New Aquarium Event: Octopus Day on October 8th
Octopus Day on October 8th is a perfect opportunity to explore all the new wonders at the Aquarium and to learn more about the amazing octopus. At 12:45 there will be a never-seen before live Octopus demonstration where guests will be able to ask questions and see how smart these animals are. Before and after the demonstration there will be a special Octopus crafts hour.
“October 8th is World Octopus Day, “said Marketing Coordinator, Anna Kate Beigel “and we wanted to take this opportunity to share how truly amazing these animals are. Like us, octopus have two eyes and are extremely intelligent but there the similarities end. These animals have four pairs of arms and no internal or external skeleton. Our Octopus, Prince, loves playing with toys and guests will be thrilled to learn more about these fascinating animals.”
For more information, contact Ilene Strober at 716-286-9381 or istrober@aquariumofniagara.org
Image of the Day – September 21, 2016
Photo taken at just the right moment… GREAT DEFENSE!
Niagara Falls methadone clinic might stay put
[From BuffaloNews.com]
Northpointe Council’s methadone clinic has been in a maelstrom of controversy over the past six to seven months as the nonprofit anticipated a move to a larger site.
With heroin addiction and overdose deaths at an all-time high, the clinic had planned to move from its current location in the Niagara County Trott Access Center on 11th Street to a 606 Sixth St. site, which would allow it to double the amount of clients it serves…
READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/niagara-falls/niagara-falls-methadone-clinic-might-stay-put-20160921
Image of the Day – September 21, 2016
Yesterday and Today – Downtown Niagara Falls, USA – Photos courtesy of Joel Paradise
Crucial Drug Discount Program at Risk [by Joseph A. Ruffolo]
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is a safety-net facility. That means we treat all sick people regardless of their ability to pay. Many of our patients are on Medicaid, Medicare or lack health insurance altogether. A little-known federal statute called the 340B drug discount program helps us care for the neediest in our community.
Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, the program requires drug companies to sell discounted medications to healthcare providers that serve high numbers of low-income Medicare and Medicaid patients or are located in remote rural areas. These safety-net hospitals pass the discounts on to needy patients and also use savings from the program to fund cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and primary care clinics that help the underserved.
Unfortunately, this critically important program is at risk. In recent years, pharmaceutical manufacturers have become less willing to share their profits to help those in need, and now they want to scale back the 340B program in Washington by limiting hospital and patient eligibility. They’ve taken this position even though 340B drugs amount to just 2 percent of the $457 billion annual U.S. pharmaceutical market.
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will save approximately $400,000 this year thanks to the program. In order to serve all who walk in our door, we provide $2 million per year in charity and uncompensated care. The program has also helped us fund the Wellness Connection Center behavioral health program and offsets the cost of our dedicated psychiatric emergency department.
Treating patients with limited or no financial means is enormously expensive. Hospitals in the 340B program serve nearly twice as many needy patients as other providers. They also supply nearly 60 percent of all uncompensated care.
It’s important to understand that 340B is not taxpayer funded – instead it requires very profitable drug companies to give a discount to health care providers that serve our most vulnerable citizens. Simply put, these companies can afford to help. If the program were significantly reduced or eliminated, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center would be forced to cut back drug access and clinical care to the needy.
Our community deserves better. Please reach out to your local member of Congress and U.S. senator today to express the need for the continuation of the 340B program.
Guest submission
By Joseph A. Ruffolo, President & CEO
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
The “HamCam 2″ – Monitoring Development Progress
From a perch high above Downtown Niagara Falls, New York, we are tracking weekly progress (since we started on September 2, 2016) of the corner of 2nd and Old Falls Street where the “Hamister Project” is underway. Please check back with us weekly for your visual update! If you would like to see the angle of “HamCam 1,” please be sure to watch the Sal & Ro Show at www.nbn7900.com to see the view from One Niagara.
Ham Cam 2
Week 47 – 8/02/17
Week 36 – 5/10/17
Week 34 – 4/29/17
Week 32 – 4/14/17
Week 28 – 3/18/17
Week 26 – 3/3/17
Week 25 – 2/18/17
Week 24 – 2/3/17
Week 21 – 1/27/17
Inauguration Day – 1/20/17
Week 19 – 1/13/17
Week 18 – 1/7/17
Week 17 – 1/1/17
Week 16 – 12/23/16
Week 15 – 12/9/16
Week 14 – 12/2/16
Week 13 – 11/25/16
Week 12 – 11/19/16
Week 11 – 11/11/16
Week 10 – 11/05/16
Week 9 – 10/28/16
Week 7 – 10/14/16
Week 6 – 10/6/16
Week 5 – 9/30/16
Week 4 – 9/23/16
WEEK 3 – 9/16/16
Week 2 – 9/9/16
Week 1 – 9/2/16
Final flight marks new beginning for 914th Airlift Wing
[From BuffaloNews.com]
It was a historic day Sunday as hundreds of family members welcomed loved ones back to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, when the final three C-130s returned to the 914th Airlift Wing to cap a legacy of more than 40 years.
The 914th’s mission will shift from hauling cargo and troops to air refueling as they begin a new mission with the KC-135…
READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/final-flight-marks-new-beginning-for-914th-airlift-wing-20160918