Posted on Leave a comment

>A harder look at homework: Is it effective? How much is too much?

>



A harder look at homework: Is it effective? How much is too much?
January 03, 2012|By Anndee Hochman, For The Inquirer

Moneek Pines-Elliott saw the light leaking from under her son Jalil’s bedroom door way past bedtime. It was early September; Jalil and his twin brother, Jamil, had just started ninth grade at Germantown Friends School.

Pines-Elliott found her son perched on his bed, laptop open. “I’m doing homework,” he told her. “I’m almost done.” Pines-Elliott checked the time: nearly midnight.

“I was thinking: Oh, my, I hope this isn’t going to be habitual. I knew GFS was going to be more challenging, but I’d never thought about the homework. I said to my husband, ‘Is that healthy?

https://articles.philly.com/2012-01-03/news/30583510_1_homework-policy-middle-school-gfs

Posted on Leave a comment

>In wake of schools superintendents’ salary caps, increase in departures

>

In wake of schools superintendents’ salary caps, increase in departures

Nearly a year after Gov. Chris Christie’s superintendent salary caps were put in place, one development – probably an unsurprising one – has occurred during that time: School chiefs have retired or resigned at a much higher rate than previously.  (Hassan, State Street Wire)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Time, or tolls? Doing the new math for New Jersey commuters

>

Time, or tolls? Doing the new math for New Jersey commuters

It sounds like a problem from a physics exam: Two drivers left a parking lot in East Brunswick, N.J., at the same moment on Tuesday morning. One swallowed hard and took the New Jersey Turnpike, paying tolls that had jumped 53 percent on New Year’s Day. The other took Routes 1 and 1/9, toll free.

Which one arrived first at their destination, the Dunkin’ Donuts inside the Exxon station on Jersey Avenue, near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City?  (Barron, The New York Times)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Lawsuit aims at restoring free tolls for life for retirees

>

Lawsuit aims at restoring free tolls for life for retirees

A former police sergeant for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is suing the agency after it eliminated free tolls for life for retirees, the second suit to be filed against the agency after the contractual benefit was eliminated in January 2011.

The lawsuit was filed in Morris County Superior Court last month and includes at least 400 Port Authority retirees who lost their Bridge and Tunnel Annual Pass, according to the complaint.  (Haddon, The Wall Street Journal)

Posted on Leave a comment

>With all the debate going on over raises, bonus, incentives?

>With all the debate going on over raises, bonus, incentives? 

With all the debate going on over raises, bonus, incentives?  I”m curious if anyone has information on the Not for Profit Hospital in Ridgewood.  Did any in management receive raises last year and if so how much.  From what I understand Audrey Meyers base compensation is $1,600,000.

With all the heartache that Ridgewood felt over the past several years, I wish more people would look a little more closely at Valley.  And trust me the amount they spent this year alone on that survey and ads to the bias Ridgewood News would have covered Gabberts and all of the non-union employee raises.   Talk about throwing our money, yes our money since they don’t pay taxes, away.

So please someone call Ridgewood News and find out what it cost for double full page foldout in color and full page in color for the back page.  Lets talk some real numbers

.Hotwire: 4-Star Hotels at 2 Star Prices; Save 50%

Posted on Leave a comment

>Ridgewood’s Got Talent 2012 Auditions

>Ridgewood’s Got Talent 2012 Auditions
Sat, January 14, 2012
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Porchlight Productions, 555 Broad St, Glen Rock
Cost: $15 per person

Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
Ridgewood’s Got Talent*
Porch Light Productions,555 Broad Street, Glen Rock
Auditions held Saturday January 14, 2012, 9:00-11:30AM
Semi Finals: Saturday January 28, 2012
Final Event: Saturday February 11, 2012

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 2nd Annual “Ridgewood’s Got Talent”. This event is for the community of Ridgewood and will be held at Porch Light Productions. We are searching for students in grades K-12, who would like an opportunity to showcase their special talent, i.e. singing, dancing, playing an instrument, and/or acting. There will be auditions for all who are interested followed by the semi-final round and concluding with the final round leading to the grand prize winner in each age category*; elementary K-5, middle school 6-8, and high school 9-12. (*provided there are enough entries in each category)

The Chamber of Commerce would like to invite any performers from Ridgewood*, be it singers, dancers, actors, or musicians, ages K-12, to participate in our first round of auditions on Saturday, January 14th. This event is open to both individual and group performances. Due to time constraints, each performance will be allotted a two minute time slot. The grand prize winners will be given a spot in the 2012 Downtown for the Holidays performance on stage! There will be a selection of judges from Porch Light Productions and From the Top Music Studio.

We are on Facebook, so become a fan of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce today!

*You have to be a Ridgewood resident to audition.

Thank you – Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce –

-Applications & Flyers available-

Please call or email:
Joan Groome
201-445-2600
info@ridgewoodchamber.com

Posted on Leave a comment

>PEDESTRIAN SAFETY : Do away with some crosswalks

> PEDESTRIAN SAFETY : Do away with some crosswalks

You, like many others, make it sound oh so simple for pedestrians. “Stop and look both ways”. Right. You make it sound like there’s this quiet street and if only I exercised my common sense, I would look to see if a car was coming.

Reality check. Cars are coming, and they are coming thick and fast, in both directions. If I go to use the crosswalk and I see cars coming on both directions, and I believe that they are sufficiently far away to start my walk, I should have a reasonable expectation under the law that they will see me and come to a stop. What has been happening is that pedestrians are halfway across, and one of the leading cars sails right through. This is what the majority of the accidents have consisted of.

I agree, that it’s a highly dangerous expectation, but this is the way the law has been written. In my opinion, there are far too many crosswalks. I believe we should do away with a lot of them, and only have them in critical locations, controlled by traffic lights. Everywhere else should be street crossing done the old fashioned way of simply exercising good judgement without crosswalks.

Posted on Leave a comment

>COUNT DOWN TO NOBAMA

>

nobama theridgewoodblog.net

COUNT DOWN TO NOBAMA

GET OUT THE VOTE STARTS NOW

Join us 7 pm, Tuesday, January 10th at the Larkin House
380 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff
(1/4 mile North of Stop & Shop on the right)
West Bergen Tea Party
More information: 201 891-5918
conservative_caucus@verizon.net
www.westbergenteaparty.com

Posted on Leave a comment

>Fast-tracked and rewritten bill could put some public schools under private management

>

Fast-tracked and rewritten bill could put some public schools under private management

First proposed by Gov. Chris Christie and since taken up by South Jersey Democrats, a plan that would open up select public schools to nonprofit or even for-profit management appears poised for passage in the final days of the legislature’s lame duck session.

The proposed Urban Hope Act, at least in its current incarnation, is in part an attempt to speed the glacial pace of getting new schools built in some of New Jersey’s poorest districts. The initiative may enlist the aid of the Schools Development Authority, which is often criticized for dragging its feet on projects.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Food stamp demand rises in New Jersey

>

Food stamp demand rises in New Jersey

Hunger hurts, especially during the holidays.

This holiday season consumer confidence may have been at its highest level since the recession began in late 2007, but so was the number of families and individuals across the state who turned to food stamp benefits.  (Gladden, Gannett)

Posted on Leave a comment

>Payouts for unused sick days vary in North Jersey towns

>Payouts for unused sick days vary in North Jersey towns


Here’s a breakdown of data provided by Christie’s office for the obligation in each town in Bergen County:

Allendale – no obligation

Alpine – total obligation, $850,523.00; obligation per taxpayer, $1,169.46

Bergenfield – total obligation, $701,579.00; obligation per taxpayer, $83.44

Bogota – total obligation, $398,360.00; obligation per taxpayer, $162.76

Carlstadt – no obligation

Cliffside Park – total obligation, $100,000.00; obligation per taxpayer, $13.27

Closter – total obligation, $1,704,092.00; obligation per taxpayer, $549.02

Cresskill – total obligation, $319,192.00; obligation per taxpayer, $107.24

East Rutherford – total obligation, $1,101,518.00; obligation per taxpayer, $172.98

Edgewater – total obligation, $1,480,618.00; obligation per taxpayer, $266.69

Elmwood – total obligation, $2,004,685.00; obligation per taxpayer, $324.27

Emerson – total obligation, $400,926.00; obligation per taxpayer, $148.38

Englewood – total obligation, $5,353,655.00; obligation per taxpayer, $576.40

Englewood Cliffs – total obligation, $2,150,583.00; obligation per taxpayer, $793.98

Demarest – no obligation

Dumont – no obligation

Fair Lawn – total obligation, $1,635,758.00; obligation per taxpayer, $132.70

Fairview – total obligation, $1,473,045.00; obligation per taxpayer, $444.53

Fort Lee – total obligation, $9,225,587.00; obligation per taxpayer, $706.40

Franklin Lakes – no obligation

Garfield – total obligation, $2,692,885.00; obligation per taxpayer, $373.63

Glen Rock – total obligation, $1,004,087.00; obligation per taxpayer, $238.49

Hackensack – total obligation, $18,875,368.00; obligation per taxpayer, $1,030.51

Harrington Park – total obligation, $594,486.00; obligation per taxpayer, $356.08

Hasbrouck Heights – total obligation, $237,175.00; obligation per taxpayer, $55.77

Haworth – total obligation, $489,559.00; obligation per taxpayer, $370.61

Hillsdale – total obligation, $201,417.78; obligation per taxpayer, $56.48

Ho-Ho-Kus – total obligation, $1,283,024.58; obligation per taxpayer, $847.04

Leonia – total obligation, $551,626.93; obligation per taxpayer, $195.06

Little Ferry – total obligation, $227,896.00; obligation per taxpayer, $66.81

Lodi – no obligation

Lyndhurst – no obligation

Mahwah – total obligation, $2,033,561.94; obligation per taxpayer, $175.99

Maywood – total obligation, $140,840.00; obligation per taxpayer, $40.81

Midland Park – no obligation

Montvale – total obligation, $468,626.00; obligation per taxpayer, $129.63

Moonachie – total obligation, $552,913.00; obligation per taxpayer, $272.68

New Milford – total obligation, $2,738,820.00; obligation per taxpayer, $578.04

North Arlington – total obligation, $80,000.00; obligation per taxpayer, $17.53

Northvale – total obligation, $847,361.00; obligation per taxpayer, $402.78

Norwood – total obligation, $282,132.00; obligation per taxpayer, $135.63

Oakland – no obligation

Old Tappan – no obligation

Oradell – no obligation

Palisades Park – total obligation, $1,591,795.00; obligation per taxpayer, $328.29

Paramus – total obligation, $575,800.00; obligation per taxpayer, $38.45

Park Ridge – total obligation, $772,804.00; obligation per taxpayer, $230.36

Ramsey – total obligation, $2,425,192.27; obligation per taxpayer, $373.12

Ridgefield – no obligation

Ridgefield Park – total obligation, $678,973.00; obligation per taxpayer, $157.71

Ridgewood – total obligation, $7,203,566.23; obligation per taxpayer, $861.41

River Edge – total obligation, $733,050.20; obligation per taxpayer, $197.51

River Vale – total obligation, $1.00; obligation per taxpayer, $0.00

Rochelle Park – no obligation

Rockleigh – no obligation

Rutherford – total obligation, $3,620,854.00; obligation per taxpayer, $569.54

 Saddle Brook – total obligation, $1,295,495.00; obligation per taxpayer, $202.96

Saddle River – total obligation, $412,800.00; obligation per taxpayer, $318.05

South Hackensack – total obligation, $539,525.00; obligation per taxpayer, $320.47

Teaneck – total obligation, $4,379,922.16; obligation per taxpayer, $335.08

Tenafly – no obligation

Teterboro – total obligation, $94,299.77; obligation per taxpayer, $42.01

Upper Saddle River – total obligation, $986,895.00; obligation per taxpayer, $338.73

Waldwick – total obligation, $1,214,624.00; obligation per taxpayer, $324.61

Wallington – no obligation

Washington – total obligation, $567,071.00; obligation per taxpayer, $162.59

Westwood – – total obligation, $1,060,665.00; obligation per taxpayer, $247.79

Woodcliff Lake – no obligation

Wood-Ridge – total obligation, $1,417,724.00; obligation per taxpayer, $425.22

Wyckoff – no obligation

https://blog.northjersey.com/thesource/1768/payouts-for-unused-sick-days-vary-in-north-jersey-towns/

Posted on Leave a comment

>Another transplant says shared services lead to poor service and no cost savings

>Another transplant says shared services lead to poor service and no cost savings

I am a transplant from high taxed Nassau County where my husband and I grew up and started our family. Our regional police force was the Nassau County PD. I can tell you first hand that none of us would be happy with a regional police service. They were great when you needed a helicopter search for a missing child and a SWAT team, but forget it for day to day problems such as parking, loud parties, vandalism or other quality of life issues. It took them 20-30 minutes to respond and half the time you would be told on the phone to go to the local precinct (two towns away) if you needed to file a simple police report.

Nassau has had a regional county force for decades and it does not translate to lower property taxes in any way shape or form.

Many of the towns on do Nassau pay the extra money to have there own local police because the service from the county is so bad. Even my brother, a captain and 22 year member of the Nassau County Police bought a house in a Nassau community with its own police department.

We have lived in Ridgewood for just over 11 years and the community based services, especially the police, are so much better. They are far more responsive and a part of the community, not an outside contractor who just wants to quickly take your information hurry then get to the next call in another town.

Our taxes in Nassau were no better then and my family there now is paying about the same that we are In Ridgewood. In Nassau they say the PD is the highest paid in the nation, in NJ we say that. What I do know is that the service here is much better. You might save on a few local Chiefs but you will have more Deputy Inspectors, Inspectors, Assistant Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Chief and a Commissioner with deputies and assistants. No savings and less cops in the street.

Celebrate Winter Birthdays & Save 15% on Flowers & Gifts at 1800Flowers.com! Use Promotion Code HAPPYBDAY15 at checkout. - 234x60show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=216823

Posted on Leave a comment

>Reforms may end teacher tenure in N.J.

>

Reforms may end teacher tenure in N.J.

If Gov. Chris Christie and other education reform advocates get their way — as they expect — New Jersey will end teacher tenure as permanent job security, require more of high school students so they can get a job or go to college, and come up with new ways to judge and track students and teachers.

In addition, there could be more charter schools or private-public schools in urban areas, and many school districts could see an end to annual budget votes.  (Method, Gannett)

Posted on Leave a comment

>A new year: Five to watch in education

>A new year: Five to watch in education


2011 was to be the year for education reform in New Jersey, or so promised Gov. Chris Christie. Well, maybe make that a two-year proposition since 2012 is shaping up to be no less exciting and could see some of the things that Christie started come to fruition.

The latest chapter in New Jersey’s epic school funding litigation opened last year, and may get a Christie epilogue with his next state budget. Charter schools expanded and passed the 25,000-student mark in 2011, yet could face the results of cooling public opinion this year.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

Posted on Leave a comment

State faces triple energy challenge in New Year

>

DonQuiote theridgewoodblog.net

State faces triple energy challenge in New Year

Even with a revamped Energy Master Plan in place, the Christie administration faces tough challenges and tougher decisions in the New Year, ones that could affect the future of solar energy in the state and determine if offshore wind farms get built along the Jersey coast.

tate also faces an uphill battle in its efforts to develop new power plants here, a strategy that has suffered setbacks in the federal courts, as well as from a federal regulatory agency and the PJM Interconnection, the regional operator of the nation’s largest power grid.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)