By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer Adam Geller How did an agency created to protect the public become the target of so much public scorn?
After nine years of funneling travelers into ever longer lines with orders to have shoes off, sippy cups empty and laptops out for inspection, the most surprising thing about increasingly heated frustration with the federal Transportation Security Administration may be that it took so long to boil over.
The agency, a marvel of nearly instant government when it was launched in the fearful months following the 9/11 terror attacks, started out with a strong measure of public goodwill. Americans wanted the assurance of safety when they boarded planes and entrusted the government with the responsibility.
>N.J. companies throw lavish parties during League of Municipalities convention Statehouse Bureau Staff
ATLANTIC CITY — While the talk of the League of Municipalities convention that ended Thursday was how towns could tighten their belts, some companies opened their wallets wide, throwing lavish parties to court their business.
Telecommunications corporations, engineering firms, waste disposal companies, accountants and banks took advantage of having thousands of municipal, county and state officials in one place this week, drawing them into hotel ballrooms with entertainment, booze and finger food.
>Even in a sweeping victory, Bergen’s GOP still at odds
By Timothy J. Carroll November 18th, 2010 – 12:28p
Todd Caliguire was the political thorn in Kathe Donovan’s side for a few years; now he’s heading up the transition team for Donovan’s freeholder compatriots.
The first question many observers are asking is this: Since when does a freeholder board have a transition team, usually reserved for executive offices that require strategizing, staffing, and large-scale planning?
“I don’t know how it’s been done in the past,” said Bergen’s GOP chairman Bob Yudin, who orchestrated the freeholder campaign. Is it a first? “That I know of, yes.”
>Having kids spend 3 hours per week practicing in elementary school is excessive. Those 3 hours would be a lot better spent on academics. In my town, which was in the Midwest, youth sports (5th grade and under) practiced 1 day/week and had 1 game/week when I was a kid. I agree that the number of practices per week ramped up in middle school, but even then, it was not 5 days/week.
Having kids spend 3 hours per week practicing in elementary school is excessive. Those 3 hours would be a lot better spent on academics. Your child is much more likely to be an engineer, lawyer or an investment banker than a pro soccer player. Besides, focusing on a single sport with elementary school kids is a bad idea, because they could end up being too big or small to succeed at the chosen sport once theyhit their growth spurt in junior high and high school.
Bagelicious will be open for the Village Tree Lighting Ceremony
Stop in for Hot Coffee , Hot Chocolate or Even Hot Apple Cider Downtown For The Holidays ,Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce
Friday, December 3 from 5:30PM to 12AM, Ridgewood Annual tree lighting ceremony celebrates its 25th Anniversary! Bring the whole family and all your friends for this special evening, featuring live musical and theatrical performances, food, games and lots of holiday cheer! Lighting of tree takes place at 7:30PM.
>Bank of Cascades strikes a deal to raise $177 million
Bank of Cascades parent company has announced a deal that will provide the community bank with $177 million in capital.
Officials with the Bend-based Cascade Bancorp said the deal with a group of prominent investors will make it one of the best capitalized community banks in the nation. The bank had been ordered by federal regulators to raise its capital ratios.
Cascade Bancorp has entered into agreements for the purchase and sale of approximately $177 million of shares of its common stock. Private placement investors who have entered into separate agreements with the company include: • David F. Bolger an affiliate of Lightyear Fund II L.P. •Private equity funds affiliated with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. •Private equity funds affiliated with WL Ross & Co. LLC.
>Library Staff Ignores Advice Provided by Medical Professionals Due to large number of children who are likely allergic to nuts, for years pediatricians have recommended not to distribute peanut butter and/or peanut butter cookies in public settings where children gather (e.g., schools).
Despite this well known warning, The Fly observed peanut butter cookies being distributed recently in the Children’s Room of the Ridgewood Public Library.
>Bret Schundler talks economics at New Jersey Tea Party event
Former State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, seeking to emerge from behind the acrimonious circumstances of his firing by Gov. Chris Christie, was the guest speaker Thursday night at a Tea Party meeting. (Jennings, Daily Record)
>Bill Clinton bans Twitter, Facebook and live-blog coverage for upcoming speech
Bill Clinton has called for a ban on the use of Twitter, Facebook updates and any live blogging during his keynote at the Dreamforce Cloud Computing conference in San Francisco next month.
Maybe Al Gore, who is a member of Apple’s board of directors and possibly more tech-friendly, could get the 42nd president of the United States to embrace a bit of social media and blog coverage of his speech?
Tech blog ReadWriteWeb said it was sent this memo from Outcast, a public relations firm, regarding Clinton’s speech at the conference, sponsored by Salesforce.com:
“PLEASE NOTE: President Clinton’s representatives have mandated that there be absolutely no reporting during his session.
That includes live blogging, Tweeting, Facebook posting or use of any other social media.
We understand the inconvenience this may present, but greatly appreciate your compliance. Thank you.”
>“Parent trigger” could restructure or shut down low-performing schools
New Jersey parents with children in low-performing schools could see vast new powers to overhaul those schools, under legislation now being prepared by the Senate Republican leader, Sen. Joseph Kyrillos. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
>Christie chides legislators for failing to consider property-tax measures
Gov. Christie mocked the Legislature at a town-hall meeting Monday in Gloucester County, saying that with only 36 days left until they break for the holidays, lawmakers had yet to take up the most significant bills in his property-tax package. (Lu, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Star of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Jane Seymour, will sign her new book: Among Angels
Mike Huckabee Saturday, December 4th @ 6:30pm
Former Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee, will sign his new books: Can’t Wait till Christmas (Available Now) and a Simple Christmas (Available Nov. 16th.
Dennis Leary
Monday, December 6th @ 7:30pm Star of Rescue Me, Denis Leary, will sign his new book: Suck on This Year. Books available Dec. 2nd
Two months ago, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the federal stimulus legislation would pay for the purchase of hundreds of controversial full-body scanners.
“Through the Recovery Act, we are able to continue our accelerated deployment of enhanced technology as part of our layered approach to security at airports nationwide,” Napolitano said at the time.
The number of scanners has roughly doubled since Napolitano’s announcement and they are now found in 68 U.S. airports, and the Transportation Security Administration says the controversial devices have proven to be a success.
“We have received minimal complaints,” a TSA spokeswoman told CNET yesterday. She said that the agency, part of DHS, keeps track of air traveler complaints and has not seen a significant rise.
A growing number of airline passengers, labor unions, and advocacy groups, however, say the new procedures–a choice of full-body scans or what the TSA delicately calls “enhanced pat-downs”–go too far. (They were implemented without much fanfare in late October, amid lingering questions (PDF) about whether travelers are always offered a choice of manual screening.)
Unions representing U.S. Airways pilots, American Airlines pilots, and some flight attendants are advising their members to skip the full-body scans, even if it means that their genitals are touched. Air travelers are speaking out online, with a woman saying in a YouTube video her breasts were “twisted,” and ExpressJet pilot Michael Roberts emerging as an instant hero after he rejected both the body scanning and “enhanced pat-downs” options and was unceremoniously ejected from the security line from Memphis International Airport.
One lawsuit has been filed and at least two more are being contemplated. There are snarky suggestions for what TSA actually stands for, attempts at grope-induced erotic fiction, and now even a movie.
These privacy concerns, and in a few cases even outright rebellion, come as an estimated 24 million travelers are expected to fly during the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday season. One Web site, OptOutDay.com, is recommending what might be called strict civil obedience: it suggests that all air travelers on November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, choose “to opt-out of the naked body scanner machines” that amount to “virtual strip searches.”
>CHECK-OUT HUNGER RETURNS FOR 20th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
HILLSIDE, N.J. – Check-Out Hunger, an annual front-end awareness and fund raiser for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, will be marking its 20th year milestone this fall. This campaign, which began in New Jersey, is run at supermarket chains across the northeast. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey reports that need for nutritious food is up 30-40 percent at its partner agencies (soup kitchens, pantries, shelters, etc) this year.
In 2009 Check-Out Hunger crossed the $2 Million plateau for the first time. The campaign raised $2,093, 086 for food banks across the state. Since 1992, millions of people have supported the program at food markets and online at www.checkouthungernj.org.Participating food markets include A&P, Food Basics, Foodtown, Kings, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Super Fresh, Wawa, and Wegmans.
This campaign was developed by the Community FoodBank in conjunction with the New Jersey Food Council and supermarket chains with headquarters in New Jersey. Currently the Community FoodBank of New Jersey administers the regional campaign with 14 chains for 32 food banks and affiliates in 9 states and the District of Columbia.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America, distributed 35 million pounds of food in the last year to people in need in 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. Its staff and volunteers fight hunger and poverty not only through the distribution of food and grocery products, but by education and training, and by creating new programs to meet the needs of low-income people. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey has earned Charity Navigator’s highest honor, a four-star rating.
