Author: James

Posted on by — 8 Comments

The incident of the flipped car in Wilsey Square reflect the hazards predicted to arise from the Arohnson Council’s changes to our Village infrastructure.

ridgewood police wilsey sq

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook Page 

January 14,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The incident of the flipped car in Wilsey Square reflect the hazards predicted to arise from the Arohnson Council’s changes to our Village infrastructure.
Everyone knew the Wilsey sguare changes were a disaster waiting to happen: The bike lane, the wall, the intrusion of the wall into the square and, of course, the 42nd street neon sign falshing messages to already distracted drivers. The traffic back up each morning is horrific. Each day, pedestrians are at risk.

The Arohnson council was also warned of the consequences inherent in its decision to dump a private business into the middle of a public park and playground at Hillcrest park. Other examples abound.

But we haven’t seen anything yet. Pretty soon, the four massive Arohnson Council apartment projects will break ground and begin building at the same time. Dump trucks and construction vehicles will be barreling through our downtown and side streets day after day for the next year. And then, when the projects are completed and hundreds of new families move into our downtown, we will have somewhere between 300 and 900 cars going down our already overcrowded streets.

Its foolish to think those new families and current Village residents won’t be put at risk by these changes. Yet, what are we doing to prepare? What is the current council doing to anticipate and prevent more occurrences like the accident we just saw. Pointing fingers at the Arohnson council or at each other doesn’t help. Bad planning decisions have consequences. Yes, blame for the bad planning of the Arohnson council rightfully belong in its lap and on its conscience. However, the blame game doesn’t improve our safety. The current council needs to take affirmative steps now, or the results of its inaction will impinge on the safety of our Village citizens for years to come. It is not clear what it is doing to keep people safe. Moreover, it seems the current council may be headed in the wrong direction. If the current council goes through with a garagemahal in the middle of the new apartment complex, it will only exacerbate the problems by dumping another 200 cars on so into those same narrow, overcrowded streets.
Time for action now.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Expands Community Affairs Unit

Bergen County Sheriffs department theridgewoodblog.net 1

January 14,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announces the expansion of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s (“BCPO”) Community Affairs Unit (“CAU”) and the designation of a new press contact. Prosecutor Grewal created the CAU in June 2017 with a mission to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the community, increase public safety, and deter crime through developing programs that increase community engagement, build public trust, and promote transparency. These programs include a two-week Youth Police Academy which is run in cooperation with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, multi-disciplinary conferences, a quarterly Community/Clergy Academy, and partnerships with local and county law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations. The CAU also supports and promotes local law enforcement community programs, education initiatives, and day-to-day operations through social media and public promotion.

This model has proven successful, and the BCPO is committed to prioritizing positive relations between law enforcement and the community. Under the direction of Assistant Prosecutor (“AP”) Section Chief Elizabeth Rebein and Lieutenant Jeff Angermeyer, six administrative, creative, and Detective personnel have been assigned to staff the Unit. Along with the expansion of the Unit, Prosecutor Grewal has restructured certain duties, including AP Rebein as the point of contact for all media inquiries.

The BCPO’s community initiatives and programs will appear on the BCPO social media accounts, namely Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under the username @BCPONJ. Additionally, many events will be live-streamed using these social media platforms to broadcast segments online, as they happen, where they happen.

Please follow us online to learn more: @BCPONJ.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

PSE&G files first rate review in 8 years

PSEG

January 14,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G) today filed its first regulatory rate review in more than eight years, asking for a small adjustment in electric and gas base delivery rates that would increase overall revenues by approximately 1 percent.

The increase is necessary to recover investments PSE&G made to strengthen its electric and gas distribution systems, making them more reliable and resilient. PSE&G is required to file the rate review as a condition of the approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities of the company’s Energy Strong program in 2014.

If approved as filed, the typical combined residential electric and natural gas customer will see an approximate 1 percent increase or about $19.70 in their annual bill. Even with this proposed increase, bills for the typical residential customer are expected to be more than 15 percent lower than they were in 2010.

“Our customer bills are already among the lowest in the state – and that won’t change,” said David Daly, PSE&G president and COO.

“As a result of strong cost control, our residential customer bills are lower today than they were eight years ago,” Daly said. “Together with passing along savings from recent tax law changes, we’ve been able to minimize the impact on our customers.”

Revenues from base rates are used to maintain and improve the electric and gas delivery infrastructure, such as pipes and wires, and provide customer services. Customer bills also contain separate charges for the electric and gas supply that is obtained by PSE&G on behalf of its customers.

“Since our last regulatory rate review in 2010, PSE&G has made significant capital investments to upgrade, modernize, and strengthen our electric and gas systems to make them more reliable and resilient,” Daly said. “Our current electric and gas delivery rates do not reflect all the investments we have made to maintain the safe, highly reliable service our customers have come to expect. This rate review also addresses previously incurred storm costs that had been deferred until this time.”

Proposal includes Green Enabling Mechanism

The rate filing also seeks BPU approval of a rate design change, called the Green Enabling Mechanism (GEM), a proposal to decouple revenues from sales volumes and thereby encourage energy efficiency. If approved, the GEM will remove the incentive to sell more energy and will instead encourage utility investments in energy efficiency, renewables and other clean energy technologies that will ultimately benefit all customers by bringing down bills and reducing emissions.

PSE&G anticipates that new base rates as well as the GEM will take effect October 1, 2018.

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Reader says RIDGEWOOD COUNCIL: WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH BARN (and its owner STACY ANTINE).

Habernickel HealthBarn USA protest

file photo by Boyd Loving

The council created this problem and the time has come for the council to fix this problem.
This “business” has destroyed what was once a lovely and charming neighborhood.
As a reminder, the principle that government must be both “limited in power and ACCOUNTABLE to the people” lies at the core of our constitutional traditions (especially so in local government). Take action against Health Barn or we the people will take action by voting you out when your terms expire…
Can you hear us know?

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Village of Ridgewood Offices Will Be Closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – January 15, 2018

mlk-300x272

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – January 15, 2018

January 14,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, January 15, 2018 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – All Village Offices will be closed in observance of this holiday. In addition, there will be no garbage or recycling collection, and the Recycling Center will also be closed. All Village Offices will re-open on January 16, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

The Ridgewood blog will remain open news or announcements [email protected]

Posted on by — 2 Comments

“BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,”

dr-strangelove-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-bomb

January 14,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Waimea, Hawaii yesterday an emergency alert was sent at 8:07 a.m.,”BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,” the emergency alert read.

dr_strangelove_se04

Hawaii says ballistic missile threat alert was false alarm. Residents of Hawaii were thrown into a panic Saturday morning after the state sent an emergency alert warning of a ballistic missile threat. But officials minutes later said that it was a mistake.

Dr Strangelove

“NO missile threat to Hawaii,” the state’s Emergency Management Agency tweeted at 8:20 local time (1:20 ET) , but the follow-up alert to state that it was a false alarm wasn’t sent until 8:46 a.m, ouch…

dr-strangelove

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Tasting Tuesday Networking at Serendipity Labs in Ridgewood

serendipity2[2]

January 13,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Join Serendipity Labs and Julie Belardinelli, Independent Wine Ambassador of The Boissett Collection, Tuesday, January 23rd for “Tasting Tuesday,” an evening of wine tasting and networking. Julie is a certified ambassador from the International Wine Center in NYC and she is excited to share her knowledge and love of wine with all of you!

Come connect over great wine and great company at Bergen County’s only upscale, hospitality-driven coworking office. Admission is $20/person and attendance is limited to 15 people, so be sure to register! Your ticket will include an exclusive wine tasting from The Boissett Collection, 2 complimentary day passes to Serendipity Labs, and an hour of unique, intimate networking.

Tue, January 23, 2018

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST

Add to Calendar

Location

Serendipity Labs Ridgewood

45 North Broad Street

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tasting-tuesday-networking-tickets-41972289247

Posted on by — 1 Comment

New York Times best-selling author and Ridgewood resident Ben Greenman discusses the ins and outs of collaboration at the Ridgewood Library

Ben Greenman

January 13,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Wednesday, January 24 at 7pm: New York Times best-selling author–and Ridgewood resident– Ben Greenman discusses the ins and outs of collaboration and telling other people’s life stories. Info, contact Roberta, [email protected]

Ben Greenman is a novelist and magazine journalist who has written fiction and non-fiction books, as well as many collaborations with pop-music artists like Questlove, George Clinton, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, and others. From 2000 to 2014, he was an editor at The New Yorker.

Ridgewood Public Library
Address: 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: (201) 670-5600

Posted on by — Leave a comment

PSE&G Earns “Emergency Assistance Award”For Efforts to Restore Electric Service After Hurricane Irma

PSEG

file photo by Boyd Loving

January 12,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today presented Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, with the association’s “Emergency Assistance Award” for outstanding work assisting customers impacted by Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

The award is presented to EEI member companies to recognize an outstanding response in assisting other electric companies in power restoration efforts after service has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEI’s Winter Board and CEO Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In the wake of Irma, PSE&G dispatched 154 employees and 84 vehicles to assist Florida Power & Light power restoration efforts. The PSE&G contingent included line workers, managers, engineers and support personnel.

“When disaster impacts a region, electric companies from across the nation are called on to assist impacted companies in need – mutual assistance is a hallmark of our industry,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “When Hurricane Irma struck, PSE&G answered the call to help. PSE&G’s assistance to restore service to impacted customers is a terrific example of mutual assistance in action.”

PSE&G’s Senior Vice President of Electric and Gas Operations John Latka said, “We were fortunate to be in a position to assist FPL. We know the importance of getting the lights and power back on as quickly as possible so people can begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”

 

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Ridgewood Dog Lovers Can’t Wait for the Woof Gang Bakery Grand Opening

wolfgang

January 13,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridewood NJ, on January 20th the Woof Gang Bakery will host its Grand Opening in Ridgewood . The Woof Gang Bakery is a leading specialty retailer of pet food, pet-related supplies and pet grooming, with more than 80 locations across the U.S. The Ridgewood store will be located at 234 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Woof Gang Bakery offers the very best in pet care by providing quality products at competitive prices and knowledgeable, caring customer service. Each Woof Gang Bakery location is a convenient, neighborhood store with connections to the local community. The company is committed to the well-being, health and happiness of pets.

In 2016, Woof Gang Bakery received the Retailer of the Year Franchise Award from Pet Product News, the Multi-Service Excellence Award from Pet Business Media and was ranked among the nation’s top retailers by Pet Business magazine. Recently, the company also was named best overall multi-unit retailer by Pet Business Media and recognized by Pet Insight magazine as one of the nation’s fastest growing pet chains.

At Woof Gang Bakery, we know that pets are a part of our families, our faithful companions and they bring us great joy. We’ll help you show your love and appreciation for their unconditional affection and devotion.

Posted on by — 12 Comments

Ridgewood Central Business District Community Forum

CBD ridgewood theridgewoodblog.net

January 13,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Central Business District Advisory Committee invites you to their first forum. Its purpose is to engage in an open dialogue with our business owners. Come Learn about the various initiatives they have undertaken. This committee wants to hear directly from you. They want to understand the challenges business owners are facing and the opportunities that stand before us. They also want to hear success stories and any suggestions for improving our Central Business District. The Mayor and other Councilmembers will also be participating.

Central Business District Community Forum
Wed, January 17, 2018
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood Village Hall, 131 N Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

 

Posted on by — 9 Comments

Haven’t we had ENOUGH of these two???? Neither is any good for Ridgewood. Never were. Never will be

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood Council

January 13,2018

From a concerned reader of The Blog:

Ridgewood NJ, Aronsohn and his little puppet Voigt are sending stupid letter after stupid letter to the Ridgewood News. Let’s sing the praises of Tim Cronin. Let’s applaud the CRAB. Let’s slam a citizen for speaking his mind at a Council meeting. Let’s slam another citizen. Let’s just keep getting our names in print week after week after week. They criticize The Blog even though they post on in themselves, anonymously of course. They have the same “MO” – which is “let’s meet for coffee, so I can talk to you off the record where no one can hear what I am saying and I will pressure, harass, or humiliate you, or will attempt to coerce you into doing something to benefit ME.”

Good Lord, Aronsohn has an ethics violation against him along with the fact that he is PRIME SUSPECT #1 in the killing of Mike Sedon’s job with the Staten Island Advance, he lost his cool at countless VC meetings, he lambasted fellow council members relentlessly, he interfered with citizens’ letters to the editor, he manipulated the Ridgewood News stories, he blocked citizens from seeking signatures on a petition, he publicly humiliated citizens who spoke at meetings, he pushed the high density housing through, he lies and he lies and he lies . . . . .

Paul_Aronsohn_theridgewood blog

And then we have his disciple Voigt who has gone wild at many public meetings, screaming at fellow council members and at the Village Manager, who publicly claimed he knows more about the law than Matt Rogers, who had charges pressed against him for harassing citizens, who himself pressed charges against one of the council members, who regularly gets his shills to come to meetings and read scripts that he has authored, who feels that a citizen has no right to conduct and Open Public Records Act request (even though he conducts them relentlessly himself), he lies and he lies and he lies . . . .

Haven’t we had ENOUGH of these two???? Neither is any good for Ridgewood. Never were. Never will be.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Village of Ridgewood will provide radon information and test kits free of charge to Ridgewood residents

Radon

January 13,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Health Department Director, Dawn Cetrulo announced that January has been designated as National Radon Action Month in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Program. During Radon Action Month, the Village of Ridgewood will provide radon information and test kits free of charge to Ridgewood residents at the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 N. Maple Ave., 5th level from 8:30 am until 4 pm.

Posted on by — 19 Comments

Bank of America’s New Economic totalitarianism

bank-of-america_theridgewoodblog

January 13,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, since the first of the year Bank of America has instituted a series of new policies . One that is particularly disruptive is that you are no longer able to deposit cash in someone else’s account . Those of you with older relatives understand the issue .The old folks sometimes need a little extra cash for issues that arise .

According to a bank representative the bank has been inundated with money laundering and fraud . Many even point to the cryptocurrency movement and Bitcoin as the culprit .

Its funny because several years ago the “coin boy” in Ridgewood toted out of Village Hall over 50 lbs a day worth of quarters and cashed them in at local banks and no one knows anything . So the “coin boy ” could effectively steal close to $1million dollars , yet the writer of this article can not put $500 bucks into his elderly mothers account . The irony was not lost on the bank representative .

So yesterday , I had a day off and “mom” hit me up for $600 , I had to take her with me in the car , there was a line at the ATM machine ,that took 25 minutes and then with only one car in front of us on the drive thru line it took another 45 minutes . By the time I got her home it was a little after 1pm and we had left at 10am . Yuup you herd me 3 hours to make a deposit .

While many curse the creep of Economic totalitarianism , for others its is inching forward at a slow enough rate that people aren’t noticing it.

In the 1960s, you could carry whatever money you wanted in cash on planes, buy houses and cars with cash, or deposit it with no worries.

In the 1970s, $10,000 (then worth $62,000+ in today’s dollars) became the number. Inflation made that number worth less and less without the government needing to change the law.

The US government now requires banks to report transactions as small as $1000 to $2000 if they are “suspicious.”

Then you look at cash seizures. It used to be that cash was only seized from big time criminals. Now half of seizures in Washington D.C. are less than $150. People are getting pulled over and the police will seize $20.

Now Bank of America and Chase need to see ID to process $50 cash deposits.

Imagine 10 years from now. I wouldn’t be surprised if cash is banned entirely in at least one country.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

California Moves to Cut Pension Benefits

jerry_brown_california_reuters

January 12,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, watch out New Jersey you could be next , for decades in California, a sacrosanct rule has governed public employees’ pensions: benefits promised can never be taken away.

But now the California Supreme Court has threaten to reverse that premise and open the door to benefit cuts for workers still on the job.

California Governor Jerry Brown said legal rulings may clear the way for making cuts to public pension benefits, which would go against long-standing assumptions and potentially provide financial relief to the state and its local governments.

ballooning expenses are an issue that Gov. Jerry Brown will face in his final year in office despite his earlier efforts to reform the state’s pension systems and pay down massive unfunded liabilities.

At issue is the “California Rule,” which dates to court rulings beginning in 1947. It says workers enter a contract with their employer on their first day of work, entitling them to retirement benefits that can never be diminished unless replaced with similar benefits.

It gives workers security that their retirement will be safe and predictable after a career in public service. But it also ties lawmakers’ hands in responding to exploding pension costs.

It’s widely accepted that retirement benefits linked to work already performed cannot be touched. But the California Rule is controversial because it prohibits even prospective changes for work the employee has not yet done.