The open sea is an open invitation for discovery. It leads to faraway ports of call, uninhabited islands and even cosmopolitan cities. And there’s no better way to discover it than a cruise. After all, you’ll never have to worry about asking for a late checkout when your hotel is sailing along with you.
So where would you like to go? The Caribbean? Europe? Alaska? The possibilities are nearly endless. And with the variety of onboard activities today’s cruise ships provide, you’ll never have to worry about how to spend the hours between destinations. And as if it couldn’t get any better, some of the cruises we offer are fully hosted by the American Express® Mariner Club, which means gracious hosts, unique shoreside events and even parties where you can share stories of the day’s travel with fellow Mariner Club guests. There’s nothing standing between you and “Anchors Aweigh.” Welcome aboard.
Tips for Cruisers:
*Discounted rates are often available during a destination’s off- season.
*If you’re concerned about seasickness, request a cabin located midship.
*Looking to relax? Choose an itinerary that balances sea days with port days.
*If you have kids, inquire about children’s facilities before booking.
*Know your ship in advance; your Travel Center / American Express cruise specialist can help.
Stop in or call The Travel Center / American Express:
The municipal budget is in flux with specific staff and service cuts still unknown, but the village government is kicking around an idea for a cut that residents may embrace.
While discussing this year’s budget for the Traffic and Signal Department, Village Manager Ken Gabbert asked Chris Rutishauser, village engineer, if it is possible to adjust parking meters to allow for a five-minute grace period.
The newer digital meters could be programmed to allow for a grace period, Rutishauser said. Gabbert requested that Rutishauser look at the time involved in opening up each meter to program the grace period.
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce asked its liaison on the Village Council, Deputy Mayor Keith Killion, if the meters could count backwards to show the actual time of the grace period. Mayor David Pfund said the village should first focus on the meters in the Central Business District before looking at all of the town’s nearly 1,300 parking meters, including those at the Route 17 park and ride.
Revenue discussion
The Engineering Department will lose one employee through retirement who will not be replaced, Rutishauser said. The department might also be issuing three major soil moving permits for the Board of Education’s bond referendum projects at Stevens and Stadium fields and Benjamin Franklin Middle School, and possibly a fourth for remediation work at Hawes Elementary School.
But because about 2,900 truck trips will be required to move the soil, Gabbert said, the permit cost of between $4,200 and $4,800 each will be negated by the damage to neighborhood streets.
The number of permits issued by the Building Department has decreased again this year, “and that’s purely due to the economy,” said Michael Barker, village tax assessor. Revenues totaled $689,086 in 2009, and the department is facing the possible layoffs of one full-time and one part-time employee, said Treasurer Steve Sanzari.
“The building permits have picked up a little bit because of the spring,” said Tony Merlino, Building Department director. “But zoning reviews have kind of remained flat.”
“There’s not building going on,” Barker said. “There’s no added assessment work. And as well as the economy being off, the property values are down, so the work that people are doing is not affecting the overall value of that property.”
Around 300 property owners have filed tax appeals, Barker said, and with declining property values, the village cannot successfully win many of these challenges.
Staff reductions
Planning Board Secretary Barbara Carlton will retire at the end of this year, Rutishauser said, and Pfund asked if the planning and zoning board secretaries could be combined in one position. Rutishauser answered that “it is possible.”
One retiring employee at the Water Pollution Control Facility will not be replaced. Meanwhile, Rutishauser said, the liquid waste acceptance program has added a revenue stream to the village’s income. But he added that the waste water collection system is “aging,” and the village is looking into the possibility of applying for federal grants to upgrade some of that system.
The Finance Department is facing a staff reduction of four of its nine employees, which Sanzari said would have a “tremendous” effect on a department responsible for all the village’s payroll and accounting, all fees, special requests for project cost estimates, residents’ tax questions and the $118 million in taxes Ridgewood collects each year.
Employees from the tax assessor’s office could help the finance office at it busiest time of the year, around tax time, to make up for the loss of employees, Gabbert said. The village’s tax collection rate is still 99 percent, which is unchanged from the previous year, Gabbert said.
The village’s animal control officer will retire this summer, and the Health Department is not replacing him, said Health Supervisor Dawn Cetrulo. The department may also lose one part-time employee, Cetrulo added. Tyco Animal Control is currently under contract for $19,200, and that company will pick up the animal control duties of the retiring full-time employee at an additional cost of $28,800, she said.
The Information and Technology Department decreased its budget by 25 percent, said Dylan Hansen, network administrator. Further reductions to the department’s budget could come from reducing the number of cell phones the village issues to its employees. Hansen said the 102 village employees have been issued cell phones, and the council urged Hansen to evaluate which employees actually need them. Councilman Paul Aronsohn asked if the number could be cut in half, which would save between $20,000 and $25,000, Hansen said.
The village spent $205,000 for police and fire communications, landlines, wireless, long distance and Internet connections, but Hansen said by consolidating these services, the village could save an additional $30,000.
>Here are some basic facts on New Jersey’s tax system and how it compares to other states:
Tax Freedom Day Arrives on April 25 in New Jersey Tax Freedom Day is the day when Americans finally have earned enough money to pay off their total tax bill for the year. In 2010, New Jersey taxpayers work until April 25 to pay their total tax bill, ranking them 2nd highest in the nation. This is 16 days later than national Tax Freedom Day (April 9). The Tax Freedom Days of the neighboring states are: New York, April 23 (ranked 3rd nationally), Pennsylvania, April 13 (ranked 11th nationally), and Delaware, April 10 (ranked 18th nationally). Full study of Tax Freedom Day, nationwide and in each state *** New Jersey’s State/Local Tax Burden Highest in Nation Estimated at 11.8% of income, New Jersey’s state/local tax burden percentage is the highest in the country, well above the national average of 9.7%. New Jersey taxpayers pay $6,610 per capita in state and local taxes. New Jersey’s State-Local Tax Burden, 1977-Present Other States’ State/Local Tax Burdens Historical Chart Comparing All States’ State/Local Tax Burdens from 1977 to 2008 *** New Jersey’s 2010 Business Tax Climate Ranks 50th New Jersey ranks 50th in the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes; individual income taxes; sales taxes; unemployment insurance taxes; and taxes on property, including residential and commercial property. Neighboring states ranked as follows: New York (49th), Pennsylvania (27th) and Delaware (8th). 50-State Comparison of Business Tax Climates (data only) 2009 State Business Tax Climate Index, Sixth Edition (full study) *** New Jersey’s Individual Income Tax System New Jersey’s personal income tax system consists of six brackets and a top rate of 8.97% kicking in at an income level of $500,000. Among states levying personal income taxes, New Jersey’s top rate ranks 6th highest nationally. New Jersey’s 2008 state-level individual income tax collections were $1,457 per person, which ranked 6th highest nationally. 50-State Table of Individual Income Tax Rates 50-State Table of State Individual Income Tax Collections 50-State Table of State and Local Individual Income Tax Collections Per Capita *** New Jersey’s Corporate Income Tax System New Jersey’s corporate tax structure consists of a flat 9% on corporate income. However, corporations with total net income of $100,000 or less pay 7.5% and corporations with total net income of $50,000 or under pay 6.5%. Among states levying corporate income taxes, New Jersey’s top tax rate ranks 5th highest nationally. In 2008, state-level corporate tax collections (excluding local taxes) were $326 per capita, ranking the state 5th highest nationally. 50-State Table of Corporate Income Tax Rates, 2000-2009 50-State Table of State and Local Corporate Income Tax Collections Per Capita and Per Household, 2005 50-State Table of State Corporate Income Tax Collections Per Capita, 2006 *** New Jersey Sales and Excise Taxes New Jersey levies a 7% general sales or use tax on consumers, which is above the national median of 5.85%. In 2007 combined state and local general and selective sales tax collections were $1,424 per person, ranking 22nd highest nationally. New Jersey’s gasoline tax stands at 14.5 cents per gallon and ranks 47th highest nationally. New Jersey’s cigarette tax stands at $2.70 per pack of twenty, which is the 5th highest cigarette tax in the nation. The sales tax was adopted in 1966, the gasoline tax in 1927 and the cigarette tax in 1948. 50-state table of sales, cigarette, gas, beer, wine, and spirits tax rates. 50-State Table of State and Local General and Selective Sales Tax Collections Per Capita *** New Jersey Property Taxes: Highest Per Capita in the Nation New Jersey is one of the 37 states that collect property taxes at both the state and local levels. As in most states, local governments collect far more. New Jersey’s localities collected $2,372.03 per capita in property taxes in fiscal year 2006, which is the latest year the Census Bureau published state-by-state property tax collections. At the state level, New Jersey collected $0.40 in property taxes during FY 2006, making its combined state/local property taxes $2,372.43 per capita, New Jersey’s combined per capita collections were the highest in the nation. State property tax collections per capita by state *** Federal Tax Burdens and Expenditures: New Jersey is a Donor State New Jersey taxpayers receive less federal funding per dollar of federal taxes paid than any other state. Per dollar of federal tax paid in 2005, New Jersey citizens received approximately $0.61 in the way of federal spending. This represents a decline from 1995 when New Jersey received $0.68 per dollar of taxes in federal spending (second lowest). Neighboring states and the amount of federal spending they received per dollar of federal taxation paid were as follows: New York ($0.79), Pennsylvania ($1.07), and Delaware ($0.77). Comparing the amount of federal taxes sent to Washington with the amount of federal spending coming back to the state
April 15th, Tax Day, has become a tangible reminder to Americans of a national tax structure that squeezes working families until they break instead of promoting economic growth and responsible spending. On this day, while filing their taxes, everyone is reminded of the hard truths our country is facing right now. At a time when 15 million Americans remain unemployed and many more are struggling to make ends meet, the Democrat Congress and President Obama continue to advocate policies that increase taxes and add to government spending that is already out of control.
Federal, state and local taxes claim almost 27 percent of the average American’s income. That means most Americans have probably worked the first three months of this year just to pay their taxes. And if Democrats in Washington have their way, that burden will increase dramatically.
President Obama and congressional Democrats are spending the federal government into a record deficit of $1.5 trillion dollars this year alone. Unfortunately, the burden to pay for it will be heaped on the backs of American families, small businesses and family farms for years to come.
The income taxes that Americans are paying today are only part of the exploding cost of government. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are pushing an agenda through Congress that is laying a heavy load on state and local governments. From New Jersey to California, states are facing record deficits and are looking to increase taxes on everything from fast food to property.
This is all on a national level, and of course, locally, New Jersey has its own tremendous tax woes. New Jersey has an $11 billion deficit which is the result of years of underfunded and out of control spending. This amount of deficit doesn’t happen overnight, it’s the result of state spending increases of 16% every year.
Spending usually comes with taxes and, of course, New Jersey is no exception. New Jersey has the highest property taxes, the second highest sales tax, among the highest marginal income tax rates and the sixth highest corporate tax. All of this for a grand total of 115 tax increases in the last eight years.
The solution is not taking more taxes from the American people. The answer is fiscal discipline in Washington, DC and Trenton, and most importantly tax relief for working Americans.
The American people already know that we can’t tax and spend our way back to a growing economy. It’s time for Congress to put the American people first and take steps that begin to take the pain out of Tax Day.
>“Blackmail?” How is it blackmail? He’s not forcing anyone to do anything. He is expressing his opinion and a lot of people agree with him. Tell me we all haven’t become more prudent with our spending. Tell me we all haven’t “cut back” and tried to save more. He’s trying to do the same thing on the State level.
Tell me how the State of NJ lost 121,000 private sector jobs in 2009 and local municipalities and school boards added 11,300 jobs and that makes sense. Tell me how teachers are going to take 4% pay increases when inflation is running at zero, people are getting laid off, property values continue to decrease and health care costs continue to rise and that makes sense. Tell me if in your job you can pay $124,000 towards your retirement, retire at age 49 and receive life time pension payments and health care benefits totaling $3.8 million dollars. My guess is you can’t but at least one retired state employee can.
Look, the system is broken. We’ve got a $11 billion gap on a $29 million dollar budget that doesn’t make for a lot of wiggle room.
Things need to change, dramatically and fast or we’re all going to be in big trouble. The Ridgewood BOE has cut $6+ million dollars out of the budget and some of it is unpleasant because people are going to lose their jobs but you want to know something? Take a good look at what they’ve cut and you’ll see in the total scheme of things there is not going to be a whole lot of difference in the education and activities the students will get. That just gives you a little taste of how much fluff is in not just our school system but the system as a whole. My guess is the next two years at least will be more of the same. We’re actually going to see school budgets shrink, not go up the state cap of 4% and then we can all afford to head back up town and shop or go out to dinner. Someone might want to let the Chamber of Commerce know they are wasting their time bitching about $.25 parking meter rates. No one cares about the quarter it costs to park, no one has money to spend, that’s why no one is up town anymore.
>Dems to Propose $23B ‘Putting Off Hard Decisions’ Fund [Daniel Foster]
National Review blog today: Democratic leadership in the Senate is proposing a $23 billion ’emergency’ fund that would act as a stopgap for states considering layoffs — primarily in education — to overcome budget deficits.
While nobody wants to see widespread teacher layoffs, this bill would represent yet another unpaid-for (hence the ’emergency’ bit, which lets Dems get around PAYGO rules) bailout of state and municipal governments, allowing them to once again put off getting their fiscal houses in order.
Closer to home, it could undermine the gutsy work being done by Gov. Chris Christie in my native New Jersey. As part of an across-the-board effort to close a nearly $10 billion budget deficit (in a $30 billion budget!),Christie has slashed state aid to local schools, but promised to restore it in districts where teachers agree to a one year pay-freeze, and to a 1.5 percent salary contribution to their health insurance. (Most New Jersey teachers currently pay zero for benefits that cover employees and their families from the first date of hire until their deaths — I know!)
A federal bailout to New Jersey could thus short-circuit any chance Christie had of balancing the powerful teacher unions by holding them accountable to parents and taxpayers for their out of control wages and benefits.
>Rockland County, NY-based composer, pianist and percussionist John McDowell teams up with Canadian violinist Emmanuel Vukovich and cellist Julia MacLaine to create the musical ensemble Music For Farms which will perform a concert entitled “An Agricultural Rite of Spring” at the Threefold Auditorium at 260 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 8pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $20 ($15 for students, $10 for children). For more information, call 845-362-0207 or email [email protected].
John McDowell and Emmanuel Vukovich, who practice music and farming side by side (McDowell at Camp Hill Farm in Pomona, NY; and Vukovich in Quebec, Canada), have formed an international initiative, Music for Farms (www.johnmcdowell.net/musicforfarms), which works to revive and sustain local organic agriculture and farming communities through the arts. Julia MacLaine joins them for this special concert. The program, described below, includes the music of Bach and several original works in contemporary and classical idioms, such as their own composition based on the Parcifal legend. The trio’s creative arrangements reflect a weaving of eastern and western traditions, incorporating African drum rhythms. This concert will be a benefit for the Rockland Farm Alliance (RFA). The mission of the RFA (www.rocklandfarm.org) is to facilitate local sustainable agriculture in Rockland County, New York.
Juilliard and McGill trained Emmanuel Vukovich is the recipient of Canada’s first Golden Violin Award, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts Orford String Quartet scholarship. His twin passions of farming and music are brought to expression in this artistic Rite of Spring. John McDowell is best known as composer of the score to Oscar winning Born into Brothels. He has toured with platinum selling rock/world band Rusted Root as a pianist and percussionist and founded/led the internationally acclaimed band Mamma Tongue. Cellist Julia MacLaine has been consistently singled out by critics for her rich tone, sweet vibrato and superb musicianship. Her performances at Carnegie Hall, in Europe, North and South America and Iceland have established her as one of today’s prominent cellists.
The program for “An Agricultural Rite of Spring” will be drawn from the following selections:
Parcifal and Zazamanc, by John McDowell and Emmanuel Vukovich F major, by John McDowell Pachamama’s Catharsis, by Pedro Malpica Swara Kakali (transcription of a work by Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar) Solo violin works by Bach Popular Tango and Brazilian selections
Following a series of public hearings, New Jersey Transit is considering increasing bus and light rail fares an average 10 percent instead of the 25 percent hike it initially planned. Also, three Monmouth County bus routes scheduled to be axed by NJ Transit could be spared, including two Route 9 commuter buses and a local route serving Brookdale Community College and county offices in Freehold. (Higgs, Gannett) https://www.app.com/article/20100412/NEWS03/4120329/1007/NEWS03/NJ-Transit-scales-back-fare-hikes
Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh : “I just don’t feel that the site that it’s on supports a further, major expansion,” Walsh said. “There are two schools within a block of Valley. If we have the construction going on for that amount of time, it’s going to disrupt everyone. It’s going to disrupt the traffic flow coming in and out of that area. It’s going to disrupt the children going to school … I just think it’s going to be a problem, and I don’t feel it warrants a zone change.”
Douglas Cronk : “We’ve got to understand that the neighbors aren’t just ‘not in my back yard’ people,” Cronk said. “They’re all for Valley being an improved facility, and focusing on its core competency. I think what they don’t want to see is Valley expand into all sorts of outpatient services that is going to increase traffic.”
Brian Dowd : I think certainly the hospital has to modernize, and I think we do have to be mindful of the immediate impact [in the neighborhood],” Dowd said. “We’re all going to benefit from a better hospital, but those people right there are going to have to put up with it in the interim.”
Thomas Riche : There is no formal plan in front of the board for an actual building, Riche said, but he did express a desire to “protect the overall neighborhood and the Village of Ridgewood,” while recognizing Valley Hospital as an asset, to arrive at a solution that is “good for all parties.”
> Using Children to Raise Revenue Where have I heard that before ?
They are just trying to give towns a revenue generating law. Now the towns can make up for lost state aid by ticketing residents. Profiling made easy.
This law does not add anything to safety. It is just a few state representatives trying to make a family feel that their daughter’s death will not be forgotten. Maybe an awareness campaign would have been just as good.
Looking forward to the repeal after the first court case.
The Cartel movie has been scheduled for a series of one-night-only screenings throughout New Jersey, all to be followed by a Q&A with Director Bob Bowdon. All tickets $15; includes both the screening & town hall meeting. These events will benefit distribution of the film.
Date Town Location Time April 19Westfield*, NJRialto Theatre, 250 East Broad Street7:30pm April 20Sparta*, NJSparta Theatre, 25 Centre Street7:30pm April 21Hoboken*, NJHoboken Clearview Cinema, 409 14th Street7pm, 9pm April 25Atlantic City*, NJResorts International Casino, Screening Room2pm April 26Mount Laurel*, NJBurlington Community College, Enterprise Center, 3331 Route 387:30pm April 27Red Bank*, NJRed Bank Clearview Cinema, 36 White Street7:30pm April 28Paramus*, NJBergen County Community College, Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre, 400 Paramus Road7:30pm April 29Trenton*, NJNJ State Museum Auditorium, 205 W. State Street7:30pm
The Trenton Screening on April 29 will be followed by the 2010 New Jersey School Choice Rally.
It’s clear now that many of the New Jersey screenings will sell out. Don’t delay getting tickets
>Election update: If you are a Ridgewood resident who loves Graydon, please vote in the Village Council election on Tuesday, May 11, for Tom Riche and Bernadette Walsh—the only candidates running for the two open Council seats who want to preserve Graydon.
The other two candidates: Doug Cronk is the husband of Melinda Cronk, co-chair of the Ridgewood Pool Project, with its concrete agenda. Brian Dowd, Cronk’s friend, has lived here for all of five years. Their theme: “change.”
Tell your friends that just because two candidates run as a team does not mean they must be voted for (or against) together.
If you do not live in Ridgewood but know people who do, please tell them that the pro-Graydon votes are for Riche and Walsh.
Ridgewood Council elections typically draw no more than 20% of registered voters to the polls. The $48 million school bond in December won by 62 votes. Do not doubt that your vote will make a difference.
Sign-up sheet to help Riche or call him: 201-652-1494 (home); 201-394-0951 (cell).
Sign-up sheet to help Walsh. Her web site: Walsh home page.
BOTH NEED MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND “MEET THE CANDIDATE” COFFEES. PLEASE CONTACT THEM NOW. The election is four weeks from Tuesday.
Absentee ballot: Might you be out of town on May 11, or simply prefer to vote by mail? Pick up an application to obtain a ballot in the Village Clerk’s office at Village Hall or call 201-670-5500 x201 and ask to have one mailed to you. You’ll mail this form to request a ballot. Caveat: your ballot must reach (actually get there, not just postmarked) Hackensack by May 4. May be hand-delivered.
Voter registration: Here is the Bergen County registration form. For further information, visit https://www.njelections.org/ or call toll free 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837). Deadline to register to vote in Council election: Tuesday, April 20. Last shot: Village Hall lobby, 4:30-9 PM, April 20 (noted on that date in Village calendar). Anyone who will be 18 years old by the day of the election may register now. Encourage old-enough teens who love Graydon to vote to preserve it.
This election will be likely to determine Graydon’s future. Please do not miss this opportunity to help.
Need a ride to the polls? We have a list of willing drivers. Contact us—in advance, if possible.
>BJ. Penn Tuesday, April 13th @ 7:00pm Current UFC Lightweight Champion, B.J. Penn, will sign his new book: Why I Fight. Books available April 13th.
Kathie Lee Gifford Wednesday, April 14th @ 7:00pm Television personality on the TODAY SHOW, Kathie Lee Gifford, will sign her new book: Party Animals (Ages 4 to 8). Books available April 13th.
Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark Friday, April 16th @ 7:00pm New York Times bestselling Mother/Daughter Duo, Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark, will sign their new books: The Shadow of Your Smile & Wrecked. Books available April 13th
Bookends, 232 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
