Letter: Use of Gadsden flag ‘offensive’
Friday, July 12, 2013
The Ridgewood News
Use of Gadsden flag ‘offensive’
To the editor:
Did anyone else notice the Gadsden flag marching with the Tea Party in the Fourth of July parade? Although I realize the Tea Party has a right to walk in the parade, as much as I have the right to give them the thumbs down as they walk by, I find the waving of the Gadsden flag, in its current context, to be offensive.
This flag is from the American Revolution and the colonists used this symbol of the snake with the words “Don’t Tread on Me” against the British. In 2009, the Tea Party began using this flag, but this time it is being used as a symbol against our own democratically elected government. The NRA does the same.
The Valley Hospital Has Lowest Emergency Care Wait Times in Bergen County
July 10 , 2013
RIDGEWOOD, NJ , The Valley Hospital is bucking the trend when it comes to the state average in speed of emergency care. According to recently released federal Medicare and Medicaid program data compiled from January 2011-June 2012 (the latest data available), patients wait a shorter period of time for emergency evaluation and treatment at The Valley Hospital than any other hospital in Bergen County. The Valley Hospital’s “door to doctor” time is 15 minutes less than the state average. A patient who arrives at the Valley Emergency Department (ED) for treatment will wait an average of 20 minutes, compared to the state average of 35 minutes.
“A few years ago, we took an organization-wide approach to addressing patient flow, quality and satisfaction issues in the Emergency Department,” said Peter Diestel, Chief Operating Officer (COO), of Valley. “We’ve improved door-to-doctor times, made it a priority to ensure timely ED discharges, and reduced extended stays in the ED for patients being admitted. I am very proud of our physicians and staff and the work they have done to help us better serve our patients and their families.”
The Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department has been recognized twice for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program. This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by The Valley Hospital to provide “an outstanding Emergency Department experience.”
Computer system delaying N.J. income tax refunds
Friday July 12, 2013, 12:00 AM
BY JOHN REITMEYER
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
The Record
Sharon Patula filed her New Jersey income tax return back in March, weeks ahead of the state’s deadline. But as mid-July approaches, she has yet to receive a refund. And the state hasn’t been able to tell her whether the return is lost or just sitting somewhere unprocessed.
“We gave them $1,300 that didn’t belong to them,” said Patula, a former Hawthorne resident who now lives in South Carolina. “I’m very frustrated.”
Patula is not alone, according to the state Department of Treasury. Nearly three full months after the deadline for taxpayers to provide their income tax returns to Treasury’s Division of Taxation, the agency said it is still working to process roughly 183,000 refunds.
Some refunds could be delayed until the end of August, and Treasury officials are blaming a switch this year from an outdated system for scanning and processing returns to a new computerized system. This isn’t the first time the state has had a problem with income tax returns in 2013, a reelection year for Governor Christie, a Republican who has been pushing a new income tax credit while out on the campaign trail.
Despite protests, Rutgers board approves 3.3 percent hike in tuition and fees
Thursday, July 11, 2013 Last updated: Thursday July 11, 2013, 11:48 PM
BY PATRICIA ALEX
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Tuition and fees at Rutgers University, already one of the most expensive state universities in the country, will rise 3.3 percent this fall under a spending plan that is the first to reflect its merger with the state’s medical school.
The $3.6 billion budget for the 2013-14 school year that the Rutgers board of governors approved on Thursday reflects an increase of 61 percent over last year’s $2.2 billion spending plan, the last one the board approved before the university absorbed most of the debt-laden University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey on July 1.
Education, expansion on tap for Ridgewood lightning device
Friday, July 12, 2013
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — A lightning detection system sometimes ignored by players and coaches will be expanding soon, village officials said this week.
Residents recently informed the council that the detection system, installed last year at six parks and schools, was being slighted during games.
The system warns that lightning strikes are imminent within a 10-mile radius.
Officials said during the council’s meeting Wednesday night that more needs to be done to educate the public about the system, and efforts to do just that are under way.
Was the $1000 per person gratis invite extended before or after approval for use of the fire truck with experienced firemen was granted?
Now here is another point – even if the ‘tickets” were acceptable for them to take, since they were attending as governing officials in our Village…..what about this: did they eat or drink? In that case, they definitely received a gift and a benefit (the meal) from the event
This is a pretty good case, but the problem is someone now has to file a complaint stating that a crime was committed. Also what will be the punishment? Also oddly is was the Republicans who made these laws to end corruption and now a big Republican fundraiser was held right in the middle of town and laws were broken…
The local Democrats should file the corruption charges, but then they may wind up getting the Mayor involved as well….
If they are guilty of the crime they should resign.
Reader says the Christie camp said they did not ask for them to be invited, and did not invite the Council
This is actually a funny report. Aronsohn and Pucc will not be able to participate in any Planning Board activities that involve Saraceno.
Entirely unnecessary for our entire council and village manager to personally roll out the red carpet for the governor, whom many cannot stand. It’s embarrassing and probably pushes the law. Since others had to pay, this was a gift at best, a bribe at worst. Saraceno showed poor judgment in inviting them but they should not have accepted.
The Record article quotes Gabbert as saying that it would have been inappropriate for local dignitaries not to have appeared at this “function.” Excuse me, but it was a fundraiser for the governor’s reelection, pure and simple, entirely and unshamefacedly political. It was highly inappropriate for them all to suggest by their attendance that they approved of the reelection. Mayor Aronsohn has written negatively about Christie; wearing a bright blue tie and attending with his wife in a bright blue dress did not dampen his apparent approval of the governor. The appearance by the governor in the parade was surely a quid pro quo. The whole thing reeks.
You should have seen Aronsohn trying to end the discussion last night, it was hilarious. We were watching at home and cracking up at the tv. Pucciarelli was staring at his lap, Aronsohn was sweating bullets.
The article online in The Record says that Saraceno claimed that Christie asked him to invite the Village Council. NOT!!!!!
The Christie camp said they did not ask for them to be invited, did not invite them, and the guy goes on to say that event hosts (in this case Saraceno) commonly invite some of their own guests, and that is what happened here.
Someone said Saraceno came to the councilmeeting last night, but he did not speak at the mike.
Ridgewood Council criticized for accepting complimentary tickets to Christie fundraiser from developer
Thursday, July 11, 2013 Last updated: Friday July 12, 2013, 12:06 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — The Village Council is being criticized for accepting free tickets to a $1,000-a-head fundraiser for Governor Christie from a developer seeking to build in the village.
The July 3 event was staged in the former Bank of America building on East Ridgewood Avenue owned by resident John Saraceno, who currently has an application before the Planning Board for a 52-unit, four-story apartment complex elsewhere on East Ridgewood Avenue.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn and all of the council’s members acknowledged attending the event — and not paying the admission price. Village Manager Ken Gabbert joined them.
“You were comped $1,000,” said resident Boyd Loving, challenging the board at Wednesday night’s meeting and alleging possible ethics violations may have occurred. “The owner [of the Bank of America building] has an application before the Planning Board…I have a lot of concerns about this.”
Saraceno said Thursday that the Christie campaign asked him to invite the local officials. Aronsohn said that several other politicians were also in attendance, including Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan and several freeholders.
A plea for parking accessibility in Ridgewood
Friday, July 12, 2013
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — At least one village resident thinks handicap parking is too hard to come by in Ridgewood.
Denise Lima this week asked Ridgewood’s council to look into supplying additional parking spots throughout town for handicapped motorists and passengers.
Such spots, Lima said, are needed in Ridgewood, near its numerous pharmacies, outside the village’s post office, and right next to the movie theater — areas, she noted, where handicap parking was particularly deficient in town.
“White Hispanics,” “Creepy-Ass Crackers,” “Teenage Mammies,” and “Suspicious A–holes who always get away” — that is the vernacular of the George Zimmerman trial.
George Zimmerman faces life in jail as a jury considers second-degree murder charges against him for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. But thanks to the media he is already sentenced to life in the American public’s mind as a racist.
NBC edited a tape of Zimmerman’s call to police as he was following Martin to make him appear to be focused on Martin’s race.
The New York Times has referred to him in unique racial terms as a “white Hispanic.” The terminology was necessary to have the story fit into a well-worn news narrative throughout American history from the Scottsboro Boys to Emmett Till to Rodney King – the black victim of white racism. Hispanic people can be as racist as black or white people in a country with a deep history of racism. But, apparently for the Times, Zimmerman’s whiteness was important. It fit their good versus evil tale of a white racist killing an innocent black man.
Comps for Christie fundraiser in Ridgewood are questioned
Thursday July 11, 2013, 2:48 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood council members are facing criticism for accepting complimentary admission to last week’s private fundraiser for Gov. Christie, and political parties are not the focus of the debate.
The cocktail reception took place at the former Bank of America building at 58 E. Ridgewood Ave., a landmark site and property that was recently purchased by Onyx Equities LLC. The real estate investment firm was founded and is currently operated by village resident and developer John Saraceno, who extended the invitation to all council members at no charge.
Onyx Equities, which also owns 257 E. Ridgewood Ave., currently has an active application with the Ridgewood Planning Board to amend the village’s master plan. The amendment, if approved, would essentially permit Saraceno and three other developers to construct high-density, multi-family housing in Ridgewood’s Central Business District.
A village ordinance passed in 2008 and updated two years later prohibits any individual or entity with business currently before any Ridgewood agencies or boards from offering a donation or gift for 90 days after final action has been taken.
The “gift ordinance” was referred to earlier this year when council members turned down a financial donation from The Valley Hospital. At the time of the council’s decision, Valley had just filed a Planning Board application that called for a large-scale expansion of its existing facilities.
Young Ridgewood girl calls 911 after mom starts choking
Thursday July 11, 2013, 10:15 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
A 5-year-old Ridgewood girl’s 911 call on Tuesday, made to save her choking mother’s life, spotlighted the importance of teaching children about emergency preparedness.
Fortunately, Kerry Olson’s choking stopped just before the local fire department, police department and ambulance arrived. But if Chloe, her daughter, hadn’t been taught to make the 911 call, the situation could have become dire under different circumstances.
“When [a police officer] came in the house, I was pretty much OK,” Kerry said. “He asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital [and I said ‘no’]… That’s really all that happened, thank God. I’m happy that she knew to call.”
Ridgewood Police Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke said in her professional experience, she has never heard of a call being made by someone as young as Chloe.
Taxes On Recreational Pot Sales Could Top 35 Percent
July 10, 2013 10:54 AM
DENVER (CBS4)- The taxes on recreational marijuana might go a lot higher than first thought. Smokers buying at shops in Denver may pay up to 35 percent in taxes.
Colorado voters will be asked to approve two state taxes totaling 25 percent on all retail marijuana sales in the November election. They may be asked to approve an additional city tax for Denver.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock wants to add an additional five to 10 percent city tax on top of that.
GLEN ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT
Roger Allen Miller II (left) and Shane Kehrley (right).
Glen Rock police: $10,000 in heroin found on NY men during traffic stop
Thursday, July 11, 2013 Last updated: Thursday July 11, 2013, 1:16 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
GLEN ROCK — Two New York men were arrested Wednesday by Glen Rock police, who said they found them to be in possession of more than 10 bricks of heroin.
Roger Allen Miller II, who lives in Jeffersonville, New York, and Shane Kehrley, a resident of Youngsville, New York, were stopped by police as they traveled through the borough.
During the course of the traffic stop, police said they discovered the drugs, which police said would have been worth more than $10,000 on the street. Police said the bricks contained approximately 537 bags of heroin.
Posted on July 10, 2013 at 12:41 pm by Simone Sebastian in Crude oil, Production
We all know oil production in Texas has soared in recent years. But putting the rise in graphic form shows just how phenomenal the energy turnaround has been: The surge looks exponential.
In March, Texas oil production reached its highest level since 1984. That month, the Lone Star State pumped more than 74 million barrels of crude from the ground, which means if Texas were a country, it would be one of the 15 largest oil producers in the world.
