Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 15, 2011 �������������������������� Several local chambers of commerce, including those in Allendale, Mahwah, and Wyckoff, have joined forces with a consortium of Bergen-Passaic chambers to change the law so small businesses with one to 50 employees could purchase group health insurance through the local chambers. The primary sponsor for this legislative amendment (Senate Bill 2874) is Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-District 39, Bergen), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. “In these tough economic times, it’s critical that government work with business to make health care more affordable,” Cardinale said. Since introducing the bill on May 12, Cardinale has garnered support from the bill’s Democratic co-sponsors, Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-District 37, Bergen), and Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-District 22, Middlesex/ Morris/Union). The group’s chairman, John DePalma, MPH, Regional Director of UHY Employee Benefits Consulting Services and member of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce, said health benefits purchasing alliances like this are common in other states. “With health care reform becoming effective in 2014, it is about time that the State of New Jersey allows companies with one employee to be eligible to participate in the small group offerings,” DePalma said. “Currently, these offerings require two employees or more. This is particularly important in our current environment where health care costs keep increasing at an alarming level, and it is important to note that the surrounding states already allow companies, such as this, to join their small employer programs.” The effort to change the law was begun over a year ago by Dr. Annette Freund, immediate past president of the Wyckoff Sale Days June 16-17-18 Chambers work to make health insurance available Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce. This month, over 200 more chambers are being invited to join in a statewide letter-writing campaign. “We need to explain to our legislators and the governor that a vote for this bill is a vote for small business,” said Freund, “especially the startups, the sole proprietors, and the entrepreneurs with only one employee. Saving money on group health insurance could free up capital for hiring new employees, support the economic recovery, and encourage over half a million individual proprietorships to stay in New Jersey.” For more information, or to join the letter-writing campaign, visit www.allendalechamber.com or call Mike Lindsay at (201) 236-1910; visit www.mahwah.com or call the Mahwah Chamber office at (201) 529-5566; or visit wyckoffchamber.com or contact Wyckoff Chamber President Jay Vidockler at (201) 891-3711. Krista Everson, a freshman at Eastern Christian High School, started writing her first novel -- “Remember” -- when she was in the seventh grade. Today, she is the author of “Remember: The First of the Mermaid Vampire Chronicles.” The story begins when Kristella, a resident of California, throws aside her fears of the ocean and dives in. When a shark attacks her, she is dragged deeper into the abyss until she is rescued by Garrid, an exchange student from England. Garrid heals her Student publishes first novel The cover of Krista Everson’s new book. leg just by touching it, and she discovers that he is a mermaid vampire. Kristella realizes that she is also a mermaid vampire, and she and Garrid begin an exciting journey together, only to be attacked by bloodthirsty werewolves. “The story of Kristella and Garrid is full of the lore of both mermaids and vampires,” Everson explained. “I wanted to avoid the sexual elements common in novels aimed at teenagers today.” The book is for sale online at Amazon.com and through other channels and has its own ISBN, indicating that it is a copyright publication.