Engineers

Throughout U.S. history, engineers have overcome technological challenges, discovering how to explore the ocean floor, the mountains of the moon and everything in between. Engineers are the architects of the standard of living of the developed world. But in recent years engineers have in many instances been stymied in building needed projects because of their inability to confront political issues. Engineers have simply been out-maneuvered by those with a high degree of political sophistication on such issues as highway construction, solid waste disposal, the Clean Air Act, construction of transmission lines and storage of low-level radioactive waste.

With DePaul University assistant coach Nicci Hays-Fort looking on, Keisha Hampton gave an up-close look of what the Blue Demons can expect when the 6-foot-2 center arrives in Chicago. From the herculean effort Hampton put forth last night, expect DePaul head coach Doug Bruno to receive a glowing report. Actually, an out-of-this-world report. Hampton poured in a career-high 40 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, blocked four shots, and made two steals to power Engineering and Science to a 55-36 rout of Allentown Central Catholic in a PIAA Class AAA second-round state playoff matchup at Norristown.

Seventh and eighth graders with a creative spirit and an interest in engineering are invited to enter the National Engineers Week Future City Competition, which will begin in September. The competition challenges student teams to design a city of the future using computer software and three-dimensional scale models. They also must write an essay about their cities, addressing such issues as pollution, transportation and communications. "It enables them to see how engineers work . . . the rigorousness of design, procedure, working together to a common plan, a common goal," said John Kampmeyer, coordinator for the Philadelphia Regional Future City Competition.

Certain members of the South Philadelphia Stars had more on their minds Sunday than winning an American Legion baseball game. Like, seizing an advantage in mind games. "It was going back and forth the whole time," Al Piccoli said. " 'We're going to beat you guys.' . . . 'No, we're going to beat you guys.' . . . 'We're just not going to beat you. We're going to kill you.' . . . 'No you're not.' " The friendly banter could be traced to the fact that Al Piccoli, and his brother, Chris, play their Public League ball for Engineering and Science, while fellow Stars Dominic Raia, Ty Bradley, Jason Parr, Jim Silvanio and Joe Destra represent Southern.

Justin Scott loves basketball and wants to remain involved in the game long-range, so he plans on becoming a broadcaster. We wonder what his comment would have been yesterday, after Engineering and Science fell into a 19-3 hole in a Public League game against visiting University City. "Hmm," he said. "I probably would have said, 'They look like they're scared. They look like they don't have any heart.' " That's probably what he would have said. But here's what he was thinking.

Donald D. Meisel of Marple Township has been named a fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. Meisel is a professional engineer who is president of the Ambric Companies, an engineering and materials testing organization in Philadelphia. He was honored for his efforts to promote the free movement of graduate engineers between Ireland and the United States, as well as helping to establish other professional links between the two countries. He is also one of the few Americans to holding registration as a Euro Engineer (Eur-Ing)

Lynn Greer is one of the anti-franchises in city scholastic basketball. He doesn't show off, doesn't run his mouth, doesn't shirk his classroom responsibilities, doesn't threaten to transfer any time he is not passed the ball on three consecutive trips down the court. What he does is play hard with team goals in mind when wearing a uniform, and behave like a model citizen, unceasingly, when wearing street clothes. Lynn Greer is what can happen when a youngster receives loving and persistent familial support.

Middletown supervisors have approved pay increases for the township's solicitor and its engineers despite objections from a supervisor who wanted a study conducted to see whether the increases would be a burden to the taxpayers. The supervisors voted, 3-1, Tuesday to enact a resolution calling for the increase. Board member George Marcellus, the lone dissenter, said he wanted to postpone the raises until the township could research the financial effect. "I think we are talking significant money," he said.

It was "purely accidental" that Richard Kellerman and Paul Nielsen developed an electronic system that would help rowers all over the world. The two men were working for Xerox Corp. in 1978 when the rowing coach at the University of Pennsylvania, a friend of a friend, started bringing Kellerman things that needed fixing. Kellerman, a chemical engineer, passed most of the odd jobs on to Nielsen, a physical engineer. The two tinkered away and realized that they probably could make most of the things they were repairing.

It's still January, but it has already been a long season for Lincoln basketball fans. With Engineering and Science visiting Tuesday, most fans - and Lincoln coach Charlie Davis - had hoped that the Railsplitters could notch their first league win of the year. But the Engineers (5-9 overall, 2-6 league) jumped out to a 13-point lead after three quarters and held off Lincoln (3-14, 0-7), 71-65. "It was a game that I hoped we would win," Davis said. "I thought this was one game that was sort of even, talentwise.

Jefferson "Karma" Troester lived life with a zeal that was hard to capture, said his family. Mr. Troester, 43, of Claymont, Del., who fulfilled a childhood dream in 2010 by becoming a train engineer, died Friday, May 18, when a roll of newsprint fell on him as he opened a railcar door at the Inquirer and Daily News' printing plant in Upper Merion. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Troester grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania, where he was involved in the Boy Scouts and graduated from Oxford Area High School in Chester County.

A memorial service is scheduled on Thursday for Jefferson Troester, 43, of Claymont, Del., who fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a train engineer in 2010 and died Friday when a roll of newsprint fell on him as he opened a railcar door at the Inquirer and Daily News' printing plant in Upper Merion. Troester graduated from Oxford Area High School in Chester County, served in the Air Force, and worked in automotive repair, as a welder, and as a millwright before he was hired by the Upper Merion & Plymouth Railroad, his family said Monday.

IF THEY GET WIND of his story, Hollywood producers will be rooting for Tahjere McCall to make the NBA. This kid already has a great story. During his junior season at Engineering and Science High, McCall was your classic, still-feelin'-his-way neophyte. Now he owns a Division I scholarship. The 6-4, 160-pound senior point guard, who earlier had made an oral commitment to D-II Holy Family, has signed with Niagara. Don't feel bad if McCall's name is unfamilar. He literally came out of nowhere.

The traffic engineering of Jack W. Boorse touched, among others, the legendary New Orleans trolley line made famous in the 1947 Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. Boorse's other work ranged far, with plans for light rail systems in Miami Beach, Kansas City, Mo., and Honolulu. But before them, his work focused on efforts closer to home, such as rerouting traffic during the years that the Platt Memorial Bridge, a key route to Philadelphia International Airport, was closed.

Dougie Williams expected the avalanche and, man, did he get it. We're not talking runs for the opposition. We're talking the variety that features bodies of teammates, who have just exploded off the bench, or run in from their positions, to pummel you to the ground because you've just pitched your baseball squad to a surprising victory. On second thought, surprising doesn't quite cut it. Let's go with shocking. The Public League groups its baseball divisions by teams' supposed ability, and Engineering and Science finished tied for fifth in C at 6-5. Friday, for a Class AAA quarterfinal, that meant the Engineers had to travel to the upper reaches of Roxborough, the area, to meet Roxborough, the school, which had earned a tie for second in B at 8-2. E&S triumphed, 7-5, which was why Williams, a 5-10, 155-pound senior lefthander, was rushed by ecstatic Engineers moments after recording a game-ending strikeout.

This was the nightmare that David J. Perri, an engineer for the city's Streets Department, did not want to read about in the newspaper. It went like this: In the middle of the night, heavy rains drench the region. The Monoshone Creek, which runs into Wissahickon Creek along Lincoln Drive, washes out. A 15-foot stone retaining wall collapses into the Monoshone, taking with it part of Lincoln Drive. Not seeing the crater in the road, an unsuspecting driver plunges into the creek bed. Commuters can rest easy.

ASUNCION, Paraguay — On a map of South America, Paraguay looks a little like the tucked-away footnote, no mountains or ocean coastline. But over my last two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, I've discovered a wealth of delights along the country's southeastern border. So when my parents came to visit me on a break from the hustle and bustle of the Northeast, I decided to show them some of the startling vistas of nature, signs of man's grand engineering, and spots of soothing tranquillity that Paraguay has to offer.

His flag-draped coffin perched atop the fire engine he rode for nearly six years, firefighter Daniel Sweeney was led to his final burial Saturday, escorted by a procession of family, fire officials, and city dignitaries. Hundreds of fellow firefighters from the Philadelphia region and as far away as Calgary, Canada - arms crooked in salute - lined the roadways at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery near Cheltenham, as the reedy whine of bagpipes ushered him to an afternoon interment ceremony.

Alyssa Sims, a leadoff hitter and one of the most athletic catchers in South Jersey softball, reached first base safely, turned to her coach and, with a smile, asked: "Am I done?" "Come on. Really?" coach David Gurst said, laughing. On the Cherry Hill West softball team, it's supposed to be a surprise when a player reaches a milestone. But thanks to some anonymous sources, Sims was well aware that she was on the verge of her 100th career hit. As with most of the pressures Sims has faced in her storied career, she just hid it well.