Lt. Lavine is Female and Orthodox

Pikesville VFC makes history
By MICHAEL SCHWARTZBERG Senior Correspondent
1st Responder Network
Story Number 073108127


By Andrea Lavine
Andrea Lavine has been elected 3rd EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Lieutenant at Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company, marking the first time a female Orthodox Jewish volunteer in Baltimore County has held such a rank.
A Pikesville woman who balances being a wife, mother of two teenage daughters, and a career as a hospital-based pediatric social worker has been elected 3rd EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Lieutenant at Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company, marking the first time a female Orthodox Jewish volunteer in Baltimore County has held such a rank.“I wanted to be an EMS provider since age seven and thought about it seriously when I was 18 but was concerned how I would balance that with my Orthodox lifestyle,” said Lt. Andrea Ziv Lavine, who in addition to being elected as a lieutenant was also named PVFC’s EMS Provider of the Year for 2007. “When I married I remained interested but ignorant of my options.” As Lavine embarked on her career she met a volunteer, educated herself about the options, and decided to apply – after her husband completed his PhD.Lavine said the 1970s television show Emergency! played a significant role in her decision to become a volunteer EMS provider. “Ever since watching that show I wanted to be the one to be there in the moment of crisis to help people through,” she said.Lavine, who is in her 30s, officially joined PVFC in June 2005 and has been riding Medic 325 ever since. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I have had over the past three years and for the learning experiences that have enriched my life.”Being an Orthodox female in a firehouse – somewhat of an unusual place to find a mother who wears a skirt over her pants and covers her hair – hasn’t been an issue for Lavine. “I think my acceptance of others has helped with their acceptance of me,” she said. “I had to prove myself as a provider and a productive member of the company to be accepted.”In 2007, Lavine answered more than 130 calls as a volunteer, and responded on 20 more as one of the company’s part-time paid medical staff. Her 15-year-old daughter is also involved with the fire service, having earlier this year joined the Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums of Greater Baltimore, a bagpipe and drum band comprised of firefighters and family members of firefighters from the Baltimore metropolitan area (including two husband-and-wife pairs from PVFC). Next year when she turns 16, she plans to join PVFC as a Junior member. In addition to Lavine, PVFC’s roster includes a number of other Orthodox Jewish members, and a significant number of recent recruits to the company have been Orthodox. Lavine and her family attend Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim Congregation.PVFC’s ambulance, staffed with volunteer personnel, averages about 1,800 calls per year. In addition to funds raised through community donations, the unit receives significant financial support from Save-A-Heart and Covenant Guild.

Madison Ave meets Hezbollah

Korean U.N. soldiers secure the area near a banner erected by Hezbollah that reads:' Freedom guaranteed by Nasrallah, humiliation guaranteed by Olmert,' in preparation for the swap of prisoners between Israel and Hezbollah in the southern Litani River, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 15, 2008. In Lebanon, preparations were underway to welcome the prisoners. Red, white and green Lebanese flags, yellow Hezbollah flags and welcome banners were being hung in south Lebanon villages where the coffins will be driven in a convoy from the south to Beirut.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Just glad they're not exploiting this too much. Certainly there are many residents of Lebanon who need an English translation.

What would/do the UN forces do excatly?

A U.N boat patrols the Mediterrenean coast during Hezbollah and Israel swap of the remains of two Israeli solders and Hezbollah and Palestinian fighters in the shouthern Lebanese Naqoura border cross July 16, 2008. Five Lebanese prisoners crossed into Lebanon after they were freed by Israel on Wednesday as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah, Hezbollah's al-Manar television station reported.REUTERS/ Sharif Karim (LEBANON)



Exactly what would the UN forces on the ship do? The UN forces could do the exact same job sitting in dry dock. The UN has done a bang up job enforcing Resolution 1701 and in Darfur and...

Hamas members born with smuggling gene

Haniyeh: Hamas won't halt smuggling into Gaza
Jun 20, 2008 19:48 Updated Jun 20, 2008 20:04

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh denied on Friday that Hamas had agreed to stop weapons-smuggling efforts on Gaza's border with Egypt as part of the cease-fire deal with Israel, and claimed that it was incapable of such action.

According to a Reuters report, Haniyeh - speaking to worshipers ahead of Friday prayers in Gaza City - said: "We cannot talk about stopping smuggling because it is something beyond our ability as a government and we did not give a commitment in this regard."
Haniyeh added that Hamas would not force other organizations in Gaza to abide by the truce, but added that they had nevertheless agreed to it voluntarily.
In response government spokesperson Mark Regev said that the cease-fire agreement included a halt to weapons-smuggling and to attacks by all Gaza groups.
"Anyone who says otherwise apparently wants to destroy the calm before it has a chance to really succeed," he said.

Infidel can you spare a billion or two?

Assad says talks with Israel need US sponsor
By BARBARA SURK, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 3, 12:34 PM ET
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Syria's president said he was willing to hold direct peace talks with Israel in the future under U.S. sponsorship, laying out his vision of how negotiations could progress.

It just means Assad wants to pickpocket the US taxpayers. Sure Assad wants peace (at a price, footed by the US Taxpayer) if Israel returns the Golan which Syria formerly occupied after the War of Independance.

Spaceballs Merchandising

Merchandising where the real money is

Last update - 22:35 02/06/2008 Olmert to Abbas: PA bid to curb our Europe ties 'unacceptable' By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: Ehud Olmert, Peace, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday protested to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas efforts by his government to curb Israel's burgeoning relations with Europe and the international community. At the meeting at Olmert's Jerusalem residence, the prime minister mentioned letters sent by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in which Fayyad requested they not upgrade ties with Israel in light of ongoing settlement building, and lack of progress in peace talks. Olmert told Abbas: "This is completely unacceptable to us, and does not represent the relations today between the sides, and returns us to the negative rhetoric of the preceding period." He was referring to the hostilities of the second intifada when the Palestinian Authority was under the control of its late chairman Yasser Arafat. For their part, the Palestinians at the meeting condemned the government's approval for plans to build nearly 900 additional homes for Israelis in east Jerusalem.
So basically the Arabs can continue terrorized and kill even after retreating from Lebanon, retreating from Gaza and offering them 1/2 of Jerusalem, 90% of Yehuda/Shomron, and giving back the Golan. BUT don't mess with commerce. That's a real redline.