02/19/13 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting CANCELLED
02/26/13 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
02/27/13 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session
02/28/13 7:30PM Planning Board Special Public Meeting
03/05/13 7:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting
03/06/13 7:30PM Village Council Public Work Session
03/11/13 7:30PM Planning Board Special Public Meeting
03/12/13 7:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
The Village Council is the governing body of the Village of Ridgewood. There are five Council members who are elected at large, on a non-partisan basis. The Municipal Election for Village Council takes place on the second Tuesday in May, in even numbered years. The term of a Council member is four years. The Mayor is chosen by the Village Council every two years, after a Municipal Election. The Reorganization meeting,which is when the new Council members take office is held on July 1st.
Village Council members serve part-time, and most have full-time jobs. They appoint a Village Manager to oversee the day to day operations of the Village, to handle personnel, citizen inquiries and complaints, and to handle the administrative duties of the Village.
The Village Council passes local laws, makes appointments to various Boards and Committees, and awards various contracts for purchases of goods and services used by the Village.
They also review, amend, and adopt the annual budget for the Village prepared by the Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
Road Work on Maple Snarls Traffic in Downtown Ridgewood
February 19,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj , A little bit of road work in the Central Business distract tied up traffic most of the day Tuesday .Traffic was tied up on Maple and East Ridgewood with very limited access to the Bank of America on Maple.
The Village recently revealed a study that claims that four high-density, multifamily housing complexes proposed for downtown could alleviate traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety. , is that right?
It will be interesting to test the theory if 4 multifamily housing projects and two parking garages as well as a renewed Valley Expansion will alleviate traffic congestion as claimed.
To make matters worse the Ridgewood PD failed to mention it on either their website or Facebook page .
the fly is wondering which way the wind is blowing CRR
it seems that Councilwomen Hauck’s sister is a member of CRR is now avid pro-development. She came out of the closet not surprisingly almost at the very instant the CRR lawsuit against Valley was dismissed. Her recent comments on the Glen Rock Patch claiming , “the odd-sounding predictions by their developments and village traffic consultants are accurate ” leave one to speculate whether CRR has be so infiltrated by Aronsohn’s pro Valley people that is is no longer effective as an organization? .
Readers say time for Valley to pay in PILOT to Ridgewood
Hackensack hospital has paid millions in PILOT to Hackenasck for years while Valley has hidden behind their nonprofit.
They do provide some support to activities such as the 4th of July parade etc. They paid for much of the field at Northern Parkway in order to buy the field committee support after the debacle of trying to build under Bf field but none of that compares to how much of a negative effect they have had on the infrastructure. This expansion will only exacerbate that and still they try to make everyone believe how wonderful they are to Ridgewood.
Strictly speaking, the fact that Valley Hospital doesn’t pay real estate tax is a result of State Law.
Valley hospital pays for it’s water use and a sewage fee but tis property tax exempt. Whatever commerce is generated is self contained as food for the institution is out sourced and it has it’s own visitor food service and gift shop. The burden is the cost of municipal services for the valley for which they don’t pay tax, and the wear and tear on local infrastructure and loss of quality of life for it’s neighbors. Let valley invest it’s resources elsewhere.
However, Valley Hospital could make an annual contribution to the town.
DHS Advances Plan For “Public Safety” Drones
More incarnations of spy technology to undergo testing
Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
February 18, 2013
The Department of Homeland Security is advancing its plan to use surveillance drones for “public safety” applications, announcing last week that it had received a deluge of “excellent” responses from potential vendors and was set to carry out more tests of the technology.
New testing of spy drones for “public safety” applications has been rubber stamped by the DHS. Image: YouTube
As we first reported in July last year, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano told a House Committee on Homeland Security that the federal agency was “looking at drones that could be utilized to give us situational awareness in a large public safety [matter] or disaster,” despite the fact that the agency had previously indicated it was reticent to use spy drones to keep tabs on the public.
This was followed by a “market research” announcement in September that confirmed the DHS was exploring a “Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety” (RAPS) project, and was asking small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) vendors to take part.
Xanadu Wake-up call: American Dream project needs new look before Super Bowl
Maybe it’s nothing more than lipstick on a pig, but New Jersey officials want to see a different face on the exterior of the long-stalled American Dream super mall project before next year’s Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium.
The sprawling, unfinished structure once known as Xanadu — just over a football field-length away from MetLife Stadium — will not be completed before the big game next February, developers concede. But with construction slated to finally resume later this year, the state says it is looking for at least a change in the look of the garish and incomplete entertainment and retail complex before guests come to town. (Sherman/Star-Ledger)
The Man Behind Robert Menendez’s Troubles
By Ezra Fieser/ Boca ChicaFeb. 18, 201317 Comments
Feb. 13, 2013.
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
Every day in a steady stream, hundreds of trucks line up at the Multimodal Caucedo port in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, with shipping containers bound for the rest of the world. Mostly they carry bananas, clothes and other legal exports. Sometimes they are full of cocaine.
In recent years, the containers have become one of the favored methods for drug traffickers operating in the Dominican Republic, security officials say. Perhaps that’s because the country’s sole X-ray machine scans less than 5% of the containers.
Efforts to solve that problem are at the root of a growing scandal surrounding a powerful U.S. Senator, New Jersey’s Robert Menendez, chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, and a high-flying Florida ophthalmologist, Salomon Melgen, who is among the Democratic Party’s biggest donors.
A decade ago, the Dominican government signed a deal with a private company to provide more X-ray machines. But because of high costs and claims that the deal gives the company a monopoly, it’s been held up in court; the machines were never installed. That’s left in limbo the contract, worth upwards of $500 million over 20 years, and the company that now holds it, Florida-based Boarder Support Services, which was formed by Melgen.
Thirty years after the New Jersey Legislature created an independent body to determine limits on pollutants in tap water, there is growing concern about its future.
The Drinking Water Quality Institute – whose schedule is determined by the state Department of Environmental Protection – has not met in more than two years following a fight over tightening limits on industrial chemicals. And legislation has been introduced that would add representatives of industrial and chemical companies to the board and press the institute to consider industry-funded research in its decision making. (Obsborne/The Inquirer)
Ridgewood YMCA Hosts Summer Camp Open House
Sat, February 23, 2013
Time: 4:00 PM
Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
The Ridgewood YMCA will be hosting a Summer Camp Open House beginning at 4PM on Feb. 23rd at its Oak Street branch. The event is free for all and will give parents the opportunity to learn more about Ridgewood YMCA summer camps as kids enjoy fun arts & crafts and camp games.
The Ridgewood Y will host additional Open House events on March 23 and April 27.
For more information visit the website at
Ridgewoodymca.org/camp or by phone 201-444-5600 ext 375.
Valley Health System Expands Women’s Health Services with Opening of New OB/GYN Practice in Fair Lawn
February 15, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, Women in North Jersey now have expanded access to Valley Health System’s award-winning women’s health services with the opening of the Valley Medical Group obstetrics and gynecology practice in Fair Lawn.
Kimberly L. Fallon, M.D., who has practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Bergen County for more than 12 years, cares for women of all ages at the new Valley Medical Group practice at 5-22 Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn. In addition to Valley Medical Group’s primary and specialty care practices, Valley Health System includes The Valley Hospital and Valley Home Care.
Board-certified in OB/GYN, Dr. Fallon provides a full range of services in her specialty, including prenatal and obstetrical care, gynecologic care, advanced laparoscopic surgery (including hysterectomy), adolescent medicine, menopause management, and endometrial ablation. Dr. Fallon’s patients receive full, streamlined access to all health care services provided by The Valley Hospital at its main campus in Ridgewood and at its ambulatory care center, the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion, in Paramus. Valley’s quality distinctions include an “A” rating for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group and excellence awards from HealthGrades for women’s health care and gynecologic surgery.
Dr. Fallon received her medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She completed her OB/GYN residency and was chief resident at the New York Medical College. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an active member of the American Medical Association and the American Medical Women’s Association. She is proficient in Spanish.
For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Fallon, call 201-476-0400. Valley’s women’s health services include the Center for Childbirth; the Center for Women, Children, and Family Education; the Fertility Center; maternal-fetal medicine; a holistic birth program; reproductive genetic counseling; and gynecologic oncology services.
Childhood TV addicts more likely to commit crime: study
Children who watch excessive amounts of television are more likely to have criminal convictions and show aggressive personality traits as adults, a New Zealand study has found.
The University of Otago study tracked the viewing habits of about 1,000 children born in the early 1970s from when they were aged five to 15, then followed up when the subjects were 26 years old to assess potential impacts.
The research, published in the US journal “Pediatrics” this week, found a strong correlation between childhood exposure to television and anti-social behaviour in young adults.
“The risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased by about 30 percent with every hour that children spent watching television on an average weeknight,” co-author Bob Hancox said.
The study also found excessive TV viewing was linked to aggressive personality traits and an increased tendency to experience negative emotions.
US business hits out at ‘Obamacare’ costs
By Barney Jopson in New York and Alan Rappeport in Washington
US retailers and restaurants chains that employ millions of low-wage workers are considering cutting working hours or paying fines rather than enrolling employees in health insurance plans under Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare law.
Employers are concerned that the law increases the cost of insuring employees on existing plans, partly by broadening the range of benefits. It also requires companies to insure some employees not previously covered.
Ridgewood Police Remind Residents that the fraudulent use of credit card information is on the rise.
The Ridgewood Police Department would like to warn residents that the fraudulent use of credit card information is on the rise. A card does not have to be stolen for someone to use information.
Police advise residents to take the time to review statements carefully to confirm all charges. When using a card, make sure to watch the clerk and retrieve it immediately, police said. If residents find questionable charges, they should notify their credit card company and inform them of the concern. Residents should also obtain a copy of their credit report at least once a year and make sure all accounts that appear on the report are valid.
Middle school curriculum revised in Ridgewood
Monday February 18, 2013, 1:04 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood school district administrators are addressing a district-wide dip in language arts test scores after elementary school.
In the next school year, the sixth grade middle school curricular offerings will be slightly revised in an attempt to improve language arts literacy.
There is a new requirement that all sixth-grade students take four quarter-year English courses in addition to their year-long core English class. To accommodate the requirement, administrators are deferring students’ ability to choose elective courses until grades 7 and 8. They have also removed a sixth grade, quarter-year “Technology Literacy” class.
Readers Ridicule and Mock high-density housing complexes could alleviate traffic congestion study
This finding is about as believable as the guy that claims that he drives better when he’s drunk – It’s an insult to our collective intelligence.
Our village government now has no credibility whatsoever. This is a shame because one or two of our “public servants” may actually have some decent ideas of what might be good for Ridgewood. After this finding, however, any idea that anyone on the Village Council puts forward has to be looked at with skepticism. What is in it for this individual personally? What special interest has influenced this individual? What back room meetings have we missed this time?
Welcome to Ridgewood – Aronsohn, Pucciarelli and Hauck have brought this style of government home.
The traffic guys conceded at the recent meeting that the town was over-built and had too much traffic. All they were saying was that the developers were willing to contribute to fixes around the new construction that would ease the flow of traffic in and out of the facility. The traffic would then be pushed to other areas of town.
East and West Ridgewood Ave, Prospect, Glen etc — all these would get another 1,000 cars leaving the projects in the morning and returning to the projects at night. The traffic people admitted that something might have to give elsewhere in the Village. Presumably, as noted elsewhere in the article referenced in the post, this means increased traffic in more residential areas and near our schools at peak times when we would like our children out walking.
