New rights for same-sex couples
February 08, 2014, 03:08 pm
By Megan R. Wilson and Mike Lillis
The Obama administration will continue the extension of federal benefits to married same-sex couples as heterosexual couples, Attorney General Eric Holder will announce on Saturday.
The Justice Department plans to issue a policy memo on Monday, which will allow same-sex couples to be able to file jointly for bankruptcy and will mandate that they will not be compelled to testify against each other in trial, among other new rights.
Holder will deliver the news at a gala thrown by the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York City Saturday night.
“Just like during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the stakes involved in this generation’s struggle for LGBT equality could not be higher. Then, as now, nothing less than our country’s commitment to the notion of equal protection under the law was on the line,” Holder will say in his speech, according to an excerpt.
“As attorney general, I will not let [the Justice] Department be simply a bystander during this important moment in history.”
Billed as “the greatest science extravaganza in northern New Jersey,” this year’s presentations will take place on Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at RHS. All district students are invited to present.
Held at Ridgewood High School – Saturday, March 8th from 9AM to 1:30PM Super Science Saturday, the greatest science extravaganza in northern New Jersey, is an annual event held for youth and adults to join in the excitement of science. Now in our 26th year, some of the many interactive exhibits include outdoor rocket launches, paper airplane contests, a 26 foot egg drop challenge, and a professional science show by The Franklin Institute
file photo
A workshop series for student presenters will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, February 14; Friday, February 28; and Thursday, March 6 in the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Cafeteria. To sign up for the series, contact Heather Cohen at 201-300-2900 or email her at [email protected] not later than January 31. The cost is $25. Participation is limited to 25 students. Click here for the SSS workshop flyer.
Click here for more information about Super Science Saturday and the schedule of events.
Super Science Saturday is sponsored by the Ridgewood Education Foundation and The Valley Hospital.
TRAVELL SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 6
All are welcome to Travell School on Thursday, March 6 from 7-8:30 p.m., to view the Travell School student science projects. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
RHS DECA had about 80 students qualify for the next round of competition
One hundred ninety RHS students went to Ramapo College in January and competed in the NJ DECA Regional Competition, consisting of team and individual scenario role-playing and testing, which was conducted prior to the event.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
RHS DECA had about 80 students qualify for the next round of competition. In order to advance students need to place in the top 18 of all students competing in their event, and a student who placed top three on a test or role-play received an extra award for recognition of their accomplishments. In addition, three teams placed in the top 25 in the North Atlantic Region and have been invited to present their stock market portfolio at the International Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia in early May.
Open Houses for Sun 2/9
$6,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1400774
465 HEIGHTS RD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, HO– USE
Michael Randy, Sales Associate
Daniel Kahn, Sales Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Saddle River
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
18
$829,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1402952
457 UPPER BLVD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Eileen P. Mullen, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
17
$879,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1403696
437 UPPER BLVD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Linda Aktar, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 2/9
25
$889,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1403687
626 KENWOOD RD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Janis Fuhrman, Sales Associate
Terrie O’Connor Realtors/Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
25
$1,049,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1400784
465 HEIGHTS RD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, COL
Michael Randy, Sales Associate
Daniel Kahn, Sales Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Saddle River
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.oZE46suH.wycZDU7f.dpuf
$1,088,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1403713
447 SHELBOURNE TER, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Beth Freed, Broker Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Ridgewoo
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
12
$1,175,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1400092
197 LINCOLN AVE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Mary E. Soriano, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Saddle River
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
19
$1,195,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1402970
60 SHERWOOD RD, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 2/9
25
$1,400,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1403356
546 HIGHLAND AVE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, COL
Marilyn Nuber, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 2/9
15
Open Houses for Sun 3/2
$515,000 in RIDGEWOOD
MLS # 1403679
426 VAN BUREN ST, RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, COL
Pam Christian, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 3/2
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.oZE46suH.wycZDU7f.dpuf
Ridgewood needs to progress with time
by Edward Martin Walker
The following letter was also sent to the Ridgewood Planning Board.
To the editor:
Opinions on housing density are stuck in an either/or duality that lacks a vision for sustaining our quality of village life. We need a realistic growth vision from village leaders and a perspective shift by opponents in order to sustain the very things we all value so dearly. Ridgewood cannot “just stay the same.” Time waits for no one.
Our Planning Board should alter the Master Plan to foster equal living opportunities to both our elders and to our children, starting by limiting all higher density residential building to a 55-and-over demographic. The reasons for doing this are economic, ethical and moral.
Economic reasons: The single greatest future threat to any family’s life in Ridgewood is that it will be unaffordable to grown children and for retirement. This threat lessens by shifting the ratio of taxpayers to tax consumers (school-age children) in the direction of reduced individual tax burdens, while increasing business activities through economic growth. The only way to do this without burdening our schools is by limiting higher density residential to a 55-and-over demographic. We must also promote assisted-living facilities in the CBD, which will increase revenues with minimal utilization of town services, while increasing business spending by those providing goods and services. In addition, our master plan must create ways for older residents to age in place by sharing residences, or renting to other adults. Finally, in-law apartments and other ways to keep families together must be part of a wider vision for Ridgewood to sustain itself as a multi-age family community versus becoming simply a commodity primarily servicing school-age children and the enhancement of property values so as to facilitate relocation elsewhere once children graduate from high school. Anyone unaware of this dilemma is simply not paying attention.
Rand Paul: When Will Obama Start Caring?
by Sen. Rand Paul 7 Feb 2014
Just when you thought Obamacare couldn’t get any worse, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported on Tuesday that the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs will be lost due to Obamacare.
We can’t afford to lose any more jobs.
These numbers are calculated according to how many work hours the CBO estimates will be lost in the coming decade. Reuters reports, “In its latest U.S. fiscal outlook, the nonpartisan CBO said the health law would lead some workers, particularly those with lower incomes, to limit their hours to avoid losing federal subsidies that Obamacare provides to help pay for health insurance and other healthcare costs.”
Reuters continues, “Work hours would be reduced by the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs in 2024, said the agency, which earlier predicted 800,000 fewer full-time jobs by 2021. The bottom line would be a slower rate of growth for employment and compensation in the coming decade, according to the report.”
This is yet another example of the damage Obamacare has continued to inflict since its implementation.
President Obama set the chattering classes abuzz after his unilateral announcement to raise the minimum wage for newly hired Federal contract workers. During his State of the Union address, he sang the praises for his action, saying that “It’s good for the economy; it’s good for America.”[1] Yet this conclusion doesn’t pass the economic smell test; just look at the data from Europe.
There are seven European Union (EU) countries with no minimum wage (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden). If we compare the levels of unemployment in these countries with EU countries that impose a minimum wage, the results are clear – a minimum wage leads to higher levels of unemployment. In the 21 countries with a minimum wage, the average country has an unemployment rate of 11.8%; whereas, the average unemployment rate in the seven nations without a minimum wage is about one third lower – at 7.9%.
Nobelist Milton Friedman said it best when he concluded that “The real tragedy of minimum wage laws is that they are supported by well-meaning groups who want to reduce poverty. But the people who are hurt most by high minimums are the most poverty stricken.”[2]
– See more at: https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/minimum-wage-laws-kill-jobs#sthash.J64Gd6bp.dpuf
Tech fears shadow campaign to seize control of Internet
By Kate Tummarello
Fearing a power grab for control of the Internet, members of the tech industry are pleading with Congress to pay attention to the domain name expansion that is underway at a little-known nonprofit.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), led by its CEO Fadi Chehade, last year began rolling out thousands of alternatives to the traditional .com ending used by most websites. New endings using the Latin alphabet, such as .clothing and .singles, became available in January, and hundreds of others are on the way.
ICANN says it is focused on making the Internet more broadly available and has prioritized creating domain names in languages such as Chinese, Arabic and Cyrillic. But critics say the nonprofit betrayed broader ambitions last year when it endorsed a statement calling for the globalization of ICANN and other domain name technical work that is currently managed by the United States.
TSA Agents Interrogate Jewish Author For Reading Conservative Newspaper
Federal goons assume role of political thought police
Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
February 7, 2014
Award winning Jewish author Phyllis Chesler was questioned and had her bag searched at New York’s JFK Airport as a result of a TSA agent’s suspicions over the fact that she was reading a conservative newspaper.
The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon after Chesler’s flight to Florida was delayed due to the recent ice storms.
As soon as Chesler pulled out a copy of The Jewish Press, a popular English language weekly with a conservative political bent, a TSA agent eyed her with suspicion, approached the author and asked to see the newspaper.
After the TSA agent scrutinized the cover of the newspaper and showed it to another security official, Chesler was ordered to open her luggage, which the two agents then proceeded to rifle through.
Almost One in Four 26-Year-Olds Still Live with Parents
A ten-year survey of millennials reveals that almost one in four (22.6%) 26-year-olds are still living with their parents.
The U.S. Department of Education report confirmed that, if you are tired of living with Mom and Dad, then do your homework and stay in school. According to the survey titled “Where Are They Now,” education makes a difference: generally those with more schooling were less likely to be living at home.
The study shed some light on how older millennials have been faring during the Great Recession. According to a Pew Research analysis of the 2012 data, lower levels of employment, an increase in college enrollment, and a decrease in young people getting married are major factors in the increase of millennials living at home.
HARTFORD, Conn. — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the use of a drone aircraft that was reported last weekend at the scene of a Hartford car crash.
The use of drones for commercial purposes is prohibited by the FAA. Violators can be subject to penalties.
Ridgewood resident Ciaran Sheehan is back on Broadway
Friday, February 7, 2014
BY BETSY MURPHY
CORRESPONDENT
The Ridgewood News
“I’m an actor,” said the Irish tenor from Ridgewood. “I took singing lessons just for The Phantom.”
Well, there was a bit of singing before that. Ciaran Sheehan was an electrical engineering major at Rutgers when he dropped out to sing in a heavy metal band.
“A few years later,” said Sheehan, “I began studying the Meisner Technique, a two-year acting program developed by Sanford Meisner, with Kathryn Gately in New York City.”
After that, he studied for three years with Group Theatre member and Actors Studio founder Bobby Lewis. “I also studied with Terry Schreiber and with Larry Moss, my current coach and teacher,” Sheehan added. “I knew about Terry by reputation. He has been teaching acting in New York City for decades and has directed a number of plays on Broadway, including K2, which won a Tony.”
Gallery in Ridgewood features watercolors
Friday, February 7, 2014
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Art Center Watercolor Affiliates current show at the Cottage Place Gallery in Ridgewood features cityscapes, landscapes, nautical scenes, local scenes, portraits and florals.
‘Sea Urchins”Spring Bouquet”Fun After School”Luminous Curtains’
“We are delighted with the space at the Cottage Place Gallery with its wonderful light” said the current president of Art Center Watercolor Affiliates Mary Ann Heinzen. She invites the community to a reception on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. This is the group’s first show to be held at the Cottage Place Gallery.
High cost of Common Core has states rethinking the national education standards
By Perry Chiaramonte
Published February 05, 2014
FoxNews.com
States are learning the cost of Common Core is uncommonly high.
The federally-backed standards initiative, first proposed by the nation’s governors and an educators’ association, seeks to impose a national standard for achievement among K-12 students. So far, 45 states plus the District of Columbia have signed on, with some implementing curriculum designed for the Common Core Standards Initiative during the current school year and the rest set to take part in the next school year. But several states are reconsidering their participation, and one big reason is the cost.
States will spend up to an estimated $10 billion up front, then as much as $800 million per year for the first seven years that the controversial program is up and running. Much of the cost is on new, Common Core-aligned textbooks and curriculum, but the added expenses also include teacher training, technology upgrades, testing and assessment. The figures are taking states by surprise
