May 18,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, despite all the hullabaloo about parking Tuesday 17 10:15 am , the central business district remained a ghost town . The Cottage place lot teachers ,administrators and store office workers parking has plenty of spaces.
CRR Alleges 2016 Master Plan Amendment to Allow Valley’s Expansion Was An Improper Settlement of Valley’s Lawsuit Against the Planning Board; Cites Conflict of Interest of Board Attorney; and Finds Fault with Prior Planning Board Processes.
May 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ. Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, Inc. (CRR), a New Jersey not-for-profit corporation, filed a Complaint on May 12 th, in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Planning Board of the Village of Ridgewood and Valley Hospital Inc., demanding that both the 2016 and 2010 Master Plan Amendments tailored to Valley Hospital’s immediate and long-term growth plans be declared null and void. CRR is represented by Michael B. Kates of the law firm of Kates Nussman Rapone Ellis & Farhi, LLP, of Hackensack.
On April 5, 2016, the Planning Board reversed itself and voted to settle the lawsuit that Valley Hospital had filed against the Board in 2014 for rejecting a proposed Master Plan Amendment that would have allowed Valley to more than double in size at the Ridgewood site. The “settlement”reduced Valley’s proposed development from 1,240,000 square feet to 1,206,000, whichrepresents an insignificant 3% reduction in the size of the proposed expansion that was denied in 2014.
CRR’s Complaint questions the motivation behind such a capitulation on principle and sets forth several flaws and improprieties in both the process and reasoning the Board used in arriving at that settlement. Pete McKenna, CRR President, commented, “It is astounding that our Planning Board would capitulate to Valley Hospital for this almost immaterial reduction in the immensity of Valley’s proposed expansion. Neither this settlement, nor the manner in which it took place andwas enshrined as a Master Plan Amendment, are in accordance with the Municipal Land Use Law.”
In another Count of its Complaint, CRR asserts that the process culminating in the settlement was compromised by a conflict of interest, stemming from the fact that the Planning Board’s attorney, Gail Price, did not recuse herself and her firm from advising on the settlement at the same time that her husband, Richard Brooks, was a candidate for Village Council and was expounding in public on his positions on the Valley litigation. This conflict was brought to the Board’s attention by a resident attorney (not CRR), in a letter and during hearings on the settlement, calling for the appointment of outside counsel to replace Ms. Price’s firm, Price, Meese, Shulman and D’Arminio PC. But the Board disregarded the conflict, failed to investigate it, and made no public announcement as to its position following closed session discussions. CRR asserts that the failure to disclose what transpired in closed session, in and of itself, is a violation that should render the settlement null and void. CRR president McKenna contends there may be more to the issue, saying “the conflict issue raises other serious questions about how this settlement process was handled by the Board, and we intend to get some answers in this lawsuit.”
In a further Count of the Complaint, CRR asserts that the Board, at the direction of attorney Price, committed major procedural errors during the Board’s consideration of Valley Hospital’s proposed Master Plan Amendments, dating back to 2006. The Complaint focuses particular attention on how Ms. Price applied Ridgewood’s Ordinance 3066 in a way that severely restricted the participation of CRR and the residents, created prohibitively narrow standards for evidence to be put forth by the community, gave disproportionate control of the proceedings to Valley, and ultimately, in CRR’s words, “turned the master plan process upside down”. As set forth in the Complaint, the Planning Board attorney wrongly precluded any modification of the Amendment proposed by Valley, stating that such a narrow approach was “in contravention of the Municipal Land Use Law’s vesting of absolute discretion in the Planning Board to craft a Master Plan according to the Board’s understanding of the public interest and not according to the narrower interest of any property owner.” In sum, Ms. Price’s handling of the Master Plan Amendment hearings pervasively skewed the process in Valley’s favor.
Regarding the conflict of interest issue, CRR believes Mr. Brooks’ pursuit of public office to be laudable, and in fact recognizes his considerable contributions to our Village. The fault here, CRR contends, lies with the candidate’s spouse who is a government official and who does not recuse herself or her law firm from concurrent mediation and settlement discussions that concern the largest single development project in Village history. CRR also stated that it resolved to take this action during the first week of May, but did not want it to appear to unfairly influence Mr. Brooks’ candidacy or the municipal election; therefore, the organization purposefully delayed filing its Complaint until the election had ended.
“Concerned Residents of Ridgewood does not take legal action lightly, and realizes such action incurs an unfortunate expense to Village taxpayers and even more to those residents who will donate to CRR to fund our legal effort; however, due to the continued mismanagement of the Master Plan process and the potentially dire and irreversible consequences of the Master Plan Amendment of 2016, we feel bound to take this action to protect the character of the Village and the wellbeing of the community, and most importantly, the welfare of children attending BF Middle School who would have to endure more than six years of construction during phase one of the expansion,” Mr. McKenna further stated.
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May 17,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, RHS teachers have been selected by North Jersey Media Group as “Outstanding Educators” in different categories. Winning teachers from Ridgewood are: Jeffrey Haas for Art, Craig Bunzey for Physical Education/Coaching, Jessica Leigh for English and Lillian Labowsky for Science. The teachers, nominated by high school students throughout Bergen and Passaic counties, were recognized as having most impacting and making a significant difference in their students’ lives. They will be honored in a special section in The Record on Sunday, June 12, and at a celebratory breakfast on June 13 at Ramapo College of NJ in Mahwah.
May 17, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Since the Tyler Clementi Foundation began a partnership with AT&T a few months ago, they have been able to expand our reach and work to end bullying. TCF collaborated on an extensive poll of New York-area teens and parents to uncover attitudes and behaviors related to cyberbullying. The results were substantial. Nearly half of all teens say they have been bullied online. 8 in 10 know someone who has been the victim of cyberbullying.Read the full results of our poll here!
On May 14th TCF joined AT&T and the All American High School Film Festival in kicking off an exciting opportunity for 100 New York-area student filmmakers, as they compete at the national Teen Film Festival. The teens created films focused on the personal effects of cyberbullying. We are honored to be a partner for this incredible event. The films produced and the relationships built during this weekend will create more compassion and respect at high schools across the New York area.
The videos are a powerful and emotional lens into the experience of being cyber-bullied, by teens and for teens. Check out one of the submissions below:
Gold Coast Film Festival Submission: Stop Bullying PSA : https://youtu.be/rnxn1BRgLlM
As lawmakers consider a Democratically sponsored bill to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour in as soon as five years, state Republicans are pointing to the wage hike’s potential impact to New Jersey’s already strained budget. In his testimony at the Senate Labor Committee hearing where that bill advanced Monday, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon predicted that healthcare providers who receive state funding would turn to the state to offset the cost. JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
photo (Left to right) Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, Elizabeth Ostling, and John Ferrillo at Boston area performance earlier this season.
Boston Symphony musicians to perform in Ridgewood June 12
Ridgewood NJ, Boston Symphony Orchestra Principal Oboe John Ferrillo and Associate Principal Flute Elizabeth Ostling are performing a concert Sunday, June 12, 3 p.m., at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Avenue, in Ridgewood. Admission is free, with an offering taken to benefit Young Life Bergen County.
Ferrillo lived in Ho-Ho-Kus during 16 years with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Ostling, raised in Ridgewood, is also the Principal Flute of “America’s Orchestra,” the Boston Pops. Joining them will be pianist Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, who chairs the music department at Middlesex Community College. Ferrillo and Ostling have led their respective orchestral sections under many of this generation’s most renowned conductors, at Symphony Hall in Boston, the Tanglewood summer festival, Carnegie Hall, on national and international tours, and for many recordings and broadcasts.
Ferrillo has been a member of the San Francisco Symphony and a concerto soloist with the Boston Symphony. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with John deLancie and has participated in the Marlboro and other major summer music festivals. He teaches at the New England Conservatory and Boston University, and was formerly on the faculties of the Juilliard School and Mannes School in New York.During her high school years Ostling was the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra’s piccoloist, principal flute of the All-State Orchestra, first-chair flute of the All-Eastern Band, a concerto competition winner at the Juilliard Pre-College, and then studied at the
Rodriguez-Peralta is a Temple University graduate and did further study at Catholic University and the Juilliard School. She has offered piano performances, master classes, and lectures throughout the U.S. and internationally, and was an Artists International Young Musicians Audition winner. Of her debut, The New York Times said she is “a thoughtful musician; her playing is full of intelligence and poetry… a pianist well worth hearing.”Young Life Bergen County, the beneficiary of the recital’s offering, is a branch of an interdenominational Christian organization that works with 2 million teens and is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. The area program, launched by local sponsors in late 2014, features lively high school Club events, “Wyldlife” for middle and junior high students, Campaigners small-group meetings, and week-long summer camps at nearby Lake Champion and other facilities.
May 17th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Today May 17th is the deadline to register for New Jersey presidential primary. The GOP is settled but Democrats can still feel the Bern (Bernie Sanders ) or vote for Hillary Clinton.
In New Jersey, both the Republicans and the Democrats hold their primaries on the same day. This year it’s June 7.
If you are not registered, you need to register by May 17 in order to cast a primary ballot. (Use these links if you can’t remember if you are registered or if you’re looking for your polling location.)
New Jersey does not have online voter registration, Burns said.
“You have to print the form out, physically sign it, and mail it in,” she said. Forms are available through the state Division of Elections website, at county board of elections, at municipal town halls, and at social services agencies such as motor vehicle offices.
People can also call the League office to request that one be mailed to them. That number is 800-792-VOTE (8683).
On the registration deadline day, May 17, most county board of election offices will be open until 9 p.m.
In order to register in New Jersey you must be:
compiled with https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/when_is_the_new_jersey_primary_and_whats_the_deadl.html
May 17,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In a closely watched property tax case with significant financial and policy implications for hospitals and possibly the broader non-profit community statewide,and the Village of Ridgewood , a Tax Court of New Jersey judge on June 25, 2015, ruled that Morristown Medical Center is not entitled to tax exemption on nearly all of its property in Morristown.
In Ridgewood ,Valley’s main campus would be rated for tax purposes at over $4 million per year. EVERY district was won by Voight, Walsh and Hache in a total rejection of the mayor and his policies .Given the statement made in Tuesday’s election, there would be popular support behind pursing this revenue using any and all means necessary.
Noteworthy elements of the Morristown decision:
Except for some very narrow exceptions such as its parking garage, auditorium and fitness center, almost all of the hospital’s property was deemed to be taxable for failing the “profit” test (see below) because non-profit and for-profit activities were significantly commingled and conferred substantial benefits on the for-profit entities as a result.
Compensation was a significant factor in the opinion. Although IRS guidelines have for years allowed exempt organizations to establish the reasonableness of compensation under federal law by analyzing compensation levels against those of comparable organizations, the judge dismissed such a standard as insufficient because the hospital failed to also verify that the compensation at the other comparable institutions was itself also reasonable. In essence, this ruling disregards the IRS framework for reasonableness of compensation in use by thousands of charities nationwide.
In his conclusion, the judge stated that if all hospitals in their current form are structured like Morristown then none are justified in receiving property tax exemption, and it’s up to the legislature to enact statutory changes that would change this framework.
On November 11, 2015, a settlement was announced between Atlantic Health System (the parent of Morristown Medical Center) and the Town of Morristown, in which the hospital agreed to pay $15.5 million in back taxes and penalties, plus annual property taxes on 24 percent of the hospital’s property from 2016 to 2 . (https://www.njnonprofits.org/PropertyTax_MorristownMedical.html)
It is hard to argue that these same or similar elements would apply Valley Hospital as Well.
Ridgewood NJ , in April Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld responded to an email voicing safety concerns over the facility.
Neighbors say that the business Healthbarn USA Inc. was put before the safety of the residents of the community i.e. painted crosswalks as promised and signage for parking on one side of the street is astounding. Yet amazingly all of the work was done by the town for this business’s 4/1 start date.
The Village has now added lighting in a park that closes at dusk is another issue along with the fact the Ridgewood Water has been there 3 days in a row working to get the business Heathbarn USA a sprinkler for her garden. A garden that is on Green acres property but not for public use to my understanding.
Residents wonder how classes are approved to go until 9:00 when Ridgewood parks close at dusk. I understand that the lights were in the original plan 6 or so years ago, but the fact that they were never needed and are coming at this time seems more than coincidental.
Residents questions remained unanswered ,what is the current pricing for the lights ? Who paid for the village water to be tapped into for the business’s personal needs of water for her private garden? and who will be paying that water bill? Will this business follow water restrictions when in effect?
Soccer and baseball have started we are already seeing the effect of this large business be given 12 parking spots. This is causing Ridgewood tax payers to have no choice but to park on the street since the lot is now being taken away. There are no designated spots for Healthbarn, therefore these private clients are and will continue to utilize the entire parking lot. Residents of Ridgewood and the teams they are hosting for sports are being pushed into the street.
What is the effect of this commotion with 25 plus kids in a small home and 25 plus cars an hour will do to the natural habitat green acres is suppose to protect. Will not the lights deter the natural habitat that the owls maintain there at dusk.
Dear All,
I would like to clarify, address and correct the details in some of the recent correspondences regarding the Health Barn at Habernickel Park.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM:
Let me start with the claim that a sprinkler system has been installed by the Village for the use of the Health Barn. This is not true. No sprinkler system has been or will be installed. Health Barn will be paying for any water that it uses. We have their usage metered separately. They will also be required to follow any watering restrictions that Ridgewood Water implements.
SUMMER SCHOOL BUSING:
Ms. Rubin mentions that Health Barn is advertising on their website that they will be providing busing for children in the summer day camp program. We cannot find any reference to this on Health Barn’s website at all norwill this be occurring. Please provide the back-up for this claim.
RIDGEWOOD ATTANDANCE IN THE PROGRAMS:
As far as the details surrounding the residences of the children in Health Barn’s classes, Ms. Antine is required by the lease to provide quarterly reporting that will be reviewed by Parks and Rec. This report is not due until June 30, 2016. I can provide some recent experiences with regard to where the children live that frequent her classes. Thursday’s seedlings class consisted of 12 children, all of whom were Ridgewood residents. Yesterday, there was a seedlings class of 6 young children – they were all from Ridgewood from the Hillcrest neighborhood. Also yesterday I observed an older children’s class of about 8 children none of whom were Ridgewood residents. As of yesterday morning, the enrollment for next week’s school break camp has 15 children, 9 of whom are Ridgewood residents.
As a reminder, by Green Acres rules, this is a park that is open to all, not just Ridgewood residents.
LIGHTING:
Another issue mentioned was the lighting. Ms. Vellis is correct that the downward facing lights were in the original plans for Habernickel. They are in fact a safety feature that should be there regardless of Health Barn. As with other Village properties, these lights will be on from dusk to dawn.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
The Gate House hours at Habernickel are in line with other Village buildings particularly the Stable; this is distinct from park hours. Ms Antine’s latest class ends at 9:00PM and then cleanup is required. The Stable, as an example, is open until 11PM.
OWLS:
We appreciate and celebrate owls in our parks. We cannot move their nests nor do we want to. We don’t see any issue with the various park activities at Habernickel and the well-being of the owl.
OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY:
As far as the changes regarding no parking signs, striping, etc. The no parking signs have been installed on the south side of Hillcrest. Striping cannot be done until the weather warms up – as soon as that occurs, our Signal Department will stripe.
In Closing:
In speaking with Stacy, she has always been steadfast in her resolve to be a good neighbor and to listen to the neighbors around her. In that spirit of cooperation, she would like to invite the neighbors to the Gate House so that you can see firsthand the significant improvements to the interior as well as discuss the programs and any other questions you may have. Please let Janet and myself know if this is of interest to you and we can make this offer to others in the neighborhood….and also let me know if you have any other questions.
Best, Roberta
Best regards,
Roberta
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
Hi everyone, please take me off these emails. I am following the lease schedule as best as I can to ensure the safety of the children and make it as seamless as possible for the neighborhood. I’m working directly with Roberta and Tim to adjust as needed, so please direct your concerns or questions to them directly.
Thank you so much.
Stacey Antine, MS, RDN
Founder, HealthBarn USA
Author, Appetite for Life
Director, HealthBarn Foundation
NEW LOCATION: 1057 Hillcrest Road,
By JOEL GEHRKE (@JOELMENTUM) • 5/14/16 8:32 PM
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas urged college graduates who seek to “preserve liberty” to do so by fulfilling the duties of their daily vocations rather than attempting to achieve sweeping political goals.
“At the risk of understating what is necessary to preserve liberty in our form of government, I think more and more that it depends on good citizens, discharging their daily duties in their daily obligations,” Thomas said Saturday during a commencement address at Hillsdale College, a small liberal arts college in Michigan.
Thomas lamented various aspects of contemporary society, especially with regard to colleges and universities. He diagnosed what he regards as a contemporary tendency to take pride in having “grievances rather than personal conduct” and to focus on individual rights as citizens, rather than responsibilities. “Hallmarks of my youth such as patriotism and religion seem more like outliers, if not afterthoughts,” Thomas said.
Mallory Schlossberg
Feb. 28, 2016, 9:01 PM
Department stores and specialty retailers have faced declining sales recently, with brands from Macy’s to Gap closing stores.
Many people are pinning the apparel industry’s recent struggles on unseasonably warm weather, which could discourage the purchase of winter clothing.
But there might be another problem that few people are addressing: consumer boredom.
“Today’s retailers face a tsunami of problems but none, in my opinion is more deadly than the pandemic of sheer consumer boredom that shoppers are being subjected to,” retail expert Doug Stephens writes on his blog, The Retail Prophet. “Most retail is just painfully boring. In fact, the majority of store chains, malls and shopping centers have become beacons of boredom, monuments to mediocrity and havens of ho hum.”
Stephens gives an example of a category buyer at Macy’s who is guided by the obvious: sales. If a product won’t sell in droves, then it’s not worth putting it on the shelves, he says.
“And it is for that one single reason — anticipated square foot sales volume — that a plethora of unique, fun, fashionable and fascinating products will likely never see the light of day on the sales floor,” he writes. “Now, repeat the Macy’s buyer mandate across the thousands and thousands of retail buyers, each of whom follow the same essential rule, and soon every store in the mall begins to look the same. Every mall looks vaguely like the next. And voila…mass boredom!”
https://www.businessinsider.com/consumers-are-bored-with-shopping-2016-2
By Andrea Peyser
May 15, 2016 | 11:37pm
Was it all a big, fat, transgender oopsie?
Is Caitlyn Jenner, the most fabulous trans individual ever to strap a bra over budding boobs and squeeze wrinkly buns into extra-extra-large pantyhose, ready to hang up her high heels, trash her female hormones and return to life as a mannamed Bruce?
It makes sense. A depraved, twisted kind of sense. As if the public has been played by a mistress, toying with our heads like kittens with string. For Cait is a devious narcissist who learned her craft at the feet of the Kardashian clan, the most shameless, self-absorbed, attention-seeking hucksters ever to roam the reality-TV universe — until Cait.
I’m not transphobic in the least. I support people’s rights to live, work, date and marry as the genders with which they self-identify. (I just want any stranger equipped with junk to keep the hell out of my bathroom.)
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Holly Madison, will sign her new book: The Vegas Diaries.
when : Tuesday, May 17th @ 7:00pm
who : #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Holly Madison, will sign her new book: The Vegas Diaries
where : Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Ridgewood NJ, Holly Madison was born December 23, 1979,is a New York Times Best-Selling author, model, showgirl, and television personality. She is most widely recognized for her role in the E! hit reality television show, The Girls Next Door and for her own series, Holly’s World. In July 2015, Madison released her first book and memoir, Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny. In May 2016, she will release her second book, The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention detailing her dating life after the mansion.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
For generations, the brave women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement have answered the call to serve and protect our communities. Enduring long shifts in dangerous and unpredictable circumstances, our Nation’s peace officers embody the courage and honor that represent the best of America. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we express our gratitude for the selfless public servants who wear the badge and put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe, and we pay respect for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
In moments of danger and desperation, the first people we turn to are law enforcement officers. These often unsung heroes risk their lives and sacrifice precious time with loved ones so their fellow Americans can live in peace and security. But more than that, they are leaders in their communities, serving as mentors, coaches, friends, and neighbors — working tirelessly each day to ensure that the people they serve have the opportunities that should be afforded to all Americans. In honor of all they do, we must give these dedicated professionals the support and appreciation they deserve.
My Administration continues to work to ensure police departments and other law enforcement agencies throughout our country have the resources required to hire, train, and retain officers, provide officers with modern and necessary equipment, and utilize technology to enhance their communication networks. And our Federal law enforcement officers regularly partner with their State and local counterparts to address some of our Nation’s most difficult problems. We know that strong community bonds are essential for law enforcement to do their jobs effectively. I established a Task Force on 21st Century Policing, bringing together law enforcement, academia, youth, civil rights, and community leaders to provide concrete recommendations to enhance public safety while building community trust. Law enforcement officials care deeply about their communities, and together with our partners in law enforcement, we must work to build up our neighborhoods, prevent crime before it happens, and put opportunity within reach for all our people.
Because each fallen peace officer is one too many, I proudly signed the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act last year — bipartisan legislation that establishes a national “Blue Alert” communications network to disseminate information about threats to officers. The legislation seeks to ensure that appropriate steps can be taken as quickly as possible to provide for an officer’s safety. I also announced new, commonsense gun safety reforms to help keep guns out of the wrong hands and emphasized that the already dangerous job of an officer is far more dangerous than it should be because it remains too easy for criminals and people who are a danger to others or themselves to have access to guns.
It takes a special kind of courage to be a peace officer. Whether deputies or detectives, tribal police or forest service officers, beat cops or Federal agents, we hold up those who wear the badge as heroes. Though they too often spend their days witnessing America at its worst, in their extraordinary examples, we see America at its best. On this day and throughout this week, let us celebrate those who nobly serve each day — and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice — to move our world toward a more just and safe tomorrow. May we carry forward their brave and selfless spirit as we keep working together to shape a future worthy of their commitment.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2016, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 15 through May 21, 2016, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call on the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA
