Author: James

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Reader says Ridgewood is a destination

music_at_night_theridgewoodblog

file photo by ArtChick

Ridgewood is a destination. If you park them they will come. Parking is not just for commuters. It’s for restaurant goers, shoppers and patrons of other businesses. But sadly that ship has sailed. So Ridgewood’s reputations as the town with no parking will continue to proliferate, drivers will continue circling as pedestrians continue having accidents, and the types of businesses we would like to attract will avoid us without assurance of parking for customers. Lack of forward thinking is keeping us locked in a past that is no longer viable and now the damage is beginning to show as businesses leave town. Ridgewood is not a mall, and we should not equate failing Macy’s or Sears with Ridgewood’s CBD, which offers a completely different experience of boutique shops and specialty stores, restaurants and pretty park. I don’t come to town to get my shoes fixed or my nails done. I come to Ridgewood because it’s a nice place to go. The parking garage was a good idea, the study was done, the plans were made – it should have moved forward

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Reader says the Ridgewood library is walking (running?) away from its traditional role as a book lender

Ridgewood Public Library by ArtChick

photo by ArtChick

It’s true it seems–the Ridgewood library is walking (running?) away from its traditional role as a book lender. E-books are not so convenient or popular a vehicle for substantive reading yet to justify this shift. Sad to say this, but those who run the Ridgewood library may be just as bored with the crucial job of improving the substantive knowledge of the general public as the school district is becoming with respect to the K-12 students. It’s all about process now. There is no longer any need for people to have a solid foundation of raw knowledge in a broad variety of subjects, a ‘la the classic “liberal arts” education. No, today they need only use their cell phones to do a targeted web search (and forget the results five minutes later). So teaching them the bare minimum of how to do a digital search is the only role that really matters for a library or high school. /s

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ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING – JANUARY 31, 2017

building-plans-3

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a special public meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall Court Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.

The Board may take official action during this Work and Public Meeting at which time the Board will hold a public hearing concerning an appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood from the order, determination, or decision by the Building Department.

All meetings of the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.

Jane Wondergem

Secretary to the Board

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Trump Vetting Policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq

Image: TSA security at the airport in Seattle

Media is falsely reporting Muslim ban

January 30,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ , White house relases statement regarding recent executive order concerning extreme vetting

“America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border. America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave.

We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months. The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.

This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days.

I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.”

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RIDGEWOOD PSEG – CONSTRUCTION NOTICE UPDATE JANUARY 30, 2017

PSEG

file photo by Boyd Loving
IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING PSE&G Work Schedule January 30 – February 3:
Village of Ridgewood
Updated: January 26, 2017
PSE&G ELECTRIC RELIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS
UTILITY UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE
WORK SCHEDULE UPDATE: January 30, 2017 – February 3, 2017

January 30, 2017 – February 3, 2017

Underground Manholes & Pipe Installation

South Broad Street

(Hudson Street & E. Ridgewood Avenue)

Road or Lane Closures

(7:00am – 5:00 pm)

Monday- Friday

8 Parking Spots

January 29,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, As part of our electric reliability improvements in Bergen County, PSE&G will be performing utility underground work in the Village of Ridgewood. As of mid-January 2017, PSE&G will be performing the following activities in your area:

Excluding inclement weather delays, PSE&G anticipates working Monday –Friday, (7:00am – 5:00pm)

Safety is our primary concern. PSE&G will work with the Ridgewood Police Department to minimize any traffic concerns or inconveniences to the public. Please be advised that Ridgewood Police Department may close additional spaces to ensure public safety. In addition, during construction, please refrain from going near our construction work zones.

The upgrades will enhance your electric capacity, system redundancy, and service reliability within the Village of Ridgewood, as well as surrounding communities. If you have questions or concerns, please call our toll free number at 1-877-678-5784

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Pope Francis decries the loss of Priests and Nuns going into the Catholic Church

Mount Carmel
January 29,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in recent comments, Pope Francis said he is concerned about what he calls a “hemorrhage” of priests and nuns from the Catholic church. For decades, the Catholic church in many developed countries has seen the number of priests and nuns on the decline.

The pope on Saturday told participants at a Vatican gathering on religious life that the loss of clergy is weakening the church.

Pope Francis said that first among the factors causing nuns and priests to quit their vocations is a society that discourages lifelong commitments. Francis later lamented that many conduct their lives based on “a la carte” choices.

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Prof: Today’s Students and Professors ‘Know Hardly Anything about Anything at All’

millenials

Daniel Lattier | August 8, 2016

Six months ago we shared a frightening observation from Patrick Deneen, a political science professor at Notre Dame who has also taught at Princeton and Georgetown. He described his students as “know-nothings… devoid of any substantial knowledge.”

More recently, a respected author and English professor at Providence College in Rhode Island has echoed Deneen’s concerns.

In an essay titled “Exercises in Unreality: The Decline of Teaching Western Civilization,” Anthony Esolen describes a university climate today in which many students and professors no longer possess the knowledge and skills that their peers of previous generations took for granted:

“But what if you know hardly anything about anything at all? That is an exaggeration, but it does capture much of what I must confront as a professor of English right now, even at our school, which accepts only a small fraction of students who apply for admission. Nor, I’m afraid, does it apply only to freshmen. It applies also to professors.”

He explains:

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/prof-todays-students-and-professors-know-hardly-anything-about-anything-all

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Route 17 southbound Closed this Morning due to Vehicle Rollover Accident

Route 17 southbound Closed this Morning due to Vehicle Rollover Accident

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

January 29,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, A juvenile male occupant of a Ford Explorer sustained an arm injury during a crash in which the vehicle rolled over and landed on its roof at the intersection of Route 4 eastbound and Route 17 southbound, Paramus on Sunday morning, 01/29. Paramus PD, EMS, FD, and Rescue Squad personnel responded to the incident location. The Explorer was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. The ramp from Route 4 eastbound to Route 17 southbound was closed while emergency responders worked.

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Soros Bankrolling Effort to Stop Trump’s Temporary Refugee Halt Order

Soros_2540680b

BY DEBRA HEINE JANUARY 29, 2017

The flurry of anguished news stories and protests surrounding President Trump’s executive action temporarily suspending “immigrants and non-immigrants” from “countries of particular concern” appears to be part of a coordinated PR effort financed by left-wing billionaire George Soros.

Rather than a complete “Muslim ban” as promised during the campaign, Trump’s executive order contains moderate refugee restrictions, similar to those that have been implemented by President Obama. If reports are true that restrictions are being applied even to green-card holders, that is an unfortunate misapplication of the law that will likely soon be corrected.

Protesters quickly materialized Saturday at JFK Airport, where some refugees were being temporarily detained.

https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/01/29/soros-bankrolling-effort-to-stop-trumps-temporary-refugee-halt-order/

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“Get In Shape For Women” Grand Opening in Ridgewood

Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen

January 29,2017

the syaff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on Saturday ,Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for “Get In Shape For Women” at 51 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood .
www.getinshapeforwomen.com

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Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Newark Assaulted During Mass in Cathedral

Manuel A

By MARK BONAMO

January 28, 2017 at 5:15 PM

The Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark.

A day meant to venerate a hero of Newark’s Latino community ended in shock and horror when an auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark was punched in the face during Mass at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

The Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, was offering opening prayers at a Saturday afternoon service commemorating the life of baseball great Roberto Clemente, remembered by Latinos in Newark, especially those from his native Puerto Rico, for his tragic death in a plane crash en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972.

The sanctity of the mass was shattered when a man wearing a white robe over a red suit shambled up to the altar from the crowd, reached Bishop Cruz and struck the 63-year-old in the face, knocking him backwards until he fell on the altar.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/articles/auxiliary-catholic-bishop-of-newark-assaulted-dur

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Ridgewood Open Houses for January 29th 2017

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog
file photo by Boyd Loving

1645719.1 MLS # 1645719
220 Canterbury Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Ranch
Maryanne Connaughton, Sales Associate
Terrie O’Connor Realtors-Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
21

1703055.1 MLS # 1703055
516 Fairway Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Col
Tisha Ramge, Broker Associate
Laurie Catizone-Jordan, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25

1700807.1 MLS # 1700807
311 Eastbrook Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Susan Greenbaum, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25

1701041.1 MLS # 1701041
114 Avondale Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Erin Pruitt, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 1/29
24

1700005.1 MLS # 1700005
168 Kemah Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Phyllis Lasser, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes

  • Open House: 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25

1702941.1 MLS # 1702941
122 N Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25

1645061.1 MLS # 1645061
442 Van Buren St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
James Collins, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Alpine/Closter

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25

1700257.1 MLS # 1700257
650 Wall St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Col
Marie E. Griggs-O’Connor, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
23

1703249.1 MLS # 1703249
123 Woodland Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Jennifer M. Parsekian, Broker
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
10

1702976.1 MLS # 1702976
70 N Hillside Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Kathleen O’Connor, Sales Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
21

1702750.1 MLS # 1702750
326 West End Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Cathy Bossolina, Sales Associate
Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty-Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 1/29
25
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Reader says People now come to eat in Ridgewood and run errands

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

I do not commute to NYC so naturally I do not see commuter parking as the main problem for the CBD.

Online shopping has cut into the sales at Macy’s, Sears and other large dept stores. They and a lot of other retailers will be closing stores. This business dynamic is hurting local stores and large retailers.

What brings shoppers to town? Maybe it is time to do a CBD survey.

People now come to eat and run errands. I do not buy clothing in town. I go to the post office, bagle store, and drug store. I may not go often but the shoe repair shop is a godsend. I have lunch and dinner in town (not at the restaurants that were aggressively lobbying for the garage). BYOB makes great restaurants affordable.

I don’t know if you can draw shoppers back to town. The malls are having a difficult time keeping customers.

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Reader says Financial Advisory Committee is being used for the wrong purposes and conflicts of interest abound.

village Council election

A Financial Advisory Committee could have worked if established properly. Unfortunately, the reality is that it’s being used for the wrong purposes and conflicts of interest abound. Now that we have a CFO, which was not the case at the time, the committee should be disbanded. They and their leader Aronsohn are using it to beat a political horse, as intended. Their official voice needs to be silenced asap. They are not experts in this field. While financial disclosure agreements would be important if their (highly questionable) recommendations were to continue, which they should not, residents should not have to supply such things. QED, kill the committee. As for Mayor Knudsen’s so-called conflict of interest, what is this, Fox News, pounding away at untruths in the hope that they will become facts? Only Jim Griffiths thinks that where her parents live is an issue. So they live sort of near there–so what? Many, many residents who live in every corner of town agree that the opinion on the dispensation of Schedler of everyone who lives in that area deserves far more consideration than that of anyone who doesn’t. And they have been most gracious in accepting the idea of a small ballfield. If I lived there I would say NO to all of it.