Philadelphia Inquirer

A railroad worker was killed today when he was crushed by an 1,800-pound roll of newsprint at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News Schuylkill Printing Plant in Upper Merion. Mark Block, a spokesman for Philadelphia Media Network, the newspapers' parent company, said the roll apparently had shifted in its boxcar during shipment and fell out about 9:30 a.m. when the train's engineer opened the door. Jefferson L. Troester, 43, of Claymont, Del., was employed by the Brandywine Valley Railroad Co. Block said PMN officials were saddened to learn of Troester's death at the plant on River Road.

At Thursday's 12th annual Centenarian Celebration luncheon, Roxborough resident Daniel Rendine, age 102, answered a few questions, with help from his son. Question: Why do you think you've lived so long? Rendine: I've lived a life of moderation … and genes I guess. Q: Do you have any siblings and if so have they also reached 100? Rendine: I had five sisters and one brother. All lived to their early 90s. Q: What kind of technology do you use? Twitter, Facebook, cellphone?

The stone house used in the film Marley & Me, with a rolling, near 16-acre spread, is up for sale in the Chadds Ford area, asking price $1.2 million. The Holly Gross Group says the producers of the movie picked it because they were looking for a "greeting-card perfect stone house. " Built in the 1830s, it features five bedrooms, three baths and a new kitchen. The property, on the 1000 block of Meetinghouse Road, actually in Birmingham Township, Chester County, also has a six-stall barn and "ample fenced pastures.

LaToya Rogers, 15, prepares to make her move during a game of checkers at William Penn High School. It was part of National Empowerment Zone Youth Week activities. From left are Tamika Green, 14; Horace Rooney Jr., Dawn Newcomb, 16; David Medina, 15, and Rossana Lau, 16. (The Philadelphia Inquirer / GERALD S. WILLIAMS)

Philadelphia didn't want them. Now, suburban communities are balking. So, where can the Lower Merion School District park its 111 school buses? We'd like your constructive ideas on alternative sites for a parking lot; the district wants to build two high schools where the buses now park. Send your suggestions, in 100 words or less, to: Pennsylvania Commentary Page, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 800 River Rd., Conshohocken, Pa. 19428, or e-mail them to: suburbanletters@phillynews.

Did a travel experience move you, change you, give you a new take on life or just great memories? Tell us how, in 500 words or fewer. And send us a photo, with caption information. Include a daytime phone number. If we publish your piece, we'll pay you $25. ( Response volume prohibits our returning or acknowledging your manuscripts or photos. ) You can send your story: By e-mail, to: inquirer. travel@phillynews.com . Please put "Personal Journey" in the subject line.

Early last week, President Reagan's request for new contra aid had been buoyed by reports of a planned massive military buildup by Nicaragua. But yesterday, Congress still had questions on aid to the contras, delaying a huge spending bill. Above, U.S.-supplied helicopters ferry in and out of San Andres De Bocay, a series of contra camps along the muddy banks of the Coco River in Honduras. (The Philadelphia Inquirer / ED HILLE) At left, Augusto Vega Gonzales, mayor of San Pedro de Lovago in Nicaragua, leans on his desk, the only article surviving after his municipal building was burned by contras in October.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has been honored for having one of the nation's top daily sports sections among newspapers in the largest circulation category. The judging was done by a national group of sports editors known as Associated Press Sports Editors. The top 10, in alphabetical order: Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, Newark Star-Ledger, New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today.

What qualities are important for a new Philadelphia schools chief? We'd like to hear from Philadelphia residents in 150 words or less. E-mail us at suburbanletters@phillynews.com or write us at Regional Commentary Page, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 800 River Rd., Conshohocken, Pa., 19428. All letters must include a full name, home address, and day and evening phone numbers.

What does the closing of the Medical College of Pennsylvania mean to you? What memories does the hospital evoke for you and your family? Please send letters of no more than 200 words to: MCP, c/o Metro Commentary Page, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Box 8263, Philadelphia 19101. Fax: 215-854-5884. E-mail: metroletters@phillynews.com. Letters must include a home address, day and evening phone numbers for verification.

A railroad worker was killed today when he was crushed by an 1,800-pound roll of newsprint at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News Schuylkill Printing Plant in Upper Merion. Mark Block, a spokesman for Philadelphia Media Network, the newspapers' parent company, said the roll apparently had shifted in its boxcar during shipment and fell out about 9:30 a.m. when the train's engineer opened the door. Jefferson L. Troester, 43, of Claymont, Del., was employed by the Brandywine Valley Railroad Co. Block said PMN officials were saddened to learn of Troester's death at the plant on River Road.

At Thursday's 12th annual Centenarian Celebration luncheon, Roxborough resident Daniel Rendine, age 102, answered a few questions, with help from his son. Question: Why do you think you've lived so long? Rendine: I've lived a life of moderation … and genes I guess. Q: Do you have any siblings and if so have they also reached 100? Rendine: I had five sisters and one brother. All lived to their early 90s. Q: What kind of technology do you use? Twitter, Facebook, cellphone?

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Did a travel experience move you, change you, give you a new take on life or just great memories? Tell us how, in 500 words or fewer. And send us a photo, with caption information. Include a daytime phone number. If we publish your piece, we'll pay you $25. ( Response volume prohibits our returning or acknowledging your manuscripts or photos. ) You can send your story: By e-mail, to: inquirer. travel@phillynews.com . Please put "Personal Journey" in the subject line.

IF, LIKE ME, you are also a passionate reader of our sister publication, the Philadelphia Inquirer , you'll see some out of the ordinary things in those pages today: the byline of Daily News basketball beat writer Bob Cooney on a story covering yesterday's NBA All-Star Game, and the byline of our Dick Jerardi on a story about Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags. And in our pages, you'll find Inquirer staff writer Matt Gelb's story on the Phillies. These are the first examples of a shared-content plan put together by the editors of both newspapers and philly.com that seeks to transform our four brands - the Inquirer , Daily News , philly.com and SportsWeek - into a true 24/7 news operation online that eliminates needless duplication in print, while simultaneously strengthening that which sets each print brand apart.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has been honored for having one of the nation's top daily sports sections among newspapers in the largest circulation category. The judging was done by a national group of sports editors known as Associated Press Sports Editors. The top 10, in alphabetical order: Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, Newark Star-Ledger, New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today.

OPERA MAY be suffering in other cities, but Philadelphia provides an environment in which opera thrives. The Opera Company of Philadelphia recently announced that it will present five productions in 2012-13, a move the Philadelphia Inquirer's classical music writer David Patrick Stears recently described as "highly unusual in the opera world. " The company also participates in the American Repertoire Program, which enables it to produce a new American work each year for the next decade.