Author: James

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Ridgewood Receives 1.23 inches of Rain

water storage

file photo by Boyd Loving

April 2,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,recent rains are making head way toward alleviating  the drought in Jersey,The Division of Water Supply and Geoscience within the Department of Environmental Protection, regularly monitors various water supply conditions within the state based on the different Water Supply Regions. The water supply conditions aid the Department in declaring the regions as being within one of the four stages of water supply drought, Normal, Drought Watch, Drought Warning, and Drought Emergency.
Bergen County finds is self still under a “drought warning” as of March 26th ,but what does that mean?

A drought warning represents a non-emergency phase of managing available water supplies during the developing stages of drought, and falls between the Watch and Emergency levels of drought response. The aim of a Drought Watch is to avert a more serious water shortage that would necessitate declaration of a water emergency and the imposition of mandatory water use restrictions, bans on water use, or other potentially drastic measures.  Under a drought warning, the commissioner of the DEP may order water purveyors to develop alternative sources of water or transfer water between areas of the State with relatively more water to those with less.  While mandatory water use restrictions are not imposed under a Warning, the general public is strongly urged to use water sparingly in affected areas.

Friday’s heavy rains coupled with melting snow may help to alleviate the situation, but don’t go out an celebrate just yet  :

BERGEN COUNTY

Teterboro Airport: 1.45 inches
River Vale: 1.32 inches
Palisades Park: 1.26 inches
Ridgewood: 1.23 inches
Tenafly: 1.05 inches

(  https://www.nj.com/weather/index.ssf/2017/04/nj_rainfall_totals_from_march_31_storm.html )

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Bergen exec unveils a $522 million budget

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco

Steve Janoski , Staff Writer, @SteveJanoskiPublished 4:26 p.m. ET March 28, 2017 | Updated 4:53 p.m. ET March 30, 2017

Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III unveiled on Wednesday his 2017 budget, a $522 million spending plan that will increase county taxes by $8 on the average county home assessed at $465,962.

A nearly $413 million tax levy — an increase of 1.89 percent — will support the budget, despite Tedesco’s plan being about $20 million smaller than last year’s budget.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2017/03/28/bergen-exec-present-budget-county-freeholders-wednesday/99732174/

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Reader explans the loss of the WIBIT at Graydon Pool

WIBIT_theridgewoodblog

During the end of the season when the WIBIT was offered, it was vandalized (intentionally punctured) prior to it being stored for the winter. The cost to patch it up was significant enough to keep it in storage. Additionally, the WIBIT required a lifeguard to be present on it which limited staffing in other parts of the pool and the use did not justify that level of staffing. A water slide would have been a better use of the money.

This is what a WIBIT is: https://www.wibitsports.com/open-water/

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Reader says supporting simple, low-cost, low-impact, high-ROI programs undermines their entire narrative of over-developing Ridgewood

ridgewood train station parkiong

The crowd who loves high-density CBD housing, massive hospital expansions, and giant money losing garages hate adding more parking to the train station and CBD in a simple and low-cost manner. Why? Because supporting simple, low-cost, low-impact, high-ROI programs undermines their entire narrative of over-developing. Is Sears failing from a lack of parking? Is Englewood, NJ struggling with store-front retail due to a lack of parking? We have the parking, the very well done Walker and Maser reports show we don’t use what we have. Why don’t we try maximizing all the space we have already dedicated to parking first, then think about building. The garages all lose money even while requiring huge fee increases and are really subsidies for the local developer and a couple land owners in the CBD.

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Reader says the garage, was promised to the developers so that they could legally provide less parking

Paul_Aronsohn_dunking_theridgewoodblog

Halaby et al do not favor any parking solutions except the garage, promised by former Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli and former Mayor Paul Aronsohn  to the developers so that they could legally provide less parking on their own apartment properties. Resolve the parking situation in other ways and the (unwanted, unneeded, solution-less) garage goes away. We can’t have that!!!!!!!

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‘Holy Spirit’ told me to defecate in church, N.J. man reportedly told cops

toilet

by Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 30, 2017 at 2:30 PM

A 65-year-old New Jersey man told police that the “Holy Spirit” told him to urinate and defecate in a church confessional in Connecticut, according to reports.

Donald R. Hurt, of Newark, was arrested after a custodian at Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist in Stamford found him naked at 2 p.m. Wednesday, StamfordAdvocate.com said.

https://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2017/03/nj_man_was_completely_naked_when_he_defecated_in_c.html

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Bomb Squad Summoned to the Ridgewood Train Station

Bomb Squad Summoned to the Ridgewood Train Station

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

April 1,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad Unit was summoned to the Ridgewood train station on Saturday afternoon, 04/01, to investigate an unattended briefcase found near an entrance to the pedestrian underpass. Bomb Squad technicians deployed a portable x-ray device and determined that the briefcase was empty. No buildings were evacuated during the incident and train traffic was unaffected. Pedestrians were detoured to an alternate underpass entrance until the all clear was given. The nearby parking area was closed for only a short period.

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April Fools’ Day comet will make closest pass to Earth on record

day the earth stood still

Doyle Rice , USA TODAYPublished 2:39 p.m. ET March 30, 2017 | Updated 6 hours ago

It might be streaming by on April Fools’ Day, but this comet is no holiday prank.

On Saturday, the inelegantly named comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák will make its closest flyby of Earth since its discovery in 1858.

There’s no need to worry about it hitting Earth: The comet will zoom past at a safe distance of around 13.2 million miles, about 50 times the moon’s distance, EarthSky.org reports.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2017/03/30/april-fools-day-comet-make-closest-pass-earth-record/99828158/

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Sen. Menendez Enters Third Year Facing Criminal Charges. Does Anyone Care?

menednez_ridgewood trainstation_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

It doesn’t seem so as trial looms.

By Steven Nelson, Staff Writer | March 31, 2017, at 5:15 p.m.

Sen. Bob Menendez may call a federal prison home if prosecutors prove he accepted bribes to do favors for a wealthy businessman.

But you wouldn’t know that if you tuned in to Bloomberg TV last week to watch the New Jersey Democrat discuss a Securities and Exchange Commission nomination.

The reporter didn’t mention the case.

And there was nothing remarkable about the omission. Menendez regularly appears on cable news programs without viewers being told he faces felony corruption charges.

CNN’s Jake Tapper didn’t mention the prosecution during a 10-minute interview on March 13 that focused on health care policy. Nor did MSNBC’s Katy Tur in a March 3 interview about investigation of Russian actions during the 2016 presidential election.

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2017-03-31/sen-menendez-enters-third-year-facing-criminal-charges-does-anyone-care

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Water experts share conservation tips at Ridgewood forum

B3HXXR

Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish8:54 a.m. ET March 31, 2017

RIDGEWOOD – In preparation for the potential adoption of permanent two-day-per-week water restrictions, the village’s environmental committee hosted a forum on water conservation Wednesday evening.

An ordinance introduced on March 9 would limit use of automatic irrigation systems to twice per week, from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., for residential and commercial properties. Exceptions are made for hand-held hoses and drip irrigation systems.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/03/31/water-experts-share-conservation-tips-ridgewood-forum/99821984/

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Putin spokesman: US-Russia relations ‘maybe worse’ now than Cold War

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

BY MAX GREENWOOD – 03/31/17 08:53 AM EDT

The relationship between the U.S. and Russia may be more antagonistic now than it was during the decades-long Cold War, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top spokesman said Friday.

Asked by ABC’s “Good Morning America” host George Stephanopoulos if the U.S. and Russia were in a “new Cold War,” Dmitry Peskov said the current situation may be worse, blaming the U.S. for disintegrating cooperation between the two countries.

“New Cold War? Well, maybe even worse. Maybe even worse, taking into account actions of the present presidential administration in Washington,” Peskov told Stephanopoulos.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/326666-putin-spokesman-us-russia-relationship-maybe-worse-now-than-during-cold

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Cub Scouts Make Food Delivery’s from Ridgewood Train Station Social Services Food bank

ridgewood Train Station food bank

April 1,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Good deeds food delivery to Ridgewood Train Station Social Services Food bank via SUV and two youngsters on Tuesday march 28 2016 615 pm. They were NJ Cub Scouts not sure what PACK NUMBER More came later with moms and dads.

Since 1903, the volunteers of the  Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity have been dedicated to helping our local communities.  Social Service Association’s mission is to provide food, emergency rent, utility assistance and support services to our neighbors in need. With the goal of being a community resource and family service agency helping to preserve the dignity and stability of the individual. It makes every effort to restore the confidence of the individual and to provide ongoing support for adults and children who are in need. It is our goal to empower individuals in seeking solutions in order to expand their opportunities.

SSA is a not-for-profit, private agency funded primarily through the generous contributions of individuals who live and work in Northern Bergen County.  Additional funding comes from the Unity Way of Bergen County, area businesses, religious and civic organizations as well as local municipalities.

The agency is comprised of 45 volunteer board members who work actively throughout the year.  Approximately 20 associate board members provide additional support.  The Executive Director oversees the administrative functions and provides direct client services to the agency.  The Office Manager provides administrative support and client assistance. Eligibility is determined on a case by case basis.

In 1909, The Relief Society of Ridgewood and Vicinity was organized by a group of church representatives from Ridgewood and neighboring communities. Their intention was to consolidate their efforts in “support of the public good.” In 1913, the name was changed to Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc. Since then, SSA has served thousands of families and individuals in the area and has continued to meet the needs of a growing client population. In 1988, SSA moved to its’ current location in the former baggage quarters of the Ridgewood Railroad Station.

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LAX: Championship rematch: No. 7 Summit and No. 1 Ridgewood to face off Saturday after memorable T of C final

RHS_Girls_Lacross_therigdewoodblog

file photo

By Evan Slavit | For NJ Advance
on March 31, 2017 4:12 PM, updated March 31, 2017 6:53 PM

Last year’s Tournament of Champions final was as good as it gets.

Both Summit, No 7 in the NJ.com Top 20, and No. 1 Ridgewood had improbable comebacks late in the game, and it took to double overtime to decide a winner after the two New Jersey powers battled to a one-goal game earlier in the season.

Summit ultimately prevailed by an 11-10 score, winning its first Tournament of Champions title and keeping Ridgewood from winning its third and first since 2011, thanks to a three-goal comeback late in the second half. Ridgewood’s heroics was a goal from Lillie Kloak, who tied the game with 18 seconds left after Summit took the lead in the final few minutes.

Now, with the rain unlikely to postpone Saturday’s noon contest, the two are set up for another classic.

It’s not exactly the same cast of characters, with Summit losing one of the more talented senior classes that included NJ.com Player of the Year Sara Syznal, as well as Catherine Cordrey, Julia Persche, Callie Humphrey, Maggie Moriarty and Teia Ross.

There’ll still be plenty of firepower on both sides, though.

https://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-8704601164900982147/championship-rematch-no-6-summit-and-no-1-ridgewood-face-off-after-a-memorable-toc-final/

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Ridgewood Police Announce Distracted Driving Enforcement and Education Campaign

ridgewood police

file photo by Boyd Loving

UDrive. UText. UPay.
April 1 – April 21, 2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police will be cracking down on distracted drivers during April as part of New Jersey’s UDrive. UText. UPay. enforcement campaign.

Beginning April 1 and running through April 21, the high visibility law enforcement initiative will target motorists who engage in dangerous distracted driving behaviors such as talking on hand-held cell phones and sending text messages while driving.

“Distracted driving is a serious issue on our roadways,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2014 alone, 3,179 people were killed in distracted driving crashes and an estimated 431,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.”

Despite the fact that using a hand held cell phone or texting while driving is illegal in New Jersey, the practice appears to be widespread. In a recent survey conducted by the FDU PublicMind Poll for the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, 67% of respondents said they “very often” see people driving and talking on a hand held cell phone. 42% of respondents said they “very often” see driver’s texting.

The campaign is being carried out during the month of April, which the National Safety Council has designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The New Jersey campaign is modeled after similar successful high visibility enforcement programs such as Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

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Smoking Vehicle Backs Up Traffic Westbound on Ridgewood Ave

Ridgewood Fire department Smoking Vehicle

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

April 1,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A smoking vehicle that was involved in a rear end crash on East Ridgewood Avenue near Kenilworth Road resulted in the precautionary dispatch of Ridgewood FD units on Friday afternoon, 03/31. Steam leaking from a smashed radiator was determined to be the actual culprit and FD units packed up and returned to their headquarters right after disconnecting the vehicle’s battery. Ridgewood PD issued one (1) summons in connection with the crash and a flatbed tow truck removed the wrecked vehicle from the roadway. Traffic on westbound East Ridgewood Avenue was detoured for about 30 minutes due to the crash. No injuries were reported in the incident.

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