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Vol. 27 No. 51 • Rockland’s Independent Jewish Community Newspaper Since 1985 • 15 Teves

5773

December 28, 2012 free weekly

county Legislators restore programs & jobs saved llan Schoneberger Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, voted to keep many jobs, programs, and services in the budget

Fall back

A. Moeller

The Rockland County Legislature voted last Tuesday night to override County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef’s veto of the amended 2013 budget.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday !‫ווארט נישט ביז זןנטאג‬

?‫איר פילט נישט גוט‬

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Ilan Schoneberger, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and Candidate for County Executive with County Legislators Toney Earl and Alden Wolfe, were among those in favor of the veto override

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other politicians react to nra "The National Rifle Association's response to the tragic events in Newtown is deeply disturbing and underscores just how far out of touch they are from reality and the concerns of most Americans." explained Silver. "The answer to gun violence on our street corners, in our shopping centers

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llan Schoneberger Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee said, "I think it's in the best interest of the people of the County that this critical veto override takes place." Schoenberger also said of the proposed job cuts, "It's wrong morally, it's wrong legally and it creates exposure to the

health news sponsored

The proposal approved on Monday was submitted by Tappan Zee Constructors, a consortium that includes Fluor Enterprises, American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast, and Traylor Bros. The company that constructed the Tappan Zee Bridge six decades ago will cont. Page 16

county for millions and millions of dollars which we should not entertain." “People can differ over what constitutes an appropriate veto, what should or should not be overridden, but I urge all of you to override this veto,” Schoenberger said. Legislator Wieder in Spring Valley, among others were worried that union contracts could have been violated had cont. Page 10

by Monsey Family Medical Center

does your child have a cold? or is it an allergy?

According to Dr. Gerson Gluck, a pediatrician at Monsey Family Medical Center, Seasonal allergies and the common cold can be so much alike that it's sometimes hard to tell the two apart. “My advice is,” added Dr. Gluck, "Look closely and you can find and in our schools is not more clues as to what's going on.” guns. The answer is stronger gun laws and a dramatic expan- Ask yourself these questions cont. Page 3 to find out whether or not your child has allergies:

Thruway Authority chooses new Tappan Zee Bridge builders The design-build proposal for the new New York Bridge to replace the Tappan Zee approved on Monday by the New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors will deliver the project at a far lower cost than initially estimated, Thruway Board Chairman Howard P. Milstein.

County employees rejoiced as they sat in the front row at the Rockland County Legislature meeting last Tuesday night, as legislators voted to save jobs. Overriding vetoes set forth by the County Executive lawmakers voted 13-3

to restore positions that would have been cut to save the cash-strapped county nearly $2 million.

1. Have the seasons changed? If yes, it could be allergies. Seasonal allergies come at the same time every year and around the same set of circumstances, like when leaves start to fall or plants start to flower. Allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, or a runny nose are the body's response to breathing in allergens (like plant pollen or mold spores) that are released into the air. Colds, on the other hand, are caused by viruses that

can turn up in any environment, during any time of year, but are more common in winter months. 2. Did symptoms come on suddenly? If yes, it could be allergies. Another indicator that you might be dealing with seasonal allergies is if symptoms come on suddenly and last a long time. Cold symptoms tend to come on more gradually and typically go away within 7 to 10 days, but allergies last as long as someone is exposed to an allergen, which can be for weeks or months. 3. Does your son have itchy, watery eyes? If yes, it could be allergies. Many kids with allergies get this symptom when an allergen causes an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a clear membrane that covers the inner eyelids and eyeball. 4. Is there an absence of fever and no yellow/greenish nacont. Page 6, health news section

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

as we go to press “Now is the time to strengthen our resolve.” JAFFEE JOINS COALITION OF NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATORS URGING ACTIONON STATE PLAN TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, (D-Suffern) a longtime advocate for strengthening the state’s gun laws, joined a coalition of more than 55 New York State legislators who presented a letter to Senate and Assembly leadership urging them, in the wake of the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 school children and 6 teachers dead, to act swiftly to pass a state plan that will significantly reduce gun violence. “Now is the time to strengthen our resolve,” Jaffee said. “We in government must join together to enact stronger, sensible gun laws that will protect our communities and our children from these horrific acts of violence. There is nothing more important. We owe it to our precious children, to their families, to their teachers, to ourselves as a nation and a civilized society.” The public is also demanding action following last week’s massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, as well as other preventable acts of gun violence that have increasingly occurred across the nation in recent years. The coalition is urging the legislature to pass the plan when it convenes in January. It includes the following measures endorsed by both New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and the Violence Policy Center:

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‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Publisher's Desk A Weekly Editorial By:

Mendel Hoffman

he plan to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge has lasted for too many years without any results. In many ways, this project is another example of poor government. Now that they finally have approved the plan, who have they chosen? Not one of the contracting companies is from Rockland. Mr. Cuomo, your plan is excellent, but- Where are the County jobs!

The State may be hurting, but the ones who lose out more than anyone are the commuters. These commuters are Rocklanders. Not only do people traveling for work or family across the Tappan Zee Bridge have to pay a new higher toll to repair a bridge that the state can’t wait to tear down, they are stuck in an antiquated transportation system that eats up their time whenever they use the bridge. On the positive side, at least the government recognizes the need to replace the bridge – a positive first step. There is no quick solution to this problem as the last few years have shown us. Examining viable options is important, as the Governor has shown, we just would like to see more local jobs created, since after all this is a local decision.

letters to the editor Dear Editor, No excuse not to up min. wage Raising the state minimum wage has the support of 80 percent of voters, yet Gov. Cuomo and Senate Republicans continue to evade taking action. A recent statewide survey of emergency food programs by the Hunger Action Network found that hunger continues to rise. There was a 7 percent increase in the number of people fed last year, on top of more than a 50 percent increase over the last four years. Eighty percent of the programs cited low wages

as a major cause of hunger. More than a third of the guests had a job. And the cupboards are increasingly bare. Two-thirds of the programs reported a drop in private and government donations. Governor Cuomo recently said that he was too busy with hurricane relief to call the legislature back into session in December to deal with "complex" issues. Granted the governor's hoped-for pay hike for his senior staff and lawmakers appears dead. But there is nothing complex about raising the minimum wage. Either the Senate approves the $8.50 an hour hike already passed by the Assembly or it doesn't.

Gov. Cuomo claims that it is more difficult to convince the Senate Republicans to support a minimum wage hike than it was to secure passage of the far. Does anyone believe that? Hundreds of New York state businesses, including Costco and the NYS Retail Council, have stated their support for hiking the minimum wage. And the Senate Majority Leader, Dean Skelos, voted for a minimum wage hike the last time it was brought up.

work by increasing the value of work.

Senate Republicans often block actions on issues that would help the poor and the hungry. They argue that the solution to poverty is to get a job. Time for them to show they actually value

Sincerely, M. Friedman Spring valley

Forget about the minimum wage being a living wage; right now, it is a sub-poverty wage. When [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] first established the minimum wage, it was set at a level to lift a full-time worker with two dependents to the poverty level. To accomplish that today, the minimum wage would need to be $8.90 an hour, rather than the present $7.25.

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If you have something to report going on, in or around the Town or County, or if you are generally alarmed or concerned on any issue involving laws, policies, or anything else -we want to hear your opinion!

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THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

‫תשע״ג‬

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and others politicians react to nra response (cont. from page 1)

BREAK FREE FRO

sion of mental health services.

M F O O T PA IN !

Silver continued: "New York can and must be a leader in developing a solution. I am hopeful in the coming weeks the Senate will join together with the Assembly and Governor Cuomo to pass meaningful legislation that will begin to change the culture of gun violence in our society." Here’s the assessment of Rep Carolyn McCarthy, who intends to carry Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s new assault weapons ban legislation in the House with Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo.:

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“I’m saddened by what I saw today, because the NRA’s leadership had an opportunity to help unite the nation behind efforts to reduce gun violence and avert massacres like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School but it instead showed a disconnect between it and the majority of the American people. “The American people – including many of our nation’s lawabiding gun owners – are crying out for solutions that will help stop these mass murders before they start. GOP pollster Frank Luntz found that 74 percent of NRA members support keeping guns out of the hands of dan-

gerous people through background checks. And an International poll found that six out of 10 Americans support a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons.

der of innocent children. Like cars, food, medicine and many other consumer products, gun ownership should be subject to safety regulations designed to protect innocent Americans.

“There are answers to these cries in Congress right now. The Fix Gun Checks Act, which I sponsor in the House of Representatives, closes the dangerous gun show loophole and strengthens the database used in our background checks. I also sponsor legislation to ban high-capacity magazines and will be introducing an updated assault weapons ban with Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Congressman Ed Perlmutter of Colorado in January.

“I know that the American people – including many gun owners – are heartbroken and fed up with the gun violence we’ve seen recently at an elementary school, a shopping mall, a temple, a movie theater, a supermarket parking lot, and on countless American streets every single day. I’m committed to working with anyone, including the NRA, willing to help save lives and look forward to continuing this conversation with the American people.”

“I support a holistic approach to our complex and tragic problem with gun violence, including not just looking at school security but at counseling, after school programs, our mental health and juvenile justice systems, and, like the majority of Americans, the safety restrictions we put on some of the most dangerous consumer products in the world.

From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx:

“The Second Amendment is the law of the land, but it was never intended to enable the mass mur-

“I am appalled but not surprised at the NRA’s reaction at their press conference this morning. They have not offered one sensible solution in the aftermath of this tragedy and the many other tragedies that have swept our nation over the past several months, stated Assemblyman Dinowitz.

Obama nominates Sen. John F. Kerry President Obama nominated Sen. John F. Kerry on Friday to be the next secretary of state, saying that “in a sense, John’s entire life has prepared him for this role.” Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his selection all but guarantees a swift, smooth path to confirmation. The lawmaker has been a frequent foreign policy adviser and confidant to Obama, and his five

terms in Congress have gained him bipartisan advocates in the Senate. Kerry has long sought the post as America’s top diplomat. But he appeared to be Obama’s second choice after U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice. Rice withdrew her name from consideration this month because of Republican opposition based on her role as administration spokeswoman in the fatal Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

In a brief ceremony in the White House Roosevelt Room, Obama praised Kerry, the son of a U.S. diplomat, for his military service in Vietnam and his work decades later restoring diplomatic relations with that country, and for his long service in the Senate. “He’s played a role in nearly every major foreign policy debate in the last 30 years,” Obama said.

DiNAPOLI: TAX COLLECTIONS $163 MILLION BELOW PROJECTIONS Tax collections through November of $39.2 billion were $163.4 million below the state’s estimates updated last month, and $702.4 million below initial estimates in April, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said in releasing the November cash report. “It is clear that tax collection growth is not going to meet year-end expectations amid a continued slow economic recovery,” DiNapoli said. “While the Division of the Budget is effectively managing cash flow, the upcoming budget proposal needs to include realistic projections for the rest of this year and the next so potential cash shortfalls can be addressed effectively.”

The mid-year update to the Financial Plan released November 28 projected tax growth of 2.9 percent for the year. However, All Funds tax collections of $39.2 billion through November rose just 0.4 percent, or $162.3 million, from the same period last year. In order to meet these projections, tax collections will have to grow 6.7 percent in the last four months of the fiscal year. The mid-year update did not reflect the effects of Superstorm Sandy. The governor’s proposed budget, expected January 22, is anticipated to include projections based on the storm as well as conditions in the economy.

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THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

‫תשע״ג‬

national & international news updates

Egypt Stopped Attempt To Smuggle 17 Rockets To Gaza

Egyptian armed forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 17 Frenchmade TDI model rockets into the Gaza Strip, the Egypt Independent quoted an anonymous military sources as saying Monday. According to the report, Egyptian military forces, in cooperation with local Bedouins, stopped the smuggling attempt in northern Sinai. The rockets intercepted were caliber 68 mm, which have a range of three kilometers.

Egypt's President Signs Contentious Constitution Into Law Cairo - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi signed into law a new constitution shaped by his Islamist allies, which he says will help end political turmoil and allow him to focus on fixing the fragile economy. Anxiety about a deepening political and economic crisis has gripped Egypt in past weeks, with many people rushing to buy dollars and take out their savings from banks. The government has imposed new restrictions to reduce capital flight.

The new charter, which the secularist opposition says betrays Egypt's 2011 revolution by dangerously mixing religion and politics, has polarized the Arab world's most populous nation and prompted occasionally violent protest on the streets. Results announced on Tuesday showed Egyptians had approved the text with about 64 percent of the vote, paving the way for a new parliamentary election in about two months. The win in the referendum is the Islamists' third straight electoral victory since veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak was toppled in 2011, following parliamentary elections last year and the presidential vote that brought Mursi to power this year. Mursi's government, which has accused opponents of damaging the economy by prolonging political upheaval, now faces the tough task of building a broad consensus as it prepares to impose unpopular austerity measures to prop up the economy. The presidency said on Wednesday that Mursi had signed a decree enforcing the charter overnight after the official announcement of the result of the referendum approving the basic law, Egypt's first constitution since Mubarak's overthrow.

Lowey Statement on Speaker Boehner’s “Plan B”

Congresswoman Nita Lowey issued the following statement on Speaker Boehner’s so-called “Plan B” to avoid the fiscal cliff: "Speaker Boehner’s so-called “Plan B” is not a meaningful solution to avoid the fiscal cliff. “The proposal would reduce tax relief critical for working families like college tuition, child, and earned income tax credits. It would end benefits for unemployed Americans, eliminate tax provisions that incentivize job creation, cut reimbursements for doctors seeing Medicare patients by 27 percent, and leave in place across-the-board cuts to critical investments through the sequester. “The White House has issued a veto threat on the legislation, making this vote a pointless political charade. The decision to hold the vote regardless represents an unfortunate step back in goodfaith negotiations. Instead of engaging in cynical political exercises, Speaker Boehner should return to negotiations with the White House to achieve a comprehensive and balanced solution to the fiscal cliff.”

Hiring and background checks Seven states limit the use of credit background checks on job candidates and more than 30 cities and counties defer criminal background checks until later in the interview process for government job applicants. Limits credit check by employers

Seattle

Defers criminal background checks for public job candidates

Chicago

San Francisco

New York Phila.

Cincinnati

R.I. Conn. Del. D.C.

Memphis Jacksonville

NOTE: Alaska and Hawaii are not to scale

Why background checks are important • 40 percent of U.S. drivers have a violation on their driving record

• Up to 30 percent of job applications contain false material • 40 percent of information on resumes is misrepresented

• 30 percent of all business failures are caused by employee theft

Albany & washington news briefs

Mayor Bloomberg Warns Of Possible School Bus Driver Strike

As a labor dispute between the Department of Education and the school bus drivers’ union escalates, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city is preparing for the “strong possibility” that drivers will strike after the holidays. He called plans to strike “irresponsible,” especially during a school year when students missed more than a week of classes because of Hurricane Sandy, and said the city cannot afford rising charges by private bus companies. “We have an obligation to spend our money on educating our kids, not going and subsidizing companies that charge more than the market can bear,” he said.

Gas price falls Average retail gasoline prices in New York have fallen 5.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.72/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 6,118 gas outlets in New York. This compares with the national average that has fallen 8.0 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.25/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. Including the change in gas prices in New York during the past week, prices yes-

terday were 20.5 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 18.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 18.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 1.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

GOP Senator From Idaho Arrested In Virginia For Driving Under The Influence This Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 booking photo provided by the Alexandria, Va. Police Department shows Idaho U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo. Crapo was arrested early Sunday morning, Dec. 23, 2012 and charged with driving under the influence in a Washington, D.C., suburb, authorities said. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) was arrested on Sunday morning in Alexandria, Virginia for driving under the influence. According to Del Ray, VA Patch, Crapo was pulled over after an officer saw the senator run a red light. Police spokesman Craig T. Fifer said that Crapo failed "several field sobriety tests," reports CBS News. He was taken into custody "without incident."

Statement from GOP Sen. Dean Skelos

"I am honored that the members of our Senate Republican Conference have voted unanimously today to reelect me as their leader. I appreciate their support and confidence, and look forward to being a strong voice for their priorities. By partnering with Governor Cuomo and the Independent Democratic Conference, Senate Republicans have delivered the bipartisan results New Yorkers need and deserve, including two early budgets that reduced spending, enactment of a two property tax cap, middle-class income tax relief and an end to Albany dysfunction. The men and women of our conference are excited for the opportunity to be part of this new Senate Majority coalition, a unique partnership of Democrats and Republicans that will protect and build on the historic progress we’ve made over the last two years. New Yorkers have made it very clear that they don’t care abou Republican solutions or Democratic solutions, they just want results. Senate Republicans are committed to working with the Governor, Senator Klein, Speaker Silver and all of the members of the Legislature in the months and years ahead to improve the qualityof-life for all New Yorkers.

NYU Hospital Closed After Sandy Storm Set To Reopen

A New York City hospital that had to evacuate hundreds of patients during Superstorm Sandy after it lost power is set to reopen. Officials at NYU Langone Medical Center say nearly all services will return to the hospital on Thursday. Sen. Charles Schumer will join hospital officials for the reopening. Schumer helped secure nearly $150 million in federal aid for the damaged facility. The Manhattan medical center evacuated 300 patients after it lost generator power because of the storm. Some of its outpatient facilities have been operating since early November.

Cuomo Wants Even Stricter NY Gun-Control Law New York politicians have been pretty vocal about pushing for stronger gun control laws post-Newtown massacre, and now Governor Cuomo is pushing for the state to take on even stricter gun laws. He's reportedly been meeting with lawmakers to discuss expanding the current ban on assault weapons, which currently covers semi-automatic shotguns in addition to rifles and pistols with detachable ammunition magazines, and is also pushing for a statewide ban on gun magazines that hold more than seven bullets at a

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

rockland & regional GOOD SAM APPOINTS NEW EMERGENCY DEPT DIRECTOR

Adrienne R. Wasserman, MD, MPH, FACEP has been named the new Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Dr. Wasserman will be returning to Good Samaritan where she once held the position of attending physician in the Emergency Department from 2006 – 2009. Dr. Wasserman studied at Florida International University where she received both her Bachelor of Science in health education and Masters of Public Health degree. She earned her medical degree from University of Miami School of Medicine, and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Wasserman is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a member of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. For the past three years, Dr. Wasserman has worked at New York Hospital Queens as an attending physician in their Emergency Department and as a Director of Emergency Medicine Residency Research. Record Number of New Yorkers Arrested During Bloomberg Era

Despite Mayor Michael Bloomberg heralding a record-low number of inmates in city jails, the amount of people arrested during his administration is the highest in city history, DNAinfo.com New York has found. In fact, the number of NYPD arrests in the Big Apple has jumped nearly 23 percent since Bloomberg took office — there were 338,788 collars in 2002 compared to 413,573 last year, police statistics show. And the number of people caught in the criminal justice system started to climb virtually from the day he took office and appointed Raymond Kelly as his police commissioner. There were 334,163 collars in 2003 — which was a scant decline from the previous year — but after that the number of arrests jumped to 351,435 in 2004 and continued to climb until it reached a peak of 422,982 arrests in 2010. Stop-and-frisks, meanwhile, rocketed in New York from 98,000 during Bloomberg’s first year to nearly 700,000 last year — a staggering 600 percent rise that prompted widespread concern of racial profiling by the NYPD because they occurred primarily in minority communities.

New York officials are scrambling to negotiate the first new gun control laws

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democrat-led Assembly are pushing again for bans on all assault rifles, highcapacity ammunition magazines and other measures that were dropped in the Republican-controlled Senate. A deal could be enacted into law in a rare special session during the holiday week or in an agreement could be part of Cuomo's State of the State speech he's scheduled to deliver on Jan. 9. Cuomo this week said he plans to make gun control proposals part of his annual speech that sets his legislative agenda. Journal News is under criticism for publishing the names and addresses of local gun owners

In a piece titled, "The gun owner next door: What you don't know about the weapons in your neighborhood," the Journal News requested the names and adresses of local residents who are licensed to own handguns through Freedom of Information Law requests. The paper requested information from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. The paper was only given the names and addresses of those who have a license to own a handgun. The paper was denied its requests for the amount and type of guns owned by those who have licenses. The article includes an interactive map of Westchester and Rockland counties that allows readers to view those who have a license to own handguns around them. The Rockland County Times, calling them out as an 'Agenda Driven' Newspaper in today's headline, subsequently published a list names and home addresses of all those involved in writing and producing the Journal's article. Legislator Frank Sparaco Votes Against Budget Veto Override Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco voted against every attempt by the Rockland County Legislature to override various vetoes that County Executive Vanderhoef issued on the 2013 budget that had been approved by the legislature. The County Executive vetoed certain parts of the legislature's budget, of certain budget cuts and layoffs. The legislature then voted to overrule the County Executive, removing the budget cuts and the layoffs from the budget. Legislator Sparaco voted to keep those cuts and layoffs in the budget to reduce its overall size.

"Difficult decisions like layoffs and cuts need to be made at this time," Legislator Sparaco explained. "We cannot continue to kick the can down the road if we are ever going to fix our financial problems. As difficult as these decisions are to make, we need to make them this year, and I voted to move forward with those cuts."

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Join ‘The Shmuz’ at a Melava Malka this Motzei Shabbos in Monsey Neveh Zion is proud to present a Melava Malka featuring Rabbi Benzion Shafier of “The Shmuz”. The Melava Malka will take place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Michelle Rothman. In addition to the words of inspiration and delectable Chinese & Sushi cuisine, Rabbi Shafier will be giving out free copies of his new bestseller “Stop Surviving, Start Living”!! The reception will also welcome the Neveh Zion’s Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Chaim Yisroel Blumenfeld shlit”a, fondly known as the “Mash.” The reception will commence at 7:00 PM and the program will begin at 8:15 PM.

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REP. ENGEL – NRA RESPONSE IS LONG OVERDUE Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) urged President Obama to reinstate the ban on imports of assault weapons, a ban enforced during the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He also condemned the tone deaf speech delivered today by the National Rifle Association Chairman Wayne LaPierre who called for even more weaponry in schools.

incredible how tone deaf they are to the dangers of gun violence. Arming teachers is one of the worst ideas in the history of bad ideas. They blame everything but the weapons they support. Their distorted interpretation of the Second Amendment trumps everything else in their mind. The NRA needs to stop focusing their own warped agenda and think about the violence they endorse daily.

“After the murder of 20 beautiful children and six brave teachers in Newtown last week, we must do a better job in keeping weapons of mass murder out of the hands of madmen. No one can ever convince me that a private citizen needs to own an assault weapon capable of firing off dozens of rounds in a blink of an eye. There is no deer or duck hunter that needs this, and no home protection needs that kind of firepower.

“I just am stunned that they have chosen to avoid culpability, and have instead called for turning schools into armed camps, while blaming everything else under the sun instead of themselves.

“Incredibly the National Rifle Association today blamed gun free schools - another attempt to blame the victim. They seem to have forgotten about the armed security guard who was stationed at Columbine High School, or all of the armed service members at Fort Hood. It is simply

“People intending harm will still seek ways to inflict terror and murder, but why should we make it easier for them? The first President Bush responded to the growing threats to law enforcement from the use of assault weapons by drug traffickers, and following the Stockton schoolyard massacre in 1989, implemented this imported assault weapons ban. However, this ban was allowed to lapse, and the murderous rampage is still going on.”

Newsweek ends print Press edition, who is next? The announcement to end the venerable newsweekly's print presence was made in October, with Brown explaining, "In our judgment, we have reached a tipping point at which we can most efficiently and effectively reach our readers in all-digital format." Brown and her boss, IAC mogul Barry Diller, took over Newsweek and rolled it in with her online publication, The Daily Beast. Brown said that it "cost $42 million just to print Newsweek... Before you’ve even engaged one writer, or one copy editor, or one picture editor. Fortytwo million dollars." (Newsweek/Daily Beast started layoffs this month.) Newsweek is expected to roll out a digital edition next year. The plan for 2013 is to launch a digital subscription product called Newsweek Global, some of whose content will be available on the Daily Beast. Earlier today

Brown promoted three people to leadership posts for that venture — Justine Rosenthal becomes editorial director of The Newsweek Daily Beast Co.; Tunku Varadarajan becomes editor of Newsweek Global; and Deidre Depke becomes editor of the Daily Beast website. The Newsweek layoffs join others in what is becoming an increasingly sad December for journalists. The New York Times is offering its fourth buyout in five years, with 30 newsroom managers targeted. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer is planning to eliminate 58 of the 168 Guild positions from its newsroom. News Corp. is shutting down The Daily iPad news publication Dec. 15 and laying off most of the staff.

page 6 health talk

6 Family Health Talk

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

Spring Valley Family Medical Center 175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

cold or allergy the only way to tell exactly what he's allergic to is to get an allergy test. This test can be performed on the skin (where an allergen is placed under the skin to check the body's response) or through a blood test. If your son does have allergies, the doctor will recommend reducing exposure to the allergen and might also suggest an overthe-counter (OTC) or prescription allergy medication to relieve symptoms.

ADULT MEDICINE

Dr. James Israel Dr. Arthur Landau Dr. Debra Grohman Dr. Delatre Lolo Dr. Manoj Pulicottil Elana Klein, PA Erick Araujo, PA

FAMILY MEDICINE

Dr. Michael Safran Dr. Jamie Giraldo

Dr. Joel W. Allen Dr. Debra Kirschner Melissa A. Carco, PA Nancy Solomon, CNM

DENTAL

Dr. Genady Benyaminov Dr. Stacey Lubetsky Dr. Ramin Kashani Dr. Jacklyn Tadros Dr. Sarah Hanna Dr. David Horowitz

sal discharge? If yes, it could be allergies. Allergy symptoms are never accompanied by a fever, while colds sometimes are. And with an allergy, your son's runny nose will have thin, clear discharge, rather than the thick yellow or greenish discharge that can come with a cold. If you suspect your son has an allergy,

And if you determine that your son has a cold, check with the doctor before giving him OTC cold medicines. There is little-to-no evidence that they work and serious side effects are a risk, especially in younger children. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given to relieve fever or pain.

Brush Up on

Healthy Teeth Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

SPECIALTY Dr. Harry Baldinger - Podiatry Dr. Michael Ginsburg- Podiatry Dr. David Schwalb - Urology Dr. Renata Witkowska - Allergy Dr. Samuel Wong - Ophthalmology Dr. Alfred Hellreich - Dermatology Dr. Philip Fried - Dermatology Dr. Yoel Kantor - Endocrinology Hanna Raice MS, RD, CDENutrition Counseling Aaron Muller, Speech Therapy Melech Karp, Speech Therapy

1. Start cleaning teeth early. As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Use toothpaste with fluoride earlier if your child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

2. Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is important for fighting cavities. But if children younger than 6 years old swallow too much fluoride, their permanent teeth may have white spots. To keep this from happening, use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

3. Supervise brushing. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then

schedule your appointment today:

continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job and using only a small amount of toothpaste.

4. Talk to your child’s doctor or dentist. Check with the doctor or dentist about your child’s specific fluoride needs. After age 2, most children get the right amount of fluoride to help prevent cavities if they drink water that contains

Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

(845) 352-6800

Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

healthy teeth advice

(cont. from page 1)

Dr. Esther Bekritsky Dr. Gerson Gluck

OB/GYN

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬ MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

‫רופא חולים‬

Ben Gilman

PEDIATRIC MEDICINE

‫תשע״ג‬

fluoride and brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Parents of children older than 6 months should ask about the need for a fluoride supplement if drinking water does not have enough fluoride. Do not let a child younger than 6 years old use a fluoride mouth rinse unless the child’s doctor or dentist recommends it.

Early care for your children’s teeth will protect their smile and their health.

he dentists at Monsey Family Medical Center all agree that a child needs foods from all the major food groups in order to grow properly and stay healthy, but when starches and sugars dominate a child's diet, the risk of tooth decay goes way up. That's because some bacteria in the mouth use these starches and sugars as food to produce acid. The acid is strong enough to dissolve tooth enamel and cause decay. "It can be a challenge for parents to make healthy food choices for their children. However, what parents allow their children to eat and drink seriously affects their overall health, including their teeth and gums," says Dr. Ramin Kashani, a pediatric dentist at Monsey Family Medical Center. To help children make sensible food choices, the dentists at Monsey Family Medical Center recommend the following to parents: Recognize foods that are "high risk" for tooth decay. Most people know that sweets such as cookies, candy and cake are poor snack choices for healthy teeth. However, some foods aren't so obvious. Snacks that stick to teeth can cause as much tooth decay as candy and cookies. These foods include some cereals, chips, crackers and even dried fruits. Limit the number of snacks a day. Remember that each time you give your child a meal or a snack, you are also giving a "snack" to the cavity-causing bacteria in your child's mouth. The more snacks, the more times the bacteria can attack your child's teeth. It's important to make sure your child maintains a healthy diet that includes set mealtimes and snacks. But continuous snacking is a risk for cavities. Restrict high-sugar foods to set mealtimes. We all enjoy a sweet treat now and then. But according to Dr. Stacy Lubetsky, a Pediatric Dentist at Monsey Family Medical Center, “having your child eat it as part of a regular meal, rather than by itself as a snack, can limit the risk of tooth decay.” Choose milk or water, instead of sugary drinks or juice. What children drink is just as important as what they eat. Most juices and sodas are loaded with sugar. Sipping on fruit juice, sodas, or sport drinks keeps sugars washing over the teeth. This can contribute to tooth decay. Choosing milk or water will help ensure a healthy mouth and body for your child. Remember that a nutritious diet is just one way of preventing tooth decay. Be sure that your child also brushes twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Your child also needs to have a "dental home," where he or she can have regular checkups by the dentist. “Rockland County water does not have fluoride added to it, so it is very important to supplement with drops.” Explains Dr. Lubetsky.

page 7 health talk

Family Health Talk

‫רופא חולים‬

Ben Gilman

Spring Valley Family Medical Center 175 Route 59, Spring Valley NY 10977

MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER

Monsey Family Medical Center 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

Are you SAD or suffering from winter blues?

Symptoms and Diagnosis part 2 of 3

by By: Gitty Kleinman, intern, Reviewed by Gelly Asovsky, LCSW

epression or bipolar disorders are categorized as mood disorders. Seasonal affective disorder is considered a subtype of depression or bipolar disorder. Some of the differences between major depression and SAD include: Onset – When were symptoms noted? Seasonal affective disorder is seasonal while major depression or bipolar is not. People affected with SAD experience symptoms seasonally, either during the fall and winter months, or during the spring and summer months. Although symptoms of people who have major depression or bipolar disorder might get worse during different seasons, the symptoms persist throughout a few seasons. Duration – For someone to be diagnosed with major depression or bipolar, symptoms must be present for six weeks to two months. On the other hand, to be diagnosed with SAD, a pattern must be present for two years - of symptoms appearing during a specific season, then diminishing, and then returning again during the same season.

chemical serotonin will affect a person’s mood. Increased serotonin levels will cause a person to feel great and be in a fabulous mood, while a drop in serotonin levels will lead the person to feel sad and depressed. The decreased sunlight of fall and winter, can cause a drop in serotonin which may then trigger depression Melatonin levels – melatonin is another hormone naturally produced by our bodies. Melatonin also plays a role in a person’s sleep patterns and mood. It is not uncommon for mothers of children with difficulty falling asleep to administer synthesized ‘melatonin drops’ to help their child fall asleep. Increased sunlight leads to increased levels of melatonin in the body, while decreased sunlight can lead to decreased levels of melatonin in the body. The change in season and reduction in sunlight can disrupt the natural balance of hormones in the body affect a person’s mood and sleep patterns. Am I at risk of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

There are factors which may increase your risk of Seasonal affective disorder.

Causes and Risks Last week, the different symptoms associated with SAD were discussed, as well as diagnosis criteria. SAD is an acronym for Seasonal affective disorder and is a type of depression that occurs at the same time each year, usually the fall and winter, although some experience it during the spring and summer as well. Some of the symptoms of SAD are similar to regular depression and include: feeling depressed, hopeless, anxiety, changes in appetite, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, social withdrawal and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed. If one experiences these symptoms during the same season for two years, they are very likely suffering from SAD. What are the causes and risks of SAD? The specific cause for seasonal affective disorder is not known. As with most mental illnesses there are many factors that play a role in developing a specific mental illness. Some general causes for seasonal affective disorder (as well as any mental illness) are, Genetics – if depression runs in the family, age and the body’s natural chemical makeup- some people’s biological composition makes them more prone to depression than others. There are also some specific factors which may come into play, when considering the causes of seasonal affective disorder. Some specific causes include: Your biological clock (aka, circadian rhythm). Every person runs on an internal clock, or circadian rhythm. This internal clock manages a person’s sleep cycles, their wakeful periods as well as most active times of the day. When you are in the sun, your internal clock takes note of that, and adjusts your sleep and wakeful patterns to accommodate day and night. The more you are in the sun, the more your body will know that it is day, and reset the rhythm to sleep at night when you are out of the sun. Therefore, during the fall and winter, the reduced sunlight, disrupts your body’s internal clock as it doesn’t receive the message that it is day, via the sunlight, often enough. This disrupts your body’s biological clock and may lead to disrupted sleep cycles and feelings of depression. Part of the treatment for people with SAD will therefore include more exposure to light, natural or artificial. Serotonin levels – our brains produce many chemicals called neurotransmitters. Serotonin, responsible for mood – or feeling good, is one of those neurotransmitters. A rise or drop in the

Being female –More women than men have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder. This can be due to a variety of reasons. Among the reasons women are more often diagnosed is that a women’s hormones naturally fluctuate each month, this can lead to more extreme mood swings as the body is working to create a balance of hormones. However, men who are diagnosed with SAD experience symptoms which are more severe. Living far from the equator - The equator receives equal sunlight throughout the year. As one moves north from the equator, the sunlight decreases during the winter (thus the shorter days) while it increases in the summer (thus the longer days) and vice versa as one moves south from the equator. Seasonal affective disorder seems to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator. This may be due to the reduced sunlight in the winter and increased sunlight in the summer. Cities in New York, like Monsey or Spring Valley, are located far from the equator. Therefore, it is more likely for people in these cities to find themselves experiencing symptoms of SAD, due to the lack of sunlight during the seasons of fall and winter. Family history – as with other types of depression, having blood relatives with depression, increases your chances of being affected by seasonal affective disorder. Having clinical depression or bipolar disorder - if you have clinical depression or bipolar disorder, take note of the seasons. Symptoms of both depression and bipolar may worsen seasonally. Being aware of possible risks can help you identify symptoms early for best treatment. If you are experiencing some of the signs and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, take them seriously. As with any other type of depression, seasonal affective disorder can get worse and lead to larger problems if they are not treated. Treatment can help prevent problems such as, suicidal thoughts or behavior, becoming completely socially withdrawn, problems at school or in the workplace, and abusing substances like alcohol. By getting treatment you help prevent complication, especially if seasonal affective disorder is properly diagnosed. Next week we will discuss the best way to seek help and treatment.

PROJECT OHR Department of Behavioral Health

PSYCHIATRY Seymour Kushnir, MD ADULT PSYCHIATRY Zvi Weisstuch, MD ADULT and Child PSYCHIATRY

SOCIAL WORK

Individual, Couple Child & Family Therapy Malka Harris Susswein LCSW, Clinical Director Project Ohr, Individual and Family Therapist Gelly Asovski LCSW, Play Therapist Rabbi Aryeh Frankel LMSW, Family Therapist, males, teens and adults Sharon Kronenberg LCSW, Individual Therapist Adults Chana Simmonds LCSW, Family and Individual Therapist- Adults Gila Zelinger LCSW, Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults Naomi Franklin LMSW, Child Therapist Yael Kahan LMSW, Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults Esther Rothbaum LMSW, Child Therapist Toby Spitzer LMSW, Individual and Family Therapist Tziporah Spira LMSW Family and Individual Therapist, Teens and Adults Aviva Cohen LMSW, Therapist Pre-Teens, and Teens Rabbi Moshe Abramczyk LMSW, Therapist, males, ages 12 and above

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

Monsey Family Medical Center Department of Speech Therapy Mr. Aaron Muller MS ccc- SLP • Mr. Melech K arp MS ccc- SLP

ALL DISORDERS TREATED INCLUDING:

• Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders • Fluency and Voice Disorders • Pragmatic Issues • Oral Motor, Articulation and Phonological Disorders

For info & appointments:

Chronic Hoarseness Vocal Fatigue nasality resonance disorders Articulation oromotor stuttering Cognitive reading Hearing Loss Apraxia Head Trauma parkinsons dysarthria

845-352-6800x 6824 40 Robert Pitt Dr. Monsey, NY 10952

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

States move forward to implement health care law, build health insurance marketplaces Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that three more states are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges, in their states. HHS issued the first conditional approval of a State Partnership Exchange in Delaware and Minnesota and Rhode Island are conditionally approved today to operate a State-based Exchange. Today’s conditional approvals follow those issued last week to Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Washington to operate State-based Exchanges. The conditional approval provided to Delaware today is the first of its kind and shows the vast progress Delaware has made ahead of the Feb. 15, 2013, deadline to apply to operate a State Partnership Exchange. The State Partnership Exchange model is an option provided to states that want to manage part of the Exchange in

2014. A Partnership Exchange allows states to make key decisions and tailor the marketplace to local needs and market conditions. In addition to Delaware, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and North Carolina have also expressed early interest in establishing a State Partnership Exchange. “States across the country are working to implement the health care law and build a marketplace that works for their residents,” said Secretary Sebelius. “In ten months, consumers in all fifty states will have access to a new marketplace where they will be able to easily purchase quality health insurance plans.” Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses in every state will have access to a new marketplace starting in 2014 where they can access quality, affordable private health insurance. These are similar to those choices that will be offered to members of Congress.

Top Ten Healthcare Quotes for 2012 We still have The Grand U.S. Healthcare Reformation to deal with. Before we get to the road less traveled ahead, however, this seemed like a good time to take one last glance in the rear-view mirror for a sampling of soundbites we heard in 2012. nov/12

WE SERVICE CLIENTS WITH:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

‫תשע״ג‬

Here are some quotes: “Just because I have a fitness app on my phone doesn’t make me an athlete.” -Dr. Harry Greenspun – Senior Advisor, Healthcare Transformation “How many businesses do you know that want to cut their revenue in half? That’s why the healthcare system won’t change the healthcare system.” -Rick Scott – Governor of Florida “Doctors can be replaced by software – 80% of them can. I’d much rather have a good machine learning system diagnose my disease than the median or average doctor.” -Vinod Khosla – Rock Health Innovation Summit “15% – 20% of care is ‘clinically inappropriate.’” -Dr. Brent James – Chief Quality Officer at Intermountain Healthcare – Keynote at the iHT2 Health IT Summit “One of three American healthcare dollars is wasted and for the past decade, all wage increases have been absorbed by healthcare costs.” -Don Berwick – Former CMS Administrator “When an employer sits down with his health care providers – the broker, the health plan, the physician, the hospital, the

drug and device firms – everyone in the room wants it to cost more – and they’re all positioned to make that happen.” -Lynn Jennings – CEO of WeCare TLC – Smart Healthcare Without A Smartphone “Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes will affect half of Americans in the next eight years at a projected cost of $3.3 trillion.” -Dr. Dean Ornish – Huffington Post “30,000 Medicare recipients die each year from care they didn’t need.” -Shannon Brownlee – Acting Director, New America Foundation HealthPolicy Program – “I don’t blame anybody – they’re just doing what makes sense and we have to change what makes sense.” -Don Berwick – Former CMS Administrator

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

Jan/2/2013

sales

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

county Legislators restore programs, from page 1 the legislature not overrode the veto. He told the Advocate, “We don't need this litigation against the county. Under the constraints of unfunded mandates, he continued. local municipalities are struggling to approve sound budgets and as a direct result have turned on each other." Now, this veto, if left intact will result in, possible litigation's, decrease of services, an increase of the deficit, an increase in property taxes, and more importantly, this veto results in hard working people losing their jobs. Of the 17 legislators, only Legislators Frank Sparaco, Nancy Low-Hogan, and Danny Carey voted against the override. The supermajority was reached and the entirety of the legislature’s amended budget has become law. The move was met by praise from supporting legislators and the Rockland County Civil Service Employees Association, whose members attended the meeting to support the override. Facing a $95 million budget deficit going into 2013 the County will see the closure of its employee pharmacy

next year as well as an 18 percent increase in property taxes, amounting to about $158 more per year for the average homeowner. Schoenberger said a budget audit conducted by O'Connor Davies revealed that the $12 million that Vanderhoef had counted as a revenue for 2012 from the sale of the Summit Park Nursing Home to a Local Development Corporation would not be available until at least 2014, a discrepancy that worried him. "All the work we have done to assure the rating agencies, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, that we're trying to reduce the county deficit and make sure they don't downgrade us even further, would have been jeopardized had we not overrode that veto," Schoenberger said. Changes made to Vanderhoef's original budget that were also upheld included saving nine positions in the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, with four assigned officers in the mounted unit and five patrol officers. Vanderhoef agreed to keep those jobs as well as the mosquito control program, which em-

ploys five people. "I feel very good for everybody," said Sheriff Louis Falco, who trimmed close to $4 million from his own budget to help with the constraints. "Not only for the mounted unit and the patrol officers, but they restored the kitchen workers in the jail that feed more than 1,000 prisoners a day, three meals a day. "The bottom line is they're workers, that really count on every single penny that comes into their household and they restored them," Falco said. "I think the legislators should be congratulated for that." CSEA union members wearing yellow T-shirts with the phrase "People over Profits and Politics" flooded the Legislature room at the in New City for the meeting. Highway department workers, whose jobs were also on the chopping block but were saved, showed up in their yellow work sweatshirts to hear the good news. In 2013, the county may eliminate as many as 55 positions, either through attrition or early retirements.

CARE CENTER AT MONSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER DR. JOEL W. ALLEN DR. DEBRA KIRSCHNER MELISSA A. CARCO, PA NANCY SOLOMON, CNM

We care for you through the many stages of your life. • • • • • •

Healthy Living

Still vs. fizzy

Water contains no fat, sugar or calories and, in terms of nutrition, thereÕs no difference between noncarbonated and sparkling water.

Noncarbonated

Some spring water has excellent taste, but bottled still water is more expensive than tap water; use water filters to improve the taste and remove impurities from tap water

Kallah Counseling Pregnancy Routine exams Surgical Procedures Well-Woman Counseling Midwifery Services

Our providers give you the time you need and deserve.

Carbonated

Sparkling, or carbonated, water is a healthy alternative to soda, which has high amounts of sugar

For a consultation or appointment call:

845-352-6800 extension 6814

Water and weight loss

Drinking plenty of water is often recommended as part of a weightloss regime; water keeps the body hydrated and can encourage healthier eating habits

THE WOMAN’S

Source: BBC Health MCT Photo Service

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

SHORT NOTICE PUBLIC AUCTION

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

who needs gas? new hydrogen fuel car

FURNITURE, ART COLLECTION, WESTERN AND EUROPEAN BRONZE, ORIENTAL AND PERSIAN RUGS

Sun, Dec 30, 2012 @ 2pm PREVIEW @ 1:00pm MANDATED LIQUIDATION AUCTION DUE TO DIVORCE AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE CONTENTS OF THE HOME AND OTHER VALUABLES ORDERED BY TRUSTEE THROUGH ARBITRATON, FOR IMMEDIATE CASH REALIZATION BY AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

NOMINAL TO NO RESERVE ON MAJORITY OF ITEMS

Volkswagen Aqua would be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and would emit zero carbon dioxide. The all-terrain vehicle, which has a top speed of 62mph and works like a hovercraft, can move seamlessly between different surfaces

(Hand Signed Dali “King of Cups” ) (Hand Woven Persian Rug) (Mountain Man Bronze) (Marc Chagall “Bella”) FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE THE CONTENTS AND OTHER ESTATES MOVED TO THE PREMISIS OF:

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL SUFFERN 3 EXECUTIVE BLVD. SUFFERN, NY 10901

ART BY PISSARRO, MIRO, HAND SIGNED ORIGINAL WATER COLOR TARKAY, DEGAS, RENOIR, HAND SIGNED PETER MAX, CHAGALL, DALI HAND SIGNED, E. MANET, C.MONET AND MANY MORE. RUGS IN BOTH WOOL AND SILK FROM ALL OVER THE MIDDLE-EAST (SIGNED ISFAHAN, NAIN SILK AND WOOL, SIGNED QUM SILK, KASHAN, TABRIZ, SARUK, TRIBAL, PISHAWAR, ASIA ETC…) ALSO INCLUDED TIFFANY REPLICAS, CAPO DE MONTE LAMPS AND COLLECTION OF STAMPS MAJORITY ISRAELI. NOTE FROM AUCTIONEER, THIS COLLECTION IS THE MOST VALUABLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE EVER BEFORE OFFERED. THIS VORACIOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOT BE MISSED DIRECTIONS: I-287 W/I-87 N., EXIT 14B FOR AIRMONT RD., TURN RIGHT ONTO N. AIRMONT RD, ST TAKE THE 1 LEFT ONTO EXECUTIVE BLVD. TERMS: CASH CHECKS W/ ID, MC, VISA, DISC, AMEX 10% BUYERS PREMIUM STATE LICENSED, BONDED AUCTIONEERS FOR

INFO CALL 1-877-340-2799 WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ESTATES

Widening gap 2005

Median wealth ratios*

$134,992 113,149

White Hispanics Blacks

-16%

18,359 6,625

-66

12,124 5,677

-53

White-to-Hispanic

12 8

China’s growth

Quarterly growth rate 12%

8.9%

15 11

10 10 7 7

Interactive instructional session presented by instructional Eliezer Vilinsky, Interactive session followed by open questions and discussion presented by Eliezer Vilinsky,

Õ84

Õ88

Õ91

Õ93

Õ95

Õ04

Jobless rate

Percent of civilian labor force that is unemployed, by month, seasonally adjusted:

ANNUAL

Õ01

Õ11

8.3%

Location: For all parents and/or educators Cong. Bais Torah Library men and women, separate seating 89 Carlton Road W. $5.00 participation fee Suffern, NY the Chinuch Forum is a division of Educational Support Services, Inc. Eliezer Vilinsky, M.A. Miryam Vilinsky, M.Ed.

8 8

6 4

6 6

4 4 II IV 2009

II IV 2010

II IV 2011

Annual growth rate 2010 2011 Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China Graphic: Pat Carr

Õ09

10 10

Tuesday, November 1

followed by open questions and discussion

Graphic: Melina Yingling

In the last quarter, ChinaÕs economy grew at its slowest pace in more than two years, but the worldÕs second-largest economy still saw growth of more than 9 percent in 2011.

Communicate Their Needs

*Because of a change in how ethnicities are classified by the U.S. Census Bureau, this chart adjusts 2009 wealth ratios so that they compare with older data in a consistent manner. Previously, the census allowed people of Hispanic origin to be counted within white or black categories. Source: Pew Research Center

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Helping to need help? When doesKids a child 19

White-to-black

Percent change

HINUCH FORU

Hear Ye, Hear Educational 911:Ye:

... but the gap still widens

2009

Household median net worth

THE

Tuesday, January 8th 8:30pm – 9:45pm 8:30pm – 9:45pm

The wealth gap in the U.S. between whites and minorities has grown to a record high after the recession erased decades of minority gains. Whites now have roughly 20 times the net worth of blacks.

Falling income for all ...

2 2 0 0

Jan. Õ11

Jan. Õ12

Call 426-3673 or visit www.TReaching.com for more information.

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

We’re #1

in Childhood Immunizations.

onsey Family Medical Center, part of Community Medical & Dental Care, Inc. scored the highest ratings for several benchmarks in quality health care. We scored # 1 in the region in Childhood Immunizations. health Center: Community Medical and Dental Care, Inc. Hudson River HealthCare Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Open Door Family Medical Center Inc. Refuah Health Center New York State health centers (AVG.)

City Spring Monsey / Valley Peekskill Mount Vernon Ossining New Square (all)

Diabetes control 94.29% 72.26% 71.43% 80.05% 64.29% 73.60%

hypertension low birth Childhood Cervical cancer control weight immunization screening 90.00% 2.96% 88.57% 97.14% 60.49% 6.71% 81.43% 41.87% 70.00% 4.68% 85.71% 60.00% 67.65% 2.68% 86.18% 69.50% 75.71% 4.83% 10.71% 47.14% 64.40% 7.18% 70.10% 61.60% Source: U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Ramapo Lighting and Electric Your Electric Supplier Since 1998

Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-5:00 845-425-7750 Friday: 7:30am-3:00 32 South Central Avenue Sunday:8:30-12:30 Spring Valley, NY 10977 Professional Staff, Free Delivery, All Commercial Fixtures,Landscape Lighting, Wiring, Dimmers, Switch Plates, all Types of Switches and Plugs, Breakers, Panels and all Other Electrical and Commercial Needs.

Lighting By Fran Monday &Wednesday- 10:30-7:00 845-425-9070 Tuesday & Thursday-10:30-5:30 26 S. Central Ave. Friday: 10:30-3:00 Spring Valley, NY 10977 Sunday: 11:00-5:00

We are distributors of all major companies including: American Brass & Crystal, Schonbek, Murray Feiss, Corbett, Kichler, Troy and many more. Please call for more info.

We also carry a large line of mirrors and accent furniture In home shopping available.

Bulb Depot USA 845-425-7750

32 S. Central Avenue, Spring Valley, NY 10977

We carry all kinds of regular and specialty bulbs including Halogen, Led, Induction Bulbs, HPS Bulbs plus many more. Shomer Shabbos

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

now you know food coloring does not cause adhd some people have suspected that food dyes lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dye No. 40, also known as Allura red, is the most prevalent dye used in food manufacturing in the United States and is an ingredient in everything from nacho-flavored chips and toaster pastries to fresh-cut meat and breakfast cereal. Even foods that are not pink or red, such as marshmallows and vanilla snack cakes, may have Dye No. 40 (or Red 40) in their ingredient line-up. Many of these foods are

BizFact

Energy count

Industrialized countries with the highest total primary energy supply per person, measured in tons of oil equivalent per person, 2010: Iceland

16.8

Luxembourg

8.3 Canada U.S. Norway

7.2 6.4

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Graphic: Pat Carr, Paul Trap

particularly appealing to children, and some people have suspected that food dyes lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Part of the controversy surrounds the fact that food dyes are not a necessary part of food preparation; they are composed of chemicals that aren't essential to a food's taste or texture. Water-soluble artificial dyes, which come in liquid, powder or granule form, are used to reintroduce color removed from foods by processing or cooking. They also change the appearance of foods by making them more appealing to the eye. In September 2010, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) analyzed 35 years of scientific studies and affirmed that color additives don't cause ADHD, though they may increase hyperactivity in some children who already have it. In 2011, the FDA met to discuss the matter again and concluded there was still insufficient evidence of a link between food dyes and ADHD, though they did call for more research. Meanwhile, a British study gave children two drinks with a mix of dyes and then observed them for hyperactivity. Parents noticed an increase in this behavior, but teachers and outside observers did not. Still, in Europe, product labels now must list any artificial dyes with a warning that they may cause hyperactivity. There's a movement afoot in the U.S. to make the switch from chemical-based dyes to those made from natural elements, such as vegetables or spices. Food industry experts say these are more costly and less stable.

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Senate coalition, we shall see

op ed

It's hard to pull one over on New Yorkers. We tend to be tough customers, tough negotiators and smart citizens. But it's going to take even the savviest New Yorkers some time to figure out whether the new state Senate Majority Coalition is really a new and improved product or just the same old thing in a new package.

threw the chamber into disarray in a bid to reclaim the majority with the help of some renegade Democrats, several of whom went on to earn criminal records. We've yet to see, of course, what the cost of this preemptive strike will be in terms of the deals cut for committee seats, staff, resources and other considerations.

No amount of rules changes, sharing of titles or rearranging of deck chairs should fool anyone. The Legislature is there to do one thing above all: pass laws that make life better for New Yorkers. When the public judges the Senate's success or failure, it will be on the nature and quality of the laws it passes. (Not making bad law is a good thing, too.) So, yes, it's wonderful that Republican leader Dean Skelos and Independent Democratic Coalition head Jeff Klein are talking about cooperation and working with Gov. Andrew Cuomo to get things done. And, yes, we're intrigued by their unusual arrangement to share in every decision and trade off the temporary president's role every two weeks. It will be interesting to watch how this seemingly outof-the-box concept operates in reality. Just as it will be interesting to see how Mr. Klein and his four IDC colleagues wield influence in a chamber where Republicans can't command a majority on their own.

But what ultimately matters is whether the IDC lives up to its promises to use its clout to promote an agenda that is truly in New Yorkers' interests: a minimum wage hike, campaign finance reform, an end to political favoritism in school aid, and laws to ease some of the injustices in New York City's stopand-frisk program. All that's just for starters. The proof won't be in how many bills they introduce — any lawmaker can do that. Nor will it be in proposing bills that claim to make reforms but really don't. That's just a cynical show. We've seen enough of it.

It's good, too, that the question of power in the Senate didn't erupt this time in a mid-session coup as it did in 2009, when Republicans

The real test will be in whether Mr. Klein and his colleagues can persuade Republicans to end their habit of bottling up good bills in committee, and instead push them to the Senate floor for a fair vote. That would be evidence of real change, and real democracy in action. But if New Yorkers don't see that, pardon us for concluding that the coalition idea is just more of the flim-flam we've come to expect from that side of the Capitol.

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬ FORECLOSURE COUNSELING Programmable Thermostats for Consumers-Did You Know? 15

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

RCDC Housing, Inc.

The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills - nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

We have a certified foreclosure counselor on staff who can assist you Call us for more information

A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home's temperature in both summer and winter - when you are home, asleep, or away. The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family's schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family. The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don't need as much.

would like to help you...

(845) 352-1400 ext. 3243 RCDC HOUSING DEPARTMENT

The following information is provided to the community by the RCDC Housing Department as a public service

Electrical Fire Safety Tips • Know your emergency numbers and paste them to the telephone.

Natural Gas Safety Rules

To prevent Accidents: • If you smell smoke or see flames, unplug appliances in- Follow manufacturer’s instrucvolved or turn off power at the tions with all gas appliances. main control panel. Have your gas appliances in• Call the Fire department. Be stalled, serviced and repaired by sure to give your name and ad- professionals. dress and tell them its an electri- Keep your chimney flues and cal fire. vents for appliances clean and in • If the fire is very small, put it out good repair. with a fire extinguisher or baking Keep areas around your gas wasoda. NEVER USE WATER. ter heater and furnace clean. • If the fire is too big, get every- Teach small children to stay away one out of the house fast. Don’t from gas appliances. panic. Teach family members what to • Rehearse your response in ad- do if they smell gas. vance. Fire drills save lives. If Someone is Shocked..

Is your home drafty? Is it cold in your home during the winter? Are your heating bills high? If you answered YES to any of these questions then give us a call to find out if you are eligible for the New York State WEATHERIZATION Program Weatherization is a New York State funded program open to income eligible homeowners and renters. If eligible, you would receive a home energy audit to determine how your home’s efficiency could be improved. We replace windows and doors, insulate attics and walls (all determined at your audit) as well as do overall measures to better airseal your home. Weatherization works! Call today for an application.

RCDC Housing, Inc. at 845-352-1400 ext. 3240

In Case of a Gas Emergency

If you smell gas and can’t find • Don’t touch anyone in contact the source immediately, go to a with a power source. Unplug ap- neighbor’s house and call the gas pliance or turn off power. Then company. call for medical help. If the odor is not strong, open • Check for burns. Cool minor doors and windows for ventilaburns with cold, running water. tion Don’t touch the burn, break blisters. Or remove burned clothing. If the odor is strong or persists, Get medical help: electrical burn get everyone out of the house. damage may not be immediately Don’t use a telephone, switch a apparent. light on or off, or light a match if • If the victim is not breathing, you smell gas. apply mouth-to-mouth breathing or cardio-pulmonary resuscita- Don’t try to relight a gas furnace, tion (CPR). Then cover with a water heater or range until you blanket, keep head low, and get are sure there’s no more smell of gas. medical attention. • Administering CPR requires Get immediate medical attention training. Ask your local hospital for victims of burns or carbon monoxide poisoning. or 911 where to get instruction.

Extended Deadline for FEMA Disaster Assistance Thirteen counties declared disaster areas after Hurricane Sandy will be allowed to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through January 28, 2013 as opposed to the previous deadline of December 31, 2012. Assistance may come in the form of money to help with rent, home repairs, property loss, or other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. The counties that have been granted this extension are: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Richmond, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk, Queens, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster. The website for registering is www.disasterassisstance.gov.

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Thruway Authority chooses new Tappan Zee Bridge builders from page 1 be part of the team that builds its $4 billion replacement, one of the largest public works projects in the nation.

ment and financial costs are added. That still puts the project well below the state’s original $5 billion estimate.

The $3.1 billion construction contract is one of the largest in state history. The full cost of the project will approach $4 billion after $500 million to $800 million in environmental mitigation, manage-

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement after the New York State Thruway Authority selected the Tappan Zee Constructors’ proposal for a replacement Tappan Zee Bridge.

Proposal 1 Price: $3.142B

•

• • •

entire Hudson Valley region,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. According to information provided by New York State, the Tappan Zee Constructors’ proposal offers major selling points. “We have known for a long time that a new bridge would be necessary and it is good news for the people of New York to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel,” added Rep. Engel.

Finding the "Best Value" for New Yorkers Governor Cuomo’s Design-build law Results:

THE NEW NY BRIDGE FEATURES • •

“I am glad the Thruway Authority Executive Board chose the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement which is the least expensive, and has a lesser environmental impact on our region. I have said for many years that this should be the method chosen. I am pleased to see that this option allows for the later addition of mass transit– as I believe this is something which would be important to commuters. I have been working on bringing about a new bridge for the last 10 years, and it is very promising to see progress being made. A new bridge is not only necessary for transportation, but will be a boom for economic development in the

Eight general traffic lanes plus emergency lanes and extra-wide shoulders for immediate express bus service when opened A new toll plaza with at least three highway speed E-ZPass lanes (The current toll plaza includes only two 35mph lanes, as well as 5mph E-ZPass lanes) Dedicated bicycle and pedestrian path on northern span Safe scenic overlooks, with anti-climb fencing and security cameras to be monitored 24 hours a day Strength and capacity provisions to accommodate various mass transit modes

• Proposal options offer potential savings of up to $1 Billion • Bridge contractor will pay for most cost overruns Projected additional costs of $600-$800 Million over 5 years to cover project financing and management, oversight, contingencies and aesthetic improvements.

Conceptual Bridge Designs Proposal 1

Proposal 2

Proposal 3

Proposal Price: $3.142 Billion

Proposal Price: $3.990 Billion

Proposal Price: $4.059 Billion

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

17 living tips

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

‫תשע״ג‬

FDA Moves Closer To Approval Of Genetically Modified Salmon Washington - A controversial genetically engineered salmon has moved a step closer to the consumer's dining table after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday the fish didn't appear likely to pose a threat to the environment or to humans who eat it. AquAdvantage salmon eggs would produce fish with the potential to grow to market size in half the time of conventional salmon. It would be the first food from a transgenic animal - one whose genome has been altered - that has been approved by the FDA. The AquAdvantage Atlantic salmon egg was developed by AquaBounty Technology,, to speed up production to meet global seafood demand. In a draft environmental assessment Friday, the FDA affirmed earlier findings that the biotech salmon was not likely to be harmful. It said it would take comments from the public on its report for 60 days before making a final decision on approval. AquaBounty officials said they were caught by surprise by the FDA's news that it was a step closer to approval, as years of controversy had followed the company's application for the go-ahead from the regulator. "We are encouraged that the environmental assessment is being released and hope the government continues the science-based regulatory process," said AquaBounty CEO Ronald Stotish. Critics say the new salmon is a "dangerous experiment" and have pressured FDA to reject the genetically engineered salmon. They said Friday they may file a lawsuit

to prevent what they fear could be imminent approval of the engineered fish on the grounds that the FDA has failed to conduct a thorough assessment and because it wasn't clear if the fish would pose a threat to people who eat it or to wild fish. They were also concerned the FDA wouldn't require the fish to be labeled. "Congress can still keep FDA from unleashing this dangerous experiment," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, a consumer advocacy group. "Although this latest FDA decision is a blow to consumer confidence, we encourage everyone to contact their members of Congress and demand this reckless decision be overturned."

Fishy substitutions Examples of some kinds of fish a study found are frequently mislabeled in sushi bars, restaurants and grocery stores in the Los Angeles area. Commonly

Fish

mislabeled as

Rockfish

Red snapper

Yellowtail

Mahi mahi

Arrowtooth flounder

Dover sole

Pacific salmon

Atlantic salmon

Pink Salmon

Chum salmon

Steelhead trout

Salmon

Farm raised salmon

Wild caught salmon

Ceramic vs. sand

Hydraulic fracturing, or Òfracking,Ó involves the high-pressure injection of fluids into a well to shatter the rock to release oil or natural gas. The frack fluid contains a proppant, which gets lodged in the rock. While sand is the most common proppant, ceramic proppant, which Penn State University researchers say they can make from mine waste, can improve well production by up to 20 percent. High-pressure pumps inject a mix of water, chemicals, and proppant into the well Pump truck

Recovered frack water is treated or reused to frack another well

Natural gas flows out of the well and into pipelines to get to markets

Soil Water table

Proppants Irregularly shaped sand More tightly packed Cross-section of fractures created by hydraulic pressure Uniform ceramic proppant Bigger gaps between grains

Shale

Extracting The mixture is pumped through small holes at the bottom of the well, which creates fractures in the shale; proppant keeps the cracks open, allowing gas to flow freely into the well

Sand Fracture Natural gas

Well

Shale

NOTE: Graphic is not to scale Source: Universal Well Services Graphic: The Philadelphia Inquirer

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012 Try This

Ball that bounces itself You may not believe your eyes when you see a piece of a rubber ball bounce.

You’ll need

When you drop a half-ball, gravity gives it energy as it falls That energy makes it bounce

Drop (donÕt throw) a half-ball onto a hard surface, such as a concrete floor, and watch it bounce

When you turn the half-ball inside out, you store some extra energy in it Ð the energy it takes to bend the rubber

Repeat several times to see how high it can bounce Turn the half-ball

• Racketball or other small, hard, hollow rubber ball

3 inside out with your fingers and drop it again

When the half-ball hits the ground, it releases that energy and bounces higher

• Large sharp kitchen knife • Kitchen cutting board

Source: Lois Nicholson, Science is Fun! Symposium

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

What happened?

Have your helper cut the ball in half on the cutting board Then trim each piece of the ball so it is a little less than half of the ball

‫תשע״ג‬

Repeat several times

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THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

spending but key in the ongoing debt debate

More than $500 billion in tax increases and spending cuts are scheduled to take effect early next year if Congress does not act. Most attention has been on tax increases, as this is the greatest area of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans. But the parties are also battling over spending cuts. The debate is not entirely unlike family members trying to balance the books, according to experts at the Bipartisan Policy Center: TheyÕve got to set priorities and look for ways to bring in more money. Though the federal government can afford to run a deficit, too much of this spending can have consequences. Summary of initial proposals by President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner:

Boehner’s initial offer

$600 billion in cuts over 10 years

$930 billion

in cuts over 10 years

There is an ongoing dispute over how Ñ and whether Ñ to count certain savings and spending; the White House argues that accounting for about $290 billion in lower interest costs from reduced deficits would bring its proposalÕs total savings to $1.22 trillion; Republicans reject that assertion; Republicans argue that President ObamaÕs $930 billion offer is really worth only $850 billion because the president has also proposed $80 billion in new spending on infrastructure and unemployment benefits

in cuts over 10 years

Includes $600 billion from health care, $300 billion from discretionary spending, an additional $300 billion in mandatory cuts and $135 billion in savings created by shifting the inflation calculator that is used to determine federal benefits such as Social Security

Includes $350 billion from health care entitlement programs and $250 billion from other spending, such as farm subsidies

Fuzzy math

Obama’s counteroffer

$1.35 trillion

Includes $400 billion from health care, $200 billion in mandatory cuts to nonhealth programs, and $200 billion in cuts to discretionary spending Ñ to be split between defense and nondefense programs Ñ plus $130 billion in savings from the inflation calculator shift

A look at federal government spending as it relates to the Òfiscal cliffÓ debate:

What the government taxes and spends

And how ‘cliff’ cuts compare

Tax revenue grew steadily until the 2001 tax cuts. Spending also has grown; tax and revenue figures are from the Office of Management and Budget, and projections for future years make a number of assumptions based on ObamaÕs proposals. The projected tax revenues assume that Congress avoids the cliff; tax cuts are extended to all filers except those making more than $250,000 annually

Annual tax revenue

In trillions of dollars

Dollar amounts from 2013 fiscal year

The cuts and expiring tax cuts that compose the Òfiscal cliff,Ó while worrisome in terms of the impact on the economy if no deal is reached, are a small part of the federal budget overall and would still leave a deficit in fiscal 2013

Projected

Other and excise taxes

$3.80 trillion

Corporate taxes Social insurance and retirement

Total federal spending for fiscal 2013

Individual taxes

$2.91 trillion

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Annual revenue compared with spending

In trillions of dollars

Total tax revenue for fiscal 2013

$288 billion

Projected

This is the amount of revenue gained by letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire for those who make more than $250,000 annually and by adjusting the Alternative Minimum Tax for inflation, thereby decreasing the number of filers affected by the AMT

$40 billion

Annual tax revenue 4

Annual federal spending

Government spending by major spending area

In trillions of dollars

This is the amount of decreased spending saved by enacting the automatic spending cuts to defense outlined in the Budget Control Act

Projected

All other

$549 billion

Treasury Defense

Social Security

Even if taxes are raised for the wealthy, the Office of Management and BudgetÕs projection still shows a $549 billion deficit

Health and Human Services

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Federal spending: 4 key areas The departments that handle Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security, defense and the debt make up more than 80 percent of the 2013 budget. All spending-cut discussions start there:

Medicare and Medicaid

Social Security

Defense

An aging population and rising health care costs make Medicare and Medicaid spending the fastest-growing area of the federal budget and one that will keep growing if nothing is done, according to Loren Adler, senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center

Social Security spending isnÕt rising much, Brookings said, but could as baby boomers enter retirement age

With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ending and the caps on spending from the Budget Control Act, defense spending looks to flatten or possibly decrease in future years

Many donÕt realize Medicare and Medicaid are such a big chunk of government spending, said Alice Rivlin, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and costs will continue to grow for the federal government and for states

Ratio of workers to social Security beneficiaries

Whether the Affordable Care Act addresses the longer-term issues remains to be seen; a fiscal cliff deal could be a way to buy time to fix the deeper issues, Adler said

Medicare and Medicaid spending

As a percentage of GDP

Projected

3.5 3.0

2.0 1.5

Medicaid

1.0 1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

2016

As a percentage of GDP

Operation and maintenance

2.5

4.0

Military personnel

Research, testing and evaluation

2.0 1.5

3.5

1.0

3.0

0.5 1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Interest on the debt

Medicare

2.5

Defense spending

Spending to pay interest on the national debt is one of the larger chunks of the budget, but the impact is offset by low interest rates, Rivlin said; a deal on taxes could help by bringing in more revenue

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, whitehouse.gov, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, U.S. Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, Social Security Administration, MCT Photo Service Graphic: Kim Geiger, Carolyn Aler, Jonathon Berlin, Chicago Tribune

1976

1981

1986

Net interest paid on debt 600

1991

1996

2001

2006

In billions of dollars

2011

Projected

400 200

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

Finally, when we say making a furniture shopping plan, we mean that. Don't just run out and buy all the furniture you'll need at one time. It can be tempting to go to Ikea and load up your car with everything you could possibly want, but choose essentials first and bring them home before anything else. Once the essentials, like a bed, couch, desk, and things you know you must have are in your space, then you can decide whether you need anything more. Remember, just because you have room for it doesn't mean you need it.

When it comes to big showrooms, the kind where you eventually have to custom order your couch or dining room set from a salesperson or make an appointment just to visit, we'd suggest avoiding them altogether. There are some exceptions, largely for discount showrooms and wholesalers where you can shop freely and only place an order if you need to or they don't have the specific model you want in-house. However, the furniture showroom experience is usually built from top to bottom to get you to spend as much money as possible on products that aren't worth that money. Think "used car lot," just with dining room sets and custom-order couches.

$24 billion

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

If you know you'll be somewhere for a few years—maybe between three and five—you'll want some resilient, quality furniture, but obviously not everything. If you're moving into a house you plan to live in for ten years or more, you should be comfortable buying furniture that you expect to last the long haul, and that hopefully you won't have to replace every year or so. Similarly, even if you move frequently but know you'll stay in the same area, make that your multi-year plan and buy some quality pieces you know you'll always use, no matter where you go.

Avoid Showrooms Unless There's Something You Must Have

This is the amount of decreased spending saved by enacting the automatic spending cuts to nondefense outlined in the Budget Control Act

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

furniture buying tips

‘Cliff’ cuts in context ‘Fiscal cliff’ spending cuts are a small part of overall federal Obama’s initial offer

‫תשע״ג‬

2016

NOTE: Charts use data from the Office of Management and Budget; U.S. Treasury has released actual budget and spending data for 2012, but does not provide historical trends and the detailed breakdown by department or agency shown here © 2012 MCT

Unless there's something very specific you want and have to have, or your budget allows for it, don't bother with them. You can do your research online to find the perfect piece of furniture first, and then head into a showroom if you must. Walking into one blind however, armed only with your budget and your measurements, will inevitably result in you sitting across from a salesperson who wants to sell you on "nanotech stain resistant treatments" for the couch that you're already not getting for the sale price. Instead, if you know you really want a dark wood dining room table that seats six, shop online at those pop-

ular stores' websites and see if you can order there. Compare pricing between wholesalers and showroom stores. See if you can order direct from manufacturers. Your money will go farther, and your wallet will thank you.

Shop for Used Bargains, but Exercise Caution Of course, if you're shopping for quality, old, or hardwood pieces but don't have a lot of money to spend, you can do better than discount furniture stores or expensive showrooms altogether. Consider buying used, from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, or even on the web. There are definitely bargains to be had, and especially with estate sales and thrift stores you can frequently find beautiful, well cared-for items at decent prices. When it comes to buying used furniture however, make sure that you examine each piece carefully for wear and tear, damage, and any signs of insects or pests. Sadly, bedbugs and other pests can make their homes in the cracks and nooks in even old wooden furniture, and hitch a ride home with you if they're coming from a house or apartment where they used to thrive. Make sure you carefully evaluate the surroundings and the seller before you take anything used home with you. For some people, even a great bargain isn't worth that risk, so you'll have to make that call. Ultimately, cheap furniture can be worth buying, as long as you know why you're buying it. If it fits, it's functional and not aesthetic, and you understand you're trading durability for cash, then it's a good idea. Finding a used diamond in the rough is a great way to score quality furniture on a budget. The only place we wholeheartedly say used furniture is not worth it is if you're trying to save money on something you use every day. Furniture that's essential to your health or comfort is worth your money. Armed with a firm budget and a plan for your space, you can't go wrong. Shop around, buy your essentials first, and remember, cheap doesn't mean low-quality. Just keep an eye out for a great deal and you'll be fine. Good luck! Sincerely, Advocate

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

rcdc

WOMEN’S SENIOR GROUP

‫תשע״ג‬

Health Matters

Eating green

How to make daily food choices to improve your diet while helping the environment:

Vary protein

nutritious lunch served, stimulating program, & musical entertainment, Free trAnsportAtion

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 845.352.1400 x 3245

Go organic Look for the USDA Organic seal for crops raised without chemical pesticides, fertilizers

Substitute beans and nuts for meats; less energy is used compared to what is needed to raise beef and poultry

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‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

Buy direct

Tap the tap

Drink tap water to eliminate using individual plastic water bottles; buy a reuseable water bottle instead

Cook at home

Conserve energy by making larger portions and freeze the extra for another meal; save more energy by microwaving or steaming foods

Find local sources for fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry and dairy; may be fresher and contain less packaging

Home grown

Plant your own vegetable garden; no packaging, no pesticides

A PROJECT OF OFA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY Source: USDA, MCT Illustration Bank Graphic: Lee Hulteng

THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

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THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

‫תשע״ג‬

‫דער אדוואקאט ויחי‬

CLASSIFIED ads

To place a classified ad for $10 please call 845.770.1950 • or E-mail Sales@advocateNews.org

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THE ADVOCATE December 28, 2012

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pmaloney@interstatetoyotascion.com OFFER EXPIRES DECEMBER 16TH

Health news

Coffee cuts Oral Cancer rates As if there weren't already a host of other reasons to love coffee, a new study links drinking several cups a day with a decreased risk of dying from oral cancer. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, shows an association between drinking more than four cups of coffee a day and a halved risk of dying from oral and pharyngeal cancers. However, it's important to note that researchers only found an association, and more work is needed to figure out what exactly might be at the root of the finding. "Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and contains a variety of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other biologically active compounds that may help to protect against development or progression of cancers," study researcher Janet Hildebrand, MPH, said in a statement. "Although it is less common in the United States, oral/pharyngeal cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in the world. Our finding

strengthens the evidence of a possible protective effect of caffeinated coffee in the etiology and/or progression of cancers of the mouth and pharynx."

Retailers To Recall 150,000Plus Baby Recliners

The study is based on 968,432 people who were part of the Cancer Prevention Study II, who were followed for 26 years. No one had cancer at the start of the study, but by the end of the study, 868 people had died from oral/pharyngeal cancers.

Washington - Four national retailers agreed to recall more than 150,000 Nap Nanny baby recliners after at least five infant deaths and dozens of reports of children nearly falling out of the recliners, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday. The recall covers Nap Nanny Generations One and Two, and the Chill model infant recliners. All were sold between 2009 and 2012. The Nap Nanny was designed to mimic the curves of a baby car seat, elevating an infant slightly to help reduce reflux, gas, stuffiness or other problems. The CPSC warned parents and caregivers that the Nap Nanny contains defects in its design, warnings and instructions. The agency said the product poses a substantial risk of injury and death to infants. The four retailers — Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com and Toys R Us/Babies R Us — agreed to voluntarily participate in the recall of the Nap Nanny because its manufacturer is unable or unwilling to par-

Researchers found a link between drinking more caffeinated coffee and having less of a risk of dying from the cancer -- specifically, people who drank more than four cups a day had a 49 percent decreased death risk from this cause, compared with people who didn't drink coffee. While a slight association was also found with decaffeinated coffee, it was not as strong as with the caffeinated coffee, the researchers noted. No association was found between tea drinking and oral cancer death risk.

ticipate, the government agency said in a statement. The manufacturer, Baby Matters LLC of Berwyn, Pa., told The Associated Press earlier this month that it had gone out of business. At the time, the company's website carried a statement from owner and founder Leslie Gudel that the company didn't believe the CPSC complaint had merit and that its products were safe when used as instructed. The first two versions of the foam recliner were recalled in July 2010 after the agency became aware of one death and 22 reports of infants hanging out or falling over the side of the Nap Nanny even though most of the infants had been placed in the recliner's harness. Since then, the agency learned of four more deaths. Four were linked to the first versions of the recliner, and one to the newer model. Five thousand Nap Nanny Generation One and 50,000 Generation Two models were sold between 2009 and early 2012. About 100,000 Chill models have been sold since January 2011. The CPSC advised consumers seeking more information about the recall to review the return policies of the retailers participating in the recall.

Plate over pyramid

The U.S. Department of AgricultureÕs ÒChoose MyPlate,Ó helps prompt consumers to think about what they eat.

Choose MyPlate

• Updates USDA food patterns for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans • Features a plate icon (pictured) rather than familiar food pyramid; new icon designed to remind people to eat healthfully, but not provide specific dietary guidance

Recent USDA food pyramids

Featured six segments of food groups and suggested daily consumption

1992-2005

Featured color bands of different widths as a guide to food groups and proportions to be eaten

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, choosemyplate.gov

BizFact

Top insurers

Top countries ranked by amount of premiums written for life and general (property/casualty) insurance, 2010, in billions: U.S. Japan U.K.

$1,166 557

France

310

Germany

240

China Italy

214

174

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