Another Obamacare Screw Job Jared C. Note: If my language offends you, ask Obama to pass a censorship law.
Found affordable health insurance for $50 less a month than what Obama care offers me. However, the price gets jacked up in 2014 courtesy of Obama care. So basically, insurance companies who already offer affordable rates can’t do it anymore thanks to Obama care. You didn’t really think the government would let there be competition did you? This entire system is fucked on so many levels. For hundreds of years people have looked death in the face and died to protect us from this kind of government over reach… but my generation is ready to wipe their ass with the constitution because of expensive doctor bills? Because they are afraid of possibly getting sick? You just let the government spend over 500 million dollars on a fucking website that sells insurance. That 500 million dollars should have been spent on Cancer research, not on a way to profit from the disease. I’m so disgusted right now. Your government is out of control and using fear to fuck with your head. Wake up America! They are doing it right in front of you.
FDA Alerts Pet Owners, Vets To Possible Link Between Jerky Treats, Dogs Getting Sick
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — There’s a new federal health alert for dog owners.
Several brands of the jerky treats were voluntarily removed from store shelves back in January.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration is asking pet owners and veterinarians to contact them if their pet has become ill after eating jerky pet treats.
At least 3,600 dogs have been sickened since 2007 and 580 of those pets died.
Official says effective deadline to have insurance could be postponed
By Jen Wieczner
The Obama administration may give Americans an extension on how long they can go without health insurance before facing a penalty under the Affordable Care Act, MarketWatch has learned.
The health care law requires most people to have health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014 or face a penalty, but the Administration may postpone when those penalties will go into effect. The law allows for “short coverage gaps” of up to three months before imposing the penalty, which is $95 or 1% of an individual’s income (whichever is greater) next year. That means someone must be covered by March 31, an official with the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed, which is the final day that people will be able to purchase health insurance on the public exchanges, or marketplaces, created by the ACA.
But because the new health policies take effect on the first day of each month, in order to be covered by March 31, people would actually need to have insurance by March 1. And since it takes up to two weeks to process insurance applications, consumers would have to apply by Feb. 15, the Associated Press reported recently. (People must apply by Dec. 15 if they want coverage starting Jan. 1.)
Congratulations: It’s a Three-Peat! Valley Achieves Nursing’s Highest Honor for Third Consecutive Time
October 21, 2013 — The Valley Hospital is proud to announce that it has achieved Magnet designation for the third consecutive time. Valley is among only 6 percent of hospitals nationwide to receive Magnet designation, the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice.
Conferred by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Magnet program provides national recognition to health care organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in nursing care. The ANCC, the nation’s largest and foremost nursing accrediting and credentialing organization chose the term “magnet” to describe a hospital’s ability to attract high-quality nurses.
“Our re-designation as a Magnet facility reflects our nurses’ commitment to providing exceptional care in a patient- and family-centered environment,” says Ann Marie Leichman, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Valley. “This prestigious recognition is a result of the extraordinary work our nurses do every day.”
“Achieving this designation places Valley in the top tier of U.S. hospitals,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System. “This designation provides recognition of excellence in nursing, and achieving it took the efforts of all of our staff, those at the bedside and those who work behind the scenes,” Meyers said.
Hospitals that apply for Magnet re-designation must meet rigorous standards to prove that they have demonstrated various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
“To our patients, their families, and the community we serve, Magnet designation reinforces that Valley is the best place to receive care,” said Leichman. “It is a tribute to the quality of care our nursing staff provides and I am very proud of this recognition.”
On Friday October 11th the Ridgewood Police Department, held the first meeting of its new Community Policing Youth Ambassador Program at B.F. Middle School. The meeting was attended by 18 young residents representing the elementary schools, middle school and the High School along with several parents, school and police officials.
photos from Ridgewod Police
The program is a community policing partnership with the Ridgewood Board of Education, focusing on leadership and youth engagement in community and public safety concerns. These young residents will be part of an active community policing advisory team consulting directly with the Chief of Police, police personnel, school officials and village personnel on public safety and community concerns.
The Youth Ambassadors will have the opportunity to:
• Help make our community a safer place to live, learn, play and work.
• Be a voice in matters/concerns which directly or indirectly impact the youth of our community such as anti-bullying, tolerance and respect.
• Assist the police department with community outreach andeducational programs for Crime Prevention, Community Policing, and Pedestrian/Traffic Safety etc.
• Have input and involvement in the development of and content for Public Safety/Awareness (PSA) videos which would reach varied audiences.
• Help forge a collaborative partnership between Ridgewood’s youth and various public officials and agencies which serve our community and the region.
• Learn and experience team building and project management, as well as help develop interpersonal skills of collaboration, communication, cooperation, leadership and active listening.
• Demonstrate to their peers and others that you are never too young to develop the leader within you and make a difference.
The issues and concerns they will be addressing are real and have an impact on our community and region. The solutions they help develop will make a difference for our community. They will be working with other students, police, school and other public officials to find innovative solutions to current and future challenges.
Honorary Police Chief Michael Feeney will continue his duties for the Ridgewood Police Department as a critical member of the Youth Ambassador team.
Chief John M. Ward and Gregory Wu (Assistant Principle BF Middle School) will be coordinating and serving as program advisors.
Chief John M. Ward – [email protected] Gregory Wu – [email protected]
Ridgewood church hosts first same-sex marriage in village
Tuesday October 22, 2013, 3:37 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
There was a certain historical significance to Monday’s ceremony at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, but Marijan Por and Christian Reinhardt were understandably caught up thinking about their future as a married, same-sex couple in New Jersey.
The two longtime Ridgewood residents are the first gay couple to marry in the village, and their celebration was the first same-sex wedding to take place in Bergen County since the state Supreme Court last Friday rejected Governor Christie’s request to postpone them while his office appealed a lower court ruling. By early Monday afternoon, the governor had lifted his appeal.
Opponents of Valley Hospital expansion in Ridgewood leave hearing frustrated
Wednesday October 23, 2013, 8:00 AM
BY BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD – It was another night of frustration for residents opposed to The Valley Hospital’s plan to expand as testimony from one of their representatives was blocked, interrupted and delayed during a planning board meeting that had residents fleeing long before it ended.
John Hersperger, an advisor to Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, was trying to make a few points he wanted the board to consider when it decides whether to allow the hospital to nearly double in size on its 15-acre lot. But by the end of the three and a half hour meeting Tuesday night, his testimony was limited to a few sentences.
He had been trying to present to the board with what opponents consider to be conflicting statements Valley made about the need for expanded healthcare in Bergen County.
Same-sex couples get the financial benefits of marriage
Monday October 21, 2013, 7:11 PM
BY KATHLEEN LYNN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Now that same-sex couples can legally marry in New Jersey, major financial benefits open up to them, North Jersey experts said Monday.
“It will absolutely change tax planning and financial planning for same-sex couples,” said Ted Carnevale, a certified public accountant in Oradell.
With the Christie administration’s decision Monday to stop trying to block same-sex marriage, gay couples in New Jersey can now file their income tax returns jointly, which can often mean a lower tax bill. In addition, they can leave an unlimited amount of money to their spouses when they die.
Two Montclair women who were married Monday, Meredith Greenberg and Leora Perlman, said they were still unsure of all the financial implications. The two were married on the Jersey City waterfront by Mayor Steven Fulop, surrounded by family, friends and their three young sons.
“We’ve been trying to figure out how to be two women raising three children with a house and two cars and how to deal with tax returns for many years,” said Greenberg. “I think our tax attorney has a lot of work to do.”
The Internal Revenue Service announced in late August that “same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes” – even if they move to a state that does not recognize same-sex marriage. The announcement followed the June 26 Supreme Court decision tossing out the Defense of Marriage Act.
White House deems health exchange glitches ‘unacceptable,’ GOP calls Obamacare DOA
Republicans battered by the shutdown debacle are quickly gearing up to bash Obamacare by touting troubles with the rollout, and the President on Monday will address problems with the health exchange system.
In New York, one of only 16 states that has its own exchange, not one person had succeeded in using the site to enroll in a plan as of Friday.
By Bill Hammond In Albany AND Dan Friedman In Washington / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Monday, October 21, 2013, 12:45 AM
Updated: Monday, October 21, 2013, 6:00 AM
President Obama will speak Monday to acknowledge a new potential political disaster — the glitch-laden federal health care exchanges.
Administration officials have no time to waste as they race to find a prescription to heal the sickly exchanges while Republicans, battered by the government shutdown debacle, quickly gear up to tout troubles with the Obamacare rollout.
“The President will directly address the technical problems with HealthCare.gov — troubles that he and his team find unacceptable,” a White House official said.
The remarks are part of an administration push to inject a new urgency into efforts to fix the site, which made its debut on Oct. 1 — the day the government was shut down as the Republicans sought to defund the 2010 law.
The Health and Human Services Department, which oversees HealthCare.gov, announced over the weekend that it has hired experts from the private sector and other federal agencies to rewrite flawed computer code that has hampered the site and left most users unable to sign up for health insurance plans available under Obamacare.
“Toilet Tax” rejected in Ridgewood
Monday October 21, 2013, 12:17 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood Council rejected an ordinance that would have increased sewage fees for significant dischargers, welcome news to many restaurant owners in the Central Business District (CBD) who previously resisted the proposal.
“The sewer fees will not increase this year, but there will be further discussion of what will be done going forward,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn announced prior to the council’s unanimous vote to defeat the ordinance calling for the fee hike.
Considered by the village’s governing body in the latter portion of the summer, the proposed ordinance and its public hearing were continued from month to month until Ridgewood officials could discuss the increases with Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce leaders. Some downtown business owners, meanwhile, spoke publicly during council meetings and suggested the fees unfairly targeted CBD establishments.
“You have a handful of significant dischargers, people who utilize the system, and then you have thousands of other customers who utilize it far more,” said Paul Vagianos, whose East Ridgewood Avenue restaurant is billed an excessive discharge fee. “Those other customers aren’t charged. Only a handful of businesses and non-profits [are charged], most of them are small businesses and mom-and-pop operations.”
Consumer Reports: ‘Stay Away From HealthCare.gov’
By Alec Torres
October 21, 2013 9:56 AM
Consumer Reports, which publishes reviews of consumer products and services, advised its readers to avoid the federal healthcare exchange “for at least another month if you can.” “Hopefully that will be long enough for its software vendors to clean up the mess they’ve made,” the magazine said, having tested the site themselves over the course of the past three weeks.
Noting that only 271,000 of the 9.47 million people who tried signing up in the first week managed to create an account, Consumer Reports then provided a few tips to those attempting to slog through the application process. From attempting successive logins because “error messages … may not always match reality” to checking your inbox frequently because if you miss an e-mail you’ll be timed out of the site and forced to start from square one, none of the suggestions guaranteed success.
The magazine has also released a string of scathing reviews. On October 1, the day the Obamacare exchanges went online, the magazine told people to be patient: “Don’t worry if you can’t sign up today or even within the next couple of weeks.” A week into enrollment, they urged again to “wait a couple weeks and hope that the site irons out its many problems” because the HealthCare.gov is “barely operational.”
Painting Luminous Brass & Copper
By Diana K. Gibson
Oil Painting Workshop: Learn how to make metal shine! Working from life in a north lit studio, students will be taught the esoteric methods to create luminous brass and copper still life paintings! A demonstration, Q&A and one on one instruction will be offered. There will be several still life set ups to chose from. Ample time will be provided for students to paint. This workshop is appropriate for beginner and intermediate painters. This is a unique offering and I am really excited share this workshop with you! Workshop date is Nov. 10th 10:00AM – 3:00PM EST
Contact me at [email protected] for questions, tuition, supply list etc.
Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Dinosaurs Rock – Ridgewood Parks & Recreation – November 8
The Parks and Recreation Department of the Village of Ridgewood welcomes the return of Dinosaurs Rock, for Grades K – 5, on Friday, November 8th, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Anne Zusy Youth Center, Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue.
The program will provide participants with a large-scale museum-quality exhibit of dinosaur and fossil specimens. Join us for this hands-on, highly interactive, entertaining and educational learning experience.
The cost for the workshop is $70 which includes all materials.
To learn more you may visit www.dinosaursrock.com.
Register online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass or you may register by mail or in person to The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You may locate the registration form on the Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation. If you have any questions please call the Recreation Department at (201) 670-5560.
Bicycle, Bags, Books, Toys, Clothes, Shoes, Jewerly, Halloween Costumes, Pots snd Pans, Lamps, Water Purifers, Child Seats(for Car and Bike) and Much More!!!
Don’t miss this huge garage sale!
HUGE YARD SALE SAT. 10/19 (183 N. Pleasant Ave. Ridgewood, NJ)
183 n. pleasant ave.
Big, multi-family sale on furniture, household goods, toys, clothing, bikes, books — and more!
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Corner of Pleasant and Linwood avenues
GARAGE SALE Fri. 18th & Sat 19th (9-3) (406 Berkshire Rd. Ridgewood, NJ)
406 Berkshire Rd.
Garage Sale today and Sat.19th (9 am – 3pm) Household items, toys, baby items, childs clothing, and more.
Garage Sale (564 Ridgewood Ave)
Garage Sale on Saturday, October 19th, 9:00-3:00. No early birds, please. Stop by and see what we have to offer. Rugs, Cabinets, Air Conditioners, Dresser, Ikea desk, tables and chairs, and lots more.
Garage Sale Fri 10/18 & Sat 10/19 (Ridgewood)
Red Birch Ct at East Glen Ave
Don’t miss it!
Tools, electronics, toys, household goods. Something for everyone!
Everything priced to sell!
438 Red Birch Ct
Ridgewood
(off East Glen Ave, one block from Valley Hospital)
Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 3:00
No Earlies Please!
Multi-Family Yard Sale in Ridgewood! (Hampton between Linwood and Fairway)
Hampton at Linwood
Multi-Family Yard Sale in Ridgewood. Tons of toys, kids clothing, furniture, electronics, small kitchen appliances, holiday decorations; many items in the box and never used! Saturday, October 19th from 8:30am-2:00pm; rain or shine – One Day Only.
Garage Sale – ONE DAY ONLY – SUN 10/20 (534 Lotus Rd. Ridgewood)
534 lotus road
Ikea couch, Ikea dresser, treadmill, glass bricks, toys, PIANO $20!!, boom box, nicknacks, books and more!
Multi-Family Garage Sale, Sat 10/19 (421 Fairway Rd, Ridgewood NJ)
421 Fairway Rd
Baby items, toys, games, household items, glassware, old tools, records, cds, and much more!
Multi-Family Garage Sale (Ridgewood)
Spring at Hope/Irving
Big multi-family garage sale at 363 Spring Ave. in Ridgewood!
Furniture, glassware, purses, clothes, household goods and toys for sale from 10am to 3pm on Friday 10/18 and Saturday 10/19
Plans presented for new commercial building in Ridgewood
Thursday October 17, 2013, 3:56 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
A real estate developer hopes to break ground at the start of the new year on a “high-end commercial center” project along southbound Route 17 near Paramus Road. The specialty retail strip mall, according to property owner Malvern Burroughs, could ultimately attract tenants such as a Verizon store and Starbucks, with the latter having already committed in principle to the space.
The Ridgewood Planning Board will continue review of the site plan application next month and weigh the merits of the 15,358-square-foot building proposal, which includes 79 parking stalls and an adequate retail area for a maximum of seven merchants. Other prominent features of the plan are property egress and ingress via Route 17 and a multi-sectioned buffer intended to shield adjacent homes from the commercial operations.
According to Tom Wells, project attorney, Burroughs is not required to seek use variances for the proposal as it complies with all the regulations established for the particular development zone.
