Author: James

Posted on by — Leave a comment

RAIN UPDATE : Memorial Day Events Today in Ridgewood

Ridgewood_5Memorial_Day_Ceremony-2013_theridgewood-blog

Good evening.  This is Mayor Paul Aronsohn with a special announcement about our Memorial Day activities.  In light of the expected rain storms, we are making contingency plans.

Regarding the American Legion Sponsored Memorial Day Service scheduled for 11am … the Service will be conducted rain or shine, but if it is raining, we will hold the Memorial Day Service in Mount Carmel Church at the same time, 11am.

Regarding the North Jersey Masters Ridgewood Run scheduled to start at 8:15am … the Run will also happen rain or shine, UNLESS the weather becomes dangerous.

For both events, I urge you to check the Village website for the latest information.  Our website is www.ridgewoodnj.net . 

And for more information on the Ridgewood Run, please visit www.ridgewoodrun.com.

Thank you.  Have a great holiday.  And please be safe.

 

photo by Boyd Loving

May 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The two major events on Memorial day in the Village of Ridgewood today . First there is the Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run at Veteran’s Memorial Field, Monday at 8 a.m. and the American Legion Post 53 will host a service at Memorial Park Monday at 11 a.m. in Van Neste Square on East Ridgewood Avenue.

The Ridgewood Run is the premier road race in northern New Jersey and one of the longest running races in the tri-state area and the Village of Ridgewood Memorial Day commemoration is honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Please leave plenty of time for travel the Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run leaves many roads inaccessible .

The Ridgewood Run is a rain or shine event. In the event of dangerous weather, updates will be posted here and on our Twitter page. You may also call the race hotline at (973) 333-483

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Rep. Scott Garrett Announces 2016 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Scott Garrett Alexandra Gutierrez- with artwork

1st Place winner, Alexandra Gutierrez with Scott Garrett

May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition at Sussex County Community College in Newton this Saturday. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all 9th-12th graders from New Jersey’s Fifth District, and this year’s competition featured 90 pieces of artwork from New Jersey high schools in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties (full list below).

This year the winners were: 1st Place, Alexandra Gutierrez, “Split Vision,” Bergen County Academies; 2nd Place, Grant Brewster, “Forgotten,” Delbarton School; 3rd Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Doug,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 4th Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Rasta Man Dan,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 5th Place, Sophia Bevacqua, “Landscape,” Northern Highlands Regional High School; 6th Place, Nicolina Kanapinski, “Take Me For a Ride,” High Point Regional High School; 7th Place, Maansi Srivastava, “The Afternoon Glow,” Bergen County Academies; 8th Place, Sarah Vargas, “The Dreamer,” Bergen County Academies.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. The first-place winner from each congressional district is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C., and the winning artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Read more here.

Students from the following schools will be participating (by county):

Bergen County Academies

Bergen County Technical High School (Student lives in district)

Bergenfield High School

Blair Academy

Delbarton School (Student lives in district)

Fair Lawn High School

Glen Rock High School

Hackensack High School

Hackettstown High School

High Point Regional High School

Indian Hills High School

Lakeland Regional High School

Newton High School

Northern Highlands Regional High School

Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan

Ramsey High School

Ridgewood High School

River Dell High School

Wallkill Valley Regional High School

West Milford High School

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Bond Street Mortgage LLC and Keller Williams Realty West Monmouth announce Operation “Saving Private Ryan”

Saving Private Ryan
May 29,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, Ryan Wares joined the army and was sent to Iraq in 2006, where he spent 12 months on a deployment. During his 10th month there, he had a long discussion with a childhood friend whom had joined the army with him. As Ryan walked outside of the tent they were in, he was startled by the sound of a gunshot. He ran back in to find his friend could not take the pressure of war and decided to end his watch for good. A few months later, during the final days of Ryan’s deployment, his unit was hit by a roadside IED. Ryan was in the blast zone and sustained injuries across his body that are still with him today. He also suffers from severe PTSD and survivor’s guilt. He is classified as 75% disabled. Ryan was honorably discharged from the army, but struggled upon returning home. It was difficult for him to find a job and integrate back into society. Family and friends are helping as much as they can to help Ryan through his tough times.

Keller Williams Realty West Monmouth has chosen Ryan for their RED day* recipient and are looking to find an apartment for him, his fiancé, and 3 small children. Bond Street Mortgage LLC has created a go fund me account for Ryan to help furnish the apartment and pay for as many months up front for his rent as we can for the first year. Any donations are appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/SavePrivateRyan

*Red Day is an initiative dedicated to celebrating Keller Williams Realty’s year-round commitment to improving our local communities. Each year, on the second Thursday in May, tens of thousands of associates from across the United States and Canada participate in a wide range of projects, devoting their time to renewing and energizing aspects of the neighborhoods in which they serve.

About Bond Street LLC NMLS # 191351: Bond Street Mortgage has built a strong reputation as an outstanding mortgage lending firm, serving the lending needs of real estate professionals, builders and individual home buyers. We are a full service mortgage lender.
Posted on by — 11 Comments

Ridgewood Schools No longer Closed on Columbus Day

columbus-day

May 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Could it be that Ridgewood Schools are NOT closed for Columbus day this year?

13325509 10153793418344037 2179976879586627021 n

Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906, and became a federal holiday in the United States in 1937, though people have celebrated Columbus’s voyage since the colonial period. In 1792, New York City and other U.S. cities celebrated the 300th anniversary of his landing in the New World. President Benjamin Harrison called upon the people of the United States to celebrate Columbus Day on the 400th anniversary of the event. During the four hundredth anniversary in 1892, teachers, preachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of patriotism. These patriotic rituals took themes such as citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress.

Many Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage, the first occasion being in New York City on October 12, 1866. Columbus Day was first enshrined as a legal holiday in the United States through the lobbying of Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian, in Denver. The first statewide Columbus Day holiday was proclaimed by Colorado governor Jesse F. McDonald in 1905, and it was made a statutory holiday in 1907. In April 1934, as a result of lobbying by the Knights of Columbus and New York City Italian leader Generoso Pope, Congress and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 a federal holiday under the name Columbus Day.

Since 1970 (Oct. 12), the holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October, coincidentally exactly the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada fixed since 1959. It is generally observed nowadays by banks, the bond market, the U.S. Postal Service, other federal agencies, most state government offices, many businesses, and most school districts. Some businesses and some stock exchanges remain open, and some states and municipalities abstain from observing the holiday. The traditional date of the holiday also adjoins the anniversary of the United States Navy (founded October 13, 1775), and thus both occasions are customarily observed by the Navy (and usually the Marine Corps as well) with either a 72- or 96-hour liberty period.

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Ridgewood Village Council Passes New Sign Resolution

support-local-business
May 28,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Village council passed a new sign resolution no. 16-137 effective 5/4/16. This allows
“A Frame” type signs on the sidewalks of the CBD until December 31, 2016
The Chamber of Commerce will be handed out a copy of the resolution on Monday 23, 2016 to Chamber members.
-The placement of any sign must not interfere with
pedestrian safety
-No sign shall be permitted to constrict the 52-inch
area of the sidewalk utilized by pedestrians.
-All signs must be removed at close of business.
-You need to contact the Village of Ridgewood with a
valid, current certificate of insurance, naming the Village of Ridgewood as additional insured for Comprehensive General Liability.
This must be done one week before placement of sign.
Signs are allowed during Sale Days meaning today.
Side street businesses during Sale Days only.
Can have one sign at the corner, place out of the way of pedestrian. Other stores must keep their signs in front of their own locations.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Vandals Deface Vietnam War Memorial In Venice

Vandals Deface Vietnam War Memorial In Venice

May 27, 2016 10:31 PM

VENICE (CBSLA.com) — Vandals defaced a memorial to Vietnam war veterans in Venice – an awful sight on this Memorial Day weekend.Stewart Oscars welled up as he looked at the vandalized mural located on Pacific Avenue near Sunset Court. It was covered in graffiti from end to end.

“This knocked me out. So sickening. Just sadness…think of all these people. They’re gone,” Oscars said. “I remember the Vietnam war and how friends went to war, and bodies came back. Somehow, it has to be taught that this is not a good idea. This is actually stupid.”

The memorial was dedicated to service members who were listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War.

George Francisco is the Vice President of the Venice Chamber of Commerce. He also runs a nonprofit called Veterans Foundation Incorporated.

“It’s a desecration. I mean it’s very simple. There’s no sort of other way around it. It isn’t graffiti,” Francisco said.

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/05/27/vandals-deface-vietnam-war-memorial-in-venice/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Christie unveils major reforms to benefit N.J. charter schools

Chris_christie_theridgewoodblog

Citing a “broken and unaffordable” education system and lengthy waiting lists for charter schools, Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday proposed sweeping reforms that he said would give charter schools greater flexibility in hiring staff and better access to high quality facilities. Adam Clark, NJ.com Read more

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Wells Fargo launches 3% down payment mortgage

village Council election

Diana Olick | @DianaOlick

First-time buyers and low- to moderate-income buyers have largely been sidelined by today’s housing recovery.

The common cry is too-tight credit. Lenders have kept the credit box restrictive because they are gun-shy from the billions of dollars in buy backs and judicial settlements stemming from the mortgage crisis that they still face today. Now, the nation’s largest lender, Wells Fargo, says it is opening that box with a new low down payment loan — a loan it claims is low-risk to the bank.

“We are fully underwriting the borrowers, we are partnering with Fannie Mae to originate and sell these loans, we are ensuring the borrowers have an ability to repay and that they’re qualified for home ownership, but we’re simplifying things for the homebuyer,” said Brad Blackwell, executive vice president and portfolio business manager at Wells Fargo.

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/26/wells-fargo-launches-3-down-payment-mortgage.html

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Ridgewood Art Institute’s 57th Annual Young People Scholarship Exhibition

Ridgewood_Art_Institute_theridgewoodblog

Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony: Sunday, June 5th, 2016 2-4pm
Artwork available for viewing through Friday, June 17th, 2016

Ridgewood NJ, An exhibition of original artwork done by aspiring artists between the ages of 7 and 17. This exhibit features original artwork by Ridgewood Art Institute students as well as others from surrounding communities. All entries will be judged by the the Ridgewood Art Institute’s instructors. Scholarships in traditional painting and drawing, cash prizes, merchandise awards, certificates of merit and honorable mentions will be awarded.

The Ridgewood Art Institute is a non profit organization providing the finest instruction in Classical Realism in a variety of mediums. Classes for children and adults are offered on an open enrollment basis, and can be joined at anytime. Each student is taught in direct relation to their personal skill level. For more information on class scheduling, this and future events please visit www.ridgewoodartinstitute.org
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201 652-9615

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood HS Bands to Perform ‘Tunes in June’

RHS Marching band

May 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday, June 2, Ridgewood High School’s Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will officially open the Kasschau Memorial Shell’s 2016Summer Season with “Tunes in June,” a concert of light and popular music. The concert will begin at 8PM and will also feature a ceremony to honor graduating seniors from the band program.

The Symphonic Band’s program will include Michael Story’s To Honor, Thank and Remember, “dedicated to the men and women who won World War II,” as well as Meet the Beatles, a medley of early Beatles hits, and The Marches of John Williams. The Concert Band will perform several pieces; including music from the animated features How to Train Your Dragon and The Lion King as well as an original work entitled Bright Lights. The Symphonic Band and Concert Band will be co-conducted by directors John Luckenbill and Jeffrey Haas.

Having just performed as part of Ridgewood’s Memorial Day observance, the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Jeffrey Haas, will focus on celebrating the contributions of graduating senior band members. Senior Brooke Maskin will lead the band in The Stars and Stripes Forever, as she continues the tradition of having the outgoing Drum Major conduct the band for the final time, while senior flutist, Stephanie Pizza will be the featured soloist, performing the Carmen Fantasie while accompanied by the band. Seniors Erin Gioia, Helen Cho, Robert Schablik and Connor Haycock will all play solo parts in the world premiere of Under the Stars, a new work by Chris Bernotas commissioned by the RHS Band Association written to highlight some of the band’s most outstanding senior musicians.

The traditional highlight of “Tunes in June,” will come when all 30 seniors are brought to the front of the band shell stage to be recognized for their four years of service and outstanding contribution to musical life at Ridgewood High School.

The Ridgewood High School Band Program is Bergen County’s largest, comprised of more than 230 students who participate in no fewer than 15 varied musical ensembles. The curricular bands, marching band, jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, winter color guard and twirlers have been acclaimed locally, regionally, and nationally for superior performance. Individually, members of the Ridgewood High School bands are chosen annually to perform in honor ensembles at the county, regional and state levels. Graduates of the RHS Bands have participated in music programs at the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the country, and many have gone on to successful professional musical careers.

“Tunes in June” begins at 8PM and admission is free. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at the Ridgewood High School Campus Center. This concert is sponsored by the Kasschau Memorial Shell Committee. For more information, contact Jeffrey Haas at (201) 670-2800 x20639, via email at [email protected] or visit the band’s website athttps://rhsbands.org.

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Come and Visit the Businesses at 580 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood

580 N
May 27,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood N J, Save the date! Next Saturday June 4th several local businesses located at or around 580 N. Maple Ave in Ridgewood will be hosting a building-wide Open House. This is a free event and open for all so stop by 580 N. Maple Ave in Ridgewood between 10 AM and 12 PM to check out and support local businesses and take advantage of the giveaways and prizes!

All businesses (@The Bar Method Ridgewood, @Live Love Laugh Photos photography studio, @Artists & Architects hair salon, @Master Art Studio art studio, @Ridgewood Sewing Academy, @Katie Diamond Store, @Ridgewood Irish Dance The JIG Factory dance studio and @The Catch-y Caterer LLC restaurant) will have specials for the open house as well as great giveaway. And a winner of the Grand Prize will receive prizes from all participating businesses!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Police Department: Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever

3rd Annual Michael Feeney's Best Day Ever

May 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

 

Ridgewood NJ, Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever. The event will be held on June 4th from 10-3 at BF Middle School field in Ridgewood, NJ. The day kicks off with a color fun run. Then there will be a balloon and butterfly release, carnival games, inflatables, face painting and so much more. Yes, the mechanical shark will be back! We hope to see you there! $20 per person / $50 per family when registering on line. ($25 per person. $75 per family at the door). Proceeds to benefit childhood cancer research, The Chief Michael Feeney Junior Police Academy, JDRF, and to give ” A Best Day” to some sick children and their families.
To register go to: https://register.communitypass.net/ridgewood.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Elderly couple escaped injury when their mini van rolled over in Ridgewood

van flipped Ridgewood

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

Elderly couple escaped injury when their mini van rolled over in Ridgewood 
May 28,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood NJ, An elderly couple escaped injury when their mini van rolled over on its side after colliding with a pickup truck at the intersection of Hope and Gilbert Streets in Ridgewood on Friday morning, 05/27. Ridgewood PD, FD and EMS units responded to the scene. Both the male and female occupants of the vehicle refused to be transported to a hospital. The vehicle was righted and removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.

13268570 521719384680766 1514734537741353838 o