OCTOBER 31, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014, 12:31 AM THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Landscaper helps Schedler house
To the Editor:
One of our most community-spirited landscapers, Mike Tarleton of TLC Landscaping, spent many hours with a full crew to clear away the debris and trim the trees at the neglected Zabriskie-Schedler House last week. The house was covered with dying and overgrown shrubs and tree limbs that needed knowledgeable care. After almost two years of asking our village and thus overworked parks department, and worried about the decay of the house with winter coming on, we asked Mike for help. This was the only way to get the job done.
The Zabriskie-Shcedler house on West Saddle River Road is worth preserving. To let it decay from neglect is not worthy of our town or its leaders. We want to publicly thank the crew of TLC.
even Dom Nizza said he is voting for Bernie Walsh …probably.
On eve of election, Obama’s image matches all time low
Voters will not see “Barack Obama” on the ballot on Tuesday, and the president might count himself lucky. A record low 44 percent of Americans report a favorable impression of him in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
President Obama’s image is considerably weaker than during the past two election cycles, along of course with his job approval ratings. Half the public now see Obama unfavorably, two points shy of his record high from last November amid the botched Healthcare.gov rollout. Today’s six-point unfavorable-favorable margin matches the worst since Obama rose to the national stage.
Tuesday’s electorate is likely to be even less fond of the president: 53 percent of likely voters see Obama unfavorably, while 43 percent give him favorable marks. The poll finds those with strongly held views of Obama are most likely to turn out to vote. Strongly unfavorable ratings for Obama outnumber strongly favorable by 36 percent to 24 percent. Roughly three-quarters of those who have strong impressions of the president — positive or negative — say they are certain to vote, compared with half of those who have “somewhat” favorable or unfavorable views of the president.
Dr. Dierdre Paul, a 49-year-old Montclair State University professor, faces an uphill battle against Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., the 77-year-old nine-term Democratic incumbent in New Jersey’s Ninth Congressional District.
In a candidate’s forum Monday night at the Community Baptist Church in Englewood, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Bergen County chapter of the NAACP, Dr. Paul said that she has not been a Republican for very long.
In fact, in 2008 she had been the Englewood chair of the Obama campaign. “No one hoped more than me that the president would succeed,” she said. “Even as late as 2012 I tried to maintain that hope and faith in the Democratic party. Instead, it was the African American base masking the same old Democratic policies.
“We have a failed war on poverty, a failed war on drugs,” she continued. “Why does the Democratic establishment feel they only need to show up in election time? People are hurting now.”
Mr. Pascrell opened by saying that his “first objective in Congress is to keep us safe. I solemnly swear to each one of you that I will keep us safe against foreign enemies and any domestic enemies who want to take advantage of us.”
Asked about economic issues, Mr. Pascrell called for raising the minimum wage, and for “fair trade policies that do not simply export jobs.” He said proudly that “the president used one of my pieces of legislation, to stop paying corporations to send jobs overseas, in the State of the Union address.” And he defended President Obama’s economic record: “We are not where we should be, but this president has put more people to work in the private sector in the six years he was president than his predecessor did in the eight years he was president. We now have the smallest federal employment base in 15 or 20 years.”
Dr. Paul said that “People are hurting in a variety of ways” and that Social Security must be maintained.
She declared it “unconscionable” that social security payments are going to ex-Nazis, and called for ending the practice of dunning social security payments to repay student loans. Rep. Pascrell replied: “Nazis are Nazis. I don’t use the word former,” agreeing that they should lose their social security benefits.
Regarding social security in general, “I’m glad you want to keep it,” he said. “I hope you tell your party.”
During the 90 minute exchange, Dr. Paul twice cited a New Testament verse (James 1:8) against the congressman. “My Bible states that ‘A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,'” she said. The first time, she criticized her opponent as one of 20 congressmen who switched their votes from nay to yay on the Wall Street bailout in 2008. Later she used the verse when she criticized him as being too harsh on illegal immigrants.
Asked about the Affordable Care Act, Dr. Paul said “It’s here. It makes no sense to me to talk about whether I agree or don’t agree. But what I do think is that the implementation was handled poorly.”
Mr. Pascrell said that thanks to the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, there are “almost eight million people who now have insurance who didn’t have it before.” It worked the best “in those states that set up their own insurance exchanges, unlike New Jersey. You have a problem not only with your party in Washington, you have a problem with our party in New Jersey. When I hear criticism of the Affordable Care Act, a bill I voted for, I always look for what are you going to put in its place.”
The candidates were asked about violence against women.
“It’s a serious problem in our society,” Mr. Pascrell said. “The culture needs to change. Equity deserves no equivocation. The first law we passed in the 2009 Congress was the Ledbetter bill, to give equal pay for women.”
The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed Congress with only three Republican representatives supporting it, two of them from New Jersey.
“I am a different face of the Republican party,” Dr. Paul declared. “I am a single working mom. A homeowner. A divorced Catholic. I can tell anyone about what domestic violence looks like because I grew up with it. My mother was a victim of domestic violence. It’s something that surpasses party lines. It’s very important to not let go of the gains made for women. In Congress that is what I would consider one of my primary responsibilities.”
Regarding the Middle East, Dr. Paul said that “Israel must have the right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Its sole reason for being is to kill Jews and the complete and utter destruction of Israel. Our current policies in the Middle East hurt our friends and reward our enemies.
“For me, radical Islam is our problem. I must be clear that the vast majority of our Muslims in Congressional District 9 are people who are peaceful and value their faith and have the same disdain for radicals the rest of us do.
“I think the majority of Israelis and Palestinians would love to coexist peacefully side by side, but that cannot exist as long as we, the United States, do not adequately support Israel in its right to defend itself. We saw this all summer, where Democrats right and left were questioning Israel’s right. Our allies don’t have confidence in us, in the U.S., and you need that.”
“That’s one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever heard, that Democrats do not support the State of Israel,” Mr. Pascrell retorted. “I’ve voted for every dollar that was supposed to go to Israel, without exception. From the time I stepped into Congress, I supported a two-state solution.
“I support a two state solution and believe Israel should defend itself. I would not want to live in Tel Aviv with rockets over my head – and no one should have to live that way.”
Dr. Paul attacked the congressman for his support of Mohammad Qatanani, the Paterson imam whom the United States is seeking to deport, and for not stepping forward “when Steve Rothman was accused of dual loyalty in the Arab community when you ran against him last time.”
“I supported Qatanani because the FBI people I consulted with said there was no basis to the charges,” he said. “I’m not going to act as judge and jury.
“I have a great relationship with the Jewish community and with the Arab community. I’m not going to fight that battle over again. I did that loud and clear two years ago. “I just came back from Israel,” in August, he continued. “They wouldn’t have invited me if they didn’t know they had a true friend here.”
On education, Dr. Paul, who is a professor of education, praised vouchers.
“How long should we ask parents in Englewood, in Garfield, in Passaic, in Paterson, to send their children to failing schools? Paterson had 26 college-ready students graduate high school; now that dropped to 19. I believe in educational alternatives, including non-corporatized charters and vouchers. Competition is needed, so failing schools can improve their performance so they can compete, or shut down so they can’t continue to hurt children,” she said.
Mr. Pascrell said that though he was the product of parochial schools, “I believe very strongly in public education. I can support charters, and I did in the past when I was in the state legislature, before it became fashionable, if they have a particular purpose so we know where the money is being spent.
“I do not support vouchers. We should keep the separation between church and state. We have our hands full in trying to make our schools work,” he said.
There was little difference between the candidates on the question of incarceration. Both praised the work being done by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on drafting a bipartisan sentencing reform bill.
Both also criticized banks.
“I envision my role as not propping up banks that are too big to fail,” Dr. Paul said. “They had no responsibility in giving people mortgages to people who they knew could not pay them back.”
“There’s no question in my mind a lot of folks running banks should be in jail,” Mr. Pascrell said. “My grandfather used to say that the wrong people are jail. Five banks in America control 90 percent of the assets. We have to deal with that.”
On Ebola, Dr. Paul said “I am fully supportive of Governor Christie and Governor Cuomo in their approach. The governors have a responsibility for public safety that far outweighs an individual’s right.”
Mr. Pascrell disagreed. “Both governors have backed off their original position. I would listen to Dr. Fauci” – Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who testified to Congress about ebola earlier this month – “before Governor Christie.
“We politicians are experts in anything. We’re architects, we can tell you when a bridge is falling down. We can tell you in a 10-year budget what it’s going to look like. And we can tell you how to take care of health care issues without experts advising us.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Pascrell praised Dr. Paul for her work as a teacher. “There is not enough applause for teachers in the classroom, for teachers of teachers.”
Dr. Paul closed by saying that “Elections are about choices” and that voters should decide “whether they are better off today than they were 17 years ago,” when Mr. Pascrell first entered Congress. “If the answer is no, the choice is a clear one. New leadership is needed for new and more challenging times.
“One of the biggest compliments I have received is that I am a different kind of Republican. And I am.”
By Michael D. Tanner and Charles Hughes October 20, 2014
The War on Poverty is 50 years old. Over that time, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what have we really accomplished?
Although far from conclusive, the evidence suggests that we have successfully reduced many of the deprivations of material poverty, especially in the early years of the War on Poverty. However, these efforts were more successful among socioeconomically stable groups such as the elderly than low-income groups facing other social problems. Moreover, other factors like the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the expansion of economic opportunities to African Americans and women, increased private charity, and general economic growth may all have played a role in whatever poverty reduction occurred.
However, even if the War on Poverty achieved some initial success, the programs it spawned have long since reached a point of diminishing returns. In recent years we have spent more and more money on more and more programs, while realizing few, if any, additional gains. More important, the War on Poverty has failed to make those living in poverty independent or increase economic mobility among the poor and children. We may have made the lives of the poor less uncomfortable, but we have failed to truly lift people out of poverty.
The failures of the War on Poverty should serve as an object lesson for policymakers today. Good intentions are not enough. We should not continue to throw money at failed programs in the name of compassion.
Ridgewoods Own Author Harlan Coben at Bookends Monday, November 3rd @ 4:30pm.will sign his new book: FOUND Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings. Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable. While we try to insure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely. Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
Cory Booker’s the favorite but Jeff Bell’s winning the battle of ideas By Paul Mulshine | The Star Ledger Follow on Twitter on November 02, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated November 02, 2014 at 10:58 AM
New Jersey is in court trying to convince a federal judge to permit betting on athletic events.
That would be fun. But it would be even more fun if we could do what the Aussies and the Brits do – bet on elections.
In that case the bookies would have to call on some savvy insider to set the line on a race like Tuesday’s U.S. Senate matchup between the heavy favorite, incumbent Democrat Cory Booker, and Republican challenger Jeff Bell.
The savvy insider I called was Pat Murray of the Monmouth University Poll.
“I would think 14 is probably pretty good for the over and under,” Murray said.
Me, too. The smart money says the former Newark mayor is likely to ring up a double-digit win over the former Reagan-era Republican policy wonk.
New Jersey Choral Society presents “Gloria,” a festive holiday concert
Bergen and Essex County –Experience festive music of the season as the New Jersey Choral Society presents “Gloria,” a concert of sacred and traditional holiday carols on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate
Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair. A third performance will be presented on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood.
The joyous and uplifting program features John Rutter’s “Gloria”, the New Jersey premieres of “Glory to God” by Julian Revie and “Gloria” by Rick Ryan (a member of the Connecticut Choral Society) and David Hamilton’s elegant work of Christmas worship “Gloria.” Excerpts from Daniel Pinkham’s Fanfares, “Sanctus” from Verdi’s Requiem and “Bogoroditse Devo” (“Ave Maria”) by Rachmaninoff will also be featured. Some traditional carols such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” will be included as well. The chorus will be accompanied by organist Linda Sweetman-Waters, a Brass and Percussion Ensemble, and the Junior High School Chorus from the New Jersey Home School Association under the direction of Noelle Dachis.
Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, and this past summer in France.
Come one hour prior to concert time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture that provides an insightful and intimate discussion of the music for all ticket holders.Tickets are $25.00 for general admission, $22.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities and $12 for children 12 and under (add $5.00 at the door). Group discounts are also available. For reservations or more information, visit www.njcs.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
In support of the Center for Food Action, the New Jersey Choral Society will be collecting nonperishable food items at this concert. The Church of the Immaculate Conception and Westside Presbyterian Church are both wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Pro Arte to Present “Remembrance” Concert Sunday November 16
Spend a Sunday afternoon surrounded by glorious choral music, starting with the purity and simplicity of Renaissance motets, followed by the luxurious Romantic harmonies of Faure and Brahms as Pro Arte commemorates the start of the great war in 1914 and the bravery of our troops in Normandy in 1944.
Pro Arte Chorale’s first concert of the 2014-2015 season, Rememberance. will be presented on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NJ beginning at 3pm. November is a month of remembrance as we observe All Saints Day and Veteran’s Day, also known as Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom for those who served and gave their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts. In honor of these days of remembrance, this concert features works of great beauty and reflection. Cantique de Jean Racine, and Requiem by Gabriel Fauré; two works by Victoria,one of the best-regarded composers of sacred music in the late Renaissance, and I am the resurrection and the life by Morley, considered to be one of the most famous composers of secular music
Steven Fox, the Musical Director of The Pro Arte Chorale, is also the artistic director of Clarion Music Society in New York, and the music director for Musica Antiqua St. Petersburg in Russia. The Pro Arte Chorale, a 60-member volunteer chorus based in Ridgewood, is committed to enriching the lives of its members and its audience by exploring many musical traditions. For more
information about Pro Arte Chorale or to join the mailing list, visit www.proartechorale.org or send an email to info@proartechorale.org.
The Pro Arte Chorale is sponsored in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts. P.O. Box 662 • Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 Phone: 201-497-8400 • email: info@proartechorale.org • web: www.proartechorale.org
All performances are held in ADA compliant venues with handicapped accessible parking, ramps, elevators and restrooms. Large print programs are available.
To order tickets visit the Pro Arte Chorale website, www.proartechorale.org or call 201-497-8400. Adult tickets are $25, children’s tickets are $12 and tickets for seniors/disabled or students are $20.
On Sunday, November 2, 2014 YWCA Bergen County will hold a free Fitness Open House from 12:30pm to 4:00pm at 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ. Open to the public, adults and teens can drop in for Yoga, Body Sculpting, and Gyrokenesis®! From 12:30pm to 1:30pm, learn the “ins and outs” of yoga postures with certified instructor, Lorraine. The practice of yoga improves our well-being not physically, but on all levels: physiologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Body Sculpting with Valarie, from 1:30pm to 2:45pm, uses a variety of hand-held weights and resistance equipment as well as your natural body weight to build muscular strength and tone, boost bone health and metabolism. Improve your body and self-confidence! Stay from 3:00pm to 4:00pm for Gyrokenesis®, with Earline Randolph (beyondmovement studio), beginning on a chair with a gentle warm-up sequence followed by a series of fluid spinal motions which increase range of motion and prepare the body to explore more complex movements with agility and ease. Class continues with floor exercises followed by a rhythmic standing sequence that incorporates balance and cardiovascular exercises. Class ends with a calming, unwinding sequence designed to prepare the body and mind to reintegrate with the everyday world. Non – members must stop at the front desk to fill out a waiver prior to class. All classes run in 8-week sessions and are held at the YWCA’s 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood facility. Yoga and Body Sculpting are part of the movement@yw fitness program, offering 40 weekly fitness classes for $108 per session. For more information contact Colleen at 201-444-5600 ext. 351, or visit www.ywcabergencounty.org. The YWCA offers dozens of other fitness, wellness, and enrichment programs for kids, teens, adults, and seniors, as well as American Red Cross certified swim classes for swimmers at every age and level. Drop-in child care is also available at the 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood facility. Visit www.ywcabergencounty.org for details or call 201-444-5600 for a free brochure. About YWCA Bergen County YWCA Bergen County (www.ywcabergencounty.org) is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We are the area’s largest provider of child care services, a recognized leader in health and fitness programs, and operator of healingSPACE, the county’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center. Celebrating nearly a century of commitment to our community, today we improve the lives of thousands of women, girls, and their families.
Question of control over Bergen Dems if Stellato-led party doesn’t win has no easy answer By Mark Bonamo | 11/01/14 4:56pm
BERGEN COUNTY – The political future of Bergen County will be shaped by the outcome of several elections on Tuesday. The county executive race between Republican incumbent Kathleen Donovan and Democratic challenger Jim Tedesco, the freeholder fight between Democratic incumbents David Ganz and Joan Voss and Republican challengers Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh and Robert Avery and the contest in the Fifth Congressional District, which includes parts of Bergen, between GOP incumbent Scott Garrett and Democratic challenger Roy Cho put much of this November’s election emphasis on the state’s most populous county.
One thread linking all of these races together is Bergen Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato. In recent articles in PolitickerNJ, local Democrats have offered support for Stellato’s leadership, while Stellato himself has talked tough in the days running up to the election.
But even if things go badly for Democrats across the board, there may not be an immediately viable replacement for Stellato, if one is called for, because of the fragmentary nature of power among the Bergen Democrats.
Three prominent Bergen Democrats who could conceivably exert control over the county party are notably preoccupied, and arguably don’t have enough solitary power to take command alone.
State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) is a powerful statewide political player, often called “the conscience of the Legislature.” Yet there could be enough loyalists of former Bergen Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero, who was convicted on corruption charges in 2009, who could try to block any move by Weinberg-backed allies for party control.
Ridgewood Girls Cross Country celebrates its 4th straight win and course record at the Bergen County Meet of Champions
The Lou Molino Bergen County Meet of Champions on Saturday at Darlington Park in Mahwah wasn’t just the fastest ever in the 38 year history of the girls meet, it was also one of the fastest county races in New Jersey history!!!
Just how fast was it???
Four girls broke 18 minutes, led by Catherine Pagano of Northern Highlands, who missed her own course record by one second with a winning time of 17:30!!!
Before the race there had never been more than one girl in a single race go sub 18 at Darlington Park. And before this race only four girls in course history had gone under 18-EVER!!!!!
The sub 18 runners at the Bergen County Meet of Champions. From right to left-Catherine Pagano (Northern Highlands), Julia Guerra (Indian Hills), Sam Halvorsen (Ridgewood), and Carleen Jeffers (Ridgewood)(Jim Lambert | NJ Advance Media)
Behind Pagano was Julia Guerra of Indian Hills, second in 17:57-the sixth fastest time in course history. Ridgewood’s Sam Halvorsen was third in 17:59, the seventh fastest time in course history, and Ridgewood’s Carleen Jeffers was fourth in 17:59, now tied with Halvorsen for the seventh fastest time ever run at Darlington.
Want more?
How about the Ridgewood girls!!!
Ridgewood, No. 7 in the state, averaged 18:42.8, shredding the course record average of 19:00.6 set last week by Northern Highlands.
It was a truly epic day as Bergen County’s finest simply crushed the course!!!!
That’s what happens when great runners, good conditions and a deep talent pool collide!
Ridgewood’s record breaking average led to a fourth straight team title and record 28th overall as Ridgewood outscored runner-up and No. 8 Northern Highlands, 45-66. No. 18 IHA was third with 79.
Tuesdays Ballot Questions a Yes Vote Means More Taxes
Most often a YES vote means more taxes…… vote NO
Please use this information to inform your friends and family, and tell them it is critical for them to get out to vote! Important Questions on the ballot, Tuesday, November 4 There are two State questions that are proposed constitutional amendments. One relates to your right to bail and pretrial release, and the other is on Open Space. Public question No. 1 – End the Right to Bail !!!! A “yes” vote on this constitutional amendment would END yourcurrent right to release on bail prior to trial. You’re being asked to abolish this Constitutional right, and find out later what will replace it. It could allow a court to order indefinite detention pending trial in a criminal case; it does not require “a speedy trial.” Recommendation: Vote NO!
The question says, in part, “This would change the current constitutional right to bail. The change to the Constitution would mean that a court could order that a person remain in jail prior to trial, even without a chance for the person to post bail, in some situations”. Article I, Sec. 11 of the NJ Constitution presently says, …”All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties.” This amendment would abolish that right.
Public question No. 2 – Divert Corporate Income Tax, then increase it
This would amend the Constitution to “Dedicate State funds for Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation, and change existing dedication for water programs, underground storage tanks, and hazardous site cleanups”. A “Yes” vote would divert 4% of NJ corporate income tax funds, or $150M per year (NO SUNSET CLA– USE!), then increase that dedicated tax to six percent, or $200M in 2019. You will notice that there is NO reference to the cost on your sample ballot. Nor is there mention of how programs currently funded with the 4% that is to be diverted will be funded after this change. A convenient oversight? There are NUMEROUS reasons to vote “No” :
1) it is unconscionable that New Jersey attempts to manage its annual budget by Constitutional amendment, without a sunset clause. Why would we bind the state FOREVER, rather than do this through legislation, that could be changed when necessary? THIS IS LUNACY! (will cause your taxes to rise) 2) NJ already has already protected 31% of its land area, equivalent to the state of Delaware, from development. Approval of this question would take more land off the tax rolls – equivalent to Rhode Island! (will cause your taxes to rise) 3) The precedent for government owning so much (formerly) private property is greatly disturbing. Such land is forever removed from the tax rolls (and from any potential to generate revenue or profit for either the State or for private business), and that cost is shifted to the already over-burdened NJ taxpayer. (will cause your taxes to rise) 4) NJ already ranks dead last in terms of growth and business climate, and #1 in taxation, according to the Tax Foundation. (more taxes) 5) An Allied Van Lines report indicates that, for every one customer they move into NJ, almost two are heading out. NJ is listed as the #1 outbound state for two of the last three years.(more tax for you!) 6) Our state is approaching bankruptcy, with everything from the State’s pension system, to roads and transportation, education, and everything in between scrambling for funds. Our unfunded liabilities for pensions and healthcare benefits is $254B (seven times the annual budget!), according to Americans for Prosperity, and the annual budget shortfall is nearing $1.6B. (even more taxes for your and your family) 7) Even some of the environmentalists are concerned, because of the reallocation of the corporate tax that they fear could negatively impact currently funded programs. (eventually more taxes for you) IF YOU NEED TO READ MORE ABOUT OPEN SPACE QUESTION 2: What Will Question 2 Cost Taxpayers? October 24, 2014 by Richard Miner https://watchdogwire.com/new-jersey/2014/10/24/nj-open-space-ballot-initiative-would-give-govt-control-of-43-3-of-state-land/
Ridgewood Police : Be a Good Neighbor – Be Bear Aware
New Jersey is home to all kinds of beautiful wildlife –including black bears. Black bears are getting a lot of attention these days, for the wrong reasons.
They’re venturing too close to homes and into backyards, looking for food. Bears that look for food near your home or in your yard likely have learned bad habits from people who feed them intentionally, or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage
People who feed bears think they’re helping them. But it only invites trouble. It can make them a nuisance or even aggressive. When that happens, the bears must be destroyed to protect your family and your neighbors. What’s more, it’s illegal to feed bears in New Jersey. Anyone who feeds bears could face a penalty of up to $1,000 for each offense.
Taking steps to avoid attracting bears with food or garbage is the best way to prevent them from becoming a nuisance near your home.
Here’s what you can do to Be a Good Neighbor – Be Bear Aware:
• Use bear-proof garbage containers, if possible. They offer the best protection. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
• Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
• Wash garbage containers with disinfectant solution at least once a week to remove odors. Draping rags soaked in bleach over your garbage bags also help to eliminate odors.
• Feed dogs and cats outside during daylight hours only. Immediately after feeding pets, remove all uneaten food and scraps as well as food bowls.
• Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after each use. Grease and food residue will attract bears.
• Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
• Feed birds only between December 1 and April 1 when bears are least active. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure the bottom of the feeder is at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells.
• Pick up any fruit that falls from fruit trees daily, and discard it in garbage containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Consider installing electric fencing to protect crops, beehives and small livestock, if you live in an area with a large black bear population.
• Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to your local police department or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793.
• Visit www.njfishandwildlife.com for more information on black bears.
Remember, if you care about New Jersey’s bears, don’t feed them
Scott with Teaneck resident Joshua Meier, a finalist in the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search, in my Washington, D.C. office. We discussed the project that earned him this prestigious recognition and his plans for life after high school. Joshua is an impressive young man and I wish him all the best at tonight’s award ceremony.
Rep Scott Garrett is a Strong Supporter of Israel Unlike the Obama Administration and their clones like Roy Cho November 2,2014 the Staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Crisis in U.S.-Israel Relations Is Officially Here .
“Obama Official Calling Netanyahu ‘A Chickens**t’
It’s probably safe to say that U.S.-Israel relations aren’t exactly at a high point. In an article published Tuesday at The Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, the Obama administration’s preferred conduit for all things Israel-related, an unnamed senior Obama administration official called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a chicken-bleep.” “The thing about Bibi is, he’s a chicken-bleep,” the official told Goldberg. “The good thing about Netanyahu is that he’s scared to launch wars,” he continued. ““The bad thing about him is that he won’t do anything to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians or with the Sunni Arab states. The only thing he’s interested in is protecting himself from political defeat.” https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/the-crisis-in-us-israel-relations-is-officially-here/382031/
Just one more misstep in a long line of anti Israel ,anti Jewish gaffs by the Obama Administration .Meanwhile its important to remember that Congressman Garrett supports the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign, democratic nation and defend itself against attacks from neighboring territories. While Congressman Garrett supports efforts to have peace between Israel and the Palestinians, he does not believe Israel should jeopardize its security by creating borders that could potentially leave it vulnerable to attack by neighbors.
At Congregation Bnai Yeshurun
The Congressman supports strong ties with Israel, and is a strong supporter of ensuring that Israel has the full support of the United States. In the 113th Congress, Congressman Garrett introduced the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2013. This important legislation would require that the United States Embassy in Israel move from its current location in Tel Aviv to Israel’s legal capital, Jerusalem. Congressman Garrett acknowledges the vital role that US support plays in promoting Israel’s safety and security. Not only does US aid to Israel help promote a more stable Middle East, but also approximately 75 percent of the aid delivered to Israel returns to the United States in the form of military supply purchases.
Congressman Garrett co-sponsored H. Res. 657, a resolution that reaffirms the United States’ support for Israel’s right to defend its citizens and ensure the survival of the State of Israel, condemns the unprovoked rocket fire at Israel, and calls on Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel. In July Garrett told the Save New Jersey blog , “As Israel defends itself against countless rocket attacks from Hamas, it shouldn’t also have to defend itself against those in the White House,”
Garrett declared in a statement released Thursday. “While the Obama administration says it supports Israel, these comments obviously stand in stark contrast to that commitment and must be retracted. My heart goes out to those who have been the victims of these attacks. I wholeheartedly support our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East as they seek to eliminate those who are perpetrating this violence.” https://savejersey.com/2014/07/garrett-israel-battling-hamas-and-white-house/
Garrett’s words to the NJJN on October 10 2012 summed the present situation best , “I think the Obama administration has been an absolute disaster from Day One in its handling of foreign affairs and Israel specifically,” said Garrett in an Oct. 4 phone interview. “When Obama came into office, he promised that the United States would be more respected because of his style of handling the world community. I think we are less respected, and we find ourselves in a more vulnerable position than we were four years ago.” https://njjewishnews.com/article/14719/jewish-issues-debated-in-redrawn-fifth-district#.VFFIZ_TF_fE
Last Weekend Garrett honored to receive the endorsement of NORPAC, which is at the forefront of promoting strong US-Israel relations!
