"This article on Declining enrollments strain finances, in many north Jersey swim clubs, shows how pools have lost memberships this year at accelerated rates due to the slumping economy. Even as the pro RPP tout they joined neighboring pools, those pools show declining membership percent losses also: Paramus 10% loss, Westwood 25% loss, Washington Twnshp 10% loss. Towns are holding off on expensive repairs. One would think, how can Ridgewood possibly think of a $10Million Bond?"
Swim clubs in deep
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Last updated: Sunday September 6, 2009, 9:39 AM
BY DEENA YELLIN
The Record
STAFF WRITER
http://www.northjersey.com/recreation/Swim_clubs_in_deep.html
In a slumping economy, many North Jersey swim clubs have just about managed to stay afloat.
With summer unofficially ending this weekend, swim clubs in Ridgewood, Paramus, Fairfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Bogota, Westwood, Ringwood and Washington Township report they have lost substantial numbers of members this year.
Many of the clubs are holding off on expensive repairs. Others are allowing residents of other towns to join as associate members or to use the pool for daily fees, an unthinkable concept in richer times.
One economist was not surprised.
"The consumer is retrenching sharply because of lost home equity, financial investment losses, excessive debt and job losses or fear of job losses," said James Hughes, dean of the Edward Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. "Discretionary spending has been curtailed as households try to rebuild their balance sheets. Swim clubs are a discretionary spending item."
At the Highlands Natural Pool in Ringwood, Treasurer Helene Wittmershaus attributed the decline from 102 to 76 member families to this year’s inclement weather as well as the harsh economic climate. "We are trying to come up with ways to entice people to join," she said.
Closter dropped the price of its membership. Demarest is considering merging its pool with Closter, and Haworth has allowed the town to take over the club’s operation. Several clubs said they advertised this year for the first time to appeal to a crowd that’s not buying.
"Up until this year, we’ve had a waiting list every year for the past 20 years," said John Casella, president of the Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club. "The pool needs to upgrade some of its equipment, but its revenue stream has been lowered," he said.
The Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club charter does not permit members from out of town, but this year, the club issued guest passes for families with friends and relatives in town on a one-time basis, said Casella. Several other North Jersey swim clubs also said they loosened their normally tight membership restrictions this year to make ends meet.
Bogota’s pool, for example, which lost about 30 member families this year, opened its membership to the public for the first time, said pool manager Jeff Clark. "We’re all pitching in to have special events to do fund-raising activities. We’re reaching out to neighboring communities. We hope to appeal to more people."
Not all pools are suffering. Hillsdale, Wayne and Fair Lawn said their numbers are similar to last year’s. Cresskill gained members. "We’re getting more members because it’s cheaper to join the swim club than to go away on vacation," said Matt Bickford, assistant manager at the Cresskill club.
Others are not as lucky. At Graydon Pool in Ridgewood, where membership is down 31 percent from last year, spokeswoman Nancy Bigos said, "This is the lowest membership we’ve had in years. It’s hard to pay expenses."
Demarest’s pool has seen a lot of turnover, as has the town: Many high-powered executives who lost their jobs sold their homes and moved out. "We’re doing better than most of the other pools, but if we don’t get a surge in the next few years, it will be hard to keep up the pool," said assistant manager Mike Pasciuto. "The costs of chlorine and cleaning supplies have gone up. There’s been talk about merging the Demarest and Closter pools together, but neither town wants to give up their facility."
Some say that the declining membership has been a steady trend over the past few years. In Washington Township, membership has gone down every year for the past few years by about 15 families, while five to 10 new families join, said board Co-president Scott Davies. But this year was markedly worse because of the economy. The club lost 25 families this year, and no new families came in.
"A lot of swim clubs are having difficulties," he said. "We had a greater number of people resign this year than in the past with the economy," he said. "If residents lost their jobs, they will curtail in whatever way they can."
In an effort to cut costs, the board members pitched in by volunteering at the club on weekends, maintaining the grounds and painting the pool. The club renegotiated insurance and landscaper contracts to save money. And now, the club is more aggressively seeking members, said Davies. "We’re reaching out to other communities. We’re advertising. It’s definitely tougher this year than in the past."
Westwood has watched membership decline and expenses go up over the past few years. The club, which lost 30 families this year, had a potential buyer, but the board members wanted to hold on to their beloved club.
"We’ve had financial problems," said Marge Guitella, the board president. "We had to take out a loan to replace a pump, but we are reluctant to raise dues. We don’t want to lose our club. We will advertise, we’re inviting other towns to come, we’re offering discounts, and we’re thinking of lowering our dues. High dues are driving out members in this economy. We are working hard to get through this season."
E-mail: yellin@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/recreation/Swim_clubs_in_deep.html
The Ridgewood Blog
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
RHS teams to face new landscape in fall season
RHS teams to face new landscape in fall season
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Ridgewood News
CORRESPONDENT
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/55592822.html
RIDGEWOOD — Greg McDonald feels fortunate to be overseeing an athletic department at Ridgewood High School that succeeds with a winning formula.
"We're fortunate to have kids who work hard with coaches who push them to play the best they can," said McDonald as he prepares to begin his eighth year at the school and fourth as its athletic director.
The Maroons are poised to enter an altered athletic scene in September, as state league realignment has erased the tried-and-true Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and all other North Jersey leagues and conferences and placed Ridgewood in what is called the North Jersey Tri-County Conference. That plan is set for just the upcoming school year, with plans by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to redistribute the teams again for 2010-11.
The plan has been greeted by both pro- and con- arguments, and McDonald is one who is torn both ways in addressing the situation.
"What I do like is, we'll be seeing a majority of the old NNJIL schools, and we'll be seeing a lot of familiar faces," he said. "But the bad part is we won't be seeing Montclair, which has been a traditional rival of ours. Montclair, Bloomfield, Belleville and Nutley will be in a conference they're calling the SEC — the Super Essex Conference."
What helps Ridgewood negotiate any alignment changes now and in the future is a veteran staff McDonald oversees coaching his teams. That is especially true in the fall season. All head coaches of the eight autumn teams return from last year, and many have been on board for decades: Chuck Johnson in football, Craig Mahler and Jeff Yearing in boys and girls soccer, Mike Glynn and Jacob Brown in boys and girls cross-country, Medha Kirtane in girls tennis, Karen Seavers in gymnastics and Ron Knott in volleyball.
The more recent hirings among them as head coaches are Kirtane and Seavers, both of whom enter their second year in charge of their teams.
"And they're both Ridgewood graduates, so they've grown up in our system," McDonald noted.
This is a very active season coming up, as the Maroons field three levels of teams in five sports — football, both soccer programs, volleyball and girls tennis. And it could be a very prosperous season, as well.
"I've talked to the coaches, and they all seem very excited for the new season," McDonald said. "They feel they can compete and maybe make the states [tournaments and playoffs] in all the sports. And they're all working very hard."
The coaches also should feel fortunate to have McDonald where he is. He can feel what they're feeling, and he has compassion for all of them. He previously coached freshman soccer, ice hockey and golf at Don Bosco Prep and coached girls soccer, wrestling, baseball and softball at Northern Highlands.
"I can stop and say, 'I remember when I did that'," he said with a laugh over his ability to empathize with any coach.
The days of preparation are rolling by quickly, as McDonald and his coaches brace for a busy opening session. A heavy wave of activity kicks off the fall on a busy Sept. 11 schedule, beginning with the boys soccer opener at 4:15 p.m. at home against Teaneck; at the same time, the girls soccer team opens at Teaneck. On that day, the volleyball team is home against Wayne Valley, and, at 7 p.m., the football team kicks off its season at 7 p.m. at home against Hackensack.
The other sports get started just a bit after the 11th. Gymnastics season begins the next day at Wayne Hills. Tennis begins at home on Sept. 14t against Bergen Tech, and both cross-country teams run at Darlington on Sept. 15.
"We're excited," McDonald summarized. "It should be a great school year."
Ron Fox can be reached at farrellb@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/55592822.html
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Ridgewood News
CORRESPONDENT
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/55592822.html
RIDGEWOOD — Greg McDonald feels fortunate to be overseeing an athletic department at Ridgewood High School that succeeds with a winning formula.
"We're fortunate to have kids who work hard with coaches who push them to play the best they can," said McDonald as he prepares to begin his eighth year at the school and fourth as its athletic director.
The Maroons are poised to enter an altered athletic scene in September, as state league realignment has erased the tried-and-true Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and all other North Jersey leagues and conferences and placed Ridgewood in what is called the North Jersey Tri-County Conference. That plan is set for just the upcoming school year, with plans by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to redistribute the teams again for 2010-11.
The plan has been greeted by both pro- and con- arguments, and McDonald is one who is torn both ways in addressing the situation.
"What I do like is, we'll be seeing a majority of the old NNJIL schools, and we'll be seeing a lot of familiar faces," he said. "But the bad part is we won't be seeing Montclair, which has been a traditional rival of ours. Montclair, Bloomfield, Belleville and Nutley will be in a conference they're calling the SEC — the Super Essex Conference."
What helps Ridgewood negotiate any alignment changes now and in the future is a veteran staff McDonald oversees coaching his teams. That is especially true in the fall season. All head coaches of the eight autumn teams return from last year, and many have been on board for decades: Chuck Johnson in football, Craig Mahler and Jeff Yearing in boys and girls soccer, Mike Glynn and Jacob Brown in boys and girls cross-country, Medha Kirtane in girls tennis, Karen Seavers in gymnastics and Ron Knott in volleyball.
The more recent hirings among them as head coaches are Kirtane and Seavers, both of whom enter their second year in charge of their teams.
"And they're both Ridgewood graduates, so they've grown up in our system," McDonald noted.
This is a very active season coming up, as the Maroons field three levels of teams in five sports — football, both soccer programs, volleyball and girls tennis. And it could be a very prosperous season, as well.
"I've talked to the coaches, and they all seem very excited for the new season," McDonald said. "They feel they can compete and maybe make the states [tournaments and playoffs] in all the sports. And they're all working very hard."
The coaches also should feel fortunate to have McDonald where he is. He can feel what they're feeling, and he has compassion for all of them. He previously coached freshman soccer, ice hockey and golf at Don Bosco Prep and coached girls soccer, wrestling, baseball and softball at Northern Highlands.
"I can stop and say, 'I remember when I did that'," he said with a laugh over his ability to empathize with any coach.
The days of preparation are rolling by quickly, as McDonald and his coaches brace for a busy opening session. A heavy wave of activity kicks off the fall on a busy Sept. 11 schedule, beginning with the boys soccer opener at 4:15 p.m. at home against Teaneck; at the same time, the girls soccer team opens at Teaneck. On that day, the volleyball team is home against Wayne Valley, and, at 7 p.m., the football team kicks off its season at 7 p.m. at home against Hackensack.
The other sports get started just a bit after the 11th. Gymnastics season begins the next day at Wayne Hills. Tennis begins at home on Sept. 14t against Bergen Tech, and both cross-country teams run at Darlington on Sept. 15.
"We're excited," McDonald summarized. "It should be a great school year."
Ron Fox can be reached at farrellb@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/55592822.html
Teacher tries to Bully Students and Parents : Parent Responds
I want to know who said this. If he or she is really a teacher, he or she should be severely reprimanded. This is EXACTLY the attitude that causes concern among parents, who don't believe that unaccountable educators should abuse their authority impose their political beliefs upon impressionable students, particularly in elementary school. This teacher's comments are a disgrace!!!
If we Obama's comments are limited to encouraging children to aspire to higher education and achieving their goals in life, that would be fine. However, the recommended "lesson plan", which was suggested to educators clearly shows President Obama's real objective...to influence educators to encourage students to think how they could support President Obama's agenda. Many presidents have met with children and encouraged them to pursue their goals in life. But, no president has ever been so audacious as to presume to ask children to aspire to achieve HIS goals. The White House may have amended the suggested "lesson plan" to be more acceptable. But, they have already revealed their agenda.
I am willing to support our President for the good of the country. However, his tactics have revealed an an increasingly suspect agenda. His own party has growing concerns that he is further left of center than they thought. This is a largely "centrist" country. We all have reason to be skeptical of a president, who has yet to earn our trust by his actions. His office affords him respect, it does not afford him our blind TRUST. That must be earned. The teacher that made these comments is clearly not worth of our trust, either.
If we Obama's comments are limited to encouraging children to aspire to higher education and achieving their goals in life, that would be fine. However, the recommended "lesson plan", which was suggested to educators clearly shows President Obama's real objective...to influence educators to encourage students to think how they could support President Obama's agenda. Many presidents have met with children and encouraged them to pursue their goals in life. But, no president has ever been so audacious as to presume to ask children to aspire to achieve HIS goals. The White House may have amended the suggested "lesson plan" to be more acceptable. But, they have already revealed their agenda.
I am willing to support our President for the good of the country. However, his tactics have revealed an an increasingly suspect agenda. His own party has growing concerns that he is further left of center than they thought. This is a largely "centrist" country. We all have reason to be skeptical of a president, who has yet to earn our trust by his actions. His office affords him respect, it does not afford him our blind TRUST. That must be earned. The teacher that made these comments is clearly not worth of our trust, either.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
RHS : Ahmad records the top lift mark in Junior Division
Ahmad records the top lift mark in Junior Division
Friday, August 28, 2009
Last updated: Friday August 28, 2009, 1:03 PM
BY BRIAN FARRELL
The Ridgewood News
SPORTS EDITOR
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/hs_sports/football/Ahmad_records_the_top_lift_mark_in_Junior_Division_.html
RIDGEWOOD — Yama Ahmad, who will be a junior at Ridgewood High School, was the top weight presser in the Junior Division at head football coach Chuck Johnson's 25th annual Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon, which is conducted the second Wednesday in June.
Johnson, who is entering his 26th season as RHS' head football coach, designs his weightlifting contest to promote, mainly for his football players, overall team strength and competition. The bench-a-thon is open to any student at Ridgewood High School, and each competitor has two attempts to press his maximum weight.
The Junior Division is for freshmen and sophomores, and the Senior Division is for juniors and seniors. Each division has four weight classes.
Ahmad hoisted 305 pounds in the 181-Pound-and-Unlimited Weight Class, an improvement of 75 pounds over his third-place bench press of 230 pounds in the same weight class at the event in 2008. In second place behind Ahmad him was Zach Vinci, who will be a junior, and he had the event's second-highest bench press for the Junior Division with a lift of 280 pounds.
No records were broken at the bench-a-thon this year, but Sam Combs, who graduated in June, tied his mark for the event's fourth-highest bench press, 365 pounds, which he accomplished his sophomore year of 2007 and which was duplicated in 2008 by Ken Phillips. Last year, Combs became number two on the all-time list, bench pressing 400 pounds. His freshman year, Combs bench pressed 295 pounds.
Doug Sokolik's benchmark of 430 pounds, lifted his senior year of 2001, is still the Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon's gold standard. Ted Allard's 1989 bench press of 375 pounds in the Senior Division ranks third all-time.
"Weight training has become such an integral part of what we do to prepare for a football season," Johnson said. "It used to be thought that we [Ridgewood] had a definite edge because of our weightlifting program, but our league [Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League] has become so competitive and physical, and now there are other outstanding weight-training programs in our league. The day has come where you cannot play high school football in New Jersey if you're not going to lift weights."
"We have been stressing strength development in the off-season and the importance of strength and its ability to, number one, improve performance, and, number two, reduce injury," Johnson said. "There is, of course, the confidence-building issue with weight training, but there is also the injury-prevention factor. Our injury rate has gone down steadily in the football program with increased participation in the off-season in the weight-training program."
Johnson's bench-a-thon has always been open to any Ridgewood High School athlete or non-athlete, but, in 2002, he enlisted the support of the school's wrestling program in planning and conducting the event.
"A lot of the football players are also wrestlers, and they are very active in the weight room and have done a lot of weight training," said Johnson, a 1970 Ridgewood High School graduate who has been the Maroons' head football coach since the 1984 season.
Torre Watson, one of Johnson's assistant football coaches and Ridgewood High School's head wrestling coach, assisted Johnson at the bench-a-thon.
"This joint venture between the football and wrestling programs is a great idea from the fund-raising perspective, obviously, but moreover for the marriage of the two programs," Watson said. "I think the better we are as wrestlers is going to obviously facilitate us being better as football players and vice versa. There are so many parallels between the two sports. If we can be on the same proverbial page with each other, then both of our programs can flourish, so I think it's an absolutely great situation."
"It's good to see both the football and wrestling programs in a joint venture," said Watson. "I think that's something, unfortunately, that is not harbored in other school districts. It's astonishing to me because there is so much carry-over between the two sports. There are so many things from leverage to footwork to quickness to agility to discipline that are present on the wrestling mat that are also employed on the football field, so it's kind of perplexing to me why there's not a connection between the two sports [at some schools]. But we're doing the best we can to try to make sure that the two programs work closely together so both of them can move in a positive direction."
The Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon serves as a major fundraiser for the football and wrestling programs. Each competitor in the bench-a-thon is asked to get as many sponsors as he feels comfortable with among parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, parental business associates, local businesses and companies for the purpose of fund-raising for the football program and, since 2002, the wrestling program at the high school as well.
For example, if someone sponsors a participant for ten cents per pound, and the individual bench presses 200 pounds as a maximum lift, that sponsor would donate $20. The money received is used for various athletic-related purposes over and above budgeted funds. Over the years, the money has been used to purchase weight-training equipment, football game jerseys, practice shorts, T-shirts, hats and a stereo system for the weight room at the high school.
At the bench-a-thon this year rooting the athletes on was Bill Grundy, an assistant football coach on Johnson's staff, who is recovering from a stroke caused when a brain aneurysm burst in April of 2008 while at his job as a physical education teacher at Demarest Middle School.
E-mail: farrellb@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/hs_sports/football/Ahmad_records_the_top_lift_mark_in_Junior_Division_.html
Friday, August 28, 2009
Last updated: Friday August 28, 2009, 1:03 PM
BY BRIAN FARRELL
The Ridgewood News
SPORTS EDITOR
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/hs_sports/football/Ahmad_records_the_top_lift_mark_in_Junior_Division_.html
RIDGEWOOD — Yama Ahmad, who will be a junior at Ridgewood High School, was the top weight presser in the Junior Division at head football coach Chuck Johnson's 25th annual Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon, which is conducted the second Wednesday in June.
Johnson, who is entering his 26th season as RHS' head football coach, designs his weightlifting contest to promote, mainly for his football players, overall team strength and competition. The bench-a-thon is open to any student at Ridgewood High School, and each competitor has two attempts to press his maximum weight.
The Junior Division is for freshmen and sophomores, and the Senior Division is for juniors and seniors. Each division has four weight classes.
Ahmad hoisted 305 pounds in the 181-Pound-and-Unlimited Weight Class, an improvement of 75 pounds over his third-place bench press of 230 pounds in the same weight class at the event in 2008. In second place behind Ahmad him was Zach Vinci, who will be a junior, and he had the event's second-highest bench press for the Junior Division with a lift of 280 pounds.
No records were broken at the bench-a-thon this year, but Sam Combs, who graduated in June, tied his mark for the event's fourth-highest bench press, 365 pounds, which he accomplished his sophomore year of 2007 and which was duplicated in 2008 by Ken Phillips. Last year, Combs became number two on the all-time list, bench pressing 400 pounds. His freshman year, Combs bench pressed 295 pounds.
Doug Sokolik's benchmark of 430 pounds, lifted his senior year of 2001, is still the Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon's gold standard. Ted Allard's 1989 bench press of 375 pounds in the Senior Division ranks third all-time.
"Weight training has become such an integral part of what we do to prepare for a football season," Johnson said. "It used to be thought that we [Ridgewood] had a definite edge because of our weightlifting program, but our league [Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League] has become so competitive and physical, and now there are other outstanding weight-training programs in our league. The day has come where you cannot play high school football in New Jersey if you're not going to lift weights."
"We have been stressing strength development in the off-season and the importance of strength and its ability to, number one, improve performance, and, number two, reduce injury," Johnson said. "There is, of course, the confidence-building issue with weight training, but there is also the injury-prevention factor. Our injury rate has gone down steadily in the football program with increased participation in the off-season in the weight-training program."
Johnson's bench-a-thon has always been open to any Ridgewood High School athlete or non-athlete, but, in 2002, he enlisted the support of the school's wrestling program in planning and conducting the event.
"A lot of the football players are also wrestlers, and they are very active in the weight room and have done a lot of weight training," said Johnson, a 1970 Ridgewood High School graduate who has been the Maroons' head football coach since the 1984 season.
Torre Watson, one of Johnson's assistant football coaches and Ridgewood High School's head wrestling coach, assisted Johnson at the bench-a-thon.
"This joint venture between the football and wrestling programs is a great idea from the fund-raising perspective, obviously, but moreover for the marriage of the two programs," Watson said. "I think the better we are as wrestlers is going to obviously facilitate us being better as football players and vice versa. There are so many parallels between the two sports. If we can be on the same proverbial page with each other, then both of our programs can flourish, so I think it's an absolutely great situation."
"It's good to see both the football and wrestling programs in a joint venture," said Watson. "I think that's something, unfortunately, that is not harbored in other school districts. It's astonishing to me because there is so much carry-over between the two sports. There are so many things from leverage to footwork to quickness to agility to discipline that are present on the wrestling mat that are also employed on the football field, so it's kind of perplexing to me why there's not a connection between the two sports [at some schools]. But we're doing the best we can to try to make sure that the two programs work closely together so both of them can move in a positive direction."
The Ridgewood Bench-A-Thon serves as a major fundraiser for the football and wrestling programs. Each competitor in the bench-a-thon is asked to get as many sponsors as he feels comfortable with among parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, parental business associates, local businesses and companies for the purpose of fund-raising for the football program and, since 2002, the wrestling program at the high school as well.
For example, if someone sponsors a participant for ten cents per pound, and the individual bench presses 200 pounds as a maximum lift, that sponsor would donate $20. The money received is used for various athletic-related purposes over and above budgeted funds. Over the years, the money has been used to purchase weight-training equipment, football game jerseys, practice shorts, T-shirts, hats and a stereo system for the weight room at the high school.
At the bench-a-thon this year rooting the athletes on was Bill Grundy, an assistant football coach on Johnson's staff, who is recovering from a stroke caused when a brain aneurysm burst in April of 2008 while at his job as a physical education teacher at Demarest Middle School.
E-mail: farrellb@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/hs_sports/football/Ahmad_records_the_top_lift_mark_in_Junior_Division_.html
Gabriella Mullady, 20, who with sister Ashleigh, 17, of Ridgewood show compassion for injured dog
A new home for Gilligan
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Last updated: Tuesday September 1, 2009, 6:56 PM
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
http://www.northjersey.com/community/pets/A_new_home_for_Gilligan.html
RIDGEWOOD — A Labrador retriever whose throat was slashed in what authorities described as a cult ritual has found a new home.
Gilligan, the one-year-old canine, nearly died at the hands of his former owners near Little Rock, Ark. Now, the signs of abuse — a near 360-degree scar around his neck — are hidden beneath his pristine yellow coat.
Gilligan has recovered fully from the June slashing and appears at home with the Mullady family of Ridgewood, bounding after his rubber basketball and chew toys in the back yard.
“This dog has absolutely not been affected by his injury, which we find just completely shocking,” said Gabriella Mullady, 20, who with sister Ashleigh, 17, adopted Gilligan last month from a Labrador retriever rescue network. “He’s not even afraid of people. He’s just so affectionate.”
“The fact that Gilligan is here and able is amazing to me,” Ashleigh Mullady said.
Gilligan was saved by an Arkansas police officer who found him. Veterinarians and shelter officials cared for the dog until he was transferred to a farm and the care of a foster mother before being put up for adoption by the Lab and All Breed Rescue Network in Tennessee.
It was good timing that brought Gilligan and the Mulladys together.
Brian and Fran Mullady agreed their daughters could have a large dog when the family lost a cat in a house fire three years ago. Gabriella Mullady went online and found Gilligan on the rescue site.
“It just said the name of the dog was Gilligan and that he was a young dog and good with children,” Fran Mullady said.
The family checked into Gilligan’s past with network head Gina Austin and wanted the dog even more.
The Mulladys competed with 25 other applicants vying to adopt the almost purebred English Labrador. They agreed to interviews and background checks to determine if they were a suitable family for Gilligan.
Had the Mulladys seen Gilligan in June after an operation to heal his wounds, they would have seen a dog shaved, sutured and on antibiotics to prevent infection. His injured neck had only a 2-inch section that was left uncut.
“It missed everything that was a vital organ by millimeters,” Austin said. “Anything deeper and he would not have lived. The police are still looking for the people that did it to him. It was premeditated.”
Drainage tubes were attached to remove excess fluid around the wound and the dog spent three weeks in recovery, undergoing hydrotherapy before landing in a shelter for a week and, fortunately, then the farm. A few weeks later he was up for adoption.
“He had lots of room to run, get used to horses &hellip cats,” Austin said of Gilligan’s rehabilitation.
The Mulladys refuse to view any earlier photos of Gilligan. They want to remember him as he is now, an easily adoptable dog because of his even temperament, outgoing disposition and intrinsic search-and-rescue skills.
The dog has the potential to be an effective therapy dog and a positive symbol for adoption networks. The Mulladys paid only a few hundred dollars for Gilligan – money that dog rescue network recycles into rescue and adoption efforts.
The Mulladys say they’re not animal-rights activists, but they wanted to do the right thing by Gilligan.
Recent events such as the conviction of pro football quarterback Michael Vick and his return to the gridiron have some reeling, but Brian Mullady says it time to look forward.
“Michael Vick did his time &hellip let’s move on,” he said. “Whether I had a rescue dog or not, either way you look at it, the things Michael Vick did are awful.”
Gabriella and Ashleigh Mullady are just proud of their Gilligan for overcoming the odds and having a healthy bark — and an even healthier appetite.
“It made me want him even more because of what happened to him,” she said. “He came to us with the name Gilligan – which means ‘little lad’ in Gaelic — and we’re half Irish and half Italian. This is definitely the dog for us.”
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/community/pets/A_new_home_for_Gilligan.html
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Last updated: Tuesday September 1, 2009, 6:56 PM
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
http://www.northjersey.com/community/pets/A_new_home_for_Gilligan.html
RIDGEWOOD — A Labrador retriever whose throat was slashed in what authorities described as a cult ritual has found a new home.
Gilligan, the one-year-old canine, nearly died at the hands of his former owners near Little Rock, Ark. Now, the signs of abuse — a near 360-degree scar around his neck — are hidden beneath his pristine yellow coat.
Gilligan has recovered fully from the June slashing and appears at home with the Mullady family of Ridgewood, bounding after his rubber basketball and chew toys in the back yard.
“This dog has absolutely not been affected by his injury, which we find just completely shocking,” said Gabriella Mullady, 20, who with sister Ashleigh, 17, adopted Gilligan last month from a Labrador retriever rescue network. “He’s not even afraid of people. He’s just so affectionate.”
“The fact that Gilligan is here and able is amazing to me,” Ashleigh Mullady said.
Gilligan was saved by an Arkansas police officer who found him. Veterinarians and shelter officials cared for the dog until he was transferred to a farm and the care of a foster mother before being put up for adoption by the Lab and All Breed Rescue Network in Tennessee.
It was good timing that brought Gilligan and the Mulladys together.
Brian and Fran Mullady agreed their daughters could have a large dog when the family lost a cat in a house fire three years ago. Gabriella Mullady went online and found Gilligan on the rescue site.
“It just said the name of the dog was Gilligan and that he was a young dog and good with children,” Fran Mullady said.
The family checked into Gilligan’s past with network head Gina Austin and wanted the dog even more.
The Mulladys competed with 25 other applicants vying to adopt the almost purebred English Labrador. They agreed to interviews and background checks to determine if they were a suitable family for Gilligan.
Had the Mulladys seen Gilligan in June after an operation to heal his wounds, they would have seen a dog shaved, sutured and on antibiotics to prevent infection. His injured neck had only a 2-inch section that was left uncut.
“It missed everything that was a vital organ by millimeters,” Austin said. “Anything deeper and he would not have lived. The police are still looking for the people that did it to him. It was premeditated.”
Drainage tubes were attached to remove excess fluid around the wound and the dog spent three weeks in recovery, undergoing hydrotherapy before landing in a shelter for a week and, fortunately, then the farm. A few weeks later he was up for adoption.
“He had lots of room to run, get used to horses &hellip cats,” Austin said of Gilligan’s rehabilitation.
The Mulladys refuse to view any earlier photos of Gilligan. They want to remember him as he is now, an easily adoptable dog because of his even temperament, outgoing disposition and intrinsic search-and-rescue skills.
The dog has the potential to be an effective therapy dog and a positive symbol for adoption networks. The Mulladys paid only a few hundred dollars for Gilligan – money that dog rescue network recycles into rescue and adoption efforts.
The Mulladys say they’re not animal-rights activists, but they wanted to do the right thing by Gilligan.
Recent events such as the conviction of pro football quarterback Michael Vick and his return to the gridiron have some reeling, but Brian Mullady says it time to look forward.
“Michael Vick did his time &hellip let’s move on,” he said. “Whether I had a rescue dog or not, either way you look at it, the things Michael Vick did are awful.”
Gabriella and Ashleigh Mullady are just proud of their Gilligan for overcoming the odds and having a healthy bark — and an even healthier appetite.
“It made me want him even more because of what happened to him,” she said. “He came to us with the name Gilligan – which means ‘little lad’ in Gaelic — and we’re half Irish and half Italian. This is definitely the dog for us.”
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/community/pets/A_new_home_for_Gilligan.html
...and a Teacher tries to Bully Students and Parents
"As a teacher I will be noting any parents with objections and when their child needs "the benefit of a doubt" none will be forthcoming. These sniveling "parents" are ignorant fear mongers."
...and yes if this is really a teacher we do think they should be fired immediately !
...and yes if this is really a teacher we do think they should be fired immediately !
...this is exactly the kind of thing that has lead so many to be so suspicious of the Presidents motives ...
It's called leadership!
I am VERY proud of Ridgewood for declaring that 1) this will not be aired and 2)alternatives will be provided, kudos to the Superintendent and his entire staff, we can only hope that the rest of NJ public schools will follow...Great work! I am SO proud ot live in this great Village!
"Kudos to the District and Superintendent for making an 'official' announcement of not showing the video! Very proud of our district here!"
JP ALLEN
"Kudos to the District and Superintendent for making an 'official' announcement of not showing the video! Very proud of our district here!"
JP ALLEN
Friday, September 04, 2009
Ridgewood High School will not be showing the President's speech live
From RHS E-mail
"Ridgewood High School will not be showing the President's speech live at 11:00am ET on September 8, 2009. Since the program is offered as downloadable media from a variety of resources, we have decided to counduct our regular instructional program.
Thank you.
John A. Lorenz
Principal"
jlorenz@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Preserve Graydon Petition: Now Online
The Preserve Graydon Coalition has posted an online petition. Please go to www.preservegraydon.org to read and sign if you agree with this statement:
"I ask the Ridgewood Village Council to resist replacing Graydon’s sandy beaches and large swimming area with a much smaller concrete pool or pools and to postpone issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) until less-invasive alternatives to enhance the existing facility have been explored."
Each person should sign only ONCE--either online OR on paper. If you share an email address with a spouse or other family member, each individual should still sign separately.
The survey asks whether you are a resident of Ridgewood, and includes fields for you to enter your address.
Non-residents are also invited to sign, but please make sure you indicate that you are NOT a resident and include your address so the Coalition can accurately report how many residents have signed.
Please complete the survey by Tuesday, September 8.
If you prefer to sign a paper petition, please feel free to download a copy of the petition and ask your family members, friends and neighbors to sign. For more information about what to do with signed paper surveys, see www.preservegraydon.org.
"I ask the Ridgewood Village Council to resist replacing Graydon’s sandy beaches and large swimming area with a much smaller concrete pool or pools and to postpone issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) until less-invasive alternatives to enhance the existing facility have been explored."
Each person should sign only ONCE--either online OR on paper. If you share an email address with a spouse or other family member, each individual should still sign separately.
The survey asks whether you are a resident of Ridgewood, and includes fields for you to enter your address.
Non-residents are also invited to sign, but please make sure you indicate that you are NOT a resident and include your address so the Coalition can accurately report how many residents have signed.
Please complete the survey by Tuesday, September 8.
If you prefer to sign a paper petition, please feel free to download a copy of the petition and ask your family members, friends and neighbors to sign. For more information about what to do with signed paper surveys, see www.preservegraydon.org.
Outrage grows over Obama address to school children: We better keep an eye on it
Yes, he is the President.
Yes, he can deliver a pro-education message.
Yes, it could be positve.
However, here is the fear factor.
He sends out discussion notes with a question about
"How can you help President Obama?"
Not "How can you help your country, countryman, parents, or yourself", but how can you help HIM.
Children are susceptible to propaganda. (Nobody voted for Nixon in my elementary school mock election, the hippy teachers would have made us feel foolish.)
So as parents, it's good to ask questions.
Maybe he’s already changed the subject matter of his speech. Maybe it will be more bland “stay in school” jargon and less “join the peace corps for the GREATER GOOD”. (Remember, this is a man who said he was going to raise capital gains tax, even though that has consistently resulted in LESS REVENUE, because IT IS FAIR.)
There a fine line for our type of government, a government that allows for private property and free markets.
We better keep an eye on it.
Yes, he can deliver a pro-education message.
Yes, it could be positve.
However, here is the fear factor.
He sends out discussion notes with a question about
"How can you help President Obama?"
Not "How can you help your country, countryman, parents, or yourself", but how can you help HIM.
Children are susceptible to propaganda. (Nobody voted for Nixon in my elementary school mock election, the hippy teachers would have made us feel foolish.)
So as parents, it's good to ask questions.
Maybe he’s already changed the subject matter of his speech. Maybe it will be more bland “stay in school” jargon and less “join the peace corps for the GREATER GOOD”. (Remember, this is a man who said he was going to raise capital gains tax, even though that has consistently resulted in LESS REVENUE, because IT IS FAIR.)
There a fine line for our type of government, a government that allows for private property and free markets.
We better keep an eye on it.
Outrage grows over Obama address to school children: Raise the bar dont keep lowering it
I heard his wife address the graduating class of UCAL Merced - a school with a large minority population. She urged them to go back to the neighborhoods after graduation to community organize and tend to the social needs of the commnity.
Not for nothing. If I were a migrant farm worker breaking my back in the hot son picking lettuce to send my kid to college;
I'd want him or her to aim a tad higher.
She didn't advise them to go work in the business community or open their own small busineses to create jobs and generate revenues for the community.
She didn't tell them to be successful and inspire others to do so - actually help others to do so with the wealth accummulated by hard work and the opportunity that America offers all. She told them to go work in a soup kitchen.
I wonder if a young Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey were in that audience and decided to take that route instead of the one that brought them unimaginable riches ; which they have generously shared with the world's needy.
I wonder about all those folks who would not have been helped if these two careers had been detoured by such a speech.
And I think I'll keep my kids home on Sept. 8.
Not for nothing. If I were a migrant farm worker breaking my back in the hot son picking lettuce to send my kid to college;
I'd want him or her to aim a tad higher.
She didn't advise them to go work in the business community or open their own small busineses to create jobs and generate revenues for the community.
She didn't tell them to be successful and inspire others to do so - actually help others to do so with the wealth accummulated by hard work and the opportunity that America offers all. She told them to go work in a soup kitchen.
I wonder if a young Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey were in that audience and decided to take that route instead of the one that brought them unimaginable riches ; which they have generously shared with the world's needy.
I wonder about all those folks who would not have been helped if these two careers had been detoured by such a speech.
And I think I'll keep my kids home on Sept. 8.
SENIOR CITIZEN BUS - Call for a Ride!
A Senior Citizen bus service began on Tuesday, September 1st!
On Tuesdays the bus will operate from 9:30AM to 2:30PM. The bus will travel on an established "loop" route around Ridgewood. Click Here for schedule and map.
On Thursdays, the bus will operate from 9:30AM to to 2:00PM on a reservation only basis. To make a reservation, please call the Village Hall Reception Desk at 201/670-5500 x200. Call in advance, as the reservations will be given on a 'first come first served' basis.
Questions: please call 201/670-5500 x204.
SEPTEMBER 11th REMEMBRANCE
The Village of Ridgewood remembers neighbors and friends who were lost on September 11, 2001.
For the month of September, 9/11 Portraits are displayed in the Ridgewood Library Auditorium. Please visit and remember our neighbors and friends.
For the month of September, 9/11 Portraits are displayed in the Ridgewood Library Auditorium. Please visit and remember our neighbors and friends.
Graydon Pool - Free to Ridgewood Residents - Labor Day Weekend
The Ridgewood Village Council and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to announce that admission to Graydon Pool on Labor Day Weekend for Ridgewood residents will be free. Residents will be requested to show proof of residency (driver's license or utility bill with a Ridgewood address).
Graydon Pool is open September 5,6,7 from 10:00AM to 7:30PM. Guests of members will be required to purchase guest badges if they are not Ridgewood residents.
Graydon Pool is open September 5,6,7 from 10:00AM to 7:30PM. Guests of members will be required to purchase guest badges if they are not Ridgewood residents.
Auto repair firm with Ridgewood location cited by regulators
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Last updated: Thursday September 3, 2009, 11:39 AM
BY KEVIN DEMARRAIS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
A Lodi-based auto repair chain has been sued by state regulators, charged with allegedly billing customers for work that was not done, including wheel alignments and other jobs for which some of the chain's 13 shops didn’t even have the necessary equipment.
In a five-count complaint filed today in Superior Court in Elizabeth, Brake-O-Rama was also cited for allegedly offering coolant flushes, power-steering purges, or power steering flushes when some stores lacked the necessary equipment.
In addition, Brake-O-Rama shops in Lodi, Ridgewood and other locations were allegedly advertising and selling motor vehicle inspection services when its stores were not licensed to do so. Instead, Brake-O-Rama took the vehicles to state inspection sites, where inspections are free, even as it charged customers for the service, the state says in its court filing.
The lawsuit, brought under the Consumer Fraud Act by the Office of the Attorney General, follows an undercover investigation in June by inspectors from the Division of Consumer Affairs at the chain’s repair shops in Jersey City, Brick, Linden, West New York and Elizabeth.
Superior Court Judge John F. Malone granted the state’s request for temporary restraining order – which Brake-O-Rama did not object to – that bars the chain from advertising and selling services it can’t provide, including state inspections, and from destroying, concealing or altering any books or records related to its repair services.
Last updated: Thursday September 3, 2009, 11:39 AM
BY KEVIN DEMARRAIS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
A Lodi-based auto repair chain has been sued by state regulators, charged with allegedly billing customers for work that was not done, including wheel alignments and other jobs for which some of the chain's 13 shops didn’t even have the necessary equipment.
In a five-count complaint filed today in Superior Court in Elizabeth, Brake-O-Rama was also cited for allegedly offering coolant flushes, power-steering purges, or power steering flushes when some stores lacked the necessary equipment.
In addition, Brake-O-Rama shops in Lodi, Ridgewood and other locations were allegedly advertising and selling motor vehicle inspection services when its stores were not licensed to do so. Instead, Brake-O-Rama took the vehicles to state inspection sites, where inspections are free, even as it charged customers for the service, the state says in its court filing.
The lawsuit, brought under the Consumer Fraud Act by the Office of the Attorney General, follows an undercover investigation in June by inspectors from the Division of Consumer Affairs at the chain’s repair shops in Jersey City, Brick, Linden, West New York and Elizabeth.
Superior Court Judge John F. Malone granted the state’s request for temporary restraining order – which Brake-O-Rama did not object to – that bars the chain from advertising and selling services it can’t provide, including state inspections, and from destroying, concealing or altering any books or records related to its repair services.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
H1N1 Vaccine: When Pigs Fly ?
Making vaccines is a difficult business. Rushing to produce one only adds to the difficulty and to the danger. It is most necessary for governments to encourage people to get them because the more people who do, the more protection the populace gains from a spreading influenza. If a few people die or get critically ill, well that's a small price to pay for the public safety. That's their position and it's understandable.
As a parent, my concern must be the well being of my child and the risks associated with what I choose to put into his body. No one has said that the vaccine is "safe." No one yet. Waiting to hear that phrase from doctors, etc. All I hear now is that we're rushing to get it out there and it will be ready by October.
Recently, I had a doctor try to convince me to have my child get the Gardasil vaccine. I explained why that would be "no." He pushed. I did not relent. Days later, I see on the news that doctors at St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital have stopped urging parents to have their children have it. Why? They said that not enough information is available about its efficacy and safety. This, after it's been around for years and was heavily marketed for mass consumption.
These are lessons we cannot ignore.
As a parent, my concern must be the well being of my child and the risks associated with what I choose to put into his body. No one has said that the vaccine is "safe." No one yet. Waiting to hear that phrase from doctors, etc. All I hear now is that we're rushing to get it out there and it will be ready by October.
Recently, I had a doctor try to convince me to have my child get the Gardasil vaccine. I explained why that would be "no." He pushed. I did not relent. Days later, I see on the news that doctors at St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital have stopped urging parents to have their children have it. Why? They said that not enough information is available about its efficacy and safety. This, after it's been around for years and was heavily marketed for mass consumption.
These are lessons we cannot ignore.
NJ Parents Torn About Giving Kids H1N1 Vaccine
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/nyc.swine.flu.2.1160354.html
NEW YORK (CBS)One of the biggest back-to-school questions facing parents is whether to vaccinate their children against the H1N1 virus later this fall.
Many New Jersey students were back to school Wednesday, including those in the Ridgewood school district.
One of the biggest back-to-school questions facing parents is whether to vaccinate their children against the H1N1 virus later this fall.
That's when the Centers for Disease Control will make the vaccine available. The CDC recommends children and those with pre-existing medical conditions get the first doses.
"I'm okay with the vaccination," Ridgewood mother Lauren Saraceno said. "I have two children with asthma."
"I also have a child who has asthma," mother Bonnie Schneider said. "I think it would be more of a detriment if he didn't have it."
But Mark DeAngels has concerns.
"To put something in my child's body that I'm not comfortable with, at the stage of the game, seems like a worse risk," DeAngel said.
That's the position of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice. In a statement, one member said "the vaccine is very new and just coming to market, and the safety precautions have not been thoroughly addressed."
Dr. Peter Wenger, a pediatrician at University Hospital, said the CDC will look at every adverse effect, and the risk of not getting the vaccine is greater.
"It appears the novel H1N1 affects younger people," Dr. Wenger said.
Dr. Wenger said more than 150 million doses of the vaccine are scheduled to be released in October, for mostly the at-risk groups: all children six months to 24 years of age, and healthcare personnel.
Parents fall into that category. But one mother, who is also a nurse, isn't sure about vaccinating her daughter, even though she will protect herself.
"That is something I will decide as I get into the school year," she said. "Right now, I don't feel it's necessary."
Health officials, however, believe it is necessary. They say they plan on releasing more of the vaccine in the winter .
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/nyc.swine.flu.2.1160354.html
NEW YORK (CBS)One of the biggest back-to-school questions facing parents is whether to vaccinate their children against the H1N1 virus later this fall.
Many New Jersey students were back to school Wednesday, including those in the Ridgewood school district.
One of the biggest back-to-school questions facing parents is whether to vaccinate their children against the H1N1 virus later this fall.
That's when the Centers for Disease Control will make the vaccine available. The CDC recommends children and those with pre-existing medical conditions get the first doses.
"I'm okay with the vaccination," Ridgewood mother Lauren Saraceno said. "I have two children with asthma."
"I also have a child who has asthma," mother Bonnie Schneider said. "I think it would be more of a detriment if he didn't have it."
But Mark DeAngels has concerns.
"To put something in my child's body that I'm not comfortable with, at the stage of the game, seems like a worse risk," DeAngel said.
That's the position of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice. In a statement, one member said "the vaccine is very new and just coming to market, and the safety precautions have not been thoroughly addressed."
Dr. Peter Wenger, a pediatrician at University Hospital, said the CDC will look at every adverse effect, and the risk of not getting the vaccine is greater.
"It appears the novel H1N1 affects younger people," Dr. Wenger said.
Dr. Wenger said more than 150 million doses of the vaccine are scheduled to be released in October, for mostly the at-risk groups: all children six months to 24 years of age, and healthcare personnel.
Parents fall into that category. But one mother, who is also a nurse, isn't sure about vaccinating her daughter, even though she will protect herself.
"That is something I will decide as I get into the school year," she said. "Right now, I don't feel it's necessary."
Health officials, however, believe it is necessary. They say they plan on releasing more of the vaccine in the winter .
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/nyc.swine.flu.2.1160354.html
Obama’s 9/11 War Against "Right Wing-Domestic Terrorists"
Having both worked in the ground zero area and having lost so many friends and neighbors we find the use of 9/11 images to promote nationalised medicine extremely offensive .
PJ Blogger
Last Updated: Wed, 09/02/2009 - 2:56pm
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/sep/obama-s-9-11-war-against-right-wing-domestic-terrorists
President Obama has picked the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history to launch a campaign calling on senators to pass a public healthcare option by fighting back against “our own right-wing domestic terrorists.”
The phone campaign, which will begin on September 11, also suggests that those who oppose the president’s health care plan are the heirs of Osama bin Laden. The White House pulled the plan's details from Obama’s Organizing for America website after a conservative columnist wrote about it this week, but the text can still be viewed in the story.
The plan directs Obama’s grassroots supporters to wage a coordinated healthcare reform effort by calling their U.S. Senators on September 11 to “fight back against our own Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists who are subverting the American Democratic Process, whipped to frenzy by their Fox Propaganda Network ceaselessly re-seizing power for their treacherous leaders.”
It proceeds to encourage supporters to defeat the anti democratic forces of hate who conspire to remain healthy and wealthy while the public languishes under the burden of our present health care system. “Reclaim our land from the heirs of, yes: Bin Laden.”
Essentially the president of the United States has designated the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in the nation’s history to liken those who oppose his plans to deadly Middle Eastern terrorists. Talk about pathetically poor taste.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/sep/obama-s-9-11-war-against-right-wing-domestic-terrorists
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Readers Question Whether Ridgewood Schools will Participate President Obama’s Address to Students Across America
President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8th
"Does anyone know if the Ridgewood District plans to go along with this plan?
Being that we've started school already, wouldn't it end up interrupting the curriculum a week into the school year?
Will the decision as to whether to participate in this plan be left up to each school's principal? If not, why not? "
perhaps....
September 8, 2009: National Keep Your Child at Home Day.
(http://americanelephant.com/)
"Does anyone know if the Ridgewood District plans to go along with this plan?
Being that we've started school already, wouldn't it end up interrupting the curriculum a week into the school year?
Will the decision as to whether to participate in this plan be left up to each school's principal? If not, why not? "
perhaps....
September 8, 2009: National Keep Your Child at Home Day.
(http://americanelephant.com/)
REPOST: All about Math: Most Lucrative College Degrees
Math majors don't always get much respect on college campuses, but fat post-grad wallets should be enough to give them a boost.
The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common -- math skills. That's according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates' job offers.
"Math is at the crux of who gets paid," said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. "If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don't generate enough people like that in this country."
http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/107402/most-lucrative-college-degrees.html?mod=edu-collegeprep
The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common -- math skills. That's according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates' job offers.
"Math is at the crux of who gets paid," said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. "If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don't generate enough people like that in this country."
http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/107402/most-lucrative-college-degrees.html?mod=edu-collegeprep
Construction a priority for Glen Rock's school leader
Construction a priority for Glen Rock's school leader
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
http://www.northjersey.com/news/56479967.html
GLEN ROCK — David C. Verducci, 55, is getting settled into his new job as Glen Rock schools superintendent, starting a five-year contract in July. Verducci, of Upper Saddle River, was hired from a field of 40 candidates and will be paid $225,000 a year. He was the chief school administrator in River Vale since 2004 and served as superintendent in Fairview since 1992.
Q. What is a priority in the school district?
The [$45.3 million] renovation and construction. The high school and the middle school are in serious need, physically. The town passed the referendum project last year and that was pretty forward-thinking considering the economic atmosphere. People in Glen Rock have a clear sense of the schools as an investment and recognize they are quality places and also realize that to maintain that, it was time to do some big work.
Q. You are considered a superintendent who isn't shy about using and relying on data to measure student progress. True?
Part of my presentation to the faculty is you have to deal with balance. It's quality and quantity, efficiency, effectiveness, cooperation, competition. … So when I look at data-driven decision-making, you bet I study the numbers, but I study it in terms of student achievement and budget, but, it always has to be counterbalanced by the human factors.
Q. Do you believe it's correct that you're perceived as a data-driven superintendent?
If you use it right. There's the problem with people who go only by the numbers. … I did my Ph.D. in organizational analysis and qualitative analysis. You have to be really careful not to extrapolate and over-extrapolate. What's Freud's great line? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Q. You have spent almost all of your more than 30 years as a teacher, vice principal, elementary principal and superintendent in Bergen County. Are you being choked by state mandates?
We don't play fast and loose with the rules. I may not always like the rules, but the fact of the matter is if the state [Education Department] has the right to make them, we'll live by them. It doesn't mean that I won't do my best to have them changed working through state organizations but no, we live by them. And that I insist on.
Q. How do you perceive the district?
There are no fatal flaws here. It's not maximizing its full potential. I want to make Glen Rock the place where other people want to be. There has to be organizational integration … getting all the pieces to work together. What the district really needs to take off is just to have a unifying sense of vision.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/news/56479967.html
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
STAFF WRITER
http://www.northjersey.com/news/56479967.html
GLEN ROCK — David C. Verducci, 55, is getting settled into his new job as Glen Rock schools superintendent, starting a five-year contract in July. Verducci, of Upper Saddle River, was hired from a field of 40 candidates and will be paid $225,000 a year. He was the chief school administrator in River Vale since 2004 and served as superintendent in Fairview since 1992.
Q. What is a priority in the school district?
The [$45.3 million] renovation and construction. The high school and the middle school are in serious need, physically. The town passed the referendum project last year and that was pretty forward-thinking considering the economic atmosphere. People in Glen Rock have a clear sense of the schools as an investment and recognize they are quality places and also realize that to maintain that, it was time to do some big work.
Q. You are considered a superintendent who isn't shy about using and relying on data to measure student progress. True?
Part of my presentation to the faculty is you have to deal with balance. It's quality and quantity, efficiency, effectiveness, cooperation, competition. … So when I look at data-driven decision-making, you bet I study the numbers, but I study it in terms of student achievement and budget, but, it always has to be counterbalanced by the human factors.
Q. Do you believe it's correct that you're perceived as a data-driven superintendent?
If you use it right. There's the problem with people who go only by the numbers. … I did my Ph.D. in organizational analysis and qualitative analysis. You have to be really careful not to extrapolate and over-extrapolate. What's Freud's great line? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Q. You have spent almost all of your more than 30 years as a teacher, vice principal, elementary principal and superintendent in Bergen County. Are you being choked by state mandates?
We don't play fast and loose with the rules. I may not always like the rules, but the fact of the matter is if the state [Education Department] has the right to make them, we'll live by them. It doesn't mean that I won't do my best to have them changed working through state organizations but no, we live by them. And that I insist on.
Q. How do you perceive the district?
There are no fatal flaws here. It's not maximizing its full potential. I want to make Glen Rock the place where other people want to be. There has to be organizational integration … getting all the pieces to work together. What the district really needs to take off is just to have a unifying sense of vision.
E-mail: coutros@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/news/56479967.html
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
HSA'a a thankless job or enablers of the system and its numerous flaws.
Anonymous said...
Public service is a thankless job. Ask any HSA president.
2:36 PM
Anonymous said...
Strictly speaking, at this point in the history of the Ridgewood district, any given HSA president is not serving the public.
They are serving Cottage Place. There is a difference.
Anyone who says that public service is a thankless job deserves no thanks from the public.
5:39 PM
Anonymous said...
Couldn't agree more 5:39 PM. The HSAs truly believe that they are serving the parents and students. They don't know how sucked in they are with keeping incompetent administrators and the board members who coddle them in place. That hurts everybody. That is why they think their volunteer jobs are thankless. How can we thank them for hurting us? This is public education and they are enablers of the system and its numerous flaws.
11:40 PM
Public service is a thankless job. Ask any HSA president.
2:36 PM
Anonymous said...
Strictly speaking, at this point in the history of the Ridgewood district, any given HSA president is not serving the public.
They are serving Cottage Place. There is a difference.
Anyone who says that public service is a thankless job deserves no thanks from the public.
5:39 PM
Anonymous said...
Couldn't agree more 5:39 PM. The HSAs truly believe that they are serving the parents and students. They don't know how sucked in they are with keeping incompetent administrators and the board members who coddle them in place. That hurts everybody. That is why they think their volunteer jobs are thankless. How can we thank them for hurting us? This is public education and they are enablers of the system and its numerous flaws.
11:40 PM
Preserve Graydon group: " I have been on the fence about this situation but am moving away from your group "
Why was there no one from the Preserve Graydon group at the meeting last night? The invitation was made by the Village.
I have been on the fence about this situation but am moving away from your group and your attempts to get a petition. In past you have assumed this is all being done by 2 people and their followers. If you remember the Village asked for volunteers to work on the Graydon situation about 2 or 3 years ago. It now looks, to me, that you are skirting the issue by not participating the meetings and by, in past communication, accusing the Graydon committee of acting with less than valid motivation.
Can't this be done in an honet, participatory manner? You are losing my support.
And I don't accept or believe any comments sent in by anonymous. Anonymous comments just bring us to the point of insulting, ridiculing and name calling. If you live in the Village and Village issues are important to you, PUT YOUR NAME on your comments. Thanks.
Barbara Cassidy, Ridgewood resident
I have been on the fence about this situation but am moving away from your group and your attempts to get a petition. In past you have assumed this is all being done by 2 people and their followers. If you remember the Village asked for volunteers to work on the Graydon situation about 2 or 3 years ago. It now looks, to me, that you are skirting the issue by not participating the meetings and by, in past communication, accusing the Graydon committee of acting with less than valid motivation.
Can't this be done in an honet, participatory manner? You are losing my support.
And I don't accept or believe any comments sent in by anonymous. Anonymous comments just bring us to the point of insulting, ridiculing and name calling. If you live in the Village and Village issues are important to you, PUT YOUR NAME on your comments. Thanks.
Barbara Cassidy, Ridgewood resident
Agostinelli & Bombace Challenge Rumana & Russo to 6 Debates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matthew Jordan
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 (973) 714-6115
Agostinelli & Bombace Challenge Trenton Insiders Rumana & Russo to 6 Debates
‘40th District voters deserve an open debate on the issues facing their families’
Ridgewood, NJ – 40th District Assembly candidates John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace call on Assemblyman Scott Rumana and Assemblyman David Russo to join them in 6 debates, representing the three counties in the 40th District.
“Scott Rumana and David Russo have served as state legislators for a combined 17 years. As such they should be able to speak to and clearly demonstrate their efforts on behalf of the citizens in the district and I look forward to hearing what they have to say, said Bombace.” “The 40th District needs effective, accountable representation that will work to lower our taxes and invest in our future. We are running as the fresh, new voices who will bring new solutions to education, public safety and reform – rather than the stale, old ways that simply aren’t getting the job done.”
Trenton Insiders Rumana and Russo have displayed a lack of accountability and transparency about where they stand and what they have accomplished for 40th District constituents. Therefore, public forums are an important way for voters to hear where candidates stand on the important issues facing the 40th District during the upcoming campaign. Agostinelli and Bombace propose 3 debates in Bergen County, 2 debates in Passaic County, and 1 debate in Essex County to give voters in the far stretching 40th District a chance to directly hear the differences between the candidates.
“Since the days of our Founding Fathers, engaging your opponents in debate is not just the staple of any political campaign, it is also part of the democratic process,” said Agostinelli. “Sadly, Trenton Insider Scott Rumana refused to debate his opponents in the Republican primary, and showed an utter disrespect for his constituents. That’s why we are personally asking Rumana to debate in his hometown of Wayne, as well as my hometown of Little Falls, because the voters need to hear directly from him. Sadly, the Rumana record has been more about serving lobbyists and the political connected, than the families of the 40th District. We are facing serious problems, families are struggling to pay the bills, taxes are constantly going up, and we need Scott Rumana to defend his record. Mark and I have serious proposals to lower taxes, create jobs, and reform education, but unfortunately Scott Rumana has been silent on these issues since he was elected to the State Assembly.”
Counter to the way incumbent politicians normally operate, John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace already are laying out a series of serious policy proposals on a slew of issues effecting all of us and our way of life including housing, economic development, education, and property taxes. Please visit our website which can be found at www.40thDistrict.com, to view these proposals and learn more about where John and Mark stand on the problems facing 40th District families. We would offer you our opponents website, unfortunately they do not have one stating where they stand. This is just another reason the voters need the candidates to take part in open forum to discuss their contrasting views and life experiences. Voters deserve to be given a clear choice on who will serve their interests, and who is serving the interests of the politically connected.
“John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace have the real world values and practical solutions needed in the State Assembly,” said campaign manager Jim Tighe. “While we realize that Scott Rumana’s schedule is very busy as an Assemblyman and Chairman of the Passaic County Republican Party, we still hope he can make some time from his schedule to defend his record in front of his constituents. This campaign needs to be about issues: the issues facing 40th District families and how we are going to solve them. I hope Assemblymen Rumana and Russo accept our offer to debate we can see what they have gotten done in Trenton and how they are solving these problems-I know John and Mark are ready to talk about how they are going to use their practical experiences as a civil engineer and career fire fighter to craft common sense legislation.”
The Agostinelli & Bombace for Assembly campaign anxiously await a response from the Rumana & Russo campaign to determine specific dates, debate formats, and assembling impartial moderators and associations to oversee the debates.
Election Day is Tuesday November 3rd, 2009. The 40th Legislative District encompasses parts of Bergen, Essex, and Passaic Counties, including the following towns: Cedar Grove Township, Franklin Lakes Borough, Little Falls Township, Mahwah Township, Midland Park Borough, Oakland Borough, Ridgewood Village, Ringwood Borough, Verona Township, Wanaque Borough, Wayne Township, and Wyckoff Township.
To learn more about John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace, please visit our campaign website:
www.40thDistrict.com
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 (973) 714-6115
Agostinelli & Bombace Challenge Trenton Insiders Rumana & Russo to 6 Debates
‘40th District voters deserve an open debate on the issues facing their families’
Ridgewood, NJ – 40th District Assembly candidates John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace call on Assemblyman Scott Rumana and Assemblyman David Russo to join them in 6 debates, representing the three counties in the 40th District.
“Scott Rumana and David Russo have served as state legislators for a combined 17 years. As such they should be able to speak to and clearly demonstrate their efforts on behalf of the citizens in the district and I look forward to hearing what they have to say, said Bombace.” “The 40th District needs effective, accountable representation that will work to lower our taxes and invest in our future. We are running as the fresh, new voices who will bring new solutions to education, public safety and reform – rather than the stale, old ways that simply aren’t getting the job done.”
Trenton Insiders Rumana and Russo have displayed a lack of accountability and transparency about where they stand and what they have accomplished for 40th District constituents. Therefore, public forums are an important way for voters to hear where candidates stand on the important issues facing the 40th District during the upcoming campaign. Agostinelli and Bombace propose 3 debates in Bergen County, 2 debates in Passaic County, and 1 debate in Essex County to give voters in the far stretching 40th District a chance to directly hear the differences between the candidates.
“Since the days of our Founding Fathers, engaging your opponents in debate is not just the staple of any political campaign, it is also part of the democratic process,” said Agostinelli. “Sadly, Trenton Insider Scott Rumana refused to debate his opponents in the Republican primary, and showed an utter disrespect for his constituents. That’s why we are personally asking Rumana to debate in his hometown of Wayne, as well as my hometown of Little Falls, because the voters need to hear directly from him. Sadly, the Rumana record has been more about serving lobbyists and the political connected, than the families of the 40th District. We are facing serious problems, families are struggling to pay the bills, taxes are constantly going up, and we need Scott Rumana to defend his record. Mark and I have serious proposals to lower taxes, create jobs, and reform education, but unfortunately Scott Rumana has been silent on these issues since he was elected to the State Assembly.”
Counter to the way incumbent politicians normally operate, John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace already are laying out a series of serious policy proposals on a slew of issues effecting all of us and our way of life including housing, economic development, education, and property taxes. Please visit our website which can be found at www.40thDistrict.com, to view these proposals and learn more about where John and Mark stand on the problems facing 40th District families. We would offer you our opponents website, unfortunately they do not have one stating where they stand. This is just another reason the voters need the candidates to take part in open forum to discuss their contrasting views and life experiences. Voters deserve to be given a clear choice on who will serve their interests, and who is serving the interests of the politically connected.
“John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace have the real world values and practical solutions needed in the State Assembly,” said campaign manager Jim Tighe. “While we realize that Scott Rumana’s schedule is very busy as an Assemblyman and Chairman of the Passaic County Republican Party, we still hope he can make some time from his schedule to defend his record in front of his constituents. This campaign needs to be about issues: the issues facing 40th District families and how we are going to solve them. I hope Assemblymen Rumana and Russo accept our offer to debate we can see what they have gotten done in Trenton and how they are solving these problems-I know John and Mark are ready to talk about how they are going to use their practical experiences as a civil engineer and career fire fighter to craft common sense legislation.”
The Agostinelli & Bombace for Assembly campaign anxiously await a response from the Rumana & Russo campaign to determine specific dates, debate formats, and assembling impartial moderators and associations to oversee the debates.
Election Day is Tuesday November 3rd, 2009. The 40th Legislative District encompasses parts of Bergen, Essex, and Passaic Counties, including the following towns: Cedar Grove Township, Franklin Lakes Borough, Little Falls Township, Mahwah Township, Midland Park Borough, Oakland Borough, Ridgewood Village, Ringwood Borough, Verona Township, Wanaque Borough, Wayne Township, and Wyckoff Township.
To learn more about John Agostinelli and Mark Bombace, please visit our campaign website:
www.40thDistrict.com
The Preserve Graydon Coalition : start your petitions!
Graydonites, start your petitions!
Our organizational meeting this evening was excellent. Many thanks to those who attended and those who spoke.
Petition carriers needed: If you can work for at least one 1-hour shift around town this week or next, write to info@PreserveGraydon.org, sending the dates and times you're available. We'll connect you with our petition organizer, who will send you instructions. Note: If you signed up at the meeting, you may add shifts, if desired.
New York Times reporter Peter Applebome, who writes the "Our Towns" column focusing on New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York State (outside New York City), spoke with Marcia, Suzanne, and others at Graydon on Sunday afternoon. Photographer Rob Bennett took pictures that sunny day. They both enjoyed their visit to our Village treasure.
Peter says the column should run either this Thursday or on Labor Day. When it appears, we will let you know.
Swimmingly,
Suzanne Kelly and Marcia Ringel
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”
Our organizational meeting this evening was excellent. Many thanks to those who attended and those who spoke.
Petition carriers needed: If you can work for at least one 1-hour shift around town this week or next, write to info@PreserveGraydon.org, sending the dates and times you're available. We'll connect you with our petition organizer, who will send you instructions. Note: If you signed up at the meeting, you may add shifts, if desired.
New York Times reporter Peter Applebome, who writes the "Our Towns" column focusing on New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York State (outside New York City), spoke with Marcia, Suzanne, and others at Graydon on Sunday afternoon. Photographer Rob Bennett took pictures that sunny day. They both enjoyed their visit to our Village treasure.
Peter says the column should run either this Thursday or on Labor Day. When it appears, we will let you know.
Swimmingly,
Suzanne Kelly and Marcia Ringel
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”
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