After night of tear gas, Hong Kong protesters dig in By Jethro Mullen, CNN updated 10:33 AM EDT, Mon September 29, 2014
Hong Kong (CNN) — Thousands of pro-democracy protesters remained camped out on major highways in the heart of Hong Kong on Monday, defying government attempts to both coerce and cajole them into giving up their extraordinary demonstration.
The protests have brought widespread disruption to the heart of one of Asia’s biggest financial centers, blocking traffic on multilane roads and prompting the suspension of school classes.
CNN’s Ivan Watson, at the scene, described it as a “sea of humanity,” the biggest crowd he had witnessed since protests began last week.
“The young people — predominantly 21, 22 years old — have been chanting out here, repeating the word ‘hah toih,’ meaning ‘resign,'” Watson said, against a backdrop of chanting and waving cellphones.
A police crackdown on demonstrators on Sunday — involving tear gas, batons and pepper spray — resulted in clashes that injured more than 40 people but failed to eject the protesters from their positions among the city’s glittering skyscrapers.
The government adopted a more conciliatory approach Monday, saying it had withdrawn riot police from the protest areas. It urged people to disperse and allow traffic to return to the roads.
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce-RCNG invites you to Fall Networking in Ridgewood Mon, October 06, 2014 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM ROOTS Steakhouse, 17 Chestnut St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
RCNG-Ridgewood Chamber Networking Group invites all Chamber and ICC members to this year’s first FALL Networking event on:
Monday, October 6, 2014, 6-8:30pm ROOTS Steakhouse, 17 Chestnut St., 07450 Complimentary valet parking for everyone! Hors d’oeuvres – Cash Bar – Atmosphere galore! $20 pp for Ridgewood and ICC members $30 pp for non chamber members Bring your business cards and smile!
YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT, especially this location!
RSVP by October 1, 2014 201-445-2600 info@ridgewoodchamber.com
Reps. Garrett and Cárdenas Introduce Bipartisan FAIR Act to Protect Americans from Unconstitutional Civil Asset Forfeitures
Sep 17, 2014
Bill is House Companion to Sen. Rand Paul’s Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Congressional Constitution Caucus, and Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Crime Prevention and Youth Development Caucus, today introduced H.R. 5502, the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act, to protect Americans from having their property seized without the due process of law. The FAIR Act makes a number of changes to civil asset forfeiture laws to restore the constitutional protections guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
“Most Americans assume that the government cannot take your things without due process, but it is happening,” said Garrett. “Under current law, federal, state and local police can seize your property unless you can prove you acquired it legally. This must change. The FAIR Act will protect our constitutional rights and save American families from a costly and messy legal process to regain what is legally theirs.”
“Two principles that we as Americans hold dear are innocent until proven guilty; and that the government may not seize our property without just cause,” said Cárdenas. “Satisfying a profit motive must never be the reason for law enforcement, and it certainly must never be allowed to support the seizure of personal property by those who we trust to protect and defend our nation and our Constitution.”
The FAIR Act would ensure that Americans are innocent until proven guilty by requiring the government to meet a higher legal standard before seizing an individual’s property. This legislation would raise the standard to seize assets from a preponderance of evidence to a higher standard of clear and convincing evidence. In addition, the FAIR Act would eliminate the practice of equitable sharing and eliminate all profit incentives by requiring that all funds seized by the federal government go into the general treasury fund.
Click here for a one-page explanation of the bill, and click here for a section-by-section summary.
To read the Washington Post’s three-part series on civil asset forfeitures, click here.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, 12:31 AM BY GREG TARTAGLIA SPORTS EDITOR THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Since being shut out by Northern Highlands on Sept. 17, the Ridgewood High School girls soccer team has paid the favor forward twice.
Senior goalkeeper Colleen Berry stopped both shots she faced in the Maroons’ 5-0 smothering of Hackensack last Friday. She needed to make only three saves to help RHS lock down Tenafly, 1-0 on Tuesday.
The back-to-back wins raised Ridgewood’s record to 5-2 entering Saturday’s noon match at Demarest.
Sophomore forward Val Diaz helped fuel the offensive outburst versus Hackensack with a pair of goals. Senior Aidan Trevisan and sophomores Riley Ricciardi and Emma LaFrance tallied a goal apiece, and seniors Maddie Philips and Dayna Bussanich each notched an assist.
Ricciardi scored the lone goal at Tenafly in the first half, as the Maroons launched 22 shots on net in the win.
Sign Up for this Special Family Event – Revised Date – October 5
“Come Alive Outside”
The Harvest Moon Family Hoedown
(Revised Date is November 5th )
On Sunday, October 5th (revised date), Ridgewood Parks & Recreation, with co-sponsorship by Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction of Midland Park, will host an exciting family hoedown, complete with pony rides, a petting zoo, hot air balloon tether rides, square dancing and a food court. So put on your country best and come join the fun.
Embrace the national “Come Alive Outside” campaign which began in 2010 by Jim Paluch in hopes of reducing the sedentary, indoor lifestyle that is contributing to adverse effects in our society. Playing outside has many benefits – improving physical and social skills, stress reduction, increased self-confidence and so much more. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 60 minutes of free play outside daily is essential for a child’s development. It is the “Come Alive Outside” campaign’s mission to create opportunities for children to get outside for some “good healthy fun”.
Held at Habernickel Family Park, 1037 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, the schedule of events will be as follows:
3:30 to 5:30 pm – Petting zoo and pony rides
4:30 to 6:30 pm – Hot air balloon tether rides*
5:00 pm – Food court opens
5:30 pm – Music and dancing
Save by purchasing admission in advance – $10 per person ($15 at the gate). *Hot air balloon tether rides are $20 per person and the food court is additional. Register online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass or in person/by mail to The Stable at 259 N. Maple Ave. You may locate the registration form on the Recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/recreation. Please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 201-670-5560 with any questions or if special accommodations are needed.
YWCA Early Learning Center Invites You to Attend Our OPEN HO– USE Tue, September 30, 2014 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
YWCA Early Learning Center, 98 Pleasant Avenue, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Join the YWCA and explore their beautiful Early Learning Center at their Open House! Meet the teachers, staff and have your questions answered.
Bring your whole family for a morning filled with fun activities, games, crafts, apple cider and donuts! $5.00 suggested donation per family.
Limited space available in all classrooms. Register before October 30 to have the registration fee waived and a 10% discount on the first 3 months of your child’s tuition.
For more information please contact Diane at 201-236-3126
Ridgewood Girls Tennis has confidence heading into Bergen tournament
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, 12:31 AM BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Just nine matches into the season, the Ridgewood High School girls tennis team has made it clear that even with several new coming underclassmen playing prominent roles, it is still one of the top teams in the area.
The Maroons have a sophomore and freshman holding down their top two singles spots and all the players that returned from last season’s North 1, Group 4 title team are in different positions, but nothing has seemed to faze this RHS team.
“I think they’re beginning to actualize their potential and see what they’re capable of,” head coach Medha Kirtane said in a phone interview Wednesday.
And hopes are high for the team heading into this weekend’s Bergen County tournament at Old Tappan.
“We’re just excited to be in a competitive environment with a number of wonderful dreams that are going to push us in every single draw,” Kirtane said. “It’s a great intense environment to be in that only makes you better.”
Ridgewood ceremony honors families of those killed in military service
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, 9:38 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, 9:45 PM BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
Sometimes people – well-meaning people trying to skirt a painful topic – will avoid talking to Robin Griffin about her son Kyle, who died in May 2003 while serving as a 20-year-old soldier in Iraq.
Griffin, an Emerson resident, wishes people would not do that.
“Not mentioning him is more upsetting,” Griffin said recently.
That’s why she and her husband, Ron, said yes when asked to take part in a ceremony in Ridgewood on Sunday night honoring Gold Star mothers and the other relatives of soldiers killed in action.
“It’s amazing that people would turn out to do something like this,” she said prior to the ceremony in Van Neste Park.
About 140 people attended the service held just after sunset in the park, where luminarias — twinkling candles in small bags decorated with stars — lined the walkways. A soldier’s helmet and pair of boots rested near a rifle stuck into the ground.
One of the speakers at the ceremony, Dave Feeney, a local funeral director, talked about the distinction between Gold Star mothers who had lost a child and Blue Star mothers who have children in active military service or have served.
North Jersey parents vow to ban alcohol at home parties
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, 1:21 AM BY DEENA YELLIN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
Schools around North Jersey are wielding a new weapon in the fight against teen drug and alcohol use: the parents’ pledge.
Dubbed the Safe Homes Pledge, it’s part of a nationwide movement that asks parents to sign an agreement committing themselves to providing adult supervision for parties in their homes, securing prescription medication, and not serving alcohol to any guest under the age of 21.
Among the North Jersey towns and school districts where parents have participated are Ramsey, Ridgewood, Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Pascack Hills, Ringwood, Wayne and Wanaque. The names of parents who have signed the agreement are then listed in a local directory.
Now, parents in the Northern Valley Regional School District are being asked to take the pledge.
The initiative is the latest step in a wide-ranging campaign by the Northern Valley community to fight alcohol and drug use.
Knights of Columbus Annual Stickball Tournament September 28,2014 Richard Hrvatin
Ridgewood NJ,The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 held their annual stickball tournament, now in its fifth year, on Saturday September 27th on Passaic Street in Ridgewood. First place went to Chris Eidschun, Paul Brennan, Doug Christopher, and Brian Peacock of the Ridgewood Fire Department. This year’s event was held in honor of one of Ridgewood’s Bravest, Fireman Steven Lawrence Missel and his Family. Proceeds from the event will go toward the children’s college fund.
“Since the inaugural event in 2010, this has grown every year”, said event coordinator Tony Lupo. “The Knights are pleased to be able to help out the Missel family.”
The Ridgewood Knights are celebrating their 100-year anniversary, and the stickball tournament kicked off the start of the fraternal year.
Maintaining a safe community requires effort from all stakeholders
Maintaining a safe community requires effort from all stakeholders. Dedicated police professionals working in collaboration with vigilant and engaged citizens can truly make a significant difference in the overall safety and security of a community. We are fortunate to have both in our community. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our law enforcement professionals our citizens for helping to keep our community safe.
While the current trends are positive, we must continue to take proactive steps to make our community less attractive to criminals. Each of us can take steps to ensure that individually we are less vulnerable to criminal activity as well as looking out for our neighbors. On our end the department will continue our proactive efforts to keep the community safe. We have several trained crime prevention officers ready to provide information and assistance to any resident and/or business owner wishing information on better securing their persons and/or property.
Geneva Report warns record debt and slow growth point to crisis
By Chris Giles, Economics Editor
A “poisonous combination” of record debt and slowing growth suggest the global economy could be heading for another crisis, a hard-hitting report will warn on Monday.
The 16th annual Geneva Report, commissioned by the International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies and written by a panel of senior economists including three former senior central bankers, predicts interest rates across the world will have to stay low for a “very, very long” time to enable households, companies and governments to service their debts and avoid another crash.
The warning, before the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Washington next week, comes amid growing concern that a weakening global recovery is coinciding with the possibility that the US Federal Reserve will begin to raise interest rates within a year.
Barack Obama’s first speech to the UN was filled with the giddy hopes that won him the presidency in the first place. “More than at any point in human history, the interests of nations and peoples are shared,” he told world leaders in 2009.
Five years later, it was a greyer and more sombre Mr Obama who warned the UN this week about the “generational task” of defeating Islamist militants in the Middle East, two days after he launched his first air strikes in Syria. “The only language understood by killers like this is the language of force,” he said.
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Replete with George W Bush-style rhetoric about a “network of death” and “this brand of evil”, Mr Obama’s speech this week was an effort to reboot his flagging presidency.
In political terms, the more martial Mr Obama was trying to shake of the Jimmy Carter aura that has been hanging over his White House; the steady corrosion of leverage at home and influence abroad in the face of Middle East turmoil that slowly leaves an incumbent looking impotent.
Bernadette Walsh campaigning with Congressmen Scott Garrett
Freeholder candidate has roots that run deep in Bergen County
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, 3:20 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014, 3:34 PM BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
To understand Bernadette Walsh, one of two Republican candidates for Bergen County freeholder, it helps to know the story of the “bamboo man.”
That’s the nickname her late father, James Coghlan, picked up in the 1960s when he and his wife, Mary, cultivated bamboo as part of their greenhouse nursery business in Upper Saddle River.
They grew and sold bamboo to people like the philanthropist Doris Duke and to places like the now defunct Jungle Habitat in West Milford and the Polynesian exhibition at the 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing Queens.
James Coghlan wrote a book in 1965 called “The Story of Bamboo.” The couple even made an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.
Walsh was a small child when her parents closed the nursery to instead run a real estate and appraisal business near the train station in Ramsey for 25 years.
But their daughter recalled that time while talking about what she considers her proudest accomplishment in her four years as a Ridgewood councilwoman.
The self-described “tree hugger” helped revive the borough’s Shade Tree Commission, which had been dormant for many years. After Hurricanes Irene and Sandy toppled about 500 trees in town, Walsh said, people felt a need to be planting trees again.
Eric Holder’s Rap Sheet
September 26, 2014 10:30 AM
By The Editors
Eric Holder’s legal mercies have typically been reserved for Clinton donors and unrepentant terrorists, but his decision yesterday to step down as attorney general of the United States after nearly six years is an act of mercy toward the American public.
In an administration characterized by outsized misadventures — from the use of the nation’s tax bureau to suppress political opponents to the use of secret waiting lists at government hospitals that killed American servicemen — Eric Holder managed to make his Justice Department a source of special, nay, historic attention: In June 2012, Holder became the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt by the House of Representatives. He earned every vote.
Achieving “justice” via the Justice Department may be an intrinsically unlikely prospect, but none of Holder’s recent predecessors — Janet Reno, John Ashcroft, Michael Mukasey, even the much-maligned Alberto Gonzales — exhibited his sheer contempt for the rule of law. Much to his preference was employing the law for political purposes; or, when necessary, dispensing with the law completely.
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The latter was largely Holder’s policy as chief legal counsel to the president. The duty of the attorney general has historically been to advise against unconstitutional or illegal activity; Holder instead regularly aided and abetted it. When the president unilaterally delayed deportations for a select group of illegal immigrants, Holder concocted specious legal rationales to justify it. Regular slap-downs from the Supreme Court — on the president’s unconstitutional NLRB appointees, on his contraception mandate, on his unconstitutional effort to control ministerial hiring — have proven Holder’s legal work insupportable.
Nowhere was Holder’s rank partisanship more clearly on display than on issues of race: for instance, his refusal to prosecute the New Black Panther Party for voter intimidation — despite video evidence of truncheon-wielding men warding voters away from a Philadelphia polling station in November 2008. Those whose political expression was inhibited in Philadelphia were not, Holder later suggested to the House Oversight Committee, “my people” — and thus apparently did not deserve the protection of the law. This from the lips of the nation’s chief law-enforcement officer. Meanwhile, Holder dismissed his critics as racists, eager to destroy him and the president because “we’re both African American.” This same “nation of cowards” was, by Holder’s reckoning, responsible for the voter-identification laws that his Justice Department has worked stridently — and largely unsuccessfully — to suppress in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.
