Ridgewood NJ, A physical altercation between an employer and employee generated multiple 911 calls for assistance to Ridgewood PD on the morning of Wednesday, 05/04. The incident occurred at a single family home under renovation on Heights Road in Ridgewood. One (1) person sustained a serious head injury and was transported to The Valley Hospital by a Ridgewood EMS ambulance. Ridgewood FD also responded to assist the ambulance. An officer from Glen Rock PD provided assistance in language translation. No arrests at the scene were apparent.
By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 05, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated May 05, 2016 at 8:49 AM
TRENTON — Two New Jersey state troopers cuffed a woman along a Warren County roadway and hauled her in on an obstruction charge because she refused to answer questions during a routine traffic stop, according to dashboard camera footage obtained by NJ Advance Media.
The Oct. 16 incident, which happened near the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border on Route 519, is now the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the woman, Rebecca Musarra, an attorney from Philadelphia.
Musarra claims in the suit the troopers violated basic rules familiar to anybody who’s ever watched a police show on TV, including the right to remain silent.
She claims at least three troopers insisted during the ordeal that her refusal to answer questions was a criminal act.
…the fly has observed at the home of Mary Beth Lane, who sold her house and is moving out of the area. She is blowing town, not going to be around, but still putting her two cents in on who should run the town? Some suggest real-estate agents using the fear of development as scare tactic creating opportunities for new listings . Others have noticed a preponderance of Wietz signs on empty or for sale properties in the Village suggesting agents are helping out….
this blog post echos a lot of sentiment now in Ridgewood
from the
THE MUSEUM OF PERIPHERAL ART blog
by Drew Martin
Never in my life did I expect to put political signs outside my house, but there they are: Voigt, Walsh, Hache. I have always been withdrawn from politics but what changed me very recently was having attended a public meeting over urban-scale development in our small town where I have lived with my family the past 16 years.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report that on Saturday, April 30, patrol responded to Kings Supermarket for the report of a wallet stolen from a purse. The victim reported that she was distracted by a man who started asking her questions. When she asked the man to reach for a product from the top shelf, he reached into her purse and removed her wallet. The man left the Ridgewod store prior to patrols arrival. The Detective Bureau is investigating.
We would like to remind people of some simple tips to avoid being a victim of these crimes:
Don’t leave your purse in your grocery cart as you shop. The first photo shows the actors hand in the victims purse
Don’t hang your purse on the back of your chair at restaurants. Keep it between your feet.
Use handbags that have a zipper or a flap that latches. Carry it with the flap side towards you.
Carry your purse in front of you.
Don’t hang your purse on the hook on the bathroom stall door and don’t sit it on the floor within arm’s reach. Set your purse at your feet or on a shelf that is midway up the stall wall.
Ridgewood NJ, the May 4th work session Gary Cirillo of Project Pride proposed an idea for an ordinance that would keep campaign signs 15-25 feet from the curb and out of the planters: if the village owns the property, you can’t use it in the CBD. Aronsohn supporter Jim Griffith said,” signs are an inexpensive expression of our rights.” They don’t crush flowers in planters when there are no flowers planted.”
A special public work session was called to discuss minute changes in closed session meetings that Ms. Knuden felt were important to better address some statements that didn’t fully express the intended sentiment. This all came up due to an OPRA request. Albert recused himself, and so Paul and Gwenn tried to make an issue out of it. In the end the vote was 2to2 as was expected and it was up to Matt Rogers who advised the council to allow the amended minutes to be released as the unofficial minutes. The vote this time was 3 to 1 with Paul being the dissenting vote.
Next on the agenda was a request from members of the Chamber of Commerce to allow A Frame signs in front of businesses. Ed Sullivan, past president of the Chamber of Commerce and present member of board of trustees stood in front of the Council tonight and made his pitch of A frame signs or billboard to be allowed in the CBD Although there is a long standing ordinance on the books preventing them, enforcement seemed to begin as of April 1st. There is a good case for their value in attracting walking shoppers to come into the stores which is good for business. The council is currently looking at a Princeton ordinance and it was decided that at the next public meeting, enforcement would be rescinded for a period of time while the council discussed a new ordinance and businesses could continue the practice of A Frame signs for advertisement. It seems an easy way to help our CBD.
The down side is now not only do he have signs post on ever corner with the stores name we have vote for the parking garage , political signs and A-frame signs in front of the stores. Will the sidewalks in the Central Business District now be turned into a obstacle course. Is this ABA complaint ? Will the Village be liable if some should fall into one of these signs because it is the Village right of way. People can just about walk on the sidewalk now with all the tables and let not forget the Greek to Me planters.What is the right balance between promoting access and quality of life? Residents remain skeptical this council majority can come a proper resolution.
For many, the most interesting part of the meeting came in closing Public Comment when resident Jackie Hone came to the mic to state all the inconsistencies in Roberta Sonenfeld’s manager’s report regarding Schedler Park. Jackie spoke of all the emails many of which were published on this blog that she has sent to the council and village manager to discuss her findings that went unanswered. Roberta’s recollection of recent meetings with the Bergen County Trust Fund Staff were a bit misleading. The council majority may not have been required to take action, and by not they are clearing hindering the process of historical preservation. One can obey the law and still not do the right thing. Case in point: the Bergen County Historic Preservation Society has stated that the Schedler/ Zabriskie house is eligible for registry but no steps have been made by the village to request the forms to register the house.
Infrastructure was next and there were a few water facility expenses reported on and about a disintegrating pipe on Dayton Street which was releasing sludge.
For many decades, busy Ridgewood residents could safely ignore municipal elections, if they chose (and many always have), confident that whoever won would govern appropriately and benignly. Too many elections; why bother?
But “politics as usual” has been redefined over the past four years.
Our direction has been forcefully pushed toward overdevelopment and fundamental changes that would forever alter our landscape and quality of life. Developers are gaining an increasingly strong foothold, as they push projects through, encouraged by a specific ordinance introduced by former mayor (now municipal judge, appointed by the current mayor) David Pfund, a willing “council majority,” and board, committee, and commission members appointed to promulgate their views. We are watching the results of a carefully orchestrated long-term plan come to fruition, and we are appalled.
What happens to the voices of residents when a majority platform follows a clearly articulated mandate to vote in tandem on every issue, especially on downtown housing and other building, regardless of increasingly vocal citizen alarm? In a democracy, with citizen participation, consensus moves government forward. In contrast, predetermined, preemptive voting blocs such as the outgoing council trio’s can destroy towns like ours. They have already turned neighbor against neighbor, perhaps part of the grand plan, while fomenting an unprecedentedly toxic atmosphere.
Unless three independent voices join the two continuing council members’, next Tuesdaycould mark our last chance to redeem our village. That may sound hyperbolic, but it’s not. We are on a precipice.
The stakes in this election are higher than ever because of the potential tremendous financial gain of developers who support the trio bloc and their would-be replacements at the ultimate expense of and detriment to Ridgewood and its residents. Our opportunity to protect the value of our town and our votes is waning. If we fail to act now, we will face higher taxes, overcrowded schools, endless construction with accompanying disruption, and a condensed high-rise downtown with worsened traffic and loss of our village context.
With a dearth of buildable space, developers here and throughout the state are pressing for higher density in towns such as Ridgewood. The benefit would accrue to them, not to the taxpayer, who would provide their clients with the amenities of a lovely low-scale village (as long as it lasts). This is “progress”?
We must consider the consequences of development on every aspect of our community, not focus on retailers who understandably crave more sales and diners. Our economy is downsizing, not expanding; retail malls are waning; online retail is growing. All this makes our small-town feel all the more appealing and rare. We are lucky to have it; why destroy it now?
If you are among the countless residents who feel powerful affection for the Village and wish to retain its small-town atmosphere, please make your voice heard by voting in next week’s municipal election.
As council members Paul Aronsohn, Albert Pucciarelli, and Gwenn Hauck step down, three candidates are being groomed to take their place as the new “council majority.” The sponsored candidates are openly running as a team, with a shared group name and branding created by a professional campaign consultant.
They are supported by developers and by outgoing council members, two of whom published separate signed letters of endorsement in last Friday’s Ridgewood News. They are not supported by any grassroots groups in town.
Do we want another four years of watching three council members make almost every decision, elbowing out the other two?
Some residents feel fatalistic and burned out. They assume we’re doomed to face a Valley Hospital nearly doubled in size…an enormous parking garage and rampant high-density housing that exacerbate congestion in our streets and crowding in our schools…and more.
These things may happen, but they are not inevitable—depending in part on who wins the council election next Tuesday.
Valley Hospital:
The Planning Board recently agreed to a reduction by only 3% in Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion. But as many do not realize, Valley sued not only the Planning Board, but also the Village Council, in a separate lawsuit. (One of the two council members appointed to a mediation team by Mayor Paul Aronsohn was former Valley Auxiliary Vice President Gwenn Hauck.) The next council will make many decisions related to this. They could rescind the legal appeal, for example, and revert to Valley’s previous (2010), larger expansion plan, or resist and demand more concessions. Which would you prefer?
We must remain vigilant for Graydon:
Comments on Facebook and elsewhere suggest that keeping Graydon natural is never a “given.” The park must not be used for new building, such as apartments or a school, because of underlying natural springs, severe area flooding, and many other reasons. But LET’S JUST NOT GO THERE. Coghlan-Walsh, Hache, and Voigt would not argue “fiscal responsibility” to harm Graydon.
GarageMahal:
The group supporting the other three candidates has made support for a specific parking garage design their rallying cry. It should not be such a big deal, but they’re making it one. What’s neglected is that “our” candidates all support building a garage at Hudson and Broad. They just don’t want it to be so enormous and expensive.
On Monday, those promoting the new voting bloc held a “rally” for their chosen candidates in the room of a local restaurant in a building partly owned by a developer. This get-together was originally called a “candidates forum.” The terminology shifted when only the three developer-/council-majority-sanctioned candidates signed up to attend.
Reason: The quid pro quo for attendance was to sign a pledge to approve, “immediately,” a certain version of the parking garage and its funding, even though the garage will be the subject of a referendum in a special election on June 21. Click here for details about the “pledge.” Among the email invitations to the renamed “rally” were those issued on Saturday by our deputy mayor over his law firm’s logo.
The three candidates endorsed by us and by Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, Citizens for a Better Ridgewood, Friends of Schedler, and (new!) the Ridgewood Chinese American Association and the Ridgewood Blog had no intention of running together, and are not a “team.” Coghlan-Walsh, Hache, and Voigt retain their independent views and share no logo, tag line, or predetermined plan or alliances. 30-second video by resident Dana Glazer
I can’t stand by and let the old voting bloc be replaced by the new voting bloc without saying anything. Ramon Hache, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, and Jeff Voigt are intelligent, honest, and most important, independent thinkers. They are not running mates, although it might seem that way, since the three other candidates have been lashed together by themselves and others as a “team.” I know how the “team” story ends, as do many other residents. That’s why I fully support Ramon, Bernadette, and Jeff in the May 10th election. They will respect and listen to all residents, as good stewards of the Village should.
Michael Sedon
Councilman, Village of Ridgewood
To preserve and protect Ridgewood, moving forward cautiously and thoughtfully toward a well-planned short-term and long-term future, please vote onTuesday, May 10, for:
ROW 1 Jeffrey VOIGT
ROW 4 Bernadette COGHLAN-WALSH
ROW 6 Ramon M. HACHE
Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM.
MEMORY JOGGER: Vote for the 3 candidates with tiny slogans in three languages above their names on the ballot. You can vote to protect Ridgewood’s future even if you can’t remember their names!
By Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 04, 2016 at 7:25 AM, updated May 04, 2016 at 9:02 AM
WYCKOFF – The Township Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to suspend police Chief Benjamin Fox as the state investigates an email he sent in 2014 appearing to condone racial profiling, according to Township Mayor Kevin Rooney.
Rooney said in a statement the suspension was necessary “to allow for the investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and their appointed monitor to continue without any chance for interruption.”
The Township Committee met in closed session April 19 to discuss issues related to the suspension. Fox was notified of the meeting but declined to attend, the mayor said.
Fox’s attorney, Arthur G. Margeotes, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
In the Dec. 2014 email to the police department, Fox stated he was concerned that misguided complaints about police would cause officers to react slowly in threatening situations.
By Stephen Dinan – The Washington Times – Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Immigrants are supposed to be beneficial to the U.S. — so much so that federal law requires them to prove they won’t end up on the public dole if they are legally admitted.
But it’s a stricture honored more in the breach than in compliance, according to statistics obtained by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which found that of the millions of legal immigrants living in the U.S. and collecting welfare or other public benefits, only a single person was kicked out of the country over the last three years for becoming a public burden.
State Legislation Needed to Close Loopholes in Pay-to-Play Laws
Government purchasing agents from throughout the State gathered in Atlantic City last week for a conference sponsored by the Rutgers Center for Government Services. Jeff Brindle, PolitickerNJ Read more
Two companies sanctioned by state officials to operate under their own rules have come to dominate a growing and lucrative industry in New Jersey, collecting nearly $1 million in fees last year after arranging online auctions for municipalities selling off their residents’ tax liens, according to a report released Tuesday. Salvador Rizzo, The Record Read more
OPPORTUNITY: Global Learning is Still Looking for Host Families
May 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, This June, RHS is serving as the host country for the annual Global Learning Conference, held from June 9 through June 19, 2016. Host homes are needed to help house our nearly 100 international visitors. Students and staff will be coming to Ridgewood from Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Sweden. If you are interested, please contact Greg McDonald at [email protected] or at 201-670-2800 ext. 20506, or Adam Brunner at abrunner@ridgewoo d.k12.nj.us or at 201- 670-2800 ext. 20583.
Ridgewood NJ, RHS Deca students excelled at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville this April. They competed in role-play and presentation events against students from other states as well as Canada, Guam, Spain, Mexico and China. Kathryn Zhou placed in the top 10 of her event. Additionally, the stock market team and solo stock market competitor, Justin Choy, made it to the finals of their competition.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department would like to remind residents of the annual FREE dog rabies clinic on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 6 pm until 7 pm at the Recycling Center on Glen Avenue. All dogs must be accompanied by an adult and leashed or contained in a carrying case.
Supervisor of Health, Dawn Cetrulo would like to remind Village of Ridgewood residents that 2016 dog license renewals are due during the month of June. A $20 late fee will be charged for all renewals received after June 30, 2016.
The health department will be sending renewals via email. If you do not have an email address please call our office and request a renewal to be mailed to you. Renewal applications may also be obtained by visiting our website at
www.ridgewoodnj.net or coming in person to the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 North Maple Ave. The office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. Please call 201 670-5500 ext 503 with questions.
New Jersey law requires owners of all dogs seven months of age or older to be registered with the town they live in. In order for the license to be issued, the owner must present proof that a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated the dog
against rabies and that the duration of immunity from that vaccination does not expire before May 1, 2017. To receive the discount for a spayed or neutered pet, proof must also be provided.
In conjunction with the rabies clinic, the Responsible Pet Ownership Committee will also be facilitating free micro-chip implantations and registration to the first 75 dogs at the clinic. Please direct any questions regarding the micro-chipping to
Ridgewood NJ, According to the Ridgewood Police ,On Saturday, April 23, patrol responded to the Ridgewood Duck Pond to assist the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department. The victim reported that the window was smashed on her vehicle while it was parked at around 3:30pm. A purse was removed from the vehicle. On Sunday, April 24, a resident reported that his vehicle was parked in the YMCA parking lot between 4:30pm and 6:00pm. When he returned to his vehicle he discovered his window was smashed and three briefcases were missing. While Officers were taking the report, a second resident reported her vehicle’s window was smashed at the same location and her purse was missing. Typically thieves target locations such as Gyms and Parks where the victim is most likely to leave their valuables in the car while exercising. To minimize your risk, try not to leave anything of value visible to thieves; store them out of view or lock them in your trunk
