Month: February 2012

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>After cutting ties with Planned Parenthood, Komen donations up 100 percent

>After cutting ties with Planned Parenthood, Komen donations up 100 percent
By Caroline May Published: 4:29 PM 02/02/2012 | Updated: 12:30 AM 02/03/2012

In the wake of this week’s announcement that Susan G. Komen for the Cure will no longer be awarding grants to Planned Parenthood, the breast cancer organization’s donations have gone up 100 percent in the last two days.

On a Thursday conference call Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of the Komen Foundation, told reporters that the organization is “singularly focused” on combating breast cancer, and that the politics of the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood has been distracting from their mission.

Nevertheless, since cutting ties, Brinker announced that Komen’s donations have gone up in the last two days — by 100 percent.

Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2012/02/02/after-cutting-ties-with-planned-parenthood-komen-donations-up-100-percent/#ixzz1lKV28bSB

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>Assembly committee votes to put charters under local control

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Assembly committee votes to put charters under local control
The Christie administration’s slowdown in approving charter schools in the suburbs hasn’t slowed the push by Assembly Democrats to tighten controls on all charters — possibly imperiling a slew of schools awaiting their final OK.
The Assembly education committee yesterday moved a bill that would give local voters the right to approve new charters in their home districts. If passed by both houses, the law would make New Jersey only the third state to require charter schools to face a local referendum.
First proposed last year, the new bill has been toughened for the new session. Amendments filed with the bill would make those referendums retroactive for as many as 30 urban and suburban schools awaiting their final charters.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0202/2354/
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>Fine Print: Sen. Ruiz’s new tenure bill

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Fine Print: Sen. Ruiz’s new tenure bill
Synopsis: The bill (S-1455) is the latest working version of a measure to revise teacher tenure and evaluation in New Jersey.
Primary Sponsor: State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex)
What it does: The new proposed Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act makes key changes in Ruiz’s original bill filed last year. It tightens some provisions on how evaluations would be conducted and by whom; adds requirements for helping all teachers; and more closely aligns other provisions with changes sought by Gov. Chris Christie.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0203/0210/
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>NJ checkup: Finding solutions before doctor shortage is critical

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NJ checkup: Finding solutions before doctor shortage is critical
New Jersey’s chronic doctor shortage is expected to worsen as patients get older and sicker, and federal healthcare reform brings broader coverage for the uninsured. Over the next decade, the state will have 3,000 fewer doctors than needed, according to projections cited as the state legislature begins to tackle the problem.
The Senate’s health committee has approved a bill, S-173, requiring the state Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to convene a planning summit to address the doctor shortage and provide a “blueprint of what we need to do in New Jersey,” said Sen. Robert Singer (R-30), the measure’s sponsor.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0203/0053/
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>The annual charity basketball game a win for Ridgewood’s Federatedl HSA

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The annual charity basketball game a win for Ridgewood’s Federatedl HSA 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012
BY JOSEPH CRAMER
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

As Ridgewood school administrators and parents squared off against the Harlem Wizards at a Ridgewood High School gymnasium packed with students and their families, not a shred of the controversy that hung over the event in early January was apparent.

The annual charity basketball game, organized by the Federated Home and School Association (HSA), traditionally pits Ridgewood teachers against the comedy basketball act. With the teachers’ union currently locked in contract negotiations with school administration, however, the teachers withdrew their participation in the event. The union did, however, donate $500 to the HSA.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/138624959_HSA_finishes_with_the_win.html

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>Dr. Roy Montesano Ramsey superintendent and former Ridgewood middle school science teacher and administrator to resign

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Dr. Roy Montesano Ramsey superintendent and former Ridgewood middle school science teacher and administrator to resign

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012  
BY SAMANTHA FELLER
STAFF WRITER
RAMSEY SUBURBAN NEWS

Ramsey – The superintendent of the borough’s public school system has announced plans to resign, capping a 32-year career in Bergen County.

Dr. Roy Montesano said in a press release issued Monday, Jan. 23, that his resignation will be effective June 30.

“The salary caps are driving people like myself to look for other opportunities,” Montesano, 54, said on Tuesday, Jan. 24. “I was approached by the Hastings-on-Hudson [N.Y.] school district with a job opportunity and I took it.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/138546489_Ramsey_superintendent_submits_his_resignation.html

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>A.P. report: Most of MF Global’s missing funds located

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A.P. report: Most of MF Global’s missing funds located

Associated Press is reporting that most of the $1.2 billion reported missing from MF Global, the failed brokerage once run by former N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine, has been located.

According to AP, people briefed on the matter say the missing funds have been traced to customer accounts and banks.

But AP’s report says that three people briefed on the investigations into MF Global’s collapse said MF Global misused client money to repay other customers, business partners and banks who demanded cash as the firm teetered.  (Staff, PolitickerNJ)

https://www.politickernj.com/54481/ap-report-most-mf-globals-missing-funds-located
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>Area students to compete in History Bowl and Bee in Ridgewood

>Area students to compete in History Bowl and Bee in Ridgewood
Thursday February 2, 2012, 4:28 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The competition doesn’t have a lengthy past, but history will be on everyone’s minds at Ridgewood High School (RHS) this weekend.
THINKSTOCK

Some of the area’s brightest young students will descend upon RHS on Saturday to show off their knowledge and interest in history while vying for one of the top spots in the annual Northern New Jersey History Bee and Bowl.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/138595354_Area_students_to_compete_in_History_Bee_and_Bowl_in_Ridgewood.html

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>Readers question Audrey Meyers New Appointment

>Readers question Audrey Meyers New Appointment

The thing that springs to mind, for me, is whether this appointment will be used in part to bring influence to bear in her strident mission to limit competition — evidenced by Valley’s ongoing legal fight against the re-opening of the Pascack Valley Hospital under the Hackensack’s management, and her fierce stand about excess health care capacity in the state. For example, if excess capacity is such an issue, maybe Valley’s recent attempt to double in size in a residential neighborhood while converting to all single bed rooms, could have been moderated by choosing to design it for a few less rooms while converting to all singles. That might be a good example of leadership — just a thought.

I just hope this influential position isn’t used to affect the landscape so as to hinder the historically smaller facilities in the service areas of the larger hospitals, or in our area in particular…. I understand the challenges of excess capacity, supply and demand, and so forth, but I hope the position will be used to support fair competition, not to shape or meld it.

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>By the numbers: New Jersey’s renewable energy program

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PSEGSolar theridgewoodblog



By the numbers: New Jersey’s renewable energy program

The state has aggressively pursued cleaner sources of electricity over the past decade. It has scored some notable successes, including vaulting New Jersey to second behind only California in the number of solar installations. It also has cost utility customers more than $385 million in incentives. Here’s a breakdown from the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy as of the end of last year.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0202/0241/
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>Cap on mandatory overtime, the right rx for nursing care

>Cap on mandatory overtime, the right rx for nursing care


Hospital nurses — and their patients — are benefitting from laws capping mandatory overtime, according to a new report that found laws in 16 states, including New Jersey, effective.

“Nurses routinely work long shifts, often as long as 12 hours straight. These laws were intended to prevent hospitals from piling mandatory overtime on top of such shifts,” said Carol Brewer professor at the School of Nursing, University at Buffalo, and one of the study’s authors.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0201/0008/
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>Drivers: Forgotten documents may cost less

>Drivers: Forgotten documents may cost less


A bill released by a state Senate committee Monday would take some of the financial sting out of being stopped by the police if you forget your driver’s license or vehicle registration.

A bill proposed by state Senate Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-Somerset, would drop the maximum fine for forgetting those documents from $150 to $100, if all the documents are valid at the time of the police stop and if the officer can verify they are current by using a computer database at the scene. The Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously Monday to release the bill for a vote by the Legislature.  (Higgs, Gannett)

https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120201/NEWS02/302010030/A-fine-thing-Forgotten-documents-may-cost-less?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|State
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>House Fire, 722 Newcomb Road

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fireNewcomerd theridgewoodblog.net

 Photo Credit:   Boyd A. Loving

House Fire, 722 Newcomb Road
Thursday, February 2, 10:40 AM
Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood FD, PD, and EMS units responded to a reported house fire at 722 Newcomb Road shortly after 10:40 AM this morning.  An elderly resident of the home was safely evacuated prior to the arrival of first responding units.  Members of HoHoKus Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Firenewcomerd3 theridgewoodblog.net

FireNewcomerd2 theridgewoodblog.net

 Photo Credit:   Boyd A. Loving

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>State test scores reveal some gains, widening achievement gap

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State test scores reveal some gains, widening achievement gap

The annual release of New Jersey school test scores can be maddening in its mixed messages.

On the one hand, the 2010-2011 scores released yesterday rose slightly or at least held steady overall in a majority of grades, a good thing for what have been tough times. In math, there were some notable gains for any given year.

On the other, state officials are quick to point out that the gaps in achievement between rich and poor, white and minority, are wide and in some instances widening alarmingly.

Those results are unsurprising, insofar as they reflect nationwide trends. But the findings have taken on added weight under Gov. Chris Christie and his education reform agenda, much of it aimed at districts where the achievement is lowest.   (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0202/0219/
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>How safe is the operating room? NJ website has the answer

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How safe is the operating room? NJ website has the answer

The state Department of Health on Wednesday launched a website that allows the public to examine inspection reports for 260 ambulatory surgery centers. The agency said the goal is to eventually provide the public with online access to all safety reports of healthcare facilities, including hospitals.

The announcement by Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd drew praise from consumer watchdogs and from ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). It comes as legislation is being crafted to bring all surgical facilities under uniform licensing and inspection by the health department.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0202/0301/