>Despite Public Sector Layoffs the state added 13,400 private-sector jobs and 600 public sector jobs last month
N.J. gained 14,000 jobs in April
New Jersey’s economy added 14,000 jobs in April, and its unemployment rate remained steady at 9.3 percent, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday. (Diamond, Gannett)
https://www.app.com/article/20110519/NJBIZ/305190128/N-J-gained-14-000-jobs-in-April
>Expert: Expand sales, cut income tax
New Jersey’s sales tax should be expanded in order to reduce other taxes, an expert from a conservative think tank told top members of Gov. Chris Christie’s administration Thursday. (Method, Gannett)
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110519/NJNEWS/305190031/Expert-Expand-sales-cut-income-tax
>Ridgewood’s unlimited parking pass included in revisions to rate structure
Friday, May 20, 2011
BY MICHAEL SEDON
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
STAFF WRITER
Commuters and downtown workers can stop saving bags full of change by getting a new unlimited parking pass, village officials said this week.
“The idea for unlimited parking was adopted to better meet the needs of customers, downtown workers and commuters,” said Councilman Paul Aronsohn, the liaison to the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce. “Currently, many are forced to move their cars or illegally feed the meters. This new approach recognizes and accommodates those that need more than two hours of parking.”
The “Unlimited Prepaid Parking Permit” (UP3) was part of revisions in the village’s parking rate structure approved by the Village Council last week.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/122278034_Keep_the_change.html
>”Bill Clinton, back in 1992, when he was running for office, you know, their campaign coined the phrase, ‘It’s the economy, stupid,'”
>An Attack on School Boards
May 12th, 2011 by Ray Pinney
By Ray Pinney
“The local school board, especially the elected kind, is an anachronism and an outrage. We can no longer pretend it’s working well or hide behind the mantra of ‘local control of education.’
Chester Finn and Amber Winkler, Thomas Fordham Institute
Most of you who know me, I hope, would agree that I am a fair person not quick to anger or hatred. I am always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt. But when someone sent me Chester Finn and Amber Winkler’s article The Anachronism of School Boards, it made me angry. Chester Finn is a noted scholar and author, but in this case I find his logic not only flawed and a bit foolish, but actually dangerous. Dangerous because it is becoming part of the education reform agenda.
It’s also dangerous because some state political leaders may think that this concept has some merit. In fact the NY Times recently reported that Gov. Chris Christie has hinted he would like to change the system of school boards in New Jersey. (Although, to be fair, we have no idea what changes the governor favors, let alone if he agrees with Finn and Winkler.)
https://www.njsba.org/blog/?p=236
>BOE: It is the sworn obligation of ALL the board members to act in the taxpayers’ interests
It is the sworn obligation of ALL the board members to act in the taxpayers’ interests. It is mind-numbing to listen to and read all the complaints about VC and BOE members, watch the complainers elect unqualified/inappropriate candidates and then listen and read as those same complainers give their candidates passes when they cow-tow to a vocal minority, instead of acting in the best interests of Ridgewood.
your joking right?…
A few don’t seem to be acting in my best interests. My taxes keep going up, while the schools and the village don’t get noticeably better. Why is it that none of them seem willing to take a hard line against any of the public sector unions? The way that the Village Council caved to the police union a few months ago was embarrassing. Five years of raises? Minimal healthcare contributions? In a recession? I hope that the BOE shows more of a backbone in their negotiations with the teachers.
>LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms
By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer – Mon May 16, 6:05 pm ET
NEW YORK – Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January.
Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect.
The new bulbs will also be expensive — about $50 each — so the development may not prevent consumers from hoarding traditional bulbs.
>Apparent Immunity Gene ‘Cures’ Bay Area Man Of AIDS
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) — A 45-year-old man now living in the Bay Area may be the first person ever cured of the deadly disease AIDS, the result of the discovery of an apparent HIV immunity gene.
Timothy Ray Brown tested positive for HIV back in 1995, but has now entered scientific journals as the first man in world history to have that HIV virus completely eliminated from his body in what doctors call a “functional cure.”
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/05/16/apparent-immunity-gene-cures-bay-area-man-of-aids/
>Aetna sues 9 N.J. doctors for “unconscionable” fees
Lawsuits claim that the out-of-network physicians charged as much as $50,000 for an inpatient consultation.
By ALICIA GALLEGOS, amednews staff. Posted May 16, 2011.
Aetna Inc. has accused nine New Jersey doctors of charging excessive fees for out-of-network services. Four are countersuing, alleging that the insurer is guilty of fraudulent billing practices.
The lawsuits are the latest development in a debate among insurers and health care professionals over “usual, customary and reasonable” rates for out-of-network doctors.
Aetna sued the physicians between July and November 2010, claiming that they had charged “unconscionable” fees for services and threatened to balance-bill patients if not paid.
Cardiologist Benjamin Hannallah, MD, of Watchung, N.J., charged up to $48,980 for an inpatient consultation in 2009, an increase of more than $47,000 from his 2007 rate, according to one of the lawsuits. The average Medicare charge for an inpatient consultation is $358.12, according to 2010 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Cardiologist Karan Nejad, MD, of Hackensack, N.J., raised his fee for seeing critically ill hospital patients from $2,040 in 2007 to $15,000 in 2008, another lawsuit claims. The average charge for the first hour of a critical care visit is $520.76, according to CMS data.
Gynecologist-obstetrician Waleed Abdelghani, MD, of Hackensack, who assisted in two cesarean sections, allegedly charged $30,000 for each surgery, while in-network surgeons were paid about $2,000 for the same procedure, Aetna said. Standard pay for a surgeon assisting a C-section is $1,400, Aetna spokeswoman Cynthia Michener said.
https://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/05/16/prsb0516.htm
>Assemblyman seeks to shift tax burden away from property
The tax on Kathleen Santomero’s two-bedroom house has doubled to more than $9,000 in a decade, and the Evesham resident knows it will only grow. (Rao, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
>Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration
Evening Activities and Fireworks Tickets
Summer’s Best Entertainment Value
Monday, July 4, 2011
Alternate Date – Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Veterans Field, Ridgewood, New Jersey
July 4th in Ridgewood is a very special day that our entire area looks forward to all year. This
year’s theme is “Celebrate the Constitution.” The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration
Committee is an all-volunteer community group that coordinates the day’s events and does not
receive direct funding from the Village of Ridgewood.
We are actively preparing for what we know will be a spectacular celebration, and it is vital that
we have community support. Please consider helping to “Support the Tradition”. Because of
generous support from the community, we have one of the best small town Independence Day
celebrations.
While the Parade is free, Fireworks Tickets are required for entrance to Veterans Field.
Donations for Fireworks Tickets are one of the Celebration’s largest sources of income.
Ticket sales cover the evening entertainment which begins at 6:00pm, the fireworks at
dark, as well as the bands in the parade, additional security and traffic control. Come
early and enjoy some great entertainment.
For many years the cost of our tickets remained the same while our costs increased.
This year we have increased our ticket prices. It was a decision that the Committee did
reluctantly in the face of rising costs. To keep the ticket prices as reasonable as possible
for attendees, while covering costs, pre-sales of tickets are being made available through a
wide range of local businesses.
Tickets to the Evening Entertainment and Fireworks will be on sale June 1 at the
locations below. Buy your tickets in advance for $8.00 and save over 50% off the
gate price of $15.00.
1. Backyard Living- 235 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-689-9111
2. Daily Treat- 177 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-652-9113
3. Goffle Brook Farm- 425 Goffle Road, Ridgewood, 201-652-7540
4. Harding Wines and Spirits- 305 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-445-7122
5. Herold’s Farm & Garden Center- 909 Prospect Street, Glen Rock, 201-445-0069
6. Hillman Electric- 133 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-652-1045
7. Hogan’s Restaurant Diner- 20 Central Avenue, Midland Park, 201-445-2849
8. Hoskins Propane, 523 Goffle Road, Ridgewood, 201-444-1950
9. JT’s Wines and Spirits- 607 N. Maple Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus, 201-652-2220
10. Lacrosse Unlimited of Ridgewood- 206 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, 201-670-3515
11. La Strada- 231 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park- 201-670-9233
12. North Jersey Community Bank- 171 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-670-8484
13. Ridgewood Auto Wash Co.- 450 South Broad Street, Glen Rock, 201-444-6037
14. Ridgewood Cycle Shop- 35 North Broad Street, Ridgewood, 201-444-2553
15. The Wine Seller- 6 West Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-444-3300.
16. Town & Country Apothecary- 60 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood- 201-652-0013.
Many thanks to our ticket vendors! All ticket vendors are volunteers and make no
money for their efforts.
17. At the Ridgewood Library –Saturday, June 25 from 9:00am to 3:00pm; Sunday, June
26 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, and Monday June 27 through Friday July 1 from 9:00am to
3:00pm. Thank you HILT for being our volunteer ticket sellers!
18. At the gate tickets are $15.00. Children 5 and under are admitted free of charge.
Patrons and belongings are subject to security checks when entering Veterans Field.
Handicap parking for the Parade is available on Dayton Street behind Van Neste Park.
Handicap parking for the Evening Entertainment is available at the parking lot to the east of
Veterans Field. Approach Veterans Field on Linwood Avenue from the east. Turn left onto
Northern Parkway. Turn right into the parking lot. There are 20 spaces available on a first-
come, first-serve basis. A police officer will be posted there to direct you. Those who park in the
handicap spaces will not have access to their cars during the fireworks due to the location of the
fireworks drop zone.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration began in 1910 when the local papers, the civic
section of the Woman’s Club and the Ridgewood Fire Department joined forces to create
a “safe and sane” holiday with an emphasis on Patriotism. It has grown into one of the largest
celebrations in the New York City area and has been featured on CNN and Good Morning
America as well as local New York stations. The celebration was once again named Best Parade
and Fireworks by the readers of 201 Magazine.
Additional information and answers to many of your questions can be found on the Ridgewood
Fourth of July Celebration’s website at www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org. Thank you for
“Supporting the Tradition”.
>Board of Ed is not listening
Board of Ed is not listening. They turfed fields and installed stadium lights. Many of us did not want this and many neighbors fought this. They did it anyway because they think that they know better then the taxpayers.
There is a bit of a shake up in the math department, but it is too little too late. The HS freshmen are sweating the Algebra exam. It is May and the parents are scrambling to find tutors. Everyone is worried about failing the state test. The HS math department is now telling the middle school math teachers what to do. IT is all TOO LATE! It’s May for God’s sake – where have they been all year? Our children will pay the price for this educational malpractice.
Did I mention that they spent time & money fighting residents over the turf fields?
There are employees who do virtually nothing, but they have been working for the schools for so long they can’t be fired. School Principals don’t know anything about managing staff. They act like teachers who accidentally got promoted, they need to be managers. If office staff is uncooperative and does not work 7 hours a day, a good manager would document this and issue a warning. In six weeks they would look for improvement. If no progress has been made then they should begin termination proceedings. In our schools the principal just ignores the nonworkers and allows the overpaid assistant principals to pick up the slack.
The Skyward system could be improved. Why is Blackboard even on the website. Pick something and stick with it.
Fix your phone system and teach the staff how to pick up messages.
Stop hiding important information and leaving the same old information on the home page for the schools. The BOE election results don’t need to be on the middle school home page. And I am sure that the handful of parents sending to private schools have contacted the school for transcripts. Why is this info on the home page for the school? Maybe they could have notified the parents that 8th graders that the kids would be taking the NJ HS Algebra test. This is information that should have been front and center. An email was sent out this week, less than two weeks to prepare. Connected math will not help them with the test, but a good tutor will.
Did I mention that they fought the taxpayers over stadium lights for the fields?
The Board of Ed members need some Ritlin. I voted NO because they have not focused on education. They spend time and money on noneducational projects. They made bad choices with my money.
>Assembly approves residency legislation for State Workers
A bill that would require future public employees to live in New Jersey has gone to Gov. Chris Christie. (Gannett)
>In order to lesson the impact of Water restrictions on the Village this summer the Ridgewood blog announces :
The “Save Water : Shower with a Friend” initiative.
The Ridgewood blog is Proud to sponsor this aggressive water saving initiative and we want to thank everyone in advance for their participation.
thank you,
PJ Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
>Agenda: N.J. State Board of Education
On the docket for the Board of Education’s monthly public meeting: superintendent certification, key department personnel and teacher evaluations. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0501/2242/
