James - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG. - Page 3188 of 3731

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Guild Film Festival honors actor Danny Aiello

Ridgewood Guild Film Festival honors actor Danny Aiello

MAY 1, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014, 4:31 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

Oscar-nominated actor Danny Aiello lives in Saddle River, and rarely passes through Ridgewood. That could be changing, the actor said, thanks to his recent foray into the village.

Aiello was named the first-ever celebrity lifetime honoree at the Ridgewood Guild’s annual film festival last week.

The well-known actor was brought to Ridgewood for the second day of the two-day festival, now in its fourth year, thanks to his friend and fellow actor, RJ Konner, a Ridgewood resident. Aiello went out to eat at the new restaurant Mémoire in Ridgewood while the film festival progressed in its entirety in Theatres 1 and 2 of Ridgewood’s Clearview Warner Quad.

“I’ve never been in Ridgewood really for any significant amount of time. I live in Saddle River. I promise that I’ll be here more often,” said Aiello, who blew a kiss to the audience upon returning to the theater after dinner, before taking a moment to praise his meal at Mémoire.

Aiello’s public appearance, including a Q-and-A session, followed a reel of clips played on the screen, featuring some of his best movie work, including scenes from Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” (in his Oscar-nominated role, Aiello played the owner of a Brooklyn pizzeria, a white business in a neighborhood filled with ethnic tensions) and “Moonstruck” (he played Cher’s boyfriend). The clips alternated with Aiello’s more-recent music videos, in which he updates old standards, like “Save The Last Dance For Me,” by crooning in Frank Sinatra-like fashion, with accompaniment from the rapper Hasan.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/ridgewood-guild-film-festival-welcomes-actor-danny-aiello-1.1007166#sthash.L46WH07x.dpuf

Posted on May 2, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 5 Comments

Reader says I don’t think anyone had to setup albano to make him look bad. he did a good job of that himself

Reader says I don’t think anyone had to setup albano to make him look bad. he did a good job of that himself

There were lots of cards with questions and the league women pick out a handful to ask. So first knudson had to know the question would be selected and asked and then she had to know albano would lie so reynolds could come to the podium and ask albano to be clear on what hes saying and then knudson had to know albano would lie again. ah ha! i mean ah ha! you are probably fbi (fool bein ignorant)

Albano could have just told the truth. oh wait. no. he had to lie becuase that was the setup so reynolds could catch him in the lie. ah ha.

I don’t think anyone had to setup albano to make him look bad. he did a good job of that himself. knudson was the best last night of the three and sedon was next. i don’t think either of them had to participated in your big conspiracy.
how old is albano’s grandmother again?

Posted on May 2, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 14 Comments

RBSA Email :This was widely distributed on or shortly before April 15, 2014.

RBSA Email :This was widely distributed on or shortly before April 15, 2014.

Subject: Albano For Council!

Ladies & Gents of the RBSA and Friends,

As you know, Jim is running for Village Council. While he is not just the “sports candidate”, the issue of the badly needed 90′ field, along with an all purpose field (read: soccer & lax) at Schedler is certainly a timely issue here.

(In case anyone is wondering, like the other two candidates, Jim is opposed to the three high density housing projects before the Planning Board. He realizes however, that the vacant lots of long gone businesses neither benefit nor beautify the Village and is seeking sensible development, that enhances, rather than detracts from our quality of life.

Similarly, he feels the current Valley Hospital expansion proposal, like the one before it, is far too intrusive to the neighborhood and our community as a whole. He recognizes the need for a hospital to stay current and calls on Valley to withdraw the current plan and make more of a good faith effort to work with the community to find a plan that works for all.

If you have any specific questions you’d like Jim to address, he is always available.)

The key to winning is always getting your supporters to the polls. With a paltry 20-22% turnout (maybe less) expected on May 13, that will be even more true in this election. We need to get the youth sports community energized and involved, spearheaded by the largest youth organization in town, the friends and families of the RBSA!

I’m asking two things: will you please take an Albano lawn sign? And, would you be willing to be part of a committee that will coordinate our get out the vote effort? This will involve networking, making lists, sending emails and maybe making a few election day phone calls. The anti-sports forces are mobilizing, so this is crucial!

Please let me know – lawn sign and/or committee? Election is 4 weeks from today, so it’s a short sprint. Time to rock & roll. Thanks for anything you can do.

Gary

Please note new email: [email protected]

Posted on May 2, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 7 Comments

Ms. Knudsen and Mr. Sedon clearly do care about the Village

Ms. Knudsen and Mr. Sedon clearly do care about the Village

Fifteen years in town, with three children going through the schools, is not a newbie. Ms. Knudsen is vice chair of the Zoning Board and active on many fronts. Mr. Sedon wrote about Ridgewood for the Ridgewood News, learning more about the issues than 95% of longtime residents.

Mr. Albano has been busy “in the fields” but almost never voted in municipal elections and didn’t attend any meetings. Length of residency alone does not make a person knowledgeable.

The current mayor had lived in town for only a few years before joining the council. The difference is that he has never cared about the town or comprehended what used to make it great. He simply saw it as a steppingstone and continues to use it as such. In contrast, Ms. Knudsen and Mr. Sedon clearly do care.

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

Race for two Ridgewood Council seats heats up

Race for two Ridgewood Council seats heats up

MAY 2, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

A standing-room only audience cramped into the Village Hall Court Room on Tuesday night, when the three candidates for Ridgewood Council debated publicly for the final time leading up to the May 13 municipal election.

Of the three candidates, Ridgewood’s electorate will be asked to select two to serve on the governing body for the next four years.

Candidates’ Night allowed Jim Albano, Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon to answer specific questions raised by the event sponsor, the Ridgewood League of Women Voters (LWV), and address several unscripted inquiries from the public.

Similar to an event two weeks ago at the Ridgecrest Apartments, the candidates maintained cordial interaction with one another and the audience Tuesday night. Their focus differed, however, as each separated themselves and conveyed distinct messages.

Forum moderator Lucy Heller, who sits on the Northern Valley LWV, posed standard questions to the candidates, asking them for opinions on Ridgewood’s pressing issues: the Valley Hospital expansion plan, downtown housing proposals and Central Business District parking, among other topics.

Resident-submitted questions and issues, which were filtered by Heller, included the development of the former Schedler tract and future safeguarding of municipal funds, in light of the theft of $460,000 in parking meter coins. Several queries raised during an open public portion covered the candidates’ prior municipal voting history and time commitment and their stances on flooding concerns.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/race-for-two-ridgewood-council-seats-heats-up-1.1007304#sthash.3TmsNnAk.dpuf

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

GOP foolish to think ObamaCare is fixable

GOP foolish to think ObamaCare is fixable
By Betsy McCaughey
April 30, 2014 | 10:37pm

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the No. 4 House Republican, is walking back comments attributed to her that ObamaCare can’t be repealed. But she’s not the only one suggesting Congress merely make changes within the framework of the health law. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says the goal is to get the law “fixed.” It seems many GOP lawmakers still haven’t read the law, or they’d know the framework is corrupt.

Even Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speculated Friday that repeal is unlikely because it will be “difficult to turn the clock back.”

Nonsense. Even by the most inflated administration claims, some 8 million people have signed up for exchange plans, out of a nation of 318 million. ObamaCare is repealable, and should be replaced with a plan to cover the uninsured and reduce costs.

ObamaCare’s authors paid lip service to these goals but had an ulterior motive: forging a permanent Democratic majority. The law creates a huge infrastructure for enrolling millions of people not just in insurance but also for food stamps, housing assistance and other welfare programs — and registering them to vote.

https://nypost.com/2014/04/30/gop-foolish-to-think-obamacare-is-fixable/

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — 1 Comment

Bergen County freeholders roll out 2014 county budget with no tax increase

Bergen County freeholders roll out 2014 county budget with no tax increase

MAY 1, 2014, 8:37 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014, 9:45 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

The Bergen County freeholders unveiled a 2014 budget Thursday that would result in no increase to the county tax rate and would trim $6.8 million from County Executive Kathleen Donovan’s proposal.

The final budget, to be introduced by the board on Wednesday, calls for nearly $504 million in spending. Besides the $6.8 million in cuts, it includes an additional $712,900 in anticipated revenue compared with Donovan’s proposal.

The plan would result in a $117,077 reduction in the county’s overall tax levy, meaning that the average homeowner’s tax bill would remain close to flat.

“It would be disingenuous to say it’s a lot of money,” said Freeholder Chairman David Ganz, chairman of the board’s budget committee and the longest-serving current freeholder.

But Ganz said the total cuts are about 10 times greater than the average amount the freeholders have imposed during his 12 years on the board.

“We all think as taxpayers that we’re paying too much,” Ganz said. By keeping the tax rate close to flat, he said, the budget will provide some relief.

“It’s a small amount, but it’s a start,” he added

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-freeholders-roll-out-2014-county-budget-with-no-tax-increase-1.1007221#sthash.HyysbCXy.dpuf

Posted on May 1, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

Happy May Day Comrades

Happy May Day Comrades

Posted on May 1, 2014January 21, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

66 year old Waldwick woman critically injured in Wyckoff crash

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

66 year old Waldwick woman critically injured in Wyckoff crash
May 1, 2014
Boyd A. Loving
3:20 PM

Ridgewod NJ , A 66 year old Waldwick woman driving a Mazda Protege northbound on Goffle Road in Ridgewood, crossed the double yellow line into Wyckoff and collided head on with a Overnight Trucking/UPS tractor trailer on Thursday afternoon just after 2 PM. The point of impact was in front of 545 Goffle Road, Wyckoff. Emergency responders from both Wyckoff and Ridgewood rushed to the scene. The victim pinned in her vehicle; Wyckoff firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to free her. She was transported by Ridgewood EMS to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson with severe traumatic injuries. A paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood assisted Ridgewood EMS with treatment and transport. The crash is being investigated by Wyckoff PD.

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

Posted on May 1, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS

MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS – Saturday, May 3rd

Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. The next session is Saturday, May 3rd .

For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.

Posted on May 1, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

Edward Snowden: NSA Spies More on Americans Than Russians

Edward Snowden: NSA Spies More on Americans Than Russians

“We watch our own people more closely than anyone else in the world.”

Edward Snowden told a crowd of fans Wednesday that the government’s surveillance programs collect more data on Americans than any other country.

“Does the NSA know more about Americans in America than Russians in Russia?” Snowden said, appearing by live video during an awards ceremony in Washington. “We watch our own people more closely than anyone else in the world.”

Snowden also took several shots at the National Security Agency and its top officials, and criticized the agency for wearing two contradictory hats of protecting U.S. data and exploiting security flaws to gather intelligence on foreign threats.

“U.S. government policy directed by the NSA … is now making a choice, a binary choice, between security of our communications and the vulnerability of our communications,” Snowden said, suggesting the government was biased toward the latter activity.

The former NSA contractor was awarded the Ridenhour Award for Truth-Telling along with Laura Poitras, one of his chief confidants. The 30-year-old fugitive remains in Russia, where he fled and earned temporary asylum following his disclosures of classified information about the NSA’s bulk data-collection practices.

Poitras also beamed into the ceremony from Berlin. The documentary filmmaker is believed to be one of only two people—along with journalist Glenn Greenwald—to possess the entire cache of Snowden files.

https://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/edward-snowden-nsa-spies-more-on-americans-than-russians-20140430

Posted on May 1, 2014May 2, 2014 by James — 1 Comment

Ridgewood streets to be repaved

Ridgewood streets to be repaved

APRIL 30, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014, 2:36 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

A number of factors are considered when Ridgewood constructs its annual street paving plan, and the impact of harsh winter conditions is typically represented in the final list of roads slated for repairs. This year, the village intends to resurface several main arteries that were battered by Mother Nature and snowplows just a few months ago.

There are more than 30 jobs listed on the 2014 proposed street paving list, but many residents have expressed disappointment, both publicly and privately, that other roadways in need of repair failed to make the cut. In addition, some homeowners have been irked by the selection process, saying their streets have not been properly treated in nearly 20 years.

Officials contend that the municipality does not have adequate funding and manpower to repave every street in need of repair at once. As a result, the village uses a multi-tiered method to determine which roads wind up on the repaving list.

A list of streets slated for paving is available on the Village of Ridgewood website (ridgewoodnj.net) and is current as of last Wednesday.

In response to the abundance of questions and emails that her office has received, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld explained how Ridgewood targets streets for its repaving program. The municipality’s first step, she said, is to seek funding from the state.

“We look at the Department of Transportation (DOT), because we get grants from them every year. Those grants are based on certain criteria and they’re based on certain roads,” she said.

For this spring, Ridgewood has received approximately $270,000 in DOT grants to repave South Van Dien Avenue and the Garber Square area.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/ridgewood-streets-to-be-repaved-1.1005901#sthash.z2M4lRlh.dpuf

Posted on May 1, 2014September 13, 2021 by James — 10 Comments

After Albano Stumble ,his Supporters take to Name Calling

After Albano Stumble ,his Supporters take to Name Calling

Our Guess is these are the same people who sent the Anonymous Email to Mike Sedon’s boss

But it was obvious it was a set up ! All I’m saying is I’m sure ms Knudsen is not perfect ! She was in on it.

RIdgewood is now filed with a bunch of loony nouveau riche fleabags!!! And Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Knudsen lead the pack. Ms. Reynolds needs to get a life! I grew up in Ridgewood and it is not what it used to be. I made a conscious decision not to live in that town and raise my family because of the type of people that live there.
Anyone with half a brain could see last night that Mr. Albano was set up What does that say about Ms. Knudsen’s character ??

GREAT, no matter what happens we are going to get a newbie in town or possibly two on the council. One who has been here a whole 4 years or the other who has been here 15 years. Neither know the history of this town! This is a real recipe for success. NOT

If you ask me Knudsen came of condescending and arrogant. Didn’t she run for a spot on the BOE or was that her BFF Reynolds and didn’t get elected??? As far as Sedon, he looked like Knudsen’s lap dog….

Posted on May 1, 2014August 14, 2021 by James — 4 Comments

Candidates for Ridgewood Council air views at forum

Candidates for Ridgewood Council air views at forum

MAY 1, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014, 1:20 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — Voters will select two new members to the Village Council in just two weeks, so they packed a forum to meet the three candidates hoping to earn their support.

It was standing room only in Village Hall for Tuesday’s event, which was organized and hosted by the League of Women Voters.

James Albano, Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon aired their individual views on a variety of village issues, ranging from Ridgewood’s decades-long parking dearth to Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion.

“I believe the idea of a stacked parking deck [as part of the plans] is very troubling and concerning,” Knudsen said of Valley’s proposal to nearly double in size, providing 454 private rooms with 12-foot-high ceilings.

“It will forever change the charm and character of the neighborhood,” said Knudsen, vice chairwoman of Board of Adjustment, who has lived in Ridgewood for 15 years.

Knudsen said the village ordinance providing “interested parties” the freedom to request changes to Ridgewood’s master plan “must be repealed.”

Sedon, a freelance journalist who once worked at the Ridgewood News, said it “is not OK to ask too much of your neighbors and overburden them, and this expansion project is doing that.”

Sedon has lived in the village with his wife and three children since 2010.

Albano, who lives in the neighborhood surrounding Valley Hospital, said hospital and village officials “need to find common ground” on the proposal, but agreed the “neighbors’ concerns need to come first.”

Albano, a 42-year Ridgewood resident, serves as board president of the Ridgewood Baseball Softball Association.

Parking problems have persisted in Ridgewood since “there have been automobiles,” Sedon said, adding that he supports installing second tiers for parking above existing lots in Ridgewood rather than a large parking garage in town that “will concentrate all the cars, concentrate all the traffic, and create havoc.”

Knudsen also supports a “two-tier parking system,” but also advocated “reconfiguring existing parking to get more spots.”

Albano said he thinks a parking garage in the Central Business District would help keep downtown vibrant.

All three candidates placed an importance on stabilizing taxes while maintaining service levels, and agreed government should be both sensible and efficient.

All three also agreed that three high-density, multiple-unit housing projects before the Planning Board would negatively affect the village and fundamentally change Ridgewood’s character.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/hospital-expansion-parking-lead-forum-1.1006839#sthash.JA3mDsPS.dpuf

Posted on May 1, 2014May 1, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

US economy slowed to 0.1 percent growth rate in Q1

US economy slowed to 0.1 percent growth rate in Q1

Apr 30, 9:38 AM (ET)

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy slowed drastically in the first three months of the year as a harsh winter exacted a toll on business activity. The slowdown, while worse than expected, is likely to be temporary as growth rebounds with warmer weather.

Growth slowed to a barely discernible 0.1 percent annual rate in the January-March quarter, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. That was the weakest pace since the end of 2012 and was down from a 2.6 percent rate in the previous quarter.

Many economists said the government’s first estimate of growth in the January-March quarter was skewed by weak figures early in the quarter. They noted that several sectors — from retail sales to manufacturing output — rebounded in March. That strength should provide momentum for the rest of the year.

And on Friday, economists expect the government to report a solid 200,000-plus job gain for April.

(AP) In this March 26, 2014 picture, Jon Wyand works on a truck engine assembly line at…
Full Image
“While quarter one was weak, many measures of sentiment and output improved in March and April, suggesting that the quarter ended better than it began,” said Dan Greenhaus, chief investment strategist at global financial services firm BTIG.

Still, the anemic growth last quarter is surely a topic for discussion at the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, which ends Wednesday afternoon. No major changes are expected in a statement the Fed will release. But it will likely announce a fourth reduction in its monthly bond purchases because of the gains the economy has been making. The Fed’s bond purchases have been intended to keep long-term loan rates low.

https://apnews.myway.com/article/20140430/us-economy-gdp-09b1567225.html

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