Bergen County - Page 16 of 21 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on July 9, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

New Jersey Senate to vote on slowing Common Core implementation

New Jersey Senate to vote on slowing Common Core implementation
July 8, 2014
ALISSA MACK

TRENTON, N.J. – Another state could put a crimp in the Common Core takeover by the end of this week.

The New Jersey Assembly passed a bill on June 16 with a 72-4 vote with two abstentions to delay the use of new student assessments linked to Common Core by at least two years, according to Capitol Quickies.

The bill (A3081) would create a task force to review the standards and give school districts the option of administering PARCC tests in the upcoming two school years.

Capitol Quickies reports:

The state Senate has scheduled a vote for Thursday afternoon on legislation (A3081) that establishes an Education Review Task Force to analyze the Common Core standards, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments and the use of students’ test results in evaluating teachers…

The bill says that for at least two years, or longer if the task force’s final report isn’t completed within the year it’s supposed to take, PARCC assessments can’t be used as a high school graduation requirement or for other school or students accountability purposes. It also says that growth in students’ test scores can’t be used for at least two years for a teacher’s or principal’s evaluation…

The task force would have 15 members, including acting Education Commissioner David Hespe or his designee and eight members recommended by the following organizations: the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the New Jersey Council of County Vocational Schools, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association and the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network.

Three public members would also be appointed to the task force.

The new site did not seem confident that Gov. Christie would sign the bill should it reach his desk this week.

Posted on July 7, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

North Jersey blood banks issue urgent call for donors

North Jersey blood banks issue urgent call for donors

July 7, 2014 Last updated: Monday, July 7, 2014, 1:21 AM
By EMILY MASTERS
STAFF WRITER
The Record

Blood banks in New Jersey are in critical need of donors this summer, especially now, right after the July Fourth weekend.

“The unfortunate reality is hospital patients don’t get to take a holiday. They still need transfusions,” said Anthony Tornetta, the external-communications manager for the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “It is important that the community rallies around that and donates blood.”

Blood supplies traditionally dip to their lowest levels during the summer months and the winter holidays, when schools are closed and many people are on vacation.

But after harsh winter weather kept many potential donors away, this year’s summer shortage has been more sorely felt.

Community Blood Services, which serves 19 hospitals in New Jersey, has been running 4 percent behind in collections since January, said its community affairs director, Karen Ferriday. “We are definitely falling short of our goal” of 250 donations a day, she said.

Ferriday said blood banks see far fewer corporations and community organizations hosting drives over the summer and also face a decline in the number of donors visiting centers, as people take vacations or visit family.

“This is a nationwide shortage,” she said.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/blood-banks-faced-with-shortage-call-for-donors-1.1047166#sthash.pfz1Vj71.dpuf

Posted on July 7, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

Analysis: N.J. budget can’t shake familiar problems

Analysis: N.J. budget can’t shake familiar problems

JULY 5, 2014, 11:49 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014, 11:50 PM
BY JOHN REITMEYER
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
THE RECORD

Governor Christie’s latest state budget delays property tax relief, offers more tax breaks to businesses and slashes the state’s pension fund payment. It also highlights the fact that New Jersey is still struggling to overcome long-standing fiscal problems nearly five years into his tenure.

The state’s economy has recovered only half of the jobs lost to the last recession and borrowing has increased each year Christie has been in office, to a record $40 billion.

Property tax bills now average nearly $8,000, but revenue shortfalls have forced Christie to delay relief until next year. Sources of funding for transportation upgrades and open-space preservation have run dry.

And after several years of not making full state payments into the public employee pension fund, Christie is now using the poor health of the pension system to compare New Jersey to bankrupt Detroit.

All three major Wall Street ratings agencies have taken notice of New Jersey’s financial predicament with each one lowering the state’s credit rating and warning that additional downgrades may occur. A poor bond rating can compound the state’s fiscal problems by making it more costly to borrow for things such as new schools and bridges that cannot be funded in one budget year.

The state’s $32.5 billion budget, which Christie signed last week, could be thrown further into disarray if public employee unions are able to persuade a judge to block Christie from providing only a fraction of the state payment that actuaries say the pension system needs.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/analysis-n-j-budget-can-t-shake-familiar-problems-1.1046801#sthash.ziRefILg.dpuf

Posted on July 7, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 17 Comments

New housing plans smart, responsible

New housing plans smart, responsible
Mark Bombace

to the Editor:

Ridgewood is my past, present and future. Born and raised in the village, I went through its public schools, served as a firefighter and brought up my own family here.

I’ve seen Ridgewood improve and adapt with the times over the past 50 years, and the village has the opportunity to do so once again, by bringing much needed high-end multifamily residences to downtown.

While Ridgewood has just about everything, what it lacks is the right housing mix to remain a healthy and vibrant place to live and do business. Ridgewood currently has only two housing options – single family, and 50- to 100-year-old apartments.

What is needed is new modern apartment options – the type of options sought out by today’s millennials, young professionals and empty nesters. As an empty nester myself, I like the option of living in downtown, and new apartments with modern amenities like a doorman and elevator would make that more likely.

New multifamily residences will allow seniors to downsize and stay in town, close to the Central Business District (CBD). They will attract singles and couples with no or few, very young children, who seek access to an easy commute into the city.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-new-housing-plans-smart-responsible-1.1046346#sthash.vlgLpLLS.dpuf

Posted on July 7, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

EQ and IQ critical for children to thrive

EQ and IQ critical for children to thrive
Lynn Benson, LSW
To the Editor:

The article “Finding a way through the pressure,” which appeared on page A1 in The Ridgewood News on Friday, June 27, states:

“Administrators emphasize that in today’s highly competitive world, teaching Ridgewood’s young people about ‘balance’ is all the more important.”

I believe that in addition to “balance,” enhanced EQ (emotional intelligence) is a necessity to deal with life’s pressures.

Too many children are challenged socially and emotionally, and are engaging in reckless and self-destructive behaviors while trying to cope with their struggles. And, it’s heartbreaking how often our headlines are filled with tragedies involving our youth. As a society, we are failing.

Our school systems are designed for IQ. EQ needs equal attention. Our nation’s schools mandate academic, physical and health education. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is equally important.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-eq-and-iq-critical-for-children-to-thrive-1.1046440#sthash.pZEveEFB.dpuf

Posted on April 8, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 4 Comments

Ridgewood police seek man in assault on TD Bank employee

photo from Ridgewood PD

Ridgewood police seek man in assault on TD Bank employee

April 6 2014

Ridgewood NJ , On April 6 2014 at 3:05 PM patrol responded to TD Bank on Franklin Avenue on a report of an assault in progress. A bank employee had been assaulted by a Heavy Set black male that had attempted to pass a fraudulent check.

The employee had locked the door at closing time and when the accused person attempted to flee and found the door locked he punched the employee and took her keys to unlock the door.

The accused fled in a grey Volkswagen with possible Georgia license plates. The matter is under investigation by the Ridgewood Detective Bureau. Anyone with information please call the Ridgewood Police Detective Bureau 201-251-4537.
Below is a picture of the suspect.

Posted on April 7, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Village Council Public 2014 Budget Hearings – April 7, 10

Village Council Public 2014 Budget Hearings – April 7, 10

The Village Council has scheduled several Public Budget Hearings to take place in Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood.

Financial Advisory Committee Meeting – April 7

Notice: The Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) will meet on Monday, April 7 instead of their standard of the 2nd Monday of the month. The meeting will take place at 7:30PM in the Garden Room, Village Hall.

Wednesday, March 19 from 5 – 7PM in the Court Room;

Friday, March 21 from 5 – 7PM in the Court Room;

Thursday, March 27 from 5 – 9:30PM in the Senior Center;

Monday, April 7 from 5 – 7PM in the Court Room;

Thursday, April 10 from 5 to 10PM in the Senior Center

Departments Hearings:

March 19 – Overview of Budget, Community Services – Building Dept; Zoining, Health Dept, Tax Assessor.

March 21 – 5PM Police Department; 5:45PM Fire Department; 6:30PM MIS

March 27 – 5PM Village Council, 5:15 PM Insurance & Debt Service, 5:45PM Engineering, 7:30PM Traffic & Signal, W.P.C.F., Property Maintenance, Parking, Utilities, 7:30PM Municipal Clerk & Elections, 8PM NWBCD

April 7 – 5PM Municipal Court & Public Defender, 5:30PM Emergency Services, 5:45PM Emergency Management, 6PM Library, 6:45PM Village Manager

April 10 – 5PM Parks & Recreation, Project Pride, Graydon Pool, 6PM Streets, Fleet Services, Recycling, Yard Waste Recycling, Solid Waste, 7PM Water Dept., 7:45PM Finance, Tax Collection, Village Attorney

Schedule to TBD for other departments

Posted on April 7, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 8 Comments

Lexus plows through fence onto railroad right-of-way

Lexus plows through fence onto railroad right-of-way
April 7th 2014
Boyd A. Loving
3:06 PM

Ridgewood NJ, The driver of a Lexus sedan wound up on the wrong side of a chain link fence on Monday afternoon while attempting to pull into a parking space in the rear of a medical office building located at 505 Goffle Road, Ridgewood. Ridgewood Police Department officers removed both uninjured occupants of the vehicle and safely escorted them away from an active railroad line. Ridgewood Fire Department personnel assisted in the removal of a portion of the fence to facilitate recovery of the Lexus. It is believed the driver may have mistaken the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal. A flatbed tow truck removed the car from the scene.

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

Posted on April 7, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 33 Comments

Reader says It’s simple math. The financial condition of the Village is such that new hires are completely out of the question

Reader says It’s simple math. The financial condition of the Village is such that new hires are completely out of the question

It’s simple math. The financial condition of the Village is such that new hires are completely out of the question. Unlike the Federal Government that can print money, the Village of Ridgewood can’t. We can all play the blame game of how we got here. Incompetence. Stolen quarters. Nepotism. Unsustainable pension schemes. We can also talk about raising extra revenue. The problem with raising taxes is that Ridgewood competes with other similar jurisdictions, and if you raise taxes here, that raises the incentive to move elsewhere.

Bottom line, guys. Just like the rest of us who work in the real world. You do more with less. I think I speak for many of us when I say that we all are doing jobs that were not very long ago, being done by more people. It sucks, and we go into work each day with an element of worry wondering if it’s our day to get called into HR

Posted on April 6, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood bank teller assaulted by man attempting to cash bad check

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood bank teller assaulted by man attempting to cash bad check
April 6 2014
Boyd A. Loving
4:37 PM (15 minutes ago)

Ridgewood NJ, A teller at the TD Bank branch located at 133 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood was assaulted on Sunday afternoon at approximately 3:15 by a man attempting to cash a fraudulent check. Witnesses to the incident described the alleged perpetrator as being an obese African American male who fled the scene driving a grey sedan with out of state license plates. An investigation is currently underway by Ridgewood PD detectives. The bank branch was closed for the day shortly following the incident. The female bank teller, who sustained minor injuries after being struck in the face, was treated at the scene by members of Ridgewood EMS.

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

Posted on April 6, 2014April 11, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Catholic Church and faithful see confession in a new light

Catholic Church and faithful see confession in a new light

APRIL 6, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014, 12:26 AM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

One of loneliest places in church these days is the confession line. The act of confessing one’s sins, a requirement for Catholics, has sharply fallen over several decades with evolving views on sin, penance and the stature of the priesthood.

But now Pope Francis and church leaders, in a push to draw people back to confession, are highlighting what clergy say are the healing, uplifting aspects of the sacrament and focusing less on themes like punishment and condemnation..

The Paterson Diocese and Newark Archdiocese are using websites, newspaper ads and highway billboards to get the message out. Under diocesan guidance, local churches have also added one extra day a week to hear confession during Lent, the period before Easter when penance is considered a Catholic duty. And the pope, in an image seen and talked about around the world, confessed to a priest last week in public view.

But will these efforts change attitudes among Catholics, many of whom believe confession no longer is a necessary part of the faith?

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/catholic-church-and-faithful-see-confession-in-a-new-light-1.842468#sthash.mveCSOiq.dpuf

Posted on April 3, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 4 Comments

Reader asks ” are you willing to allow some expansion or just against all expansion? “

Reader asks ” are you willing to allow some expansion or just against all expansion? “

and another answers, 7 years ago, I probably would have said yes. But no longer. NO WAY!

They have squandered all their good will. They have played dirty politics and have cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. They have forced residents to spend their own money trying to protect their interests and have sucked time away from friendships, family and worthy civic involvement. They tried to stop other towns from having access to quality healthcare for one reason alone….greed. They pretend to be philanthropic when actually they are simply buying good will. They are greedy, deceitful bullies and I would not give them a single square foot any more!

Posted on April 3, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 2 Comments

Reader says The town desperately needs alternative legal advice–YESTERDAY

Reader says The town desperately needs alternative legal advice–YESTERDAY

In My Humble (Honest) Opinion, The town desperately needs alternative legal advice–YESTERDAY.

In particular, the planning board must have an accurate assessment of their range of options in providing a final response to Valley Hospital’s expansion plan.

We simply can’t accept an after-the-fact justification of rubber-stamping Valley’s expansion plan that goes something like this: “We had no choice. If we had said no, Valley would have sued the town and won.” We’ve been down that road before. Thankfully, it led to a last-minute (miraculous?) vindication of the village’s interests by the Village Council in November 2011. (Read the related newspaper article at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-council-opposes-valley-hospital-renewal-plan-1.243368 )

“We had no choice, we had to say yes” is a lame excuse. Fortunately, as a legal theory, it also doesn’t actually hold water.

I sometimes wonder about attorneys who advise municipal governing bodies (Rogers) and planning boards (Price). On the one hand, none of the individual councilmembers, board members, or the mayor can lay claim to having that attorney as their personal lawyer, because strictly speaking, the latter’s client is the municipality. This means no elected or appointed official can legitimately bend the town attorney’s efforts toward their own personal gain or aggrandizement. This is a good thing, of course!

On the other hand, though, non-citizen third party entities like Valley seem to be quite willing and able to spend enormous sums to employ brash mouthpieces to twist municipal law, articulate one-sided theories of liability, and put whatever village attorney is in front of them into some kind of a deer-in-the-headlights trance. The goal, of course, is to get him or her to lose focus his client’s best interests and unwittingly begin promoting those of the third party. Ms. Price’s unnecessarily accommodative behavior in response to the condescending approach of Valley’s lawyer in abruptly and rudely interrupting concerned village residents trying to speak at many recent public planning board meetings this past winter is evidence to show that Valley Hospital’s strategy of relentless pressure and shameless and unapologetic advocacy can eventually bear fruit, particularly when the targeted municipality regularly fails to stick up for itself.

New Jersey municipalities are not just in the business of avoiding lawsuits! They should be about exercising firm but appropriate control on development in the interests of residents and the municipal entity, riding herd on their hired attorneys to ensure they are accurately apprised of the full range of acceptable action in response to third party petitions/applications, and actively discouraging the latter from developing and acting upon one-sided legal theories that bully elected and appointed officials by magnifying out of all proportion the true risk of litigation. Town attorneys who fail to paint a full and appropriately nuanced legal picture for their client risk looking like patsies when sophisticated, deep-pocket entities like Valley Hospital are inexplicably allowed to win major battles, and even entire wars over the course of months or years of wrangling over proposed changes to Ridgewood’s master plan and municipal law without having to fire a single ‘litigation’ shot.

Posted on March 29, 2014April 11, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT LATE THIS EVENING AND TOMORROW AM

file photo by Boyd Loving

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT LATE THIS EVENING AND TOMORROW AM
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
406 AM EDT SAT MAR 29 2014

…HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT INTO
SUNDAY…

…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING…

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT…NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND
SOUTHEAST NEW YORK…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN SOUTHERN
CONNECTICUT…NORTHERN FAIRFIELD…NORTHERN MIDDLESEX…NORTHERN
NEW HAVEN…NORTHERN NEW LONDON… SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD…SOUTHERN
MIDDLESEX…SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN AND SOUTHERN NEW LONDON. IN
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY…EASTERN BERGEN…EASTERN ESSEX…EASTERN
PASSAIC…EASTERN UNION… WESTERN BERGEN…WESTERN
ESSEX…WESTERN PASSAIC AND WESTERN UNION. IN SOUTHEAST NEW
YORK…NORTHERN WESTCHESTER…ORANGE… PUTNAM…ROCKLAND AND
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER.

* FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING

* AS LOW PRESSURE TRACKS FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TODAY AND INTO
THE MID ATLANTIC STATES BY THIS EVENING…STEADY RAIN WILL
DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON. THE RAIN SHOULD THEN BECOME HEAVY AT
TIMES TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING.

* RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES AND LOCALLY UP TO 4 INCHES
COULD CA– USE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS…AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT
URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE
ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO
FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING
DEVELOP.

Posted on March 24, 2014April 11, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

NATO general warns of further Russian aggression

NATO general warns of further Russian aggression

By Carol Morello and Karen DeYoung, Published: March 23 | Updated: Monday, March 24, 4:25 AME-mail the writers

SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — U.S. and Ukrainian officials warned Sunday that Russia may be poised to expand its territorial conquest into eastern Ukraine and beyond, with a senior NATO official saying that Moscow might even order its troops to cross Ukraine to reach Moldova.

The warnings came as Russia was finalizing its takeover of Ukrainian military bases in Crimea, the peninsula it occupied at the start of March and subsequently annexed.

The White House began to notify Congress of the new deployments as they began Sunday night.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya, appearing on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” said the prospect of war with Russia is growing.

“We don’t know what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has in his mind and what would be his decision,” Deshchytsya said. “That’s why this situation is becoming even more explosive than it used to be a week ago.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nato-general-warns-of-further-russian-aggression/2014/03/23/2ff63bb6-b269-11e3-8020-b2d790b3c9e1_story.html

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