Author: James

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Ridgewood Students Excel in Honors and Awards 2016-2017

RHS_theridgewoodblog

Honors and Awards 2016 – 2017 School Year

March 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood students continue to excel in March with awards going to Ridgewood High School Latin students,RHS cheerleading squad ,DECA students and Ridgewood swimmers.

(3.27.17 )This month the Ridgewood High School Latin students, under the direction of Stefanie Gigante and Jay Lucci, competed in “Certamen,” a quiz bowl-style game of classical knowledge. The upper level team, comprising AP students, took home first place in the northern division, and the Latin II team also took home first place honors. The winners will be moving on to the state level of competition at the convention in April.

(3.20.17)The RHS cheerleading squad won First Place in their division at the national championship in Virginia Beach. In addition, Alex Alberta won the High School Scholarship Award over hundreds of other contestants.

(3.9.17)Ninety-five DECA students attended the DECA State Conference in Atlantic City over February break. RHS students did well in the preliminary rounds and came in third place behind two larger schools. In each role play event, the top six students/teams, and the top five students/teams in papers will now go to ICDC in Anaheim, CA, with over 30 students qualifying to move to the national competition. In addition, Rusluan Diaz was also elected as an NJ State DECA officer for the 2017-2018 school year.

(3.9.17) Ridgewood swimmers this year broke nine previously held Ridgewood High School records. Senior Jessica Chau achieved records in four events, the 200 IM, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breast and the 100 Butterfly. Six others also set records in individuals and relays. Six RHS swimmers qualified to race at the NJSIAA Individual State Meet in Gloucester. Both the boys and girls dominated the Big North Freedom division, capturing first place finishes at the championship meet.

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Ridgewood High School Bands to Hold Annual Spring Concert

RHS Band

March 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Wednesday, March 29, the Ridgewood High School Bands will perform their annual Spring Concert. The concert, which will be held at West Side Presbyterian Church, begins at 7:30 PM and admission is free. This concert will feature the school’s three curricular bands – the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble – and will feature a varied, exciting program.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of John Luckenbill and Jeffrey Haas, will begin the concert with William Owens’ celebratory fanfare Festival Proclamation. The beautiful Highbridge Excursions by Mark Williams, follows in the program with a nod to the Scottish folksong style, and Karl L. King’s famous American march Gallant Marines closes their portion of the program. The RHS Concert Band, also led by Luckenbill and Haas, will continue the program by opening with the up tempo overture River Valley Celebration, by David Gorham. Goddess of Fire, Steven Reineke’s epic programmatic work depicting the legend of Pele is next in the program, followed by John Philip Sousa’s popular march, The Fairest of the Fair.
Finally, under the baton of Jeffrey Haas, the RHS Wind Ensemble will perform the exciting Exultation, a fast-paced opener with rhythms borrowed from Latin dance genres, Life Dances, an overture celebrating the various stages of a person’s life, and Alfred Reed’s masterpiece Russian Christmas Music, a piece written for and originally performed at a concert held in 1944 as a means of easing Russian-American tensions during World War II.
The Ridgewood High School Band Program is Bergen County’s largest, comprised of more than 230 students who participate in no fewer than 15 varied musical ensembles. The curricular bands, marching band, jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, winter color guard and twirlers have been acclaimed locally, regionally, and nationally for superior performance. Individually, members of the Ridgewood High School Bands are chosen annually to perform in honor ensembles at the county, regional, state, and national levels.
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Jersey rage: Residents hate Christie, don’t trust Legislature at all

Sweeney & Prieto

Lets see if people stop voting for clowns

By Joe Cutter March 28, 2017 5:00 AM

A new Fairleigh Dickinson/Public Mind Poll shows Jersey voters are dissatisfied with both the governor and Trenton lawmakers in general.

“Dissatisfied” might be an understatement.

Just 1 percent of voters — that’s 1 out of 100 — said they trust Trenton lawmakers to always do what’s right.

Krista Jenkins, professor of political science and director of the FDU poll, says many respondents took a dim view of where we are going.

“Barely a quarter, or 24 percent, believe that the state is on a good path, with 67 percent who think otherwise.”

She said voters were asked a number of questions about their feelings toward state government, and across all measures, voter discontent runs broad and deep.

The poll also showed a very slight improvement in Gov. Chris Christie’s rating, but it still remains at an abysmal low.

“We find that his approval numbers are up slightly from January, which is the last time that we asked the same question. But they do remain statistically unchanged at 20 percent. Almost three-quarters, or 72 percent, of registered voters say they disapprove of his leadership.”

But Jenkins says it is not just about the governor.

Read More: Jersey rage: Residents hate Christie, don’t trust Legislature at all | https://nj1015.com/jersey-rage-residents-hate-christie-dont-trust-legislature-at-all/?trackback=tsmclip

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RIDGEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HOST WATER EVENT MARCH 29th

ridgewood water

WATER EVENT – MARCH 29TH PRESENTED BY RIDGEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

March 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, from the New Jersey Division of Water Supply and Geoscience , “Overall, reservoirs have responded positively to the recent wetter precipitation patters and the Department’s Administrative Orders, but overall conditions are still dry statewide. A sustained return to normal conditions is needed to measurably improve the drinking water supply indicators.”

After over 10 years of water restrictions in the Village of Ridgewood , Ridgewood Water is proposing the follwing for all Ridgewood Water customers .

Stage II restrictions (2 days a week irrigation) were imposed in June 2016 and are still in effect in Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. Without these restrictions, the use of drinking water for irrigation will continue increasing toward levels that are unsustainable regardless of drought conditions.  To reverse this trend, an ordinance was introduced on March 8, 2017 to amend the provisions governing Water Emergencies in the Village of Ridgewood Code. Changes proposed include:

Making 2 days a week irrigation permanent year round,

Restricting irrigation hours to limit losses to evaporation,

Restricting irrigation using private wells to 2 days a week,

Adding new exemptions, including drip irrigation and smart controllers.

This ordinance applies only to Ridgewood, but it is expected that the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff will follow suit as they have in the past. Below is the proposed ordinance. Questions can be directed to Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5521 or [email protected]

The Ridgewood Water service area is under a State drought warning and continued Stage 2 watering restrictions. Changes in local municipal water restrictions are proposed which will make these conservation efforts permanent. The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), in conjunction with Ridgewood Water, will be hosting a presentation on issues relating to local water resources. Mike Furrey, Chair of the New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association and president of AGRA Environmental & Laboratory Services will address the audience on the state of the water industry and Ridgewood Water’s “Journey from Rain to Drain”. Information on what customers can do to conserve water will also be presented and made available. Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Senior Center at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, on the first floor. Attendance is free.

REAC is a board of volunteers, appointed by the Village Council, to assist in developing long-range planning on environmental issues.

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Major Road Work on West Glen Avenue in Ridgewood Begins today

road work Milled asphalt being dumped

file photo by Boyd Loving

March 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The PSE&G work on West Glen Avenue has been completed, and the long-awaited milling and paving of West Glen Avenue will take place over the next couple of weeks, weather permitting, as follows:

Week of 3/26/17: Beginning March 28th, milling will take place on West Glen Avenue, from North Maple Avenue through at least the far side of Upper Boulevard. On that day, the street area by the underpass, next to the Ridgewood Art Institute, will be closed. On March 29th and March 30th milling will continue until it is completed.

Week of 4/2/17: On April 3rd and 4th, paving will take place on West Glen Avenue. The street area by the underpass will be closed again, when that area is being paved.

There will be long detours in place during the milling and paving, and Police Officers will be able to help guide motorists, as needed. The Police Officers will also assist residents on West Glen Avenue in traveling to and from their homes during this work.

Please plan alternate routes during these two weeks. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

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Reader says Nothing emanating from the Financial Advisory Committee can be assumed to be well intentioned

godzilla

Nothing emanating from the Financial Advisory Committee can be assumed to be well intentioned. Continued pressure to build a structure that not only is unneeded but also failed a binding referendum bears the whiff of Aronsohn’s dogged instructions to his minions. Let us never forget that his political career, even his bids for Ridgewood Council, has been financially supported by construction unions throughout the state; the apartments we may face downtown being closely allied with this. But that garage, which he may well have promised absolutely, still figures in his dreams, and he still has an eye on higher office. Maybe by age 50 he will finally realize that he will never go farther than local mayor (now hated), abandon his political aspirations, let us alone, and get a real job. May that day come soon. And may he move away, too.

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Ridgewood Board Of Education and Dr. Fishbein Host Residents for Coffee on March 28

Dr-Fishbein_theridgewoodblog

March 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on Tuesday, March 28. The casual meeting will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. All residents are invited to drop in to share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns.

The final 2016-2017 Coffee and Conversation is planned for Wednesday, May 17.

Superintendent’s Monthly Column: What’s Your Story?
Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s monthly column for The Ridgewood News, March 10 edition.

Preliminary 2017-2018 School Budget
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).

 

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Monday Morning Route 17 South Bound in Ridgewood Crash Creates Traffic Havoc

Ridgewood Crash Creates Traffic Havoc

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

March 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire Department, and EMS personnel aided two (2) victims of a Monday morning, 03/27, motor vehicle crash that took place on Route 17 southbound just north of Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood. A pickup truck rear ended a van; two (2) occupants of the van were transported by separate ambulances to local hospitals with non life threatening injuries. A flatbed tow truck removed the van from the scene. The pickup truck appeared to have been undamaged. Traffic flow on Route 17 southbound in the crash vicinity was significantly restricted, which caused major backups.

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Ridgewood High School Summer School Registration Opens April 15th

RHS

photo by Boyd Loving

March 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, we have been informed that the information previously posted on Ridgewood High School Summer School  was outdated.

If you are thinking of hiring a tutor this summer or putting your child in a summer academic or enrichment program, Ridgewood High School’s Summer School may have the programs you are looking for. RHS Summer School is not just remedial classes anymore, we are now offering High School & Middle School Enrichment Classes as well as Test Preparation classes including; College Essay Writing, Intro to Geometry, Algebra II and Pre-calculus, Honors Geometry and Algebra II, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, and SAT and ACT Prep Classes.

https://tinyurl.com/rhssummerschool  ”

 

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The 15 best jobs if you’re under 25—and they pay at least $40k

RHS_BEST_theridgewoodblog

Published: Mar 24, 2017 8:06 a.m. ET

You might love watching reruns of Law & Order, but just because you get a kick out of watching people duke it out in a courtroom on TV doesn’t mean you should go to law school. Yet 25% of high-school students choose their future career based on something they saw on TV or in a movie, according to research from CareerBuilder.

Choosing a college major or career because it seems cool can backfire. A third of full-time workers come to regret their college major, CareerBuilder found. But by the time they realize they’ve made a mistake, doing a career reset is costly and complicated. Better to pick right the first time than have to start all over again in your 20s or 30s once you realize you’re not really cut out to be (or can’t make it as) a software engineer, salesperson, or screenwriter. But how to choose?

“There is a world of opportunity open to younger workers in business, technical and creative fields,” Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder, said in a statement. To narrow down the choices, you need to consider both your own passions and the potential salary and available job opportunities, Haefner added. “The more informed you are about your options and what it takes to get to where you want to be, the better the outcome,” she said.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-15-best-jobs-if-youre-under-25and-they-pay-at-least-40k-2017-03-23?link=sfmw_fb

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Opinion: College admissions are so random we’d be better off turning it into a lottery

Graduation 13

Published: Mar 23, 2017 1:19 p.m. ET

The high school senior qualified to audition for all-state choir, but he’d also been invited to interview for the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship, which promised a full ride to the University of Virginia worth $125,000. He couldn’t be in both places at the same time.

“Unfortunately,” warned the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, “the flexibility will have to come from the choral organization, or you will have to choose between the two.”

The Virginia Choral Directors Association was just as uncompromising. It cautioned that only an illness “severe enough that continued participation would be harmful to the student’s health” would excuse the 17-year-old choir president from a full day’s attendance.

The annual mating dance between high school seniors and the nation’s colleges and universities is under way, and it’s not pretty. Class of 2020 decision letters will go out at month’s end, even as tuition and fees rise faster than inflation, producing about $107 billion in education debt last year, according to the College Board.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-fix-the-big-disconnect-between-entry-level-job-candidates-and-employers-2017-03-21?link=sfmw_fb

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What good is a liberal arts degree?

graduation

Published: Mar 22, 2017 4:57 p.m. ET

“I’m a liberal-arts major, and it feels like there’s no clear line of work for me to pursue. How can I use my degree to get a job when I graduate?”

The older I get, the more fiercely I defend unduly maligned liberal arts majors. I’m the proud recipient of an English degree. Some people thought that studying literature was an endearing quirk, not a career path, but it led me to a fulfilling career in journalism.

Now that I’m out in the real world, I’ve seen how desperate companies are for good writers, communicators and researchers. According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers spring 2016 survey, employers rated critical thinking, professionalism and teamwork as the most important career-readiness traits of college graduates — all achievable through liberal arts studies.

“In many cases in job interviews, it’s those other applied experiences that students have had that help them stand out,”Paul Timmins, director of career services for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis

It’s true that PayScale’s list of bachelor degrees with high income potential is dominated by science and engineering. But a humanities background can give you the foundation to solve problems, lead and collaborate with others, which can help you rise through the ranks in any industry. You never know where your liberal arts background may take you. Late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien majored in history and literature. Howard Schultz, chairman and chief executive of Starbucks, majored in communications.

Follow these steps to gain confidence in your formidable knowledge, relay it to employers and land a job you love.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-good-is-a-liberal-arts-degree-2017-03-21?link=sfmw_fb

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What happens to your debt when you die?

bankrupt_monopoly

Published: Mar 24, 2017 11:20 a.m. ET

Americans are dying with an average of $62,000 of debt

You’re probably going to die with some debt to your name. Most people do. In fact, 73% of consumers had outstanding debt when they were reported as dead, according to December 2016 data provided to Credit.com by credit bureau Experian.

Those consumers carried an average total balance of $61,554, including mortgage debt. Without home loans, the average balance was $12,875.

The data is based on Experian’s FileOne database, which includes 220 million consumers. (There are about 242 million adults in the U.S., according to 2015 estimates from the Census Bureau.) To determine the average debt people have when they die, Experian looked at consumers who, as of October 2016, were not deceased, but then showed as deceased as of December 2016. Among the 73% of consumers who had debt when they died, about 68% had credit card balances. The next most common kind of debt was mortgage debt (37%), followed by auto loans (25%), personal loans (12%) and student loans (6%).

These were the average unpaid balances: credit cards, $4,531; auto loans, $17,111; personal loans, $14,793; and student loans, $25,391.

That’s a lot of debt, and it doesn’t just disappear when someone dies.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-happens-to-your-debt-when-you-die-2017-03-21?link=sfmw_fb

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Extreme couponing helps Virginia woman feed the hungry

Lauren Puryear

THOMAS BARLAS Staff Writer

Lauren Puryear literally took her quest to feed the hungry to the extreme.

The thousands of coupons she has clipped, along with others donated to her cause, are paying off, primarily in urban centers in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Coupons have helped the 29-year-old Virginia resident and New Jersey native from Union County put together 26,000 meals since September, at an estimated cost of $500. An additional 5,000 meals were served with the help of money and food donations.

“We were paying out of our own pockets, and (food and money) donations weren’t enough,” Puryear said of her organization, For the Love of Others. “Then I was introduced to couponing.”

Poverty rates for Baltimore and the nation’s capital are 24 percent and 18 percent, respectively, according to the Census Bureau.

Atlantic City’s poverty rate is higher — about 33 percent in 2015. The rate is much higher for families with children younger than 18 — about 45 percent.

https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/hungry/extreme-couponing-helps-virginia-woman-feed-the-hungry/article_fb037ada-412d-5c1b-83b9-4f77252c53ef.html

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The Ridgewood Art Institute to offer college scholarships to high school seniors

Ridgewood Art institute

March 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Art Institute is proud to offer college scholarships to high school seniors who will be majoring or minoring in art. If you are a member of Ridgewood Art Institute, please fill out the attached form to be considered. Worthy candidates will be expected to bring six pieces of original artwork on April 29, 2017 for the Board of Trustees review.

Print an apllication Here.  Deadline is April 15, 2017

In addition, Our Summer Schedule for Young People is attached. You can find it online here.