N.J. hospitals adapt to surge of flu patients
By Melinda Caliendo
Flu season comes and goes every winter, some worse than others. This year’s flu, considered by many to be the worst in a decade, is forcing hospitals around the state to adapt to an unexpected influx of patients.
Hackensack University Medical Center has been averaging about 120 flu patients every day for a few weeks.
“Any time you are over 100, that’s at capacity,” said Bob Garrett, president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network. “People are very sick with this flu.”
Garrett said Hackensack has set up a discharge lounge for patients who are ready to go home but need to wait for a ride or discharge instructions. He also said observation units are being used for patients who may not need to be admitted as inpatients but need to be monitored for 24 to 48 hours.
“If it really gets to be packed, with no more treatment space, we do go on divert with the ambulance squad, but we are the trauma center for the county, so sometimes these patients continue to come in even when we are on divert,” Garrett added.
Garrett also said the system is looking forward to when HUMC at Pascack Valley opens later this year to help with overflow patients.
Do it for the Children : Ridgewood school board to take up resolution on superintendent salary cap
Monday January 14, 2013, 6:13 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — A resolution aimed at helping school districts that struggle to retain superintendents under a salary cap imposed by Governor Christie in 2010 is expected to be taken up by the school board at its Jan. 28 meeting.
If adopted by Ridgewood, the resolution will be presented to the delegate assembly of the New Jersey School Board Association for consideration. If that group adopts the measure, it would become a top lobbying priority.
“The concern that I have is that the caps, in my opinion, restrict a board’s ability to attract and retain quality leadership for a school district,” said trustee Michele Lenhard, who will draft the resolution. “The School Board Association has no policy on [the salary cap] and they should be speaking out on issues like this… that impact boards of education. I believe this regulation puts us at a disadvantage in terms of attracting and keeping quality leadership.”
Lenhard said the resolution she is working on will call for the creation of a “waiver” that could be granted to school districts looking to give their superintendents a pay bump. This, she said, will prevent current administrators from seeking higher paying jobs “across the river” in New York.
NJ Transit has made the commute from Ridgewood a nightmare
NJ Transit has made the commute from Ridgewood a nightmare. Express service pretty much cancelled — after a $40 million renovation just two years ago to build this big station, it is now no longer a key express stop per the schedule. Trains are so constantly overcroweded that there are fights (literally) over space to get on the trains. Emails, letters and calls go unanswered.
Now, we have large Advertisements for Empire Casino “decorating” the “RIDDGEWOOD” signs at this new station. I am all in favor of advertisements to reduce the financial strain on riders — but were these ad placements part of the drawings? I dont recall seeing them. Village officials never should have agreed to such a large expansion of the station and large advertisements for NY casinos without a committment from NJ Transit to maintain certain service levels. (BTW – why would a NJ based organization like NJ Transit agree to place large ads for a NY casino on its property when Atlantic City is suffering???) Hopefully this will serve as a warning to future Village leaders not to trust NJ Transit.
Developers of proposed housing projects to receive guidelines from Ridgewood
Monday January 14, 2013, 11:33 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
At least four developers will receive preliminary guidelines to follow as they move forward with their respective proposals to construct multi-family housing in and around Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD).
The Ridgewood Planning Board offered its thumbs-up to Village Planner Blais Brancheau, who on Monday night reviewed a draft ordinance containing a new set of standards for downtown housing development applications. Board members recommended that the planner release the first version of the ordinance to developers in an attempt to keep processes in motion.
“This is only a draft, it may or may not represent the board. It may not be my final opinion yet. We can always revisit it,” Brancheau explained.
Hospitals crack down on workers who refuse flu shots
By Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
Patients can refuse a flu shot. Should doctors and nurses have that right, too? That is the thorny question surfacing as U.S. hospitals increasingly crack down on employees who won’t get flu shots, with some workers losing their jobs over their refusal.
“Where does it say that I am no longer a patient if I’m a nurse,” wondered Carrie Calhoun, a longtime critical care nurse in suburban Chicago who was fired last month after she refused a flu shot.
Hospitals’ get-tougher measures coincide with an earlier-than-usual flu season hitting harder than in recent mild seasons. Flu is widespread in most states, and at least 20 children have died.
Most doctors and nurses do get flu shots. But in the past two months, at least 15 nurses and other hospital staffers in four states have been fired for refusing, and several others have resigned, according to affected workers, hospital authorities and published reports.
Last month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released advisory flood maps covering 194 municipalities in coastal areas in New Jersey. Here’s a look at what they mean, in question and answer form.
A key New Jersey lawmaker is set to introduce a bill Monday that would usher in the biggest revision in years to the state’s tax-incentive programs, which have been an important element of Gov. Chris Christie’s economic-development agenda.
Proposed by Assemblyman Al Coutinho, whose opinion carries significant weight in state economic-development affairs, the legislation would consolidate five tax-incentive programs into two—one for job creation and the other for spurring development—and would put additional weight on bringing new jobs to the state, over preserving those deemed “at risk” of leaving. (Haddon/Wall Street Journal)
Valerie Harper at Bookends Wednesday, January 16th ,7:00pm
Actress who played Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Show and on Rhoda, Valerie Harper, will sign her new book: I, Rhoda Books available Jan. 15th. We Take Phone Orders if you can’t make the event.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to insure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
NJ faces $2B budget shortfall, but Christie holds out hope
With six months left in the fiscal year, New Jersey needs a nearly 12 percent growth spurt in tax collections to stave off possible cuts in education aid, property tax relief or the public employee pension fund.
Exercise Is the Best Medicine at the Valley Hospital Health and Fitness Center
January 10, 2013
Start the New Year off Right: Discounted Memberships Being Offered
Ridgewood NJ, Start the New Year off right with a discounted membership at The Valley Hospital Health and Fitness Center. Now through February 28, receive discounted pricing and one free month when you sign up for an initial membership.
Valley’s Health and Fitness Center is a unique exercise facility designed specifically for individuals who do not want to join a traditional health club or for whom a health club may not be appropriate. This includes individuals who have just completed physical, occupational, pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation who wish to maintain and improve on the progress they made but still want professional guidance. It also includes individuals with special health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, or orthopedic issues who want a personal plan of exercise that addresses their health concerns.
Valley’s Health and Fitness Center, part of The Valley Hospital Sports Institute, offers professionally supervised fitness programs designed by exercise and healthcare professionals. The Center’s knowledgeable and encouraging staff will design a personal program of exercise for each client and provides support, education, and the proper progression that they need to put them on the road to a healthier, more fit lifestyle.
“We initially developed this facility because we recognized a real need for a professionally supervised program for patients who have completed rehabilitation but are not quite ready to exercise on their own,” said Don Tomaszewski, MS, ATC, Director of the Sports Institute. Then we also began to see that many other individuals, particularly those with health concerns who may be hesitant to begin an exercise program, could also benefit from a Health and Fitness Center that offers a wide range of exercise programs in a safe and supervised environment”.
Valley’s Health and Fitness Center offers specialized programs designed for seniors, and weight management, as well as disease management and prevention. Clients who join the Center receive a one-on-one health and wellness consultation, a physical fitness evaluation, and instruction in a personally tailored exercise program. In addition, correspondence and recommendations from your physician will be used in designing your exercise program. Sessions include: instruction in resistance training, cardiovascular workouts, and exercises designed to promote flexibility, good posture and balance.
The Health and Fitness Center is conveniently located at 555 Route 17 South in Ridgewood. To schedule a free consultation and tour of the facility, or to learn more about the Center’s programs and fees, please contact the Center at 201- 447-8133 or sports@valleyhealth.com.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Stuck In the Mud In Ridgewood
January 14,2012
Boyd A. Loving
8:49 AM
Ridgewood NJ , The driver of a Nissan Altima sedan required the services of a local towing company when his vehicle became stuck in the mud opposite 264 Lakeview Drive in Ridgewood early Monday morning. No injuries were reported, nor was the vehicle damaged as a result of the mishap.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
The responding Ridgewood PD patrol officer and the tow truck operator both believe the Nissan’s driver tried to pull forward out of a parking space not realizing the ground below the vehicle had become muddy due to melting snow and an overnight rain.
Ridgewood’s Got Talent 2013 – Semi-Finals
Sat, January 26, 2013
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Porch Light Productions, 555 Broad Street, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Ridgewood’s Got Talent. This is event for the community of Ridgewood and will be held at Porch Light Productions – 555 Broad St, Glen Rock, NJ at 9:00am-11am on Jan. 26, 2013
We are on Facebook, become a fan of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce today!
for more information call/email-
Joan Groome
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
201-445-2600 info@ridgewoodchamber.com
27 Chestnut St.
CHAT WITH THE BOE AND SUPERINTENDENT NEXT WEDNESDAY:
Maybe you’re interested in learning about school security and safety. Perhaps you have concerns about iPads in the classroom. Possibly state testing results or the budget is on your mind. Superintendent Dan Fishbein and Board members Sheila Brogan, Christina Kraus, Michele Lenhard, Jim Morgan and Vince Loncto want to hear from you.
Residents are invited to drop in for Coffee and Conversation next Wednesday, January 16 at the Education Center at 49 Cottage Place, floor 3, any time between 7 and 8:30 p.m. It’s an evening designed for you to ask your questions, make suggestions and share concerns in a casual setting. Anything goes! Please come!
NJ anti-big brother bill makes its way through state Legislature
Rebecca Forand/South Jersey Times updated January 11, 2013 at 8:16 PM
As technology continues to advance and schools are embracing it for their students, new legislation is making its way through the state Assembly that guarantees parents are made aware of any tracking or monitoring software included in that technology.
Assembly bill A-2932, and its companion Senate bill, S-2057, dubbed the “anti-big brother act,” come in response to a Pennsylvania case where at least one student was monitored at home through a webcam that had been remotely activated by school officials.
“Everyone hopes that what occurred in the Pennsylvania school district was a one-time occurrence that you will never see happen anywhere else,” said Mike Yaple, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association. “This legislation says if you do have any kind of tracking software, you just have to tell the parents and the kids.”
The bill, which was introduced in May and amended last month, requires any school district that furnishes a student with a laptop computer, a cellphone of other electronic device, to provide notice if that device can record or collect information, or if it includes a camera or global positioning system that can be remotely accessed.
Readying for Sandy, NJ Transit erred in modeling storm
By Ryan McNeill and Janet Roberts
NEW YORK | Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:12pm EST
(Reuters) – New Jersey Transit incorrectly used federal government software that otherwise could have warned officials against a disastrous decision to leave hundreds of millions of dollars worth of equipment in a low-lying rail yard before Superstorm Sandy struck, a Reuters examination has found.
The agency based its decision, at least in part, on software provided by the National Weather Service that allows users to simulate an approaching hurricane and show areas vulnerable to flooding from storm surge, according to Sandy-related forecast documents obtained by Reuters from New Jersey Transit. Exactly how the agency used the software is unclear because the agency declined to answer any specific questions.
Reuters asked for the documents that New Jersey Transit relied upon in deciding to leave the trains at its Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny, New Jersey. Among the documents was a screen-shot of storm prediction software that indicated the user had the storm traveling northeast, away from the New York area, while moving at the wrong speed.
As a result, the software predicted surges that were about half the levels actually forecast – errors that underestimated the threat to the Meadows complex.
New Jersey Transit takes issue with the findings. But a Reuters analysis shows that had the software been used to produce surge estimates similar to forecasts, agency leaders could have seen a different picture. The result would have pointed to potential inundation of a large portion of the rail yard, mirroring the flooding that ultimately occurred.
Other metro railroads in the region moved their rolling stock to rail lines and yards on higher ground.
