9/11 Anniversary Prompts More Transit Security
By Dino Flammia September 10, 2013 5:24 AM
Mass transit officials are on high alert this week as we mark the twelfth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“We know we’re a target, as is every transit agency in the country,” said Jim Weinstein, executive director of New Jersey Transit. “So we take this seriously.”
While he wasn’t willing to share specifics, understandably, Weinstein said special efforts are underway from the agency’s police department. People can expect more cops, as well as K9 units, in major bus and train hubs across the state.
Federal officials have learned that the visibility of a police officer is the best deterrent to terroristic activity, according to Weinstein.
CARES Foundation, a national organization supporting those affected by the genetic disorder Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), will hold its 2nd Annual CAREing Hearts Walk for CAH on September 28, 2013, in Ridgewood, NJ.
Patients, health professionals, families and friends will gather at Wild Duck Pond Park for the 3 mile walk. The Walk will also include a Kids Fun Run and other activities for children. Registration starts at 9am and the Walk kicks-off at 10am. There will be music and raffle prizes too, including the chance to win an Ipad Mini. To register or for more information , visit our website at www.caresfoundation.org. click the following link: https://caresfoundation.kintera.org/NJWalk2013.
Those who prefer not to walk can support the event by making donations and spreading awareness. More details are available on our website. This year’s sponsors include Capital One Bank, AFN USA, Almeida & Hudak Contractors, DaSilva Family, Gofman Family, LB Industries, and Raffuel Surety. Proceeds from the event will benefit CARES’ programs including patient and medical education, research, centers of excellence, EMS protocols for adrenal insufficiency and other programs to benefit the CAH community. CARES Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization is the only US organization that raises awareness, funds research and provides support for families affected by Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), a life threatening adrenal disorder. CAH is a family of genetic disorders affecting the adrenal glands. In the severe form, it can lead to shock, cardiac arrest and death in newborns and emergency situations. The non-classical, milder form of CAH affects 1 in 27 to 1 in 1000 in the general population and can seriously affect quality of life, cause growth and pubertal problems in children, infertility in adults, and other long-term symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
For more information on CAH, please visit: www.caresfoundation.org. CARES Foundation 2414 Morris Avenue, Suite 110 Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: 908-364-0272 or toll-free 866-227-3737 Fax: 908-686-2019 https://www.caresfoundation.org
As Obamacare looms, Generation Opportunity releases final Millennial Jobs Report of the summer
Washington, DC – (9/6/13) – Generation Opportunity, a national, non-partisan youth advocacy organization, is announcing its Millennial Jobs Report for August 2013. The data is non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) and is specific to 18-29 year olds:
The effective (U6) unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds, which adjusts for labor force participation by including those who have given up looking for work, is 16 percent (NSA).
The declining labor force participation rate has created an additional 1.7 million young adults that are not counted as “unemployed” by the U.S. Department of Labor because they are not in the labor force, meaning that those young people have given up looking for work due to the lack of jobs.
The (U3) unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds is 11.8 percent (NSA). The (U3) unemployment rate for 18-29 year old African-Americans is 21.6 percent (NSA); the (U3) unemployment rate for 18-29 year old Hispanics is 12.8 percent (NSA); and the (U3) unemployment rate for 18–29 year old women is 10.8 percent (NSA).
Evan Feinberg, President of Generation Opportunity, issued the following statement:
“As the summer draws to a close, young people are no better off than we were three months ago. Practically all of the jobs created this summer were part-time, and precious few even went to young people. Worse, the looming threat of Obamacare offers employers little incentive to transition any of those jobs into full-time positions.
“Young people are recognizing there is little to like about Obamacare and a whole lot that hurts them financially and personally. Once open enrollment starts next month, I’m confident that millions of us are going to opt-out of the law’s doomed-to-fail exchanges; unfortunately, we can’t opt-out of the disastrous job market Obamacare has also created.”
Generation Opportunity is a national, non-partisan organization advocating for economic opportunity for young people through less government and more freedom.
‘Real Housewives’ Ridgewood assault case put off until later this month
Thursday September 5, 2013, 12:12 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Three cast members from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will not appear before a criminal judge this evening, as previously reported.
The assault and terroristic threat complaints against “Housewives” star Jacqueline Laurita of Franklin Lakes; her husband, Christopher; and Joe Gorga of Montville have been adjourned.
The cases will now proceed in Ridgewood’s Municipal Court on Sept. 26.
The charges stem from a fracas at the grand opening of a salon in Ridgewood.
The charges had been referred in April to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office for grand jury consideration, which returned the matter to Ridgewood for resolution last month.
The case of John Karagiorgis of Paramus, who is charged with assault and making terroristic threats as well as three counts of harassment, was also adjourned until later this month.
Karagiorgis claimed he was assaulted by the “Housewives” trio when cameras were rolling for the Bravo television series.
He said he sustained several injuries, including a head abrasion, when Jacqueline Laurita allegedly clubbed him with a stiletto heel.
20th Annual Fall Chamber Car Show Sponsored by Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
2013 Ridgewood Chamber Annual Car Show The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present its 20th Annual Car Show on Friday, September 6, 2013. Memorial Park at Van Neste Square 6:00-9:00pm This is a FREE event to all residents, families and friends who love to come to Ridgewood and view the wonderful cars that are vintage, imports, hot rods, muscle, stock and contemporary. Trophies to be given at 8:30pm in front of Hillmann Lighting This year’s show will celebrate its 20th year with great music from Ridgewood’s very own Take 4. IF there is a threat of rain, check www.experienceridgewood.com – 201-445-2600 for updates.
Ridgewood Police Traffic Alert for Friday 9/6/13
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 20th annual car show from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm in the Central Business District. East Ridgewood Ave will be closed from North Maple Ave to Chestnut Street starting at 4:00 pm. Dayton Street, South Wanlut Street and Van Neste Square will also be closed adjacent to the park. Parking will be prohibited on the closed… roads after 4:00 pm. Busses will continue to pick up passengers near the bus stop on Prospect Street at the intersection of Hudson Street. Expect heavy traffic delays on the streets surrounding the business district beginning at 4:00 pm.
Bogg bag fans, just in time for Fall perfect size for the Ridgewood Soccer Mom!!!
September 4 2013
A family favorite for the past 5 years, our TOTE-ally awesome bogg bags are the only bags you will ever need – whether you’re at the beach, gym, pool, school, work, sporting events, camping, boating, carrying groceries, diapers, gardening supplies, toys, books, computers, laundry and more! Three perfect sizes – you may need them all. Big hauls – the original bogg bag can handle it all! Quick trips – baby bogg bag makes it a zip!
Dinner on the go – grab your favorite wine and your byo, bogg that is! All three bogg bags are made of durable EVA material with sturdy sides and flat treaded bottoms to keep your items where you want them – and not on the floor! Want to make your bogg unique? Customize and accessorize with decorative bogg bits and initials. Dress it up or down, with so many new options you’ll look great carrying them wherever you go!
10 recipes for the perfect Labor Day barbecue
Published August 29, 2013
FoxNews.com
While summer may be coming to a close, the end of grilling season is still a long way away. This Labor Day, take advantage of the fact that the old Weber isn’t covered with snow or plastered with rotting leaves. Think about it. You’ve only got a few more weeks before summer is over and the neighbors think you’re crazy for firing up the grill in a blizzard.
To aid in your Labor Day celebration, we’ve come up with a list of recipes that pay tribute to summer and welcome the fall. From barbecued turkey wings to a fall berry cocktail, we’ve compiled all the makings of an epic Labor Day feast. So turn on the grill, loosen that belt and let the Labor Day party begin.
All residents are invited to view the 9/11 Portraits Exhibit in the Belcher Auditorium at the Ridgewood Library. The exhibit will be open beginning September 3 and be up for the month of September. This exhibit of portraits of “Ridgewood’s 12” offers a place for all to remember and reflect.
Harvard Study: No Correlation Between Gun Control and Less Violent Crime
by AWR Hawkins 28 Aug 2013
A Harvard Study titled “Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide?” looks at figures for “intentional deaths” throughout continental Europe and juxtaposes them with the U.S. to show that more gun control does not necessarily lead to lower death rates or violent crime.
Because the findings so clearly demonstrate that more gun laws may in fact increase death rates, the study says that “the mantra that more guns mean more deaths and that fewer guns, therefore, mean fewer deaths” is wrong.
For example, when the study shows numbers for Eastern European gun ownership and corresponding murder rates, it is readily apparent that less guns to do not mean less death. In Russia, where the rate of gun ownership is 4,000 per 100,000 inhabitants, the murder rate was 20.52 per 100,000 in 2002. That same year in Finland, where the rater of gun ownership is exceedingly higher–39,000 per 100,000–the murder rate was almost nill, at 1.98 per 100,000.
Looking at Western Europe, the study shows that Norway “has far and away Western Europe’s highest household gun ownership rate (32%), but also its lowest murder rate.”
And when the study focuses on intentional deaths by looking at the U.S. vs Continental Europe, the findings are no less revealing. The U.S., which is so often labeled as the most violent nation in the world by gun control proponents, comes in 7th–behind Russia, Estonia, Lativa, Lithuania, Belarus, and the Ukraine–in murders. America also only ranks 22nd in suicides.
The murder rate in Russia, where handguns are banned, is 30.6; the rate in the U.S. is 7.8.
Mark was shown where he made a mistake in stating in a footnote that delegates from Vermont belatedly attended the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787. In reality, Vermont was not even a state until 1791. Before that it was a disputed territory between New Hampshire and New York. So Vermonters were not asked to nor were they qualified to attend the Philadelphia convention. He gave his challenger no credit for reading his book carefully and bringing this non-trivial mistake to his attention. He then refused to sign the book on the page where the footnote appeared and showed distinct signs of impatience and annoyance when he opened the front of the book and began to sign it.
At this point, Mark was challenged about Cruz’s eligiblity. But the challenge did not happen as Mark said it did. The challenger asked this: “Under what possible definition of the term natural-born Citizen does your friend Ted Cruz qualify to be president?” At this same time the challenger placed an annotated copy of an earlier TheRidgewoodBlog posting repeating CNN’s recent article questioning Cruz’s eligibility, and was pointing at the document. After cursing at the challenger , Mark replied: “I never said he was a natural-born Citizen.”, upon which his challenger said: “But you must be a natural-born Citizen to be President!”. Mark then said: “No you don’t!”, and the challenger said “Yes, you do. Read the Constitution.” Levin was showing no signs of changing his tune. The challenger then turned around and left the booksigning. There was no time during any of this dialogue for Mark to ruminate on the challenger’s motivations or talk about Canada or Cruz’s mother or anything like what he said on his Radio program
Attack on Gordon may be prelude to seeing more of Christie in Bergen
Sen. Bob Gordon of Fair Lawn has joined the ranks of his fellow Bergen County Democratic senators as a target of Governor Christie’s wrath.
“I have to tell you the truth, I am so tired of Bob Gordon, I can’t stand him,” Christie told a crowd at the Bergen County Republican Organization’s fundraiser at the Stony Hill Inn last Thursday night. (Stile/The Record)
A too-quiet summer for some Jersey Shore towns
Sunday, August 25, 2013 Last updated: Monday August 26, 2013, 4:40 AM
BY KAREN SUDOL AND KATHLEEN LYNN
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
Every time a new business reopens in the tiny Shore town of Sea Bright, Mayor Dina Long tweets about it, considering each a celebratory milestone for the borough that was wiped out by Superstorm Sandy.
“I do it so that people know that Sea Bright is coming back to life,” Long said of her tweets, which have included a July 24 note about the 7-Eleven convenience store’s grand reopening: “Oh, thank heaven. Welcome back 7-11!”
As businesses have steadily opened doors throughout the summer along the Jersey Shore, many shop owners — especially those in the towns hardest hit by the Oct. 29 storm — have characterized it as a very quiet summer with revenues that don’t come close to last year’s figures.
Their fervent — and last — hope is for a sunny and warm Labor Day weekend that will lure more visitors and consequently place more money in their pockets. Some are even planning to remain open into the fall. The Keansburg Amusement Park, for example, is hosting events like an Octoberfest to draw visitors during the off-season.
Real estate agents and tourism officials said that the summer was weaker than in 2012 for a combination of reasons, including rainy weather in May and June and a lingering heat wave in July, as well as the aftereffects of the storm, especially in the hardest-hit areas. Despite an aggressive statewide advertising campaign promoting the Shore as open for business, potential visitors stayed away somewhat because of the perception of widespread damage. – See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/A_too-quiet_summer_for_some_Jersey_Shore_towns.html#sthash.R3diNkJT.dpuf
20-somethings jump into super PACs
By ANDREA DRUSCH | 8/24/13 5:09 PM EDT
What’s cool for America’s youth this election cycle isn’t putting an Obama poster on your wall or tattooing the Romney R on your face. It’s starting your own super PAC.
In 2012, groups like Restore Our Future, American Crossroads and Priorities USA spent millions — reshaping the campaign landscape around the chase of big — often older and male — donors. Now, America’s youth are ready and eager to get in on the game.
In the past month alone, four super PACs were formed by people younger than 35 with the intention of advocating for young people. Often, the idea is to push back against political parties they say are drifting off course.
“When we’re talking about people our age, in their mid-20s to 30s, a lot of the candidates don’t represent exactly what we want,” said Sarah Ponn, 25, president of Pass the Torch PAC in Manchester, N.H.
Frustrated with what she sees as parties and politicians that are disinterested in the needs of young people, Ponn, 25, started a super PAC with two of her friends.
She says her group wants to rebrand the message of the Republican Party. They want to see the economy back on track, student loan rates fixed and politicians taking their focus off of social issues. “We’re trying to steer clear of issues like abortion and gay marriage,” she said. “With a lot of candidates … it’s hard to separate out what they really stand for and to get behind them for everything.
“That’s why we went with a super PAC,” Ponn added. “It gives us that ability to step outside the party lines.”
It’s a sentiment young super PACs from both parties share: National candidates either don’t align with their views, or they don’t prioritize the issues that matter to them.
Opening Day for Students:
Monday, September 9
Minimum Day Schedule
RIDGEWOOD BOE MEETS MONDAY, AUGUST 26
The Board will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, August 26 at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting will be aired live on FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77. Or it may be viewed live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab.
Click here to view the agenda for the June 25, 2013 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the webcast of the July 22, 2013 Regular Public Meeting.
NJASK REPORTS UPDATE
State Testing Results
Please note that, based on the most current information from the New Jersey Department of Education, parents/guardians can expect to receive their child’s Individual Student Report for the Spring 2013 New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) no later than September 27, 2013.Click here to view the agenda for the June 25, 2013 Regular Public Meeting.
A full moon at Valley hearing
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Ridgewood News
A full moon at Valley hearing
Jeanette LaRocco
To the editor:
After the Tuesday, Aug. 20 “non-meeting” with the Planning Board regarding Valley Hospital, a friend who had attended with me noted that there was a full moon that night. That was apropos considering the results.
Instead of hearing CRR’s lawyer and planner speak about their research regarding Valley Hospital’s expansion, the meeting was cancelled. It was because of the amazing support of Ridgewood residents who had come to hear the experts speak.
I truly want to thank all the residents who showed up in force, to the consternation of the Planning Board and Valley Hospital, especially those residents who had sporadically attended meetings or had never attended a meeting before. I believe that is why it was scheduled for Village Hall instead of a larger venue. There were an overflowing number of people, so much so that we exceeded the amount allowed and we could not have a meeting, whereby all residents could hear the information. As Mr. Drill expressed it, he was concerned that CRR would file an appeal because all the residents present would not be able to be in the room during the meeting to hear the presentation.
