Five Ridgewood residents from same neighborhood serve in the military
FEBRUARY 25, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015, 6:25 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
FOR THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
When Sam Combs, Pat Kiernan, Ryan Mansbach and Ben Rogers were small-yet-rough-and-tough neighbors growing up on South Irving Street and Arden Court, they played together a lot: riding scooters in the street, playing manhunt and street hockey, and doing bike jumps in the nearby woods.
It was a fun time, and a good time for bonding for four Ridgewood kids living on a dead end block, with each other’s houses in sight.
But years later, the four friends, plus Masbach’s older sister Melanie, have given up the kid stuff in favor of more strenuous activities – manning submarines, surveying the Pacific Ocean for mines, or piloting Army and Navy aircrafts.
Grown up and scattered around the country, the five neighbors now also have U.S. military service in common.
Melanie Mansbach, now 29, was the first on the block to express a military interest, attending West Point several years ago and becoming an officer. She was later deployed to Afghanistan.
The four neighborhood “boys” are now all either officers or soon-to-be officers in the U.S. Army or U.S. Navy.
Subtle neighborhood inspiration might have a little to do with this, but there was no consensus on that among the four young men, since they all took different paths into the military and had several influences. (Melanie, who is in training, was unavailable for an interview.)
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Photo: Jeffrey Lampiasi, Jr. and Jaesung Son pose with RHS Principal Tom Gorman and guidance counselor Peter Burkhard. The other finalists were not available for the photo
Ridgewood Schools National Merit Scholarship Finalists are Announced
Ridgewood NJ, The following five of the seven semi-finalists have been named finalists in the 2015 competition for the National Merit Scholarship awards: Jeffrey Lampiasi, Jr., Warren Li, Sumita Rajpurohit, Jaesung Son and Gabriel Voorhis-Allen.
National Merit Scholarship Qualifications
If you’re a high school junior or the parent of a high school junior, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the National Merit Scholarship qualifications, as most juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October of their junior year.
National Merit Scholarship Qualifications
In order to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a student must: 1) take the PSAT/NMSQT during his or her 3rd year (junior year) of high school 2) be in high school and plan to enroll in college full time by the fall after his or her high school graduation and 3) be a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen. If a student meets these requirements, he or she will automatically be eligible to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP).
Of the about 1.5 million juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT each year, approximately 50,000 juniors with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (or total PSAT scores) who meet the eligibility requirements described above qualify for NMSP recognition. That is, roughly the top 3% of 11th grade testers will qualify. Note that the Selection Index qualifying scores vary from year to year and state to state, as students are selected for NMSP recognition from each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. During the April following the PSAT/NMSQT administration, these 50,000 students are invited to select two colleges to which the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) will provide a reference.
During the September following the PSAT/NMSQT administration, approximately 2/3 of those 50,000 students will receive Letters of Commendation recognizing their academic abilities and potential. Commended students are not eligible for National Merit scholarships. The remaining 1/3 of the 50,000 students qualify as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. For the Class of 2015, in order to qualify as a Semifinalist, students had to have earned a PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score of at least 201 to 222 (240 is the highest possible PSAT/NMSQT score), depending on the state in which the student lives. To view a list of the qualifying scores by state for the class of 2015, visit our National Merit Scores page.
Once a student qualifies as a Semifinalist, he or she must complete the National Merit Scholarship Application and submit it to the NMSC in order to move on to the next round of qualifications (Finalist) and to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship. Additionally, if he or she has not yet taken the SAT and had those scores reported to the NMSC, he or she must do so in October, November, or December of his or her senior year.
During the February of senior year, NMSC will notify those Semifinalists who have qualified as Finalists. Of the roughly 16,000 students who qualify as Semifinalists, about 15,000 of them will qualify as Finalists. Of those 15,000 Finalists, approximately 8,200 of them will be selected for Merit Scholarships, which can be a National Merit Scholarship, a Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship, or a College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on skills, abilities, and accomplishments as exhibited through a student’s application materials.
Ridgewood Water Customers Socked With High Bills After Meter Overhaul
February 25, 2015 5:43 PM
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – People in Bergen County say they’re drowning in outrageous water bills.
As CBS2’s Vanessa Murdock reported, Ridgewood Water overhauled its systems, but that was not a good thing for many customers who suddenly got socked with bills running into the thousands of dollars.
Two homeowners, one from Wyckoff and one from Glen Rock, both have the same problem: exorbitant water bills.
“In the thousands,” Scott Hornak, of Glen Rock, said.
“They charged us $2,500,” Wyckoff resident Dominick Marano said.
Hornak called after receiving the heart-stopping bill.
“I said, ‘Is there a leak or something?’ And they said no, we’ve just been doing estimated water bills,” Hornak said.
With new meters being installed, one-time-only back charges are being assessed, Murdock reported.
“It can be estimates for six months or for as many as five or six years,” Frank Moritz said, director of operations for Ridgewood Water.
Ridgewood mayor to lobby Attorney General’s staff for new probe into parking meter cash
FEBRUARY 25, 2015, 10:20 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015, 10:31 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials plan to meet next week with representatives from the Attorney General’s Office to discuss a possible investigation into an additional $377,000 in stolen parking meter coins, the mayor said.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn announced Wednesday night that he would go to Trenton for a meeting Tuesday on the findings of a forensic audit. Other village employees will join the session via telephone.
The audit was initiated soon after former Ridgewood employee Thomas Rica pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree theft after confessing to pocketing $460,000 in coins from Village Hall’s coin room over three years.
The findings, released earlier this month, indicated that Rica’s thieving began earlier than he admitted, and that an additional $377,526 in parking meter revenue was unaccounted for.
Ridgewood students skirt danger as debris from N.Y.C. building falls on waiting bus
FEBRUARY 25, 2015, 10:32 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015, 10:35 PM
BY MARY DIDUCH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Debris from a four-story Manhattan building fell on a yellow school bus whose driver was inside, waiting for Ridgewood elementary school students to return from a field trip.
The bus driver, Daniel Campbell, 45, who was not injured, told the New York Daily News that he thought he might die when the incident occurred suddenly Wednesday afternoon. Campbell was napping when a portion of the building at 642 W. 57th St., near 11th Avenue, partly collapsed onto the vehicle, he told the News.
The students from Somerville Elementary School were on a field trip to New York City, Ridgewood Superintendent Daniel Fishbein wrote in an email. No one was injured, but the bus was damaged, so another bus from the company picked up the students, staff and chaperones, he said.
“Luckily none of our students, staff, chaperones or the bus driver were hurt,” Fishbein said
Anonymous Blogger says Civility you can start with :WHO SENT THE ANONYMOUS EMAIL TO COUNCILMAN SEDON’S EMPLOYER??????
Many people are intimidated from speaking up using their own name. They fear retribution and so they stay silent. And why would they fear retribution? – because it happens all the time. You complain about (this is a random example) garbage collection, and suddenly your garbage bags are breaking open in your driveway. You read such stories all the time. A parent fears complaining about his child’s teacher because the child may be made to suffer in the classroom. Yes, it happens. You complain that your mother’s caregiver in the nursing home is being rough with her, and then you get sick with worry that the caregiver will be angry about the reprimand and God-forbid somehow take it out on your mother. Years ago I reprimanded a paper boy (back when The Record came later in the day and was delivered by local teens) for taunting my elderly dog who was sitting on the porch. The very next day I had a flat tire, and a line of nails was seen in my driveway. The police officer who came to take the report asked if anyone in the house had been in a recent dispute with anyone. The officer was almost saying “well, what did you expect.” We learn early that complaining out loud can be disastrous.
Then along comes the internet, and we now have a chance to state our opinions loudly and clearly without fear of retribution. This is a huge benefit to the average Joe and Jane who have a right to an opinion but a fear of stating it. LONG LIVE THE BLOG !!!!! In terms of our own elected officials, we know they read this Blog every day and we know they act upon some of the comments. Or sometimes they react to some of the comments. But it does get their attention. It is a wonderful thing. As a regular reader of, and anonymous poster on, this Blog, it is glaringly apparent that some of the anonymous posts come from mission control. The language, the defensive tone….. at times you know exactly who from the Village Council is posting. They cannot have it both ways – they want to eliminate anonymity when they practice it themselves. Seriously.
Moreover, when you go in person with your face in plain sight and make a comment at the Village Council meetings, you might get severely reprimanded. Heck, they even reprimand their own elected colleagues, village employees, and the chief of police. This council in particular has been hideous with their behavior at times, just embarrassing, and in fact The Record has published a couple of articles and editorials chastising their inappropriate behavior. The put a timer on when someone steps up to the microphone and you are not allowed to ask any direct questions of any person and the speaker is often met with a “thank you for your comments” sort of response which accomplishes nothing. One person I know told me she was watching on TV (which many of us do) and got so mad that she jumped in the car to go speak her mind, but then she got afraid and slunk back home instead of going in to the meeting. Of course she was afraid. Who would want to chance being publicly humiliated?
All of this makes it all the more disingenuous that THIS mayor is trying to pose as a civility in public discourse guru. A leopard cannot change its spots. We see right through these elaborate smoke and mirrors.
And yes……WHO SENT THE ANONYMOUS EMAIL TO COUNCILMAN SEDON’S EMPLOYER?????? Care to step forward and identify yourself?
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai: Net Neutrality is a “Solution That Won’t Work to a Problem That Doesn’t Exist”
Nick Gillespie & Todd Krainin | February 25, 2015
Net Neutrality is “a solution that won’t work to a problem that doesn’t exist,” says Ajit Pai, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Pai is an oustpoken opponent of expanding government control of the internet, including FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s plan to regulate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) under the same Title II rules that are used to govern telephone-service providers as public utilities. Under current FCC regulations, ISPs are considered providers of “information services” and subject to essentially no federal regulation.
He is also sharply critical of President Barack Obama’s very public push to influence policy at the FCC, which is technically an independent agency. Last year, it was widely believed that Wheeler, a former head of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, would not push for Title II. Pai calls the president’s actions—which included “creating a YouTube video of with very specific prescriptions as to what this agency should do”—unprecedented in his experience. Coupled with the fact that “the agency suddenly chang[ed]course from where it was to mimic the president’s plan,” says Pai, “suggests that the independence of the agency has been compromised to some extent.”
FCC Chair Refuses to Testify before Congress ahead of Net Neutrality Vote
by ANDREW JOHNSON
February 25, 2015 10:19 AM
Two prominent House committee chairs are “deeply disappointed” in Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler for refusing to testify before Congress as “the future of the Internet is at stake.” Wheeler’s refusal to go before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday comes on the eve of the FCC’s vote on new Internet regulations pertaining to net neutrality.
The committee’s chairman, Representative Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah), and Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton (R., Mich.) criticized Wheeler and the administration for lacking transparency on the issue.
New York Voices with Jazzmasters Big Band
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood NJ, Returning to Ridgewood, NJ for the first time since 1997, The Grammy Award winning vocal jazz quartet consisting of Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian, and Lauren Kinhan will be joined by an all star line up of professional music educators to perform for one night only.
Having recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, New York Voices is the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. They are known for their close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements and unparalleled vocal blend. Their chameleon-like musicianship allows them to move seamlessly from setting to setting, be it orchestral/big band to the intimate trio lineup. With deep interests rooted in jazz, Brazilian, R & B, classical, and pop, their music mixes traditional sensibilities with more than a dash of the unexpected.
The Voices will perform 2 sets of music including selections from their popular recorded repertoire plus A Cappella features performed only in a live setting.
The Jazzmasters Big Band was formed in 2013 by Ridgewood High School Band Director Jeffrey Haas to provide a way for his students to hear live big band jazz performed by excellent musicians. Jazzmasters is an ensemble of celebrated performers – Grammy nominees, public school teachers, college professors, private instructors and Broadway musicians – who all share a passion for playing and teaching music in the big band tradition. The group has since branched out from the educational clinic setting to well attended and highly acclaimed public performances.
The Jazzmasters Big Band is:
Saxophones: Julius Tolentino, Paul Larsen, David Demsey, James Garde and Jeff Haas
Trumpets: David Rogers, Ben Hankle, Jeffrey Lesser and John Luckenbill
Trombones: Matt Bilyk, Pete McGuinness, Matt Tracey and Henry Heyzer
Rhythm: Willy Dalton(guitar), Jeffrey Kunkel(piano), Brian Glassman(bass), Steve Johns(drums) and Gary Fink(percussion)
Astronaut Ron Garan Tonight at Bookends in Ridgewood 7PM
Wednesday, February 25th @ 7:00pm
Astronaut who was on the International Space Station, Ron Garan, will sign his new book: The Orbital Perspective:
Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles*All books MUST be purchased at Bookends Bookstore*
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
A Letter from Dr. Fishbein on PARCC, Policies and Procedures
February 24, 2015
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Next week, we will begin the implementation of the New Jersey state-mandated PARCC assessments in our schools. Although we have been administering state-mandated assessments for decades, these particular required assessments have been subject to much debate and controversy.
Simply, all New Jersey public school districts are mandated by the State of New Jersey to administer these assessments and students are required to participate. On Monday, February 23, 2015, the Ridgewood Board of Education updated Policy #2622 – Student Assessment. (A link to the policy is provided below.)
The State of New Jersey does not recognize parents who do not permit their children to take the PARCC assessments. However, in preparation for the administration of PARCC in the Ridgewood Public Schools, we have developed an administrative process we will follow under Procedure #2622 – Student Assessment. Because this is a procedure, it is not subject to Board of Education approval. (A link to this procedure is provided below.)
Below are links to relevant FAQ information from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). In addition, significant PARCC information may be found on the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment page of our district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. The link to the PARCC information is located on the right side of the page.
Police: Ridgewood man charged with criminal mischief for punching hole in police department wall
FEBRUARY 24, 2015, 2:31 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015, 3:45 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — A 22-year-old man was arrested on Monday after punching a hole in a wall inside the village’s police department, authorities said.
Matthew Boucher-Kerns, of Ridgewood, walked into the police station inside Village Hall just before 1 p.m. to complaint about a summons he had received earlier that day.
According to police, Boucher-Kerns “became very angry” inside the police station, and as he walked out, allegedly punched a wall next to an elevator.
17,000 Federal Employees Earned More Than $200K Last Year
See which agencies employ the federal workforce’s highest earners.
BY ERIC KATZ, GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
February 24, 2015 More than 16,900 federal employees took home in excess of $200,000 in base salary in 2014, according to a partial database of federal salary data.
The information, compiled by FedSmith.com using data from the Office of Personnel Management and other agencies, shows the annual compensation for every civilian federal worker, save those at the Defense Department. The number of workers earning more than $200,000 represented about 1.6 percent of employees on the list and is up from about 15,000 who cleared that salary in 2013. It also makes up a slightly higher percentage of the employees on this list.
Most of the high earners worked as medical officers at the Veterans Affairs Department. Other agencies that require a highly specialized workforce paid several employees at least $200,000; these included the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
More than 1,600 federal employees cleared $300,000 in base salary last year. Just two—VA doctors in Palo Alto, Calif., and Pittsburgh—took in more than $400,000.
All of these employees are paid on systems specific to their agency or occupation. Some of these systems have much higher pay caps than the General Schedule, which sets the salaries for the vast majority of federal employees and capped annual pay—before adjusting for locality—at just less than $130,000 last year.
‘Shocked’ by budget address, Sweeney and Senate Dems upbraid Christie’s pension plans
TRENTON — Senate Democrats, calling the Republican’s new proposal to overhaul the pension and benefit system a “some roadmap written on a cocktail napkin,” roundly condemned Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address today for failing to lay out a vision for the state’s economy and finances in 2016. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Assembly Dems question administration budget big on pension fixes but short on other issues
TRENTON — Assembly Democrats bashed Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address today for being heavy on talk about fixing a broken public pension and benefit system — but virtually nonexistent on anything else. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
PBA head challenges Christie to ‘look beyond presidential ambitions’ on pension front
Following up on an earlier statement clarifying that his organization would “never support freezing pensions for our members who have continued paying their required pension contributions while government has skipped their legal responsibility to do so,” the president of a major public sector union in New Jersey further distanced himself from Gov. Chris Christie’s new proposal to overhaul the state’s pension and benefit system. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Firefighter Rep Donnelly goes after NJEA leadership after Christie budget speech
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie won the support of key Building Trades unions’ reps in his first term by seizing on fractures between those private sector unions and public sector labor.
This afternoon, his budget address sparked a fight among public sector reps, as New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA) President Eddie Donnelly trained his immediate sights on the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
