome measures
Patients were followed up at the hand clinics at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. For each visit, infection was measured using the ASEPSIS score rating (Table 1) as recommended by the surgical infection study group.[3] The highest score was recorded for each patient and used as a single figure for statistical analysis. Wound swabs were taken and processed for culture and sensitivity if pus was present on clinical examination.
Tendon re-rupture was assessed clinically by hand therapists at each visit. Other complications were recorded during follow-up appointments as part of routine clinical care.
The results are summarised in Table 2. Forty-nine patients with upper extremity panga injuries met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 91.8% (45/49) were male and 8.2% (4/49) female, and the mean age was 28.9 years (range 17 - 69 years). Of the injuries, 46 (93.9%) were caused by alleged assaults and three were accidental, and 69.4% of the patients (34/49) presented within 24 h, only 10.2% (5/49) presenting >48 h after injury. Only half of those who presented early were operated on within 24 h.
Of the patients, 44.9% (22/49) sustained lacerations to the hand, 30.6% (15/49) to the wrist and 24.5% (12/49) to the forearm. When assessed in theatre, 47/49 patients were found to have tendon injuries. These were flexor tendon injuries in 67.3% of the patients (33/49) and extensor tendon injuries in 28.6% (14/49). The mean number of tendon lacerations per patient was 4.1 (range 0 - 8). Peripheral nerve injuries were sustained by 44.9% of the patients (22/49) (13 median, 12 ulnar and five digital), and 18% (11/49) sustained concomitant fractures. The metacarpals were fractured most often (n=4), followed by the ulna (n=3), radius (n=2) and phalanges (n=2).
Infection rates were compared between patients who had early primary repair (within 24 h), those who had delayed primary repair (after 24 h) and those who had delayed repair following initial washout and debridement. An infected wound was regarded as one with an ASEPSIS score >10, as outlined in Table 1; however, the clinical action taken in these 'infected' cases varied, so a further analysis of those who had to return to theatre as a consequence of infection is included in Table 2. All patients with infection who did not return to theatre were successfully treated with oral antibiotics as outpatients. Of the three patients who needed to return to theatre after repair, two required multiple washouts and one an amputation.
Statistical analysis revealed there was no difference in infection rates between early primary repair, delayed primary repair and delayed repair following washout (Fisher's exact test p=0.662).
Four patients had evidence of pus on exploration and swabs were taken. A total of four cultures were positive from three patients; three were Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), all sensitive to flucloxacillin, and one was Gram-negative (Enteroccocus faecalis) and sensitive to gentamicin.
Panga injuries are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in many regions of the developing world, and no literature exists on the optimal management of these complicated injuries. Postoperative infections of the upper-limb can result in devastating consequences ranging from amputation to impaired long-term function and prolonged hospital stay.
Young men are the primary victims of panga assaults, as has been shown in previous machete injury studies worldwide.[4] The most common cause of these injuries, generally serious injuries to the upper limbs, is interpersonal violence.[5,6] The severe disability and morbidity associated with such injuries can have a drastic effect on a young person's future, especially in areas where manual labour is the most common form of employment.
The severity of panga injuries is highlighted by the fact that an average of four tendons per patient were repaired and nearly 45% of patients had a peripheral nerve injury. In a study comparing timing of repair and use of prophylactic antibiotics in flexor tendon repairs, <15% of patients had >2 tendons lacerated.[2]
Our results indicate that patients who undergo primary repair are at no greater risk of postoperative wound infection than those who have delayed repair following initial debridement. Delayed repair is considered in lacerations that are >24 h old or are heavily contaminated, because of the increased risk of wound infection and debilitation that can result. The increasing risk of wound infection with advancing wound age has been documented in the literature.[5,6] Stone and Davidson[2] questioned the necessity to repair flexor tendon injuries within a specific time, finding no difference in postoperative infection rates between injuries repaired before or after 12 h. Indeed, Schneider et al.[5] reported no infections in delayed repair of flexor tendons in 31 repairs ranging from 24 h to 21 days after injury. Our results in more contaminated and severe injuries support their findings. Although our two hospitals are tertiary referral centres, where late presentation is extremely common because they cover large areas, 69.4% of patients presented within 24 h and only 10.2% presented after 48 h. Our results and the relatively early presentation of these patients should give surgeons the confidence to repair panga injuries primarily after thorough initial debridement.
The benefits of early repair include reducing the number of theatre visits, decreasing hospital stay, and allowing earlier mobilisation after injury. This approach also reduces the tendon retraction seen in flexor tendon injuries and avoids the difficulties this causes when carrying out delayed repair.
Our overall infection rate of 12.2% was relatively high in comparison with the 6.75% reported in the paper on machete attacks in Nigeria by Omoke and Madubueze.[1] Inclusion criteria differ markedly between the two studies, however, with the Nigerian authors including all machete injuries, even relatively - minor superficial lacerations stitched in the emergency department. Outcome measures also differ, with no definition of infection included in their paper. Our higher infection rates may also be due to the relatively low threshold of infection used in accordance with the ASEPSIS wound score. Although an arbitrary figure of 10 was used, this gave us a relatively objective and sensitive indicator of infection. If we defined infection as a return to theatre for management of acute wound sepsis, the infection rate would be recalculated as 6.1%.
Study limitations
The limitations of our study include the fact that patients were recruited from two different centres, which could introduce bias even though comparative management protocols were carried out. Functional outcomes following surgery could also be looked at in relation to timing of surgical repair.
Our results indicate that panga injuries can be repaired safely at first presentation with no increased risk of infection or re-rupture. With the lack of published articles on these common injuries, there is great scope for further research. The use of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial, especially in injuries without open fractures.
1. Omoke NI, Madubueze CC. Machete injuries as seen in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Injury 2010;41(1):120-124. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2009.08.023] [ Links ]
2. Stone JF, Davidson JS. The role of antibiotics and timing of repair in flexor tendon injuries of the hand. Ann Plast Surg 1998;40(1):7-13. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00000637-199801000-00002] [ Links ]
3. Wilson AP, Treasure T, Sturridge MF, Grueneburg RN. A scoring method (ASEPSIS) for postoperative wound infections for use in clinical trials of antibiotic prophylaxis. Lancet 1986;327(8476):311-313. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(86)90838-X] [ Links ]
4. Yip KM, Tam TY, Hung LK. Multiple chop wound in Hong Kong. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1997;116(5):295-298. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00390057] [ Links ]
5. Nylen S, Carlsson B. Time factor, infection frequency and quantative microbiology: Its application to hand injuries. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg1980;14(2):185-189. [ Links ]
6. Schneider LH, Hunter JM, Norris TR, Nadeau PD. Delayed flexor tendon repair in no man's land. J Hand Surg 1977;2(6):452-455. [ Links ]
Corresponding author:
N Howard


text:
When leaving on Tuesday we tried to park at MGM's valet like we usually do, but the hotel was packed because of the rodeo. Insanely packed. We were stuck for a good ten minutes. I began to wonder if we'd make our flight. Finally the duallys parted like the red sea, and we were able to pass thru the thru-lanes. We valeted at New York New York instead. Cab fare was no worse than from the MGM so it's a great alternative.
Security at the airport was a breeze. We waited a bit at the gate, and then boarded, our seats were in the front of the plane so we were in the last zone to board. I began to fear we'd be forced to check our bags at the gate. Minutes later, my fears became reality, the overhead compartments were filled. The last 30 of us, had to check our bags. They boasted the service was complimentary. I was not thrilled. I had just packed 7 days worth of clothes, shoes and toiletries in two small suitcases for nothing. I had visions of lost luggage. I had a meltdown. I insisted I at least pull out Frank contacts and glasses those were things I knew could not be replaced. I reluctantly checked the rest of it. They confirmed it would be at our final destination. It better be, I muttered. Big & Tall is hard enough to find in the states, I couldn't fathom finding clothes for Frank in Mexico.
Our red-eye to Charlotte was uneventful. We were not able to sleep, however. We thought we'd catch a few winks at the airport during our layover, but there was not a chance. The gates were freezing, they were blaring christmas music and there was no place to rest your head comfortably. It was misery. I tried to keep warm by using the laptop to generate warmth, but my eyes were so tired from being up all night I couldn't stand to look at the screen. I broke down and bought a pashima. I figured it would keep me warm in the airport, Frank could use it as a pillow on the plane, therefore, I was able to justify the cost. Best $10 spent. Soon, we boarded and we were Cancun-bound. We were so exhausted, we put the pashima between us and leaned against one another and finally were able to sleep. It was short-lived, about an hour, two at most, but it was enough to function.
We landed in Cancun, and we were reunited with our luggage. I was so relieved. I think I even uttered a "Thank you, god". Immigration and customs was quick, we found our rental car shuttle and we were off to collect our car. We had an itty-bitty thing. Frank and I sat shoulder to shoulder, and he practically sat in the back seat to fit. It was a clown car. Absolutely hilarious. One with manual transmission, no power steering or radio. It did have door locks so we were riding in luxury. We zipped down the 307 toward Playa Del Carmen.
A bit odd to see one lonely wind turbine.
We're cruising along and Frank realizes we're on dead E. He neglected to check the gas level at the car rental, we had already blown by the stations around the airport. I was nervous. There used to be very few after that... we hoped for the best and managed to run on fumes until the next station.
Next problem, we have no pesos, only dollars. Fortunately, for us, the attendant agreed to accept our US currency. We probably overpaid, $30 to fill the clown car? But it had a full tank and we avoided crisis. We continued down the highway.
You encounter funny shit in Mexico, stuff that would never fly in the States. Like babies without seatbelts let alone car seats, kids smooshed between two adults on a scooter, a dually with dinky little tyke wheels. Stuff like that...
Construction, though, is a riot. OSHA would be beside themselves. Safety is not a concern.
That's the overpass in Playa Del Carmen. It causes delays now, but it'll be great once it is completed. We headed straight to Walmart. I had been told they had the best prices on cigars. This was not the case. It might have once been true, but they were the most expensive we found. We did hit the ATM, and we stocked up on agua, cerveza and coca-light. So, it was a worth-while stop. We had lunch at El Fogon, I had a bad address for the place so we walked several blocks in search of it -- it was right across the way from Walmart, but we went in the wrong direction.
I had my favorite, Tacos Al Pastor. These were the best yet. I had them with queso, and it made it really special.
Frank had a Chicken Torta, the bread and cheese were really good, but the chicken was bland. It would've likely been better with another choice of meat.
We also shared yummy queso y chorizo. Si, me gusta.
This guy works hard manning the grill, he's damn good at it, too.
After lunch, we drove the rest of the way to the hotel. We were impressed at how nice the roads had become, it's very much like an American highway... well, if you disregard the topes, policia and military and random Mexicans all about.
We get to the hotel! Ahhh! Here, at last!! I was immediately shocked by how much the plants and bushes had grown, I failed to notice the changes to the "hotel". They moved stairs to the upper floor rooms, expanded the bathrooms to include tubs, the re-did the roof of the restaurant, expanded the kitchen and moved the bar. They brought us welcome margaritas, we got settled, threw on our suits and hopped in the water.
I'm so pale, I blend into the sand on the beach. It's like playing "Where's Waldo?", too funny.
The water was a bit cool, but crystal clear, just as we remembered it.
The beach was also just the way we like it. Deserted.
Yes, we had arrived!!
It was so fantastic to be back. After our swim, we went up to the room to unwind a bit. Then, we had dinner that night at the restaurant. We drank Modelo Especials, had clams and crab salad, followed by garlic confit shrimps and whole red snapper. That fish was prepared to perfection. It was so darn tasty! I was on vacation. I did not bring my camera along for this meal. Trust me, it was excellent!
We retired to the hammock, drank Pacifico and listened to the waves crash until it lulled us to sleep. I woke some time later from a chill. We went inside and slept til morning.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
On the Zend Developer Zone today there's the first part of a series from Vic Cherubini about an ORM tool he's created to make pulling data from your database of choice (via PDO objects) simpler - DataModler. This first part looks at creating testable models.
DataModeler allows you to create easily testable Models that are not dependent on any datasource. The majority of your logic should take place in the Model, and not the Controller (making your application even easier to test as data sources can be mocked). I try to keep my code as simple as possible, so DataModeler is fairly small.
He talks about how the DataModler tool uses dependency injection and how one primary namespace (DataModlerModel) contains the bulk of the code. He includes code samples showing how to create a simple mode, give the attributes data types and access them via magic "set" and "get" methods. For more information on this ORM tool, check out the latest source on github.


text: We can install most Server or Desktop distributions. We are also happy to fix problems, answer questions or simply discuss free software. We meet the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10 AM until 4 PM unless we cancel or reschedule due to a holiday. While we emphasize Linux Servers on the 3rd Saturday sessions, we are happy to deal with Desktops/Laptops as well (see the 1st Saturday events on the calendar at http://plug.phoenix.az.us/ ). We provide power and network connectivity as well as install media. What to bring: You need to bring everything required to use your computer. For a server, bring your server, [with keyboard, monitor and mouse if ssh access isn't set up yet,] along with a 2nd computer for accessing the server via a network connection.


text:
Apollo. No, seriously, keep waiting 'cause we have no idea when that will happen. While we still can't say when Windows Phone 8 will be making its way to a handset near you, we do have quite a few new details about the mobile OS courtesy of the folks over at PocketNow. The site managed to snag a copy of a video starring Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore talking about what's coming in the next major revision. Those of you concerned with Microsoft's inability to go toe to toe with Apple and Google on specs can breathe a bit easier as new screen resolutions (four in total) and dual-core CPUs will be supported, while those clamoring for more storage will be happy to hear that microSD support has returned -- this time in an official capacity. Rounding out the new hardware features will be NFC support, including the Beam-like ability to share content by tapping, though, it'll have the advantage of being able to share with Windows 8 based tablets and laptops as well. And, speaking of Windows 8, its similarly numbered, phone-centric sibling won't just share a UI, it'll have many of the core components, including large chunks of the kernel, networking stack and security features -- which should make porting apps from the desktop to the handset a relatively simple affair.
Amazingly enough, the list of improvements doesn't end there. If you've been wondering when Microsoft was going to put its Skype acquisition to good use, wonder no more. A Windows Phone app for the VoIP service will debut alongside Apollo and will feature deep integration with the OS, including the ability to place calls the same as you would standard voice calls. A new live tile and app called DataSmart will make it easier for users to manage their data usage and ensure they don't end up eating insane overage fees. To milk every last bit out of that data plan Windows Phone will favor WiFi over a cellular connection and can be programmed to automatically connect to carrier-owned hotspots when they're in range. And, if that weren't enough, Microsoft plans to use proxy servers to compress web pages before feeding them to the mobile version of Internet Explorer 10, not unlike Opera Mini. Those of you who doubted that Windows Phone could actually keep pace with Android and iOS, now might be a good time to reevaluate your position. Hit up the source link for a few more details.
Update: If you want to get all of the details in a nice easy to glance list head after the break for a convenient bullet point presentation.


text:
Abreu's big April offers a glimpse of what's to come
CHICAGO -- Is there a better hitter on the planet than Jose Abreu?
That was the question some asked a few years ago, when Abreu delivered epic production for the Cienfuegos Elephants in Cuba, and we might be asking it again in August and September. Abreu has come out swinging like he's intent on joining Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout in future discussions about the American League's MVP Award.
On a Friday night, when the Blackhawks and Bulls delivered dramatic playoff victories, Abreu reminded us that baseball is the backbone of Chicago as one of America's great sports cities.
Abreu blasted an outside fastball from Grant Balfour for a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays, sending the ball into the visitor's bullpen in right field. The two-out shot was his second home run of the game, following one in the third inning to straightaway center field off Chris Archer. Abreu now has three multihomer games in 24 career contests.
It's been a long time since the fireworks at U.S. Cellular Field sounded as loud as they did on Abreu's game-winning homer. In interviews afterward, the Spanish-speaking Abreu was cool, as always, saying only that it was "awesome" to come through in such a big way with a game on the line. But his joy poured out as he rounded the bases, with him throwing his batting helmet high into the sky as he headed toward the crowd of teammates waiting at home plate.
Abreu has been a consummate pro since putting on a uniform for a hitter's mini-camp in January, and he has been embraced by his new teammates. They're happy for him, and as Alejandro De Aza said on Opening Day, happy Abreu's on their team and not someone else's.
Despite a 1-for-26 stretch that prompted manager Robin Ventura to take Abreu out of the lineup for one game, the big first baseman is hitting .263 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs. He's tied with Albert Pujols for the AL home run lead and with the Twins' Chris Colabello for most RBIs.
Publicly, the White Sox downplayed their immediate expectations for Abreu during Spring Training, saying they knew he was facing a major transition and would have ups and downs. But they also felt his bat would revitalize a lineup that was last in the AL in scoring in 2013.
"Jose has been as advertised -- what we were hoping we would have gotten with him," general manager Rick Hahn said. "You've already seen what we were talking about, in terms of him having about a 20-plate-appearance slump in there where he had to make some adjustments. He was able to respond and make those adjustments. That's probably going to happen again over the course of a six-month season. But in terms of professional approach -- the power, the seriousness with which he takes his craft -- [he] has been as advertised, starting the first day he showed up on campus."
Abreu's game-winning grand slam came one night before the White Sox will pass out miniature replicas of the Minnie Minoso statue at U.S. Cellular Field. Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million contract with the White Sox in part because of the team's rich history with Cuban players, and his arrival has energized Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo, the two other Cubans in Ventura's lineup. They're among the league leaders in batting average -- something no one could have seen coming.
As many as five teams bid over $60 million for Abreu, with the Red Sox, Astros, Brewers and Rockies among the runners-up in a fast-moving process that played out last October. The White Sox targeted him as a long-term difference-maker after a 99-loss season, and they couldn't look smarter at the moment.
Another thing they look? Dangerous.
They were 2-17 against the Indians last year, but have already turned that around, winning three of their first four meetings vs. Cleveland. They split a four-game series in Detroit last week and can't wait to play the Tigers next week at U.S. Cellular -- even with Chris Sale missing while taking a seemingly precautionary pit stop, and right fielder Avisail Garcia -- another future All-Star -- out for the season after surgery on his left shoulder.
Often playing in difficult weather for hitters, the White Sox are averaging 5.6 runs per game. Only the Angels are doing better, and compared to what has been spent on Pujols, Trout and Josh Hamilton, the White Sox have Abreu at a bargain price, which will make it easier to pursue parts to put around him next offseason -- if not midseason.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire saw the way the ball jumped off Abreu's bat on Opening Day and intentionally walked him twice in his second Major League game. It will be very interesting to see how Rays skipper Joe Maddon approaches him the next three days after the 3-for-5, six-RBI showcase on Friday.
Yasiel Puig hit .436 with seven homers and 16 RBIs for the Dodgers' last June, arguably the best first month ever for a rookie hitter. Abreu hasn't been as flashy as Puig, who once hit in front of him in the Cienfuegos batting order. But when you watch Abreu, you get the feeling that he can sustain his fast start, at least if he continues to be challenged by pitchers.
It seems foolhardy to compare anybody to Cabrera, who actually elevated his hitting last season after winning the Triple Crown in 2012. But from what Abreu has shown in April, you can't overlook how he's the same kind of hitter as Detroit's superstar.
Abreu combines raw strength with good bat speed. He can drive the ball to right field as easily as he can pull it to left field. He gets the barrel of the bat on a lot of balls, and he is willing to take walks.
One difference is that Abreu is looking like a triple-digit strikeout guy, while Cabrera hasn't had 100-plus strikeouts since 2009. Abreu might not be a .300 hitter, although his gaudy totals in Cuba (.453 with 33 homers in 66 games in 2011, for instance) say not to rule that out.
The sky's the limit for this guy, as the Rays just learned the hard way.


text:
REMEMBER WHEN you displayed your flag on the front porch on the 4th of July, and you didn't have to worry about whether it would be misinterpreted as support for a corrupt president and his administration?
REMEMBER WHEN 'Support the Troops' meant equipping our military with everything necessary for battle, instead of just being a catchy phrase that looked good on a bumper-sticker?
REMEMBER WHEN your tax dollars paid for things like improved education and social programs, instead of making Halliburton shareholders millionaires?
REMEMBER WHEN you watched movies about WWII, and it was the enemy who tortured captured American soldiers, instead of American soldiers torturing the people they'd allegedly 'liberated'?
REMEMBER WHEN you heard something on the TV news or read something in a newspaper, and you didn't have to go to the internet to find out just how much of it was fact, and how much of it was 'spin'?
REMEMBER WHEN a politician was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and he resigned in disgrace, instead of excusing his own behaviour by claiming that his political opponents were equally as guilty of wrongdoing?
REMEMBER WHEN 'Made in the USA' labels on products were the norm, and not a total oddity?
REMEMBER WHEN you hitchhiked through Europe as a teenager, and you DIDN'T have to replace the American flag on your knapsack with a Canadian flag in order to be a welcomed guest in a foreign country?
REMEMBER WHEN organized crime figures had to make phone calls from the corner phone booth, because they were the only people who had to worry about wire-taps?
REMEMBER WHEN telling a fellow politician on the floor of the House to 'go f*ck himself' was considered behaviour unbecoming an elected official, instead of being accepted as the way a Vice President behaves himself?
REMEMBER WHEN you could pretty well count on the fact that if the president said it, it was based on sound intelligence and was probably true?
REMEMBER WHEN you could rely on your elected representatives to put your interests ahead of the corporations that filled their campaign coffers, or the lobbyists who gave them great basketball tickets?
REMEMBER WHEN you didn't even KNOW what religion the people you voted for were, because it didn't really matter? Remember when you didn't know what party your neighbour belonged to, because that didn't really matter either?
REMEMBER WHEN the pension you'd worked for your whole life wasn't in danger of being wiped out by corrupt CEOs, assisted by respected accounting firms that made that corruption almost impossible to detect?
REMEMBER WHEN you could brag that as an American, you were guaranteed things like free speech and due process of law, without checking the nightly news to see whether those rights were still in effect?
REMEMBER WHEN the president upheld the law of the land, instead of coming up with 'legal loopholes' to support the idea that he's above the law?
REMEMBER WHEN you could say, "I'm a proud American," without qualifying it with a list of all of the things your government is doing that you're not exactly proud of?
REMEMBER WHEN you actually thought that the people in charge of running your country were smarter than you were?
REMEMBER WHEN your parents worked all their lives to ensure you a better life, instead of worrying about how bad the life they'd be leaving their children might be?
REMEMBER WHEN the importance of clean drinking water and breathable air were unquestionable mandates, and not some crazy hippie agenda to be weighed against corporate profits?
REMEMBER WHEN questioning your government's policies was seen as 'participating in the process', and not 'giving aid and comfort to the enemy'?
REMEMBER WHEN the 'enemy' was a country or military force that posed a threat to American democracy, and not a nation of innocent civilians who whose destruction was dismissible as 'collateral damage'?
REMEMBER WHEN your country went to war based on facts beforehand, instead of constantly-changing suppositions after-the-fact?
REMEMBER WHEN 'patriotism' was judged by your words and actions, and not by whether you were a member of the party currently in power?
REMEMBER WHEN the 'American Dream' was attainable through diligence and hard work, and not the luck of the 'outsourcing' draw?
REMEMBER WHEN the election of a president was considered the result of democracy in action, and not the result of Diebold executives doing the job they were expected to do?
REMEMBER WHEN you sang 'God Bless America' as a kid, and never thought you'd grow up to wonder if, in view of your country's actions, asking God's blessing was asking a bit too much?
I REMEMBER WHEN … and I wonder if these ideas will become ancient history by the time those of us old enough to recall them are dead and gone.


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A Wyoming police officer has pleaded not guilty to an animal-cruelty charge that alleges a police dog died after he left it in a hot patrol car for several hours.
According to an investigator's statement filed in Natrona County Circuit Court, Mills police officer Zachary Miller left the dog, a 10-year-old female black lab named Nyx, in his patrol car for over six hours July 9.
"It's a tragedy," Mills Mayor Marrolyce Wilson said.
The car was running, but the air conditioning was off and outside temperatures reached 86 degrees, KCWY News 13 reported.
Miller, a four-year veteran of the Mills Police Department, has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge, the Casper Star-Tribune reported Friday.
KCWY reported that he appeared for a preliminary hearing Friday.
Nyx was trained to detect drugs and had been with the department since 2006. Miller had been her handler for the past two years, and the dog lived with his family and went on family vacations.
Mills police Chief Bryon Preciado said it's not normal to leave a car running that long. "I'm not justifying it," Preciado said.
The affidavit states that Miller left the dog inside his car, went into the police department about 6 a.m. and did not return to the car until about 12:20 p.m. Police dogs are allowed inside the station, Preciado said.
During the time Miller was inside, he was training another officer on patrol-duty procedures. Miller is no longer a training officer, Preciado said. The officer who was with Miller that day will not be disciplined, Preciado said.
Miller remains employed by the police department but is currently not on active duty, Preciado said. He was suspended for a week with pay starting the day the dog died.
"It was a mistake he's going to have to pay for," Preciado said. "He's going to be disciplined through our department."
Miller had never faced disciplinary action by the department before this incident, Preciado said. He was named "Officer of the Year" in 2013.
The dog had assisted Casper Police, Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Natrona County Sheriff's Office, Preciado said. A plaque or other kind of memorial will be created in the dog's memory at the police department, he said.
The dog's body was buried on Miller's property, Preciado said. "Everyone was hurt by her loss," he said.
Nyx was the department's first and only police dog. The department has suspended its K9 program and is reviewing its policies, Preciado said.
Alarms will be installed in the K9 patrol car before the department acquires a new police dog, Preciado said. The alarm will come with a key fob that dog handlers will carry that will alert them when the car gets too hot or too cold.


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About Caenorhabditis brenneri
Caenorhabditis brenneri is a small, free-living round worm found in decaying plant material throughout the tropics. The worms feed on the bacteria and other micro-organisms associated with plant decay. The biology of C. brenneri is similar to that of C. elegans with a short generation time through four larval stages into an adult. C.brenneri has both male and female adults, unlike the hermaphroditic species such as C. elegans and C. briggsae.
C. brenneri was previously known as Caenorhabditis n. sp. 4 or PB2801 prior to the type description and renaming in 2007 (Sudhaus & Kiontke). The sequenced strain PB2801 was derived from a wild isolate LKC28, isolated by Hernan Ruiz from the roots of Liriope (Convallariaceae) in 2003, grown in an Costa Rican nursery. The wild isolate was inbred for 20 generations in the lab of Scott Baird by transferral of a single gravid female per generation.
- C. brenneri data at WormBase
- C. brenneri data at WormBase ParaSite
- Roundworm Genome Sequencing white paper
Taxonomy ID 135651
Data source WormBase
Gene annotation
What can I find? Protein-coding and non-coding genes, splice variants, cDNA and protein sequences, non-coding RNAs.
Download genes, cDNAs, ncRNA, proteins - FASTA - GFF3
Comparative genomics
What can I find? Homologues, gene trees, and whole genome alignments across multiple species.
More about comparative analyses
Phylogenetic overview of gene families
Download alignments (EMF)
This species currently has no variation database. However you can process your own variants using the Variant Effect Predictor:


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Find what you are looking for?
Rule the court with the right gear. Step up your performance with platform tennis equipment and accessories.
Platform tennis, or "paddle," is played on a court that is smaller than a traditional tennis court, with a lower net and single lane for play. The paddle tennis court is one-third the size of a traditional tennis court and surrounded by tightly-strung chicken wire. The ball can be bounced off the fencing and still remain in play.
The right paddle helps you step up your game. Gain better control and feel on impact with platform tennis paddles, designed with innovative sharp-hole technology for increased swing speed. Choose a paddle designed with gripping material along the handle for better grip during the game.
Get competitive with paddle gloves and packs of platform tennis balls. Pick up gear from some of the top brands in the sport, including Viking® and Wilson®.
Featured Categories


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Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is a disease of the joints in children. It can affect a child over a long period of time. JRA often starts before the child is 16 years old.
In JRA, the joint becomes swollen. It will make the joint painful and difficult to move. JRA can also lead to long term damage to the joint. For some, JRA can interfere with the child's growth and development.
There are 5 major types of JRA:
JRA is caused by a problem of the immune system. The normal job of the immune system is to find and destroy items that should not be in the body, like viruses. With JRA, the immune system attacks the healthy tissue in the joint. It is not clear why this happens. The immune system problems may be caused by genetics and/or factors in the environment.
Girls are more likely to get JRA than boys.
There are no clear risk factors for JRA. Factors that may be associated with some types of JRA include:
Symptoms may include:
Some symptoms are specific to each type of JRA. For example:
Often, there are remissions and flare-ups. Remission is a time when the symptoms improve or disappear. Flare-ups are times when symptoms become worse.
You will be asked about your child's symptoms. You will also be asked about your family medical history. A physical exam will be done. An eye examination may also be done to check for swelling in the eye. Your child may be referred to a specialist if JRA is suspected. The specialist is a doctor who focuses on diseases of the joints.
Images may be taken of your child's bodily structures. This can be done with x-rays.
Your child's bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
Talk with your doctor about the best plan for your child. The plan will work to control swelling, relieve pain, and control joint damage. The goal is to keep a high level of physical and social function. This will help keep a good quality of life. Treatment options include the following:
There are several types of medication that may be used:
Polyarticular JRA may become inactive in children who begin medications within 2 years of onset.
Exercise is done to strengthen muscles and to help manage pain. Strong nearby muscles will support the joint. It also helps to recover the range of motion of the joints. Normal daily activities are encouraged. Non-contact sports and recreational activities may be good options. Physical activities can also help boost a child's confidence in their physical abilities.
Physical therapy may be needed. This will help to make the muscles strong and keep the joints moving well.
Splints and other devices may be recommended. They may be worn to keep bone and joint growth normal. Some joints may get stuck in a bent position. These devices can help prevent this.
There is no known way to prevent JRA.
American College of Rheumatology
Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Society
Health Canada
Hofer MF, Mouy R, et al. Juvenile idiopathic arthritides evaluated prospectively in a single center according to the Durban criteria. J Rheumatol. 2001. 28:1083.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) enthesitis related. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T506592/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis-JIA...thesitis-related. Updated January 2, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) oligoarticular. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114122/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis...A-oligoarticular. Updated May 24, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) polyarticular. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116580/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthriti...IA-polyarticular. Updated May 24, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) systemic-onset. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115968/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis...A-systemic-onset. Updated January 2, 2017. Accessed December 21, 2017.
JAMA Patient Page. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JAMA. 2005;294:1722.
Petty RE, Southwood TR, et al. Revision of the proposed classification criteria for juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Durban, 1997. J Rheumatol.1998; 25:1991.
2/5/2013 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115968/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis...A-systemic-onset: De Benedetti F, Brunner HI, Ruperto N, et al. Randomized trial of tocilizumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. N Eng J Med. 2012;367(25):2385-95.
2/24/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115968/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis...A-systemic-onset: Limenis E, Grosbein HA, et al. The relationship between physical activity levels and pain in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2014 Feb;41(2):345-351.
9/2/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillancehttp://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115968/Juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis...A-systemic-onset: Guzman J, Oen K, et al. The outcomes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children managed with contemporary treatments: results from the ReACCh-Out cohort. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 May 19.
Last reviewed December 2017 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kassir, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.


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010 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference
This year HAS returns to Tennessee. Our meeting will be on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. Make your plans now for July 8 - 10.
Conference will include:
Classes of interest for beekeepers of all skill level
A 3 day queen rearing mini-course
We will have an apiary and hands on in the hive sessions
A beginners track for new & potential beekeepers every day
Classes on value added products
Instructors will include:
Dr. Thomas Webster Kentucky State University
Dr. John Skinner University of Tennessee
Dr. Greg Hunt Purdue University
Dr. Clarence Collison Mississippi State University
Mike Studer Tennessee Dept. of agriculture State Apiarist
Continue to watch for more information! Pre-registration forms will be available later in the spring & will be posted at this site
If you missed the 2009 meeting at Oberlin, OH, below are links to the related documents.
HAS 2009 schedule Excel
HAS 2009 speaker & session list Word
Web page update
Clinton Bemrose


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Valentines Mixer - Cupid is Stupid
Saturday, Feb 18, 6pm
RSVP to see the exact location
About event
Valentine's Mixer Event - Cupid is Stupid
Join us for a social singles meetup. Feel free to bring a friend.
How to find the group: meeting at the bar (look for the group members)
RSVP to get an email with directions.
This is event is a casual meetup to get to know other single professionals and make new friends.
It's better than a speed dating or other types of singles events where you feel pressure to interact with everyone.
About the group
We are an open minded and positive group of social indivuduals. If you would like to join us and become a member of our group, please remember to act professionally.
Garage and street parking are available (paid and free). Please read the parking signs before you leave your car.


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The following are use regulations applicable to all districts except for uses located in county-adopted state-certified agricultural districts:
Agricultural buildings.
No structure utilized for the housing, care, feeding or processing of livestock shall be placed closer than 75 feet to a residential lot line.
Swimming pools decks.
Swimming pools and decks shall not be closer than 15 feet to a lot line or road line.
Swimming pools shall not be closer than 15 feet to the principal structure for the lot therein.
Swimming pools shall have a fence that is compliant with the Residential Code of New York State.
All other accessory structures and uses.
Accessory structures larger than 1,000 square feet in the MU, CC and MED Districts shall be required to obtain site plan approval. Unless stated otherwise within Articles II through VII, nonagricultural accessory structures in any district that are greater than 4,000 square feet shall be required to obtain site plan approval.
Any use or structure which is permitted as a principal use within an individual zoning district administratively or via the site plan review process shall also be permitted as an accessory use or structure in the same district, subject to the same review and permit procedures as for a principal use.
Accessory structures shall require a building permit from the Jefferson County Fire Prevention and Building Code Department unless meeting the definition of a shed or farm stand within Article I of this chapter.
Accessory structures shall be subject to height restrictions pursuant to the applicable zoning district.
Accessory structures shall be located no closer to a lot line than 10 feet.
A permitted accessory structure that undergoes a change of use shall apply for a change of use permit, similar to any other structure or property.
All such uses shall be at least 1,000 feet from the nearest lot line of any district in which adult entertainment is not a permitted use or any public, private or parochial school, library, park, church, playground or other recreational facility, or any place where large numbers of minors regularly travel or congregate.
All such uses shall be at least 1,000 feet from any municipal boundary.
All such uses shall not be located within a radius of 1,000 feet of any other adult entertainment or adult entertainment retail use.
All building openings, entries, windows, doors, etc., shall be located, covered or opaquely screened in such a manner as to prevent a view into the interior from any public or semipublic place.
Outside advertising for all such uses shall be limited to one advertising sign and shall meet all applicable regulations of Article XIII.
The use shall comply with all site, building, parking, landscaping and other such requirements of this chapter and for the applicable zoning district in which such use is located.
Automotive uses include, but may not be limited to, the following uses:
Automotive repair, limited
Automotive sales and/or rental, limited
Automotive service, limited
Equipment sales, repair or rental
Motor vehicle truck rental establishment
Motor vehicle truck stop
Recreational vehicle sales, repair or rental, highway
Recreational vehicle sales, repair or rental, nonhighway
Setbacks and lot size.
All automotive uses, buildings and accessory structures shall be so arranged and all servicing on the premises shall take place no closer to any lot line than 50 feet.
The nearest edge of fuel pump islands and overhead canopies shall be located a minimum of 30 feet from any lot line.
Below-grade fuel storage tanks shall be not less than 50 feet from the property line. There shall be no aboveground tanks for storage of gasoline, diesel fuel, or oil.
Entrance and exit driveways shall be located at least 10 feet from any side or rear property line.
All junk, waste and servicing materials shall be stored within a structure or enclosed within fencing so as not to be visible from off the property.
All automobile parts, partially dismantled motor vehicles or similar articles shall be stored within a building.
Vehicles awaiting repairs shall be located in an area that is screened from public view.
All repair and service work shall be conducted entirely within either a building or, where deemed appropriate by the Planning Board due to such factors as the size of the property involved and/or its location, shall be conducted entirely within a fenced-in area in which such work is visually screened from all adjoining properties and roadways.
Vehicles requiring such work shall not be stored outdoors for a period exceeding 14 days, unless such vehicles are entirely located within a fenced-in area and are visually screened from all adjoining properties and roadways.
A front yard landscape buffer 15 feet in depth from the property line shall be provided to screen storage areas where the Planning Board deems that a sufficient display of vehicles is achieved.
A side yard landscape buffer 15 feet in depth from the property line shall also be provided if the side yard abuts a public right-of-way or residential lot line.
Landscaping provided within front or side yard buffer areas for automotive uses shall count towards the required planting units as determined by the appropriate zoning classification. Additional plantings may be required at the discretion of the Planning Board to provide sufficient screening.
Vehicle storage and display.
For service and repair establishments without sales, there shall be a limit of 10 registered vehicles stored on site waiting to be serviced, with no more than two unregistered vehicles permitted on site at any time.
For establishments with sales:
There shall be a limit of 10 registered vehicles stored on site waiting to be serviced.
The number of vehicles on any given site shall not exceed 50 per gross acre.
Maximum density pertains to all vehicles on the site, including but not limited to display, storage, repair, customer and employee vehicles. Said vehicles shall be confined to the portions of the site designated for them on the approved site plan.
The densities of vehicles specified in this section may only be achieved if, in the Planning Board's opinion, the site can accommodate such densities without resulting in adverse visual impact.
The site characteristics to be evaluated in this regard shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the size and shape of the lot, the size and shape of the building, existing and proposed vegetation and the site's topography.
The Planning Board shall determine whether any outdoor lifts or display pads for the parking, display or storage of vehicles shall be permitted. Not more than one vehicle display pad or lift, which may be elevated up to three feet in height, shall be permitted per 100 feet of street frontage.
The parking, storage and display of vehicles and equipment along the site's roadway frontage(s) shall not exceed a one vehicle for every 20 feet of frontage, to a maximum of five vehicles or pieces of equipment.
Refueling stations or automotive service stations are permitted one access drive, except stations located on a corner lot shall be permitted one access drive on each street.
All customer parking areas shall be paved. The surfacing of all other areas on site shall be determined by the Planning Board.
Overhead garage doors providing access to maintenance, repair or wash facilities shall not be located facing any street and shall be visually buffered from surrounding residential districts.
Use of a building for residence or sleeping quarters shall not be permitted.
All washing activities shall be carried on within an enclosed building. Vacuuming activities shall be permitted, provided such activities are located at least 50 feet from adjacent residentially zoned or used property.
The proposed installation of essential services in a specific location shall be necessary and convenient for the efficiency of the essential service, or the satisfactory and convenient provision of service to the area in which the particular use is located.
The design of any building or structure in connection with such facility shall conform to the general character of the area and will not adversely affect the safe and comfortable enjoyment of property rights in the district in which it is to be located.
All major electrical transformer facilities or substations, if above ground, shall be screened from view from adjacent residential uses in accordance with the design standards for the appropriate zoning classification and also secured by a fence.
No transformer or associated switches shall be closer than 100 feet to any lot line.
Family/caregiver apartments in any district shall be a maximum of 800 square feet in gross floor area.
No junkyard shall be located within 200 feet of any adjoining property line or within 1,500 feet of any residential building (except that belonging to the owner of the junkyard), public park, church, educational facility, hospital, public building or other place of public gathering, or any stream, lake, pond, wetland, or other body of water.
Junkyards shall be set back at least 1,500 feet from the road line of any public highway.
Junkyards and junk vehicles on any lot in any district must be screened from view from public rights-of-way and neighboring properties through the construction and maintenance of an eight-foot-high opaque fence or screen meeting the requirements of § 158-61A.
All junkyards shall provide secure perimeter fencing six feet in height along the entire circumference of said junkyard operation. All materials dealt with by the operator of the junkyard shall be kept within such fence at all times.
Whenever the junkyard is not open for business, or temporarily not supervised, this fence, and any gate thereto, shall be secured or locked to prevent entry.
Where a junkyard or junk vehicle is or would be visible from a public highway or from neighboring properties, the fence shall be of materials sufficient to screen 100% of views into said junkyard from public rights-of-way and/or residential structures. In addition, the Planning Board shall require planting of evergreen trees or shrubbery between the fence and road line.
The junkyard shall not be used as a dump area by the public, and there will be no burning of automobiles or other materials.
All junkyards and junk vehicles shall conform to the regulations of the Town of LeRay Junkyards and Junk Storage Laws, Chapter 102. The provisions of this chapter shall take precedence and supersede any provisions of the Junkyard Law which are inconsistent with this chapter.
All mobile food service establishments and commissaries must comply with New York State Public Health Law § 225, Part 14-4 of the New York State Sanitary Code. A copy of required permits shall be furnished to the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
There is no size limit to individual mobile food service establishments, except they must meet the following requirements:
The units may only operate on an annual basis between May 1 and October 31.
Units may operate for a period of less than four days without obtaining a permit.
The unit must be a vehicle and not require a special permit from the New York Department of Transportation to be moved.
Mobile food service establishments must be mobile at all times during operation. There is no requirement to move the unit at specific intervals; however, the unit must be on wheels at all times and have no permanent connections to any utility service, including water, sewer, natural gas, propane or electricity.
The unit and all operations and equipment must be integral to the unit.
Mobile food units shall contain no more than 12 cubic feet of storage.
Mobile food service establishments or commissaries shall be required to obtain a zoning permit pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
The density of mobile food service establishments shall not exceed one such establishment per lot, and the site layout for the congregation of multiple establishments shall provide for adequate ingress, egress, customer parking and vehicular circulation space.
A minimum of five off-street parking spaces shall be provided for each mobile food service establishment for use by patrons.
Mobile food service establishments operating within existing parking lots shall not encumber more than 20% of the total number of parking spaces and shall not interfere with the parking lot circulation.
Access and hauling.
Management and access roads shall not be located within 50 feet of a lot line or 150 feet of any residential structure.
Routing of transport vehicles on roads controlled by the local government may be regulated in accordance with the State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
All applicable load hauling permits must be obtained and active with the New York State Department of Transportation.
Mining operations.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulated mining operations. Requirements and conditions concerning setbacks from lot lines and public thoroughfare rights-of-way, natural or man-made barriers to restrict access, dust control, and hours of operation, placed on the mining operation by NYSDEC as part of its permit, shall also become requirements and conditions of the local approval.
Locally regulated mining operation.
No below-ground-level excavation of materials shall be located within 75 feet of any road line or property line.
Where such operations are within 500 feet of a residential structure there shall be screening (approved by the Planning Board) to reduce visibility of the pit and eliminate noise and dust from residential properties.
All excavation slopes in excess of one foot horizontal to two feet vertical shall be completely fenced to prohibit entrance by children and unauthorized individuals.
Access drives within 200 feet of the public road shall be treated to prevent dust.
Drainage facilities shall minimize erosion and stagnant ponds.
Forestry operations.
Required permits.
All relevant permits for stream crossings in accordance with the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act shall be acquired from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Where best management practices are utilized, there may be exemptions for certain stream crossings.
The applicant shall comply with regulations and guidance provided by the NYSDEC relating to residual stand densities for timber harvesting in wetlands.
The applicant shall comply with the New York State Forestry Best Management Practices Field Guide to ensure that road-building and logging activities are planned and conducted in a manner that minimizes impacts on water quality of local watercourses, water bodies and wetlands.
The following criteria shall be utilized by the Planning Board during the site plan review and approval process for apartment buildings, multiple-family dwellings and townhouse clusters.
Adequate provision shall be made for light, air, access, and privacy in the arrangement of buildings.
The front or rear of any principal building shall be no closer to the front or rear of any other principal building than 40 feet.
The front, rear or side of any building or accessory building shall be no closer than 40 feet to a town, county or state highway.
The front, rear, or side of any building or accessory building can be 20 feet from interior roadways.
The side of any principal building shall be no closer to the side, front or rear of any other principal building or to interior roads than 20 feet.
The maximum number of townhouse units within a single townhouse cluster shall be six.
The maximum length of any side of a principal building shall be 180 linear feet.
Any principal building 100 feet in length or more on any side shall provide a recess or projection of the building facade of greater than or equal to four feet, such that no single plane of any facade shall be longer than 80 feet.
No building shall be designed such that an entire facade is lacking in windows, doors, recesses, projections or other architectural articulation.
Parking areas shall be placed to the side and/or rear of buildings, at the discretion of the Planning Board. This requirement excludes individual townhouse dwelling unit garages, driveways and all on-street parking areas.
There shall be required one acre of lot area for each townhouse cluster.
All nightclubs shall cease operation between 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Consistent with the NYSDEC Program Policy Guideline DEP-00-1 "Assessing and Mitigating Noise Impacts," nightclub operations shall not raise the ambient noise level [outside of such operation] above a maximum of 65 dBA.
Noise impacts associated with nightclub activities shall not exceed the lesser of the following, measured at a distance of 50 feet outward from the property boundary:
All nightclub uses shall be at least 500 feet from the nearest lot line in which nightclub entertainment is not a permitted use or any public, private or parochial school, library, park, church, playground or other recreational facility.
The use shall comply with all site, building, parking, landscaping and other such requirements of this chapter and for the applicable zoning district in which such use is located.
The Planning Board may require parking in excess of requirements as stated within this chapter if projected capacity justifies further parking consideration.
Noxious uses shall not be established within 1,500 feet of any off-premises residential structure or within 500 feet of any vacant lot line.
Outdoor activities are defined as any enterprise, operation or activity that occurs in a covered or unroofed area as part of a permitted commercial or industrial use on a lot and any outdoor display of materials, machinery, vehicles or things that may or may not be for sale or rent.
Nonenclosed areas for the storage and sale of seasonal inventory.
These spaces shall be permanently defined and screened with walls or fences.
Materials, colors and design of screening walls or fences shall conform to those used as predominant materials and colors on the building.
If such areas are to be covered, then the covering shall be constructed of permanent materials in character with and similar to the colors and materials on the principal building.
This section shall not apply to temporary seasonal sales uses that have valid temporary use zoning permits.
The following shall apply to outdoor sales:
Storage area shall be permanently defined and screened with walls or fences.
The sales and storage area, including all areas within the defining walls or fences, shall be limited to 25% of the gross area of the lot for the primary use. Combined, they cannot exceed the maximum lot coverage of 35%.
At the discretion of the Planning Board, temporary tents, canopies and tarps shall be permitted.
Setbacks for any sales and/or storage area shall be the same as required for buildings.
One parking space shall be provided for each employee employed within the outdoor sales area.
Saw mills producing up to 50,000 board feet of product per year are permitted as an accessory use to an approved use within AR and MED Districts only.
All saw mills conducted as a principal use on a lot regardless of annual output or location shall be required to obtain site plan approval.
All saw mill activities shall be conducted further than 200 feet from the nearest adjacent residential structure unless contained within an approved enclosed structure meeting requirements of this chapter.
Self-storage storage facility.
All activities associated with the on-site retail sales of storage services, including the lease of fixed, individually secured and self-contained storage lockers or rooms, must occur within a permanent, approved and permitted structure on property owned, operated or otherwise legally controlled by the lessor of said retail storage services.
The minimum lot area shall be one acre, with self-storage buildings required to uphold a setback of 150 feet from the New York State Department of Transportation rights-of-way. All other buildings or structures on site shall meet the setback requirements for the respective zoning classification.
Rental storage units shall be used for storage only. Retail activities, storefronts and office activities shall be allowed on site and may be connected to the storage facility. No storage of perishable items or live animals shall be permitted.
All storage shall be inside an enclosed building; however, any incidental outdoor storage, such as parking for automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and highway and nonhighway recreational vehicles, must be shown on the site plan, and it shall be screened with walls or fences as determined by the Planning Board.
The setback requirements for outdoor storage areas shall be the same as required for buildings.
See the appropriate zoning classification for dimensional and design standard regulations, unless otherwise stated in this section.
Vehicle access shall be designed so as to accommodate auto, van, light-duty trucks and other two-axle vehicles. Internal site circulation lanes shall be adequate in dimensional cross-section, width and turning radii, where applicable, to provide for the maneuverability of fire trucks. Adequate access shall be determined by the Planning Board in consultation with the Highway Superintendent and Fire Districts.
The building spacing must allow for a fire apparatus access lane as required by the New York State Building Code and be designed according to AASHTO standards to accommodate all types of vehicles maneuvering through the entire site.
Decorative buffers and screening in accordance with the appropriate zoning classification shall be provided for aesthetic and security purposes along all site property lines which are contiguous with residentially developed and/or zoned properties.
A front and side yard landscape buffer 15 feet in depth from the property line shall be provided to screen storage areas, except where adjoining development prohibits views to the rear of the property.
In instances where development prohibits views to the rear of the property, landscaping and buffer requirements for the applicable zoning classification shall be determined at the discretion of the Planning Board.
Storage unit doors shall be screened from visibility from public streets to the maximum extent practicable.
One parking space shall be provided for each employee, plus one for every 200 retail storage units. Refer to the appropriate zoning classification for additional requirements. Vehicle parking shall be for customers and employees only while they are on the site.
Temporary portable storage units.
Such units can only be used for the temporary on-site storage of personal property owned, operated or otherwise controlled by the lessee on real property owned, operated or otherwise controlled by the lessee within the permitted time period until such portable storage unit is removed.
The lessee of the portable storage unit shall obtain a zoning permit.
For residential and agricultural uses, a maximum of two temporary portable storage units shall be permitted per lot at the same time.
For nonresidential and nonagricultural uses, up to 10 temporary portable storage units shall be permitted per lot, provided that said units are located to the rear of the building and screened from public areas.
Except as provided in Section § 158-55(B)(8) below, temporary permits shall be for a period of six months. Application may be made for one renewal period not to exceed six months in duration.
The zoning permit can be renewed under extenuating circumstances, but in no way shall the storage units become permanent.
To the maximum extent possible, temporary portable storage units shall be located inside or in rear yards away from public roadways and residential uses.
A temporary portable storage unit shall be allowed for 60 days on a residential or commercial construction site when granted a zoning permit.
Exceptions include the storage of leased units containing personal property of the lessee completely enclosed within a permanent building having four opaque walls and a roof on real property owned, operated or otherwise controlled by the lessor. Any such activity, use or building shall be approved pursuant to the requirements of this chapter and shall not be deemed an accessory use.
The lessor of the unit does have care, custody or control of the customers' goods.
Unleased temporary portable storage units shall be screened from view from public areas.
Motor vehicle storage, wrecker, and equipment uses include, but may not be limited to, the following uses:
In addition to all regulations as described in § 158-44, the following regulations shall apply to uses indicated in § 158-56:
The minimum lot area shall be one acre, with a setback of 300 feet from the New York State Department of Transportation right-of-way.
No facility shall be located within 25 feet of any adjoining residential property line (except that belonging to the owner of the vehicle wrecking and salvage yard) or within 200 feet of an adjacent residential building.
There must be erected and maintained a six-foot-high fence around the facility adequate to prohibit the entrance of children and others into the area. The Planning Board may waive the requirement of fencing where topography or other natural conditions effectively prohibit the entrance of children or others.
Where a facility would be visible from a public highway or from neighboring properties, the fence shall be of wood or other materials sufficient to completely screen the facility from view. In addition, the Planning Board shall require planting of evergreen trees or shrubbery between the fence and the road line. Refer to the design standards for buffers and screens for the appropriate zoning classification.
The amount of vehicles, equipment and materials on any given lot shall not exceed a maximum of 50% of the gross lot area.
Recreational vehicle parks shall be regulated to the standards set forth for manufactured home parks pursuant to § 158-117, with the following exceptions and additions:
Recreational vehicle parks shall be required to obtain site plan approval from the Planning Board.
An overnight recreational vehicle site shall be a minimum 1,500 square feet in size, and 2,500 square feet shall be provided for longer-term vacation camping sites. The site size shall not include roadways, park open space or any utility areas.
The owner or manager of a recreational vehicle park shall maintain an office in the immediate vicinity of the park and shall maintain accurate records of the names of park residents, home addresses and types of vehicles. These records shall be available to any law enforcement official or the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
All recreational vehicle parks shall meet with the requirements of Chapter I, New York State Sanitary Code, Part 7, Subpart 7-1, Temporary Residences and Mass Gatherings, which is adopted herein by reference and shall be subject to any other Town requirements.
Manufactured homes shall not be parked permanently in any recreational vehicle park except for the owner/operator.
Access to all sites shall be consistent with the standards set forth in Policy and Standards for Entrances to State Highways, as revised, published by the State of New York Department of Transportation.
The minimum campsite area shall be 20 feet in width and 40 feet in length.
Each parking space in a recreational vehicle park shall be improved with gravel or better covering, as approved by the Planning Board, in order to maintain a dust- and mud-free condition.
Adequate numbers and locations of restrooms and shower facilities shall be provided, with appropriate parking areas adjacent thereto.
Refuse collection areas shall be provided in key locations throughout the park or campground, with provisions for screening and refuse separation for recycling containers and collection.
All utilities shall be placed underground.
A secondary emergency exit shall be provided and properly signed.


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A New York City mayoral candidate is blasting Saudi Arabian Airlines for refusing service at the city's airports to holders of Israeli passports.
The criticism comes from candidate Bill de Blasio, the New York Post reported.
It's the same issue Washington attorney Jeffrey A. Lovitky has raised, as WND has reported.
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Lovitky called attention to Delta Air Lines' practice of imposing Saudi Arabia's Islamic rules on passengers boarding its flights from Washington and New York bound for the Islamic kingdom.
Later he raised the very concern now being addressed by de Blasio when he challenged a Saudi Arabian Airlines decision to violate the nondiscrimination laws that apply when jets land in the United States.
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Lovitky's criticism of Delta developed when he was working under a cooperative agreement with Saudi Arabia to feature flights directly to the kingdom. But to do that, Delta was asking passengers about their religious affiliation, since Saudi Arabia does not allow Jews to enter.
Eventually, Delta agreed not to ask the questions.
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WND reported two months ago that Lovitky had dispatched a letter to Khalid A. Almolhem, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines in Jeddah.
"The purpose of this letter is to request that Saudi Arabian Airlines immediately discontinue its practice of refusing to sell tickets to persons of Israeli nationality," he wrote, citing the company's online ticketing procedures.
"The website requires the ticket purchase to identify the nationality of the passenger from a dropdown list which reflects every nationality, except for Israeli. It is impossible to purchase a ticket unless the nationality of the passenger is selected from the list on the dropdown screen. As a result, persons of Israeli nationality are precluded from purchasing a ticket through the Saudi Arabian Airlines website."
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Officials at the airline's offices in Jeddah could not be reached immediately, but a screen capture of the website showed there is no option for a person to identify themselves as Israeli.
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Lovitky said while Saudi Arabia has a right to deny visas to Israeli citizens, the kingdom's own rules do not require a visa if the passenger is traveling through Saudi Arabia en route to another location, such as someone wanting to travel from New York to Mumbai through Jeddah.
"However, an Israeli national cannot purchase a ticket on Saudi Arabian Airlines between New York and Mumbai, even if the passport of the Israeli national contains the appropriate visa endorsements from the government of India.
"Simply put," he wrote, "Saudi Arabian Airlines refuses to sell tickets to Israeli nationals, regardless of which country they are going to."
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The Post reported Monday that it had learned that Saudi Arabian Airlines "oversight" doesn't appear accidental because the drop-down menu is so thorough it even has an option for Antarctica.
De Blasio, who expressed alarm, told the newspaper: "No city in the world has closer ties to Israel than we do, and yet Israeli citizens are being discriminated against right here at JFK. It's not only illegal; it's an affront to who we are."
He said he's written to the airline demanding an end to the practice.
The report said a member of de Blasio's staff called the airline requesting a ticket from JFK to Mumbai, India. He was told that was impossible, even though the carrier flies there.
It apparently was because the caller identified himself as Israeli.
"Do you have any other passports, other than the Israeli passport?" the agent asked.
The Post reported that when the agent was told no, he said, "Since you have Israeli nationality, you will not be allowed to go on Saudi Airlines."
U.S. federal law, however, requires that an airline that lands its jets in the U.S. "may not subject a person in air transportation to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry."
WND reported that the Civil Rights Act addresses the issue, as does Title VI.
Copies of Lovitky's letter also went to the Department of State, Department of Transportation, the Saudi Arabian Embassy and others.
It was in 2011 when the earlier dispute arose. Less than two months after WND broke the story about a plan that would have Delta Air Lines impose Saudi Arabia's Islamic rules on Americans in Washington and New York, Delta officials promised not to ask anyone about their religious affiliation.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles said in a statement that the airline, following a meeting with center officials, wrote in a letter to the center that "Delta employees do not currently and will not in future, request that customers declare their religious affiliation. We would also not seek such information on behalf of any Sky Team partner or any airline."
The letter from Andrea Fischer Newman, senior vice president of government affairs, followed a meeting between Delta officials and Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the center about the airline's policy.
"Delta has now done the right thing, sending a signal to the Saudis that it will not cooperate with Riyadh's policy of religious apartheid," Cooper said. "We hope that all other U.S.-based airlines and around the world will declare and follow a similar policy.
"We also urge the Obama administration to lead the way in demanding that the Saudis drop their overt policy of religious discrimination," Cooper said.
The airline declined to respond to a request from WND for a comment on the situation, or to explain how such a commitment might affect its contractual arrangements with Saudi Arabian Airlines for Delta to fly into the closed kingdom.
But actor and talk radio host Fred Grandy, who raised the issue before members of Congress, told WND at the time, "Delta passengers have won a significant victory over creeping Shariah. Hopefully, what the Saudis have learned from this experience is that while international corporations and government officials may look the other way at religious discrimination, American air travelers will not."
The meeting and statements followed weeks of mounting criticism from Jews, Christians, Hindus and others who may have been targeted by Delta's procedures.
The controversy became public after Lovitky questioned the airline about its plans to discriminate – on the U.S. soil of Washington and New York airports – against Jews and prevent them from boarding flights to Saudi Arabia – based on the religious discrimination present in that nation.
The American Center for Law and Justice called on the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress to investigate the relationship between Delta Air Lines and Saudi Arabian Airlines over the government-owned Saudi operation's discrimination against Jews.
And ACLJ chief Jay Sekulow noted that Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., sent a letter to the FAA requesting a probe into the matter "to determine whether Delta Air Lines violated U.S. law or regulation and to ensure no U.S. citizen is denied their right to fly solely on the basis of their religion."
Larry Klayman, the Washington attorney who founded Judicial Watch and now is of Freedom Watch USA, told WND at the time that Delta had joined Barack Obama in "kowtowing" to "nefarious Muslims."
His reference was to the image of Barack Obama greeting the Saudi king with a bow.
|Obama bowing to Saudi Arabian leader
The dispute even pulled the Saudi government into the fray.
"Rumors being circulated via the Internet regarding passenger flight restrictions on Saudi Arabian Airlines are completely false. The government of Saudi Arabia does not deny visas to U.S. citizens based on their religion," the government said in a statement.
"Liars," said Pamela Geller on her Atlas Shrugs blog. She noted that on Delta stated on its own website, "The government of Saudi Arabia refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel."
Delta's website also stated, "Visitors holding passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp could be refused entry."
WND reported earlier the issue first was presented to Congress, the public and others by talk radio host and former congressman Fred Grandy, whose engaged in his own battle against discrimination when his former radio station demanded he tone down criticism of Islam on his program. He then left the station.
Grandy and "Mrs. Fred" – Catherine – were interviewed by Talk 1200 show host Jeff Katz about the controversy, which was described as "outrageous."
"Creeping Shariah? Now [it is] jetspeed Shariah. Hat's off to Delta. It looks like Delta will be the first Shariah-compliant airline in the United States," Catherine Grandy said.
Katz noted, "As a Jewish man, I might not be able to fly on Delta Air Lines in the future."
Fred Grandy told Katz that he spent time in Washington briefing members of Congress and other policy makers "on this kind of threat."
"This creeping Shariah, economic jihad, gets you everywhere you turn," Catherine Grandy said. "This is just not right. I'm sure this will be tested."


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THE BRAZEN CAREERIST- Procrastination works: When late is more than better than never
My second son was born a year and a half ago with hemifacial microsomia, which means half of his face is deformed.
I knew the minute he came out. I tried to tell myself that maybe it was because babies' heads are scrunched right after vaginal birth. I went nuts. I summoned every available professional– there were very few that late at night– for a diagnosis.
He did not pass his hearing test, and one kidney did not look right. The doctor told me that the kidney problem is common, and he just won't be able to play contact sports.
I must have looked really bad because social workers started streaming in. I am crying so hard it takes five minutes to tell my brother that my husband will die when he hears this so I have to hide it from him forever.
This is when my brother says, "I'm coming there."
I say, "No. I don't want you to see the baby."
The world can publish ten thousand books about how parents love any child they get. And it's true, but it's also true that there's a moment, a short moment, when you think you might die from the news.
My husband came back right after my phone call to my brother, walked in, and I said, "The baby is deformed." "You think I can't see that?," he said. "I know."
We took the baby home two days later. We diagnosed him by looking at pictures on the Internet. We were absolutely stunned to see a whole population of children who had the same weird deformity.
I brought him to New York University's Crainiofacial Clinic. Hemifacial microsomia is a complicated deformity because it can affect eyes, ears, nose and throat, all at once. Many specialists work together to come up with a plan for surgery. At my son's doctor's appointment, I presented him at the front of a room, with a social worker next to me, while fifteen doctors asked questions and examined him.
My son's surgery was performed by the best team in the country for hemifacial microsomia. All the doctors were incredibly compassionate. The support team of social workers, speech pathologists, and administrators always knew what my son and my family needed before we did, and they figured out how to get it. My son has a scar, and his face is a little uneven, but many people don't even notice at first glance.
I told myself that I should write thank you notes because the team at NYU changed my son's life and helped my family at a time when we really needed it. That was six months ago. It's been on my to-do list for six months.
Last week I admitted to myself that my son will probably need more surgery once his jaw grows to full size. And I thought, Oh my gosh, I had better write those thank you notes or we won't get into NYU for the next round of surgery.
So tonight, I finally wrote them. There were a lot. Each note made me cry. I thought about how much people did for us. How kind they were. How fragile I was. How tiny the baby was. Everything. Every sentence made me cry.
And I learned a bit about procrastination. I had been so angry at myself for waiting so long to write these thank you notes. But I do not procrastinate because I am lazy or unorganized. I am not those things. I procrastinated because I could not bring myself to think about the operation again. I was not emotionally capable of writing the notes until tonight. Sometimes procrastination is the best tool we have for taking care of ourselves.
2 comments
Your story is wonderful. I'm amazed you were able to write thank yous after 6 months! My son was born with a life threatening birth defect. I scoured the internet too and ended up giving birth at New York Presbyterian because their pediatric surgery team was the best for his defect. He will be four next week and, although I did write thank yous (when he was 8 months old or so), I am just now really recovering emotionally.
I think you are very brave and smart for giving yourself a break -- procrasination (and a short one at that!) is a good thing in these cases. Good luck with everything and take care of your self.
I was born with Hemifacial Micorsomia in 1952. My life has been entirely normal. When I was little I'd get other kids asking what happened to my right ear but since I've become an adult the comments have been so rare that I honestly can't remember the last time someone asked. Over the years I've met 5 others with the same condition and we all have lived very average lives. About 13 years ago I met the mother of an 8 year old with the condition who'd done a lot of studying on the subject. She told me something I hadn't known, that it's very common for children with Hemifacia Microsomia to be well above average in intelligence. (not to blow my own horn but I was blessed in that department too) I think your child will live a better life than I did because there have been so many advancements in the past 55 years that he can take advantage of.
Best wishes to you both.
Robert Jensen