Mitch McConnell seeks FBI investigation over campaign office bugging
By LOIS ROMANO and KEVIN ROBILLARD | 4/9/13 10:43 AM EDT Updated: 4/9/13 5:22 PM EDT
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s reelection campaign asked the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office on Tuesday to investigate how Mother Jones magazine obtained a recording of a February strategy session.
“Senator McConnell’s campaign is working with the FBI and has notified the local U.S. Attorney in Louisville, per FBI request, about these recordings,” McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton said in a statement. “Obviously a recording device of some kind was placed in Senator McConnell’s campaign office without consent. By whom and how that was accomplished presumably will be the subject of a criminal investigation.”
Added a source close to the campaign: “We’re going on the assumption that a crime has been committed. No one at the meeting leaked this.”
Streetlight outages prompt concerns in Ridgewood
Tuesday April 9, 2013, 11:09 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Some Ridgewood residents believe they are being left in the dark – literally and figuratively – about streetlight outages.
PSE&G officials insist the company fixes streetlight outages as quickly as possible, but some residents and village officials who report outages allege the utility company has been slow to make repairs.
Roger Wiegand, a 70-year resident, has been voluntarily surveying the village’s streetlights since the mid-1970s. He drives around Ridgewood about once a month and then reports dozens of outages to Ridgewood’s engineering division, which reports them to PSE&G.
School districts to pay more for school construction projects
By Jarrett Renshaw/The Star-Ledger
updated April 08, 2013 at 8:46 PM
TRENTON — Hundreds of school districts will pay more in debt service on construction projects for the budget year beginning July 1, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said today.
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said Gov. Chris Christie failed to mention the increased borrowing costs when he unveiled his $32.8 billion budget for fiscal 2014 in February and touted that state aid to school districts remained relatively flat.
“The headlines said schools are being held harmless, but that’s just misleading,” Sarlo told Eristoff at a Senate Budget Committee hearing.
Since 2011, the Economic Development Authority has charged school districts 15 percent of the borrowing costs for school construction projects, with the state picking up the remaining tab.
Jill Smokler & Tracey Beckerman at Bookends Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00PM
Blogger Sensation & Lost in Suburbis Columnist , will sign their new books: Motherhood Comes Naturally & Lost in Suburbia ,Books available April 2nd
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt. Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change. Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings. Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to insure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Trust in Gold Not Bernanke as U.S. States Promote Bullion
By Amanda J. Crawford – Apr 8, 2013 5:52 PM ET
Distrust of the Federal Reserve and concern that U.S. dollars may become worthless are fueling a push in more than a dozen states to recognize gold and silver coins as legal tender.
Arizona is poised to follow Utah, which authorized bullion for currency in 2011. Similar bills are advancing in Kansas, South Carolina and other states.
The measures backed by the limited-government Tea Party movement are mostly symbolic — you still can’t pay for groceries with gold in Utah. They reflect lingering dollar concerns, amplified by the Fed’s unconventional moves in recent years to stabilize the economy, said Loren Gatch, who teaches politics at the University of Central Oklahoma.
“The legislation is about signaling discontent with monetary policy and about what Ben Bernanke is doing,” said Gatch, who studies alternative currencies at the Edmond, Oklahoma-based school. “There is a fear that the government, or Bernanke in particular and the Federal Reserve, is pursuing a policy that will lead to the collapse of the dollar. That’s what is behind it.”
Bernanke has pushed interest rates to near zero since the 18-month recession that began in December 2007. The Fed said in March it would continue buying $85 billion in securities each month in a program known as quantitative easing that has ballooned its assets beyond $3 trillion and is aimed at keeping long-term borrowing costs low to support economic growth.
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital will host Adopt-A-Pet Day May 19th!
April 9,2013
Ridgewood NJ, Due to high demand, Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital is hosting its first Spring Adopt-A-Pet Day event.
Save the date for what will be an exciting, fun-filled day! We have up to 25 Rescue/Shelter Organizations participating, and we expect to have over 250 pets available for adoption.
Stop by to meet the animals and get ready to welcome home your newest family member! See you Sunday, May 19th! A pet will be awaiting your love and care from 11am-4pm. 🙂
The Society Café Concert Series offers a series of acoustic singer/songwriter, folk and Americana concerts at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. Wine, dessert and coffee, all provided by local vendors, are available before the shows and during intermission. The next concert will be on Saturday evening, April 20th, and features the folk music of Tom Chapin. In a career that spans five decades, 23 albums and three Grammy awards, multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. As a music-maker, Chapin has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children’s music. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in films, television and radio. “One of the greatest personalities in contemporary folk music” – The New York Times “Totally captivating” – Billboard Magazine Music starts at 8. We start serving wine and dessert at 7 when doors open.
Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased via PayPal on the Society Café website, www.societycafeconcertseries.com. Tickets are $25 the night of the concert. For any booking inquiries or information about the series, contact Mark Meding at m.meding@att.net. The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood is located at 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, www.uuridgewood.org. Office: 201-444-6225
6TH GRADE SPRING MIXER At Ridgewood Community Center
RIDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXERS Sponsored by Ridgewood Recreation and the NJ Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Village teens have the opportunity to come together as both George Washington and Ben Franklin Middle Schools join to form a “mixer”. Each evening offers students a chance to get acquainted with future classmates while enjoying music and dancing with DJ Sound Illusion, refreshments, fun and games. 6th Grade – Friday, April 12th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm 7th/8th Grades – Friday, April 19th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm (Ridgewood teens only)
The Anne Zusy Youth Center, 131 N. Maple Avenue (NOTE: all parents must drop off and pick up youth in the rear lot of Village Hall at the Community Center entrance.) A donation of $8 will be requested at the door. All donations will benefit the Community Center. Adult chaperones are always needed. Please contact the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 if you are able to volunteer.
The building of a 12000 square foot new municipal garage. Building at least one parking garage if not two. 30 thousand dollar over the grant for handicap ramp at the Gaydon Pool.
Allowing the over building of apartments in the CBD that may lead to an influx of students which will lead to redistricting and higher school taxes.
Where is the money coming from? Will Mayor Aronsohn (The Carpetbagger), Deputy Mayor Pucciarell (Big Al The Developers Friend) and Councilwoman Hauck (Clueless in Ridgewood) follow our presidents lead and put the future residents of Ridgewood in debt.
Where is the new group that was formed by Mr Bombace, Mr. Fedscott and Mr. Sullivan (Concerned Taxpayers of Ridgewood) Are there no more meeting at Blend?
Eagle Scout Project Unveiled at Grove Park – Sunday, April 14
The Wildscape Association invites everyone to see the new improvements to Grove Park – Sunday, April 14 at 1PM meet at the Grove Park Sign. Suggest parking on Berkshire and walk to entrance.
Kurt Schnaars has completed his Eagle Scout project at Grove Park.
Come welcome Spring in the Village’s Grove Park! Eagle Scout candidate Kurt Schnaars from Troop 5, has recently completed his project to refurbish and open up the trails in the park after Hurricane Sandy’s effects. Kurt led troops of scouts and volunteers from Ridgewood Wildscape in clearing trails, laying down a woodchip ground cover, and delineating trail edges throughout the park.
Grove Park is a beautiful natural deciduous hardwood forest adjacent to the Saddle River, just south of Grove Street. The trails are marked. Come welcome Spring in one of the Village’s beautiful parks.
The Ridgewood blog was founded in March of 2006 by James J Foytlin aka PJ Blogger . Mr. Foytlin was born and raised in Ridgewood ,New Jersey and is a graduate of Ridgewood High School .
After many years living in New York City[4] Mr Foytlin returned to Ridgewood after a divorce and the tragic events of 9/11 . Once he settled in he noticed a lack of sufficient news coverage of local events . One day a friend from Brazil[5] showed him her home town on the internet and to Mr. Foytlin’s great surprise when he tried to reciprocate he was utterly dismayed at the absolute lake coverage of his home town. After all Ridgewood is only 18 miles from midtown Manhattan[6] the media capitol of world and there was not a single picture of Ridgewood to be found . How could this be? Ridgewood is a picturesque upper middle class village of around 25,000 located in Bergen county in northern New Jersey[7] . Founded by Dutch settlers before it became an English colony[8] . The town or village as its called is steeped in rich history and tradition .Known for a large amount of Victorian era housing , a quality school system and a family friendly atmosphere.
Though busy getting reacquainted with his home town the fact that the Village of Ridgewood was so under represented on the internet continued to disturb Mr. Foytlin. Mr. Foytlin had been writing news letters for his job in financial services since the mid 1990’s . The popular flip, off beat investment strategy news letters had become email blasts with the advent of readily accessible internet.[9] By 2004 the email blasts were converted into blog format for the One Small Voice blog ( https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/ ). [10]
Around that time the Village of Ridgewood had finally completed it’s much anticipated and long delayed renovation of the Village hall which has been flooded out due to Hurricane Floyd.[11] The renovation was marred by huge cost over runs and lengthy delays. In 2005 it opened with great fan fare , was once again flooded with the very first rain . Mr. Foytlin was more shocked by the abject lack of responsibility taken by elected officials than the fact that the $9 million dollar renovation had to some extent been a failure . That was the breaking point and Mr. Foytlin had had enough so he decided to give , citizen journalism a go and created the Ridgewood blog in March of 2006. [12]
The birth of PJ Blogger .By this time Blogging its seems had become quite the rage and mainstream news anchors such as Dan Rather had questioned the validity of information from non professionals sitting around in their Pajama’s blogging.[13] Mr. Foytlin not a fan of Dan Rather or any of the mainstream media decided to blog under the name PJ Blogger as a play on words and to plant himself firmly in the camp of the new digital media.
Innovations by the Ridgewood blog to citizen journalism.
“The Fly” is a column on the Ridgewood blog the originates from the expression ,”I’d like to be a fly on the wall “ . The idea is that every citizen has both a unique perspective and experience and these two factors can be used to gather news and opinions about local issues. Originally only of handful of people in town participated but with time the Ridgewood blog can now count on 20–40 semi regular contributors. These post are both anonymous and signed and are largely opinion as well a breaking news.[14]
The Ridgewood blog brings a free market lassie fare point of view to local issues . Mr. Foytlin aka PJ Blogger has stated that for local issues there are only two kinds of people ;the ones who say spend what every you want because I will not be around to pay the bill and the second group which are more focused on the ,”be careful this is my money your spending” . The Ridgewood blog is dedicated to the interplay of there two groups.[15]
[1][12] the Ridgewood blog website https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
[2] Birth Certificate born in Valley Hospital , Ridgewood 04/09/1962
[3] Ridgewood High School Class 1980
[4] 444 East 86th street ,530 East 72nd
[5] Monica Rocha
[6] Mapquest
[7] United States 2000 Census, the village population was 24,936.
[8] https://www.americantowns.com/nj/ridgewood/organization/vi…
[9] Fahnestock & Co. now Oppenheimer & Co.
[10] https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/
[11] https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/localhistory/lh_vh_pease.htm
[13] https://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110005611
[14] [15] James J Foytlin
N.J.’s warming weather prompts caution on wildfires
Monday April 8, 2013, 6:09 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER
The Record
With temperatures expected to climb over the next few days, state officials cautioned Monday about the increasing risk of wildfires as New Jersey enters the heart of wildfire season.
Firefighters battled a small brushfire Monday that charred a few acres of forest floor in Oakland, and other brushfires popped up around the state, including one in the Morris County community of Budd Lake. This year’s largest wildfire occurred last weekend, when 150 acres burned in a remote section of Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.
“This is the time of year when things get hairy for wildfires,” said Michael Gallagher, a research technician with the U.S. Forest Service who is conducting wildfire research in New Jersey’s Pinelands, where the state’s largest wildfires historically occur.
“Temperatures start to get warmer, there’s lower relative humidity and that helps dry out the fuels lying on the forest floor, such as leaf litter and dead twigs and branches,” said Gallagher, a graduate student at Rutgers University.
“That, combined with cabin fever, and you have more people outside, perhaps camping, or flicking a cigarette out their car window,” he said.
PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama’s IOUs start coming due
By CALVIN WOODWARD
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential campaigns are long in the making, quick to be forgotten. But one part of them lives on for years: the victor’s promises.
President Barack Obama paved his path to re-election with fewer promises than in 2008. The ones he did lay down, though, are meaty, legacy-shaping for him and consequential to ordinary lives today and for generations to come, for better or worse.
They also are extraordinarily difficult to achieve in a time of gridlock grief and budgets that are tight when they are not paralyzed.
He’s promised to set a course in law against global warming, stop Iran from gaining the ability to make nuclear weapons, slash America’s use of foreign oil, restrain college costs, take a big bite out of the national debt even while protecting the heart of the big entitlement programs and overhaul immigration law.
He’s promised to make health insurance not only universally accessible, but “affordable,” through a 2010 health care law that is finally entering prime time and will soon be tested
Ridgewood school budget presented to students
Monday April 8, 2013, 9:21 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Students also praised the talk, noting that they wanted more events like this.
“I wish you [Dr. Fishbein] could come more often to explain to the students exactly what is going on,” said senior student representative Jared Rosenfeld at last Monday’s BOE meeting.
Senior Zach Flicker, who was reminded to register to vote, said it was “meaningful on a lot of levels.”
“I would actually like to see more things like that,” he said.
Of the state’s hundreds of school districts, Ridgewood is one of just 41 districts still holding April elections since a law was passed in January 2012 allowing districts to move annual school elections from April to the November General Election.
According to a New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) report published last month, 33 communities moved their school board elections to November in 2013. In total, 501 districts conducted November elections this year. Some districts made the switch to save money.
Time for New Jersey Politicians and Media to take the current state economic calamity far more serious
April 8,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Could there be anymore proof of the continued cluelessness of Trenton politicians and the New Jersey media that covers them ,than the following blog by Matt Friedman.
With over 10% unemployment and New Jersey rated one of the highest taxed and least hospitable states for business in the US , one can only wonder who gay or straight can afford to get married if you don’t have a job.
Gays , straights or undecideds will not live anywhere there are no job prospects , no economic opportunity and a very high cost of living .
New Jersey continues to lose population as residents flee for better job prospects almost anywhere . Mean while state politicians in Trenton spent almost a year debating seat belts for dogs , led by non other than Barbra Bruno herself.
The state faces a serious financial crisis , with Governor Christie offering after almost 4 years in office one of the only sane voices in the state . It is high time for the state to take the current fiscal calamity that begun back with the Whitman administration and accelerated through Corzine in a far more serious fashion.
Could gay rights be Buono’s key to defeating Christie n gubernatorial race
TRENTON — There will be plenty of time to talk about property taxes and jobs closer to November.
