JUNE 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JJ CONRAD
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Hundreds of views turned to thousands in just a few short hours Thursday, as a controversial YouTube video made its way around the state.
Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and ethics were at the forefront of it all. And girls lacrosse bylaws and rulebooks were brought into question.
The video features unusual activity from one Summit player following Julia Persche’s game-winning goal with 3.4 seconds remaining in the Hilltoppers’ 6-5, Tournament of Champions semifinal victory Wednesday against undefeated Ridgewood.
“[Thursday] night one of the coaches sends me this video and says, ‘You have to watch this,’ ” Northern Highlands coach Mike Menzella said of the video, which was deleted Friday. “I watch it and I’m like, ‘No way. Are you kidding? That’s how the game ended?’ We all can’t believe it.”
Following a Ridgewood go-ahead goal that was taken off the scoreboard because of an illegal stick with 1:12 remaining, Persche scored the game-winner 1:09 later.
As Persche was mobbed by teammates in a celebration near the net, one teammate –who was highlighted in the video – grabs the stick in question and appears to tamper with it before handing it back to Persche
Twenty-one students from Taekwondo All In of Ridgewood received medals for their performances at the Big East Tournament in Basking Ridge on April 26. FRONT ROW, from left: Akash Patel, Lucas Woods, Edward Wagner and Maya Gugelev. MIDDLE ROW, from left: Arjun Narang, Benjamin Soung, Tej Patel, Audrey Kim and Alexander Han. BACK ROWS, from left: Adrian Golnabi, Jason Ahn, Louise Kim, Julia An, Liam Woods, Jenna Slota, head coach Youngmin Kin, Tony An, Connor Rojas, David Ahn, Kalyan Patel, Abhishek Narang, Colin Fitzgerald and coach Seongki Kim.
Ridgewood taekwondo athletes feast on Big East
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEW
Twenty-one Ridgewood Taekwondo athletes faced a major challenge at the Big East Tournament, which drew over 400 competitors from the tri-state area on April 26. However, the students from Taekwondo All In produced stellar results by claiming 29 gold, 21 silver and five bronze medals.
The Big East Tournament was the final stop in the circuit before the National Championships, which will take place July 4 in Austin, Texas.
“We have an amazing group of kids at Taekwondo All In,” Youngmin Kim, a Taekwondo master and head instructor, said. “Their dedication and hard work is truly inspirational. Our goal at the school is to teach our students not only the martial art, but life lessons on grit, focus and hard work, which will benefit them in all aspects of their lives.”
Club awarded its fourth USGA championship, first since 1990 U.S. Senior Open
Paramus NJ, The Ridgewood Country Club home of the Barclay’s , has been selected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the host site for the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The fourth USGA championship to be held at Ridgewood is scheduled for July 18-23, 2016.
“We are thrilled to announce Ridgewood Country Club as the host site of the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior and sincerely appreciate the club’s generosity in opening its long-celebrated facilities to this generation of female players,” said Diana Murphy, USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “This historic club will surely provide an excellent stage for the world’s most talented teenage female golfers and an extraordinary experience for all.”
Located less than 30 miles northwest of New York City, Ridgewood’s three 9-hole courses – East, Center and West – were designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened for play in 1929. The course routing for the Girls’ Junior will incorporate holes from all three nines.
“Ridgewood’s members enthusiastically support the USGA’s ambitious efforts to grow the game, especially for girls, and it is our honor to work together to provide the best championship experience possible,” said Bruce Bitzer, President of Ridgewood Country Club. “As proven throughout our storied history, Ridgewood is a place that identifies great champions, and we could not be more excited to host players who represent the future of women’s golf at the 68th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.”
Ridgewood’s most recent USGA championship was the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, in which Lee Trevino prevailed by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus on the Center and West courses. The club also hosted the 1974 U.S. Amateur, won by Jerry Pate, 2 and 1, over John P. Grace, and the 1957 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by J. Clark Espie, 4 and 3, over Frederick J. Wright.
Other notable events held at Ridgewood include the PGA Tour’s The Barclays in 2014, 2010 and 2008, won by Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Vijay Singh, respectively; the 2001 Senior PGA Championship, won by Tom Watson; the 1981 LPGA Coca-Cola Classic, won by Kathy Whitworth, a World Golf Hall of Fame member who won a record 88 LPGA events; and the 1935 Ryder Cup Matches, in which the USA defeated Great Britain, 9-3.
The 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior will be the 60th USGA championship conducted in New Jersey. The Garden State will also host the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship was first conducted in 1949 and is open to female amateurs who have not turned 18 on or before the final day of that year’s championship and have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 18.4.
Notable champions include three-time winner Hollis Stacy, Mickey Wright, Nancy Lopez, Amy Alcott, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Pat Hurst, I.K. Kim, Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson. Princess Mary Superal won the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior on the Meadow Course at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz. The 2015 championship will be conducted July 20-25 at Tulsa (Okla.) Country Club.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit https://www.usga.org.
How is the Mayor friend Saracino and his fish restaurant going to make it without the parking garage in his backyard? I have one question. Are the taxpayers also to pay for the extra large bronze plaque that will hang on the garage wall memorializing the 3 Amigos as the ones that brought Ridgewood out of the dark ages or will it be donated by Saracino and Vaggiois?
Yes the same Developer who purchased the tickets for the council to the Chris Christie event in violation of the “gift ordnance ”
“The council is considering adding a non-binding referendum” What a tease. The key word is “Considering ” They are just throwing out there to make residents believe that the 3 amigos have the residents interest in mind. I wonder if this referendum will contain all the pertinent information such as the told cost plus interest from bonding? Does everybody feel good now they that publicly put out this headline. “The council is considering adding a non-binding referendum to the November ballot to gauge support for a parking garage downtown.” The question is after all that has happened ‘Do you real trust them”
We have former Mayor and now appointed local judge Pfund to tank. Without Ordinance 3066, passed purposely in July 2007 when many residents were down the shore, applications to amend the Master Plan would never have even been considered. Then the developers used an old anchoring by applying for 50 units, only to say they’d “comprised” down to 35. The anchor number used should have been the 12 in the Master Plan, and they should have comprised at 18-24, reflecting current Village densities. Development is surely need in the CBD – it’s an eyesore with too much dead space and decaying remnants of the past – but Ordinance 3066 and the 50 number should have never happened in the first place. That’s Pfund’s folly…. These wheels have been in motion since 2007
Regarding “Ridgewood must face suit filed by hospital” (Page L-1, June 2):
Once again, the Valley Hospital debacle raises its ugly head in Ridgewood. How many times do we residents have to vote down the prospect of this expansion in our village?
All this wasted energy and money. What a shame. Leave the hospital as is and build any needed larger facilities on any of the other lands Valley owns. I don’t think many would mind going to another facility, even out of the village, to have diagnostics or testing done. The village has spoken loud and clear. Valley should give it up.
The 2nd Annual Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever will be held on Saturday, June 6th on BF Field at 337 North Van Dien Avenue from 10-3. We are kicking off the day with a Color Fun Run, then a balloon and butterfly release, followed by a huge carnival. Attractions include carnival games, a rock wall, bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, and Photo Booth. Food and drinks will be available for sale. The event will run from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Proceeds donated to Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever, Inc will benefit the following organizations: Go for the Goal Foundation, The Chief Michael Feeney Junior Police Academy and JDRF. Funds will also be used to create some best days for sick children and their families. Registration is now open on Community Pass. https://register.communitypass.net/ridgewood. Pre-registration is $20 per person, $50 per family. Entrance at the door is $25 per person, $70 per family. If you cannot attend, donations are happily accepted on Community Pass as well. This event was created to honor the memory of Michael Feeney who succumbed to Ewing’s Sarcoma on November 29, 2013 after a 4-year battle. He was 10 years old. This event is truly created with Michael in the details. From the food, to the games, to the music, to the charitable donations, there is nothing here that would not make Michael happy. It will be a fun and rewarding time for all involved. Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever, Inc is a registered non-profit 501(c) 3 charity. Please contact Jill Feeney at [email protected] with any questions. We hope you can attend.
Face it, Jersey pols, the people ain’t buyin’ what you’re sellin’.
Posted by Scott St Clair On June 05, 2015 1 Comment
By Scott St. Clair | The Save Jersey Blog
The 2015 New Jersey primary election came and went without me. That’s right: I didn’t vote, so sue me.
I live in the 29th Legislative District, which hasn’t supported anyone to the right of Henry Wallace or George McGovern since the Johnson administration – the ANDREW Johnson administration – so why bother? Additionally, there were no contested races – both the Republican and Democratic legislative nomination ballots featured candidates put up by the official party organizations and nobody else.
Since the last thing in the world I want to do is to further political party stranglehold control over the nominating process in New Jersey, I elected to pass. As P.J. O’Rourke entitled one of his books, “Don’t Vote It Only Encourages the Bastards.”
So then I get the lecture, this time from Max Pizarro at Thursday’s PolitickerNJ.com:
All right, don’t complain. You don’t like it? Fine. You think this state is a disaster area? Okay. But don’t complain. Just do not dare complain. Road rage? Suck it up. Violent crime? Suck it up. High property taxes? Suck it up.
Too much blood bled with the expectation – or at least the post-game public explanation – of that American-protected right to vote.
Last night, we didn’t earn the right to complain, as rain-bullied and civics-bothered “voters” allowed machine and independent expenditure PAC politics to blanket New Jersey in the absence of people power.
With all due respect, which means just the opposite whenever you hear it, put a sock in it, Max, because not voting is sometimes as much an expression of political will as voting. When you hold an election and nobody comes, what does that tell you about those who hold it?
I’m pretty sure my son did not do six deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, or my great-grandfather crouch behind a low, stone wall on Little Round Top some 152 years ago shy one month to protect entrenched political parties and bosses and fertilize a political system that ignores the people, prevents over half of them from participating and is a joke.
And all those problems you mentioned, Max? When the people who created them are the same people who control access to and are pretty much exclusively on the ballot, what exactly is the point of it all?
In looking around at various counties throughout the state, most of the turnout figures I saw were single-digit in nature, which tells me more about the product than it does the consumer. Face it, Jersey pols, the people ain’t buyin’ what you’re sellin’.
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 9:58 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
This weekend won’t be a summer scorcher, but Saturday will still be the first official beach day of the season in Ridgewood.
Just as the unseasonable chill that struck earlier this week eases into residents’ afterthoughts, Graydon Park’s beach and pool will open for the 2015 swim season. By mid-afternoon Saturday, real feel temperatures will approach 80 degrees under partly sunny skies, according to AccuWeather.com reports.
Patrons returning this season won’t see many new physical features at the pool nor will the Wibit make its return; instead, Graydon this summer will be about old-fashioned fun under the sun with more programming, said Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Nancy Bigos.
Pool and beach goers can take advantage of the park’s familiar features. The shaded playground and shade kites, water play fountains, picnic and charcoal grilling areas, Adirondack chairs and sheltered pavilion are among the many amenities.
For those who enjoy summer activity, Graydon offers plenty of space for beach volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and hop-scotch, among other games. Volunteers will also help run the “Storytime Under a Tree” program for children.
Expanded swim and diving instruction for patrons of all ages and skill levels are offered, as are various lifeguard training and recertification classes. Spots on the Graydon swim team are also available.
JUNE 4, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015, 1:20 AM
BY JJ CONRAD
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
WEST LONG BRANCH — Standing on the sideline just beside the Ridgewood bench, Hannah Cermack and Katie Bourque stood together in an emotional, tear-filled embrace.
No words at the time, however, could ease the pain they felt following the Maroons’ 6-5 loss to Summit on Wednesday in the girls lacrosse Tournament of Champions semifinals at Monmouth University.
There have been tough, season-ending losses deep in state tournaments before. What made matters worse this time around was not the loss itself, but the fashion in which it came.
The potentially perfect season for top-seeded Ridgewood (23-1) ended in an all-too imperfect way. That end included losing a second-half lead, a star player for the final 10:54, watching a late goal taken off the scoreboard in a tie game and witnessing Summit score the game-winner with 3.4 seconds remaining.
“It is a little harder to take the way this went,” coach Karla Mixon said after her team’s first appearance in the TOC since 2012. “It is what it is, though. We can’t change anything now.”
I feel the need for further clarification about a matter that I brought upWednesday evening.
When an elected official asks a question of the Village Manager regarding Village business, I think that a civil reply is appropriate. Councilman Sedon’s question about a possible reduction in the salary of the Village Manager, in order to compensate for the reduction in her job responsibilities, was on the mind of others. It seemed a logical question. Ms. Sonenfeld’s reprimand of Mr. Sedon, along with her comment that her salary is already as bottom as it can go, seemed completely inappropriate. I think with the current push for increased civility in public venues, Ms. Sonenfeld should be reminded that she works for The Village, and when one of her “bosses” (ie, an elected Councilmember) asks a question, a straightforward reply is in order.
Besides the tone of her reply, I also have a problem with the content of her comments. Let’s be reasonable here. A new position has been created to the tune of “six figures.” The responsibilities of this new hire used to be handled by The Village Manager. I think the suggestion that the increased expense might be offset by taking at least some money from The Village Manager’s salary was worth considering. Moreover, her public declaration that her salary is already rock bottom is very offensive. Ms. Sonenfeld has been on the job for just over a year. The salary that she is paid is what she agreed to; no one forced her to take the job or the salary. For her to now publicly complain that it is so low, so soon after she came on board, and especially when some of her responsibilities have been delegated to the new Human Resources person, seems quite inappropriate. You, Paul, were very outspoken about the salary, and salary increase, of the former manager. Well, now you have a manager who is publicly stating that her salary is low even while she is hiring more help.
I would sincerely appreciate your response on this – both the civility matter, as well as the payroll matter.
The National Trail Association has named June 6 as National Trail Days; but most towns are expanding it to National Trail WEEKEND of June 6/7!
We are lucky that a member of Wildscape who is a botanist from Rutgers, Jeannie Epiphan, will lead a walk along “mysterious” Gypsy Pond.
When? Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7,
What time? 12-2PM . JOIN US FOR THE WHOLE TIME, OR JUST A PORTION, ITS UP TO YOU!
Our President, Andy Antista, will also explain the history of the area.
Gypsy Pond is one of the hidden gems in Ridgewood.
Everyone is welcome, bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring a neighbor. No getting muddy this time, but do bring a bag to pick up trash if you want to.
The important thing is to GET OUTSIDE.
For those who don’t know the location, there are two ways to get to Gypsy Pond:
1. Rock Road Extension, travel towards Goffle Road, immediately before the rr tracks there is an unmarked road (of course!)…park across the street at the NJ Transit lot, there will be signs.
2. Godwin, left at Lake, left onto Goffle, travel to Rock Road, turn left and part at the NJTransit equipment lot on the right. There will be signs.
JUNE 4, 2015, 12:20 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015, 1:36 PM
BY JAY LEVIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A love of choral music developed at Northern Highlands Regional High School carried Margaret Juntwait to widespread fame as the mellifluous radio voice of the Metropolitan Opera.
Ms. Juntwait, who died Wednesday at 58, hosted the Met’s live broadcasts on WQXR-FM and Sirius XM since 2004. Working from a little studio behind the Family Circle seats at the Lincoln Center opera house, she supplemented her play-by-play of the greatest operatic performances with interviews with the greatest operatic stars, Placido Domingo and Marilyn Horne among them.
The Met’s third radio host dating to 1931, Ms. Juntwait told The Record in 2008 that she prepped for her announcing duties in an unconventional manner.
“I listen to Yankee games on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman,” she said. “I’m constantly getting ideas from them. Of course, not about content, but about what’s important to a listener.”
Ms. Juntwait, who grew up in Ridgewood and Upper Saddle River, died of ovarian cancer, the Metropolitan Opera said.
JUNE 4, 2015, 6:53 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015, 7:00 PM
BY ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Jane and Joseph Clementi of Ridgewood, whose son Tyler committed suicide almost five years ago after being bullied because of his sexual orientation, talked about their anti-bullying efforts and their enduring pain in an interview that is scheduled to be broadcast Sunday on CBS.
Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman, jumped from the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22, 2010, after learning that his roommate had used a webcam to broadcast a romantic encounter with a man in their dorm room.
In response to a question by Erin Moriarty for the CBS News program “Sunday Morning,” Jane Clementi said family members are still living with the pain of Tyler’s death, and wondering what they might have done differently when he told them he was gay.
“Not even near healed,” Jane Clementi said, according to a press release issued by CBS. “I don’t know what ‘healed’ will be like. I don’t even know that there’s a word for healing. I think it’s learning to live through the pain.”
The interview with the Clementis is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday at 9 a.m. Moriarty is a correspondent for the network’s “48 Hours” TV show.
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — In the biggest game of the season last Friday, Ridgewood High School pitcher Lisa Higgins needed a few pitches to get her bearings straight.
The Maroons’ star right-hander fell behind Morris Knolls leadoff hitter Marina Castalluzzo, 3-0, before coming back to strike her out to start the North 1, Group 4 final. Higgins struck out the next two batters, and another pitching masterpiece was underway.
Rachel Pizzuti’s fourth-inning RBI double with two outs broke up a scoreless tie, and Higgins pitched her fourth shutout in as many state playoff starts, allowing just three hits and a walk in a complete-game 2-0 victory to clinch the school’s first sectional title since 2009 at Veterans Field.
“We’ve been a team that goes about our business all year round, so for them to really enjoy this moment was so fun to watch,” head coach Patti Auger said.
The celebration had to be quick for five Maroons who would be heading to that evening’s prom, but senior first baseman Kali Wolfer decided to take her time relishing the moment anyway.
“Winning this, my senior year, I don’t even care if I’m late for prom,” said Wolfer, one of the squad’s co-captains. “I’m not going to remember prom in 20 years; I’m going to remember this game. This is the biggest feeling right now.”
Ridgewood’s chase for a State Group 4 title ended Wednesday in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bridgewater-Raritan at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park in Newark. Higgins was outstanding again, allowing just two runs on five hits in taking the hard-luck loss.
