Hunterdon Art Museum Dedicates Terrace To Influential Ceramic Artist Toshiko Takaezu
Topic: ART NEWS

 

 

 

 Hunterdon Art Museum Dedicates Terrace
To Influential Ceramic Artist Toshiko Takaezu

 

 

 

 

When renowned ceramic artist Toshiko Takaezu first gazed upon the charming waterfall beside the Hunterdon Art Museum in the summer of 1964, she knew she had found just what she was looking for: a home and a peaceful place where she could focus on her work.

“What a beautiful scene,” she remembered thinking.
That inspiring view brought her from the Midwest to Clinton. She opened a studio at the historic Music Hall to create art and spent nearly five decades donating her time and energy to the Museum, playing a vital role in its growth and passion for contemporary art.
Now that splendid space beside the waterfall is named in her honor: The Toshiko Takaezu Terrace.
“Naming the terrace in Toshiko’s honor serves as a tribute to an artist who was intimately involved with the Museum and whose inspiring work influenced generations of artists,” said Marjorie Frankel Nathanson, executive director of the Hunterdon Art Museum.

Takaezu passed away at the age of 88 in 2011.
All the ceramic tiles on the terrace commemorating Takaezu were created at The Takaezu Studio in Quakertown and fired in her kiln. There are four blue tiles which hold special significance.

“Toshiko was well known for her blue glaze in her work,” said Don Fletcher of The Takaezu Studio in Quakertown. We had a little bit of glaze left over that was hers, and we wanted to use it to add a little bit of her personality to the terrace. The glaze is a direct representation of her spirit.”

Takaezu’s work evolved early on from traditional small utilitarian vessels into the closed forms for which she became known worldwide. The New York Times noted, “[In her] stoneware and porcelain works, some small enough to fit in the palm of one hand, others monoliths more than six feet tall, Ms. Takaezu blended the expressive bravura of painters like Jackson Pollack and Franz Kline with the calm, meditative quality of traditional Japanese pottery in forms suggestive of acorns, melons or tree trunks.”
Two of Takaezu’s pieces are on display at the Museum including Three Graces, which can be found appropriately enough, in the terrace garden. Takaezu had created Three Graces as she sought to experiment in her expanded studio space with bigger kilns to create works on a larger scale. Three Graces – representing love, beauty and wisdom – are large cylindrical cast-bronze pieces that undulate from their base. The piece is on long-term loan from The Takaezu Studio.

Takaezu was born in Hawaii, studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan under a scholarship, before teaching at the University of Wisconsin and the Cleveland Institute of Art. She said she moved to Clinton because she “wanted a quiet studio where I [could] concentrate on my work.” A few years later, she began teaching classes at Princeton University, and did so until 1992.

In the 1960s, Takaezu opened a shop in the Museum to sell the work of fellow artists. In 1967, she organized and planned an Invitational Craft Exhibition that featured the works of prominent artists including George Nakashima, a leading innovator of 20th century furniture design and a father of the American craft movement; and Lenore Tawney, whose monumental sculptural weavings helped create the genre of fiber art. More than 700 people flocked to the Museum for the show’s opening.

Takaezu’s work was celebrated in three Museum exhibitions, including a 1998 show that filled the Museum’s three floors with her ceramics, sculptural forms, painting and weaving.

In 2010, the Emperor of Japan presented her with the Konjuhosho Award conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to Japanese society, and she chose to have the presentation at the Hunterdon Art Museum. A year later, her memorial service was held at the Museum, near the idyllic waterfall she adored.

 

 CONSUMER ALERT: 2016 Ford Fusion Sedan 2.5L models

 

 

 

 

 

This past week my 2016 Ford Fusion 2.5L sedan, died on the highway. The car only has 10,000 miles on it.  There is no recall or safety warning that has been sent out by Ford Motor company on any issues with these vehicles.

 

I was driving down a superhighway at 65mph when all of the sudden the vehicle's RPM's raised in an unusually high manner. After that, an illuminated wrench (see service manual) message was demonstrated on the dashboard. Immeidately, after that, the airbag lights came on. What happened after that, should never happen with a brand new car. The car died. It had no ability to accelerate and slowed down to a crawl. THE RPM's went to 0.

While this was happening, I was driving through a construction zone. There was no way out. I had an 18 wheeler on my tail. The truck began honking his horn aggressively behind me. I really thought the truck was going to come through my trunk. Fortunately, all of the sudden there was a small area of shoulder that opened up for me to pull over safely. 

A month prior to this event with my vehicle, a coworker had said the same thing happened to their vehicle. They said they took it in three times before the dealer agreed to change something in the car. It was the Throttle body that they eventually changed in the vehicle. The bad part of this system failure was that each time my coworker took their car in, there was nothing in the error codes to show why the service wrench came on. Their car died on the road three times.

After pulling into the emergency lane, I was able to restart the vehicle. I immediately drove it to the nearest Ford dealer. I shared with them what happened and what also recently happened to my coworkers car. I picked up a rental vehicle and off I went. That same day the dealer called me to say, "We cannot find anything wrong with you car, you can pick it up."  I said," I am not picking this car up until you figure out why a new car died on the highway, there is no way I am getting back into that car until it is fixed."  The dealer agreed to continue to investigate the issue. I told them to change the throttle body,for that what was done on another, and the car is fine now.

Later in the day, the dealer called again to say, they still cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. I reiterated, " I am not taking the car back until you figure it out. The car is unsafe."  I told them again, "Change the throttle body." 

 

They agreed to have one of their engineers drive the car home that evening and take it out onto the highway to see if they could duplicate the issue. They were able to. 

The day after I got my car back there was a safety memo sent out to all employees to get their vehicles in to have the throttle bodies changed.  This is a potential safety issue that has occurred numerous times with the fleet that they have from Ford. The 2016 Ford Fusion 2.5L sedans, have demonstrated that they are susceptible to a throttle body failure, resulting in a significant reduction in maximum vehicle speed (with maximum RPM of 1,100). This failure may occur at any time, without warning, resulting in a sudden loss of power. The company did  communicate with Ford regarding this issue and has taken expedited, proactive steps to address any potential safety risks and protect company vehicle drivers. What has Ford done for the rest of its drivers globally? If you own one of these vehicles, you need to have your vehicle checked immediately so that you do not have this happen to you.

 

What is a Throttle body? It is the throttle body cleaning and wiping of the bore and throttle blade. The service is important in order to keep the automobile running smoothly, efficiently, and safely.

What is it?

The throttle manages the flow of fluid and can increase or decrease the engine’s power. It does not control the power or the speed of the engine as is thought by many people. During a throttle body service, a technician cleans out or wipes the bore and throttle blade. When this is done and the air rate is checked and adjusted, a sensor does an idle that is computer controlled. If this is properly done, the car should operate in the idle mode as if it were new.

There is carbon and sludge that the PCV system deposits into the throttle body as the engine operates. This carbon and sludge is cleaned out during the throttle body service. How well the engine operates about a year after service is determined by the way the automobile starts, how well it idles when it’s cold or warm, and when accessories such air conditioning and heat are operating. The carbon and sludge will also affect the way the car starts from a total stop. A service such as this will keep the idle valve, which is computer controlled, clean. If it is left dirty and covered with carbon, it will have to be replaced and such a replacement can be costly.

An important part of the engine is the throttle body, which is part of the air intake system. The air intake system increases the amount of oxygen used for combustion with fuel. You can either gain or lose power with the air intake system depending on the vehicle’s ram. The throttle body is a part of this air intake system. Keeping the throttle body in good operating condition will keep the car running without costly occurrences.

Importance of the Throttle Body Service

Careful and regular throttle body service will keep the emissions from the engine’s exhaust system in check. There is also increased sound when the throttle is applied by way of the accelerator. If the vehicle is operated at lower speeds, there is less noise coming from the engine. However, at higher speeds, the engine tends to become very noisy. These two statements make the throttle body service important in itself, as it makes the automobile more environmentally friendly. A complete throttle body service is recommended every 15,000, 40,000, and 75,000 miles to be sure that the automobile is functioning properly.

It is most important to have the throttle body serviced regularly to avoid the high cost of replacement. The cost of throttle body service or replacing the throttle body varies with the year, make, and model of the car. But, no matter what that year, model, or make may be, replacement is not inexpensive. Excluding the cost of replacing the throttle body for the moment, what is perhaps even more important, is to have the throttle body serviced regularly to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.

Against All Odds : Inspired by the Life of Paul Robeson opens July 9
Topic: ART NEWS

 

 

 

 Against All Odds : Inspired by the Life of Paul Robeson opens July 9

 

 

Opening Reception

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Artists, Members & Special Guests: 6-7 pm

Public Reception: 7-9 pm

Presentation – Remembering Paul Robeson, with Denyse Leslie

Sunday, July 10, 3 pm

 

 

The Exhibits
The art exhibit, displayed on the first floor of the museum, includes works by local and regional artists, many of whom created works expressly for the exhibit. The works are inspired by Paul Robeson’s life-long battles for racial justice, economic justice and peace. Artists from the Trenton Community A-Team and Homefront have contributed to the exhibit, as well.

On the second floor of the museum, the history exhibit includes archival materials and artifacts loaned and donated by Archives and Special Collections at Alexander Library at Rutgers University and the Julius Lazarus Photo Collection, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard, Princeton Public Library, the Paul Robeson House of Princeton; PBS American Masters – Paul Robeson Timeline.

 

 The Man
Born in Princeton in 1898, Paul Robeson led an extraordinary life by any account.  Given that he was an African American who faced bigotry and discrimination at every turn, against all odds, he graduated near the top of his class from Rutgers College in 1919, acquired a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1923, became an internationally acclaimed singer and actor performing in O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones, in Showboat and as Othello in Shakespeare’s play.  He became politically involved in response to the Spanish Civil War, fascism, and social injustices. He was an avid supporter of trade unions.  His advocacy of anti-imperialism, affiliation with communism, and criticism of the United States government caused him to be blacklisted during the McCarthy era.

 

 Paul Robeson (1898-1976) enjoyed great success and popularity as a scholar-athlete, as an actor-musician, as a civil rights and labor activist, and as an advocate for world peace.  Born in Princeton, Paul Robeson had many New Jersey connections.   From 1915 to 1919 he attended Rutgers College, which is currently celebrating the centennial of Robeson’s distinguished record as a scholar and athlete, On the Banks of the Old Raritan.   Robeson was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Cap & Skull.  His college transcript is part of the Ellarslie exhibit.  As an athlete, Robeson earned varsity letters in four sports at Rutgers, and his prowess was renowned as All-American football player.
As a concert singer, Paul Robeson performed before large crowds worldwide including concerts at Rutgers and Princeton Universities where his powerful bass-baritone voice drew crowds.  The song “Ol’ Man River” (from the musical Showboat) was popularized by Robeson.

 

While in Princeton, Robeson had a close personal friendship with scientist and Princeton resident Albert Einstein.

As an actor, Robeson performed as the lead in Shakespeare’s play Othello on Broadway, in London and in Princeton.  His dignified interpretation of the character Othello was hailed for its power and originality.  His performance was a milestone in the American civil rights movement.

Robeson’s popularity was diminished in the 1950s by right-wing attacks and slanders during the McCarthy period.  The State Department feared Robeson’s advocacy of civil rights, labor rights, and independence for African colonies.  The FBI tracked his movements and contacts.  Declassified FBI documents are included in the Ellarslie exhibit.  The U.S. government made a concerted effort to smear Robeson and to prevent his travel abroad by seizing his passport.

 

 

 

 

FREE CONCERTS IN TRENTON
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

The Invisible Ethics Policy In Hamilton Mercer County
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

      The Invisible Ethics Policy In Hamilton 

 

 

In Feb 2013, Hamilton's mayor asked the town council to abolish Hamilton’s ethics panel and turn enforcement of the code of ethics for public employees and officials over to the state’s Local Finance Board.  She did this for good reason. So that her staff could run amok.  One of her directors has been named as taking 69 free rounds of golf as a government employee. This same employee never disclosed this information on the required Federal disclosure forms.  The rules are for everyone except the Mayor of Hamilton and her staff.

 New Jersey

• Public official, directly or indirectly offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another any benefit as consideration for a decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or exercise of discretion of a public servant, party official or voter on any public issue or in any public election, or any benefit as consideration for a decision, vote, recommendation or exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding (Bribery in official and political matters)
• Acceptance or receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant for official behavior
• Official misconduct

• Public servant , while performing his official functions on behalf of a governmental entity, knowingly transacts any business with himself, a member of his immediate family, or a business organization in which the public servant or an immediate family member has an interest (Unlawful official business transaction where interest is involved)

• Representation, appearance or negotiation, directly or indirectly, for acquisition or sale of property by state
• Representation of state agency in transaction involving pecuniary interest
• Disclosure or use for personal gain of information not available to public
• Solicitation, receipt or agreement to receive thing of value for service related to official duties

 

If Hamilton really wants to have "teeth" in their law they will formally prosecute all the people involved with destroying government records over the years. The now retired employee who during his employment thought it was ok to take 69 rounds of golf for free should also be prosecuted. All of the digital files and email prior to July 2010 have been destroyed.  There was no certification done to formally destroy these records. This is against the law, a serious violation of the law. One that should not be ignored as well. Why is the township clerk, mayor and her administration not being held accountable? The same person who took 69 free rounds of gold was the same person in charge of all of the IT (internet and computers)  for the township. 

 

This tale is all too familiar in Hamilton, Mercer County. The last mayor went to jail. The new one looks like she is on the runway ready to take off to the land of orange jumpsuits. She cannot possibly state she knew nothing of her directors lack of integrity. This is a mayor who dilerately ignores numerous public safety issues, allows her directors to break the law, has 15 double dippers on the payroll who are draining the pension system.  She has also has hired her family members, allowed the destruction of public records with no certification for the destruction of the records, the list goes on and on.

When residents asked the Hamilton mayor what happened to the calming measures that were supposed to be installed in residential neighborhoods, they got zero response. The contractor who was hired to do the work has financially supported the mayors campaigns with thousands of dollars in the past. The contractor is also personal friends with the mayor. The calming measures were never installed and the contract given to the contractor was over $400,000 higher than the other bids given to the town. Today, residents are dealing with tractor trailers speeding through their neighborhoods with toxc with anything from gasoline, explosive materials, oversided loads, etc. 

 

 

 

A North Carolina legislator sponsored and voted on a bill to loosen regulations on billboard construction, even though he co-owned five billboards in the state. When the ethics commission reviewed the case, it found no conflict; after all, the panel reasoned, the legislation would benefit all billboard owners in the state — not just the lawmaker who pushed for the bill.

Tennessee established its ethics commission six years ago, but has yet to issue a single ethics penalty. It’s almost impossible to know whether the oversight is effectively working, because complaints are not made available to the public.

A West Virginia governor borrowed a car from his local dealership to take it for a “test drive.” He kept the car for four years, during which the dealership won millions in state contracts. 

When representatives of a biotech company took Montana legislators out to dinner, they neither registered as lobbyists nor reported the fact that they picked up the bill. They didn’t have to — the law only requires registration upon spending $2,400 during a legislative session. And in Maine, one state senator did not disclose $98 million in state contracts that went to an organization for which he served as executive director. The lack of disclosure was not an oversight; due to a loophole in state law, he was under no obligation to do so.

The stories go on and on. Open records laws with hundreds of exemptions. Crucial budgeting decisions made behind closed doors by a handful of power brokers. “Citizen” lawmakers voting on bills that would benefit them directly. Scores of legislators turning into lobbyists seemingly overnight. Disclosure laws without much disclosure. Ethics panels that haven’t met in years. 

State officials make lofty promises when it comes to ethics in government. They tout the transparency of legislative processes, accessibility of records, and the openness of public meetings. But these efforts often fall short of providing any real transparency or legitimate hope of rooting out corruption. 

That’s the depressing bottom line that emerges from the State Integrity Investigation, a first-of-its-kind, data-driven assessment of transparency, accountability and anti-corruption mechanisms in all 50 states. Not a single state — not one — earned an A grade from the months-long probe.

We give the town of Hamilton, Mercer County an F-- for integrity and an A++ for wasting taxpayers dollars and forgetting what public service really means. It does not mean.....steal all you can from taxpayers, hire your family, ignore public safety, etc.  Wake up Hamilton leadership, residents are tired of your stupidity, greed and ignorance to the law. You are on the same road as the prior mayor.

Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty March 26, 2016–July 24, 2016

 

 

Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty

March 26, 2016–July 24, 2016

 

 

A major exhibition focusing on Edgar Degas’s (1834–1917) extraordinary and rarely seen monotypes and their impact on his wider practice, Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty is the first exhibition in the U.S. in nearly 50 years to examine these radical, innovative works—and The Museum of Modern Art’s first monographic exhibition of the artist. It will feature approximately 120 monotypes along with some 60 related works, including paintings, drawings, pastels, sketchbooks, and prints, to be seen only at MoMA.

A towering figure in 19th-century art, Degas is best known as a painter and chronicler of the ballet. Yet his work as a printmaker reveals the true extent of his restless creativity, as he mixed techniques with abandon in his studio and shared recipes with colleagues for producing unconventional effects. Captivated by the monotype’s potential, Degas took the medium to new and radical heights, abandoning the academic drawing style of his youth and inventing a new repertoire of mark-making that included wiping, scraping, scratching, fingerprinting, and rendering via removal. The resulting works are characterized by enigmatic and mutable forms, luminous passages emerging from deep blackness, and a heightened sense of tactility. The freedom Degas found in such techniques is an important theme of the exhibition, and the presentation will link his efforts in monotype to works in other mediums.

The exhibition surveys these technical innovations and the range of subject matter they explored, including scenes of modern life; harshly illuminated café singers; ballet dancers onstage, backstage, or in rehearsal; the life of the brothel; intimate moments at the bath; and landscapes. To illuminate how Degas saw iteration as an end in itself, key groupings will show how Degas traced, inverted, and recombined figures into different arrangements, applying pastel or charcoal on paper, or layering oil paint on canvas to further transform his subjects.

Third Annual Old Fashion Ice Cream Social
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

Today, marked the third annual old-fashion ice cream social at the William Trent house in Trenton, NJ. The residents who attended were served free ice cream sundaes (donated by Arctic ice cream), tourse of Trent house, music and discussions with the master gardeners.

 

Upon entering Trent House we were greeted by the ever gracious, Shawn Carey, a docent at Trent house.  She has served as a tour guide/docent since 2014. She gave us a wondersul overivew of the home and its inventory.  

 

William Trent built his country estate north of Philadelphia, in New Jersey, at the Falls of the Delaware River about 1719. It was a large, imposing brick structure, built in the newest fashion. An “allee” of English cherry trees led from the entrance down to the ferry landing. Nearby, there were numerous outbuildings as well as grist, saw and fulling mills along the Assunpink Creek. In 1720 Trent laid out a settlement, which he incorporated and named “Trenton.”

 

A number of different people have resided in the Trent House during its long history. After Trent died, his son James sold “300 acres plus the brick dwelling house” to William Morris of Barbados who was the half-brother of his father’s second wife, Mary Coddington Trent.

 

1742 the house was leased to the first Governor of New Jersey, Lewis Morris. Gov. Morris used the house, then called “Bloomsbury Court,” as his official residence until 1746, despite the fact that it was then owned by the Governor of Pennsylvania, George Thomas.

 

During the American Revolution, the Trent House was occupied by Hessian forces and played a prominent role in several battles fought at Trenton during December of 1776. Later, Dr. William Bryant, the owner of the property, was expelled for his Tory sympathies. Colonel John Cox, a wealthy Philadelphia patriot and Deputy Quartermaster General of the Continental Army, acquired the house and turned the grounds into a supply depot for Washington’s army.

 

The house returned to prominence in 1835 when Philemon Dickerson, a well-known Jacksonian Democrat, purchased it. The following year he was elected Governor and used the Trent House as his Official Residence.

 

Again in 1854 it served as the Official Residence of the Governor when the property was purchased by Governor Rodman McCamley Price. Price, a Democrat, made his fortune in the San Francisco Gold Rush of 1849, returning to New Jersey to enter politics.

 

The last private owner of the Trent House, Edward A. Stokes, donated the building to the City of Trenton in 1929 with the condition that it be returned to its appearance during the William Trent era and be used as a library, art gallery or museum.

 

After extensive restoration, the Trent House opened as a museum in 1939. Today it is owned by the City of Trenton and operated by the Trent House Association. The William Trent House is a designated National Historic Landmark and is listed in both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

 

We then ventured outside and had a conversation with the master gardeners on hand.  We learned that Mr Trent had an extensive historic kitchen garden at the William Trent House is designed and managed by Historic Horticulturist Charlie Thomforde, with the assistance of numerous dedicated volunteers from the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County. When William Trent built his home in what would become the City of Trenton there were no grocery stores or produce markets. Families needed to be relatively self-sufficient. A kitchen garden served to provide food and medicines. Vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits were grown side by side and used for food, drink, cosmetics, medicine, and more.

 

Though considerably smaller then Trent’s own garden would have been today’s garden is planted in an 18th century style with raised beds and tamped dirt paths between and within the beds. Just as the Trent House is symmetrical, so is the garden. It is divided into four equal squares, as was the custom of the day. All the plants grown in the garden are heirloom varieties, similar to those that would have been grown in the Trents’ garden.

 

This link will take you to photos from today's event

 

https://www.facebook.com/Duffyculturalcourture/?fref=ts#

 

 

While the name of many of these 18th century plants are often familiar, the appearance frequently is not. Some of the plants are not as big or colorful: Carrots are short and stubby. Cardoons, a member of the artichoke family, have a strong bitter flavor while citron melons have little taste at all.

 

A close view of the heirloom garden during the summer when vegetables are almost ready for harvest, showing the beautiful variety of greens and a row of lavender flowers paralleling the red brick rear perimeter wall.The kitchen garden is a year-round activity. Peas, cabbages, lettuces, spinach, turnips, and radishes are planted during the cool spring weather.

 

The warm days of summer find melons, beans, cucumbers and carrots growing while the cool days of fall require planting “cover” crops, such as winter rye. In the spring these crops are not harvested but are turned into the soil to add nutrients. Some crops, like cabbages and peas are planted in the fall and allowed to “winter-over,” ready for harvest in the spring. The fava beans and peas that we got to sample were fantastic!

 

Children and adult groups come to the Trent House Museum throughout the year to learn about early 18th century gardening methods, plants, and plant uses.

 

 The William Trent House is located on the corner of William Trent Place and Market Street, across from the Hughes Justice Complex. (15 Market Street in Trenton, NJ)

 Hours
Wednesdays – Sundays: 12:30 to 4:00. Closed municipal holidays.

 

 

Admission

Adults    $5.00

Seniors    $4.00

Children    $4.00

 

CORPORATE GREED: EPIPEN Goes From $60 To Over $613
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

EPIPEN Goes From $60 To Over $613

 

 

Former hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli had the Internet ablaze after hiking the price of the drug that's been on the market for decades.  An HIV/AIDS patient advocacy group began raising questions about why Turing Pharmaceuticals jacked up the price for a medication from $13.50 per pill to $750 overnight, anger against the company has been boiling over.

 

The medicine, Daraprim, which has been on the market for 62 years, is the standard of care for a food-borne illness called toxoplasmosis caused by a parasite that can severely affect those with compromised immune systems. Turing purchased the rights to the drug and almost immediately raised prices.

 

Alarmed consumers took to Reddit to call for a boycott of the company's products (with some pointing out that it's hard to boycott a drug if you'll die without it) and calling for new laws to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future.

 

Judith Aberg, a spokeswoman for the HIV Medicine Association, has calculated that even patients with insurance could wind up paying $150 per pill out of pocket. The enormous, overnight price increase for Daraprim is just the latest in a long list of skyrocketing price increases for certain critical medications.  Americans should not have to live in fear that they will die or go bankrupt because they cannot afford to take the life-saving medication they need.

 

In 2016, Mylan Pharmaceuticals took the same approach as Martin Shkreli and raised what was once an affordable life saving drug to one that is not affordable.  Yet, there was no public outcry like that heard when Shkreli did the same thing.

 

Heather Bresch, is the CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals makes a lot of money.  Her total compensation is $9.96 million. Her compensation is broken down as follows: At $998,077, Bresch's base salary is the only one on our list to dip below $1 million. But her stock and options helped make up for that, at $2.84 million and $1.38 million, respectively. Plus, her incentive pay amounted to $2.375 million. She received $1.96 million in pension benefits and deferred compensation, plus $405,683 in other compensation, including $133,346 in personal use of the company aircraft.

 

Bresch grew up in Fairmont and Farmington, West Virginia. Her father, Joe Manchin is current a United States Senator in West Virginia.   Bresch attended high school in West Virginia. She also graduated from (WVU) in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations.

 

Bresch was an MBA student at WVU until 1998. In 2007, the Pitsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Bresch had claimed to have an MBA degree from West Virginia University, but the university disputed that. The university subsequently awarded her an MBA despite her not having attained sufficient credits (22 out of the required 48). In the ensuing controversy, the university announced in April 2008 that it would rescind Bresch's degree. Michael Garrison, WVU President at the time, was reported to be "a family friend and former business associate of Bresch" and a former consultant and lobbyist for Mylan. After a faculty vote of no confidence, Garrison and several university officials subsequently resigned.

 

From 2002 to 2005, Bresch served as Mylan's director of government relations. She contributed to the development of the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA, also known as "Medicare Part D).

 

When Mylan expanded internationally, Bresch noticed that Mylan's US-based pharmaceutical manufacturing plant had full-time staff from the  FDA devoted to it, whereas facilities abroad had not been inspected by the FDA for more than a decade.

 

Bresch persuaded several of Mylan's competitors to support what became the Generic Drug User Fee Act, which she proposed to lawmakers in 2010. Under the law the pharmaceutical industry would pay fees of $300 million in order to fund FDA inspections of foreign drug manufacturing facilities at the same rate as US-based facilities.

 

To advocate for the new law, she made regular visits to Washington, D.C., and sponsored a whitepaper.  The Generic Drug User Fee Act of 2012 was passed on July 9, 2012 and required FDA inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing locations abroad if they are importing into the US.

 

Bresch has also advocated for broader availability of Epipens in public places to treat anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions), and has been active in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS treatment in developing nations.  She helped facilitate the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which made epinephrine more accessible in schools.

 

In a 2007 purchase of medicines from Merck KGaA, drugmaker Mylan picked up a decades-old product, the EpiPen auto injector for food allergy and bee-sting emergencies. Management first thought to divest the aging device, which logged only $200 million in revenue. Then Heather Bresch, now Mylan’s chief executive officer, hit on the idea of using old-fashioned marketing in part to boost sales among concerned parents of children with allergies. That started EpiPen, which delivers about $1 worth of the hormone epinephrine, on a run that’s resulted in its becoming a $1 billion-a-year product that clobbers its rivals and provides about 40 percent of Mylan’s operating profits, says researcher. EpiPen margins were 55 percent in 2014, up from 9 percent in 2008.

 

How Mylan pulled that off is a textbook case in savvy branding combined with a massive public awareness campaign on the dangers of child allergies. Along the way, EpiPen’s wholesale price rose roughly 400 percent from about $57 each when Mylan acquired the product. “They have done a tremendous job of taking an asset that nobody thought you could do much with and making it a blockbuster product,” says Jason Gerberry, a Leerink Partners analyst.

 

But while EpiPen has given countless parents a sense of security that their children can go out in the world safely, the device’s soaring price—up 32 percent in the past year alone—has forced some families to make difficult choices in order to afford the life-saving medicine. The price increases are among the biggest of any top-selling brand drug, according to DRX, a unit of Connecture that tracks drug pricing. After insurance company discounts, a package of two EpiPens costs about $415, DRX says. By comparison, in France, where Meda sells the drug, two EpiPens cost about $85. “There is a danger with that,” says George Sillup, chairman of the pharmaceutical and health-care marketing department at Saint Joseph’s University. If the company raises the price too much, “that could create some backlash.” People will die because they will use expired epipens or worse, not purchase one and they need it.

 

The company sees it differently. “Mylan has worked tirelessly over the past years advocating for increased anaphylaxis awareness, preparedness, and access to treatment,” Mylan spokeswoman said in a statement.  They also said the company doesn’t control final retail prices for EpiPen and offers coupons that eliminate co-pays for most patients. Bresch declined to comment for this story. These coupons that they make reference to range from $5 to $25 off the price of the epipen.

 

The CEO has made no secret of her strategy to increase demand for EpiPens by getting them stocked for emergency use in more schools and other public places. (So-called entity prescriptions allow for this.) “We are continuing to open up new markets, new access with public entity legislation that would allow restaurants and hotels and really anywhere you are congregating, there should be access to an EpiPen,” Bresch  has said.  So, then why the massive price increase patients are asking. As the demand has increased the costs to manufacture the drug have gone down, significantly. The more you make the less it costs to make it.

 

Over the past seven years, Mylan has hired consultants who had worked with Medtronic to get defibrillators stocked in public places. Bresch, the daughter of Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), turned to Washington for help. Along with patient groups, Mylan pushed for federal legislation encouraging states to stock epinephrine devices in schools.

 

In 2010, new federal guidelines said patients who had severe allergic reactions should be prescribed two epinephrine doses, and soon after Mylan stopped selling single pens in favor of twin-packs. At the time, 35 percent of prescriptions were for single EpiPens. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had changed label rules to allow the devices to be marketed to anyone at risk, rather than only those who’d already had an anaphylaxis reaction. These are both big events that Bresch has capitalized on, at the risk of patient safety.

 

In 2013, the year following the widely publicized death of a 7-year-old girl at a school in Virginia after an allergic reaction to peanuts, Congress passed legislation encouraging states to have epinephrine devices on hand in schools. Now 47 states require or encourage schools to stock the devices.

 

Since 2012, Mylan has helped popularize its brand by handing out free EpiPens to more than 59,000 schools. Last year it signed a deal with Walt Disney to stock EpiPens in Disney’s theme parks and on cruise ships. We will guess that this was not done for free. Is Disney paying $600 a pop for the epipens?

Mylan also spent $35.2 million on EpiPen TV ads in 2014, up from $4.8 million in 2011, according to researcher Nielsen. Mylan disputes the ad spending figures but declines to offer alternatives. Is Bresch really concerned about people having reactions or just concerned about her own golden parachute?

 

In part because of Mylan’s efforts, the number of patients using EpiPen has grown 67 percent over the past seven years. Many kids with allergies own multiple sets, for school and home. And for doctors, who write prescriptions for the name they know best, the EpiPen brand “is like Kleenex,” says Robert Wood, a pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. However, Bresch has made the Epipen cost a lot more than Kleenex.

 

So far rivals haven’t been able to break Mylan’s market grip. Sanofi’s Auvi-Q, introduced in 2013, is in the shape of a credit card and—unlike EpiPen—gives step-by step audio instructions. But Sanofi priced Auvi-Q about the same as EpiPen, and the product struggled initially to gain insurance coverage. Sanofi says 9 out of 10 patients with commercial insurance can now receive coverage for Auvi-Q prescriptions. Yet in the first half of 2015, EpiPen had about an 85 percent share of epinephrine prescriptions vs. only 10 percent for Auvi-Q, according to Symphony Health Solutions data compiled by Bloomberg.

 

Still, allergy sufferers without generous health benefits feel the pain. Denise Ure, a social worker in Seattle, has a peanut allergy so severe that the last time she ingested a nut crumb in 2011, she needed three EpiPens and was hospitalized. Ure says she cried last year when she found out a prescription for two EpiPens would cost her about $350. “I was terrified because there’s this life-saving medicine that I needed, and I couldn’t afford it,” she says. Ure now carries two EpiPens she got in Canada, where they cost about half as much.

 

The biggest threat to EpiPen could come from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. It settled a patent lawsuit in 2012 allowing it to market a generic version of EpiPen as early as this year, if it wins FDA approval. Mylan isn’t too worried. Predicted Bresch in August: “You would not see the traditional market loss because of just the brand equity with EpiPen.

 

The bottom line: When Mylan bought EpiPen in 2007, the devices had $200 million in annual sales. Today revenue exceeds $1 billion.

 

The author of this article is no stranger to anaphylactic events. In her lifetime she has had over 10 significant events. All related to unknown cross contamination, hidden peanut oil used to cook their food, or an establishment who served food with nuts, it was returned and all they did was remove the hunk of nuts.

 

One such event came from eating dehydrated vegetable soup by Alessi.  All the author did was add boiling water to the soup. Within minutes of eating the soup she had head to toe hives that were multiplying by the minute. Her throat began to close off and she could not breath. By the time she got to the ER, she was in bad shape. The emergency room team was able to bring her back to normal but it took 4 days for the swelling to dissipate.

She had saved the pouch from the soup, for she could not understand what happened. She contacted Alessi and they investigated it. It turned out that the vegetable soup was packaged in the same plant where they packaged their biscotti cookies (that are loaded with nuts). They sent her 3 packages of olive oil for her troubles. She did not use the olive oil, although appreciated the gesture.

 

This is just one example. She is currently planning a trip to Africa and part of the planning process for trips is to ensure the chefs have the ability to handle her nut allergy. There were many hotels that said, No, tell her to bring her epipen." Imagine her dismay when she went to get a new one for the trip and find it cost $614 at CVS with insurance. A call to the company only told her to go to the epipen.com cost to get a coupon. A coupon that ranged from $5 to $25. YIPEE!!

 

An epinephrine autoinjector or epipen is a medical device for injecting a measured dose or doses of adrenaline by means of autoinjector technology. It is most often used for the treatment of anaphylaxis. The EpiPen is derived from the MARK I NAAK ComboPen, which was developed for the U.S. military for treating exposure to nerve agents in the course of chemical warfare.

 

After activation, the patient holds the device in place for between 5 and 10 seconds as the epinephrine is delivered. This gives the drug enough time to be absorbed by the body's muscles and diffused into the bloodstream.

Auto-injectors are sometimes used unnecessarily. Injection into a vein (intravenous injection) can be fatal. It can cause ventricular tachycardia, in which the heart beats uncontrollably and is not able to pump blood adequately. It can also restrict blood flow to the area of the injection site, and damage the extremities.[2] After administering the device, patients are advised to seek immediate medical attention.

An emergency technique (not manufacturer-approved) to obtain additional epinephrine from a used autoinjector has been published in the medical literature.[3]

Units that have exceeded their expiration date can still be used in an emergency if an unexpired unit is unavailable and the solution is neither discoloured nor contains precipitates.[4]

 

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that has many possible triggers, occurs quickly, without warning, and must be treated immediately with epinephrine. Symptoms may include hives, itching, swelling or redness of the skin, tightness in the throat, nausea, dizziness, breathing problems, a decrease in blood pressure and/or fainting. Anaphylaxis can be caused by triggers, such as food, stinging and biting insects, medicines, latex or even exercise. While symptoms of an allergic reaction vary from person to person, reactions can quickly progress to become life-threatening.

 

Food allergies are a growing public health concern.  As many as 15 million people have food allergies. An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of adults have food allergies.  Nearly 6 million or 8% of children have food allergies with young children affected. 

 

Food allergies may be a trigger for or associated with other allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases.

 

Although childhood allergies to milk, egg, wheat and soy generally resolve in childhood, they appear to be resolving more slowly than in previous decades, with many children still allergic beyond age 5 years. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish are generally lifelong allergies and even progress in severity as we age in some cases.

 

The prevalence of food allergies and associated anaphylaxis appears to be on the rise. In 2008, the CDC reported an 18 percent increase in food allergy among children between 1997 and 2007.  According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011. The economic cost of children’s food allergies is nearly $25 billion per year.

 

There are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.  An estimated prevalence, some based on self-report, among the U.S. population:

o Peanut: 0.6-1.3%

o Tree nuts: 0.4-0.6%

o Fish: 0.4%

o Crustacean shellfish (crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp): 1.2%

o All seafood: 0.6% in children and 2.8% in adults

 

 A study has shown that peanut can be cleaned from the hands of adults by using running water and soap or commercial wipes, but not antibacterial gels alone. In addition, peanut was cleaned easily from surfaces by using common household spray cleaners and sanitizing wipes but not dishwashing liquid alone.  Some studies have also shown that most individuals with peanut and soy allergies can safely eat highly refined oils made from these ingredients. However, cold-pressed, expeller-pressed, or extruded oils should be avoided.

 

Casual exposure, such as skin contact and inhalation, to peanut butter is unlikely to elicit significant allergic reactions. However, those with significant reactions to nuts can demonstrate hives and GI disturbances just from sitting near people eating a food containing nuts.

 

According to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protect Act (FALCPA) the major eight allergens must be declared in simple terms, either in the ingredient list or via a separate allergen statement. However, FALCPA does not regulate the use of advisory/precautionary labeling.

 

Eating away from home can pose a significant risk to people affected by food allergy. Research suggests that close to half of fatal food allergy reactions are triggered by food consumed outside the home.  One study looking at peanut and tree nut allergy reactions in restaurants and other food establishments found that reactions were frequently attributed to desserts, that Asian restaurants and take-out dessert stores (bakeries, ice cream shops) were common sources of foods that triggered reactions, and that the food establishment was often not properly notified of a food allergy by the customer with the allergy.

 

Research on self reported reactions occurring on commercial airlines show that reactions to peanuts and tree nuts do occur on airlines via ingestion, contact, and inhalation. Ingestion of an allergen remains the main concern for severe reactions.

 

The CDC reported that food allergies result in more than 300,000 ambulatory-care visits a year among children under the age of 18. From 2004 to 2006, there were approximately 9,500 hospital discharges per year with a diagnosis related to food allergy among children under age 18 years.  Even a small amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction.  Most allergic reactions to foods occurred to foods that were thought to be safe. Allergic reactions can be attributed to a form of mislabeling or cross-contact during food preparation.

 

 Food allergies are the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting.  Every 3 minutes a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department– that is about 200,000 emergency department visits per year, and every 6 minutes the reaction is one of anaphylaxis.  A failure to promptly (i.e., within minutes) treat food anaphylaxis with epinephrine is a risk factor for fatalities.

 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergies. Strict avoidance of food allergens and early recognition and management of allergic reactions to food are important measures to prevent serious health consequences.

 

We can only hope that the CEO of Mylan does some deep soul searching and decreases the cost of this life saving drug. Or maybe, TEVA pharmaceuticals will get their generic approved and sweep Mylan under the carpet as it pertains to their financial position on this drug.

 

 

 

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

What are the common signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis?

A: According to a 2010 article published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, during anaphylaxis symptoms can  range from mild to severe and may affect:

• Skin (up to 90% of episodes): hives (urticaria), itching (pruritus), flushing, itching and swelling of lips, tongue, uvula/palate2,3,4,5,6

• Airway (up to 70% of episodes): shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, itchy throat, hoarseness (dysphonia)2,4,5,6

• Gastrointestinal system (up to 45% of episodes): nausea, cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea2,4,5,6

• Cardiovascular system (up to 45% of episodes): hypotension, chest pain, fast heart rate (tachycardia), weak pulse,

dizziness, fainting2,4,5,6

• Central nervous system (up to 15% of episodes): feelings of uneasiness, throbbing headache, dizziness, confusion,

tunnel vision2,5

Q: How quickly do symptoms appear?

A: Symptoms typically appear within minutes to a few hours following contact with an allergen.1,7

Q: How many Americans are at risk for anaphylaxis?

A: Though data on anaphylaxis incidence and prevalence are sparse and often imprecise, estimates indicate that anaphylaxis is a growing health problem that may affect 3 to 43 million Americans. There has been an increase in life-threatening allergic reactions in recent years, but as evidence by the range provided, more research needs to be conducted

 

How are people treated for anaphylaxis?

A: According to food allergy guidelines released in December 2010 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), epinephrine is the only first-line treatment in all cases of anaphylaxis (including from food allergies) and should be available at all times to people at risk for anaphylaxis.3 Avoidance of allergic triggers is the critical first step to prevent a serious health emergency; however, accidental exposure may still happen.6,13

According to NIAID, if experiencing anaphylaxis, use an epinephrine auto-injector and seek immediate emergency medical attention.Carrying an epinephrine auto-injector does not prevent patients from having an anaphylactic reaction; hence, patients must avoid

their allergen at all times.3,6,14

 

Q: When should epinephrine be administered?

A: Epinephrine is the only first-line treatment in all cases of anaphylaxis (including from food allergies).3 If experiencing anaphylaxis, use an epinephrine auto-injector and seek immediate emergency medical attention.3

Anaphylaxis occurs when an allergic reaction involves one body system, either respiratory or cardiovascular alone; it may also occur in multiple body systems, such as the skin, gastrointestinal, and/or central nervous system.1 It is important to carry an epinephrine autoinjector if you have been diagnosed with life-threatening allergies. Carrying an epinephrine auto-injector does not prevent patients from having an anaphylactic reaction; hence, patients must avoid their allergen at all times.3,6,14

It is important to remember that the benefits of epinephrine treatment outweigh the risks of delayed or no administration. Delays in epinephrine administration have been associated with negative health consequences, even possibly death.15,16,17 Since

there are no absolute contraindications to epinephrine administration for an anaphylactic reaction, it is important to administer epinephrine immediately even if all criteria for anaphylaxis diagnosis have not yet been met.5

 

Q: How many doses of epinephrine are recommended for an individual to have on hand?

A: Epinephrine takes effect within minutes, but it is rapidly metabolized. As a result, its effect can be short-lived and repeated dosing may be necessary. In fact, according to a 2005 literature review published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, up to 20% of individuals who receive epinephrine will require more than one dose before symptoms are alleviated.18 The NIAID food allergy guidelines recommend that all patients at risk for or who have experienced anaphylaxis have access to two doses of epinephrine at all times.3 Seek immediate medical attention after use.

 

Q: Are antihistamines a viable treatment option for anaphylaxis?

A: Antihistamines are not indicated to treat the life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis. Antihistamines are useful for relieving itching and hives. They do not relieve shortness of breath, wheezing, gastrointestinal symptoms or shock. Therefore, antihistamines should be considered adjunctive therapy and should not be substituted for epinephrine.3

Despite these facts, the use of antihistamines is the most common reason reported for not using epinephrine and may place a patient at significantly increased risk for progression toward a life-threatening allergic reaction.

 

What happens when a person has a life-threatening allergic reaction to food?

A: Food allergy-induced anaphylaxis occurs when the immune system is exposed to a specific food that triggers the release of chemicals, including histamine, resulting in symptoms of a life-threatening allergic reaction.3 Symptoms may include low blood

pressure, difficulty in breathing, nausea and/or vomiting.2

 

Q: How many Americans have food allergies?

A: While the exact prevalence of food allergies is uncertain, a 2010 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology estimated 2.5% of Americans have a clinical food allergy.20 A study in the July 2011 issue of Pediatrics found that 8% of children suffer from a food allergy — a considerable increase from previously reported figures.21

Q: Is there a cure for food allergies?

A: There is no cure for food allergies. Avoidance of allergic triggers is the critical first step to prevent a serious health emergency; however, accidental exposure may still happen.6,13 In fact, cross-contamination of otherwise safe foods at the time of packaging or food preparation (especially in restaurants) remains a potential hazard for individuals with food allergies.22 This is why it is important to be prepared with an anaphylaxis action plan, which includes avoiding known allergens, recognizing symptoms and having access to two epinephrine auto-injectors.1,12,23

Q: Are food allergies on the rise?

A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2008 that an 18% increase in food allergy was seen between 1997 and 2007.24 A study published in the July 2011 issue of Pediatrics found a considerable increase in food allergy from previously reported figures — it found that 8% of children in the U.S., or approximately one out of 13, suffer from a food allergy. Of those children affected, 38% had a history of a severe reaction, and 30% had allergies to multiple foods.21 The prevalence of peanut allergies among children under 18 significantly increased from 0.4% in 1997 to 1.4% in 2008 (p <

0.0001).25

Q: How many children are at risk for anaphylaxis from food allergies?

A: A study published in the July 2011 issue of Pediatrics found that an estimated one out of 13 children in the U.S. suffer from a food allergy, a considerable increase from previously reported figures.21 A survey conducted in 109 Massachusetts school districts

from 2001 to 2003 evaluating the use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis management in schools found that up to 24% of anaphylactic reactions occurred in individuals who were not known by school personnel to have a prior history of life-threatening allergies.

 

What is causing the increase in food allergies?

A: There is no definitive answer as to why food allergies are increasing. One theory, called the hygiene hypothesis, suggests that modern hygienic processes and a generally more sterile environment have reduced exposure to certain bacteria. To compensate, the immune system is conditioned toward an allergic state.13

Q: Can the severity of food allergy-induced anaphylaxis be predicted based on a person’s prior reactions?

A: The severity of food allergy-induced anaphylaxis cannot be predicted based on a person’s prior reactions. An estimated 22% of people who experience fatal food-induced anaphylaxis have had a previous severe reaction.27 The severity of a food-triggered life-threatening allergic reaction depends on a number of factors, including the amount eaten,

the food form (cooked, raw or processed) and the co-ingestion of other foods. Other considerations include the person’s age, the body’s sensitivity at time of ingestion, the speed at which food is absorbed by the body, and whether the person has another life-threatening condition, such as severe or uncontrolled asthma.22

Q: What are the most common food allergens associated with anaphylaxis?

A: The most common food allergens that can cause anaphylaxis are cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), fish and shellfish.13

Q: Why is food intolerance often confused with food allergies?

A: According to the NIAID food allergy guidelines, food allergies and food intolerance share some of the same symptoms; however, food intolerance does not involve the immune system. It can cause great discomfort but is not life-threatening. Some

people with food intolerances are not able to digest certain foods because their bodies lack the specific enzyme needed to break down that food.

 

What should people at risk for anaphylaxis look for in food labels?

A: By law, the eight major allergens (cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, tree nuts including walnuts, cashews, pistachios and pecans, fish and shellfish) must be noted on all packaged food labels in the U.S., either in the ingredient list or

on a separate allergen statement.29 However, individuals with food allergies should be aware that advisory or precautionary labeling (i.e., “may contain,” “in a facility that also processes”) is not regulated and is solely voluntary.29

Q: Other than food, what are the most common triggers that lead to anaphylaxis?

A: Other common triggers of anaphylaxis are insect venom, latex, medications or exercise-induced. In about 20% of cases, no trigger is identified, known as idiopathic anaphylaxis.

 

 

 

 

 

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49Hourihane J, Kilbrun S, Nordlee J, et al. An evaluation of the sensitivity of subjects with peanut allergy to very low doses of peanut: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study. J Allergy

ClinImmunol.1997; 100: 596-600.

50U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Approaches to establish thresholds for major food allergens and for gluten in food. 2006.

51Sampson HA. Anaphylaxis and emergency treatment. J Pediatr.2004; 111: 1601–1608.

52Clark S, Espinola J, Rudders SA, Banerji, A, Camargo CA. Frequency of US emergency department visits for food-related acute allergic reactions. J Allergy ClinImmunol. 2011; 127(3): 682-683.

53 Ellis AK, Day JH. Incidence and characteristics of biphasic anaphylaxis: a prospective evaluation of 102 patients. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.2007: 64-69.

54Korenblat P, Lundie MJ, Danker RE, Day JH. A retrospective study of epinephrine administration for anaphylaxis: how many doses are needed? Allergy Asthma Proc. 1999; 20: 383-386.

55 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Food allergies: What you need to know. 2008. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ffalrgn.html

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Hamilton Township: Town of Bigots and Abandonment
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

 

 

 

Hamilton Township: Town of Bigots and Abandonment

 

At the 2010 US Census, there were 88,464 people, 34,534 households, and 23,759 families residing in Hamilton township.  There were 36,170 housing units at an average density of 915.9 per square mile (353.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.38% (69,340) White, 11.78% (10,419) Black or African American, 0.17% (149) Native American, 3.29% (2,914) Asian, 0.09% (79) Pacific Islander, 4.27% (3,775) from other races, and 2.02% (1,788) from two or more races.  Hispamics or Latinos of any race were 10.87% (9,613) of the population.

 

Today, in Hamilton township there are 800 abandoned buildings and 600 abandoned homes.  The town is crumbling.

 

The leadership of Hamilton township is made up of 98% white members. The leadership and teachers who are members of the Hamilton Board of Education are only made up of 8% minority. Are we in the year 2016?  How is this possible? Why does the EEOC allow this?

 

This evening the Board of Education held a town hall meeting in Hamilton Township. The interim Superintendent talked about some of the programs they have planned for the new school year.  There were 32 members of the community in attendance not including 4 BOE members and several HTSD employees.

 

The new HR Director for the BOE did state the he has a desire to change this. He recently attended a job fair at Delaware college which was not successful for him. The HR director is white and Delaware college is primarily an African American attended college. The Hamilton BOE is just now going to implement Amistad  curriculums. The HR director said he "wants to publish ads in"minority magazines"  to advertise for teachers and leadership in the town.

 

It was noted by a resident that recently several black teachers applied for open positions in the Hamilton school district. They did not take the jobs due to the fact that the benefit package was grossly suboptimal. They took jobs within the Trenton School system instead where they have better benefit packages for teachers.

 

Starting in Septmeber the BOE will be rolling out a balanced math program similar to ELA for K-5 where students will be placed into groups based upon their ability. This will include iReady (math based learning program) which has been tested in Title I schools and they are looking to roll it out further.  There will also be four new AP Math classes introduced.

 

The BOE want to work on the large diversity gap for staff. Strong initiative by HR Director who started 3/1/16 and is the 7th HR Director over 11 years. The residents in attendance stated that they have heard this before and have little faith that this will happen.  Although the BOE leaders spoke of a compliance team that they have formed, there is little faith it will every come to fruition or actually install any change. Recently, the BOE voted to stop the video taping of their meetings. The superintendent stated this was done for several reasons. They did not want anyone running for political office to talk at the meetings. He also stated that the council meetings are not taped so why should their meetings be taped.  In addition, the superintendent commented that by taping the meetings it does not show the town in a positive light and would scare away any potential superintendent, teacher or leader to the BOE.

 

The BOE of recently been placed in a non-complaint status for their HR hiring practices as it pertains to minorities. This is a practice that has plagued not only the BOE but the entire Hamilton leadership.

 

A young black woman who recently graduated from Hamilton West shared with the leadership that the history she was taught was very "white". When Trayvon Martin was murdered and the Black Lives Matter movement began she and other students felt as if they had no save place to talk about what was going on in the world.

 

A board member said, "When we spoke to students and principals of the schools in the area they said (mind you these particular schools represented a 95% white population) were not affected by this movement or the death of Trayvon Martin. How is this possible? How can any person say they were not affected by these things?

There is a focus to have FEA Chapters in all three schools (Future Educators). The Equitable school budget will have allocations that will be based upon increase in enrollment and free/reduced lunch programs. Also all software and furniture are now paid via central budget. No more PTA fundraising for these items.

Starting in September they are purchasing Google Chrome laptops and the goal is a 2:1 student ratio. By the 2020 it will be 1:1. No more smart boards - outdated technology. A resident asked if they could rent vs purchase the computers to ensure that they have an obsolesce plan for the technology, it will surely be outdated in a year. The BOE stated that they can only purchase, they cannot rent. Yet, they rented boilers a month ago. So, they do have a way to rent items.

 

The goal is to have a permanent superintendent by 2/1/17.  They stated a survey will be placed on the district website and well publicized asking what we want in a new superintendent.

 

The group talked about lack of diversity and a need for sensitivity training for staff.  The superintendent thought it would be a good idea to implement sensitivity training.  The other attendees of the meeting were in utter shock that this does not exist today. It's a small wonder that the township has had so many lawsuits on this very topic hit them.

The real takeaway is that the residents want  and need more community involvement. It is critical that your voices be heard. What is the BOE doing with our tax dollars?

 

Do You Have an Appointment?
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

 

Do You Have An Appointment?

 

 

 

 

Do You Have An Appointment?

 

 

"Do you have an appointment?", is exactly what a Hamilton resident was told today at the Police HQ when they went in to share a crime that had been committed. The resident went in to report a significant traffic issue, chemical trucks driving in their residential neighborhood.   Do you have an appointment?, is not what any resident should be told when they come to Police HQ. This goes against all the touting that the Mayor of Hamilton constantly states, "I have an open door policy."  The open door policy is as real as a blow up doll. 

 

This resident went to the front window at Hamilton Police HQ and spoke to a police officer, Badge #323 ( he did not have a name on his uniform, just the numerical badge) and told them about an issue that happened on June 3rd at 11:15am. She had photos of what happened that are time stamped.  Officer 323 instructed the resident to use the phone on the wall to talk to dispatch.

 

Just a week prior another incident happened in the neighborhood and two traffic police came and told residents to come and file a complaint at HQ if another incident of dangerous truck traffic occurred. This incident also involved numerous trucks routing themselves through the residential neighborhood.

 

This has been going on for years in the Cornell Heights area. The residents have been in contact with the Mayor's office in Hamilton, the Division of Planning and Compliance,  and other leadership in Hamilton, all efforts have been ignored. When the residents send up complaints through the HAMSTAT site, the complaints are immediately closed and they state in the closure, "issue resolved."

 

The residents clearly have gotten no resolution or relief. They have gotten broken windows, massive cracks in their foundations and walls, and DB readings that are well above acceptable limits due to the truck traffic. The leadership in Hamilton remains silent and ignorant to their requests for help.

 

When the resident spoke to the dispatcher in the lobby of Hamilton Police HQ and shared what happened they were immediately asked, "Do you have an appointment? Do you know the ordinance number for the rules on trucks driving through neighborhoods?"  The dispatcher made the resident feel like they did not matter and the fact that a chemical truck was driving through the neighborhood was ok.

 

 

The resident had the license number (see photo above) and shared that with the dispatcher and hung up the phone. Upon finalizing the phone call with dispatch,  the resident went back to the window to speak to Officer 323. They told him what just transpired, he seemed very annoyed and said," Let me take care of this, I will be right back."

 

He came back a few moments later and stated that the resident should use the phone again to speak to someone in dispatch. They did. They did not get very much further.

 

 Police officer, Tobiaz, came out to speak to the resident. He stated," There is a chemical company in the neighborhood, what is your issue?"  The resident stated, "The chemical company you make reference to is White House Chemical, a pool chemical company. They closed after the flood destroyed their business in 2012, never to reopen.  

 

At the end of the conversation, the resident decided to go to the Hamilton Health Department to speak to Jeff Plunkett.  Upon reaching the Health Department, the resident learned that Jeff was not in. Is he ever in? Maybe the resident should have gone to Fred and Pete's Deli, his favorite hang out. to meet with him. Officer 323 said another officer would come out to speak with them.

 

The township has also slated an solar field right down the street from the "chemical plant", where the flooding is even worse. There were never chemical trucks like you see here, delivering anything to them".

 

 

 

 Truck turning onto Sandalwood Ave

 

The public safety issue here is quite monumental.If that chemical truck exploded, leaked noxious chemicals, etc would the leadership remain silent? If it happened in front of Mayor Yaede's home would she remain silent?

 

The resident left the police station and went to the Hamilton health department. They spoke to several people in the Consumer and Health Division. The ladies there seemed concerned and stated they would have Jeff call.

 

The resident has yet to receive a call from the Mayor, Jeff Plunkett, the traffic division, etc.  No one is hopeful that they will get any response from the township. The traffic from heavy trucks in residential areas is causing the township millions of dollars in damages.

 

According to the ordinance, trucks shouldn’t deviate from assigned truck routes. This means 18-wheelers can’t drive in residential neighborhoods or park in their or other’s private driveway or front yard. If they do, it is against the law and the drivers need to be ticketed.

 

The Hamilton Township leadership's decision to continue to allow this to go on will only continue to cost the taxpayers in the end. It is costing more money for the township to repave or it creates pot holes. One of the streets, Sweetbriar Ave, is well on its way to become a massive sinkhole.It will also cost more innocent lives being taken. The trucks are traveling at high rates of speed, with no shoulder or sidewalks in the Cornell Heights area, residents are forced to walk in the street. Their lives are put in jeopardy each day that the leadership continues to ignore this critical situation.

These trucks are very heavy; they are coming in and out of the neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are paved different compared to commercial roadways where these trucks are driven. The roads on the backstreets of Hamilton are destroyed. Does the leadership not understand what they decisions are costing taxpayers? Obviously not. What will it take for the leadership of Hamilton to acknowledge what is going on? It took several horrific accidents, deaths and a decapitation, before they put up guardrail, (that should have been installed in the first place) on one road in Cornell Heights.The residents are scared and want their public safety to be taken seriously.