>Ridgewood Water – Stage IV Water Restrictions Now in Effect
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY – STAGE IV WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR GLEN ROCK, MIDLAND PARK, RIDGEWOOD, AND WYCKOFF
EFFECTIVE JULY 6th, 2010 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Due to recent weather conditions and the resulting increase in demand for water, the normal reserve maintained for fighting fires and maintaining pressure in the system has dropped to unacceptably low levels. Ridgewood Water, which serves the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, the Village of Ridgewood, and the Township of Wyckoff, has been forced to impose mandatory Stage IV Restrictions effective IMMEDIATELY.
Stage IV prohibits any type of irrigation at any time.
These restrictions will be in effect until further notice. We apologize for the need to restrict your outdoor irrigation but public health and fire safety are primary responsibilities. Updates to these restrictions will be posted on our website at https://water.ridgewoodnj.net and the Village of Ridgewood website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.
The following is the text for Reverse 911 Calls made to customers – Hello,
This is a message from Ridgewood Water your water provider. Due to the extreme temperatures and lack of rainfall, all outdoor irrigation is banned until further notice. Public health and fire safety are our primary responsibilities. If you have any questions, please call 201-670-5520 or 201-670-5526. Additional information and updates are available on the Village of Ridgewood website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.
Meet under the pavilion at Graydon for Story Time! The beloved tradition returns weekly starting THIS THURSDAY, July 8, at 2 PM. Ages 4-8 (approximately). Former longtime Councilman Patrick Mancuso will read the first story. Bring a towel to sit on. No signup necessary.
Information: Dept. of Parks and Recreation, 201-670-5560.
>Trenton continues to wage war on New Jersey’s drivers
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey is taking aim at residents who fraudulently register their vehicles or obtain auto insurance in other states.
The Assembly recently passed a measure that makes so-called reverse rate evasion a form of insurance fraud.
Under the practice, vehicle owners register and insure their vehicles in other states to get cheaper premiums, even though the Garden State is their principal residence or the insured vehicle is mostly kept in New Jersey.
Critics say this results in the loss of state revenues and causes higher premiums for those who properly register their vehicles. They also note that many out-of-state policies provide lesser coverage than what’s mandated under New Jersey law. If the bill becomes law, it would make reverse rate evasion a fourth-degree crime, which means violators can be jailed for up to 18 months. Specific fines would be determined by a judge under the state’s Insurance Fraud Prevention Act, according to the text of the bill.
Education Commissioner Bret Schundler speaks at annual Charter School Association conference. Glen Ridge officials will consider converting schools into charter or private schools.
GLEN RIDGE — Faced with burdensome mandates and diminishing returns from Trenton, one of the state’s top public school districts is considering a path that could make it the first to effectively secede from New Jersey’s public education system.
The Glen Ridge school board will enter largely uncharted waters when it gathers at a retreat this month to discuss converting some or all of the four schools in the 1,932-student district to charter or private schools.
In a community where the average property tax bill tops $16,000, the idea of becoming a breakaway district emerged as word spread that Glen Ridge’s already small portion of state aid would vanish and that New Jersey might embrace a new cap limit to tax increases in order to encourage school districts to merge.
Parents in Glen Ridge already aggressively raise money for everything from bleachers and classroom smart boards to paving and roof repairs. Meanwhile, per-pupil spending in Glen Ridge is below the statewide average.
“There’s got to be a better way,” said Kathy Weissenberger, who co-chairs the district’s Alternative Funding Committee. “Everyone kind of says they don’t go to public school, they go to a private Glen Ridge school. … That’s the way it feels.”
New Jersey will allow a public school to become a charter school if 51 percent of the teaching staff and parents sign a petition for it, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. That has never happened.
“There have been no conversions to date,” said Beth Auerswald, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.
Glen Ridge perennially ranks as one of New Jersey’s best school districts. Its high school students average a hearty 1748 on the SAT (out of 2400), and nearly half the seniors are in advanced-placement classes.
The idea of becoming a breakaway district first surfaced in March, at a tense forum in which parents learned of Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed cuts in state aid, which would reduce Glen Ridge’s state school funding to zero.
“The strings are still there, but there’s no money,” said John M. Mucciolo, the district’s school superintendent.
By adopting a charter, Glen Ridge would have increased autonomy, but whether enough to make a real financial impact is open to question.
In theory, at least, the district would be spared from such mandates as QSAC, or Quality through a Single Accountability Continuum. “The people hours, the money it costs us,” Mucciolo said of the monitoring of schools’ progress. “Why does it have to be every three years? Why not every seven years? … Many times, the money we spend complying with state mandates is diverted from students.”
full story: https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/diminishing_state_aid_prompts.html
Master of Arts, University of Edinburgh; Doctorate of Divinity, University of St. Andrews. (Clergyman, Author, Educator)
Work:
President of College of New Jersey, 1768-1792; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776-1782; Twice elected to State Legislature of New Jersey.
Died:
November 15, 1794
John Witherspoon brought some impressive credentials and a measure of public acclaim with him when he joined the colonies in 1768, as president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). Born in 1723, he received the finest education available to a bright young gentleman of that era. John attended the preparatory school in Haddington Scotland. He proceeded to Edinburgh where he attained a Master of Arts, then to four years of divinity school. At this point he was twenty. In 1743 he became a Presbyterian Minister at a parish in Beith, where he married, authored three noted works on theology. He was later awarded a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of St. Andrews, in recognition of his theological skills. It was only through a protracted effort on the part of several eminent Americans, including Richard Stockton and Benjamin Rush, that the colonies were able to acquire his service. In colonial American, the best educated men were often found in the clergy. The College of New Jersey needed a first rate scholar to serve as its first president. Witherspoon was at first unable to accept the offer, due to his wife’s great fear of crossing the sea. She later had second thoughts, and a visit from the charming Dr. Rush secured the deal. He emigrated to New Jersey in 1768. Dr. Witherspoon enjoyed great success at the College of New Jersey. He turned it into a very successful institution, and was a very popular man as a result. He also wrote frequent essays on subjects of interest to the colonies. While he at first abstained from political concerns, he came to support the revolutionary cause, accepting appointment to the committees of correspondence and safety in early 1776. Later that year he was elected to the Continental Congress in time to vote for R. H. Lee’s Resolution for Independence. He voted in favor, and shortly after voted for the Declaration of Independence. He made a notable comment on that occasion; in reply to another member who argued that the country was not yet ripe for such a declaration, that in his opinion it “was not only ripe for the measure, but in danger of rotting for the want of it.” Whitherspoon was a very active member of congress, serving on more than a hundred committees through his tenure and debating frequently on the floor. In November, 1776, he shut down and then evacuated the College of New Jersey at the approach of British forces. The British occupied the area and did much damage to the college, nearly destroyed it. Following the war, Witherspoon devoted his life to rebuilding the College. He also served twice in the state legislature. In the last years of life he suffered injuries, first to one eye then the other, becoming totally blind two years before his death. He died on his farm, “Tusculum,” just outside of Princeton in November of 1794, a man much honored and beloved by his adopted countrymen.
by Ole Erekson, Engraver, c1876, Library of Congress
Born:
1713
Birthplace:
Hopewell, New Jersey
Education:
(Farmer)
Work:
Member of the New Jersey Assembly, 1761-1771; Served on the Committee of Safety, Committee of Correspondence, 1775; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Member of Provincial Assembly 1775; Elected to the Continental Congress, 1776.
Died:
May 11, 1779
John Hart was a New Jersey farmer. His exact date of birth is not known. His father had moved from Connecticut to a farm near Hopewell New Jersey. He helped to build, and later inherited, that very successful farm and was a leading member of his community. His first public service was a justice of the peace. In 1761 he was elected the New Jersey Assembly, there annually reelected until the assembly was dissolved in 1771. In 1775 he was appointed to the local Committee of Safety, the Committee of Correspondence, and a judge to the Court of Common Pleas. He was elected to the newly formed Provincial Congress of New Jersey in 1776, and sent as a delegate for New Jersey to the Continental Congress that year. Hart’s property was looted in the course of the war. His Wife died on October 8, 1776. When the area was overrun by the British in November of that year, he was forced to hide for a time. He was engaged in public service throughout the war, twice reelected to the Congress and also serving the Commitee of Safety and as Speaker of the New Jersey assembly. On June 22nd 1778 he invited the American army to encamp on his farm. Washington had lunch with him, then had his famous Council of War at the nearby Hunt House. Twelve thousand men camped on his fields-during the growing season. After resting and preparing for battle the troops left on the 24th. On Tuesday, May 11th 1779, he died at the age of 66.
>I have posted a lot on Valley Hospital’s proposed renewal plans over the last few weeks and I must say, that it is evident that the vast majority of comments come from those tax-paying residents of Ridgewood that do not want Valley Hospital to expand. Most of the pro-Valley comments appear to be from residents of other towns so as far as I am concerned, their comments do not count.
There are a number of issues that have come to light over the last couple of weeks and these may have been in place all along but as intelligent, tax paying residents of this Village, the majority of us were blindsided by those that are put into office to protect and serve the interests of the tax-paying residents of Ridgewood.
1. What did Valley Hospital (corporate) promise to certain entities in return for their support of the hospital’s expansion plans? 2. Why does it appear that the interests of Valley Hospital were put ahead of the interests of the tax-paying residents of Ridgewood? 3. Why did certain members of the planning board not recuse themselves from the voting process knowing that there were conflict of interest issues? 4. In reference to the last planning board meeting; a. Who changed the venue from BF to GWMS – regardless of what else was planned that night, if the PB meeting was scheduled to take place that night, the venue must have been booked for that night without conflict and therefore the apparent conflict does not appear to have been legit. b. Who authorized Valley Hospital’s PR director to coordinate with the RPD who could and who could not gain entry to the PB meeting? c. As the majority of residents that night were all law-abiding concerned citizens, in the company of their children, why was it deemed necessary to bring in police reinforcements? Did the planning board think that it was hosting a mini-G8 summit? d. Who is footing the bill for all non-RPD deployment that night? 5. What redress do the tax-paying residents of Ridgewood have for the unsightly behavior of the planning board? a. The appearance of corruption b. The manipulation of Valley Hospital to direct the terms of procedures of a Village meeting, a village in which Valley Hospital does not pay taxes
There are major concerns about the future of our great Village and very few of those that have been elected to office to protect and serve our interests appear to be doing just what they were elected for.
As per Valley Hospital’s website, out of the five current hospitals in Bergen County, there are currently 300 hundred unused beds on a daily basis, so even if it is state-mandated for hospitals to provide single occupancy rooms, there must be room at all our hospitals to incorporate this provision without the need to change the size of any of the hospitals that are currently operable giving the fact that we currently have an over flow of hospital beds.
“There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than a Yosemite, the groves of giant Sequoias and Redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of Yellowstone, its three Tetons. And our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever.” – Theodore Roosevelt, 1905
America’s national parks are some of our country’s greatest treasures and are ready to be explored. Celebrate the birth of our nation by planning a visit. Here are some favorites from the staff of The Travel Center/American Express:
*Yosemite National Park in CA: With enchanting landscapes of deep valleys, alpine meadows, and groves of giant Sequoias, Yosemite also is home to some of North America’s most dramatic waterfalls. Travel consultant Donna Moore suggests including a side trip to Monterey for a unique vacation the whole family will enjoy.
*Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs in WY, ID, & MT: Travel consultant Barbara Kopp visited these great wonders on a Tauck tour from Salt Lake City, UT to Mt. Rushmore in SD. To see more photos of the spectacular trip including Old Faithful, the Continental Divide and a float trip on the Snake River, visit our Facebook page – The Travel Center AE.
*Great Smokey Mountains in NC & TN: The Great Smokey Mts. NP is known for its abundant plant and animal life. It’s also a hiker’s paradise, with rewarding views at all levels-from short jaunts to backcountry treks. Dir. of Marketing Sue Haefner loved Clingman’s Dome, but also recommends time outside the park to visit Gatlinburg and the Cherokee Indian Reservation.
*Everglades in FL: Most of southern Florida is covered by a shallow sheet of slow-moving water, creating the world’s largest saw grass marshland. Bicycle and canoe rentals are perfect for self-discovery while tram and boat tours are great options for narrated exploration.
As you reflect this weekend on our country and its history, remember…this land is your land; this land is my land…from sea to shining sea. Enjoy!
The Travel Center / American Express
50 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 447-3311
RidgewoodAmex@gmail.com
Or visit our NEW website: www.TheTravelCenterAE.com
For the July 5th parade, the Elks Club Of Ridgewood at 111 Maple Ave. be offering an outdoor barbecue. Starting at 9 am, we will have the usual BBQ fare, chips, and beverages at the cheapest prices in town. In addition, our bar in open to the public serving ice cold brews, cocktails & Liz’s once in a lifetime amazing Bloody Mary’s. She only makes them once a year. Stop in, the air conditioning will be cranking since it will be hot out there. We’ll have the World Cup on. All proceeds help support the running the Elks and our charitable foundations including Camp Moore.
Keith Killion was named the new mayor during the Village Council reorganization meeting on Thursday afternoon. Tom Riche, who along with Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh won the municipal election in May, was named deputy mayor. Both terms will expire in 2012.
“Ridgewood, more than ever, is facing some monumental decisions — budgets, the pool, Valley Hospital,” Killion said. “I pledge to this council we’ll listen to every individual, no matter how long it takes in a venue that will be able to accept as many people that wish to speak as possible. We do not want to repeat those logistical mistakes of the past.”
Killion noted that departing Councilman Pat Mancuso has completed the longest run as an elected official in the village’s history, with 20 consecutive years on the governing body.
Killion will serve as liaison to the Ridgewood Community Center Advisory Board, and council representative to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee and Board of Education.
Riche will serve as council representative to the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee, Fourth of July Celebration Committee, Project Pride and the Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Committee.
“It was long ago in the days of the Van Emburghs, the Hoppers and the Graydons when the Ridgewood vision was formulated,” Riche said. “Those that came before us had the foresight to make Ridgewood the community that it is today. We, the council of 2010, are the protectors of that vision. We are the protectors of its beauty and values that draw people here.”
by Ole Erekson, Engraver, c1876, Library of CongressBorn: February 15, 1725 Birthplace: Elizabethtown, New Jersey Education: Self-taught, Surveying, Law (Surveyor, Lawyer, Sheriff) Work: Land attorney; High Sheriff of Essex County, NJ.; Member of New Jersey Provincial Congress; Elected to the Continental Congress, 1776 ~1784. Died: September 15, 1794
Abraham Clark was born into the life of a farmer at what is now Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father saw an aptitude for mathematics and felt that he was too frail for the farm life and so young Abraham was tutored in mathematics and surveying. He continued his own study of the Law while working as a surveyor. He later practiced as an attorney and in this role is said to have been quite popular because of his habit of serving poor farmers in the community in cases dealing with title disputes. In succeeding years he served as the clerk of the Provincial Assembly, High Sheriff of Essex (now divided into Essex and Union) County. Elected to the Provincial Congress in 1775, he then represented New Jersey at the Second Continental Congress in 1776, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. He served in the congress through the Revolutionary War as a member of the committee of Public Safety. He retired and was unable to attend the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787, however he is said to have been active in community politics until his death in 1794. Clark Township, New Jersey, is named in his honor.
>Bergen County will not extend bike path at Ridgewood Duck Pond
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 BY MICHAEL SEDON The Ridgewood News STAFF WRITER
Bergen County has nixed plans to extend a bike path in Saddle River County Park, much to the delight of residents opposed to the proposal.
The county has put forth multiple plans during the past few years to extend the existing paved bike path a half mile from East Ridgewood Avenue, where the paved portion ends, to Linwood Avenue.
This year’s proposal included the most complex plan to date, with multiple parking lots, property acquisitions, greenhouses, and pedestrian bridges and tunnels. The proposal was also tied the relocation of the dog park at the Wild Duck Pond. That plan, officials said, will proceed as planned.
As with past proposals from the county, neighbors rallied in support of moving the “Bark Park” while arguing against the bike path extension, and gathered more than 350 signatures for a petition they presented to the Bergen County Board of Freeholders last week.
“I am happy to see the path defeated again, and am sorry so much time, effort, resources, money and energy was used to try to pass this plan again, all at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Ridgewood resident Ray Ippolito. “The survey company has gone through this area five times by their count. The dog run was improperly designed, as it had to be fixed just a few months ago, and is now being relocated, all at taxpayers’ expense, again.”
It will cost the county “about $20,000” to relocate the dog park, said Sheri Hensley, press officer for the Bergen County Executive’s office.
“The amount of waste I have seen on the bike path and dog run alone are staggering,” Ippolito added. “I can only wonder how much more is being wasted in the town, county, state and country. This little project is just a microcosm of the massive waste our country spends its money on.”
The path extension has been sidelined “for the foreseeable future,” Hensley said.
“With the limited resources that the county has available in these difficult economic times, we decided that it is not worthwhile to do a project like this if it does not have the full support of the public for which it is designed to serve,” Hensley said. “We have decided not to extend this pathway and will, instead, focus on other projects.”
The neighbors commended the support they received at a March 24 freeholder meeting.
“We compliment Freeholder Elizabeth Calabrese, who was the first county official to support our requests to both save money and conserve the wildscape,” said Ridgewood resident Linda Reik.. “Freeholder Calabrese upheld both the value of constituents’ concerns and the value of citizen stewards of the environment.”
Originally, officials appropriated $950,000 from the Open Space Trust Fund for the project. That money will now be placed back in the trust for future projects, said Calabrese, the freeholder board’s representative to the Open Space Trust.
“It just seemed to me that this would be one of those things that could possibly wait, or not be done at all,” Calabrese said.
Calabrese gave credit to the Ridgewood residents who spoke “very eloquently” at the freeholder meeting.
Reik proposed clearing out the piles of debris near the Saddle River at the Duck Pond, and checking into ways to alleviate leakage, algae and goose droppings at the pond as possible projects for next year.
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