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Archive for the ‘Letter to the editor’ Category

Quality of Life in the Grove: It’s the little things that bug us.

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on October 6, 2013| 2 Comments »

Coming to the Grove: Expectations ? By Paul Goldfinger ©

Coming to the Grove: Expectations ?
By Paul Goldfinger © 2013

From Chris Carlucci.  October 6, 2013.  Letter to Blogfinger.

Quality of life issues in Ocean Grove

I may be overly sensitive to small matters, but I must voice some concerns over some minor quality of life type issues here in Ocean Grove.

First, we have been victimized (like many others) by several thieves over the last year as several garden lighting fixtures and the centennial plaque were stolen from my home. Secondly, I have experienced several other non-criminal offenses that simply bother me. For instance, I have found beer cans in front of the house on several occasions. I am sorry, but take your garbage elsewhere. Further, I have noticed the little patch of grass in front of the house has been utilized by several people and their little dogs a few times. Again, take it elsewhere (so I don’t have to).

Additionally, people like to walk into the alleyways in between my home and my neighbors’ homes. It would not occur to me to stroll onto someone else’s property, so why do others deem it acceptable? Finally, I know parking is tight, but again, respect the property of others, namely their cars. Don’t bang a bumper and just drive off as if you did nothing. Don’t park with your bumper a millimeter from mine.

These are all examples of what I perceive to be a general lack of respect for the property of others. While I am sure many may think I am making much ado about nothing and are more likely to be concerned with other issues highlighted from time to time on this site, I believe some of these smaller annoyances begin to add up over time.

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Letter to the Editor

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on September 22, 2013| 1 Comment »

To the Editor:

Thought this might be of interest.  I e-mailed both Chris Smith and Jennifer Beck and asked them what’s being done to fund the OG boardwalk since Seaside’s boardwalk is getting more funding.  While I only got a form response from Chris Smith, I received the following from Nicholas Raspanti, Legislative Director for Jennifer Beck.

He said, “As you know, this matter is very important to Senator Beck and I will certainly share your message with her. The Senator has being working every angle to find funding for the Ocean Grove boardwalk. I will let you know if there is any positive update. Feel free to contact me in the meantime if you have any questions. ”

If I hear anything further, I’ll pass it along.

MIKE BREVIT

Ocean Grove, N.J., Sept. 21, 2013

Editor’s Note:  Pressure from citizens can help to keep a fire lit under our representatives. —PG

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Letter to the Editor: Returning lost items

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on August 12, 2013|

To the Editor:

A  VERY big thank you to the person who found my daughters pocketbook up by St. Paul’s this weekend.  Family members were out looking for it when a policeman came to the door with it.

In all the excitement (craziness) we didn’t ask for the good Samaritan’s name.

So….thank you…thank you….thank you!!

p.s. The policeman even commented on how lucky we were that it was lost here in OG as people here are very good about returning lost items!

HARRIET RUSSOMANO,

Ocean Grove, N.J., Aug. 12, 2013

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Letter to the Editor: Ocean Grove Featured in FEMA Flooding Video.

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on June 20, 2013| 9 Comments »

guardian.co.uk

guardian.co.uk

Letter to the Editor:

Paul – take a look at this Region II Outreach Video from FEMA.  I am just shocked that the beach, streets, boardwalk & pier scenes were shot in Ocean Grove, yet they will not give OG a penny for rebuilding.  Too ironic for words !

FEMA Region II Coastal Outreach Video link

Sue

 

Editor’s Note: “Ironic” is good;  how about “chutzpah” or “some nerve.”   On the other hand, it is a useful video to watch.

 

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Letter to the Editor: Smelly Wesley Lake?

Posted in Blogfinger News, Letter to the editor, tagged on June 11, 2013| 7 Comments »

Wesley Lake, Ocean Grove, NJ (bordering Asbury Park) © Paul Goldfinger photo

Wesley Lake, Ocean Grove, NJ as seen from the foot bridge. (bordering Asbury Park) © Paul Goldfinger photo. Click left for full view.

To the Editor:

We went to the First Ave beach in Asbury yesterday and I noticed the water was really dirty. Filled with garbage. A couple of kids were swimming in it anyway. I was wondering weather it was a “Sandy” tide. It smelled too. Then someone told me it’s because of the heavy rains we’ve had and that Wesley Lake empties into the ocean and with it, all it’s garbage. So I’m wondering number one if that’s true, does the water ever get tested for bacteria etc? And number two is anyone aware of this garbage problem with Wesley Lake waste water and what are they doing about it? I think it needs to be addressed. (I just found your site BTW)  Oh and I did walk up to Ocean Grove and the water was cleaner so I’m thinking it could be a Wesley Lake problem. Looking forward to your comments. Thanks.
JUDI HULL

JUNE 11, 2013

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Letter to the Editor:

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on June 2, 2013| 2 Comments »

To the Editor:

Denis Caren; photo

Denis Caren; photo.  ? Plan B for Ocean Grove’s “middle beach walk”

I would like to post this pic for posting on the Blog regarding FEMA rejecting CMA.  I took this pic on my cell phone in February; it’s the “path” along the walkway Waikiki.   Time for CMA to start thinking about Plan B (pic) for the middle beach.
Cheers,
Dennis

EDITOR’S NOTE:     FEMA has already given out “over $241.5  million to municipalities, public entities and  certain non-profits,” according to The Star Ledger on April 2, 2013.  Now the funds are beginning to “level off” as fewer individuals request FEMA money and funds are now going to “bigger construction projects in municipalities.”

Interestingly, when Point Pleasant recently complained that they did not get FEMA money for their boardwalk, New Jersey’s two Senators announced “more than $2.1 million” for their boardwalk  (Point Beach; reported  by the PointPleasant Patch.)  Seaside Heights restoration will cost $8  million including over $3 million for their boardwalk, and their mayor said that they expect 90% reimbursement from FEMA.  Belmar issued a $20  million bond offering to pay for their new  1.3 mile boardwalk.  They expect to get  over 75% reimbursed by FEMA. (APP 12/5/12). Their beach badges will now cost $1.00 more.    Scotch Plains got $1.2 million from FEMA  for their repairs and cleanup in Sandy’s  aftermath.  (Reported by the Scotch Plains/Fanwood Patch)

Dennis Caren’s idea of a plan B in case significant non-FEMA money doesn’t materialize represents some “thinking out of the box.” A similar idea was mentioned by “Joe” in our comments section.  Who’s  to say that the “middle beach” can’t become a stretch of beautiful walkway as in Waikiki? That should be a lot cheaper to build than a boardwalk.   It sounds like a great idea which could become an iconic piece of town landscape design. No hurricane would ever blow it away.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Extend Aquatic Center Hours

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on May 29, 2013|

To the Editor:  (note: Internet photo obtained by Blogfinger)

Comment:  Many  would like the hours of the Neptune Aquatic   images-2
Center  extended:  5 am to 7 am

The facility is not user friendly during these hours to a large majority of the Neptune resident community and taxpayers, (during the swim team season).

I am asking for the help of The Neptune Township Committee,  the Neptune Senior Center, and Ocean Grove Home Owners Assoc. members and the many other taxpayers to make this change happen.

I chose Blogfinger to rally the citizens because many respect the power it has served for the good of the community.

JOEL “TIMOTHY” SCRANTON

Ocean Grove, N.J.

May 29, 2013

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Letter to the Editor. Re: The Warrington

Posted in Letter to the editor, Preventing crime in the Grove, tagged on April 14, 2013| 22 Comments »

The Warrington is at 22 Lake Avenue in Ocean Grove, NJ

The Warrington is at 22 Lake Avenue in Ocean Grove, NJ

To the Editor:

Can someone please give the people of OG, and in spite of what is being done with the clasping  (sic)  building THE PARK VIEW and the building that is the second Park View, THE WARRINGTON.  There has been strange people in and out of there;  can someone please help— these buildings are an accident waiting to happen.

SIMON

Ocean Grove, NJ

April 12, 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE:

This is the second such letter that Simon has sent us. It is not edited.   The first, an email,  was forwarded by us to the Neptune Police. They responded by  email to us saying that if someone sees something worrisome,  they should call the police.  They did not indicate if they would look into this report.

If you live over in that neighborhood, you might want to take a walk over there. We all have an obligation, according to Neighborhood Watch, to keep an eye out and “if you see something, say something.”   Call the police for anything suspicious—

There have been a number of articles in Blogfinger about the Warrington.  You can do a search above. The last time we had a report about that place was in August, 2012,  by Charles Layton:

“All 15 boarders at the Warrington Rest Home in Ocean Grove have been relocated to permanent housing in other state-licensed facilities. Tammori Petty, a spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs, said Wednesday that this resolves the state’s concerns about the property. The DCA closed the run-down boarding home on June 13 due to what it termed “serious conditions affecting the health, safety and welfare of residents.” (For more info about the reasons for its closing, go here.)  With the state out of the picture, it remains unclear what will become of this now-empty and deteriorating building, which faces Wesley Lake at 22 Lake Avenue, directly behind the Park View Inn. It had been licensed to provide room and board for veterans and physically challenged people. According to tax records, it is owned by Jack Ancona LLC of Long Branch. We have been unable to contact this individual for comment.”

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Letter to the Editor

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on December 16, 2012|

To the Editor:

“I thought you might want to share with your readers that national songwriter/singer Nicole Atkins has re-recorded her hit single, “Neptune City” in order to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief charities.  If you go tohttp://neptunecity.bandcamp.com/ and pay at least $2 to download the song, all revenue will be donated to the cause. Details can be found at that website.  Nicole Atkins grew up in Shark River Hills and got her start playing in local bars. Her parent’s house was damaged in the storm.  This is a good way not only to donate to hurricane relief but also to bring attention to a talented local artist who is trying to help those who need help.”

DANIEL BEAMAN

Ocean Grove, N.J., Dec. 16, 2012

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The Role of the Physician in Controlling Healthcare Costs—An Inquiry by a BF Commenter

Posted in Letter to the editor, Medical topics, tagged , on December 3, 2012| 12 Comments »

images

Mr. Ken Buckley of Ocean Grove has been a regular commenter on Blogfinger regarding healthcare issues. He sent us the comment below after watching a segment of “60 Minutes” where a large hospital corporation, abetted by some ER doctors,  appeared to be churning admissions in order to make more money, without adequate attention to the best interests of the patients. My reply to him is below his remarks, and below that you will find the AMA code of ethics for physicians.

Paul,
After watching the Sunday night program “60 Mimutes” I feel you you may have to raise anew the role of the physician in controling healthcare costs. They interviewed doctors who worked at HMA hospitals who were held to meet admissions goals of 20% for emergency room patients and 50% for those 65 and older (Medicare pays for them.) Those ER doctors who did not comply and did the “right thing” were fired or moved to other positions.  — Ken

Reply from Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC:

Ken: I saw that program and I was as disturbed by that as you were. But, a Justice Department investigation is currently ongoing, so we can’t come to definite conclusions by watching  that presentation. It does appear that this large hospital corporation was coercing its ER doctors to admit patients who didn’t require admission — all in the interest of profit. Some doctors were fired who did not comply.

If theses allegations are true, it will mostly be a case of corporate billing fraud. If any doctors are found guilty of intentionally admitting people who didn’t need hospitalization, then that needs to be addressed; whether the charge for them becomes bad ethics, fraud, or malpractice, I can’t say.

But, to your point about “raising anew the role of the physician in controlling healthcare costs,” I agree that ordering unnecessary tests and treatment by doctors in order to make money, usually in office settings, does occur and is a component of the “fraud and abuse” aspect of wasteful spending for healthcare. This physician component, along with bad behavior by hospitals, medical suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers of all types, malpractice lawyers, etc. does need to be addressed in trying to reduce healthcare costs.

You should know that proper behavior by physicians is guided by the profession’s ethics in addition to the rule of law. All physicians know that they should always place the best interest of their patients first and that they should, above all else, do no harm.

AMA Code of Medical Ethics

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Letter to the Editor: From the President of the Ocean Grove Homeowners Association

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged on November 7, 2012| 14 Comments »

TO THE EDITOR:

As you know Neptune Township, particularly Mayor Randy Bishop, has been having daily conference calls with a group of individuals including the Presidents  and other officials from the various home owner groups throughout the Township. Everything presented in these conference calls were then broadcast to Neptune Township residents by reverse 911 calls and email. Of course without power the only way to get the information was with a smartphone. However,  even the cell phones were not working effectively.

It seems that some of our residents still do not have power.  The Mayor has been in contact with JCP&L on a daily basis.  He has not been given a definitive time line for the restoration of power to those residents still without. For residents trying to obtain information from JCP&L be assured you will receive the same information that the Mayor is receiving. Hopefully all of you have access to email and have been receiving updates from the township on all matters relating to the aftereffects of Sandy.

I am asking you to forward this email to as many people as you can.   If we can obtain a list of the homes/condos without power we can try to help the residents. With the high winds expected today and tonight along with additional coastal flooding and rain/snow  we may all be losing power again. Let’s hope we get through this storm intact.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to call me at 732-361-6260 (home), 908-451-6824(cell) or email me at :

ahoran11@optonline.net

ANN HORAN

President Ocean Grove Homeowners Association

Ocean Grove, New Jersey

Nov. 7, 2012

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Letter to the Editor

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged , , on November 6, 2012|

TO THE EDITOR:

On behalf of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association,  this is a big THANK YOU to the estimated 700 volunteers who participated in last Saturday’s beach front clean up event!

Families and individuals of all ages from Ocean Grove and throughout the shore area removed tons of debris, retrieved scores of memorial benches and urns buried in the sand, and helped many of the people who were affected by the flooding. The accomplishments exceeded all our expectations, and the day was an amazing and beautiful example of a community working together.

DR. DALE C. WHILDEN                                                                                                                                                                                                                         President, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association                                                                                                                                                                      Ocean Grove, New Jersey, November 6, 2012

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Letter to the Editor: Mango Salsa in Cyberspace

Posted in Letter to the editor, tagged , on October 5, 2012|

TO THE EDITOR:

Just discovered your site while looking for a recipe for scallops & mango salsa. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a site all about one of my favorite places – Ocean Grove!

I’m a shore girl at heart – grew up in Brielle, but have called Morris County (Madison) my home for 23 years now.

What a small world – searching the entire world wide web and find the perfect recipe right in my home state. Tell Eileen I”m serving it for dinner tonight!

EVELYN CUCCHIARA

October 5, 2012

LINK to Eileen’s Scallops and Mango Salso (and Celia Cruz with the Cuban musical spices):

recipe link on Blogfinger

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