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Step by Step: How the Domestic Violence Court System Works

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Facing a domestic violence allegation can feel disorienting and stressful, especially when navigating the legal system for the first time. A clear guide to the domestic violence court process is invaluable in understanding what to expect and how to protect one’s rights. The journey often begins with an arrest, which is followed by an indictment and a preliminary hearing. If no settlement is reached, the case may proceed to trial. With strict rules and rapid timelines, domestic violence cases require careful attention and professional legal guidance. Experienced attorneys provide strategic advice, prepare critical documentation, and represent clients in hearings, ensuring that each step is handled correctly and increasing the chances of a fair, informed outcome.

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Life-Saving Legacy: Multi-County Gary Letizia Memorial Blood Drive Answers Urgent Call

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Google Discover Headline: A Son’s Tribute: How the Gary Letizia Memorial Blood Drive is Fueling NJ Hospitals

photos courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Honoring a Hero with Every Donation

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Blood Services has announced an important initiative: a multi-county Gary Letizia Memorial Blood Drive. This series of events is more than just a donation drive—it’s a powerful tribute and a critical source of life-saving blood for hospitals across the state.

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Shape Ridgewood’s Future: Volunteer for a Village Board or Committee (Deadline Nov. 10th!)

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Google Discover Headline: Your Town Needs You: Ridgewood Village Council Seeks Volunteers for Top Boards—Apply by November 10th!

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Are you passionate about making Ridgewood, NJ, an even better place to live, work, and visit? Now is your chance to directly influence local policy, safety, culture, and development.

The Ridgewood Village Council is actively seeking dedicated residents to volunteer their time and expertise to serve on various crucial Boards and Committees. This is a vital opportunity for community members to step up and shape the future of the village.

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Outrage in Ridgewood: Engineer’s New Bike Lane BLOCKS Parking in Front of Homes on South Pleasant

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From Bike Lane Dream to Parking Nightmare: Ridgewood Residents Furious After Grant Money Kills Street Parking on South Pleasant

screen shots from original presentation May 2024

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood is once again embroiled in controversy over a new bicycle infrastructure project, sparking outrage among residents of the Pleasant Avenue neighborhood. This time, the issue isn’t a “bike lane to nowhere,” but a newly implemented restriction on street parking on South Pleasant Avenue that residents were explicitly told would not happen.

The latest project, spearheaded by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser, utilized grant money to create a new bike lane—but in a major development, the project has now effectively banned residents from parking in front of their own homes.

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From Flood Risk to Future-Proof: Bergen County Pumps $1.7M Into Saddle River Park Restoration!

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Huge Win Against Flooding? Bergen County Restores Key Duck Pond Amid $7 Billion River Overflow Risk

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PARAMUS, NJ — Saddle River County Park, a sprawling 577-acre oasis that connects six Bergen County towns, is well-known for its scenic trails—and unfortunately, its persistent flooding issues. However, the County of Bergen is tackling the problem head-on, celebrating a major ecological restoration project while simultaneously seeking further funding to mitigate the immense financial risks posed by river overflow.

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The Battle of the Branch: Why Ridgewood is Both Planting and REFUSING Hundreds of Shade Trees

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Ridgewood’s Green Paradox: 79 Saplings Planted, But 40% of Homeowners in the West Saddle River Road area Said NO Trees!

photo courtesy of the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood, NJ, is famous for its beautiful, tree-lined streets, but the village is currently facing a surprising division over its canopy.

This past Saturday, an enthusiastic group of volunteers, organized by the Shade Tree Commission, successfully planted 79 new saplings in the Willard neighborhood as part of the Village’s “Adopt a Sapling” program, which launched in 2023. To date, the program has planted just shy of 200 young trees, showing a strong community effort to “re-tree” Ridgewood.

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Gridlock Alert! Why Ridgewood Traffic is Worse Than Usual This Fall

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Why is Ridgewood Traffic a Nightmare Right Now? Unexpected Utility Work and Road Projects Clogging Maple Avenue

photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, if your commute through Ridgewood,  has felt particularly painful lately, you’re not alone. Residents and commuters are experiencing heavier than usual traffic congestion due to a confluence of ongoing utility projects and critical infrastructure work being performed both by Bergen County and PSE&G.

Understanding what’s happening beneath the asphalt can help you plan your routes and ease some of the frustration.

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Ridgewood Honors Its Own: 9/11 Memorial Trees to be Replaced Using Open Space Fund

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Sacred Ground Preserved: Ridgewood Village Council Approves Funds to Restore 9/11 Memorial Trees Honoring 12 Lost Residents

photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, with the November election right around the corner and an open space ballot question hanging on the line .The Village of Ridgewood, NJ, is taking action to ensure its solemn tribute to the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001, remains a strong and vibrant symbol of remembrance. While we believe the Village has failed in its remembrance of 9/11, using 9/11 to promote the open space ballot question is extremely bad taste.

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Open Space or Slush Fund? Ridgewood’s Turf War & League of Women Voters Under Fire

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Ridgewood’s ‘Open Space’ Tax Exposed? Turf Battle Heats Up, Puts League of Women Voters on the Spot

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the political temperature in Ridgewood, NJ, is soaring as the controversial topic of artificial turf fields and the Village’s Open Space Trust Fund takes center stage. A recent statement by the League of Women Voters (LWV) regarding the turf expansion has drawn significant public criticism, leading many to question the transparency and accountability of local political groups and committees.

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Ridgewood Takes Action: Flood Advisory Committee Tours Flood-Prone Hotspots as Village Accelerates Mitigation Efforts

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Volunteers Lead the Charge: Advisory Committee Gains On-the-Ground Insight

photo courtesy of the Village Manager Keith Kazmark

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood is aggressively tackling its long-standing flooding issues. Last week, the Ridgewood Residential Flood Advisory Committee—a dedicated group of volunteer residents—toured the Village’s most flood-prone areas, visiting the Saddle River, the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, and areas prone to stormwater system backups.

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FBI Shatters NBA Gambling Ring: Chauncey Billups & Terry Rozier Arrested in Historic Mafia Probe

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photo FBI Director Kash Patel

Federal Authorities Uncover Sprawling Criminal Network Linking NBA Figures to Organized Crime

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Portland OR, The integrity of the NBA has been rocked by a massive federal investigation. In a stunning announcement on Thursday, law enforcement officials confirmed the arrests of over 30 individuals—including Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat Guard Terry Rozier—in connection with two wide-ranging criminal schemes involving illegal gambling and “sports rigging.”

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Legacy Secured! Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve Renamed to Honor Visionary Former Mayor G. Thomas Donch

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Franklin Lakes Pays Tribute: Preserve Renamed for Ex-Mayor Who Fought for its Acquisition Two Decades Ago

photo courtesy of the Borough of Franklin Lakes

Franklin Lakes NJ, a historic piece of North Jersey open space has officially received a new name, honoring the man whose vision and dedication secured its future for the public.

Nineteen years after its crucial purchase, the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve—formerly the Haledon Reservoir—was officially renamed the G. Thomas Donch Nature Preserve in a moving ceremony on October 11th.

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Breaking Ground! Ridgewood’s Habernickel Park Gets Major ADA-Accessible Playground Upgrade This Fall 

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New Inclusive Playground Coming to Habernickel Park, Promising Fun for Children of All Abilities

photo courtesy of the Village Manager Keith Kazmark

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, great news for families in Ridgewood! The Village has officially begun work on an exciting new feature at Habernickel Park: a state-of-the-art, ADA-accessible playground.

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NJ AG Issues New Directive Requiring Consistent Active Violent Events Policies for ALL Police

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New Jersey Mandates Uniform Active Shooter Response Policies Across All Law Enforcement Agencies

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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey is taking a major step to ensure every town and county is equally prepared for the unimaginable.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today issued a critical, statewide directive—Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2025-2—mandating that all New Jersey law enforcement agencies develop and maintain an Active Violent Events Policy that meets a consistent, high standard.

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MILLIONS MORE OBESE? Groundbreaking Study Challenges BMI

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Forget the Scale! New Study Says 70% of Americans Could Be Obese, Forcing a Massive Rethink of BMI and Drug Eligibility

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Hackensack NJ, Aarevolutionary new study is poised to upend how the medical community defines obesity, suggesting that the decades-old reliance on Body Mass Index (BMI) is fundamentally flawed. This groundbreaking research, published in the prestigious journal JAMA, proposes a new, more comprehensive framework that incorporates waist circumference, potentially skyrocketing the official rate of obesity in America.

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