Month: January 2013

The Ridgewood Singers Welcomes new members at Wine and Cheese Open Rehearsal
Mon, January 14, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM
Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ

If you are looking for a chorus, choir or chorale in the Ridgewood area, you may be looking for us. Established in 1953, we are a community chorus of about fifty singers from many towns performing and practicing in Ridgewood, NJ. Our repertoire ranges from the classical choral to popular show tunes. This is a special year for The Ridgewood Singers as we celebrate out 60th year!

A second open rehearsal will be held on Monday, January 21 at 7:30 pm followed by auditions. All voice parts are encouraged to audition, however there is a great need for male voices especially bass. Auditions are casual and prepared music is unnecessary.

Regular rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ. The Rodgewood Singers perform winter and spring concerts each year. The spring concert will be on Sunday, April 28, 2013 and will feature music from movies. For more information, please call Cynthia at 201-207-3105, email us at theridgewoodsingers@yahoo.com, or visit our website theridgewoodsingers.com.

GIRL TALK and COCKTAILS
Thu, January 10, 2013
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique, 38 Oak Street Ridgewood, NJ 07450

GIRL TALK and COCKTAILS
SAVVY CHIC CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

Kick-off the New Year in Style!
We cordially invite you to AVConnexions’ Girl Talk and Cocktails a FREE interactive empowerment workshop for all women. This upcoming event features Guest Speaker, PERSONAL STYLIST and WARDROBE CONSULTANT Lisa Emelo, who will provide savvy tips on how to develop your own personal style. Lisa is a Certified Stylist for STYLE for HIRE, a national network of personal stylists trained and hand-picked by co-founder Stacy London of TLC’s “What Not To Wear”. Come treat yourself to great style tips, a couple of cocktails and a parting gift sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka at the Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique.

REGISTER NOW!
If you have any questions about this event or how to register, please call us at 201-632-5991 or email us at events@avconnexions.com.

Events by AVConnexions
Sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka
Hosted by Savy Chic

Commuter Cleaners Of Ridgewood

Ridgewood, NJ Dry Cleaners

Save up to 50% on your dry cleaning at Commuter Cleaners of Ridgewood, NJ. Our family owned and operated business has been offering quality dry cleaning services for more than 25 years. We work hard to achieve full customer satisfaction.

Hours of Business:
Monday to Friday – 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Commuter Cleaners
14 W. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: 201-857-0200

Namaste Organic Spa

Namaste Organic Spa is a full service spa that provides skin and body treatments that are relaxing and detoxifying without compromising their eco-friendly roots. Namaste Founder, Marisol Fitzgerald, is a certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, and the go-to source for holistic treatments such as Chakra Balancing, Reflexology, CranioSacral and Crystal therapies in Ridgewood. Each treatment was crafted by Marisol to provide an overall feeling of wellness for the mind, body and soul.

Namaste differs from most spas in that an hour massage is a full 60 minute, hands on treatment using only organic lotions, creams and oils. Namaste’s lotions, creams and oils are always paraben, propylene glycol and fragrance free!

Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Ridgewood, Namaste has been proudly offering organic treatments and products since November 2009. From beauty treatments such as Jane Iredale’s all natural make-up, to organic facials customized for your skin, to stress relieving organic massages – Namaste promises to only use products that are healthy and nourishing for your skin and great for our environment.

Hours
Monday: 10am – 7pm
Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Thursday: 10am – 7pm
Friday: 10am – 9pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Namaste Organic Spa
30 Franklin Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: 201-857-3646

Araya Rebirth

Araya Rebirth opened its doors in 2000 as a new concept for a new millennium. Once located at the intersection of Maple & Ridgewood Avenues, on the second floor, we have moved into the Historic District on the ground floor of the iconic building used as the model for Historical Ridgewood.

Araya Rebirth offers the finest in skin care, hair removal, massage & rejuvenation therapies. Our facial services are extensive and thorough ranging from European Facials to Microdermabrasion. At Araya we are committed to the science of skin and the most comprehensive product lines the spa industry has to offer.

In addition to Araya’s fame for skin care and product knowledge, make-up artistry is another specialty. Our team of make-up artists are committed to the trends of cosmetics and the art of photography make-up. Bridal hair & make-up styling are also amongst the strong talents that our style team has to offer. Portfolios are available for viewing at the studio.

Don’t forget to treat that special someone, or even yourself, to a special product or a spa gift certificate.

Araya Rebirth
10 Garber Sq.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: (201) 445-7005

Northern NJ Networking Group : Networking Event on January 30th

New Years Resolution…….Get out and Network!

Northern NJ Networking Group will host a Business Card exchange on Wednesday January 30th from 6pm-8:30pm at Brady’s at the Station, located at 5 West Main Street, Ramsey NJ 07446.. If you would like to meet other professionals in the North Jersey area and extend your personal network of professionals, this event is for you. The cost to attend is $15 at the door, which includes Happy Hour drink specials & delicious appetizers.

Please RSVP to scott.scarpelli@gmacm.com if you can attend and if you will bring a guest so the restaurant can accommodate for enough food. Parking is availabe across the street by the train station.

Visit their website:    https://bradysatthestation.net

Scott Scarpelli
GMAC Mortgage | Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS# 243165
33 Wood Ave, Suite 424 Iselin, NJ 08830
M + 201-470-9962 F + 866-767-8414
Scott.scarpelli@gmacm.com
www.gmacm.net/scott.scarpelli

Ridgewood Mayor’s Corner: On the agenda for the new year
Friday January 4, 2013, 12:57 PM
The Ridgewood News

Welcome to a new year and to my first Mayor’s Corner of 2013.

In 2012, I started this column in The Ridgewood News to open a window onto the work of the Village Council and to enhance our responsiveness to residents’ concerns, questions and suggestions. I hope it’s been working.

Council agenda

The council will meet three times in January – Jan. 9, 16 and 30. We will address several important topics, including the budget, shade tree policy and parking (downtown and at the high school).

All residents are encouraged to share their views on these and other issues – by speaking at any of our meetings, writing to us through email, calling us by phone, or even stopping us on the street.

New Year’s priorities (in alphabetical order)

In 2012, we began work on a range of priority issues. In 2013, we need to bring them to resolution, or at least make meaningful progress on them:

Budget: Private sector salaries continue to drop or remain stagnant, while the cost of government continues to rise. This is an unsustainable business model. We therefore need to fix the Village budget, bringing public salaries in line with private reality and looking for ways to do government differently.

To that end, I have asked several Ridgewood residents to volunteer their time and expertise to help us be more effective and more cost efficient. They plan to share their preliminary findings with us in early January, thus informing a much-needed conversation that began last fall. Going forward, we will continue to make the budget more transparent and more accessible to all residents.

Flood Mitigation: Under the leadership of Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser and his team, we made important progress last year with respect to flood mitigation, cleaning out some of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and Saddle River. We will keep this issue in our focus, because the “100 year” floods seem to happen almost annually.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/185671042_Ridgewood_Mayor_s_Corner__On_the_agenda_for_the_new_year.html

Senate President Steve Sweeney looks to extend Project Labor Agreements raising state construction costs to taxpayers
January 4th, 2013

Despite objections from business groups and contractors’ associations, the state Senate Budget Committee released a bill sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney that would extend “Project Labor Agreements” to formerly exempt public works construction projects such as highways, bridges, pumping stations, and water and sewage treatment plants.

Commerce and Industry Association ( CIANJ ) opposed the bill (S2425). Studies compiled by the state Department of Labor showed public works projects done with PLAs cost significantly more. PLAs are collective bargaining agreements signed before workers are hired for a specific project. Evan Piscitelli of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association testified that PLAs can adversely impact a project, creating situations where the contractor loses control of the job, resulting in delays. PLAs can also affect the bidding process, hampering competition.

Sweeney disputed contention that it would drive up costs. He also emphasized the bill is not mandatory, merely permissive. The Senate committee voted along party lines to release the bill.

https://www.cianj.org/business-beat/?postid=1813

CHART OF THE DAY: THE SCARIEST JOBS CHART EVER
Sam Ro    | Jan. 4, 2013, 10:39 AM | 1,323 | 4

It’s jobs day in America.

This morning we learned that the U.S. economy added 155k jobs December and the unemployment rate ticked up in 7.8 percent.

Although the numbers were in line with economists’ expectations, they still reflect a job market that remains incredibly weak almost four years into the economic recovery.

Calculated Risk runs a chart every month putting the current jobs recovery into perspective.

“This shows the depth of the recent employment recession – worse than any other post-war recession – and the relatively slow recovery due to the lingering effects of the housing bust and financial crisis,” writes Bill McBride of Calculated Risk.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/pct-job-losses-in-post-wwii-recessions-2013-1#ixzz2H1fOV1Pk

Early flu season accelerates; no peak yet, CDC says
By JoNel Aleccia, NBC News

The nation’s early flu season continued to grow in the U.S. this week, with no sign yet of a peak in the spread of coughing, achy, feverish illness, health officials said Friday.

“I think we’re still accelerating,” said Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman.

Twenty-nine states and New York City reported high levels of flu activity, up from 16 states and NYC the previous week. Flu was widespread in 41 states, up from 31 states, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of the week ending Dec. 29, 2,257 people had been hospitalized with flu, and 18 children had died from complications of the illness, CDC reported.

https://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/04/16329989-early-flu-season-accelerates-no-peak-yet-cdc-says?lite

Calling all Ridgewood Bad Parents: we’re in theaters 4 NIGHTS ONLY so get your tickets now!! https://badparentsmovie.com

Kathy (Janeane Garofalo), a suburban mom, signs her seven-year-old daughter up for club soccer thinking it will be a great change of pace from her own days of carpools, laundry, and household drudgery. With one stroke of the pen, Kathy finds herself thrust into the dog-eat-dog world of over-zealous hyper-competitive youth sports obsessed parents.

Coach Nick (Christopher Titus) in his relentless pursuit of team glory, divides the young players by ability, is worshipped by all: Melissa (Cheri Oteri) the perky, former cheerleader, know-it-all mom; her frenemy “mean mom” Allison (Rebecca Budig); Gary, the Assistant Coach (Michael Boatman) a perpetual outsider longing for his moment of acceptance from everyone including his ever-disapproving wife, Tracy (Kristen Johnston); divorcee, and desperate social climber, Laurie (Reiko Aylesworth); and, Melissa’s college-scholarship obsessed husband, Dan (Bill Sage).

The season races to a climax. The stakes get higher and higher as the team makes its way to the State Championship Cup Semi-Finals. Tensions are high. Adult tempers flare. What happens during the explosive final game shocks everyone. Featuring an ensemble of today’s funniest comedic actors “Bad Parents” is a witty, satirical comedy that exposes a world where “trophy kids” are like a new drug and addict parents will stop at nothing to insure their next fix.

Writer/Director Caytha Jentis, with insider authenticity, shares the absurd, yet very real world of suburban youth sports. With humor and heart, she exposes the void in parents’ lives that youth soccer fills. We know these people. They are our friends and neighbors. For everyone who has ever sat on the sidelines of their kids’ sporting events, for anyone who has dared to dream of making it big at any cost, this is your story. Are you THAT

Workers making $30,000 will take a bigger hit on their pay than those earning $500,000 under new fiscal deal
By Hayley Peterson

Middle-class workers will take a bigger hit to their income proportionately than those earning between $200,000 and $500,000 under the new fiscal cliff deal, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

Earners in the latter group will pay an average 1.3 percent more – or an additional $2,711 – in taxes this year, while workers making between $30,000 and $200,000 will see their paychecks shrink by as much as 1.7 percent – or up to $1,784 – the D.C.-based think tank reported.

Overall, nearly 80 percent of households will pay more money to the federal government as a result of the fiscal cliff deal.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2256972/Middle-earners-hit-hardest-revealed-workers-making-30-000-bigger-hit-earning-500-000-new-fiscal-deal.html

New Jersey Recaptures the Title as Top state to Flee from
January 4 2012
the staff of the Ridegwood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to an annual study conducted by the moving company United Van Lines ,the top-five outbound states for 2012 are : New Jersey ,Illinois, West Virginia, New York,  and New Mexico . New Jersey (62 percent) displaced the outbound leader from last year, Illinois (60 percent) reclaiming the top spot for high-outbound migration that it held in 2010.

Reasons are many ,including high costs of living, and jobs.

The Northeast of the US is the most well-represented region on the high-outbound traffic list. In addition to New Jersey, New York (58 percent), Maine (56 percent) and Connecticut (56 percent) are also included.

Michigan (58 percent) and Wisconsin (55 percent) along with Illinois represented the Great Lakes region. Michigan fell to the No. 6 from the No. 4 spot it held in 2011. Previously, it had claimed the top outbound spot every year from 2006-2009.

Kentucky (55 percent) joined West Virginia (58 percent) as the only Southern states to appear on the high outbound list. New Mexico (58 percent) was the only Western state to appear on the list.

 

Matt Damon called ‘liar’ by pro-fracking filmmaker
By PATRICK GAVIN | 1/3/13 3:34 PM EST

Fracking fans have a new target: Matt Damon.

“Promised Land,” the new Gus Van Sant film about the controversial technique that acquires natural gas through drilling and pressurized fluid, stars and was written by Damon and costar John Krasinski, opens nationally Friday.

Phelim McAleer is launching a one-man campaign to call Damon out about the film. McAleer directed the documentary FrackNation, along with his wife Ann McElhinney, and the film paints a more sympathetic portrayal of fracking and aims to dispel some of the misinformation that McAleer and McElhinney believe have dominated the debate over the procedure’s environmental and health impact.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/matt-damon-called-liar-by-pro-fracking-filmmaker-85733.html#ixzz2GwuQhonY