The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting will be aired live on FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77. Or it may be viewed live via the district website atwww.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab.
Click here to view the agenda and addendum for the July 21, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the webcast of the July 21, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.
MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS – Saturday, August 2nd
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. The next session is Saturday, August 2nd .
For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.
“The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835).
Today we celebrate the works of Alexis de Tocqueville. He was born in France on July 29, 1805 and died on April 16, 1859.
In 1831 he and his lifelong friend, Gustave de Beaumont, visited America. Tocqueville was fascinated with American social and political life because of the difficulties France had developing institutions that favored liberty. When Tocqueville returned to France, he began writing Democracy in America, published in 1835. It is considered to be one of the best accounts of American systems and culture even today.
This Alarming Map of How Deep in Debt Americans Are Shows Us the Real Strength of Our ‘Recovery’
The USA Today published a map based on Urban Institute figures that give us a perfectly clear idea about how deep in debt Americans are.
According to the Urban Institute, as many as 35% of Americans are currently in debt collections. The USA Today reports that the 77 million people in debt collections owe an average of $5,200 in debt.
Accompanying this is a map of the average debt of each American by state:
Most of the debt being accumulated is due to the hangover of the housing market crisis, when the American people lost a third of their wealth. In addition, college students now owe a collective $1 trillion, the U.S. government currently owes $17.6 trillion, and future generations owe at least $100 trillion.
The states with the highest debt loads tend to be southern states, along with Washington D.C. and Nevada.
The U.S. government’s attempt to prevent voters from facing the consequences of their decisions is leading to an unsustainable economy. Our system is falling prey to the popular delusion that it is possible to maintain the American Dream without everyone having to work hard to achieve it.
Those citizens who are most willing to work hard to achieve the American Dream have to face a tough reality: the government is working as hard as they are to confiscate their earnings and to redistribute them.
The economy gets increasingly inefficient due to government intervention, and more debt is needed to patch it over. The cozy dream that massive debt can be prolonged in perpetuity is a comfortable one – one that is always followed by a rude awakening.
At what point do Americans look at debt for what it is: a sign that the current economic system isn’t working?
Average Price of Electricity Climbs to All-Time Record
July 29, 2014 – 2:20 PM
(CNSNews.com) – For the first time ever, the average price for a kilowatthour (KWH) of electricity in the United States has broken through the 14-cent mark, climbing to a record 14.3 cents in June, according to data released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Before this June, the highest the average price for a KWH had ever gone was 13.7 cents, the level it hit in June, July, August and September of last year.
The 14.3-cents average price for a KWH recorded this June is about 4.4 percent higher than that previous record.
Students at Deep Springs College in the California desert, near the Nevada border, where education involves ranching, farming, and self-governance in addition to academics
The Hi-Tech Mess of Higher Education
David Bromwich AUGUST 14, 2014 ISSUE
Ivory Tower
a film directed by Andrew Rossi
Andrew Rossi’s documentary Ivory Tower prods us to think about the crisis of higher education. But is there a crisis? Expensive gambles, unforeseen losses, and investments whose soundness has yet to be decided have raised the price of a college education so high that today on average it costs eleven times as much as it did in 1978. Underlying the anxiety about the worth of a college degree is a suspicion that old methods and the old knowledge will soon be eclipsed by technology.
Indeed, as the film accurately records, our education leaders seem to believe technology is a force that—independent of human intervention—will help or hurt the standing of universities in the next generation. Perhaps, they think, it will perform the work of natural selection by weeding out the ill-adapted species of teaching and learning. A potent fear is that all but a few colleges and universities will soon be driven out of business.
It used to be supposed that a degree from a respected state or private university brought with it a job after graduation, a job with enough earning power to start a life away from one’s parents. But parents now are paying more than ever for college; and the jobs are not reliably waiting at the other end. “Even with a master’s,” says an articulate young woman in the film, a graduate of Hunter College, “I couldn’t get a job cleaning toilets at a local hotel.” The colleges are blamed for the absence of jobs, though for reasons that are sometimes obscure. They teach too many things, it is said, or they impart knowledge that is insufficiently useful; they ask too much of students or they ask too little. Above all, they are not wired in to the parts of the economy in which desirable jobs are to be found.
This spring, Vermont passed a law requiring any food that includes genetically engineered ingredients – otherwise known as “GMOs” for “genetically modified organisms” – to carry a label. Vermont is the first state to pass such a law, but it likely won’t be the last. Oregon voters will decide on a similar measure in November and about 25 other states have proposed mandatory labeling legislation so far this year.
Proponents of the laws claim that the labels will lead to “informed consumers” making “better choices” about the foods they are eating. That sounds laudable. So what information will consumers actually find on the labels?
Will the labels inform you that approximately 80 percent of foods on grocery store shelves contain genetically engineered varieties of corn, soybeans and other fruits and vegetables? Despite the scariness of the term “GMO,” chances are you ate one for breakfast. People have eaten trillions of meals containing GMOs since farmers first pushed the first biotech seeds into the ground back in the mid-1990s. These foods haven’t caused a single ill health effect.
Will the labels point out that humans have been “genetically modifying” foods for centuries? Even something as familiar as sweet corn began as a wild grass-like plant that produced a few, tiny cob-like fruits. More than 5,000 years ago, Mesoamerican people began selecting and planting the seeds of the plants they preferred, discarding the rest. Our ancestors, without knowing anything about DNA or genes, were influencing changes in the genetic make-up of their food, making it tastier, more nutritious and easier to grow.
Today, scientists are using their understanding of genetics to make small and targeted improvements to the foods we eat. If you imagine that the genome of a plant is like a book, modern genetic engineering amounts to editing a few sentences to make it read better.
Will the labels tell you that farmers have rapidly adopted these engineered varieties because they are easier to grow and keep healthy in the field? Varieties of corn and cotton resistant to insects can be protected with fewer pesticides. Papayas and squash inoculated against nasty plant viruses don’t get sick and rot on the branch.
No, the labels won’t include any of these facts about GMOs. In fact, the labels won’t convey any actual information at all – just an intimidating warning that the product contains GMOs. So what’s their real purpose?
In an episode of Penn & Teller’s aptly named TV show “Bullsh*t!,” a woman gets a bunch of people to sign a petition to ban “dihydrogen monoxide.” Dihydrogen monoxide, of course, is just the scientific name for “water,” but for people who aren’t scientifically versed, the name isn’t informative. It just sounds scary.
The term “genetically modified organism” is as unfamiliar as “dihydrogen monoxide” and anti-GMO activists know that. The goal is not to inform consumers, but to frighten them away from buying something that is in reality as innocuous as water.
The activists’ long-term strategy is to achieve an outright ban on GMOs. As one prominent anti-GMO leader, Dr. Joseph Mercola, said: “Personally, I believe GM foods must be banned entirely, but labeling is the most efficient way to achieve this. Since 85 percent of the public will refuse to buy foods they know to be genetically modified, this will effectively eliminate them from the market just the way it was done in Europe.”
The anti-GMO fear-mongering is not based on science, but on the dogma that man should not “play God” by trying to improve nature – and that if he does, his hubris will lead ultimately to disaster. But there’s no evidence of this pending disaster, so activists have resorted to fear tactics and the strong arm of the government to drive people to reject a successful technology and the foods improved with it.
What really needs a warning label is the anti-GMO activists’ toxic, anti-technology stance. They pose an actual threat to people’s health.
Dr. Amanda Maxham holds a PhD in astrophysics and is a research associate for the Ayn Rand Institute where she writes and speaks about science-based policy issues. Follow her on Twitter @DrMaxham.
JULY 25, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014, 12:31 AM BY EILEEN LA FORGIA STAFF WRITER
The summer members’ show features a delightful array of quality works produced by professional and student members of the Ridgewood Art Institute, said instructor Diana Gibson. The show has paintings of summer florals and fruits and picturesque scenes of summer destinations.
“Still Life” by Diana Gibson”Portland Head Light” by Charles Brandenburg”Sweet Bouquet” by Kate Faust”Hereford Light” by Ed Horvath
“I’m always pleased with the quality of the work,” Gibson said.
There are approximately 60 artworks on display in the East Gallery.
The beauty of New England proved a popular theme to paint. On display are: Charles Brandenburg’s “Portland Head Light,” Marylyn Vanderpool’s “Morning Mist – Turbots Creek – Maine,” William Davies’ “Maine Channel,” William Capello’s “Portland Maine Lighthouse,” Ed Broussard’s “Quiet Harbor,” and Ed Hovah’s “Hereford Light.”
Summer scenes include: Marilyn Mason’s “Welcome to My Beach,” Roberts Oliver’s “Shadow Lake,” Kate Hall’s “First Light Brookdale Park,” Eileen McNally’s “Girl at Beach,” Joel Popadics’ “Spring Blooms,” John Osborne’s “Early Light” and Danielle Wexler’s “Mountain Laurel Habitat.”
Local scenes include: Lou Mastriani’s “Palisade,” Alfred Thomas’ “Autumn Palette,” and Luke Popadics’ “Skylands Garden.”
West Glen Avenue Train Trestle Painting Project – August 1
New Jersey Transit has notified the Village that their contractor for the painting of the West Glen Avenue Train Trestle is scheduled to start the project on or about Friday, August 1st.
Transit anticipates that the work will require alternating lanes of traffic (one lane closed to do the work). Each lane closure should take no more than 1.5 weeks, for a total of 3 weeks of lane restriction. Hours of work are scheduled to be 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Some Saturday work may be required to keep to the schedule.
The contractor will be using Ridgewood Police Officers for traffic control.
Scott Garrett Hosts Bipartisan Group of Business Leaders and members of Congress on the Fourth Anniversary of Dodd-Frank July 28,2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the Fourth Anniversary of Dodd-Frank Rep. Scott Garrett hosted three roundtable discussions with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress and key financial services leaders and CEOs. The purpose of our talks was simple: protect your retirement investments and ensure that all Americans can continue to invest in great businesses and ideas. The panelists offered their insights and the discussion was lively .
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises,had previously issued the following statement to mark the four year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act:
“It’s been four years since President Obama signed Dodd-Frank into law and our economy’s anemic growth since that time is just one example of why it is ineffective. In addition to holding back the economy, Dodd-Frank also puts unsuspecting American taxpayers on the hook for endless Wall Street bailouts. The sad news is that the consequences of this heavy-handed law continue to creep into every U.S. industry. Now more than ever, we need solutions that address the real issues behind the 2008 financial collapse, protect taxpayers, and ensure that the U.S. continues to have the most robust capital markets in the world.”
these heavy hitters are listed as attendees:
Fred Tomczyk, president and chief executive officer of TD Ameritrade
Edward T. Tilly, CEO, Chicago Board Options Exchange;
Matt Andresen, co-CEO, Headlands Technologies;
Daniel B. Coleman, CEO, Knight Capital Group;
Adam Nunes, president, Hudson River Trading;
Jamil Nazarali, head of Citadel Executions Services, Citadel Securities;
Doug Cifu, CEO, Virtu Financial;
Jamie Selway, managing director and head of electronic brokerage and sales, ITG;
Joseph Gawronski, president and COO, Rosenblatt Securities;
Brett Redfearn, head of market structure strategy, Americas, JPMorgan Chase Securities;
Jim Toes, president and CEO, Security Traders Association;
Kenneth Bentsen Jr., CEO, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA);
Bill Baxter, head of global program trading and market structure, Fidelity Management and Research, on behalf of the Investment Company Institute (ICI); and
Patrick Hickey, head of market structure, Optiver, on behalf of the FIA Principal Traders Group.
Jeff Sessions: House Border Bill Is a ‘Surrender To a Lawless President’
The Obama Administration has openly declared its plan to implement a unilateral executive amnesty for 5–6 million more illegal immigrants. This unlawful amnesty—urged on by congressional Democrats—would include work permits, taking jobs directly from millions of struggling American citizens.
Any action Congress might consider to address the current border crisis would be futile should the President go forward with these lawless actions. Congress must speak out and fight against them. It must use its spending power to stop the President’s executive amnesty.
That the House leaders’ border package includes no language on executive actions is surrender to a lawless President. And it is a submission to the subordination of congressional power.
After years of falling wages and rising joblessness, American workers are pleading for someone to hear them. How can it be that our President is brazenly advertising that he will nullify and strip away American workers’ immigration protections, and their own elected leaders will not rise to their defense? Or to the defense of our laws and our Constitutional order?
There are other grave concerns with the Granger package as well: because it does not fix our asylum rules and loopholes, the end result of the additional judges and hearings will be more illegal immigrants gaining asylum and access to U.S. welfare. It is a plan for expedited asylum, not expedited removal.
Nor will this package make our rogue President actively enforce anything, coming nowhere close to the kinds of reasonable enforcement activities needed to restore the interior application of our immigration laws.
And finally, a package that is silent on blocking amnesty creates an opportunity for Senate Democrats to add elements of their party’s open borders and mass immigration agenda.
Ridgewood Tobacco Owners Receive Coveted Davidoff’s Golden Band Award for “Industry Service”
Congratulations to our very own Gary Kolesaire for being presented with Davidoff’s Golden Band Award for “Industry Service”. This award was presented to Gary in Las Vegas at the Davidoff Golden Band Awards Dinner on July 21. Thank you Gary for all your hard work and for your constant love of our industry.
Home prices in region rise, but slower than national pace
JULY 29, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014, 12:06 PM BY KATHLEEN LYNN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
Home prices in the region rose 4.8 percent in May over a year earlier, slower than the 9.3 percent national increase, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index said Tuesday. Nationally, housing values continue to rebound after the deepest real estate bust in decades, but not as quickly as last year.
“Home prices rose at their slowest pace since February of last year,” says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Housing has been turning in mixed economic numbers in the last few months. Prices and sales of existing homes have shown improvement, while construction and sales of new homes continue to lag.”
Both nationally and in the New York metropolitan area, which includes North Jersey, the housing bust wiped out a decade’s worth of gains; single-family home values are now at the same level they were in summer 2004. Values in the region are about 20 percent below their peaks in mid-2006, while values nationally are about 18 percent below that peak.
In Bergen County, single-family home prices ticked down 0.3 percent in May from a year earlier, to a median $450,000. In Passaic, prices dropped 2.6 percent, to a median $285,000. These numbers are from the New Jersey Association of Realtors and are affected by the mix of properties sold in a given month. Case-Shiller does not break out price data by county but is considered a reliable measure because it measures the value of the same properties over time.
Home values in the region have not rebounded as strongly as national numbers because they didn’t fall as far during the housing bust. In addition, while the worst of the foreclosure crisis has passed in most of the nation, New Jersey is still dealing with distressed properties going through the process. Foreclosed properties tend to sell at a significant discount.
Homeownership falls to 19-year low amid credit crunch
JULY 29, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014, 10:46 AM THE RECORD
Bloomberg News
The homeownership rate in the U.S. fell to a 19-year low as rising prices and tight credit kept many first-time buyers out of the property market.
The share of Americans who own their homes was 64.7 percent in the second quarter, down from 64.8 percent in the previous three months, the Census Bureau said in a report today. The rate matched the level in the second quarter of 1995.
Housing has become less affordable and more difficult to finance for entry-level buyers, even as mortgage rates have held close to record lows. First-time purchasers accounted for 28 percent of all sales of previously owned homes in June, compared with about 40 percent historically, according to the National Association of Realtors.
“The first-time buyers are the ones who would be the net addition to homeownership,” Millan Mulraine, deputy head of U.S. research and strategy at TD Securities USA LLC in New York, said in an interview. “Those people, who are generally college grads or the ones who just got married, are not owning homes like they used to. Credit is tighter, they’re laden with student loans and their incomes are lower than they used to be.”
U.S. home prices increased 9.3 percent in the 12 months through May, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index released today.
The idea that Republicans would impeach President Obama is a “scam” perpetuated by Democrats, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Tuesday.
He accused Democrats of hyperbolizing talk of impeaching President Obama to boost their fundraising and turn out their base.
“It’s all a scam started by Democrats at the White House,” Boehner said at the weekly House GOP leadership press conference.
“This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president’s own staff and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they’re trying to rally their own people to give money and show up in this year’s elections,” Boehner said.
Boehner said the GOP does not intend to begin impeachment proceedings against Obama.
“We have no plans to impeach the president. We have no future plans,” Boehner said.
The comments went farther that Boehner has previously gone in knocking down an
