Storm Update as of 9:00 PM July 3,2014 Boyd A. Loving 9:08 PM
Reports from around Ridgewood –
Ridgewood NJ, The HoHoKus Brook has overflowed into the Graydon South parking lot, Vets Field, the RHS Athletic Field, and is beginning to encroach on the parking lot at the rear of Village Hall & the Ridgewood Public Library.
Several reports were received by Ridgewood PD that lawn chairs were seen floating down East Ridgewood Avenue into the intersection at Maple. Similar reports were received about chairs in the middle of the intersection of Franklin and North Maple Avenues.
Trees down on Corona Place, several motor vehicles were damaged.
Reports of tree limbs down on Waverley Place and Norman Drive.
No reports received yet about conditions along the Saddle River.
“Thank you berry much. Baseball been berry, berry good to me. Thank you. God bless you. Gracias!”
Ridgewood residents catch World Cup fever
JULY 2, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014, 2:35 PM BY LAURA HERZOG AND JODI WEINBERGER STAFF WRITERS
America’s dream of winning the World Cup was dashed on Tuesday when the team was eliminated 2-1 by Belgium. With no goals on either side until overtime, tension remained high through the last 15-minute halves of the game, with the hope that U.S. could tie it up and go to a shootout.
Although the bars might not have the same feverish soccer crowds now that the U.S. is not in the competition, there’s still at least one place in Ridgewood where spirits remain high.
At Heidi’s Finest Bavarian Bakery last Thursday, the pastries, tortes, cakes, and buns went unattended with all eyes on the flat screen TV on the back wall at the East Ridgewood Avenue eatery.
This was much the scene throughout the village as fans, and those new to the soccer bandwagon, united for 90 minutes to cheer on the United States players competing on the fields of Brazil.
It was a long shot for the U.S. to win against Germany on June 26, but despite a 1-0 defeat, the team advanced when Portugal ousted Ghana in a concurrent game.
Heidi’s owners Agron and Edita Sadikaj perched on stools behind the glass cases of German goods, Edita holding their daughter, Lorena, and Agron bouncing the almost 2-year-old Liron on his lap, while the toddler played peek-a-boo with an adult-sized Deutschland cap in the colors of the German flag: black, red and yellow.
Asked about her thoughts on the German team’s strong reputation, Edita Sadikaj said the Germans “started very early.” Germany takes on France in the quarterfinals on July 4.
“I think to the U.S., it’s kind of a new sport. It’s not so popular. [In Germany] it’s like football in the U.S.A,” she said.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/soccer-kicks-patriotic-passion-into-gear-1.1044793#sthash.dGmXA9cA.dpuf
The Sad Story of Obamacare: Reason’s In-Depth Treatment of the Health Care Fiasco That Won’t Go Away
J.D. Tuccille|Jul. 1, 2014 12:03 pm
It fills the headlines, it chills the public, it elevates your premiums, and it dogs hopes for decent health care coverage. That’s right, we’re talking about Obamacare—the government scheme that refuses to die, despite every sign that it’s doing itself in (and maybe taking us with it). Reason writers look at the history of this policy monstrosity, the laughable efforts by its promoters to make it palatable, and the deep flaws in the way it has been crafted and implemented.
Even better, we look at alternative approaches and innovations that promise better health care for the future. And we look at ways of presenting those alternatives to a public that wants care, but has certainly grown jaded about pie-in-the-sky promises.
TSA implementing ‘enhanced security measures’ on international flights
By Keith Laing – 07/02/14 03:34 PM EDT
The Department of Homeland Security has directed the Transportation Security Administration to implement “enhanced security measures” at overseas airports where planes fly directly to the United States amid concerns about potential summer terrorist attacks.
The announcement comes after military officials raised concerns about al Qaeda affiliated foreign fighters using Western passports to evade terrorist watch lists.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the agency would take steps to minimize the inconvenience to airline passengers as the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches.
Seasonal Water Restrictions – Stage 1 Restrictions Now in Effect
During the summer months, water use increases dramatically due to lawn and garden irrigation. Ridgewood Water strives to provide the maximum allowable amount of water. The supply is sometimes exceeded by the demand during hot and dry weather The excess demand lowers the reserves in storage tanks, jeopardizing the ability to fight fires..
June 1st – Stage 1 Water restrictions began and will continue to the end August.
Explanation of WATER RESTRICTIONS:
Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV emergency regulations shall become effective upon declaration of each stage by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood. Stage I shall become effective without such declaration on June 1 of each year and shall remain in effect through August 31 of that year except for any period where Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV emergency regulations are declared. Exceptions to the user restrictions, such as for irrigation of newly planted lawns or shrubs, for cleaning cars or houses, for filling swimming pools or other such outdoor water usage, shall be determined by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood or a Village of Ridgewood employee designated by the Village Manager. Use of any private well shall be exempt from these regulations, provided that said well is first registered with the local Health Authority.
Stage I Moderate Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand held hose.
II Severe Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand held hose. Irrigation using a hand held hose shall be allowed at any time.
III Pending/Critical Mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
IV Critical Irrigation is prohibited at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand held hose may be allowed under conditions prescribed by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood.
Ridgewood’s Fourth of July festivities to highlight Star-Spangled Banner
JUNE 30, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014, 11:27 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner, Ridgewood’s Fourth of July festivities will kick off with a version of the song not usually heard – all four verses – and an interpretive dance accompaniment.
When the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee approached Yendi Anderson, secretary for the Ridgewood Division of Engineering, about singing the National Anthem, dancing was not part of the deal.
But the village employee said her research of the song’s history moved her to perform the music as well.
In 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write what would become the National Anthem as he watched the 15-star, 15-stripe American flag fly over Fort McHenry in the aftermath of an attack of the Baltimore harbor during the War of 1812.
“Some of the soldiers that were held were praying that the flag would never touch the ground,” Anderson said, retelling what she had learned. “When some of the soldiers died, others would come and keep the flag up. It’s a very, very powerful story … and some things are better expressed through dance.”
Ridgewood residents stake out seats for July 4 parade
JUNE 30, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD Print
Folding chairs have begun lining the curbs of Ridgewood, which can mean only one thing: The Fourth of July is just around the corner.
A tradition for village residents, the annual marking of one’s territory along the July Fourth parade route starts two weeks in advance of the holiday.
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the people and events surrounding its composition, will be remembered this year, with the anthem serving as the parade’s theme.
In addition, the Ridgewood Historical Society will display a copy of a Currier and Ives print titled “The Star Spangled Banner” in the Schoolhouse Museum as part of the festivities.
While the parade is free, the annual fireworks display at Veterans Memorial Field that evening is not.
Ridgewood students, educators trying to find a way through the pressure
JULY 1, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014, 3:22 PM BY LAURA HERZOG STAFF WRITER
This past school year, Ridgewood High School (RHS) Assistant Principal Jeff Nyhuis dealt with a surprising problem.
He had to work with sports coaches to block out unscheduled time – during the summer. Some families have children playing so many summer sports, it’s a struggle for them to find time to vacation.
“It ends up encompassing the whole summer, so no one can really get away,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”
It’s just one more indication of the P-word: Pressure. It’s a well-known word in Ridgewood.
And it’s a word that Ridgewood’s recent graduates, and RHS’ upcoming juniors and seniors, will learn even more about in the future as they struggle to stand out in a world that can be far more competitive and demanding than RHS. Some concerned educators and parents worry about RHS students who are already struggling too much to be the best in everything, working harder but not necessarily smarter, and sometimes forgetting to enjoy what they are doing.
In recent years, some concerned parents and educators have been fighting back against sources of stress (facing adults, as well as children), and this year was no exception. On the other hand, some parents and educators point out that pressure itself is not bad; challenge and competition can motivate and ready students for a tough world, they observe.
Rep. Louie Gohmert: US Will Become ‘Third World Nation’ If Feds Don’t Enforce Immigration Laws
July 1, 2014 9:50 AM
WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, warns that the United States will become a third world nation if the federal government does not enforce its immigration laws.
Speaking to “The Sean Hannity Show,” the Republican lawmaker said the country will be destroyed if the U.S. continues to allow thousands of immigrants to cross the border illegally.
“You’ve got to follow the law. You cannot bring hundreds of thousands of people in this country without destroying the country,” Gohmert told Hannity. “Then there’s no place that people can dream about coming.”
Gohmert stated that it’s the government’s job to defend the U.S. “against anybody that would overwhelm the country and bring it down.”
“It’s always been such an irony, though, that people would flee a country that’s got … drug cartels, people that ignore the law, or bribe people to look the other way,” Gohmert said. “So they don’t have jobs there so they come to the United States because we’ve mostly been a nation of laws where the rule of law matters. But then once they are here, they say now we want you to ignore the rule of law, which ironically is like the country they came from.”
Land of the free? Not so much. Americans’ sense of freedom drops, poll finds.
Americans are feeling ‘less satisfied with the freedom to choose what to do with their lives,’ according to a Gallup poll. The trend could be linked to a perceived rise in corruption.
By Gram Slattery, Staff writer
This Independence Day, Americans will celebrate the nation’s core values, especially freedom. But according to a new international poll, Americans have become significantly “less satisfied with the freedom to choose what they want to do with their lives.”
Seventy-nine percent of US residents are satisfied with their level of freedom, down from 91 percent in 2006, according to the Gallup survey, released Tuesday.
That 12 point drop pushes the US from among the highest in the world in terms of perceived freedom to 36th place, outside the top quartile of the 120 countries sampled, trailing Paraguay, Rwanda, and the autonomous region of Nagarno-Karabakh.
New Jersey’s Chris Christie Vows to Persevere on Pension Reform
Gov. Chris Christie said he would propose an overhaul to the state’s pension and health benefits system later this summer, revisiting an issue that burnished his national political image in 2011 but challenged him this spring when he scaled back promised funding. (Dawsey, Haddon/The Wall Street Journal)
U.S. Supreme Court: Religious rights trump birth control rule
WASHINGTON — A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that some companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, the first time the high court has declared that businesses can hold religious views under federal law. (Sherman/The Bergen Record)
Governor Chris Christie Promises New PARCC Approach Jul. 01 Chris Christie, Common Core, Education no comments By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Both sides of the aisle have big problems with Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing, Save Jerseyans, so during an under-reported exchange at last week’s town hall meeting in Haddon Heights, Governor Chris Christie told a teacher participant that he’d pitch a fresh proposal to address those concerns in 7-10 days.
The stakes are growing as the landscape darkens. New Jersey is facing extreme fiscal pressure as another budget fails to meet basic obligations without borrowing, and the Republican 2016 prospect is hoping to roll out a new pension and benefits reform package soon, too, all while presidential speculation and Bridgegate rumors keep Trenton on edge and his Administration off-balance.
What would a new approach to PARCC/Common Core even look like? Here’s what he had to say…
