Village of Ridgewood - Page 13 of 20

Posted on October 4, 2012September 5, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Ribbon cutting at renovated Ridgewood Community Center at the Village Hall

file photo by Boyd Loving

Ribbon cutting at renovated Ridgewood Community Center at the Village Hall

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2012, 10:54 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Unlike relentless flood waters that engulfed the first floor at Village Hall one year ago, the rain subsided just in time for last Friday’s grand reopening of the Ridgewood Community Center.

A subdued ribbon-cutting ceremony and the first program inside the renovated Annie Zusy Youth Center marked the official unveiling of the municipal building’s new main level.

Flooding during Hurricane Irene caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the entire first floor and temporarily displaced several village organizations that had regularly used the space.

“This area is the heart of the community in terms of activities. It was pretty devastating for the communities, especially for children and seniors, when the flooding destroyed this,” said Mayor Paul Aronsohn. “It’s nice that we can welcome them, and everyone, back here.”

An extensive, months-long rehabilitation project had been ongoing throughout the summer. The work included the installation of two types of waterproof concrete blocks inside the hallways and meeting rooms. Blocks were stacked more than 5 feet off the ground, exceeding the height of the former wallboards that were damaged during the flood.

The Village Council bonded $400,000 to cover the construction costs. This sum did not include the initial clean-up bill, which hovered around the $90,000 mark. Federal assistance from FEMA was expected to help fund the project.

https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/172471831_Ribbon_cut_at_renovated_Village_Hall_in_Ridgewood.html

Posted on September 20, 2012September 5, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Proving the wisdom of building things in flood zones N.J. Senators announce funding for flood-prone area buyout

file photo of Village Hall flooding

Proving the wisdom of building things in flood zones N.J. Senators announce funding for flood-prone area buyout

U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both D-NJ, announced Wednesday more than $3.3 million in federal funding for voluntary home buyouts for a flood-prone senior citizen housing complex in Monmouth County’s Ocean Township.

The funding, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be used to purchase and remove eight sections of a seniors apartment complex that has been repeatedly damaged by floods, according to a press release. Built in 1970, the housing complex will be entirely demolished and the area will be restored to its natural environment. (Bonamo, NJ.com)

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2012/09/nj_senators_announce_funding_for_flood-prone_area_buyout.html

Posted on September 9, 2012September 5, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Severe thunderstorms with Freak Tornado Warnings Wreck Havoc in North Jersey

US Open Rain Delay https://f3v3r.com

Severe thunderstorms with Freak Tornado Warnings Wreck Havoc in North Jersey
September 9 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ ,Rare tornado warnings were issued yesterday after severe weather hit the tri-state area on Saturday knocking down trees ,creating flooding and damaging power lines.

Tornado watches in this part of the country are fairly uncommon, but a tornado warning coupled with a more urgent advisory to seek shelter because of existing tornadic weather conditions is very unusual. There were no actual tornados reported in Northern Jersey, although several were reported elsewhere in the New York tri-state region.

Overcast sky’s , damaging rains and heavy winds were all in play here for much of the day and the fast moving line of storms packed a punch, though fortunately less than originally feared.

Over 10,000 PSE&G customers in New Jersey were left without power, with a concentration in Passaic, Essex and Bergen counties with the Village of Ridgewood among areas that sustained the most damage, with trees and wires down in a dozen locations.

NJ Transit reported that two trains were delayed just after 6 p.m. when a tree branch fell across a track in Glen Rock, with a handful of passengers on both east- and west-bound trains disembarking and boarded trains on an another track while workers spent about 45 minutes clearing away the tree.

The quick-changing weather also affected many outdoor events, forcing a storm delay in a college football game at MetLife Stadium and delaying the men’s semifinals and causing the women’s singles finals to be rescheduled for today at the U.S.

Posted on August 27, 2012August 14, 2021 by James — 1 Comment

Ridgewood Council members offer opinions on parking proposal

Ridgewood Council members offer opinions on parking proposal
Monday August 27, 2012, 1:40 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

Preliminary plans to construct two parking garages and a new large anchor store in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) have been met with varying reviews, but the overriding feeling from most villagers is that the existing downtown situation needs improvement.

The proposal, as developed and presented by members of the business community earlier this month, calls for parking facilities at the corner of South Broad and Hudson streets, and another facing the Franklin Avenue corridor in the North Walnut Redevelopment zone.

Along with the parking structures, the group, which includes Chamber of Commerce members, also envisions a new storefront built on the current lot next to The Gap on East Ridgewood Avenue, according to plans unveiled during the Village Council’s work session meeting on Aug. 8.

This week, members of Ridgewood’s governing body offered their initial thoughts about the downtown proposal, weighing in on what they believed was the good, the bad, the ugly and the unknown, while offering some suggestions to make the plan more viable.

The overall pitch is laced mostly with good ideas, some council members told The Ridgewood News this week. They applauded the group for “its innovative thinking and ideas,” according to Mayor Paul Aronsohn.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/167573045_Ridgewood_Council_members_offer_opinions_on_parking_proposal.html

Posted on July 31, 2012August 24, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Post office nears historic default on $5B payment

Post office nears historic default on $5B payment
Jul 30, 3:25 PM (ET)
By HOPE YEN

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service is bracing for a first-ever default on billions in payments due to the Treasury, adding to widening uncertainty about the mail agency’s solvency as first-class letters plummet and Congress deadlocks on ways to stem the red ink.

With cash running perilously low, two legally required payments for future postal retirees’ health benefits – $5.5 billion due Wednesday, and another $5.6 billion due in September – will be left unpaid, the mail agency said Monday. Postal officials said they also are studying whether they may need to delay other obligations. In the coming months, a $1.5 billion payment is due to the Labor Department for workers compensation, which for now it expects to make, as well as millions in interest payments to the Treasury.

The defaults won’t stir any kind of catastrophe in day-to-day mail service. Post offices will stay open, mail trucks will run, employees will get paid, current retirees will get health benefits.

But a growing chorus of analysts, labor unions and business customers are troubled by continuing losses that point to deeper, longer-term financial damage, as the mail agency finds it increasingly preoccupied with staving off immediate bankruptcy while Congress delays on a postal overhaul bill.

https://apnews.myway.com/article/20120730/DA0BDV2O2.html

Posted on July 10, 2012January 29, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

Ridgewood Street Paving Program

Ridgewood Street Paving Program

The following streets are scheduled for paving. Anticipate completion by the end of the summer.

– 2010 CAPITAL –

Grove Street

West Ridgewood Avenue

Farview Street – All

Walton Street – All

South Murray – W. Ridgewood to Godwin

Robinson Lane – Cottage to Oak

Spencer Place – All

Katherine Road – All

John Street – E. Ridgewood to Wyndemere

Sheffield Place – All

Ponfield Place – All

– 2011 CAPITAL –

Stevens Avenue – 501 Stevens to Hawes School

Emmett Place – Linwood Avenue to End

Orchard Place – Lincoln Avenue to West End

Spring Avenue – N. Maple Avenue to Prospect Street

Roslyn Road – Westbrook Road to Eastgate Road

Witthill Road – S. Pleasant Ave. to Alanon Road

Alanon Road – S. Pleasant Avenue to Witthill Road

Doris Place – Lockwood Road to End

Lockwood Road – Witthill Road to Alanon Road

Bellair Road – Ackerman Avenue to West End

Houston Lane – Stevens Avenue to S. Pleasant Avenue

Jackson Terrace – N. Monroe Street to Morningside Road

Morningside Road – N. Monroe Street to Jackson Terrace

N. Murray – Elmsley Court to End

Northern Parkway – Fairway to N. Irving

Additional streets if funds permit –

Albert Place

Maxwell Place

James Street

Posted on May 20, 2012January 29, 2020 by James — 6 Comments

Streets in Ridgewood Paving Program

Streets in Ridgewood Paving Program

The following streets are scheduled for paving. Anticipate completion by the end of the summer.

– 2010 CAPITAL –

Grove Street

West Ridgewood Avenue

Farview Street – All

Walton Street – All

South Murray – W. Ridgewood to Godwin

Robinson Lane – Cottage to Oak

Spencer Place – All

Katherine Road – All

John Street – E. Ridgewood to Wyndemere

Sheffield Place – All

Ponfield Place – All
– 2011 CAPITAL –

Stevens Avenue – 501 Stevens to Hawes School

Emmett Place – Linwood Avenue to End

Orchard Place – Lincoln Avenue to West End

Spring Avenue – N. Maple Avenue to Prospect Street

Roslyn Road – Westbrook Road to Eastgate Road

Witthill Road – S. Pleasant Ave. to Alanon Road

Alanon Road – S. Pleasant Avenue to Witthill Road

Doris Place – Lockwood Road to End

Lockwood Road – Witthill Road to Alanon Road

Bellair Road – Ackerman Avenue to West End

Houston Lane – Stevens Avenue to S. Pleasant Avenue

Jackson Terrace – N. Monroe Street to Morningside Road

Morningside Road – N. Monroe Street to Jackson Terrace

N. Murray – Elmsley Court to End

Northern Parkway – Fairway to N. Irving

Additional streets if funds permit –

Albert Place

Maxwell Place

James Street

Posted on March 17, 2012March 17, 2021 by admin — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Knights of Columbus to Host Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance.

>Ridgewood Knights of Columbus to Host Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance.

Ridgewood-NJ-February 20, 2012: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus are once again proud to be sponsoring their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 24th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street in Ridgewood.

The Best of Everything will cater a full-course of traditional Irish fare including corned beef and cabbage. The renowned Willie Lynch Band will be playing Irish classics and great dance music. There will also be a special appearance by the Irish Step Dancers from the McLoughlin Dance School.

Tickets are $50 each. Payment can be mailed to: Mark Stappenbeck 452 Hunter Road Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (201) 444 – 3346

Come enjoy this annual celebration as the Knights of Columbus continue the tradition that the People of Ireland started over a thousand years ago. And what better way to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick then to gather with friends and family, enjoy a fine meal, and dance to great music!

Come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s with the Ridgewood Knights !

Posted on January 26, 2012August 20, 2020 by admin — Leave a comment

US Post Office Needs to Cut 260,000 Jobs: Rep. Issa

US Post Office Needs to Cut 260,000 Jobs: Rep. Issa
Published: Tuesday, 24 Jan 2012 | 9:24 AM ET
By: Jeff Cox CNBC.com Senior Writer

The U.S. Postal Service needs to slash 260,000 jobs and end weekend delivery if it is to climb out of its “financially insolvent” condition, Rep. Darrell Issa said.

Despite a mandate to avoid deficits, the post office loses up to $15 billion a year, Issa told CNBC during an informal gathering of senior House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members.

“It’s a combination of delivering what people want at a price they’re willing to pay,” the California Republican said. “We’ve restricted what the post office can charge for various classes of mail. But the biggest challenge is there are about 660,000 workers at the post office. In the private sector there would be about 400,000.”

https://www.cnbc.com/id/46114130

Posted on July 31, 2011April 12, 2020 by admin — Leave a comment

>’Swatting’ a high-tech trend in 911 hoaxes

‘Swatting’ a high-tech trend in 911 hoaxes

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2011
BY SHAWN BOBURG
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

A California couple with a 2-year-old daughter is awakened late at night by heavily armed police storming their home after a false report of a shooting.

A Texas family is stunned when officers with automatic weapons respond to their house expecting a drug-fueled murderer who is demanding $50,000 in exchange for hostages.

And a Wyckoff neighborhood is put on lockdown as the Bergen County SWAT team shoots tear gas into what proves to be a home occupied only by a cat.

In each case, the people who wound up in the crosshairs were actually victims of a dangerous and increasingly common hoax known as “swatting,” so called because a bogus emergency call prompts the response of a SWAT team.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/126473378__Swatting__a_high-tech_trend_in_911_hoaxes.html

Posted on July 29, 2011April 12, 2020 by admin — Leave a comment

>22 GOP Heros , who just said NO to spending

>22 GOP Heros , who just said NO to spending

Speaker John Boehner pushed his debt-ceiling bill through the House Friday night with the support of 218 Republicans. Here are the 22 no votes:

Justin Amash (Mich.)
Michele Bachmann (Minn.)
Chip Cravaack (Minn.)

Jason Chaffetz (Utah)
Scott Desjarlais (Tenn.)
Tom Graves (Ga.)
Tim Huelskamp (Kans.)
Steve King (Iowa)
Tim Johnson (Ill.)
Tom McClintock (Calif.)
Mick Mulvaney (S.C.)
Ron Paul (Texas)
Connie Mack (Fla.)
Jim Jordan (Ohio)
Tim Scott (S.C.)
Paul Broun (Ga.)
Tom Latham (Iowa)
Jeff Duncan (S.C.)
Trey Gowdy (S.C.)
Steve Southerland (Fla.)
Joe Walsh (Ill.)
Joe Wilson (S.C.)

Posted on July 28, 2011April 12, 2020 by admin — Leave a comment

>$500 million deal at Port Newark may bring 800 jobs

$500 million deal at Port Newark may bring 800 jobs

With New Jersey’s unemployment rate outpacing the nation, Gov. Chris Christie visited Port Newark on Wednesday to tout a $500 million deal that could lead to 800 new jobs.

The deal with Port Newark Container Terminal, made in June, calls for a 20-year extension of the terminal’s existing lease through 2050, subject to PNCT’s investment of $500 million. (DeFalco, The Associated Press)

https://www.app.com/article/20110727/NJNEWS10/307270089/-500-million-deal-Port-Newark-may-bring-800-jobs

Posted on July 22, 2011September 3, 2021 by admin — Leave a comment

The question is do we want to remain a Village or do we want to become more city like?

>The question is do we want to remain a Village or do we want to become more city like?

First, to address the commentary, the train station is beautiful. No doubt about it. But why so big? That’s what the old mayor and council failed to address when it was being built and something about which the current council appears to be clueless. Why would NJ Transit pour that much money into Ridgewood? Call me cynical, but the answer has to lie with broader expansion plans to make Ridgewood a transit hub.

To get to the broader issue raised by this post, call us semi urban, urban, urbane, suburban or whatever you like. We are a densely populated town, like many in the NorthEast. But at the moment, we can still call ourselves a Village. The question is do we want to remain a Village or do we want to become more city like?

Every issue we face has to be addressed in that light: Do we accept a larger, improved train station — and more bus connections and parking as we become a transit hub? Do we tear down the center of town to put up a hundred one room apartments — and then deal with the need for more parking for the working couples that move in and the need for a larger school budget for the children that will undoubtedly follow? Do we double the size of the hospital — and devalue a large portion of the Village’s housing stock and take away the front yards of those on Linwood so there is enough room for the construction vehicles and patients that the Hospital hopes to attract from across the NorthEast? Do we continue to supply water to our well heeled neighbors in Wyckoff and elsewhere — and then have them sue us? Do we turf and light our fields and shut off the lights by 8 or 10 — and create a carnival atmosphere if we choose the latter? Do we emphasize sports over academics and the arts — and lose the competitive edge our students had in all these areas?

Ridgewood is at a semi-urban crossroad. It has been and remains a premier town in the New York Metropolitan area. The challenge is to keep it as Village like as possible. That is a tall order for the Village council and all of us. Myoptic visions must be set aside and folks need to see the broader picture. With every potentially wonderful advance put on the drawing board — hospital, train station, parking lots — come potential disadvantages. They need to be weighed carefully. We diminish the whole when we diminish any part of our collective backyard.

Posted on July 18, 2011June 27, 2021 by admin — Leave a comment

>Adam A. Mularczyk CEO of Ken Smith Motors : Thank you to all the bloggers for your understanding and support.

>Adam A. Mularczyk CEO of Ken Smith Motors : Thank you to all the bloggers for your understanding and support.

Thank you to all the bloggers for your understanding and support. Your voices are very important to us in our struggle to explain our position and uniqueness of the Ridgewood market to Ford Motor Company. We will be sharing your comments with Ford management in Dearborn. As most of you know, we have a very vibrant and busy service and parts department, servicing not only individual customers but over 35 municipalities from Bergen County. We service local police departments, DPW’s, ambulance companies and even school busses. We are investing a lot of money to bring business to Ridgewood and we are probably one of the most substantial tax payer in Ridgewood. Our effort is recognized and appreciated by Ford and its Parts and Service division. We just can’t understand the opposition from sales division. How much could we “hurt” Ford Motor Company by selling more of their product and giving an option to our long time, loyal customers between Lincoln and Ford without sending them elsewhere. It’s not fair and highly prejudicial to you, the customer and unethical to us.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call me or email me directly.

Best regards,

Adam A. Mularczyk
CEO & General Manager
Ken Smith Motors, Inc.
15 Franklin Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phone: 201 444-2200
Fax: 201 445-2492
[email protected]

Posted on July 13, 2011January 24, 2022 by admin — Leave a comment

A Coup d’état at the Zoning board of adjustment

>A Coup d’état at the Zoning board of adjustment
Pj Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ – Fireworks were felt at the Zoning board of adjustment meeting when both Doug Cronk, a former council candidate, and Dean Vellis, a Fields Use Policy proponent, were not reappointed to the board.

It seems the Village is looking to clean house to avoid any impression of conflict of interest before the controversial H-Zone ,Valley Renewal Village Council special meetings. The Village is looking to avoid a repeat of the “I forgot to tell anybody my father was a Valley Trustee ” death bed confession of a former Village Mayor.

Many viewed the move as unexpected but is was rather difficult to not notice the impression that Doug Cronk and his running mate Brian Dowd ran a very pro Valley campaign , perhaps accepting contributions and as many allege campaign support from Valley Hospital itself , Doug also finds himself involved with the “bogus” pro Valley Renewal group that has sprung up from the “artificial turf”. Cronk and Dowd were defeated by current members Deputy Mayor Tom Riche and Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh.

Dean Vellis who runs the junior football program in the Village, and is a big proponent of youth sports may have been targeted because of the continued anxiety over whether many of the ‘turf and field light projects have been alleged to have been misrepresented to the public.

The other elephant in the room was the mishandled “Action Park” Graydon pool project which was under the thumb of none other than Melinda Cronk the wife of Doug.

The house cleaning had already started with the “sudden departure” Planning Board Chairmen David Nicholson a Valley ally who was presiding over an extremely unpopular tenure at the Board.

While Cronk and Vellis claim the vote not to re-appoint was politically motivated the Village Council seems to have woken up to the fact that it is a new day in the Village and the last 15 years of “we can do what ever we want and your gonna pay for it” are now over.

A new professional atmosphere is reemerging and perhaps the council is beginning to see both the liability and the folly of the all the incestuousness and parochial self interests that has so tarnished the image of the Village .

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