Author: James

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Operation Safe Haven Honoring Veterans with Micro Housing and Rest

Operation Safe Haven

November 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Franklinville NJ , Amazing Grace Ministries has purchased 277 acres which includes a 65 acre lake and campground in Franklinville NJ. Our goal is to fix up the property and build micro housing units for veterans to stay in and provide them with a place of true rest and relaxation. Nestled in this quiet and serene environment, our veterans can focus on getting “squared away” through various program and projects designed to give them the tools needed to adapt and overcome.

The property has sat vacant for almost a decade and needs work. One major priority is the existing dam that was damaged by a storm several years ago and needs to be rebuilt. There are also structures that need demolition as well as the clearing of land and construction of the micro housing units. Our desire is to provide this service to our vets at no cost, so we need your help!

Dam repairs, fixing up the property, campground and construction of the micro houses is not cheap. We need $500,000 to get this project up and running. Together, we can leave a legacy and change lives forever!

Donnie Davis

USAF Veteran 1993 – 1997
Former Police Offer – Prince George’s County MD

Founder and President
Amazing Grace / Operation Safe Haven
Non-Profit 501(c)3
www.agccnj.com
(856)513-6114
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/PastorDonnieD

#GoBeyondGiving

https://www.gofundme.com/housing4vets

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The Ridgewood Senior Bus

The Ridgewood Senior Bus

November 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood’s Senior Bus runs on the following days:
•Tuesdays – within the Village of Ridgewood 9:30 am – 2:30 pm.
•Wednesdays – (New Pilot Program until December 2017) to the Interstate Shopping Center in Ramsey 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
•Thursdays – within towns contiguous to Ridgewood 9:30 am – 2:30 pm.

To make a reservation, please call 201-670-5500 ext. 203. The phone is staffed M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, if you call during other hours leave a message and you will get a call back.

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Maker Space Workshops at Ridgewood High School

soldering stations

Maker Space Workshops at RHS

MakerWhat?

What’s in a name? Don’t get hung up on the name, it’s what we all use to call a workshop. It still is a workshop, but now it’s a “community commuter workshop”, where all you have to do is bring your ideas. We have basic tools that you would find in a woodshop, craft shop, your garage and more. If you are still not sure how you can utilize the Ridgewood Makerspace, come on down and see what our members are doing. We have soldering stations, sewing machines, bandsaws, drill press, and if you want to expand your horizons learn how to use a 3D printer.

On Mondays from 4-9 pm in the Ridgewood High School Makerspace (in the Science wing) we hope people of ALL ages will come and work in our Makerspace together.

Questions? Please email [email protected] or [email protected] or visit ridgewoodmaker.wixsite.com/rhsmakerspace.

Please note: RHS Makerspace Open Nights will not happen when the Ridgewood Schools are closed.

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Former Bergen County Executive Fights Internet Defamation Suit

Bergen County Executive Democrat Dennis McNerney

November 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Public Relations Executive Alan Marcus is suing former Bergen County Executive Democrat Dennis McNerney for $16 million alleging defamation, invasion of privacy and false light, punitive damages and computer related offenses

The lawsuit alleges that McNerney and his wife, Cathy, used 27 internet aliases to post 88 comments under articles that alleged that Marcus committed bribery, fraud, blackmail and exchanged county contracts for sex.

This is the same type of strategy used on this blog by certain elements of Ridgewood and was orchestrated against former Mayor Kieth Killion and Ken Gabbert  and is currently being used to undermine our current mayor Susan Knudsen .

Attorneys for McNerney claim that the comments were fair comment on political issues of public importance. Marcus was a campaign manager, headed the transition team and was an unpaid advisor for Kathe Donovan, who succeeded McNerney as County Executive.

An attorney for McNerney says that during Donovan’s tenure, Marcus was investigated by federal prosecutors who subpoenaed documents concerning his public relations contract with Bergen Community College. Marcus withdrew from the gig when it received public criticism. Marcus was also the spokeman for Triple Five the latest developer for the American Dream Meadowlands project, formerly known as Xanadu.

Marcus’ attorney, Joseph B. Fiorenzo  said that McNerney had admitted in an emailed document that his intent was to “scandalize … Alan Marcus.” and went on ,”Rarely has a defendant’s actual malice been set forth so plainly and clearly,”

The plan worked, Marcus’ attorney said, by abusing the anonymity of the internet McNerney “created an army of fictitious users from all walks of life; Republicans, Democrats, men, women and people from all of Bergen County to interact and conspire to level specious claims of criminality against Marcus and convince others of the truth of the allegations.”

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Reader says I couldn’t believe my ears, at last board of ed meeting where parents screamed about lack of communication about the “INCIDENT.”

Ridgewood Police at RHS

file photo by Boyd Loving

I couldn’t believe my ears, at last board of ed meeting where parents screamed about lack of communication about the “INCIDENT.”
Fishbein went through the schools with powerpoint and pointed that they want the taxpayers to come up with MILLIONS of dollars to upgrade the windows and bathrooms and other cosmetic fix ups , so the kids can have a good environment in which to work, words like appealing, good condition, safe. ( only justified change I thought was new fire alarm system at high school if really needed, it would cost over 100K if I remember correctly)

Hey, Fishbein , how about being able to communicate properly to parents during a crises.

So what about not allowing kids to bring in Smart Phones and text while class is going on, Fishbein. Apparently only one teacher has that rule in a German Class, I think it was middle school. Kids have to put Smart phone on shelves during class.

What about teaching about Social Media dangers. Maybe that would provide a safe and appealing environment.

NO MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON THESE COSMETIC CHANGES. IF A TOILET WORKS KEEP IT. IF WINDOWS ARE NOT BROKEN KEEP THEM. LUX schools are UNNECESSARY
MANY GREAT INTELLECTUALS , writers, scientists, did not have Lux schools and they did great things. Stop this materialistic nonsense and get to work teaching values.

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Readers See Bumps in the Road for Moving Dirt Down South Broad

stock-photo-earthmoving-industrial-truck-2521300

Hopefully the big know it all head of engineering is aware of the rather formidable speed hump on south broad near edwards dirt will be spilling all over the place when those loaded tandem axle dump bodies roll over that would not want to be living near there cracks in the wall of your foundation for sure.

Bike Lane Rutishauser is going to costs the Village a lot of money if he doesn’t remove that speed bump before he send those trucks down S Broad St. To the members of the Ridgewood Council who read the Ridgewood Blog. A word to the wise. Do not take the residents of S Broad St lightly.

Editors note : Voting has consequences and voting for Paul Aronsohn and the 3 amigos , has unintended consequences ,perhaps several alternative roots to share the burden ?

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Reader says Dump it at town hall and build a dirt wall to prevent the police station from flooding when it rains

VillageHall_floods_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Ridgewood NJ, UPDATE: The Village Council has requested that the Village’s Engineering Department review alternative options with respect to the route(s) dump trucks will take after being loaded with soil excavated at The Dayton construction site. Council members are reluctant to sign off on any plan that directs all trucks through a single residential neighborhood. Alternative options may include distributing the truck traffic via two (2) or more separate routes. A Resolution approving the associated Soil Movement Permit was scheduled for approval at last night’s Village Council Public Meeting, but was removed from the agenda in advance of the meeting.

https://theridgewoodblog.net/the-village-council-has-requested-that-the-villages-engineering-department-review-alternative-options-with-respect-to-the-routes-dump-trucks-will-take-after-being-loaded-with-soil-excavated/

we could use the dirt…
Dump it at town hall and build a dirt wall to prevent the police station from flooding when it rains.
Or take all that dirt and replace the million dollar cancer causing turf over on Maple with some dirt and plant grass.
Or fill in Graydon so those afraid of bird can build a concrete monstrosity

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FBI, U.S. Marshals Warning Public of Jury Duty Phone Scam

phone-scam

November 11,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The FBI’s Philadelphia and Newark Divisions and the U.S. Marshals Service, District of New Jersey, are warning the public about a phone scam being perpetrated by callers impersonating law enforcement or court officials.

The scammers say they’re with the U.S. Marshals Service, county sheriff’s department, or another law enforcement agency. They accuse the call recipient of failing to appear for federal or local jury duty and warn that an arrest warrant has been issued.

The intended victim is advised that he or she must pay a fine, then report to court. To settle the fine, the scammers instruct the person to buy a prepaid debit card and provide them the card information.

Recent reports indicate these scammers have been targeting New Jersey residents; variations of the “jury duty” scam have been documented in numerous other states, as well.

To avoid becoming the victim of this type of phone scam, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service offer the following tips:

Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls
Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact
Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you, or says things that don’t sound right, hang up
If concerns remain about the caller’s claims, verify the information with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court officials

Victims of phone or online scams can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

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Within 12 hours of their victory, Democrats said their ‘first order of business’ is to raise taxes

Phil Murphy

November 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Per Democrats’ / Murphy’s proposal, marginal tax rate on incomes above $1MM will be 10.75%.
Below are the top two tax brackets in NY state and NJ state:
NY
$321,050+ 6.85%
$2,140,900+ 8.82%
NJ
$500,000+ 8.97%
$1,000,000+ 10.75%
For a family with income between $500k and $1MM, the NJ tax is 2.12% higher than the NY tax.
For a family with income between $1MM and $2MM, the NJ tax will not be 3.90% higher than the NY tax.
No doubt, people already settled in NJ with friends etc will not suddenly bolt for NY. But for a family currently living in NYC/Brooklyn/Hoboken (typical Ridgewood pipeline), Westchester suddenly became a MUCH better option than Bergen country. And this is before we even compared the miserable commute from NJ to direct MTA train service from Westchester.
With negative incentive to move to NJ, property values (especially in Bergen County) will track what is happening in Fairfield country in Connecticut right now.
Absurdly enough, a majority of Ridgewood residents have voted in favor of the destruction of their own town (in more ways than one).

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Friday Morning Rollover Crash Shuts Down Linwood Avenue in Ridgewood

ridgewood police rollover crash

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

November 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire department , and EMS responded to a rollover crash in front of 921 Linwood Avenue, Ridgewood on Friday morning, 11/10. One (1) patient was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital with non life threatening injuries. The vehicle was righted by a hydraulic lift tow truck and removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.

 

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Tonight Temperatures Falling into the Teens and Lower 20s

abominable-snowman-uses-windows-phone-to-find-dates-629c7060c6

Blustery and Cold Through Tonight…

November 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Gusty northwest winds will continue into this evening before gradually diminishing overnight. A much colder airmass will
continue to be ushered in tonight with temperatures falling into the teens and lower 20s. These temperatures will combine with the
wind to make it feel like the single digits across the interior and the lower to middle teens across coastal Connecticut, New York
City Metro, and Long Island.

If you plan on being outdoors tonight, be prepared for cold wind chills and dress accordingly for conditions more typical of the middle of winter.

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TSA Screeners Fail Home Land Security Check Point Test

Image: TSA security at the airport in Seattle

November 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, traveling , hate the lines at the TSA security check points ? ABC news is reporting that ,in recent undercover tests of multiple airport security checkpoints by the Department of Homeland Security, inspectors said screeners, their equipment or their procedures failed more than half the time.  Sources told When ABC News the failure rate was in the 80 percent range.

In a public hearing after a private classified briefing to the House Committee on Homeland Security, members of Congress called the failures by the Transportation Security Administration disturbing, you think ? I guess strip searching 3 year olds and 70 year old women  and taking away nail files didn’t really get the job done.

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Village of Ridgewood Veterans Day Service: Saturday, November 11, 2017 – 11am

Veterans_BEST_Day_2013_Ceremony_in_Ridgewood_theridgewoodblog

November 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village of Ridgewood Veterans Day Service: Saturday, November 11, 2017 – 11am at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.

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Be the Difference for Veterans in November

Veterans5_Day_2013_Ceremony_in_Ridgewood_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

November 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, November 11 is Veterans Day, so the Ridgewood Stigma Free initiative is focusing on veteran and military mental health. Twenty veterans die by suicide each day. Thirty percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health problem requiring treatment, yet only half of those people in need receive any treatment at all. Mental Health First Aid for Veterans is making a difference for veterans, military members and their families across the country.
Family members and personnel working with military and families are often not aware of how to engage veterans with mental illnesses and addictions. In addition to the impact of military service on the veteran, each has a circle of family (significant other, children, parents, siblings, etc.) and friends who are also impacted by their military service.
While military service often fosters resilience in individuals and families, some service members may experience mental health or substance use challenges. Thirty percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health con¬dition requiring treatment – approximately 730,000 men and women, with many experiencing post-trau¬matic stress disorder and major depression. Sadly, less than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment. The Veterans Administration reports that approximately 20 veterans die by suicide every day.
Individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid can help to:
• Break down the stigma associated with mental illness like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders
• Reach out to those who suffer in silence, reluctant to seek help
• Let veterans know that support is available in their community
• Provide community resource information
• Make mental healthcare and treatment accessible to thousands in need

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Murray Sabrin : Phil Murphy and Democrats are legal versions of Willie Sutton

Murray Sabrin

 

Murray Sabrin
Professor of Finance at Ramapo College

Regarding “State senate president plans to push tax bill,” (Nov. 9, page 1A). The people of New Jersey spoke loud and clear on election night. They want state government to spend more of their money. Not really their money, just upper income folks who make up a small percentage of the population. And they want Trenton to expand its already overbearing micromanagement of the economy.

Senate president Stephen Sweeney announced that he will put a “millionaire’s tax” on the front burner when the legislature convenes after Governor-elect Phil Murphy takes office in January.

Raising taxes on millionaires is another example of why government is like Willie Sutton, the notorious bank robber who was asked why he robbed banks, he replied, “That’s where the money is.” Phil Murphy and Democrats are legal versions of Willie Sutton.

Higher taxes on upper income taxpayers will cause any out of state high-income individual, business owner, or corporate executive to think twice about relocating to New Jersey. In other words, we will never how many upper income folks will not move to New Jersey because of the highest marginal taxes Murphy is so hot to increase. In addition, how many people and businesses will leave New Jersey because of higher income taxes? We will soon find out.

The proposed tax increases on millionaires will eventually hit middle-income families, because that is how big government proponents operate—tax the smallest number of families first, then go after where the big bucks are, the middle class.

As H.L. Mencken remarked decades ago, “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. “