>Proposed parent-trigger bill adds school vouchers to available options
A Republican-backed bill that would give parents unprecedented rights to remake low-performing schools would offer them three options: replace the school’s staff, convert the school to a charter, or request vouchers to attend other public or private schools. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1212/2134/
>Worse is yet to come for local budgets
Drastic cuts in state aid to towns and school districts have led to large-scale layoffs and service cuts throughout the state this year. Class sizes have risen, fewer officers are on patrol, municipal office hours have been limited. (Mikle and Koloff, Daily Record)
https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101211/COMMUNITIES/101210083/1005/NEWS01/Worse-is-yet-to-come-for-local-budgets
>Study: Police consolidation could save $17M
Combining police departments in one New Jersey county could save $17 million in overall personnel costs. (The Associated Press)
https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101210/UPDATES01/101210001/Study–Police-consolidation-could-save–17M
>Officials: NJ Budget accord not enough
Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic lawmakers may have reached an accord last week on capping arbitration awards for police and firefighters, but some local officials believe that measure and the other so-called “tool kit” reforms won’t be a cure-all during what is expected to be another difficult budget year. (Levinsky, PhillyBurbs)
https://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/26/2010/december/12/officials-budget-accord-not-enough.html
>New Jersey Fiscal Crisis: There are multiple problems with the current system:
1. We have to pay for our own schools plus subsidize the massive state payments to the Abbott disctricts. I’d love to see an estimate of how much of Ridgewood’s tax money get sent each year to the Abbott districts.
2. Our teachers do not pay for enough of their healthcare costs and retirement costs. Public sector retirement plans should be transitioned to 401Ks.
3. The retirement age is too low. It should be at least 60. We are funding 25+ years of reitrement for someone who only worked for 30 years. The math doesn’t work.
4. We have too many non-teachers (administrators, vice principals, secretaries).
5. Special Ed spending is out of control and needs to be reformed at the state level. My understanding is that we spend over 20% of our BOE budget on special ed in one way or another.
6. Class sizes should be increased modestly, from the current 20 to 25. We had 25-30 per class when I was a child and did just fine.
7. We should have differential wages for teachers according to subject matter taught. It is stupid that we pay gym teachers as much as math and science teachers.
8. We should give senior citizens a break on property taxes. Every time a senior who sells a house to a family with kids, it drives our school costs up even more.
9. We should use redistricting more actively to rebalance the school enrollments. We are paying millions of dollars to expand Willard and Ridge, when we could have just shifted the boundary lines a few blocks and put more kids into Orchard.
10. The BOE needs to get serious with the upcoming teachers contract. A wage freeze with benefit givebacks would be a good place to start. Encourage teachers to use their spouses’ healthcare benefits by making ours less attractive. Or, give cash payment in exchange for a teacher using their spous’s benefits.
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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Holiday Pet Photo Contest!
Enter a photo on our Facebook page, and you are eligible to win gift certificates redeemable for services at the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital or the Whole Dog Grooming Salon. Winners are based on the number of “likes” received by viewers on Facebook. The contest ends on January 15, 2011, and winners will be notified by January 30, 2011.
Enter your pet’s photo on facebook at:
www.facebook.com/ridgewoodvet
For details regarding rules and prizes visit:
www.ridgewoodvet.com/pages/events-and-news
To learn more about our hospital as well as current and future events, visit our website at:
www.ridgewoodvet.com
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
320 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Telephone: 201-447-6000
Website: www.ridgewoodvet.com
E-mail: [email protected]
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Lightgate: Dr. Fishbein is proposing that this time limit be extended until 10:30PM
Remember folks, the current Field Use Policy (available for downloading here: https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/recreation/2009SeptFieldPolicy.pdf) prohibits the use of lights at BOE owned facilites past 9PM (see paragraph F on page 14).
Dr. Fishbein is proposing that this time limit be extended until 10:30PM. However, in order for this to happen, the BOE AND the Village Council must agree and approve changes to the policy.
Obviously, you can forget about the BOE acting with taxpayers’ interest in mind, but there may be hope to have the Village Council say “no way.”
Write Village Council members now and express your desires to retain a “lights out” time of 9PM or earlier at all BOE owned facilities.
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3 Days Drunk : Local Indy musician gives back.
The singer\bassist for the group 3 Days Drunk is donating a portion of his profits from any 3 Days Drunk song sold between Dec 8 and Christmas from iTunes to Toys for Tots.
We have been in a recession for a couple of years now and folks are struggling to make ends meet. I have seen how tough some folks have it and I just thought what could I do to give a little back. I feel lucky that I still have a job which allows me the ability to pursue my music so I figured that I could give a little back through my music. Music sales are in the decline and the whole industry has been changing over the past few years. However, these changes have allowed independent artists, like myself, to be able to record and put out their music for a low cost. It really doesn’t cost me anything to record an original song since I have my own studio. Recording and releasing a cover song costs me a little more due to licensing. I also have teamed up with a group that gets an artist’s songs up on iTunes and pays a high return to the artist. This allows me to collect a higher payout per song as an independent than most major artists.
Its due to this higher payout that I came up with the idea that I could give something back to charity this year. I chose Toys For Tots because of the work they do and, being a veteran, I have a lot of respect for these guys. Every child deserves to get a present on Christmas and these great folks try every year to make that happen. Being a small independent artist if feel that I am lucky in the fact that I can afford to do what I do. So this is my little way to give back. It would be great to have everyone buy one of our songs as the more that is sold the bigger the donation I will make.
Greg is the singer\bassist for the group 3 Days Drunk. He is also an independent recording engineer\remixer who has done work for major label and independent artists.
3 Days Drunk is a collaboration between 2 friends who use to play together while living in Japan during the 1990’s. As life got in the way and connections were lost, the creative juices would be renewed when Greg asked Bow to help collaborate on a remix, which turned into a cover tune and the first release from 3 Days Drunk. The creative spark has been re-lit and with the use of today’s technology they have started working on new songs together with plans to release each new single as they are recorded independently.
3 Days Drunk can be found online at https://reverbnation.com/3daysdrunk https://myspace.com/3daysdrunk https://youtube.com/3daysdrunk and can be downloaded from iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/3-days-drunk/id380466389
>SEEKING RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON VARIOUS BOARDS/COMMITTEES
The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve on the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board; the Open Space Committee; Project Pride; and the Community Relations Advisory Board.
A brief summary of the duties of these boards/committees is as follows:
The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board recommends and reviews new recreation programs; recommends user fee structures for facilities; and recommends rules for use of recreation facilities, among other duties.
The Open Space Committee reviews and recommends properties in the Village to be preserved as open space.
The Project Pride Committee plants and maintains the flowers and plants in the Central Business District, for the enjoyment of all.
The Community Relations Advisory Board deals with issues of improving relations between and making residents aware of the diversity of the various social, religious, cultural, racial, and ethnic groups which make up the residents of the Village of Ridgewood and Glen Rock. This is a joint board with the Borough of Glen Rock.
All interested residents should fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website, www.ridgewoodnj.net, under “Forms”), indicating on which board/committee they wish to serve, and send it along with a cover letter, and a biography or resume to:
Heather Mailander
Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Deadline for submission is December 20, 2010.
>Sabatino Sirica, Renowned Neapolitan Pastry Master,
to Share Baking Techniques at A Mano in Ridgewood, NJ
For the First Time in the US, the Pastry Chef will Display his Expert Skills at Demonstrations and Baking Classes January 12-15th
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 12-15, 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.
Who: Sabatino Sirica, renowned Neapolitan pastry master, with more than 50 years
experience
What: 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 Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ
When: Baking Classes
Wednesday, January 12th & 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
Where: A Mano
24 Franklin Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Telephone: 201.493.2000
Website: www.amanopizza.com
Reservations Required: Limited engagement. Please call the manager for reservations
>Assembly panel approves residency bill
Legislation that would require future public workers to live in New Jersey was approved by an Assembly panel today. (Staff, Courier-Post)
https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20101210/NEWS01/12100341/Assembly-panel-approves-residency-bill
>Tenure testimony reveals a troubled—and troubling—system
The tiny number of tenure cases filed in New Jersey is no secret: only 33 cases against schoolteachers last year, 42 the year before, 35 the year before that. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/10/1209/2230/
>New Jersey Fiscal problems unlikely to ease soon
Government budget cuts this year have turned into tax hikes for most homeowners. And residents will see fewer services for their tax dollars. (Mikle, Gannett)
https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20101210/NEWS01/12100344/Fiscal-problems-unlikely-to-ease-soon
>New Jersey debt tops $32 billion
New Jersey, one of the most indebted states in the country, saw its debt grow by $1.3 billion last year to $32.8 billion — not including billions more owed for unemployment benefits, public-worker pensions and health care. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/12/09/new-jerseys-debt-tops-32-billion/
>Gov. Chris Christie details arbitration agreement
Gov. Chris Christie stood with the legislative leadership today and an announced a deal on arbitration reform. (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/43390/gov-details-arbitration-agreement
