Donating Blood Helps Save Lives, Type O Particularly Needed
To the Editor:
New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), a division of the New York Blood Center (NYBC), is calling upon people in the communities it serves, to schedule an appointment to donate blood or consider sponsoring a drive.
Type O negative, which is the universal blood type, is currently in short supply. The need for type O negative is greater because it can be transfused into any other types and is found in just 6 percent of the population.
Type O negative is more often used by patients with other blood types in emergency rooms and trauma situations. The need for blood is constant due to its 42-day shelf life and the only place to get this precious resource is from volunteer donors.
Qualified donors in generally good health should be 17 years of age, or 16 with parental permission, weigh 110 pounds and present photo or signed ID. Donors over 75 years of age can also keep donating with a note from their physician.
Nationwide, 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 2 percent actually give. Every day in the U.S. approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities to treat patients with cancer and other diseases, to support organ transplant recipients and accident and trauma victims.
To make an appointment to donate blood, or persons with questions of medical eligibility should call 800-933-BLOOD (2566) or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
New Jersey Blood Services
Pride in Ranney Students, Past and Present
To the Editor:
With graduation less than a month away, I feel an enormous sense of pride as I look at our soon-to-be graduates – 100 percent of our Ranney seniors are now preparing to enter our nation’s most competitive colleges and universities.
In just a few weeks I have the honor to attend graduation at the United States Naval Academy for two of our finest alumni, Wes Powell and John Gale. President Barack Obama is the commencement speaker. Both are an inspiration for this 2012 extraordinary class of young men and women who have persevered and received multiple acceptances to top flight schools – an outstanding accomplishment that speaks highly of the talent of our students and the quality of our programs at Ranney. While our students may feel lucky to be a part of these institutions, I think it’s the schools that are the lucky ones, and this year is a clear affirmation of how colleges view Ranney students.
Just look at some of the data we’ve compiled: of our 62 seniors, 77 percent were accepted to institutions ranked “Most Competitive” or “Highly Competitive” – meaning among the nation’s most selective colleges or universities – by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges, and we’ve experienced multiple acceptances at the Ivy Leagues – 13 percent of the senior class, in fact have been accepted to the Ivys! A very high percentage of students were accepted into art and design and performing arts conservatories and academies, and four students have been recognized for their athletic talents in rowing and fencing. The longstanding tradition of academic excellence continues at Ranney.
I am so encouraged by the banner year we have experienced. Congratulations is extended to our senior class and to the hard-working college guidance team of Myra Simpson, Adam Materasso and Joe Tweed. It is a strong partnership among student, guidance counselors and our families working together to find schools that are the “perfect fit” – whose criteria closely match the students individual goals or expectations. This process begins early on in the Upper School years to ensure that each student is guided through the college admission process with individualized attention and care – it is one of the unique characteristics of the Ranney experience, and as a result, 80 percent of Ranney seniors historically earn acceptance to their first or second ranked college or university through the early action process.
While acceptance is just the beginning of a life of learning and leadership, I am confident that our students will continue to pursue greatness. The success of countless alumni including Wes Powell and John Gale demonstrate the heart of our mission, and I am confident that this group of 2012 scholars will continue this legacy of greatness.
Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D.,
Head of Ranney School, Tinton Falls
May is Stroke Awareness Month at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals
To the Editor:
In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month in May, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls and Toms River has issued important information about risk factors and warning signs for stroke in order to educate the public about this leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.
According to the American Stroke Association, certain risk factors for stroke are hereditary, while others may result from lifestyle choices. Risk factors that cannot be changed include age. The chance of having a stroke doubles for each decade of life after age 55. Family history and race, gender, prior stroke, TIA or heart attack can also contribute to stroke. A number of risk factors that can be changed, treated or controlled include high blood pressure; cigarette smoking; Diabetes mellitus; carotid or other artery disease; atrial fibrillation; other heart disease; sickle cell anemia; high blood cholesterol; poor diet and physical inactivity and obesity.
Stroke warning signs include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Each year, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke in the United States and over 143,570 die each year from stroke. Strokes can and do occur at any age. Nearly one quarter of strokes occur in people under the age of 65. Stroke death rates are higher for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages. Each year, about 55,000 more women than men have a stroke and on the average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls and Toms River is an acute rehabilitation specialty hospital offering state-of-the-art technology, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, and an interdisciplinary team approach to the treatment of stroke and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injury, amputations, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission and have received Disease Specific Certification for Brain Injury, Cardiac, Diabetes Mellitus (Toms River), Pulmonary (Tinton Falls) and Stroke Rehabilitation. For more information about the variety of services offered at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls or Toms River please visit www.rehabnj.com.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls and Toms River
Reader Disputes ‘Attack on Women’s Rights’
To The Editor:
As Will Rogers once stated: It isn’t what we know that gets us in trouble. It’s what we know that isn’t so. A case in point is the recent letter, “Push Back on Attack on Women’s Rights.”
The writer attended a rally in Trenton where it appears the rhetoric was flowing hot and heavy. Assertions were made regarding the lack of “women’s equality, fair pay, well being, economic standing, ability to earn a living,” etc. Yet not one fact was given to support her contentions.
Specifically mentioned was the alleged evil legislation that would “eliminate” access to contraceptives and family planning. Apparently she thinks it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to finance people’s sex lives.
If the writer is so concerned maybe she and like-minded folks should fund contraceptives and family planning programs and leave the rest of us alone. I am sure President Obama and Rep.
Pelosi would be very appreciative of her “redistributing” her wealth.
This habit of coming up with all kinds of ridiculous assertions and blaming others for one’s personal situation is why the United States is in a deep fiscal and moral crisis.
David Corsi
Oceanport
For the Sake of Women’s Health, Support the Affordable Care Act
To the Editor:
This week is National Women’s Health Week, a perfect time to recognize the importance and benefit of our new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act.
This law provides increased access of preventive healthcare to women, making available many these services without the requirement of a co-pay. Women will be able to have access to their ob/gyn doctors without referrals from other doctors or approvals from their insurance companies. No longer will women be charged more or denied healthcare due to pre-existing conditions.
This law will provide affordable healthcare to millions of individuals including young adults who can now remain on their parents’ policies until age 26. This is a boon to these young adults and their families, who have often had difficulty – or have been unable – to purchase needed healthcare.
Sadly, many politicians are trying to negate the benefits of this law and repeal this new and important act.
In honor of all women let’s stand in support of the Affordable Healthcare Act and bring our citizens the care they need and deserve.
Ellen Lichtig
Fair Haven
Rectifying Traffic Concerns Associated with Monmouth Park
To the Editor:
In light of recent news reports on the topic of traffic problems being caused by the potential loss of some police officers at traffic crossings on race days at Monmouth Park, I have had discussions with members of Monmouth Park’s new management group on how to solve the problem so the local quality of life is not impacted.
I have been in discussions with Dennis Drazin, representing Darby Development Corp, the new operators of Monmouth Park, and it is his intention to work with local officials and resolve any concerns about the traffic flow.
When I spoke with Dennis, I heard exactly what I had hoped for. The management team of Monmouth Park has already agreed to modifications to their plan that address local officials’ concerns, and as importantly, have pledged to continue the dialogues with local officials.
The public should be happy that the new management team running Monmouth Park has pledged to continue working with its neighboring municipalities and will keep Monmouth Park’s reputation of being a good neighbor and valuable asset to the Jersey Shore.
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon
13th Legislative District
