Ridgewood NJ , Two Ridgewood High School Coaches make Coach of the Year in Bergen Record Poll.
Karen Mendez is Coach of the Year
Karen Mendez was named High School Girls Gymnastics Coach of the Year by The Record. This is the second straight season Mendez is The Record Gymnastics Coach of the Year. In eight seasons leading her alma mater, Mendez is 65-14.
Medha Kirtane is Coach of the Year
Medha Kirtane was named The Record’s High School Girls Tennis Coach of the Year. The Maroons have won three consecutive state sectional championships, including this year’s North 1, Group 4 crown. Medha starred for Coach Debbie Paul before graduating RHS in 1996.
BOE Meets on December 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, December 21, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.
Click here to view the agenda for the December 21, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.
11.23.15: Board of Education Writes Letter to the Editor
Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of the Ridgewood News, which was published on November 20, 2015.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department has been getting numerous inquiries from residents who were issued summonses for violating the Village leaf ordinance. The summonses were not issued by the Ridgewood Police Department they were issued by the Building Department’s Code Enforcement Officer. There are instructions on the back of the summons on how to contact the Municipal Court if you wish to plead not guilty. The direct number for the court is 201-670-5500 Ext 501.
“The most vocal comment heard from residents last year was on properties who did not comply with the schedule. Therefore enforcement will be vital to the Village’s success to improve this service. An enforcement agent will issue a summons to those that violate these guidelines”
DECEMBER 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Village Council agreed last week to conduct four impact studies related to proposed multifamily housing projects in Ridgewood.
“It is our intention, per previous conversations, to go forward with four impact studies to look at issues like financial impact, school impact, (municipal) infrastructure as well as traffic,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn said.
These studies, which many residents have been calling for, will be performed by various consultants, according to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
“We’re looking at those four things,” she said, “and we’re telling the consultants that it’s based upon realistic build-out analysis for the four sites under current vs. proposed zoning.”
“We developed some of our own input and we went out to eight potential providers of this kind of information,” Sonenfeld said.
“The current status is that we have one provider who’s provided a very preliminary proposal that includes all four areas and includes some reliance on previously obtained data, and that’s BFJ/Urbanomics,” she said.
Sonenfeld said that other companies submitted proposals for separate areas of study.
“We reached out to Ross Haber in education; we reached out to Heyer Gruel Associates for fiscal impact and education; we reached out to Maser Consulting for traffic and we are in the process of reaching out to the RBA Group for traffic as well,” she said.
She explained that if all goes according to plan, the consultants will come before the council during a special public work session and make presentations before the next council meeting on Jan. 6th.
The ugly work that went into the massive pork-filled omnibus spending bill snaking its way through congress is now starting to be exposed.
And it’s not for the faint at heart. Members of congress had little input in the bill and didn’t even in many cases know what was in it.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Republican of Alabama, in a blistering interview Thursday night, shed some light on the details.
According to Sessions, lawmakers found out what was in the bill by talking to lobbyists, who had a better idea than they did as to what was being included in the bill. “No member of even the House and Senate knew what was going on,” he told Portland, Oregon talk show host Lars Larson. “Special interests did because we heard from lobbyists what some things were being considered.”
Sessions went on to note that basically four members of congress put the deal together without consulting their colleagues. “It’s not right for ultimately four members, in secret — for reasons we have no understanding of — to make critical decisions on things,” he said.
Money-Saving Family Super Saver Fare in Effect For Holiday Period
December 17, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
ALCOHOL NOT PERMITTED ON ALL NJ TRANSIT VEHICLES DURING HOBOKEN SANTACON
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is prohibiting alcoholic beverages on all of its trains, light rail vehicles and buses on Saturday December 19th and Sunday December 20th to coincide with the annual Hoboken SantaCon event. According to NJT this policy will be strictly enforced and a reminder: Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on NJ TRANSIT buses at any time regardless of event.
NJ TRANSIT is offering extra service for the upcoming holidays to give customers more travel options, whether going to the mall for last-minute shopping, leaving work early for the holidays, or attending New Year’s Eve festivities.
In addition, NJ TRANSIT is giving customers almost two weeks of continuous savings through a special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult. Usually limited to weekends, the Family Super Saver Fare will be in effect for the entire holiday period, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 24 until 6 a.m. Monday, January 4, on all trains, buses and light rail lines.
NJ TRANSIT customer service representatives and volunteers will be deployed at major facilities throughout the holiday weekend to assist customers with their travels.
For complete schedule and fare information, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.
On Thursday, December 24, trains will operate on a weekday schedule on all lines with additional “early getaway” service from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal starting at 1 p.m. on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines. Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line will operate on a weekday schedule. Buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule on most routes, with early getaway service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal starting and the Jersey City waterfront around
1 p.m. to accommodate the heaviest travel. Visit njtransit.com for details.
Thursday, December 24, and Monday, December 28 through Thursday, December 31, in anticipation of lighter ridership, selected peak hour trips on certain bus routes will be eliminated. More information can be found on njtransit.com
On Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all rail lines. Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Holiday bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to consult their timetable for holiday schedule or visit njtransit.com for details.
On Saturday, December 26 and Sunday, December 27, trains will operate on a regular weekend schedule on all lines with an additional train operating Sunday only on the Port Jervis Line. In addition, Meadowlands service will operate for the Jets vs. New England game on December 27. Customers should visit njtransit.com for details. Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on a Saturday and Sunday schedule respectively. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Buses will operate on a regular weekend schedule. Buses to and from New Jersey malls are subject to delays. Please consult the timetable for holiday schedule or visit njtransit.com for more details.
‘They are not going to sabotage our campaign,’ Sanders’ top aide Jeff Weaver said.
By GABRIEL DEBENEDETTI
12/18/15 01:23 PM EST
Bernie Sanders’ campaign on Friday threatened to sue the Democratic Party for suspending its access to the national voter database, saying the move threatens to undermine the Vermont senator’s presidential run.
Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, held a press conference on Friday in which he described how the Democratic National Committee was unfairly choking off the “lifeblood” of the campaign.
The DNC suspended Sanders’ access following the revelation that Sanders staffers improperly reviewed Hillary Clinton campaign data made available as a result of a software error this week by political data technology company NGP VAN.
“Individual leaders of the DNC can support Hillary Clinton in any way they want, but they are not going to sabotage our campaign, one of the strongest grassroots campaigns in modern history,” Weaver said.
“By their action, the leadership of the Democratic National Committee is now actively attempting to undermine our campaign,” he said, calling on the DNC to release its freeze on the campaign’s data, a move that has effectively crippled Sanders’ field operation. “This is taking our campaign hostage.”
Weaver described campaign’s data as “stolen by the DNC” and said he saw a “pattern” of actions suggesting the committee has been helping Clinton. He said he planned to bring the issue to federal court this afternoon if the DNC continues to “hold our data hostage.”
Conservative author Diana West says America is seeing a “lining up of Democratic and Republican elites,” working to move America towards socialism.
West told Breitbart News Daily host Stephen K. Bannon that the latest, trillion dollar budget deal reflects the priorities of Republican and Democratic elites, but doesn’t reflect real conservatism.
“It is the definition of what the party elites are, the people in power are, but I don’t think it’s the definition of what a conservative is.”
She also argued that they are sending America down a path to socialism.
“There has been this movement really for 80 years in our history, of socialization….in terms of introducing the tools and mechanisms and practices of socialism into our economy, into our thinking, into our culture” West said. “Even on the right side of the spectrum there is very little consciousness that theres anything else or that there ever was anything else. “
West also told Breitbart News Daily that there appears to be an awakening amongst the American people and that it’s time for them to choose whether America is going be a country with, “sovereignty and with control over our representatives who are supposed to be working for us– the citizens, or whether we’re going to be sucked into the mob of the collectivist internationalist globalist enterprise.”
She added that it, “comes down to, again, this notion of are we citizens or are we subjects.”
Hear the complete interview:
Garrett: New Jersey families are frustrated with Washington because of spending bills like this one
Dec 18, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), a senior Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after voting against the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill:
“While I strongly support provisions that provide health care to 9/11 first responders and address key vulnerabilities in how we issue visas to foreign visitors, this bloated $1.1 trillion spending bill doesn’t do enough to address our nation’s crippling debt, protect civil liberties, nor strengthen our national security and, therefore, I could not support it. New Jersey families are frustrated with Washington because of spending bills like this that are 2,000 pages long, include new surveillance provisions which were inserted in the middle of the night, lack adequate security from the threat of terrorists seeking to cross our borders, and add to the nearly $20 trillion national debt that is hindering our economy.”
Does any of our readers know, there is a place to dispose of old tattered or worn U.S. flags at the train station? There is a box located to the left of the main entrance to the inside of the station house.
Ridgewood NJ, Old flags that are no longer suitable for display are usually burned. There’s no law requiring that all flags be disposed of by burning, but the U.S. Code states that burning is preferable. Snopes.com says this is to prevent the remnants of the flag from ending up in places like garbage heaps. Flag disposal ceremonies are regularly held by organizations such as the American Legion, the Boy Scouts and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook
Pedistrian Struck in Fair lawn , a reminder to wear bright colors while walking at night
December 17,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fair lawn NJ, A pedestrian was struck by a passenger car at the intersection of Saddle River Road and Van Duren Avenue in Fair Lawn shortly after 8 PM on Thursday, 12/17. The adult male victim was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center with a non-life threatening head injury.
bright colors easier to see
The driver of the vehicle involved stayed at the scene and was cooperating with police investigators. It appeared as though the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk at the time of the incident; a light rain was falling at the time. Fair Lawn PD and EMS responded, along with a paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital.
Ridgewood NJ, readers responded with sarcastic wit at the possibility of using the ParkWise parking space locator App to quickly find down town parking availability. Some laughed ,” Not much of an advantage for Ridgewoodites. There will be plenty of open spots in the new parking structure.”
Other’s said “This idea makes great sense. Which is why, of course, the council and Roberta will not have anything to do with it.”
Many have learned over the years that with the Village of Ridgewood the MOST EXPENSIVE SOLUTION is always the best. Whether this is building and over priced ramp at Graydon Pool that nobody uses instead of the far better but cheaper alternative of the “mobi chair” .
Why should taxpayers spend nothing when we could spend millions needlessly? Thank you Paul, Albert, and Gwenn. is the question that rolls of readers tongue ?
Some still not really seeing the parking issue and said , “or they could drive around the block twice and find a spot.”
Other’s offered us a glimpse into the criminal mind as demonstrated in the past when Parking Meter improvement suggestion were being made, the suggestions were always attacked . Since then we have all learned that certain employees had a vested interest in carting out the lose change , ” That’s Boston…This is Ridgewood. Get over yourself’s Boston you are NOT.what a complete waste of time and effort.”
Regardless of where you stand on development in Ridgewood, one thing we can all agree on is that our Village Council must be held to the highest of standards when it comes to their voting practices and in their commitment to fulfilling their votes.
With this reasoning, on January 6th, our council must table any vote on the parking garage until the comprehensive traffic study is completed.
Let me explain:
On September 30th, the Village Council voted (4-1) in favor of doing 4 comprehensive studies regarding the high density housing issue.
Clerk Mailander’s vote call: “Amended version that we just read: multiple studies, traffic and infrastructure study, financial study, and a school impact study. It’s a comprehensive traffic study as outlined by Councilwoman Knudsen, CBD, surrounding neighborhoods, entire village. OK.”
Regarding what Councilwoman Knudsen specifically “outlined”:
“There has never been a comprehensive traffic study done of the CBD proper or the adjacent communities as a whole. It becomes incredibly relevant when we consider that there are four large parcels being considered for high density development with the north walnut redevelopment zone assisted living facility …… and coupled with the fact that we are engaging in ….a parking garage that would add over 300 vehicles to an already narrow, difficult, congested intersection of Broad Street and Hudson. When you take all of these collectively it really becomes imperative that we do our due diligence and ….get this right….so I think to that question, “What traffic studies have been done?” I think “not enough.”
Seeking clarification on December 9th, I asked Councilwoman Knudsen if it was her “intent” on September 30th that the parking garage be included in this traffic study before the parking garage was to be built.
Her response:
“My intention was that it was under the assumption that it had not been built…I was clear with that intention..Each of these very large projects combined had the potential impact and needed to be studied before we moved forward.”
Based on Councilwoman Knudsen’s original outline of the traffic part of the vote from September 30th and substantiated by the above statement on December 9th, the Village Council has no further recourse but to table any voting or other steps toward choosing a parking garage size, applying for a bond, etc, until the traffic study is first completed.
Having a few extra months of study with regard to the parking garage will only improve the traffic/parking situation and pave the way for perhaps even smarter solutions. For example, resident Rick Boesch observed that the parking app could be GPS enabled to show the available parking spaces at any given moment,thereby helping the situation immensely.
It is only of benefit to Ridgewood that our Village Council follows through with their vote on September 30thin regards to the proposed parking garage, so as to ensure that development in our CBD is handled in a smarter, less expensive and less piecemeal fashion.
December 18,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog and Readers
Editors note this article was complied with both staff and reader input
Ridgewood NJ, well Paul, how is this working out for you? Can you say BACKFIRE? You have FECES all over your face with this pitiful attempt to discredit the upstanding Councilwoman. I would suggest that you go to hell, but hell is too good for you.
Yet again our Council majority reaches new depths of hypocrisy. For any of them to talk about conflicts of interest is just laughable. They continue to hold others to standards that they have not come close to reaching themselves.
This story in the Ridgewood News attacking Susan Kundsan is pathetic. Another shining example of pathetic vindictiveness.
Just remember posters Paul Aronsohn could not do this or any thing without the help and votes from Big Al and The Valley Girl. So just remember next year when you vote all three must go. They are all Complicit in these acts. Don’t be fooled by the big words from Al or the cookies the Gwen bakes.
Aronsohn thinks he is playing with the big political boys by playing big-time political tricks, but he is the small-time type and also quite stupid. He forced his “reelection” as mayor by making Ms Hauck vote remotely from her family safari to impress dumb people such as Record reporters. He knows how to act sincere but he stares without listening and is probably the most pigheaded individual ever to sit on our dais. Once he decides something, he will move heaven and earth to make it happen. He is a classic opportunist without a single sincere bone in his carpetbagger’s body. His long series of efforts to defame sitting council members who refuse to kowtow to his every whim is an embarrassment to himself and his position and has tarnished the council for years. I would gladly throw him under a commuter train.
Unfair hit piece on Susan.From what I remember, the vote was to change the residency requirement for positions other than Police & Fire.
If the vote was to change the residency requirement for Police & Fire, then she may have a conflict.Do you wonder why people are hesitant to participate in local government? (https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-wrestles-over-whether-councilwoman-s-employee-residency-vote-was-a-conflict-of-interest-1.1474652)
However Aronsohn did attempt to delay former Mayor Keith Killion’s son from being appointed to the police department now his pulling the same nonsence with Susan Knudsen’s sons.
“Well first Paul Aronsohn had Chris Harris now he has Steve JANOSK from the Record He has the new reporter from the Ridgewood News and the Daily Voice is doing a pretty good job of keeping his smiling face and the parking garage on the front page these last couple of week.
DECEMBER 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015, 1:44 PM
BY BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
As the winter solstice approaches, village trees are now nearly barren and another leaf collection season will draw to a conclusion.
The village is winding down its annual No Leaf Left Behind initiative in which leaves are collected from in front of residences by workers raking them into a pile and hauling them away.
It had been a particularly heavy leaf season during the past couple of months with 31,544 cubic yards of leaves already collected through Dec. 1. At that time last year, only 20,567 cubic yards had been collected, an increase of approximately 50 percent. The final round of leaf collection has begun with the final week occurring in Area D on Dec. 18 through Dec. 23.
Ridgewood has been described as a “very leafy town” with an annual collection of 32,000 to 35,000 yards of leaves on 95 miles of road.
This year’s biggest challenge was the amount of leaves that fell after a particularly heavy rainstorm in mid-November. Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said it caused a shift in the schedule.
“I remember walking out of my house and thinking ‘I can’t believe all of the leaves that are out here,'” said Sonenfeld.
In an e-notice sent out to residents, Sonenfeld did note the unusually heavy fall of leaves early in the season. A significant amount of leaves fell in that two- to three-day period after the storm causing some delays, but also made for an easier time of collecting leaves toward the end of the season.
