Ridgewood NJ, Village officials on Tuesday officially denied a Ridgewood resident access to footage taken by a security camera located in the courtroom at Village Hall, this despite a 2015 Appellate Division of New Jersey Superior Court ruling associated with a similar case in Bloomfield Township, Essex County.
The Ridgewood resident had sought access to security camera video footage taken during a recent meeting of the Village Council at which a meeting attendee was allegedly assaulted.
The staff of The Ridgewood Blog wonders if Village Attorney Matthew Rogers was consulted prior to the request denial, and also how much this is all going to cost taxpayers in legal fees associated with anticipated litigation.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Emergency Services ambulances will now carry advanced continuous positive airway pressure devices, which can help patients with breathing problems.The CPAP is a breathing device, which improves vital signs, gas exchange, lessens the work of breathing and decreases the sense of shortness of breath in patients who have pneumonia, asthma, and congestive heart failure to name a few.“Ridgewood is one of the few communities in the State of New Jersey that has its EMT’s trained in this advanced medical care as part of the emergency medical services”, says Dr. Robert Lahita, Medical Director for Ridgewood Emergency Services. Advanced Life Support Paramedics from the hospitals could previously only provide this service.
The use of CPAP devices; administration of Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of an overdose; and the use of LUCAS automatic chest compression devices are among new practices authorized by the NJ Department of Heath for agencies under the auspices of a Medical Director.“The inclusion of CPAP as an additional service offered by
Ridgewood EMTs highlights our effort to provide the Highest level of care available to Ridgewood,” said EMS Captain Murray Yang. “We have also initiated the protocol for the use of Aspirin in cardiac emergencies, which was just approved by the State Department of Health for EMT’s to administer.”
For the Month of January, Director and Chief Tony Lillo reported that Ridgewood Emergency Services responded to a total of 137 requests for aid for a total of 1656 volunteer hours. There were 107 requests for Emergency Medical Services and 30 requests for Special Operations.
Vision, strategy, and courage might have prevented the disaster we see today in Syria. But those elements were nowhere to be found.
LONDON — The Middle East is in flames. Just as Iraq was President George W. Bush’s catastrophic legacy, Syria will be Obama’s. Bush’s sins of commission wrought no less chaos than Obama’s sins of omission. If the Stop the War lobby’s primary motive was to avoid civilian casualties, then by any standard they should slither away shamefully into voluntarily redundancy.
By latest human rights accounts, Syria’s five-year civil war has left 470,000 dead. To add to our disgrace, we don’t even know how accurate these figures are because—as if in despair—the United Nations gave up collecting statistics 18 months ago. Syria has spiraled into the biggest humanitarian, political and security challenge of our time. The Cuban Missile crisis of 2016.
Last week in Munich, the “well-meaning but under-powered” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry optimistically announced a temporary ceasefire, leading up to UN-brokered peace talks scheduled for Feb. 25. Onlookers meanwhile, wondered what sort of “cessation of hostilities” allows Russia to continue hostilities, and questioned whether depressing realities on the ground truly reflect Kerry’s sleight of hand.
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that State Department officials and top aides to Hillary Clinton should be questioned under oath about whether they intentionally thwarted federal open records laws by using or allowing the use of a private email server throughout Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of Washington came in a lawsuit over public records brought by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal watchdog group, regarding its May 2013 request, for information about the employment arrangement of Huma Abedin, a longtime Clinton aide.
A State Department official said that the department is aware of the order and that it is reviewing it but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing litigation.
Although it was not immediately clear whether the government will appeal, Sullivan set an April deadline for parties to lay out a detailed investigative plan that would extend well beyond the limited and carefully worded explanations of the use of the private server that department and Clinton officials have given.
Congressman Scott Garrett, the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 5th congressional district, met with employees of Crestron on Monday to tour it’s the company’s Experience Center located at its headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey.
Crestron, a global organization with more than 90 offices around the world, employs 1,500 employees from Bergen County and the surrounding area at its worldwide headquarters and campus in Rockleigh, New Jersey.
The campus includes the Experience Center, Research Center, manufacturing plant, pre-production facility, and distribution center.
The tour provided Garrett with an in-depth look into the world of Crestron and its award-winning, advanced control and automation technology. Crestron’s solutions have led the way for over four decades, supporting Fortune 500 companies, government organizations, leading hospitals, universities and prestigious homes.
The Crestron Experience Center combines the finest design with cutting-edge technology, for the ultimate immersive demonstration of its innovative solutions. Congressman Garrett saw firsthand how the company has evolved from a pioneer in A/V and control systems, to the world-class enterprise management company it is today.
Photo of The Ridgewood Voices courtesy of Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood Students to Perform with the New Jersey Choral Society
February 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Voices, a vocal ensemble from Ridgewood High School, will make a guest appearance in the New Jersey Choral Society’s Pops Spectacular, Crazy For You, March 5 and 6, 2016. The students will sing an arrangement of George and Ira Gershwin’s “They All Laughed” in this tribute to the incredible talents of the Gershwin song-writing team. Concerts will be held Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 pm at Immaculate Heart Academy, 500 Van Emburgh Ave., Washington Township.The Ridgewood Voices is under the direction of RHS choir director, Steven Bourque. The group performs both at RHS and within the Ridgewood community.
Last year, the Voices had the honor of working with the NY Voices on one of Darmon Meader’s arrangements and opened for the NY
Voices (along with the RHS Jazz Band) at a NY Voices Concert. Also making a guest appearance in Crazy For You are RHS faculty member and New Players choreographer, Jennifer Landa, with her husband, Tony, and three student dancers, performing in “Shall We Dance.”
Advance tickets are $25.00 for adults and $22.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities. (Add $5.00 at the door). Discounted group pricing is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visit www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, and France.Immaculate Heart Academy is wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Biden in ’92: No election-season Supreme Court nominees
By Sarah Wheaton
02/22/16 04:36 PM EST
Updated 02/22/16 07:19 PM EST
Republicans are delighted that a recently unearthed Joe Biden speech appears to be a strong endorsement of the GOP’s current Supreme Court strategy.
“Politics has played far too large a role in the Reagan-Bush nominations to date. One can only imagine that role becoming overarching if a choice were made this year, assuming that a justice was announced tomorrow that he or she was stepping down,” Biden said on the Senate floor in June 1992, not long after Bill Clinton won the Democratic nomination to challenge then-President George H.W. Bush.
“A process that is already in doubt in the minds of many will become distrusted by all,” Biden continued. “Senate consideration of a nominee under these circumstances is not fair to the president, the nominee or to the Senate itself.”
Nearly 24 years later, after C-Span posted the old video, Republicans are offering Biden a hearty second — at least to the part of the 90-minute speech where he calls on the Senate to “seriously consider” not scheduling confirmation hearings and dismissing the potential impact of a short-handed court.
“The precedent of not confirming SCOTUS justices nominated in election years was established by both parties,” the office of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) tweeted on Monday, with a link to a 2-minute clip of the old footage.
In the aftermath of Antonin Scalia’s death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was quick to say that any nominee to fill the vacancy should wait until after the coming election.
The clips and quotes Republicans seized on, however, ignored a passage buried deep in the transcript where Biden called for a “compromise” pick, much as he’s done in the past week.
As you may be aware, many Ridgewood residents are opposed to bonding a parking garage in our Central Business District through the county.
A petition has been circulating widely around town to make this issue a referendum on the ballot of the May 10, 2016, election.
A large number of signatures has been obtained. These will be counted and validated shortly–but not bytomorrow.
We urge the Freeholders to refrain from acting on this matter until the referendum issue has been determined. We wish to handle our own project with internal funding.
Should a judge allow the referendum, any decision that you might make tomorrow would be nullified, and you would have wasted your time.
As a Ridgewood resident for 44 years and counting, I want only the best for my town. Self-funding of the parking garage would be far preferable to bringing in the county. I am also concerned about possible ramifications in the future.
Please consider removing from tomorrow’s meeting agenda the item regarding Ridgewood parking garage bond funding.
*** TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE ***”Great music…close to home”
The RSO continues its 76th season with an all Brahms program, featuring the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus and Metropolitan Opera tenor, Noah Baetge.
The concert will take place on Saturday, February 27 and will include Brahms’ well-known “Academic Festival Overture” and “Symphony No. 2 in D Major.” The program will also present selections from Brahms’ less familiar “Rinaldo,” a cantata for solo tenor, male chorus, and orchestra.
The concert will begin at 8:00 PM, and will take place at West Side Presbyterian Church at 6 Monroe Street in Ridgewood. Tickets for adults, seniors, and students cost $25, $20, and $10 in advance; and $28, $23, and $13 at the door.
The Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus and the Ridgewood Symphony represent two of Ridgewood’s oldest cultural institutions. Founded in 1909, the Orpheus Club is currently comprised of about 50 singers from New York and New Jersey and is directed by John Palatucci. The chorus is known for its varied repertoire and collaborations with other area musical groups.
The Ridgewood Symphony is led by Diane Wittry, who is in her second season as RSO Artistic Director and Conductor.
For more information on programs, subscriptions, or advance ticket sales, call (201) 612-0118, or visit the RSO website atwww.ridgewoodsymphony.org.
WHAT: Illustrator Leah Tinari and author Harlan Coben will read and sign “The Magical Fantastical Fridge.”
WHERE: Bookends bookstore, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood.
WHEN: 4 p.m. Tuesday.
DETAILS: Event is free but attendees must purchase the book, $17.99. To reserve books in advance of the signing or order a signed copy, go to book-ends.com.
Artist Leah Tinari is known for her colorful, contemporary paintings. She can now add children’s book illustrator to her résumé, with the newly released “The Magical Fantastical Fridge,” a picture book for children ages 4 to 8. And Tinari, who grew up in Ho-Ho-Kus, has her North Jersey roots to thank for that.
The project came about due to a bold mural Tinari painted in her mother’s restaurant, Janice a Bistro in Ho-Ho-Kus (now called Just Janice). The piece caught the eye of best-selling author Harlan Coben, a Ridgewood resident and a regular at the popular bistro. “One night, my wife, Anne, suggested that Leah’s artwork would work great in a kid picture book,” says Coben, who wrote the story. “That’s how it all started.”
Tinari agrees the book’s back story itself makes for “a very cool Jersey story.”
Coben and Tinari collaborated for almost two years to create the colorful adventure that is “The Magical Fantastical Fridge,” a story about a little boy named Walden who, while boycotting his chores, gets pulled into the photos, mementos and knickknacks on his family refrigerator, which have all come to life.
Nominations Sought for Teacher Recognition Awards
It is time again for nominations for the Teacher and Educational Services Awards program for the 2015-2016 school year. Click here to read a letterexplaining the process. Nominations must be emailed by Thursday, March 24 to recognition@ridgewood.k12.nj.us or returned to the Ridgewood Teacher Recognition Committee c/o Human Resources, Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
Click here for the Teacher nomination form to be completed by RPS staff.
Click here for the Educational Services nomination form to be completed by RPS staff.
Click here for the Teacher and/or Educational Services form to be completed by parents and guardians.
All are invited to the recognition ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place
Reader says I do not trust the 3 Amigos (the council majority) or the Village Manager. I just wonder that when these fine people who have put so many hours get resident to sign the garage petitions hand them in will there be an independent representative present to over see the validity of the the signatures? With all of whats been going on surrounding this garage and the Council majority along with the Village Manager . Will they exert pressure on whomever will be checking. Will the Village Manager or any Council Members be the ones also counting? Residents beware. We have all seen posts on this blog on how our Mayor has brought Hudson County politics to Ridgewood.
Ridgewood NJ, While we looked away village expenses are now up 181%. We also now have the largest municipal government in Bergen County . Our village manager has hired a director of finance, a director of human resources and there are other hirings of part-time employees to fill in positions. Our village manager has not only a secretary but a full-time assistant. Some of the other positions also have assistants. Things must be good. We should expect a major tax increase down the line.
Ridgewood NJ, The PARCC exams will be soon be administered once again but the state’s first experience with the controversial tests in 2015 continues to resonate, not just for the many students who took the tests but for the many students opted out.
The Christie administration can not provide data on exactly how many sat out the test in protest, maintaining that PARCC provided no way to count each student based on their motivation. Students could have missed the tests for many different reasons including alternative tests .However more students missed the PARCC tests than for any previous standardized testing, led by those at the high-school level and the highest percentages of students who didn’t take exams were mostly from more affluent districts like Ridgewood .
While this list is dominated by schools from the wealthier suburbs, Newark’s selective Science Park High School led the way in terms of percentages, with an active student group doing much of the organizing against the testing. Better than 9 in 10 students didn’t take the 10th-grade language arts tests and the Algebra II test.
2. Montclair High School
Right up the road, Montclair was a hotbed of the protest movement in a number of its schools. At the high school, 92 percent of 11th-graders didn’t take the language arts test, and 80 percent weren’t counted on any of the math tests.
3. Brick Memorial High School
This Monmouth County high school saw a large protest movement organized by parents. Just 8 percent of students took the Algebra II test, while only 16 percent took the 11th-grade language arts exam.
4. Morristown High School
Another case of 11th-graders skipping the test, in part because it was not required to graduate. Nearly 90 percent sat out the language arts, and 82 percent skipped the highest level math exam.
5. Princeton High School
The district got a lot of attention for its opt-out movement, and also saw juniors sitting out in large numbers. But the percentages dropped in the lower grades into the 60 percent-70 percent range, albeit still a majority of students.
6. Ramsey High School
Ramsey High School was among several northern Bergen County high schools to see high numbers of students not taking PARCC tests. Nine in 10 juniors didn’t take the language arts test, although the percentage dropped to just about half in ninth grade.
7. Westwood Jr./Sr. High School
This is another affluent district that saw a vocal protest movement. It has had many students who had other options for passing the high school graduation requirements. Of the school’s 11th-graders, 91 percent weren’t tested. The percentage not taking the exams dropped below 50 percent in ninth grade.
8. Pascack Hills High School
This was another Bergen County high school with high numbers who didn’t take the test. Interestingly, the percentages were not quite matched by its regional brethren at Pascack Valley High School. Pascack Hills saw 90 percent of 11th-graders not take the language arts test, while 75 percent didn’t take the Algebra II exam.
9. Livingston High School
This Essex County high school drew some media attention when its superintendent informed families of the process for sitting out the exams. In the end, 90 percent of 11th graders skipped the language arts test, although that dropped to 54 percent for ninth-graders.
10. (tied) Bernards High School, Montville High School, Ridgewood High School, Cherry Hill High School East and West Orange High School
These schools were the leaders among dozens of high schools where at least a half of the students sat out one PARCC test or another.
EU officials quizzed firms involved in advertising market Escalation comes as Google CEO Pichai set to meet with EU
The European Union is reviving a probe into Google’s advertising practices with an inquiry that adds to active EU antitrust investigations into the company’s mobile operating system and shopping search services.
The EU has been quizzing companies involved in online advertising in recent weeks about Google’s behavior, according to three people with knowledge of the investigation who asked not to be named because the process is confidential. Officials are seeking data that may be used to build a so-called statement of objections listing areas where they suspect Google breaches antitrust rules, they said.
Google’s $1 billion payment to Apple Inc. to keep its search bar on the iPhone is one of the kind of exclusivity agreements regulators are looking at, one of the people said. The EU move rekindles part of a probe they first announced in 2010 into contracts with websites that shut out non-Google advertising services and deals with computer and software vendors that prevent them using other search tools.
