Ridgewood, North Jersey Media Group in accord on advertising packets
Wednesday October 2, 2013, 11:40 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — The village pulled back a proposal to ban bagged, unsolicited advertising materials.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn told the council on Wednesday that an accord had been reached by village officials and Stephen A. Borg, president of North Jersey Media Group.
Readers Once Again Question Gail Price’s Objectivity
I’ve said it before. Gail Price does not truly Ridgewood residents’ interests. Throughout her tenure, she has always given the benefit of the doubt to Valley, and disregarded and downplayed the residents’ and their consultants’ opinions. As a matter of fact, she treats us with contempt.
Her primary source of income us not acting as the PB attorney but in private practice representing commercial interests such as Valley in getting their plans through. She has no interest in curtailing Valley’s plans because they, or other similar entities, may not hire her for lucrative work in the future.
Gail Price may not be objective and impartial. Her firm’s website https://www.pricemeese.com shows that her occupation is representing these same
parties like “Medical Complexes and Hospitals” and also “Residential Developments” too which are now being discussed in the CBD.
It is really very hard to understand how our planning board’s attorney who is suppose to represent the public’s interest has a more encompassing job where she represents the interests of similar developers. This just isn’t right. Gail’s other interests along with her firm’s interests may conflict with the best interests of Ridgewood. Her role in these hearings and the downtown development hearings is too important not to pay attention to a possible conflict of interest. Let’s be safe. It’s time to dump Gail Price.
Reader says ONE SINGLE REASON why this expansion is good for Ridgewood
Anyone that has followed this process knows that neither Valley nor its parade of paid experts has presented ONE SINGLE REASON why this expansion is good for Ridgewood. It has been years of PR spin, smoke and mirrors without any substance. Valley is the worst kind of institution to have in our or any town. They care nothing for us and they bring nothing to us. They pay no property taxes on their main campus. Less than 10% of their employees and patients live in town. The unfathomably obnoxious behavior of Mr. Drill sums up what Valley thinks of Ridgewood.
Give me a reason. ANY reason why this is a good idea. Not one word from Valley or its condescending supporters on this front.
There is something so absolutely wrong with this process – the fact that we’re still discussing it is absurd. The Planning Board, particularly Mr. Nalbantian and Ms. Price, is in such obvious cooperation with Valley and their cartoon-like Mr. Drill. Couldn’t they try at least a little to cover their bias?
And you folks that are against the apartments? Are you paying attention? You guys are about to be sold out next so you might want to come to the next Valley meeting to see what’s in store for you. There are exactly the same number of good reasons to build up the CBD but the developers will get the same cozy reception from our public officials. Just watch.
Allegations made over Towing Irregularities at Village Council meeting
During Wednesday evening’s Village Council meeting, the owner of Village Auto Body on Chestnut Street, who reportedly has a contract to tow and repair VOR owned vehicles, alleged that there are serious irregularities with respect to invoice payments in connection with towing services and motor vehicle repair work provided to the VOR by other firms.
Mr. Frank Thissen claims towing bills submitted by Bergen Brookside Towing were padded in excess of contract approved rates, and that VOR taxpayers were billed for OEM replacement parts that were never installed on repaired vehicles.
According to Mr. Thissen’s allegations, made during a public comment section of the Council meeting, Village Police Chief John Ward and Lt. William Amoruso were made aware of the invoicing irregularities and an investigation is underway. However, neither Acting Village Manager Heather Mailander, nor any member of the Council, nor Village Attorney Matthew Rogers admitted to knowing anything about the alleged misappropriation of taxpayer funds.
If the allegations are proven to be true, i.e., unauthorized charges were indeed billed and paid for, Ridgewood’s taxpayers will surely question the effectiveness of the Village’s financial check & balance system. Additionally, the question of why the Acting Village Manager and members of the Council were kept in the dark about an investigation into the possible misuse of tax dollars needs to be fully investigated and answered.
photo by Boyd Loving
FLAGS FLY AT HALF-STAFF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
As per Executive Order from Governor Chris Christie, all flags will be flown at half-staff on Friday, October 4, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American hero, United States Army Staff Sergeant Timothy R. McGill, a resident of Ramsey and 2001 graduate of Ramsey High School.
REVENGE OF THE TEA PARTY: 91% Of The IRS Has Been Furloughed:
Here Is Who Else Got The Government Shut Down Axe
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 10/01/2013 20:15 -0400
For all the drama surrounding today’s political drama (which came and went largely unnoticed by a stock market hypnotized by the Federal Reserve), the bottom line is that the key impact of last night’s historic government shutdown has been nothing more (or less) than the temporary unpaid leave of absence, i.e. furloughs (with all accrued, owed payments promptly being remitted once the government is unhalted) of some 815,932 civilian government workers, out of a total of 2 million, or a 41% furlough rate.
As the WSJ tabulates “some agencies, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are seeing all but a handful of their employees go home without pay. Others, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, kept the vast majority of their workers on the job. Certain divisions of government, such as the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Reserve, don’t operate under the normal appropriations process and their staffing remained unaffected.” Then again one wonders: with 91% of the IRS’ total 94,516 workers stuck at home, downloading porn, is the government shutdown really such an evil outcome?
New wave of WWII veterans move barricades to access DC memorial
Published October 02, 2013
FoxNews.com
A new wave of veterans were forced to move barricades at the WWII Memorial in Washington Wednesday morning to gain access during the government slimdown, a spokeswoman from Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., told FoxNews.com.
The WWII veterans, from Ohio, Kansas and Missouri, arrived at the memorial one day after another group relied on the assistance from elected officials to move the barricades to allow access. Parks police did not prevent the first group from entering, nor did they interfere with Wednesday’s group.
The veterans vowed to make the trek to D.C. regardless of the situation in Washington. When asked how they were going to visit the World War II Memorial when it’s closed, Ian Drake, a WWII veteran, told Fox4KC.com the group will “find a way in, one way or another. We might have to climb or something. It’s no problem. Well work it out when we get there.”
Update from 2 Millions Bikers to DC
THE WHITE HO– USE SENDS MORE PERSONNEL TO WWII MEMORIAL PARK THAN HE DID TO BENGHAZI!
I AM GLAD OUR WWII VETS WERE DEFIANT, AREN’T YOU?
Threatened with arrest; deterred from visiting their own memorial, which the government did NOT build.
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2013/10/ww2-vets-face-arrest-for-visiting-their-memorial/
WATCH VIDEO HERE:
https://washingtonexaminer.com/shutdown-overreach-more-guards-at-wwii-memorial-than-benghazi-park-service-closes-park-it-doesnt-run/article/2536710
Steve Lonegan’s Bold Colors
By Jeffrey Lord on 10.1.13 @ 6:09AM
Opposing Obamacare, NJ Senate nominee surges.
Is New Jersey’s Steve Lonegan the next Scott Brown?
A one-time sure-GOP-loser turned winner in a blue state special Senate election?
Made a winner over “sure-thing” Democrat and Newark Mayor Cory Booker by popular revulsion with ObamaCare? And a truly riveting personal story that is turning heads all over the state of New Jersey? (Here is Lonegan telling the story of his blindness that has captured so much attention.)
The question is suddenly being asked as a 35-point Booker lead in a September 11 Rutgers-Eagleton poll eroded by 9 points in just 12 days to a 26-point Booker lead in a September 23 Stockton College poll and has now been eaten away to an astonishing 12-point gap in this Quinnipiac poll released on September 24.
The headline in New Jersey.com?
Poll shows Booker vs. Lonegan race for U.S. Senate is tighter than expected
The story opens with this new information on the special election to replace the late Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg:
A new poll on the U.S. Senate race suggests Cory Booker’s expected blowout over Steve Lonegan may not be in the bag.
What’s going on here? How does an “expected blowout” for a liberal shining star in an overwhelmingly blue state suddenly and so dramatically become “tighter than expected”?
Some New Jersey analysts are suggesting that Lonegan’s charges that Booker’s record on crime in Newark isn’t all Booker makes it out to be, that Booker is a “show-horse” celebrity candidate.
But what tracks with these polls is another factor altogether — and is in fact the exact same element that resulted in the upset victory of Republican Scott Brown in another special Senate election, that one to replace Democrat Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts. Notably, Lonegan is now doing better in the polls three weeks out than Brown was at the same point in his famous 2010 upset race against the supposedly unbeatable Democrat state attorney general Martha Coakley.
That same fact that the Brown and Lonegan elections appear to have increasingly in common?
Obamacare.
https://spectator.org/archives/2013/10/01/steve-lonegans-bold-colors/
AVConnexions kicks off a week long show on Cosmo Radio
Arlene Vasquez, founder of AVConnexions, New Jersey’s Premier Matchmaking Service, located in Ridgewood, New Jersey is kicking off a week-long ‘Dating Boot Camp’ with Stephanie Ramos at Cosmo Magazine’s radio station on Sirius XM. Starting September 30th through October 4th Cosmo will be getting your mind into shape so you can stop dating the “Mr/s. Wrongs” of the world and finally get on track to finding Mr/s. Right.
The first step starts with YOU. Each day will tackle a different matter of the heart, from your dating history to rebounds to finally getting over your ex, and most importantly, loving yourself. With a little tough love and a ton of expert advice, Cosmo Radio’s Dating Boot Camp is your dating destination to get from single to smitten!
About AVConnexions
AVConnexions, NJ’s Premier Matchmaking Service, offers the highest level of matchmaking, dating coaching, and fabulous events for singles. AVConnexions specializes in connecting successful single men and women while providing resources they need to achieve their best authentic self. They take pride in their personalized approach by meeting and interviewing every candidate until they find a compatible match for their clients. Dating coaching services include a personalized 5-part process to help achieve relationship goals and instill dating confidence. AVConnexions also holds singles events that offer an ideal atmosphere for singles to mingle and get to know people who want the same thing; love in a happy committed relationship.
Arlene Vasquez is available for interviews; she can be reached at [email protected].
MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS – Saturday, October 5th
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. The next session is Saturday, October 5th.
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.
American Anger Against Government at All Time High
More Than 1/4 of Americans Really Don’t Like Their Government Right Now Anger with the federal government is now the highest since 1997, Pew says.
Twenty-six percent of Americans recently reported that they feel “angry” with the federal government. Half, 51 percent, say they are frustrated. And just 17 percent report that they are “basically content.”
The Pew Research Center, which conducted the survey, says this is the highest level of anger they have reported, or at least since they started asking the question in 1997. The angriest right now are the conservative Republicans-41 percent of them are angry.
The angriest of the angry are tea partiers, 50 percent of whom say they are angry.
The general trend is not surprising. The minority party in government tends to be angry when it is not in power. In October 2006, right before Democrats swept into power in the House and Senate, 44 percent of liberal Democrats reported that they were angry. But here’s what’s different: Even now, 18 percent of liberal Democrats are angry.
Another insight from the survey: Young Americans are tuning out coverage of the impending government shutdown. If you’re reading this article with interest and are under the age of 30, you’re in the minority. Congrats! Sixty-three percent of young people “say they are not following news about the government shutdown closely, including nearly half (46 percent) who say they aren’t following it at all,” Pew reports.
“Just 13 percent of young adults are tracking news about the budget battles in Congress very closely.”
And…..
IRS scandal means bad news for Obama
Glenn Harlan Reynolds10:23 a.m. EDT September 30, 2013, USA Today
Come 2014, the government’s damaged brand will reflect poorly on president and his party.
So last week, while most of the country was talking about football or fears of a government shutdown, Rasmussen released a poll that should worry everyone — but especially incumbent Democrats in Congress.
According to Rasmussen’s survey, most Americans think the IRS broke the law by targeting Tea Party groups for harassment, but few expect it to be punished
Fifty-three percent think the IRS broke the law by targeting the Tea Party and other conservative groups like the voter-integrity outfit True The Vote; only 24% disagreed.
But only 17%think it is even somewhat likely that anyone will be charged, while 74% think that criminal charges are unlikely.
So a majority of Americans think that government officials who exercise an important trust broke the law, but only a very small number think anything will be done to punish them.
There are a couple of lessons to draw from this. One is bad for the country in general, but the other is bad for congressional Democrats.
Read the rest of the column here:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/09/29/irs-tea-party-column/2892135/
Bookends Schedule for Book Signings
Rick Pitino Wednesday, October 2nd @ 6:30pm
Coach of the NCAA Basketball Champions, Louisville Cardinals, Rick Pitino, will sign his new book: The One-Day Contract Books available October 1st
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Thursday, October 3rd @ 5:00pm
NBA Hall of Fame Player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, will sign his new book: Sasquatch in the Paint Books availalbe September 24th
Jesse Ventura Thursday, October 3th @ 7:00pm
Former Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, will sign his new book: They Killed Our President Books available Oct. 1st
Ed Catto & Laurence Maslon Saturday, October 5th @ 1:00pm
Local Superhero, Ed, Catto, and NYU Professor Laurence Maslon, will sign their new book: Superheroes! Caps, Cowls and the Creation of Comic Book Culture
Books available Oct 1st
Clinton Kelly Tuesday, October 15th @7:00pm
Co-host of The Chew & What Not to Wear, Clinton Kelly, will sign his new book: Freakin’ Fabulous On a Budget Books available Oct 15th
Daniel Boulud Wednesday, October 16th @ 7:00pm
One of the Top Chef’s in America, Daniel Boulud will sign his new book: Daniel: My French Cuisine Books available Oct 15th
Bookends is a legendary New Jersey Landmark! We are known for our incredible author events and have hosted well over 1,000 authors in the past 15 years!
UPCOMING SIGNINGS Signings/Meetings
Can’t make a signing?
We take phone orders for signed copies.
Call now at 201-445-0726!
email us at [email protected]
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
PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS SCHEDULE CHANGES
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has CANCELLED its meeting of October 1, 2013, at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, October 15, 2013, in the Village Hall Courtroom at 7:30 p.m.
The Public Hearing on the Proposed H-Hospital Zone Amendment to the Master Plan has been carried to Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 N. Van Dien Avenue, at 7:30 p.m.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Obamacare 101: What to know if you opt out of buying health insurance
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires that individuals buy health insurance. If you don’t want to buy insurance, you will have to pay a penalty – unless you qualify for an exemption from the mandate.
By Katherine Jacobsen, Contributor / October 1, 2013
The insurance “exchanges” set up under the Affordable Care Act, where people can shop online for health insurance, went live on Oct. 1, and an estimated 48 million uninsured Americans can use them to try to find an affordable plan. The 2010 Obamacare law requires that people have health insurance, or that they pay a fee starting next year if they choose to opt out.
Here are the ins and outs of forgoing health insurance.
If you don’t have health insurance, and aren’t sure if you want to purchase a plan, how long do you have to decide?
You can sign up for health coverage on an exchange anytime between now and March 1, 2014. Your coverage would begin Jan. 1, 2014, at the earliest. If you do not enroll in that window, you will not be able to get health coverage through the insurance exchange marketplace until the next annual enrollment period unless there are extenuating circumstances.
RECOMMENDED: Obamacare facts: How will the law affect you?
How much are the penalties for not buying a health plan?
The penalties are not very high to begin with. In 2014, the fine to remain uninsured is $95 per person (up to a family maximum of $285, or 1 percent of family income,
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/1001/Obamacare-101-What-to-know-if-you-opt-out-of-buying-health-insurance
Garage feasibility study planned for Ridgewood and Glen Rock
Tuesday October 1, 2013, 11:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood will pay $2,625, or half the cost, of two studies needed to determine the feasibility of converting unused land adjacent to the municipality’s water treatment plant into a new fleet services facility shared between the village and the Borough of Glen Rock.
A resolution agreeing to fund the work – a site feasibility study and a truck turning analysis – will be considered for adoption on Oct. 9 and is contingent upon similar action by the Glen Rock Council. Village officials said the Glen Rock governing body would discuss the proposal prior to Ridgewood’s upcoming meeting.
Earlier this year, Ridgewood formed a five-member ad-hoc committee with the mission of exploring options to either restore or move the fleet services operation.
The group identified the village’s water treatment plant, situated in Glen Rock, as a potential relocation site.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/225978251_Garage_feasibility_study_planned_for_Ridgewood_and_Glen_Rock.html#sthash.COQb34r3.dpuf
