Ridgewood Council puts parking permit plan on hold
Monday February 18, 2013, 10:49 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood Council defeated an ordinance that would have handed over the 23 parking spaces on Heermance Place to the Board of Education. The village will, however, revisit the issue sooner rather than later, officials said.
School district officials called for a change in their request that the village convert the spots on the municipally owned street into permit parking spaces. Permits are expected to be issued to Ridgewood High School faculty and staff.
The change, which would impact effective hours, was deemed “substantive” by Village Attorney Matt Rogers, who advised the council to defeat |the previously introduced ordinance and return with an updated version.
East side of Ridgewood Train station getting a makeover
Monday February 18, 2013, 1:04 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
If funding falls into place and the weather cooperates, members of the newly formed Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands (CRPL) hope to give the east |side of the NJ Transit railway a facelift this spring and replace |the overgrown brush with lush landscaping.
CPRL officers Maribeth Lane and Cynthia Hallaby presented a rough outline of the plan at last week’s Ridgewood Council work session and earned the endorsement of the entire governing body. The project will be fully paid for through CPRL’s wallets, which are filled through fundraisers and donations.
“This is so wonderful,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn said. “We’re a big fan of the conservancy, and we really appreciate the work that you’re doing.”
The proposal marks the first major undertaking for the group, which was created last fall with the intention of providing funding and support to restore and improve Ridgewood parks. Planning started in December, according to Lane, and more than 50 local families have already responded with donations for the multi-faceted project.
NJ hospitals pioneer cost-cutting model
Posted: Feb 18, 2013 10:42 AM EST Updated: Feb 18, 2013 10:43 AM EST
By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) – A program to reduce medical costs in New Jersey is going national.
Since 2009, a dozen New Jersey hospitals have given doctors bonuses when they save the hospitals money as they treat patients covered by Medicare. It’s a concept called gainsharing.
The New Jersey Hospital Association says costs have been reduced 8 to 10% at the hospitals over the first three years of the program.
Surfing the internet for long periods of time can cause withdrawal symptoms ‘similar to people on a comedown from ecstasy’
The results showed heavy web users tend to be more depressed and show higher levels of autism traits
When people come off-line, they suffer increased negative mood – just like people coming off illegal drugs
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 12:16 EST, 17 February 2013 | UPDATED: 18:29 EST, 17 February 2013
Using the internet for hours on end can result in withdrawal symptoms similar to the ‘comedown’ experienced by drug users, scientists warned yesterday.
Researchers found spending excessive periods of time surfing the internet left people in ‘negative moods’.
Bid award for ramp at Graydon Pool postponed
Monday February 18, 2013, 12:28 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
In what has become a years-long process, the Ridgewood Council will wait until next month to approve a contract for the construction of an ADA-compliant ramp at Graydon Pool.
Plans and specifications for the ramp were approved last week, but the Village Council was advised to hold its award to the project’s lowest responsible bidder. Ridgefield-based C and C Masonry came in with a bid of approximately $48,000.
“We ran into a timing difficulty,” Village Manager Ken Gabbert said of the delay. The plans have been held up in Trenton, where they are being reviewed according to standard procedure.
“We have not gotten the OK in terms of the plans to make the award to the contractor,” he said. “Hopefully, Trenton will make a good turnaround and we’ll be back on schedule.”
Gas prices have risen for 32 days straight, according to AAA.
That means that the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has increased more than 13% over that period to $3.73.
It’s hitting wallets right in the middle of winter, when people are already looking at large home heating bills. And it comes just after many Americans have been hit with smaller paychecks, and are worried about looming budget cuts that could deliver an even deeper blow.
What’s behind the higher prices at the pump? It’s a confluence of factors, from rising crude oil prices, to production cuts and refinery closings.
“Right now, things are tight worldwide,” said Ray Carbone, president of New York commodities trading firm Paramount Options. “Refineries going down, unanticipated maintenance, and higher demand … going into driving season.”
Menendez swearing in Mayor Paul Aronsohn Photo by Boyd Loving
Port deal tied to Menendez under scrutiny
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — When the U.S. Embassy set out to press the Dominican government over a long-stalled contract to provide port security, American officials took on some tough opponents. The deal had languished for more than a decade amid stiff resistance from the American Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of American and local businessmen in the Dominican Republic, and the country’s customs authorities.
Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre’s team pushed the government to enforce the contract — which calls for operating X-ray scanners to screen cargo at the country’s ports — despite objections over its merits and its price tag. (Washington Post)
The Washington Post is reporting that the FBI is investigating allegations that U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez solicited prostitutes while traveling in the Dominican Republic but has so far failed to substantiate the claim.
According to the Post, the investigation includes the allegations that some of the prostitutes were underage. (Isherwood/PolitickNJ)
Leading Geneticist: Human Intelligence is Slowly Declining
by Mike Barrett
February 17th, 2013 | Updated 02/18/2013 at 4:02 am
Would you be surprised to hear that the human race is slowly becoming dumber, and dumber? Despite our advancements over the last tens or even hundreds of years, some ‘experts’ believe that humans are losing cognitive capabilities and becoming more emotionally unstable. One Stanford University researcher and geneticist, Dr. Gerald Crabtree, believes that our intellectual decline as a race has much to do with adverse genetic mutations. But there is more to it than that.
According to Crabtree, our cognitive and emotional capabilities are fueled and determined by the combined effort of thousands of genes. If a mutation occurred in any of of these genes, which is quite likely, then intelligence or emotional stability can be negatively impacted.
Reader Says Village Police Department should Set up a “potentially dangerous dog advisory board”
What about cats? Where is this going to stop? I think the Mayor should start a potentially dangerous dog advisory board.( PDDAB)
The police should identify “potentially dangerous” residents or their kids and charge them accordingly
I think a “potentially dangerous dog advisory board” would be great if there appeared to be an overall problem with dangerous dogs in Ridgewood. Does this kind of situation exist to the degree that an advisory board would be of benefit? I’m not so sure.
How many attacks by dangerous dogs have their been? I’m certain that the Ridgewood Police Dept. would be aware if there were a potential problem with a specific dog. In that case, I could see the pet owner being subjected to fines or confiscation of a dangerous animal. But $700 for licensing a dog that has yet to pose a danger, based solely on it’s breed seems unreasonable.
As Expected Study says housing complexes would ease village traffic
Monday, February 18, 2013
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — A study commissioned by the village shows that four high-density, multifamily housing complexes proposed for downtown could alleviate traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety.
A major concern for residents opposed to the developments is that they would bring more traffic to an already congested village.
But a traffic planner hired by Ridgewood disagrees.
John Jahr of Maser Consulting last week presented his findings from a traffic study focused on Ridgewood Station — a 114-unit luxury apartment and retail complex at the former Ken Smith Motors dealership.
“Three developers have come before us,” Jahr said. “All have generated traffic impact studies and they have all kindly understood these developments will have an impact on traffic. Ridgewood already has a significant traffic situation.”
Saying the village was a “victim of its own success,” Jahr said that Ridgewood has “over-capacity issues with traffic.” However, he noted the “developers have indicated that they will mitigate [their projects’] impact on traffic.”
Reader says we simply cant afford the current Village compensation/benefit structure
2012 Census data shows that state and local workers cost employers over 50% more (in dollar terms) per hour than non-union private sector workers and almost 8% more than private sector union employees. Further, state and local workers’ “retirement expenses” cost employers over 300% more than non-union private sector employees and almost 26% more than private sector union employees.
A Ridgewood employee, who retires at 55 today is expected to live at least 26 years after retirement. Thus, if this employee receives a $100K annual pension, the retiree can be expected to receive $2.6mm in pension payments, excluding any pension benefits received by his or her spouse beyond his or her death. This is more than 90% of Americans will earn in their entire working lives. In fact, many of Ridgewood’s police officers are among the 5% of highest wage Earnes in the US. One does not have to perform these jobs to know that there is something wrong with this.
Nor does One does not have to have performed a job to understand that when the average Ridgewood police or fire officer receives dramatically more than their peers in NJ and that more than a few of them receive 100% more than the average, they are over-paid.
More importantly, we can’t afford the current compensation/benefit structure for our police and fire contracts. The idea of increasing the number of employees under the current contracts is ludicrous.
There are a number of variables that contribute to whether a pension fund is fully funded or under-funded. The contributions are only one element and the meager contributions by employees is not compelling. A more important variable is the performance of the investments in the fund, which have underperformed for some time, creating a massively greater under-funded condition than you suggest.
Ridgewood Knights of Columbus to Host Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance
Ridgewood-NJ-February 18, 2013: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus are once again proud to be sponsoring their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 23rd, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street in Ridgewood.
The Best of Everything will cater a full-course of traditional Irish fare including corned beef and cabbage. The renowned Willie Lynch Band will be playing Irish classics and great dance music. There will also be a special appearance by the Irish Step Dancers from the McLoughlin Dance School.
Tickets are $50 each. Payment can be mailed to:
Mark Stappenbeck
452 Hunter Road
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 444 – 3346
Come enjoy this annual celebration as the Knights of Columbus continue the tradition that the People of Ireland started over a thousand years ago. And what better way to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick then to gather with friends and family, enjoy a fine meal, and dance to great music!
Come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s with the Ridgewood Knights !
NJ Transit Authority Should Bring Us E-Tickets, Not More Paper
Andrea Smith2 days ago
Mashable OP-ED
To expand its fare payment technology, New Jersey Transit will now give you paper dollar bills in some of those vending machines that sell paper tickets. Yes, they’re finally moving away from using $1 coins (which no one wants as a form of change anyway). But here’s a thought: Why not bypass the change and the paper tickets altogether and move to e-tickets?
I take NJ Transit trains to commute into New York City every day. If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve likely read my grumblings about how insane it is for conductors to make their way through cars — filled with people standing shoulder to shoulder — taking and punching holes in paper tickets.
Last week I needed to purchase one of those paper tickets as a “step-up” to my monthly rail pass. I asked the conductor for a ticket and he told me he was out of paper tickets and couldn’t sell me one. Out of tickets!
Chinese Club at Ridgewood High School celebrates New Year
Friday, February 15, 2013
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, Feb. 10 ushered in the “Year of the Snak
This year brings more attention to those born in previous years of the snake. The Year of the Snake is sometimes considered a “mini dragon,” and the dragon is a Chinese symbol for good luck.
In Louise Cheng’s Ridgewood High School (RHS) Chinese classroom last Tuesday, during the Chinese Club’s annual Chinese New Year Festival, students and educators invited to the free lunchtime Chinese banquet had a little good fortune.
