Author: James

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Landmark vote splits N.J. H.S. football along public/non-public lines

footballyoubet_theridgewoodblog

DECEMBER 7, 2015, 12:01 PM    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015, 12:46 AM
BY GREGORY SCHUTTA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

EDISON – It was billed as a referendum on the state of public versus non-public schools in New Jersey high school sports.

And in little more than 90 minutes Monday, the membership of the state athletics governing body spoke, changing the athletic landscape as we know it – at least for the time being.

In a landmark vote, the members of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association approved historic proposals separating public and non-public schools in football and splitting non-public wrestlers into their own districts and region.

“I think a lot of people are realizing how huge the disparity has grown,” said Denis Nelson, athletic director at River Dell. “If there were an ability for level competition, we wouldn’t be having these problems.”

In one of the most highly attended NJSIAA membership meetings in recent history, officials from 345 of the association’s 433 member schools cast votes and approved the separation proposals by nearly identical margins.

The football proposal, which passed 215-128 with two abstentions, would remove all non-public schools from  their current conference for football only and force them to create a statewide conference of their own, with full schedules.

It’s the third time in the past decade that some type of football separation proposal has reached the membership of the NJSIAA – but the first time one was approved.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/n-j-football-split-along-public-non-public-lines-in-landmark-vote-1.1469138

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood continues process to update master plan

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

DECEMBER 7, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015, 11:11 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Planning Board members continued their review of the village master plan at last Tuesday night’s meeting, focusing much of the discussion on the housing element of the plan.

As part of his presentation, Village Planner Blais Brancheau explained the review process, noting that the state mandates that municipalities update their master plans at least once every decade.

“State law requires that planning boards, at least every 10 years, require a re-examination of the master plan of the village,” he said. “The purpose is to make sure that those documents are still current and not dated.”

However, he said that the plan should be updated more often than what is required.

Brancheau also went through Ridgewood’s master plan, explaining a few changes he recommended to the board.

“The purpose of the re-exam is not to identify every possible solution to the direction that we would like to pursue, but to identify what we can in the time that we have,” he said. “This doesn’t preclude identifying additional changes or issues when the re-exam is finished.”

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/planners-continue-re-exam-process-1.1469121

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Public Hearing on Ridgewood’s High Density Housing will continue during the Village Council meeting WEDNESDAY evening..

village parking flyies

THIS Wednesday, December 9th at 8:00 pm at Village Hall

PLEASE try to attend the meeting.  The Mayor and Council will be discussing TWO very important issues that could change the character of our village forever:  Multi-Family Housing and the Hudson Street Parking Garage.   It is crucial that as many residents as possible attend the meeting to show the Mayor and Council that residents remain vigilant and demand responsible decision-making.  On September 30, more than 600 residents turned out and our voices were heard when the Council voted 4-1 to perform studies to understand the effects of adding high density housing to the CBD before voting.  Let’s continue to have a voice!

Agenda:

At approximately 8:30 pm, after presentations, Village Manager and Council reports, and comments from the public, a $12.3 million bond ordinance will be introduced to fund the Hudson Street Parking Deck.  The parking garage discussion is relevant to the high-density housing debate.  If the largest of the 3 parking garage options is approved (which is likely, as it is favored 3-2 by a majority of the Council members), the new parking garage could set a precedent for the height, size and bulk of future buildings in the CBD, and could have implications for the size of any new apartment buildings.  See attached for photos of the proposed garage, particularly the view on Hudson Street.

The Public Hearing on Land Use and Development (High Density Housing) will continue, and the Mayor and Council will discuss the next steps to be taken with regard to the four independent studies approved onSeptember 30, including financial impact, comprehensive traffic, school impact, and infrastructure studies.  We must demand Village Council members honor their commitment and hire an independent firm to conduct all of the promised studies, taking into consideration the effects of adding four multi-family developments, a 98-unit assisted living facility and a large parking garage all at once.

Please come to the meeting at 8:00 pm on Wednesday.  Let’s show the Mayor and Council that we did not forget what they voted for on September 30th!

If you can not attend the meeting, you can watch the meeting on Fios Channel 34 or Cablevision Channel 77.

Thank you for your continued support.

Citizens for a Better Ridgewood

[email protected]

Posted on by — 27 Comments

Village of Ridgewood Manager Explains Delays with Leaf Pick Up

Village_Manager_Roberta_Sonenfeld_theridgewoodblog

E Notice – December 4th – Leaves Update

Dear Neighbor,

As mentioned in a previous E-Notice, we had an early heavy leaf drop this year. Through December 1 we have collected 31,544 cubic yards of leaves – this compares with 20, 567 last year at the same time – a 50% increase! The total leaves collected last year were 35,257 cubic yards so this upcoming round is really like our final clean up. As a result we are taking longer in each of our Areas (an extra three to four days)and are updating our collection schedule as follows:

Area A: December 4 to December 10

Area B: Remains the same

Area C: December 11 to December 17

Area D: December 18 – December 23

This has also been posted on our website – which I would encourage you to monitor: www.ridgewoodnj.net

As I have also mentioned, we will do a post mortem on the season and have been benchmarking with like communities around us to share ideas and best practices. I would like to include some residents in our post mortem process as I know through my correspondences with you there are residents that have a passion about this issue and have many ideas as well. If you would be interested in attending a meeting at Village Hall (probably in January) to discuss your thoughts, please let me know. And also let me know your preference for timing, e.g. daytime, evening, etc.

Best wishes for a safe, happy and healthy holiday season, Roberta

Best regards,

Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager

Posted on by — Leave a comment

ISIS has targeted refugee program to enter US, chairman says

illegal immigrants3

By Julian Hattem – 12/07/15 01:33 PM EST

Intelligence officials have determined that Islamic extremists have explored using the refugee program to enter the United States, the head of the House Homeland Security Committee said on Monday.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) declined to go into detail about the determination, which the Obama administration has not announced publicly.

Yet the disclosure could add ammunition to critics of the White House’s refugee plans who have warned that the program is vulnerable to infiltration by adherents of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“ISIS members in Syria have attempted to exploit it to get into the United States,” McCaul said during a speech at the National Defense University on Monday.

“The U.S. government has information to indicate that individuals tied to terrorist groups in Syria have already attempted to gain access to our country through the U. S. refugee program.”

McCaul would not say specifically who informed him and other lawmakers about the revelation, only describing the sources as “elements of the intelligence community.”

“That was very courageous for them to come forward with this, to tell me about this personally, given the political debate on the Hill,” he added, suggesting that the news did not come from intelligence leaders.

The briefing happened “earlier this week,” McCaul said.

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/262316-isis-has-targeted-refugee-program-to-enter-us-chairman-says

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Obama’s Speech Fails to Reasure , Americans stock up on weapons after California shooting

Guns

By Rich McKay and Daina Beth Solomon3 hours ago

Mourners gather around a makeshift memorial in honor of victims following Wednesday’s attack in San …

By Rich McKay and Daina Beth Solomon

ATLANTA/SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Reuters) – At a gun range in Atlanta on Sunday, four days after the deadliest Islamic State-inspired attack on American soil, Brandon Langley practiced firing his AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle.

“If people were armed, it would have changed the outcome totally,” Langley said of Wednesday’s assault by a heavily armed husband and wife that killed 14 people and wounded 21 in San Bernardino, California. “Instead of 14 victims, there would have been zero, except for those two (attackers).”

Many Americans agree and are stocking up on weapons after the country’s worst mass shooting in three years. Gun retailers are reporting surging sales, with customers saying they want to keep handguns and rifles at hand for self-defense in the event of another attack.

“Everyone is reporting up, every store, every salesman, every distributor,” said Ray Peters, manager of Range, Guns & Safes, a company that sells firearms and safes in Atlanta with an indoor firing range. “People are more aware of the need to protect themselves.”

Peters usually carries a pistol with him. But since last week’s shooting, he says he’s added a Ruger semiautomatic rifle.

In a country where more people own more guns than anywhere else in the world, the shooting has reignited a long-running national debate over Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms and whether gun ownership should be curbed or expanded as a way to stop even more bloodshed.

https://news.yahoo.com/americans-stock-weapons-california-shooting-140648043.html

Posted on by — 1 Comment

ISIS plot for world domination revealed in chilling detail with plans for education and industry

ISIS_theridgewoodblog

12:13, 7 DEC 2015
UPDATED 17:26, 7 DEC 2015
BY SAM WEBB

The leaked document outlines how the terror group is trying to build a state complete with guidelines for education, natural resources, industry, diplomacy, propaganda and the military.

A document outlining how ISIS organises the vast territory it controls has been unearthed – and the terror group is far more sophisticated than we feared.

The leaked dossier outlines how the terror group is trying to build a state complete with guidelines for education, natural resources, industry, diplomacy, propaganda and the military.

The 24-page document ‘Principles in the administration of the Islamic State’ gives an incredible insight into the well-funded regime.

Written by an Egyptian called Abu Abdullah, outlines how kids must receive “training on bearing light arms”.

Read more: How ISIS will ‘rule the world’

He also calls for a single identity for the terror group to unite both foreigners and locals and makes the case for establishing independent “factories for local military and food production”.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/isis-plot-world-domination-revealed-6968444

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Today We Remember the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor

pearl-harbor-mem-day

December 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Today we’re reflecting on that infamous day in 1941 at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,400 American lives lost, 1,000 U.S. military and civilians wounded, 21 ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged, 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed and 159 U.S. aircraft damaged.

Today “A date which will live in infamy.” 74 years later, and we honor their sacrifice.

74 years ago America was attacked at Pearl Harbor and America’s greatest generation responded with a courage and resolve that the world had never seen before. Today we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Santa will be Checking his list this Saturday in Van Neste Square in Ridgewood

Santa Clause Ridgewood PD and FD
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
Santa will be Checking his list this Saturday in Van Neste Square in Ridgewood
December 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police and Firefighters escorted Santa who arrived on a firetruck last Saturday at Columbia Bank on South Broad Street.

Santa will host a breakfast at the Office Bar and Grill 32 Chestnut St, 8:30 am at Ridgewood, NJ 07450 call for reservations 201-652-1070. YWCA Bergen County will be participating.

Santa will be in the Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, E Ridgewood Ave and Oak Street, Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Local State and Transit Police Plus Bergen County Agencies Respond to Large Brawl at BOOM Burger in Rochelle park

BOOM Burger
photo Courtesy of Boyd Loving”s Facebook page

Local  State and Transit Police Plus Bergen County agencies Respond to Large Brawl at BOOM Burger in Rochelle park

December 7,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Rochelle Park NJ,  Police from more than a dozen Bergen County agencies plus NJ State and NJ Transit PD units responded to a large bar brawl at the Boom Burger restaurant, 375 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park on Sunday evening, 12/06 at approximately 7:30 PM. An unknown number of restaurant patrons suffered minor injuries in the fracas. Two (2) ambulances were also called to the scene and at least two (2) patrons received treatment on site, but no one was transported to a hospital. No word on whether there were any arrests related to the incident, nor what precipitated the brawl. Jets ,Giants Bragging rights ,Football you bet!

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Which N.J. private college presidents make the most money?

princeton

By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 06, 2015 at 6:00 PM, updated December 07, 2015 at 7:14 AM

PRINCETON — Compensating both its outgoing and new presidents cost Princeton University more than $1.5 million in 2013, new data shows.

With outgoing president Shirley Tilghman and new President Christopher Eisgruber, the university had two of the three highest paid private college presidents in New Jersey in 2013, according to a study released today by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The data is part of the Chronicle’s annual look at the pay of America’s private college presidents. Nationally, the median compensation for private school presidents was $436,429 in 2013, up 5.6 percent from 2012, according to the report.

Columbia University’s Lee Bollinger led the country in compensation, garnering $4.6 million. Overall, 32 private college presidents surpassed $1 million in total compensation, according to the report.

https://www.nj.com/education/2015/12/how_much_do_new_jersey_college_presidents_make.html?ath=9c46bfc08d76232bb5a5e00eeaf0bfa2#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Raymond’s Resturant will host a Breakfast with Chris Snee, 2 Time Super Bowl Champion

Chris Snee NY Giants

Fri, December 11, 2015
Time: 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Location: Raymond’s Restaurant, 101 E Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Ridgewood NJ, We thought the December breakfast meeting would be a wonderful time to have a guest speaker on a non-investment related topic. We are excited to have Chris Snee, a two time Super Bowl Champion with the NY Giants at our breakfast on December 11th. Chris will share his experiences as a Pro Bowl offensive lineman and reflect on the team’s Super Bowl victories over the Patriots.

Parks Wealth Management is making a donation in Chris’s honor to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, which helps families tackle childhood cancer by providing financial, emotional and practical support. We will also be collecting gently used or new winter coats, hats, scarfs, gloves and mittens for The Relief Bus, a mobile soup kitchen helping the poor and homeless in NY and NJ.

Those who make a donation or bring a clothing item will be entered in a raffle for a personally signed football by Chris.

The event will take place at Raymond’s Resturant on Friday, December 11th, 2015 from 7:00AM to 8:30AM. Raymond’s is located at 101 East Ridgewood Avenue in downtown Ridgewood. You can park free on the street until 10am.

You are welcome to invite a guest that you would like to introduce to Parks Wealth Management.

Please let us know if you are attending by clicking on the following link. Jim, Jonathon, and Ania’s Breakfast Club RSVP

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15RZpuwZ2KDzPB9H9ojpND0P9rNzUPHmfu98OAOh8GbM/viewform

Posted on by — 1 Comment

The unanswered PARCC question: How many N.J. kids opted out?

standardized-testing

The question buzzed throughout New Jersey schools for months. As the state prepared to administer new standardized tests in English and math last spring, parents, teachers and administrators wondered how many students would refuse to participate, the hallmark of a small but growing “opt out” movement in New Jersey. Adam Clark, NJ.com Read more

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Knights to Host Senior Citizen Christmas Party

santa knights of columbus

file photo 2014

December 7,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood-NJ,The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 will hold their annual senior citizens Christmas party in the Parish Center at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Sunday, December 20, 2015. All are welcome. Guests will be treated to a buffet lunch, entertainment, Christmas carols, and a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

For more information, contact event organizers Mark Stappenbeck (201) 444-3346, or Mike Mengin (201) 689-0562