Month: August 2012

berecruited.com

Ridgewood still rules All-Suburban girls golf
August 11,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood has for some time been a breeding ground for quality golfers , this year is no different .

Ridgewood girls golfers dominate the 2012 All-Suburban girls golf first team and Ridgewood resident Christina Paulsen ( IHA) is one of two players to have completed the All-Suburban “cycle” (four straight first-team selections).

Two girls from Ridgewood High School , Taylor Barclay and Joyce Kwon,return on the top squad after leading the Maroons to a program-record of 19 wins.

The individual profiles from the Ridgewood News : ( https://www.northjersey.com/sports/165690586_Ridgewood_still_rules_All-Suburban_girls_golf__cycle___RHS_pair_repeats.html?c=y&page=2 )

TAYLOR BARCLAY, RHS— This senior is actually enjoying her third straight year of All-Suburban accolades (she made the second team in 2010) on the heels of a spring in which she helped her team to a share of the Big North Division 1 title. Her nine-hole 49 on Division 1 Playoff Day contributed to the Maroons’ first head-to-head victory over IHA in three years and was on par with her season-long average of 48.9.

In tournament play, Barclay began with a 96 at the Hunterdon Central Red Devil Invitational and tied for fourth the FDU North Jersey Open with a 103. She followed with a 98 at the Montgomery Cougar Classic before firing her best 18-hole round of the year, a fifth-place 85, at the Big North championships. She closed with a 103 at the North sectional tournament and a career-best Bergen-tournament score of 93 to tie for 10th.

TARYN CARROLL, RHS— With Taylor Barclay graduating, this junior appears ready to assume the mantle of team leader for the Maroons next spring. She carried the fourth-best nine-hole average (49.7) and third-best 18-hole average (98.0) on the team, getting things started with a 103 at the Red Devil Invitational.

Carroll carded a sixth-place 104 at the FDU North Jersey Open, then turned around and shot a 98 at the Cougar Classic, followed by her best 18-hole round of the season, a 91 at the Big North tournament to tie for 11th. After tying for 16th with a 95 at the North sectional tournament, she finished in the same place at the Bergen County championships with a 97.

JOYCE KWON, RHS — This sophomore is now halfway to completing her own “cycle”, making her second appearance on the first team in as many varsity seasons. She had the lowest nine-hole average (48.7) for the 19-2 Maroons – a 5.3-stroke improvement from a year ago – and recorded the third-best 18-hole tournament average in the All-Suburban area (95.8).

Kwon shot a 91 at the Red Devil Invitational, a 98 at the North Jersey Open (where she placed third) and a 94 at the Cougar Classic. In the postseason, she scored a 13th-place 92 at the Big North tournament, a 32nd-place 103 at the North sectional tournament and tied fellow first-teamer Taryn Carroll for 16th with a 97 at the Bergen County championships.

CHRISTINA PAULSEN, (Ridgewood Resident) Immaculate Heart — One of the most decorated golfers in Bergen history, this senior became the third girl to repeat as county champ in the 16-year history of the tournament, and she is the only one ever to win via playoff in back-to-back years. Both her nine-hole match average (40.7, third-best in North Jersey) and 18-hole tournament average (84.0) led the All-Suburban area by a fair margin.

Paulsen started out with a runner-up finish at the North Jersey Open (94) before taking fifth at the Cougar Classic (81), third at the Big North tournament (83) and third at the North sectional (82). She added her sixth major-tournament title at the Bergen championships – shooting a 79 and securing medal honors on the first playoff hole – before her string of top-five finishes was broken with a 17-place 85 at the State T of C.

Named The Record’s North Jersey Girls Golfer of the Year for the second straight season, Paulsen will continue her career at Jacksonville University in Florida. ( https://www.northjersey.com/sports/165690586_Ridgewood_still_rules_All-Suburban_girls_golf__cycle___RHS_pair_repeats.html?c=y&page=2 )

Top Row, from left to right: Coaches Will Seitter, Head Coach Marc Favieri, Craig Frisina, Dave Wang & Brian Lewis Players, from left to right, Brett Thompson, Kevin Seitter, Andrew Olson, Ben Geraghty, Ethan Suh, Trey Lewis, Calvin Wang, Luke Conenello, Alexander Facini & Sam Favieri Not pictured: Tommy McCormack & Michael Thurlow

Little League: Ridgewood 10-11 squad reaches State Final Four

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — Adversity wasted no time in testing the Ridgewood Little League 11-year-olds this summer. Fortunately, the boys regrouped and drove all the way to this week’s Final Four in the New Jersey State tournament.

“Our best hitter, our leadoff hitter, Tommy McCormack, broke his finger in the second game of the season and had surgery,” head coach Marc Favieri lamented. “He hasn’t played since, and he’s been sorely missed.”

Yet what remained was 11 of the 11’s, which was more than enough for them to embark on a stellar season. On the way, they also had to handle new logistics, playing on larger fields and under ‘real baseball’ rules that included being allowed to take leads and steal bases. Undaunted, they continued to adjust all the way and won district and sectional titles. After a tough 5-4 first-round setback to Livingston National (Essex County) in the State tournament on Monday, Ridgewood rebounded to defeat Blackwood (Camden County), 7-6, Tuesday to remain in contention for the title in Middletown.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/165690896_Little_League__Ridgewood_10-11_squad_reaches_State_Final_Four_Village_10-11_team_makes_State_Final_Four.html

Like the Ridgewood Fire Department , the Village as well as the Ridgewood School District are adapting solar energy by a mix of grants, state subsidies and vendor credits 

Village of Ridgewood and its schools put energy into solar panel plans

THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2012, 4:34 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Plans to make village facilities and schools more environmentally friendly – and save money – are moving forward.

Solar panels are currently being placed on Village Hall, and the village’s sustainability vendor has started construction at the Water Pollution Control Facility, according to Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser. This construction is part of a project to lay down solar panels at the facility and also create a combined heat and power plant to convert bio-gas into energy. Foundations are being excavated and the plant is under construction, Rutishauser said.

As part of a project involving four of the village’s facilities, solar panels have already been installed at the main firehouse on 201 E. Glen Ave. Panels are being installed at Ridgewood’s Emergency Medical Services’ building on 33 Douglas Place.

A second project is also under way, with solar panels being installed on the roofs of Somerville School and Ridgewood High School (RHS), according to Superintendent Daniel Fishbein.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/165635786_Village_of_Ridgewood_and_its_schools_put_energy_into_solar_panel_plans.html?c=y&page=1

Auction Kings TV Show

Village does some house cleaning and hopes to score some extra cash selling unwanted ‘junk’
August 10,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, In what sounds like an episode from Auction Kings ,the Village is looking to host its own online garage sale and list a some used ,unwanted and surplus items on GovDeals.com, an Internet auction site used by municipalities .

The idea is to generate some extra cash for the Village by getting rid of what the Ridgewood News called unwanted “junk” .The list runs the gamete from old phone booths , vintage autos from Ridgewood Water and kitchen accessories such as a broken freezer and refrigerator.

According to the Ridgewood News in 2010, the village cleaned up making $70,000 through auctions on the website.Ken Gabbert told the Ridgewood News he is hoping that Janet Fricke, assistant to the village manager, can use her “negotiating skills” on the website ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/165422456_Ridgewood_hopes_to_make_some_extra_cash_selling_unwanted__junk_.html ) to sell two surplus telephone booths that were recently found at the signal department and last used for Clarke Kent before he went to work for the Daily Planet .

Well as they say one mans junk is another mans treasure , lets hope so .

Radio upgrades in Ridgewood are questioned

THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2012, 4:28 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Residents and Village Council members peppered representatives of Ridgewood’s emergency services and their technology consultants with detailed questions regarding a $1.5 million radio communications upgrade proposal.

Ridgewood Police Officer Jeffrey Casson and Chief John Ward discuss upgrades to the village’s emergency services communications system.
If approved, the multi-faceted plan will migrate the village’s current system to the federally mandated narrowband classification. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring that all public safety radio systems operate on narrowband or have a plan in place by Jan. 1, 2013.

The plan, endorsed by the fire and police departments and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), among other Ridgewood agencies, was presented to the governing body last month in an attempt to win council approval, but those sessions resulted in various questions and concerns, most of which focused on equipment and cost.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/165634696_Radio_upgrades_in_Ridgewood_are_questioned.html

photo from gocrimson.com

Ridgewood High School graduate Catherine Zagroba reaches Olympic-level competition

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Like many Olympic spectators, Catherine Zagroba will remember seeing America’s best swimmers compete for a chance to win gold, silver or bronze.

Unlike most of us, her memories also include the feel of the water and the pressures of Olympic-level competition.

Zagroba, a Class of 2008 Ridgewood High School alumna who graduated from Harvard University this year, was at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials earlier this summer, competing with the biggest names in swimming.

Between June 25 and July 2, Zagroba and hundreds of other elite athletes swam at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb., some aiming to come out on top in their best events and go to London.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/165690276_Ridgewood_High_School_graduate_reaches_Olympic-level_competition.html

Famous Last Words: Bernanke Says Student Loans Won’t Cause Crisis
By Jeff Kearns and Janet Lorin – Aug 7, 2012 4:55 PM ET

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said record U.S. student loan debt doesn’t put the financial system at risk the way mortgages did because most educational borrowing is backed by the government.

“I don’t think it’s a financial stability issue to the same extent that, say, mortgage debt was in the last crisis because most of it is held not by financial institutions but by the federal government,” Bernanke said today at a town hall meeting with teachers at the Fed in Washington.

Outstanding educational debt, which includes loans taken out by students and their parents, is estimated at $1 trillion, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. About 15 percent is private student loans, issued by lenders including banks. The rest is backed by the government.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-07/bernanke-says-student-loans-won-t-cause-crisis.html

Ridgewood Residents Post for Free send details to onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com

sat/sun moving,estate sale (204 Walton St Ridgewood)

GREAT MOVING/ESTATE SALE IN RIDGEWOOD SAT & SUN 9-3 EACH DAY, INSIDE &OUT. HHG, TOOLS, KITCHENWARE, ANTIQUES, VINTAGE, ARTWORK, FURNITURE INCLUDING BLANKET CHESTS, WICKER, OAK TABLE & CHAIRS, MODERN WINE COOLER , DRESSER, DESK, ETC ETC. IF RAIN ALL INSIDE. NO JEWELRY OR BABY STUFF. CASH ONLY. BRING TRUCK IF INTERESTED IN FURNITURE. ***ALL MUST GO*** 204 WALTON STREET RIDGEWOOD NJ. SOME CHILDRENS BOOKS AND STUFFED ANIMALS.

NJ TRANSIT MAKES THE GRADE IN LATEST CUSTOMER SURVEY

Customers rank overall satisfaction at 6.0 systemwide; agency achieves Fiscal Year 2012 goal, sets goal of 6.5 for FY13
August 8, 2012

NEWARK, NJ — Marking the first complete fiscal year of Scorecard, NJ TRANSIT today posted an overall customer satisfaction score of 6.0 systemwide, achieving the agency’s Fiscal Year 2012 goal with its fourth quarter results.  The results, which will continue to guide system and customer service improvements across NJ TRANSIT services, were announced at this month’s regularly scheduled NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors meeting.

Scorecard, which launched in July 2011, is an initiative designed to provide the public with a clear measurement of how the organization is performing, while driving strategic decisions to improve the overall customer experience.  Along with the latest survey results, the agency also announced its new customer satisfaction goal of 6.5 for the current fiscal year.

“As the key driver and performance measurement tool for all areas of the corporation, Scorecard has shaped NJ TRANSIT into a more accountable, results-driven agency that is more responsive to the needs of our riders who use the system every day,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson.  “While we are proud of achieving our FY12 goal for overall customer satisfaction, our work is far from over.  We will continue to raise the bar to further boost that score by making improvements across the system, with a focus on the areas most important to customers.”

The fourth quarter survey was conducted online at njtransit.com and in the field between June 8 and June 29.  The survey asked bus, rail, light rail and Access Link customers to rate NJ TRANSIT on a scale of 0 to 10.  Customers also considered 41 attributes of the system related to facilities, service, vehicles, communications and the overall experience using NJ TRANSIT.  In addition, customers were asked to identify the most important aspects of NJ TRANSIT service among the items they rated.

Of the approximately 440,700 customers who use NJ TRANSIT service on a typical weekday, NJ TRANSIT received nearly 16,000 responses to the online and field survey.

Regarding customer loyalty, 76 percent of the customers surveyed said they would recommend NJ TRANSIT to a friend, relative or neighbor (up from 67 percent from the baseline rating).  NJ TRANSIT established the baseline with the first customer survey conducted in advance of the launch of Scorecard last year.

“In just one year since its launch, Scorecard has changed the very culture of NJ TRANSIT to focus on performance standards and absolute results to best serve our customers,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein.  “With improved customer satisfaction ratings, and the notion that three out of every four NJ TRANSIT customers continue to recommend our service, it is clear that Scorecard is moving the agency in the right direction.”

Survey Results – Fourth Quarter FY12

For the fourth quarter of FY12, customers rated their overall satisfaction with NJ TRANSIT service as above average with a score of 6.0—a substantial increase over the baseline rating of 5.2—achieving the agency’s FY 2012 goal of 6.0 for customer satisfaction.

“By establishing a baseline rating along with a concrete goal, as an agency NJ TRANSIT knew exactly where we were at and where we needed to go,” said Executive Director Weinstein.  “However, we want our customers to understand that as we achieve our original goals, we are not going to sit back and relax—we are going to set new ones to make additional progress in terms of moving the needle for customer satisfaction.”

Current customer satisfaction ratings on NJ TRANSIT’s four service modes are as follows:

Bus customers rated their overall satisfaction with service at a 6.1, higher than the 5.5 baseline rating and a low of 5.4 (2nd quarter, FY12).  The most important areas for NJ TRANSIT to improve again included on-time performance, fares and the weekday PM peak schedule.  About 270,900 customers use NJ TRANSIT’s interstate and local bus system on a typical weekday, representing approximately 62 percent of all NJ TRANSIT customers.

Rail customers gave NJ TRANSIT an overall score of 5.7, a significant increase from the baseline score of 4.5 and a low of 4.1 (2nd quarter, FY12).  Customers ranked fares, mechanical reliability and the handling of service disruptions as the most important attributes that need improvement.  Approximately 130,600 customers ride NJ TRANSIT trains on a typical weekday, comprising nearly 30 percent of all NJ TRANSIT customers.

Light Rail customers gave NJ TRANSIT an overall satisfaction rating of 6.9, an improvement over the baseline score of 6.5.  Customers indicated that seating availability, fares and cleanliness on board are the most important aspects of service to improve.  About 35,800 customers use NJ TRANSIT’s three light rail lines on a typical weekday, making up more than eight percent of total NJ TRANSIT customers.

Access Link, NJ TRANSIT’s paratransit service for customers with disabilities, was given an overall rating of 8.2, higher than the 7.5 baseline.  Access Link serves approximately 3,500 customers on a typical weekday.

Of the 41 attributes of the system customers were asked to rate, systemwide scores increased on all but two attributes—Payment Options and NJ TRANSIT’s website—both of which remained constant at a strong score of 7.0.

“Through the Scorecard initiative, NJ TRANSIT has achieved measurable results over the last year, due to in large part to the invaluable feedback we have regularly received from the people who use our services,” said Executive Director Weinstein.  “For the upcoming year, we are setting our overall customer satisfaction goal at a 6.5, and we intend to see that every area of the agency—from the rail, bus, light rail and Access Link operating divisions, to customer communications, to fare collection, to capital construction—continues to make improvements to enhance the customer experience.”

NJ TRANSIT will continue to use the survey results to target specific improvements needed to boost customer satisfaction.  Surveys are being conducted quarterly so NJ TRANSIT can track results, with the first survey of Fiscal Year 2013 set to be available from August 13 through August 29.

Detailed survey results are available at njtransit.com/surveyresults.  In addition to the customer survey results, NJ TRANSIT has also published final FY12 Scorecard metrics in the areas of customer experience, safety and security, financial performance, corporate accountability and employee excellence, available at njtransit.com/scorecard.

NJ TRANSIT Customer Satisfaction Ratings

(0 to 10 scale)*

                               4th Quarter              Baseline                     

      Overall:                6.0                   5.2      

      Bus:                      6.1                   5.5

      Rail:                      5.7                   4.5

      Light Rail:            6.9                   6.5

      Access Link:        8.2                   7.5

*0 = unacceptable, 5 = acceptable, 10 = excellent

File photo by Boyd Loving

Christie administration awards $3M in grants for law enforcement to write more speeding tickets

The Christie administration today awarded $3 million in grants to bolster law enforcement on the state’s most dangerous highways and to pay for new bike paths.

A total of 53 municipalities will share in $2 million to crack down on speeding and other driving infractions on 14 10-mile segments of highway determined to be the most prone to accidents, the state Department of Transportation said.  (Baxter, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/christie_administration_awards.html

Man about Town , Summer fun in Ridgewood

Graydon Pool – Perfect Place to Cool Off – Open for the Summer Season – Come and Enjoy! The Graydon Pool 2012 Season is now underway. The Pool is open 10:00 AM to 7:30PM weekdays and weekends. Bring your family and enjoy!

8/15/12 Ridgewood Guild Presents Movie Night – Adventures of Tin Tin -Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
Pack a picnic basket, throw down a blanket, unfold a beach chair and enjoy a “Movie in the Park” Movie will start after dark, about 9PM. Come enjoy this free film in the park!

08/16/12 Join Park Steakhouse and take a trip up to Historic Saratoga Race Track for the day.A large comfortable luxury coach will leave from the Park Steakhouse at 9:00 am and return back to the steakhouse after the last race. Once we have reached the race track we will have a designated area set aside with tables in the paddock area.You will be on your own for the rest of the afternoon .The bus will leave at 8:00 pm from Saratoga and arrive back at the Steakhouse at 10:30 pm $50.00 per person round trip ticket and Beverages.

8/29/12 Ridgewood Guild Presents Movie Night – Breakfast at Tiffany Memorial Park at Van Neste Square Pack a picnic basket, throw down a blanket, unfold a beach chair and enjoy a “Movie in the Park” Movie will start after dark, about 9PM. Come enjoy this free film in the park!

RIDGEWOOD FARMER’S MARKET OPEN AT TRAIN STATION – SUNDAY from 9AM to 3PM Ridgewood Farmer’s Market is open Sundays, June 24 through October 28th at the Ridgewood Train Station West Side Parking Lot from 9AM to 3PM. Come and enjoy Jersey Fresh Produce and more!

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno kicks off agribusiness tour

RIDGEWOOD FARMER’S MARKET OPEN AT TRAIN STATION – SUNDAY from 9AM to 3PM

Ridgewood Farmer’s Market is open Sundays, June 24 through October 28th at the Ridgewood Train Station West Side Parking Lot from 9AM to 3PM. Come and enjoy Jersey Fresh Produce and more!

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno kicks off agribusiness tour

Emphasizing the importance of agriculture to New Jersey’s economy, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno on Tuesday kicked off her monthlong agribusiness tour by visiting the test kitchen of First Field in Rocky Hill.

Based in Princeton, First Field is a husband- and wife-owned company that makes artisan ketchup from organic New Jersey tomatoes.

“First Field is a small business success story that also showcases the fresh produce grown right here in the Garden State,” Guadagno said. “What started as a successful farm stand and a family ketchup recipe has blossomed into a thriving business that processes ketchup for restaurants and shops, including Whole Foods. This kind of ‘can-do’ attitude among New Jersey’s small business entrepreneurs is helping fuel the New Jersey Comeback.”  (Staff, Asbury Park Press)

https://www.app.com/article/CN/20120807/NJNEWS/308070035/Guadagno-kicks-off-agribusiness-tour