Paramus NJ, A rear end crash involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a UPS delivery vehicle on Route 17 northbound near Linwood Avenue, East in Paramus caused extensive traffic delays on Thursday morning, 01/25. The UPS driver was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with a non life threatening arm injury. The Jeep’s driver was uninjured. Paramus Police investigated the incident. Ridgewood Police, EMS, and Fire Department provided assistance.
Paramus NJ , The Paramus Police Department assisted the Paramus Public Schools with lock down drills at our schools this week. Please have discussions with your family about the importance of these drills. Your children can also teach you how to handle emergencies in public places with what they learn from school drills. Pictured are the police and security officers that conducted today’s drill at Paramus High School.
Saddle River NJ , Saddle River Police report that early Tuesday morning two vehicles were stolen out of a driveway in the Burning Hollow section of Saddle River. These vehicles were unlocked and the key fobs were left in the vehicles.
If everyone removes the keys and key FOB’s from their vehicles these thefts will stop. Locking your vehicle when its in the driveway prevents car burglaries from occurring and deters criminals from our area.
These criminals will continue to come to our communities if they are successful at stealing cars. Patrol Officers have made contact with and arrested some of these actors during their shifts. We strongly advise residents not to confront these individuals.
If you see suspicious activity call the Saddle River Police desk anytime at 201-327-5300 or call 9-1-1
Washington DC, The Department of Justice today sent the attached letters to 23 jurisdictions, demanding the production of documents that could show whether each jurisdiction is unlawfully restricting information sharing by its law enforcement officers with federal immigration authorities.
All 23 of these jurisdictions were previously contacted by the Justice Department, when the Department raised concerns about laws, policies, or practices that may violate 8 U.S.C. 1373, a federal statute that promotes information sharing related to immigration enforcement and with which compliance is a condition of FY2016 and FY2017 Byrne JAG awards.
The letters also state that recipient jurisdictions that fail to respond, fail to respond completely, or fail to respond in a timely manner will be subject to a Department of Justice subpoena.
“I continue to urge all jurisdictions under review to reconsider policies that place the safety of their communities and their residents at risk,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Protecting criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities defies common sense and undermines the rule of law. We have seen too many examples of the threat to public safety represented by jurisdictions that actively thwart the federal government’s immigration enforcement—enough is enough.”
Failure to comply with section 1373 could result in the Justice Department seeking the return of FY2016 grants, requiring additional conditions for receipt of any FY2017 Byrne JAG funding, and/or jurisdictions being deemed ineligible to receive FY2017 Byrne JAG funding.
The following jurisdictions received the document request today:
Chicago, Illinois;
Cook County, Illinois;
New York City, New York;
State of California;
Albany, New York;
Berkeley, California;
Bernalillo County, New Mexico;
Burlington, Vermont;
City and County of Denver, Colorado;
Fremont, California;
Jackson, Mississippi;
King County, Washington;
Lawrence, Massachusetts;
City of Los Angeles, California;
Louisville Metro, Kentucky;
Monterey County, California;
Sacramento County, California;
City and County of San Francisco, California;
Sonoma County, California;
Watsonville, California;
West Palm Beach, Florida;
State of Illinois; and
State of Oregon.
Chatham NJ, The Thomas More Law Center (“TMLC”), a national nonprofit public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, filed a federal lawsuit yesterday evening in the New Jersey District Court against several officials and teachers of the Chatham Middle School and the School District of the Chathams, located in New Jersey.
The lawsuit, claiming several violations of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, was filed on behalf of Libby Hilsenrath and her minor son. Seventh-grade students at Chatham Middle School were forced to endure Islamic propaganda and an explicit call to convert to Islam through a disturbing set of videos in their World Cultures and Geography class.
TMLC’s affiliated New Jersey attorney, Michael Hrycak, filed the lawsuit. TMLC staff attorney, Kate Oliveri, the principle drafter of the federal complaint, observed: “The Board of Education and other Defendants are waging a war against the religious protections afforded by the First Amendment. They attack religious liberty by enticing young school children with a direct call to convert to Islam and providing a step-by-step guide on how to effect that conversion.”
One of the videos, linked in this press release, seeks to convert students to Islam and is filled with the Islamic religious beliefs presented as facts, as well as pure Islamic propaganda. This five-minute video ends with the prayer “May God help us all find the true faith, Islam. Ameen.”
This video includes the following phrases as facts:
“Allah is the one God who created the heavens and the earth, who has no equal and is all powerful.”
“Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the last & final Messenger of God. God gave him the Noble Quran.”
“Lo, We have sent thee (O Muhammad) with the truth, a bringer of glad tidings and a warner.”
“What is the Noble Quran? Divine Revelation sent to Muhammad (S) last Prophet of Allah. A Perfect guide for Humanity.”
“The Noble Quran: Guidance, Mercy and Blessing for all Mankind.”
“The Noble Quran: Without any doubt and an eloquent guide from Allah.”
“The Beautiful Quran: Guidance for the wise & sensible.”
“Islam: A shining beacon against the darkness of repression, segregation, intolerance and racism . . .”
This propaganda video also contains excerpts from the Quran stating that Islam is “perfected” religion and the only religion for mankind. And it ends with a call to conversion: “May God help us all find the true faith, Islam.”
However, just as shocking is the background music which includes the poem “Qaseedah Burdah” in Arabic, describing Christians and Jews as “infidels” and praising Muhammad in gruesome detail for slaughtering them:
“He [Muhammad] kept on encountering with them (infidels) in every battle until they looked like meat put on butcher’s bench (they were the lesson for those who were willing to encounter with the Muslims)” (parenthetical in original).
“It is as though the religion of Islam was a guest that visited every house of those (infidels and was) extremely desirous for the flesh of enemy. . .” (parenthetical in original).
“(The Muslims made their) white shining swords red (with the blood of infidels) after they were plunged; (and the majority of) enemies were having black hair (i.e., most of them were young).” (parenthetical in original).
See 5-minute video here https://vimeo.com/252231316/45e5c86977
Seventh-grade students were also instructed to view a subtle propaganda cartoon video, 5 Pillars, which included bright, multi-colored words quoting the Islamic conversion creed: “There is no god except Allah and Prophet Muhammad is His messenger.” The video concludes with text containing contact information for the students of Chatham Middle School to set up their own mosque tour.
Clearly, seventh graders were given a sugarcoated, false depiction of Islam. They were not informed of the kidnappings, beheadings, slave-trading, massacres, and persecution of non-Muslims, nor of the repression of women — all done in the name of Islam.
Richard Thompson, TMLC President and Chief Counsel remarked, “What would people say if our public schools taught Christianity as the true faith? After watching this video, I can’t imagine any reasonable person saying this is not Islamic indoctrination. Chatham Middle School made a mockery of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.”
Continued Thompson, “When Libby Hilsenrath brought her concerns to the school board’s attention, on February 6, 2017, they were disregarded. And when she appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show on February 20, 2017 to express her concerns to the Nation, the school community pilloried her. Clueless school administrators across our Nation are allowing this type of indoctrination to take place, and it’s up to vigilant and courageous parents like Libby Hilsenrath to stop it.”
Because of Libby Hilsenrath’s attempts to get the Board of Education to remove the videos and end the Islamic indoctrination of her son and the other seventh-grade students, she was subjected to a barrage of personal attacks from her own community: “hateful,” “ignorant,” “intolerant,” “racist,” “closed minded,” and the list goes on. These attacks significantly intensified after she appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show.
Ridgewood NJ, Four weeks in and the cast and crew of RHS Jamboree Night Live are practicing their lines, singing proudly and strutting their moves on stage as they prepare for a spectacular show that features some of your all time favorite TV shows and characters. The show will run for only 4 nights starting on Wednesday February 7ththough to Saturday February 10th. This will be the 72nd show that RHS Jamboree has presented and money raised will go to need-based scholarship funds for college bound Ridgewood High School seniors.
Get your tickets today!
Swing by the Box Office in the lobby of Ben Franklin Middle School Sat Jan 27th or Sat Feb 3rd 9am to 12 noon to pick up your tickets (Cash/Checks payable to Jamboree Scholarship Fund) or buy on line anytime rhsjamboree.org
Ridgewood NJ, In the consignment industry, carrying high end goods such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes etc. come with it’s own special set of circumstances. Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique only carries authentic pieces in our store. Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique stands behind every item we sell for authenticity. Authenticating items is a time consuming and demanding process. Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique put the effort in to give their customers the best service they can. Customers know they can buy from them with confidence that the items they are purchasing are authentic.
Fake items has become a huge industry across the world and the consignment business has been impacted by this. There are many people who sell fake goods as authentic and the consumer gets hurt by it.
Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique authenticates every item that comes into the store. It can sometimes be a lengthy process but if we can’t authenticate an item we will not accept it. Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique is often forced to turn a lot of merchandise away.
In addition to personal authentication by Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique and experts they work with, there now exists a technological innovation that offers authentication and guarantees.
The company is Entrupy and is being used by major consignment businesses around the world. We also use them when we want another opinion. The process is relatively simple and I am attaching some interviews of businesses that have utilized Entrupy and have done authentication events.
Up until now, Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique did not authenticate items that were not being sold in the store. We now provide authentications to outside items at a charge of $30 per item. In order to promote this service to our customers and/or potential consignors we are holding an event on Saturday, February 17th from 12 – 4 where people can come in with their Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci. etc. handbags and have them authenticated for FREE! We will provide them with an authentication certificate from Entrupy for every bag they bring in. We will also tell them if it is not authenticate. And we will be serving champagne and hor’dourves to really make it a party! At that time, if they would like to consign with us they can and if not they do not have to. Sometimes people just want to know what they have. They might have inherited an item or received a gif and want to know exactly what they have.
Entrupy is the world’s first and only on-demand authentication solution that eliminates human error. Here is a link to their technology page if you would like to understand the process a little more: https://www.entrupy.com/technology/
The point is that the ordinances for high density housing cannot be repealed. The court will stand up for the developers. That was what the lawsuit was about when Aronsohn was mayor. The grassroots group tried to stop the development on legal grounds.
Residents have to accept it is a done deal. To blame current govt. or ask them to repeal is impossible. The current council can do nothing.
Look at the cites posted by others for reference to the lawsuit. The concerned citizens filed the lawsuit when Arohnson was still mayor. The new council came in afterwards.
Yes, Arohnson and Pucciarlelli shoved a knife through the heart of the Village on their way out the door. But the Villagers who filed the lawsuit to stop the housing projects hoped that the new council would take their side in the litigation. Instead, the new council hired a lawyer from out of town who fought tooth and nail against the concerned citizens of Ridgewood. He and the council rebuffed every attempt to settle the lawsuit. The town could have settled with its citizens and then fought the developers. It chose not to do so. Instead, this current council made a conscious decision to oppose the Villagers and support the developers, including those from out of town who have no stake in the well being of our Village.
Sadly, those are the facts. But, don’t take it from this poster or the articles cited by others. Ask the council why they did not settle with their citizens, why they chose instead to cut the legs off of their citizens in the lawsuit and why they chose to support enforcement of the statutes allowing the housing projects to go forward. Ask them why they took the developers’ side over the side of the people who voted them in.
There is a very good reason why the prior Village Council sided with the developers.because they had no other choice. The NJ Supreme Court ruled several years ago that EVERY city, town and village in the State of New Jersey has a definitive obligation to provide a quotent of Affordable Housing in thier community. EVERY municipality was assigned a quota they had to meet based on their population. It was fought long and hard by virtually every town but the court ruling prevailed and it still stands today. The Village of Ridgewood was assigned a quota and the Village must comply. The choice all towns face is either to allow some new development and require the developers to “set aside” a percentage of their units for Affordable Housing or the town must provide it themself. In exchange for granting permission to build new units Ridgewood wisely decided to put the burden of complying with the court mandate onto the developers.. The result is a somewhat less quaint Village and one with fewer trees and more concrete but in the end it will avoid the need for the Village to provide the required Affordable Housing and in so doing it will save the residents a ton of money. Frankly, since the new developments are all located in the downtown area the streetscape for the vast majority of residents will remain wholly unchanged. In conclusion don’t blame the Village of Ridgewood for allowing the new developments because it was forced upon the Village.by the courts..
Company announces a new ‘Partner and Family Sick Time’ benefit for all U.S. employees to launch this year Announces second wage increase for all U.S. hourly and salaried partners in addition to the annual increases already granted this fiscal year Announces additional 2018 Stock Grant with a one-year vest Highlights an Aon study indicating its standing as the No. 1 retailer in comprehensive benefits for part-time and full-time employees Reiterated commitment to create more than 8,000 new retail jobs and 500 manufacturing jobs this year as part of the company’s strategic growth plan
Ridgewood NJ, Building on a long history of providing relevant, industry-leading benefits, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced a series of new partner (employee) offerings that span across wage and benefits. These offerings will total more than $250 million for more than 150,000 partners and are accelerated by recent changes in the U.S. tax law. Further details on the impact of these changes on our 2018 financial statements and earnings guidance will be discussed during our January 25 earnings call.
With this investment, Starbucks announces a total compensation approach that is best in class for part-time and full-time employees across American retail.
According to a new benchmarking study Starbucks commissioned, performed by Aon, a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, the benefits awarded to partners who work 20 hours or more per week at Starbucks rank above any other retailer in the study and are three times more valuable than any other retailer in their study.
“For more than 30 years, Starbucks has continued to challenge the status quo offering comprehensive employee compensation for our partners (employees). We were one of the first retailers to offer full healthcare benefits to our partners –even those working part-time– and more recently we revolutionized access to a tuition-free four-year degree for all partners with the Starbucks College Achievement Plan through our partnership with Arizona State University,” said Kevin Johnson, ceo of Starbucks.
“Today, we are proud to announce additional investment in stock, wages and a new Partner and Family Sick Time benefit that will further enhance our industry-leading approach. Just as we have always felt strongly that our partners are key to our business success, we have also known offering a valuable, comprehensive benefits package helps us retain our valuable partners. The value of Starbucks benefit package [fully accessed] is unmatched by other retailers and provides thousands of dollars above the value of other companies compensation offerings. I am extremely proud to share that in the past four years Starbucks has made an investment of nearly $800 million in employee compensation and benefits—a testament to our belief in our people and the role they play in creating the Starbucks Experience,” added Johnson.
Starbucks provided the following details regarding these investment decisions:
Starbucks pays above the minimum wage in all states across the country. In April, all eligible U.S. hourly and salaried partners will receive a second wage increase in addition to the annual increases that they have already received this fiscal year. This will include an investment of approximately $120 million in wage increases that will be allocated based on regional cost of living and laws that vary from state to state.
On April 16, we will provide an additional 2018 stock grant for all eligible full-time, part-time, hourly and salaried U.S. partners across our stores, plants and support centers, who have been active as of Jan. 1, 2018. All Starbucks retail partners will receive at least a $500 grant, store managers will each receive $2000 grant and plant and support center partner (non-retail) grants will vary depending on annualized salary or level. This investment alone is valued at more than $100 million.
A new Partner and Family Sick Time benefit will be available to all eligible U.S. partners, which will allow partners to accrue paid sick time based on hours worked and then use them if they or a family member needs care. When this benefit goes into effect this year, Sick Time will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, thus a partner working 23 hours a week can expect to accrue approximately five days of sick time benefit over the course of one year.
Starbucks has also reaffirmed their commitment to create more than 8,000 new part-time and full-time retail jobs and an additional 500 manufacturing jobs in its Augusta, Georgia soluble coffee plant.
For store partners, Starbucks has also expanded their parental leave policy to include all non-birth parents with up to 6 weeks of paid leave when welcoming a new child.
These new offerings are in addition to the nearly $7 billion of capital that Starbucks will deploy to build and renovate stores, manufacturing plants and technology platforms in the U.S. over the next five years. Starbucks remains committed to providing opportunities to tens of thousands of Americans from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Starbucks also remains committed in continuing to offer industry-leading comprehensive health care benefits and marketplace, disability and life insurance benefits, a 401K savings plan benefit and continue the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which is a free tuition benefit offered to Starbucks partners together with Arizona State University.
Washington DC, Federal investigators are demanding answers from the FBI over missing text messages between agents accused of anti-Trump bias, leaving the FBI scrambling to defend its reputation amid an explosion of criticism from the White House, Congress and conservative media.
All roads lead to Allendale native former FBI director James Comey, whose Boy Scout image has come under attack .After all it was Comey’s top deputy, Andrew McCabe, where agents discussed an “insurance policy” in the event that Trump won. Reports indicated that the Russia-collusion probe was that insurance policy.
Each day brings credible reports suggesting there is a massive scandal involving the top ranks of America’s premier law enforcement agency. The reports, which feature talk among agents of a “secret society” and suddenly missing text messages, point to the existence both of a cabal dedicated to defeating Donald Trump in 2016 and of a plan to let Hillary Clinton skate free in the classified email probe.
It began with the view that the FBI used a debunked Russian dossier on Trump that was paid for by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee to get FISA court warrants to spy on Trump associates, meaning it used the opposition research of the party in power to convince a court to let it spy on the candidate of the other party, likely without telling the court of the dossier’s political link.
There is also growing reason to believe someone in President Barack Obama’s administration turned over classified information about Trump to the Clinton campaign.
The FBI informed the DOJ’s inspector general this week that the data was not retained because of “misconfiguration issues” related to software upgrades on the bureau’s phone devices.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into how the FBI “failed to preserve” 100’s of text messages sent between Peter Strzok, the FBI’s top counterintelligence officer, and Lisa Page, a senior FBI lawyer.
President Trump on Tuesday called the revelation “one of the biggest stories in a long time” . White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the development “absolutely outrageous.”
“It looks like there could have been some really inappropriate and possibly illegal behavior,” Sanders said at Tuesday’s press briefing.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in finding the missing messages and GOP lawmakers are now calling for a second special counsel to investigate and have floated the possibility of issuing a subpoena to the bureau’s cellphone carrier.
Washington DC, The Federal Bureau of Investigation today released the 2017 Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, a part of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports (UCR). The report, which covers January-June 2017, suggests that the violent crime increases that occurred in 2015 and 2016 may have begun to level off. The number of violent crimes decreased by 0.8 percent nationwide in the first half of 2017 when compared with the same period in 2016. The nationwide violent crime rate (the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people in the U.S.) increased by a total of nearly 7 percent during 2015 and 2016, (3.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively), the largest two increases in a quarter of a century.
“When President Trump took office, he ordered the Department of Justice to prioritize the reduction of violent crime, and that is what we have done every day since,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “Last year, we charged more defendants with violent crime offenses than in any year in decades. We convicted hundreds of human traffickers, arrested thousands of violent gang members, and charged hundreds of people suspected of contributing to our opioid abuse epidemic. Working with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, we are making a difference and protecting our communities. These data are encouraging, because it is essential that drastic increases in violent crime not become the new normal. We are dedicated to ensuring they do not.”
The data released by the FBI today also show that murders increased by 1.5 percent nationwide during the first six months of 2017, compared with the same period in 2016. This suggests a significant leveling off of the previous increase. In the first half of 2016, murders increased by 5.2 percent. Other categories of violent crime, including rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, all decreased in the first half of 2017 (by 2.4 percent, 2.2 percent, and 0.1 percent, respectively). All three categories increased during the same period in 2016. The FBI’s 2017 Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report is based on information received by the FBI from 13,033 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Ramsey NJ, Special Properties Real Estate Services has announced the affiliation of Darlene Bandazian as Vice President of Regional Business Development. In this role, Bandazian will oversee the growth of the organization’s locations in New Jersey, as well as participating in the process to identify new future locations for the firm. Additionally, she will assist in the development of agent training programs that will encompass both proven techniques and cutting-edge trending concepts.
“We are both pleased and excited that Darlene has chosen to affiliate with Special Properties Real Estate Services LLC. As a highly-respected leader in the industry, Darlene’s effectiveness to unify offices, from different geographic locations with diverse cultures, speaks to her instinctive leadership and teaching skills,” said Ilija Pavlovic, President and CEO of Special Properties Real Estate Services. “Her most notable talent by far is her ability to connect with people. This is the exact expertise that becomes a benchmark for success.”
With nearly 30 years’ experience, Darlene has served in a variety of roles that include sales associate, broker-associate, branch manager and regional vice president for local and global companies. Darlene is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the New Jersey Association of Realtors, the Real Source Board of Realtors, New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, and the Garden State and Hudson Multiple Listing Services.
“I am very excited to be affiliated with Special Properties Real Estate Services LLC,” said Bandazian. “As a leading residential brokerage in the New Jersey market, and an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, we are steadfast about delivering superior performance with outstanding results for our customers and clients.”
For more information about buying or selling a home and the experience we deliver to clients, contact our office at 201-934-0607 and visit us on the web at www.specialpropertiesres.com.
Ridgewood NJ, Valley Health System is proud to announce that Derrick Lieb, BSN, RN, MS-HCM, NEA-BC, HN-BC, Director of Valley’s Emergency Department, has been recognized with the 2017 Nurse Leader Award from the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey (ONL NJ).
The Nurse Leader Award is presented to a nurse leader who demonstrates exceptional leadership, guidance and service to their organization and to the profession of nursing. Derrick was recognized for influencing clinical outcomes, holistic practice implementation, employee engagement and high patient experience scores during his previous role as the manager of The Valley Hospital’s orthopedics unit.
The award was presented on December 8 at the ONL NJ Annual Holiday Meeting and Awards Brunch.
The Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey is the professional organization for nursing leaders in all practice settings. It is committed to ongoing professional development, creating and sustaining formal and informal nursing mentorship opportunities at all levels and mapping the future of safe patient care delivery in New Jersey.
Photo caption: Derrick Lieb, BSN, RN, MS-HCM, NEA-BC, HN-BC, Director of The Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department, has been recognized with the 2017 Nurse Leader Award from the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey (ONL NJ). Pictured left to right are: Nancy Barrett-Fajardo, RN, Director of Medical/Surgical Services, The Valley Hospital; Bettyann Kempin, RN, Assistant Vice President of Medical/Surgical Services, The Valley Hospital; Derrick; and Ann Marie Leichman, RN, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer.
![Don-Quixote-Windmill[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Don-Quixote-Windmill1-1.jpg "Reader says Residents have to accept it is a done deal")
![ridgewood_starbucks[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ridgewood_starbucks1.jpg "Tax Cut Good for Baristas Everywhere")
![Valley Hospital Derick-Lieb-2018-IMAGE_5[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Derick-Lieb-2018-IMAGE_51.jpg "Valley’s Emergency Department Director Recognized for Exceptional Leadership")
