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>New 9/11 curriculum available for schools

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New 9/11 curriculum available for schools

The start of the 2011-2012 school year coincides with a focal event in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region: the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Just in time for the commemoration of this dark event in our nation’s history, a new 9/11 curriculum is now available to the Garden State students and educators trying to make sense of the events and issues linked to that fateful day.

The 4 Action Initiative, a collaborative effort involving Families of September 11, the Liberty Science Center, and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, created the new curriculum, entitled “Learning from the Challenges of Our Times: Global Security, Terrorism and 9/11 in the Classroom.”

The more than 50 lessons contained in this curriculum, which is divided into elementary, middle and high school lesson plans and themes, were developed, piloted in more than 60 New Jersey school districts, revised and refined by curriculum developers and the 4 Action Initiative team, according to the curriculum’s introductory letter.  (Bonamo, The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/129935943_New_9_11_curriculum_available_for_schools_.html
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>AAA asks fed to stop bridge, tunnel toll hike

>AAA asks fed to stop bridge, tunnel toll hike
By CHRIS HAWLEY

NEW YORK — AAA is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to block a plan to increase tolls by as much as 50 percent on the bridges and tunnels between New York City and New Jersey beginning Sunday, saying the hikes violate federal law.

Besides the sticker shock to commuters, the motorists group said Thursday that it objects to using toll revenues for building the new World Trade Center at the site owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“One of our primary missions is to make sure that any tolls and revenue and any user fees go back into transportation,” said Marta Genovese, vice president of legal affairs for AAA. “But in this case it’s going into a speculative office development.”

https://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=resources/traffic&id=8355716

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>State Comptroller’s report slams the state’s pay to play laws governing local contracts

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State Comptroller’s report slams the state’s pay to play laws governing local contracts

Governor’s spokesman Michael Drewniak today responded to a state Comptroller’s report slamming the state’s pay to play laws governing local contracts.

Drewniak said it’s time for the legislature to act on comprehensive reforms to the pay to play laws.
“The time for excuses and inaction from the Democratically controlled legislature is over: We must expand pay-to-play laws to all levels of government and stop this corrosive, corrupting process involving local contracts.  The report today from state Comptroller Matthew Boxer makes an urgent, crystal clear case for reform,” Drewniak said.

Last year, Gov. Chris Christie proposed a series of ethics reforms that included the elimination of the fair and open loophole decried by Comptroller Matthew Boxer in a report issued earlier today.  Among the proposed changes were the inclusion of labor unions in pay to play legislation and a prohibition on wheeling, which is funneling campaign donations though another entity to circumvent pay to play regulations.  (Isherwood, PolitickerNJ)

https://www.politickernj.com/50922/govs-office-responds-pay-play-report
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>Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming

>Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming 
Published September 14, 2011
FoxNews.com

Dr. Ivar Giaever, a former professor with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the 1973 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday, Sept. 13, from the premier physics society in disgust over its officially stated policy that “global warming is occurring.”

The official position of the American Physical Society (APS) supports the theory that man’s actions have inexorably led to the warming of the planet, through increased emissions of carbon dioxide.

Giaever does not agree — and put it bluntly and succinctly in the subject line of his email, reprinted at Climate Depot, a website devoted to debunking the theory of man-made climate change.

“I resign from APS,” Giaever wrote.

Giaever was cooled to the statement on warming theory by a line claiming that “the evidence is incontrovertible.”

“In the APS it is ok to discuss whether the mass of the proton changes over time and how a multi-universe behaves, but the evidence of global warming is incontrovertible?” he wrote in an email to Kate Kirby, executive officer of the physics society.

“The claim … is that the temperature has changed from ~288.0 to ~288.8 degree Kelvin in about 150 years, which (if true) means to me is that the temperature has been amazingly stable, and both human health and happiness have definitely improved in this ‘warming’ period,” his email message said.

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/09/14/nobel-prize-winning-physicist-resigns-from-top-physics-group-over-global/#ixzz1Y3RkmizG

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>NJ town yanks 9/11 marker with politicians’ names

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NJ town yanks 9/11 marker with politicians’ names

Apologetic officials in a small New Jersey town rushed Wednesday to remove a stone marker commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks amid an uproar about what the monument didn’t include — any reference to what happened, or the victims — and what it did — the names of the mayor and other local officials.

Samir Elbassiouny, mayor of Washington Township, a 6,600-resident community in northwest New Jersey’s Warren County, said he did not mean to put up a marker that looked as if it was about officials, not the victims.

He also said people who were so angry about the sign were blowing it out of proportion.
“The most important thing is for us not to take away from the intent of the event. It’s truly a misunderstanding,” he said. “The intent is to honor the victims of 9/11.”  (Associated Press)

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/09/14/us/politics/AP-US-Sept-11-Memorial-Marker-Yanked.html?_r=1&scp=13&sq=jersey&st=nyt
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>Mount Holly Housing decision reversed

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Mount Holly Housing decision reversed

Residents of a Mount Holly redevelopment plan have won a federal court appeal in a discrimination case and will get their day in court.

In reversing the decision of a federal district court in Camden that favored the municipality, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said the lower court needed to develop more facts to decide whether redevelopment of the Mount Holly Gardens neighborhood discriminates against its primarily low-income and minority residents.

Most of the more than 300 houses in the blighted neighborhood already have been torn down and residents displaced by the township. A federal court order halted further demolition in March pending the appeal.
It what could be a precedent-setting case, the appeals court sent the lawsuit back to U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman for further discovery of facts, which could lead either to a trial or to another summary judgment hearing without a trial.  (Comegno, Gannett)

https://www.app.com/article/BZ/20110915/NEWS01/309150006/Housing-decision-reversed
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>Stuck on Stupid: N.J. taxpayers picking up $420K to cover ‘Jersey Shore’ production costs

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N.J. taxpayers picking up $420K to cover ‘Jersey Shore’ production costs

New Jersey residents got their bar tab today from the cast of the hit television show the “Jersey Shore” — and it was a big one.

Taxpayers will be picking up to $420,000 of the production costs from the show’s inaugural 2009 season under a state film tax credit approved today by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
The approval was part of the first round of film tax credits awarded by the EDA since Gov. Chris Christie suspended the program in 2010 to close budget deficit, and state officials said it was based on a set of strict guidelines that is blind to the show’s content.

But, news of the award drew sharp criticism from some the state’s biggest critics of the tax incentive program.
“I can’t believe we are paying for fake tanning for ‘Snooki’ and ‘The Situation’, and I am not even sure $420,000 covers that,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “This is a great investment for the taxpayers, as if they can make a show called ‘Jersey Shore’ anywhere else.”  (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/nj_taxpayers_never_bought_snoo.html
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>Jerseyan’s credit card debt drops 13.5 percent

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Jerseyan’s credit card debt drops 13.5 percent

Borrowing to buy has been trending downward as many people, dogged by rising poverty, high unemployment and falling incomes — and spurred by the fear that comes with it all — put their financial houses in order.

A report released Wednesday by CreditKarma.com, a free credit management website, shows that credit card debt nationally fell by a whopping 18 percent from August 2010 to last month.

“The relative uncertainty of the current job market has forced consumers to live within their means and focus on being financially responsible,” said Kenneth Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.

Lin said the figures are based on a survey of about a quarter of a million consumers.
The average credit card debt for New Jersey consumers fell from $8,475 to $7,326 year over year — about a 13.5 percent decline.  (Serrano, Gannett)

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110914/NJNEWS/309140046/Report-NJ-residents-have-second-highest-debt-and-credit-score-nationwide
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>Ridgewood council keeping municipal elections in May

>Ridgewood council keeping municipal elections in May

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood’s council members reached a consensus that the village should keep its municipal elections in May rather than move them to November.

Eschewing arguments of tax dollar savings and higher voter turnout, council members instead concluded at last Wednesday’s meeting that the non-partisan nature of village elections would be at risk should the ballots be moved to November, when general and presidential elections are held.

November elections would put municipal candidates on the same ballot as candidates in other elections, and although Ridgewood candidates would not be listed under a political party, voters may not realize the non-partisan nature of the local election due to the layout of the ballots or other reasons, officials said.

https://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/129796073_Ridgewood_council_keeping_municipal_elections_in_May.html

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>Penn Jillette, "Big" John McCarthy and Jermaine Jackson @ BOOKENDS

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GodNo theridgewoodblog.net

Penn Jillette Thursday, September 15th @ 7:00pm
From Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette, will sign his new book:  God, No!  Books available Sept. 1st

LetsGetItOn theridgewoodblog.net

“Big” John McCarthy Friday,September 16th @ 7:00pm
Legendary UFC Referee, “Big John McCarthy will sign his new book: Let’s Get On It Books available Sept. 1st

JermaineJackson theridgewoodblog.net

Jermaine Jackson Saturday, September 17  @ 1:00pm
World Famous Singer, Jermaine Jackson, will sign his new book:  You are Not Alone Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes Books available Sept. 13th

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.Please call the store for details.

Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ   07450   201-445-0726

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>DONNA PEDERSEN IS ASHBY AWARD WINNER

>DONNA PEDERSEN IS ASHBY AWARD WINNER

The 2011 winner of the coveted Ashby Award is Donna Pedersen, First Grade Teacher at Ridge Elementary School. Donna has been with the Ridgewood Public Schools since January 1, 1983, when she first entered the teaching profession.  Donna received a B.S. in Elementary Education and Rehabilitation from Springfield College, and an M.S. in Special Education from C. W. Post. Congratulations, Donna!

Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s remarks at the Ashby Award presentation at Convocation on September 1 : https://tinyurl.com/3gq69gf

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>I’d much rather have teachers than astroturf and lights in a flood zone.

>I’d much rather have teachers than astroturf and lights in a flood zone. 

If the people charged with spending this money had used their heads, we would not have a result that will require endless, expensive repairs.

If the firm installing it won’t even guarantee it… then why was such a decision ever made? This is what we pay higher than other towns for?

When I went to school here (K-12) it was the baby boom and nearly all classes had 30 or more kids. The field use was very high too, and we didn’t need astroturf nor lights despite many more in schools than today.

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>RHS students named as National Merit semifinalists

>RHS students named as National Merit semifinalists

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Four students from Ridgewood High School have been named as semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million.

The Ridgewood students are Chongsuh Chun, Junyoung Kim, Elizabeth A. Mattson and Lan Wang.

About 90 percent of the nation’s semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/129806153_RHS_students_named_as_National_Merit_semifinalists.html

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>Cell Tower Hearing Postponed until January 24, 2012!

>Cell Tower Hearing Postponed until January 24, 2012!

RIDGEWOOD – NJ) Bruce Whitaker, the Zoning Board Attorney, has received a request from T-Mobile to postpone their application before the Board until after the New Year.  The Village is looking to a January 24th hearing date. Announcement will be forth coming  on September 27th.


https://tinyurl.com/3u9cvfn

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>Fine Print: New Jersey’s SAT profile, 2011

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Fine Print: New Jersey’s SAT profile, 2011

What it is: The College Board each year releases the mean SAT scores and other data for millions of college-bound students, broken down both nationally and state by state. The SAT scores are the most closely monitored, but the report also provides extensive data on courses and grades.

Why it matters: This year, much of the attention is on the sudden drop in the mean scores across the country, on every test, with reading scores the lowest on record. In New Jersey, the overall math score rose slightly, up two points, while reading and writing stayed the same. But the state’s public school numbers were not as promising, falling an overall 11 points on all three tests.

The numbers everyone cares about: New Jersey saw no change in its overall mean scores in reading (495) and writing (497), and the slight rise in math (516), each of them out of a maximum of 800. The reading score remains a little below the national mean (497), but the state slightly topped the national norm in both math (514) and writing (489). Still, New Jersey’s public school numbers were more troubling, falling three or four points in each of the tests, to 492 in reading, 516 in math and 494 in writing.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0915/0129/