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The Ridgewood Art Institute’s 57th Annual Young People’s Exhibition: Call For Entries

Ridgewood_Art_Institute_theridgewoodblog
April 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Art Institute invites all young artists in Ridgewood and it’s surrounding communities to enter this exhibition. All entrants must be between the ages of 7 and 17. Original artwork, done either independently or at school is welcome. Any size is acceptable, however, all artwork must be framed, WIRED and ready to hang. No computer generated or 3-dimensional artwork will be accepted. Student members of the Ridgewood Art Institute may enter up two pieces, all others may enter one. Entries must be delivered to the Ridgewood Art Institute on Sunday, May 22nd between the hours of 11am and 4pm. The following information must be printed on the back of the artwork: Name,Title, Age, Address, Contact Number, School and Grade.
In addition, you will be required to fill out an entry form on receiving day.

Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony: Sunday, June 5th, 2016 2-4pm
Artwork available for viewing through Friday, June 17th, 2016
Pickup: Saturday, June 18th 2016 11am-4pm

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 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

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Benjamin Franklin Middle School has a history of squarely addressing the issue of teen suicide in Ridgewood

BF_middle-school_theridgewoodblog

April 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, BF has a history of squarely addressing the issue of teen suicide. Six years ago in the wake of the Clementi suicide BF hosted the following presentation (as mentioned on this blog on 10/4/2010). The Ridgewood district should probably host another such event at some point soon:

THIS Wednesday, October 6, [2010] 7:30 p.m., Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 335 North Van Dien Avenue.

Parents, staff and adult community members are invited to this important presentation, given by Scott Fritz and Maureen Underwood of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Scott Fritz is a father who lost a child to suicide, and a founder of the society. Maureen Underwood is a clinical social worker and nationally recognized expert in youth suicide prevention.This presentation is for adults only and will include an opportunity for questions.

For more information contact Dr. Fishbein’s office at (201) 670-2700, ext. 10530. Information about the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide can be found at https://www.sptsnj.org .

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Ridgewood Councilwomen Knudsen Takes Time to Expalin the Route 17 housing issue and process

susan village council
April 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Council women Susan Knudsen explains the Route 17 housing issue and process:

“All, Just my brief explanation of the issue being discussed. First, please understand I was absent from the 4/19 PB meeting due to an emergency medical matter; however, I can offer background info, process moving forward and meeting details as confirmed by our PB secretary to ensure the accuracy of my comments specific to the 4/19 meeting.

As required by law the planning board must prepare and submit a Housing Element Plan. Included in the preliminary discussions were several acres along the route 17 corridor and West Saddle River Road. Those details include low density townhouses, or some type of housing, along with the required small % set aside for affordable housing. Tremendous efforts are being made to protect and enhance the surrounding residential neighborhood by including very specific requirements to be applied to any future development.

There has been no public hearing and the approval on 4/19 was simply for our Village planner to continue his work on the Housing Element. Any public Hearing will require proper public notice as required by law. That has not occurred and there has been no formal (legal) adoption of the Housing Element. The Public Hearing will be scheduled for mid-May, or possibly later, mindful of the timing pursuant to a judge’s order requiring PB Housing Element and Fair Share Housing Plan be submitted by the 6/30/16 deadline.. Any zoning change is subject to Village Council approval and adoption via ordinance requiring additional public hearing(s). The Housing Element will include several other locations in different areas throughout the Village – the entire process is ongoing.

The reporter’s reference to “developer” presumably suggests any future development would be required to follow the zoning regulations including height, setback, buffers, density, etc. Presently, to my knowledge, there’s no developer involved in any of the subject properties in the Housing Element.

To be included in future PB/VC updates please email [email protected]. Also, I encourage residents to check the Village website for meeting and agenda info. Again, there has been no public hearing on this and no changes have been adopted for this acreage or the other locations. Because I was absent for the 4/19 meeting my VC report on this was delayed and will be part of my next VC report.”

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Special Election Scheduled for June 21st to Decide Fate of Hudson Garage in Ridgewood

hudson Garage in feet ridgewood

photo also courtesy of Saurabh Dani

April 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , A special election will be held in June on the size of a proposed multi-level parking garage in Ridgewood on Hudson street. The June 21 was chosen because it falls within a date range officials were required to hold a special election.

Saurabh Dani is a Village resident who worked on the “its2Big ” petition and he used the Facebook group “it takes a Villlage to answer some questions about the garage referendum .
Saurabh Dani ,”The issue of 4 story vs 5 story will be decided by the residents. I have no idea why some candidates are claiming that they will be able to over turn that vote. Whatever is the outcome of that vote, the candidates should pledge to support that outcome, instead of signing the pledge for a specific plan.”

Dani goes on ,”My guess – some of them want to distract the residents from real issues – i.e. Valley, conflict of interest, High density housing, and lack of comprehensive master plan.”

Saurabh Dani , “the council had 20 days to act from yesterday (April 27th), as per their bond attorney. They could have easily waited until May 11th to make a decision. Depending on the outcome of the election on May 10th, they could have decided if a special election is really needed. They just wanted to cause a distraction and make a big deal out of special election, so they went ahead on the day of certification to call for a special election on June 21. The mayor had press release ready to circulate when he came for the meeting, while the village clerk had not even announced the results of the certification.”

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PSEG GAS MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR WEST SIDE OF RIDGEWOOD STARTS MAY 2

PSEG Ridgewood CBD

PSE&G GAS MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM – STARTING MAY 2

April 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G gas will be starting a major construction project on May 2nd, and continuing for four months.  The majority of the work will be on W. Glen Ave. between N. Monroe St. and N. Maple Ave.  During the construction W. Glen Ave. will be closed to all vehicular traffic. . A detour plan will be in place during the entire project, with the minimum impact as possible to the public in mind.  These detours will be monitored for traffic impacts by police officers daily. PSE&G has sent out notices and a robo-call alert to their customers about the work.   Please see the attached plan for phase one detour.

If you have any questions please feel free to call.  Below is the list of streets that will have work done on them.  Phase one will run with the longest and will run as the other streets are also being worked on.

Streets to be used in the Detour Plan –

West Glen Avenue, between N. Monroe St. and N. Maple Ave

E. Glen Ave., between Fairfield Av. and George St.

Lawrence Court,

Heights Road, Monte Vista and Madison Pl.

Alpine Tr.

Colwell Ct.

Douglas Place

Park Slope, between Monte Vista and Madison Pl.

Ridge Road, Heights Rd. and Crest Rd

Sterling Place, between E. Glen Ave. to Kensington Dr.

Glenwood Road

The work is scheduled to take approximately 4 months.  We will be working with the contractor, Fletcher Creamer, and PSE&G to minimize disruptions to residents.

Village Police Department Traffic Control Officers will be utilized.

For further information and FAQ’s please Click Here

To read the PSE&G letter to customers Click Here

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A Ridgewood Council candidate for public office should not be signing a pledge from a special interest group

Ken Smith Ridgewood

April 29,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A candidate for public office should not be signing a pledge from a special interest group. This is just wrong and I am surprised that candidates need to be told this.

If you support garage design D that is fine, just say it. This information is helpful to voters.
In NJ conflict of interest includes:

5) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should undertake any employment or service, whether compensated or not, which might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity and independence of judgment in the exercise of his official duties.
(6) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should accept any gift, favor, service or other thing of value under circumstances from which it might be reasonably inferred that such gift, service or other thing of value was given or offered for the purpose of influencing him in the discharge of his official duties.
(7) No State officer or employee or special State officer or employee should knowingly act in any way that might reasonably be expected to create an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of his acts that he may be engaged in conduct violative of his trust as a State officer or employee or special State officer or employee.

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Reader say Even Lame Duck Status Has Not Toned Down Ridgewood Deputy Mayors Condescending Rhetoric

Deputy_Mayor_Albert_Pucciarelli_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

So our Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli was pontificating about the signs on Wednesday night in his usual condescending manner, about how they can legally be planted all over public property and of course pretending he has no idea who might still have signs up. And what does he say in the midst of his sermon?: “I think we are getting perilously close to having our say about who’s good and who’s not.” Say what Mr. Pucciarelli? Were you trying to say that this would be a terrible thing (the word “perilously” certainly implies such). You were saying that sitting council members should not say “who’s good and who’s not” from among the candidates? This was on Wednesday night, and your ridiculous letter of support for Willett Weitz and Brooks was already on file with the Ridgewood News for publication on Friday. So clearly you have absolutely no problem whatsoever with a sitting (although thank god lame duck) council member stating which candidates he prefers. You are so two-faced Mr. Pucciarelli, so smug and superior, so arrogant and assholic. Oh my God I cannot wait until you are gone. You and the two idiots you are aligned with.

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White House struggles to explain weak economy as Obama boasts of job growth

obama_01_8x51

By Dave Boyer – The Washington Times – Thursday, April 28, 2016

The White House labored Thursday to explain a first-quarter economic report showing the weakest growth in two years, even as President Obama was trumpeting his mastery of the economy in a New York Times Magazine interview.

The Department of Commerce reported that U.S. gross domestic product rose 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2016, the third straight sluggish start to a year. Consumer spending and business purchases both fell, continuing trends that could have ominous implications for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign as she tries to claim the mantle as Mr. Obama’s successor.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/28/wh-struggles-explain-weak-economy-obama-boasts/

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First-quarter GDP shows economy grew at slowest pace in two years

US President Obama waves from a golf cart in Kailua

Published: Apr 28, 2016 10:25 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. economy sputtered in the first quarter, expanding at the slowest pace in two years as business slashed investment by the steepest amount since the Great Recession.

Gross domestic product, the sum of a nation’s economy, slowed to a 0.5% annual growth rate in the first three months of 2016, the government said Thursday. The U.S. had grown 1.4%, 2% and 3.9% in the prior three quarters.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/gdp-slows-to-05-in-first-quarter-2016-04-28

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Stile: N.J. leaders discussed ouster of Assembly speaker

SpeakerVince Prieto

 

At a Cherry Hill fundraiser last Thursday, George Norcross, the Democratic power broker, sounded out Bergen County Democratic Party Chairman Lou Stellato on a politically sensitive gambit. Charles Stile, The Record Read more

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“Smart Food Choices for Healthy Aging” Presented at the Ridgewood YWCA

whole-foods-superfood-salad
April 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, It’s never too late to make health lifestyle choices so that you can stay active. Seniors and active older adults are invited to “Smart Food Choices for Healthy Aging” presentation by Registered Nurse Joanne Wendolowski on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at YWCA Bergen County, 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ. This free event will be held from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Making smart food choices can be simpler than you think, learn facts and tips to help you make wise choices with this talk.
Joanne Wendolowski, RN, BC, MS is the Public Health Nurse Supervisor of Health Awareness Regional Program (HARP) at HackensackUMC. HARP has a long history of providing health promotion programs to participants throughout Bergen County. Health education programs focus on the prevention of chronic illness by teaching the community to eat healthy, be active, avoid tobacco, and manage stress. These programs are designed to help the community increase control over their health with an opportunity to learn positive coping strategies and healthy habits.
To register, please visit https://ywca-smart-food-choices.eventbrite.com. For more information about this presentation, please contact Barrie Lynn Lifton at 201-345-4614, email[email protected] or visit www.ywcabergencounty.org.

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COME MEET “JERRY” Co-Founder Of Ben & Jerry’s in Ridgewood

Jerry Greenfield of Ben and Jerry's Ridgewood NJ
COME MEET “JERRY” Co-Founder Of Ben & Jerry’s
Tue, May 03, 2016
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Ben & Jerry’s, Franklin Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

COME MEET “JERRY”
Co-Founder Of Ben & Jerry’s
Jerry Greenfield will be in our Ridgewood scoop shop to meet and greet
Learn Jerry’s favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor.
Jerry may even scoop you your favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor just for you.
Take your photo with Jerry.
TUESDAY, MAY 3rd
7:00PM
Live Music by Jazz House Kids &Tim Gysin
timgysinmusic.com
facebook.com/TimGysinMusic
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Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands, PLANT SALE

crosswalk planters
file photo by Boyd Loving

Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands, PLANT SALE – Perfect for Mother’s Day

Saturday May 7
Memorial Park at Van Neste Square
10am – 3pm

Annuals Baskets and Pots~~Perfect Gifts for Mother’s Day!

Sampling of plants offered
10″ Hanging baskets $22
12″ Hanging baskets $35
5″ Pots $5 each or $50/dozen

Annuals will be for sale to benefit the Conservancy Butterfly Garden