NJ Transit officials took another step toward public-private partnerships with its real estate holdings that Executive Director James Weinstein said could earn the agency $100 million in revenue, which could go toward covering operating costs. NJ Transit’s Board approved retail leases for spaces in three major stations in Hoboken, Secaucus and Trenton, which Weinstein called a “solid business decision that allows use to generate commercial revenue.” (Higgs, Gannett)
>Village Council Honors Former Village Manager Jim Ten Hoeve
One of the last official actions taken by the outgoing Village Council was to designate the Village Municipal Complex, previously called the “The Plaza,” as the “James M. Ten Hoeve Plaza.” The “James M. Ten Hoeve Plaza” is a publicly accessible outdoor area just south of Village Hall. Outdoor tables, chairs, and wooden benches are scattered throughout.
Mr. Ten Hoeve, currently a resident of Hawthorne, NJ, was the Village’s CFO from 1981-2004. From 2004-2009, he served as Village Manager. He retired from public service in 2009, but was paid by the Village as a special consultant on several key municipal projects during calendar year 2010.
During Wednesday evening’s roll call vote on a resolution associated with the plaza designation, Councilman Paul Aronsohn voiced his concerns regarding the honor being bestowed on Mr. Ten Hoeve. Mr. Aronsohn was advised by Village Clerk Heather A. Mailander that renaming the plaza was a promise made to Mr. Ten Hoeve at his retirement party last year. Aronsohn abstained from voting on the matter as a show of protest.
Our new Louisiana poll has a lot of data points to show how unhappy voters in the state are with Barack Obama’s handling of the oil spill but one perhaps sums it up better than anything else- a majority of voters there think George W. Bush did a better job with Katrina than Obama’s done dealing with the spill.
50% of voters in the state, even including 31% of Democrats, give Bush higher marks on that question compared to 35% who pick Obama.
Overall only 32% of Louisianans approve of how Obama has handled the spill to 62% who disapprove. 34% of those polled say they approved of how Bush dealt with Katrina to 58% who disapproved.
While the poll results indicate a lot of unhappiness with the President, ultimately BP is getting the largest amount of blame from voters in the state. 53% of voters say they’re angriest at the oil company to 29% who say their greatest unhappiness is with the federal government. And 78% say BP has the greatest responsibility for cleaning up the spill to only 11% who say that onus lays with the federal government. 44% think BP CEO Tony Hayward should be fired to 29% who think he should not and 26% who are not sure.
One thing the oil spill has not done is created a spike of opposition to offshore drilling in Louisiana. 77% of voters still support it with only 12% against. Only 31% say the spill has made them less inclined to be in favor of drilling while 42% say it hasn’t made a difference to them and 28% say they’re now stronger in their support.
If there’s any ‘winner’ in this unfortunate event it’s Governor Bobby Jindal. 63% of voters approve of the job he’s doing, the best PPP has found for any Senator or Governor so far in 2010. There’s an even higher level of support, at 65%, for how he’s handled the aftermath of the spill.
>I have only recently been attending these meetings and my impression is the planning board members are bored to death or have made up their minds in support the amendment.
I’ve asked the question “What does Ridgewood get out of this?” and no one seems to have a good answer. I’m not even thinking in terms of property tax relief because I understand Valley doesn’t pay as a non-profit now and won’t in the future.. I am talking about how does our town benefit at all with having them here, and then if this amendment goes through, having them here for at minimum 7 years under construction, which will be disruptive to ALL residents? What is the economic impact of Valley on Ridgewood? Has anyone done that study?
Gift shop’s Graydon fundraiser this Fri./Sat., June 18-19 And unique Preserve Graydon jewelry all summer long
“Graydon” child bracelet
Wyckoff resident Mari Keating Schofield, whose unique jewelry you’ll remember from our Holiday Bazaar last November, fondly recalls her childhood summers at Graydon Pool.
As a result, she has generously offered to donate to The Preserve Graydon Coalition 15% of all sales of Graydon bracelets, anklets, and more for children and adults from her new shop, winnie & belle, 293 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, 201-389-3898, [email protected].
In addition, this Friday and Saturday ONLY, June 18 and 19, Mari will donate 20% of ALL SALES to The Preserve Graydon Coalition. Perfect presents: Gift bags for teachers, nannies, tutors, crossing guards Gifts for bridal and wedding parties Day at the Beach canvas bags Hand-printed cards Hand-painted baby onesies, sets of baby undershirt and socks, and more (order a red pail and yellow shovel design for a tiny Graydon fan?)
Mari’s handmade items make great graduation and teacher/tutor appreciation gifts. They’re fun to send to kids at camp and to Ridgewood friends who have moved away, and of course to keep for yourself. How about matching Graydon bracelets for parents and children?
Swimmingly, Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation “It’s clear—we love Graydon!” [email protected] https://www.preservegraydon.org/
>I will make my survey public (and retain my anonymity) Vovici said they could not guarantee total anonymity to anyone.
General
2) I am satisfied with the overall quality of my child’s education. Strongly Disagree
3) My child likes going to school. Neither Agree nor disagree
4) I would recommend my child’s school to other parents. Strongly Disagree
5) I feel welcome in my child’s school. Disagree
6) My child is safe at school. Strongly Disagree
7) General Comments: too many issues to mention, but the attitude of the teachers FOR THE MOST PART is dismissive and uncooperative. There are a few gems and I would support them without question. Too many are interested solely in the money/benefits rather than dedicated to the profession. The superintendent is impotent as virtually everyone runs roughshod over him. The BoE are Ivory Tower snobs who ignore the same people they represent.
CHRIS RUTISHA– USER – Village Engineer rips down posters at Planning Board public meeting on June 14
A lecture in civility was offered by Chairman Nicholson as he called the June 14th Planning Board H-Zone meeting to order. Yet, just moments before the meeting was called to order informational posters, neatly placed on the walls of the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, were violently ripped down by a Village Employee. The posters were crumbled and stuffed into garbage pails.
After watching their hard work be torn down, destroyed before their eyes and stuffed into trash cans, Ridgewood residents sat politely for this lecture in civility. Insulting the taxpayers further, the Chairman followed up with a diatribe exposing his contempt for Ridgewood residents. Mr. Nicholson stated he did not care how many of us showed up, he did not care how many signs we held up, and he did not care how many of our emails or letters he received in opposition. As an afterthought he turned to the Valley Hospital employees, filling the side of the auditorium, and politely stated “or in support”.
Nicholson’s disrespect and condescension towards Ridgewood residents was a disgrace and his lecture on civility was The Height of Hypocrisy!
the Ridgewood blog the number one local news website in New Jersey is looking for nominations for best Pizza in Ridgewood, New Jersey.Please submit your favorite pizza spot to: [email protected]
put “Best Pizza in Ridgewood ” in the subject line or leave a comment on the “Best Pizza” post on the Ridgewood Blog .The voting will begin in July . Last years winner was A Mano and the 2008 winner was Puzo’s !
The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.
On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.
Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as ‘Flag Day’, and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.
Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children’s celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.
Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”
Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day -the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
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Rutgers University has announced it will freeze salaries for its 13,000 employees, canceling some pay raises that were to take effect next month. School officials say the move will save $30 million and offset some of the $46.6 million in state funding cut from its budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Without the freeze, Chief Budget Officer Philip Furmanski said in a note to staff Thursday, the university would have to “lay off large numbers.” (Conaboy, Gannett)
Gov. Christie has ordered cabinet members to begin planning for a government shutdown in case the state budget is not approved by the July 1 deadline. The memo directs department heads to identify essential functions and personnel. The Newark Star-Ledger obtained a copy of the memo, distributed Friday. (AP)
The staff stopped counting at 1200 people on Saturday, June 5. Pool manager Steve Diamond said it was the biggest opening day crowd in 5 or 6 years.
Open for business: Last weekend Graydon had its biggest opening day in 5 or 6 years, said pool manager Steve Diamond. What a great community gathering place!
The water sparkled. Gone were the algae seen on Memorial Day. Deputy Mayor Keith Killion stopped by. Mayor David Pfund arrived with his family and took a dip. Also on hand appreciating the large crowd were Council members-elect Tom Riche and Bernie Walsh.
Operation in June: Saturday/Sunday: 10 am to 7:30 pm Mon.–Fri. through June 25: Noon to 7:30 pm June 28–30: 10 am to 7:30 pm
Have you bought your badge yet? If not, here’s how:
Ridgewood, Midland Park, and Ho-Ho-Kus residents: Join here https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/department_detail.cfm?dept_id=41 or at the badge office at Graydon until 7 pm any day.
Graydon admirers from any other town may be sponsored with this application form by an adult Ridgewood resident holding a current badge. Allow up to a week for processing of sponsored applications.
Graydon on parade Lucy Rieger seeks participants for a possible celebration of Graydon Park’s centennial in Ridgewood’s Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 5. This will happen only if volunteers come forward quickly. To participate or help, please contact her at [email protected] or 201-826-5086 (cell).
Lots more summer fun to come. Send us your photos of Graydon activities. Swimmingly,
