Author: James

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N.J. to allow Medicaid to cover in-home elder care

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N.J. to allow Medicaid to cover in-home elder care

NOVEMBER 30, 2014    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY COLLEEN DISKIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

In its latest move to promote alternatives to nursing homes, the Christie administration will enact a new funding measure on Monday that will allow more elderly and disabled people to apply for Medicaid assistance to pay for care at home or in non-institutional settings.

This newest amendment to the New Jersey’s Medicaid program will allow those who earn too much to qualify for full assistance — but who can’t afford the cost of the care they need — to receive help through the creation of a trust account at a bank.

Any income an elderly or disabled person receives above the Medicaid eligibility limit of $2,163 a month will be deposited into these irrevocable trust accounts, with withdrawals allowed for qualified living expenses as well as for the portion of their care that individuals can afford. Medicaid will then pick up the rest of the tab for their care, whether it’s in a nursing home or their own home.

The change is a response to years of lobbying from advocates who said old Medicaid rules were having the unintended effect of forcing people into nursing homes prematurely, because the state offered no help in paying for home health aides, adult day care programs or assisted living residences.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/n-j-to-allow-medicaid-for-in-home-elder-care-1.1143762

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NJ Senate bill would ease sales of water utilities

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NJ Senate bill would ease sales of water utilities

NOVEMBER 29, 2014, 11:50 PM    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014, 11:54 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

As some New Jersey towns weigh whether to sell off their aging, burdensome drinking-water systems to for-profit water companies, a controversial bill making its way through the state Senate would speed up such sales by stripping away a mandatory public vote on the deals.

Proponents say the bill would make it easier for towns to sell their water and sewer systems and escape costly regulation and infrastructure upgrades — a decision recently weighed by several North Jersey towns, including Ramsey and Allendale.

Critics, however, say the Water Infrastructure Protection Act would cut the public out of the process and could lead to water rate hikes. There is also a concern about selling off a natural resource.

For the 200 small publicly owned water systems in the state — 20 or so in Bergen and Passaic counties — the sharp debate over the bill comes at a time when municipalities, struggling to keep up with more stringent drinking water regulations and facing old water mains, weigh whether to get out of the water business. For-profit water companies are interested in buying the municipal systems to continue their own growth.

Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, and a prime sponsor of the measure, believes “no town should be in the public water supply business.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-senate-bill-would-ease-sales-of-water-utilities-1.1143657

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Ridgewood Open Houses November 30th 2014

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$1,295,000 in Ridgewood

$425,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1443545
1103 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, C/C
Jane L. McGuire, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Sun. 11/30
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$499,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1437935
347 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Karen Boyle, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 11/30
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$629,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1418631
436 Alpine Ter, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Col
Marylee Mullins, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Sun. 11/30
15

$1,225,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1442898
269 Lotte Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Barbara Nudelman, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
Open House: 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 11/30
25

$1,295,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1443901
820 Morningside Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Mary Tarvin Passaro, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 11/30
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.2GMQRc7X.dpuf

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DEA agent meets with Ridgewood parents, discusses student drug abuse

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photo by Boyd Loving

DEA agent meets with Ridgewood parents, discusses student drug abuse

November 26, 2014    Last updated: Wednesday, November 26, 2014, 9:42 AM
By Jodi Weinberger
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

The most dangerous words from a parent, said retired Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Douglas S. Collier, are “not my child.”

In a presentation titled “The Perfect Storm: Battling the Prescription Drug and Heroin Epidemic,” Collier explained how this type of thinking contributes to the widespread use of opiates in the state.

“The importance is to raise awareness of parents who think it can’t touch them,” Collier said before his presentation.

This event, held last Tuesday at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, is part of the district’s Community Outreach Program with events scheduled throughout the year on a range of topics from technology, to drug use, exercise and financial literacy.

The heroin epidemic reaches beyond New Jersey, Collier said, and is a result of what he called “a nation of users.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/dea-agent-watch-for-warning-signs-1.1141497

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Dark days ahead for ObamaCare

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Dark days ahead for ObamaCare

By Elise Viebeck – 11/29/14 06:13 AM EST

The Obama administration is facing a slew of healthcare challenges as the winter holidays approach.

While this fall has been a far cry from last year, when HealthCare.gov was melting down, 2014 has brought wholly unexpected problems to the fore for federal health officials and the White House.

Take the conflict surrounding Jonathan Gruber, the ObamaCare consultant whose suggestion that a “lack of transparency” and voters’ “stupidity” helped the law pass, went viral.

Though Democrats have sought to distance themselves from Gruber, his remarks have become a new flashpoint in debate over healthcare reform, invigorating GOP critics as the party prepares to take control of the Senate.

Gruber has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Dec. 9, in a final hearing for outgoing chairman and relentless administration antagonist Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

The gathering, also set to include Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, is sure to prove a distraction for the White House as officials try once again to keep a lid on opposition to the law.

Here are four additional challenges that the administration faces on healthcare this winter.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/225348-dark-days-ahead-for-obamacare

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Five tips for Thanksgiving leftovers

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Five tips for Thanksgiving leftovers

By Melissa d’Arabian, for CNN
updated 6:56 AM EST, Fri November 28, 2014

(CNN) — When Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the turkey gorge is over, you’ll probably open up your refrigerator and find all sorts of tinfoil-wrapped casseroles and a lingering eau de sage.

What’s a severely yammed out but unwasteful eater to do? That’s where Melissa d’Arabian comes in.

D’Arabian is the winner of season 5 of “The Next Food Network Star” and host of the Food Network show “Ten Dollar Dinners.”

She gives us her five tips for Thanksgiving leftovers.

https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/28/living/thanksgiving-leftovers/

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Ponzi: Treasury Issues $1T in New Debt in 8 Weeks—To Pay Old Debt

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Charles Ponzi working with the social security administration

Ponzi: Treasury Issues $1T in New Debt in 8 Weeks—To Pay Old Debt

November 28, 2014 – 2:37 PM

The Daily Treasury Statement that was released Wednesday afternoon as Americans were preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving revealed that the U.S. Treasury has been forced to issue $1,040,965,000,000 in new debt since fiscal 2015 started just eight weeks ago in order to raise the money to pay off Treasury securities that were maturing and to cover new deficit spending by the government.

During those eight weeks, Treasury took in $341,591,000,000 in revenues. That was a record for the period between Oct. 1 and Nov. 25. But that record $341,591,000,000 in revenues was not enough to finance ongoing government spending let alone pay off old debt that matured.

https://cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/terence-p-jeffrey/ponzi-treasury-issues-1t-new-debt-8-weeks-pay-old-debt

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Netflix CEO: Broadcast TV Will Be Dead By 2030

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Netflix CEO: Broadcast TV Will Be Dead By 2030

Nielsen Ratings are going to finally factor in Netflix traffic. Reed Hastings thinks it’s too little, too late.

By Jack Smith IV 11/28 11:15am

If you checked Nielsen Ratings, you’d think that the only people watching TV were age 54 and older (and you’d be right), and that Millennials are a black hole of immeasurable Internet content consumption—that is, until Nielsen starts measuring Netflix traffic next month.

But what does Netflix CEO Reed Hastings think about Nielsen’s bold step forward? Meh. Earlier this week, in Mexico City, he said that it’s “not very relevant” either way, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For Nielsen, this might look like modernization, but for those of us ready to enter 2015, it’s more like a move from the Mesozoic to the Paleozoic Era.

“It’s kind of like the horse, you know, the horse was good until we had the car,” Mr. Hastings said. “The age of broadcast TV will probably last until 2030.”

The trouble is how Nielsen intends on reporting streaming ratings: Nielsen will capture audio from home televisions, which accounts for no traffic from people binge-watching on their phones or curled up in bed with a laptop. It’ll capture some of the traffic, sure, but Netflix will always be able to say, “that’s like, a fraction of the real viewership.” And they’d be right.

But 2030 seems mightly early, no? Well, given that TV viewership dropped a full 50% between 2002 and 2012—which is largely before the advent of cord-slaying streaming habits—the future for the next 15 years of broadcast television is possibly catastrophic.

You’d think that by now, cable companies would have some sort of half-baked strategy to prevent companies like Netflix from eating their lunch.

Read more at https://betabeat.com/2014/11/netflix-ceo-broadcast-tv-will-be-dead-by-2030/#ixzz3KTbK4WPD

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U.S. CEOs threaten to pull tacit Obamacare support over ‘wellness’ spat

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U.S. CEOs threaten to pull tacit Obamacare support over ‘wellness’ spat

By Sharon Begley 4 hours ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Leading U.S. CEOs, angered by the Obama administration’s challenge to certain “workplace wellness” programs, are threatening to side with anti-Obamacare forces unless the government backs off, according to people familiar with the matter.

Major U.S. corporations have broadly supported President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform despite concerns over several of its elements, largely because it included provisions encouraging the wellness programs.

The programs aim to control healthcare costs by reducing smoking, obesity, hypertension and other risk factors that can lead to expensive illnesses. A bipartisan provision in the 2010 healthcare reform law allows employers to reward workers who participate and penalize those who don’t.

https://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-u-ceos-threaten-pull-tacit-obamacare-support-120556143–sector.html

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Ridgewood an increasingly significant restaurant town; Cafe 37 a reason

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Ridgewood an increasingly significant restaurant town; Cafe 37 a reason
By Teresa Politano | The Star-Ledger

Of all the salads, the kale salad is most virtuous. You choose it with a certain smugness; it’s a healthier-than-thou selection.And then a chef sneaks in a bit of hazelnut and almond in the vinaigrette dressing, and your kale salad is suddenly perky and flirty and coy, sparking unexpected interest from the manly man meat-eater at the table. Then, boom, before you know it, the kale salad is gone, consumed like so many crisp, fresh French fries. Kale. Who knew?

The kale salad ($12), with avocado, blood orange slices and feta, is just one of the unexpected surprises at Café 37. It’s also, not surprisingly, the most popular salad on the menu.

Ridgewood has long been a town with good dining options, but in recent years, the scene has become even more competitive and dynamic. Café 37, which opened in 2012, remains one of the reasons.

https://www.nj.com/dining/2014/11/ridgewood_an_increasingly_sign.html

 

 

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Record Number of Americans Put off Medical Treatment Due to Costs

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Record Number of Americans Put off Medical Treatment Due to Costs 

Cost Still a Barrier Between Americans and Medical Care
by Rebecca Riffkin

In U.S., 33% have put off medical treatment because of cost
More put off treatment for serious conditions than non-serious
More with private insurance put off treatment in 2014 than 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One in three Americans say they have put off getting medical treatment that they or their family members need because of cost. Although this percentage is in line with the roughly 30% figures seen in recent years, it is among the highest readings in the 14-year history of Gallup asking the question.

Since 2001, Gallup has asked Americans each November if they have put off any sort of medical treatment for themselves or their families in the past 12 months. Last year, many hoped that the opening of the government healthcare exchanges and the resulting increase in the number of Americans with health insurance would enable more people to seek medical treatment. But,despite a drop in the uninsured rate, a slightly higher percentage of Americans than in previous years report having put off medical treatment, suggesting that the Affordable Care Act has not immediately affected this measure.

Among Americans with varying types of medical coverage (including no coverage), uninsured Americans are still the most likely to report having put off medical treatment because of cost. More than half of the uninsured (57%) have put off treatment, compared with 34% with private insurance and 22% with Medicare or Medicaid. However, the percentage of Americans with private health insurance who report putting off medical treatment because of cost has increased from 25% in 2013 to 34% in 2014.

Thirty-five percent of lower-income Americans — those with annual household incomes under $30,000 — report putting off medical treatment in the past 12 months, down from 43% in 2013. More upper-income Americans, on the other hand, report delaying treatment, with percentages rising from 17% in 2013 to 28% this year. The percentage of middle-income Americans who have put off medical treatment remains roughly the same as last year, at 38%.

Americans More Likely to Put Off Treatment for Serious Conditions

Those who indicate that they have put off medical treatment in the past 12 months are asked to rate the seriousness of the underlying condition or illness. This year, 22% of Americans say they have put off medical treatment for a “very” or “somewhat serious” condition. This is double the 11% who say they have put off treatment for a non-serious condition. Furthermore, the percentage who have put off treatment for a serious condition has increased slightly since 2013.

https://www.gallup.com/poll/179774/cost-barrier-americans-medical-care.aspx

 

 

 

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Kate Spade Offers Splurge and Save – Nov. 25 – Dec. 2

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Kate Spade Offers Splurge and Save – Nov. 25 – Dec. 2

Swing by Kate Spade from Tuesday November 25 till Tuesday December 2

Spend $250, Enjoy $50 Off
Spend $500, Enjoy $125 Off
Spend $750, Enjoy $225 Off
Spend $1000, Enjoy $350 Off

Full-priced and Sale Purchases

WAIT, THERE’S MORE…
Shop a Select Assortment of our iconic Gramercy Grand watches at a Festive Price of $125 (They’re usually $225)

Kate Spade
202 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 689-6204

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Santa Comes to Ridgewood

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Santa Comes to Ridgewood 

Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce

December 6, 2014 , 9am to 1pm Santa at Columbia Bank, 60 S. Broad Street – gifts and pictures for children 10:30 Am Free Movie at Bowtie Warner Cinema – ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ Breakfast with Santa – Call for Reservation 201/652-1070

Breakfast with Santa
Chamber of commerce

December 13, 2014 , Breakfast with Santa – Call for reservation 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in the Park – 12Noon to 3PM

Breakfast With Santa – Visit Santa House
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce

December 20, 2014 , Breakfast with Santa – reservations at 201/652-1070 Visit Santa in his house in the park Noon to 3PM www.experienceridgewoodnj.com

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SHOP RIDGEWOOD SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

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SHOP RIDGEWOOD SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Saturday, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2014
Small Business Saturday is a national day to encourage people to shop at small businesses.

Saturday, November 29, 2014 is Small Business Saturday® – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do in your community.

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Please join the Ridgewood blog  and organizations across the country in supporting your local small business by shopping at a small business.

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after U.S. Thanksgivingduring one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. First observed on November 27, 2010, it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. Small Business Saturday is a registered trademark of American Express corporation.

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2nd Ridgewood house fire within 90 minutes

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Photo credit:  Boyd A. Loving
2nd Ridgewood house fire within 90 minutes
November 28th 2014
Boyd A. Loving
6:10 PM

Ridgewood NJ, A fire that began on the second floor of a home located at 19 Liberty Street, Ridgewood, reported at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, 11/28, was quickly extinguished by Ridgewood fire fighters with the assistance of fire personnel from Glen Rock and Waldwick.  The fire may have started in a clothes dryer and spread to clothing left on top of the unit.  Flames were visible through a second floor rear window of the home.  No injuries were reported.  East Ridgewood Avenue was closed between South Irving Street and South Maple Avenue due to hose lines stretched across the roadway.  The fire was contained to one room, however smoke and water damage impacted the first floor below and attic above.

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Photo credit:  Boyd A. Loving

Esurance