JUNE 9, 2015, 7:01 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, 7:40 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — You might think that after earning her fifth academic degree, Rosa Oppenheim would have taken some time off to relax.
Not this longtime Ridgewood resident and Rutgers Business School professor.
In May, mere days after receiving her third master’s degree, Oppenheim, 65, hopped on a plane bound for Singapore, where she’s spent the last few weeks teaching an international business class.
“I do try to make the most of my time,” said Oppenheim, who chairs Rutgers’ Department of Supply Chain Management and Marketing Sciences. “An old friend remarked a long time ago that my epitaph should be, ‘She never wasted a minute.’”
A continual learner, Oppenheim earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Brooklyn’s Polytechnic University in 1970. A year later, she completed her master’s in operations research at the same institution. Then, in 1973, she was awarded a doctorate from Polytechnic and joined Rutgers as an assistant professor.
“Although busy with teaching, research, and a young family, I had always loved being a student and literature had always been a passion that I wasn’t able to pursue in a rigorous, and rigid, engineering curriculum,” Oppenheim said.
So, upon reaching tenure in 1980, Oppenheim decided to enroll in the master’s program in English at Rutgers. She took one course a semester, and in 1985, had a second master’s degree under her belt.
JUNE 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, 12:13 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Civility talks in Ridgewood have made their way to the athletic fields, as a group of residents and officials discussed how the village can be better represented by teams that play in town.
The discussion on June 1 was led by the Rev. Jan Phillips and focused on both the behavior of players, coaches and parents as well as the treatment of athletes during practices and games. Ridgewood has both town recreational programs and travel club teams that participate in various levels of competition utilizing village fields.
One portion of the evening explored the way children learn sportsmanship from the adults in charge. In light of the occasional story that surfaces in New Jersey and elsewhere about the subpar behavior of coaches and parents, it was argued that an alteration in attitude has to start with children when they are young since the adults could not change themselves.
But the Rev. Thomas Johnson suggested that those adults must model those proper behaviors, because that is where the players pick up their cues.
“I’d rather make the effort to change,” Johnson said. “I can’t expect my children to change when I am stubborn about changing my lifestyle, my behavior. So where is the model for change? You’re asking our kids to do something and they learn from us.”
Parks and Recreation Department Director Tim Cronin noted that many organizations have a code of ethics for all involved with teams – players, coaches and parents – and leagues have strict rules about behavior, such as a policy to stop a game until an unruly spectator has left the premises.
Resident Paul Vagianos suggested that the coaches of each team gather all players and parents for a meeting before the first practice of the season in order to get all involved on the same page.
JUNE 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY SCOTT GARRETT
THE RECORD
By reducing funding to the program that gives grant money to transit agencies for new projects by 4 percent, Congress could have fully funded our nation’s rail safety and operations.
WHAT WOULD be your top priority if the roof on your house was caving in? Would you build a new addition? Renovate the kitchen? Put in a swimming pool? Of course not — you would fix the roof, because it protects your home and your family.
Just as you wouldn’t add a new addition before fixing your home, Congress shouldn’t prioritize new transit over the immediate safety needs of our freight and passenger rail lines.
The number of train accidents is a growing concern among all Americans. Just this year we have seen oil train derailments in West Virginia and North Dakota, and more than a dozen Amtrak-related accidents. Most recently, a tragic crash in Philadelphia claimed eight lives and injured dozens more.
In New Jersey alone, we have more than 1,000 miles of commuter railroad tracks and 2,400 miles of freight railroad tracks. Furthermore, New Jerseyans travel more than 100 million miles on commuter trains every year. Americans both here and across the nation need assurance that Congress and the rail industry are taking the appropriate steps to ensure rail safety.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Safety and Operations Account funds safety projects for both freight and commuter trains across the country. In light of the recent concerns over train safety, I was disappointed that the FRA’s safety account did not receive an increase in funding in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Fourth of July is looking for volunteers for the Parade and Fireworks. Please volunteer as a parade marshall or for the evening program. All volunteers receive a signature Ridgewood Fourth of July t-shirt and a free ticket to the evening entertainment and fireworks. As we are a non-profit we can also offer community service hours to students. Please contact us on Facebook, at RidgewoodJuly4th.com or attend our volunteer meeting Wednesday, July 1st at 7:30 p.m. at the Firehouse. The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration is an all-volunteer organization supported entirely by private donations. Support the Tradition.
Posted by Matt Rooney On June 09, 2015 0 Comment
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Did you hear that noise, Save Jerseyans?
It’s thousands of public sector union heads exploding in unison.
The New Jersey Supreme Court issued an 5-2 opinion in the pension payment case (Christopher Burgos v. State of New Jersey) on Tuesday morning, reversing a lower court’s directive to the Christie Administration to make a billion dollar pension payment. Click here to read it. For a little background on the Christie/pension payment controversy, click here.
The majority opinion (which did not include Chief Justice Rabner) relied on the text of the Debt Limitation Clause:
“No matter how worthy the cause to be advanced by Chapter 78, the Debt Limitation Clause speaks directly to this situation and, in pertinent part, commands:
“‘The Legislature shall not, in any manner, create in any fiscal year a debt or debts, liability or liabilities of the State, which together with any previous debts or liabilities shall exceed at any time one per centum of the total amount appropriated by the general appropriation law for that fiscal year, unless the same shall be authorized by a law for some single object or work distinctly specified therein. . . . [N]o such law shall take effect until it shall have been submitted to the people at a general election and approved by a majority of the legally qualified voters of the State voting thereon.’”
“The purpose to be achieved by the Debt Limitation Clause dovetails with the Framers’ intent for a fiscally responsible annual budget process,” the majority continued. “Efforts to dedicate monies through legislative acts other than the annual appropriations act have no binding effect. They are read as impliedly suspended when contradicted by the budgetary judgment of the presently constituted Legislature acting in concert with the Governor in their constitutionally prescribed budget formation roles. Those debt limitation and appropriations-related constitutional clauses conflict with the contractual language of Chapter 78 and thwart plaintiffs’ impairment claims.”
It may be easier than expected for states to save their ObamaCare subsidies, if the Supreme Court rules against the law this month.
Two states — Pennsylvania and Delaware — said this week they would launch their own exchanges, if needed, to keep millions of healthcare dollars flowing after the decision. Both want to use existing pieces of the federal ObamaCare exchange, like its website and call center — a path that would be far less costly than the way most other states have created their exchanges.
If those plans win approval, many of the other 36 states that stand to lose their subsidies could then pursue a similarly simple strategy.
“I think that’s a pretty easy workaround,” Tom Scully, the former director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Bush administration, said about the two states’ plans.
“The administration has a lot of flexibility, potentially, to define a state exchange,” he added.
But that would spell trouble for Republicans who view the King v. Burwell case as their best chance yet to dismantle Obama’s healthcare law. GOP members of Congress have repeatedly said they must create a backup plan for states so that they are forced to make ObamaCare “fixes.”
With the ruling inching closer, many of the 34 states that could lose big from the King v. Burwell ruling have been quietly plotting how to avert the potential chaos from a decision against the Obama administration.
From Scratch, a successful gourmet dinner delivery company now opens the first US Franchise of Italian Company, Italia di Gusto, in Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, From Scratch, a Ridgewood-based gourmet dinner delivery company, has announced the grand opening of the first Italia di Gusto, an Italian specialty foods retailer, franchise with a made-to-order casual and authentic Italian eat-in bistro.
This first US franchise retail store and bistro is located at 44 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood NJ and will hold its grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 6 at 5:00pm. The opening of this store completes Rome native, Chef Claudia Rovegno’s dream to open a storefront in the US.
Festivities will begin at 5:00pm and will include a ribbon cutting, words from Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, raffle gifts (including a basket of gourmet Italian products and a board of specialty meats, cheeses and desserts), as well as plenty of food to try.
After moving to the US in 2013 and opening From Scratch in 2014, Chef Claudia embarked on a new project: to open Italia di Gusto. Passionate about sharing great food with others, Italia di Gusto and From Scratch bring a combination of a unique shopping with a warm, yet casual and inviting dining experience to downtown Ridgewood, creating a one-of-a-kind grocery bistro.
In the bistro, you will find “taglieri” which are tasting plates of fresh cheeses and meats shipped in from Italy as well as a selection of paninis, salads, and desserts, all made to order. You’ll also find jarred Italian specialty foods, such as sauces, tuna, and olive oil.
“We hope you to feel like you’ve stepped into Italy when you step into Italia di Gusto,” said owner and chef Claudia Rovegno. “Our goal is to educate you about the food you are eating and the products you see. We want you to experience the same culinary delight you would if you had traveled to Italy.”
For more information about the bistro store and the grand opening follow From Scratch and Italia di Gusto on Facebook.
From Scratch has been delivering fresh, homemade dinners to Ridgewood and the surrounding towns since 2014. Italia di Gusto Ridgewood is the first Italian specialty food retailing franchise to open in the United States. Together, From Scratch & Italia di Gusto provide fine Italian food products and gourmet Italian foods, helping transport visitors to Italy when they walk through the door.
photos by Boyd Loving
Graydon Pool Opening Day
June 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the 2015 Graydon Pool season kicked off with opening day Saturday, June 6th. The weather was a bit cool but that didn’t stop many Graydon enthusiast from hitting the beach.
GRAYDON POOL MEMBERSHIPS and AQUATIC PROGRAMS – GRAYDON OPENS June 6 @10AM
Graydon Pool Memberships and Aquatic Programs
Please visit the Graydon Pool homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon to learn about membership rates, program offerings and pool amenities. Be sure to bookmark our Graydon homepage on your computer for future special events and program offerings. Opening day for Graydon Pool is Saturday, June 6th.
2015 season memberships may now be purchased online via Community Pass at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass. Be sure to refer to your online confirmation when purchase is complete for detailed information on how to obtain your photo identification badge. Preseason in-person assistance will be available at the Graydon Pool Badge Office (on-site at the pool) on Saturday, May 9 and Saturday, May 16, 10 am to 12 noon each date.
Aquatic programs, including the Graydon Swim Team and instructional and recreational swim, are also available online at Community Pass, or you may review levels and print program registration forms from our Graydon homepage referenced above. Meet the Aquatic Staff and learn more on the following dates at the pool: Saturday, June 6th, 10 am to 1 pm, and Saturday, June 20th, 10 am to 1 pm.
American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Training (recertification/bridging and new) is available through Ridgewood Parks and Recreation. Details/registration are also available on the Graydon Pool homepage.
Summer is fast approaching, so sign up now. For more information please call 201-670-5560.
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County to co-sponsor Free Emergency Preparedness Event Connect with your Community at Emergency Reach Out YWCA Bergen County and Paul Davis Restoration are co-sponsoring Emergency Reach Out: Learning Emergency Preparedness & Connecting with your Community, on Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at YWCA Bergen County, 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ. This FREE event will instruct you on how to be prepared in a natural disaster or emergency. A team of leaders and experts will provide know-how and tools to get you and your loved ones ready for any “just in case” scenario. Included in the day’s activities will be seminars, classes, educators, guidance & answers, vendor tables, raffle prizes & gifts and free coffee, breakfast treats and afternoon ice cream! For more information, please contact Donna Meyer at 201-995-3589 or [email protected].
Any development should enhance Ridgewood’s character
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Any development should enhance village’s character
To the Editor:
Those of us who chose to move to Ridgewood made a careful decision and chose a village with character over urbanized cities such as Morristown or Hackensack.
My family has experienced what Ridgewood has to offer young families, and it’s plentiful. However, I have noticed there is an obvious need for housing for empty nesters.
Overdevelopment in town is being driven by corporations’ strong desire to cash in, not enhance our downtown.
Our schools are overcrowded already; overdevelopment will increase taxes because it will increase the number of children who attend our schools, therefore adding more costs to taxpayers.
In order to protect the quality of our schools, the suburban life and the peace and tranquility of our neighborhoods; development should be reasonable and enhance our village character, not drastically alter it. One example of how development can enhance our downtown is providing green space and parking.
Overdevelopment and an unreasonable increase in density in our zoning laws will lower property values for all and hurt our village life. Urbanization of Ridgewood will decrease property values, as well. We must question the true intentions of those supporting special interests rather than protecting our community.
PARIS (AP) — Allied veterans and families of their fallen comrades gathered Saturday at the U.S. cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach to mark the 71st anniversary of the D-Day invasion that helped defeat the Nazis in World War II.
Visitors and cadets from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland watched as a bagpipe band paraded at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, amid the thousands of white marble crosses and Stars of David of servicemen and women who lost their lives during the invasion.
The invasion began shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, with a perilous airborne operation led by paratroopers of the “Screaming Eagles” 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne divisions.
The Eleventh Annual Wiffle for Cancer tournament in memory of Nick Currey (RHS 2004) will be held on Sunday, June 7, starting at 12 p.m. at Ridgewood High School. Online registration is now up and running for this year’s tournament at www.wiffleforcancer.org.
All proceeds benefit the Nick Currey Fund for Ewing Sarcoma Research. The organization is also looking for individuals and businesses to sponsor this year’s tournament. For further information about the tournament and the Nick Currey Fund, visit www.wiffleforcancer.org. Any questions should be directed to Ralph Currey at [email protected].
JUNE 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JJ CONRAD
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Hundreds of views turned to thousands in just a few short hours Thursday, as a controversial YouTube video made its way around the state.
Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and ethics were at the forefront of it all. And girls lacrosse bylaws and rulebooks were brought into question.
The video features unusual activity from one Summit player following Julia Persche’s game-winning goal with 3.4 seconds remaining in the Hilltoppers’ 6-5, Tournament of Champions semifinal victory Wednesday against undefeated Ridgewood.
“[Thursday] night one of the coaches sends me this video and says, ‘You have to watch this,’ ” Northern Highlands coach Mike Menzella said of the video, which was deleted Friday. “I watch it and I’m like, ‘No way. Are you kidding? That’s how the game ended?’ We all can’t believe it.”
Following a Ridgewood go-ahead goal that was taken off the scoreboard because of an illegal stick with 1:12 remaining, Persche scored the game-winner 1:09 later.
As Persche was mobbed by teammates in a celebration near the net, one teammate –who was highlighted in the video – grabs the stick in question and appears to tamper with it before handing it back to Persche
Twenty-one students from Taekwondo All In of Ridgewood received medals for their performances at the Big East Tournament in Basking Ridge on April 26. FRONT ROW, from left: Akash Patel, Lucas Woods, Edward Wagner and Maya Gugelev. MIDDLE ROW, from left: Arjun Narang, Benjamin Soung, Tej Patel, Audrey Kim and Alexander Han. BACK ROWS, from left: Adrian Golnabi, Jason Ahn, Louise Kim, Julia An, Liam Woods, Jenna Slota, head coach Youngmin Kin, Tony An, Connor Rojas, David Ahn, Kalyan Patel, Abhishek Narang, Colin Fitzgerald and coach Seongki Kim.
Ridgewood taekwondo athletes feast on Big East
JUNE 5, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEW
Twenty-one Ridgewood Taekwondo athletes faced a major challenge at the Big East Tournament, which drew over 400 competitors from the tri-state area on April 26. However, the students from Taekwondo All In produced stellar results by claiming 29 gold, 21 silver and five bronze medals.
The Big East Tournament was the final stop in the circuit before the National Championships, which will take place July 4 in Austin, Texas.
“We have an amazing group of kids at Taekwondo All In,” Youngmin Kim, a Taekwondo master and head instructor, said. “Their dedication and hard work is truly inspirational. Our goal at the school is to teach our students not only the martial art, but life lessons on grit, focus and hard work, which will benefit them in all aspects of their lives.”
Club awarded its fourth USGA championship, first since 1990 U.S. Senior Open
Paramus NJ, The Ridgewood Country Club home of the Barclay’s , has been selected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the host site for the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The fourth USGA championship to be held at Ridgewood is scheduled for July 18-23, 2016.
“We are thrilled to announce Ridgewood Country Club as the host site of the 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior and sincerely appreciate the club’s generosity in opening its long-celebrated facilities to this generation of female players,” said Diana Murphy, USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “This historic club will surely provide an excellent stage for the world’s most talented teenage female golfers and an extraordinary experience for all.”
Located less than 30 miles northwest of New York City, Ridgewood’s three 9-hole courses – East, Center and West – were designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened for play in 1929. The course routing for the Girls’ Junior will incorporate holes from all three nines.
“Ridgewood’s members enthusiastically support the USGA’s ambitious efforts to grow the game, especially for girls, and it is our honor to work together to provide the best championship experience possible,” said Bruce Bitzer, President of Ridgewood Country Club. “As proven throughout our storied history, Ridgewood is a place that identifies great champions, and we could not be more excited to host players who represent the future of women’s golf at the 68th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.”
Ridgewood’s most recent USGA championship was the 1990 U.S. Senior Open, in which Lee Trevino prevailed by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus on the Center and West courses. The club also hosted the 1974 U.S. Amateur, won by Jerry Pate, 2 and 1, over John P. Grace, and the 1957 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by J. Clark Espie, 4 and 3, over Frederick J. Wright.
Other notable events held at Ridgewood include the PGA Tour’s The Barclays in 2014, 2010 and 2008, won by Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Vijay Singh, respectively; the 2001 Senior PGA Championship, won by Tom Watson; the 1981 LPGA Coca-Cola Classic, won by Kathy Whitworth, a World Golf Hall of Fame member who won a record 88 LPGA events; and the 1935 Ryder Cup Matches, in which the USA defeated Great Britain, 9-3.
The 2016 U.S. Girls’ Junior will be the 60th USGA championship conducted in New Jersey. The Garden State will also host the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship was first conducted in 1949 and is open to female amateurs who have not turned 18 on or before the final day of that year’s championship and have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 18.4.
Notable champions include three-time winner Hollis Stacy, Mickey Wright, Nancy Lopez, Amy Alcott, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Pat Hurst, I.K. Kim, Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson. Princess Mary Superal won the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior on the Meadow Course at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz. The 2015 championship will be conducted July 20-25 at Tulsa (Okla.) Country Club.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit https://www.usga.org.
