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  New owner of 'JW ' 124 Columbia Heights in Brooklyn, New York, Vincent Viola, has withdrawn his name from consideration for Army secretary.

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  http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dff5863268a846bb9c8efea1523f249b/trumps-nominee-army-secretary-withdraws-his-name.

  ' cited his inability to successfully navigate the confirmation process and defense department rules concerning family businesses.'.

  trump's nominee for army secretary withdraws his name.

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  http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dff5863268a846bb9c8efea1523f249b/trumps-nominee-army-secretary-withdraws-his-name

  
  

  ' cited his inability to successfully navigate the confirmation process and Defense Department rules concerning family businesses.'

  
  

  Trump's nominee for Army secretary withdraws his name

  By JULIE PACE

  Feb. 4, 2017 1:19 AM EST

  
  

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's nominee for Army secretary, businessman Vincent Viola, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the post.

  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was disappointed but understood and respected Viola's decision, a Pentagon statement said. Mattis will recommend to Trump another candidate soon, the statement said.

  A Trump administration official confirmed Friday night that Viola had withdrawn. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

  The Military Times reported that Viola said in a statement he was "deeply honored" to be nominated but cited his inability to successfully navigate the confirmation process and Defense Department rules concerning family businesses.

  Viola was the founder of several businesses, including the electronic trading firm Virtu Financial. He also owns the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers and is a past chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

  A 1977 West Point graduate, Viola trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. In 2003, he founded and helped fund the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.'

  
  

  https://www.jw.org/en/news/releases/by-region/united-states/witnesses-sell-property-124-columbia-heights/

  
  

  http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2016/5/2/jehovahs-witnesses-sell-124-columbia-heights-florida-panthers-owner-vincent-viola
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  Jalessa Castillo, a Jehovah Witness Pioneer, who joined The Orlando Times Team, maintains a 3.75 Grade Point Average at Valencia College.

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  http://www.orlando-times.com/the_journey_of_jalessa_526.html.

  the orlando times.

  home.

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  http://www.orlando-times.com/the_journey_of_jalessa_526.html

  
  

  The Orlando Times

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  The Journey Of Jalessa

  The Journey Of Jalessa Castillo
  Young Journalist Latest To Join The Orlando Times Team
  
  
  BY DEVIN HEFLIN
  ORLANDO - A childhood passion has transitioned to a beginning career profession for one young writer. Jalessa Castillo, 18, who started in the field of journalism as a student at West Orange High School, has continued her journey through this field as a reporter, graphic designer and social media manager for The Orlando Times newspaper.
  She started work with the publication on June 25, 2016 and has since covered topics which range from the Flint Water Crisis, Better Wages for Women workers and the local East Orange County Water Crisis which was identified by commissioners in that area of Orlando.
  Castillo tells of what inspired her to want to become a journalist, “I always liked to write, since I was younger, so as I got older, I started trying different avenues for writing. I felt like journalistic writing was my thing and I was good at it.”
  In her writing process, Castillo works first on the intro and conclusion of the story, then fields her references to complete the feature.
  “I like writing fun articles like the one on amusement parks which are opening but I also like research. One of my favorite stories was coverage of the pay gap between men and women and about the Orange County Water Crisis.” she said.
  She was a solid student while enrolled at West Orange High School, who was adored by teachers and her peers alike. While a student at West Orange, Castillo participated and produced pages on behalf of West Orange High School to fit into The Orlando Times newspaper, as part of the publication’s High School Page Placement Program. She was the Blade’s editor, the name of West Orange’s student produced publication.
  Castillo is currently a student at Valencia College West Campus. Her major is journalism and she takes a mixture of online and on campus classes.
  “I felt it would be good to go towards that field while also getting experience here.” She said.
  Castillo graduated West Orange High School with a Merit Diploma and remained on the honor roll for the entirety of her high school career.
  She received the Academic Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and has made the President’s Honor roll for her first full freshman year semester at Valencia College. Her current Grade Point Average is a 3.75.
  Her hobbies are reading, writing and drawing. She has two older Brothers, Jordan and Jason and a younger sister, Jazlene.
  “My daughter is a gift from God and she has made us very proud.” Her father, John Castillo. “She is spiritually oriented and demonstrates qualities such as humility, kindness, honesty, generosity and responsibility”.
  The Queens, New York native, is also active as a Jehovah Witness. She works as Pioneer for the Kingdom Hall, which volunteers for door to door services on a monthly basis to help spread the word and mission of Kingdom Hall.
  Her mentor in the faith, Adrian Nesbeth, has worked with Castillo for many years. “Jalessa is a bright and personable individual with impeccable integrity, tenacity and overall love for humanity. A gifted writer, a lifelong learner and someone destined to succeed at whatever she does because she has commitment to quality.”
  Of her most challenging story of her career to date, Castillo remembers her assignment to cover the East Orange County Water Crisis, which required a depth of research and knowledge of the chemicals and substances to report on in the story.
  Castillo cites her mom as her greatest inspiration. “We’ve always been very close and I’ve seen her being down to being at the top of her game.” She said.
  “I am so proud of my daughter. “ Her mother, Jody said. “She is the first in her immediate family to attend college and follow her dreams of becoming a journalist.”
  “If your school has a newspaper staff or a yearbook staff, join those. That will give you a taste of what to expect. Experience is very important.” Castillo gave her advice to students interested in pursuing journalism.
  “I’m blessed to be here and work with those that are more experienced than I am and I appreciate the experience to be able to learn and grow with them.” She said.
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  4

  Lucky Jehovah Witness Refugee makes it to Phoenix

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  https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-refugees-tears-and-relief-1486165137.

  double celebration.

  phoenix—six years ago, yosan tesfay sneaked across the border from her home country of eritrea to ethiopia to flee religious persecution.

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  https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-refugees-tears-and-relief-1486165137

  Double Celebration

  PHOENIX—Six years ago, Yosan Tesfay sneaked across the border from her home country of Eritrea to Ethiopia to flee religious persecution. This Wednesday, the Jehovah’s Witness made it into the U.S. just before the doors shut to refugees for at least four months.

  

  Yosan Tesfay walks with Julie Black and other members of the International Rescue Committee to the baggage claim area after arriving from Ethiopia.

  After a three-day odyssey, which included a nerve-racking secondary inspection at Los Angeles International Airport, Ms. Tesfay emerged bleary-eyed at the airport in Phoenix ready to begin her new life in America alone.

  Ms. Tesfay’s eyes welled with tears as she spotted welcome posters hoisted by volunteers and staff from the International Rescue Committee, the agency settling her in Phoenix.

  “I’m very, very happy,” she said, her voice breaking, two days before her 29th birthday.

  

  Ms. Tesfay hangs her clothes at her hotel room after arriving in Phoenix on Feb. 1.

  

  Yosan Tesfay sees her hotel room after arriving in Phoenix from Ethiopia on Feb. 1.

  Ms. Tesfay said she nearly died from food deprivation and beatings during the year that she was imprisoned for her religious beliefs and for refusing to serve in the military, which goes against the practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She fled her home country in 2011 to neighboring Ethiopia, where she received refugee designation from the U.N.

  Her wait thus began for a new country to call home. Ms. Tesfay had no idea whether she would end up in Europe or North America.

  A year ago, she was summoned to begin a process that involved interviews, security checks, finger printing and physical exams. As it unfolded, she was informed the U.S. had selected her for resettlement.

  Three weeks ago, Ms. Tesfay learned she would be Phoenix-bound Jan. 31. As she prepared to leave, she heard about the resettlement suspension. “They told me I was one of the lucky ones. I thanked God,” she said.

  

  Ms. Tesfay resettled into her Phoenix apartment on Friday, her 29th birthday, in Glendale, Ariz. She heard about the resettlement suspension as she prepared to leave Ethiopia. ‘They told me I was one of the lucky ones. I thanked God,’ she said.

  The IRC in Phoenix, which helped about 1,200 refugees last year, had expected 10 cases—individuals or families—this week. Travel was canceled for all of them due to the ban, except Ms. Tesfay.

  “She is literally our last case,” said Nicky Walker, an IRC manager who was at the airport.

  —Reported by Miriam Jordan; photographs by Sandy Huffaker for The Wall Street Journal, Caitlin O’Hara for The Wall Street Journal

  
  
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  3

  Federal lawsuit says fingerprint check is “mark of the devil,” baring former school bus driver entry into heaven.

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  citing the book of revelation - federal lawsuit says fingerprint check is “mark of the devil,” baring former school bus driver entry into heaven.. .

  http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2017/01/former-bus-driver-files-lawsuit/.

  former bus driver files lawsuit.

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  Citing the Book of Revelation - federal lawsuit says fingerprint check is “mark of the devil,” baring former school bus driver entry into heaven.

  
  

  http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2017/01/former-bus-driver-files-lawsuit/

  
  

  Former bus driver files lawsuit

  LOCAL NEWS

  JAN 23, 2017

  

  
  

  
  

  
  A former bus driver for the company that transports students within the Altoona Area School District has filed a federal lawsuit claiming religious discrimination, stating she was terminated from the job she had for 14 years after refusing to be fingerprinted.

  
  

  In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown, Bonnie F. Kaite of the Juniata section of Altoona, said she was required to undergo a criminal background check 14 months ago as part of a recently passed state law.

  The background investigation included a fingerprint check.

  She told her employer, Altoona Student Transportation Inc., a for-profit company contracted by the school district to provide transportation for more than 4,500 students daily, that it was against her Christian religious beliefs to be fingerprinted.

  She cited the Book of Revelation prohibiting the “mark of the devil,” which she maintains includes fingerprinting.

  In the lawsuit prepared by Pittsburgh attorneys Samuel J. Cordes and Nicholas A. Krakoff, she stated she believes being fingerprinted will bar her entry into heaven.

  Kaite requested that her religious beliefs be accommodated and that the background check include other methods to conform to

  the law.

  “Despite Kaite’s request for an accommodation for her religious beliefs, (her employer) informed her on or around Dec. 30, 2015, that no accommodations were available and that due to her failure to comply with the fingerprinting requirement, she was terminated effective Dec. 31, 2015,” the lawsuit stated.

  She filed a religious discrimination charge with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission last March.

  The federal EEOC issued a notice of her right to sue on Oct., 31, 2016

  ___________________________________________

  Interesting exactly 100 years before EEOC issued a notice of her right to sue, The Ladeocian Messenger, and "faithful and wise servant", Charles Taze Russell passed away.

  https://archive.org/details/TheLaodiceanMessenger
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  Vigil held for Burney man who died after being set on fire

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  vigil help for burney man who died after being set on fire.

  community members shared their memories of wicks, a member of the jehovah's witness hall in burney.

  many of them remember him from his post at the shell station, where he worked along with his wife.

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  http://www.onenewspage.us/video/20170122/6607466/Wicks-followup.htm
  

  
  

  More than 400 people packed the Burney High School gymnasium for the service, which touched on Wicks’ life, his large family and reinforced his faith and the faith of most in attendance.

  Wicks, a lifelong musician, was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness in 2006, which came after meeting his wife, Sonja, who introduced him to the church. Wicks himself had long been searching for meaning in life through religion, Minner said.

  “He had a fire in his heart to learn about the Bible,” Minner said of Wicks.

  Benton also spoke of Wicks’ generosity. He recounted the story of a woman and her child who came to the Burney area without food or money. Wicks took extra food from the Shell station hot case and gave it to them at the end of each day.

  That same woman would later tell Benton of Wicks, “That man kept us alive,” Benton said.

  “He was very happy, always had a smile or a joke and a little song,” he said.

  
  

  http://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2017/01/21/family-friends-remember-david-wicks-memorial/96884322/
  
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  Friend of JW Woman Killed in Shirley Gas Pump Crash Speaks Out (Long Island)

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  http://abc7ny.com/news/friend-of-woman-killed-in-shirley-gas-pump-crash-speaks-out/1705396/.

  ms. koenig was a devoted member of the jehovah's witnesses.delgaudio says they studied the bible together, and became best friends.

  "she was always there for me if i needed her, she was like a mother to me, so i kind of feel like i lost a mother," delgaudio said.. .

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  http://abc7ny.com/news/friend-of-woman-killed-in-shirley-gas-pump-crash-speaks-out/1705396/

  
  

  
  

  Ms. Koenig was a devoted member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
  
  Delgaudio says they studied the Bible together, and became best friends.
  
  "She was always there for me if I needed her, she was like a mother to me, so I kind of feel like I lost a mother," Delgaudio said.

  
  

  http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Woman-Crashes-Into-Gas-Pump-Seriously-Injures-Another-Police-Shirley-Mobil-Gas-Station-410746485.html

  
  
  http://nypost.com/2017/01/15/woman-hit-by-car-at-gas-station-has-died/
  
  
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  Vigil held for Burney man who died after being set on fire

  by no password in

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  vigil help for burney man who died after being set on fire.

  community members shared their memories of wicks, a member of the jehovah's witness hall in burney.

  many of them remember him from his post at the shell station, where he worked along with his wife.

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  “He was a good Christian man,” McNealy said. “He joked with everyone and was just a good human being.”....

  
  

  Wicks and his wife, Sonja Wicks, were Jehovah’s Witnesses in Johnson Park, according to an obituary written by his friends.

  He met his wife in 2001 while playing in a band at a club in Burney. They married in 2002 and were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2006. He preached to his neighbors and met with strangers as part of ministry work that was a large part of his life.

  The Jehovah’s Witness congregation meets off Highway 299 in Johnson Park, down the street from where Wicks worked.

  He is survived his mother, Karen Deriso, sons Justin and David Wicks, daughter Megan Wicks, stepdaughter, Yvonne Hand, and grandchildren.

  
  

  http://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2017/01/18/friends-honor-david-wicks-man-killed-december/96706620/

  
  

  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-murder-arrest-gas-station-clerk-burned-alive-burney-20170120-story.html

  
  
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  Vigil held for Burney man who died after being set on fire

  by no password in

  1. social
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  vigil help for burney man who died after being set on fire.

  community members shared their memories of wicks, a member of the jehovah's witness hall in burney.

  many of them remember him from his post at the shell station, where he worked along with his wife.

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  Vigil organizer Kyle Cantrell knew Wicks well, as did so many in the community.

  “If you ask anyone in this town, one of their favorite people, they're going to tell you, Dave down there at the gas station, down at the Shell,” Cantrell said. “(He would) give you the shirt off his back, standup guy, very Christian like, a man of his faith, (he was) just the nicest guy you'd ever meet and so many people are heartbroken. (There’s) a lot of confusion, you know, why him?"

  
  

  http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/friends-and-family-remember-david-wicks-with-candlelight-vigil/

  
  

  The entire event took no more than 15 seconds,

  
  

  https://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/well-liked-california-store-clerk-doused-with-flammable-liquid-and-set-on-fire/comments/#disqus
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  'Happy birthday to writer and rock star Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith, born Chicago, Ill. 70 years ago today.'

  by no password in

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  'happy birthday to writer and rock star patricia lee “patti” smith, born chicago, ill. 70 years ago today.

  her family moved to philadelphia and eventually new jersey, where she was raised.

  her mother was a devout jehovah’s witness which informed patti’s religious views, both pro- and anti-.'.

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  http://www.wnyc.org/story/patti-smith-never-wanted-to-be-famous/
  
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  'Happy birthday to writer and rock star Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith, born Chicago, Ill. 70 years ago today.'

  by no password in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  'happy birthday to writer and rock star patricia lee “patti” smith, born chicago, ill. 70 years ago today.

  her family moved to philadelphia and eventually new jersey, where she was raised.

  her mother was a devout jehovah’s witness which informed patti’s religious views, both pro- and anti-.'.

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  http://culture.blog.austin360.com/2016/12/30/happy-70th-birthday-to-the-great-patti-smith/

  
  

  'Happy birthday to writer and rock star Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith, born Chicago, Ill. 70 years ago today. Her family moved to Philadelphia and eventually New Jersey, where she was raised. Her mother was a devout Jehovah’s Witness which informed Patti’s religious views, both pro- and anti-.'

  
  She spent her early childhood in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia,[11]before her family moved to Pitman, New Jersey[12] and later to The Woodbury Gardens section of Deptford Township, New Jersey.[13][14] Her mother was a Jehovah's Witness. Patti had a strong religious upbringing and a Bible education, but left organized religion as a teenager because she felt it was too confining; much later, she wrote the line "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" in her cover version of Them's "Gloria" in response to this experience.[15] She has described having an avid interest in Tibetan Buddhism around the age of eleven or twelve, saying "I fell in love with Tibet because their essential mission was to keep a continual stream of prayer," but that as an adult she sees clear parallels between different forms of religion, and has come to the conclusion that religious dogmas are "... man-made laws that you can either decide to abide by or not."[16]
  

  
  

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Smith

  
  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xACZHv-sLCg

  
  

  Smith's family moved to Philadelphia in 1950 and then to Woodbury, New Jersey, in 1956, when she was 9 years old.

  A tall, gangly and sickly child with a lazy left eye, Smith's outward appearance and shy demeanor gave no hint of the groundbreaking rock star she would become. However, Smith says she always knew that she was destined for greatness. "When I was a little kid, I always knew that I had some special kind of thing inside me," she remembered. "I mean, I wasn't attractive, I wasn't very verbal, I wasn't very smart in school. I wasn't anything that showed the world I was something special, but I had this tremendous hope all the time. I had this tremendous spirit that kept me going... I was a happy child, because I had this feeling that I was going to go beyond my body physical... I just knew it."

  http://www.biography.com/people/patti-smith-9487150#synopsis

  http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_jw.html