Hackensack NJ, In just seven years, the group Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA (NhNUSA) – launched in River Edge by national employment expert John Fugazzie on
Jan 27,2011 – has grown into a network of neighborhood-based support groups throughout New Jersey and as far away as Madrid Spain, with 700+ success stories.
Press is invited to attend the NhNUSA’s 7th anniversary celebration – where the unemployed and underemployed can gain networking, resume-writing and other
employment-related advice from national experts.
WHAT: NhNUSA’s 7th Anniversary Celebration and Networking education.
WHERE: Petrocelli College Auditorium at Fairleigh Dickenson University’s
Hackensack Campus, 150 Kotte Drive.
WHEN: Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHO: NhN Founder John Fugazzie will offer opening remarks at 10:30 a.m.
Eugenia Estalla, who runs the NhN group in Madrid, Spain will speak via skype from
Spain at 11:20 a.m. National job-search and networking expert Abby Kohut, known as
Absolutely Abby, will present “Networking for Introverts, Extroverts, and In-Between
Verts” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
NETWORKING from 12:30-1:30 networking where there will be resources available:
Lisa Schuetz – C&C Career Center www.cccareercenter.com
Abby Kohut – Staffing Symphony LLC. www.absolutelyabby.com
Reinaldo Santiago – Jersey City One-Stop representing all One Stop Centers
Representatives of Puerta a Futuro Program at FDU
For more information contact NhN founder John Fugazzie at [email protected].
Paramus NJ, Paramus Police remind residents ,please be mindful about your belongings left in your car while parked in public places and even in your own driveway. There has been a rash of thefts from motor vehicles in the North Jersey area lately. A common unsafe practice is leaving items in plain view while going to a store or gym. All valuables should be stored in a locked trunk for safety.
There is no ignorance about the procedures for hiring police and fire. The hateful comments are driven by blind, unreasonable hatred of Mayor Knudsen. This completely unwarranted animosity is driven by two men, who post incessantly one is pissed that a 90′ field did not go in at Schedler. The other has undying devotion to Roberta, and thus will spit constantly at anyone who disliked her.
Ridgewood NJ, Niche ranked nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents. The Ridgewood school district showed some out standing results . Ridgewood High School came in 26th in the state over all , George Washington Middle School came in 23rd state wide for middle schools and Hawes Elementary School came in 32nd for elementary schools.
The 2018 Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users. Learn where our data comes from. Note: Niche has a separate ranking for 2018 Best Private High Schools.
All of our K-12 rankings have been updated to reflect the latest data available as well as millions of new reviews we’ve collected from students and parents over the last year. For the first time ever, we developed rankings for the Best Schools for the Arts to recognize schools that have a focus on performing and visual arts. We’re also recognizing 2018 Niche Standout Schools to highlight public schools that are making a difference in their community. Lastly, we recently introduced a variety of filters and sorts on our rankings so you can search by more locations and drill down to find the school that is right for you.
#23 in Best Public Middle Schools in New Jersey
George Washington Middle School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 650 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. According to state test scores, 72% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading
#26 in Best Public High Schools in New Jersey
Ridgewood High School is an elite, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 1,714 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. According to state test scores, 61% of students are at least proficient in math and 71% in reading.#32 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Hawes Elementary School is an elite, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 412 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 79% of students are at least proficient in math and 86% in reading.
#42 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Orchard Elementary School is an elite, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 312 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 82% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading.
#43 in Best Public Middle Schools in New Jersey
Benjamin Franklin Middle School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 737 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 64% of students are at least proficient in math and 80% in reading.
#56 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Travell Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 378 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 72% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.
#61 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Ridge Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 483 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 71% of students are at least proficient in math and 85% in reading.
#66 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Somerville Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 457 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 78% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading.
#83 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New Jersey
Willard Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Ridgewood, NJ. It has 497 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. According to state test scores, 72% of students are at least proficient in math and 80% in reading.
Paramus NJ, Non life threatening injuries were reported by the adult male driver of a passenger vehicle involved in a Sunday morning, 01/21, rollover crash on Route 17 northbound near East Midland Avenue, Paramus. Paramus Police, Fire, EMS, and Rescue Squad personnel responded to aid the victim, who was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The wrecked vehicle was righted and removed from the highway by a flatbed tow truck.
Ridgewood NJ, looks like package thieves are back , Ridgewood Police report a Richards Road resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters on January 10, to report the theft of a delivered package in the past. The victim reported a package valued at approximately $480 was delivered by FedEx on December 22, 2017 however he never received the package and the victim believes it was taken from his front porch by an unknown person.
On January 14, the Ridgewood Police also reported a Godwin Avenue resident reported the theft of delivered packages from the front porch of the residence. The victim reported (10) boxes valued at approximately $5000 were removed by an unknown actor. The Ridgewood Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.
1) Stop all new public employee hires from getting a paid pension Enable a 401k retirement plan similar to what many private employees subscribe to Why should we pay for these employees for decades they aren’t working
2) significantly increase public employee health care contributions This is real requirement for any chance at resolving the costs issue
3) increase the time worked requirement to 30 years and stop the multiple public job/pension/health cycle If you retire from a public role you are not eligible for another public pension
4) reduce the union requirements for public work contracts NJ costs to build are ridiculous due to union requirements This is sole reason states such as Florida have significantly less cost to build anything Put the bids out for all laborers union or not and set a fair price
5) Absolutey need to consolidate the various towns schools, fire, police, etc There has to be a way to provide services while consolidating and cutting overhead costs How many school administrators, fire trucks, vehicles, police officers are really needed in these small villages How many police and fire personal are getting paid or on pension just in RW?
I sent the following letter to The Record the other day about property taxes.
Regarding “Property taxes as charity debated” (Page 1A, January 15″):
The article unwittingly highlights the intellectual confusion – and bankruptcy – of the tax debate in America. First, property taxes are coercive levies on citizens to pay for schools, roads, police and other activities of local governments. In other words, homeowners have no choice but to pay for services they may not want nor “consume” in their local community.
Second, charitable contributions are voluntary payments to organizations that the donor believes is meeting a noble goal. Nonprofit organizations have a long history of serving the needs of people going back to colonial times. It is this ethos that is one of the foundations of America’s experiment as a limited government Republic. However, since the Great Depression the welfare state has expanded exponentially “crowding out” organizations that provided unemployment insurance, life insurance, medical insurance and other vital services for their members before the economy’s implosion in the 1930s.
The new tax law places a $10,000 cap on the amount of property and state and local income taxes taxpayers can deduct on their federal tax return. This restriction obviously increases the federal tax burden of taxpayers who live in New Jersey and other high tax states.
The solution is crystal clear: abolish the federal income tax and have local services paid for just as we pay for cable TV, Internet access, cell phones and other services people want for themselves and their families, by voluntary exchange. This would reduce the vast coercion government exerts over its citizens.
Murray Sabrin Ramapo College Professor of Finance · 1985 to present · Mahwah, New Jersey
Ridgewood NJ, Woof Gang Bakery is a leader in the pet industry with more than 90 locations in 11 states across the United States. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Ridgewood is a locally-owned small business, offering full service grooming and a wide selection of pet foods, gourmet baked treats, toys, supplies and accessories. The store located at 234 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450; phone 201-444-9663.
Glen Rock NJ, Academy of Our Lady in Glen Rock, NJ will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week starting with an Open House on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 11 am – 1 pm. Come and meet our outstanding teachers and explore the benefits of a Catholic School education! Light refreshments will be served. We will also host an Open House on Wednesday, January 31st from 9am-11 am. Academy of Our Lady is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, is accredited by the Middle States Association and was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
Please contact our office at 201-445-0622 for more information.
Ridgewood NJ, West Side Presbyterian Church ,there are so many ways to spend your precious free time. Why would someone decide to spend a good potion of that time serving as an Elder or Deacon at West Side?
Nineteen West Siders recently made that decision, committing to serve on Session or the Board of Deacons. For Elder Jennifer Padolina, who has been a member since the 1990s, the time was simply right. “Susan McBrayer called me and asked me. There are a lot of people like me who are waiting to be asked,” she said. “I thought about it for a few weeks and couldn’t think of a reason not to do it. You can make all sorts of excuses—I’m busy, I don’t have time. But if you want to do something, you make time to do it.”
Elder Scott Gavin decided it was “a great opportunity to be more involved with the church and to serve others.” Now the 30-year-old is the youngest member of Session. “I think it’s important to have the perspective of younger members so that we can keep West Side going for the next generation,” said Scott, whose wife, Lauren, recently began serving as a youth leader at High School BARN.
When Elder Dave DeFeo retired this past April, several people offered to help him put his newly found free time to good use. Pastor Marc was among them. “As I considered the opportunities, it boiled down to serving on Session at West Side and helping to start an educational foundation in Butler,” Dave recalled. “After our son Kyle and his wife Megan were married by Marc, the church felt like home to our family. I like the direction the church is going in. There are strong worship services, yes, but there are also strong outreach opportunities both inside the church and beyond the four walls of the church, which is important to me.”
Pastor Marc’s Tuesday-morning book group inspired Mary Ann Hoogerheyde to answer the call to become a Deacon. “The chapter we just read [in Evelyn Underhill’s The Spiritual Life] talks about how we are meant to serve, not just to be fed,” she said. “You have to give, not just receive. That’s what God wants us to do. And the atmosphere at West Side really inspires you to want to do more and give back and get involved. I’m beyond thrilled that we’re here!”
Our new Elders and Deacons will be installed/ordained at the 10:00 am and 5:15 pm services today. Pictured, left to right, Russell Clark, Eric Eickhoff and Dave DeFeo at the Elder/Deacon Retreat.
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve on the following Boards and Committees: Planning Board, The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board, the Open Space Committee, The Library Board of Trustees, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, The Green Team Advisory Committee, The Shade Tree Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission.
All interested residents must fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website under “Forms”), and send it along with a cover letter indicating on which board(s) or committee(s) the resident wishes to serve and why he/she has chosen these board(s) or committee(s), and a biography or resume to:
Donna Jackson
Deputy Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Or to: [email protected]
Deadline for submissions is February 2, 2018.
The Planning Board reviews site plans and subdivision applications; prepares, adopts, and amends the Master Plan; makes recommendations to the Village Council regarding amendments to developmental regulations and the official map.
The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board recommends rules for use and monitors recreation facilities. The Board coordinates community recreation programs and develops and updates the long-range Master Plan for recreation in the Village.
The Open Space Committee assists in identifying specific types of open space, and makes recommendations to the Village Council on the development of existing open space acquisitions.
The Library Board of Trustees is the governing board for the Ridgewood Public Library and its employees. The Board of Trustees works with the community to establish Library policy and secures funds to carry on services to the public, and set goals and objectives.
The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee assists the Village Council in long-range planning concerning environmental issues as well as anticipating environmental problems and recommending solutions.
The Green Team Advisory Committee is looking for residents who are interested in making Ridgewood a sustainable community; and/or are LEED Certified; and/or have working experience with sustainable practices such as solar energy or recycling; and/or have experience in obtaining grants for sustainable purposes.
The Shade Tree Commission works closely with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, and the Green Team to promote awareness and education of the residents as well as advise and provide recommendations to the Village Council in promoting and sustaining a safe and productive shade tree resource.
The Historic Preservation Commission identifies, records, and maintains a survey and inventory of all buildings sites, landmarks of historical or architectural significance. Oversees the preservation of structures and properties which reflect the heritage of the community. Acts as an advisory board to the Planning Board. Members must be knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history or must be knowledgeable and have a demonstrated interest in local history.
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research New Jersey is running out of time projections show that the pension system, already the worst-funded in the nation, will continue taking on debt for at least five more years.
The Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York defines a government pension system that’s below 40% funded as in crisis. New Jersey’s pension system is well below that line, and the cost to fix the system, even under optimistic economic and financial-market projections, is already enormous. After a nine-year expansion, if America’s economy turns down in the coming months, the price of fixing New Jersey’s pension system will surge higher still. Yet even when the costs were considerably less, the state’s political leaders balked at fixing the system. We’ve now reached the point where neglecting to construct an adequate and lasting fix pushes the pension system on a path toward failure, a catastrophic scenario for New Jersey’s public employees and taxpayers.
Key takeaways from the report :
As this report demonstrates, to stay on pace to reach the new plan’s required yearly contributions into the pension system by 2023, state government must increase the revenue that it dedicates to its pension system by more than threefold. At that point, pension payments could equal 12%–15% of New Jersey’s budget.
Based on the historical growth of New Jersey’s revenues, rising pension payments alone will likely consume virtually all the state’s additional tax collections over the next five years, even under an optimistic scenario where tax collections accelerate. That would leave little money for increasing funding of local schools, higher education, municipal services, or property-tax relief.
If the economy were to experience even a mild recession, the resulting slowdown in tax collections would likely mean that New Jersey would fall short by at least an additional $3.5 billion in meeting its pension obligations, sparking a more substantial rise in new pension debt.
After years of relying on unrealistic investment assumptions, New Jersey recently cut its projected rate of investment returns to a more realistic 7%. Even so, this is higher than forecasts made by independent experts for pension fund performance over the next five to 10 years. If the outside experts are correct, the investment returns on the state’s pension portfolio will fall significantly short, requiring New Jersey to dedicate further tax revenues to its pension system or allow additional new debt to pile up—a dangerous situation because the system’s funding levels are already so low that some pension experts fear that fixing a system this poorly funded is nearly impossible.
Absent some unexpectedly robust acceleration of the economy, it is highly unlikely that New Jersey will generate enough new revenues to meet its pension commitments without severely hobbling the rest of the state’s budget. At the same time, allowing its pension system to continue to accumulate debt by not contributing adequately to it will push New Jersey toward a potentially catastrophic failure of its government pensions.
Mahwah NJ, Recently, a group of Mahwah residents announced an initiative to recall Mayor Bill Laforet. The group now needs to acquire approximately 4,200 Mahwah resident signatures within 160 days in order to have the recall placed on the November election ballot. All petition signers must be registered voters and time is of the essence.
The Recall Committee seeks to end to the mayor’s “Incompetent management, poor judgement, abuse of power, lying and promoting divisiveness”. More information is available on their website at www.RecallMayorLaforet.com.
A previous effort to recall Mayor Bill Laforet in Mahwah, New Jersey, from his position was launched in March 2015.The recall did not go to a vote after supporters ended the recall attempt on August 3, 2015.Laforet is targeted for recall due to allegedly overstepping his authority by firing the town’s Public Works Director after pornography was found on the director’s computer. On May 13, 2015, supporters purported to have gathered “hundreds” of signatures.[4] Recall supporters ended the recall effort on August 3, 2015.
The Recall Group reached out to MahwahStrong seeking support for their initiative. Mahwah Strong is a group of local residents who have come together for the purpose of preserving the welcoming, inclusionary lifestyle of Mahwah Township.
The Board has concluded that the Mayor’s actions, statements and representation of our community have been largely inconsistent with the goals of MahwahStrong and contrary to the best interests of our Township and its taxpayers. His inability to coexist with the Town Council is disruptive and compromising important work and the future of our community.
The Board of MahwahStrong has determined that change is in order. It is our goal to reclaim Mahwah and remove what divides us. Accordingly, we are endorsing and lending the support of our organization to the recall effort.
Ridgewood NJ, Registration for 2018-2019 Kindergarten and First Grade entrance will be held on Tuesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 8 from 3:30-4:40 p.m. at the elementary schools. Please visit the website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us for full information and printable forms, which may be found under the For Parents tab.
![recall-stamp-640x574[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/recall-stamp-640x5741.jpg "Recall Effort Underway in Mahwah")
