January 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, The Bergen County Department of Parks and the Rutgers Center for Urban Environment Sustainability (CUES) invite all Bergen County residents to a series of community information sessions. Click Here for details
January 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County’s CEO Helen Archontou announced this week that YWCA Bergen County’s two summer camps, Camp Ma-Kee-Ya at Mahwah’s Darlington County Park and Camp Orinda in Dumont, have received American Camp Association (ACA) Accreditation, the nationally recognized “gold standard,” in camp certification.
According to the ACA, “ACA Accreditation means that your child’s camp cares enough to undergo a thorough (up to 300 standards) review of its operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at your child’s camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.”
“We are so proud of our staff and organization,” said Archontou. “It’s gratifying to us that the ACA recognizes our camps deliver a summer experience that brims with fun, adventure, and friendship and that our outstanding, attentive staff is devoted to assuring that every child feels welcome and engaged.” YWCA Bergen County is absolutely committed to providing affordable camp tuition and flexible enrollment options. “We know there really is no ‘one size fits all’ camp program,” Archontou added.
The ACA Accreditation is the YW’s latest high-level accolade. Earlier this year the National Inclusion Project selected YWCA Bergen County as partner in its Let’s All Play program to create an inclusive environment where children with and without disabilities can play, learn and laugh TOGETHER. Research shows overwhelming evidence that the National Inclusion Project’s model helps children with disabilities improve self-esteem, social skills and confidence, while those without disabilities improved their leadership, problem solving and empathy skills.
“This collaboration has brought important inclusivity training to our staff and has helped us enhance our excellent camp and before and after school care,” said Archontou. “We see 2017 as a year of unprecedented promise and opportunity in all of our school age programming.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
The big news for most is the 23-cent per-gallon rise in the gasoline tax that took effect on Nov. 1 to replenish a depleted Transportation Trust Fund, known by some critics as the Transportation Slush Fund.
Here are eight major changes for 2017:
1. Phasing out the estate tax
About 3,500 estates, worth at least $675,000, are subject to the estate tax each year. But starting this month, the state will impose the tax on estates worth $2 million or more. The entire tax would end after Jan. 1, 2018.
2. Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers get a boost from 30 percent of the federal level to 35 percent. The expansion will benefit about 600,000 New Jerseyans, who will pocket about $200 more from the tax return, Whiten said.
Eligibility depends on income and number of qualifying children. The income limit is about $14,800 for a single, childless adult, and $53,000 for a married couple with three or more children.
3. Reducing the sales tax
The sales tax will decrease from 7 percent to 6.875 percent on Jan. 1, and then from 6.875 percent to 6.625 percent on Jan. 1, 2018. Legislative leaders said Christie was adamant about enacting a sales tax cut when he agreed to raise the gas tax but it may not be noticed by most consumers unless you are making a major purchase.
4. Expanding tax deduction for retirees
A married couple filing their taxes jointly can currently exclude their first $20,000 in retirement income from state income taxes. But beginning in 2017 and phased in over four years, that amount will ultimately increase to $100,000 for joint filers, $75,000 for individuals and $50,000 for married couples.
5. Tax deduction for veterans
The tax deal introduced a $3,000 tax deduction for veterans. The law defines veterans as those who are “honorable discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United states, a reserve component thereof, or the National Guard of New Jersey in a federal active duty status.”
6. Opening birth certificates sealed at adoption
The state Health Department will begin fulfilling requests from adopted people to obtain their original birth certificates containing information about their parents.
Birth parents could have requested to have their named blacked-out if they filed a redaction form before Dec. 31. At any time, they may submit a contact preference form stating whether they wish to have no contact with their child, contact through an intermediary, or unfettered contact. Birth parents who request no contact must also must complete a family history form seeking medical, cultural and social history information about the birth parent.
More information about the law is available on the health department’s website, or by calling 866-649-8726.
7. Eliminating bail for some non-violent offenders
One in 12 defendants remains in jail because a bail of $2,500 is too high.
Starting in January, fewer people who commit minor offenses will be held on bail and detained. And if a person is held in jail, prosecutors will have 90 days to seek an indictment from a grand jury, and must bring a person to trial with 120 days.
8. Raising the minimum wage, nominally
New Jersey’s minimum wage will go up six cents on Jan. 1 to $8.44 an hour, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
It will be New Jerseyans’ first increase since January 2015, when it rose from $8.25 an hour to the current $8.38. The minimum wage did not increase this year because there was no rise in the state’s cost of living.
‘Harmonicare’ may strengthen diaphragm muscles and improve stamina
By
KATE KING
Jan. 2, 2017 2:15 p.m. ET
TEANECK, N. J.—The group gathered around a conference table at Holy Name Medical Center and flipped through binders until they found the music for Chloe Fernandez’s favorite song. Taking deep breaths, they raised their harmonicas to their lips and blew the first notes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
Chloe, 9 years old, of Ridgewood, N.J., is one of the youngest participants in the hospital’s “Harmonicare” weekly classes. The year-old program provides free harmonica instruction to people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and other lung ailments.
“We don’t judge when somebody messes up,” said Chloe. “It’s supportive.”
Jim Norman , Staff Writer6:01 p.m. EST December 29, 2016
The criminal justice system is in for a big change in New Jersey on Jan. 1. That’s when the state will embark on a completely new way of dealing with people charged with crimes, allowing the vast majority to remain free without having to pay bail.
At the same time, new “speedy trial” rules will take effect with the goal of making sure that prisoners who are kept in jail don’t languish there for longer than six months before they’re tried.
Matthew Birchenough , Staff Writer, @MattBirchenough2:43 p.m. EST December 29, 2016
GLEN ROCK — The Zoning Board is scheduled to hear a proposal for a high-density housing project on Prospect Street next month.
The application by Glen Park Village LLC is on the agenda for discussion at the board’s Jan. 4 work session, and the company is scheduled to present its project to the board at its regular meeting on Jan. 12, commencing a new phase in a three-year effort by the developer to build on the property.
BY EMILY SWANSON AND VERENA DOBNIK
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Emotionally wrenching politics, foreign conflicts and shootings at home took a toll on Americans in 2016, but they entered 2017 on an optimistic note, according to a new poll that found that a majority believes things are going to get better for the country this year.
A look at the key findings of the Associated Press-Times Square Alliance poll:
SO HOW WAS 2016?
Americans weren’t thrilled with 2016. Only 18 percent said things for the country got better, 33 percent said things got worse, and 47 percent said it was unchanged from 2015.
On a personal level, they were optimistic about 2017.
Fifty-five percent said they believe things will be better for them in 2017. That’s a 12-point improvement from a year earlier.
Americans interviewed about the poll’s results expressed some of that optimism.
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
341 AM EST MON JAN 2 2017
…A WINTRY MIX THIS MORNING…
.A BAND OF PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING WARM
FRONT WILL PRODUCE A WINTRY MIX THIS MORNING. WHILE SIGNIFICANT
ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AND SLEET ARE NOT EXPECTED…POCKETS OF
FREEZING RAIN EMBEDDED IN THIS ACTIVITY WILL RESULT IN HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS AT TIMES.
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN…WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING.
* LOCATIONS…PASSAIC…HUDSON…BERGEN…ESSEX AND UNION
COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY. ORANGE AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES IN NEW
YORK.
* HAZARD TYPES…SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
* SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS…LESS THAN AN INCH.
* TIMING…MAINLY BETWEEN 7 AND 9 AM.
* IMPACTS…ICY ROADS AND WALKWAYS CAN BE EXPECTED.
* WINDS…EAST 5 MPH OR LESS.
* TEMPERATURES…UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
file photo by Boyd Loving
By Andrea Noble – The Washington Times – Updated: 2:28 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2016
The number of ambush-style killings of police officers in the U.S. reached a two-decade high this year, pushing law enforcement fatalities to their highest rate in five years, with 135 officers killed in the line of duty, according to a year-end report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Shootings were the number one cause of death for law enforcement in 2016, claiming the lives of 64 officers — including eight gunned down in two ambush attacks in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in July. The report notes 21 of the officers were shot and killed in ambush-style attacks.
Firearms-related deaths were up 56 percent over the 41 officers killed by gunfire in 2015, but are still far below the all-time high of 156 officers killed by gunfire in 1973.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/29/deadly-police-ambushes-two-decade-high-report/
photo courtesy of Boyd Lovings Facebook
December 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, Paramus PD and EMS responded to a car vs. tree motor vehicle accident at the intersection of East Midland Avenue and Roedel Place on Thursday morning, 12/29. The injured driver was transported by a Paramus EMS ambulance to a local hospital. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Paramus EMTs with the transport. The wrecked vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
Updated: DECEMBER 28, 2016 — 3:38 AM EST
by The Associated Press
SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) – The sentencing of a former New Jersey lawmaker who admitted to stealing more than $5.3 million from creditors for a business venture has been delayed until mid-January.
NJ.com reports (https://bit.ly/2icVBZ6 ) the sentencing of former Assemblyman Robert Schroeder was initially set for Dec. 22, but state prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that it’s been rescheduled for Jan. 13.
Updated: DECEMBER 29, 2016 — 1:08 AM EST
by Andrew Seidman, TRENTON BUREAU @AndrewSeidman
Ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have been operating in New Jersey for years, but the state doesn’t regulate how they contract with drivers, insure, or provide other protections to consumers.
That could change soon, pending Gov. Christie’s approval.
During a marathon session before the holidays, the Democratic-controlled Legislature voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill that specifies how much insurance ride-hailing companies must maintain, and establishes requirements for conducting background checks on drivers.
So-called transportation network companies would be prohibited from discriminating against riders based on their destination, race, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, among other things.
MICHAEL L. DIAMOND, @mdiamondapp4 p.m. EST December 28, 2016
Three hospitals — two in Bergen County — sued after they were left out of a leading insurer’s preferred network.
Three hospitals – two in Bergen County – that were left out of the preferred network of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Omnia plan can continue their lawsuit, a state judge has ruled.
Superior Court Judge Robert Contillo in Bergen County dismissed three of the hospitals’ claims. But he said three other claims – including one in which the hospitals take exception to Horizon’s marketing campaign – should be left on the table.
file photo by Boyd Loving Village Council Meeting
Matt Kadosh , Staff Writer, @MattKadosh6:30 p.m. EST December 25, 2016
Belleville BOE may ditch ‘Gong Show’ clock
Beep!
Such is the sound heard by residents who speak longer than the permitted times during Belleville Board of Education meetings.
In Essex County, time lmiits are imposed by some municipal councils and boards of education, and not by others.
Updated: DECEMBER 25, 2016 — 10:17 AM EST
by LARRY HIGGS, The Associated Press
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (AP) – About two years ago, red light cameras in New Jersey went dark, and opponents and supporters began the wait to see if the state Department of Transportation would scuttle or keep the program.
Two years later, they’re still waiting.
The DOT has yet to render a final report and make recommendations to lawmakers on the ultimate fate of camera enforcement in the state. The cameras, which capture images of vehicles at intersections, were turned off on Dec. 16, 2014.
Last year, NJDOT officials said they were still crunching numbers, but gave no timetable when they planned to release the findings, based on 2014 data and five years of numbers from 73 red light camera monitoring intersections in 25 towns. A spokesman said it would be “several months” before the report was finalized.
