The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
>Doherty urges action on bills that would bar private organization members from state pension participation
Sen. Michael Doherty, (R-23), Warren/Hunterdon, renewed his call Tuesday for legislation that would bar members of private organizations from enrolling in the state pension system. (Staff, State Street Wire)
>Christie rips Legislature, sees tax threat
Gov. Christie ripped into New Jersey’s judicial and legislative branches at a town hall meeting in Mercer County on Tuesday, saying that if the state Supreme Court ordered him to spend an additional $1.6 billion on education, the Democratic-controlled Legislature might raise taxes to pay for it. (Rao, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/120759069.html
>World Trade Center transportation hub cost spiral upward
Costs of Calatrava’s Bird Keep on Soaring at Ground Zero
Tuesday, April 26, 2011, by Joey Arak
What’s the priciest part of the new World Trade Center? Nope, not 1 WTC, which will be America’s tallest building. The answer is a train station that will be used by New Jersey commuters and Red Bulls soccer fans, at a price tag of $3.4 billion—and climbing! That’s according to the Bergen Record, which obtained a federal report that says the final cost of architect Santiago Calatrava’s WTC transportation hub—the PATH train station and underground connections to the Fulton Street Transit Center and World Financial Center—might be $3.8 billion. Officials dispute that, but here’s a sentence that won’t instill confidence: “An official at the Federal Transit Administration, which is paying a majority of the hub expenses, stressed that the authority could still hit its current spending target if it manages the project properly.”
>N.J. comptroller reviews county college chiefs’ pay
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2011, 1:17 PM
BY PATRICIA ALEX
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
State Comptroller Matthew Boxer will review the compensation packages of community college presidents throughout the state following allegations of misspending that led to the resignations of the leaders of two of the schools.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/042611_NJ_comptroller_reviews_county_college_chiefs_pay.html
>SUPPORT RHS ORCHESTRAS: BUY SPRING PLANTS AT GOFFLE BROOK FARMS
The RHS Orchestra Parents Association (OPA) is working with Goffle Brook Farms on a spring plant sale fund raiser. From May 1-21, the farm will donate 10% of pre-tax purchases to the RHS Orchestras. Goffle Brook Farm is located at 425 Goffle Road, Ridgewood. The OPA provides supplemental support to the Chamber, Concert, and Symphonic orchestras at RHS in the form of funds for scholarships, performance and educational opportunities, instruments and supplies as well as extra hands at concerts and other events. For more information, contact Nancy Cole at 201-913-5754 or e-mail her at thecolefamily@optonline.net
>I went through the RPS system when it truly had a tradition of excellence. (RHS ’67)
There were no classroom aides.
There were no guidance counselors at the middle schools.
There were 25-30 students in a class and teachers didn’t whine that they couldn’t handle that many students. (And I don’t remember anyone taking medication for ADHD).
There was no superintendent of curriculum.
There was a principal and a vice-principal at the HS, GW, and BF. Period. No grade administrators.
Our students not only excelled at sports, but also got into the best schools in the country,(as they continue to do today.)
We are paying way too much money to way too many people in our school system, and I am voting “NO”! and Amen from a class of 1976 graduate and a double amen from class of 80.
>School budget, open seats are in Ridgewood voters’ hands
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Staff Writer
Ridgewood residents will vote on the school budget and Board of Education candidates on Wednesday, April 27. Polling places will be open throughout the village from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
If approved, the budget will increase annual school taxes for the average assessed home in the village, valued at $797,422, by $190.90. Residents will be voting on a local school tax levy of $81,323,178.
The Board of Education candidates are incumbents Sheila Brogan and Laurie Goodman, as well as newcomer Christina M. Krauss.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/120705449_School_budget__open_seats_in_Ridgewood_voters__hands.html
>Some recent Ridgewood BOE vote history to consider as you go to the polls TOMORROW, Wed. April 27th.
SO… How will YOU vote?
The Candidates:
===================
(2 open seats)
Christine Krauss
Laurie Goodman
Sheila Brogan
NOTE: Gerald Clark HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE BUT IS STILL ON THE BALLOT
The current board:
==================
Michele Lenhard (President)
Robert Hutton (VP)
Charles Reilly
Laurie Goodman
Sheila Brogan
PAST VOTE RESULTS
=================
April 2008
—————–
2 Seats
Goodman 1728 (elected)
Brogan 1663 (elected)
Lois 1192
Maskin 1156
April 2009
—————–
1 seat (uncontested)
Mr. Robert Hutton 1,703 (elected)
April 2010
—————–
2 seats (“uncontested”)
Michele Lenhard 3010 (elected)
Charles Reilly 2913 (elected)
Write-In 8
>A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.
Benjamin Franklin
Read more: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_franklin.html#ixzz1KLqtSamb
>Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood Accepting Registration for Kindergarten Enrichment Program
The Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood is now accepting registration for its Kindergarten Enrichment program for the 2011-2012 school year. The school has spots available in both its morning and afternoon sessions. The program supports all the major district initiatives including: Handwriting Without Tears, Envision Math and Words Their Way. Classes meet twice per week. There is no co-op requirement for parents who enroll children in Kindergarten Enrichment.
A nonsectarian school, The Co-op offers morning and afternoon classes for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, as well as Kindergarten Enrichment. The seasoned, professional teaching staff guides students toward social, emotional and physical well-being. Children learn and play in an environment ideally suited to their needs as developing individuals. The program encourages independence, self-discipline and a love for school. Setting the school apart from other nursery schools, The Co-op is organized and run by parents, which enables them to actively participate in their child’s early learning experience. Music, physical education, field trips, indoor and outdoor play time and an in-house library are just a few of the experiences to which the children are exposed as supplements to the daily education plans.
For more information on the school or to set up an appointment to visit, please call (201) 447-6232 or email the school at ridgewoodcoop@gmail.com. The school is located at 100 Dayton Street in the center of Ridgewood.
>Americans for Prosperity calls on Frelinghuysen to hold the line on spending in rally near his office
Steve Lonegan called on Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen to hold the line on spending as his conservative group, Americans for Prosperity, began a three-week van tour of the area with a rally in front of the congressman’s office. (Koloff, Gannett)
>Boe Elections : No more. Vote NO this week on the budget
Last time this year the BOE cut 3-4 million from the budget and the excellence in education continued. If that is what you can call our expensive and ineffectual “dumb dumb” math curriculum.
We spend money on lights but gut after school academic programs. We a have transportation slush fund of over 3 million dollars. Meanwhile Hutton claims a “NO” vote on the budget will imperil or tradition of excellence. The only thing excellent about our tradition in Ridgewood is the teachers’ benefit package. Wouldn’t it be grand if the rest of us had such pay packages at work.
Mr. Hutton once again threatens cuts as a way to blackmail parents into voting for increased spending while our Admins at Cottage Place mismanage our tax dollars.
No more. Vote NO this week on the budget.
>N.J. Historical Preservation : My beef is with do-gooders who will save a house at the expense of blighted land
I did take my kids to historic sites as I have lived in Bergen county all my life. I have also had to fill in for the lack of history that was taught in the Ridgewood public school system.
My beef is with do-gooders who will save a house at the expense of blighted land. One only has to look at the house in Fair Lawn, Red Mill and other places which serve as hangouts for illicit activity.
Our Village has a recent habit of buying properties and then let them rot further. How would YOU like a historical eyesore fester next to your house because the alternative is having a family move into a new home next door.
I don’t know how Jennee gets their fill-in permits, but it must help to have friends in high places (another thread altogether).
As it is, the historians who are SO concerned about saving this particular house should be OUTRAGED that the Steuben house has been closed for 4 years.
( https://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/steubenhsehistory.html)
Let’s preserve what we have and if there are no individuals who want to buy and restore the properties, then let them be replaced
>Heaven can wait: McGreevey priest bid is rejected
By Chuck Bennett & Josh Margolin – The New York Post | Published: 10:12 AM 04/25/2011
Don’t call him Father Jim just yet.
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey — who shocked the nation in 2004 when he announced he was a “gay American” and stepped down from office — has been denied his bid to join the priesthood of the Episcopal Church, The Post has learned.
Church leaders, who have long embraced gay parishioners and clergy, were bothered by McGreevey’s bitter divorce, sources told The Post.
“It was not being gay but for being a jackass — [McGreevey] didn’t come out of the whole divorce looking good,” said a source with the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
Some leaders also were wary of McGreevey’s sudden embrace of their faith after his scandal and feared the church was being used, the source added.
Read more: https://dailycaller.com/2011/04/25/heaven-can-wait-mcgreevey-priest-bid-is-rejected/#ixzz1KZdIhlek
>April 18, 2011 D.M.V. Checkpoint In Glen Rock
A checkpoint conducted in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles and the Glen Rock Police Department on Monday, April 18 resulted in one warrant arrest for larceny, two vehicles being impounded and 54 motor vehicle summonses issued. The summonses issued are as follows: Inspection, No Seatbelt, Tail/Brake lights, Unsafe Tires, Broken Mirror, Obstructed View, Loading to Spill, Unsafe Vehicle, Cell Phone, Unregistered, No Insurance, Failure to Repair, Disregard Officer, Delaying Traffic and Fake Plates.
