Tag: Ridgewood Schools

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>https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10382

https://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa642.pdf

President Obama and other leading Democrats have proposed creating a new government health insurance program as an option for Americans under the age of 65, within the context of a new, federally regulated market — typically described as a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” Supporters claim that a new government program could deliver higher-quality health care at a lower cost than private insurance, and that competition from a government program would force private insurers to improve.

A full accounting shows that government programs cost more and deliver lower-quality care than private insurance. The central problem with proposals to create a new government program, however, is not that government is less efficient than private insurers, but that government can hide its inefficiencies and draw consumers away from private insurance, despite offering an inferior product

A health insurance “exchange,” where consumers choose between private health plans with artificially high premiums and a government program with artificially low premiums, would not increase competition. Instead, it would reduce competition by driving lower-cost private health plans out of business. President Obama’s vision of a health insurance exchange is not a market, but a prelude to a government takeover of the health care sector. In the process, millions of Americans would be ousted from their existing health plans.

If Congress wants to make health care more efficient and increase competition in health insurance markets, there are far better options.

Congress should reject proposals to create a new government health insurance program — not for the sake of private insurers, who would be subject to unfair competition, but for the sake of American patients, who would be subject to unnecessary morbidity and mortality.

https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10382

https://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa642.pdf

Michael F. Cannon is director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute and coauthor of Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.

>An email I recieved today———-

For three years, we have been volunteers helping the Ridgewood Pool Project (RPP) learn why residents have left Graydon and what will bring them back. As you know, Melinda Cronk and Jane Morales have done an incredible job leading that charge and working closely with Village Parks & Recreation and the Council. Unfortunately, an uninformed group of residents has recently launched the Preserve Graydon Coalition. The group’s approach so far has been to spread false claims about the RPP and its hard work, with the stated aim of stopping the Council’s search for architectural services so Graydon can be left as a sand bottom bathing beach. As you’ve probably noticed from recent news articles (https://www.northjersey.com/community/clubs/news/A_show_of_force.html and https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/news/52737472.html), this group has come out swinging hard, and our voices MUST be heard in response.

With the RPP continuing to work through official channels to meet the collective needs of our residents, we have decided to take a step back from the group in order to further the cause for a new Graydon. The RPP is standing by its recommendation that Ridgewood should build a new pool facility, and all of us need to help the Village understand why they came to that recommendation. We represent the badge numbers that the Village needs. We require a clean, clear, safe, and fiscally responsible pool facility. And, we need to stand up for it NOW.

Since the Preserve Graydon Coalition is providing a large voice for the status quo, we need to have an even larger one. We welcome your support of FIX GRAYDON NOW, our new committee that plans to take a very vocal approach to helping Council understand just how far reaching the support for a new Graydon facility has become. Here’s what we need from you:

1) VOLUNTEER. As proponents for a new pool facility in Ridgewood, we must organize NOW. The Ridgewood Pool Project will stand by their recommendation for this type of facility, but we must show that our voice is much larger than the Preserve Graydon Coalition. Whether you can give a day or just an hour, everyone who can help us plan some activities over the next several weeks should contact us immediately at [email protected].

2) MARK YOUR CALENDARS. On September 9 at 7:30 p.m., the Village Council will meet in the Courtroom at Village Hall and we understand the Preserve Graydon Coalition will make a formal case to stop the search for architectural services. We must pack that Courtroom to reassure the Council that they are on the right track and shouldn’t let a vocal minority hurt the progress that’s already been made.

3) SPREAD THE WORD. There is a large population of the Village that has a stake in Graydon as taxpayers, but they do not have a personal need for a swim facility. This group is more likely to support the status quo, because they see it as having less risk. Residents in general should understand that Graydon attendance has plummeted; the facility is costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars; young families are losing a sense of community because they’re spread out across other pools; and a new facility can be equally natural and beautiful and bring residents back without any taxpayer burden. Do you have a friend or neighbor who hasn’t been following this issue but may believe the distortions being spread by the Coalition? Make sure they hear the real story!

Please contact us with any questions, but especially if you want to join other residents in the fight to make a new Graydon a reality. Thanks for your support!

Melissa Maloney & Leigh Warren

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The 100% increase is ridiculous for commuters! It’s fine for the shoppers, because that’s voluntary, but those of us trying to do the right thing and reduce our carbon footprint by taking mass transit (to get to work, no less!) are now being punished for it. This is backwards and wrong.

This seems to encourage people to avoid mass transit and drive instead. $6 a day is outrageous, and in quarters? Could they at least install credit card machines? No doubt the spots will still be filled, but that speaks more to the inadequate number of spaces more than anything else. The town should be ashamed.

>https://townhall.com/columnists/ChuckNorris/2009/08/11/dirty_secret_no_1_in_obamacare

“It’s outlined in sections 440 and 1904 of the House bill (Page 838), under the heading “home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children.” The programs (provided via grants to states) would educate parents on child behavior and parenting skills.

The bill says that the government agents, “well-trained and competent staff,” would “provide parents with knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains … modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices,” and “skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development.”

Are you kidding me?! With whose parental principles and values? Their own? Certain experts’? From what field and theory of childhood development? As if there are one-size-fits-all parenting techniques! Do we really believe they would contextualize and personalize every form of parenting in their education, or would they merely universally indoctrinate with their own? “

https://townhall.com/columnists/ChuckNorris/2009/08/11/dirty_secret_no_1_in_obamacare

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Michael Lang
Tuesday, August 18th – 7:00pm
Producer of the Woodstock Festival in 1969, Michael Lang, will discuss and sign The Road to Woodstock.

Pete Fornatele
Tuesday, August 18th – 7:00pm
To celebrate our Woodstock Week, please welcome back WFUV Radio DJ Pete Fornatele as he signs his new book: Back To The Garden… Note; this Event will be upstairs on the main level while the Michael Lang Booksigning Event will be on the lower level

TELL THEM YOU SAW THIS ON THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG

>Monday, August 10, 2009

When it comes to health care decisions, 51% of the nation’s voters fear the federal government more than private insurance companies. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% hold the opposite view and fear the insurance companies more. Seven percent (7%) are not sure who they fear the most.

Among those who have insurance, 53% fear the government more than insurance companies while 39% take the opposite view. Those without insurance fear the insurance companies more.

Adults under 30 fear the insurance companies more while those in their 40s are evenly divided. However, a solid majority of those over 40 fear the government more.

These findings help explain fears by some of a government “takeover” of health care under the reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.

Not surprisingly, there is a huge partisan divide on this question. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Democrats fear private insurance companies more than government while 82% of Republicans hold the opposite view. As for those not affiliated with either major party, 53% fear government more.

Most of those who attend church at least once a month fear the government more. Those who rarely or never attend church or religious services fear private insurance companies more.

While 41% fear the insurance companies more than the government, just 25% agree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that health insurance companies are “villains.”

Recent polling has shown that the public is fairly evenly divided about the health insurance proposals being made by the president and congressional leaders of his party. However, those who feel strongly about the issue are more likely to oppose the effort.

As Congress has debated potential reforms, confidence in U.S. health care system has increased. Just 19% of Americans now rate the overall system as poor while 48% say it’s good or excellent.

Voters are fairly evenly divided in their views of the protesters at town hall meetings, but 49% believe they are genuinely expressing the views of their neighbors. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the protests are phony.

Most voters believe that middle class tax cuts are more important than new spending on health care.

>New hours for STREET PARKING regulation are 10AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday. New rates are .50 per hour, .10 for 10 minutes, .20 for 15 minutes (where meters allow). Downtown parking lots will also be regulated from 10AM to 6PM but only Monday through Friday – PARKING LOTS ARE FREE ON SATURDAYS.

COMMUTER PARKING LOTS (Train Station & Park & Ride) – Regulated hours remain 6AM to 6PM, Monday through Friday, with hourly rates increased to .50 per hour.

Ordinance # 3203 establishing these rates took effect August 1, 2009.

>If your looking to run ads or get in touch with the Ridgewood Blog please send all correspondence to [email protected]

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Speak Your Mind ……………………..

>In front of a packed court room at the Village Hall this Wednesday night residents sounded off both for and against some of the proposed initiatives for Gaydon Pool.

The Village has divided itself into two camps ; one is looking for a modern updated “aquatic center” and the other looking to preserve the natural characteristics of the traditional Graydon Pool.

“There was kind of an overtone that we’re rushing into something,” Pfund said. “An RFP is not a determination that anything is going to be done with Graydon, and it is important that everybody realizes that.”

Council Members stressed both the need for an update of Graydon while cautioning that nothing was set in stone . Mayor Pfund and the rest of the Village council with the exception of Paul Aronshon spent most of the evening attempting to reassure Villagers that nothing was a forgone conclusion.

Councilmen Aronsohn continued his push for change “The fact of the matter is there’s a financial imperative, there’s a health imperative,” Aronsohn said. “Ladies and gentlemen, we need to move forward, [and] we need to move forward with civility. All voices, all people have a seat at the table.”

In the end ,the evening can best be summed up buy the wise and thoughtful words of long time Councilmen Pat Mancuso,”It’s not important to rush in right now and spend a lot of money,” Pat went on to say , “The important thing is to do it right.”

https://www.northjersey.com/community/clubs/news/52629867.html?c=y&page=1

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the future of Healthcare?

>PROJECTED:
6,000+ members.
Fee $750 a family.

TODAY:
$75 now.
2000+ members

Other towns $300 or so.

It doesn’t make sense economically.

I don’t think the clearest water in the world and the hardest cement is going to make Ridgewooders spend twice as much anyone else. Hey if they want a cement pool, just get someone in some other town to ‘friend’ them and they can see the bottom of the pool for a lot less than $750.

>Officials: Water clearer, if you take the time to look

Friday, July 31, 2009
BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
STAFF WRITER

https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/news/52134442.html

Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Nancy Bigos explained some of the measures the village has taken to clarify the water and chase away the Canadian geese at Graydon Pool.

Bigos and Parks and Recreation Director Tim Cronin attended a two-day workshop at Rutgers University two years ago that dealt with the importance of aeration as it pertains to lake management and water quality. That workshop resulted in the addition of an aerator this year under the “T” dock; a second aerator will be added next year.

According to www.aqualinkinc.com, pond aeration increases water clarity and reduces algae, among other benefits.

Bigos said the water circulation and addition of oxygen move the “water column,” which prevents water from layering, leaving warmer water on the surface and cooler water on the bottom. This circulation “prohibits aquatic plant life” from forming, she said.

Sodium hypochlorite has been used in the pool to deter algae blooms, and the lawn is no longer fertilized, which prevents nitrates from entering the water, Cronin said. A bio-organic catalyst was also introduced this year to prevent algae. Lifeguards at the pool have announced visibilities of 12 feet daily, according to parks department officials.

The village must apply for a permit each year from the Department of Environmental Protection to use small amounts of sodium hypochlorite, Bigos said.

Bigos stressed the importance of the GeesePeace protocol and Tyco Animal Control service, which uses trained border collies to “harass” the water fowl, in eliminating geese. Pool employees also place tarps on the concrete docks in Graydon at night to prevent geese from spending the night on them, Cronin said.

Bigos explained that the Tyco service employs “trained, soft-mouth dogs that the geese perceive as being a predator, and just feel so uncomfortable and so threatened that they opt to either not come back or to not stay. If you harass them [the geese] long enough, they’re uncertain that this is an unsafe place for them to roost or to raise their young.”

The pool water is tested once a week by Garden State Laboratories Inc., and the information is posted outside the lifeguard station at the pool. Graydon is considered a pond; therefore, the fecal coliform count is allowed to be as high as 200 parts per million (ppm), but test results show the count at Graydon is less than 10 ppm. The test results for this week also showed that the pH level is 7.8, and there is no chlorine in the water, Bigos said.

“The quality of the water has never been better at Graydon,” she said, “but unless they [the residents] experience it, how do they know?”

E-mail: [email protected]

https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/news/52134442.html