Civility in Public Discourse – Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30PM
The Village of Ridgewood will host a panel discussion on “Civility in Public Discourse” on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30pm at the Ridgewood Public Library.
Panelists will include Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood; Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group; Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department; Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official; James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive.
The facilitator for the discussion will be David Fine, Rabbi, Temple Israel. “This panel discussion will provide a good opportunity to take our conversation about civility to the next level,” explained Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn. “These community leaders each offer an important perspective, and we are fortunate to have this chance to engage them in such a meaningful way.” The event will be open to the public. WHAT: Panel Discussion on Civility in Public Discourse WHEN: Tuesday, February 24 7:30p to 9:00p WHERE: Ridgewood Public Library 125 North Maple Avenue, WHO: Panelists Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive Facilitator David Fine, Rabbi, Temple Israel HOW: Remarks by panelists, followed by questions / answers.
Ridgewood High School Wrestling senior reaches 100 career victories
FEBRUARY 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — Over the course of four seasons, Nick Saglimbeni’s role on the Ridgewood High School wrestling team has changed. His goal — to win matches — has remained the same.
Ridgewood’s Nick Saglimbeni became the fourth wrestler in program history to reach the 100-win plateau.
The Maroons senior picked up his 100th win on the mat in an 8-5 decision versus Bridgewater-Raritan on Jan. 31, becoming just the fourth wrestler in Ridgewood history to reach the mark, joining all-time wins leader Joe Oliva (Class of 2014), Brandon Giovanetti (2012) and Mark Romeo (2002).
“It was definitely always a goal of mine, especially since freshman year when I got in the lineup and started winning matches,” the senior said Tuesday night.
Back in his debut season, Saglimbeni thrived as the only freshman on the varsity squad in 2011-12, earning All-County honorable mention and Big North Freedom Division first-team accolades at 113 pounds.
The Glen Rock Police Department released a photo of the suspect on its Facebook page.
Breaking News Glen Rock Bank Robbed in Broad Daylight
February 18,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, Glen Rock Savings was robbed at gun point this morning at 10:45 am . Sources describe that a women in a pink wig ,armed with a gun and an LV ( Louis Vuitton ) bag robbed the Glen Rock Savings of $116,000 on 183 Rock Road. No one was hurt.
FBI agents as well as officers from Glen Rock, Ridgewood and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
Those with information about the robbery are asked to call Glen Rocj Det. James Calaski at (201) 670-3948 or Det. Sgt Eric Reamy at (201) 670-3947.
U.S. Congress questions plan to admit Syrian refugees
BY MARK HOSENBALL
WASHINGTON Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:03pm EST
(Reuters) – The Republican-led House Committee on Homeland Security is challenging an Obama administration plan to admit Syrian refugees to the United States, saying it could allow potential terrorists to sneak into the country.
In a letter sent to the White House, Michael McCaul, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee and Peter King and Candice Miller, who chair subcommittees, said the administration’s plan “raises serious national security concerns.”
The letter, dated Wednesday, said the United States lacks the resources to fully investigate the backgrounds of refugees fromSyria, a base for Islamic State militants, before they are admitted to the country.
Anne Richard, an Assistant Secretary of State, said on Dec. 9 that the United States resettled nearly 70,000 refugees from nearly 70 countries in 2013 and that the administration’s refugee plans would lead to “resettling Syrians as well.”
Nayeon Park from George Washington Middle School Among the Winners Announced for Third Annual Adolescent Immunization Awareness Contest
Middle School and High School Winners of the Annual Protect Me With 3+ Video and Poster Contest Promote Vaccine Awareness
Newark, NJ – February 13, 2015 – The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health, today announced the winners for the third annual Protect Me With 3+ adolescent immunization awareness video and poster contest. The winning entries can be viewed at https://protectmewith3.com.
Video Contest Winners:
1st place: Timothy Smith, Samantha Tracy and Liam Keller from Cherokee High School located in Marlton, New Jersey (Burlington County, Flu).
2nd place: Emily Churak from Henry Hudson Regional located in Highlands, New Jersey (Monmouth County, Flu).
3rd place: Gavriel Epstein from Torah Academy of Bergen County located in Teaneck, New Jersey (Bergen County, Tdap).
Poster Contest Winners:
1st place: Nayeon Park from George Washington Middle School located in Ridgewood, New Jersey (Bergen County, Tdap).
2nd place: Virendra Ghate from Terrill Middle School located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey (Union County, Flu).
3rd place: Sophia Iacona, Margot Rizzi and Paris Mercurio from Terrill Middle School located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey (Union County, MCV4).
Classroom Winners
Poster: Patricia Selby from Terrill Middle School located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey (Union County).
Video: James Gregg from Henry Hudson Regional located in Highlands, New Jersey (Monmouth County).
The top three winners in the poster and video categories received prizes and the opportunity for their submissions to be distributed during statewide immunization awareness activities.
In its third year, the Protect Me With 3+ contest increases awareness about the importance of four adolescent immunizations: tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap), human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) and influenza.
“The Protect Me With 3+ contest offers a unique opportunity for New Jersey residents to learn about the importance of adolescent vaccinations. We are very happy with this year’s winners, as their efforts have helped to raise public health awareness,” commented Ilise Zimmerman, Executive Director, of Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey.
The poster contest was open to New Jersey students in grades 5-8, while students in grades 9-12 were eligible to participate in the video contest. The public voted for their favorite entries from January 24, 2015 through February 8, 2015.
Honorable Mentions
Finalists in each category were also honored at the awards ceremony held at the West Windsor Public Library on February 12, 2015. The two video finalists were group entries by Ian McBride and Dominic Capasso, and Adam Danzger, Dana Tsipenyuk, Avital Rubinchik and Julia Pak. The two poster finalists were group entries by Justin Rizzi and Rachel Schuman, and Julia Zucosky, Colette Franciscus, Zoe Rouder and Carly Dvorin.
About the Organizers
The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). Its mission is to improve the health of women, children, and families. The Partnership has more than 20 years of experience mounting community-based, consumer-friendly and culturally competent educational programs to parents, caregivers, pregnant women and individuals of child-bearing age. For more information visit: https://partnershipmch.org/
To learn more about vaccinations, please visit the Department of Health’s website: https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/imm.shtml
FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 9:49 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 9:49 PM
BY HUGH R. MORLEY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
As the state pours billions of dollars in business tax breaks into programs aimed at strengthening New Jersey’s struggling economy, it has put the brakes on another incentive program, leaving hundreds of companies without promised payments that could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Seeking to balance the state budget over the last few years, the Christie administration and the Legislature have each slashed funding for the Business Employment Incentive Program, commonly referred to as BEIP, eliminating payments to companies that were promised annual income tax rebate checks in return for moving to New Jersey or expanding here.
The affected businesses range from HighRoad Press — a small printing company that was promised $345,000 over 10 years for its move from Manhattan to Moonachie — to retail giant Bed Bath & Beyond, which is owed $2.8 million for creating jobs in 2012 and 2013. Paying out the money from these awards — estimated at $650 million according to one state estimate — would seem out of reach without an unexpected massive boost in state revenues. The state stopped awarding new grants under the program in 2013.
New Jersey’s new test for third-graders tough even for reporter
FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 9:44 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 9:46 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
With two weeks to go before New Jersey schoolchildren face new tests that have sparked outrage and panic in some parents and teachers, it fell to me as The Record’s education reporter to determine if these exams are as tough as they have been made out to be.
As a parent of a third-grader, I had an added incentive for getting an early look at the source of all the angst – both the English and math tests that are going to be given to third-graders.
I talked to experts, educators and parents to get their opinions, and I took the test myself to see how I would do — first with about 50 educators and parents at a forum on taking the test, then at the office, answering multiple-choice questions, typing short answers on a computer and writing an essay.
It wasn’t a cakewalk. The 13 third-grade practice questions in English language arts and the 17 questions in math were challenging, and the answers were almost never obvious. Still, I’m happy to report that all my hair is still intact on my head, I did not dissolve into tears, and I got all but a few answers right. Although to be fair, I’m not in third grade.
The new tests will be given to students in Grades 3-11 beginning in March. They are the result of New Jersey adopting new standards of what students should know at each grade level. The exams are designed to be more rigorous than previous tests, but they will not count against students until 2019, when they become a graduation requirement for 11th-graders.
Ridgewood moving ahead with pay-by-phone parking option
FEBRUARY 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 10:05 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The first wave of new parking ordinances designed to help downtown Ridgewood was introduced at the Village Council’s public meeting on Feb. 11.
An ordinance establishing regulations for paying parking meters through a wireless cellular provider, as well as the fees associated with using cell phone technology, is scheduled for adoption on March 11.
The council also passed a resolution authorizing an agreement with Parkmobile USA for a pay-by-phone parking system to be installed in various locations across the village.
One resident, Diane Palacios, said she is very cautious with her credit card and would not feel comfortable using it in conjunction with Parkmobile, especially at the Route 17 Park & Ride, which she said she occasionally uses.
Palacios suggested that kiosks, which can accept both cash and credit cards, be installed at the Park & Ride instead of going completely wireless to alleviate concerns with seniors who may not be comfortable with using their cell phone to pay for parking.
Ridgewood Sanitation Services During Snow and Icy Weather
Dear E-Notice Residents,
Due to the recent snow and ice conditions we are requiring that for the foreseeable future your sanitation containers have to be placed on the curb, by the driveway, for pick up. Last week we tried a hybrid approach in telling residents that we would continue rear yard pick-up if the driveways were free and clear of snow and ice. Unfortunately this caused some confusion. We also had four accidents last week of our staff falling and two needing to go to the hospital.
I know that for me personally this morning there was snow and ice on my driveway which was not there last evening. We placed our garbage out by the curb. The sanitation workers come around early during the coldest portion of the day. There are municipalities that suspend rear yard pick-up for the entire season for this reason. We would prefer to keep the services at a normal level whenever possible.
Once we resume normal pick-up we will send E-Notices as well as post to our website.
The White House is facing mounting skepticism that its high-profile summit on violent extremism this week will help to counter a rising tide of radicalism, as world leaders search for a response to another wave of attacks, in Denmark and Libya.
The summit, to be held in Washington, will draw high-level officials from more than 60 countries and will focus on how to stave off the kind of political and socio-economic exclusion that drives marginalised groups into the hands of terror groups, senior administration officials said on Monday.
Plans for the three-day summit, which have been in the works for months, took on greater urgency after Islamist extremists killed 17 people in Paris last month, starting with an assault on the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.
Over the weekend, a gunman in Copenhagen opened fire at a free-speech event at a cultural centre and synagogue, killing two people, while on Sunday fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or Isis, claimed they had killed up to 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians they were holding in the central Libyan city of Sirte.
Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai declared that President Obama’s plan to regulate the Internet, coupled with potential FEC regulations would be “pretty dangerous” on Monday’s “Sean Hannity Show.”
When asked how a website like the Drudge Report would be impacted, Pai stated “there’s not much within the four corners of the document that hint at anything regarding content. What I can tell you is one my friends over at the Federal Election Commission, Lee Goodman has been outspoken about the fact that some of the commissioners there are very interested in looking at content online that, in their view, shapes the political discourse. And so if you pair what the FCC is doing in terms of the Internet’s infrastructure, and what the FEC might do in terms of the Internet’s content, you see a pretty dangerous combination in terms of government control over not just what we say, but how we say it.”
Regarding the impact of the plan on Internet users, he declared “bills for broadband are going to go up, this order opens the door to a vast array of federal and state fees because it’s going to be treating the Internet, for the first time, essentially as telephone service…Secondly, it’s going to mean that the speeds that your listeners use—the speeds your listeners get when they’re accessing the Internet are going to slow down because obviously these networks don’t build themselves. The private sector has to take the risk and invest the capital to build those networks and if they know the FCC’s going to micromanage them every step of the way, they’re going to be less likely to build some of those high-speed connections,” and that the regulations would lead to “much less competition” over the long term.
Hoboken blogger to seek legal fees, may pursue libel charges after defamation lawsuit dismissal
HOBOKEN – One of the Hoboken-based bloggers who saw a defamation case filed against her dismissed last week will seek legal fees from the plaintiffs, and could pursue libel charges against a Hudson County weekly newspaper’s coverage of the case. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Benefit set for repairs to historic Ridgewood church hit by gunfire
FEBRUARY 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015, 7:43 AM
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — A benefit concert has been organized to fund much-needed repairs to the Old Paramus Reformed Church after more than 40 bullets were fired into the building in December.
The church’s choir will perform at the concert 3 p.m. Sunday, along with a brass ensemble and four soloists.
Parishioners were stunned in late December upon discovering some 40 bullet holes puncturing the historic house of worship, which was constructed on Ridgewood’s East Glen Avenue in the 1800s.
“People are still sort of scratching their heads about it, wondering why,” said the Rev. Robert Miller, the church’s pastor. “The community’s not used to this sort of thing.”
Police arrested cousins Joseph Galli, 21, of Somerville and Alex Norrell, 22, of Ridgewood last month for shooting up the church on Nov. 16 and Dec. 26.
Authorities said they believe the men used the church as a target only because it is convenient and isolated from other buildings.
Judge blocks Obama order on immigration
February 17, 2015, 06:15 am
By Ben Kamisar and Kyle Balluck
A federal judge late Monday temporarily blocked President Obama’s executive action designed to shield millions of immigrants from deportation.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen wrote that 26 states that filed a lawsuit against the action would “suffer irreparable harm” without a preliminary injunction and that the constitutional question must be decided before the administration can move forward with its plans.
“Once these services are provided, there will be no effective way of putting the toothpaste back in the tube should Plaintiffs ultimately prevail on the merits,” Hanen wrote
The president’s executive actions on immigration, announced last November, would delay deportations for millions of undocumented immigrants and provide them with the opportunity to apply for work permits. The first part of those policies, the deportation delay, had been set to go into effect Wednesday. The rest are expected to begin later this year.
