>Opponents file dozens of documents in bid to block Pascack Valley’s reopening
By Beth Fitzgerald

With state Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd expected to decide next month whether Pascack Valley Hospital, in Westwood, should be reopened by Hackensack University Medical Center, opponents on Friday released dozens of documents and a lengthy statement arguing there is no need for the facility’s 128 additional hospital beds, which they say will harm Bergen County hospitals that are now stronger financially in the wake of Pascack’s 2007 closure.

The statement, by Englewood Hospital and Medical Center to O’Dowd, also raised questions about Hackensack UMC’s for-profit partner in the new hospital, Texas-based Legacy Hospital Partners. According to the statement, the current chairman and CEO of Legacy “were executives with Columbia/HCA (now HCA) in the 1990s, when Columbia/HCA was implicated in the largest Medicare fraud in U.S. history. At the time, these executives were supervising dozens of Columbia/HCA hospitals found guilty of Medicare fraud. The aggregate fines and penalties totaled $1.7 billion — the largest amount ever assessed for Medicare fraud.

https://www.njbiz.com/article/20111014/NJBIZ01/111019885/Opponents-file-hundreds-of-documents-in-bid-to-block-Pascack-Valley’s-reopening

>Cain the Tax-Code Killer
A Commentary By Lawrence Kudlow
Saturday, October 15, 2011

Herman Cain is the only GOP presidential candidate who wants to kill the tax code. That’s right. Put a knife in it. Junk the entire system. And people are cheering as he rises in the polls in his quest for the nomination.

Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is not perfect. But then again, the good should never the enemy of the perfect.

Congressman Paul Ryan gives the plan a thumbs-up. Supply-side mentor Art Laffer tells me it would be “far, far better than the current system.” And Chris Chocola, president of the free-market Club for Growth, calls it “a truly revolutionary tax reform that would amount to a massive job-creating tax cut on investments, savings, and income.”

As the world now knows, 9-9-9 translates to a 9 percent income-tax rate, a 9 percent value-added net sales tax rate on business, and a 9 percent national sales tax overall. Like many conservatives, I am troubled by the national-sales-tax piece. It reminds me too much of Europe. It could start low and then build on top of the other taxes. But I totally support the first two nines on personal income and business. In my view, these are vast improvements.

For his part, Cain argues that the sales-tax nine would pick up revenue and help to lower the rate for everybody, especially the middle class. His economic adviser Rich Lowrie told me in a CNBC interview that the sales tax is a replacement tax, not an add-on tax like you’d find at the state level. This is a key point. Lowrie said, “All we are doing is pulling out taxes that are invisible. We’re cutting the rates. We’re putting them back in at lower rates.”

Lowrie is referring to the payroll tax, which in the Cain plan will go from 15 to 9 percent. That constitutes a net tax cut and a good deal more transparency regarding costs and prices that are embedded in the current code. I’m not sure I buy into this point entirely, but it’s an interesting argument.

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_lawrence_kudlow/cain_the_tax_code_killer

>The Prisoner – Strange Talk

>
Home Remodeling: How to Do More With Less

By RACHEL LOUISE ENSIGN

Unable to sell their homes in this stagnant real-estate market, more homeowners are settling in for the long haul and renovating.

But at a time when there’s less home equity to tap into and lending standards are still tight, people will likely be able to spend less on renovations than before the housing crisis. If you’re looking to make updates on a budget, figure out which projects are going to make a big difference—for your comfort now and resale later—for relatively little money.

“Before, everyone had built so much equity in their home, people were going so over and above in home-improvement projects,” says Jon Wittmaack, a Ridgewood, N.J.-based licensed contractor and co-host of home-improvement show “Brothers on Call” on the DIY Network. Now, customers “are more cost-conscious.”

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204002304576627413674209404.html

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Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, October 15, 2011, 3:27 PM

The American Nazi Party likes what it sees.Today the American Nazi Party released a statement in support of Occupy Wall Street movement.

The foremost authority on National Socialism in America has this to say about “Occupy” [ANP leader Rocky Suhayda -ed.] :

What is really MISSING – is the “MOVEMENT” from these popular protests – its time to pull WN heads out of their collective ass’s, and JOIN IN the attack on Judeo-Capitalism. What do you suggest? That WN Working Class White people DEFEND the Judeo-Capitalists? IF the “movement” wasn’t so PATHETIC it would be OUT THERE – LEADING these protests! The fact that its these “lefties” as you call them, who are picking up the ball and running with it – only shows how much more in tune THEY are with the fed up masses of White Workers, than the fossilized, reactionary “right-wing”. WHO holds the WEALTH and POWER in this country – the JUDEO-CAPITALISTS. WHO is therefore the #1 ENEMY who makes all this filth happen – the JUDEO-CAPITALISTS. WHO therefore do WN need to FIGHT? My heart is right there with these people, perhaps someday the “movement” will SHOW the same COURAGE and DEDICATION that these people OUT THERE FIGHTING are SHOWING!

Sincerely, ROCKY SUHAYDA Hail Victory! 88!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/10/figures-nazi-party-throws-support-behind-occupy-wall-street-movement/

>Valley Hospital: Community Out reach confirms strong Support for Valley Renewal 

According to Valley,

What Took Place?
In early August, individuals representing The Valley Hospital began knocking on the doors of Ridgewood residents to talk to them about The Valley Renewal. Each of the 8,430 homes in the Village was visited over several weeks. In total, 3,468 different household conversations were held – that’s 41% of the homes in Ridgewood.


What Did We Find?
We were incredibly gratified by the willingness of Village residents to talk with the outreach staff. It confirmed that Valley is very important to the community, and that residents are willing, under convenient circumstances, to share their thoughts and perceptions.


We visited all corners of Ridgewood.
16 of the 19 precincts demonstrated majority support for Renewal.
We talked to residents in 3,468 households in all 19 voting districts.
We talked to more people in the 3 districts in and around the hospital than other districts to ensure that we heard the perspectives of our immediate neighbors.


We discovered broad support.
62% of those we had conversations with support Renewal.
16 of the 19 districts demonstrated majority support for Renewal.
Of the remaining 3 districts, 2 had more support than opposition.
We found a small minority of opposition
Only 1 district (12) had greater opposition than support for Renewal, but even in this district, opposition was NOT in the majority.
Community-wide opposition is just 18%.
Those who identify themselves as undecided community-wide is 20%.

https://www.thevalleyrenewal.com/

https://www.thevalleyrenewal.com/community-outreach-project.html

>

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving 


One Injured In Rollover Motor Vehicle Accident On North Maple Avenue
Boyd Loving

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) At approximately 10:00 PM on Friday evening, Ridgewood Police, EMS, and Fire Departments received numerous telephone reports of a single vehicle crash near 326 North Maple Avenue.

Arriving officers discovered a Jeep on its side.  Ridgewood Fire Department personnel stabilized the vehicle to ensure the safety of all emergency service workers at the scene.  One occupant was safely removed from the vehicle and transported to The Valley Hospital for treatment.

North Maple Avenue was closed for approximately 60 minutes until the vehicle was up righted and removed by a local towing company.

>Engineer Hired by Montclair on Edgemont Pond Pleads to Fraud Charges
BY Debbie Galant  |  THURSDAY, OCT 13, 2011 9:30AM

One of two principals in an engineering firm hired by the township of Montclair to do the engineering consulting services for the improvements to Edgemont Pond pleaded guilty in court yesterday to charges of taking thousands of dollars of kickbacks and arranging fraudulent contracts. Kenneth Disko faces $50,000 of fines and between three and five years in jail.

The charges related to business he did for Westfield, Tinton Falls and Scotch Plains-Fanwood school districts.
In September 2010, Montclair awarded a $38,700 contract to M. Disko Associates to do the engineering work for the pond. Disko was indicted by the state in March.

Sounds familiar comment: Councilor Cary Africk said he had concerns about M. Disko Associates when their bid came in… “I had red flags,” Africk said.


Cary knew it all along!


… he was assured by town staff that the town had experience with Disko and thought the firm would do a good job…


Not Cary’s fault!


“…we don’t really have a stellar record of picking vendors.”


Cogent analysis!

>PARENTS INVITED TO OCTOBER 27 DINNER DISCUSSION ON TEEN PREVENTION

The Ridgewood Guild and Ridgewood Municipal Alliance invite all parents to Parent2Parent: Alcohol and Our Teens Town Hall Dinner on Thursday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the RHS Campus Center, to share concerns and determine strategies to reduce underage drinking in the community. RHS Principal Jack Lorenz will introduce the panelists, who will speak about the issues facing our teens and which will include Assistant Principal Basil Pizzuto, RHS Crisis Intervention Counselor Lauren DePinto, Valley Hospital Emergency Room Physician Bruce Felsentstein and a Ridgewood police officer. A light dinner will be provided by “It’s Greek to Me.” For more information e-mail David Zrike at dzrike@zrike.com.

The Ridgewood Municipal Alliance has launched a new website at www.ridgewoodmunicipalalliance.org. The new site has information and resources on substance abuse and prevention, including sections on alcohol and drugs, tobacco products and local help resources, links to recent news headlines regarding alcohol and drugs, and FAQs about Ridgewood’s underage drinking ordinance. The site may be accessed via the Parents tab on the district website, or through the Village of Ridgewood website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.

>Average Girl, part of Bergen County collective, brings its aggressive live show to Hoboken
Published: Thursday, October 13, 2011, 4:45 PM
By Jim Testa/For The Jersey Journal

The members of Average Girl may live in Brooklyn, with two members who originally hail from rural Pennsylvania. But when the trio brings its sweaty, energetic take on alt-country to Maxwell’s on Friday, October 14, it will be as part of a collective that’s looking to be a launching pad for some of New Jersey’s most promising underground bands.

One member of Average Girl, singer/guitarist Cary Kehayan, comes from Glen Rock, the Bergen County suburb which, along with neighboring Ridgewood, has produced some of the most successful New Jersey acts of the last several years, including Titus Andronicus, the Vivian Girls, and Real Estate. “It’s kind of crazy that my high school turned into this breeding ground for all these amazing bands,” Kehayan said. “I think what connects them is that they all share this basement scene mentality. If there isn’t a place that will let you play, you find a place, whether it’s a basement or a hall or a warehouse or whatever.”

https://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2011/10/average_girl_part_of_bergen_co.html

>Support RHS Cheerleading : order your “Ridgewood” scarves today 

Good news! Because of the interest in the “Ridgewood” scarves, the manufacturer has extended the deadline for orders to Friday, October 22. Support RHS Cheerleading: Click here for the Order Form @ https://tinyurl.com/3qftr3g

>Ridgewood residents continue to press council on flooding issues

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011  
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

State Sen. Kevin O’Toole is set to visit Ridgewood on Oct. 26 to tour its hurricane-damaged areas. After pleas at Wednesday’s Village Council meeting, it is clear officials will have their hands full for many months and that many residents are hoping for assistance from the state.

Residents asked the council on Wednesday to create action plans to clean up various ditches and areas of village streams. However, Village Manager Ken Gabbert has pointed out that the village’s top priority now is fixing an area near the Saddle River by Route 17 where an entire sewer line washed away. That work could cost more than $600,000, he said.

“That’s a major engineering process and it is consuming the engineering department,” Gabbert said to resident Leslie Cimino of Burnside Place, who made a pitch at Wednesday’s council meeting for the village to clean up the Zabriskie ditch behind her and her neighbors’ houses, which she said contributes to flooding.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/131807953_Ridgewood_residents_continue_to_press_council_on_flooding_issues.html