Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital’s Butterflies Program provides specialized care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses in the comforts of their home. To assist them during this holiday season, Ridgewood DECA will be running an Arts and Crafts Drive from Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, December 7.
All arts and crafts supplies are welcome and boxes are located outside the RHS school store (by the Little Theater), the main office and the Science Wing entrance to the school. Thank you in advance for your donation and support of this arts and crafts drive.
Ridgewood NJ, Somerville School Principal Dr. Lorna Oates-Santos presented information on the unique TV Club at the school, which has a fully equipped broadcasting studio.
The children write and produce weekly broadcasts as well as create theme-based programming, such as that done on the topic of tolerance during the recent Week of Respect.
Ridgewood firefighters aid recovery effort in Silverton
Wednesday November 28, 2012, 3:03 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
A few weeks after participating in a 48-hour task force mission in Silverton, a hurricane-ravaged seaside neighborhood in Toms River, the Ridgewood Fire Department continues to collect donations and keep in touch with Silverton’s firemen through Facebook.
Those who went to Silverton saw a scene that none will be able to forget.
Because there was no mandatory hurricane evacuation in Silverton, most people stayed in their homes, and many were left with little more than the clothes on their backs.
According to the five Ridgewood firefighters who went there after the storm, the neighborhood was like a war zone. Luxury boats and dock pilings ripped through homes, while cul-de-sacs drowned in water levels as high as 9 feet.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is accepting applications for anyone interested in becoming a School Crossing Guard. Posts are a minimum of two (2) hours a day.
Work may even be available during times when school is closed (winter/summer breaks). Please contact the Ridgewood Police Records Room at (201) 251-4531 for blank applications and questions. The Village of Ridgewood is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
TOYS FOR TOTS BOX IS AT THE ED CENTER: In the spirit of giving, the Ed Center is a drop-off point for the Marine Reserves Toys For Tots Program.
If you wish to participate, unwrapped toys may be placed in the box, which is located in the lobby at 49 Cottage Place. This program will run through Thursday, December 20. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Quick Action resolves ‘Smoke condition’ at Ridgewood High School
November 28th 2012
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A smoke condition briefly cleared out Ridgewood High School on Wednesday morning .The Ridgewood News reported that an electrical short in the Little Theatre basement was the cause of the situation and was quickly resolved by the Ridgewood Fire Department who responded.
All students were cleared from the school at about 10 a.m.and were readmitted to the building around 10:30 a.m.”They had an electrical line short out and start overheating,” Fire Chief James Van Goor. told the Ridgewood News , Chief Van Goor, went on to explain the fire department found the wire in the basement of the school’s Little Theatre, where the New Players Company keeps props for plays.
(https://www.northjersey.com/news/181202451__Smoke_condition__at_Ridgewood_High_School_quickly_resolved.html )
While Van Goor noted that he could not recall a similar situation in the high school theater, but said the department has responded to these kinds of calls in homes. When a wire starts to overheat, he noted, it emits a “strong odor” different from the smell of a fire.(https://www.northjersey.com/news/181202451__Smoke_condition__at_Ridgewood_High_School_quickly_resolved.html)
RHS Principal Tom Gorman, also told the News that electricians were working on the wiring following the incident According to Gorman there was not even a fire , a smoke alarm went off due to the smoke condition created by the hot wires. Gorman also commended the students and faculty for their help assuring a “calm and orderly” exit and reentry of the building.( https://www.northjersey.com/news/181202451__Smoke_condition__at_Ridgewood_High_School_quickly_resolved.html )
Sandy Cough Plagues Homeowners Cleaning Up
“Every morning I wake up coughing,” says one Staten Island homeowner
By Marc Santia
| Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 | Updated 12:38 PM ES
Patrick Zoda has been working nonstop for a month, trying to save his Staten Island home after it was badly damaged by Sandy. As he works, the debris cloud filling his house has also been filling his lungs.
“I feel totally drained, tired,” Zoda told NBC 4 New York. “Every morning I wake up coughing.”
Dr. Brahim Ardolic, chairman of Emergency Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, says he has seen a greater number of patients with respiratory issues in recent weeks, mostly in people with pre-existing conditions. The combination of flu season and Sandy cleanup — which has brought unhygienic conditions, dirty water and mold into homes — is a perfect storm for sickness, he says.
Survey: Sex Makes Adults Happier Than Having Children
November 21, 2012 8:07 AM
ATLANTA (CBS Atlanta) – Sex means more to adults than having kids.
When asked about what makes them happiest, a group of adults participating in a survey ranked sex at the top of the list.
Drinking alcohol came in second place, with volunteering, religious contemplation and child care rounding out the top five spots, according to the website Daily News & Analysis.
The survey was conducted by researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Rudin Center for Transportation : New Jersey Commuter times Jump by 20 minutes post Sandy
November 27, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
According to the Rudin Center for Transportation at NYU New Yorkers managed to reach their places of work in impressively large numbers following Super storm Hurricane Sandy, not only as a result of transportation providers’ major efforts, but also through residents’ own adaptability and ingenuity.(https://wagner.nyu.edu/faculty/publications/publications.php?pub_id=2292 )
In the absence of subways, which typically transport 5.3 million people daily, commuters fanned out to buses, taxis, bicycles, and telecommuting. In the NYU Rudin Center’s survey of 315 commuters, where approximately half had typically taken subways to work, patterns shifted significantly to allow for a diversity of modes: buses, walking, bicycling and telecommuting, as shown in the charts below:
These figures represent the remarkable multi-modal transportation supply and user adaptability seen in few cities outside of New York. In many U.S. cities, which are limited to cars, buses or other singular transportation modes, the disruption caused by Hurricane Sandy would have, at least temporarily, crippled the economy.(https://wagner.nyu.edu/faculty/publications/publications.php?pub_id=2292)
Even further, the November 1-2 commutes often took twice or three times as long, and frustration levels were self-reported at an average of 3.35 out of 10, but the return to work was palpable on November 1-2, the days immediately following the Hurricane. It should be noted that the frustration levels were highest in Staten Island (7) and New Jersey (5.7), the surveyed areas most geographically separated from the operating offices of midtown Manhattan. The travel times and frustration index for those reporting to a workplace (not telecommuting) on November 1-2 is shown below: 50
Location Pre-Sandy Commute Time (minutes) Commute Time Nov. 1-2 (minutes) Average Frustration Level
Brooklyn 42 86 3.93
Manhattan 29 52 2.97
Queens 45 47 3.00
Bronx 41 63 2.14
Staten Island 84 240 7.00
New Jersey 52 69 5.67
Northern Suburbs 73 61 2.40
Long Island 85 85 2.00
Ridgewood NJ, Check out this RHS student-made video made in conjunction with Veterans Day activities at the high school. Vets from the Ridgewood American Legion were treated to breakfast and choral tributes in the Campus Center, then shared their thoughts on what it means to serve.
Thanks to RHS Social Studies Teacher John Domville who spearheaded the day’s events as a tribute to our veterans :Click here to watch https://youtu.be/o6BMgZStlaE
Drop Your Home Heating Bills With Our Six Energy-Saving Tips;
Each winter we tell ourselves the same thing. This year will be different, this year the house will be ready, this year we will make the investment in time, energy, and money needed to make our home more comfortable, lower our heating bills, and reduce the carbon footprint of
our family. After all, our home is our largest single investment, and we want it to perform that way.
Efficiency involves peak performance with minimal waste. The following weatherization tips are based on proven building science and can have a significant impact on the overall comfort of your home this winter:
1) Seal penetrations in the ceilings of your upper floors: One of the most effective steps to reducing overall energy consumption is to seal penetrations in the ceilings leading to your attic. Examples of this include the recessed lights penetrating the ceilings of your home. These penetrations provide a convenient escape route for warm air to escape from your home. Recessed lights can be sealed by purchasing covers designed for this purpose.
Also, many homes have pull-down attic stairs or an attic hatch providing access to the attic above. Adding weatherstripping and insulation to these areas can dramatically reduce the amount of warm air escaping through these areas.
2) Seal basement penetrations: As warm air escapes through the upper regions of your home, it pulls outside air into your home through the basement. Sealing penetrations in your foundation with spray-foam insulation will prevent outside air from being pulled into your home. Many basements have older doors. Consider using caulk, foam, and weatherstripping to create a tight seal around these areas.
3) Examine the exterior of your home: Most of us subscribe to a variety of services which get piped into our home. These services include cable, phone, electricity, internet, gas, water, oil, and security services. Each of these services was installed by a technician who was probably not thinking about the overall energy-efficiency of your home and left behind dozens of penetrations that can be easily sealed with caulk or foam. Sealing these penetrations will prevent moisture, insects, critters, and unconditioned air from entering your home.
4) Evaluate your windows and doors: Replacing your windows is not always necessary to improve their energy efficiency. For instance, if you have original single-pane windows, adding a thermal window insert, such as Indow Windows, to prevent heat-loss can make energy savings comparable to much more expensive replacement windows while preserving the architectural heritage of your home. Thermal inserts are reusable year after year, can be used in front of double-pane windows as well and offer an attractive alternative to disposable plastic film barriers. The addition of a simple door-sweep and weatherstripping can dramatically increase the efficiency of older doors.
5) Examine your mechanical equipment: Older furnaces and water heaters consume excessive amounts of fossil fuel in comparison to many of the energy-efficient versions
available today. New Jersey has one of the best incentive programs in the country to help replace these units with more efficient versions. If replacing these units is out of the question, make sure you change your filters regularly and have a “clean & tune” performed on your unit to ensure it is running properly and efficiently.
6) Have a home energy assessment performed: A professional home energy assessment will provide you with specific information about how your home looses or wastes energy. During a home energy assessment, a professional uses sophisticated equipment and software to diagnose specific issues that are often difficult for a homeowner to uncover on their own. At the conclusion of your assessment, you should receive a report outlining issues uncovered during the assessment, measures recommended to increase the efficiency of your home, and rebates and incentives available to help you pay for these measures. Select a Building Performance Institute Accredited Contractor to ensure they have the qualifications and standards necessary
to provide you with a high-quality assessment.
Scott Fischer is a Home Performance Consultant with Ciel Power LLC. Ciel Power LLC is a One-Source Solution providing New Jersey Residents with Home Energy Assessments, Air-Sealing, Insulation, HVAC Services, Energy Efficient Lighting, & Technology. Contact Ciel
Power LLC at www.cielpower.com or 201-632-3463 for additional information.
MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS – Saturday, December 1st
Mayor Paul Aronsohn will be holding office hours for Ridgewood residents on the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. The next session will be Saturday, November 3, 2012.
Scheduled appointments will be given priority, but walk-in appointments will also be accommodated, time permitting.
To schedule a meeting with Mayor Aronsohn, please call the Village Clerk’s Office, at 201-670-5500 ext. 201 or send an email to Heather Mailander, Village Clerk, at hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net .
If would like a meeting, but this timing does not work for you, please email Mayor Aronsohn directly at paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.net .
Left to Right Eileen Colyer, Adult Services Supervisor Ridgewood Library, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Nancy Greene, Ridgewood Library Director, Annabel Greene, and Jacque Weiss, Neighbors helping Neighbors Ridgewood facilitator
Ridgewood Library honored by Neighbors-helping-Neighbors
November 27,2012
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday October 25, 2012, the Ridgewood Public Library was honored and recognized for their support of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors, USA with the presentation of a Founders Plaque.Jacque Weiss, facilitator for the group in Ridgewood, awarded the plaque with the support of Mayor Paul Aronsohn of the Village, to Nancy Greene, Library Director, and Eileen Colyer, Adult Services Supervisor.
Neighbors-helping-Neighbors (NhN), is a volunteer led organization offering free weekly support and networking meetings in multiple libraries in New Jersey and beyond, for people actively seeking employment. The group, founded by John Fugazzie, in January of 2011 has
grown dramatically from its 4 original members in the River Edge library. NhN celebrated its first anniversary in Ridgewood on September 8, 2012. There are now more than 1,000 members and 200 success stories. All NhN groups foster an environment in which members assist each
other in job search techniques and suggestions based on personal experience plus personal and professional networking. Neighbors-helping-Neighbors is dedicated to a “pay it forward” model.
Resources are available at host libraries to assist with job searches on the library computers. NJ’s library system is dedicated to helping residents with the job search, so it is a great venue for meetings. In Ridgewood the group is directly supported by Eileen Colyer under the leadership
of Nancy Greene. While there is a regular meeting format, occasional meetings can include guest speakers, career coaches and HR professionals, who give timely advice and resume critiques. There are a variety of volunteers who offer their services to the membership free of charge.
On January 27, 2012 the first organization-wide NhN anniversary event was hosted in the Ridgewood Library auditorium. The Bergen County Freeholders presented John Fugazzie with a Certificate of Commendation for the group at this celebration. The Ridgewood Library has
been immensely supportive of NhN, hosting other events including a presentation by Mary Ellen Clark, Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Development, NJ State Department of Labor as well as career coach and author, Abby Kohut, otherwise known as “Absolutely Abby”.
Mayor Aronsohn has been particularly supportive of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors. After attending the one year anniversary celebration for Ridgewood, held on September 27, the Mayor invited Jacque Weiss to make a presentation about the group to the Village Council on
October 24. The focus of this presentation was not only to make the Council aware of the NhN’s activities to help residents in career transition secure employment, but also to encourage area businesses to invest in the community by hiring locally.
While thanking the group for the plaque on behalf of the Library, Nancy Greene spoke about the desire of Ridgewood’s Library staff to do whatever they can to support the members of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors. The Library has provided training classes for members in
areas of desktop technology, LinkedIn use, resume preparation and other career supportive offerings. Special discounts have been given to NhN members for many of these services. Nancy specifically solicited input from NhN Ridgewood members regarding additional subject
areas for future training classes as well as information about specific professional development of members that may be supported. It is a great example of community in action, with everyone offering the best they have for the benefit of all involved.
Ridgewood’s Downtown for the Holidays will start on Friday, November 30th with the Tree Lighting.
E. Ridgewood Avenue, from Maple to Broad, will be closed to traffic at 4:30PM.
All are invited to shop, dine and enjoy the entertainment, featuring a special “Rock around the Christmas Tree” theme. Performances by: From the Top Music Studio, Porch Light Productions, Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Art of Motion.
Entertainment and Tree Lighting from 7 to 8PM.
Come to Ridgewood to start the season’s celebration…
