A majority of Europeans would support a Trump-style ban on further migration from mainly Muslim countries, according to a poll of more than 10,000 people in 10 countries.
An average of 55 percent of those surveyed for London-based think tank, Chatham House, agreed that immigration from Muslim-majority countries should be halted.
The poll released Tuesday comes after a bruising 18 months that have seen a string of terrorist massacres linked to radical Islam as well as record-setting levels of migration that have created social tensions across the continent.
Migrants wait to receive free food during a snowfall outside a derelict customs warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia on Jan. 9, 2017. Marko Djurica / Reuters, file
Majorities in all but two of the 10 countries polled supported a ban, ranging from 71 percent in Poland, to 53 percent in Germany, 47 percent in the United Kingdom and 41 percent in Spain. In no country did the percentage that disagreed surpass 32 percent.
American school kids became more stupid under the Obama administration, according to rankings released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
They recently released the results of a worldwide exam administered every three years to 15-year-olds in 72 countries. The exam monitors reading, math and science knowledge.
Based on their findings, the United States saw an 11-point drop in math scores and nearly flat levels for reading and science.
The Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, fell below the OECD average – and failed to crack the top ten in all three categories.
In other words, thanks to the Obama administration’s education policies, kids in the Slovac Republic are more proficient in multiplication.
Inability to replenish ‘rainy day’ savings account is significant problem for Garden State
Missed revenue projections have sent Gov. Chris Christie scrambling to close sizable budget shortfalls in recent years, and a new report recommends several key policy changes that New Jersey could enact to help insulate itself against forecasting problems in the future.
Some of the suggestions follow basic rules of commonsense, like being more transparent and putting aside more money each year so that unexpected budget problems don’t have a major impact on important programs and services.
But other recommendations take on the budget-forecasting process itself, including suggesting the Christie administration should consider consensus forecasting, where input is taken from legislative staff and outside economic advisors, and also updating annual projections more regularly to keep tabs on any problems as they develop during the fiscal year.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood public schools will be closed today February 9th 2017 and all before and after school activities are suspended. Kindergarten Registration will be rescheduled to February 15th.
Cross Honoring in Effect starting at 4:00 a.m. Thursday
February 8, 2017
Ridgewood, NJ — NJ TRANSIT is prepared to manage the incoming winter storm forecasted to hit New Jersey over the next several hours. NJ TRANSIT’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is open and is monitoring the track of the winter weather and its potential effects on the Tri-State area. Personnel and assets have also been pre-positioned in order to address any issues that may arise during the morning rush hour as quickly as possible.
NJ TRANSIT is expected to operate regular service on its bus, rail, light rail and Access Link services. However, as the storm unfolds, and as conditions warrant, NJ TRANSIT will immediately advise customers of any service disruptions, delays or changes. Customers are strongly advised to sign up for My Transit Alerts, which provide customized notifications via email or text message based on a customer’s preferred mode of travel. My Transit alerts can be accessed by creating a free account on njtransit.com. In addition, customers are advised to monitor NJ TRANSIT’s website and social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook, as well as tune in to broadcast traffic reports for the latest information.
Cross honoring will be in effect beginning at 4 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, February 9 on bus, rail and light rail services.
Current service impacts include:
• Regular weekday service for rail, bus, light rail and Access Link will operate as long as conditions allow.
• All 196 and 197 lines bus service will originate and terminate at West Milford Park and Ride. Rail will Cross Honor on the Port Jervis Line at the Harriman, Tuxedo, and Sloatsburg Stations. Shortline bus will also be Cross Honoring.
• Cross honoring will be in effect across rail, bus and light rail systems.
• Due to the impending storm, Access Link is cancelling all trips between 3am -5 am. Also, for the entire service day ALL transfer trips are cancelled as well.
Snow fighting supplies and equipment across the state are stocked and ready to be deployed as conditions warrant.
NJ TRANSIT’s preparations for the winter season began long before the first snowflakes began to fall. Over the course of the fall and the months leading up to winter, crews have been busy inspecting and winterizing infrastructure, equipment and stations to be in the best possible position to handle winter’s potential wrath.
In early December, Executive Director Steven Santoro outlined the following steps NJ TRANSIT has taken in advance of the winter weather season:
NJ TRANSIT Preparations for Winter Weather
Rail Operations
• Hundreds of rail cars and locomotives have been “winterized,” a process that includes checking onboard heating systems, ventilation, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components, as well as changing locomotive filters and fuel from a summer blend to a winter blend.
• NJ TRANSIT’s preventative maintenance program also includes the inspection and winter maintenance of more than 750 switches and switch heaters, overhead wire systems, 12 moveable bridges and wayside power at storage yards and terminals.
• Two jet-engine-powered snow blowers are available to remove ice and snow from tracks and critical switching areas. In addition, all locomotives are equipped with snowplows to clear snow from the rails.
• NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations has 20,000 pounds of salt on hand with the ability to obtain an additional 100,000 pounds, if needed.
• In addition, our year-round tree trimming program proactively minimizes downed trees or limbs along the right-of-way and on our overhead electrical system, personnel are on standby to quickly respond to reports of trees or limbs that could damage overhead wires or prevent safe passage of trains. Our year-round tree trimming program is part of our preventative maintenance program.
Bus Operations
• Bus maintenance personnel have checked the heating systems, engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers, doors and airbrake systems on NJ TRANSIT’s 2,200 buses.
• Bus snow-fighting equipment has been readied and ice/snow-inhibiting supplies have been restocked for winter to keep 52 bus loops, terminals and lots cleared throughout the state.
• NJ TRANSIT Bus Operations has 900 tons of bulk salt on standby statewide, with each of its 16 garages stocked with bag salt.
• Vendor contracts have been finalized to perform plowing of larger park/ride facilities.
Light Rail Operations
• Snowplows are ready to clear station platforms and park/ride lots.
• All switch heaters have been tested.
Access Link
• Due to the impending storm, Access Link is cancelling all trips between 3AM-5AM ONLY. Also, for the entire service day ALL transfer trips are cancelled as well. We will continue to closely monitor the upcoming storm and make any service changes as needed. We’re asking customers to allow extra travel time and cancel any rides you may not need. You can now cancel your rides right here on the web. Please call the 800# or check the NJ TRANSIT web site for updates.
Stations and Terminals
• All rail stations equipped with heaters have been inspected to ensure that they are in proper working order.
• All public address systems at rail stations and bus terminals have been inspected.
Travel Advice:
• Before starting your trip, visit the Travel Alerts page at njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information. This information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
• Customers are encouraged to sign up for the My Transit alert system on njtransit.com, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone.
• Allow extra time getting to and from your destination. Use extreme caution when walking on exposed sidewalks or station platforms and when boarding trains and buses.
• Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or
NJ TRANSIT staff.
• Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
Ridgewood NJ, February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Take a moment to dispel some cancer myths and misconceptions by sharing this fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute.
Common Cancer Myths and Misconceptions
Certain popular ideas about how cancer starts and spreads—though scientifically wrong—can seem to make sense, especially when those ideas are rooted in old theories. But wrong ideas about cancer can lead to needless worry and even hinder good prevention and treatment decisions. This page provides the latest science-based information about some common cancer myths and misconceptions.
Is cancer a death sentence?
In the United States, the likelihood of dying from cancer has dropped steadily since the 1990s. Five-year survival rates for some cancers, such as breast, prostate, and thyroid cancers, now exceed 90 percent. The 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined is currently about 66 percent. For more information, see the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.
It is important to note, however, that these rates are based on data from large numbers of people. How long an individual cancer patient will live and whether he or she will die from the disease depend on many factors, including whether the cancer is slow or fast growing, how much the cancer has spread in the body, whether effective treatments are available, the person’s overall health, and more.
Will eating sugar make my cancer worse?
No. Although research has shown that cancer cells consume more sugar (glucose) than normal cells, no studies have shown that eating sugar will make your cancer worse or that, if you stop eating sugar, your cancer will shrink or disappear. However, a high-sugar diet may contribute to excess weight gain, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Obesity and Cancer.
Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer?
No. Researchers have conducted studies on the safety of the artificial sweeteners (sugar substitutes) saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low®, Sweet Twin®, NectaSweet®); cyclamate; aspartame (Equal®, NutraSweet®); acesulfame potassium (Sunett®, Sweet One®); sucralose (Splenda®); and neotame and found no evidence that they cause cancer in humans. All of these artificial sweeteners except for cyclamate have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer.
Is cancer contagious?
In general, no. Cancer is not a contagious disease that easily spreads from person to person. The only situation in which cancer can spread from one person to another is in the case of organ or tissue transplantation. A person who receives an organ or tissue from a donor who had cancer in the past may be at increased risk of developing a transplant-related cancer in the future. However, that risk is extremely low—about two cases of cancer per 10,000 organ transplants. Doctors avoid the use of organs or tissue from donors who have a history of cancer.
In some people, cancers may be caused by certain viruses (some types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, for example) and bacteria (such as Helicobacter pylori). While a virus or bacterium can spread from person to person, the cancers they sometimes cause cannot spread from person to person. For more information about cancer-causing viruses and bacteria, see the NCI fact sheets on Helicobacter pylori and Cancer, HPV and Cancer, and Cancer Vaccines.
Does my attitude—positive or negative—determine my risk of, or likely recovery from, cancer?
To date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that links a person’s “attitude” to his or her risk of developing or dying from cancer. If you have cancer, it’s normal to feel sad, angry, or discouraged sometimes and positive or upbeat at other times. People with a positive attitude may be more likely to maintain social connections and stay active, and physical activity and emotional support may help you cope with your cancer. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Psychological Stress and Cancer.
Can cancer surgery or a tumor biopsy cause cancer to spread in the body?
The chance that surgery will cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body is extremely low. Following standard procedures, surgeons use special methods and take many steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading during biopsies or surgery to remove tumors. For example, if they must remove tissue from more than one area of the body, they use different surgical tools for each area. For information about how cancer spreads in the body, see our page on Metastatic Cancer.
Will cancer get worse if exposed to air?
No. Exposure to air will not make tumors grow faster or cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body. For information about how cancer spreads in the body, see our page on Metastatic Cancer.
Do cell phones cause cancer?
No, not according to the best studies completed so far. Cancer is caused by genetic mutations, and cell phones emit a type of low-frequency energy that does not damage genes. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Cell Phones and Cancer Risk.
Do power lines cause cancer?
No, not according to the best studies completed so far. Power lines emit both electric and magnetic energy. The electric energy emitted by power lines is easily shielded or weakened by walls and other objects. The magnetic energy emitted by power lines is a low-frequency form of radiation that does not damage genes. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer.
Are there herbal products that can cure cancer?
No. Although some studies suggest that alternative or complementary therapies, including some herbs, may help patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment, no herbal products have been shown to be effective for treating cancer. In fact, some herbal products may be harmful when taken during chemotherapy or radiation therapy because they may interfere with how these treatments work. Cancer patients should talk with their doctor about any complementary and alternative medicine products—including vitamins and herbal supplements—they may be using. For more information, see the Botanicals/Herbal Products section in Topics in Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies.
If someone in my family has cancer, am I likely to get cancer, too?
Not necessarily. Cancer is caused by harmful changes (mutations) in genes. Only about 5 to 10 percent of cancers are caused by harmful mutations that are inherited from a person’s parents. In families with an inherited cancer-causing mutation, multiple family members will often develop the same type of cancer. These cancers are called “familial” or “hereditary” cancers.
The remaining 90 to 95 percent of cancers are caused by mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime as a natural result of aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke and radiation. These cancers are called “non-hereditary” or “spontaneous” cancers. For more information about the risk of getting cancer, see the NCI fact sheet on Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes and Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.
If no one in my family has had cancer, does that mean I’m risk-free?
No. Based on the most recent data, about 40 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lives. Most cancers are caused by genetic changes that occur throughout a person’s lifetime as a natural result of aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke and radiation. Other factors, such as what kind of food you eat, how much you eat, and whether you exercise, may also influence your risk of developing cancer. For more information, see Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.
Do antiperspirants or deodorants cause breast cancer?
No. The best studies so far have found no evidence linking the chemicals typically found in antiperspirants and deodorants with changes in breast tissue. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer.
Does hair dye use increase the risk of cancer?
There is no convincing scientific evidence that personal hair dye use increases the risk of cancer. Some studies suggest, however, that hairdressers and barbers who are regularly exposed to large quantities of hair dye and other chemical products may have an increased risk of bladder cancer. For more information, see the NCI fact sheet on Hair Dyes and Cancer Risk.
James — you should post this and then seek comment from the progressive Clinton/Gottheimer fans. How much are they willing to pay Hudson County over and beyond the Abbott money already going there?
By Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 07, 2017 at 8:06 PM, updated February 08, 2017 at 9:27 AM
UNION CITY — New Jersey lawmakers from immigrant-rich Hudson County on Tuesday announced a bill that would provide state aid to sanctuary cities denied federal funds for failing to comply with immigration rules.
The bill was introduced in both houses of the legislature on Tuesday by State Sen. Brian Stack, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji and Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro, all Democrats from the 33rd District.
The three held a press conference in the garage at City Hall in Union City, where Stack is also the mayor.
“Union City, technically, has always been a sanctuary city,” said Stack. “We have never turned away anybody, documented or undocumented, when they come in looking for help.”
The difference now is that President Donald Trump issued a Jan. 25 executive order intended to, “ensure that jurisdictions that fail to comply with applicable Federal law do not receive Federal funds, except as mandated by law,” specifically targeting sanctuary cities and states.
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Acceptance of Financial Reports
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Proclamations
A. Dad’s Night Days – Hawes School and Somerville School
B. Read Across America Day
C. Super Science Saturday
8. Swearing-in of Police Officers
Police Officer Douglas Busche
Police Officer Douglas Christopher
Police Officer Brandon Donnelly
Police Officer Jack Knudsen
Police Officer Zachary Knudsen
Police Officer Kyle Scarpa
9. Swearing-in of Police Lieutenant Brian Pullman
10. Swearing-in of Police Captain William Amoruso
11. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes
per person – 40 minutes in total)
12. Village Manager’s Report
13. Village Council Reports
14. ORDINANCES – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
15. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-26 THROUGH 17-37 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-26 Title 59 Approval – Landscaping Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Landscaping Services prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-27 Award Contract – Landscaping Services (NTE $113,820) – Awards the second year of a two- year contract to the sole bidder, Pat Scanlan, 14 Plains Drive, New City, NY
17-28 Title 59 Approval – Cold Water Meters and Accessories – Approves the plans and specifications for Cold Water Meters and Supplies prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-29 Award Contract – Cold Water Meters and Accessories – Awards the first year of a two- year contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Rio Supply, Inc., 100 Allied Parkway, Sicklerville, NJ
17-30 Title 59 Approval – Pipe, Appurtenances, and Service Materials – Approves the plans and specifications for Furnish and Deliver Pipe, Appurtenances and Service Materials for Water Distribution Maintenance prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-31 Award Contract – Pipe, Appurtenances, and Service Materials – Awards the second year of a two-year contract to the following lowest responsible bidders in various categories of materials: Water Works Supply Co., Inc., 660 State Highway 23, Pompton Plains, NJ; HD Waterworks Supply, 61 Gross Avenue, Edison, NJ; and Capitol Supply Construction Products, Inc., 149 Old Turnpike Road, Wayne, NJ
17-32 Title 59 Approval – Furnishing and Delivering of Sodium Hypochlorite Solution –Approves the plans and specifications for Furnishing and Delivering of Sodium Hypochlorite Solution prepared by the Ridgewood Water Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-33 Award Contract – Furnishing and Delivering of Sodium Hypochlorite Solution ($3.62/gallon)- Awards the second year of a two-year contract to the sole responsible bidder, Miracle Chemical Company, 1151B Highway 33, Farmingdale, NJ
17-34 Title 59 Approval – Servicing and Repair of Water Pumping Facilities – Approves the plans and specifications for Servicing and Repair of Potable Water Storage Tanks, prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-35 Award Contract – Servicing and Repair of Water Pumping Facilities – Approves the plans and specifications for Servicing and Repair of Potable Water Pumping Facilities, prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-36 Award Professional Services Contract – USEPA Compliance Services for Evaluation of Groundwater Wells (NTE $35,000) – Awards a Professional Services contract to Legette, Brashears & Graham, 600 East Crescent Avenue, Upper Saddle River, NJ. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed with the Village Clerk’s office.
17-37 Authorize Change Order – Installation of Backup Power at Critical Facilities (NTE $62,445) – Authorizes the change order which was necessary due to additional permitting work, including Planning Board approvals a the Township of Wyckoff and the Borough of Midland Park, as well as NJDEP flood plain and wetland permits
16. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3581 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Prohibit Parking – Sections of Sherman Place – Designates several areas for no parking at any time on various sections of Sherman Place, due to safety concerns
3582 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Angle Parking – Allows vehicles to be parked in parking lots with perpendicular parking stall spaces with either the front or rear of the vehicle facing perpendicular to the nearest curb line. Vehicles parked in angled parking stall spaces must park with the front of the vehicle facing the nearest curb line. Vehicles parked in parallel parking spaces must have the front of the vehicle facing in the travel of direction of the roadway nearest the parking space.
3583 – Amend Chapter 238 – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Addition of Masticated Food Waste – Adds masticated food waste and its definition to the liquid waste acceptance program, including the basis for billing
3584 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Liquid Waste Acceptance Program Fees – Amends the fees charged for various acceptable liquid wastes including grey water/septage; masticated flowable food waste; wastewater meeting certain requirements; and pumpout FOG (fats, oil, and grease) of various concentrations
3585 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Bus Stops – Amends the Village’s bus stop ordinance so that the bus stops listed reflect the bus stops which exist in the Village. It also lists the bus stop numbers.
3586 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Significant Sewer Discharger Fees – Increases the fees for significant sewer dischargers from $4.03 per thousand gallons of flow in excess of one EDU as measured by water meter consumption to $4.27 per thousand gallons of flow. This increase is includes commercial/industrial/institutional as well as tax exempt and tax credited users. This fee was last increased in 2010.
3587 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Graydon Pool Fees – The fees for adult, child, and day passes will remain the same for 2017 and 2018. There will be a late season discount of 50% off of the price on or after August 1st. There will also be a 10% early bird discount for those badges purchased in the month of April.
17. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3578 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Day Camp Fees
3579 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Institutional and Religious Uses and Public Utilities
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-38 THROUGH 17-53 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-38 Authorize Membership Agreement – Cooperative Purchasing Program – North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System through Lead Agency Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission – Authorizes the Acting Village Manager and Mayor to execute the membership agreement with the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission on behalf of the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System
17-39 Title 59 Approval – Maintenance of Irrigation Systems/Water Fountains – Approves the plans and specifications for Maintenance of Irrigation Systems/Water Fountains for Contract Years 2017 and 2018, prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-40 Award Contract – Maintenance of Irrigation Systems/Water Fountains – Awards this contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Tanz, Inc., 3 River Edge Road, River Edge, NJ
17-41 Award Contract under Cooperative Purchasing Program – Truck Chassis for Sludge Hauling Tanker Truck (NTE $153,895.85) – Awards a contract under Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission to Gabrielli Truck Sales, 2300 Route 130 North, Dayton, NJ
17-42 Award Contract under Cooperative Purchasing Program – Vacuum Tank Unit for Sludge Hauling Tanker Truck (NTE $60,890) – Awards a contract under Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission to Vacuum Sales, Inc., 51 Stone Road, Lindenwold, NJ
17-43 Award Contract under Cooperative Purchasing Program – Pumps for Ridgewood Lawns Sewer Pump Station (NTE $48,862.30) – Awards a contract under the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System administered by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission to Pumping Services, Inc., 201 Lincoln Boulevard, Middlesex, NJ
17-44 Award Professional Services Contract – Surveys of Intersections for Upgrade of Traffic Signals (NTE $28,700) – Awards a Professional Services contract to Daniel M. Dunn of Dunn Surveying and Mapping, P.S., 40 East Prospect Street, Waldwick, NJ for intersection area surveys for upgrade of traffic signals. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed with the Village Clerk’s Office.
17-45 Award Professional Services Contract – 2017 Land Surveying Services Retainer for Preparation of Tax Assessment Map (NTE $1,700) – Awards a Professional Services contract to Daniel M. Dunn, of Dunn Surveying and Mapping, P.A., 40 East Prospect Street, Waldwick, NJ
17-46 Authorize Designation of Acting Municipal Court Administrator ($35/hour) –Designates Kimberly McWilliams, CMCA as the Acting Municipal Court Administrator, on a provisions basis to undertake the duties of the absent Municipal Court Administrator or Deputy Municipal Court Administrator during scheduled or unscheduled leaves. This is required under the new Criminal Justice Reform legislation.
17-47 Authorize Girl Scout Troop 1136 and Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission Project – Shade Tree Nursery – Authorizes Girl Scout Troop 1136 and the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission to remove the accumulated debris, trash, and garbage and establish a Shade Tree Nursery at 203 East Glen Avenue. This project has been reviewed by the Village Engineer and the Director of Parks and Recreation who have helped to address various safety issues.
17-48 Increase 2017 Deferred School Taxes – Increases deferred school taxes from $45,630,455.58 to $46,515,256.20, an increase of $884,800.62 from 12/31/15 to 12/31/16
17-49 Approve Budget Reserve Transfers – Resolution which transfers money in the 2016 budget from departments which have excess funds to those departments which do not have adequate funds
17-50 Authorize Application for Sustainable Jersey PSE&G Grant – Authorizes an application for a Sustainable Jersey PSE&G Grant for a professional to conduct a tree survey in the Village
17-51 Authorize Execution of Grant Agreement – Community Development Block Grant – Handicapped Accessible Ramp at Gate House of Irene Habernickel Family Park – Authorizes the Acting Village Manager to sign the grant agreement and the Village Chief Financial Officer to sign all County vouchers
17-52 Award Professional Services Contract – Noise Assessment – Schedler Park Property (NTE $6,100) – Awards a Professional Services Contract to Sharon Paul Carpenter of Paul Carpenter Associates, Inc., 7 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 101, Florham Park, NJ
17-53 Award Professional Services Contract – Review of Village Hall HVAC System Operation (NTE $19,385) – Awards a Professional Services Contract to LAN Associates, 445 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed with the Village Clerk’s Office.
19. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
20. Resolution to go into Closed Session
21. Closed Session
Contract Negotiations – Potential Purchase of Property
Personnel – Village Manager’s Office; Village Manager Search
Legal – HealthBarn
22. Adjournment
All Village Council meetings broadcast LIVE – Tune in on Optimum Channel 77 or Verizon channel 34! Public Meeting – Wednesday, February 8 @ 8pm.
PSE&G Prepares for Wintry Weather Extra personnel and equipment at the ready
February 8,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest electric and gas utility, is preparing for the wintry weather forecasted to arrive Wednesday night into Thursday.
“Based on the forecast, we will quickly go from record warmth on Wednesday to six to eight inches of heavy, wet snow that can weigh down trees and bring down power lines,” said John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations for PSE&G. “We have additional personnel scheduled and on standby, with extra tree crews and equipment at the ready. We’re prepared for whatever the storm brings our way.”
In advance of the storm, PSE&G advises customers to prepare an emergency kit that includes:
• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Manual can opener for food
• Cell phone with chargers
PSE&G urges its customers to be cautious during and after the storm:
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline powered engine, including generators and snowblowers, in a garage or any other enclosed space.
• Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with.
To report downed wires or power outages, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. Also, customers can report outages by logging into their PSE&G account online or by texting “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734). The utility’s mobile-friendly website includes an “Outage Map” that is updated every 15 minutes and displays the location and status of power outages in PSE&G’s service area.
# # #
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company.
Visit PSEG at: www.pseg.com
PSEG on Facebook
PSEG on Twitter
PSEG on LinkedIn
PSEG blog, Energize!
ALETP
Get past all the noise, and the opposition to Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s pick for the Education Department, is all about the teachers unions — which consider it their right to have a friendly face running federal policy even in Republican administrations.
Yes, two Senate Republicans have come out against DeVos — the only two who routinely get A’s on the National Education Association’s “report card” because they vote the union line. Efforts to find another GOP vote against her will almost surely fail, because the other 50 Republicans aren’t in unions’ pocket, and Vice President Mike Pence can deliver a 51st vote if needed.
This was my response to his ridiculous letter. I have yet to receive a response.
Dear Dr. Fishbein,
As a lifetime resident of Ridgewood and product of our school system I have found myself at a loss this evening. Several educated, informed and “moral” people in my life have gathered, read and reread your passionate and unnecessary memorandum; not one of us could actually identify the clear thesis.
Teach my child to read and critically think and ensure that kindness and respect are modeled in the class and throughout the district but for Gods sake don’t you dare create the paradigm for respect or try to be my child’s or any child’s moral compass.
I may be misguided in this assumption but your words “..teach our children about tolerance and respect for the dignity of every being” lend to the belief that all life deserves respect and dignity. I am eager to hear how a pro-life platform is incorporated into our schools curriculum.
Sir it is quite clear that your experience and education expertise are not in foreign policy but rather school administration, in the future I suggest you stick with that.
Warm regards,
As a side note Dr. Fishbein, to your point about respecting all people; why don’t we teach children (and adults) to respect the leaders and laws of this land? Truthfully Sir if you are going to send out a letter every time you disagree with President Trump’s agenda this is going to be a very long 4-8 years.
Years ago, parents struggled over when their kids would be socially, emotionally, and cognitively ready for kindergarten. Now it’s a similar question, but about leaving for college.
by: Hank Pellissier | February 2, 2017
When Hillary Billings’ oldest son, Ted, was accepted at New York University (NYU), she was proud — but concerned. “We felt he needed another year to mature,” Billings says. Before her son was “thrown into the deep end in the Big Apple,” she wanted him to take a gap year to mature a little so he’d be ready for the urban living, social life, and academics at NYU.
What’s a gap year?
Billings is not alone. Across the country, a small but growing group of teens and their parents are jumping aboard the gap year trend. Although the term has been adapted colloquially to refer to any time off after high school, technically, a gap year is when students who’ve been admitted to college formally request to delay their start date for a year to travel, work, or volunteer.
Some gap years are driven by teens, of course, but many parents like the idea of giving their teen an extra year to mature before going off to college. It’s reminiscent of a choice many parents agonize over when their kids are young: whether or not to delay kindergarten by a year, known as redshirting kindergarten. The idea, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell’s 2008 best seller Outliers: the Story of Success, is to give 5-year-olds an extra year to catch up to (or get a leg up on) their peers socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Citing evidence from a 2000 study, Gladwell asserts that less mature students can get locked into “patterns of… underachievement… and discouragement, that stretch on and on for years.” Now, parents of some high school graduates are evaluating their 18- and 19-year-old kids’ relative maturity levels as a precursor to moving on to the next step. Why risk calamity by enrolling your teenager in college too early, if they’re not yet fully up for the challenge?
America’s (small) new trend
Gap years have long been popular in Europe and Australia. The concept originated in the grand tours enjoyed by aristocratic youth in the late 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, writes Joseph O’Shea in Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs. Upper-class vagabonds traversed the continent and exotic corners of the British Empire, familiarizing themselves with foreign flavors, curious customs, and opposing perspectives. In the 1970s, soul-searching backpackers put their twist on the tradition, which continues today. Due to economic conditions in 2012, only 12.5 percent of UK students took a gap year — it was the lowest number in a decade. In Australia, nearly a quarter of all students take gap years. In the U.S., though, the numbers are much smaller: an estimated 1.2 to 2 percent of students take a gap year. Recent data suggests that despite the small numbers, it’s a giant uptick that’s likely to continue. According to a survey by the American Gap Association, the number of attendees at USA Gap Year Fairs rose 294 percent from 2010 to 2014. Gap year nonprofit Thinking Beyond Borders claims that in the past five years there’s been, “a doubling in the market… an explosion.”
Celebrity endorsers and media coverage help fuel the trend. Malia Obama’s gap year, before starting Harvard in fall 2017, is an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Spain. Benedict Cumberbatch spent his teaching English at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, and Prince Harry helped build a clinic in Lesotho, Africa. New York Times columnist and best-selling author Nicholas Kristof has, for years, been urging youngsters to take gap time, proclaiming: “The bottom line is that you’ll almost certainly learn more from a gap year than you will in any single year in college.”
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Elite universities are also stoking the fire. For the past 30 years, Harvard University has encouraged students to take gap years “to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way.” Robert S. Clagett, former Senior Admission Officer at Harvard, helped establish Middlebury College’s February-start program while he was the Dean of Admission there. Matt McGann, Director of Admissions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, tells applicants “My hope is that you will at least consider, just for a moment, taking a gap year.” According to Mike Devlin, Stanford University’s Acting Director of Admission, “Stanford believes a gap year can be a beneficial experience — particularly for students who have an objective or mission.”
Gap year companies also play a role, motivating curious parents, particularly those who can afford the astronomical prices. (A three-month excursion to broaden your teen’s perspective can cost upwards of $15,000 — and still leaves teens 3/4 of the year… for parents to pay for?)
Sounds good, but does taking a gap year work?
Questions of elitism aside, there’s data to show that gap years are, in fact, beneficial. Clagett points to studies on the February-start program at Middlebury College and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s program that reveal undergraduates who enjoyed a gap year earned a GPA 0.1 to 0.4 points higher than would have been expected. What’s more, gappers at Middlebury hold a “disproportionate number of leadership positions on campus.” And, according to the American Gap Association, students who took a year off tend to finish university more quickly than their peers.
Although parents may fear their teen will never return to their studies, statistics show the opposite. According to a 2010 survey of 280 students conducted by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson, co-authors of The Gap-Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College, 90 percent of youth who ditch scholastics for a year report back to their desks on time, with 60 percent claiming the gap year helped them determine their major and their careers.
With college tuition at an all-time high, Jennifer Miller of the American Gap Association observes, “many students are taking a step back to think carefully about that path before barreling forward.”
Maturity in America
College admissions officers, especially at elite schools, invariably highlight “maturation” as a primary reason for gap years. In today’s era of helicopter parenting, with hovering adults coddling their kids, is the gap year emerging as a “time to grow up” ritual that sheltered teenagers, who can’t do their own laundry, desperately need? Perhaps. But admissions officers tend to say the proof is in the pudding. “Our academic staff also finds that, many times, students who take a gap year arrive at Stanford with more maturity both socially and in the classroom,” comments admissions director Devlin. Clagett says he finds that students who take a gap year “will frequently be more mature, more focused, and more aware of what they want to do with their college education.”
Students, amusingly, also view their maturation as the prime reason they want a gap year; of course, they don’t call it that. A yearning “to find out more about themselves” is the top reason for a gap year, according to Haigler and Nelson’s 2010 survey. Another questionnaire, prepared by Nina How of Temple University, yielded “Gain Life Experiences / grow personally” as the main goal of a gap year — beating options like taking a break from academics, traveling, volunteering, or wanting work experience.
Some parents, like Ken Beckman of Minnesota, think their teen needs a dose of the real world. Beckman is mandating a gap year for his eldest son because he wants him to experience a blue-collar existence. “I want him to leave home and get his own place and get a job and have a boss — at WalMart, for example!” Beckman says. He wants his son to struggle with boredom, loneliness, and lack of family support in an environment where upwards of $50,000 in college tuition isn’t at stake.
Hillary Billings and her husband were motivated by Kristof’s articles, particularly his view that a gap year can — and should — provide volunteer services and open the gapper’s eyes to human needs. That’s what Billings wanted for her son; she didn’t want Ted to move from “one academic bubble to another.” But when she asked him to take a gap year, “Ted was not happy,” she recalls. “He wanted to be part of his peer group heading off for college.” After attending a gap year fair at Drake High School in Fairfax, CA, Billings signed up her son with an organization called VolunQuest. Ted was sent to Isla Mujeres, a tiny island off the coast of Yucatan, Mexico, to live with locals and teach English.
Ted’s gap year “was pretty rough,” admits his mom. “He couldn’t take showers at his house because there were so many cockroaches in the bathroom…. He was also very lonely. There were no other volunteers there at the same time.” But when Ted returned, NYU was still there, waiting for him — and Ted was ready for it.
“Ted matured a great deal,” Billings says. “Before his gap year he was timid and nervous to extend himself for fear of being judged or failing. During his gap year, he gained much more confidence in himself and his ability to manage any situation, no matter how difficult.” Ted’s been on the Dean’s list at NYU every semester, he explores New York’s boroughs with a desire to meet new people, and he takes risks — and knows the right ones to take. “We don’t worry about him,” she says.
Billings has three more sons, and she’s insisting they all take a gap year.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal a landmark paper exaggerated global warming It was rushed through and timed to influence the Paris agreement on climate change America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration broke its own rules The report claimed the pause in global warming never existed, but it was based on misleading, ‘unverified’ data
The Mail on Sunday today reveals astonishing evidence that the organisation that is the world’s leading source of climate data rushed to publish a landmark paper that exaggerated global warming and was timed to influence the historic Paris Agreement on climate change.
A high-level whistleblower has told this newspaper that America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) breached its own rules on scientific integrity when it published the sensational but flawed report, aimed at making the maximum possible impact on world leaders including Barack Obama and David Cameron at the UN climate conference in Paris in 2015.
The report claimed that the ‘pause’ or ‘slowdown’ in global warming in the period since 1998 – revealed by UN scientists in 2013 – never existed, and that world temperatures had been rising faster than scientists expected. Launched by NOAA with a public relations fanfare, it was splashed across the world’s media, and cited repeatedly by politicians and policy makers.
But the whistleblower, Dr John Bates, a top NOAA scientist with an impeccable reputation, has shown The Mail on Sunday irrefutable evidence that the paper was based on misleading, ‘unverified’ data.
President Trump said Sunday that it could take “sometime into next year” until his ObamaCare replacement plan is ready, a slower timetable than he and other Republicans have put forward in the past.
Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly asked Trump in an interview before the Super Bowl if Americans can “expect a new healthcare plan rolled out by the Trump Administration this year.”
This letter is disgraceful. The only “rhetoric concerning immigrants and foreign-born visitors” has been the liberal media’s false spin of the campaign issue of ILLEGAL immigration. Of course he doesn’t provide a single example of the true issue. The dishonesty and liberal bias of entertainment and the media is now abundantly clear in our own local education system. Certainly not a surprise, but extremely unfortunate. If politics is going to be permitted to creep into the education of our children, then present all sides of an issue, and teach our children how to make their own decisions without passing judgment on those who think differently. Shame on all those who consider themselves educators but purposely fail in this manner for their own personal or political agenda.
