In a hearing today, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenbergadmonished the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and its deputy executive director over its tolling practices, saying steep rate hikes are unfair to commuters.
“When I was commissioner (of the Port Authority), the toll to cross our bridges and tunnels was two dollars. In today’s money, that would be slightly more than five dollars,” said Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) at the hearing. “But today, Port Authority tolls are out of control. It now costs $12 to cross between New Jersey and New York. When it costs $12 to drive your car across a bridge in America, something is wrong.” (Eder, NJBIZ)
Details for image : Individuals in photo are left (with reflective vest on): Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward, right: Robert G. Lahita, MD, Medical Director of Ridgewood Emergency Services who pronounced the victim dead.
BREAKING: Person Killed By NJ Transit Train, Ridgewood Station
04/19/2012
by Boyd A. Loving
10:15 PM
(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) Shortly after 8:45 PM on Thursday, April 19th, Ridgewood PD received a telephone report from NJ Transit Operations of a person who was struck by a Port Jervis Bound train at the Ridgewood train station. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Responding were Ridgewood PD, Ridgewood Emergency Services, NJ Transit PD, Glen Rock PD and Bergen County PD.
Repairs to the HoHoKus brook bridge will begin on Monday, April 23, 2012. The objective of these repairs is to permanently stabilize the bridge and allow it to remain open for pedestrian traffic and limited vehicular traffic (not to exceed 4,000 pounds).
The time line to complete all work is from April 23 through April 30. Although repair methods have not been finalized, it is very possible a crane will be on site to lift the bridge off the supports to facilitate repairs. During the repair time line, the bridge will be closed to all traffic.
Ridgewood Library officials say more cutbacks will hurt
THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2012, 3:01 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
As Ridgewood’s governing body considers ways to reduce a preliminary 7.5 percent municipal tax increase, the heads of individual departments continued to present their 2012 spending proposals to the Village Council.
While village officials reminded the public and heads of the individual departments that this is the “first go around” at the budget, they stressed further belt tightening and reduced spending.
Two resounding themes developed among council members during the presentations: The public library still is one of the most used services in the village, and the police department must curb its overtime expenses.
Obamanomics: States asked to apply for unemployment test plan
By JIM KUHNHENN | Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is looking for states that will experiment with unemployment insurance programs by letting people test a job while still receiving benefits.
The plan is a key feature of a payroll tax cut package that President Barack Obama negotiated with congressional Republicans in February.
The Labor Department will open the application process Thursday for 10 model projects across the country. Any state can apply for the “Bridge to Work” program.
The plan is modeled after a Georgia program called “Georgia Works.” Under the plan, workers who have lost jobs can be placed in other temporary jobs as trainees for short periods to retain their skills or gain new ones while receiving jobless assistance. About a third of the time, those workers wind up getting hired full-time.
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), issued the following statement today to mark 2012 Tax Day:
“As Americans across the country file their tax returns today, we are reminded of the failures of the Obama economy as we see more and more of our hard-earned money sent to the black hole of Washington, DC with nothing to show for it but more debt and deficits. In the past three years, we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of runaway spending that has done nothing advance our recovery or help lift Americans out of unemployment. As struggling families make the tough choices every day to stretch their budget, President Obama and Senate Democrats think they deserve more of your money to double down on the same failed policies of the past three years.
“President Obama continues to ignore the real problems facing our country, choosing instead to hit the campaign trail to push for higher taxes that will do nothing to address our debt crisis, but will do plenty to hurt our economy and stifle job creation. President Obama’s so-called ‘Buffett Rule’ is bad policy wrapped up in divisive politics, mixed in with a healthy portion of class warfare. Rather than advancing partisan and unserious tax policies, President Obama and Senate Democrats should join House Republicans to work with us on tax policies that will help small business job creators.
“House Republicans this week will vote on legislation to lower taxes by providing a 20% tax deduction to small business owners struggling to survive in the Obama economy. With cash-strapped small businesses currently facing federal tax rates as high as 35%, our 20% tax deduction will give America’s small business entrepreneurs the financial resources they need to retain and create American jobs. I urge the president and congressional Democrats to abandon their strategy of envy and division and work with us to give small businesses the tools they need to put Americans back to work.”
The Orpheus Club Spring concerts will take place at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St, Ridgewood, on Saturday April 21, 7:30 PM and Sunday April 22, 4:00 PM. The guest soloist is the Zephyr Vocal Ensemble, an a cappela singing group. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 for students & seniors. They are also available for $10 at several local stores. Details at www.ridgewoodorpheusclub.org.
School vote a record breaker for passing budgets and low turnout
In the first break from New Jersey’s traditional spring school elections, just 70 districts went to the polls on Tuesdays, these holdouts from a switch to November hearing resounding approval for their budgets — at least from the tiny fraction that actually voted.
Voters in 63 of the 70 districts deciding on annual budgets gave approval, a 90 percent passing rate that was highest in recorded history for the state. Across New Jersey, close to 60 percent of all voters sided with their local budgets, according to preliminary figures. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
PUBLIC FORUM ON SCHEDLER PROPERTY – April 19, May 16, 29
The Village of Ridgewood Open Space Committee will conduct a series of three public forums to discuss future development of the Schedler Property located at Route 17 North and West Saddle River Road in Ridgewood. The date and location of the meetings are Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Glen School, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Ridge School and Tuesday, May 29 at the Ridgewood Public Library. All of the meetings will begin at 7:30PM and end at 9:00PM.
The purpose of the meetings are to gather community input regarding a development plan for the Schedler property and to gauge the level of interest in funding the development through private contributions. At each meeting, following a brief presentation by the Open Space Committee, the floor will be open to interested residents to express their comments, ideas and concerns.
For further information, visit the Open Space Committee’s page on the Village of Ridgewood website under “Boards and Committees” www.ridgewoodnj.net/department.detail.cfm?dept id=84
For further information, contact the Village’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Tim Cronin at [email protected] or by calling 201/670-5560.
Mandatory ‘Big Brother’ Black Boxes In All New Cars From 2015
Provision is part of controversial MAP-21 bill expected to pass House
Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A bill already passed by the Senate and set to be rubber stamped by the House would make it mandatory for all new cars in the United States to be fitted with black box data recorders from 2015 onwards.
Section 31406 of Senate Bill 1813 (known as MAP-21), calls for “Mandatory Event Data Recorders” to be installed in all new automobiles and legislates for civil penalties to be imposed against individuals for failing to do so.
Every year since 1955, the Ridgewood Fire Departmentproduces an annual report. Click Here for Annual Report.https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2011ReptRidgewoodFire.pdf
Dear Dr. Gabbert,
It is once again my honor to present the 2011 Ridgewood Fire Department Annual Report. This report summarizes activities of the Fire Department from January 1, 2011through December 31, 2011. In this document, you will learn about the personnel,facilities, equipment, and programs that serve you and our residents. The Ridgewood Fire Department is a highly trained and professionalorganization, providing
quality service, based on the department’s core values ofrespect, trust, and support.
The fire department has made tremendous strides in the areasof emergency response, training, disaster preparedness, fire, and life safety. As you will see in this document,the Ridgewood Fire Department has onegoal in mind, providing the best level of customer service possible. It is tothe credit of such a fine group of individuals that we are able to effectivelymeet all of the increasing demands for service. The members of this departmenthave dedicated their lives to serving their community and do so with strength,honor, and compassion. It is these beliefs that have become the cornerstonesfor which we provide our services, including fire prevention, public education,fire suppression, emergency medical services, and technical rescue. I thank themembers of this department for theirunparalleled service. The coming year promises to bring more positive changesto the organization and we will continue our focus on customer service andtraining. In February 2011, The Ridgewood Fire Department was awarded a grantfrom the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grant Programadministered by FEMA in the amount of $348,000.00.
Chief James Van Goor along with FF. Harvey Weber applied forthe grant which was used to hire threenew Firefighter/EMT’s. Due to futureretirements over the next few years, the cost of these new hires will have noimpact on the village for the duration of their career. With this grant and contract negotiations,the fire department has been able to maintain the same budget for the lastthree years.On behalf of all of the Career and Volunteer Firefighters and theAdministrative Staff of the Fire Department, I would like to thank you, the Village Council, and the residents of Ridgewood for their continuedsupport. Without this support we wouldnot be able to carry out our mission.It is my pleasure to serve this communityas Fire Chief. If you have any questions regarding your fire department, pleasecontact me at (201) 444-8822 or e-mail at [email protected].
Bramnick says small-business owners need attention, too
The Republican leader in the Assembly said Tuesday he wants to find out if the state is doing enough to help small businesses.
“If a major company is going to leave, that makes the front page,” said Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield). “You don’t see on the front page that a mom-and-pop store in New Providence is closed or had to cut back.” (Kaltwasser, NJBIZ)
Online educator adds two Newark charters to portfolio
Two proposed Newark charter schools once in doubt of ever opening have gotten a second life with the nation’s largest provider of online education, K12 Inc.
A week after announcing enrollment was underway at one online-only charter school out of Newark, K12 Inc. this week announced it had added two more charter schools to its growing New Jersey portfolio. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
N.J. comptroller: State Police internal investigations take too long
When State Police Trooper Rangy Pangborn complained last month that he was under investigation by internal affairs because he refused to toss out Assemblyman Nelson Albano’s speeding ticket, he said the matter could take years to review and slow his rise through the ranks.
He had a point, a new report shows.
New Jersey Comptroller Matthew Boxer said in a report made public today that internal State Police investigations take too long to complete, potentially allowing problems to fester and holding up trooper promotions. (Baxter, The Star-Ledger)
Avo ‘La Trompeta’ Limited Edition 2012 Cigars are now in stock @ Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood
‘La Trompeta’ is a dedication to the Jazz musician and aficionado on his 86th birthday, a coronation of his lifetime work. Decades of Avo Uvezian’s work and passion are united in every single cigar.
Through the subtle balanced Ligero tobaccos and the add-on of Peruvian Seco from exquisite tobacco fields, this special vintage is a medium to full-bodied cigar with complex notes in the aftertaste. ~Gary, Barbara and Collin
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood | 10 Chestnut Street | Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 Phone: 201-447-2204 | Email: [email protected] Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 5:30PM and Thursday Night 6:30PM – 8:30PM
Lautenberg blasts Port Authority over toll hikes
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Obamanomics: States asked to apply for unemployment test plan
