Author: James

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Obama Appointee And Bundler Blocks More Video Releases By Group Behind Planned Parenthood Sting

Judge William H

Judge William H. Orrick, III, a major donor to and bundler for President Obama’s presidential campaign. He raised at least $200,000 for Obama and donated $30,800 to committees supporting him,

JULY 31, 2015 By Mollie Hemingway

A federal judge late Friday granted a temporary restraining order against the release of recordings made at an annual meeting of abortion providers. The injunction is against the Center for Medical Progress, the group that has unveiled Planned Parenthood’s participation in the sale of organs harvested from aborted children.

Judge William H. Orrick, III, granted the injunction just hours after the order was requested by the National Abortion Federation.

Orrick was nominated to his position by hardline abortion supporter President Barack Obama. He was also a major donor to and bundler for President Obama’s presidential campaign. He raised at least $200,000 for Obama and donated $30,800 to committees supporting him, according to Public Citizen.

Even though the National Abortion Federation filed its claim only hours before, Orrick quickly decided in their favor that the abortionists they represent would, ironically, be “likely to suffer irreparable injury, absent an ex parte temporary restraining order, in the form of harassment, intimidation, violence, invasion of privacy, and injury to reputation, and the requested relief is in the public interest.”

Thus far the videos have featured born-alive humans discussing the killing of what abortion providers themselves call “babies,” the “crushing” of their bodies and harvesting of their organs for sale to for-profit companies.

https://thefederalist.com/2015/07/31/obama-appointee-blocks-more-video-releases-by-group-behind-planned-parenthood-sting/

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Major Water Main Break Soaks Washington Twp Closes Swim Club

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photo from Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
Major Water Main Break Soaks Washington Twp Closes Swim Club
July 31,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington Twp NJ, A major water main break on Ridgewood Boulevard North in Washington Township affected a wide area of the municipality, reportedly resulting in the temporary closure of the Washington Township Swim Club.
The break occurred sometime around 11 AM on Thursday, 07/30. A portion of Ridgewood Boulevard North in the 400 block was closed to all vehicular traffic as a result of the leak. Crews from United Water arrived at the scene within 30 minutes to assess the situation. A water company worker was overheard telling an area resident that water would be “off” for most of the day Thursday.
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Garrett Introduces Bill to Ensure U.S. Never Assists Iran’s Nuclear Program

scott-garrett

Jul 29, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) today introduced H.R. 3273, the Prohibiting Assistance to Nuclear Iran Act, to ensure that no U.S. funds or resources would ever be used to help and defend Iran’s nuclear program. Garrett’s bill would prohibit U.S. assistance to Iran to develop, use, or protect their nuclear technology as requested in the nuclear agreement President Obama delivered to Congress earlier this month.

“Among its many flaws, President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran requests that the United States and the other negotiating nations help develop, modernize and protect Iran’s nuclear program. This is unacceptable,” said Garrett. “Iran is a danger to the United States and its allies, and therefore should not be allowed to continue their nuclear proliferation—especially with U.S. support. My bill would ensure that no U.S. resources will help Iran develop nuclear capabilities that could someday be used against us or our allies around the world.”

Background:

The nuclear arms agreement with Iran that the Obama Administration delivered to Congress calls for the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) to have civil nuclear cooperation with Iran. These measures are defined in Annex III of the agreement and they include cooperating with Iran to modernize reactors, acquire fuel, exchange technology, and assist with additional research. Rep. Garrett’s bill would ensure that no U.S. resources—including military assistance—will be used to help Iran’s nuclear program.

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Youth Baseball: Ridgewood U14 team brings home Section 1 title

Ridgewood U14 team
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE FACINI
 The Ridgewood U14 Raiders baseball team claimed the Section 1 crown and advanced to the State Championships. FRONT ROW, from left: Alex Facini, Ben Geraghty, Sam Favieri, Avery Scott, Brady McSwigan, Bret Thompson and Kevin Seitter. BACK ROW, from left: Coach Marc Favieri, coach Dave Wang, Dan Boucher, Mike Breiter, Coleman Clauss, Pat Higgins, Dylan Black, David Kleiman, coach Will Seitter, Garret Thompson and coach Craig Frisina.

 

JULY 31, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

While there was no “Under Construction” sign attached to the dugout, it was understood that this was supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Ridgewood U14 baseball team.

The Raiders were coming off a series of strong seasons, but this time, half of last year’s team had begun high school and moved on.

“But it was a nice turnover,” coach Marc Favieri said between events this week. His team had won the Section 1 championship and was poised to enter the state tournament at midweek.

“These kids knew each other and they had played together in rec league,” the coach said. “This is a strong group of kids. They’re all very athletic and there’s a camaraderie. They’re all friends and that helps a lot. They jelled very quickly.”

All the coaches at the lower levels in the village, from Little League on up, are proud to have developed players who have gone on to play and star at Ridgewood High School.

“The high school program is in good hands,” Favieri said. “The last three or four classes moving up have been strong.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/rebuilt-raiders-rise-to-the-occasion-1.1384025

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Instructors show at the Ridgewood Art Institute

Ridgewood_Art_Institute_theridgewoodblog

JULY 31, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Art Institute’s Summer Show features works of art that people can connect with, be it childhood memories or recent experiences like a trip to a lighthouse in Maine, or a summer moonlight walk along the beach, a day of sailing and boat watching, fishing along a pier, arranging picked flowers from a garden, enjoying the morning’s freshly brewed coffee or admiring the harvest from one’s vegetable garden, according to Diana Gibson. She is co-chairing the show with fellow artists/instructor William Brown.

“The paintings remind us of the simple pleasures and pleasant times of summer, nostalgia if you will,” said Gibson, adding that they would be ideal for a summer home or perhaps as a special gift. She is showing “Moonlight.” Brown is showing “Morgan Creek.”

The annual show features more than 100 artworks by members and instructors, professionals as well as student members of R.A.I. The exhibit offers a multitude of works masterfully handled in oils, watercolors, pastels, and pencil in an array of subject matter from landscape, portraiture, still life, seascape and more. All the artworks are beautifully framed and for sale. The two gallery rooms are filled with the artwork.

Carl Holst, president of R.A.I., called the show an opportunity to display and sell beautiful paintings and visit the recently increased size of the “Barn.” Upstairs the two studios are joined with a library between and an elevator has been installed, making it possible for people to avoid stairs.

https://www.northjersey.com/towns/instructors-show-art-at-summer-show-1.1383986

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Bergen Community College cuts 64 full-time lecturer positions

Bergen-Community-College

JULY 30, 2015, 7:35 PM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015, 8:24 PM
BY PATRICIA ALEX
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The positions of 64 full-time lecturers at Bergen Community College have been cut as the school struggles to cope with a mix of stagnant state and county funding and declining enrollment.

The move will save nearly $934,000 and comes after 150 part-time staffers either had their hours eliminated or reduced earlier in the month in an effort to save $1 million more, said school spokesman Larry Hlavenka Jr. on Thursday.

The lecturers carry a full teaching load – about five courses each semester – and are paid $38,600 a year plus benefits. They must reapply for their jobs each semester and are considered temporary employees, Hlavenka said.

Only 28 lecturers will be kept. The other 64 are being asked to reapply as adjuncts, who make about $2,100 per course and have no benefits, according to the college.

The cutbacks will not affect any of the 350-400 full-time tenured faculty, Hlavenka said.

There was concern that the departure of the lecturers would affect teaching quality at the school.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-community-college-cuts-64-full-time-lecturer-positions-1.1383861

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Monster Truck for Village Parking Authority ?

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Village Council Workshop Meeting, Wednesday 8/5

August 1,2015
Boyd A. Loving

Agenda items that require some explaining:

“Award Contract – F150 Pickup for Parking Enforcement” – Exactly why do the parking enforcement agents need a gas guzzling pickup truck?  Ever heard of fuel efficient 3-wheeled enclosed scooters?  Duh?

“Establish Deposit Fees for Use of Village Barricades” – If we’re loaning out taxpayer purchased equipment, why not charge a rental fee also?  Duh?

“Closed Session – Personnel – Human Resources Position” – What qualifies this matter to be discussed in closed session?

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the Ridgewood blog Village Parking Primer

Chestnut_street_parking_theridgewoodblog
photo of Chestnut street
August 1,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has spent the last couple of months talking to merchants,  residents, readers, and insiders in order to get to get a full picture of the parking problems the Village faces. We boiled down the responses to the simplest terms.

Employee parking : At 930 am Chestnut street is full of parked cars , none of the stores are open so one can only assume employees are parking in all the spots,

Ken Smith Employee parking : Most feel $80 bucks a month  seems a bit stiff for restaurant and retain workers .

Meter parking enforcement hours : Merchants felt their customers were paying for parking while restaurant guests were not . Some suggested longer meter hours , say till 9 pm with a reduction in parking rates as a way  to better spread out the pain.

Valet Parking :Many merchants felt about all the Valet parking only added to the parking problems taking even more spots away from potential customers as well  as the general disrespectful attitude or the employees or the Valet Parking companies.

Parking App: Many felt the over 55 set would be resistant , and almost everyone felt it eliminated the quick in and out shoppers by making parking to much work as well as the App made parking even more expensive.

Garage Location : While many merchants liked the idea of a garage they also voiced concerns about the location and the anticipated traffic tie ups when parkers enter and exit.

Garage : NJT Commuters from other towns would take the spots and add nothing to the local economy except more congestion.
Taxpayers : Almost everyone asked why aren’t developers , NJT, merchants and restaurants contributing  to paying for parking , they are ones benefiting.
Parking fees : Many felt Ridgewood was pricing itself out ,with fees being to high .

 

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Village looks for bids for Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Garage

Hudson_street_parking_theridgewoodblog

Request for Proposals – Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure – Hudson St.

Click Here for Proposal Document

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) will be received by the Village of Ridgewood, in the Level 5 Village Manager’s office, at the Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time, then publicly opened and read aloud for:

“Request for Proposals

For

Professional Architectural/Engineering Services

For the

Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure at the Hudson

Street Parking Lot, Lots 12 and 13, Block 3809”

The Village of Ridgewood is seeking proposals for professional architectural/engineering services to prepare plans and specifications for the construction of a multi-level traditional self-parking structure on the Hudson Street Parking Lot, a.k.a. Lots 12 and 13 of Block 3809 of the Village Tax Map.

The RFP package may be obtained from the Engineering Division Offices, Level 3, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, (201) 670-5500, extension No. 238. Proposal packages may be examined or picked up in person between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, Monday through Friday. Prospective respondents requesting proposal documents be mailed to them shall be responsible for providing their own postage/delivery service remuneration. No proposal forms shall be given out after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2015.

All prices quoted in the proposal must be net and exclusive of all Federal, State and Local Sales and Excise Taxes. Proposals may be submitted in person or by mail prior to the proposal opening, addressed to the Office of the Village Clerk. The Village assumes no responsibility for loss or non-delivery of any proposal sent to it prior to the date and time stated for receipt of proposals.

Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the name of the respondent thereon and endorsed,

“Request for Proposals

For

Professional Architectural/Engineering Services

For the

Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure at the Hudson Street Parking Lot,

Lots 12 and 13, Block 3809”.

All respondents shall present satisfactory evidence of being authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey. All respondents shall also provide a copy of their New Jersey Business Registration Certificate with their proposal. All respondents shall adhere to the requirements presented in the “Request for Proposals”. The Village of Ridgewood reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any informality or to accept a proposal, which in its judgment best serves the interest of the Village.

” BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27). A complete statement as to these requirements is included in the Request for Proposals.

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Village of Ridgewood: Tax Bills , Sprinkler Compliance , Building Department Amnesty , and dog owners that license renewal

Vicious_dog_theridgewoodblog

Village of Ridgewood E – Notice – Wednesday, July 29th

Dear Residents,

Hope that you are staying cool during this heat wave as well as enjoying the cooler days!

I have a couple of things on my mind that I would like to share with you.

Tax Bills –

First, I wanted to make you aware that Bergen County has set their 2015 tax levy. As you know, your total annual tax amount is made up of several components: notably School, Municipality, County, Library and Open Space taxes. This year’s County tax levy is 6.35% higher than 2014. Our 3rd quarter tax bill used a slightly lower rate for the County; therefore our 4th quarter tax bills will be slightly higher than the 3rd quarter, due August 1st .

Sprinkler Compliance –

On another topic, based on input we received from many of you, we are taking stricter measures to monitor and insure adherence to water restrictions; we will be issuing warnings starting this week to homeowners who are not in compliance. Please check our website https://water.ridgewoodnj.net for the current watering restrictions. Water conservation is very important to our community so all of us should play our part in supporting this program.

Building Department Amnesty Program Expires on August 21st –

The Building Department is offering an amnesty program for residential work that has been previously completed without the required permits. The main purpose is to ensure that any work that was completed without permits does not cause a safety hazard. The homeowners will still have to pay for permits as well as possible new tax assessments; only the fines will be waived through the amnesty period.

Lastly, a reminder to dog owners that license renewals with valid rabies certificate were due in June. In an effort to control the spread of rabies, the State of New Jersey requires local health departments to conduct a canvass for dogs. The program is underway and will continue through the end of the summer. Approximately 1072 dogs, have been renewed and licensed this year; with about 400 in need of renewal. Summons will be issued starting August 15th.

Wishing you and your family an enjoyable rest of the summer!

Best,

Roberta Sonenfeld

Village Manager

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Baltimore killings soar to a level unseen in 43 years

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By JULIET LINDERMAN

Jul. 31, 2015 4:47 PM EDT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore reached a grim milestone on Friday, three months after riots erupted in response to the death of Freddie Gray in police custody: With 45 homicides in July, the city has seen more bloodshed in a single month than it has in 43 years.

Police reported three deaths — two men shot Thursday and one on Friday. The men died at local hospitals.

With their deaths, this year’s homicides reached 189, far outpacing the 119 killings by July’s end in 2014. Nonfatal shootings have soared to 366, compared to 200 by the same date last year. July’s total was the worst since the city recorded 45 killings in August 1972, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The seemingly Sisyphean task of containing the city’s violence prompted Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to fire her police commissioner, Anthony Batts, on July 8.

“Too many continue to die on our streets,” Rawlings-Blake said then. “Families are tired of dealing with this pain, and so am I. Recent events have placed an intense focus on our police leadership, distracting many from what needs to be our main focus: the fight against crime.”

But the killings have not abated under Interim Commissioner Kevin Davis since then.

Baltimore is not unique in its suffering; crimes are spiking in big cities around the country.

But while the city’s police are closing cases— Davis announced arrests in three recent murders several days ago — the violence is outpacing their efforts. Davis said Tuesday the “clearance rate” is at 36.6 percent, far lower than the department’s mid-40s average.

Crime experts and residents of Baltimore’s most dangerous neighborhoods cite a confluence of factors: mistrust of the police; generalized anger and hopelessness over a lack of opportunities for young black men; and competition among dealers of illegal drugs, bolstered by the looting of prescription pills from pharmacies during the riot.

https://bigstory.ap.org/article/60352506f481415c8edf3fc35b6f8103/baltimore-killings-soar-level-unseen-43-years

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Top Clinton aide accused of receiving overpayments at State Department

hillary-clinton-what-difference-does-it-make

By Tom Hamburger, Rosalind S. Helderman and Carol D. Leonnig July 31 at 8:59 PM

State Department investigators concluded this year that Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s closest aides, was overpaid by nearly $10,000 because of violations of rules governing vacation and sick leave during her tenure as an official in the department.

The finding — which Abedin has formally contested — emerged publicly Friday after Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) sent letters to Secretary of State John F. Kerry and others seeking more information about an investigation into possible “criminal” conduct by Abedin concerning her pay.

The letters also sought the status of an inquiry into whether Abedin had violated conflict-of-interest laws related to her special employment situation, which allowed her to work simultaneously for the State Department, the Clinton Foundation and a private firm with close ties to the Clintons.

The finding that Abedin, a longtime Clinton confidante who now serves as vice chairwoman of her presidential campaign, had improperly collected taxpayer money could prove damaging to Clinton’s candidacy, as Republicans charge that government rules were routinely bent to benefit Clinton and her aides.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-clinton-aide-accused-of-receiving-overpayments-at-state-department/2015/07/31/978d622a-3794-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html

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Lifeguards in Ridgewood use book to teach safety

Two Naughty Chickens at the Beach,

JULY 31, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A recent sunny afternoon at Ridgewood’s Graydon Pool included an important lesson for children, thanks to the “Storytime at Graydon” event.

The weekly event, which involves one or more volunteers reading aloud to youngsters at the pool, was hosted by lifeguards last week.

The story they read, “Two Naughty Chickens at the Beach,” warned listeners of the dangers of swimming alone, and explained that swimming near lifeguards is very important.

“It’s so much fun,” said Melanie Taylor, one of the readers, while wearing a hat made out of a paper plate resembling a chicken.

She wasn’t the only one dressed up for the event, as many of the lifeguards were wearing various chicken costumes made out of paper plates.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/lifeguards-use-book-to-teach-safety-1.1383927

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Growing support for 9/11’s ‘St. Mychal’

MychalJudge

JULY 30, 2015, 9:46 PM    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 9:37 AM
BY MIKE KELLY
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD

His grave lies just inside the cemetery gates, a few feet from a chain-link fence and the rattle and swoosh of cars, trucks and buses on Totowa’s Union Boulevard.

If you go there, you can understand on some level why many people want the Rev. Mychal Judge to be canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.

Judge, a Franciscan priest known for his infectious smile and eloquent preaching, served in parishes in Bergen and Passaic counties before moving to Manhattan in the 1990s and becoming a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department. He was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001 – officially listed by the city’s medical examiner as the first casualty among the nearly 3,000 people who died that day.

Judge’s grave, amid the final resting places of more than 280 other Franciscan priests at Totowa’s Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, has since become an informal pilgrimage site, with many visitors leaving behind keepsakes – statues of firefighters, prayer cards, rosary beads and even personal notes to “Saint Mychal.”

“If you were here for Sept. 11, you totally get the connection and how much he meant to people,” said Holy Sepulchre’s manager, Mirian Tanis. “He does receive a lot of love even though he is not with us.”

But can love and attention turn Mychal Judge into a saint? And would it matter that Judge was also a recovering alcoholic who reportedly told several close associates that he was gay but never acted on his homosexuality because of his priestly vow of celibacy?

Whether Judge will be officially considered for sainthood may not be decided for decades, if ever, say experts familiar with Catholicism’s scrupulous and often politically and theologically fractious process of naming saints. But Pope Francis’ visit to New York City in September, which includes an interfaith prayer service at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, has prompted some advocates to push harder for Judge’s sainthood.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/kelly-growing-support-for-9-11-s-st-mychal-1.1383869

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Ridgewood Patrolman Shayne R James to Retire

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July 31,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Patrolman Shayne R James reports for duty on his last day of work. Shayne has been serving the Village since 1989 we wish him well in his retirement. Shayne! is also RHS class of 1985 .
Shayne had many well wishers for a happy retirement . He was very popular with Village residents and we wish him all the best !