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>State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney Bill forces shared services

Municipalities may soon have no choice but to share services.
Under a bill proposed recently by State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, towns and counties would face a monetary penalty if voters reject shared services proved by a state commission to save money. (Mathur Desai, Gannett)

https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110425/NEWS01/104250312/1006/Bill-forces-shared-services

>Just say “NO ” to the School Budget

Bob Hutton, I remember you well. I’ve attended many BOE meetings, but the one that stands out most to me was an evening where many residents, both adults and students, had comments to make about certain budget proposals and where the cuts should be.

After the public comments were done, many people left, but not me Mr. Hutton. I stuck around long enough to hear you state to your fellow board members that now that the public comment was done, it was time to move on because it would not change the board’s decisions in any way. I remember the way you said that was so dismissive, so disrespectful, that it left an impression on me and several others that were still there. We all left the meeting talking about how rude you were and how the board couldn’t care less about the countless parents and students who took the time and courage to speak that evening.

Of all the board members, you Mr. Hutton are the most guilty of this. So for those who did not have the displeasure of witnessing your arrogant display, please consider where this plea is coming from. And if that’s not enough, last year, when we showed our disagreement with how the BOE proposed to spend our tax dollars by voting down the tax levy/budget, this arrogant board changed NOTHING about it and submitted the same defeated budget to the Village Council for approval.

And just in case that is not enough of a reason to vote no, lets not forget all the cuts to the classroom we’ve endured over the past few years in the face of the extravagant new artificial turf and lighting we now have to support. Maintaining these items will now be a permanent drain on our school budget during these difficult financial times.

So, no thank you Mr. Hutton. Any one of these reasons would be enough to make me want to VOTE NO (for the second time in thirty years of tax levy/budget voting).

>Easter Bunny History

The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.

The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it’s origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. These were made of pastry and sugar.

The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the “Oschter Haws” was considered “childhood’s greatest pleasure” next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the “Oschter Haws” would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country.

https://www.easterbunnys.net/easterbunnyhistory.htm

>Modern-day Easter is derived from two ancient traditions: one Judeo-Christian and the other Pagan. Both Christians and Pagans have celebrated death and resurrection themes following the Spring Equinox for millennia. Most religious historians believe that many elements of the Christian observance of Easter were derived from earlier Pagan celebrations.

The equinox occurs each year on March 20, 21 or 22. Both Neopagans and Christians continue to celebrate religious rituals linked to the equinox. Wiccans and other Neopagans usually hold their celebrations on the day or eve of the equinox. Western Christians celebrate Easter on the Sunday on or after the full moon that follows the nominal date of the Equinox — MAR-21. The Eastern Orthodox churches follow a different calculation; their Easter celebration is often many weeks after the date selected by the Western churches.

https://www.religioustolerance.org/easter.htm

>West Side Presbyterian Church • Varian Fry Way, 6 South Monroe Street • Ridgewood, NJ 07450 • 201-652-1966

Today 8:45 am
EASTER SUNDAY FESTIVAL WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION
Today 11:15 am
EASTER SUNDAY FESTIVAL WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION
May 1 8:45 am
CHURCH SCHOOL FOR ELEMENTARY CHILDREN
May 1 8:45 am
WORSHIP
May 1 11:15 am
WORSHIP
May 1 4:00 pm
PATRON SERIES CONCERT: IMPERIAL BRASS
May 2 6:30 pm
Session-FOCUS Dinner
May 6 8:00 pm
PRO ARTE CHORALE CONCERT
TICKET INFO: WEBSITE OR 201-497-8400

>Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
One Passaic Street
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450

EASTER SUNDAY
April 24th
Masses celebrated at:
8am
9:30am
9:30am (Auditorium)
11am
11am (Auditorium)
12:30pm
12:30pm (Auditorium)
3pm (Spanish)

https://www.olmcridgewood.com/index.cfm

>Killer Combo of High Gas, Food Prices at Key Tipping Point
Published: Thursday, 21 Apr 2011 | 2:22 PM ET
By: Christina Cheddar Berk
News Editor

The combination of rising gasoline prices and the steepest increase in the cost of food in a generation is threatening to push the US economy into a recession, according to Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners.

Johnson looks at the percentage of income consumers are spending on gasoline and food as a way of gauging how consumers will fare when energy prices spike.

With gas prices now standing at about $3.90 a gallon, energy costs have now passed 6 percent of spending—a level that Johnson says is a “tipping point” for consumers.

“Energy is not quite as essential as food and water, but is a necessity in today’s economy, and when gasoline costs more than bottled water—like now—then it takes a huge bite out of disposable spending,” he said, in a research note.

Of the six US recessions since 1970, all but the “9-11 year 2001 recession” have been linked to—of not triggered by—energy prices that crossed the 6 percent of personal consumption expenditures, he said. (During the shallow 2001 recession, energy prices had risen to about 5 percent of spending, which is higher than the long-term 4 percent share.)

What may make matters worse this time around, is there has been a steep increase in food prices that occurred as well. In other recent recessions food costs were benign, at between 7.5 percent and 7.8 percent of spending.

This year food prices have climbed 6.5 percent since the beginning of early January, according to Consumer Growth Partners.

https://www.cnbc.com/id/42704213

>Tax Levy Up, But Spending is Relatively Flat

As one Board of Education member, I would strongly urge the public to vote YES on the school budget this Wednesday, April 27. I completely understand the economic times we have and continue to face. As one who has been in transition for 10 months and just landed a new employment opportunity, I know those realities firsthand. The presented budget is within the state-mandated cap and will raise the school taxes by 2%. If not for the Governor’s partial restoration of state aid for the 2011-2012 school year, we would have faced even more cuts.

If you have seen or read through Dr. Fishbein’s budget presentation, you’ll know that the BOE is asking for $81,323,178 in tax levy for our next school year. That amount reflects a 2% increase over last year’s request, but half the increase requested last year. Please refer to the very basic chart below:

School Year Total District Spend Tax Levy

2009-2010 $86,094,691 $76,758,275

2010-2011 $84,836,380 $79,728,606

2011-2012(Wed’s vote) $86,775,809 $81,323,178

Incr — 09/10 to 11/12 .79% 6%

I believe it is very important to point out that our district’s total spend has only increased by less than 1% from two years ago. I acknowledge that our tax levy has increased by the allowable cap – 4% last year and 2% this year. If we were to keep taxes flat in that same period, we would be forced to cut an additional $4.7 million on top of the nearly $3.0 million in cuts required by the state aid cuts we incurred last year. That is not a tradeoff the BOE wanted to make given the standards we aspire to in the Ridgewood schools.

In short, our total spend for public education in Ridgewood is only slightly higher than it was 2 years ago. At the presentations by Dr. Fishbein that I have attended, several citizens asked to see our budget numbers presented differently. To that point I would like to make two comments. First, public education and its finances, rightly or wrongly, are dictated by the state — public education in NJ is a highly regulated industry. Secondly, all the available comparable data shows that Ridgewood’s per pupil spend is one of the lowest and below the state average while our test results are consistently in the state’s top 5, both given our district’s size. As one board member, I believe Ridgewood has an outstanding value equation.

Lastly, the presented budget contains two major assumptions, both of which are on the bargaining table with our largest collective bargaining unit, our teachers. That is where they properly belong. One of those assumptions is a zero percent increase in teacher salaries. We cannot assume anything less by law. We must also bargain with teachers to manage the cost of health care for this year and into the future. To make the current budget a total reality, major work is still to be done on these two issues.

As a member of the BOE’s negotiating committee, I implore you to vote YES on the budget to allow us to focus our energies on the bargaining table.

Thank you.

Bob Hutton
Vice President, Ridgewood Board of Education

>A people free to choose will always choose peace.
Ronald Reagan

Read more: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ronald_reagan.html#ixzz1KLhiRafE

>If Honest Abe was around today he would summon the Army Corps of Engineers and them fix the flood plain.

More trouble today…water will soon be flowing over Colleen’s Bridge:

Today: Rain early…then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall may reach one inch.

Tonight: Showers and thundershowers this evening followed by a few lingering showers overnight. Low 56F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%

>Citigroup Shares …

“There’s a conspiracy out there against Citi,” said Russell Forenza of Ridgewood, New Jersey, who said he owns more than 20,000 shares. Short-sellers borrow shares and sell them in anticipation of buying back at lower prices, pocketing the difference as profit.

Read more: Citigroup: Reverse Stock Split, Payout Lure Investors

https://www.moneynews.com/FinanceNews/Citigroup-Reverse-Stock-Split/2011/04/21/id/393683

>After Security Lapses at Newark Airport, TSA Official in Charge Promoted to HQ Post
Thursday, April 21, 2011
By Edwin Mora

More than 33 million passengers moved through Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey in 2009.

(CNSNews.com) – The Transportation Security Administration appointed as a senior adviser at its D.C. headquarters an official who requested reassignment after quitting as federal security director of Newark Liberty International Airport, following a string of security lapses.

Barbara Powell, who served as TSA’s security director at the New Jersey airport since July 2007, has been promoted to the post of “senior adviser in the Office of Human Capital,” TSA said in a statement this week.

Before she left the Newark post, Powell was reportedly the subject of a blistering internal critique that found “inconsistent leadership” under her watch and “a work environment that is often fueled by fear of reprisal and retaliation.”

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/after-string-security-lapses-newark-airp