Christie supports N.J. bill to increase solar requirement
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose administration has called solar power an economic “albatross,” is expected to sign legislation that would increase the amount of solar energy state utilities must buy.
The New Jersey State Assembly approved a bill yesterday that requires utilities to obtain 2.05 percent of their power from solar projects in 2014, up from less than half of 1 percent of the state’s power now. The vote was 68-4, with five abstentions, approving the same bill that passed in the state Senate on May 31. (Martin, Bloomberg)
Training network helps pinpoint where healthcare jobs are
State labor officials are trying to help job-seekers find employment in healthcare, long one of New Jersey’s most dynamic generators of new jobs.
The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development is beginning year two of its “talent network” initiative, which seeks to promote economic development in six key sectors, one of which is healthcare. Robert Grimmie, director of the labor department’s Center for Occupational Employment Information, said part of the mission of the state’s Health Care Talent Network, which is based at Rutgers, is to gather real-time intelligence on the specific healthcare jobs in high demand, then get that information out to the unemployed, so they can pursue the education and skills that will land them jobs. (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)
Trends in college funding shortchange state schools
Legislators and the governor’s staff have been focused on the controversial higher education restructuring plan during this budget cycle, all but ignoring an issue that affects many more students and their families: state college funding.
This year’s state budget — having passed both houses of the Legislature and awaiting action by Gov. Chris Christie — provides no increase in aid to Rutgers University or the state colleges, save for a $5 million boost to Rowan University, a key beneficiary of the restructuring, for its new medical school. (O’Dea, NJ Spotlight)
Low-carb diet burns the most calories in small study
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
A new study is raising questions about the age-old belief that a calorie is a calorie.
The research finds that dieters who were trying to maintain their weight loss burned significantly more calories eating a low-carb diet than they did eating a low-fat diet.
But some experts say these findings are very preliminary.
The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was designed to see if changing the type of diet people consumed helped with weight maintenance because dieters often regain lost weight.
So scientists had 21 obese participants, ages 18 to 40, lose 10% to 15% of their initial body weight (about 30 pounds). After their weight had stabilized, each participant followed one of three different diets for four weeks. Participants were fed food that was prepared for them by diet experts. The dieters were admitted to the hospital four times for medical and metabolic testing.
Here’s a look at the three types of diets used in the new study:
A low-fat diet, which is about 20% of calories from fat, 60% from carbohydrates, 20% from protein. It emphasizes whole-grain products and fruits and vegetables and cuts way back on oils, nuts, fatty meats and other high-fat foods.
A low-carb diet, similar to the Atkins diet, with only 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, 60% from fat. This diet emphasizes beef, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, some vegetables and fruits while slashing the consumption of breads, pasta, potatoes, rice, cakes, cookies and starchy vegetables.
Ridgewood Schools roll out Five Year Curriculum Plans
At the June 18 Board of Education meeting, Greg McDonald (Technology), Basil Pizzuto (Business) and Chris McCullough (Fine and Applied Arts) presented curriculum review and planning reports for these areas.
Click here to view the Art and Music Five-Year Plan.
A reader asks ,”Is the cell tower on Barnett and First Street necessary after below described transaction between T-Mobile and Verizon?”
Verizon, T-Mobile Agree Spectrum Swap Pending Cable Deal
By Scott Moritz and Todd Shields – Jun 25, 2012 4:32 PM ET
Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless carrier, agreed to sell airwave licenses to T-Mobile USA Inc., contingent on Verizon completing a $3.6 billion acquisition of spectrum from cable companies.
The exchange will allow Verizon to sell T-Mobile some of the surplus spectrum it will have in certain cities as a result of the SpectrumCo deal, which was proposed by Verizon in December. SpectrumCo is a joint venture of cable companies led by Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), which forged the accord as part of a plan to jointly market services with Verizon.
In the deal, Verizon will swap advanced wireless services, or AWS, spectrum covering 60 million people for airwaves from T- Mobile covering 22 million people plus an undisclosed payment.
The agreement with T-Mobile, which had opposed the SpectrumCo deal, is the second move by Verizon to sell spectrum pending approval of the cable airwaves purchase. In April 18, to help ease approval by the Federal Communications Commission for the SpectrumCo deal, Verizon agreed a sale of 700 megahertz A and B spectrum it bought in 2008.
Democratic lawmakers push bill requiring for-profit hospitals to post financial records to aid unions
Monday, June 25, 2012, 5:40 PM Updated: Monday, June 25, 2012, 5:44 PM
By Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau
TRENTON — As the number of for-profit hospitals continues to grow in New Jersey, a bill that would require they publicly disclose information about their investors, audits and other financial records won final legislative passage today.
The bill skipped the customary committee hearing in the Assembly and was posted on the floor for a 49-22 vote with five abstentions.
The bill (A2143) passed the Senate in March and now heads to Gov. Chris Christie, who will decide whether to sign it.
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) has said she sponsored the bill to make the growing number of for-profit hospitals more accountable, as they clashed with labor unions and in some cases dropped contracts with managed care plans.
Ridgewood’s 102nd annual Fourth of July Celebration: Let’s Make it a Safe Celebration
Ridgewood’s 102nd annual Fourth of July Celebration will take place on Wednesday,July 4, 2012. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Born in New Jersey.”
Ridgewood’s celebration was founded in 1910 as a “safe and sane” way to celebrate Independence Day. Today, as our celebration continues, the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee along with the Ridgewood Police Department, Ridgewood Fire Department and Ridgewood Emergency Services have some pointers to keep the spirit of safety that began so long ago.
Some things to consider when watching the fabulous Parade:
• Wear sun block
• Drink plenty of water
• Consider ear plugs (some of those sirens are very loud!)
• Please keep the roadways clear.
− The streets are closed to traffic, but open to parade vehicles – some of
which are very large and have poor visibility, especially turning corners.
And, while waiting for the equally fabulous Fireworks display:
• Drink plenty of water
• Consider ear plugs (some of the ‘booms’ are very loud!)
• On Veterans Field, please keep the coned-off ‘aisles’ clear for emergency access
• On Maple Avenue, please no seating – Police, Fire and EMS require open
access from the field to the main streets for emergency vehicles.
At both events, please note that there are Police Officers and EMS Personnel located throughout the areas to assist you with any and all safety issues or concerns.
While the celebration is fun – we all keep safety as our number one priority. We hope you can join us with this priority in order to keep the “safe and sane” celebration continuing for years to come.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is organized by the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration, Inc., an all-volunteer community group. All aspects of the Celebration including fireworks, bands, evening performers, insurance, police and fire personnel, are funded by voluntary participation from businesses and individuals as well as the sale of tickets to our fireworks show. The Committee is not part of the Village of Ridgewood government and receives no direct funding from the Village.
Additional information and answers to many of your questions can be found on the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration’s website at www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org. Please join with the Committee in 2012 as we once again “Support the Tradition!”
Compromise bill could help ease fears of collapse in solar sector, ratepayers pick up the tab
The Legislature yesterday approved a fix to prop up the state’s solar market, with both the Assembly and the Senate easily passing a compromise bill that aims to speed up a mandate requiring how much of New Jersey’s electricity should come from solar systems.
The bill (A-2966), the subject of intense lobbying by the solar sector through this past weekend, ends a six-month effort by the industry to get legislation passed to avert what some fear could be a collapse in new investments in the technology in New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie has said he will sign the bill. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
Stockton, Calif., faces midnight deadline to avert bankruptcy
By Jim Christie
SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 | Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:55am IST
(Reuters) – Stockton, California was at risk on Monday of becoming the largest U.S. city ever to file for bankruptcy as the clock ticked down toward the midnight deadline of talks with creditors.
If Stockton, home to a population of 292,000 about 85 miles east of San Francisco, fails to win concessions in the talks to close a $26 million shortfall for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, City Manager Bob Deis will soon seek protection from creditors with a rare Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing.
On Tuesday evening the city council will vote on a so-called pendency plan budget crafted by Deis to guide the city’s finances during bankruptcy proceedings.
Sports fields and trails planned for Historic Schedler Zabriskie Property
June 26, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Plans for converting the 7-acre property Florence Schedler property off Route 17 north into sports fields and nature trails will be presented in the fall by the Village Open Space Committee.
The Village Open Space Committee held three public forums in April and May looking for public comment to determine the best use for the 7-acre parcel on Route 17 at the West Saddle River Road exit.
The usual given and take was expressed between “sports groups” pushing for ball fields and neighborhood groups namely the Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) group looking to keep the property more pristine and perhaps develop its historical character.
Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED), formed by local neighbors wanted keep the “historic” Schedler house preserved and used as a community meeting space.
The historic Schedler Zabriskie Property is named for former owner Florence Schedler and was purchased by the village in 2009 for $2.7 million with money from an open-space tax and a $1.57 million grant. Preservationist claim the property
Senate and Assembly pass “Neighborhood destruction Act”
Both houses of the Legislature today passed a bill that would let towns buy foreclosed homes and convert them into affordable housing.
The bill (S1566) — which today passed the Senate 21-18 and the Assembly 45-33 with one absention — would form the temporary New Jersey Foreclosure Relief Corporation for five years to buy foreclosed homes.
Towns would have 45 days to decide whether to buy the houses through the state’s $268 million affordable housing trust fund; if they did, they would get a two-for-one credit against affordable housing obligations. (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)
In Arizona dissent, Scalia blasts Obama’s deportation stay, immigration policies
By Liz Goodwin, Yahoo! News | The Ticket – 14 hrs ago
In a stinging, 22-page dissent to Monday’s decision striking down most of Arizona’s tough anti-illegal immigration law, Justice Antonin Scalia criticized President Barack Obama’s announcement earlier this month that he would stay the deportation of young illegal immigrants and suggested that the federal government does not want to enforce its immigration laws.
“The president said at a news conference that the new program is ‘the right thing to do’ in light of Congress’s failure to pass the administration’s proposed revision of the Immigration Act,” Scalia, a Reagan appointee, wrote in his dissent. “Perhaps it is, though Arizona may not think so. But to say, as the Court does, that Arizona contradicts federal law by enforcing applications of the Immigration Act that the President declines to enforce boggles the mind.”
A study found long-term effects of stress may be the biggest cause of the disease
Tuesday June 26,2012
By Jo Willey
STRESSFUL lifestyles could be the key trigger for incurable Alzheimer’s disease, scientists believe.
Even the trauma of bereavement or moving home could bring on dementia.
Scientists funded by the Alzheimer’s Society are investigating the link and hope their findings could lead to new drug treatments to fight the disease.
A study at the University of Kuopio in Finland has found that the long-term effects of stress may be the biggest cause of the disease.
When stressed, our blood pressure rises as our heart beats faster and levels of the hormone cortisol in the bloodstream also increase.
Experts believe once cortisol enters the brain it starts to kill off cells there, leading to Alzheimer’s.
