Ridgewood NJ, once again we have herd report of wild turkeys going on a rampage in the Village near the Ho Ho Kus Brooke . While the majestic bird can be fun to watch do not under estimate their tenacity if they are provoked . Two years ago four wild turkeys stopped traffic on Passaic Road in Paramus and Paramus Police were forced to respond in force and removed the Turkeys safely . In 2016 a in a well publicized event a Hillsdale mailmen was attacked by rampaging birds and in the same year Teaneck was forced to use air horns to drive turkeys from a local park.
The wild turkey is an upland ground bird native to North America and is the heaviest member of the diverse Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey. Although native to North America, the turkey probably got its name from the domesticated variety being imported to Britain in ships coming from the Levant via Spain. The British at the time therefore associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and the name prevails.
Remember that wild turkeys have a pecking order and that habituated birds may respond to you as they do to another turkey. The best defense against aggressive or persistent turkeys is to prevent the birds from becoming habituated in the first place by being bold to them.
If confronted , keep away they are extremely dangerous .It is best to call the Ridgewood Police or animal control, fear not most Bergen county Police departments are well versed in the safe removal of Turkeys !
Teaneck NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the investigation into the deaths of Gerald Ryan (DOB: 6/18/1936; married; retired) and Roseann Ryan (DOB: 12/10/1936; married; retired), both of 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey, pending positive identification from the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is being conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Glenn O’Reilly, and Teaneck Fire Department under the direction of Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky.
On Sunday, January 28, 2018, the Teaneck Police Department received a report of a house fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. When the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene, the single family residence was consumed by heavy fire and the occupants, Gerald and Roseann Ryan, were unaccounted for and presumed to be inside.
On Sunday, January 28 and Monday, January 29, 2018, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and Arson Task Force, the Teaneck Police and Fire Departments, and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire at 130 Sherman Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey. the remains of Gerald and Roseann Ryan were located inside the residence. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined due to the extensive fire damage. However, the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
***SEEKING PUBLIC’S ASSISTANCE IN HIT AND RUN INVESTIGATION***
January 7, 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Moonachie NJ , Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Moonachie Police Department are requesting information from the public regarding a hit and run collision which resulted in a pedestrian sustaining fatal injuries.
At approximately 5:50 am on Friday, January 5, 2018, the Moonachie Police Department received a report of a pedestrian lying in the roadway on Route 46 East near the intersection of Industrial Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed a deceased male victim lying in the roadway. The victim’s injuries were consistent with having been struck by a motor vehicle. The victim, later identified as Brian P. Rossi (DOB 7/15/1989) of Teaneck, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evidence at the scene indicates that the victim was struck by more than one vehicle, all of which fled the scene traveling eastbound on Route 46.
Anyone with information regarding this hit and run collision is requested to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit at 201-226-5595, or the Moonachie Police Department at 201-641-9100. All calls will remain confidential.
Teaneck NJ, the NJTPC will host speaker, blogger and political commentator Matt Rooney . He will enlighten us on what to expect after the NJ election, what can be done and what you can do to be a change maker. We’ve experienced disappointment with previous elections on various levels, but the tax base in Bergen County is correspondingly high in the metropolitan NY/NJ area.
Matt Rooney is a lifelong NJ resident who earned his Juris Doctorate in 2010 from the Rutgers University School of Law and is currently is a practicing attorney with a NJ based law firm in Haddon Heights Camden County.
Save Jersey is New Jersey’s #1 source for conservative news, commentary, and humor. Matt Rooney founded the well respected and widely-read Blog in May 2008 when he was a law student. He began to write about both trending and under-the-radar topics in New Jersey politics and recognized a critical need for an independent, pro-taxpayer voice in the New Jersey media. Save Jersey has been repeatedly recognized in recent years as a force in New Jersey politics.
Matt was named a “Rising Star” in state politics by Gannett’s New Jersey newspapers, as a top politics and policy tweeter for his work at Save Jersey. It has been nationally-recognized as an invaluable resource for in-state political coverage, warranting mentions from various national online publications such as National Review Online, MichelleMalkin.com, The Weekly Standard, BigGovernment.com, FoxNation.com and The Washington Post.
“One person working tirelessly is a blessing,
when we all work together miracles happen”
REMINDER:
November 21, 2017 (Tuesday)
Speaker: Matt Rooney, Founder and Chief Blogger, Save Jersey Blog.
650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck NJ – 7PM
(Don’t forget to bring a pantry item for the American Legion food drive-support our veterans’ good works)
Ridgewood NJ, Two women dressed as nuns are charged with robbing a pair of New Jersey banks and also suspected of trying to rob a bank in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains .
The Thelma and Louse pair are Nineteen-year-old Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, of New Haven, Connecticut, and 23-year-old Melisa Aquino Arias, of the Dominican Republic .
The Garfield heist was Sept. 27. The Teaneck heist was Sunday, when the women were arrested.
Law enforcement officials say the women are also suspected in an attempted robbery of the Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 28. Those robbers were dressed as nuns and ran away without money after an alarm was triggered.
The women have as far as we know not confessed to anything , but Law enforcement officials say the women are also suspected in an attempted robbery of the Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 28. Those robbers were dressed as nuns and ran away without money after an alarm was triggered.
In the mid-1970s, the Open Public Meetings Act created the basis for government transparency in the state of New Jersey. A little more than 15 years later, the Open Public Records Act followed, replacing the nascent “Right-to-Know Law.”
Since then, the laws have seen few face-lifts, and the wrinkles are beginning to show.
“We want to bring the bills into the 21st century,” said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, “some parts of which were written before there was such a thing as an Internet.”
Teaneck NJ, at a recent meeting hosted by NJTPC special guest Jason Goodman of Crowdsource the Truth spoke on what maybe the largest scandal in US history. According to Goodman there is a spy ring that operates in congress with many members complicit in the spy drama . The drama centers around Imran Awan, the former IT staffer for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was arrested on bank fraud .
Jason Goodman, is an independent journalist who operates Crowdsource the Truth, has been exploring full time the incredible scandal that Washington and the Mainstream Media have been as quiet about as they can be: Imran Awan, the Pakistani given responsibility for the Democratic Party’s computers and networks thanks to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and access to the confidential Blackberrys of some 50 Democratic Congressmen and according Goodman it is even possible he was enabled by the CIA.
Awan was arrested for bank fraud at the airport by the FBI as he was about to leave the country, but that’s the least of it. He may have sold US secrets he could access to Pakistan and other foreign governments. Goodman has found a lot to talk about that the media won’t publish in what has the potential to be the biggest political scandal in a century.
According to evidence discovered by citizen journalists broadcast on CrowdSource The Truth on YouTube ; Imran Awan Spy Ring in Congress, Awan was DWS IT consultant in Congress. He’s Pakistani ISI, doped over 150 Congressmen phones, sold US state secrets to Pakistan and foreign governments.
Imran Awan, used a secret server and a file hosting service that congressional staffers are prohibited from using to store massive amounts of Democrats’ data, according to reports.
Awan, who is under indictment for bank fraud, conspiracy and making false statements, allegedly routed data from numerous House Democrats to a secret server, Awan is alledged to be a member of the Packistani ISI that’s the Pakistani equivalent of the CIA, has stolen data then often black mailed with that data. infiltrated the US Congress.
Ridgewood NJ, U.S. News provides nearly 50 different types of numerical rankings and lists to help students narrow their college search. From National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges to A-Plus Schools for B Students.
New Jersey offers a mix of small liberal arts colleges, midsize colleges and large research universities are located throughout New Jersey. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick is among the largest colleges in the U.S., enrolling more than 31,000 undergraduate students annually. Some of the publicly funded colleges and universities in New Jersey are located in Newark and the capital of Trenton. Several notable private institutions are located in the state as well, including Princeton University.
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
#1 in National Universities
The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a “no loan” policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition. more
$47,140 Tuition and Fees
5,400 Undergraduate Enrollment
College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ
#4 in Regional Universities North (tie)
The College of New Jersey, also known as TCNJ, is a selective, public school with many campus groups and activities for students to try. Home to theaters and an educational television station, TCNJ also hosts more than 150 student organizations and numerous recreational and competitive sports teams. more
$27,578 (out-of-state), $16,149 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
6,787 Undergraduate Enrollment
Rutgers University–Camden
Camden, NJ
#25 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1927, Rutgers University–Camden is a public institution.
$29,381 (out-of-state), $14,238 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
5,021 Undergraduate Enrollment
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
#28 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1933, Monmouth University is a private institution. Monmouth University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective. more
$36,733 Tuition and Fees
4,707 Undergraduate Enrollment
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
#34 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1865, Rider University is a private institution. The school has 48.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Rider University is 11:1. more
$41,310 Tuition and Fees
4,060 Undergraduate Enrollment
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ
#37 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Ramapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts institution that offers about 40 undergraduate programs in five schools. Students at Ramapo can get involved in more than 100 student organizations, Greek life, and campus media. more
$23,214 (out-of-state), $14,080 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
5,762 Undergraduate Enrollment
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ
#41 in Regional Universities North (tie)
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is located near the Atlantic shoreline in Galloway. About 5 percent of students at Stockton College participate in Greek life. more
$20,356 (out-of-state), $13,402 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
7,854 Undergraduate Enrollment
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck, NJ
#64 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Fairleigh Dickinson University has two campuses in New Jersey, the suburban College at Florham and the Metropolitan Campus, which allows students to select the type of college experience they’re looking for. more
$40,704 Tuition and Fees
7,870 Undergraduate Enrollment
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Piscataway, NJ
#69 in National Universities (tie)
Rutgers University—New Brunswick, the flagship campus of New Jersey’s state university, is split into five minicampuses, each with a unique setting and identity, student center and dining options. Freshmen are not required to live on campus. Students can join more than 400 student clubs and organizations, including more than 80 fraternities and sororities. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Among its graduate offerings, Rutgers has a highly ranked Graduate School of Education. The university also awards one of the highest numbers of doctorate degrees a year among U.S. schools. As a public research university, Rutgers is home to unique institutions such as the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, where students take hands-on courses in the sciences and work on community projects. more
$30,023 (out-of-state), $14,372 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
36,168 Undergraduate Enrollment
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ
#69 in National Universities (tie)
Innovation and entrepreneurship is stressed at Stevens Institute of Technology, a research-intensive school primarily known for its engineering, science and management programs. The school also has a humanities division with eight majors. Undergraduate students are encouraged to get involved in research projects and develop new technologies through the school’s Technogenesis philosophy. Students can opt for a cooperative education track, which is a five-year program with mostly alternating semesters of class and full-time, paid work. Students complete a full first and fifth year at Stevens, and pay for only four years of school. On campus, in Hoboken, N.J., there are more than 120 clubs and organizations, including about 15 fraternities and sororities. Housing is guaranteed for four years, and more than 60 percent of students choose to live on campus. The campus lies along the Hudson River, and New York City is a boat or subway ride away.
The Stevens Ducks mainly compete in the NCAA Division III Empire 8 Athletic Conference, and, through the school’s Adopt-a-Team program, all student athletes have a faculty mentor to help them juggle sports and school work. Incoming freshmen also do not have the hassle of buying a new laptop; each student is given a notebook computer with software configured to his or her major. The school was exclusively for male students until 1971, and now, females make up close to 30 percent of the student body. more
$50,554 Tuition and Fees
3,021 Undergraduate Enrollment
Saint Peter’s University
Jersey City, NJ
#97 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s University is a private institution. Saint Peter’s University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective. more
$36,402 Tuition and Fees
2,672 Undergraduate Enrollment
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ
#102 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1939, Caldwell University is a private institution. The school has 62.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Caldwell University is 12:1. more
$33,900 Tuition and Fees
1,637 Undergraduate Enrollment
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ
#102 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1855, William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University of New Jersey offers a Greek system, where 2 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 2 percent is involved in a fraternity. more
$20,842 (out-of-state), $12,804 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
9,103 Undergraduate Enrollment
Drew University
Madison, NJ
#112 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
Drew University is located in Madison, New Jersey, not far from New York City. Students can take advantage of the school’s location through intensive semester-long programs on Wall Street and more. more
$49,168 Tuition and Fees
1,521 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
#124 in National Universities (tie)
A private, Catholic school in South Orange, N.J., Seton Hall University is about a 30-minute train ride to New York City. Many students take advantage of the university’s location by interning and job hunting in the nearby city while still enjoying the clubs, Greek life, and Division I sports on campus.
more
$40,588 Tuition and Fees
5,956 Undergraduate Enrollment
Rutgers University–Newark
Newark, NJ
#133 in National Universities (tie)
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey—Newark is located in the largest city in the state. More than 60 percent of students complete majors in the Newark College of Arts and Sciences. more
$29,480 (out-of-state), $13,829 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
8,170 Undergraduate Enrollment
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ
#135 in Regional Universities North
Founded in 1867, Centenary University is a private institution. Centenary University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective. more
$32,580 Tuition and Fees
1,518 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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College of St. Elizabeth
Morristown, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1899, College of St. Elizabeth is a private institution. The school has 82.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at College of St. Elizabeth is 10:1. more
$32,282 Tuition and Fees
763 Undergraduate Enrollment
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Founded in 1908, Georgian Court University is a private institution.
$32,260 Tuition and Fees
1,591 Undergraduate Enrollment
Kean University
Union, NJ
#137 in Regional Universities North (tie)
Students at Kean University in New Jersey can choose from nearly 50 undergraduate majors and more than 30 master’s programs. Outside the classroom, students can visit the school’s two cougar mascots, named Sage and Scout, in a nearby zoo. more
$19,009 (out-of-state), $12,107 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
11,812 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more
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New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ
#140 in National Universities (tie)
Founded in 1881, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public institution. New Jersey Institute of Technology follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective. more
$31,034 (out-of-state), $16,430 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
8,211 Undergraduate Enrollment
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
#171 in National Universities (tie)
Rowan University started out as a teacher preparation college and is now a leading research institution for eco-friendly initiatives. Since 2007, the school has received at least 13 awards for green initiatives. It also offers a range of degree options for undergraduate and graduate students. Students study a host of subjects, such as whether blood tests can reveal Alzheimer’s and how to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries. The school also promotes diversity in science, technology, engineering and math. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus unless they can commute from a nearby guardian’s home, and many upperclassmen live off campus. Student athletes can represent the Rowan Profs in the NCAA Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference and intramural sports. more
$21,378 (out-of-state), $13,108 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
14,344 Undergraduate Enrollment
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ
#187 in National Universities (tie)
Located about 14 miles west of New York City in New Jersey, Montclair State University offers about 300 academic programs. Students can make the most of their studies by visiting the school’s Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education to get help planning for their future. more
$20,566 (out-of-state), $12,454 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
16,810 Undergraduate Enrollment
Megan Burrow, Staff Writer, @MegBurrowPublished 8:29 a.m. ET Aug. 2, 2017
TEANECK — A Superior Court judge has ruled that the township must pay legal fees to Elie Jones, a township resident that Teaneck had sued to bar him from filing public records requests after he flooded the clerk’s office with hundreds of requests over the course of two months.
“I feel the township sued a resident improperly,” Jones said. “I’m statutorily allowed to request documents through the Open Public Records Act. They improperly sued me and this is the result.”
Teaneck NJ, NJTPC Special Guest Speaker James Foytlin of the Ridgewood blog , 650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck NJ – Jine 20, 7PM (Don’t forget to bring a pantry item for the American Legion food drive-support our veterans’ good works) We are pleased to have as our guest speaker, James Foytlin of “the Ridgewood blog” www.theridgewoodblog.net
You will learn the story of how the blog transformed, and:
What is a blog How to set up and run a blog How to survive as a conservative blogger How and where to source info…. How to get paid $$$
The Ridgewood blog https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com was founded in March of 2006 by James J Foytlin aka PJ Blogger . Mr. Foytlin was born and raised in Ridgewood ,New Jersey.
After many years living in New York City, Mr. Foytlin returned to Ridgewood after the tragic events of 9/11. Once he settled in he noticed a lack of sufficient news coverage of local events. How could this be? Ridgewood is a picturesque upper middle class village of around 25,000 located in Bergen county in northern New Jersey. Founded by Dutch settlers before it became an English colony. The town or village as its called is steeped in rich history and tradition .Known for a large amount of Victorian era housing , a quality school system and a family friendly atmosphere.
In 2004 the Village of Ridgewood had finally completed it’s much anticipated and long delayed renovation of the Village hall which had been flooded out due to Hurricane Floyd. The renovation was marred by huge cost over runs and lengthy delays. In 2005 it opened with great fan fare, was once again flooded with the very first rain . Mr. Foytlin was more shocked by the abject lack of responsibility taken by elected officials than the fact that the $9 million dollar renovation had to some extent been a failure . That was the breaking point and Mr. Foytlin had had enough so he decided to give citizen journalism a go and created the Ridgewood blog in March of 2006.
If you have a message to be heard…..come and find out how…do you want to have your voice be heard with a blog? Maybe you want to do the same but need to understand more. Come and learn that ‘more’. Everything begins with that first step…………
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the arrests of TYRONE GOINS (DOB: 02/14/80; single; and unemployed) of 90 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey and his brother, TRAVIS GOINS (DOB: 01/25/85; single; and employed as a driver) of 44 Brookway Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey. The arrests are the culmination of a three-month-long investigation by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, along with a multi-jurisdictional burglary task force comprised of detectives from Fort Lee, Paramus, Cliffside Park, Tenafly, Saddle River, and Teaneck police departments.
In response to a reported increase of residential burglaries in the eastern part of Bergen County, detectives from the affected towns met and shared information about the burglaries. As a result, a task force was formed and a joint investigation began.
On the evening of June 8, 2017, task force detectives were conducting physical surveillance in the Borough of Cliffside Park. TYRONE GOINS and TRAVIS GOINS were observed in a vehicle that circled the same blocks for a period of time. Shortly after the vehicle left the area, detectives confirmed that a burglary had been committed to a residence on Washington Avenue in Cliffside Park. Detectives were able to locate the suspects’ vehicle and conduct a motor vehicle stop.
TYRONE GOINS and TRAVIS GOINS were each charged with one count of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C18-2A(1), a crime of the 3rd degree, for the Washington Avenue, Cliffside Park burglary along with an additional count of Burglary, for an April 27th, 2017 residential burglary to a Cliffside Park residence on West End Avenue. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.
Tyrone GOINS and Travis GOINS are currently lodged in the Bergen County Jail, pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges against the defendants are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Fort Lee, Paramus, Cliffside Park, Tenafly, Saddle River and Teaneck Police Departments for their assistance with this investigation.
Teaneck NJ, Field Station: Dinosaurs Summer Hours Start June 27th , Field Station: Dinosaurs is a world-class family attraction that combines cutting-edge science with the creative minds of great artists and teachers to create a one-of-kind experience that’s thrilling, educational and fun.
The Field Station is an oasis of natural wonder just minutes from New York City. Over thirty life-sized, realistic dinosaurs come to life thanks to the brilliant engineering of the world’s leading roboticists and the imagination of our artists.
The story of the dinosaurs is vividly presented on twenty acres of wild, unpredictable woods, mysterious pathways, and mountain trails. Scientists have worked to ensure that the exhibition encompasses the latest theories and discoveries in the fields of paleontology, geology, and environmental studies.
Workshops, games and activities connect the story of the dinosaurs to our world today, giving new relevance to their lives and power to the tale of their extinction.
And at the center of it all is the fun, the joy and the wonder of dinosaurs. Our expedition takes every family on a shared adventure – full of mystery, surprise and a sense of awe.
Walk along our trail, check out our 32 life-sized dinosaurs and participate in fun activities, which are all included in the Day Pass admission price, with the exception of Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D, which is an additional $5 when purchased at the door. The movie is included in the Explorer’s Pass and Commander’s Pass.
The park is open rain or shine from 10 – 6pm on the following days: Saturdays and Sundays only from May 27 through June 25. We are also open Memorial Day, May 29, 10-6pm.
Tuesday through Sunday from June 27 through September 3. We are also open July 4 and Labor Day, September 4, 10-5pm.
Ridgewood NJ, Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools comments on the Ridgewood Board of Education $105 million budget :
Spring is a time of abundance, with buckets of rain, sprouts of new foliage and flowers and pollen, and oh yes, the realities of tax returns and in the case of school districts, budgets. Each year the Ridgewood Board of Education works hard to develop a budget for the following school year that provides for our exceptional instructional and co-curricular programs, as well as the maintenance and operations of our facilities. The budget for the 2017-18 school year, which was approved on May 1 by the Board of Education, allots approximately $105 million to maintain our excellent staff, uphold our rigorous academic offerings, and support new initiatives. Next year’s budget will allow us to add new staff, maintain and upgrade instructional technology equipment, implement a new K-5 Science curriculum and other new or revised courses at the middle and high school levels, launch full-day Kindergarten and undertake a variety of renovation projects around the district. The numbers tell the story. The excellence of our academic, athletic, arts and social/emotional programs in our elementary, middle and high schools is regularly proven by the consistent high reach that our students achieve in nationally recognized programs and tests. Statistics from Ridgewood High School – high ranking by US News and World Report – exemplify how we excel as a district. Our students perform very well on all measures, having for example, seven finalists, nine semi-finalists and 70 commended students in the National Merit Scholarship program over the last two years. In the SAT and ACT, our class of 2016 performed at a very high level. SAT ACT RHS 1759 26 NJ 1520 23.1 USA 1490 21 On the AP exams, over 80 percent of our students scored 3 or higher and 134 students were named AP Scholars by the College Boards. Over 95 percent of our Class of 2016 pursued a college or university education this past fall, with 84 percent of their chosen schools classified as competitive, more competitive, or most competitive. And while academics are extremely important, excellence requires breadth in programming. We also provide a very full range of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that includes fantastic fine and performing arts programs, 29 very successful sports programs and over 100 clubs and activities. Excellence has a price. Simply stated, our ability to offer the variety and depth of services and programs and make an impact in our students’ lives requires a budget of $105 million dollars. The standard of excellence for Ridgewood students is a costly endeavor, yet an excellent investment in their future. In fact, the State of New Jersey has determined that the 2016-2017 per-pupil cost of a Ridgewood education is $15,119, which is a relatively low per-pupil expenditure when compared to our neighboring districts and others across the state. Let’s take a look:
Bergen Academies: 27,852 Northern Valley — Old Tappan / Demarest:19,964 Princeton: 19,964 Ramapo/Indian Hills: 19,479 Teaneck: 9,922 Tenafly: 17,049 State of New Jersey: 15,714 We couldn’t do it without you. Especially as the majority of the budget is funded by our resident taxpayers, you might want to know that next year’s cost to homeowners is an additional yearly increase of $11 per $100,000 assessed home value. As a reference point, the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093 will see a tax increase of $76.56. It is important for me to say thank you for your continued support of our schools, programs and students. The Ridgewood community is a critical partner in our mission of excellence, from the budget that you support through taxes, to the co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that cannot exist without the additional funds that you regularly raise through parent organizations such as HSAs, Booster clubs, individuals and organizations. We are also particularly fortunate and grateful to our large organizational donors such as The Foundation and The Valley Hospital, hose large gifts supplement the budget and help ensure our ability to enhance our schools and the educational experience of every Ridgewood student. We want to hear from you. It’s great that I often receive emails or phone calls from residents who have questions, suggestions and, yes, even criticisms on day-to-day and larger issues affecting the Ridgewood Public Schools. I always welcome that one-on-one dialogue. This year, we are also seeking more formal feedback from our parents and guardians, who’ll be e-mailed our biennial satisfaction survey on May 8. We do this survey every two years to gather data on how we are doing in our schools and as a district. Our last survey in 2015 received a 35.6% response rate, and while this number is very good, we want to beat it this year. Please know that your input is important and valued, so I do hope you will take a few minutes to complete the survey when it arrives in your inbox. Soon the rains will stop, the flowers will be in full bloom and we’ll be relaxing in our yards and enjoying the green spaces in our beautiful village. However, the grass isn’t growing under our feet! We are already planning for the 2017-2018 school year, when will welcome the inaugural full-day kindergarten class… the future RHS Class of 2030! Ouch… that number hurts! As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns
Where : 650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck N J
When : April 18 – 7pm
(Don’t forget to bring a pantry item for the American Legion food drive-support our veterans’ good works)
Teaneck NJ, We are pleased and fortunate to have as our guest speaker Robert J. Auth, Assemblyman for NJ D39. Assemblyman Auth received his B.A. from New York University with majors in History and Philosophy. He serves in the Assembly on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, Commerce and Economic Development Committee and the Education Committee. He is also the Chief Executive Officer at Plaza Travel and Insurance Services Ltd., a company he founded in 1985. In the past, he was a teacher for the North Bergen School District from 2004 to 2006. He is an aircraft pilot having flown since 1982.
We look forward to hearing Assemblyman Auth’s input and information on the following bills, which he is sponsoring on subjects and issues that affect us all:
A4884 “Empower the Principal Act”; eliminates local school superintendents and prohibits schools from having more than one assistant or vice-principal A4481 Decreases petroleum products gross receipts tax rate on certain petroleum products; dissolves Transportation Trust Fund Authority; establishes “New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Account Commission.” ACR28 Proposes constitutional amendment to establish revenue responsibility through annual State appropriations cap limiting spending growth to one percent per year over six years and a permanent revenue responsibly fund reserved for reducing State pension benefit liabilities. A376 Concerns county government dissolution
Remember…….Assembly representatives may not be in your district but can do good work which will benefit us in all districts, so come and hear what is being said and know who the Assembly representatives are that are working to make NJ a better state and a less ‘taxing’ state.
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