In our effort to provide reliable communication to our residents, the Village of Ridgewood utilizes a community notification system to provide routine and emergency information to our community.
The Office of Emergency Management would like to remind you that in the event of a power outage or other emergency, in addition to your home telephone, Ridgewood residents can receive calls, text messages, and emails on your cellular telephones, smart phones and other devices. Residents must register their additional contact information in order to receive information multiple ways.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Village of Ridgewood website at www.ridgewoodnj.net to fill out the E-Notices form online to register or add additional contact information. Those who are unable to complete the online registration may email the Office of Emergency Management at OEM@ridgewoodnj.netor call Ridgewood OEM at (201) 670-5500 ext. 380 for additional information.
If you know someone in our community who does not recall receiving our telephone notifications or E-Notices, then please encourage them to register their information.
Willard School Principal Marianne Williams accepts the award designating the school as a National Blue Ribbon School
Willard School Principal Marianne Williams (left) traveled recently to Washington, D.C., to accept the award designating the school as a National Blue Ribbon School. She was accompanied by Willard teacher Leigh Porod (right), who helped with the Blue Ribbon application. Aba Kumi, Director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education, is pictured in the center.
Alan Finder — freelance writer and editor, former New York Times reporter and editor, Ridgewood resident and RPS parent
Donald Taylor- Senior Vice President/Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Investments, Ridgewood resident and RPS parent
Nadia Tscherny — Art History scholar/college professor/SAT and college essay tutor, Ridgewood resident and RPS parent.
Parents and guardians are invited to come out and hear what these noted panelists have to say about:
· What skills, attitudes and pursuits in the Language Arts literacies of reading, writing, listening, speaking or viewing have benefitted you in your professional life?
· How might schools best create learning experiences that foster success in using the Language Arts literacies in students’ lives and in their future careers?
NJ prosecutor: Large amounts of chemicals used to make bombs found at unemployed doctor’s home
By Associated Press, Published: November 17
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Prosecutors say large amounts of chemicals commonly used for making bombs and explosive devices have been found at the home of an unemployed northern New Jersey doctor.
Sixty-year-old Roberto Rivera, of Ridgewood, faces several charges, including possession of a destructive device and recklessly creating a risk of widespread injury. His bail was set at $1 million cash. It wasn’t known Saturday if he had retained a lawyer.
Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli says investigators also found several assault rifles and other weapons when they searched Rivera’s home Friday night. Ridgewood police had initially responded to the home after receiving a report that potentially hazardous materials might be at the residence.
Prosecutors say Rivera is unemployed but has a license to practice medicine in New York.
The sun unleashed a monster eruption of super-hot plasma Friday (Nov. 16) in back-to-back solar storms captured on camera by a NASA spacecraft.
The giant sun eruption, called a solar prominence, occurred at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT), with another event flaring up four hours later. The prominences was so large, it expanded beyond the camera view of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which captured high-definition video of the solar eruption.
Intel officials unable to say who changed CIA talking points on Libya, lawmaker says
Published November 16, 2012
FoxNews.com
Former CIA Director David Petraeus stoked the controversy over the Obama administration’s handling of the Libya terror attack, testifying Friday that references to “Al Qaeda involvement” were stripped from his agency’s original talking points — while other intelligence officials were unable to say who changed the memo, according to a top lawmaker who was briefed.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told Fox News that intelligence officials who testified in a closed-door hearing a day earlier, including Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Acting CIA Director Mike Morell, said they did not know who changed the talking points. He said they went out to multiple departments, including the State Department, National Security Council, Justice Department and White House.
“To me the question right now is who changed those talking points and why. … I’d say it was somebody in the administration had to have taken it out,” King told Fox News. “That, to me, has to be pursued.”
RHS LEARNING COMMONS COMMITTEE SEEKS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
General Information: Volunteers are seeking community-wide support for the proposed new Learning Commons at Ridgewood High School. Click here to learn more.
Fundraiser: On Friday, January 11, 2013 from 7-11 p.m., the 07450 Schools Committee will host a fundraiser to benefit the Ridgewood High School Learning Commons project, a plan to renovate the current high school library, which is almost 50 years old, and create a modern library for generations of students to come.
The event will take place at The Woodcliff Lake Hilton in Woodcliff Lake and is open to all Ridgewood families and alumni. Due to Hurricane Sandy and the families still suffering, the event that was originally scheduled to take place at the end of November was postponed.
The fundraiser will include cocktails, dinner and dancing, with giving opportunities at all levels. Guests will enjoy live music by Matthew Friedman and Uptown Sounds. Matthew Friedman starred as “The Piano Man” in Billy Joel’s award-winning musical, Movin’ Out.
Admission for the event is $110 per person and $200 per couple, and includes an open bar. The invitation can be downloaded from the Ridgewood High School Learning Commons website: www.RHSLearningCommons.com. All donations made at the event are tax deductible.
Saturday, December 1st – – 8:00am-10:00am Breakfast with Santa @ The Office Beer Bar & Grill (reservations required 201-652-1070) – 10Am-2pm Santa arrives at Columbia Bank gifts for all children – 10:30am – FREE KIDS movie at the Warner Clearview Cinema – 2:00pm-4:00pm Santa @ his house in Van Neste Park – 12N-4pm – FREE Trolley Rides for the entire family.
Santa Breakfast and Trolley Rides
Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, December 8th, 8:00am-12Noon Breakfast with Santa @ The Office Beer Bar & Grill (reservations required 201-652-1070 *12Noon-4PM Santa @ his house in Memorial Park @ Van Neste Park *12N-4pm FREE Trolley rides for the entire family
Visit Santa and Take Trolley Ride
Chamber of Commerce
Saturday December 15th and 22nd, 2012 *12Noon-4pm Santa @ his house in Memorial Park @ Van Neste Park *12Noon-4pm FREE Trolley rides for the entire family *same hours For Holiday shopping and dining, the Village of Ridgewood is giving … FREE PARKING ON SATURDAYS’ from Thanksgiving until Christmas November 24, 2012 – December 22, 2012. Enjoy Ridgewood! For more details, call 201-445-2600 www.experienceridgewood.com info@ridgewoodchamber facebook.com
Reader says Merchants to lose Hurricane Sandy Goodwill ,not making free holiday parking public
This is so many people HATE Ridgewood , the town makes a great impression during the hurricane ,becomes a point for people to seek out relief during some very trying times and now your Hudson County Mayor seeks to defraud shoppers by not telling them they don’t have to pay for parking on Saturdays . Great way for all the merchants to loose all the “good will” they picked up after the hurricane .
It is disgusting and pathetic that the town appears so desperate , I mean lets face it according this this blog the town loses more money on the meters than you do on the town pool !
Labor Unions Kill the Twinkie and 18,000 Jobs
Katie Pavlich
News Editor, Townhall
Nov 16, 2012 08:33 AM EST
Labor Unions have officially killed off the Twinkie. The company that makes the yummy treat announced today they will start to downsize operations (a.k.a. fire people) as a result of a long battle with union workers.
Hostess Brands Inc., the bankrupt maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, said it had sought court permission to go out of business after failing to get wage and benefit cuts from thousands of its striking bakery workers.
Hostess said a national strike by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union that began last week had crippled its ability to produce and deliver products at several facilities.
The liquidation of the company will mean that most of its 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, Hostess said on Friday.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2012, 4:51 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Council will hold public hearings and a vote to adopt a trio of capital ordinances on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Council members introduced the three bond ordinances, including one appropriating more than $3.8 million for general capital improvements, during a special public meeting on Friday.
Earlier this fall, supervisors from Ridgewood’s various departments presented their capital project wish lists to the council. The village professional staff was then tasked with reviewing the lists and approving the requests deemed necessary.
Traffic expert discusses impact from proposed housing developments in Ridgewood
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2012, 5:18 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Ridgewood’s traffic profile for the Central Business District (CBD) is a nightmare, but at least one expert believes that two multi-family housing developments, if constructed, might fix some of the problems.
The Planning Board continued the joint application hearings for the Dayton and Chestnut Village, separate housing proposals that together have the potential to plant nearly 160 new dwellings into downtown Ridgewood. The developers for each are seeking zoning changes to permit multi-family housing in their respective locations.
If approved, the Dayton will be built on South Broad Street. Chestnut Village is slated for construction at a vacant lot on Chestnut Street.
On Wednesday, board members heard the first portion of a much-awaited report that detailed the developments’ impact on existing traffic conditions.
Retained by the village to conduct a traffic study, John Jahr of Maser Consulting identified a laundry list of traffic sore spots and areas of concern in the CBD, but his focus was set on the Franklin Avenue corridor.
Ridgewood Library book drive to help schools and libraries hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy
Ridgewood Library is having a children’s book drive to help schools and libraries hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy.
We are collecting new and gently used children’s books for babies up to 8th grade. If you have any books lying around that your children have outgrown or if you’d like to purchase new, either would be greatly appreciated.
You can drop them off in the children’s room at the library now till the end of December. Any questions please e-mail ltrent@ridgewoodlibrary.org Thanks!!
All But One NJ TRANSIT Rail Lines Fully or Partially Restored Starting Monday, November 19
Customers Encouraged to Visit njtransit.com For Latest Scheduling Information
Trenton, NJ –The Christie Administration announced today that all but one NJ TRANSIT rail lines will be running full or modified service effective Monday, November 19. This includes the restoration of service along the North Jersey Coast Line, which suffered the brunt of the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy.
Additionally, with the completion of repairs to a key Amtrak-owned electrical substation in Kearny that will generate additional power to the Northeast Corridor, NJ TRANSIT will be operating approximately 90 percent of its normal peak period service into New York Penn Station starting Monday morning. Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis Line trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction as a result of the additional rail capacity opened along the Northeast Corridor.
Updated schedules will be posted on njtransit.com by 3 p.m. Sunday, November 18.
“This is a major milestone in our continuing, post-Sandy recovery. The devastation wrought on the North Jersey Coast Line was the worst sustained throughout our system,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson. “While we are not out of the woods and the recovery process continues, the restoration of this critical rail service is a major step forward for the Garden State.”
The restoration of service on the North Jersey Coast Line completes the full or partial restoration of all NJ TRANSIT rail lines. More than 30 miles of North Jersey Coast Line track sustained severe damage during the storm, including extensive rail washouts (no ballast under the tracks) between South Amboy and Bay Head. The River Drawbridge over Raritan Bay was severely damaged following a collision between two tugboats in addition to a record storm surge. The Morgan Drawbridge in South Amboy also sustained severe damage following a record storm surge and the impact from recreational boats and a cargo container.
“The restoration of NJ TRANSIT’s rail lines within 18 days of Sandy is a tremendous credit to the commitment, professionalism and the dedication of our employees,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “In this time of Thanksgiving, I would like to specifically offer our thanks to our employees for their service, as well as to customers for their patience and understanding during this difficult time.”
Effective Monday, November 19, NJ TRANSIT rail service will operate as follows:
Restored Service
Northeast Corridor: Service between Trenton and New York has been fully restored and will operate on a regular schedule.
North Jersey Coast Line: Service between Long Branch and New York will operate on a regular schedule, except for selected trains that will be cancelled. Trip times will be approximately five minutes longer due to signal system limitations. Service between Bay Head and Long Branch will operate on a regular schedule, except for 2300-series trains to/from Hoboken that will be cancelled.
Raritan Valley Line: Service between Raritan and Newark will continue to operate on a special schedule, with limited peak-period service between High Bridge and Newark.
Atlantic City Line: Service has been fully restored and is operating on a regular schedule.
Morris & Essex Lines: Midtown Direct service between Dover and New York will operate on a regular schedule. Shuttle trains between Summit and Hoboken will provide approximately hourly service to stations not served by Midtown Direct. Gladstone Branch service remains suspended until further notice. Customers may use free emergency shuttle bus/ferry service or shuttle bus to rail service from selected Gladstone Branch stations.
· Montclair-Boonton Lines: Midtown Direct service between Montclair State
University and New York will operate on a regular schedule. Limited shuttle
service between Hackettstown and Hoboken will operate on a special schedule.
Pascack Valley Line: Service between Spring Valley and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
Main/Bergen County Line: Service between Suffern and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
Port Jervis Line: Service between Port Jervis and Hoboken will continue to operate on a special schedule. Trains will resume stopping at Secaucus Junction.
Also effective Monday, November 19, NJ TRANSIT will adjust and refine its emergency trans-Hudson transportation plan to most efficiently match the available bus, rail and ferry resources with the needs of state citizens.
Starting Monday, new bus shuttle-to-ferry service and bus shuttle-to-train service will operate from selected stations along the Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines to provide an alternate travel option for customers impacted by the ongoing suspension of Gladstone Branch train service.
In addition, bus shuttle/ferry services from several locations will no longer operate due to the restoration of NJ TRANSIT rail service near those locations.
Bergen County Road Department will be doing emergency roadwork Saturday 11/17/2012 on Goffle Road in Ridgewood. Goffle Road will be closed between Ravine Ave and Wyckoff Ave from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. A detour will be posted, please plan an alternate route.
