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Posted on May 25, 2016May 25, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Valley Emergency Services Department Recognized with American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award

The Valley Hospital Emergency Services has been recognized with the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. Lafe Bush, Director of Emergency Services (far left) is shown here with members of Valley’s Emergency Services team

Valley Emergency Services Department Recognized with American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award
May 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital Emergency Services has been recognized with the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud The Valley Hospital for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

“We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for all cardiac patients,” said Lafe Bush, Director of Valley Emergency Services. “This is a testament to the hard work of our paramedics and emergency medical technicians, as well as their commitment to delivering excellent care to our patients during medical emergencies, when patients are often experiencing their most difficult moments.”

Posted on May 25, 2016May 25, 2016 by James — 6 Comments

Take a Few Minutes to Fill out the Ridgewood Graydon Pool Survey

file photo by Boyd Loving

GRAYDON POOL SURVEY
We value your opinion. Please take a few moments to complete our survey found in the following link:
Graydon Pool Survey

2016 SEASON
Regular Season
Saturday, June 4 through August 14, 2016
Daily, 10 am to 7:30 pm
**Holiday** – July 4th, close 4 pm
Late Season
Monday, August 15 through Labor Day, September 5, 2016
Weekdays – 12 noon to 7:30 pm
Weekends/Holiday – 10 am to 7:30 pm

CONTACTS
Pool Manager’s Office – 201-670-3376 (in season)
Badge Office – 201-670-5566 (in season only)
Recreation Office at The Stable- 201-670-5560
[email protected]

GRAYDON MEMBERSHIP RATES

RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – Village priced memberships are available to Ridgewood residents, non-residents who pay local property taxes to the Village of Ridgewood, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood and Board of Education. Proof is required.
ADULT – $120.00
CHILD – (ages 2-15, under 2 free) $110.00
SENIOR – $30.00 (62 and older)
PERMANENT DISABLED – $30.00
DAILY PASS – $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00

NON-RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS – The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to invite all families in the surrounding area to join the Graydon Pool facility for the 2016 summer season.
ADULT (ages 16 and up) – $200.00
CHILD (ages 2-15) – $175.00
GUEST PASSES (must be accompanied by 2016 season member)- $10.00
BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00

Posted on May 25, 2016May 25, 2016 by James — 10 Comments

Reader asks Who Pays the Obamacare “Cadillac Tax” in 2020 for Ridgewood Municipal and School Employees?

file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader asks ,please don’t forget the ACA excise taxes from 2020~…. that’s another 40% on platinum level health benefits like those our teachers, police and fire currently enjoy. They either all need to be downgraded to bronze level health benefits or taxpayers will bear the brunt of the 40% tax on $25,000 family plans, i.e. an additional $10,000 a year per Village and BOE employee with a platinum family plan. Who pays for that?

Ridgewood NJ, On December 18, 2015, Congress passed and the President signed a two-year delay of the 40 percent excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health plans, also known as the “Cadillac Tax.” This delay was part of a year-end government funding package and changes the effective date from 2018 to 2020. While the tax was originally non-tax deductible, the December 2015 changes make it tax deductible for employers who pay it.

No regulations have been issued to date. In February and July 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued notices covering a number of issues concerning the Cadillac Tax, and requested comments on the possible approaches that could ultimately be incorporated into proposed regulations.

What it is/fee duration	Permanent, annual tax beginning in 2020 on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage.
Purposes	Reduce tax preferred treatment of employer provided health care Reduce excess health care spending by employees and employers Help finance the expansion of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Amount	The tax is 40% of the cost of health coverage that exceeds predetermined threshold amounts. Cost of coverage includes the total contributions paid by both the employer and employees, but not cost-sharing amounts such as deductibles, coinsurance and copays when care is received. For planning purposes, the thresholds for high-cost plans are currently $10,200 for individual coverage, and $27,500 for family coverage. These thresholds will be updated before the tax takes effect in 2020 and indexed for inflation in future years. The thresholds will also be increased: If the majority of covered employees are engaged in specified high-risk professions such as law enforcement and construction, and For group demographics including age and gender. For pre-65 retirees and individuals in high-risk professions, the threshold amounts are currently $11,850 for individual coverage and $30,950 for family coverage. These amounts will also be indexed before the tax takes effect.
Who calculates and pays	Insured: Employers calculate and insurers pay Self-funded: Employers calculate and “the person who administers the plan benefits” pays HSAs and Archer MSAs: Employers calculate and employers pay
How a group health plan’s cost is determined	The tax is based on the total cost of each employee’s coverage above the threshold amount. The cost includes contributions toward the cost of coverage made by employers and employees. The statute states that costs of coverage will be calculated under rules similar to the rules for calculating COBRA premium.
How the tax will be paid	Forms and instructions for paying the tax are not yet available.
Tax implications	Based on the December 2015 changes, Cadillac Tax payments will be deductible for federal tax purposes.
Applicable types of coverage	Insured and self-insured group health plans (including behavioral, and prescription drug coverage) Wellness programs that are group health plans (most wellness programs) Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), employer and employee pre-tax contributions* Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs)* Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), all pre-tax contributions* On-site medical clinics providing more than de minimis care* Executive Physical Programs* Pre-tax coverage for a specified disease or illness Hospital indemnity or other fixed indemnity insurance Federal/State/Local government-sponsored plans for its employees Retiree coverage Multi-employer (Taft-Hartley) plans

https://www.cigna.com/health-care-reform/cadillac-tax

Posted on May 25, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Reader says public input early is key in the Ridgewood Planning Board process

I do think public input early in the process is key. I agree current council has been scared of allowing opposition to formalize as it did with CRR and Valley. They seem to think that if you do it quick you minimize the ability of the public to create opposition groups, etc.

So I agree, make people aware and get stakeholders into the informal meetings. But I think the public comment and the entire process would be helped if it was less formal. The Planning Board public comment period is supposed to focus on whatever specific legal objections and technical objections can be raised. They tolerate kids getting up to say there will be construction and people speculating about construction workers oggoling children, but that is not really what the Planning Board hearing is about. HOWEVER, a less formal informative session format would give a perfect outlet for those kids to be heard before the Planning Board or the developers are locked into a legal process. There can be a dialogue this way.

Now legally this would have to be voluntary for the developers. BUT we could create a voluntary preliminary planning framework. Publish a description online and in the paper. Have 2 meetings at different times on different days. Allow cross talk so questions can be addressed and answered. You could even publish a summary of the meetings but agree they will not be recorded or be considered binding. Let the developer have the right to sign off on the summary before it is published to correct their own statements as needed. This will free everyone up to talk more freely.

Following this process a plan would be submitted for the formal planning board. The carrot to get developers to take the deal would be that the Planning Board would have the option to allow comment and vote on the same night ONLY IF the developers went through the preliminary voluntary process. Otherwise the Planning Board would typically allow 1-2 sessions of public comment BEFORE voting.

Posted on May 25, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 3 Comments

Garrett Challenger Political insider Josh Gottheimer Surrounded by Scandals

May 24,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood bog

Ridgewood NJ ,Rep Scott Garrett’s Democratic challenger Political insider Josh Gottheimer has lots of high profile friends he’s using to try to buy his way into Congress. Unfortunately for him, these “friends” believe the rules don’t apply to them – which means they have bit a habit of running into trouble with the law…Terry McAuliffe is just the latest in a series of scandals plaguing members of the “Gottheimer Cartel.”

Does Josh Gottheimer agree with his “friends” – that the rules don’t apply to him?

Gottheimer’s Clinton 2008 Campaign Mentor and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe:Terry McAuliffe Under FBI Investigation For Possible Campaign Violations. “The FBI is investigating whether Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s 2013 campaign accepted illegal contributions.” (NBC News, 5/23/2016)

“Family Member” Hillary Clinton: FBI May Question Clinton. ”In addition to the FBI investigation, inspectors general at the State Department and the U.S. intelligence community are reviewing whether security procedures or laws were broken.” (ABC News, 5/23/2016)

Donor and Wife Beater Ibrahim Al-Rashid: Democratic Groups Keep Donations From Domestic Violence Convict. “Al-Rashid, the son of a Saudi multimillionaire, pled guilty in 2014 to a domestic assault charge against his estranged wife, who was formerly the finance director for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D, Fla.).” (Washington Free Beacon, 5/19/2016)

Donor and Disgraced Senator Bob “The Torch” Torricelli: Torricelli Angling for Return to US Senate by Supporting Clinton “Family Member” Gottheimer?“Former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli said if Hillary Clinton is elected president, he “might ask to do something” in her administration.” (NJ.com, 4/21/2016)

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 1 Comment

TSA boots head of security amid furor over long lines

Image: TSA security at the airport in Seattle

John Bacon and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY8:56 a.m. EDT May 24, 2016

The Transportation Security Administration’s head of security has been ousted amid an uproar over long lines at airport security checkpoints and intense scrutiny over bonus payments.

“Kelly Hoggan has been removed from his position as head of security at TSA, following our hearing on May 12 on mismanagement at TSA,” the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform posted on its Twitter account.

Some lawmakers blasted TSA at the hearing for giving Hoggan $90,000 in bonuses at a time when watchdog tests revealed screeners routinely failed to find weapons at checkpoints. The hearing was one in a series where whistleblowers denounced the agency for rewarding top officials with large bonuses while retaliating against workers who complained about the unfair practices.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, had slammed bonuses given to Hoggan, who was paid $181,500 per year. Chaffetz said Hoggan also received $90,000 in bonuses during a 13-month period that ended in November 2014.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/05/24/tsa-boots-head-security/84839202/

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 1 Comment

Sticker Shock : Insurers are looking for Obamacare price hikes

Contributors s Note : We predicted it. We know it was all a lie and of course Dr. Gruber boasted and called the American people “Stupid”.

“Obamacare plan customers should brace for sticker shock when the administration posts insurers’ preliminary rate requests for 2017 this week.
Health plans are asking for sharp price increases, after suffering big losses on exchanges in the last two years. Regulators caution that these are preliminary requests and final rates could a lot different.

Insurers cite rising drug costs and patients who utilize a lot of medical services for the price-hike requests, which range from 17 percent in New York, and more than 20 percent in Virginia, to 30 percent rate increase requests from Oregon’s largest insurers ” Joe Killian

Bertha Coombs | @BerthaCoombs

Obamacare plan customers should brace for sticker shock when the administration posts insurers’ preliminary rate requests for 2017 this week.

Health plans are asking for sharp price increases, after suffering big losses on exchanges in the last two years. Regulators caution that these are preliminary requests and final rates could a lot different.

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/23/insurers-are-looking-for-obamacare-price-hikes.html?__source=msn%7Cmoney%7Cheadline%7Cstory%7C&par=msn

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 1 Comment

‘I’m not with her’: why women are weary of Hillary Clinton

hillary-clinton-what-difference-does-it-make

As a whole, women support Clinton over Trump and Sanders, but 49% of women from across the political spectrum give her an unfavorable rating

Anoa Changa is a feminist who isn’t going to vote for Hillary Clinton. Last July, when the 34-year-old Atlanta-based attorney began volunteering with the grassroots organization Women for Bernie Sanders, she received immediate pushback from other women. Over social media, they accused her and other Sanders volunteers of betraying their gender, and of being fake feminists. Even former professors and friends questioned how she could support the Vermont senator over the secretary of state.

“Some women I encounter act as if I’ve betrayed some kind of secret society,” says Changa. “I reject this brand of feminism. I’m not only voting for my gender, I’m voting for other issues.”

For the first time in its history, America is close to electing a female president, yet many women from across the political spectrum don’t like Clinton.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/23/women-female-voters-us-election-hillary-clinton

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Delegates should get only 1 vote, N.J. lawsuit says

With national attention focused on the role of superdelegates in picking candidates, a federal lawsuit filed in Trenton this month sheds light on how voting is conducted at closed local party conventions and how it can escalate political infighting. Jan Hefler, Inquire

https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160523_Delegates_should_get_only_1_vote__N_J__lawsuit_says.html

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 2 Comments

Facebook admits “rogue employees” may have shown bias against conservatives

Social media giant denies ‘systematic’ discrimination

By Stephen Dinan – The Washington Times – Monday, May 23, 2016

Facebook announced Monday it was sending employees out for retraining and would discontinue some of its practices as it sought to defend itself against charges of political bias against conservatives.

The online giant denied that it’s shown “systematic political bias,” but admitted employees played a bigger role than previously acknowledged in determining what news is highlighted in the trending topics section.

Facebook also acknowledged that rogue employees may have unintentionally discriminated against conservative stories or even acted with malice in “isolated improper actions.”

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/23/facebook-admits-rogue-employees-may-have-shown-bia/

Posted on May 24, 2016May 23, 2016 by James — 18 Comments

Monday 530 pm street parking aside the Ridgewood coffee shop across from NJT BUS DEPOT

I wish people would take photos of parking spaces all over town on different days of the week, ordinary and holiday, and at different times to show in aggregate that parking IS AVAILABLE. A large number of photos documented at various times and days of the week would tell the story. Walking a couple of blocks is good for your health! And unless you’re going to a Hudson St. or S. Broad Street venue, you’ll walk a couple of blocks (or much more) from the garage anyway. Please VOTE NO on June 21 and get an absentee ballot if you can’t.

send them in : [email protected] do not forget date, time

Posted on May 24, 2016June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Board of Education and Superintendent to host a Coffee this Evening

May 24,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Superintendent and Board Host Coffee and Conversation on May 24

Ridgewood NJ , The Board of Education and Superintendent will host residents for Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, May 24. The public is invited to drop in at the Education Center at 49 Cottage Place, floor 3 between 7 and 8:30 p.m. to ask questions and share suggestions and concerns.

2016-2017 School Budget Information
Click here to view the 2016-2017 User Friendly Budget.
Click here to look at a 2016-2017 budget summary sheet.
Click here to view the latest information on the budget, updated on May 2, 2016.

Dr. Fishbein Recommends Full-day Kindergarten
On March 7, Dr. Fishbein presented a recommendation to the Board on bringing full-day Kindergarten to Ridgewood. His proposal is to fund a full-day program through a tax increase approved by voters this November in a second question. The consensus of the Board is to proceed with this recommendation.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

Posted on May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 by James — 2 Comments

Village of Ridgewood and the High Fees for Dog Licenses

May 24,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, several readers in recent weeks mentioned that Ridgewood charges the highest fee for dog licenses and yet the Village of Ridgewood does not even have an animal control officer?

Some residents have suggested that the Village seems hostile towards dogs. Which is funny, because I also think a lot of people in town have dogs.
Other towns charge $9 – $13 for neutered dogs while Ridgewood charges $18 per dog , and of course the late fees are very high .

from the Village of Ridgewood website :

Dog Licenses

Dog licenses are renewed during the month of June. One and three year licenses are available starting June 1st with a valid rabies certificate.
For 1 year licenses: Rabies Certificate that expires no earlier than May 1st of the following year.
For 3 year licenses: Rabies Certificate that expires no earlier than May 1st of the third year. (Example: a 3 year license purchased in June of 2012 will need a rabies certificate valid through May 1, 2015)

Beginning in the 2013 licensing year, renewal reminders will be sent via email. An application will be available on the website or in person at the health department. Renewal applications will be mailed upon request by calling 201 670-5500 ext 503. A Late Fee of $20.00 per dog will be assessed after June 30th.

It is the dog owner’s responsibility to renew the dog license when it expires. It is also the dog owner’s responsibility to maintain their pet with a valid rabies vaccination. The health department sends out reminders as a courtesy and to inform residents of our free rabies clinic.

FORMS:
Application for New/Renewal of Dog License
Rabies Exemption Form

LAWS
Village Code Chapter 105: Click here for an index that contains links to the code provided by General Code. Be patient there is a pause while the link is locating and activating code.
NJ Statutes: NJSA 4:19-15.1 et seq (reprint)

Posted on May 24, 2016May 23, 2016 by James — 15 Comments

Reader says Vote NO to full-day kindergarten

I have two young kids who will be affected by this. Please get your friends and neighbors out to vote NO!

I moved to Ridgewood, in part, because it has half-day kindergarten. I have a child who was in kindergarten last year–it was non-stop busywork and worksheets. No toys or play. No time for socialization. No recess. Teachers who wanted 5 year-olds to sit still. It was completely age-inappropriate and the curriculum (coupled with the stressed-out teacher) was the perfect recipe for making children hate school. I thanked God it was only half a day and did not make my daughter miserable! My wife and I both work (she-part time), but half day kindergarten enabled us to make sure our child had time to run around and play in the afternoon (and my wife got those precious afternoons with her on the days she was not working! You never get those back.)

We DO NOT want full-day kindergarten. And there are many other parents like us here whose voices are being drowned out (or who did not even know this issue was on the docket).

The parents I know who do want full-day have the ability to be with their child in the afternoon AND/OR have the financial ability to hire child care or send their kids to the afternoon program of their choice. They are annoyed they have to be bothered to do so, especially because mid-day pick-up/drop-off interrupts their day so!!! (And, yes, many, many of these parents complainig so bitterly are affluent mothers who are at the gym, playing tennis, having lunch, etc.)

Let these parents PAY to have their kids in school all day, if that is what they need so desperately. Their desire to play tennis or not hire childcare should NOT be more important than our desire to spend time with our child and let a 5 year-old do what ALL the research says is crucial at this age: have unstructured play and time for socialization.

Please vote NO! Help the poor kids who do not have a voice here. I am sure that if they were polled, THEY would all vote this terrible idea down! Give them one last gasp before the rat race, with its tutors and sports trainers engulfs them! They will be better-off, academically, socially, and psychologically, in the long run! Thank you!

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