By Tom Haydon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 23, 2016 at 8:00 AM, updated December 23, 2016 at 10:36 AM
KENILWORTH — As a sixth-grader last year, Sydney Phillips earned a spot on the girls basketball team at St. Theresa’s School in Kenilworth. By the end of the season, she was picked as an all-star player.
This year, however, Phillips learned in October that St. Theresa’s was dropping the team because not enough girls were interested. Phillips and her parents quickly approached the school, seeking some options and finally requesting their daughter be allowed to play on the boys team.
Tom Nobile , Staff Writer, @TomNobile5:16 p.m. EST December 23, 2016
The tribe has also been charged with moving soil without permission.
MAHWAH — The Ramapough Lenape Nation must go to court to fight summonses issued by the township alleging that the Native American tribe erected teepees and tents on a property off Halifax Road without permission.
RIDGEWOOD, NJ, The American Water Works Association New Jersey Section (AWWA NJ) has continued its mission as the authoritative resource on safe water by delivering testimony on two issues critical to New Jersey’s safe drinking water. On November 3, 2016, AWWA NJ Chair Michael Furrey provided written and oral testimony for the NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee in Trenton regarding Hexavalent Chromium. Senator Bob Smith, Chair for the Committee, made a request to the drinking water industry for technical testimony on this emerging contaminant. Hexavalent Chromium (also known as ‘chromium-6’ or ‘Cr(VI)’) was the contaminant depicted in the film “Erin Brockovich.”
Cr(VI) is currently regulated under a US drinking water standard for total chromium of 0.1 mg/L, set in 1991. EPA is currently revising its risk assessment for Cr(VI). The AWWA NJ recommends that the NJ Water Quality Institute reconvene and examine a science-based strategy to address Hexavalent Chromium.
On November 30, 2016, members of the AWWA NJ Infrastructure Management Committee provided testimony to the Joint Task Force on Water Infrastructure in Trenton NJ. AWWA NJ leaders joined former Governor James Florio in providing critical testimony to the Committee for developing a comprehensive strategy to address water infrastructure and lead contamination issues. AWWA NJ will be partnering with NJDEP, USEPA, NJ Water Works, AEA (Public) and the NJUA (Private) to help the NJ legislature address this important issue.
AWWA published a report in 2014 called “Buried No Longer,” which concluded that restoring existing water systems as they reach the end of their useful lives and expanding them to serve a growing population will cost at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years, if we are to maintain current levels of water service.
On September 16, 2016, the U.S. Senate approved S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act or WRDA. The House is still working on its own version of a WRDA bill. A key water infrastructure element in S. 2848 is a provision for $70 million so the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program, or WIFIA, can start making actual loans. In the two previous fiscal years, Congress has provided funds for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set up WIFIA administration. Another important element is $100 million to the state revolving loan fund program to assist communities where there has been a drinking water emergency, such as Flint, Mich.
Information about Hexavalent Chromium and Water Infrastructure, along with copies of AWWA NJ’s written testimonies on these issues, are available at www.njawwa.org.
About AWWA NJ
AWWA New Jersey Section is part of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the world’s largest association of water professionals with over 50,000 members. The AWWA New Jersey Section represents over 1,300 members united in a mission to provide New Jersey residents with a safe and reliable supply of drinking water. Members include most of New Jersey’s public and investor-owned water utilities along with engineering and environmental professionals and allied industry businesses. AWWA works to make advances in public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of drinking water professionals.
Marc Lightdale , Staff Writer, @MarcLightdale6:12 p.m. EST December 22, 2016
HACKENSACK — A state Superior Court judge denied a motion without prejudice to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former Northern Valley Regional High School District board member against a Harrington Park couple she says “mischaracterized” her comments on social media.
LAWSUIT: Ex-Northern Valley Regional board member sues couple.
Ridgewood NJ, yesterday President-elect Donald J. Trump released the following statement in response to the attached letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct. I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path.”
Ridgewood NJ, 2017 Annual Parking Permits – Annual Resident, Non-resident and CBD employee parking permits are available for purchase at Village Hall. Driver’s License and car registration are required to apply for all parking permits. The Annual Parking Permits for residents cost $750 or $1,000 annually, depending on which lots are chosen for parking.
Parking Permits
Ho Ho Kus $350
Glen Rock $150 and $80 for the second tag
Fair lawn $1 a day residents $4 a day non-residents
Allendale $50 for residents
Ramsey $15
Other towns including Allendale often pitch new residents; “Compared to Ridgewood it is great! One of the advantages of Allendale. You can get a parking space pretty easily anytime of day (unlike Ridgewood) The resident permit was $50”
Do these people have any integrity? Aside from misleading residensts with their public statement, the Elks Lodge IS part of the plan. Janis Fuhrman, an award winning realtor, Library Board of Trustee member, held to the NAR Code of Ethics…turned to Social Media, in June and December, saying the Elks Lodge and library renovations are not related. “Too funny.”
Perhaps Janis can explain what happened there.
This pedestrian vs. motorist argument is tiresome. Especially in a place like Ridgewood, most of us are both. This is not about two mutually exclusive factions. This is not NYC!
Also – the post this reader is making is redundant. Yes – in a contest between a multi-thousand pound chunk of steel and a human, the steel will always win! I am not aware of anyone who does not get that – and willfully steps in front of a car assuming that it will stop.
At the same time, most drivers are not out to run some pedestrian over or intentionally not pay attention. Especially in the dark, it is easy to miss a pedestrian, all the most so when there are oncoming headlights in your eyes (coming up the slope on Godwin) or just random vehicular traffic (Franklin from the underpass through Maple).
The focus should be on better traffic designs.
For instance, pedestrian operated traffic lights at some of the more accident prone locations. This seems to be a must in and around downtown. I fail to see how this would break the bank for the Village. It is also a safer and less bothersome approach than the current pedestrian crosswalks.
Then we need bright – and I mean VERY bright – lighting of pedestrian crosswalks in downtown. It is easy to miss a pedestrian in the dark with oncoming traffic. We cannot expect all pedestrians to wear reflective clothing. So lets make them more visible.
Ridgewood NJ, President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced the formation of the White House National Trade Council (NTC) and his selection of Dr. Peter Navarro to serve as Assistant to the President and Director of Trade and Industrial Policy.
The formation of the National Trade Council further demonstrates the President-elect’s determination to make American manufacturing great again and to provide every American the opportunity to work in a decent job at a decent wage. Navarro is a visionary economist and will develop trade policies that shrink our trade deficit, expand our growth, and help stop the exodus of jobs from our shores.
The mission of the National Trade Council will be to advise the President on innovative strategies in trade negotiations, coordinate with other agencies to assess U.S. manufacturing capabilities and the defense industrial base, and help match unemployed American workers with new opportunities in the skilled manufacturing sector. The National Trade Council will also lead the Buy America, Hire America program to ensure the President-elect’s promise is fulfilled in government procurement and projects ranging from infrastructure to national defense.
The National Trade Council will work collaboratively and synergistically with the National Security Council, the National Economic Council, and the Domestic Policy Council to fulfill the President’s vision of peace and prosperity through military and economic strength. For the first time, there will be a council within the White House that puts American manufacturing and American workers first, and that thinks strategically about the health of America’s defense industrial base and the role of trade and manufacturing in national security.
As a Harvard Ph.D. economist and UC-Irvine professor, Navarro has been instrumental in challenging the prevailing Washington orthodoxy on so-called free trade.
“I read one of Peter’s books on America’s trade problems years ago and was impressed by the clarity of his arguments and thoroughness of his research,” said President-elect Trump. “He has presciently documented the harms inflicted by globalism on American workers, and laid out a path forward to restore our middle class. He will fulfill an essential role in my administration as a trade advisor.”
During the campaign, Navarro, together with Commerce Secretary-designee Wilbur Ross, worked to develop and communicate the trade and economic agenda of the President-elect and a new vision to bring back America’s manufacturing wealth.
“Peter Navarro is the best person President-elect Donald Trump could have chosen to head his National Trade Council,” said Ross. “We were a great team during the campaign, and we will be a great team during the Administration.”
“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to serve the President-elect and this nation and to advise on policies to rebalance our trade, rebuild our industrial base, and restore America’s comprehensive national power by making America great again,” said Navarro.
Investing.com — A new study by economists from Harvard and Princeton indicates that 94% of the 10 million new jobs created during the Obama era were temporary positions.
The study shows that the jobs were temporary, contract positions, or part-time “gig” jobs in a variety of fields.
Female workers suffered most heavily in this economy, as work in traditionally feminine fields, like education and medicine, declined during the era.
The research by economists Lawrence Katz of Harvard University and Alan Krueger at Princeton University shows that the proportion of workers throughout the U.S., during the Obama era, who were working in these kinds of temporary jobs, increased from 10.7% of the population to 15.8%.
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 22, 2016 at 2:24 PM, updated December 23, 2016 at 8:43 AM
WASHINGTON — Social Security recipients who owe student loans have found their payments garnished to pay off their debt and some have been forced into poverty as a result, according to a report released Thursday by the investigative arm of Congress.
The Government Accountability Office said 114,000 Americans receiving Social Security payments either because of their age or disability have had their payments cut because of outstanding debt, an increase of 540 percent over a decade. More than two-thirds of recipients in default, 69 percent, were on disability.
Most of the money collected, 70 percent, went to pay interests and fees, not to reduce the outstanding balance. Among those over 65, the number receiving Social Security benefits below the poverty grew to 67,300, up from 8,300 in 2004, the GAO said.
Sarah Nolan , Staff Writer, @sarnolan5:59 p.m. EST December 22, 2016
The borough’s affordable housing obligation would be cut from 278 units to 30 under the proposed agreement.
HO-HO-KUS — The borough will build 13 homes for low- to moderate-income residents and a developer will reduce the number of houses it builds in town as part of proposed settlement agreements announced by borough officials this week.
Borough Administrator William Jones shared overviews of the proposed agreements with the Fair Share Housing Center and Chamberlain Developers at a Borough Council meeting Tuesday “in the hopes of ending what has been a year of speculation and wild rumors that have carried on,” he said.
Ridgewood NJ, President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his selection of Kellyanne Conway to serve as Counselor to the President. Conway has been serving as a senior member of the President-elect’s transition team and previously served as the campaign manager of his successful run for the presidency.
In her position, Conway will continue her role as a close advisor to the president and will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the Administration’s legislative priorities and actions.
“Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory. She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. I am pleased that she will be part of my senior team in the West Wing,” said President-elect Trump.
President-elect Trump’s victory on November 8th also shattered the glass ceiling for women. Conway is the first female campaign manager of either major party to win a presidential general election.
“I want to thank the President-elect for this amazing opportunity. A Trump presidency will bring real change to Washington and to Americans across this great nation. I am humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results,’ said Conway.
Conway graduated magna cum laude from Trinity College (Washington, DC) and holds a J.D. with honors from George Washington University Law School. She is the founder and owner of The Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend, a polling and research firm that for 21 years has served leading political figures, nonprofits and companies.
Ridgewood NJ, On Monday, December 12, an audience of more than 50 family, friends and fellow volunteers gathered in The Valley Hospital Shotmeyer Lobby to dedicate the Reception Desk in memory of Ann B. Alford. Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System, expressed her appreciation of Ann and emphasized what a fitting tribute this was to her memory. As a faithful volunteer at the front desk every Monday morning for more than two decades, Mrs. Alford welcomed countless patients, families and guests while graciously directing them to their destinations.
Ann Alford has a long history with Valley, which began in the 1970s when her husband, George Alford, joined The Valley Hospital Board of Trustees. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Alford served as Chairman of the Hospital Board. He passed away in 1990, and Ann’s commitment to Valley deepened in the subsequent years.
In 1994, Ann joined The Valley Hospital Foundation Board and served for 12 years. Through nine of those years, she was an Officer of the Board, including three years as Chair. She was an Honorary Trustee of The Valley Hospital Foundation and was serving as a trustee on the Valley Health System Board when she passed away.
Ann was a founding member of Valley’s Women for Health program. Each year, this women’s group pools their social and philanthropic resources to assist Valley in providing the best possible healthcare.
Valley is incredibly grateful to Ann for her tireless dedication and devotion.
