The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Ridgewood , NJ – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Friday, July 25, 2025, impacting Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, and Union Counties.
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Ridgewood NJ, this week’s devastating floods in New Jersey aren’t just a freak weather event—they’re Mother Nature’s warning. The Garden State’s relentless overdevelopment, fueled by Governor Phil Murphy’s affordable housing mandate, is paving the way—literally—for environmental disaster.
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BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — With temperatures expected to climb above 90 degrees this week, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced in a Facebook post that the county has opened five cooling centers to help residents stay safe during the heatwave.
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey once again holds the unenviable title of having the highest property taxes in the United States, according to a recent WalletHub study.
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Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, Fire departments across the United States are battling more than just flames — they’re fighting a dangerous shortage of volunteer firefighters, and the impact is being felt most in small towns like those across New Jersey.
Continue reading Volunteer Firefighter Shortage Reaches Crisis Levels in New Jersey and Nationwide
Continue reading BERGEN COUNTY TO OPEN EMERGENCY COOLING CENTERS FOR CURRENT HEAT WAVE
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Englewood NJ, after 25 years of promises and planning, commuters and local leaders are once again facing disappointment as the long-awaited Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension to Englewood has been delayed—this time due to bureaucratic holdups over a federally mandated environmental study.
photos courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco
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Hackensack, NJ – On Friday, June 13th, Bergen County proudly hosted its 9th Annual Project SEARCH Graduation Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2025. The event honored a group of dedicated young adults who completed a yearlong journey of personal and professional growth through one of New Jersey’s most impactful internship programs for differently abled students.
op-ed from Bergen County GOP Chairman Jack DeLorenzo
Whomever wins the June 10 Republican gubernatorial primary, it is incumbent for all New Jersey Republicans to put aside old grievances and unite behind the GOP nominee. Any Republican would be better in the governor’s mansion than all the Democrat candidates. If the Democrats win the gubernatorial election, NJ’s economy will continue to shrink, entrepreneurs will continue to move out, young couples will continue to look towards other states to raise families, senior citizens will continue to move out of state to retire, and the cost of living will continue to skyrocket.
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Midland Park NJ, Black bear sightings are on the rise across North Jersey as police departments and municipalities take to social media to alert residents of bear activity. As warmer weather settles in, wildlife experts say it’s prime time for black bear movement, especially in suburban neighborhoods.
Continue reading North Jersey Police Warn of Increased Black Bear Sightings as Summer Begins
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Ridgewood Nj, North Jersey residents may be noticing hazy skies and reduced air quality this week—and it’s not just the weather. Smoke from dozens of out-of-control wildfires in Canada is drifting into parts of the United States, including New Jersey and New York City, raising both environmental and public health alarms.
Continue reading Canadian Wildfires Trigger Hazy Skies and Health Concerns in North Jersey
New Jersey Sees Decline in Bear Encounters This Year, But Officials Urge Continued Caution
file photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has seen a significant 28.21% decrease in reported black bear incidents in 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). From January 1 to May 21, the state logged 257 bear-related incidents, down from 358 during the same period in 2024.
Continue reading NJ Black Bear Sightings Drop 28% in 2025, But Safety Still Key, Experts Say
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PALISADES, NJ – What started as a peaceful bike ride through North Jersey’s Palisades Cliffs turned into a painful hospital visit for one New York City cyclist — all because he tried to save a snake.
Continue reading NYC Cyclist Bitten by Venomous Snake While Biking Palisades Trail in New Jersey
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, 2024 saw the most pedestrian deaths since 1986. There were 227 pedestrian deaths in New Jersey. There were 22 cyclist deaths in 2024, the third-highest number in the last 25 years. A 2023 study found that New Jersey has the most dangerous roads for pedestrians in the country.
