Editors note : it used to be academics ,good grades , a strong essay, some extra curricular
This New Jersey student’s unconventional approach to applying for college paid off for him.
On his Stanford University application, Ziad Ahmed was posed the question “What matters to you, and why?”
The 18-year-old activist from Princeton, New Jersey, decided to use the opportunity to write “#BlackLivesMatter” 100 times.
To his surprise, the answer caught the attention of the California school’s admissions office and Ahmed received his acceptance letter on Friday.
“I didn’t think I would get admitted to Stanford at all, but it’s quite refreshing to see that they view my unapologetic activism as an asset rather than a liability,” Ahmed told Mic.
By Matthew Stanmyre and Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 04, 2017 at 7:03 AM, updated April 04, 2017 at 5:12 PM
Andrea Aquino began her journey in Paraguay. At 6-foot-7, people in her village thought she was a freak — all arms and legs clinging to the motorcycle she and her mother sold clothes from to support themselves.
Selwyn Rodriguez and Christian Ortiz started their odyssey in Puerto Rico. Once in the mainland United States, Ortiz slept on piles of laundry and cold floors, while Rodriguez lived with a stranger who openly used drugs.
And Blessing Ejiofor landed in the U.S. on the fast track to college, via Nigeria, but her dreams were crushed by the adults she trusted most. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules.
Four players from three continents — all bound by the same dream and pitch: Leave your friends and family behind, travel thousands of miles and use basketball to find a better life.
The Townsend Inlet Bridge between Sea Isle and Avalon has been closed indefinitely after underwater inspections deemed it unsafe. The bridge is shown on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. ( )
By Rajeev Dhir | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 04, 2017 at 9:49 AM, updated April 04, 2017 at 11:43 AM
AVALON — The Cape May County bridge linking Avalon and Sea Isle City has been shut down indefinitely for emergency repairs after an underwater inspection deemed the span unsafe, officials said.
An underwater inspection of bridge pilings found structural damage 20 feet below the water.
The dive team found a crack and movement in one piling that appeared to be very recent, along with heavy deterioration in another three-pile cluster that supports one of the piers on the Avalon side of the bridge.
Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela is one place where Friedrich Hayek’s most dire warnings remain relevant.
Marian Tupy | April 4, 2017
Manaure Quintero/NurPhoto/Sipa U/NewscomOn March 29, the Supreme Court of Venezuela dissolved the country’s elected legislature, allowing Venezuela’s top court to write future laws. The court is filled with allies of Venezuela’s socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, while the legislature is dominated by Maduro’s opponents, and the court’s ruling was seen as the latest step on Venezuela’s descent into a full-fledged dictatorship. But following international outcry—as well as the appearance of cracks within Maduro’s own party—the court reversed itself just a few days later, on April 1.
Ridgewood NJ, There are more than 20 million miles of underground utilities in the United States. Without locating and marking utility lines before digging, you could hit one — resulting in costly damage, hefty fines and possible injury.
April is National Safe Digging Month and Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, reminds customers, contractors and excavators to call 811 to request a mark-out before digging to avoid hitting underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables. The service is free, and absolutely critical to avoiding injuries and disruptions to vital utility services.
PSE&G has more than 8,200 circuit miles of underground electric lines, and 35,000 miles of buried natural gas distribution lines. In addition to the electric and gas lines, there are other buried utility lines, including communications cables, and water and sewer lines.
When you call 811, you are automatically connected to the One Call center, which collects information about your digging project. The center then provides the information to the utility companies, who send representatives to mark the locations of underground lines in the immediate vicinity of the planned work location with flags, paint or both. After lines have been marked and you receive confirmation, you are free to carefully dig around the marked areas.
In New Jersey, the marks are valid for 45 business days. (Guidelines vary from state-to-state. State-specific information is available at www.call811.com.) The call must be made whether you are hiring a professional or planning to do the job yourself.
Important information to consider:
Call 811 at least three full business days before each job to have underground pipes, wires and equipment located. Utility workers will respond and place markers where utility lines are buried, free of charge.
If you hired a contractor, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Do not allow work to begin if the lines are not marked.
Property owners must maintain and respect the marks. Always hand dig within two feet of marked lines.
Various colors are used when marking lines. To learn what each color represents and for more information go to www.call811.com.
If you accidentally damage gas piping or smell gas when excavating, call 911 immediately from a safe area. Call before you dig is more than a good idea — it’s the law.
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Department of Education ( NJDOE) has posted its School Performance Report for the 2015-16 school year.
As in previous years, the report allows visitors to view the academic performance of any district or any school by grade level. The report also includes a broad array of information not included in past years.
According to the NJDOE website :The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) presents the 2015-16 School Performance Reports. These reports are designed to inform parents, educators and communities about how well a school is performing and preparing its students for college and careers. In particular, the School Performance Reports seek to:
Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
Benchmark a school’s performance against other schools that are educating similar students, against district and state-wide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.
The latest report provides data on faculty attendance, absenteeism, PSAT and ACT performance in addition to SAT scores, advanced placement and international baccalaureate counts, and the percentage of students concentrating in approved career and technical education programs.
However the report no longer provides “peer school comparisons,” however, which compared each school’s data to a group of similar schools.
For Ridgewood High School “Academic Achievement” : School wide Performance 72% of students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts Literacy Met or Exceeded Expectations putting RHS in the 91% Statewide Percentile.In Mathematics 71% of students met or exceeded expectations putting RHS in the 99% Statewide Percentile.
For College and Career Readiness Indicators , Percent of Students Participating in PSAT , RHS 64.4% vs Statewide 95.5% .
Percent of Students Participating in SAT ,RHS 42.4% vs Statewide 58.0% .
Percent of Students Participating in ACT ,RHS 58.4% vs Statewide 27.6%.
Ridgewood NJ , not sure weather to laugh or cry . Are we the only one that sees any irony in this? In what cant best to described as a collection of failed politicians with terrible environmental records ,or perhaps its a desperate attempt to remain relevant , a bi-partisan group of former New Jersey elected officials on Tuedsay announced that, despite differences in politics, they were joining together to push environmental advocacy issues in Washington, D.C. The group which includes former Governors Tom Kean (R), Christie Whitman (R), Jim Florio (D) and Brendan Byrne (D), as well as former Democratic Congressman Rush Holt and former NJ Assemblywoman Maureen Ogden (R) wants New Jersey’s current congressional delegation to fight to protect public land, water, air and wildlife.
In an air “its my party too” the former New Jersey elected officials on Tuesday released the “Principles to Protect our Public Lands, Water, Air and Wildlife.” Those principles claim that environmental protections are “fundamental to the economic success and vitality” of both the state and the nation, that the environment is fundamental to health/well-being, and that “environmental protection must remain a bipartisan matter.” In their letter the officials also call for support of environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and Wilderness Act and Antiquities Act. Additionally, they push for protection of public land, promoting renewable energy, an acknowledgement of climate change and demand that “all federal agencies, policies and laws be grounded in sound science.”
This all from the women former governor Christie Whitman , who most notable contribution to environmental protection was misguidedly telling workers at Ground Zero the air was OK , when breathing it turned out to lead to health problems and for some death.
Considering New Jersey’s air is regularly ranked as among worst in U.S. by clean-air group the American Ling Association. In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2011 New Jersey ranked as the 18th most polluted state in the USA. Also in 2011 was 5th least “green” state in the nation by a 24/7 Wall St. analysis of environmental issues facing the 50 state. In 2017 New Jersey education officials said 21 school districts have reported elevated levels of lead in drinking water and of coarse you do not want to forget about chromium-6 in the drinking water . The state of New Jersey also came in with the most EPA Superfund sites at 116.
Seems rather bold for any New Jersey politician to criticize anyone on the environment particular Whitman.
2017-18 SCHOOL BUDGET PRESENTATION EVENT April 5 2017 7:30 PM to April 6 2017 7:30 PM Location Benjamin Franklin Middle School, George Washington Middle School
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, At the March 6 Board of Education meeting, Business Administrator Dr. Alfredo Aguilar presented the preliminary 2017-2018 budget, which is based on a .97% local tax levy increase. The total preliminary budget is $105,565,593, which would mean a $184.39 annual tax increase on the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093.
Click here to view the preliminary budget presentation as a PDF.
Following discussion, the Board approved the following resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police remind everyone the West Glen Ave will be closed today April 5th 2017, between North Maple Ave and Heights Road for paving.
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Ridgewood Water Presentation – Lead and Copper
7. Discussion:
a. Ridgewood Water
Award Contract – Tree Maintenance Services
Award Contract – Water Main Replacements at Stream Crossings
Award Contract Under State Contract – Materials and Supplies – Water Main Repairs
Authorize Change Order – Rehabilitation of Glen Tank
b. Parking
1. Update on Hudson Street Parking Garage
2. Request for Proposals – Pilot Program – Alternative/Non-traditional Commuter Transportation Services
3. Preliminary Design for Train Station Parking Area
4. Parking on Pomander Walk
5. Cambridge Road and Bogert Avenue Parking
6. Repeat Zone Parking
c. Budget
Reject Bids – School Bus Transportation Services – Summer Day Camp
Award Contract – Professional Traffic Engineering Services – West Side Study Area
Award Contract – Gate House Sloped Entry – Habernickel Family Park
Award Contract – Communications – Police Department
Award Contract – Paving
Award Contract – Central Valet
Surplus of Police Vehicles
Temporary Emergency Budget Appropriations
Temporary Emergency Capital Budget
Capital Ordinances
d. Policy
Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs
Sustainable Jersey Actions Regarding Responsible Pet Ownership
Age Friendly Ridgewood – Mayor’s Pledge
Boards and Committees – Structures and By-laws
Historic Preservation Grant Proposal through Bergen County Open Space Trust – Zabriskie-
Schedler House – Phase II
e. Operations
Release of Cash Security Bond – Sludge Hauling Contract
Installation of Bus Shelter/Bus Bench – West Glen and North Monroe
Upgrade of County Traffic Signals
Accept Donation – Restoration of Sally Port – Ridgewood Police Department
Surplus & Donation of Police Equipment
8. Review of April 12, 2017 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
9. Manager’s Report
10. Council Reports
11. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
12. Resolution to go into Closed Session
13. Closed Session
a. Personnel/Contract Negotiations – White Collar and Blue Collar Negotiations;
Boards/Committees
b. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Properties;
By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 04, 2017 at 7:31 AM, updated April 04, 2017 at 11:14 AM
TRENTON — New Jersey’s new plan for grading its schools for the federal government places less weight on passing state exams and extra importance on other factors, such as the performance of students learning to speak English and academic progress among students who don’t pass standardized tests.
The state Monday filed its federal accountability plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the new federal education law that replaced No Child Left Behind. All states are required to file a plan to the federal government.
The ESSA plan calls for decreasing the importance of standardized test scores in rating schools and giving states more flexibility to decide how to intervene in struggling school districts.
Editors note CNN tries the same tactic as the Bergen Record when they came to Ridgewood and told residents its not news till they tell you it is and you have no right to question anything.
‘We will not aid and abet the people trying to misinform you’
Apr 4, 2017
Since news broke Monday that the Obama Administration’s National Security Adviser, Susan Rice, directed the “unmasking” of NSA intercepts of Trump associates, CNN has raced to shoot down the blockbuster report.
CNN Tonight’s Don Lemon went so far as to announce he would ignore the news at all costs.
While interviewing a Democratic congressman, CNN’s Chris Cuomo claimed it was “demonstrably untrue” Rice sought surveillance of the Trump team, even as that’s exactly what yesterday’s reports prove.
Over the last 24 hours, the network has also repeatedly called on its chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, to dismiss the reports as a non-story; Sciutto has even excused Rice claiming ignorance of the unmasking scandal two weeks ago, arguing Rice “wasn’t aware” what unmasking Rep. Devin Nunes (D-Calif.) was referring to.
And on Tuesday’s “New Day,” anchor Alisyn Camerota openly pleaded with Sen. John McCain to write-off the news as unimportant.
Last night, Lemon began “CNN Tonight” with an announcement that the Rice report a “fake scandal ginned up by right-wing media and Trump” that he would not be baited into justifying with coverage.
“On this program tonight, we will not insult your intelligence by pretending,” it’s legitimate, he said. “Nor will we aid and abet the people trying to misinform you, the American people, by creating a diversion. Not going to do it.”
Cross-Honoring Continues, Enhanced Ferry Service to Midtown
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is adding additional train service to the holiday schedule for the Wednesday morning and afternoon peak periods on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Lines (NJCL) operating into Penn Station New York (PSNY). Additionally, enhanced cross-honoring ferry service into midtown Manhattan will be available every half-hour at Hoboken Terminal during morning and afternoon peak periods.
At approximately 9 a.m. Monday morning, NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor line train #3926 experienced a slow-speed derailment while pulling in to Track 9 at New York’s Penn Station. Three cars in the middle of the ten car train derailed. These were cars 5, 6, and 7.
Please Note: Customers are advised to expect this level of service through the close of the service day on Thursday, April 6, 2017 as Amtrak continues to make repairs in PSNY.
Highlights of the additional peak period train service include the following: two additional trains will operate on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) providing one seat rides to/from Bay Head during morning and afternoon peak periods; two additional trains on the NEC will operate to/from New Brunswick; and one additional NEC train will operate to/from Trenton making local stops (except Jersey Ave. in a.m.).
The following additional trains will operate inbound to PSNY:
NJCL 5:45 a.m. from Bay Head
NJCL 6:59 a.m. from Bay Head
NEC 8:11 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:41 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:32 a.m. from Trenton (local stops except Jersey Ave.)
The following additional trains will operate outbound from PSNY:
• NEC 4:38 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NEC 5:28 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NJCL 5:38 p.m. to Bay Head
• NEC 6:31 p.m. local to Trenton (including Jersey Ave. stop)
• NJCL 6:38 p.m. to Bay Head
Enhanced ferry service
Beginning at 6:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. New York Waterway Ferry will operate service from Hoboken Terminal slip 5 to 39th St. in midtown Manhattan every half-hour. This service will operate in the afternoon peak hours between 3:30 p.m. (39th St Manhattan) and 7:00 p.m. All of these trips will accept and cross honor NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes to New York.
NJ TRANSIT is continuing the HOLIDAY schedule for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). Customers should locate the SATURDAY/SUNDAY/HOLIDAY schedule on their timetables and note that all trains will be operating, including those listed in the color-shaded columns.
NJ TRANSIT and private bus carriers have increased bus service as much as possible on routes along the affected rail lines. Academy has enhanced their PNC park-and-ride service to accommodate North Jersey Coast Line customers. Suburban Transit has also added service to accommodate Northeast Corridor customers.
MidTOWN Direct trains continue to operate in and out of Hoboken Terminal where customers can access PATH, NJ TRANSIT bus service and New York Waterway ferry.
Raritan Valley Line service will operate on a regular weekday schedule and originate/terminate at Newark Penn Station.
Main/Bergen, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis and Atlantic City Rail Lines will operate on regular weekday schedules.
Customers are encouraged to check njtransit.com for complete details.
Cross honoring remains in effect with NJ TRANSIT bus, light rail, private carrier bus, NY Waterway ferry, and PATH at Newark, Hoboken and 33rdStreet. Path also has increased its level of service to accommodate the additional demand.
Hoboken services will be impacted due to the additional trains in the terminal. Because of track limitation in the terminal some Summit-bound trains will be impacted.
Due to the circumstances, impacted customers are advised to build in additional travel time as delays and overcrowding conditions are anticipated.
Ridgewood Nj, Author Says U.S. Government Misjudged The Future In 1935
Shortly after the Reagan Administration took charge in Washington D.C., professional investor and author of the book “Roadway to Prosperity” (www.roadwaytoprosperity.com) Al Jacobs essentially opted out of the Social Security System.
From that time on Jacobs has contributed only minimally to the system, while retaining a vested interest in both Social Security and accompanying Medicare benefits from the U.S. Government.
“Social Security provides necessary security for those who have worked until they are 65 and not accumulated enough savings to live on,” says Jacobs, “but for those who have accumulated the means to do without Social Security income, they’d be wise to extract themselves if they are able.”
Jacobs says there are many reasons that the U.S. Social Security System was in trouble from the start. Here’s a look at the Social Security System past, present and future:
• The current Social Security System was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal that came to fruition in 1935. The measure, meant to implement social insurance for the elderly and unemployed, was enacted as a result of the Great Depression of the 1930s, which wiped out the savings and income of many elderly and retirees. • Initial payments, limited to $30 per year, were made into the system only by employees. If the U.S. Government had a crystal ball, it might have foreseen the problems Social Security would cause. In 1940, life expectancy for all Americans was 63 years of age, thus the government didn’t expect to pay benefits to its citizens very long. Ida May Fuller was the first to receive a monthly Social Security check. She paid $24.75 into the system, lived to be 100-years-old and collected $22,882.92 during her retirement years. • Not all beneficiaries were as lucky as Ida May, but it was an ominous beginning for the system. Throughout the next 70-plus years, amendments were added, employers were forced to pay in and optimism that the system could roll on as it had always done continued well into the 1980s. • As one century faded into another, Americans began to live longer for many different reasons, and as they did, Social Security began to show signs that it couldn’t last. The system soon became a hot item on the political trail, even prompting Donald Trump to tell everyone he didn’t need the $2,663 a month. He even encouraged his fellow billionaires – and those less fortunate millionaires – to stop taking the payment. The message didn’t seem to resonate, however, as these groups of earners are collectively taking in more than $1.4 billion a year in Social Security benefits. • According to a Pew Research Study, since 2010 Social Security’s cash expenses have exceeded its cash receipts. By 2019 the US Treasury will start dipping into its reserves and according to the study, Social Security will pay out its final checks in 2034 if something doesn’t change. • Today the retirement age in the U.S. remains 65-years-old, while the average lifespan for citizens is 78 years.
About Al Jacobs
A professional investor for nearly five decades, Al Jacobs holds a degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Real Estate Certificate from the University of California and a Certified Property Manager designation (CPM) from the Institute of Real Estate Management. He organized his own investment firm in 1968 and has since specialized in development and management of real estate, and has a deep involvement in corporate securities. His written works can be found in the book “Roadway to Prosperity” and also in several newspapers near his hometown of Monarch Beach in Orange County, Calif. Jacobs writes a weekly column for his website (www.roadwaytoprosperity.com) as well.
