>Ridgewood News editorial: Hitting the restart button
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Ridgewood News
The scene at Tuesday night’s Village Council meeting to formalize the governing body’s opposition to The Valley Hospital’s “Renewal” plan was far from the raucous display at last year’s Planning Board meeting, when an amendment to the Master Plan was approved.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/134886393_Hitting_the_restart_button.html
>Village of Ridgewood : Crossing Guard Position Applications
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.
>New Jersey Choral Society presents “on a winter’s night”
Bergen and Essex County – Celebrate the beauty and light of the holiday season as the New Jersey Choral Society presents “on a winter’s night” on Saturday, December 3 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair. A third performance will be presented on Sunday, December 11 at 6:00 pm in Ridgewood’s West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St.
Under the direction of dynamic conductor Eric Dale Knapp, the New Jersey Choral Society will present an uplifting program featuring such festive works as Bach’s “Magnificat in D major,”“Fantasia on Christmas Carols” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and “Gloria” by Randol Alan Bass. Seasonal favorites include “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “Lo how a Rose e’er Blooming” and “Angels we have Heard on High” as well as the beautiful Christmas anthems “Night of Silence” and “There is no Rose of such Virtue.” Organist Linda Sweetman-Waters and a full orchestra will accompany the chorus. The NJCS Children’s Chorale and soloists Alicia Luick, Ryan Milkwick, Megan Knapp, David Adams and Keith Harris will be featured. Come one hour prior to concert times for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture about the music for all ticket holders.
In support of the Center for Food Action, the New Jersey Choral Society will be collecting nonperishable food items at each concert. Donated food items can be deposited in one of the receptacles in the lobby. The Center for Food Action is a non-profit organization that provides emergency food, rental and utility assistance, counseling and advocacy for people in need.
Advance tickets are $20.00 for general admission, $17.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities, and $12 for children 12 and under (Add $5.00 at the door). Group discounts are available. The West Side Presbyterian Church and the Church of the Immaculate Conception are both wheelchair accessible. For reservations or more information, visit https://www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
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State Workers: Sick time reform pitched
Government workers would no longer be able to be paid for unused sick leave but could use the value of that time to offset their costs for health benefits after retirement, under the latest legislative proposal to revamp sick-leave rules.
Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, introduced legislation this week that would attach an actuarial value to accumulated sick leave that exceeds 60 days, then permit retiring public employees to use that value to reduce their post-retirement medical benefits by up to $7,500.
Retired public workers who choose a medical plan that requires them to pay $1,500 a year from their pension toward their benefits, for instance, could use the value of those unused days to eliminate that cost sharing for five years. (Symons, Gannett)
https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20111130/NJNEWS/311300043/Sick-time-reform-plan-pitched
>Legislation intended to increase odds of tigers’ survival in wild goes before N.J. Senate committee
>Injured Raccoon Wanders Into Ridgewood Antique Shop
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood Police Officer John Chuck with animal control officers Lisa Slick and Kristen Schmidt of Tyco Animal Control Services capturing an injured raccoon that wandered into Pangea Antiques and Art at 35 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood (201-445-4199) at approximately 12 noon on Friday, December 2.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
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Main Street businesses survive without slashing prices in Ridgefield Park
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2011, 10:49 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
CORRESPONDENT
RIDGEFIELD PARK PATRIOT
RIDGEFIELD PARK – The idea of Main Street, Anytown, USA, conjures up images of pedestrian traffic and hustle and bustle during this time of year. In some Bergen towns, the idea rings true – think Ridgewood, Englewood, Westwood, and even to some extent Teaneck. Here in Ridgefield Park, however, holiday shopping is just not part of the village landscape.
Most residents ventured out of town on Black Friday and over the Thanksgiving weekend to catch the season’s big sales. Garden State Plaza, Bergen Town Center and The Shops at Riverside lured most of the heavy spenders, while retailers along routes 4 and 17 also drew considerable shopping numbers.
“I didn’t go out on Black Friday because I wanted to avoid the craziness, but I do plan on going to the mall later today,” said Ariana Rossi, 35, who stopped in for a latte at Dunkin’ Donuts last Saturday morning. “You just can’t pass up some of the deals at those stores. Even if you’re not doing your Christmas or holiday shopping, you might want something for yourself. This is the time to hit the malls and buy.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/134829393_Local_businesses_survive_without_slashing_prices.html
>Downtown for the Holidays kicks off Friday in Ridgewood
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2011, 4:01 PM
BY JOSEPH CRAMER
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is going “around the world” and back again to draw residents to the village’s Central Business District (CBD) this holiday season, giving an international theme to Friday’s Downtown for the Holidays event.
The goal of the annual celebration, now in its 26th year, is to generate excitement about shopping locally for the holidays in a time where much of commerce is dominated by shopping malls and online stores, as well as provide a fun event for village families to enjoy, chamber officials said. While the tree-lighting ceremony remains the centerpiece of the event, the chamber has added a few new themes and attractions designed to broaden the event’s appeal.
>Give this council a break they inherited a slew of problems
Give this council a break. It inherited a slew of problems from the Mancuso – Pfund years when our economy was flush with money and problems that could have been fixed went unabated. Pfund left, dumping the Hospital issue squarely in the lap of his successors. They have had to deal with that. They have also had to deal with issues such as cleaning up the lingering problems associated with the multi-million dollar fiasco otherwise known as Lake Village Hall.
Give these folks time — they are not perfect, but who is, and at least they are trying.
>Leaf and Brush Pick Up Schedule
Leaf and brush will continue to be picked up according to the schedule in the Village Calendar. Village crews will be performing this task throughout the day.
November 21 – 23 – Area D
November 28 – Dec 2 – Area A
December 5- 9 – Area B
December 12 – 14 – Area C
December 15 – 16 – Area D
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> Rutgers-Eagleton poll: ‘Overwhelming’ support for medical marijuana; majority favors decriminalization
One day after Gov. Chris Christie attempted to kick start the state’s medical marijuana program, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll shows the public is staunchly behind him.
According to the poll, 86 percent of respondents favor legalization of marijuana for medical purposes – a current law being met with roadblocks in the implementation stage.
Yesterday, Christie named a former State Police lieutenant as the new coordinator of the program, but the poll director David Redlawsk, professor of political science at Rutgers University, wondered at the pace at which the program is progressing.
“The slowness with which the Christie administration appears to be implementing the medical marijuana law passed at the end of the Corzine administration seems to fly in the face of public opinion,” said Redlawsk. “While recent reports say some of the problem is related to the difficulties of opening the dispensaries called for under the law, public support for the concept is very strong.” (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
> Port Authority changes reason for toll increase
Remember this summer’s bridge and tunnel toll increases that were needed to help pay for redeveloping the World Trade Center? It looks like the extra money isn’t going there after all.
In legal filings in November, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said none of the money from the toll increases will be used for the World Trade Center but will instead be used for the agency’s Interstate Transportation Network that includes bridges, bus terminals and other transportation buildings.
The filings came in response to a lawsuit filed by AAA of New York and New Jersey, which tried unsuccessfully to stop the increases from taking effect in September. In the suit, AAA argues that the World Trade Center is not a transportation center and, therefore, the toll increases are being illegally collected to pay for it. (Associated Press)
https://online.wsj.com/article/AP4afddc1fc5d046d48da9f9e363f6317f.html
>Pascack Valley Hospital Closer To Reopening
November 30, 2011 9:22 AM
WESTWOOD, NJ (WCBS 880) – The reopening of a North Jersey hospital is one step closer to reality.
The state health planning board has approved Hackensack University Medical Center‘s plan to reopen the old Pascack Valley Hospital as a 128-bed facility. The health commissioner has 120 days to decide.
The hospital flatlined in 2007.
“The reality is that patients don’t have access to the hospital beds. There’s been hospital closures in Paterson and Passaic over the last three years as well as Pascack Valley Hospital, which have decreased the number of available hospital beds in the Bergen-Passaic region,” said Westwood mayor John Birkner.
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/11/30/pascack-valley-hospital-closer-to-reopening/
>Village Seeking Volunteers to Serve on Library Board and Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board
The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve on the Library Board of Trustees and the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board.
The Library Board of Trustees is the governing board for the Ridgewood Public Library and its employees. The Board of Trustees works with the community to establish Library policy. They also secure funds to carry on services to the public, and set goals and objectives.
The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board recommends rules for use and monitors recreation facilities. The Board coordinates community recreation programs and develops and updates the long-range Master Plan for recreation in the Village.
All interested residents should fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website under “Forms”), and send it along with a cover letter indicating on which board or committee the resident wishes to serve, and a biography or resume to:
Mayor Keith Killion
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
