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>Homes, not nursing homes

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Homes, not nursing homes

New Jersey is seeking federal approval for major changes to its $11 billion Medicaid program, hoping to rein in what state officials and some non-government stakeholders say is an unsustainable escalation of spending.

But saving money is only one of the goals of the 160-page Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver that New Jersey submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in September. It also aims to keep the aged and people with disabilities out of nursing homes, which is what most patients would prefer and would be cheaper for taxpayers. But the waiver has major ramifications for how the system is managed, what services become available under Medicaid, and how healthcare is delivered.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/1031/0114/
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Halloween or All-Hallows-Eve

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 Halloween (or Hallowe’en), a contraction of All-Hallows-Eve (“evening”), is an annual holiday observed on October 31, and common activities include guising/trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween

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>Dont Get any Ideas: Fla. pizza workers burned down rival store

>Police: Fla. pizza workers burned down rival store

Oct 29, 7:56 PM (ET)

LAKE CITY, Fla. (AP) – The battle for pizza supremacy has taken a wrong turn in Florida.

Two managers of a Domino’s Pizza restaurant in Lake City, in north-central Florida, have been charged with burning down a rival Papa John’s location. The motive? Police say one of the men admitted that he believed with his competitor out of the way, more pizza lovers would flock to his restaurant.
https://apnews.myway.com/article/20111029/D9QM956O0.html

What is the Best Pizza in Ridgewood 2011 @ https://shar.es/by6sF

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N.J. was ready for October snowstorm, Gov. Chris Christie says

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N.J. was ready for October snowstorm, Gov. Chris Christie says
It happened so fast, the governor didn’t have time to warn everybody to get the hell off the highway.
Transportation and utility crews scrambled to make roads passable and homes livable Sunday in the aftermath of a pre-Halloween nor’easter that dumped too much wet snow too soon and snapped branches like matchsticks.
Gov. Chris Christie, who famously told sun worshipers to “get the hell off the beach” as Hurricane Irene chugged toward New Jersey two months earlier, was himself without power at his Morris County home.  (Frasinelli and Megerian, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/nj_was_ready_for_october_snows.html
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>Corzine’s MF Global Board Said to Meet to Consider Options

>Corzine’s MF Global Board Said to Meet to Consider Options

Jon Corzine’s MF Global Holdings Ltd. (MF) was working through the weekend to consider options for the sale of the futures broker, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.

The firm’s board is meeting today in New York after convening yesterday, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. MF Global was in discussions with five potential buyers for all or parts of the company, including banks, private-equity firms and brokers, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Oct. 28.

Pressure is mounting on Corzine, the former governor of New Jersey and U.S. senator, after MF Global declined 67 percent last week, its bonds started trading at distressed levels and it drew down on its credit lines. The New York-based firm reported a $191.6 million quarterly loss on Oct. 25 and Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings cut its credit rankings to junk.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-29/mf-global-s-board-said-to-be-meeting-today-to-discuss-selling-the-company.html

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PSE&G fall storm update: Oct. 31, 2011 at 12 p.m

>PSE&G fall storm update: Oct. 31, 2011 at 12 p.m.

— PSE&G has restored power to 70 percent of the half million customers impacted by the storm.

— The number of customers without power is about 190,000 at this time, with crews continuing to work around the clock to restore service.

— The company expects to have 95 percent of its customers restored by midnight Wednesday.

— Counties most affected include Bergen (87,000), Essex (62,700) and Passaic (9,800) due to the extensive amount of tree and power line damage.

— PSE&G has 237 crews and 212 tree crews working around the clock to restore power.  In addition to its own crews, the utility has arranged for 60 crews from utilities in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, to assist in the restoration effort as well as 119 mutual aid and contractor crews.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY:

THERE ARE MANY DOWNED WIRES IN PARTS OF OUR SERVICE TERRITORY.  IF PARENTS PERMIT CHILDREN TO TRICK OR TREAT TODAY, THEY SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION, SUPERVISE THE CHILDREN, AND ALLOW THEM TO BE OUT ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.

    Downed wires should always be considered “live.”  STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES.  Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything with which it might be in contact.  To report a downed wire or other visible equipment damage, call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Provide the street as well as the nearest cross street.
    Check on the safety of your elderly neighbors.  See if they are safe and if they need extra blankets or other help.  Contact local officials if assistance is needed.
    Caution:  Do not try to use a gas oven or range to heat a room. The appliance will deplete oxygen from the air, causing asphyxiation or deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
    Also be cautious when using space heaters.  Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and heed warning labels.  Be sure all members of the household understand how to operate space heaters safely.
    To report a power outage, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSE (7734).

— Electric crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account “priority” customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment.  At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.

— Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account at pseg.com. General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at www.pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.

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>Town and Country Beauty Night

>Town and Country Beauty Night
YWCA Newcomers

Come for an evening of Pampering including beauty treatments, mini-massages, make-overs and much more! Encourage a friend, neighbor to come with you to indulge in a night of beauty. Be sure you leave relaxed and with a wonderful goody bag. cost” $50/person. half of the proceeds will benefit the YWCA! RSVP by 10/25 to Tori Schoeler – torishoeler@gmail.com
    

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>The following RoThe following Roads are currently closed: Storm Updates – Oct 29,2011

>The following Roads are currently closed: Storm Updates – Oct 29,2011

Please do not drive unless it is absolutely necessary. Many trees and wires are down and in the dark can be difficult to see.

If you encounter down wires, please contact PSE&G.

Check on your neighbors. Be careful shoveling, heavy wet snow.

Road Closures:

-Overbrook by irving and Northern Parkway.

-Oak st. by the YMCA

-Meadowbrook by the right of way.

-West End between Cantrell and godwin

-Monroe between Shelborne to the Village Border

-Linwood ave between Van Dien and Fairfield

-Hillcrest between Avendale and Richards

-Monroe by W Glen

-Kensignton and Fairfield

-Highland by Grandview circle and Cantrel

-Gateway Rd.

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>STORM RELATED EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

>STORM RELATED EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Sunday October 30, 2011 5:00 PM-  Due to storm cleanup and continuing power outages throughout the Village of Ridgewood, the Ridgewood Public Schools will be closed Monday October 31.
Updates will be posted as we are able.  Please help to spread the word that the Ridgewood Public Schools will be closed Monday October 31st

.https://ridgewood.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=8c67b1a3128d51613b7b13b576d45cab

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

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PSE&G fall storm update: Oct. 31, 2011 at 9 a.m.

>PSE&G fall storm update: Oct. 31, 2011 at 9 a.m.

    PSE&G has restored power to 70 percent of the half million customers impacted by the storm.
    The number of customers without power is about 145,000 at this time, with crews continuing to work around the clock to restore service.
    The company expects to have 95 percent of its customers restored by midnight Wednesday.
    Counties most affected include Bergen (66,000), Essex (46,500) and Passaic (10,900) due to the extensive amount of tree and power damage.
    PSE&G has 150 crews and 212 tree crews working around the clock to restore power.  In addition to its own crews, the utility has arranged for 60 crews from utilities in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, to assist in the restoration effort as well as 100 contractor crews.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY:

THERE ARE MANY DOWNED WIRES IN PARTS OF OUR SERVICE TERRITORY.  IF PARENTS PERMIT CHILDREN TO TRICK OR TREAT TODAY, THEY SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION, SUPERVISE THE CHILDREN, AND ALLOW THEM TO BE OUT ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.

    Downed wires should always be considered “live.”  STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES.  Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything with which it might be in contact.  To report a downed wire or other visible equipment damage, call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Provide the street as well as the nearest cross street.
    Check on the safety of your elderly neighbors.  See if they are safe and if they need extra blankets or other help.  Contact local officials if assistance is needed.
    Caution:  Do not try to use a gas oven or range to heat a room. The appliance will deplete oxygen from the air, causing asphyxiation or deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
    Also be cautious when using space heaters.  Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and heed warning labels.  Be sure all members of the household understand how to operate space heaters safely.
    To report a power outage, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSE (7734).

— Electric crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account “priority” customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment.  At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.

— Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account at pseg.com. General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at www.pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.

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>Cerf assembles expert team to review school funding

>Cerf assembles expert team to review school funding


Gov. Chris Christie has long said he doesn’t much like how – and how much — New Jersey funds its public schools, especially its urban districts, and more recently he has said changes would be coming with his next state budget plan in early 2012.

Not surprisingly, Democrats have cried foul, with leaders calling for the administration to show its hand. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) wrote to acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf demanding details of what changes he has in mind.

Now, some information is starting to come out.
Cerf said yesterday that he has enlisted a team of nearly a dozen academics, researchers, and others to look at the effectiveness of the current School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) formula and help him come up with changes.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/1027/2318/
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>Gov. likens Parsippany school board to ‘a scofflaw’

>Gov. likens Parsippany school board to ‘a scofflaw’


The Parsippany School Board has called a meeting for next week to consider the latest threat by state officials over Superintendent Lee Seitz’s salary while a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie compared its actions over the past few months to those of “a scofflaw.”

The board will meet Thursday to discuss the state’s demand that it cut Seitz’s pay by $43,000 to comply with a salary cap or face the prospect of losing as much as $3.6 million of state aid.
“We’ll discuss the issue and if the board wishes to take action, we’ll do it right then and there,” Parsippany School Board President Frank Calabria said Thursday. “My hope is that we can solve the problem and all of us can get on with other things.”  (Koloff, Gannett)

https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20111027/NJNEWS/310270032/Gov-likens-Parsippany-school-board-to-a-scofflaw–
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>Fed up, Had Enough—To Cut Taxes or Not

>Fed up, Had Enough—To Cut Taxes or Not

Warren Buffett offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling when he
says “You just pass a law that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP,
all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.”

To discipline Trenton, I suggest a Balanced Budget and Debt Reduction Act
accompanied by a Fraud & Abuse Commission. Quasi government “Authorities”
will have no power to tax and bond and their expenditures must be approved
by the Assembly. We need a flat state income tax in range of 3.5%, and need
to free public workers to establish their own 401-k pension plan where they are
free to decide how to fund it each year. Younger workers can elect to take home
more in their paycheck, while older public workers can elect to put more into their
pensions. This will take a tax burden directly off the property owners!

The State Assembly and Senate must accept the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act as their own health insurance plan, or agree to not
implement same in NJ. We will find a way to care for the poor and uninsured
without wasting tax dollars. Lottery money goes to benefit seniors and for no
other purpose. Anyone raiding this fund is subject to sanctions.

Legislation that adds substantial debt to taxpayers must be approved by a public
vote and 2/3s majority. Welfare recipients agree to a periodic drug test. Welfare
comes with an expiration date, so you must reapply each year to show continued
need. This is a safety net, not a way of life.

Assembly and Senate Term Limits shall be imposed. If you can’t get the job done
in four or six years, then you return home and are ineligible for re-election.

Finally, a major civil rights issue must be decided to allow sweeping change in
education and tax relief. Parents deserve the right and freedom to educate their
children in the public or private school that gives their child the best chance for a
quality education. The money to fund that education should follow the child, not
the zip code. It is every parent’s right to demand this equal opportunity.

Voters must answer one simple question on November 8th. “Do I
vote to cut my taxes, or not?

Doc Bob Villare, M.D.
State Assembly Candidate District 3
856-423-4500