Kristie Cattafi , Staff Writer, @KristieCattafi1:24 p.m. ET Dec. 30, 2016
LODI ― The borough could become home to the first hydrogen fueling station in New Jersey and one of the few retail stations open to the public across the country.
Air Liquide US has filed an application with the borough’s Zoning Board of Adjustment to install a hydrogen gas fueling dispenser, a hydrogen fueling storage facility and other improvements to an existing Shell gas station at 110 Essex St.
By Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 24, 2017 at 9:24 AM, updated February 24, 2017 at 4:24 PM
CLIFTON – Police have arrested a Bergen County man and charged him in the theft last week of a chalice and money from a donation box at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church on Union Avenue.
The chalice, worth about $15,000, has not been recovered and police are still looking for it. A chalice is a goblet or cup used in religious services.
Peter M. Heitmann Jr., 26, of Saddle Brook is charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief and possession of burglar’s tools, said Detective Lt. Robert Bracken of the Clifton Police Department.
By Matthew Stanmyre and Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 24, 2017 at 7:30 AM, updated February 24, 2017 at 2:39 PM
UPDATE, Feb. 24, 1:35 p.m.: The Paterson Public School District has announced wide-ranging penalties to its athletics department, including the suspensions of three district employees and the withdrawal of the Paterson Eastside High School girls basketball team from next week’s state tournament. For details click here.
PATERSON — At least eight international boys and girls basketball players have shown up seemingly out of nowhere to play for Paterson Eastside High School’s powerhouse teams over the past four years, broadening state investigations and drawing the attention of federal agencies, NJ Advance Media has learned.
The discovery of the international pipeline comes a little less than three weeks after an NJ Advance Media report found as many as six players living with Eastside boys coach Juan Griles. Three of the boys were from Puerto Rico and not among the eight who may have violated federal immigration laws.
photo by ArtChick
By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 24, 2017 at 12:33 PM
TRENTON — Supporters of New Jersey’s charter schools are planning a major lobbying effort in the state capital next week as controversy and criticism surrounding the schools continues to mount.
A group of nearly 200 charter school supporters, mostly parents, will gather at the state house to deliver the message that charter schools are changing lives, adding value to children’s education and creating opportunities for students, according to the New Jersey Charter Schools Association.
“I wanted something better for my children and couldn’t afford to move or pay for private school,” said Haneef Auguste, whose four children attend KIPP New Jersey Schools in Newark. “No one should stand in the way of any child’s chance at a better life, especially when the circumstances in some of our communities are so dire.”
February 22, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Bergen County Youth Police Academy – Class #13.
The Academy is a two-week “day camp” (Monday through Friday) that is offered to qualified Bergen County high school students who are entering the 9th, 10th , 11th and 12th grades, free of charge. The camp is funded through the use of monies forfeited from criminal enterprises, and is staffed by members of the Sheriff’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office. This year’s Academy will run from June 26 through July 7, 2017.
The motto of the Bergen County Youth Police Academy is “Honor – Respect – Commitment.” The objective is to educate young people about public service including emergency services, law enforcement, and government agencies.
“Designed by law enforcement professionals, the Academy provides high school students with a real understanding of what police academy cadets experience,” stated Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal. “This is a unique opportunity for young people to focus on strengthening their life skills of self-respect, respect of others, teamwork, and commitment to one’s goals.”
The curriculum will consist of hands-on, interactive educational activities as well as physical training activities. Daily programs include presentations from educators, interaction with county agencies, and field trips. The cadets will be given exposure to available state and county resources.
The Youth Police Academy will be held at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, and is headquartered at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack. Application forms are available at local high schools, police departments or online at www.BCPO.net (at Resources tab), and must be submitted by Friday, April 14, 2017. Space is limited. If you have any questions, contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Community Outreach unit at 201-226-5509, or [email protected].
February 25,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, Jersey Born and Bred Gubernatorial candidate Joseph R. Rullo has put together a few ideas to solve the state’s massive pension crisis. Most of the ideas are relatively painless for employees and taxpayers and unlike other grand schemes easily doable .
Rullo starts with investing basics by looking to eliminate $700 million in pension fees to NYC politically connected brokerage houses and replace with licensed brokers in the state investors division to pay savings towards pension payment. The pension fees went from 125M to 700M per year in the last 7 years.
https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2016/10/new-jersey-gubernatorial-candidate-remove-wall-street-from-new-jersey-pension-system/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJAwKQ8TLOM&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
Let’s face it according to the all the town hall protesters New Jersey loves Obamacare so Rullo says :
*Open up state employee health insurance bids across America to create competition to lower premiums and get better coverage for employees.
Rullo get creative with the next one;
* Dedicate a portion of recreational marijuana revenues to pay towards pension payment.
Was first reported by The Star-Ledger’s Editorial Page Editor Tom Moran in a Sunday column arguing passionately for legalization. Joseph Rudy Rullo, a declared Republican candidate for New Jersey governor in 2017, also supports marijuana legalization.
https://www.njumr.org/…/praise-for-phil-murphy-marijuana-le…
And finally something that long over do in the state of New Jersey . We can start with the pensions and work our way through every state agency .
* Open up a formal investigation and audit the pension fund for the last several decades to hold politicians in both parties accountable for their actions.
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 24, 2017
Trenton, NJ – A month since the New Jersey Press Association promised, but failed, to provide the public and the Legislature with the revenue totals their members receive from the publication of legal notices, the Governor’s Office today released additional revenue information from its own review that further debunks the multibillion-dollar print newspaper industry’s grossly false and misleading claims.
In an effort to lobby for media titans against overdue property tax-cutting reform bill S-2855/A-4429, which permits legal notices to be published online and has been supported by bipartisan legislators for 16 years, NJPA has claimed their member newspapers take $20 million per year from taxpayers. NJPA continues to provide no evidence to support this claim. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Office has released ample data, such as the attached, publicizing the newspapers’ real taxpayer rake, which is well over $20 million and pushing upwards of $80 million per year.
“The billionaires and millionaires running print newspapers in New Jersey continue to provide false rhetoric that they collect only $20 million in annual tax dollars to publish legal notices that should instead be freely posted online, and have yet to fulfill their promise to release real financial information, conceding that their $20 million claims were a lie to their employees, legislators, readers and taxpayers,” Governor Christie said. “These newspaper operators are so conflicted on this issue that despite my office providing sets of data proving their claims are false, there have been no articles or editorials reflecting that reality.”
Data backing the $80 million and the Star Ledger’s $16.6 million in 2016 legal notices revenue has been public since January 24. It has been provided to and remains unpublished by the following newspapers:
The Record
Gannett
NJ Advance Media
The Associated Press
NJ Spotlight
New Jersey Herald
In the face of this silence, the Governor’s Office has continued its painstaking review with the Gannett newspapers. To date, the Office has reviewed the published 2016 legal notices for three daily newspapers and the revenue generated from just these three newspapers exceeds $20 million:
2016 Revenue Totals
• Star-Ledger – $16,614,923.68
• Courier Post – $2,096,997.42
• Asbury Park Press – $1,989,089.53
Total for 3 Daily Newspapers – $20,701,010.63
With 13 daily papers and dozens of weekly papers left to tabulate, the 2016 legal notices in these three papers alone prove the NJPA’s $20 million per year claim is an outright falsehood.
February 25,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, according to the Pew Research Center , California has by far the largest number of unauthorized immigrants, about 2.3 million in 2014. About six-in-ten unauthorized immigrants live in the six states with the largest populations of unauthorized immigrants—California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
Pew estimated New Jersey to have 500,000, making up 5.4% of the Gardens states population and 7.6% of school kids with a whopping increase of 45,000 since 2009.
https://www.pewhispanic.org/interactives/unauthorized-immigrants/
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving
February 25,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, for the second time this week a truck crash on route 17 caused traffic delays . A tractor trailer loaded with Coca Cola rolled over on the flyover ramp of the Route 17/Route 287 interchange in Mahwah on Friday afternoon, 02/24. The truck landed on its right side; the driver, who sustained a minor leg injury, was extricated by Mahwah PD and FD personnel. A crash related fluid spill was attended to by Mahwah FD. The ramp remained closed for an extended period to facilitate righting and removal of the crashed vehicle. Mahwah EMS & Fire Police, NJ State Police, and NJ DOT units also responded.
file photo
We want to stay in Ridgewood but on a significantly reduced income it may not be possible. Yes, our mortgage is long paid, But our taxes have increased astronomically. Our quarterly payment is more than my Social Security for 4 months, so all my Social Security for the year goes entirely to taxes. Thank heavens my husband also has Social Security but it is not enough to cover all other expenses .A reduction in taxes could make the difference between staying here or selling our 4 bedroom Colonial to a family with children. Such a family would cost the Village way more in services than we do now.
by Tyler Durden
Feb 24, 2017 7:05 PM
About a month ago, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz decided to ‘take a stand’ in defiance of Trump’s immigration executive order and penned a message to the world vowing, among other things, to hire 10,000 refugees over the next 5 years and “build bridges, not walls, with Mexico”. Here are some excerpts from the politically charged message drafted by Schultz with “deep concern and a heavy heart”:
I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a resolute promise. Let me begin with the news that is immediately in front of us: we have all been witness to the confusion, surprise and opposition to the Executive Order that President Trump issued on Friday, effectively banning people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States, including refugees fleeing wars. I can assure you that our Partner Resources team has been in direct contact with the partners who are impacted by this immigration ban, and we are doing everything possible to support and help them to navigate through this confusing period.
Hiring Refugees: We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world. This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination. There are more than 65 million citizens of the world recognized as refugees by the United Nations, and we are developing plans to hire 10,000 of them over five years in the 75 countries around the world where Starbucks does business.
Building Bridges, Not Walls, With Mexico: We have been open for business in Mexico since 2002, and have since opened almost 600 stores in 60 cities across the country, which together employ over 7,000 Mexican partners who proudly wear the green apron. Coffee is what unites our common heritage, and as I told Alberto Torrado, the leader of our partnership with Alsea in Mexico, we stand ready to help and support our Mexican customers, partners and their families as they navigate what impact proposed trade sanctions, immigration restrictions and taxes might have on their business and their trust of Americans.
Unfortunately, Schultz quickly found out the hard way that while most adult-aged Americans can agree that they like coffee, roughly 50% disagree with his leftist political opinions. Which, according to Yahoo Finance, has sent the company’s “brand perception” into a downward spiral since January 29th.
February 25,2017
Washinton DC, Friday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order requiring every agency to establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force to eliminate red tape.
Each Regulatory Reform Task Force will evaluate existing regulations and identify candidates for repeal or modification.
Each agency’s Task Force will focus on eliminating costly and unnecessary regulations.
To hold the Task Forces accountable, agencies will measure and report progress in achieving the President’s directives.
COSTLY REGULATIONS: Regulations have grown unchecked in past Administrations, imposing a steep cost on the American economy.
The regulations from the last Administration cost American taxpayers $873 billion in total.
The Obama Administration finalized more than 3,000 regulations.
BUILDING ON PRESIDENTIAL ACTION: President Trump has been steadfast in his commitment to reducing the regulatory burden on everyday Americans, their pocketbooks, and their businesses.
President Trump has required that for every new Federal regulation, two existing regulations be eliminated.
President Trump signed an Executive Order instructing Federal agencies to minimize the burden of the Affordable Care Act on Americans while he works to repeal and replace it.
President Trump signed legislation, House Joint Resolution 38, to prevent the burdensome “Stream Protection Rule” from causing further harm to the coal industry.
President Trump signed legislation, House Joint Resolution 41, to eliminate a costly regulation that threatened to put American mining and energy companies and their employees at an unfair disadvantage.
President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to develop a plan to streamline Federal permitting processes for domestic manufacturers.
President Trump signed an Executive Order expediting the environmental review and approval processes for domestic infrastructure projects.
President Trump directed the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a full review of the burdensome regulations required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
President Trump ordered a re-examination of the Department of Labor’s “fiduciary rule,” to make certain that it does not harm Americans as they save for retirement.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Richard A. Norden, MD FACS of Norden Laser Eye Associates has been awarded the 2016 National Doctor’s Choice Award in Ophthalmology, his second year in a row winning this award. The prestigious award is bestowed to a physician selected by other physicians. In order to be eligible to win, a doctor must go through the nomination process, which includes reviews and ratings by other physicians and peers. These reviews are vetted to ensure the credibility of the physician and the review itself. A winner in each category is chosen from each city, and they all compete for the national award.
“I am humbled to win this award,” Dr, Norden said. “To be honored by your peers two years in a row is such a tremendous accomplishment. I am grateful that my colleagues chose to select me as their choice to send themselves, their families, and their patients to.”
Dr. Norden has been performing LASIK surgery for more than two decades. Throughout his career he’s performed LASIK on over 30,000 patients. He was the first doctor in Northern New Jersey to perform LASIK, and he trademarked Custom LASIK. He’s contributed to the field of ophthalmology as well by training hundreds of doctors how to perform LASIK. He’s also contributed to the ophthalmic literature regarding LASIK.
For more information about the award, you can visit Doctor’s Choice Award’s website (https://www.doctorschoiceawards.org/). You can learn more about Richard A. Norden, MD and Norden Laser Eye Associates at 1144 E Ridgewood Ave in Ridgewood, NJ by viewing their website (https://www.nordenlasik.com/about/).
PSE&G Extends Gas Credit into March Customers to save another $12 depending on March usage $37 in total savings from Jan.-Mar.
February 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) announced today that it will extend its bill credit for residential gas customers next month, saving customers another $12 on their bills for March usage.
PSE&G provided bill credits for January and February usage, saving the typical residential gas customer about $25. By extending the credit through March, this customer could save a total of $37.
A typical residential heating customer using 165 therms in March and receiving their supply from PSE&G would see a credit of $12, or a nearly 9 percent reduction, in their one-month bill. Depending on meter reading schedules, many customers will see some of the reduction in March with the remainder in their April bills.
The Jan-Mar. bill credits are in addition to a 3 percent annual bill decrease that took effect Oct. 1, 2016 that is saving the typical customer $26 a year. Since January 2009, annual bills for PSE&G’s typical residential gas heating customers are 53 percent – or $892 – lower due to supply rate reductions.
“This is the third time we have lowered the price of gas for residential customers this winter heating season,” said Jorge Cardenas, PSE&G vice president of asset management and centralized services. “The cost of natural gas continues to be low, and we are happy to pass along these additional savings to our customers.”
PSE&G makes no profit on the sale of natural gas, and passes along what it pays to customers. Last winter, PSE&G gave back $152 million to customers in the form of bill credits. The utility will be returning an estimated $47 million to customers this winter with the credit extension announced today.
