The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Dover’s Mayor Cites Safety Concerns After Burqa-Clad Activist Halts Meeting
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Dover NJ, in a controversial move, Dover Mayor James Dodd announced on May 27 that all future town council meetings will be held virtually following a string of disruptions, culminating in a bizarre confrontation at the latest session.
Continue reading Dover Goes Virtual: Mayor Bans In-Person Council Meetings After Disruptions
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Kearny NJ, a former caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, was sentenced to 109 months in prison for possessing and transporting child pornography, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
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North Arlington NJ, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark invites the public to gather in prayer and gratitude at Memorial Day Masses held across its cemeteries on Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. These annual outdoor services serve as a solemn and unifying tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to the U.S., as well as to all veterans and active-duty military.
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Northwest New Jersey — A woodland predator once thought extinct in the state is quietly making a comeback. The fisher, a member of the weasel family, is being closely tracked by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife as part of a multiyear research project aimed at understanding its return and migration patterns.
Continue reading Fisher Sightings in New Jersey Spark Wildlife Research into Rare Mammal’s Return
photo courtesy of the New Jersey Jackals
Baseball, community pride, and packed stands mark the start of the Jackals’ 27th season in Paterson
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Paterson NJ, With blue skies and perfect weather, the New Jersey Jackals officially launched their 2025 baseball season on Saturday at historic Hinchliffe Stadium, following a weather-related delay on Friday. For fans and players alike, it was worth the wait.
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Ridgewood NJ, In a historic and unexpected turn of events, American Cardinal Robert F. Prevost has been elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming Pope Leo XIV. The decision, made by the College of Cardinals after a two-day conclave in the Sistine Chapel, marks the first time an American has ascended to the papac✝️ A Surprising Election: An American Pope for the First Time in History
photos courtesy of OLMC in Ridgewood
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Ridgewood NJ, the Catholic Church has entered a historic moment today as Church leaders gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave—the centuries-old, secretive process of choosing the next Pope.
Continue reading Papal Conclave Begins: Cardinals Gather to Choose Pope Francis’ Successor
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Bayonne NJ, after spending over three decades behind bars, Louis “Bobby” Manna, the former Genovese crime family consigliere, has been granted early release from federal prison due to his failing health. Once a feared figure in North Jersey’s organized crime underworld, Manna, now 95, will live out his final days under strict house arrest in Bayonne, New Jersey.
Continue reading Notorious North Jersey Mobster Louis “Bobby” Manna Released from Prison at 95
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Paterson NJ, on Saturday, May 3, the Diocese of Paterson held its 25th and final Blue Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, concluding a cherished tradition that began in 2000 to honor fallen law enforcement officers.
file photo by Michael Ferrari
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Paterson NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced that a Paterson school bus company pleaded guilty to a second-degree crime, and agreed to pay a six-figure penalty and face a decade-long ban from doing business with the State, after it put unqualified drivers behind the wheels of school buses and deceived school districts about its hiring practices and the safety of its bus fleet.
Continue reading Paterson Bus Company Used Unqualified Drivers to Transport Students
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Newark NJ, a 2023-24 Pew Research Center study revealed that 33% of adults in New Jersey identify as Catholic, while 59% practice a Christian denomination overall. This marks a steady decline from past years: in 2014, 67% of New Jersey adults identified as Christian (34% Catholic), and in 2007, 76% identified as Christian with 42% Catholic.
Continue reading Is New Jersey’s Cardinal Joseph Tobin a Contender for the Next Pope?
With profound sorrow and heartfelt gratitude, I join the Church in mourning the death of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, a shepherd who walked closely with God’s people and never tired of reminding us of God’s mercy. He was a man of deep faith, profound humility, and unshakable hope — a servant whose tireless call to care for the poor and the marginalized will continue to inspire the Church for generations to come.
In this Easter season, as we proclaim that Christ is risen and death is not the end, we entrust Pope Francis to the risen Lord whom he followed so faithfully. May Christ, our hope and resurrection, welcome him into the fullness of joy and peace.
Let us give thanks for his life, his witness, and his love for the People of God. And may we honor his memory by building a Church that reflects the face of Jesus — merciful, welcoming, and always near to those on the margins.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Newark
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Continue reading NJ State Police Looks for Answers in Animal Cruelty Investigation
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Bloomingdale NJ, in a major win for open space preservation, Passaic County officials have finalized the $5 million purchase of Spring Brook Acres, a 100-acre tract in Bloomingdale previously targeted for high-density residential development.
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New York NY, a devastating helicopter crash in the Hudson River has claimed the lives of six people, including three children and a prominent executive from Spain. The New York Helicopters chartered flight was carrying a visiting family from Barcelona along with the pilot when it tragically went down near Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
