DALLAS, July 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. military veteran who fatally shot five Dallas police officers was plotting a larger assault, possibly using explosives, and he taunted police and wrote on a wall in his own blood before being killed, authorities said on Sunday.
Instead, Micah X. Johnson improvised and used his military training to gun down officers during a demonstration on Thursday evening, Dallas Police Chief David Brown told CNN. It was the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“We’re convinced that this suspect had other plans,” said Brown, adding that the recent deaths of two black men at the hands of police in Minnesota and Louisiana led the Texas shooter to “fast-track” his plans and launch his attack.
DALLAS (AP) — Police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota were followed by calls from black militant groups and others to seek vengeance against officers. Almost immediately, several officers were attacked, including the five slain by a sniper in Dallas.
Now authorities are investigating whether the Dallas gunman was directed by those groups or merely emboldened by them.
“I think it’s safe to say we’ll leave no stone unturned,” Dallas Deputy Police Chief Scott Walton said.
Police have been tight-lipped about exactly what they’re investigating and what they’ve uncovered so far. Although Micah Johnson was connected to several militant groups on social media, it’s unclear if he was merely a follower or a more active participant.
Similar questions have been raised by international terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State group: How is the network encouraging and directing attacks? Is it a coordinated effort or are the attacks simply a byproduct of hate speech espoused by the groups on social media?
The number of black separatist groups nearly doubled in 2015, mirroring a similar increase among white hate groups that has taken place as police killings make frequent headlines, said Ryan Lenz, online editor and senior writer at the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Still, many people who become radicalized do so without direct ties to any groups. Instead, they surf the web and grow their anger in private, Lenz said.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve seen this violence become an ever-present reality in our lives,” Lenz said. “We are in a polarized political climate right now where the ‘us-versus-them’ mentality has started to reign supreme.”
Johnson followed black militant groups on Facebook, including the African American Defense League, which posted a message that referenced the police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana: “You and I know what we must do and I don’t mean marching, making a lot of noise, or attending conventions. We must ‘Rally The Troops!’ It is time to visit Louisiana and hold a barbeque.”
Other groups Johnson “liked” included the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam and the Black Riders Liberation Party. The last two are described as hate groups by the law center, which monitors hate crimes and right-wing extremism.
Johnson’s Facebook photo showed him wearing a dashiki and raising his fist over the words “Black Power.” His cover shot carried the red, black and green Pan-African flag.
There’s no evidence such groups have directed violent events, but their rhetoric has served as inspiration, Lenz said.
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are on guard for threats after the police killings and the Dallas attack. Protesters view the police slayings as further evidence of the law enforcement abuse that has energized the Black Lives Matter movement, which was fueled by the 2014 killing of Michael Brown by an officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
Ridgewood NJ, Politicians call them heroes and strangers thank them for their service.
But when their enlistment comes to an end, veterans need more than a pat on the back as they return to civilian life. They need jobs.
And increasingly, they seem to be getting them because the unemployment rate among veterans has been on the decline in recent years. In May, the veteran unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, down from 5 percent for the same month in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That compares to a 4.7 percent overall unemployment rate.
“I think in the last several years there has been a focus on the importance of hiring veterans and many businesses have taken that to heart,” says Nick Baucom, a U.S. Marine veteran who makes hiring veterans a priority for his company, Two Marines Moving (www.TwoMarinesMoving.com).
“But probably the biggest reason that the unemployment rate for veterans has trended downward is that, as a group, veterans bring with them experience and attitudes that make them great employees.”
Baucom’s moving company employs more than 100 veterans between its two locations – the Washington, D.C., area and Miami. He’s wants to hire more because his company is booked three to four weeks in advance and he could use the extra help.
“But with the unemployment rate for veterans dropping, it’s becoming more challenging to hire them,” says Baucom, who also is author of “On the Move: A Marine’s Guide to Entrepreneurial Success.”
“I can’t complain too much, though, because I’m glad so many other employers are seeing the benefits of having veterans in their workforce.”
Baucom says there are several reasons veterans make topnotch employees, including:
• Their tenacity. Veterans know what perseverance is all about, if for no other reason than they survived boot camp, an arduous challenge that puts a person’s fortitude to to the test. Marines, for example, must prove they can hike 20 miles carrying a fully loaded pack. • Their decisiveness. People in the military don’t always have the luxury of taking all day to analyze a situation before making a decision. Yes, they must gather data and understand it thoroughly – but they understand the need to do it expediently. “A 90 percent solution now is better than a 100 percent solution later,” Baucom says. “Both in the Marines and in the business world, I’ve found that waiting for that 100 percent solution just leads to paralysis.” • Their initiative. Anyone in the military learns to follow orders. But they also understand that there are situations when they need to take action in the absence of orders. If something needs to be done, they don’t have to wait to be told.
“I know that Marines go through quite an ordeal in their training and in carrying out their missions,” Baucom says. “When we ask them to move a piano, it probably doesn’t seem all that difficult in comparison.”
About Nick Baucom
Nick Baucom is the founder and owner of Two Marines Moving (www.twomarinesmoving.com), a moving company that has operations in the Washington, D.C., area and Miami. Baucom, who also is author of “On the Move: A Marine’s Guide to Entrepreneurial Success,” served in the U.S. Marines from 2002 to 2008, and was in Iraq in 2003.
Ridgewood NJ, The British vote to leave the European Union – commonly referred to as the Brexit – seemed to catch much of the world by surprise, at least temporarily shook up the markets and left many people wondering whether they should act quickly to protect their investments.
But puzzled American investors should wait to see how this unfolds over time, rather than taking drastic measures they may later regret, says Joseph Mallen, Chief Investment Officer for Sawtooth Solutions (www.sawtootham.com), a technology-focused company that concentrates on wealth-management platforms.
“I believe this is much ado about nothing until further clarity on the result of the vote is determined,” Mallen says. “This may take years to sort out. The Brexit may not happen at all.”
While there was market reaction – really, overreaction, Mallen says – right after the vote, it was based more on perceptions than on anything of substance.
Ultimately, what could the Brexit mean for the future of the American economy? Mallen says no one has a crystal ball, but he offers these observations:
• Overall impact on U.S. markets may be negligible.After instant, but temporary, turmoil the markets in the U.S. recouped their early losses. “This is telling and in line with my expectations that the Brexit should have little to no impact directly on U.S. equity markets,” Mallen says. “We have seen U.S. treasuries gain on what I believe is a flight to quality, pushing the 10-year yield below 1.4 percent.” • The long-term investment outlook. If other European countries elect to follow suit with their own exits, there could be disruption in Europe-based equities. But Mallen says he doesn’t believe the Brexit, in isolation, will be negative either for the U.S. or for the United Kingdom. “I believe it’s a positive move for the UK, giving it more freedom to act independent of EU governance,” Mallen says. “The UK has more to offer the EU than the EU has to offer the UK.” Ultimately, Mallen says he believes the UK will become a pseudo-member of the EU, similar to the relationships Norway and Switzerland have with the EU. • Interest rates. The Brexit likely will be a further catalyst for U.S. interest rates to remain low for the next couple of years. “I don’t see the Federal Reserve raising rates, as that would be highly unpopular given the prevailing market sentiment,” Mallen says. “Also, I believe U.S. treasuries will continue to be a safe-haven asset for nervous international investors.”
The initial Brexit vote resulted in a wave of media attention, but it was perhaps more attention than will prove to be warranted as time passes, Mallen says.
In terms of impact on the market, the attention actually should be on the presidential election, he says.
“As much as Brexit was a welcome reprieve from the election, I believe that within weeks the U.S. elections will become the primary global-market media focus and that will continue through November,” Mallen says. “It promises to be a volatile campaign that, I believe, will impact global markets directly.”
About Joseph Mallen
Joseph Mallen is Chief Investment Officer for Sawtooth Solutions (www.sawtootham.com) in Minneapolis, MN, a technology-focused company that concentrates on wealth-management platforms. He has more than a decade of experience as a financial professional and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in finance with a concentration in quantitative finance from the London Business School.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood is currently in Stage ll water restrictions ,until further notice, Ridgewood Water is not accepting applications or granting any exceptions. All pre-approved waivers are now void.
Stage II (Severe) – Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand held hose. Irrigation using a hand held hose shall be allowed at any time.
Stage II water restrictions are currently in place for Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, New Jersey are in effect beginning June 23, 2016 until further notice.
Residents, businesses, governmental agencies, and all other water users must adhere to Stage II of the restrictions shown on our website,water.ridgewoodnj.net.
If your address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. If your address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. A handheld hose may be used at any time including Mondays. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except the use of a hand held hose.
The restriction level had to be increased to Stage II because water is being consumed at a greater rate than the supply system can sustain, thus reducing the amount of water in reserve for fire fighting and other emergencies.
Compliance with the Stage II restrictions will reduce the likelihood that more severe controls will be needed. Your cooperation is appreciated. Violators will be subject to a fine and court appearance
Leak Detection
A leak can waste large amounts of water; up to 20 gallons a day for slow drips and hundreds of gallons a day for both toilet and faucet leaks. Some leaks are easily detected while others are not so obvious. Any leak, big or small, can be very costly and wasteful and should be repaired as soon as possible.
Water meters are equipped to assist you in leak detection. Turn off all faucets, water-demanding appliances, and outdoor hoses, etc. Be sure no one is using any water. The water meters feature a “leak detector”. To check if the meter detects a leak, shine a light on the top of the meter next to the flashlight icon to activate the display. After a startup sequence, the screen will cycle between the current reading and the current flow rate. As shown in the photo below, the word RATE appears with 3 digits below it. These digits represent the current rate in gallons per minute of water going through the meter. If the leak has been ongoing, the meter will also display a small faucet icon.
If the meter indicates that you have a leak, inspect all fixtures, appliances, and pipes to locate it, keeping in mind that there may be more than one source of leakage. Sometimes a leak may be hidden in the underground piping. If you believe this to be the case, call a plumber for advice. The meter can also provide further assistance in understanding your consumption. By request, Ridgewood Water will download a detailed log of your consumption for the past 96 days. Ridgewood Water needs physical access to the meter to perform this service. Please call our Customer Service department to schedule an appointment.
Summer Water Restrictions
Stage I will be in effect each year starting on June 1st and will continue through August 31st. If conditions warrant, irrigation will be prohibited on additional days of the week up to and including a total ban on irrigation.
Compliance with the initial restrictions will reduce the likelihood that more severe controls will be needed. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Stage I (Moderate) – Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand held hose.
Stage II (Severe) – Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand held hose. Irrigation using a hand held hose shall be allowed at any time.
Stage III (Pending/Critical) – Mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Stage IV (Critical) – Irrigation is prohibited at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand held hose may be allowed under conditions prescribed by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood.
Regarding the latest slate of devastating law enforcement events…
Let me start off by saying whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa. Hold up, folks. Take a deep breath and count to ten, like kids are taught to do. If you’re “feeling the heat”, then stick your head in a deep freezer until you cool off. Put your thinking caps on for a little while, and get ready to hear some calm, cool, and collected adult rational reflection right now, because I sure as heck am seeing intellect rarely employed today. By those of you who are speaking with maturity, thank you for furthering the conversation; for those of you flustering and blustering, have a seat and take a chill pill because you aren’t furthering the conversation…in fact, you’re emulating the murderous villains you’re against. Do I have your attention yet? I hope so.
Time for some civilized discussion. We are, after all, the most advanced and educated civilization on the planet today, correct? Right then…
1. I, as one person, do not speak for you. You, as one person, do not speak for me. A handful of murdering individuals do not speak for 320 million Americans. Logical consistency.
2. We all connect with the victims of these horrific acts, because these acts can happen to us and/or our loved ones anywhere at any moment. We also connect with the victims’ loved ones and friends, because we have all felt the loss of losing someone, expectedly or unexpectedly, no matter how prepared we think we are.
3. Emotions generally do not, and should not, govern policy, whether it is your individual policies toward the world or the federal government’s policies toward we the citizens. Why? Emotion overrides everything. Emotion blinds. Emotion is the lower order. Emotion is animalistic. Emotion is fickle. Remember, we all want cooler heads to prevail.
4. For these events’ perpetrators, the emotion of anger led to the irrationality of hate. Nearly all the posts I’ve viewed from my family and friends today have been deeply emotional negatively. Anger can easily gain control and override your system. Your anger, expressed via vitriol, more widely opens the door to hate. And we all know the slew of evil things hate leads to.
5. Your Facebook page is yours. Do with it as you see fit. Your FB autonomy is absolute. But when you un-friend people, shut-down dialogue, and attempt to shame disagreers, you place yourself in a mental bubble. Guess who else placed such self-imposition on themselves? Yeah, the horrible killers you rage against. They ignored everyone else, and followed an ignorant path that progressively led to such radicalization that they couldn’t contain such extremes anymore, so they took the lid off their pressure cookers by implementing death and destruction.
6. I know each and every one of you. Aside from familial obligation–which is a non-sequitur for me anyway, lol–I admire and respect each and every one of you, because you all enrich the tapestry of my own life with your own priceless uniqueness, in all your strengths and weaknesses. For you to close yourself off from the world–which includes me–in such a way, you only create and/or exacerbate impoverishment in our lives, decreasing the vividness and vitality of our tapestries. Why would you do that to anyone who does not deserve such treatment?
7. Disagreement is not a bad thing. Rational, substantive, civil discussion leads to self-fulfillment and fulfillment for others. Even if one does not come out on top in a debate, one is still strengthened by the experience through self-permission. Why? You do not have all the answers. No one, in and of himself, has all the answers. Together, we find more answers. We gain perspective. We solidify our principles and acquire new ones. We learn how to overcome our weaknesses and build our strengths.
8. Success is a journey. It is a process. It is in the pursuit that we find our life’s happiness and joys. You don’t find success in pumping out a kid or two, you find success and happiness in the pursuit of raising those children into mature and independent adults. Same idea when it comes to dealing with current events: what were the strengths and weaknesses that we need to build upon and overcome, respectively? You can’t do that through shunning the world and shirking your responsibilities as a productive member of a democratic society. That’s what the killers did. ….And how’d that turn out?
9. There is one universal answer that, ironically, eventually solves all of life’s problems. The one exception to the general rule. Results are not necessarily immediate, though some results are immediate. Results may vary in degree, but they all fall into the improvement category. The momentum itself carries you forward more easily with time. Progress is a guarantee. Self-barricading is incompatible. You ready? Love. Love as a noun. Love as a verb. Love is universal because it is the only emotion–from which all other positive ones flow forth, including sadness (for from whence does sadness derive but joy and happiness fulfilled through love)–that spurs the intellect, and therefore civilization, on to betterment. Love of knowledge, love of intangible wealth.
10. Think about it. The most powerful statement of all time, in all of human history: “For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall NOT perish, but have everlasting LIFE.” Whether you are a Christian or not, religious or not, that is the most influential declarative statement of all time. It has determined the course of history like no other sentence ever has. And it’s based on Love. Love. Love manifested. Love manifested to overcome. Love manifested to overcome Hate. Love is found in every Faith. Love is found in every one of us. Love is in our hearts. Love is also in our minds and the energy that composes our souls. It is the impetus from which all intellect foundates.
Keep the faith. We all do it together, and our descendants can only….love us.
Newly unearthed photos of President Obama in Muslim garb underscore his deep ties to the faith — and possibly help explain his reluctance to call out radical Islam, Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly said Wednesday.
The photos, aired on “The O’Reilly Factor,” were taken at the wedding of Obama’s half-brother, Malik Obama, in Maryland sometime in the early 1990s, O’Reilly said. They were not offered as evidence that Obama is Muslim, as some of his critics insist, but to show his “deep emotional ties” to the religion of his father and stepfather, O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly said the photos, taken in the 1990s, underscore Obama’s deep ties to Islam. (Fox News Channel)
“There is no question the Obama administration’s greatest failure is allowing the Islamic terror group ISIS to run wild, murdering thousands of innocent people all over the world, including many Muslims,” said O’Reilly. “Mr. Obama has never, never acknowledged that mistake, nor does he define the ISIS threat accurately.
The summer weather has led to a surge in water use for irrigating. Ridgewood Water implemented Stage II restrictions almost 2 weeks ago. Stage II limits the use of water for irrigation to two days per week. If your street address is an odd number, you may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. If your street address is an even number, you may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. A hand held hose may be used at any time. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for a hand held hose.
Many people water their lawns more than necessary for healthy, drought resistant turf. Experts agree that ½ inch of water twice a week will sustain an established lawn within the Stage II limitations. Ridgewood Water technicians can help you reset your automatic irrigation system if needed. Please call our Customer Service Center at 201-670-5520 for assistance.
Our Fire Department is in the process of distributing a Notice of Water Restrictions flyer to every house in the Village. Enforcement has increased significantly. Fines start at $65 for the first offense, and increase for additional offenses. We have a team of personnel who are watching for violations in the act or evidence of violations at various times of day and night. If evidence of watering is found or they respond to a property based on a tip, a notice of non-compliance will be left with the homeowner as a warning. If you have any questions or concerns about watering, you can email it to [email protected]
Your cooperation in observing Stage II restrictions is appreciated and will help us avoid more stringent levels this year.
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
Secrecy is a virtual religion in Washington. Those who violate its dogma have been punished in the harshest and most excessive manner – at least when they possess little political power or influence. As has been widely noted, the Obama administration has prosecuted more leakers under the 1917 Espionage Act than all prior administrations combined. Secrecy in DC is so revered that even the most banal documents are reflexively marked classified, making their disclosure or mishandling a felony. As former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden said back in 2000, “Everything’s secret. I mean, I got an email saying ‘Merry Christmas.’ It carried a top secret NSA classification marking.”
People who leak to media outlets for the selfless purpose of informing the public – Daniel Ellsberg, Tom Drake, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden – face decades in prison. Those who leak for more ignoble and self-serving ends – such as enabling hagiography (Leon Panetta, David Petreaus) or ingratiating oneself to one’s mistress (Petraeus) – face career destruction, though they are usually spared if they are sufficiently Important-in-DC. For low-level, powerless Nobodies-in-DC, even the mere mishandling of classified information – without any intent to leak but merely to, say, work from home – has resulted in criminal prosecution, career destruction and the permanent loss of security clearance.
This extreme, unforgiving, unreasonable, excessive posture toward classified information came to an instant halt in Washington today – just in time to save Hillary Clinton’s presidential aspirations. FBI Director James Comey, an Obama appointee who served in the Bush DOJ, held a press conference earlier this afternoon in which he condemned Clinton on the ground that she and her colleagues were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information,” including Top Secret material.
Comey also detailed that her key public statements defending her conduct –i.e., she never sent classified information over her personal email account and that she had turned over all “work-related” emails to the State Department – were utterly false; insisted “that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position . . . should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation”; and argued that she endangered national security because of the possibility “that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton’s personal e-mail account.” Comey also noted that others who have done what Clinton did “are often subject to security or administrative sanctions” – such as demotion, career harm, or loss of security clearance.
TSA, American Airlines Jointly Testing Innovative Airport Security Technology
American Airlines Group, Inc.
WASHINGTON and FORT WORTH, Texas, July 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and American Airlines, through a joint initiative, will install new screening technology, including automated security screening lanes and computed tomography (CT) scanners, at select American Airlines hubs nationwide this fall.
The automated screening lanes incorporate technology and screening station modifications that enhance security effectiveness while decreasing the time travelers spend in security screening by approximately 30 percent. TSA and American Airlines anticipate deployment of these lanes to Chicago (O’Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Miami.
This two-piece garment reveals more than it conceals and has stood the test of social resistance over the years.
July 5th,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Fashion met innovation, in the mid 19th century, a post World War II fabric shortage led to the United States War Production Board slashing usage of natural fibre cloth along with a mandate on reduction of fabric in beachwear for women. A few snips, cuts and slashes and the first signs of the bikini started to takie shape.
Enter the French Designer Jacques Heim, who ran a beach shop in the resort town and now popular film festival destination, Cannes created a two-piece garb in 1946 that he aptly called ‘Atome’ a la atom. Around that time, Louis Réard, a French engineer who also looked after his mother’s lingerie store crafted a swimsuit that exposed the navel for the very first time and gave birth to the string bikini. His inspiration being the women who lolled about on the St Tropez beaches, rolling up their swimsuits for better tanning results. He called this design of his – the bikini – and unveiled it on July 5, 1946, a mere five days after the first testing of a nuclear device was held in Bikini Atoll, expecting an ‘explosive commercial and cultural reaction’. Needless to say, the reaction was more than an explosion.
Ridgewood NJ, Applications are available for The New Jersey Civil Service Commission Law Enforcement Examination. The Ridgewood Police Department uses the eligibility list provided by the State to hire candidates. The test is given every three years. Click on the link below for more information.
1. Applicants must be citizens of the United States as of August 31, 2016.
2. Applicants must meet the residency requirements of the appointing jurisdiction as of August 31, 2016 and may be required to maintain continuous residency in that jurisdiction up to and including the date of appointment.
3. Applicants must be high school or vocational high school graduates, or possess an approved High School Equivalency Certificate by August 31, 2016.
4. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age as of August 31, 2016. Applicants for Municipal Police Officer and its bilingual variant positions cannot be over 35 years of age (one is considered over 35 on the day of his/her 35th birthday) as of August 31, 2016, unless they meet the exceptions in “Maximum hiring age requirement for Municipal Police Officer” as indicated on the Fact Sheet. NOTE: The age 35 maximum hiring requirement applies only to Municipal Police Officer and its bilingual variants.
5. Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
6. Appointees may be required to pass thorough medical and drug screening, and psychological/psychiatric examinations. Failure of any of these is cause for removal from that title area.
7. Appointees will be required to successfully complete a training program mandated by the NJ Police Training Commission. This training must be completed prior to enrollment in the Police and Fire Retirement System.
8. After you complete and submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation page which includes a link and access code to the Candidate Preparation Guide. Please print your confirmation page prior to going to the link.
An abbreviated application is used for this title. Information regarding education, experience, licenses/certifications, training or internships is not collected. https://info.csc.state.nj.us/vats/WebAnno.aspx
Ridgewood NJ, It takes a lot of effort to host a parade and fireworks ,the Ridgewood Fourth of July Committee who oversees yesterdays 106th annual Independence Day celebration in Ridgewood had its first meeting way back in September.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is organized by the Ridgewood Fourth of July Committee, a private all-volunteer group. The Committee is not part of the Village government and receives no funding from the Village.The Committee, was originally called the Ridgewood Independence Day Association, was formed in 1910.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Committee was up at the crack of dawn to deliver water to the parade route, put markers at the staging area and set up for a volunteers’ breakfast that starts at 7 a.m. Groups lineup around 8am .
Ridgewood’s parade has over 100 groups that march in it and, together with a fireworks display in Veterans Memorial Field later that night, and can cost over $100,000 . Security and the fireworks themselves are some of the biggest costs, with all of the money for the celebration coming from ticket sales, business sponsorships and private donations.
And of coarse in Ridgewood in time honored tradition , eager residents begin reserving spots along the parade route weeks in advance marking their spots with folding lawn chairs.
Every Fourth of July our country comes together to celebrate the signing of the Declaration that would enshrine the principles of what it means to live as free people. But the signing of the Declaration of Independence was not the end of the pursuit for freedom and liberty—it was just the start.
The Revolutionary War was a long, bloody affair that endangered the property, family, and very lives of the Patriots who knew that they had no choice but to fight to defend their rights. And the subsequent years after the American Revolution were filled with many questions for this new fledgling country. It would be 11 years after July 4, 1776 until the United States Constitution was finally adopted to guarantee the rights of all Americans.
The lesson of Independence Day is that freedom is not something you declare one time and hope for the best. It’s a commitment we must, as Americans, fight for just as diligently in 2016 as the revolutionaries in 1776.
Freedom is fought for by the brave members of our armed forces who put their lives on the line to defend us. It’s fought for by our first responders who risk everything to serve their communities right here at home. And it’s fought for by everyone who is proud to live in a country that fights to end tyranny and oppression both here and abroad.
Herein lies the beauty of America. Few of us can trace our heritage in this country back to the colonial days, yet we continue to celebrate the achievements of early America. That’s because the Founders’ cries for freedom and liberty have been adopted by everyone who has made this country their home. This is the American Dream.
Our dream is about more than a place on a map or any specific of group of people. Our dream is a promise that the government is beholden to the people, and it’s a promise that every person is born free and deserves to pursue their own happiness.
The parade Begins 10AM (Rain or Shine) at South Monroe Street and Godwin Avenue
The theme of our 106th annual celebration is:
“America the Beautiful – Celebrating 100 Years of our National Parks”
This years theme honors the creation of the National Park Service through the Organic Act of 1916 signed by President Woodrow Wilson and originated by President Theodore Roosevelt. Each year, the Fourth of July Celebration Committee chooses a theme that celebrates a certain aspect of American history or culture. The theme also serves as the basis for the float competition held during the parade.
Although national parks have existed since 1872, the creation of the National Park Service established a unified organization to oversee the natural and historic treasures of the United States and ensure their continued preservation and enjoyment for future generations. According to the National Park Service, there are more than 400 parks, monuments, recreation areas and other federal sites under its management. Other notable facts include:
The first national park was Yellowstone National Park founded March 1, 1872
292 million people enjoyed the nation’s national parks in 2014
The National Park System covers more 84 million acres across US States and territories
President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not what we have that will make us a great nation; it is the way in which we use it”
