>
You recently wrote an article entitled, “Local blogs: Free speech forums or battle fields?” In that article, “Sue” (moderator of the “Ridgewood Views” blog) was extensively quoted without The Ridgewood News divulging her or her partner’s (“Andrew”) identity or giving any of their background information. This contrasted sharply with your reporting of James Foytlin and his “The Ridgewood Blog.” Why is that? Hasn’t it always been the policy of The Ridgewood News not to print anonymous statements?
When you compare the following statements made by “Sue” in your article with the comments “Sue” and “Andrew” are allowing to be posted on their blog, you will see that there is plenty of name-calling, nasty names and bashing … hardly a civil debate.
“…So we finally decided we can make our own blog and be fair to everybody. And we don’t have the name-calling because that just got ridiculous.”
“It can be said it was a response to the TERC stuff but I think the TERC stuff really just drove home the fact that this name-calling needed to stop…”
While she admits there are “three sides to every story,” Sue said she and Andrew would like to host an environment where people throw around ideas and not nasty names.
“We’re not trying to bash PJ [Foytlin],” she said. “He may have had the best intentions when he started but it seems to have gone awry. It seems with that blog that there is a lot of whining. Everyone’s got a complaint, but no one has an answer.”
The following mission statement is posted on their “Ridgewood Views” blog:
“In reading the postings on The Ridgewood Blog we came to the conclusion that there needed to be a more civil forum which could provide some balance. Unlike the Ridgewood Blog you will find no advertising here. We are not looking to make money from your participation. Here we encourage a free and open exchange of ideas, questions and opinions based on intelligent discussion and debate. The moderators of this blog will NOT post any comments that, in their opinion, contain personal attacks.”
Under the following heading excerpted from their blog there are eight postings.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
No Clear Answers To The Ridgewood Math Debate
Anonymous said…
Have you seen our friends latest post….he is really insane.
July 22, 2007 1:07 PM
Anonymous said…
it’s obvious he is consumed with the math issue, which is a clear sign of someone who is a fanatic.
July 22, 2007 1:36 PM
Anonymous said…
Why is this guy spending so much time on this issue? does he have a child in one of these programs?
July 22, 2007 4:20 PM
Anonymous said…
Because it gets him and his blog attention and he makes money…its that simple.
The fly Swatter
July 22, 2007 4:50 PM
Anonymous said…
If he is such a good Investment Advisor why is he wasting his time running a blog? I would think he would have better ways to spend his time.
July 22, 2007 5:31 PM
watching the lunatic fringe said…
The Math Moms mean well and have legitimate issues with respect to TERC. They were represented well in the Ridgewood News article by Keith Hamas.
Unfortunately, their side has been hijacked by the Lunatic Fringe, i.e. a small group of people in the village who have starred in such episodes as:
— suing the BOE over a high school survey, claiming that their privacy had been violated,
— getting forcefully removed from Orchard School grounds because they were upset about the school’s building expansion,
— threatening to sue Ridgewood Basketball Association to let a girl play in the boys league
— constantly writing letters to the editor of the Ridgewood News about some perceived outrage or injustice.
There are rational adults on both sides of the math debate in the village…and there are irrational cranks with problems that go way, way beyond mathematics.
July 22, 2007 8:00 PM
Anonymous said…
To watching the lunatic fring
Some people have a problem with everything and everyone in their lives. They go out of their way to make trouble for everyone around them. These people usually are very unhappy and angry at the world.
July 22, 2007 9:27 PM
watching the lunatic fringe said…
9:27 — Agreed. Unfortunately, even though they’re a small part of the population (5%? 2%? 1%?), their actions can cause problems for the rest of us, such as
— wasting taxpayer money & civil servant time by launching frivolous lawsuits
— causing a highly-qualified school leader to change his mind and not become superintendent of our schools
— polluting the public debate about what’s best for our children when it comes to math education
As the old saying goes: just a few rotten apples can spoil a whole barrel.
July 22, 2007 9:48 PM
Keith, would it be possible for you to write a follow-up article on “The Ridgewood Views” blog divulging the names of the moderators and giving their background information? I don’t understand why The Ridgewood News allows “Sue” and “Andrew” to remain anonymous while being extensively quoted in your article. Do you allow them to remain anonymous because they have chosen to remain anonymous? Over the years, there were many times while being interviewed by reporters for The Ridgewood News that I would have preferred to remain anonymous but was not afforded that opportunity. Does The Ridgewood News have a double standard?
By the way, Keith, I have corresponded with both “Andrew” and “Sue” using “Sue’s” e-mail address, roxdjs@hotmail.com. In response to my questions to them, “Sue” e-mailed the following background information:
How old are you? Andrew is 53 and I am 31
Are you married? Both Andrew and I are Married (but not to each
other)Do you have children in the system? Andrew had two
children who graduated
from Ridgewood High School. My son is not old enough to attend
school yet.
Did you go through the school system? Andrew and I both
Graduated from
Ridgewood High School.
> > > > Susan
As you can see from the following heading from an e-mail I received from “Andrew” (for some reason he e-mails me through “Sue’s” e-mail address) he openly cc’d “vbombace.”
—– Original Message —–From Susan Roxbury Date Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:24:57 +0000 To caroleanunn@optonline.net Cc vbombace@hotmail.com Subject Ridgewood Views
When I questioned Andrew as to who “vombace” was he responded that she is a relative of Mark and Maria Bombace. I think Andrew meant to bcc V. Bombace but mistakenly cc’d her. It turns out that V. Bombace is Vicki Bombace who resides on Midwood Road with James Bombace (husband and wife?). Isn’t James Bombace our chief of the fire department? There is a Vicki Bombace, age 31 (same age as Susan) who graduated from RHS in 1994 and resides on Midwood Road. Mother/Daughter?
Why create an anonymous platform? James Foytlin takes ownership of his blog and is very open to the public with who he is, what he does for a living, and even provides a picture of himself. Are “Andrew” and “Sue” hiding behind a group of people in this town (some who hold exalted titles such as fire chief and president of the boe)?
Keith, I think it would be revealing to your readers if you did a follow-up article addressing “Andrew” and “Sue’s” forced anonymity and their relationship with leaders in our town (who already have a public platform for their views) versus the openness of James Foytlin’s Ridgewood Blog.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Carole Nunn
>If anyone can find a journalistic standard to which the ridgewood news has been loyal and consistent, please let me know.
>I love The Ridgewood News — it is *the* source for what is going on in the village. Plus, a part of your subscription $ goes to the school system.
>You have to read between the lines of that paper to get any “news.” Quite a lot of it is institutional propaganda and stuff that helps the real estate community–big buyers of advertising.
For instance, you won’t find a story on Graydon and why its subscriptions have plummeted off the cliff.
It’s bad for real estate.
>Postings on the ridgewood view blog are mumbling about filing a lawsuit against Carol Nunn. How do you suppose “Andrew” and “Sue” will appear in court so as to keep their identities a secret? I’m thinking they will dress like the “Unknown Comic” who appeared on the Gong Show in the early 70’s.
>It’s pretty much one-handed clapping over at the View blog.
>The cranky old man who keeps complaining about lawsuits that have been brought against the town is going to file a lawsuit against Carole?
Now that’s funny.
Did he get his law degree from Montclair State?
>You know what else is funny; the very same people who cried about anonymous postings making the superintendent run off are now quoting their constitutional rights to host a blog Anonymously.
That’s really a hoot.
>If I were Carole Nunn I wouldn’t worry. I heard the cranky old man got his law degree off the Internet.
>i think the Ridgewood News needs to come clean ,this whole thing makes them look like fools
>9:10 am sure sounds like it was written by the editor of the newspaper. heard she was back from vacation today.
>carole I think they are gonna be dressed like chickens in court
>I’m cancelling my subscription to the Ridgewood News. This is an all time low to publish comments from “Sue” who probably doesn’t even exist. Or she is a he dressed in drag. No journalistic standard here but then what do you expect from an editor who lives in Glen Rock.
>probably chickens with bags over their heads
>The Ridgewood News is clearly involved in this scam and it is disgraceful
>No secret that the ridgewood news is a mouthpiece for the board of education, village hall, and the realtors. This newspaper has been through more editors than poop through a goose.
>The View posters seem to be obsessed with music. So, here’s a song for “Andrew” and “Sue” … I’m kinda thinkin’ they’re both guys (remember Johnny Cash wrote that song “A boy named Sue”). Anyhow, here it goes:
BAD BOYS
BAD BOYS
WHATCHA GONNA DO?
WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU?
Everyone now:
BAD BOYS
BAD BOYS
WHATCHA GONNA DO?
WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU?
>Everybody knows that anonymity breeds speculation. So, let us do a little speculatin’ here with a little TERC thrown in for good measure.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:
1. Who is “Sue” from the blog?
2. Why is the Ridewood News protecting her identity?
FACTS:
1. Up until now the Ridgewood News has not allowed those interviewed to be extensively quoted without revealing their identity. Here’s where the math comes in … how many years has that been? Answer: 2007 – 1889 = 118 years. [The kids taught by traditional math got that answer immediately while the kids using TERC are still drawing little squares on their paper.]
2. The person [editor] in charge of the Ridgewood News is protecting the identity of the person [moderator] in charge of the Ridgewood View Blog.
3. Both these people in charge are named “Sue”.
SPECULATION PART:
If the moderator of the View blog “Sue” is not a boy named “Sue” but a girl and the editor of the Ridgewood News is a girl named “Sue” then “Sue” must be the same person. Coincidence? I think not.
CONCLUSION: “Sue”, moderator of the Ridgewood View blog is Sue Sherrill, editor of the Ridgewood News.
Howd I do? Good speculatin’, huh?
>If Andrew and Sue disguise themselves as chickens in court it will probably be chickens with their heads cut off.
>PJ — not only did the other blog snatch your picture but a blogger over there is actually encouraging others to come on over here to your site to see the pic you posted. THEY LIKE YOU PJ … THEY REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU!
>in the ridgewood news article on blogs “Sue admits to being a frequent reader of The Ridgewood Blog – that is until recently.” oh is that so? sue must still be reading your blog pj cause she copied your pic of the paperbag man for her site.
sue also says in that same article “It seems with that blog (that would be you pj) that there is a lot of whining. Everyone’s got a complaint, but no one has an answer.” guess what sweetie pie sue? The heading you posted on your site early this morning is:
“We Only Ask The Questions –
We Do Not Have The Answers”
>PJ: We’ve known all along that A&S aren’t intelligent or civil. Now we can add “not creative” to that growing list. They lifted your pic of the unknown blogger and are using it for their profile pic and as a blog posting. You’re such a nice guy PJ to help the competition like that.
>That picture they hijacked was supposed to represent Andrew & Sue” of the Ridgewood Views Blog.
How do we know? No air hole for the mouth. They’re only blogging.
>I’m going to defend the RW News here.
The reporter is a young fellow and he made a mistake. His articles have always been fair and even helpful to the Math folks.
Yesterday’s article did not put Ms. Brogan or Ms. Botsford in a favorable light. They were allowed to give really stupid quotes and no one told them they sounded dumb.
The RW News is probably as angry as you guys are because they were duped also.
A&S should watch out, the RW News might still yet expose them.
>11:43 AM The reporter did not have the final say on his article. The editor did and the editor chose to allow A&S to remain in hiding. The editor has no scruples.
>Or the editor knows who A&S are …
>So the editor lives in Glen Rock? That explains everything.
>pj why dont you put the stuff out on johnny midnight again I think the editor of the Ridgewood News doesnt know lots of people remember and it can be all found on this blog …
>So the editor lives in Glen Rock? That explains everything ..yes she is a well known Ridgewood Hater
>Geesh! Just what we need another outsider in town and this one runs the newspaper.
Anybody out there interested in an editor job for TRN who has lived in Ridgewood awhile and has/had kids in the school system?
>Why is there a constant turnover of reporters at The Ridgewood News?
A few years back a Ridgewood News reporter spoke to me of the frustration of being told by the editor that the paper was taking the side of the school administration. Needless to say, we lost a fair and decent reporter.
A second reporter another time interviewed me for an article asking several very probing questions. When the article came out it was as if the reporter hadn’t interviewed me. The reporter mentioned to me that the editor had final say on the article. We lost another fair and decent reporter.
A third reporter was hired and then disappeared a short time later again frustrated by the editor. Another fair and decent reporter gone.
Wake up, North Jersey Media Group, Inc. and hire an ethical and unbiased editor for The Ridgewood News. You might sell more papers!
>North Jersey Media Group…wont wake up they will just go broke…remember the record backed the NAZI’s in WW2
>if the Ridgewood News did its job you wouldnt need this blog..you should thank them PJ…
>i think the newspaper does a lovely job with the society pages. i love to see the pictures of the women in their pretty dresses. i read lots and lots of picture books too.
>Hamas has really been fair in his coverage of the Math Wars…his editor may want to track down those rascals A&S to clear her name.
>From the Ridgewood Snooze Blog…
“As I said appears that pj was not at his computer on Saturday afternoon due to the fact that neither of the comments, which were made at 2:08 or 8:32, showed up last night before I went to bed yet they were here this morning. Why did the volume of comments appear to drop off right after noontime when pj posted the “Village Council Work Sessions and Public Meetings” on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 12:14 PM? As I stated this same unusual pattern occurred on the “Blog Readers Continue to question Ridgewood News Objectivity” blog list.”
Since the Ridgewood Snoozers like Doctor Seuss like Rhythms…
Did they not see the sun shining that very fine day?
Did they go out and play?
They hate you so much they are grasping at straws…crazy folks?
>” North Jersey Media Group…wont wake up they will just go broke..”
Best way to wake em up is to cancel the subscription.
>As I said appears that pj was not at his computer on Saturday afternoon due to the fact that neither of the comments, which were made at 2:08 or 8:32, showed up last night before I went to bed yet they were here this morning. Why did the volume of comments appear to drop off right after noontime when pj posted the “Village Council Work Sessions and Public Meetings” on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 12:14 PM? As I stated this same unusual pattern occurred on the “Blog Readers Continue to question Ridgewood News Objectivity” blog list.”
PJ its nice to be so important in other peoples lives hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhehehehehehehhehehehehhehe
>Actually, I am a Ridgewood resident, parent of kids in the schools, former reporter and editor, with a BA in journalism and an MA. If the current Ridgewood News editor were to resign, I would seriously consider applying… Unfortunately, I highly doubt the pay would be even half of what I make now. Hmm…anyone have any leads on how to find out what the position pays? (I know, if I’m such a great reporter, I should find out myself…I’m just busy and looking for a shortcut!) 😉
>susan likw johnny midnight should both get lost
>andrew and sue …susan hummmmm I argree the editor of the Ridgewood news should go…
>If the current Ridgewood News editor were to resign, I would seriously consider applying…ask PJ to Post your resume….
>editor of the ridgewood news needs to get the ‘ole heave ho
>The pay is probably lousy so they can only attract the bottom feeders for editors.
>The pay is lousy, but so many people won’t subscribe to the paper because of Susan Sherrill, its editor.
Maybe you can cut a deal to get more money when subscriptions go up. They certainly will because it will be big news if she gets the heave ho.
>I heard Susan Sherrill is running several newspapers, not just the Ridgewood News. Our school officials have her duped..she thinks they are all above reproach..that what they say is the gospel truth..which couldn’t be further from the truth.
>obviously if shes running several newspapers then she doesn’t have the time to devote to our town paper
boy our standards are being lowered all over town; other towns must be laughing at us
>You know all the local free weekly papers like the Surban News, Glen Rock Gazzette, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff etc… she edits those as well.
Poor lass is overworked and underpaid. The Ridgewood mafia (realtors all) control the advertising revenue of the paper.
Bad news is bad for home sales. Bad government even worse. So, only good things get reported and anything bad is atributed to the fanatsies of “the lunitic fringe” and “trouble makers,” never to the actions of our elected officials.
>What these realtors don’t understand is that when you wreck the school system you wreck property values in town ,perhaps this is why nothing is selling ?
>I know of a few families who were looking to move to Ridgewood but decided to go to Allendale because the schools are better and they got a better deal for a house to boot.
>A friend suggested that I get the inside dope on what was happening in Ridgewood by perusing the blogs. I was honestly shocked by the narrowmindedness of some of the posts – particularly with regard to the editorial standards of our local newspaper.
Hindsight shows that the reporter was doing his job – reporting – not passing judgment on what was being exchanged, just reporting what was taking place. Isn’t that what he was supposed to do? Remain objective? And didn’t the editor simply back up the editorial integrity of the newspaper by not yielding to public criticism and printing the news as news? Spare me the conspiracy theories, would ya!
Now as for the math controversy. Sure, I knew people were up in arms, and yes, I’ll admit that some of the protocols for teaching left me baffled, but I saw my kids NJASK and Terra Nova test scores and, well…can kids get higher than 99th percentile? Something must be going right in the school system.
No question that all the bloggers love Ridgewood and that discourse is healthy. But, informed and objective discourse is healthier still.