Water

Pam Chandler decided to accompany her husband, Bob, to the extraordinary auction of an Ocean City, N.J., mansion Saturday to keep him from "going overboard. " But an hour after she toured the 7,000-square-foot Victorian-style house on the Great Bay, she was the one prodding him to stay in the frenzied bidding on the breezy bayside veranda. The Chandlers, who live in Rumson, Monmouth County, with their three children, won the auction, ultimately paying $3.9 million for a property that was listed at about $6.5 million two years ago. It is assessed at $5 million.

In rejecting PSA screening for prostate cancer, an influential federal panel has chipped a cornerstone of preventive medicine, declaring that it's not always best to catch cancer as early as possible. "At best, PSA screening may help only 1 man in 1,000 avoid death from prostate cancer," the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said Monday. "Most prostate cancers found by PSA screening are slow growing, not life threatening, and will not cause a man any harm during his lifetime.

Just downstream from an industrial recycling operation and a stone's throw from a sewage treatment plant, a fisherman casts his line toward the passing barge traffic and watches it drop into the Delaware River. A couple eating lunch watch curiously. "No way would I ever eat anything from there," the woman says. The fishers who frequent the pier in Camden's Waterfront South neighborhood have heard it all before. That they're crazy, that they're going to grow an extra head or get sick from eating what they catch.

Revel, Revel, Revel . . . . That's all the noise one hears these days coming from the Jersey Shore - especially when it concerns new prospects for dining. Granted, the gleaming $2.4 billion tower of Atlantic City's latest casino resort is hard to miss. And with more than a dozen restaurant concepts involving some very big names, its spring debut has no doubt been the biggest food news to hit this casino town since the Borgata began A.C.'s high-end remake. Jose Garces should have Philadelphians' attention right off the bat with three restaurants: an outsize version of Amada with ocean views and flamenco; a jumbo Village Whiskey clone for gourmet burgers and booze; plus Nuevo Mex concept with a Distrito Cantina serving margaritas and a replica Guapo's Taco truck.

In the first few years of the last decade, a lot of assumptions were made about aging baby boomers, their parents, their children, and their housing needs. Boomers would begin downsizing as soon as the children flew the coop, starting at about 55. Boomers would move to communities filled with their own kind. Elderly parents would be accommodated in a casita — a part of the house — until they needed continuing care. The casita would then be converted to a crafts room.

"All-terrain" now includes water. As their yearlong senior engineering project, Widener students (from left) Dave Brittain, Dave Simunov, Steve Casalena (driver) and Julie Rohm modified a mini-baja all-terrain vehicle so it could be driven on land and water. They tested it successfully on the Delaware River in March and showed it off to faculty members and fellow students on Crum Creek earlier this month. The modification of eight- horsepower ATV cost about $1,600. The vehicle was one of 28 engineering projects presented April 7.

Taking a detour around summer's dog days, youths found the fountains around the Philadelphia Museum of Art a most comfortable watering spot last week. Some splashing and soaking made the season's heat and humidity almost forgettable - so long as the fun lasted.

Dear Polly: I'm confused. One expert says to water the garden in the evening so the water doesn't evaporate in the sun. Another expert says never water at night since it can promote disease. What's the best time to water the garden? - Jenny Dear Jenny: It really depends on the climate where you live. If you live in a dry climate, watering in the early evening gives the water many hours to seep into the soil without the heat of the sun causing significant evaporation. In a humid climate, however, watering at night leaves the plant leaves moist for many hours, which can promote fungal diseases.

"Water. " A comedy starring Michael Caine, Valerie Perrine, Brenda Vaccaro and Leonard Rossiter. Directed by Dick Clement from a screenplay by Ian La Frenais, Bill Persky and Clement. Photographed by Douglas Slocombe. Edited by John Victor Smith. Music by Mike Moran. Running time: 91 minutes. An Atlantic release. At the Mark I, 19th and Market Sts. The British film industry remains dead and buried, despite a huffing, puffing periodic attempt to revive it. In the past few years, this cause has produced a batch of films that, at best, can be called "curious": The impressive films ("The Long Good Friday," "A Private Function" and "The Missionary")

As the hot weather settles in, let's talk about watering. The clear liquid that flows so easily from our taps is a precious gift and it's our responsibility to make sure we use it wisely. To ensure that every drop that leaves the tap makes it to the plants, replace broken washers and leaky faucets. When you water, do it thoroughly, soaking the plants so the water goes deep into the soil. If you water superficially, you encourage plants to send out surface roots, making it even harder for them to tolerate a drought.

"It is clearly the most valuable and largest community in the world. It's like a new town square — a new water cooler. " — Vincent Schiavone, cofounder of ListenLogic, a market research company based in Fort Washington, speaking of Facebook Inc., which raised more than $16 billion in an initial public offering of shares.   "We're long-term investors. It's nice to have the stock up for one day, but it's only one day. It's hard to extrapolate much as to the future of the company.

Water-main break snarls traffic in Manayunk A water-main break Wednesday afternoon caused basement flooding in nine businesses and snarled traffic in Manayunk. An eight-inch water main ruptured about 3:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of Main Street, said Philadelphia Water Department spokeswoman Laura Copeland. Crews eventually shut off the water, leading to a halt of water service for more than 20 businesses. The 4400 block of Main also was closed to traffic. The department expected to restore service Wednesday night, Copeland said.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Matt Kuchar avoided the big mistakes that slowed so many other contenders - starting with Kevin Na - and kept out of the water on the TPC Sawgrass to close with a 2-under 70 for a 2-shot win in the Players Championship Sunday. Martin Laird made a strong run until a bogey on the 18th left him with a 67 and a four-way tie for second. Rickie Fowler missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and shot 70. Ben Curtis and Zach Johnson each had 68. Tiger Woods shot 40 on his front nine and rallied for a 73, at least finishing under par. He tied for 40th, the first time in his career that he has finished no better than 40th in three straight tournaments.

Who should set the city's water rate? Voters will get the final say after City Council approved legislation Thursday sponsored by Council President Darrell Clarke to include a referendum on November's ballot on whether the city should establish an independent body to regulate charges for water and sewer services. The bill passed 16-1, with Republican Councilman Dennis O'Brien voting against it. Mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald said Mayor Nutter will likely sign it. Currently, a rate request must go through a public-hearing process and the Council president, the mayor and City Controller select a hearing officer and public advocate.

An Atlantic City property linked to Yechiel Lichtenstein, an owner of the abandoned Kensington factory that burned down in April, killing two firefighters, is causing problems for neighbors and government officials in the Shore resort. The seawall on the property at Barrett and Massachusetts Avenues along Snug Harbor is crumbling, flooding the street and causing it to buckle. "This has been a major headache for us," said Bob Chapman, who lives in the neighborhood. Atlantic City property records list Massachusetts on the Water L.L.C.

When "It's Our Money" started asking questions in March, officials insisted that the city doesn't pay utility bills for Water Works Restaurant & Lounge, a private business owned by the politically-connected Michael Karloutsos. The high-end eatery leases space in a historic city-owned building near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It has crystal chandeliers, $39 dinner entrées , and an outdoor deck with a stunning view of the Schuylkill River. Why would the fancy place need taxpayers to cover its bills?

Always add a couple of teaspoons of salt to the water after it starts to boil. But never add oil to the boiling water (uncooked fresh pasta is porous and will get oily in the water). People always talk about al dente pasta, but almost everyone overcooks pasta. So don't overcook it! "You want pasta to be toothy," said Pete Severino. "You have to taste it as you cook. " While a rule of thumb is that fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, there's no general rule for cooking times.

Gathering of Waters By Bernice L. McFadden Akashic Books. 252 pp. $24.95, $15.95 paperback Reviewed by Jackie Jones The story of Emmett Till is a hard read for anyone. The tragic histories of the families — black and white — leading up to that horrific episode are not for the faint of heart, but Bernice L. McFadden's novel, Gathering of Waters, pulls you into the story, The tale, narrated by the town of Money, Miss. — where Till was murdered — is a mix of historical fact and imagined orchestration by a bedeviling spirit that controls the minds and behavior of the characters.

Arthur Frayler led much of the way in Friday's 2012 Open Water National Championship 10K before a late mistake and a late charge by winner Andrew Gemmell, of Wilmington, sunk the Germantown Academy senior. Frayler, 18, who will be attending the University of Florida in the fall, brushed against a buoy in the next-to-last lap around Miromar Lake, near Fort Myers, Fla. It disrupted his rhythm and allowed a hard-charging Gemmell to surge ahead and capture the event. Gemmell, 20, a Maryland native who trains in Delaware, completed the grueling event in 1 hour, 58 minutes, 3.87 seconds.

The long-distance runner is famously lonely. The long-distance swimmer is not only lonely but often afraid. Sometimes it's just the swimmer and a vast ocean. No competitors in sight. No comforting landmarks or safe harbors. No noise. Nothing but the waves to disrupt the solace, the fear. When Fran Crippen introduced him to open-water swimming a few years ago, Arthur Frayler "freaked out. " As they swam alone in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida, the youngster wouldn't let his mentor get more than a few feet away.