Former Ridgewood resident Mike Janke and RHS alumni to paint Ridgewood’s sky for 4th of July
Tuesday July 3, 2012, 12:58 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
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Former Ridgewood resident Mike Janke is an artist who literally paints the sky.
For about 15 years, Janke has been one of the people behind the Ridgewood Independence Day fireworks display. Formerly a private fireworks contractor, he now works with the company Fireworks Extravaganza, which has lit up the Ridgewood skies for the past four years on July 4.
“We call ourselves artists, and the sky is our canvas,” said Janke, who was raised in Ridgewood and attended Ridgewood High School.
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan Wishing All A Happy Independence Day
I think it’s also important to reflect for a moment on the meaning of this day and the incalculable value of liberty and political freedom we enjoy as Americans.
Ours is a truly unique nation, whose ancestors battled for liberty and created an oasis of freedom that has attracted people from around the world to our shores. The American Dream – the right to own your property, worship as you wish, vote for whomever you want – is still alive more than 230 years since Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers courageously declared that ours would become a new, independent nation that allows its citizens to chart their own course in life.
And let us not forget the men and women of our Armed Forces who serve our country so bravely.
We live in the greatest county in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
I hope you all enjoy this very special All-American holiday!
On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain.
On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain. Of the 13 colonies only New York did not vote for it. They abstained because the delegates from that colony lacked orders. They came a week later. So even though New York did not vote for independence, when the time came for the signing, their delegates were able to put their name to it.
John Adams thought that this day would be celebrated as America’s birthday for it was on this day that we chose to be free.
“It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
After 236 years of freedom, let us not trade it way for a false sense of security.
Bring your family and friends – Ridgewood’s July 4th Celebration on Wednesday, July 4th. Buy your tickets for the Fireworks in advance and save! Local Stores are selling tickets now or buy on line www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org
Schedule of Activities
9 AM – Flag Raising at Wilsey Square (near train station)
10 AM – Parade (Rain or Shine)
6 PM – Gates open for Fireworks – musical entertainment, twirlers, skydivers and FIREWORKS at dark.
North Jersey towns turn to donors To keep July 4th fireworks alive
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Last updated: Tuesday July 3, 2012, 7:33 AM
BY KATHERIN DRIESSEN AND JAKE HYMAN
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
Fourth of July fireworks and events across North Jersey
North Jersey towns that struggle to pay for costly but cherished Fourth of July fireworks displays are increasingly relying on hefty and sometimes unpredictable commercial donations to help light up the skies.
Using everything from red-white-and-blue-themed donation websites to direct mailings sent out as early as September, towns are desperately appealing to businesses’ sense of patriotism in the hopes they will open up their pocketbooks.
The approach is different in each municipality — some, like Paramus, now rely solely on commercial and resident donors while others, like Ridgewood and Clifton, offset costs by also charging admission to the show. But across the board, more towns are offering less financial support for the festivities.
Homeland Security Report Lists ‘Liberty Lovers’ As Terrorists
Americans who are “suspicious of centralized federal authority, reverent of individual liberty” deemed domestic threat
Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A new study funded by the Department of Homeland Security characterizes Americans who are “suspicious of centralized federal authority,” and “reverent of individual liberty” as “extreme right-wing” terrorists.
Entitled Hot Spots of Terrorism and Other Crimes in the United States, 1970-2008 (PDF), the study was produced by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland. The organization was launched with the aid of DHS funding to the tune of $12 million dollars.
While largely omitting Islamic terrorism – the report fails completely to mention the 1993 World Trade Center bombing – the study focuses on Americans who hold beliefs shared by the vast majority of conservatives and libertarians and puts them in the context of radical extremism.
The report takes its definitions from a 2011 study entitled Profiles of Perpetrators of Terrorism, produced by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, in which the following characteristics are used to identify terrorists.
NJ Tea Party Coalition will be celebrating the birth of our country by marching in the Ridgewood July 4th Parade
NJ Tea Party Coalition will be celebrating the birth of our country by marching in the Ridgewood July 4th Parade with a large float supported by American Patriots, members of NJTPC!
Any veteran who cannot walk can ride on the float.
The year’s theme is “Born in New Jersey”
North Jersey Regional Tea Party and the Jersey City Tea Party Alliance, great friends of ours will also be joining us for this event….they and NJTPC were all “BORN” in NJ! The counties of Bergen, Passaic and Hudson will all be represented by the marchers.
If you would like to march in this year’s parade, expect to arrive by 9:00 AM to queue up. We will meet on Monroe Street and West Ridgewood Avenue. Information will be posted on the website at www.njteapartycoalition.org
The parade should end around noon or shortly thereafter, and thus you will have time for family activities if you leave at that time. Should you choose to stay after the parade, a schedule of the Ridgewood activities AFTER the parade can be found: https://www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org
Tell your friends and bring them with you to march with us or cheer us on from the sidelines- get the word out……let’s all come together in support of this great day, July 4th!
Please wear your tea party shirt or a red, white or blue t-shirt, but no slogans or signs – thank you for your understanding of the parade guidelines.
“Ambitious” program to reduce diesel pollution racks up one retrofit
A much-touted pilot program to reduce harmful pollution from off-road construction vehicles only has retrofitted one of hundreds of pieces of equipment targeted for upgrades, according to the Office of the State Auditor.
The audit of a range of programs initiated by the state Department of Environmental Protection found, by and large, a diesel retrofit program targeting school buses, waste-hauling vehicles, and commercial buses was working reasonably well.
But the eight-page audit suggested improvements should be made to the verification of the retrofitted off-road equipment, which, according to the governor’s office, accounts for one-third of toxic mobile source diesel particulate emissions in New Jersey. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
Gift card provider will return to N.J. market after change in law
A major gift card provider, InComm, announced Monday it would immediately return its gift cards, including Visa and MasterCard gift cards, to the Garden State.
“We plan to continue selling gift cards in New Jersey indefinitely as long as there is no requirement to collect consumer data at the point of sale,” said Brooks Smith, president and CEO of InComm, in the company’s announcement. “InComm intends to spend the next four years working to have any such data collection requirement permanently removed from the law.” (Caliendo, NJBIZ)
Hospitals group offers ACA penalty calculator for employers
While the individual mandate received the most attention while the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 was under Supreme Court review, the clauses making up the “employer mandate” are forcing employers to make difficult decisions about benefits.
To help with these complex decisions about offering coverage to employees, the New Jersey Hospital Association launched a new tool on Monday called RIPE – Reform Insurance Penalty Estimator – to help employers determine if they are at risk for penalties.
Under the law, by 2014, employers with more than 50 employees who do not offer insurance will face a penalty. Employers who do provide insurance but not meet federal requirements of affordability and “essential” coverage can also face penalties. (Caliendo, NJBIZ)
Sen. Lesniak angry at Christie veto of state “land grab bill”
After building support among Realtors, developers, banks and housing advocates in New Jersey for legislation to transform foreclosed homes into affordable housing, Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) was angered — but not at all surprised — when Gov. Chris Christie took a veto pen to his measure on Friday.
“Foreclosed homes are a huge drag on economic development and job growth. Everybody knows that, but not (Christie),” Lesniak said. “We put in a lot of effort and had a lot of support behind this, and he just dismissed it with a stroke of a pen. He’s not coming up with any ideas. I’m gonna try to come up with something else, but it’s not gonna matter if the governor doesn’t care.” (Eder, NJBIZ)
Christie asks N.J. lawmakers to turn tax increase into cuts
Whether it takes a day, a week or months for New Jersey lawmakers to pass a tax cut, the outcome would be the same: no relief until at least 2013, if then.
Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, conditionally vetoed a measure backed by Democrats to raise the income-tax rate on those earning $1 million or more a year. He sent the bill back and convened a special legislative session yesterday with an appeal to produce a levy rollback.
“A bipartisan tax-cut plan is on all of your desks right now,” Christie said in remarks to lawmakers yesterday. “Let’s show our state we can work together and finish the job before we leave.” Tomorrow is a U.S. holiday, Independence Day. (Dopp and Young, Bloomberg)
8,733,461: Workers on Federal ‘Disability’ Exceed Population of New York City
By Terence P. Jeffrey
July 2, 2012
(CNSNews.com) – A record of 8,733,461 workers took federal disability insurance payments in June 2012, according to the Social Security Administration. That was up from 8,707,185 in May.
It also exceeds the entire population of New York City, which according to the Census Bureau’s latest estimate hit 8,244,910 in July 2011.
There has been a dramatic shrinkage in the United States over the past 20 years in the number of workers actually employed and earning paychecks per worker who is not employed and is taking federal disability insurance payments.
Nude Photo ‘Sexts’ Sent By One In Four Teens, Study Finds
By Jeanna Smialek – Jul 2, 2012 4:13 PM ET
More than a quarter of American teenagers sent nude photos of themselves electronically, and those who engaged in ‘sexting’ were almost twice as likely as their peers to have had sex, researchers found.
About half of almost 1,000 students ages 14 to 19 from seven public high schools in Texas said they had been asked to send a naked photo electronically, according to a study published today in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Another third reported asking someone else to send them a nude picture.
The study found the 28 percent of teens who exchanged nude messages were more likely to have sex. Pediatricians and other adults should ask about sexual messaging to screen for other sexual behavior, said Jeff Temple, a researcher from University of Texas Medical Branch Health in Galveston and the study’s lead author.
