Developers eyeing Ridgewood’s North Walnut Redevelopment Area
December 8, 2014 Last updated: Monday, December 8, 2014, 10:47 AM
By Laura Herzog
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood New
Hope for a North Walnut Street parking garage, plus some area beautification, remains.
In the past few months, more than 30 copies of the village’s request for proposals (RFP) for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Area were distributed.
Last Monday, when the responses were due, four developers returned proposals.
These developers are: Kensington Senior Development, Langan, M&M Development and D&R Ridgewood LLC, according to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
And all have offered mixed-use options.
“We have taken a very rough look at the proposals – there are about six or seven options from the four developers. Each proposal has a significant parking component – we required this in the RFP. The proposals are mixed use with either residential coupled with retail and/or office, assisted living coupled with retail or retail alone,” Sonenfeld said in an email last week.
According to Sonenfeld, the team now reviewing these proposals includes herself, Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser, Village Planner Blais Brancheau, Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck and one or more members of the Financial Advisory Committee.
NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES SYSTEMWIDE CROSS-HONORING IN ADVANCE OF NOR’EASTER
Customers advised to check njtransit.com before traveling
December 8, 2014
NEWARK, NJ — As the season’s next Nor’easter storm moves toward the region, NJ TRANSIT operations, customer service and police personnel are taking steps to minimize delays and ensure service reliability and safety. All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.
Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect: To give customers additional travel options during expected winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full system wide cross-honoring for the entire service day Tuesday, December 9, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, bus or light rail. For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station. Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.
NJ TRANSIT will closely monitor the crowds at New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal and make adjustments to service as necessary.
The Corporation is preparing to minimize disruptions and delays to the extent possible, particularly in light of the potential Nor’easter that may impact portions of the area starting tonight. Rail and light rail crews and equipment are on standby to quickly respond to downed trees, power outages or other issues that may arise. In addition, NJ TRANSIT will be positioning locomotives at strategic locations across the rail system to rapidly respond in the event of a disabled train.
Customers are advised of the following:
Systemwide: NJ TRANSIT plans to operate a regular weekday schedule on Tuesday, December 9. Depending on the impact of the storm, it may be necessary for NJ TRANSIT to modify service as conditions change.
Bus Service: While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service throughout the state, customers may experience delays or detours on their routes in the event of extreme winter weather conditions. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and anticipate disruptions to bus service.
Travel Advice:
For the latest travel information, visit njtransit.com or access our Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT prior to starting your trip. In the event of delays or service adjustments, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager. (If you are not yet a My Transit subscriber, we encourage you to sign up at www.njtransit.com/mytransit) Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
Build additional travel time into your trip to a station, terminal or bus stop.
Stairs, flooring and platforms can be slippery, so please use caution when walking along wet surfaces or any outdoor surface exposed to the weather. Use extra care when boarding or exiting buses and trains.
Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or
NJ TRANSIT staff.
If you park, ensure your car is stocked with a snow brush and ice scraper so you can clear your car upon returning to the lot.
NJ TRANSIT is prepared to handle the impending winter weather:
Snow plows and salt spreaders are ready for service and snow-removal contracts are in place with outside vendors.
NJ TRANSIT is well-stocked with 16,000 bags of snow-melting supplies, and hundreds of shovels and snow blowers.
NJ TRANSIT has performed maintenance and testing on its two rail-mounted jet snow blowers in the event they are needed to help clear train tracks of snow and ice, particularly in rail yards.
More than 750 rail switches, switch heaters and overhead wires were inspected as part of NJ TRANSIT’s preventative maintenance program.
Onboard heating systems, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components have been inspected on NJ TRANSIT railcars, light rail cars and locomotives.
Bus maintenance personnel have inspected and performed necessary maintenance on a fleet of nearly 2,200 buses – from the heating and airbrake systems, to the engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers and doors.
New York health insurer Oscar to pay members who walk more
By Caroline Humer
Mon Dec 8, 2014 2:10pm EST
(Reuters) – Oscar Health Insurance, which sells health plans on Obamacare exchanges in New York and New Jersey, said it will pay members up to $240 per year in Amazon.com Inc gift cards for the thousands of steps they take each day.
The plan is the latest effort by venture-capital backed Oscar to distinguish itself in the individual insurance market, where it is rare to offer members incentives to improve their health. Employer-sponsored health plans regularly use incentives such as lower premiums or higher contributions as part of their “workplace wellness” programs.
Oscar made its debut in New York last year with the rollout of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and now has 17,000 members. The national healthcare law bars insurers in the individual market from discriminating against consumers on the basis of their relative health or age, and provides subsidies for low-income households to buy coverage.
Pew: 75% ‘better informed’ because of Internet news sites, don’t feel ‘overloaded’
By Paul Bedard | December 8, 2014 | 12:19 pm
The Internet is revolutionizing news consumption, with more than seven in 10 telling Pew Research Center that they are better informed than they were five years ago because of the news websites they visit daily.
In Pew’s latest survey of Internet use, 75 percent said they are “better informed” about national news, and a near equal 74 percent on international news.
Just as importantly, 72 percent said that having so much information at their fingertips was a good thing and didn’t make them feel overloaded.
The survey bolsters a previous Pew report that found many Americans shifting from print and TV to Internet based news outlets. The new survey shows that Americans are benefiting from the shift.
Overall, a whopping 87 percent said that the Internet and cell phones “have improved their ability to learn new things, including 53 percent who say it has improved this ‘a lot,’ ” said Pew.
“Americans like lots of information choices and don’t feel particularly oppressed by the growing flows of material into their lives,” said Lee Rainie, director of Pew’s Internet, Science and Technology Research. “Even through all the tech change in the past generation, people said they are coping fine and relish new options they have to get and share the information that matters to them.”
Most Americans See Race Relations Worsening Since Obama’s Election
Dec 7, 2014 11:00 AM EST
A new Bloomberg Politics poll shows deep divisions over the outcomes of police shootings of unarmed black men.
Julie Bykowicz
President Barack Obama had hoped his historic election would ease race relations, yet a majority of Americans, 53 percent, say the interactions between the white and black communities have deteriorated since he took office, according to a new Bloomberg Politics poll. Those divisions are laid bare in the split reactions to the decisions by two grand juries not to indict white police officers who killed unarmed black men in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y.
Both times, protesters responded with outrage and politicians called for federal investigations. Yet Americans don’t think of the cases as a matched set of injustices, the poll found. A majority agreed with the Ferguson decision, while most objected to the conclusion in the Staten Island death, which was captured on video. The divergent opinions—52 percent agreed on Ferguson compared with 25 percent who approved of the Staten Island outcome—add to an ongoing discussion that was inflamed when Officer Daniel Pantaleo was seen in the July video putting what appeared to be a chokehold on Eric Garner, a 43-year-old man suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes. Garner could be heard saying, “I can’t breathe,” and died of a heart attack in what a medical examiner ruled a homicide. The grand jury decision not to charge Pantaleo came just 12 days after a similar panel in Ferguson declined to charge Officer Darren Wilson, who in August shot to death 18-year-old Michael Brown. That altercation was not captured on video, and the prosecutor presented evidence of a physical confrontation between the two men before the fatal shots were fired.
New York Rangers announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Chris Falzone on a 1 day contract.
Chris Falzone, 15, is a diehard hockey fan from from Atlantic Highlands,NJ .He started skating when he was seven years old and played on travel hockey teams and was just beginning his high school career, when he was diagnosed with cancer at the start of his freshman year. Hockey gave him a reason to fight through the darkest days of cancer and chemotherapy, and as sick as he was, the only thing he ever asked the doctors was “when can I play again.” When first diagnosed, he was told he would never be able to play again and would need a full hip replacement; however his treatment options changed and he was placed in a semi body cast instead, that was colored Rangers blue; which was not popular as he was being treated in a hospital in Philadelphia, among doctors and nurses that were Flyers fans. Through his treatment, he watched Rangers games and Team USA in the Olympics. He spent four months in physical therapy working hard in the hopes he would be able to play hockey again. In late July, 2014 he was cleared to begin skating and has now rejoined his travel hockey team and is about to try out for his high school hockey team.
As part of Garden of Dreams Week, the Rangers will be hosting Garden of Dreams Night vs. the Penguins on Monday, December 8 at Madison Square Garden to help raise awareness for the Garden of Dreams Foundation and to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles. Throughout the evening, Garden of Dreams programming will be a focal point of all areas of the game presentation and will allow for many children to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at MSG..
The Incredible Shrinking Incomes of Young Americans
It’s repetitive for some to hear, but important for everybody to know: You can’t explain Millennial economic behavior without explaining that real wages for young Americans have collapsed.
American families are grappling with stagnant wage growth, as the costs of health care, education, and housing continue to climb. But for many of America’s younger workers, “stagnant” wages shouldn’t sound so bad. In fact, they might sound like a massive raise.
Since the Great Recession struck in 2007, the median wage for people between the ages of 25 and 34, adjusted for inflation, has fallen in every major industry except for health care.
Ridgewood Emergency Management Advisory: Flood Watch in effect for Bergen Co. area Tues. AM thru Late Tues. Night.
National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Bergen Co. from Tues. morning through late Tues. night.
A slow moving Nor’Easter will pass through the area Tuesday. Rain will be heavy at times with 2 to 3 inches possible by the time the event ends Tues. night . . . with localized higher amounts.
High winds are also likely . . . 20 to 35 mph sustained winds with max. gusts 40 to 60 mph.
The main impact will be urban and poor drainage flooding . . . but some small rivers and streams across Northeast New Jersey and the Lower Hudson Valley may reach or exceed bankfull. This same region received 1 to 2 inches of rainfall just a couple of days ago.
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
DECEMBER 8, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY BARBARA ORTUTAY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |
WIRE SERVICE
Mickey is getting into math — and science, art, reading and even teaching social skills.
The Walt Disney Co. is launching a new line of learning tools designed to help parents encourage kids 3 to 8 to learn outside of school. Disney Imagicademy begins with a series of mobile apps but will later expand into other products such as books and interactive toys. Over time, the target age will also grow to include older kids.
To start, Disney is launching an iPad app called “Mickey’s Magical Math World” on Thursday, focused on math-based activities such as counting, shapes, logic and sorting. Within the app, there are five add-on activities such as “Minnie’s Robot Count-Along” and “Goofy’s Silly Sorting.” The basic app is free to use, but the enhanced activities cost $4.99 each or $19.99 for all five. Future apps, on subjects ranging from life science using characters from Disney’s “Frozen” to creative arts, will be similarly priced. The apps are ad free, keeping with laws that prevent targeting online advertising at kids under 13.
A companion app for parents lets grown-ups follow along with what their kids are doing even if they are using a separate mobile device. It also suggests a bevy of offline activities, such as creating “rocket racers” using toilet paper tubes, duct tape and balloons, or making a colorful “quilt” out of tissue paper to learn shapes.
“I am looking forward to a complete and thorough reform of our tax code in the new Congress. America sent a very clear message in November. We desperately need tax reform that promotes fairness for everyone, not just carve-outs for a well-connected few. Unfortunately, though I support some of the measures included in today’s legislation, this bill is far outweighed by special interest tax giveaways, and I cannot support it.” Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
DECEMBER 7, 2014, 11:19 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014, 11:20 PM
BY HERB JACKSON
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. bucked his party last week and joined only 19 other Democrats in opposing the extension of dozens of expired tax breaks, including some he had said a day earlier were important to New Jersey residents.
Rep. Scott Garrett, a Republican with a much longer history of breaking with his party, joined him in the “no” column as one of only 26 Republicans against the tax package.
It’s an understatement to say that Garrett, of Wantage, and Pascrell, of Paterson, do not usually agree. Data compiled at opencongress.org show that the veteran North Jersey representatives voted the opposite way on three out of every four votes during the past two years, and even on this bill, they voted the same way for different reasons.
The vote could also be a sign that Pascrell, who is finishing his ninth term in the House, is starting to act out against his party’s leadership.
After Republicans won their biggest House majority since World War II last month, Pascrell was harshly critical of Democratic strategy, arguing that his party’s candidates were too timid about discussing improvements in the economy.
DECEMBER 7, 2014, 11:49 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014, 11:55 PM
BY JOAN VERDON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
FAO Schwarz will leave its iconic Manhattan location for the Meadowlands, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor department stores will anchor a collection of luxury boutiques, and Cirque du Soleil will establish a permanent theater for Las Vegas-style shows at the American Dream project, according to information the developer of the long-delayed project is circulating as it holds meetings this week to woo retail tenants.
Triple Five, the developer of the project, is telling prospective tenants that more than 50 major retailers, including such mall mainstays as Victoria’s Secret and Gap, have committed to renting space at American Dream, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. More than a dozen restaurants and a permanent Cirque du Soleil theater are also committed, according to a 67-page leasing brochure and the project’s monthly status update for November.
While a developer’s promotional materials about prospective tenants should be viewed skeptically until the project’s opening day, the list of tenants Triple Five has lined up shows that parts of the American Dream will compete directly with North Jersey’s existing malls for tenants.
A question of homework: tenafly parents protest the load, joining nationwide trend
DECEMBER 8, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
TENAFLY — Pressured by parents, school district officials are considering lowering the stress of homework with such measures as homework-free nights and vacations, and giving students more information about the demands they will face in choosing courses.
The district also will organize workshops for parents on reducing children’s stress.
The measures are being taken after a group of high school parents confronted the school board, arguing that homework is wreaking havoc on their children’s lives.
Tenafly is just the latest of many districts nationwide trying new approaches amid the high-stakes competition for college that has fueled an intense schedule of testing and nightly homework in local districts.
The parents’ group, Rational Homework Review, says the heavy workload prevents their children from maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting adequate sleep. They also argue that some assignments lack educational value.
Other school districts statewide, including Ridgewood and Glen Rock, have reexamined homework policies or changed them in recent years to help balance students’ lives. Nationally, an anti-homework backlash has been spurred in part by studies on sleep deprivation among teens, a plethora of books about the homework craze and a documentary called “Race to Nowhere” about students in a pressured educational environment.
Ridgewood reimbursed nearly $450,000 by FEMA for storm costs
DECEMBER 7, 2014, 6:26 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014, 6:27 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The village recently received a pair of large checks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, totaling nearly $450,000.
The checks reimburse Ridgewood for overtime costs and damage it sustained as a result of both Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.
Calling the infusion of cash “excellent” news, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said another check would be sent to the village before the end of the year for $382,900.
Getting the reimbursements from the federal agency has not been easy.
Village officials — working with representatives from Sen. Bob Menendez’s office — have been meeting in recent months with state and federal officials to ensure the money was recouped.
SLOW MOVING COASTAL STORM WILL AFFECT THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
727 PM EST SUN DEC 7 2014
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN
CONNECTICUT…NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.
.DAY ONE…TONIGHT.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
A SLOW MOVING COASTAL STORM WILL AFFECT THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT WITH A BIT OF WINTRY PRECIP…BUT MAINLY HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY ON TIMING…INTENSITY…AND TRACK OF THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM…THERE IS A LOW POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING ON TUESDAY.
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER EVENTS THAT MAY REACH NWS WARNING CRITERIA. MOST LONG F– USED NWS WATCHES…WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST NWS FORECASTS FOR WEATHER NOT MEETING NWS WARNING CRITERIA.
The Best and Worst Run States in America: A Survey of All 50
By Alexander E.M. Hess, Thomas C. Frohlich, Alexander Kent and Ashley C. Allen December 3, 2014 6:20 pm EST
How well run is your state? Assessing a state’s management quality is hardly easy. The current economic climate and standard of living in any given state are not only the results of policy choices and developments that occurred in the last few years, but can also be affected by decisions made decades ago, and by forces outside a state’s control.
Each year, 24/7 Wall St. attempts to answer this question by surveying various aspects of each state. To determine how well states are managed, we examine key financial ratios, as well as social and economic outcomes. This year, North Dakota is the best-run state in the country for the third consecutive year, while Illinois replaced California as the worst-run state.
