Reader says Calling Villagers crackpot laypeople is yond belief. Who was the alleged comment really directed to?
He must have meant the “laypeople” on the planning board — perhaps, those asking questions about the faulty premises in the reports of the developers so-called experts, or maybe those who dare to ask what the effect of 400 new families will be on schools, traffic and other aspects of village life. Shame on those planning board members who dare to ask questions of those who testify before the board!!
Could this really have been the developers’ response to the public or did the paper get the quote wrong. Is Saracino that much of a sniveling buffoon who thinks he can get away with destroying the town by insulting Villagers? I suspect there must have been a mistake. Surely, Mr. Saracino is not an ignorant bully who thinks he can insult and buy his way into re-making Ridgewood a city made in his image.
Reader says The schools are going to have to become more efficient, and offer less.
Talk to the Prinipals at the various schools. They will tell you that the cap on the budget is starting to have real effects on what they can do. The BOE “budget” is already “subsidized” by hundreds of thousands of dollars a year (if not more) from individual, activity and sports related fund raising that goes on from the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Fees for supplies, field trips, classroom upgrades, etc….all of which used to be “in the budget” are now additional costs. With a 2% maximum increase in the budget and something like annual 1.5% salary raises and continued rising costs in health care, the end effect is going to be “cuts.” And those cuts are going to have to come from a lot of different places. Cuts to administrators, cuts to teachers, cuts to programs, cuts to class offerings, cuts to drives ed, cuts to athletics, etc…. The schools are going to have to become more efficient, and offer less.
Reader says As long as the employee remains employed, this astounding rate of increase is all but guaranteed
Why have we made such generous promises on accumulated sick leave to municipal employees ? Ridgewood employees receive 15 sick days per year (vs. 3~5 for the average U.S. employee). Unused days may be accumulated at current pay levels until retirement, at which time retirees may elect to take half the accumulated days off with pay (up to 3-6 months, depending on department) or receive an equivalent lump sum payment at the much higher pre-retirement compensation level. The allowed sick days are in addition to generous vacations, with a starting vacation benefit for Ridgewood employees of 12-13 days, depending on department, which can grow up to a maximum of 31 days. This compares to median full-time U.S. workers receiving only 13 days of paid leave per year. The FAC recommended that the maximum number of permitted paid sick days be reduced from 15 to 7 days per calendar year, and that all sick days (up to a maximum of seven) must be used during the calendar year. Unused sick days should NOT be accumulated beyond December 31st of the same calendar year, in which they are permitted. Sick days should not be transferrable to another employee.
In practice it looks like unionized municipal workers automatically get their annual negotiated wage increases, PLUS annual step wage increases, cost of living adjustments, longetivity bonuses, etc. The STEP schedules rapidly accelerate employees’ base salaries every year, particularly in the first 10 years of employment. One Ridgewood Step Schedule for employees hired after 2010 starts at a base salary of $32,000 in the first year of employment. Under the schedule, the base salary increases to $81,971 by the end of the fifth year of employment. This represents an incredible 156% increase or a compounded annual rate of increase over 20%. This does not include the publicly disclosed 4.2% annual wage increase or a 2% bonus after year four. As long as the employee remains employed, this astounding rate of increase is all but guaranteed. Although the agreements state that the annual increases are “not automatic”, employees expect them and, in practice, it is rare that they are not approved.
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
328 AM EST WED FEB 12 2014
…WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE TRI-STATE REGION…
328 AM EST WED FEB 12 2014
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM
EST FRIDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE UPPER 20S.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.
* TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE DURING THE
DAY THURSDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF THURSDAY NIGHT. SOME SLEET MAY
MIX WITH THE SNOW ON THURSDAY.
* IMPACTS…SNOWFALL WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS IN
ADDITION…HEAVY…WET SNOW MAY CA– USE SOME WEAK…FLAT ROOF
STRUCTURES TO COLLAPSE AND TREES WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FALLING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD…
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
5:25 a.m UPDATE: SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3
2.03.14 at 5:25 a.m.
Dear Parents/Guardians/Staff,
Due to the severity of the winter storm, the Ridgewood Public Schools will be CLOSED today, Monday, February 3. All afterschool and evening activities are canceled.
Thank you . Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Ridgewood Public Schools
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
410 AM EST MON FEB 3 2014
…MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL EVENT TODAY…
…SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM POSSIBLE FOR ALL BUT EASTERN LONG
ISLAND TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-
WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN-
ORANGE-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-
410 AM EST MON FEB 3 2014
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
* LOCATIONS…SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT…THE LOWER HUDSON
VALLEY…AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY.
* HAZARD TYPES…MODERATE SNOW TODAY. POTENTIALLY HEAVY SNOW AND
ICE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 6 INCHES TODAY. 5 TO
10 INCHES OF SNOW…ALONG WITH ICE ACCRETION OF UP TO A HALF AN
INCH…TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES TODAY.
* TIMING…A MIX OF LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW WILL CHANGE QUICKLY TO ALL
SNOW JUST BEFORE DAYBREAK. THE SNOW WILL BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT
TIMES…IN PARTICULAR DURING THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON
HOURS. SNOW WILL DEVELOP TUESDAY NIGHT…THEN MIX WITH AND
CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS…MAKING FOR SLIPPERY TRAVEL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CA– USE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND — USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
FIRE and ICE – A Winter Festival – with Bonfires at Graydon – February 1
Fire and Ice – A Winter Festival in the Village New Date – Saturday, February 1st
Take part in the national initiative “Come Alive Outside” and join Ridgewood Parks and Recreation, Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction, Ridgewood Fire Department and Eastern Mountain Sports as they create an outstanding winter late afternoon/evening event at Graydon Park and the surrounding parklands. Please use the Graydon parking lot and main entrance.
Village families can gather together, enjoy bonfires around Graydon Pool with winter dinner and comforting refreshments. Ice skating (bring your own skates), snow shoeing, hiking, ice sculptures, and music are a few of the festive offerings. A winter vendor’s market will host a variety of hot foods, desserts and homemade baked goods while others specialize in winter gloves, scarves, and mittens. There will even be honey from our local beekeepers.
Saturday, February 1st, 4 to 8 p.m. (rain date is 2/8) Graydon Park and the Stable environs (Please use the Graydon Pool parking lot and main entrance.)
We hope you will join us! The cost per person is $5. Pre-registration is requested and is offered online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass or in person/by mail: The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, weekdays, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Locate the registration flyer on the Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation. Call the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 if more information is needed.
Bergen Record Continues Christie Smear Campaign :Sorry but the Whole Point of Agencies like the Port Authority is POLITICAL PATRONAGE
Any thing you can say about Christie you can say about any Governor since the Port Authority was established
Again we ask WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THE LAST 40 YEARS ?
The Tolls are $13 dollars to cross the GWB and not a word was spoken?
The Port Authority has been the dumping ground for politicians on the run since its inception including Jerry Speziale, the former Passaic County sheriff . MacGreevey , Cozine , Cuomo have all made political based appointments to the Port authority
Again We are not defending Christies actions or inaction’s but as a commuter sitting in traffic 5 days a week we are more than outraged at the total disregard for the public until some politician gets inconvenienced .
Analysis: Christie’s approach on Port Authority different than his handling of other agencies
Saturday, January 25, 2014 Last updated: Sunday January 26, 2014, 12:30 AM
BY JOHN REITMEYER
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
The Record
Chris Christie launched his first term as governor in 2010 by putting pressure on what he said was New Jersey’s “shadow government” of unelected authorities, boards and commissions. He vetoed a $5 million contract at one agency. He rejected a $1.27 million change order at another. And he even said no to a $37,500 lobbying deal.
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
527 AM EST MON JAN 20 2014
…WINTER STORM BECOMING MORE LIKELY TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT…
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.
* LOCATIONS…EASTERN PASSAIC AND WESTERN BERGEN COUNTIES.
* HAZARD TYPES…SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 7 INCHES.
* WINDS…NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE TEENS TO LOWER 20S DURING THE DAY…AND
SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS AT NIGHT.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.
* TIMING…SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN LATE TUESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO TUESDAY NIGHT WITH HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS…FALLING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL CA– USE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL AND WALKING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA… POSSIBLY IMPACTING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING COMMUTE. EXTREME COLD AND LOW WIND CHILLS COULD CA– USE FROST BITE. DRESS APPROPRIATELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECAS
The Senate Intelligence Committee releases a comprehensive report on the Benghazi attack determined that the attack was ‘preventable,’ faults State and Defense departments
~Anastasia
The Senate Intelligence Committee releases a comprehensive report on the Benghazi attack. The report determined that the attack was ‘preventable,’ faults State and Defense departments, and cites failure of Obama administration to ‘bring the attackers to justice.’
The Senate Intelligence Committee has released a comprehensive report on the Benghazi attack finding the tragedy was “preventable” and the administration failed to respond to “ample” warnings that security was deteriorating before Sept. 11, 2012.
The report faulted the State and Defense departments. It also cited the failure of the Obama administration to “bring the attackers to justice.”
Specifically, the report said the intelligence community provided “ample strategic warning” that security in eastern Libya was deteriorating and U.S. personnel “were at risk.” The report said multiple “tripwires” were crossed signaling security problems, and the State
Department should have increased its security posture in response.
The report also detailed a possible failed ambush, where attackers tried to lure the CIA into the hospital where Ambassador Chris Stevens’ body was being held.
The CIA did not take the bait.
“The committee worked on a bipartisan basis to investigate the various allegations that have come out since the terrorist attacks in Benghazi in September 2012 and to get to the truth about what happened leading up to, during and after the attacks,” Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement, adding she hopes the report puts “conspiracy theories” to rest.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., top Republican on the panel, also said the report provides “needed and deserved answers.”
“In spite of the deteriorating security situation in Benghazi and ample strategic warnings, the United States Government simply did not do enough to prevent these attacks and ensure the safety of those serving in Benghazi,” he said.
Senate report: Benghazi attackers tied to Al Qaeda groups
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
425 AM EST SAT JAN 11 2014
…HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING…
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EST THIS MORNING
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT…
* FROM 11 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.
* LOW PRESSURE MOVING INTO EASTERN CANADA WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT
THROUGH THE REGION LATE THIS EVENING. THIS SYSTEM WILL TAP INTO
GULF AND ATLANTIC MOISTURE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING.
* RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM 1 1/2 TO 2 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS…ARE LIKELY TO CA– USE SIGNIFICANT URBAN…LOW LYING AND
POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING DURING THE WATCH PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO
URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING…FLASHY SMALL STREAM AND RIVER
FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. CONDITIONS ARE ALSO FAVORABLE FOR ICE JAM
FLOODING. IF ANY OF THE LARGER RIVERS OR STREAMS FLOOD…THIS
COULD LINGER AWHILE AFTER RAIN HAS ENDED.
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.
Bergen Record once again looks to savage Steve Lonegan with a public misinformation smear campaign.
January 8, 2014
PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Jackson claims “Lonegan’s in-your-face campaigning style helped him cut down what was expected to be a more lopsided losing margin in last year’s U.S. Senate race against Democrat Cory Booker. But that could be a tough sell in the district, which includes many military families and several large townships dominated by retirement communities. ”
Really is that why Lonegan garnered more votes than then Mitt Romney state wide in a off year election mind you and particularly in District 3 with overwhelming support of military personnel and the 65 and over crowd who still remember what a great country this once was .
Jackson points out his carpet bagger status , but that didn’t hurt Hillary in New York State and given the political land scape in New Jersey its a bit late for that criticism . Lonegans District 3 predecessor a former Philadelphia Eagle was tarred with that very claim . At lest Lonegan is from the same state .
Jackson then goes on to degrade the Tea Party which were the very people who gave both his predecessor Rep. Jon Runyan and himself big victories in the district .My favorite digg is his supposed lack of support by local “republicans” . Funny is that why Chris Christie himself is hosting a $1000 a plate fund raiser for Lonegan and using his very own mailing list .
We all know the Bergen Record went to great lengths keeping from the public the terrible record of our Senator in hiding then mayor of Newark Cory Booker ,and of coarse we see no questioning of Booker by the media on charges of corruption in Newark , the sky rocketing murder rate , horrible over priced schools and of coarse his head long support for Obamacare which has lead to over 800,000 people losing their healthcare in the state of New Jersey ?
While we do not expect papers like the Record to come clean we do at lest expect the Record to pretend its somewhat unbiased and give in to the pretense that it is attempting to report news instead of being a propaganda tool for the Democratic party and its allies .
BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE TRI-STATE AREA FROM LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
419 PM EST MON JAN 6 2014
…BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE TRI-STATE
AREA FROM LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY…
…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 PM EST TUESDAY…
* LOCATIONS…NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY…SOUTHWEST CONNECTICUT…AND
SOUTHEAST NEW YORK EXCEPT FOR EASTERN LONG ISLAND.
* HAZARD TYPES…BITTER COLD AND WIND.
* WIND CHILL VALUES…AS 15 TO 25 BELOW ZERO IN ORANGE…PUTNAM
AND WESTERN PASSAIC COUNTIES…AND 15 BELOW ELSEWHERE.
* WINDS…WEST 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH…HIGHEST
ACROSS THE CITY…COAST AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
* TEMPERATURES…DROPPING TO THE SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT…AND
RISING ONLY TO 8 TO 13 ABOVE ON TUESDAY.
* TIMING…LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE BITTER COLD AND WIND COULD
LEAD TO FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES.
Are You Ready for Some Taxpayer-Subsidized Nonprofit Sportsball?
Jan. 5, 2014 11:00 am
With the NFL playoffs underway and the BCS National Championship Game kicking off tomorrow night, now seems like a perfect time to remind every American just how screwed up the economics behind these games actually are.
Here is the original text from the Dec. 2, 2013 video:
Whether you like football or not – whether you’ve ever bought a ticket to a high school, college, or NFL game – you’re paying for it.
That’s one of the takeaways from The King of Sports: Football’s Impact on America, Gregg Easterbrook’s fascinating new book on the cultural, economic, and political impact of America’s most popular and lucrative sport.
“The [state-supported] University of Maryland charges each…undergraduate $400 a year to subsidize the football program,” says Easterbrook, who notes that only a half-dozen or so college teams are truly self-supporting. Even powerhouse programs such as the University of Florida’s pull money from students and taxpayers. “They do it,” he says, “because they can get away with it.”
At the pro level, billionaire team owners such as Paul Allen of the Seattle Seahawks and Shahid Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars benefit from publicly financed stadiums for which they pay little or nothing while reaping all revenue. Easterbrook also talks about how the lobbyists managed to get the NFL chartered as a nonprofit by amending tax codes designed for chambers of commerce and trade organizations.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
446 AM EST WED JAN 1 2014
…A COASTAL STORM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW…NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG THE COAST…AND DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…
…WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…
* LOCATIONS…EASTERN PASSAIC…BERGEN…ESSEX…AND UNION
COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY.
* HAZARD TYPES…SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS…5 TO 9 INCHES.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE LOWER TEENS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH WIND CHILLS OF 5 TO 10 BELOW ZERO.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES LATE
THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
* TIMING…THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
* IMPACTS…THE ACCUMULATING SNOW…ALONG WITH SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW…WOULD PRODUCE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
“Ridgewood” Bear shot in New York State
Written by Jim Stabile
Outdoors Columnist
A hunter shot a New Jersey bear Nov. 23, even though our season doesn’t open until Dec. 9.
The legal kill was made in New York, 107 miles from our state, closer to Albany than Ringwood State Park, where the nuisance bruin had been released five months ago after being tranquilized near a Ridgewood school.
New York and Pennsylvania hunters kill dozens of tagged and tattooed New Jersey bears, plus countless more that don’t have identification. They’re killed in neighboring states because of our growing bear overpopulation.
no proof its the bear our former mayor wrestled
Bears cross the Delaware, walk north or go further. One was caught in Connecticut on June 5, 2012. Another went to Maryland’s eastern shore.
They don’t leave New Jersey because there’s not enough food. There’s plenty to eat. Young male bears are forced to leave by bigger, older male bears that don’t want competition for sows during the June breeding season.
