April 5th

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11:42 AM

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Well, it's the same weather out as yesterday when they said light rain. It's nice out. In the mail today, in addition to multiple packages for Steven (and my new toaster!), we got an ad for a big sale at Dispo Portage. I thought it was a moving company. Turns out Portage is a city in Indiana and Dispo is a marijuana distribution center. Portage is also a city in Michigan, so it is legal. I'm surprised they are allowed to advertise in Indiana. The mascot for the company is an ungrounded electric plug. Very weird.

Saw in this morning's Star Ledger (we have a subscription until April 8th) that Elliot Bennett set fire to Our Lady of the Lake. He did more damage than he has before - which is why he's not serving time somewhere. He's hacked at the statues outside the church and something else - spray paint? But he got off on those - he's mentally unstable, but apparently treatment isn't helping him. He's the brother of one of Elysha's friends from high school.

VERONA

Man accused of intentionally setting fire to Catholic church

A man was arrested early Thursday after he was accused of intentionally setting fire to a large Essex County church,

authorities said.

A fire alarm went off at 3:33 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church on Lakeside Avenue in Verona,

according to a release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Firefighters from the Verona Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze, the office said. Investigators said the fire was deliberately set and had multiple points of origin,

officials said. Around 4:30 a.m., a man, identified as Elliot Bennett, 42, of Verona, walked into the Verona Police headquarters, authorities said. Detectives alleged he was the one responsible for starting the fire and charged him with bias intimidation, burglary, aggravated arson, possession of burglars tools, desecration of venerated objects and multiple weapons- related offenses.

No other information was released by investigators Thursday.

In a message posted to its website, the church said the building may be able to be saved.

“Fortunately, the structure appears to be sound, but the church is heavily damaged,” the message read. “The parish community is heartbroken. However, we are grateful that no one was injured, and we have faith that we will get through this

difficult time and request the community to keep those affected in their prayers.”

The church will continue to hold Mass in its school auditorium, the message said.

Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church first opened in a different building in the 1920s.

Bennett is being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility pending his first appearance in the Essex County Central Judicial Processing court. Attorney information for Bennett was not immediately clear.

I've applied for one of those product use surveys for a Roomba. God, I could use that!

Tried to go to the BMV, but phone got screwed up and Pearlman got all bent out of shape. We went to lunch at iHop (thankfully, it was not a favorite of those Spring Breakers), then went shopping at Meijer. After that, a quick stop at Arby's and then home. 

Woodgie is eating pretty well, but I think she's caught on that I mix her meds with the gravy in her night feeding.