Reminder: Temporary signs (e.g., campaign signs) are not permitted to be placed in the grassy areas separating sidewalks from curbs/streets.
Village of Ridgewood General Code 190-122 B (1) (j) – All temporary signs, including political signs, shall not be permitted to be placed on any publicly owned property, including, but not limited to, municipally owned property, library property, parks, rights-of-way trees, telephone poles, lighting stations, street or traffic signs, tree wells or planters, water utility property, and/or any other such publicly owned property within the Village.
[Added 9-7-2016 by Ord. No. 3540]
Why we vote on a Tuesday: in 1845, before Florida, California, and Texas were states, or slavery had been abolished, Congress needed to pick a time for Americans to vote. We were an agrarian society. We traveled by horse and buggy. Farmers needed a day to get to the county seat, a day to vote, and a day to get back, without interfering with the three days of worship. So that left Tuesday and Wednesday, but Wednesday was market day. So, Tuesday it was. In 1875 Congress extended the Tuesday date for national House elections and in 1914 for federal Senate elections.
Why we vote in November: the month of November fit nicely between harvest time and brutal winter weather–which can be especially bad when you’re trudging along by horse and buggy.
Ridgewood NJ, If you have not heard, fire destroyed the Fr. English Food Pantry in Paterson last Thursday.
OLMC has had a long working relationship with this food pantry. Our pans of food are sent here, the youth group has volunteered here for over ten years and last Lent, we were able to donate over $9,000 from our “Meals in Motion” service project. The pantry feeds approximately 4,500 families each MONTH.
In speaking to Carlos today, ALL food in the pantry must be destroyed due to smoke and water damage and it will take over two months to rebuild.
With three weeks until Thanksgiving, Carlos is worried for these families.
Some good news, Eva’s Kitchen, a few blocks from the current pantry site, has agreed to rent space for a temporary pantry until the new one is built.
OUR FROZEN TURKEY DRIVE THIS WEEKEND WILL TAKE PLACE!!! But we are expanding it to ALL nonperishable food items. Items can be dropped off SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH FROM 9AM TO 12 NOON.
We know that many families will be leaving town for the long weekend with schools being closed. If you wish to drop off nonperishable food TO THE YOUTH CENTER IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING YOU CAN DO SO NOW THROUGH THURSDAY 5PM. PLEASE NO FROZEN TURKEYS UNTIL SATURDAY SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE FREEZER SPACE FOR THEM.
Any questions, please call Glen Mc Call at the Youth Center (201-444-9302). If you need to drop off nonperishable food items because will be out of town on Saturday, you can bring them to the youth center located in the school building through Thursday 5pm (youth center is closed on Fridays.) You can also bring nonperishable items on Saturday between 9am and 12 noon.
cardboard boat regatta at the ymca
Sat, November 18, 2017
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Join in the fun, Cardboard Boat Regatta!
Saturday, November 18
11am – 3pm
Ridgewood NJ, Float on… or swim to shore! The Cardboard Boat Race is a favorite part of our Winter Session Program kick off week-end because whether you sink or make it to the finish line, you’re going to have a blast.
Participants (at least 2 people on a team, with a max of 6 people on a team) design and build a human-powered boat at home made of corrugated cardboard and duct tape which is capable of completing a trip down the length of the pool. The assembled boats can be brought to the Ridgewood Y’s Habernickel Pool on Saturday, November 18. Boat check in is 11-11:30 am and the races will begin promptly at noon.
Call 201-444-5600.
Bloomfield NJ, in what can only be termed as a very disturbing turn of events, at around 4 AM EST, Monday, 11/6, an unknown group hacked the web sites of a number of companies nationwide, including the one that hosts the District’s and schools’ web sites. For about two hours, our web sites displayed an ISIS-sponsored YouTube video. Around 6 AM, the hacked page was brought down and by about 7 AM full functionality and control were restored.
The FBI and investigative agencies are looking into the matter. The District reports that at no time was confidential student or staff data compromised. The internal computer and data systems within the District were completely unaffected. Everything that happened occurred at the web host’s companies server farms in Atlanta, Georgia and Florida. We are awaiting a formal press release from SchoolDesk, our web host company, and will publish it as soon as it is released.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that on October 28, a Robinson Lane resident reported he was the victim of a theft by deception. The victim reported he provided access to his computer to an unknown party in an attempt to fix problems on his computer. The victim reported he was then convinced to make payment for the service by purchasing ITunes cards. The victim complied and purchased $500 in ITunes gift cards and then provided serial numbers to the unknown caller. The victim realized thereafter, this was a scam and reported the incident.
Question: What do you call a person who rushes to the scene of an unfolding fight, starts recording video and still images of same without otherwise getting involved or trying to de-escalate the situation or protect the person who lost the fight?
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Answer: A reporter!
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The district wants to restrict the spread of facts. It does not want the truth of the matter to be revealed. It is now scrambling to literally bully and thresten all students from telling their parents or the news media what they know, or from showing the fight video to anyone the district doesn’t want to see it.
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Law enforcement in Las Vegas was busy confiscating concert-goers’ cell phones in the immediate aftermath of the Mandalay Bay shooting. Why did they do this? To delete any and video of the “incident” from those cell phoned so they could take control of the “narrative”, and start spreading disinformation and propaganda. This cap has got to stop.
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Ridgewood NJ, in the first Ridgewood Board of Education public meeting since news broke of the series of fights starting at Stevens Field and then on Brookside Field that sent a high school student to the hospital severely beaten , the Board of Education seemed to be in full CMA (Cover my arse ) mode .
While blog readers have understood with the Ridgewood Police Department now investigating,”This is far from cut and dry. Authorities are doing the right thing by exercising due diligence and making sure they have the full story and truth rather than rushing out to appease with a half informed statement that could expose them to a potential suit especially by the accused. Fishbein’s generalized comments are appropriate at this time , the immediate concern should be injured’s recovery regardless of who and what .When the real story comes out then people can assess whether suspensions or penalties are warranted . This is not going away for anyone anytime soon”
The angry crowd of parents and residents wanted answers .
In a message put out by Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools to parents and guardians ,Fishbein wrote “It is important to address and dispel rumors that are circulating in our community and to ask for your understanding that this issue, like all student issues that involve minors and are also part of a student’s record, is, and will remain, confidential. Just as we protect the privacy of your child’s record, we are compelled to do the same for all children involved in this incident. For this reason, we cannot comment on the episode or on the eventual outcome, but I do want to reassure you as both a parent and also as your Superintendent, that I trust the administration to act in the best interest of all the students involved, as well as the entire school community. Anyone found to be involved in this incident will be held accountable in an appropriate way, including possible legal proceedings, school discipline and/or counseling.”
While parents play the blame game the Ridgewood blog will continue to focus on who dropped the ball and who didn’t report the brewing conflict between the kids? Unless this happened over night someone at the school or a parent had to know something .
The policy is that the Ridgewood Board of Education explicitly and unequivocally prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of its students. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds pursuant to law, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that:
a. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property;
b. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
c. creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student. !
More importantly an event must be reported , “Any school employee, contracted service provider, Board of Education member, student or volunteer who has witnessed, or has reliable information that a student has been subject to, harassment, intimidation or bullying is obligated by law to report the incident to the school Principal. !
An act of student harassment, intimidation, or bullying must be reported verbally to the Principal on the same day the person witnesses or receives reliable information regarding the incident. ! The incident must then be reported to the Principal in writing, using the appropriate district form, within two (2) school days of when the incident was observed or the information was received.
As a permanent or substitute school employee, a contracted service provider, a Board of Education member, a student or a volunteer in a New Jersey public school district, one of your responsibilities is to know how to respond if you become aware of harassment, intimidation or bullying that needs to be reported.”
I have written in this Blog before about this: There is a tremendous undercurrent of anger among Ridgewood residents. It comes out in how they drive , even speeding in supermarket parking lots, speeding down local streets AND in the temperment of their dogs who try to lunge after you when you walk on sidewalk. The dog walkers do not guide their dogs away from other walkers.
And, as you all know , their have been a number of dog bitings recently in the neighborhood.
Now, I visit another state frequently and the atmosphere is people friendly, and people are considerate of others and you do not experience an undercurrent of anger. Dogs are not a problem when walking.
Just face it, the kids are reflecting their parents as dogs reflect their owners.
Deny what happened , make excuses for it , call it and “incident” instead of a brutal beating.
You are revealing your attitude toward other people. Any decent person, and those are hard to find here, would just say any beating is unjustified. Let alone a “brutal beating.”
Ridgewood NJ, Tuesday November 7, 2017 is Election Day. Polls will be open in New Jersey from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The following candidates are running on the local and county level :
Ridgewood Board of Education (two, three-year terms): Sheila Mary Brogan and Christina Krauss are all running unopposed.
County Board of Chosen Freeholders (two seats): Democratic incumbents Joan Voss and David Ganz are running against Republicans John Driscoll Jr. and Raymond Cottiers Jr.
State 40th Legislative District, Senate (vote for one): Republican incumbent Kristin Corrado is running against Democrat Thomas Duch.
State 40th Legislative District, Assembly (vote for two): Republicans Kevin Rooney, an incumbent, and Christopher DePhillips are running against Democrats Paul Vagianos and Christine Ordway.
New Jersey will also holding an election for governor and lieutenant governor on November 7, 2017. Gov. Chris Christie (R) is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. Phil Murphy (D), Kim Guadagno (R), Peter Rohrman (L), Seth Kaper-Dale (G), Matt Riccardi (C), Gina Genovese (I), and Vincent Ross (I) are running to fill the governorship .
Questions on the Ballot:
NEW JERSEY LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION BOND ACT
PUBLIC QUESTION # 1
Do you approve the “New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act’? This bond act authorizes the State to issue bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $125 million. The proceeds of the bonds will be used to provide grants to public libraries. The grants will be used to build, equip and expand public libraries to increase capacity and serve the public.
Interpretive Statement on the Ballot:
Approval of this bond act will allow the State to sell $125 million in State general obligation bonds. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to provide grants to construct, expand and equip public libraries. Municipalities or counties that fund public libraries will match the grant amount. The municipality or county may solicit private funding to support its match. The State Librarian, in consultation with the President of Thomas Edison State University, will set eligibility criteria for the grants.
NEW JERSEY REVENUE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES LAWSUITS
DEDICATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS AMENDMENT
PUBLIC QUESTION #2
Do you approve amending the Constitution to dedicate all moneys collected by the State relating to natural resource damages in cases of contamination of the environment? The moneys would have to be used to repair, restore, replace, or preserve the State’s natural resources. The moneys may also be used to pay legal or other costs incurred by the State in pursuing its claims.
Interpretive statement on the Ballot:
“This amendment would dedicate moneys collected by the State relating to natural resource damages through settlements or awards for legal claims based on environmental contamination. These moneys would be dedicated to repair, replace, or restore damaged natural resources, or to preserve the State’s natural resources. These moneys would be spent in an area as close as possible to the geographical area in which the damage occurred. The moneys could also be used to pay for the State’s legal or other costs in pursuing the claims. Currently, these moneys may be used for any State purpose.”
Trenton NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced today that approximately 250 Deputy Attorneys General (DAsG) will be assigned throughout the state on Election Day, November 7, to help ensure a fair and smooth-running election, and to assist county election officials in resolving any voting-related legal issues that may arise.
According to Porrino, DAsG from the Division of Law will be stationed in each of the state’s 21 counties to handle any court applications, and to provide timely legal advice to County Superintendents of Election and Boards of Election. The DAsG will be on duty from the time the polls open until they close.
“By having DAsG on duty in every county, we are helping to ensure the integrity of the election process by protecting peoples’ right to vote, and by facilitating the prompt — and fair — resolution of any voting-related legal issues that may emerge,” said the Attorney General.
Porrino explained it is a criminal offense to solicit or electioneer voters within a “protective zone” as they enter or exit a polling location. The “protective zone” extends 100 feet from the outside entrance of any polling site. Attempts to interfere with voters within this zone are usually handled by law enforcement officers from the appropriate agency.
According to Porrino, any person who believes his or her right to vote has been interfered with, or who wishes to report other voting-related problems or concerns, should contact the state’s hotline at 1-877-NJVOTER.
Members of the public also can direct election-related questions to their County Superintendent of Elections and county Board of Elections. A list of county-level election office contacts, as well as other useful elections-related information, can be found on the New Jersey Division of Elections Web site at www.NJElections.org.
Why do Ridgewood Public Schools choose to keep schools open and in session for students while schools are used as polling places on Election Day and open to the general public? In today’s day and age, where incidents of mass violence have become commonplace, we allow the general public to enter our schools unchecked with little security beyond HSA volunteers. I ask the Ridgewood Board of Ed to either change the polling places to non-school locations, or make Election Day a school holiday as many other districts do.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report a Lynn Street resident responded to Ridgewood Police Department to report a criminal attempt and fraud. The victim reported she was contacted by telephone by an unknown person who reported a family member was incarcerated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and bail money was requested. The victim reported the caller requested money be transferred to an account for bail. The victim confirmed the family member was in good health and the call was fraudulent. The victim requested documentation of the incident.
Paramus NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino jointly announced today the launch of a new law enforcement initiative designed to promote both public and law enforcement safety across Bergen County. Beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team (“RST”), which is overseen by both the Prosecutor and Sheriff, will deploy two patrol units County-wide, which will allow highly trained and specially equipped RST officers to respond more quickly to critical incidents.
The new patrol units will be staffed by officers from the RST, which is comprised of approximately 55 law enforcement officers from the Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, and 24 Bergen County municipal police departments. The units will be on scheduled patrol across Bergen County for 12 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. They will primarily provide back-up and support services to municipal officers responding to dangerous calls for service, such as domestic violence calls, shots-fired calls, crimes in progress, or high-risk motor vehicle stops. In addition, the new units will support traditional RST calls for service, including active shooter, barricaded subject, or hostage situations. Because they will already be on the road, they will be able to respond more quickly to such calls and in some cases, avoid a full RST deployment when the quick-response unit alone is sufficient.
In addition to acting as a back-up response asset to Bergen County’s many municipal police agencies, the quick-response units will be conducting routine critical infrastructure patrols. On a daily basis, the RST officers will be checking schools, hotels, office and government buildings, as well as other buildings and areas of critical infrastructure as identified by municipal police agencies and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Units.
According to a 2016 study released by the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing, 34% of police officers killed between 2010 and 2014 were alone without back-up when they were killed.1 According to the same study, during more than one in five (or 22%) of these instances, the slain police officers were responding to a routine call regarding domestic violence. Additionally, in all but one case, the responding officers were shot to death. The report concluded that the “necessity of having three or more officers at a domestic situation to adequately separate parties, monitor family members and, if necessary, physically restrain and arrest a suspect, is apparent.
“The goal here is to have these new units serve as a force multiplier for our local departments to ensure officer safety when responding to dangerous calls for service,” said Prosecutor Grewal. “Such a response will be of particular benefit to our smaller, as well as our busier departments, both of which sometimes have fewer officers to respond to potentially dangerous calls for service,” added Prosecutor Grewal.
Additionally, some calls for service in Bergen County, like active shooter or hostage situations, require a tactical RST response and time is of the essence during such calls. “Experience shows that a direct and immediate response by multiple, tactically trained and equipped officers greatly increases the safety of civilians, including suspects, and officers,” stated Sheriff Saudino. “These mobile units will provide for a quicker response by RST officers and are another example of how we are proactive here in Bergen County,” he added.
Both of the new RST units were purchased and equipped jointly by the Prosecutor and Sheriff using criminal forfeiture funds and at no expense to taxpayers, and will be staffed on a rotating schedule by RST members.
November 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission is excited to welcome Andrew Hillman to the Ridgewood Public Library on Wednesday, November 8th at 7pm.
Mr. Hillman will discuss the importance of designing and planning for proper street tree pit wells. All too often, trees are planted in undersized tree pits that don’t allow roots to reach their potential, and may even necessitate trees to be replaced every five to ten years.
How can municipalities use their resources more wisely to create a healthy urban forest? Mr. Hillman’s presentation will provide concrete strategies – including which materials, methods, and species to select – to ensure trees planted in downtown sidewalks thrive, and are able to fulfill their function of providing shade, reducing pollutants and mitigating storm water runoff.
“Downtown street tree wells is a topic over which we have spent much time and energy and we are trying to get it right, “said Andrew Lowry, Chairperson of the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission. “We are so excited to have Andrew come share his knowledge and expertise with us.”
This lecture is free and open to the public.
What: Planning for Proper Downtown Street Tree Wells
Who: Andrew Hillman, Northeast regional senior urban forestry consultant and business developer for Davey Resource Group
Where: Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ
When: Wednesday, November 8th at 7:00pm
For more information, please contact Bron Sutherland at [email protected].
