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Garrett Challenger Josh Gottheimer Faces New Questions for Accepting Donations from Saudi Wife Beaters and disgraced former NJ Senator

Josh Gottheimer
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ in what could be only considered a media event with no chance of swaying opinions 12 protesters called on Fidelity Investments storefront on Route 17 in Paramus to stop financially backing the campaign of CD5 Republican Congressman Scott Garrett.

The rally was made up of the same 12 people who have been protesting Garrett and supporting his opponent
Josh Gottheimer ,included Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-38), representatives from New Jersey Citizen Action, Garden State Equality, College Democrats of New Jersey and Ramapo College Democrats. Apparently the few protesters were unaware that a branch office in New Jersey has almost zero input to Fidelity Investments corporate donation policy.

These “rent a mob” protests have been in response to controversial remarks Garrett “allegedly” made last year that he would not support the House Republican campaign arm because of support for gay candidates.
No evidence or transcripts have ever surfaced as to the nature of these “alleged” comments . Most insiders suspect the entire controversy was manufactured by former House Speaker  John “cry baby” Boehner. Who Garrett had voted against his disastrous tenure as Speaker of The House.

While the media loves events like theses that are custom tailored to fit the “evil ,mean ,GOP ” narrative Garrett’s Democratic opposition Josh Gottheimer has had far worse problems with donors . It seems Josh Gottheimer campaign has been partly financed by foreign money .Accepting donations from son of a billionaire Saudi businessman, and infamous wife beater Ibrahim Al-Rashid . Even Senator Harry Reid won’t take Al-Rashid’s money, yet political insider Josh Gottheimer has embraced Al-Rashid, to the disgust of residents of the Fifth District.

To make matters worse Gottheimer has also accepted donations from disgraced NJ Senator Bob “the Torch” Torricelli an Englewood Democrat who abandoned his bid for a second term in the U.S. Senate 13 years ago under an ethical cloud . So bad was Torricelli’s discretion’s he was forced out by his own party. Torricelli quite following a series of seamy revelations that he’d accepted lavish gifts from businessman David Chang, which in turned prompted the Senate Ethics Committee to issue a formal letter of admonishment.

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Trenton Wants to Tax Plastic Bags in “Feel Good ” policy move

CASHIERS WORK AT THE CHECKOUT LANES OF A WALMART STORE IN THE PORTER RANCH SECTION OF LOS ANGELES
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ, Under a proposed bill customers would be required to pay 5 cents for every plastic or paper bag they use to carry their purchases .

An previous version of the bill (A3671) called for a bag ban by 2025, but  sponsors discarded that idea. Efforts to curb plastic bag use have been under consideration since 2008 in the state legislature, including in 2012, although each time they have stalled.

California is the state that has a statewide ban on plastic bags and Hawaii has a de facto state ban because every county has adopted the policy.

If the bill becomes law, retail operators in New Jersey would begin charging 5-cent fee for each single-use carryout bag on June 1, 2017. Stores would keep a penny, as would the state Division of Taxation to administer the program.

The remaining 3 cents would be used to create the “Healthy Schools and Community Lead Abatement Fund” to support the testing of homes and schools’ water supply – a major cause of concern in the state.

While proponents of the ban claim  “Plastic bags are a source of numerous environmental concerns,” We are still not sure how an additional tax is going to fix any environmental problems . Seems more to be another Trenton money grab using a “Feel good” ruse . Opponents say better yet to send the bags to Trenton so law makers can place them over their heads saving the taxpayers money and improving the quality of life in the state .

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Psychologist: ‘Authoritative Parenting’ is Best for Children

Little_Rascals

Is it time for parents to return to a position of loving but firm authority figures?
Annie Holmquist | April 14, 2016

Several months ago, Dr. Leonard Sax made headlines when he proposed that the lack of discipline we see in America today is simply the surface symptom of a greater problem: the decline of parental authority.

Dr. Sax’s theories were recently underscored by psychologist Lisa Damour in a New York Times piece on the benefits of family dinner time. Although the benefits of family dinners are regularly touted, Ms. Damour wonders how they produce such positive effects when a family often sits down exhausted to a silent and non-interactive meal together. Her answer is thought-provoking:

“Reflecting on the families I’ve worked with in my practice, I’ve come to suspect that regular meals serve as an easily measured proxy for one of the longest-standing and sturdiest determinants of adolescent well-being: authoritative parenting.

In the early 1970s, the psychologist Diana Baumrind identified two essential components of parenting: structure and warmth. Authoritative parents bring both. They hold high standards for behavior while being lovingly engaged with their children. Decades of research have documented that teenagers raised by authoritative parents are the ones most likely to do well at school, enjoy abundant psychological health and stay out of trouble. In contrast, adolescents with authoritarian parents (high on structure, low on warmth), indulgent parents (low on structure, high on warmth) or neglectful parents (low on both) don’t fare nearly so well.

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/psychologist-authoritative-parenting-best-children

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Nationwide Online shopping trend forces more brick and Mortar Stores to Close

Ridgewood-CBD_goingonutof-business_theridgewoodblog
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, as far back as October 2011 in an article ,”Understanding the Shift to Online Shopping” Marcia Kaplan wrote, “Defying the general economic gloom, ecommerce sales have registered seven consecutive quarters of year-over-year revenue gains since Q4 2009, with some in double digits. The last three quarters (Q4 2010 through Q2 2011) showed gains of 11, 12, and 14 percent respectively, the best performances since Q2 of 2008, according to research firm comScore.

Figures calculated by the U.S. Department of Commerce are more generous, showing an increase of 17.2 percent for Q2 2011 over Q2 2010. In contrast, total retail sales — stores and online — for Q2 2011 increased only 8.4 percent over the same quarter in 2010. Ecommerce accounted for 4.2 percent of total retail sales in Q2 of 2011, according to the Department of Commerce.” https://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3087-Understanding-the-Shift-to-Online-Shopping

The WSJ in August  2015 said , “U.S. retailers are facing a steep and persistent drop in store traffic, which is weighing on sales and prompting chains to slow store openings as shoppers make more of their purchases online.”

Now it seems the day of reckoning is upon us , despite calls for more parking to save retails in the CBD in Ridgewood ,the nationwide trend of shoppers moving online has continued to accelerate.

May 2016 headlines read like a retail obituary :

Scoop Succumbs to Market Forces; All Stores Closing

Sports Authority to Sell Off Assets, May Be Closing All 450 Stores

Hugo Boss Considers Closing Some Stores as Earnings Plummet

The Gap Is Closing a Bunch of Old Navy Stores

Aeropostale Store Closings 2016: Retailer Files For Chapter 11

The reality is its going to take far more than parking to fully revitalize the CBD in Ridgewood .
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Ridgewood Open Houses for May 22,2016

village Council election

1607316.1 MLS # 1607316
364 E Ridgewood Ave, Unit 7, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Condo
Nicola G. Esposito, Jr, Sales Associate
Gilsenan & Co.

  • Open House: 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
9

1616696.1 MLS # 1616696
140 Bellair Rd, Unit Q, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Condo
Young Yi, Sales Associate
Smart Realty, Inc.

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
15

1612679.1 MLS # 1612679
482 Northern Pkwy, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, C/C
Joyce Albert, Sales Associate
Terrie O’Connor Realtors-Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
20

1619707.1 MLS # 1619707
664 Wyndemere Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Col
Eileen Krenn, Sales Associate
RE/MAX Elite Associates

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620881.1 MLS # 1620881
560 Laurel Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, Col
Jennifer M. Parsekian, Broker
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1617025.1 MLS # 1617025
687 Howard Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Carolyn Strittmatter, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/29
25

1617049.1 MLS # 1617049
395 Hamilton Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, S/L
Olivia O. Yang, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
21

1614224.1 MLS # 1614224
114 Claremont Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Eileen Krenn, Sales Associate
RE/MAX Elite Associates

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1612707.1 MLS # 1612707
355 Walthery Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, S/L
Jane Ferlanti, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620686.1 MLS # 1620686
347 S Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Joanne Delaney, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22

– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.ACMskRWk.KmtSyAbj.dpuf

1620094.1 MLS # 1620094
206 Mckinley Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Ranch
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620492.1 MLS # 1620492
130 Lincoln Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Monis Young, Broker
Exclusive Properties Realty, LLC

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1617436.1 MLS # 1617436
524 Van Dyke St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Rose Hueneke, Broker Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1619731.1 MLS # 1619731
262 N Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Cynthia A. Farley, Sales Associate
Jody Earley, Sales Associate
Marron Gildea Realty, Inc.

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620527.1 MLS # 1620527
120 Highland Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Pam Christian, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
24

1615986.1 MLS # 1615986
216 Gardner Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Terry Hassan, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620256.1 MLS # 1620256
182 Mountain Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Qizhan Yao, Broker Owner
Realmart Realty, LLC

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
6

1620785.1 MLS # 1620785
126 Hamilton Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col
Elizabeth Novak, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
23

1616560.1 MLS # 1616560
729 Mary Ann Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col
Carolyn Strittmatter, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1615993.1 MLS # 1615993
111 Claremont Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Sallyann Morris, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22

– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.ACMskRWk.KmtSyAbj.dpuf

1617354.1 MLS # 1617354
618 Morningside Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Ann Ewell, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620592.1 MLS # 1620592
619 Wyndemere Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col
Maribeth Germinario, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
22

1620361.1 MLS # 1620361
582 N Monroe St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Lori Lettieri, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1616518.1 MLS # 1616518
334 Prospect St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, Col
Regina M. Martino, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
19

1619508.1 MLS # 1619508
21 Theyken Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Col
Joseph M. Hurley, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620917.1 MLS # 1620917
324 Beechwood Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Margaret Ajamian, Broker Associate
Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services Abbott Realtors-Wyckoff

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1614612.1 MLS # 1614612
676 Terhune Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, Ranch
Ghada Abbasi, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620510.1 MLS # 1620510
630 Wellington Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Christine Gubb, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1615483.1 MLS # 1615483
200 Claremont Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Till Horkenbach, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
21

1603099.1 MLS # 1603099
51 N Hillside Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Barbara Masarky, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22

– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.ACMskRWk.KmtSyAbj.dpuf

1620868.1 MLS # 1620868
635 Terhune Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Renee Paget, Sales Associate
RE/MAX Properties-Saddle River

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620183.1 MLS # 1620183
71 California St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Ranch
Jennifer Wilkes, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620561.1 MLS # 1620561
309 Beechwood Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Linda Aktar, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1620432.1 MLS # 1620432
87 Madison Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Deborah Monroe Tarvin, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1616588.1 MLS # 1616588
260 The By Way , Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Kimiko Miller, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
21

1620650.1 MLS # 1620650
288 Orchard Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Barbara Masarky, Broker Associate
Christine McKinley, Broker Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1615448.1 MLS # 1615448
345 Manor Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 5 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Frances Ekblom, Sales Associate
Tarvin Realtors

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1603975.1 MLS # 1603975
294 West End Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
3 Half Bath, Col
Janis Fuhrman, Sales Associate
Terrie O’Connor Realtors-Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1619794.1 MLS # 1619794
280 Greenway Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 5 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Ghada Abbasi, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
25

1621050.1 MLS # 1621050
325 Gardner Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, Col
Peter C. Marron, Jr., Sales Associate
Marron Gildea Realty, Inc.

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22

– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.TE5lZqYY.dpuf

1539155.1 MLS # 1539155
305 West End Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 5 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Col
Victoria Wilkinson, Sales Associate
Solutions Realty, LLC

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22
1

1604049.1 MLS # 1604049
150 Brookside Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
8 Bedroom, 8 Full Bath,
3 Half Bath, Col
Marilyn Nuber, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty

  • Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 5/22

– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.TE5lZqYY.dpuf

 

 

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Eva’s Village Receives $20,000 Mission Support from Ridgewood West Side Presbyterian Church

West_Side_Presbyterian-_Church_theridgewoodblog

May 21, 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Eva’s Village a Paterson, NJ, anti-poverty, nonprofit organization, partners with local religious organizations to raise funds for its twenty integrated programs to assist those in need.

Ridgewood NJ,  Eva’s Village was one of five mission partners chosen to receive a gift of over $20,000 from the West Side Presbyterian Church’s “10 x 10” Lenten Campaign. Nancy Simpson, Chair of Missions and Social Concerns at the Ridgewood church, explained that partners were selected because of their work with the homeless. Covenant House NJ, Family Promise of Bergen County, Youth Self Development, Paterson, & Pwojé Espwa Sud Orphanage, Haiti, were also chosen as mission partners. “These are all places where West Siders have had hands-on experiences helping and feeding people,” Ms. Simpson noted.

“West Side Presbyterian’s generous donation will have a tremendous impact on the hundreds of men, women and children we serve each day,” noted Marie Reger, Executive Director of Eva’s Village. In addition to supporting the Community Kitchen, the donation will support Eva’s 20 Food & Shelter, Medical & Recovery, and Education & Training programs. “We are also grateful to members of the congregation who volunteer regularly in our Community Kitchen,” Ms. Reger added. West Side Presbyterian’s congregation has supported Eva’s Village for more than two decades and has increased their commitment as donors and volunteers over the past several years.

Each mission partner was invited to speak to the congregation during the campaign. An Eva’s Village alumnus described how the food, shelter medical and recovery programs at Eva’s helped him find a path to recovery and a new life.

The congregation exceeded its goal, collecting more than $100,000 during the 40 days of Lent, between Ash Wednesday (February 10) and Easter (March 27). The amount represents 10% of the church’s income and re-establishes its tradition of tithing to serve those in need. Named “10 x 10,” the drive celebrates the 10-year anniversary of West Side’s sanctuary, rebuilt after a fire in 2002. Congregants were encouraged to participate by “tithing” – donating 10% of their income to the campaign. Children were encouraged to collect change to help meet the goal.

Posted on 2 Comments

Summer fun the State of NJ is spending $27.3M per mile rebuilding Jersey Shore’s Route 35 Golden Highway

Road_work_theridgewoodblog
May 22,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, next time you make a trip to the Jersey shore take a ride on New Jerseys latest tourist attraction, the reconstruction of Sandy-battered Route 35 or the “Golden Highway”.

According to an Asbury Park Press investigation New Jersey taxpayers are being charged tens of millions of dollars in cost overruns.The press found that the project, announced by Gov. Chris Christie in 2013, is already $76 million over budget and a year behind schedule.

Asbury Park Press puts the potential final cost of $341 million , that means that the 12.5-mile road construction in Ocean County will cost a jaw-dropping $27.3 million per mile making it one of the most expensive road projects in the state.

The press also found that the state paid about $24.5 million to have three contractors essentially stop working during design and summer delays.

When the project was announced in 2013, the Governor stressed that “this is not just a resurfacing job.”
and the ,“This new road will be better and more durable in every way,” .

This should give you pause to think when Trenton politicians cry over the depleted state Transportation Trust Fund ,and look to raise gas taxes to fill their pockets .
Posted on 8 Comments

NJT fails to Maintain Ridge Road entrance to Ridgewood Train Station

NJT fails to Maintain Ridge Road entrance to Ridgewood Train Station

photos by Boyd Loving

May 22,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has received complaint from a commuter that NJ Transit is doing very little to maintain the area surrounding the Ridge Road train station access point.  The dumpster is theirs, weeds are sky high, and there is garbage strewn everywhere.

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Posted on 29 Comments

Readers Not Sympathetic to Ridgewood Teachers Demands

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

Sick and tired of hearing some the highest paid teachers in the State complain. Get a grip – the real world does not get automatic increases every year and in many case each year the contribution towards health insurance increases and coverage changes to economize. Let them strike and fire them. Lots of fresh new faces with lots of energy or teachers working in lower paying districts would love to have your jobs and be happy to work for a lot less

Teachers voted for Obamacare which is why health premiums are rising faster than wages. But now they want taxpayers to carry the extra cost so they can keep their Platinum health benefits? Give us all a break. Its great the REA can’t bully our BOE members as parents like they’ve done in the past with former BOE members. These are hard working volunteers trying to protect Ridgewood taxpayers from hostile and abusive REA/NJEA who has no interest in negotiating in good faith. They just want to keep screwing Ridgewood taxpayers as our school rankings keep declining. $102mn school budget for a town of 25,0000 and yet the REA wants more! This is abject greed.

NJEA and the REA is shameless trying to bully BOE members and their families. We can only guess the abuse the hard working volunteers have faced privately from the REA and NJEA thugs, and if they did have kids in the local schools what challenges that might present. If you don’t like your health benefit premiums, then downgrade to Bronze level coverage like the rest of us in the private sector. Remember, it was your union who supported Obamacare. So now accept that taxpayers are done subsidizing better health benefit plans for you elite teachers at everyone else’s expense. The rate of contribution is determined by your salary, simply the more money you make the more you are forced to contribute. Lower contribution levels don’t work for taxpayers, so suck it up like the rest of us and enjoy your paid summer vacation.

Posted on 18 Comments

Ridgewood Central District Parking Cottage place 10.58 am Saturday May 21st, 2016

Cottage place 10

I wish people would take photos of parking spaces all over town on different days of the week, ordinary and holiday, and at different times to show in aggregate that parking IS AVAILABLE. A large number of photos documented at various times and days of the week would tell the story. Walking a couple of blocks is good for your health! And unless you’re going to a Hudson St. or S. Broad Street venue, you’ll walk a couple of blocks (or much more) from the garage anyway. Please VOTE NO on June 21 and get an absentee ballot if you can’t.

send them in : [email protected]   do not for get date, time

Posted on 18 Comments

Reader say Ridgewood is in Desperate Need of A Master Plan

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

Well our town desperately needs a Master Plan of what it wants to be in the next 10, 20 years and how we will get there. Where will the open space be? how does multi-family housing intersect with garage parking and maintaining a safe “walking village”? What streets could have more parking quickly and cheaply (tree streets) and why don’t we try it first? More parking at a garage is one solution but until you lay out where everything will be it is foolish to throw in one monster garage and think problem solved.

The stores in Ridgewood that have a compelling business proposition do great and even expand: Rita’s, Hot Jewelry Box, Fox’s, Alex and Ani, Learning Express are a few examples. If you are a me too store, a la the GAP or Gymboree I can find you in the mall. There are a few business I will go to if I can find a spot out front (Dunkin, nail salons etc) but if there is not a close spot, I will visit Midland Park as it is just as close to my house. I will not park in the garage for those businesses. On a special Saturday night out in town, I can park by NY sports on the street for free or drive farther from the restaurants and always parking. I am of the opinion that the garage will not be that impactful for businesses, more so for commuters. If the businesses really had a push NOW for their employees to park elsewhere (graydon in winter, school in summer) and did some sort of COC busing for them that might help the store front parking.

Now a business such as Roots failing because of parking is NOT OUR PROBLEM. While it is a beautiful space, it is way too large and the owners were mistaken to think the client base in Ridgewood is the same as Summit. And I really hope the new council gets rid of that gift of a zillion spots to valet outside…Why doesn’t every business – regardless of what type of business – get the same valet treatment? Would be much more fair to have the small commuter lot set up as a valet depot for all businesses…could even add a second level on Hudson or Cottage for that purpose and be done with it. Again, if we had proper planning not patchwork planning.

Posted on 12 Comments

Ridgewood Council members and Council Elect Members Place Flags to Honor Veterans

Ridgewood Honors Veterans
photos courtesy of Ramon Hache
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Council members Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen along with Council elect members Jeff Voigt , Ramon Hache and Bernie Walsh spent the morning at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood placing flags at the graves of Veterans. Thanks to American Legion Post 53 and Andy Haderthauer for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this beautiful tradition.

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The kids were proud too, to take part in the placement of flags on the graves of veterans at Valleau Cemetery.

The tradition is that shortly before Memorial Day, American Legion members place U.S. flags on the graves of their fallen comrades at Valleau Cemetery.

The listing were incomplete and the Legion knew that their quiet tribute missed the graves of some veterans in the 33-acre cemetery. Some graves at Valleau go as far back to the Civil War.

In the past the Legion used what could only be described as a low-tech system for noting the graves of veterans. It consisted of seven plywood boards in the shape of sections of the cemetery. On top of the boards were worn-out sheets of paper with the names of the veterans and the plot numbers. A lot of those names and plot numbers are illegible . We just had to computerize the whole system.

17-year-old Boy Scout Andy Haderthauer, a junior at Ridgewood High School heard about the problem at a Memorial Day Service and applied his computing skills to come up with a solution. Haderthauer put in about 130 hours of work to set up a computerized a system .

With the help of Valleau Cemetery Superintendent Guy Kostka, Haderthauer began his project in August. First he put the board names on the computer list, then set out on a tour of the cemetery, looking over some gravestones that date to the early 1800s.

He also  the help of some buddies and fellow Scouts, saving him days of walking the graveyard alone and three months later, Haderthauer had made up his list, and then used software to display the information by name and plot number.

Last year, there were only 350 graves at Valleau that were known to be the resting places of veterans. Now, double that number have been identified through Haderthauer’s efforts.

The project gained Haderthauer recognition as an Eagle Scout and the gratitude of the daughter of Master Sgt. Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. – a winner of the Medal of Honor. Hosking, a 24-year Army veteran, was awarded the military’s highest decoration after he was killed by an explosion in Vietnam in 1967. He jumped on a Vietnamese prisoner who was about to set off a grenade, protecting his men from the blast.

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Bernie Sanders’s Feud With the Democratic Leadership Heats Up

Bernie Sanders

By YAMICHE ALCINDORMAY 21, 2016

Doubling down on his feud with the Democratic Party leadership, SenatorBernie Sanders said that if elected president, he will not reappointDemocratic National Committee chairwoman, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.

He made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that is set to air on Sunday. Mr. Sanders also said he was supporting Tim Canova, a law professor who has begun an insurgent campaign against Ms. Wasserman Schultz for her South Florida congressional seat. They will face off in a primary this summer.

“Well, clearly, I favor her opponent,” Mr. Sanders told Mr. Tapper. “His views are much closer to mine.”

For months, Mr. Sanders has accused the party of favoring Hillary Clinton, often calling her the “anointed candidate.”

He has criticized the party for a debate schedule that his campaign said favored Mrs. Clinton; an arrangement under which Mrs. Clinton raises money for the party; and the appointment of Clinton supporters as leaders of important convention committees.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/us/politics/sanderss-feud-with-the-democratic-leadership-heats-up.html?_r=0

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Valley of Ridgewood Partners with Share 911 to Implement a New Emergency Alert and Response System

valleyEmergency_theridgewoodblog

May 17, 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Health System has partnered with Share 911 to implement a new emergency alert and response system that will provide real-time information to both employees and first responders. This new technology will play a critical role in increasing the system-wide safety measures that protect employees, physicians, volunteers, patients and guests.

Share 911 is not a substitute for calling 911; rather it is a powerful tool that enables co-workers to help each other and make more informed decisions to protect themselves while the police, fire or EMS are en route.

According to Daniel Coss, Director of Security and Public Safety, The Valley Health System, “Over the past few years, Valley has implemented a number of new safety measures to protect both its staff and its patients. Access to Share 911 will serve as a 24/7 emergency resource for all employees.”

Share 911 was founded in 2013 by Ramsey resident Erik Endress, a 30-year volunteer firefighter, and Ray Bailey, a former deputy police chief. The program was then developed by a Ramsey, N.J. based start-up, OnScene Technologies Inc., which is led by developer Adrian Lanning.

The primary goal of Share 911 is to change the way that people respond to emergencies, with a focus on large buildings that have a large number of occupants. Its web-based system is currently being used in approximately 1,000 locations nationwide including hospitals, K-12 schools and private businesses.

When an individual calls 911, the information they share has to be funneled through dispatchers prior to being disseminated to first responders such as police and EMS. This system is highly effective during small scale emergencies, but can become less effective during large scale incidents due to dispatchers receiving an overwhelming volume of calls.

With the invention of Share 911, building occupants, security and police are able to receive real-time information about a current threat— fire, medical or other—on their smart phones, computers or tablets without going through a dispatcher. And, because it’s web-based, there are no limits to the number of people using it at any given time. This means that all employees can use the system simultaneously.

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How Ridgewood Families Can Celebrate National Pet Month In May

National Pet month Ridgewood

file photo by ArtChick

May 20,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, Now in its 27th year, National Pet Month is a celebration of the mutual benefits shared between people and their pets.

For rescue-animal advocate Cheryl Smith, who founded a non-profit that assists pets in need, the May observance is a time to recognize many of the things that really matter in life.

“How we treat the most vulnerable animals in our society says plenty about who we are as individuals,” says Smith, a public defender who has cared for rescue animals since childhood and believes they can help humanity as much as humans help them.

“As a public defender who spends long hours entrenched in legal issues, loving and caring for my rescue dogs is personally rejuvenating. I think caring for pets helps us stay in touch with our humanity.”

Smith, who was inspired by her pack of rescue dogs to write the children’s books “Oliver’s Heroes: The Spider Adventure” (www.oliversheroes.com) and “Oliver’s Heroes: Two Paws Up,” says there are several ways people can make a difference during National Pet Month, such as:

• Consider adopting from an animal rescue shelter.Pets bring out our inner nurturers, and expressing TLC to an animal in need fosters warmth toward ourselves and others. More importantly, doing something good is good in itself.
• Discern which pet is appropriate for your family.Think carefully before getting a pet. Learn about its special requirements. There’s plenty of information out there to help you decide which dog or cat breed is appropriate for your home life, so a minimal amount of time researching will go a long way.
• Make sure your pet enjoys a nutritious and well-balanced diet. Perhaps you already have a pet. It’s important to know that not all pet-food products are of the same quality. Many attentive owners go to the extent of cooking meals themselves for their pets.
• Ask your vet which health issues your pet is prone to. Various breeds are prone to specific ailments. Male cats, for example, may experience urinary issues depending on their food. Be your pet’s advocate since they cannot speak for themselves.
• Prevent unwanted litters. Each year, about 2.7 million animals are euthanized after entering animal shelters – 1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats. You can prevent an enormous amount of suffering simply by spaying or neutering your pet.

“I can’t imagine not having my little stress relievers around when I come home,” Smith says. “The better you take care of them, the more you’ll feel good about yourself.”

About Cheryl Smith

Cheryl Smith is a public defender who started a non-profit, Just The Place Inc., to assist in the care of pets when owners were experiencing difficult financial situations or environmental crises. She was inspired to write “Oliver’s Heroes: The Spider Adventure” (www.oliversheroes.com) after her courtroom deputy found Oliver, a dog who was alone, thin and scared on the street.