Planned civil service changes irk N.J. state workers
By Jane M. Von Bergen, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: June 17, 2013
New Jersey public employees are bracing for what their union leaders say is the latest anti-worker onslaught by the Christie administration.
The New Jersey Civil Service Commission, all of whose members are Gov. Christie’s appointees, has proposed sweeping changes it says would streamline the promotion process, making it easier to advance top-notch people.
That’s not how the unions see it. They say the changes would invite cronyism and political favoritism, discouraging state, county, and municipal workers who don’t want to play politics.
“It’s often been said that one man’s flexibility is another man’s cronyism,” Ben Dworkin, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, pointed out.
“The major benefit of the . . . program,” the proposed regulations say, “would be the provision of greater flexibility in the advancement of employees.”
Exactly, said Hetty Rosenstein, the New Jersey leader of the Communications Workers of America, the union that represents most public employees in the state.
Jersey drivers admit to shaving, drinking, reading newspapers behind the wheel
By Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger
If you are reading this story while driving — get your eyes back on the road.
Five percent of drivers polled in a survey by a New Jersey auto insurance group said they have browsed the internet while driving, and 2 percent said they have read the newspaper while behind the wheel.
Twelve percent of those polled by Plymouth Rock Assurance said they have tried to drive while doing personal grooming such as shaving, applying makeup or combing or brushing their hair.
The survey broke into statistical detail what our eyes have already told us — we share the road with some dangerous drivers.
Sharyl Attkisson Shares Update On Computer Hacking Investigation
June 17, 2013 2:22 PM
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Just days after CBS News confirmed that reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s computer had indeed been hacked, Attkisson spoke to Dom Giordano about the investigation.
“This suspicious activity has been going on for quite some time – both on my CBS computer and my personal computer,” Attkisson said. “CBS then hired its own independent cyber security firm, which has been conducting a thorough forensic exam … they were able to rule out malware, phishing programs, that sort of thing.”
Attkisson described some of the bizarre things that were happening with her computer.
IRS supervisor in DC scrutinized Tea Party groups’ cases
Published June 17, 2013
FoxNews.com
WASHINGTON – A Washington-based IRS supervisor acknowledged she was personally involved in reviewing Tea Party applications for tax-exempt status as far back as 2010, Fox News confirms — a detail that further challenges the agency’s initial claim that the practice of singling out those groups was limited to a handful of employees in Ohio.
Congressional sources confirmed to Fox News that Holly Paz, who until recently was a top deputy in the division that handles applications for tax-exempt status, told congressional investigators she reviewed 20 to 30 applications. Some requests languished for more than a year without action.
The account undercuts the narrative that senior officials only learned of the practice after it had already started in the Cincinnati office.
Details of Paz’s role were first reported by The Associated Press. Still, Paz provided no evidence that senior IRS officials ordered agents to target conservative groups or that anyone in the Obama administration outside the IRS was involved.
‘NSA should come clean about domestic spying’: Ray Kelly
By JENNIFER BAIN
Last Updated: 6:18 PM, June 17, 2013
Posted: 4:09 PM, June 17, 2013
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly launched a stinging rebuke to the federal government’s secret phone and Internet monitoring campaign — and suggested leaker Edward Snowden was right about privacy “abuse.”
“I don’t think it ever should have been made secret,” Kelly said today, breaking ranks with US law-enforcement officials.
His blast came days after the Obama administration and Attorney General Eric Holder outraged New York officials by endorsing a federal monitor for the NYPD.
Kelly appeared to firmly reject Holder’s claim that disclosure of the monitoring campaign seriously damaged efforts to fight terrorism.
Ridgewood officials asked to support new cell phone law
MONDAY JUNE 17, 2013, 9:15 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Motorists involved in car accidents might one day be asked to show their license, registration – and cell phone.
A new bill making its way through the state Senate will, if ratified, permit law enforcement to seize and search the cell phones of drivers following a motor vehicle crash. The intent of the potential legislation is to determine whether the driver had been distracted by the use of a hand-held phone.
Under the proposal, police will be allowed to search a driver’s cell phone after an accident without a subpoena, but the responding officer must have reasonable grounds to believe a violation occurred. Police will be instructed to immediately return the phone to the driver after it is checked, according to the bill.
The bill’s primary sponsor, Ocean County-based Sen. James Holzapfel, said the crackdown is focused on motorists who either text or talk on the phone while driving
High bids stall RHS Learning Commons project
MONDAY JUNE 17, 2013, 9:18 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
There was bad news, but then there was good news.
Three construction bids for the renovation of the Ridgewood High School (RHS) library – expected to cost the roughly $1 million that the community has already raised – each came back in excess of $1 million. The unanticipated additional costs will delay the project’s construction and completion date, meaning construction will likely begin in the fall and continue during the school year.
But the good news is that the additional costs should be covered by new state grant money now being offered for school facilities projects.
It is very likely that the grant money will come through, said Superintendent Daniel Fishbein, who noted that the bids came back around $1.2 million.
In a letter sent to parents last week, Fishbein noted that the district has been told that a library renovation is “a level 1 project,” which is the highest priority.
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning In many child drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the victim is dying. Here’s what to look for….
Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:
“Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs.
Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”
This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble—they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long—but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.
Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:
Head low in the water, mouth at water level
Head tilted back with mouth open
Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
Eyes closed
Hair over forehead or eyes
Not using legs—vertical
Hyperventilating or gasping
Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
Trying to roll over on the back
Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder
Village of Ridgewood Village Council ,Boards and Meetings
06/18/13 7:30PM Planning Board Special Public Meeting
06/19/13 7:30PM Planning Board Special Public Meeting
06/25/13 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
06/26/13 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session
07/02/13 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting
07/09/13 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
07/10/13 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session
‘Smoking’ Alcohol: Is It Safe?
June 14, 2013 6:11 PM
DETROIT (WWJ) – It’s a different way to get drunk. The practice of “smoking” alcohol is gaining popularity — and a local poison expert says it’s dangerous.
The idea is to use very high-proof alcohol, heat it up, and breath in the vapors through a straw. Multiple videos on YouTube show young people giving it a try.
Susan Smolinske, Director of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Regional Poison Control Center, says it creates an instant and euphoric high, but users are likely to take in more than their bodies can handle.
CRR looks to Bring in own Urban planner representing residents
Dear Friend and CRR supporter,
CRR has asked for the opportunity to make a presentation before the Planning Board. While the negatives of Valley Hospital’s plan seem so obvious to you and me, this case cannot be made or won on emotion or common sense. This is a Municipal Land Use issue and we must stick to the facts if we are to stop this over-expansion.
We have sought out the advice of both Municipal Land Use attorneys and the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, concluding that we must hire and pay for an urban planner to provide our Planning Board with the sound land use arguments to be able to reject the current Valley Hospital proposal.
We need to hire and pay for this planner by this Friday or the Planning Board will not allow us to make a presentation!
To that end, we have engaged the most highly qualified urban planner in our area – THE guy for representing residents facing overdevelopment in their community. However, THE guy, comes with a price – an estimated $10,000 for his professional services to research, create a presentation and address the Planning Board. We have already received a $1000 donation pledge, so we are looking to raise another $9000 before Friday afternoon.
So please, if there was ever a time for you to make a difference with your donation, it is now. If we do not raise this money in the next 48 hours, we will lose the opportunity to present our case before the Planning Board.
You can drop a check in my mailbox at 449 Beverly Rd, call me to pick up your donation or logon to https://www.stopvalley.com and make a paypal donation NOW!
Thank you! ~ marla
P.S. Please pass this message along to anyone you know who supports our efforts to stop the overdevelopment of Valley Hospital.
Ridgewood Fire Department Competes in Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off in Paramus
Sunday, June 16, 2013 Last updated: Sunday June 16, 2013, 8:35 PM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
When it came to an annual barbecue battle, the Park Ridge Fire Department was smoking hot again this year. And it was all for a cause close to their hearts: the 4½-year-old daughter of one of their members.
At the Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off in Paramus on Sunday, defending champion Park Ridge took home a huge winner’s trophy for the third year in a row, outperforming the Hackensack Fire Department, which came in second, and the Ridgewood Fire Department.
But Mark “Cookey” Eisen, who headed up Park Ridge’s three-time champion team, wasn’t most stoked about winning again. What was meaningful to him and his team is that once again they will raise money for the charity of their choice: the Mary Therese Rose Fund, which helps special-needs children. That fund helps pay bills for Sydney, the daughter of Park Ridge firefighter George Wolfe and his wife Julie.
“I know it’s bragging rights, but it’s been a charity that’s important to me,” Eisen said. “I was in the hospital when she was born. This is the young lady that’s my inspiration for this.”
Facebook got 10,000 requests for data from NSA in just six months (and Microsoft received 7,000 orders)
By Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press Reporter
PUBLISHED: 14:23 EST, 15 June 2013 | UPDATED: 14:35 EST, 15 June 2013
Facebook and Microsoft were able to reveal limited information on Friday night about the government orders they have received to turn over user data to security agencies.
Ted Ullyot, Facebook’s general counsel, said in a statement that they had between 9,000 and 10,000 requests from all government entities, from local to federal, in the last six months of 2012.
The orders involved the accounts of between 18,000 and 19,000 Facebook users on a broad range of surveillance topics, from missing children to terrorism.
Microsoft said they had between 6,000 and 7,000 orders, affecting between 31,000 and 32,000 accounts, but downplayed how much they had revealed.
Congressman Scott Garrett Wants States To Be Able To Cut Ties With The Federal Department of Education
June 14, 2013 | 1:30 PM
By Gina Jordan
New Jersey Congressman Scott Garrett is behind a proposal to keep education funding at the state levels and enable states to withdraw from Common Core.
A New Jersey Congressman has proposed a bill that would allow states to bypass the strings which come with federal money.
During a Common Core briefing at the Cato Institute this week, Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) said he would introduce the LEARN Act – Local Education Authority Returns Now. The proposal would keep education funding at the state level instead of moving it through the federal government.
“It’s time to return our education policy back to local communities,” Garrett said. “It’s time to start putting actually the students first and not anyone else.”
The bill would also make it easier for states to rescind their support of Common Core State Standards..
Reader says We all know what Mrs. Hauck thinks its what the Planning Board thinks that counts
It’s certainly unfortunate for those that oppose the expansion that she is in the position she is in, but that is really “water over the dam.” At least at this point the bigger issue seems to be what the PB members think rather than what everyone else in Ridgewood already knows what Mrs. Hauck thinks.
I’m not saying she should not recuse herself,that would certainly be the ethical thing to do, but the focus should really be on making the case that this expansion is not in the best interests of the majority of residents, primarily because it is not.
The bottom line is that the request is far to large for the property it is on. My bet is that the folks on the PB see that and act on it before Mrs. Hauck can have anything to say about it.
