>School boards confront great uncertainty
Last year at this time — in the weeks leading up to school elections — rhetoric about public schools had reached a crescendo. (Rothschild, Gannett)
Category: Village of Ridgewood
>Christie estimates changes in employee benefits will save $870M a year
>Christie estimates changes in employee benefits will save $870M a year
Gov. Chris Christie estimates his plan to overhaul the state’s public employee health benefits system will save more than $870 million a year by 2014 by shifting significant percentage of the costs to employees and future retirees, according to the Treasury Department. (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/christie_estimates_changes_in.html
>Evaluating New Jersey’s teachers: A mosaic of practices and processes
>Evaluating New Jersey’s teachers: A mosaic of practices and processes
At one school in Bergen County, the teacher evaluation is left entirely to the principal, using a hybrid system for grading his 35 staffers, a steady stream of classroom observations and a lot of weekends reading lesson plans. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0417/2241/
>Guadagno blasts Council on the Arts for awarding $300K in no-bid contracts
>Guadagno blasts Council on the Arts for awarding $300K in no-bid contracts
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno took another slap at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts last week, telling lawmakers that the council needed better oversight after a routine audit discovered it awarded more than $300,000 in no-bid contracts. (McGlone, The Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/guadagno_blasts_council_on_the.html
>Parkway toll collectors’ union says it has offered significant concessions to Turnpike Authority in labor talks
>Parkway toll collectors’ union says it has offered significant concessions to Turnpike Authority in labor talks
The Garden State Parkway toll collectors’ union has offered significant concessions that would save the New Jersey Turnpike Authority “a lot of money,” an official with Local 196 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said Monday. (Rouse, The Record)
>Incentives act as catalyst for N.J.’s biotech industry
>Incentives act as catalyst for N.J.’s biotech industry
With the national economy still struggling, Washington is consumed with finding a solution to our economic woes that will sustain economic growth and create jobs. (Peltz, NJBIZ)
https://www.njbiz.com/opinion/86823-corner-office-stuart-w-peltz
>Controversial proposal moves ahead, while BOE delays votes on other mandates
>Controversial proposal moves ahead, while BOE delays votes on other mandates
The state Board of Education yesterday moved quickly — and quietly — to buy the Christie administration some time in its review of the state’s rules and regulations for school districts. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0411/2221/
>BOOKENDS : Mary Higgins Clark and Maria Menounos book signings
>
Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higggins Clark, Tuesday, April 12th @ 7:00pm
New York Times Bestselling Authors, Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, will be signing their new books: I’ll Walk Alone (available Apr 5th) & Mobbed (available Apr 12th).
Maria Menounos Thursday, April 14th @ 6:00pm
Reporter for Access Hollywood, Maria Menounos, will sign her new book:
The Everygirl’s Guide to Life ,Books available: April 12th
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
>Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 19% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president
>Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 19% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 19% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -20 (see trends).
Today’s numbers reflect the lowest level of Strong Approval yet recorded for this president. There has been a sharp decline in enthusiasm among liberal voters.
Currently, just 37% of liberals Strongly Approve of the president’s performance. That’s down from 63% a year ago, 57% at the beginning of 2011, and 52% a week ago. Some liberal commentators have expressed disappointment with the president over the extension of the Bush tax cuts, the military action in Libya, and, most recently, the budget deal to avert a partial shutdown of the federal government. While liberal enthusiasm may be declining, 57% of voters believe the president is more liberal than they are.
>2% "cap" There are enough loopholes to drive a very big fleet of trucks through
>2% “cap” There are enough loopholes to drive a very big fleet of trucks through
This is exactly the outcome that was predicted when this useless 2% “cap” was proposed. There are enough loopholes to drive a very big fleet of trucks through. At 7.4%, you taxes will double in ten years. All you people paying $15,000 a year: How would you like paying $30,000 (with now corresponding pay raises)?
The answer is for the council (and the totally out of control BOE) to step up and actually behave like the fiscal trustees they are supposed to be.
>new "grassroots" group of Valley expansion supporters
>new “grassroots” group of Valley expansion supporters
Yes, and the “president” of this new grassroots group of Valley expansion supporters has already started making grand pronouncements with information that is undocumented and false—-a la Megan Fraser?
In the Ridgewood News he told readers that Valley made its plan with “meticulous” care and study (hmm, we residents never heard anything about Valley’s study of the options). Also, Mr. Cornell claims that opinions have been sought from every Ridgewood resident, and, according to him, all are in favor of this expansion. WHAT? Did I miss the poll?
This approach—just saying anything with a tone of authority, no matter how untrue—well, it’s just more of the same Valley propaganda we’ve been hearing for four years….
>Valley’s former standing as a friend to its town has plummeted and probably will never return
>Valley’s former standing as a friend to its town has plummeted and probably will never return
While those who live near Valley have understandably been the most outspoken about this issue, their views on the proposed expansion and reworking of the Master Plan are shared by many who live elsewhere in town. The thing is, we sometimes leave home! The “Back Yard” of NIMBY in this case stands for ALL of Ridgewood.
As many note, bigger equals bigger, not necessarily better. Valley should be ashamed of itself for persisting tooth and nail, with a fake “grassroots” website and endless ads and other expensive marketing efforts, in the face of such intense and broad-based opposition.
Valley’s former standing as a friend to its town has plummeted and probably will never return.
>Newark school woes transcend money
>Newark school woes transcend money
Six months after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Oprah to give $100 million to improve Newark’s strapped and struggling schools, $99 million is still sitting in the bank. (Moore, USA Today)
https://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-04-11-newark11_ST_N.htm
>Christie: Vote to approve school budgets shouldn’t be automatic, despite state aid increases
>Christie: Vote to approve school budgets shouldn’t be automatic, despite state aid increases
Just because school districts received increases to their state aid does not mean residents should automatically vote to approve those budgets, Gov. Chris Christie said Friday at a meeting with the New Jersey Press Media editorial board. (Manochio, Gannett)
>Village of Ridgewood : Man about Town
>Celebrate National Library Week- Ridgewood Library
Celebrate National Library Week @ The Ridgewood Library April 10 – 16 Call Library – 201/670-5600
GOLF INSTRUCTION with Total Golf Adventures of Bergen County sponsored by Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Ridgewood Parks and Recreation will offer the following spring sessions: SPRING BREAK MINI CAMP – April 12 – 14, Grades K-8 The Irene Habernickel Family Park. $60 per person – all equipment provided.
Annual Used Book Sale Benefits College Club Scholarships
April 14 to 17 At Somerville School, 45 S. Pleasant Ave. April 14 – 4pm – 7pm $15 Admission April 15,16- 10am – 5pm No Admission April 17 – 10am – 2pm No Admission Something for Everyone! Information: 201/670-9689
Antique Appraisals- Old Paramus Reformed Church – All Welcome!
ANTIQUE APPRAISALS BY JON FELZ Certified Appraiser & PBS Road Show Participant SATURDAY, APRIL 16 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Doors Open at 12:30 p.m. $5 Fee per Item – Limit of 2 Items; Bake Sale/Refreshments available for purchase Barrier-Free OPRC Education Building 660 East Glen Avenue at Route 17 South Ridgewood, NJ – 201-444-5933 www.oldparamus.org
Ridgewood Favorite Poems Reading Sunday, April 17 at 3:00 PM at the Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood. In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, Ridgewood community members of ALL AGES are invited to share a favorite poem by a published poet, famous or otherwise, for this 4th annual event. Please drop off or email ( [email protected]) your favorite poem to the Ridgewood Public Library NOW to be included in a favorite poems display. Then join us on Sunday, April 27, to enjoy favorite poems read by Ridgewood folks, young and old — why not YOU? For information, contact Gina Mitgang at 201-670-5600, ext. 110 or [email protected]
