Ridgewood NJ, Please consider supporting the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Each year the parade and fireworks are organized and put on by a Private Non-profit, All-volunteer group. It relies entirely on the generous donations of individuals and businesses. The Fourth of July in Ridgewood is going on its 107th year, please consider making a donation to continue this tradition! Without your help, this event would not be possible!
Please join us for the 107th annual Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration on Tuesday, July 4th, 2017.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee 2017 is “Honoring Those Who Serve.” The 2017 theme recognizes and honors the many men and women who dedicate their work and life to others through military, police, fire, ems or civil service.
Each year, the Fourth of July Celebration Committee chooses a theme that celebrates a certain aspect of American history or culture. The theme also serves as the basis for the float competition held among the town’s elementary schools.
Thank you for your continued support of this great tradition!
Updated on June 13, 2017 at 1:36 PMPosted on June 13, 2017
BY PAUL MULSHINE
Columnist, The Star-Ledger
My liberal friends have worked themselves into a fever anticipating the impeachment of President Trump.
They think they’ve got a second Watergate going.
Have your fun while you can. But the next trial likely to affect the political lineup won’t be happening before the U.S. Senate in Washington.
It will be happening before the U.S. District Court in Newark.
In the dock will be U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, faced with 22 counts of ethics charges alleging he took illegal gifts from a Florida Miami eye doctor who was recently convicted on 67 counts of Medicare fraud.
If convicted, the 63-year-old senator would almost certainly be booted from the chamber. In that case, the Republicans might be able to add a seat to their slim, 52-vote majority.
Or maybe not. It’s a matter of timing – some of the most intriguing timing I’ve seen in politics.
Some half-dozen people linked to NJSPCA have been interviewed or will soon be by State Commission of Investigation
After failing to file state and federal financial statements for years, a misstep that resulted in the loss of its tax-exempt status, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the subject of a State Commission of Investigation probe for the second time in less than 20 years.
While the SCI would not confirm or deny any investigative activity, at least half-a-dozen people connected with the NJSCPA say they have already been interviewed or are about to be, as part of the probe. Earlier this spring, NJ Spotlight published a look at the controversial organization, detailing its financial problems and its lack of oversight.
The NJSPCA, a private organization with a 100-plus-year-old charter from the state, has been the focus of controversy for almost two decades. Charged with protecting animals, the group’s senior members are given the power of arrest, carry guns, and yet have little state oversight. The steady drumbeat of criticism reached a crescendo late last year when it was discovered that the organization had lost its tax-exempt status and yet continued to accept public donations without informing donors that their contributions were no longer tax-deductible.
Matt Rogers blew it when advising the Village Council regarding the grave legal implications of approving third party displays on municipal property based on the content of the message that third party is trying to convey. More specifically, the Village Council deliberately voted to approve the display of the six-color flag/banner on municipal property because the five voting councilmembers personally supported so-called “gay pride” or “gay rights.”
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Acccording to black letter federal Constitutional law, this is a huge no-no. (For a concept to be considered black letter U.S. Constitutional law, the related issues will typically have been long since been resolved by one or more precedential decisions by the federal Supreme Court such that they are no longer seriously being questioned by the legal community.) This remains true, despite the recent overwhelming onslaught on our secular and religious institutions, led by former president Obama, intended to promote sodomy as a valid lifestyle choice, and, in true Alinskyite fashion, condemn detractors, however well-meaning, to cruel social isolation.
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Village Attorney Matt Rogers had plenty of time to consider the relevant issues, and was paid plenty of money to support the legal work that might be necessary to formally convey to the Village Council the foolishness of imagining that it is free to consider the merits of the social or political message being conveyed in the process of deciding whether or not to allow a proposed third party display to be erected on municipal property. It is not now, nor has it ever been free to do so, and for his part, Mr. Rogers should know this fact like the back of his hand.
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In light of the above-described professional failure, and others in the past, such as the proposed (unconstitutional) law intended to ban signs bearing political messages on signs erected on the property of fee simple residences outside of election seasons, the Village Council at its meeting tonight should quietly decline to appoint Matt Rogers to another year as the Ridgewood’s Municipal Attorney.
Washington DC , This morning GOP congressmen were targeted by gunman on a DC ball field .According to multiple law enforcement sources identified the suspected gunman as an anti Trump ,anti GOP , Bernie Sanders Democrat James T. Hodgkinson III, 66, from Illinois.
Rep. Ron DeSantis said he was asked, “Are those Republicans or Democrats out there practicing?”DeSantis said the man who asked him the question fit the description of the shooter.
Rep. Mark Walker says gunman targeted congressional baseball practice ‘to kill as many Republican members as possible’
Republican Representative Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip, and his aides were shot during baseball practice on Wednesday morning.The shooter was shot by the lawmaker’s security detail.
Point Pleasant NJ, A Point Pleasant (Ocean County) man faces federal terrorism charges after a family member notified law enforcement of his erratic behavior—underscoring the role friends, relatives, and close associates play in countering violence. According to authorities, Gregory Lepsky plotted to build a pressure-cooker bomb and detonate it in New York City to “kill as many people as possible” in support of ISIS.
On February 21, a relative notified local law enforcement that Lepsky had a weapon and was going to kill the family dog. Officers discovered the dog alive, but with a large wound, and subsequently arrested Lepsky. According to the criminal complaint, Lepsky stated that he had stabbed the dog because, in his view of Islam, dogs are “dirty.” He also said he planned to kill his mother and praised ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
During the investigation, officers found a pressure cooker in Lepsky’s closet, as well as several books on jihad and suicide bombing. On May 5, federal prosecutors charged Lepsky with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Family members, peers, and close contacts may be the first to notice radical shifts in behavior and attitude, as well as unusual Internet activity. According to Western media reports, Islamic extremists are 71 percent more likely to “leak” their violent intentions to friends, relatives, or other associates, compared to 53 percent of right-wing extremists, such as neo-Nazis and white supremacists.
The family member who contacted Point Pleasant police first noticed a change in Lepsky’s behavior in December, stating he began expressing radical Islamic rhetoric in his text messages and social media posts. In one message, Lepsky stated, “Allah (the most exalted) commands us Muslims to fight against the desbelivers [sic] until there is none left!”
We encourage all partners to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement and to NJOHSP’s Counterterrorism Watch by calling 866-4-SAFE-NJ (866-472-3365) or e-mailing [email protected].
Ridgewood used to be a nice place to live where you could peacefully go about your lives. Now these intruders are led by the Record editor & championed by a councilman & a developer (gigantic flag ruining the view of downtown) who is trying to change the face of the whole town. Zero interest in anything except that of the self centered kind. Why have these towns become targets of intrusion where previously there was none? This thing of theirs has gotten the village on edge where previousy there was none.
20170614 – VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
JUNE 14, 2017
8:00 P.M.
Call to Order – Mayor
Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
Acceptance of Financial Reports
Approval of Minutes
Proclamations
NONE
Recognition of Ridgewood Art Ambassadors
Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
Village Manager’s Report
Village Council Reports
Public Hearing – Historic Preservation Grant Application – Restoration of Zabriskie-Schedler House Phase II at Schedler Park Property
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-148 THROUGH
17-149 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-148 Award Contract – Improvements to Booster/Transfer Stations (NTE $827,000) – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Fred Devens Construction, 403 Stonetown Road, Ringwood, NJ
17-149 Award Professional Services Contract – Design and Construction Administration of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Treatment System at Carr Treatment Facility (NTE $303,400) – Awards a no-bid contract to Arcadis U.S., Inc., 17-17 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn, NJ. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed with the Village Clerk’s Office.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3601 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Stop Signs at Upper Boulevard and Glenwood Road – Establishes Stop Signs at Glenwood Road and Upper Boulevard
3602 – Amend Chapter 222 – Power Tools, Landscaping, and Yard Maintenance Equipment – Amends this ordinance to prohibit the commercial use of power tools in all residential zones or within 200 feet of a residential property line, when such use is conducted on a commercial or industrial property, on all Federal holidays
3603 – Authorize Special Emergency Appropriation – Master Plan Revision ($250,000) – Authorizes this expenditure, which will be financed over 5 years, with one-fifth of the amount paid each year
3604 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Hours for Closure of Clinton Avenue to Through Traffic – Authorizes Clinton Avenue to be closed to through traffic from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on school days
ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3599 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs
3600 – Amend Chapter 212 – Parks and Recreation Areas Prohibition of Dogs Off-Leash in Certain Parks
RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-150 THROUGH
17-185 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-150 Waive Fourth of July Vendor Fees – Waives solicitor’s fees for vendors connected with the Ridgewood Fourth of July Committee
17-151 Grant Permission to Fireworks Company for Fireworks Display – Permits Fireworks Extravaganza, 174 Route 17 North, Rochelle Park, NJ to hold a fireworks display on July 4, 2017, with a rain date of July 5, 2017
17-152 Authorize Snow Plowing Agreement with Bergen County – Approves the second year of a two-year Agreement for snow plowing with Bergen County for 2017-2018, whereby the Village plows County roads, and is reimbursed for same by the County
17-153 Title 59 Approval – Reconfiguration of Ridgewood Train Station Parking Lot – Approves the plans and specifications for Train Station Parking Expansion with Compact Car Spaces for the Village of Ridgewood, prepared by the Village of Ridgewood Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
17-154 Title 59 Approval – Butterfly and Sensory Garden at The Lester Stable – Approves the plans and specifications for Butterfly/Sensory Garden at Lester Stable prepared by the Department of Parks and Recreation, pursuant to Title 59
17-155 Award Contract Under State Contract –
E-Ticketing Hardware (NTE $4,797.01) – Awards a contract under State Contract to CDW Government, 75 Remittance Avenue, Suite 1515, Chicago, IL
17-156 Award Contract Under Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission Cooperative Purchasing Program – Furniture for Village Hall Lunchroom (NTE $15,000) – Awards a contract under Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission Cooperative Purchasing Program to KI Furniture, 1330 Bellevue Street, Green Bay, WI
17-157 Title 59 Approval – Furnishing and Delivering of Crossing Guard Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Furnishing and Delivering of Crossing Guard Services for Village School Posts for the Ridgewood Police Department, June 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017, inclusive, renewed for an Additional Year, August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018, prepared by the Engineering Division, in conjunction with the Ridgewood Police Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-158 Award Contract – Furnishing and Delivering Crossing Guard Services (NTE $329,630.49) – Awards a contract for the one-year extension in the original contract, to the lowest responsible bidder, All City Management Services, Inc., 10440 Pioneer Boulevard, Suite 5, Santa Fe Springs, CA
17-159 Title 59 Approval – On-Call Traffic Engineering Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Request for Proposals for On-Call Professional Traffic Engineering Services for the Village of Ridgewood, prepared by the Ridgewood Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
17-160 Award Professional Services Contract – On- Call Traffic Engineering Services (NTE $5,000) – Awards a Professional Services contract to Petry Traffic, LLC, 155 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018
17-161 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Disposal of Dewatered Sludge (Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, NTE $48 per 1,000 gallons) – Authorizes a three-year Shared Services Agreement with the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, for disposal of dewatered sludge from the Village’s Water Pollution Control Facility
17-162 Approve Resource Room at Gatehouse at Irene Habernickel Family Park – Women Gardeners of Ridgewood – Approves the request of the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood to renovate and utilize one room in the upper level of the Gatehouse at the Irene Habernickel Family Park to serve as a collection site to house printed literature, periodicals, gardening books, reference materials, and historical artifacts or the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood. In addition, this resource room will be open to the public one afternoon per month, and a member of the Women Gardeners will be present to supervise activity and provide information and gardening assistance to the public. The Women Gardeners of Ridgewood will renovate and furnish the room as well as provide for insurance coverage, at their own expense, as a gift to the Village.
17-163 Authorize Cleaning of Kings Pond Park by Ridgewood Wildscape and Partners – Authorizes a cleanup by Ridgewood Wildscape and their partners of the Kings Pond area on June 11, 2017. The Village will provide assistance by providing chest waders, gloves and other protective equipment to handle the debris, rakes and hand tools, and pickup and disposal of the debris. This cleanup has been reviewed by the Village Engineer, pursuant to Title 59.
17-164 Support the Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Awareness Initiative – Supports the FOP Awareness Initiative and urges the medical community to continue researching for treatment and a cure for this rare genetic disorder in which the body makes additional bone in locations where bone should not form which in time produces a “second skeleton” that immobilizes the joints of the body
17-165 Approve 2016-2017 Renewal of Ridgewood Lodge No. 1455 BPOE Liquor License – Approves the 2016-2017 renewal of the Ridgewood Lodge No. 1455 BPOE liquor license
17-166 Approve 2017-2018 Renewals of Liquor Licenses – Approves the annual renewal of liquor licenses in the Village of Ridgewood
17-167 Authorize Refund of Taxes for Disabled Veteran (Block 3106, Lot 28) – Authorizes a refund to a resident who has filed proof of a 100% permanent disability due to active service in time of war. This refund shall be from November 28, 2015 forward, without interest.
17-168 Urge Support of 2% CAP on Police and Fire Arbitration Awards – Urges the State Legislature to support a five-year extension on the 2% CAP on Police and Fire arbitration awards, which will provide them with hard data to examine and then make a final decision as to whether this law should be made permanent
17-169 Authorize Mailing of Estimated 2017 Third Quarter Tax Bills – Authorizes the mailing of estimated tax bills for the 2017 third quarter
17-170 Approve Funding of Master Plan Revision through Special Emergency Notes – Approves the funding of the Master Plan Revision through Special Emergency Notes and that they be paid in amounts of not less than one-fifth of the total amount appropriated
17-171 Authorize Acceptance of Senior Bus from NJ Transit – Authorizes the Village Manager to accept a Chevrolet El Dorado from NJ Transit, which is used as the Senior Bus by the Village. This vehicle is being released to the Village in “as is” condition with no warranties. This acceptance also requires that when the vehicle is sold in the future, any proceeds will be used for transportation services.
17-172 Approve and Authorize Execution of Agreement – Estate Card Tax Savings Program Master Service Agreement – Approves the Estate Card Tax Savings Program Master Service Agreement and authorizes its execution by Village Officials
17-173 Appoint Members to Planning Board – Appoints James Van Goor as a Class II Member with a term expiring 6/30/18; Councilman Jeffrey Voigt as a Class III Member with a term expiring 6/30/18; Joel Torielli and David Scheibner as Class IV members with terms expiring 6/30/2021; and Frances Barto as an Alternate #2 member with a term expiring 6/30/19. All appointments will be effective at the Planning Board’s Reorganization Meeting.
17-174 Appoint Members to Zoning Board of Adjustment – Appoints Sergio Alegre and Greg Brown as regular members with terms expiring 6/30/21 and John Papietro as Alternate #1 with a term expiring 6/30/19
17-175 Appoint Municipal Court Judge – Appoints David T. Pfund as the Municipal Court Judge from 7/1/17-6/30/20
17-176 Appoint Village Attorney – Appoints Matthew Rogers as the Village Attorney under a no bid contract from for a term of 7/1/17-6/30/18. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
17-177 Appoint Village Labor Attorney – Appoints Dominick Bratti of Budd Larner, P.C. as the Village Labor Attorney under a no bid contract from 7/1/17-6/30/18. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
17-178 Appoint Village Bond Attorney – Appoints McManimon, Scotland, and Baumann, L.L.C., 75 Livingston Avenue, 2nd Floor, Roseland, NJ as the Village Bond Attorney from 7/1/17 through 6/30/18 under a no-bid contract. The required Pay to Play forms have been filed.
17-179 Appoint Municipal Prosecutor and Assistant Prosecutor – Appoints Margaret Sullivan, Esq. as the Village Prosecutor and Christine Lilore as the Assistant Village Prosecutor from 7/1/17-6/30/18
17-180 Appoint Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender – Appoints Susan Cassell, Esq. as the Public Defender and David Altieri, Esq., as the Alternate Public Defender from 7/1/17-6/30/18
17-181 Appoint Community Development Representative – Appoints Janet Fricke as the Village Council’s representative in the Community Development program
17-182 Appoint Representative to Open Space Trust Regional Committee – Appoints Timothy Cronin as the Village Council’s representative to be a part of the County of Bergen’s Open Space Trust Regional Committee
17-183 Appoint Members to Community Center Advisory Board –
17-184 Appoint Members to Ridgewood Arts Council
17-185 Appoint Village Councilmembers as Liaisons to Various Boards and Committees – Appoints Village Councilmembers as Liaisons to various boards and committees through June 30, 2018
17-186 Approve Release of Closed Session Minutes
Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
Legal – COAH; Valley Hospital
Contract Negotiations – Central Valet
Personnel – Boards and Committees
Hawthorne NJ, for the second time this week ,a black bear that’s been wandering around a Hawthorne neighborhood for the past few days was treed again, this time in the rear yard of a home located within the 800 Block of Lafayette Avenue Extension, Hawthorne, on Tuesday evening, 06/13. Several Hawthorne PD units responded to residents’ telephone calls of a bear running through back yards. However, based upon an advisory from NJDEP Fish & Game officials via telephone, no attempt was made to capture the bear due to the approach of darkness. Police advised residents to stay indoors until the bear came down from the tree and left the area. One police officer on the scene indicated that the bear appeared to be injured.
Reader, “If people just read this and don’t share the information, nothing will change. Do people think change comes by people sitting on their duffs in the living room and doing nothing more? Go to the event and support her at this event, otherwise, leaving it to someone else just won’t cut it anymore. Progressives who want to change the face of all the communities are working to make it happen…what are YOU DOING? If you can’t go, call your legislator even if it’s Pascrell and tell him this will lead to blighted areas in your town, overbuilding which perhaps including taking people’s homes through eminent domain if you are in the area they want, higher taxes due to more schools being needed, more traffic and of course road repairs and infrastructure costs – sewer, water, etc.”
June 14,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi will initiate a series of statewide legislative hearings to address New Jersey’s affordable housing crisis. The first will be held on June 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bergen Community College’s Technology Education Center room 128.
Schepisi will be joined by other invited guests, including fellow legislators, mayors, town officials and planners, engineers, traffic experts, board of education members, environmental groups and other interested parties.
She said the hearings will examine ways to provide a better way toward affordability for the residents of this state while protecting towns from a recent state Supreme Court ruling that could force the construction of up to 1.5 million unneeded housing units to satisfy a fictitious population increase of 3.35 million in the next nine years – while Rutgers projects a population increase of only 219,000.
“We have reached a critical juncture in the State of New Jersey. We are the most costly, the most densely populated with the highest number of outmigration because people can no longer afford to live here. Instead of smart discussions regarding how to implement change to reduce living costs for all of our residents, the legislature’s inaction is forcing communities to potentially double their housing population in just the next nine years, destroying all existing housing prices while increasing property taxes,” said Schepisi. “We need to stop the court’s action and fix this issue while we still can.”
Ironically after all the hoopla in FB , local media etc. when I drive around town I only see a tiny number of flags around and this is great. People do not give a shit for pride about nothing. I am much more inclined to respect people who don’t show me their personal flags than someone who is waving it in my face. The American flag is what everyone should respect and embrace. Any other “pride” flags can be flown in private.
Yesterday, I heard they are raising “the flag” at RHS. I think this is discriminatory , the flag show be flown in middle schools and why not in elementary as well. I won’t be surprised if these people ask for it next year. A big , hearty FU to these jerks.
Updated on June 13, 2017 at 5:17 PMPosted on June 13, 2017 at 4:37 PM
BY ANTHONY G. ATTRINO
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PARAMUS – The public school district was devastated this week by news of the sudden death of Jocelyn Gertel, a long-time middle-school orchestra teacher, a school administrator said Tuesday.
Gertel, who lived in Ridgewood, died last week following a bicycling accident in Hawthorne.
A spokesman for the Hawthorne Police Department was not available to comment Tuesday on details of the accident.
According to online tributes from friends, Gertel was riding her bike downhill when she lost control and pitched over the handlebars. She was taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, where she later died.
“The school community is very devastated by her loss,” said Michele Robinson, superintendent of schools. “She was very well-respected, very well-liked and she will be greatly missed.”
Ridgewood NJ, so the “Rainbow flag of Gay Pride Flag is flying in Ridgewood and on June 10th a group called ACT for America is had “March Against Sharia” events in cities across the nation , but none in New Jersey.
Noticeably absent from the marches were Rep .Josh Gottheimer, NJ Assemblymen Tim Eustace, any members of CRAB(Community Relations Advisory Board) , Jan Philips and Alfred Doublin from the Bergen Record .
When it really counts these politicians, activists and editors are no where to be found . Maybe they should wave a more appropriate flag instead of the “rainbow’ ,of just solid yellow.
The nationwide marches were in support of basic human rights for all ,and against the horrific treatment of women, children, and members of the LGBTQ community that is sanctioned by Sharia law.
The Prophet … said: “Kill the one who sodomizes and the one who lets it be done to him. May Allah curse him who does what Lot’s people did. Lesbianism by women is adultery between them.”
Gays were clearly targeted by Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American citizen and devout Muslim from Fort Pierce, Fla., the son of immigrants from Afghanistan in the jihadist attack at that popular gay club in Orlando.
The inspiration for Muslims to brutalize and mass murder gay people does not come from ISIS, but is deeply rooted in Islamic law, affirmed by many of Islam’s most renowned scholars and Islamic Sharia law. This is why, wherever sharia is the law, homosexuals are persecuted and killed. The Washington Post in a 2014 report listed ten Muslim countries where homosexuality may be punished by death (Yemen, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
Ridgewood NJ, According to Vicky Herbert ,When the Ridgewood Historical Society and Schoolhouse Museum needed some heavy lifting, they called on local student entrepreneur, Joe Rahaim. We had bulky furniture and years of accumulated material in the attic we needed moved ,” said Historical Society volunteer, Kelly Gioia. Since the non-profit organization didn’t have regular volunteers with the strength, nor did they have a budget, Gioia called Joe’s Odd Jobs. Joe was happy to volunteer his time and said he would reach out to get some of his student crew to help too. “When I put the text out to my regular workers, the response was amazing, everyone wanted to help even though it was going to be an unpaid project,” said Joe Rahaim, “the Ridgewood community and it’s word of mouth have been very good to me, my business, and my team so we were happy to give back to the Historical Society”.
Joe Rahaim, is a rising senior at Ridgewood High School and Owner and Founder of Joe’s Odd Jobs, a local business he started his freshman year of high school. The business started out as a way to work given his busy sports schedule, but as word got out, he couldn’t do all the jobs himself and had to enlist fellow students. The business has now grown to a 10- plus person operation. “I found a niche”, said Rahaim, we do a lot of small projects like moves, clean-outs, minor landscaping, and small painting jobs. “It has been a great experience for me, I like hands-on projects and most of all, working with a great crew that knows how to have fun and work hard,” said Rahaim”
Updated on June 12, 2017 at 5:12 PMPosted on June 12, 2017 at 1:49 PM
BY ADAM CLARK
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
WALL — The Wall Township High School yearbook advisor is suspended indefinitely as the district investigates why photos were edited to remove images supporting President Donald Trump, a district official said Monday.
The paid suspension comes after parents and students complained that at least two photos of students wearing Trump campaign shirts were edited and a Trump quote was removed from beneath another student’s photo.
Yearbook advisor Susan Parsons, a technology/media teacher, could not be reached by phone. A message to Parsons’ school email account was returned as “undeliverable” and a woman reached at her listed address in Wall Township declined to comment.
Parsons has worked in education for 21 years, including 13 in the district, according to state records.
