New Players Company sets stage for unique shows in Ridgewood
TUESDAY JUNE 4, 2013, 10:58 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
They’re upbeat, tragic, quirky and classic.Shows presented by the New Players Company (NPC) at Ridgewood High School (RHS) have touched on everything from the popular and well-known (such as this year’s “Aida,” past years’ “West Side Story” and “12 Angry Jurors”), to more obscure subject matter.More complex shows have included “The Secret in the Wings,” about the disturbing side of fairy tales; “Side Show,” a cult musical about conjoined twins; “The Skin of Our Teeth,” a three-part allegory about mankind; and “Flowers for Algernon,” about a developmentally disabled man who undergoes surgery to increase his intelligence, which was controversial for its sex scenes.
In 2005, there was “Red Noses” – a comedy about the black plague.
Every year, some people absolutely love the choice of shows, and some people would have preferred others.
Parents, Coaches: Know the Risks of Concussions in Youth Sports
June 4, 2013
Ridgewood NJ. To assist parents and coaches in protecting young athletes from the serious head injuries that can result from returning to play too soon after a suffering a concussion, The Valley Hospital Sports Institute offers the ImPACT Concussion Management Test. ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is an innovative computerized evaluation system that assesses the effects and severity of a concussion and helps determine when it is safe for an athlete to return to contact sports following a concussion.
ImPACT testing is suitable for athletes ages 12 and older. It is a 20-30 minute neurocognitive test battery that has been scientifically validated to measure the effects of sports-related concussion. Typically, in the preseason each athlete is given a baseline test. And, when a concussion is suspected during the season, a follow-up test is administered to see if the results have changed from the baseline. This comparison helps to diagnose and manage the concussion. Follow-up tests can be administered over days or weeks so clinicians can continue to track the athlete’s recovery from the injury.
The Sports Institute recently enhanced its Concussion Management Program with the addition of the Biodex Biosway Balance testing unit. The test takes about 5 minutes and provides a psycho-motor assessment of concussion injuries. Athletes should be tested in the preseason to gather baseline information that can be used for comparison in the event of a concussion to assess the extent of the injury and the athlete’s readiness to return to activity.
Since most high schools in the area have the testing in place already, the Sports Institute is providing this service primarily for the recreation and town-sponsored youth sports teams for athletes ages 12 and older.
The next scheduled baseline testing sessions will take place on Tuesday, June 18; Wednesday, June 19; and Thursday, June 27. Two sessions will be held on each testing date at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Valley’s Kraft Center, located at 15 Essex Road in Paramus. The tests will be conducted in the 3rd Floor Computer Lab.
Pre-Registration is required, as space is limited. The fee is $25. Space is limited. Please call 201-447-8133 for more information and to register.
A concussion is a brain injury. Concussions are most commonly caused by a bump or blow to the head, but, can also be caused by a sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head. In either scenario, the brain, suspended inside the skull and surrounded by fluid, continues to travel with momentum until it “bangs” up against the skull – causing a brain-bruising injury – or concussion. What may seem to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.
You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury, or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. Common symptoms include: headache, dizziness, feeling foggy, nausea, fatigue and confusion. Common signs include memory loss, a loss of balance and coordination, and changes in personality. Concussion severity varies widely, and the number of signs and symptoms vary also – serious injuries may show few symptoms.
Although less common, bleeding in the brain can occur with some head injuries. Loss of consciousness, mental status deterioration and worsening symptoms raise the concern for a bleeding injury. An athlete does not need to lose consciousness (black out) to suffer a concussion. In fact, less than 10 percent of concussed athletes lose consciousness.
An athlete who suffers a concussion can be at risk for a condition known as Second Impact Syndrome if he or she returns to sports before full recovery. Second impact syndrome is a life-threatening condition in which a second concussion occurs before a first concussion has properly healed, causing rapid and severe brain swelling. Second impact syndrome can result from even a very mild concussion that occurs days or weeks after the initial concussion.
“Second Impact Syndrome can be prevented,” Donald Tomaszewski, Director of The Valley Hospital Sports Institute. “Don’t allow an athlete to return to sports after a concussion until their symptoms have completely resolved and they have been cleared by a medical professional experienced in treating concussions
No Surprise: Schools superintendent staying in Ridgewood despite salary cap
TUESDAY JUNE 4, 2013, 10:40 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Superintendent Daniel Fishbein has received the Distinguished Service Award from theBergen County Association of School Administrators (BCASA).
Fishbein on Tuesday expressed appreciation for the award. He also announced that he will be staying in the district after his contract expires this summer, despite the much-publicized salary cap that the state put into effect in 2010.
The cap, which has been opposed by theRidgewood Board of Education, will result in a significant pay cut for Fishbein next year – from more than $220,000 to about $170,000.
The superintendent said he thinks it is unfortunate that superintendents have been singled out by the cap.
They’re crunchy, they’re nutty, they’re low-carb, AND gluten-free
Cicada swarms are all or nothing in North Jersey
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 Last updated: Tuesday June 4, 2013, 11:52 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER
The Record
For about a week now, Pattie Monsaert-Westall of Wayne has had a new daily ritual — sweeping her front stoop. Otherwise, she’d have to take squishy, crunchy steps over the dozens of inch-long cicadas that flop there each morning.
Hundreds of translucent cicada exoskeletons are piled on either side of the entrance and beneath a small magnolia in her yard. Hundreds more are attached to the undersides of the magnolia leaves, like some kind of macabre ornaments.
Then there’s the noise — as if someone had put dozens of powerful loudspeakers in the trees and started blasting the high-pitched whine of a vacuum or an entire parking lot of car alarms.
“It was so deafening over the weekend we couldn’t even stay outside,” said Monsaert-Westall, who lives along the western edge of Packanack Lake.
For some North Jerseyans, the 17-year cicada emergence has hit with a vengeance. But for others, it’s as if the strange bugs never existed.
It’s boom or bust. The bugs have appeared by the tens of thousands in some neighborhoods of Tenafly and Englewood, in Palisades Interstate Park, and among the lake communities in Wayne.
Residents of other towns — from Ridgewood and Lyndhurst to Ramsey and Clifton – say they have neither seen nor heard any cicadas. Many who have braced for the onslaught are hopeful that, indeed, they may have been spared the nuisance.
Christie calls for October election to fill Lautenberg’s Senate seat
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 Last updated: Tuesday June 4, 2013, 11:47 PM
BY HERB JACKSON AND MELISSA HAYES
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
Dismissing the $24 million expense even though he cited cost in two earlier decisions on voting legislation, Governor Christie on Tuesday ordered a special election for October to replace the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg and told candidates to get going if they want to run.
Democrats said they would wait until after Lautenberg’s funeral today before making any formal announcements, even as some made back-channel overtures to party leaders. Republicans, however, appeared to be waiting to see whom Christie chooses as an interim appointee to serve until October. That appointee, if it is someone who is interested in running for the seat, would have an advantage over the rest of the field.
Candidates have until Monday to file petitions with 1,000 valid signatures at the Division of Elections.
Lautenberg, a Democrat, died Monday at age 89 after being elected a state-record five times to the Senate. Vice President Joseph Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are among the speakers at his funeral today in New York City, and there also will be a memorial service at the Secaucus train station named after him, and ceremonies in Washington on Thursday. His burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be Friday.
The Ridgewood Crew Team dominated the competition at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta
June 3,2013
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Crew Team dominated the competition at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. The team brought home four gold medals and one silver.
This is the most gold medals that the Ridgewood team has ever won at the national competition. The Stotesbury Cup Regatta is the largest high school rowing competition in the country, with almost 200 high schools competing in over 30 categories.
The RHS Boys’ Track and Field Team won the North 1, Group 4 Championship
Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Boys’ Track and Field Team won the North 1, Group 4 Championship on May 25. This is the boys’ fourth consecutive win, but for the first time in program history they swept all four championships in which the team competed.
A Mano has only 10 spots left for our Pizza-Making with the Masters Demo
June 4, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, We have 10 spots left for our Pizza-Making with the Masters Demo on Thurs. 6/6, 6pm. Highly acclaimed pizza Chefs Roberto Caporuscio & Antonio Starita’s restaurants have been penned #1 Pizza in New York” by NY mag., “Best Pizza” in the state of NY by Food Network Mag., amongst the top 25 “Best Pizza Places the US” by Food and Wine, and had pizzas featured on the covers of Saveur and La Cucina Italiana mags. Don’t miss it! Call us at 201.493.2000 & the seats are yours!
Grand Slam for West Bergen’s Kids
Wed, June 05, 2013
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club & Indian Trail Club, 915 Glenview Rd., Ridgewood, NJ 07075
Cost: $100 per person
RHS saxophonists Emmett Rapaport and Daniel Kim, and trombonist Marshall Case hit the high notes
June 3,2013
Ridgewood NJ, RHS saxophonists Emmett Rapaport and Daniel Kim, and trombonist Marshall Case successfully auditioned for the Region I Jazz Ensemble. Rapaport was also accepted into the New Jersey All State Jazz Ensemble as lead alto saxophonist.
The All State Jazz Ensemble performs each year at the NJEA Teachers Convention in Atlantic City and at the NJ Performing Arts Center in November. Photo: (L to R): Emmett, Daniel and Marshall pose with Region Jazz Conductor Jim Salzman.
IRS victims testify as new agency scandal emerges
Jun 4, 3:25 AM (ET)
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and ALAN FRAM
WASHINGTON (AP) – Conservative groups who were targeted by the Internal Revenue Service are getting their say on Capitol Hill just as the details of another IRS controversy are being made public.
The leaders of six conservative groups were scheduled to tell lawmakers Tuesday about their mistreatment at the hands of IRS agents. Several of the groups say their applications for tax-exempt status were delayed while agents asked intrusive questions that the IRS has since acknowledged were inappropriate. One group, the National Organization for Marriage, says the IRS publicly disclosed confidential information about donors.
Leaders of the groups were scheduled to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee. Ways and Means is one of three congressional committees investigating the IRS’ treatment of such groups. The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation.
For more than 18 months during the 2010 and 2012 election campaigns, IRS agents in a Cincinnati office singled out tea party and other conservative groups for additional scrutiny when they sought tax-exempt status, according to a report by J. Russell George, the Treasury Department inspector general for tax administration.
The death of sitting U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg gives Governor Christie the opportunity to pick his immediate replacement.
Lautenberg, an 89-year-old Democrat, died overnight. Christie, a Republican, has the authority under state and federal law to select someone to temporarily fill the vacancy pending a statewide election, according to a new opinion prepared by the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services, the non-partisan research arm of the state Legislature. (Reitmeyer/The Record)
Top Obama appointees use secret email accounts
Jun 4, 3:31 AM (ET)
By JACK GILLUM
WASHINGTON (AP) – Some of President Barack Obama’s political appointees, including the Cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press.
The scope of using the secret accounts across government remains a mystery: Most U.S. agencies have failed to turn over lists of political appointees’ email addresses, which the AP sought under the Freedom of Information Act more than three months ago. The Labor Department initially asked the AP to pay more than $1 million for its email addresses.
The AP asked for the addresses following last year’s disclosures that the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency had used separate email accounts at work. The practice is separate from officials who use personal, non-government email accounts for work, which generally is discouraged – but often happens anyway – due to laws requiring that most federal records be preserved.
The secret email accounts complicate an agency’s legal responsibilities to find and turn over emails in response to congressional or internal investigations, civil lawsuits or public records requests because employees assigned to compile such responses would necessarily need to know about the accounts to search them. Secret accounts also drive perceptions that government officials are trying to hide actions or decisions.
The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are excited to announce memberships are now on sale for the upcoming summer season and all are invited to join the Graydon Pool facility as season members for the 2013 summer season. Come enjoy fun in the sun so close to home! Opening day was Saturday, June 1st.
Pool features include a shaded playground, water play fountains, shade kites, Adirondack chairs, picnic area, sheltered pavilion, charcoal grills, and The Water’s Edge Café. Additional amenities include a lending library of reading books, volleyball, basketball, ping-pong tables, shuffleboard, four-squares and hop-scotch. Special programs include “Storytime Under a Tree” for the little ones and swim instruction for children and adults, as well as an adaptive swim class. The Graydon Swim Team welcomes youth members, ages 8 to 14.
Resident fees are $110 per adult, $100 per child (ages 2 through 15) and $20 for seniors (62 and older). Non-resident adults will be charged $175 and children, ages 2 through 15, will be charged $155 for the13 week season.
Badges are now on sale and can be purchased from the comfort of home on Community Pass at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass (Visa and MasterCard are accepted). In person registration assistance will be available at the Graydon Pool Badge Office, 259 North Maple Avenue. Badges may be purchased daily throughout the operating season, June 1st through Septemer 2nd.
Details are available at www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon or you may call the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 with any questions or if special accommodations are needed.
