Ridgewood Schools will be able to have a regular school day at all schools tomorrow
11.06.12 AT 8:10 P.M.: UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
8:10 P.M.:
Dear Ridge, Willard, RHS and BF Parents and Guardians:
I am happy to inform you that electricity service has been restored at RHS and Willard. This means we will be able to have a regular school day at all schools tomorrow, Wednesday November 7th.
– Busses will pick up at there regular time and location. Please be patient because roads may be blocked.
– Students must bring a bag lunch
– The before and aftercare program operated by the YWCA will resume on Thursday, November 8th
Thank you in advance for your understanding and support during this unprecedented experience. I think it is great for students to get back to school for a full session. Please be careful traveling.
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D
Superintendent
Ridgewood Public Schools
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G Update: PSE&G crews continue to make progress restoring power throughout the Village. Power has been restored through many areas of town, but clearly, there are still too many homes without power. PSE&G’s progress has been too slow, with too few crews, and the progress is no comfort to those who still have no power. Moreover, much of the information coming from PSE&G has been inaccurate. As stated by Mayor Aronsohn in his recent public statements, village officials continue to relentlessly press PSE&G for more help. Residents are urged to contact PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-7734 to report individual problems. Calling repeatedly may help.
Nor’easter Expected Wednesday: A nor’easter storm is expected to impact the area Wednesday into Thursday. In additional to rain and some snow, the storm may bring potentially damaging winds from Wednesday morning through late Wednesday night. Winds of this magnitude will be capable of producing downed trees and power lines. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for our area. Residents should expect the possibility of additional power outages, downed trees and power lines, and delays in ongoing power restoration efforts. Make plans now, and stay informed.
24-Hour Shelter at Mt. Carmel: Mt. Carmel Church is still hosting a 24-hour shelter for residents without power, and has graciously agreed to stay open for the duration of the power outage. They have space for residents to spend the night, and plan to serve hot meals. Please bring your own blankets and pillows. Bergen County’s Shelter in Mahwah is also available. It is located at 281 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ.
Day Time Warming Center: St. Elizabeth’s Church will be open as a warming center Monday – Friday 8:30 AM-6:00 PM. Emmanuel Baptist Church will also be open as a warming center Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please enter by the Hope Street entrance and use the bell on the left hand side of the door.
Blankets: A limited number of blankets, provided by FEMA, are available on a first come, first served basis at Village Hall. Any resident needing an extra blanket may obtain one, while supplies last, at the Ridgewood Police Department located on the second floor of Village Hall.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Information: If you sustained losses or damage from Hurricane Sandy you may be eligible for disaster aid. You can call to Apply: 1·800·621·FEMA (3362). For more information or to Apply: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Schools Update: An update from the Superintendent of Schools will be forthcoming in a separate communication from the Ridgewood Public Schools.
Tree Branches: Tree branches ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE STREET. If you have placed branches in the street, they MUST be removed. Please bring branches to the recycling center.
The conditions outdoors remain dangerous due to downed trees and power lines. Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay away from downed power lines. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything in contact with the wire.
For more information, continue to visit oem.ridgewoodnj.net and the Village of Ridgewood and Ridgewood Police Department Facebook pages for updates.
•A strong coastal nor’easter will threaten the region in the November 7th-8th timeframe.
• Storm force wind gusts (55-65 mph) are likely during this storm.
• Moderate coastal flooding is likely during this storm, major coastal flooding is still a slight possibility; the high tides of most concern are the ones around midday Wednesday, November 7th and the following high tide Wednesday night.
• There will be moderate to severe beach erosion during this event.
• This nor’easter will have greater impact than usual because of the serious impacts from Coastal Storm Sandy.
• There is a threat of wintry precipitation over the region.
Next briefing package will be issued by Noon on Wednesday, November 7th.
• Monitor our latest weather forecast at https://www.erh.noaa.gov/phi/
• Watches have been issued, warnings & advisories likely will be in the near future. To keep up on the storm, monitor our website. This briefing package is simply a snapshot in time.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has provided emergency funding for New Jersey to hire approximately 1,000 temporary workers to assist with Superstorm Sandy clean-up activities.
Job-seekers should report to local One-Stop Career Centers. They also may send e-mails to [email protected], log onto www.Jobs4Jersey.com or call 1-877-682-6238 or 1-800-233-5005. Please be patient if lines are busy.
In an email from Mayor Paul Aronsohn this morning, we were informed that PSE&G does not expect power to be fully restored to Ridgewood until SATURDAY.
Please read below if you are able to help with the warming shelter!
VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteers are good through today however, beginning Wednesday (tomorrow) at 11am our volunteer list is EMPTY through the rest of the week.
We are asking for two hour shifts on the following schedule:
11am-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm, 5-7pm, 7-9pm, 9-11pm, 11pm-1am, 1-3AM, 3-5am, 5-7am, 7-9am, 9-11am.
Days needed from Wednesday, Nov. 7th 11a.m. through Saturday, Nov. 10th 5pm.
Overnight hours are crucial. If you are able to help with any of the hours, please email Glen Mc Call with the DAY and HOURS you can help. A confirmation email will be sent back to you.
Glen’s email is [email protected]
FOOD:
Last night we fed over 75 people for dinner. Crowds are getting larger for meals.
We could use some more hot dishes for dinner this evening and many more throughout Friday evening.
Whatever you can do is great!
Likes: Soups, stews, chicken dishes, GREEN SALADS.
At this point, many are “zitied” out!
PLEASE email Glen with what you would like to make and when you would bring it.
You can also stop by the parish center anytime to sign up there to save on emailing back and forth.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno moves to fix fax and email ballot backlog
November 6th 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In response to widespread reports that voters displaced by Hurricane Sandy haven’t received their email and fax ballots on Election Day, the state has now extended the deadline for voters to return those ballots to county clerks office to 8 p.m. Friday.
There has been substantial backlogs in Bergen, Essex and Middlesex Counties as reported on this blog. Under a new directive released this afternoon from Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, displaced voters and first responders seeking to cast their ballots by email or fax need to apply for the ballots at their county clerk’s office by 5 p.m. today.
Guadagno, the state’s top elections official, moved the deadline voters to return the ballots from 8 p.m. on Election Day to Friday. Clerks’ offices must process fax and email ballot applications and get ballots to voters by noon Friday. The voters then have until 8 p.m. Friday to return their ballots.
Village abdicates leadership places blame solely on PSE&G
November 6,2012
Honestly, we all know it’s a shitty situation and the crews I’ve seen are working like gangbusters. But the party line is ‘shame on those lying bastards at PSEG’. Mayor Paul Aronsohn is abdicating his leadership by placing blame, rather than saying ‘we in Ridgewood are working hard to help PSEG get full power restored.’
I got another reverse 911 from Paul “Mayor Vaughn” Aronsohn who bitched about PSEG again. He also said he called our unnamed state senator and asked for help. He said everyone should call PSEG and ask – no, demand – that action be taken to restore power immediately. However, he said not to worry – we will all get through this together.
I seriously wish the other council people would lock him in a closet until the power is restored. At the very least he should be banned from the robocall equipment. I am starting to wonder if all the “whining ” has backfired .
New Jersey Transit Restores some Main/Port Jervis Line service
November 5th ,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Transit reports that Main/Port Jervis Lines Service has resumed between Port Jervis and Hoboken, with NO stop at Secaucus. These lines will operate on the following MODIFIED SCHEDULE until further notice : https://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/mlpj.pdf
A Number of rail stations throughout the system may have limited lighting and no elevator and escalator service due to power problems as a result of Hurricane Sandy. As a result, Secaucus Junction will not be ADA accessible until further notice. Additionally, the following stations are experiencing power problems along the Main Line: Lyndhurst, Passaic, Delawanna, hohokus and Mahwah. Customers are urged to use caution in and around these rail stations. Trains will operate to/from Hoboken, with NO stops at Secaucus.
Senator Kyrillos Completes 21 County Tour than Hosts Hurricane Relief Rally with Special Guest Max Weinberg
Lincroft, November 5… When Senator Kyrillos arrived at the Lincroft Inn for an Election Eve Hurricane Relief rally tonight, he had completed a twenty one county tour of the state over the last four days.
Since the devastation of Hurricane Sandy was first realized, Senator Kyrillos has toured the damage across the state to meet with residents and aid in the recovery efforts.
“I continue to offer my support, assistance, and solace to those who have lost so much. Recovering from the devastation will be long and arduous, but we will emerge Jersey Strong,” said Senator Kyrillos.
In Union Beach, Senator Kyrillos delivered a load of blankets, ice, clean water, and secured a Lowe’s truck full of cleaning supplies for the displaced Residents.
In Egg Harbor, Senator Kyrillos visited an Emergency Shelter housing more than 150 out of state emergency responders who have been dispatched to New Jersey to help with the recovery efforts.
The Hurricane Relief rally drew donations from across the state—and the country, and featured surprise guest Max Weinberg of the E Street Band. Two large buses with donated supplies came from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and another from New York state. Tonight’s rally was originally planned as a Pre-Election Day event, but in the wake of the storm devastation, Kyrillos thought it prudent to instead gather needed supplies like blankets and warm clothes for those who have been most affected by the storm.
“Hurricane Sandy cut a heartbreaking path of destruction through New Jersey,” said Kyrillos. “But the New Jersey spirit remains unbroken. I have spoken with New Jerseyans from Cape May to Sussex County and I am confident that we will rebuild and renew. The storm has captured the nation’s attention over the last week — and rightly so. But, Election Day is upon us tomorrow and our nation needs a new way forward.
“Currently, there are 23 million unemployed or underemployed Americans. Our nation is 16 trillion in debt, all of which will be passed on to our children and our grandchildren. There are 46 million Americans on food stamps, and 17 million women living in poverty.
“And just like in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, throughout this entire campaign, I have traveled to every corner of the state to meet with residents and hear their concerns about the future of our nation.”
Senator Kyrillos has traveled 79,334 miles throughout this campaign. He visited 19 businesses in 2 months to listen to the owners and workers directly to hear the challenges they face. He has delivered 643 speeches, and met thousands of his fellow citizens.
“Across our state we are witnessing countless acts of heroism and compassion. Together, we stand shoulder to shoulder ready to rebuild what was lost and make our State stronger in the process. Tomorrow, we will bring that Jersey spirit to the rest of America,” concluded Kyrillos
Hurricane Sandy Updates – November 6 Statement from Mayor Paul Aronsohn
Good morning. This is Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn
Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to join about 10 other mayors for a meeting with the President and Chief Operating Officer at PSEG.
The meeting was informative. It was useful. But unfortunately, for our purposes here in Ridgewood, it was insufficient.
The good news is that power continues to be restored in different areas throughout the Village. And thanks to an augmentation of PSEG’s staff with about 3,000 out-of-state linesmen, the work is moving forward at a faster pace than last week.
The bad news, however, is that faster is not fast enough, and PSEG is now projecting that full restoration of power throughout all of Ridgewood will not occur until Saturday.
So what does this mean?
It means that we in Village government will continue to press PSEG, holding its feet to the fire, and continue working to facilitate progress by the linesmen.
It means that many of you will start seeing your power restored today, but many of you will not until later this week.
It means that with temperatures dropping and another possible storm on its way, we – as a community – need to plan accordingly and we need to act with charity.
Now, more than ever, we need to work together – to make sure that our neighbors have the warmth they need, the food and shelter they need, the comfort they need.
Mount Carmel Church has been serving as a warming center and shelter since last weekend. I’d strongly urge people to go there – to have a good, hot meal, to recharge your phones, to sleep in a warm place.
Similarly, other houses of worship — whose power have been restored — are also providing refuge during the day.
And finally, now – more than ever – this is a time when neighbor must help neighbor.
Again, we will be working throughout the day to help restore power and a sense of normalcy. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or call me on my cell phone at 201.213.1811.
Thank you. Be safe. And please remember – we will get through this together.
Oh, and one final, important thought: Please don’t forget that today is election. Please vote. Every single vote matters. Thank you
Christie: Praise of Obama after Sandy won’t change my vote for Romney
It was hard to tell if Gov. Chris Christie was amused or annoyed when asked yesterday about the chatter surrounding his lavish praise for President Obama’s response to Hurricane Sandy.
Christie gave an intentional cough before launching into an answer in front of hundreds of cold but friendly Hoboken residents: “This is the kind of silliness that really drives me crazy.” (Friedman, The Star Ledger)
Email Voting Issues Bergen County
9:32 AM (1 minute ago)
Ridgewood NJ, Hello, I am a new resident of Ridgewood and and I really appreciate your blog. My husband and I are staying in NYC because of Sandy while we wait for power back at our house. I just wanted to make you aware of a situation going on with the Bergen County Clerk’s office.
We submitted requests for email ballots and they sent us both River Edge ballots instead of Ridgewood, even though they typed our Ridgewood address into the ballot. It’s been impossible to reach them for a correction, and a lot of people I know have been trying to fax in the request for a ballot and you cannot even get a fax or phone call through to the Bergen County Clerk’s office.
I tried three different numbers for them, none of them are answering. I did manage to get a human on the phone around 7 am who said she would try to rectify the problem and send me Ridgewood ballot but I never heard back from her.
Have you heard of anyone else who received the wrong ballot, or who could not get their request for a ballot through at all? The whole thing seems like a complete failure.
We sent in the fax request for a ballot while this thing was still kind of under the radar … people I know who have been trying since last night and cannot get anything response!
SENATOR KYRILLOS ALWAYS A CLASS ACT APPLAUDS OUT OF STATE EMERGENCY WORKERS HELPING IN NEW JERSEY
Senator Joe Kyrillos visited the Atlantic County Emergency Shelter in Egg Harbor this morning to applaud the more than 150 out of state emergency responders who are being housed there as they have been dispatched to New Jersey to help with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.
The shelter also houses 70 ambulances. While all crews are based out of the shelter in Atlantic County, they are dispersed throughout the state daily, aiding recovery efforts in Hazlet in Monmouth County, Hoboken in Hudson County, and the Meadowlands in Bergen County.
The Executive Director of the Emergency Medical Service Institute, Thomas McElree, has been managing the shelter which provides warm meals and a place to sleep for all the out of state emergency responders.
“Our New Jersey spirit is strong, but we certainly appreciate other states lending us their hard working emergency management personnel to help rebuild after the storm. I salute them, and all those who are putting their lives on hold to come to our rescue,” said Senator Joe Kyrillos.
Senator Kyrillos then traveled to Brick to lend a hand at the FEMA site where food and supplies are being handed out, and disaster assistance is available for local residents.
“I continue to offer my support, assistance, and solace to those who have lost so much. Recovering from the devastation will be long and arduous, but we will emerge Jersey Strong,” encouraged Senator Kyrillos.
U.S. Per Person Debt Now 35 Percent Higher than that of Greece’
4:27 PM, NOV 5, 2012 • BY DANIEL HALPER
A chart from the Republican side of the Senate Budget Committee shows that “U.S. Per Person Debt [Is] Now 35 Percent Higher than that of Greece.”
“According to estimates from the International Monetary Fund, America’s total government debt will be $16.8 trillion by the end of the calendar year, compared to $441 billion for Greece,” the Republican side of the Senate Budget Committee explains. “On a per person basis, that means U.S. debt is $53,400 for every man, woman, and child, compared to $39,400 for every man, woman, and child in Greece. The disparity between per capita debt in the U.S. and Greece has grown 40 percent (roughly $8,400) since 2011. Now, U.S. per person debt is 35 percent higher than that of Greece, and is also higher than per capita debt in Portugal, Italy, or Spain (which together with Greece make up the so-called PIGS countries).”
