>Theater Project honors Young Playwrights Published: Monday, April 02, 2012, 12:00 PM
The three plays by young playwrights Justine DeSilva of Ridgewood, Emma Hathaway of Rutherford, and Angel Shin of River Vale differ from one another in many ways, but they have one thing in common. They were all winners of the Tenth Annual Young Playwrights Competition sponsored by The Theater Project, the award-winning professional company founded in 1994.
A reading of each winning play took place at the competition’s awards ceremony at the Cranford Community Center’s theater on March 10.
In addition to the the first, second and third prize winners listed above, Dennis Gribben of Brick , Victoria Grayner and Kelly Sheridan, both from Dumont, received Honorable Mentions. Each winner received a savings bond, and the Honorable Mention writers received citations and gift certificates.
American Express has become the first company to pull its gift cards from New Jersey pharmacies, groceries and convenience stores rather than attempt to comply with a new wrinkle in the state’s unclaimed property law.
AmEx spokeswoman Vanessa McCutchen told The Associated Press that the company began pulling gift cards sold through third-party retailers last week. As of Monday, the only way for New Jersey residents to buy AmEx gift cards, which can be used practically anywhere, is directly from the company. (Delli Santi, Associated Press)
>Join Friends of the Ridgewood Public Library Today!
The mission of the Friends is to stimulate community awareness and use of the Ridgwood Library and to support the Library in developing its collections, its reference and research facilities and its programs. To this end, we shall attempt to raise funds for the purchase of items and equipment outside the normal Library budget, to encourage charitable gifts and to enhance public support for the Library’s programs.
Friends sponsored programs include:
Family Fun Nights Annual Reel Voices Film Festival Sunday Concert Series English as a Second Language Services Lectures, Special Cultural Events and so much more! For membership information, or to contact Friends of the Library please call 201-670-5609 Download A Membership Form :https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/pdf/FOL%20membership%20form%20web%202010.pdf
Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will make a final public presentation on the proposed 2012-2013 school budget
On Tuesday, April 3, the Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will make a final public presentation on the proposed 2012-2013 school budget. Please plan to attend at the Ridgewood High School Library Media Center at 7:30 p.m.
Any Ridgewood resident who is a registered voter may vote in the Annual Election on Tuesday, April 17, either at regular polling locations or by mail-in ballot. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received in the Bergen County Elections office by Tuesday, April 10. Full information may be found on the Bergen County website or by clicking here. Forms are also available at any Municipal Clerk’s office or other public agency. For further information, please call the Superintendent of Elections office at 201-336-6100 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
> The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute to Conduct Research with Leading Russian Heart Hospital
(RIDGEWOOD_NJ) March 28, 2012 — Electrophysiologists at The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute have signed an agreement with their peers at the busiest cardiovascular hospital in Russia to collaborate on clinical research projects to improve the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias.
Representing Valley’s Arrhythmia Institute – a component of The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute — was director Jonathan S. Steinberg, M.D., who signed the agreement with Evgeny Pokushalov, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Arrhythmia Department and Electrophysiology Lab at the State Research Institute of Circulation Pathology in Siberia. Cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, and electrophysiologists at the Russian hospital perform 4,500 cardiac surgeries and procedures every year.
“This agreement is a huge opportunity for our Valley electrophysiologists to collaborate with an incredibly smart and talented group of Russian electrophysiologists conducting research at a state-of-the-art facility in Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city and the cultural and industrial center of Siberia,” says Dr. Steinberg, a member of The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute’s Executive Council.
Electrophysiology is a specialized area of cardiology that involves the diagnosis, treatment, and management of arrhythmias, disturbances in the heart’s intricate electrical system.
Dr. Steinberg and his fellow Valley electrophysiologists will be conducting research with Dr. Pokushalov and his research team on atrial fibrillation, a common, yet complex arrhythmia that involves multiple regions of the heart. The American and Russian researchers will work to develop advanced technology to treat atrial fibrillation, including refining catheter ablation procedures.
The Arrhythmia Institute at The Valley Heart & Vascular Institute’s New Jersey office is located at The Valley Hospital at 223 N. Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood. The New York City office is located at 5 Columbus Circle. For more information, visit www.valleyheartandvascular.com, or www.arrhythmia.org.
US Postal Service Wants Out Of Government-Provided Health Insurance By Patrick Burke March 30, 2012
(CNSNews.com) – The United States Postal Service (USPS) is currently working towards delivering a private health insurance plan to its employees and wants to opt out of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP.)
“If provided the authority to do so, we believe that we can provide our employees and retirees with the same or better health coverage for significantly less cost, ” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe during his testimony to the House Oversight Committee.
The financially strapped USPS recently released a plan to cut costs by 2016 to adapt to a marketplace in which there is less demand for hand delivered mail.
>Arizona Passes Sweeping Internet Censorship Bill Legislation to make it illegal to use “offensive” language online Steve Watson Infowars.com April 2, 2012
The state legislature of Arizona has passed a bill that vastly broadens telephone harassment laws and applies them to the Internet and other means of electronic communication.
The law, which is being pushed under the guise of an anti-bullying campaign, would mean that anything communicated or published online that was deemed to be “offensive” by the state, including editorials, illustrations, and even satire could be criminally punished.
>NBC peddles hate and distorts Zimmerman audio 911 tape in criminal investigation
Trayvon Martin Tape Editing Prompts Internal Probe at NBC Sunday, 01 Apr 2012 07:55 PM
NBC News reportedly has begun an internal investigation after it appears to have aired a misleadingly edited 911 call tape involving George Zimmerman, the Florida man who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The internal investigation was reported by The Washington Post.
The edited call, which aired on NBC’s “Today Show” on March 27, featured Zimmerman talking to a 911 dispatcher.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good … he looks black,” Zimmerman said in the edited segment.
That, it turns out, appears to be only part of the exchange that took place on the night of February 26. The complete exchange went like this:
Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”
Dispatcher: “OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?”
Zimmerman: “He looks black.”
Brent Bozell, president of the conservative Media Research Center, called this mistake worse than a distortion or a misrepresentation and “an all-out falsehood.” He made the comment on the March 29 edition of the Fox News show “Hannity.”
Tuesday, April 3rd is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s, and you know what that means… Free Ice Cream for You!
As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 34 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!
Of course this year we’re also giving away plenty of our new Greek Frozen Yogurt. If you haven’t tried it yet, this is a great opportunity to give it a lick! Of course you can always enjoy an old favorite and savor in the deliciousness that is free ice cream! Hey, either way it’s time for you to come on in!
Around the world, Scoop Shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor. Please check with your local Scoop Shop for more info!
Grab a pal and come on down to have some good, ’scream fun on us!
Ben & Jerry’s Ridgewood, 104-106 Franklin Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-689-1122
>Garrett Chairs Hearing to Examine Accounting and Auditing Profession Mar 28, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today at a hearing to examine the state of the accounting and auditing profession:
“Today, we are here to examine the accounting and auditing profession. The hearing is aptly entitled: ‘Accounting and Auditing Oversight: Pending Proposals and Emerging Issues Confronting Regulators, Standard Setters, and the Economy.’
“Accurate and reliable financial reporting to investors is a key cornerstone to our nation’s capital markets. It is essential that investors have the appropriate information needed to make informed decisions on where to invest their capital. As our nation continues to recover from the recent financial crisis, we must work hard to restore the vitality to our markets and foster an environment where American public companies can do what they do best—create jobs.
“There are three broad areas that I hope to explore in greater detail today with our esteemed panelists.
“First, I’d like to hear from the SEC where we stand with international convergence of accounting standards. I know this is a top priority for many in the business community. I also realize that there is some disagreement between large and small companies as well as different industries as to what the preferable outcome of convergence will be. I am interested in discussing the steps the chairman and staff are taking to overcome these various obstacles and how we can ensure the harmonization of these standards creates an atmosphere where U.S. companies and investors have the best information possible.
“Second, I look forward to learning more about the current process that FASB and GASB go through to develop their standards. I agree that the integrity and independence of the standard setting process is essential and that Congress should not legislate accounting standards. I have seen some positive statements from market participants about the improvement in standard setting process and I appreciate both FASB and GASB balancing the delicate line of listening to the business community’s concerns while ensuring an independent process.
“Finally, I would like to discuss some of the PCAOB’s current proposals and how and why those proposals came to pass. I think it is important to remind the PCAOB that it is not a policy-making entity; Congress and this committee are the policy makers. The PCAOB’s job is to regulate and oversee the auditing profession.
“I am very concerned about some of the recent activist proposals put forth by the PCAOB. I agree with the Chamber of Commerce and others that believe the PCAOB is ‘engaged in mission-creep, crossing the threshold of audit regulation in an attempt to regulate corporate governance…’
“Specifically, the recent concept release on mandatory audit firm rotation is especially disconcerting. What is the specific problem you are trying to solve for? What data are looking at? What kind of specific cost-benefit analysis was done? What solution does that lead us to? Too many times with many of our regulators, the policy outcome is predetermined before the hard work is done to determine what the best solution should be.
“I would like to commend the gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick, for his legislation preventing the PCAOB from moving forward on this policy. This hearing will serve as a legislative hearing for that proposal and it is my hope that the subcommittee will consider this bill at the next possible markup.
“In conclusion, while I believe these three areas, especially the concerns around an overactive PCAOB, are the most pressing issues—I realize there are also many other issues that require further discussion and I look forward to a constructive hearing.”
>Police Are Using Phone Tracking as a Routine Tool By ERIC LICHTBLAU Published: March 31, 2012
WASHINGTON — Law enforcement tracking of cellphones, once the province mainly of federal agents, has become a powerful and widely used surveillance tool for local police officials, with hundreds of departments, large and small, often using it aggressively with little or no court oversight, documents show.
The practice has become big business for cellphone companies, too, with a handful of carriers marketing a catalog of “surveillance fees” to police departments to determine a suspect’s location, trace phone calls and texts or provide other services. Some departments log dozens of traces a month for both emergencies and routine investigations.
>Top Obama campaign donor accused of fraud By JACK GILLUM | Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major donor to President Barack Obama has been accused of defrauding a businessman and impersonating a bank official, creating new headaches for Obama’s re-election campaign as it deals with the questionable history of another top supporter.
The New York donor, Abake Assongba, and her husband contributed more than $50,000 to Obama’s re-election effort this year, federal records show. But Assongba is also fending off a civil court case in Florida, where she’s accused of thieving more than $650,000 to help build a multimillion-dollar home in the state — a charge her husband denies.
>BREAKING: Police investigating alleged sexual assault on South Van Dien the staff of the Ridgewood blog MONDAY APRIL 2, 2012
(RIDGEWOOD_NJ) The Ridgewood Police Department has reported it is investigating claims that a 19-year-old female was sexually assaulted at a village residence in early morning hours Monday. According to the Ridgewood News Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke, the woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at approximately 12:30 a.m. by a man at a home on South Van Dien Avenue. According to Police the woman was transported and treated at Valley Hospital.
Citing the ongoing investigation, Luthcke,told the Ridgewood News additional details about the incident were not yet available to the public . Information about the alleged suspect, including his whereabouts, is also not available, and no arrest had been made at this time.Luthcke told the Ridgewood News ,”We have a lot of allegations right now,” “but no charges have been filed at this time.”
Dear Fairway Market customers: Some USDA scientists recently revealed that they strongly believe Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) — or “pink slime” as it’s been called by the press — should not be labeled as meat. According to an ABC News source, 70 percent of all ground beef sold at supermarkets contains LFTB. While that may be the case elsewhere, Fairway Market DOES NOT sell LFTB or “pink slime” – WE’VE NEVER SOLD IT AND NEVER WILL! Since this news broke, we’ve received a lot of inquires about it. But you can shop with ease at all Fairway Market stores, knowing that LFTB or “PINK SLIME” ISN’T IN ANY MEAT WE SELL – and you’ve never ever purchased a product like that at Fairway.
ALL of our meat is the highest quality, is USDA certified, is delivered fresh daily, is custom cut by a professional butcher, AND is ground fresh every day and all day. Fairway Market Butcher Shops never cut corners, and the meat that comes into our stores is approved by me, a third-generation butcher. You expect the best, and we have never and would never give you anything less. This is why Fairway is truly LIKE NO OTHER MARKET®.
>Fallen Marine Joseph D’Augustine from Waldwick to return home Tuesday, April 3 Joseph D’Augustine had a talent for making those around him smile. His own earnest grin, friends and family members said last week in the wake of his death, will be etched in their memories forever.
D’Augustine The 29-year-old staff sergeant was killed March 27 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Thursday, March 29…
