What If?

Does anyone else out there feel like the insurance/pharmaceutical business is gouging the public even more than the gas and oil industry?  Almost as much as our politicians?  My Doc called in a prescription to my friendly local chemist a day or so ago, for a medication I have been using for years, which is no longer covered by insurance.  The girl at the counter said calmly, $253 please.  Not quite so calmly, I responded,  THUD!!!!!!!!  When I finally came to my senses, I mentioned that the drug in question is only $24 for the same prescription at two of our “Big Box” stores in Harborcreek.  The girl asked if I wanted them to transfer the script to one of the other stores, and I replied, well, I’m not going to pay that much if I can get it for over $200 less by driving in to Harborcreek.  At that point the pharmacist spoke up and told me to get a firm price from GE or WM and he would match it.  I got it for $24.  I’ve been dealing at his store for many years and consider him to be a friend, so I told him not to cause himself a problem by matching the lower price.  His responce was,” We are not allowed to offer, but if the customer asks, we can match any price as long as we don’t actually lose money.”

Had I paid the $253, the company would have made 10 times their break even price.  Indeed, a shameful profit to hang on the back of trusting customers.  I am fortunate to still have enough presence of mind remaining to question such a display of unfair pricing.  What happens to all the folks who are too timid or don’t know better than to pay a usurer’s price?  Many important drugs are not covered by insurance, such as oncology and psychiatric medications, but the patient is forced to pay full prices for them.  No wonder so many older people must go without other necessities to pay for essential medications. 

I don’t have any answers, I’m just in a state of disbelief that our government won’t do anything to protect it’s most vulnerable citizens.

By the way, I pay $800 per month for health insurance, and they won’t cover a $24 script?????????????

Much has been written on various GlobalErie blogs about what makes Erie a great place to live, and there are many things of which to be proud.  There is another whole story to tell about the small towns that surround the city, and their contributions to the Erie lifestyle.

I live in North East, so this is a logical place to begin.  This is a quiet, small, community where everyone knows your name.  Kinda like living in an earlier era.  People still stop to chat as they walk by.  September means dodging all sorts of harvesting machinery intent on reaping the last berries from the grape vines.  Smelling the ripe grapes, ready to be made into Welch’s Juices and Jellys.  Wineries abound here, each with their own special touch, creating award-winning wines.  Burch Farms has opened a new destination market, with fresh fruits and veggies right off the farm, and lots of other goodies as well.  Drive down any main road to find smaller farm stands–food just doesn’t get any fresher than here, where the corn is harvested early in the morning for sale during the day.

Really good restaurants serve just about anything you can think of,  but Italian cuisine and Pizza shops are the tops!  Rizzo Family Restaurant, Bova’s Pizza, and several smaller venues serve up all the pasta you want.  Looking for dinner?  Freeport Landing Restaurant has a widespread reputation for excellence.  They make all their own sausage, bacon, and hams, and the taste is out of the world!  Johnny B’s? Can’t say enough good here, the food is tops, especially the award-winning soups.  Just want a sandwich and coffee for lunch, or a danish for breakfast, or just a quiet place to sit and watch the world go by?  The Boston Bean fills the soul here, as well as your coffee cup, with their window on the street and unique sandwich offerings.

Churches seem to flourish on every corner, except where the neighborhood taverns hold forth.  Mercyhurst-North East has become a huge part of the community after taking over the former St. Mary’s Seminary a few years ago.  Take a walk around the campus and marvel at the architecture of the original buildings.   A couple miles down the road, past Freeport Restaurant, you’ll find Freeport Beach, a great, uncrowded place to swim, picnic, and later watch the best sunsets over Lake Erie.

Back to the center of town for noontime concerts in Gibson Park, relax under the huge maples, and listen to the soft tinkle of the “Lady in the Park” fountain.  Wander up Lake street to the Cocao Tree Chocolate shop, and watch Damian create the candy that sooths your sweet tooth.  Try to leave without buying some to take home.  Betch can’t!  Stop in and look around some of the antique shops nearby.  Head south to the ridge and view the huge expanse of  Lake Erie and it’s shoreline, as far as your eye can see, even to Canada on a clear day.

It’s a beautiful little town, well kept, with excellent schools, and only a few minutes’ drive to the big city life that is Erie!  Oh, and don’t forget the Firemen’s Cherry Festival in July, and the WineFest in the fall.

How about those of you who live and love your own town?  Like to see it here?  Tell me about it!!!!!  

I really don’t know if it’s just euphoria over the return of spring, but it seems to me as if a new sense of pride in our city is beginning to take hold.  It became apparent with the welcome the city gave to GE, and continues with the enthusiasim for Paul Nelsons new addition, Ravine Flier II.  Soon the horses will line up at Presque Isle Downs, State Street will come alive with Block Parties, Liberty Park will resound with Eight Great Tuesdays, and best of all, the seven miles of sand at the Penninsula will be awash with sun lovers and picnicers. {and bikinis ;<)}  Live music of every genre abounds at bars and clubs all over Erie, The “Boys of Summer” hit the field at Uht Park, and Erie brewers continue to create their golden elixir.  Indeed there is lot’s to do for everyone, regardless of preferences.

Now all we have to do is keep the enthusiasim growing.  TALK IT UP, ERIE.  Great Lake, Great City, Great Life!!!!!!!!!!

Erie Management Group has debuted their new video showcasing Erie past, present , and future.  The video presents Erie at it’s finest, and has resulted in a powerful new tool for promoting Erie.  We at “What If?” commend Pat Black for his major contribution to Erie’s future.  Watch the video here.  Thanks to Jim Berlin for posting the video on his blog, “Berlin’s Wall”.

I think we as citizens need to salute those folks in Erie who went far out of their way to make the GE Shareholder meeting such a success.  GE Boss Jeff Immelt wrote a thank-you note to Erie praising the community and it’s people.  You can read it here.  As Mr. Immelt said, the city sparkled and the welcome the attendees received was tremendous.  In driving around the city, signs were visible all over welcoming GE to our Great City by the Great Lake. 

 Erie, I salute you for stepping up to the plate.  That was a hell of a home run!!!

As mentioned in Thursday’s goerie.com,  the American Lung Association has given Erie it’s best air-quality rating ever, a “C”.  Now that we have achieved some progress on that issue, can anyone really give a good reason why we should allow the tire plant to be constructed?  With GAF gone, IP gone, and much of the heavy pollution  cleared, do we now need to take several steps backward and allow a private corporation to sully our air with so many unnamed compounds? 

 Why not build a wind farm on the property instead?  NO pollution, added business for GE, and plenty of free wind off the lake.  Seems like a sensible plan to me.  How about you?

In a GoErie story tonight, Mayor Sinnott and Police Chief Franklin have taken steps to address the violence which has plagued the city for a couple weeks now.  While it seems a little inadequate, at least it’s a positive step.  The action will increase police presence on the street by two officers on each late shift, and concentrate the anti-crime unit in the areas where the violence has occurred.  That unit consists of six officers and will work the trouble spots from 8PM until 4AM.

The Mayor deserves credit for taking much needed action here.  Let’s hope it is enough!!!!! 

May is just around the corner, and already things have started blossoming in Erie.

Unfortunately, one of those things that comes with hot weather is the violence that always seems to pop up in the poorer neighborhoods.  Already we have experienced several severe attacks that have resulted in injury to the victim.  What could possible have caused a ten-year-old to accost and beat another young girl so badly that her hip was fractured in three places??   Yesterday a young man was chased down by a gang of thugs and stomped until his scull fractured, because of a so-called disrespect for the goon who started the beating.  Frankly, I don’t respect an animal like him or his pack of dogs either.  Last night a man was stabbed in front of East Erie Turners, and ended up laying in a pool of blood in the 6th and Parade intersection with a bloody knife near by.  A short time ago, an elderly man was beaten severely in his own home by a couple  of young punks.  The 80+ year old has since passed away.   Directly caused by the actions of the punks?  I’m sure lawyers will try to get the perps off, but the fact that the victim died only a week after the beating seems to me to indicate that it was at least part of the cause.

What is the answer?  Jails aren’t big enough to lock everyone up.  Our police force isn’t large enough to cover the areas that need increased attention.  The Sheriff’s Dept would certainly be a viable asset in patrolling the areas, especially in the hot time of the year.  Oops, they aren’t allowed to do what they are fully trained to do.  The innocent residents of the areas where violence occurs deserve alot more help from the city than they’re receiving.  Imagine having to exist in a place where you’re afraid to open your doors for fear of being shot, stabbed, or beaten.  Imagine what it’s like to fear allowing your children to play in your own yard, or to cool off in the evening by taking a walk around the block.

Why can’t the city step up to the plate and furnish the protection needed?  A dozen officers to cover the entire city in the small hours of the morning is grossly inadequate.  The officers try, they really do, but how can one or two cops face a mob of goons who are probably high on dope and armed to the teeth?   We need a lot of help there.

I would love to hear some suggestions from you on controlling the violence, which will only get worse as the summer heats up.  Comments are welcome!!

The unofficial election day stats can be found here.  http://www.eriecountyelections.com/assets/results_chart_erie.pdf  Sure seems like a lot of voter apathy, only 1/2 of Democrats and less than 1/3 of Republicans bothered to vote.  We must find a way to turn that around!  the future of the Country depends on it.

This is our day to speak out, citizens!!!  Let us use our rights and responsibilities to shape the course of government according to the needs of the PEOPLE.

Now, get out there and VOTE!!!!