Ridgewood NJ, Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) introduced a bill in June 2016 that would allow New Jersey Police officers to survey drivers’ cell phones using an “electronic scanning device.” The device is called the ‘Textalyzer’ . , but the bill currently sits in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Under the Codey bill, a driver could be fined anywhere from $300 to $1,000 and have their license revoked for up to 10 years if they refuse to give their cell phone to an officer, depending on the number of past offenses.
Very similar to the states “Breathalyzer” ,where motorist are not free to refuse it.
Civil liberties groups worry the ‘textalyzer’ violates motorists’ privacy and the Fourth Amendment and is an other opertunity for police to conduct warrant-less searches .The device is plugged into a driver’s smartphone and time-stamped information is downloaded about apps used prior to an accident.
Skeptics point out that the “textalyzer” seems to be another opportunity for police to run tax collection services for the state of New Jersey ,with little or no impact on public safety . Like the states DWI or DUI laws skeptics insist likely suspects will be targeted by their ability to pay the fine .
Ridgewood NJ, The American dream is more than owning a home. It’s owning the right home–one customized through renovations to build wealth and reflect your tastes. But most people don’t have the knowledge to make smart financial decisions around renovations, resulting in disaster: too much debt, costly delays, and even foreclosure.
According to Hearth [www.gethearth.com]—a financial tech startup that aims to restore the American dream of owning the right home—there are 8 questions to ask to avoid financial disaster while working towards that American dream:
#1: HOW MUCH DEBT DO YOU HOLD?
Calculate your debt to income ratio—your overall debt to your overall income. The lower the ratio, the more loans you may qualify for.
#2: HOW MUCH HOME EQUITY DO YOU HAVE?
That’s your home’s value, minus any debts you owe on the house. You can pledge your equity to a lender, freeing up cash and getting low loan rates.
#3: HOW’S YOUR CREDIT?
Your credit score is calculated based on personal factors like current debt and payment history. The higher it is, the better interest rates you’ll receive on a loan—so be honest with yourself.
#4: WHEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO MOVE?
How long you plan to stay in your home affects your loan repayment period. Will you pay it off over 30 years, or do you need to pay it off in 7?
#5: DO YOU—AND WILL YOU CONTINUE TO—HAVE A STEADY JOB?
Knowing you’ll have a steady source of income over a several year period gives you confidence you’ll be able to pay off your whole loan.
#6: WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?
Talk to a few different contractors to get a sense of how much you’re going to have to spend. If you start without an estimate, you’ll end up overspending.
#7: WHAT IS YOUR PROJECT’S TIMELINE?
If you’re strapped for time, a personal loan can deliver funds within days. But if you have time to spare, you can get home improvement loans. They take longer to release funds, but have lower rates.
#8: WILL THE RENOVATION ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME?
Talk to a contractor and find out if your renovations will pay off—and what you can change to make them worth even more. Simple switches like marble instead of granite countertops can add measurable value.
As part of its mission, Hearth prepared the ultimate guide to home improvement loans (read it here: https://www.gethearth.com/guides/home-improvement-loans). Written with input from personal finance experts, it teaches homeowners how to make smart financial decisions about investing in their homes
(Reuters) – A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street will take effect in Hawaii’s largest city in late October, as Honolulu becomes the first major U.S. city to pass legislation aimed at reducing injuries and deaths from “distracted walking.”
The ban comes as cities around the world grapple with how to protect phone-obsessed “smartphone zombies” from injuring themselves by stepping into traffic or running into stationary objects.
Starting Oct. 25, Honolulu pedestrians can be fined between $15 and $99, depending on the number of times police catch them looking at a phone or tablet device as they cross the street, Mayor Kirk Caldwell told reporters gathered near one of the city’s busiest downtown intersections on Thursday.
This is a waste of taxpayer funds – where is the outrage? Mayor Knudsen and Council majority are raising expensive municipal debt to pay for this just as interest rates rise. Which means higher interest payments down the road for Village taxpayers. To buy a property in the CBD for a corrupt, crony led failed Ridgewood Water? There is no doubt that this is a black hole of greed and corruption. Driven by Mayor Knudsen. Why?
Town Leadership….Denial is not an action plan..The decrepit Town Garage as an Enviromental Hazard has got to be dealt with at some point..especially as those above ground structures fail and create a slum condition.as an abandoned industrial waste site there could easily be a fire or other collapse adjacent to the towns surface parking lot which at peak or event periods also has risks from that failing structure.what is the town doing to force a solution by the owners who possibly are an investment company,?
Ridgewood NJ, in a recent letter to parents Ridgewood Schools Superintendent discussed the idea of having too much screen time on electronic devices .
Superintendent Daniel Fishbien admitted that time have changed with the wide use of smart phones ,but voiced his concerns of students personal use and time of these devices.
How screen time is too much ? Although many parents have a nagging sense that they should do more to limit screen-time, they often question whether there’s enough evidence to justify yanking coveted devices, rationalize that it’s “part of our kids’ culture,” or worry that others—such as a spouse—will undermine their efforts.
The truth about the potential damage screen time is capable of imparting particularly in a young, still-developing brain is significant according to many studies . These side effects include impaired cognitive functioning. Imaging studies have found less efficient information processing and reduced impulse inhibition (Dong & Devito 2013), increased sensitivity to rewards and insensitivity to loss (Dong & Devito 2013), and abnormal spontaneous brain activity associated with poor task performance (Yuan 2011).
Thus the idea came about of the “Big Disconnect ” .School officials are now exploring ways to help parents disengage students and get them to disconnect from electronic devices.
The following programs have been announced as part of the district’s Wellbeing Speaker Series in an attempt to address the “Big Disconnect ” issue :
Oct. 11: Brief overview of the schools’ use of educational technology and its security followed up breakout sessions led by administrators on the book “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.”
Oct. 19: A screening of the movie “Screen-agers.”
Nov. 29: A special program entitled “Screen wise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World.”
Jan. 11: A hands-on technology and smartphone program for parents.
March 8: A panel of students will discuss their personal use of technology.
Fair Lawn NJ, Ambulance transport to local hospitals was required for the drivers of both 4-door sedans involved in a Saturday afternoon, 07/29, rear end collision at the intersection of Dorothy Street and Morlot Avenue in Fair Lawn. Fair Lawn PD, EMS, and a paramedic team from St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center responded to aid crash victims. A flatbed tow truck removed the two (2) wrecks from the scene.
Ridgewood NJ, there have been several reports on local Facebook groups of residents seeing a fox and snapping photos . As a reminder the Bergen Record reported a Glen Ridge women was bitten by a red fox that acted aggressively toward children on Chestnut Hill Place earlier this month and has tested positive for rabies.
What should I do if I am bitten by an animal?
• Clean the wound immediately with soap and water.
• Seek prompt medical attention from a physician or hospital emergency department.
• Report the bite to the local health department.
If you are bitten by a wild animal:
• Try to contain the animal while taking care to prevent additional bites and exposure to saliva. Contact
the animal control officer or local police for assistance. In the event the animal is euthanized (put to
sleep), care should be taken to avoid damage to the brain, which should be submitted to the state
rabies laboratory for testing.
• Human treatment to prevent rabies may be started immediately or delayed until the testing results are
known.
• If the animal is not available for testing, the decision to start human treatment will be made by the bite
victim and his/her physician based on recommendations by the local health department.
If you are bitten by a dog, cat, or other domestic animal:
• Obtain information about the pet including owner’s name, phone, address, description of the animal,
and its vaccination status.
• Biting animals should be ordered observed for 10 days by the local health department to ensure that
they are free of rabies. If showing signs of rabies, the animal should be euthanized immediately and
tested. If the animal dies during the observation period, it must be submitted for testing.
• Bites from other domestic animals (such as horses, cows, goats, and sheep) will be evaluated by your
local health department. The animals can usually be observed for 10 days to rule out the possibility of
rabies.
Ridgewood Police issued six (6) summonses in connection with a late night, Saturday, 07/29 crash on Crest Road near Valley View Avenue, Ridgewood in which a 4-door sedan careened off of the roadway, drove over the front lawn of a nearby single family home, and wound up perched on a row of neatly manicured hedges. No injuries were reported in the incident. The parents of several juvenile (under age) passengers in the vehicle were called to the scene to sign release forms and pick up their children. The car was removed from its perch by a flatbed tow truck.
Our Family received two waves of sidewalk inspection and expensive replacement
orders with extensive photo documentation .how much does this nanny Operation cost the taxpayers.its a contractors dreams to fight the towns mis placed curb tree roots which when cut either kill the tree or the tree regenerates the root and the sidewalk re lifts within 4 years .town should focus on tree maintenance of their own trees in support of the neighborhoods .this is another negative for homeowners in RIDGEWOOD.
Most of the taxpayers would like to see more police on foot patrol improving pedestrian crosswalk compliance and general community involvement at least in the dangerous business district .
They sit in these cacoon SUVs as part of their patrols but I agree we are paying too much
in taxes to not seek a more efficient use of our money on issues like overnight parking , and babysitting PSEG despite the per diem the town bills the utility while we the taxpayers fund their pensions and old plated
benefits .
The do a good job but in many ways we spend like drunken sailors in this town.Parking enforcement is fat on expenses too.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water reminds you that If you are moving, a final meter reading is required. The read should be scheduled 3-5 days before the closing. A reading can be scheduled in either of the following ways:
1) Fill out a final read request form (can be found HERE). E-mail the completed form to cswater@ridgewoodnj.net. You will be contacted soon thereafter.2) Call our Customer Service center at 201-670-5520 and a representative can set it up for you.
Ridgewood NJ, Can it get anymore trashy for visitors to see the Rot in central business district? The pavement surface is all cracked and unkept as well.we need to shape up Ridgewood.
Ridgewood NJ, an annual showcase of award-winning documentaries and filmmakers. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Ridgewood Education Foundation held at the the Ridgewood Public Library.
Reel Voices Film Festival Fall 2017 lineup has been announced.
SEP22
Reel Voices Film Festival: Winnie
Fri 7 PM · Ridgewood Public Library · Ridgewood
OCT19
Reel Voices Film Festival: “Screenagers”
Thu 7 PM · Ridgewood Public Library · Ridgewood
NOV3
Reel Voices Film Festival: “Warning: This Drug May Kill You”
Fri 7 PM · Ridgewood Public Library · Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, isn’t it Ironic that so many main roads are beyond hell bound.And town is still fining people thru forced sidewalk plant repair for sidwalks damaged by towns neglected tree maintenance and poor selections of tree types when they installed them in the first place. Classic case do as they say and Be READY TO PAY all day every way.
