June 21,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Live Streaming of Ridgewood High School graduation ceremony begins at 5PM.
https://rhs.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/our_school/about_us/rhs_live_stream
Updated June 20, 2017
Posted June 20, 2017
By Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Property taxes are consistently one of New Jerseyans’ top concerns, with good reason. At $8,549, they’re the highest in the country. No surprise they’re also a hot topic on the gubernatorial campaign trail.
Republican nominee Kim Guadagno has said she wouldn’t run for re-election in 2021 if she doesn’t deliver property tax relief. Democratic nominee Phil Murphy also thinks he can bring relief.
It’s an especially big problem for many because Jersey’s sky high real estate taxes can claim a good chunk of a homeowners’ income.
The property tax burden hits some towns much harder than others. Here are the 30 towns that feel the most pain from property taxes, based on what their residents earn.
(Some of the state’s 565 municipalities were excluded from our analysis, as the median income margin of error in small towns was too high because of the American Community Survey’s small sample size.)
photo courtesy of Lisa Durden
Updated on June 20, 2017 at 7:09 AMPosted on June 20, 2017 at 7:00 AM
BY BARRY CARTER
Columnist, The Star-Ledger
On June 8, Lisa Durden, a producer, filmmaker and media commentator, arrived at Essex County College in Newark to teach her speech class.
It was the closing days of the summer session and Durden was already set for the fall semester. She was listed as a returning adjunct professor to teach mass communication and popular culture and two effective speech courses.
Two days before, she had appeared as a political commentator on the Fox News show “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” invited to give her opinion as to why Black Lives Matter organizers held a Memorial Day event in Brooklyn for black people only.
When she arrived on campus June 8, Durden was abruptly suspended. She was told she had to cancel classes and report to the Human Resources Department.
June 21,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Fair Share Housing Center expected the Mercer County Superior Court to affirm it’s projected affordable housing obligations; but are now saying those numbers are a lie after Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi used them to paint a picture of over-development.
Fair Share, which has taken towns to court to enforce its calculations, said in April that the state needed 146,000 units to cover a 16-year gap period when the state failed to calculate obligations, and another 140,000 to fulfill housing quotas from 2015 to 2025.
The group submitted those figures to Mercer County Superior Court to help determine the housing obligations of five municipalities that have not reached settlements. Its executive director Kevin Walsh said at the time, “We expect the courts to affirm this study.”
However, contrary to positions taken before the courts, Walsh reversed course and called Fair Share’s housing numbers a lie in his letter to Schepisi.
In a letter Thursday, Walsh wrote, “our organization is not taking the position that municipalities must develop hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes by 2025.” He further argued that any claim “that municipalities are being required to provide 280,000 affordable homes is a lie.”
For decades state courts have relied upon Fair Share’s methodology to establish municipal obligations under the Mount Laurel doctrine. Cases involving more than 350 municipalities are either currently before the courts or have been settled. Most of the disputes between municipalities and Fair Share have been over the size of prospective need.
“Their deceptive practices are similar to certain retail clothing stores that used to raise their prices by 40 percent immediately before a 30 percent sale,” Schepisi (R-Bergen) said. “Towns I represent in Bergen and Passaic counties have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on professional fees just trying to comply with Fair Share’s mandates that they now admit should be significantly less.”
The center is seeking a court order blocking Edgewater from issuing occupancy certificates for non-affordable housing units, as well as a mandate that any construction related to non-affordable housing cease until it completes building 75 promised affordable housing units.
Econsult Solutions, a Philadelphia consulting firm hired by more than 200 municipalities, issued a report in 2016 setting the current need statewide at 33,140, with a prospective need for the next decade of 36,494.
Ridgewood NJ,Ridgewood High School Students Excelled in Language Arts including a record number (148) of RHS French students took the National French Exam, with 52 receiving Honorable Mention certificates, 28 ranking among the top percentiles in their respective levels, and one — in a first for RHS — earning the platinum award.
RHS students in Spanish levels III, IV, and V participated in the National Spanish Exam, with 33 achieving either Gold, Silver, or Bronze national status. Brianna Patek received first place in the state for Classroom Experience, and Maria Esteve received first place in the state for Out- side Experience, for the Level V exam. Anika Tsapatsaris and another student (name withheld) achieved second and third respectively for Level IV Class- room Experience.
file photo by Boyd Loving
June 21,2017
the staff of the Ridghewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, RHS senior Kumail Raza won the Rensselaer Medal and Scholarship Award for his outstanding academic achievement in math and science. RHS seniors Kathryn Kearney and Mary Lane won scholarships from the 200 Club of Bergen County and the Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Program. Mary won a scholarship award from the Kinnelon Education Association. And finally RHS Interact presidents Hayley Chelak and Christian Seremetis, received the Walter W. Head award from the AM Rotary for their service.
By Tom Bergeron, June 20, 2017 at 7:48 AM
A bill that would standardize taxes paid by those staying in short-term residential accommodations such as Airbnb was approved by the state Senate Monday and is heading to Gov. Chris Christie’s desk.
If signed, the legislation would provide more than $6 million in tax revenue for municipalities and the state of the New Jersey, supporters said.
A similar measure, put in place by Jersey City two years, generated approximately $1 million in revenue for Jersey City in 2016.
Updated on June 20, 2017 at 8:55 AMPosted on June 20, 2017 at 8:45 AM
BY JONATHAN D. SALANT
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
WASHINGTON — New Jersey could lose $600 million in federal transit funds if it doesn’t meet a federal deadline for setting up a rail safety oversight program.
The state is in the first stage of putting the program in place, according to a progress report released Monday by the Federal Transit Administration. Without a certified program, the state could no longer receive federal funding for transit.
“States need to realize timely action is critical,” FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes said.
https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/could_600m_in_federal_transit_funds_be_at_risk.html
June 21,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, today is the Ridgewood High School Graduation. The class of 2017 will accept their diplomas starting at 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The Ridgewood blog would like offer a Congratulations to all the Graduates and best of luck on your new adventures .
On June 22, 2016, a telephone caller using technology to anonymize caller ID information placed a bomb threat phone call to a commercial establishment in Edgewater, New Jersey, triggering a response from the Edgewater Police Department and the Edgewater Fire Department, as well as assets from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department. First responders subsequently determined that the bomb threat was a hoax.
TURNER and WALSH were each charged with one count of Terroristic Threats, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3(a), a third-degree crime, and one count of making a False Public Alarm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3(a), a third-degree crime. After being processed, both TURNER and WALSH were released pending a first appearance at the Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court on Monday, July 5, 2017, at 9:00 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
June 20, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin N.J. , Franklin Police are searching for gem thieves who ransacked the Franklin Mineral Museum a geology museum in Sussex County .The thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of precious stones.
The zinc mining district of Franklin is known world-wide for an abundance of fluorescent and rare minerals. The Museum exhibits fluorescent, local and world-wide minerals, artifacts, fossils, and a safe two level mine replica.
According to Franklin police the early morning break in at 4:40 a.m. Monday, the thieves broke in through a second story widow, ransacked shelves and displays and smashed cabinets.
Police said the suspects stole over $30,000 in precious stones, gems and minerals.
Interestingly investigators said there appears to have been an injury to one of the burglars. The glass apparently cut at least one of the burglars, leaving a trail of blood.
Franklin police are asking anyone with information about the break-in or if anyone has noticed someone with an unusual laceration to contact Detective Daniel Flora at 862-273-5170 or Detective Sergeant Mattessich at 862-268-1401.
By Alyana Alfaro • 06/19/17 4:25pm
Cities in New Jersey that do not use resources to enforce federal immigration laws regarding undocumented immigrants —known as sanctuary cities— may soon be able to apply for state grants aimed at replacing federal funding that is withheld due to sanctuary jurisdiction.
On Monday, a bill requiring the state to establish a program to replace those federal funding losses (A-4590/S3700) was advanced by the Assembly Budget Committee. The bill was also scheduled to be put up for a vote in the state Senate but was held by Sen. President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) due to the absence of some Democratic members. It will likely be voted on by both houses of the Legislature before the end of the legislative session in June.
“It’s critical for the state to support its local government entities in this dispute,” said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), one of the sponsors in the Assembly. “New Jersey is home to Ellis Island, the Gateway to America, and has played a pivotal role in welcoming immigrants to this nation. The state is one of the most diverse in the nation, and its communities and history have unquestionably been enriched and strengthened by welcoming and encouraging this diversity. We must protect this legacy.”
June 20, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, An effort by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) to force a vote on legislation she sponsors to forfeit the pensions of corrupt public officials (S-1557) was immediately blocked by Senate Democrats at today’s session of the New Jersey Senate.
A third attempt by Sen. Jennifer Beck to force a vote on legislation she sponsors to forfeit the pensions of corrupt public officials was immediately blocked by Senate Democrats today. (SenateNJ.com)
This marks the third time Democrats have voted to block the consideration of the pension forfeiture legislation. Previous motions by Beck to move the bill were immediately tabled by the majority on February 6 and February 13.
“Time and again, Senate Democrats have voted to protect the pensions of corrupt public officials,” said Beck. “It’s inexplicable that they would continue to choose convicted officials over the taxpayers they represent.”
An investigation by the Asbury Park Press last year found at least 40 convicted criminals collecting state pension checks of up to $83,000 per year.
“The APP found a million dollars of taxpayer money going to corrupt public employees, including some found guilty on federal corruption charges,” added Beck. “Those are just the people they found, there are probably dozens more. If you violate the public trust, you don’t deserve a cushy retirement at taxpayer expense. Why is that so hard for Democrats to understand?”
Shared work spaces skew older in Garden State communities
Co-working companies are gaining a toehold in suburban New Jersey, fed by demand from members who have left the corporate world and large companies who want to provide employees flexibility.
While the co-working movement, led by industry giant WeWork, is established in cities across the world, it’s gaining momentum in the suburbs, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The typical suburban shared-office facility is under 15,000 square feet, and is usually targeted at an older audience than those co-working locations that lure millennials with beer and ping pong.
https://therealdeal.com/2017/06/19/co-working-takes-off-in-suburban-new-jersey/
file photo
By Kirsten Fleming
June 19, 2017 | 5:17pm | Updated
During a soccer game early last year, Tiffany Lin began experiencing a sharp pain in her right knee.
Then a freshman at Manhattan’s Beacon School, Lin tried to play through the pain but sought out a doctor when it wouldn’t subside.
The diagnosis? She had Osgood-Schlatter disease, which is the inflammation of the area just below the knee. It mostly occurs during growth spurts and is exacerbated by continuous pounding of the knees that happens during sports such as soccer and running.
It wasn’t difficult to figure out the culprit. Lin, a fullback, played on three soccer teams: her varsity high-school squad, club ball in lower Manhattan and a recreation team. At times, she was playing the sport seven days a week.
“My doctor said it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t overusing my body so much,” says the 16-year-old, who was sidelined for a few weeks. “I’m getting better. I’m learning how to ice, stretch and rest.”
But for every teen athlete who takes a break, there are hundreds who don’t heed doctors’ warnings and continue to overburden their growing bodies. Eventually, many will contribute to the epidemic of overuse injuries — which are on the rise according to several studies and orthopedic doctors — now sullying youth sports.
“I’m seeing these overuse injuries in younger and younger people,” says Michael A. Kelly, MD, chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hackensack University Medical Center.
https://nypost.com/2017/06/19/the-epidemic-thats-ruining-youth-sports/
