Ridgewood NJ, Tax Day is here and the personal finance website WalletHub today released its Tax Day 2016 By The Numbers report, which features an infographic filled with fun facts as well as insights from a panel of leading tax experts.
You can find a handful of highlights below:
30.5 Minutes: Wait time for calls to the IRS in 2015.
62%: Of calls went unanswered in 2015.
6.1 Billion Hours: Time it takes Americans to do their taxes each year (16 hours per person).
35%: Of taxpayers would rather discuss sex with their kids than do their taxes.
27%: Of Americans would get an IRS tattoo to avoid taxes for life.
700%+: Increase in tax-related identity theft cases since 2010.
23%: Decrease in IRS enforcement staff since 2010.
Ridgewood NJ,The Ridgewood Lacrosse Association’s 19th Annual LAX Day will be on Saturday, April 30 from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
photo courtesy of Ridgewood LAX Facebook page
“Having a love of the game and a willingness to work at the skills required in handling the stick are essential to the beginner’s progress, but the keys to success lie in mastering the fundamentals and having the desire to be good.” Lacrosse Technique and Tradition, David Pietramala.
Congratulations to all the new Ridgewood Youth Lacrosse players-PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and GO WOOD!!!!
ESPN started broadcasting live lacrosse in 1995. What was the most-watched lacrosse game of the ESPN era?
The most-watched lacrosse game of the ESPN era was the 2007 NCAA championship game between Johns Hopkins and Duke at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium with 855,089 viewers. Lacrosse Magazine, March 2016, Vol.40 No.3, LaxMagazine.com
Ridgewood Nj, The Village Council’s move to increase taxes in the Village brings up an old issue that never seems to die . OPRA Request submitted to the Clerk’s Office on April 24, 2015 regarding: Property tax payment history from 1/1/2012 through 4/1/2015, date payment received, amount of payment, interest charged, if any, for blocks & lots #3214-23, #2011-3, #1601-27, #2901-2, #4201-22.02.
The OPRA request indicated Council Women Gwenn Hauck has had issues in the past paying her property taxes on time .
In case you did not know, generally payments are considered late only they are received after the 10th calendar day; if day 10 falls on a weekend, it’s moved to the next day of business at Village Hall.
Ridgewood NJ, Ordinance 3523 , known as Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli’s ordinance regarding video taping at public meetings.Has brought about some discussion as the proper wording and ordinance and whether is relevant .
If you remember the ordinance was introduced after the Deputy Mayor made threats to residents during a public meeting and resident Dana Glazer was threaten and harassed at a council meeting by another resident.
Ellie Gruber stated in Public Comment during the April 13th Village Council meeting ,that she was against the ordinance in general as it is not enforceable and it addresses a non issue since all public meetings are in the public domain and can be shared on social media, etc.
But more importantly let’s not forget that the video ordinance is being pushed because Aronsohn was caught on video acting badly and lying at the HPC meeting. He wasn’t set up, he was not even suppose to be at that meeting but came to intimidate residents who were questioning the HPC on their support of a garage 12 feet on the street before the November vote, whereas Paul, et al. did not disclose the 12 foot floor plan to the HPC. Not, because members were upset that it wasn’t announced.
Ridgewood NJ, Village Council Candidate asked for clarification with candidate yard signs after the incident earlier this week were “Ramon Hache” signs were targeted for removal . Bernie asked Village Clerk Heather A. Mailander, “Just for clarification. During the Vote Yes for the garage campaign. The Village manager and Village Council approved and allowed signs to be placed in planters throughout the CBD. I’m assuming this practice will be permitted for the Village Council campaign.”
Heather Mailander responded , “To clarify, based on last Fall’s regulations, the campaign signs may be placed in the public right of way (planting strip between the curb and sidewalk) anywhere in the Village, including planters in the CBD. However, they may not be placed on Village property. This includes all parks, the train station parking lot and green spaces near the train station, or other Village-owned property (Village Hall, both library properties, water properties, DPW properties, the Recycling Center, etc.). The signs cannot be a sight hazard or a pedestrian hazard. If you are unsure whether or not you can place a sign somewhere, please contact me. Also, please be aware that any signs found on Village property will be removed and not returned. ”
Resident Boyd Loving responded , “Last Fall’s regulations?” What “regulations?” I don’t recall any regulations ever being announced last Fall.
In fact, “Vote Yes for Parking” signs WERE prominently placed along the Garber Square side of the train station, along the Linwood Avenue side of Vets Field, at the entrance to the Village Recycling Center, AND within/around numerous municipal parking lots.
So clearly the “regulations” are different now that there are messages the “Council Majority” isn’t interested in seeing.
What a joke this Village government of ours has become”
“Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors, and U.S. senators and congress members.”
– Former President Jimmy Carter
The 2016 election has been a wild ride, with two insurgent grassroots campaigns literally giving the political establishment a run for its money. But as the events of this presidential primary season play out, it’s becoming clear the U.S. election — and even more so, the presidential race — is a big scam being perpetrated on the American people.
Events from the last week have exposed the system as an illusion of choice and a farce. They have reinforced at least one study showing the U.S. is an oligarchy rather than a democratic republic.
The Wyoming democratic caucus took place on Saturday, purportedly to allow voters to have their voices heard in the race between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Sanders lost the Wyoming caucus by winning it with a 12 percent margin.
New Jersey’s transportation funding system is in disarray, and neither the governor nor state legislators has a plan for how to plug a financing gap that tops $2 billion, administration officials and Assembly members said Wednesday at the first budget hearing of the season. Christopher Maag, The Record Read more
Perhaps pills shouldn’t be the go-to panacea.
Annie Holmquist | March 10, 2016
When it comes to hyperactivity disorders such as ADHD, there’s no debate that diagnoses are on the rise amongst America’s youth.
What is debated, however, is the best way to treat ADHD.
Until recently, it seemed that thrusting a pill at children was the standard treatment. But more experts are beginning to wonder if some ADHD cases can be reduced through efforts like behavioral modification therapy. Others are wondering if children just need time to grow and mature.
A new study in The Journal of Pediatrics seems to lend support to this idea.
Bergen County voters in the GOP primary on June 7 will have a choice of freeholder candidates as a result of a ruling Wednesday that rejected a bid by party leaders to keep a slate of challengers off the ballot. Todd South, The Record Read more
Ridgewood NJ, In fact, unearned rewards can be harmful, because artificially inflating a child’s self-esteem merely for participation in sport sends the wrong message, warns psychologist Jason Richardson.
“There are plenty of incarcerated felons with an inflated self-view and there are extremely successful people grappling with a more moderate self-concept, so self-esteem alone is not the measure by which we should prepare our children for greatness,” says Richardson, a Pan-Am Games gold medalist who is also known as “Dr. JRich” among colleagues.
Richardson isn’t alone. Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison returned two participation trophies given to his two sons, awarded not for a specific victory that they’d earned, but simply for being student-athletes.
Anyone can give and get a trophy, but the true value of youth sports is in the occasional tough lessons – and successes – children experience through hard work and merit, says Richardson, author of “It’s All BS! We’re All Wrong, And You’re All Right!” (www.drjasonrichardson.com).
He offers practical tips parents can share with their kids.
• Stop saying “the problem is …” Fill in the blank. Too many people say the problem is with the coach, the school, the other kids, the equipment, the schedule – and so on. This kind of thinking implies failure because it immediately rules out your child’s goals. Instead, say things that rule in positive outcomes, such as, “I/We/You can do this!” • Make failure a teachable moment. Sports can test a kid’s emotional fragility. They may want to give up with failure, but that’s a terrible lesson. If your child missed a free throw that would’ve won the team the game, encourage free-throw practice the next day. Better yet, ask them what they are going to do differently next time! Use a coach’s staple: remind your child that Michael Jordan was cut by his high school basketball team during his sophomore year. Parents can always reward persistence and effort. • Don’t let your child’s ego run wild. The flipside of low self-esteem due to failure can be cockiness with success. Children have far less experience keeping the ego in check, so if he/she is the best athlete in school, they may become arrogant. Try to catch this early; people evolve at different rates. Temper their ego by showing examples of humility, respect and gratitude. Use examples of great athletes who have overcome slumps or adversity. • Show them how to be a better student. It may seem odd that a star quarterback can memorize every detail of a complex playbook, but has trouble with class studies. If he’s having trouble with chemistry, for example, place the playbook next to the textbook and show him the parallels of complexity. Don’t let him believe he’s “just a jock.”
About Jason Richardson, Psy.D., MBA
Dr. Jason Richardson (www.drjasonrichardson.com) is a psychologist who earned his principles for self-improvement as a world-traveling athlete, doctoral student and student of life. He maintained top-10 status on the professional BMX circuit for most of his 15-year career, retiring with a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.
Essex County College, already thrust into turmoil after the sudden removal of its president and top attorney last month, has now caught the watchful eye of the state. Dan Ivers, NJ.com Read more
A handful of small business owners on Tuesday urged the state’s economic development arm to back off issuing tax credits to big corporations, which they said come at their expense. Samantha Marcus, NJ.com, Read more
Drivers will have to take their vehicle to a private inspection station to get it re-inspected, if it fails emissions testing, under changes to the vehicle inspection system that will take effect next month said state Motor Vehicle Commission officials. Larry Higgs, NJ.com Read more
