Seahawks: Undercover Cops Hired To Wear Opposing Team’s Uniform
September 11, 2013 7:19 PM
RENTON, Wash. (CBS Seattle/AP) — The Seattle Seahawks announced that the organization has hired undercover cops to wear San Francisco 49ers gear and patrol Sunday’s game in order to curb unruly behavior.
“We have great fans,” said Seahawks president Peter McLoughlin. “Our goal is to ensure a safe environment for all in attendance, including visiting team fans.”
The Seahawks announced Wednesday they will have the undercover police officers wearing opposing team apparel beginning with Sunday night’s highly anticipated matchup, saying the goal is to ensure a safe environment for all fans, including those supporting the visiting team.
For years, Trader Joe’s has offered health care coverage to its part-time employees at reasonable prices. No more. The company is cutting health care benefits for anyone working fewer than 30 hours a week, according to a confidential memo sent to many employees on August 30.
“With low-wage workers eligible for tax subsidies to buy health insurance next year, the company has apparently calculated that offering medical coverage to part-timers who work 18 hours or more is no longer worth the cost,” the Huffington Post reports.
Obamacare’s employer mandate penalizes employers that do not provide the government-dictated level of insurance to their employees, and business owners can avoid the penalty if they have fewer than 50 full-time employees or if their employees work less than 30 hours a week.
If that 30 hour threshold is starting to sound familiar, it’s because Trader Joe’s decision reflects a trend. An independent study by Investor’s Business Daily, broken down by state, proves more than 250 employers have cut work hours or jobs or taken other steps to avoid Obamacare costs already.
According to Huffington Post, Trader Joe’s CEO Dan Bane is hoping to soften the blow by promising employees the company will “cut part-timers a check for $500 in January and help guide them toward finding a new plan under the Affordable Care Act.”
A current Trader Joe’s employee told Huffington Post the coverage she’ll lose is one of the best parts of her job. She said several of her co-workers, especially those with young families, are there for the insurance as much as anything else.
“I can say that when I opened and read the letter yesterday my reaction was pure panic, followed quickly by anger,” she said.
For the many Trader Joe’s employees who are on the cusp of 30 hours, “the memo left little hope that they can pack in extra hours to meet the requirement,” according to the report.
We need to defund Obamacare so that we can start over on health care reform, without eliminating the good options that already exist.
‘Revenge porn’ victim tells story, fights for change
hursday – 9/12/2013, 12:15pm ET
By Neal Augenstein
WASHINGTON – “It was completely devastating when I first found the pictures – I could feel myself go into shock.”
Holly Jacobs had no idea the racy photographs she’d shared with her boyfriend would be used against her in a publicly humiliating way after they broke up.
Yet, in 2009 a friend called to say Jacobs’ Facebook account had been hacked and a nude photo was online.
And it got worse.
“My photos and a video of me were up on a revenge porn website,” says Jacobs, who legally changed her name in the aftermath.
With her name, phone number and email address posted online, Jacobs was bombarded with unwanted attention.
Her photos and videos were even sent to her boss.
Revenge porn sites make no bones about why they exist.
The Valley Hospital Among First in the Nation to Receive ‘Blue Distinction’ in Cardiac Care
Hospital among first to receive new designation for delivering quality and cost-efficient cardiac procedures
September 10, 2013 — Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has recognized The Valley Hospital as one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive a Blue Distinction Center+SM designation in the area of cardiac care, as part of the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program. Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes that were developed with input from the medical community. This year, the national program has added a new designation level, Blue Distinction Centers+, to recognize hospitals that deliver both quality and cost-efficient specialty care.
In 2006, the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program was developed to help patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. To receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac CareSM designation, a hospital must demonstrate success in meeting both general quality and safety criteria (such as preventing hospital-acquired infections) and cardiac-specific quality measures (related to lower rates of complications and death following cardiac surgery; and non-surgical procedures, such as cardiac stent placement) and, additionally, must show better cost efficiency relative to their peers. Quality is key: only those facilities that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.
“We are proud to have earned this quality recognition from Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey,” says Alex Zapolanski, M.D., Director of Cardiac Surgery at the Valley Heart and Vascular Institute. “Blue Distinction Center+ designation is just further evidence that patients who undergo cardiac care at Valley receive outstanding clinical care along with the wonderful caring environment that we are known for.”
In addition to this recent recognition from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Valley has also received the highest designation of quality – a three-star rating – from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for coronary artery bypass procedures and valve surgery. Only 2.4 percent of hospitals nationwide received three stars for both procedures. Valley has also been ranked No. 1 in New Jersey for cardiac care, cardiac surgery and coronary interventional procedures by Healthgrades.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 600,000 lives each year. Cardiac procedures, including bypass and cardiac stent placement, are among the most common major medical procedures provided by the US health care system, with more than 1 million procedures performed annually. These cardiac related procedures cost the nation more than $28 billion annually. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program seeks to reduce this burden, by empowering patients with the knowledge and tools to find both quality and value for their cardiac care needs.
“We commend and congratulate The Valley Hospital for its achievement as a Blue Distinction Center+SM for cardiac care,” said Kevin Conlin, Executive Vice President, Healthcare Management, Horizon BCBSNJ. “Quality and safety are the hallmarks of medical care, and the Blue Distinction program recognizes hospitals for their commitment to helping their patients achieve healthy outcomes.”
Research shows that Blue Distinction Centers+ demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications following certain cardiac procedures and lower rates of healthcare associated infections, compared with their peers. Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient for those same procedures.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program identifies hospitals delivering quality care in bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, spine surgery, and transplants. These specialty areas comprise approximately 30 percent of inpatient hospital expenditures. For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
For more information please visit www.ValleyHealth.com.
Nationally, less than 5% of the population donates blood.In NJ, less than 3% of the population donates.
Thanks to the commitment and generosity of its donors, Community Blood Services has been serving our community’s transfusion medicine needs for more than 60 years. We provide life-saving blood and blood products to hospitals in New Jersey and New York, bone marrow registration and donor services, and public and private umbilical cord blood collection and storage. Our New Jersey Cord Blood Bank is the only public cord blood bank for the State of New Jersey.
It takes all types of donors and the combined efforts of many every day to support our lifesaving mission. Whatever you have to share can help save lives.
It’s easy to organize a lifesaving bone marrow drive with your organization, school, business or place of worship. Call 800-336-3363 or email The HLA Registry for more information. Following are upcoming drives our area.
Former Bergen County Democratic leader Joseph Ferriero indicted in racketeering scheme
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Last updated: Thursday September 12, 2013, 12:22 AM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Joseph A. Ferriero abused his power and influence as the chairman of Bergen County’s Democratic Party by engaging in bribery, kickback and shakedown schemes, including a plot to extort $1.7 million from a prior developer of the Meadowlands retail and entertainment project now known as American Dream, a federal grand jury alleged Wednesday.
Ferriero, 56, once among the state’s most powerful political leaders, was indicted on federal racketeering charges, accused of soliciting monthly bribes of $35,000 from a Virginia-based real estate investment trust that developed the Meadowlands project, formerly known as Xanadu.
The trust made the payments through its Teaneck law firm from 2002 to 2006 in exchange for Ferriero’s help in securing endorsements and official support, and to prevent him and others from opposing the project, the indictment alleges.
The indictment comes three years after Ferriero walked out of court a free man when a judge set aside his previous conviction in a scheme to profit from his secret ownership of a grants-writing business that worked for local governments in North Jersey.
Readers look for leadership from the President on Foreign Policy
Well… just being a leader (even a bad leader) would be a step in the right direction.
What we have is a president who is easily manipulated and reactive with no real foreign policy goals or objectives.
A policy, a plan, a vision or even the exhibition of any leadership skills would give us a starting point for discussion and the taking of a position for or against that policy.
You can continue to incorrectly interpret my comments as “pro war”, but you would be wrong. You would also be wrong to interpret my comments as “anti war” or even as “neutral”.
It is impossible to take a position on the president’s policy since it changes daily and will likely change again.
For instance, take the speech last night – its initial objective was to convince the public (and congress) to quickly vote on an approval to strike Syria, but it changed to a speech to tell Congress to delay any vote. This entire turnaround in position was due to an off the cuff comment made by the Secretary of State (which opposed an earlier position taken by the president) and an opportunistic position taken by Putin to keep his man in power.
This is an administration with a “driftwood” foreign policy — aka no foreign policy at all or at best a chaotic, unintelligible foreign policy.
How a casual remark put Syria attack on hold
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Last updated: Thursday September 12, 2013, 12:32 AM
BY CALVIN WOODWARD
Associated Press
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/international/How_an_idea_put_a_Syrian_strike_on_hold.html#sthash.Tg6WW1uC.dpuf
Franklin Lakes man arrested; claimed to be lawyer for ‘Real Housewives’ cast members
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Last updated: Wednesday September 11, 2013, 12:38 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — A man who told police in April that he was an attorney for “Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars Jacqueline and Christopher Laurita will now be looking for his own legal representation.
Mark J. McGuire, 53, of Franklin Lakes, was arrested last week and charged with a single count of unauthorized practice of law.
McGuire spent more than 45 minutes with the Lauritas as they were interviewed by police in April, following their involvement in a fracas at the grand opening of a salon in Ridgewood.
McGuire was with the couple as they left Ridgewood Village Hall following their meeting with detectives. All three entered a black Mercedes Benz with tinted windows and drove off.
A press release from the department claims detectives, as they were concluding their investigation into the assault last week, discovered that McGuire had falsely represented himself as a lawyer.
McGuire was released on his own recognizance. His first court appearance has not been scheduled yet.
Our elected politicians are a bunch of school children both ,Democrats and Republicans.
We’re policed by four different forces — state, county, sheriff and local. What a colossal waste of money. They have nothing else better to do than bicker among themselves.
What is a Sheriff??? Why is he on the highway? He is supposed to check ID’s at the county clerks office.( at $ 100,000 )
DeNicola was definitely targeted by the sheriff’s officer. Say what you want about the Freeholders and county govt but elected officials need to be protected from retribution by these guys.
Superintendent Dan Fishbien addresses new professional development program
September 12,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Superintendent Dan Fishbien adresses delayed implementation of a professional development program for elementary and middle school staff.
Claiming “unfortunately word of a possible implementation was released prematurely
before I could work out all of the details and present them publicly. ”
Dr. Fishbien goes on to reiterate how crucial professional development is to teachers and thus the success of Ridgewood students >
9.11.13: LETTER FROM DAN FISHBEIN:
Click below to read a letter to parents and guardians, regarding the delayed implementation of a professional development program for elementary and middle school staff.
Reader says The Maple Dayton route does the least political harm and does not offend County Democrats
Spring Ave has friends of Ahronson
One or two of Aronsohn’s political benefactors live on Spring and are very active in the Bergen County Democratic Party.
The Maple Dayton route does the least political harm and does not offend County Dems. Aromsohn wants to push the problem to apartment dwellers who don’t vote.
U.S. can’t prove Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria By Guy Taylor-The Washington Time
Control of deadly weapons in question
U.S. intelligence has yet to uncover evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad directly ordered the chemical attacks last month on civilians in a suburb of Damascus, though the consensus inside U.S. agencies and Congress is that members of Mr. Assad’s inner circle likely gave the command, officials tell The Washington Times.
The gap in the intelligence has raised debate in some corners of the wider intelligence community about whether Mr. Assad has full control of his war-weary Army and their arsenal of chemical missiles, which most likely would be treasured by terrorist groups known to be operating in Syria, said officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing intelligence matters.
“If there was a rogue general that did it on his own accord, that would be a bigger problem for Assad, because that would imply that he does not have control of his own weapons,” said one senior congressional source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments on Syria.
Apart from concerns about weapons falling into the hands of such Sunni extremist and al Qaeda-linked groups as the al-Nusra Front, there are also concerns about serious hurdles now likely to lie ahead for the international community trying to assemble a special team to work with Mr. Assad on securing his chemical arsenal.
Some foreign policy insiders, meanwhile, said the lack of specific intelligence about who ordered the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack is the main reason why top Obama administration officials — including the president himself — have in recent days carefully assigned blame to “Assad’s regime” rather than the Syrian leader personally.
On today’s anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, we continue to remember the many lives lost and the heroes that emerged from that dark day.
We will never forget our friends, family, and neighbors, whose lives were taken away from us twelve years ago today.
Today, we can also find hope as we remember our first responders, who so selflessly rushed to the rescue of their fellow Americans, our military men and women, who have fought so bravely to protect our liberty and defend this great nation, and the individual men and women who have comforted so many. I am never surprised by the resolve and compassion of the American people.
May our thoughts and prayers be with every person mourning this horrific event today and every day, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Adopt A Pet Day – Now Twice A Year!
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Seventh Adopt A Pet Day
Date: Sunday, September 29th, 2013
RAIN OR SHINE
Time: 11-4:00
Place: Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
320 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Telephone before the event: 201-447-6000 (On the day of the event, our answering service will be answering the phone for EMERGENCIES ONLY since all of our employees will be volunteering for the event).
Over 25 animal shelters and rescue groups will fill our parking lot and reception area with rescued dogs, cats, birds, and exotics in need of a loving family. Open your heart and home to a friend for life! Unconditional love is waiting for you. . .
Visit our website: www.ridgewoodvet.com and follow us on facebook for more information: www.facebook.com/ridgewoodvet
If you’d like to donate food, blankets, treats, toys or any other pet-related animals, Rock & Rawhide, a group that delivers much needed items to local shelters will be in attendance as advertised on Z100. Please bring items to the event or drop them off at our hospital before the event.
