Reader says the Brogan has demonstrated willful blindness to the obvious issues related to such a construction project.
The issue does have something to do with education since it impacts the nearby schools and the safety and comfort of Ridgewood students. Yes, it’s ultimately up to the Village Council and Planning Board but the BOE had a chance to weigh in and Brogan has demonstrated willful blindness to the obvious issues related to such a construction project. This is highly suspicious given the huge conflicts of interests Valley’s sponsorships create.’ I didn’t write in hopes of replacing a board member’s job but I do expect they uphold their responsibility and duty to do what’s best in the interest of the schools and students. It would be interesting to see where the individual board members stand on some of these issues but that is conveniently being held from the voting public.
Kudlow: Liberal entitlement-state dream is crumbling
Published: Friday, 1 Nov 2013 | 6:25 PM ET
By: Larry Kudlow | “The Kudlow Report” Anchor
May I ask this question? Why is it that Americans don’t have the freedom to choose their own health insurance? I just don’t get it. Why must the liberal nanny state make decisions for us? We can make them ourselves, thank you very much. It’s like choosing a car, buying a home or investing in a stock. We can handle it.
So why must the government tell me and everyone else what we can and cannot buy?
Charles Krauthammer and the Wall Street Journal’s Dan Henninger noted in excellent recent columns that this whole Obamacare business represents the greatest-ever expansion of the liberal entitlement-state dream. But I don’t want that dream. And you shouldn’t either.
(Read more: When insurers drop policies: Three stories)
Here’s what else I don’t want: As a 60-something, relatively healthy person, I don’t want lactation and maternity services, abortion services, speech therapy, mammograms, fertility treatments or Viagra. I don’t want it. So why should I have to tear up my existing health-care plan, and then buy a plan with far more expensive premiums and deductibles, and with services I don’t need or want?
Why? Because Team Obama says I have to. And that’s not much of a reason. It’s not freedom.
NJEA Looks to take back the State Spends Big on Buono Campaign, Tight Legislative Contests
Latest finance reports puts NJEA total above $13M, almost as much as Christie campaign has shelled out
The New Jersey Education Association’s political juggernaut keeps on rolling.
With the latest campaign finance reports in, the teachers union has now topped $13 million in spending on the state elections next Tuesday, easily beating all other special-interest spending and almost matching Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign itself, according to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
The bulk of the money is out of its super PAC, Garden State Forward, which has been active for not only Democratic challenger Barbara Buono, with two television ads on her behalf so far, but also focused on helping Democratic candidates in a handful of legislative races that are considered tight. (Mooney/NJSpotlight)
Downtown for the Holidays and Tree Lighting Celebration Friday, December 6, 2013
New this year – “for the kids” 5:30-6:30pm – Santa in the Park for the “wee tots” and a “Kids Corner” offering holiday Arts & Crafts in front of the Park along with live entertainment by the “clock” and in the stores and restaurant along E. Ridgewood Ave. Featuring the RHS Marching Band, RHS Singers, RHS Orchestra 7-8pm “on stage-live” Live Entertainment and Tree Lighting Celebration Featuring performances by Porch Light Productions, From the Top Studio, Art of Motion and Arthur Murray Dance Studio. 8:00-9:00pm “merriment” on E. Ridgewood Ave. Shh – Santa will be back in the Park Lots of music on the Avenue – two live bands, carolers, musicians Stores will be having special sales, restaurant reservation suggested.
Obamacare enrollments got off to very slow start, documents show
(CBS News) WASHINGTON – For 31 days now, the Obama administration has been telling us that Americans by the millions are visiting the new health insurance website, despite all its problems.
But no one in the administration has been willing to tell us how many policies have been purchased, and this may be the reason: CBS News has learned enrollments got off to an incredibly slow start.
Early enrollment figures are contained in notes from twice-a-day “war room” meetings convened within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after the website failed on Oct. 1. They were turned over in response to a document request from the House Oversight Committee.
The website launched on a Tuesday. Publicly, the government said there were 4.7 million unique visits in the first 24 hours. But at a meeting Wednesday morning, the war room notes say “six enrollments have occurred so far.”
Tim Bonanno’s 4 TDs lead Ridgewood rout over Fair Lawn
Friday, November 1, 2013
BY JIM MCCONVILLE
CORRESPONDENT
The Ridgewood News
RIDGEWOOD — On Friday night, the 2003 Ridgewood High School state-championship football team was honored at halftime of the Maroons’ game versus Fair Lawn. It also was an opportunity for those title holders to catch a glimpse of this year’s group, one that has drawn a lot of comparisons to their predecessors.
Glimpse is probably the right word, because if they got held up at the pre-game tailgate party, they probably missed the first team’s performance. Once again, Ridgewood made quick work of an opponent and took the second half off.
This time, it was Fair Lawn, with the Maroons scoring all eight times they had the ball on the way to a 53-6 lead at the intermission. That would also be the final score, as Ridgewood went with its second team after the break.
Now 6-0, they travel to Clifton tonight with a pretty clear picture of what they need to do in the North 1, Group 5 state-playoff bracket. Last week’s win guaranteed Ridgewood a spot in the playoffs, but just getting there isn’t going to satisfy this team.
Pro Arte Chorale Presents Their 50th Anniversary Annual Holiday Celebration
Sun, December 08, 2013
Time: 3:00 PM
Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood 07540
Pro Arte Chorale presents their 50th Anniversary Annual Holiday Celebration!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
3:00 PM
Unitarian Society of Ridgewood
113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ 07540
Adults $10
Children under 18 free
Conducted by Janet Montgomery
For more information call 201-497-8400 [email protected]
www.proartechorale.org
IRS’ Lois Lerner gave confidential Tea Party tax info to FEC, violating law
By PAUL BEDARD | OCTOBER 31, 2013 AT 4:09 PM
The Internal Revenue Service shared highly confidential tax information of several Tea Party groups in the IRS scandal with the Federal Election Commission, a clear violation of federal law, according to newly obtained emails.
The public watchdog group Judicial Watch told Secrets Thursday that it was former scandal boss Lois Lerner who shared the information on groups including the American Future Fund and the American Issues Project.
The emails obtained by Judicial Watch show that the IRS, which was considering the tax status of the groups, gave the FEC the tax returns of the groups, including income, expenditures and staff pay. The emails also revealed the exact working of the prying political questions the IRS wanted the groups to reveal, such as their goals and the requests for brochures and ads.
Course record powers Ridgewood to Bergen championship
Friday, November 1, 2013
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood High School historically has fielded good girls cross-country teams. The 2013 RHS squad is shaping up to be historically good.
The Maroons rolled to their 28th group title at last Saturday’s Bergen County championship meet in Mahwah and will return to Darlington Park tomorrow in search of their 27th Bergen Meet of Champions (BMOC) crown.
Ridgewood High School boys soccer team to play for Bergen Cup title
Friday, November 1, 2013
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT
The Ridgewood News
The mettle of the Ridgewood High School boys soccer team has been tested several times in recent weeks, thankfully with positive results. Another test is scheduled for Saturday.
The Maroons play for the Bergen Cup tournament championship at 4 p.m. on their home field against Teaneck with amends to be made.
“We look forward to Teaneck,” RHS head coach Joe Gyulay said during a lunch break this week. “We lost to them [Oct. 1] on our Senior Night, 3-1, and we’re definitely looking for redemption.”
Losing on Senior Night was an embarrassing blow, just as it was when the Maroons did not have the necessary winning percentage to qualify for the Bergen County tournament field by the cutoff date. Ridgewood had stumbled during a string of tight losses and key injuries
Ridgewood NJ, Last night on Halloween the Ridgewood Police Handed out Halloween Safety Treats. In addition to their patrol duties.
Officers were handing out safety glow sticks to young Trick or Treaters for Halloween . Above Officer Mark Butler helps these young ladies accessorize their costumes.
Reader says Voting BOE members out of office is fine but will be too little, too late .
At Tuesday’s meeting a resident tried several times to get Ms. Brogan to state which BOE members had signed off on her statement. She said at least twice that they had all had a chance to comment, but not all had; of course silence in such cases would suggest agreement. She named a couple of people who had commented, but of course not what they had said. Also it was clear that the statement had been written, then distributed, rather than representing a group opinion.
Instead of going on and on about which streets and corners should have fewer trucks, the BOE should have represented the students’ and other residents’ interest by stating to the Planning Board: “This project would be very harmful to the children. Don’t do it.”
The conflicts of interest are so blatant as to be laughable. When our BOE cowtows to the hospital we are in really bad straits.
Bob Pressner : Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable
Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable. She took the vanilla position on the Valley expansion. I knew she would walk the tightrope of non committal; she can’t be counted to cross swords with the mighty Valley. From the start of her comments she spoke of school construction that has taken place while she’s been on the Board, the fix was clearly in. Sorry, what Valley has presented as their vision in no way resembles what our schools have accomplished in construction over the past 10 – 12 years. To compare students’ experiences during the school construction and Valley’s proposed renovations is a reach too far. What Valley proposes for their 15 acre parcel is ridiculous, and the impact will be dramatic.
The expectation of 10 years as the time frame for construction, is also short sided. The effects of this expansion, but more importantly the changing of the Master Plan will have far reaching effects on all of our children’s learning experiences. The area around Valley will be changed forever. In my opinion, not for the better. Changing the Master Plan will also allow for developers to challenge our future concerns regarding growth based on the precedent that will have been established. We are at a cross roads in the future of Ridgewood, and it is time for all of our fellow residents to step up, speak up, and be heard.
Reader says Sheila Brogan has been doing Valley’s bidding since 2002.
Ridgewood BOE and Valley Hospital, hand in hand, a long tainted history together.
(Some of this is a bit hazy so if anyone remembers the details fill in the blanks)
Over the years I have attended many planning board hearings for the Valley Hospital H-Zone. The many memorable meetings at BF and the infamous 2010 meeting at GWMS. I sat through and listened to Village council meetings at the RHS Campus Center. And here we are again at BF listening to more about this ridiculous expansion proposal. Hearing Sheila Brogan’s statement and reading this blog reminded me of the disgraceful and tainted BOE/Valley relationship. Of course, people need to be reminded Sheila Brogan has been a board member for far too long. For newer residents, or those who weren’t in the news loop so many years ago, this is a history lesson.
Many, many years ago, maybe around 2002, Sheila Brogan sat on the BOE along with Mark Bombace, Linda Gilman, Bob Hutton and Charles Reilly. At the time John Porter was superintendent. Valley Hospital had a proposal and was pushing hard to buy part of BF property using the field area for an underground parking lot and subsequently expanding the hospital buildings. If memory serves, the BOE would no longer own the property but the ground level open space could be used as a sports fields. The big offer was Valley would do much for the BF community and offer a state of the art facility IF they were able to purchase the BF property. The Board of Ed, along with John Porter, were positioned to complete the transaction when, unfortunately for them, the residents began to show up at BOE meetings. Over a few short weeks the standing room only crowd mobilized and stopped the infamous Valley/BF land grab.
Because the BOE was anxious to consummate the deal, and Valley was relying on the property for its expansion, it appears a new plan evolved. Within months of the Valley/BF land grab derailment the RHAP program was in the works. Ultimately rolled out in 2004, the program was put together as an effort to buy the BOE and Ridgewood Community. Other less prominent programs were funded by Valley as well. Those too are within our Village schools, internships, summer programs, follow a professional, scoreboard advertising, etc. Some of these programs may have ended or been replaced, however, coupled with the $500,000 the BOE accepted from Valley, it is clear the BOE and Valley are in bed together.
In 2011 Bob Hutton spoke, as a BOE member, in support of the Valley H-zone expansion. His comments were made at Village Council H-Zone hearings at RHS Campus Center. Soon thereafter Hutton was voted off the BOE. Good riddance to him.
Of the original BOE, that was ready to sell BF property to Valley, only Sheila Brogan remains. Don’t ever let Brogan try to convince you she stands for our students or that she opposes this expansion. Brogan fully supports Valley, their massive expansion, and was willing to sell out our kids years ago! As for Valley Hospital, the current H-Zone efforts are the same “idea” without the BF property. Valley’s animus towards Ridgewood and the BF community is palpable.
Concerned Residents question benefits of Valley proposed expansion
Thursday October 31, 2013, 3:23 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Impassioned speeches by the final three fact witnesses for the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood addressed the various quality of life elements that would be impacted by a hospital expansion, and they posed the collective question to the Ridgewood Planning Board: How will doubling the size of The Valley Hospital benefit village residents?
After weeks of objections and other legal challenges by the hospital’s project attorneys, the grassroots group comprised of more than 150 members voiced its concerns Tuesday night. CRR’s testimony, including president Pete McKenna’s audience-rousing summation, went on without any lawyer interruption.
McKenna admitted that his worries related more to the final product of Valley’s proposal instead of other points of contention previously raised by residents, such as prolonged construction and the effect it would have on the learning environment at nearby schools. But those concerns, he said, are just as vital to the residents’ case.
