>Sanitation Department’s slow snow cleanup was a budget protest
By SALLY GOLDENBERG, LARRY CELONA and JOSH MARGOLIN Last Updated: 12:37 PM, December 30, 2010
Selfish Sanitation Department bosses from the snow-slammed outer boroughs ordered their drivers to snarl the blizzard cleanup to protest budget cuts — a disastrous move that turned streets into a minefield for emergency-services vehicles, The Post has learned.
Miles of roads stretching from as north as Whitestone, Queens, to the south shore of Staten Island still remained treacherously unplowed last night because of the shameless job action, several sources and a city lawmaker said, which was over a raft of demotions, attrition and budget cuts.
“They sent a message to the rest of the city that these particular labor issues are more important,” said City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens), who was visited yesterday by a group of guilt-ridden sanitation workers who confessed the shameless plot.
Halloran said he met with three plow workers from the Sanitation Department — and two Department of Transportation supervisors who were on loan — at his office after he was flooded with irate calls from constituents.
Holiday revelers attending New Year’s Eve festivities to ring in 2011 will benefit from extra service and savings on NJ TRANSIT this holiday weekend.
NJ TRANSIT will operate late-night trains after midnight on New Year’s Day, as well as special late-night bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal to accommodate travelers returning home from midnight celebrations.
In addition, customers can continue to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult. Usually limited to weekends, the Family Super Saver Fare is in effect continuously now through 6 a.m. Monday, January 3, on all trains, buses and light rail lines.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines with additional New York-bound trains between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Morris & Essex lines. Customers are encouraged to travel early, if possible, when ridership is lighter. Some early-morning trains will not operate on Friday, due to expected light ridership. Plan trip Newark Light Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule. Plan trip Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekday schedule. Plan trip River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Plan trip Bus schedules vary by route. Selected routes will operate on special holiday schedules to matchservice with ridership demand, including early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting around 1 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel, with less frequent service during the peak periods and later in the evening due to lower ridership. Also, selected Essex County bus lines (Nos. 13, 21 and 25) will operate later evening service which will extend past midnight into New Year’s Day. View schedules by route. Midnight to 5 a.m., New Year’s Day, January 1, 2011
Special late-night trains will operate from New York and Hoboken on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex, Raritan Valley, Pascack Valley, Main/Bergen County lines. Get details Expanded bus service will be provided from the Port Authority Bus Terminal between midnight and 5:30 a.m. on selected routes. Get details River Line will add late-night service. Get details Hudson Bergen Light Rail will add late-night service. Plan trip (use 12/31/10 as travel date) After 5 a.m., New Year’s Day, January 1, 2011
Trains will operate on a weekend schedule (Saturday schedule on Raritan Valley Line). Plan trip Newark Light Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule. Plan trip River Line will operate on a Saturday schedule. Plan trip Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Plan trip Bus schedules vary by route. View schedules by route.
Travel tips
Check Schedules in Advance: Plan your trip online to take advantage of extra trains and buses. Travel Early: On December 31, NJ TRANSIT rail lines will operate on a modified weekday schedule. Avoid the crowds by traveling during the traditional peak-period (6-9 a.m.) when ridership is lighter. Allow Extra Travel Time: Traffic congestion during the holidays may affect bus travel times to and from New York City. Customers should plan accordingly. Ticketing: Purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to speed your return. Use ticket vending machines or see a ticket agent, if available, to avoid possible surcharges. Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus. Luggage: Travel as light as possible. Passengers with luggage or packages should use the overhead racks or designated luggage spaces. On multilevel trains, customers with large bags should use the mezzanine levels at the ends of each car.
>Introducing….”Ridgewood’s Got Talent”, ! New event for spring 2011
During these hard economic times, we at the Chamber try to come up with creative new ways to attract consumers to Ridgewood. We have gotten together and come up with a fun way to show off our businesses, current clients, and attract new ones. Here is the big plan for the event, as follows:
**Ridgewood’s Got Talent** -The event will run Spring 2011; Auditions March 5, Semi-Finals April 9, Final Event May 21 -Held at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio -Open to all performing arts students from Ridgewood, ages K-12 -Performances are limited to singing, dancing, playing an instrument, and/or acting -Each performance will be given a 2 minute time slot for auditions -Broken down into 4 judging categories; elementary K-2 and 3-5, middle school 6-8, and high school 9-12 -Audition forms need to be filled out by all participants -Auditions will be held Saturday morning, March 5 (additional audition March 12 if necessary) -Judges will be from Chamber Member performing arts schools -The judges will collaborate and vote their opinions; after 1st auditions narrow down to 10 performers per age group, after semi-finals 3 performers per age group, into final event. -All residents of Ridgewood will be invited!
The grand prize is a chance to perform on stage at the 2011 Downtown for the Holidays event. Ridgewood’s Got Talent event is an effort to pull residents and business owners together for the spirit of Ridgewood.
Members of the Class of 2012 and 2013, present juniors and sophomores, have received their PSAT scores. Two hundred ninety three of the 404 juniors sat for the PSAT on a voluntary basis, representing just over 72% of the class. As sophomores, 63% of this group sat for the test. Two hundred seventy-one of the 417 sophomores (65%) sat for the test. This is the 29th year that RHS has administered the PSAT to sophomores.
>State Sen. Ray Lesniak is initiating legislation in the Senate that would eliminate the office of Lieutenant Governor and Governor
News shocker: New Jersey to eliminate offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
State Sen. Ray Lesniak is initiating legislation in the Senate that would eliminate the office of Lieutenant Governor and Governor, considering that “the state is working very well while Gov. Christie is in Disneyworld and Lieutenant Governor is in Mexico.” (Novick, PolitickerNJ)
>Cumberland County ends health benefits for elected,appointed officials
Cumberland County is cutting off health insurance benefits for elected and appointed officials in another move to cut spending. (Smith, Asbury Park Press)
>The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wants to raise the Bayonne Bridge’s roadway
N.J. bridge could get a big lift for ships
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wants to raise the Bayonne Bridge’s roadway so big new cargo ships can get to its docks. (Grossman, The Wall Street Journal)
>The Bergen County Freeholder Board will hold its reorganization on New Year’s Day
A taxpayer-funded party?
The Bergen County Freeholder Board will hold its reorganization on New Year’s Day, a date that some critics are calling into question because of concerns about cost and accessibility. (Gartland, The Record)
The Hoboken Board of Education hired a superintendent in November, but today his contract was nullified by the state, according to board member Theresa Minutillo, under the new superintendent regulations of Gov. Chris Christie. (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
>Blizzard of 2010 :Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down
Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down
Updated: Wednesday, 29 Dec 2010, 8:50 AM EST Published : Wednesday, 29 Dec 2010, 8:14 AM EST
MYFOXNY.COM – The chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee, Local 831, which represents men and women of the New York City Sanitation Department says there is no truth behind a rumor that his members worked slower during the blizzard of 2010.
Speaking with Good Day New York on Wednesday, four days after the first snow fell in a 20+ downfall across the tristate, Harry Nespoli said his workers don’t “mess around with the snow.”
The coming year will be an important one for space weather as the Sun pulls out of a trough of low activity and heads into a long-awaited and possibly destructive period of turbulence. Many people may be surprised to learn that the Sun, rather than burn with faultless consistency, goes through moments of calm and tempest.
But two centuries of observing sunspots — dark, relatively cool marks on the solar face linked to mighty magnetic forces — have revealed that our star follows a roughly 11-year cycle of behaviour.
The latest cycle began in 1996 and for reasons which are unclear has taken longer than expected to end.
Now, though, there are more and more signs that the Sun is shaking off its torpor and building towards “Solar Max,” or the cycle’s climax, say experts.
“The latest prediction looks at around midway 2013 as being the maximum phase of the solar cycle,” said Joe Kunches of NASA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
There’s nothing like a bitter winter storm to put Northeastern pols in the hot seat. And this week’s massive snowfall across much of New England and the northern Mid-Atlantic region seems to have done the trick. (Burns, Politico)
>Nanny State : New laws may not be on the books for very long
New laws may not be on the books for very long
A host of new laws will take effect around the country on Jan. 1, but some may not be on the books for long.
The laws will kick in just as newly elected lawmakers start work. And if Republican majorities succeed in repealing some statutes, the result may be some sudden U-turns. (Baur for The Associated Press)
>Just 21% Want FCC to Regulate Internet, Most Fear Regulation Would Promote Political Agenda Tuesday, December 28, 2010
American voters believe free market competition will protect Internet users more than government regulation and fear that regulation will be used to push a political agenda. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of Likely U.S. Voters want the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate the Internet as it does radio and television. Fifty-four percent (54%) are opposed to such regulation, and 25% are not sure.
Blend would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year. We would like to invite you to join us in our New Year’s Eve Gala featuring two different atmospheres on two levels. Upstairs one of our favorite bands Living Proof will be performing all night, as well as downstairs you can dance the night away to DJ Shant and DJ Griffel.
Call 201-447-4343 and Ask About Our Different Package Options….
BLEND – 17 CHESTNUT STREET RIDGEWOOD NJ – 201-447-4343
