Author: James

Claims about chemical are wrong

Tuesday October 29, 2013, 11:48 AM
The Ridgewood News

Claims about chemical are wrong
Madeleine Beresford

To the Editor:

When I read, “Expert: chemical level safe” (The Ridgewood News; Oct. 18; page A1), I wondered how this PSE&G-paid “expert” could provide such erroneous information. The chemical he likened to aspirin, pentachlorophenol (PCP), is described by the EPA as “extremely toxic to humans.” Twenty-six countries ban its use. So does the U.S., though an exception is made here for utility poles. A Cornell University study concluded that ‘”PCP is a very toxic compound…Skin penetration is the most dangerous route of exposure, but inhalation or ingestion of PCP may also cause toxicity. There are about 50 known cases of poisoning from PCP containing herbicides, molluscicides or wood preservatives, 30 of which have resulted in death.”The article continues: “Prolonged exposure to PCP by humans may result in adverse reproductive effects that are associated with changes in the endocrine gland function and other changes in the body (immunological dysfunction).”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/229710181_Letter__Claims_about_chemical_are_wrong.html#sthash.6p8fl0ST.dpuf

“snooki” photo by ArtChick

Christie Confounded as Jersey Police Stay After People Go

At the height of tourist season, 150,000 people vacation on Long Beach Island, an 18-mile stretch of New Jersey shore. The crowds are gone by October, when the traffic signals blink amber along the main boulevard.

Just 7,500 residents remain year round, and with them the police forces for six towns. For the next eight months, about 75 full-time officers, earning $7.1 million annually, are responsible for repeated checks of 18,000 empty vacation properties on a barrier island where the median home value is $782,900, double New Jersey’s average. (Young/Bloomberg)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-29/christie-confounded-as-jersey-police-stay-after-people-go.html

Ridgewood couple creates app for educators
Tuesday October 29, 2013, 10:15 AM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

When Hawes School teacher Andy Raupp used an electronic tablet app to give one of his fifth grade students a “red light” – not the best score – for his cooperation skills, the boy decided to make a change.

“He said, ‘Mr. Raupp, we just want to let you know that we’re cooperating now, and we’re being much nicer to each other,'” the teacher recalled. “That had been the catalyst for one child to set an individual goal for that group to cooperate more … I’m not going to show them ‘You have all red for this,’ but when it’s appropriate.”

It was a big victory for Andy and fellow Hawes teacher Ellen Raupp – who is also his wife. The couple recently invented the app, named Chronicle, which helps teachers gauge student progress.

Andy will give a presentation on the app to Ridgewood teachers at a district Professional Development Day in November. He and his wife co-founded Powerhouse Education and hope to offer more teaching tools in the future.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/229696021_Ridgewood_couple_creates_app_for_educators.html#sthash.9msmUHpA.dpuf

Ridgewood couple creates teaching app

https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-couple-creates-teaching-app/

Chris Christie, Kim Guadagno to launch bus tour in final campaign push

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno will make more than 90 stops on two separate buses in the last seven days of the campaign.

“We’ve got one last hill to climb and that is to turn out the vote on Election Day,” Christie said during a conference call with volunteers tonight.

The Republican governor said after today he and Guadagno won’t return to the Statehouse until after Election Day. (Portnoy/Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/chris_christie_kim_guadagno_launch_bus_tour_in_final_campaign_push.html#incart_river

GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE  TO VISIT HACKENSACK PHONE BANK VOLUNTEERS
AT THE BCRO PHONE BANK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, AT APPROX. 5:00 PM
Location: BCRO HQs 339 Main Street, Hackensack

BOE president Sheila Brogan The BOE also believes that, despite 10 years of construction, the BF student’s experience won’t be diminished,”

Ridgewood NJ, Last night, the Ridgewood Board of Education — the elected leaders of our school system — weighed in on Valley Hospital’s plan to double in size right next to Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Their verdict: they are fine with a 94 foot tall, 1,000,000 square foot hospital standing 40 feet from the BF property line. That’s right: BOE president Sheila Brogan said it. When asked if the BOE was “ok” with a building that big being next to BF she answered, “yes.” The BOE also believes that, despite 10 years of construction, the BF student’s experience won’t be diminished, and will be equal to the GW student’s experience. Really?

The BOE members are the overseers of our children’s education, and the
stewards of the BF property. Despite the moral, legal, and fiduciary
responsibilities that come with those roles, they didn’t stand up and say
what is so plainly obvious — that the Valley amendment poses clear and
substantial risk, with zero benefit, to the school children of Ridgewood.

For those who missed the Planning Board meeting last night, the BOE, as they
did in 2009, “advised” the Planning Board by submitting a wish list of
“developer’s agreement” conditions. Those are terms that are effective once
the project is approved, and pertain only during the construction phase of
the project. But as the BOE members know full well, they have no power to
impose any of those conditions, which begs this fundamental question; what
protection did the BOE give our school children at last night’s meeting? The
answer is that the BOE put our children in greater danger. Once again their
“neutrality” will be viewed by this Planning Board as acquiescence, which
will make it easier for the Planning Board to approve this project.

Shamefully, our BOE not only failed to protect our children tonight, they
made matters worse.

If you care to express your frustration directly to the BOE members, please
contact them at the email addresses below:
[email protected]
; [email protected]
; [email protected]
; [email protected]
; [email protected]

Report shows vandalism down in Ridgewood schools
Tuesday October 29, 2013, 10:15 AM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

While the annual numbers of reported incidents involving violence, weapons and substance abuse in Ridgewood schools have remained somewhat consistent since 2002, incidents of vandalism have decreased greatly.

Board of Education (BOE) President Sheila Brogan last week speculated that the drop in vandalism might be attributed to the installation of visible security cameras in the schools several years ago.

Based on the district’s mandated data collection for the state’s Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System (EVVRS), from 2002-2003 to 2003-2004, incidents of vandalism decreased from 71 to 14 incidents.

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said that cameras, which were installed about 10 years ago, are not central to Ridgewood’s ongoing security strategy to improve school safety, but they might have something to do with the drop in total reported incidents.

In the 2002-2003 school year, the district reported 71 total incidents of vandalism on school grounds – and only reported one incident last school year. In total, 103 “incidents” of vandalism, violence, weapons and substance abuse were reported in Ridgewood eleven years ago, versus 33 last year.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/229696011_Report_shows_vandalism_down_in_Ridgewood_schools.html#sthash.sWu7y62N.dpuf

Is this the new normal? Obama’s politics of oppression and lawlessness
By L. Brent Bozell III
Published October 29, 2013
FoxNews.com

As pundits and politicians dissect the carnage of ObamaCare, a serious question demands an honest answer: At what point did the president know his plan to nationalize one-sixth of the national economy was not ready for the October 1 launch?

If, as he pleads with every controversy swirling around his administration, he did not know, his incompetency demands his removal from office.

But it is inconceivable that Barack Obama would not know the status of his signature legislation, his very legacy.

He knew, and he had a duty to his country to delay the launch, as so many had called him to do.

But this is a man who does not understand civility. He did the opposite.

He allowed a partial shutdown of the federal government in order to harm the credibility of his Republican critics.

Worse, his administration deliberately harmed American citizens in what can only be described as a rampant abuse of power.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/29/new-normal-obamas-politics-oppression-and-lawlessness/

All Photos Ridgewood PD

Boy with rare cancer is Ridgewood’s honorary police chief for 2013
Tuesday October 29, 2013, 4:35 PM
BY  CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record

RIDGEWOOD — Mike Feeney has a chief’s badge. It comes from the Ridgewood Police Department.

It doesn’t matter that Mike is only 9, or that he’s battling a rare form of cancer that affects the bones and soft tissues in his body.

“I told him a chief’s work goes home with him,” said Chief John Ward, who earlier this year designated Mike honorary chief for all of 2013.

Mike is one of nearly 20 students who’ve recently signed up for the Ridgewood Police Department’s new Community Policing Youth Ambassador Program.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/RIDGEWOOD_BADGE.html#sthash.gJKN2vJF.dpuf

Police Chief for a day Michael Feeney

https://theridgewoodblog.net/police-chief-for-a-day-michael-feeney/

file photo Boyd Loving

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD FALL LEAF COLLECTION – REMINDERS

With the start of leaf season and the winter season fast approaching – Village Crews are asking all residents for their assistance for this program to be successful.

On RECYCLING and BULK days please place containers on your property and not directly in the street.

When possible please DO NOT PARK CARS IN THE STREET on scheduled leaf collection dates so that piles can effectively be pushed and picked up safely.

A reminder that leaves are to be placed directly in the street no more than 7 days prior to your collection date.

No leaves are to be placed within 10 feet from any catch basin. Updates will be posted when necessary.