A bishop in Sicily has banned known mafia criminals from acting as godfathers at baptisms in churches in his diocese.
Michele Pennisi, bishop of Monreale, near Palermo, said Friday he had issued a decree to that effect in a bid to challenge any notion that the bosses of organized crime have a paternalistic side to them.
“The mafia has always taken the term Godfather from the Church to give its bosses an air of religious respectability, whereas in fact the two worlds are completely incompatible,” the bishop told AFP.
Pennisi’s diocese includes Corleone, a vendetta-haunted village inland from Palermo which was the birthplace of Don Corleone, the fictional Godfather in Mario Puzo’s novel and Francis Coppola’s films.
In February the bishop made headlines by criticizing a priest who had allowed the son of one of Sicily’s most notorious mobsters, Toto Riina, to act as godfather at a baptism.
Thursday, March 23 at 6:45 PM – 9 PM Namaste Organic Spa 30 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Guess who’s back!
Ridgewood NJ , Namaste Organic Spa is very excited to have Bhante Sujatha .
Rumi says “what you seek is seeking you”… perhaps it’s true. The evidence of the power of our minds is undeniable.. The ancient texts of the Buddha tell us that no external condition can be the cause of our happiness, only the mind has that ability. When people understand how they are influenced, the root causes of struggle and what we can do with our minds to make things better, sustainable happiness and radiant joy are the result. My life as a Buddhist monk has given me a front row seat to incredible transformation within so many people as I teach them how to empower the mind and cultivate the qualities that will help you find strength and happiness, as well as give you a burning desire to add more love to the world. When we understand our mind, we begin to re-shape our behavior and feelings about so many things… it’s the most loving act of service one can do for themselves and the world.
Connect with your natural healing power with the gentle guidance of Bhante Sujatha, Buddhist monk from Blue Lotus Temple in Woodstock, IL. This 2-hour workshop has been life-changing for many of its participants, regardless of religious background. The teaching is centered around the cultivation of self love, for without healthy self love, you cannot be fully present to love anyone or anything else.
Proceeds go to Bhante’s Incubator Project in Sri Lanka
Bhante will do his book signing after the workshop and his CDs are also avilable for purchase.
Bhante Sujatha, a 35+ year Buddhist Monk, is singularly focuses on adding more love in the world. Bhante teaches loving-kindness meditation to people around the globe for all those seeking the art of happiness and contentment. His approach to meditation is deep and simple, bringing core Buddhist teachings to everyone in a way that is practical and easy to understand. A joyful, radiant, funny and wildly energetic monk, Bhante will help you obtain peace that can only be found in deep silence. He is originally from Sri Lanka and is the head monk / abbot of the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center in Woodstock, IL.
Bhante believes his purpose is not only to teach meditation, but also, “teaching people how to be happy.”
Fee: $35 (Checks or Cash)
*First come, first serve basis*
Space limited. Advanced registration required (cash or check) by Sunday, March 19, 2017. Stop by the spa or mail payments to: 30 Franklin Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
RHS & Network for Responsible Public Policy Host Climate Forum
Forum at RHS considers climate policy Climate Crisis Panel Discussion March 23 2017 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Location: RHS Campus Center
Reader , “Relentless advancement of an ideological agenda. Politics, propaganda, “intellectual” intimidation, naked cooptation of the previously respectable apparatus of scientific discovery and exposition. Like-minded zealots bent on transforming this country and the world according to their twisted, godless mindset. We must continue to fight this scourge.”
Climate Change the new Religious Cult
Posted Dec 16, 2016 by Martin Armstrong
This is the picture that was used to start the global warming movement that man supposedly created. Of course, since the weather is not consistently warmer, they changed the term from “global warming” to “climate change.” They pointed to everything from pollution, cutting down trees, exhaust from cars and buses, and even attributed it to cows farting, but they never provided any historical proof of real climate change outside of a normal cycle.
I lived in London in 1985 when the buses spewed out black smoke. It was horrible and hard to breath. That is the kind of pollution that we all want to eliminate. We want clean water and clean air — absolutely. But cutting down trees and diesel-spewing buses do not change the historic climate cycle — it just makes where you live nasty.
Science was turned on its head after a discovery in 1772 near Vilui, Siberia, of an intact frozen woolly rhinoceros, which was followed by the more famous discovery of a frozen mammoth in 1787. You may be shocked, but these discoveries of frozen animals with grass still in their stomachs set in motion these two schools of thought since the evidence implied you could be eating lunch and suddenly find yourself frozen, only to be discovered by posterity.
Ridgewood NJ, According to Backgroundchecks.org Ridgewood came in ,in the top 50 safest places to live in New Jersey .Ranking number 47,and scoring a top 10 in Bergen County and Passaic County . Ridgewoood scored well despite have a larger population than many of the top place towns, a larger school district , a local hospital and easier commuter access with a train , bus station and highway park and ride .
Rounding out the Bergen County and Passaic County list were :
The Backgroundchecks.org list was compiled based on FBI violent crime stats and proprietary BackgroundChecks.org research data. Rates are normalized per 100,000 residents with the state average being 261 for violent crime and 1,734 for property crime. This is calculated by taking (# of crimes/population) * 100,000.
The website described #47 Ridgewood in glowing terms , “Located in Bergen County, Ridgewood is a village that is home to 24,900 residents. Just 20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan, Ridgewood is considered a suburban bedroom community and was included on Money’s list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. The violent crime rate here is 43.6, and residents of Ridgewood have a 1% chance of being affected by property crime.”
Ridgewood NJ, Join us on Sunday, May 7th as we Hike or Bike to support Family Promise of Bergen County. Choose your route – 3 mile hike or bike OR 15 mile bike. We begin and end at Van Neste Square in Ridgewood. Fun for everyone with food, music, games, prizes, giveaways and more!
PLUS – Hike or Trike for kids under 5 and under! Free with adult registration.
Click here to register now!
Form a team with your family, friends, colleagues, school,
congregation, scout troop, sports team, etc.!
Create your own fundraising page! Have fun!
Family Promise is the only organization in Bergen County that provides shelter and support to homeless, working families with children. Thank you for your support.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or 201-833-8009
Ridgewood NJ, Lesleypalooza – a month long effort to support my friend Lesley Linker, a soon-to-be single mother who is fighting an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis.
Specifically, we are trying to raise enough money so Lesley can cover the increasing costs of her medical care / support and so she and her two young kids can stay in their home.
To that end, I have two requests:
1. Visit Lesley’s “Go Fund Me” Page – Please visit the Lesleypalooza Go Fund Me page to learn more about Lesley, her kids and their situation and to make a donation of any size.
2. Forward This Message – Please forward this message to all of your friends, families and colleagues so that they can learn about Lesley’s situation … make a donation … and forward this email to all of their friends, families and colleagues.
Our goal is to reach as many people as possible over the next month.
For more information, please visit the Lesleypalooza Facebook page.
March 20, 2017 Education Center Regular Public Meeting 7:30 p.m.
AGENDA * * * * * MEETING REGULATIONS
Ridgewood NJ, At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations and approximately 9:00 p.m. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer to conclude at about 8:00 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at about 9:00 p.m. at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda. At every opportunity for public comment, citizens are invited to comment on subjects on the agenda or general topics. At the discretion of the presiding officer, public comments may be permitted at other times. Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, rise, sign in, and state their names and addresses. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds. Comments shall be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.
Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ
DescriptionThe public is invited to attend the meeting, or watch it live on Fios channel 33, Optimum channel 77, or on the “Link in Live” tab of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
Ridgewood NJ, After at lest 10 years of water restrictions Ridgewood Water is now pushing “environmental changes” as an excuse for poor service.
A series of missteps has led Ridgewood Water from one disaster to another characterized by massive excuse making and under investment.
The fact is that poor management decisions have even resulted in a lawsuit that could have a significant impact on Village finances. A long-pending class action lawsuit of $14M against Ridgewood Water was brought by Midland Park, Wyckoff and Glen Rock and is now in state Superior Court in Hackensack.
at the 39:00 mark, 39:14 “several wells down due to contamination issues, historic data back in 1978, there were 61 wells in operation, today 34 wells. Good majority of those that are out, are due to contaminates, not caused by us, but over the years, may be caused by adjacent properties or over pumping the acquifier over the years.”
According the the Village of Ridgewood website there will be a non stop series of events promoting and attempting to establish “climate change” as the reason behind Ridgewood Waters failure to deliver proper service to Ridgewood residents.
2017 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR RIDGEWOOD WATER
March 29th – The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), in conjunction with Ridgewood Water, will be hosting a presentation on issues relating to local water resources. The Ridgewood Water service area is under a State drought warning and continued Stage 2 watering restrictions. Changes in local municipal water restrictions are proposed which will make these conservation efforts permanent. Mike Furrey, Chair of the New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association and president of AGRA Environmental & Laboratory Services will address the audience on the state of the water industry and Ridgewood Water’s “Journey from Rain to Drain”. Information on what customers can do to conserve water will also be presented and made available. The event will take place from 7:30 – 9 pm in the Senior Center at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ, on the first floor.
April 6th – The Ridgewood Public Library, Ridgewood League of Women Voters and the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) will present a documentary screening and discussion on the movie, “Tapped”. This film explores the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on health, climate change, pollution and the environment. Dave Scheibner, Ridgewood Water Business Manager, will also speak at the event which will take place from 7 – 9 pm in the Ridgewood Library Auditorium, 135 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
April 6th – The Wyckoff Environmental Commission’s FLOW Green Film Festival will feature The Highlands Rediscovered. Following the movie will be a discussion with Sean Gilson of the NJ Highlands Coalition and updates on conservation and contaminants from Ridgewood Water’s Director of Operations, Richard Calbi Jr. The film starts at 7 pm in the Wyckoff Public Library, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ.
April 23rd The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands and the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) in partnership with Ridgewood Water welcomes your participation at this year’s Earth Day event focusing on water conservation and featuring Ridgewood Water’s “Journey from Rain to Drain” as well as educational exhibits, food, musical entertainment, petting zoo, crafts, dog parade, giveaways and more. The event will be held from 11 am – 2 pm at Van Neste Memorial Park, E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
Sept. 14th – The Ridgewood League of Women Voters, in conjunction with Ridgewood Water, will host a water forum. Discussion topics to be announced this summer. The event will take place from 7:30 – 9 pm in the Senior Center at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ, on the first floor.
Oct. 18 th – The Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC), in conjunction with Ridgewood Water, will be hosting a presentation on issues relating to weather and drought. Dr. David Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist, will address the audience on the changing climate in the state and the effects on utilities like Ridgewood Water. The event will take place from 7:30 – 9 pm in the Senior Center at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ, on the first floor.
Snowstorm Stella brought over eight inches of snow to the Village this week, and many of us are still digging out. I want to thank the residents for staying indoors and not traveling during the storm. Due to your assistance, only two motor vehicle crashes were reported and our crews doing the plowing were better able to manage the snow removal, in an attempt to keep the roadways clear.
Our crews doing the plowing and salting did a good job on the roads, despite the fact that they were challenged by large amounts of snow falling in a short amount of time. In addition, there was sleet mixed in with the snow, and bitter cold temperatures, which turned many streets to ice. Our crews doing the plowing also spent two nights clearing out both the streets and the parking lots of the Central Business District, the train station lot, and the Park and Ride lot. Many of you contacted the Village to let us know where there were ice or snow issues, which allowed us to address them as quickly as possible. We appreciate the feedback, because there is always room for improvement.
Due to the continued cold temperatures and the possibility of more snow in the coming days, all garbage must continue to be brought to the end of your driveway (not in the street), for the safety of our Village employees. This will continue through March 24th. Backyard collection of garbage will resume on March 27th, weather permitting.
From Queens to Fort Lee, developers are targeting “affordable” price points: panelists
By E.B. Solomont | March 15, 2017 03:00PM
What’s a New York developer to do when renters are priced out of neighborhoods? Turn to emerging areas in Queens, the Bronx, New Jersey, Westchester and Long Island.
“We’re like cockroaches, we try to figure out what’s needed next,” said Jan Burman, president of Long Island-based Engel Burman Group, a developer of assisted living properties.
He was speaking Wednesday at a panel on residential real estate trends hosted by the newly-launched Fordham University real estate program. Moderated by Madison Realty Capital’s Michael Stoler, Burman was one of 10 panelists assembled, along with Madison’s Josh Zegen; Benjamin Stacks of Capital One Bank; RXR Realty’s Seth Pinsky; KABR Group’s Kenneth Pasternak; Kushner Companies’ Laurent Morali; Jeff Levine of Douglaston Development; SJP Residential Properties’ Allen Goldman; the Beechwood Organization’s Steven Dubb and TD Bank’s Roy Chin.
“Prices have increased dramatically in core areas, pushing people out to areas that were formerly peripheral,” said Pinsky, who is heading RXR’s investment in “emerging markets” like New Rochelle and other suburban enclaves. “If we want to get ahead of this problem, the ultimate solution is to have supply meet demand.”
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department would like to thank all residents for their cooperation in staying off the roads during the blizzard on Tuesday. Due to your assistance, only two motor vehicle crashes were reported and our Street Department was able to better manage the snow removal in an attempt to keep the roadways clear.
Ridgewood NJ, At least seven (7) Ridgewood PD officers, two (2) NJ Transit PD officers, one (1) Glen Rock PD officer, and an officer from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Patrol Division were present at the Ridgewood train station on the morning of Friday, 03/17 to keep order after a Hoboken bound NJ Transit train was halted at the station when a train conductor observed several individuals who were allegedly smoking marijuana. One (1) car of the train was cleared of all passengers before the train was allowed to continue to Hoboken. No arrests were made. Passengers cleared from the train car in question were allowed to board the next Hoboken bound train.
Ridgewood NJ, Park West Tavern celebrate St Patrick’s Day today .Park West Tavern turns green for the day.
Todays St Patrick’s Day today Festivities include :
Listen to live authentic Irish music by The Poor Finnian’s from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The music continues later on when The Declan Power Band performs at 10:00pm.
And a surprise visit from the Ridgewood Irish Dancers.
Traditional Irish Fare served all day
Corned Beef And Cabbage
Fish & Chips
Lamb Stew with Barley
Bangers & Mash
Park West is Located at 30 Oak St
Ridgewood, New Jersey
@parkwesttavern
Call (201) 445-5400
TRENTON — Towns and counties would gain another exemption to the spending limits of the cap on property tax increases if a bill passed Thursday by the Assembly makes it into law.
Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic, said he has heard from municipalities about having to pass on opportunities to use federal or private grants to hire police or buy fire trucks because of concerns over fitting the required local matching funds under the 2 percent cap.
The Assembly voted 48-26 to exempt matching-funds spending from the cap.
“We cannot hamstring local government from doing necessary things that members of one municipality or another would otherwise want to do but they have their hands tied and vital, vital considerations like police, like fire, like EMS, etc., are being jeopardized right now,” Schaer said.
Republicans opposed the bill.
“Any time we begin to erode away that 2 percent property tax cap level, that’s a problem for taxpayers. There’s no question about it,” said Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, R-Morris.
“We had a property tax cap years ago, but it had a million exemptions,” Bucco said. “We were able to negotiate a new property tax cap and limit the number of exceptions to very few, and I think you have to take very seriously any bill that begins to put exceptions back in.”
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police are reporting a host of identity theft and fraudulent account activity in Ridgewood .
On March 6th, an Arcadia Road resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report fraudulent activity on her Optimum Online account. The victim reported that her identity was stolen as her account was accessed and had numerous changes made to it.
On March 8th, a South Broad Street resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report that a fraudulent account had been opened in his name at T-Mobile. The Ridgewood police Detective Bureau will be investigating the matter.
On March 11th, a North Murray Avenue resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report that a fraudulent account had been opened in her name at Verizon. The victim was notified by Verizon that a person used her social security number to purchase three new devices. Verizon Fraud Prevention will be investigating the matter.
On March 13th, an Oak Street resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters to report that her identity had been stolen. The Victim stated that she received notification from Bank of America that $1920 had been transferred from her account to an unknown Western Union account. Bank of America was able to put a hold on the transfer. The Ridgewood Police Detective Bureau will be investigating the matter.
The Ridgewood Police Department would like to remind everyone to be very vigilant when conducting any business on-line as identity theft crimes are becoming very popular. If you would like more information on how to keep yourself safe from identity theft, please go to www.ftc.gov/idtheft
