>Father’s Day celebrates its 100th anniversary today
Council members in Spokane, Wash., created the first Father’s Day in 1910 to honor William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who raised six children on a farm. Spokane’s celebration was held June 19, 1910.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. President Nixon, in 1972, established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father’s Day was born as a token of love and gratitude that a daughter cherishes for her beloved father. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.(https://www.theholidayspot.com/fathersday/history.htm)
Former President Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation in 1966 designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Former President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
Fast facts about fathers in the U.S.:
There are an estimated 67.8 million fathers across the nation, census data shows.
There are an estimated 67.8 million fathers across the nation, census data shows.
About 25.8 million fathers were part of married-couple families with children younger than 18, census data from 2009 shows.
Of the 1.7 million single fathers in 2009, 47 percent were divorced, 29 percent never married, 18 percent separated and 5 percent were widowed, data shows.
There were about 158,000 stay-at-home dads in 2009, census data shows. These fathers, married with children younger than 15, have remained out of the work force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the children while their wives work outside the home. The father cared for about 290,000 children.
Custodial fathers received $2.8 billion in child support payments in 2007 of the $4.3 billion they were due. Custodial mothers, by contrast, received $18.6 billion of the $29.8 billion that was due, a report from the census bureau shows.
Seventy-one percent of children younger than 6 years old ate dinner with their father every day in 2006, data shows. About 53 percent ate breakfast together.
Children ages 3 to 5 were read to an average of six times in a week, as of 2006, census data states. (https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/f2be9dab-41b6-517f-88d6-a81f9950d1d2.html)
Winnie & Belle, a gift shop at 293 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, east of the traffic light at Prospect St., will donate 20% of all proceeds to The Preserve Graydon Coalition this Fri./Sat. only, June 18–19, 10:30–5:30. Mail orders (call 201-389-3898) and gift certificates, too.
Proprietor/designer Mari Keating Schofield creates gift bags, baby gifts, découpage light switch plates, and much more. She is offering her unique Graydon-themed costume jewelry in adult and children’s sizes, for which the Coalition will receive 15% of the price even after the two-day 20% donation period expires.
Why not wear your Graydon bracelet or anklet to Graydon this weekend?
Plenty of street parking directly behind shop on Post Street. No meters!
Details and photos: Read Mari’s Graydon memories and funny photo captions on Patch.com
Our announcement of Mari’s sale on Patch.com
Our first announcement about this sale
Swimmingly, Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation “It’s clear—we love Graydon!” [email protected] https://www.preservegraydon.org/
Gift shop’s Graydon fundraiser this Fri./Sat., June 18-19 And unique Preserve Graydon jewelry all summer long
“Graydon” child bracelet
Wyckoff resident Mari Keating Schofield, whose unique jewelry you’ll remember from our Holiday Bazaar last November, fondly recalls her childhood summers at Graydon Pool.
As a result, she has generously offered to donate to The Preserve Graydon Coalition 15% of all sales of Graydon bracelets, anklets, and more for children and adults from her new shop, winnie & belle, 293 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, 201-389-3898, [email protected].
In addition, this Friday and Saturday ONLY, June 18 and 19, Mari will donate 20% of ALL SALES to The Preserve Graydon Coalition. Perfect presents: Gift bags for teachers, nannies, tutors, crossing guards Gifts for bridal and wedding parties Day at the Beach canvas bags Hand-printed cards Hand-painted baby onesies, sets of baby undershirt and socks, and more (order a red pail and yellow shovel design for a tiny Graydon fan?)
Mari’s handmade items make great graduation and teacher/tutor appreciation gifts. They’re fun to send to kids at camp and to Ridgewood friends who have moved away, and of course to keep for yourself. How about matching Graydon bracelets for parents and children?
Swimmingly, Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation “It’s clear—we love Graydon!” [email protected] https://www.preservegraydon.org/
The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.
On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.
Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as ‘Flag Day’, and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.
Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children’s celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.
Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”
Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day -the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
The staff stopped counting at 1200 people on Saturday, June 5. Pool manager Steve Diamond said it was the biggest opening day crowd in 5 or 6 years.
Open for business: Last weekend Graydon had its biggest opening day in 5 or 6 years, said pool manager Steve Diamond. What a great community gathering place!
The water sparkled. Gone were the algae seen on Memorial Day. Deputy Mayor Keith Killion stopped by. Mayor David Pfund arrived with his family and took a dip. Also on hand appreciating the large crowd were Council members-elect Tom Riche and Bernie Walsh.
Operation in June: Saturday/Sunday: 10 am to 7:30 pm Mon.–Fri. through June 25: Noon to 7:30 pm June 28–30: 10 am to 7:30 pm
Have you bought your badge yet? If not, here’s how:
Ridgewood, Midland Park, and Ho-Ho-Kus residents: Join here https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/department_detail.cfm?dept_id=41 or at the badge office at Graydon until 7 pm any day.
Graydon admirers from any other town may be sponsored with this application form by an adult Ridgewood resident holding a current badge. Allow up to a week for processing of sponsored applications.
Graydon on parade Lucy Rieger seeks participants for a possible celebration of Graydon Park’s centennial in Ridgewood’s Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 5. This will happen only if volunteers come forward quickly. To participate or help, please contact her at [email protected] or 201-826-5086 (cell).
Lots more summer fun to come. Send us your photos of Graydon activities. Swimmingly,
RIDGEWOOD — The Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) issued a statement Friday regarding a petition sent to school officials urging the BOE to ask the village’s Planning Board to commission an environmental impact study.
The study, the petition states, should be conducted before the Planning Board votes on a Master Plan amendment required for Valley Hospital’s “Renewal” plans to move forward.
At a Planning Board meeting on Monday night, at least four residents pleaded with the board to hire a specialist to conduct the environmental impact study. The residents believe the study will help predict the future effects of any construction at the site and the surrounding area.
A group of parents with children in the Ridgewood Public Schools made a last-ditch effort to request the study and crafted a petition June 3. The petition, which began circulating June 4, asked the superintendent of schools and the Board of Education to press the Planning Board for the study.
Ridgewood Board of Education President Michele Lenhard and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein issued the following statement Friday:
“In keeping with the Board and superintendent’s responsibility to ensure the safety, health and education of the district’s students, we respect the concerns of the community members who signed the petition and we appreciate their request for more information via an environmental health impact study prior to the Planning Board’s vote.
“We agree that an independent environmental study is important. Such a study is typically completed as part of a full site review, once the Planning Board has examined detailed engineering and architectural plans and approved construction. Whether that timetable should be altered and an environmental impact study conducted prior to the vote to amend the Master Plan cannot be determined by the Ridgewood Board of Education. We trust the Village Planning Board, as the body responsible to ensuring our community’s interests and protecting the health of all residents, to make such determinations as they see necessary.
“Safeguarding the health and safety of our students is the number one priority of the Ridgewood Board of Education and school administration. In testimony submitted to the Planning Board on June 17, 2009, we voiced specific health, safety, and educational concerns that may arise should the Master Plan be amended and the Valley Hospital expansion go forward. If an amendment is approved, it will be important to clarify how acceptable levels of air quality can be maintained for the duration of the Valley Hospital Renewal Project. Should the Valley Renewal project proceed to construction, we will work closely with the Village Engineer and Valley Hospital administration to make sure that the Ridgewood Public Schools students and staff are fully safeguarded.”
Although nearly 700 people signed the petition in four days, the Planning Board could not officially accept it into the record since its attorney, Gail Price, said the signatures could not be verified. She did, however, accept the petition as part of an unofficial file on the proceedings.
“Petitions are not admissible in evidence in proceedings such as the Planning Board area unless everyone who signed the petition is present,” Price said. “It certainly can be accepted into the file that’s being kept on behalf of this matter, and I recommend that that happen.”
>Fireworks Tickets for July 4th Celebraton Celebraton is on Monday, July 5
Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Evening Activities and Fireworks Tickets Monday, July 5th, 2010 Alternate Date – Tuesday, July 6th Veteran’s Field, Ridgewood, New Jersey July 4th in Ridgewood is a very special day that our entire area looks forward to all year. In 2010, the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee will sponsor its 100th anniversary with our flag raising, parade and fireworks. This year’s theme is “100 Years of Supporting the Tradition.” The committee is an all-volunteer community group that coordinates the day’s events and does not receive direct funding from the Village of Ridgewood. July 4th is a Sunday this year, but the national holiday is on Monday, July 5th. Therefore, our celebration will be on Monday, July 5th. We are actively preparing for what we know will be a spectacular 100th celebration, it is vital that we have community support. Please consider helping to “Support the Tradition”. Because of generous support from the community, we have one of the best small town Independence Day celebrations. While the Parade is free, Fireworks Tickets are required for entrance to Vet’s Field. Donations for Fireworks Tickets is one of the Celebration’s largest sources of income. Tickets to the Evening Entertainment and Fireworks will be on sale June 1 at the locations below. Buy your tickets in advance for $5.00 and save 50% off the gate price of $10.00. 1. Backyard Living- 235 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-689-9111 2. Daily Treat- 177 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-652-9113 3. Goffle Brook Farm- 425 Goffle Road, Ridgewood, 201-652-7540 4. Harding Wines and Spirits- 305 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-445-7122 5. Herold’s Farm & Garden Center- 909 Prospect Street, Glen Rock, 201-445-0069 6. Hillman Electric- 133 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, 201-652-1045 7. Hogan’s Restaurant Diner- 20 Central Avenue, Midland Park, 201-445-2849 8. Hoskins Propane, 523 Goffle Road, Ridgewood, 201-444-1950 9. Irish Eyes- 1 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, 201-445-8585 10. JT’s Wines and Spirits- 607 N. Maple Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus, 201-652-2220
Graydon opens for the season THIS Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, 10 AM to 7:30 PM.
Ridgewood residents, bring proof of address for free admission all weekend.
Badges will be sold at Graydon starting Saturday, or online at any time: graydon.ridgewoodnj.net.
The John Oakes Band will play party rock-’n’-roll from the ’50s and beyond. Saturday, 12 to 4 PM (rain date: Sunday).
Early badge sales have been strong. Help keep the momentum going:
Spread the word. The beach in our back yard is the place to be this summer. Enjoy a swim and the new amenities. Did you know that residents of Midland Park and Ho-Ho-Kus can join without needing a sponsor? In addition, residents of other towns can join if sponsored (vouched for) by a Ridgewood badge holder. Download the sponsorship application here. Note: sponsorship applications can take up to a week to process. Sponsored badges can’t be purchased on the spot.
Tell new residents. On Tuesday we mailed about 600 letters to people who had moved to Ridgewood and Midland Park in the past year or so. If you have any new friends or acquaintances in those towns, download the appropriate letter (letter to new Ridgewood resident) (letter to new Midland Park resident) and send it along. Remind Ho-Ho-Kus residents that thanks to an arrangement between the towns, renewed annually, they can join, too.
Purchasing a badge shows your support to keep Graydon natural. On May 22, some people buying badges at Graydon said they were doing so to support the preservation of Graydon. We believe they’ll find reasons to stop by and be glad they did, whether they swim or not. They can relax…borrow a book from the free Graydon Summer Lending Library…play ping-pong, basketball, volleyball, cards.
Invite your friends. Guest pass: $10. If you have any guest coupons from last year, use them. They will expire on Labor Day.
Sad note at a festive time. We are sorry to report that Councilwoman Anne Zusy died Thursday morning after an illness. Annie enjoyed Graydon often with her family. We will miss her energy and enthusiasm.
See you this weekend.
Swimmingly, Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation “It’s clear—we love Graydon!” [email protected] https://www.preservegraydon.org/
Celebration is offering a special edition T-Shirt to
commemorate it’s 100th anniversary. The shirts are
imprinted with art work from the cover of the 1910 Ridgewood
Independence Day program. These attractive T-Shirts also
gain the wearer entrance to the 2010 Evening Entertainment
and Fireworks. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will
help fund the 100th Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration.
The shirts can be purchased from our website, The Ridgewood Fourth of Julyhttps://www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org/ , or at La Casita, 158 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood.
The Christie administration submitted an application for up to $400 million in federal education funding that rejected key points the New Jersey Education Association and the governor’s own commissioner of education, Bret Schundler, hammered out last Thursday.
In discarding the compromise, Christie publicly scolded Schundler for agreeing to the deal without his approval.
At the same time, NJEA officials said they were stunned to learn the document submitted to the U.S. Department of Education did not contain the agreements on merit pay and tenure they had worked out with Schundler last week. Those same officials said there is now no chance the union will support the application — which could doom the submission.
The union’s president, Barbara Keshishian, accused Christie of “bait and switch.” She said “the governor has once again chosen the path of conflict.”
The union said it learned of the reversal when it called Schundler’s office Tuesday for an update.
Christie, who has engaged in a sustained attack on the NJEA since last year’s gubernatorial campaign, was unfazed by the union’s reaction. He minced no words in blaming Schundler either, stressing he will not budge from his core beliefs on how New Jersey’s schools can be improved.
“This is my administration, I’m responsible for it, and I make the decisions,” Christie told reporters during a news conference in West Trenton. “I’m sure we’ll have disagreements in the future. Hopefully, we’ll just handle them a little differently.”
RIDGEWOOD – A growing number of parents are opposed to The Valley Hospital’s plan to double in size, fearing years of construction will expose middle school students to health hazards and disruptions in learning.
Even though the issue has been debated for three years in the village, more parents are voicing concerns as the Planning Board is nearing a vote this month on proposed changes to the master plan that would allow the $750 million project.
E-mail chains are circulating urging the Board of Education to take a stand against the proposal. Residents who never thought the plan would get to a vote are distributing fliers and posting them on utility poles.
“There are quite a few people who are up in arms,” said resident Lorraine Reynolds. “A lot of people didn’t think it would get this far.”
“The Board of Education is here to protect our children and the only way they can do this is to take a stand against the proposed plan,” she said.
The Planning Board is scheduled to hold a meeting on the issue this evening at Village Hall, though opponents had hoped it would be moved because a major school event is also scheduled for tonight.
If approved by the Planning Board, the master plan changes would allow the hospital to double in size to 1.17 million square feet and permit a building that could reach 94 feet high within 40 feet of the property of Benjamin Franklin Middle School. A six-story parking garage, with four floors above ground, would also be permitted on the property.
A crucial concern for parents is the proposed construction of the North Building adjacent to the middle school, which could take nearly seven years to complete. Half of the public school students in Ridgewood attend this middle school at some point. Concern about the impact on students in this school has swept in parents from the all over the east side of the village.
Fliers are warning: “The impact lasts forever. Once the hospital doubles in size, our children will go to school next to a massive complex that will spew more exhaust, cause more traffic, more noise.” They warn that children with asthma and other respiratory issues will not be able to attend the middle school or a nearby elementary school.
Last year, Board of Education member Sheila Brogan testified at a Planning Board meeting that the board’s intention was “not to get intertwined in the debate.” Noting the “unprecedented size, scope and duration of the project,” however, Brogan said, the board wanted the hospital to pay for air and noise monitoring.
But Carrie Lewis thinks the board has a responsibility to get involved.
“The board and the superintendent ask us for support for their budget when it comes to saving jobs, but they aren’t standing up for us on an issue that will affect our children’s health while at school and their ability to learn in the midst of years of construction.
“I think the Planning Board and our school board has no understanding that this project will have a lasting impact on the students on this side of town. This is not just a neighborhood issue. I don’t live in that neighborhood, but my children will be affected because that is our middle school.”
Parents have been passing around literature about how children near high-traffic areas suffer higher rates of asthma and difficulties learning. A pink flier posted around the four schools on the east side warned that Valley’s assurances that it will mitigate noise and air issues didn’t work during previous hospital construction projects, when middle school students couldn’t hear their teachers and practices on the fields outside were held amid dust from construction.
Resident Lisa Baney said she questioned if Valley Hospital “will or actually can comply with the Board of Education’s requests for assurances of a healthy, safe, effective learning environment at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Travell and the nearby community.”
“Saying assurances will be made to manage the issues of air quality, health, safety and an effective learning environment is like British Petroleum saying every state-of-the-art measure has been taken to stop the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico,” Baney said.
Baney also noted that health and environmental impact studies have not been completed, a concern shared by many other residents. The Planning Board has said those studies are not part of the master plan review process, but could be required during site plan review if the master plan changes are approved.
Neither Superintendent Daniel Fishbein nor Board of Education President Michele Lenhard could be reached for comment.
However some residents who have corresponded with trustees said the board would request specific safeguards for student health, safety and learning if the project gets to the point of site plan review.
The board is not expected to vote at tonight’s meeting. The board added June 7 because some parents will be attending a concert at Benjamin Franklin Middle School this evening. Meetings are also scheduled for June 14 and 15.
If the board approves master plan changes, the Village Council would also vote on new ordinances. If the council approves the changes, the hospital would then begin site review before the Planning Board.
Hospital spokeswoman Megan Fraser said Valley officials have met with members of the Federated Home and School Association on several occasions, as well as with parent groups to explain the many items that are monitored by the village through a developer’s agreement.
“As health care providers, the safety of our patients, staff, neighbors and the students is our greatest concern,” Fraser said.
“I think it is important to reinforce that Valley has done this before and, now as then, we look forward to working with the Board of Education and parents to resolve construction issues,” Fraser said.
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.
Local Observances Claim To Be First Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.
Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried.
Official Birthplace Declared In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.
By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.
It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.
Some States Have Confederate Observances Many Southern states also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day January 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day.
Gen. Logan’s order for his posts to decorate graves in 1868 “with the choicest flowers of springtime” urged: “We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. … Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”
The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was approximately the same size as those that attend today’s observance, about 5,000 people. Then, as now, small American flags were placed on each grave — a tradition followed at many national cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.
The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nation’s wars: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.”
To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”
As you all know, we have a fiscal crisis in New Jersey: a $10.9 billion deficit on a $29.3 billion budget.
At 37 percent, it’s the worst budget deficit percentage in America-worse than California, worse than New York, worse than Illinois-and we need to take bold steps to deal with it.
On March 16, we put forward a budget with $10.9 billion in reductions against proposed spending of the Corzine administration.
This was not easy to do, so I want to start off by saying that while I stand firmly behind the cuts we proposed, please don’t take my firm stance in favoring those cuts as meaning that I don’t know how painful they are.
Everybody would love to be governor in a time when you can just give things away and make everybody your friend and make everybody happy.
That’s not the time that I’m getting to be governor.
I feel an obligation to stand up and do what the people elected me to do, which is to get our government under control, and to start to reduce the amount of money that people have to pay to the government in taxes.
But if all we do is cut, and we don’t get at the underlying problem, we’re just going to be back in this spot year, after year, after year.
New Jersey Is On An Unsustainable Fiscal Course
Over the last ten years, municipal spending has grown by 69 percent, and property taxes have grown by 70 percent, until New Jersey property taxes are now the highest of any state in the nation.
This is an unsustainable course.
For nearly 30 years, the citizens of New Jersey have placed in the hands of politicians-mostly politicians from Trenton-the responsibility for fixing property taxes. And in every gubernatorial election since 1973, we’ve had folks dancing around this property tax problem, putting band-aids on it, but not doing a thing to address the structural issues that allow politicians to hike property taxes year, after year, after year.
We can’t increase municipal aid, increase aid to school districts, and increase property taxes without end. At some point, the people’s ability to pay runs out.
And now we’re there.
With property taxes up 70 percent in ten years, people in New Jersey are now voting with their feet, and they’re leaving.
Senior citizens are leaving the homes that they raised their families in, heartbroken because they can’t pay the property taxes anymore.
Young couples can’t buy their first homes, not because of home prices, but because of the property taxes.
And middle class families are suffering from 9.8 percent unemployment in New Jersey, the highest in the region-higher than Pennsylvania, higher than Connecticut, higher than New York. Many of them are finding that after they’ve lost their jobs, they’re going to lose their homes as well, because their property taxes got raised beyond their ability to pay.
In every poll you’ll ever see, New Jerseyans say our biggest problem is property taxes.
So how do we fix it?
The Centerpiece of the Solution: Cap 2.5
First and foremost, we have to impose discipline on every level of the political system. I propose that we start with Cap 2.5, a constitutional amendment to cap property tax increases at no more than 2.5 percent per year.
For 30 years, politicians in Trenton have been passing the buck, and property taxes have gone up and up and up. The people of New Jersey have had enough.
I believe in less government, lower taxes, and empowering local officials who act on behalf of the people who elected them. I came here to do what the people sent me to do.
That may lead to a disagreement or two. Just recently, I had a friendly little exchange with a reporter you might have seen….
But anyone who comes to this discussion talking about “you can’t cut this” and “you can’t cut that” who doesn’t have some way to pay for it besides jacking up property taxes is just joining that pathetic, 30-year tradition of passing along the problem for the next guy to deal with.
When we enact a constitutional amendment to limit property tax increases to no more than 2.5 percent across the board annually, we will have put in place the foundation for getting our fiscal house in order for the first time in a generation.
With that in place, then and only then can we begin to look at doing-in a sustainable way-what New Jerseyans want for urban revitalization, education, and every other big-picture issue.
If new revenue projections hold, there could be steep cuts above those already announced by the Christie administration.The Asbury Park Press obtained an analysis by the Office of Legislative Services saying taxes and other revenue for the budget year that ends June 30 will be $402 million less than expected. (Ingle, Gannett) https://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2010/05/25/falling-revenue-could-cause-bigger-cuts/
>First, I have no connection to the RHS lax team and I would not consider myself a friend or “supporter” of Coach Pounds. But, I am reasonably knowledgeable about lacrosse and the players on the team this year.
Secondly, Coach Pounds does many things that hurt his program. For example, Ridgewood teams have a bizarre tradition of “honoring seniors” by playing them over underclassmen, rather than putting the best players on the field (regardless of their class). Pounds has followed this “tradition” on the lax team. On ANY Varsity team, the best players should be the starters and team leaders, PERIOD! He also doesn’t have definitive cuts at the start of the season, so underclassmen float “in limbo” between the Varsity and JV. This has a negative effect on the moral and spirit of these players and fails to fully develop their skills. The JV program historically has mediocre coaching and a weak schedule, thereby, ineffectively preparing the boys for the Varsity, which plays a very tough schedule. These “limbo players” would be better off getting more playing time on the JV and stepping into leadership roles, in preparation for their time on the Varsity, particularly if the coaching and schedule could be improved.
With that said, I am astounded by the negative comments from people on this blog, who clearly have no idea what they are talking about. Make no mistake. Noah Pounds is the MOST TALENTED lacrosse goalie at RHS. I understand that Pounds did not start him earlier in the season because he was concerned about the negative perception that might be created behind his son’s back (I guess he was right). I am sure that Pounds felt he was helping the team by putting “the best goalie” in the game. As a former college goalie, Pounds is well qualified to evaluate the skills of that position. Unfortunately, by not giving him the necessary preparation on the Varsity throughout the season, he probably did his son and the team a disservice.
The truth about this year’s team is that this senior class is one of the weakest in many years. Perhaps many of these boys tried to balance baseball, soccer and lacrosse every spring as youth players (an impossibility) and they never developed the skills necessary to compete at a top level in lacrosse (or the other sports). Or, maybe they just never dedicated the personal time and effort to improve their skills outside of practice and to develop an understanding of the game’s nuances. Whatever the reason, their lacrosse skills are weak. In general, the best players on the team are Juniors and Sophomores. Furthermore, there is no clear leadership on the team and very few players, in any grade, play with the passion needed to have a great season, let alone win championships. My understanding is that the coaches tried to address this all season, with little success. Unfortunately, that is something that is not easily coached. Generally a player has a burning desire to compete or he doesn’t. In my opinion, it has a lot to due with whether the player is coddled at home as a child or is taught the meaning of commitment and responsibility at an early age and whether he has older brothers, who played sports or not. This team did not demonstrate 100% commitment on or off the field (as evidenced by the drinking issues). These are the reasons why this team had an unsuccessful season this year…plain and simple. Armchair coaches (parents), who never picked up a lacrosse stick in their lives, need to find a scapegoat to explain their son’s frustration (the blame could never lie with their son). But, this is the reality.
Anyone, who suggests that a coach would intentionally lose a game to end the season early or punish players, has never played on a truly competitive team in any sport in his or her life. No coach would ever do this. Besides, while the coach may take the responsibility, it is generally the players, who determine the outcome of a game, not the coach. Grow up people!
