Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations, to Mike ,Susan and Heather Village of Ridgewood and the Ridgewood Village Council received the 2017 Innovation in Governance Award, honored by the National League of Cities and Sustainable Jersey Silver certified!!
Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. By supporting community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity, Sustainable Jersey is empowering communities to build a better world for future generations.
The Sustainability Champion award recognizes municipalities that have scored the most points in the Sustainable Jersey certification program in three population categories (large, medium and small).
“The Sustainable Jersey municipal awards recognize the outstanding work being done at the local level,” said Randall Solomon, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Donna Drewes. “We are extremely impressed by the innovative and effective sustainability programs and initiatives of these towns. They deserve to be commended for their accomplishments.”
Ridgewood NJ, once again the Schedler Property in Ridgewood seems to be in play. Rumors are swirling on the east side of route 17 ,that the current tree clearing is really to make way for more ball fields .
Jacqueline Hone commented on Facebook on Ridgewood History, “There has been an ongoing debate about the Schedler property in Ridgewood. Artifacts dating back to the Revolutionary war were discovered on this property. Here is a British Lieutenant’s sword, dated 1747, found at Schedler. Also, a letter written by the same man describing his approach to battle on this site. Our Village Stewards are moving towards converting this historical, untouched, wooded area into another ball field. Many felt the area should be preserved historically and left as a nature/discovery walk. How do you feel about this? Does anyone have pictures, stories or artifacts related to Schedler?”
Mayor Susan Traina Knudsen also commented on Facebook saying , “The previous plan for a 90′ field required clear cutting the lot to accomodate a 300′ outfield, plus a practice area, seating, parking lot, bathroom/concession and more. That plan also included the removal of the historic house plus a 60’H x 300’L errant ball net along route 17….my recollection of the size.
This Village Council unanimously voted to repeal the plan for the 90′ baseball field at the location and subsequently appointed an ad hoc committee to look at how to best proceed with the property.
It is fair to say the Schedler neighborhood is very well represented on the Ad hoc committee. Other members include two VC ,VoR staff, representation from both Wildscape & parks/rec, and residents.
This Village Council is committed to doing better and preserving one of the last remaining historic Dutch frame houses in New Jersey…the Zabriski/Schedler house has a Certificate of Eligibility for historic recognition and is listed in the Historic element of the Village of RIdgewood Master Plan.
To date, no new plan has been presented for VC review; however, I anticipate one or more plans will be forthcoming in December.
Matching grant money has been awarded for both the house restoration and property. Work on the house requires appropriate historic restoration and will begin early spring-ish 2018. Non-historic structures will be removed including the garage and severly damaged shed. Additionally dead and fallen trees will be removed allowing for new, healthier growth on the ground beneath the tree canopy.
I hope and anticipate a compromise will include a neighborhood children’s playground, a smaller practice/playing multipurpose field, and walking nature paths – all while maintaining a healthier, densely wooded lot.
Doing nothing leaves a blank slate for future plans. Development and implementation of a thoughtful plan, accomodating a variety of interests, is important for the entire community.
In closing, there has been significant resident input in this process including council meetings, public meetings, public hearings at both the Village and county level, emails, neighborhood meetings and more.”
Why Making The Schedler Property in Ridgewood Into A Ballfield Is Dumb
Ridgewood NJ, looks like Christopher Rutishauser Village Engineer has had his share of troubles parking in the Village Hall parking lot . So in order to keep his special spot available an over night sign change was needed and there we go special parking for motorcycles, even closer to the Village hall the handicapped spaces .
The signs were not approved and parking has gone rogue with the entire Village Hall back lot has now been converted into a everyman for themselves.
Residents have to pay up to $1500 a year for parking permits in the Village. The main question is should be why is Chris Ritishauser given preferential treatment and above the law? All employees should park at the rear of the lot or somewhere else. Across the field. What’s good for the CBD should be good enough for Village employees.
I get a kick out of all the liberals talking about “fairness”.
How is it fair that senior citizens on fixed incomes who never had children in the schools or singles with no children are supposed to pay for the education of someone else’s children?
I shouldn’t have to subsidize the education of the children of someone (typically a wealthy wall streeter) who earns a lot more then me,
I guess it become “fair” due to the liberal mantra of sticking someone else with the bill.
Still need to digest this – the cynic in me says – read the fine print – are we truly getting what we want or is there a loophole/compromise in this solution that will end up leaving us worse of.
Agreed it looks good on the surface, but I do not advocate celebration nor letting our guard down just yet…
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Patrol Officer Brandon Donnelly rescued a small dog that had been trapped on the lower roof of a Queens Court, Ridgewood home for over eight (8) hours on Thursday, 11/15. A next door neighbor who reported that the dog had been barking since approximately 8:00 a.m. said she only realized the dog was trapped in the roof after returning home from picking up her children from school late in the afternoon. The roof’s condition prevented Officer Donnelly from climbing up on it, so he coaxed the dog over to edge by using two (2) crackers provided by the neighbor. The seemingly uninjured animal was taken into custody by a representative of Tyco Animal Control Services, hopefully to be freed from captivity when its owner returns home and finds a note that Officer Donnelly left behind on their front door. Access to the lower roof was likely made via a rear deck with missing railings.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water is reminding people that , “Your Toilet is a Water Thief” – Check your toilet for leaks to save water and money. Free testing tablets are available at the office of Ridgewood Water.
Longer term readers of the Ridgewood blog know the Village has had its fill of “Golden Toilets” .
Given the current state of water restrictions in the Village of Ridgewood and the rest of Ridgewood Waters service area begs the question, can no flush Fridays be far behind?
Ridgewood NJ, yes its that time of year again , its cold out there . In an article 8 Facts and Myths About Warming Up Your Car in Winter https://www.yahoo.com/news/bp/8-facts-myths-warming-car-winter-201000465.html the writer admits old habits die hard, and one of the oldest-still rigorously enforced by many drivers-is that “warming up” the car for a few minutes is necessary to avoid some kind of unspecified damage.
Alex Scaperotta, created an anti-idling campaign with a classmate when he was in fifth grade in Wilton, Connecticut, and came up with a slogan that was used on bumper stickers and websites: “If you’re stopped for more than 10, turn it off and on again.” Sounds like good advice.
So we spelled out the 8 Facts and Myths About Warming Up Your Car in Winter :
1. Driving Warms the Car Faster than Idling.
If your concern is not the health of the car, but simply your own creature comforts, Bob Aldrich of the California Energy Commission points out that “idling is not actually an effective way to warm up a car – it warms up faster if you just drive it.” The coming electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, will incorporate a wonderful feature that allows the owner to use a cellphone to tell the car (which is plugged into the grid) to pre-warm or pre-cool the interior. No idling necessary. (Photo at right by Mika / Corbis)
2. Ten Seconds Is All You Need.
Environmental Defense Fund, which produced the Idling Gets You Nowhere campaign, advises motorists to turn off their ignition if they’re sitting stopped for more than 10 seconds. “After about ten seconds, you waste more money running the engine than restarting it, said Andy Darrell, deputy director of the EDF Energy Program. “Switch the car off at the curb and you’ll be leaving money in your wallet and protecting the air in your community.”
3. Idling Hurts the Car.
According to the Hinkle Charitable Foundation’s Anti-Idling Primer, idling forces an engine “to operate in a very inefficient and gasoline-rich mode that, over time, can degrade the engine’s performance and reduce mileage.”
4. Idling Costs Money.
Over a year of five minutes of daily idling (which causes incomplete combustion of fuel), the “Anti-Idling Primer” estimates that the operator of a V-8-engined car will waste 20 gallons of gasoline, which not only produces 440 pounds of carbon dioxide but costs at least $60. (Related: How to Cut Your Gas Bill in Half)
5. Idling in the Garage Can Kill You.
Idling a car in a garage, even with the door open, is dangerous and exposes the driver to carbon monoxide and other noxious gases. If the garage is attached, those fumes can also enter the house. (Related: Learn these 6 Surprising Sources of Indoor Air Pollution)
6. Block Heaters Beat Remote Starters.
Lori Strothard of the Waterloo Citizens Vehicle Idling Reduction Task Force in Canada says, “Remote starters can too easily cause people to warm up their cars for five to 15 minutes, which is generally unnecessary. A block heater, which is designed to heat the engine and can cost under $30, on a timer set to start one to two hours before driving does the trick in very cold climates.
7. Quick Errands Aren’t Quick Enough.
Natural Resources Canada points out that “quick errand” idling is another way to waste gas and pollute both your town and the planet. “Leaving your engine running is hard on your pocketbook, produces greenhouse gas emissions and is an invitation to car thieves,” the agency says.
8. Idling is Bad for Your Health (and Your Neighbor’s Health).
According to Minneapolis’ anti-idling ordinance, “Exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children’s; studies have linked air pollution to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies.” Isabelle Silverman, who runs EDF’s anti-idling campaign, says that car idling “is the second-hand smoking of the outdoors. One of the problems is that cars idle close to the
Ridgewood NJ, Pete Mckenna President of Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, commented on the Valley Hospital Settlement, “As I mentioned to the Village Council when this was on their agenda, our long local nightmare has ended. Much of the credit for this outcome is due to the work of mayors Knudsen, Killion and Aronsohn over the past many years. When this expansion was first introduced to then Mayor Pfund and his council it seemed like a done deal. Fortunately for the people of Ridgewood, common sense and rational land-use planning have prevailed. While this settlement is predicated on Valley receiving approval to move to Paramus from the State Department of Health, no obvious impediments to that approval happening have surfaced and it is expected to come in the months ahead. ”
McKenna went on ,”The settlement itself is a win-win for all those involved. The current litigation involved four parties, The Village, The Planning Board, Valley Hospital and CRR. All of the preceding and current legal actions were essentially consolidated into a single action being heard in the Appellate Division in Trenton. With the agreed upon settlement, CRR and all of the parties retain all the legal rights they have today should the state approval of Valley’s move not occur. If Valley’s move to Paramus is approved, the underlying issues of the lawsuit will have been addressed and there is no reason to continue litigation. Once approved to move the acute care hospital to Paramus, The Planning Board and Village will amend the Master Plan and Village Ordinances respectively to make the existing facility in Ridgewood “conforming”. The Ridgewood property today is “non-conforming” as much of the building over the previous decades has been by variance. By aligning the Master Plan and Ordinances with the existing facility size we provide the property owner and the community a greater sense of certainty about what can happen on that site. While the current facility has about 400,000 sq. feet of space above grade, the Master Plan that was being litigated would have allowed 1,000,000 sq. feet above grade on the same property. Knowing that we are working with a baseline that is 40% of the previously approved Master Plan is a huge comfort to me and should be to all Ridgewood residents. While there remains much work to be done to determine what health-related services will be performed at this location after the 2023 move to Paramus, I am optimistic that a workable compromise can be reached. CRR needs to conduct what I hope to be our last fund-raising drive to pay the attorneys that helped make this settlement a reality. ”
Suddenly there is talk of ‘community’ and ‘keeping thing out of press’ and ‘children and parents sorting it out.’
Meanwhile just last week, a lynch mob was being riled up to break down doors, handcuff, imprison, institutionalize, expel at least 50+ high school kids.. err psycho animals and thugs. And a LOT of Ridgewood residents – both present and past – were in full agreement, whether they knew the first thing about the ‘incident’ or not.
I wonder what changed!
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Emergency Services will be conducting a training exercise on Thursday November 16th, at approximately 645 PM, at the Graydon Pool North Parking Lot, located at Linwood Avenue and Northern Parkway. There will be a large presence of emergency vehicles, ambulances and emergency medical personnel for approximately 2 hours. Do not be alarmed. This simulated training incident, will be an exercise that will be an evaluation on the readiness of Ridgewood Emergency Services from aspects including radio communications, triage and evacuation procedures as well as treatment necessities if there would be a mass casualty incident in the Village of Ridgewood. The information learned from this exercise will help Ridgewood Emergency Services evaluate procedures and protocols that may need to be changed or added to the current operating matrix and training and help determine if any new and additional equipment may be needed for the Department. The Volunteer members of Ridgewood Emergency Services must be situational aware at all times. The almost daily events in our country and around the world are changing the way we think and respond to mass casualty incidents. Training must always be ongoing. The public is welcome to come to see this training exercise and maybe it will spark an interest to become involved.
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G will be finishing work on its gas main upgrade project on east Ridgewood Ave this week. On Tuesday 11/14 they will be working at the intersection of East Ridgewood Ave and Pleasant Ave. E.Ridgewood Ave will have one lane of traffic between Somerville Rd and Pleasant Ave. Pleasant Ave will be blocked to Northbound traffic at spring Ave. Police officers will be present to help with Somerville School drop off and pick up.
Cottage Place and Prospect St are shared residences for independent senior citizens, offering the benefit of affordable, family-style living in grand old Victorian Homes in the Village of Ridgewood.
Share Inc is a Senior Citizens’ Retirement Community in Ridgewood, New Jersey. In 1982, it received its exempt organization status from the IRS and now brings in $416 k in annual income, primarily through program revenue.
Ridgewood NJ, The Tomorrows Children’s Fund is honored to be the Charity of Choice for the The Office Tavern Grill – Ridgewood FRIENDS & FAMILY Event.
You are Invited to enjoy a Complimentary Dining Experience at the opening of the Office Tavern Grill in Ridgewood, NJ!
Monday 11/13 Dinner 5-8
Tuesday 11/14 Lunch 11:30-2:30 and Dinner 5-8
Wednesday 11/15 Lunch 11:30-2:30 and Dinner 5-8…
Make your reservations NOW!
973-787-4330 or [email protected]om
(MAXIMUM PARTY SIZE: 4 people)
There is NO CHARGE for your meal.
A $5.00 Donation from each guest will benefit TCF.See More
2C:16-1 Bias intimidation.
2C:16-1. Bias Intimidation.
a.Bias Intimidation. A person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit, or threatens the immediate commission of an offense specified in chapters 11 through 18 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:33-4; N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4 or N.J.S.2C:39-5,
(1)with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or
(2)knowing that the conduct constituting the offense would cause an individual or group of individuals to be intimidated because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity; or
(3)under circumstances that caused any victim of the underlying offense to be intimidated and the victim, considering the manner in which the offense was committed, reasonably believed either that (a) the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate the victim or any person or entity in whose welfare the victim is interested because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity, or (b) the victim or the victim’s property was selected to be the target of the offense because of the victim’s race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.
b.Permissive inference concerning selection of targeted person or property. Proof that the target of the underlying offense was selected by the defendant, or by another acting in concert with the defendant, because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity shall give rise to a permissive inference by the trier of fact that the defendant acted with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.
c.Grading. Bias intimidation is a crime of the fourth degree if the underlying offense referred to in subsection a. is a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. Otherwise, bias intimidation is a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime referred to in subsection a., except that where the underlying crime is a crime of the first degree, bias intimidation is a first-degree crime and the defendant upon conviction thereof may, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, be sentenced to an ordinary term of imprisonment between 15 years and 30 years, with a presumptive term of 20 years.
d.Gender exemption in sexual offense prosecutions. It shall not be a violation of subsection a. if the underlying criminal offense is a violation of chapter 14 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes and the circumstance specified in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of subsection a. of this section is based solely upon the gender of the victim.
e.Merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other provision of law, a conviction for bias intimidation shall not merge with a conviction of any of the underlying offenses referred to in subsection a. of this section, nor shall any conviction for such underlying offense merge with a conviction for bias intimidation. The court shall impose separate sentences upon a conviction for bias intimidation and a conviction of any underlying offense.
f.Additional Penalties. In addition to any fine imposed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:43-3 or any term of imprisonment imposed pursuant to N.J.S.2C:43-6, a court may order a person convicted of bias intimidation to one or more of the following:
(1)complete a class or program on sensitivity to diverse communities, or other similar training in the area of civil rights;
(2)complete a counseling program intended to reduce the tendency toward violent and antisocial behavior; and
(3)make payments or other compensation to a community-based program or local agency that provides services to victims of bias intimidation.
g.As used in this section “gender identity or expression” means having or being perceived as having a gender related identity or expression whether or not stereotypically associated with a person’s assigned sex at birth.
h.It shall not be a defense to a prosecution for a crime under this section that the defendant was mistaken as to the race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity of the victim.
