Ridgewood BOE to decide on eliminating school budget vote
Wednesday November 13, 2013, 9:48 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Board of Education (BOE) will be voting to keep or eliminate the April school budget vote at its next meeting on Nov. 18, forgoing a previously discussed telephone poll to gauge public opinion.
Although three BOE members last month expressed an interest in the poll, all trustees were in agreement at last week’s meeting that the poll was not worth the cost of a few thousand dollars.
“We do have in place and will continue to have in place a very vigorous budget process,” said BOE Vice President Vince Loncto. “The question is so nuanced that it’s inappropriate for a telephone poll.”
Trustee Jim Morgan agreed, noting that the BOE had already discussed the issue for “three or four meetings.”
741 New Jerseyans enrolled in health exchange plans in first month
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Last updated: Thursday November 14, 2013, 12:25 AM
BY COLLEEN DISKIN AND BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
Fewer than 750 New Jersey residents and about 106,000 people nationwide have enrolled in a health insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act — lackluster numbers that are sure to fuel critics’ attempts to rollback key provisions of the nation’s new health care law.
Millions of individuals nationwide have tried to access the trouble-plagued federal website to shop for insurance, but many have been stymied by technical glitches. In New Jersey, only 23,000 applications – which would cover about 42,000 people — were filed by residents seeking individual or family policies. But just 741 of those applicants have chosen specific health coverage, a necessary step to complete the enrollment process, according to a report released Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There are some 900,000 residents in the state that are uninsured and must get coverage or face a fine.
Bergen County Executive race begins with Yudin’s silence; Donovan is ‘definitely running’
HACKENSACK – The opening words of the 2014 Bergen County Executive race were few, but spoke volumes.
“I do not wish to comment on that race at this time,” Bergen County Republican Chairman Bob Yudin told PolitickerNJ.com when asked about GOP incumbent Kathleen Donovan’s chances next November. “I won’t even talk to you on background.”
The fact that the normally-voluble Yudin did not immediately defend the top of his party’s ticket for the next election appears counter-intuitive unless the Gordian knot that is Bergen Republican politics is considered.
Donovan and Yudin have been longtime rivals for control of the Bergen Republicans, a battle magnified by the fact that Bergen, New Jersey’s most populous county, is seen as the bellwether county in statewide elections. The flak between the two was evident three months ago, when Donovan, the county’s top Republican elected officeholder, was not listed on the host committee set to greet Gov. Chris Christie at a Bergen County Republican Organization fundraiser in August. (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
TRENTON — Hey, you at the stoplight. Yeah you, reading this article on your cell phone. Put down the phone.
State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) is looking to expand the state’s law against talking and text messaging while driving to include drivers who are temporarily stopped in traffic jams, at red lights or stop signs.
Codey proposed the legislation (S3057) last week. It would also require the written driver’s license test to include questions on distracted driving.
“Under the current driving law, if you’re at a red light and you’re drunk, you’re DUI,” Codey said.
The real aim, Codey said, is to put New Jersey in line with federal standards for the Distracted Driving Grant Program, so the state can get federal money to combat distracted driving. Because the state’s current law does not include them, it would not currently be eligible for the grant. (Friedman/Star-Ledger)
Desperate Democrat Sen. Kay Hagan calls for ObamaCare probe
Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) will ask two oversight agencies for a full-blown investigation into the problems surrounding the ObamaCare launch.
Hagan, who is up for reelection in 2014, is asking her Senate colleagues to co-sign a letter asking two agencies to conduct “a complete, thorough investigation to determine the causes of the design and implementation failures of HealthCare.Gov.”
“These problems are simply unacceptable, and Americans deserve answers and swift solutions,” Hagan writes in a letter obtained by The Hill. “Taxpayers are owed a full and transparent accounting of how the vendors contracted to build the site failed to launch it successfully.”
The letter, which is in draft form and could be changed, is addressed to the Government Accountability Office and the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Obama’s $10.10 Minimum Wage Would Fundamentally Change America
It’s official, people: the President supports increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour from its current $7.25. Such a move would drastically alter the lives of the country’s working poor.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama announced his support for legislation introduced by two Democratic senators that, if passed, would mark the first significant increase to the federal minimum wage in more than four years. Obama’s statements showed that he’s ready to go farther than his February proposal to push the minimum wage to $9, which many criticized as not a significant enough boost.
A leap to $10.10, however, could be enough to push a large number of the working poor — a group defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as those who fall below the poverty line despite working (or searching for work) at least 27 weeks per year — out of poverty.
A $10.10 minimum wage would have pushed more than half — 58 percent — of the nation’s 10 million-plus working poor out of poverty in 2011, according to a June study by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, an advocacy group focusing on the restaurant industry. (Prices have risen since 2011, so a $10.10 minimum wage would not have quite as much purchasing power today as it would have back then)
“Here’s the bottom line,” U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez said Friday. “No one who works a full time job should have to live in poverty.” (Strachan/Huffington Post)
JERSEY CITY — Members of New Jersey’s Filipino community are mobilizing to raise money and help send aid to their homeland after it was hit last week by a typhoon.
Donation boxes had cropped up by Monday on counters at Filipino businesses throughout Jersey City’s Little Manila neighborhood, home to about 16,000 of New Jersey’s estimated 100,000 Filipinos.
Bea Sabino, a Filipina community organizer, said the biggest need is money because it’s too difficult to get goods to the Philippines quickly.
Although people have been dropping off food, clothing and other supplies at various locations, organizers say past experience has shown a lack of good infrastructure in the Philippines makes sending goods there quickly very difficult. (Associated Press)
Left wants challenger for Hillary Clinton
By Alexander Bolton – 11/12/13 06:00 AM EST
Liberal leaders want Hillary Clinton to face a primary challenge in 2016 if she decides to run for president.
The goal of such a challenge wouldn’t necessarily be to defeat Clinton. It would be to prevent her from moving to the middle during the Democratic primary.
“I do think the country would be well served if we had somebody who would force a real debate about the policies of the Democratic Party and force the party to debate positions and avoid a coronation,” said Roger Hickey, co-director of Campaign for America’s Future, an influential progressive group.
It’s been more than five years since then-Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) stunned Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. At the time, segments of the left lambasted her support of the Iraq war. Now, the wariness is on domestic policies. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/189919-left-wants-challenger-for-hillary
Ricky Martin and Brian Kilmeade will sign books at Bookends this Week
Ricky Martin ,Wednesday, November 13th @ 6:00pm
International Superstar, Ricky Martin, will sign his new book: Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars
Books available November 12th *Books will be available in both English and Spanish*
Brian Kilmeade ,Thursday, November 14th @ 7:00pm
Co-host of Fox & Friends, Brian Kilmeade, will sign his new book: George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution Books available Nov 5th
Co-host of Fox & Friends, BRIAN KILMEADE, will sign his new book: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S SECRET SIX ($27.95). Books available: November 5th.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt. Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change. 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
Ridgewood Police report a rash of car break ins and petty thefts
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report a rash of car break ins and petty thefts. On November 6, 2013 a Concord Road resident reported that his garage had been entered in the past and a bicycle was stolen. The matter is under investigation.
On November 7, 2013 a Ridgewood High School student reported that his vehicle was vandalized while it was parked in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot. The matter is under investigation.
On November 8, 2013 an Alpine Terrace resident reported that the vehicles in the driveway had been vandalized. The matter is under investigation.
On November 9, 2013 a John Street resident reported that his car window was broken and a radar detector was stolen. The matter is under investigation.
All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Electrical fire destroys facade of Ridgewood office building
November 13,2013
Boyd A. Loving
9:52 AM
Ridgewood NJ, A smoky “all hands” blaze sparked by a electrical short circuit destroyed a wooden facade of an office building (Gilsenan and Company, (201) 445-1600) located at 219 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood shortly after 9 AM on Wednesday morning. No one was injured in the blaze and Ridgewood firefighters had it completely extinguished within 30 minutes.
Traffic in both directions of East Ridgewood Avenue between Maple Avenue and Cottage Place remains blocked to all traffic while crews work to clean up debris left behind from the blaze and apply rock salt to portions of the street where water from fire hoses froze. Fire officials at the scene reported light smoke damage to interior portions of the building. Ridgewood EMS and Emergency Services Units provided assistance at the scene.
Ridgewood Council considers traffic measures for Walnut Street
Tuesday November 12, 2013, 10:18 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Survey results recently returned by North Walnut Street residents indicated that speeding vehicles are a concern in front of their homes, but certain preventative measures such as a double yellow line in the middle of the road would be an unwelcomed solution. The Ridgewood Council, however, will instead opt for a partial, single yellow line added to the street on a trial basis.
The single line, commonly known as a “tail,” will be painted from the stop bar at the street’s stop intersections and extend for approximately 50 feet. Similar lines already exist at those stop intersections, but those are shorter in length and fading.
Readers Make Suggestion to the PD to save on Gas Money
Readers Make Suggestion to the PD to save on Gas Money
Save gas money. Lets get the ’2 post’ officer back walking the beat.
Yup. Beat cops would be more effective in spotting bad driving during rush hour: failing to yield, texting, etc.
Perhaps they could shut off their engines for the extended idling times. If they are concerned about non-starting for emergencies a regular maintenance schedule should take care of that. Has a Ridgewood PD car ever not started? Idling wastes a lot of gas & it pollutes the environment. Whatever happened to the bicycle force?
Ridgewood Council rejects idea to move municipal election to November
Tuesday November 12, 2013, 10:18 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Fretted by the thought of getting lost in the middle of a presidential or other large vote, council members passed on the idea of moving Ridgewood’s municipal election from May to November.
The notion was brought to Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh’s attention by two members of the Ridgewood Board of Education, which is currently exploring a move from April to November elections. The councilwoman opened the conversation last week and presented her colleagues with a sample ballot from Mahwah Township, which recently switched from spring to autumn elections.
Some council members expressed concern that many residents might confuse ballot positioning with political party affiliation – Ridgewood’s governing body is comprised of non-partisan members. Pucciarelli also suggested that despite consistent low voter turnout, residents who go to the polls in May are focused solely on the local election.
TYLER CLEMENTI FOUNDATION TO HOST THE 2013 UPSTANDER LEGACY CELEBRATION
November 12, 2013
Tyler Clementi Foundation will proudly honor Bruce Cohen,Dr. Paul Boskind, and Prudential Financial on November 18th
Ridgewood, N.J. –Co-Chairs Alan Cumming and David Mixner along with the Clementi Family will host the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s first annual Upstander Legacy Celebration on Monday, November 18th, 2013.
Taking place in the New York Times building’s Conference Center, overlooking Tyler’s home state of New Jersey, the event will honor Bruce Cohen, Oscar-winning producer of American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playback and Big Fish on Broadway, Dr. Paul Boskind, renowned psychologist, activist, and Tony-winning producer of The Normal Heart, and financial services leader Prudential Financial for its continued support of the LGBT community in and out of the workplace.
“Over the past year we have made epic strides to connect the issues that impacted Tyler with relevant partnerships and programs, allowing us to continue a conversation
amongst families, educators, legislators and faith leaders for the benefit of all youth”
said Executive Director Steven Guy. “We are thrilled to take a moment to celebrate how far we have come, and to honor the leaders and partners who join the Foundation in its dedication to creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBT youth, vulnerable youth and their allies.”
Joining co-chairs Alan Cumming and David Mixner, film and Broadway star Zachary Quinto and Broadway’s Tony-nominated Bobby Steggert of Ragtime and Big Fish fame will present the Upstander Legacy Award to Bruce Cohen. The evening will also feature a performance by the all-male string quartet Well-Strung. Proceeds from the
event will allow the Tyler Clementi Foundation to continue their vital work changing
hearts and minds at all levels of society., 2013
About the Tyler Clementi Foundation: The Tyler Clementi Foundation (TCF)is a registered 501(c)3 founded in 2011. The foundation promotes safe, inclusive
and respectful social environments in homes, schools, campuses, churches and the
digital world for vulnerable youth, LGBT youth and their allies. Through educational
partnerships, research, public dialogue and awareness programs, TCF fosters empathetic,constructive discussions of respect and dignity for youth and families at all levels of society. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit www.tylerclementi.org.
About Prudential: Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader,
has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s
diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional
customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services,
including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and
investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood
for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more
information, please visit https://www.news.prudential.com/.
