Ridgewood citizens panel helps village with budget preparations
Monday, November 25, 2013
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials are using a different approach during the annual budget process this year — crafting a spending plan with help from their Financial Advisory Committee.
The panel was formalized four months ago. Seven residents, all with backgrounds in business, meet monthly to provide insights and recommendations to the council on spending matters.
The numbers-crunchers recently attended a council meeting to suggest a “more streamlined” budget process for the coming months.
The Financial Advisory Committee has already met with the interim village manager as well as the chief finance officer. The group is proposing wholesale changes in the budget process. For example, it wants Ridgewood’s operating and capital budgets to be considered jointly.
“The capital and operating budget processes are separate and succinct,” Roberta Sonenfeld, vice chairwoman of the committee, told the council at a recent meeting.
“That struck us,” Sonenfeld said. “Usually those things are done hand-in-hand. The immediate recommendation here was to combine those two processes in the 2014 budget.”
Sonenfeld said this could halve the time the budget process takes.
The Record: Letters, Sunday, Nov. 24
Sunday November 24, 2013, 9:30 AM
The Record
Gift raises questions in Ridgewood
Anne LaGrange Loving
Ridgewood, Nov. 21
Regarding “Ridgewood accepts a gift from donor with ties to builder,” (Page L-6, Nov. 19):
The village of Ridgewood has an ordinance regarding accepting gifts from entities with applications before the Planning Board so that the town may avoid any appearance of impropriety when applications are being considered.
Adherence to this “gift ordinance” has been inconsistent. Citing the ordinance, council members declined an offer from The Valley Hospital for funds to print emergency preparedness pamphlets. Yet, when a principal of Onyx Equities offered council members complimentary tickets to a fundraiser for Governor Christie, the council accepted a number of $1,000-per-person tickets.
US banks warn Fed interest cut could force them to charge depositors
By Tom Braithwaite and Stephen Foley in New York and Robin Harding in Washington
Leading US banks have warned that they could start charging companies and consumers for deposits if the US Federal Reserve cuts the interest it pays on bank reserves.
Depositors already have to cope with near-zero interest rates, but paying just to leave money in the bank would be highly unusual and unwelcome for companies and households.
The warning by bank executives highlights the dangers of one strategy the Fed could use to offset an eventual “tapering” of the $85bn a month in asset purchases that have fuelled global financial markets for the last year.
Minutes of the Fed’s October meeting published last week showed it was heading towards a taper in the coming months – perhaps as soon as December – but wants to find a different way to add stimulus at the same time. “Most” officials thought a cut in the interest on bank reserves was an option worth considering.
Executives at two of the top five US banks said a cut in the 0.25 per cent rate of interest on the $2.4tn in reserves they hold at the Fed would lead them to pass on the cost to depositors.
Banks say they may have to charge because taking in deposits is not free: they have to pay premiums of a few basis points to a US government insurance programme.
NJT EXPANDS MOBILE TICKETING TO THE RARITAN VALLEY AND NORTH JERSEY COAST LINES
Convenient, easy ticket purchases now available through MyTix app
November 21, 2013
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT moved one step closer to a systemwide rollout of its mobile ticketing program today as it announced the expansion of MyTix to include the Raritan Valley and North Jersey Coast lines. MyTix enables customers to purchase and display rail one-way tickets, weekly passes and monthly passes anytime, anywhere, using their smartphones.
With the latest rollout, customers may now use MyTix for travel to and from Newark Liberty International Airport Station, just in time for the busy holiday travel season.
NJ TRANSIT first introduced MyTix in April 2013 as a pilot program on the Pascack Valley Line, as well as between Penn Station New York and the Meadowlands Rail Station for special events, to test the functionality of the app and determine the feasibility of expanding it to include other rail lines. In September, NJ TRANSIT expanded MyTix to the Main/Bergen County and Port Jervis lines, followed in October by the Montclair-Boonton and Morris & Essex lines, as part of a gradual systemwide rail rollout of the program, to be completed by the end of the year. Some improvements made to the agency’s MyTix app were a direct result from valuable feedback from customers using the app during the gradual rollout.
“We continue to expand NJ TRANSIT’s mobile ticketing app as part of our ongoing efforts to tap into the latest technology to improve the overall customer experience,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein. “When the rollout of MyTix is completed by the end of this year, all NJ TRANSIT rail customers will have the ability to treat their smartphones as both a ticket vending machine and rail ticket or pass all in one, providing for a seamless travel experience.”
MyTix is available for free download on any web-enabled iOS or Android operating system, via the App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices. To purchase tickets via MyTix, customers must first install the app and then create an account, which will save customers’ profile information and history of ticket purchases for ease of use. Purchased tickets must be activated prior to boarding the train and displayed to train crews upon request (one-way tickets expire two hours and 45 minutes after activation; monthly passes self-activate on the first day of the calendar month and remain active for the entire month; weekly passes self-activate at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and remain active through 6 a.m. the following Saturday). Customers transferring at Secaucus Junction or traveling to and from Newark Liberty International Airport Station will need to scan the ticket barcode on the fare gate readers to pass through the gates.
MyTix was designed with input from customer focus groups, as well as NJ TRANSIT frontline rail employees and customer service staff.
For more information on MyTix, visit njtransit.com and go to “Ticket Options,” then click on “MyTix” from the drop-down menu.
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, Downtown for the Holidays and Tree Lighting Celebration Friday, December 6, 2013 New this year – “for the kids” 5:30-6:30pm – Santa in the Park for the “wee tots” and a “Kids Corner” offering holiday Arts & Crafts in front of the Park along with live entertainment by the “clock” and in the stores and restaurant along E. Ridgewood Ave. Featuring the RHS Marching Band, RHS Singers, RHS Orchestra 7-8pm “on stage-live” Live Entertainment and Tree Lighting Celebration Featuring performances by Porch Light Productions, From the Top Studio, Art of Motion and Arthur Murray Dance Studio. 8:00-9:00pm “merriment” on E. Ridgewood Ave. Shh – Santa will be back in the Park Lots of music on the Avenue – two live bands, carolers, musicians Stores will be having special sales, restaurant reservation suggested.
Saturday, December 7 8:00am-10:00am Breakfast with Santa at The Office Beer Bar & Grill Reservations required 201-652-1070 10:00am-2pm – Santa arrives at Columbia Bank in a fire truck with gifts for all children attending 60 S. Broad St. 10:30AM FREE KIDS Movie at the Bowtie Warner Theatre 2:00-4:00pm Meet Santa at his house – Memorial Park at Van Nest Square Saturday, December 14 and 21 8:00-12Noon, Breakfast with Santa at The Office Beer Bar & Grill (reservations required 201-652-1070) 12Noon-4:00pm Meet Santa at his house – Memorial Park at Van Neste Square Along with other surprises – weather permitting For latest updates check www.experienceridgewood.com call 201-445-2600. See you there!
On Sat. Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, The Ridgewood Guild will sponsor its third annual Winterfest! Van Neste Square will set the stage for live entertainment, ice sculptures, and a horse drawn hayride around town. So save the date for this wonderful event to welcome in the holiday season brought to you exclusively by The Ridgewood Guild.
POP UP POETRY – coming to Ridgewood on Saturday, December 7th from 12-5:00pm at the old Bank of America building @ 54 E. Ridgewood Avenue.
The Ridgewood Arts Council, a division of the Ridgewood Guild, is sponsoring a FREE afternoon of poetry for all ages ending in an Open Mic. Come read a poem by your favorite poet or read your own composition.
Join us and our published poets for a fun afternoon of participation of self expression, games, entertainment, surprises all ending in an Open Mic.
Email: [email protected] to volunteer or for further info.
Special 1st Birthday Celebrations Held at The Valley Hospital
November 11, 2013 — It can be very distressing to be placed on hospitalized bed rest during pregnancy. Separation from family and loved ones, and concerns about the unborn baby increase anxiety, and loneliness and boredom can easily set in.
A year ago – while each was awaiting the birth of their first child – expectant moms Michele Holiday, from Midland Park; MaryKate McBrayer, from Westwood; and Anna Locke, from Hillsdale; bonded over their shared hospitalizations at The Valley Hospital. Their friendship was further strengthened during their shared time together while their babies received care in Valley’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Earlier this month the three moms and their babies returned to Valley for a special shared celebration of their babies’ first birthdays.
Shown here with Valley neonatologists and staff from Valley’s NICU and Center for Childbirth are (seated, left to right): Michele with Isabella and Samantha, MaryKate with Cora Geno, and Anna with Charlie and Alexandra.
Ridgewood beats Passaic Tech, heads to the final
Saturday, November 23, 2013
BY JIM MCCONVILLE
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record
RIDGEWOOD – Coming into Friday night’s North 1, Group 5 semifinal against Passaic Tech, Ridgewood knew it had to stop Bulldog running back Thomas Jefferson. The Maroon defense did something no one else has done all season and because of it they will play for a championship.
Holding Jefferson under 100 yards for the first time this season, Ridgewood got a huge effort from running back Tim Bonanno and a pair of touchdown throws by Jamal Locke that spearheaded a 31-7 win that moved the undefeated Maroons to 10-0.
It also marked the second time in three games and the fourth time in the last 12 months that Ridgewood had beaten Passaic Tech, which finished its season at 8-3.
Two players had key roles on defense. The first was Alec Hurley, who was making his first start of the season at defensive tackle. He made 11 stops, including a sack, and three for losses and was instrumental in limiting Jefferson to 86 rushing yards on 15 carries.
“We knew that we had to do a better job on [Jefferson] than we did the last time, and we did that,” Hurley said. “We came out with more intensity and everyone contributed.”
The other defensive catalyst was Anthony Hroncich. The junior outside linebacker kept Jefferson from turning the corner and forced him back into the pursuit, and he had only one run of 20 yards — it came on a third-and-30.
“We played so much tougher and more physical this time around,” Ridgewood coach Chuck Johnson said. “Beating a team four times in 13 months is a huge accomplishment, especially a team like that.”
The menorah stands tall inside Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center in Ridgewood. Johanna Resnick Rosen/Candid Eye
Chanukah lights to shine in Ridgewood
This year, for the first time, a Chanukah menorah will be prominently displayed in the Village of Ridgewood, at the northwest end of Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on East Ridgewood Avenue.
According to Rabbi David J. Fine, religious leader of the town’s Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center, “while the question of a menorah on public land was a matter of some controversy in our community, the upshot is that the village is simply allowing the display, not putting up the display itself, and that we have been able to work with the wider Jewish community in Ridgewood in establishing what will hopefully be a tradition in bringing together our community in a newly imagined village.”
From left, Esther Zuckerman, Michele Opper, Rabbi David Fine, and Rabbi Elyse Frishman put the menorah together inside Temple Israel to make sure that it worked. It will be disassembled and then reassembled outside.
The menorah stands tall inside Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center in Ridgewood. Johanna Resnick Rosen/Candid Eye
Rabbi Fine said that during the summer of 2012, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn was approached by a group of Ridgewood residents who sought to have the menorah erected.
Tailgating is doubtful when New Jersey’s Meadowlands sports complex goes under a weeklong lockdown for the Super Bowl.
The New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority says the entire complex will be sealed off beginning Jan. 27. Only those with credentials will be allowed to enter. Signs will warn commuters that they won’t be permitted to take shortcuts through the complex.
The Record newspaper reports that even game-day parking permits will be hard to come by.
Final Turkey Day game between Ridgewood, Paramus is Nov. 28
Friday November 22, 2013, 2:08 PM
BY JERRY PERVINICH
CORRESPONDENT
Town News
Thanksgiving Day will mark the end of an era and a longstanding tradition for the Paramus High School football team.
Next Thursday’s annual morning game against Ridgewood will be the last one Paramus will be playing on Turkey Day.
The move is prompted by concern over the effect of the Thanksgiving Day games on teams trying to win a state championship.
“If your ultimate goal is to win a state championship and you play deep into the playoffs, you face the ‘if’ factor with the Thanksgiving Day game,” Coach Dan Sabella said. “And that affects the quality and caliber of that game if you decide to rest the starters and go with the backup players.
“The way the format is now and with the extra playoff rounds, it kind of forces you to get out of the Thanksgiving Day game. Ninety percent of the state teams have already gotten away from Thanskgiving Day games and we’ve been in the minority here,” he said.
Wards Farm will be opening the day after Thanksgiving…Ward Farm Christmas Trees! We hope to see you for wreaths, garlands, trees , Firewood and more!
Wards Farm
552 Route 17 North
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
(201) 523-0824 [email protected]
https://wardspumpkinpatch.wordpress.com Tweets by NJ_PumpkinPatch
Directions:
We are located 45-minutes north of New York City in the Village of Ridgewood in Bergen County just off Highway Route 17. To get there, travel North on New Jersey Route 17. Just after the West Saddle River exit, round the bend, and then make a quick right-hand turn into the second driveway. The turn into the driveway is quick afterwards! The entrance to the driveway is right before the “Ward’s Farm” sign. Stay safe and alert!
Our address is 552 Route 17, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. If you have GPS, program it to Ridgewood Park & Ride. We are directly opposite of the park and ride on the northbound side of the highway.
Let foreign gambling companies do business in N.J., lawmaker proposes
ATLANTIC CITY — A state lawmaker today unveiled a measure that would let international online gambling companies base their operations in New Jersey and be licensed by its tough casino regulators.
State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), the prime backer of the state’s online gambling law, says his legislation would attract companies based overseas to relocate to New Jersey. The companies would serve up games of chance — including sports betting — to foreign players.
“Why would companies want to set up operations in New Jersey?” Lesniak said at a news conference today inside the Atlantic City Convention Center. “Well, we’ve got a great reputation for oversight and regulation. These companies, now located in Gibraltar or Isle of Man or any other offshore places, don’t have the stability — the stamp of approval — that gives a lot of credibility to their product.”
Under the bill, which has not yet been introduced in the state Legislature, the companies would be subject to New Jersey’s 15 percent sales tax on internet gaming with one big caveat: They would be given credit for any taxes paid to other jurisdictions. (Hutchins/Star-Ledger)
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