Author: James

Miniature Horses in the Dining Room? according to the new ADA its the law
June 26,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines which went into effect on March 15,and are already being applied to everything form miniature golf courses, driving ranges, amusement parks, shooting ranges and saunas and hotel pools .

But the provision that got our attention in the “Revised ADA Standards for Accessible Design, is provision  requiring businesses to allow miniature horses on their premises as guide animals for the disabled.

According to CNS NEWS ( https://cnsnews.com/news/article/new-disability-regs-limit-slope-mini-golf-holes-require-businesses-admit-mini-horses)  a section of the guidelines regulating commercial facilities states that, “a public accommodation shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.”

A public accommodation is defined as “a private entity that owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.”

“Miniature horses were suggested by some commenters as viable alternatives to dogs for individuals with allergies, or for those whose religious beliefs preclude the use of dogs,” the rules state.  Also mentioned as a reason to include the animals is the longer life span of miniature horses – providing approximately 25 years of service as opposed to seven years for dogs.

“Some individuals with disabilities have traveled by train and have flown commercially with their miniature horses,” the Justice Department notes.

“Similar to dogs, miniature horses can be trained through behavioral reinforcement to be ‘housebroken,’” it adds.

However, “Ponies and full-size horses are not covered.”

A business owner can deny admission to a miniature horse that is not housebroken, whose handler does not have sufficient control of the animal, or if the horse’s presence compromises “legitimate safety requirements.”

Cant wait to see my first mini horse in Ridgewood.

Minimum wage proposal gets minimum attention, frizzles out during N.J. budget battle

New Jersey’s top Democratic leaders vowed to raise the minimum wage by 17 percent this year, but their proposal has quietly fallen off the agenda during a mad dash to lock up a new budget and a controversial plan to merge the state’s universities.

The minimum wage was a top priority this year for Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who called an increase long overdue in January when they rolled out the plan.

They conceded today they would miss their July 1 goal to raise the minimum wage but said they would try again later this year.  (Rizzo, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/minimum_wage_proposal_gets_min.html

Christie to Dems: Get ‘hell’ off beach

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wants people to bring back his famous phrase and tell the state’s Democratic legislators to “get the hell off the beach” this summer.

“And so here comes the [former Gov. Jon] Corzine Democrats summer tour,” the Republican governor said at a town hall meeting Tuesday, a video of which was posted on his YouTube page. “And get ready ‘cause it will be entertaining, I can guarantee you. We’re going to make sure we hold them to account. And you see any of them this summer, you see any of these legislators down at the beach, tell ‘em — in fact, why don’t you use a phrase that I used. I think that it’s appropriate. It was appropriate back last September, last August, and it’s more just appropriate now.”  (Weinger, Politico)

https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77863.html

Christie supports N.J. bill to increase solar requirement

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose administration has called solar power an economic “albatross,” is expected to sign legislation that would increase the amount of solar energy state utilities must buy.

The New Jersey State Assembly approved a bill yesterday that requires utilities to obtain 2.05 percent of their power from solar projects in 2014, up from less than half of 1 percent of the state’s power now. The vote was 68-4, with five abstentions, approving the same bill that passed in the state Senate on May 31.   (Martin, Bloomberg)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-26/christie-may-sign-n-j-bill-to-increase-solar-requirement.html

Training network helps pinpoint where healthcare jobs are

State labor officials are trying to help job-seekers find employment in healthcare, long one of New Jersey’s most dynamic generators of new jobs.

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development is beginning year two of its “talent network” initiative, which seeks to promote economic development in six key sectors, one of which is healthcare. Robert Grimmie, director of the labor department’s Center for Occupational Employment Information, said part of the mission of the state’s Health Care Talent Network, which is based at Rutgers, is to gather real-time intelligence on the specific healthcare jobs in high demand, then get that information out to the unemployed, so they can pursue the education and skills that will land them jobs.  (Fitzgerald, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0626/1903/

Low-carb diet burns the most calories in small study
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY

A new study is raising questions about the age-old belief that a calorie is a calorie.

The research finds that dieters who were trying to maintain their weight loss burned significantly more calories eating a low-carb diet than they did eating a low-fat diet.

But some experts say these findings are very preliminary.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was designed to see if changing the type of diet people consumed helped with weight maintenance because dieters often regain lost weight.

So scientists had 21 obese participants, ages 18 to 40, lose 10% to 15% of their initial body weight (about 30 pounds). After their weight had stabilized, each participant followed one of three different diets for four weeks. Participants were fed food that was prepared for them by diet experts. The dieters were admitted to the hospital four times for medical and metabolic testing.

Here’s a look at the three types of diets used in the new study:

A low-fat diet, which is about 20% of calories from fat, 60% from carbohydrates, 20% from protein. It emphasizes whole-grain products and fruits and vegetables and cuts way back on oils, nuts, fatty meats and other high-fat foods.

A low-carb diet, similar to the Atkins diet, with only 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, 60% from fat. This diet emphasizes beef, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, some vegetables and fruits while slashing the consumption of breads, pasta, potatoes, rice, cakes, cookies and starchy vegetables.

https://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-06-27/calories-low-carb-weight-loss/55843134/1

Ridgewood Schools roll out Five Year Curriculum Plans

At the June 18 Board of Education meeting, Greg McDonald (Technology), Basil Pizzuto (Business) and Chris McCullough (Fine and Applied Arts) presented curriculum review and planning reports for these areas.

Click here to view the Art and Music Five-Year Plan.

https://tinyurl.com/7lve2b8

Click here to view the Business and Marketing Five-Year Plan.

https://tinyurl.com/6tdq8wc

Click here to view the Technology Five-Year Plan.

https://tinyurl.com/8ynkr5a

A reader asks ,”Is the cell tower on Barnett and First Street necessary after below described transaction between T-Mobile and Verizon?”

Verizon, T-Mobile Agree Spectrum Swap Pending Cable Deal
By Scott Moritz and Todd Shields – Jun 25, 2012 4:32 PM ET

Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless carrier, agreed to sell airwave licenses to T-Mobile USA Inc., contingent on Verizon completing a $3.6 billion acquisition of spectrum from cable companies.

The exchange will allow Verizon to sell T-Mobile some of the surplus spectrum it will have in certain cities as a result of the SpectrumCo deal, which was proposed by Verizon in December. SpectrumCo is a joint venture of cable companies led by Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), which forged the accord as part of a plan to jointly market services with Verizon.

In the deal, Verizon will swap advanced wireless services, or AWS, spectrum covering 60 million people for airwaves from T- Mobile covering 22 million people plus an undisclosed payment.

The agreement with T-Mobile, which had opposed the SpectrumCo deal, is the second move by Verizon to sell spectrum pending approval of the cable airwaves purchase. In April 18, to help ease approval by the Federal Communications Commission for the SpectrumCo deal, Verizon agreed a sale of 700 megahertz A and B spectrum it bought in 2008.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-25/verizon-t-mobile-usa-agree-to-spectrum-swap-pending-cable-deal.html

Democratic lawmakers push bill requiring for-profit hospitals to post financial records to aid unions 
Monday, June 25, 2012, 5:40 PM Updated: Monday, June 25, 2012, 5:44 PM
By Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON — As the number of for-profit hospitals continues to grow in New Jersey, a bill that would require they publicly disclose information about their investors, audits and other financial records won final legislative passage today.

The bill skipped the customary committee hearing in the Assembly and was posted on the floor for a 49-22 vote with five abstentions.

The bill (A2143) passed the Senate in March and now heads to Gov. Chris Christie, who will decide whether to sign it.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) has said she sponsored the bill to make the growing number of for-profit hospitals more accountable, as they clashed with labor unions and in some cases dropped contracts with managed care plans.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/nj_lawmakers_approve_bill_requ_1.html

Ridgewood’s 102nd annual Fourth of July Celebration: Let’s Make it a Safe Celebration

Ridgewood’s 102nd annual Fourth of July Celebration will take place on Wednesday,July 4, 2012. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Born in New Jersey.”

Ridgewood’s celebration was founded in 1910 as a “safe and sane” way to celebrate Independence Day. Today, as our celebration continues, the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee along with the Ridgewood Police Department, Ridgewood Fire Department and Ridgewood Emergency Services have some pointers to keep the spirit of safety that began so long ago.

Some things to consider when watching the fabulous Parade:
• Wear sun block
• Drink plenty of water
• Consider ear plugs (some of those sirens are very loud!)
• Please keep the roadways clear.
− The streets are closed to traffic, but open to parade vehicles – some of
which are very large and have poor visibility, especially turning corners.

And, while waiting for the equally fabulous Fireworks display:
• Drink plenty of water
• Consider ear plugs (some of the ‘booms’ are very loud!)
• On Veterans Field, please keep the coned-off ‘aisles’ clear for emergency access
• On Maple Avenue, please no seating – Police, Fire and EMS require open
access from the field to the main streets for emergency vehicles.

At both events, please note that there are Police Officers and EMS Personnel located throughout the areas to assist you with any and all safety issues or concerns.

While the celebration is fun – we all keep safety as our number one priority. We hope you can join us with this priority in order to keep the “safe and sane” celebration continuing for years to come.

The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is organized by the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration, Inc., an all-volunteer community group. All aspects of the Celebration including fireworks, bands, evening performers, insurance, police and fire personnel, are funded by voluntary participation from businesses and individuals as well as the sale of tickets to our fireworks show. The Committee is not part of the Village of Ridgewood government and receives no direct funding from the Village.

Additional information and answers to many of your questions can be found on the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration’s website at www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org. Please join with the Committee in 2012 as we once again “Support the Tradition!”

Compromise bill could help ease fears of collapse in solar sector, ratepayers pick up the tab

The Legislature yesterday approved a fix to prop up the state’s solar market, with both the Assembly and the Senate easily passing a compromise bill that aims to speed up a mandate requiring how much of New Jersey’s electricity should come from solar systems.

The bill (A-2966), the subject of intense lobbying by the solar sector through this past weekend, ends a six-month effort by the industry to get legislation passed to avert what some fear could be a collapse in new investments in the technology in New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie has said he will sign the bill.  (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0625/2256/

Stockton, Calif., faces midnight deadline to avert bankruptcy
By Jim Christie
SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 | Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:55am IST

(Reuters) – Stockton, California was at risk on Monday of becoming the largest U.S. city ever to file for bankruptcy as the clock ticked down toward the midnight deadline of talks with creditors.

If Stockton, home to a population of 292,000 about 85 miles east of San Francisco, fails to win concessions in the talks to close a $26 million shortfall for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, City Manager Bob Deis will soon seek protection from creditors with a rare Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing.

On Tuesday evening the city council will vote on a so-called pendency plan budget crafted by Deis to guide the city’s finances during bankruptcy proceedings.

https://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/economy-stockton-idINL2E8HP8Z720120625

Sports fields and trails planned for Historic Schedler Zabriskie Property
June 26, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Plans for converting the 7-acre property Florence Schedler property off Route 17 north into sports fields and nature trails will be presented in the fall by the Village Open Space Committee.

The Village Open Space Committee held three public forums in April and May looking for public comment to determine the best use for the 7-acre parcel on Route 17 at the West Saddle River Road exit.

The usual given and take was expressed between “sports groups” pushing for ball fields and neighborhood groups namely the Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) group looking to keep the property more pristine and perhaps develop its historical character.

Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED), formed by local neighbors wanted keep the “historic” Schedler house preserved and used as a community meeting space.

The historic Schedler Zabriskie Property is named for former owner Florence Schedler and was purchased by the village in 2009 for $2.7 million with money from an open-space tax and a $1.57 million grant. Preservationist claim the property