Tag: Ridgewood Schools

>Labor angry over Obama-backed insurance tax

Jan 12, 6:54 AM (ET)

By ERICA WERNER

https://apnews.myway.com/article/20100112/D9D6661G1.html

WASHINGTON (AP) – Labor leaders are pushing hard on President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to drop a proposed new tax on high-value health insurance plans, warning of political consequences.

The White House has indicated the tax may change so it hits fewer workers – but it’s not going away.

A Monday evening meeting at the White House between Obama and about a dozen heads of the country’s biggest labor unions capped a day when two union leaders fired broadsides at Obama and Senate Democrats over their plans to pay for overhauling the nation’s health care system with a tax union leaders fear could hurt their workers.

The 40 percent tax would fall on employer health plans worth more than $8,500 for an individual or $23,000 for a family. Although Obama terms them “Cadillac” plans, union leaders say numerous working-class Americans who’ve negotiated good benefits in exchange for lesser pay would be hurt.

The president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, warned that Democrats risk catastrophic election defeats similar to 1994 if they fail to come up with a health bill labor likes.

“A bad bill could have that kind of effect – a place where people sit at home” – as happened in 1994, when Democrats lost 54 House seats and eight in the Senate, costing them control of Congress, Trumka told reporters.

The head of the International Association of Firefighters, Harold A. Schaitberger, made similarly threatening remarks in a statement Monday. “The president’s support for the excise tax is a huge disappointment and cannot be ignored. If President Obama continues to support it and signs a bill that includes the excise tax on workers, we will hold him accountable,” said Schaitberger, who was not among the attendees at the White House meeting.

https://apnews.myway.com/article/20100112/D9D6661G1.html

>Craig Hueneke said…
8:13 – How can you say that? Have you read the countless reports published by some of the WORLD’S LEADING & MOST RESPECTED doctors and medical organizations showing the findings of use of marijuana for medical use?

In a 1977 publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it states that marijuana is less addictive than everyday and readily available items such as cigarettes (by 90% – yes ninety!), followed by alcohol, prescription drugs, household medications like cough medicine and even caffeine.

Also history CLEARLY show us that the only reason marijuana was made illegal was the fact that in the late 1930’s William Randolph Hearst had spent MILLIONS of dollars on a smear campaign against marijuana because hemp, which is the fibers within the cannabis (marijuana)plant, was and still is the fastest growing biomasses known and was found to be a more sustainable and easier way to make paper. This greatly concerned Hearst because he was the largest newspaper publisher in the country and all that newspaper was printed on paper he milled himself from trees. In fear of losing millions in investments in the timber industry, he declared a personal war of which he funded and even paid a few cronies like Harry Anslinger to help destroy the hemp industry by demonizing marijuana as a very dangerous drug.

The funny thing about Anslinger is at the time was the Assistant Prohibition Commissioner and he feared that he would be out of a job in tough times if prohibition ended, so he saw marijuana as the next “booze”. And in fact he was right, because he was made the commissioner of the newly formed Fed. Bureau of Narcotics after prohibition ended.

Hearst’s money and Anslinger’s “unbiased & expert testimony” helped convince Washington D.C. (imagine that..money making a politician do something?!)to pass the Marijuana Stamp Act of 1937.The act demanded that the sale/and possession of marijuana required a tax stamp and for some strange reason no stamps were never produced. The funny thing is that the same thing happened to alcohol and tobacco but those stamps were and still are produced.

So please don’t look at marijuana as the drug your parents told you about, I’m not saying it should be sold to children and as long as it is illegal not used, but trust me when I tell you that there are much more benefits to our health, economy and environment from marijuana than probably 75% of the crap we put in our bodies EVERY DAY.

In one last note, the growing of hemp is still illegal in the U.S. and I bet you can’t guess which country is the largest IMPORTER of hemp?
You got that right… THE UNITED STATES.

So please stop drinking the cool-aide and think about it.

Craig

>Vote On N.J. Bill Allowing In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Called Off

The sponsor of a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to pay lower in-state tuition rates at New Jersey’s public colleges called off a vote on it Monday because he lacked the support needed to pass.

“We just don’t have enough votes,” explained Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, adding that it was about four votes short of the necessary 21 during the closing hours of the Legislature’s lame-duck session.

Read the story here:
https://www.northjersey.com/news/Vote_on_NJ_bill_allowing_in-state_tuition_for_illegal_immigrants_called_off.html

Thanks to everyone who called and voiced opposition to this Bill

>Christmas Tree Pick Up Process – Is There a Better Way?

The Spider has observed a Village owned and operated pick up truck with one man driving throughout her neighborhood, picking up Christmas trees one by one and throwing them into the pick up truck’s bed.

Certainly, there’s got to be a more efficient and cost effective process of collecting discarded Christmas trees than sending a lone employee out driving around in a truck big enough to carry no more than a dozen trees at a time.

What happened to the days when Christmas trees were all picked up and compacted into a large sanitation truck and then dumped at the leaf compost site for shredding? Or, the days when members of the Shade Tree Department would drive a truck with the chipper/shredder in tow, and chip/shred the trees right on the spot?

Is there a reason why we’ve taken a step back in time? Gold plated bathrooms, thousands on parking meter sleeves, and now, the most inefficient and costly process of removing items left at the curb? What next Dr. Gabbert?

>Village Council to Consider Permanent Closure of West Glen Avenue Firehouse

It is being rumored that Village Council members will soon debate permanent closure of the West Glen Avenue firehouse. The firehouse is currently staffed 24/7/365 by nine career firefighters (three per shift/tour of duty), who respond to fire and medical emergencies throughout the Village.

As previously reported on The Ridgewood Blog, Village Council members are scheduled to vote this Wednesday, January 13th, on an ordinance that would permit Village Manager Dr. Kenneth A. Gabbert to reduce the career firefighting force by up to nine career firefighters.

Several former and current members of the Village Council view continued operation of a full time career firefighting organization as a luxury Ridgewoodites can no longer afford. The most frequently asked question at Village Hall nowadays seems to be: “If the Borough of Paramus can survive with a completely volunteer fire department, why can’t Ridgewood?”

Tough economic times and the projected loss of significant economic aid from the State of NJ may force Council members to close up the West Glen Avenue fire station prior to this year’s municipal election (scheduled to take place in May).

>
Smoke Up, New Jersey: Assembly Approves Medical Marijuana
January 11, 2010

blog.savejersey.com/2010/01/11/smoke-up-new-jersey-assembly-approves-medical-marijuana.aspx

I’m high on life, Save Jerseyans. For those who aren’t, you now have a more… shall we say… “organic” method to rely on.

The New York Times reports:

“The New Jersey General Assembly approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the first in the region and the 14th in the nation to legalize the use of marijuana for medical reasons.

The measure was to be voted on by the State Senate later in the afternoon, the final day of the legislative session. If passed, it would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana distributed through state-monitored dispensaries.”

blog.savejersey.com/2010/01/11/smoke-up-new-jersey-assembly-approves-medical-marijuana.aspx

>

Hello Everyone,

I hope you had a Happy New Year.

We have been so busy with the store, and getting ready for our Valentine Day Sale.

Our boutique is a “SoHo” style store that consists of Designer Jewelry made from
Silver, Gold, and Gemstones as well as Diamonds that are Uniquely Handmade,
One of a Kind Jewelry designed by independent artists from all over the
world….mainly from Europe. Our prices are quite fair for the township of
Ridgewood compared to the other higher end jewelers. Our pieces are never
mass produced, therefore anyone who buys anything is almost guaranteed to be
the only one with that one unique piece in town.

Feel free to stop by anytime and help us spread the word of our location.

Malaika Sajnani

President
Joaillier, llc
www.joaillierllc.com
(201) 857-3585

>If your looking to run ads or get in touch with the Ridgewood Blog please send all correspondence to [email protected]

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Speak Your Mind ……………………..

>

Ozzy Osbourne

Monday, January 25th – 7:00pm
Lead singer of Black Sabbath and Rock Legend, Ozzy Osbourne, will sign his book: I Am Ozzy!! What a way to kick off the New Year!

Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough

Thursday, January 28th – 7:00pm
Please welcome NBC and MSNBC Correspondent, Mika Brzezinski as she signs her new book: All Things At Once ALONG with Host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough as he signs his Book: The Last Best Hope…a great double header!

Bookends
232 E. Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-445-0726
[email protected]

>This morning, Chris DeBello, host of Issues & Ideas/NJ Newsmaker, will be aired an interview he conducted with RoseAnn Salanitri about the recall movement against Senator Menendez.

At that time you can look for the podcast on any of the following stations: WNNJ-FM, WSUS-FM, WHCY-FM, WTOC-AM.

Recall Database

We are beginning to collect names of people interested in helping to collect signatures once we are ready to move forward with the Recall. This will enable us to move quickly once we have approval from either the Secretary of State or from the Courts. If you are interested in helping, please give your name to Michele at this email address: [email protected]

>
New Jersey towns face crash diet of budget cuts
By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger
January 09, 2010, 10:00PM

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/post_127.html

The furloughs are business-as-usual in Maplewood, so much so that they wind up listed under “Events” on the suburb’s official website.

There will be 12 more of the monthly unpaid days off this year. There’ll be rolling summer library closings, too. Add those to the 22 staffers laid off — 10 percent of the municipal work force — and its pedestal on Money magazine’s list of “one of the best places to live in America” looks frayed.

The crash diet in this Essex County Township isn’t likely to end anytime soon after Gov.-elect Christopher Christie on Wednesday warned New Jersey’s already cash-strapped municipalities that state aid would be reduced in the coming fiscal year. The sobering reason: The state could run out of money as early as March.

The cuts — coupled with the fallout from as much as a 25 percent rollback in state spending — are likely to force towns to reconsider what services they can provide.

“We have been living far beyond our means — living a lifestyle of municipal and educational services beyond our economic capacity,” said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. “There is no painless silver bullet to get back on track. The question is not, ‘When will things get back to normal?’ but rather, ‘What will the new normal be?’

“There may have to be significant service downsizing in adjusting to this new normal,” Hughes said.

That is likely to translate into a debate about what a municipality considers a “core” service versus a “discretionary” one.

Traditionally, municipalities have provided everything from road repairs to snow cleanup, from libraries to community centers, tennis lessons to summer beach events. Kevin Sluka, the administrator in Somerville, said these usually aren’t luxuries, but some services towns typically provide are not mandated by law.

New Jersey towns might forgo recreation departments, for example, since they are not mandated, said Sluka. “Dog licenses are mandated. Cat licenses are not,” Sluka said. “Is there a benefit to knowing what your cat population is? Service is not the driving factor. Economics is.”

continued…

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/post_127.html

>
January 10, 2010
An Emphasis on A.P. Is Changing
By WINNIE HU

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/education/10bdualnj.html

New Jersey’s suburban high schools have traditionally emphasized AP courses, but that is changing as more schools add college-credit courses through partnerships with Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University and other colleges in the state.

Ridgewood High School has offered college classes in English and chemistry through Bergen Community, and art history through Fairleigh Dickinson, since 2007. Next year, it plans to expand its Bergen Community courses to include physics and environmental science. Debra Anderson, a district spokeswoman, said the college courses offered middle-level students another option to advanced placement and honors classes.

Fairleigh Dickinson, which has campuses in Bergen and Morris Counties, runs one of the oldest and best-known dual-enrollment programs in New Jersey. Called Middle College, it started in 1984 and has expanded to 83 high schools across the state, including 12 since 2007.

Today, there are 2,500 juniors and seniors taking more than 150 courses for college credit through the program. Students pay Fairleigh Dickinson a fee of $200 for a three-credit course and have access to its campus libraries, laboratories and computer centers. University professors also visit the high schools to offer support and professional development.

“We want to be a resource,” said Kenneth T. Vehrkens, a dean who oversees the program. “The name — Middle College — is the idea of being a bridge between high school and college.” WINNIE HU

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/education/10bdualnj.html

>
A-194, if passed by the legislature and signed by Corzine, will allow illegal immigrants in New Jersey to receive in-state tuition rates at state colleges. The key word here is “illegal.”

blog.savejersey.com/2010/01/09/48-hours-to-defeat-a194.aspx

These immigrants, either because they entered the United States illegally or stayed in the U.S. beyond the time or conditions permitted by their student visas/green cards, are now illegally residing in the state of New Jersey. They didn’t follow the rules to come here like your grandparents. They’re not paying their full-share of taxes. They’re not adequately supporting the state’s public resources and services for which they rely to subsist. They have not registered for service in the armed forces or taken the citizenship oath:

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce andabjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate,state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subjector citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws ofthe United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I willbear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; thatI will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the UnitedStates when required by the law; that I will perform work of nationalimportance under civilian direction when required by the law; and thatI take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purposeof evasion; so help me God.”

In-state tuition at New Jersey’s world-class institutions of higher-learning is a privilege reserved for state taxpayers. We support these schools with our hard-earned money and, in turn, can enroll ourselves or our children there at discounted rates.

For the legislature to consider extending this privilege of New Jersey citizenship to individuals of illegal status is an absolute outrage unequaled by any of the other screwy, anti-taxpayer legislation entertained during the ongoing lame duck session.

Click here to read more about the potential cost of A-194. Please — in the next 48 hours, find your state legislator’s contact information by clicking here: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.