Ridgewood NJ, A primary electric cable fell to the ground and ignited in front of 620 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 08/02. Ridgewood Police and Fire Department personnel stood by until a troubleshooter from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) arrived and made the area safe. The small ground fire was contained to a 2 foot by 2 foot strip of grass. No information was available from crews on the scene as to the extent of any related power outages in the immediate area. A portion of Linwood Avenue remained closed for an extended period while PSE&G crews worked.
Ridgewood NJ, Stop by for some special treats, events, giveaways and meet the KILWINS MOOSE..
bring the kids.
Kilwins Ridgewood in Ridgewood New Jersey is a specialty candy and ice cream store selling delicious treats such as hand-crafted chocolates, caramel apples, homemade ice cream, and more!
Since 1947 Kilwins has been a celebrated part of Americana having earned a reputation for providing high quality products and excellent service. Our heritage was built on the simple premise of creating our products from the finest ingredients and providing customers with great service. Today we continue the tradition by uniquely combining high quality products with a warm friendly customer experience that is supported through a successful community of caring owner operators. We continue to offer the finest quality, traditional down-home confections and ice cream that are kitchen made fresh from premium ingredients and original recipes.
Our values are simple; Treat others as you want to be treated, Do your best, and Have fun! These values translate directly to a culture of people who are driven to provide an exceptional confectionery experience. Coupled with our high quality products, in-store craftsmanship, and genuinely friendly staff we create an atmosphere that our customers want to visit again and again.
Come into Kilwins Ridgewood, “Sweet in every Sense since 1947.”
Kilwins-Ridgewood
121 E. Ridgewood Ave.
201-445-4837
In addition to what the other folks are saying about the Elk’s, street conditions, garage etc. don’t underestimate the wireless towers. Wireless towers while improving wireless phone service come with a lot of bad side effects. The radiation (especially for those living close to it) is very dangerous for young children. In addition after installing a tower chances are the providers will add more on top of just repeaters. They can add microwave equipment which is a killer. I know many people are complaining about their wireless coverage at home but the benefit is much less than the damage. Not to mention these towers are an eyesore and tend to affect real estate. When I was looking to buy in NJ one the good reasons to buy in Ridgewood was the lack of wireless towers and high voltage lines.
This VC is obviously blind to this becuase the residents have expressed a need for quality of service. Many don’t even think when they ask for something. Anyone knows where the tower/s will be installed?
Ridgewood NJ, Renting out your home or second home for short periods of time is becoming increasingly popular with the advent of online services that match property owners with prospective renters. The online sites providing these services include Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway.
There are special (and often complex) taxation rules associated with renting out your home or second home for short periods of time. In some cases, these rules allow the rental income you receive to be tax-free. In other situations, the rental income and expenses may have to be treated as business income and reported on a Schedule C, as opposed to a rental activity reported on Schedule E.
The following is a synopsis of the rules governing short-term rentals.
Rented for Fewer than 15 Days during the Year – When you rent out your home for fewer than 15 days total during the tax year, the rental income is not reportable, and the expenses associated with that rental are not deductible. However, interest and property taxes need not be prorated, and the full amounts of the qualified mortgage interest and property taxes you pay are reported as itemized deductions (as usual) on your Schedule A, if you itemize your deductions.
The 7-Day and 30-Day Rules – Rentals are generally passive activities, meaning that they are not treated as a trade or business and are not subject to self-employment taxes. However, an activity is not treated as a rental if either of these statements applies:
A. The average customer use of the property is for 7 days or fewer—or for 30 days or fewer if the owner (or someone on the owner’s behalf) provides significant personal services, or
B. The owner (or someone on the owner’s behalf) provides extraordinary personal services without regard to the property’s average period of customer use.
If the activity is not treated as a rental, then it will be treated as a trade or business, and the income and expenses, including prorated interest and taxes, will be reported on Schedule C. IRS Publication 527 states: “If you provide substantial services that are primarily for your tenant’s convenience, such as regular cleaning, changing linen, or maid service, you report your rental income and expenses on Schedule C.” Substantial services do not include the furnishing of heat and light, the cleaning of public areas, the collecting of trash, and such.
Exception to the 30-Day Rule – If the personal services provided are similar to those that are generally provided in connection with long-term rentals of high-grade commercial or residential real property (such as public area cleaning and trash collection), and if the rental also includes maid and linen services that cost less than 10% of the rental fee, then the personal services are neither significant nor extraordinary for the purposes of the 30-day rule.
Profits and Losses on Schedule C – Profit from a rental activity is not subject to self-employment tax, but a profitable rental activity that is reported as a business on Schedule C is subject to this tax. A loss from this type of activity is still treated as a passive-activity loss unless you meet the “material participation” test, generally by providing 500 or more hours of personal services during the year or qualifying as a real estate professional. Losses from passive activities are only deductible up to the income amount from other passive activities, but unused losses can be carried forward to future years. A special allowance for real-estate rental activities with active participation permits a loss against non-passive income of up to $25,000, which phases out when modified adjusted gross income is between $100K and $150K. However, this allowance does NOT apply when the activity is reported on Schedule C.
Ridgewood NJ, The NJ DOE released statewide PARCC results yesterday. In a press release the NJ DOE claimed, “New Jersey students continue to achieve substantial gains in the third administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments in math and English language arts (ELA).
From the first to the third year of PARCC testing, over 88,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in ELA, and nearly 70,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in math. Meeting or exceeding expectations on the assessments is one indication of whether or not a student is on pace to be college and career ready.
Since the first PARCC administration, thousands more New Jersey students at every grade level have now taken the assessments, providing more parents and schools the chance to gauge how children are progressing academically against New Jersey’s standards and compared to their peers.
While the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is publicly releasing the statewide results today, school districts received their initial data before the school year ended in June – the earliest release in New Jersey’s 40-year history of statewide assessments. This early look at test results allows school districts to use the information to support students and educators. For instance, the information can be used to identify students who are struggling in a particular subject, and help teachers to develop summer school and fall lessons based on areas of strengths and weakness that emerge from the data. Results at the individual district level and school level are expected to be publicly released in September, two months earlier than last year.”
“Our students, with the essential support of their educators and parents, continue to rise to the challenge of meeting New Jersey’s academic standards,” said Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington. “We remain committed to using a high-quality assessment, as required by federal and state laws, that quickly returns results to schools and provides an accurate picture of whether our students are developing the skills and knowledge they need to maximize their options beyond high school.”
The summary of New Jersey’s 2017 PARCC outcomes are available on the NJDOE website.
But a quick look at the results reveals just how awful they are:
1. 56% of students in grades 3 to 8 failed to reach proficiency on the Math test.
2. 47% of students in grades 3 to 11 failed to reach proficiency on the English test.
3. 54% of students who took the 10th grade English test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test determines if students can graduate.
4. Nearly 60% of students who took the Algebra 1 test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test also determines if students can graduate.
5. Fewer than 30% of students who took Geometry were rated “college and career ready.”
6. Fewer than 30% of students who took Algebra 2 were rated “college and career ready.”
With its credibility on PARCC in tatters, it’s not surprising the DOE tries to frame the latest PARCC results as a success. For starters, the PARCC test has changed in each of the 3 years it has been given, so it’s impossible to compare results from one year to another. Second, the number of students refusing the test is still significant, notwithstanding the DOEs intense pressure on districts to force students to take the test.
NJs students are not failing PARCC; PARCC is failing NJs students!
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — The family of Mallory Grossman, a 12-year-old who committed suicide in June, is suing the township’s public schools for failing to prevent the cyberbullying her parents are convinced led to her death, the family’s attorney said.
In a statement, the law firm Nagel Rice of Roseland said the district was guilty of “gross negligence” for doing nothing to halt the text messages and Snapchat posts from fellow students at Copeland Middle School despite repeated requests from her parents asking school officials to intervene.
“This tragedy could have been prevented and this lawsuit should be a wake-up call to every school in every hamlet in our great country that cyberbullying is going on every day and that the schools must immediately take steps to stop this and protect every student in the school,” said attorney Bruce Nagel, who is representing the Grossmans.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Running Company will be hosting a grand re-opening on Wednesday August 2nd and will be operating under a new name Jackrabbit .
The Grand Re-Opening will feature and Ice Cream Run. Wednesday’s Ice Cream Run!!! We will leave from the store at 7pm, run a 3.75 mi loop around scenic Ridgewood, then end at Ben & Jerry’s for Ice Cream
JackRabbit is located at 258 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Town Garage is like some intergalactic stepping off point for a Steven King adult Day Camp..since the issues are hard..don’t ask don’t tell..lets it go to seed to be the whipping post instead of and for the bitching about how the whole town and its roads are a complete mess..
And the VC Still thinks fish needs a parking garage structure for good old times sake.,,another novel approach by the town leaders,
Many NJ seniors won’t qualify for property-tax reimbursement because program was capped at $70K following Great Recession — and that’s where the cap remains
A recent poll of New Jersey voters indicated the top issue this gubernatorial election year is the state’s notoriously high property taxes. Ever-rising property tax bills are also a particularly troubling issue for the state’s senior citizens because many are living on fixed incomes.
Yet the most recent state budget signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie earlier this month included fine print written quietly into budget documents that will keep many seniors from being able to collect sizable reimbursement checks that are offered through one of the state’s most popular property-tax relief programs.
The budget language effectively overrides the state law that funds the “senior freeze” Property Tax Reimbursement Program by lowering the program’s annual income cap from near $90,000 to $70,000. The cost-cutting measure started as the state faced deep budget problems in the wake of the Great Recession, but it has been maintained ever since even as revenue collections have now rebounded.
In the past, Democratic lawmakers have tried to block the income-cap change, but Christie, a second-term Republican, has used the line-item veto pen to override their wishes. But this year, Democrats prioritized increased funding for local school districts and several other programs in a budget showdown with Christie, leaving the frozen senior-freeze income cap in place for another year. That means it will likely be up to the state’s next governor to determine whether New Jersey seniors will eventually be made whole.
Ridgewood NJ, Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) introduced a bill in June 2016 that would allow New Jersey Police officers to survey drivers’ cell phones using an “electronic scanning device.” The device is called the ‘Textalyzer’ . , but the bill currently sits in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Under the Codey bill, a driver could be fined anywhere from $300 to $1,000 and have their license revoked for up to 10 years if they refuse to give their cell phone to an officer, depending on the number of past offenses.
Very similar to the states “Breathalyzer” ,where motorist are not free to refuse it.
Civil liberties groups worry the ‘textalyzer’ violates motorists’ privacy and the Fourth Amendment and is an other opertunity for police to conduct warrant-less searches .The device is plugged into a driver’s smartphone and time-stamped information is downloaded about apps used prior to an accident.
Skeptics point out that the “textalyzer” seems to be another opportunity for police to run tax collection services for the state of New Jersey ,with little or no impact on public safety . Like the states DWI or DUI laws skeptics insist likely suspects will be targeted by their ability to pay the fine .
Ridgewood NJ, The American dream is more than owning a home. It’s owning the right home–one customized through renovations to build wealth and reflect your tastes. But most people don’t have the knowledge to make smart financial decisions around renovations, resulting in disaster: too much debt, costly delays, and even foreclosure.
According to Hearth [www.gethearth.com]—a financial tech startup that aims to restore the American dream of owning the right home—there are 8 questions to ask to avoid financial disaster while working towards that American dream:
#1: HOW MUCH DEBT DO YOU HOLD?
Calculate your debt to income ratio—your overall debt to your overall income. The lower the ratio, the more loans you may qualify for.
#2: HOW MUCH HOME EQUITY DO YOU HAVE?
That’s your home’s value, minus any debts you owe on the house. You can pledge your equity to a lender, freeing up cash and getting low loan rates.
#3: HOW’S YOUR CREDIT?
Your credit score is calculated based on personal factors like current debt and payment history. The higher it is, the better interest rates you’ll receive on a loan—so be honest with yourself.
#4: WHEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO MOVE?
How long you plan to stay in your home affects your loan repayment period. Will you pay it off over 30 years, or do you need to pay it off in 7?
#5: DO YOU—AND WILL YOU CONTINUE TO—HAVE A STEADY JOB?
Knowing you’ll have a steady source of income over a several year period gives you confidence you’ll be able to pay off your whole loan.
#6: WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?
Talk to a few different contractors to get a sense of how much you’re going to have to spend. If you start without an estimate, you’ll end up overspending.
#7: WHAT IS YOUR PROJECT’S TIMELINE?
If you’re strapped for time, a personal loan can deliver funds within days. But if you have time to spare, you can get home improvement loans. They take longer to release funds, but have lower rates.
#8: WILL THE RENOVATION ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME?
Talk to a contractor and find out if your renovations will pay off—and what you can change to make them worth even more. Simple switches like marble instead of granite countertops can add measurable value.
As part of its mission, Hearth prepared the ultimate guide to home improvement loans (read it here: https://www.gethearth.com/guides/home-improvement-loans). Written with input from personal finance experts, it teaches homeowners how to make smart financial decisions about investing in their homes
(Reuters) – A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street will take effect in Hawaii’s largest city in late October, as Honolulu becomes the first major U.S. city to pass legislation aimed at reducing injuries and deaths from “distracted walking.”
The ban comes as cities around the world grapple with how to protect phone-obsessed “smartphone zombies” from injuring themselves by stepping into traffic or running into stationary objects.
Starting Oct. 25, Honolulu pedestrians can be fined between $15 and $99, depending on the number of times police catch them looking at a phone or tablet device as they cross the street, Mayor Kirk Caldwell told reporters gathered near one of the city’s busiest downtown intersections on Thursday.
This is a waste of taxpayer funds – where is the outrage? Mayor Knudsen and Council majority are raising expensive municipal debt to pay for this just as interest rates rise. Which means higher interest payments down the road for Village taxpayers. To buy a property in the CBD for a corrupt, crony led failed Ridgewood Water? There is no doubt that this is a black hole of greed and corruption. Driven by Mayor Knudsen. Why?
Town Leadership….Denial is not an action plan..The decrepit Town Garage as an Enviromental Hazard has got to be dealt with at some point..especially as those above ground structures fail and create a slum condition.as an abandoned industrial waste site there could easily be a fire or other collapse adjacent to the towns surface parking lot which at peak or event periods also has risks from that failing structure.what is the town doing to force a solution by the owners who possibly are an investment company,?
Ridgewood NJ, in a recent letter to parents Ridgewood Schools Superintendent discussed the idea of having too much screen time on electronic devices .
Superintendent Daniel Fishbien admitted that time have changed with the wide use of smart phones ,but voiced his concerns of students personal use and time of these devices.
How screen time is too much ? Although many parents have a nagging sense that they should do more to limit screen-time, they often question whether there’s enough evidence to justify yanking coveted devices, rationalize that it’s “part of our kids’ culture,” or worry that others—such as a spouse—will undermine their efforts.
The truth about the potential damage screen time is capable of imparting particularly in a young, still-developing brain is significant according to many studies . These side effects include impaired cognitive functioning. Imaging studies have found less efficient information processing and reduced impulse inhibition (Dong & Devito 2013), increased sensitivity to rewards and insensitivity to loss (Dong & Devito 2013), and abnormal spontaneous brain activity associated with poor task performance (Yuan 2011).
Thus the idea came about of the “Big Disconnect ” .School officials are now exploring ways to help parents disengage students and get them to disconnect from electronic devices.
The following programs have been announced as part of the district’s Wellbeing Speaker Series in an attempt to address the “Big Disconnect ” issue :
Oct. 11: Brief overview of the schools’ use of educational technology and its security followed up breakout sessions led by administrators on the book “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.”
Oct. 19: A screening of the movie “Screen-agers.”
Nov. 29: A special program entitled “Screen wise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World.”
Jan. 11: A hands-on technology and smartphone program for parents.
March 8: A panel of students will discuss their personal use of technology.
