2018 Distinguished Alumni Event
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, RHS Alumni Association will host the second biannual Ridgewood High School Alumni Association’s 2018 Distinguished Alumni Event.
Details:
March 22nd at 7:00 pm
Park West Tavern Loft
Premium Open Bar, Dinner, Valet
Ticket Pricing:
$150 Per Person
Dress
Smart Casual
Honoring:
MichaelAaron Flicker ’01
Carole Jones ’81
Dr. John Poole ’74
Jim Stroker ’70
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of TIMOTHY SMITH (DOB: 4/16/1975; divorced; and employed as deli counter help) of 360 Main Street, Apt 333, Hackensack, New Jersey on six counts each of Sexual Assault by Contact and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge, Captain Francesco Aquila.
On Friday, February 16, 2018, the Hackensack Police Department was contacted via 911 that children at an indoor public pool in Hackensack, NJ had been touched on their intimate parts by Timothy Smith during a public swim program. The Hackensack Police Department responded. An investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department.
As a result of the investigation, Timothy SMITH was arrested on February 23, 2018 in Hackensack, NJ and charged with six counts each of Sexual Assault by Contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2B, a crime of the 2nd degree; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24A(1), a crime of the 3rd degree. Timothy SMITH is scheduled for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 24, 2018 at 9:00 A.M.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Hackensack Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, we have been told over and over “if you see something say something” , but if the latest school shooting is any indication ,when you say something you get ignored.
With great sadness the Ridgewood blog has had to report the latest mass shooting . It is ever parents worst nightmare. As usual the media has hijacked the dialogue always leaving out significant details .
First the FBI ignored a warning that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz might attack a school, failing to act on a call just weeks before Cruz allegedly carried out a shooting rampage at a high school in South Florida on Valentine’s Day. An easily traceable Internet threat in is was made and ignored by the Feds.
Next we learned by documents obtained by CNN, that law enforcement officers responded to Cruz’s house on 39 occasions over a seven-year period .
Classmates claimed in post incident interviews the Cruz often introduced himself as a “school shooter” .
Worse yet according to CBS an armed on duty school security officer waited outside the building till the shooting stopped at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School .
CBS also is reporting that documents released by the sheriff’s office show that the school resource officer had information about the suspect and his “potential to carry out a school shooting two years before it happened.” But it’s his actions the day of the shooting that led to his suspension.
It just keeps getting worse and worse. CNN reports it wasn’t just Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson who waited outside during the shooting, apparently, the first three officers to arrive on scene joined him in waiting outside, hiding behind their cars with their guns drawn.
This is only a brief outline of the systematic breakdown that took place in Broward County and proof positive government solutions
And of coarse the media plays the blame game and blames President Trump and the NRA neither of which had anything to do with the shooting . The blame game works for politicians but never fixes any problems.
Blaming guns is like blaming cars for drunk drivers . And blaming guns like all “virtue signaling” will not solve any problems . On 9/11 we lost 2997 people with out a gun , in the Oklahoma City bombing we lost 168 people with the use of common fertilizer as a bomb.
If you want real solutions its time to address the real problems and ask real questions ; First why do we only talk about mass shootings , but never the 40 plus people a day who are gunned down by illegal firearms in cities like Chicago, Newark or Paterson? Why have mass shooting increased since the 1960’s , Why are they almost always committed by Democrats? Why does the FBI always seem to drop the ball ? Why if we can try to make it about race its a big deal and if we cant its not? Why are prescription drugs almost always involved ? Why do school administrators and most parents seem oblivious to problems right under their very noises ? Why can a person who being investigated by law enforcement buy guns ? Why is there not a uniform gun data base , like ATM’s or use block chain ? I am sure there are many more questions that need to asked and answered .
And of coarse the big big problem , I will quote my friend Jessica ” it isn’t an AK-47 problem, it’s not an NRA problem…it’s a people problem! Children aren’t raised to respect anything or anyone! We need to stop over indulging our children and start giving them spankings, discipline and teaching them how to respect!! Wake up people! “
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,Car thieves use laptops to hack and steal vehicles.According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an industry group, thefts like this are a growing trend. Someone gets in a late-model car and fiddles with an electronic device, then drives away.
The last few years Car thefts, have been made easier because owners have left keys in the vehicle. The Ridgewood blog reported a significant number of vehicle thefts in North Jersey and now with the aid of a laptop it could get worse.
photo by Boyd Loving
Dollars and Cents
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The step for the in the Hudson garage process will be the Village Council reviewing the results of the Walker Feasibility Study at the next Public Work Session on Wednesday, February 28. The study will provide a planning-level analysis of net operating income potential for the parking system when the new garage is complete, including rate adjustments that will help maintain a parking utility that is self-supporting. Armed with a thorough financial analysis, we can then move forward with discussing contract negotiations and final selection.
Councilwomen Bernie Walsh told us ,” I was impressed by the professionalism of all who presented. They brought their A game and appeared to be genuine in their desire to provide the best option to Ridgewood for a parking structure.I had to recuse myself from the Haas proposal due to a conflict. I was pleased that the time frame is shorter than expected which would lead less disruption to the Village during construction.”
Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon also gave us some similar feedback , ” I thought all presenters highlighted interesting points and the four-hour meeting gave us a lot to think about. Maintenance was included in a past Walker financial report for the bigger garage of two years ago, so the idea that this cost would eat into the revenue generated by the garage has always been on my radar. The developers presenting did a good job this time around at highlighting those costs, while hammering home the importance of maintaining this critical piece of infrastructure to protect any potential investment in our Village.
The decision the declare the Hudson Street parking lot an area in need of redevelopment was very useful in these ongoing discussions, which has given this council the flexibility to work directly with the developer chosen allowing us to bring a project to fruition which is cost effective, efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Finally the much awaited financial report from Walker will be discussed this Wednesday. With all this important information converging simultaneously it will provide this council with the most current picture as to how the entire project could work to benefit our Village. I am looking forward to the continued discussion as the complete picture comes into focus.”
Whether you want a garage or not, we all need to come to the realization that in it’s current state, our taxes in this town are going up (from already ridiculously high levels) and that this council and ones before have failed to do what I think most would agree is their primary job..to be fiscally responsible, municipal managers and not politicians with special interests. The question that i think has failed to be answered is, what benefit, to the residents of Ridgewood does a large parking facility bring? Will it bring more shoppers to town to stave off the inevitable doom of retail (which if you’ve picked up a paper in the last 5 years you’d realize is happening), and in the slim chance it does, how much of a benefit would we as tax payers realize? Does it benefit the current RESIDENTS who commute via train into NY, probably…but then again, what size garage would do the trick? In the new tax regime, local tax rates matter now more then ever..so the days of raising taxes with little to no push back are over. The idea of a multi million dollar spend on a garage, without clearly and concisely outlining the benefits to tax payers, just falling back on the argument that this debate has gone on for 30 years, just baffles my mind. I’m not pro or con the current or prior council, i question the motives behind certain positions by some, which have been clearly outlined in past posts. Unfortunately, special interests in this town have come to the forefront, probably due to the fact that we all have very busy jobs, lives etc (contrary to what a previous councilman thinks), and don’t think we have to actively monitor town councils…lets be clear, their job is to run the town as efficiently as possible, balancing the costs of services and the level of taxation that is optimum to keep the influx of new families coming. This garage, will probably be the tipping point. Ignore, the older aggressive guy at the council meetings who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room, why do we care about his pontificating about conspiracy theories and constitutional interpretations?? Let’s move on, rid the council of politics and vote in residents who make decisions based on the good of the town FOR THE FUTURE, not the past. This council should not be a stepping stone for wannabe politicians that will sell this town out in hopes of furthering their pathetic attempts at a political career.
Gottheimer Supporters Now Backing John McCann
February 25,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ , The Lonegan for Congress campaign is questioning if Democrats have infiltrated the ranks of the Republican Party in the 5th District now that a prominent New Jersey family with ties to Democrat Josh Gottheimer is publicly supporting John Mcann in the Congressional race.
Harry Shortway is the Mayor of Vernon Township, in Sussex County. His father, also named Harry Shortway, is the Mayor of Midland Park, in Bergen County.
Harry Shortway of Vernon was the most prominent Republican in Sussex County to endorse liberal Democrat Josh Gottheimer for Congress. His father, who held a patronage position with the Democrat Sheriff of Bergen County, recently told GOP officials that he too was supporting Democrat Gottheimer.
On Sunday, February 25th, the Shortways will be hosting a campaign event for John McCann’s congressional campaign committee. The event will be held at the family business: Shortway’s Barn, in Hawthorne. McCann claims to be a loyal Republican, but why are two Republican supporters of the Democrat incumbent supporting him?
McCann was also in the employ of the Bergen County Democrat Sheriff Michael Saudino until announcing his run for Congress last September.
Are the Democrats attempting to pick the winner of the Republican primary for Congress in the 5th District?
FACEBOOK LINK: McCann-Shortway Meet & Greet see photo
The following was submitted as a letter to the editor of the Ridgewood News before the deadline last week, but was not published. It contains important updates.
Sycamore article used old news
To the Editor:
The impending removal of the iconic sycamore tree in Graydon Park deserved its front-page coverage (“Tree’s decades-long watch almost over,” Feb. 16). It also deserved real reporting.
In reproducing my emailed comments, reporters Nicholas Katzban and Linda Voorhis imply that they interviewed me online. No such contact was made. I’d sent the quoted email to the Record’s environmental reporter a full month earlier in hopes of inspiring a story. It worked, if belatedly and indirectly. But a lot has happened since January 18.
The authors quote me as stating that I hoped the tree could be saved. That was no longer true once I’d obtained a copy of a report by an outside expert hired to evaluate the tree.
I am quoted as wishing that seeds from the tree had been saved. This is being done. With the approval of Ridgewood’s Parks and Recreation Department, a local environmentalist will germinate seeds from the sycamore toward creating a new generation. Perhaps one seedling will grow large enough to replace its mother tree.
Other news: uses for the wood are being explored by the mayor’s new Ad Hoc Graydon Sycamore Committee.
The “fans” who saved Graydon from being concretized have a name: The Preserve Graydon Coalition. It was the Coalition, formed in July 2009, that had Graydon placed on Preservation New Jersey’s 2010 list of the 10 most endangered historic sites in the state. Grassroots efforts take a village, and this village really stepped up.
Marcia Ringel
Co-Founder, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
Ridgewood
Feb. 20, 2018
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Democrats push “Hail Mary” saying that they will be moving ahead with a legally-dubious plan to let residents make charitable contributions in lieu of property taxes, promising to vote on the bill in the state Senate on Monday and threatening to take the fight to court if necessary.
The bill (S1893) is designed to be a workaround to the new federal tax law that capped the state and local tax deduction at $10,000, a move that Democrats say will harm high-tax states like New Jersey, which has the highest property taxes in the nation. Average property taxes in Bergen County in 2017 were $11,564 . The new Federal rules allow deductions of up to $10,000 . The $10,000 limit on deductions is for state and local taxes and will take effect in 2018. That $10,000 limit combines both local property and income taxes.
The legislation would effectively allow homeowners to keep deducting their property taxes by calling those payments charitable deductions. Under the bill, local governments would be permitted to set up charitable funds for specific public purposes—from police to parks—that residents could pay into and get a credit of up to 90 percent toward their property tax bills. Those contributions could then be written off as charitable deductions on federal tax bills, officials said. It’s unclear whether the plan withstands legal and IRS scrutiny.
file photo courtesy of Westwood Police Dept
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, according to the Westwood Police a 79-year-old woman was struck and injured crossing Kinderkamack Road and Irvington Street Wednesday afternoon.
Westwood Police were summed to the scene at 12:08 p.m. The victim began crossing Kinderkamack Road when Patricia Shaw, 76, of Midland Park turned left from Irvington Street onto Kinderkamack Road. Westwood Police were assisted by Hillsdale Police , Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Micron Advanced Life Support .
According to police the victim was walking in southbound lane when the driver failed to yield and hit her with the front driver’s-side part of the vehicle.
The woman was knocked to the ground and injured on the lower part of her body. She was stabilized at the scene and rushed to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. The extent of her injuries is unknown.
The 76 year old driver failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian and was charged with failure to stop/yield at an intersection, making an improper turn, failure to maintain a lane and failure to yield to a pedestrian.
Westwood Police will also submit a re-evaluation to the state Division of Motor Vehicles regarding Shaw to determine if she is fit to operate a motor vehicle.
The Westwood Police Department is asking for the public’s cooperation in reducing the number of accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles in the borough.
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, once again we have herd report of wild turkeys going on a rampage in the Village near the Ho Ho Kus Brooke . While the majestic bird can be fun to watch do not under estimate their tenacity if they are provoked . Two years ago four wild turkeys stopped traffic on Passaic Road in Paramus and Paramus Police were forced to respond in force and removed the Turkeys safely . In 2016 a in a well publicized event a Hillsdale mailmen was attacked by rampaging birds and in the same year Teaneck was forced to use air horns to drive turkeys from a local park.
The wild turkey is an upland ground bird native to North America and is the heaviest member of the diverse Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey. Although native to North America, the turkey probably got its name from the domesticated variety being imported to Britain in ships coming from the Levant via Spain. The British at the time therefore associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and the name prevails.
Remember that wild turkeys have a pecking order and that habituated birds may respond to you as they do to another turkey. The best defense against aggressive or persistent turkeys is to prevent the birds from becoming habituated in the first place by being bold to them.
If confronted , keep away they are extremely dangerous .It is best to call the Ridgewood Police or animal control, fear not most Bergen county Police departments are well versed in the safe removal of Turkeys !
![dr-strangelove1[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/dr-strangelove11.jpg "Ridgewood Water Comments of Water Discoloration")
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water comments of water discoloration . Ridgewood Water does not add fluoride to your drinking water. Water hardness in the Ridgewood service area is 14 grains or 250ppm.Ridgewood Water does not make recommendations as to water filters or softeners .
If your water is discolored, (gray, brown, yellow, orange) this is most likely due to minerals building up in our water mains. These minerals are harmless, but as more people start watering their lawns and turning on sprinkler systems, these minerals can loosen and end up in the water supply. This discoloration can also occur when Ridgewood Water does routine maintenance on it’s facilities that increases the velocity in the mains. Although it is aesthetically unappealing, it is safe to drink. We recommend avoiding doing laundry until discoloration clears.
If your water has a cloudy or milky appearance this is usually caused by air dissolved in the water. We recommend to take a glass of cold water from the tap and set it on a flat surface. If the water begins to clear from the bottom up within a few minutes, it can be concluded that dissolved air is the cause of the cloudiness. If the water does not clear up or you notice particles settling on the bottom of the glass please contact our treatment facility at 201-670-5526 and notify them of your issue.
If your water has a unusual taste or odor, please contact our treatment facility at 201-670-5526.
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood police report that on February 16th, a South Broad Street resident reported criminal trespassing is occurring during the early morning hours of day frequently. The reporting party advised the actor is entering onto the property without permission and if the actor is identified she is willing to sign criminal complaints. The Ridgewood Police Patrol Division was advised and will be conducting extra patrol in the area.
February 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report that a Meadowbrook Avenue resident responded to Ridgewood Police headquarters on February 19th, to report a fraud and theft by deception in the past. The victim reported a U.P.S. delivery was scheduled however never received by the victim. The victim contacted U.P.S. after receiving a tag requiring signature was left at the door and U.P.S. reported a party did receive the delivery and signed for the item after producing identification. The Ridgewood Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.
USA Today reported in November that , “More than half of Americans say they know someone who’s had a package stolen from outside their home, and 30% say they’ve experienced it themselves, according to a survey by Xfinity Home, Comcast’s home security service. “
