Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 CITY VIEWS September 23, 2022 O n Sunday, September 18, 2022, a health screening and disease awareness and prevention fair was held at Durga Mandir in Princeton, NJ. hosted by the nonprofit Indian Health Camp of New Jersey (IHCNJ.org ) led by President Dr. Tushar Patel, in collaboration with Durga Mandir. This is the 8th consecutive year at this location, which pre-registered 100 participants who are uninsured or underinsured, organizers said in a press release. The health screening included blood tests, EKG, vi- sion screening for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, physical examination, dental evaluation, cardiology evaluation, physical therapy, various types of cancer screening and prevention education, diabetes and stroke education, flu vaccine, dietary counseling, pharmacy counseling, mental health screening and evaluation and many other ancillary services to approximately 100 pre- registered qualified participants. The physicians included specialists from cardiology, ophthalmology, psychiatrists, gynecology, endocrine and neurology, dentists, etc. Professionals from various spe- cialties of physical therapy, podiatry, phlebotomy, EKG techs, also provided services. Medical assistants, nurses, social workers and high school and college students helped with screening the participants, a press release from organizers said. The blood test reports will be reviewed by the physi- cians and mailed to all participants with a counseling note for any abnormal tests. The blood test services were provided by Rupen Patel of Accurate Diagnostic Labs. Many local organizations and institutions supported the event, including RWJ-New Brunswick, Rutgers Medi- cal School, Middlesex County Health team, Trenton Health team, Philippines Nursing Association, SAATHI, SAMHIN, All Well Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy and Penn Medicine-Princeton. The management of Durga Temple and dedicated community physician and trustee Dr. Rajesh Sachdeo and dedicated volunteers Mahesh and Renu Advani provided resources and support to make this health fair a “huge” success, the press release said. Others contributing to the successful camp including Rotary Club of Plainsboro, South and North Brunswick, under the leadership of President Vijay Garg and his team. Breakfast, tea, coffee and lunch were provided by Durga Temple for all participants and volunteers. Indian Health Camp of New Jersey will reach the mile- stone of 25 years of service in 2023. Free Health Camp Held In Princeton, N.J By a StaffWriter Edison Mayor Announces “Longest Road Paving List In Township History” E dison Mayor Sam Joshi and the Edison Council announced the 2022 road paving list Sept. 19, 2022. The $7 million investment in the municipality which aims to update Edison’s road infrastructure includes more than 100 roads, totaling 19 miles, the most annual road projects any Edison Mayor has an- nounced to date, a press release from the Mayor’s office said. “Our roads have long been neglected,” Mayor Sam Joshi is quoted saying in the press release. “It’s my administration’s job to fill those potholes, and take care of our roads.” Joshi said the engineering department examined every Township road and gave it a rating based on its condition and the num- ber of drivers using the road. The roads on the list announced were ones identified as most in need of repaving. “This is just the beginning,” Mayor Joshi said. “Every year we have the opportunity to improve our infrastructure even more.” The Township list includes about 100 roads and a handful of publicly-owned park- ing lots, including the Midtown Softball and Edison Boys’ Baseball lots. Middlesex County and PSE&G are also working with Edison Township to pave two dozen additional roads. The road work will start this year and continue through early next year if needed, the press release said. By a StaffWriter B altimore prosecutors asked a judge onWednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, to vacate the conviction of Adnan Syed, whose murder case drew widespread attention after it was featured on the true crime podcast “Serial.” Syed has long been seeking to overturn his conviction and get a new trial in the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, and has previously faced opposition from state authorities. But onWednesday, the Baltimore City state’s attorney office said in a motion in circuit court that – while its investigation is ongoing – it had lost confidence in the conviction. “To be clear, the State is not assert- ing at this time that Defendant is inno- cent,” prosecutors wrote. “However, for all the reasons set forth below, the State no longer has confidence in the integrity of the conviction.” Prosecutors wrote that Syed should “at a minimum, be afforded a new trial” and that he should be released while they continue to investigate. Prosecutors said that a nearly year- long investigation by them and Syed’s defense uncovered new information about “the possible involvement of two alternative suspects,” and viola- tions in the government’s turning over evidence to the defense. “Additionally, the parties have identified significant reliability issues regarding the most critical pieces of evidence at trial,” prosecutors wrote. Syed was a 17-year-old high school student when he was arrested in late February 1999 in Lee’s killing. Syed’s story was the subject of the true-crime podcast “Serial,” which launched its first season in 2014. Host Sarah Koenig detailed the events surrounding the death of Lee, Syed’s former girlfriend. Lee’s body was found in Baltimore’s Leakin Park. Syed was convicted of murder in 2000 and has since been serving a life sentence. Syed maintains his innocence. In 2016, a circuit court vacated Syed’s conviction, citing the “ineffec- tive assistance” of a former attorney who failed to investigate an alibi witness, and in March 2018, the Court of Special Appeals upheld the ruling granting Syed a new trial. But in March 2019, Maryland’s highest court rein- stated Syed’s murder conviction. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement Wednesday that she came to conclude Syed deserves a new trial “where he is adequately represented and the latest evidence can be presented.” “As stewards of the court, we are obligated to uphold confidence in the integrity of convictions,” Mosby said. “. . . We have spoken with the family of Ms. Hae Min Lee and fully understand that the person responsible for this heinous crime must be held account- able.” Syed’s defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Erica Suter, praised the development. “Given the stunning lack of reli- able evidence implicating Mr. Syed, coupled with increasing evidence pointing to other suspects, this unjust conviction cannot stand,” Suter said. “Mr. Syed is grateful that this informa- tion has finally seen the light of day and looks forward to his day in court.” Maryland Public Defender Nata- sha Dartigue took aim in particular at what she said were failures by the state to turn over evidence to Syed’s lawyers. “The fact that information about motives and threats of alternate sus- pects were kept from defense counsel for more than 20 years should shock the conscience,” Dartigue said. “This is a true example of how justice delayed is justice denied. An innocent man spends decades wrongly incarcerated, while any information or evidence that could help identify the actual per- petrator becomes increasingly difficult to pursue.” -TheWashington Post Maryland Prosecutors Ask Judge To Vacate Adnan Syed Murder Conviction By Omari Daniels Photo:Courtesyof“Serial” A photo of Adnan Syed from 1998. Photos: IHCNJ Free health fair in Princeton, N.J. Sept. 18, 2022. One of the participants being examined at the Free Health Fair in Princeton, N.J. Sept. 18, 2022. NATIONAL AFFAIRS