The group consists of 10 athletes, one coach, one team and another team’s championship era. The inductees include student athletes John Cerf, Boys Gymnastics (1976); Rachel Grygiel, Girls Soccer (1993); Nancy Hogan, Multi-Sport Athlete (1974); Jean Hughes, Girls Cross Country and Track and Field (1989); Michele Marangi, Girls Tennis (1984); John Marshall, multi-sports athlete (1971); Mark Romeo, Wrestling (2002); Don Taylor, Boys Basketball (1961); Paul Tornatore, Football (1987); and Chris VanNote, Boys Soccer (1981). Jim Bruni, Head Boys Basketball Coach, 1964-1971, will also be inducted, along with the 1913 “Ridgewood Invincibles” Football Team and the “Streak of 44” consecutive wins by the Ridgewood Boys Lacrosse Team.
Click here for the press release and information on the awards dinner at the Brick House on October 25.
RHS Class of 2015 Project Graduation Gets off to a Fast Start
Class of 2015 Project Graduation Representatives Chairpersons Tara Callaghan 201-803-7778 and Rosie McCooe 201-602-8097 Chairpersons email: [email protected] Treasurer Sharon Walker [email protected] Communications Jeff Coster [email protected]
Project Graduation dues are $165 per student and go toward the Project Graduation party, baby pictures, and to offset the cost of the Graduation dinner dance and the Thanksgiving 2015 reunion. Please send your check for $165 payable to “RHS PG Class of 2015” ASAP to Sharon Walker, 94 Sherwood Rd., Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Confidential support is available for any family that needs help with dues or other graduation expenses. Please contact the Class of 2015 Grade Administrator, Meredith Yannone, for more information.
Project Graduation Surplus Funds: Surplus funds may not be donated to charities. Remaining funds will be used to purchase a gift to RHS from the Class or will be gifted back to the school through the HSA.
Forty-six percent of doctors give President Obama’s healthcare law a “D” or an “F,” according to a new survey from the Physicians Foundation. In contrast, just 25 percent of those surveyed gave the law an “A” or a “B.”
The findings come from a survey that was emailed to “virtually every physician in the United States with an email address on record with the American Medical Association” this March through June as the law’s major provisions were taking effect, and received more than 20,000 responses from doctors.
In their comments that were included (but kept anonymous) in the report, a number of doctors complained about the vast amount of bureaucracy that has been added to the medical profession.
“Get government OUT of healthcare,” one doctor wrote.
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Another wrote, “Repeal Obamacare.”
Another comment read, “I’m a Canadian physician practicing in the United States. The politicians and policy makers need to understand that government involvement in healthcare never works.”
Readers debate cost of living in the Central Business District
I went to their website and had problems with the “data” that they presented. They think that someone in stupid.
The P&I on my mortgage is $1,800. I have a large 5 br 3/3 bath home. My taxes are $2,500. I am not looking to downsize to a much, much smaller rental for a higher cost. This development does not solve my tax problem. It just gives me an expensive alternative. I think that I need a smaller house or townhouse, but not in Ridgewood.
BTW. How many parking spots do I get? We have two cars.
and ….
How about your cost for lawn maintenance, snow removal, repairs and the set-aside for major repairs (new roof, new AC etc., etc.) I know a former Ridgewood resident who had a house that is probably similar in size to yours. He and his wife are empty nesters and they decided to move to an apartment in Manhattan. They have a 2br, 2bath unit with a doorman and pay $6000/mo. When I commented that it appears that it would have been less expensive to simply stay put in Ridgewood he laid out the cost for me and guess what they totaled about $6000/mo. The Ridgewood developers are talking about $3000/mo for 2br/2br. Granted Ridgewood does not compare with the Big Apple but for the difference in rent a couple could easily afford to go into the city several times a month …..and still have a few bucks left over.
Stop & Shop files suit against Bergen County over open records
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014, 7:25 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014, 5:32 PM BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
Stop & Shop Supermarket LLC has filed a lawsuit against Bergen County, claiming the county’s failure to turn over relevant public documents in a timely manner hindered the company’s appeal of a plan for a rival ShopRite Supermarket in Wyckoff.
Lawyers for Stop & Shop contend that county officials withheld a county engineer’s report on the project until nearly three years after the company’s original public records request.
VILLAGE BUSTED! September 18,2014 Boyd A. Loving 9:54 AM
Ridgewood NJ, During Wednesday evening’s Ridgewood Village Council Work Session, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld made an extremely surprising announcement –
Land acquired by the Village using Green Acres funds was subsequently sold in 1982, yes 32 years ago, for purposes of creating a low/moderate income housing development. The sale of property acquired with the assistance of Green Acres funds is prohibited by law, with few exceptions, and without the prior approval of State of NJ Department of Environmental (NJDEP) officials.
The property in question is located on the west side of South Broad Street, between Edwards Street and Highwood Avenue. Prior to its sale, it served as a public park – there was playground equipment and a partially covered pavilion on the property. A long time South Broad Street property owner recalls the park being closed at the request of neighbors because it had become a magnet for drug activity in the area.
The partially covered pavilion was dismantled and placed into storage; it was subsequently reconstructed at Graydon Pool near the snack bar and patio area and is still in place there. The playground equipment, swings and seesaws, was likely discarded after being dismantled.
NJDEP officials recently contacted the Village after an audit revealed a disconnect between the Village’s inventory of open space and the State of NJ’s open space records. Restitution for the unlawful disposition of Green Acres acquired property is now expected in the form of purchasing additional open space – in a 5 to 1 ratio – that is, 5 times more open space must be acquired than was sold. Additionally, the new property must be outfitted with essentially the same amenities – it has to be a playground with a partially covered sitting area.
Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that Village officials are currently negotiating the purchase of property in connection with the State’s mandate to make restitution. In all likelihood, two (2) parcels will be purchased to meet the “5 to 1 ratio” requirement. No information was publicly provided at the Council Work Session as to the location of parcels targeted for purchase.
Update – “No deal” yet with Midland Park to use Central Dispatch September 18,2014 Boyd A. Loving 8:48 AM
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld announced publicly on Wednesday, 09/17 that no official deal had yet been reached regarding the provision of 911 call answering and radio dispatch services to the Borough of Midland Park by Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch (NWBCD). NWBCD is jointly owed by the Borough of Glen Rock and the Village of Ridgewood.
It is rumored that neither Sonenfeld nor Lenora Benjamin, Glen Rock’s Borough Administrator, were kept completely “in the loop” regarding discussions with Midland Park. Pricing, staffing levels, and the possibility of radio frequency congestion are rumored to be open issues.
Governing bodies of both Glen Rock and Ridgewood are now reviewing the proposal and will have their respective municipal attorneys draft a contract for review and signature by Midland Park officials once all open issues have been satisfactorily resolved.
Parking Meter Scandal : he could not have acted alone
Readers continue to speculate on parking meter security issues and continue to come up with one resounding conclusion ,he could not have acted alone .
Even a $41 million renovation of the Ridgewood Train station did not change the out dated parking meter system .
While ,Village officials said a forensic accounting firm has been retained to examine how a former employee managed to steal $460,000 in quarters from parking meters.
Although I’m not convinced that all meters would need to be replaced in order to implement a closed container/collection system, I’ll give the Village Manager the benefit of the doubt.
But, at a minimum, they should deep six those open white paint buckets/pickle containers and have all collectors use the carts depicted here:
https://www.pom.com/collectionsystems.htm
Continuing to use those buckets is a huge security risk, for the individual collecting monies (holdup/robbery) and for taxpayers (shrinkage).
It is actually very funny that we can’t afford to secure the Villages’s cash. I’m sure there is a solution out there that costs less than $460,000.
They made a deal and I’m hoping the whole story will come out eventually. Who in the police dept. is/are being protected?
Yet again, taxpayers getting screwed to protect some mob/union crony(ies) in Village Hall and/or the PD. Put in smart meters like NYC and let people use credit cards… how are we doing on Tommy Boy’s restitution ? Is he paying us back every week? The guy is obviously a wise guy, and refused to rat out his minders in Village Hall.
Village of Ridgewood Advisory – SIDEWALK CLOSED – NORTH BROAD STREET CROSSWALK
PEDERSTIAN ADVISORY –
CLOSED – North Broad Street Crosswalk will be closed to Pedestrian Traffic. This includes the entire sidewalk at times.
Please use the Eastside Stairs near the Taxi Stand.
Alternative routes available to use are the Pedestrian Tunnel or the Garber Square Sidewalk if you are under the train trestle.
A temporary Crosswalk will be available near the Taxi Stand.
September – ROAD WORK, ROAD CLOSURE OR CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
Below, please find the road details and permits, which could cause traffic delays, for today, September 17, 2014:
Road work, Utility Emergency, Road Closure or Construction:
TRAFFIC ALERT:
The Garber Square paving project — Garber Square open, both directions for today.
TRANSIT ADVISORY:
Beginning Wednesday, September 17, 2014, North Broad Street Walkway will be closed to Pedestrain Traffic. This will include the entire sidewalk at all times. Please use the Eastside stairs to go up to the Platform then down the stairs near the Taxi Stand.
Alternate routes available to use: The Pedestrian Tunnel or the Garber Square Sidewalk if you are under the train trestle. A temporary crosswalk will be available neat the taxi stand.
Rare enterovirus confirmed in NJ child; 4 others being checked in Bergen County
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014, 12:57 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014, 12:42 AM BY MARY JO LAYTON AND ANDREW WYRICH STAFF WRITERS THE RECORD Print
The rare respiratory illness that is sending some children to the hospital in a dozen states has reached New Jersey, with federal health experts confirming a case from the Garden State that was reported from a Philadelphia hospital, officials said Wednesday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the New Jersey child is recovering from the illness caused by enterovirus D68, according to the state Health Department.
Meanwhile, The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood has admitted four children who tested positive for enterovirus, a common class of virus that produces some 10 million to 15 million cases annually in the U.S. each year, with varying symptoms and degrees of severity. But tests haven’t confirmed whether it’s the more rare enterovirus D68, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Related: Kids with asthma or wheezing face most danger from respiratory virus
About a dozen specimens from counties statewide were sent to the CDC on Wednesday to determine if they are the same virus, known as EV-D68, which can cause fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and body and muscle aches, state officials said. In the most serious cases, it causes severe breathing problems. The EV-D68 virus is not new but it seems to be a more virulent form than in previous years, doctors have said.
Officials would not identify where the child treated in Philadelphia lives nor would they say from which counties samples were sent.
In Bergen County, Emerson School Superintendent Brian Gatens sent an email Tuesday night to more than 1,000 parents reporting that a Memorial Elementary School girl was being treated for symptoms that were associated with the virus. The school has students in pre-K to second grade.
The girl was being treated at a local hospital as if she has the virus and was expected to be released Wednesday, school officials said. It has not been determined if the specimen samples are positive for the virus.
As with any illness that causes widespread concern, there are far more suspected cases of EV-D68 than confirmed. From mid-August to Sept. 16, 130 people in 12 states have been confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by EV-D68, the CDC reported.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/rare-enterovirus-confirmed-in-nj-child-4-others-being-checked-in-bergen-county-1.1089838#sthash.qb6MTbRz.dpuf
Census data show poverty up, incomes down as NJ economic recovery lags
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014, 12:48 AM BY KATHLEEN LYNN AND DAVE SHEINGOLD STAFF WRITERS
Despite a growing national economy, New Jersey’s weak job market led to lower incomes and a higher poverty rate in the state last year, the Census Bureau said Wednesday. Bergen and Passaic counties were hit especially hard.
Wide disparities
Households in North Jersey generally lost ground financially in 2013, while those in and around New York City fared better.
Median household incomes:
New Jersey
Bergen County: down 2.7 percent
Passaic County: down 1.7 percent
Hudson County: down 3.9 percent
Morris County: up 3.6 percent
New York
Manhattan: up 6 percent
Brooklyn: up 3.6 percent
Staten Island: down 3.3 percent
Nassau: up 1.7 percent
Westchester County: up 7.4 percent
The recession ended in 2009, but a wide range of census measures showed New Jersey was still feeling its effects in 2013. Food stamp use rose; the homeownership rate dropped. Families were more likely to delay having children or decide against paying private-school tuition.
Although one year’s census figures do not indicate a trend, New Jersey’s numbers have generally been tracking in the same direction since the recession. Offering some hope for a better 2014 in New Jersey, experts say a recent drop in unemployment, as well as a higher minimum wage, could mean that incomes have started to rise, and poverty rates to fall, this year.
But in 2013, median household incomes in New Jersey, adjusted for inflation, dropped by 0.7 percent, to an estimated $70,165, mirroring similar declines in surrounding states. New Jersey incomes, after inflation, have dropped 9 percent since 2000, and 6.8 percent from 2007, right before the recession hit.
Nationally, household incomes were essentially flat last year, at about $52,000.
Where the Bergen County candidates stand: open space
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014, 12:34 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014, 12:44 PM BY JOHN ENSSLIN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
There are 49 days left until Election Day. We continue our series on how the candidates for Bergen County Executive and Freeholder stand on the issues with the question of Open Space.
From The Bergen Beat Blog on NorthJersey.com
In May 2013, the Freeholders rejected the advice of an advisory panel that wanted the county to double its open space tax.
Panel members argued that the amount of funds generated by the tax is insufficient and noted that Bergen ranked last among the 21 New Jersey counties that have an open space tax.
They contend the competition for those funds will be increased now that Open Space funds can be used for so-called “Blue Acres” projects that acquire and demolish flood-prone properties.
This year, Bergen County was able to add $16.8 million to the fund by diverting Open Space funds for about 100 project where there was money left over or unspent.
Here’s the question posed to this year’s candidates:
Open Space advocates contend the county’s current fund is small compared to the number of competing projects, especially now that so-called “Blue Acres” projects are an approved use. What is your view on raising the county’s open space tax?
And here is what they had to say:
Freeholder and County Executive candidate James Tedesco (Democrat):
“While having the Open Space Tax set to at least one half cent would allow us to qualify for matching grants, it does place a greater burden on our residents.
“I feel that the voters deserve a say just as they had in the past and trust that they will vote to fund worthwhile projects.
“The open space program provides grants to every town in Bergen County that applies and gives municipalities the ability to pursue preservation and recreation projects they might not otherwise be able to fund.”
County Executive Kathleen Donovan (Republican)
“The focus on my administration has been doing more with less.
“While I feel that open space is important I felt raising the open space tax was not the prudent thing to do. Another factor that went into my decision was the fact that we will be collecting unspent and leftover funds from previous open space projects.
“This money will then go back into the general open space fund for use on new projects. While we will not be raising the open space tax the fund will have an injection of money.
“On a side note with regarding the Blue Acres money, the county DPW has partnered with municipalities such as Westwood in order to make their Blue Acres money go further.
“The county has come in as a shared service using our heavy equipment to tear down the homes purchased by the town. This allows the municipality to then use the money saved on the demolition to purchase more property.”
“The Blue Acres funding is only relevant in select areas of the county that are negatively impacted by flooding. However, all of the 70 municipalities use the County Parks and Open Space areas.
“Working with the Municipalities to explore Federal granting opportunities to bring their individual open space plans to fruition is something I’d like to champion.”
Freeholder candidate Robert Avery (Republican):
“I am not in favor of raising the tax. As we know, our current rate is .25% of a penny and the state permits up to a one full penny rate. Something worth exploring here is that it may be time for the State to consider new legislation on the rate process, especially since Hurricane Sandy and Blue Acres.
Meet the U.S. Senate Candidate Running to Restore the Gold Standard in a Deep Blue Northeastern State
For conservatives, libertarians, independents and disaffected Democrats, the most intriguing dark horse senatorial candidate in 2014 might just be a 70-year old New Jerseyan you’ve never heard of.
When Jeff Bell last won election – as the Republican nominee for the same U.S. Senate seat he seeks today in New Jersey – Jimmy Carter had not yet delivered his infamous “malaise” speech. Long-term interest rates hovered above 8%. Bell’s current opponent, Senator Cory Booker, was a child.
A self described “policy wonk” and “political junkie,” Bell unseated incumbent Republican senator, Clifford Case, in a major upset in that 1978 primary, before losing the general election to former NBA star and future presidential candidate Bill Bradley. No Republican has ever been elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey since.
In 1982, the then-39 year old Columbia graduate, who started contributing to National Review in the 1960s, served as an aide to the Nixon campaign in 1968; fought in Vietnam; worked on the 1976 and 1980 Reagan campaigns; and would attempt — unsuccessfully — to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in New Jersey again following the resignation of a Democratic senator convicted for bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam scandal fictionalized in the 2013 film, “American Hustle.”
While he would notably later serve as national campaign coordinator for Rep. Jack Kemp in his 2000 presidential bid, the majority of Bell’s career was spent focusing on advancing policy over politics. Bell served a short stint as president of the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank, as well as lengthier tenures at an economic and political forecasting firm, Lehrman Bell Mueller Canon, a public affairs firm, Capital City Partners, and in academia as a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and visiting professor at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute.
Bell also wrote columns for publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Weekly Standard, and published two books including the 2012 title, “The Case for Polarized Politics: Why America Needs Social Conservatism,” and the 1992 title “Populism and Elitism: Politics in the Age of Equality.”
The deep divisions among Democrats over President Barack Obama’s plan to attack Islamic State militants foreshadow fights ahead within the party over how aggressively to assert itself on foreign policy. A growing number of rank-and-file Democrats are worried that the president’s plans would commit the United States to an open-ended conflict against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, costing the country blood and treasure in another unpredictable Mideast war. Yet party leaders and senior Democrats believe now is the time to stand behind the commander in chief, given the lack of viable options and the deepening crisis threatening to plunge the region into further turmoil. (Raju, Kim/Politico)
or perhaps President Obama’s Teleprompter because Booker always says the same failed policies
U.S. Senate race: Bell wants Gill at a podium to sub for Booker in three debates
Irritated at U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) for resisting two debate forums, Republican challenger Jeff Bell said he wants a substitute showdown with Booker Campaign Manager Brendan Gill, an Essex County Freeholder and the former state director for the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
