How to curb obesity: Tax calories, study says
By Peter Whoriskey, Published: June 26 E-mail the writer
There may be an economic cure for the nation’s obesity: Hike the price of food.
Raising the price of a calorie for home consumption by 10 percent might lower the percentage of body fat in youths about 8 or 9 percent, according to new research from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
“An increase in the price of a calorie regardless of its source would improve obesity outcomes,” according to a working paper that three researchers prepared for the private, nonprofit bureau.
As the nation confronts an epidemic of flab, many experts have pointed a finger at low food prices as a cause, leading to proposals for taxes on sugary drinks, fast-food and junk food, as well as reductions in government farm subsidies.
Bear sightings in North Jersey increase in recent weeks
Thursday June 27, 2013, 3:00 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The number of black bear sightings in North Jersey has seemingly increased in recent weeks, as evidenced by the capture of two yearlings in Ridgewood last week.
Emergency responders from the village and Paramus as well as Tyco Animal Control officers spent a portion of last weekend tracking, trapping and safely relocating a small bear that crossed from one town to the next. That bear was trapped and tranquilized by state Division of Fish and Wildlife officers in the Community Gardens at Maple Park last Sunday.
Ridgewood High School graduates leave their mark
Thursday June 27, 2013, 3:09 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The strong bond among members of Ridgewood High School’s (RHS) Class of 2013 – formed amid collective triumph and tragedy, notably the untimely death of a beloved classmate last summer – was a common theme discussed in speeches at Wednesday’s graduation ceremony.
Both Superintendent Daniel Fishbein and Principal Tom Gorman mentioned shared challenging experiences, like Superstorm Sandy and the Newtown tragedy, that taught students about obstacles and change.
Board of Education President Sheila Brogan reminded the
class to remember that this was “their support group.” The speeches of Student Congress President John Byon and Class President Matthew Giancristofaro followed.
Ridgewood NJ, According to the BOE on Wednesday, June 26, over 400 Ridgewood High School seniors received their diplomas in the 118th annual graduation ceremony.
This fall, 87.0 percent will attend a four-year college and 5.7 percent will go to a two-year college. Ten will attend Ivy League schools. One graduate will go into the armed forces, and 2.7 percent will take a gap year.
Housing plan has Ridgewood Council’s attention
Thursday June 27, 2013, 3:03 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood Council has given the go-ahead for village legal and planning officials to analyze and scrutinize a housing development idea that calls for an assisted living facility in the Central Business District.
At their Wednesday work session meeting, council members briefly rehashed and discussed the preliminary plan, which was laid out to them earlier this month by partners at Kensington Senior Development, prior to giving their thumbs-up to further studies.
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION OFFERS EXTRA SERVICE AND SAVINGS FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
Money-saving Family Super Saver Fare in effect continuously from June 28 until July 8
June 27, 2013
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT today announced a special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult. Usually limited to weekends and holidays, the Family Super Saver Fare will be in effect continuously from 7 p.m. Friday, June 28 until 6 a.m. Monday, July 8, on all trains (except for travel to/from Metro-North stations), buses and light rail lines in honor of Independence Day.
In addition, NJ TRANSIT will offer extra service in advance of Independence Day and on the holiday itself to give customers more travel options, whether leaving work early to get a head start on festivities or attending fireworks displays on the Fourth of July.
On Friday, June 28, extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Hudson River Waterfront on more than a dozen bus routes starting around 2 p.m. Visit njtransit.com for details.
On Wednesday, July 3, extra outbound trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines starting at approximately 1 p.m. Extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Hudson River Waterfront on more than three dozen bus routes starting around noon. Visit njtransit.com for details.
On Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule. River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information.
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Service
To accommodate spectators traveling to the New Jersey Waterfront to view the annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display over the Hudson River, NJ TRANSIT will supplement existing weekend/holiday rail service with additional trains to and from Hoboken Terminal before and after the event. Certain trains will depart from Hoboken Terminal later than their scheduled times following the event.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate additional trips between Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken starting after 4 p.m.
Also on July 4, extra trips will operate to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on selected bus routes.
Detailed service information is available at njtransit.com/fireworks.
NJ TRANSIT is reminding customers that the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management has announced that due to security concerns in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombing, those entering the public viewing areas for this year’s fireworks display will not be allowed to bring coolers or backpacks or other similar kinds of closed carry bags.
Summer Savings
With the summer season in full swing, now is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags Great Adventure, Monmouth Park Racetrack and Mountain Creek Waterpark:
Beach Packages: Save up to $6.50 on admission to one of five beaches— Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar—by purchasing round-trip train fare and a beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows. Customers can purchase the package for $31.50 from New York Penn Station or any station on the Main, Bergen County or Pascack Valley lines (except from Metro-North stations), and for $23.50 from Hoboken Terminal or Newark Penn Station. Beach Packages are now on sale daily through Labor Day, Monday, September 2.
Shore EZride Jitney provides shuttle service to beaches, shopping and dining locations from Long Branch and Asbury Park stations.
NJ TRANSIT customers can ride the jitney for free with a coupon available on njtransit.com. For jitney info and shore activities, go to visitmonmouth.com.
Six Flags Great Adventure or Hurricane Harbor: Save up to $37 by purchasing round-trip bus transportation and park admission together.
NJ TRANSIT provides express bus service to Six Flags from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, Newark Penn Station, Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal, Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, and from Freehold.
Monmouth Park: Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system and save up to $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack. Simply purchase a round-trip package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Monmouth Park Racetrack”) or at ticket windows, and receive Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $1 plus round-trip train fare.
Mountain Creek Waterpark: Save up to $8 on the adult admission price when you ride Bus No. 304 from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Weehawken, Union City, North Bergen or Wayne Transit Center on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, June 15 through September 2.
Field Station: Dinosaurs: Take the train to Secaucus Junction, less than a 10-minute walk from the outdoor Dinosaur park, and save $1 on the Explorer’s Pass.
Newark Bears Baseball: Buy two tickets for the price of one to see the Newark Bears at Riverfront Stadium when you present your NJ TRANSIT light rail, bus or rail ticket.
Camden Riversharks Baseball: Save $3 when you take NJ TRANSIT light rail, bus or rail service to see the Camden Riversharks at Campbell’s Field.
IRS accused of granting $500 mln in suspicious contracts
Published time: June 26, 2013 16:47
A Virginia IT company inappropriately secured $500 million worth of IRS contracts based on false statements and ties to an agency official, according to a congressional staff report released on Tuesday.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a report accusing an Internal Revenue Service employee of procuring inappropriate contracts for a small business called Strong Castle, which was founded in 2011 by a man named Braulio Castillo.
In 2012, Castillo received more than $500 million in IRS awards for his technology firm and a mere $465,780 from other federal government agencies. The report accuses IRS deputy director Greg Roseman, a close friend of Castillo’s, of “influencing the selection process” to benefit his friend.
“The IRS – where Strong Castle received well over 99 percent of its 2012 revenues – employs Castillo’s long-time friend, Greg Roseman, who oversaw each and every contract awarded to Strong Castle by the IRS in 2012,” the report’s authors wrote.
The congressional committee also found that before launching the IT company, Castillo filed for “disability rating” with the Veterans Administration, claiming he suffered from a foot injury he obtained at a military prep school in 1984. The rating qualified Strong Castle as a “service-disabled, veteran-owned small business,” which gave it preferential treatment in bidding competitions. But Castillo never served on active duty, and played college sports after the alleged injury.
“The case of Strong Castle and its cozy relationship with the IRS is but one example of a deeply flawed procurement process in the federal government,” the report says.
Readers says Mayor Aronsohn missed a prime opportunity to clear the air
I tuned in just after the meeting began last night when they were honoring some crossing guards. I do not think Aronsohn made any statement prior to that, but maybe he did. If the tape ever goes up on the website maybe I can see, but that seems to be a very delayed process.
Last night they approved a new contractor to manage the tasks that Riche’s company used to do. OK, fine, that is completed and everyone agrees that it is the right way to go. This would have been the PRIME opportunity for Aronsohn to then make a brief statement that while he was glad that the situation with employing an elected official was resolved, he was sorry for the public manner in which it was managed. He could have re-gained a lot of credibility if he had done this.
As to the very strong likelihood that Aronshon called the Ridgewood News to pull a resident’s letter, this needs to be investigated. Such an underhanded tactic is outrageous and the public needs to know that our elected official stooped so low. I hope the Ridgewood News comes clean on this or I hope the letter writer pursues this.
Global Warming as a 21st Century Religion
Posted: 22/06/2013 00:00
Peter Lilley
Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, former Cabinet minister
G.K. Chesterton said that “when people stop believing in orthodox religion, rather than believe in nothing, they will believe in anything”. One of the ersatz religions which fills the void in recent years is belief in Catastrophic Man-Made Global Warming. It claims to be based on science. But it has all the characteristics of an eschatological cult.
It has its own priesthood and ecclesiastical establishment – the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; they alone can interpret its sacred scriptures – the Assessment Reports; it anathematises as ‘deniers’ anyone who casts doubt on its certainties; above all it predicts imminent doom if we do not follow its precepts and make the sacrifices it prescribes.
What most clearly distinguishes the Catastrophic Global Warming cult from science is that it is not refutable by facts. As Parliament enacted the Climate Change Bill, on the presumption that the world was getting warmer, it snowed in London in October – the first time in 74 years. Supporters explained “extreme cold is a symptom of global warming”!
The Met Office – whose climate model is the cult’s crystal ball to forecast centuries ahead – has made a series of spectacularly unreliable short term forecasts: “Our children will not experience snow” (that was 2000, before the recent run of cold winters), a barbecue summer (before the dismal 2011 summer), the drought will continue (last spring before the wettest summer on record). Now they say that rain and floods are the new normal. But – hot or cold, wet or dry – global warming is always to blame.
Volunteer Center of Bergen County announces new officers and directors
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Pascack Valley Community Life
Bergen County — The Volunteer Center of Bergen County has announced newly elected officers and directors.
Michael Stern of Ridgewood, was elected first vice president. Stern is president and CEO of Kreisler Manufacturing and member of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2009.
Roberta Sonenfeld of Ridgewood, was elected second vice president. Sonenfeld, formerly Senior VP, Emigrant Bank in New York City, is active in Ridgewood schools and member of Bergen LEADS Class of 2010.
The Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department invites you to participate in the art exhibit entitled
“A Student’s Celebration of Art” during the month of July at the Stable Gallery, 259 N. Maple Avenue.
Watercolors, Chinese Brush Painting, Acrylics, Pastels, Drawing and Sculpture projects are just some of the pieces to be displayed. All students who have attended an art class at The Stable, through the Parks and Recreation Department, are welcome to bring one favorite piece for display, labeled with your name and class before June 25th. Please call 201-670-5560 if further information is needed.
Please invite your family and friends to attend an Artist Reception, scheduled for Thursday, July 25th, between the hours of 4:00 and 6:00p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Road Warrior: Our dangerous crosswalks
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
By JOHN CICHOWSKI
ROAD WARRIOR COLUMNIST
A pedestrian killed in an April hit-and-run on Williams Avenue in Hasbrouck Heights. A pregnant mother knocked down by a car while pushing a stroller on Godwin Avenue in Ridgewood a few weeks later. And a month after that, a woman injured by a car turning onto Bridge Plaza North – the 19th pedestrian struck in Fort Lee this year.
No wonder Marliese Daglian is becoming more and more reluctant to walk across streets, even in Tenafly, the hometown she loves – even in places designed for safe walking, such as the crossing at the blinking light at Riveredge Road and Railroad Avenue or the marked crosswalk at Knickerbocker Road and Crabtree Lane.
“Even when crossing with lights in designated crosswalks, I don’t feel safe once I’ve entered the intersection,” said Marliese, who walks with friends to stay fit. “When cars to the left stop to let me pass, those coming from the right step on the gas to make it past me while I’m stuck in the center of the crossing.”
Mayor Aronsohn fills key committee and advisory board positions
June 26,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Public Library has big night as Mayor Aronsohn Appoints many friends of the library to key advisory board and committee positions .
Appoint Members to Community Center Advisory Board – Appoints the following members to this Board with terms that will expire 6/30/14: Marilyn Sneirson – Senior Citizen Resident; James Griffith – Senior Citizen Resident; Liz Kloak – Adult Resident (children in Ridgewood school system); Nancy Friedman – Adult Resident (children in Ridgewood school system);Ryan Peene – Adult Resident; Glenn Jorgensen – Adult Resident; Captain Jacqueline Luthcke or designee – Ridgewood Police Dept. Liaison; Nancy Bigos – Parks & Recreation Dept. Representative; and Sheila Brogan – Ridgewood Bd. of Education Liaison
Appoint Members to Citizens Safety Advisory Committee – Appoints the following to terms that will expire on 12/31/13: Patrick Banks and John Lukas
Appoint Village Councilmembers as Liaisons to Various Boards and Committees
Appoints Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck who with her husband has been active in raising money for Ridgewoood Library for some time as the Mayor’s Representative to the Ridgewood Library Board of Trustees and Councilman
Albert Pucciarelli ,he was a Director of the Ridgewood Library Foundation from 2002 to 2010 as the Council Liaison to the Financial Advisory Committee
Also the wife of Glenn F.Jorgensen, founding president of the library board has been appoint chairwoman of the new tiger team ( Financial Advisory Committee ) Looks like the library is set for awhile.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
346 AM EDT THU JUN 27 2013
…FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON…
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY
THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
* LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST TODAY…THEN MOVE NORTH
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT AS THIS SYSTEM
INTERACTS WITH A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVER THE AREA. THIS
ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY.
* THIS SETUP IS CONDUCIVE TO BANDS OF HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS TRAINING OVER THE SAME AREA. LOCALIZED RAINFALL
RATES COULD EXCEED 2 INCHES IN AN HOUR IF THUNDERSTORMS TRAIN
OVER THE SAME AREA FOR AN HOUR…WHICH WOULD CA– USE URBAN AND
SMALL STREAM FLASH FLOODING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
