By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer Adam Geller How did an agency created to protect the public become the target of so much public scorn?
After nine years of funneling travelers into ever longer lines with orders to have shoes off, sippy cups empty and laptops out for inspection, the most surprising thing about increasingly heated frustration with the federal Transportation Security Administration may be that it took so long to boil over.
The agency, a marvel of nearly instant government when it was launched in the fearful months following the 9/11 terror attacks, started out with a strong measure of public goodwill. Americans wanted the assurance of safety when they boarded planes and entrusted the government with the responsibility.
>N.J. companies throw lavish parties during League of Municipalities convention Statehouse Bureau Staff
ATLANTIC CITY — While the talk of the League of Municipalities convention that ended Thursday was how towns could tighten their belts, some companies opened their wallets wide, throwing lavish parties to court their business.
Telecommunications corporations, engineering firms, waste disposal companies, accountants and banks took advantage of having thousands of municipal, county and state officials in one place this week, drawing them into hotel ballrooms with entertainment, booze and finger food.
>Even in a sweeping victory, Bergen’s GOP still at odds
By Timothy J. Carroll November 18th, 2010 – 12:28p
Todd Caliguire was the political thorn in Kathe Donovan’s side for a few years; now he’s heading up the transition team for Donovan’s freeholder compatriots.
The first question many observers are asking is this: Since when does a freeholder board have a transition team, usually reserved for executive offices that require strategizing, staffing, and large-scale planning?
“I don’t know how it’s been done in the past,” said Bergen’s GOP chairman Bob Yudin, who orchestrated the freeholder campaign. Is it a first? “That I know of, yes.”
>Having kids spend 3 hours per week practicing in elementary school is excessive. Those 3 hours would be a lot better spent on academics. In my town, which was in the Midwest, youth sports (5th grade and under) practiced 1 day/week and had 1 game/week when I was a kid. I agree that the number of practices per week ramped up in middle school, but even then, it was not 5 days/week.
Having kids spend 3 hours per week practicing in elementary school is excessive. Those 3 hours would be a lot better spent on academics. Your child is much more likely to be an engineer, lawyer or an investment banker than a pro soccer player. Besides, focusing on a single sport with elementary school kids is a bad idea, because they could end up being too big or small to succeed at the chosen sport once theyhit their growth spurt in junior high and high school.
Bagelicious will be open for the Village Tree Lighting Ceremony
Stop in for Hot Coffee , Hot Chocolate or Even Hot Apple Cider Downtown For The Holidays ,Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce
Friday, December 3 from 5:30PM to 12AM, Ridgewood Annual tree lighting ceremony celebrates its 25th Anniversary! Bring the whole family and all your friends for this special evening, featuring live musical and theatrical performances, food, games and lots of holiday cheer! Lighting of tree takes place at 7:30PM.
>Bank of Cascades strikes a deal to raise $177 million
Bank of Cascades parent company has announced a deal that will provide the community bank with $177 million in capital.
Officials with the Bend-based Cascade Bancorp said the deal with a group of prominent investors will make it one of the best capitalized community banks in the nation. The bank had been ordered by federal regulators to raise its capital ratios.
Cascade Bancorp has entered into agreements for the purchase and sale of approximately $177 million of shares of its common stock. Private placement investors who have entered into separate agreements with the company include: • David F. Bolger an affiliate of Lightyear Fund II L.P. •Private equity funds affiliated with Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. •Private equity funds affiliated with WL Ross & Co. LLC.
>Congressman Scott Garrett Joins ACLJ in Filing Amicus Brief Challenging Health Care Law Individual mandate forcing Americans to purchase health insurance violates the Constitution
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2010 – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) today joined the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) in filing an amicus brief with a federal court in Florida challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law. As Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Constitution Caucus, Garrett has long been an outspoken critic of the health care law, particularly the individual mandate. Most recently, Garrett introduced H.R. 4999, the Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act, which would repeal the individual mandate on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.
“The federal health care law isn’t just bad public policy, it’s unconstitutional. As countless constitutional scholars have pointed out, our founding fathers never envisioned a federal government with such expansive powers,” said Garrett. “Forcing Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law represents an unprecedented power-grab by the federal government and would set a dangerous precedent for the future. If we were to give Congress this power under the Constitution, then there would be virtually no limit on its authority to compel our country’s citizens to comply with the whims of future congressional majorities. I submit that the federal health care law will be found unconstitutional when it is litigated in our courts.”
The ACLJ filed the amicus brief in the U.S. District court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division on behalf of 63 members of Congress and more than 70,000 Americans who oppose the individual insurance mandate in the federal health care law. The ACLJ contends that the federal health care law is government over-reach and violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution
>Library Staff Ignores Advice Provided by Medical Professionals Due to large number of children who are likely allergic to nuts, for years pediatricians have recommended not to distribute peanut butter and/or peanut butter cookies in public settings where children gather (e.g., schools).
Despite this well known warning, The Fly observed peanut butter cookies being distributed recently in the Children’s Room of the Ridgewood Public Library.
Downtown for the Holidays, an event sponsored by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, will feature the return of the village Christmas tree to the train station for the 25th annual tree lighting celebration.
For the past two years, the tree lighting ceremony took place in Van Neste Square Memorial Park with the decorating and lighting of a live tree purchased and planted by the village. The switch was made to eliminate the expense of transporting a donated tree to its original spot at the train station.
>Scott Garrett : Honoring Our Angels in Adoption This week, I was pleased to go to the floor of the House of Representatives to recognize November as National Adoption Month and commemorate the anniversary of National Adoption Day on November 20th. Now in its eleventh year, National Adoption Day is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the 123,000 children in foster care who are eligible and waiting for adoption, as well as honor families that have chosen to make a lasting difference in the life of a child through adoption.
Since its inception in 2000, more than 30,000 children have been connected to their new families as part of National Adoption Day activities. Last year alone over 4,800 children were adopted, and in 2010, it is hoped that almost 5,000 adoptions from foster care will be finalized nationwide. As your Congressman, I’m proud to report we have many families in the Fifth District that have changed the life of a child by choosing to adopt. Through the commemoration of the 11th Anniversary of National Adoption Day, I’m confident we will inspire many others to open up their hearts and homes to children in need of loving families.
This year, I would like to honor Shea and George Campbell of Waldwick for their tireless dedication as a foster family and adoptive parents. For more than thirty years, the Campbells have welcomed over 121 foster children into their home and have gone on to adopt several more to become full-time members of their family. Although many children have come in and out of their lives, George and Shea continue to be a haven of support, an invaluable resource for mentoring and source of inspiration for Americans across the country. Shea and George Campbell have given so many children the hope of a brighter future and I am proud to recognize them as “Angels in Adoption” as we celebrate National Adoption Day.
As we celebrate the 11th anniversary of National Adoption Day, it is important to remember that many children remain in foster care and are looking for a family to care for them and a place to call home. It’s my hope that we can continue to raise the awareness of National Adoption Day well into the future and inspire the next generation of families to open their homes to children in need of a family. Sincerely,
>Are Ridgewood Schools a place where some of the kids in Ridgewood get the idea that they can freely criticize and bully others I can see where some of the kids in Ridgewood get the idea that they can freely criticize and bully others.
You should examine his/her own cruel attacks and why he/she feels comfortable making fun of a teen on this blog. We are talking about a child here – 16 years old. You should not post hurtful opinions about him to make your point. Get help before your kids adopt your insensitive mind. Really? You did not like his choice of Halloween Costume? Grow up.
Sadly this post reveals, once again, there are bullies, who call themselves teachers, right here in Ridgewood! I wish Matt would out the teacher(s) that participated in the taunts against him. Past posts on this blog have openly discussed the names of bullies who are being paid big dollars to teach our kids! How can anyone expect kids to reject bullying when over and over teachers lead the charge.
Out the teacher bullies and fire them. The same teachers are complained about every year for the bullying tactics they use against our kids! I hope Matt Zimmer reads this and I hope he names the teacher(s)!
There are more issues than the lights potentially shining in a neighbor’s bedroom. Issues such as increased traffic, street parking and noise have an impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. While this is a typical NIMBY situation, the neighbors feel they never even had a chance to protest before it was a done deal….they were essentially hoodwinked.
The B.O.E. knew this would be controversial and that is why they did not include it in the original bond referendum, although they will claim it was a matter of cost at the time. The B.O.E. knew that sports groups would later come up with the funding for lights. The B.O.E. knew exactly what it was doing in an attempt to bypass neighborhood protests and the Village Planning Board was either ignorant of the issues or in cahoots with the B.O.E. Shame on the B.O.E. for its deception and the Planning Board for its lack of diligence.
>New Jersey cities brace for pain; reforms proposed
With cuts in state subsidies and a tighter cap on property-tax increases looming, New Jersey’s 566 municipalities face an ugly year of layoffs and service cuts. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
>Bret Schundler talks economics at New Jersey Tea Party event
Former State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, seeking to emerge from behind the acrimonious circumstances of his firing by Gov. Chris Christie, was the guest speaker Thursday night at a Tea Party meeting. (Jennings, Daily Record)
