Voters approve open space funding
Voters Tuesday approved the only statewide ballot initiative, supporting a plan to borrow $400 million which will be used for the state Green Acres Program, the Farmland Preservation Program, and the NJ Historic Trust. The referendum passed with 52 percent of the vote.
The $400 million will support these programs for only two years. The state will either need to find a permanent source of funding to keep these programs going, or persuade the voters to pass another ballot referendum in two years.
Of the $400 million appropriation, $218 million will be used to preserve green open space across the state. Another $146 million will be used to preserve New Jersey farms. Wetlands preservation projects will get another $24 million, while the rest of the trust will be used to save and restore historic sites.
“The money doesn’t just preserve open space; it also preserves our water supply, including our drinking water supply,” said Joe Basralian, conservation advocate for the New Jersey Audubon Society. “Five million people, including quite a few from Hudson County, get their drinking water from the Highlands. There are 19,000 of Highlands acres that have critical preservation needs right now.”
An alliance of some 130 environmental organizations formed the Keep It Green Coalition to lobby for the bond measure, which they argued would fund open space, farmland and historic preservation projects sponsored by the state, counties, municipalities and conservation organizations across New Jersey.
But even some local environmentalists find fault with the trust fund’s structure.
“We weren’t really excited about the breakdown [of money],” said Hackensack Riverkeeper Bill Sheehan, whose turf covers Hudson and Bergen counties. Riverkeeper is a national non-profit environmental organization that has a Hackensack River chapter, run by Sheehan.
“They have quite a bit of money for farmland preservation, which doesn’t go to Hudson County and doesn’t go to Bergen County,” added Sheehan, a Secaucus resident. “We wanted to push for more money for urban parks and more money for urban areas.”
Still, money from the trust has benefitted several Hudson County cities and towns. It was used to convert old rail yards near Jersey City’s Liberty State park to open space, and was fundamental in the creation of Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus and Braddock Park in North Bergen.
“You know, there are still other reasons to support the referendum,” Sheehan commented. “There’s still Green Acres [state grant] money there that we’d benefit from.”
Veterans’ breakfast
The Knights of Columbus will host its annual Veterans’ Communion Breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception School Cafeteria in Secaucus. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children under 12. Military veterans can participate free of charge.
Donations will benefit the Paramus Veteran’s Home, the VA Hospital in Lyons, N.J., and Sweats for Vets, among other charities.
To purchase tickets, please contact Paul Pinkman at (201) 866-8621 or Sal Manente at (201) 866-2293. The Immaculate Conception School Cafeteria is at 760 Post Place, Secaucus.
Hospital limits visitation rights due to flu concerns
In response to the rising number of cases involving swine flu and the seasonal flu, LibertyHealth is taking steps to protect its patients, their families and staff by limiting visitation at Meadowlands Hospital Medical center in Secaucus.
For the duration of the flu season, visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed to visit hospitalized patients, including those in Labor and Delivery.
“We decided that this was a necessary precaution to take so as not to expose those patients who might be most at risk to the swine or seasonal flu,” said Joseph F. Scott, president and CEO of LibertyHealth. “In addition, we strongly advise anyone who is not feeling well to avoid visiting family members and friends at our hospitals.”
Children, individuals with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women are considered by the Centers for Disease Control as those most at risk for severe side effects from seasonal flu and swine flu. People ages 50 and older face risks of complications from seasonal flu.
“We recommend that those individuals who catch a mild case of either variety of influenza to recover at home,” said Dr. Kenneth Garay, LibertyHealth’s Chief Medical Officer. “There is no need to go to the Emergency Room for mild symptoms.”
He suggests that those with a chronic condition or who are in a high risk category should talk to their primary care physician about how to prevent the flu, and to call their doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms. They should, however, seek immediate medical attention if they experience such symptoms as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe vomiting, unidentified rash, or a fever of 100 degrees or higher that lasts for more than three days.
To prevent the spread of flu, it is recommended that people get a flu shot and the swine flu vaccination once it becomes available, wash their hands frequently, cover up when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if they feel sick. For more information on the flu and swine flu, precautions, updates and treatments, visit www.libertyhealth.org/flu. Also check out updates on the Reporter’s breaking news site, www.hudsonreporter.com.