Readers say Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli needs to apologize and resign
Let’s see, Councilwomen Walsh complained that she improperly received a ticket in light of the fact that she had a valid permit. She paid the ticket anyway, but HOW DARE SHE BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE AND OTHERS. WHAT AN OUTRAGE!
Are these people serious? She did not ask for a favor or a quid pro quo. She did not threaten the police or try to use her position to get out of paying a valid ticket.
This is a pure attempt by Mayor Arrogant and his “partner in crime” Puke to distract us from what they did.
““You are the one who sent us down this dark road,” Pucciarelli said. Is this like Hamas saying that Israel has “opened the gates of hell”. How exactly does he plan to retaliate? Maybe he will just talk over her at every council meetying just to drive her crazy.
He needs to apologize or resign. I prefer that he resign.
Walsh, misleading? No thank god, this town has her as our watchdog, She’s doing the checks and balances for the others dirty politics! Thank You, Bernie! Going around the full council system with meetings with the developers, two by two, to make it just legal? Dirty, Dirty, Dirty. BTW: We are paying the town lawyer many dollars for these meetings
Someone explain why Riche and Walsh are being shunned from these developers meetings? We all thought this town council was divided 3-2 ! Now it’s been proven, in a very public manner. Horrific, pathetic actions against Walsh about a parking ticket and permits. She’s pointing out a problem that’s not just hers and due to her council position they claim she went about it in the wrong way? Paul you would have done the same-hypocrite. Pretty lame and I worry for this town. Can you smell Valley lurking again here or did Pascack Valley make them truly go away?
The Village Council approves the 2013 budget
The Village Council approves the 2013 budget
2013 VILLAGE BUDGET- January 30, 2013 Status
The information in this section is a working document of Village Finance and Village Manager’s Office.
The Village Council approves the 2013 budget, after a thorough process of which these documents are the current discussion following department requests and CFO/Manager negotiations with the department.
Included in this folder are:
1.) 2012 Budget Newsletter (for reference) – Click Here https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2012BudgetNewsletter.pdf
2.) 2012 Adopted Budget – Click Here https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/finance/Budgets/2012VORBudget.pdf
3.) 2013 edited budget discussion presented at 1-30-13 Council workshop
Pages 1 -14
General, budget options: base, zero increase, zero tax increase
Timeline (page 1-2)
Amount to be raised by taxation (page 3)
Budget Revenue (pages 4-6)
Budget Appropriations (pages 7-12)
Discussion of potential revenue increase (pages 13-14)
Please understand, this is not a final document. It will not be voted on by the Council in this form. There will be opportunities for you, if interested, to appear before the Council and comment or question the proposed 2013 Budget prior to final adoption by the Council. In addition to Council meetings the meeting times of department discussions with the Council will be posted on the Village’s website – www.ridgewoodnj.net
For the Report https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2013VillageBudgetStatus.pdf
Ridgewood Coffee Co Hosts Artist Reception
Ridgewood Coffee Co Hosts Artist Reception
This coming Saturday February 9, from 5-7pm, Ridgewood Coffee Company will be hosting an artists reception.
PrintedArt will be showing some large pieces of art by Carly Erin O’Neil, Richard Silver, Alexander S. Kunz, Brad Mitchell, David Halperin, and Manny Akis.
Three of the collection artist will be present and you will have a chance to speak to our blog editor and member of the curators team.
To RSVP: Please send an email to [email protected] to let us know whether you plan on attending.
The Ridgewood Coffee Company is located at 90 East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ 07604
For more information please call Sara Paleewong 646-291-9786
Sen. Menendez contacted top officials in friend’s Medicare dispute
Sen. Menendezat Ridgewood REORG photo by Boyd Loving
Sen. Menendez contacted top officials in friend’s Medicare dispute
By Carol D. Leonnig and Jerry Markon, Published: February 6
Sen. Robert Menendez raised concerns with top federal health-care officials twice in recent years about their finding that a Florida eye doctor — a close friend and major campaign donor — had overbilled the government by $8.9 million for care at his clinic, Menendez aides said Wednesday.
Menendez (D-N.J.) initially contacted federal officials in 2009 about the government’s audit of Salomon Melgen, complaining to the director overseeing Medicare payments that it was unfair to penalize the doctor because the billing rules were ambiguous, the aides said.
Last year, in a meeting with the acting administrator of the agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, Menendez again questioned whether federal auditors had been fair in their assessment of Melgen’s billing for eye injections to treat macular degeneration, the senator’s aides said.
The agency had ordered Melgen to repay the $8.9 million, and at the time of both conversations, Melgen was disputing the agency’s conclusion. His appeal continues to this day.
Menendez’s office provided this account of his contacts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after The Washington Post asked about the role he had played in the long-standing dispute between Melgen and the agency over his billing practices.
WINTER STORM WATCH
file Photo
WINTER STORM WATCH
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE…CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
453 PM EST WED FEB 6 2013
…SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO SATURDAY MORNING…
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON.
* LOCATIONS…NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER.
* HAZARD TYPES…HEAVY SNOW…SLEET…AND FREEZING RAIN.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 12 INCHES…ALONG
WITH UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE.
* WINDS…NORTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE LOWER 30S.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.
* TIMING…FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.
* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN WILL MAKE FOR DANGEROUS
DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION…THE HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG
WINDS COULD RESULT IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS…BRING DOWN SOME
TREE LIMBS…AND CA– USE SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
Retired Ridgewood Police Officer Louis Lembo died at 91
Retired Ridgewood Police Officer Louis Lembo died at 91
Ridgewood NJ, Louis Lembo, age 91, formerly of Ridgewood died Jan 30 2013. Lou was a WWll Navy veteran. He served as a police officer in Ridgewood for thirty years retiring in 1980. In retirement, he work as security for Valley Hospital. Survived by two sons: Donald and his wife Susan Lembo of Suffern, NY, Stephen and his wife Robbin Lembo of West Milford, NJ, and three grandchildren.
A Mass was held Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 at 10:45 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church, 1 Passaic St., Ridgewood. Friends may call 5-8 PM, Monday at the C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home, 306 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood. (www.vanemburgh.com) Burial will be in the George Washington Memorial Park.Paramus NJ.
Assistant Superintendent Angelo DeSimone gives a status report on the 2014 Budget
Assistant Superintendent Angelo DeSimone gives a status report on the 2014 Budget
Volume 9, Number 13
February 5, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, 2014 budget preparations. Most recently, the Board was given all details on contractual salaries, benefits and out-of-district tuition, bringing the total information to 75%. The remainder of budget information will be sent to the Board this week. Once the budget is prepared, the Board will host a series of public information workshops.
April 16 Annual School Election business:
The Board approved Wednesday, March 6 at 3:30 p.m. as the date and time to hold the drawing of candidate names for ballot position in the annual School Election. The drawing will take place at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, in the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Business/Board Secretary.
The Board approved the list of the polling locations and hours for the April 16 Annual School Election, listed below. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION
DATE: TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013
HOURS: 7:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
DISTRICT LOCATION
1 Willard School, Auditorium, 601 Morningside Road
2 Willard School, Auditorium, 601 Morningside Road
3 Willard School, Auditorium, 601 Morningside Road
4 George Washington Middle School, Gym, 155 Washington Place
5 Orchard School, Cafetorium, 230 Demarest Street
6 Orchard School, Cafetorium, 230 Demarest Street
7 George Washington Middle School, Gym, 155 Washington Place
8 Travell School, Small Multi-purpose Room, 340 Bogert Avenue
9 The Ridgewood Public Library, Auditorium, 125 N. Maple Avenue
10 Orchard School, Cafetorium, 230 Demarest Street
11 Travell School, Small Multi-purpose Room, 340 Bogert Avenue
12 Ridgewood High School, Gym #1, 627 E. Ridgewood Avenue
13 Ridgewood High School, Gym #1, 627 E. Ridgewood Avenue
14 Glen School, Multi-purpose Room, 865 E. Glen Avenue
15 Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Auditorium, 335 N. Van Dien Ave.
16 Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Auditorium, 335 N. Van Dien Ave.
17 Somerville School, Gym, 45 S. Pleasant Avenue
18 Somerville School, Gym, 45 S. Pleasant Avenue
19 Hawes School, Cafetorium, 531 Stevens Avenue
Main, Bergen County & Pascack Valley Lines: Face Fare Increase Effective March 1, 2013
Main, Bergen County & Pascack Valley Lines: Face Fare Increase Effective March 1, 2013
February 06, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, just weeks after NJT was nearly shut down by Hurricane Sandy ,NJT announces that some stations on the Main Line , Bergen County Line and Pascack Valley lines.
NJ TRANSIT fares are influenced by Metro-North fares in New York State. At times when NJ TRANSIT fares would otherwise be higher than Metro-North fares, an automatic agreement is triggered that “holds down” NJ TRANSIT fares, with Metro-North reimbursing NJ TRANSIT for the difference.
This agreement keeps ticket prices consistent with distance traveled, and ensures that revenue is collected by the appropriate railroad. Currently, fares at selected stations on the Main, Bergen County and Pascack Valley lines are lower than trips of similar distance on other NJ TRANSIT rail lines.
On Friday, March 1, 2013, Metro-North fares will increase, automatically triggering an adjustment to NJ TRANSIT fares at stations where a “hold down” has been in effect.
Check out your fare : https://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/fareincrease2013.pd
Cenergistic consultant acknowledged that the Ridgewood Public Schools has done much already to lower energy consumption and costs
Cenergistic consultant acknowledged that the Ridgewood Public Schools has done much already to lower energy consumption and costs
February 5,2013
Ridgewood NJ, The BOE consulted to energy conservation company Cenergistic . A company representative presented information on its savings program, which promises financial relief to the district through a reduction in energy use.
The program relies on various energy-saving initiatives that include the implementation of best practices in the K-12 environment through behavior and equipment modifications. The goal would be to achieve a 30% cost savings over 10 years. The consultant acknowledged that the Ridgewood Public Schools has done much already to lower energy consumption and costs.
Cenergistic builds customized, comprehensive energy conservation programs that help organizations reduce their consumption of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and water, delivering financial savings that can be invested in the lives of the people our clients serve, not utility companies.
Clients include school districts, institutions of higher education, large churches, healthcare institutions and other organizations that share a commitment to fiscal and social responsibility and the wise use of limited financial and environmental resources.
They partner with clients to transform them into self-sufficient, energy-efficient organizations. By leveraging our data- and technology-powered energy conservation program, our clients are able to achieve their most ambitious goals, whether it’s hiring new staff or just reducing their overhead.
Christie: National Flood Insurance Program a ‘disgrace’
file Photo Christie in Elmwood Park
Christie: National Flood Insurance Program a ‘disgrace’
1:30p.m. EST February 5, 2013
Gov. Chris Christie said he is asking New Jersey’s congressional delegation to pressure FEMA to improve the performance of the flood insurance program.
UNION BEACH, N.J. (AP) – Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday the National Flood Insurance Program’s handling of claims in New Jersey has been “a disgrace,” complaining that the program has been far too slow to resolve claims from Superstorm Sandy, with 70% of cases unresolved three months after the disaster.
The Republican governor said excessive paperwork, inadequate staffing, cumbersome audits and the threat of financial penalties to carriers and adjusters is interfering with the issuance of payments and prolonging the suffering of the thousands of New Jerseyans hurt by Sandy.
“I’ve been as patient as I’m going to be with the National Flood Insurance Program,” Christie said. “They need to get more people into New Jersey. They need to get to work. They need to get to processing these things. People need to know how much money they’re going to have.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/02/05/superstorm-sandy-christie-insurance-disgrace/1893087/
Postal Service set to cut Saturday delivery
February 6, 2013 7:41 AM
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ– The U.S. Postal Service has announced that it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to deliver packages six days a week under a plan aimed at saving about $2 billion, the financially struggling agency says. Saturday mail cutback would not begin until August.
The move allows the USPS to focus on package delivery which has increased by 14% since 2010, At the same time technology which aids in package delivery has caught up with the delivery of letters and other mail declining significantly with the ever increasing use of email and other Internet based technologies. .
Under the new plan, mail would still be delivered to post office boxes on Saturdays. and Post offices now open on Saturdays would remain open on Saturdays.
The Postal Service for some time has advocated shifting to a five-day delivery schedule for mail and packages . The US Postal Service is an independent agency that gets no tax dollars for its day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control.
The agency would need congressional approval to make the change and It was not immediately if that would be forth coming or even necessary.
Patrick R. Donahoe, postmaster general , says Postal Service market research and other research has indicated that nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the switch to five-day delivery as a way for the Postal Service to reduce costs.
The third annual Tastefully British Fish & Chips dinner
The third annual Tastefully British Fish & Chips dinner
Christ Episcopal Church – All are Invited!
The third annual Tastefully British Fish & Chips dinner will be Wednesday, February 27th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. In addition to Fish & Chips, a Chicken Tenders & Chips option will also be available. Come and enjoy an evening of great food and fellowship with our special musical guests, the Clan Na Vale Pipe and Drum Band. Dine in or take out. Tickets are $13; discounted tickets for seniors and children under 12 are $10. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Tickets are available for purchase after Sunday services and at the church office. Invite your family and friends to this great event! We can take debit or credit card purchases. Christ Episcopal Church is located at 105 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. Stop by or call (201.652.2350) for more information on any of these events or visit our web site at www.christchurchridgewood.org.
RHS junior Jake Sabatini won the Alan Wedemeier Award for Outstanding Male Athlete
RHS junior Jake Sabatini won the Alan Wedemeier Award for Outstanding Male Athlete
Ridgewood NJ,RHS junior Jake Sabatini won the Alan Wedemeier Award for Outstanding Male Athlete on January 28 during the Bergen County Relays at the Armory Track in Manhattan.
An accomplished sprinter, he ran a 50.8 on Monday to anchor Ridgewood’s 4×400 relay to lead the team to a come-from-behind victory. Sabatini is the second RHS athlete to win the Wedemeier Award in the past three years.
Ridgewood High School library project gains steam
Ridgewood High School Learning Commons gains steam
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Fundraising efforts for Ridgewood High School’s new library are continuing, with demolition and construction slated to begin at the end of the current school year, officials said.
It will cost nearly $1 million to raze the high school’s 50-year-old library and replace it with “The Ridgewood High School Learning Commons.” But an additional $200,000 is needed for technology upgrades, officials said.
The fundraising effort, being overseen by the district’s Home and School Association executive board, was launched after the district received a $500,000 grant — including $400,000 from the Ridgewood Board of Education — for the project. “The library is outdated and hasn’t been renovated in 50 years; we needed something more 21st century to help our students succeed,” Principal Thomas Gorman said.
Work will begin after finals and continue through the summer, with the new library slated to open in September, Gorman said.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/189960681_Ridgewood_High_School_library_project_gains_steam.html
Tensions rise at Ridgewood council meeting
Sunshine Law Violations at the center of the Controversy
Tensions rise at Ridgewood council meeting
Tuesday February 5, 2013, 3:36 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Festering tensions between village council members exploded during a recent meeting with a flurry of accusations that ranged from parking ticket fixing to secret meetings.
The meeting, which included more than an hour of heated exchanges between Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, caused several council members to comment on the contentious atmosphere in village hall. Mayor Paul Aronsohn even jumped into the fray when he alleged Walsh tried to have a ticket expunged.
Aronsohn criticized Walsh for emailing a parking ticket she received to the village manager and police chief because she believed it was given inappropriately, calling it a misuse of staff.
Walsh defended the move, saying she wanted officials in the village to know that the police were issuing tickets to cars with permits. Walsh also said she paid the ticket.
Pucciarelli, who had traded barbs with Walsh earlier in the meeting, then suggested all citizens “send an email to Village Manager Ken Gabbert if you get a ticket.” Walsh said the deputy mayor was acting “ridiculous.”
“You are the one who sent us down this dark road,” Pucciarelli said, before telling the governing body that residents watching the meeting at home through the village website were texting him, asking, “Please put an end to it [the bickering].”
The allegations erupted following a lengthy discussion last week on this year’s budget. Walsh was inquiring into several meetings last year about development in the village that were attended by some members of the governing body.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/Tensions_rise_at_Ridgewood_council_meeting.html
