Tatuaje 2012 TAA Limited Edition in stock now at the Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood
The 2012 Tatuaje TAA is now available!
The Tatuaje TAA 2012 is a limited release for Tobacconists’ Association of America shops.
This year it comes in a toro format of 6¼ x 50
which is a slight size change from last year.
This allows for more concentrated flavor from the previous 2011 release.
Stock is limited so they won’t last long!
*Shipping is available for this item, please call to place an order
~Gary, Barbara and Collin
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood | 10 Chestnut Street | Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 Phone: 201-447-2204 | Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 5:30PM and Thursday Night 6:30PM – 8:30PM
The official, head-to-head debates begin next week, but Sunday’s “60 Minutes” appearances by President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) provided a contrast in the ideas offered on the nation’s entitlements and spending crisis.
For his part, the President punted on a serious question about the nation’s concern over spending—blaming everything on President George W. Bush. Instead of addressing the spending question, he waited for the next question about the national debt, which has increased more than 50 percent since he took office. Then came the familiar refrain of why he’s not responsible for Washington’s overspending or the country’s abysmal fiscal situation:
When I came into office, I inherited the biggest deficit in our history. And over the last four years, the deficit has gone up, but 90 percent of that is as a consequence of two wars that weren’t paid for, as a consequence of tax cuts that weren’t paid for, a prescription drug plan that was not paid for, and then the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
These continued excuses ignore the massive increases since the President took office. According to Heritage expert Emily Goff: By fiscal year 2008, the deficit had reached $458.6 billion. The deficit was increasing as Obama came into office, mainly driven by the recession and the first wave of TARP bailouts. But his Administration’s massive stimulus bill sent spending into overdrive and led to a record $1.4 trillion deficit for fiscal year 2009. Deficits have stayed at more than $1 trillion each year since then.
America’s entitlement programs are the major driver of out-of-control spending. Without reform, they would push federal spending to nearly 36 percent of the economy within a generation. Debt held by the public would explode to nearly 200 percent. Serious structural reforms are inevitable—it is merely a question of how we change what we are doing.
In his “60 Minutes” interview, Obama glossed over Obamacare’s cuts to Medicare and the resulting costs for seniors.
Romney, when asked how he would change Social Security, first made clear there should be no changes to benefits for those in or near retirement.
But he went on:
What I’d do with Social Security is say this: that again, people with higher incomes won’t get the same high growth rate in their benefits as people with lower incomes. People who rely on Social Security should see the same kind of growth rate they’ve had in the past. But higher income folks would receive a little less.
As Heritage expert Alison Fraser explains, Social Security is already income-adjusted today. This is called means testing. Benefits are capped for high-income earners, and the calculation of initial benefits a new retiree receives is based on his or her past income. Upper-income retirees pay a much higher tax than those with lower incomes. Romney proposes to extend this income adjusting so that upper-income retirees receive a bit less than they do now.
While many politicians claim that the only way to address entitlements is to raise taxes or cut benefits, expanding means testing is a serious and sound way to pursue reform.
These kinds of solutions can be found in Saving the American Dream, Heritage’s blueprint for solving our spending and debt crises. Saving the American Dream lays out solutions like slowly moving to a flat Social Security benefit that keeps seniors out of poverty, means testing Social Security so that very affluent seniors have a reduced benefit, and moving to a more robust means-tested premium support mechanism for Medicare that offers seniors choice and control over their health dollars and better health outcomes.
Without reforms, entitlement programs will push spending to untenable levels and put undue pressure on vital areas of government such as national defense. The Obama Administration’s comments about reform, like “now is not the time” for fixing Social Security and the need for a “balanced approach,” have been proven hollow by its push for tax hikes on job creators. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and the longer Washington wastes time, the harsher the changes will have to be.
This debate is vital. To save the American economy and sustain the safety net for those who need it, spending must be reined in and entitlement programs must be reformed.
Christie: Plan to put minimum wage hike on ballot ‘ridiculous’
Governor Christie called a plan to raise the minimum wage through a voter-approved Constitutional amendment a “truly ridiculous idea.”
Christie’s comment, made during a press availability at a school groundbreaking ceremony in Long Branch Monday morning, was in response to Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s plans to introduce a resolution next week that would send the minimum wage issue to voters. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, wants to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 beginning in 2014. After that, it would increase based on the annual consumer price index.
Because it’s a resolution and not a bill, the issue would go directly to voters in 2013 if it gets enough legislative support. (Hayes, The Record)
Kean, NJBIA oppose Sweeney’s call for constitutional amendment on minimum wage
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association, along with Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, (R-21), of Westfield, came out against Senate President Steve Sweeney’s proposal to increase the minimum wage, saying it will hurt the state’s economy.
“Rigid automatic increases in the minimum wage will make it almost impossible for the state to respond flexibly to future economic conditions,” NJBIA President Phil Kirschner said in a statement. (Hassan, State Street Wire)
Ridgewood native and RHS Grad Willie Geist tapped as ‘Today’ show co-host
September 25,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , The New York Times is reporting that Ridgewood native and Ridgewood High School graduate Willie Geist has been tapped as the “Today” show’s next host.
Willie Geist,is currently a co-host of MSNBC’s morning show “Morning Joe,” ,this move puts Geist on NBC’s flagship “Today” show as a co-host of the franchise’s 9 a.m. hour. ”
Morning Joe” was invented by Joe Scarborough and Geist has been a regular since 2007.
According to sources the new job would also put him on a shortlist of potential successors to Lauer should he decide to leave “Today”. Since 2010 Geist has been a regular fill-in for Lauer on the show.
At “Today” , Giest will co-host the 9 a.m. hour alongside Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. According to the Times’, Geist is likely to remain at “Morning Joe” in some capacity, but would not continue to be involved with “Way Too Early”.
2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Tony LaRussa tonight 7pm at Bookends
2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Tony LaRussa, Tuesday, September 25th @ 7:00pm
Tony LaRussa, will sign his new book: One Last Strike.Book available Sept. 25th.
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 insure 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
FOOD POLICE: Complaints Mount Against Michelle Obama’s New Lunch Menu
Sep 23, 2012
Kyle Olson
In Wisconsin, high school athletes are complaining about not getting enough to eat each day, due to the skimpy new school lunch menu mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture and First Lady Michelle Obama.
The story we published earlier this week on that subject is unfortunately not unique. Students across the country are complaining about the new school lunch regulations.
Perhaps the real motive is to starve students into slimming down. Just ask students in Pierre, South Dakota who, too, are in an all-out revolt.
“I know a lot of my friends who are just drinking a jug of milk for their lunch. And they are not getting a proper meal,” middle school student Samantha Gortmaker told Keloland.com.
Despite the fact that the new regulations have increased the cost of a lunch 20 to 25 cents per plate, it’s not pleasing students.
Some are throwing away their vegetables while others are adapting to the rules by becoming industrious. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, students have created a black market – for chocolate syrup.
The film, the second-highest-grossing political documentary in U.S. box-office history, has made $32 million domestically since opening in mid July but took in only $938,000 during the recent weekend for a per-screen average of $771, down 27 percent from $1,060 per screen in the previous weekend, according to BoxOfficeMojo. Overall, the movie’s boxoffice dropped 53 percent in the most recent weekend compared with the previous one, its largest decline since opening 10 weeks ago.
It’s a cool Caribbean Calypso party this year at the 10th Annual Mary Therese Rose Fund
Dinner, UNDER THE SEA 2. You and your family are invited to join us on Sunday October
21 at the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah. Ease into the evening with the sounds of the
Caribbean during the hors d’oeuvre and cocktail hour. Then enjoy dinner and featured artists,
The Tropical Beat Steel Drum Band. Cool down at the end of the evening with our delicious ice
cream sundae dessert bar! Kids can make their own music video and learn what is really under
the sea from our guest marine biologist at the touch tank in this year’s kids’ room, open from
4:00 to 5:30 PM. Our dinner and entertainment will follow.
Wear your best beach cabana-wear and we’ll see you on October 21st for some cool times Under
the Sea! $160 Per Adult • $80 Per Child • $1200 Per Table
Mary Therese Rose Crilly was born in 1998 with Joubert Syndrome a rare genetic disorder
which left her profoundly disabled. Though physically limited, Mary’s limitless love and courage
inspired those closest to her to establish a fund in her name to benefit special needs children
being treated out of the Kireker Center for Child Development. The Fund provides needed
therapies and equipment that are so often denied by insurance companies because of lifetime
insurance benefit limits or simple denial of reasonable claims.
Each year The Mary Therese Rose Fund helps families pay for needed equipment like orthotics,
braces, and standers. It also funds activities such as horseback riding that are therapeutic and
brighten the lives of these special kids. It is the goal of The Mary Therese Rose Fund to help
these special children reclaim some of the simple joys of childhood denied them by their
disabilities. Though Mary passed away in 2003 her brief life was filled with joy. In gratitude,
and to honor her memory, supporters of the Mary Therese Rose Fund continue to work so that
other special children can experience some of childhood’s simple joys as Mary did. For more
information on the Mary Therese Rose Fund, go to www.marythereserose.org.
Your tax deductible contribution benefits local special needs kids through The Mary Therese
Rose Fund. Reserve your tickets for this special event by calling Jack Crilly at 201-394-5940 or
e-mailing [email protected].
VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING : Appointment of Municipal Court Judge
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall,by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call
4. Comments from the Public
5. Resolution to go into Closed Session
6. Closed Session
A. Personnel – Municipal Court Judge
7. Resume Open Portion of Special Public Meeting
8. Resolution #12-233 – Appointment of Municipal Court Judge
9, Discussion of Timing for Village Council’s Public Workshop Meeting on October 3, 2012
Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
09/25/12
7:30PM
AGENDA
September 25, 2012
7:30 P.M.
1. Call to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Statement required by the Open Public Meeting Act “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in the Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record and the Herald News and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including date and time of this meeting”.
4. Roll call
5. New Business:
257 East Ridgewood Avenue, LLC – An application for preliminary site plan approval, minor subdivision approval to consolidate interior lot lines and variances so as to permit the redevelopment of property at 253-257 East Ridgewood Avenue, Block 3703, Lots 4, 6, and 8.01. The proposed project calls for the construction of a new five-story addition to an existing commercial building located on the property, which will contain fifty-seven residential dwelling units, as well as structured on site parking.
Editors Note : this project is kown as “The Enclave”
A pilot program for extending the school day and school year
What it is: A bill that would create a pilot program for extending the school day and school year, with the state providing a financial incentive. The legislation, sponsored by some high-powered Democrats, will be heard in committee today.
What it means: Having kids spend more time in the classroom is not a new idea, but it has been restricted by a lack of financing. This new approach calls for rolling it out a few districts at a time. The proposal calls for up to 25 districts to be chosen to test longer schedules and calendars, with $144 million being made available over three years through private contributions and state tax credits.
The stated aim: “The goal of the pilot program shall be to study the effects of a longer school day and school year on advancing student achievement, enhancing the overall school learning environment, and increasing student enrichment opportunities and educational offerings.” (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Like too many other long-reigning fixtures on Capitol Hill, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) doesn’t appreciate the magnitude of the challenge to the authority he presumes to hold over America’s job and wealth creators. Or maybe he does, and frustration over that fact explains why he besmirches companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard.
Levin presided over a Senate hearing last week devoted to examining the “loopholes and gimmicks” used by these multinational companies to avoid paying taxes – and to branding them dirty tax scofflaws. Well here’s a news flash for the senator: incentives matter.
The byzantine U.S. tax code, which Senator Levin – over his 33-year tenure in the U.S. Senate (one-third of a century!) – no doubt had a hand or two in shaping, includes the highest corporate income tax rate among all of the world’s industrialized countries and the unusual requirement that profits earned abroad by U.S. multinationals are subject to U.S. taxation upon repatriation. No other major economy does that. Who in their right minds would not expect those incentives to encourage moving production off shore and keeping profits there?
Minimizing exposure to taxes – like avoiding an oncoming truck – is a natural reaction to tax policy. Entire software and accounting industries exist to serve that specific objective. Unless they are illegal (and that is not what Levin asserts directly), the tax minimization programs employed at Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard are legitimate responses to the tax policies implemented and foreshadowed by this and previous congresses. If Levin is concerned about diminishing federal tax collections from corporations (which, of course, reduces his power), the solution is to change the incentives – to change the convoluted artifice of backroom politics that is our present tax code.
Combine the current tax incentive structure with stifling, redundant environmental, financial, and health and safety regulations, an out-of-control tort system that often starts with a presumption of corporate malfeasance, exploding health care costs, and costly worker’s compensation rules, and it becomes apparent why more and more businesses would consider moving operations abroad – permanently. Thanks to the progressive trends of globalization, liberalization, transportation, and communication, societies’ producers are no longer quite as captive to confiscatory or otherwise suffocating domestic policies. They have choices.
Of course many choose to stay, and for good reason. We are fortunate to have the institutions, the rule of law, deep and diversified capital markets, excellent research universities, a highly-skilled workforce, cultural diversity, and a society that not only tolerates but encourages dissent, and the world’s largest consumer market – still. Success is more likely to be achieved in an environment with those advantages. They are the ingredients of our ingenuity, our innovativeness, our willingness to take risks as entrepreneurs, and our economic success. This is why companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Hewlett-Packard are born in the United States.
But those advantages are eroding.
While U.S. policymakers browbeat U.S. companies and threaten them with sanctions for “shipping jobs overseas” or “hiding profits abroad” or some other manifestation of what politicians like to call corporate greed, characterizing them as a scourge to be contained and controlled, other governments are hungry for the benefits those companies can provide their people. Some of those governments seem to recognize that the world’s wealth and jobs creators have choices about where they produce, sell, and conduct research and development. And some are acting to attract U.S. businesses with incentives that become less necessary every time a politician vents his spleen about evil corporations. Not only should our wealth creators be treated with greater respect from Washington, but we are kidding ourselves if we think our policies don’t need to keep up. As I wrote in a December 2009 Cato paper:
Governments are competing for investment and talent, which both tend to flow to jurisdictions where the rule of law is clear and abided; where there is greater certainty to the business and political climate; where the specter of asset expropriation is negligible; where physical and administrative infrastructure is in good shape; where the local work force is productive; where there are limited physical, political, and administrative friction.
This global competition in policy is a positive development. But U.S. policymakers cannot take for granted that traditional U.S. strengths will be enough. We have to compete and earn our share with good policies. The decisions made now with respect to policies on immigration, education, energy, trade, entitlements, taxes, and the role of government in managing the economy will determine the health, competitiveness, and relative significance of the U.S. economy in the decades ahead.
Since another hearing devoted to thanking these companies for their contriubtions to the U.S. economy is unlikely, perhaps Senator Levin should at least consider the perils of chasing away these golden geese.
New Jersey is a decidedly blue state, but that hasn’t stopped Mitt Romney from competing for the financial gains to be found in one of the wealthiest regions of the country.
President Obama narrowly leads the Republican candidate in the total amount raised here with $5.3 million to Romney’s $5.1 million. However, Obama’s total comes from nearly 36,000 contributions, while Romney’s comes from 6,300, indicating that Republican supporters are backing their candidate with larger checks.
If you were to map out the number of Obama’s contributions from New Jersey against Romney’s, the state would be entirely blue. But the dollar amount presents a different picture. (Sagara, The Star-Ledger)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended Mitt Romney’s decision not to release his full tax returns as the general election looms and ripped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for attacking the GOP nominee on the issue.
“I think every candidate’s got to make the issue on the tax returns for themselves,” Christie told Nevada reporter Jon Ralston on Thursday, the day before Romney released his return for 2011. “You don’t think anybody in America’s gonna make their decision upon Mitt Romney’s tax returns — that’s just silly.”
Christie slammed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for allegations an anonymous Bain investor told the Nevada Democrat that Romney had not paid any taxes for 10 years.
“Of course, Harry Reid wants to talk about that,” the governor said. “Harry Reid has been part of the problem.” (Cervantes, Politico)
