Walt Clyde Frazier Wednesday, January 26th @ 7:00pm Legendary New York Knicks Guard and Color Analyst for the New York Knicks, will sign his new book: Rockin’ Steady.
Brooke Burke Tuesday, February 1st @ 7:00pm Host of Dancing with the Stars will sign her new book: The Naked Mom. Books available: Feb. 1st
“Wierd Al” Yankovic Wednesday, February 2nd @ 4:30pm Best known as America’s leading satirist of popular music & culture. Has won three Grammy Awards and has sold more comedy albums than anyone else in history. Will sign his new release, When I Grow Up. Book available Feb. 1st
>SNOW REMOVAL Ordinance for the Business District in Ridgewood
249-1 Snow and ice removal. Who is responsible for the sidewalks and around the meters? The following information was provided by the Village of Ridgewood.
A. The owner of any land abutting upon the streets or public highways in the Village, if such land is owner-occupied or vacant, otherwise the tenant or occupant of such land situate in all zones of the Village of Ridgewood as shown on the 1990 Zoning Map, with the exception of the B-1, B-2, P and P-2 Zones of the Village, shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks of such streets or highways within 24 hours after the same shall fall or be formed theron. No snow or ice so removed, however, shall be deposited or place in the street or highway in such a manner or location so as to impede the flow of traffic. For purposes of this section, such land shall be deemed owner-occupied by either the owner or owners or record or any agent, servant or employee thereof.
B. …Special regulations are adopted for the business and office zones in order to maintain an attractive and safe environment in the buiness and professional office zones of the Village by assuring that the snow will be removed from the sidewalks in and around the central business district on a timely basis.
C. …Snowfalls commencing during the evening, that is, after 6:00pm., will be cleared by no later than 9:00am the following morning, Sundays and holidays included. During weekday storms, M-Sat, occurring during business hours, sidewalks shall be cleared to a five-foot minimum width to provide access from the storefront to the curb, between meters, if meters are installed. After 6:00pm and on Sundays and Holidays, sidewalks will be completely cleared into the street.
D. A court appearance will be required to answer any summons issued for a violation of this section. Thomas Rica, Public Works Inspector, Village of Ridgewood 201-670-5500 X248.
SUPPORT RHS BANDS: ANNUAL CITRUS SALE IS JANUARY 30
Ridgewood High School band members will be on a door-to-door campaign throughout Ridgewood on Sunday, January 30, taking orders for delicious produce to raise money for the band program.
Fruit boxes being offered: · 20 lb. box of navel oranges; · 20 lb. box of red grapefruits; · 24 navel oranges/12 red grapefruit mix; · 6 apple/6 pear/10 navel orange mix.
Price: $25/box Deadline for orders: February 11 Citrus Delivery Day: March 5 and 6 For more information, contact: Jennifer Gellman ([email protected] or 201-493-0474) or Carol Gyzander ([email protected] or 201- 447-2442).
>Rasmussen : 68% Prefer A Government With Fewer Services, Lower Taxes
House Republicans are proposing to follow their repeal of the national health care bill with billions in spending cuts, and most voters continue to favor a government that offers fewer services and lower taxes.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely Voters prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes rather than a more active one with more services and higher taxes. This is virtually identical to last month and consistent with findings since September
This week I voted to repeal the so-called “Affordable Care Act.” The repeal easily passed the House of Representatives, but it faces opposition in the Senate and veto threat from the White House. Nevertheless, our action this week was an important first step in fulfilling a top Republican priority for the 112th Congress.
Public outcry against this law has been rampant, and I remain convinced it is fundamentally flawed legislation that will stifle economic growth and job creation and weaken the health care for Americans. Additionally, the legislation’s individual mandate is unconstitutional and in direct violation of the vision the founding fathers had for our country.
JOBS
When this legislation was passed, then-Speaker Pelosi promised it would create four million jobs – 400,000 immediately. Obviously, it hasn’t. Instead of encouraging America’s leading job creators, the government takeover of health care hits small businesses with more mandates, new taxes, administrative burdens and higher health care costs.
Specifically, the law disincentivizes growth for companies by creating costly penalties for failing to meet regulations. Employers will be forced to decide between hiring more employees and facing strict mandates or cutting hours and salaries of current employees to make up the costs.
Businesses are the engine of our economy, and they need room to grow and create jobs. They don’t need the roadblock this legislation represents.
COST
During last year’s health care debate, I asked numerous health care professionals in New Jersey what issue they most wanted addressed in health care reform. Medical liability was consistently at or near the top of every list. Yet, the current law does nothing to address this problem. While patients should be compensated for gross negligence by physicians, little doubt exists that our current tort system is broken.
Indeed, rising costs are a primary obstacle preventing many Americans from accessing health insurance. Yet, the Affordable Care Act does nothing to reduce costs; if anything, it drives costs even higher. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that this law will continue to increase health insurance premiums in the individual market by 10-13%. This is unacceptable.
Government regulations and intervention are not the solution. History has shown that efficiency is hardly a hallmark of government operations. The best that government can – and should – do is safeguard an environment of freedom in which businesses and individuals can work, grow, and maximize their opportunity for success.
CONSTITUTIONALITY
Much has been said about the individual mandate in the health care law, and with good reason. Never before has the government forced people to purchase a product as a condition of citizenship. Such an act moves far beyond regulating economic activity to regulating inactivity. If we allow Congress to get away with this, then there is virtually no limit to the control Washington can exert over our lives.
On the opening day of the 112th Congress, I introduced H.R. 21, the Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act, which would repeal the individual mandate in the health care law. This mandate is far removed from what our nation’s founders envisioned when they wrote the Constitution, and it’s far beyond the authority Congress rightfully has.
While I support a full “repeal and replace” of the health care law, should that effort fail, repealing the individual mandate is critical to undoing the damage caused by the Affordable Care Act.
LOOKING FORWARD
Beyond repealing the Democrats’ job-destroying health care bill, we need to replace it with real reforms that do not stifle job creation and economic prosperity.
The House has passed a resolution instructing four major committees each to develop legislation proposing replacements to the Affordable Care Act. The legislation must be designed to use market-driven solutions to decrease the number of uninsured Americans. Primarily, the proposals must:
• foster economic growth and private-sector job creation, • lower health care premiums through increased competition, and • provide individuals with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health coverage while preserving the doctor-patient relationship.
Health care affects every American, but the current law is not the solution. Absent a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspective from experts, this job-destroying monstrosity was rammed through Congress and thrust upon the public. It is our duty in this new Congress to repeal this law and replace it with a practical solution that will promote job growth and make health care more affordable for all Americans. Sincerely,
>Owner of Charlie Brown’s steakhouses to sell Office Beer Bar & Grill chain for $4.7 million Published: Friday, January 21, 2011, 8:04 PM Leslie Kwoh/The Star-Ledger
MOUNTAINSIDE: The company that owns Charlie Brown’s steakhouse chain said today it is selling its seven Office Beer Bar & Grill restaurants for $4.7 million.
CB Holding said it received approval from the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware to sell all seven of its Office eateries to Villa Enterprises, the highest bidder in an auction earlier this month for the casual dining chain.
The locations are in Bridgewater, Cranford, Morristown, Montclair, Ridgewood, Summit and Westfield.
The sale comes after the Mountainside-based company abruptly shuttered nearly half of its Charlie Brown’s restaurants in November and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The next step is to unload the company’s remaining 32 Charlie Brown’s and Bugaboo Creek locations along the East Coast, said Michael Freitag, a spokesman for CB Holding.
>Ridgewood library to charge fees for conducting business in public areas Friday, January 21, 2011 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2011, 7:22 PM BY EVONNE COUTROS THE RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood Public Library is among the first in North Jersey to start imposing fees on tutors, agencies or other organizations that conduct business in the public areas of the library.
Fees range from $40 for the first two hours to more than $200 depending on the size of the space needed and the type of business using the space. For instance, a Ridgewood-based non-profit would pay $50 for a conference room for the first two hours, but an out-of-town non-profit would pay $75.
Fees for private tutors have not yet been set. However, the library has started asking tutors to register with the reference desk. The move is intended to provide more space for other library patrons and simultaneously help make up for cuts in municipal funding.
>Home sales hit 13-year low; slow recovery ahead By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of people who bought previously owned homes last year fell to the lowest level in 13 years, and economists say it will be years before the housing market fully recovers.
High unemployment and a record number of foreclosures are deterring potential buyers who fear home prices haven’t reached the bottom. Job growth is expected to pick up this year, but not enough to raise home sales to healthier levels.
“We built too many houses during the boom, and now after the crash, it will take us a long time to get back to normal,” said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor’s in New York. The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that sales dropped 4.8 percent to 4.91 million units in 2010. That was slightly fewer than in 2008, which had been the weakest year since 1997
>Steep cuts in state aid may force townships to start collecting local tax
Many municipal governments will struggle with their budgets this year, but only a few will have the unfortunate historic distinction of introducing their first local tax in decades. (Procida, Press of Atlantic City)
>N.J. Assembly panel approves stricter rules on steroid use
An Assembly committee unanimously advanced legislation yesterday calling for tighter monitoring of human growth hormone amid growing evidence the drug is widely abused, particularly in the ranks of law enforcement. (Brittain, The Star-Ledger)
>Nanny State: Assembly panel OKs ski helmet use bill
Anyone under the age of 18 would be required to wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding under a proposal that won Assembly committee approval Thursday. (New Jersey Press Media)
>Judge: Pension changes for new workers will remain
A Superior Court judge has rejected an attempt by the public employee unions to overturn pension changes for new government employees enacted early last year. (Method, Asbury Park Press)
>*Every* NJ teacher that I know (in Ridgewood & elsewhere) feels the way 12:31 feels. When Gov Christie talks about public education, he often belittles teachers as professionals.
You say that “*Every* NJ teacher that I know (in Ridgewood & elsewhere) feels a war on them personally”
I say that you need to broaden your social circle.
Many NJ teachers that I know (in Ridgewood & elsewhere) do not feel personally attacked by Governor Christie. They agree with what he is trying to do. They do not like that their union dues are used to support candidates and causes that they do not personally support. They do not like that unqualified teachers are allowed to continue teaching. They do not like that some teachers are allowed to push their political or cause driven agendas upon young children. They also really like their benefit package and realize that it is extraordinarily good and do not want to lose it. They also realize that it is well above the normal benefit package that their spouses and friends get (even those who work for companies that have very good benefits packages) They also believe that in a competitive environment, they would be able to work for a school system that has an attractive benefits package (good, but not as good as what they now have). They all like having the security of tenure and do not want to lose it, but all are confident that in a performance based teacher environment, they would do very well.They are all very qualified academically focused professionals.
I also know other teachers (in Ridgewood & elsewhere) who feel as you do. Some of these teachers are very qualified academically focused professionals; some are qualified but are agenda driven professionals, some are qualified but not driven to do more than the minimum required of them and some are just plain unqualified.
I have direct experience with many teachers and this is my observation. FWIW, almost all of the teachers I speak of are grammar school (K-8) teachers with varying backgrounds and years of experience. A very few are HS teachers.
I do not find it surprising that the unqualified, lazy or agenda driven teachers see this as a personal war. I expect them to be selfish, defensive and have a feeling of entitlement. I do find it disappointing that some of the very qualified academically focused professionals prefer group-think entitlements rather than competing on their own merits – where they would probably do as well if not better than they are currently doing and not be treated the same as an unqualified peer.
Whenever defending the teachers union, ALWAYS throw in with the Firefighters and Police.
*REMEMBER*
It is important to link up with these brave, fine individuals WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY TIME THEY GO TO WORK (unlike us teachers).
It is important to portray a false sense of shared experience with these brave, fine individuals EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGES THAT WE TEACHERS HAVE.
** AND NEVER… **
mention teachers union, NJEA, NEA or your local “EA”. Do remember to mention how much the mean people HATE TEACHERS (‘cuz they’re stupid and mean) and DO NOT REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE TEACHERS UNIONS ARE BLEEDING THE TAXPAYERS DRY.
