Category: Village of Ridgewood

>Surprise – it’s all about the money!

In the summer, the Planning Board hired an expert in hospital design to review their proposed H-Zone amendments to the Master Plan. While the draft wording was prepared by the Village Planner the text was almost entirely a copy of the details in the “Renewal” supplied by Valley.

To many people’s surprise, the independent consultant proposed a much more “community friendly” recommendation that included increasing setbacks to 120 feet and putting all parking underground.

The response from Valley, as reported in today’s Ridgewood News to the consultant’s recommendations, is that the hospital has concerns about the “constructability and financial feasibility” of the proposal. What this means in 2009 is that the hospital is concerned about some additional cost because anything is technically possible.

It is very surprising to hear this when Valley is one of the most profitable hospitals in NJ and has benefited from an additional $25 million windfall profit increase from receiving most of the former patients of PVH over the last 2 years.

These statements also seem to run contrary to Audrey Meyer’s statement in the Record of Dec 3, where she suggests that non-for-profit hospital’s like Valley use their profits to benefit the community.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/Second_expert_is_hired.html

https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/duchak_meyers_120309.html

https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/duchak_meyers_120309.html

>The tradition was ‘tinkered with’ by changing the day from Friday to Saturday. Mistake #1. I used to look forward to ditching work early, scoot up to the train station. Sing with a few thousand of my neighbors and have dinner afterwards and stroll the streets. Saturday was hum-drum because you had to give up a weekend day to have all the pomp & such.

Mistake #2: groupthink about the global warming hoax following the Anne Zusy types down to the Square instead of the focal point of the town. And to make matters worse, let’s hang recycling on the tree. I may be alone on this, but my tree may have home-made ornaments by the kids, but there are no used pork n beans cans.

Mistake #3: VOR compounds last year’s error by doing it AGAIN, sans garbage ornaments. Big deal. You know what used to work and brought people in? The traditional tree, singers, bands and such on a Friday night at the station. I remember the throngs of people stretching a block north n south and several blocks down East Ridgewood Ave.

Notice that NYC doesn’t drop the New Years ball over the Smithsonian. And why? Because Times Square is the place. Same reason the celebration belongs back at the station.

>Do you find hanging “recyclables” ie garbage from a Christmas Tree to be offensive?

72% of readers say YES

27% of readers say NO

>We’re go­ing Down­town for the Holi­days to­mor­row night, Fri­day, Dec. 4, from 5:30-9 PM. It’s Ridge­wood’s an­nu­al De­cem­ber cele­bra­tion. Stores will be open late and East Ridge­wood Ave. will be­come a pede­s­trian mall. The Cham­ber of Com­merce will pro­vide free en­ter­tain­ment and hot cider. We’ll have a table at the in­ter­sec­tion of Oak St. and East Ridge­wood Ave. (north­east corn­er), across the street from Van Neste Square, near the big clock.

Come say hel­lo and see the new Gray­don fundrais­ing items that were a big hit at our Holi­day Bazaar:

Car/re­frig­er­a­tor mag­nets
Yard signs (take with you or re­quest free de­liv­ery)
Note cards with Dorothy War­ren scene of ice skat­ing at Gray­don (blank in­side)
Spe­cial of­fer: the same cards with your mes­sage and name in­side—or­der now for speedy de­liv­ery as Christ­mas/New Year cards (min­i­mum of 100 for cus­tom or­ders)
Last day of our Cheese­cake Aly fundrais­er: fes­tive cheese­cakes, down-home cho­co­late chip cookies, and cheese­cake gift cer­tifi­cates for home de­liv­ery in mid-De­cem­ber. Free sam­ples of rasp­ber­ry cheese­cake while they last.

Com­ing soon: our on­line store! Till then, grab a warm coat and meet us Down­town for the Holi­days: to­mor­row (Fri­day), 5:30-9 PM.

Swimmingly,
Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs
The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation
“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”
info@PreserveGraydon.org www.PreserveGraydon.org

>Wednesday December 2,2009
By John Ingham

https://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/143573

THE scientific consensus that mankind has caused climate change was rocked yesterday as a leading academic called it a “load of hot air underpinned by fraud”.

Professor Ian Plimer condemned the climate change lobby as “climate comrades” keeping the “gravy train” going.

In a controversial talk just days before the start of a climate summit attended by world leaders in Copenhagen, Prof Plimer said Governments were treating the public like “fools” and using climate change to increase taxes.

He said carbon dioxide has had no impact on temperature and that recent warming was part of the natural cycle of climate stretching over ­billions of years.

“If you have to argue your science by using fraud, your science is not valid. “
Professor Pilmer

Prof Plimer – author of Heaven and Earth: Global Warming, The Missing Science – told a London audience: “Climates always change. They always have and they always will. They are driven by a number of factors that are random and cyclical.”

His comments came days after a scandal in climate-change research emerged through the leak of emails from the world-leading research unit at the University of East Anglia. They appeared to show that scientists had been massaging data to prove that global warming was taking place

The Climate Research Unit also admitted getting rid of much of its raw climate data, which means other scientists cannot check the subsequent research. Last night the head of the CRU, Professor Phil Jones, said he would stand down while an independent review took place.

read more…

https://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/143573

>Paying cops to replace to crossing guards??? I never said that as that would be a stupid comment because the cops are already being paid by the town – the point was let’s get rid of the crossing guards and have the cops whom we, as tax payers already pay, do this service for the two hours a day. There is a cost savings initiative already.

7:53 – you must be married to a cop or have one in your family. I never said that I hated cops, I was pointing out the waste of having a larger than required force. I was also pointing out the need for cops to do more than just nothing – how do you know that I was not there when the good Lt. smacked into the civilian car on Linwood Avenue? You seem to know a lot about me. Also, if there are crimes been committed in this town, it is duty of the police via the press to inform us, the taxpayers. I actually witnessed two blue hairs going at it one day in the Daily Treat – it was over moving too slowly. Bar brawls in Ridgewood – that is funny – I might go out this weekend to witnessed one myself.

In reference to Graydon – we all know that those people looking to preserve Graydon pool are fighting a losing battle. When the town’s pediatric physicians stop telling parents that their kids are suffering from the Graydon Syndrome, when they get sick in the summer from swimming in the dump and when this same group of preservationists come up with a rejuvenation plan of their own, then and only then might we see a change in the direction the battle is heading.

My whole point is this – we need cuts and proper investments for the stability and growth of this great town. Like any business, cuts will hurt but not only do we need cuts in wasteful spending, we need investment in cash generating ventures. Ridgewood needs to be promoted as a town that is good for business, good for families in that it not only offers a respectable environment, but it offers an exceptional educational experience for all children up through the completion of secondary school, with qualified teachers that are the best at what they do and it offers the best in the region round-year activities for the town’s families to enjoy. If we don’t make the necessary cuts and investments, if we don’t make the necessary changes to Graydon pool and if we don’t clean up our act in our schools, our town will continue to lose revenues to other towns.

Get the point?

>A growing movement to restore nature to children’s lives in our overbuilt, overpaved, overprotective world is receiving wider attention.

In an op-ed piece last summer, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof described a camping experience with his daughter. He notes that many children today experience nature mostly through the TV screen and consider nature to be exotic and removed from their daily lives. He writes, “Suburban childhood that once meant catching snakes in fields now means sanitized video play dates scheduled a week in advance.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/opinion/02kristof.html?_r=1

An article in yesterday’s New York edition of the New York Times describes a “forest kindergarten” in Saratoga Springs, New York. Children lucky enough to attend this school gain an appreciation and love of nature that they are unlikely to forget. Later, when today’s children become the stewards of the earth, those with important memories and experiences connected to nature will be more likely to care about the earth and to take good care of it than those who spent childhood in a protective bubble.

We at the Preserve Graydon Coalition believe strongly in the importance of encouraging children to connect with nature. This point represents only one of our many reasons for caring deeply about preventing the loss of Graydon Pool and working hard to achieve that aim.

It’s easy to imagine holding some mild equivalent of a “forest kindergarten” at Graydon all year ’round. Would this be possible with a concrete pool?

Here is the article on an outdoor kindergarten just one state away. The “slide show” is wonderful.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/nyregion/30forest.html

Extensive, interesting, well-presented information is available at the website of the Children & Nature Network: https://www.childrenandnature.org/. The site includes articles on a wide swath of related topics, including the value of nature to healing and the medicinal qualities of dirt. Yes, dirt. BBC News reports, “Children should be allowed to get dirty, according to scientists who have found being too clean can impair the skin’s ability to heal. Normal bacteria living on the skin trigger a pathway that helps prevent inflammation when we get hurt, the US team discovered.”

We are part of the earth whether we like it or not. The farther we attempt to separate ourselves from it, the worse that will be for us and our children. Let’s teach them to embrace that connection instead.

Marcia Ringel
Co-Chair, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
www.PreserveGraydon.org

>By Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau
November 30, 2009, 7:40PM

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_budget_gap_forces_state_to.html

TRENTON — To help close an unexpected budget gap, the state plans to withhold $20.7 million in aid payments to municipalities, a move that could force cuts in services or higher property taxes, according to three legislative sources briefed on the move.

The decision to place the final aid installment in reserve rather than distribute it to towns is expected to be announced by the Corzine administration Tuesday along with other budget-trimming moves, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.

The payment represents 5 percent of the total annual aid authorized for municipalities under the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Act. But that is enough to throw into turmoil the budgets of more than 400 towns that prepare their budget on the calendar year schedule, forcing them to scramble for last-minute cuts, said William Dressel, executive director of the state League of Municipalities.

“There are towns that are going to be confronted with a serious cash flow problem,” said Dressel, who fears that other municipal aid accounts could also be cut. “I’m very much concerned that this is just the first salvo of many more to come.”

Spokesmen for Gov. Jon Corzine and Treasurer David Rousseau did not return calls seeking comment today. Corzine has asked his departments to deliver $400 million in cuts by Tuesday.

One key lawmaker, Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), said the decision is poorly timed, because the towns left with a year-end deficit will have to build tax increases into their budgets for next year. Sarlo, the incoming chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, said he’s also concerned about the state’s legal obligation because it has approved the municipal budgets and certified their state aid.

follow the link for the rest of the story ….

Statehouse Bureau reporter Lisa Fleisher contributed to this report.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_budget_gap_forces_state_to.html

>Cascade Bancorp Takes Another Positive Step Oct 30

CEO Moss says the move makes them much stronger.

by Dave Adams

https://www.yournews.com/copyroom/mynews.asp

A positive step forward is announced for Bank of the Cascades. Cascade Bancorp is entering into an agreement to sell $65-million of common stock in a private placement to New Jersey philanthropist David Bolger and another private company. Bolger is a current shareholder of the Bank. Cascade Bancorp CEO Patty Moss says this strengthens the Bank’s position: “A stronger and more stable balance sheet allows us to do more lending in our community. Having additional capital in the Bank. This will be very beneficial for us and our community.” Moss says this private placement is different than a public offering of stock. Moss says that a private placement is conditional on the Bank raising a total of $150-million.

https://www.yournews.com/copyroom/mynews.asp

>

Chiller Theater Intro- WPIX-TV NewYork

>Corzine forcing mothers to give kids flu shots to boost big pharma sales.

Corzine with the worst environmental record in New Jersey’s history.

Corzine open to raising gas taxes which will hit the middle class.

Corzine suspending the property tax rebate – again hitting the middle class.

Is this guy really a democrat?

>As you know, cramming public or co-operative healthcare (or whatever the new buzz name is today) down our throats is still very possible. Because we need you NOW (“later” may be too late) please draw your attention to this action for Thursday, November 5.

Joining together to support Americans for Prosperity by asking you and like minded friends to make a “Congressional House Call” at noon on November 5 to tell Congressman Rothman and Senators Lautenberg and Menendez to vote NO on the Obama/Pelosi/Reid health care takeover.Don’t forget to tell your friends about this!

The goal is simple: on November 5 have activists like you show up at key Senate and Congressional offices in your state with your own message telling them to keep their “hands off your health care.”

The procedure will be: Arrive, go into the office and register your opposition in writing. As we do not know how many people can go during the work week, you could consider putting your request in writing ahead of time and bringing this in as a hand delivery if you are pressed for time. If you cannot go, please FAX in your letter or CALL in during the afternoon beginning at noon.

The schedule for our locale and group is as follows:

12:00 noon
Congressman Steven Rothman
Hackensack, NJ Office
25 Main Street, Suite 101
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-646-0808
201-646-1944 (fax)

OR

Congressman Scott Garrett
266 Harristown Road Suite 104
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
(201) 444-5454
(201) 444-5488 (fax)

1:30 p.m.
Senator Bob Menendez
One Gateway Center, Suite 1100
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973-645-3030
973-645-0502 (fax)

AND

Senator Frank Lautenberg
One Gateway Center
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973-639-8700
888-398-1642
973-639-8723 (fax)

>
The Ridgewood Church is pleased to announce that Boston Symphony Orchestra principal oboe John Ferrillo and associate principal flute Elizabeth Ostling will perform a joint recital in our sanctuary on Sunday, November 1, at 4 p.m. Admission is FREE, though an offering will be taken to benefit our handicap access project.

The program is accompanied by award-winning pianist Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, who chairs the music department at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts, and includes works of Gaubert, Ginastera, Schumann, and Telemann.

A reception for the performers with refreshments follows. The church is located at 271 Lincoln Avenue, at the corner of West End Ave.

For more information call the church office at 201-445-1832 or e-mail the church: ridgewoodnjcrc@verizon.net

>That is the point. Your friend, Democrat Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Shirley Turner, has the bill bottled up in committee. The bill designates that school board elections and referendums be held on the 1st Tues. of Nov. Ms. Turner wont allow it out for fear that her allies in the NJEA and the NJ School Boards Assoc. would have a cow.

All the Dems know that if the bill hit the floor of the Senate for a vote, the boys would have to pass it. And that is what their benefactors fear. For once it passes the Senate, it would be virtually impossible to prevent it from becoming law.

Then any school related issues, voted on by the public, would have to be done when the majority of folks go to vote. Not on some obscure day when only HSA mommies know to vote.