Welcome to the Ridgewood Public Library, where the board wants residents to pay million$$$ to replace books with a community center and performing arts venue, move the staircase (very expensive), and add a skylight and other unnecessary things precisely as we face steep property tax increases from full-day kindergarten, a bloated school budget, and the prospect of endless expenses from new residents in up to four apartment buildings (and possibly more later). We must fight this idea from the start. Attend the Monday 3/27 budget hearing (4th floor courtroom, Village Hall, 5:30 PM) at which the library will ask the council for permission and money for their daydream. Brief comments from the public are invited. Speak as an outraged resident and taxpayer against this idiotic plan, presented in part at a recent council meeting, before it can go any farther. (The opposition will no doubt haul people out to say it’s a great idea. It’s not.)
...Potential for a Major Winter Storm Monday night into
Wednesday...
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT
THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...
* Locations...Northeastern New Jersey, Orange, Putnam, Rockland,
Northern Westchester, Northern Fairfield, and Northern New
Haven counties.
* Hazard Types...Heavy Snow.
* Snow Accumulations...12 to 18 inches.
* Timing...Late Monday night through Tuesday evening.
* Impacts...Hazardous travel and potential for power outages.
* Winds...Northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* Temperatures...In the mid 20s.
* Visibilities...One quarter mile or less at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant
snow...sleet...or ice accumulations that may impact travel.
Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
You can’t judge a book by its cover, especially the No. 1 bestseller on Amazon — 266 blank pages about why Democrats deserve votes.
“Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide,” by Daily Wire managing editor Michael J. Knowles, published Feb. 8, features the image of a donkey covered by the Stars and Stripes.
“You can go cover-to-cover in about 15, 20 seconds,” the conservative journalist told “Fox & Friends” on Thursday about the ultimate in light reading.
“It took a very long time to research this book,” he said. “When I observed their record and reasons to vote for them — on reasons of economics or foreign policy or homeland security or civil rights and so on — I realized it was probably best to just leave all the pages blank.
“When I started researching the book and going through this exhaustive study process, at first I turned to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and it turned out they were deciding whether or not to include God in their party platform,” he said.
Ridgewood NJ, Coverage vs. Care, Interview with Dr. Alieta Eck on Halo Health where she discuses ,why insurance coverage is not the same as access to medical care and offers some interesting ideas could help.
Dr. Alieta Eck, M.D. graduated from the Rutgers College of Pharmacy in NJ and the St. Louis School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.
She studied Internal Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ and has been in private practice with her husband, Dr. John Eck, MD in Piscataway, NJ since 1988.
In 2003, they founded the Zarephath Health Center, a free clinic for the poor and uninsured that currently cares for 300-400 patients per month utilizing the donated services of volunteer physicians and nurses.
Dr. Alieta Eck is working to enact NJ S94 in New Jersey whereby physicians would donate their time caring for the poor and uninsured in non-government free clinics in exchange for the State providing medical malpractice protection within their private practices. She is convinced that this would relieve taxpayers of much of the Medicaid burden currently consuming 1/3 of the NJ budget.
Alieta Eck has been involved in health care reform since residency and believes that the government is a poor provider of medical care. Dr. Alieta Eck testified before the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress in 2004 about better ways to deliver health care in the United States.
In 2013, Dr. Alieta Eck put her name forward in the Republican primary race to win the party’s nomination for a temporary seat on the U.S. Senate. Confident she could make a change in Washington she ran on a platform of shrinking the federal government and repealing ObamaCare – President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
In addition, she serves on the advisory board of Christian Care Medi-Share, a faith-based medical cost sharing Ministry and is a member of Zarephath Christian Church. She and her husband John have five children, one who is now an ophthalmology resident in St. Louis, MO.
Ridgewood NJ, is it time for the Mayor and Village Council to step up and support Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi’s legislation , bill (A4666) which imposes a moratorium on all affordable housing litigation until the end of the year.
Please get your local Mayors and Councils to support these bills and call your legislators to co-sponsor them.
“The problem with this particular issue is that if people wait too long, there’s no way to reverse it,” said Schepisi. “I don’t think people know how critical of a timing issue this is for so many of the residents we represent and the municipalities we represent.”
As towns near the end of their court-granted immunity from builders’ remedy lawsuits, many are beginning to settle their affordable housing obligations.
“Municipalities, their mayors and councils, are feeling tremendous pressure to enter into settlement agreements which may not benefit their communities in any sort of fashion because they literally feel as though they have a gun to their heads,” Schepisi said.
Schepisi proposes putting the brakes on litigation while Legislature addresses affordable housing crisis. https://theridgewoodblog.net/schepisi-proposes-putting-the-brakes-on-litigation-while-legislature-addresses-affordable-housing-crisis/
Trenton, N.J. – New Jersey municipalities could get relief from building more than 200,000 low income housing units and 1,000,000 total new housing units under a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi on Tuesday. The bill (A4666) imposes a moratorium on all affordable housing litigation until the end of the year.
“If we wait any longer the transformative impact on our communities will not be reversible,” said Schepisi (R-Bergen). “Now is the time for the Legislature to act.”
Municipalities have spent millions of taxpayer dollars over the years fighting affordable housing mandates in court. After a January NJ Supreme Court ruling forced towns to consider past housing needs for the first time, municipalities statewide are struggling to compensate. The far-reaching mandate increases low-income housing need by 142 percent while forcing municipalities to permit building that would accommodate a phantom 30 percent population increase.
“The court’s social engineering will devastate all 23 municipalities I represent and suburban municipalities throughout the entire state,” said Schepisi. “The legislature needs to stop ignoring affordable housing and instead should immediately act to fix this problem in a responsible manner. While we focus our energies to vote on the State bird and State butterfly our communities are being turned into mini Brooklyns. We cannot let the court legislate what is best for individual communities. This isn’t temporary; this is forever. I am circulating a resolution to every Mayor and Council in the State seeking their support for an immediate legislative solution.”
Schepisi also introduced a companion bill (A-4667) creating a short term commission that will study prior court decisions, the effectiveness of past affordable housing practices, and analyze projected population increases and corresponding housing need. The commission will hold public hearings and is required to publish a report of its findings at the end of the year.
The January court mandate would unnecessarily increase housing supply by as much as 30 percent in the next 9 years anticipating a population growth of 2.73 million. If built, the number of new housing units in New Jersey would exceed housing numbers for the entire city of Manhattan. These projections would cost New Jersey taxpayers over $11.75 billion more in education alone. On the flip side, Rutger’s economists project a population increase of only .3 percent, or 219,000 people, per year until 2026.
Ridgewood NJ, tonight is the night for Ridgewood to spring forward! Officially Daylight saving time 2017 in New Jersey will begin at 2:00 AM on Sunday March 12th.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight.
The facts speak for themselves once you get past the hysteria.
Do your homework: Each Wal-Mart superstore can employee several hundred (or more) employees, Save Jerseyans, depending upon its size. These stores provide employment opportunities and affordable goods particularly in areas where the population is struggling and/or lacks sufficient levels of education or skilled training. It’s a win-win for the local community and the overall economy.
Midland Park NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of STEVEN P. FELICE (DOB: 06/02/1993; single; and employed as a telemarketer) of 37 Waldo Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey on charges of Wrongful Access/Disclosure of Information, Invasion of Privacy, Cyber-Harassment, and Contempt. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert ANZILOTTI.
On Friday, March 10, 2017, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the home of Steven P. FELICE, who was identified during the investigation as an individual who had utilized the internet to post sexually explicit videos of a female acquaintance, without her consent, along with personal identifying information of the victim. Steven P. FELICE had been ordered by Honorable Judge Lisa Firko, J.S.C. of Bergen County on September 25, 2014, in a Final Restraining Order (FRO), not to communicate and/or harass the victim.
As a result of the investigation, STEVEN P FELICE was arrested on March 10, 2017 in Midland Park and charged with one count each of: Wrongful Access/ Disclosure or Information, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-31B, a 2nd degree crime; Invasion of Privacy, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9C, a 3rd degree crime; Cyber-Harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1A(2), a 4th degree crime; and Contempt, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9A, a 4th degree crime. FELICE was charged by way of complaint summons and was released on his own recognizance pending his first appearance in the Bergen County Judicial Processing Court on Wednesday, March 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank the Midland Park Police Department for their assistance in this investigation and the municipal police agencies that comprise the Cyber Crimes Task Force, specifically the Bogota Police Department.
Paramus NJ, No injuries were reported following a two (2) vehicle Friday afternoon, 03/10, crash on Route 17 northbound in Paramus during which an SUV left the roadway and hit a tree head on. Both occupants of the SUV were uninjured, as was the driver of the other vehicle involved (a pick up truck towing an equipment trailer). Paramus PD and FD personnel responded to the incident, which occurred just north of Ridgewood Avenue. The SUV was removed from the scene by a tow truck. No damage was apparent on the other vehicle(s) involved.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood YMCA will host a free presentation by Emma Galland, author of nutritional guide “Feeding Success”, on Wednesday, March 15 at 5:30pm. All are invited to attend.
Described as the “ultimate guide for busy professionals and business travelers who want to build success on a healthy foundation”, “Feeding Success” is a nutrition and lifestyle guide to help busy professionals and travelers increase their energy and maximize their potential.
The presentation will focus on motivation, inspiration, and answers to audience questions regarding healthy eating.
The Ridgewood YMCA is located at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood, New Jersey. For further information, please visit www.ridgewoodymca.org or call 201.444.5600 x500.
I love books. I can’t leave a bookstore without at least one. But I also have a tendency to buy books and not actually read them. Somewhere along the way reading fell by the wayside in favor of other forms of entertainment. To get back on track, I made some simple changes that have helped me with my reading habits thus far—no speed reading necessary.
I Made My Environment More Reading Friendly
I Carry My Books With Me Wherever I Go
I Give Up on Books I’m Not Enjoying
I Started Reading Three—and Only Three—Books at a Time
Ridgewood NJ,A reported motor vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of North Walnut Street and Robinson Lane, Ridgewood resulted in the dispatch of selected Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS units on Friday morning, 03/10. The female driver of a grey colored 4-door Infiniti sedan complained of chest pain due to air bag deployment, but refused transport to a local hospital. One (1) vehicle was towed from the scene, the other vehicle (a Honda Civic) was driven away on its own power. Ridgewood PD issued one (1) summons in connection with the crash.
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal today released a report entitled “Report on the Heroin and Opioid Epidemic in Bergen County.” The report is a year-end report that highlights the effect that the heroin and opioid crisis had on Bergen County in 2016. A copy of the report can be downloaded at https://www.bcpo.net/images/pdf/2016-Report-on-Heroin-Epidemic.pdf .
As detailed in the report, there was an increase in 2016 in total reported overdoses in Bergen County, with 308 overdoses. This represents a 6.9% increase from 2015, during which there were 288 total reported overdoses. As in 2015, however, the majority of the overdoses in 2016 were heroin and opioid related. Despite the increase in total overdoses, however, the number of overdose fatalities remained the same in 2016 with 87 overdose deaths. The fact that overdose deaths remained constant is due in large part to the tireless efforts of County law enforcement officers, who deployed Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, on 207 occasions in 2016, resulting in 180 saved lives. This represents a 10.7% increase in Narcan deployments from 2015.
As it did in 2016, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) is sharing current County overdose and Narcan Save data, as well as mapping the epidemic in the County, using social media. The public is encouraged to follow the BCPO’s efforts on Twitter (@BCPONJ) or on Facebook (fb.com/bcponj). The BCPO is also asking the public to share their own experiences and suggestions concerning this issue by using the hashtag #StopTheODs
“The goal of this report, like our social media campaign, #StopTheODs, is to destigmatize the heroin and opioid epidemic by showing that it affects every pocket of the County.” stated Prosecutor Grewal. “By doing so, we hope to encourage parents, children, educators and others to use this information to do their part to help prevent the next overdose,” said Grewal. “In the end, however, education is the key; if we can steer children and adults from the known pathways to heroin and opioid addiction, we can stem this rising epidemic.”
Prosecutor Grewal thanked Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III, and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino for their partnership and support of the BCPO’s efforts to combat the County’s heroin and opioid epidemic.
Ridgewood NJ, We have been told that Ridgewood Water has the capacity to pump all the water we need but it is the storage of this water that presents the problem. When new tanks were built on the west side this did increase capacity a bit but plans to build larger tank in other towns, which are being severed by Ridgewood Water, were met with resistance .
Ridgewood resident are now facing new water restrictions by the enacting of a new ordinance in next few months. Ridgewood Water has stated that this is a public safety issue but according to the Ridgewood News (3/10/2017) the other towns serve by Ridgewood Water will not have to comply. So it is only a public safety for Ridgewood and not the other towns one of which is one of the biggest users of water last year and fought for tanks not to be built in their town. (see details https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-deputy-mayor-sedon-advances-new-hudson-street-garage-plan-in-quiet-village-council-meeting/ )
For those that say they do not want to give up the quality of Ridgewood water we would suspect that most of them drink bottled water instead of tap water. They should also know that during peak periods Ridgewood Water buys water From Hawthorne and Suez Water. In the past when restriction have been put in place a price increase follows. The explanation that has been give for this increase is that they didn’t sell enough water.
A reader commented , “I believe in conservation when it is fare and equitable. I believe when a utility cannot meet the demands of it costumers it should expand, if it cannot expand then it is time to sell to another utility that can meet its customers demand.”
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Ave is closed to westbound traffic at Paramus Road. Vehicles entering Ridgewood from Paramus should use Midland Ave or Linwood Ave. Due to a utility emergency the road may be closed up to 48 hours.
