We’re already grappling with a selfie presidency, Save Jerseyans.
Why would we want another selfie congressman?
NJ-05 Challenger Roy Cho apparently hopes you’re willing to give it a try. He’s a committed liberal, no doubt about it, but I’ve also said that he’s a “false choice” because he either (1) stakes out positions to make himself seem more palatable – like backing Israel and demonstrating it with a visit – but his rhetoric won’t amount to anything given his party’s growing anti-Israel orientation, or (2) he goes radio silent altogether.
The PolitickerNJ Interview: Bell on Fox: ‘If you get Jamie Fox out of Democratic Party strategizing, that’s a service for the Republican Party’
Jeff Bell knows Jamie Fox. The Republican nominee for U.S. Senate met the new Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioner over a decade ago. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Conservative lawmakers secretly plot to oust John Boehner
By Scott Wong – 09/24/14 06:00 AM EDT
For months, several clusters of conservative lawmakers have been secretly huddling inside and outside the Capitol, plotting to oust John Boehner from the Speaker’s office when House Republicans regroup after the November elections.
The strategy — for now — seems disorganized and fluid: Find a way to push the Speaker’s race to a second ballot, create turmoil in the conference, portray Boehner as highly vulnerable and offer up an alternative.
The behind-the-scenes effort is taking place as Team Boehner is projecting confidence he will coast to a third term as Speaker, pointing to his unrivaled fundraising prowess and ability to corral his rowdy caucus, for example, to keep the government open and provide arms to moderate Syrian rebels.
Boehner is “back on top,” The Wall Street Journal declared.
Yet behind all the chest-thumping, the picture is less rosy for the 64-year-old Ohio Republican.
A number of conservative lawmakers, both in interviews on the record and on background, described enormous frustration with Boehner and his top lieutenants for taking too safe a political route ahead of the 2014 elections.
“In tough times, it doesn’t mean you play timid, it means to play bold, and I don’t see that. And you know what? Time’s up,” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), who vowed to vote against Boehner, told The Hill in an interview. “I’m tired of the status quo of what’s going on in Washington, D.C. America’s tired, America’s angry and they’re scared, because they don’t have leaders in Washington, D.C.”
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) was more succinct: “I’ll give him every bit as much support as I did last time.”
Community pitches in on Ridgewood schools planning
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 9:29 AM BY JODI WEINBERGER STAFF WRITER THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Like excited learners, adults invited to the Board of Education’s (BOE) community planning session readily shared their hopes and dreams for the Ridgewood school district, collaborating with officials and administrators in a way that’s rarely possible at 49 Cottage Place.
The first task as part of the four-hour strategy session on Sept. 13 split the group of 50 or so individuals into smaller clusters to draw a representation of their goals for the schools.
Under the direction of former state school board members Cathie Sousa and Nancy Stern, of Sousa and Stern Educational Consultants LLC, the groups got to work literally coloring their vision of the future.
In the casual atmosphere, enhanced from the standard public BOE meetings by a cheese plate and other snacks, everyone had equal input alongside the school board members, principals and administrators, public safety officials, clergy persons, parents, and other community leaders.
“Some strategic planning processes can take months,” said Superintendent Daniel Fishbein. “This really works.”
State senator Kevin O’Toole holding up renomination of Board of Public Utilities member
A state senator is holding up the renomination of a utility regulator in a political fight that echoes the one stalling judicial nominations and backlogging courts in Bergen County. Sen. Kevin O’Toole, R-Cedar Grove, is refusing to support – at least for the moment – another term for Joseph Fiordaliso on the state Board of Public Utilities. (Sheingold/The Bergen Record)
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Chevrolet Traverse vs. tree – tree wins
September 24,2014
Boyd A. Loving
12:05 PM
Ridgewood NJ, The driver of a silver colored Chevrolet Traverse escaped injury after crashing her vehicle into a tree at the intersection of Frederick Street and North Pleasant Avenue in Ridgewood on Wednesday morning, 09/24. The incident occurred shortly after 0915 hours. Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS all responded to the scene. The driver refused medical treatment. Ridgewood Police Department Lieutenant William Amoruso indicated via phone that the driver reached down to retrieve a soft drink and lost control of her vehicle. No summonses were issued in connection with the incident.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 11:22 AM BY LAURA HERZOG STAFF WRITER THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
In the frenzied halls of The Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), Janice Hogrefe might not seem to fit in, at first.
After all, her job is more typically associated with angels and rolling white clouds than the ED’s rushing white coats, anxiety-ridden faces, and beeping machinery. Hogrefe is a therapeutic harpist who strums a custom-made miniature harp through Valley’s hallways.
“It took a bit of getting used to, but now it’s part of the culture,” said ED Manager Chris Robertson, who was being serenaded by the harp during a recent workday. “You can have a crazy day in the ED and you hear the harp, and it’s a little bit soothing.”
The harpists are provided by Bedside Harp, a Pennsylvania-based business that Valley has worked with for 10 years.
Since 2004, harpists like Hogrefe (who jokes that her last name rhymes with “no grief”) have strolled the halls and different departments of The Valley Hospital at staggered times, soothing doctors and families as much as patients.
Bedside Harp works in other hospitals, too, including in Philadelphia, Hamilton, Rahway and Paterson. A contract costs about $30,000 a year, according to Bedside Harp founder Edie Elkan.
Four professionals play at Valley, including Elkan herself, plus Bedside Harp student-interns, like Hogrefe, a mastery level harpist.
By the accounts of Valley’s staff and patients, Bedside Harp has made a big difference at Valley, albeit one that can be hard to explain to someone who has never experienced live harp music before.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/calming-harps-serenade-at-valley-1.1094193#sthash.eTDSuiXI.dpuf
West Milford police seeking two hikers who encountered group before fatal bear attack
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 1:03 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 10:00 PM BY JEFF GREEN AND MINJAE PARK STAFF WRITERS THE RECORD
Police on Tuesday appealed to the public for help in identifying two hikers who were among the last people to have seen Darsh Patel alive on Sunday before he was mauled to death by a black bear in a West Milford nature preserve.As the authorities searched for clues about the 22-year-old Patel’s death, the first fatality by a bear in New Jersey in 150 years, a portrait of the Rutgers student began to emerge. Friends remembered him as a generous person as they prepared for his funeral, which a friend said is scheduled for today.
Ridgewood police: Bus driver transporting child with autism arrested on warrant
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 5:25 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014, 5:31 PM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The driver of a mini-van ferrying a child with autism to school was arrested on Monday on an outstanding warrant.
Hansel De Lo Santos, 25, of Clifton, was stopped by Ridgewood Police Monday morning after he allegedly failed to yield to a pedestrian.
De Lo Santos, the police would learn, has no license. He also had an active warrant out for his arrest, police said.
De Lo Santos was directed by police to drive the boy to the Mt. Carmel School as officers trailed him. They then arrested him in the school’s parking lot.
Reader says the current amendment proposal is doomed and the Mayor wants to make sure something gets through.
many on the planning board that night were skeptical of the mayor’s proposal that night. it clearly took many by surprise and you really have to question why he brought it up now. my best guess is that he sees the current amendment proposal is doomed and he wants to make sure something gets through. THAT ISN’T THE PROCESS!!
Let’s remember that the ordinance that allows these amendment proposals in the first place was pushed through by friends of developers (which includes their lawyers). They created a legal process that couldn’t be stopped or participated in by residents once it moved past debate at the council level (or so they thought – they didn’t count on something like the CBR). Recall how Al abruptly ceased debate on these and pushed the vote which brought them to the planning board. Now that the process isn’t working in their favor they are trying to split them up to make it look like a “compromise”.
Also remember this: The developers bought these properties knowing exactly what they were allowed to build. They were banking on being able to push through these amendments that quadruple the number of units/acre currently allowed. That’s just bad business decision making (unless you have some reason to believe your amendment will be helped along). Certainly helps explain why saraceno stormed out in the middle of the cross by his attorney of the CBR planner as it was clear he wasn’t going to rattle her.
If the current amendment proposals are voted down the developers have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better plan. It is not the town’s job to tell the developers how much more they can get away with than is currently allowed – that’s like asking a cop how much faster you can drive over the speed limit while he’s writing you a ticket.
This is the process the developers and their attorneys created…stop whining because it’s not going your way now!!
RHS Advanced Placement Scholars are Announced September 22nd 2014
Ridgewood NJ, One hundred forty-two students at Ridgewood High School have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement Examinations. About 18 percent of the more than 1.9 million high school students worldwide who took AP Examinations in May 2014 performed at a sufficiently high level to merit such recognition.The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the students’ performance on AP exams. At Ridgewood High School, seven students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4.0 or higher on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
Sixty students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Thirty-three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
Forty-nine students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher.
Fifteen award recipients are juniors. These students have at least one more year in which to do college-level work, and possibly earn another Advanced Placement Award.
THE RIDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SEPTEMBER 27th, 2014
Ridgewood NJ, On September 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Ridgewood Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its ninth opportunity in four years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Ridgewood Police Department 131 N.Maple Ave Ridgewood NJ. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last April, Americans turned in 390 tons (over 780,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,400 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.1 million pounds—more than 2,100 tons—of pills. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” (that is, a patient or their family member or pet owner) of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.
The Gas Tax Hike Cometh Sep. 23 By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
As recently as March, Save Jerseyans, Governor Chris Christie said gas tax hikes were off the table.
He strongly opposed a proposal from Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-20, Union) earlier in the year which would’ve raised the gas tax by 15 cents over 3 years.
But I warned you earlier this week how the pending confirmation of Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner-designate Jamie Fox could signal a change in thinking, or at least tactics.I take no pleasure in being right. Trust me. I’ll be paying right along side you at the next pump. So enjoy our run of cheap gas (which is attracting drivers to NJ… when does that every happen?) while it lasts…
According to multiple reports, a bipartisan agreement to raise the gas tax between 15 cents and 20 cents or, alternatively, hike the petroleum products gross receipts tax (paid by refineries and distributors) is moving forward behind closed doors. Or some combination of the two. Whatever. Fox, who presumably discussed these issues with Gov. Christie’s team at length, is echoing his support of a gas tax back during the McGreevey Administration by declaring “[n]othing is off the table.”
It damn well should be!
Believe it or not, New Jerseyans enjoy the third lowest gas tax in the United States. A 15 cent tax would’ve added, on average, $230 to the cost of driving every New Jersey car each year. This is on top of Parkway and Turnpike tolls doubling since 2008. At what point does flying or driving (or swimming) around New Jersey make more sense than paying out the rear end to drive through it?
On Sunday, September 28, 2014 our Nation honors our Gold Star Mothers and families.
The Presidential Proclamation in 2011 commemorating this day pronounces, “As members of a grateful Nation, we owe a debt we can never repay, but hold this sacred obligation forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. We honor their sacrifice, and stand with our service members, military families, and Gold Star families as they have stood for us.” The
American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood NJ’s Blue Star Families are committed to bringing awareness to our community and to commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made for our Country.
In the aftermath of World War I, Washington D.C. resident Grace Darling Seibold formed an organization called Gold Star Mothers to support the moms who had lost sons and daughters to the war. Grace’s son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, was an aviator killed in combat over France in 1918. In 1928, the small D.C.-based group decided to nationalize its efforts. In 1936, a joint congressional resolution established the last Sunday in September as
Gold Star Mother’s Day. The Gold Star Mothers grew from a support group of 60 women to today’s extensive nationwide network with tens of thousands of members and hundreds of local chapters.
In Ridgewood, NJ the Gold Star Mother’s Day Committee will sponsor our fourth annual event commemorating Gold Star Mother’s Day on Sunday, September 28, at Van Neste Park.
The Valley Hospital Earns 12 Gold Seals of Approval for Patient Care
September 5, 2014
Ridgewood NJ,The Valley Hospital is pleased to announce that it has earned an impressive 12 Gold Seals of Approval™ for healthcare quality from the Joint Commission, placing it among an elite group of hospitals to achieve this number of Disease-Specific Care Certifications.
Valley holds Gold Seals of Approval for acute myocardial infarction, breast cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colorectal cancer, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, stroke, and uterine-ovarian cancer.
Earning Disease-Specific Certification in 12 clinical areas places Valley among the top tier of hospitals in the country for this Joint Commission recognition. Of particular note, Valley holds more Gold Seals of Approval in cancer care than any other hospital in the country
To earn these distinctions, Valley underwent extensive, on-site evaluations by Joint Commission reviewers. The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
“These recognitions are reflective of the quality and clinical excellence found in these programs,” said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO. “In addition, they are indicative of the overall emphasis on high-quality patient care and service that have come to be the hallmark of The Valley Hospital.”
The Joint Commission launched its Disease-Specific Care Certification program in 2002. According to the Joint Commission, it is the first program of its kind in the country to certify disease management programs.
