>Sabatino Sirica, Renowned Neapolitan Pastry Master,to Share Baking Techniques at A Mano
For the First Time in the US, the Pastry Chef will Display his Expert Skills at Demonstrations and Baking Classes January 13-15th
Ridgewood New Jersey’s authentic Neapolitan trattoria A Mano, will host celebrated Italian pastry master Sabatino Sirica, for an intimate viewing of the art of pastry. The esteemed maestro will teach the fundamentals of traditional Italian pastry, at demonstrations and baking classes on January 13-15, 2011 by reservation only.With more than a half century of experience with the craftsmanship of pastry, Mr. Sirica will exhibit his expert techniques and share baking secrets at the limited engagements. At the baking classes, participants will enjoy a rare opportunity to work hands-on with the artisan, while guests at the demonstrations will take an up-close look at perfecting pastry.
During his appearances at A Mano, the celebrated baker will showcase signature Neapolitan desserts such as sfogliatelle – a classic Italian ricotta filled pastry, rum baba – a delicious cake flavored with rum, pasteria – a traditional Neapolitan specialty for the Easter season, and more.
Born in 1941 in Sarno, Italy, founder and owner of the renowned pastry shop, Pasticciera Sirica in Naples, Italy, Mr. Sirica has been a member of the Association of Neapolitan bakers for 15 years,holding titles as Secretary and Treasurer. He has graced the major Italian television network, RAI TV, with many appearances, and is well known for his prestigious clients and collaborations, as well as his generous philanthropy.
Telephone: 201.493.2000
Website: www.amanopizza.com
Reservations Required: Limited engagement. Please call the manager for reservations
Sabatino Sirica, renowned Neapolitan pastry master,an intimate, informative baking classes ($20 per person) and complimentary demonstrations led by celebrated Neapolitan pastry chef and Italian TV star, Sabatino Sirica, hosted at A Mano, 24 Franklin Ave., Ridgewood, NJ
Baking Classes Thursday, January 13th & Friday, January 14th 10:00–11:30 AM
Pastry Demonstrations Thursday, January 13th 6:00–7:00 PM Saturday, January 15th 4:00–5:00 PM
As the economy revs back to life, with signs of hiring on the horizon, the housing market is being left behind like Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone.”
In the past few years, we’ve all been careful to choose our words carefully, not calling it a recession until it fit the technical definition and avoiding any inappropriate use of the “D” word — Depression.
Things were bad but the broader economy never reached Depression territory. The housing market, on the other hand, just crossed that threshold.
Home values have fallen 26 percent since their peak in June 2006, worse than the 25.9-percent decline seen during the Depression years between 1928 and 1933, Zillow reported.
November marked the 53rd consecutive month (4 ½ years) that home values have fallen.
>Arizona shooting: Pima County Sheriff’s Department, college won’t release data on suspect
Sheriff’s Department and community-college officials in Pima County are refusing to release a wide range of public documents about the man charged in Saturday’s shooting rampage that left six dead and more than a dozen wounded.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Pima Community College have declined to release documents that could shed light on run-ins they had with 22-year-old Jared Loughner in the months prior to the shooting.
The Arizona Public Records Law requires that records be “open to inspection by any person at all times” unless officials can prove releasing the information would violate rights of privacy or confidentiality or otherwise harm the best interests of the state.
The Arizona Republic requested that records, including incident reports on campus and calls for dispatch of deputies to Loughner’s home, be released under the law. Such reports are often released as a matter of course in criminal cases.
College officials have not indicated when or if they will release the information, saying they want prior approval from the FBI and are concerned about violating federal laws protecting the privacy of student information. The Republic did not request student academic records.
Pima Community College officials confirmed Saturday that they suspended Loughner after a series of outbursts in classrooms and the library, five of which involved campus police
>Officers stopped suspect Jared Lougher on day of Ariz. shooting
Officers stopped suspect on day of Ariz. shooting
TUCSON, Ariz. – A wildlife officer pulled over the suspect in the assassination attempt against an Arizona congresswoman less than three hours before the deadly attack, authorities said Wednesday as they pieced together more details of a frenzied morning.
Jared Lougher ran a red light but was let off with a warning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said. The officer took Loughner’s driver’s license and vehicle registration information but found no outstanding warrants on Loughner or his vehicle.
Wildlife officers don’t usually make traffic stops unless public safety is at risk, such as running a red light, the department said in a news release, which didn’t say where the stop took place.
It’s the latest evidence of Loughner’s busy morning before police say he shot and killed six and wounded more than a dozen at a Tucson grocery store.
>NJ TRANSIT is operating a regular weekday schedule on all rail lines
Winter Storm Travel Advisory for January 12, 2011 Updated 6:00 a.m. January 12, 2011
All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.
Rail: NJ TRANSIT is operating a regular weekday schedule on all rail lines.
Due to weather conditions, trains may be subject to slower boarding and slightly longer dwell times at stations that could result in scattered minor delays (10-15 minutes) across the system. Please allow additional travel time as a result.
Individual train delays and cancelations are possible due to weather. Any train delayed or cancelled will be posted on the Travel Alerts page and an alert will be sent to customers via My Transit. On Wednesday, the center doors on single-level rail cars will not be used, as part of an effort to improve reliability. Customers should use the doors located at the ends of each rail car to board the train. Because center doors are particularly susceptible to snow and ice issues, locking out the center doors improves reliability.
Bus: Regular weekday schedule in effect. Bus customers may experience delays or minor detours on certain routes due to local road conditions. Click here to view bus delays and service changes for your route.
>New Jersey Pension Reform: Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Chris Christie in his State of the State speech Tuesday called the public employee pension system “antiquated and unsustainable,” but Democratic lawmakers said an overhaul won’t do any good unless the Republican governor restarts funding to the program. (Jordan, Daily Record)
>Education Reform: Christie seeks end of teacher tenure
Christie seeks end of teacher tenure
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called for an end to teacher tenure in his first State of the State Tuesday, a move that would require cooperation from the Democrats in the state legislature. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
>Former Mayor David T. Pfund – “There will be no tangible loss of service . . . ” as a direct result of municipal worker layoffs
For those of you who remember the former Mayor saying this, but can’t remember exactly when he said it, it was on May 12, 2010 during a Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Village Council.
Here’s the dialog:
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked when the vote on the 2010 budget will take place and if there will be any additional opportunity for public comments prior to the vote. Mayor Pfund said that any public comments concerning the budget would need to be made this evening and that the vote will take place on June 9, 2010. Any general comments could be made prior to the vote on June 9, 2010 during the public comments portion of that evening’s meeting.
Mr. Loving said that the Village of Ridgewood Reports (Spring 2010) states in part: “The 2010 Introduced Budget is accomplished with the unprecedented support of numerous full-time employee retirements, adjustments to existing collective bargaining agreements and numerous full and part time staff layoffs.” Mr. Loving said that with regard to the “numerous full and part time staff layoffs,” the public has not yet been informed what services the Village is considering cutting. Therefore, he said it was difficult for anyone to comment on the budget. He asked if anyone could indicate at this time what services may be reduced or eliminated so that the public would have a better idea of what is going to happen.
Dr. Gabbert replied that the Village has submitted a layoff plan to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and it is up to Civil Service to determine the bumping rights of individuals. Where there are vacancies due to either retirement or elimination of positions, the Village plans to have coverage for those responsibilities/positions. Therefore, Dr. Gabbert did not anticipate any elimination of services. He said that there may be different individuals covering services or acting as supervisors in certain areas, but the services provided by the Village should remain essentially the same.
When again questioned by Mr. Loving, Dr. Gabbert replied that since the 2010 budget has been reduced by 2% from the 2009 budget, health insurance premiums have increased by 18%; contractual salaries have increased by 4.3%; and State aid has been reduced, there will obviously be changes within each department since each departmental budget has been pared down. However, he said that the Village still aims to accomplish its “mission” and if there is a shortfall somewhere, then they will rapidly take care of it.
Mayor Pfund added that this is a very difficult year and there will be changes. He said that there will be no “tangible” loss of service such as the elimination of garbage pickup, recycling services, or street cleaning/plowing. However, with the loss of some jobs, other Village personnel will have to “pick up the slack” in their department to maintain adequate levels of service. Mayor Pfund said that most employees are already working at maximum capacity and, therefore, he said that there is a definite possibility that there will be longer wait times in certain departments as a result. Mayor Pfund said that the Village Council will have to see how this progresses in the future and address any problems which occur. He said that an 8.86% tax increase was unacceptable to him and not fair to the taxpayers. He added that he did not even like a 5.16% increase and stated that the Village Council was going to do whatever it can to reduce this tax rate.
Mr. Loving concurred that an 8.86% tax increase would be unfair. He was concerned about the lack of communication to the taxpayers about what they might expect. He said that a number of people had spoken at the April 14, 2010 meeting regarding reductions in the programming for senior citizens and the Community Center. Mayor Pfund said that more will be known after the determination is made by Civil Service regarding bumping rights. Mr. Loving said that although he had not attended the Board of Education meeting on May 10, 2010, he had heard that Councilman Aronsohn had suggested even deeper cuts in the municipal budget in order to preserve the school budget. He asked if this had been considered by the Village Council and if further reductions would impact services. Mayor Pfund said that, in his opinion, the Village Council will be cutting as much as possible, regardless of the school budget, for the sake of the taxpayers and the Village. He said that there have not been any further discussions in this regard.
Mr. Loving said that a lot of people have mentioned that they moved to Ridgewood for the educational system. He said that in the 1970s, he and his family moved to Ridgewood for the same reason but decided to remain in Ridgewood after their children graduated from high school because of the great municipal services which Ridgewood provides. He cautioned the Village Council to be very careful about which reductions are made because if municipal services are reduced, he predicted that many people whose children are no longer in school will leave Ridgewood. Echoing Mr. Cirillo’s comments, Mr. Loving concluded by saying that it is not “all about” the schools and that there are other considerations as well. He thanked the Village Council for their time. Mayor Pfund thanked Mr. Loving for his comments.
Councilman Killion commented that the Village Council has a choice between raising taxes and making cuts. He said that there was no easy answer and this year will be difficult. He said that it will be even more difficult in 2011 if the proposed 2.5% tax levy cap is passed. Councilman Killion remarked that there is no way that the Village can possibly provide the level of service it does now if that tax levy cap is passed. Mr. Loving said that he understood that cuts need to be made but stated that he was more concerned about the lack of communication to the taxpayers. He said that the Board of Education did a very good job in terms of explaining exactly what their cuts would be. He said that right now, no one knows anything as far as the municipal budget is concerned.
>Light Gate : Ridgewood BOE declines new meeting over field lights
Ridgewood BOE declines new meeting over field lights Tuesday, January 11, 2011 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY JANUARY 11, 2011, 5:58 PM BY KELLY EBBELS THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS Staff Writer
Ridgewood’s Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously Monday night to “courteously decline” an invitation from the village Planning Board to host a new meeting with neighbors of Ridgewood High School (RHS) regarding the installation of stadium-style field lights at the school’s two athletic fields.
BOE members said they have provided enough opportunities for full dialogue with the neighbors – including resolving issues surrounding the fields’ increased usage – in their own forums and meetings.
“I think we need to keep moving forward at all times,” said BOE member Laurie Goodman, a member of the communications committee and the BOE’s representative to the joint Village-District Fields Committee. “I don’t see why we need the planning board to have a dialogue … we have plenty of space here for meetings.”
Neighbors of RHS stepped forward in recent months following the installation of 11 light poles between 70 and 80 feet tall at Stadium and Stevens fields, alleging that the BOE did not provide adequate consultation or properly inform residents of the development. They have raised concerns about how the field lights reflect a new field usage policy, as well as criticized the quality of information presented at the first courtesy review at the planning board on Oct. 5.
The planning board voted in December to extend an invitation for a new meeting
>“Sorry Peter, mail trucks have the right to collide with pedestrians, and so do angry New York drivers, according to the legal experts at the Ridgewood Blog whose word must be accepted as gospel. It’s your own fault for arrogantly slapping your messenger bag against a speeding mail truck, whose government-employed driver had no social responsibility to pay attention while he was driving.
Ditto for the New York driver, a state known for its calm and level-headed residents, who nearly had to deal with the inconvenience of your blood staining his Certified Pre-Owned BMW.
Please improve your walking skills so that property taxes won’t go up in an attempt to save the lives of our children.” PEDESTRIAN SAFETY LAWS CHANGED – APRIL 1, 2010
Revisions to law concerning pedestrian safety and traffic control went into effect on April 1, 2010. Among other revisions, such as an increase to the portion of fines to be deposited into the “Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund”, the new law requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions. https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/SoNJ1329PED.pdf
>Energy Tax: Controversial ratepayer-subsidy bill passes both houses
Controversial ratepayer-subsidy bill passes both houses
The legislature gave final approval yesterday to a controversial bill meant to lower the cost of electricity in New Jersey by having ratepayers subsidize the construction of new power plants — but it took new amendments and some behind-the-scenes lobbying to get the measure passed. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>Doc Gate :Donovan asking Molinelli to probe missing documents
A large quantity of documents is missing from Bergen County government offices, a key aide to County Executive Kathleen Donovan said Monday. (Gartland, The Record)
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s anxious to do away with caps on tuition increases at four-year state colleges, adding that college presidents should be free to seek “market prices” and be given broader autonomy for nearly all management matters. (Jordan, New Jersey Press Media)
