>“Not My Kid: What Every Parent Should Know About Youth Suicide Prevention”

 THIS Wednesday, October 6, 7:30 p.m., Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 335 North Van Dien Avenue.

Parents, staff and adult community members are invited to this important presentation, given by Scott Fritz and Maureen Underwood of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Scott Fritz is a father who lost a child to suicide, and a founder of the society. Maureen Underwood is a clinical social worker and nationally recognized expert in youth suicide prevention.This presentation is for adults only and will include an opportunity for questions.

For more information contact Dr. Fishbein’s office at (201) 670-2700, ext. 10530. Information about the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide can be found at www.sptsnj.org .

>

Cheese of the week

Super Cellars and the Cheese Shop
32 South Broad St · Ridgewood NJ 07450
Phone: 201-444-0012 · Fax: 201-444-3070

>Charter Schools : Christie airs plan to ease charter-school creation

Christie airs plan to ease charter-school creation

Gov. Christie outlined a proposal to improve and expand school choice in New Jersey at a town-hall meeting in Hoboken on Thursday, urging lawmakers to overhaul state law to allow charter schools to be established more easily. (Lu, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

https://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20101001_Christie_airs_plan_to_ease_charter-school_creation.html

>

McDonald’s May Drop Health Plan

By JANET ADAMY

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703431604575522413101063070.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

McDonald’s Corp. has warned federal regulators that it could drop its health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 hourly restaurant workers unless regulators waive a new requirement of the U.S. health overhaul.

The move is one of the clearest indications that new rules may disrupt workers’ health plans as the law ripples through the real world.

Trade groups representing restaurants and retailers say low-wage employers might halt their coverage if the government doesn’t loosen a requirement for “mini-med” plans, which offer limited benefits to some 1.4 million Americans.

The requirement concerns the percentage of premiums that must be spent on benefits.

While many restaurants don’t offer health coverage, McDonald’s provides mini-med plans for workers at 10,500 U.S. locations, most of them franchised. A single worker can pay $14 a week for a plan that caps annual benefits at $2,000, or about $32 a week to get coverage up to $10,000 a year.

full story:
https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703431604575522413101063070.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

>Xanadu : Yes it was dumb idea

Sweeny to Hanson: Why so informal with important issues?

OCEANPORT – Questioning why such important decisions were taken up by such an informal commission, State Sen. President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) told Jon Hanson, “I don’t think you as a developer would jump into (an investment like Xanadu) based on a decision (made so informally).” (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/sweeney-hanson-why-so-informal-important-issues

>NJ among states in poor fiscal health, report finds

Troubled state budgets may be steering the nation into its next financial crisis — and New Jersey is leading the pack, according to a new report by influential financial analyst Meredith Whitney. (Kwoh, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/09/nj_fiscal_health_dire_report_f.html

>McNerney: Wining, Dining, Chauffeuring on the Taxpayer Dime

Kathe Donovan today charged Democrat County Executive Dennis McNerney with “allowing political cronies to wine, dine and ride at taxpayers’ expense.”

According to Ms. Donovan, “The Record reports that BCIA Executive Director and McNerney ally Ed Hynes ran up an $800 monthly expense account paid for by Bergen taxpayers. And where was much of this money spent? At Bergen County watering holes frequented by other McNerney cronies.” Ms. Donovan charged that this practice has gone on for years and is consistent with other McNerney abuses.

“McNerney had the county police chauffeuring political boss Joe Ferriero until the practice was uncovered by the Record and McNerney was forced to end it.” Donovan said that McNerney “defended the practice” noting that the Record reported on November 6, 2004 that McNerney, “did not think Ferriero should have to reimburse the costs for the ride.” Donovan said she was appalled that McNerney thought it appropriate for political bosses to ride on the taxpayers’ dime to places like Atlantic City and Yankee Stadium. McNerney went on to tell the Record “Joe (Ferriero) is a season ticket holder, and in return, we went to the Stadium Club, and I bought food there with him, Rather than me paying for the ticket, I paid for the food and drinks.” Donovan added, “and the taxpayers paid for the transportation.”

Donovan compared this abuse to reckless Democrat charges that she used Port Authority helicopters for six rides when she was chair of the bi-state agency. Donovan said that the use of the helicopter came in the wake of the initial attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.

“Those rides took place over 15 years ago. It was a common practice at the time. It has never been a common practice, however, for political bosses and cronies to be chauffeured by the Bergen County Police at taxpayer expense. This and other abuses are going to stop when I’m county executive. The days of wine and roses are coming to an end.”

>

WESTWOOD, N.J. – Irish Eyes Imports, Ltd., the upscale Irish boutique that retails fine Irish accessories and clothing in downtown Westwood, will be hosting representatives from four of the finest jewelry artists this fall. Representatives will showcase the wide ranges of quality jewelry they each offer. The trunk shows will be open from noon to 4pm on Saturdays, October 16th and 23rd and November 13th and 27th. A $100 gift card will be awarded at each event (no purchase necessary).

October 16th: Shanore offers exquisitely carved gold and silver jewelry produced in the heart of Dublin.

October 23rd: Solvar offers the largest range of Celtic and Irish jewelry in gold and silver.

November 13th: The TJH collection of gold and silver jewelry has been inspired for more than 50 years by the art and skill of the Celtic forefathers.

November 27th: The Facet Collection of fine jewelry is inspired by the Celts’ love of color and design. Each piece is handmade in Dun Laoghaire, a tradition for more than 25 years.

“We have found that the fine jewellers we will showcase have worked very hard to appeal to those with a strong heritage and those looking for quality jewelry”, states Tara and Gene Callaghan, owners.

Irish Eyes looks forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming trunk shows.

Irish Eyes is also excited to announce the launch and there new and improved website – www.celticpride.com. Through this new website you can purchase a large variety of items that can be shipped directly to you or picked up at the Westwood location. “ We hope to reach a much broader clientele with our new website. We wanted to update the existing website to make it as customer friendly as possible.”

Irish Eyes Imports is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursdays, the store is open until 8 p.m. Irish Eyes Imports is located at 162 Westwood Avenue in Westwood. For more information, call 201.445.8585.

Irish Eyes Imports
162 Westwood Avenue
Westwood, NJ 07675
201.445.8585
help@celticpride.com
https://www.celticpride.com/

>Tea Party sues feds over health care

The Jersey Shore Tea Party along with Ocean County Citizens For Freedom, the Colts Neck Tea Party and several individuals have filed a 15 count lawsuit in NJ Federal Court against members of the Obama Administration over the sweeping health care legislation signed into law in March. (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/tea-party-sues-over-health-care

>State probe chastises NJSIAA for reckless spending

The finances of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association are again under attack.
The State Commission of Investigation will release a report today blasting the organization that governs New Jersey high school sports for reckless spending, according to The Star-Ledger. (McGarry, Press of Atlantic City)

https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/article_157d481c-cb84-11df-843a-001cc4c03286.html

>Reader says CCR will back Wellinghorst and Train will bow out

I’m sorry to tell you Mr. Train that regardless the amount of information and passion you’ve demonstrated on your opinions here and elsewhere the CRR will announce that after “much thoughtful consideration” they have backed Mr. Wellinghorst. I’m sure it will happen in about two or three weeks.

Then someone you’ve met in the last month will tap you on the shoulder and suggest that if you believe in the issues you support it would be much better for you to bow out.

So I guess that leaves the question: why not just save your time? Just throw your support to Mr. Wellinghorst today and get it over with.

>Ridgewood Times Reports : Village Council to adopt an ordinance for management salary increases

Todays Ridgewood Times has article about the Village Council meeting to adopt an ordinance for management salary increases. Are you kidding me? I just got my new tax bill and almost fainted. You think they’d consider taking a pay freeze considering everything going on. These people are unreal. I totally believe those other towns that have accused this group of improperly using water fees to pay for other town business. They probably needed the rate increase to cover all their management salary increases. Unbelievable!

>My name is Steve Wellinghorst and I’m running for Ridgewood Council in
November. I am writing to the Ridgewood Blog to introduce myself, set forth some of my positions and address inaccuracies recently posted. A little about myself.

I am a lawyer.I realize that due to past local experiences lawyers are viewed with certain skepticism in town. Understood and seemingly warranted. However, neither my veracity nor my character are shaped by my chosen profession or my colleagues. I make my own decisions based upon experience, common sense and also benefit from good counsel of my wife. Those that know me will understand my discomfort in extolling my virtues to convince my neighbors to vote for me, however I placed myself into this race and therefore I have an obligation to get my message to the electorate. I am a former prosecutor and municipal court judge. As such, I was vetted and deemed qualified for those public trust positions.

Those that know me understand that if I say I am going to do something I do it. No waffling or “bait and switch”. However talk is cheap, especially in these times. When you see me engage me in conversation, look me in the eye and draw your own conclusion. I try to live my life with common sense and lead by example.

As some of you may know, it was reported last week that my wife Liz, lists
Valley Hospital as a client on her website. Liz is a freelance Public Relations consultant. The listing has been on her website since she last freelanced for Valley four years ago in 2006. She wrote four articles for
the in-house newsmagazine. She is proud of her work product. Those articles were pre-expansion plans. She has had no further contact with Valley since then, and for clarity, I have never represented Valley.

When the election takes place on November 2nd, I believe I have the obligation of making sure each voter has a full understanding of my positions and what my agenda will be if I am privileged to be selected to
represent them. Therefore I would like to share with you some of my concerns and ideas.

Valley Expansion:

I have been reviewing the three years of meetings and filings for the Valley “renewal”. While I’m not quite an expert yet (although I was the Planning Board Attorney for West Paterson and I did serve on the Zoning Board of Adjustment here in town), I do believe that I have read enough to conclude that the project should be called a “major expansion” as opposed to a “renewal”. When Giants Stadium was torn down for a new one, it wasn’t called a “renewal”. I am concerned that the project will potentially affect the residential character of the neighborhood, which will, in turn, affect the entire town. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of the hospital as currently constituted. My children were born there. However this Village has a long history of protecting its residential character – and its residents.

Preserving Graydon:

Next, I can unequivocally state that I am a firm and committed supporter of preserving Graydon. Graydon is a treasure. If elected I will fight to preserve it’s charm. We can and will improve it, but not at the expense of
losing it’s identity. This past summer proved Graydon is not only recreationally and aesthetically viable, but economically as well. It must be preserved.

Downtown:

As a former downtown business owner (my firm was at the corner of Broad and Franklin from 2006-2010), I am aware of the parking problems. We need to increase available downtown parking and make downtown more attractive to the business owners and shoppers. I am an ardent supporter of business and understand what it’s like to run a small business – I do it every day.

Also of great concern is the crosswalk situation. Too many incidents.As a judge, I was particularly interested in this issue.It doesn’t only effect downtown either. I was my daughters to school every day and we have to
cross East Glen. Drivers disregard the signs. Police need a regular presence and the fines need to be taken seriously. Imposition of maximum fines and penalties will get the word out.

Property Taxes/BOE:

The taxes we pay to live in this town are out of control. Simply put, wepay too much. The largest municipal expense is by far education. If we can’t educate our children with $89,000,000 a year, perhaps we should
encourage the electorate to let someone else try. We all know that health care is a major driving factor in the budget. I pay for my own family health care insurance which just went up 37%. I know many of you share my frustrations because you’ve related similar stories to me and the results of last years’ BOE budget rejection confirms it.

These are serious, tough issues that affect us all. I know not all of you will agree with everything I suggest. I never had any intention of seeking public office, but the time for complaining has evolved into a need for
serving. I would be humbled to serve you all.

Steve Wellinghorst

>Economy, jobs are key issues in NJ’s closest congressional race

WASHINGTON — Unemployment in New Jersey’s 3rd District stands at nearly 10 percent, but the candidates in that race – the closest congressional contest in the state – seem to be paying less attention to the issue than the voters.  (Chebium and Theobald, Asbury Park Press)

https://www.app.com/article/20100927/NEWS03/100927093/Economy-jobs-are-key-issues-in-NJ-s-closest-congressional-race