Not so fast…Trenton’s Fred Flintstone is still enamored with PARCC testing. Does this have to do with the fact that the owner/operator of PARCC, Pearson Publishing, is headquartered in New Jersey?
“The Governor did, however, [direct] DOE Commissioner Hespe to assemble a group of parents, teachers and educators to reevaluate the situation to come up with new state-centric standards, and he renewed his support for the controversial Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams. “We must continue to review and improve that test based on results, not fear or speculation,” Christie declared. “I will not permit New Jersey to risk losing vital federal education funds because some would prefer to let the perfect get in the way of the good.””
PARCC is neither perfect nor nor good. It is perfectly worthless and needs to be jettisoned along with Common Core. The two stem from the same rotten ideology.
MAY 30, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2015, 1:20 AM
BY KATHLEEN LYNN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Home construction continues to heat up in New Jersey, especially in the multifamily sector, as builders obtained the largest number of monthly permits in April since the housing-boom days of 2005.
More than 3,700 building permits were issued last month. So far this year, 9,118 permits have been issued, up 12.3 percent from the first four months of 2014, according to the U.S. census.
This year’s increase in activity has been powered by the multifamily sector, as New Jersey’s long-term patterns of suburban, single-family development shift to a denser, more urban style. So far this year, multifamily permits have accounted for almost two-thirds of building permits issued in the state, as builders respond to a higher demand for rentals.
Patrick O’Keefe, an economist with the accounting firm CohnReznick, which has offices in New York and Roseland, expects single-family starts to remain flat, in part because young adults — the so-called millennial generation — often can’t qualify for mortgages because of tight lending standards and high levels of student-loan debt. In addition, he said, millennials “have experienced a housing market where prices went down, and have a more realistic assessment of housing as an asset.”
By Josh Einiger
Friday, May 29, 2015 11:24PM
LYNDHURST (WABC) —
A police-involved shooting at the Lyndhurst Public Library in New Jersey left one person dead Friday.
The officers involved were transported to the hospital for trauma, but were not physically injured.
Officials say the building also houses the police department, fire department and courthouse, which is why the response was so quick.
“There was nothing else they could have done,” said Chief James O’Connor, Lyndhurst Police Department.
Late Friday night, the exhausted chief of the Lyndhurst Police detailed the life or death struggle between two of his officers and 36-year-old Kevin Allen, who police say would not go quietly, when they tried to arrest him on the third floor of the village library.
Police say Allen was rolling around on the floor with one officer, and when a second cop arrived to help, Allen reached into his pocket and took out a knife.
“He brandished the knife, the officers deployed pepper spray and batons, Mr. Allen still went after them aggressively and left them no choice but to deploy deadly force,” O’Connor said.
The gunfire broke the silence in a place of peace, as frantic parents rushed to the library to grab their kids. Fortunately, none of them was hurt.
MAY 29, 2015, 7:05 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 11:40 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Governor Christie’s declaration that he will drop Common Core education standards to create ones that are more suited to New Jersey left open the possibility of change. But if other states are a predictor, that change may not be so sweeping.
Several states have moved to replace Common Core and have ended up with standards that look mostly the same, according to education groups. And educators and administrators in New Jersey say the state has made such a huge investment to roll out standards that a total reversal is unlikely.
“It’s in the materials. It’s in the tests. It’s in the teacher training. It’s taught in professional development,” said Michael Cohen, president of Achieve, an education non-profit that helped develop Common Core. “If standards change dramatically, you’d have to make those investments all over again.”
In 2010, New Jersey adopted Common Core along with more than 40 other states. The states repealing Common Core have done so largely in response to political backlash in the conservative GOP, which believes it infringes on states’ rights. Common Core was developed by state officials, with input from private education groups, but the federal government gives financial incentives for states to use the standards.
Tonight, May 29, 2015, marks the start of another season of “Music in the Night.” Artists play around town from 7-9pm. Please come out and show your support for the local businesses.
Tonight’s Lineup
Take 4 – near Due, La Tour, & Malee
Jake Thistle – near It’s Greek to Me
Dom Boresta – near Raymond’s
George Shabet – near Starbucks
Nic Scott – Ben and Jerry’s
Musicians set up around town at various shops and restaurants, sweetly serenading the patrons. The program is sponsored by The Ridgewood Guild, who holds auditions and places talent around the town at or near member business of The Ridgewood Guild.
If you or somebody you know is interested in performing with the Music in the Night program, please email [email protected]
NEWTON, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition. This year’s top honor went to Norwood resident and Academy of the Holy Angels student Na Young Lee for her piece, “Crammed.” This year’s competition featured 95 student entries and was hosted at Sussex County Community College in Newton. Meagan Khoury and Sherry Fitzgerald, both of Sussex County Community College, judged the competition. The winners were announced at a ceremony on Saturday, May 16th.
“Congratulations to the winners and participants of the 2015 Congressional Art Competition,” said Garrett. “I am amazed at the quality of work produced by these students. Each student should be very proud of their efforts, and I want to thank their parents and teachers for encouraging and cultivating such exceptional talent.”
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual event held in congressional districts across the country. The first place winner from each congressional district will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning artwork from other high school students across the country. The second, third, and fourth place winners will have their submissions displayed in Congressman Garrett’s Glen Rock, Newton, and Washington, D.C. offices. Click here for more information about the nation-wide contest.
Below is a complete list of this year’s winners and participants. Names without a corresponding link were unable to attend the May 16th ceremony.
2015 Congressional Art Competition Winners
1st Place
Student: Na Young Lee
Title: “Crammed”
School: Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood
2nd Place
Student: Cindy Lee
Title: “Bakekujira the Ghost Whale”
School: Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan
Residence: Norwood
3rd Place
Student: Haley Fletcher
Title: “Covetous”
School: Lakeland Regional High School
Residence: Ringwood
4th Place
Student: Yubin Lee
Title: “Bounded”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Haworth
5th Place
Student: Alessandra Ferrari-Wong
Title: “Investigation”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Westwood
6th Place
Student: Laura David
Title: “Looking Ahead”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg
7th Place
Student: Kara Kovach
Title: “Hot and Beardy”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Franklin
8th Place
Student: Anna Kristofick
Title: “True Colors”
School: Indian Hills High School
Residence: Wyckoff
Honorable Mentions
Student: Hannah Kim
Title: “Yin and Yang”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River
Student: Melanie Rosenblatt
Title: “Zoe”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Upper Saddle River
Student: Julia Grace Shea
Title: “Indecisive”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Ho-Ho-Kus
Student: Nico Tolinkski
Title: “Mutilation”
School: Northern Highlands Regional High School
Residence: Allendale
Student: Anna Allen
Title: “Emotion in Full Color”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Stockholm
Student: Nicole Spangenburg
Title: “Dead End”
School: Wallkill Valley Regional High School
Residence: Hamburg
All Participants
Student: Na Young Lee*
Title: “Crammed”
School: Academy of the Holy Angels
Residence: Norwood
Student: Lydia Chen
Title: “The Road”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: New Milford
Student: Haine Cho
Title: “Parent”
School: Bergen County Academies
Residence: Northvale
District wants to prevent situations that could affect students
Author: Daniel Dahm, Managing Editor of ClickOrlando.com, [email protected]
Published On: May 28 2015 09:26:53 AM EDT Updated On: May 29 2015 08:39:16 AM EDT
ORLANDO, Fla. -The Orange County school district is now monitoring students’ social media messages in an effort to curb cyberbullying, crime on campus and suicide.
Orange County Public Schools announced Thursday that it has acquired software to monitor social media “to proactively prevent, intervene and (watch) situations that may impact students and staff.” The district has obtained an annual license with SnapTrends, software that monitors Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The district said it plans to use the software to conduct routine monitoring for the purposes of prevention or early intervention of potential issues in which students or staff could be at risk to themselves or to others.
OCPS said the company will assist district law enforcement and security personnel in monitoring publicly available social media communications that are relevant to school operations and personnel.
The economy got off to an even weaker start this year than first thought, the government reported Friday, as economic activity contracted amid a disappointing trade picture and continued caution on spending by businesses and consumers alike.
The 0.7 percent decline in economic output in the first quarter of 2015 was a reversal of the initial 0.2 percent advance for the periodreported last month by the Commerce Department.
While statistical quirks and one-time factors like wintry weather in some parts of the country played a role, as did a work slowdown at West Coast ports, the lackluster report for January, February and March underscores the American economy’s seeming inability to generate much momentum.
Much of the revision was spurred by fresh data showing businesses added to inventories at a slower pace than first estimated, while net exports fell slightly more than first thought. A sharp pullback in energy exploration in the wake of falling oil prices is also putting pressure on business investment.
Most experts had expected Friday’s data to show a contraction in the first quarter, and virtually no mainstream economists believe the country is on the verge of a recession. Still, the weakness is a reason the Federal Reserve is not expected to raise short-term interest rates until the second half of 2015, after speculation that a June increase was possible.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – That piece of chocolate bar and marshmallow – key ingredients in the s’more – are just too unhealthy for Michelle Obama’s food police at the USDA and they want you to eliminate them.
The government has now reinvented the s’more and they’re urging us all to change our ways.
Thank goodness the Feds have ISIS on the run and can now focus on more important things. Like all those portly campers getting tubbier because they haven’t sampled the bureaucrats’ latest creation.
“This quick, easy, and mouth-watering recipe is a perfect afternoon snack for the early days of summer,” the USDA writes on its recipe page.
MAY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GLORIA GEANNETTE
MANAGING EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Times have certainly changed since waves of Italian immigrants first arrived in New Jersey in the 19th century, but there are still Romans searching for the American Dream and some of them have landed in the village.
Claudia Rovegno and her husband, Roberto Santagati, arrived in Ridgewood two years ago with big ideas and a commitment to build a brighter future for their children, Caterina, 11, and Filippo, 14.
The affable couple hit the ground running and opened an online business, FromScratchRidgewood.com, almost immediately. They feature authentic Italian cooking that can be ordered online and they’ve experienced quite a bit of success building up a network of loyal customers. They have just opened a grocery/bistro, Italia Di Gusto Ridgewood, at 44 E. Ridgewood Ave., that includes seating for 25 people and sells imported Italian foods in addition to delicious home cooking. A grand opening celebration is planned for 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
MAY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 3:11 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
It might sound like a scene straight out of a science fiction film, but this weekend’s rise of the machines won’t be the result of a Hollywood blockbuster. The anticipated sights and sounds, instead, are the products of middle school creativity and ingenuity.
George Washington Middle School (GW) will be crowded Saturday afternoon with young scientists and engineers, most of them showing off their robotic creations at the second annual FIRST Robotics Showcase. Those not exhibiting and competing will simply be there for the show.
And based on last year’s inaugural event, there will be plenty in attendance.
“Last year was a tremendous success; we had almost 500 people come,” student Ashton Rollins said during a presentation to the Ridgewood Board of Education earlier this spring. A member of the GW STEM Club, Rollins noted that roughly eight new teams formed as a result of the 2014 showcase.
“In other words,” he said, “they were so influenced at our event that they wanted to have a team themselves.”
The showcase, which takes place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. inside the new gymnasium at GW, will boast New Jersey’s best robotics teams in all age groups. Teams will compete in several categories: Junior FIRST LEGO League, FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition.
A handful of teams from both Ridgewood middle schools are expected to compete, as are notable squads from Glen Rock and the Pascack Valley area. Last year’s event, which also took place at GW, attracted teams from as far as Livingston.
Enthusiasm for learning STEM topics – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – is the main draw to the Robotics Showcase, and many believe the excitement is contagious.
By Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 26, 2015 11:20 AM
School districts from Summit, West Essex Regional and Southern Regional — districts with well-established reputations for athletic excellence at the high school level — have been ranked the best in New Jersey and among the most highly rated in the nation, according to a study based on athletic statistics and hundreds of thousands of surveys.
Summit also checked in at No. 3 overall nationally, with West Essex (No. 21) and Southern Regional (No. 28) cracking the top 30 in America.
The study rated school district athletics as a whole, considering parent and student opinions, number of interscholastic sports offered, percentages of girls and boys participating in sports and the average athletic expense per student, among other factors.
A school district rated high by the study generally indicates sports and fitness plays a significant role in the student life; students actively participate in intervarsity sports; and the administration is invested in the athletic program.
The study ranked 4,951 districts after fielding more than 750,000 opinions from nearly 230,000 students and parents.
Also, some school districts such as Wayne — ranked No. 16 in New Jersey — include more than one high school.
Eight schools from New Jersey landed in the top 70 nationally: Summit, West Essex, Southern, River Dell, Ridgewood, Pascack Valley, New Providence andRandolph.
In accordance with the Codes of the Village of Ridgewood, the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff, Stage I water restrictions in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, New Jersey are in effect beginning June 1, 2015 and ending August 31, 2015.
Residents, businesses, governmental agencies, and all other water users must adhere to the Stages of the restrictions shown on our website.
Ridgewood Water has recently simplified water restrictions. The new plan matches odd and even addresses with days of the week.
If your address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only. If your address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays only. A handheld hose may be used at any time including Mondays.
This plan will be in effect each year starting on June 1st and will continue through August 31st. If conditions warrant, irrigation will be prohibited on additional days of the week up to and including a total ban on irrigation.
Compliance with the initial restrictions will reduce the likelihood that more severe controls will be needed. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Violators will be subject to a fine and court appearance
MAY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 3:53 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The local budget season came to an end in Ridgewood with the formal adoption of a $47 million spending plan on Wednesday night.
The budget, which was passed by a 3-2 vote, is primarily funded by a $33 million tax levy – $31 million for municipal purposes and another $2 million for the public library. The municipal portion of a Ridgewood resident’s tax bill will by increase 1.2 percent, or $46.12 on a home assessed at the village average of $690,062.
The municipal budget has significant investments in services and people, said Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, including revitalization of the Building Department, establishment of Human Resources, growth in technology, reaccreditation of the Ridgewood Police Department and enhanced support for the community center. Improvements in parking include the hiring of a chief financial officer who doubles as the parking utility director and implementation of ParkMobile and other strategies to minimize the handling of quarters, the village manager said.
The budget also comes with some risk as the village currently has $7.1 million in unfunded liability payments and utilized one-time revenues in 2015, such as the $800,000 reimbursement received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are also some expenses, such as legal fees for the Planning Board and police contract negotiations as well as maintenance of the village’s aging infrastructure, which could exceed the amount set aside in their respective lines.
MAY 28, 2015, 11:52 AM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 12:55 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — George Washington Middle School was temporarily on lockdown Thursday morning after a prank phone threat village police are investigating as a “swatting” incident.
The call to the school on Ridgewood’s Washington Place was received by school official just before 10 a.m.
The caller, according to a number of sources, claimed that a shooter was on the school’s roof. School officials immediately ordered a lockdown of each classroom.
Police also notified officials at nearby West Side Presbyterian Church, which operates a nursery school that went into lockdown.
Responding officers from Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock and Wyckoff searched the middle school building, including the roof, and determined the call to be a hoax by 10:30 a.m.
It was the fifth such incident in North Jersey since March of what has become known as swatting, in which false reports are made to elicit the response of police swat units.
Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward confirmed Thursday’s call was a “swatting,” but would not discuss the specific nature of the threat made against the school.
