River rehab project banks gold star for Ridgewood department
MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2012, 2:18 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A project that village officials deemed necessary last fall has earned the Ridgewood Engineering Department high praise from a prestigious New Jersey organization this year.
The awards committee at the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers (NJSME) put the gold star on Ridgewood’s Saddle River Stream Bank Erosion and Sanitary Restoration, honoring the village project with one of its annual prizes.
Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser and the department were recognized last Wednesday during the NJSME’s annual awards ceremony, receiving second place for Project of the Year under the Municipal Construction Project A category.
The project team included Rutishauser, Assistant Engineer Jovan Mehandzic and Senior Engineering Aide Peter Affuso, with construction overseen by Department of Public Works Inspector Thomas Rica.
“It showed we have the “talent and abilities to produce work product comparable with the best private consulting “firms,” Rutishauser said of the recognition.
MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2012, 12:45 PM
BY MOLLY RAPAPORT
CORRESPONDENT
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
For village residents, Ridgewood retailers have two words: shop local.
“It’s the heartbeat of Ridgewood,” said Mango Jam owner Tony Damiano.
Expressing cautious optimism about sales this holiday season, local business owners strongly encourage village residents to shop close to home.
“I want to encourage all residents to patronize local shops first,” said Walter Boyer of Bookends. “It’s a tough business environment, and it can be better if people continue to think local.”
While the economy remains a challenge, small business owners are nonetheless seeing success.
Ridgewood’s ‘Toy Hunter’ talks season’s hottest toys
MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2012, 2:27 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
If you don’t yet have a holiday gift for the child or adult geek in your life, you better not cry – Ridgewood’s own “Toy Hunter” is already in town.
Even better, professional toy devotee Jordan Hembrough, a Ridgewood resident whose Travel Channel show about toy collecting aired its first season’s finale episode earlier this week, has shared some gift tips with The Ridgewood News.
For children, Hembrough suggested the new Furby or the collector’s edition holiday Barbie.
The animatronic Furby toys, said Hembrough, are selling out after recently being “reinvented” by Hasbro. The toy now can interact with other Furbies and even has a related iPhone app that can translate “Furbish” to English.
In December 2011, Emily, 17, realized she could help the homeless & working poor in her community by knitting warm winter hats for them. On December 27, 2011 Emily’s Hats For Hope Initiative was born. Since then Emily has been making a difference in the world, one hat at a time.
She has donated warm winter items to several NJ based outreach organizations, including soup kitchens in Morristown & Dover, the Father English Community Center in Paterson, the InterFaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains, & Trinity Church in Asbury Park. Hats were brought to Elmira, NY, and to the Second Congregational Church in Jeffersonville, Vermont. 1,100 hats were sent to the Jersey Shore for people drastically affected by Superstorm Sandy. We were asked by the organization “From Houses To Homes-Guatemala” to supply hats to women and children in Guatemala. We delivered hats, scarves, afghans, canned food, toiletries, etc to the residents of “Tent City” in Lakewood, NJ. These men and women lost their homes, cars, and jobs and are now living in the woods in Lakewood, NJ. We also donated hats to the Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter.
A number of members of Emily’s Facebook group have created independent “spin-offs” of Emily’s Hats For Hope Initiative in their home states of (2 in CA), FL, IA, IL, IN, KY, ME, MI, MO, NC, NE, NH, (2 in NJ), OK, PA, TN, (2 in VA) , WA and in Ontario, Canada and Denmark. We are in the process of starting a spin-off in Tijuana, Mexico, London, England and Australia along with several other states in the US. We also have independent spin-offs in Atlantic County & Ocean County, NJ for people to donate warm winter items for Hurricane Sandy relief. Emily’s long- term goal is to have a spin-off in every state & on every continent.
Emily started this Facebook group, which now has over 2,000 members. Many have sent hats, scarves, afghans & yarn to us as donations. She has received winter hats from as far away as Canada, Iceland, & England. It is phenomenal how much support her initiative has received from around the world!
Emily has received letters of recognition from NJ Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco, NJ Governor Chris Christie and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen. She was interviewed by NBC in NYC on the Evening Nightly News With Chuck Scarborough in July 2012 and has been interviewed by The Daily Record, The Morris Newsbee, and Morristown Patch (NJ newspapers).
Please join Emily as she continues towards her goal of 5,000 winter hats by her high school graduation in June 2013.
You can send winter hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, blankets, afghans to:
New tree policy is taking shape in Ridgewood
MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2012, 2:24 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Village Council is mulling over a proposed shade tree policy that, if approved, will bring changes that reflect environmental and economical concerns while fundamentally preserving Ridgewood’s identity as a community of tree-lined streets.
A new ordinance will also give the village the potential to launch a shade tree commission.
Council members emphasize that discussion over the various components of the plan, which was presented last week by members of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), will continue during future meetings.
REAC has stressed the need for a new tree ordinance for several years and has been drafting the policy, which features elements borrowed from the Township of Hanover’s code, for the greater portion of 2012. That need was highlighted in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which uprooted hundreds of trees and caused widespread property damage.
To reduce damage during future storms, REAC is proposing an ordinance that will end tree-planting in the public right of way. Felled trees that were located in the area between the curb and sidewalk caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to public and private property, said Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh.
Obama, Boehner move closer to ‘cliff’ deal : More debt more taxes
By Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane, Published: December 17
President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner moved close to agreement Monday on a plan to avert the year-end “fiscal cliff,” but they had yet to clear several critical hurdles, including winning the support of wary House Republicans.
Obama and Boehner (R-Ohio) huddled at the White House for 45 minutes Monday morning for their third conversation in the past five days. Later, Boehner met for an hour at the Capitol with his leadership team in advance of a briefing Tuesday morning for the entire House GOP that could be a crucial test of Boehner’s ability to sell the deal.
Behind the scenes, administration officials and senior Republican aides continued to make progress. Obama laid out a counteroffer that included significant concessions on taxes, reducing the amount of new revenue he is seeking to $1.2 trillion over the next decade and limiting the hike in tax rates to households earning more than $400,000 a year. Obama had previously sought $1.4 trillion in new revenue, with tax increases on income over $250,000.
Obama also gave ground on a key Republican demand — applying a less-generous measure of inflation across the federal government. That change would save about $225 billion over the next decade, with more than half the savings coming from smaller cost-of-living increases for Social Security beneficiaries.
In addition, Obama increased his overall offer on spending cuts and dropped his demand for extending the payroll tax holiday, which has benefited virtually every worker for the past two years. But he is still seeking $80 billion in new spending on infrastructure and unemployment benefits and an increase in the federal government’s borrowing limit large enough to avert any new fight over the issue for two years.
Boehner has offered a one-year debt-limit increase, and the fresh stimulus spending remains a sticking point, according to senior Republican aides, who also complained that the overall deal remains too tilted toward new taxes.
FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18: As per Executive Order No. 119 from Governor Chris Christie, all flags are to flown at half-staff on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 in recognition and mourning of the passing of the victims in Newtown, CT.
Christie looks ready for primetime; but is it ready for him
If Governor Christie had a choice, he would have spent the entirety of last week’s appearance on “The Daily Show” sharing intimate details of his recent “man hug” blessing from his idol, Bruce Springsteen.
SEA BRIGHT – Gov. Chris Christie said today a survey has been created for businesses to provide feedback on how they could get their businesses up and running as soon as possible after Sandy
(Minhaj Hassan; PolitickerNJ.com)
When US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration as the next Secretary of State, she turned Washington, D.C.’s attention to U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
The chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is widely reported to be the most likely next choice to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Assembly gets to work for a change : Bills to cut red tape before Assembly
Assembly taking up bills to end a fine, speed up permits and create jobs.
Lawmakers are pushing forward with their agenda to reduce businesses’ time and expense in dealing with government.
Two bills up for a full vote in the Assembly today would scrap fines for clerical errors made by applicants on state forms and would put all public notices of rule changes and meetings online. Another proposal would require each state agency to review and possibly change the way it issues permits to speed up the process
Tragic events such as shootings with mass casualties serve as a shocking reminder that violence can
happen anywhere, even in good schools in affluent communities. Parents who wonder whether a violent
event has troubled their children should face the issue head on by inviting their kids to talk.
Child care experts recommend listening first. Find out how your children feel, and then ask open-ended
questions. See what their reactions are and how they’re responding.
You know your children best. Tailor the type and amount of information you share based on their age and
maturity. For teenagers, knowledge is power. They may want specific details so they can feel more in
control. Watching the news together can provide an opportunity to talk about what issues come up—
emotionally and intellectually—as stories analyzing the tragedy unfold.
Don’t bombard younger children with too much information
Parents shouldn’t let younger children watch TV accounts of the violent events or be overexposed to
graphic photographs in newspapers and magazines. Don’t give pre-school and grade-school-age children
a lot of details, but if they have questions, answer them briefly. If they’re worried, be sure to ask them
what they’re worried about. Let them tell you their fears.
While acknowledging how scary and heartbreaking such incidents are, parents should also emphasize
that it is extremely rare for children to be hurt by this kind of violence. Remind children that there are
many adults who look out for their safety: teachers, neighbors, police.
Don’t pretend to have all the answers. It’s OK to say, “We may never know why it happened. Maybe
something was lacking in their lives.” Discuss what might have been missing. Children are very perceptive
about these things.
Watch for signs of stress
Children react to fear, stress or trauma in different ways. Over the next few weeks after a violent incident,
you may notice disrupted sleep patterns, frequent nightmares and/or insomnia; changes in eating habits,
loss of appetite or overeating; decline in school performance; lack of concentration; irritability or
prolonged depression. Younger children may display separation anxiety, not wanting to be left alone in a
room, or getting upset when parents leave the house. They may cling to parents more than usual.
Remember, these symptoms are common reactions to anxiety. However, if symptoms persist for longer
than six weeks and disrupt your child’s daily routine, seek help from a social worker, pediatrician or
psychologist. A professional cannot only help your child deal with his emotions, but can provide valuable
tips and guidance to parents.
How you react to a traumatic event gives your children clues on how to act. If you react with alarm, a child
may be more scared. The following tips may make it easier for you to talk to your children and alert you to
early warning signs of a child at risk:
How to talk to teenagers
1. Don’t force the issue. Let them know that you’re willing to listen when they’re ready to talk.
2. Ask open-ended questions about what they think or feel.
3. Don’t lecture, preach or interrupt.
4. Watch the news together and discuss the information in the broadcast.
5. Reassure them that it’s normal to feel anxious after such an incident. . Emphasize that such violence is rare.
How to talk to younger children
1. Don’t let young children be bombarded by graphic images on TV or in newspapers and
magazines.
2. Don’t bring up the subject of the violent event, but if children ask questions, answer them briefly
and honestly.
3. Remind children that there are many adults watching out for their safety.
4. Don’t pretend to have all the answers.
Resources
ValueOptions® Behavioral Healthcare Services
(800) 700-8646
Behavioral Health Appointment Assistance
(877) 298-3514
TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP): A video Web-based counseling service
https://www.humana-military.com/south/bene/health-wellness/triap.asp
Coyote advocate defends the predator’s presence in suburbia
SUNDAY DECEMBER 16, 2012, 8:33 PM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
MAYWOOD — Frank Vincenti pleaded the case in defense of coyotes Sunday, but not everyone in his audience was buying it.
Frank Vincent discusses coyotes at the Maywood Public Library.
Vincenti, founder of the non-profit Wild Dog Foundation, is a strong advocate for predators such as coyotes all over the United States, including New Jersey. He credited coyotes with being intelligent and “highly adaptable,” able to survive and thrive in suburban and urban environments, such as the Bronx and Queens.
Vincenti had just begun his talk on “The Coyotes Problem” at the Maywood Public Library when a borough resident interrupted him. She complained about the host of coyotes that she said are on her land 24 hours a day.
“I’m used to seeing a lot of baby coyotes, but now I saw one the other day, maybe two days ago, that was as big as a mountain lion,” said the woman, who declined to identify herself. “I don’t live in New Mexico. I pay over $12,000 a year in taxes in Maywood. I think I can sit out on my patio in peace, without encouraging people [about] how to live with coyotes.”
This July 2010 photo provided by the Newtown Bee shows Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Conn
Staffers hailed as heroes after Conn. school shooting
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY DECEMBER 16, 2012, 1:23 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWTOWN, Conn. — A worker who turned on the intercom, alerting others in the building that something was very wrong. A custodian who risked his life by running through the halls warning of danger. A clerk who led 18 children on their hands and knees to safety, then gave them paper and crayons to keep them calm and quiet.
Out of the ruins of families that lost a precious child, sister or mother, out of a tight-knit town roiling with grief, glows one bright spot: the stories of staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School who may have prevented further carnage through selfless actions and smart snap judgments.
District Superintendent Janet Robinson noted “incredible acts of heroism” that “ultimately saved so many lives.”
FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
